The Tribune is proud to present its 13th and final issue of the Fall semester, with the special theme Revolution. We are in the midst of constant revolution. This past year, student trailblazers have worked to divest from fossil fuels, fight for Indigenous populations across the globe, and work against the resurgence of white patriarchal supremacy, rooted in capitalism and settler colonialism. We write this while we await and live through the revolutions that free Palestine, Sudan, Congo, and Yemen, and continue to liberate the 2SLGBTIA+ community, women, disabled individuals, and all racialized people.
We ask that as you read these pages, you think of revolution as an act of humanity, liberation, and solidarity. Revolution as an act of love, as an act of resillence, and as an evolution of resistance. Revolution as protest to an
oppressive status quo. We implore you to continue to fight, to disrupt the hegemony, to grow in radicalism as you learn of injustices.
Many thanks are in order. Thank you to our inquisitive readers, whether this be your first time picking up a copy or you are a regular. Thank you to our contributors and staff writers, photographers, and illustrators for coming to pitch meetings and aiding our community in our mission to educate and inspire. Thank you to our Board of Directors for all the admisntrative tasks that keep our paper sailing strong. Finally, thank you to all of our editors for their immense dedication, collaboration, and care they pour into our paper each week. We are beyond grateful.
13 issues this semester. May the act of revolution guide our daily decisions, rituals, and ideologies. Remember, the flame of revolution cannot be existiguished.
— Jasjot Kaur Grewal, Editor-in-Chief
Letter to the Editor: How SSMU President Dymetri Taylor Undermined a Historic Student Strike for Palestine
Concerned Students
Following a callout for an international coordinated student strike for Palestine on Nov. 21, McGill students initiated a process that, if successful, would mandate a week-long strike of all Students Society of McGill University (SSMU) members, which encompasses all undergraduate students. This would have been an unprecedented mobilization of over 24,000 students striking alongside tens of thousands of university and CEGEP students in Montreal.
On Nov. 5, students submitted the first draft of a motion for a Special Strike General Assembly (GA) in solidarity with Palestine, in accordance with guidelines outlined in the SSMU Constitution. The strike was prompted by Israel’s relentless genocide in Gaza and increasingly escalatory violence in Lebanon, leading McGill students to continue to demand: Complete divestment from all companies complicit in Israel’s Genocidal war on Gaza, Halting the construction of the Sylvan Adams Sports Science Institute, including severing the associated research partnership between McGill and Tel Aviv University.
Demand that our university immediately cut ties with any academic institutions, research partnerships, corporations, and individual donors complicit in genocide,
settler-colonialism, apartheid, or ethnic cleansing against Palestinians.
For McGill to immediately cease contracts with private security, counter-terrorism, and surveillance firm SIRCO, ending all racially-motivated security surveillance, harassment, and physical assault on students.
For McGill to enact a strict policy preventing Service de Police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) and Sûreté du Québec from being present on campus.
For McGill to immediately cease any disciplinary cases and political tribunals against students involved in popular organizing, political activity, and demonstrations, and provide amnesty to all students who engage in similar protests going forward.
Demand that our university cease its use of Islamophobic tropes and anti-Arab rhetoric in its communications regarding protests on campus
This motion would have aligned with the SSMU’s mission to uphold human rights, social justice, and equity on campus as stipulated in the Divest for Human Rights Policy and Harmful Military Technology Policy and would have leveraged student democracy as facilitated through a strike vote.
However, on Nov. 6, the SSMU Steering Committee denied the facilitation of a GA due to alleged legal constraints due to the injunction placed on SSMU after the Policy against Genocide in Palestine (PAGIP).
On Nov.8, following repeated attempts by a SSMU Political Campaigns Coordinators to get clarification on this decision, SSMU President Dymetri Taylor falsely asserted that the SSMU Steering Committee could not proceed with the Special GA for a strike vote claiming: “The necessary language to be changed would result in the Strike no longer having anything to do with Palestine.”
Despite the Political Campaigns Coordinator insisting that the injunction’s limited scope was specific to the PAGIP and did not prevent consideration of a strike motion, Taylor continued to obstruct the democratic process.
Taylor continued to make vague and misleading claims about the legal review of the injunction on the PAGIP, which he claimed prevented students, legally, from enacting the GA. After encountering this, students requested to meet with the steering committee to rework the language of the motion in order to better adhere to these “legal constraints.” However, they were consistently ignored or rejected by Taylor.
Taylor continued to misrepresent consultations with legal counsel by alleging that, “[The legal counsel] have informed [SSMU executives] that actions such as striking would be against the injunction several times.”
Finally, on Nov. 21, Taylor acknowledged his errors, admitting to making
“incorrect assumptions” and “misrepresenting the SSMU’s legal limitations,” writing, “I failed to adequately consult our legal counsel or my fellow executives before making such a definitive statement.” At this point, 16 days after the policy was first submitted, a strike was no longer possible due to the continued obstruction of these processes and constrained timeline.
Due to Taylor’s incompetence, the mass strike mobilization in Montreal for Palestine lost 24,000 potential striking students. Similar to the failings of last year’s PAGIP, SSMU’s bureaucracy has cost the student movement heavily.
On Nov. 27, an anonymous ex-SSMU Board of Directors member leaked the SSMU legal review of the injunction regarding the PAGIP. This is the legal review Taylor was referring to throughout the many email exchanges with the Political Campaign Coordinator regarding the strike motion.
The leaked legal review highlights recommendations for the SSMU following the approval by the Quebec court for an interlocutory injunction against the 2023 PAGIP: The safeguard order does not prohibit the adoption of a new policy, although we suggest that SSMU obtain our opinion on the content of the policy prior to adopting it; SSMU may make public statements in support of Palestine in terms other than those used in the Policy Against Genocide in Palestine;
SSMU and its executives may organize and participate in activities, workshops, and events and otherwise publicly show support for Palestine and Palestinians.
It is crystal clear that SSMU is not restricted from making “public statements in support of Palestine.” Students have had enough of SSMU’s “bureaucratic constraints”. Students are rightfully outraged by how their representative union blocked legitimate democratic processes meant to represent their collective will. At the present moment, Gazans are preparing for a second winter under siege and bombardment. Taylor’s actions unilaterally blocked a historic mobilization in solidarity with the liberation of oppressed people going through one of the most brutal genocides in history.
We demand that the SSMU Board take accountability for their actions, which have undoubtedly hindered student democracy and mobilization for Palestine. SSMU executives must represent the fact that Palestinian lives are nonnegotiable for the student body. It is well beyond time to raise our standards and start pushing for material actions on this vital front within the student movement. SSMU has the ability to make change, and we will not be fooled by false constraints. If SSMU executives can not fulfill student demands, they must be held accountable. Taylor, specifically, must take responsibility for his negligible and damaging actions.
Protest travels through downtown Montreal on International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
Attendees spoke about fight for divestment, McGill’s complicity in the genocide of Palestinians
Eliza Lee & Mairin Burke News Editors
“Gaza, Gaza, Montréal est avec toi.”
Around two hundred members of the Montreal community gathered in Victoria Square for a protest on Nov. 29, organized by the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM)’s Montreal chapter, in honour of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. Throughout the demonstration, protestors called on private corporations, the Canadian government, and universities in Montreal complicit in the genocide of Palestinians to cut financial ties with the Israeli state.
In an interview with The Tribune in Victoria Square, a representative from Students for Palestine’s Honour and Resistance (SPHR) at McGill spoke to the way that student activism and wider community activism for Palestine are interrelated as part of the international Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement. This movement aims to financially pressure Israel to comply with international law, targeting a wide range of institutions “from McDonald’s to McGill.”
“It’s very important for students to show solidarity with the wider community, and the wider community to show solidarity with the students, because there’s more power in numbers,” the representative said. “We’re all fighting the same fight, whether that’s divestment from academic institutions or divestment from all the other companies that we’re going to be walking by at this protest.”
One attendee who wished to remain anonymous explained to The Tribune that protests are a way to drive gradual, step-bystep progress towards defunding the Israeli state’s genocide in Gaza.
*“Keeping those protest spaces alive is really important [...] so that every time the topic evolves, we can be there and show our political support for those actions,” the attendee said.
Organizers later led protestors into the street and onto rue Sainte-Catherine. Demonstrators walked west through crowds of Black Friday
shoppers, calling on onlookers to join the protest in support. Many pedestrians stopped to listen, with some following the protest along the rest of its route.
“We will never normalize what is happening,” a PYM representative said. “If you are hearing these words, you are part of this fight. You are accountable [....] Whether you’ve been with us for decades, or this is your first time joining us, you are part of this struggle, because if you are not with us, it means that you are normalizing what is happening.”
Two Cégep students were among the protest’s attendees. They told The Tribune that they have been supporting the Palestinian cause for over a year, without seeing any progress be made in the demands they are fighting for. The students also expressed disappointment at the investments of numerous universities—such as McGill, Concordia, and Université de Montréal—in companies complicit in Israel’s siege on Gaza, noting that this has also impacted their considerations on where to pursue their university career.
“I used to be a student who wanted to go to McGill, because it’s known for intelligent students,” one Cégep student said. “But then a very dear friend to me went on a hunger strike to protest the genocide happening. She made [her hunger strike] unlimited because she was confident that no university was going to let their students starve. But McGill was able to prove the opposite. They let her starve.
So I took a vow to never go to McGill.”
In a written statement, the McGill Media Relations Office (MRO) explained that the university aims to “remain neutral on geopolitical issues.” However, the MRO stated that McGill upholds community members’ right to freedom of expression, which is also part of the code of Student Rights and Responsibilities.
“We respect the right of students to pursue political objectives and to express their beliefs,” the MRO wrote. “Still, when a small group of students went on a hunger strike early this year, we urged them to put their health and
well-being first since those are our priorities.”
The protest ended on the corner of rue Sainte-Catherine O and rue Guy where protestors danced and chanted: “The students united will never be defeated.” Organizers then played Palestine’s national anthem while they circulated a donation box for Palestinian aid.
A PYM speaker concluded the protest by reminding participants that the movement is far from over.
“From our banks, Scotiabank, that invest millions of dollars in Israeli weapons systems, our universities like Concordia, that invest in weapons companies, from our pension funds, every part of Canada is complicit in genocide,” they said. “We are here to say that as long as there is genocide, we will continue to take to the streets.”
*This quote has been
The United Nations (UN) established International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People as an annual observance in 1977. Nov. 29 marks the day in 1947 in which the UN General Assembly adopted the proposal on the partition of Palestine. (Drea Garcia Avila / The Tribune)
SSMU by-election fails to make quorum, results nullified President “not surprised” by low voter turnout
Olivia Ardito Staff Writer
The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) closed its executive by-election polls for the VicePresident (VP) Student Life and VP Sustainability and Operations roles on Nov. 29. The by-election voting window was nine days long, starting on Nov. 20. 10.7 per cent of SSMU’s constituency cast a vote, meaning that the vote failed to make the quorum of 15 per cent, leaving the positions remaining vacant.
Justice Bongiovanni and Alice Postovskiy were competing for the VP Student Life position, which was left unfilled after Chloé Muñoz’s resignation on Oct. 29. Bongiovanni, U1 Arts, ran with the campaign slogan, “Vote for change, vote for Justice.” His campaign included proposals to invest $10,000 CAD to help students facing food insecurity and funding more affordable extracurricular courses to teach career development skills.
Bongiovanni wrote to The Tribune that although he enjoyed being a part of the SSMU electoral process, he found the results of the election disappointing.
“The fact that the by-election was nullified is a shame for [the] 10.7 per cent of students that took part,
and democratically problematic,” Bongiovanni wrote. “However, I want all students to remember that an executive general election is coming relatively soon, despite this situation, and that their voices still count.”
The other candidate, Postovskiy, U3 Arts, ran on a platform that included maintaining SSMU services for students, helping streamline SSMU finances, and improving clarity for student groups on the union’s regulations.
In a comment to The Tribune, Postovskiy wrote that she believes that SSMU’s Internal Regulations do not outline a quorum for executive by-elections. Postovskiy added that she asked the SSMU Chief Electoral Officer to release the results of the election, but was refused. She plans to bring this issue to the SSMU Judicial Board if the student union does not revert their decision to nullify the election.
“Beyond just the byelection, this echoes a trend at the SSMU of not taking student democracy seriously,” Postovskiy wrote.“The McGill Student Union Democratization Initiative Policy, passed by referendum in 2021, has not been implemented. There have been various controversies with the SSMU failing to adopt policies passed by referendum, notably last year’s Policy against the Genocide
in Palestine [….] It is unfortunately not clear to me what the McGill student body can do to achieve democratic control over its student union.”
Neither the Internal Regulations nor SSMU’s Constitution specify a specific quorum for executive by-elections. Thus, the question will go to the union’s Judicial Board. SSMU President Dymetri Taylor, wrote to The Tribune that if the Board rules there is no quorum, that could lead to an undermining of student democracy as—in an extreme case—a single voter could determine the outcome of an election.
Kareem El Hosini and Arya Cheuk were competing for the VP Sustainability and Operations role, following Meg Baltes’ announcement that she will be resigning effective Dec. 13. El Hosini (U3 Engineering)’s campaign slogan was “Efficiency. Transparency. Enrichment.” El Hosini promised to improve underused spaces, revitalize McGill’s community garden, and bring more affordable and accessible food to campus.
“I’m disappointed that [people] don’t care enough to vote but I also understand why they don’t. I’ve noticed that [people] typically feel indifferent towards or don’t like [SSMU] in general due to
past actions,” wrote El Hosini. Cheuk, U1 Arts and Science, had a campaign slogan of “Vote Arya for a Greener Area.” Cheuk hoped to improve composting on campus and to encourage clubs to get sustainability certificates.
In a comment to The Tribune, Cheuk described the election results as anti-climactic. She attributed the low voter turnout to students’ disinterest in student politics and the election’s timing coinciding with finals season.
“I am happy I had the opportunity to run as a candidate, and that so many had come together to help nominate me in such a short [time]. I am apologetic that I could not materialize their support,” Cheuk wrote.
Taylor wrote that he was not surprised that the election did not meet quorum, as SSMU has struggled to get high numbers of students to participate in elections, compared to universities such as the University of British Columbia.
“Clubs, services, and other groups that rely on SSMU will experience a slowdown in operations as the tasks [of the vacant positions] are distributed to other executives,” Taylor wrote.
“So far, I’ve been working very closely with the services to create a better structure for them and, hopefully, provide them with some financial freedom vis-a-vis the VP of Finance & bank accounts [....] We have chugged along and will continue to do so.”
Administration cancels all extracurricular space bookings until January to reflect on “approach toward invited speakers going forward”
Amelia H. Clark Staff Writer
Faced with criticism from 14 student groups and over 3,000 students, McGill moved—but did not cancel—a talk by Mosab Hassan Yousef from the McIntyre Medical Building to Zoom on Nov. 26. Yousef is the son of Hamas co-founder Sheikh Hassan Yousef. Defecting from Hamas in 1997, Yousef acted as a spy for the Israeli government until moving to the U.S. in 2007. McGill’s decision to host this speaker was met with backlash from many student groups on campus, who pointed to Yousef’s Islamophobic and xenophobic comments on social media and at other university campuses.
