The Tribune Vol. 43 Issue 11

The Tribune TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21 2023 | VOL. 43 | ISSUE 11

Published by the SPT, a student society of McGill University

THETRIBUNE.CA | @THETRIBUNECA

EDITORIAL

FEATURE

STUDENT LIFE

Student journalism must serve as an example for mainstream media on responsible reporting

How do we study language?

Busy hands, idle minds

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PG. 8-9

PG. 13

(James Knechtel / The Tribune)

Beyond the Stands PG.15

Students vote in favour of Policy Against Genocide in Palestine, reject SSMU Base Fee increase 31.5 per cent of undergraduate students cast a ballot in Fall 2023 SSMU referendum Shani Laskin & Lily Cason News Editor & Managing Editor

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he Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Fall referendum closed at 11 a.m. on Nov. 20, with 31.5 per cent of undergraduate students casting a ballot—up from the 16.7 per cent that voted in last semester’s election. Students overwhelmingly voted to pass the Policy Against Genocide in Palestine and to strike down a question that would have raised the SSMU base fee by 71 per cent.

The Policy Against Genocide in Palestine—put forward by students—compels SSMU to lobby McGill to condemn Israel’s siege on Gaza, divest from companies that support the state of Israel, and cut ties with Israeli universities. It also states that SSMU must take a public stand against Israel’s genocidal violence in Gaza and stand in solidarity with Palestinian and Arab students. The policy passed the referendum with 78.7 per cent of non-abstaining voters, 5,974 people, casting a “Yes” vote.

Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR) McGill celebrated the policy’s victory on social media, stating that they were

“The Road to Hell” is paved with quirky duos

Player’s Theatre hosts a night of canyon yodelling and wonderful chicken Amalia Mairet Contributor

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efore I saw “The Road to Hell,” nobody would tell me anything about it. The play is modern and relatively unknown, so a cursory Google Search reveals very little.

I learned that it consists of two one-act plays, with two actors in each act. A new, mysterious play with a tight cast—I was intrigued.

McGill’s Players’ Theatre is small and intimate, the perfect setting to focus on the inner workings of four characters. I arrive

early to interview director Henry Kemeny-Wodlinger (U1 Arts), who is happy to discuss anything about the play but the plot. KemenyWodlinger is a serious, hands-on director—he just directed “KIN” at the Toronto Fringe Festival in 2022.

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“overwhelmed to see the McGill student body show such strong support for the Palestinian struggle in this historic moment.”

On Nov. 20, after the results of the referendum had been finalized, the SSMU Executive Committee sent out a statement notifying its constituency that McGill informed the SSMU President on Nov. 8 that, should the Policy Against Genocide in Palestine pass, “the University will consider that SSMU is in breach of its own constitution, and hence also in default of the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between SSMU and McGill University, as per Section 12.1.2 of this MoA.” PG. 2

Beyond the Stands: A Tribute to Percival Molson Stadium An athlete’s love letter to his hallowed playing grounds Philippe Haddad Contributor

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here are a few places you encounter in life that you know will imprint on you forever. For some, these places are marked by unimaginable beauty; for others, it’s the unforgettable memories sunk into the very ground.

Often, you cannot predict the

impact these places will leave on you––whether it’s a summer doldrum on a friend’s porch or a moment of awe at the top of Stawamus Chief. I could never have predicted the influence that McGill’s own Percival Molson Stadium would have on my life––playing in the stadium has changed me forever.

The first thing that you notice about the stadium is the

stunningly green turf field with a ring of red track on the fringe, surrounded by rising walls of stands bordering three-quarters of the field. The Nest––McGill Athletics’ student section––lies to the south, comprising rows upon rows of red benches with a second set of risers lined with the names and jersey numbers of Montreal Alouettes legends.

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NEWS

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21 2023

Students vote in favour of Policy Against Genocide in Palestine, reject SSMU Base Fee increase

31.5 per cent of undergraduate students cast a ballot in Fall 2023 SSMU referendum Shani Laskin & Lily Cason Managing Editor News Editor Continued from page 1.

“As stated in our emails, McGill has put us in default for SPHR’s name and has threatened to put us in default for the Policy,” SSMU President Alexandre Ashkir wrote in an email to The Tribune. “The next steps are for the Board to review the policy and make a decision on ratification. This decision will be made with legal considerations in mind, but most importantly, with the understanding that upholding our democracy is among the most essential tasks of the SSMU, even (and particularly if) it brings us in conflict with McGill.

As I told the journalists for the Montreal Gazette, if we believed the policy was violating the Constitution, Elections SSMU would’ve shut it down. They did not and until the Board discusses it further, we will uphold their decision.”

SPHR McGill also addressed the administration’s response to the policy in the same online statement.

“The administration will now—once again—do everything in its power to overturn the referendum result, in a desperate attempt to crush students’ unequivocal support for Palestinian liberation,” SPHR McGill wrote.

“Our elected representatives in SSMU must ensure that the demands of their constituents are met. As our student union, the SSMU has the duty to resist threats from the McGill ad-

ministration and defend the democratic decision of its students.”

McGill did not respond to The Tribune’s questions before the publication deadline.

A proposed $48.73 increase to the mandatory SSMU base fee was struck down, with 80.2 per cent of voters saying “No.” If passed, SSMU has said it would have used its increased budget to raise staff wages and meet unprecedented inflation. The society has also stated that it would “likely have to drastically reduce its operational scale” if the fee increase failed to pass the referendum.

Ashkir explained in a statement to The Tribune that SSMU planned to run a “clear and transparent campaign” but was burdened by other responsibilities.

“We understand the resounding requests for more financial explanations to the increase and I personally apologise to all who may have felt that we were contravening to that,” Ashkir wrote. “We will prepare ourselves to properly run such a campaign for the next referendum period, clearly giving information and explaining in detail the impact of members’ decisions. The SSMU is currently digging into reserves; it can run for at most 2 years as it currently stands by digging into its investments.”

CKUT, a 24/7 non-profit community radio station based at McGill, was up for its first fee increase since 2012. Of the 5,133 voters, 67.2 per cent voted “No” to the station’s request for a $2 opt-outable fee increase.

“CKUT is disappointed that the students that voted could not see the value in the health of their campus radio station,” CKUT Funding and

Outreach Coordinator Madeline Lines wrote in Funding Committee, was also approved. an email to The Tribune. “At a time when journalThe Student Nutrition Accessibility Club ism is suffering, and when Canadian artists are up (SNAC) ran a referendum question requesting the against algorithms to get their music heard, CKUT creation of a $1.30 opt-outable fee. The question disrupts this. This decision means the station will passed with 65.7 per cent of the 5,335 voters who continue to face financial challenges that may soon did not abstain casting a “Yes” vote. become existential.”

“We are immensely grateful to the student MustBus, a student-run service which pro- body for recognizing the importance of SNAC’s vides affordable bus trips to students, also failed to mission and supporting the implementation of this secure a $3 fee increase. fee,” SNAC Co-President Alexa Infelise wrote in “As inflationary pressures continue to drive a statement to The Tribune. “Your vote has paved bus charter costs up, MustBus will now struggle the way for a more inclusive and supportive comto sufficiently subsidize ticket prices making trans- munity where everyone has access to nutritious port options for McGill students less affordable, food and valuable education on healthy living.” frequent, and accessible,” MustBus Co-President Finally, students also voted to ratify SSMU’s Henry Shapiro wrote in a statement to The Tribune. Board of Directors, which can either happen “Despite the disappointing referendum results, the through a referendum or through a General AsMustBus team is committed to maintaining the sembly. current levels of service for next [fall].”

The renewal of the $0.50 opt-outable First Year Fee, which is used to hold events for first year students, also did not pass.

Other questions passed successfully. The McGill Student Emergency Response Team (MSERT), a student-run volunteer first response team which also provides trainings to students, won a $1.36 fee increase. The establishment of a $1 opt-outable fee, which will support a Commu- 8,401 of 23,942 eligible students voted in the election. (Maïa nity Solidarity Fund and Solidarity Salhofer / The Tribune)

Students craft pins and ribbons in solidarity with the Mohawk Mothers Anthropology Students’ Association hosts workshop and tour of New Vic site

Jasjot Grewal News Editor Content Warning: Mentions of death and abuse

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n Nov. 15, the Anthropology Students’ Association (ASA)—in partnership with the Nursing Undergraduate Society (NUS), Divest McGill, the Arts Undergraduate Society, and Take Back Tekanontak—hosted a “Crafting Solidarity” event in support of the Kanien’kehá:ka Kahnistensera (Mohawk Mothers).

The Mothers are currently engaged in an investigation into McGill’s New Vic Project site over potential unmarked Indigenous graves.

They last appeared in court on Oct. 27 to urge transparency from the defendants—including McGill, the Société québécoise des infrastructures (SQI), the Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH), the City of Montreal, and the Attorney General of Canada—and discuss the disbandment of the courtappointed archaeological panel, which provides recommendations that bind all parties, as per the settlement agreement. Justice Gregory Moore will announce his ruling in a case management hearing on Dec. 1. In the meantime, archaeological work and construction continue to take place on the New Vic site against the Mothers’ wishes.

Attendees of the event, held in room 260 of the Arts Building from noon to 3 p.m., cut orange ribbons and crafted purple squares inscribed with the phrase “Truth MM” to distribute around campus. Naomi Pastrana Mankovitz, U3 Nursing, Senator for the NUS, and an organizer of the event,

explained that the crafting event was a follow up to the ASA’s Mohawk Mothers teach-in held on Oct. 25. According to Mankovitz, students who attended the teach-in expressed a need for more accessible ways to show support for the Mothers.

“One of the ideas that came up at that event was just making the issue visible to the university.

So, [we are] creating art, and pins, and ribbons,” Mankovitz said in an interview with The Tribune.

“Having a space to come together and do that art, eat, and meet other people that are interested in supporting [the Mothers], it’s quite a simple activity to plan, and there seemed to be a lot of interest.”

Rajendra Kapila Basdeo of the campaign Decolonial Solidarity hosted a brief tour of the New Vic site for the last hour of the event, leading a small group of students to the site of the Allan Memorial Institute—a research and psychiatric centre operated by RVH. The Institute currently faces a class-action lawsuit, as it was one of 89 institutions that were CIA-funded for MKUltra experiments—unconsented psychological brainwashing experiments of Indigenous peoples and others.

One of the attendees of the crafting workshop, Sage Duquette, 2L, shared that he believes that McGill’s has misled students in its communications regarding the investigation. Duquette specifically referred to the Provost and Vice Principal (Academic) Christopher Manfredi’s Oct. 10 email, which stated, “No evidence has been found to substantiate the presence of unmarked graves.”

“I think that that’s a gross misrepresentation.

[It’s not that] there’s conclusive evidence that there are graves, but you don’t need to have

conclusive evidence to have evidence,” Duquette said. “There are things to suggest [the possible presence of graves] such as the historic human remains detection dogs. There is evidence. There’s not conclusive evidence, but there is evidence. So, to claim that there’s no evidence is misleading and harmful.”

Mathis Lehoux, U4 Arts, shared a similar frustration with the McGill administration, particularly when it comes to reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.

“Whenever we see McGill releasing some information to the community, you just know from the get-go that it’s bullshit,” Lehoux said in an interview with The Tribune. “To see the institution that we put money in hide the truth and manipulate

a facade of collaboration with Indigenous peoples [...] to protect their interests is really frustrating.”

Duquette further expressed that he felt McGill has had a “cynical” approach to the investigation and its public relations campaign, asserting that McGill’s continuous obstruction of justice may point to guilt.

“It all really seems to me to be at the detriment of guilt, because if there actually aren’t any human remains there, then surely that would be good to prove,” Duquette said. “You would want to prove that through a thorough process, and you would want the Mothers on board recognizing that that is the conclusion.”

McGill could not be reached for a comment in time for publication.

Around 40 students participated in making ribbons and patches.. (Mason Bramadat / The Tribune)

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21 2023

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NEWS

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SSMU VP Sustainability and Operations explains the role’s return after six-year vacancy The position was partially reinstated to relieve intense executive workload Eliza Lee Staff Writer

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fter six years of vacancy, the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) reinstated the role of Vice President (VP) Sustainability and Operations this June. Hassanatou Koulibaly—who served as VP Student Life in the 2022-2023 academic year—currently holds the position after running unopposed in the 2022-2023 SSMU executive election. The VP Sustainability and Operation’s main responsibilities include managing space allocation in the University Centre building, overseeing SSMU’s business operations, such as Gerts Bar and Café, and providing foundational support to clubs on the SSMU Environment Committee.

The role first became vacant in August 2017, when the last VP Sustainability and Operations, Anuradha Mallik, resigned. Shortly after her resignation, the University Centre was closed from February 2018 to September 2021 due to asbestos closures and renovations, followed by the COVID-19 pandemic. In an interview with The Tribune, Koulibaly explained that because many of the VP’s responsibilities relate to managing the building, executives deemed the role unnecessary while the building was closed.

Koulibaly highlighted that SSMU decided to fill the VP Sustainability and Operations role for the 2023-2024 academic year in part to ensure a manageable workload for other executives.

