The Tribune Vol. 43 Issue 15

The Tribune TUESDAY, JANUARY 23 2024 | VOL. 43 | ISSUE 15

Published by the SPT, a student society of McGill University

THETRIBUNE.CA | @THETRIBUNECA

EDITORIAL

FEATURE

STUDENT LIFE

Divestment from fossil fuels was the first step; divestment from genocide is the next

Live music should not be a luxury

Spend a day in Old Montreal

PG. 5

PG. 8-9

PG. 14

(Abby Zhu / The Tribune)

Dozens protest against CAQ’s anti-trans policies PG. 3

Judge accepts McGill’s application to appeal reinstatement of archaeological panel in Mohawk Mothers case McGill says the panel was dissolved because its mandate had been completed Jasjot Grewal News Editor

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he Kanien’kehá:ka Kahnistensera (Mohawk Mothers) and McGill appeared at the Court of Appeal of Quebec on Jan. 16, where McGill presented its application for leave to appeal against Justice Gregory Moore’s Nov. 20 deci-

sion to reinstate the court-appointed archaeological panel tasked with overseeing the ongoing investigation into potential unmarked Indigenous graves on the site of McGill’s New Vic Project. This comes after the Mothers asserted that McGill and the Société québécoise des Infrastructures (SQI) had prematurely disbanded the panel on Aug. 3. In court, McGill claimed that the panel was dissolved after its mandate had been completed, as

The Tribune Tries: PWHL home game at Place Bell Poulin’s late game heroics gives PWHL Montreal its first-ever win at home Dante Ventulieri Student Life Editor

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anuary has been a big month for the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). Not wanting to miss out on the action, The Tribune stepped out to watch PWHL Montreal take

on PWHL New York on Jan. 16 at the Verdun Auditorium.

And if you are wondering if it was worthwhile, going to watch a Montreal-based team with a winning record was a refreshing experience to say the least.

On Jan. 13, PWHL Montreal hosted their first home

game at the Verdun Auditorium, their principal venue, where they sold out the 4,114seat arena. Montreal will split their home games between the Verdun Auditorium and Place Bell––a 10,062-seat arena that is home to the Laval Rocket of the American Hockey League.

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per their interpretation of the settlement agreement and contracts with panel members. Justice Christine Baudouin ruled to accept McGill’s application of appeal on Jan. 19, meaning that the appeal will be heard and debated before the court on June 11.

McGill’s lawyer, Olga Redko, was the first to speak before Baudouin—one of Quebec’s 22 appeal judges who hears appeals concerning civil trials.

PG. 3

Urban greenery: The surprising common thread between sustainable cities and healthy children

Breaking down the role of urban vegetation in asthma development Rebecca Winkelaar Contributor

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o the environmentalist, urban vegetation, such as rows of trees, shrubs, or flower beds, might symbolize a small act of rebellion—a patch of na-

ture amid a concrete jungle.

Beyond enhancing a city’s aesthetics and supporting mental well-being, city greenery contributes significantly to urban biodiversity and climate resilience.

However, urban vegetation’s impact on air quality

requires closer examination, especially given its seemingly positive influence, prompting research to determine how best to address this aspect of urban greening—the deliberate integration of vegetation in city settings.

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NEWS

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 23 2024

Judge accepts McGill’s application to appeal reinstatement of archaeological panel in Mohawk Mothers case McGill says the panel was dissolved because its mandate had been completed Jasjot Grewal News Editor Continued from page 1.

Redko argued that the issue before the court was not a dispute over the interpretation of the settlement agreement. She asserted that Justice Moore had rendered a judgment without considering the possibility of further deliberation over the merits of the contract.

Additionally, Redko stated that Justice Moore’s judgment had a March expiration date, and that he had ignored section 13 of the settlement agreement. McGill, the SQI, and the Mohawk Mothers are bound by the recommendation of the panel regarding which techniques and service providers to use in the archaeological investigation.

However, section 13 states that McGill and the SQI retain the discretion to acquire other providers if the circumstances warrant. By ignoring this section in his ruling, Redko argued that Justice Moore had “failed to follow jurisprudence.”

Mohawk Mother Kwetiio shared in an interview with The Tribune after the hearing that she felt that McGill’s statement to the court was “very technical” and lacked empathy toward the possibility of Indigenous children’s graves on the site.

“Everything the [McGill] lawyer was saying, it just felt like she was regurgitating a textbook and order of operations,” Kwetiio said. “Those words didn’t care if it meant killing a child, or throwing someone in the garbage. It didn’t have any of the substance, and I think that’s the difference between our ways.”

In a roundtable discussion with The Tribune, Associate Provost (Equity and Academic Policies) Angela Campbell expanded on the dissolution of the panel, explaining that the panel consisted of three members who were named in the settlement agreement, alongside dates set for the completion of the panel’s work. She recalled that shortly after the panel had delivered its second and final report in late July 2023, one panel member wrote to all parties stating that she considered their work to be done, and she then “stepped away.”

“I wouldn’t call that quitting because

Road closures on Pine Ave continue due to non-archaeological work on the site. (Mason Bramadat / The Tribune) quitting suggests that you’re leaving in the middle of something. From her perspective, the work was done. So, she moved away from the work,” Campbell said. “The position that McGill has taken is [that] the panel is not fired or dissolved. Its work is complete in accordance with the terms of the settlement agreement.”

Pierre Major, the Executive Director of the New Vic Project, also shared in a roundtable discussion with The Tribune that McGill and the SQI were responsible for paying the panel members and drafted up contracts in April 2023 with predetermined end dates.

“With anybody that you pay, you need a contract. So, we put together a document with the help of our legal counsel, agreed on an hourly fee, and agreed on the period. We put an end date of July on the basis of when the mandate was to end, and those documents were shared with the Kahnistensera,”

A settlement agreement was reached between the parties on April 6, 2023. (Jasjot Grewal / The Tribune)

Major said.

Campbell also noted that although the panel’s work was done, the settlement agreement stipulated that the panel must be consulted in the event of an “unexpected discovery,” such as historic human remains detection dogs detecting a scent on the site.

After a brief break, the Mothers, who legally represent themselves, addressed the court. Mohawk Mother Kahentinetha explained that from her perspective, the spirit of reconciliation has not been upheld between the parties. She argued that Justice Moore determined that the McGill and the SQI’s application of the agreement was too narrow, as the defendant’s interpretation would dissolve the archaeological panel.

Kwetiio echoed this sentiment, explaining to the court that the potential presence of human remains at the New Vic Project site has not been elucidated and pointing to numerous artifacts found on the site, such as bone fragments and a child’s shoe. She ended her statement by asserting that refusing to reinstate the panel would damage the spirit of reconciliation, and a court appeal of that nature would create a dangerous precedent for other proceedings involving missing Indigenous children and unmarked graves.

In an interview with The Tribune after the hearing, Kwetiio explained that it felt frustrating to once again be in court where she felt the defendants were manipulating the words of the contract.

“When you get into a contract with somebody, you’re getting into a relationship, and a contract is that everybody gets what they need to get. They needed to do their construction, we needed to have the clarity of this investigation,” Kwetiio said.

“They’re trying to manipulate the intention that was put into that very contract.”

The Mothers also shared that while they were disheartened, they felt confident based on their presentations to the court.

“I’m pretty confident because we’re just relying on what we’ve always relied on from the very beginning,” Kahentinetha said in an interview with The Tribune after the hearing. “Now it’s all coming out into the open, and everybody can see what has been going on, what’s happening, and what we’re fighting for.”

Julian Falconer—the lawyer for the Office of the Independent Special Interlocutor, Kimberly Murray—subsequently addressed the court. He stated that Justice Moore continues to manage the trauma and fear that emerges for the Mothers out of this investigation. Falconer explained that if the appeal goes through the Quebec court system, the damage done will be “out of proportion.”

He ended his statement by stating that the case should return to Justice Moore to allow him to continue to do the critical work he’s been doing.

Baudouin adjourned the hearing without a ruling.

“If it does come to the point where they do have an appeal, we’re just going to be ready like we’re always ready,” Kwetiio said.“We’re always going to have the ways we’ve solved things. We’re always going to have the thought of those children and the thought of my children [...] and the thought that we have to show them how to keep doing this and keep living our way.”

On Jan. 19, Baudouin announced her decision, stating that she would grant the defendants’ admission to appeal. A safeguard order has been automatically granted as the parties wait to debate the appeal, meaning that the panel will not be reinstated in the meantime. The appeal hearing is set for June 11, 2024.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 23 2024

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NEWS

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Dozens protest against CAQ’s anti-trans policies

Postponement of the “X” gender category on provincial IDs sparks outrage Josie Hodgson Contributor

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round 150 protestors from across Montreal gathered in front of the Palais de Justice Courthouse on Jan. 15 to oppose the Coalition Avenir Québec’s (CAQ) decision to delay adding the “X” gender category to official provincial IDs until 2025 or later. The “X” category is increasingly being recognized across the world as an alternative option to the male “M” and female “F” categories used to designate gender on official state documents and has been central within trans inclusion debates.

The protest was organized by Celeste Trianon, transfeminist activist and executive director of Trans Legal Collective, a clinic working to support people through the process of changing their gender marker or legal name. The protest marked the start of the organization’s new campaign in response to the CAQ’s inaction on trans rights.

On Jan. 28, 2021, the Quebec Superior Court forced Quebec to reword sections of the province’s Civil Code after ruling that certain sections were discriminatory toward trans and non-binary people. The court also concluded that non-binary people would be able to change their gender on official birth documents within Quebec and that “X” would be an option on government-issued IDs. The protest kicked off at 4 p.m. with chants targeted towards the Quebec government and protesters roaring, “Stand up, fight back.” The protest then moved onto St. Laurent Blvd. at

4:30 p.m., heading downtown along Sherbrooke, followed by a large police presence.

Protesters voiced frustrations over the delay in adding the “X” gender category and the lack of trans representation within the Comité de sages sur l‘identité de genre—the government committee formed in response to the turbulent nationwide debates over schools’ teaching of gender identity and sexuality in Sept. 2023. The government created the committee to contribute to LGBTQ+ policy formation, with significant influence over the “X” gender marker debate.

In an interview with The Tribune, Trianon described frustration over the lack of trans representation on the committee, which she views as strategic.

“The Comité de sages does not contain any trans people, nor experts, nor people who are actually concerned by the issues—such as parents of trans youth,” Trianon said. “We are talking about a committee that is designed to purposely be anti-representative, to reject the fact that trans people have autonomy and have dignity.

We are also denouncing the fact that [...] the government [...] is taking action to specifically [...] block individuals from accessing identification documents that align with their gender [....]

This makes us last within all the provinces, and clearly violates both the Quebec and Canadian Charter.”

Lack of representation within the committee was just as concerning for Aurora Knaut, a protestor at the event, who described the “X” category delay to be a sign of what is to come.

“The fact that they are the ones making

policy on our behalf [means] that it won’t just be an ‘X’ that takes longer.

It will also be trans health that gets less money, as it is deemed less important.”

Knaut said.

For many, the event was a way to express the personal impact of political decisions being made by the government on 2SLGBTQIA+ rights. Tristan Clarke-Cousineau, U3 Arts, said their involvement in the protest was the result of continual disappointment in the decision-making process. Having lived in Montreal for many years, they expressed frustration over the dehumanization of the debate in recent years. “[We want to] show the legislators and policymakers […] in Quebec that people care about this issue, and that it affects real humans,” Clarke-Cousineau said in an interview with The Tribune.

“It’s not just a cultural debate to be had on the world stage. [The Quebec Government] can’t use us [...] as political pawns.”

Trianon also expressed that community building and protesting will continue to be integral for strengthening the political statements in support of 2SLGBTQIA+ rights within Montreal.

“This [protest] is not just about trans people themselves; [it is about] whether we still even have a human The Comité de sages is headed by Diane Lavallée, Jeanrights paradigm here in Quebec,” Tri- Bernard Trudeau, and Patrick Taillon. (Abby Zhu / The anon said.

Tribune)

McGill and AGSEM meet to discuss increases in TA wages and healthcare fund McGill has yet to provide AGSEM with their counterproposal Leah Gilbert Contributor

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he Association of Graduate Students Employed at McGill (AGSEM) and McGill proceeded with their ninth round of negotiations on Jan. 16. Following the expiration of AGSEM’s last teaching assistants’ (TA) collective agreement with the school in July 2023, negotiations have been ongoing, largely focusing on AGSEM’s non-monetary demands. On Dec. 18, the association presented its monetary proposal to the university.

