The McGill Tribune Vol. 39 Issue 2

The McGill Tribune TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 2019 | VOL. 39 | ISSUE 2

Published by the SPT, a student society of McGill University

McGILLTRIBUNE.COM | @McGILLTRIBUNE

EDITORIAL

FEATURE

GAME REPORT

Barriers for club execs hinder community on campus

All that for a sandwich?

Martlet hockey dominates against Moncton in season opener

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Robin Marquis (Leanne Young / The McGill Tribune)

McGill launches ninth annual Indigenous Awareness Weeks

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Bill 21: Impractical on paper and in practice Sepideh Afshar Contributor Bill 21, a law enacted by the Quebec government that prohibits public sector employees from wearing visible religious symbols, caused public outrage by disproportionately affecting

religious minorities such as Muslims, Jews, and Sikhs. Introduced this past May, there was no shortage of speculation concerning how problematic the implementation of this bill would be. Since the law came into effect in September, Montrealers have been faced with the reality of the bill’s consequences: The implementation of

Bill 21 has proven to be even more troublesome and divisive than its initial introduction.

Bill 21 did not include a specific plan detailing what enforcement would look like.

Catherine Beauvais-St-Pierre, president of the alliance of teachers in Montreal, explained that school boards are learning how to apply Bill 21

day-by-day, as they were not given any instructions. One of the most ambiguous parts of the bill is the ‘grandfather clause’, which permits public servants who wore religious symbols before the law was passed to continue to do so as long as they remain in the same position.

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The applications of graphene at McGill and beyond The nanomaterial is used for water purification, medicine, and even shoes Stephanie Deng Contributor Imagine a future where cell phones can be charged in seconds and tablets roll up like newspapers. As scientists delve deeper into the field of nanoscience, developments like these appear more possible than ever.

Nanoscience is the study of

matter at the nanoscopic level, or nanoscale. Consequently, scientists and engineers can study nanomaterials, such as nanotubes and nanogold, at the molecular level to reveal their unique properties.

One such material is graphene, which is often referred to as a “wonder material.” Discovered by researchers at the Univer-

sity of Manchester in 2004, graphene is a single layer of graphite, which makes up materials such as pencil lead. Graphene is an allotrope, or form of the element carbon. The carbon atoms are arranged in a hexagonal, honeycomb-like structure, giving rise to important properties such as thermal conductivity, elasticity, and chemical inertness.

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NEWS

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 2019

First wave of students completes sexual violence prevention training “It Takes All of Us” was developed in collaboration with Concordia University.

Tasmin Chu Contributor Over the summer, McGill released an online sexual violence prevention course called “It Takes All of Us” to its first wave of students, with incoming first years gaining access as early as June 2019. Eventually, all students and staff will be required to complete the course. “‘It Takes All of Us’ is a learning program that strives to increase awareness of sexual violence, to ensure that [we base our] campus culture [on] respect and consent, and to help create a community free of sexual violence,” Associate Provost (Equity and Academic Policies) Angela Campbell wrote in an email to the McGill Tribune.

The program consists of four modules, covering topics such as consent, alcohol and drug use, and sexual assault statistics. The course begins by exploring the many ways sexual violence can manifest, followed by a primer as to what genuine consent looks like. Bystander intervention is explored in the third module, and the course concludes by providing re-

sources and advice for supporting survivors.

“I was a little hesitant at first.

Generally, I find [that these programs are] very watered-down,” Margaret Askey, U0 Arts, said.

“But, I found [that] the way they managed to explain nuanced concepts while also being respectful and mindful of students who have experienced sexual assault [...] is a really important part of the program.”

All students who attended frosh, including upper year coordinators and leaders were required to complete “It Takes All of Us” in August.

“It gave me a little peace of mind,” Askey said. “[The mandatory training] means [that everyone at Frosh] at least gets introduced to the concept of consent.

I think I can take for granted that most people I interact with in my social circles understand the basics of consent [...] but I don’t think that’s the case for most students. And I don’t think that’s the case for students who come from social climates where sexuality is less discussed.”

Still, Askey also felt that

“It Takes All of Us” was developed in collaboration with Concordia University..

(Albert Park / The McGill Tribune) drinking culture also had to be addressed for Frosh to be a truly safe environment for first years.

“I think that in tandem with this consent [program], [McGill] could do a lot more work around the drinking culture of Frosh [....]

I knew students who attended the Arts Faculty Frosh had rallies at 6:00 am and partied until the wee hours of the morning, only to take a power nap and wake up and do it

all again.”

Mengyu Chang, U0 Arts, was concerned that it was easy to bypass the contents of the course.

“We need to complete [“It Takes All of Us”] to enter Frosh, so some people maybe did not read it very carefully or patiently,” Chang said.

“I heard plenty of other [first year students] talk about how they would play the module, walk into

the next room, [...] and then come back and guess on the questions,” Askey said.

However, Campbell believes such concerns about students rushing through the course may be unwarranted.

“We have found that McGill students are broadly supportive of and committed to efforts to raise awareness and increase supports for people impacted by sexual violence,” Campbell wrote. “We are aware of the IT issue of ‘fast forwarding’ and we’re examining various solutions to address it.

Please note that someone cannot actually leave the room and let the module play since it must be advanced by the user.”

The course is expected to be released Sept. 23 for upper-year students and faculty. Students and staff will receive access to different versions.

“Both [courses] are largely the same,” Campbell wrote. “The staff/faculty version stresses the Policy Against Sexual Violence’s prohibition of romantic or sexual relations between teaching staff and students under their authority or influence.”

Tribune Explains: Students’ rights SSMU and McGill policies that protect students on campus Kyle Dewsnap News Editor

How are student rights protected?

Student rights at McGill can be divided into two domains: Academic rights, which ensures that professors fairly assess their students’ work, and personal rights, which guard students’ dignity and security. Many of these rights come from policies and regulations developed by McGill’s Board of Governors and Senate. However, as SSMU Vice-President (VP) University Affairs Madeline Wilson explained, it’s SSMU’s responsibility to ensure students are prepared to assert their rights.

“Students come to this university for academics, and therefore, its [in] their best interest to ensure that their academic situation is as equal and as equitable as possible,” Wilson said. “This campaign ensures that students have the tools to make sure that they are able to defend their own rights if they need to, or to help them reach out to someone that is more equipped to fight for their rights alongside them.”

How does fair grading work at McGill?

Policies at McGill protect both students’ academic and personal rights within the McGill context. (Sabroma Girard-Lamas / The McGill Tribune) McGill is a school with a massive student population as well as a reputation for thrusting independence upon its first year students, both factors which can be an alienating experience. For this reason, clear information becomes an invaluable commodity for all students.

This week The McGill Tribune spoke with student members behind the Student Society of McGill University’s (SSMU) “Know Your Student Rights” campaign, in hopes of helping students to advocate for themselves.

McGill’s Charter of Student Rights affirms that all students have the right to a quality education, including a right to be assessed in an equitable and reasonable way. This right is implemented through the University Student Assessment Policy, which protects any student that receives any form of assessment. During the first week of classes, professors should have given students syllabi for all of their courses stating how they were going to be assessed (e.g. whether there will be a final or a class participation component), and how these assessments will be weighed when calculating their overall grade. Students also cannot be punished for worked they missed during add-drop if they were not registered in the course at the assessment’s due date. Finally, students cannot be forced into writing multiple final exams within a short time span: For example, students cannot write four finals in two days. These rights are afforded to all students; in return, students have to uphold certain responsibilities,

one of them being to uphold academic integrity by avoiding plagiarism or cheating.

How are student’s personal rights protected?

The charter also states that students have the right to be protected against ‘vexatious conduct’ displayed by McGill members. Therefore, McGill and SSMU have implemented policies that both protect students against violence and punish McGill community members who perpetrate these acts. In the past year, two new policies focused onsexual violence on campus have been put into place: SSMU’s Gendered and Sexual Violence Policy (GSVP), and McGill’s revamped Policy Against Sexual Violence (PSV). Wilson says that these two policies work together to protect survivors across different situations.

“The [PSV] covers [anyone] at McGill or within the McGill context,” Wilson said. “For example, if a McGill student is a respondent, and they’re on a co-op, and survivor is a [Concordia University] student, the respondent can still be charged under the policy.

The SSMU GSVP operates within the SSMU context […] it covers executives, casual and permanent staff, and members of SSMU clubs or independent student groups. There are instances where a report can be filed under both the GSVP and the PSV.”

Where do students go if they believe their rights have been violated?

Adrienne Tessier, SSMU’s students’ rights researcher and advocacy commissioner, said that students can contact three individuals if they have questions about their rights.

“You have myself, as the Students’ Rights Commissioner [as a contact] for issues on academic rights,” Tessier said. “For example, ‘my professor posted my syllabus and it doesn’t say what percentage my final is.’ Then we have an anti-violence commissioner, who you can contact if you have questions about your personal rights under the [GSVP]. Both of us work in collaboration with [Wilson], who can intervene and act as another layer of support for students.”

NEWS

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 2019

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Esteemed McGill professor Desmond Morton passes away

McGill remembers the Founding Director of the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada Deisha Paliwal Contributor On Sept. 3, the McGill community lost 81-year old Desmond Morton, an esteemed author and professor whose contributions as a ‘historian of conflict’ earned him numerous accolades. Morton was the Hiram Mills Professor in the Department of History and Classical Studies at McGill since 1998. Antonia Maioni, the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, remembers him as an educator who could engage any audience.

“In him, students not only saw a true scholar of the past, but a narrator who brought history alive for them,” Maioni said. “He could tell you where Wolfe and Montcalm were at every moment of the Battle of the Plains of Abraham.”

Born in Calgary in 1937, Morton attended the Collège Militaire Royal de St-Jean, the Royal Military College of Canada, Keble College at Oxford University, and the London School of Economics. Prior to teaching, Morton served in the Canadian Army for ten years. In 2004, he received the Canadian Forces Decoration for his service. He was also active in the Ontario New Democratic Party from 1964 to 1966 as the party’s assistant secretary.

In 1994, Morton assumed the position of founding director of the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada (MISC), which is dedicated to scholarship concerning Canadian history and politics.

He laid the foundation of the institute’s success by embracing an interdisciplinary approach to his field. Antoia Maioni, who served as the director of MISC after Morton, describes taking over his position.

“He wasn’t a big man, but he left big shoes to fill,” Maioni said.

Throughout his life, Morton wrote over 35 books on the social, military, and political history of Canada. Although he was a

Morton was the recipient of the Governor General’s History Award for Popular Media: The Pierre Berton Award (www.cbc.ca) historian, he was careful to not isolate the study of history from other disciplines. Elsbeth Heaman, 2017-2018 director of MISC describes the influence Morton had on her.

“Des always had one foot in academia, one in the military, and the third in public life,” Elsbeth Heaman said. “He delivered that to McGill students. I was on the edge of it, but I still felt its wonders.”

After his retirement in 2004, he continued his involvement at McGill as a professor emeritus. Morton’s lectures rarely involved traditional presentations; instead, he would display battleground scenes and speak about their details.

“In some respects, he had a very old-fashioned way of teaching.” Heaman said. “But it was also [centered around his students] and it felt timeless,” Heaman said.

Morton’s work did not go unrecognized. In 1985, he was named a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, and he later became an Officer of the Order of Canada. For his efforts to promote history in the public sphere, Morton was also recognized with the Pierre Berton Award by the Governor General.

McGill Professor of Urban Media Studies Will Straw, said that, despite Morton’s prominence, he never gave up his enthusiastic willingness to talk to anyone.

“He was quite the famous guy, but if a student or visitor from another country came into the institute, he would sit and talk to them without the impression that he was trying to cut it short,” Straw said.

Morton was known by his colleagues as an inquisitive man who did not believe in easy, straightforward answers. Heaman describes what Morton’s answer to a question as simple as ‘What is the day of Canada’s independence?’.

