The McGill Tribune Vol. 36 Issue 16

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT “TNC’s Be Tween presents pubescent nostalgia” pg. 11

FEATURE “Hooting & Hollering: A beginner’s guide to Montreal’s burlesque scene” pg. 8-9

The McGill Tribune

EDITORIAL: McGILL MUST DEMONSTRATE WHY IT MATTERS FOR MILLENIALS pg. 05

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2017 VOL. 36 ISSUE 16

PUBLISHED BY THE SPT, A STUDENT SOCIETY OF MCGILL UNIVERSITY

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Senate Report on CAMSR Open Forums on Sustainability seeks to address participant frustrations Report reveals disappointment with recommendations and lack of trust in admin Jackie Houston Opinion Editor

Today, The Word is a student favourite, but it was once run out of a living room. (Hannah Taylor / The McGill Tribune)

An afternoon at The Word

The history behind the Milton-Parc gem Albert Park Features Editor Over the course of their time at McGill, a large portion of McGill students become familiar with The Word—a quaint bookstore located on Rue Milton. Even during its busiest hours, there is a special sense of serenity that emanates throughout the shop. A

calm, coordinated silence embraces the room, and a warm light touches illuminates its dynamic window display. It is an ideal environment for patrons to explore its vast treasures: Hundreds and thousands of neatly lined books form an organized procession of the preserved works of Steinbeck, Frost, Locke, and countless other great minds.

The peaceful, homey feeling of the store traces back to its origins: The Word was officially founded by Adrian King-Edwards and Lucille Friesen in 1975. Before the establishment opened, the duo ran a bookstore out of their home.

“In 1973 to 1974, I lived […] in an apartment next door, it was a four and a half apartment,” King-Edwards

recalled. “All the doors along the street looked the same. [Friesen and I] were running an underground bookstore in our living room, so we put a picture of George Bernard Shaw in the window, so people would know that’s [what we were doing]. The door would be unlocked and students from McGill would walk in and buy books out of our living room.”

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McGill-led company designs carbon-neutral concrete

Carbicrete advances to the semi-finals of prestigious Carbon XPRIZE competition Julia Briand Contributor The process of manufacturing cement—the primary material used in the production of concrete—accounts for five per cent of the world’s carbon

dioxide emissions. The emissions from cement production are unsustainable at the planet’s current rate of development.

However, Carbicrete, a McGillled technology company, has developed patented technology that not only eliminates carbon

dioxide emissions, but sequesters carbon as well.

The Carbicrete team is composed of four members: Mehrdad Mahoutian, a research associate in the Department of Civil Engineering and Applied Mechanics at McGill; Chris Stern,

a Mechanical Engineering graduate; Yuri Mytko, an MBA-holder who serves as the company’s CMO; and Mario Vendetti, a Mechanical Engineering graduate.

Mahoutian initially developed the idea for Carbicrete while working as a PhD student at McGill.

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At the Jan. 18 meeting of the McGill Senate, Provost and VicePrincipal (Academic) Christopher Manfredi presented a Report on the McGill Committee to Advise on Matters of Social Responsibility’s (CAMSR) September Open Forums on Sustainability and a written response to its recommendations. In addition, senators addressed questions submitted by Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) President Ben Ger and Vice-President (VP) University Affairs Erin Sobat regarding the Senate’s capacity to make recommendations on the governance practices of the Board of Governors (BoG).

Report and response to CAMSR Open Forums on Sustainability A report on CAMSR’s Open Forums on Sustainability, as well as Manfredi’s written response, were presented to the Senate. In September 2016, CAMSR held three Open Forums on Sustainability to gather community input on the recommendations of the CAMSR Report on Divestment that was published in March 2016. The Report on Divestment was released in response to Divest McGill’s February 2015 petition, which called for the university’s divestment from major fossil fuel companies.

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2 news

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Approximately 4.8 million marchers mobilized worldwide. (Photo courtesy of McKenna Glorioso)

Montreal denziens hope to send a message to President Trump. (Alexandra Gardiner / The McGill Tribune)

Protestors worldwide express opposition to President Trump Millions of people joined together to protest Trump and his values Grace Bahler Contributor Crowds of more than 500,000 people gathered on the National Mall in Washington D.C. on Saturday, Jan. 21 to take part in the Women’s March on Washington. It was one of 673 marches throughout the world.

Occurring just one day after the inauguration of President Donald J. Trump, the marches were conducted by individuals from all corners of the world to send a message of power, resistance, and solidarity to the new administration.

The protesters were against Trump’s behaviour and policies. Based on a transcript with Billy Bush, Trump has reportedly condoned sexual assault of women.

In addition, many women have issues with his intention to deny access to planned parenthood and his anti-abortion stance.

The streets were full of pink-knit hats, cleverly-crafted posters, and chants of dis-

sent. By 9 a.m., the mall was packed and people were eager to rally. An hour later, the event commenced with a speech by Honduran-American actress America Ferrera.

“We will not go from being a nation of immigrants to a nation of ignorants,” Ferrera said to cheers of support.

Among the attendees of the Women’s March, there was a consensus about the importance of mobilization and resistance.

A husband and wife, who asked to remain anonymous, had driven down from Long Island NY to participate in the event. The wife, who marched in Washington D.C. in 1970 to protest the Vietnam War, was deeply moved by the civil societal participation.

“It’s a repudiation of everything that Trump stands for,” the couple said. “What he stands for does not represent our America. Our strength is our diversity.”

Another marcher, Hannah - who refused to disclose her last name - travelled across the country from Oregon

and was marching for her grandmother, who had passed away from lung cancer before she had the chance to vote for Hillary Clinton. When considering the next four years with Trump in the White House, Hannah was reminded of the fascist movements that swept the world in the 1940s.

“I see what people mean when they say [we’re] trading the moustache for the toupee,” Hannah said.

Hannah was not alone in her sentiments. Activist, writer, and feminist icon Gloria Steinem spoke against the new president, standing before crowds of admirers in Washington. During the march, she emphasized the importance of keeping the power in the hands of the people.

“I have met the people, and you [Trump] are not them,” Steinem said.

Over 30 “sister marches” were organized across Canada. In Montreal, nearly 5,000 people gathered at Place des Arts for Manif des Femmes, marching in solidarity with Washington.

Sarah Wimmer, U1 Arts, was one of the protesters at the Montreal event. Wimmer found that the most moving aspect of the march was when women were asked to raise their hands if they had ever been sexually assaulted. Countless hands rose in the air.

“I marched because I know change doesn’t come from silence, and uniting with all of the millions of other marchers proves that one man won’t be able to divide us,” Wimmer said.

A speaker at the event, Rachel Zellars, executive director of the Girls Action Foundation and a PhD candidate in the Department of Integrated Studies in Education at McGill, spoke at the event. She highlighted the value of collective action and unification in a time of such distress.

“Today signifies the end of our grieving because right at this very moment [673] other women’s marches are happening globally,” Zellars said. “We have never needed one another so much as in this very moment.”

SSMU to assist clubs, independent student groups in transitions McGill Outdoors Club hopes to regain club status Margherita de Castro Contributor On April 7, 2016, the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Services Review Committee and the Board of Directors (BoD) prompted seven student groups to change their status within the SSMU structure. The Savoy Society, Elections SSMU, First Year Council, and the McGill International Student Network lost their status as independent student groups (ISG) and The Players Theatre, Organic Campus, and McGill Outdoors Club (MOC) gained ISG status.

In 2015, the previous SSMU Vice-President (VP) Clubs and Services Kimber Bialik–which has since been renamed the VP Student Life portfolio following executive restructuring in 2015-2016–reinstated the Services Review Committee for the first time since 2011. The committee evaluates whether listed services comply with the April 2016 modifications to the internal regulations of student

groups.

The internal regulations of student groups specify that a service must provide resources and support to members while additionally providing referrals, awareness, education, or advocacy services. The final Services Review Report concluded that for various reasons outlined in the report, the five previously listed services did not meet the new requirements. On April 7, the SSMU Legislative Council ratified the committee’s recommendations to revoke these ISGs’ status.

The McGill International Student Network has since become a SSMU club, the First Year Council now falls under the portfolio of the SSMU VP Internal, and Elections SSMU is overseen by the SSMU General Manager. The Players Theatre and Organic Campus are transitioning into ISGs while SSMU is still considering the Savoy Society’s status, with plans to make it a programming department under the VP Student Life portfolio.

On May 24, the McGill Outdoors

Club (MOC) had its club status revoked at a BoD meeting. Members of the Board believed that the size of the club made it better suited as an ISG. They worried that the MOC’s large transactions would look suspicious to auditors. In addition, the Board believed that the club’s activities posed risks to students not covered by SSMU’s liability insurance.

“Our internal regulations say that our clubs need to have bank accounts that are internally managed

by SSMU,” Bialik said at the BoD meeting on May 24. “[The MOC has] their own external account that we know nothing about. They have their independent insurance policy.

They manage property also. They have a lot going on. So they are already operating like an independent student group and this transition won’t change anything for them.”

According to MOC VP Communications Chris Mills, SSMU and the MOC had previously discussed the possibility of becoming an ISG, with inconclusive results. The BoD

decision was made unilaterally and without the knowledge or consent of the MOC. Mills said that the MOC has been actively appealing the decision, due to a long-term standing agreement with SSMU enabling the MOC to exist as a club while simultaneously owning a separate bank account.

“By their own constitution, ISGs have to be registered nonprofits,” Mills said. “You can’t take a club which doesn’t exist legally and turn it into an [ISG]. The club doesn’t have a legal standing outside of SSMU. [The 2015-2016] generation of executives did not necessarily appreciate all the differences between being a club and an ISG in terms of what it means for administrative and legal overhead.”

As an ISG, the MOC will have to register for legal status, file its own tax returns, and obtain necessary insurance. Mills explained that the added responsibilities associated with operating an ISG are a lot for a volunteer-run organization to undertake.

SSMU VP Finance Niall Carolan said that SSMU is willing to cooperate with the MOC with the possibility of reinstating its status as a SSMU club.

“Throughout this [academic] year we have been meeting with [the] MOC to try to find the best structure that works for them and that also works for SSMU,” Carolan said.

“That may very well end up being a club. I am happy to keep them as a club as long as the support structure is there for them to succeed.”

SSMU VP Student Life Elaine Patterson plans to dedicate this year to assisting all transitioning student groups so that they will be more stable next year.

“The end goal would be to make sure that the groups transitioning into independent student groups status do become legally recognized by the province of Quebec as separate from SSMU,” Patterson said. “Then from there my goal is just to make sure that transition is as smooth as possible for these groups.”

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Tuesday, January 24, 2017

PGSS sends Legal Information Clinic Referendum Question to online ratification Council discusses BDS collaboration and Thomson House fees

Senate Report on CAMSR Open Forums on Sustainability seeks to address participant frustrations Report reveals disappointment with recommendations and lack of trust in admin Jackie Houston Opinion Editor Continued from page 1.

PGSS Council heard a proposition from AGSA to stand behind BDS. (Lauren Benson-Armer / The McGill Tribune)

Julia Metraux Staff Writer On Jan. 18, the Post-Graduate Students’ Society (PGSS) voted to send the Legal Information Clinic at McGill (LICM) Referendum Question to online ratification, considered an invitation to collaborate on Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS), and discussed Thomson House fees.

LICM Referendum Question PGSS Council members voted to send the LICM Referendum Question to online ratification. The LICM offers legal counselling from law students to members of the McGill student body and the Montreal community. The LICM asked that their non-opt-outable graduate student fee be raised from $2.00 per semester to $4.50 per semester.

According to the LICM Director of Communications Sunny Yang, the LICM is seeking to raise the fee in order to better serve the McGill community by enabling them to rent more space. Yang said an increase would it to handle heavy demand from students and community members.

“With the additional $60,000 [raised from the fee increase], we’re able to rent out more space so everyone who wants to volunteer in the Faculty of Law can actually volunteer here,” Yang said. “We’d have the ability to not close lines and for faster intake.”

PGSS Internal Affairs Officer Mina Anadolu said she supports increasing funds for the LICM due to their effectiveness at providing legal expertise to graduate students.

“The [LICM] has been a huge help to the Internal Affairs Committee in terms of orientation,” Anadolu said. “For the past two years that I have been in this position, [the LICM has had] an active role in orientation and getting information out to students. Also, [the LICM held] information sessions, here at Thomson House, the most recent being ‘Renting an Apartment in Quebec’ [and] ‘Know Your Rights.’”