Before the negotiation meeting started, AGSEM held a rally in front of Roddick Gates where members chanted and spoke to students about the organization’s demands. According to a press release, AGSEM’s monetary proposal consists of increasing TA wages to levels comparable with the wages of TAs at other large Canadian universities and implementing a cost-ofliving adjustment in years when inflation exceeds three per cent. Additionally, the union requests that the number of hours that TAs work be indexed to the number of students enrolled in the class. Lastly, the proposal also includes a request for three separate healthcare funds, dedicated to general healthcare, gender-affirming healthcare, and healthcare for international TAs. One of the members present at the rally, Emma McKay, a PhD student in the Department of Integrated Studies in Education (DISE) and the Chief Delegate Mobilization at AGSEM explained

in an interview with The Tribune that they are interested in seeing McGill’s monetary proposal.

“What we’re most hoping to hear in this negotiation session is McGill’s counteroffer for our monetary proposal,” McKay said. “How much, in terms of hourly wage, are they willing to offer us out of the gate? In terms of healthcare, are they willing to even consider it? Indexing TA hours to student enrolment, are they even willing to consider that or a modification of it?”

The union’s expectations, outlined by McKay, were not met in the negotiation session.

According to AGSEM, McGill was unable to provide a monetary counteroffer at Tuesday’s meeting. According to a press release, McGill’s representatives used the meeting’s time to comment on the proposal made by the union at their previous meeting.

McGill pointed to differences in the Quebec labour market as a justification for the difference in TA wages compared to other Canadian universities. AGSEM responded to this argument by noting McGill’s professed self-inclusion in the “Canadian Ivy League” as a context in which they are comfortable comparing the school to its Canadian counterparts.

According to AGSEM, the current wage of a TA at McGill is $33.03 per hour, compared to $40 to 50 per hour at other Canadian universities such as University of Toronto and Queen’s University.

But Queen’s University TA Tai Withers, MSc candidate and member of Public Service Alliance of Canada 901, maintains that their TA wages are

not sufficient to cover the rising cost of living in moved in the direction of the proposed healthcare Kingston, Ontario, where the university is located. funds, McGill In an interview with The Tribune, Withers also asserted that the coverage currently provided stated that the workload as a TA can become to graduate students at large is already more overwhelming when combined with research and expansive than that offered to the majority of coursework as a graduate student.

McGill employees.

“If you isolate the TA workload, I think that’s The university expressed an understanding of fair. In combination with being a graduate student AGSEM’s desire for a cost-of-living adjustment I think it can certainly be more than is entirely in years with high inflation. However, McGill reasonable” said Withers. said it was unable to meet the demand, citing the At the rally preceding the negotiation, Dallas uncertain nature of economic activity.

Jokic, PhD candidate in philosophy and member McGill indicated that it plans to share its of AGSEM’s bargaining committee spoke about counter-proposal shortly. the unique case of Quebec when it comes to the McGill declined to comment on ongoing rising cost of living. negotiations.

“I think McGill has always advertised itself as ‘Oh, Montreal is so affordable’, but as we all know the cost of living is getting so much more expensive here. The cost of living is rising faster in Montreal than almost any other city in Canada,” Jokic said.

The Canadian Press reported that rents are increasing at a faster rate in Quebec than in AGSEM members passed a motion on Nov. 16, 2023 to support the the rest of the country.

Kanien’kehá:ka Kahnistensera (Mohawk Mothers) in their ongoing inAs discussions vestigation of potential unmarked graves on the New Vic Site. ( AGSEM

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 23 2024

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SSMU Legislative Council approves Motion Regarding Action Against Tuition Hikes President Ashkir commends McGill’s commitment to divest, says “fight is not over” Mason Bramadat Photo Editor

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he Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) held its first Legislative Council meeting of the year on Thursday, Jan. 18. The meeting began with a brief review of the councillors’ holiday activities which, among other things, included knitting a sweater and cat-sitting.

The session also included an announcement from the Scarlet Key Society about their annual award for outstanding student leaders, a reminder about this week’s Winter Activities Night, and a debate concerning a Motion Regarding Action Against Tuition Hikes.

The first announcement came from the President of the Scarlet Key Society, Eric van Eyken, (BCL/LLB ‘09). Van Eyken explained their annual Scarlet Key awards, which recognize students who exhibit outstanding leadership and commitment to their peers and community. Awardees are inducted into the Society and invited to events throughout the year. Van Eyken encouraged people to apply before the Feb. 11 deadline.

Next, Vice President (VP) Student Life Nadia Dakdouki reminded those in attendance that Winter Activities Night will take place on Jan. 24 and 25. The event will be held in the University Centre instead of its usual location, Tomlinson Fieldhouse, due to scheduling conflicts with intramural sports and the high cost of alternate venues.

President Alexandre Ashkir celebrated

McGill’s commitment to divest from their direct holdings in Carbon Underground 200 fossil fuel companies by 2025, which was reached at the Dec. 14 Board of Governors meeting.

“The fight is not over. There’s many more divestments the Board of Governors needs to accomplish before being equitable.

But this is a step in the right direction and the result of a lot of work from the student body,” Ashkir said.

The meeting then entered a question period. Sofie Fournier, a representative for the Science Undergraduate Society, asked if any plans had been made to protest or advocate against the French language requirements proposed by the Quebec government for incoming McGill students.

In response, VP External Liam Gaither expressed that though SSMU has a solid position against tuition hikes and for free education, it does not have a clear stance on French language or French-learning policies. However, Gaither stated that he was open to working on this.

After a recess, councillors voted to debate the Motion Regarding Action Against Tuition Hikes. The motion was submitted to the Legislative Council by Rishi Kalaga, U1 Arts, who developed it with law councillor Jacob Shannon. Shannon explained that the approval of the motion would allow SSMU to form a group dedicated to developing a strategy in the fight against the government’s proposed tuition hikes. This could include legal action if it is deemed appropriate following consultations with law firms.

“It’s simply a group to perform consultations, to brainstorm ideas, and to conduct the necessary research that needs to be conducted to determine whether legal action is a possibility,” said Kalaga.

F o u r n i e r followed up with a question concerning how the committee The Legislative Council’s last meeting took place on Nov. 23, 2023. would be held (Abby Zhu / The Tribune) accountable to making progress and Moment of the meeting: achieving tangible Speaker Jonathan Dong recommended that the Council goals. In response to prepare for the upcoming General Assembly by consulting with this, Kalaga explained constituents to learn about their needs and concerns. The General that the group would Assembly will take place on Feb. 5. determine its goals after consulting Soundbite: “The dais would like to highly encourage more constituent lawyers and doing participation in the Legislative Council.” research. Thus, it can — Dong, as the public portion of the meeting concluded. not currently lay out a clear timeline and define their goals until the motion passes. has really brought us something they care Shannon later highlighted how about, so I do think we should acknowledge important it is that this motion was submitted that,” Shannon said. by a constituent.

In the end the motion was adopted “[The motion] has constituent input, via a unanimous vote. Then the meeting and it’s the first time all year a constituent concluded with a confidential session.

In the headlines: Week of Jan. 22, 2024 McGill:

Local:

National:

International:

On Jan. 19, McGill Facilities Management and Ancillary Services (FMAS) announced the temporary closure of “several spaces in Moyse Hall,” which is situated in the McCall MacBain Arts Building, due to the discovery of asbestos—a carcinogenic substance used in construction between 1930 and 1990.

Rooms 165A, 165, 165C, and 100 and part of the basement of the Arts Building have been closed. FMAS also reported that air samples have been collected, but the results are not yet available. An email was sent to all English students on Jan. 21 and an announcement has been added to the Department of English’s page for Moyse Hall. In February 2023, several buildings at Macdonald Campus were closed due to the discovery of asbestos, and subsequently, McGill’s Internal Audit unit conducted an investigation that resulted in 25 recommendations and the creation of a task force.

The Centre québécois du droit de l’environnement (CQDE) filed for an injunction to stop the construction of Swedish company Northvolt’s $7 billion electric vehicle battery plant in SaintBasile-le-Grand, which is roughly 30 kilometres from Montreal, on Jan. 18.

The CQDE believes that the Northvolt plant, which Quebec’s Environmental Ministry permitted, poses a threat to the wetlands and biodiversity in the area.

The environmental group further alleges that the Environmental Ministry gave Northvolt preferential treatment, as the ministry has struck down other projects due to the threat they pose to the wetlands, but permitted this one. Northvolt and the CQDE went to court on Jan. 19, but the hearing was ultimately pushed, with Northvolt’s lawyers citing insufficient time to prepare. On Jan. 19, the judge also issued a stop order on work on the plant until 5 p.m. on Jan. 23, when the case will be heard again.

Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced on Jan. 22 that the number of study permits issued to international students wishing to come to Canada for their undergraduate studies will be capped in coming years. For 2024, the government plans to approve around 360,000 study permits for undergraduate students, a 35 per cent decrease from 2023. A certain number of permits will be given to each province, based on population, but provinces will get to choose how these permits are allocated among colleges and universities under their jurisdiction. Changes have also been made to the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program: Students who obtained study permits from private schools operating under curriculum licensing arrangements will no longer be eligible, and those who graduate from master’s programs will now be able to apply for three-year poststudy work visas. The government has said that this action is meant to stop small private colleges from taking advantage of international students, as well as to help ease the growing strain on the Canadian housing market and healthcare services.

An estimated 1.4 million people took to the streets in cities across Germany over the weekend to protest the rightwing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The AfD, which was founded in 2013, has gained traction in recent years, especially in eastern Germany. The German nationalist party has campaigned on an anti-immigration platform and called for Germany to follow the United Kingdom’s example and leave the European Union. Many protesters were mobilized by investigative news outlet Correctiv’s reporting, which revealed that a November meeting between AfD leaders and right-wing extremists in Potsdam had discussed the mass deportation of foreigners and the possibility of sending them to a “model state” in North Africa. The AfD has denied claims that mass deportation is part of the party’s platform. Both the country’s president, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz have vocalized support for protesters.

opinion@thetribune.ca

TUESDAY, JANUARY 23 2024

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Editor-in-Chief Matthew Molinaro editor@thetribune.ca

Divestment from fossil fuels was the first step, divestment from genocide is the next

Creative Director Mika Drygas mdrygas@thetribune.ca

The Tribune Editorial Board

EDITORIAL BOARD

Managing Editors Lily Cason lcason@thetribune.ca Arian Kamel akamel@thetribune.ca Tillie Burlock tburlock@thetribune.ca News Editors Eliza Lee, Jasjot Grewal, & Caroline Sun news@thetribune.ca Opinion Editors Chloé Kichenane, Liliana Mason, & Isaiah Albert-Stein opinion@thetribune.ca Science & Technology Editors Ella Paulin & Athina Sitou scitech@thetribune.ca Student Life Editors Abby McCormick & Dante Ventulieri studentlife@thetribune.ca Features Editor Fanta Ly features@thetribune.ca Arts & Entertainment Editors Dana Prather & Suzanna Graham arts@thetribune.ca Sports Editors Sara Escallon & Julie Ferreyra sports@thetribune.ca Design Editors Drea Garcia & Zoe Dubin design@thetribune.ca Photo Editor Mason Bramadat photo@thetribune.ca Multimedia Editor Anna Chudakov & Alyssa Razavi Mastali multimedia@thetribune.ca Web Developer Eleni Lyberopoulos webdev@thetribune.ca Copy Editor Theodore Yohalem Shouse copy@thetribune.ca Social Media Editor Sainka Walia socialmedia@thetribune.ca Business Manager Sophie Smith business@thetribune.ca

ollowing 12 years of mobilization from students and faculty, the Board of Governors (BoG) voted on Dec. 14 to divest from all direct holdings in Carbon Underground (CU) 200 fossil fuel companies. This is a significant step toward greater environmental justice and a welldeserved victory for Divest McGill, an organization whose central role in pushing McGill to divest has been entirely neglected by the university.

Since 2012, Divest McGill has carried much of the student and faculty activism on their shoulders, pressuring the university to divest from fossil fuels. Simultaneously engaging in disruption with students and conversation with the administration, multiple generations of McGill students have continuously called on the university to address its role in the climate crisis. Yet McGill’s announcement of their decision to divest makes no mention of Divest McGill, thus completely erasing student activism from their narrative.

Although this commitment to divestment and the relentless

OFF THE BOARD

Life expectancy inequality is a moral outrage

Theodore Yohalem Shouse Copy Editor

TPS BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ghazal Azizi, Ella Gomes, Shani Laskin, Eliza Lee, Amalia Mairet, Matthew Molinaro, Jacob Northfield, Ella Paulin & Sophie Smith

STAFF Yusur Al-Sharqi, Roberto Concepcion, Kellie Elrick, Maria Gheorghiu, Ellie Griffiths-Barnhart, Charlotte Hayes, Madigan McMahon, Atticus O’Rourke Rusin, Eliza Wang, Katherine Weaver, Marco Zeppelli, Abby Zhu

CONTRIBUTORS Sylvie Bourque, Anya Brown, Zoe Chapman, Jordana Curnoe, Emanuel Curto, Lily Dodson, Leah Gilbert, Josie Hodgson, James Knechtel, Wilder McNutt, Zoya Mirza, Maïa Salhofer, Rebecca Winkelaar, Anna Zhou

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The Tribune is an editorially autonomous newspaper published by the Société de Publication de la Tribune, a student society of McGill University. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of The Tribune and the Société de Publication de la Tribune, and does not necessarily represent the views of McGill University. Letters to the editor may be sent to editor@ thetribune.ca and must include the contributor’s name, program and year and contact information.