“Des’ answer never was July 1,” Heaman said. “It was part of a larger picture that was remarkably skeptical about the greater narratives that are passed onto us about Canada.”

To Morton, studying history was not only a matter of the past;it was intertwined with the future.

“He always had an idea of where he wanted Canada to go, not only where it had been,” Heaman said. “That’s hard to come by in a historian.”

In the wake of Morton’s passing, McGill treasures his contributions to the discipline of history. He will be deeply missed by his colleagues and students.

“I go to a lot of dinners—we all do. I always wanted to be sitting next to Desmond Morton,” Maioni said.

McGill launches ninth annual Indigenous Awareness Weeks Theme highlights Indigenous languages through the lens of matriarchy Helen Wu News Editor McGill’s ninth annual Indigenous Awareness Weeks (IAW) launched on Sept.

16. The theme this year is “matriarchy and Indigenous languages,” inspired partly by the United Nations proclamation of 2019 as the International Year of Indigenous Languages.

Indigenous Education Advisor Janelle Kaperski spearheaded the organization of the 12 of the 16 IAW events, taking place Sept. 16—27.

She explained the lens through which Indigenous languages will be exhibited this year.

“I believe that Matriarchy and Indigenous languages are inextricably linked,” Kasperski said. “There’s no way you can talk about one without the other as many of us have learned our languages from strong women in our lives.”

IAW 2019 will feature a variety of events including workshops, panel discussions, keynote speakers from across Canada, and the 19th Annual McGill Pow Wow hosted

by McGill’s First People’s House. Although IAW provides an opportunity for the McGill community to learn about Indigenous cultures, Kasperski emphasizes that the goal has always been to highlight Indigenous excellence. “[The purpose of IAW has] always [been] to celebrate Indigenous successes and provide space and a platform for Indigenous voices, knowledges, sharing, and really to highlight how important [these are] on campus,” Kasperski said. “I believe that’s what [IAW] is and what it always has been and

that’s what it will continue to be.”

The Student’s Society of McGill University’s (SSMU) Indigenous Affairs Commissioner Tomas Jirousek pointed out the lack of physical space available for Indigenous staff and students on campus and hopes that IAW can help increase campus expressions of indigeneity.

“There are very few expressions of indigeneity on campus,” Jirousek said. “IAW helps break that a little bit, whether it’s physically hanging banners, whether it’s actually having the physical spaces occupied by Indigenous knowledge holders, that helps disrupt this type of neoliberal [and] colonial learning environment.”

Jirousek highlights the importance of solidarity by referring to a collaboration with McGill’s Black Students’ Network (BSN) on a panel discussion examining the impact of colonial power on both black and Indigenous students.

The 16 events will include panel discussions, presentations, and two keynote speakers. (Wendy Chen / The “[The event is] speaking specifically to McGill Tribune) solidarity within colonial context as people of colour,” Jirousek said. “Black students IAW to be a full month, there are challenges an important time of year for many Indigeand Indigenous students both face a variety that come with extending the celebrations. nous nations [and] peoples” of unique challenges whether it be economic, “When I first started the position, [IAW] Vicaire believes that it is not just about pedagogically-based, any other conditions was one week and immediately my thought extending the length of IAW, and Indigenous which may create barriers to black and In- was that, why don’t I have a month?” Kasper- issues should not be limited to set dates, but digenous students accessing post-secondary ski said. “I know we have Black History instead discussed throughout the year. institutions.”

Month [and] LGBTQ2I+ Month, but [when I Founded in 2011 by Associate Direc- initially] started, it was not feasible to be able “We should be infusing Indigenous tor of the First People’s House Allan Vicaire, to expand [IAW] to a month. To know that it’s people’s issues in all areas during the year,” the McGill IAW started as only four days of in September is really difficult because there Vicaire said. “We can’t just stop at one week celebrations, but has since expanded to two has been so much orientation. There were or two weeks. We always have to be mindful weeks after Kasperski began planning the very specific reasons that the people before about Indigenous peoples because we are the event in 2018. Although Kasperski hopes for me chose this month. It is the fall equinox and original peoples of this land.”

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NEWS

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 2019

Getting to know McGill’s Morgan Arboretum Open house highlights the conservation work done at one of McGill’s forest reserves Kate Addison & Jackie Lee Contributor On Sept. 14, McGill’s Morgan Arboretum forest reserve held its annual open house, giving students an opportunity to experience a unique part of the Macdonald campus. With activities including the monarch butterfly launch and a birds of prey flight show, visitors had the opportunity to learn more about the local flora and fauna found at the Arboretum.

Before being donated to McGill in 1945, the land that the Arboretum occupies today was owned by a famous Montreal family, the Morgans, known for their Quebec department store chain. Today, the Arboretum is maintained and run primarily by operations manager Scott Pemberton. “[The Morgans] used the land for recreational purposes, for walks, for horses and buggy trails, to produce firewood for housing, and to produce maple syrup just for fun,” Pemberton said.

The family donated the land to McGill hoping that it would be maintained by the university. McGill has repurposed it as a resource for students throughout Montreal with an interest in forestry and conservation, such as Bryanna Pilkington, an environmental geography major at Concordia university and staff member at the Arboretum. “[At the Arboretum], we get a diverse

view of what nature means in the 21st century,” Bilkington said. “We have these places where you can come and be in the outdoors, but it’s more of this conservationist view where you have humans and nature together.”

Students involved in field work at the Arboretum remove invasive species and collect samples for research studies. “[The Arboretum] is basically a living classroom or a living laboratory,” Pemberton said. “[There is research] across schools, all the major universities have projects and classes here as do all of the CÉGEPs and secondary schools in the area, they all use the arboretum.”

The forest reserve is also a place for the public to come and interact with a host of interesting plants and animals, many of which are native to the area. Naturalist Sarah Dixon explained how the Morgan Arboretum serves as a unique experience to its visitors. “[The Arboretum] is big enough to be […] a functional ecosystem,” Dixon said.

“There is enough room for animals to behave naturally [....]. It’s possible to walk 20 feet and [go from] one habitat to another which means [that] there is just an incredible diversity of animals.”

The annual open house and other public events such as workshops, astronomy events, and guided walks hosted by McGill provides an opportunities to emphasize the

The Arboretum offers programs to elementary, high school, and university students on wildlife and nature conservation. (Kate Addison/The McGill Tribune) importance of conservation and a chance to show off a unique resource. Pilkington also believes that events such as these are important for educating people on climate change and conserving biodiversity.

“It’s a social relationship thing of being able to educate,” Pilkington said. “If you come at it through this fun event, you have the opportunity to teach people about these things that are a little bit hard to talk about.”

For those looking to learn more about the local environment or to get away from the city, the Arboretum is open to both volunteer work and visitation year round.

“One of the beautiful things about the Arboretum is that it is a well kept secret,” Pemberton said. “We don’t have thousands of visitors every day, so you can really find some peace and tranquility in the wild nature at the Arboretum.”

Sackler family accused of instigating the opioid crisis donated $3.9 million to McGill The donation contributed to McGill’s Sackler Program for Epigenetics & Psychobiology Ay Kawasaki & McEan Taylor Contributors The Sackler family, McGill donors and owners of a pharmaceutical company with ties to the opioid crisis, declared bankruptcy on Sept. 15. Between 2014 and 2017, McGill received a total of $3,888,078 from The Sackler Foundation to advance research and education, including the establishment of the Sackler Program for Epigenetics and Psychobiology.

After acquiring Purdue Pharma in 1952, the company trademarked OxyContin, the brand name for a powerful pain-killer oxycodone, in 1996. To maximize sales, the company offered benefits for doctors who prescribed the drug to their patients, which contributed to OxyContin’s rise to become the most commonly abused medications in the US. The Sacklers have made an estimated $13 billion off of the opioid crisis, and are currently facing a litany of lawsuits over allegedly disregarding laws to increase their worth.

According to the Canadian government, the opioid crisis took 11,577 lives in Canada between Jan. 2016 and Dec. 2018.

The Sacklers have made contributions to numerous museums and universities, including McGill, Cornell University, and King’s College London. As of May 2019, major museums such as the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Tate Modern have refused donations from the family due to their role in perpetuating the

opioid crisis.

Dr. Michael Meaney is the co-founder of the Sackler Program of Epigenetics and Psychobiology of McGill.

“The McGill donation was arranged through Ilene Sackler Lefourt who is a practicing child psychologist and director of the Sackler Lefcourt Centre for Child Development, which employs purely psychological programs for mothers and children to promote optimal early child development,” Meaney wrote in an email to The McGill Tribune. “It was this interest that prompted the investment in the McGill research.”

Despite the ongoing lawsuits tying the Sackler family to the opioid crisis, Meaney believes in the importance of distancing the family’s charity work from the recent allegations.

“I know Ilene Sackler Lefcourt to be a person sincerely dedicated to promoting the mental health of mothers and children,” Meaney wrote. “The bottom line here is that we are dedicated to a public mission and promoting child health and development. That priority trumps all other considerations in my mind.”

According to Senior Communications Officer James Martin, McGill has not received further donations from the Sackler Family since 2016.

“The Sackler Program for Epigenetics & Psychobiology at McGill University was established through a donation from the Sackler Foundation and has not now nor ever has had any association with Purdue Pharma,” Martin wrote in an email to the Tribune.

The opioid crisis killed 51,700 people in 2017. (businessinsider.com) McGill’s Gift Acceptance Policy outlines the ethical requirements for the school to adhere to when accepting donations.

“Examples of reasons for the refusal of a proposed gift include: gift could compromise the University’s public image, reputation or commitment to its mission and values; gift is from an individual or organization whose philosophy and values could be considered inconsistent with those of the University; donor applies unacceptable restrictions or conditions on the gift; gift may have come from illegal or unethical activities…,” the policy reads.

The Sackler Foundation has now halted philanthropic donations and given up the ownership of Purdue Pharma since the publicization of their connection to the opioid crisis.

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OPINION

TUESDAY, SEPTMEMBER 17 2019

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EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL BOARD Editor-in-Chief Caitlin Kindig editor@mcgilltribune.com Creative Director Nicholas Raffoul nraffoul@mcgilltribune.com Managing Editors Abeer Almahdi aalmahdi@mcgilltribune.com Miya Keilin mkeilin@mcgilltribune.com Sophie Brzozowski sbrzozowski@mcgilltribune.com

News Editors Kyle Dewsnap, Helen Wu & Nina Russell news@mcgilltribune.com Opinion Editors Lucas Bird & Johanna Cline opinion@mcgilltribune.com Science & Technology Editor Emma Gilles scitech@mcgilltribune.com Student Life Editor Katia Innes studentlife@mcgilltribune.com Features Editor Gabe Nisker features@mcgilltribune.com Arts & Entertainment Editor Kevin Vogel arts@mcgilltribune.com Sports Editors Ender McDuff & Kaja Surbourg sports@mcgilltribune.com Design Editors Erin Sass & Erica Stefano design@mcgilltribune.com Photo Editor Leanne Young photo@mcgilltribune.com Multimedia Editors Sarah Ford & Aidan Martin multimedia@mcgilltribune.com Web Developers Jad Hamdan & Jonathan Colaco Carr webdev@mcgilltribune.com Copy Editor Keating Reid copy@mcgilltribune.com Business Manager Heela Achakzai business@mcgilltribune.com Publisher Chad Ronalds

TPS BOARD OF DIRECTORS Heela Achakzai, Solomon Friedman, Katia Innes, Caitlin Kindig, Marie Labrosse, Katerine Milazzo, Falah Rajput, Keating Reid, McEan Taylor

CONTRIBUTORS

ublication is the sole responsibility of The McGill Tri Kate Addison, Sepideh Afshar, Hussain Awan,Vanessa Barron, Adam Bell, Joey Caplan,Tasmin Chu, Stephanie Deng, Sara Eldabaa, Sarah Farnand, Sabrina Girard-Lamas, Pouya Jafarian, Daria Kiseleva, Gabriela McGuinty, Sam Min, Deisha Paliwal, McEan Taylor, Abigail To, Gwenyth Wren, Janine Xu, Jessie Ye

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Barriers for club execs hinder community on campus Last week, the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) posted a schedule for a series of mandatory club trainings on Sept. 14 and 15, requiring attendance from between two and five executives or members. These training sessions included workshops on the responsibilities of SSMU clubs, their tasks regarding financial reporting, and sexual violence awareness training.