“I was one of the advocates for having this

role back [last year], because it is a significant amount of work to do,” Koulibaly said. “In my role as VP Student Life, [I found myself picking up a lot of the role] because it relates to clubs, and clubs use the space. [...] I found myself stretched very thin.”

Former SSMU VP University Affairs Kerry Yang highlighted that the executive team’s overall workload has been growing over the course of several years as executives bring new ideas and projects to the organization each year. In addition to this executive overwork and around-the-clock hours, Yang noted that there has been instability within the SSMU executive team in recent years. “[When an executive] takes leave or steps down, that workload passes on to the other [executives],” Yang said in an interview with The Tribune. “Just having another executive in case a situation like that happens is something that can be very helpful in terms of dividing up the workload and preventing too much burnout on the other executives.”

Koulibaly noted that one of the challenges she has faced this year is the undefined nature of the role. Because of this, one of her priorities for the year is to create internal regulations for the executive position that will clearly specify its mandate and allow students to hold the executive accountable. Koulibaly also spoke to the way that the role prioritizes parts of the SSMU mandate that were overlooked last year, such as holding the executives accountable to sustainability mandates.

“In my experience last year as VP Student

Life, I knew that I had to give a sustainability workshop to the clubs, but that was about it,” Koulibaly said. “I find that it wasn’t [positioned as] ‘this is very important and every executive needs to make sure that in all of their projects and plans that they are making sustainability a priority’ [...] I think a lot of the focus this year is to have the sustainability portion of the SSMU more prioritized in the various mandates that we do care about in various projects that are already happening.”

Despite this change in the executive team, some students still report difficulties accessing SSMU’s services. Blaise Benoit, U3 Science,

emphasized the importance of SSMU in advocating for students, but expressed frustration about challenges securing funding for clubs through the organization.

“I know that there aren’t too many [SSMU executives], and they’re vastly overworked.” Benoit said in an interview with The Tribune. “But I [also] know that in the current structure with which they operate, it’s very difficult for clubs within McGill to just operate and gain the funding that should be allocated to them. It just seems so disorganized; I think there’s great changes that need to be made.”

The VP Sustainability and Operations also sits on the Senate Committee for Physical Development. (Mason Bramadat / The Tribune)

McGill’s joint Senate and BoG meeting sees dialogue on the university’s third century Meeting discussed how the school can better equip students for the future Monique Kasonga Opinion Editor

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cGill’s annual joint Senate and Board of Governors (BoG) meeting took place in the Faculty Club on Nov. 14, addressing the theme of “Building on McGill’s Record of Excellence for the Third Century: Challenges and Opportunities Ahead.”

Maryse Bertrand, Chair of the BoG, briefly introduced the topic before handing the microphone off to Principal and Vice-Chancellor Deep Saini for opening remarks at his first joint Senate-BoG meeting. Saini began by acknowledging the importance of plurality and dialogue between the two bodies. Touching on the fact that the public’s perception of the role of universities is changing, he emphasized the institution’s role in equipping students with skills that will help establish McGill as a trusted voice to the public.

“Higher education is entering a new reality [….] We must consider the factors that have contributed to McGill’s reputation as a top university while finding ways to build upon this reputation,” Saini said.

Bertrand then led a warm-up session that involved the entire room. Amidst this activity, she highlighted the recent decision of the Quebec government to raise tuition fees for out-of-province and international students. Despite these challenges and obstacles, Bertrand confidently asserted her belief in McGill’s resilience and unwavering reputation.

Following the warm-up, senators and members of the Board were invited to discuss the question,

“Considering the opportunity and challenges facing universities, how do we best prepare for the future of higher education at McGill?” in their individual round table groups. PGSS Secretary-General Satish Kumar Tumulu gave the first answer, emphasizing McGill’s place as a centre for sourcing knowledge in service of various communities. Other members of the BoG and Senate highlighted this point as well as the fact that McGill’s research sector has been its biggest strength but that this research must reach the broader community.

The night then proceeded to take a round-table format, where each table was assigned a question

by Bertrand and given 45 minutes to discuss before an appointed speaker would present the results of each team to the room.

Some groups discussed the question of the changing perceptions of a university degree’s value and accessibility. Table one emphasized how over the past 60 years, economic factors and shifting industry demands have prompted a reevaluation of educational priorities. Tables one, two, and three all focused on how the university aims to bridge the gap between academia and industry demands by fostering inclusivity and transparency, ensuring students are prepared for a rapidly changing job market.

Jacob Levy, a Member-at-Large on the Senate and Chair of McGill’s Department of Political Science, spoke on how McGill has not yet faced ideological repression by the provincial government despite their unsteady relationship, putting the institution in a privileged position to create changes.

“If we intend for a guild to be a force in

facing challenges in fixing [student’s] education [...] then I think that we want Moment of the meeting: to take advantage of our relatively Principal Saini said in his closing remarks that protected position so far, to be forceful the institution needed to invest in a fleet of BeaverTail as advocates for the independent and trucks. He was referencing a comment made earlier by critical voices within academia,” Levy a member regarding the trucks’ ability to enter comsaid. “We are among the research munities and spread information—a line discussed universities that have so far not been throughout the meeting. under that kind of content-based Soundbite: [ideological] attack. That makes us “Don’t lose the research part of the university. It relatively more attractive to both has been its biggest strength, but it needs to reach the faculty and students.” communities.”

Shifting focus to the role — Vice Principal (Research and Innovation) Marof universities in combating tha Crago, who sits on the Senate, on the importance of misinformation and public research diversity at McGill. distrust, tables four to six spoke on the importance of maintaining information plurality while actively combating disinformation. The tables recognized the need for transparency, emphasizing faculty involvement in teaching students how to discern truth from misinformation. These efforts also extend to rebuilding trust, particularly among historically marginalized minorities such as neurodivergent people and people of colour, reaching rural communities, and ensuring institutional inclusivity.

Lastly, tables seven to ten The BoG has 25 voting members and the Senate is comdiscussed educating a future-ready posed of 111 voting members, including representatives from generation with the knowledge, skills, student and faculty bodies.. (James Knechtel / The Tribune) and drive to navigate their careers and their lives. The tables collectively discussed shifts emphasis from grades to critical thinking and moving toward an adaptive learning approach that personal growth.

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NEWS

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21 2023

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Along Party Lines: A guide to Montreal’s municipal politics A look at the political stances of Montreal’s leading parties Shani Laskin News Editor

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ontreal’s municipal government announced the approved city budget for 2024 on Nov. 15. The budget sees a $235 million increase in spending and, on average, a 4.9 per cent increase in residential property taxes. The 2024 budget also sees increases in spending on public transit and housing, as well as a $35 million increase in funding for the Service de Police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM). To help students decode what this new budget may mean for their lives, The Tribune presents a guide to Montreal’s municipal politics.

How are Montreal’s municipal politics organized?

Montreal’s city council, made up of 65 elected officials, is the central decision-making authority for the city. It comprises Mayor Valérie Plante, city council chair Martine Musau Muele, 18 borough mayors, and 45 independently elected council members. The city council approves the annual budget and is responsible for city-wide issues and plans, including ensuring clean drinking water and overseeing large projects such as the expansion of Montreal’s metro system.

In addition to the city council, each of Montreal’s 19 boroughs has its own council.

Borough councils oversee issues such as garbage collection, recreation, and construction within their boundaries.

What parties are in power in Montreal?

Four parties are currently represented on the city council: Projet Montréal with over half of the seats, Ensemble Montréal with one third of the seats, Équipe LaSalle Team with three seats, and Équipe Anjou with two seats.

In addition, there are two independents on the council.

As the second-most-represented party, Ensemble Montréal, is the official opposition.

The party has representatives from eight different boroughs on the city council.

Both the Ville-Marie and Le Plateau MontRoyal boroughs are represented almost entirely

by members of Projet Montréal. These boroughs incorporate residents from neighborhoods including Downtown Montreal, the International District, Old Montreal, the Quartier des Spectacles, Milton-Parc, Le Plateau, and Mile End. In addition to these two boroughs, Projet Montréal has representatives from nine others on the city council.

What are Projet Montréal and Ensemble Montréal’s policy stances?

While Ensemble Montréal has expressed significant discontent with the 2024 budget’s tax increases, the two parties released similar stances regarding policing, housing, and the environment before the most recent election in 2021.

Both parties support increasing the public security section of the budget. Ensemble Montréal supports significantly expanding SPVM’s funding and hiring more police officers. Both parties have said that they support increasing the use of body cameras and the involvement of social workers.

During the 2021 election, Projet Montréal pledged to build 60,000 affordable housing units. Ensemble Montréal, on the other hand,

Recap: SSMU Board of Directors Nov. 16 meeting

promised 50,000 new housing units with 10,000 being social housing. The 2024 city budget allocated over $50,000,000 toward the creation of affordable as well as government-subsidized housing.

In regard to the environment, Projet Montréal is aiming to make the city carbon neutral by 2050. The party has plans of planting trees and increasing access to electric-car parking. They also banned the use of singleuse plastics this March . Similarly, Ensemble Montréal has outlined a goal to get Montreal to carbon neutrality by 2045 largely through expanding the number of green spaces in the city.

The Students’ Society of McGill University’s (SSMU) Board of Directors (BoD) met on Nov. 16. Before the board dove into the meeting’s agenda, they welcomed a new director, Fawaz Halloum.

Sierra Fallis, Deputy Speaker, led the board through the meeting’s agenda points. First was an executive committee report presented by Vice-President (VP) Student Life, Nadia Dakdouki.

She shared that the executive committee was working on campaigning for a SSMU base fee increase.

How can I make my voice heard?

Aside from voting, citizens can get involved with municipal politics in a number of ways.

There are 11 standing committees where city councillors seek community input on subjects ranging from cultural life to transportation systems.

The city of Montreal’s website contains a calendar of all upcoming public participation events—meetings where citizens can go to voice concerns or opinions to governing bodies.

Next the board turned to approving meeting motions. The only motion discussed during the public portion of the meeting was a motion to release an announcement to membership regarding the Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights McGill (SPHR). Fallis shared that the statement had been written but required approval by the board prior to its release. The motion was promptly moved to the confidential session of the meeting.

“The statement is going to be public [...] but I think that there could be confidential considerations to sending out the statement,” board member Lisa Pennel suggested.

As there was nothing else on the public agenda, the meeting moved into the confidential session, after which the meeting was adjourned.

As of Nov. 20, SSMU has not released a public statement regarding SPHR.

Côte-des-Neiges-Notre-Dame-de-Grâce is the most populated borough with over 170,000 residents. (James Knechtel / The Tribune)

In the Headlines: Week of Nov. 20, 2023 McGill: Principal and Vice-Chancellor Deep Saini sent out a communication to the McGill community on Nov. 16 stating that the social media app WeChat has been banned from all McGill-managed and owned devices, effective immediately. All university phones, tablets, computers, and laptops are prohibited from having the app installed on them. This ban follows the federal government’s decision to remove WeChat from all government-issued mobile devices starting on Oct. 30, as it was deemed to present an unsatisfactory level risk to privacy and security by Canada’s Chief Information Officer. Furthermore, Saini told students and staff that it is “strongly recommended” to remove or not install the application on personal mobile devices used off-campus to access university data.

Local: Procession against Bill 96 in Montreal In the boroughs of Côte-des-Neiges and Notre-Dame-de Grâce, protestors against Bill 96 organized a procession on Sunday, Nov. 19. Among other changes, the bill, passed at the National Assembly of Quebec in May, mandates that businesses serve customers in French, demands that immigrants learn French within six months of their arrival, and imposes a requirement on students studying at anglophone CÉGEPs to take three of their core courses in French. The event was organized by the Task Force on Linguistic policy, which has challenged this legislation in court, stating that the Quebec government’s use of the notwithstanding clause to enact it was unconstitutional. Demonstrators drove, biked, and walked for about ten kilometres, near the intersection between Jean-Talon street and Boulevard Décarie.

National: Federal funding towards housing in fall fiscal report Canadian Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland will be presenting the fall fiscal update to the House of Commons on Nov. 21. According to CBC News, the report is expected to be focused on issues of housing and the rising cost of living.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government will likely dedicate $15 billion for the development of new rental housing with ten-year loans and $1 billion for the construction of affordable housing.

Additionally, it is predicted that the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions and the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada will apply new mortgage rules to lenders for homeowners at risk, including the elimination of late-payment fees. These proposed initiatives aim to build new homes and to create more affordable housing. The Liberal government is also working to pass other legislation, such as the prospective Bill C-56, which plans to lift goods and services taxes on new rental developments.

International: Javier Milei elected as Argentina’s president On Sunday, Nov. 19, Argentina’s presidential elections came to an end with Javier Milei’s decisive victory over Sergio Massa, the Minister of Economy. With almost 90 per cent of the Argentinian population voting, Milei won with 56 per cent of votes, whereas Massa obtained 44 per cent. In October, Milei claimed possible voter fraud within the general election before results were in. In Milei’s victory speech, he claimed that his election marked the start of the “reconstruction of Argentina.” As Argentina is suffering from an inflation rate of around 140 per cent and 40 per cent of the population is living in poverty, Milei stated that he is ready to enact drastic changes—such as cutting down public spending by 15 per cent, closing various bureaucratic branches such as ministries of health and education, and eliminating the central bank. Milei will take office on Dec. 10.

