The McGill Daily Vol. 109 Issue 20

Volume 109, Issue 20 | Monday, March 16, 2020 | mcgilldaily.com uh... not working as well as the gov’t would like it to since 1911

esponsibility RResponsibility During uring D COVID-19: COVID-19: PAGE 33 PAGE

Published by The Daily Publications Society, a student society of McGill University.

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

2

table of Contents

March 16, 2020 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

Table of Contents 3

7

editorial • Responsibility During COVID-19

4 • News Grad Students Press for Answers • • • •

11

Disinformation = Oppression Lateral Allyship at Concordia Quebec Cannabis Reform COVID-19 at McGill: Campus Closures, Students Abroad, and Service Updates

12

commentary • The Weight of Fabric • Dr. Sheldon Cooper: Friend or Foe of the Autistic Community?

• Voting as Support of the State

culture • Exploring Montreal’s Sleepless Night

Haunted Horoscopes • Pisces Season

Literary and Artistic supplement pull-out inside!

Hey students! Got free time this summer?

Join us, alone or with a friend, on our #VOLUNTEERSTRONG campaign!

Fill program volunteer requirements - Expand your experience - Enhance your CV - Have fun!

514-694-5850 WWW.VOLUNTEERWICA.COM

Sexual harassment and discrimination happen at McGill.

Complaints, questions, information. We believe you.

For confidential support contact us: Sexual Assault Center of McGill Students’ Society 680 Sherbrooke St. West, suite 150 (straight ahead to glass doors) main@sacomss.org 514-398-8500 www.sacomss.org

SACOMSS Sexual Assault Center of the McGill Students’Society

x o _ nnn JOIN THE DAILY’S 2020/2021 TEAM!

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24

:

680 Sherbrooke St. W, Room 724

Interested in journalism, writing, illustrating, photo journalism, or multimedia reporting? Passionate about anti-oppression? Interested in prioritizing marginalized views and critical perspectives on the news?

Want to join and work with a vibrant and driven group of people?

Join The McGill Daily’s 2020-2021 team!

Open Positions - Culture (2) - Commentary (2) - News (2) - Features (1) - Layout/Design (1) - Social Media (1) - Video (1) - Photos (1) - Copy (1) - Sports, or another section that you propose! (1) - Columnists and news reporters (∞) - Written/photo/video contributors (∞)

For more info, check out the event on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/themcgilldaily/

:

EDITORIAL

Volume 109 Issue 20

March 16, 2020 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

3

editorial board

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

Responsibility During COVID-19

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

Kate Ellis

managing editor

Willa Holt

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

Vacant

design + production editor

Vacant

social media editor

Vacant

radio editor

Amy Lloyd

contributors Emily Black, Campbell Clarke, Kate Ellis, Olivia Jeri, Michaela Keil, Yasna Khademian, Abbas Mehrabian, Phoebe Pannier, Ally Pengelly, Abigail Popple, Safi Sharifi, Daisy Sprenger 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, Niels Ulrich, Antoine MiletteGagnon, 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.

content warning: anti-Asian racism

A

ccording to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 100 countries have confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, as of March 8, 2020.

On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic.

While governments have been grappling with widespread closures of public facilities and strained healthcare systems, some communities have been hit harder than others; it’s crucial to help out however you can.

The widespread sentiment that COVID-19 is “just like the flu,” and therefore not a cause for concern, is harmful.

While it seems that the majority of cases do not require hospitalization, it is estimated that 10-20 per cent of those with COVID-19 require medical care. The United States has only 2.8 hospital beds per 1,000 people, and Canada fares even worse, with only 2.5 beds per 1,000 people. If the number of those requiring hospitalization reaches 10 per cent in the United States, the country will run out of beds by May 10, and, like in Italy, they may have to make decisions on whose care will be prioritized when resources are scarce. In these situations, those with the lowest chance of surviving the virus – elderly and immunocompromised people, as well as those living with underlying medical conditions – may not receive access to essential hospital resources.

In order to prevent our healthcare system from being overwhelmed it’s important to slow the spread of COVID-19 as much as we can, so that even if a large number of people eventually catch the virus, those requiring hospitalization do not need it at the same time. This means avoiding crowded areas, practicing social distancing, not touching your face, and washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

Social distancing – maintaining a distance of six feet/two metres between people – works most effectively in preventing the spread the earlier you begin. Refrain from stockpiling medical supplies, especially if you are not sick, elderly, or immunocompromised.

This is particularly true for surgical masks – healthcare workers should have priority considering the increase in demand. Face masks are not recommended for the general public, according to the WHO, since masks sold for retail are not properly fitted for each person. WHO recommendations were never intended as justification for racially-motivated attacks; there is no excuse whatsoever to discriminate against or assault people for wearing face masks.

It is also crucial to recognize that not everyone can afford to self-quarantine. At the federal level in both Canada and the U.S., there is no legislation requiring employers to provide paid sick leave, and many who work in the gig economy or service industry, or who rely heavily on tips may not be able to afford to take unpaid time off. In Quebec, the law only mandates two days of paid leave – far from the required 14 days of quarantine. School closures are especially detrimental to students who rely on those institutions for internet access and/or food. Some parents may

have to stay home to take care of their children if school is shut down – thus having to take unpaid time off. If you have a job that allows you to work from home and you are advised to self-isolate, it is essential that you follow these directions. Furthermore, many people are losing work from event cancellations and are asking for help – if you can help out financially, do so.

Many elderly and/or immunocompromised people cannot risk going out and running errands, such as grocery shopping or picking up medication. If you see someone asking for help and COVID-19 poses less of a risk to you, do what you can.

Do not engage with the racist stereotypes, discrimination, and harassment that have been affecting East Asian and Iranian communities, and call out your friends and family if they do. Viruses know no border or ethnicity; everyone has an equal chance of transmitting COVID-19. As a direct result of this misguided stigma, there has been a significant drop in business in Chinatowns across Canada. Furthermore, in the last few weeks, there have been instances of vandalism of Buddhist temples and the gates to Montreal’s Chinatown. If you are not being advised to self-isolate, make an effort to support businesses in Chinatown by eating at Chinese restaurants or ordering takeout.

