The McGill Daily Vol. 109 Issue 15 by McGill Daily

Volume 191, Issue 15 | Monday, January 27, 2020 | mcgilldaily.com <squacket> insert workers rights here </squacket> since 1911

AUS motion GA to stri

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

AUS STRIKE GA: Article on Page 4 MOUNT ROYAL

HÔPITAL GÉNÉRAL DE MONTRÉAL

SHOPPING DINING PIN

ENTERTAINMENT S

ITY

MUSEE DES BEAUX ARTS

PA R

McGILL ATHLETICS

ARTS BUILDING

T IC TR

RU E

IVE

SCHWARTZ’S DELI McGILL BOOKSTORE

DIS

NT ME RT AIN TE EN HUDSON’S BAY

RUE

DIS

PLACE DES ARTS

NÉ

-LÉ

RU E

OU ER T-B

BRO O

CHINA TOWN

RU E

-C

AT H

VA R

RO B

SHER

ST -LA

EV AR

RU E

BO GARE CENTRALE

SH BELL CENTRE

All-inclusive student living directly across the street from McGill University!

P.E. TRUDEAU AIRPORT

RU E

Immediate & fall 2020 availability!

METRO HOSPITAL

AV D

Call (514) 273-7626 CCC137_Updated McGill_Print_ad_FA.indd 1

Stop by 420 Sherbrooke St W for a tour TODAY! Or visit Campus1MTL.ca 2019-12-11 9:50:44 AM

table of Contents

January 27, 2020 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

Table of Contents 3

EDITORIAL • #RejectTeck: Stand With Indigenous Land Protectors

NEWs • SSMUnion Prepares for First GA • Students Mobilize Against Law 21 • VP University Affairs Faces Suspension Following Continued Use of “Profanity”

6 •

commentary

No One is Talking About Cars • Student Protests in India

9 • culture Problematic Artists, Oh Dear

• Rum, Advertising and Representation • Does The Testaments Pass the Test?

sci+tech • My Biodata? I Don’t Know Her

12 • compendium! In Solidarity with the Climate Crisis, Students Avoid Law 21 Strike GA • OSD Introduces Volunteer Slide-Sharers

The Daily Publications Society is currently accepting applications for its Board of Directors. Are you in love with the campus press, and would like to contribute to its continuity and improvement? Are governance, bylaws and motion writing your cup of tea? If so, you should consider applying to the DPS Board of Directors. DPS Directors meet at least once a month to discuss the management of both Le Délit and The McGill Daily, and get to vote on important decisions related to the DPS’s activities. They can also get involved in various committees whose purpose ranges from fundraising to organizing our annual journalism conference series. Positions must be filled by McGill students, duly registered for the Winter 2020 semester and able to serve until June 30th, 2020, as well as one Graduate Representative and one Community Representative.

To apply, please visit

dailypublications.org/dps-board-2020 Questions? Email chair@dailypublications.org for more info!

Drop by The Daily! Thursdays & Fridays after 6 p.m. 680 Sherbrooke Street West, room 724 facebook.com/ themcgilldaily/

More info: managing@ mcgilldaily.com

EDITORIAL

Volume 190 Issue 15

January 27, 2020 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

editorial board

680 Sherbrooke Suite 724, Montreal, QC H3A 0B8 phone 514.398.6784 fax 514.398.8318 mcgilldaily.com

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

Kate Ellis

managing editor

Willa Holt

#RejectTeck: Stand With Indigenous Land Protectors

news editor

Yasna Khademian Emily Black commentary + compendium! editor

Michaela Keil culture editor

Vacant features editor

Pandora Wotton

science + technology editor

Leslie Brown sports editor

Vacant

video editor

Vacant

photos editor

José Noé De Ita Zavala illustrations editor

Daisy Sprenger copy editor

Justine Ronis-Le Moal design + production editor

Vacant

social media editor

Vacant

radio editor

Amy Lloyd cover design

Daisy Sprenger contributors Emily Black, Willa Holt, Nabeela Jivraj, Yasna Khademian, Apoorva Malepati, Mehak Sawhney, Daisy Sprenger, Anais Regina-Renel, Aarthy Thiruthanikan, Ayesha Vemuri, Pandora Wotton, Alexis Zhou le délit

Grégoire Collet

rec@delitfrancais.com

Published by the Daily Publications Society, a student society of McGill University. The views and opinions expressed in the Daily are those of the authors and do not reflect the official policy or position of McGill University. The McGill Daily is not affiliated with McGill University.

680 Sherbrooke Suite 724, Montreal, QC H3A 0B8 phone 514.398.6790 fax 514.398.8318 advertising & general manager

Boris Shedov

sales representative

Letty Matteo

ad layout & design

Mathieu Ménard dps board of directors

Sebastien Oudin-Filipecki (Chair), Boris Shedov, Michaela Keil, Kate Ellis, Grégoire Collet, Juliette De Lamberterie, Jonathan Cruickshank All contents © 2018 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 context of the climate crisis, projects such as the Trans Mountain Pipeline have received widespread backlash for being environmentally destructive. However, a newly proposed project in northeastern Alberta has purposefully flown under the radar. The Frontier Project, a proposed tar sands mine from Teck Resources Limited, is threatening the land and water of the 14 Indigenous communities living in the area. Teck’s Frontier Project is currently awaiting approval from the federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Jonathan Wilkinson, following a report released in July 2019 by the Joint Review Panel, established by the Federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change and the Alberta Energy Regulator. The panel conditionally recommended the approval of the project. Wilkinson has until February to issue a decision on whether the proposal will be implemented. It is projected to produce 260,000 barrels of bitumen per day by 2037, “the same amount of greenhouse gas emissions as [putting] roughly 10 million new cars on the road,” according to a report from the Council of Canadians. Both the provincial and federal governments have been largely silent on the issue, attempting to approve the project while avoiding media attention and criticism. Many Indigenous activists are organizing to protect their land from environmentally damaging projects. Last month, during the COP25 UN Climate Change Conference, Indigenous Climate Action held a demonstration against the Teck Mine. During this protest, Elder François Paulette, representative of the Dené Nation and Smith’s Landing First Nation, declared, “we outright opposed the Teck project. It’s 30 km south of Wood Buffalo National Park. This project did not consult with us, their report did not include Indigenous peoples’ traditional knowledge.” Many leaders in the area have formalized agreements with Teck, including Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Chief Allan Adam and Ron Quintal, the president of the Fort McKay Métis Community Association. Chief Allan Adam has also supported the Trans Mountain pipeline in