Letters should be kept under 300 words and submitted only to the Tribune. Submissions judged by the Tribune Publication Society to be libellous, sexist, racist, homophobic or solely promotional in nature will not be published. The Tribune reserves the right to edit all contributions. Editorials are decided upon and written by the editorial board. All other opinions are strictly those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Tribune, its editors or its staff.

EDITORIAL

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student activism that led to it should be celebrated, there is nothing radical or revolutionary about the university’s initiative. Following the path of Harvard and Concordia, McGill’s decision is part of the institution’s performative effort to protect its reputation and keep fueling its greenwashing machine.

At other Canadian institutions, such as the University of British Columbia , the divestment plan has been set to take almost 10 years, not to be completed until 2030. On the other hand, McGill has committed to divest from its direct holdings in CU200 companies by 2025.

Now more than ever, the student body—this generation and the next—must continue mobilizing to hold the university accountable to its commitment to sustainability.

Divesting only from direct holdings is not enough—McGill must carry out the same initiative with its remaining indirect holdings in CU200 companies, and also other investments into companies that produce fossil fuels.

But to truly commit to the goal of sustainability in which McGill prides itself, the university needs to acknowledge that climate justice and social justice only exist with each other. The announcement of divestment from fossil fuels

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was born in Montgomery County, Maryland, in 2004. The life expectancy of babies born at that place and time is 79 years. Three kilometres away, in Washington, D.C., it’s 74 years. I’ve spent most of my life in Seattle (in a county with a life expectancy of 83 years), where there’s comparatively ample access to education, health care, nutritious food, and economic opportunity.

I’ve been lucky to benefit from these determinants of good health and a long life. But this is not the case for many Americans and Canadians. And it’s not the case for most of the world.

It is a grave injustice that the

lottery of birth deprives some humans of time on Earth. Race and class have a significant role in determining life expectancy. Canadian men in the top income-earning quintile can expect to live eight years longer than men in the bottom. Majority-white Ontario has a life expectancy that’s 10 years longer than that of the majority-Inuit Nunavut. When we consider the entire globe, the disparity is even starker: Life expectancy in North America is 19 years longer than in Africa.

Life expectancy indicates a society’s ability and willingness to provide healthcare, education, security, and other important public services to its people. Most countries lack the resources necessary to provide these services, often due to unlucky geographic conditions or because of the lasting effects of colonialism. Wealthy, social democracies such as Sweden have both the ability and willingness to provide these resources (to Swedes, at least). However, the U.S.—and to a lesser extent Canada—have the ability to provide these determinants of health but comparatively lack the political will.

In the U.S., personal freedom and responsibility are integral to the ragsto-riches national myth and social problems like poverty are therefore framed as individual failures on the

occurred strategically after students overwhelmingly voted for the Policy Against Genocide in Palestine and its targeting of investments in companies that fund occupation and apartheid in Palestine. McGill cannot use divestment from fossil fuels as a distraction from student and faculty calls demanding divestment from companies complicit in the genocide of nearly 25,000 Palestinian people in Gaza.

Instead, divestment from fossil fuels sets a fundamental precedent for other necessary and urgent forms of divestment.

In 1985, McGill was the first Canadian university to take a moral, political, and economic stance through its investments and divest from corporations complicit in South African apartheid in response to student activism. This commitment to protect human rights must stand the test of time, and the university must stop cosigning murder and genocide by putting an end to their investments supporting both the Israeli regime and violence around the world.

The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) has a critical role to play in holding McGill accountable to their commitment to divest. With every policy presented by SSMU and

OPINION

part of irresponsible people. This flies in the face of sociological research that shows the systemic nature of these issues. A growing chorus among philosophers and scientists also contradicts this individualist stance by positing that our actions (like all other phenomena in the universe) are physically determined, the outcome of neurological processes determined by our environment, genetics, and education.

I began to grapple with these topics while taking Jewish Philosophy and Thought at McGill. Philosophy relentlessly dissects our assumptions and forces us to justify our beliefs.

Since becoming a philosophy nerd, I’ve become convinced that free will is an illusion, abandoning what little belief I had in the you-get-whatyou-deserve American economic mentality. I’ve also adopted a moral outlook that primarily values the outcomes of our actions, like their effect on length and quality of others’ lives. I no longer feel that I can live a moral life by avoiding supposedly immoral things like lying and cheating, and I no longer base what I study, what I consume, and my aspirations on loose notions of what seems respectable or what my peers are doing. Through this perspective, I believe extending life expectancy is absolutely critical.

voted on by the student body, students’ demands stand behind a united front and become harder for the university to ignore. Although the university’s administration and its governing structures have an overwhelming amount of control over student governance—and has time and again bypassed student democracy—the SSMU President is the sole undergraduate voice sitting on the BoG representing students’ demands. In 2021, SSMU adopted the Divest for Human Rights Policy along with several other student organizations, which played a significant role in pressuring the university to divest from fossil fuels. The policy also demanded that McGill cut ties with companies that enable violence against Indigenous peoples in the Americas, Palestinians, Yemenis, and Uyghurs. SSMU must keep its commitment to this policy and pressure the BoG to implement every single demand for divestment.

The step that McGill took last December is a major victory for student activists, but not the end of the fight. Student mobilization must build on Divest’s success and grow stronger to ensure that the university actively commits to social justice in every aspect, from climate justice to the protection of human rights.

Social science research and basic human empathy command us to address life expectancy inequality. We must view issues such as education and healthcare in terms of years of life lost or gained. This means that supporting increased social spending—even at your own expense—is not merely a political preference; it’s a moral obligation. Simple choices, like voting for a politician who will invest in early childhood education instead of one who will cut taxes, affect the length of people’s lives. For Americans, it’s a national shame that health care is not guaranteed for all, while countries such as Costa Rica provide universal healthcare—at a lower per-capita price. We must consider international aid in the light of social benefit rather than through the lens of geopolitical strategy. A quick look at American aid highlights how the U.S. prioritizes maintaining global influence over humanitarian concerns.

Life expectancy inequality is a moral crisis, and we have the resources to solve it. By investing more in education and healthcare both at home and abroad, we can lengthen and improve people’s lives. I encourage readers to discover the life expectancy of their own geographic cohort, and to view the length of human lives as a paramount political and moral issue.

OPINION

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COMMENTARY

Legault’s populism won’t address the opioid crisis

Emanuel Curto Contributor

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uebec’s opioid crisis is worsening. In 2023, paramedics administered more naloxone to treat acute overdoses than ever before, and death from opioid toxicity is set to reach its highest levels yet, continuing an upward trend since 2019. Novel synthetic opioids, such as isotonitazene, which can be deadly even in minute quantities, continue to exacerbate the crisis in Montreal. Premier François Legault has said very little in response to the province’s opioid crisis, illustrating that it is not a priority for his government.

This should come as no surprise. His populism is uniquely unsuited to tackle this crisis as there is no quick and easy political solution that will rally his base and address the issue at its core. Tackling Quebec’s opioid problem will require policy leg-work and a commitment to nuanced conversations that Quebec’s current government is ill-equipped to engage in.

Since the 1990s, the role of opioids has changed in the medical community. Opioid prescriptions’ limited use for palliating individuals with painful cancers has expanded to the treatment of chronic non-cancer pain. This change in culture is often associated with mis-interpretations of the now infamous Porter-Jick study, which shifted the pain management paradigm toward opioids.

Concurrently, the now-defunct Purdue Pharma

COMMENTARY

provided misleading data to sales representatives and the medical community suggesting that Oxycontin, their flag-ship opioid drug, was less addictive and dangerous than their competitors’ products. Today, Canada is among the world’s largest per-capita consumers of opioids. For the past few decades, prescription opioids have been relatively easy to access both by prescription or through family members to whom they have been prescribed.

In 2001, Portugal became the first country to decriminalize possession of hard drugs for individual use. As a consequence, incarcerations, HIV transmissions, and overdoses decreased in Portugal in the early 2000s. With Portugal’s policies being largely viewed as a success, British Columbia received an exemption from article 56(1) of Canada’s Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. More recently, Toronto requested a federal exemption, and although Montreal’s city council has signalled its support for an exemption they have yet to request one from the Public Health Agency of Canada.

However, decriminalization is not an unfettered panacea. Portugal has failed to invest in and invigorate existing programs linked with decriminalization; thus, the country’s success at addressing its drug issue is waning, and they are no longer touted as an ideal model for the policy. This failure demonstrates that persistent effort and adopting a dynamic approach to decriminalization are necessary to address the opioid crisis. As seen in Portugal, the decriminalize-and-walk-away model does

not work. However, Legault’s reluctance to maintain funding for supervised injection sites in Montreal stifles hopes for any form of sustained effort to address Quebec’s opioid crisis. This demonstrates not only his apathy toward those suffering but an unwillingness to engage with a public health issue whose mortality continues to increase. Legault’s complacency on Quebec’s opioid crisis also perpetuates colonial violence by neglecting an issue that disproportionately affects Indigenous peoples.

Ultimately, Legault’s popu- Legault has said that the Quebec government has no plans to lism is antithetical to what the decriminalize small-scale possession of illicit drugs. opioid crisis requires. The crisis (Lauren Hicken / The Tribune) is most visible in urban areas–– areas whose populations do not make up a conse- the pillars of Quebec’s tertiary education system. quential percentage of the CAQ’s voter base. It’s an Legislators must make decriminalization poissue that Conservative leader Pierre Polievre has litically viable to the electorate, but Legault’s govdemonstrated can easily become partisan. But hop- ernment continues to demonstrate an inability to ing Legault will be the saviour and both depoliti- push any debate beyond a simple populist divide. cize and articulate a nuanced message on a public Until Quebec’s politics catches up with the scale of health failure is delusional. Consider his approach the opioid crisis, local governments and individual toward addressing the decline of French as first advocates must protect the institutions meaninglanguage across the province, for example: The fully addressing the crisis, notably supervised conprovincial government forfeited nuance in favour sumption services such as Cactus Montreal, Dopaof challenging the viability of institutions that form mine, L’Anonyme and Spectre de rue.

Lecture recordings are a necessary step for greater accessibility

Zoya Mirza Contributor

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 23 2024

opinion@thetribune.ca

inding mental health support as a McGill student has been a challenge for quite some time, with the university’s meagre efforts to offer services—like animal therapy and peer supporters—falling short. The Student Wellness Hub is inadequate for the majority of the student population; however, the jarring lack of mental health resources is just one aspect of McGill’s larger, overall thoughtlessness when it comes to accessibility.

Lecture recordings, or the lack thereof, is a striking example of the university’s failure and continuous refusal to respond to students’ essential needs.

Whether cramming for finals or catching up on a missed class, lecture recordings can be helpful for any student, and not ensuring access to them is a major letdown on the university’s part. While not having recorded lectures may seem like a slight inconvenience, this raises accessibility concerns for students for whom recorded classes are a necessary tool for learning. Given the progress of technology and the increasing use of technical tools in higher education, McGill must make recorded lectures mandatory.

Over 30 per cent of McGill students are international, while almost half come from Quebec,

which means that English is a second or even third language for many. While the ability to follow lectures in English is a justified requirement for McGill, the university must acknowledge that levels of fluency may vary significantly. Lecture recordings allow students to slow down, rewind, and watch the captions to a lecture, facilitating students’ understanding and learning.

But more than a tool for learning, lecture recordings are a necessary accommodation for students with health issues, either physical or mental.

Even something as simple as a cold can justify the case for mandatory lecture recordings, as it is inconsiderate and unsafe to require students to come to class when showing symptoms of illness.

For students who suffer from chronic illnesses or struggle with their mental health, getting out of bed and going to a class is not always an option.

In those cases, not recording classes almost seems like a conscious choice of not supporting certain students—when McGill prides itself for its mental health services.

Recording lectures confronts the inequalities among students that force some to work one— sometimes even two—part-time jobs to make ends meet—on an already financially inaccessible campus. These students have no choice but to miss certain classes and sometimes must rely on often

incomplete slides or classmates’ notes to try and grasp important concepts and lessons. Past a certain point, it can become discouraging and fruitless to constantly be playing catch-up on missed lectures with no recordings.

