The McGill Tribune Vol. 40 Issue 17

The McGill Tribune TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9 2021 | VOL. #40 | ISSUE #17

Published by the SPT, a student society of McGill University

McGILLTRIBUNE.COM | @McGILLTRIBUNE

EDITORIAL

FEATURE

SPORTS

Beware of McGill’s hazardous reopening plan

Our collective impulses

The McGill Tribune’s comprehensive guide to winter sports in a pandemic

PGs. 8-9

PG. 5

PG. 15

(Elissa Dresdner / The McGill Tribune)

McGill partners with Ecosia, the search engine that plants trees

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McGill announces the implementation of Tier 2 in-person academic activities Conference sections, labs, and tutorials are among the optional in-person activities Kate Addison News Editor In an email to the McGill community on Feb. 5, Deputy Provost (Student Life and Learning) Fabrice Labeau announced that McGill would begin implementing some in-

person activities on campus as early as Feb. 8. These in-person activities, called “Tier 2 academic activities,” are optional learning opportunities for students currently in the Montreal area who would like to return to campus.

The Ministry of Higher Education officially announced

the gradual rollout of in-person learning activities in a press conference on Feb. 4. Associate Provost (Teaching and Academic Programs) Christopher Buddle told The McGill Tribune that the safety of students and staff will be prioritized during the roll out of Tier 2 teaching activities.

PG. 2

2021 could be the shortest year in decades

How the pandemic has fuelled poetry’s popularity

Earth is spinning faster than it has in 50 years

Those unable to venture out are turning inward

Youssef Wahba Contributor While most assume that a day lasts 24 hours, this is not entirely true.

Scientists believe that the Earth is spinning faster than it has in 50 years, and as a result, each day in 2021 may be infinitesimally shorter.

To understand why this is, it is important to know how the duration of Earth’s full rotation is measured. The Earth follows an elliptical motion around the Sun, completing one full rotation about its axis every 24 hours, or 86,400 seconds. Atomic clocks—highly precise time-measuring instru-

ments—have shown that this value is usually off by a few milliseconds due to variations in Earth’s rotational speed from one year to the next. This is caused by changes in angular momentum, a measure of a body’s spin with respect to its mass, velocity, and radius.

PG. 10

Lowell Wolfe Staff Writer The COVID-19 pandemic has altered and halted lives around the world. Whether studying in Montreal or from home, McGill students are experiencing a unique semester that has encouraged, and even forced, adaptation. In response to COVID-19–related challenges, many McGill students have turned to poetry and creative

writing as outlets for exploring, understanding, and relating to the strange and often tragic situations in which they are living.

According to a survey conducted by activeminds.org, 20 per cent of college students said that their mental health has significantly worsened during the pandemic, 48 per cent of college students have experienced financial setbacks, and 74 per cent of students have struggled to maintain a daily routine. The

situation at McGill is no different, as students have declared that this situation has become a growing mental health crisis. Poetry allows for students to explore troublesome circumstances and emotions from the safety of their rooms, making it the perfect hobby to adopt during stay-athome orders. Jana Marie Perkins, a member of Poetry Matters, stressed the unique avenues for articulation that poetry offers.

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9 2021

NEWS

McGill plans to implement Tier 2 in-person academic activities Conference sections, labs, and tutorials are among the optional in-person activities Kate Addison News Editor Continued from page 1.

The Ministry of Higher Education officially announced the gradual rollout of in-person learning activities in a press conference on Feb. 4. Associate Provost (Teaching and Academic Programs) Christopher Buddle told The McGill Tribune that the safety of students and staff will be prioritized during the roll out of Tier 2 teaching activities.

“Planning was [...] done with strict adherence to all the public health directives and guidelines,” Buddle said. “That’s actually why some activities will take a little bit of time before they’re ready to go. We have to make sure that [all] the safety measures are in place [....] Students will be notified [about in-person activities] through their faculties and instructors in the coming days and weeks.”

A procedural mask mandate for indoor spaces on McGill’s campuses will be implemented along with pre-existing campus safety regulations. For Rachel Kalmanovich, U2 Arts, however, the prospect of a sudden return to in-person learning is daunting despite the difficulties of online classes.

“I’m generally a little bit nervous,” Kalmanovich said “When I signed up for [my] conference I wasn’t really expecting things to go in person. I definitely don’t think I feel

comfortable being in an in-person space at this point in time.”

The administration cited the positive impact they believe returning to campus will have on students’ mental health as a driving force behind beginning Tier 2 in-person activities.

“For [some] students the ability to come to campus for some activities could be quite impactful and very important because we know that a lot of students are feeling quite isolated,” Buddle said. “An opportunity for some students to engage even just a little bit with the campus [...] can be quite important for members of our

community.”

While some academic activities will be offered under Tier 2, other student services, like clubs and some Wellness Hub services, will remain online. “[Under] the new government directives, we are told that [McGill] can offer [student services] in person, based on demand,” Labeau said. “Our first couple of weeks are going to be really about gauging demand. We know that for the Wellness Hub there hasn’t been much demand for in-person mental health services.

But [for] in-person physical health services, [we

McGill reported 9 cases of COVID-19 on its campuses between Jan 24-30.

(Leanne Young / The McGill Tribune)

know] there was demand, so [...] it’s going to be done on a case-by-case basis.”

The return to in-person teaching also came as a cause for concern for some educators at the university. Jessica Rose, grievance officer for the Association of Graduate Students Employed at McGill (AGSEM), voiced some of the union members’ concerns regarding the safety of inperson teaching.

“The university maintains that as long as their protocols are in place, and are being followed, that the environment is categorically safe,” Rose said. “Of course, protocols are simply a matter of behaviour and compliance [...] so the question of whether or not they’re consistently maintained [...] determines whether or not they consider the environment to be safe.”

Rose expressed frustrations with the McGill administration’s decision to implement in-person teaching.

“For people who have health concerns, there are procedures for accommodation which include [...] the right to opt out of in-person teaching altogether and to teach remotely or to do other tasks as a TA without losing [your position],” Rose said. “But there are also other conditions that aren’t taken as seriously.

[McGill has] been very explicit that if you have dependents who have health conditions, or if you live with somebody who has a health condition that puts them at greater risk for negative outcomes from COVID-19, they don’t care.”

Eating Disorder Awareness Week forms community in isolation Events addressed the pandemic’s increased struggles for students with eating disorders Wendy Zhao Staff Writer Content warning: Mentions of eating disorders.

The Students’ Society of McGill University’s (SSMU) Eating Disorder Resource and Support Centre (EDRSC) held its third National Eating Disorder Awareness Week (EDAW) from Feb. 1 to Feb. 5. The events and discussions throughout the week highlighted the impact that social media and the pandemic have had on eating disorders or disordered eating.

The workshops provided guidance on eating mindfully, overcoming fatphobia, and supporting affected loved ones.

McGill cut its Eating Disorder Program in 2017 due to changes made to the structure of counselling and psychiatric services at the time, among other factors. In its place, SSMU established the EDRSC to fill a lack of resources.

During the “Disordered Eating in a COVID-19 Context” event, Ffion Hughes, U4 Arts and a survivor of anorexia nervosa, shared how working from home in constant proximity to her kitchen has made it challenging to maintain a positive relationship with food.

“For the most part, I’ve been able to stay in control over my eating,”

Hughes said. “But in a sense, it’s too much control.”

Confined now to her apartment, Hughes says that the pandemic has left it up to herself to enforce the boundaries that make balanced consumption easier.

“In years past, I’ve been able to go to the library, where I could not think about food for a while,” Hughes said. “[Now], I’m constantly surrounded by triggers.”

Odessa Grimard, U3 Science, is a floor fellow at Solin Hall residence who has experienced disordered eating. Grimard explained that isolation may be especially triggering for those in recovery.

“Folks don’t have the social checks of other people around them to realize that their behaviour is not [normal],” Grimard said.

Grimard also grapples with the decreased visibility of students’ mental health challenges in the remote learning context. With the loss of communal spaces, students’ struggles are obscured and preventative measures inhibited when they are most needed.

“In previous years, I had students study until 3 a.m. as a form of anxious [behaviour], and we’d see them and be able to reach out and support them, but we can’t see that anymore,” Grimard said.

Those fighting mental health

issues and disordered eating during the pandemic are forced to seek support themselves. Elizabeth Hales, U0 Arts, expressed the challenge of finding and accepting aid as a first-year student.

“My therapist is back home,” Hales said. “Coming into a new city with no support system, being unable to meet new people, it’s hard to validate myself and realize it’s okay to get help, even though I’m not the worst I’ve ever been.”

During “Fatphobia: An Introductory Workshop,” Mariam Elmi, a student at the University of Ottawa, described her search for a community of minorities affected by eating disorders or disordered eating.

“Within mainstream eating disorder stories and discussions, I often feel like I’m the odd one out because I don’t see people who look like me,” Elmi said. “I didn’t see anyone like me until I went to a support group over Zoom last night. I thought, ‘Finally I’m not alone.’”

Cyndi Owens, a local wellness advisor, concluded the “Disordered Eating in a COVID-19 Context” event by calling upon students to support one another through their shared challenges.

“The only connection we have left [is] grief,” Owens said. “We’re all not okay in different ways [....]

The key is a network of support [....]

Bother each other, make use of each

Social isolation and loss of structure can exacerbate feelings of anxiety faced by those struggling with eating disorders. (Daria Kiseleva / The McGill Tribune) other, then change will be sustainable and be rooted in a core rather than something that feels like it might overtake us.”

Students can find resources and support for disordered eating or eating disorders at the EDRSC and Student Wellness Hub.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9 2021

NEWS

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Bar des Pins to be revamped by Milton Park community group

The classic McGill haunt may soon become a community-focussed bistro Anthony Schokalsky Contributor Bar des Pins, a studentfavourite sports bar at the corner of avenues Parc and des Pins is set to be purchased by Société du Développement Communautaire (SDC) Milton Parc, a group member within Milton Parc Citizen’s Committee (CCMP). A recent report by the Students’ Society of McGill University Vice-President (VP) External suggests that SSMU may begin engaging in conversations with the Milton Park Community (CMP)—a housing cooperative network that the SDC is a member of—about forming a partnership.

The CCMP is a not-forprofit organization which strives to improve the democratic and collective autonomy of Milton-Parc residents. Its past projects have included organic fair trade food banks, an environment committee, and a partnership with SSMU’s Trash 2 Treasure initiative.

In an email to The McGill Tribune, Nathan McDonnell, VP of the CCMP, elaborated on the SDC’s role as “community landlord” of the Milton Parc neighbourhood,

noting that it owns Presse Café, Basha’s, Marché Lobo, and Café St Barth, as well as other offices and businesses along Parc Avenue. The SDC currently has its sight set on numerous properties, like the former Hôtel-Dieu hospital, the Royal Victoria Hospital, and the parking lots on Saint Urbain.

McDonnell spoke to the imminent purchase of Bar des Pins by the SDC. “[One] family has owned [Bar des Pins] for several decades,” McDonell said. “Since the father has become elderly and unable to run the business anymore, the sons [...] wanted to sell the bar even before the pandemic.”

Bar des Pins falls within the Milton Parc community land trust, which gives the SDC rights of first refusal to buy it, effectively keeping it off the private market when sold. “[The land trust is] a kind of post-capitalist form of property ownership where 1500 people live without landlords in communitycontrolled housing.”

McDonnell described SDC members’ vision for the future of the Bar. “[It could be] a unique family-

friendly community café [or] bistro, a place with healthy, local, maybe all vegetarian food, amazing coffee, and lots and lots of community events,” McDonnell said. “It would be run as a solidarity cooperative, a democratic model where workers and customers are co-owners. It would be a model for a democratic and ecological economy.”

CCMP members are interested in collaborating with SSMU on the new business.

In an email to The McGill Tribune, SSMU VP Finance Gifford Marpole wrote that the decision to collaborate with SSMU has only come up once in dialogue with the CCMP and that no firm decisions have been made concerning the Pins café yet.

Marpole explained that SSMU would have to produce a robust financial analysis should it become seriously interested in forming a partnership with the site. “[It would involve] rigorous analysis to determine the feasibility, sustainability, and benefit of such a collaboration,” Marpole said. “The decision would have to be brought to the students and voted [on] by them. It would definitely be brought

Bar des Pins has served Milton Parc for over fifty years. (ccmp-mpcc.com) to the attention of students. That’s important to SSMU’s policy on transparency.”

According to SSMU VP External Affairs Ayo Ogunremi SSMU has yet to seriously consider the partnership.

“SSMU has a history of collaborating with organizations and communities in Milton Parc,” Ogunremi said in an interview with the Tribune. “It’s established positions to work on intergenerational housing with the community, for example.”

