The McGill Tribune Vol. 42 Issue 16

The McGill Tribune

Stricter bail is a far cry from justice

PG. 5

TNC’s ‘Girl in the Goldfish Bowl’ is hilariously eccentric

Morris Panych’s dark comedy brings humour, surprise, and wonder

Bianca Romero Gallegos Contributor

What’s the common denominator between the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 and a mother seeking to abandon her family? The death of a goldfish. At least, this is what the precocious Iris tries to convince us of in Tuesday Night Café’s (TNC) production of Girl in the Goldfish Bowl

With hilarious dialogue, authentic performances, and poignant direction, Girl in the Goldfish Bowl achieves memorable status among productions put on by the performing arts group.

The play, written by Canadian playwright Morris Panych, is narrated by Iris (Jaimie Coplan, U0 Arts), a highly intelligent and talkative 10-year-old. She introduces us to her quirk-filled and complex household during a point of palpable tension caused by a crisis in her parents’ marriage. To make matters even more complicated, Iris takes in an unexpected stranger by the name of Mr. Lawrence (Skyler Bohnert, U1 Arts) when she finds him on the shore, as she firmly believes he is the reincarnation of her beloved goldfish.

PG. 11

To Montreal, my second love Lessons in community care from rural India

PGs. 8-9

Peering into the universe with gravitational lensing

Bringing the outdoors in: How to make your student apartment greener

The benefits and challenges of indoor plant parenthood

Margo Berthier Staff Writer

A healthy indoor plant is seen as the mark of a student life well-balanced. Not only do they add a touch of colour and life to any living space, but they also provide numerous health benefits. For many McGill students, however, caring for these green babies can be a challenge. From a dearth of sunlight in cramped bedrooms to long

breaks with nobody home, keeping indoor plants alive and thriving can be a difficult task. Whether you have a green thumb or are a keen beginner, read on to learn more about the benefits of indoor plants and how to care for them in your student apartment.

Benefits of indoor plants

Houseplants are an affordable way to add a touch of nature to your indoor spaces and enhance the overall aesthetic of your home.

PG. 14

McGill releases updated version of mandatory “It Takes All of Us” program

Lily Cason News Editor

Content warning: Mentions of sexual violence

McGill launched a new version of its mandatory “It Takes All of Us” program, an online tool meant to educate the McGill community about sexual violence, on Jan. 30. The updated version was created by the Office for Sexual Violence Response, Support and Education (OSVRSE), McGill’s Teaching and Learning Services (TLS), and the Office for Mediation and Reporting (OMR).

( / The McGill Tribune)

The original program, introduced in 2019 and modelled after Concordia University’s version of “It Takes All of Us,” took approximately 45 minutes to complete and was composed of four modules that used “character-driven scenarios” centred around sexual violence and consent.

PG. 13

PG. 3

When it rains, it pours: The Martlets’ artistic swimming is back

Martlets place in top three in nearly all events at McGill Invitational

Julie Ferreyra Contributor

After a two-year hiatus, McGill’s Artistic Swimming Invitational made its long-awaited comeback on Jan. 21. Following back-to-back wins in the 2019 and 2020 editions of the invitational, expectations for the Martlets were higher than ever.

Events are split into competitor levels ranging from novice (no competition experience at the

national or provincial level after the age of 12), competitive (any swimmer who is registered with Canadian University Artistic Swimming League (CUASL)), and experienced (athletes that competed nationally or internationally before joining CUASL, or competed provincially after the age of 12). This year, McGill competed in every event, except for the novice duo, presenting two solos, two teams, and a duo in the experienced category, along with a solo and team in the novice category.

All students and staff must take the redesigned program by April 28

(Drea Garcia / The McGill Tribune)

McGill commemorates victims of Holocaust in annual Remembrance Day event

Holocaust survivor and McGill alumna Judith Nemes Black shared her life story

Oscar Johnson

Contributor

Content warning: Mentions of antisemitism, genocide

On Jan. 26, members of the McGill community gathered in the atrium of the Macdonald Engineering Building to commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The event, hosted by Associate Provost (Equity and Academic Policies) Angela Campbell, was held in collaboration with Hillel McGill, the Rohr Chabad Jewish Student Centre, and McGill’s Department of Jewish Studies.

Jan. 27 is the United Nations–-designated International Holocaust Remembrance Day and marks the anniversary of when Soviet forces liberated prisoners from AuschwitzBirkenau. McGill decided to hold the ceremony a day early as Jan. 27 fell on a Friday, the day of Shabbat.

The commemoration began with a speech from Campbell, who paid tribute to the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust, and the five million other LGBTQIA+, Roma, and disabled victims of the Second World War.

“We must learn from the lesson of the past and relentlessly defend our democratic and humanist values,” Campbell said.

Campbell’s opening speech was followed

by a discussion from Interim Principal and Vice-Chancellor Christopher Manfredi about rising antisemitism since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the university’s measures to combat anti-Jewish hate and discrimination.

“The observance of this commemorative day will be an important way of raising awareness among our community about Jewish history for years to come, but there’s still much more work to be done,” Manfredi said.

Some of the speakers included city councillor Peter McQueen and the Consul General of Israel, Paul Hirschon. Following their remarks, Eta Yudin, the Quebec vicepresident of the Center for Israel and Jewish Affairs, said that “we are moving further and further away from the living memory of the Holocaust.”

Campbell then welcomed Judith Nemes Black, a child victim of the Holocaust, to share her story. Born in Budapest, Hungary in 1941, Nemes Black recalled Hungary’s antisemitic laws and her family’s experience of the Holocaust.

Nemes Black and her mother were forced into hiding after being expelled from their apartment in July 1944. She was also made to wear a yellow star, a symbol used by the Nazis to target Jewish people. Her father, meanwhile, was forcibly moved

between multiple eastern European concentration camps.

“In 1943, my father was sent to the Bor mines in Serbia, which was one of the worst labour camps in the Nazi Germanoccupied territory,” Nemes Black said in her speech. “In 1944, he was forced on a death march to Germany and was finally liberated in the terrible camp of Bergen-Belsen [....] Despite his thinness and his physical differences, I recognized him based on the pictures I [had] been shown.”

She described her family’s reunion in October 1945 as being “one of the most beautiful moments of my life.”

After Nemes Black’s testimony, Rabbi Shmuly Weiss, the rabbi of Chabad McGill and the university’s Jewish Chaplain, recited a prayer. McGill students lit candles in remembrance of victims and heroes of the Holocaust. The room then quieted for a minute of silence, which was broken by a recitation of the poems “The Butterfly” by Pavel Friedman and “Never Shall I Forget” by Elie Wiesel.

In an interview with The McGill Tribune after the event, Rabbi Shmuly stressed the importance of Holocaust education and

fighting misinformation, especially in light of a recent survey that found 22 per cent of Canadian millennials have never heard of or were unsure if they had heard of the Holocaust.

“Even if there were no antisemitism in 2023, it would still be incumbent upon everybody to study about the Holocaust to make sure things like this don’t happen ever again to anybody,” Shmuly said. “The fact that Canadian citizens today have not heard about it is very disturbing.”

The event closed with a prayer by Rabbi Shmuly and Hillel McGill President Sam Abemoyer, followed by a speech from Yael Halevi-Wise, associate professor in McGill’s Departments of Jewish Studies and English.

“In a way, we are all Holocaust survivors,” Halevi-Wise said in her closing remarks. “Whether as first hand victims, witnesses, spectators, or traumatized remnants, we are all survivors of this horror because it remains a collective responsibility to cry ‘Never again; never again anywhere’.”

SSMU offers free sustainable menstrual products at monthly pick-up Promoting sustainability and destigmatizing periods at core of project

Cecilia Pedersen Contributor

Aline of students filled the McLennan-Redpath library complex lobby on Jan. 23, waiting for the first menstrual product pick-up of the semester to begin. The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) organized the pick-up as part of its Menstrual Health Project––an initiative that began in 2017 to provide free menstrual products to students via

dispensers in bathrooms across campus.

Among the free products available to students were disposable pads and tampons, along with reusable products, such as menstrual underwear, reusable pads, and menstrual cups and discs. All the disposable products are biodegradable.

The SSMU Menstrual Health Project funds the initiative through a non-opt outable undergraduate student fee of $2.40 per semester. The project also received $50,000 from the McGill Office of Sustainability’s partially studentfunded Sustainability Projects Fund (SPF) to offer more sustainable products as of Fall 2022.

SSMU vice-president (VP) University Affairs Kerry Yang explained that reusable products, although more cost-effective in the long run, tend to be more expensive up-front, making them inaccessible for many students.

“Some students find out they don’t really like [a reusable product] but we want to give students the option to try different things and see what they like and not have cost be a barrier that prohibits them from getting access,” Yang said in an interview with The McGill Tribune

SSMU Menstrual Health

Commissioner Julia Miracle noted that most reusable products require access to private sinks, which may not always be available for students in university

bathrooms or residence halls. So, offering sustainable disposable products is also critical to ensure students can use what is most comfortable for them.

Universities across Canada such as Western University and the University of Toronto are increasingly receiving administrative support to provide free menstrual products. While Yang is in support of funding and administrative support from McGill, he feels that there are benefits to the project being studentrun.

“The team does have the ability to push in different directions which is really great and we want to keep the autonomy,” he said.

Miracle agrees thatt McGill should step up to support the free menstrual product initiative but maintains that student involvement in the pick-up is important as the products offered are personalized and based on student requests.

“Keeping the monthly pick-ups student-run could be a great initiative [...] for students to learn facilitation roles, connect with the community,” Miracle said. “We could potentially [...] have McGill institutionalize the bathroom [product distribution], but have [SSMU] keep the pick-ups and try to expand.”

Students interviewed by the Tribune feel positively about the student-funded aspect of the project. Julia Toth, U3 Arts and Science, appreciates the quality of the

service the fee has made possible.

“I love it. I think we have so many non-opt outable fees that we might as well start having things that actually benefit us, and this really benefits me,” Toth said. “I hardly actually go buy tampons anymore.”

Amelie Philipp Kirschner, U1 Arts, pointed out that the fees seem inconsequential compared to the lifetime costs otherwise associated with menstrual products. In Canada, menstruating people can spend up to $6,000 on menstrual products over their lifetimes.

“If we paid for all this by ourselves it would be so much more […] so I am fine with it because I use it,” Kirschner said.

One student in line for the pick-up told the Tribune that having the pick-up in a public location helps destigmatize periods. Providing students with access to hygienic products also means lessening the worries menstruation may otherwise bring, such as bleeding through clothes or not being able to participate in sports.

Yang and Miracle echoed these concerns. By removing the financial barriers associated with menstrual products, menstruating students can use their money for other necessities.

“We really want students who menstruate to have equal opportunities,” Yang said. “We want to foster a culture and community of sustainability not just economically, not just socially, [but also] addressing menstrual equity.”

SSMU partnered with companies Joni and Period Aisle to purchase their products at a discount. (neighborhoodfeminists.com)

International Holocaust Remembrance Day was officially established by the United Nations in November 2005. (reporter.mcgill.ca)

McGill releases updated version of mandatory “It Takes All of Us” program

All students and staff must take the redesigned program by April 28

Lily Cason News Editor

Continued from page 1.

Content warning: Mentions of sexual violence

Felicia Gisondi founded the student-run non-forprofit Sex and Self to fill the gaps in trauma-informed and intersectional sexual health education. She recounted her experience taking the old “It Takes All of Us” program, which she found perfunctory and performative, to The McGill Tribune.

