The Tribune Vol. 43, Issue 9

The Tribune TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7 2023 | VOL. 43 | ISSUE 9

Published by the SPT, a student society of McGill University

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EDITORIAL

FEATURE

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Palestinian, Israeli, Arab, and Jewish students need McGill’s institutional support now

Academic algorithms: Grappling with the AI revolution at McGill

Know Your Athlete: Elizabeth Ling PG. 11

PG. 8-9

PG. 5

(Jay Lauzon / The Tribune)

First date jitters: Happily ever after’s archnemesis

McGill disputes Associate Deans’ membership in law faculty union Associate Deans have no managerial power, AMPL argues Ghazal Azizi Contributor

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n Nov. 3, McGill and the Association of McGill Professors of Law (AMPL) gathered once again at Quebec’s labour tribunal office for a hearing to discuss whether the faculty’s Associate Deans belong in the union.

Since November 2022, AMPL has been the certified bargaining unit for the Faculty of Law’s tenured and tenure-track professors, but shortly after its accreditation, the McGill administration filed for appeal against the Tribunal administratif du travail (TAT) decision.

At the hearing, held before Judge Stéphanie D’Alessandro, Faculty of Law Dean Robert Leckey and McGill Director of

Students are choosing apathy over engagement with SSMU Isla Vaillant Staff Writer

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nsurprisingly, forming strong opinions about something that you cannot see or readily gather information about can pose a challenge. This simple phenomenon obstructs the vast majority of McGill

students from interacting with, caring about, or even knowing of the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU). The SSMU name floats aimlessly around campus, with most only able to recall the most recent scandal covered by an on campus publication. For many members of the

student body, SSMU is inaccessible and seemingly non-existent, and this has allowed for corruption to run rampant within the organization. This lack of engagement and accountability on behalf of the student body allows SSMU the chance to cover up its internal issues.

PG.6

Labour Relations Francis Desjardins appeared on behalf of the university with a legal team including Corrado De Stefano and an associate, while AMPL President Evan Fox-Decent and the union’s lawyer Sibel Ataogul sat across from them.

Leckey, who has served as the faculty’s Dean since 2016, testified first as Ataogul questioned him on the differences between Deanship and Associate Deanship.

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‘Delicate: Part One’ marks American Horror Story’s entrance into subdued horror The newest season of AHS sparks a return to compelling horror for the franchise Luke Smith Contributor Spoilers for American Horror Story: Delicate

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merican Horror Story (AHS) returned with its twelfth season, Delicate, on Sept. 20, concluding

Part One on Oct. 18. The first installment of this two-part series chronicles Anna Victoria Alcott’s (Emma Roberts) introduction to stardom by the efforts of PR specialist Sioban (Kim Kardashian). Alcott’s struggle to win an Oscar while trying for a child through invitro fertilization quickly de-

scends into an isolated journey where satanic figures, mysterious stalkers, and phantom miscarriages haunt her.

Delicate diverges from the typical extravagant nature of AHS and offers a fresh, subdued horror perspective to revitalize the show after two lacklustre seasons.

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NEWS

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7 2023

Quebec students and faculty mobilize against provincial government’s proposed tuition hikes ‘Education is a right, not just for the rich and white,’ protestors chant outside Legault’s office Ghazal Azizi Contributor

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tudents and faculty from McGill, Concordia, and Bishop’s University protested against the Quebec government’s proposed tuition increases for out-ofprovince and international students attending anglophone universities on Oct. 30.

Quebec Minister of Higher Education Pascale Déry announced the tuition hike on Oct. 13. Quebec will double tuition fees from about $9,000 to approximately $17,000 a year for out-of-province students starting their undergraduate degrees in the fall of 2024. The tuition rate for international students will also increase to a minimum of $20,000 annually.

The Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) government says that it made the decision to protect the French language and will use the additional revenue from the tuition hike to fund French-language universities.

The protest began at 1:30 p.m. at Dorchester Square, where a crowd of mostly Bishop’s students had gathered—sporting their school’s purple. Ellis Mari Bambela, U1 Arts, was one of the few McGill students present at the start of the protest.

“For any sane person, what’s going on right now is completely outrageous because people come here for an opportunity to better their education, but it will become impossible for many, many people to study in Quebec, in Montreal,” Bambela told The Tribune.

Quebec’s three English-language universities have voiced similar concerns. Bishop’s University told CityNews that the hike will jeopardize the university’s survival given that one-third of its students come from outside Quebec. Concordia warned that it could lose up to 90 per cent of its out-of-province population. McGill announced on Nov. 3 that the tuition hikes could result in $94 million in revenue losses and up to 700 job cuts across the board, sharing that it might devastate its Schulich School of Music, among other programs.

Around 2 p.m., protestors marched down boulevard De Maisonneuve toward Concordia’s downtown campus before turning on Sherbrooke Street towards McGill’s Roddick Gates. The chant “EDUCATION IS A RIGHT, NOT JUST FOR THE RICH AND WHITE” echoed through the streets. Many of those who attended the protest had pinned a red square to their clothes, a symbol of Quebec’s 2012 student strikes, also known as the Maple Spring. The march ended in front of Premier Francois Legault’s office, where organizers and speakers gathered by McGill’s Roddick Gates for speeches. Three English professors from Concordia addressed the crowd, criticizing the proposed increases and Legault’s CAQ government in general.

“This is not a measure that really has to do with language [....] This is a measure that has first of all to do with incompetence and corruption. We’re talking about the same gov-

ernment that at the beginning of the pandemic Fall” by the organizers, U2 Arts student let elderly people die in nursing homes,” Pro- Alex O’Neill and Concordia student Noah fessor Nathan Brown said in his speech. “Of Sparrow. In an interview with The Tribune, course, the government is attempting to divide O’Neill explained the name’s symbolic meanus along lines of language, but I would say ing: “Blue” represents the CAQ’s official also that this divides the community in Mon- colours, while “Fall” represents the season treal along lines of race, religion, and class, and is meant to pay tribute to the 2012 Maple and we can’t allow that to happen.”

Spring protests.

Kennedy McDiarmid, an out-of-province “If you read it backwards, fall of the U2 Arts student from British Columbia, also blue, it [symbolizes] the CAQ government. spoke at the protest. She condemned the tu- Something that, obviously, has kind of fueled ition hikes for “making education only acces- this [is the] government’s inability to consult sible to the wealthy and privileged few” and with the universities, with the student body on criticized the Quebec government’s student not only this issue but, a lot of issues over the mobility agreements that exempt French and last five years,” O’Neill said.

Belgian students from international tuition rates.

“Legault wants to protect French, so I have some suggestions to help them figure that out. [...] You know the tuition that students from France and Francophone Belgians pay? Make that accessible to students from all Frenchspeaking countries,” McDiarmid cried to a Anglophone universities are responsible for $282 million out of the $407 raucous crowd.

The Oct. 30 pro- million of revenue that international students generate, according to test was dubbed “Blue Quebec’s higher education minister. (Jay Lauzon / The Tribune)

Candlelit vigil at McGill honours victims in Gaza Hundreds gather in front of the McGill Arts Building Staff of The Tribune Content Warning: Mentions of violence, death, and mourning

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he McGill Palestinian and pro-Palestine community members stood in collective grief by the Arts Building on the evening of Nov. 2, as hundreds gathered for a vigil to mourn the Israeli government’s killings of Palestinians in Gaza.

The vigil was organized by Law Students for Palestine at McGill and Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR) McGill. Five other student organizations also endorsed the event. No member of the McGill administration was present for the vigil. McGill did not comment directly on whether the administration attended.

Pocket-sized candles surrounded a Palestinian flag on the steps of the Arts Building.

Flags and signs were absent from the crowd at the request of the organizers.

Addresses to the crowd, in English, French, and Arabic, began just past 5:30 p.m., with speeches from the organizers and some of the groups that endorsed the service. The speakers touched on remembering those who the Israeli government has killed in Gaza and criticized Principal Deep Saini’s communication on Nov. 2 for not drawing distinctions between the different groups’ sufferings. They also demanded a ceasefire and encouraged the crowd to take action to support the Palestinians, from protesting to writing to their local Member of Parliament.

Members of the crowd began to light candles

and the 6,747 known names and ages of those who have been killed in Gaza were projected onto the Arts building.

According to the Associated Press on Monday, Nov. 6, Israel’s attacks on Gaza since Oct. 7 have killed over 10,000 people, including 4,100 children. Over 1.4 million people in Gaza have also been displaced. Israel’s attack came in response to an attack from Hamas that killed more than 1,400 people, with over 200 taken hostage.

An individual at the vigil, who asked to not be named, expressed a deep sense of sorrow, finding themselves at a loss for words amid the grief.

Another attendee, who also wished to remain unnamed, said that they have had trouble sleeping and engaging with university work in the past three weeks, with all their thoughts being about Gaza.

“This is my reality, [this is] what I think about through the day, I literally can’t cope,” they said.

Near the end of the vigil, a minute of silence was held in remembrance of those who have been killed in Gaza. Only the sound of distant cars from Rue Sherbrooke could be heard as the known names continued to be projected onto the Arts building. Some closed their eyes and tilted their heads forward, and dozens quietly cried.

The service drew to a close after about an hour. Music played quietly as attendees lined the stairs with more candles and laid flowers at the front of the steps.

The organizers invited the crowd to write notes of remembrance on pieces of paper to

hang across the stairs, with many choosing to sit cross-legged and write on the floor in front of the stairs. The music then went silent. Those writing and lighting candles continued while community members stood at the front and soberly watched on.

“I thought the event was done very well. I came by myself but I am glad I did. We haven’t done this [at McGill] yet to my knowledge and hearing from the speakers was moving,” an attendee, who did not want to be named, said reflecting on the vigil. “The situation right now is so terrible [...] we needed to come together.”

The Tribune

Resources: For faculty and staff: • The Employee & Family Assistance Program is available to McGill employees as a confidential support service.

For students: • The Student Wellness Hub offers counselling services for students located in Montreal.

• Keep.MeSafe is a service accessible 24/7 whenever you need to speak (or text) with a mental health professional for support. You can access Keep.MeSafe from anywhere in the world.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7 2023

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NEWS

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Jewish students and allies rally against surge in antisemitism Attendees recount verbal and physical acts of hate in recent weeks Staff of The Tribune Content Warning: mentions of antisemitism and violence

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ver 150 Jewish students and non-Jewish allies gathered on McGill’s lower field on Nov. 2 to stand united against rising antisemitism across North America.

The crowd held signs for peace, condemning antisemitism and Hamas. Many also waved Israeli flags, as attendees from the McGill and wider community heard from speakers who discussed the dangers of rising antisemitism and the importance of standing together in solidarity.

A group of five Jewish students from McGill organized the event, called “Standing Together Against Antisemitism,” according to one of the organizers, Nicole Nashen, 2L. It was also shared by the Jewish Student Alliance and Students Supporting Israel (SSI) at McGill on Instagram.

“In the past three and a half weeks, there’s been an insane uptick in antisemitism [....] This [event] is really for Jewish students on campus,” Nashen said in an interview with The Tribune.

“This is the scariest period of antisemitism we’ve ever experienced in our lifetimes. A lot of us learn about the Holocaust and about Jewish exile in the Middle East [and] in North Africa growing up. But we’re now experiencing this fear that our grandparents felt for the first time in our lives.”

The Canadian Press reported on Oct. 20 that the Montreal police have received an increasing number of hate crime reports, mostly targeting Jewish people, while the CBC reported on Nov. 4 that antisemitic and Islamophobic hate crimes are rising across Canada. The rise comes after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel and Israel’s subsequent ongoing siege on Gaza.

Students attending the rally told The Tribune that they have seen increased hate around cam-

pus toward them and their friends, including verbal threats, physical acts of hate, and the loss of friendships.

“My friend, she was spat at by somebody [for being associated with a table that had an Israeli flag],” said one attendee, who did not want to be named. “I make a point. I usually wear a Star of David, I keep it out. [But] I get dirty looks for it.”

Midway through, as supporters chanted “BRING THEM HOME,” a man filming on his phone disrupted the event and suggested that the group chant about killing Palestinian children instead. The man, Yves Engler, posted the video he took to X, formerly known as Twitter, where it has since been viewed over 10 million times.

Organizers responded to his chants with “No, we don’t support that,” before the crowd chanted for peace as the McGill security ushered Engler to the Roddick gates.

Many students walking between classes watched on. One stopped to share his perspective on the rally and encouraged his fellow students to step outside of the religious dichotomy portrayed on social media.

