Volume 107, Issue 1 by McGill Daily

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Published by The Daily Publications Society, a student society of McGill The McGill Daily is located on unceded Kanien’kehá:ka territory.

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Welcome to the 2017-18 school year!

Own a piece of the McGill Daily and Le Délit’s history! The Daily Publications Society is looking to sell some of its iMac 7.1 production computers at a reduced price. For technical specifications and pricing, contact addesign@dailypublications.org ! Photo: Rudolf Schuba

WELCOME

September 5, 2017 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

Welcome to a new school year!

5 Editorial 6 McGill’s secret history 7 Francophonie on campus 8 A guide to SSMU 9 McGill’s power structures 10 Local food & fun 12 Activism on campus 13 Accessibility services 14 Fighting sexual violence at McGill 15 Emergency services 16 In case you missed it 18 International news 19 Compendium!

nd we’re back! Somehow summer is already over, it’s distressingly chilly, and a brand new crop of first-year students is trying to puzzle out the difference between the McConnell and the MacDonald buildings before their first classes. It’s a hectic time - we might even say a disorienting one - but fear not! The Daily is here to guide you through the trials and tribulations of yet another year at McGill. In this very special issue, you’ll find everything from how to make your voice heard in campus politics, to how to learn some French beyond “bonjour-hi,” to where to go for an amazing night on the town. We’ve also included some recaps of important stories you might have missed over the summer, both locally and internationally. Before you dive in, allow us to introduce ourselves: we’re The Daily’s editorial board, a group of students so committed to providing you with rad alternative journalism that we routinely spend ill-advised amounts of time in our windowless basement office (conveniently located across from Gerts in the SSMU building). We have an anti-oppressive mandate, meaning we cover stories the mainstream media often ignores, and we try to provide a platform for marginalized voices. If this sounds like something you might like to get involved in, shoot us an email at coordinating@mcgilldaily. com, or at one of the section emails on page five. No previous experience is necessary, so whether you love making art, you’re a committed politics junkie, or you have opinions you’re burning to share with the world, we’d love to hear from you! —The McGill Daily editorial board

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EDITORIAL

Volume 107 Issue 1

editorial board

3480 McTavish St., Rm. B-24 Montreal, QC H3A 0G3 phone 514.398.6784 fax 514.398.8318 mcgilldaily.com

The McGill Daily is located on unceded Kanien’kehá:ka territory. coordinating editor

Inori Roy

Anti-fascists cannot be compared to the Nazis they fight

coordinating@mcgilldaily.com managing editor

Marina Cupido coordinating news editor

Rayleigh Lee

news editor

Nora McCready

commentary & compendium! editor

Jude Khashman culture editor

Caroline Macari

features editor

Vita Azaro

science + technology editor

Tony Feng

sports editor

Louis Sanger multimedia editor

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Mahaut Engerant

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Mathieu Ménard

dps board of directors

Yves Boju, Marc Cataford (Chair), Marina Cupido, Mahaut Engerant, Ikram Mecheri, Taylor Mitchell, Inori Roy, Boris Shedov, Rahma Wiryomartono, Xavier Richer Vis, All contents © 2017 Daily Publications Society. All rights reserved. The content of this newspaper is the responsibility of The McGill Daily and does not necessarily represent the views of McGill University. Products or companies advertised in this newspaper are not necessarily endorsed by Daily staff. Printed by Imprimerie Transcontinental Transmag. Anjou, Quebec. ISSN 1192-4608.

n the weeks since the events of Charlottesville, Virginia, where a Nazi murdered one peaceful counter-protester and injured 19 others, activists and allies have been confronting white supremacists across North America. But even as the far right has had to cancel dozens of rallies in the face of an outpouring of anti-fascist resistance, many centrists and liberals have roundly condemned the actions of the very people scaring racists off the streets. A slew of thinkpieces have appeared in the mainstream media, arguing that anti-fascists - or “antifa” - are just as violent as those they claim to oppose, and are actually empowering the far right by supposedly “fighting hate with hate”. On the contrary, anti-facists are putting their bodies on the line to fight for survival, human rights, and an end to oppression, while the far right relentlessly attacks people of colour. Now more than ever, we must refuse to legitimise racism, whether it’s being expressed by torch-wielding Nazis or by groups who disguise their bigotry as mere “free speech.” First and foremost, we as a society must recognize that racist rhetoric is a form of violence, and that as such, giving racists space to express their ideas enables violence. The idea that the public sphere becomes healthier when anti-oppressive and oppressive messages are given equal space also presumes that these two sides have the same social value, but this is plainly untrue. White supremacy has inflicted immense pain and oppression upon racialised people the world over, and should never be given room to exist and grow. Moreover, the idea that by denying racists “free speech,” anti-fascists are setting a precedent that could

backfire against oppressed communities is a fallacy. We already live in a world where Black Lives Matter is routinely met with a level of police violence rarely faced by white protesters, where environmental activists are monitored by the state, and where expressing anger at the ethnic cleansing of Palestine can get you fired. At a recent racist “free speech” rally in Boston, white supremacists were quietly escorted away in police vehicles when the event was cut short by counterprotests; meanwhile, nearby in Quebec City, police heavily tear-gassed counter-protesters before protecting a far right demonstration against immigration. Finally, we must remember that McGill is not immune to the resurgence of violent white supremacy in the public sphere. Last year, Islamophobic, homophobic, and white supremacist flyers were posted around campus on several occasions. Titled “tired of anti-white propaganda?”, the flyers were premised on the notion that white supremacy was necessary to counterbalance progressive activism on campus. Universities can be valuable forums for political debate and social change, but only if we as a student body are uncompromising in our rejection of toxic ideas. Treating the racist far right like a legitimate political movement deserving of a public platform only makes them stronger. Fighting them in the streets does the opposite: it reminds them that every far right rally will be met with a dozen counter-protests, and every act of violence will be met with resistance. —The McGill Daily editorial board

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HISTORY

September 5, 2017 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

mcgill’s secret history the stuff your school doesn’t want you to know...