“I remember it being really easy to skip through,” said Gisondi, who is currently getting a master’s in psychiatry at McGill. “I also feel like it was a very, very easy way to say that your school does sexual health or sexual violence prevention because students are required to do a 45-minute digital training that they could probably do in 10 minutes if you skip through it correctly.”

The new “It Takes All of Us” takes around an hour to complete and is made up of five modules, still featuring “character-driven scenarios.” It is accessible through the MyCourses website and available in both French and English.

Frédérique Mazerolle, a McGill media relations officer, claims that the university did a “thorough overhaul” of the program, incorporating feedback from students, staff, and at least one postdoctoral researcher who specializes in sexual violence education.

“The [“It Takes All of Us”] refresh also puts sharper focus on the intersectionality of sexual violence and gender, race[,] and different abilities,” Mazerolle wrote in an email to the Tribune. “Additionally, given the difficult nature of some of the material, the refreshed [“It Takes All of Us”] has added more mindfulness and self-care resources for learners who may feel activated or overwhelmed while doing the program.”

The modules are designed to be completed in multiple sittings, and allow participants to save their progress. The program also has a “take a break” option that will guide users through a breathing exercise. OSVRSE urges any individuals who have or who anticipate having difficulty completing the program to reach out for confidential assistance and accommodations.

Unlike the old program, there is now only one version for both students and staff. All students and staff who started at McGill before Jan. 31 are required to complete the new “It Takes All of Us” by April 28—even if they had already taken the old version. Students who do not complete the program in time will have a hold placed on their Minerva accounts, making them unable to register for courses.

Gisondi, whose organization was not consulted during the program refresh, thinks that modules play an important role in sexual violence education, but are insufficient. She urged the university to invest in more counsellors and full-time OSVRSE staff, to recognize the “emotionally laborious” nature of the field, and fix the barriers to accessing care at the Wellness Hub.

“It Takes All of Us” was first introduced to meet requirements laid out in Bill 151, which seeks to bolster sexual violence education, prevention, and responses on university campuses. (Tigris Alt Sakda/ McGill Reporter)

temporary closure, has very limited appointment availability according to their online booking tool.

“I feel like McGill really needs to reinvest in their sexual violence prevention, reinvest in OSVRSE, and make sure that staff are equitably and generously paid for the work that they’re doing,” Gismondi said. “There should not be less than 10 full-time paid staff at OSVRSE at any point in time. McGill has 40,000 students.”

Keith Bellec-Warrick is a longtime member of the Union for Gender Empowerment (UGE) and is the advocacy group’s finance coordinator. Bellec-Warrick, who is currently a graduate student in education, spoke to the Tribune on the day that the new program was released. He believes that the program has strengths, such as the module on consent, but also found the structure confusing at times. He pointed to a lack of continuity between modules, and thought that the section concerning sexual violence against men was not thorough enough.

One of Bellec-Warrick’s main grievances was that the new program frequently references the availability of OSVRSE’s services and fails to suggest alternatives like the Sexual Assault Centre of the McGill Students’ Society (SACOMSS). OSVRSE, although now open after a

“It just seems so irresponsible to release this program now when they don’t even have a functioning office,” BellecWarrick said. “I go on their website, there’s no information, it just shows a blocked out calendar where I can’t book an appointment, there’s no announcement that makes it obvious what the situation is. Imagine that I’m in a vulnerable situation.”

Like Sex and Self, UGE says it was not contacted during the remaking of the program. Bellec-Warrick thinks that this lack of consultation played into mistakes that he found while reviewing the program, such as poor French translations.

“The university doesn’t pursue or value the expertise of students, even though we have a lot to offer—and that’s a problem,” Bellec-Warrick said.

For any member of the McGill community in need of support regarding sexual violence, OSVRSE can be reached at 514-398-3954 or osvrse@mcgill.ca; SACOMSS can be reached at main@sacomss.org or over Zoom using the instructions on sacomss.org; the OMR can be reached at omr@mcgill.ca; and the province-wide Sexual Violence Helpline can be reached at 1-888-933-9007.

Tribune Explains: McGill Alumni Association and Scarlet Key Society

Alumni Association numbers over 300,000 students and graduates across the globe

Jasjot Grewal Staff Writer

In a season when many are searching for summer opportunities, taking advantage of the university’s alumni network can be a useful tool. The McGill Alumni Association (MAA) offers various events and opportunities to students and graduates worldwide, including networking services such as McGill Connect, the McGill News Alumni Magazine, and McGill Crowdfunding. The Scarlet Key Society is an exclusive society for both alumni and current students that provides similar networking benefits. The McGill Tribune looked into the employment, mentorship, and learning opportunities that both groups offer.

How do you start networking using the McGill Alumni Association?

McGill graduates automatically become members of the MAA. Graduates can connect with over 300,000 McGill alumni across the globe by signing into the McGill Alumni directory using their McGill credentials.

The MAA, in partnership with a virtual networking platform called Ten Thousand Coffees (10KC), designed McGill Connect— an exclusive networking platform that allows McGill alumni, current students, and faculty to link with one another. The platform even allows recruiters to search for new hires

within the McGill graduate pool. McGill Connect works through a threepronged system. First, members complete a quick matching quiz to determine the personalized connection suggestions they will receive. Then, they can search the platform based on a number of factors, including location, expertise, and industry. Finally, alumni can connect with their matches through discussion boards, messages, and calls.

What other services and opportunities does the McGill Alumni Association offer?

Along with McGill Connect, the MAA boasts a range of activities, initiatives, and benefits for its members. Events range from a Roller Skate Party in Switzerland, Winter Pancakes and Maple Syrup Brunch in Paris, to a Student-Alumni Networking Cocktail in Montreal. Events are either free or charge an attendance fee.

The MAA also publishes the McGill News Alumni Magazine, which highlights the achievements of McGill’s graduates and reports on the latest developments at McGill.

Members of the MAA enjoy benefits such as discounts on insurance rates and credit card services. When members sign up for these perks, McGill’s affinity partners return a percentage of the premiums collected to McGill. Members can also

peruse discounted accommodations across the world and pay reduced rates at McGill facilities.

Along with collecting private donations for the university, the MAA also runs McGill Crowdfunding, a fundraising platform for individuals in the McGill community to raise money in support of educational initiatives and research.

What is the Scarlet Key Society?

The Scarlet Key Society strives to bring together students who have shown outstanding leadership and generosity in the McGill community and provides a space

for them to continue their service. According to the group’s Constitution, the Society holds a few events a year and also supports a number of charitable causes.

The Society consists of members of the original Scarlet Key and Red Wing Societies, honourary members appointed by the Scarlet Key executive, and recipients of the Scarlet Key award. This exclusive award is granted to student leaders who show extraordinary leadership and ambition, and go above and beyond in their communities.

Candidates for the award can be selfnominated or nominated by others in the McGill community. All nominations must be done through an online application. Candidates must have completed at least two full-time semesters and be in satisfactory standing or be a McGill alumnus, but grades are not considered beyond this requirement. Candidates must also have taken on a significant project that has had a positive impact.

The 2022-2023 “pinning” ceremony for chosen Scarlet Key award recipients will take place on March 23.

Remembering Professor Peter Hoffmann

Former students pay tribute to Hoffmann, who passed away this January at the age of 92

Colin Gilmour worked with Hoffmann as a graduate student after asking him to supervise her doctoral studies.

“I approached Dr. Hoffmann to be my doctoral supervisor in 2011 because, in reading his work, I saw the kind of historian that I wanted to emulate: One whose research was meticulous, writing clear[,] and one who remained faithful above all to the evidence, wherever it led,” Gilmour wrote.

Hoffmann was not only active in academia. Gilmour recalls the 85-year-old professor walking home and back for lunch some days and opting for the stairs instead of elevators. His physical energy matched the energy he brought to the classroom.

“[T]he snapshot-memories I shall cherish with the greatest fondness are of course of Peter Hoffmann the man,” Gilmour wrote. “Closing my eyes I see him, as always, with his trademark bow tie, sitting amidst the columns of books that went from floor to ceiling in his small office gathering his hand-written notes and green, blue[,] and red overhead transparencies for a lecture.”

Eliza Wood is another one of the many students who enrolled in Hoffmann’s undergraduate courses. Yet, Wood’s academic life was impacted beyond the three credits added to her transcript.

used to make bread.”

“He clearly enjoyed our company—inviting his seminar students to his home for tea, and taking his teaching assistants on a shockingly fast walk for lunch at Schwartz’s,” Wood said. “I feel privileged, 10 years since I was last in his classroom, to have visited with him before his passing. It will surprise none of his former students to learn that despite his illness, in our last conversation, he was still teaching.”

Ellen Gilley, who also took Hoffmann’s undergraduate classes, remembers the questions on his history exams to this day. She describes herself as belonging “to the band of McGill History students who painstakingly selected their courses around Professor Hoffmann’s teaching schedule.” In her letter to the Tribune , Gilley reminisced on the 18 credits she took with Hoffmann, which she describes as “the equivalent of a minor at the time.”

Born in Dresden, Germany in 1930, Peter Hoffmann joined McGill as the chair of German History in 1970. His research focused on World War I and II, as well as the German resistance to Nazism, which were the topics of his published books Hitler’s Personal Security (1979) and Carl Goerdeler and the Jewish Question, 1933–1942 (2011). On Jan. 6, the beloved McGill professor passed away at the age of 92. Some of Hoffmann’s former students shared their memories of the late academic and mentor with The McGill Tribune

“Professor Hoffmann’s seminars caused me to abandon my half-hearted plans to work in politics and instead pursue a master’s degree in history at McGill, where I was Professor Hoffmann’s graduate student and his teaching assistant,” Wood wrote to the Tribune

Wood, who first attended a class with Hoffmann in the third year of her undergraduate degree, continued her studies in German history with a second Winter seminar on the German Resistance. She remembers Hoffmann jokingly referring to the returning students as “the necessary ‘old dough’ mixed in with the fresh ingredients

“In front of a 200+ person classroom at 8:00 a.m. on a cold, dark morning, professor Hoffmann is intimidating—he is formally dressed, appears stoic, and delivers an 80-minute lecture of pure content. I have no memory of him ever pausing for a drink or using notes. But approach him outside of these lectures, and his warmth and genuine interest in his students’ success were at the forefront,” Gilley said.

Gilley extended her “gratitude and appreciation” for all the additional effort Hoffmann put into teaching. Such dedication must have taken “many hours during nights and weekends.”

Former students agree that Hoffmann was a professor who made the Department of History and Classics a welcoming environment that fostered learning and curiosity. His presence in McGill’s lecture halls and the stairways of Leacock will be missed, as will his passion for learning and dedication to his students.

When it was founded in 1925, the Scarlet Key Society was originally all-men, while its all-women sister, the Red Wing Society, was founded in 1938. (Corey Zhu/ The McGill Tribune)

In 2001, Hoffmann was decorated with the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Merit by the Consul General of Germany for his scholarship in German history. (mcgill.ca)

31 2023

T EDITORIAL BOARD

Editor-in-Chief Madison McLauchlan editor@mcgilltribune.com

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Stricter bail is a far cry from justice

The McGill Tribune Editorial Board

On Jan. 13, all of Canada’s premiers signed a letter addressed to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urging him to take immediate action in enforcing stricter bail measures. Such reform would place the onus on the accused to qualify for bail, increase the number of people held in jail without trial, and lead to the financing and construction of more prisons in the country—when the only steps taken should be toward the abolition of the carceral system.

Trudeau’s decision will resonate particularly closely with those in Montreal, considering the malicious murder of Nicous D’Andre Spring on Dec. 25. D’Andre Spring was killed by guards at the Bordeaux Prison under illegal detention—he was innocent of any crime and supposed to have been released the day before.