At the time of publication (March 13), the Quebec government has prohibited events of more than 250 people, and is closing multiple public facilities. Those who have arrived in Canada recently or who have flu-like symptoms are advised to self-isolate for 14 days. For those who work in the public sector, as well as those who work in any healthcare and education systems, the two-week self-quarantine is mandatory. Public sector employees in self-isolation will be paid; employees in the private sector can expect similar measures soon. The general public is encouraged to work from home and practice social distancing.

McGill suspended classes on Friday, March 13, in order to “evaluate how today’s coronavirus (COVID-19) announcement from the Quebec government will impact campus operations and academic activities,” as per an email received by staff and students. In a tweet on Friday, March 13, at 1:26 p.m., McGill stated, “Further to Quebec government directives, campuses will be closed as of March 14 for two weeks. We are waiting for further details from the government as we continue planning for continuity of operations.” Further instruction from the administration on the University’s next steps is supposed to be given by Sunday, March 15. Should McGill opt to move lectures and classes online, it is crucial that they accommodate students who do not have access to a computer or internet from home.

Further, students on exchange need quick and region-specific information on the next steps they should take. If students are not able to complete their studies this semester, the University must work to financially support those who cannot afford to stay in Montreal without studying, and to prevent the deportations of international students.

In this public health crisis, is it crucial that we prioritize the community when we can.

Read us online! website Facebook Instagram twitter

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

CONTACT US Coordinating NEWS COMMENTARY CULTURE FEATURES SCI+TECH SPORTS

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

4

March 16, 2020 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

News

Grad Students Press for Answers Cancellation of Grad Options Did Not “Follow the Process,” Faculty Says

Kate Ellis Coordinating Editor

Association (GSFSSA) shared a Facebook post following the meeting, saying “last week’s last-minute n Friday, February 21, Professor meeting with the associate dean, Jim Jim Engle-Warnick, the Warwick, left us feeling frustrated and Associate Dean for Faculty exhausted,” and encouraging members Affairs in the Faculty of Arts, met with of the McGill community to attend concerned students regarding the the Faculty of Arts Advisory Council cancellation of the graduate option in Meeting on Tuesday, February 24.

Gender and Women’s Studies.

During this meeting, students expressed their concerns regarding the cancellation of the option and the lack of other gender studies graduate programs available to them. In response, Warnick clarified that the email announcing the cancellation of this option, as well as the Development Studies option, had been retracted as it didn’t “follow the process” required to perform such an action, including a consultation process. When asked how the email was sent without going through proper processes, Warnick explained that his colleague was responsible and he could not “address the sending of [the email].”

One student also expressed Following this interaction, students felt frustrated and confused about the discontent with the way that future of the program. An anonymous conversations about the option undergraduate student told the Daily, were occurring, saying that “the “if the purpose of the meeting was to administration’s attitude towards assuage our worries about the future the graduate option, particularly its of the Graduate Option, then it failed.” lack of consideration of the voices The Gender, Sexuality, Feminist, of those within the program, must and Social Justice Studies Student be considered as operating within a

O

“The administration’s attitude towards the Graduate Option [...] must be considered as operating within a larger continuum of neglect.”

larger continuum of neglect of the [Institute for Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies (IGSF)] and other sites of knowledge-making at this university. One cannot disentangle the cavalier treatment of the Graduate Option from the university’s reliance on underpaid adjunct labour to teach the very courses/program(s) we are aiming to protect, the universitywide underrepresentation of BIPOC scholars in tenured positions, and the general devaluing of intellectual labour at this institution.”

On Tuesday, February 24, the Faculty of Arts Advisory Council held the aforementioned meeting to address concerns regarding the Graduate Options. At this meeting, Professor Michael Fronda, Associate Dean for Academic Administration and Oversight, clarified that the graduate options were not being suspended.

At the meeting, Professor Alanna Thain, IGSF Associate Member and former Director of the IGSF, presented a draft proposal for an Ad Hoc M.A. in Gender, Sexuality, Feminist, and Social Justice Studies.

In her presentation, she explained the importance of the co-existence of the Option and the specialized M.A., reaffirming that the IGSF is committed to the Graduate Option as it “ensures that equitable access to

GSFS subjects is widely available to students across the Faculty of Arts.”

Following Thain’s presentation, there was a period for member questions. At this time, the chair of the Faculty of Arts Advisory Council, Dean of the Faculty of Arts Antonia Maioni, stated that no questions had been submitted 24 hours prior to the meeting, but that she would still accept questions. Graduate student representatives to the Council disputed this, asserting that they had submitted questions before the deadline and had been rejected by the secretary. Once the Chair granted permission for the graduate representatives to ask questions, one asked how the Faculty will ensure that processes will remain respected moving forward. The representative then asked how they will ensure that graduate students and faculty will be consulted properly. To this, Professor Lucy Lach, Associate Dean of Student Affairs in the Faculty of Arts, said that the Faculty has learned a lot from this issue and will commit to a consultation process with students and faculty directly involved in the programs moving forward.

Other questions regarding the implementation of new

interdisciplinary M.A. programs in Development Studies and the IGSF, as well as the future of the Graduate Options, were raised by a number of members, but the Deans answered that they cannot predict the process, particularly when it comes to dealing with the Quebec government.

[The Faculty] will commit to a consultation process with students and faculty directly involved in the programs moving forward.

The meeting adjourned at approximately 5:35 p.m. The next meeting of the Advisory Council is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, March 31. At the time of publication, it is unclear whether the meeting will go forward in the light of current class cancellations due to health concerns from COVID-19.