Content warning: colonisation, slavery

Occupying Tio’tià:ke

eople have lived on what is now called the Island of Montreal for eight millennia. In Kanien’kéha, the Mohawk language, the island is known as Tio’tià:ke. Prior to the arrival of French fur traders and missionaries in the mid-sixteenth century, the land on which McGill sits was home to the fortified village of Hochelaga. An estimated population of 3000 St. Lawrence Iroquoians lived there, but they soon disappeared as a result of local conflicts sparked by European colonization. Today, little remains of the St. Lawrence Iroquoians. McGill’s only official memorial to them is the Hochelaga Rock, located on Lower Field across from the statue of James McGill. After the destruction of Hochelaga, Tio’tià:ke was inhabited by the Kanien’kehá:ka (‘People of the Flint,’ also known as ‘Mohawk’). They are a founding member of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, an alliance that unites several Indigenous nations in the region of the St. Lawrence Valley. In the centuries following the arrival of the first European colonists, the Kanien’kehá:ka (like countless other Indigenous peoples) have been systematically marginalized and subjected to cultural genocide by the emerging Canadian state. Nevertheless, they continue to actively preserve their cultural heritage, ancestral territory, and political autonomy, despite ongoing colonial violence. The land our campus occupies was never officially ceded by its original inhabitants. That’s why, several organizations, including the Daily, open their meetings by acknowledging that we live and work on the traditional territory of the Kanien’kehá:ka

Founded on anti-Black violence

his hallowed institution was founded in 1821, thanks to a bequest from one James McGill, a Scottish businessman who had come to North America as a young man in order to pursue a career in the fur trade. McGill achieved considerable success in this line of work, a fact noted approvingly on our university’s website. What the site fails to mention, is that he later diversified his business to deal in lucrative plantation goods from the Caribbean - goods that were produced through slave labour. In other words, the fortune on which our school was founded was partly built on the backs of enslaved Black people. McGill had also participated in the slave trade himself on at least two separate occasions. Additionally, after endorsing a parliamentary bill that would have abolished slavery, he voted against it in 1793. In addition to profiting from the slave trade both directly and indirectly, McGill also held between four and five personal slaves. This may come as a surprise to those unaccustomed to thinking of slavery as part of Canadian history; in fact, it was only abolished in 1834. Quebec’s local economy didn’t depend on slavery, so for people like McGill, holding slaves was essentially a mark of status and privilege. Thanks to the erasure of Black and Indigenous stories from Canadian history, the identities of the people enslaved by McGill are not fully known. We do know, however, that they included women named Louise and Sarah. No memorials or statues of them stand on our campus.

Anti-gentrification activism next door

f you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you know someone who lives east of campus between University and Parc. Maybe you even live there yourself, passing The Word every day on your way to class and writing essays at Milton B late into the night. Either way, you’ve probably heard this neighbourhood referred to as “The McGill Ghetto,” a veritable extension of campus inhabited almost exclusively by students. If so, it might surprise you to learn that this isn’t accurate in the least. Students make up only a small minority of the local population, vastly outnumbered by families, working professionals, long-term residents, and recent immigrants. Many of these people object to the designation “McGill Ghetto,” preferring their neighbourhood’s official title: Milton-Parc. Not only is this picturesque corner of Montreal not a ghetto in any sense of the word, but it has its own unique and fascinating history. In 1968, most of the neighbourhood was purchased by Concordia Estates Ltd., a company that planned to demolish it in order to construct a massive high-rise complex. This news sparked a wave of grassroots resistance from the community, and the next few years saw protests, rallies, meetings, and – in one particularly dramatic case – a sit-in resulting in dozens of arrests. Largely thanks to the efforts of these local activists, some of whom also had ties to the McGill community, most of Milton-Parc was saved. All that remains of Concordia Estates’ development plans are the interconnected apartment complexes at the corner of Parc and Prince Arthur. The momentum of the 1960s and ‘70s didn’t end there. By the late ‘80s, much of the neighbourhood had been reorganized into a series of housing co-ops, heavily subsidized by the government in order to keep rent accessible to low-income residents. Today, MiltonParc is home to one of the largest networks of cooperative housing in North America.

bonus mcgill facts •

• •

During the 1950s, experiments into psychological torture were conducted at McGill’s Royal Victoria Hospital. Funded by the CIA and the Canadian government, these experiments formed part of the infamous Project MKUltra. Several films have been partially shot on campus, including Brooklyn, X-Men: Days of Future Past, and Warm Bodies. On November 10, 2011, over 100 police officers swarmed McGill’s campus, attacking students with tear gas, rubber bullets, pepper spray, and batons. This incident occurred in the context of the province-wide anti-austerity movement that occupied Quebec later that year with mass student strikes. During the 1920s, ‘30s, and ‘40s, McGill enforced admissions quotas for Jewish students. A quota for Jewish students in McGill’s medicine programme remained in effect as late as the 1960s. The SSMU building appears on campus maps as the University Centre, but since the 1990s it’s been unofficially known as the Shatner Building. That’s right, THAT Shatner – the actor who’d go on to play Star Trek’s Captain Kirk is a McGill grad.

September 5, 2017 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

SO YOU TOLD YOUR HOMETOWN YOU’D WORK ON YOUR FRANÇAIS... FIRST STEP: LEARN THE LANGUAGE BEYOND BAGUETTE AND CROISSANT You can do that at the Centre d’enseignement du français (CEF), where they will assign you to a certain French class depending on the results of your assesment test. Here’s a fancy abacus-inspired pyramid the CEF made for you.

If you’re feeling like La Fontaine’s frog, ready to take on the French literature ox, you can do that at the Département de langue et littérature françaises (although in La Fontaine’s fable, the frog inflates, trying to get as big as the ox until it blows up, so don’t get too ambitious). You can take French literature, translation, composition and advanced grammar classes there.

SECOND STEP: LIVE À LA FRENCH Le Délit, founded in 1977, is the only weekly French student newspaper on campus. Be sure to open a Délit in an English social setting once in a while to impress your friends with your French lifestyle skills.

Franc-Jeu is McGill’s French theatre company. They meet many times in a week and have shows at the end of each semester. Join them or look out for their shows by following them on Facebook.

THIRD STEP: FRENCH UP YOUR POLITICS The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) has a special commission for French-related issues you can contact at caf@ssmu.mcgill.ca or (514) 398-6800.

SSMU

September 5, 2017 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

Students’ Society of McGill University

SSMU is the largest student organisation at McGill. It provides funding and space for clubs and campus groups, and advocates on behalf of the student body to the university administration. It has a leadership structure comprised of two decision-making bodies: the Legislative Council and the Board of Directors. Within both these bodies sit the executives, a team of seven students—now six, since VP Operations Anuradha Mallik’s resignation in mid-August—who are elected to govern SSMU together. Councillors and directors are also elected to represent different subsections of the student population.

Executive team

SSMU has 7 elected executive positions. The execs are McGill students who participate in Council and sometimes serve on the Board of Directors. The executive positions are President, VP University Affairs, VP External, VP Internal Affairs, VP Student Life, VP Finance, and VP Operations. They all have individual mandates related to the functioning of SSMU, with a portfolio of committees and responsibilities specific to their position. The execs are expected to present any major developments within their portfolios at each Council meeting. In essence, the President determines the broad vision of the Society and provides support to the rest of the team. The VP External handles SSMU’s relationship with organizations beyond the university, as well as campus political campaigns. The VP Internal, meanwhile, organizes on-campus events (such a frosh and 4Floors) and sends out a weekly listserv to all members of the Society to encourage community-building. The VP University Affairs advocates on behalf of students to the McGill administration. The VP Operations and Sustainability (whose post is currently vacant) is in charge of the Shatner building, SSMU’s sustainability initiatives, and the student bar, Gerts. The VP Finance maintains the budget and financial stability of the Society. Finally, the VP Student Life is the coordinator between the SSMU Council and student-run clubs and organizations. They also focus on issues related to students’ quality of life, like mental health services. All of the execs serve on SSMU Council, but only four serve on the Board of Directors: the President, the VP Operations, the VP Finance, and one other exec appointed by Council.