“We have a strong history of the Jewish community living in coexistence with Muslim people. And there’s this myth in the media now that Muslims and Jews cannot live together, and it’s false,” Aymen, a Moroccan Muslim U4 Engineering student shared with The Tribune.

As the service continued, the crowd sang songs for peace such as Oseh Shalom and Eli Elias, with the event formally wrapping up after about an hour and a half.

Near the end, a group of the crowd bearing Israel’s national flag sang the Israeli national anthem, Hatikvah. One man also wore a hoodie with the Israel Defense Force logo and another wore a hat with the same logo. Some passersby criticized those dancing with Israeli flags, explaining to The Tribune that they found the timing of the event

to be “distasteful” with the Israeli government’s ongoing attacks in Gaza.

One individual, who did not want to be named, said, “They are dancing and people are dying, it feels wrong, [and] distasteful.”

Members from the event emphasized that this was a celebration of the Jewish community, not a celebration of the Israeli government, and an opportunity for Jewish students to come together against antisemitism and feel safe to do so.

“I can speak for myself that going through this [period of time] has felt extremely lonely,” Miriam Hotter, U3 Science, told The Tribune, reflecting on the event. “Even though we’re all feeling some mix of the same emotions. We’re all going through our own unique experience. So I think it’s important that we come together as a community and just support each other.”

After the rally, around 30 Israel and Palestine supporters engaged in a passionate, at times tense, and peaceful dialogue about the recent violence and history of Israel and Palestine. As

the conversations wrapped up, most shook hands with each other.

Yasmine Belamine, U3 Arts, also saw the dialogue take place, and said, “It was quite interesting to see people willing to debate, people willing to talk. Although I must say that a lot of emotion was present, you could feel the tension.”

Resources: For faculty and staff: • The Employee & Family Assistance Program is available to McGill employees as a confidential support service.

For students: • The Student Wellness Hub offers counselling services for students located in Montreal.

• Keep.MeSafe is a service accessible 24/7 whenever you need to speak (or text) with a mental health professional for support. You can access Keep.MeSafe from anywhere in the world.

The Tribune

McGill announces pause to $50 million French learning program Principal Saini states McGill might lose $69.8 million due to student enrollment reduction Olivier Croston Contributor

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n Oct. 19, McGill announced a pause in the rollout of its five-year, $50 million Rayonnement du français initiative, intended to increase access to French-learning resources in order to improve students’ and staff’s knowledge of the language.

In an email to the McGill community on Oct. 25, Principal and Vice-Chancellor Deep Saini explained that on Oct. 6, the Quebec government had alerted the university that “changes that could affect [its] financial situation were coming,” compelling McGill to pause the rollout of its French-learning initiative.

On Oct. 13, the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) unveiled plans to increase tuition rates starting in September 2024. New out-of-province Canadian students’ fees will nearly double— from the current $8,992 to roughly $17,000— and international students will pay a minimum tuition fee of $20,000. With the new policy, the government will receive this minimum tuition fee, and English universities will receive the rest of the fee. Controversially, the extra money levied will be redistributed to francophone secondary and higher education institutions throughout Quebec.

In an email sent to the McGill community on Nov. 2, Principal Saini explained that the

fee increase would result in a fall in the number of out-of-province students. McGill estimates that in a best-case scenario, increased recruiting from Quebec and other countries abroad would fill 80 per cent of the places taken by Canadian students; in a worst-case scenario, 20 per cent. The reduction in the student population from out-ofprovince Canadian students will lead to a decrease in enrollment revenue between $17.6 million and $69.8 million, depending on which scenario McGill is met with. This would force McGill to enact measures ensuring financial stability—such as cutting 650-700 jobs.

The CAQ has stated various reasons for this significant increase in tuition fees for out-ofprovince students. Quebec’s Minister of Higher Education Pascale Déry stated that the government wants this policy to create greater equilibrium in funding between the province’s francophone and anglophone universities. The majority of the $407 million generated by out-of-province students currently goes to the province’s English-speaking universities. Quebec’s Minister of the French Language, Jean-François Roberge, however, stated that the policy is aimed at preserving the French language in Quebec.

Daniel Béland, Director of the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada, pointed out that this announcement came after their recent loss of a by-election in Quebec City to the rival nationalist

party, the Parti Québécois (PQ). According to him, “The McGill French program is so backwards the CAQ sought to regain some political ground by because it is already difficult, and [it is] pricey, announcing an allegedly Francophone-protecting sometimes, to learn French [...],” Dorion said. “It policy. gives the idea that it is more difficult to [come to “The PQ […] pushes really hard on education McGill, and] it makes it feel very closed [...] But and the protection of French language and [the] I feel like a lot of us actual Quebec people want CAQ is reacting to […] [that] recent victory in people to come, but we just want them to learn this Quebec City riding […] by saying we protect French.”

French and French Universities,” Béland said.

On Nov. 6, Principal Saini sent an email Althea Thompson, a second-year History to the McGill community, stating that he and Ph.D. student at Concordia who was among those Concordia’s and Bishop’s University principals protesting against the tuition hikes on Oct. 30, told met with Quebec’s Premier, François Legault, The Tribune in an interview that she was supportive and Déry to propose some solutions designed to of McGill’s pausing of the Rayonnement du promote French in Quebec without raising Englishfrançais initiative. speaking universities’ tuition fees. Saini said that “I think that’s a really great way to fight the government promised it would follow up on the back because, if you are going to cut the funding universities’ proposal in the following days. to the university, then why would they promote the government’s [policy],” Thompson said.

However, some students were more cautious about the impact of pausing the initiative. Constance Dorion, U2 Arts, said that she opposes the suspension of McGill’s French program because Anglophones already find Business leaders and the Mayor of Montreal have spoken out learning the language difficult. against the CAQ’s policy. (Mason Bramadat / The Tribune)

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7 2023

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McGill disputes Associate Deans’ membership in law faculty union Associate Deans have no managerial power, AMPL argues Ghazal Azizi Contributor Continued from page 1.

Leckey revealed that he receives a stipend for his role as Dean, in addition to his base salary subject to the university’s Academic Salary Policy. McGill increased the Dean stipend, which was approximately $30,000 at the beginning of his term, annually to eventually reach around $100,000 in 2022, according to Leckey’s testimony. The stipend for Associate Deans at the Faculty of Law was raised once in 2018 from $5,000 to the current amount of $7,500.

Ataogul then called former Associate Dean (Graduate Studies), Professor Richard Gold, to the stand to explain the Associate Deans’ responsibilities and powers in the faculty. In a posthearing interview with The Tribune, Gold emphasized that tenured law professors take turns serving as Associate Deans every three years to allow their pre-tenure colleagues to advance their careers and research portfolios.

“Taking your turn doesn’t mean turning into management, it just means you’re doing your best to contribute to the good of the faculty, governed by the faculty,” Gold said. “Our Dean might get something like a $100,000 stipend for being Dean, but [...] a few thousand dollars is a token of appreciation. If this were a serious management position, we’d be getting paid $50,000 or 60,000 more.”

Fox-Decent, who also took the stand to affirm Gold’s description of the faculty’s Associate Dean roles, believes that the Nov. 3 testimonies provide compelling

evidence for including the positions in institution in a collegial way, which means closer to my colleagues and allows me to the bargaining unit. He criticized the not thinking of ourselves as employees,’” participate in that shared governance in a university’s costly and litigious attitude Muñiz-Fraticelli said. “During the much better way.” toward unionization. pandemic, I was brutally awoken to the Dean Leckey and the university’s “At a time when the Principal is fact that I was [...] an employee, and if media relations office declined The sending messages that we may be facing the university treated me as an employee, Tribune’s request to comment. shortfalls in the tens of millions of dollars, I ought to react with the instruments I’m not sure that their funds are best spent that the law gives me [....] [The union] The case’s next hearings are paying an employer-side lawyer $900 an is something that makes me feel much scheduled for Dec. 4 and Dec. 6. hour to fight cases against us that have very little merit,” Fox-Decent told The Tribune post-hearing.

Associate Deans are not the only position the university has tried to exclude from the bargaining unit. Recently, AMPL won a settlement against McGill that allowed them to represent jointlyappointed faculty members. Law and political science professor Víctor Muñiz-Fraticelli is one of the two jointly appointed professors whose membership was recently formalized.

“If you had asked me five years ago [about unionizing] I would have said, ‘No, [...] we ought to be participating in the Corrado De Stefano, the administration’s legal counsel, received his Bachelor of Law from McGill University in 1986. governance of this (Ghazal Azizi / The Tribune)

In the headlines: Week of Nov. 6 McGill: McGill is gutting four rowhouses on Pine Avenue that have been designated as heritage buildings to build the Sylvan Adams Sport Science Institute, which will house “state-of-the-art testing labs, training suites, research offices, and meeting rooms,” according to the university.

The construction, which will preserve the buildings’ original facades but tear down and rebuild much of the back of the structures, is projected to conclude in December 2024. The finished Institute will be slightly taller than the original rowhouses but in line with borough zoning regulations. In September, the Montreal Gazette reported that McGill got approval to partially demolish the 120-year-old buildings from the Ville-Marie borough council, where city mayor Valerie Plante serves as the borough mayor, and without the approval of the city council, the office of public consultation, or heritage advisory bodies.

Local: On Monday, Nov. 6, 420,000 Quebec public sector workers went on a one-day strike, taking to the streets to push for better working conditions. These public sector employees are represented by the Front commun, a group of four unions that have come together to bargain with the Quebec government for higher wages, stronger pension plans, an end to staffing shortages, larger employer contributions to insurance plans, enhanced parental leave policies, and more.

Discussions between the Front commun and the government have been taking place since before the collective agreement for public-sector employees expired on March 31 of this year. On Oct. 28, union leaders rejected the provincial government’s latest offer—to increase base salaries for publicsector employees by 10.3 per cent over five years—calling it insufficient, stating that it fails to keep up with inflation, and pointing out that it pales in comparison to the 21 per cent increase over five years that provincial police were offered, and rejected, in September. The Front commun has announced that public-sector employees will also strike on Nov. 21, 22, and 23 if an agreement has not yet been reached.

National: Premiers across Canada are speaking out against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s carbon-pricing plan, saying it has uneven impacts across the country and hits people at a time of financial hardship. Trudeau’s government has recently announced an exception that will pause the carbon price for home-heating oil—an especially expensive form of fuel— for three years in an attempt to help rural and low-income households. Despite pressure for additional exemptions, for example for natural gas, the Prime Minister has stated that no more exemptions will be made to the carbon-pricing policy. Saskatchewan’s Scott Moe—who has been a vocal opponent of carbon pricing—is among those calling out the policy, arguing that exempting only home-heating oil is unjust and threatening that his province will stop collecting a carbon tax on natural gas if no additional exemptions are created. Other premiers, including Conservative New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs and New Democratic Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, have argued that too many Canadians are facing financial hardship for Trudeau’s current carbon-pricing policy to be a viable way forward. The Toronto Star reports that premiers are calling for an in-person first ministers meeting to discuss with Trudeau.

International: Content Warning: Mentions of medical neglect, abuse, and a hunger strike Iranian activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi began a hunger strike on Nov. 6 after the Evin Prison, where she is currently imprisoned in Tehran, refused her access to hospital care for two blocked coronary arteries because she would not don a hijab. According to a statement on her Instagram, other prisoners staged a three-day sit-in in the prison yard in protest of the prison’s denial of medical care. Mohammadi is currently serving a decade-long sentence for “spreading propaganda against the state,” and has been arrested 13 times for her activism, which has been centred around ending the compulsory hijab in Iran and preventing sexual violence against women. She was vocal during last year’s protests over the killing of Jina (Mahsa) Amini, writing and leading protests from prison. The activist’s husband and children will accept Mohammadi’s Nobel Peace Prize on her behalf in Oslo on Dec. 10.