BDS resolution collaboration On behalf of the Anthropology Graduate Students Association (AGSA), Anthropology Masters candidate Jason Hirsch requested to form graduate student groups in support of the BDS movement. AGSA has officially endorsed the BDS movement at McGill University.

“AGSA passed a motion in support of [the

BDS] movement,” Hirsch said. “[The AGSA] wanted to come to [PGSS] Council for a proposition that [members] could pass this along to your [Post-Graduate Students’ Associations (PGSAs)]. We wanted to know if there are other groups that are willing to join us.”

Hirsch said the AGSA supports BDS due to the movement’s anthropological connection to colonialism. Meanwhile, Principal Suzanne Fortier previously sent an email explaining the McGill administration’s opposition to the BDS movement, accusing it of being contrary to McGill values of academic freedom, equity, and inclusiveness.

“We felt the need to go through [passing the motion in AGSA] as anthropologists because in our own discipline we have a colonial legacy,” Hirsch said. “Principal [Suzanne] Fortier made a declaration that McGill is opposed to this movement and we don’t feel that [this stance] properly represents the diversity of opinions of the McGill community.”

Thomson House fees The allocation and transparency of Thomson House fees was discussed at the PGSS meeting. Although the budget for the operation of Thomson House comes from PGSS student fees, clubs are required to pay a booking fee to use some rooms and other space for events or meetings.

Anadolu said she understands the frustration over booking fees, but that they are necessary in order to compensate maintenance staff.

“As Internal [Affairs], we pay for the events that we organize here,” Anadolu said. “Everytime we use a room there are cleaning fees [and] staff fees. Especially if you book a room like [the Thomson House ballroom], you have to pay for the staffing and the cleanup that comes after. I understand the argument that it is counterproductive to charge PGSAs [...,] but there are certain charges associated with large spaces.”

PGSS Health Commissioner J. Andrew Dixon, who served on the PGSS Board of Directors last year, said that transparency is an issue when it comes to determining Thomson House costs.

“There’s been a lot of murky water in terms of a schedule for how much everything costs and for what reason,” Dixon said. “So, I think what is really required here is that we need to sit down with the business [management and staff needed to run the restaurant, bar, and prepare rooms] and hash out the details of how much everything costs and why.”

The forums were held to address Divest McGill’s dissatisfaction with CAMSR’s rejection of divestment and with the way the report was conducted. Specifically, the student group took issue with CAMSR’s lack of transparency in its consultation with experts and the insufficient community input on the report’s findings. In response to these concerns, Principal and Vice-Chancellor Suzanne Fortier committed to holding public forums in order to invite community dialogue on sustainability and the CAMSR recommendations.

The open forums sought community responses to two specific recommendations of the 2016 report: The creation of a plan to reduce McGill’s carbon footprint while pursuing ongoing sustainability research and education, and the development of concrete measures to ensure that all of McGill’s investments comply with recognized Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles.

“I was truly impressed with how the community came together,” associate professor in the Faculty of Law Frédéric Bachand, who chaired the three open forums, said in his remarks to the Senate. “To offer advice and insight on how to improve McGill’s response to what is surely one of the greatest challenges of our time.”

Disappointment with the recommendations of CAMSR’s 2016 report and consequently weakened sense of trust in the administration’s commitment to sustainability were common themes of the open discussions, according to Bachand.

Given these findings, Manfredi’s response identified several measures for relevant university actors to pursue. These included setting a target date and plan for McGill to become a carbon-neutral institution and continuing to develop channels for community engagement with respect to sustainability. “[It was] the trust and the breaking of trust that was a major concern to the McGill community,” Science Senator Sean Taylor said regarding forum participants’ frustration with CAMSR and the BoG’s handling of Divest McGill’s petition.

Sobat also underlined Manfredi’s failure to address the recommendations related to the loss of trust in the administration.

“Something I noticed [that was] not included [in the response] were recommendations or responses addressing section A of the report, around the breakdown in trust, specifically with administration and governance practices in the university,” Sobat said.

The report and response will be presented to the BoG on Feb. 2.

Question regarding university governance best practices In December 2016, SSMU President Ben Ger proposed a comprehensive review of McGill’s governance structure and statutes. The aim of this review would be to compare McGill’s existing structures with those at other universities in order to determine the best practices to improve community engagement. Various members of the board opposed the proposal. BoG Chair Stuart Corbett said that the review was not the best use of BoG resources and that the proposal lacked specificity.

“It is just [that] you need to understand what it is you are looking for and questions need to be focused so the answers can be focused,” Corbett said. “We are not running a broad ranging discussion, we need to have focused questions and we need to have focused answers.

On Jan. 18, Manfredi provided a written response on behalf of the Senate to two questions submitted prior to the meeting. The questions submitted were, “What opportunities exist for Senators, and Senate as a whole, to provide recommendations regarding governance practices to the Board of Governors?” and “Given that the cyclical review process has recently been extended to include administrative units, would the University consider implementing this model for a review of governance bodies?” posed by Ger and Sobat. The questions were prompted in part by the SSMU November 2016 report, “A Seat at the Table: An Analysis of the McGill University Board of Governors,” that evaluated the current structure and administration of the BoG. Manfredi said that when reviewing governance practices that implicate the academic mission of the university, the BoG has received and will continue to receive recommendations from the Senate. Manfredi’s response outlined the existing channels through which senators can provide recommendations, including the newly implemented bi-annual Board community sessions.

SSMU’s request for a cyclical review process for the BoG was rejected, as it would place the Office of the Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic)—the body currently responsible for the cyclical review of other administrative units—in charge of reviewing the unit to which it ultimately reports.

4 news

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

AVEQ criticizes government consultation efforts on sexual violence SSMU continues to consider affiliation with AVEQ Sara Gruszczynski Contributor Government consultation efforts On Jan. 12, the Association for the Voice of Education in Quebec (AVEQ) released a statement in collaboration with the Association pour un Solidarité Syndicale Étudiante (ASSÉ) in response to government consultations regarding sexual violence. Kristen Perry, AVEQ coordinator of Mobilization and Associative Development/English language media relations, said that AVEQ decided to release the statement after receiving an invitation to attend a discussion on sexual violence hosted

by Minister Hélène David. Perry said that invitations much like the one received by AVEQ have been sent out to various groups including student associations and university administrations.

According to Perry, one vital component that was lacking is consultation with survivors

of sexual violence.

“The thing [that is] very important when talking about sexual violence is that we’re listening to the people who have been most affected by [these assaults] and have the experience with which to advise how we can move forward with the processes that we have at our universities,” Perry said.

Possible affiliation with AVEQ In the Winter 2016 referendum period, the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) put forward a motion to affiliate with AVEQ. The motion, which proposed the creation of a $3.50 non-opt-outable per-student per-semester fee, failed with 17 votes, five opposed and two abstentions. SSMU has continued to sit-in at AVEQ meetings despite the motion’s failure and is still considering affiliation with AVEQ, according to Vice-President (VP) University Affairs Erin Sobat.

“AVEQ is a bottom-up federation that

takes direction from its member associations, via regular members’ assemblies,” Sobat said.

“Decisions are largely based on consensus and SSMU is not bound by the positions of AVEQ.” 2015-2016 Arts and Science representative to SSMU Matthew Satterthwaite was opposed to joining AVEQ. Satterthwaite currently represents Graduate Neuroscience students in the McGill Post-Graduate Students’ Society (PGSS) and continues to speak out against AVEQ. “AVEQ isn’t doing so well right now,” Satterthwaite said. “Members of SSMU decided against joining AVEQ last year and the same thing happened with PGSS and associations at Concordia and [the Université de Montréal].

This has left AVEQ struggling both financially and with their influence. It’s hard to be taken seriously by the government or any other group you try to lobby when you represent so few students [and] schools.”

According to Satterthwaite, joining AVEQ would be costly for students and have little effect on SSMU members. However, Sobat believes that affiliating with AVEQ is still a worthwhile investment for SSMU members.

“While McGill students chose not to affiliate last year, AVEQ has matured extensively since that time and I think it is shaping up to be an extremely promising opportunity for provincial representation,” Sobat said.

Perry explained that AVEQ takes a more feminist approach to matters of sexual violence and strongly believes that this kind of perspective is needed, given the sexual assault policy implemented at McGill and other university campusews. Perry emphasized that including and empowering survivors is crucial.

“The point of this release [...] was to make sure that we could push for the inclusion and the support for the inclusion of sexual violence survivors, so that their voices can be brought to the forefront,” Perry said.

Former Canadian High Commissioner James Wright speaks at round table event in Montreal “Brexit’s Fallout on International Security’”event held at University Club Antoine Senkoff Contributor On Jan. 18, former Canadian high commissioner to the UK James Wright spoke at the University Club of Montreal at the “Brexit’s Fallout on International Security” event jointly organised by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Association of Canada and the Montreal Press Club.

The discussion centred on the consequences of Brexit on NATO, the European Union (EU), and Russia.

Since the Brexit referendum in June 2016, in which a majority of British voters chose to leave the EU, the conversation has turned to the terms under which the UK will depart the union. UK Prime Minister Theresa May’s announcement of a ‘hard Brexit’—the complete withdrawal of the UK from the EU single market—on Jan. 17 was one of the relevant topics discussed at the event.

The discussion began with Wright providing his insight into last year’s Brexit vote. He explained why the referendum was held and his personal views regarding the campaign.

“It was not pretty to watch, it was not a sophisticated debate,” Wright said. “Within the Brexit campaign, especially in the last few weeks, the disinformation and the misunderstandings of the implications of Brexit were profound.”

Wright followed up with concerns about the economic ramifications of Brexit, saying that the latest announcements by Prime Minister May were worrying.

“Forty-four per cent of British exports go to the [EU], fifty-four per cent of British imports come from the [EU], so this is completely changing

the economic and trade model on the part of Britain,” Wright said.

Despite the fears expressed during the campaign and the hard line professed by May last week, Wright was hopeful that an understanding could still be reached between the UK and the EU. “I am keeping my fingers crossed that reason will prevail and that a fair trade and customs deal will emerge between the UK and Brussels,” Wright said. “It will be in everyone’s interest that it works [….This is] especially true from a security perspective.”

Wright’s views were echoed by McGill Political Science Professor Leonardo Baccini. In an email, Baccini told the Tribune that he sees the economic priorities of the UK moving further away from the EU. “Theresa May threatened to make the UK a tax-haven country.

That’s another way of saying, ‘If you guys are too tough with me, I’m going to get the help of investments from non-EU countries,’” Baccini said in an email. “We will see the UK getting closer to the U.S. [and] economically closer to Far East Asia for economic interests than compared to the [EU].”

McGill History Professor Brian Lewis sees the negative repercussions of Brexit extending well beyond the economy. Lewis said that he expects to see a detrimental effect on UK universities and research institutions as a consequence of Prime MInister’s May’s latest announcement.

“I think the UK universities are panicking right now. Not only have they lost students and student revenue, but it’s also the loss of collaborative research grants funded by the [EU],” Lewis said.

At the talk, Wright shared his views regarding the potential future for NATO in light of the Brexit vote.

“Brexit does not change NATO, but it may change, and I hope it doesn’t, some of the attitudes of European leaders to each other and I hope that doesn’t colour or sour the environment within NATO,” Wright said.

former Soviet Union, then I would say that Mr. Putin is an old-style Russian leader and we cannot be naïve,” Wright said. “NATO needs to be firm in its resolve and its support for its members, especially of the Baltic countries and it also needs to keep a close eye on what is happening on the ground in Ukraine.”

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Wright ended his talk by addressing the pressing issue of Russia and its relation to Europe and the U.S. He said that NATO must continue to be vigilant.