On Nov. 22, the Muslim Law Students’ Association (MLSA) contacted McGill’s Vice-President (Administration and Finance), Fabrice Labeau, and the Interim Deputy Provost (Student Life & Learning), Angela Campbell, to request that the talk be cancelled. The MLSA stated that Yousef’s lecture violated the Charter of Students’ Rights, which affirms that all students have the right to be treated with equality, dignity, and respect on campus.
The group also issued a call to action, asking that 1,000 students who objected to the talk also email the administration with their
that they wrote the open letter to demonstrate that their safety concerns were shared across McGill’s student body.
“[Yousef’s] ideas, deeply rooted in his animosity towards us, promote dangerous and baseless narratives that are undeniably Islamophobic and xenophobic, even going so far as to deem us as less than human,” the MSA wrote. “This goes well into the realm of hate speech, and directly contradicts the university’s stated mission to foster a campus environment built on respect and inclusion.”
community remains unacceptably high. Accordingly, we have required the organizers to move their event online.”
Labeau and Campbell further wrote that until January, the university will cease approval of “space bookings for extracurricular events.”
The Iraqi Students’ Society (ISS) expressed disappointment, but not surprise, at McGill’s decision to still hold the talk despite the concerns brought forward by multiple student groups.
concerns. Over 3,000 joined the initiative and submitted letters. MLSA claims that Campbell and Labeau refused to cancel the talk, noting that McGill routinely hosts “controversial speakers” and that beyond providing “space and security,” the administration does not endorse the message behind these lectures. McGill did not offer further comment on this issue.
The Muslim Students’ Association (MSA) created an open letter that demanded McGill cancel the talk due to
the harm Yousef’s Islamophobic rhetoric could have on Muslim, Palestinian, and Arab students on campus. The MSA also called for an investigation of the faculty members responsible for organizing the event. Student groups such as the Syrian, Moroccan, Egyptian, Algerian, Iraqi, Lebanese, and Bangladeshi students’ associations signed the letter, as well as 378 students and 571 members of the community beyond McGill.
In a written statement to The Tribune, the MSA stated
Montreal4Palestine planned an on-campus protest on the day of the talk for all opposed to Yousef’s rhetoric. To discourage this demonstration, McGill elected to move the talk from an in-person event to Zoom. In an email sent to all students afterwards, Labeau and Campbell wrote that the planned protest “incited waves of online anger, including a targeted death threat.” They went on to state that although guest talks are a vital part of life at McGill, the university’s first priority is to avoid the obstruction of academic life on campus.
“Where security threats exist, we must intervene, and that threat level has been escalating steadily, today reaching a new height,” Labeau and Campbell wrote. “We have communicated with police, but the risk to event participants and the McGill
“Admin only moved this event online out of fear of any ‘violence’ that could take place,” ISS wrote to The Tribune. “But the more proper reason should have been to protect the safety of its Muslim students from an openly Islamophobe extremist.”
The MSA explained that the open letter was created to prevent a precedent from being set, which would allow further extremists to spread harmful rhetoric on campus.
“Our safety and right to peacefully partake in campus life are non-negotiable,” the MSA wrote. We neither can nor will be silenced in the face of such extremist ideologies or other threats to these rights. We will always unite in defense of the Muslim community, and push the university to recognize this event for what it was—a profound moral failure.”
The by-election had 6.7 per cent fewer voters than the SSMU Fall 2024 Referendum. (Rohan Khanna / The Tribune)
Universities such as Harvard and Columbia have hosted Yousef for talks in recent years. (Rohan Khanna / The Tribune)
The Tribune Explains: Childcare services at the Macdonald Campus
A guide for students with dependents
Asher Kui Staff Writer
At the Post-Graduate Students’ Society’s (PGSS) Nov. 7 Fall General Meeting, a graduate student in attendance raised concerns about the lack of childcare services at the satellite Macdonald Campus.
According to McGill’s 2021 Student Demographic Data Survey, 5.3 per cent of students have one or more dependents for whom they are the primary caregiver. Among survey respondents that did not opt out, 76.2 per cent—or 361 students—with dependents are caring for children.
For students with dependents, The Tribune explains the childcare services offered at both the Macdonald and downtown campuses.
What are the different types of daycares in Quebec?
There are four types of daycares in Quebec.
Early childhood centres are non-profit daycares that provide services at the reduced rate of $9.10 CAD per day. This rate includes an 11-hour daycare service with one meal and two snacks, provided that
Recap:
the child qualifies for the reduced parental contribution and forsubsidized daycare by the ministère de la Famille.
Private subsidized daycares are for-profit, but they offer childcare services at the reduced rate as well.
Private non-subsidized daycares usually set their own rates, but parents who use their services may redeem a tax credit to pay for them.
Home-based daycares are run in private homes and can be offered both at the subsidized or non-subsidized rates.
What childcare services exist for students at the Macdonald Campus?
The only operating daycare on campus is the Centre de la Petite Enfance (CPE) du Campus. It is a nonprofit organization, providing childcare services to the staff and full-time students of both the McGill Macdonald campus and the Cégep John Abbott College. The CPE currently holds a permit to care for 60 children from three to 59 months in age. The daycare also accepts some children with special needs.
Nearby subsidized daycare services include the Centre Éducatif à Ciel Ouvert in
Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue and Le Coin des Marmots in L’ÎlePerrot.
How does childcare at the Macdonald Campus compare to the downtown campus?
The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) currently runs the SSMU Daycare and Nursery on the downtown campus. The SSMU Daycare Fee (SSMC), charged to all undergraduate downtown campus students, contributes to the expansion of childcare services provided at the Daycare and Nursery. According to its website, the cost of childcare service is $9.10 CAD per day per child under the subsidy by the ministère de la Famille. The fee covers a 10-hour daycare service that includes snacks, meals, and education up to a maximum of 261 days per year.
On top of that, the McGill Childcare Centre also serves 110 children of McGill students, staff, and faculty at the downtown campus. The daily rate of childcare services, similar to the SSMU Daycare and Nursery, is subsidized and governed by the rules and regulations of the ministère de la Famille. There is a $25 CAD membership fee per family
to be paid first in order to access the childcare centre’s services.
At the downtown campus, students who are pregnant, or students who have at least one child under the age of 5 attending daycare, may obtain parking permits for spots directly on campus. However, the Macdonald Campus does not have any specialized parking permits for students with dependents.
How are McGill and student unions addressing concerns over childcare at the Macdonald Campus?
In an email to The Tribune , the Macdonald Campus Graduate Students’ Society (MCGSS) President Jasmine Muszik acknowledged the lack of daycares on campus and wrote that Valérie Orsat, the Acting Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at Macdonald Campus, has been made aware of these concerns.
Muszik noted that the issue has also been brought up at an MCGSS town hall where Orsat was present.
According to Muszik, Joan Butterworth, the Chair of the Joint Board of Governors and Senate Committee on Equity’s Subcommittee on Family Care also plans on raising this issue at the next meeting. For more information on childcare at McGill, visit the university’s Family Care website.
SSMU Board of Directors meet on Nov. 26 to discuss governance and sustainability
BoD also reviews finances
Yusur
Al-SharqiManaging Editor
The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU)’s Board of Directors (BoD) met on Nov. 26 in a hybrid session held in the SSMU Boardroom and on Zoom. The meeting focused on improvements to SSMU governance regulations, sustainability initiatives, and committee appointments.
After introductions and attendance, the agenda was adopted without changes. The executive committee presented its report, which included updates on recent financial decisions and operational changes. The board ratified the report unanimously. The Parliamentarian, Jessica Bakar, highlighted the need for directors to fill vacant roles on the Nominating Committee. Directors Rishi Kalaga and Elina Qureshi volunteered and were appointed to the positions.
The Governance Review Committee, chaired by the Director and SSMU President Dymetri Taylor, presented its report, emphasizing efforts to clarify committee terms of reference and align internal regulations with
SSMU’s governance priorities. Speaker Jonathan Dong also reminded new directors of their obligation to join at least one board committee and provided resources to assist them in making their selections.
During the meeting, the BoD approved several motions. These included amendments to the terms of reference for committees and changes to internal regulations on sustainable operations. Specifically, these changes were implemented to address deficits that some SSMU groups have and allow exceptions for room and event bookings in certain cases to help services recover financially.
At 6:19 p.m., the board moved into a confidential session to discuss financial audit results and other matters. After reconvening, the board finalized updates to the internal regulations for elections and referendums. These changes included
adjustments to debate structures and permitted questions to promote transparency and fairness.
Additional decisions included expanding the Finance Committee’s authority to approve financial decisions up to $80,000 CAD and the creation
of a new Voting Operations Management Committee to oversee space usage and propose improvements to voting processes. The BoD also reviewed a three-year plan for student services aimed at improving sustainability, accessibility, and resource allocation. The plan will evaluate services based on their financial health, resource availability, and overall impact.
A motion to discuss legislative councillor payment was deferred to the next meeting, which will take place on Dec. 10.
Despite Legault’s commitment to creating 37,000 subsidized childcare spaces in Quebec by 2025, the number of available daycare spots decreases. (Eric Bao / The Tribune)
SSMU MIDTERM
Dymetri Taylor SSMU President
So far, one of Taylor’s most significant projects has been working to draft a proposal for changes to the SSMU constitution with the goal of creating a better-functioning student union. SSMU’s relevant governance bodies must approve these changes and the constituency must vote on them before they are adopted. In proposing revisions to the constitution, Taylor hopes to improve SSMU’s governance structure such that it will better delegate responsibilities between the Board of Directors (BoD) and the Legislative Council. As it stands, all of the Legislative Council’s resolutions must be ratified by the BoD, which means that the latter has veto power. The Tribune encourages Taylor to use the proposed governance restructure as an opportunity to increase the power of student representation at SSMU in the Legislative Council.
Another one of Taylor’s goals is to increase efficiencies in the work of executives. For instance, he is considering a proposal to merge the Vice-President (VP) Internal and VP Operations and Sustainability positions, which would reduce the money SSMU spends on salaries. Given that recent executives have expressed concern about the workload of the executive team, The Tribune urges Taylor to consider how these changes might serve to better support them, and not just cut costs. During his tenure, Taylor has worked to improve the internal regulations of SSMU elections and is negotiating a new management plan with McGill regarding the leasing of the University Centre.
Student engagement has also been among Taylor’s top priorities for the semester, and he views events as a crucial way to reach the student body. Among Taylor’s accomplishments are hosting an interfaculty welcome dinner for faculty associations and helping to plan the upcoming Gatsby Gala for students. While his commitment to strengthening students’ relationship with SSMU is crucial, especially considering poor voter turnout in recent years, a meaningful engagement strategy demands more events and more than just events to reach all parts of the student population.
Pauline Jolicoeur SSMU VP Finance
When Pauline Jolicoeur assumed office at the end of the 2023-2024 academic year, SSMU had a budget deficit of over $726,000 CAD, and had just run two unsuccessful referendum questions for a SSMU base fee increase. Given these circumstances, her immediate priority was to reorganize SSMU’s finances to address the budget deficit. Jolicoeur told The Tribune that through a consolidated downsizing effort in May, removing subscriptions to several softwares, renegotiating contracts, and many smaller adjustments, the entirety of this year’s projected budget deficit of $426,000 CAD has been eliminated. The actual numbers and reports supporting these figures are not currently available to the public, although Jolicoeur mentioned that they would be made available in the next few weeks. Jolicoeur said she was proud to have eliminated the deficit, and to put SSMU on a more sustainable financial path moving forward.
In the coming semester, she hopes to revive SSMU’s Finance Committee in order to conduct an in-depth review of SSMU’s reserve fund investments, as well as streamline the accounting paperwork by using a webform. She also discussed the possibility of creating bank accounts for student services, similar to the ones that student clubs currently have, and developing a more user-friendly budget template for clubs to use. Although SSMU’s request for a base increase failed to pass again this semester, Jolicoeur said that it should not threaten any of SSMU’s existing functionality, but would prevent SSMU from increasing the salaries of its employees represented by the SSMUnion, amid demands for increased pay in line with the current cost of living. While eliminating SSMU’s budget deficit is a crucial step, The Tribune urges more transparency around the financial breakdown and reports. Moving forward, more work will be necessary to balance SSMU’s functions with fair compensation for SSMU employees given the rejection of the fee increase.
Zeena Zahidah SSMU VP Internal
Zahidah began her role as VP Internal with an idealistic vision. While she had strong goals for the position, she admitted she didn’t understand all the inner workings of the SSMU, and how much her position involves administrative work. Her priority was inclusive representation for francophone students, a mandate which is now held by the VP External Affairs portfolio but was under her purview during her campaign. Now, over half of her committee members are fluent in french, and she’s successfully implemented a form in the office to let staff choose their language of communication. She also hosted a francophone club night called Femme Fatale, and is planning other diversity-focused events at Club 212 for next semester.
Another goal has been connecting first-year students to the wider McGill community—she’s started work on a “buddy system,” which has started slower than expected thanks to by-elections and midterms, and is planning a social event in January with the Students’ Society Programming
Network (SSPN) and First-Year Council (FYC) for students who missed frosh. In collaboration with SSPN, she negotiated a deal with 212 to host events like the Great Gatsby Gala, 4Floors and Faculty Olympics while Gerts is closed for maintenance. Zahidah has also been working hard to support the full-time SSMU staff, campaigning for the base fee increase to support their salaries and benefits. Though the levy did not pass, she plans to continue advocating for SSMU full-time staff so they are supported and recognized for their work. Zahidah also wants to pass updates to the VP Internal mandate and set up better structural and financial support for the following VP Internal, so they can start next year in a better position.
Hugo-Victor Solomon
SSSMU VP External
Solomon’s goals as VP External were focused on addressing pressing social justice issues at McGill and fostering stronger community ties. He prioritized addressing the militarization of McGill’s campus, aiming to ensure the administration upholds peaceful and educational values. A key initiative under his leadership was the organization of two critical walking tours in Milton Parc. These tours, led by students, faculty and organizers from the Quebec Public Interest Research Group at McGill (QPIRG) and the Milton Parc Citizens’ Committee, discussed issues like Indigenous rights, climate change divestment, as well as the removal of the James McGill statue. For Solomon, supporting Indigenous communities has also been central, including helping the Mohawk Mothers with travel expenses for their legal appeals in Ottawa. He is currently working on creating a permanent Indigenous art exhibit in the University Centre slated to open in February. Expanding the Community Solidarity Fund— though its implementation will be delayed due to an issue with Elections SSMU—was another key initiative, alongside his work supporting Francophone students. Solomon also collaborated with the Black Affairs Committee to develop a Black Solidarity Policy. Additionally, Solomon presented a policy to combat antisemitism, stressing the importance of distinguishing it from anti-Zionism. As the policy did not pass, TheTribuneurges Solomon to continue pushing to implement a policy against antisemitism within SSMU. Looking ahead, Solomon remains committed to connecting McGill with the Milton Parc community and continuing his work on establishing a food bank, which he aims to launch in the coming semester.
Abe Berglas
SSMU VP University Affairs
Berglas entered their role as VP University Affairs with a strong focus on accessibility, governance transparency, and protecting protest rights. Thus far, they have done a commendable job. They aimed to address the lack of resources for disabled students, emphasizing the importance of student-led advocacy to avoid treating disabled individuals as a monolith. This goal evolved into a deeper collaboration with McGill, particularly on accessibility strategies, where they partnered with the equity team to gather and compile student feedback. Berglas also sought to make governance processes more accessible, filling all advisory board positions for the first time in years, despite challenges with training gaps and inactive boards. On academic advocacy, Abe revitalized SSMU’s Accessibility Committee, reinstating accessibility-focused training and events. They also updated resources for student rights, incorporating protest rights into workshops and expanding collaboration with student senators across faculties.