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7 2023

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OPINION

EDITORIAL

Editor-in-Chief Matthew Molinaro editor@mcgilltribune.com

Palestinian, Israeli, Arab, and Jewish students need McGill’s institutional support now

Creative Director Mika Drygas mdrygas@mcgilltribune.com

The Tribune Editorial Board

EDITORIAL BOARD

Managing Editors Lily Cason lcason@mcgilltribune.com Arian Kamel akamel@mcgilltribune.com Tillie Burlock tburlock@mcgilltribune.com News Editors Shani Laskin, Jasjot Grewal, & Caroline Sun news@mcgilltribune.com Opinion Editors Chloé Kichenane, Liliana Mason, & Monique Kasonga opinion@mcgilltribune.com Science & Technology Editors Ella Paulin & Athina Sitou scitech@mcgilltribune.com Student Life Editors Abby McCormick & Dante Ventulieri studentlife@mcgilltribune.com Features Editor Harry North features@mcgilltribune.com Arts & Entertainment Editors Dana Prather & Suzanna Graham arts@mcgilltribune.com Sports Editors Anoushka Oke & Julie Ferreyra sports@mcgilltribune.com Design Editors Drea Garcia & Sofia Stankovic design@mcgilltribune.com Photo Editor Mason Bramadat photo@mcgilltribune.com Multimedia Editor Anna Chudakov & Alyssa Razavi Mastali multimedia@mcgilltribune.com Web Developers Jiajia Li webdev@mcgilltribune.com Copy Editor Matthew Adelberg copy@mcgilltribune.com Social Media Editor Sainka Walia socialmedia@mcgilltribune.com Business Manager Sophie Smith business@mcgilltribune.com

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ver the past four weeks, Jewish, Israeli, and Palestinian students, community members and allies have demonstrated on the McGill campus. On Oct. 7, Hamas launched an unprecedented attack killing over 1,400 Israelis and taking over 200 hostages. In a brutal response consisting of airstrikes, ground incursions, and a siege on Gaza, Israel has killed over 10,000 Palestinians and displaced over 1.5 million people according to the Associated Press and Al Jazeera. While some students have gathered and expressed solidarity in support of peace and liberation, others have felt polarized and unsafe on campus. The McGill administration has sent out multiple communications to students and staff acknowledging the rising conflict, expressing condolences, and urging the community to act safely. However, these top-down communications that call for “compassion, inclusivity, and respect” do not provide students the networks of care that they need.

McGill has not provided any additional resources or accommodations for students affected, prompting many to draw contrasts with McGill’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

OFF THE BOARD Matt Adelberg Copy Editor

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

STAFF Ali Baghirov, 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 Ghazal Azizi, Olivier Croston, Elyse Dyck, Sofia Gobin, Mia Helfrich, James Knechtel, Ida-Marie Kollberg, Jay Lauzon, Annabella Lawlor, Yejin Lee, Wilder McNutt, Sophie Naasz, Luke Pindera, Luke Smith, Irina Zhang, K. Coco Zhang

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I

’ve never been a great sleeper.

If left alone, my brain will run a marathon’s worth of circles, especially when it has something to chew on. The problem came to a head during my first year. The more I contorted myself on my residencesupplied mattress, the more tightly constricted I felt by it and by my thoughts. At some point, I simply could not bear the deafening clamour that arises within me in the absence of external stimuli, so I got up and left.

I scattered footprints upon miles of the city that night. I got back to my

The McGill administration must afford Palestinian, Israeli, Arab, and Jewish students the same level of institutional support. The administration has not taken action against the Islamophobia and antisemitism legislated through Bill 21 and in early 2022, the university overturned the vote for the Palestine Solidarity Policy. The university decides when it can be political— when it can mobilize humanitarian relief initiatives, financial aid, and academic accommodations.

Refraining to act out of fear is a weak excuse.

With many students turning to virtual sites to express their grief and opinions, social media must remain a vibrant space of activism and conversation rather than a place for circulating harm and disinformation. Social media is vital for building solidarity and the sharing of information as many mainstream news outlets have consolidated their underlying prowar narratives. However, there is an unfair expectation for students directly impacted by the conflict to be vocal, to speak out immediately, loudly, and frequently on their platforms. Such pressure does not allow those most deeply impacted to process their trauma and does not recognize that now is a time of both anger and grief. Amidst

rampant censorship, disinformation and the Israeli government shutting off electricity in Gaza, social media allows loved ones and kin to stay in touch and journalists to remain active on the ground. Our patience and compassion online goes hand in hand with care, consciousness-raising, and building peace.

Student groups on campus, such as Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR) McGill, have been particularly vocal on the violence taking place in Israel and Palestine.

In a since-deleted social media post, SPHR McGill referred to the Hamas’ attack on Israel as “heroic,” prompting Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) Christopher Manfredi to condemn SPHR McGill’s post and revoke the club’s permission to use the McGill name, claiming it was non-compliant with the terms of the Memorandum of Agreement. The university has the responsibility to condemn such violent rhetoric and was right in doing so. However, their decision to revoke SPHR McGill’s association with the university without first discussing with the student group itself is misguided.

Without acknowledging their own complicity in settler colonialism here and abroad, McGill’s reactionary response neglects SPHR McGill’s diversity and ignores their historic function as a network of support

5

and solidarity for the many students grieving.

Before making decisions about SPHR McGill’s status on campus, the administration must proactively engage in dialogue with the group members. McGill can neither exacerbate the burden of providing care that many students already bear nor enact more violence onto Palestinian, Jewish, Muslim, Israeli, and Arab students. The administration must work to preserve existing student communities and actively engage with them to create thorough and effective services and institutions.

At all levels, our campus must engage in the difficult work toward collective liberation. The McGill administration must use its institutional power to call for a ceasefire. Many members of the university’s students, staff, and faculty are under crisis and it is imperative that the university works cohesively with and practices care for deeply affected communities.

Although polarized, McGill’s student body has shown and will show that solidarity, peaceful demonstration, and fruitful and compassionate conversation amongst peers is possible.

Copy Editor Matt Adelberg abstained from this editorial.

How to take a Mattwalk room at 4 a.m., finally met with the soothing absence of motion in my skull. Did I wake up tired the next day?

Perhaps. But did I wake up content and focused? Absolutely.

These late-night walks became more common over the next few months. I would leave my stifling thoughts behind, trekking across the chilly, silent nocturnal landscape of wintry Montreal. My appreciation for these treks has only grown with experience. They let me understand my small place in the magnitude of the city around me. My walls, once impenetrable, became paper-thin and lost their claustrophobic pressure.

As I continued my journeys, I developed three tacit rules that maximize their results. I’ve laid them out here for anyone interested, in descending order of importance.

Farine Five Roses or the strands of lowhanging stars warming St. Laurent. If the option is viable for you, I would say it’s the most important one to replicate a Mattwalk. To mimic the experience with somewhat less risk, bring along a friend to walk silently on the other side of the street.

1. Nighttime A small disclaimer: I’m a mascpresenting white man with perhaps less-than-adequate regard for my personal safety. I acknowledge that this rule is unwise, but all of my Mattwalks took place in the deep hours of the morning—and to great benefit.

You get to see what the city chooses to illuminate in the absence of the contrast-ablating sunlight, whether that be the ever-looming crimson glow of

3. New direction While there is a certain comfort in routine, I found that my best night marches took me somewhere unknown (with the same disclaimer as Rule 1, of course). When placed on a citywide scale, whatever I’m feeling becomes smaller, quieter; unapocalyptic.

These forays have the side benefit of improving your mental map of Montreal. While you may lose the short-term comfort of self-placement

2. Silence This is both an internal and external commandment—No music, no talking, no people. Nighttime aids this endeavour with its muted isolation.

You can pick up the flitting steps of cats through the alleys, and the rush of the St. Lawrence becomes pure without the clamour of the city clashing against it from behind. Moving in and through silence attunes you to Montreal’s underlying natural hum, resetting your own to a calmer baseline.

during the walk, you regain it twofold afterward, as no part of Montreal is so far from a known landmark that you are ever truly lost.

3a) Follow your passion Other than “somewhere new,” where do you go? The answer lies in whatever piques your interest— perhaps a beautiful night light display as in Rule 1 or a natural burble as in Rule 2. The only limit is your boldness.

3b) No take-backsies If you cannot go somewhere you’ve been, by extension you cannot backtrack, whether to divert from your current passion-point or to return home. Once you have committed to a Mattwalk, you have committed to its full elliptical route and each point along the way.

3c) Match zig with zag If nothing whets your interest, shift your route. Walking in a straight line can turn up great sights, but zigzagging frequently will both diversify your experience and give you a great payoff of spatial awareness.

Whether you’re feeling caught in space, want some good exercise, or simply crave an extended encounter with fresh air, I could not recommend my beloved Mattwalks more.

OPINION

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COMMENTARY

Montreal needs more than shock to put a stop to pedestrian fatalities

Jayda Smith Staff Writer

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he average number of pedestrian fatalities per year increased by 22.7 per cent in 2022 compared to the 20172021 average. According to the 2022 annual report from the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM), of the estimated 952 pedestrian collisions in the city, 20 resulted in pedestrian fatalities. This year, transport minister Geneviève Guilbault announced Quebec’s plan to hammer down on road accidents: The long-overdue launch of a fiveyear road safety plan that pushes firmer regulations and penalties for Quebec drivers.

Though Montreal has adopted a more serious attitude toward road safety over the last few months with the implementation of projects like the SPVM’s pedestrian safety campaign, sidewalkers may not be able to count on the efficacy and enforcement of these new initiatives.

Children and older adults are not the only pedestrians at risk from reckless driving. As the cheapest mode of travel, walking is widespread among university students. If drivers’ callous attitudes toward the paintedyellow crosswalk on McGill’s campus, next to the intersection of rue Prince-Arthur and rue University, set an example, the future of road safety in Montreal looks bleaker by the minute. Very few drivers on this street seem to know or care about the province’s stricter rules and regulations around pedestrian safety. To use a crosswalk, pedestrians must summon the confidence to start walking without

COMMENTARY

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7 2023

opinion@mcgilltribune.com

hesitation into oncoming traffic, hoping that drivers care enough about damage to their cars to stop.

The SPVM’s recently launched pedestrian safety campaign involved a shocking advertisement intended to remind drivers to slow down at pedestrian crossings, though its efficacy is dubious. A paneled truck placed in the Vieux-Rosemont neighbourhood displayed a woman sprawled out on a crosswalk—implying that she had been hit by a vehicle. While residents have been pushing for concern for pedestrian safety, shock ads have a rather short lifespan; they become easier to ignore once people are accustomed to them. Considering the uncertain long-term success of such advertisements and the city’s late reaction in halting pedestrian fatalities, this campaign unwisely uses the money allocated toward Montreal’s road safety.

Beyond their advertising Quebec’s plan dubiously increases fines, surveillance, and regulations. But the city and province’s responses come only after immense outcry and grief from residents. The province unveiled its new initiatives many months after the uptick in tragic pedestrian fatalities, such as the hit-and-run incident of 7-year-old Mariia Lehenkovska. It also comes after months of frustrated protests and pleas from parents and pedestrian advocacy groups such as Piétons Québec. This seemingly diligent approach, after so many months of pain and advocacy, tastes bittersweet. Besides this long-delayed response, what use are fines without the consistent presence of traffic police and roadsafety technology to enforce them?

The SAAQ’s Road Safety Records provides detailed annual information on the province’s traffic accidents. (Mike Chai / Pexels.com) Though a part of Quebec’s road safety plan includes the installment of more photo radars on the province’s roads, it does not specify how many. This is particularly concerning given there are only 12 photo radars currently listed in the region of Montreal.

Perhaps money allocated toward shock ads would be more effectively put to use by providing Montreal’s streets with more frequent traffic monitors and road-safety technology.

Nonetheless, the presence of additional traffic officers might just increase civilian distress. Rather than ensuring the safety of pedestrians, more patrols will add to racial surveillance in Montreal. According to one

report, police stop Indigenous women 11 times more than their white counterparts. Even if the government and local police addressed the lack of enforcement, they do not enforce without prejudice and undue violence. Reckless driving must not simply be swapped out for another, just-as-deadly epidemic.

Montreal needs to provide more concrete and preemptive solutions, such as speed bumps and raised sidewalks in its high traffic areas, and needs to stop turning to surveillance tactics that disproportionately harm marginalized groups. Until then, Montreal’s busiest streets will remain hazardous for pedestrians.

Students are choosing apathy over engagement with SSMU

Isla Vaillant Staff Writer Continued from page 1.

Unless they somehow stumble into the foreboding and unremarkable brutalist cave that is the official SSMU Building, otherwise known as the University Centre, a student will likely never directly interface with SSMU. Considering SSMU’s failure to reach a quorum in its most recent General Assembly, students appear to have little to no interest in the workings of the student union. Of course, there are the innumerable emails that bombard students’ inboxes, imploring them to vote for executives and referendums; but these go largely ignored, made evident by the less-than-20 per cent voter turnout in SSMU’s most recent elections. This gives rise to the question: On a campus where the student government is virtually invisible, how do students gather information about it? The answer is simple: Gossip.