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OPINION

opinion@thetribune.ca

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21 2023

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

Student journalism must serve as an example for mainstream media on responsible reporting

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 Shani Laskin, Jasjot Grewal, & Caroline Sun news@thetribune.ca Opinion Editors Chloé Kichenane, Liliana Mason, & Monique Kasonga 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 Harry North features@thetribune.ca Arts & Entertainment Editors Dana Prather & Suzanna Graham arts@thetribune.ca Sports Editors Anoushka Oke & Julie Ferreyra sports@thetribune.ca Design Editors Drea Garcia & Sofia Stankovic design@thetribune.ca Photo Editor Mason Bramadat photo@thetribune.ca Multimedia Editor Anna Chudakov & Alyssa Razavi Mastali multimedia@thetribune.ca Web Developer Jiajia Li webdev@thetribune.ca Copy Editor Matthew Adelberg copy@thetribune.ca

tudent journalism has a long, rich history of onthe-ground reporting of university-related issues. McGill’s first newspaper, The McGill Gazette, began in 1874, and today’s vibrant publications maintain this legacy.

In light of recent violence in Israel and Palestine, rising tensions on campuses have illuminated the division and bias that mainstream media coverage perpetuates. Now more than ever, student journalism is needed to produce fair and honest coverage of events occurring globally and on campus.

University campuses are unique in that they provide an environment for young people to gather and share ideas. Students come to university to open their minds and learn from other cultures—especially at McGill, which is composed of over 30 per cent international students.

As such, times of crisis prompt mainstream media to hone in on university campuses to engage with youth perspectives and analyze the complexity and vitality of student activism.

Historically, campuses function as the beating heart of activism around the world. Time and time again, students show up as drivers of change, especially in Quebec.

The 1969 Sir George Williams

Affair, the 2002 Concordia riots against Benjamin Netanyahu, , and the 2012 Quebec student strike protests are just a few examples.

Despite this, student activism––and by extension student journalism–– receives scorn by virtue of the fact that it is exclusively student-led. For many, this idea is associated with incompetence, thoughtlessness, and triviality. This false perception of student activism purposefully stifles some of the world’s most outspoken progressive voices and must be resisted.

With campuses becoming a key site of protest in recent weeks, mainstream media has employed an array of sensationalist, harmful, and extractive tactics. Media reporting and administrative responses alike must be mindful to avoid a disproportionate focus on violence, which perpetuates harm against victims and overshadows students’ positive efforts to bring people together and facilitate productive, peaceful discussion.

Depicting Palestinian students as violent contributes to dangerous Islamophobic rhetoric and reinforces a pro-carceral, pro-punishment agenda, justifying increased police presence on university campuses and ramping up opportunities for antisemitism. Many parties are guilty of sensationalizing confrontations and events on campuses, refusing to recognize the

OFF THE BOARD

The art of enjoying your hobbies

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Social Media Editor Sainka Walia socialmedia@thetribune.ca Business Manager Sophie Smith business@thetribune.ca

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

Anoushka Oke Sports Editor

STAFF Ella Buckingham, Roberto Concepcion, Kellie Elrick, Maria Gheorghiu, Ellie Griffiths-Barnhart, Naomi Gupta, Charlotte Hayes, Eliza Lee, Madigan McMahon, Atticus O’Rourke Rusin, Jayda Smith, Solenne Trequesser, Isla Vaillant, Eliza Wang, Katherine Weaver, Abby Zhu

CONTRIBUTORS Yusur Al-Sharqi, MG Arreza, Lily Dodson, Philippe Haddad, Mia Helfrich, James Knechtel, Amalia Mairet, Ailish McGiffin, Val Munoz, Agatha Ryan, Maïa Salhofer, Bianca Sugunasiri, Nell Tov, K. Coco Zhang, Abby Zhu

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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.

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lot of my hobbies are ones that I am mediocre at.

On the guitar, I can only play a few chords. I run at a very average pace, and not as consistently as I would like. I can probably draw better than the average person, but I am completely lost without a reference photo. I would argue that even my soccer skills are beyond mediocre, as the coordination I

once had eludes me.

Growing up, I strived to be good at everything and held myself to impossible standards, failing to give myself the time I needed to properly learn things. In doing so, I forgot to have fun with what I was doing, and instead drove myself to discouragement.

I particularly saw this with visual art in my early teenage years. As a young social media enthusiast, I fostered my aptitude for drawing by creating an art account on Instagram and engaging with fellow creators.

At the time, I thought of their accounts as inspiration, but looking back, I realize that they served as little more than sources of pressure. I couldn’t help but compare myself to artists who were much older than me, had many more years of practice, and had adult jobs to pay for highquality supplies. I was constantly setting myself up for failure, prompting my love for the craft to dwindle.

Hand-in-hand with the pressure to be talented at everything you enjoy is the

interconnectedness of antisemitism, Islamophobia and white supremacy.

The Link’s coverage of the heated encounter on Nov. 8 between proPalestine and pro-Israel students at Concordia University illuminated this problematic phenomenon: The Montreal Gazette cherry-picked students and relied on non-eye witnesses as primary sources, ultimately falsely attributing this confrontation to a narrative that pro-Palestine movements inherently endorse antisemitism.

In their coverage, The Montreal Gazette exemplifies a greater problem within mainstream media.

The New York Times and a slew of other legacy media sources target students at protests knowing that they lack media training and are speaking in moments of heightened emotion, allowing their words and feelings to be manipulated. This exploitative approach is not only employed by the media. The weaponization of fear in order to suppress student movements is all too familiar to the McGill administration, with Principal and Vice-Chancellor Deep Saini levying Jewish students’ real fears of antisemitism against pro-Palestine movements in his Nov. 9 email as just the most recent example.

The link between media coverage and polarization amongst readers requires accessible, antioppressive journalistic practices on campus. If the coverage of an

EDITORIAL

pressure to monetize everything you do. I began to appreciate photography in early high school and took photos on my Android while saving up enough to invest in a used DSLR camera and an entry-level lens. From then, I quickly learned how to use it and took photos of everything: My friends, my dog, and my trips around New England and India.

Portraits became my specialty, and in my senior year, I considered myself to be good enough to charge people for them. I made a website and digital posters that advertised senior portrait photoshoots, and was ecstatic when several people in my grade reached out to me to book sessions. The first few appointments were incredible.

I not only got to take portraits, but was getting paid to take and edit them! As clients continued to roll in, however, I noticed that I was starting to enjoy it less and less. The burnout ensued. The hobby I once loved came to feel more and more like a chore. The spark for photography only came back to me when I was living in

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event is at all skewed, it can have drastic effects on the reader’s understanding as well as what sources they engage with in the future. When readers heed these organizations’ mistakes and do not engage in reading news coverage, it diminishes trust in independent news sources.

Student journalists are significantly more integrated into the communities they are reporting on then legacy media outlets, not just coming into communities for a day or two to conduct interviews as is typical for mainstream reporters. Unfortunately, despite the importance of reporting, student journalists are often constrained by very limited resources that create barriers to credible reporting. This speaks to the urgency of funding not only student journalism, but local journalism in all forms.

Mainstream media coverage must go back to its roots and focus on the importance of connecting with sources and representing them authentically. In moments of polarization, terror, and violence, journalism cannot fall into sensationalism, rather, it must focus on being truthful and empathetic. On campus and in the newsroom, journalists must commit to compassionate and well-informed coverage, taking their cues from whoever is doing it best, especially when it is student papers.

New York City this past summer.

I started bringing my camera around on walks, taking pictures for my own sake.

Recently, I have tried to push myself past the mentality of needing to be “good” at something to enjoy it. I took up playing intramural soccer and allowed myself to play freely.

Going in, I knew I would be one of the weaker players, since I had only played a year of club-level soccer growing up. And yet, when I got on the field, I was able to put all of these things aside and focus on enjoying the game. Taking the pressure off of myself to be one of the best––even accepting the fact that I would not be––made the experience so much more enjoyable for me, and reminded me why I enjoyed the game growing up.

Your hobbies can be just hobbies. It is okay to do something you are average at because you enjoy it. You do not have to monetize the things you are good at when it makes you enjoy it less. There is nothing wrong with doing things just for fun.

OPINION

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COMMENTARY Yusur Al-Sharqi Contributor

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hen Montrealers think about where they want their tax dollars to go, they consider meaningful development projects that will tangibly make their lives better. They hope for improved public transit or access to more affordable housing—not a $347 oyster dinner for their city councillor.

Once celebrated as the first Black person to lead Montreal’s executive committee, the Montreal Public Consultation Office (OCPM), city councillor Dominique Ollivier has resigned as the committee’s president following revelations from the Journal de Montréal that she spent thousands of dollars on extravagant trips abroad and lavish meals, including the elaborate oyster platter that she simply shrugged off as “not her best idea.” While she maintained her role as city councillor, the scandal led to a slew of racist and xenophobic attacks against the Haitian-born Ollivier, with Montreal residents telling her to go back to where she came from. While her actions are reprehensible and certainly deserve condemnation, Ollivier’s identity as a Black woman unfortunately makes her

COMMENTARY Chloé Kichenane & Liliana Mason Opinion Editors McGill must teach Legault a lesson - Liliana Following the Quebec government’s Oct. 13 announcement of a tuition hike for out-of-province and international students, the McGill administration announced a pause to its $50 million Rayonnement du Français initiative—set to teach both students, faculty and staff French and help them “integrate more fully into Quebec society.”

In doubling tuition fees for out-of-province students studying in Quebec, Legault’s provincial government has ostensibly launched an attack against anglophone universities, with the tuition hike’s implications targeting McGill and Concordia in particular.

With over 22 per cent of McGill’s undergraduate students coming from out of province, the increase will drastically impact the university.

Legault has yet to produce any well-informed, comprehensive policies to address the supposed threat to the French language in Quebec.

Instead, he continues to attack anglophone institutions, such as McGill, Concordia, and Bishop’s, and enact harmful, racially-exclusive

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21 2023

opinion@thetribune.ca

Dominique Ollivier is a symptom of Québec’s long-standing corruption problem an easy target for Montrealers’ rage. It renders her susceptible to convenient scapegoating, bearing the brunt of the blame for a much more extensive issue. Dominique Ollivier is not the problem—endemic corruption within Montreal’s municipal government is.

With over 30 years of experience in her field, it is impossible for Ollivier to claim unfamiliarity with the rules of her profession when she chose to spend Montrealers’ tax dollars on flights and seafood. While it is valid to question her integrity and values as a public servant, the reality is that corruption goes far beyond one dishonest OCPM employee. Corruption has permeated Quebec’s governments for decades. Rather, what Montrealers should be questioning is why Ollivier believed that she could escape the consequences of her actions.

This question has a simple answer. The astonishing lack of accountability within Montreal’s government has allowed others to pave the way for Ollivier by avoiding repercussions for similar behaviours. Ollivier may have simply been following in her predecessors’ and coworkers’ footsteps. However, Montrealers have been vicious and racist in their attacks and seem to think that her Blackness should make

it easier to hold her accountable, while her white counterparts walk away untouched.

A $350 oyster platter pales in comparison to the almost $2000 of municipal funding that Valérie Plante, the mayor of Montreal, once spent on a dinner in Vienna—a dinner which apparently necessitated eight bottles of wine. After the Journal de Montréal’s investigation revealed this questionable expense, Plante committed to reimbursing the alcohol expenses, but it was too late. The message she sent to Montrealers remains: Taxpayer dollars have long been recklessly mishandled in the city. In 2017, former interim mayor of Montreal, Michael Applebaum, faced 14 charges of corruption, conspiracy, and breach of trust. These include arranging fraudulent fundraising campaigns to elicit donations and accepting over $55,000 in bribes for bureaucratic favours. Ironically, Applebaum also vowed to clean up corruption in the city. In another shocking case, leaks unveiled internal corruption within Québec’s specialized anticorruption unit itself. Dozens of other examples like these make Ollivier’s breach of trust seem almost minor, illustrating that this is not just an individual moral failing but a city-wide crisis.

77 per cent of Quebecers support the establishment of an international anticorruption court—the highest percentage of any Canadian province. (Bruce Chapman / unsplash.com) Montreal’s government has a problem of enablement, both internally and within the provincial government.

In 2022, the Angus Reid Institute reported that over 70 per cent of Quebecers believe that bribery, money laundering, and theft of public funds are problems in Quebec, earning Quebec the highest overall corruption rating of any Canadian province.

When diving into Quebec’s long history of corruption and lack of transparency, one thing is sure: Dominique

Ollivier is not the villain here—or at least, not the sole villain. While accountability is critical, Quebec’s corruption problem will not be solved by pinning the blame on one individual, without acknowledging the much deeper, systemic issue of corruption that the province has wrestled with for years. If Montreal residents truly want to see an end to corruption, it’s time they redirect their attention from individuals toward the larger system at play.

Point-Counterpoint: McGill’s decision to pause its $50 million French program legislation such as Bill 96, that specifically targets immigrants by requiring Quebecers to demonstrate ‘historic anglo’ status in order to receive public services—including healthcare—in English.