Regardless of SSMU’s decision to financially back the project, the expected timeline for Bar des Pins’

purchase and renovation remains unclear.

A representative of Bar des Pins said that the establishment has yet to be sold to anyone and did not elaborate on its potential redevelopment.

The projected date for a renovated Pins café remains unknown. CCMP treasurer Adam Gwiazda-Amsel, U4 Arts, said that the SDC is currently negotiating the purchase of the property from its current owners.

“As such, it is unlikely that [the Pins café] will be operational before this summer at the earliest,” Gwiazda-Amsel said.

AUS candidates discuss mental health at 2021 election debate

Candidates were concerned about the lack of involvement involvement in government Ella Fitzhugh Staff Writer Content warning: Mentions of gendered and sexual violence.

McGill’s Arts Undergraduate Society (AUS) held a virtual debate on Feb. 4 for candidates running in the upcoming AUS elections to discuss student mental health, support for survivors of sexual violence, and equity in the Faculty of Arts. Candidates running for the positions of President, VicePresidents (VP), Representative, and Senator outlined each of their goals for what they hope to accomplish if elected.

The executive positions of VP Finance, VP External, VP Academic, VP Social, and Arts Representatives are uncontested. On the other hand, there are two candidates each up for the position of President, VP Internal and VP Communications, and six candidates competing for the two Arts Senator positions.

The polling period is open from Feb. 8 to Feb. 10 and results will be announced an hour after polls close at 6 p.m. Many of the candidate’s platforms included common themes such as increasing mental health support for students and ensuring equity and sustainability in the McGill administration’s practices.

Candidates discussed improvements

A goal among several candidates is to host more events that adhere to sustainable practices.

(Lauren Benson-Armer / The McGill Tribune)

that need to be made to the McGill Student Wellness Hub in order to be a more supportive system for students. Paige Collins, U2 Arts Representative and one of the candidates running for Arts Senator, called for better mental health services through increased hiring of health professionals at the Hub and changes in deferred exam policies.

“If elected, I’d like to advocate for increasing the amount of licensed healthcare professionals that students can access,” Collins said. “Further, I’d like to advocate for change in McGill’s policy regarding missed exams and medical notes. Currently, to receive accommodations for missed exam[s], you need to provide a medical note that falls within a 24-hour window of when the exam took place.

I’d like to advocate for a 48-hour window instead.”

Another key issue the candidates discussed is ensuring the safety of survivors of gendered and sexual violence. Aiden Starosta, U1 Arts student and candidate for Arts Senator, believes that McGill is not doing enough to protect survivors and prevent violence.

“It should be a priority for students to feel safe at McGill, and that currently is not happening considering the very real and pressing issue of sexual violence on campus,” Starosta said. “To lessen the problem, I will fight for a reworked, in-person sexual violence course, a security app for students in res[idence], increased presence of emergency and phone booths on campus, and the implementation of a zero-tolerance policy.”

On the subject of equity at the university, Maddy Evans, U3 Arts and one of the candidates running for an Arts Senator

position, spoke of the lack of representation among McGill’s faculty.

“I hope to expand equity in McGill’s hiring practices for new professors and members of administration,” Evans said. “As of 2020 there were only 10 Black permanent professors at McGill among a faculty of over 1,700. I believe hiring more people of colour, Indigenous peoples, women, and other members of marginalized communities is incredibly important.”

Adin Chan, U3 Arts, and Alexis Zhou, U3 Arts, are both running for the position of AUS President. While Chan plans to improve current AUS infrastructure, Zhou’s antibureaucratic platform intends to revamp the AUS entirely.

“This upcoming election, we have an anticipated voter turnout of eight per cent, [which] means the vast majority of students, the 92 per cent, are excluded from what we’re doing here, and they’re no longer interested in our bureaucracy role-play,” Zhou said. “As student leaders, we have the responsibility to overhaul and reform the status quo [...], which is why under my leadership we will revise the constitution to make AUS the first nonhierarchical faculty association at McGill.”

Chan explained why he views bureaucracy as essential for student government as a system to monitor and regulate spending.

“The reason why there’s a lot of bureaucracy is not because we like paper,” Chan said. “It’s because we need to be very judicious about how we use the public’s funds.

These are students’ money that is entrusted to these organizations that we need to be very careful with that clubs don’t use to embezzle.”

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9 2021

NEWS

SSMU revamps accessibility policy, creates commissioner position The revised policy comes after the expiration of the 2016 version on Jan. 1 Taneeshaa Pradhan Contributor The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) adopted a new Accessibility Policy during the Legislative Council meeting on Jan. 28. Last updated in 2016 and having expired on Jan. 1, 2021, the new policy expands beyond its previous focus on physical disabilities to include a more comprehensive commitment to accessibility and introduces a new Accessibility Commissioner position to SSMU. The policy’s amendments are grouped into six categories: Communication and promotions, programming and events, physical access, student groups, external and internal advocacy, and SSMU governance.

This expansion is an effort to embody the “social model of disability,” which maintains that it is systemic barriers, including physical, attitudinal, social, that are the primary factors to an individual’s experience of disability, rather than one’s own individual experience.

Vice-President (VP) University Affairs Brooklyn Frizzle explained that the policy aims to improve the resources offered by SSMU’s Communications Department to reduce existing barriers to accessibility.

“There are a lot of big operational changes with the Communications Department offering accommodations in terms of whisper translation or sign language interpreters [...] which we’re supposed to be offered anyways, but there hasn’t been necessary financial allocations or pressure,” Frizzle said.

Frizzle noted that the lack of enforcement

The policy introduces mandates for the President and Steering Committee, and also adds new francophone accessibility measures. (er.educause.edu) mechanisms contained in the previous 2016 policy limited its effectiveness during the five years that the former policy was in effect.

“The biggest problem was that it was just frankly unenforceable,” Frizzle said. “There weren’t any clear mandates for executives or governing bodies. From [2016] on, I don’t think there was a single report on accessibility [...] presented to the council.”

To address these concerns, the new policy will mandate the creation of an Accessibility Commissioner who will be responsible for leading an Accessibility Committee that will convene biweekly. VP Student Life Maheen Akter will be responsible for the hiring and training of the new commissioner.

“The Accessibility Commissioner is responsible for ensuring that mandates are

followed,” Akter said. “The commissioner will serve as a resource for SSMU and [...] student groups in efforts to expand accessibility.”

The commissioner and their committee will work to engage the entire university population to ensure that all operations and communications are accessible.

“We’re now able to hire someone with expertise, [...] somebody who will consult with student groups and staff in order to make sure all our operations are as accessible as possible,” Akter said.

Akter will correspond with student clubs to address barriers to student participation and provide resources to address concerns about accessibility.

“One of the other things [...] that is also part of my role [is] making sure that there’s

inclusion and awareness [within student clubs, and] part of that is providing training materials in clubs workshops,” Akter said.

Under the leadership of the new commissioner, the Accessibility Committee will aim to create space for students to voice concerns on accessibility at SSMU, which Frizzle notes is lacking on campus.

“The creation of an accessibility committee [serves as] an oversight and auditing body that identifies inaccessibility at SSMU, makes recommendations and acts as […] a forum for students with disabilities,” Frizzle said. “[Right now this] doesn’t really exist on campus aside from the University Joint Board Senate Committee on Equity Subcommittee on Persons with Disabilities.”

The policy states that the SSMU Funding Committee will now ask at least one question concerning accessibility when evaluating funding applications. The accountability committee will be held responsible for ensuring that this takes place, and report to the SSMU Legislative Council at least once a semester.

Teri Phillips, director of the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD), emphasized the organization’s shared goals with the SSMU’s reformed Accessibility Policy and explained that the OSD will apply the central aims of the policy to continue to improve their services.

“I do welcome and look forward to working with SSMU representatives to advance our mutual objective of improving access and creating an accessible learning environment for all our students,” Phillips said.

Tribune explains: SSMU’s motion in support of Dollarama workers The motion was unanimously approved in a Jan. 28 Legislative Council meeting

Kate Addison News Editor

How do Temporary Agencies abuse workers’ rights?

Since 2009, the IWC has concentrated its efforts on supporting temporary agency workers such as those working in Dollarama warehouses. Temporary workers tend to lack a platform from which to advocate for labour rights due to the intervention of staffing or “temp” agencies between workers and their employers.

The use of staffing agencies by large multinational companies such as Amazon and Dollarama has become increasingly common over the past decade. Workers employed by staffing agencies are often racialized undocumented immigrants who, due to their position as contractors rather than employees, are denied many forms of labour rights.

What are the working conditions at Dollarama warehouses?

Dollarama is Canada’s largest dollar store.

(Sabrina Girard-Lamas / The McGill Tribune) On Jan. 28, during a Students’ Society of McGill University’s (SSMU) Legislative Council meeting, councillors heard a presentation from an organizer of the Immigrant Workers Centre (IWC) about the poor labour conditions that some Dollarama warehouse employees face. Following this presentation, the Legislative Council voted unanimously to approve a motion mandating that SSMU’s Office of External Affairs support student solidarity with Dollarama warehouse workers. The Tribune examines the significance of this motion.

Dollarama has a total of over 1,600 stores across Canada and Central America and employs 20,000 workers directly.

Within their distribution centers, however, over 1,000 workers—most of whom are racialized immigrants—are employed by staffing agencies.

According to the IWC, warehouse workers employed by staffing agencies are commonly paid an hourly wage of $12-15.

At 40 hours a week for $15 an hour, workers earn an annual salary of just over $31,000, which falls well below Canada’s official poverty line for a family of three. Furthermore, the IWC reports that 10 per cent of warehouse workers are paid under the minimum wage.

In addition to low pay, the IWC states that workers employed at Dollarama’s distribution centers face gruelling working conditions. It is reported that workers are expected to move boxes weighing 50 pounds every 20 seconds to reach their shift quota. Furthermore, 15-minute lunch breaks are often reduced to five minutes as it takes workers several minutes to

walk across the warehouse from their workstation to break rooms.

What are McGill’s Investments in Dollarama?

As is shown in McGill’s 2020 report on the university’s publicly traded Canadian equities above $500,000, McGill University has $3,051,682 invested in the Montreal-based dollar store retail chain Dollarama. While McGill’s holdings in the chain are not the most significant portion of the school’s many equities, the more than three-million–dollar investment makes Dollarama the 16th most valuable in McGill’s 2020 Canadian equities portfolio. According to McGill’s Statement of Investment Policy, the goal of the McGill Investment Pool is to preserve its capital while remaining within the social and ethical standards of the university.

The monetary connection between McGill and Dollarama goes further: The Rossy Family, whose donations enabled the completion of McGill’s $14 million Rossy Wellness Hub, are the founders and the CEO of Dollarama Inc. with a reported net value of $2.52 billion.

What will SSMU’s Office of External Affairs do?

By approving this motion, SSMU has stated that it will mandate its External Affairs office’s campaigns department to support student campaigns in solidarity with Dollarama employees. According to the motion, this may involve submitting petitions to McGill University’s Committee to Advise on Matters of Social Responsibility (CAMSR), a committee within the McGill Board of Governors responsible for advising the Board on issues of social responsibility within its investment portfolio. Furthermore, SSMU will be allocating resources for events attempting to raise awareness about this issue.