McGill’s lack of support on the matter sends the message that this is entirely the students’ problem.

Professors should record classes because it provides a fair and equitable opportunity for all students to engage with the class material they pay tuition for, rather than catering exclusively to privileged stu- Most professors have stopped recording lectures entirely, creating an dents who are able to attend every accessibility issue for many students. (James Knechtel / The Tribune) lecture in person. In the absence of Especially given how mental health recordings, classes will remain exclusionary. recognition appears to be increasing at other This issue of accessibility links to a general major universities, such as Queen’s and the pattern of neglect from the McGill administration. University of British Columbia, McGill’s lack Although the university provides students with the of resources and care is even more glaring. option to book appointments with mental health Having accessible education is vital to stuprofessionals through the Student Wellness Hub, dents’ mental health and thus academic sucthese appointments are infamously difficult to ac- cess, and it is counterproductive for McGill to cess due to lack of practicians and high demand. ignore this major accessibility issue. McGill Students seeking psychiatric care have for example must address its student body’s well-being in reported long wait times and complicated booking order to improve the quality and impact of its procedures. own education.

ERRATA An article published in the January 16, 2024 issue (“McGill appeals reinstatement of archaeological panel overseeing work on New Vic site”) stated that stated that Karonhia’nó:ron said that “hundreds of [animal and human] bones” were found on the site. In fact, no confirmed human bones have been found on the site. Animal bones and some bones of unknown origin, which archaeologists believe are animal, have been found.

An article published in the January 16, 2024 issue (“McGill appeals reinstatement of archaeological panel overseeing work on New Vic site”) stated that Mazerolle said that McGill and SQI dissolved the panel as they believed its mandate had ended. In fact, the panel was dissolved when it had met the terms stipulated in its members’ contracts, which were written by McGill.

arts@thetribune.ca

TUESDAY, JANUARY 23 2024

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

7

An ode to Ayo Edebiri

The 28-year-old actress seems to be everywhere, and I for one couldn’t be happier Charlotte Hayes Staff Writer

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rom her roles in Bottoms to The Bear, 2023 was an incredibly busy yet successful year for Ayo Edebiri. Being Hollywood’s most in-demand young actress can’t be easy—but the people’s princess does it flawlessly. Her impeccable style and unparalleled work ethic have attracted the attention of audiences and critics alike, but what truly won us over is her magnetic personality. Edibiri’s witty and grounded sense of self has brought a sense of whimsy back to the persona of the young Hollywood celebrity.

Getting her start as a writer on Netflix’s Big Mouth, Edebiri went on to star in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-verse, Bottoms, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Theater Camp in 2023 alone. And that’s not even mentioning her breakout role as anxiety-ridden sous-chef Sydney on FX’s Emmy award-winning TV show, The Bear.

Simply put, she’s everywhere.

Endearing herself to a younger audience in a number of ways, Edebiri has connected largely with the online film community through the app Letterboxd. The app allows users to rate and share reviews—through which Edebiri has both demonstrated a clever knack for writing reviews and proven herself to be a true cinephile.

Her thoughtful yet funny engagement with the medium allows her fans to really see what influences she draws upon and brings to the big screen. Whether fangirling over Zac Efron or

commiserating about the relatability of a tragic love story, her reviews make cultural engagement with movies accessible for a more online audience. However, after a review of Saltburn from Edebiri received heightened attention, the actress started to take down some of her reviews.

This has started a discussion around wanting to share content from our favourite celebrities vs respecting their right to connect with the films they watch in a space free of judgment. This concern has risen as the actress’s reviews have circulated from Letterboxd onto platforms for more general audiences, such as Twitter (now X).

In addition to functioning as a social media app, Letterboxd also, somewhat infamously, conducts red carpet interviews asking celebrities to name their four favourite movies—a feature that is available to users on their profile. In an interview with Edebiri at South by Southwest Film Festival, an interviewer from the app joked around with the actress about playing the role of a donkey in The Banshees of Inisherin (a film in which she did not appear). In the video, Edebiri speaks in an Irish accent while jokingly describing the process she went through to prepare for the role. A clip from the interview later went viral online, with people declaring Edebiri as an “honorary Irish princess.” In fact, the joke has spread so far that earlier this month, Film in Dublin, an organization that works to promote Irish films, tweeted at the actress to congratulate her on her BAFTA Rising Star Award nomination.

On that note, a moment of recognition is due for the sheer fact that Edebiri has won near-

ly every single award she’s been nominated for in the 2023–2024 awards season.

From a Golden Globe to a Critics Choice Award and an Emmy, audiences and peers alike can’t seem to get enough of her. Her endless charm and appeal to an online demographic is backed up by heapings of comedic talent. Her undeniable ‘it’ factor doesn’t come from appearing effortlessly cool, but showing how being a real fan of comedy herself sets her apart from others in the industry.

Edebiri’s red carpet outfits capture a sophisticated yet playfully genuine style that resonates with a younger audience. In essence, she dresses really cool. From her office wear rival skirt sets by Thom Browne to her custom Prada gowns, her style feels pre- Edebiri won an Emmy for her role as Sydney on FX’s ‘The Bear’. dictive of rising trends. Her (Irina Zhang / The Tribune ) recent awards show colsoon, it’s safe to say Ayo Edebiri is cementing laborations with stylist Danielle Goldberg have herself as a key figure in the future of film and also secured her spot on best-dressed lists for the television. Her effortlessly cool yet deeply dorky foreseeable future. demeanour makes her an icon to both look up to With no sign of her star dimming anytime and fall in love with.

Shake it off, assumptions and all The New York Times faces criticism over speculation on Taylor Swift’s sexuality.

Jordana Curnoe Contributor

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ow much does Taylor Swift owe her fans? An opinion piece published in The New York Times on Jan. 4 theorized about Taylor Swift’s sexuality, evoking backlash from Swifties and non-Swifties alike. To put it frankly: Swift owes her fans nothing, and people shouldn’t speculate about others’ sexuality—celebrity or not.

The article, entitled “Look What We Made Taylor Swift Do,” by Anna Marks, suggests that Swift has been secretly sending signs that she is queer in the form of “Easter eggs,” a strategy she has used to hint at upcoming rereleasing old albums in her music. Marks believes that Swift’s hints to her fans are not being taken seriously due to a “lack of progressivity” in the mainstream media. She also writes that someone’s coming out to straight people doesn’t necessarily grant them acceptance, and therefore, Swift’s hints of queerness do not have to be obvious statements meant for everyone. Marks argues that Swift has already come out as queer to those who are accepting of her.

Fans often find commonalities with their favourite celebrity, especially when the artist is brutally honest about their emotions. In doing so, these fans may wrongly project their own qualities onto the artist. This may be Marks’s error, covered up as an opinion piece. Marks’s

article provides “evidence” about Swift’s “hidden queerness” from a bracelet Swift wore in an Instagram post with the word “proud” to Swift’s use of the pronoun “you” instead of the better fitting rhyme “her” in the lyrics to her song “The Very First Night,” suggesting this choice is intentional and meant to leave the listener “unfulfilled.” It is highly problematic that The New York Times would have no issue allowing someone to spread their beliefs about the sexuality of a person they have never met. In 2022, Marks wrote a similar piece speculating about the singer Harry Styles’s sexuality.

In the opening paragraph of Marks’s article, she brings up how gay country singer Chely Wright nearly ended her life in 2006 as an example of the way acceptance has changed in the last decade.

Wright, Marks explains, would have lost her career had the world known her identity. But now queer themes are much more prevalent and accepted in pop culture.

In response to her name being included, Wright wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that the article was triggering for her and that it was troubling that Swift’s sexuality was being discussed. Although Swift is a public figure, that does not give Marks the right to spread theories surrounding the singer’s private life so carelessly.

Swift has been unfairly sexualized by the media since the start of her career. In a prologue to her album 1989’s release, she wrote that she would deliberately hang out

with women friends to avoid being sexualized.

Unfortunately, people continued to do so, and many began to accuse her of queerbaiting. These allegations are harmful in and of themselves because real people cannot queerbait; the term only refers to media characters of whom showrunners present as queer but never confirm their sexuality.

Swift has not pretended to be queer, and she’s made that clear on multiple occasions. In a 2019 interview with Vogue, she was asked why she has gotten louder in her support for LGBTQ+ rights, such as when she released the song “You Need to Calm Taylor Swift was named Time magazine’s Person of the Year in 2023. (Paolo V, CC BY 2.0 _https_creativecommons.org_liDown,” an anti-hate mescenses_by_2.0_, via Wikimedia Commons) sage to homophobes and transphobes. Swift replied that she didn’t Swift is queer or not is her own business. realize she could advocate for a commu- She can still be a hero to many queer nity that she didn’t belong to. and straight people by offering support Marks’s article poses the interesting through her music, words of acceptance, question, ‘Do celebrities owe personal in- and the safe space that she’s created for formation to their fans, especially to those Swifties. Despite her fame, Swift deserves who see them as somewhat of a hero?’ respect and freedom from intrusive specuUltimately, the answer is no. Whether lation by the media.

Live music should not be a luxury

By Dana Prather, Arts & Entertainment Editor Illustration by Zoe Dubin, Design Editor

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used to think that the annual McGill course registration process was a uniquely hellish ordeal. As any student reading this knows all too well, the springtime ritual of scheduling your required courses and a fun elective or two can quickly devolve into an anxiety-inducing mad dash.

We all remember the picture: Rushing to make it to Minerva’s registration page, double-checking CRN numbers as you fill in the Quick Add/Drop page, debating whether you should risk refreshing your browser or simply wait out the loading bar. If you’re registering from outside the East Coast, you might be forcing your bleary-eyed self to wake at, say, 5:45 a.m. to prepare for the process’s 8:00 a.m. kickoff two time zones away.

While I’ve gotten used to this necessary evil over the past few years, I was dismayed to encounter a similar cycle of scramble, wait, stress, and repeat when trying to buy concert tickets.

To me, there is something almost transcendent about seeing and experiencing live music. When my piano teacher first played for me, my six-year-old self was transfixed as I listened to him tickle the ivories to show me what “Pop Goes the Weasel” was supposed to sound like. I was hooked. I took any chance I could to listen to live music of any genre. In high school, I saved up my babysitting money for when the odd musical act would tour through Alberta. I even worked as an usher at a local arena, picking up extra shifts anytime a band or solo artist was performing, just to enjoy their shows for free.

Though my own music making has since been relegated to off-key shower vocals and occasionally playing around on my parents’ Yamaha keyboard when I’m home for breaks, my passion for live music remains.

Whether I’m sitting way up in the nosebleeds with my closest friends or squeezing my way to the barricade alone amid hundreds of strangers, there is something about

witnessing art created in real time, surrounded by people, that makes me feel present in a way unlike any other. Unfortunately, experiencing the connection and joy of live music is not always within reach, and it has only become more inaccessible over time.

Back in Sept. 2023, I set out to buy tickets for a Noah Kahan concert. Even though I had seen the folk pop artist merely months earlier at MTelus in June, I was still excited by the prospect of seeing him again on the city’s biggest stage. I had managed to snag a floor ticket for around $80 for that gig, a price I felt was reasonable enough to stomach for the sake of seeing a musician I admire. I prepared for the presale time the same way I do for course registration: I loaded up the Ticketmaster website fifteen minutes before the designated time, copying my registration code onto my laptop’s clipboard for easy access, and precariously perching my laptop beside my apartment’s WiFi router to glean any possible speed advantage. When the countdown clock on my screen finally hit zero, I frantically copied and pasted my access code into the site. Then, I waited. Eyes glued on the screen, I held my breath as I inched my way toward the front of the virtual queue. Even with all my preparation, every somewhat-affordable ticket had been snatched up by the time I could checkout. If I wanted to attend the gig, I would need to shell out over $400 for floor tickets.

Obviously, the outcome of this failed attempt is a lot lower stakes than course registration— missing out on seeing “Folk Malone” live won’t delay my graduation date. Yet the parallel between the level of preparation and speed needed to secure spots in McGill courses or Montreal concerts would be funny if it weren’t so absurd.

And it’s not just this one artist or this one concert. In the past few years, being priced out of seeing live music has become an all too common occurrence.

2023 was undoubtedly a banner year for the live music industry, with record-breaking acts like Taylor Swift’s Eras tour and Beyonce’s Renaissance tour dominating pop culture conversations and generating record-breaking sales. But almost in step with the flurry of headlines about these pop icons’ live performances were social media posts, think pieces, and news articles highlighting the trend of skyrocketinging ticket prices. Indeed, in the last year alone, the average cost of tickets in North America increased over 21 per cent. These rising costs, due in part to inflation, can also be attributed to the industry’s shift in focus from physical vinyl and CD sales to

streaming. Known in the industry as digital service providers (DSPs), streaming services are notorious for poor remuneration; artists receive a measly payout of $0.00318 and $0.008 per stream from Spotify and Apple Music respectively.