McGill’s choice to temporarily halt the Rayonnement du Français initiative conveys the perfect ‘fuck you’ to Legault, showing that the university will not succumb to his asinine attempts to promote French education. The transparent targeting of anglophone universities will not go unnoticed or unchallenged.

If the government will not support universities, why should universities promote government policies?

Moreover, in his announcement of the decision to pause the initiative, Principal and ViceChancellor Deep Saini emphasized that it was not cancelled, just postponed. Currently, there is a great deal of uncertainty surrounding how the tuition change will affect students and the university financially. In an email sent out on Nov. 2, Saini revealed some of the major changes that McGill would likely face as a result of the tuition hike, including a drop in enrollment and annual revenue, a pause on planned infrastructure projects, and the suspension of certain varsity teams, among other things.

In halting the Rayonnement

The potential annual revenue loss in tuition fees for McGill will range from $42 million to $94 million (CityNews). (Mason Bramadat / The Tribune) du Français program, McGill is both reinforcing the insensibility of Legault’s decision and reserving funds that can and should be used to mitigate the effects of the tuition hike on students.

Retaliation is not the way to go - Chloé If doubling tuition fees for out-of-province students was a low blow from the Quebec government, McGill’s response of pausing its French program does not fly much higher. And as is often the case, students are the first victims of institutional decisions made by high-level executives who are disconnected from reality.

Minister of French Language Jean-François Roberge’s claim that out-of-province students studying

in anglophone universities have an anglicizing effect on Montreal is nothing but a false narrative—and McGill has the responsibility to fight it.

McGill’s identity as an anglophone institution in a predominantly French-speaking province is precisely what attracts students to choose it. Many out-of-province students enter McGill with a strong background in studying French, looking to build on these foundations in a bilingual environment.

Attempts to respond to the government’s decision of doubling tuition does not justify McGill abandoning the efforts of its students, faculty and staff to foster their French skills.

Initiatives like the Rayonnement du Français program are

also essential to shatter McGill’s image as an “anglophone bubble”.

According to data from the McGill University Student Demographic Survey, 47 per cent of students who responded reported being “very good” or “excellent” at reading French, 49 per cent at understanding spoken French; 33 per cent at writing French, and 38 per cent at speaking it.

By suspending its French program, McGill aligns itself with the Quebec government’s divisive discourse of determining who has the opportunity to learn French. If McGill and other anglophone institutions respond by restricting access to language learning, the ability to speak French may eventually be confined to those who already possess that knowledge.

McGill needs to continue its French program, for its students, faculty and staff, and as an act of resistance against Quebec’s exclusionary language policies. Quebec does not have a monopoly on speaking French, nor on teaching it. Anglophone universities in the province not only have the means and power to teach French, but a responsibility to do so. As a university, McGill’s first and foremost goal is to educate, and nothing— especially not politics—justifies any decision that goes against this.

scitech@thetribune.ca

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21 2023

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

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From eco-grief to empowerment: A blueprint for environmental activism and hopeful change Jen Gobby discusses climate activism, emotional well-being, and transformation Val Munoz Contributor

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here is no doubt that there is increasing urgency to address environmental challenges around the world. On Nov. 15th, the McGill Environment Student Society (MESS) hosted a lecture on climate change, with a focus on how an uncertain climate future brings about increased anxiety. Featuring Jen Gobby, an affiliate assistant professor at Concordia University in the Department of Geography, Planning and Environment, this event marked the inaugural session of MESS’ “Meet the Faculty” seminar series.

“One story we hear over and over again—in classes, on the news—is climate change as a crisis,” Gobby said in her talk.

“And it is. It’s an ecological crisis. It’s a social crisis. It’s an inequality crisis. It is a crisis.”

Under these conditions, undergraduate students not only navigate their degrees, but also grapple with social issues, including climate change. Gobby’s recollection of her personal struggles resonated with the audience, which was filled with Bieler School of Environment students. Research increasingly shows that climate anxiety and eco-grief are significant psychological effects of this ongoing problem. In her talk, Gobby attempted to outline ways in which we can regain individual

power to combat these negative emotions.

“Our emotions are a sign of our deep care of each other, of this earth, of the land we’re on, our own futures, of our families,” Gobby said.

Emotions are the fundamental driving force towards achieving climate justice, but they are not easily accessible for all. For some, they are empowering, while for others, emotions make political engagement all the more challenging. Gobby discussed how difficult it can be to debate about topics that resonate closely to you. She proposed that this contributes to why we see so much climate denial right now.

“It can actually lead us to repress their feelings or fully disengage, or even deny climate change.”

To remain active in the fight against climate change and to avoid despair, Gobby argued that we need to implement self-care strategies to ensure healthy coping mechanisms.

Maintaining this commit-

ment to action while looking out for your mental health is a serious challenge, though outlining this process can go a long way.

These mechanisms are what suit you—it can be as simple as listening to a meditation podcast, reading a new novel you have been wanting to read, or doing community work.

“One of the things that has helped me address my climate [anxiety], and other kinds of anxieties and stresses, is being part of climate movements,” Gobby said.

At this point in the talk, Gobby opened the floor for students and faculty alike to share their own insights in regards to activism. Some mentioned Divest McGill’s initiatives, Indigenous rights movements, and youth climate marches across Canada.

The discussion highlighted that advocacy comes in many different forms, including science communication, various art media, and on-the-ground activism.

All of

these approaches help build momentum in raising awareness and fostering a sense of united purpose among those involved.

“There are thousands and thousands of researchers like ourselves, postdocs, graduate students, undergraduate students, professors, who would like to use their skills to contribute to transformative movements, but maybe don’t know where to build those connections,” Gobby explained.

To address this issue, Gobby coordinates Research for the Frontlines, an organization committed to advancing the cause of climate justice in Canada by providing a platform for people to intertwine academia and activism.

To bridge the two, Gobby foregrounds activism in her academic work, centring high-impact, community-based research.

She presented her research framework that highlights the abuse of natural resource extraction to sustain our everyday lifestyles, prioritizing the voices of those disproportionately impacted and the systems of oppression that drive the climate crisis. “[We need to] look at what’s wrong with the systems [...] that dominate our societies or cultures these days and fix them because they haven’t been working for long before the climate crisis began,” Gobby said. “We need to transform them, not just improve them.”

(Drea Garcia Avila / The Tribune)

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n the very first page of the introductory linguistics textbook Making Sense of Language, Third Edition, a revealing dig at English teachers tips us off to the tension between linguistics and the field of literary studies. “Language may not be what you think it is,” it reads. “It is not mostly the perfect, well-formed grammatical sentences that your English teachers have taught you to write.”

As I trudged up the hill from the elegant, hardwood halls of my English class in the Birks building to the grimy, brick home of the linguistics department at 1085 Dr. Penfield, I prepared to change masks.

My teaching assistant’s point about the profound verse in Paradise Lost gradually slipped my mind, replaced by the technicalities of syntax, morphemes, and X-bar theory.

I set aside the poetic perspectives of my literature professors and embraced the machinery of linguistic analysis.

At first glance, one might presume a considerable overlap between linguistics, with its scientific approach to investigating language, and literary studies, centred around the artistic expression of written language. After all, both fields take verbal expression as their medium, and both involve memorizing large amounts of jargon in order to analyze it.

Yet in practice, these subjects diverge signifi-

cantly, and it is uncommon for experts in one field to possess extensive knowledge or background in the other. In fact, this separation often leads to a palpable tension between the two disciplines.

This is not to say that there aren’t connections between linguistics and literary studies. In specific conditions and certain academic environments, the fields do cooperate.

“The people in English in this department, they’re almost exclusively literary,” Charles Boberg, associate professor in McGill’s Department of Linguistics, explained in an interview with The Tribune. “But there’s other traditions and other places where, like, in the southern US, there’s a lot of linguists in language departments. In the smaller places that don’t have a linguistics program, then anyone with a linguistics interest is going to be in English.”

The field of historical linguistics, which attempts to uncover deeper insights into the evolution and historical contexts of languages, frequently draws from literature as a vital resource.

“There’s a great deal of analysis of literary texts in historical linguistics,” Boberg said. “So much of our knowledge of Middle English is based on Chaucer, and in early modern English, we turn to Shakespeare.”

Historical linguists often rely on literary sources out of necessity, since often no other records remain

How do we stu

Unpacking the complex literary studies

from past e r a s .

H o w e v e r, linguists specializing in modern languages tend to avoid literature in their research.

“For people who work on synchronic linguistic analysis, there’s a strong prejudice against working with written language as a whole, not just literature,” Boberg noted. “Spoken language is seen as primary.”

This stance reveals another tension between linguistics and literary studies. While linguists often treat spontaneous spoken language as the most “authentic” form of language use, those in literature generally focus on the carefully-crafted written word. There are literary movements, for example modernist writing and poetry, that emphasize spontaneity and deprioritize grammatical conventions, but the overall trend here holds.

The inherent written nature and the artistic embellishments of literature can make it less appealing for linguistics researchers to study.

Nevertheless, there is an argument to be made that familiarity with linguistic concepts could be useful for someone trying to analyze a text.

According to the literature professors I spoke to, they are curious and willing to learn more.

“If I knew more about linguistics, I think I could become a better writer,” Ollivier Dyens, director of McGill’s Department of French Language and Literature, said in an interview with The Tribune.

“Sometimes I tell my students in creative writing, ‘This is a really interesting metaphor, but it doesn’t work, and I don’t know why.’ [...] But if I knew a bit more about linguistics, maybe I could give them at least a hint of a solution.”

Michael Wagner, chair of McGill’s Department of Linguistics, echoed the sentiment in an interview with The Tribune, saying, “It can actually give more clarity when you can linguistically tease things apart and understand how the pieces fit together.”

In addition to the insights that linguistic theories may have for those in the English department, scholars in both often share an interest in analyzing poems. For Wag-

Written by Ella P Technolog

ner, his linguistic work on prosody brings him to poetry.

“We often look at meter and poetry, or how tunes align with the lyrics in a performed song,” Wagner explained. “From the linguistic point of view, it’s very revealing with respect to the underlying linguistic representation of language.”

However, he was quick to note that the way a linguist approaches a poem might not align with how a literary expert would.

“I think reading this [linguistics research] might be frustrating for somebody who’s primarily interested in poems from a different perspective, because all we do with it is test our little theories of what we think the representation of language is in general,” Wagner said.

One reason for the discrepancy between what the linguist discovers and what the literary scholar wants to read is that the disciplines study the use of language with completely separate methodologies.

On the linguistics side, the guiding philosophy is one of scientific reductionism: Breaking entities and processes into their parts in order to understand the whole more fully. For example, where a literature professor might use a sentence to make a broader argument about a novel’s thesis, a linguist is more likely to break the sentence down, looking at how the words are used and how they fit together. Despite linguistics being housed within the Faculty of Arts, this approach reveals that most linguists think of themselves as scientists studying language empirically.

“The kind of work that goes on in our department [...] is much closer to people in the targeted sciences like biology than it is to people in the literary departments or in the language departments,” Boberg said.

On the literature side, professors echoed this perspective. “It’s the old story of the divide between the arts and sciences,” Dyens noted, highlighting the risk of studying from only one of these perspectives.

“Reductionism cannot explain the quality of life–the emotional texture of life that we experience. [...] On the other hand, if you never look more

udy language?

x relationship between s and linguistics

Paulin, Science & gy Editor

scientifically at that qualitative aspect, then it becomes extraordinarily impressionistic, and that has its own dangers because it becomes ‘what I feel like,’ which is not always what it really is.”

One potential pitfall of this approach is literary experts making comments or proposing ideologies about language that lack rigour. According to Dyens, this is a concern throughout the humanities—not just in the divide between linguistics and literature. However, fields that handle language are especially fraught because the general public has a variety of intuitive notions about the nature of language that don’t hold up under scientific scrutiny. When scholars of literature begin to comment on language, they risk incorporating these misconceptions into their work or teaching.

Among the misconceptions about language, the idea that there is a “correct” way to speak remains particularly pervasive—and detrimental. English teachers in middle and high school, who attempt to teach a “grammatical” use of language, probably enforce this belief most strongly, but it is still very much present among those who study literature at the university level.

This instruction in grammaticality shapes students’ thinking about language and contributes to the sense that grammar should be feared and avoided at all costs. It’s telling how surprised and relieved people often are when you explain how linguists tell if a sentence is grammatical or not: By checking whether a native speaker of a given language would say it out loud, or if they would judge that it “sounded right.”

This methodology aligns with linguistics’ overall “descriptive” approach to language: They are concerned with describing language, not prescribing norms for its usage.

“From our point of view, there’s been no concern whatsoever with telling people how to speak in a correct way,” Boberg said. “Linguists have fought a long and hard battle not to be confused with language teachers. And even in this depart-

ment today, there’s some sensitivity about those things.”

In contrast, the “prescriptive” approach, more common in literary studies, teaches that there are certain correct and incorrect ways to use vocabulary and grammar. To do this, though, teachers have to figure out which dialect, or version, of a language is the “correct” one. This often pushes regional dialects to the side, reminding speakers of these dialects that they do not have a place in the context of intellectual speaking or writing.