General Assembly

The General Assembly is a meeting open to all SSMU members (meaning YOU!) and is scheduled to meet twice a year, once during each semester. In addition to these biannual meetings, the dates of which are set by SSMU, Special General Assemblies can be organized by a group of fifty or more students. This group must represent four different faculties with no more than 50 per cent of the students being from one faculty. Any McGill undergraduate can attend a General Assembly and participate in the legislative process. Students can also submit motions to the General Assembly, which grants them an opportunity to implement direct change, and to hold the leadership of SSMU accountable for political and/or personal decisions that have influenced their ability to adequately represent the student body. The fall General Assembly is scheduled to take place on Monday, 23 October 2017 in the SSMU ballroom, located on the third floor of the Shatner building.

Board of Directors

The SSMU Board of Directors is the highest governing body within SSMU, and is responsible for running the business affairs of the Society and for ratifying certain political decisions. The Board is comprised of nine appointed students and four SSMU execs. The nine appointed students are eight Directors and one international student representative who does not have a vote. The meetings of the Board of Directors are closed, and despite a hopeful “coming soon!” message on their website, they have yet to publish minutes for their meetings from 2015 and 2016.

Legislative Council

SSMU’s Legislative Council consists of all seven execs as well as thirty elected councillors representing campus groups and societies. They meet once every two weeks to make decisions about policy and legislative changes within SSMU as well as the day-to-day running of the organization. The topics covered at a meeting could be anything from budget allocation to policy making. Meetings tend to last for several hours, but Council publishes agendas in advance, in order to encourage students to attend and participate in debate. The meetings have a rigid structure, sometimes characterized by time-consuming bureaucratic procedures and procedural jargon, which can make them feel inaccessible to the uninitiated. Still, Council is probably the best place to go if you’re interested in the way SSMU is governed. The first meeting of the semester is scheduled for Thursday September 14, in the Lev Bukhman room of the SSMU building.

Administrative hierarchy

September 5, 2017 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

Board of Governors The Board of Governors (BoG) is an administrative body with final authority on decisions concerning university property and conduct. The BoG determines promotions and tenures in office, or other terms of employment, such as retirement, benefits, and salaries of university personnel. The BoG also selects the Principal from a list of names submitted by the Nomination Committee. The BoG is composed of 27 people, 25 of whom can vote, and two non-voting observers. The 12 Members at Large make up the largest faction nominated by the BoG Nominating and Governance Committee. The rest of the Board includes the Chancellor, the Principal, and various representatives of the university community. Though not automatic, all governors are eligible for re-election. Undergraduate students are represented by the president of Student Society of McGill University (SSMU) for a one year term. The Board has eight standing committees whose meetings are unpublicized, unless the committee holds an open session. In an open session, community members (including students) may observe, but not participate in the meeting. One BoG body that gets a lot of press is the Committee to Advise on Matters of Social Responsibility (CAMSR), which reviews issues of social responsibility related to university investments. If you’re interested in getting McGill to divest from anything in particular for ethical reasons, CAMSR is the place to focus your energy. That said, they’ve historically been extremely hard to sway. Financial returns generally take precedence, as seen with the Board’s decision maintain their investments in fossil fuels despite widespread condemnation in 2015.

Suzanne Fortier, Principal The Principal is responsible for the general supervision and direction of the university. The position is currently held by Suzanne Fortier, who was elected in 2013, then re-elected May 2017. The Principal may initiate any project they consider beneficial to the university. The Principal determines employment terms of non-teaching university personnel, and provides the BoG recommendations concerning promotions, resignations, and removals of all teaching staff. She also has the authority to suspend any member of the teaching staff, or senior administrative officers. She is part of the Senate, and an ex officio member of all Board committees. This means that Fortier is entitled to a vote in every committee, including the Nominating and Governance Committee, which nominates the 12 Members at large on the Board. The Principal is appointed by the BoG from a list of names recommended by the Nominating Committee in consultation with the Advisory Committee, both of which the principal holds voting membership. In other words, the principal is part of a board that elects half of the BoD, which in turn, forms the committee(s) that appoints the principal, who then, upon election, can nominate or fire university staff. While Principal normally maintains political autonomy from student affairs, she has influenced student governance in the past. In response to the controversial tweet of student representative Igor Sadikov in February 2017, Fortier strongly advocated for Sadikov’s resignation from SSMU. In 2016, Fortier publicly condemned the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement on campus, which had at that time been endorsed by the SSMU General Assembly. In both of these instances, Fortier’s actions drew intense criticism from parts of the McGill community.

Christopher Buddle, Dean of Students The Dean of Students is responsible for championing student rights and promoting students responsibility. The position is currently held by Christopher Buddle, appointed in 2016. The Dean’s administration operates based on the Charter of Student Rights, the Code of Student Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures, and the Handbook of Student Rights and Responsibilities. The Dean oversees the disciplinary process by organizing hearing committees, and maintaining a disciplinary record of students. In cases of an academic offense, the disciplinary officer investigates the issue and decides whether the student will be sanctioned. Contesting the officer’s decision also involves the Dean of Students, who can arrange a hearing in front of the appeals committee. In cases of a non-academic offense, the matter is investigated by the disciplinary officer to the hearing Committee on Student Discipline (CSD), selected by the office of the Dean of Students. The Dean may halt further proceeding of the case without a hearing from the CSD. However, the Dean does not exercise voting power in both hearing and appeal committees. If you are struggling with your mental health, academics, or general well being throughout the semester, the office of the Dean is a resource that can connect you to various services. Programs like Ask an Advisor referring students to resources are overseen by the Dean. In the case of an emergency involving McGill students, the Dean of Students serves as the main point of contact. Disclosures of assault are referred to the Case Manager, who can be reached at casemanager@mcgill.ca. The office of the Dean must uphold the Quebec privacy legislation, which prevents the office from releasing private information about a student to third parties.