This loss of income from the music itself, combined with venues taking large cuts from merchandise sales to stay afloat themselves, often puts artists in the position where they need to maximize their touring income. Furthermore, sellers such as Ticketmaster and its parent company Live Nation, the world’s largest ticket promoter, have come under fire for artificially raising prices through bad-faith marketing and dynamic ticket pricing. In this model, ticket prices fluctuate depending on demand, surging if a significant number of people try to buy tickets at once. These price gouging tactics hike the face-value cost of tickets, so when paired with Ticketmaster’s lax protections against ticket resellers, the result is a perfect storm of inflated prices.

However, the blame for inflated ticket costs cannot be placed solely on the greed of streaming platforms, ticket resellers, and official distribution channels. If the past year has proven anything, it is that there are still people willing to dig deeper into their pockets for the chance to see their favourite artists live. Swift’s Eras tour, which will be coming to Canada for the first time when it stops at Toronto’s Rogers Centre in Nov. 2024, exemplifies this: All face-value tickets—from the ‘cheaper’ upper bowl seats starting at $160 to VIP tickets going for as much as $2,500—sold out immediately upon release.

Altogether, these factors—inflation, pitiful streaming royalties, absurd resale prices, minimal intervention from major ticket distribution companies—have turned seeing live music into a luxury fewer and fewer people can afford.

What exactly is it that drives people to seek out live music, even at these soaring costs? In an age when people have more access than ever to music from their favourite artists through streaming services, high-definition YouTube videos of late-night performances, and even grainy TikTok live streams of the most popular shows, why invest in a concert ticket?

For Morgan Thompson, a self-described “avid concert-goer” who attended 85 shows last year, seeing an artist live affords him the opportunity to hear their music as he believes they intended.

“It’s a way to experience the artist in their way. I could listen to Lorde [in my headphones] at work, but I don’t think that’s necessarily how you’re supposed to listen to them perform,” Thompson told The Tribune.

Thompson has been attending concerts consistently for the past six years, and while he draws a hard boundary at paying for resale tickets, he

draws a hard boundary at paying for resale tickets, he still believes seeing live music is generally worth the face-value price.

“I would describe it as ‘young brain,’” referring to his philosophy of shelling out for concerts. “[I think] ‘Oh, I’m young, money will come back. I’ll just go see them while I can,’ [...] because you never know what’s going to happen.”

This attitude which, for better or for worse, prioritizes current joy over future financial consequences, should come as no surprise after the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the live music scene and the entertainment industry at large. Audiences are now more keenly aware than ever that sharing space and watching music as a community is a privilege that can be disrupted by unforeseen plagues or pitfalls just around the corner.

Similar attitudes have carried over into Montreal’s vibrant alternative music scene. A cultural hub with a relatively affordable cost of living, Montreal has been a prime hotspot for independent musicians since the burgeoning jazz and blues scene put the city on the map in the early 20th century. Everyone from the legendary Leonard Cohen to indie favourite Mac DeMarco to up-and-comer Yves Jarvis has cut their teeth and honed their artistry in the city’s intimate venues. Jon Nudell, a concert promoter who works under the handle @ goodshows, has noticed an impressive resurgence in attendance at these sorts of shows after restrictions on bars, clubs, and other live music venues began lifting in early 2022.

“There were shows in 2019 that 30 people would go to, and those same shows 250 people go to now,” Nudell remarked about the surge in post-pandemic attendance in an interview with The Tribune.

Having started out as a musician in local bands, Nudell was drawn to organizing shows at smaller local venues as a means of platforming independent artists that he believed in and introducing audiences to a diverse set of genres. While he has tried to keep the prices down, independent shows are not immune to rising costs. Here, a lack of large ticket distributors and resellers leaves inflation as the primary culprit.

“Shows that would have been $10 before the pandemic were $15 in 2022, and [they] are now $20,” Nudell said. “[Inflation is] making everything more expensive, but I still try to make things as cheap as possible. I try to hit a sweet spot.”

This balance between affordability and realistic pricing is a fine line that venue owners such as Sergio Da Silva, co-owner of Turbo Haüs, must walk.

“There is a bit of animosity between me, who has to run this place, and people who want to come and enjoy themselves [....] It comes down to money,

having to spend money to be at a place that you think is important,” Da Silva explained in an interview with The Tribune.

“On a very base level, I absolutely understand. It’s important to be able to participate in these things and not be priced out of them.”

A small bar/venue in the Latin Quarter that hosts everything from Wednesday jazz nights to hardcore punk shows, Turbo Haüs is a local favourite that employs a team of 25, including sound technicians, security guards, bartenders, cleaners, and social media managers. All employees are provided insurance that covers dental and mental healthcare, expenses that, coupled with inflation, make maintaining pre-pandemic price points nearly impossible.

“If I can’t get a Big Mac trio for $15, then you’re not coming into the show for less than fucking $10 or $15 dollars. [...] Whatever daydream [people] have about this time when there were $5 shows, it’s done,” Da Silva confirmed.

Still, Da Silva is determined to keep the community aspect of the music scene going strong.

This sense of community and belonging is particularly important for Black people, other people of colour, queer and trans people, people experiencing mental illness, and other marginalized people, many of whom were at the forefront of counterculture movements in the punk scene, despite what the often whitewashed history of the genre might lead you to believe. “[For] lots of people who come to shows [...], these kinds of get-togethers are not a luxury. They need to happen. You need that sense of community,” Da Silva acknowledged.

It is precisely this focus on community that lies at the heart of Montreal’s independent music scene.

Amid the landscape of ever-rising ticket prices, venues like Turbo Haüs keep live performance accessible, allowing fellow music lovers to g a t h er week after week, sharing space and joy as they witness live music. This sense of togetherness cannot become a privilege reserved for the few who have the disposable income to spend on large-scale concerts. Ensuring the accessibility of live music, and supporting the local venues that make it possible, is crucial; beyond industry and enjoyment, it is about preserving a community.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

arts@thetribune.ca

TUESDAY, JANUARY 23 2024

Box office films are falling victim to the failure of misleading marketing

Anyone But You and Mean Girls highlight Hollywood’s trend of marketing failures Sylvie Bourque Contributor

that practically give out the film’s entire plot to something that doesn’t resemble a trailer but ollywood has a marketing problem, rather a compilation of teaser clips masqueradand if recent films like Anyone But ing as one. They forget that these moments are You and Mean Girls are any indica- meaningless and empty to the audience without tion, their box office success will prolong the context. trend of deceptive advertising. The official The biggest failure of this film’s markettrailer for Anyone But You is incredibly mis- ing is simple: It never explicitly mentioned that leading. Instead of showcasing the rom-com’s it is an adaptation of Shakespeare’s comedy plot and overall premise, the trailer overly em- Much Ado About Nothing. I find this especially phasizes the chemistry and tension between the shocking since this is clear in the film itself and, leads, leaving the audience unsure of what to in my opinion, is the movie’s biggest selling expect from the film. The trailer only focuses point. The legacy, longevity, and love of adon interactions that accentuate the enemies-to- aptations of dramatic and literary classics have lovers trope without indicating why they hate shown the adoration for these allusive films. one another or the circumstances that force Despite its marketing shortcomings, I hope this them to be around each other. Hollywood brings back the trend of rom-coms adapting the marketing executives are overcorrecting, try- classics, such as Clueless and 10 Things I Hate ing to completely move away from trailers About You. The new Mean Girls trailer also inadequately markets the film, but since most people are at least familiar with the original film, it is less critical to showcase its plot and characters, unlike Anyone But You. The new trailer failed to clarify that the movie is not a remake of Mean Girls (2004) but a screen adaptation of the Broadway musical, itself an adaptation of the On Oct. 3, aka “Mean Girls Day”, the official Mean Girls TikTok page original film. It leaves out released the entire original film in a series of clips, which is no longer available to watch on their page. (Sofia Stankovic / The Tribune ) important context regard-

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ing why this film is being released. Numerous viewers were unaware that the 2024 adaptation is a musical—leaving many confused as to whether or not it was a remake, even to the point of outrage. Some commented that this film will never live up to the original movie, which is not what this film is trying to do.

When asked why Paramount did not clearly market the film as a musical, Marc Weinstock, President of Global Marketing and Distribution, said people often treat musicals differently. An issue I have with this marketing approach, which tries to hide the movie’s form, is that people who dislike musicals really dislike them and are incredibly vocal about it. It seems counterintuitive to market a film to an audience you know will not like it in the first place. But with the success of Mean Girls and other recent movie musicals with similarly misleading marketing, such as Wonka and The Color Purple, it appears that movie executives prefer to deceive people attending a film rather than trying to find its proper audience. Regardless of the audience’s enjoyment, the production company will make money either way.

In spite of the marketing for Anyone But You, the film has managed to consistently perform well at the box office, largely due to word of mouth on social media. Many rom-coms adapted from literary classics, such as the director’s previous work, Easy A, don’t explicitly disclose to audiences that they are adaptations.

This is probably because they want this to be a film that both knowing and unknowing audiences can enjoy.

Unfortunately, due to corporate greed, big studios will always prioritize having an

HOT TAKE We need to stop feasting on cannibalism Charlotte Hayes Staff Writer

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etween Showtime’s acclaimed series Yellow Jackets and Luca Guadagnino’s adaptation of Bones and All, this decade has seen a surge in cannibalism-related media.

Whether it be a metaphor for lust, the physical manifestation of all-consuming love, or simply a reenactment of the stories of famous serial killers, we may have reached an endpoint in our cultural capacity for flesh-eating flicks. Netflix’s latest cannibalistic release, The Society of the Snow, has a distinct lack of buzz and awards coverage; it seems that we may have exhausted this metaphor for the time being. As we lay cannibalism to rest, may I suggest vampires?

unknowing consumer. They care more about getting as many people as possible to purchase tickets over the audience’s overall enjoyment of the film they paid to see.

No show succeeded ‘Succession’ at the Emmys Succession’s genre-bending final season sweeps major categories Lily Dodson & Anya Brown Contributors

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ith awards show season in full swing, the Arts & Entertainment team looks at some of the standout moments from this year’s Emmy Awards.

Genre Categories in a Genreless Age In the 2022–2023 television season, most viewers would probably say that they laughed more at Tom Wambsgans’ rant about a “ludicrously capacious bag” that a woman mistakenly brought to Logan Roy’s birthday party in Succession than the stress-inducing character interactions in The Bear. Despite this, these two shows—the most awarded of last week’s Emmys ceremony—were placed in the separate categories of comedy (The Bear) and drama (Succession).

Before the age of streaming, media genres seemed much clearer. Comedies ran for half an hour and rarely tackled serious issues. Dramas ran for an hour and, conversely, limited their moments of levity. However, with the advent of platforms like Netflix and Hulu, these rules have mostly gone out the window. Arbitrary runtimes no longer constrain television, and most shows enjoy increased budgets, all leading to an expectation that TV shows are grander and more impactful than they were 30 years ago.

So what should the Emmys do in an age of television where there are far fewer rules?

Getting rid of the genre-defined categories would result in fewer winners and would likely benefit dramas, which the Television Academy typically considers to be the most prestigious. However, award shows’ insistence on giving out prizes based on arbitrary definitions like “comedy” and “drama” makes shows choose a category and try to convince people that it is the box that they fit into best.

There is no clear answer as to what award shows should do, and certainly challenges like renegotiating contracts amidst the writers’ strike is a larger problem. But with TV shows moving further away from conventional genre trappings, the Television Academy will have to deal with this issue sooner rather than later.

Goodbye to the era of Succession sweeps After a triumphant awards season, HBO’s Succession swept almost all of the major awards at this past week’s Emmys, including Outstanding Drama Series, lauding the cast, crew, and producers for the final time after a mind-blowing fourth season.

Succession centres on media mogul Logan Roy and his family, with the story being loosely based on Rupert Murdoch and his family’s corporation. In the Drama Series category, this year’s ceremony recognized cast members Kieran Culkin (Roman Roy) for Outstanding Lead Actor, Sarah Snook (Siobhan “Shiv” Roy) for Outstanding Lead Actress, and Matthew MacFadyen (Tom

Wambsgans) for Outstanding Supporting sion deserved all of the awards it received.

Actor. Jesse Armstrong also took home his Unlike many dramas that run past their prime, fourth trophy for Outstanding Writing—one Succession ended on a perfect high note and for each season of the show. This year, it was won the awards to prove it. for the show’s highest-rated and most heartbreaking episode ever, the season’s third episode, “Connor’s Wedding,” which is one of the best episodes of television ever.