“If [Russian President Vladimir Putin] is unhappy with the way in which some of the Russian minorities are treated in the countries of the

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OPINION 5

e d ito r i a l Editor-in-Chief Julia Dick editor@mcgilltribune.com Creative Director Natalie Vineberg nvineberg@mcgilltribune.com Managing Editors April Barrett abarrett@mcgilltribune.com Nicholas Jasinski njasinski@mcgilltribune.com News Editors Holly Cabrera, Sara Cullen, Calvin Trottier-Chi news@mcgilltribune.com Opinion Editors Jackie Houston & David Watson opinion@mcgilltribune.com Science & Technology Editor Lydia Kaprelian scitech@mcgilltribune.com Student Living Editor Audrey Carleton studentliving@mcgilltribune.com Features Editor Albert Park features@mcgilltribune.com Arts & Entertainment Editors Selin Altuntur & Evelyn Goessling arts@mcgilltribune.com Sports Editors Joe Khammar & Aaron Rose sports@mcgilltribune.com Design Editors Domitille Biehlmann & Daniel Freed design@mcgilltribune.com Photo Editor Lauren Benson-Armer photo@mcgilltribune.com Multimedia Editor Noah Sutton multimedia@mcgilltribune.com Web Developers Clare Lyle webdev@mcgilltribune.com Daniel Lutes online@mcgilltribune.com

McGill must demonstrate why it matters for millennials Last week, McGill Principal and ViceChancellor Suzanne Fortier attended the annual World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland on behalf of McGill—the only Canadian university invited. In an article for The Montreal Gazette, titled “Why Davos Matters for Millennials,” Fortier discussed the purpose of her trip and the message she presented. She emphasized the importance of working with a variety of industries to better prepare university students for the “intractable problems” of the future, like climate change and income inequality.

Fortier’s presence in Davos directly reflects the continued value of promoting McGill’s brand on the world stage. She was accompanied by several preeminent McGill researchers and academics, who presented at Davos on issues of sustainability.

McGill’s status as the only Canadian university present at the conference speaks to the weight of the McGill name; Fortier’s participation will hopefully help ensure that the university continues to be seen as a world-class institution that is active on the international scene. A university’s global reputation for providing a quality education is more important than ever in many of today’s highly competitive job markets.

The Davos conference is a reminder of the Principal’s role as the public face of the university.

One service the Principal can provide is ensuring that other schools, academics, and prospective employers see a McGill diploma as a valuable and respected

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Audrey Carleton Student Living Editor On the afternoon of Jan. 20, I dredged through Jeanne Mance Park, making an effort to step in the footprints of those before me, grasping large pieces of cardboard. I was running late to class, but that wasn’t my main priority. I was focused on getting to campus to meet four other friends, so we could quickly depart Montreal in a rental car and make our way to Washington, D.C. for the Women’s March on Washington.

For the duration of that evening, my friends and I made our way down the East Coast, a drive that takes around 12 hours. We arrived at the house at which we were staying at 2:30 a.m. Several hours later we awoke to head to the march, along with over a half a million other people.

And that was the March on Washington alone. Activists gathered for Women’s Marches around

commodity.

However, promoting and maintaining respect for the McGill brand goes beyond promises from Fortier, or participation in conferences like the WEF. To preserve and further develop itself as an institution for the twenty-first century, McGill must attempt to impress not only international elites, but also other groups, like current and prospective students, faculty, and alumni. Each of these groups evaluate the university based on different criteria and their judgements have important consequences for the McGill brand.

Students, for instance, look to aspects like the university’s quality of teaching, transparency, and responsiveness to student demands when assessing their school. Poor performance in these areas could result in disgruntled graduates who are less inclined to recommend the school to others. Fortier has garnered criticism in the past for being out of touch with the student body, such as in her opposition to alumni and student calls for divestment from fossil fuel companies. Representing the university externally should not mean losing contact with the genuine concerns of its more local community members.

Furthermore, Fortier’s statements about Davos were conspicuously lacking in specifics. Her talk of McGill as a university stepping up to the challenges of the future may help the school’s brand, but following up with concrete action to ensure that McGill meets those challenges is most important. For instance, Fortier wrote of the growing need “to expose students

to learning opportunities outside the university,” yet gave no concrete indication of how McGill plans to accomplish this goal. The vision Fortier laid out for McGill at Davos is commendable, yet still needs to be translated into tangible and effective action.

To best prepare McGill students for the future, it is essential that the university improve itself in areas beyond research. The examples for areas of improvement are countless, and include indigenous representation, equitable hiring practices, and mental health support. The recent Report of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Systemic Discrimination revealed continued discrimination in the McGill faculty. McGill offices, student societies, and community members are working hard to promote change in these and other salient issue areas. Without concrete action here at McGill, its portrayal abroad may come to feel disingenuous to the university’s closest stakeholders.

McGill’s reputation–like that of any university today–is a complex and multifaceted topic. Fortier’s presence at the WEF certainly benefits the university, yet the audience of Davos is only one of the many groups that McGill must satisfy if the university wants to retain its position as a premier institution.

Going forward, the administration must now focus on making a reality of Fortier’s promises at Davos, as well as its obligations to its students and faculty at home. Only in this way can McGill show its students and staff, as well as the international community, that it is deserving of its reputation.

Reflections from the Women’s March on Washington Washington the world, including New York, Montreal, Paris, Sydney, and even Antarctica. The sheer quantity of marchers turning out to support equal rights across the globe was a feat in and of itself, and served as a beacon of hope for those feeling crestfallen after the inauguration of Donald Trump.

The turnout at the march, and the energy among the masses, served as a reminder that, while some may suffer in more tangible ways than others, none of us are alone in handling the repercussions of what threatens to be a painful four years for many marginalized individuals. I am white, cisgender, and come from an uppermiddle class background, meaning that I am protected from many of these repurcussions. But at the march, I wanted to stand in solidarity with those for whom the future is less safe. This was the most vital takeaway from the Women’s March on Washington— not just resistance to Trump, but the voices and values that this resistance fights for.

The quantity of marchers that attended the March on Washington was enough to slow down the march itself; groups of impassioned protesters were occasionally brought to a halt. Though comforting to know that these lulls in energy resulted from the sheer size of the event, they also stemmed from the lack of communication and clear leadership of our ranks. This collective uncertainty served as a powerful metaphor for the apprehension that many marchers feel about their lacking political

representation in the months to follow Trump’s election.

As a technically non-partisan event, the march garnered a large number of signs and cheers for issues larger than the recent election.

Supporters donned signs that carried messages like “Love is love is love,”

“

Chanting our oppositions to Trump himself, rather than his harmful ideas, only diverts attention from the issues we stand for and gives him more power—at least symbolically.

”

and “The future is female.” But for each of these signs voicing positive messages—calls to hope, affirmations, and positively-phrased statements of value—there was another sign held referring to Donald Trump in degrading terms, calling out his fake

tan or his comb-over.

Cheers that spread through the crowds over the course of the march followed the same themes. For every minute-long chant of ‘This is what democracy looks like!’ or ‘We are the popular vote!’ there was one insulting Trump for characteristics that had little to do with his ideology, such as ‘Can’t build wall, hands too small,’ or ‘We need a leader, not a creepy tweeter.’

The latter calls are cathartic for many protesters, and they are certainly amusing; however, I found myself more impassioned when chanting the more hopeful and more productive messages. Anti-Trump chants place him at the centre of protesters’ attention, and sideline the ideals that motivated them to take a stand.

Whether it praises or condemns, exposure is empowering. During his campaign trail, Trump garnered the most media attention among his competitors, which—despite a vast portion of this coverage being negative—ultimately contributed to his success. The same remains today: Chanting our oppositions to Trump himself, rather than his harmful ideas, only diverts attention from the issues we stand for and gives him more power—at least symbolically.

It’s important that the March serves as a catalyst for future protests and activist work in the coming four years and beyond. By framing our ideas in terms of the values we stand for, rather than the people we oppose, the popular voters have the chance to make their voices heard.

6 OPINION

C o m m e nt a r y

Jordan Gowling Contributor To many, the result of the American Presidential election was an upset. The outcome suggests that populism is on the rise in the United States, with Donald Trump depicting himself as the newest face of the movement, It seems that the Canadian practice of adopting certain forms of American culture is finding its way into the realm of politics. Copycats of Trump have invaded the Conservative leadership race: Kellie Leitch, Steven Blaney and now Kevin O’Leary are all taking pointers directly out of Trump’s playbook in order to facilitate more media attention

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

American copycats should steer clear of Canadian politics and capitalize on what appears to be a successful political strategy in the United States. Yet whatever these candidates are trying to sell, Canadian voters likely won’t buy it: Canada’s political culture is too different from that of the United States for these would-be Trumps to thrive.

To try to apply Trump’s personalistic campaign strategy to Canadian politics would be like trying to get Lady Gaga to perform at a Trump rally—a mismatched pairing to say the least. The different length and culture of Canadian elections make Trump-style politics much more difficult in Canada.

Canadian political leaders spend a much shorter amount of time campaigning compared to our American neighbours— the campaigning period for Canada’s 2015 national election was unusually long at 11 weeks.

This past American election, meanwhile, spanned 596 days from the first announced candidate to election day. A shorter running period creates more time for governance in Canadian politics, whereas years of campaigning eclipse inoffice political experience on the American scene.

Lengthy campaigns in the

U.S. also allow the media circus to pervade and shape the race.

This is essential in understanding how Trump was able to gain traction: Capitalizing on media attention and his own reality show persona , Trump ran a marketing campaign that exploited the emotions of the American voter. The influence of the media incentivizes American politicians to make themselves marketable, and candidates that succeed in this regard are more likely to come out on top— slogans like “Make America Great Again”, or even Obama’s “Change We Can Believe In” in 2008, effectively serve as brand names for their winning candidates. The Liberal Party’s attempt to do the same in 2015, with “Sunny Ways”, did not have a fraction of the impact.

In keeping with the Trump phenomenon, Canadian Conservative candidates have begun targeting the same groups Trump insulted during his campaign. In addition to pushing her “Canadian values” test for immigrants, Kellie Leitch has explicitly suggested following Trump’s example.

Steven Blaney, meanwhile, has decided that telling women what to wear should be his main platform,

businessman and reality star Kevin O’Leary, who has recently joined the race, but claims that if he wins he will not seek a seat in Parliament right away. Rather than reflecting substantive platforms, these are all political

plays meant to capitalize on the coattails of a Trump victory by regurgitating controversial issues and rhetoric, which often translate into more media attention.

While the news time that Kellie Leitch has been getting lately—far more than her other twelve opponents—speaks to the possible success of this strategy, her mediocre polling results suggest otherwise. Further, past attempts at this tactic have not translated into much electoral success north of the border. This was demonstrated in Canada’s last election with Harper’s issue with the niqab: Controversial issues and political slogans failed to rally Canadians behind the Conservatives in 2015.

The Conservative party should not resort to imitating anybody south of the border, and most certainly not Trump.

Canadians have always held a certain pride in differences from their American counterparts, and superficial politics based solely on sensationalism and controversy are unlikely to win out in Canada. So please, Kellie Leitch, stop talking about mediagrabbing ideals and start talking about policy. Political spectacle will only get you so far.

when it is negative 25 degrees Celsius outside, and the only things in the fridge are tofu, cheddar cheese, pesto sauce, and an onion, you tend to get very creative with meals. It can be neither denied nor confirmed that winter is the reason fusion restaurants exist.

Winter also changes how we see everyday things in our environment.

For instance, in the summer, a bus stop may be just a bus stop. In the winter, however, this shelter is astonishingly repurposed into a safe haven from the cold on a long walk at night. In the summer, a local dep may be a convenient place to buy snacks and drinks—in the winter, it too becomes a place of shelter from a snowstorm.

And, of course, there is the McLennan library. In the spring and autumn, it is a place for students to focus on their

schoolwork; however, come winter, it is miraculously transformed into a sanctuary to avoid the icy walk home.

With its 24 hour accommodations, winter refugees never even have to leave. Simply stake out a seldom visited aisle on the sixth floor and sublet your room in your Plateau apartment.

One can go on for hours about what a Montreal winter actually is, and the ways it makes us feel, think, and act. It introduces a new dynamic into our lives, even if that dynamic means testing how long we can stay in our homes before going absolutely crazy. Whether through a frosty breeze off the Saint Lawrence river or a nice chunk of snow falling on your head on the walk to school, the Montreal winter builds an icy resolve in all who brave it.

citing a “Canadian way of living” as his reason. To top off this group of Trump disciples, we can’t forget the cutthroat

“

To try to apply Trump’s

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to

campaign Canadian

politics would be like trying to get Lady Gaga to perform at a Trump rally—a

mismatched

pairing to say the least.

”

L a u g h in g M a t t e r s Breaking: It’s still winter in Montreal

Michael Kalman Contributor Don’t be fooled by the recent thaw: It’s still winter in Montreal.