Senate The Senate is a governing body responsible for academic affairs of the university. The Senate oversees university curriculums and courses by establishing faculties, schools and departments. All courses leading to university certification must be approved by the Senate. The academic policy committee puts forward recommendations for academic policies, or projects for academic purpose. Recommendations may also involve discontinuing existing faculties or courses. The Senate is composed of representatives from a wide range of university constituencies. Among 111 voting members, 13 members are graduate or undergraduate students elected through PGSS and SSMU. Student senators serve a one year term, unless the student is suspended. If you would like to bring up any issues concerning student life to the Senate, the best way to so is through the caucus meeting. Senators representing students through SSMU convene in a public meeting on Mondays at 6:30p.m. to discuss student interests prior to regular Senate meetings. The contact information of all students senators is available online. The Senate currently has nine standing committees, one of these is a joint committee with the BoG. While the Senate mainly deals with academic matters, its power extends to general supervision and ceremonial duties such as convocations and honorary degrees. Proposals for honorary degrees are considered by a committee appointed by Senate, which must be approved by two thirds of its members.

Nightlife

September 5, 2017 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

The Daily’s guide to 1. Patati Patata A shock of colored tiles makes this corner restaurant on St. Laurent and Rachel impossible to miss. They offer lowpriced but extremely delicious burgers, fries, and poutine until 3 a.m., which is decent for a city without many late night eating options, and excellent for postclubbing shenanigans.

2. Bar Notre-Damedes-Quilles Bowling alley? Excellent food? Karaoke? Feminist/ LGBTQ+ comedy shows? Find all of the above at NDQ. The bar/club has a theme almost every night, including Disco and New Wave, and cover is almost always free.

3. Fairmount and St. Viateur Bagels Both locations are open 24/7 and offer bagels that are less than a dollar each. Try both locations in a Montreal rite of passage so you can pick a side in the friendly competition between the two. (Ed. Note: St. Viateur is better, but farther!)

4. Apartment 200 Though this club is up 2 flights of stairs and rather exclusive on the weekends, weeknights are usually free, fun, and not too crowded. They play a mix of pop, fresh R&B, and cool classics. Get a good group of friends together and it’s the perfect recipe for a good night.

5. SuWu Everyone knows the best cure for a hangover from a night of drinking and dancing is a morning of drinking - at SuWu, they recommend the bottomless mimosas. Service isn’t the fastest, but the food is delicious.

6. Gerts McGill’s very own student bar, charmingly situated in SSMU’s nearly windowless basement. It has the virtue of being extremely affordable, but that’s about it. You will probably cry here at some point during your degree.

7. L’Escalier A chill, queer-friendly space at Place EmilieGamelin. Drop by for a leisurely afternoon beer with pals, or come later in the evening for dancing and live music ‘til the wee hours. Up a flight of stairs, and some unevenness in the floor. Vegetarian friendly.

8. St. Suplice No-frills student bar on St. Denis, close to UQAM’s arts complex. Not the place for a connoisseur of craft brews, but the beer is cheap, and their massive, tree-lined courtyard is the perfect place to while away a warm night with friends.

9. Bar des Pins Conveniently located at Parc and Des Pins, BDP exists for those times when you need a drink urgently, but not quite urgently enough to spend your night in the SSMU basement. A longtime staple of McGill student life, it more than makes up for its lack of atmosphere with highly affordable prices.

10. Super Sandwich A hidden gem located just west of campus, at Peel and Sherbrooke. To get there, make your way through an underground shopping complex to the little depanneur-looking place at the back. You can choose from a range of basic sandwiches (including vegetarian options) - they’re staggeringly cheap, delicious, and prepared in seconds.

11. Bar-K Karaoke Located on Crescent, this “Asian-style” karaoke place has affordable private karaoke rooms with a lengthy list of classic hits to choose from, plus a [limited] selection of drinks and pitchers. Head there with a group of friends when you’re ready to lose your inhibitions and sing your

12. Kampai Garden This trendy spot on St. Catherine is on the more expensive side, but is great for when you’re in a group and willing to share. The sophisticated, “nouveau chic” vibe has struck a chord with people looking to get out of the conventional student atmosphere.

13. Bar Ganadara Another chic upscale spot, Ganadara is just as popular for its food as it is for its drinks. Get a table before 10 p.m. to beat the rush that comes in closer to midnight.

nightlife

September 5, 2017 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

affordable food & fun

14. Imadake This place is famous for its sake bombs and $5 menu items, which prove to be unexpectedly affordable given the fancy decor and ambience. As an added bonus, the staff have a reputation of being friendly and generous— you may even get some free drinks out of it.

15. Frite Alors! A popular Montreal chain known for its varieties of poutine. Bring your friends or family from out-of-town here if they want to try a Montreal tradition!

16. La Banquise Another classic poutine spot, this place has the added benefit of being open 24/7, so you can stagger in at 3 a.m. after a night on the town for a generous helping of warm, savoury deliciousness.

17. Aux Vivres Vegan restaurant located on St. Laurent in the Mile End. They also have a prepared food counter next to the restaurant that supplies some of McGill’s cafeterias, so look for their logo in the grab-n-go fridges!

18. Arepera Casual restaurant located on Duluth in the Plateau that serves arepas, a flat corn dough stuffed with meat, cheese, and vegetables. A popular staple of Venezuelan cuisine, this dish is also gluten free! Beware the long wait times at the door.

19. Cafe Santropol Famous for both their cozy outdoor garden seating and their sandwiches, this Montreal institution is a only a short walk toward St. Laurent.

20. Cafe Replika A popular study spot for McGill students who are sick of McClennan, this “hipster” cafe is located in the Plateau. Go for the classic coffee and bagel sandwich combo.

21. Pikolo Espresso Bar Another hipster cafe joint. Good for a quick coffee, but don’t plan on hanging out for too long because seating is tight!

22. Cafe Aunja Try something new at this Persian cafe with coffee, tea, and food. Close to campus, come here for ~aesthetic~ tea in mason jars that are only slightly overpriced.

23. Falafel Avenue A fast food spot right by the McGill metro where students can pick up a falafel sandwich for just $5. Cheap, simple, and delicious.

24. Casa del Popolo Among its many claims to fame, Casa is the epicentre of festival Suoni Per Il Popolo in June, which self describes its musical genre as “out and way-out.” The locale itself is divided into two rooms, one reserved for concerts and cultural events, such as the Howl Arts Fair, and the other serving full time as a cafe and bar. At street level on St. Laurent and St. Joseph, it’s a Montreal institution, decorated with fairy lights and vintage couches at the entrance and with a menu that hasn’t changed in twenty years.

25. Bar le Ritz An important venue for alternative music, and the site of many a queer dance party. Located on Jeanne Mance in between Parc and St. Laurent, it has become the main home to recurring events such as LIP, Cousins, and Slut Island Festival. The venue is wheelchair accessible, has gender neutral washrooms, and gets packed and sweaty pretty quickly after midnight.