When SSMU is brought up in conversation, its discussants almost always tether it to deliciously scandalous stories of corruption, discrimination and harassment. As a thirdyear student, the most memorable encounters I have had with the entity of SSMU have been through secondhand accounts of its corporate greed, the thousands of dollars they have allegedly lost due to mismanagement—dollars paid by their constituents—or its disheartening failure to pass particular policies, even if

they are supported by the vast majority of students. As our primary interface with SSMU, these narratives portray a student government that functions only to misrepresent and ignore the very people it was made to support.

But campus gossip, while often based in truth, does not provide an accurate picture of the capabilities of McGill’s student union.

Despite its ever-so-apparent failings, SSMU can be an excellent resource for students, and it should appear on many more radars. Without organizers and workers in SSMU, there would be no Activities Night, no access to mental health and safety resources like Keep.

MeSAFE, no free menstrual products in the bathrooms. Without SSMU, we wouldn’t even have the beloved Gerts Cafe & Bar. Visibility and recognition, however, still remain an obstacle. If SSMU does not make students aware of their resources, how can students partake in them?

When the only news is bad news, students have poor incentive to involve themselves with SSMU. If students only have ears for gossip, why has SSMU not attempted to provide another narrative for itself? This speaks more to SSMU’s indifference toward its reputation than the youthful tendency to stir the pot. Ultimately, SSMU’s invisibility and apparent disinterest in providing an alternative form of self-representation perpetuates the vicious cycle of student disengagement and the union’s inability to accurately represent the student body.

So how can SSMU make itself seen and

SSMU’s invisibility and the political disengagement of McGill’s student body (Mason Bramadat/ The Tribune) felt? A simple start would be broader representation. SSMU is meant to serve all of campus, so it shouldn’t exist solely in the University Centre. Members of SSMU should be more active in student buildings, tabling and raising awareness about their mandate and goals for student life. This form of in-person engagement would garner far more success than holding general assemblies over Zoom on weeknights when next-to-no students can

attend. By firmly staking its presence on campus, SSMU can better fulfil its role as a union and take responsibility for mending the rift between students and their governing body.

Although SSMU could and should be doing more for McGill undergraduates, it could start by making itself known to its constituents.

Perhaps, then, that students have a chance of voicing their needs, and hopefully see them met.

arts@mcgilltribune.com

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7 2023

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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Concert films bridges the gap between music and cinema How the combined artistry of two distinct media creates a unique genre Annabella Lawlor Contributor

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s an aggressively straight drum line steadies watery synths, the members of Talking Heads cast dark silhouettes on a dimly lit red background.

David Byrne’s robotic voice drones on as he comes into view, lying supine beside the drum kit. Cameras cut to a full view of the stage: Band members perform a militaristic march to Byrne’s monotonous chant of “Swamp.” The tone turns humourous as Byrne limps across the stage, tripping into a knock-kneed dance before reassuming his previous robotic stature. The sequence’s sinister tone departs deliberately from the previous tracks of ecstatic rhythm and jubilant energy in its cataclysmic visuals and unwavering force. Jonathan Demme’s 1984 concert film, Stop Making Sense, is a culmination of years of Talking Heads’ musical collaboration memorialized in a time capsule of sound and sight.

The concert film is a unique art form in itself, as it bridges musical landscapes with the world of cinema and combines the audible with the visible. This configuration’s underlying power allows the music to flow physically into the world, taking the musician’s work to new heights with interpreted imagery evocative of their sound. Stop Making Sense is a testament to the genre’s expansiveness: A celebration of joy and surrender to the sanctity of movement and rhythm.

Concert film tradition dates back long before Demme’s 1984 project, gaining rock ‘n’ roll prominence in the 1960s with films like The T.A.M.I. Show and Monterey Pop. What initially began as an informational mode of cultural diffu-

sion, allowing audiences to see the diversity of international music, rapidly evolved during the 1970s to more stylistic collaborations between filmmaker and musician. Experimental artists sought to explore the heights of the new medium using film. These visual aides benefit their sound—a practice that dates long before the popularity of music videos—and in certain instances serve as commemorations of specific accomplishments. There are often distinctions made between concert films and concert documentaries where the former tends to focus primarily on a band’s pure musical output and the latter focuses on a band’s narrative history. However, several films such as Martin Scorsese’s 1978 film The Last Waltz diverge from this practice, combining cinematic musical performances with inklings of historical narrative.

The Last Waltz depicts The Band’s final concert at Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco—the first venue where they performed under their own name. It’s a faded picture of the past, an intimate portrayal of The Band’s impressive legacy. With the colour grading earthy, the set design jewel-toned, and the shots framed close to the subject, Scorsese’s techniques translate The Band’s palace of sound into unadulterated physicality. The film preserves their musical footprint in formal interviews, candid conversations, and onstage performances with long-time friends such as Bob Dylan, Muddy Waters, and Joni Mitchell, producing a snapshot of authenticity and a glimpse into their aspirations. It is a marker of time, an anecdote of a film that perfectly encapsulates The Band’s skill and musical legacy.

The uniqueness of each concert film exemplifies the endless possibilities of the art form. While Demme’s Stop Making Sense is otherworldly in his unabashed presentation of the avant-garde artfulness of Talking Heads, in The

Sufjan Stevens’ ‘Javelin’ blurs the line between love and loss The artist’s latest album hits you right where it hurts signature style feel like running through the grass during summer, such as “There’s A World.” However, outliers such as ith over 20 albums under his belt, “Goodbye Evergreen” have an almost popSufjan Stevens is not unfamiliar like rhythm. As the album’s opener, the with the intricacies of making song punches intrigue into its listeners’ music. After the success of his soundtrack ears, making them excited for the tracks for the Oscar-winning favourite Call Me to come next.

Many of Stevens’ songs draw a strong

By Your Name (CMBYN), the pressure for contrast between the lyrics and the melody. him to create the lyrical undertones to all The juxtaposition of melancholic writing our love lives and heartbreaks has only increased. Javelin, released on Oct. 6 and with cheery melodies highlights how this album takes the reader on a journey of is Stevens’ newest beautiful album.

Listening to Javelin feels like realization and the ups and downs of love. entering a world of folklore—exploring With songs like “Genuflecting Ghost,” a realm of angelic imagery and fairytale the listener almost intrudes on something love. In “Will Anybody Ever Love Me?” private due to his text’s anecdotal feel. the sound of birds chirping underscores Stevens’ raw lyrics heighten the magical the otherwise heartbreaking lyrics about elements of folklore and religion that are yearning for someone to love and hold. incorporated into these songs, imbuing In Stevens’ fairytale, songs with his them with a surreal quality.

On his website, Stevens penned a poignant blog post describing the profound loss of his soulmate and partner, Evans Richardson IV, who passed away in April.

The album is dedicated to his partner and makes the listener sense Stevens’ heartbreak. But songs such as “My Red Little Fox,” where beautiful backup vocals collectively accentuate the song, help the listener realize that Stevens is creating a space for shared experiences through his music. Whether it be encounters with love, loss, loneliness, or sadness, this album Stevens references animals, folklore, and religion contains it all. Stevens is not afraid to throughout the record to create his own medieval share his feelings with all his listeners— and his listeners aren’t afraid to follow his world. (David Lee / Wikimedia Commons) lead.

Ida-Marie Kollberg Contributor

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Last Waltz, Scorsese paints a much softer lens of The Band, staying true to their musical intentions of intimacy and harmonic connection. These films can be taken in a world of different directions. Concert films sit unparalleled on an artistic plane and cannot be replicated by any singular form. The two media of music and cinema meet where the boundaries of the singular craft can be transcended.

Several shows were pieced together for the final product of Stop Making Sense (Sofia Stankovic / The Tribune)

Sampha makes long-awaited return in stunning fashion with ‘Lahai’ The album dazzlingly displays Sampha’s personal growth and flawless vocals Luke Pindera Contributor

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n 2017, British singer Sampha released his debut album, Process, to widespread critical acclaim, earning him the Mercury Prize. Despite Process’ success, fans waited six years for Sampha’s next album, Lahai, the long-overdue follow-up to his debut record. During that time, Sampha has clearly endured considerable artistic growth, given the incredibly textured production and existential songwriting on Lahai.

Thematically, Sampha takes a more conceptual approach with Lahai. The lyrics paint the artist’s existential crisis as he seeks to grasp onto meaning amidst a flurry of questions about the nature of time, space, and memory.

On the track “Satellite Business,” he questions common conceptions of reality, singing “Maybe there’s no ends, Maybe just infinity, Maybe no beginnings, Maybe just bridges.”

The ambiguity of time is a particular point of interest for Sampha. “Suspended” imagines the singer finding solace in the memory of someone from his past. By escaping his demons through living within a memory, Sampha challenges the linear conception of time.

Sampha is concerned with finding purpose through personal growth, an overarching theme of Lahai. He frequently illustrates the evasion of one’s problems and soaring toward liberation through a metaphor of birds’ flight. In “Inclination Compass (Tenderness),” Sampha sings “How about we fly towards the source again? Let’s switch from cold to warm again,”

Known for his collaborations with some of hip-hop’s biggest stars, Lahai is a reminder that Sampha is much more than a feature artist.

(Sakena / Wikimedia Commons) relating the idea of spiritual healing to birds’ migration.

Unlike Process, which employs a more stripped-back and simplistic production style, Lahai’s instrumentation is elegant and polished. The production is also futuristic and experimental, such as with the dynamic drum and bass breakbeats on “Spirit 2.0.”

Sampha’s tendency to introduce groovy drum beats in the second half of many of Lahai’s songs is certainly a highlight of the record.

In an era when artists rapidly pump out music to maintain relevancy or amass riches, Sampha is an outlier. The composition of Lahai’s meticulous production, angelic vocals, and introspective writing is a testament to Sampha’s insistence on taking his time to perfect his craft. Lahai is a triumph that was undoubtedly worth the wait.

Since OpenAI unveiled ChatGPT in late 2022, showcasing the startling capabilities and power of artificial intelligence (AI), there has been a surge in the number of sophisticated language models — like Google’s Bard, Meta’s Llama, and Anthropic’s Claude. These technologies have captured both the attention and scrutiny of higher-education institutions. As the COVID-19 pandemic recently shook conventional ways of instruction, the education system is seeing yet another disruption: Generative artificial intelligence.

Large Language Models (LLMs), such as GPT, which stands for “Generative Pretrained Transformer model,” are trained on large amounts of textual data. They operate by predicting the probability of a word occurring within a longer sequence of words, achieved through the breakdown of text into smaller parts known as “tokens.”

Notably, GPT-3, trained on an extensive dataset of 500 billion tokens, represents a significant milestone in AI advancement. A study conducted in January 2023 involving 1,000 students in the US found that 89 per cent have used ChatGPT to help with homework assignments, and the latest available data indicates that it currently boasts an impressive user base of over 180 million users, underscoring its growing influence on education.

Amid this technological change and the increasing usage of—and reliance on—generative AI among students, the question for McGill’s academic community is becoming clear: How can we proactively harness the potential of AI while addressing the concerns that it poses in such a way that it benefits the higher education community at McGill as a whole?

Personalized assistance for students and teachers The ability of AI models to offer each student immediate, personalized assistance is quickly becoming apparent.

Educational platforms like Khan Academy and edX are already incorporating AI-powered learning assistance, attempting to leverage the power of one-on-one tutoring on a much wider scale—a scale previously unattainable.

A fourth-year student at McGill, who preferred to re-

Academic algori with the AI revo

main anonymous, shared with The Tribune their a p p reciation for using AI in academia and learning, particularly in providing comprehensive reviews of forgotten topics. “I usually look at [ChatGPT] to review concepts that I haven’t seen in a while, because sometimes you need to go back to firstyear stuff that you completely forgot and it’s nice to give you a good summary,” they said. “I always find that it condenses information much better than just going on the website if you’re looking for quick summaries of something that interests you, but you don’t want to spend time reading 20 pages.”

They also emphasized how AI enables them to explore ideas independently by engaging in conversations with it and prompting it to answer what would happen in different scenarios.

Educators, meanwhile, are finding AI to be useful in the classroom. It can act as a teaching assistant by providing advice on course content, aiding with lesson planning, offering student feedback, and streamlining tasks such as exam design.

Rico Li, a U2 student in the Faculty of Engineering, recounted an assignment in his software development class—ECSE 250, Fundamentals to Software Development—that featured content and a story description generated by ChatGPT, as well as images gathered from Canva’s Magic Media tool, to provide better context. He believed that his professor’s use of AI in crafting the assignment added a creative touch to it, which made it more engaging and appealing to students’ interests.

In using AI as a collaborative partner, students and educators alike can accomplish tasks more effectively. Nevertheless, an excessive reliance on generative AI tools can lead students to lose their sense of critical thought and creativity— and this can impede genuine learning.