the past, saying “If we want to be successful, we have to work together and come together. [The pipeline] is in the national interest of Canada.” Despite this, opinions within affected Nations vary significantly, calling into question whether these formal decisions reflect the interests of the communities these officials represent. Honorary National Chief of the Dené Nation, Bill Erasmus, has opposed similar projects in the past, explaining that the expansion of tar sands “develop[s] the tailings ponds, which have toxic chemicals in them, and those leach into the environment, expanding into the water system, which comes north to us.” The federal and provincial governments must consider the ramifications of these expansion projects, especially while claiming to work towards lower carbon emission targets. Further, the aforementioned 2019 report found that the construction of the Teck Mine, “in combination with the effects of other existing, approved, and planned developments and other disturbances in the region surrounding the project [will be] adverse and significant for most [I]ndigenous groups.” Indigenous activists have been continuously advocating for land protection with minimal recognition. It is crucial for non-Indigenous people to uplift these voices, and support their action. Widespread public criticism of the mine could impact the Minister’s decision regarding its implementation. There are many ways to take action and express your opinions on the project, including a number of petitions and letters that you can sign, which are linked in the online version of this editorial. You can also personally contact your local MP – for students who live in Milton-Parc (which is in the riding of Laurier—Sainte-Marie), this is Steven Guilbeault, who can be reached at 613-992-6779 or steven.guilbeault@parl. gc.ca. Furthermore, contact Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Jonathan Wilkinson at 613-995-1225 or jonathan.wilkinson@parl.gc.ca. To keep up with recent developments, follow #RejectTeck, Indigenous Climate (@ Indigenous_ca), Stand.earth (@standearth), and No Tar Sands (@NoTarSands) on Twitter.

Read us online! website Facebook Instagram twitter

www.mcgilldaily.com www.facebook.com/themcgilldaily @mcgilldaily @mcgilldaily

coordinating@mcgilldaily.com news@mcgilldaily.com commentary@mcgilldaily.com culture@mcgilldaily.com features@mcgilldaily.com scitech@mcgilldaily.com sports@mcgilldaily.com

Managing PHOTOs ILLUSTRATIONS DESIGN + PRODUCTION COPY WEB + Social Media MULTIMEDIA

managing@mcgilldaily.com photos@mcgilldaily.com illustrations@mcgilldaily.com design@mcgilldaily.com copy@mcgilldaily.com web@mcgilldaily.com multimedia@mcgilldaily.com

January 27, 2020 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

NEws: mcgill

SSMUnion Prepares for First GA Union Accreditation Received January 15

Pandora Wotton Features Editor

fter months of organizing and card-signing, the StudentRun Service Members’ Union (SSMUnion) has received accreditation. As stated in a post on their Facebook page, the union is “now legally recognized as the union representing all nonmanagement employees of SSMU.” It was granted formal status on January 15, after submitting signed union cards for verification to the Tribunal administratif du travail (TAT) of Quebec. Since the TAT confirmed that at least 50 per cent plus one of SSMU employees have signed and submitted cards, the union has been certified without an election. SSMUnion’s parent union, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), is also the union that represents the Concordia Student Union (CSU) and the Graduate Student Union (GSU) at Concordia, giving the organization relevant experience on unionizing student workers in Quebec. The SSMUnion hopes to tackle issues faced by the over 100 employees of SSMU. Belle

Courtesy of the ssmunion Sullivan, a member of the organizing committee and acting communications coordinator, tells the Daily that these issues include “unpredictable fluctuations in schedules and workload, lack of job security from being kept on temporary contracts, histories of harassment, and serious and systemic problems with communication.” Those covered under the union range from volunteers to full-time paid employees. SSMU executives are not included in the coverage, as they are considered a part of management. This includes, for example, those working within an organization run under SSMU, such as Queer McGill or the Sexual Assault Center of the McGill Students’ Society (SACOMSS),

and those who do administrative work in SSMU. Claire Downie, one student who recently joined the union, works in the organizing committee. Downie tells the Daily she got involved because she believes “unions can benefit every worker;” however, she feels strongly “that having protections provided by a union is especially essential for McGill student workers. Students often manage a job, schoolwork, and involvement in extracurricular activities, which can get extremely stressful.” The next steps for the SSMUnion include electing executives, working to create internal bywlaws – they will be governed by CUPE’s bylaws until they do so – and beginning

collective bargaining with SSMU. From there, the Union will negotiate wages, working conditions, additional resources, and other demands with their employer (SSMU). Most importantly, the organizing committee is preparing for their first General Assembly (GA), “where union members will be able to vote on by-laws, elect executives, and amend our constitution,” Sullivan says. “We’re trying to get as many union members as possible to come out to the GA, because we want everyone’s opinions to be heard as we move forward as a union.” Although over 50 per cent of SSMU employees have signed cards and joined, organizers are continuing to reach out to

workers to join the Union. While doing so, they are listening to their grievances to ensure that the needs of all SSMU employees are heard, and that all union members are being negotiated for. “If you’re a SSMU employee who hasn’t yet signed a card, or you’ve already signed a card but have yet to be involved with the SSMUnion, please reach out!” Sullivan says. “We want everyone’s opinions to be heard, because the SSMUnion is here to represent every SSMU employee!” You can follow the SSMUnion’s Facebook page for updates on upcoming events, including how to join the union and information about the upcoming first General Assembly.

Mobilization Against Law 21 EdUS Strikes, AUS GA Fails to Meet Quorum

Emily Black News Editor

s approximately 200 students took to the streets of Montreal on January 17 to demonstrate in opposition Law 21, students of the McGill Arts Undergraduate Society (AUS) were also organizing against the Coalition Avenir Québec’s (CAQ) controversial secularism law. Coordinated by SSMU VP External Adam Gwiazda-Amsel and a number of departmental associations, the AUS held a General Assembly (GA) that same Friday night in attempts to strike in solidarity with the Faculties of Education, Law, and Medicine, as well as UQAM, on Monday, January 20. Though a Facebook event that was created on January 13, the GA was officially communicated by the Faculty via email just over 40 hours before it was scheduled to begin. The GA was held in Leacock 132 and was slated to begin at 4:30 on Friday evening. However, the following 30 minutes were spent with students filing in

and out of the lecture hall, as the AUS counted attendees to try to meet quorum. Official attendance count was recorded at 90 students – about one per cent of the Arts undergraduate student population. The meeting failed to meet quorum, which was set at 500, accounting for approximately six per cent of total enrolled Arts undergraduate students. Failing to meet quorum meant that the AUS was unable to pass either a binding or nonbinding motion to be passed online, and at 5:01 p.m., the GA was called to a close. Speaking to the Daily after the meeting dissolved, Gwiazda-Amsel expressed his disappointment with the lack of mobilization beforehand, but also his satisfaction at the “impressive turnout” despite sudden notice and the fact that “only four [SSMU executives did] classroom announcements.” He cited “getting 90 people out to hear about the opportunities that are going on and encouraging them to start conversations” as a “great beginning,” also emphasizing that

“this is not the end” of student say that, well, if people aren’t mobilizing themselves or if they’re mobilization against Law 21. not coming to us during office hours and telling us what they want us to work on, then it’s not really our problem,” he explained. “It’s very easy to disengage in that way. It takes real courage to go consult students, make classroom announcements, ask what students want you to work on, and then mobilize yourself so you’re not shifting labour onto other people and to everyone who did that, I say ‘congratulations.’” The Education Undergraduate Society (EdUS) had its own struggles ahead of the strike, as their initial GA on January 10 failed to meet quorum. However, the strike was later ratified Looking ahead to the next online, with the vote taking place week, Gwiazda-Amsel stressed the on January 14 and 15, exceeding importance of supporting Education quorum and obtaining 24.4 per students and those affected by cent of votes from the student Law 21, despite a strike not being body, with 94.6 per cent voting in favour. According to Gwiazdaofficially endorsed by AUS. “I look forward to working with Amsel, it had the largest turnout the executives who are interested of any EdUS vote, including this in serving their student body on year’s elections. A soft picket line was held by the issues that are important to them. I think it’s very easy to the EdUS outside the Education

Official attendance count was recorded at 90 students – about one per cent of the Arts undergraduate student population.