26. Cafe Gitana Calls itself a cigar lounge but is well known as one of the snuggest places to drink tea, smoke shisha, and indulge in Turkish food and drinks, as well as weekly Baladi dance performances. Accessible at street level with one step down at its interior, it has moody low red lighting, carpets hanging from the walls, pictures of Che Guevara dotted around the place, and a soundtrack ranging from communist Italian folk songs to traditional Turkish music.

27. Midnight Kitchen Free vegan meals on campus! Bring your own tupperware and utensils, and follow them on Facebook for weekly updates.

CAMPUS ACTIVISM

September 5, 2017 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

Black Students’ Network (BSN)

Indigenous Student Alliance (ISA)

The BSN’s primary goals are to raise awareness and take action on issues impacting Black students and communities, as well as make campus a safe(r) space for Black students. They regularly host a variety of events open to all, including Soul Food Fridays, film screenings, and community forums.

The ISA works to provide community-building and inter-nation connections between Indigenous students at McGill. They also host events throughout the year, including an annual day-long conference open to all students, which features Indigenous artists, teachers, and leaders.

@BlackStudentsNetworkofMcGill

@Indigenous.Student.Alliance.

bsnmcgill@gmail.com

indigsa.mcgill@gmail.com

Quebec Public Interest Research Group McGill (QPIRG)

Union for Gender Empowerment (UGE)

McGill’s chapter of QPIRG is one of the cornerstones of activism on campus, and is the source of many major rad events throughout the year, including Rad Frosh. The organisation hosts events regularly, and also provides research opportunities for those interested in pursuing projects focused on community research and justice. Like them on Facebook, subscribe to their newsletter, and check out their website, http://qpirgmcgill.org/.

The UGE is an anti-racist trans feminist organisation which provides resources to students who may need it. Their office includes a large library of books and zines, and a co-op of ethical, sustainable gender empowerment items (such as menstrual binders and safe sex supplies).

@QPIRG.GRIP.McGill

@UGEMcGill

info@qpirgmcgill.org

ugecollective@gmail.com

McGill Against Austerity

Association of McGill University Support Employees (AMUSE)

Divest McGill

McGill Against Austerity is a group comprised of students protesting the implementation and effects of austerity measures on the public sector. This includes the undervaluing of labour, cuts to public resources, tuition increases, and other harms to students and economically vulnerable people. They often ally themselves with other anti-capitalist causes. @mcgillagainstausterity

AMUSE is the labour union for student and nonstudent ‘casual’ employees working non-academic jobs on campus, including floor fellows. The union fights labour undervaluing and casualisation, discrimination in the workplace, and job precarity. Find out more at amusemcgill.org.

Divest McGill is a student group protesting McGill’s monetary and infrastructural investment in fossil fuels. In past years, Divest has held impactful protests on campus to make their voices heard, and to disrupt the administration’s ‘business as usual’ attitude to climate change. Find out more at divestmcgill.com.

Demilitarize McGill Demilitarize McGill is a student group dedicated to ending military research and McGill’s contributions to Canadian, American, and Israeli imperialism. Military research in the university setting contributes to a global military-industrial complex. Find out more at demilitarizemcgill.com.

@amuse.seoum

@DivestMcGill

communications.amuse@gmail.com

divestmcgill@gmail.com.

Social Equity and Diversity Education (SEDE)

Silence is Violence

@demilitarizemcgill

The SEDE Office of McGill university works in on-campus equity efforts, with a new focus on Indigenous and racial justice. They hold events throughout the year, and offer opportunities to volunteer in the community on and off campus. The SEDE Office also occasionally offers employment opportunities for students. @equity.diversity

demilitarizemcgill@riseup.net

Silence is Violence is a student group led by survivors of sexual violence, aiming to raise awareness and take action against campus rape culture. They also aim to fight the complacency of the university’s administration in handling instances of sexual violence, and ensure better institutional accountability. Check out SIV’s national site at http://www.silenceisviolence.ca/. @SiVMcgill

equity.diversity@mcgill.ca

Independent Jewish Voices (IJV)

Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS)

IJV is a Jewish students’ organisation on campus, founded in part on solidarity with Palestinian liberation. Their events welcome people of all cultures and faiths. Check out their national website, ijvcanada.org.

The aim of BDS is to advocate for Palestinian rights in the Israeli occupation of Palestine, and to oppose ongoing settler-colonial violence there which has destroyed countless Palestinian lives. Learn more about the occupation of Palestine at visualizingpalestine.org. @sphrmcgill

@ijvmcgill

ijvmcgill@gmail.com

sphrmcgill@riseup.net

Accessibility

September 5, 2017 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

Public Transit: Société de transport de Montréal (STM) Montreal’s public transit system can get you most places in the city by metro or bus. Each ride is $3.25, but with the student OPUS card you can buy rides in bulk which significantly decreases the price. They offer unlimited rides for periods of a weekend, week, month, or four months. You can purchase passes or recharge the OPUS card at a metro station in advance, which is more affordable and convenient than paying $3.25 each time you travel. On buses, you must pay in exact change to get a ride if you are not using an OPUS card. For physical accessibility, STM buses have access ramps located either at the front or rear of the bus indicated by the universal symbol for wheelchairs. It is protocol that individuals with wheelchairs board first. Most metro stations are very high below ground and require descent by stairs or escalators. The Montmorency, De la Concorde, Cartier, JeanTalon, Berri-UQAM, Champ-de-Mars, Lionel-Groulx, Henri-Bourassa, Côte-Vertu, Snowdon, Rosemont and Place-d’Armes métro stations are accessible at street level to wheelchair users. More details on street access to these stations are available on the STM’s website. For those with non-physical access needs, a companion card may be useful. Rehabilitation centers offer these cards, which provide free travel for an individual accompanying the cardholder for bus or metro transportation.

McGill Counselling and Mental Health Services McGill’s mental health services are accessible to any registered McGill student who has paid the Student Services Fee. For the 2017-2018 school year, McGill Mental Health and Counselling Services have implemented new structural changes that directly affect how they can be accessed. Psychologists, counselors, and therapists will be part of the Counselling Services, while all psychiatrists will be part of the Psychiatric Services. These changes have been made to supposedly “optimize service delivery.” However, navigating McGill’s mental health services can be both difficult and frustrating. There are often long wait times, whether for urgent day-of appointments or for scheduling appointments in the future. Urgent-care appointments can be made from 11a.m. to 1p.m. at the mental health offices, which ensures an appointment on the day of. To schedule an appointment with a clinician or psychiatrist in advance, call the numbers indicated on McGill’s mental health website or visit the Brown Building (Suite 4200, East Wing for a clinician and Suite 5500 in the West Wing for psychiatric services). Appointments are available on a first-come, first serve basis, so it’s always good to book them as soon as possible. The Counselling and Mental Health office offers a variety of services ranging from light therapy lamps,to individual therapy, to group sessions. Individual therapy is usually only offered as a short-term plan, because McGill has not yet been able to accommodate all the students who need these services. This puts many students in a tough situation because pursuing off-campus options can be prohibitively expensive. Once an appointment is secured, you should receive a reminder of your appointment 24 hours in advance. There is a $20 cancellation fee at least 24 hours before an appointment, while missing an appointment incurs a $70 fee.

Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) is a group of counselors, tutors and health professionals who are trained to help students with disabilities, whether they be physical, mental, or performance-related. While the OSD offers a wide range of accommodations catered to the needs of each student, such as individual test-taking and tutoring, the process of accessing these services can be long and frustrating. It may take weeks of waiting to meet an OSD counselor after booking an appointment, because the office is not yet easily accessible to the entire student body. New students who need accommodations from the OSD are advised to register as early as possible by booking an appointment by telephone, or in person at the office - located at 3459 McTavish (accessible through McTavish street or the Redpath terrace). Registration might require the student to present documentation attesting to their disability, depending on the case. Once registered with the office, the resources available for students can facilitate personalized development. The OSD offers academic help, scholarship funding opportunities, and workshops on diverse topics from improving writing skills to coping with certain mental illnesses. While most resources can be easily accessed if the student requests their accommodations early, administrative procedures can be challenging to surpass and some professors.

spotlight: Sexual violence

September 5, 2017 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

The fight against sexual violence at McGill: a retrospective

Content warning: sexual assault April 2012 Three R*dmen players are formally charged with sexual assault and forced confinement. They are not detained, remain enrolled at McGill, and continue to play football for the university.

November 2013 The case of the R*dmen players come to light at McGill, and a substantial outcry follows. The administration initially claims ignorance of the charges, then admits prior knowledge. A student working group begins working to draft a Sexual Assault Policy for McGill since the university does not yet have one.

February 6, 2014 Representatives of several student groups, including SSMU, propose a roadmap to addressing campus rape culture. Their recommendations include a “comprehensive, accessible, pro-survivor Sexual Assault

August 2014 Training for frosh and OAP staff updated to include bystander training with an emphasis on the role alcohol can play in incidents of sexual violence.

March 16, 2017 A new SSMU executive team is elected, composed of six women and one man (as opposed to the previous team, which contained only one woman). Many of the candidates ran on platforms of increased transparency and accountability within the executive, and promised to fight gendered and sexual violence.

October 20, 2014 The first annual #ConsentMcGill campaign is launched through the Dean of Students’ office. February 17, 2016 After more than two years of careful research and consultation, the student working group releases the final draft of its proposed Sexual Assault Policy. It is praised by many campus groups for being thorough, intersectional, and supportive of survivors. The draft policy is submitted to McGill for review.

March 9, 2017 SSMU President Ben Ger resigns amid allegations of gendered violence. Criticism regarding endemic rape culture within SSMU intensifies.

March 22, 2016 McGill informs the working group that their draft policy will not be submitted to Senate for approval, despite previous assurances of institutional support.

February 22, 2017 SSMU VP External David Aird resigns amid allegations of sexual violence. A public outcry follows, during which SSMU is widely criticized.

November 23, 2016 After collecting public feedback throughout the fall, McGill’s Draft Policy on Sexual Violence is brought to Senate for approval. It passes unanimously.

September 24, 2014 Luis-Andres Guimont-Mota, another R*dmen football player, is suspended from the team because he is facing charges of domestic assault against his wife. It subsequently emerges that he had a prior record of such violence, but was allowed to play for McGill anyway. Facing a renewed outcry, McGill commits to revising the criteria for participation in varsity sports.

September 12, 2016 McGill releases its Draft Policy on Sexual Violence, put together over the summer by members of the administration in discussion with student and staff representatives, including input from external groups specializing in this field. Responses are mixed, with many criticising the draft policy for failing to provide full protection and support for students.

August 26, 2016 A chapter of Silence is Violence opens at McGill. In contrast to other groups and organizations, SiV are a survivor-led collective who aim to tackle campus rape culture, and the institutional obstacles that further harm those who have experienced sexual violence.

April 2016 The working group decries what they see as an abrupt aboutface from McGill, publishing an open letter which garners 1500 signatures. Following this, students stage demonstrations on campus to express their disappointment in the administration’s inaction, and their support for the studentdrafted policy.

resources

September 5, 2017 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

Emergency resources MCGILL McGill Security Downtown campus: 514-398-3000 Mac campus: 514-398-7777

MSERT A student-run emergency response service, located in the SSMU basement. 514-398-3000

SACOMSS This volunteer-run organisation, located in the SSMU basement, is extensively trained to support survivors of sexual violence. www.sacomss.org 514-398-8500

Walksafe A volunteer-run service that will send someone to walk home with you late at night in order to help you feel secure. 9p.m.-3a.m. on Fridays, and Saturdays, 9p.m.12a.m. on weekdays 514-398-2498

Nightline A confidential, studentrun listening service. Call them for information, crisis management, or just a friendly voice to chat to on your late-night walk home! 7 days a week 6p.m.-3a.m. 514-398-6246

Drivesafe Essentially a free, studentrun taxi service to get you home safely after a late night on the town or, to pick an example at random, in the newsroom!

McGill Student Health Services If you need urgent, sameday care, make sure to arrive before 8a.m. or you may not be able to see a doctor.

Legal Information Clinic& Student Advocacy Free, student-run services offering legal information, advice, and representation.

11p.m.-3a.m. on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays 514-398-8040

514-398-6017

514-398-6792

McGill Mental Health Services

McGill Counselling Services

514-398-6019

514-398-3601

Suicide Action Montreal Available 24/7

Drug and Alcohol Helpline Available 24/7

Info SantĂŠ Health advice and resources, available 24/7

514-723-4000

514-527-2626

514-398-6019

MONTREAL Montreal General Hospital 514-934-1934

NEWS

Summer in review

September 5, 2017 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

Alternative Canada150 celebrations protest settler-colonialism

O QPIRG and SSMU at odds over potential cuts to programming funds

n August 16, McGill’s Union for Gender Empowerment (UGE) published an open letter to the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU). Co-signed by The Daily and several other campus groups. This letter criticised SSMU them for their use of “austerity logic and language” in connection with the potential defunding of Culture Shock and Social Justice Days, two anti-racist event series held on campus. Early versions of Culture Shock, originally run by SSMU alone, were described as tokenizing and misrepresentative of racial justice. In 2006, QPIRG offered to jointly run the program, with a mandate to focus on social justice issues. The letter published by the UGE states that as of 2015, monetary funding had been reduced from its initial $10,000 to $2,040. QPIRG board members fear that the elimination of funding would effectively end the programming. In response, SSMU told The Daily that overall, they offer “more supports than provided to any other student group on campus and with a system that is outside the norm of that we offer other groups on campus, making our relationship with QPIRG an outlier in our standard operating procedures.” QPIRG has argued, in return, that SSMU’s continued collaboration on anti-racist programming is essential. “Working together furthers the value that QPIRG can provide to SSMU and the students at McGill,” the staff and board said in a statement to the Daily.