In fact, it can be dangerous to use these tools without an understanding of their unreliability and without fact-checking the information they output. Although the answers these models generate

Higher Education

Written by Jiaji

m a y sound v e r y fluent, knowledgeable, and natural, they can present false information and explanations as true, and even fabricate sources—a phenomenon known as “hallucinations.” Models can also amplify biases present in their training data.

“It can be extremely discouraging [to learning] when we [users] think AI is something omniscient,” Lydia Cao said, referring to her research on the implications of generative AI for education as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. “I think we’ve got to see AI as a learning partner, whose idea you can build upon, challenge, and criticize.”

So, rather than seeking outright answers from the bot, it proves more helpful to use it for tips or guidance towards solving the problem yourself.

Academic Integrity The advent of generative AI has heightened concerns around academic integrity, particularly the risk of plagiarism. With students having the option to have an AI model write their entire essays in seconds, it is understandable why educators and policymakers may be worried. One of France’s top universities, Sciences Po, has gone as far as to ban the use of ChatGPT without transparent referencing, with punishments that could lead to expulsion from

the school— or even French higher education altogether.

In response to these concerns, AI detection tools like OpenAi’s AI classifier, GPTZero, and Turnitin’s own built-in detector have been developed.

However, while these tools may be able to maintain some degree of transparency, they often fall short in their ability to accurately detect cases of plagiarism using AI, leading to the generation of false negatives and positives. This was exemplified in July of 2023 when OpenAI discontinued its AI detection tool due to its “low rates of accuracy.”

“It’s hard for machines to detect whether a piece of text is machine-generat-

ithms: Grappling olution at McGill in the age of AI

ia Li, Web Editor ed or human-written,” Siva Reddy, assistant professor in the School of Computer Science and the Department of Linguistics at McGill University, said. “This is because humans are good at manipulating text such that the machine gets confused. A machine-generated text is often grammatical and follows certain patterns that maximize the probability of the text. [...] One can take such text and edit it here and there, for example, by making a few sentences ungrammatical, or using spelling mistakes or infrequent terminology, thereby making the text out of its usual distribution for the machine to detect. This is an active area of research in natural language processing also known as watermarking.”

Watermarking, along with other factors such as the quality

o f traini n g d a t a and model complex-

ity, contribute to the unreliability of AI detection tools. This confluence of factors suggests that a disproportionate dependance on these tools could prove more detrimental than beneficial for students.

“Students need to be very concerned if McGill goes this route from a policy perspective. Profs should definitely not use these tools on their own,” Andrew Piper, a professor in the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures and Director of the Bachelor of Arts and Science program at McGill, says.

For educators, it is critical to understand the limitations of these tools before using them to maintain a culture of trust among students and teachers; the goal should be to use AI to enhance students’ learning progress rather than for scrutiny.

Piper, for example, employs two things in his classroom, “a) ask students to sign a pledge on how they used AI for their assignment and b) structure assignments in a way to minimize GPT’s usefulness.”

Rethinking assessment methods The computational powers of AI have undoubtedly challenged traditional methods of assessing students. Piper notes that it has essentially removed an important kind of writing assignment: “Short essays where students have considerable time to think through and craft their answers.”

Piper explained AI’s implications mean that takehome essays and assignments—which are common in the humanities—need to be rethought. “Either we move to more in-class assessments or we have to structure our assignments in such a way that they are not easily completed by GPT,” Piper said.

In this evolving landscape, a question looms: How can we prevent students from using AI to

complete their assignments for them? Cao argues that students must recognize the intrinsic value of their educational pursuits beyond mere assessment-oriented goals.

“We need to help learners to understand that learning is much more than generating a product,” she explains. “For example, learning to write is not just about producing a coherent piece of text but about developing the capacity to organize one’s thoughts, build on others’ ideas, analyze claims, create new ideas, and communicate with others.

For students, often learning is driven by the assessment.”

“Depending on how the professor structured the final, the student will adapt their learning strategy or even what they’re going to learn accordingly. So I think professors must help students see the purpose of their learning beyond merely generating a product and really understand, in a metacognitive way, why I’m here—why I’m learning what I’m learning.”

Encouraging this mindset requires open dialogue between educators and students regarding the roles and appropriate uses of AI in the classroom—something that many students told The Tribune is rarely done in their courses at McGill. Initiating these conversations can help students discern how to most effectively utilize AI in their learning of the subject matter.

Where do we go from here?

To address the use of generative AI at McGill, the Senate Subcommittee on Teaching and Learning (STL) created a working group in May 2023.

On June 13, 2023, the Academic Policy Committee (APC) Subcommittee on Teaching and Learning (STL) approved the working group’s report, which underlined two key recommendations for the use of generative AI at McGill.

The first recommendation outlines five key principles to ensure the responsible adoption of generative AI tools: 1. The university community is educated about generative AI tools, such as their ethical implications and biases.

2. University leaders and instructors ensure the positive role of AI towards McGill’s academic mission, along with the development of guidelines and resources for instructors to address generative AI in their teaching.

3. Instructors are granted autonomy in deciding their use of AI tools; the quality of the learning experience is the most important consideration.

4. Instructors have the responsibility and accountability for maintaining academic integrity and being transparent in their use of AI tools in course outlines.

5. Students have the responsibility to uphold academic rigor by verifying the accuracy of AI-generated information and adhering to instructors’ guidelines.

The second recommendation tasks for the Office of the Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) (OPVA) to provide clear mandates and resources to assist the development and implementation of strategic roadmaps according to the defined principles.

It is expected that the STL’s recommendations, if adopted, will guide the university community with clear direction for appropriate, thoughtful, and decisive actions in support of McGill’s academic mission.

As the university progresses and artificial intelligence keeps developing at a quicker pace, educational methodologies and policies will constantly be prompted to adapt by undergoing continuous change and improvements. The question of AI’s place in education calls for ongoing discussions between students and educators. In doing so, teachers can be intentional about either designing AI into their assessment and teaching methods or out of them.

Adopting a human-centric vision with AI means embracing the technology as a flawed yet valuable ally—cautiously.

This way, as new developments emerge, the higher-education community can be empowered to navigate the evolving technological landscape with confidence.

Designed by Drea Garcia Avila, Design Editor

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

arts@mcgilltribune.com

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7 2023

Pop journalism keeps the arts alive The cancellation of ET Canada sparks conversation about the value of arts journalism Charlotte Hayes Staff Writer

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n Oct. 6, Entertainment Tonight (ET) Canada aired its final episode, marking the end of an 18-year-long run in Canadian entertainment reporting. Although the closure appeared sudden, it would not come as a surprise to those following the state of Canadian arts and entertainment reporting in recent years. A decline in viewership for both broadcast and cable programs with the advent of streaming, combined with the closure of daily newspapers, has left major publications vulnerable to significant staffing cuts.

Entertainment reporting sections are frequently among the initial casualties, regarded as the most frivolous form of journalism.

Despite often being categorized as low culture, pop entertainment journalism plays a marquee role in helping Canada distinguish a separate identity within the entertainment industry outside of an American context. Reporting centred on Canadian music, film, television, and celebrity news is critical for helping Canadian artists and reporters cultivate a cultural ecosystem that is not just a mere spin-off of our neighbours to the South. This is especially important for shedding light on artists based outside of

The hour-long news show first launched in 2005 on Global TV (Andrea Piacquadio / Pexels.com) major metropolitan areas, such as Toronto or Montreal, whom American news outlets may completely pass over.

ET Canada cited a struggle to retain advertisers as the primary reason for the sudden closure, an obstacle shared by many news programs internationally.

Shaky TV ratings have led to a 4.1 per cent drop in ad revenue for traditional media in the last quarter, while new media, including social media, saw an 8.7 per cent increase—a result of shifting cultural attitudes towards the ways we consume news.

Advertising revenue drops when ratings are down, meaning that at 7 p.m., all eyes are on Twitter (now X) instead of the nightly news. Since advertising dollars greatly influences the longevity of TV shows, a major pivot in the go-to source for news directly impacts the future of media,

inadvertently collapsing an entire industry.

An absence of traditional media dedicated to celebrity and entertainment news may not seem like the biggest loss, but it has major ramifications in smaller Canadian markets. ET Canada often covered stories relating to Canadian artists and athletes, showcasing the country’s best and brightest in a way they often aren’t in the American iteration. Last September, ET Canada featured Plains Cree entrepreneur and activist Shayla Stonechild as a co-host in an episode dedicated to showcasing and celebrating ‘Indigenous Artists & Icons.’ Stonechild uses her organization, Matriarch Movement, to elevate and foreground the voices of Indigenous peoples working in the wellness and entertainment

Could be Good

sphere. This is particularly important as often content produced by Indigenous peoples, but especially Indigenous women, gets marked as difficult to market and not worth the expensive production. Providing proper coverage of this content is critical in increasing viewership and demonstrating its place in the media landscape.

While some argue that social media provides a wider reach and allows for marketing directly to an audience, the sheer breadth of content on these platforms can make it difficult for smaller artists to stand out and gain visibility among the competition.

Entertainment news programs and papers are essential in fostering a national arts identity.

Whether it influences box office numbers and concert attendance or serves as a catalyst for social change, establishing a national arts identity creates a landscape in which a career in entertainment is viable for Canadians without having to leave the country. Their absence from the airwaves is bound to have far-reaching consequences on the entertainment industry and journalism as a whole in Canada.

Programs such as ET Canada are unassumingly valuable, offering Canadian artists a platform for exposure and the chance to nurture a distinct national identity.

Tribune Alumni Q&A Session Trivia Night at Gerts Washington Post designer Natalie Vineberg is a

A general trivia night presented by P[h]assion former Director with aPhoto secretEditor prizeand forCreative the winning teamatofThe five.

Tribune.

She buy will be virtually answering all of your RSVP and tickets online. burning questions and lending her expertise about the professional design Tuesday Nov. 30,world.

6 p.m.-9 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 7 6 Gerts Bar (3480p.m.

Rue McTavish) Tribune office (3480 rue McTavish suite 110); Zoom $10 per person Free

Concordia EPIC used book giveaway Browse through thousands of books and pick up to 20 with your $2 donation. Books are $1 each after. This giveaway is a ‘thank you’ for raising over $240,000 for Concordia students through the Concordia Book Fair over the past 20 years.

Wednesday, Nov 8, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

1400 De Maisonneuve Blvd. W. $2 donation

Pop-Up Writing Booth Quebec Writers’ Federation is celebrating 25 years of their Writing Matters campaign. Visit writers Licia Canton and Shelagh Plunkett at the pop-up booth where they will take on all writing requests from love poetry to business letters.

Wednesday, Nov. 8, 12 - 2 p.m.

Complexe Alexis Nihon (Mezzanine Level) (1500 Atwater Ave., Westmount) - Free

Inflammatory Earthling Rants (feat.

Kropotkin)

Bread and Puppet Theatre’s one-hour play includes a multitude of rants against the trash fire that is Western civilization and its incompetent governments. Come for the chaos, stay for the free sourdough bread and garlic aioli after the show!

Saturday, Nov. 11, 4 p.m. & 7 p.m.

4848 St Laurent Blvd - $22, tickets online

‘Delicate: Part One’ marks American Horror Story’s entrance into subdued horror.

The newest season of AHS sparks a return to compelling horror for the franchise.

Luke Smith Contributor Continued from page 1.

Spoilers for American Horror Story: Delicate Where previous seasons of the show began their first few episodes with mentions of the paranormal or fear-inducing horror, Delicate opts for a more subtle approach. The lack of in-your-face supernatural activity allows the season to build on an ominous unplaced anxiety. While the horror tactics that the show employed in the past have contributed to its success and acclaim, after 11 seasons, these same strategies become redundant and overplayed. Season 12 breaks this worn-out cycle and allows for a more ominous viewing experience. Despite the brief glimpses of satanic essence in the first few episodes, the viewer remains unsure of whether the protagonist is simply experiencing hallucinations or is truly a victim of demonic beings. In the later episodes, the unease culminates into a specified horror. While the alternate approach to this season may leave die-hard fans of American Horror Story unsatisfied, this refreshing take revitalizes the show for many viewers in a necessary manner.

In an era where right-wing fascists have waged war against women’s reproductive rights, this season presents itself as a timely commentary on women’s rights and their experiences during pregnancy. Delicate does an excellent job of portraying the heterosexual social focus on men throughout women’s pregnancies and the phenomenon of men viewing a woman’s body as a mere vessel for their child. Anna’s husband Dex Harding (Matt Czuchry) initially epitomizes the so-called ‘loving husband,’ but as the story progresses, he

brushes off Anna’s hardships, accrediting them to a grieving mother’s hallucinations. He exemplifies the faux progressive man who wishes to be seen as a ‘good guy’ but ultimately only sees his wife as a means to an end.