As someone who prides herself on being one of Succession’s biggest fans, I am beyond ecstatic with all of their wins. Snook won her first-ever Emmy, and though she has deserved it for years, this season really showed her embodying her role in a way we hadn’t seen before. Shiv’s marriage took a more central role in the plot, and she made her own final moves to secure a spot in her father’s company. While the show’s ‘star’ Jeremy Strong (Kendall Roy), did not win Outstanding Lead Actor—which he won in 2020—Culkin won his first Emmy, which touched my heart after his incredible performance this season.

While there are other shows that I would have loved to see take home an award—particularly Better Call Saul, which has never won an Emmy and now never will—I The 75th Annual Emmy Awards took place on Monday, Jan. still strongly believe that Succes- 15th. ( themoviedb.org )

scitech@thetribune.ca

TUESDAY, JANUARY 23 2024

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

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Urban greenery: The surprising common thread between sustainable cities and healthy children Breaking down the role of urban vegetation in asthma development Rebecca Winkelaar Contributor Continued from page 1.

A recent study in Environmental Epidemiology delves into the influence of urban trees and total vegetation on childhood asthma development. Co-authored by David Kaiser, associate medical director at Montreal Public Health and director of the Public Health and Preventative Medicine residency training program at McGill, the study focuses on the health of children born in Montreal between 2000 and 2015. It examines their exposure to various forms of urban vegetation, with linked medico-administrative databases identify- ing cases of asthma within this cohort.

In an interview with The Tribune, Kaiser explained that this study combined Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), a remote sensing technology, and satellite data, referring to the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), to monitor the cohort’s exposure to vegetation. This allowed researchers to distinguish between deciduous and evergreen trees, and determine the total urban vegetation in a given region.

Although the study does not find a linear relationship between urban vegetation and childhood asthma development, it provides useful insights. For instance, asthma development in children was more frequent during the

Urban vegetation’s impact on childhood asthma development is nonlinear, varying from protective to harmful depending on the pollen season. (Mia Helfrich / The Tribune ) pollen, or “leaf-off” season—when deciduous trees shed their leaves, typically in autumn and winter. Conversely, during the “leaf-on” season, when deciduous trees develop a protective green canopy, usually in spring and summer, vegetation contributes to a reduced risk of childhood asthma.

“We know that exposure to air pollution is a trigger for asthma, and we have this idea that trees reduce that risk. But beyond having that idea, we don’t necessarily know the mechanism by which that may happen,” Kaiser said.

After acknowledging certain limitations in the study, such as the absence of both annual tree canopy (upper branches and leaves) measurements within the study range and potential risk factors at home, Kaiser clarified the research paper’s goal. He emphasized that the study did not intend to comprehensively explain how trees might alleviate, or aggravate, childhood asthma.

Rather, it aimed to contribute valuable data to a growing understanding on the environmental context of health.

Medical practice represents a tangible ex-

ample of how this expanding knowledge pool can be applied—a shift that, according to Kaiser, is still on the horizon.

“When you see somebody in a clinical setting, you should be asking about where they live and what they might be exposed to. In public health, we need to have an understanding of the context of health, beyond the health system and beyond individual risk factors,” Kaiser said. “In the last couple of decades, we’ve touched on that, but […] I would say the health system and education [are] still very far behind where they need to be.”

The study’s data not only illuminates the environmental context of health but can also guide action regarding urban greening. The decision to plant urban vegetation is straightforward since any additional green spaces are advantageous, whether for mitigating heat or generally enhancing respiratory health. Determining where to prioritize urban greening or what to plant, though, is a complex process requiring deeper understanding before any decision-making.

This study is not the first and likely not the last to contribute to the exploration of this topic.

Nevertheless, Kaiser expressed optimism about the inclusion of environmental health in urban planning and health policy.

“If we take health as a global outcome, that allows us to integrate a lot of stuff that may seem kind of different, otherwise. It’s a nice way to present a more unified picture,” Kaiser noted.

Food fuel: Waste’s wasted potential Waste management in Maldives highlights importance of unique approaches Atticus O’Rourke Rusin Staff Writer

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limate change is a pressing issue across the world: As the dramatic toll of human habits on the environment becomes increasingly evident, researchers and policymakers must find new, creative ways to address these habits’ detrimental impacts. World leaders, scientists, and even many citizens don’t lack knowledge about the causes of climate change.

Power generation, manufacturing, deforestation, and transportation are all welldocumented polluters. Rather, political divisions, dependence on fossil fuels, and a lack of climate education contribute to a limiting worldwide response and a feeling of hopelessness, leading to what is often referred to as “climate anxiety.”

Limiting waste by reducing consumption is ideal, with the extraction and processing of goods contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. On the other end of consumption is waste management, which, depending on the method, also dramatically impacts the environment. Organic waste (food, paper, and yard waste) in landfills releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Although landfills and waste are major issues in many countries, small island developing states (SIDS) are a particularly tricky problem in terms of waste management.

A group of scientists from McGill,

Nanyang Technological University, and the United Nations (UN) recently published a paper highlighting the importance and viability of effective waste management in the Maldives. The paper explores various approaches that would transform waste into energy by “recycling” garbage and turning it into electricity, heat, and fertilizer. Given the varied distribution of the Maldives’ population, as well as limited land suitable for landfills, alternative methods of waste management are necessary for different areas of the country.

In an interview with The Tribune, Vijaya Raghavan, a professor in McGill’s Department of Bioresource Engineering, emphasized the importance of individualized approaches.

“The waste-to-energy concept is necessary for small, large, [and] medium countries, so we [researchers] are doing it. You know, we used to throw our waste into the river. That is no longer viable,” Raghavan said. “It is all value, it is not waste. So therefore we need to recover that value.”

In this context, the “value” of the waste is in the form of organic matter, integral to the waste-to-energy concept. The Maldives, in particular, throws away immense amounts of organic matter. In the capital, Malé, incineration effectively eliminates waste while supplying renewable energy.

The Maldives already employs incineration as a major method of waste disposal, but lacks the necessary infrastructure to

safely dispose of the chemicals or harness the maximum amount of energy possible.

“But, you know, those islands are pretty small, and the resources are limited and they don’t necessarily have the right kind of infrastructure,” Raghavan noted.

Although the Canada leads the developed world in waste production per capita.. (Mason Bramadat / The Tribune) largest cities in the Maldives are able to reliably receive through the waste, those are big numbers, electricity all day, residents on the smaller huge numbers. There is no unique solution islands can only rely on a few hours of elec- to get out of it.” tricity per day. Biogas, a fuel derived from Waste management in the Maldives organic matter and produced via the digest- serves as just one example of the efforts ers, would provide sufficient energy for to combat climate change, but it also highmany of these residents’ day-to-day tasks, lights the importance and difficulties in while removing their dependence on fossil case-by-case climate policy designed to fuels, such as kerosene, and limiting the ne- meet the specific needs of every country. cessity of large infrastructure projects.

A single approach does not suffice; policy The specific obstacles effective waste must vary, and researchers such as Raghamanagement faces in the Maldives are not van are actively contributing to the research the same as those in Canada or the United that aims to inform such policies.

States. Every country, by necessity, varies “Things that I do can fit into different in its approach to waste management and, slots. So that is what is happening, and then in the grander scheme of things, climate we are, now especially, very very mindful. policy in general.

Everything that you do—it has to be susAs Raghavan stated, “When you go tainable,” Raghavan said.

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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

scitech@thetribune.ca

TUESDAY, JANUARY 23 2024

Schoolwide exhibition showcases students’ innovative architectural solutions The work on display ranged from 3D models to concept drawings Athina Sitou Science & Technology Editor

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rom vibrant 3D multimedia projects to traditional architectural plans, students in McGill’s Peter Guo-hua Fu School of Architecture delivered a range of studio projects for the faculty’s recent schoolwide exhibition. The collection, whose projects seamlessly integrated function and aesthetics, showcased compelling and innovative studio projects completed by U1 students all the way to PhD candidates.

Although the exhibit closed on Jan. 19, the self-directed projects of second-year master’s students are viewable online.

While these projects fulfill one of McGill’s Master of Architecture degree requirements, their framework allows students the opportunity to explore any research question that aligns with their interest without any restrictions regarding employed methodology or potential outcomes. Addressing a research question and developing a design proposal often serve as the starting point. The student then chooses whether to employ traditional concept drawings and models or to explore more modern digital tools such as Building Information Modeling (BIM). The exhibition’s structure allows students to spearhead their project in an experimental manner without the pressure of unnecessary academic constraints, all while benefiting from studio advisors’ expertise.

William Zhou, a master’s student in McGill’s School of Architecture, explored building retrofit strategies in the Quebec social housing sector through his project “Adapt

One of the projects examines a district in Istanbul, Türkiye, and earthquake-resistant buildings. ( Anna Zhou / The Tribune ) Append Acclimate.” In an interview with The more social values, for example by making Tribune, he discussed some of the architectural them nicer for the residents.” solutions he has conceptualized and carried out One of ReCONstruct’s areas of expertise in his ongoing research, as well as the potential is deep energy retrofits (DERs). social impact such a project could have if im“Forty per cent of global carbon emissions plemented in Quebec’s low-cost housing. Zhou come from buildings alone,” Zhou stated. started working on this last summer when he Compared to the much more complex worked for the ReCONstruct lab. solely engineering approach, the architectural “Our goal is to do energy retrofits for solution of DERs aims to reduce a building’s a lot of buildings in Quebec in partnership energy consumption by 50 to 70 per cent with Hydro-Québec,” Zhou said. “We want through various forms of renovation. These to reduce [the building infrastructure’s carbon may include adding additional thermal buffers emissions], first by not demolishing a lot of the or modifying the existing ventilation systems, old buildings and then by finding ways to ret- which can be broadly categorized into merofit and also renovate them so they can have chanical ventilation, such as heating, ventila-

tion, and air-conditioning (HVAC), and natural ventilation present in the architectural design, such as interior gardens.

DERs offer numerous advantages beyond mere energy conservation. They contribute to prolonging the lifespan of buildings, enhancing resilience, promoting resident well-being, and alleviating stress on the electricity grid by reducing peak loads. Embracing DERs emerges as a practical and indispensable approach for Canada to achieve its greenhouse gas (GHG) emission targets, leading to significant funding allocations aimed at expediting their widespread implementation.

Zhou’s project explores the ways that passive strategies, such as hybrid ventilation, can significantly enhance the margin of energy savings by diminishing the long-term operative energy consumption. The application of these passive techniques opens avenues for the revitalization of existing spaces and the addition of new spaces to various structures in Quebec. These spaces are designed to prioritize the needs of occupants, foster a health-oriented lifestyle, and bridge current gaps within buildings and neighbourhoods.

In addition to Michael Jemtrud, the Chair in Architecture, Energy and Environment at McGill as well as ReCONstruct’s principal investigator, and participating faculty overseeing the schoolwide architecture exhibition, the McGill Graduate Architecture Students’ Association (GASA) played a key role in organizing this impressive collection.

Make sure to keep an eye out for their end-of-year exhibition in April when students will present their finalized projects.

Hiring Ad: Science & Technology Editor

studentlife@thetribune.ca

TUESDAY, JANUARY 23 2024

STUDENT LIFE

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Spend a day in Old Montreal Be a tourist in your own city with this wintry itinerary Katherine Weaver Staff Writer

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espite being only a 30-minute walk from McGill’s downtown campus, when done right, a day in Old Montreal can feel like a day trip in a new city. Check out this itinerary for your winter getaway to Old Montreal.

Begin with breakfast A hot cup of coffee and a tasty breakfast is the best way to start your day in Old Montreal.

Try Crew Collective and Café. Located in the old building of the Banque Royal du Canada, this coffee spot is famous for its unique and impressive interior. The domed ceiling laden with golden chandeliers is aweinspiring, and the menu boasts premium teas, coffees, pastries, and breakfast items. Come early though: Crew Collective can get quite busy in the morning, as it also serves as a popular coworking space.

If Crew Collective is indeed packed to the brim, fear not: A short, seven-minute walk eastward along Saint Jacques St. to Place D’Armes will bring you to Marché Saint Laurent. While the interior may not be as breathtaking as that of Crew Collective, the coffee and pastries hit the spot, plus, the little coffee shop hosts a market of items from local designers, ranging from hand-made art to cookbooks and fun postcards.

Crew Collective: 360 Rue Saint-Jacques.

Marché Saint Laurent: 503 Place d’Armes.

Just a little bit of shopping Old Montreal has plenty of options for those looking to do a bit of shopping.

L’empreinte coopérative features artisanal items from Quebec designers, ranging from fun ceramics and jewelry to soaps.

Mimi and August is another good bet.

This sustainably-focused store sells home decor items, stationary, and swimwear.