Building on McTavish Street on Monday, January 20, beginning at 8:30 a.m. Gwiazda-Amsel, who picketed in solidarity with Education students, tells the Daily that “people were generally receptive” during the action. “Some people were frustrated, and people always are. Generally I feel like people on campus support the action against Law 21 and want to further that conversation.” Elaborating on the strike, the VP External stated, “[we’re] reclaiming the space from the Quebec government, and saying we’re not going to become teachers or file into the ranks when certain members of the faculty are systematically not able or allowed to do this.” Student action against Law 21 will continue to be organized outside of official strikes: student group McGill contre la loi 21 is holding its next meeting on Tuesday, January 28 at 12 p.m. at QPIRG-McGill offices and a follow up demonstration is being organized on March 21, coinciding with the International Day Against Racial Discrimination.

January 27, 2020 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

news: McGill

VP UA Faces Suspension Following Use of “Profanity”

Recommendations Called “Deeply Disappointing” Emily Black and Yasna Khademian News Editors

ccording to documents received by the Daily through an anonymous source, SSMU’s Accountability Committee planned to present a report to the Board of Directors (BoD) on January 23, recommending that VP University Affairs (UA) Madeline Wilson be suspended without pay for five days. The recommendation – written by the Accountability Committee of the SSMU BoD – cites Wilson’s “refusal to comply” with mandates issued by the Legislative Council and ratified by the BoD, as well as her “insubordination.”

“[This is a] misogynistic, classist, racist policy that should never have been passed in the first place.” – VP University Affairs

The recommendation is as follows: “On the basis of the December 4th Complaint, the Accountability Committee recommends to the [SSMU BoD] that the Vice-President (University Affairs), Madeline Wilson, be suspended in her capacity as an Officer for a period of five (5) working days without pay, to take effect at 9:00 a.m. on 27 January 2020 and end at 5:00 p.m. on 31 January 2020.” At the meeting in question, members of the press were forced to leave the room while SSMU directors discussed confidential matters. At the time of publication, it is unclear as to what decision was made regarding the Accountability Committee’s recommendations. Instigated by Wilson’s “use of profanity” in a Facebook post addressing McGill’s decision against divestment – made to the University Affairs page on December 4, 2019 – the

Photo by Tamim Sujat recommendation was written following a complaint made by a Councillor of SSMU Legislative Council on the same day to the Accountability Committee. The post in question included “profanity” in the text of the post following a content warning, calling on the McGill administration to “step the fuck up.” As outlined by the recommendation, Wilson’s post on December 4, 2019 is a continuation of her challenges against the BoD ruling, which resulted from complaints following a Facebook post to the University Affairs page on October 31, 2019. Condemning anti-Indigenous racism in the McGill community, Wilson posted in solidarity with SSMU Indigenous Affairs Commissioner Tomas Jirousek, stating that racists “can go fuck themselves.” The original mandate – approved in Legislative Council on November 28, 2019 – singles Wilson out by her position, and states that SSMU Executives are “[prohibited from] the use of profanity in Official SSMU Communications.” The motion, while obtaining a majority

The recommendation was written following a complaint made by a Councillor of SSMU Legislative Council. of votes, also faced substantial opposition. Former Social Work Councilor Jo Roy stated in the previous council on November 14, 2019 that the motion “amounted to tone policing.” Wilson defended her language, stating that she “[chooses] to use profanity” in communications “specifically with regards to issues or topics [she feels] quite strongly about and that [she feels] deserve strong language, such as explicit racism directed at individuals.” The final vote in Legislative Council had 19 councilors vote in favour, four against, and five abstentions. According to the recommendation, Wilson has stated both in the Senate Caucus and in the December 2 BoD meeting that she would not comply with the BoD’s ruling on the mandate, which was also cited as the rationale for her suspension.

Condemning anti-Indigenous racism in the McGill community, Wilson posted in solidarity with SSMU Indigenous Affairs Commissioner Tomas Jirousek, stating that racists “can go fuck themselves.”

After the news broke, the VP University Affairs reaffirmed her position in an email to the Daily. “I made it clear from the moment the motion to ban profanity came to SSMU Legislative Council that if it passed, I had no intention of complying with it,” she stated. “It is so deeply disappointing,” Wilson wrote, “that members of this institution seem to care more about the word ‘fuck’ and who says it than the fact that abusive professors still walk this fucking campus, that McGill has chosen for a third time to not fucking divest from fossil fuels, that access to quality healthcare is fucking non-existent, that Law 21 is a fucking thing, that getting the necessary academic accommodations is a fucking nightmare and so on and so forth.” Jirousek, via the SSMU Indigenous Affairs Facebook page, weighed in on the matter shortly after, supporting Wilson. “In the simplest term possible – fuck this bullshit. It speaks to a misguided idea of ‘accountability’ and ‘agency,’” he wrote. “[SSMU] fails to internally recognize and confront issues of racism, sexism, or heteronormativity in the workplace – but instead chooses to target effective, capable, and powerful individuals.” A spokesperson for the Accountability Committee

responded to the Daily’s request for comment. “Since it is not within the Accountability Committee’s mandate to make a value judgement since it is not an elected/ democratic body,” they stated, “the Accountability Committee makes a prima facie evaluation of whether a mandate was violated, based only on the facts of the mandate and the actions taken.” For Wilson, the root of the issue is the motion that was passed by Legislative Council. “[This is a] misogynistic, classist, racist policy that should never have been passed in the first place,” she wrote. “But [it] did because SSMU is an inherently inaccessible institution.” In closing, she stated, “If you think the biggest problem here is the fact that I cursed and broke a rule, I seriously suggest you take a hard look at your priorities and who they benefit the most.”