Clubs that fail to meet the attendance quota will face sanctions that may hinder future operations. Students responded with complaints about the short notice and excessive time commitment required for the training sessions: However, the condensed nature of the training was attributed to the feedback SSMU received last year to keep training less spread out.

This concern comes just a few months after SSMU sanctioned over 100 clubs in early February 2019, leading to widespread vexation in the McGill community. Going into the new school year, SSMU must take steps to repair its relations with SSMU-registered clubs and the McGill community by easing the complexities of club management. Due to their vital role in fostering community on campus, SSMU must maximize its supportive role to better help clubs prosper.

On its website, SSMU presents

creating a club as a straight-forward task; the site outlines six steps to maintaining club status including attending all workshops and completing club audits. As the recent training sessions demonstrate, the seemingly easy steps often involve more complexity. Club audits, for example, may prove difficult for clubs without a financially literate executive.

While being a SSMU-registered club commands several benefits, SSMU must increase assistance for clubs wishing to gain and retain their status, especially newer clubs with fewer resources and less support than their more established counterparts. It could be argued that it’s up to clubs to find solutions to the issues of maintaining status, but SSMU also has a responsibility to foster community through campus clubs—especially during a time of displacement due to the University Centre closure—and they ought to extend their support in ways that will ease the difficulties of club management.

One place SSMU could make improvements is in the proffering of their workshops. SSMU workshops present necessary information on all the tasks clubs must carry out to maintain their status. This includes auditing, financial literacy, equity, sustainability

and gendered and sexual violence awareness workshops. However, the current formatting of these sessions do not maximize SSMU’s potential to assist clubs in learning SSMU’s vital regulations. For one, the oneweek notice of this year’s training proved highly inconvenient for several clubs who were still in the midst of assembling their executive team and member base. In the future, SSMU should give sufficient notice to allow clubs enough time to assemble their teams. Secondly, a more effective and convenient way to deliver workshops would be through online modules, a similar way the new Sexual Violence Prevention module, “It Takes All of Us” is being administered. Not only would this medium be easier for executives to fit into their schedule, but online modules may increase participants’ focus since they cannot easily feign paying attention like in group workshops. Finally, if fall audits are due in January, facilitating audit workshops in September seems less useful to students who will likely have forgotten the workshop knowledge

by Jan. 31. Given the consequences of last year’s sanctions, SSMU can and should take steps to facilitate and clarify bureaucratic procedures for club executives.

Another way SSMU could break down bureaucratic barriers is to categorize clubs by financial needs or number of executive members and use these classifications to assign responsibilities and support clubs accordingly. For example, SSMU could separate clubs by those with executive teams and those without: While the former may have a VP Finance to manage their audits, the latter may require more support with their finances and by granting them special status, SSMU could quickly discern which clubs ought to be given more financial instruction. Another way SSMU could categorize clubs is by distinguishing those with spending or funding needs in a certain bracket from those that are self-funded. In this case, SSMU could save time by focusing their strictest regulations on clubs with higher spending and relax their requirements on clubs with much smaller budgets.

While students deal with the lack of communal areas on campus, clubs continue to provide a space for individuals to gather and enjoy a sense of community and stress-relieving recreation. SSMU’s responsibility to foster campus community hinges on the prosperity of campus clubs and they must heed this reality in the coming school year.

Bill 21: Impractical on paper and in practice Sepideh Afshar Contributor Continued from page 1.

This means that there is no room for these people to move up in the workplace or change jobs should they wish to continue wearing religious attire. They are left having to choose between their careers and their right to religious expression.

Bill 21 was introduced to the people of Québec as promoting secularism and aiming to remove all physical elements of religious belief from the public sector. Unfortunately, the bill’s actual execution has had the opposite effect. As a result, public servants like teachers are put in an uncomfortable position, being asked intrusive questions about their faith. Religious attire has become dangerously political, leaving many Quebecers part of religious minorities constantly aware that they are ‘stuck in the middle of this debate,’ putting them at odds with those who support Bill 21 and creating tension in workplaces.

The discomfort felt in the workplace by those wearing religious attire carries over from the workplace to everyday life.

Once exposed to strangers on the street, this discomfort becomes fear. This feeling is best expressed

by Amrit Kaur, a Montreal resident

and teacher who wears a dastar and feels that people are looking at her differently on the street now, the first time she has ever felt uncomfortable in Montreal due to her religion.

Hate crimes and xenophobic violence are increasingly being linked to Bill 21. Although Francois Legault, Quebec’s premier under the CAQ, has refused to acknowledge the link between the rise in violence with Bill 21, the two cannot be entirely separated. Bill 21 may not be the sole catalyst, but it has emboldened those who already held racist attitudes. The increasing rate of hate crimes in this province toward

Muslims has coincided perfectly with the introduction of Bill 21. In any case, the CAQ’s statements when it comes to the effects of their legislation have been quite ignorant, which was demonstrated when a government agent stated very confidently that Bill 21 has created no tension or division.

The administration at McGill has released a meek 125-word statement about Bill 21 simply stating that they welcome diversity and are concerned that the law will affect some students’ lives.

They did not mention that there are specific groups of students being

disproportionately affected and have yet to acknowledge that the bill has been put into effect. McGill needs to support its students and ensure they are feeling safe on-and-off campus.

This message may have been enough to make those in the administration feel better about themselves but it is not enough for students. To quote the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU)’s statement, McGill needs to “publicly condemn the proposed bill and to provide meaningful support systems for the affected students [...] to make campus as safe and equitable as possible.”

Bill 21 was passed in June 2019. (John Kenney / Montreal Gazette)

6

OPINION

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 2019

It’s time to end the era of wasteful and overpriced textbooks Jessie Ye Contributor The beginning of each school year is a time of fresh excitement and a newfound enthusiasm to study for many students. This inevitably leads to either furiously stalking Facebook Marketplace for a specific set of textbooks, or giving up and waiting in line at Le James or Paragraphe. No matter the method, the outcome almost always remains the same: Money is lost, another tree is cut down, and the textbook gathers dust in a corner because it turned out to be useless. Textbooks should not be a required part of any course as they can be expensive, inaccessible, ineffective, and unsustainable. Since professors are not charged for demanding expensive textbooks, they have no right to expect their students to purchase them.

On average, a Canadian student spends $773 on textbooks throughout their university career, an astronomically high sum considering the expense of tuition and the mounting debt of graduates.

Collectively, Canadians owe $28 billion in student debt. Textbooks don’t actually need to be that expensive: Their luxury price point is driven by the fact that 80 per cent of textbooks are produced by the same five companies, effectively establishing a monopoly on the industry. Publishers can price books however they want, knowing students are required to buy them.

Even second hand textbooks can be expensive. Depending on the course, certain used textbooks can go for over $100. The scramble to resell books is yet another contributing factor to textbook related stress, as many students feel the need to at least make some money back. There

are so many of the same books on the market that students invariably lose money due to competition.

Nonetheless, textbook manufacturers do everything they can to prevent resale. Companies like McGraw Hill, Pearson, and Cengage are able to continuously produce new editions along with regional variations. They then convince professors of the necessity of these ‘new and improved’ textbooks, with the added cost rarely proportional to the additional information.

Professors will often list a mandatory book at the beginning of the semester only for their students to find out that the lectures alone were sufficient to obtain a good grade in the class. In fact, some critics have claimed that textbooks don’t help to promote student achievement as they are not designed by educators nor are they engaging enough for students. Nobody reads the entirety of their textbooks—at most, they are used for specific sections that a lecturer did not cover in class. Aside from the weak content of textbooks, they are also too heavy to carry around and wholly inaccessible visually-impaired students.

Textbooks are not only a wasteful expense for students, but also a burden on the environment.

Textbook production requires an excessive amount of resources like wood, water, and plastic.

In fact, a single sheet of paper takes over three gallons of water to produce multiply that by the 400-500 pages in a textbook and that is over 1, 200 gallons of water, not including the inks or book cover. Even after production, textbooks contribute to a growing waste problem. Because of their hard-covers, many textbooks cannot be recycled without first ripping out the pages; this crucial step is often forgotten, leaving many books to be

thrown out as garbage.

Textbooks are an archaic tool that only serve as a financial strain and environmental burden. Professors have a responsibility towards their students to provide better options, including PDF copies of readings, open source books, slim course packs, or textbooks available at

the library and online, all of which should be accompanied by audio options for students with visual-impairments. If professors want to provide meaningful education, then getting rid of textbooks is a crucial step in that process. To ‘shape the future,’ sometimes you need to let go of the past.

Canadians owe $28 billion in student debt. (Cordelia Cho / The McGill Tribune)

McGill must go against CAMSR and divest immediately Laura Oprescu Contributor “International research results have undoubtedly established that climate change and its resulting socio-economic impacts pose a serious threat to life on earth.”

This is the first sentence from the letter that Suzanne Fortier opens McGill’s Vision 2020 Climate and Sustainability Action Plan with. The letter goes on to say that McGill should act in accordance with the science it produces. If the university wants to live up to this statement, the McGill Board of Governors (BoG) must divest from fossil fuel companies this year.

The Committee to Advise on Matters of Social Responsibility (CAMSR) is responsible for investigating and recommending divestment, among other socially responsible investing practices. After CAMSR makes their recommendation, the final decision ultimately rests with the BoG. However, all of CAMSR’s eight members sit on the Board. By allowing members of BoG to sit on CAMSR, the committee will inherently be subject to Board politics.

The strongest example of the Board’s influence on CAMSR was the proposed revision of its terms of reference in 2018.

The Nominating, Governance, and Ethics Committee (another committee comprised of members of the BoG), proposed

in ethical investment. Their testimonies were withheld from the public until Divest McGill conducted a sit-in at the James Administration building, after which five of the six testimonies were released. In their upcoming investigation, CAMSR should consult experts in ethical investing and make their testimonies publicly available.

Further, CAMSR’s current chair, Cynthia Price Verreault, worked as the director of retail services for PetroCan for 18 years. Given PetroCan’s status as a fossil fuel company, this affiliation is a glaring conflict of interest within the context of divestment.

One year ago, McGill’s Senate adopted a resolution in favour of divesting CAMSR’s current chair worked at PetroCan for 18 years (Abeer Almahdi / The McGill Tribune) from fossil fuels. The BoG responded by referring the matter back to CAMSR. This changing CAMSR’s mandate to prevent withdrawing their support for fossil fuel decision led two members of the Board them from recommending investments that companies would send a powerful message to resign in April, stating that they could advance specific social or political causes. about the climate crisis facing humanity. not maintain solidarity with a Board that This would have prevented CAMSR CAMSR is currently investigating “places the university in ethical jeopardy from recommending divestment from divestment for the third time after deciding and undermines the integrity of collegial any companies that engage in harmful not to recommend divestment in 2013 governance.” practices, including fossil fuel companies and again in 2016. They will make their As long as CAMSR is led by an McGill has divested twice in the past: decision in December, meaning the next ex-PetroCan executive and comprised From companies doing business with South few months will be critical for students, of Board representatives, there is no Africa’s apartheid regime in 1985 and from faculty, and administration to put pressure reason to believe that the outcome of this tobacco companies in 2007. Divestment has on the Committee. investigation will be any different than shown to be an exceptionally effective tool The 2016 investigation was neither the last. If CAMSR does not recommend for shaping public discourse and bringing thorough nor transparent.