Not only does the pace of the show offer a revitalization, but the surprising acting performances lend an unexpected brilliance to this season. Emma Roberts brings her usual stunning abilities to the screen, offering a realistic take on a distressed and haunted woman. However, it is Kim Kardashian’s surprising performance which piques this season’s appeal. Most viewers expected Kim’s presence in this season to be merely a PR move to boost the show’s ratings. On the contrary, she acts as more than merely a celebrity making an appearance, presenting herself similarly to Lady Gaga’s feature in American Horror Story: Hotel where Gaga shocked audiences with her full-fledged performance. This rare example of admirable celebrity acting allows for Season 12 to adopt the same intrigue that Season Five did. Kim plays an unfabricated, almost alternate version of herself, bridging familiarity and fiction, leaving the viewer excited and yearning for more of her screen time. Although Kim’s performance is not to the quality of AHS veterans such as Jessica Lange, who starred in the first four seasons of the show, she has nonetheless impressed viewers with her rousing performance and many are claiming it to be Emmy-worthy.

American Horror Story: Delicate was evidently the change in direction the show needed to maintain its position as a horror classic. With its subdued horror approach, commentary on contemporary issues, and Kim Kardashian’s surprising performance, this season has the potential to return American Horror Story to its cult classic legacy.

American Horror Story: Delicate is available on FXNow. Part two will be released in 2024.

American Horror Story: Delicate - a fresh amalgamation of Danielle Valentine’s novel Delicate Condition and the 1968 horror movie classic, Rosemary’s Baby. (Irina Zhang / The Tribune)

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7 2023

scitech@mcgilltribune.com

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

11

Trib explains: Environment degrees at McGill

Environment students cover three different faculties and two campuses Elyse Dyck Contributor

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hat on Earth is going on with environment degrees at McGill?

There are numerous programs, spread across different departments and faculties, each with their own take on one of the most critical issues humanity is facing. While students in the Bieler School of Environment share core courses, they specialize in different areas under various faculties—Arts, Science, Agricultural and Environmental Science, or the Interfaculty Programs.

‘Environment’ is a broad term, and educational institutions often divide it simply into environmental science vs. environmental studies—the natural science approach and the social science approach. As many disciplines recognize the increasing relevance of the climate crisis, many science and humanities departments at McGill have broadened their focus to include discussions about the environment. However, environment majors explore these complex issues with much greater depth and employ multidisciplinary approaches.

Kathy Roulet, the Bieler School of Environment’s Program Advisor, helps students navigate the faculty’s seemingly limitless options to find a program that aligns with their individual interests.

“The Bieler School covers environmental science and environmental studies, but we don’t choose to define it that way,” Roulet said in an interview with The Tribune. “We choose to look at environment as comprising

both of those different elements.”

Regardless of their faculty, every environment major must take seven core courses that cover topics ranging from evolution and landscape formation to environmental ethics, thought, and research. Faculty members from different disciplines co-teach the core courses.

In an interview with The Tribune, Mia Bhatia, a U2 Environment student in the Faculty of Science, explained the value of diverse perspectives and approaches.

“It gives you a lot of context that a lot of science degrees might not,” Bhatia said. “After graduation, I want to work in biotechnology or something along those lines. I realized that a lot of people who are coming out of their undergrad [and] want to work in those fields don’t have the breadth of knowledge to see how environmental issues impact each other, and how easily the science side of things can impact the social side of thing—environment is a really cool way to explore that.”

That being said, the experiences of environment students are not the same. For starters, environment students can be on two different campuses. Those in the Faculty of Science or the Faculty of Arts—the majority of environment students—typically stay in the heart of Montreal on the downtown campus. However, a 35-minute shuttle away, students in the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Science enjoy the calmer scene of the Macdonald Campus, located on the West Island.

Environment majors in these three faculties choose from 13 thematic areas that form the bulk of their program.

“These thematic areas we call concentra-

tions,” Roulet said. “Those concentrations, say for example, food production, will be based on courses that are coming from faculties across the University.”

While the Arts concentrations are distinct, most Faculty of Science concentrations are also offered in the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Science. Roulet explained that students deciding between these faculties should compare course descriptions and consider the lifestyle associated with each campus given their size and location.

One exception to this are the Interfaculty Arts and Science Programs, which include two degree options: Environment and Sustainability, Science, and Society (SSS). While key

differences remain, students in both interfaculty programs do not choose concentrations.

“The difference between the [interfaculty programs] largely comes down to the SSS program being focused strictly and solely on sustainability,” said Roulet. “Whereas the Environment Art-Sci program can be focused on whatever program goals a student is trying to achieve.”

With so much flexibility, Roulet brought attention to the “trickiness” that some students may anticipate when developing a schedule, but ensured that she can work with students to put a plan together that not only fulfills the program’s requirements but also satisfies their unique interests and goals.

McGill Environment programs, founded in 1999, now comprise upwards of 350 students across different faculties and departments. (Mason Bramadat)

Statistics Canada researcher shares insights into Canadian heat waves

The latest Geospectives lecture explores impacts of and solutions to extreme heat Ella Paulin Science & Technology Editor

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atthew Quick, a research analyst at Statistics Canada, gave an insightful talk at McGill on Friday, Nov. 3, about the impacts of extreme heat across Canada and the many socio-economic factors that contribute to an individual’s vulnerability to these effects. He presented three of his recent studies, each illuminating a new facet of this complex issue.

Impacts of extreme heat on non-accidental, cardiovascular, and respiratory mortality 2000 to 2020 The first study presented by Quick has not yet been published, but is currently under review at Health Reports, a journal published by Statistics Canada. It examines the relationship between mortality and extreme heat events— defined as periods of two or more days of unusually high temperatures and humidity, along with minimal cooling during the night.

Quick explained that the majority of previous studies in Canada focused on single events rather than long-term patterns. His latest paper aims to address this gap in the research by surveying 12 major cities across Canada over two decades.

“Overall, 10 out of the 12 cities have higher mortality risks on extreme heat days compared to non-extreme heat days,” Quick said.

“For example, in Montreal, it’s about 9 or 10 per cent higher on extreme heat days.”

Additionally, he found that extreme heat events, such as the 2010 Quebec heat wave, had a greater impact on mortality among individuals aged 65 or older. Quick noted that, while this finding is important to note, it is not surprising.

“This is supported by lots of physiological research that says that older adults have less ability to dissipate heat, as well as that older adults are more likely to have underlying chronic health conditions,” Quick explained.

The prevalence of household air conditioning in Canada The second study, published in Health Reports, looks at one of the most critical tools for ensuring people’s safety during extreme heat events: Indoor air conditioning. While previous surveys have analyzed household use of air conditioning, Quick’s research goes to the individual level, exploring who exactly does and does not have access to this important technology.

He found that while 61 per cent of Canadians currently have air conditioning, several factors can affect how likely an individual is to have it in their home.

“The most important factor explaining this or differentiating from the 61 per cent is geography,” Quick said.

For example, while 85 per cent of Ontarians have air conditioning, only 58 per cent of Quebec residents do. Within these regions, the data also indicates that heat-vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, generally have air

conditioning access rates that align with the regional averages. However, several socioeconomic factors also stand out. “[If you have] less than a high school education, you’re about 10 percentage points less likely to have air conditioning. If you live alone, it’s similar,” Quick said. “And if you do not own a home, i.e. if you rented, you’re at 50 per cent, so one in two renters had air conditioning across Canada.”

prevalence of these centres across different neighbourhoods in major Canadian cities.

“The main takeaway here is this interesting pattern that we see in Montreal, in Toronto, and in Vancouver, where as we increase in residential instability, we increase in the likelihood that you’re going to have a cooling centre within a 15 minute walk of you.” Quick said. “In Montreal and Vancouver, the most deprived areas are much more likely to have access to a cooling centre than the least deprived areas.”

Exploring the associations between cooling centre accessibility and marginalization in Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver, Canada The final study, published in Canadian Geographies, focused on another way to combat the effects of extreme heat: Cooling centres. Cooling centres are publicly available locations such as libraries, community centres, and pools, that provide a variety of services, including water distribution and air-conditioned spaces.

“These air conditioned spaces allow people to go [...] and cool down temporarily, but they also facilitate social interaction and social support,” Quick explained.

Cooling centres are becoming increasingly critical spaces as extreme heat events become more common, so Quick endeavoured On Oct. 5, 2023, Montreal broke a heat record for the date, to analyze the accessibility and reaching 28 degrees Celsius. (Mason Bramadat)

12

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

scitech@mcgilltribune.com

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7 2023

The Neuro’s Killam Seminar Series explores inflammation in multiple sclerosis Magliozzi shares insights into the disease’s progression Yejin Lee Contributor

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he Killam Seminar Series hosted a seminar about inflammation in multiple sclerosis (MS) at The Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital (The Neuro) on Oct. 31. The seminar series invited Roberta Magliozzi, associate professor from the University of Verona, Italy, as part of The Neuro’s goal to bring in exceptional guest speakers from around the world.

MS is an autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation in the brain and spinal cord. The body’s own immune cells, including B cells and T cells, erroneously target and damage a fatty insulating substance called myelin, mistaking it for a foreign invader.

“Most of the [inflammatory] cells we found were in the stroma [located in the centre of bones, i.e. bone marrow]. The only cells we found within the blood vessels [were] granulocytes and neutrophils,” Magliozzi said. “Our idea is that the inflammation persists in some niches [...] hiding in the brain, especially in the progressive forms.”

Myelin is a material that wraps around and electrically insulates axons—the long, thin extensions of neurons responsible for transmitting information within the brain and the spinal cord. MS-associated myelin damage, along with direct injury to the neurons themselves, leads to a range of distressing symptoms, including changes in sensory perception, movement, and cognition.

The average age of MS diagnosis typically falls around 43, although the onset can occur anywhere between the ages of

20 and 50. Alarmingly, Canada has one of the highest MS diagnosis rates worldwide, with over 90,000 people living with the disease, meaning nearly one in every 400 Canadians has received an MS diagnosis.

Magliozzi’s research centres on investigating the immunopathological mechanisms underlying MS. Her primary aim is identifying intersecting pathways of the nervous and immune systems, as well as potential biomarkers associated with the progression of MS. The ultimate goal is to enable early detection and intervention and to personalize treatment strategies that could slow or halt the progress of the disease. Magliozzi emphasized the central role of inflammation in MS. “Inflammation is consistently associated with chronic neuronal degeneration,” Magliozzi said.

Although recovery of the damaged myelin and the axons can occur during the early stages of the disease, MS reaches a ‘progressive’ stage as relapses occur, during which neurons experience irreversible loss of function, leading to deteriorating symptoms over time.

One of Magliozzi’s pivotal findings revealed that patients with meningeal inflammation, which affects the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, and an early disease onset, tend to experience early disability onset.

“We found that progression with meningeal information and early age of onset [translates to patients having] a short disease duration and they also die early,” Magliozzi said.

Researchers from the University of Vienna, Austria, and the Mayo Clinic in the United States, validated this groundbreaking discovery using biopsy samples

that demonstrated the presence of elevated meningeal inflammation and severe pathology in the cerebral cortex.

“We have now examined many MS cases in the UK, MS tissue bank, and this has started being validated by other groups,” Magliozzi said.

Magliozzi’s work also showed that MS lesions—areas affected by the disease—tend to cluster around the ventricles and that the onset and progression of MS are associated with increased levels of fibrinogen. Fibrinogen, a clotting factor, triggers microglia—the brain’s immune cells—leading to heightened inflammation. In one of the graphs illustrating these findings, neurons and microglia contain a significant concentration of fibrinogen.

“There is a high correlation between neuronal loss or axon loss and microglial activation. So, this means that there is a strong association between these phenomena,” Magliozzi explained. “And then there is this very elegant study from a Dutch and UK group, where they showed that the meningeal inflammation in MS induces [...] not only activation but also phenotypic changes in vertebral microglia, which is then directly associated with increased neural degeneration.”

While a definitive prevention or cure for the disease is yet to be discovered, the unwavering dedication of researchers and healthcare professionals brings us closer to a future where MS may no longer be a lifealtering diagnosis.