Despite fostering fruitful dialogues, Berglas told The Tribune they have faced administrative barriers, such as uncooperative committee structures and logistical skepticism, which they have worked to address through formal complaints and demand letters citing legal obligations for student representation. Looking ahead, Berglas plans to audit
TheTribune’s Editorial Board presents its midterm reviews of the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) and Post-Graduate Students’ Society (PGSS) executives. Tribuneeditors researched and communicated
REVIEWS
McGill’s EDI and anti-Black racism plans for 2020 to 2025, advocating for a critical review of their progress. They aim to foster stronger ties between SSMU and faculty members and enhance record-keeping through senator reports and a public blog to ensure continuity. While balancing sustainability with flexibility, Berglas remains committed to advancing accessibility and equity while empowering students to engage with university decisionmaking processes. Berglas’ plan sounds realistic, wellstructured, and impactful for McGill students—but they are also taking on a significant workload. The Tribune recommends delegating tasks to others when possible to ensure that all goals are met within their term.
Satish Kumar Tumulu
PGSS Secretary-General
Tumulu’s goals as Secretary-General included funding for graduate students, better health care, and addressing governance issues at PGSS, such as more transparent communication. When he stepped into the role, he felt and heard that the communication between McGill and PGSS had been inefficient. While Tumulu wanted to engage in better communications between PGSS and the McGill administration, he has yet to take concrete steps to improve channels for executive and student communications. He says he has not received any communications from students when it comes to graduate students’ concerns regarding divestment from the Israeli state, law professors’ striking, and the Association of Graduate Students Employed at McGill rights—claiming that it is difficult to know students’ stances on key issues without them voicing it directly to PGSS executives. However, Tumulu has succeeded in increasing funding—at least $12,000 CAD last and this year—alongside awards for graduate students and has engaged in continuous discussions to find ways to increase appointment availability at the Student Wellness Hub. His priority for next semester is to bring a new governance structure for discussion to executives.
Dhanesh Patel
PGSS Financial Affairs Officer
As Financial Affairs Officer, Patel has focused on expanding PGSS’s financial transparency and accessibility, ensuring current budgets are up-todate and available online. Patel reports that he has revamped the PGSS Travel Awards Program, which provides funding to PGSS members to attend conferences or competitions, by making both the Travel Award evaluation rubric and feedback on rejections easier to interpret. Moreover, in collaboration with the McGill Office of Sustainability and the PGSS Environment Committee, Patel has chosen the Bayano-McGill Reforestation Project as the best carbon offset program option for the PGSS. Into January 2025, Patel hopes to continue refurbishing the PGSS website to make it more user-friendly and future-proof, noting that the site may currently fall out of compliance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.2 which help make content clearer for people with audiovisual disabilities. Patel also plans to continue crowdfunding for the NeedsBased-Bursary program, as the university matches PGSS member contributions to this fund, and to keep PGSS health insurance plans as affordable as possible. Next semester, he will decide between two virtual mental health providers to add to the PGSS’ health program. Patel’s evident commitment to improving existing PGSS structures could be strengthened by creating new initiatives throughout the winter semester that effectively “future-proof” Financial Affairs protocols from broader budget cuts at McGill, where possible.
Ambre Lambert
PGSS Member Services Officer
As the Member Services Officer for the PGSS this fall, Lambert aimed
PGSS
to investigate the status and relevance of the Telehealth and Virtual Care services, improve communication with the graduate student body by ensuring transparency and inclusivity in the PGSS’ initiatives, and support the new Graduate Community support program which she successfully launched. Lambert hired a community support coordinator and a BIPOC coordinator, and, together, they have worked to help students navigate their needs. Along with the Mental Health Commissioner and the Health Commissioner—the members of the Health Team—Lambert has launched the Health and Wellness Survey. One of her accomplishments this term has been helping hire facilitators for the PGSS’ French conversation circle which she told The Tribune has seen high student engagement.
Lambert is currently working on securing the addition of more mental health services through the student health plan, which has not been confirmed yet. Other initiatives include the addition of Grammarly for graduate students which she hopes will be finalized in the upcoming semester. Going into the winter term, one of her priorities will be to focus on finalizing and implementing the Grammarly MOA to ensure that its benefits reach students by next September. Yet, while Lambert cited this as a goal moving forward, strengthening the health program and especially focusing on mental health support services should be pushed at the forefront. The Tribune recommends Lambert complete discussions around Student Care-related services.
Racchana Ramamurphy PGSS University Affairs Officer
As University Affairs Officer, Ramamurthy has focused primarily on improving graduate student funding and addressing supervision issues. Her most significant achievement has been successfully advocating for the implementation of recommendations from the 2022-2023 McGill Graduate Student Funding Report, which revealed that 88 per cent of graduate students live below Quebec’s minimum wage. These accepted recommendations include a 10 per cent top-up for students with external funding, expedited conference reimbursements, and cash advances for travel. Ramamurthy has also pushed for a standardized funding letter template to provide clarity on take-home amounts, though she told The Tribune this has faced faculty resistance.
For the upcoming semester, she plans to organize an academic bullying awareness week in January to educate students about their rights and reporting procedures. While she chairs the Library Improvement Fund Committee, specific initiatives beyond a planned January campaign for proposals have yet to be detailed. Similarly, discussions about obtaining Quebec clinic status for the Student Wellness Hub to increase doctor availability remain in the preliminary stages. Regarding international student concerns about recent Post-Graduate Work Permit requirement changes, Ramamurthy’s approach has primarily involved bringing these issues to McGill President and Vice-Chancellor Deep Saini, who has committed to raising them at Universities Canada meetings. Moving forward, these initiatives would benefit from more concrete action plans and measurable outcomes to
better serve the graduate student community.
Naga Thovinakere
PGSS External Affairs Officer
Thovinakere has made commendable strides this semester in addressing critical issues such as student mental health, graduate funding, and housing. Partnering with the Observatory on Student Mental Health, she spearheaded a campaign to assess and promote mental health resources, which included a largescale survey that received significant student engagement, she told The Tribune. Her collaboration with the Quebec Student Union (QSU) led to the development of a policy document advocating for increased funding from Fonds de recherche du Quebec to align with federal graduate scholarships. Her leadership in drafting an evidencebased document on student housing demonstrates a proactive approach to tackling pressing issues. Although participation in the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations’ Advocacy Week was limited by logistical challenges, Thovinakere’s strategy to pursue focused meetings showcases adaptability and resourcefulness. However, balancing the diverse needs of PGSS members while navigating McGill’s structural constraints remains a challenge. Ensuring equitable representation across disciplines and maintaining continuity in advocacy efforts beyond her term are areas for improvement, but overall, Thovinakere’s contributions to PGSS have been impactful. To build on her successes, The Tribune recommends prioritizing institutional memory by documenting ongoing initiatives and creating a roadmap for successors.
PGSS Internal Affairs Officer Cindy Garcíacouldnotbereached for comment in time for publication.
CAMPUS CONVERSATIONS: REVOLUTION
The spirit of revolution cannot be extinguished
n June 1984, former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi ordered a military attack on the Sikh Golden Temple—one of the most significant sites of religious scarcity for Sikhs—in an effort to secure the site from armed Sikh militants. The attack killed thousands of civilians, primarily Sikhs. In response, Gandhi was assassinated by two of her Sikh bodyguards on October 31, 1984. These events triggered genocidal killings of Sikhs around the country, largely in New Delhi,
Armed mobs, largely comprised of Hindu nationalists, burned Sikhowned stores and homes to the ground; dragged Sikhs out of their houses, cars, and trains, before clubbing them to death or burning them alive; gangraped Sikh women; and burned Gurdwaras. Law enforcement and government officials
Yusur Al-Sharqi Managing Editor
y mom was six years old sitting cross-legged in front of a boxy TV in Baghdad, captivated by bright cartoons and talking animals. For a brief moment, she was immersed in a world that felt safe—but these moments were fleeting. At any time, the screen could go black, replaced by images of lifeless bodies scattered across the street. A journalist’s voice would break the illusion, urging families to come to the city centre to identify and collect their dead. Her eyes stayed glued to the
The horror was not confined to the TV—it came home. In Islam, when
f I were asked to write a piece relating Palestine to revolution in the tail-end of 2023, I would
I was a first-year student settling into McGill life on Oct. 7, 2023. Having explored my heritage in the West Bank and the military-dominated city of Jaffa in 2019, I knew that understanding Palestinians as second-class citizens in Israel was a generous characterization. On my travels to Palestine, the day-to-day dehumanization of the population was blatant; Palestinians were herded through checkpoints like livestock while settlers living on hills threw their garbage on low-lying indigenous properties. Accordingly, my travels made it easier for me to fathom the severity of the Palestinian condition in Gaza. Under naval and aerial blockade since 2007 and alienated from the rest of the country by a militarized wall, the 2.2 million residents of Gaza were reliant on Israel alone to meet their essential needs. Thus, struggling with water and food insecurity and shortages of electricity and medical supplies, and exacerbated by intermittent airstrikes, how dispute Israeli benevolence in Gaza?
participated in the genocide, encouraging mobs to seek vengeance and providing them with weapons. Nearly 3000 Sikhs were murdered within three days, at a rate of one per minute at the peak of the violence. Unofficial death estimates are far higher. The Indian government has yet to take accountability for its role in covering up the identities of the perpetrators, refusing justice—in terms of financial compensation and enfranchisement—for Sikh victims, and allowing state actors to use government resources to systemically identify the locations and occupations of the victims they planned to harm and kill.
Presently, Sikhs in India continue to face socioeconomic inequality, institutional discrimination in education, employment, and public services, and minimal political representation. The systematic ethnic cleansing of Sikhs persists beyond the confines of India. On June 18, 2023, police forces in British Columbia uncovered the dead body of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, president of a Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, B.C, peppered with gunshots. The
murder came after the Indian government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi had accused Nijjar of being a terrorist and leader of a militant separatist group, as he supported the formation of Khalistan— an independent Sikh state outside of repressive Indian governance.
On Sept. 19, 2023, Prime Minister Trudeau accused agents of the government of India of being linked to the killing of Najjar, leading to the expulsion of Indian diplomats from Canada. Canada boasts the second-largest Sikh population in the world after India. For members of the World Sikh Organization, Trudeau’s words were revolutionary.
“Today, the prime minister of Canada has publicly said what Sikhs in Canada have known for decades—India actively targets Sikhs in Canada,” they wrote in a statement on their website on Sept. 18, 2023.
Sikhism—based on notions that entirely resist social hierarchies based on caste, race, and gender; belief in tolerance and acceptance of other religions; and
The echoes of war
somebody dies, family members of the same sex must wash the deceased’s body.
I imagine my great-uncle holding his son, his 15-year-old boy, who had a bullet still lodged in his head.
The boy had made the mistake of driving his pregnant mother, in labour, to the hospital past curfew. The American soldiers who followed them opened fire, shooting through the back window and striking him in the centre of his head. His pregnant mother watched him die. It’s been decades, and his mother still wears black. To her, it’s not just a colour of mourning but a silent protest—a refusal to let the memory fade as the world moves on.
They say these are mistakes of the past, tragedies never to happen again, but I don’t believe them. They lie, while families like mine are left to wash the blood from the bodies of those we love. When you talk
about peace, I think about the babies of Fallujah, born with deformities after the U.S. dropped white phosphorus bombs on their city during the invasion. I think about the children of Gaza, living and dying under siege.
When you talk about peace— “bridging the gap”—I wonder if you’ve ever listened to the echoes of war. Asking us to remain calm while injustice rages is an act of violence masquerading as righteousness. I’ll tell you myself: we cannot hear your calls for peace. The bombs are too loud, and the screams drown you out.
I write this not to be cynical, but because I believe that truth-telling is the most important act of defiance—a revolutionary act in its own right.
It is not that I don’t believe in peaceful revolution—I yearn for it—but I also know
The revolution of truth
I was hopeful that news outlets in the educated West would interpret Oct. 7 with consideration of the factors which led to it. Unfortunately, the narrative painted by Western media exhibited a convenient case of historical amnesia. In portraying the events of Oct. 7 as an unprovoked attack and disseminating false stories such as those of beheaded infants, news sources began to entrench an international belief in Palestinian inhumanity. Alas, October 2023 was not an easy month to be Palestinian at McGill.
Nevertheless, the publication of the suffering in Gaza and Southern Lebanon since Oct. 7 has inspired a revolution of truth, or a revelation, in the West. In our current interconnected world, where the reach of social media has no bounds, Israel’s offensive in Gaza has become the most publicly documented genocide in history.
Palestinian journalists and photographers, such as Motaz Azaiza, have circumvented having their messages diluted by traditional news sources, instead using social media to counterbalance the Western narrative. In using these platforms, journalists have found an outlet to expose the reality of Israeli aggression for what it is. Graphic videos of fathers finding the lifeless bodies of their children in the rubble, and Israeli aid deliveries exposed to have swapped sugar for sand in Gaza have amassed a captive audience online.
principles of equality and service to others—has long been seen as a threat to hegemony in India, an order which is maintained based on the caste system, religious divide, and income inequality. Yet, Sikhs have resisted religious and nationalist struggles since the formation of their religion: The SikhMughal Wars, the First Sikh War, their role in the Anti-Emergency Movement, and the Farmers’ Protests in India.
Sikhs have continuously advocated for the working class, against secular approaches to religion which marginalize Muslims in India, and have worked to restore democracy in India. Sikhs continue to challenge all forms of domination, despite the ongoing violence they face. Sikhs remind the world that resilience is not just about survival but about striving for a more equitable and inclusive society. Their continuous fight against tyranny proves that the spirit of resistance and revolution cannot be extinguished.
it can’t come without a reckoning. A revolution of truthtelling, where the stories of the silenced are finally heard and the weight of the violence we’ve inherited is confronted.
Until then, the images are the same; lifeless bodies scattered on the street, but now it is my eyes that are glued to the screen.
The X account, @FDefects, documents cases of severe birth defects seenacrossIraqtothisdayasaresultofthe U.S.’s white phosphorus bombardments in 2003. The images are extremely graphic and disturbing, but they are many people’s realities. There is evidence of Israel’s use of white phosphorous in Palestine and Lebanon as of 2023.
Journalistic ingenuity and courage have given me hope and galvanised the revolution I speak of, mostly within the youth.
Alongside most Palestinians, I have been starkly aware that the Israeli government’s disregard for Palestinian livelihood did not begin after Oct. 7. Today I lament the scale of tragedy and destruction it has taken to reignite the empathy of desensitized demographics in the West.
The revelation was illustrated in the 2024 UK General Election where six independent candidates won parliamentary seats, five of whom campaigned resolutely for a firmer government attitude towards Israel. Attending a protest next to the Houses of Parliament the following day, speeches of the victorious candidates restored my hope for a ceasefire and an end to injustice. I was inspired by the words of South African activist and politician Andrew Feinstein, who championed having slashed the majority of newly incumbent Kier Starmer in Holborn and St Pancras. The Prime Minister couldn’t manage 50 per cent of the votes within his own constituency, having had 65 per cent in 2019; he is the first in UK history to enter office having had his vote share reduced from the election before.