Christopher Rice, a lecturer in McGill’s Department of English, noted that he tries to refrain from using his regional dialect and slang when he’s teaching in class.

“I do think that I have a little bit of a fraught relationship to it. Because I don’t hear it myself, but I think that some people can very much discern that I’m an East-Coaster,” Rice explained. “And I speak with a lot of slang, but when I’m in class, I do try to be a little bit more formalized with these things, just based on maybe the expectations of my teachers or something like that.”

Much of the field of sociolinguistics, which studies language in the context of social factors, pushes researchers to look at all dialects objectively without assigning a higher value to some than to others.

“Sociolinguistics, beginning in the 60s, was really kind of a hippie thing,” said Boberg. “It was all about erasing these prejudices about non-standard Englishes being inferior.”

He brought up the example of African American Vernacular English, which became a major area of study for sociolinguists in the 1960s: “[They were] saying, ‘actually, African American English is a fully functioning linguistic system with just as much structural and validity as any other. And the differences between it and the sort of standard English that’s taught in classrooms are purely matters of social prejudice.’”

Dyens, from the literature side, agreed, saying, “I think most linguists don’t have a hierarchy the way that we do in literature.”

However, despite the prejudice

and discrimination that can result from a prescriptive approach to language, both literature professors emphasized that the clear, correct, and precise use of formal, schoolroom language was invaluable in the context of literature analysis.

And, as someone using that formal dialect to write right now, it’s hard to criticize that position.

“To me, there’s a better way to write than another, and it might not necessarily have to do with, you know, the classical French,” Dyens said. “But it has to do with the desire to make your language as subtle and as rich and as complex as possible.”

“When we look at poetry, when we look at literature, we’re really thinking about a highly intentionalized form of language and discourse,” Rice added. “And there, you especially want to be very attentive when it comes to what you’re communicating and how you’re communicating it.”

Linguists themselves also get caught up in this web of prescriptivity and descriptivity. Even when they produce research arguing for the equality and recognition of regional dialects, they return to the prestigious, formal register when writing articles and teaching classes.

“Whether we like it or not, control and command of the standard variety of the language in any given place is an advantage professionally,” Boberg said.

The complex interplay between lin-

guistics and literary studies, between a scientific and an artistic approach to studying language, or between their descriptive and prescriptive perspectives highlights the complexity of language itself.

As a tool capable of expressing subtle and beautiful ideas, it earns a place in the center of literary studies. On the other hand, as a highly intricate system of interlocking words and phrases, linguists are able to study language with scientific rigour.

As I walk back down McTavish to write my Shakespeare essay in the Arts building, I shift gears once again, allowing my emotional reactions to the text to replace my diagrams of syntactic analysis. And yet, I can’t totally separate these two worlds—my impressions will always be coloured by my knowledge of the language changes that have occurred since Shakespeare wrote, and my analysis will always be underpinned by the syntactic and semantic structures at play in his verse.

These fields, although separate disciplines with distinct goals and methodologies, have tremendous potential to inform and challenge each other. In order to fully appreciate the power of language, we must strike up a greater dialogue between linguistics and literary studies.

Design by Drea Garcia Avila.

Design Edior

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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

scitech@thetribune.ca

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21 2023

McGill and AI: Student artists paint a picture of emerging landscapes The McGill Arts Collective shares insights on the role of AI in art MG Arreza

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he advent of artificial intelligence (AI) has profoundly influenced the way students learn, think, and create. As AI begins to enter mainstream usage, The Tribune aims to explore the evolving relationship between AI and members of the McGill community, including researchers, professors, and students. This week, Darren Li, U4 Quantitative Biology and CoFounder of the McGill Arts Collective (MAC), offers insights on the potentials and pitfalls of AI from the perspective of a young creative.

Aiming to foster Montreal’s artistic community, MAC hosts weekly events that serve as a collaborative and discursive hub for painters, filmmakers, and artists of all forms. Despite AI’s growing presence in the art world, there seems to be a gap in familiarity and dialogue among student creatives.

“We actually haven’t had much discussion about AI and art,” Li noted in an interview with The Tribune.

This remark reflects a broader perspective: Generative AI in art has yet to reach a level of influence that significantly captures student artists’ attention. For many student artists, AI is increasingly viewed as a tool for inspiration rather than a threat. Li highlights its potential as a starting point for creativity.

“AI is a really good source of inspiration […] if you have some very abstract idea, maybe you can ask AI,” Li said. Adobe’s CEO, Shantanu Narayen, echoed this sentiment in a recent interview at Stanford, suggesting that generative AI

in the creative and art space is going to augment human ingenuity, not replace it.

However, AI is not without its baggage. In the wider art world, the rise of AI-generated art raises concerns about fair pay and ethics. Traditional artists’ rates stand in stark competition to the remarkable affordability offered by AI art services. With monthly subscriptions costing only 11 to 33 CAD, platforms like DALL-E and Midjourney provide users with the ability to generate hundreds of images in various styles.

A major ethical concern is the fact that generative AI art models are trained using art collected online. Although some argue that the content used was in the public domain, DALL-E and Midjourney have been heavily criticized for using art without the artists’ informed consent. This has sparked public outcry among artists, especially digital creators, who suddenly find their art styles effortlessly replicated by AI. Services such as Google’s AutoDraw and Quick Draw resolve this issue by explicitly disclosing that any art you make will be added to their database. Adobe has also committed to training their new Firefly AI using only licensed or copyright-expired content.

Li is optimistic that, although AI can make intricate pieces, it still lacks the artistic touch inherent in the human creative process.

“In the art gallery industry, you can’t get away with just using AI to generate art [...] the human expression and physicality of your art is crucial, and AI can’t show that for you,” Li added.

“AI is going to generate something that might look like your art, but it still needs that human

input.”

Online examples show that AI can create unique images, but these still depend on the user’s creative prompts. Results are also often unpredictable, resulting in a visual mishmash as the confused AI scrambles to blend different references to meet the user’s request.

A key challenge that comes with the rapid progress of AI is balancing innovation and regulations. Li stresses the importance of ethical considerations and proposes solutions such as compensation for art used in training datasets and government-imposed guidelines.

“There definitely needs to be some ethical means of going about it. Some of the issues might not be resolved but would be lessened,” Li noted.

“If there’s protection, I would feel less cheated.”

With ever-changing artistic and technological landscapes, student artists confront the multifaceted role of AI in art. While acknowledging the challenges and ethical concerns AI brings, young creatives must navigate embracing innovation while upholding human creativity. Their ability to adapt will signal a future of art that is both technologically advanced and deeply human; a canvas where AI serves as the brush, not the painter.

Approximately 275,000 images are generated by Midjourney on a daily basis (estimate from September 2022). (pexels.com)

Fuzzy Robots: Developing emotionally-aware machinery Lecture shows the challenges and opportunities of incorporating emotions into haptics Ella Paulin Science and Technology Editor

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n Nov. 13, Karon MacLean, professor in the University of British Columbia’s Department of Computer Science, gave a talk covering her lab’s research on emotionally-interactive robots. MacLean’s work, which began with constructing robots at MIT in the 1980s, has always gone against the grain of traditional robotic engineering.

“The hierarchy was very much that the more complicated your technology was, [...] that was more respected,” MacLean explained in an interview with The Tribune. “And I was very low on that totem pole, because I actually thought that the interesting part was what’s in your head.”

This interest in the cognitive side of robotics—the reactions and models that users engage with—pushed MacLean to develop simple but expressive devices.

“I just had this idea that if I can make people think things that aren’t there, using very minimal cues, isn’t that more powerful, because you don’t need all this complicated technology?”

MacLean said.

Ultimately, MacLean found her niche with hand-held, fur-covered robots that aimed to sense their users’ emotions and respond by displaying emotions of their own. Her attempts were guided by her observations of therapy animals, aiming to simulate some aspects of their behaviour.

“I do not think we could ever replace [a therapy animal]. That’s not really my goal,” MacLean said in her lecture. “But could we under-

stand it? And can we help a little bit in some of these situations?”

Taking this into account, MacLean thinks about her lab’s robots as part of a feedback loop: First, the user, perhaps someone experiencing psychological distress, picks up the robot and touches it, essentially pretending that it’s a small animal like a cat or a rabbit. Then, the robot employs machine learning to interpret the touch data, formulating an educated guess about the user’s emotional state. At that point, its programming kicks in and it changes to display an emotion of its own, for example changing the rate at which it is breathing, or moving its robotic ears up and down. On the human side, the user notices that the robot is showing this emotion. This interaction has the potential, MacLean’s research suggests, to actually change how the user is feeling, ideally making them calmer and more relaxed. The robot then picks up on this new emotion, and the cycle continues.

Her lab’s first attempt to implement this involved designing robots to help calm children about to go under anesthesia. This proved to be a trickier task than expected.

“One of the first criteria they came up with is, ‘whatever you do, the kids will throw up on it,’” MacLean said.

In addition to this, the robot needed to be able to survive being thrown and stepped on, while still having state-of-the-art sensors and internal software intact.

While these initial projects, constructed in the early 2000s, had to be quite large to meet all of these constraints, modern technology and innovative design allows MacLean’s lab to now

construct small, lightweight models that are even more effective.

“They’re very customizable,” MacLean said. “And we can make all these different sizes, and shapes and oblong things.”

In fact, the modern incarnations of the robots, nicknamed CuddleBits, are simple enough to be made in workshops with high school students.

All of these models centre around MacLean’s primary research interest: The role of haptics—technology that engages with the sense of touch—in human-machine interaction. Common examples of this are the way a smart phone vibrates in response to button presses, and how

some video game consoles vibrate to communicate game events.

Within this field, MacLean is particularly interested in haptics’ potential to incorporate emotion—both the user’s real emotions, and the robot’s simulated ones.

“It became increasingly clear to me that what’s going on through your sense of touch is so dominated in peoples’ minds by emotion and affect [...] that if you don’t take this into account when you’re doing interaction design based on touch, you’re just gonna miss most of the opportunities,” MacLean explained. “At some point, we just really jumped in with both feet, and started working on emotional robots.”

MacLean’s lab also developed a robot called Voodle, which responds to the human voice through its physical behaviors. (Karon MacLean)

arts@thetribune.ca

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21 2023

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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“The Road to Hell” is paved with quirky duos Players’ Theatre hosts a night of canyon yodelling and wonderful chicken Amalia Mairet Contributor Continued from page 1.

Despite his obvious talent and experience in theatre, he credits the other members of the production with “keeping the show grounded.” Megan Siow, the stage manager, gave critical second opinions and “kept track of the practical side of things;” costume designer Olivia Reeve (U3 Arts) brought out new elements of the characters. Plus, each act consists of vignettes, strung together by vocal performances from a very talented trio: Mia Gallant-Campagne (U2 Arts), Hannah Marder-MacPherson (U2 Science), and Irene Newman Jimenez (U3 Arts & Science). KemenyWodlinger tells me that casting was critical— actors had to grasp authentically the inner workings of their very quirky characters.

The first act, “Yodellers,” follows a golf reporter, Lorne (Hayden Jackson, U3 Arts), who interviews a rising golf star named Meg Boot (Tori Rotolo, U3 Arts). They end up spending a night together sharing stories.

The next day, Meg wins the US Open. Lorne rushes to her hotel room and proclaims his love for her. She returns the sentiment. The problem? Meg is a lesbian. Despite their obvious incompatibility, Meg is soothed by Lorne’s presence, and Lorne is awestruck by her athletic talent. They remain together dur-

The show’s staging was especially memorable, with Naomi and Mazdak picking up their chairs and running around during a hypnotism scene. (Maia Salhöfer / The Tribune) ing Meg’s tour but are unable to name or understand their relationship.

The actors play this impasse very well.

Rotolo’s Meg is impossible, dramatic, and obsessed with her own burgeoning success.

Jackson’s Lorne is tortured, desperate for Meg’s impossible affection—a dog kicked by her sexuality. He makes several attempts to win her over, which leads to moments of profound earnestness: At one point, Meg sits on Lorne’s lap while they tell sex stories.

In the process, however, he quickly realizes that “the wrong parts of this are turning [her] on.” While the situation is impossible, neither character wants to exit this hell of their own devising.

The second act, “Kreskinned,” focuses on a couple who are hypnotized on their first date. The opening scene finds them transformed: Joyce (Naomi Decker, U3 Arts) runs around like a chicken, while Dennis (Mazdak Darvishi, U2 Arts) becomes a car. Once

the hypnotism wears off, they discover that their trigger words still work, causing the other partner to sink into a trance and forget whatever has just happened. They begin to abuse this power over one another, avoiding the awkward moments of a new relationship.

A conversation about Joyce’s fight with her sister, Dennis’s forgotten birthday gift, and a too-brief sexual encounter are all erased.

While smoothing over the screw-ups, the two fall in love, suspended in this untenable perfection.

The act is deeply hilarious—both characters are so silly and earnest, with palpable chemistry. Joyce is fastidious and insecure until she is “transformed by her chicken.”