“In the simplest term possible – fuck this bullshit. It speaks to a misguided idea of ‘accountability’ and ‘agency.’” – SSMU Indigenous Affairs Commissioner

January 27, 2020 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

commentary

No One is Talking About Cars The Single Largest Contributor to Greenhouse Gases is Also the Most Overlooked

Alexis Zhou Commentary Writer

limate crisis is occurring in real-time all around us. Newfoundland is buried in snow, Australia is on fire, California is still on fire (as always), as is Russia in its Siberian region. The good news is that people all over the world are starting to realize the gravity of what we are facing, demanding actions from elected officials and private corporations. Liberal politicians are outbidding each other in the breadth of their climate action proposals, dubbed with ambitious names like “Green New Deals” or Trudeau’s “Net Zero Pledge.” Those are all fantastic ideas, except that they all forget to address the centrepiece of the climate crisis, transportation. Transportation is by all accounts, the single largest contributor to greenhouse gases in North America. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, in the United States, “the largest sources [of greenhouse gases] are passenger cars and light-duty trucks, including sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks, and minivans.” Uncle Sam’s undue obsession with heavy cars and trucks is having a real toll on the environment. As reported by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), Canada is not doing much better than its southern neighbour, with transportation “being the secondlargest source of GHG emissions, accounting for 24% (174 megatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent) of total national emissions in 2017,” only to be narrowly surpassed by Canada’s oil and gas sector. The report also points out that passenger vehicles and civil aviation are responsible for more than half of all transportationrelated emissions in Canada.

soon. “Between 1990 and 2017, [greenhouse gas] emissions from the transportation sector grew by 43%. The growth in emissions was mostly driven by increases from freight trucks and passenger light trucks,” said an ECCC report. It doesn’t take an expert to point out this alarming trend: people are driving way too much, and it’s becoming a problem. However, an average car-loving American or Canadian does not have any option in terms of transportation other than automobiles. In many parts of North America, the public transit system is in such a sorry state that it has become impossible to rely on it for daily commutes. The bus may either be 20 minutes late, operating on a 2-hour interval or it might simply never show up. More often than not, the bus route is either confusing, useless, or sometimes both. Making things worse, on evenings and weekends, the schedule is usually reduced or out-of-service altogether. People need to go out any day of the week, but many transit systems fail to recognize that. A lot of passengers riding on many of North America’s transit What’s more concerning is that feel disrespected by the way the the sheer number of CO2 emissions system was designed. It was no equivalent generated by automobiles accident. Transit, in the general is surging in Canada, showing no consensus of American politics, hint of slowing down any time is a social welfare program:

But in both D.C. and Ottawa, few politicians are willing to advocate for transit, even the ones sitting on the progressive wing.

Daisy Sprenger | Illustrations Editor a “handout” for the poor. Oftentimes, it is designed poorly on purpose to force people into buying cars. People drive, or they take public transit. When there is no functioning transit, they’ll tend to buy a car. But in both D.C. and Ottawa, few politicians are willing to advocate for transit, even the ones sitting on the progressive wing.

Transportation is by all accounts, the single largest contributor to greenhouse gases in North America. The Green New Deal briefly mentions public transit or modern passenger rail infrastructure, without any details. California’s progressive new governor Gavin Newsom slashed the California High-Speed Rail Project first month into his inauguration. Of 2020’s US Democratic primary candidates, Joe Biden talks about spending a

jaw-dropping 1.3 trillion dollars on refurbishing highways, but when it comes to transit, he is only willing to offer 0.8% of that amount. Andrew Yang boasts about the potential of electric cars and upgrading public transit to everything electric, but no mention of improving or increasing actual service anywhere in his plan. Bernie Sanders also briefly name drops electric buses and affordable transportation; still, his climate plan is largely car-centric. Politicians are cautious in making promises they can’t keep, especially ones that would fundamentally change the way of life for their constituents. One may say: look, let’s forget about transportation for a second, there is still the gas and oil industry out there, shouldn’t we go after them? The fact is, we cannot. When people are in their cars driving around, they and their cars are the ultimate patrons of the fossil-fuel industrial complex. The petroleum sector thrives on gas because people like us continue to hand them 7% of our income every year in gasoline expenses and that number is only increasing. Simply put, fossil-fuel production will not decrease until people drive less. Usually, there is no simple answer to our myriad of social problems, but in the context of climate change, there really is. Better public transit is

the answer, or at least the main one. While politicians in North America are still largely looking the other way, people from all walks of life and backgrounds are coming together to make a difference. Grassroots transit advocacy groups are popping up all over the continent, from Vancouver’s Riders Union, Riders Alliance of New York, and Miami Riders Alliance to Louisiana’s Ride New Orleans. If you are dissatisfied with the transit system in your hometown, go look for a local advocacy group, and see how you can participate. If you’re not into advocacy, that’s totally fine, there is something that you can do very easily – ride transit whenever you can. By doing that, you’re not only reducing your carbon footprints, but you are also waving a giant middle finger to the face of fossil-fuel and automobile industries, all while showing your support and love for public transit.

Simply put, fossil-fuel production will not decrease until people drive less.

January 27, 2020 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

commentary

Student Protests in India

Police Brutality Marks Protests Against Discriminatory New Law

Ayesha Vemuri, Apoorva Malepati, AND Mehak Sawhney Commentary Contributors content warning: physical and sexual violence, islamophobia

ver the past month, India has been in turmoil over the passing of the controversial new Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). In an unprecedented move, the Act introduces religion as one of the key criteria in determining the eligibility of refugees for citizenship. More specifically, critics show that the CAA offers a means by which to exclude people of Muslim origin from being able to obtain citizenship in India, thus acting as a key step in Narendra Modi’s government’s plan to make India a Hindu nationalist state. The CAA has been deemed “fundamentally discriminatory in nature” by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Indeed, the CAA, viewed alongside the National Register for Citizens (NRC), provides the infrastructure for reducing Muslim communities to a second-class citizenship status in India. The government has also initiated the construction of detention camps across the country to house so-

The attacks against university students and professors reveal that India’s Hindu supremacist government, like other fascist states, views freedom of thought and freedom of speech as particularly dangerous.

called “illegal immigrants,” a move which has led Genocide Watch to issue an alert for India, especially the states of Kashmir and Assam. After the CAA was passed on December 11, 2019, students at two Muslim-majority universities, Jamia Millia Islamia University in Delhi, and the Aligarh Muslim University in the state of Uttar Pradesh, organized protests to condemn the discriminatory nature of this new law. They were met with vicious and brutal violence. Police barged into campus spaces, attacking students with tear gas and beating them with sticks, and even shot at students, many of whom were peacefully protesting. Students not involved in the protests, such as those studying in the library or praying at the mosque, were also attacked. More than 80 students from Jamia Millia Islamia University were admitted to the hospital with injuries, and many reports of sexual violence have also emerged. As one website reports, “female students were beaten up and even sexually harassed by the male police officers. To save themselves, they tried locking themselves in the female washrooms but in vain. Doors were broken, and the forces entered thereto. Another tactic employed by the forces was to switch off the lights before they started assaulting students and sexually abusing girl students.” In Aligarh Muslim University, students also experienced a similar situation. In the state of Uttar Pradesh, where the University is located, more than 16 people have been killed as a result of police brutality and right-wing violence. The death toll across India has now exceeded 25 people since the protests first began. More recently, on Sunday, January 5, 2020, masked “goons” revealed to be part of the Hindu supremacist student movement stormed a peaceful protest at Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi, attacking students with iron rods. More than 32 students have been admitted to the hospital for injuries, several in critical condition. Video footage released on social media shows that police stood by and enabled the attacks to take place unimpeded for many hours. It is distressing that reports indicate these instances of violence specifically targeted students with disabilities and female students. The attacks against university students and professors reveal that India’s

Daisy Sprenger | Illustrations Editor Hindu supremacist government, like other fascist states, views freedom of thought and freedom of speech as particularly dangerous.