Quebec researchers unite at inter-school Neurosymposium

n June 29, days before the Canada 150 celebration, a demonstration took place in protest of the ongoing settlercolonialism that has pervaded Canada’s existence. The event was organized by the Quebec Public Interest Research Group (QPIRG), CKUT Radio, and Midnight Kitchen. These groups hoped to emphasize the event’s focus on the real history of Canada’s 150 years of existence, and how colonialism has impacted the preexisting communities of Indigenous peoples, more specifically, the Mohawk community. The event raised money for the Karihwanoron Mohawk Immersion School, a program that incorporates Indigenous language and cultures into a non-traditional approach to education. Participants addressed the events of June 28, when Indigenous protestors were barred from setting up a teepee outside of Parliament as part of a Canada Day protest. Guest Speaker Stephen Puskas spoke to the audience about Informed racism, a form of sympathy where one knows about the issue but remains silent and complicit towards perpetuating settler-colonialist violence. Puskas encouraged members of the audience to take tangible action towards dismantling colonialism by engaging with the government, “Start approaching the Department of Education for example. […] You need to update your textbook. You need to have Indigenous people involved in telling their own story.” .

In case you

his June, the second annual Neurosymposium took place at the Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec in Montreal. The Graduate Student Association for Neuroscience at McGill University and graduate societies from other schools organized this event to foster a Quebec-wide collaborative neuroscience community. Researchers and students from universities across Quebec gathered at this one-day conference to share their latest brain science research. What was special about the conference was its “horizontal” nature – most of the attendees were students, and they had a lot of opportunities to exchange ideas and network with their peers. The informal atmosphere enabled students to give presentations to other students on diverse topics such as pain, eating habits, autism, epilepsy, and even American voting habits. There were also panel discussions where students discussed the role of neuroscience in society with a focus on applying new discoveries to clinical treatments. One of the most notable discussions was on whether scientific research should be done for its own sake or with the intention to have practical uses within society. The day ended with Robin Sawaya, a graduate-level neuroscience student at McGill, delivering a closing statement that emphasized the importance of collaboration within the scientific community, especially in an inter-disciplinary field like neuroscience.

SCI+TECH

An experience with regenerative medicine

ami told his story of battling back pain over the past 10 years ever since he injured himself duringmilitary training in 2007. He saw “chiropractors, physiotherapists, psychiatrists, rheumatologists, osteopaths and virtually every health professional [possible]”. He had tried “decompression therapy, kinesiotherapy, swimming, physiotherapy, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories drugs (NSAIDs), steroid injections, oral steroids, acupuncture, Chinese therapeutic massage,” but none were effective. Apathetic physicians in Canada dismissed his pain as an illusion, which severely exacerbated his mental health. After being unable to find a cure through the Canadian health care system, he went to New York in January of 2016 to receive his first regenerative medicine treatment: Regenokine. Although Regenokine relieved the pain initially, the healing effects were only temporary. A few months later, he flew to Colorado where he received another treatment at the Centeno-Schultz Clinic using Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP). Like Regenokine, the pain-relieving effects of PRP treatment were not lasting. This past July , he travelled to the Cayman Islands to try stem cell treatment, which can only be evaluated until after a few months. Sami noted that while regenerative medicine treatments worked quite well, they were extremely expensive. Since they are not offered in Canada, Canadians who need these treatments must go abroad to seek them without insurance. Sami hoped these treatments would soon be integrated in Canadadian healhcare as soon as possible.

Summer in review

September 5, 2017 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

SPORTS

North American Indigenous Games take place in Toronto

he North American Indigenous Games took place this summer between July 16 and 23 in Toronto. 5,000 young athletes from across Turtle Island (North America) competed in 14 different sports in an effort to facilitate inter-nation sportsmanship, and further develop relations between indigenous communities across the continent. This year’s games emphasized Article 88 of the Truth and Reconciliation Act, which is a call to action for the Canadian government to support Indigenous youth athletics. The two-hour opening ceremony at York University featured musical guests Taboo and A Tribe Called Red. Speakers at the celebration explicitly examined the effect of Canada 150 on Indigenous peoples in the settler-colonialist context. Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde finished his speech by saying: “it’s you young people, and your children and grandchildren, that are going to write the next story over the next 150 years. And it’s going to be bright, and you’re going to do it in a great way.” Eastern Door and the North were the overall champions of the games, which were the first to include women’s lacrosse. . In an interview with the Daily, President Stephen Kwinter said “[The Games] give us the great opportunity to showcase Aboriginal cultures and achievements…we want to celebrate the future of these achievements, and we want to do so as a cooperative effort.”

IAAF seeks to discriminate against hyperandrogenous athletes

missed it...

he International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) is going to court to appeal a 2015 ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) which ruled that hyperandrogenous athletes such as Caster Semenya of South Africa did not have an advantage over other athletes. Caster Semenya, an 800m runner, is among a group of female athletes with naturally high levels of testosterone. Because testosterone is sometime artificially injected by athletes to illegally improve their performance, the IAAF wishes to enforce a limit on the levels that female athletes may retain. Since her 2009 World Championship win, Semenya has been forced to undergo sex verification tests, testosterone tests, and even hormone therapy. The IAAF is fighting once again to force hormone therapy on her and other hyperandrogenous athletes. If the IAAF wins the appeal against the CAS, these athletes will face disqualification if they do not wish to modify their natural testosterone levels. This debate provides the IAAF with the opportunity to change the face of sport and ingrain more inclusive gender definitions into the field. However, they have taken a bigoted and hateful stand against many of their own athletes and spectators.

A food justice lesson from Brooklyn

Wisdom with an expiration date

hinese director Diedie Weng “sought to capture the personal ways in which [two] worlds and times met and crashed into each other” in her first feature film, The Beekeeper and his Son. The film focuses on the growing tension between the younger and older generations as China becomes increasingly industrialized. It presents this generational disconnect through the relationship of Maofu, a young adult returning from the city to his family’s rural beekeeping business, and his father Lao Yu, who encourages his son to invest his time, energy, and care into the bees. The city had invigorated Maofu with several ideas for growing the business and increasing profit, while Lao Yu wishes Maofu would learn the intricacies of beekeeping and handle the business with care. These divergent goals escalate into a harsh lack of understanding between the father and son. Weng often shows Maofu working alone with a melancholy demeanor, emphasizing his feelings of not belonging and being a disappointment. Lao Yu seems to feel out of touch with the modern generation, as if a common ground cannot be achieved. While Weng makes connections between these obstacles and the tangible generational divide, The Beekeeper and his Son also suggests that perhaps a candid exchange of wisdom and ideas between both generations can bring about solutions to shared problems.