Dennis is shy and vulnerable, soft-hearted and prone to jumping into things. In my favourite scene, Joyce struggles to be a good host but the food portions are meagre, the wine glass singular, and the chip dip goes everywhere.

The scene’s physical comedy is as touching as it is awkward.

Kemeny-Wodlinger’s coy comments are now better contextualized. Throughout the play, all characters are very impulsive. The director clearly encouraged the actors to lean into it and work on instinct, letting each couple’s fascinating dynamic shine.

While the situations are farcical, “The Road to Hell” brings to life the real impasses and self-imposed hell of relationships with sensitivity and humour.

The Grammy Awards bring nothing but disappointment Hopes, predictions, and overall grievances regarding the Recording Academy Lily Dodson Contributor

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he day the Grammy Awards nominations come out is like Christmas morning to me.

There is quite possibly nothing I enjoy more than opening Pitchfork that morning and scrolling through, hoping to see my favourite albums and songs of the year nominated for their respective categories. Does it ever happen? Usually not.

I have vivid memories of last year’s ceremony, sitting on my couch, watching my TV with my fingers double crossed, praying that Beyonce’s RENAISSANCE would win Album Of The Year (AOTY). Of course, that didn’t happen. Instead, Harry Styles won for Harry’s House.

As Beyonce’s second work following her magnificent 2017 album Lemonade—which was also tragically snubbed—she deserved to win because of that loss and because of what RENAISSANCE meant to Black listeners. I could list my years of disappointment over AOTY winners, but it would sadly be endless.

This year, though, I am allowing myself to have hope.

With three and a half of my favourite albums of the year being nominated for AOTY, I’ve calculated a 43.75 per cent chance that I will be satisfied while watching this year’s award ceremony.

My Hopes: I would be most ecstatic with Lana Del Rey (LDR)’s ninth studio album Did You Know That There’s A Tunnel Under Ocean Boulevard?

(DYKTTATUOB) taking the trophy. But, I will still be almost as happy if SOS by SZA or the record by boygenius wins. I might be content with Taylor Swift’s Midnights, but definitely not happy—thus the half chance.

On the topic of LDR, I believe she deserves to win something.

Even just one Grammy. After being notoriously snubbed in 2019 when her album Norman Fucking Rockwell! didn’t win AOTY (or anything else!), it’s important that she wins now.

DYKTTATUOB is her secondbest album—the record has such a high quality of lyricism, with intimate familial themes woven throughout. Her winning either AOTY—or for one of the other categories she was nominated for—will restore some of my faith in the Grammys.

I hope that either SZA or boygenius sweeps this year.

SZA’s win would be justified after losing the Grammy following the release of Ctrl— her critically acclaimed debut album—and the success of boygenius’ the record in bringing visibility and joy to the queer community should not go unrecognized. And in a perfect Venn diagram of the two, I’m rooting for SZA and Phoebe Bridgers to win Best Pop Duo/ Group Performance for their song “Ghost in the Machine” on SOS. Seeing Ice Spice get nominated for some awards made me incredibly happy. As a fellow New Yorker, she will always have a special place in In a surprising twist, the majority of the nominees in three out of four of the my heart. I hope to see her win top categories–Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best New Artist, and she and Best New Artist–are women (Sofia Stankovic / The Tribune) Nicki Minaj definitely should win Best Rap Song for “Barbie awards to, however, will most realist I am, I’m aware of how World” as the song is super fun likely make me lose such faith unlikely it is that my faith will remain, thus continuing and upbeat, and was incredibly all over again. my endless cycle of hope to popular this past summer. disappointment that comes Overall, I’m proud to see My Predictions: My actual prediction, every year following Music’s so many of my favourite artists nominated, just as I am proud however, is that the Recording Biggest Night. that women artists have received Academy will absolutely rip The Grammys will air live the majority of nominations this all of our hearts out again. My year. A bit of my faith in the expectations are that I will sigh, on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024 (8:00 Recording Academy and their like always, after every award to 11:30 p.m. ET) on the CBS decisions has been restored. category, with the exception Television Network and will Who they decide to give the of maybe one or two. Like the stream on Paramount+.

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arts@thetribune.ca

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21 2023

MSCC comedy show sheds light even in darkness Student-led comedy night vanquishes November blues Bianca Sugunasiri Contributor

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s finals season settles in, a healthy dose of seasonal depression is in tow, and McGill students are in need of an ample serotonin boost. On Nov. 15, the McGill Student Comedy Club (MSCC) sought to satisfy the gloomy campus by hosting their monthly stand-up night. The line for Gert’s Bar & Cafe appeared endless, filled with students eager for a window out of the November melancholy. In a theatrical turn of events, a campus-wide power outage nearly thwarted the performance, plunging the bar into darkness moments before the show. Fortunately, by the grace of God, comedy enthusiast that he is, the lights flickered on shortly after. With chaos circumvented, students eagerly clamoured for the seats nearest to the stage, drinks

sloshing together in their haste.

Eventually, the crowd settled, the lights dimmed, and palpable anticipation filled the room.

Many tend to view stand-up comedians merely as witty individuals engaging in introspective discourse. Upon closer examination, these performers are putting themselves in incredibly vulnerable positions, divulging intimate parts of themselves to a crowd of strangers. The show was not about telling jokes, but rather about young adults connecting over the struggles of muddling through the complexities of life. From the moment the performance started, the room was filled with raucous laughter, the kind that comes only from the fondness of shared experiences.

“One of the first things babies do is laugh,” Gabe Karasik (U3 Science), founder of the MSCC and the evening’s host, said in an

Gabe Karasik, at the MSCC, runs workshops every Monday to help students with their foray into writing stand-up comedy.

(Ailish McGiffin / The Tribune)

interview with The Tribune. “[It is] one of the only things we do as a species that is universal.”

The performances were fastpaced and energetic, each one of the eight performers crafting their own unique and beguiling narrative. As host, Karasik was charming and witty, maintaining his own facetious commentary whilst seamlessly managing the performances of the night. This was the first show for many of the performers—although you would not have noticed since they conducted themselves so effortlessly.

A personal favourite was recent McGill graduate Maeve Reilly’s (BA ‘23) introspective take on self-cut bangs. She claims that since cutting them, she has attracted considerable attention in Montreal. As someone who impulsively cut her own bangs, this is a sizable comfort.

A highlight that had the crowd whooping and cheering was Lillian Borger’s (U4 Arts) tale of her “consensual sexual non-monogamous August:” Her failed attempt to manage her five different hookups without catching feelings. This experience included revelations that relationship issues are one of the few things she could not actually blame men for, as she manages to form an anxious attachment to literally anything.

The laughter that erupted from the crowd in response suggests that the audience felt the same.

Charlie Scholey (U2 Engineering) also provided a

memorable performance, taking centre stage in a blazer that even Jerry Seinfeld would envy.

Charlie slipped into a comedicallymasked quarter-life crisis about his impending 20th birthday, silhouetting a deep exposé into the abysmal and desolate future awaiting us as we age.

Concordia student Sipora West’s analysis of the French and Canadian national anthems was particularly topical given the current debate over the Quebec government’s proposed tuition increase.

She had the crowd in stitches, highlighting that the French anthem is talking about bathing in blood while we are over here ‘standing on guard’ for an ambiguous “thee.”

The value of the event came from the intimacy of observing a snapshot of the performers’ selfhood. From the power outage to the final drunken laughs, the night was full of passion and energy.

“There is something special about making people laugh and not just making people laugh but making people feel connected,” Zahra Faiz (U4 Arts), one of the MSCC executives, said.

This show was a moment of felicity, in a storm of flurrying chaos, that captured the sweet innocence of childhood joy. It embodied the kind of laughter that exists only for itself, allowing every student to leave the bar a little lighter than they had arrived.

Could be Good Run de lait Where: Théâtre Jean-Duceppe (Place des Arts) Trivia Night at Gerts

When: Nov 22-26 A general trivia night presented by P[h]assion Price: with $55.00-60.00 a secret prize for the winning team of five.

Tickets: online through RSVP Available and buy tickets online. Place des Arts.

Language: French This Québecois Tuesday Nov.documentary-style 30, 6 p.m.-9 p.m. play explores 8000 of milkRue history, touching on farming, Gertsyears Bar (3480 McTavish) industrialization, and consumerism. $10 per person This play addresses themes of suicide.

Public Talk with Brandon Mitchell Mi’kmaq artist Brandon Mitchell will give a public talk about his installations, publishing, and stories in the Mi’kmaq language for the Listuguj Education Directorate.

Where: McGill Arts Building (853 Sherbrooke O), Arts W-120 When: Nov 23rd, 5:30-7:00 pm Price: Free

Art Book Launch- James Wilson Morrice: Paintings and Drawings of Venice

Where: Thomas More Institute, 3405 Avenue Atwater When: Nov 22nd, 6:30-9:00 pm Price: Free Tickets: Available on Eventbrite.

Sandra Paikowsky, Professor Emeritus of Art History at Concordia, presents a new book of works by 19th/20th-century Canadian artist James Wilson Morrice.

Schulich Singers, McGill Concert Choir and McGill University Chorus | Carmina Burana Where: Strathcona Music Building (555 rue Sherbrooke Ouest), Pollack Hall When: Nov 22nd, 7:30-9:20 pm Price: $22.00 (Regular), $17.00 (Students) Tickets: Available online, in-person at the Schulich School of Music Box Office (Monday to Friday 15:00 to 18:00), and by phone (514-398-4547).

All the Light We Cannot See lacks character growth The Netflix series is loosely based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel.

Mia Helfrich Contributor

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early ten years ago, readers hungrily consumed-turned each page of Anthony Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See. Now after 200 weeks on the NYT bestseller list, Netflix is attempting to replicate this success with a TV adaption released on Nov. 2. In the four-episode miniseries directed

by Montreal-born Shawn Levy.

The show immerses viewers in the small town of Saint-Malo, France, during the Battle of Saint-Malo in 1944. Despite the show’s masterful visuals, much of the writing and character development relies on cliches and formulaic plot points, losing the novel’s rich complexity.

Every story has its heroes: Marie-Laure LeBlanc (Aria Mia Loberti), is blind, living in SaintMalo after she escaped with her father when the Nazis overtook Paris. In the novel, she’s a pure, kind soul, who eventually realizes her own strength and ingenuity.

Werner Pfennig (Louis Hoffman) is a Nazi soldier. While in the novel, he initially takes to Nazism as an escape from the orphanage

in which he was raised, he is a thoughtful character and comes to regret his role in the brutal regime. His redemption comes when he saves Marie from Nazi psychopath Reinhod von Rumpel (Lars Eidinger). Each character has their own duality: They tug between helplessness and agency, between goodness and immorality. They mirror each other—while Marie is blind and in a world of darkness, Werner’s Nazi ideology pulls him away from the truth.

For an audience unfamiliar with the novel and ready for a watch-inone-night series to kickstart the winter, All the Light We Cannot See. is perfect. Aria Mia Loberti is blind herself, adding authenticity to her already complex character acting.

Close-up shots of Marie’s hands feeling her surroundings prompt us to imagine the physical sensation of everything she touches, allowing viewers to closely experience her tactile perspective that is so important in the novel. The sound effects are crisp and smell arises frequently in dialogue, evoking the senses she relies on.

In the novel, Marie, Werner, and von Rumpel are all morally

grey in that they are complex, embodying extremes of good and evil, agency and helpfulness, and light and dark that allow them to grow. However, since the series fails to fully allow each character to experience both extremes, it doesn’t allow them to grow.

In the series, Marie always knows the right thing to say, and when she comes face-to-face with von Rumpel in the first episode she is able to survive despite her impossible odds. It seems she has no failing, no flaw. She doesn’t grow from one who is helpless to one who realizes her own power—she is always powerful.

However, her do-it-all personality undermines her accomplishments.

Yes, she is able to defeat von Rumpel in the end, but what did her victory prove that wasn’t already assumed in her superheroic nature?

Similarly, Werner’s goodness is never in doubt; he’s depicted simply as an unfortunate person unwillingly tossed into the Nazi regime. While his story is undoubtedly tragic, we fail to see him struggle with his own morality in a way that would have elevated his character. In the end, he feels less redeemed. Portraying him as simply a

Published in 2014, the book has sold over 15 million copies (Anna Chudakov / The Tribune) sheep in wolf’s clothing detracts him from his growth and agency.

Yet another cliché, a notable overkill involves the use of handguns.

Every time a character threatens another person, they pull out a gun.

After the initial episode, the gunpointing seems more comical than threatening. The audience goes, “Ah, another gun pointed at a main character again. Wonder how they’ll get past that!” While excessive guns may work for Star Wars movies and

Westerns, a series that depicts the harsh reality of World War II should find more creative solutions to create conflict.

All the Light We Cannot See. is ultimately worth the watch, but be ready for cheesy staged blocking and underdeveloped characters to hold back the talents of the incredible actors and immersive visuals.

All the Light We Cannot See is available on Netflix.

studentlife@thetribune.ca

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21 2023

STUDENT LIFE

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Ask Ainsley: How not to get lost Five simple steps to help you understand your sense of direction Dear Ainsley, I write to you in utmost embarrassment. It has come to my attention that I have absolutely no sense of direction. In the past, I have been so reliant on my Maps app and my friends that I didn’t realize I had no clue where I was going. It was only recently, when I decided to switch to a dumb phone and commit myself to reading philosophy and becoming a full-time pilates instructor, that all of this hit me. The other day, I was walking to a friend’s house for her wine and cheese night, I ended up right where I started. What should I do? Please help.