The death toll across India has now exceeded 25 people since the protests first began. While these recent attacks are particularly egregious, it is important to note that there has been an ongoing, concerted attack on students, activists, and journalists ever since Modi’s government came into power in 2014. Several journalists have been harassed and murdered during Modi’s term, marking India as one of the most unsafe nations for the free press. This includes Gauri Lankesh, an outspoken critic of the right-wing government. Dozens of activists leading the Right to Information campaign (which ensures transparency and

accountability in governance) have been murdered, assaulted, and intimidated. Through its rise to power, this government has made the quashing of dissent a central aspect of its policies. Across India, academics and students who have critiqued the government have been subject to increasing scrutiny, arrests and violence. This increase of authoritarianism, the repression of dissent, and the assault on the freedom of thought and speech are recent trends that can be seen all over the world. Yet even while these fascist trends propagate, resistance to these policies is growing everyday. What’s more, these resistances are being led by women and girls. As students strongly committed to social justice and equality, we feel that it is imperative to speak out. We need to join our voices to protestors fighting the rise of fascism all over the world, build networks of solidarity and support, and encourage academic institutions to support us in this effort. While many students and professors at McGill have signed statements condemning the CAA, NRC, and police brutality in India, the official university administration remains passive.

We ask that the student community join us in asking the McGill administration and student unions at McGill to release statements condemning the attacks on students in India. We also ask that they write to the Canadian government to speak out against the current attacks on student protestors in India. We ask them to condemn the exclusionary policies (affecting religious minorities) that have prompted these protests.

This increase of authoritarianism, the repression of dissent, and the assault on the freedom of thought and speech are recent trends that can be seen all over the world.

January 27, 2020 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

Culture

Problematic Artists, Oh Dear Nice Art, Shame About the Artist

Daisy Sprenger Illustrations Editor content warning: mentions of abuse and bigotry

rt is inherently political. It has been used to both oppress and uplift, educate and propagandize, and about every shade in between. But what about the more nebulous realm of the artist? That word that is inclined to conjure images of paint-stained, smock-sporting afficianattos, or perhaps the wiley writer type in their attic with the stuffed owl and the dusty bookcase. Or, in the case of the “indie” rock scene, the milk toast goth boy with his guitar and anger management issues: a prime example of which would be Morrissey, the notorious singer-songwriter of counterculture band The Smiths, who later became known as a right wing xenophobe. Morrissey is an interesting example because of his utter transformation from symbol of counterculture to oppressor. It’s doubtful that in the wake of the hateful alt-right espousals of his middle age that he deserves a four page spread in Rolling Stone magazine. Morrissey’s current politics are condemnable, but does that mean that we should never listen to “Louder Than Bombs” ever again?

An artist’s interactions with fans, critics, and collaborators are just as much a part of this sphere of influence as the art itself. I’m by no means saying that The Smiths music, albeit countercultural and cutting edge, is always a shining example of progressive politics. But surely there are gems that don’t deserve the rubbish heap just because their front man went off the rails. Should his band mates Johnny Marr, Andy Rourk, and Mike Joyce be sent off to obscurity? And yet, why should Morrissey’s mugshot be on every hot topic T-Shirt? Even if it’s to represent some jazzy counterculture jangle like “Panic,” does his face not also represent Brexit and hate? Who’s to say? Who are we to draw the lines of censorship? Who are we not to speak out against problematic artists such as Morrissey?

Morrissey is not the only talented artist who turned into a despicable grease smudge of oppression. Dare we talk about H.P. Lovecraft’s virulent racism? And yet the peanut gallery says “he revolutionized all that’s creepy and worth living for in horror literature!” How about Dostoyevsky and his horrifying antisemitism? Kanye West’s persistent sexism and homophobia? J.K. Rowling’s transphobia? Not to mention the pages and pages of male artists who have abused and oppressed women again and again. The list goes on and on. There is a wide range of what it means to be “problematic,” beyond simply considering art which is explicitly so. An artist’s influence goes beyond the influence of the art they produce. Thus, problematic sentiments may still have ill consequences on the lives of others, even if these ideals aren’t always apparent in their art. For instance, an artist’s interactions with fans, critics, and collaborators are just as much a part of this sphere of influence as the art itself. Considering this, it’s important to remember that fame is power: a power which has often been abused, as evident in the many testemonies of sexual assault by film producers and directors. Already, a robust discussion about the place of art which is explicitly oppressive yet still somehow manages to accrue a league of defenders (for instance, some of the bafflingly controversial standup comedy) has been entertained. There’s been plenty of discussion about the so called “cancel culture,” a loaded term implying that art should somehow be immune to political criticism. All art is political, and the message that you put forth is always going to be a risk, and by its very nature should be scrutinized critically. But there’s a certain grey area in talking about the intersection between art and politics, where the personal lives of artists, which may seem to be completely separate from their actual art, cannot help but attract attention for all the gasps of horror that they may ensue. So the question I would like to ask is: when these hidden personal lives become problematic, does this affect our perception of the artist’s creation? Should an artist’s lifestyle and political choices outside of their art production still be considered? Is it ever possible to sever the two? When I was in grade school, I idolized Keith Moon, the chaotic drummer of British Rock band, The Who. I read his extensive biography, hanging on every word of the biographer, Toni Fletcher. While reading it, I came to the overall conclusion that Keith Moon was a complex and ultimately problematic person, namely in the fact that he was abusive to his wife. And yet, I still consider his drumming skills

to be some of the best. I didn’t stop listening to The Who, or even for that matter telling people what a talented drummer Keith Moon was, just because of this newfound information about his personal life; and yet, is there not some value to having a nuanced view of celebrities in recognizing their faults as well as their skills? Unadulterated idolization never did anyone any good, surely. But what about the shadow that such information casts as well? How could I ignore the information of the abuse and trauma that Moon caused to some of those around him, and still enjoy the band’s music? Was it somehow worse to willfully ignore these faults now that I was aware, and continue to espouse the praise of the band? I still don’t have any easy answers to these questions. On the one hand, I do truly enjoy the music that The Who created, and I doubt, for nostalgic reasons, as well as personal taste, that I will ever stop listening to their music. But the fact is that celebrities and artists are public figures, and have massive influence on the way the larger schema of culture tends to shift. It seems somehow perverse for me to enjoy Keith Moon’s drumming, even though there is no correlation between his skill as a musician and the treatment of his wife. And it was never easy to separate the art and the artist, regardless of whether there is a problem. I’m not inclined to say “Oh, the drumming on that track is particularly good.” Rather, I’d say, “Wow, Keith Moon is really something,” because it feels more satisfying and fulfilling to our want of human connection to assign a face and a name to art which invokes such human responses.