If you’re looking for more of a stereotypical shopping experience in a beautiful location, check out Marché Bonsecours. This historic building modelled after Dublin’s Custom House was home to Montreal’s main public market for over 100 years.

Inside, you’ll find stalls ranging from a quaint épicerie, to fine jewelry, and art galleries.

Crêperie Chez Suzette: 3 Rue Saint-Paul E. Tommy Café: 151 Rue Saint-Paul O. The post-lunch promenade Digest your lunch with a historical walk along the Old Port Promenade. This linear park runs along de la Commune St. and was created in 1981. The promenade follows the path of the eight railway lines that formerly allowed for the loading and unloading of cargo from ships docked at the piers.

Skating to End the Day For a fun afternoon activity, continue eastward down the promenade to the Parc

du Bassin-Bonsecours Ice Rink for skating.

Open until March, this refrigerated rink is a perfect place to skate with a group of friends, or on a date, tucked behind the Grande roue Observation Wheel with wonderful views of the city skyline to the north. Free lockers are available, as are skate rentals, and day passes are $10. If you go on a Thursday between 7:30 and 10 p.m., you can skate during DJ On Ice, featuring a new local DJ each week.

Old Port Skating Rink: 362 Rue de la Commune.

L’empreinte coopérative: 88 Rue Saint-Paul E. Mimi and August: 162 Rue Saint-Amable.

Marché Bonsecours: 350 Rue Saint-Paul E. Refuel with a relaxing lunch For lunch, there are many options to choose from. If you’re craving a warm lunch, Crêperie Chez Suzette offers both savoury and sweet crepes and fosters a bubbly, conversational atmosphere.

Alternatively, you can head over to Tommy Café on Saint Paul St. This specific location is more of a sit-down, restaurant-style version of the popular Old Port chain. With an open view of Saint Paul St. and good eats, it’s a great place for some people-watching over a hearty lunch.

In its heyday, the Port of Montreal was the world’s largest grain-handling port. (Wilder McNutt / The Tribune)

A love letter to cross-country skiing Three spots to do some serene skiing in and around Montreal Lily Cason Managing Editor

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so often find that downhill skiing disappoints—you pay hundreds of dollars to wait in massive lines, be carried to the top of a mountain, and then plopped down among dozens of families, fighting couples, and overconfident first-timers barreling down slopes they shouldn’t be on. I will admit, my lack of coordination may also play into my bitter attitude.

No doubt, it’s fun, but the cost, wait time, and crowds are just not my vibe.

Cross-country, on the other hand, is much more affordable and accessible, and is a great form of winter exercise.

It also provides a true escape not too far from the city: You glide through snow-covered trees, people few and far between, at whatever pace you desire. You can even choose to ski into a cabin or do some winter camping if you’re feeling ambitious. So, without further ado, here are three spots to get out cross-country skiing in and around Montreal this winter.

Mont-Royal Distance from campus: Five minutes by foot Cost of entry: Free Cost of ski rental: $16.50 for one hour, $22.50 for three hours

Although often busy, Mont-Royal boasts an impressive 16 kilometres of groomed cross-country ski trails right next to campus. The convenience of the mountain can’t be overstated—it’s easy to go skiing and get an hour or two of exercise in without having to rent a car and make it a whole-day activity. Les amis de la montagne offers rentals and courses for those who are interested.

Mont-Saint-Bruno Distance from campus: 35 minutes by car Cost of entry for students: $14.52 for the day or $10.70 after 3 p.m.

Cost of ski rental: $30.50 for the day *A bundle of entry and ski rental is available for $40.50 for students With 35 kilometres of crosscountry trails, Mont-Saint-Bruno offers a peaceful escape not too far from the city. Lakes and old buildings dot the park, and two warming huts are available for those who need a break.

Equipment is available for rent but must be reserved at least 24 hours in advance, making this park a bit harder to visit on a whim. A fun bonus is that Mont-Saint-Bruno allows nighttime skiing from Wednesday to Friday between Jan. 3 and March 8—and tickets are just $5.78 for students!

Some of these parks offer opportunities for skate skiing as well. (Mason Bramadat / The Tribune) Coureurs de boisés solicited advice: dent can mean having a tight budget, Distance from campus: 40 minutes 1. Make sure to always check but non-profits, community organizaby car or one hour and 40 minutes by the ski conditions before you get your tions, and student groups can be great public transport hopes up so you aren’t disappointed. ways to go cross-country skiing for Cost of entry for students: $14 on Sites usually rank the conditions on a cheap (the McGill Outdoors Club, for weekdays, $16 on weekends scale of “excellent” to “don’t come, example, is a great resource that offers Cost of ski rental: Not available the trails are closed,” which is info you equipment rentals and group trips at a This Laval spot claims to be one definitely want before you leave the low cost). of the largest ski clubs in Quebec and house.

4. Finally, remember to make time offers a web of trails that are groomed 2. I’d skip the parks in Montreal for relaxation as the semester ramps by volunteers and weave through agri- that only have about three kilometres up. It doesn’t have to be cross-country cultural land. Students get a discounted of ski trails. Even if you’re a beginner, skiing, but it’s important to unplug and rate on day and season passes, but there they likely won’t have enough trails do something you find truly enjoyable are unfortunately no equipment rentals for you to really get into the swing of and calming so that you don’t get too available. things, and they might not rent skis. caught up in the hustle and bustle of I will leave you with some final, un3. Compare prices! Being a stu- school and forget to live your life.

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STUDENT LIFE

studentlife@thetribune.ca

TUESDAY, JANUARY 23 2024

The dilemma of the add-drop period How to choose courses when you’re running out of options Maria Gheorghiu Staff Writer

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or me, the first few weeks of school—the liminal period of add-drop—are emotionally charged and stressful, demanding coordination and thorough planning. In this piece, I offer my internal monologue during add-drop, and some meagre advice on coming to terms with the schedule you end up with.

Last fall, I wrote about going to random lectures and concluded that the ultimate joy of the university experience (to me, at least) is getting to go to a class solely to feed your curiosity for learning. I’ve always been the kind of person who can’t just take any course solely to satisfy my credit minimum. Instead, I’ve imposed on myself a kind of precarious balance between needing to enjoy the content on a deep level but also liking the evaluation scheme, and knowing at least a few people in the class for comfort. This has worked out for me so far, but as I entered my last semester I found myself in an unfamiliarly stressful position: Not knowing what course to take anymore.

It seems I’ve taken every course McGill has to offer within the limits of my program. I’ve always been lucky during adddrop, with the same routine every semester: Thinking my schedule is good on the first day, only to gradually realize that I need to change everything immediately, stressfully composing emails to my extremely kind and caring advisor, ultimately finding a solution that fit my three criteria on the last day. But this semester was different, as I was only missing three credits to graduate, and could not find anything left to take. I settled on a course in an unfamiliar department, deeply interesting in content but heavy on midterms, which I have managed to avoid in most of my classes so far.

To me, add-drop is more stressful than finals week. I’ve always had a hard time explaining it, especially when it comes to my three selection criteria. A lot of my friends and family who are McGill alumni have told me that it doesn’t really matter what courses I take, or that I need to leave my comfort zone. I know I’ve been very lucky to enjoy every course I’ve taken so far, which is why I found it so hard to acknowledge that this semester would have to be different: I

While many students view add-drop as a continuation of their winter break, it can prove to be a very stressful time for some. (Zoe Chapman / The Tribune)

would have to take a course that forces me out of my comfortable and predictable degree schedule.

These past few weeks, I realized that I’ve already taken all the classes my friends are taking this semester. In other years, I was more than excited to take classes in my department, where a sense of camaraderie helped me persevere through any kind of evaluation. But this semester, as I asked around, hoping I would be able to take a class with

one of my friends, I realized that it wouldn’t be possible. In a way, I have to accept that I’m in my last year of undergrad and that I don’t have the luxury of choice anymore.

This add-drop period, after countless hours of worrying, stressing, and crying over my schedule, I’ve managed to rearrange my thoughts by shifting my perspective. Taking a class outside of my comfort zone isn’t a plight—it’s a wonderful oppor-

tunity to see what else McGill has to offer. I’m genuinely excited to take a class where I get to deepen my knowledge in a topic I’ve always been interested in, even if it means writing a humanities midterm for the first time in four years. Enjoy your semester, even if your schedule didn’t turn out the way you thought it would.

Try to engage with those unfamiliar courses; you’re only here for so long. Make the most of it.

The Tribune predicts: Winter horoscopes

Academic weapon or academic victim? Find out what winter 2024 has in store for you auditions Chloé Kichenane Opinion Editor

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now has fallen, sidewalks have frozen, and you desperately need something to look forward to.

You’ve come to the right place because, for better or worse, The Tribune is about to reveal everything you need to know this winter semester.

Aries (March 21 - April 19): Aries, I fear that your eyebags might only get bigger this semester! Slow down and take a nap, because you need to spend more time at home than at your local cutesy coffee shop chugging double espressos.

Taurus (April 20 - May 20): There’s absolutely nothing that will stop you this semester, Taurus. You were born during finals season for a reason: You will keep being the academic weapon you’ve always been.

Gemini (May 21 - June 20): Gemini, you should trust your instincts this semester, especially when it comes to choosing the best spot in the library. Stay away from the panicked comp-sci students frantically debugging their programming assignment and the business majors crying over their paint-by-numbers worth 75 percent of their grade.

Cancer (June 21 - July 22): Cancer, don’t let deadlines and midterms get to you. My sweet summer child, you were made to live

and have fun for the rest of us, not to sit at the library worrying about grades. Remember, they’re just a number. You deserve a break, and a little bit of sun.

Leo (July 23 - August 22): The funny thing with “Leo” is that it rhymes with “zero”… which is going to be your GPA if you keep slacking off. It’s -20 degrees outside and the sun sets at 4 p.m. anyway, so you have no more excuses to not lock yourself inside and study. Come on—get to work, party animal!

Virgo (August 23 - September 22): Virgo, your prayers have been heard. We know that you’re on the hunt, and the stars have aligned: You will find that perfect aesthetic Montreal apartment with a balcony for the one month of summer. Plus, it will have a sweet rent that will allow you to actually afford food.

Yay! Libra (September 23 - October 22): Libra, this semester, make sure to find the right balance between your social life and your five courses. I know what they say about college being the best years of your life, but don’t forget about the 60 pages of polisci readings waiting for you.

Scorpio (October 23 - November 21): Scorpio, you’re the silent kid at the back of the conference room because you’re obviously too cool to share your thoughts and reflections with the rest of the group. Keep it up if you want, but don’t come crying

when you don’t get your A because you were too busy being mysterious.

Sagittarius (November 22 - December 21): If you’re looking for an adventure to fulfill your unstoppable nature while keeping up with the academic fast-life, just hike up to McMed once or twice a day. It will do the job.

Capricorn (December 22 - January 19): No one doubts how ambitious you can be, Capricorn. You might need Hermione Granger’s “TimeTurner” so you can fit all your courses and your six clubs into your schedule. But don’t forget to take a deep breath from time to time.

Aquarius (January 20 - February 18): We know how creative you can be, Aquarius. Your ability to imagine new worlds and sweet delusions is unparalleled, and it might come in handy during your next 8:30 a.m. conference when you forget to do your readings.

Pisces (February 19 - March 20): My crystal ball seems to like you a lot, Pisces. Your innate gift to pretend to take notes in your bird class while actually planning your dream solo Interrail trip will have absolutely no consequences on your grades.

Nothing less than A’s this semester.

(Shireen Aamir / The Tribune)

SPORTS

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 23 2024

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The Tribune tries: PWHL home game at Place Bell Poulin’s late-game heroics give PWHL Montreal its first-ever win at home.

Dante Ventulieri Student Life Editor Continued from page 1.

PWHL Montreal, like the other five teams in the league, is playing without a logo or unique name, a decision that was made so as not to rush the creative process and to use the time to build an identity that reflects the history of women’s hockey and each individual team.

On a cold Tuesday night, The Tribune arrived at Montmorency station, picked up a quick bite to eat at Five Guys, and walked over to the arena. Our tickets, which were $23 each, were midway up the corner section and offered a clear view of the entire ice. The crowd of 6,334 filled the lower bowl nearly to capacity.

The first period saw Montreal dominate play by controlling the neutral zone and limiting New York’s high-danger chances. The crowd was electric from the get-go but it reached another level nearing the end of the first period when Montreal scored twice in 17 seconds, setting a PWHL record for fastest consecutive goals. This is the second game Montreal has played against New York, after a

5-2 victory the week before, and it was noticeable, with players finishing their checks and more physicality than in Montreal’s previous games. The rowdy environment in the stands and on the ice lead us to think that a rivalry could be forming.