OPINION

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9 2021

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EDITORIAL BOARD Editor-in-Chief Helen Wu editor@mcgilltribune.com Creative Director Aidan Martin amartin@mcgilltribune.com Managing Editors Katia Lo Innes kinnes@mcgilltribune.com Nina Russell nrussell@mcgilltribune.com Sophia Gorbounov sgorbounov@mcgilltribune.com

News Editors Maya Abuali, Kate Addison & Sequoia Kim news@mcgilltribune.com Opinion Editors Jonah Fried & Kennedy McKee-Braide opinion@mcgilltribune.com Science & Technology Editors Madison Mclauchlan & Shafaq Nami scitech@mcgilltribune.com Student Life Editors Alaana Kumar & Leyla Moy studentlife@mcgilltribune.com Features Editor Kevin Vogel features@mcgilltribune.com Arts & Entertainment Editors Vanessa Barron & Jonathan Giammaria arts@mcgilltribune.com Sports Editors Adam Burton & Sarah Farnand sports@mcgilltribune.com Design Editors Ruobing Chen & Chloe Rodriguez design@mcgilltribune.com Photo Editor Jasmine Acharya photo@mcgilltribune.com Multimedia Editors Sarah Ford & Alexandre Hinton multimedia@mcgilltribune.com Web Developer Benjamin Alexandor & Marwan Khan webdev@mcgilltribune.com Copy Editor Jackie Lee copy@mcgilltribune.com

OFF THE BOARD

Social Media Editor Marie Saadeh socialmedia@mcgilltribune.com Business Manager Marilie Pilon business@mcgilltribune.com

TPS BOARD OF DIRECTORS Helen Wu, Caitlin Kindig, Ezra-Jean Taylor, Tara Alami, Yara Shaheen-Abuelreish, Deana Korsunsky, Sequoia Kim, Kennedy McKee-Braide, Shreya Rastogi, Marilie Pilon, Heela Achakzai

STAFF Sepideh Afshar, Reza Ali, Margaret Askey, Zoe BabadPalmer, Rory Daly, Ella Fitzhugh, Justin Galouzi, Defne Gurcay, Signy Harnad, Zoe Karkossa, Lucy Keller, Deana Korsunsky, Erika MacKenzie, Maya Mau, Adam Menikefs, Ella Milloy, Naomi Mirny, Matthew Molinaro, Jinny Moon, Respina Rostamifar, Brian Schatteman, Noah Vaton, Josephine Wang, Xiaotian Wang,Youssef Wahba, Margaret Wdowiak, Lowell Wolfe,Wendy Zhao

CONTRIBUTORS Elissa Dresdner, Daria Kiseleva, Lilly Lecanu-Fayet, Juliet Morrison, Taneeshaa Pradhan, Anthony Schokalsky, Callum Sheedy, Caroline Shelton, Natalie Sprenger, Dante Ventulieri, Holly Wethey, ET Wu, Shirley Xu

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EDITORIAL

Beware of McGill’s hazardous reopening plan Following the Quebec government’s Feb. 4 announcement that universities and CEGEPs would be permitted to gradually reimplement some in-person activities, McGill notified students that Tier 2 academic activities such as some conferences, tutorials, and lectures would resume on campus. Although government officials and members of McGill’s administration have cited students’ mental health as a driving reason behind the decision, administrators appear to be underestimating the reality of the pandemic in the province and the logistical nightmare that reopening campus midsemester could entail. By encouraging students to return, McGill may be facilitating risky, virus-spreading behaviour and endangering the lives of academic staff who may perceive pressure to facilitate in-person instruction.

Students must beware of McGill’s haphazard reopening plan, but the onus is on the institution to demonstrate that it can safely open its doors.

McGill’s embrace of inperson instruction is inconsistent with all of its rhetoric up to this point. Students living in first-

“Text me when you get home.” My friends and family said it so often that, when my sister said it that night, it seemed like a suggestion I could ignore.

It was 10:30 p.m. on Super Bowl Sunday, early enough to walk the 20 minutes home. I had done it hundreds of times before, so when she asked if she could call me an Uber, I laughed. I bundled up, hit shuffle on my

year residences are required to comply with strict regulations, and some were temporarily evicted starting Jan. 25 for violating the rules. Yet now, for all of the administration’s harsh discipline of first-year students in residence, more are being invited to classrooms under the same assumption that they will be responsible enough to comply with public health rules.

Those who return to campus may neglect safety provisions and relink with classmates, potentially spreading the virus.

And although in-person functions will be optional, students may feel pressure to attend them— in spite of their best judgement of the risk—due to the prospect of seeing other people and the perceived advantages of physical instruction.

Montreal is still in a partial lockdown. Considering that the curfew from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. will still be in place and that it will remain unlawful to gather with people from outside of one’s residence, it would be unwise for McGill to create an environment where students may be tempted to forego precautions.

It is also worth questioning whether some students in

Montreal should be able to benefit from physical instruction while their peers who are not in the city cannot. This could create inequities in learning that would not exist under normal circumstances or even if optional in-person classes were available from the start of the semester.

Consider also that students were informed that spring convocation would be delivered remotely on the same day of the government’s announcement.

Although a convocation with hundreds of people is a tremendous leap from any of the Tier 2 activities, the fact that it will be online is a reminder that the pandemic is still dangerous and will not disappear any time soon. The reopening is also contingent on the stability of the current public health situation.

If cases suddenly spike, which is likely as restrictions are loosened, the decision may be reversed.

Equally concerning is the university’s apparent disregard for the well-being of its academic staff who may be compelled to teach in person.

McGill must demonstrate that they are providing the resources necessary to safely accommodate

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in-person teaching—it has made a good start by providing mandatory masks for people coming to campus—and to help course instructors surmount the logistical challenges involved in that process.

Although administrators are correct to recognize that social isolation has jeopardized students’ mental health, McGill can extend its support for mental health services beyond simply hosting in-person activities— not least because they would only serve students currently in Montreal. Instead, McGill can safely and concretely commit to alleviating students’ mental health by expanding services like the Wellness Hub’s counselling services or promoting academic solutions as it did in reimplementing the Winter 2020 emergency Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading option.

Students who choose to attend in-person activities must be cognizant of the dangers and abide by public health ordinances. But McGill will bear full responsibility for the damage it causes if its reopening runs aground against yet another pandemic reckoning.

Bruised, broken, and behind playlist, and left excited for my late-night stroll— it was 20 minutes I could avoid studying for my economics midterm. I was lost in the class and stressed that I would be hit with a failing mark. Little did I know, I was minutes away from being hit by something much more painful.

I woke up to the flashing lights of an ambulance and panic surrounding me. Confused and disoriented, I started to sit up when I felt a sharp pain in my shoulder. A woman in an EMT jacket urged me to lay back down on the pavement, alerting me that I had been hit by a car and my head was bleeding. The rest of the night was a blur.

I was discharged from the hospital at 5 a.m. with six stitches in my head and every ligament in my left shoulder torn. Despite being exhausted, overwhelmed, and in physical pain, my first thought was whether I would be excused from my midterm.

I took the next week to focus on my recovery. But, as schoolwork piled up, it became increasingly difficult to relax. I was in my second semester of my third year and graduating on time felt essential. Today, I often wonder why.

I limited the painkillers to keep myself alert, tolerated the headaches that came with trying to study post-concussion, limped my way to campus with a backpack on one shoulder and a sling on the other, and tried my best to catch up on my school work and missed midterms. My first make-up exam came just nine days after my accident, and all I remember is my concussed head spinning as I held my pen.

Later that week, I went to Service Point and requested to withdraw from my economics class with a refund. When my request was denied, I felt defeated.

Thanks to the help of several friends and family who shared notes, carried my backpack, made me dinners, and lent me their shoulders—for crying and lifting objects—I was slowly progressing through the semester. Still, it was not going well. I strongly considered forfeiting my semester tuition and returning home when suddenly, campus life took a drastic turn: The COVID-19 pandemic hit Montreal.

Although the initial switch to remote learning was a harsh adjustment for most people, it was my saving grace. I returned

home and began to heal and complete the school year at my own pace. Ironically, the on-time graduation I longed for will now be held as a virtual ceremony.

After looking back on the past year, I am disappointed in myself for the way I reacted to injuries beyond my control.

The pressure I put on myself to graduate on time, to get back up before I was ready, and the blatant disregard of my own pain was unacceptable. Somehow, I became the kind of person that let society dictate my success and believed it would be worth less if it came one year later.

Unfortunately, this is the case for many university students.

I learned a lot in 2020, and I am glad to be graduating with the understanding that life is not one-size-fits-all. It took an accident and a pandemic to force me to slow down and prioritize my own health, but it is a mistake I will never make again.

I am confident that I will someday graduate, find a job, and become a functioning adult.

But I am not in any rush because, as I have brutally discovered, it’s not about when you reach your destination, it’s about getting there safely.

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OPINION

COMMENTARY

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9 2021

It’s time for a new approach to the language debate

Kennedy McKee-Braide Opinion Editor I grew up in a predominantly anglophone West Island suburb. Although my parents’ eligibility under Quebec’s education regulations allowed me to attend English school, a significant portion of my elementary and high school education was in French. But as each year passed and the curriculum changed, I had less and less exposure to the language. Eventually, I got to the place where I remain today, feeling unable to properly communicate in French. Hearing similar stories from many of my friends, I know that I am not alone in this experience.

For years, my dad encouraged me to take French more seriously—he is a Quebec-born anglophone, but marrying my francophone stepmother and living in the province nearly his entire life has made him both deeply appreciative of Quebecois culture and fluently bilingual. He wants me to experience similar joys and have the opportunity to build a future here, which is far more difficult when your French is lacking.

Nevertheless, I was stubborn––language politics made me feel like I had no future in Montreal because the francophone majority did not want me here. Given how much I love the city, I now regret this attitude and believe that the best way to tackle the language debate is for francophones to see anglophones as allies in protecting the French language, and vice versa. Perhaps if anglophones felt more welcomed and accommodated, more would be excited to learn French. Legislation proposed by Jacques-Cartier Member of National Assembly Greg Kelley and recently picked up by the Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ) government, seeks to offer free French classes

COMMENTARY Sepideh Afshar Staff Writer Quebec’s ÉduSex Coalition, a sexual health advocacy group, is demanding change in the provincial education program as sexually transmitted infection (STI) cases, domestic violence, and sexual violence have increased during the COVID19 pandemic. The coalition contends that fighting these issues starts in the classroom. These health concerns are especially worrisome in a time where classes are online and educators are allegedly not receiving the resources or time to deliver proper sexual education, which is necessary to mitigate stigmas and allow young adults to make informed decisions regarding their health. For many, university is when their sexual activity begins, and it is important that entering students understand concepts like safe sex and consent before they arrive.

While the Quebec government stated that they provided online documents about sexual education, there is not enough time to include the yearly sexual health programming into online curricula. In a poll, the Coalition found that 75 per cent of teachers polled in November 2020 did not receive any training for sexual education courses they were asked to teach.

The ÉduSex Coalition is circulating a petition with two major demands: To increase funding to schools so that they can deliver quality sexual education and to implement adequate support systems for educators so that

to English speakers. This concept offers a vision of a future where well-meaning anglophones can feel supported in their efforts to learn French rather than ostracized because it does not come naturally.

Still, it would be wrong to claim that all francophones

The Charter of the French Language, or Bill 21, set the framework for current language politics when passed in 1977.

(Assemblée Nationale du Quebec)

look down on anglophones. Protectiveness towards the French language is valid and understandable in the context of Quebec’s history, and most are merely afraid of losing their culture.

But this protectiveness can lead to hostility and discriminatory policies, not only towards Quebec-born anglophones but even more notably to immigrants and refugees. For example, it can be incredibly difficult to find a job or even access some services online, over the phone, or in person without French fluency.

These practical logistical barriers can also contribute to

feelings of unwelcomeness towards those who do not speak French, which is compounded by a lack of resources that might help them conform to the province’s linguistic realities. The problem is not that anglophones disrespect their francophone neighbours or have no interest in learning. Rather, the standard approach and attitude embedded in Bill 101, the legislation governing language issues in Quebec, has left some anglophones feeling like a political nuisance.

While the province does offer financial aid to immigrants for French courses, expanding this offer to Canadian-born English speakers could signal a new era for language relations in Quebec.

Beyond promoting better cultural ties, alleviating the language barrier would make anglophones more likely to stay in the province, which would ultimately benefit Quebec as a whole. The province has long been subject to a “brain drain” whereby anglophone professionals leave due to a lack of opportunities. While this trend is particularly notable amongst graduates of English universities like McGill, similar trends or anxieties have been observed among the general anglophone population in recent years.

Relations between English and French-speaking Quebecers cannot be repaired overnight. Decades of hostility in the media, in workplaces, and within personal relationships have undoubtedly created lasting tensions for which both anglophones and francophones are to blame. However, if the CAQ’s goal is truly to promote Quebec’s interests and preserve the French language, it may be time for a new approach to this ever-present debate and more accessible opportunities to learn are a good first step. Above all, I sincerely hope that the prov-

Sexual health education for young people needs to be prioritized they can develop the skills to address sensitive issues when teaching sexual health.

Comprehensive sexual education is the starting point in reducing stigmas around sexuality. Open discussions are the best way to prevent discrimination based on sexual and gender identity and to reduce negative connotations around topics such as masturbation, sexuality, and sex itself. Research has shown that proper education about sexuality and gender identity normalizes gender diversity, which can decrease bullying and violence. For example, female masturbation is not often represented in the media, while male masturbation is discussed frequently. But through education, the religious and social taboos around female masturbation can be alleviated and the act can be normalized.

Sexual education allows young adults to make informed decisions about their bodies by providing them with a better understanding of STIs and consent. Those who understand the importance of safe sex are better equipped to avoid or deal with situations of unwanted pregnancies and STIs. Additionally, cases of sexual violence can be mitigated through education about consent and what a healthy relationsips look like. It is important for young people to understand their own bodily autonomy and the importance of respecting others’ so that they can ask questions and then carry this with them. This kind of education is proven to work: When

Sexual education has been offered since the 1980s in Quebec. (Brian Schatteman / The McGill Tribune)

students lacked access to sexual education in Quebec, the cases of chlamydia and gonorrhea doubled.