Lest we forget, somewhere between Halloween and finals, it got really

cold. The trees lost their leaves, the birds headed south for warmer weather, and the squirrels took a break from chewing through our trash bags outside. Seasoned veterans know that the Montreal winter is a unique phenomenon that affects each and every one of us. For those who have not experienced Montreal winter yet, a few surprises still lie ahead.

If you are brave enough to walk outside, there is a good chance you will arrive at your destination with littleto-no feeling in your hands, feet, and face. Knowing this, it is wise to plan accordingly and show up to important meetings, social gatherings, and events with sufficient time to defrost.

A time tested standard is five minutes defrosting for every twenty spent outside.

Winter also affects our social

interactions. From Dec. 21 until March 19, approximately 73 per cent of all conversations amongst students will begin with a comment about how cold it is outside, how many centimetres of snow their bike was buried under, or how many times they almost slipped on ice getting down their apartment stairs. Scientists are still not sure why we discuss the season so frequently, but a widely accepted theory is that winter cannot stand when people are not talking about it, so it pulls stunts like these to remind everyone that it is here and demands full and undivided attention.

Besides physiological and social phenomena, winter has psychological effects on us as well. Studies suggest a perfectly negative correlation between temperature and creativity. They say necessity is the mother of innovation—

ERRATA An article published in the Jan. 17 issue of the paper, titled “Hollywood awards itself,” incorrectly stated that Serge Kovaleski has cerebral palsy when in fact he has arthrogryposis.

An article published in the Jan. 17 issue of the paper, titled “Sun Astronauts, Emmett McCleary perform at Le Cagibi,” incorrectly named the artist otherwise known as Sun Astronauts, whose name is Janice Ngiam. The Tribune regrets these errors.

EXPERIENCED CAREGIVER NEEDED TO START WORK IMMEDIATELY FOR MOTHER IN LAW SUFFERING DEMENTIA. I am offering 4-5 hours per day on Saturday, Monday, Wednesday,and Friday, at a rate of $20.00 per hour.

ALL APPLICANTS SHOULD EMAIL DIRECTLY AT

joetquirion@gmail.com

STUDENT LIVING

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

7

An afternoon at The Word The history behind the Milton-Parc Gem Albert Park Features Editor Continued from page 1.

The two ran the hidden bookstore for approximately a year and a half years, also hosting activities, such as poetry readings for their visitors. During that time, KingEdwards and Friesen were looking for a place to expand the business.

“One morning I came out to walk the dog, and this place [which] was a Chinese laundry for 70 years, there was a sign on the door [of the building] saying ‘For Rent,’” King-Edwards said. “It was so obvious [what I should do], you didn’t even need to think about it. It’s a beautiful building, it’s perfect.”

Today, the store is owned by KingEdwards and his wife Donna Jean-Louis, and managed by their son Brendan KingEdwards. King-Edwards’ wife, Donna Jean-Louis, has worked at The Word for several years, and their assistant Scott Moodie has worked there for 25 years. In over 40 years of existence, the layout and look of the store has not changed much.

“I’ve seen someone come in here with a letter from a friend in Europe saying, ‘Go to The Word and get me a copy of Marshall McLuhan,’ and [the letter] had the directions for where it was,” elder King-Edwards said. “The [sender] had not been in the store in five years, but the person with the letter goes […] and finds [the book right away].”

The comforting consistency of the store’s organization also applies to its business model, which has remained constant. As a second-hand bookstore, it is able to provide a large selection of works from various time periods at a low price. Almost all of the books in the store sell for $10 or less. The store also buys and sells textbooks for McGill classes, with some professors exclusively ordering and selling their course books through the establishment.

The Word maintains a focus on collecting and selling works of classic literature, art, history, philosophy, and poetry. The owners take pride in how the collection is curated.

“Every single book has been chosen by us,” the elder King-Edwards said.

“When people phone me to go to their homes to buy books and I go in and they have maybe 2,000 books, I only choose the ones that I absolutely need that are the best in that library. So I take maybe 200 to 300 books. Usually, we are also very fussy about condition.”

Perhaps more important than the items it carries is the role the store plays in the lives of the people of the MiltonParc community, including students and professors at McGill. As a small, intimate setting, The Word provides a cosy space for its visitors in a way that larger bookstores typically do not.

“It’s kind of a refuge for [some of our

customers],” the younger King-Edwards said. “People will often pass by and visit, even once a day and they are stressed, maybe they are a professor at McGill [….]

They know that they can come in here and […] that it will be relatively quiet and […] they can have a little bit of reprieve from their day.”

Confirming the younger KingEdwards’s view of the store, there is a grey armchair in the centre of the store, where some visitors will spend hours, seeking solace in a world of words. The setup enhances the reader’s ability to engage in his or her book and escape his or her life for a while. It is this intimate aspect of the store that helps the storekeepers to form a closer relationship with their patrons, which is a large factor that keeps people coming back.

“There’s all kinds of book collectors […] and a lot of our regular customers will come by at least once a week because they know every week we will have new books,” the elder King-Edwards said. “[People return to our store] because they like books [and because] we’ve developed a friendship with them, and we get to know them, and when you know someone for 30 or 40 years, there’s usually a close relationship.”

These interactions between the owners of The Word and its patrons extends beyond the physical store. Brendan KingEdward sends out a monthly newsletter, which customers sign up for online. The newsletter contains lists of the best books the store has acquired over the month, and announces community events, such as the Christmas party they hold in the store annually.

“One of my favourite parts about working at the store is sending out the newsletters,” the younger King-Edwards said. “I have a lot of fun interacting with people online, whether it is through the newsletters [or] on Facebook [and] Instagram. There is a huge community that starts here and I connect with them outside the store.”

Much like the classic works housed there, the store’s sense of community is geographically boundless and timeless.

The Word prides itself in the welcoming environment it provides for customers.

“The relationships you build are amazing,” the elder King-Edwards said.

“If I walk down a street in New York or London, I will always see someone I know [from the store.] In over 40 years, I [have met] hundreds and thousands of people.”

The Word is an irreplaceable piece of the Milton-Parc area, anchored by people’s passion for reading. For students on a budget, it is a place to buy paperbacks for cheap. For collectors, it is the ultimate destination of a long journey to find a rare edition of their favourite work.

For others, it is a sanctuary to spend a relaxing afternoon in good company. But ultimately, for all lovers of books, The Word is simply paradise.

Top: The Word has a rich history dating back to the 1970s. Photo of The Word from 1975 (Photo courtesy of the The Word) Today, The Word is a student favourite, but it was once run out of a living room. (Hannah Taylor / The McGill Tribune)

ONNECTIONS Hooting & hollering A beginner’s guide to Montreal’s burlesque scene

By Selin Altunter

Photos by Selin Altunter (The McGill Tribune)

D

eep in the underbelly of St-Laurent’s nightlife scene lies the Wiggle Room—Montreal’s iconic burlesque club. Founded in 2013 by Jeremy Hechtman, the man who produced the annual Fringe Festival and opened the Mainline Theatre—the club is somewhat well-hidden behind a large black door. Only a small label on the mailbox and a bright orange pinup sign indicate what lies beyond the venue’s exterior. Upstairs, however, the Wiggle Room makes up for its subtle first impression—flaunting red velvet curtains, a classykitsch décor, and an impressively stocked cocktail bar. Every week, several burlesque shows with novel themes, ranging from Batman to Stephen King to Gwen Stefani, are performed on the Wiggle’s stage in front of boisterous crowds.

“When I was a kid, all I ever wanted to do was open The Muppet theatre,” Hechtman explained. “Which is essentially burlesque and vaudeville and stuff like that. And that’s what I did—we’re a grownup Muppet theatre.’

Along with his partner in crime, manager and performer Frenchy Jones*, Hechtman set out to fill the burlesque club niche that was lacking in Montreal. Before the Wiggle Room opened, some venues like the Mainline and Café Cléopatre hosted burlesque shows.

“But there was no specific home of burlesque,” Hechtman added.

“And now there are a number of places. Our vision was entirely unique!”

Originally working in theatre, Hechtman got his start in the performing arts by directing, writing, and acting in plays at Dawson College and McGill University. After running the Mainline and the Fringe Festival for a number of years, Hechtman turned to burlesque in search of an alternate creative path. The switch wasn’t unprecedented, however, as Hechtman was interested in the art form long before opening the Wiggle Room.

“I wrote a play about burlesque in Montreal,” Hechtman said.

“That was the first show we did at the Mainline. It was called Johnny Canuk & the Last Burlesque.”

Hechtman’s right-hand lady, Frenchy Jones, stumbled into her burlesque career by chance.

“I never thought I would be onstage until I started doing improv by [a] fluke,” Jones said. “I went to Théatre St-Catherine and a friend of mine was like, ‘If you come to a class you can see the show for free.’ I was fucking broke, so I attended the class—and I had that a-ha moment where you’re like, ‘Oh I should really be onstage. This is really fun.’”

“So I did 10 years of improv and I kind of wanted a change,” Jones elaborated. “In my previous life, I was a makeup artist and a stylist and so I decided I was going to help out burlesque girls with their costumes [.…] After a year, I just started my first number, but I didn’t want to take my top off.”

“Now we have a hard time getting her to keep her top on,” Hechtman chimed in.

The duo riffed off one another with ease during the interview. A stranger listening to them would undoubtedly notice a certain familial rapport that seemed deliberately, albeit naturally, played up for laughs. Turns out, hamming it up and playing a role is a quintessential part of the experience at the Wiggle Room.

“We all have our characters. The staff, we all have our scripts that we follow,” Hechtman explained. “Frenchy talks to every single client that comes in, goes up to their table. If I’m working the bar, there’s always a back-and-forth between the host and us, it’s very immersive—right from the minute you walk up the stairs and you buy your ticket from the little ticket booth window. My role is to be the surly boss. ” “And I’m the mama,” Jones added.

This sense of intimacy and community is an important aspect of Montreal’s burlesque scene, which has been gaining a lot of traction in Montreal in recent years. Although larger cities like Toronto and New York have burlesque venues of their own, Montreal’s community is especially vibrant.

“I think that the girls here are often challenged to stay current and come up with new acts, so [the burlesque scene] stays fresh,” Hechtman said. “We do classes here, we’re constantly coaching new talent, helping them build acts in order to keep the scene healthy and vibrant […] and it’s great. Our burlesque community has more of a sense of community than elsewhere. We all know each other for the most part.”

Additionally, Montreal’s scene benefits from a unique brand of weirdness. Lulu les Belles Mirettes* , burlesque performer and producer of Burlesgeek, a geek-themed burlesque troupe, illustrated how Montreal’s attitude diverges from what are seen as norms in the international scene.

For instance, the annual Montreal Burlesque Festival, features the glitter and glamour associated with classic burlesque; however, the city’s scene is more defined by the creativity of its performers and their willingness to explore more comedic forms of burlesque.

“We have a burlesque festival here, but we didn’t really feel it was representative of the scene in Montreal,” Mirettes said, referring to herself and her business partner Baron Von Styk. “The festival is really beautiful, a very good Las Vegas quality show. But a lot of [burlesque performers] in Montreal don’t do beautiful shows—a lot of people do a lot of weird, comedy things.”

In response to this discrepancy, Mirettes debuted her own annual neo-burlesque festival, the Bagel Burlesque Expo, in April 2016. The lineup often includes numbers that reference geek culture and incorporate ‘gorelesque’ acts—bloody routines that aim to scare audiences.

“It’s a neo-burlesque festival, so it’s geek-themed, really theatrical, [including] gorelesque or other really weird stuff,” Mirettes said. “It’s not classical in the sense of the boa and feathers [....] If you have a boa and feathers, the person is going to do something weird with it. It’s more contemporary, more funny, and weird.”

Embracing oddity is essential for entertaining burlesque. Some performers, like Frenchy Jones, are interested in pushing the limits of burlesque as far as possible. A couple of her numbers include fake blood and costumes inspired by classic horror films, such as Saw and The Ring.

“I do gore, too. I have two numbers that are more gore—I have a Jigsaw number and a Ring. number,” Jones said. “I love it because I [used to work at] haunted houses [.…] I had to stay in character for like ten hours, so I created these weird characters that I never thought I would use again. I happened to be asked to do a horror show and I used one of my characters and people loved it. I end my number by ripping my dress. So every time I do this number, I have to go buy a dress.”

Burlesque is a unique form of self-expression—one where anything goes. Each routine can be as unique and personal as the artist. While some performers, like Jones and Mirettes, enjoy testing the boundaries of the genre, others mobilize burlesque as a form of protest against current issues. Concordia student and performer, Sugar Vixen*, sees her art as a powerful means of making an impactful statement.