Thank you, Hopeless Helen “To live is to suffer, to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering.” — Friedrich Nietzsche Dear Hopeless Helen, I completely understand where you are coming from— know that you are not alone.

Follow these tips to get you out of your directionless slump.

Acknowledge the Shame Few speak up about their lack of internal compass due to the haunting feeling that torments us all: Shame. First, you must acknowledge that shame. Stop wallowing and get yourself out of bed.

Go to the bathroom and take a good look at yourself in the mirror. Do you like what you see? No? Is it because you have deep, unresolved insecurity about your sense of direction?

That’s what I thought.

Repeat this mantra: “I am Helen I will tell ‘em I will be good at finding my way And so I say Hip Hip Hooray!”

If your name is not Helen, you’ll have to think of your own mantra. I may have great advice, but I don’t have the time or energy to write a poem for every name out there.

Buy a Map Step two might be the hardest of all: Buying a map. Not many places sell real maps anymore. But I know a spot. It’s called The Map Store*. Nobody knows where it is because you need a map to get to it.

Once you have found the Map Store, make sure to buy the biggest and most in-depth map of Montreal you can find. My exboyfriend Stuart once went all the way to the map store and bought a map of Edmonton by accident. I dumped him right then and there.

Plan Your Route Plan a 20-minute to five-hour walk from your house to somewhere cool. I do not know where you live or what you think is cool so this is a very difficult step for me to help you with. Sometimes you have to do things yourself and can’t have a column lady hold your hand through everything.

C’est la vie.

You Are Ready to Take on the Day and Go Everywhere!

Grab your map and a couple of friends and hit the road! Leave your phone at home—in fact, leave everything at home! There is literally no need for keys, wallet, water, or food when you have a map**.

Making a Mistake If you find that you are lost, do not back down. Do not start crying. Remember

MapQuest’s arrival in 1996 marked the beginning of the end.

(Leah Kelley / pexels.com)

that you are Helen. You are extraordinary, and even the greats make mistakes. If you are with a group, you will have to convince them that this is where you meant to lead them.

This is how I ended up playing a great game of strip poker in a retirement home. If you are alone, there are always ways to retrace your steps. That’s why I bring breadcrumbs to mark my path wherever I go, which works 100 per cent of the time, without any fault**.

I hope this advice helps, and remember: Acknowledging your problem is the first step to solving it.

To many more great walks, Ainsley *Not to be confused with Aux Quatre Points Cardinaux, one of Montreal’s actual map stores. **At the behest of the law, I have been told to include The Tribune is not responsible for any mishaps resulting from the aforementioned advice.

Busy hands, idle minds Hobby courses in Montreal to help you destress and learn a new skill Katherine Weaver Staff Writer

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ow, all I’ve done today is school!”

If, like myself, this thought runs through your head as you walk home in the dark at 4:30 p.m., it may be time to find an afterschool activity.

Learning a new skill, particularly over the course of multiple weeks, has many benefits for students’ wellbeing. When we allow our brains to focus on something that may not be academically productive, we create an opportunity to destress. Committing to a multi-week program establishes a routine, something especially important in the short days of the Montreal winter. Read on to learn about some of the options available to you around Montreal.

Pottery Price: $370 Duration: 7 weeks, 3 hours/week Address: 5333 Avenue Casgrain, Suite 804 Language: English For those itching to get behind the (pottery) wheel, Atelier Spirale offers pottery courses for all levels in both wheel-throwing and handbuilding. As an added bonus, those

enrolled in the course can access open studios on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to work independently. Registration for the winter session, which starts on Jan. 8, is live now and will close once full.

Circus Price: $325 Duration: 11 weeks, 2 hours/week Address: 181 Avenue du Cirque Language: Bilingual (English & French) Did you know Montreal is home to the National Circus School? Along with training future Cirque duSoleil performers, the school runs a wide variety of adult recreational courses for those of us who aren’t lucky enough to be graduating with a degree in Circus Arts. Beginners and intermediates can explore circus techniques such as trapeze and silk acrobatics. Adult classes take place on Saturdays between Jan. 13 and April 4. If swinging from the ceiling or riding a unicycle has always been on your bucket list, mark your calendars for the start of registration on Dec. 4.

Improv Price: $258 Duration: 6 weeks, 2 hours/week Address: 3706 and 3716 rue NotreDame Ouest

Language: English Improv classes have many benefits for health and well-being. Students learn to be present, embrace mistakes, and build self-confidence in their humour and public speaking skills. Impro Montreal runs a 6-week course for improvisers of all levels.

Unsure if improv is for you? The studio offers a one-hour Freebie Improv Workshop to those interested in learning more before committing to a full course.

Archery Price: $95 Duration: 12 weeks, 3 hours/week Address: 5485 Chemin de la Côte Saint-Paul Language: English or French Who knew you could learn archery in Montreal? Archers du SudOuest is an archery club that runs weekly lessons out of the Centre Gadbois. Equipment is provided, and the club even offers a free intro session to newcomers. Adult lessons take place every Tuesday and Thursday from 8 to 9:30 p.m. between January and April.

Latin Dance Price: $40-70 Duration: 7 weeks, 1 hour/week Address: 372 St. Catherine Street W

Language: English Salseros is a Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) club providing affordable Salsa and Bachata lessons for all levels. The club also hosts various socials and events throughout the semester to introduce students to the Montreal Latin dance scene. While you can sign up as a pair, it’s not necessary to come with a partner; the club will pair leaders and followers in-class. Registration for the winter semester opens in January and will be announced on the club’s Facebook and Instagram pages.

Honourable Mentions The McGill Arts Collective hosts free, bi-weekly roundtable events and workshops to help students of all abilities practice their artistic skills.

McGill Athletics offers a variety of affordable group fitness, dance, and sports classes at the Currie Gymnasium.

McGill Swing Kids runs weekly swing-dance lessons at local studios. Your first lesson is free of charge!

Learning a new skill releases dopamine, which is one of the main reasons hobbies have such a positive impact on mood levels. (Mia Helfrich/ The Tribune)

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studentlife@thetribune.ca

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21 2023

Indulgent coffee drinks for the holiday season Festive beverages to keep you warm and bring you cheer K. Coco Zhang Contributor

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rom peppermint mochas to gingerbread lattes, there are endless possibilities for creating delicious holiday coffee drinks. The Tribune has compiled several scrumptious coffee drinks that are sure to delight your taste buds, add a touch of festivity to your day, and, most importantly, brighten up your mood this exam season. All recipes make two servings, so you’ll be able to treat a friend as well!

For peppermint lovers: Peppermint Mocha Creamy, minty, and chocolatey?

This cozy peppermint mocha is a muchneeded boost to help you power through long study periods.

Ingredients: 1 ½ cups of any milk of your choice 6 tbsp of sugar 2 tbsp of cocoa powder, unsweetened 1 ½ cups of espresso (or strong coffee) 1 tsp of peppermint extract ½ tsp of vanilla extract Whipped cream (optional) Chocolate shavings (optional) Steps: 1. In a small saucepan, mix milk, cocoa powder, and sugar.

2. Heat the saucepan over medium heat until small bubbles begin to form around the edge and the sugar has dissolved.

3. Stir in espresso, peppermint extract, and vanilla extract. Remove from heat.

4. Divide the drink between two mugs and, if desired, top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

For white chocolate fans: White Chocolate Mocha Latte Make this indulgent white chocolate mocha latte from the comfort of your home. This popular coffee drink is rich and always a hit!

Ingredients: ⅔ cup of any milk of your choice 6 tbsp of white chocolate chips 2 tbsp of espresso (or strong coffee) Whipped cream (optional) Coffee beans (optional) Steps: 1. Heat milk and white chocolate chips over medium-low heat in a small saucepan until melted. Stir consistently.

2. Pour the coffee into the saucepan. Divide the drink between two mugs.

3. If desired, top with whipped cream and coffee beans. Serve warm.

For gingerbread fanatics: Gingerbread Latte Bursting with rich flavours and

packed with aromatic spices, this gingerbread latte is a must-try for winter. Best of all, you can make your own cup of this delectable beverage with just a few simple ingredients!

Ingredients: ¾ cup of espresso (or strong coffee) 1 tsp of ground cinnamon 1 tsp of ground ginger 2 tsp of sugar 2 tbsp of molasses (or honey) 1 ½ cups of any milk of your choice Steps: 1. In a small saucepan, combine the coffee, milk, cinnamon, ginger, sugar, and molasses.

2. On medium heat, bring to a simmer.

Once it begins to simmer, reduce to low and stir regularly. After 2 minutes, remove from heat.

3. Divide between two mugs and serve immediately.

For s’mores lovers: S’mores Latte This s’mores latte is the perfect coffee drink to warm you up on a snowy winter day or reward yourself after your final exams!

Ingredients: 1 tbsp of marshmallow syrup ½ tbsp of chocolate syrup ¼ cup of espresso (or strong coffee)

David Schomer started the U.S. latte art craze in the mid-1980s. (Solenne Trequesser / The Tribune)

¾ cup of any milk of your choice Marshmallows, toasted (optional) Steps: 1. Mix milk, marshmallow syrup, and chocolate syrup in a small saucepan.

2. Heat the saucepan until warm and stir to combine.

3. Pour the espresso into the saucepan. Divide the drink between two mugs and serve immediately.

4. If desired, top with toasted marshmallows.

For salted caramel fans: Salted Caramel Latte This salted caramel latte is a soulsoothing coffee drink for those days when you need a little extra comfort or feel drained from studying. It’s sweet, with a little saltiness and a hint of chocolate flavour.

Ingredients: 2 cups of any milk of your choice 8 tbsp of salted caramel sauce 4 cups of espresso (or strong coffee) Whipped cream (optional) Steps: 1. Combine milk and salted caramel sauce in a small saucepan.

2. Heat the saucepan until warm. Stir well to dissolve the salted caramel sauce.

3. Add coffee and use an immersion or regular blender to blend until frothy.

4. Divide between two mugs and, if desired, top with whipped cream and more caramel sauce.

These recipes were adapted from Ashley Fehr’s Peppermint Mocha, Real Housemoms’ White Chocolate Mocha Latte, Christina Lane’s Gingerbread Latte, Kitchen Concoctions’ S’mores Latte, and Christin Mahrlig’s Salted Caramel Latte.

The holiday markets of Montreal

Where to go for local gifts Dante Ventulieri Student Life Editor

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hort days, snow, and an absolute need for gloves—what makes Montreal a pain in the winter is also what makes it the perfect place for holiday festivities. So grab a friend and a tote bag, and brave the cold to the following markets to snag some local gifts.

The Great Montreal Christmas Market – Quartier des Spectacles Distance from campus: 10 minutes, via Place-des-Arts metro Dates: Thursday-Sunday Nov. 25Dec. 18, all week Dec. 19-30 The Great Montreal Christmas Market offers an escape for students in urgent need of hot chocolate and holiday vibes. With over 60 vendors selling a wide array of goods from jewelry to candles to food, there’s bound to be something for everyone.

But keep in mind that there are only 30 booths, so many of the vendors rotate.

Montreal Christmas Village – Atwater Market Distance from campus: 15 minutes, via Lionel-Groulx metro Dates: Friday-Sunday Nov. 30-Dec. 24

The sister market of the one in Quartier des Spectacles, the Montreal Christmas Village is the quintessential holiday market in the city, complete with a big Christmas tree and holiday-themed programming like fondue nights and movie screenings.

With 54 vendors, this will be a great place for stocking stuffers or to simply relax after class.

Marché des Fêtes – Time Out Market Distance from campus: 5 minutes by foot Dates: Dec. 7-10 and 14-17 The closest market to campus is in the Time Out Market food court.

Organized by the Collectif Créatif, a Montreal organization that brings together local artists and creators, this market is a great opportunity to see small businesses showcasing their products, which cover a wide variety of categories, including tableware and dishware, skincare, tabletop games, decor, and baked goods.

Holiday Market – Locoshope Angus Distance from campus: 30 minutes, via Prefontaine metro Dates: Nov. 25-26 and Dec. 2-3 Also organized by the Collectif Créatif, this temporary market is a

great excuse to leave campus and explore a new area of the city. The vendors line the walls of what was once the Angus Shops, one of Montreal’s former industrial hubs, displaying everything from clothing to pet accessories, candles, and chocolates.

Winter Market – Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Building Distance from campus: on campus Dates: Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 If the thought of leaving campus doesn’t sound too appealing, head to the SSMU Ballroom to meet local vendors and pick up some crafts, snacks, and artwork.

Vegan Christmas Market – Maison du développement durable Distance from campus: 15 minutes, via Saint-Laurent metro Dates: Dec. 2-3 Located in the Maison du développement durable, this is the perfect place to stock up on vegan goods before heading for skating at Esplanade Tranquille. From baked goods to fashion accessories and cosmetics, all products here are made without animal substances. Just don’t forget to book your free ticket ahead of time.