The Édusex Coalition is fighting to ensure that young people have the knowledge to make smart decisions regarding their sexual activity, sexual health, and the way they view these stigmatized topics. McGill organizations, including Bodies A-Z, are doing the same. Bodies A-Z is a notfor-profit within Sex & Self whose

purpose is to empower students in Montreal through comprehensive and engaging sexual education workshops and seminars. Student representatives go into high school classrooms offering full lesson plans that complement the Quebec Education Program sexual health curriculum, reducing the burden on teachers. While Bodies A-Z’s services are extremely important, their work is only complementary; there must be consistent material

and support for teachers to extend the benefits of these programs. Teachers are already scrambling to deliver effective classes online, and without the proper support, this will be another burden on them during an already difficult time. Until comprehensive sexual education is implemented, young people will continue to feel the harmful effects of increased STI’s and sexual violence amongst other avoidable situations.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9 2021

7

McGill partners with Ecosia, the search engine that plants trees Ecosia is a free search engine that plants a tree for every 45 searches Shirley Xu Contributor Think about how often you hit “search” on your computer. From course work to finding the best restaurants in Montreal, students surf the net for almost anything. Ecosia, a free search engine, takes advantage of our internet usage by planting one tree per approximately 45 searches.

Recently, McGill’s Office of Sustainability and IT Services have collaborated to introduce Ecosia to the McGill community as part of the university’s sustainability strategy. Suppose you perform only one search per day: Combined with the 40,000 students at McGill, nearly 900 trees would be planted every day.

“We’re super grateful for the sustainability team at McGill for encouraging students to switch to Ecosia,” Fred Henderson of the partnerships team at Ecosia wrote in an email to The McGill Tribune.

The McGill-specific extension for Ecosia is free and voluntary, with easy to follow installation instructions. As affirmed on the company website, Ecosia is committed to protecting user privacy by not selling data to advertisers and op-

erating free of external trackers that companies use to generate targeted ads.

Since its inception in 2009, Ecosia has planted 120 million trees

wrote in an email to the Tribune.

“Everything we do consumes energy, both locally in our homes and abroad where servers [...] are located. Through Ecosia, we are giving

Planting trees reduces carbon dioxide emissions, restores landscapes, and provides employment and nutrition to vulnerable communities.

(Elissa Dresdner / The McGill Tribune) worldwide, and the live tree-planting counter on its homepage continues to grow.

“All of our digital activity [...] has its own carbon footprint,” Francois Miller, executive director at the McGill Office of Sustainability,

McGillians an easy way to neutralize the impact of their web usage.”

Like any other search engine, Ecosia generates revenue from users clicking on advertisements that appear with search results. The ad revenue is used to fund planting proj-

ects worldwide: The company supports over 20 tree planting projects across 15 different countries.

The trees are planted in biodiversity hotspots, areas abundant in unique species found nowhere else on earth. Alarmingly, the natural vegetation in these hotspots has shrunk by over 70 per cent. Ecosia’s planting projects help preserve biodiversity, combat climate change, regenerate depleted soils, and provide food, jobs, and economic stability to vulnerable communities.

The company has also built solar farms to fuel their browser searches with renewable energy.

“That way, we’re not just producing enough energy to power all of our users’ searches with renewables—we are producing twice as much,” Joshua Gottlieb, producer, content strategist, and editorial lead at Ecosia, wrote in an email to the Tribune.

Gottlieb explained that reforestation is essential to any climate strategy since trees are the most efficient carbon dioxide absorbers.

However, it is also important to avoid invasive species and monoculture, and to work with local communities to ensure the trees survive.

“However, tree-planting should

not be used as an excuse to reduce emissions—there’s no way around that,” Gottlieb wrote.“ We need to stop emitting as well as re-capture past emissions.”

University students have the potential to create meaningful change, whether it be through small efforts like switching search engines to support reforestation or through involvement in community activism.

“Ecosia on campus campaigns don’t just help plant trees [...], they also help young people get involved in climate action,” Gottlieb wrote.

“We hope that our purpose-driven, not-for-profit business model will inspire others to prioritize our planet, and move beyond mere sustainability towards active regeneration.”

T h o u g h much more must be done, in- cluding divesting from fossil fuels, the partnership with Ecosia is a positive step in McGill’s path to creating a more healthy and sustainable Earth.

“Since the Ecosia program launched at McGill there have been over 18,000 searches completed through the platform,” Miller wrote.

“We are excited as a university to be contributing to this global reforestation movement.”

McGill researchers are shaping the future of arthritis treatment Two McGill studies featured as top research advances by the Arthritis Society Natalie Sprenger Contributor Arthritis has been one of the most common health conditions in Canada for years, affecting people of all ages with symptoms including joint stiffness and painful inflammation. While there is no known cure, researchers are hoping to find more effective ways to treat and manage arthritis. The Arthritis Society of Canada compiles a list of the top 10 research advances each year, highlighting breakthroughs with promising results. The list for 2020 includes two McGill-led projects supervised by Dr. Hosni Cherif and Dr. Inés Colmegna.

Zombie cells and spinal degradation Osteoarthritis is one of the most common forms of arthritis worldwide, and is caused by the deterioration of joint cartilage—tissues that cushion the ends of bones. Cherif, a postdoctoral fellow in McGill’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, led a research project on spinal osteoarthritis.

“My research goal is to understand how intervertebral discs and joints degenerate leading to axial osteoarthritis, and the associated chronic pain,” Cherif wrote in an email to The McGill Tribune.

In particular, Cherif studied the role of senescent cells, often known as “zombie cells,” which permanently stop dividing but continue to age and evade death.

Cytokines, also known as cellular signalling molecules, are typically involved in aid-

ing the immune response at a site of inflammation, but the accumulation of these molecules can cause degradation of the spine. “[The] accumulation of senescent cells increases cytokine production and inflammation leading to the development of intervertebral disc degeneration,” Cherif wrote.

Cherif’s team identified a synthetic drug, RG-7112, and a natural compound, o-Vanillin, capable of eliminating zombie cells while allowing healthy ones to proliferate. The combination of these molecules has the potential to target inflammation in the spine, thereby reducing the associated chronic pain.

“This will lead to better management or the alleviation of persistent pain to improve the quality of life of patients with osteoarthritis,” Cherif wrote.

Currently, Cherif is expanding his research in drug discovery to treat spinal osteoarthritis by testing out the signalling pathways of other senotherapeutic agents, molecules that specifically target cellular senescence.

“Understanding the mechanism of cellular senescence and disc degradation will facilitate [the] development of novel diseasemodifying drugs,” Cherif wrote.

The more the better: High dose vaccine protection

One in five Canadians suffer from a type of arthritis and this is estimated to increase 50 per cent by 2040. (UChicago Medicine)

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune type of arthritis in which the immune response mistakenly targets host cells, causing joint damage and inflammation. This makes patients more vulnerable to the adverse effects of viruses such as influenza.

Colmegna, an assistant professor working in the Division of Rheumatology at the McGill University Health Centre, led a study focussing on the implications of influenza infections in RA patients.

Specifically, Colmegna studied the ef-

fect on antibody production of a standard dose of the influenza vaccine versus a high dose in those with RA. Antibodies are molecular markers that recognize and bind to foreign invaders, signalling their presence to the immune system and initiating an immunological response.

“The findings of our study indicate that compared with the standard dose influenza vaccine, RA patients who receive the highdose are two to three times more likely to generate ‘protective’ antibodies against the influenza virus,” Colmegna wrote in an email to The McGill Tribune. “This may be associated with a reduced risk of developing influenza.”

By increasing the likelihood of generating more antibodies against influenza, the higher dose increases the effectiveness of the body’s response to infection.

This study is the first of its kind to show that it is possible for those with RA to achieve better protection against influenza by using an existing high dose vaccine.

“Canadian guidelines recommend that RA patients receive an annual standard dose influenza vaccine,” Colmegna wrote. “However, many RA patients do not generate protective antibodies post-vaccination [....] With this approach, a larger number of patients with rheumatoid arthritis might be protected against influenza, a disease that in these patients is associated with significant morbidity and mortality.”

Colmegna hopes that her research findings will increase the availability of high dose vaccines to better protect RA patients against the influenza virus.

Our e v i t c e coll s e s l u imp y g o l o h c The psy l a n o s r e p behind d n a s e v i h arc collecting ami r Shafaq N Technology Edito

Science &

As students, we often become accidental archivists: Whether it be old class notes or miscellaneous campus merch, our lives are often full of these collections. Sometimes, the collections that initially appear to be trash become treasured.

Students also move a lot, resulting in an annual cycle of packing and unboxing, which makes it difficult to sustain one’s collections. Getting rid of belongings should be easy, but sometimes parting with the things one spent time and money collecting seems impossible.

I have been collecting books ever since I first learned to read, and it was not until I moved away for university that I even considered giving them up. Moving halfway around the

world to attend university sounded like an adventure, until I realized that I had to fit my whole life into two 23-kilogram suitcases. I had not reread many of the books in my collection in years—being too busy with academics, life, and discovering new books—and they were certainly too heavy to transport to a new continent, just for them to collect dust.

When I was younger, I defined myself through my books, as they offered me much needed company and adventure. While it was daunting to say goodbye to something I had treasured for years, moving away and travelling gave me a new perspective.

The tendency to collect is certainly not restricted to me, however. In fact, humans have been collecting things ever since they developed the ability to

store more things than necessary for basic survival. The different objects people collect as well as the motivations behind these collections intrigued me, so I began investigating what factors inform this phenomenon.

Most human behaviour like collecting is rooted in biology and evolution, evolved from years of survival and self-preservation.

Richard Koestner is a professor at McGill’s Department of Psychology whose research focusses on personality and motivation.

“There is an evolutionary explanation that has been offered for almost all human behaviors,” Koestner wrote in an email to The McGill Tribune. “I would guess it is largely genetic and [...] does confer some broad fitness advantage to individuals, and that there is an advantage to groups if there are some people [present] who collect and

organize things.’’

Collecting had an obvious advantage before the Neolithic Revolution, when being able to gather more food and scarce objects ensured longer survival.

Nowadays, the definition of collection refers to the accumulation of objects we do not need or use in everyday lives, which only became possible 12,000 years ago when humans gave up their nomadic lifestyles.

In the 19th century, collections ranging from art and books to fossils and zoological specimens were kept by aristocrats as status symbols. Indeed, the environment and time period people grow up in may affect the collections they have.

“There are developmental trends for collecting objects, so when I was a boy in the U.S. many of us collected and traded baseball cards,” Koestner wrote.

“We treasured certain cards.

Some of us held on to those cards but 98 per cent did not. The two per cent who held onto them are the interesting group.”

Many of us who have grown up with these fads may accidentally strike gold. For instance, the ever-popular Pokemon cards have their own niche market, with most rare cards valued at over $200,000.

In fact, many collections have been sold or auctioned for large amounts of money. Baltimore banker Louis E. Eliasberg’s coin collection sold for $44.9 million in 1982. Art, coins, stamps and sports or movie merchandise collections tend to fetch high values—in 2014 a one-cent postage stamp from the 19th century sold for $9.5 million.

There are many reasons behind why people invest time and money into collections besides monetary value and investment: Family and emotional connection, or even the thrill of finding a rare object.

Some of these reasons might be hereditary as well.

“Perhaps there is also early family modeling or reinforcement, but that is always tricky because of genetic similarity between parent and child,” Koestner wrote. “I recall a video of two identical twins raised separately but reunited at age 35, and they learned they had bought and collected the same dolls and both kept them in their original packages.’’

Amy Pagé, U2 Management, has an ever-expanding collection of 130 snow globes from around the world. Her snow globes range in size and value, and some are even handcrafted with small

details by local artisans. From warmer regions where snow globes are less popular, Pagé has collected their equivalents, which are made from sand and called “sand globes.”

Pagé’s collection began when her grandparents, frequent world travellers, were not sure what to bring her back as a souvenir.

“One day, I told them that I liked snow globes because they were pretty, and then they would always bring me back a snow globe from a different city,” Pagé wrote in an email to the Tribune.

“Then, it just started to become a ‘thing’ in my family and everyone who would go to a specific city would bring me one back.”

As Pagé began to travel herself, she began expanding her collection. Maintaining a collection has its difficulties: In cities where snow globes are not as commonplace, it would often take hours for her grandparents to find them.

“I have some that are from cities that I have never heard [of] before and that most people probably also never have,” Pagé wrote “Bringing them back from different countries is always a stress for my grandparents [or] parents or myself, as you never know if they are going to explode in your suitcase.”