Disinformation = Oppression Professor Michael Van Walt on the Chinese Occupation of Tibet

Campbell Clarke News Contributor

O

On Wednesday, February 26, Michael Van Walt, an expert in intrastate peace processes who has served as an UN Senior legal Advisor and as a professor at the Institute For Advanced Study in Princeton, met with McGill students and affiliates at the Faculty of Law to discuss the ongoing Chinese occupation of Tibet, which the presenter referred to as the “China-Tibet conflict,” with particular emphasis on the subject of disinformation.

According to Professor Van Walt, when the People’s Republic of China (PRC) launched a military-backed invasion into Tibet in 1950, the international community originally recognized that the incursion breached Tibet’s state sovereignty and thus, broke an international law.

As such, governments’ were

obliged to bring the occupation to an end by refraining from recognizing and supporting the PRC’s unlawful control in Tibet.

Despite the global response and numerous internally organized protests, including one in 1959 that eventually forced the Dalai Lama to seek asylum in neighbouring India – according to the former Deputy Director of India’s National Security Council, Prasad Routray, political entities have since failed to uphold this commitment to international justice.

Professor Van Walt explained that international governments have explicitly acknowledged that

Tibet is a part of China and have consequently treated Tibet as an internal affair of the PRC for more than twenty years. He argued that this is largely because Chinese politicians have successfully changed many governments’ attitudes by implementing a multifaceted disinformation strategy to justify its rule.

He added, to do this, the PRC established a “Soviet strategy called reflexive control,” which entails a sustained campaign “of feeding people information that makes them act or think in a way that the government wants them to.” After almost seventy years of

As the PRC has grown in power, it has effectively pressured foreign governments to publicly acknowledge that Tibet is a part of China.

continuously preaching that Tibet was a part of China before the invasion of 1950, Professor Van Walt said, the strategy has begun to succeed at manipulating peoples’ understanding of Tibet’s history.

“Tibet was never in fact a part of China.”

As he urged, however, “Tibet was in fact never a part of China,” a dispute that he and his colleagues have spent more than ten years investigating through extensive research on the history of inner East Asia.

Through such research, they have also argued that as the PRC has grown in power, it has effectively pressured foreign governments to publicly acknowledge that Tibet is a part of China, which enables them to use such statements to authorize their control. In a

similar way, they emphasize that the PRC’s influence has also enabled it to manipulate whom “other political officials should meet and engage with” to prevent Tibetan politicians from being received by other governments.

So what can be done to improve the situation in Tibet? At the event, Professor Van Walt stated governments and well as citizens must stop acknowledging Tibet as a part of China; to improve the language used when referring to Tibetans by calling them “a people” or “a people under alien subjugation” to promote their right to self-identification and bolster their legal standing and to ensure that political entities around the world recognize the need to act and resolve the problem.

To learn more about the Chinese occupation of Tibet and Tibetan sovereignty movement, you can visit the McGill Students for a Free Tibet Facebook page.

March 16, 2020 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

News

Lateral Allyship at Concordia

5

Panelists Urged for Further Community Building

Abbas Mehrabian News Writer

O

n Thursday, March 5, the Dish Project and Concordia Greenhouse held a panel at Concordia University on the dynamics of allyship amongst marginalized populations within the climate movement. The discussion revolved around one question – how can racialized groups empower themselves and make alliances with other groups to take back leadership in this movement?

The panel was moderated

by Akira De Carlos, a sustainability coordinator at the Concordia Student Union and one of eight recipients of the Concordia Sustainability Champions Awards in 2019.

The three panelists drew from their own experiences during the panel, with each speaker coming from a different racialized community. Kristen Perry, who is East Asian, is an environmental organizer in Montreal. Amanda Lickers is a filmmaker, a member of the

Turtle Clan of the Onondowa’ga Haudenosaunee, and a curator with Reclaim Turtle Island. Nat Alexander, who has worked on the research project “Imagining Black Futures - (Re)membering Voices, Coalition & Space” and has been involved with McGill’s Midnight Kitchen, is a two-spirit person with a Jamaican background.

The panel was held in a rooftop greenhouse on the Concordia Henry F. Hall Building.

According to their website, the Concordia Greenhouse is “a year-round green space that hosts workshops, projects and events raising awareness around food issues and alternatives to mainstream consumerism.”

The other co-organizer of the event, The Dish Project, is “a student-run waste reduction initiative and an official partner of Zero Waste Concordia.” The Dish Project helps groups and individuals in Montreal to run a sustainable event by lending out their inventory of reusable dishes.

After making the land acknowledgment, the moderator

asked the panelists, how can a university student or a newcomer to the city start building allyships with other communities?

Lickers emphasized the importance of starting with your own community in order to obtain a strong sense of identity before trying to build relationships with other communities. With other communities, she said, “[You need to] show up to their events and be friendly.”

Lickers added that one needs to create communities outside the established institutions, as large institutions and NGOs are part of the colonial system and are incapable of fighting colonialism.

Perry also advised to “start with people with whom you already have relationships,” such as cultural communities.

She argued that having shared values is essential for building relationships, as these shared values constitute a base, and then you can build an allyship on top of that base.

Another question raised was about the differences between various marginalized populations

in terms of their privileges and responsibilities.

Lickers stated that people must understand that “Indigenous” and “settler” are not absolute words, but must be understood in a broader context. For instance, she explained, you can be an Indigenous person who is displaced by colonization to another Nation’s territory, and then you will be a settler in the new territory.

Lickers mentioned that this is something people need to analyze on a case by case basis; however, she explained, they must understand that various types of racism are happening simultaneously, and marginalized communities are under different levels of suppression. As an example she mentioned immigration to Canada. Lickers explained that entering the country as a refugee is not the same as entering as a permanent resident, and that the latter are typically more economically privileged.

Lickers summarized that

activists and organizers must educate themselves and have “lots of critical conversations.”

Finally, the moderator asked the panelists, how should one ensure their community does not propagate the violence they have experienced to other vulnerable communities?