“I mean, I’m angry! I’m a women’s studies student and I’m really upset about society!” Vixen said. “My idea of feminism parallels my idea of burlesque. It’s very much rooted in creative self-expression, freedom in choice, sexual freedom and liberation, and sort of taking the patriarchy and being like, ‘Fuck you! This is my body and I’m doing what I want.”

In addition, burlesque is Vixen’s preferred art form because it lends performers absolute freedom in creating personalized routines.

“You can do anything onstage that you want, you can tell a story,” Vixen explained. “A lot of people incorporate satire or do a parody of a typical gender trope or norm. I once did an act where I was a 50’s pinup housewife serving dinner. And when I served dinner, it was a [man’s] severed head on a platter. So, it’s like, you can really portray any story you want and do whatever you want because it’s fundamentally you.”

Vixen hopes to see more outspoken feminism within Montreal’s burlesque scene.

She also has dreams of a more inclusive future for the burlesque community in the city.

“Not everybody in Montreal identifies as a feminist [just because] they’re a burlesque performer,” Vixen explains. “But when I spent time in Seattle, for example, they’re advocating for feminism and are super inclusive [towards the] LGBT community. Even disabled persons are more welcome, I find. Here [in Montreal], we don’t have any visibly disabled performers, there’s low representation of women of colour and people of colour and obviously that’s something I’d like to see change if we’re advocating for inclusivity and feminism [in the industry].”

Delivering a strong feminist message is one of the most important aspects of burlesque for Sugar Vixen. Thus far, positive reactions from audiences have been extremely encouraging for the young performer. “[My favourite part about my burlesque experience] is being able to connect with people and then subsequently [growing] as a person,” Vixen emphasized. “I do burlesque because I want to change the world! You know? Why would I be doing it otherwise?”

In burlesque, audience engagement is almost equally as important as the performances themselves. Before every show at the Wiggle Room, burlesque “virgins” must stand and take a pledge, promising to “hoot and holler” and be generally boisterous throughout the evening. Lulu les Belles Mirettes emphasized that screaming and cajoling are an essential part of watching a burlesque show. Vixen sees audience engagement as part of the deal—it encourages her to give her best effort.

“One thing that I’m super trying hard to work on nowadays is being really present,” Vixen said. “You don’t want to be onstage and accentuating a movement and think like, ‘Oh fuck, did I turn over my laundry?’You can’t do that because then you get disconnected and it breaks the moment.

What I’m trying to do is create an experience with my audience and connect with them […] It’s a giveand-take relationship. If they’re not reciprocating and they’re not holding up their end of this equation, that’s kind of a turnoff. Presence is so important.”

“People are very loud and cheerful. People like Frenchy—she’s such a screamer,” Mirettes said with a laugh. “It’s an exchange, so when you perform, the audience needs to scream and shout at you.”

Attending burlesque shows may seem like a niche interest for the uninitiated—yet they are very easy to find when one knows where to look. The Wiggle Room hosts four to five shows a week, all listed on the events section of their website. If one is looking to try their own hand at performing, Mirettes’ Bagel Burlesque Expo offers workshops, and Arabesque Burlesque Montreal offers showgirl training in various skillsets necessary for burlesque .

“It depends how ballsy you are. You can also go to Voix de Ville, [the Wiggle Room’s Wednesday show],” Mirettes added. “They’re always looking for new talents. You prepare your act at home and you go and you can perform.”

Another way to get involved is by doing backstage and production work. Performers like Sugar Vixen and Frenchy Jones got their start working backstage at burlesque shows, doing hair, makeup, and technical work. Regardless of how one looks to get involved, it is essential that aspiring performers are not afraid of looking silly.

“Most people have a view of burlesquers [where] they think of beautiful costumes and big shiny things,” Jones said. “Yes, that’s true, that’s one part of it, but there’s another part of it that’s the silliness behind it. I have a number where I jump onstage and I’m a huge ridiculous penguin.”

Whether they are performing or attending a show, newcomers need not be intimidated by the burlesque crowd. Despite having little experience in the scene, burlesque virgins are always welcomed and encouraged to take part. This openness is what makes Montreal’s burlesque scene so accessible. Letting one’s guard down in a room full of equally unfiltered strangers is an unparalleled experience. The freedom burlesque provides to audiences and performers alike has an alluring quality to it—it is a compelling magic that keeps people coming back.

All performers are referred to by their stage names both within the burlesque scene and in this piece.

10

STUDENT LIVING

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

dreary warehouses that surround it. Upon entering the bus, one is greeted by thumping dance music and groups of happy people hanging out with friends and strangers alike by either the fireplace outside or inside the bus itself. This bizarre idea of turning a bus into a café-bar came from the minds of a local non-profit organization called La Pepinerie, whose mission is to convert unused urban spaces into creative hubs for the community.

“It was a nice way for us to put winter in a [...] place which is warm [and] can have a café. A place we can chill and hang out,” Elisa Schneuwly, one of the designers of La Petite Floride, said.

The connection between the elements of the café-bar—campfires, skating rinks, and school buses—and Florida, a state that is home to La Petite Floride brings the warmth of the Florida sun to chilly Montreal winters. (Alexandra Gardiner / The McGill Tribune) alligators, palm trees, and Disney World, seems tenuous. However, to Schneuwly, the Floridaesque elements of the café-bar serve as a respite from the winter. “[The name] is kind of a joke,” Schneuwly said. “It was because a lot of people from Quebec and Canada go to Florida for the winter and we were like, ‘Why don’t we think of a place where you can [...] have fun and hang out? It’s an escape [from] winter for people who have to stay in Montreal.” and, sitting outside the bus, is what seems to be Miguel Principe La Petite Floride is not a café-bar in its a bar more fitting for tropical Hawaii than wintry Contributor Montreal. The café-bar’s name is written in bold most literal definition, but rather a public space Hidden away deep in the Mile End, at the black letters along the side of the bus: La Petite made for and by the community in the Mile End and Rosemont. Its creation was the result of a corner of Rue Bernard and Avenue de Gaspé, Floride.

This place is a bright spot compared to the collaborative project between Schneuwly’s team sits a quaint school bus, a glowing skating rink,

The magic school bus in the Mile-End

La Petite Floride gives the community a break from the Montreal winter

and La Pepinerie, along with the neighbourhood of Plateau Mont-Royal and Les Amis du Champs des Possibles, to develop an unused piece of land called Agora des Possibles.

“It’s a meeting place, a cheap place for people to meet from Mile End and Rosemont [....],” Schneuwly said. “We’re doing this project for people in the neighbourhood mostly. But also, people everywhere from Montreal [....] This is a design for the community.”

La Petite Floride was open in December 2016 and will be open until the end of March, a season in which most Montrealers would rather stay home than face brutal -30 degree celsius weather.

“There is a lack of animation and of things happening in the winter. Except huge projects like Igloofest [and] things at Quartier-des-Spectacles,” Schneuwly said. “At Mile End and Rosemont, there’s nothing really going on. So, we wanted to do something here in the winter, cause we see [other neighbourhoods] in Montreal do something there in the winter.”

The bus at La Petite Floride is a tight space, and this limits the size of their menu. Even so, they excel within their limited means. They have made this unconventional and narrow space very hospitable—every customer is greeted by friendly staff and the owners’ dog, Duda. Their small menu, including gooey grilled cheese and craft beer, is a great complement to a weekend get-together with friends and is definitely worth the short bus ride on the 55.

Environment and society unite to address sustainability at studentrun panel

Students are inspired to “dream a different world” at interdisciplinary panel Emma Gillies Contributor On Jan. 17, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) McGill and the Arts Undergraduate Society Environmental Council (AUSEC) hosted a panel discussion titled Society & The Environment: A Multidisciplinary Perspective.

Leacock 26 was packed as students gathered to see experts discuss the current ecological crisis—but as the name of the event suggested, the emphasis was more on the socio-economic implications of climate change. Over the course of the evening, speakers discussed the way that economy, politics, and indigenous cultures relate to climate change. The major focus of the night was on inspiring social change, as it is not just scientists, but members of society, that will decide the fate of the planet.

The panelists included Madhav Badami, a professor in the McGill School of Urban Planning and the School of Environment; Jennifer Gobby, a PhD student in Renewable Resources at McGill; Jad Robitaille, board member of Maisons Passive Quebec, which is a non-profit organization that publicizes energy efficiency standards and certifications in buildings in many European cities; Holly Dressel, a journalist, author, and documentary writer; and Nicolas Kosoy, associate professor in the McGill Natural Resource Sciences Department.

For Celeste Welch, U3 Science student and president of WWF McGill, it is important for students to recognize that sustainability is

multidisciplinary. Welch hoped that the event would showcase a specific type of environmentalism that examines the interactions between the environment and society.

“Via this [multidisciplinary] perspective, students are able to see that society itself is largely reliant on the environment, and [that] social values often dictate decisions in environmental policy,” Welch said.

The first speaker of the evening was Professor Badami, who discussed population control. He reminded attendees that one of the greatest challenges facing humanity is providing for a population that is likely to hit 11 billion people by the end of this century, which demands more food and energy production.

Badami also spoke about renewable energy. One massive obstacle in switching to renewable sources of power, such as solar or wind, is the transportation industry. He also referenced coal-mining towns in the Appalachian mountains in the United States as a challenge to environmental sustainability. As society moves toward cleaner alternatives of power, the future of these communities, which are economically reliant upon the coal industry, is a political unknown.

“In the recently concluded U.S. elections, what’s happening to coal country in Appalachia became a political hot potato,” said Badami. “You want to transition from coal to cleaner energy sources, but on the other hand, what happens to this industry [...] and entire communities that are dependent on coal?”

Politically, the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy is a lengthy process, but nonetheless a viable solution. Badami explained that pricing is another climate change mitigation strategy; fossil fuels must be taxed, and their extraction shouldn’t be subsidized.

While Badami focused largely on population and environmental policy, Robitaille took on energy conservation from an urban planning approach. According to Robitaille, buildings produce about one third of the greenhouse gas emissions in Canada, and as houses grow in size, so does the total area that must be heated and cooled. In addition, the rating systems of building sustainability are voluntary, and are often used by companies purely as a marketing ploy to advertise their spaces as “green.”

Robitaille explained the two schools of thought when it comes to living more sustainably. The first is called “techno-fix,” which places the onus on urban planners and building companies to design buildings in ways that decrease the amount of energy consumed. The second is “behavioural change,” which places responsibility on individuals to revert to a natural way of living.

During his talk, Robitaille asked students to raise their hands in favour of one school of thought. Nearly the entire room approved of behavioural change. However, when asked, “How many of you actually do this?” only a portion of the crowd raised their hands. For many university students, the thought of changing the way they live while balancing their packed

Panel speakers discussed interdisciplinary approaches to climate change at WWF McGill and AUSEC event. (Photo courtesy of WWF McGill) social and academic lives may seem overwhelming.

“There are some lifestyle changes that I’ve made while I’ve been at McGill, like recycling more, not using a car, eating less meat, and learning how to ride a bike,” Deanna Schrock, U0 Environment student and event attendee, said. “But the behavioral changes that were talked about in the presentation were on a much larger scale and are harder to achieve. Institutional change like techno-fix, in addition to manageable behavioral changes, is where we’ll find success in the long run.”

There are a variety of perspectives that must be considered when tackling environmental degradation. Though the science is clear, finding locally organized solutions and an understanding of other cultures is not always so.

Kosoy explained the need for interdisciplinary approaches to climate change as a matter of consulting local

communities affected in any decisions made about addressing it.

“We can only embrace interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary, [...] we can only embrace participatory methods [if] communities have a say and they are the ones that can teach us way more than any books,” Kosoy said.

“Understanding that that is the premise of any research in environment, any research in socio-ecosystems, brings our whole discussion together. It is inevitable for all of us in this room to be multidisciplinary.”

As part of respecting the needs of local communities—in particular, indigenous communities—affected by climate change, Kosoy placed emphasis upon taking ideas for solutions from cultures other than our own.

“It’s the ‘otherness’ that we have to embrace, respect, and understand,” Kosoy said. “Therefore, we don’t have any other option but to dream a different world.”

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 11

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

TNC’s Be Tween presents pubescent nostalgia Avleen Mokha Contributor Tuesday Night Cafe (TNC) Theatre’s latest production, Be Tween, depicts the ephemeral and profound experience of undergoing puberty with charming honesty.