Unfortunately, the case of D’Andre Spring is far from isolated. Today, over half of prisoners in provincial jails are being detained without trial, and their right to justice denied. Reforming bail would

OFF THE BOARD

Kareem Abuali Opinion Editor

further undermine the “innocent until proven guilty” principle that is purported to underpin the Canadian justice system.

Systemic racism is deeply embedded in the carceral system, with people of colour, Indigenous peoples, unhoused populations, and those suffering from mental illness significantly overrepresented in prisons nationwide. Implementing stricter bail measures would only increase the disproportionate incarceration of lower-income Black and Indigenous populations, who already over-policed and racially profiled.

The premiers’ letter—and Trudeau’s entertainment of it— reflects the “tough on crime” rhetoric dominating Canadian politics. This discourse ignores that investing in education and health care is actually the most effective solution to reduce crime. Yet, politicians concerned about reelection focus instead on shortterm “band-aid” measures that are more appealing to voters while pretending that convictions equal safety. In addition, bail reform is motivated by the Western emphasis on the prison-industrial complex, a

mutual system of lobbying working in the best interests of both political actors and the massive prison industry, which will only grow if bail measures are tightened., he Since the Canadian government uses the prison system as a means to levy taxes, amounting to approximately $550 per person per year, every taxpayer is complicit.

The premiers’ response calls for a larger conversation not only about bail reform but the Canadian justice system’s use of punishment instead of rehabilitation in general. The colonial and oppressive roots of the carceral system are inescapable and historically used to dispossess Indigenous nations of their land. Such a system, one that continues to perpetuate colonial violence, is so fundamentally broken that innocent inmates plead guilty to avoid being killed behind bars. Its whole purpose must be rethought, rather than simply reformed. As Black and Indigenous people continue to die at the hands of police, their conception as “first responders” must be completely overhauled.

Ultimately, it is in the taxpayers’ hands to decide where they want their money to go. As the

media’s crime alarmism amplifies the “tough-on-crime” discourse, voters must remember that they will be paying the cost of stricter bail conditions by financing mass discriminatory incarceration with their tax money.

To this day, Nicous’ family has received little justice. The correctional officer in his case received only a suspension. Nicous was not the first, and without largescale transformation, he certainly won’t be the last. Abandoning the fundamental “innocent until proven guilty” principle of justice is a slippery slope, promoted by a short-sighted government under the guise of safety. Instead, it is crucial that the government fights crime with rehabilitation, not punishment, and that justice is granted for all of the innocent people behind bars, waiting for a trial that they might not ever see. The failure of the carceral system proves the need for another kind of bail reform, one that would respect a human’s right to only be convicted after trial, and one that would be the first step toward abolishing the punitive system as a whole.

Keith from Bell, you have my heart

country.” He replies in his little blue chatbox: “I hate paying bills too, but there’s nothing I can do.”

As I gaze upon the flurries of snow out the window of McLennan One, I remember this moment distinctly, and cherish it wholly. Keith and I chatted for a little over half an hour—learning together, growing together.

Joseph Abounohra, Kareem Abuali, Yasmine El Dukar, Ella Gomes, Sequoia Kim, Shani Laskin, Kennedy McKee-Braide, Madison McLauchlan, Michelle Siegal, Sophie Smith

STAFF

Margo Berthier, Ella Buckingham, Melissa Carter, Adeline Fisher, Suzanna Graham, Jasjot Grewal, Charlotte Hayes, Monique Kasonga, Shani Laskin, Zoé Mineret, Harry North, Atticus O’Rourke Rusin, Ella Paulin, Dana Prather, Maeve Reilly, Sofia Stankovic, Harrison Yamada, Yash Zodgekar

CONTRIBUTORS

Jack Armstrong, Ali Baghirov, Charlotte Bawol, Julie Ferreyra, Naomi Gupta, Oscar Johnson, Harper Ladd, Oscar Macquet, Lauren Mosley, Annika Pavlin, Cecilia Pederson, Dashiell Rich, Millie Roberts, Ilia Shareghi-Ghareman, Henry Wellenstien, Anders Woodruff

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Last summer, at four in the morning, I found myself on a beautiful Aegean island, in the dark bedroom of an Ionian villa, with moonlight fluttering in through sheer curtains that generously ushered a gentle, cooling wind towards me. I lay sprawled on the bed, head propped up, phone in hand, arguing with Keith from Bell Mobility on the company’s app about a $30 roaming charge. “I promise, Keith,” I plead with him. “I never once turned my data on while I was out of the

“Keith, surely this situation is ridiculous on your end, too. Be real with me, bro, don’t you think this is unreasonable?” I challenge him. “Let me talk to my supervisor,” he writes. By the end of our conversation, during which we navigated an extremely arbitrary web of company policy and unsolicited personal questions from my end, we found a way to solve the problem together and I was refunded.

I didn’t expect that Bell would ever be sympathetic to my confusion. Anyone who has lived in Canada knows that its monopolistic telecom companies can very swiftly drain someone of their will to live. I also didn’t know if Keith really couldn’t help, if he was talking to other Bell users while he was talking to me, or if his name was actually even Keith. But at that

moment, I had unreasonably strong faith that he would guide me to justice. I was also proud of myself. Over chat, I managed to convince someone that an overdramatic, stubborn, and faceless stranger was worth helping out. Calling customer support centres, striking up conversations with strangers, and unexpectedly running into acquaintances have become activities that I eagerly look forward to. If a main door to a university building is locked for no reason, you might jokingly complain to a McGill security guard about how absurd you find it. It’s quite remarkable how quickly that can turn into the security guard telling you how he used to frequent a nudist social club that would get together on Thursday nights at the UQAM gym complex and how he loved to swim laps naked in the pool. If you get racially profiled at the U.S. border on your bus ride to New York, and a Québécoise lady and fellow passenger concerningly ask why they held you up, all you need is to express that it must be much worse on the Mexican side before she interjects: “No, but the Mexicans are the real terrorists.” The absurdity

and irreplicability of such interactions with strangers—the awkward pauses, oversharing, and out-of-pocket remarks— make me feel more human.

Talking to someone like Keith can be dehumanizing on both ends. Monolithic institutions try to make us feel guilty for subjecting Keith to our complaints—that he’s just someone trying to do their job. And accountability is obscured along the chain of command. Keith might be numb to the unending customer dissatisfaction and has lost his sense of agency, of individuality. But once you ask someone their name, we remind each other that we’re more than preprogrammed dialogue.

I obtain a lot of satisfaction from engaging with people in this way. I hope that Keith found a little bit of strength so that we could each transcend these roles that we often prescribe to ourselves. On that blissful midsummer night in early July, as the sound of the waves hugging the southern Kefalonian coastline echoed towards me, I witnessed Keith’s ardent refusal to succumb to a narrative that wasn’t his. He became my hero that night.

The truth behind so-called sustainable vehicles

Monique Kasonga Staff Writer

In December 2022, Federal Environment

Minister Steven Guilbeault gave the goahead for a new lithium mine in northern Quebec. The James Bay project represents the only lithium mine in North America, and the materials are slated to help meet the surging demand for electric vehicles. Although the shift away from fossil fuels is an important step in fighting climate change, the Cree community of Eeyou Istchee has led the charge to oppose the project. Various other Indigenous communities have similarly raised concerns about the environmental

effects of mines and the fact that lithiumpowered machinery is not as sustainable as advertised.

When looking to purchase new vehicles, consumers should question the narrative surrounding the sustainability of said products before deciding to pump money into the industry. To truly engage in the fight against the climate crisis, consumers must commit to curtailing patterns of overconsumption, which will decrease demand for materials such as lithium. Beyond consumption patterns, consumers must pressure their governments to not invest in industries that are complicit in environmental destruction and human rights abuses under the guise of sustainable development.

While Guilbeault stated that the project is not expected to have serious environmental effects and will be built in partnership with local Cree communities, we must consider the Canadian government’s history of broken promises. Despite commitments to allegedly defend Indigenous sovereignty and land, communities such as the Wet’suwet’en continue to protest the construction of pipelines such as Coastal GasLink, whose non-consensual construction ensues despite violent police repression.

Lithium mining itself in Quebec has already faced staunch resistance from Indigenous communities. When another Quebec lithium mine was proposed in November 2022, members of the Long Point First Nation opposed it and the exploitation of their land, but the project is set to go ahead.

Beyond its immediate overstepping of Indigenous sovereignty, lithium mining is linked to grave human rights concerns due to its reliance on cobalt production—a key ingredient in lithium-ion batteries. Seventy per cent of the world’s cobalt is produced in the Democratic Republic of the Congo under inhumane working conditions and using child labour. This type of exploitation is the lived reality of millions of people in the supply chain that the Quebec government is choosing to take part in.

lithium batteries—which constitutes the majority of global production—is fuelled by coal. The production of an electric vehicle’s battery and fuel both produce more emissions and are more resource-intensive than the manufacturing of a standard automobile engine. The improved energy efficiency of electric vehicles, however, makes up for these higher environmental costs. Nonetheless, the demand for lithium-ion battery materials is growing, which will undoubtedly lead to increased global emissions that cancel out the effects of electric cars.

When consumers overlook the big picture of vehicle production, they only further contribute to overconsumption. If the exorbitant demand for private vehicles continues—even if they are electric—the environment will continue to severely degrade. Although electric vehicles and the shift away from fossil fuels are positive steps forward, we must still acknowledge that our unquenchable thirst for the latest and most advanced technology continues to perpetuate the destruction of our environment.

With the rising cost of gasoline, electric vehicles are beginning to dominate the roads. (Galaxy Resources)

Avigail Friedman

Contributor

While electric vehicles, whose production requires lithium, are generally the more environmentally-friendly option, consumers must consider the effects of the emissions linked to lithium production and automobile manufacturing. China’s production of

McGill students have embarked on noteworthy initiatives to help build new patterns of sustainability, such as the Sustainability Projects Fund. While initiatives like these are great for students to create more sustainable living and consumption patterns, those residing in Quebec must also fight against government projects that make them complicit in environmental devastation. On the journey to l climate justice, one of the first steps must be active lobbying against destructive mining funded by the government.

The profligacy of Canada’s new warplanes

not function properly—it’s now undergoing mechanical repairs on the taxpayer’s dollar.

On Jan. 9, Canadian Defence Minister Anita Anand confirmed the deal to purchase 88 F-35 jet fighters from the United States to replace the Air Force’s CF-18s, introduced in 1983. Each F-35 will cost Canada $85 million USD, with the project’s budget sitting at $19 billion CAD. This represents an unexpected reversal of the the government’s previous commitment to purchasing less expensive jet fighter replacements.

The military already receives a disproportionate amount of government funding and should be managing that money more judiciously. Instead of increased military investments, the government must devote more of its budget towards combatting climate change while also ensuring prudent spending decisions are made within the military.

The Canadian Armed Forces has an exorbitant budget of roughly $23.3 billion per year, which they often do not entirely exhaust. The government has trouble spending the money it receives due to the long time frame for acquiring weapons. The waste can be attributed to poorly planned military procurements that end up taking too long to secure and are significantly above the estimated price tag. The government sometimes even buys the wrong equipment, such as when an Arctic Patrol Ship was purchased in September but did

Consistent with the military’s pattern of poor spending, the F-35 jets have been widely criticized. Due to issues regarding cabin pressure and damage when they fly at high speeds, United States Air Force chief of staff General Charles Brown called the F-35 program a failure. Considering the chronic waste of taxpayer dollars on military equipment, the last thing the government should be purchasing are fighter jets rife with technical problems.