July 5 symbolized the Overton Window shifting in British politics; policies on Palestine can now mobilize the electorate and humanitarian politicians can garner strong enough electoral support to win seats
in Westminster. Conversely, public expectation has been challenging weak stances on Palestine, such as that of the government, pressured recently towards compliance with the ICC conviction of Netanyahu.
I attribute the shifting public opinion and its political manifestation to a resurgence of morals, urged through the images being shared on social media. Independent journalism is a beacon of hope emerging through the mist of Western mass media shrouding the truth. Regardless of context and retrospective analysis of the situation, humans can agree that no child should be sentenced to death, or a future without education, a home, a family, or freedom. I believe that my mother’s sentiments reflect fundamental human principles: “No people should suffer as we have seen. No one, nowhere in this world should be collected as parts from the ground, after being bombed, starved, and abused.”
I truly believe that a revolution of truth is among the Western populace and the youth, gradually diffusing into the formal rungs of society. Change lies just beyond the horizon—whether or not we reach it depends on our commitment.
*Alex’s name has been changed to preserve their anonymity.
FALL 2024: A Recollection of Revolution
Highlights from The Tribune’s Creative Section
Abbey Locker
Abbey Locker
Ariella Morgan
Hannah Nobile
Drea Garcia Avila
Eliot Loose
Zoe Lee
Zoe Lee
Taisto Witt
Drea Garcia Avila
Drea Garcia Avila
Anna Seger
Eliot Loose
Lilly Guilbeault
Mia Helfrich
Bruno Cotler
Zoe Lee
Sophie Schuyler
Drea Garcia Avila
Content warning: Mentions of rape, sexual assault, and violence.
Survivors of sexual assault and rape often have to grapple silently with feelings of shame. 72-year-old Gisèle Pelicot is flipping the script: Placing the shame on the perpetrators of sexual assault and rape.
In November 2020, Pelicot’s husband Dominique was found to be taking photos of women’s skirts at a supermarket in southeastern France. When police subsequently searched his laptop, they found that Dominique had taken over 20,000 videos and photos of his decade-long sexual abuse of his wife. For nearly 10 years, Dominique drugged his wife unconscious and invited dozens of men to rape her. 51 of the 83 men identified in Dominique’s videos—aged 2674—are standing trial: firefight ers, journalists, students, truck drivers, prison guards, nurses, retirees, and city councillors. These were men who were going home to their wives, tucking their kids into bed, typing at their work desk the next day, treating patients, and more, all after raping Pel icot.
Pelicot waived her legal right to anonymity in the trial, which pre vents the media from identify ing survivors of sexual abuse. She wants the world to know her name, and to expose the identities of those who assault ed her. Revolutionarily, she has allowed videos of the rapes to be made public, forcing the rapists to have their faces known for their crimes.
“I’ve decided not to be ashamed. I’ve done nothing wrong [....] They are the ones who must be ashamed,” cot told the court on Oct. 23.
Pelicot’s courageous deci sion stands against the guilt and shame that is generally pro pelled onto survivors of sexual assault and rape. Stigma and on going failings of the justice sys tem for survivors of sexual abuse lead to drastic underreport Only six out of every 100 cases reported to the police, but one in four North American women will be sexually assaulted during their life time.
Claudine Thibaudeau works as a social worker in clinical support and training at SOS violence conjugale, a non-profit Quebec organization that works to ensure the safety of survivors of IPV. She explained to The Tribune that the goal of IPV for perpetrators is coercive control—using violent behaviours to gain power over the other in the relationship, taking away their partner’s ability to make their own choices. Thibaudeau argued that there is sexual violence in almost every instance of IPV. Sexual violence in relationships goes beyond isolated incidents of forced sexual intercourse, such as considering involvement in a relationship as a guarantee of consent, demanding a minimum number of instances of intercourse per week, and creating discomfort for the victim if they do not consent to sexual activity.
ing on. But the second they find out they should be working so hard to fix things, you know, crossing boundaries happens, but the second you’re made aware of it, you stop,” Thibaudeau said. She also touched on the shame that many survivors of IPV face, often because they did not see the signs of violence earlier in their relationship.
80 per cent of assailants are friends and family of the victim, making a large portion of these cases a matter of intimate partner violence (IPV). 44 per cent of Canadian women who had ever been in an intimate partner relationship reported experiencing some kind of psychological, physical, or sexual abuse in the context of an intimate relationship in their lifetime.
Thibaudeau also detailed psychological and emotional sexual violence, which includes denigrating the victim’s physical appearance, or otherwise ridiculing the victim sexually, using sexuality to control or degrade the victim, making sexual comments to humiliate the victim in front of others, comparing their sexual prowess to that of previous partners, or threatening to cheat. There’s also sexual gaslighting, which entails making the victim believe that they had previously consented to sexual activity when
“It can take a very wide array of behaviours. It’s not reported as much because it’s very intimate. A lot of [survivors] feel a lot of shame around sexual violence. It’s hard to talk about because it’s very private, but most victims of partner violence have been through one or the other or many of those [forms of IPV violence] in their relationship. So it’s a very big problem. It affects hundreds of thousands of women and youth in Quebec,”
Thibaudeau explained that IPV can also include instances where a partner crosses a boundary and does not seek to repair the harm they caused.
“Let’s say someone crosses a boundary once—maybe because they weren’t paying enough attention to realize that the other person wasn’t enjoying what was go -
“Violence can be so subtle. There’s no way that anybody can see the violence,” Thibaudeau said. “So victims often feel ashamed, because when they look back, they can see the violence when it started. They can see the subtle behaviour [....] It’s easier to see afterwards, but when you’re in it at the beginning, there’s no way anybody can see it.”
As a result of this shame, it can often be hard for survivors of IPV to leave their situation, or entirely stop seeing their romantic partner after IPV has occurred.
“Of course, leaving a situation and violence is very hard, because very often, when enough fog has been blown away, and you realize what you’re confronted with, and you see the violence,” Thibaudeau said. “The first reason [IPV survivors don’t leave is it] being dangerous. There’s always a potential for danger, and the moment of separation is the most dangerous.”
Furthermore, the effects of violence are reflected in the survivor’s selfconfidence.
“[They’ve] been suffering from violence for months, may be years. [They’re] exhausted. [Their] self-confidence is low. [They] might be con fused about [their] rights, about the situation. [They] might have stress-related health issues. [They] may be scared. [....] It makes it even harder to imagine being able to deal with everything that leaving the violent partner means.”
IPV occurrences are even more frequent in spaces where victims and perpetrators experience vio -
Shame must How survivors are
Written by Jasjot Grewal, Editor-in-Chief
lence in other areas of their lives. Orsola Torrisi, assistant professor of Social Demography in McGill’s Department of Sociology, researches demographic factors for conflict and violence, family dynamics, gender-based violence, intimate partner violence, and structural determinants in contexts of armed conflict. In her research on determinants of violence in places of active military conflict, she found that violence became normalized in all areas of life, including the domestic arena.
“Especially on the side of the perpetrator, violence becomes the main way in which people think about how they can resolve problems, especially when they are socialized at a very young age in violent settings,” Torrisi explained in an interview with The Tribune . “What I was finding especially in this context was that women that were exposed to violence, particularly between the ages of zero and 15 [...] were way, way more likely to experience pretty much all types of abuse, but particularly [those considered] more actually visible forms of violence, that is sexual abuse and severe physical abuse from their partners.”
leaving lasting impacts. Good shared how she navigated the mental health challenges that followed her assault, particularly in her interactions with men.
who had survived sexual assault and rape and realized that they had felt the same mental health pressures that she had.
Torrisi also explained that men in military conflict zones justified beating a woman for a variety of reasons.
“In general, a lot of the research that really looks at violence against women, especially in the home in conflict settings, is related and sort of speaks to these more macro-phenomena that occur and that lead people, and particularly the perpetrators, to kind of acquire those attitudes that are much more masculine and much more prone to violence,” Torrisi
IPV is not the only form of sexual violence that young girls and women face. For women like Lexi Good, sexual violence can occur outside the confines of a romantic relationship,
“I was diagnosed with PTSD [....] Anytime there was a man walking on the street, I would be convinced they were gonna kill me. I would com pletely cross the street anytime I saw a man coming my way. I couldn’t really have relationships,” she explained. “I would say I just wasn’t myself in general, and that was the bigger thing. So I was like, ‘Wait, I’m not just crazy. This is a situation that I’m having right now.’”
Good also referred to the lack of control that survivors of sexual assault often feel. While she recalls having called friends and family during her assault to attempt to get out of the situation, she later realized that she did not have as much control over that situation as she thought she did.
“You don’t realize how much your life has changed after. This might sound crazy, but the actual experience itself was not nearly as hard as getting out of it or having issues with mental health,” Good said.
“I started having a lot of bouts of mental issues that I didn’t know were related to that [experience],” she said. “Then I talked to other women who were just like, ‘Yeah and then I had this kind of manic-like episode.’ And I was like, ‘Wait, that exactly happened to me.’”
“I think people want to feel like they’re in control. That’s why they say, ‘I could’ve done this better. I could’ve done that. But it’s my fault.’ Because if it’s your fault, then you have control. And not having control is actually more scary than being at fault.”
Good shared that eye movement dewsensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is what helps her continue to process and heal from her trauma. EMDR therapy involves moving one’s eyes in a certain way while recounting/reliving traumatic memories, allowing survivors to process the original event without the fight, flight, or freeze response being activated.
“It’s really great, because you can be like, ‘Oh, now I know it’s not my fault.’ Logically, I understand it’s not my fault, but now that I’m back in a reprocessing state, I can actually go back in time almost, and make that click better,” Good said.
Good encourages all survivors to speak up and reminds them that they are not alone. However, she recognizes that as women especially speak up, men will attempt to silence them.
“I think it’s good for some women to know they’re not alone, but be wary that as women get more of a voice, more men will attempt to say terrible things to shut them down. The strategy of someone commenting ‘She’s not even hot anyway’ [...] is strategically meant to prevent women from speaking out about it,” she said.
“Look on the bright side— men are saying these things because they know we’re getting ahead. They know they’re getting left behind. As they see women rise in society, they want to push us down because they’re afraid that we’re going forward. If men weren’t afraid of us, they wouldn’t be making comments like this.”
switch sides
Good also remembers realizing that her healing process had begun to impact her closest friends and family. She felt that she wasn’t treating her friends justly, seeing that “people she loved were hurting by watching her hurt.” Especially after moving from the United States to Montreal for school and making all new friends, she wanted to be a responsible friend, who was kind and helpful to others. After a conversation with her then-roommate, she realized she wanted to actively work through her response to the experience, rather than have its issues resurface years later. She recalls talking to other women
Following Pelicot’s and Good’s examples, more and more survivors are finding ways to free themselves from shame. Shame is an internalizing emotion—it can make us shrink inwards and hide away from the world. Survivors often feel vulnerable, and disappear to protect themselves from further violence. While all of these are valid responses, the actions of women like Pelicot and Good can work to alleviate some of the additional burden on survivors. Regaining a sense of control—through therapy, freedom from violence, and finding community—can lighten the load for survivors, and change the environment for all women around them.
Every time a survivor shares their story, the world becomes a better place.
Shame must switch sides, leaving survivors free to heal and placing the blame squarely where it belongs: On the perpetrators.
Selective apathy is undermining democracy COMMENTARY
Monique Kasonga Opinion Editor
When the American election results rolled in, McGill’s campus witnessed a surge of political interest—students refreshing electoral maps in library corners, heated debates spilling out of lecture halls, and social media feeds flooded with political commentary. This heightened attention makes sense: Not only does McGill host a significant American student population, but U.S. policies ripple far beyond its borders. Decisions made in Washington influence global economic stability, international relations, and the well-being of countless individuals, particularly those affected by American imperialism and destabilizing military interventions. However, it is concerning when many students, who were hyper-focused on the U.S. elections, disengage from political discourse and action closer to home.
Elections often bring disappointment—broken promises, unresolved systemic issues, and growing disillusionment among voters. While the anger and frustration stemming from electoral results are valid responses, merely wallowing in negativity without channelling them into sustained political engagement perpetuates the very stagnation people decry. Selective apathy, where attention is sporadic and limited to high-profile events, doesn’t foster meaningful change. Global democracy demands more than fleeting interest or periodic outrage.
Strong local community engagement at a grassroots level lays the foundation for uplifting those far beyond our borders. While it is important to engage with foreign political events, such engagement must go hand in hand with addressing local concerns. It is through building strong, informed, and resilient communities locally
that productive change can ripple outward to impact the global community.
Voting is critical, as is being aware of global politics and events. These are essential for understanding the systems of injustice that must be dismantled. Voting and awareness cannot be the only means of engagement with democracy—they represent the bare minimum. Engaging in activities like attending community meetings, advocating for policy changes, volunteering for grassroots organizations, or supporting marginalized groups strengthens the fabric of your community. By staying passive, you risk leaving critical decisions to others, which can stall advancement on issues that deeply affect your neighbours and hinder long-term progress. Meaningful societal progression requires consistent involvement through local activism, community organizing, and advocacy for systemic reforms. This is not a solo endeavour; it’s a collective effort. Like any group project, when more people contribute, the work becomes lighter and the results more impactful.
Our globalized world complicates civic engagement—many students live and study in places where they cannot vote due to their citizenship status. However, contributing to democracy involves much more than legal entitlements alone. Becoming part of a community— especially one you’re new to, as over half of McGill students are—requires active involvement. It’s about fostering connections, uplifting those around you, and working toward shared goals. This is the essence of democracy. Real change starts with recognizing that democracy isn’t simply about election outcomes—it’s about ensuring everyone has the tools and opportunities to make their voices heard, and that these tools are used.
At McGill, we live in a bubble, surrounded by highly educated peers with
the tools and resources to engage with political systems. But this privilege is not universal. In 2012, 17 per cent of Canadian adults had low literacy skills, and 29 per cent of those with low literacy lived in low-income households. Newcomer, Indigenous, and low-income populations are disproportionately challenged by low literacy rates. Paired with economic hardship, these reading proficiency levels limit people’s ability to navigate the political system effectively. Systemic barriers such as the ongoing effects of colonialism further suppress educational and political opportunities for marginalized groups. When large segments of the population are excluded from political participation, democracy falters. National results cannot truly reflect the will of the people unless every voice is empowered to speak, which is why it is central for these communities to be uplifted and their voices amplified in the fight for justice.
Existing in the most privileged strata, there is no excuse for McGill students to lack engagement or awareness about
what is happening locally in Montreal, and in Quebec. If you can’t vote, educate yourself about the needs of those who can. Engagement extends beyond casting a ballot; it’s about taking responsibility within the community. We must challenge ourselves to engage consistently—with our communities, with local and national issues, and with the systemic barriers that prevent others from doing the same. Change begins with collective action, and the strength of our democracy isn’t measured in ballots alone, but in how we show up for our communities every day.
Prêt à Manger—not as prêtty as you’d like to believe
Jamie Xie Staff Writer
It’s a common phrase: You are what you eat. Because people have such an intimate relationship with it, food makes for a particularly powerful political protest tool. Everyone has an opinion on food—anyone could delineate a bad egg from the apple of one’s eye. Similarly, much can be inferred about a protest by the food that defines it—as food is what nurtures us, it is also what fuels our political activism. This truth is reflected in the longstanding history of food protest.