Pagé is not the only collector in her family. Her grandfather has amassed over 600 keychains from around the world, which she cites as an inspiration for her own collections. She does not plan on selling her snow globes, even though they are currently stored in boxes because of the lack of space in Pagé’s apartment.

According to a study conducted by the Stanford Graduate School of Business, people are more likely to start a collection once they possess two items of the same kind.

Researchers believe this is because due to a perception that owning multiple similar objects is being wasteful. To justify not giving away something that brings them joy, individuals start a collection.

A m i r Shah, U4 Engineering, has collected

coins since his adolescence while living in the United Arab Emirates. While Shah had always been intrigued by the different shapes and sizes of coins, as well as how a coin’s physical attributes signified its value, his collection did not start until he came across his first foreign coin.

“I was lucky to be in a place where people hail from everywhere and it wasn’t a ‘cashless’ age, so I learnt to keep my eyes open for coins that w e r e

different, whether it’d be a special edition local coin or a foreign coin,” Shah wrote in an email to the Tribune.

Shah has not spent a lot of money on his coin collection: Instead of buying rare or commemorative coins, he has accumulated his collection through

friends at school who would bring back foreign coins from vacations and by exchanging local currency for foreign coins at immigrant owned grocery stores in his neighborhood. His current collection spans more than 60 countries.

“I’m really [still] just a 12year old boy who just likes collecting

different coins because they are different and special and I happen to come across them,” Shah wrote. “Initially it started out of curiosity and it evolved into a hobby to fill my time with. I’d keep a log, clean them to scrap the stains and dust off, and keep them in plastic folders and label them. Soon I tried to understand what the value of each currency is and how that kept changing over time.”

Shah has since gone digital, using Excel to catalogue his collection, and has even researched the coins and their history.

Discovering that his coins span from British Colonial India to Ottoman Turkey to imperial Ethiopia sparked his interest in global history and cultures.

W h i l e Shah initially did not have a motive at the time for collecting c o i n s — beyond his curiosity—he has since used his collection to preserve past connections. In moving away from home, Shah’s coin collection keeps him tied to the people and places he may never see again.

“I realise [my tendency to collect is] because I’ve been moving around from a very young age,” Shah wrote. “My only memories of people and places are often things that I hoard—books, picture frames, coins,

souvenirs.

I’m a classic case of a third culture kid—parents from two different places, born somewhere, grown up in a couple of places, and now live somewhere else. I’ve never lived in a house we owned as a

family, no ‘permanent’ home. So I feel all I have [is this] stuff.”

Shah also has a large book collection divided between his parent’s home in the UAE and his current residence in Canada. As Shah moves to different homes, the collection in Canada is put in storage. Although moving around heavy boxes is not easy, he does not wish to part with his collection and hopes that one day when he settles down, he will be able to display them.

Each collector has their own reasons—reasons that often boil down to logical or sentimental motivations. It is possible that people who collect have certain behaviors and characteristics in common; for example, people with stronger emotional connections to objects or those who like organizing things may be more likely to start a collection.

“I would think personality traits are relevant here,” Koestner wrote. “There is a distinction between empathizers and systemizers that has been made by Baron-Cohen and it seems to capture whether certain people like sorting and categorizing, and I would think that might relate to collecting.

The theory has been criticized for being largely speculative. I would guess that there are wiredin personality styles that may predispose one to do this [and] that childhood behavior might foretell this tendency.”

Collecting has many benefits, ranging from enhancement of pattern recognition and organizational skills to improving social skills and invoking a desire for knowledge. It is the purposeful curation of objects and is very different from the accumulation of items triggered by disorders like hoarding and obsessivecompulsive disorder.

The psychology behind collecting is not easy to quantify and has stumped psychologists for years. While there is no clear scientific answer to this phenomenon, it is clear that each collection has its own story, and each collector their own distinct reasons for collecting.

“I would be careful about pathologizing this behavior,” Koestner wrote.

“There are probably many reasons people might collect things— sentimental value, emotion, autobiographical connections, being part of a community of collectors, etc.”

Design: Ruobing Chen, Design Editor

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9 2021

10 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

2021 could be the shortest year in decades Earth is spinning faster than it has in 50 years Youssef Wahba Contributor Continued from page 1.

Olivia Jensen, professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at McGill, is a geophysicist who studies the mechanics and dynamics of the Earth.

“On short time scales, the length of day increases due to the loss of angular momentum and the redistribution of mass within and over the Earth,” Jensen wrote in an email to The McGill Tribune. “It is not a regular increase.”

In the past decades, the Earth’s rotation about its axis has been slowing down, causing days to last longer than the conventional 24 hours. The moon’s gravitational pull is responsible for this deceleration; tidal forces caused by the moon induce a frictional force that slows down the Earth’s rotation. This difference amounts to one second every one and a half years, allowing scientists to introduce the “leap second.” Just as leap days are used every four years to adjust for the Earth’s rotation around the sun, a leap second is added to accommodate the delayed time it takes for the Earth to spin about its axis.

Leap seconds have been added to the world’s clock 27 times since 1972. (Shirtoid) Although adding this leap second would go unnoticed by the average person, it is considered essential for the Global Positioning System (GPS) and the stock market—where trades occur every fraction of a second—to operate accurately. Additionally, it is key to researchers working in astronomy.

However, this year is different. Recent findings have shown that the Earth will spin faster than it did five decades ago, urging scientists to consider the need for a “negative leap second.” Adding a negative leap second to the global clock would mean that the last day of 2021 would end at 23:59:58 rather than 23:59:59 in all time

zones. Some experts, including Jensen, believe this change would be premature.

“I suggest that there will be no need for inserting a negative leap second unless this (faster) rotation continues for years,’’ Jensen wrote.

Studies suggest that this increase in Earth’s rotation speed may be linked to climate change. The increased temperature caused by global warming melts the ice sheets in the geographic North and South Pole, producing excess water. This mass of water redistributes itself along Earth’s axis, resulting in a faster rotation similar to ice skaters who speed up as they wrap their arms around their body. However, this is not the only way in which the weather could influence the Earth’s rotation speed.

“It is the moment of inertia about the rotation axis that determines the free spin of the Earth,” Jensen wrote. “Major mass redistribution caused by extremely large earthquakes (larger than any so-far seen) could change the spin rate.”

Although 2021 may become the shortest year ever recorded in half a century, a negative leap second would not necessarily be applied this year. If it were implemented, it would be the first negative leap second added in history.

31st Soup and Science: Matrices, weight-loss, and catalyst chemistry Zoom series gives stage to diverse research in the Faculty of Science Daria Kiseleva Contributor On the week of Feb. 1, the Faculty of Science hosted the 31st edition of the beloved Soup and Science series in a five-day virtual event. Professors from various departments gave short presentations about their research and interacted with online attendees in break-out rooms.

The McGill Tribune brings highlights of the event, with talks from Elliot Paquette, Bärbel Knäuper, and Marc-André Légaré.

Random matrices model diverse statistics Elliot Paquette, an assistant professor in the Department of

Mathematics and Statistics, studies probability with a focus on random matrix theory.

When certain matrices—arrays of numbers in rows and columns—are multiplied with a vector, a quantity with magnitude and direction, the result can be represented as a product of the same vector and a single number called an eigenvalue. Inputting random values into matrices is a way to model complex problems found in quantum mechanics and number theory.

This technique, called random matrix theory, was developed in the 20th century when physicist Eugene Wigner discovered that the energy levels of large atoms could be modelled using eigenvalues of large matrices containing randomly generated numbers. These

energy levels are the characteristic frequencies of electromagnetic radiation absorbed or emitted by an atom.

“If you take the energy levels of [for example] Erbium and plot them and look at the spaces, you can see a distribution which is wellmatched by the predictions of random matrix theory,” Paquette said.

“Sufficiently big matrices just tend to look like random ones, and you can use that for lots of things.”

Paquette explained how predicted distributions of random eigenvalues can be observed in stock data, where they can condense large amounts of data to better anticipate changes in stock prices. Likewise, when machine learning algorithms are modelled as complicated matrices, their eigenvalues can be used to fine-tune the algorithms for increased performance.

Trimming the fat off expensive weight-loss programs

The first-ever Soup & Science event was held in 2006 in the Trottier building.

(Chloe Rodriguez / The McGill Tribune)

Bärbel Knäuper, a professor of Health Psychology at McGill, studies innovations in behavioural weight loss programs that help prevent obesity-related complications including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cancer.

Currently, the gold standard of weight-loss interventions that lead to clinically significant weight loss is year-long intensive behavioural

programs delivered in one-on-one sessions. However, such programs can be unaffordable to many.

“The research we are doing in my lab is really focussed on ways to make the programs cheaper so that they can be delivered to more people,” Knäuper said.

One goal is to identify which techniques in existing programs are key components that drive weight loss results. Another facet of Knäuper’s research is matching interventions with the specific needs of individuals.

“For example, people who eat in response to negative emotions [do not tend to benefit from] control-based techniques,” Knäuper said. “For those populations, we are developing programs that [focus on] higher awareness of how one eats and changing one’s attitude to food and eating.”

Knäuper’s vision is that weight loss services can be delivered in a “stepped” care approach.

A patient would begin by using a cheap and accessible eHealth tool, and progress to online group programs, in-person group programs, and finally one-on-one programs only if the previous steps were unsuccessful.

Sustainable catalysts spark a reaction Marc-André Légaré, a newly

hired assistant professor of Chemistry, investigates how industrial approaches to chemistry can become more sustainable.

One of the 12 principles of green chemistry is catalysis—activating a chemical process with catalysts, small molecules that are not consumed in the reaction and decrease the amount of activation energy required for the reaction to occur.

One challenge to performing green chemistry is that common catalysts are often transition metals, as classified on the periodic table. Since transition metals are rare, extracting and transporting them contributes to pollution, and their high cost discourages chemical industries from adapting catalytic processes.

“In terms of sustainability, this is a problem,” Légaré said. “So [instead], my group is trying to use abundant main group elements and turn them into potent catalysts”.

Transition metals are potent catalysts because their atoms uniquely contain both electron-rich and electron-poor regions, which together manipulate the molecular bonds of other substances in the reaction.

One approach Légaré has adopted is binding electron-rich and electron-poor main group elements so that together they can imitate the effect of a transition metal.

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11

La Poutine Week highlights cultural diversity of Montreal restaurants A tasting tour of Montreal’s unique poutine options

ET Wu Contributor Poutine is a defining culinary aspect of student life in Quebec. For many, it is the meal of choice after a night out, or simply a quick way to satisfy any fast-food craving.

More recently, restaurateurs have created many variations of the traditional dish, from St. Laurent Pizza’s butter chicken poutine to Romados’ Portuguese sausage poutine. Many of these variations were featured in La Poutine Week, an annual event hosted by the cheese company Saputo to promote local businesses. Restaurants could submit their poutines to be tasted for a $200 fee, and the dishes judged worthy are given the chance to participate in the festival. Running from Feb. 1-7, the week’s offerings showcased how chefs are reinterpreting this classic Quebecois dish with flavours from their own cultures, bringing unique tastes into Montreal for all to enjoy. The McGill Tribune has the dish on this year’s offerings.

Stroganoff Poutine, L’Gros Luxe (The Plateau) Inspired by a hearty Russian beef stew, this stroganoff poutine is packed with rich flavour. There was a slight sourness to the stroganoff-inspired gravy, which brought out the smoky and sweet flavours of the

The Stroganoff Poutine at L’Gros Luxe, served with gravy on the side for maximum crunch.

(L’Gros Luxe) minced meat. What really made this poutine to die for was the addition of spring onions, a savoury twist that truly brought out the flavour of the cheese curds and meat. In addition, the fries maintained their crispy integrity, which was likely because the gravy is served on the side—a good idea since the delivery time is often enough to make even the most resilient taters soggy.

In general, this poutine is a good choice if you’re looking for an exciting version of the classic poutine to satisfy your cravings.

The Shahi Chicken Poutine, Thali Cuisine Indienne (Downtown) Offering the most affordable poutine out of all the entries for La Poutine Week—at an astonishing $6.50 CAD on SkipTheDishes, the week’s sponsor—the

The Shahi Chicken Poutine at Thali Indian merged poutine with Shahi Paneer, an Indian dish that consists of paneer in a savory tomato and spicebased sauce. (Thali Indian)

The Mayan Poutine from La Tamalera included a bright hint of lime in the pulled pork gravy for a satisfying and savory bite. based sauce.