CAMSR divestment this time, serious reform will attention to these harmful practices. As consulted six experts throughout their be required to insulate CAMSR from BoG a prestigious public institution, McGill investigation, none of which were experts politics.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 2019

7

Carly Rae Jepsen Cuts to the Feeling at her MTELUS show

A night of positivity and partying Vanessa Barron Contributor Once assumed a onehit wonder and now a cultstatus pop queen, Carly Rae Jepsen delivered an unforgettable performance at MTELUS Sept. 12 as part of the Dedicated Tour. In recent years, Canadian-born Jepsen has appealed to mainstream and indie listeners alike, first with the release of 2015’s E•MO•TION and now with Dedicated, which dropped in May 2019. Simple, yet melodically rich, retro, but not overly nostalgic, Jepsen’s performance was a vibrant celebration of love in all its forms.

The concert opened with the pulsing electronic bassline of a recent single off of Dedicated, “No Drug Like Me.” The sultry track marked a significant departure from the staple bubblegum-peppiness of her previous albums. The opening line, “Take me to the limit / hold me down there,” sung in sotto voce, set the tone for the rest of the night, which would crescendo to

an explosion of emotion and energy, both onstage and in the crowd.

Fittingly, the next song was the title track of E•MO•TION, followed by “Run Away with Me,” E•MO•TION’s opening track.

These two songs epitomize Jepsen’s lyrical creativity: Rather than narrating the specifics of a relationship, she calls out to an unnamed love interest, exclaiming “Baby, take me to the feeling.” This direct address expresses her longing for connection, a sentiment that is intimate yet universal. It’s the lyrical equivalent of reading a horoscope: You determine the song’s significance, which makes it even more poignant in application.

Jepsen’s performance reflected the frankness of her music as well. There were no backup dancers, no costume changes—Jepsen herself wore a colourful jumpsuit with glow-in-the-dark plastic barrettes.

Accompanying her onstage were three band members providing live

and “Party for One” back to back. Neither song deals with budding romance; rather, the tracks explore the process of overcoming heartbreak with the help of friends and selflove. These songs deliver a beacon of positivity in the midst of loneliness or rejection.

As opposed to the longing for romantic affection expressed in many of her tracks, the love Jepsen receives from friends and herself becomes the source of the songs’ optimism. There is certainly some irony to a crowded venue shouting along Jepsen is currentltly touring in promotion for her latest album, ‘Dedicated’. to “Party for One,” but above (setlist.com) all, the song was a highlight of the concert. accompaniment, a surprising no-frills performance seemed Jepsen finished the concert addition considering the characteristically Carly Rae. with “Cut to the Feeling,” one predominantly synthy, studioSongs on the setlist of her most popular songs, produced sound of her music. ranged from radio-hits like released as a single and Jepsen kept the commentary in “Call Me Maybe” to lesser featured on RuPaul’s Drag between tracks to a minimum, known B-sides like “Store” Race. It was the perfect ending. but she did reveal that “Julien,” and “Cry.” Regardless of each A straightforward pop tune in the eponymous subject of song’s popularity, audience both music and message, the Dedicated’s opener, is from members passionately shouted song delivers what it describes: Montreal, adding, “Julien, if along to the performance.

Unadulterated feelings of you’re here tonight, please Not all of Jepsen’s songs love, positivity, and joy for don’t call me.” Considering focus on crushes and new love. everyone in the room. Jepsen’s both the ambiguity and Towards the end of the concert, music is everything right with sincerity of her lyrics, this she played “Boy Problems” pop today.

Soul Sessions celebrates communal creativity Ecole Publique’s first event of the year showcases local talent Joey Caplan Contributor Soul Sessions, a mixed media vernissage produced in collaboration with École Publique, a Montreal student artist’s collective, and Turning Point, a musical distributor/collective, celebrated the diverse talents of the city. The event featured a bizarre but wonderful combination of painting, photography, film, and live art.

On the eve of the Sept. 7 event, every inch of Deneb.es, a music venue located on Saint-Laurent boulevard, was filled with artworks and other curiosities—from a barber’s chair sitting conspicuously by the door to a bowling ball painted to look like a person wearing a ski mask.

Visual artist Pamela Andonian was one of several artists taking part in live painting as the guests milled around the gallery.

“It’s my first time painting in front of people,” Andonian said. “Watching someone else paint is so entertaining, it’s like watching a sports game.”

Andonian’s canvas featured a crosslegged woman, her face and chest unfinished but still bursting with character.

“I’m very often drawing this woman, not exactly a self-portrait, but an extension of myself,” Andonian said, pausing to take in her painting from a distance.

Ecole Publique is a student-based Montreal art colllective (Kate Addison / The McGill Tribune) Two short films were being projected onto a wall in the middle of the venue. One, entitled If We Had Met Sooner by Joshua Lennon, Alexa Rhynd, and Isaac Vaccaro, was a brief but effective series of shots of a man and a woman, never on screen at the same time but with an implied emotional connection. The film emulates the style of a long forgotten home video, evoking a feeling of nostalgic regret from its unnamed, unspeaking characters. The other, Bagstory by AKRE productions, was

lighthearted and unambiguous compared to its counterpart. The film focusses on the peculiar journey of the eponymous bag.

The small black purse transferred hands from character to character, and with each transaction, the audience’s curiosity about what may be inside gets more intense.

Ana Maria Marcu was the artist responsible for one of the most vivid and personal works showcased at the event.

Marcu projected an original film onto a lively, colourful painting entitled nudité,

oiseau, & arc-en-ciel (libération), by Mephisto Bates. The film showed a split screen, one side depicting Ana at her most raw and vulnerable, quietly crying while browsing her phone, the other showing her at her most empowered and joyful, dancing by herself, completely content. The film depicted a wealth of complex emotions into just a few minutes. It’s impact was elevated by the space itself, a small area secluded from the other works with white walls covered in colourful painted shapes. The resulting effect is a uniquely nostalgic and childlike atmosphere, reminiscent of simpler times, that contrasts the tone of the film.

Despite the multidisciplinary nature of Soul Sessions and École Publique, the vernissage connected a broad artistic community.

“It’s a place for any kind of artist– filmmakers, visual artists, anything—to share their work all in the same place,” Tristan Surman said, one of École Publique’s organizers.

Even the music, DJ’d by members of Turning Point, contributed to the overall atmosphere, inviting viewers to stay and watch the artists at work for hours. École Publique hopes to host plenty more events that celebrate local artists, each time with new talent and an entirely different ambiance.

Why we wait in long lines for Schwartz’s Gabe Nisker Features Editor

On a sunny Friday afternoon, I stood at the corner of Saint-Laurent and Napoleon.

The line at Schwartz’s Hebrew Delicatessen was 30, maybe 40, people deep. Just outside the door to the 61-seat restaurant, first opened in 1928, the line went down the block: Customers were waiting all the way to the street corner for the fabled smoked meat sandwiches.

On that particular day, I was meeting Garry Beitel, the Montreal-based documentarian and course instructor of McGill’s JWST 309: Jews in Film. Beitel is the filmmaker of Chez Schwartz, the poster for which hangs on the walls of the restaurant among signed celebrity photographs. I figured that Beitel’s expertise could help me understand the greater significance of the place I’ve been visiting since I was little.

“I’ve seen lineups at 10 [degrees] below, 20 below,” Beitel said, “but not to the extent that you see on a hot day like today, where you are waiting 45 minutes to an hour.”

Bill Brownstein, Montreal Gazette columnist and author of Schwartz’s Hebrew Delicatessen: The Story, understands better than most the impulse to wait 45 minutes for a sandwich. He’s been visiting the deli since the mid-1950s, when he made his inaugural trip prior to a Canadian Football League game.

“The tourists have it on their bucket list of things to do while they’re in Montreal,” Brownstein said. “They’ll wait because they’ve heard the stories, it’s in the travel books, and they’ve read the write-ups of the place everywhere.”

Lines are one of life’s tedious necessities: We wait in line at the grocery store, for doctor’s appointments, at the bank for an available ATM, or even just to get into class in Leacock 132. To better represent the psychology behind the practice, queue theorists have created basic queueing formulas to help us understand how long we’re willing to wait. Amy Ward, the Rothman Family professor of Operations Management at the University of Chicago, researches how customer unpredictability and uniqueness plays into service operations like restaurants. With complex mathematics, Ward can model the way some customers will wait, accounting for factors such as personal preferences and service capacity. Ward explained that the Schwartz’s line may be a case of the most classic queueing formula.

“As you increase the load on your system, which, if you think about your restaurant situation, you’ve got a fixed capacity and you’re increasing the load, the waiting time for your customers is going up exponentially,” Ward said. “So, maybe one of the things you’re seeing is actually a little bit of this basic queuing formula in action [....] You have all these tourists coming over the summer, and you don’t just see linear increases in the wait time, you see non-linear exponential increases in the wait time, and that’s part of what’s resulting in these super long lines.”

Schwartz’s reputation precedes it, which adds to the restaurant’s allure.

“Montreal has a reputation for smoked meat throughout North America,” Beitel said. “Montreal-style smoked meat is advertised in many, many cities and [those smoked meats are] not Schwartz’s smoked meat [....] There’s a kind of aura. You’re coming to a place that everybody comes to, right? It’s part of the Montreal experience.”

Montreal smoked meat is a term given to brisket, a cut of meat from the lower chest of the steer, that has been spiced and brined in a specific European style and allowed to sit for weeks to generate its unique flavour. While the question of who was first to

introduce the meat to the Montreal area is an oft-debated topic, Schwartz’s is one of the original six delis in the Jewish quarter of Montreal and, at this point, by far the most popular.

Brownstein opens the first chapter of his book by recounting a decision from the restaurant’s more recent history that may have reduced the wait times at the establishment. Conflicted about the question of franchising in 2004, then-owner Hy Diamond (Schwartz’s has since been sold to Celine Dion and partners) put the matter up for a poll in the Montreal Gazette. 68 per cent of respondents voted for the restaurant to franchise. Ultimately, however, Diamond elected not to open that second location on Crescent Street, opting instead to expand catering services.

“I was simply overwhelmed by the response,” Diamond told Brownstein.

“But we’re one of a kind, and, to stay that way, the staff and I decided there could only be one location. Besides, how could we ever duplicate the aroma and the ambiance—such as it is—and the smokehouse? And the grill, which was bought secondhand 76 years ago. Sure, I was torn and tempted, but the feeling was [that] such a move could dilute the product. Worse, if customers didn’t like the new location, it could kill us altogether. [...] There is only one Carnegie Hall. There is only one Pavarotti. And there is only one Schwartz’s.”

While making his documentary, Beitel remembers that the decision of whether or not to franchise was an ongoing dilemma for the restaurant.

“There was a sense that there was something pure about the one place that you have to wait 45 minutes in line for,” Beitel said. “If you franchise it, you’re going to lose that, because one franchise will lead to another and eventually you can get Schwartz’s anywhere. It’s not about the smoked meat, it’s about the aura associated with the unique place in the world [where] you can get this sandwich.”

Though Schwartz’s charm is undoubtedly unique, other cities have similar phenomena. Dr. Richard Larson, the Mitsui Professor of Data, Systems, and Society at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, immediately latched onto his own Bostonarea example: The famous Mike’s Pastry.

“If I wanted to go buy something at Mike’s Pastry, I would just go in the off-hours and not have any wait at all but [for] the tourists, there seem to be these rush hours,” Larson said.

Schwartz’s also has rush hours: It might be possible to procure a Schwartz’s sandwich in the off-hours—for instance, according to Beitel, 7:30 in the evening on the right day—but out-of-town visitors don’t often have the luxury of waiting for such an opportunity .

Larson believes the queue provides an excellent chance for participants to make connections, especially given that there is already a common bond between two individuals eagerly waiting for the same item.

“Waiting in a line is a superlative opportunity to have face-to-face and eyeball-toeyeball contact with other human beings and to introduce yourself and to find out who they are,” Larson said. “Who knows? You may even make friends. I even know people who got married to people they met that way.”