It was that green gloom of Oct. 7 that first struck me when I paced the Sherbrooke-paved Roddick Gates. A large white van parked perpendicularly, rested halfway ajar like a wink, encasing a baker’s way-too-many of brand-name gourmet salads and sports drinks.
What I will never forget was our shared broken laughter as I remarked that the police brigade in front of McGill must’ve managed to strike up a pretty penny sponsorship deal with none other than the local sweetheart salad bar. The joke writes itself: “Headliner! Signature meal prep company dabbles in domestic militia practices.”
It wasn’t until I recalled the Palestinian starvation protest that I started thinking about what silly salads might say about the possibly even sillier people who eat them. It’s a tragicomic disparity, a striking demonstration of privilege and power:
Coordinated swarms of police officers parading on horseback, gratuitously eating expensive, curated, balanced diets. These same optics and the symbolic weight of food in political protest have permeated centuries of revolution. It is easy to conjure up the image of a bad vaudeville-era theatre performance pelted mercilessly with rotten tomatoes as a token of disapproval. When the audience is normally passive, the concept of projecting rotten produce represents a shift towards audience interactivity and freedom of expression. The tomato is accessible and inexpensive, and the soft, messy texture makes for a very emotional statement. The rotting symbolizes rejection and literalizes the audience’s disgust by materializing it on the stage for everyone to see.
This brings to mind the brief 2019 UK trend of “Milkshaking,” where far right-wing figures were condemned by having milkshakes publicly thrown at them. Note the particular choice to use milkshakes—a dairy product which rots and “goes bad” the same way a corrupt politician might. The juxtaposition between severe, powerful leaders, and the sweet juvenile confections which streak their faces of outrage convey ridicule and detract from their optics of authority by reducing them to tantruming tyrants who can’t help but cry over spilt milk. It is only through our very personal relationship with food that it is able to hold so much power as a political symbol. With such a collective,
concrete public consensus, we begin to see playfulness take root as we are constantly challenging our preexisting associations and redefining our understanding of food and the social groups we choose to affiliate it with using layers of validated expectation and alternative subversion.
Starvation, by comparison—such as that of the pro-Palestinian hunger strike—is an example of desperation embedded with a sense of helpless dread. Fundamentally, to starve is a plea to be seen once more as uncomfortably
human. Allowing your body to break down on full display without concern for dignity poses a challenge to the cold uncaring negligence that characterizes the modern political landscape. This contrast between abundance and starvation in protest is much more complicated than access to expensive foods, and it’s much more horrifying than saying starvation is cheaper than a salad. It is an invitation to question the apathy we’ve grown so comfortable with. But I guess that’s just some food for thought.
In 2024, elections for national office have taken place or are scheduled to occur in over 60 countries (including the European Union), representing almost half of the global population. (Ruby Reimer / The Tribune)
The Boston Tea Party represented a distinct dismissal of British sovereignty in America through the civil disobedience act of dumping chests of valuable tea into the ocean (Drea Garcia Avila / The Tribune)
A brief history of student activism at McGill
Don’t underestimate the importance of elevating your voice
Malika Logossou Student Life Editor
Students have always been the heartbeat of social and political movements, using their voices to tackle injustices. From civil rights to environmental issues, student activism has been a driving force in shaping reform and revolution.
In 1985, McGill became the first Canadian university to divest from businesses with connections to South Africa during apartheid. This monumental decision was the result of persistent pressure from student groups and movements on campus, highlighting the power of student voices and the ethical responsibilities of educational institutions. McGill’s action encouraged other universities in the region to follow suit.
In 2006, McGill was the first university to divest from enterprises tied to Burma (Myanmar) in response to the country’s political situation and violations of human rights. The Burma Solidarity Collective responded to injustices against the Burmese people by campaigning for four years to prevent money from going to
Approximately 70 per cent of Canadians
and
Burma’s military rulers. Their efforts paid off: Over 1,500 students and 100 tenured faculty members signed petitions supporting the divestment, which were presented to the Board of Governors.
More recently, in 2023, the McGill Board of Governors voted to divest from all direct holdings in fossil fuel companies listed in the Carbon Underground 200 (CU200), with implementation set to begin in 2024 and complete by 2025. Divest McGill, an
and universities
environmental justice campaign advocating since 2012, played a key role in urging the university to confront the climate crisis by withdrawing its investments from the fossil fuel industry. This milestone was achieved through relentless student mobilization, including a 12day occupation of the McCall MacBain Arts Building in 2022. Beyond these victories, students have been active in various other movements, notably through the demand
for justice for Palestine, and standing in solidarity with the Kanien’kehá:ka Kahnistensera (Mohawk Mothers)’ call to investigate potential unmarked graves on McGill’s New Vic Project, located at the former Royal Victoria Hospital site.
Those occurrences are inspiring and show that student activism can trigger real change, but for someone who has never really taken part in activism in general, it may be hard to know where to start. There is no need to pressure yourself to become the next Greta Thunberg.
The best way to start is by educating yourself on key issues. Knowledge is power, and reading news articles and staying informed daily is a central part of being an activist—being informed about an issue is a constant process, not a one-time investment.
Once you feel like you have your footing, you can show solidarity by joining marches, protests, sit-ins and walk-outs. Following student activist groups on social media is a good way to stay updated on events and initiatives. Make sure to
stay safe and know your rights before taking part in public demonstrations.
You can also make an impact by sending letters or emails to those in power, signing petitions, or raising awareness online. Sharing posts about what you’re fighting for can call attention and motivate others to research the cause you support. However, your involvement should not be limited to that. For example, if you’re artistically inclined, create art related to the cause you’re advocating for. Graffiti, songs, poems, and drawings can be powerful tools to spark change and get people to reflect on your message.
Though these actions may seem small individually, if students collectively mobilize and remain persistent, our campus’ history demonstrates that they can spark revolutionary change over time. It’s easy to feel discouraged in activism, especially when results aren’t immediate. Advocating for change can often be frustrating, taxing, and slow. Fighting for your rights and those of others sadly isn’t always automatic or straightforward. While that can be disheartening, it shows the importance of staying committed to what you believe in.
At rock bottom? It might be time to dig a little deeper...
A call for radical hope in trying times of despair
Jamie Xie Staff Writer
It is a truth universally acknowledged that all great stories of the world require adversity. In critical times of civil unrest and political despair, it can feel like an act of hard faith in the face of a cruel joke to believe things might truly improve. We get so invested in loving a world that seems to not love us back that we grow resentful and tired. The will to change is a lost art—as students, we feel too small for our ambitions and too restless for our own good.
Sophia Mugford, U2 Science, spoke about despair as a catalyst for change in an interview with The Tribune
“Grief is an expression of compassion,” she said. “It’s the mirrored other side of the coin of love to be hurt and lost at times. Without these feelings, you don’t get the anger you need to confront the unjust feelings of unfairness and sadness needed to move forward and enact change.”
Addressing transgender rights activism particularly, Mugford highlighted that giving in to despair means giving up on living authentically.
“The greatest form of protest is to live,” Mugford said. “Being open to the truth of who you are and commanding space
is a life-saving act for people like you.”
Fear, too, can be a powerful tool in mobilizing communities, acting as a wake-up call to action.
Coming from a science background where politics are often less front-and-center in the classroom, Apollo Goderich, U3 Science, pointed out that activism and solidarity has the power to pull students out of the daily grind and into engaged communities.
“You have to keep focusing on schoolwork like nothing is happening. It’s isolating and reminds you of the city’s apathy [....] When we talk with each other, we cultivate understanding—we share our anger and suffering,” Goderich stated.
The weight of the ecological crisis has driven many members of Gen Z to question whether bringing children into this world is ethical, given our grim environmental outlook.
However, Rebecca Solnit, an American writer, is quick to rebut that in her experience, many activists who face the realities of the climate crisis daily are people with family and children—for whom they hope to secure a better, liveable future.
act of merciless, unsentimental love which spares no one. We owe it to ourselves and future generations to create a better world, working through our despair and grief to find a way
Recalling her Fundamentals of Global Health class, Setayesh recalled Thunberg’s words: “Once we start to act, hope is everywhere. So instead of looking for hope, look for action. Then, and only then,
“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. No, it’s not.” - The Lorax (Ryan Dvorak / The Tribune)
support colleges
expelling protestors
refusing to negotiate with them. This reflects the growing debate over free expression and maintenance of order on campuses. (Hannah Nobile / The Tribune)
Social media signalling isn’t enough The limits of social media activism
Tamiyana Roemer Staff Writer
In the wake of the U.S. election, my social media feed was flooded with reactions. Old classmates from my New Jersey high school shared Instagram Stories condemning Donald Trump, highlighting allegations against him, and denouncing his voters. These posts were swift and impassioned: An immediate outpouring of anger and grief. Yet, within 48 hours, the fervour had all but disappeared. No links to community organizations, no resources to turn outrage into action—just a digital silence.
This isn’t to say that social media activism lacks value. Social media is an incredible tool for spreading information, especially in moments of crisis. It can amplify marginalized voices, expose injustices, and mobilize movements. In 2020, the Black Lives Matter movement was fueled by the virality of posts educating people about systemic racism, police violence, and ways to support Black communities. Digital networks can be a powerful tool to galvanize the activism process. In community organizing, this notion is known
as the ladder of engagement, where more and more people are encouraged by their peers to take on progressively greater action in pursuit of a goal. Social media is a new digital rung on the ladder that’s easier to reach than many offline alternatives. Additionally, platforms like Instagram and X help shed light on conflicts and catastrophes that mainstream media often overlook.
Cecilia Euahsunthornwattana, U1 Arts, shared their thoughts on the role social media can play in spreading awareness.
“I learnt about a lot of causes or social issues that I wouldn’t have even heard about through social media,” Eu-ahsunthornwattana wrote to The Tribune. “A lot of them are subjects that I’m now more educated in and see the importance of, from hearing personal stories of other people and doing extra research.”
“There has never been a time before where information could be so wide spread, and I think being able to share on social media gets a population that may not have been educated on subjects involved,” wrote a student who wished to remain anonymous.
But there’s a darker side
to this: Are we using social media to inform and create action, or are we simply signalling our moral alignment?
After the election, many posts felt less like calls to action and more like declarations of group identity. Sharing a story condemning Trump wasn’t just about what the post said—it was about what it meant. These posts functioned as social signifiers, telling followers, I’m one of the good guys.
I’m on your side.
This phenomenon isn’t unique to elections. Story posts often serve as a form of performative activism— symbolic gestures that communicate outrage or solidarity without necessarily leading to tangible change.
A person might share an infographic or photograph but stop short of donating, volunteering, or organizing.
The issue lies in the echo chamber of social media. We create online communities with people and perspectives that align with our own. When we
post about activism, it’s likely that much of our audience already agrees with us.
Soffia Gaw, U2 Arts, talked about the purpose of reposting in a written statement to The Tribune
“Rarely do I see a reposted political story not meant to display an overt message that is on behalf of the person reposting. I think those who repost aim to create greater knowledge for their audience while also re-establishing their position on the issue.”
Sharing a post is easy;
taking meaningful action is harder. It takes more effort to attend a protest, contact elected officials, or engage in community organizing than it is to tap “share” on an infographic. This isn’t to diminish the importance of raising awareness—education is a critical first step in any movement. But if awareness isn’t followed by such efforts, what’s the point?
Activism requires more than just visibility—it requires action. Sharing a story is a start, but it shouldn’t be the end.
Queer McGill’s drag night defies traditional drag categories
Local performers continue to push against binaries despite contemporary backlash
Bianca Tri Staff Writer
Whenever you put on a lash, it’s not just for fun, it’s resistance.” These were the opening words from host Rosa Golde at Queer McGill’s annual amateur drag night on Nov. 28. On the pulsing dancefloor of Cabaret Berlin, eight upand-coming performers gave their all to deliver a show for the ages. From political satire to burlesque, the drag artists pushed the boundaries of traditional “drag king” and “drag queen” categories, showcasing a new wave of avant-garde stars looking to break down and transcend binaries.
Self-proclaimed “drag thing,” Pandora’s Box Muncher, U3 Arts and Science, debuted at a Queer McGill drag show in 2022. Their act combined theatre and cinema in an eclectic live rendition of Barbra Streisand’s “I’m the Greatest Star” from Funny Girl and Pearl’s monologue from Pearl (2022).
“In this colonial, imperialist, white supremacist culture, [drag] is something that’s suppressed. Drag at the fringes—like less mainstream [than] RuPaul’s Drag Race drag— is important in pushing back,” they told The Tribune, speaking on the political importance of
drag.
In another act, Tall Graycie embodied this sentiment in their identity as a “drag creature.”
Pandora’s Box Muncher commented on the importance of a student group such as Queer McGill hosting a drag night.
“I have met five people tonight who are telling me it’s their first drag show and that in itself is important,” they said. “Promoting drag in places where it’s not usually promoted allows more awareness.”
Indeed, as Rosa Golde and co-host Augusta Wind asked how many people in the crowd were “popping their drag show cherry” that night, many people cheered and raised their hands. The energy in the room was electric, with the audience unprepared for what was to come. Notably, the acts varied widely from each other; the night was a mix of traditional lip-sync dances, instrumental numbers, and live singing performances.
“We not only want and need designated spaces in order to thrive and succeed but we want to have fun and memorable experiences,” Valeria Munoz, a Master’s student in Educational Leadership and one of Queer McGill’s Events Coordinators, shared in a written statement to The Tribune. “We must push boundaries and go beyond
comfort zones […] We think it’s a valuable opportunity to use our platform to foster connections within the McGill and Montreal community.”
In keeping with this mission, Queer McGill hosts various events such as movie screenings, queer orientations for incoming students, and ballroom workshops—an underground queer subculture of competitive performance invented by the first person known to describe himself as a drag queen, William Dorsey Swann.
Queer McGill was founded in 1972 and has over 3,000 followers on Instagram, making it one of
Overall, the reception of the drag night was spectacular. The performers shared how encouraging and supportive everyone was; they expressed thanks to the staff of the venue, the Queer McGill executives, and the crowd themselves.
“This event was truly an astounding success. [Event Coordinators] Anushka Manoj and Valeria Munoz’s teamwork and coordination skills were
reflected in the way they singlehandedly contacted the venue [and] performers, and did the marketing/promotion of the event,” the Queer McGill events team shared in a written statement to The Tribune
“Between all of these moving parts and the anxiety built up right before doors opened, I’m impressed with ourselves and couldn’t be happier.” Evidently, there was no need to worry. The team
delivered an amazing show that highlighted the evolving landscape of drag arts. Furthermore, they reaffirmed the need to provide outlets for new creatives and to expose more students on campus to queer culture and history. Overall, Queer McGill’s amateur drag night exemplified the importance of being your authentic self and how the gender revolution will be led by drag artists.