Canada’s defence spending is projected to double between 2016 and 2026, and these jets will add a significant tally to the bill. The mentality to increase military spending arises from politicians and companies complicit in the military-industrial complex that profit from war. The F-35s are clearly in line with this mentality, being purely offensive weapons that are designed to inflict destruction on a massive scale, with the capability to carry over 18,000 pounds of weaponry. Proponents of the military-industrial complex push the idea that national security only depends on military spending when, in fact, it also depends on protecting the environment and diplomacy.

The defence industry is one of the worst greenhouse gas emitters. As of summer 2021, the Department of National Defence is responsible for 59 per cent of federal government greenhouse gas emissions. The F-35s are also significant offenders as each jet is expected to release 48.76 tons of

carbon dioxide into the atmosphere annually. The construction and use of these fighter jets will only add to this climate burden and undermine national security concerns.

McGill student groups have long advocated against the university assisting with military research, specifically in the Aerospace Mechatronics Lab. In 2015, the Students’ Society of McGill University passed a policy that encouraged McGill to be transparent about military research on campus. This resulted in a 600-page document being released to Demilitarize McGill concerning the experimentation. But the policy expired in 2020, and it’s unclear if any measures have been taken to renew it.

To make matters worse, McGill itself

invests in various military aircraft and weapons producers including Raytheon Technologies and Lockheed Martin, which both participated in the creation of F-35 jets. As of August 2022, McGill had over $700,000 invested into the former and over $500,000 into the latter. This money comes from the McGill endowment fund, which students are forced to contribute to through their tuition dollars. Instead, McGill must divert money away from these investments and towards the students who pay tuition and deserve support. Spending billions on the new fleet was hasty and ignored what Canadians inside and outside the military needed. Each year that the Canadian military increases their budget, taxpayers, students, and the environment suffer as a result.

In 2022, the German air force bought American-made F-35s capable of carrying nuclear weapons. (Karolis Strautniekas / The New Yorker).

Bringing the outdoors in: How to make your student apartment greener

The benefits and challenges of indoor plant parenthood

Margo Berthier Staff Writer

Continued from page 1.

This decorative appeal prompted Eléonore Beauregard, U3 Science, to buy some houseplants for her apartment.

“They make great décor that is not super expensive and doesn’t encourage overconsumption,” Beauregard said. “When they flower, it’s the best feeling to know that I’ve cared for them so well.”

Indeed, houseplants are known to have certain psychological benefits. Taking care of living creatures, watering and fertilizing them, and removing dead leaves can be therapeutic. Caring for your plants gives you a purpose and, when they bloom, you feel rewarded.

Additionally, the bright green colours and earthy feeling that these plants produce will reduce stress levels and elevate your mood.

For Kenza Zarrouki, U3 Arts, living in a windowless bedroom has made caring for plants even

more special.

“I recently purchased several plants, and they bring life into my tiny bedroom,” Zarrouki said.

“This is very soothing and makes me feel much better, especially since I don’t have a window and

my room can get very dark.”

Through the process of transpiration, plants also add humidity to the air, which can help combat the dryness of cold winters. They also absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen,

A holy site steps away from campus

Charlotte Bawol Contributor

In the late summer of 1912, a highly anticipated visit to the Montreal Baha’i Shrine, formerly the Maxwell home, located at 1548 Avenue des Pins, made anglophone and francophone headlines all across Montreal. Articles titled “Persian Teacher to Preach Peace” and “Apostle of Peace Meet Socialists” could be found across Montreal publications. Over a hundred years later, the Maxwell home stands as the sole shrine of the Baha’i faith outside of the Middle East. And it’s just a 12-minute walk away from McGill’s Law Library.

I was eager to learn more about the Baha’i faith from my first introduction to its principles. Rather than being practised through a complex set of rites administered by clergy, the religion places human unity at its centre; it is a highly personal practice, a conversation between the soul and God.

“Central to the faith is the duty of independently investigating the truth,” Shidan Javaheri, a U2 Engineering student at McGill who grew up

in a Baha’i family in Lusaka, Zambia, told me.

He explained that he decided to become Baha’i at age 15, after the teachings of the faith resonated with him. This notion of religious choice at such an early age was almost as shocking to me as a Roman Catholic as was hearing that Baha’is do not practice confession. Indeed, the confession of sin is forbidden and individuals are encouraged to seek repentance directly with God. At this point in our interview, I started to wish I had heard about this religion sooner—it would have saved me years of Catholic guilt.

The shrine became a holy site of the Baha’i faith after the 1912 visit of Abdu’l Bahá, one of the three central figures of the faith. The home was owned by May and Sutherland Maxwell, one of the earliest Baha’is in Montreal and one of Canada’s most renowned architects, respectively. Montreal was the only Canadian city Abdu’l Bahá visited during his voyages to the West to spread the Baha’i faith, but this alone was not enough to cement the Maxwell home as a shrine. It was only when Abdu’l Bahá’s declared “this is

helping keep the air fresh.

Overcoming the challenges of student apartments

Many students find themselves in small apartments with low levels of natural light and, like Zarrouki, often do not have a window in their bedroom. This presents the biggest challenge for indoor plants that need light to grow. To combat this, Professor David Wees, Faculty Lecturer in the Department of Plant Science at McGill, recommends investing in a plant-based alternative.

“Light will always be a limiting factor. So for someone with a small apartment and the only light is a north-facing window with no direct sunlight, you might want to consider putting in a plant light,” Wees said in an interview with The McGill Tribune

Another reason why maintaining healthy plants may be challenging for students is the limited time spent at home. Camille Lederer, U3 Environment, finds the time needed to grow most plants a particular challenge as an international student.

“When I go home for summer

Faith

my home” upon first entering the house that the building could assume sacred status as a shrine. Indeed, Baha’is consider the homes of sacred religious figures as shrines. The Maxwell home became symbolic of the religion’s reach into the West. The Maxwell house is the only Baha’i shrine situated outside of the Middle East.

Maziar Djoneidi, member of the shrine’s Board of Directors, explained that “the shrine is a space for spiritual refreshment, not just for Baha’is but for people

of any religion, or no religion at all.”

They are open two days a week for visits, and receive up to 50 people per day in the summer. So as a McGill student, no matter your faith, or lack thereof, you are welcome at the Baha’i shrine of Montreal for a moment of peaceful reflection.

“It is open to anyone who wants a moment alone with a higher power,” Javaheri told me.

If you don’t want to make the effort to walk up des Pins, you can still learn more about

or winter breaks, my plants don’t survive,” Lederer said.

Thankfully, certain plant species, such as succulents, are better adapted for students in these situations, especially for those who are away for long stretches.

“Plants that people like to use indoors include the spider plant since it is easy to grow,” Wees added. “Another one is the snake plant––it is very drought-tolerant, so you can forget to water it for months and it will survive. Finally, pothos is great for low light. One thing to look out for is that it’s not as drought-tolerant, so you need to water it at least once a week.”

Once you have purchased your plant, there are some final things to keep in mind. To ensure your new plant thrives, remember to not over-water it, which can lead to root rot. Also, when introducing a new plant to a room with existing plants, it’s a good idea to place it in quarantine to prevent the spread of bugs or parasites.

With all of this in mind, you’re ready to start your own plant oasis. Happy gardening!

the faith on campus. Although it is not operating through SSMU as a student club, Baha’i students work with McGill’s Office of Religious and Spiritual Life and recently hosted both a panel on their faith and a visit to the Shrine.

If you want to visit the shrine, you can book your slot online. You can also contact the shrine at sanctuaire-shrine@bahai. ca, and, if you are interested in learning more about the McGill Baha’is’ activities, you can reach out to bvc.mcgill@gmail.com.

How the Maxwell home became a shrine for the Baha’i

Houseplants improve concentration and productivity by up to 15 per cent, reduce stress levels, and boost your mood. (Shireen Aamir / The McGill Tribune)

After deciding to visit North America, Egypt, and Europe to spread the teachings of his faith, Abdu’l Baha was offered a ticket on the maiden voyage of the RMS Titanic, which he declined and insisted his followers donate the money to charity instead. He rode on the more lowkey, and less sinkable, RMS Cedric. (bahai.ca)

To Montreal, My Second T

it’s the only place where I can afford to impulsively shop. When I walked in one day this fall, the entire store was covered in shades of orange and yellow, in preparation for Thanksgiving. Shortly after, the store dons an outfit of red, green, and white in anticipation of North America’s most celebrated holiday: Christmas.

As I see the store changing its dress according to every (Christian) occasion, I see Montreal doing the same. The week leading up to Halloween, for example, I see everyone on the street fitted out in their best costumes, on their way to a party, or perhaps already tipsily walking back from one. All of December, I see every building ornament ed, often excessively, and hear Christmas jingles ringing in my ears. As I walk home, they haunt my already-looming fears that my brother—and room mate—has devoured that last bit of cake I left in the fridge.

But as Montreal changes its colours, I also turn blue, wallowing in a mostly unexplainable sadness. I think back to how white and green for the month of independence, or how a spirit of joy and celebration would overtake us in anticipation of Eid, or how the sky would be overtaken by colourful polka dots for Basant. See ing all these families and friends happily celebrating a holiday doesn’t make me nauseous because I’m heartless, but because my heart is mourning its own loss.

So I call my parents up and make some dal chawal and I sit in my bed kameez— sickness

over me

as I try the first place. Why is it that I rethink my decision twice every week, like it’s a task on my daily agenda set to ‘repeats weekly until eternity’? And then, to make myself feel better, as I’m sitting alone in my room, I tell myself that I’m probably not the only one who feels this way—because suffering in soli darity is the best antidote. Right?

In all seriousness though, with 30 per cent of the student population being international students, there’s bound to be scores of people on McGill’s campus struggling with the idea of living in a new and strange place, away from their family, away from their feeling of safety, and away from their home.

This “fish out of the water” experience often registers in the health services that students turn to in their time of need. Homesickness, therefore, is a phenomenon that’s clear to Vera Romano, Director of the Student Wellness Hub.

“A Counselling and Mental Health Benchmark study conducted in 2019 indicated that our interna tional students report higher levels of social anxiety than Canadian students,” Romano wrote in an email to the challenge for international students.”

Out of place, everywhere

When I sought out international students to talk to, I found many who had similar experiences to

An international student’s on making a home

By Mahnoor Chaudhry,

areas of Quebec, people kind of look at you weird when you either stumble through a French sentence or respond in English.”

a.m., and I’ll be fine,” Horta said. “Comparing it to São Paulo, most of my friends have been robbed […] and walking home at night is something that you

Montreal, Second Love

student’s musings home abroad

Chaudhry, Student Life Editor

“I have a good group of Brazilian friends and the Latin American Association at McGill, too, that

“I know if I go back, it’s not going to feel the same,” Neves said about her home country Brazil. “I don’t belong there anymore […] Brazil is always going to

be my country but Canada could be my home.”

The question of whether or not to settle in Montreal, therefore, becomes more complicated than just a matter of weighing economic and educational

“The more I speak English, the more I lose Porit just kind like I’m not Brazilian builds crisis,” she culture are in constant flux. After speaking to so many international students, I’m learning that we can nurture spaces to hold on to our cultural heritage while also making space for new experiences and homes. This has allowed many international students to find an

“I really love this city and I think the university is so beautiful and I really love how we have a museum and an ice skating rink, I just think it’s something out of a movie, and it would be insane to move out,”

This conflicting process, thus, is a lot like falling in love again after heartbreak—you can never really let go of your first love, but your heart slowly starts to make room for one more. Montreal is that second love for many international students, just as it is for

Despite the struggles, the winter, the moving, the construction, and all that French, I realize I’m slowly falling in love again. Lahore will always be my first love. With its sublime street food, its colourful festivals, and its kindhearted people, it will always hold a special place in my heart. However, bit by bit, Montreal is now starting to carve its own shape on

Even with the copious amount of snow this is buried under and the unnecessary orange cones outside my I still look out window every ing and think, “this city is absolutely gorgeous.” After all, love isn’t worth it without its red, or rather white flags, is it?