Ultimately, though, it’s the thought of what happens inside those famous four walls that makes it worth the wait. Inside, customers devour the sandwiches alongside plates of French fries, pickles, and coleslaw. Finally taking a seat at a shared table and placing an order is exciting, just as waiting in lines to purchase concert tickets may be. Larson calls these kinds of lines celebratory queues.

“When [the iPhone X] was first announced, there were celebratory queues in London and the US and elsewhere,” Larson said. “People would wait two or three days to be the first on their block to buy an iPhone. It’s a light, memorable thing that, when they’re 85 years old, they’ll brag to the [grandkids about]—‘Hey, I was the first to get an iPhone.

I only waited for two and a half days. We had a party, it was a party time.’ So, you can convert a negative experience into a social experience.”

Beitel agrees that the wait is critical to the dining experience. He knows the offhours, but knows why others would rather come at peak times.

“I think [the wait] is partly what people want,” Beitel said. “They want to be part of the wait of getting into a reputed place that has a payoff at the end.”

Once inside, service is speedy: The food comes out quickly, such that the line along the street keeps moving. Once you’re in, you’ll be out in no more than 20 or 30 minutes.

“The turnover is really fast, so what you’re eating is a hot, fresh piece of meat that has just come out of the steamer,” Beitel said. “[And] if you go in the back, it’s just two guys who are working the french fries and the oil and as they get an order, they put the fries into the bag [or on the plate] and send it out. [...] It’s still handmade.”

A Schwartz’s experience is fulfilling in every way, from the line, to the nearly bloated feeling you get after finishing your sandwich, to the service you receive while dining. The waiters and employees are well-known to be short with customers, who in turn admire it as part of their restaurant experience. Brownstein should know: While writing his book, he had an opportunity to work a few shifts.

“The waiters developed a certain cache [for] being brusque,” Brownstein said. “I spent a couple of weeks behind the counter, dealing with customers, which was very interesting and fascinating. You would see [a lot of] young people, [a lot of] vegans falling off the wagon, and people coming in from all around the world and not knowing much about smoked meat other than [that] they heard about it. Someone would ask if they could have mayonnaise on the sandwich which is, of course, absolutely just so wrong on so many levels, or have it on white bread or whatever. And [I served] a lot of tourists from all over the place, like Australia, Japan, China.”

The speed with which the sandwich arrives often makes a trip to Schwartz’s feel like a long wait for take-out, a service which, in fact, is carried out in a whole separate line. In November 2008, the restaurant added a take-out counter next door. Sometimes that line snakes longer than that for the dine-in. Brownstein waited there just last month in his most

recent Schwartz’s visit for a sandwich.

“Even there, I had to wait about 15, 20 minutes,” Brownstein said. “But you wait your turn, that’s the nice thing. The place is very democratic. There’s no special favours for anybody. [When you go to sit-down,] you sit at tables and dine with bank presidents and bank robbers sitting at the same table.”

As a result, the line to dine in may feel—and actually be—smaller than its next-door neighbour.

“You’ve got some of these people who are coming into the restaurant [...] saying ‘Oh, my gosh this line’s too long, I’m gonna go away,’ and the fact that you’re losing certain customers is what’s going to mitigate [any exponential increase in wait-time],” Ward said.

Those customers may skip across the street to The Main deli, a full-service restaurant that also carries a delicious smoked-meat sandwich.

“The irony is that there is a good place across the street, The Main, but they won’t necessarily plod to that,” Brownstein said. “There are a lot of great delis in the city: There’s Lester’s, there’s the Main, there’s Snowdon Deli, places like that. It’s just that this is the one that has become the most famous over the years so [...] maybe they come for the smoked meat, but they want a piece of the history that they’ve heard about.”

Beitel concurs that it’s more about the establishment than the sandwich.

“You go to The Main to avoid the lineup, but you’re having a different kind of experience,” Beitel said. “The Main serves all sorts of things, not just smoked meat and pickles and fries, but Schwartz’s has maintained the purity of its menu over the years.

That adds to the aura of the place that you don’t want to lose out on by going across the street and getting a quick sandwich that you’re enjoying but you’re always wondering ‘Am I missing out because I did that?’”

Food has a way of bringing people together; consider the way that six people who have never met may sit at the same Schwartz’s table, sharing a unique dining experience as they bite into their medium-fat smoked meat.

As I left the restaurant on this particular afternoon, a family of tourists stood somewhat impatiently at the front of the line. The woman leading the group looked back at the line she had seemingly conquered and uttered something about the wait. A Schwartz’s employee opened the door for her, took his own look at the line, and replied.

“If you think this is bad, you should see the hospital.”

10

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 2019

‘Birds of Passage’ is a disappointing misrepresentation of Wayuu culture Concordia’s screening opens discussion on problematic Hollywood tropes Joey Caplan Contributor Birds of Passage lives in the moral grey area between cultural accuracy and creative license. On Sept. 20, in conjunction with the Centre for Oral History and Digital Storytelling, Concordia University screened the 2018 Colombian film, which depicts violence within Wayuu communities, and invited Wayuu leader Jakeline Romero to speak about Wayuu representation in Birds of Passage.

Birds of Passage provides a hefty dose of violence and tragedy.

Based on a true story, the film’s five distinct acts focus on a Wayuu community that becomes involved in international drug trafficking during the ‘90s. The film follows its protagonist, Rapayet (José Acosta), as he is thrust into the daunting role of leading a drug empire. Rapayet must reckon with the constant discord among the Wayuu and the inevitable war that ensues within the formerly peaceful group.

The narrative is elevated by the beautiful scenery the La Guajira region, featuring sprawling deserts, beaches, and dense forests. Once drug money starts to roll in, however, they erect massive houses in the middle

of endless sand. Though entertaining and visually astounding, much of the film’s drama depicts inaccurate and harmful representations of the Wayuu.

“Sometimes people say that reality goes beyond fiction, but in this case it is the opposite,” Romero said in a brief lecture following the screening. “How do I feel? It’s my second time watching [Birds of Passage] and I’m frustrated because the Wayuu is a living culture, [we are] not fiction like Avatar. It’s frustrating because when talking about real people, [the individuals depicted] are affected.”

Romero explained that, not only are the Wayuu far less violent than they are portrayed, but the film butchers many of the simple facts of Wayuu culture: Since the Wayuu have a matrilineal culture, it would have been impossible for Rapayet to be in power. Furthermore the filmmakers completely misrepresented many of the culture’s wartime codes and rituals.

Fundamental plot elements were exaggerated or fabricated entirely.

“This is a historical period that existed, but it was not [true] that [the events depicted were] carried out solely by the Wayuu people. It was much bigger than that, it was just that

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Montreal Feminist Film Festival Jakeline Romero delivered a clarifyuing lecture following Concordia’s screening. (variety. com) [the Wayuu] were part of the transit of the drugs,” Romero said.

Romero expressed satisfaction at seeing some aspects of her culture accurately portrayed, but understands that the details the film succeeded in portraying are not what audiences will remember about Birds of Passage.

“As a Wayuu I can appreciate many things about the film, but the general audience will not see those things,” Romero said. She observed that even the remarkable beauty of the film could not be attributed entirely to its filmmakers.

“The movie may be beautiful, but that’s because La Guajira is a beautiful place,” she said.

While Birds of Passage succeeds aesthetically, the misrepresentation of its subjects

discredits much of the film’s content: Those details that initially seemed illuminating were in fact misleading.

Romero’s perspective shed light on the realities of Wayuu life during the period when the film takes place; realities which perhaps would not have lent themselves as well to a Hollywood style movie.

Considering the level of familiarity most Western audiences likely have with the Wayuu people, many viewers may take for granted Birds of Passage’s/inconsiderate portrayals of the communities it depicts. Despite the aesthetically appealing cinematography and superficially entertaining narrative of the film, Birds of Passage lacks an understanding of Romero’s culture that would have made the plot far more compelling.

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Home Theatre Productions is a welcome addition to the Montreal theatre community “Title of Show” is the independent company’s triumphant first production Sophie Brzozowski Managing Editor Title of Show, Home Theatre Productions’ inaugural project, debuted on Sept. 12 at the Mainline Theatre.

Those in attendance on opening night saw the intimate space packed with friends of the cast and crew, members of the community, and theatre fans alike, leaving nary an empty seat. The excitement in the room was palpable, for the evening marked not only the show’s premier but the beginning of something brand new for the Montreal theatre community.

“I kind of came up with the idea around September of last year,” Steven Greenwood, director of Title of Show and founding member of Home Theatre Productions, said in an interview with The McGill Tribune. “In order to do a Fringe Show you need a company, so I was like ‘oh, okay, I’ll just start a company,’ but then I was like ‘what if I actually started a company?’”

A Cultural Studies PhD candidate and course lecturer at McGill, Greenwood has been greatly involved in McGill’s theatre community. He has worked as a director and dramaturge with Player’s Theatre as well as the Arts Undergraduate Theatre Society (AUTS). Despite his enthusiasm for student theatre, Greenwood hoped to create a space for those seeking a challenge beyond university productions.

“There’s this weird gap in between student theatre and professional theatre, and a lot of students, once they’ve

‘Title of Show’ will be the first of many productions for Home Theatre.

(Brock Jenken) graduated, don’t know how to manage that,” Greenwood said, “I think that [Home Theatre Productions] could be a good in-between space for that. I think it’s also cool to get students off campus and out into the community.”

Being a lover of ‘lowbrow culture’ himself, Greenwood says he wanted to create an accessible space within the often exclusive realm of theatre, “I love theatre, but I always have trouble finding plays I want to do because I love pop culture stuff, I love superheroes and detective stories, and stuff you don’t see on the stage a lot,” Greenwood said. “A lot of times, theatre can feel like a space where […] you need to know

who Brecht is, or Becket, and there’s this whole cultural literacy that’s expected of people [in order to participate.]

I kind of just wanted to break all that down.”

Title of Show fulfills this mandate to a tee. The story follows Jeff (Eric Lee), Hunter (Cathal Rynne), Heidi (Maya Lewis), and Susan (Mary Looney) as they attempt to write and produce the very one-act musical that they are currently performing for entry into the New York Musical Theatre Festival. What ensues is a hilariously meta meditation on the trials of creative collaboration and the importance of following your dreams. With musical accompaniment from pianist “Larry” (Zach Ripka), stage management and production by Cheyenne Cranston, and set design by Lucas Amato, the show was a heartwarming and triumphant first production for Home Theatre.

Cranston, Amato, and Greenwood, Home Theatre’s three permanent members, hope to mount four shows per year as a company, further establishing their ties to the community by producing plays by local playwrights.

Open calls will be held to students, graduates, and members of the community for both acting and backstage opportunities.

“We want to be as open as possible to as many different people as possible,” Greenwood said.

Home Theatre Productions will be holding auditions Sept. 19—21 for their upcoming “Late Night Double Feature” event. The show will feature two original one-act plays, with dates and location to be announced. Theatre geeks and novice fans alike will be welcomed warmly.

STUDENT LIFE

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 2019

11

Mom, can you come pick me up?

Combating homesickness during first-year Alaana Kumar Contributor As the add-drop period ends, the 2019–2020 school year is officially in full swing. This realization can be daunting for many students, especially those starting their first year at McGill. For these newcomers, reality is likely sinking in as the excitement of starting post-secondary education is replaced with the pains of the frosh flu; even more, settling into life away from home can feel exhausting. However, it is important to remember that students everywhere have experienced homesickness, and that there are several ways to alleviate the yearning for familiarity.

For most students, residence life can be intimidating, and it is often easier to hide in your dorm room than to get to know those around you. Luckily, McGill floor fellows are there to break the ice and start the conversations for those feeling too shy, so it’s a good idea to attend residence events and floor gatherings.

Lily Zhang, U2 Arts and current floor fellow in McConnell Hall, emphasizes the importance of attending these events.