CULTURE

homas Boothe’s Documentary Food Coop analyzes a socialist cooperative supermarket, Park Slope, operating in Brooklyn in the 70s. The initiative began in 1973 amidst anti-Vietnam War protests and as a response to contemporary monopolycapitalism, where a small number of businesses generate high profits by exploiting resources. The coop’s founders began the project with a simple goal: to serve high-quality, fresh produce to the community at an affordable price. The founders developed a membership working hour model to help achieve the low price: Members who contribute their labour to the coop also become owners of the coop, which aligns the interests of both the customer and the coop. Ultimately, members saved $30,000 a year by shopping from Park Slope, and over 80% of the produce was sourced locally. The documentary inspects some potential problems that arise with a large coop. For example, some members felt hesitant to follow instructions of paid staff members, and many members disagreed with the coop’s use of plastic bags. The community solved all problems through a democratic approach where disputes were brought to a trial in which randomly selected members decided the outcome. Due to New York’s intense gentrification, Park Slope has become inaccessible for some. The lone Park Slope location requires residents of poorer neighborhoods who would benefit more from this coop to travel long distances. Despite its struggles, the coop seems to be overall sustainable and successful. Apart from providing fresh, organic produce, Park Slope also hosts lectures, screenings, and other social activities that actively build and nurture the community.

International stories

September 5, 2017 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

NDP LEADERSHIP RACE HEATS UP IN QUEBEC

he New Democratic Party of Canada (NDP) is holding its leadership elections between October 1-15, 2017. The party is selecting a leader to replace Tom Mulcair, and challenge Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of the Liberal Party and Andrew Scheer of the Conservative Party. Over the summer, the race has narrowed down to four candidates: Niki Ashton, Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Churchill, Manitoba; Charlie Angus, MPP for Timmins, Ontario; Guy Caron, MPP for Rimouski-NeigetteTémiscouata-Les Basques, Quebec; and Jagmeet Singh, MPP for Bramalea-Gore-Malton, Ontario. The race has largely focused on how to win back the support that was won in the 2011 federal elec-

tion, and subsequently lost to the Liberals in 2015. A huge portion of that loss was suffered in Quebec, where Tom Mulcair’s opposition to Liberal Bill 62 was perceived negatively. Bill 62 is a bill put forward by the Provincial Liberals of Quebec to ban the wearing of face coverings by governmental employees in the province. The bill has been widely described as Islamophobic, as it would target Muslim women who wear the burqa or the niqab. As the race moves into Quebec the only Quebecois candidate, Caron, has announced his support of the bill. Ashton initially suggested that she too supports it, later tempering her statement after receiving substantial criticism from her base. Angus, meanwhile, has stated that

the matter must go to the courts, and that the government cannot infringe upon religious freedoms. Singh, who is Sikh and wears a turban, has not yet commented on the issue. Polls in Quebec show a massive loss of interest in the NDP, with 68 per cent of the population describing themselves as “not interested” in a poll conducted by Léger. However, debates over religious freedoms are often explosive in Quebec, and the candidate who impresses the most in the province could generate considerable support for the party nationally. With material from The Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star, and The Huffington Post.

PALESTINIAN SCHOOL DEMOLISHED

n August 23 in Jubbet alDhib, a village in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian children ready to attend their first day of school were shocked to find the building demolished. The six-classroom school had been razed to the ground by Israeli military forces the night before, leaving volunteers and teachers scrambling to construct makeshift classrooms for the 64 students. A temporary tent to accommodate the children was pitched to replace the caravan school, which was donated by European Union humanitarian organizations. In defiance of the destruction, students peacefully protested

by singing the national anthem before returning home with new school backpacks. The building and all school materials had been confiscated and/or demolished by Israeli forces on the grounds that no permit had been issued for the construction of the school. Reports claim local residents threw rocks at the soldiers in protest, while the soldiers used tear gas and rubber-coated steel bullets to clear the area. The school itself had been a step forward for Palestinian children in Jubbet al-Dhib in terms of gaining easier access to education. Jubbet al-Dhib is located in Area C of the West Bank, and

is under the complete control of Israeli forces, which makes obtaining a permit for opening a Palestinian school almost impossible. The next closest Palestinian school to the village in question is an hour’s walk away over dangerous mountain terrain. This incident is not an anomaly, but rather one demolition among 92 others this year alone conducted by Israeli authorities in the occupied West Bank, despite widespread international condemnation.

With material from Mondoweiss.

INDIGENOUS RESISTANCE IN PERU

ndigenous leaders in Peru have issued an official statement condemning the government for not adhering to laws regarding issues that affect the Indigenous population. Peru’s government is currently negotiating with Frontera Energy, an oilbased Canadian energy firm, on renewing a 30-year contract. The leaders, who represent more than 100 Indigenous communities, referenced a law passed in 2011 that requires the government to consult these communities before implementing decisions that might impact their territories. However, Ángela Acevedo,

the Director of Indigenous Peoples Rights at Peru’s Vice Ministry of Intercultural Affairs argues that while the law is in effect, the state still “takes the final decision.” The Indigenous leaders, meanwhile, consider the negotiations an unlawful violation of their rights. To protest the government’s action, the Indigenous communities are threatening to prevent the oil firms from accessing their land if a valid consultation with the communities does not take place. Added to the tribal rights issue is the concern over oil spills in

the region. The United Nations special rapporteur on hazardous substances and wastes stressed the importance of dealing with the existing environmental hazards before issuing any new deals or contracts that may further exacerbate the issue. Additionally, the rapporteur emphasized that the Indigenous peoples’ concerns should be included when making decisions such as these, because oil spills have been proven to contaminate water to a point that can cause poisoning and death. With material from The Guardian.

MASSIVE FLOODS HIT SOUTH ASIA

s of August 28th, an especially aggressive flood has hit South Asia, causing major infrastructural damage and the deaths of approximately 1200 Indian, Nepali, and Bangladeshi citizens. The storm is said to have affected around 40 million people in the region already, and the situation is quickly exacerbating to an unprec-

edented level. While some loss brought about by the monsoon season in South Asia is expected, scientists say this level of damage is unnatural—it is the direct result of climate change. The extreme weather has deprived some villages in India of basic resources such as food and water, destroyed more than half a million homes in Nepal, and

submerged approximately a third of Bangladeshi land. The relief efforts will require upwards of 100 million USD. The government of India has already pledged 78 million USD for the heavily affected Bihar state alone. With material from Democracy Now.

compendium

September 5, 2017 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

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