Alexander responded that the solution is to educate yourself about other communities and their issues. For example, they stated, there is not much awareness about the experiences of Black people in Canada.

Alexander spoke on their own experiences learning about other communities.

“I am learning a lot about the Indigenous people [in Canada],” they stated. “I have experienced so much warmth and generosity from the Indigenous communities here […] and I am super grateful for that.”

The panel was organized as part of BIPOC Sustainability Week, with several workshops and panels held at the Concordia Greenhouse during the first week of March.

Quebec Cannabis Reform

Bill 2 “major violation of human rights,” Lawyer says Abigail Popple News Reporter

A

s of January 2020, the government of Quebec has implemented a number of new regulations concerning the use of cannabis, including both recreational and medical uses.

The Cannabis Regulation Act, also known as Bill 2, now prohibits smoking cannabis in public places, both indoor and outdoor, and has raised the minimum age to possess or purchase cannabis to 21 years.

According to Montreal-based lawyer Max Silverman, these regulations create many new hardships for medical cannabis users. Previously, use of cannabis was regulated by the federal government; now that provincial governments have been given the authority to regulate cannabis themselves, the Quebec government has been able to impose many strict regulations on the use of medical cannabis.

Among such regulations are new provisions in rental law.

Whereas provincial housing law previously had no regulations regarding cannabis use, as the

federal government regulated cannabis, Quebec rental law now includes language which specifically allows landlords to ban cannabis consumption.

While the law states that medical patients may be exempted from this restriction, Silverman says that “The Regie du Logement (Quebec’s landlord-tenant board) has interpreted this medical exception very strictly and, in many cases, a prescription has been ruled not enough to prove medical need.” These regulations severely limit the accessibility of medical cannabis, as they only guarantee patients the right to consume medical cannabis on their own property. According to Silverman, this is a “major violation of human rights;”

cannabis is a palliative substance for people with disabilities and should be protected under human rights law, including the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms.

While Silverman’s main concern as a lawyer who represents medical cannabis users is how the law impacts the use of medical cannabis, he recognizes that it also has dangerous implications for users who are racialized. The Service de Police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) is reportedly 4-5 times more likely to stop a Black or Arab person than a white person, and 10 times more likely to stop an Indigenous person than a white person. These stops are illegal

The [...] SPVM is reportedly 4-5 times more likely to stop a Black or Arab person than a white person, and 10 times more likely to stop an Indigenous person.

– unless the person stopped has committed an infraction.

However, Montreal has many by-laws which Silverman characterizes as “outdated” which can be used to legitimize illegal stops. Although the SPVM has stated they will not be enforcing the ban on public cannabis consumption, they may retroactively use these by-laws to justify racial profiling in stops and searches.

The Cannabis Regulation Act is just one of many by-laws which effectively permit the arbitrary stopping of racialized individuals on the street, Silverman explained, naming many examples of such laws: stepping off the sidewalk, ashing a cigarette on the ground, making too much noise in your home.

In addition, these infractions could lead to fines - according to the Quebec government, “noncompliance with the regulatory standards applicable to the possession of cannabis in a public place” could result in a fine of up to $750, and a maximum fine of $1,500 for a repeated offence.

The infractions themselves are not included in a criminal record, but failure to pay these hefty fines could lead to an arrest warrant, according to Silverman.

Cannabis is a pallative substance for people with disabilities and should be protected under human rights law.

Bill 2 can be weaponized so the SPVM may continue their practice of stopping racialized individuals on the street, and puts medical cannabis users at risk of being unable to access the support they need. Silverman’s clinic invites clients to solicit legal support if they experience problems with the bill, but no formal legal challenge to the law has yet been made by the clinic.

6

March 16, 2020 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

News

COVID-19 at McGill: Campus Closures, Students Abroad, and Service Updates

Emily Black AND Yasna Khademian News Editors

I

n the last 72 hours, Quebecers have received a myriad of instructions from the provincial government meant to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19. At around 11:45 a.m. on Thursday, March 12, Quebec premier François Legault informed the public of these measures, including the barring of all indoor events with more than 250 people in attendance, the mandatory self-quarantine of all employees (in both the private and public sectors) in the health and education systems for 14 days upon return from abroad, and the request that those who have returned from other countries recently – or have flu-like symptoms – voluntarily self-isolate for two weeks.

McGill Campus Closures Less than 24 hours later on Friday, March 13, the province announced new measures – all universities, CEGEPs, schools, and daycare centres are set to be closed for two weeks starting on March 14. Upon this announcement, McGill University sent out an email informing the community that “all student travel outside Canada for internships, student exchanges, international mobility programs, competitions or conferences is suspended until further notice” and that intake of new international students will be suspended for the time being.

This decision – which came from the provincial government – means that incoming international students who have applied or have been accepted to McGill for the fall 2020 semester will be unable to attend in the fall until further notice, according to SSMU President Bryan Buraga’s understanding. The exact status of future and incoming international students is unclear at this time.

In an additional administrative email sent around 7 p.m. on Friday, Deputy Provost Fabrice Labeau confirmed that all in-person events at McGill, both on- and off-campus are canceled. Campus libraries and athletic facilities will be closed until Sunday, March 15, the Student Wellness Hub will also be closed – and subsequently all pre-booked clinic appointments canceled – between March 15-21, as per the latest information students have received via email.

Though the details of the twoweek closure have not been officially communicated to students, there are conflicting reports at this time as to what the structure of classes will be.

Some professors have posted online modules and lectures, but others are claiming that no new materials or assignments will be introduced while classes are cancelled.

The Status of McGill Students Abroad For McGill students on exchange, the last couple of days have been uncertain. According to an email received by students studying abroad, those in countries that are classified as “Level 3” (“avoid nonessential travel”) by the Canadian government – Iran, Italy, and China – have been recalled by McGill.

Students in countries labeled “Level 1 and 2” have been told they will receive more information in the next few days.