(La Tamalera)

Shahi chicken poutine fuses poutine with the traditional Indian dish Shahi, or paneer in a tomato-based sauce. Upon delivery, the fries and gravy were already mixed together, which unfortunately resulted in mushy fries. In fact, the fries had the consistency of mashed potatoes. Despite this, the dish was worthy of its La Poutine Week entry: The sauce was extremely addicting and paired well with the cheese curds. Thali Cuisine Indienne’s poutine is definitely value for money. If you are okay with limp fries, this is a solid choice.

affordable than the stroganoff poutine from L’Gros Luxe; second, the uniqueness of a Mexican-inspired poutine was definitely a win. The hint of lime in the pulled pork gravy brought the entire dish together, bringing out the cheese, meat, and fries.

Surprisingly, the fries maintained their integrity despite being soaked in the tangy gravy. The pulled pork-based gravy was extremely juicy and proved to be a good replacement for the classic. There were a few pickled vegetables served with a dollop of sour cream that was refreshing and complimented the taste of the fries.

The dish was topped off with beans, adding a heartiness alongside a sense of authenticity. This savory and unique poutine was easily my favourite of La Poutine Week 2021.

Mayan Poutine, La Tamalera (Mile End) This was by far the best option out of the three that I sampled. First, it was more

Battle of the Streaming Services

The Tribune reviews the most popular streaming services to find the best value Dante Ventulieri Contributor As the pandemic continues to keep us indoors, television and movies have become a welcome distraction from the monotony of our everyday lives. For many students, the search is on for the ideal streaming service: One that has both serious films for movie nights and lighthearted sitcoms to put on in the background.

Most importantly, the service should provide good value and a compatible interface on computers and phones. The McGill Tribune has investigated the pros and cons of several streaming services to help you weather your pandemic boredom.

Apple TV+ Apple’s foray into the subscription service business continues with Apple TV+. At $5 a month and $60 a year, it’s one of the cheaper options available. Apple TV+ relies mostly on Apple originals, and while most shows are high quality, this limited selection is ultimately its downfall. There simply are not

enough shows or films for Apple TV+ to be a serious contender. It lacks any sort of casual fare, and shows that should be simple and entertaining—like Home, a mini-series about interesting homes from around the world—feel too laboured and drawn-out to be enjoyable. A counterintuitive interface for PCs and the lack of an Android app further hampers the service.

Amazon Prime Video For Amazon Prime members, Prime Video is included in subscription costs, while non-Prime members will have to shell out $8 a month. Amazon has produced a shallow but solid collection of original content, but their entire library, including borrowed content, still feels insufficient for the avid watcher.

Combine that with a clunky interface, and the result is less than stellar. While the inclusion of live Global TV is welcome, the presence of paywalls and ads is not. Overall, it’s a solid service for students who already have a Prime membership, but hard to justify purchasing otherwise.

Crave For $10 per month and $100 per year for the base package, Crave finds itself in the middle of the pack. Its original content is lackluster, with Letterkenny being one of the few recognisable names. While it boasts some popular classics like Seinfeld and Friends, there aren’t many ground-breaking, must-watch shows— even the movie offerings seem like bargain-bin finds. The Movies + HBO add-on at $10 a month adds to the selection, but it is too expensive for a service that does not provide everything a TV watcher might want. Further, its clunky and sluggish interface does little to buoy its appeal.

Disney+

As more companies enter the streaming industry, Netflix remains the service to beat. (Eve Cable / The McGill Tribune)

Disney+ is the ideal streaming platform for those who like to go down memory lane: It’s as if your inner child curated the

selection. Disney+ is packed with movies and shows, but they are all concentrated within a few genres. There are no political dramas or reality TV, but when it comes to cartoons, sitcoms, superheroes, and musicals, Disney+ is a near-perfect service.

With its new price increase, Disney+ charges $120 per year, or $12 per month for its nostalgic selection. While the inclusion of National Geographic and Marvel among their selection help soften the blow, $120 is too pricey for a service that might only be used occasionally.

Netflix Netflix is the most popular streaming service, and with a price that starts at $15 per month, it is also the most expensive.

While there is a $10 subscription plan, its lack of HD streaming and limited screens make it hard to recommend. Overall, Netflix has the strongest content library, with a great selection of both original and borrowed shows and movies, spanning every genre.

The interface is fluid, easy-to-use, and available on most devices.

The Tribune’s pick: Netflix Despite being the most expensive service, Netflix remains the platform to beat, as it feels like the only platform that can be used conveniently. Apple TV+ and Disney+ are enticing options for sharing with friends or binging for one month. As budget options, Crave and Amazon have a large amount of variety, but the quality of the content and interface lags behind Netflix.

Worth a shot Crackle has a free selection of syndicated shows and movies along with some original content created for the service. Kanopy, which is free for students through the McGill Library, offers indie films and documentaries. The CuriosityStream/Nebula bundle for $15 per year features documentaries and original content from popular educational YouTube channels.

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The pros and cons of taking notes by hand How handwritten notes can aid in learning

Josephine Wang Staff Writer With the transition from inperson to online lectures, one thing is certain: How students engage with course material remains important, and this includes taking effective notes. Because of the online format, however, students now have the freedom to watch recorded lectures at their own pace and no longer have to type frantically to keep up with their professors. Typing out notes is faster, which comes in handy when there is a lot of information to digest in a short amount of time, but now that students are able to pause, slow down, or speed up lectures, taking notes by hand is a more viable alternative. Below, The McGill Tribune investigates the pros and cons of taking handwritten notes.

Note-taking can be categorized into two types: Generative and non generative. While generative notetaking uses paraphrasing and summarizing, non generative note-taking involves transcribing something verbatim. Research shows that students who write out their notes on paper remember information bet-

ter because they listen, digest, and paraphrase to capture the essence of the material rather than type up a transcript of the lecture, which involves little cognitive processing of the content.

Thus, the main issue with typing is that students tend to transcribe whatever the lecturer says without much thought. People who write notes by hand tend to give more consideration as to what they should write down, which leads to more effective learning.

Beyond being able to retain lecture material more effectively, there are other benefits to taking notes by hand. Hayley Mauricio, U3 Science, explained why she prefers taking notes the old-fashioned way.

“I find that whenever I type out my notes during class, I get easily distracted,” Mauricio said.

“Because I’m on my laptop, I’ll use Facebook, check my emails, or message my friends when I should be listening to the lecture. Having just a notebook and pencil on my desk keeps me focussed as I’m not tempted by other applications.”

However, the benefits of handwritten notes do not negate any

practical benefits of digital note taking. Some studies that compared the effects of handwriting notes to typing notes utilized immediate memory tests administered shortly after note-taking sessions, which is not representative of real classroom settings as students are assessed weeks after learning new material.

Additionally, writing notes by hand is more cumbersome, which can be problematic during long lectures.

Tracy Liu, U3 Science, shared why she is committed to typing notes.

“I make a lot of mistakes when taking notes, whether it is spelling errors or just getting the material wrong,” Liu said. “Digital notes are much easier to edit, fix, and search through. Not to mention that typing out notes is fast. I can’t imagine writing out notes during my three hour lectures. Additionally, digital notes are more interactive, which is more important now more than ever. Because we are unable to collaborate in-person anymore, sharing a Google Doc with my classmates is an alternative to sharing notes.”

As with any mode of learning, there are different variables to consider when it comes to choosing what works best for you. If you pre-

Students who type notes in class often produce non-generative notes, or simple transcriptions of the lecture material. (Defne Gurcay / The McGill Tribune) fer typing your notes, try to understand and process the material first instead of simply transcribing what the professor says word for word.

Jasmine Coulombe, U3 Science, offered advice for typing notes.

“I always wait until the professor finishes a slide or a problem,” Coulombe said. “Afterwards, I type out the main concepts that were just explained in my own words.

That way, I’m able to actively listen

and understand the material being taught, and not just create a record of the lecture. If there’s something that I missed, I’ll wait until I finish listening to the whole lecture and watch the recording afterwards so I don’t disrupt my flow.”

Ultimately, typing notes and writing them out can both be effective note-taking methods, though handwritten notes are often more conducive to retaining information.

How to celebrate Valentine’s Day in lockdown Tips for lovebirds and the lovelorn alike Holly Wethey Contributor Whether you’re single, coupled, or ‘it’s complicated,’ one thing is for sure: This Valentine’s Day won’t be like any other. Even though Montreal has extended its stay-at-home orders, there are still plenty of ways to celebrate this heartfelt holiday. Below, The McGill Tribune shares eight ways you can get the most out of your Valentine’s day.

Hunt for roses at Old Port If you’re looking for a grand gesture to make this Valentine’s Day, MFleurs, a Montreal-based florist, recently launched an initiative called “In Case of Love at First Sight.” The company has hidden boxes filled with roses in various spots across the city. “[This initiative was born] to spread a bit of joy during this time [and to promote] a bit of togetherness and love,” co-owner Angela Martignetti said in an interview with the Tribune.

There are 500 roses hidden all around the city, so who knows—perhaps you’ll come across one on your next walk.

Support a local restaurant by ordering takeout Sure, you won’t be able to sit

down in a restaurant with your special someone, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a romantic dinner together.

In fact, ordering-in can make the occasion even more intimate. If you’re hungry for Italian, Weinstein and Gavinos is a classic option offering a sweeping selection of pasta, pizza, and more—including desserts like their delectable Nutella cheesecake. For sushi, try Sushi Momo, a vegan restaurant specializing in sushi rolls and Japanese entrees. Either way, decking out your dining room table with some candles and ordering in is a surefire way to enjoy this holiday. gifts

Try your hand at handmade

With many businesses closed, shopping for a Valentine’s Day present is a bit more complicated this year.

However, nothing beats the pleasure of receiving a handmade gift. Whether you create a D.I.Y. pop-up card for your partner or make a keychain crafted with an inside joke, they’ll undoubtedly appreciate this unique gift made especially for them.

Impress your partner with your glamorous lockdown style Are you rotating between sweatpants and pyjama bottoms? Or maybe you’ve given up on wearing bottoms altogether? In any case, there’s no

reason why quarantine style can’t be glamorous. Impress your partner with your chic blanket skirt wrapped around your waist, a fashion staple for every occasion. Or, if skirts aren’t your thing, the blanket cape is a slick alternative. You can also go back to the basics by trying out the suggestions in this article from The New Yorker describing five innovative ways to style your sweatpants.

Get to know your partner even more deeply Being around someone 24/7 is enough to test the limits of any relationship. That said, being unable to leave your house means the two of you can get to know each other on an even deeper level. Test your knowledge on them by guessing all their favourite things or try out these 36 questions to fall in love. For extra fun, you might even consider turning this into a drinking game.

Meet your special someone on Datamatch Single and looking to fall in love, or just looking for a new friend? No problem! Datamatch is a studentcreated and student-run matchmaking service first launched in 1994. The platform operates at over 35 universities, including McGill. Starting Feb. 7, you can fill out the entertaining survey and on Valentine’s Day, your matches

To celebrate the season of love, MFleurs, a Montreal-based florist, will be hiding roses around the city. (Caroline Shelton / The McGill Tribune) will be released. At the very least, you’ll have a laugh or two and who knows, you might even find true love.

Too Hot to Handle resist the temptation to get physical with one another or risk losing $100,000.

Binge-watch a romantic Netflix series

Spend the day with friends

If you’re looking for a romantic movie and finally sick of rewatching Love Actually, try out a classic reality love show. Love is Blind will melt your heart as contestants declare their undying love for each other through a wall just three days after meeting.

Looking for something a little lighter?

Instead, try watching participants on

Although platonic friendships are often overlooked on this holiday, these relationships can be some of the most vital and meaningful connections in our lives. Whether you’re with your roommates, meeting friends over Zoom, or gathering for a virtual movie night on Netflix Party, there’s nothing like spending Valentine’s Day with your closest friends.

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How the pandemic has fueled poetry’s popularity Those unable to venture out are turning inward Lowell Wolfe Staff Writer Continued from page 1.

“We’re at a point right now where so many people are searching for ways to describe this wave of unprecedented circumstances we’re experiencing right now,” Perkins said in an interview with The McGill Tribune.

“Poetry has been able to address that need in a way that, in our lifetimes, it hasn’t often been called to do.”

For some students, the pandemic has changed their everyday relationship with poetry and writing. Alana Dunlop, the president of Mcsway Poetry Collective, expressed how the pandemic fuelled her already-extant poetic passions and turned a recreational artistic activity into a potential future path.

“In the summer when I had absolutely nothing to do and I had to move back home with my parents, I was writing a lot,” Dunlop said. “For a while, I was really just writing for fun. I wasn’t submitting to literary magazines, contests, or anything. But I got back into the idea of making poetry a serious thing in my life that could possibly be a career.”