Written and directed by Concordia student Phoebe Fregoli, the play begins with middleschooler Gemma (Michaela Snoyer) waiting at a bus stop for her best friend Julie (Claire Morse). Here, she becomes acquaintances with Harriet (Hannah Silver), a grubby girl who is not afraid to talk about penises. What follows is a romantic, exhilarating unfolding of a day that transforms the lives of the principal characters.

Be Tween began as a part of TNC’s 24hour playwriting competition in which Fregoli composed a 10-minute play. The current production is an expansion of this original work, yet the single act retains the focus of its source material. The narrative is tonally focused and well-paced, with the success of the production resting on a small but strong cast of six characters. As the play follows the ensemble of middle-schoolers through a single day in their lives, its timeline is inevitably compressed. Fregoli’s masterful writing shines; she strikes the balance between expedited pace and nuanced character development.

Fregoli’s use of space on the stage to mirror the dynamics of relationships between characters is also noteworthy. When Gemma and Harriet wait at the bus stop in the opening scene, the characters stand far apart, at the extreme ends of the stage. As their conversation blossoms, the characters gravitate towards each other. Fregoli uses distance to physically represent the initial wariness of the characters.

This meticulous blocking is also noticeable when a character, jealous of the closeness between two other characters, steps between them, literally forcing the pair to separate.

Other aspects of the production, most notably its set and sound design, complement the direction in making the characters come to life.

The set, designed by Holly Hilts and Yasmine Dabbous, is unembellished yet artistic. The look of each scene is highly immersive: Two lockers flank the stage, decorated with cut-out photographs of actors from Harry Potter and Lizzie McGuire; multicoloured pennant flags hanging in the background subtly reminding the audience of the narrative’s middle school setting.

The score, curated by Lo Kecaj, is ambient, featuring iconic pop music from the late 1990s and early 2000s—including The Pussycat Dolls’ “Buttons” in a choreographed number, and Lil Mama’s “Lipgloss” in

Be Tween charmingly depicts the tween years. (Photo courtesy of Rana Liu and Eleni Diacoumacos) the school dance scene. Catchy and easily recognizable, the tunes lend the production a dimension of nostalgia, since the target audience was all but raised on these songs. In a similar vein, sounds that trigger transitions between scenes are archetypal of ‘90s visual media, but the success of their integration in the production is debatable; at times, the sound effects are forced and jarring, undercutting moments that otherwise had comedic potential.

In general, however, the sound design is highly appropriate to the setting of the narrative and assists in making the production deeply engaging.

Be Tween provides a rich commentary on adolescent lives by scrutinizing the mind of the tween, executed through creative

demonstrations of the fantasies of its principal characters. Lighting, designed and operated

by Margot Drukker, is critical in quickly transforming the mood onstage. The brilliant use of dimmed red lighting as a character hurriedly constructs a fake account of their first kiss is one notable example of effective set design.

Be Tween is a heartfelt and relatable story: To a tween, middle school feels endless; who partners with whom at the school dance seems capable of changing the course of one’s life. The production’s realistic portrayal of adolescent ignorance is complemented by its sympathetic treatment of the characters, allowing the audience to find meaning in humour, and sincerity in hyperbole.

ALBUM REVIEW

The xx fail to deliver on their new album I See You. (factmag.com)

I see you the xx Eric Noble-Marks Staff Writer

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The xx’s 2009 self-titled debut was a watershed album for indie rock, one that effortlessly fused after-midnight R&B with pop sensibilities. Eight years later, much has changed. Worldshifting indie rock records like The xx’s debut now seem few and far between. The band itself has splintered off in different directions; Jamie xx’s emergence as a top-tier solo producer last year has raised the stakes for I See You even more. However, the band largely retreats into familiar territory with this new album. The xx seem too comfortable for their own good here, content to play to their individual strengths as musicians and songwriters.

I See You started off promising.

Album opener “Dangerous” begins with a boisterous blare of horns before settling into a menacing groove. It’s the most danceable song they’ve ever written by a mile—a bold new direction for the band. Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim’s central refrain of “you sound dangerous but I don’t care,” rings as true as anything they’ve written before.

On previous albums, The xx were buoyed by the delicateness of their arrangements and the emotional power of their songs. “Dangerous” shows glimpses of a band that has sacrificed the former for a new kinetic energy, a shift that makes for thrilling listening.

Their winning streak continues on the next track, “Say Something Loving,” which demonstrates the band’s ability to communicate complex emotions simply and directly, something that has always been their strength. It’s a sparkling, effusive ballad, boasting a quiet confidence that shows that the band has had time to hone their talents.

Two songs in, I See You felt like the record listeners wanted from The xx—one that dares to push the envelope without sacrificing the qualities that made the band great in the first place.

If the album’s first act was bold, new, and full of energy, its second feels weighed down, derivative, and at its worst, drab.

At times it sounds like The xx by numbers, with the token reverbsoaked guitar on “Performance” and ham-fisted dual vocals on “On Hold” sounding like tossedoff retreads of the band’s previous work. There’s a safety that pervades the back half of this record, a feeling of a creative risk that was contemplated, but not taken.

On Jamie xx’s standout track “Loud Places,” guest singer Croft described going to “loud places to search for someone to be quiet with.” On I See You, The xx are faced with the opposite predicament—trying, for the most part in vain, to express intense emotions in spaces that are altogether too subdued.

12 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

The selfless selfie: Hypotheses conference on narcissism, post-internet art Albert Park Features Editor Since the boom of social media, selfies have gained widespread popularity. It is an art form that is rarely given credibility, often being touted as evidence of the milennial’s supposed narcissism.

Last week, Hypotheses, an arts symposium, hosted a conferenced called “Posting The Self(i.e.): Performing Bodies and Post-Internet Art” at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. At the event, Marina Merlo, PhD Candidate in Film Studies at Université de Montréal, and Estelle Wathieu, M.A. Candidate in Art History at Concordia University, presented their papers, opening up a discussion about performative aspects in photographic selfies and postInternet art.

In her paper, titled “Performance and Gesture in Selfies: Excellences and Perfections,” Merlo discusses Amalia Ulman’s 2014 work called Excellences and Perfections. In Ulman’s work, which was referred to by The Telegraph as being the “first Instagram masterpiece,” the artist performed and photographed a changing persona, and documented it through photos uploaded on an Instagram account. First, she

presented a character of an aspiring artist, then a sugarbaby undergoing various issues, such as drug abuse and self-harm, and then showcased a phase of rehabilitation to become a character who enjoys fitness and travelling.

Merlo points out that Ulman’s project is a niche case study regarding concepts related to selfies, such female body image, celebrity culture, and authenticity. However, through her paper and her presentation at the conference, Merlo postured that that Ulman’s “selfie” photos, which are mainly taken in front of mirrors, were not traditional selfies.

“To readily identify a basic or traditional selfie, I argue that two things are important,” said Merlo.

“Firstly, the photographer looks knowingly into the camera lens, and secondly, the photographic gesture must be very obvious. It must be clear that the photograph was purposely taken by the person in the picture [….] Considering these criteria, ‘Excellences and Perfections’ does not feature any traditional selfies.

[For example] a self-portrait taken in the mirror makes the photographic gesture much less obvious, and the bodily interaction with the camera is drastically modified.”

In dissecting these differences, Merlo argues that a selfie is a

voluntary and deliberate action.

Through exploring the performative nature of selfies, she proposes that the common conception of the narcissistic nature of selfies is complicated.

Merlo noted the difference between the selfie phenomenon and the myth of Narcissus, in which the Greek hunter falls in love with the image of himself in a reflecting pool.

Although Narcissus is seeing his own image, at first he doesn’t recognize himself.

“Narcissus is, therefore, othered as an image to a point that he believes it is someone else he is seeing [....]”

Merlo said. “This form of mythical narcissism does not properly describe what is happening in a selfie, the selfie is always a voluntary action, just like for a performative utterance [....] [A selfie] can’t be an accidental photograph. This is very unlike what Narcissus is doing.”

Wathieu also brought up the topic of selfies in her paper entitled, “Intersectionality and Post-Internet Art: Petra Collins and Lula Hyers.”

She postured that the photography of Petra Collins and Lula Hyers portrays the experiences of racialized women through the lens of white women, thereby reducing the political potential of intersectionality in their project.

In analyzing their work and the

political activism behind selfies, Wathieu brought up the topic of selfie feminism.

She discussed the 2016 essay Closing the Loop by Aria Dean, where the writer claims that the selfie’s political impact as an act of feminism is limited as the “compounded male, white, and colonialist gazes blur Black women and femmes into oblivion.” Wathieu believes that the act of female self-imaging on the internet is not a cohesive movement that can be analyzed.

Posting the Self(ie) presented the selfie as a socially and politically “While I complex form of art. (Elli Slavitch / The McGill Tribune) agree on [Dean’s] arguments [....] I believe that [her] network more than as a fixed canon.”

Wathieu and Merlo presented vision was biased, as soon as she named her object of study, selfie different ideas about what a selfie is, feminism, reducing it to politics of and the role it plays in representation representation,” she said. “What I and feminine identity. It is clear would like to propose today is to that selfies are much more than a reposit this discourse [...] and to syndrome of millenial narcissism, and propose a vision of this body of work a practice that is difficult to define in as an ever-evolving and complex current social and political contexts.

AUTS’ Heathers: The Musical brings teen angst, ballads, and murder to Moyse Hall Ariella Garmaise Staff Writer Since its release in 1988, Heathers has become a cult classic. Taking a jarringly dark approach to teenage angst, the original film follows Veronica (Winona Ryder) and her homicidal boyfriend J.D. (Christian Slater) as they seek unorthodox revenge on their classmates. A black comedy, Heathers finds hilarity in everything from social anxiety to murder. Heathers: The Musical, a 2010 stage adaptation written by Lawrence O’Keefe and Kevin Murphy, pushes this juxtaposition a step further; characters joyfully belt out tunes like “Dead Girl Walking,” “I Am Damaged,” and “My Dead Gay Son.” Arts Undergraduate Theater Society (AUTS) takes another look at the beloved classic, in its rendition of Heathers: The Musical, running in Moyse Hall Theatre from Jan. 26-28.

University is an interesting time to explore Heathers’ high school themes, particularly because the cast and crew are at a perfect age to reflect on their recent high school experience.

AUTS successfully created a production that satirizes high school without being too distant—Heathers: The Musical is a hyperbolic representation of adolescence, yet its core themes are still powerful.

“Heathers really hits home for me on the topics of mental health and bullying,” wrote director Kenzia Dalie in her director’s note.

Heathers: The Musical is a somewhat sinister play—it would be easy to take issue with

its myriad aggressive, bullying, and murderous characters. Despite the challenge, Dalie built an immensely likeable cast. Darragh McArdle and Colin McCrossan are brilliantly funny as bully jocks Kurt and Ram: Their duet “Blue”

performances. Much like the original Heathers cast, the actors understood that their characters could be funny, cruel, and depressed—often all at once.

Caroline Portante was especially astounding,

Heathers: The Musical is an excellent version of the cult classic film. (Lauren Benson-Armer / The McGill Tribune) revealed a special knack for physical comedy.

From her bold portrayal of bleeding-heart teacher Ms. Flemming, it is hard to imagine that actress Esmée Cook is only twenty. Olivia Woodhouse brought both hilarity and sympathy to school loser Martha Dunnstock. Each of these characters represents high school archetypes, yet the actors were never swallowed by stereotypes, instead delivering dynamic and interesting

stealing the show as the lead, Heather Chandler.

This is only Portante’s second show with AUTS—she had an ensemble role in last year’s RENT—but Portante consumed the stage. A spectacular dancer, Portante was mesmerizing not only in choreographed routines, but also in delivering dialogue. Through haughty saunters, hair flips, and hip swivels, Portante embodied Heather in every movement. Portante had

perhaps the most difficult challenge in making the cruel Queen Bee likeable, yet she delivered even Heather’s harshest catchphrases— including the famous “What’s your damage?”— with an irresistible charisma. Much like her peers, Portante understood that Heathers is about revealing the depth behind stock characters.