However, the email also encourages McGill students in those countries to leave their institution abroad and return home if they are concerned for their safety. For students that opt to leave, McGill Abroad has instructed them to inform their host institution, as well as McGill, and to ask the former about remote studying options.

William von Herff, a McGill student who was studying abroad for the Panama Field Study Semester, has left the country due to the virus’ quick spread. The number of cases in Panama has risen steadily in the past few days; the first death from COVID-

HEALTH RESOURCES - McGill COVID-19 Hotline: 1-877-644-4545 (Do not use 811 for COVID-19 related inquiries!)

- McGill is posting updates on the situation at mcgill.ca/coronavirus - Public Health Canada updates are available at canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/ coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html - The nearest testing centre to campus is located at Hotel Dieu (3840 Rue St Urbain). Do not visit the hospital if you suspect that you have Coronavirus as this puts immunocompromised individuals at risk.

WHAT IS AND ISN’T OPEN - MSERT is providing limited services, which will be updated via a spreadsheet that can be found on their Facebook page.

- The Union for Gender Empowerment has suspended in-persons services, but can be reached by email at ugecollective@gmail.com - Walksafe and Drivesafe have suspended operations. Students on downtown campus who need a walk home can contact McGill security at 514-398-3000.

- The Student Wellness Hub is closed between March 15 and 21.

Students enrolled in Blue Cross Health Insurance can access Maple at getmaple.ca. Mental health services can be accessed free of cost through the keep.meSafe portal.

- SACOMSS has suspended operations. One alternative is the Montreal Sexual Assault Support Center. There is also a list of helplines available at www.sacomss.org/wp/helplines.

- McGill Scholarships and Student Aid is not open, but will be providing appointments over Skype and can be reached by email at student.aid@mcgill.ca. For more immediate assistance, individuals can use the Facebook group MTL COVID-19 Mutual Aid Mobilisation d’entraide or post in the Covid-19 Financial Solidarity spreadsheet.

19 was recorded on Tuesday, March 10, and as of March 13, the country has 36 confirmed cases of infection, three of whom are foreigners.

“The country has only 100 respirators and was down to 30 available as of yesterday,” von Herff told the Daily in a message. “We were recalled so as to not endanger ourselves nor put a burden on the Panamanian healthcare system.” The country has 2.3 hospital beds per 1,000 people, fewer than both Canada and Italy.

Von Herff thanks the program coordinator, Catherine Potvin, for the quick turnaround in getting students out of the country. Thanks to Potvin, he said, students returning to Montreal will be group-quarantined in Mont Saint-Hilaire, and once in isolation they will receive two days of groceries and three catered days of meals from McGill. “[Potvin] is trying to get McGill to pay for some flight stuff, and if not, leftover program money will cover it,” he added.

For Sarah Gao, a McGill student on exchange at the University of Sydney in Australia, classes are still taking place in-person. If the situation escalates, however, Gao says that the University will consider a switch to online courses.

“It feels a little bit surreal because I’ve been seeing wash your hand signs everywhere since I first arrived [on February 9, 2020],” she told the Daily in a message. According to Gao, one of the student residences has shut down in order to quarantine international students who are just arriving.

“I think that students panicking and blaming McGill [...] is causing more panic and more anger and so I’m just trying to stay as calm as possible and trust that they’re

going to figure something out,” she concluded. Australia has reached over 200 confirmed cases of COVID19, as of March 14, 2020, with 112 cases in New South Wales, where Gao’s university is located. There are reports that the number of testing kits available is “rapidly deteriorating.”

The country’s ratio for the number of hospital beds per 1,000 people is 4.0.

In a phone interview with the Daily, SSMU President Bryan Buraga also spoke to the status of the administration’s communication with exchange students, stating that the University “is crafting plans for how best to move forward, because so many students [...] are spread throughout the world.” Though he expressed that McGill acknowledges that “each student [abroad] requires different ways of dealing with the situation,” and that there are a variety of possibilities and solutions depending on the student’s region, communication to exchange students remains general and not region-specific. “Depending on the situation, it’s not like all of the facts can be applied widely to all students,” he said, “which is why there hasn’t been more information being sent out at the moment.”

Communications and Services Buraga emphasized that this is a “rapidly evolving situation.” Admitting that this is a difficult time for students, he detailed his liaisons with the University administration. Speaking to the delay in communications from them, Buraga said that “because the situation changes on a daily basis, plans are being recruited to comply with government directives and regulations.”

In meetings with Deputy Provost Labeau, Buraga was told that the administration is working to ensure

that “contingency plans are in place”, and that the University is “relying on the expert guidance of the Quebec Health Authority.”

“I ask the student body to be patient and to trust [...] that both the SSMU and the University are working to ensure the health and safety of students,” he said. “This is, again, a very difficult time. But I know the McGill community, I know the goodness that’s in everyone – so I trust that we can all get through this together.”

According to one student in residence, members of McGill security have broken up “gatherings of any kind” in common spaces and told students to go back to their rooms, despite this not being officially mandated in any email communications.

Per online communications to residents and Residence Life employees, programming is suspended until further notice, though Floor Fellows are mandated to stay on duty in residence. Students in residence have been told that McGill will not ask anyone to leave campus, and that those who are advised to self-quarantine will be provided an isolated space to do so.

MSERT will no longer be posted regularly in each residence, but is shifting to coverage in residences on a day-by-day basis, and they are updating their schedules online.

They can still be reached at their regular emergency dispatch number, but recommend that students call the COVID-19 hotline (1-877-644-4545) instead if they are experiencing flulike symptoms.

There have been more than 132,000 cases of the virus in the world, with almost 200 in Canada and near 20 in Quebec, as of Friday, March 13.