All artistic fields are inherently competitive, which means that there is almost certainly a less problematic, but equally talented artist who deserves our attention just as much, if not more so. So, how can one be justified in ignoring an artist’s personal life? It might be worth while making a distinction between the mistakes of

Daisy Sprenger | Illustrations Editor artists of the past from those that are still alive. Partially because they live(d) in different contexts, and also because artists of the present still have a chance to change for the better. In terms of art of the past, perhaps the best method is to educate ourselves as best we can, and acknowledge an artist’s faults with their skills. In addressing the so called “canon” of often problematic creative types preserved from the past, I highly doubt that anyone is going to stop teaching Dostoyevsky and Shakespeare in literature classes, even though some of their views are outdated. Some may even argue that it is this “outdatedness” which serves as a discussion point on how we have and still can improve in our social conscientiousness as a literary and artistic culture. It doesn’t pay to ignore these problems in lieu of their talents for fear of losing a critical eye or seeming indifferent to the possibility of offense. Or worse, that these ideas might be adopted as justification for modern day reiterations of the same types of oppression. But these faults that seem so common in the so-called “classics” are also why it pays to deviate from the canon and see what other works may have to offer: a different view-point of a past era, and perhaps a viewpoint that is less hateful. When addressing contemporary, living artists who have problematic personal lives, the situation becomes interesting. After all, if they are alive and have made mistakes, they still have a chance to redeem themselves and learn from their mistakes. This doesn’t always happen of course, but it is all the more reason why it’s worthwhile to recognize these mistakes. After all, these are the people who define our popular culture, and if we are ever to improve, then that is a good place to start being critical.

What’s more, real estate on the pop cultural consciousness is so incredibly valuable, that as consumers of culture, we need to be

Is it somehow worse to continue to espouse praise, and willfully ignore these faults now that I was aware of them? cognizant of who we are granting it to, as well as who we may be excluding in our choices. While a certain level of due process and forgiveness to the complexities of humanity is a decent trait, I believe that it’s important to ask ourselves if there isn’t someone else who would do a better job posing as this decade’s artistic darling (and by better job, I mean someone who isn’t woefully problematic). All artistic fields are inherently competitive, which means that there is almost certainly a less problematic, but equally talented artist who deserves our attention just as much, if not more so. We, as consumers, have a hidden power over who “makes it” in the art world and who doesn’t. We need to be conscious of our ability to shape our culture. Our artistic idols define who we are as a society, and thus, in order to ever grow and become more conscientious, it’s important to have the full picture, and treat that picture with a critical eye to the subtleties of art and the social.

culture

January 27, 2020 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

Rum, Advertising, and Representation

The Role of Rum in the Culture of Martinique Anaïs Régina-Renel Culture Contributor

ugar cane and rum are not only products which sustain the economy of Martinique – they are parts of our culture. Whether old or young, everyone is familiar with the famous distilleries of the island: JM, La Mauny, HSE, Saint James, and Trois-Rivières, whose rums are synonymous with our holidays and whose bottles decorate our homes all year long. These bottles can be heavily decorated with pictures of Creole women wearing the traditional costume, or just feature the name of the distillery or plantation home with the date of its creation, such as the famous blue bottle reading “Trois-Rivières, since 1660.” Highlighting the year of the distillery’s creation right under its name is proof of the owners’ pride in their product’s longevity. This also aims at impressing and attracting the potential buyer and consumer. 1660 is a display of confidence. However, thinking fondly about such a remote date while savouring a “ti-punch” (a Caribbean cocktail made from

All styles/ mediums welcome!

rum, lime, and cane sugar) is But that marketing strategy ultimately both foolish and is disrespectful towards our ignorant. But why? ancestors who were enslaved. “Since 1660” stresses the long-lasting success that Trois-Rivières rum has granted capitalist exploiters, when that success is only due to the labour of enslaved peoples. I, therefore, accuse the Trois-Rivières rum of merit appropriation and embellishment of their success. “1660” is a decoy. The brief label does not make clear what 1660 implies: natives being exterminated, devastating colonialism, and a slave trade which enabled the production of sugarcane while only benefitting the slavers. The slave trade was Trois-Rivières rum also bears institutionalized and perpetrated the specific attractiveness for four centuries, exclusively of the vast culture it is part for capitalist-induced benefits. of: exoticism. The latter is White capitalist slavers, whose an issue in many regards. descendants are now also known Of course, it deals with the as “békés,” used to possess (and still imperialistic, demeaning, and possess) the land fit for agriculture paternalistic gaze the white and the means of production, man casts on the West Indies. while abusing the black women, This idea, coupled with the men, and children who were benefits of capitalism, shapes producing cane, sugar, and rum. colonialism. The word “exotic” The pride held by all these rum implies a different civilization houses is misplaced. – one that is foreign but also Maybe the producers take inferior. The colonizer’s it lightly; “it’s just history,” culture is seen as dominant, “it’s just a marketing strategy.” with the colonizer refusing

Framing the Caribbean as “exotic” is a way to erase a dark history of slavery and colonization, and to distort its people.

Love to draw? Pissed off about politics? Enter our political cartoon contest, for a chance to get your art published in our paper! Please keep it within our Statement of Principles! calling out the institutions, pointing out the unjust, and highlighting underrepresented issues. If your political cartoon is in any way oppressive, offensive to marginalized groups, and/ or hateful, we won’t be able to publish it.

Interested? Send all submissions to illustrations@mcgilldaily.com | Deadline: Feb. 29

to view the “exotic” as equal. After observing the Arawaks and other native people from the Caribbean, the colonizers could well have used the word “exotic” to refer to them, right before eradicating them. This adjective has also been used to qualify black men and women from the Caribbean in order to sexualize them in an unhealthy and immoral way.

way to erase a dark history of slavery and colonization, and to distort its people; once more a means implemented by white men (from the Caribbean or abroad) to close their eyes in order to feel comfortable, thus ignoring a certain reality and exonerating themselves. The above-mentioned thoughts open a debate on reparations which to this day has had no conclusion, but whose answer lies, in my opinion, on the more complex debate of a socialist revolution. A limit must be imposed to my criticism: indeed, ever since the beginning of the 20th century, Trois-Rivières rum is no longer owned by the békés or by another Martinican owner, but belongs to European companies (the French Chevrillon and more recently the Italian Campari). Hence, with this change of ownership, we might no longer accuse them entirely of negligence. Maybe they do not have the cultural background to give the people the pride we deserve. But we can’t help but notice the depletion of our heritage and the loss of our identity and we can question In other words, framing the legitimacy of foreign the Caribbean as “exotic” is a companies to own our rum.