After the DJ kept the crowd excited during the intermission, the second period picked up right where the first left off, with lots of good chances for Montreal and strong defensive play before ultimately giving up a shorthanded goal in the final minutes.

We spent the second intermission walking around the concourse. The gin bar is lovely: It’s a great place to sit and relax before the period starts back up. There is a nice selection of merch available, but my Montreal Maroons sweater was slightly too similar to justify buying their the PWHL Montreal crew neck. Maybe next year, when their new logo adorns the front, I will reconsider.

Early in the third period, New York scored to tie the game at two, but a dancing competition, the wave, and one fan’s poster saying “Who runs the world?” kept the energy up. In the final five, Montreal captain Marie-Philip Poulin capitalized on a turnover and scored what was ultimately

PWHL Montreal sits second in the league with a 3–1–2 record and 10 points. (Maria Gheorghiu / The Tribune) the game-winning goal. The crowd erupted were talking about their favourite players, and the noise didn’t wane from that point waving their posters, and cheering every on. The team gave a salute to the crowd time Ann-Renée Desbiens made a save. after the final buzzer and Poulin was The nicest part of the game is seeing honoured as the first star. these moments. With its strong financial Going to a PWHL game is worth a backing, big sponsors, including historic trek to Verdun or Laval. From a hockey broadcasting deals, and a proper collective perspective, the players are skilled, and bargaining agreement, it seems like the the game is fast, competitive and physical.

PWHL will be around for the long-haul.

The ambiance is exciting, especially when With the future laying in front of us, players like Poulin can rally the crowd catching a game during the inaugural every time she touches the puck. season in the league’s Original Six phase Sitting behind me was a group of is a lovely feeling and The Tribune girls from a youth hockey team, who cannot wait for more to come.

The Tribune explains: Africa Cup of Nations 2023 Why you should watch the most prestigious tournament on the African continent Sara Escallon Sotomayor Sports Editor

O

n Jan. 13, 2024, the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 (yes, you read that correctly––it was postponed from July due to weather concerns in the host country) kicked off in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Africa’s marquee tournament is as whimsical as it is star-studded, with big names such as Egypt’s Mo Salah, Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen, Senegal’s Sadio Mané, and more competing. This year’s iteration is composed of 24 teams divided into six groups of four. The top two teams from each group and the four best third-place teams progress to the next stage, after which there is a knockout stage culminating in a final on Feb. 11.

Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia competed in the first Africa Cup of Nations, in 1957. During the wave of African independence, AFCON served as a way for national leaders to unify the populations of their new large, ethnically diverse nations. Indeed, the first president of Ghana, the pan-Africanist Kwame Nkrumah, enthusiastically supported the Ghanaian national team as he recognized the importance of creating an indigenous unifying national identity separate from the European colonial institutions he had inherited upon independence.

Ghana won AFCON thrice, which––

at that time––meant Ghana kept the trophy permanently, then known as the Abdel Aziz Abdallah Salem Trophy. After Cameroon won the trophy for the third time in 2000, then called the African Unity Cup, this particular quirk of AFCON was retired, and three-time victors get to keep a trophy replica rather than the actual trophy itself. As well, South Africa’s surprise 1996 AFCON win with an ethnically diverse team helped bring the nation together after the dissolution of apartheid, emphasizing the tournament’s political importance.

While six teams have a fairly even chance of coming away with AFCON’s ultimate prize this year, tournament host Côte d’Ivoire, World Cup semi-finalists Morocco, and defending AFCON champions Senegal are viewed as favourites.

Egypt is the country with the most wins in the competition, having triumphed seven times with the most recent occurring in 2010. After captaining his side to finals in 2017 and 2021, Egyptian fans are hoping Mo Salah will be able to take Egypt all the way this time around.

While football clubs in Europe tend to have a negative perception of AFCON, as players selected for the tournament will miss up to a month of club action. However, for many players, being nationally selected and competing in AFCON is one of the highest honours they can hope to receive. While other FIFA-sanctioned

international tournaments take place every four years, AFCON takes place every two years as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) seeks to promote the growth of the game across Africa.

AFCON is unlike any other tournament: The juxtaposition of overlapping identities and nationalities take centre stage. Many national teams such as Morocco, Algeria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Comoros rely on their diasporas to strengthen their squads.

Kalidou Koulibaly, who grew up in France to Senegalese parents, was pursued by France for many years, yet reaffirmed his connection to Senegal and desire to build the future of Senegalese soccer. AFCON allows footballers who do not always feel represented in their countries of birth to feel connected to their roots. Yet players who grew up in European academy systems are not necessarily at a competitive advantage over their continental peers. The atmosphere, the pitch conditions, the energy–– playing in Africa is unlike anything they have experienced before.

Despite the tournament kicking off just a week ago, there have already been notable upsets, as the island nation of Cape Verde defeated Ghana 2-1, Namibia defeated Tunisia 1-0 and, shockingly, Equatorial Guinea defeated Côte d’Ivoire 4-0, effectively knocking them out at the group stage.

As in any tournament, underdogs

can go far, and there promises to be many more upsets, especially as more established nations such as Cameroon and Ghana struggle.

In a country as diverse and multilingual as Canada, AFCON is the perfect tournament to watch as it showcases the African continent’s incredible cultural and linguistic diversity. Montreal and McGill have significant African diasporas as well.

With favourable kick off times

for those of us in the Eastern Standard time zone (EST), don’t be surprised if you see more and more people tuning in to matches throughout your day. With equal potential to stun and enchant, AFCON 2023 is the perfect tournament for veteran soccer fans as well as those looking to get into the sport. We will certainly be watching.

You can live stream AFCON 2023 on FuboTV.

AFCON 2023 is one of the most exciting sporting events of the year. (Franco237, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)

16

SPORTS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 23 2024

sports@thetribune.ca

Varsity Round Up: Jan. 18–21 The Tribune catches you up on everything you may have missed in McGill sports this week Tillie Burlock Managing Editor Sara Escallon Sotomayor Sports Editor Julie Ferreyra Sports Editor Martlet Volleyball (9–5) Coming off the heels of a three-game win streak, the No. 10, nationally ranked Martlets (9–5) were upset by the UQÀM Citadins (9–6) at the Centre Sportif de l’UQÀM in a match that lasted over two hours. After losing the first set 25-23, the Martlets were able to bounce back in the second set to win 23-25. Despite close scorelines in the third and fourth sets, the Martlets were unable to regain their edge over their opponents. The Martlets now sit in a difficult position as they battle with Sherbrooke (9–6) and UQÀM for the fourth playoff spot.

Co-captains Victoria Iannotti and Charlene Robitaille led the team in scoring, racking up 14 and 12 points respectively. The Martlets will have the chance to play at UQÀM once more on Feb. 4.

While the team has been impacted by a flu bug, they hope to recover quickly as they travel to Chicoutimi to play the UQÀC Inuk (0–15) and keep their playoff bid dreams alive. The Martlets have seven games remaining until the postseason and maintain the second best win percentage (0.643) in the division.

Heading to Sherbrooke to play the Gaiters on their home turf on Saturday, the Martlets hoped to bounce back from the first games’ loss. However, despite Seyna Diggs, Emma-Jane Scotten, and Stephy Tchoukuiegno combining to score 43 of McGill’s 67 points, the Martlets fell to the Gaiters yet again.

McGill failed to claim the lead at any point during the two game series,

games against the Bishop’s Gaiters (6–5) were more of the same for the Redbirds. Playing at home on Jan. 18, the Redbirds kept it close, down just one point coming out of the first quarter. With momentum flowing their way, they outscored the Gaiters 14-12 and 18-15 in the second and third quarters respectively. Leading 43-39 as the matchup entered its final frame, the lead slipped away from

against the second place UQÀM Citadins (7–1).

The Redbirds will next play the UQÀM Citadins on Jan. 25 at the Centre Sportif de l’UQÀM. Redbirds Hockey (16–5–2) Coming off a loss against the Toronto Metropolitan University Bold that put an end to their three-

Redbirds hockey will be facing the York University Lions (3–19–1) on Jan. 26 at Canlan Ice Sports Arena.

With just five games until playoffs, Redbirds’ hockey is well situated in first place in the OUA East for a deep playoff run. (Matt Garies / McGill Athletics)

The Martlet’s will play the UQÀC Inuk (0–15) on Jan. 26 and 27 at the Pavillon Sportif de l’UQÀC.

Martlets Basketball (5–5) Coming off back-to-back wins against their rivals, the Concordia Stingers (4–6), the Martlets headed into Jan. 18’s game against the Bishop’s Gaiters (6–5) on a high note. Thursday’s game also represented the Martlets’ “Shoot for the Cure” game in which the players donned all-pink uniforms to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research––so far the team has raised $836.60. Opening with a dominating first quarter, the Gaiters asserted themselves over the Martlets, scoring 27 points to McGill’s measly eight.

However, despite the 19 basket point differential, the Martlets rallied, outshooting the Gaiters 24-15 in the second quarter. Entering the game’s second half with the score 42-32, Bishop’s regained their advantage, putting up 23 points to widen the gap between the two teams. Separated by 16 points heading into the final frame, the Gaiters’ early dominance proved to be too much for the Martlets who ended the game 81-59.

2-2, the Gee-Gees reclaimed their lead and with just under four minutes left in the second period, Alexandre Gagnon tied it right back up. After a scoreless third that pushed the game into overtime, Scott Walford scored the finisher––his second overtime winner in four games. Walford and Gagnon were crowned first and second stars of the game.

The momentum from this win carried over to the Redbird’s overpowering 7-1 win against the Nipissing Lakers on Jan. 20. Despite the Lakers opening the score, McGill dominated the face-off, scoring seven unanswered goals. William Rouleau and Eric Uba both recorded two goals, while Gallant earned a fourpoint game, including three assists and a goal. This performance granted Gallant the first star of the game, while Uba and Frattaroli received second and third stars, respectively.

Martlets volleyball is slotted in second place in the RSEQ standings, four points back from UdeM. (Matt Garies / McGill Athletics) and Saturday’s 80-67 loss allowed Bishop’s to push the Martlets into third place, with the Gaiters claiming second place in the RSEQ standings.

The Martlets’ will play next against the UQÀM Citadins (0–8) on Jan. 25 at the Centre Sportif de l’UQÀM. Redbirds Basketball (1–9) Settled in last place of the RSEQ standings, the Redbirds have had a rough 2023-24 season with only one win across the opening 10 games.

With many of their losses having very tight margins, the back-to-back

McGill with Bishop’s outscoring them 17-13 to tie the game and force overtime. Despite their best efforts, the Gaiters bested the Redbirds in overtime leading to a 62-59 loss.

Unfortunately for McGill fans, Saturday’s matchup was no better than Thursday’s as the Redbirds fell to Bishop’s 75-60. Despite another strong first quarter where McGill remained in lockstep with Bishop’s, keeping an even score at 11-points apiece, things began to falter in the second with the Gaiters taking a 3226 lead. The loss makes for a fourgame losing streak for the Redbirds as they head into this week’s matchup

game win streak, the Redbirds resurged, securing two home wins.

The back-to-back victories earned the Redbirds 11 straight home wins and allowed them to snatch first place in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Eastern standings.

On Jan. 19, the Redbirds hosted the now-second-place University of Ottawa Gee-Gees. After facing an overtime shoot-out loss against the Gee-Gees on Dec. 5, the Redbirds were able to snag a 4-3 overtime victory. Despite the Redbirds going down early 2-1, Zachary Gallant tied the game up just under five minutes into the second period. With the game

Martlets Hockey (4–13–1) Facing off against the Bishop’s Gaiters after an overtime shootout loss in their last matchup, the Martlets fell 4-1. After trailing 1-0 in the first period and the beginning of the second period, defender Mia Giles capitalized on a power-play opportunity to score the lone goal for McGill. The Gaiters reciprocated when, a few minutes later, they buried their third goal of the night. Bishop’s finished the evening by widening their lead to 4-1 with no response from McGill. The frustrating lack of completed opportunities pushed the Martlets to get more physical, leading the game with seven minor penalties and fourteen total penalty minutes.

The Martlets hit the rink on Saturday, Jan. 20, with hopes of putting an end to their ninegame loss streak on home ice. The evening started with the Université de Montréal Carabins blowing two goals past Martlet goaltender Sarah Carmichael. After being led 2-0 for the first period, the Martlets saw the gap widen by the end of the second period, with UdeM scoring their final goal of the night. The third period saw forward Syrine Kacem scoring the first goal for McGill in hopes of bridging this gap. Elizabeth Mura continued this momentum, burying the last goal of the game. Despite their effort to come back in the last period and leading in shots-on-goal, the Martlets still fell 3-2 against the Carabins.

The Martlets are playing the University of Ottawa’s Gee-Gees on Jan. 25th at the Minto Sports Complex Arena