Marché de Noël de Jean-Talon –

Buying local is a great way to get unique gifts while supporting small businesses and artists. (Daniil Silantev / unsplash.com)

Jean-Talon Market Getting there: 40 minutes, via JeanTalon metro Dates: Dec. 2-24 The Marché Jean-Talon is worth visiting any time of the year, and the holiday market is just icing on the cake. Though on the smaller end with only 12 booths, this gastronomyfocused bazaar is the perfect place to pick something up for the foodie in your life.

Marché Artisinal Puces POP – Saint-Denis Church /etting there: 20 minutes, via Laurier metro Dates: Dec. 8-10 and 15-16 Located in the Saint-Denis church on Laurier, this market will

feature over 150 local artists and businesses, split over the two weekends.

With everything from jewelry to ceramics, the only issue will be trying not to spend too much.

Marchés de Noël illustratif & ludique and Gourmand & Artisanat – Pop-Up Labs Distance from campus: 35 minutes, via Mont-Royal metro Dates: Dec. 9-10 and 16-17 The first weekend of this intimate indoor market will focus on art and toys, and the second weekend will be all about food and crafts. Either way, it’s bound to be a nice afternoon and a good excuse—if you needed any—to walk down MontRoyal Avenue.

sports@thetribune.ca

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21 2023

SPORTS

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Beyond the Stands: A Tribute to Percival Molson Stadium An athlete’s love letter to his hallowed playing grounds Philippe Haddad Contributor Continued from page 1.

Rising above, flags fluttering in the wind grace the southern ramparts. The western wall is shared with the Montreal Neurological Institute Research Hospital and its unshuttered windows always shine a soft glow

onto the field at night. To the north lie concrete ampitheatrelike bleachers evoking the walls of a coliseum, topped by walkways and press boxes where unseen faces watch from above.

“I feel like I’m at Hogwarts sometimes, beside a big castle,” Martlets soccer defender Stephanie Hill reminisced, referring to Royal Victoria Hospital on the mountain

above. “Whenever there’s fog, it’s so beautiful that I get the impression I’m in a postcard.”

The sheer magnitude of the stadium does much to inspire its occupants.

“It has always been a pleasure to walk and play on that field,” Redbirds Lacrosse captain Isaiah Cree recalled. “I’ve never played within a stadium of its size and it is something I’ll never forget.”

The Martlets and Redbirds have played in Percival Molson Stadium since its construction in October 1915.

(Nell Tov / The Tribune)

Having experienced three seasons of rugby on that field, spanning from August to November, I can only describe Molson as mesmerizing. Even during gruelling sweat-soaked practices in August and belowfreezing temperatures in November, the stadium stages the fleeting beauty of the seasons more than its intended purpose.

The tail end of summer brings the sun shining through the trees on Mont Royal as it sets just over the mountain’s summit.

In the fall, when icy rain and winds cut through the bone, we work hard to see the steam rising from our huddles and scrums to give us proof of our efforts.

In the winter, right when the rugby season finishes, the bright lights reflect off the first few snowflakes of the season, making them shine whiter than usual as they start covering the turf.

The snowflakes aren’t the only other things that shine brighter at Molson. Emotions are heightened, pulses race, and every shout from fans in the stands rings through like a symphony.

The rising walls of stands act as a bowl, and at home games––win or lose––the cheers that erupt

from the fans echo thrice as loud. Every success achieved on the field can bring euphoria, yet every loss can cut just as deep.

I am fortunate that I still have another year to connect to Molson as I close out my law degree, but other athletes are coming to terms with their final moments on the field. Recalling the advice his graduating teammates gave him on recognizing and cherishing the best times of the season before it was over, Redbirds Soccer defender Julian Huster shared his approach.

“I thought, ‘These are the good times that I might not realize have passed until after they passed,’ so the morning practices, the preseason, the beautiful sunsets––I was conscious about that, and I was soaking it in as it happened,” Huster recounted.

When my turn comes to say goodbye to Molson Stadium, I hope I remember Julian’s words before it’s too late. But for the time being, with one more season left, the only thing I can do is work to return to that pitch one last time and help put on as great a show as McGill has ever seen.

Trib Explains: What is happening with Hockey Canada Nearly two years after slush funds and sexual assaults were revealed, there are still no answers Tillie Burlock Managing Editor

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TW: Mentions of sexual violence

n May 2022, Rick Westhead revealed that a plaintiff had settled a sexual assault lawsuit against Hockey Canada, the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), and eight unnamed CHL players. The lawsuit alleged that eight CHL players, including members of the 2018 Men’s National Junior Hockey Team, sexually assaulted a young woman in a hotel room in June 2018 following the Hockey Canada Foundation gala and golf event in London, Ontario.

The young woman claimed that one player had given her copious amounts of alcohol and lured her back to his hotel room where the two engaged in sexual acts. The first player then invited seven others without the young woman’s knowledge or consent. According to the lawsuit, the eight players went on to sexually assault the young woman for hours, threatening and manipulating her into staying when she attempted to leave.

The young woman said that, after the sexual assaults, the players forced her to shower and state on video that she was not fearful, intimidated, or intoxicated prior to the assault. The players’ lawyers later shared the recording with The Globe and Mail in an attempt to exonerate them from any wrongdoing.

The news of the sexual assaults prompted several MPs to accuse Hockey Canada of trying to cover-up the alleged assaults without investigating properly. In July 2022, The Globe revealed that Hockey Canada maintained a multi-million dollar National Equity Fund, largely composed of registration fees from players its sanctioned leagues, to be used for out-ofcourt sexual assault settlements without disclosing to parents or players how their money was used.

Further investigation by The Globe revealed that the fund exceeded $15 million in recent years. Parliamentary hearings also revealed that Hockey Canada has paid $8.9 million to settle multiple cases of alleged sexual assault since 1989.

Hockey Canada has consequently lost a number of sponsors following the parliamentary hearings. In June 2022, Minister of Sport Pascale St-Onge put the organizations’ $7.7 million in government funding on hold but elected to restore it in April 2023, after the organization agreed to meet three conditions.

Multiple investigations are currently ongoing regarding Hockey Canada and the alleged sexual assault in 2018. The only investigation that has concluded is a governance review led by retired Supreme Court Justice Thomas Cromwell, who found serious governance failures within Hockey Canada—including the failure to disclose the National Equity Fund. After delivering his findings, Cromwell asserted the board of directors must step down, which they did. Many, including the Standing Committee on the Status of Hockey Canada CEO Scott Smith has also since been replaced by Women, call on the Canadian government to establish an independent national public inquiry into maltreatment in Canadian Katherine Henderson, the former CEO of Curling Canada. sport. (Chris Liverani / unsplash.com) On Nov. 14, Hockey Canada finally announced that an independent adjudicative panel into the alleged 2018 group sexual five players, it is unclear what the outcome will be and the London assault had reached the conclusion that members of the 2018 Police have asserted that Hockey Canada’s investigations will not World Junior team violated the governing body’s code of conduct. affect their conclusions.

It is confirmed that the young woman involved cooperated in the The National Hockey League (NHL) is also still conducting investigation, an excuse Hockey Canada levied in their defense of its own investigation into the 2018 incident as players assumed to a lack of investigation. Following the panel’s disclosure to Hockey be involved are on active rosters. Despite announcing in Jan. 2023 Canada and other parties involved, an undisclosed party initiated that the investigation was “really close to the end,” as of Aug. 2023, an appeal to the panel’s decision. As a result, Hockey Canada will NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly stated that the NHL does not keep the details of the panel’s report, including the names of players “have a specific timetable to share at this time.” involved, private until the appeal is concluded to “not interfere with Ultimately, there are still very few answers. In Ottawa, Hockey the integrity of the appeal process.” Hockey Canada has stated that Canada has been included in the ongoing parliamentary hearings by the appeal will begin “in the near future.” the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage into Safe Sport in Still ongoing is the London Police investigation into the 2018 Canada that outline the crisis of abuse within Canadian sport. assault. While documents suggest that there are grounds to charge The next hearing will take place on Nov. 21.

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21 2023

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McGill makes waves at season-opening invitational The home squad placed first out of twelve competing schools at the McGill Invitational Julie Ferreyra Sports Editor

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n Nov. 18, artistic swimming teams from universities and CEGEPs across Ontario and Quebec reconvened for the first time in the season at the McGill Invitational.

This yearly exhibition, hosted annually

by McGill University, marks the beginning of the Canadian University Artistic Swimming League (CUASL) season, uniting in the Western Conference the universities of Ottawa, Carleton, Western, Guelph, Queen’s, Toronto, Laval, Sherbrooke and McGill, as well as John Abbott College.

This year, however, is the first time since 2020 that the Invitational took place in November and not January.

“Last year [was] a little bit [of a] slower start because of COVID, but this year, we really jumped into it right away and we’re focused right away from the start,” second-year experienced swimmer Ana Gordon said in an interview with The Tribune. “It made it nice because then we bonded really really fast and we got a really good team spirit early on in this season.”

Events are split into competitor levels ranging from novice (no competition experience at the national or provincial level after the age of

Across 6.Winningest NHL team 8.Montreal Expos name in Washington 11.The Martlet mascot’s name 14.Intramural sport played in McGill pool 15.McGill’s opponent in the first American football game 16.Arecent McGill athlete of the week

12), competitive (any swimmer who is registered with CUASL), and experienced (athletes that competed nationally or internationally before joining CUASL, or competed provincially after the age of 12).

The Invitational opened with the showcase of novice duets and trios.

Tara Fitzgerald and Diana Paprelli were the first McGill pairing to compete.

Their performance on the beat of an LMFAO’s mashup earned them first place in the event, foreshadowing the McGill podium sweep.

As over twenty experienced duets or trios took the stage, three pairings from McGill showcased their talent.

McGill’s second duet—performed

by Catherine McGee and Olivia McLaughlin, earned second place with 83.3375 points.

Chloe Gavrilovic and Clara Thomas then took the aquatic stage to perform McGill’s last experienced duet in stunning pink swimsuits. The fast-paced movements stayed in rhythm and were well coordinated, showing extreme underwater skills. This energetic performance earned a total routine score of 81.1292, allowing them to take fifth place in the section ranking.

Despite the performances proceeding smoothly throughout the competition, the novice event opened

Down 1.Number of many varsity teams McGill has 2.Habs goalie from British Columbia 3.NHLer with a name that is also a speed 4.The McGill alum who created basketball 5.McGill alum who coached in NHL 7.Team McGill shares the Percival Molson stadium with

with several difficulties. The category began with a significant delay, starting over 10 minutes past schedule. As the first performer began her choreography, the music cut out. Amidst the crowd support, the Waterloo swimmer was granted the opportunity to perform their routine from the start at the end of the novice event.

Fitzgerald performed McGill’s first novice solo and earned a thirdplace finish. Her song choice, ‘Million Dollar Bills’ by Lorde, left the crowd amazed with her ability to stay on beat with the hard hitting kicks of the song.

“It was my first ever meet with McGill and I’m really glad it turned out to be such a success,” Fitzgerald explained about the meet. “I feel very proud of all of my swims and podium places, especially as a novice swimmer.

I consider it to be a really great achievement.”

Paparelli closed the section in her red and black suit. Her slow-paced, emotional performance on Sade’s ‘Smooth Operator’ called forth the claps and roars of the fans. This spectacular performance earned her a total score of 83.93. This score grabbed her first place for the novice podium, feeding McGill’s total medal tally.

Experienced soloist Noémie Girard then performed a very emotional

9.First father/son duo in sports history to both be reprimanded for biting their opponent (Hint: Brendan and Claude) 10.The team the Redbirds hockey team beat in their most recent game 12.The president of the varsity council 13.The major junior hockey league that most of the Redbirds Hockey team play in

With five gold, one silver and three bronze medals, McGill dominated the podiums at the Invitational. (Abby Zhu / The Tribune) routine on Adele’s ‘Love in the Dark’.

This skillful routine granted her 79.3180 points, placing her third on the podium.

Anna Dolgova earned first place with her energetic and skillful routine on Amy Winehouse’s “Me & Mr. Jones.”

Scoring over 88 points, Dolgova took first place.

As the evening came to a close, the fans were still waiting for the ultimate show of artistry and skills of the team events.

McGill’s novice team closed the event with an impressive

Redbirds Hockey Nov. 17: W 4-2 vs Waterloo Nov. 18: W 6-5 (OT) vs Waterloo Martlets Hockey Nov.16: L 3-0 at Université de Montréal Nov. 18: L 3-0 vs University of Ottawa

routine to the tune of a Black Eyed Peas mashup, earning first place.

The McGill experienced teams opened and closed the podium, dominating the competition with artistic yet skillful routines. The first team performed a technical choreography, earning third place, while the second team closed the evening with a goldworthy performance. Their next competition will take place on Jan. 27 at the Eastern Canada meet.

Redbirds Basketball Nov. 18: L 79-47 at Laval Martlets Volleyball: Nov. 17: W 3-2 (25-16, 18-25, 23-25, 25-17, 15-12) vs UQAM Martlets Basketball Nov. 18: L 71-42 at Laval