Student life, through the generations A social retrospective from the ’50s to today

Naomi Gupta Contributor

McGill University welcomes more than 6,000 undergraduate students to its downtown and Macdonald campuses every year. To promote student well-being amidst the high demand of academic degrees, the university stresses the importance of maintaining an active and well-balanced social life. Student-based organizations, such as the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU), the Arts Undergraduate Society (AUS), and the Engineering Undergraduate Society (EUS), have encouraged these ideas through various social, personal, and cultural activities for generations. But a lot has changed when it comes to social engagement over the years at McGill. To obtain a multi-generational perspective, I met with Ken Wright (BComm ’55, who also happens to be my grandfather), Alexandra Clark (BA ‘92), Rhiannon Turgel (BA ‘16), and Amélie Barsoum (BEng ‘23) to find out what social life looked like during their time at McGill.

Some of the most popular and meaningful forms of social life on campus are clubs and student groups,

and many of McGill’s 250 clubs have been operating for decades. For Clark, the McGill Debating Union was a dominant part of her social life. She joined the club during her freshman year in 1988-1989 and spent the greater part of her fouryear undergraduate degree hanging out with them.

“It was a big commitment, involving club meetings and debating competitions that happened off-campus,” Clark said. “What kept me in the club was the community of people I met through it: An incredibly diverse, challenging, fun, and outgoing group of people.”

Some students come to McGill with the advantage of already having a circle of friends. Rhiannon Turgel, who went to CEGEP before attending McGill, told me that she wanted to build a community beyond her existing connections. In her case, she actively participated in multiple events hosted by different clubs without formally joining them.

“At the end of my first year, I realized that I wanted a McGill community beyond [what I had at CEGEP],” Turgel said. “That’s when I started participating in all of these events: The McGill Athletics ‘hype team’, pub crawls with out-ofprovince and international students,

Model UN, as well as the HSA [History Students’ Association].”

At the start of 2020, the pandemic transformed what social opportunities looked like for students at McGill. Club involvement was limited, as were in-person encounters. Amélie Barsoum, who began her bachelor’s degree that same year, had to navigate this highly challenging social and learning environment.

“When COVID-19 restrictions started lifting, I joined P.O.W.E. [Providing Opportunities for Women in Engineering] so I could have a sense of belonging with the engineering community at McGill,” she shared. “I’m also very passionate about the mission of P.O.W.E., as I’m a woman in engineering myself.”

She emphasized that socializing during COVID-19 was incredibly challenging for off-campus students.

“I definitely think that those who spent their first year in residence, and who were made aware of a broader range of school activities as a result, have a huge advantage over those who didn’t,” Barsoum said. “This has improved since the lifting of COVID-19 measures, but I still feel behind compared to some of my peers.”

McGill’s active Greek life, composed of fraternities and sororities, often represents a large part of the community-building aspects of student life. Frats and sororities plan and host events for their members, which are often, but not always, open to the McGill community at large. Most of McGill’s frats and sororities are among some of McGill’s oldest student groups, dating back to the late 1850s. In an interview with The McGill Tribune, Wright shared his experience with McGill’s Alpha Delta Phi during his undergraduate degree in the 1950s.

“Fraternities, back then, were very popular,” he said. “At McGill, they were the centre of your social life. Fraternities were very involved in student life on campus, and its members planned and organized many winter events, such as the McGill Winter Carnival.”

This annual event formerly took place around February. It included a series of winter-themed activities such as hockey games, ice sculpting, the crowning of a Carnival Queen and a spectacular closing event: The Carnival Ball.

Despite being a widespread social and cultural phenomenon in universities across North America for over a century, social perceptions of Greek Life organizations have now shifted.

“Fraternities aren’t as big of a deal now,” Wright added. “I probably wouldn’t join one today, but back then, they were the driving force of

all student activities on campus.”

Ironically, a culture of selectivity and prejudice, including purposeful exclusion, hazing, and sexual misconduct often surrounds these groups, which are intended to promote values of familyhood and togetherness, Wright explained. “Those aren’t features we admire as individuals and organizations.”

Student clubs as we know them today, however, work to form connections with others, as they bring together like-minded students from a range of backgrounds with common interests. In some cases, fellow club members can lead to lifelong friends. Clark, who now works as a lawyer and litigator in the Toronto area, shared that many people within the Debating Union still keep in touch.

“I continue to cross paths with people from that time, many of whom I am still friends with today,” she said.

Sometimes, joining a club can lead to meeting a handful of people who are important connections. But this isn’t always the case.

“Clubs have a reputation of being a place where you meet your closest friends, which isn’t always true,” Barsoum said. “In my case, clubs have given me a network of acquaintances, potential roommates and people I could participate in events with, which allowed me to expand my network of connections within my faculty and department.”

Interviewees also reflected on their student experience in Montreal beyond the walls of the University Centre. Despite becoming increasingly expensive to newcomers, Montreal’s city life has remained vibrant and diverse over the years, which students and alums reflect back on fondly.

“I loved being an out-of-province student at McGill,” Clark recalled. “There was always something to do or see to distract you when academic life became too much. In general, McGill—and Montreal—made it an easy transition for someone who hadn’t seen a lot of life.”

McGill’s location in the heart of downtown Montreal stimulates

the possibility for new connections.

“Being on campus downtown was great,” Turgel said. “We were close to public transit and streets filled with bars, coffee shops, and stores. Everything you needed was there.”

Well known for their workhard-play-hard ethic, McGill students take the play-hard part seriously. On weekend evenings, the city’s streets fill with students roaming to and from parties and clubs, enjoying a well-deserved break after a week of classes. The partying scene, however, varies between faculties and, of course, between generations.

“I would describe the partying scene at McGill as being very organized,” Amélie Barsoum (BEng ‘23) said. “In engineering, a lot of the partying happens at organized events, which are inclusive to McGill’s entire student body. Although [they are] accessible, these events can vary in affordability.”

McGill’s nightlife involves events for all tastes: Events centred around drinking, like “bar crawls” and wine-and-cheese soirées or “dry events,” like coffee houses, where drinking is limited and the evening focuses on other activities.

“The event selection is very diverse,” Barsoum added. “Many new events pop up yearly, whereas others are annual.”

Regardless of the event type, these environments are, for the most part, respectful of their attendees.

“I found events to be very inclusive: As I wasn’t a big drinker, I would often participate in games and activities with water and never felt pressured to drink,” Turgel said.

Engagement in McGill’s student life activities across time suggests that, despite generational differences, McGill’s social life remains a flourishing environment for undergraduate students. Although the reality of a postpandemic, digital era challenges the in-person interconnectedness of some of McGill’s original social activities, hopes are that current and future McGill students will continue to forge their own social paths.

Group picture of the McGill Debating Union, 1991. (Naomi Gupta / The McGill Tribune)

McGill’s Delta Upsilon photographed in front of their ice sculpture at the Winter Carnival, 1954. (Naomi Gupta / The McGill Tribune)

TNC’s ‘Girl in the Goldfish Bowl’ is hilariously eccentric

Morris Panych’s dark comedy brings humour, surprise, and wonder

Bianca Romero Gallegos Contributor

Continued from page 1

The show’s comical nature hides deeper themes of both adolescent helplessness and domestic dissatisfaction in an unassuming manner.

Making such an absurdist plot compelling presents a significant challenge. But director Olivia Marotta (U2 Arts & Science) and the production team tackle it with ambition. The whole play develops in one room, changing environments by using lighting and sound when needed. It’s worth remarking that this is Marotta’s directorial debut. After pitching the show, her sheer passion for the project brought her to the director’s chair.

Upon first sight, the logical star and backbone of the show is Iris. Coplan delivers each of her lines with a strangely endearing bluntness, which, combined with impeccable comedic timing, keeps the audience captivated. Iris is perhaps the most coher-

ently written character, which certainly helps to support Coplan’s delightful performance.

In an interview with The McGill Tribune , Marotta explained just what made Iris, and Coplan’s performance, so exceptional.

“I knew whoever was going to play Iris needed to understand her sense of humour,” Marotta said. “[She needed to be] someone who truly believed in each of the lines and didn’t just think like ‘oh, this is just some crazy kid.’”

The rest of the cast’s quirks make the story that much richer.

Iris’ parents, Owen (Hugh Kelly, U0 Science) and Sylvia (Ellie Mota, U1 Arts), might start the show as introspective caricatures of quirky parents, but later on, start to unveil both their genuine personalities and some deeply rooted problems intrinsic to a 12year, one-sided marriage. Their unforeseen guest, Mr. Lawrence, personifies confusion in the tale, as both his origin and purpose remain a mystery throughout.

Bohnert’s portrayal of Lawrence both charms and entertains

the audience. As for Miss Rose (Molly Frost, U1 Psychology), Iris’ godmother, her dialogue doesn’t reflect much of her personality besides her flirty and alcoholic tendencies. Yet, Frost easily distracts the audience from her character’s lack of substance through her mesmerizing performance.

The production includes elements of magical realism, with the set design serving as a particular standout. Set designer Arwen Lawless (U1 Arts) creates a beautiful and immersive world, cementing the idea that we all are in a goldfish bowl together. She painted a large ocean window that supports the layout of TNC’s theatrical space—where both audience and actors stand on one shared level—to flesh out this innovative design concept.

As soon as audiences step into the room, they are welcomed by a retro atmosphere, reinforced by multiple vintage artifacts and an—intentionally or not—cozy smell, that transports them directly into the family’s home. They transform from audience

members to guests, entertained by the movement of a dysfunctional household, whose story lingers long after the show.

Brian Tyree Henry captures hearts by opening his own

A breakdown of the spectacular, but underrated rise of Atlanta’s ‘Paper Boi’

Ella Buckingham Staff Writer

For some, his name may not ring a bell, but his face definitely does—and for others, his name alone garners instant respect. Ranging from Broadway to Emmy-winning TV shows and blockbuster films, Brian Tyree Henry has done it all. Born in Fayetteville, North Carolina and raised in Washington, D.C., his childhood was forever changed when he first saw John Singleton’s classic 1991 Boyz n the Hood and was blown away by Angela Bassett’s character, Reva Styles. Impressing him with both her presence and versatility, Bassett’s performance cemented Henry’s desire to be an actor.

Henry’s career contains the tried and true elements of hard work, talent, and sheer good luck, as exemplified by his breakout performance as the General in the original Broadway cast of The Book of Mormon in 2011. In 2016, he garnered critical acclaim for playing Alfred ‘Paper Boi’ Miles in the FX dramedy Atlanta , a role that landed him an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. He was later nominated for a Tony Award as Best Featured Actor in a Play for his performance in Lobby Hero in 2018. And as of this past week, he was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in Causeway , where he starred alongside Jennifer Lawrence. Coming full circle, Henry is nominated alongside his former idol, Bassett, for her role in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever . Henry celebrated with a stranger in an elevator when he first got the news, later writing on social media, “...thank you for hugging me and not freaking out!!”

Brian Tyree Henry has been slowly but steadily working his way up the ladder of success, amplifying underrepresented voices through the characters he chooses to play along the way. Beginning from his roots at Morehouse College, a historically Black college in Atlanta, Henry has put conversations about Black masculinity and

vulnerability into the spotlight. Henry admits he used to not get too close to his characters, keeping them at arm’s length and, usingthem as a shield, making a clear divide and not letting his personal emotions affect his acting.