“After the first few weeks of school, it is easy to look around and think [that] everyone has established a group, but rarely is that the case.” Zhang said. “I encourage anyone to come to my floor teas and other events because they’re a great opportunity to find people you click with and to feel less homesick [....] Being open to new

experiences is definitely the best thing you can do for yourself.”

Residence events are the perfect way to meet other first years who are all experiencing the same uneasiness. By making connections with peers, you can start to feel more comfortable around campus and the city. This can be especially beneficial for international students, for whom adjustment to university life in a new country can pose different challenges; adjusting to the cold weather, an unfamiliar language, or even just new foods can be daunting.

Vincent King, U3 Arts, found that getting involved in student societies with other international students was a great tool in adjusting to life abroad.

“After growing up in the Caribbean, moving to Montreal was definitely an adjustment,” King said. “I think [that] taking the initiative to find communities like the CSS [Caribbean Student Society] and Alpha Epsilon Pi was one of the best things I could’ve done. It helped me spend time with other students that could relate to my situation while making new friendships and memories. It’s like having a bit of home here at school.”

Although it is important to get outside and get involved, it is also vital to have a place of your own to return to. Decorating your dorm room can seem like a trivial task. However, it can greatly ease symptoms of homesickness. Putting up pictures of home and surrounding yourself with mementos and personal items often helps make a dorm room feel less temporary. Ad-

ditionally, some students find it reassuring to hang up a calendar with dates to return home for holidays marked. Planning visits or phone calls with family and friends, in moderation, and having scheduled trips home to look forward to further helps curve homesickness.

In allocating a set amount of time to keep in touch with life at home, one can shift their perspectives and actually use homesickness to their advantage, a strat-

egy that Ciara Corbett, U4 Education and former floor fellow, found to be quite helpful.

“I’ve always tried to shift my feelings of homesickness to feelings of gratitude because [being homesick means that] I have something worth missing,” Corbett said. “Homesickness is common across the board [....] It’s okay to miss home, but try your best to take advantage of the new things university has to offer and, ulti-

Homesickness is an common ailment for first years but can easily be remedied. (Erin Sass / The McGill Tribune)

Alternatives to Schulich and the McLennan-Redpath complex Finding new spaces to study around campus Laura Yudo & Abigail To Contibutors

Marvin Duchow Music Library This gem is another great study spot on campus. Located on Sherbrooke Street, the library conveniently neighbours a Starbucks. Its calm environment and moderate noise level make this space great for concentrated studying. Also, it’s a music library, so de-stress with music! Be sure to take advantage of the piano on the third floor and play your stress away.

As the numerous orange cones indicate, construction is going on all over campus, including inside the Schulich library. This mid-sized mammoth recently closed for renovations, and many students have yet to find a new home or place to study (and sometimes cry, too). Although additional study spaces have been unveiled in the McLennan-Redpath library, there are also other Location: Elizabeth Wirth Music Building (527 alternatives available on campus.

Sherbrooke Street West) Hours: 9 a.m.–11 p.m. (Monday to Thursday); 9 Birks Reading Room a.m.– 6 p.m. (Friday); 10 a.m.– 6 p.m. (SaturOn the building’s second floor, you will find day); 12 p.m.– 11 p.m. (Sunday) a small and quiet study haven. Filled with wooden furniture, fascinating old books, and live plants, Nathan Gelber Law Library it makes a snug study spot. Take advantage of The library is reminiscent of the set of the this well-lit space on days when the weather is American television show Suits, but you won’t a bit gloomy. Be warned: You do have to take find Louis, Donna or Harvey Specter; you will your shoes off. However, this provides you with find law students hard at work. Above the first ample opportunity to show off your cool socks. floor, it’s pretty quiet. Look at the law students While its stiff looking chairs might not be entic- and be motivated to be productive! Note that ing, and its strict ‘no food’ rule may dismay some ibrary hours might change during the semester, hungry students, it’s the perfect place to go if you so stay informed. And, beware: It is located at love to study in quiet, cozy spaces! the top of Peel, so getting there is a bit of a hike.

Location: Second floor of the William and Henry Location: 3660 Peel Street Birks Building (3520 Rue University) Hours: 9 a.m.–11 p.m. (weekdays); 10 a.m.– 11 Hours: 9 a.m.–5 p.m. (Weekdays) p.m. (weekends)

Islamic Studies Library Equally as comforting as the Birks Reading Room, the Islamic Studies Library is bigger and strikingly beautiful. Head over here if you would like to escape into a world of antiquity, and, during the winter months, take advantage of its warmth and coziness. Fortunately, you don’t have to take your shoes off, but don’t worry: You can still wear your cool socks.

wiches and soups. It’s much quieter than McLennan, with fewer people in the mornings. Come here if you’re looking for a productive start to your day.

Location: 805 Sherbrooke Street West Hours: 8:30 a.m.– 9 p.m. (Monday–Thursday); 12:00 p.m.– 6:00 p.m. (weekends)

McConnell Engineering If you are not an engineering student (or even if you are), you might be surprised to find McConnell Location: 3458 McTavish on this list. Along most of their hallways are study Hours: 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. tables and benches with outlets and ample lighting.

There are also microwaves in the cafeteria downGeographic Information Centre (GIC) stairs. Clearly it was made for people who spend Located on the fifth floor of the Burnside many hours studying. Note that after hours it is only building, the GIC is often overlooked by stu- open to engineering and computer science students. dents. It is a happier alternative to studying in the building’s dungeon-like basement. However, Location: 3480 Rue University you can still descend from GIC to visit the Soupe Hours: 7:00 a.m.–10 p.m. (Monday– Thursday); Café and try their famous grilled cheese sand- 7:00 a.m.– 6:00 p.m. (Friday)

Study spots like the Nathan Gelber Law Library offer a repose from the hustle of McLennan.

(Leanne Young / The McGill Tribune)

12 STUDENT LIFE

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 2019

From the viewpoint: Distance makes the heart grow fonder

Dating across the globe in a digital age Janine Xu Contributor I first started dating my boyfriend during winter break of my second year at McGill. He was a close friend from high school, studying in Vancouver. I was heading back to McGill soon, and so we had to contend with the fact that we would be entering our relationship at a distance, which was definitely intimidating. The first semester was pretty rough, as we were both busy and rarely had time to talk, but seeing each other in person again in the summer made the time apart worth it. Throughout my third year at McGill, we communicated mainly over Facebook Messenger or Skype, and saw each other only during winter break and over the summer.

Now that summer is over and school is starting up again, many university students will face the difficulty of leaving their partners in other cities, provinces, or even countries. Long-distance relationships in university are very common: According to Maclean’s, 75 per cent of students have been in a long-distance relationship at some point during university.

Today, in our social media-powered society, it is easier—and faster—than ever to stay connected with someone who is far away.

However, even with the advantages that technology offers us, long-distance relationships remain challenging to maintain. Just being away at university can

feel isolating and stressful, and since long-distance relationships lack the physical component of other romantic partnerships, they require additional communication between partners. In my experience, when I am stressed about something, my boyfriend is generally good at comforting me if I am with him; however, he found it much harder to do so over the phone.

“Personally, […] I don’t think that doing long distance is ideal,” Erica Zhu, U4 Science, said in an interview with The McGill Tribune. “I definitely don’t think this is something that people can do [forever], especially if there’s no [immediate] end in sight.”

Indeed, the stereotypes associated with doing long-distance relationships may scare off many young couples. Feelings of loneliness, lack of physical intimacy, growing apart are all challenges that many people face when in a longdistance relationship.

Of course, that isn’t to say that all long-distance couples are destined for heartbreak. They can, in fact, establish unique bonds irrelevant to close distance relationships. For instance, a study by Cornell University found that long-distance relationships lend themselves to more intimate communication. Though couples communicate less on a daily basis, they are more inclined to share meaningful feelings to each other. In fact, a 2013 study by Queen’s University found that couples in long-distance relationships are just as satisfied as couples who live

close to each other, and that individual characteristics are much better predictors of relationship quality than distance.

“It’s definitely possible to […] still feel close and not live completely separate lives,” Zhu said. “I think it’s all about finding activities that you like to do together [.…] You can [stream] movies together on this app called Rabb.it. I also find that sending care packages or snail mail is a really good way to feel connected.”

For me, I enjoyed Skype calling my boyfriend while doing work or studying.

Finding little ways to spend time together or show gestures of appreciation can go a long way in allowing long-distance relationships flourish. Interestingly, there are some unexpected upsides to it as well. Seeing my boyfriend only every four months has made me appreciate our time together and has helped us grow closer. Despite the difficulties we face, long-distance has ultimately only made us stronger.

Studies show that long-distance relationships face many of the same challenges as any other relationship. (Sabrina Girard-Lamas / The McGill Tribune)

Saint-Laurent 101 A survival guide for a successful night out Gabriela McGuinty Contibutor Whether you are a first-year or otherwise, navigating nights out in Montreal can prove to be quite tricky and an honest testament to one’s patience. Home to infamous locations such as Tokyo, Suwu, and Cafe Campus, Saint Laurent tends to be an obvious choice for many McGillians on any given night of the week. While this bustling street’s close proximity to campus seems to fuel a constant flow of students, becoming a Saint Laurent pro takes time and practice. Apart from the obvious must-brings: ID (definitely), money (probaby), friends (hopefully), The McGill Tribune has also compiled a list of the essentials that will make any night out on Saint Laurent a success.

A good pair of shoes Going out at night sometimes inclines students to get out of their school clothes and put on something they deem more appropriate for dancing. Think twice before grabbing those chunky platforms and go instead for a reliable pair of shoes. The floors of Saint Laurent bars, clubs, and restaurants are flooded with substances ranging from garbage to spilled drinks.

Not to mention the fact that no venue

seems to actually have enough room for its supposed capacity, so consider stepped toes a rite of passage. Advice: Opt for a darker pair of closed toe shoes that are already slightly beaten up. Your feet and bank account will thank you.

Hand sanitizer See the above description of club floors. There are about five million trillion trillion bacteria in the world and this city at night is no exception.

A toonie for 2Chow 2Chow noodles have sustained students on Saint Laurent since the dawn of time—or, for however long it has been a clubbing hot-spot. There’s nothing more distressing than having a nagging feeling of hunger magnify immediately upon exiting a club. Suddenly the overpriced and undercooked pizza restaurants seem like a delectable four-course meal. However, there’s absolutely no need to break the bank to satisfy hunger cravings. Head on over to the multiple 2Chow stands nestled along the street and get your dose of a delicious and debatably nutritious snack.

GPS tracker on your phone A downside to a night out in a bustling student town is the unavoidable

likelihood that at some point either a phone will be misplaced or taken. To avoid having to whine to parents or make the unappealing trek to Best Buy to purchase another costly device, use your phone’s GPS tracker. iPhone and Android users have the luxury of being able to rely on a built-in GPS, namely Find iPhone and Find My Device, respectively. Other phone users might find it useful to download an external GPS tracker so that in the unfortunate case where a phone does goes missing, you can locate it within a matter of a few clicks.

Your dignity Last but certainly not least, this final essential for a night out is applicable to both first-years discovering their limits and fourth-years tempted to retread familiar mistakes. In an age where social media is as accessible and widespread as it is, one would imagine that people would be more conscious of their actions.

However, everyone has made mistakes, and a big part of being at university is learning to mature and confront those mistakes head on, hopefully with an eventual laugh. I recommend following the 75-15-10 method: Keep it 75 per cent classy, 15 per cent sassy, and 10 per cent trashy.

Keys? Check. ID? Check. Dignity? Check.

(Erin Sass / The McGill Tribune)

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 2019

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Artificial intelligence is paving the way for less invasive surgical training A recent McGill study applies machine learning to medicine

Sam Min Contributor Repeated practice is necessary to achieve mastery, which is no exception for surgical residents who often train directly on patients for four to six years. However, in this hands-on learning environment, even a minor mistake can be serious. To protect against such fatalities, a McGill research team constructed a solution.