Along with re-evaluating her possible future as a writer, Dunlop found herself using poetry as a tool to explore her emotions and to process the strange contingencies she was experiencing due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I was looking back at my past and things that had already happened because nothing was going on in the present,” Dunlop said. “I was sitting at home, doing nothing with my parents [....] I was reflecting on things that happened to me in the past [and] I feel as if that really informed what I’m writing now.”

Others expressed how isolation and quarantines allowed them to observe their writing from new angles.

“It’s interesting to find things to write when you can’t

(facebook.com/mcswaypoetry)

do as much in general and you feel like your life is on pause,” Amanda,* a McGill student poet, said. “You can’t write about life experiences in the same way, so it gives you perspective.”

Dunlop has noticed that poetry has been increasingly popular, as Mcsway events have particularly thrived during the pandemic. Virtual platforms, such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams, make artistic collaboration readily accessible for anyone with a computer and internet connection. Since the pandemic, Mcsway’s open-mic poetry nights have been incredibly successful, demonstrating the potential of these applications.

“We’ve moved all our events online, so we have online open-mics once a month,” Dunlop said. “We’ve had amazing turnout to every single open mic, more people than what we’ve had in-person. The great thing about Zoom is that it’s not in a small group. You don’t have to book a room and pay for it. A lot of people can come, we’ve seen 40-50 people at every open-mic and there’s always a line-up of people who want to perform, share their poetry, and connect with people through poetry.”

Furthermore, virtual functions enable Mcsway to foster an encouraging, comfortable environment for performers and audience members. Such features would not be available in the usual open-mic setting, which often take place in cramped bars or cafés.

“A lot of people are more comfortable to express themselves when it’s not in front of a bunch of people and you can hear them breathing, moving, and whispering to each other,” Dunlop said. “The great thing about using Zoom is the chat function [....] At all of our events, we make sure that the audience members are blowing up the chat with really nice things about the performance that they’re hearing. Then, the performer can look at it afterwards and feel uplifted in a

While the pandemic has entailed excessive suffering, pain, and challenge for humans everywhere, a poetic revival could become a positive side-effect of a difficult period. (Elissa Dresdner / The McGill Tribune)

(writingwa.org) safe space. You can’t have that same thing in-person.”

While COVID-19 related circumstances have changed how McGill students enact selfexpression, it has also created many challenges for those who seek inspiration from sources now made inaccessible. Many writers feel strained because their meaningful experiences, such as travelling or socializing, are less available or entirely impossible. Michael Garbarino, U2 Arts, is a student poet who finds that the lull of this winter has stunted his productivity.

“My activities are super monotonous during COVID. I spent my day in my room or in the kitchen, basically,” Garbarino said. “It makes you more uninspired.”

On the other hand, some writers are flourishing. For example, the U.S. National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda

Gorman’s inauguration poem, “The Hill We Climb,” was written only weeks prior to its performance, during some of America’s most intense weeks of the pandemic. Dunlop’s poetic adventures during the pandemic empowered her to apply for an MFA in creative writing.

“As readers, we may be appreciating this moment and being comforted by the poetry we find,” Perkins said. “For the poets themselves writing in this moment, it’s very difficult.

I don’t know how to reconcile that, but as we’ve seen, there are those for whom this period has been productive as well as challenging.” How the pandemic will ultimately shape the relationship between people and poetry is still unknown.

But, poetry’s surge within the McGill community could be indicative of a more widely-

encompassing increase in popularity. The pandemic has caused suffering and challenged students, but a poetic revival could become a positive sideoutcome from a difficult period.

Poetry’s potential for personal and political reflection and commentary give it potency in the wake of a global catastrophe.

“The theme for this year’s Poetry Matters workshop is poetry and re-emergence,” Perkins said. “A lot of what we’re doing is not only examining how poetry can help us to re-emerge, both during and from this moment, but also how poetry might newly help us to frame our understanding of the post-pandemic world once we come out on the other side of things.” *Name has been changed to preserve anonymity.

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From the Faculty of Arts to Hollywood producer

McGill Alum Allan Scott discusses his work on ‘The Queen’s Gambit’ with TVM Deana Korsunsky Staff Writer A Scotsman, whiskey executive, McGill alum, screenwriter, and producer walk into a Zoom meeting—well, tune into a Zoom meeting. No, this is not a set-up for a fascinating punchline; it is a delightfully accurate description of The Queen’s Gambit co-producer, Allan Scott, who joined Television McGill’s (TVM) public Zoom Talk on Feb. 4 to discuss his career.

Scott, B.A. ‘61, tuned into TVM’s Zoom event from the United Kingdom to discuss his journey from McGill University English literature student to co-writer of works like Don’t Look Now (1973) and The Queen’s Gambit (2020). With over 70 students virtually present, Scott answered questions from TVM president Tory Fortunato and then from several participants. Questions pertained to screenwriting, the whiskey industry, professional recommendations, and Scott’s favourite London museums.

Scott’s answers consisted of fond McGill memories, brutally honest advice, cheeky one-liners, and praise for the Tate Modern.

The conversation commenced with Scott recalling his time at McGill, particularly at The McGill Daily. As features editor, Scott’s duty was to publish one poem weekly, a role that eventually got him in trouble as he kept selecting poems by a student who had already graduated a few years prior, and was therefore ineligible for publication. One could argue that this instance with the poet in question—Leonard Cohen— proves the age-old adage, “real recognizes real.”

Aside from the Daily, Scott participated in Mc-

Scott pointed out that to make it in the film industry, an enthusiasm to learn wherever you can is key. (Rafford Films) Gill theatre and local stand-up comedy, citing a lucky occurrence in which Charlton Heston watched him and his friend perform and praised them on live radio that night. Subsequently, the two embarked on a two-year comedy tour.

Scott recalled how after several years of performing, he and his friend wished to grow in their careers.

“We said, ‘This isn’t a job for grown-ups.’

So we decided to stop being children,” Scott said. “We sat down and we wrote a screenplay, though we did [something] more important than that. We sat down and we read four or five screenplays of movies that [we’d] seen.”

This emphasis on the importance of learning and studying both one’s craft and the film industry itself permeated Scott’s stories and advice throughout the Zoom event. Scott continued to reflect on the strategies he picked up over years of working in the entertainment industry.

“I learned a trick when I was working in

Hollywood [...] doing a lot of script doctoring,” Scott said. “I said, ‘Look, I’m the only British writer who is wholly and entirely collaborative.

I will collaborate with anybody who comes in with a good idea.’”

Besides touching on the importance of collaboration in an industry so dependent on stealing, Scott stressed the utility of possessing particular traits—largely, patience.

“The biggest hurdle in anybody’s career to overcome is idiots, and there are a lot of them around,” Scott laughed.

Scott did not limit his stories to industry advice. Many excited viewers asked about Scott’s work on The Queen’s Gambit, especially noting how long it took to be greenlighted.

“Each year, I failed to get the movie made,” Scott recalled. “It always came back to the studio from the financing entity, saying, ‘Chess doesn’t sell tickets.’”

As it turns out, chess very much did sell tickets. This tale of perseverance within the industry was one of many highlights in TVM’s “Conversation with Allan Scott.” With enthusiasm and just a smidge of sass, Scott walked his Zoom audience through highlights of his career, silly moments with fellow producers, and many pieces of advice imperative to the film industry.

It seems inconceivable that one day you might be walking through the doors of the Arts building, and the next, on set of Netflix’s biggest limited series. Yet, Scott shared that all that one needs to make those in-between steps: Collaboration, patience, enthusiasm, and of course, not taking “no” for an answer, whether it is greenlighting The Queen’s Gambit, or publishing poetry by some random, talented McGill graduate.

The Heartbreak Museum: Exhibition & Open Mic A space for you to share your heartbreak in any form that feels right to you. A zoom exhibition of heartbreak art and reading of heartbreak poetry presented by McSway Poetry Collective.

February 12, 6:30 p.m.

Free, Online (Facebook)

EdUS (virtual) Pet Show & Tell

Show off your dogs, cats, chickens, rats and everything in between!

February 10, 4:00 p.m.

Free, Online (Facebook)

STF McGill Game Night & Raffel

Lucky for you, She’s The First McGill is hosting a Valentine’s Day Edition Game Night.

Free with donation to play (min. $1) February 12, 7:30 p.m.

Online (Facebook, registration required to play)

Seascape Poetics: Vernissage and Virtual Curator Tour Virtual exhibition that examines the complexity of Caribbean relationships to water.

February 12, 12:00 p.m.

Free, Online (Facebook, RSVP)

‘Lost in Bloom’ chronicles The Neighbourhood Watch’s coming-of-age The indie-rock band blooms flowers from growing-pains on their latest album Naomi Mirny Staff Writer On the morning of Jan. 31, a group of guys in grey beanies gathered around a computer screen from the comfort of their own homes, drinking coffee, adjusting their headphones, and cheerily chatting away. Meet The Neighbourhood Watch, a Toronto-based band consisting of pianist Tyler Moretti, drummer Wyeth Robertson, and brothers guitarist Ethan and vocalist Tristan Surman, U3 Arts. Their excitement was palpable. On Feb. 4, their latest album Lost in Bloom—a two-year writing endeavour—was released.

The band, which has now amassed 75,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and is featured on the “Indie All Stars” playlist alongside the likes of Tame Impala and Glass Animals, started as an accident in a basement. All of the band members attended the same Toronto high school, and, through a set of mutual connections, formed The Neighbourhood Watch. Luckily, attending the same arts school exposed them to an assortment of different musical styles.

“We [were] surrounded by a bunch of musicians all the time

[and] there was just a unique style that funneled through that school,” Moretti said. “We were always surrounded by a very [...] diverse set of music tastes [that were] very simple but artistic in a lyrical sense.”

In their creative classrooms, the future musicians were equipped with the artistic storytelling tools they needed to compose engaging musical pieces.

“Wyeth, Ethan, and I, we were all studying film there and Tyler studied drama [....] We were [all] coming from backgrounds where we were [essentially studying] how to tell stories. [And] I think that that’s always been one of the things that I like most about our music, is that you could kind of say that it’s cinematic [...] and I think that our studying of film [was] kind of an impetus for that,” Tristan Surman said.

Since forming in 2017, one of their greatest challenges has been developing an authentic sound. On their debut album, Community Protected, the quartet classified their music as predominantly folksy, taking inspiration from The Lumineers and The Head and The Heart. Experimenting more in their sophomore record, the group joked that they threw the kitchen sink in their

The band that has now amassed 75,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, and is featured on the “Indie All Stars” playlist with the likes of Tame Impala and Glass Animals, started as an accident in a basement. (The Neighbourhood Watch) production four-month time, ultimately feeling that this produced a less cohesive set of tracks in Goodbye Childhood (2019).

In their newest album, Lost in Bloom, it seems that the band has finally bloomed into its sound. Taking musical cues from The Beatles, Kodaline, Alabama Shakes, Arcade Fire, and Cage the Elephant, Lost in Bloom is a beau-

tiful amalgamation of tender folk, lively rock, and kitchen-dancing, head-bopping indie. Particularly outstanding is the Great-Caesaresque tour-de-force of “20 Year Dream,” the melancholic delicacy of “Hailey,” and the tenderhearted wisdom of “Focus Up.” Written over the span of two years, the band admitted that working on Bloom during COVID-19 has proved to be dif-

ficult, but the pandemic also encouraged them to explore their central theme of emotional and interpersonal maturity. Describing the album as being both a break-up and a coming-of-age record, main songwriter of the band Tristan Surman said that the heart of the album revolves around the idea of growing up.

“If you were to put all of our albums in sequence, every single one is [...] about a different aspect of growing up,” Tristan Surman said. “So, one of the core themes I think for this record is asking, ‘As we grow up, as we become more mature and responsible people, what is our responsibility to the people that we love? [....] How do we create enough space for those people to just be themselves and never let our emotions or our personalities stop them from fully flourishing? [....] I think a lot of what this album is about is a moment of realization that growing up should be less about ambition, and more about kindness.”

You can now stream Lost in Bloom on Spotify, Apple Music, Youtube Music, and Pandora.

Album cover art by Ella Roy. Video production by Charlie Hill and Max Mezo. Press photography by Jamie Brennan.

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9 2021

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The McGill Tribune’s comprehensive guide to winter sports in a pandemic Outdoor activities like skiing and tubing offer an escape from the stuffy indoors

Sophia Gorbounov & Adam Burton Managing Editor & Sports Editor In many cities, winter is a time to stay indoors and wait until the snow begins to melt. In Montreal, however, the colder months offer a slew of activities for everyone. Even in the ongoing pandemic, many outdoor sports remain available with set restrictions, letting anyone take a break from their screens and venture into the great outdoors. The McGill Tribune offers its guide for enjoying winter activities while still respecting COVID-19 regulations.