But now, Henry is moving away from this emotional austerity and embracing vulnerability—and it’s doing wonders for his career. In recent performances, audiences are connecting with not only Henry’s portrayals, but with the actor as well. This on-screen authenticity breaks down the wall that separates where the actor ends and the performance begins, immersing viewers in a more genuine experience, a side effect that he derives a lot of joy from. Henry’s new vulnerability is especially evident in Causeway , which was directed by Lila Neugebauer, a longtime friend of his from the Yale School of Drama. His role as James Aucoin, a mechanic dealing with physical and mental trauma, forced Henry to come to terms with how his own grief has affected him, and allowed him to translate that on-screen.

Balancing the intimately personal aspects of his characters with the universal, the roles that Brian Tyree Henry has played have helped him establish a good rapport and reputation amongst audiences

Girl in the Goldfish Bowl ran from Tuesday, Jan. 24 to Friday, Jan. 27 at Morrice Hall.

while uplifting the diverse experiences of Black men for the film industry. His character, Phastos, in Marvel’s Eternals is the first openly gay super-powered person in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and will hopefully pave the way for better inclusion and range within this often ‘straight’-laced set of characters. He is also set to reprise his voice role as Jefferson “Jeff” Davis, the father of Miles Morales, a.k.a. Spiderman, in Sony’s upcoming Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse . The openness and vulnerability with which Henry approaches his work truly makes him one of the people’s favourite actors and has helped him capture the hearts of audiences everywhere.

Girl in the Goldfish Bowl takes advantage of Tuesday Night Café’s octagonal space to give audiences the impression of sitting inside a fish bowl. (unsplash.com)

Daniel Kaluuya and Henry played brothers in Twentieth Century Fox’s ‘Widows’, and Henry says that he will always consider him a brother. (etonline.com)

Dogs’:

experiment

concept

Amalia Mairet Contributor

Mac DeMarco was trying to break out of an artistic rut, a process that led to the conception of his latest project, Five Easy Hot Dogs. The album, released on Jan. 20, follows DeMarco’s road trip after a Bay Area show in mid-January of last year. He began driving north up the California coastline, plan-

ning to stay on the road and write every day until he had completed a record. The songs were mixed in childhood bedrooms and basements of friends’ houses; each title corresponds to the city where it was written. The album tracks his journey chronologically, encapsulating DeMarco’s musical and geographical progression in an ambitious but ultimately flat way. While writing on the road, DeMarco explored the limits

of minimalism: The record was made with only an eight-channel system, DeMarco’s guitars, a bass, a half-sawed drum kit, some mics, an old Model D portable synthesizer, and a keyboard. The sound is stripped down, lightly percussive, cohesive, and evershifting.

The album features a few standout songs, such as “Gualala,” which exhibits DeMarco’s dreamy, plucky guitar riffs and

Drink & Draw Life drawing event

classic soft drums. It sounds like a lazy afternoon on a Californian highway: repetitive, lightly pushing forward, but nonetheless relatable. DeMarco later makes his way to the Canadian West Coast, starting in “Victoria.” A melodic xylophone line over consistent bongos and guitar perfectly mimics the town’s slow pace and hippy-ish culture. He eventually moves into “Vancouver” with a metropolitan coolness and an almost jazzy guitar and bass line that’s the most playful of all the tracks.

The album is far from bad, but tends towards blandness. The instrumentals are simple, and the songs lack his usual compelling lyricism. His slow, repetitive arrangements mimic the album’s theme of losing yourself on an endless road trip; DeMarco succeeds in making his boredom musically palpable, but this leads to a somewhat dull album overall. This road trip was supposed to break him out of his routine but instead is reminiscent of a bizarre, transient fugue state. Through each song, and the story of the album’s conception, he tracks a listless artistic journey north.

Justin Bieber: Canada’s wrongfully maligned hero

Practice your life drawing skills in a friendly, welcoming queer space! All levels welcome; bring your own drawing supplies. Model will be provided.

Wednesday, Feb. 2nd, 8 p.m.-10 p.m. Bar Le Cocktail, 1669 Rue Ste-Catherine E

Hair!

Get transported to NYC to celebrate Hair!’s nearly 60th anniversary of spreading their message of inclusivity, intersectionality, and gender identity.

Thursday-Saturday Feb. 2-4, Doors 6:30 p.m.; Show 7 p.m. Moyse Hall Theatre, Arts Building $10, buy tickets online

KPOP dance workshop

Love dancing to KPOP? Join casual and serious dancers alike in a choice of one or two dance workshops.

Sunday, Feb. 5, 1 p.m.-2:15 p.m.; 2:30 p.m.-4 p.m.

Espaces des Arts - Studio Fit; 9 Rue SteCatherine E 2nd floor $15 for one workshop, $25 for two Mark Abley book launch

Gather to launch Abley’s newest nonfictional book: Strange Bewildering Time: Istanbul to Kathmandu in the Last Year of the Hippie Trail. Refreshments will be provided.

Sunday Feb. 2nd, 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Librairie Paragraphe Bookstore; 2220 McGill College Ave Free

Is it too late now to say sorry? Why Canada owes Justin Bieber an apology

Aimee DeLong Contributor

When we think of famous Canadians named Justin, one particular name comes to mind—and no, it’s not Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Instead, it’s pop sensation and heartthrob Justin Drew Bieber. Though the young man’s initial rise to stardom was met with admiration and praise back in 2009, the musician has recently been reduced to somewhat of a running joke in Canadian pop culture. But why exactly did this sudden drop in Bieber Fever occur?

While his arrest in 2014 for driving under the influence of alcohol, marijuana, and Xanax may have lost him some points with parents, it’s difficult to fathom how the same genius that wrote “Yeah, you got that Yummy-yum” could become so tragically irrelevant among the youth. After all, a bad boy is every teen’s dream come true, and nothing screams rebellion like a side-swept fringe and a purple hoodie. His destruction of an Icelandic canyon thanks to the filming of his “I’ll Show You” music video shows that he is more than willing to stick it to the man. This incident

is not his only anti-establishment action disrupting the incredibly corrupt systems of government—he was also forced to abandon his pet monkey Mally in Germany back in 2013.

Bieber’s rise to fame can be owed to the combined efforts of his own talent and access to YouTube. After all, it was his cover of “So Sick” by Ne-Yo that garnered the attention of record producer Scooter Braun, in turn landing him R&B singer Usher as a mentor. Despite Usher’s helping hand, Bieber came up with “Like, baby, baby, baby, oh / I thought you’d always be mine, mine” something Shakespeare could only dream of writing—all on his own. But do not take these lighthearted, whimsical lyrics for granted—he can also be clever. “I get my weed from California” is clearly a joke, seeing as the Ontario-born star knows all too well that Canada is home to legal marijuana of the highest caliber.

All of his other accomplishments aside, one revolutionary, national contribution truly makes Justin Bieber stand out—Timbiebs. The legend himself collaborated with Tim Hortons, a Canadian restaurant chain boasting North America’s finest dining, to create a medley of deli-

cious Timbits and stylish merch that took the nation by storm. With the rate at which toques and fanny packs are flying off the shelves, the boxes alone sell online for a handsome sum of $950,000. In fact, the Timbiebs taste so incredible that customers are afraid of developing an addiction, which is the only logical explanation for why the flavours are growing stale behind glass display cases. Fellow Canadian pop star Drake vouched for the quality of these treats, demanding that Bieber and Tim Hortons “right this wrong” after their temporary discontinuation.

And not only has Bieber won the hearts of young girls around the world, but he has also managed to catch the eye of numerous famous actresses. Every hero has a bit of arm candy— Theseus and Ariadne, Shakira and

Piqué—and Bieber is no exception. For instance, the musician’s onagain-off-again relationship with Selena Gomez has entertained the tabloids for years, going so far as to manufacture a love triangle involving Bieber’s current wife Hailey Bieber (formerly Baldwin). The fact that he can romance the two gorgeous gals proves that he deserves our endless adoration. If he can win both Gomez and Baldwin back, then why not Canada?

The Great White North has been home to many heroes—Terry Fox, Tommy Douglas, Wayne Gretzky— why should Justin Bieber be hailed any differently? His achievements rival, and arguably even surpass, those of his predecessors. He is a perfect representation of the Canadian dream: He can solve a Rubik’s cube, has his own clothing line, and wrote a song with Ed Sheeran. But will Canada ever see Bieber for the gem that he undeniably is? Never say never.

‘Five Easy Hot

Mac DeMarco’s listless instrumental road trip Singer’s

with minimalism fails to move beyond an ambitious

DeMarco’s four-month road trip eventually ended with a night of nicotine withdrawal in a massive cabin near Zion National Park, which he says was full of taxidermied animals. (finance.yahoo.com)

Justin Bieber is fluent in both English and French, further demonstrating his dedication to Canadian culture. (cinemablend.com)

On a mission to remission: How researchers are trying to combat type 2 diabetes

Physicians at McGill Health Centre to launch human study in 2024

Dashiell Rich Contributor

What we call insulin today was first manufactured in 1921 by Charles Best and Frederick Banting. The hormone, originally called pancreatic extract, gives those with diabetes a chance at a healthy life, especially the six million people in Canada who live with some form of the disease.

There are three kinds of diabetes: Type 1, type 2, and gestational. Type 1 diabetes, where the body produces minimal quantities of insulin or even none, is an uncommon manifestation, accounting for only five to 10 per cent of patients. Gestational diabetes is the least known and the least common, as it only develops in pregnant women and typically goes away after giving birth.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common iteration of the disease. Around 90 per cent of people with diabetes have type 2, which is caused by insulin resistance—when one’s cells stop responding as efficiently to the insulin produced by the pancreas—resulting in elevated blood sugar. The reason for this resistance isn’t exactly known, but it’s related to certain lifestyle factors, such as being overweight and physically inactive, or genetic factors such as family history.

RESET for REMISSION, a collaborative effort between the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) and the Diabetes Research Centre in the United Kingdom (DRC), is a study

geared toward helping those with type 2 diabetes go into remission, to be launched in 2024. Dr. Kaberi Dasgupta, a professor at McGill’s Faculty of Medicine and the Director of the Centre for Outcomes Research and Evaluation (CORE) at the Research Institute of the MUHC (RI-MUHC) is spearheading this study.

“We’re trying to help people 18-45 years of age go into remission with their type 2 diabetes,” Kaberi said in an interview with The McGill Tribune. “What we’re doing is testing a dietary approach [...] but we’re combining it with a supervised exercise strategy. By packaging the two together, we want to tackle not just the blood sugar definition of diabetes, but heart health, liver health, and kidney health.”

Kaberi explained that RESET for REMISSION is looking at heart and liver health because diabetes can lead to issues such as blood vessel damage and fatty liver disease.

Participants of the study will be randomly assigned to an experimental or control group. The experimental group will have their diets and exercise routines modified for the duration of the study, while the control group will be administered standard insulin therapy.

“On top of that, [the participants] will have a dietitian and there’s a regular follow-up and a physician as well,” Kaberi added. “The participants who are in that group, the experimental group, besides the diet, will also go to an exercise centre [...] and they basically have a high-level personal trainer, an exercise physiologist.”

Doctors will have to rigorously check a patient’s health to discern the diabetes’ severity prior to and post-study. For example, glycated hemoglobins, also known as A1c, are a form of iron-carrying red blood cell that indicates the presence of sugars like glucose, galactose, and fructose in the bloodstream. It is a crucial measure to monitor in diabetics.

“[At the end of the study] we’re going to look at their [...]blood sugar levels [...] to see if they’re under 6.5 per cent, which is the threshold for diabetes, and if they’ve been off their blood sugar lowering medications for the three months

before [they will be considered in remission],” Kaberi said.