“The implementation of competency-based surgical education, along with advances in virtual reality, has resulted in the development and utilization of virtual reality-based surgical simulators,” Rolando Del Maestro, professor emeritus in neuro-oncology at McGill, said in an interview with The McGill Tribune.

The Neurosurgical Stimulation and Artificial Intelligence Learning Centre recently published a study in JAMA Network Open. A collaboration between McGill clinical investigators, the study involved Del Maestro, educators in the Faculty of Medicine, and computer scientists specializing in artificial intelligence and machine learning.

The study introduces a virtual setting of surgical operation that can be used to accurately assess a surgeon’s performance level. It uses NeuroVR, one of the most advanced simulators in neurosurgery, which can accurately mimic the visual and tactile cues that surgeons receive during an operation.

“In the aviation industry, […] pilots are trained utilizing high fidelity simulations with haptic feedback [technology that can create an experience of touch],” Del Maestro said. “These simulation systems have improved safety [and] decreased human errors. Our research is focused on the utilization of these technologies.”

In the study, research participants, which included medical students, residents, and attending neurosurgeons, were asked to

remove realistic brain tumours in virtual simulations. A machine learning algorithm known as the k-nearest neighbours (KNN) algorithm, then classified participants’ performances as that of a medical student, junior or senior resident, or attending neurosurgeon.

When assessing surgical performance, researchers took 270 factors, such as hand movements, the level of force applied through an instrument, and the amount of bleeding from the incision, into account. After the participants performed the virtual neurosurgery simulations, the researchers transformed the raw data of performance into a quantifiable dataset of these factors that might affect surgical performance. Using machine learning algorithms, they ran multiple simulations to achieve the highest accuracy of evaluating surgical performance.

If the machine learning algorithm misclassified the surgical performance of a participant (for example, if it categorized the work of a medical student as that of a neurosurgeon), the research team identified the algorithm as inaccurate. In the end, the algorithm accurately assessed participants’ surgical performance 90 per cent of the time, with only five misclassified individuals out of 50 participants. This virtual platform for evaluation can thus provide budding surgeons an opportunity to identify their areas of improvement without putting a patient at risk.

“Artificial intelligence fused with these high-fidelity surgical simulators can enhance present models of surgical education by providing opportunity where learners can not only acquire advanced surgical techniques, but do so in environments without the limitations imposed by operating rooms,” Del Maestro said.

Research at the intersection of artificial intelligence and surgical education has been progressing rapidly. Currently, the research group has been able to develop a curriculum for medical students and residents that heavily incorporate virtual reality simulators.

“The future of surgical education is undergoing a revolution spearheaded by virtual reality and artificial intelligence technology, which will complement present teaching methods,” Del Maestro said. “These systems can be utilized by any profession which requires the utilization of expert bimanual skills, which also encompass such areas as dentistry and nursing.”

Computers can be used to assess a surgeon’s performance level with 90 per cent accuracy. (Erin Sass / The McGill Tribune)

Faculty of Science presents the 28th edition of Soup and Science Professors talk universe expansion, psychological biases, and planet formation Pouya Jafarian, Sara Eldabaa, & Daria Kiseleva Contributors From Sept. 9—13, the Faculty of Science hosted Soup and Science, a semesterly event where professors briefly present their research and talk with students at Redpath Museum.

The expanding universe Jonathan Sievers, a professor in the Department of Physics and researcher at the McGill Space Institute, shared his research on galaxy expansion. Sievers started by throwing a basketball in the air and letting it fall back into his hand.

“If, on its way up, this ball accelerated, slowed down, reaccelerated, and finally fell down, you would be shocked, wouldn’t you?” Sievers asked.

“Well, it seems that our universe is expanding in this manner.”

Sievers explained that the rate at which the universe grows is not constant at all. This strange phenomenon is associated with dark energy, a form of energy thought to drive the expansion of the universe.

The evidence for this phenomenon comes from the observation that distant galaxies appear more red than expected . This distortion in colour indicates that the wavelength of light travelling from a distant galaxy is longer than its value when emitted. This shows the expansion of the universe, since it suggests that the source of light is moving away from the observer.

To escape human-created radio interference and properly observe this expansion, Sievers has expanded his research to remote Marion Island, which lies between South Africa and Antarctica.

Inter-group biases Jordan Axt, a professor in the Department of Psychology, presented his work on inter-group biases. In his research, he observes whether research participants are more likely to select physically attractive individuals for a fake honour society over “uglier” people holding the same credentials.

Axt found that attractive applicants were indeed more likely to be accepted than less attractive ones when the two were equally qualified. The same was true when the two groups were equally unqualified. This bias occurred because the participants, who implicitly relied upon the candidate’s image to reach a decision, had lower standards for the attractive group.

The results of this study exemplify how biases can easily become ingrained, and how one’s perceived attractiveness—which they have little control over—can significantly influence their opportunities.

Axt has previously demonstrated that other biases, such as in-group favouritism and political affiliation, influence judgement. In the future, he hopes to study whether the perception of one’s own attractiveness influences their tendency to evaluate others based on attractiveness.

How planets form Eve Lee, an assistant professor in the Department of Physics, gave an overview of her research on planet formation.

She explained that, generally, planets begin forming when electrostatic forces, which are created by interacting positive and negative charges, stick tiny dust particles together. Gravitational attraction and collisions allow for the formation of rocky planets the size of Earth.

To reach the size of gas giants like Jupiter, a rocky planet must also build a very thick atmosphere.

However, outside of the solar system, researchers have observed a variety of unexpected phenomena. For example, they have found that some planets much larger than Earth orbit their central stars at a significantly closer distance, while others reduce their size by shrinking their atmosphere.

Lee’s team uses knowledge of thermodynamics to do analytical calculations and create computer simulations of planet formation.

“What my research group is really looking at is how common our solar system is and just how lucky are we to live on a planet that has just the right conditions to harbour life,” Lee said.

Hosted by the Faculty of Science, Soup and Science is held at the beginning of each semester. (Erin Sass / The McGill Tribune)

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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 2019

The applications of graphene at McGill and beyond The nanomaterial is used for water purification, medicine, and even shoes Stephanie Deng Contributor Continued from page 1.

Due to its unique physical and chemical properties, graphene demonstrates fascinating traits. It is the lightest, thinnest, and strongest carbon allotrope and was the first human-made two-dimensional material to be isolated.

Despite being one atom thick, it is 200 times stronger than steel and is the lightest, most conductive human-made material on Earth. It thus has the potential to be applied to many different fields, although it is still in the early stages of development.

“As with any new technology, it takes time to commercialize a product, and not many [graphene products] are on the market yet,” Raed Abdo, a Master’s student in Electrical Engineering, wrote in an email to The McGill Tribune. “However, we can expect to see it soon in different applications, including battery sensors, coatings, and construction.”

Indeed, graphene has numerous applications. For example, scientists at the University of Manchester have created a graphene coating that could protect cars and ships from rust. Graphene’s thinness and sensitivity to chemicals has led to the design of graphene membranes to purify water, keep food fresh for longer, and

identify harmful substances in the agricultural industry, which allows farmers to protect crops accordingly. Additionally, because it is capable of filtering out nuclear waste and salt, graphene could provide clean drinking water to millions of people in developing countries.

Water quality monitoring is an extremely important application of graphene, and one that is being pursued

by McGill researchers. Along with PhD candidate Ibrahim Fakih and Professor Thomas Szkopek, Abdo recently launched UltraSense, a start-up that uses low-cost, high-resolution chemical sensors composed of graphene to monitor water quality.

Furthermore, graphene’s high flexibility and strength make it an ideal candidate for use in implant and tissue engineering technology, as it can withstand and adapt to biological forces. It can even be programmed to target specific tissue, such as cancer cells, to effectively deliver drugs. Graphene has also been used in running shoes, since it is more resistant to wear and tear. At McGill, Szkopek’s lab has designed graphene-based headphones that showcase exemplary sound quality.

However, despite graphene’s benefits, Abdo noted that there are some challenges.

“Graphene is just a single layer of carbon atoms, so it is a challenge to make large-scale devices without de-

grading the quality of the graphene,” Abdo said.

Other difficulties include biological compatibility, toxicity, and stability, as well as the financial challenges associated with obtaining large amounts of graphene, which is not currently produced at an industrial scale. Though there is promising new research on sustainably

producing graphene with bacteria, Abdo warns against over-reliance on the material.

“While graphene is indeed a unique material, we should not force it into our daily lives just for the sake of it,” Abdo said. “We can use it in applications that improve existing technologies, and that takes time.”

Graphene is 200 times stronger than steel and is the lightest human-made material on Earth.

(Leanne Young / The McGill Tribune)

Carbon offsets: A controversial way to fight climate change Offsetting is a common choice, but it is not the only solution Gwenyth Wren Contributor At McGill, a university that boasts a large international student body and faculty, it’s no surprise that many people rely on air travel to return for the start of the semester. Globally, the number of annual airline passengers in the past 15 years has more than doubled, increasing from 1.9 billion in 2004 to 4.3 billion in 2018. Worryingly, the transportation sector, particularly the airline industry, is the fastest-growing emitter of greenhouse gases and, thus, a major contributor to climate change.

As individuals and institutions seek to reduce their carbon footprint, many turn to purchasing carbon offsets, sold by independent companies such as Carbon Offset Reserve and Plan Vivo.

Carbon offsetting is a way of counteracting carbon emissions: By purchasing carbon offsets, parties provide funding for greenhouse gas reduction projects and activities. Carbon offset projects include renewable energy programs, methane capture from landfills or farms, and carbon sequestration projects such as reforestation.

While carbon offsetting represents a quick fix to mitigating climate change, McGill Climate Officer Aileen Rivers explained that it should not be viewed as a panacea nor as an excuse to ignore the environmental effects of daily decisions. Indeed, some have even argued that offsetting allows us to consume guilt-free, similar to the

Catholic church’s notorious promise to absolve sins through the sale of indulgences.

“It is important to be clear that carbon offsetting brings companies or a person back to the baseline they were already at,” Rivers said in an interview with The McGill Tribune. “It does not reduce emissions any further from the level they were at to begin with.”

Rivers detailed that, while offsetting is a good strategy, it should be used in conjunction with lifestyle changes rather than in isolation. This is especially important because it is not always possible to ensure that the purchased offset will have a beneficial effect since the carbon market varies widely in quality.

In fact, some offsets are thought to have no net climate benefit. For example, protecting forests in a certain location might simply shift logging to a forest in another area. Among other criteria, highquality offsets should be accurately quantified, verified by a third party, and involve stakeholders.

Certain offset projects are endorsed according to these criteria by organisations like Gold Standard.

With the goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2040, McGill is promoting the purchase of carbon offsets and has created an offset selection committee that accounts for the necessary criteria to classify an offset as high quality. In theory, this will ensure that the offset is successful, and that no negative consequences arise.

Though offsets are important, Rivers suggests small lifestyle changes to reduce environ-

mental impact in the long term, such as using public transport when possible, reducing power usage, and avoiding travelling by plane. If air travel is necessary, however, people should choose economy seating and direct flights, since packing in more passengers and reducing takeoffs and landings increases fuel efficiency. Eating locally and reducing the consumption of animal products are also key to decreasing greenhouse gas emissions.

“I believe it is a fallacy that individual choices cannot make a difference,” Rivers said. “Little things aggregate and lead to something more significant.”

Rivers also recommends using a personal emissions calculator to target which lifestyle changes are most needed. By implementing small changes and being held accountable, these small adjustments will accumulate to bigger lifestyle transitions.

The transportation sector, particularly the airline industry, is the fastest-growing emitter of greenhouse gases. (Jessie Ye / The McGill Tribune)

SPORTS

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 2019

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Body diversity and “The Body Issue” The importance of visible body diversity in sports Kaja Surborg Sports Editor Sept. 4, ESPN The released the 11th edition of “The Body Issue.” This year’s issue boasts 17 covers, all featuring world-renowned athletes completely nude.