A 2023 survey found that nearly half of U.S. social media users had been politically active on social media in the past year. (Drea Garcia Avila / The Tribune)
the most followed clubs at McGill. (Matt Adelberg / The Tribune)
The Tribune presents: The Best/Worst of 2024
The Arts & Entertainment team’s annual list of favourites and flops in media
Charlotte Hayes, Annabella Lawlor, Bianca Sugunasiri Staff Writers
BEST:
Pop Culture
Moo Deng’s rise to fame - Bianca
As Gossip Girl’s Serena van der Woodsen once said, “Lipstick lasts longer, but gloss is more fun,” and 2024’s “It Girl” is the glossiest girl around. Some may tell you that the title belongs to Taylor Swift or Sabrina Carpenter, but Moo Deng undoubtedly blows them all out of the water. With gorgeous glass skin and a relatable personality—who doesn’t love to scream sometimes?—this slippery pygmy hippo has captured the hearts of the internet. Originally presented to the public by Atthapon Nundee, her zookeeper, Moo Deng gained popularity when content creator Yammi Saracino translated the original content into English. With every video, Moo Deng has formed a positive little corner of the internet full of smiles and dopamine-spiking cuteness.
Chappell Roan yells at paparazzi - Charlotte
Chappell Roan has had an incredible year, but her sudden rise to stardom has brought some challenges, particularly with paparazzi. A tense moment at the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) found her yelling “You shut the fuck up!” at an impatient photographer hounding her for another photo. Roan later told Rolling Stone that she suffers from social anxiety and that moments like those—with everyone screaming—are incredibly overwhelming. Her insistence on creating boundaries is particularly impactful as we’ve seen an influx of early-2000s stars over the past few years speak more openly about the toll that paparazzi culture has taken on their mental health. It’s exciting to see a new generation of pop stars set a better precedent for a healthier relationship with the media.
Challengers (Luca Guadagnino) - Charlotte
To paraphrase Oscar Wilde, everything in the world is about sex except sex, which is about… tennis? Well, at least according to Challengers it is. Luca Guadagnino’s romantic drama starring Mike Faist, Josh O’Connor, and the one and only Zendaya follows tennis prodigy-turned-coach Tashi Duncan (Zendaya) who attempts to turn her once-promising tennis player husband, Art Donaldson (Faist), into a US Open Champion. To boost his confidence, Tashi signs him up for a low-level Challenger event competing against his former best friend and now rival—and Tashi’s ex-boyfriend—Patrick Zweig (O’Connor). Fueled by a propulsive club beat soundtrack from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, Challengers never drops the ball for a moment, keeping the energy up for the entirety of its 131–minute run time.
La Chimera (Alice Rohrwacher) - Annabella
Raygun
WORST:
at the Summer Olympics in Paris - Annabella
On Nov. 6, infamous Olympic breakdancer Rachael Gunn, also known by the moniker Raygun, announced that she would no longer compete in professional breaking following the onset of criticism for her performance at the Paris Olympics—and it’s for the best. If she wants to call her comedic gesticulations a form of personal expression, then I will be holding space for her journey. But I don’t want to see it on the Olympic stage in competition with the impressive athleticism and fluid movement of her B-Girl peers. This summer marked breakdancing’s debut on the Olympic Stage, but Raygun’s televised contortions overshadowed the monumental occasion. The internet is attributing her with discrediting the nature of the sport, citing her as a reason for its non-inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Though this has been falsified, her impact is clear: Raygun has made a mockery of and worsened the odds of breaking—which already has a lengthy, controversial history of its consideration as a sport—to circulate in the dominant culture of sports.
Films
Glistening shores, a breeze of ethereality, a vision of poetic tranquillity in the wake of unresolved loss. Alice Rohrwacher’s film La Chimera blends the surreal forces of a dominating nature with the harshness of 1980s rural Italian landscapes. Rohrwacher constructs a world of elegiac beauty within the narrative of Arthur (Josh O’Connor), an English archaeologist who finds himself entangled in the world of Tuscan tombaroli, a group of grave robbers who loot tombs for Etruscan artifacts. This ensemble of diverse characters, reminiscent of the tropes of the Italian comedic tradition commedia dell’arte” makes viewers nostalgic for an environment many have never experienced. La Chimera feels like a dream of the past; it acknowledges the spirituality of preserving artistic landscapes and the immateriality of the past, and questions the corrupt nature of the Italian art market. With La Chimera, Rohrwacher cements herself as one of the most important, introspective voices in global contemporary cinema.
brat by Charli XCX - Charlotte
The euphoric club beats of Charli XCX’s sixth studio album brat fueled this summer with all the messy-cool-girl energy we needed. An album which on the surface appears to be a simple series of pop, electronic, and club songs, is infused with lyrics about grief, generational trauma, and the anxieties of growing into adulthood. Expanding her project even further on the remix album, bratandit’scompletely different but also still brat, Charli pushes the boundaries of how far you can remix a song before it is ultimately something different. Both albums are distinct, yet they work in harmony, seemingly talking to each other about Charli’s insecurity with her career trajectory and subsequent discomfort with her newfound mega-stardom.
Cowboy Carter by Beyoncé - Annabella
“They used to say I spoke, ‘Too Country’ / And the rejection came, said I wasn’t, ‘Country ‘nough,” Beyoncé chants powerfully on the first track, “American Requiem.” Second in her trilogy of genreexploring concept albums, Beyoncé recalls her Texan roots in Cowboy Carter as an exploration of the intentional erasure of Black presence in the history of American country music. She explores the historical complexities of the country genre as a product of early African-American blues music, grappling with her place in the dialogue of contemporary popular music. A masterclass in sampling and vocal performance, Cowboy Carter is a monumental work that showcases Beyoncé’s skill in crafting musical worlds, proving the 2020s are the neo-renaissance of her career.
It Ends with Us (Justin Baldoni) - Bianca
It, in fact, does not end with us; it simply needs to end. Flowers and candy may go together, but flowers and domestic violence (DV) do not. It Ends with Us shamelessly glosses over the significance of DV victims, failing to give it the consideration and attention that it warrants. This was the beginning of a long line of poor choices, ending with Blake Lively choosing to promote her haircare line alongside a film in which her hair looks as frayed as the patience of her fans. Beyond the plot’s lack of awareness, the production quality was equally disappointing, which perhaps should have been taken as a sign to end production. Blake Lively promoted the film with the phrase: “Grab your friends, wear your florals, and head out to see it!” Apparently, It ends with ignorance.
143 by Katy Perry - Bianca
143 is such a flop that it’s barely notable enough to be infamous. The epitome of mediocrity, it wouldn’t even warrant mention if not for its tendency towards controversy. The empowerment she hoped to express with “Woman’s World” is immaterial in light of her collaboration with producer/songwriter Dr. Luke. Bringing someone Kesha sued for sexual assault to co-write a song about women’s empowerment is as off-key as the track itself. Her intentions are muddy, expressing the desire to touch on significant topics and simultaneously just create something fun. The album screams of apathy, drowning out Perry’s vocals, and her half-hearted attempts at feminism resulted in an album of “meh.”
Puppets, blood, and Southern charm collide in ‘Hand to God’ from Players’ Theatre
The dark comedy is packed with all the gore and religious humour promised
Charlotte Hayes Staff Writer
Walking out of Players’ Theatre on Tuesday, Nov. 26 after the inaugural showing of Hand to God, it would be hard to miss the floored yet delighted reactions of audience members. The phrase “fucking badonkers” echoes off the high ceilings of the University Centre— and quite frankly, it’s a fairly apt description. Jam-packed with satanic puppets, missing earlobes, and a whole lot of deep-cut religious humour, Hand to God is one of the more entertaining ways to spend a Tuesday night.
The play, written by Robert Askins, is set in the devoutly religious town of Cypress, Texas and follows recent widow Margery (Claire Tees, U4 Arts) as she attempts to lead a puppet club at the local church. The project was given to her by Pastor Greg (Henry Kemeny-Wodlinger, U2 Arts) in order to keep her occupied (idle
hands and such) after the death of her husband. The club’s teenage members include her son Jason (Elias Luz, U0), his girl-next-door crush Jessica (Raphaëlle Béhar, U2 Arts) and his bully/rival Timmy (Nia Blankson, U4 Music). Things take a dark turn when Jason’s hand puppet, Tyrone, springs to life, declaring himself to be Satan, luring the group into sinful behaviour and spilling secrets everyone would prefer to keep hidden.
The show’s strength lies in its ensemble’s electric performances, particularly Luz, who commands the stage in a dual role as Jason and Tyrone. His rapid-fire transitions between Jason’s shy, childlike voice, and Tyrone’s husky, demonic growl feel like a marvel of athleticism and timing—a Jekyll and Hyde transformation for a boy and his puppet. The cast’s impeccable Southern accents amplify Tyrone’s menacing presence, grounding the play in its Texas setting. For codirector Roberta Du (U3 Arts and Science), this attention to detail was a happy surprise.
“[The majority of the cast] ended up in the same callback, and we just put them in the roles that they are in now. And we were like, this is the show,” Du told The Tribune. “We didn’t have our
hopes up for the Southern accent. We were like, if it’s bad, we’re not going to do it, but they were all, like, really dedicated. And that also kind of goes to show the type of people we want—super passionate, working for this play along with their talents.”
The passion shows not only in the performances but in the play’s immersive design. Audience members were greeted by a “Blood Splash Zone” warning upon entering the theatre—a mildly disturbing omen for what’s supposed to be a church puppet show. The reason became clear during several gleefully grotesque scenes involving stabbings, strangulations, and mutilations—mostly performed by Tyrone the puppet. The blood effects, impressively realistic, were a labour of love.
“Originally, we weren’t actually going to do blood. We were going to do, like, a comedic bit of red string coming out or something. But then we thought, it would look better. Making the blood sacks was actually really difficult. It took me a long time to figure out what we were going to do because we searched up ‘pouches of blood to explode,’ and they did not exist. So we made them out of plastic bags and hair elastics,” Co-Director
Alexis Mezzarobba (U3 Science) explained.
Despite their limited experience as directors, Mezzarobba and Du’s collaboration brought a cohesive vision to the production. Together, they crafted a tone that shifts seamlessly from absurd comedy to chilling chaos, delivering a show that feels like a slow descent into madness.
“[I] think we knew we were gonna work well together, but we didn’t know just how well. It really felt like two brains working as one. Anything that I couldn’t quite remember, I feel like was […] filled in by [Mezzarobba],” Du told The
Hand to God is incredibly successful in its cutting religious sarcasm and pushing unnerving violence to boundaries in all the right ways.
In the best way possible, it will haunt my dreams (or maybe nightmares) forever.
Arts & Entertainment Editor Dana Prather was the Intimacy Director for ‘Hand to God’ and was not involved in the editing or publication of this article. Web Editor Roberta Du was the Co-Director of this project. While interviewed, she was not involved in the editing or publication of this article.
‘Witches: Out of the Shadows’ demystifies the resilient witch
The exhibit highlights historical narrative as foundation for revolution
Annabella Lawlor Staff Writer
The final room of Witches: Out of the Shadows is one of the most powerful exhibition endings I have ever witnessed. Kiki Smith’s bronze sculpture Woman on Pyre lies atop the centre pedestal, engulfed by a circular structure of distorted, geometric mirrors; it confronts the senses, inviting viewers to witness an execution scene frozen in time by its cast medium. Just because a pinprick drew no blood, the figure now kneels atop serrated logs that gnaw at her legs’ flesh, tearing through her barren form that helplessly pleads for mercy. At first glance, one could ask how a woman so vilified by the public as a violent figure hunches over in desolate surrender to her fate, but the motion of her outstretched arms beckoning for a final sliver of forgiveness takes the shape of a spirited resistance. She rises from her damnation as an accused witch, asserting resilience and fortitude even in death. Smith’s work bears witness to these silenced narratives of the demarcated witch, capturing the essence of this spirited exhibition.
Pointe-à-Callière’s exhibition Witches: Out of the Shadows considers the witch both as a historical construct rooted in sexism,
and as a contemporary popular symbol of combined strength and folly. With its wondrous collection of diverse objects— scientific manuscripts, ritual accompaniments, tarot cards, and couture fashion, and more—the exhibit beautifully depicts the continuously remoulded perception of this mystical being. The jewel tones that cascade down from the walls accentuate witchcraft’s artistic nature, reasserting the ephemeral beauty of these historical items.
The exhibition begins with the genesis of the witch as a religious symbol of the blasphemous unknown and heretical magic. It then investigates its subsequent transformation into a secular vision of women’s disobedience in the Middle Ages as a perceived threat to the man-dominated sphere of science. Portrayed through manuscripts, medieval woodcuts, and manuals for witch elimination, the room artfully curates a glimpse into the world of intense paranoia of women’s power. Anything unknown to man, such as the womandominated world of natural healing and midwifery, would be deemed “otherworldly” and therefore indicative of wicked intentions. We see the torture devices reserved for these socalled witches, and are forced to face this appalling history of subjugating women’s bodies to
physical torture for scientific excellence.
Moving from room to room, the exhibit masterfully balances examples of women’s suffering with feminist reclamations of this violently circumscribed label. A dress by Alexander McQueen, titled In Memory of Elizabeth Howe, Salem, 1692 , comments on the culture of traditional women’s practices, like textile design, and the use of structured garments as a form of armour. The piece builds off the hardships of ancestors to strengthen tenacity in a modern age where blatant inequalities still exist. Flanked by a 17thcentury painting of the Salem Witch Trials and a tranquil video installation about witchcraft, the couture garment’s unexpected inclusion highlights this continuous presence of the feminine subject, not as victims but as demystified beings of
The exhibition includes several books about visually identifying witchcraft from McGill’s Osler Library. ( Eliot Loose / The Tribune )
enduring force
The upper floor covers the dissemination of the “witch” into popular culture via urban legends, otherworldly games, and a process of spiritual protection through physical guidance. On display are antique Ouija boards, handpainted tarot cards, religious amulets, and other modes of metaphysical connection.
Projected onto the installation’s walls, the witch has taken shape across mediums as a
misunderstood, beautified being who tirelessly revolts against hardship—and through power, reclaims her agency. Witches: Out of the Shadows brings light to this levelling of the perceived “cultural witch,” reminding attendees of the lengthy history of systemic expulsion and the subsequent revolution of the feminine spirit.
Witches: Out of the Shadows runs until Apr. 6, 2025. Tickets are available online or in person at Pointe-à-Callière.
Tribune
All the puppets in Hand to God were made by the cast and crew. (Players’ Theatre)
‘Costume Balls: Dressing Up History, 1870-1927’ probes imperial myths behind the glitz
McCord exhibition presents costumes, photos, and publications from a bygone era
Kellie Elrick Arts & Entertainment Editor
In 1870, Montrealers adorned themselves with velvet and tassels and silk, and then made their way to the ball. Queen Victoria’s son, Prince Arthur—the namesake of rue Prince-Arthur— was visiting the city for the year. No expense was spared; there would be a costumed carnival, and it would be on ice. 400 of the city’s elite spent the evening gliding across the rink at the Victoria Skating Club, drinking, laughing and dancing. Mary, Queen of Scots sailed past Fra Diavolo, fat, fluffy garlands hung from the rafters, the lights were warm, colourful reflections of guests whizzing by made brushstrokes on the ice, and little Hattie Atwater—of the market, library,
and station—dressed as “Fanciful Fans,” with two-dozen folding fans attached to her velvet dress, and one more on her head. And there was music—Waldteufel’s “The Skaters’ Waltz.”
There’s a man in blackface, captured in a painting of the ball. In a portrait from that night, Mr. Reynolds shows off his costume as “Quewaygoosquequamteros,” an invented Indigenous character. He posed for the photo with an axe in his mouth.