According to MS Canada, 12 new people get diagnosed with MS in Canada every day. (Solenne Trequesser / The Tribune)

studentlife@mcgilltribune.com

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7 2023

STUDENT LIFE

13

First date jitters: Happily ever after’s archnemesis Some simple tips for easing your first-date nerves Sophie Naasz Contributor

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fter a frantic week of tricks and treats, we’re tucking away our costumes and throwing out our carved pumpkins that have rotted overnight. A light cover of frost blankets the city daily, trying to insulate the cold streets against what’s to come. It’s that time of year again when I pull out my fluffy blankets, avoid my schoolwork, and binge the latest cheesy romcoms Netflix has to offer. While dreaming of meet-cutes and improbable couples, it’s hard not to notice the empty spot on the couch next to you. We all want that fairytale romance or at the least someone to get hot cocoa with during the cold winter months; but first, we must face the greatest foe in the dating world: First-date jitters.

We all get them—that small sense of panic mixed with excitement. The hectic looped thoughts of “Will I do something stupid?” or “What if I have nothing to say?” Or how about the five outfits you lay out on your bed because you can’t decide on what to wear? As ideal as happily ever after looks in the movies, let me tell you, I was never warned as a kid that I’d first have to live through painfully awkward first dates—such false advertising!

Luckily, as intimidating as a first date can seem, it doesn’t have to be all that un-

nerving. To start with, choose a relatively casual date activity. Meeting for coffee is a classic go-to because it conveniently has no time restraint. You can stay for 30 minutes and dash out on a bad date, or you can chat for two hours with the newfound apple of your eye. The everpresent buttery smell of pastries and the tart of coffee can’t hurt the vibes. Pick your favourite café—somewhere you feel comfortable, and you can sink into some plush chairs— and just relax and get to know each other.

However, if a caffeine-heavy date is not your cup of tea, try planning an easy outing like thrifting or going to a museum.

Having things to do reduces the pressure to strike up a fascinating conversation and gives you the chance to express your personality through actions.

After you’ve planned out an acute activity or café visit, and you’ve finally managed to leave the house in the fifth Prep yourself—with almost 40,000 people at McGill, you’re bound to have at least a few first outfit you’ve tried on, it’s time to put on a dates! (Mia Helfrich / The Tribune) smile and be yourself—easy, right? But, it doesn’t feel so simple when you’re sitting you love—you’ll find conversation flows you’re just getting to know each other. across from someone new who’s making easier when you’re both sharing what you Maybe your personalities don’t click or intensely awkward eye contact. My best value. you have no common interests. If so, tip: Don’t put too much pressure on yourRemember that you’re an intriguing don’t fret! Even if they’re just not the self in a conversation. If it’s not intriguing person. If the person across from you person for you, you’ve at least got some or the flow feels off, that’s okay, maybe showed up and also went through the first-date experience under your belt. In this first date is not meant to be anything jitters of getting ready and facing a first this way, first dates are casual because more than a funny story for your next date, they must want to listen to what not much is riding on them, so don’t one. In general, though, try to talk about you have to say. When it comes down to overthink it! Second dates, however, I things you’re passionate about or things it, a first date is nothing to stress over— can’t help you with.

Sweet and savoury apple recipes to spice up your fall Fun ways to use up leftover apples from your orchard haul K. Coco Zhang Contributor

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ranny Smith, Fuji, Honey Crisp, Jonagold, Jonathan, Gala, Golden Delicious, Braeburn, Cortland—there are countless apple varieties waiting to be found at the orchard each fall.

After some apple picking and a little time in the kitchen, make the most of fall’s favourite fruit with these scrumptious apple recipes.

For those with a sweet tooth: Apple Cake Apple, cinnamon, and walnuts are brought together for a moist and delicious cake. This recipe is perfect as a fall treat when served with a generous scoop of ice cream or as an on-the-go breakfast when paired with a smear of nut butter.

Ingredients: • ½ cup of softened butter • 1 cup of sugar • 2 eggs • ¼ tsp of vanilla extract • 1 ¼ cups of all-purpose flour • 1 tsp of baking soda • 1 tsp of ground cinnamon • ¼ tsp of salt • 2 medium apples, peeled and shredded

• •

½ cup of walnuts, chopped (optional) 1 quart of vanilla ice cream (optional)

Steps: 1. Preheat the oven to 350°F Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray a nine-inch round cake pan with baking spray.

2. In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy.

3. Add in the eggs, one at a time.

Stir in the vanilla extract, allpurpose flour, baking soda, ground cinnamon, salt, apples, and walnuts (to your taste).

4. Mix until combined, and transfer to the cake pan.

5. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean.

6. Let the cake cool for 10 minutes in the pan, then remove it from the pan to a rack to cool for another 10 minutes. Serve warm with the ice cream (optional).

7. Leftovers can be frozen in an airtight container or sealable plastic bag for up to three months.

For those with a savoury tooth: Apple Walnut Salad Packed with sweet apples, crunchy walnuts, tangy cranberries, refreshing spinach, and earthy quinoa, this simple yet flavourful salad will certainly become a regular on your dining table this fall.

2.

Ingredients: • 1 cup of quinoa, uncooked • 2 cups of water • 2 cups of spinach, roughly chopped • 1 cup of walnuts, roughly chopped • 1 ½ cups of apples, diced • ¼ cup of dried cranberries • ¼ cup of red onion, finely chopped • 3 tbsp of olive oil • 2 tbsp of apple cider vinegar • 1 tbsp of maple syrup • 2 tsp of Dijon mustard • ½ tsp of salt • ¼ tsp of black pepper

5.

Steps: 1. Place the quinoa in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Toast until the seeds start to pop and become aromatic.

3.

4.

6.

Add 2 cups of water to the quinoa. Bring to a boil, then turn down the heat to low.

Cover and simmer the quinoa for 15 minutes, then remove from the heat.

Keep the quinoa covered for an additional 10 minutes, then fluff with a fork. Season with salt if needed.

To make the salad dressing, whisk together the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper.

In a bowl, add the cooked quinoa, spinach, walnuts, apples,

7.

8.

9.

dried cranberries, and red onion.

Pour the dressing on top. Stir gently to combine. Serve at room temperature or chilled.

Apple Walnut Salad is best enjoyed fresh. Leftovers can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for two-three days.

If not serving right away, store the dressing in a separate container in the fridge.

These recipes were adapted from Betty Crocker’s Homemade Apple Cake and Yumna Jawad’s Apple Walnut Salad.

The science of apple growing is called pomology.

(Wilder McNutt / The Tribune)

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STUDENT LIFE

studentlife@mcgilltribune.com

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7 2023

Are dumb phones a smart move?

Why some students are flipping to productivity this exam season Sofia Gobin Contributor

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growing number of young adults are making the shift away from using smartphones in favour of “dumb,” or flip, phones. Some students make this transition only during exam periods, while others have committed to using these devices full-time. Despite the prevailing belief that the flip phone market has flatlined in the face of advancing technology, some students have found the value in these simpler phones.

During his winter finals last year, Thomas Bolder, U2 Science, transitioned to a flip phone. Initially, not having access to music or podcasts on the go was an adjustment, and the experience of walking or waiting in silence was jarring. “[Waking up without my phone] felt strange at first, but really helped with productivity,” Bolder said in an interview with The Tribune. “I don’t think it’s something you can do forever, especially when meeting new people or looking to develop any new relationships,” he ex-

plained, as he’s noticed that social media apps are usually the primary mode of communication and networking in university.

While the flip phone was impractical for certain tasks, Bolder found that his work ethic improved as he could focus for longer periods. As such, he recommends using a flip phone for those who want to be more productive and want a break from the overstimulation of social media.

Alex Miller, U2 Arts and Science, agreed with Bolder, but noted that he hasn’t been able to personally make the switch.

“I would miss my mobile games and TikTok,” he said. “I find my current phone super addicting but I find it too hard to go entire days without taking breaks.”

Marcel Goh, who is in the first year of a Ph.D. in Mathematics, switched to a flip phone in April 2021 and has stuck with it. Goh was largely motivated by the steep repair costs associated with Apple devices and a desire to break free from the relentless and expensive Apple product upgrade cycle.

Goh viewed it as a “challenge of seeing if [he] could survive without a smartphone.”

In the initial days without smartphones, Bolder and Goh experienced some unease, as they weren’t used to not having a constant distraction. This intensified with the social expectation to stay plugged in. As university students, they feel the need for phones and social media to communicate and socialize.

Goh relies on his dumb phone for emergencies and talking to friends. On some days, he won’t bring his phone with him altogether and relies on strangers for directions and his laptop for making plans. In the past, Goh used his smartphone to read academic papers and assignment questions while outside, but this convenience is no longer available. Nevertheless, he has been able to read a significantly greater number of non-school-related books, marking a new personal hobby for him.

But what if productivity isn’t the endgoal? Goh notes that his stress levels have decreased since he no longer receives school-related notifications

Basic dumbphones can be found for under $100, a fraction of the cost of modern smartphones. (Eirik Solheim / unsplash.com)

while on the move. Despite the initial challenges, he encourages anyone who has ever contemplated giving up their smartphone to take the leap.

“If you’ve ever thought about ditching your smartphone for whatever reason, I would say just go for it,” he said. “If you’ve never felt the need to get a flip phone, then I’m not going to convince you you should.”

Goh suggests that those making the switch always carry a book or notebook when going out. This way, they can engage in reading or

doodling to make waiting for appointments or transit less monotonous.

With smartphones and social media so deeply ingrained in our daily routines, transitioning to a dumb phone may present the digital detox necessary for focusing on exams and schoolwork.

So, as midterms conclude and finals loom on the horizon, perhaps it’s worth considering whether to downgrade your smartphone to a dumb phone in order to maximize your productivity.

Bar des Arts: To drink or not to drink Exploring the enigmatic appeal of the Leacock Basement Monique Kasonga Opinion Editor Sofia Stankovic Design Editor

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ave you ever tried describing the appeal of Bar des Arts (BdA) to a non-McGillian, only to be faced with the realization that its allure is absurd? No off-campus bar has BdA’s signature fluorescent lighting. On top of that, Montreal nightlife venues typically have places where you can sit and enjoy your drink—seating that is less limited than the weirdly placed and mysteriously stained couches in BdA (have they checked them for bed$1 drinks and grilled cheese are served up every Thursday in the bugs?).

Arts Lounge (Bar des Arts) The average BdA-goer will undoubtedly face a line, bringing passersby to wonder, “What concert into a room in a basement doesn’t allow for decent could all these people be waiting for?” Unfortu- air circulation. The place is scorching, and don’t nately, no concert will be taking place. In fact, good expect it to feel any better once the winter months music might not even be on the night’s agenda. What hit. To make matters worse, in the winter, students awaits those lining up in the Leacock basement at all wear coats to get there. This leaves the entrance 5 p.m. on a Thursday is… another line, where they of BdA barricaded with hundreds of jackets—a true wait to purchase tickets for drinks, after which they struggle for those trying to distinguish which black will face another line that becomes more cutthroat, as puffer could possibly be theirs. Unless you hope to everyone tries to push to the “bar” and get their cups wait in a never-ending line, overheat in a basement, filled with cold(ish) beers. Don’t forget to add on and possibly lose your coat this winter, you probably the wait for the most mediocre grilled cheese you’ve don’t need to check BdA off your McGill bucket list. ever tasted. Maybe you’ll be lucky enough to bump While there are clearly some deterrents to atinto someone you know while waiting—only to be tending, science can’t explain the serotonin that one unable to have a conversation at a normal volume gets from drinking a lukewarm beer in the Leacock due to the ten other conversations happening next to basement. Picture this: It’s a gloomy Thursday at you, paired with some shoving.

5:30 p.m., you’ve just aced the “How Not to Pass a BdA also has a major temperature problem. This Midterm” exam, and you’ve practically taken up percould be because having hundreds of students packed manent residence on campus since the crack of dawn.

What’s your go-to plan? If you’re a dedicated patron, you strut your woes down to the Leacock basement.

The early start makes it convenient and low commitment. If you’re going to a party later, BdA is the ideal place to be before the pre starts. If you want more excitement, you can head to Gerts and catch some live music, but if not, you can go straight to bed and make it to your 8:30 the next morning no problem.

Now, let’s talk about the better aspects of the ambiance. When do you think it’s easier to strike up a conversation with a stranger: When you’re sober and dressed like a regular human, or when you’re balancing two ciders and dressed like Sue Sylvester?

BdA’s themes will make you smile entering Leacock, which is a rarity. Students can dress up and listen to music related to the weekly theme, and no worries if you don’t remember anything—you can catch pictures of yourself by the BdA photographers on their Google Drive. Moreover, the basement isn’t just fun for patrons; the BdA staff enjoy a sense of community and fulfillment. U2 staff member Campbell Graham says, “There’s nowhere else I would rather be on a Thursday night.”