The artfully-shot photographs are meant to celebrate these athletes and the bodies that allow them to perform at the highest level. The accompanying interviews frequently speak to athletes’ personal struggles with body image and their journeys to feeling comfortable in their own skin. A common conclusion for many of the athletes is that their body has allowed them to pursue the sport that they love at a professional level, and they have, therefore, learned to be thankful for both the function and aesthetics of their bodies.

“I feel really accepting of the things I used to be insecure about,” American gymnast Kaetlyn Ohashi said. “I have gone through eating disorders and body shaming and here I am today doing this shoot.”

On

Magazine

American Pralympic long-jumper and sprinter Scout Bassett’s prosthetic leg was on display throughout her photoshoot. (Atsushi Tomura / Getty) Ohashi’s interview accompanies a series of photographs of her doing the splits and other physically impressive feats that most of us can only dream of—and she is not the only one. Many of the photoshoots centre on the athletes’ skills and capabilities, with the cover stars holding barbells, basketballs, and hockey sticks. Framing the photoshoots around the function rather than the aesthetics of an athlete’s body is important in an era where eating disorders and

body dysmorphia have become increasingly common. It would be easy for the magazine to ignore issues of inclusivity and diversity, especially regarding size and ability. But, “The Body Issue” notably includes athletes from a wide range of sports with different body shapes as well as athletes with physical disabilities.

This year’s issue features Scout Bassett, an American Paralympic long-jumper and sprinter. Bassett’s prosthetic leg is on display in every one of the

12 photos in the online gallery.

“I get devastated when I hear [that a girl doesn’t want to run because the prosthetics are ugly],” Bassett said. “I tell them, ‘but it’s how it makes you feel.’

That’s a problem, and it’s a huge part of why I did ‘The Body Issue.”

Size remains another significant barrier to entry in many athletic environments.

When Nike began using plussized mannequins, the backlash included comments on how fat people would not be using these clothes to actually do sports, implying that people above a certain weight or body size cannot or do not participate in athletics.

Most people have some notion of what they believe to be an ideal body for an athlete, and visible abs are a part of that mental image more often than not.

In past years, “The Body Issue” has included, athletes not only with visible disabilities, but a diversity of body shapes and sizes as well. This includes athletes who would be considered plus-size by clothing companies.

Making all bodies in athletics

visible, regardless of size or ability, demonstrates that sports do not need to be exclusive to those with stereotypically athletic bodies.

Broader social issues, particularly the commodification of bodies in professional sports should not be ignored when discussing “The Body Issue”.

Racialized and lower income groups, whose athletic ability is often a route toward upward mobility, whether through gaining a higher education with an athletic scholarship or through professional sports, should also not be left out of the conversation.

It also brings up questions of injuries and athletes’ physical and mental health, which can be ignored in order for sponsors or teams to continue to profit from their performance.

Like many industries, the sports industry is built around human bodies, which brings up issues of race, gender, and poverty that cannot be ignored.

But, showcasing all bodies as capable and valid is a definite positive for an industry that many still see as exclusive.

A miracle at Molson Stadium for men’s lacrosse

McGill men’s lacrosse edges by Trent to win 8-7 in second OT

In the first period of golden-goal overtime, Trent dominated the ball, but McGill’s defence did not budge. In the second period, Trent continued to attack, and McGill appeared to be in trouble. But, with a minute left, fourth-year defenceman Tanner Baldin intercepted the ball and darted across the field to score the game-winning goal.

McGill will square off with the Gee-Gees (01) in Ottawa on Sept. 21.

Adam Bell Contributor The Sept. 14 afternoon matchup between the McGill men’s lacrosse team (2–0) and the Trent University Excalibur (2–1) was a thrilling early-season affair. McGill showed tremendous character and perseverance to beat Trent 8–7 in double overtime.

The action started quickly when fourth-year defenceman Connor Plante caught a sailing pass and ran half of the field to open scoring for McGill.

The cheers were short-lived, however, as Trent evened the score in the fourth minute. Seconds later, the home crowd was on its feet again when second-year long-stick midfielder Ethan Forgrave converted a passing sequence into another goal for McGill.

The Trent defence tightened after the excitement of the game’s opening minutes. The rest of the first half favoured the away side as the Excalibur dominated possession, shots, and goals.

McGill trailed 6–3 at half-time.

“We came out okay, but then they scored a lot of goals, and it was the first time this year where we had our backs against the wall,” Defensive Coach Nick Soubry said. “It took us a while for us not to overthink things.”

At the start of the second half, McGill made a substitution in the net, replacing firstyear goalkeeper Steven Pelliccione with his older brother, third-year goalkeeper David Pelliccione, to tighten the McGill defence. Second-year midfielder Andrew Chase then eventually scored an impressive goal from a seemingly impossible angle, cutting Trent’s lead down to two. A minute

MOMENT OF THE GAME In his defensive zone, fourth-year defencemen Tanner Baldin stretched out his stick to intercept a horizontal pass. He then sprinted to the opposite net to smash home the game-winner.

Third-year defenceman Tanner Baldin eyes the net before scoring the game winning shot.

(Seyran Mammadov / University of Toronto Athletics)

later, third-year attackman Colton Campbell ran over multiple defenders to score with a cannon shot. However, Trent added to their advantage with under two minutes left in the third quarter to make it 7–5.

McGill started the fourth quarter aggressively with the Campbell-Chase connection making it a one-point margin once again. Chase then completed his hat-trick to level the score at 7–7, while Pelliccione successfully rebuffed Trent’s attack. But, with only two seconds left in the game,

Trent scored what would have been the decisive point; however, the referees disallowed the goal due to a crease violation, and the game went to overtime. “[David Pelliccione] made some really big saves, which gave the guys confidence,” Soubry said, commending the substitute goalie’s performance after the game. “When you get toward the end of the game, and the goalie makes a big stop, the team gets very hyped and energetic.”

QUOTABLE “We’re going to throw a party for the rookies tonight, and then get back to work on Monday.” - Third-year defender Roland Moellenberg on the team’s post-victory plans.

STAT CORNER McGill and Trent have finished in the top two of the CUFLA’s Eastern Conference every year since 2016. McGill is now the only remaining undefeated team in the conference.

16

SPORTS

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 2019

Martlet hockey dominates against Moncton in season opener McGill women’s hockey’s first game ends in a 4-1 victory The Martlets finished the weekend with a 3–0 win against Guelph. The team plays next on Sept. 20 in Toronto against Queen’s University.

Sarah Farnand Contributor On Sept. 13, Martlet hockey (1–0) opened its season against Moncton’s Aigles Bleues (0–1) with a decisive 4–1 victory. The Martlets hoped to set the tone for the rest of the season and are now looking to carry this game’s winning energy forward.

“It was a great game to get our cohesion going on the ice,” fourth-year forward Lea Dumais said. “We had a lot of energy.”

McGill came out strong: Third-year forward Kellyane Lecours opened the scoring just five minutes into the game with a wraparound goal assisted by third-year centre Marika Labrecque. Less than a minute later though, Moncton answered with a goal of their own. That would be the only one of the Bleues’ 12 shots that got past first-year goaltender Andrea Lacroix Le Gall.

The Martlets dominated the game throughout the second period, putting pressure on the Moncton defence all period long. Just under 15 minutes into the period, after several quality chances, McGill took the lead again with a goal from Dumais, assisted by fourth-year centre Jade Downie-Landry and first-year forward Anna MacCara.

The home side was off to another quick start in the third period with a goal from DownieLandry, assisted by MacCara and fifth-year defenceman Kate Devries four minutes in. Back-

MOMENT OF THE GAME Third-year forward Kellyane Lecours put McGill ahead five minutes into the game with a wrap-around, Bobby Orresque goal off the assist from third-year centre Marika Labrecque.

QUOTABLE Third-year forward Kellyane Lecours gives the Martlets an early lead over Moncton.

(Derek Drummond / McGill Athletics) and-forth play ensued, until Moncton was called for a delay of game penalty halfway through the period. The Martlets took full advantage of the powerplay with a goal from Labrecque, assisted

by Downie-Landry and Dumais.

The first game of the season was a chance for the team to see how they play together and set a benchmark for what’s working and what still needs to be improved. With this dominant performance, the Martlets are hopeful for the season to come.

“It was good for our first game of the season; we had some good energy,” third-year defenceman Samantha McCluskey said. “We

just [have to] build on it.”

Fourth-year centre Nicole Howlett echoed this optimistic sentiment.

“We just have to keep the energy [of the first game going] against Guelph because that’s a bigger game,” Howlett said.

As to what still needs improvement, the general consensus seemed to be in the defensive zone.

“We’ve been focusing on our D-zone a lot because that’s how we create our O-zone,” said Dumais. “[We need to] focus on the little things [like communication and] playing a disciplined game.”

“This team has a lot of potential.

We already have a lot of cohesion, a lot of support from everyone on the team including the coaches, so we’re really excited to keep moving forward in the season and creating something special” Fourth-year forward Lea Dumais on how she thinks the upcoming season will go.

STAT CORNER McGill remains undefeated against Moncton with their all-time record coming to 8–0–0. They have outscored Moncton 45–5 since their first meeting 12 years ago.

Manchester United finally seeing a bright future with Solskjær Managers are not always to blame for a team’s poor performance

Hussain Awan Contributor “Three years of excuses and it’s still crap,” read the banner that one sullen fan unfurled in the Old Trafford stands. It was December 1989, and Sir Alex Ferguson was at a career low, with Manchester United supporters and the media alike calling for his dismissal. Little did the naysayers know, Ferguson’s tenure would continue for another 23 years as he would shrug off his early trials to lead the club to 38 trophies over his next two decades in charge.

Since Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, his successors at the Manchester soccer club have struggled to live up to his long-term success. Four managers in as many years have followed, with fans quick to pin the blame for poor results on those in charge. But the story of Ferguson’s early struggles suggests that new managers are being unfairly scapegoated by the club’s supporters.

In soccer, coaches enjoy their own following among fans as they move from club to club. Data indicate that management tenures in soccer are shorter than other major sports by nearly a fifth, as both fans and club executives tend to place much of the blame on coaches for their team’s poor performance.

Much of the research on the subject, however, suggests that firing managers is not the solution for struggling clubs. A recent analysis by The Economist showed that even the most overachieving managers struggled to sustain performance after switching clubs. While noting exceptions to the rule, such as Jurgen Klopp and Diego Simeone, their findings suggest that most coaches do not to increase their teams’ expected point totals by more than one or two. In comparison, the addition of a standout player can bring about a near double-digit point difference. Studies of recent seasons in France’s Ligue 1 have similarly shown that the arrivals of new managers do not correlate with significant increases in season point totals. And, in what will perhaps be the most shocking revelation to armchair critics, research on the Eredivisie, the toptier soccer league in the Netherlands, suggests that mid-season

A high turnover of managers has not been linked to higher performances for soccer clubs, despite managers often taking the blame for poor performances. (Getty Images) firings do not bring about lasting improvements in performance.

There is evidence to support a honeymoon phase, however, during which time players are motivated to impress the new boss.

Luckily for Manchester United fans, a new era may well be on the horizon. The appointment of Ole Gunnar Solskjær, a longtime player under Ferguson, as manager last December quickly brought the club 14 wins from their subsequent 19 games. After years of focus on defence under José Mourinho and Louis van Gaal, a return to the attacking style reminiscent of the “Busby Babes” has reinvigorated the club’s players and supporters. The signings of Dan James, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and Harry Maguire suggest that

the club has returned to its philosophy of developing young British players, and their exciting early performances are even more encouraging with all three being nominated for August’s Player of the Month award.

Fans still seem to be supporting Solskjær for now. The stands rang with choruses of “Ole’s at the wheel / Tell me how good does it feel?” after Manchester United knocked Paris Saint-Germain out of the Champions League in March 2019. Things could still go awry, but with the culture changing and the doom-and-gloom sentiments done away with, United fans’ good feelings may just be warranted for the seasons to come.