However well-acted, the show was not without technical flaws. Background music often drowned out the voices of the actors. In one number, McCrossan’s microphone stopped working altogether. While the lead actors shined, some of the chorus members seemed unclear of their roles, mumbling lyrics, and missing the occasional dance move. This uncertainty extended to costume. While the titular Heathers captured the outfits of the original film perfectly, the chorus costumes were cartoonishly 80s. Extra corsets and gaudy leather jackets undermined the play’s underlying goal of authenticity. Ironically, and most likely unintentionally, this hierarchy most succinctly captures the high school totem pole.

Still, Heathers: The Musical is an impressive feat. The original film straddled the delicate line between satire and realism, between the vulgar and the intimate, between cruelty and comedy. The AUTS team is up for the challenge, and expertly navigates these dichotomies, creating a show that is both heart breaking and laugh-out-loud funny.

Heathers: The Musical is playing Jan. 2628 at Moyse Hall. Tickets are $20 for general admission and $15 for students.

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

science & technology 13

How to ace sleeping

Sleep tips and the science behind them Albert Park Features Editor Ever wake up feeling tired after getting over eight hours of sleep? You’re not alone. For an activity that we have been doing since we were born, sleeping—at least, sleeping effectively—is not always easy. There are a variety of factors and processes that can make it difficult for students to get a good night’s rest. Fortunately, there are numerous steps individuals can take and changes they can make to ensure that they will be more successful falling asleep, staying asleep, and waking up feeling well-rested.

Avoid laptops and smartphones before bedtime Your penchant for watching lecture recordings and looking at memes on Instagram before bedtime is most definitely impeding your ability to get a good night’s sleep. According to findings by the Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the blue and white light emitted by digital screens can disrupt the body’s release of melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone that helps people sleep by maintaining their circadian rhythm—which is essentially a 24-hour biological clock programmed in the human body that dictates when one feels tired or awake.

Within an hour or so before bedtime, try doing something that doesn’t involve technology, such as studying with your textbook, flipping through a magazine, or reading the school newspaper.

Limit exposure to sound Residents of crowded cities like Montreal are constantly exposed to a barrage of sounds and noises. While the screeching of cars and the

enthusiastic shouting of bar-goers on St-Laurent might seem like minor annoyances initially, they could be seriously affecting students’ ability to sleep properly at night. Noise does not need to

listening to white noise—steady, unvarying, unobtrusive sound—during sleep might be helpful. A study published in Sleep Medicine revealed that white noise increased sound arousal

Many students struggle to go to sleep, stay asleep, and wake up. (Cordelia Cho / The McGill Tribune) fully awaken a person in order to disturb their sleep cycle. According to the World Health Organization’s Night Noise Guidelines, even a sound as low as 30 to 40 decibels—such as quiet whispering—has the potential to cause sleep disturbance.

Make sure that all of your windows and doors are closed to limit the amount of external noises that can seep into your bedroom. For people living in particularly loud neighbourhoods,

thresholds in sleeping individuals exposed to recorded sounds. In other words, white noise helps mask the effect of other, more disruptive noises. Check out Spotify’s white noise playlist or one of the many free apps available online.

Hands off the snooze button Although it is a pleasurably cathartic experience to hit the snooze button repeatedly in the morning, (especially while dreading the walk

to class through a labyrinth of construction), this is a practice that prevents people from feeling fully awake in the morning. By pressing the snooze button and drifting off into mini-sleep, the brain’s sleep cycle starts all over again.

A typical sleep cycle lasts between 90 to 120 minutes, making it impossible for anyone to complete a cycle in a standard snooze period. Therefore, the body is unable to reach a meaningfully relaxing stage of sleep. Even worse, the circadian rhythm ends up being confused in the process. The result is that after the snooze, people typically wake up feeling even groggier.

Instead, try using a smart alarm clock. There are various smartphone apps in this category, like Azumio’s Sleep Time, that generally work by tracking the user’s sleep cycle with the phone’s accelerometer. The alarm goes off within a period of a few minutes before the set time, specifically when the user is not in a phase of deep sleep, essentially waking the person up when their body is naturally ready.

Beds are for sleeping The bed is a very comfortable piece of furniture—it is tempting to plop into it to enjoy a plethora of non-sleeping activities, such as watching Netflix, reading, or texting. Simple Pavlovian conditioning explains why this habit is not conducive to falling asleep at night. In order to fall asleep faster after getting into bed, people need to associate their bed, a neutral stimulus, with sleep, a biological stimulus. Reinforcing this connection elicits a response of sleepiness when somebody climbs into bed. By mentally linking the bed with another activity, such as watching shows or texting, the person weakens this conditioning.

The simple tip to overcome this: Don’t watch Netflix in bed.

McGill-led company designs carbon-neutral concrete Carbicrete advances to the semi-finals of prestigious Carbon XPRIZE competition Julia Briand Contributor Continued from page 1.

“We were inspired by the fact that cement production is energy intensive and accelerates global warming,” Mahoutian said.

“Our effort was to eliminate this dirty material as one of the raw materials of concrete and at the same time, utilize the waste materials of steel-making factories that mostly end up in landfills, resulting in [further] environmental issues.”

The team formulated a method to produce more durable, sustainable, and costeffective concrete. While traditional concrete uses portland cement as the primary binding agent, Carbicrete uses steel slag. Using steel slag is already a significant step towards sustainability, as it reuses a by-product of steel production that would have otherwise been labelled as waste. Additionally, steel slag is beneficial because the team is able to utilize a process called ‘carbonation activation,’ which allows for carbon sequestration. This process occurs after the concrete is extracted from its mold. Carbon dioxide is then injected into the concrete while it is still fresh and malleable.

The fresh concrete is first placed inside

a pressurized chamber, into which carbon dioxide is injected. Over a few hours, a reaction takes place between the slag and the carbon dioxide that develops the strength of the concrete, making it more durable than conventional concrete. The permanent sequestration of carbon dioxide within the material results in carbon-negative concrete.

“Compared to the conventional [concrete] block, Carbicrete is more resistant when subject to freeze and thaw cycles,” Mahoutian explained. “These durability properties may be beneficial for outdoor application, especially in Canada.”

The Carbicrete team has advanced to the semi-finals in the NRG COSIA Carbon XPRIZE competition, thanks to their unique design. Teams from six different countries have developed innovative technologies that aim to convert carbon dioxide into valuable products. For example, another semi-finalist has found a method to form toothpaste from carbon dioxide. The competition began in 2015 and will last four-and-a-half years in total. Semi-finalists will demonstrate their products in a location of their choosing and will be evaluated based on levels of carbon conversion and the net value of their technologies. Teams advancing to the finals must demonstrate the application of their

Carbicrete co-founders Mehrdad Mahuoutian and Chris Stern have invented a novel sustainable construction material. (Lauren Benson-Armer / The McGill Tribune) carbon negative products in real coal or natural gas power plants. If Carbicrete wins, they hope to use the $20 million prize to grow the company.

Carbicrete’s current market is limited to Canada, but the company plans to expand to other countries, including the United States

and China. Mahoutian does not promise that the expansion will occur overnight, but Carbicrete has already gained traction with local partners and support from the McGill School of Architecture. Within a few years, Carbicrete may be used to pave roads and sidewalks near you.

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

14 science & technology

How McGill invented pain

The 1970s McGill Pain Questionnaire still used by doctors to measure pain levels Izze Siemann Staff Writer Has a doctor ever asked you to rate your pain on a scale from one to ten?

Over 40 years ago, McGill University’s Dr. Ronald Melzack and Dr. Warren Torgerson set out to create a quantitative measure for pain—that is, a numerical scale to analyze the condition of patients.

“The McGill Pain Questionnaire consists primarily of three major classes of word descriptors—sensory, affective, and evaluative—that are used by patients to specify subjective pain experience,” Dr. Melzack wrote in the 1975 issue of The Journal of Pain . “It also contains an intensity scale and other items to determine the properties of pain experience.”

In other words, doctor asks their patients to select which words best reflect their pain levels and to assign each a number of intensity. The words patients select each have an assigned quantitative value on the survey, allowing the health care professional to calculate a number for their level of pain.

With the McGill Pain Questionnaire, doctors guide patients through a series of questions, asking them first to select a single word from each group and then circle

a specific number of words in specific categories. ‘Pulsing’ and ‘quivering’— both sensory words—are in category one. ‘Agonizing’ and ‘torturing’—both emotional words—are in category 20.

‘Troublesome’—an evaluative term—is in group 16. A quantitative measurement for pain is derived from their selections, coupled with a numerical value given for the intensity of the pain experienced.

While the above adjectives seem to represent a variety of pain levels, other terms are more difficult to differentiate and quantify. For instance, how can ‘frightful’ and ‘horrible’ represent two different types of pain? What’s the difference between ‘nagging’ pain and ‘tiring’ pain? Although hospitals still use the McGill Pain Questionnaire today, many undeniable flaws have surfaced since its introduction in the 1970s.

Inherent shortcomings arise from translating subjective observations into quantitative measurements. A numerical scale, calculation, and ranking all vary based on the person’s past experiences.

A mother with two children may consider childbirth a ‘10’—the worst pain imaginable, whereas a young girl with an ear infection might not be able to imagine any pain worse than what she is experiencing.

Most scientists and doctors agree that a less subjective measurement would be beneficial. No such test or questionnaire has yet to be published, but steps have been taken to pursue a less numerical method of categorization.

“There are lots of problems that come with trying to measure pain,” Professor Stephen McMahon of the London Pain Consortium told The Independent on Jan. 10. “I think the obsession with numbers is an oversimplification. Pain is not unidimensional. It doesn’t just come with scale [...,] it comes with other baggage.

How threatening it is, how emotionally disturbing, how it affects your ability to concentrate.”

However, turning this baggage into scientific data fit for analysis also poses many challenges, making the escape from a numerical system seemingly impossible.

Dr. Adnan Al-Kaisy, head of the Pain Management and Neuromodulation Centre at Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Hospital in London, hopes that technology may uncover a way to measure varying types of pain. “[We’re] trying to develop a tool [...] which will give an accurate impression of how active or disabled they are, and tell us the cause of their pain from the way they sit or stand,” Al-Kaisy told The Independent .

McGill professors were among the first to try to quantify pain in the 1970s. (publicacionesmedicina.uc.cl) Whether or not such a measuring device will be developed in the near future is unknown. However, as pain research continues at McGill’s Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain, there’s no reason why what began here can’t continue here. Perhaps the next McGill Pain Questionnaire won’t be a questionnaire at all; maybe it will be the McGill Pain Machine.

McGill leads discovery of rare radio signals from distant dwarf galaxy Canadian universities team up to track down faint radio waves from space know what they are,” Kaspi said.

Only 18 different FRBs have ever been detected by astronomers, although Kaspi estimates that around 1,000 hit the Earth every day.

Earlier this month, astronomers identified, for the first time, the galaxy from which one of these FRBs originates, marking a breakthrough in the subject. The discovery was only possible due to previous work done in 2015 by Paul Scholz, a McGill PhD student.

Scholz found a recurring, albeit unpredictable, pattern of a particular FRB. Scholz’s A new radio telescope, the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Project , has been constructed to discovery allowed a team led by search for mysterious radio signals in space. (kiaa.pku.edu) Dr. Shriharsh Tendulkar, one of Kaspi’s postdoctorate students, direction.

Modern astronomers David Cohn to search for the FRB with a know the causes of most of these Contributor phenomena, but some remain higher-precision radio telescope.

The signal’s origin was identified Space. The first image that mysteries.

One of these unresolved to be a dwarf galaxy about three comes to mind is probably the night sky, a tranquil blanket of types of radiation are fast billion light years away from empty blackness dotted with radio bursts (FRBs), which are the Milky Way, providing key twinkling stars, but this image is extremely short but intense information for further discovery.

“If you see something deceiving. Not only are stars much pulses of radio waves. FRBs more sparse in the universe than are of great interest, according that seems bright, it could be the sky may lead one to believe, to Director of the McGill Space intrinsically faint but really close but the vast voids of space that lie Institute and professor of physics to us, but if it’s really far away, between them are neither empty Victoria Kaspi, because of their then it’s intrinsically incredibly nor quiet. Cosmic objects like unusual and still mysterious bright and some physical process has to be able to produce a stars, pulsars, and supernovae all characteristics.

“They appear to be huge amount of energy,” Kaspi emit electromagnetic radiation— ranging from gamma waves ubiquitous, […] but they haven’t explained. “We’ve suspected to radio waves—that travel been predicted and [they] weren’t for a long time that [FRBs are at the speed of light in every expected, and so we really don’t coming] from very, very large

distances, which would imply that they have very high energies [....] We were able to measure the distance to this galaxy [from which the FRB originated] and that was the proof that we were looking for.”