Even if the participants don’t achieve total remission, any degree of insulin regulation may improve their quality of life. If the trials are successful, they will hopefully be a catalyst for the creation of similar programs across Canada.

“The idea is that with [the exercise and diet] they’ll lose weight [...] and get rid of their diabetes for a while,” Kaberi said. “It could come back, and they have to be monitored, but, if it works, it means [...] less time having diabetes, which means fewer complications.”

Peering into the universe with gravitational lensing

Galactic phenomenon helped McGill scientist detect farthest radio signal recorded

Ali Baghirov Contributor

Radio waves coming from galaxies millions or billions of light-years away—an immense distance compared to only eight lightminutes between the Earth and the Sun—gradually fade as they lose energy. Many become essentially invisible even to today’s powerful telescopes by the time they reach our little, blue planet.

So it’s not surprising that the recent news from Arnab Chakraborty, a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Physics at McGill, was met with great enthusiasm and interest when he detected a radio signal from a distant galaxy. Chakraborty, who works with the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME) telescope, picked up the longest-range radio signal to date—from galaxy SDSSJ0826+5630—thanks to a phenomenon called gravitational lensing.

As the name suggests— physicists are not quite as inventive with terminology as biologists—gravitational force can and does act as a lens. It collects and concentrates waves into a

single radiation beam, which is a lot like a converging optical lens commonly prescribed to shortsighted patients.

“There is [another] source between the galaxy and us, the observer, which acts as a lens,” Chakraborty said in an interview with The McGill Tribune . “If there is a large amount of mass, like a black hole, it will bend the space-time around itself, so when light is passing through [a region near the massive object], it will be bent.”

The bending effect magnifies signals—kind of like burning paper with a loupe on a sunny day—to make detection significantly easier.

Objects that bend light may sound like science fiction, but Einstein’s theory of relativity provides a consistent explanation for this effect. Imagine stretching a tablecloth from all its edges and then putting an object in the middle. The matter around the object—the fabric, in this case—becomes curved. The same curvature is applied to the space around extremely massive bodies, like planets and stars. Electromagnetic waves such as light change their trajectory because of this “lensing” though space distortion.

What were the chances of

finding something that huge between our Milky Way and some distant galaxy in the observable universe’s outer edge? As it turns out, it’s largely a matter of probability.

“We are lucky in that sense, it is a natural phenomenon, [otherwise] it would not be possible to detect a galaxy so far away from us,” Chakraborty explained.

At the same time, the odds of a “gravitational lens” being out there increase with the distance.

“If we want to see a far galaxy, it can always happen that in the path, there is another galaxy or a cluster of galaxies,” Chakraborty said. “Presence of a huge mass will bend light and magnify it.”

The probability of a black hole being positioned between the Earth and the Sun is ridiculously low compared to Earth and, for example, the Andromeda Galaxy, which is about two million light-years away from us.

Signals coming from very distant objects are “running late,” which means that they may reach the Earth within minutes, as is the case with our Sun, or within millions of years. Signals are not transmitted instantaneously; their speed is limited by the speed of light, causing a

delay. In some cases, the original source might well be dead in our ‘present’ on Earth.

The progress made by Chakraborty and his team is only the first step toward building a complete picture of how the universe works. As more signals are detected, they can be compiled to establish an image of what the universe looked like in the past.

“When we have more observations and more detections, we can do studies to understand the evolution of galaxies over cosmic times,” Chakraborty said.

Detections can then be compiled into a “lensing catalogue” so that scientists can gain insight into star formation.

“Currently, we do not have that information since it is just one detection. I think in future we will [obviously] push there,” Chakraborty added.

If more sensitive telescopes are developed in the future,

astronomers may be able to detect waves originating billions of light-years away by way of a more advanced technique called gravitational microlensing. But until then, traditional gravitational lensing is perhaps the exclusive route to researching distant galaxies.

The CHIME Telescope is located at the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory in British Columbia. (Drea Garcia/ The McGill Tribune)

Lessons in community care from rural India

Global health professors argue medical and social needs of a community go hand in hand

Atticus O’Rourke Rusin Staff Writer

India is the world’s second-most populous country and home to one of the fastest-growing world economies. Much of this economic growth results from the burgeoning health services industry. And yet, India is experiencing a health care dilemma, with a growing disparity in care and resources between the country’s rural and urban areas.

Anurag and Madhavi Bhargava travelled to the rural areas around Bilaspur, India, to help establish Jan Swasthya Sahyog (JSS), a voluntary, non-profit soci -

ety of health professionals. Their goal: To tackle the primary viral diseases present in these regions, such as tuberculosis and malaria.

In a recent seminar organized by the McGill Global Health Programs titled “Lessons from our journey in clinical medicine and public health in India,” Anurag and Madhavi Bhargava, now both professors at Yenepoya Medical College in Bangalore, India, shared their experiences working in public health. One of the most crucial insights gleaned on the job is the importance of meeting a community’s needs outside of clinical medicine.

“We always talk of some binaries and dichotomies in clinical medicine and public health. Should we focus on treatment or prevention, medical or surgical care, and of course, who will deliver the services: Physicians versus non-physicians,” Anurag said during the talk. “I think these are artificial—our communities require all of these things.”

The doctors worked to build health facilities and a testing lab, bought medicine in bulk to

save costs, and refused to charge for care. They worked with the community as well, earning the trust of their patients and training locals to help, many of whom now run care centres themselves. By providing cost-effective care and building trust with community members, the Bhargavas were able to provide medical attention to many who otherwise would not have received it.

In terms of fighting diseases through a community-oriented approach, Anurag specifically explained their approach regarding tuberculosis.

“We found that tuberculosis was more a disease of families and communities rather than of individuals,” Bhargava explained. “We realized that it was intimately related to poverty, but undernutrition appeared to be a major mediating factor. So although we could not remove poverty, we could actually address undernutrition.”

They noticed a pattern where people who visited their clinic were often undernourished, a sign the doctors understood as the continuing cycle of malnutrition and poverty. Anurag and Madhavi, on the front lines, are uniquely positioned to address these issues and to advise governments on policy changes.

Both professors are now working tirelessly on further clarifying the link between tuberculosis and malnutrition. They have developed an app to measure patients’ body mass index and track mal -

nutrition levels, and have worked to guide doctors and nurses on how to treat malnutrition in tuberculosis patients.

Recently, Anurag and Madhavi were involved in a large-scale study called “Reducing Activation of Tuberculosis by Improvement of Nutritional Status” (RATIONs). Gathering data on thousands of adult patients with tuberculosis in India, they hope to determine the effect of nutritional supplementation on the incidence of tuberculosis.

“The chicken-and-egg argument that goes on in tuberculosis—what comes first, is it TB or undernutrition—we were able to partly answer that,” Madhavi said.

They found that feeding the household of tuberculosis patients would help prevent its spread. The findings only reinforced the importance of working with the community and tackling social issues as central to preventing disease.

As the doctors said, poverty and malnutrition will continue to exacerbate one another if left unaddressed. To this day, and for decades before, Anurag and Madhavi recognized this cycle and fought to break it. And this is, of course, not exclusive to India—doctors’ indifference to the underlying causes of disease has been well-documented throughout the world, especially in Canada. Although Anurag and Madhavi’s experience lies primarily in India, the impact of their advice can be felt globally, too.

Photogrammetry: A new approach to detailed, accessible flower imaging

Ella Paulin Science & Technology Editor

There are hundreds of thousands of flower species in the world, each with their own shapes, colour patterns, and natural habitats. Scientists aim to accurately preserve and document every single species, but the complexity and delicateness of these natural decorations make this a challenging endeavour.

Researchers from McGill and the University of Montreal recently published an article in New Phytologist outlining a new, innovative approach called photogrammetry, which assembles a 3D model of a flower from digital photographs. The resulting 3D models are available online for free at BioSource.

Photogrammetry has existed for several decades and has been used in other fields, such as archeology and entomology, but had never before been applied to the scientific study of flowers. While there is no concrete explanation as to why, Daniel Schoen, a professor of biology at McGill, believes the intricacies of the photogrammetry process slowed down its implementation.

The first step in using photogrammetry is simply to collect pictures

from all sides of an object.

“You can put your subject on either a turntable or a rotating shaft motor, and basically what you’re doing is you’re rotating it, and you’re taking a picture of it every time it changes by a degree or two, and you come back full circle,” Schoen explained in an interview with The McGill Tribune

Computer software then analyzes the collected photos to detect overlapping points. From these points, the software constructs a 3D model, complete with colour data from the photographs.

Photogrammetry is a major improvement from current techniques, such as micro-computerized tomography (CT) scanning.

“[Micro-CT scanning] is a little bit like when you get a CT scan in the hospital,” Schoen explained. “They basically take photograph after photograph in different planes, and then they assemble them all together into a solid structure.”

Micro-CT scanning also allows scientists to obtain a detailed 3D model, but it has some drawbacks. First, the machinery used to create the scans is both heavy and expensive, making its use impractical for many researchers. Also, it can’t capture colour data, which is critical when studying flowers.

Since photogrammetry takes digital photographs as an input, it can preserve high-quality colour detail. In addition, the set-up only requires a good camera and a turn-table, making it easy to take into the field—a major boon for biologists looking to document flowers before they wilt or fade.

Having access to detailed, coloured models of flowers opens up new research techniques for biologists, such as quantitatively comparing colour and shape information to determine differences in flower varieties, and conducting experimental research by 3D-printing replicas of existing flowers.

“I’m on the thesis committee of a student who’s interested in whether flowers of a species that occur in an urbanized environment have evolved a different form compared to the more natural environment,” Schoen said. “The idea is to compare shape quantitatively using data captured with photogrammetry.”

Photogrammetry would also allow biolo-

gists to perform quantitative analysis on features that are called “nectar guides,” or spots on a flower’s surface.

“The nectar guide is thought to serve as a way to channel the movements of the insect into the flower in a very precise fashion,” Schoen said. “We think flowers work that way. They manipulate their pollinators by both their shape and their colour patterns and it’s the two working together. The colour pattern has to be in the

right place on the flower in order for this to work.”

One other exciting possibility is that, with sufficiently advanced 3Dprinting technology, these 3D models could be printed to produce accuratelycoloured, to-scale flowers, potentially even printed using organic material.

Innovative research techniques like these rely on accurate and accessible 3D data, which is now easier than ever to produce thanks to photogrammetry and modern software analysis.

McGill researchers develop technique to quickly build colourful 3D models

The richest one per cent in India own 58 per cent of the country’s wealth. (Tribune India)

Since flowers rely on their colours and shapes to attract pollinators, it’s vital for biologists to be able to accurately capture image data. (www.artstation.com)

The 2023 NFL playoffs so far

Six things we’ve learned from an exhilarating first two weeks of postseason action

Jack Armstrong Contributor

The 2023 National Football League (NFL) playoffs kicked off on Jan. 14, leaving some overjoyed and many more with broken hearts. The wild card and divisional rounds produced 10 riveting matches that left fans no choice but to learn some valuable lessons about the playoffs, the teams, and what is still to come.

No lead is safe

On Jan. 14, the Los Angeles Chargers faced the Jacksonville Jaguars and quickly jumped into a commanding

17-0 lead to close the first quarter. Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence threw four interceptions and the Chargers’ offence scored at will, allowing Los Angeles to go up 27-0 late in the first half. The second half was a different story, however, as the Jacksonville defence held the Chargers to a measly three points. Lawrence threw touchdowns on four consecutive possessions and kicker Riley Patterson hit a walk-off field goal as the Jaguars completed the fifth-largest comeback in NFL history.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers can’t only rely on Brady

There was once a time when Tom Brady could instantly turn any team into a Super Bowl contender. At 45 years old, it seems that time is finally catching up to the GOAT. Brady threw only 25 touchdowns in an underwhelming season for the Buccaneers, culminating in a crushing 31-14 playoff defeat to the Dallas Cowboys where Brady barely completed 50 per cent of his passes. Brady could still feasibly win another Super Bowl, but he’ll need to be supplemented by an elite offence and defence to even stand a chance.