It’s clear that McGill faces a challenge concerning ‘third places,’ or environments that foster social interaction and communal engagement among its student body. Consequently, this deficiency has contributed to the popularity of on-campus establishments like BdA, Blues, or 4 à 7. More than the allure of reasonably priced beverages, the enticing prospect of partaking in on-campus revelry draws students to these locales. While the lines, the sweatiness, and the “where’s my coat?” may give us pause, you know where we’ll be next Thursday.

sports@mcgilltribune.com

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7 2023

SPORTS

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The NHL needs to stop embarrassing itself The Senators’ Dadonov punishment illustrates where the league’s priorities lie Tillie Burlock Managing Editor

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n Oct. 24, the National Hockey League (NHL) reversed its draconian decision to ban Pride tape after months of public outcry from fans and players alike, concluding one of the most embarrassing months of public relations for a professional sports league to date. The entire endeavour was a lost cause from the get-go; yet, the league cannot seem to stop digging itself in deeper, turning to the Ottawa Senators to further establish itself as an unserious sports league.

The NHL announced on Nov. 1 that the Senators would be stripped of a firstround draft pick in either 2024, 2025, or 2026 for their role in the nullified Evgenii Dadonov trade by the Vegas Golden Knights in 2022. Ottawa will have 48 hours after the draft lottery to decide if they will forfeit the pick that year. In the days after, the Senators fired General Manager Pierre Dorion, and many fans were left wondering: Why the harsh penalty?

The Senators signed Dadonov in 2020 to a three-year contract. As part of the deal, they granted him a 10-team notrade clause. Dadonov was supposed to alert management of the 10 teams on his list by July 1, 2021. However, on July 28, 2021, the Senators traded Dadonov to the Golden Knights. The trade was allowed as Vegas was not on Dadonov’s list.

The thing about no-trade clauses is that they are not public information. Teams do not share players’ no-trade lists with the NHL’s Central Registry Department, which is responsible for maintaining all player information, putting the onus on teams for transparency.

The Golden Knights then attempted to trade Dadonov to the Anaheim Ducks in March 2022 in a clear move to free up salarycap space––a whole other league-wide issue.

However, the NHL nullified the trade within 48 hours as the Ducks were on Dadanov’s notrade list. Amid the confusion, Vegas claimed to have not known about the list, shifting the blame onto the Senators.

Unable to free up cap space, the Golden Knights missed the playoffs in 2022––albeit for a number of reasons, not just their inability to trade Dadonov. Yet, it was not until Oct. 30, 2023––18-months later––that the league revealed that they had opened an investigation into the Senators.

During the time between the initial infraction and now, Ottawa came under new ownership, with the team being sold to former Montreal Canadiens minority owner Michael Andlauer in June 2023. While Andlauer should have done his due diligence prior to purchasing the team, his public comments have led many to speculate that he was not made aware of his liability in this case before closing the sale.

Moreover, Andlauer has critiqued the leagues’ lack of transparency around the investigation and efforts by the NHL “to make sure the seller got the best price possible.”

Ultimately, whether or not the punishment is warranted is conjecture.

The league had to instill trust in the Central Registry and ensure that teams understood that their bureaucratic errors would not go unpunished. Regardless, the question many are asking is not whether the Senators should be punished; rather, it is a question of where the leagues’ priorities are. The Chicago Blackhawks were given a measly slap on the wrist in the form of a two million USD fine in response to an organization-wide sexual assault scandal. Chicago was not stripped of a draft pick for this “inadequate internal procedure,” as the league called

it, but were instead gifted a generational first-overall pick in Connor Bedard.

Ultimately, it is hard to take the NHL as a serious league for several reasons.

Commissioner Gary Bettman denies the connection between chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and playing ice hockey. Numerous players accused of sexual assault are still on active rosters. Teams are not allowed to promote social causes through specialty jerseys, and the league just tried to ban goddamn rainbow tape. If it wants to remain competitive with the likes of other professional sports leagues in North America, the NHL needs to get it together because frankly, this is just getting embarrassing.

In the same week the Senators were stripped of a first-rounder, Shane Pinto, unsigned Ottawa Senator, was suspended 41 games for violating the leagues’ gambling policy (Matthew Fournier / unsplash.com)

Know Your Athlete: Elizabeth Ling Outstanding student and athlete extraordinaire, Elizabeth Ling sat down with The Tribune.

Julie Ferreyra Sports Editor

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urrently a senior in civil engineering, Elizabeth Ling has been making waves in the McGill Swim Team since her freshman year. Although The Tribune had already sat down and interviewed Ling in 2021, her recent achievements compelled an encore, reflecting on her experience and motivation as a senior.

Growing up in Calgary, Ling played a wide variety of sports. Ultimately, she took up swimming. From then on, Ling continued to participate in swimming clubs and then pursued the sport more competitively. At 15, Ling shifted from her first club, the Calgary Patriots Swim Club, to the University of Calgary Swim Club, which spurred her to challenge herself and compete.

“With my first club, it was kind of chill [...], I wasn’t really pushed there,” Elizabeth Ling told The Tribune. “I moved to a different club and they had higher expectations for you to try harder and practice and stuff like that.”

After nine years of swimming at the competitive club level, Ling transitioned to the McGill Swim Team as she began her university career. Despite making her debut as a freshman during the 2020-21 COVID-19 season, Ling noted the stronger emphasis on team identity at McGill.

“It wasn’t a crazy big shift, but it is quite different from club swimming where you’re swimming more for the team and not just yourself anymore,” Ling explained.

“There’s a bigger community within that [McGill] team which is really nice to have.”

This year, first-year students compose around half of the Marlets’ swim team. The McGill team has been particularly successful in recent meets, winning first place at every event at the first Cup of the 2023-24 season.

“It’s nice to see how the team environment changes every year with graduating students and rookies,” Ling said. “We’ve got a really good bunch of rookies this year, some of them are really fast and they all bring their best effort and attitude to the workouts [...] The team environment is really good every year, but this year, especially, everyone’s having a lot of fun.”

Attending and performing in competitions all around Quebec and Ontario while working to complete her civil engineering bachelor’s degree is a significant time commitment for Ling.

“I feel like you kind of have to make sacrifices for both.

But my coach was really understanding if you need to take a day off for swimming, or you have a midterm and you need to study or something,” Ling explained. “[During meets] you have to swim three events and probably a relay, which is twice as much [as in high school club swimming]. So that’s kind of difficult, but I like it a lot better because you’re only racing for one day rather than an entire weekend..”

Ling emphasized her need for growth and her desire to continue with sports recreationally, even when her swimming career comes to a close.

“I just really want to have a good season this year and maybe get some personal best, help the team maybe get to [...] [place] third at USPORTS this year,” Ling explained. “I think my time with swimming is coming to an end, this year or next year. I’d be down to try badminton or something. ” Ling has been named McGill athlete of the week twice and Réseau de Sport Etudiants au Québec (RSEQ) athlete of the week once since the beginning of the 2023-24 season.

Last year, Ling pushed new boundaries by establishing McGill’s new 50-m back record.

However, with great performance comes great pressure—something Ling has struggled with throughout her swimming career.

Ling explained that her greatest strength lies underwater, in her apprehension of the walls and turns.

(Matt Garies / McGill Athletics) “It helps, knowing that I’m just sort of in it for the fun of it,” Ling reflected. “I really like racing, knowing that I [achieved] that time before, it helps. I did it before, so I can do it again. It just helps with practice and knowing that I’ve been trying my best during practice and putting in the work. It doesn’t really matter what I do, if I’m happy with my time and perform well then it’s alright. [...] [Now that] I’m older, it’s sort of, ‘why be upset about it and why stress about it, because it won’t help me in any way.’ ” Ling is making the most out of her last season as a varsity athlete, enjoying the community brought by the team while still performing at impressive levels, constantly surpassing herself.

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SPORTS

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7 2023

sports@mcgilltribune.com

FIFA dropped the ball with the 2023 Ballon d’Or Logistical undersights underscored the spot-on award choices Anoushka Oke Sports Editor

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ach year, professional soccer players’ achievements culminate in the Ballon d’Or ceremony. At the event, invitees witness the presentation of the Ballon d’Or––the most prestigious award in soccer. Considering both national team and club accomplishments, the best player from the past year receives the Ballon d’Or. This year’s celebration took place on Oct. 30 in Paris, and the winners were Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi and F.C. Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmatí. Although the Ballon d’Or ceremony serves as an exciting occasion that publicly recognizes players’ achievements, FIFA’s poor planning of the women’s portion of the event soured the tone.

Messi’s Ballon d’Or win was somewhat expected. He not only captained the Argentinian national team to the 2022 World Cup title––a tournament in which he created the most chances of any player and scored seven goals––but also almost single-handedly helped bring Inter Miami from a struggling team at the bottom of Major League Soccer’s Eastern Conference to a Leagues Cup winner and an Open Cup finalist. Although runner-up Erling Haaland’s goal tally since joining Manchester City is impressive, getting on the scoresheet with the help of brilliant chance-creators like Kevin De Bruyne

and Bernardo Silva is very different from building up a low-ranked team.

The women’s Ballon d’Or winner, Barcelona’s Bonmatí, was even more clear-cut than Messi—and rightfully so.

On the 2023 World Cup-winning Spain squad, she stepped up in the absence of Spanish star Alexia Putellas and was recognized as the tournament’s best player with the Golden Ball. The midfielder has also been a significant contributor to the record-breaking F.C. Barcelona side that had a 62-game win streak until May of this year. Despite being surrounded by a strong team, Bonmatí’s abilities still clearly stand out, and her talent goes beyond the measure of her 94 career goals. The rest of the women’s rankings were equally star-studded, featuring Samantha Kerr as the runner-up and Mary Earps and Rachel Daly in the top ten.

Outside of the solid nominations and eventual ranking, the women’s Ballon d’Or ceremony left much to be desired.

Scheduling and logistical choices made it seem that women athletes were just an afterthought in the grand scheme of the ceremony.

Several winners and nominees were not even present to receive their awards.

The ceremony was scheduled during the women’s international break, the time during which players compete with their national teams. This forced many athletes to choose between attending

the ceremony and helping their country qualify for the 2024 Olympics––which features the main national team in women’s soccer, rather than the U-20 teams like the men’s tournament––with many athletes not even permitted to attend as a result. When considering how prestigious both the award and the ceremony are, and the amount of annual attention and preparation it receives, this was extremely careless planning.

A Ballon d’Or ceremony would never happen during a men’s international break, especially if the international matches were important qualifiers for a tournament.

Soccer legend David Beckham, the president of Messi’s club, Inter Miami, presented the men’s Ballon D’Or. The choice seemed meaningful and personal––it was clear that the pick was intentional. Bonmatí, on the other hand, was presented her award by the much more underwhelming choice of Novak Djokovic. FIFA was apparently not only unable to get one of the many legendary female soccer players to present the award––someone like Christine Sinclair or Abby Wambach––but also failed to delegate the task to a female athlete in general. Djokovic has no connection whatsoever with women’s soccer and has actively denounced equal pay for women athletes. The choice was not only incredibly lazy but extremely

Redbirds Baseball: RSEQ Finals @ UQTR best of three series Nov. 2: L 8-6 & W 14-4 Nov. 4: L 10-8 Martlets Basketball: Nov. 2: W 71-47 at UQÀM Redbirds Basketball: Nov. 2: L 59-71 at UQÀM Redbirds Lacrosse: Baggataway Cup Nov. 3: W 9-8 vs. Guelph (Quarter-final) Nov. 4: W 10-8 vs. Carleton (Semi-final) Nov 5: L 4-7 vs. Western (Finals) Martlets Volleyball: Nov. 3: W 3-0 (25-16, 25-19, 25-12) vs. UQÀC Nov. 5: L 1-3 (22-25, 23-25, 2514, 19-25) vs. Ottawa

Nominated players are ranked by a panel of journalists from countries of the top 100 national teams. (Sofia Stankovic / The Tribune) disrespectful to women’s sports as a whole.

For the women’s game to grow and for female soccer players to be treated with the respect they deserve, equitable treatment needs to start at the top of FIFA. There is no excuse for treating these women as a mere accessory to the main event of men’s soccer.

Martlets Hockey: Nov. 3: L 2-4 vs. Bishops Nov. 5: L 6-1 UdeM Redbirds Hockey: Nov. 3: W 6-3 at RMC Nov. 4: W 4-3 at Queen’s