Not much else is known about this galaxy, although Kaspi expects to soon see images from the Hubble telescope that would offer more information.

The next step in the quest to understand FRBs will likely involve the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME), a new radio telescope being built in British Columbia as a collaboration between the University of British Columbia, McGill University, and the University of Toronto. Kaspi is a senior member of the team developing CHIME, which is expected to be complete by the end of 2017. CHIME will be Canada’s largest radio telescope, and its 1,024 antennae spread across four cylindrical reflectors will handle as much data every day as the global cellphone network does. CHIME will be capable of collecting data from a large section of the sky, which, according to Kaspi, may allow it to detect dozens of FRBs every day.

“I feel like Canada should know that we’re doing this,”

Kaspi said, as she showed pictures of the telescope. “It’s a really amazing thing. It’s unique in the world.”

If all goes well, CHIME will position Canadian researchers at the forefront of the study of FRBs over the coming years and provide astronomers with the information they need to fully understand the cause of these mysterious signals.

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SPORTS 15

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

NBA Midseason Review

Stephen Gill Contributor

Most Valuable Player The race for Most Valuable Player has developed into a two-player contest between the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook and Houston’s James Harden. Westbrook has seen his production escalate to triple-double averages with the absence of Durant, while Harden has posted slightly less flashy statistics, but with exceptional efficiency. Ultimately, Harden trumps Westbrook by virtue of leading a superior team that should be a major presence in the postseason.

(sanantonioexpressnews.com)

(newyorker.com)

(nbawiki.com)

Rookie of the Year

Eastern Conference

Western Conference

Led by LeBron James, the Cleveland Cavaliers stand tall atop the Eastern Conference.

Despite injuries sustained along the way, the defending champions have held the pace they set last season. They’ve made savvy deals and look ready for another deep playoff run.

The Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors are Cleveland’s biggest threats to another Finals appearance. After signing Al Horford in the offseason, the Celtics have shown signs of improvement and could finally become legitimate title contenders. Like last year, Toronto has been on fire offensively, but considering how easily the Cavaliers dispatched the Raptors last season, Canada’s team might be more bark than bite.

After the top, there is a clear drop-off in terms of quality. Mid-level teams like the Atlanta Hawks, the Chicago Bulls, and the Indiana Pacers have clear flaws that prevent them from making a serious playoff push.

In the competitive West, the perennial remain on top. With newly-signed superstar Kevin Durant, the Golden State Warriors appear to be the best team in basketball, posting the league’s top record and point differential.

Just behind the Warriors are the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets. Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich has once again proved his wizardry courtside, maintaining his team’s standard of excellence despite losing the legendary Tim Duncan. With a new coach and supporting cast, the Rockets’ rise is one of the league’s surprising stories, spurred by James Harden’s explosive offence and rotation to the point guard slot in the backcourt.

A step behind this top tier sit the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Clippers. Utah has burst onto the scene after an injury-plagued 2015-16 season, in which they missed the playoffs altogether. With a set of familiar faces, the Clippers should once again prove a tough out in the playoffs, though they must stay competitive without star point guard Chris Paul unil he recovers from surgery in March.

(si.com)

In a season filled with disappointing rookie campaigns, the Philadelphia 76er’s Joel Embiid is the clear favourite to win Rookie of the Year.

He’s scoring over 10 points more per game than the league’s next highest scoring rookie while providing stifling defence on the other end. Most importantly, his efforts seem to have helped his team turn the corner, as the 76ers have started to show flashes of competence this season for the first time in years.

(sportslogos.com)

Finals Prediction

Despite the presence of two pseudo-contenders in the East, the Cavaliers should sail relatively smoothly to the finals. In the West, the Warriors have a rockier path, but are still in a league of their own. James has shown that his teams are never to be counted out, but with Durant’s added star power Golden State will be tough to overcome. In a rematch of the last two seasons’ NBA finals, the Warriors should triumph.

NHL Midseason Review

André Morin Contributor

Hart Trophy (League MVP) The race at the halfway point is between McDavid and Crosby. While Crosby has more goals in fewer games, McDavid plays on a much worse team. The young superstar has carried Edmonton from the bottom of the standings last to a potential playoff spot in his first full NHL season. At the moment, McDavid deserves the Hart Trophy.

(thehockeywriters.com)

Calder Trophy (Rookie of the Year) (thestar.com)

As their first and second overall draft slots would suggest, Matthews and the Winnipeg Jets’ Patrick Laine are the top two candidates for the Calder Trophy.

Matthews recently caught up to Laine in point and goal totals. As the Finnish star is currently recovering from a concussion, Matthews will likely jump ahead soon. At this point, Matthews has shown that he deserves the Calder Trophy most.

(startribune.com)

Eastern Conference

Western Conference

Fresh off a nine-game winning streak, the Washington Capitals are the team to beat in the East. With balanced scoring and forward Alexander Ovechkin as dangerous as ever, the Capitals have been fiery on offence so far this season. In Columbus, the Blue Jackets are one of the league’s hottest teams. Netminder Sergei Bobrovsky is in Vezina Trophy form while forward Cam Atkinson and rookie defenceman Zach Werenski are having breakout seasons under Coach John Tortorella. Positional depth and continued success from superstars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin have the Pittsburgh Penguins in position to repeat as Stanley Cup Champions. The one surprise of the league this season comes from Toronto, where first overall pick Auston Matthews and a bevy of young stars are propelling the Leafs into playoff position.

Under new Head Coach Bruce Boudreau, the Minnesota Wild have surged to the top of the Western Conference. Goalie Devan Dubnyk leads the league in save percentage and the acquisition of veteran forward Eric Staal has paid dividends for the team. As always, the Chicago Blackhawks are one of the top teams in the West. The usual suspects, Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, and Duncan Keith, are still getting it done for Chicago.

With Vladimir Taransenko having another stellar season, the St. Louis Blues round out the top-three teams in the highly competitive Central Division. Iffy goaltending, however, threatens to cut the season short for the Blues.

The Edmonton Oilers, carried by their 20-year-old captain and league-leading scorer Connor McDavid, have jumped from the mediocrity of last season to become playoff contenders this year. While they lack defensive depth, their talent on offence could lead to some surprises come playoff time.

(jacketscannon.com)

Finals Prediction

(wikimedia.org)

Coming out of the East, the Penguins will once again use their star power and depth to make another run at the Stanley Cup. In the West, the Wild will show that their season is no fluke and Dubnyk will lead the franchise to its first finals appearance.

In a series of contrasting playing styles, Pittsburgh will win the Cup, the first repeat winners since the Detroit Red Wings in 1997-1998.

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

16 sports

Pink Ladies dig their way to victory Martlets Volleyball triumphant in fifth annual Dig for the Cure game aged an impressive 58 digs over the course of the night, raising an additional $116.

“I think we had one exchange that was probably […] 10 digs,” Robitaille said. “Dig after dig after dig. [It was] like a $20 exchange.”

The Martlets are just past the midpoint in their 20-game season.

After Friday’s win, they travelled to Ottawa, where they downed the Gee-Gees 3-1 on Jan. 21. As they look towards the remaining seven games of regular season play, the Martlets aren’t taking any opponents lightly.

“Our league is very tight,” Middle blocker Érika Cournoyer said. “We only have one or two games between each other.”

This weekend’s results moved the Martlets up one spot into fourth place, giv-

Selwynne Hawkins Contributor After splitting the first four sets, Martlet volleyball (6-7) rallied 18-16 in the final set to upset the visiting Laval Rouge et Or (7-6) in RSEQ play at the fifth annual Dig for the Cure game on Friday, Jan. 20.

Martlet third-years Myriam Robitaille, Thara Dawoodjee, and Emilie Matte de Grasse were critical in the victory. Robitaille and Matte de Grasse combined for 27 kills, while Dawoodjee put up a gameleading 45 assists. “[We had] really good offence,” Head Coach Rachele Beliveau said. “We still need to work on the defence, but the defence today was much better than all [of our] other games and that kept us in the game.”

Friday’s match marked the fifth edition of Martlet Volleyball’s annual Dig for the Cure game, with 50 per cent of ticket sales going to the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation. Additionally, throughout the week, Martlet sports raised money through bake sales. On game day, the team donned pink jerseys and donated $2 per dig to breast cancer research. The Martlets man-

Thara Dawoodjee had 45 assists in the victory over Laval. (Photo courtesy of McGill Athletics) ing them a playoff seed. While day-to-day preparations wane as the season draws on, the Martlets are doing their best to focus on their immediate future hoping for a postseason berth.

“We go one by one,” Beliveau said.

The Martlets next play UQÁM at home on Jan. 28. The two squads have split their previous meetings this season, taking both games to five sets. Expect a hard-fought game as the Martlets look to carry this weekend’s momentum into next weekend’s match-ups.

STAT CORNER The McGill attack had a 0.223 hitting percentage, while Laval only manage a 0.050.

KEY MOMENTS

QUOTABLE

Every single “Seriously, it’s combination Dig for the Cure between setter and we [dug] Thara Dawood- like hell today!” jee and middle - Middle blocker Myriam RobÉrika Cournoyer. itaille.

k n ow y o u r a t h l e t e

(L-A Benoit / The McGill Tribune)

A l e x K i ss - R u s k M Art l e t basketball

By Nicole Spadotto Staff Writer

The 6’4” fourth-year Arts student and starting centre of the Martlet basketball squad bounds into the room eager to talk about her team. Though a bona fide Canadian collegiate basketball superstar in her own right, Alex Kiss-Rusk is one of the least individualistic, most team-oriented athletes on campus. As she begins what could be her final semester with the Martlets, she reflects on her years at McGill and how she has grown into the leader of the Martlets, both on and off the court.

“I’m captain this year,” Kiss-Rusk said. “We lost three key leaders off the court [...] last year [...] so that was different.

I’ve been here for four years and I never had to worry about anything other than showing up to practices and games. [This year,] it’s been different, but it’s been fun.”

Former captain Miriam Sylla graduated last spring, leading Kiss-Rusk to play an expanded role this year. “[Sylla] was obviously an amazing player and also a big personality,” KissRusk said. “We share the responsibility a lot more [now with Sylla gone], but certainly, because I’m the post, it definitely falls on me a lot more.”

Kiss-Rusk doesn’t shy away from the extra responsibility. Despite being a Beaconsfield, Quebec native, She played her first year at Virginia Tech and knows how tough it can be for young players living away from home for the first time to balance an academic workload, athletics, and a new lifestyle. Her experience places

her in a position to assist the next generation of Martlets trying to adjust to McGill.

“It’s a bit of a shellshock in terms of school load and basketball and all these things, especially if you’re moving away from home,” Kiss-Rusk said. “We got into that on our team a bit too, where some girls didn’t know how to handle it.”

For Kiss-Rusk, leaving the NCAA to become a Martlet could have been an intimidating experience considering both her parents played basketball at McGill.

Instead, she enjoys playing near home and having her parents in the stands each game.

“It’s no pressure,” Kiss-Rusk said. “I think the biggest difference playing here is that my parents can come to all my games [.…] Having them here able to support me [...] because they live 10 minutes away, is really fun.”

Combining responsibility with fun is Kiss-Rusk’s mandate. In her final year, she has become more aware on the court and a liaison off the court between her teammates and the coaching staff. “[As a leader] you have to deal with the things that you thought happened by themselves,” Kiss-Rusk said. “They don’t happen by themselves. There’s a lot going on behind the scenes, a lot of conversations, a lot of video. It has opened my eyes.”

The extra time put into her sport has manifested itself in Kiss-Rusk’s stellar performance this season, leading the

team with 12.4 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. Nationally, she is one of the most dominant post players in the country.

Her success has had a major impact on the team and has the Martlets consistently ranked among Canada’s elite women’s basketball programs. She has thrived while playing for McGill and whether or not she graduates from the team next year–she does have one more year of eligibility–she is hoping to keep a foot rooted in the game.

“Being involved in basketball […] is going to be important to me when I move on,” Kiss-Rusk said. “Just staying involved in team things.”

Who’s your favourite Redmen basketball player?

Dele Ogundokun

Most bingeable show on Netflix?

Breaking Bad. I’ve seen it three times.

Favourite restaurant in Montreal?

It would have been Altos! But that feels tragic to say.

Best class you’ve taken at McGill?

Developmental psychopathology.