The Cowboys need a new kicker

Despite a dominant 31-14 win over the Buccaneers, the Cowboys’ victory was undercut by one player’s performance: Brett Maher. The Cowboys’ kicker caught a bad case of the yips and set an NFL record by missing four of his five extra point attempts against Tampa Bay. Maher missed another extra point the following week in the Cowboys’ 19-12 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, and currently holds the record for the most missed extra points in the playoffs.

Football Conference and narrowly losing to the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI. While the Bengals gained considerable respect, there were doubts as to whether they could repeat last season’s heroics. Cincinnati squashed such suspicions this postseason by putting on a defensive masterclass against the Baltimore Ravens before dismantling the Buffalo Bills in a 27-10 victory. With quarterback Joe Burrow’s elite performance all season long, the Bengals have proven that their 2022 miracle was not a flash in the pan.

The Philadelphia Eagles are the team to beat

In case their 14–3 record wasn’t enough, the Eagles cemented their status as Super Bowl favourites by conquering the New York Giants 387. Quarterback Jalen Hurts quelled any injury concerns by scoring three touchdowns, and the Eagles’ defence put on a clinic against the Giants. Kansas City, the Bengals, and the 49ers are all worthy contenders, but the high-flying Eagles are arguably the most complete team in the NFL and undeniably look like Super Bowl champions.

Garoppolo broke his foot in week 13, many thought the 49ers’ season was over. Cue Brock Purdy: the 2022 NFL draft’s “Mr. Irrelevant”. The rookie quarterback helped San Francisco finish the regular season undefeated and threw three touchdowns in their 41-23 playoff victory over the Seattle Seahawks. San Francisco followed up this win by defeating the Cowboys 19-2 in a hard-fought defensive battle. While Purdy has undoubtedly played well, the 49ers’ key to success is their depth: San Francisco’s offence is loaded with star players like running back Christian McCaffrey and tight end George Kittle, and their defence is a force to be reckoned with. In a quarterbackdominated league, the 49ers stand out as contenders without a big-name play caller.

What’s next?

Martlets

Julie Ferreyra Contributor

Continued from page 1.

In attendance were five Ontarian universities, as well as four institutions from Quebec as part of the CUASL.

Ten minutes before the start of the competition, the Memorial Gymnasium saw athletes finalizing their preparations, with some reviewing choreographies for the last time, while others touched up their makeup by the side of the pool. The invitational opened with the novice duet events, followed by the experienced duets and trio, where Abbie Carnahan and Catherine McGee presented a graceful choreography to sombre, lyrical music.

From intense lyrical melodies to upbeat pop songs, from Dua Lipa to Flo Rida and Pitbull, competing teams offered up a wide range of choreographies. However, they all had the same goal in mind: Showcasing their artistry and technical skills to the judges. The requirements between the various events differ slightly across levels and increase in difficulty for the experienced events.

When the solos came, McGill’s novice soloist Diana Paparelli performed to Madonna’s “Isla Bonita,” delivering a theatrical and technical performance that invigorated those in

Last

season’s

Cincinnati Bengals were not a fluke

The Bengals shocked the world last year by conquering the American

The 49ers don’t need an elite quarterback

When quarterback Jimmy

On Jan. 29, two teams had their hearts broken. On the first drive of the game, Purdy was hit with a blow to his throwing arm, forcing the 49ers to turn to their fourth-string quarterback and ultimately fall 31-7 to Philadelphia. As for the Bengals, the five sacks on Burrow proved to be too much and they fell to Kansas City 23-20. The Super Bowl XLVII will kick off on Feb. 12 between the Eagles and Kansas City.

When it rains, it pours: The Martlets’ artistic swimming is back

top three in nearly all events at McGill Invitational

the stands. Her routine placed her at the top of the soloists and ultimately earned her first place in the event.

McGill experienced soloist, Clara Thomas, performed a stunning technical choreography and finished in third place on the podium.

The stands never emptied as family, friends, and curious bystanders rotated in over the course of the afternoon.

“The energy and cheering was really nice,” first-year swimmer Olivia McLaughlin told The McGill Tribune. “It was definitely very fun to have a home meet for a first competition, it’s a little ounce of security we had, [...] you usually don’t have that luxury.”

The Martlets did not only elicit support from their own stands, but also from the other teams, as those on the poolside yelled and cheered them on.

“It’s very much a team effort,” McLaughlin told the Tribune. “There’s a certain structure that you kind of follow [....] It makes for a routine that you’re super proud to show off, because you all have your little bits and pieces in there.”

This year’s artistic swimming team has a young core, with an overwhelming majority of first-years and only a few returning athletes.

“Most of us never swam together before [....] it can take a while to develop the team dynamic

necessary for a good performance, ” explained fourth-year science student April Ozere. “So in this way, we are at a disadvantage to other teams who may have been swimming together for a few years. However, our team dynamics are improving with every practice and I’m confident we will be able to deliver a great performance at Nationals.”

“We were pretty happy with how we swam, considering the obstacles we

had before coming to the competition,” McLaughlin added. The schedule and competition suits were given to them just days before the event, while their McGill warm-up suits arrived the day of the competition. Since artistic swimming receives little to no funding from McGill, both of their suits were paid for by the athletes themselves, with the help of a fundraiser they organized this past fall.

The lack of funding from McGill has proven to be a barrier for the team. In 2020, the Martlets had to pay out of pocket for all travel expenses to get to British Columbia to compete in Nationals.

The McGill artistic swimming team will be hosting a “send-off” water show before Nationals at the end of the semester, after facing CUASL rivals in Ontario for the Eastern Divisionals on March 5-6.

The Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes and the Eagles’ Jalen Hurts will become the first Black quarterbacks to face off in a Super Bowl. (Colin E. Braley / AP Photo).

As of 2018, CUASL expanded to include 22 universities across Canada with over 250 swimmers and 45 coaches. (Matt Garies / McGill Athletics).

Sparks fly at McGill’s track and field Team Challenge

With records broken and rivalries made, the event was electrifying for all involved

Sarah Farnand & Henry Wellenstein Sports Editor & Contributor

On Jan. 27 and 28, the Martlet and Redbird track and field teams held their annual McGill Team Challenge at the Tomlinson Fieldhouse. With 538 athletes representing schools and clubs from across Canada, personal bests were achieved, school records were broken, and fans were more than entertained.

Day one started off with a bang after Donna Ntambue’s stunning performance in the 60-metre dash. The transfer from Northeastern University won her race with a time of 7.38 seconds, beating McGill track alumna Jorden Savoury— who was competing for the Saint-Laurent Seléct club team—by 0.27 seconds.

“I’m still speechless,” said Ntambue in a post-race interview with The McGill Tribune. “Obviously that was one of my goals, but it’s just nice to see it happen. But I’m just grateful for the opportunity to be back on track. And it’s nice to know that I’m actually getting better. So I’m looking forward to [running] faster [and] just enjoying the ride.”

Ntambue later led the Martlets 4x200metre relay team to a bronze medal with a McGill record finish.

The longer-distance events held several highlights as well, including Abby McIntosh and Markus Geiger in the 1000-metre race, and Noah El Rimawi-Fine and Sophie Courville in the 3000-metre race. McIntosh managed to dip under three minutes with her 2:58.49 for seventh place, while Geiger put up an intimidating early season performance with a 2:26.37 for fifth place. In the longest races of the weekend, Courville ran an impressive 10:09.93 and El Rimawi-Fine ran a smashing personal best of 8:33.17. The two runners both scored themselves a spot in seventh place in their respective women’s and men’s races.

Despite some pre-competition frustrations, El Rimawi-Fine reflected on how the race went surprisingly well, but noted that there are still areas to improve.

“Honestly, I felt pretty good. I didn’t expect that,” said El Rimawi-Fine. “But I felt like the Queen’s guy was slowing down a little bit and I had a lot of energy, so I kind of wanted to make a move. If I had known I had enough in me, I probably would have kicked a bit sooner [....] So I think if I had done that, it could have been a sub four attempt closer than 4:03. But I’m happy with this.”

However, the 1500-metre isn’t El Rimawi-Fine’s main race—most of his season goals revolve around the 3000-metre race, where he placed fifth this weekend with a time of 8:33.17.

Day two was another intense day of racing. Ricardo Percopo finished eighth in the 300-metre, and Geiger followed up his impressive day one performance with an even more remarkable third place in the 600-metre, running 1:20.59.

In the men’s 1500-metre, a massive McGill presence made for an exciting spectacle for the home crowd. One of the

seven McGill runners in that race was Jérôme Jacques, who slid in under four minutes (3:58.89 to be precise) for 11th place in an inspiring display of grit and bold racing tactics. On the women’s side, Courville followed up her 3000-metre performance from the day before with a 12th place finish of 4:47.27 in the 1500-metre.

Two of the most exciting races of the weekend came courtesy of Matthew Beaudet in the 1000 and 1500-metre races. Despite being passed by two of his competitors in the last 100 metres, Beaudet still managed to pull off an impressive 2:24.76 for third place in the 1000-metre on day one.

“My main goal for the weekend was to run a good 1000-metre, and I felt I was in shape to run close to the provincial record of 2:21,” Beaudet told the Tribune. “ I think I was a little too anxious during the race as I took the lead early [at about] 550 [metres] and used too much energy there [....] The time was still good considering the tactical mistakes, and it was nice to compete against strong athletes in Montreal.”

On day two in the 1500, Beaudet ran a very similar race.His blistering pace was too much for everyone else in the field except for Queen’s University’s Jude Wheeler-Dee––the same foe who bested him in the 1000-metre––who managed to hang on once again and out-kicked Beaudet in the last stretch of the race.

“I was pretty tired doubling in the 1500, but I wanted to run with more confidence this year, so I picked up the pace after 850 metres and led until the last 50 metres where I got passed again,” said Beaudet. “I was hoping to run a few seconds faster in this race, but I was happy with how I executed the race plan and I am looking forward to competing in later meets.”

Off the track, McGill dominated with two golds on the men’s side from

Mackenzie Stathis in triple jump and Olivier Gregoire in pole vault. The Martlets came home with one bronze medal from pole vaulter Rosalie Lupien. And for those who throw heavy things, McGill took home two bronzes in shot put from Lina Ikhlef and Ella Villeneuve, while Philippe Haddad finished seventh for the men. As for the hurdles, Vanessa Lu Langley took home a silver medal in the women’s 60-metre race.

The Martlets and Redbirds will compete again on Feb. 4 in Quebec City at the Laval Invitational.

MOMENT OF THE MEET

Ntambue ran the 60m in 7.38 seconds, dominating her toughest university competitors by over two-tenths of a second and setting a fresh school record.

“I’m no better than I was last season…but I’m also not worse.”

–Lucien Louvet, distance runner

QUOTABLE STAT CORNER

With 45 teams and clubs, including 14 universities, over 500 athletes, and more than 800 entries, the 2023 McGill Team Challenge was slotted as the largest indoor track meet in Canada.

Matthew Beaudet ran the 1500-metre in 3:48.01, breaking his own McGill record. (Matt Garies / McGill Athletics)

Lu Langley completed her silver-medal performance in the 60-metre hurdles in 9.55, exactly one second shy of the team record. (Matt Garies / McGill Athletics).