Downhill skiing and snowboarding Even as the Quebec government maintains its curfew, mountains for downhill skiing and snowboarding remain open during business hours, albeit with several new restrictions: Lessons and classes are not permitted, skiers can only go with members of their family bubble, and night skiing is not allowed in accordance with the 8 p.m. curfew. In addition to these restrictions, common regulations such as reduced chairlift capacity and mandatory masks continue to be enforced.

For Montreal’s avid skiers and snowboarders, Quebec offers numerous ski resorts within driving distance of the city.

Mont Tremblant, perhaps Quebec’s most famous mountain, features diverse terrains for all skill levels. However, its popularity means Tremblant can be extremely busy, a concern especially prevalent during the pandemic.

Mont Sutton, though a smaller mountain, is renowned for its glade skiing, with treecovered trails for any skill level. Finally, Mont Saint-Anne, while a three-hour drive from Montreal, makes up for the long distance with some of the best skiing conditions year-round.

Skating Whether going alone, with friends, or with family, skating is an activity that anyone can enjoy. While indoor arenas remain closed for recreational skating, Montreal offers over 200 outdoor rinks across all its boroughs. On the City of Montreal website, each borough has a list of rinks and their skating conditions.

As with most other activities, rinks close at 7:30 p.m. to allow people to return home in time for curfew.

For those close to McGill, Parc JeanneMance features two well-conditioned rinks.

Parc La Fontaine, although farther from the core of McGill student life, has two hockey rinks and one illuminated recreational rink.

Altogether, the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough has 13 rinks—both recreational and athletic— spread out across six parks.

Sledding Although sledding is typically seen as a children’s activity, the exhilaration of jetting downhill on a thin piece of shabby plastic is fun for anyone. Moreover, any park with a downhill slope already provides the perfect conditions for sledding.

For McGillians close to campus, Parc Jeanne-Mance and Parc du Mont-Royal Park both offer hills for enthusiastic sleighers.

Further away, Parc Jean-Drapeau’s Espace 67 provides obstacle-free riding, with a

designated path to walk back up the slope.

Unlike other winter sporting activities that require specific apparel and equipment, sledding only requires something to descend on, along with the usual winter attire. Even without a proper toboggan, anything from inflatable pools to laundry baskets to garbage can lids can be repurposed for some lightningfast downhill sled runs.

Cross-country skiing During any snowfall, the streets of Montreal fill with avid cross-country skiers making their way to Mont Royal. The local mountain has a wide range of cross-country ski trails with 22 kilometres of marked trails.

As the sport does not require much interaction, COVID-19 restrictions only require a mask in washrooms and buildings.

While downhill skiing is expensive, with some one-day mountain tickets selling at over $200 dollars, cross-country skiing requires no mountain and no chairlift tickets, making it a more accessible winter activity.

Apart from McGill’s neighbourhood hill, Montreal boasts over 100 kilometres of marked cross-country ski trails. Parc Jarry offers a 2.1 kilometre trail for beginners and families, as does Parc-nature de Bois-deLiesse with its nine kilometre wooded trail.

For those who want to build their technique with assistance, Parc Jean-Drapeau offers free beginner’s classes on site.

Snowshoeing Snowshoeing is believed to be over 10 thousand years old, first used in the migration over the Bering Strait from Siberia to Northern Canada. While snowshoeing is no longer a necessity, many still choose to strap on their raquettes and go out for a brisk walk in the woods. Snowshoeing allows people to stay active in a time of year where they would otherwise be indoors clinging to the warmth of their tiny student apartments.

Montreal has dozens of parks and rental locations that make this the ideal winter sport for those looking to explore new parts of the city. Parc du Mont-Royal, Parc JeanDrapeau, Parc-Nature Pointe-aux-Prairies, and the Lachine Canal offer rental services and several kilometres of trails. Many paths have fireplaces en route, locations ideal for birdwatching, and even bistros at the end of trail for those looking to warm up after a long day of exertion.

Hockey In many cities, the most difficult part of playing hockey is finding ice time. Montreal, however, eliminates the problem with dozens of maintained hockey rinks available for use.

The rinks at Parc Jeanne-Mance, Place des Arts, and Parc La Fontaine are ideally situated for students in the downtown area.

In winters past, rinks were packed to the brim with locals looking to get some time on the ice. Dozens of informal leagues pop up throughout the city, with players of any skill level able to find equivalent competition.

While the city has limited hockey games for the duration of lockdown, rinks are still open for individual practice and skating. Now is the perfect time to work on your skill set, so grab

Every day, hundreds of Montrealers trek to Mount Royal and clip into their cross country skis.

(Tourisme Montreal, MTL Blog, Sepaq.com) your skates and lug a bucket of pucks to your local hockey rink and work on that slap shot and hockey stop.

Fat Biking While most deem Quebec winters too frigid for cycling, every year a select few break out their fat bikes: An off-road bicycle with oversized tires designed to grab at groomed snow.

Fat Bikes are ideal for those looking to get in some mileage during the period when cycling is otherwise inaccessible. Parc JeanDrapeau and Parc du Mont-Royal are fantastic options for those looking to stay in the city, as they offer on-site rental booths and regularly groomed trails. Parc national des Îles-deBoucherville and Mont Tremblant boasts longer woodsy trails that are removed from the city, making them ideal for more serious

cyclists on a full day excursion.

Tubing Nothing says wintertime like speeding down a hill in an inflatable doughnut.

Thankfully for tubing fanatics, Montreal has several prime locations. For those living in the downtown area, Parc du Mont-Royal and Parc Jean-Drapeau both offer inner tube rentals and groomed trails close to home.

Further north, Les Super Glissades St-Jean-de-Matha boasts scenic views and the fastest sliding tracks in the province, allowing tubers to reach speeds of up to 100 kilometres per hour. Alongside tubing, Les Super Glissades also is also ideal for a variety of other winter activities, including snowshoeing, skating, and cross-country skiing, perfect for those who aim to cross all winter activities off their list.

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SPORTS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9 2021

2021 Winter X Games return to Aspen

History was made by both rookies and veterans at this year’s Winter X Games Sophia Gorbounov Managing Editor On Jan. 31, the 25th edition of the Winter X Games kicked off in Aspen, Colorado. Held at the Buttermilk Ski Resort, the event featured only skiing and snowboarding events and was organized in a fenced-off venue, with no spectators permitted due to the ongoing pandemic.

The pandemic also caused some athletes to withdraw from the Games, namely Canadian snowboarders Mark McMorris and Max Parrot.

The X Games are an annual extreme sports event hosted

by ESPN. The first Summer X Games were held in 1995 in Newport, Rhode Island, with the winter edition being introduced two years later in Big

This year marked the first time a woman competed in the Snowboard Knuckle Huck, with Jamie Anderson competing shortly after winning gold in Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle. (Joshua Duplechian / ESPN)

Bear Lake, California. Among the various extreme sports, the event prominently features skateboarding, motocross, skiing, and snowboarding.

Due to the freestyling nature of the events, past X Games have seen their competitors introduce new, never-beforeseen tricks. Some notable feats include Tony Hawk’s first ever 900 in skateboarding, Shaun White’s Double McTwist 1260 in snowboarding, and Travis Pastrana’s first double backflip in Moto X. This year, despite a reduced number of events and competitors, athletes put their best foot forward to deliver exhilarating performances.

Jamie Anderson won another gold medal in Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle with her first run, making her the most decorated female competitor in X Games history with a total of 20 X Games medals. Zoi SadowskiSynnott took second place in the same slopestyle event, while Quebec’s own Laurie Blouin won the bronze medal.

Dusty Henricksen from Mammoth Lakes, California made his X Games debut this

year. Any pressure of his first Games did not seem to affect the 17-year-old snowboarder, who went on to win not one but two gold medals in Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle and the Snowboard Knuckle Huck.

“I was just trying to stay on my feet and snowboard and have a good time with all these boys,” Henricksen said in an interview with Forbes.

His win in the slopestyle event made Henricksen the first American male snowboarder to win the event in 12 years—since Shaun White in 2009—as well as the first snowboarder to win two gold medals in his rookie appearance.

Alongside Henricksen, Chinese freeskier Eileen Gu also made her first X Games appearance. Gu took first place in Women’s Ski Superpipe, as well as Women’s Ski Slopestyle and third place in Women’s Ski Big Air. Her debut made Gu the first woman to win three X Games medals in her rookie appearance, and the first rookie ever to medal in every event she competed in.

Marcus Kleveland, an X Games snowboarding veteran

from Norway, made his seventh X Games appearance. In the Men’s Snowboard Big Air, Kleveland placed first, earning him his fifth X Games gold medal. However, while he started off strong in Men’s Snowboarding Slopestyle, Kleveland eventually fell short, finishing the event in fifth place.

This year, the slopestyle events took on a “jam session” style where competitors had a set amount of time to complete as many runs as they could and were only judged on their best run and not on overall performance. This method has received backlash, especially from fans who claimed the all-or-nothing judging style was partially responsible for Kleveland’s low placement.

Overall, the 2021 Winter X Games did not fail in showcasing some of the world’s best winter extreme sport athletes. Even with fan favourites like Shaun White withdrawing from the Games, athletes like Marcus Kleveland, Chloe Kim, and Nick Goepper all delivered expert performances. Moreover, with first-timers Dusty Henricksen and Eileen Gu breaking records, this year’s event kept viewers on the edge of their seats.

The rich history of McGill Martlets hockey

Since its inception in 1896, McGill women’s hockey has come a long way

Sarah Farnand Sports Editor McGill men’s hockey has played a crucial part in developing the modern version of the sport. However, women’s hockey has made its mark as well, despite having a later start.

Women started playing hockey at McGill in 1896, but with a slew of restrictions. They were required to wear skirts while they played and were given very little ice time—and their games did not allow male spectators, except for referees and rink employees that would guard the doors against any prospective onlookers.

Organized play would not take off until 20 years later, when the McGill women’s hockey team participated in the first Women’s Provincial Ontario Championship in 1914. In 1920, Lady Meredith of Montreal donated the Lady Meredith Cup to the Quebec Ladies’ Hockey Association.

This cup is said to be the first women’s ice hockey trophy in Canada.

From 1921 to 1933, McGill was part of the first university-level women’s hockey league.

In 1921, they played against the University of Toronto in the first-ever women’s university championship. The Women Interuniversity Athletics Union (WIAU) league, founded in 1923, would run for 50 years; however, McGill’s teams would never become champions.

In the 1960s, McGill women’s hockey made a comeback when David Kerr, a McGill men’s hockey player, helped restore the women’s team.

It was at McGill that he met his wife Sheryl, a first-year player at the time. Together, in 2007,

the Kerrs would make the largest donation ever made towards a Canadian university female athletic program. The $1 million donation helped trainers become full-time employees and allowed the team to hire scouts to recruit players from around Quebec to join McGill’s team.

The Kerrs made another, even larger, donation of $3.5 million in 2018 towards the creation of a Women in Sports initiative at McGill, helping the women’s hockey program hire their current interim head coach, Alyssa

Cecere.

In 1976, the women’s team became known as the Martlets. The name referred to the coat of arms in the university logo, which has three birds, originally part of James McGill’s family crest. The symbol was also used by the McGill Martlet Foundation, a program focussed on raising money for and providing aid to McGill student athletes.

In 1985, the Martlets won the Quebec Championships, but over the next 13 years they

Women were required to wear skirts while playing hockey and could have no male spectators.

(JLNande / Pinterest)

would only manage to make the qualifying rounds once. Things began to turn around for the Martlets after the arrival of goaltender Kim St-Pierre in the 1998 season. Over the next four years, she would help the Martlets qualify for the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) women’s ice hockey championship playoffs.

In the 21 years since the start of the USports championship, the Martlets have had four wins in 10 appearances, second only to the Alberta Pandas, with eight wins in 10 appearances. Over the past two decades, the McGill Martlets have become a dominant force in women’s hockey at the university level.

With the creation of the National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL) and the Montrealbased team, Les Canadiennes, the talent of the Martlets has become evident: Eight of the 21 women rostered for Les Canadiennes are former McGill Martlets. The team’s general manager, Meg Hewings, explained the Martlet’s significance in an interview with the McGill Alumni Association.

“Women’s hockey is growing at an exponential rate and McGill has paved the way for that growth,” said Hewings. “McGill’s varsity hockey program has a long and rich history [....]

Many of our players came out of the program, they know each other well and play well together, and they’ve brought a lot of terrific chemistry to our team.”

Multiple Martlets have also become Olympic champions with the Canadian women’s hockey team, which won four of the last five Olympic gold medals in the sport.