The McCord Stewart Museum’s latest exhibition, Costume Balls: Dressing Up History, 1870-1927, displays over 40 costumes from balls across Canada. Opulent and fantastical, costume balls were the apex of elite society escapism— they were, as a journalist from the Montreal Daily Witness put it, “the very acme of the phantasmagoria of the hour” (or, in the words of a fellow exhibition goer, “une grosse affaire là”).
The exhibition interrogates how the balls, though beautiful, reinforced colonial and imperial mindsets. The costumes invite viewers to be enchanted by elegance, but to ask what stories lie beneath it.
“I wanted us to present an exhibition that really had teeth,”
Exhibition Curator Cynthia Cooper said in an interview with The Tribune.
Costume Balls welcomes viewers into the world of the Van Hornes and Atwaters, the Molsons and McConnells. While servants did dress up for the balls, their costumes were largely lost and many went unphotographed.
Moving through the exhibition, you hear the same music the elite danced to over a century ago, sourced from dance programs in newspapers.
“I took all the dance programs to the National Library of Canada, to the sound division, and we looked for early recordings of all these pieces [....] We were able to track down a certain number of them on records, and we made a recording of [...] 20 pieces that were actually played,” Cooper said.
In the last room, the music stops. In 1896, at the Historical Fancy Dress Ball in Ottawa, Hayter Reed, “Deputy Superintendent of Indian Affairs,” led a group of guests dressed as Indigenous caricatures to the centre of the floor, “making loud noises and aggressive gestures.”
“Indian agents”—Canadian government officials sent to reserves to “manage” affairs—stole
moccasins, octopus bags, and eagle feathers from Indigenous peoples to adorn the elite for lavish balls.
The items were never returned and were often destroyed. The exhibition confronts viewers with an aesthetic problem: There’s something special in seeing shoes people walked in and dresses they danced in a hundred years ago, to imagine them whirling around the room, alive and bright and brilliant, taken off and worn again. It’s heady—to see centuryold photographs, and the costumes right there, stained and worn and human. It seems so real, and so beautiful, but it hides such an ugly colonial reality; gorgeous clothes dressing gruesome ideas.
Office Hours
By: J. Valerio
There’s a blue dress in the penultimate room. Silk with a lace collar and cuffs. Cooper found that between the 1760s and 1789, the dress travelled along the path— Virginia, New York, Shelburne, Quebec City—of one of the earliest Black communities in Canada, providing insight into the lives of those who did not leave garments behind. The sartorial stories behind the pomp persist even after the clothes themselves have been lost, waiting for someone to search, to look, and to listen.
Costume Balls: Dressing Up History, 1870-1927 will run until Aug. 17, 2025. Tickets are available online or in person at the McCord Stewart Museum.
The exhibition opened 100 years to the day after a lavish ball in Montreal. ( Laura Dumitriu / The Tribune )
Towards equity: 2SLGBTQIA+ representation in genetic counselling education
Understanding the impact of inclusion in genetic counselling education
Sarah McDonald Staff Writer
Genetic counselling is a growing field that aims to use family history and DNA testing to help families that may be at high risk for having children with birth defects and genetic disorders, as well as assess risk factors for inherited conditions. While innovations in genetic testing present new horizons for doctors and families, concerns are growing that modern genetics may be at risk of reproducing aspects of eugenics, a movement that aimed to “improve” future generations by only allowing certain people to reproduce.
As genetic counselling navigates these concerns, it must grapple with many serious ethical and political questions. One certainty is that a diversity of voices must be included, both in conversations about genetic counselling and within the field itself.
Valerie Chu, a recent McGill graduate, published a recent paper analyzing inclusivity in genetic counselling programs. While this paper was part of Chu’s graduation requirement, it held a special place for her, as it allowed her to suggest improvements that could increase
the inclusivity levels in genetic counselling masters programs while working to amplify the voices of 2SLGBTQIA+ students.
“I chose more of a passion project, something I thought was very important to the field,” Chu explained in an interview with The Tribune
Studies have explored and documented the experiences of 2SLGBTQIA+ students in adjacent fields. They have consistently shown that regardless of the field— medicine, dentistry, social work, or nursing—discrimination against 2SLBGTQIA+ students persists.
“They experienced discrimination and a different experience [during] their healthcare degree compared to their non-queer peers,” Chu stated. “But there were no published papers about genetic counselling students who identify as part of the LGBTQ population.”
For her study, Chu interviewed 13 genetic counselling students and recent graduates who selfidentify as part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
“[We asked them about] their experience, and what their relationships were like with their peers and their faculty in their twoyear genetic counselling master’s degree,” Chu explained.
The results of the study
showed trends similar to those found in analysis of 2SLGBTQIA+ experiences in other fields, with seven sub-themes, such as assumptions of heterosexuality, feelings of isolation, and the need to educate classmates on queer issues, emerging in the responses.
Some of these themes are present in other related fields, one example being the conscripted curriculum—a teaching method where educators ask students to share their personal experiences to teach their classmates about race and social inequalities.
“There’s this sort of pressure on these minorities to educate their classmates and to be like representatives, where the Asian student [is expected to be] the expert on all things Asian,” Chu explained.
When students are forced to become spokespeople for their identities, they can become objectified, making it harder to form organic personal connections and friendships.
Furthermore, students reported feelings of isolation, which can lead to lowering academic performance averages and potentially impact career choice after graduation.
The conscripted curriculum arises in small group settings. This makes it especially challenging to
avoid in genetic counselling programs. All five Canadian genetic counselling schools have cohorts with less than eight students each, and programs in the United States aren’t much bigger.
However, Chu’s analysis provided a positive spin on this detrimental effect.
“Some participants still said that there was a little bit of discomfort,” Chu stated.
“[However, other] respondents said that they didn’t mind educating and helping their fellow students when they were looking for resources for LGBTQ patients or inclusive pedigrees.”
Despite the limitations of the study—with a lack of gender diversity and no intersex or asexual participants—Chu’s work is critical to prompting important discussions within our working and learning environments.
“We’re hoping that this paper will cause faculty at different universities to reflect on how they treat their genetic counselling
students,” Chu noted. “Maybe they will realize that they have some biases.”
Chu’s work paved the way for subsequent improvement in the inclusivity levels of genetic counselling programs—an important step in the fight towards equity and inclusion in health sciences.
“Because it’s the first paper investigating the experiences of LGBTQ genetic counselling students, people can build upon it. Students now and in the future can quote and reference my paper for their papers that they’ll publish,” Chu said.
Healing the barriers: Noa Therapeutics and the future of eczema treatment
Disrupting current therapies for atopic dermatitis by targeting transcription factors
Sammi Lai Contributor
Apromising new approach to combating eczema could help millions of patients who are left unsatisfied by current treatments. The key may lie in transcription factors—a solution that was previously considered impossible.
On Nov. 19, members of the McGill Department of Chemistry gathered in the Otto Maass Chemistry Building where Carla Spina, CEO and co-founder of Noa Therapeutics, presented her research and innovative therapeutic for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD), a form of eczema.
Eczema is a complex disease that affects one in 10 children worldwide. AD is the most common form of eczema. It falls under the category of inflammatory barrier diseases, which can cause disruption of the body’s barriers—such as the permeability barrier of the skin—and leave the immune system compromised.
Spina described three major drivers of inflammatory barrier diseases: Barrier dysfunction (breaches in the barrier itself), immune dysregulation, and microbial imbalance. She stated that current therapeutics focus primarily on the inflammatory pathway and do not directly address the above drivers of the disease or the underlying cause.
In fact, 65 percent of patients with AD are nonresponsive to current therapies.
“We see that the drugs on the market are not addressing all of the underlying factors of these kinds of inflammatory diseases. We are looking [at] a more holistic approach to addressing underlying drivers, not only from an inflammation perspective, but from a barrier perspective, and addressing the potential for infection,” Spina explained.
Spina detailed the use of transcription factors as therapeutic targets, specifically the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR). Transcription factors are proteins that regulate genetic activity and influence important biochemical pathways. In the past, many scientists believed they were
unsuitable as therapeutic targets, due to their inability to bind small molecules or drugs.
“Traditionally, transcription factors were thought to be undruggable. This is in part because a large number of transcription factors do not have discrete binding pockets or they are not accessible for small molecule therapeutics,” Spina said.
However, some transcription factors, including AHR, do have a binding pocket. According to Spina, AHR is even considered a “promiscuous receptor” due to its ability to bind a variety of ligands originating from both inside and outside the body. She explained how, when you hurt yourself, certain compounds can bind to AHR and promote healing pathways.
With her company, Noa Therapeutics, Spina developed NOA-104, a leading drug compound that targets AHR.
Within the first six months of starting the company, the novel therapeutic demonstrated the ability to resolve barrier dysfunction and reduce oxidative stress in human skin cells, potentially decreasing inflammation associated with atopic dermatitis.
Spina, who studied at the University of Calgary before coming to McGill in 2003, has many loved ones who live with atopic dermatitis and said she
was passionate about finding better methods of treatment for those with inflammatory barrier diseases.
“When we think about what we’re here for, we’re not here for the molecules, we’re not here for the science, although that part is really fun. We really focus on people, on patients,” Spina said.
Looking ahead, Spina and Noa Therapeutics aim for further translation of their drug into disease models, such as through validation in animal studies. However, as the complexity of atopic dermatitis presents numerous challenges, their team requires extensive testing to have a better understanding of the impact of their therapy.
“You always want to have a clear understanding of what the implications are in a real disease state [....] Because again, atopic dermatitis is very heterogeneous,” Spina said.
Finally, Spina opened the door to addressing a broader range of inflammatory diseases, including multiple sclerosis and inflammatory bowel disease—conditions with pathological similarities to atopic dermatitis. She emphasized the need to review current models of therapy and continue driving innovation to ensure impactful advancements that improve the quality of disease treatment.
This paper used the constructivist grounded theory—a research method that focuses on generating theories for complex social processes. (Lilly Guilbeault / The Tribune)
31.6 million people in the U.S. have some form of eczema.
(Ariella Morgan / The Tribune)
Nurturing culturally safe birth care for Indigenous communities
Research explores maternal care interventions for Inuit and Cree families
Daniel Pyo Staff Writer
Indigenous communities, particularly First Nations, Inuit, and Métis women, face unique and significant challenges in accessing equitable healthcare during pregnancy and childbirth. Historical and ongoing disparities in healthcare access and quality, mistreatment and abuse of Indigenous people in colonial healthcare systems, lack of healthcare services in remote communities and northern Canada, and cultural disconnection all present barriers to Indigenous mothers getting vital and appropriate care before, during, and after pregnancy.
New healthcare initiatives are emerging to address these inequities by promoting the importance of culturally safe care and Indigenous-led approaches.
Hilah Silver, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Family Medicine and a registered nurse at the McGill University Health Centre, is focusing on improving Indigenous maternal
healthcare. Her work as a nurse places her at the forefront of patient care, where she often communicates with Indigenous mothers and their hospital liaisons.
Currently, major issues Indigenous women face when accessing maternal healthcare include the lack of culturally appropriate care, geographical isolation, and the practice of maternal evacuation, where women are relocated to urban hospitals for childbirth.
As part of a recent study intended to address these healthcare disparities, Hilah implemented four interventions designed with the active participation of Indigenous stakeholders. These measures reflect the principles of cultural safety and provide a model for improving healthcare outcomes for those who face inevitable maternal evacuation.
Maternal evacuation is especially common for those who live in isolated communities, such as the Nunavik region, that do not have hospitals and professionals who can perform surgeries. This separation of women from their
families and communities during such a critical and difficult time often results in isolation, trauma, and stress for both new mothers and their communities.
“When I spoke with the Indigenous participants for this research, it became very clear quickly that maternal care serviced in our hospitals often lacks consideration of how to work for Indigenous families, especially those who are forcibly relocated for their birth appointments,” Hilah said in an interview with The Tribune
Cultural safety goes beyond mere cultural awareness or sensitivity. It means creating an environment where Indigenous patients feel respected, valued, and understood. This requires acknowledging the cultural identities, histories, and practices of Indigenous peoples and weaving these elements into their care.
A comprehensive approach to improving maternal healthcare for Indigenous women involved a series of culturally informed interventions, each designed to address specific needs. One such initiative was
an Indigenous-led cultural safety training program for nurses and hospital staff. Indigenous midwives created a training program that used online presentations and handson sessions to teach healthcare providers how to deliver respectful and culturally appropriate care.
Additionally, hospitals adopted an expanded family visitor policy, allowing multiple family members to be present during childbirth. This policy change recognized the importance of familial support in reducing stress and fostering emotional connection for mothers during their hospital stay.
Other measures focused on creating a more welcoming and culturally resonant environment for Indigenous families. Hospitals ensured access to traditional foods, which provided a sense of comfort and familiarity, thereby enhancing well-being during their stay.
Furthermore, the hospitals allowed the incorporation of perinatal traditions, such as sacred medicines and ceremonies, into the childbirth experience. These efforts collectively empowered
Reaching every doorstep: Equitable care for pregnant women in Nigeria
How universal home visits can address maternal health inequities
Lana Liquard Staff Writer
Nigeria’s Bauchi State has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world. Home visit programs are making a difference in reducing this rate by bringing vital healthcare knowledge straight to the doorsteps of pregnant women. By meeting women and their families where they are, this initiative helps address maternal health inequities and support vulnerable families.
Anne Cockcroft, professor at McGill’s Department of Family Medicine in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, recently published a paper in Community Health Equity Research & Policy examining the equity of universal home visits to pregnant women in the Bauchi State.
“All women need care during pregnancy and childbirth,” Cockcroft wrote in an email to The Tribune. “A problem with many interventions that involve outreach to communities or home visits is that they do not reach the most vulnerable households.”
Maternal health services in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are often under-resourced and unable to provide sufficient care for pregnant women. This study specifically examined how home visits—which aim to share actionable health information and promote equity—impact disadvantaged groups including women in rural areas, low-income households, and those with limited education.
During these home visits, trained visitors shared crucial
information on preventing pregnancy complications, equipping households to take proactive measures, particularly with men’s involvement. This included reducing heavy workloads, avoiding violence, and recognizing danger signs during pregnancy and childbirth.
One key element of the program’s success was its focus on involving men. Men home visitors spoke with husbands, encouraging them to discuss pregnancy-related topics with their spouses and support them with household tasks. One of Cockcroft’s previous studies has shown that this not only improves maternal and child health outcomes but also improves the husband’s behaviour and attitude towards maternal and child care.
Another major strength of the program is its universal approach.
“We did not make initial assumptions about which women and which households most needed help,” Cockcroft wrote. “Only by making the visits universal can one ensure all women get support.”
This approach differs from government-provided health services in that it is available to all households. The most disadvantaged households often face the greatest barriers to accessing facility-based healthcare services.
“The same factors that increase maternal morbidity and mortality reduce the ability of women to attend facilities for antenatal care or childbirth,” Cockroft wrote.
The study found significant improvements in maternal knowledge of potential pregnancy risks in disadvantaged pregnant
women. Pregnant women in rural and remote areas, those from impoverished households, and those without formal education experienced the greatest benefits. These included increased knowledge of danger signs during pregnancy, reduced instances of domestic violence, and improved spousal communication.