We can’t help but notice the depletion of our heritage and the loss of our identity and we can question the legitimacy of foreign companies to own our rum.

January 27, 2020 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

Does The Testaments Pass the Test?

Culture

A Review of Margaret Atwood’s Latest Novel Aarthy Thiruthanikan Culture Writer content warning: sexual violence Note: This review contains spoilers for The Testaments.

argaret Atwood’s The Testaments follows the lives of three women living in the patriarchal society of Gilead. Women in Gilead serve as complements to men of the society, falling into the category of Wife, Aunt, Martha, or Handmaid. Wives are married to Commanders, prominent men of Gilead, and are given maids – Marthas – to help them with their homes. If a Wife is unable to produce a child, she is assigned a Handmaid, a woman forced to conceive a child with her husband. These Handmaids are previously trained by Aunts to accept this statutory rape as an integral part of maintaining Gilead. Gilead is the previous setting of Offred’s experience in The

Handmaid’s Tale. The Testaments, its sequel, recounts how these women are critical to the fall of its oppressive regime.

allowed me to understand the nuances of sexism within The Republic of Gilead (which, in turn, helped me understand the nuances of real sexism). I find that a good novel often takes its reader through many paths, forcing them to feel a variety of emotions. What I found to be particularly frustrating was how the Handmaids were treated as lesser members of society, despite them being vital to the country. Gilead’s deteriorating population relies on the reproductive abilities of a few fertile women, who are automatically rendered as Handmaids. These women are then forced into an act of sexual violence, in which they are forced to have sexual relations with high ranking male officials in order to produce a family unit. Despite state-owned propaganda As the story is told through claiming they serve “the greater alternating perspectives, The good” of Gilead, these women are Testaments provides a more slut-shamed amongst the rest of holistic image of Gilead. I found society. These women exist in a for being oppressed. Atwood’s that each character’s different paradox, wherein the system that decision to weave this message position within the society oppresses them critiques them throughout the book reflects the structure of many contemporary patriarchies. At its core, the patriarchy holds an illogical hatred towards women, one that cannot be reasoned with. What I enjoyed about The Testaments is its rejection of a level headed, clear-minded, archetypal “heroine.” Rather than having a clear conscience with a specific goal in mind, this new Testaments heroine is layered, and often flawed. Aunt Lydia serves as one of these women, not because she completely deviates from Gilead’s values, but because she is an instrument used to uphold them. Being one of the Handmaids’ teachers, she often preaches the importance of blindly following the sexist laws of Gilead. However, she also serves as a mole for the organization “MayDay,” an organization trying to dismantle Gilead. It is her role as a double agent, as both a devout teacher of sexism and an activist against it, that often unsettled me. How could I trust a woman who held so much power? who held the potential to ruin multiple lives seamlessly? It’s this contrast between her role and her activism that prevents her character from being idealized. I wonder if this distrust was intentionally put in by Atwood. Did it serve as some sort of subliminal message, one that questioned the “fear” that contemporary society has towards women in positions of power? It’s questions like these which keep the novel impressionable in my mind. The epilogue of The Testaments brings readers to the future, where

These women exist in a paradox, wherein the system that oppresses them critiques them for being oppressed.

Daisy Sprenger| lllustrations Editor

the fall of Gilead is being discussed at an international historical association conference. Seeing Gilead framed as an object of study, readers are overwhelmed with the sense that Gilead is an occurrence both very close and very distant from them. This, in turn, forces readers to evaluate their own relationship to history and if there is anything truly being learned from it. Simply put, The Testaments conveys to readers the importance of learning about history.

Readers are overwhelmed with a sense that Gildead is both very close and very distant, forcing us to evaluate our own relationship with history. In regards to Gilead, one guest lecturer at the conference addresses the crowd by reminding them that “history doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes.” Within these final words, Atwood is warning mankind of its innate flaw of repeating its mistakes. To me, it seemed almost as an accepted fact, as if we are never capable of learning from the past.

January 27, 2019 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

SCI+TECH

My Biodata? I Don’t Know Her

23andMe Licenses Its Own Drug

Nabeela Jivraj Sci+Tech Writer

n January 9, 2020, 23andMe, the ancestry DNA company, announced that it has licensed its first drug compound developed in-house. Sold to Spanish drugmaker Almirall, the compound in question is an antibody that blocks signals from IL-36 cytokines, a type of protein involved in stimulating inflammation. This type of cytokine is associated with multiple autoinflammatory and immune conditions, including psoriasis, lupus, and Crohn’s disease. The licensing will allow Almirall to develop and commercialize the antibody for commercial use. Though the price point for the licensing remains undisclosed, it is troubling to learn that 23andMe is now turning larger profits made possible by its database of genetic material, effectively signed over by DNA test kit clients. In the terms and conditions for kit use, clients consent to their saliva samples being used for genetic research. More than 10 million test kits have been sold over the company’s 13-year tenure (at a price point of $129 CAD for an ancestry kit, and $249 CAD for both “health” and ancestry), with 80% of clients consenting to their data being used for research. Personal health and fitness companies such as 23andMe, Fitbit, and Apple Health, have all been well-established as viable partners for pharmaceutical companies looking to leverage biodata for research and drug development. While the in-house development of the IL-36 blocker is a first for 23andMe, the company has long had ties to the pharmaceutical industry: they’ve been partnered with drug company GlaxoSmithKline for several years, for a $300M stake in the

company. Similarly, Fitbit inked a partnership with Pfizer and BristolMyers-Squibb for research into atrial fibrillation and stroke. The ancestry DNA company, valued at $2.5B, has allegedly been transparent in its aims to profit from both (1) indicating genetic disposition to certain diseases and (2) creating drugs to treat them. However, the pretenses under which individuals engage with personalized medicine differ vastly from the pretense of research participation. Though client data use is predicated on principles of informed consent, the rhetoric surrounding “collecting biodata” and the implications of its use for profit is drastically different from the marketing rhetoric used by personalized medicine. The marketing tactics typically used by 23andMe have included such promises as: individual control in the face of medical uncertainty, knowledge of personal identity through understanding of heredity and ancestry, and kinship with others over shared genetics, (such as Elizabeth Warren’s claim to Native American ancestry), and relatively low price point of the test kits made them marketable as “stocking stuffers” or gifts to a loved one. Researcher Kim Tallbear, from the University of Alberta, writes in her book Native American DNA: Tribal Belonging And The False Promise Of Genetic Science that some DNA kit users come from families fragmented by colonialism, with gaps in their ancestral knowledge that they hope to fill. Thus, these marketing tactics prey on the health insecurities and vulnerabilities of people hoping to know more about their heritage, ultimately to provide information with little actionable insight. It has

Genomics: The branch of molecular biology concerned with mapping the structure and function of genomes (the genetic materials of an organism). For example: the Human Genome Project was an international research initiative to map the entire human genome.