THE MCGILL DAILY PRESENTS

THE LITERARY AND ARTISTIC SUPPLEMENT 2020

Literary and Artistic Supplement

“If I were a red vase, blown from glass”

by Aiden Drake

1 The McGill Daily

I am sure I would not be beautiful, but maybe I would fit your hands And you could fill me up with flowers or whatever you wanted If you filled enough, you wouldn’t need to look at the vase Even a beautiful vase is as charming as the flowers And I am sure: I would not be beautiful Once you get tired of my unevenness (I was not smoothly manufactured) Once you get tired of my color and tired of my ugliness (I am sure I would not be beautiful) Would you please be sure — After taking out your flowers to put them in another vase (Or one day realizing that the flowers were withered Because I am not warm soil and could not nourish them) Would you please be sure to take your hand Your slender, porcelain white and softly radiant fingers And pick up my blood dark glass firmly in your grasp But when moving away, let me tumble from your palm I want to split and rupture like firm skin yielding to your retraction I want to shatter like a wine bottle pushed aside by careless action I want to explode into beads of glass a ruby river on your floor Or better, to become sand I was never anything more Particles or dust or ash Still red, still glass, and no longer bound together Is that still too much to ask?

BBEBB

by Michaela Keil 120 mm film

Literary and Artistic Supplement

The McGill Daily 2

by Phoebe Pannier

Clockwise from top left: Distress Tolerance Handout 10 (Harbinger); Mindfulness Handout 3 (and what a tangled web we weave / when we invent false binaries); Interpersonal Effectiveness Handout 15 (Is this what Georg envisioned?)

“A Girl From Nashville “

by Aiden Drake You had short brown hair cut like a boy’s and big brown eyes that filled wide like cups of milky tea If you were excited, or if you lost track of the world around you.

Short but slender fingers, good for grasping sleeves and tugging hands In the pictures you sent me you tried to make your hands look small I wanted to fill up your eyes You asked if you could be my girlfriend And I said no the first time you asked, we lived in different states But then, after a lonely weekend in the woods how could I stand against someone Who loved me? Or at the very least was willing to bathe in my affection Or at the very least wanted my flesh and my words to pour into the mould you built I felt like I had known you my whole life Maybe what I had known my whole life was needing to be fixed I remember texting you and resigning myself to binding to you At the time it felt like I would never touch another person In the way I wanted so badly to touch someone In the way I wanted someone to want me so badly to touch them And you were, then as now, too far away to touch But it cheered me up so much just to see someone in a picture who would possibly want to be touched by me You were wearing a gray hoodie, and smiling sweet And I remember when you unzipped it down the middle And there was nothing underneath

Literary and Artistic Supplement

“Who Stole the Light”

by Daisy Sprenger

3 The McGill Daily

“The Snow on MacDonald Engineering Building”

by Aiden Drake

McGill Polaroids D. D.

Snow is beautiful, even if my professor would not like it to fall Because it makes bicycling difficult.

It still sparkles in the sun And perches wonderfully on arched Victorian windows My mother hated snow She said the season made her depressed even more than normal And maybe I believe her.

I think the snow reminded her that she was stuck with me in Ohio’s vast flatness Not roaming free in sunny Virginia.

Still, I cannot help but to love the bright and drifting ice Even when the inside of my nose freezes when I walk outside And the cold makes my feet and knees tender and tired I would probably feel sore even without the snow.

Literary and Artistic Supplement

The McGill Daily 4

“Campfire”

by Jo Roy

The prowling dark stays at bay Silent snarls from an empty expanse Normally gone unheard Over the hard-fought silence Bought for with tears, blood, pain The expanse has grown Kept now at bay by a camp’s flame The clearing, somewhat flattened, is a refuge But along its treeline, whispers from the wood Things thought lost were never really gone Longing believed to have been muted Aches my heart and soul What has come will be again I will always have fear of it Yet I know that is what is natural We have always feared the dark Even our bravest can be washed over of it That will not stop my familiar greeting Of the shapes that will emerge from shadow Old friends will come to join Around my dwindling campfire We will sit silently, together Unease matched by familiarity The fire will go out But, I expect, the dawn to come again Author’s note: I wrote this poem in my journal last summer while working at a sleep away camp.

My major depressive disorder was relapsing for the fourth time. When you’ve spent the better part of a decade fighting with depression, it becomes all too familiar when it comes back around.

Fog Michaela Keil

5 The McGill Daily

Literary and Artistic Supplement

Summer Photo Fern Lou Fernandez

“Changing” Kyle MacDougall Listen to the full song at mcgilldaily.com

In the wake I feel the stars babe Ignition to start Chasing cars along the promenade We’re making this hard Don’t doubt, I wanna live but Sometimes you gotta give the place in your heart a minute Trying too hard to fill it No cap, just run with it Too tough to fumble it Lock it away, don’t you think about today But yes I’m changing, Running out of patience Baby don’t you front These phases keep on running races I could be your one Tried to call you but you’re out the door I’m not one to fight Waiting up but you don’t ever show Is this what loving feels like?

Don’t doubt, I wanna live but Sometimes you gotta give the place in your heart a minute Trying to hard to fill it No cap, just run with it Too tough to handle it Lock it away, don’t you think about today

Running out of patience Baby don’t you front These phases keep on running races I could be your one Changing Running out of patience Baby don’t you front The blame is on your other faces I could be your one

Best Friend Fern Lou Fernandez

But yes I’m changing,

Literary and Artistic Supplement

The McGill Daily 6

Revision D. D.