Similar to earlier reports of the trial, the home visits also produced notable improvements in maternal and child health. These benefits, however, tend to favour less disadvantaged groups, potentially widening the gap with more marginalized populations. What is unique about this study, however, is that it confirmed the pro-equity nature of home visits.
“The home visits did reach everyone equally, and the program was proequity,” Cockcroft wrote. “The impact of the visits was greater in poorer, less educated women in rural communities.”
Comprehensive household-level programs are critical in addressing barriers to accessing healthcare services and offer a practical approach to advancing universal health coverage. Additionally, home visit intervention promotes gender equity and can even be gender transformative.
mothers, honoured their traditions, and fostered a sense of dignity during a critical life event.
This study prioritized Indigenous voices by involving stakeholders in its design and implementation. Its participatory approach took into account the historical and sociopolitical realities that have shaped Indigenous healthcare experiences, ensuring that services were responsive to the specific needs and cultural contexts of the communities they serve.
“At first, I was worried that there would be limited participants for this study. But I think our clear goals of pursuing this research solely to enhance cultural appreciation and consideration in maternal care intrigued them to actively work with us,” Hilah said.
Given the challenges Indigenous women face in accessing healthcare, there is an urgent need to work collectively towards mitigating health inequities by engaging their perspectives in the development of healthcare interventions tailored to their specific needs.
Moving forward, the Bauchi Ministry of Health is planning to integrate home
visits—like those in Cockcroft’s study—into its routine services.
This initiative stands as a testament to the transformative power of equity-driven healthcare. Its success reminds us that equitable health solutions are not only possible, but essential.
Subnationally, the Bauchi State’s maternal mortality rate is higher than the average in Nigeria, with 4,113 maternal deaths per 100,000 as of 2010. (Lilly Guilbeault / The Tribune)
Varsity
Report Card: Fall 2024
The Tribune sports team reviews varsity performances this season
Lialah Mavani & Anoushka Oke
Sports Editors Zain Ahmed &
Alex Hawes
Staff WritersShani Laskin Managing Editor
Martlets Field Hockey (0–10):
The 2024-25 season concluded with the Martlets Field Hockey team once again finishing at the bottom of the Ontario University Association (OUA) standings. However, this year marked an important shift for the team as they hosted their first home game in over five years. The matches, played in front of an energetic and excited crowd, saw the Martlets face off against the Queen’s Gaels in two close games (0-2 and 2-3). While the results did not go in their favour, their spirited performance highlighted the team’s growth and resilience. With a significant number of talented first-year players on the roster, the Martlets are showing promising signs of improvement, and are looking stronger than they have in recent seasons.
Québec (RSEQ) Championships.
When they travelled to Kelowna for the U SPORTS National Championships, they ended up placing 15th of 22 teams from universities across Canada. They walked away without medals but with two RSEQ All-Stars: Sophie Courville and Abene Glasgow. The Redbirds came second in three out of four regularseason meets, securing third at the RSEQ Championships and placing 10th at the U SPORTS National Championship, this time with three RSEQ All-Stars: Luca Messenger-Jones, Devin Chapple and Samuel Hepworth. The Tribune looks forward to watching the Martlets and Redbirds take on the track and field indoor season.
Redbirds Football (3–6):
unfortunately being outclassed by the eventual winners of the tournament, the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds, in a painful 3-0 loss. Following this, they lost to the York University Lions in their bronze medal game; however, they still received a high grade for such a successful season and strong effort to their fourth place at nationals.
men’s rugby coach of the year, his third time winning that award. Fullback Martin Laval was a consistent scorer, leading the Redbirds to several of their victories; he was named a firstteam all-star alongside his teammates Anderson Recker, Brad Hunger, Ian McDowell, and Harry Corkum.
Martlets Rugby (0–6): With another winless season, the Martlets Rugby marked one of their toughest seasons to date. The past seasons—2021-22, 2022-23, and 2023-24—had seemed to provide some hope for the team, with the Martlets taking at least one win each year. Nonetheless, this year has led to a quite disappointing trend, with the team losing their last match 0-115 to the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees. Despite the victory-less season, Martlets Rugby did have some success off the pitch, with 16 of the team’s roster making the 202324 President’s Student Honour Roll. With the Martlets having over ten first-year players on the team, The Tribune is hopeful that the team’s outlook will improve in the upcoming seasons.
Cross Country: Martlets /Redbirds
The Martlets placed first in two out of four regular-season meets, and third at Réseau du sport étudiant du
Redbirds Football brought home three wins in nine games this season, falling to the Université de Montreal Carabins in the semi-final of the RSEQ. Despite not making their mark when they travelled to nationals, they put on a masterclass at the Shaughnessy Cup game for a huge homecoming occasion, driving the Concordia Stingers into the turf and running rampant in front of a packed Percival Molson Stadium. In addition, the Redbirds sent three top-tier players to the East-West Bowl: Zachary Aboud, Domenico Piazza, and Ryan McNally were selected to attend the Canadian Football League Prospects game in Waterloo. Quarterback Dimitrios Sinodinos ends the season with packed suitcases ready to embark on his journey to be the first Canadian football player in Japan. The Redbirds showed an improvement to last season, ending the year on a higher note.
Redbirds Soccer (10–7–4):
Redbirds Soccer had a season to remember. Securing second in the RSEQ, McGill earned a spot at the U SPORTS National Championships. Arriving at nationals champing at the bit, they stormed past tournament hosts, the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks, before
The Redbirds produced two players, Yannick Laurent and Ibrahim Chami, who made it into the U SPORTS Tournament AllStar Team.
Martlets Soccer (9–6–2):
With nine wins, six losses, and two ties, Martlets Soccer had a fairly successful season. Midfielder Chloe Renaud was named RSEQ player of the year for her staggering 12 goals and four assists throughout the season. The Martlets began the regular season with four wins in a row until breaking their winning streak to the Laval Victors. From there they broke even, beating a few teams and ultimately held their own, losing games by only one or two points. With three more wins than last season, the Martlets have made a drastic improvement in their quality of play. Unfortunately, getting knocked out of the playoffs due to an own goal in the semifinal match against Laval caused the Martlets to lose a few marks in the grade book.
Redbirds Lacrosse (11–2):
have upheld and uplifted the Redbird name and will hopefully continue to flourish in the seasons to come.
Redbirds Baseball (8–4):
McGill Baseball’s season seemed to mirror last year’s. They once again went second in the league, with an 8–4 regular season record that included two wins against Université du Québec à TroisRivières (UQTR)—who they had been unable to beat the previous season. After consecutive wins over the Concordia Stingers in the semifinals, their strong showing in the playoffs ended in unfortunate back-to-back losses in the best-of-three final against UQTR.
Redbirds Lacrosse had an incredibly successful season this year, with 11 wins and only two losses. Once again making it to the Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association Baggataway Cup semifinals, the Redbirds lost by one point in a devastating quadruple overtime, even after attackman Zach Bye tallied five goals. The only other loss of the season was a brutal 16-5 against their American neighbours, the University of Vermont Catamounts. Seven players were named All-Rookie honours and were each a driving force in the team’s massive success. With one more win than the 2023 season, they
Shortstop Brad Marelich was a consistent force throughout the season, with several hits in key games. Outfielder Jonas Press was also a standout player on offense for the Redbirds. Centerfield Jett Jarvis was named one of the athletes of the week on Oct. 7, with strong performances in the Oct. 5 playoff games against the Stingers.
Redbirds Rugby (5–1):
Redbirds Rugby had an impressive season with a record of 5–1. They won every regular-season game except their last, including a victory over the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees, who they failed to beat last season. They also had a decisive victory against Harvard in the Covo Cup. However, during playoffs, they fell to the Gee-Gees in the semifinals, getting knocked out by the same opponent as last season and failing to see any playoff improvement. Ottawa was ultimately defeated in the finals by École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS).
Several Redbirds stood out on an individual level. At the end of the season, Head Coach Ian Baillie was named RSEQ
Rowing: Martlets /Redbirds
2024 marked the second year that the McGill rowing team made the podium at the Canadian University Rowing Association (CURA) championships. Prior to 2023, the last time the team had gotten a CURA medal was in 2014. This year, the Redbirds won bronze in the men’s heavyweight double sculls with Ayoub Sabri in the stroke seat and Patrice Légaré at the bow. Overall, the Redbirds placed seventh in the men’s division with the Martlets placing 10th in the women’s division. While the Martlets didn’t make the podium, three boats qualified for the B finals. Overall, the rowing team is on the up and up from years prior.
Golf: Martlets / Redbirds
McGill golf saw some great individual successes this season with Simon Savaria and Amy Wang both earning RSEQ all-star status. Adley Abols made history by becoming the first man golfer at McGill to hit a hole-in-one, when he did so at the RSEQ Omnium 1 Tournament. Previously, only two athletes, both women, had registered hole-in-ones. Despite the accomplishment, Abols was only the fourth top-scoring McGill golfer at the competition, beat out by Savaria, Gregor Lawson, and Camden Purboo, exemplifying the team’s skill this season. The Redbirds also qualified for nationals which will be held in the spring of 2025. On the Martlets side, apart from Wang’s recognition, the team did not make a big splash this season. With young teams for both the Martlets and Redbirds—with over half of the Redbirds team being first-year students—McGill golf is looking toward improvement for the years to come.
( Ariella Morgan / The Tribune)
( Ariella Morgan / The Tribune)
Bowers and Pulisic’s
“Trump Dance” celebration met with criticism
Ethan Kahn Staff Writer
Sports and politics are interwoven in increasingly complex ways. From Tommie Smith and John Carlos’ powerful silent protest on the podium during the 1968 Mexico City Olympics to Colin Kaepernick kneeling during the national anthem at NFL games, athletes have used sport to have their voices heard. In the weeks following the 2024 US presidential election, another political trend has emerged across the sporting world: The “Trump dance.”
Popular amongst supporters of President-elect Donald Trump, the dance involves a herky-jerky shaking of the arms and hips. It has been used to celebrate goals, touchdowns, and other bigtime plays in the last month. Raiders breakout rookie tight end Brock Bowers and U.S. men’s soccer star Christian Pulisic were among the players who used this dance as a celebration. When questioned postgame about the dance, both athletes had a similar response—that the dance wasn’t political, and was just
used because it was “fun” and popular.
The players owe spectators a better explanation than that. They are more than entitled to celebrate their achievements in any fashion they want, but to do so by paying tribute (whether they meant to or not) to a controversial leader like Trump while simply writing the celebrations off as jokes is unacceptable. Even overt homages to Trump are not commented on by the athletes themselves. San Francisco 49ers star defensive lineman Nick Bosa interrupted Quarterback Brock Purdy’s post-game interview while showing off a Make America Great Again hat but had little to say about the incident in a press conference afterward. Bosa was eventually fined because he violated the league’s uniform policy, but the damage was already done; his actions had set social media ablaze.
the
The star athletes brushed the controversy off as “simple fun” McGill alumnae share experience and offer advice for women athletes
The effect of the players’ celebrations is compounded by their lack of explanation, reflecting the position of privilege these athletes have. When basketball legend and current Lakers forward LeBron James commented on the challenges that Black athletes
Kaepernick was blackballed from the NFL because of his anthem displays.
In addition, NFL general managers were outwardly resentful of Kaepernick and his political views, with the late Houston Texans owner Bob McNair going as far as saying that they “couldn’t
unrelated to politics, while Black athletes have faced career-ending consequences for similar displays, is a clear example of injustice. There is a willful ignorance around the reaction to these celebrations, and a lack of consideration for how the dance can be used to further the popularity of a
has brought pain and struggle to families across the US. The lack of understanding by these players that their actions have consequences is disappointing but unsurprising, and the increased normalization of these celebrations will only bring on more support from conservative fans.
Karolina Wisniewska and Nikki van Noord speak on women’s leadership in sports in alumni panel
Clara Smyrski Staff Writer
The McGill Women’s Alumnae Association partnered with the McGill Women in Sport Program to host a panel featuring Paralympic Ski Champion Karolina Wisniewska and McGill Assistant Swim Coach Nikki van Noord to speak on their careers in sports, the influence McGill had on their success, and how gender affected their journeys.
In her first year at McGill, Wisniewska, BA ‘99, made the Canadian Para-Alpine Ski Team and spent the rest of her four years balancing her skiing career with academics. While a student, she became World Champion in Super G and won silver at the 1998 Paralympic Games in Japan.
“It was very challenging to be on the national team and pursue that [academic] schedule,” Wisniewska said.
“I was in my first year, and I’d never been to university or to Montreal, so I was a bit lost. And I just went about it the best way I knew how.”
She shared that she regrets not asking for help and urged other athletes struggling to learn from her mistake.
Van Noord, M.E. ‘22, is currently pursuing a doctorate in exercise physiology. She swam
for five seasons at McGill before joining the coaching staff, where she helped McGill win the 2024 Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec Championships and was selected for the 2024 U SPORTS Female Apprentice Coach Program.
“I came to McGill as a pretty mediocre swimmer,” she said. “Peter [Carpenter] will admit to me now that I was the last pick the first year of my McGill career [...] him taking that chance on me is, fundamentally, what’s changed my entire life [....] Sometimes all you need is one person believing in you and seeing your potential when you don’t see it in yourself; that’s something I can only hope to be for [other] athletes.”
When the speakers were asked how their gender impacted their experience in sports, van Noord described her evolving goals.
“I’m hoping that [leadership positions] can be something that not just women are a part of, that we can build it and have a more equal showing,” she said. “And part of that as an athlete is becoming captain of the team or trying to strive for a leadership role. This led me to be like, ‘Well now in this leadership role, there’s only so much that I can do. What can I do next?’ And that next step was becoming a coach. Now I’m like, ‘Well, now that I’m this woman
and coaching, what can I do now?’”
She concluded her response by reiterating that she hopes she can help inspire even just one athlete, and Wisniewska caught her with an important correction.
“You keep saying, ‘Maybe I’ll hopefully touch one person’s life.’ Stop it. Everybody who is female in this room, just stop that ‘Oh maybe one person,’” she said. “[Instead say,] ‘Yes. I’m going to impact a lot of people’s lives for the better.’”
This moment was a significant one that audience members and Martlet Soccer players
Aaliyah Kamdar, U2 Arts, and Alexandra HughesGoyette, a Master’s student in science, highlighted.
“Imposter syndrome is a thing a lot of women experience. So just hearing these successful women talk about that today really helps with how to deal with it,” Kamdar shared.
“It validates those feelings, to know that I’m not the only one who feels that way in those settings,” Hughes-Goyette added.
As a final question, the panellists were asked to share
advice for young women athletes. Van Noord underlined the importance of passion and leadership when playing a sport or coaching one, emphasizing that inherent talent is not in the criteria for success in coaching. Wisniewska also highlighted the importance of hard work. “I was never the best skier
because I was born disabled [...] until you have the results [...] until I see how you’re skiing, or how you treat your teammates and your coaches, that’s what counts,” Winiewska said. “Just shut up and get to work. That’s the point. Do the work, put in the time. You will get the results.”
Wisniewska was a co-chef de mission for Canada for the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (Lilly Guilbeault / The Tribune)
During
2020 election cycle, Trump popularized the dance, performing the Village People’s 1978 hit “Y.M.C.A.” ( Ryan Dvorak / The Tribune)
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