Daisy Sprenger | Illustrations Editor also been widely documented that at-home genetic tests are not always accurate and are not diagnostic tools in and of themselves, with many concerns brought about by the company’s tests mandating followup and a lab-based diagnostic with a medical professional. While the tests might provide novel information regarding your identity and makeup, this information is not necessarily reliable or useful, and can even introduce anxieties. The intensity of the marketing rhetoric of DNA test kits to date is also reflected in the string of controversies surrounding DNA testing over the years. The link drawn between “racial ancestry” and shared genetic biomarkers across populations (how 23andMe comes up with its “ancestry” categories and calculations) has been called into question for reinforcing the concept of race as having biological foundations, rather than as a social construct. Do DNA test kits have a role in accelerating a rise in the rhetoric of race science and eugenics? The role DNA kits have played in affirming or negating identity – which has been

in turn used in the arena of identity politics – has also been questioned and ridiculed since such instances as Elizabeth Warren’s claim to Cherokee ancestry. The narrative around pointof-use genetic testing has come to be tied heavily to questions of race and identity, rather than to research and drug development. These developments with biodata are consistent with scientific history. This has always been the case with genetics, which has been used in the name of far too many racist and ethnocentric causes. Similarly, the use of human cells for research without appropriate patient knowledge, consent, or consultation is common. The case of Henrietta Lacks, a tobacco farmer whose cells were harvested unbeknownst to her and are the source for the HeLa cancer cell line (eventually put into mass production for biomedical research), is a salient example of the value of biodata, and how science can tend to completely overlook its source. While the past several years have allowed space for real conversations about race, identity, and personal

genomics, the question of what is to happen with all this biodata looms. Companies with such stockpiles of biodata are also treasure troves for health insurance, advertising, and other biotech companies. These corporations all become potential customers and “data miners,” also buying and selling client information to be sold back as therapeutics. The central question of whether informed consent can truly be given in this context – nevermind the fact that so many of us rarely pause to read the Terms and Conditions – is still on the table. If we don’t consent to being in the biodatabases of the future, who instead is being represented in those frameworks? Who are the therapeutics for? If you are interested in reading more about race, identity, and how DNA test kits factor in, check out extension coverage of the topic on NPR CodeSwitch episodes: - “Race Underneath the Skin” (December 2018) - “Is Race Science Making a Comeback” (July 2019).

January 27, 2020 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

compeNdium!ß Fuck Yeah, Madeline Wilson.

In Solidarity with Climate Crisis, Students Avoid Law 21 Strike GA Racism and Xenophobia a “Non-Issue” on Campus

McGall Weekly News Bean

n Friday, January 17, less than one per cent of Arts students filed into Leacock 132 to attend the AUS GA to discuss striking in solidarity with the Faculty of Education against Law 21. The GA was poorly attended, with only 90 students attending* and as a result did not meet the required numbers to vote, despite quorum being only 5 per cent** of the Faculty of Arts student body. AUS president Jobby McMan was “present” at the GA, frequently checking his watch and lamenting the time wasted on “politics” that his “constituents literally don’t even care about, lol.” When asked by the Weekly what his methods of raising awareness for the GA were, the president simply juuled and pointed to an email he let AUS executives send out to students 5 minutes before the Assembly was scheduled.

was just so amazing, electric even,” Kaitlynne continued. “It’s so incredible to see all of my white peers showing up for our planet, especially considering how many people are STILL wearing fur and eating meat, which is like, super bad karma.” Kyle (Philosophy, U7) told the Weekly that student mobilizations like the attempted strike take away from larger concerns by spending time on the Law. “Bill 12 [sic] or whatever it is just isn’t that big a deal. We need to focus on the real marginalized issues on campus, like women swearing in student Pandora Wotton | Features Editor government or people being cyber“It doesn’t really affect that bullied for forgetting to send one The McGall Weekly spoke to (Political Science, U3) told the several Arts students on their Weekly. “Personally, I didn’t know many people, so I felt like striking tiny email, like, one time.” Kaitlynne agreed, saying decision not to attend the GA this was going on, but even if I did, was way too bold of a statement,” – several of whom proudly I probably had better things to do.” she said. Instead, Kaitlynne “It’s like they said on that When asked about the Strike made a point of emphasizing show, University. I can excuse displayed anti-“Bill” 21 buttons on their coats and backpacks, GA, Kaitlynne Cargill-MacMillan- when student mobilization is xenophobia, but I draw the line at likely picked up from the previous Walton (Economics, U2) told the important, such as the Climate single-use plastics.” Weekly that she didn’t see Law 21 March, which occurred last week’s Activities Night. *these are real numbers “Well, I mean, it was a Friday as an issue that was relevant to October. “So many people showed **no this is not a joke up for that GA, the atmosphere night,” Brent “the Trent” Trenten Arts students.

OSD Introduces Volunteer Slide-Sharers

Wilma Shmolt Homosexual Resources

his Friday, the OSD proudly announced their newest volunteer position, available to all members of the McDill community by application. The new role is a perfect way to provide a valuable service to students at McDill, “reducing positive outcomes while increasing barriers to education for every student.” Known as “slide-sharers,” these students will simply stand at the front of a lecture hall regularly for a semester, sharing information displayed on the projection screens by reading it aloud. They will craft syllabi and design lesson plans, working together with Slide-Sharing Assistants, or SSAs (volunteer, by application). In addition, they will field questions from other students and provide supplemental “reading assignments,” which will undoubtedly enrich the learning experiences of McDill undergraduates.

Slide-sharing is a critical job, and one which the OSD has vocally expressed their appreciation for. “We just know that the university couldn’t survive without our

When asked why slide-readers will not recieve consistent, substantial compensation for their hours of hard work, the OSD representative sprinted into the bathroom.

semi-paid volunteer slidesharers,” one OSD representative told the Weekly, “They truly are the irreplaceable foundation of our students’ time at McDill, and their work ensures that each and every student is able to achieve their fullest potential.” According to the OSD website, volunteer slide-sharers will receive 30 minutes of formally recognized volunteer service on their co-curricular record per class per semester. Additionally, at the end of each semester, all slide-sharers are automatically entered into a drawing for a gently-used $2 Tim Hortons coupon, which can be redeemed exclusively at the Tim Hortons at 1195 Danforth Ave, Toronto, Ontario M4J 1M7. When asked why slide-sharers will not receive consistent, substantial compensation for their hours of hard work, the OSD representative sprinted into the bathroom. Next week, the OSD is set to announce that note-sharers will be paid exclusively in 1967 Canadian pennies.

Pandora Wotton | Features Editor