“Forget Yourself�

Felix O’Connor many of you may know that even in only your own company you cannot find yourself alone many of you may admit that in your truest nature, you find that you are split or that you are incomplete let us for a moment imagine that we are someone complete let us for a moment be someone we think we ought to be our protagonist is alone when he is alone he has chosen to be exactly as he should be, as is known to be correct; he is not handsome because there is nothing our fathers hated more than a beautiful man he is clever, though he is not educated for there was nothing that shamed our fathers more than their education he is the protagonist of some great American Novel, that says something about freedom and manliness and the sanctity of the land you can imagine him protecting the innocent with an instrument lesser men used to cull, you can imagine him praising whatever god you find most worthy Or if your tastes tend more exotic, you can pretend you are Mary Pretend there is something holy inside you Pretend you are an empty vessel, pretend you are selected for the purity of your emptiness, the poverty of your spirit, the cleanliness of your soul Pretend you have been untouched by anyone save God it will slur the Christians in our audience, but it is one hell of a way to forget your troubles take off your burdens, and pretend you are a dragon pretend you shine so blue, like sunlight hitting a rough ocean, that no one can directly look at you pretend all those who threaten you and yours can be consumed with one exhale of your fiery breath pretend you are something else, and forget, for a moment, what it is to be yourself cast aside your own name, your own body and write whatever fictions you see fit you must admit, it is good to forget yourself it is good to be a simple character, sometimes, when you are tired of being tired of being a real human being

Thank you to all who contributed to the Daily’s 2020 Literary and Artistic Supplement: D. D., Aiden Drake, Fern Lou Fernandez, Michaela Keil, Kyle MacDougall, Felix O’Connor, Phoebe Pannier, Jo Roy, Daisy Sprenger Design by: Pandora Wotton and Michaela Keil

March 16, 2020 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

Commentary

The Weight of Fabric

7

Moving Forward With my Ex’s Sweatshirt

Phoebe Pannier | Staff Illustrator Michaela Keil Commentary Editor

W

On our first anniversary he took me to the park where we first said “I love you.” There, he gave me his favourite sweatshirt: so big, I was enveloped by the folds of fabric, down to my knees. I cherished that sweatshirt more than anything.

When we fought I would wear

it to remind myself why I loved him. When I moved away, I wore it every time I missed him. When we broke up, I buried it deep in a box to forget him.

It’s been two and a half years since we broke up; two years since I realized how unhealthy our relationship was, how toxic. In the beginning, we were everything for each other, spent every possible moment together. We rode the highs to the highest point, and our lows

brought me farther down than I’ve ever been. But, we were also 17, and didn’t know how much growing can change you. I (want to) hate him for everything he did, for everything that happened, but part of me will always be connected to him.

After I found his sweatshirt, I put it aside for a while, unsure what to do. Ruining it seemed too extreme.

He encompassed so much pain for me, but I have moved on. Hate is draining, and exists for the people we can’t move on from. I don’t hate him because, among other things, it takes more energy to hate him than I’m willing to give to him.

I realized, as I sat there, holding this piece of fabric and crying on my couch, that I would cry at his funeral.

I don’t think he would do the same for me. I wish him the best, even if he doesn’t wish me the same. I don’t love him, I don’t even like him, but I will never be unable to care for him. Some scars never fade, and some cracks are ever-present. I hope one day he will think of me and realize that I wasn’t hurt because of who he is, but because of who he was with me.

Despite the tumultuous nature of that relationship, I am grateful for it. Not because of the good times, but because I was able to learn from it. I gained compassion, self-respect, and insight. We were 17, and neither of us knew what we were doing. I only realized that his actions were not love after I stumbled upon a vocabulary for the feelings I didn’t understand.

I hope he learned from it all, too.

In order to move forward I need

to forgive him for what happened, and I need to forgive myself for not knowing better.

Throughout this journey of healing, I’ve realized that relationships are not over the moment you walk away. Pieces will always remain to be picked up – or, in this case, sweatshirts.

There is part of me that will never recover, a part of my spirit that was broken when I was with him, that is gone. I grieved that broken piece of myself for a long time, but as I moved on, I filled it in with a happiness that came from my motivations, from learning, growing, from my dreams, and from myself, not my significant other.

I decided to keep the sweatshirt.

I will always be connected to him in a way that I can never recreate – he was my first love – even if it

hurts. Destroying his sweatshirt wouldn’t erase my years of pain.

Rather, I decided to turn this last bit of him into something new, removing him from the folds of fabric. I cut the last bit of him out of his sweatshirt, chopping off the length that would have fit him, finally shaping it as my own.

I pinned it, hemmed it, and cut away the extra fabric. I remade it in the image of myself, complete with the ever-present

Michaela Keil | Commentary Editor

hile packing to move out of my apartment, I found my ex’s sweatshirt.

The cuffs were ripped open, the collar was stretched out and the navy blue colour had faded significantly. It still smelled like him, and it gave me a headache.

There are nuances to breakups that we are never taught to navigate.

Am I supposed to hate him?

Can he hang around my friends?

Should he stay away? It gets more complicated when the relationship in question was abusive. Should I still have his sweatshirt?

Initially, I thought about burning it, maybe cutting it into a thousand pieces, or simply throwing it in the garbage.

After I found his sweatshirt I put it aside for a while, unsure what to do.

Ruining it seemed too extreme.

scar in the raised fabric of the hem. The fabric, and every memory held by its threads, no longer weighed me down.

Walking to class in my new sweatshirt, I thought about texting him to wish him the best.

I decided against it, and finally let go of the space he occupied in my life for so long.

Relationships are not over the moment you walk away. Pieces will always remain to be picked up – or, in this case, sweatshirts.

8

commentary

March 16, 2020 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

Dr. Sheldon Cooper: Friend or Foe of the Autistic Community?

Women with ASD and The Big Bang Thoery

Sana Sharifi Commentary Contributor What is autism, and what is my experience with it? his year I was diagnosed with high-functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), but like everyone on the spectrum, I was born with it. High-functioning autism is defined as someone on the spectrum who is both independent and crosses a certain threshold of cognitive ability. Because it has no bearing on the qualitative experience of how an autistic person feels about their own existence, the term has been criticized heavily by autistic people. Growing up, I had a lot of problems both at home and with my classmates, so I did what many high-functioning autistic people do, I focused on school.

In retrospect I was very clearly autistic. Since I was young, evidence was present; from organizing my dolls to look aesthetically pleasing instead of playing with them like most other girls, to my reactive fears of knives and anything approximating the mention of sex.

I learned social conventions by studying them artificially. I had the same breakfast every day, and if we didn’t have one of the ingredients from the correct brand needed to make it, I would skip the meal altogether. My teachers were my favorite friends for the longest time, and when I started dating boys, I got more interested in older intellectuals who had more time to reflect on social interactions, as opposed to taking their social skills for granted. All of these are classic examples of how ASD presents in girls.

T

The Screwed Up World of autismspeaks.org and Overall ASD Research Funding Unfortunately, I was not diagnosed with ASD until I began university for many reasons, one being that there is very little research done on diagnosing ASD in women since most funding goes towards Autism prevention.

Unfortunately many neurotypical people, even those with personal connections to the autistic community, still interpret autism as a disease that needs to be prevented. People who prioritize autism prevention research often hyperfocus on painful autistic meltdowns, which actually stem from being in a non-inclusive

environment, rather than choosing to look at my strengths.

While I do not have all the textbook autistic qualities, autistic people often excel in tasks that are very difficult for neurotypical people, but rather than seizing this opportunity to integrate us, we are cast aside as disabled and broken. When donors treat autism as a disease to be prevented, it creates problems with allocating resources to diagnosing, managing, teaching about, and accommodating autism. This approach towards understanding autism ignores the ways in which the detail-oriented, solitary workflow, and innovative qualities generally attributed to autism have revolutionized the advancement of entire fields of study like math, physics, economics, computer science, biology, engineering, and chemistry.

How Failed Research Funding Disproportionately Fails Women Despite the obvious problems in overall ASD research funding, autistic women suffer a double blow because their symptoms are understudied, leading to misdiagnosis and deprivation of access to proper accommodations. Very few psychologists have enough awareness and training around ASD to recognize the signs in women because it is considered a specialization.

Unfortunately many neurotypical people, even those with personal connections to the autistic community, still interpret my autism as a disease that needs to be prevented.

daisy Sprenger | Illustrations Editor Even after getting my diagnosis, I realized that ASDspecialized therapists were much more expensive than general psychologists, especially those that understand how to support women, so I was priced out of proper treatment beyond pure diagnosis that I needed to get accommodations for school. I also have ADHD, so this makes school and treating me more complicated because my symptoms might be at odds with autism in some regards and compound in others.

If I need two types of specialized aid, how many doctors should I see every week? How do I get them to communicate efficiently?

What can I afford? How do I get credit for my schoolwork when I am wired completely differently?

What job will capitalize on my divergent outlook when my brain opposes almost all frameworks?

How can I get to an autismfriendly atmosphere, like academia, when McGill’s grading systems are not reflecting my profound understanding of content?

If it is not caught early enough, girls will tend to be more successful in suppressing their needs in order to fit in. This can create huge problems down the line from developing an eating disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) misdiagnosis, depression, and anxiety, only to realize after trial by fire, years of therapy, and

thousands of dollars in hospital bills later that these conditions in their own right were in fact symptoms of a larger predicament not being properly addressed. Like many women, I was diagnosed because of the emotional toll that controlling my ASD took on my mental health in order to appear neurotypical. I was not diagnosed as a kid because of my female autistic traits.

The general path of diagnosis is one of being mistakenly or incompletely diagnosed with: - BPD: Because our autism can make some of us put on a face for each social encounter as a part of our ability to conform and be mistaken for BPD. - OCD: Because some of our autistic desires to live in a static, predictable environment can lead us to being misdiagnosed with OCD. - Eating Disorders (ED): Because our autistic aversion to certain colors and textures can limit our diet so much that it gets mistaken for ED, or our autistic understanding of being a woman in society and following strict rules can lead us to seek out unrealistic and unhealthy body type standards.

- Depression/Anxiety: From living in a way which is not supportive of our needs and does not properly address our impairments.

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, and I myself only identified with one of those four. I also have ADHD, so my experience mixes with my autistic symptoms.

What does media have to do with it?

Growing up I knew I wanted to end up in a social environment where people loved me and where I no longer felt stupid. Thanks to The Big Bang Theory, that social environment looked to me like academia.

The Big Bang Theory draws a lot of criticism for its portrayal of Dr. Sheldon Cooper, a physics genius demonstrating many stereotypical autistic traits such as insistence on following rules and routines, problems picking up on sarcasm, inflexibility, hyper-focus on one topic (such as trains), and being detail-oriented.

Despite all of this, the writers refuse to admit any intention of writing Cooper as being on the spectrum or with any other “pathological” condition. For the purposes of this article, we will assume Sheldon has ASD. Dr. Cooper’s character has gotten a lot of criticism, especially from people with close ties to the ASD community. Years before my diagnosis, I remember getting yelled at by my boyfriend at the time for liking the show. He had a brother who was low-functioning, and the portrayal of Sheldon was highly offensive to my boyfriend because of his experience with family. In retrospect, I realize now that his brother had ASD, and I only realized Cooper exhibited ASD symptoms after I got diagnosed with it myself.

commentary On the specific topic of The Big Bang Theory, I realized that I loved that show because it portrayed a version of life where I could be surrounded by people that would live with me and support me despite my issues.

When I got diagnosed with ASD, the world started to come together.

On the specific topic of The Big Bang Theory, I realized that I loved the show because it portrayed a version of life where I could be surrounded by people that would live with me and support me despite my issues. I loved that whenever characters called Sheldon crazy he would reply “I’m not crazy, my mother had me tested.”

I believe this is a huge deal for people with ASD because

March 16, 2020 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

it repeats and reconfirms the idea that autistic people are not crazy. Sheldon actively exists in a safe enough space where he can point out illogical neurotypical innuendo that non-disabled people take for granted.

What many people fail to understand is that another character on the show, Dr. Amy Ferrah-Fowler, is a classic example of how high-functioning autism presents in women. She’s awkward (she gave a massive painting of her and her friend Penny to commemorate their friendship), longs for connection, is detailoriented and intense (such as when she was given a tiara and started jumping for joy), works very hard to fit in (her reactions to going to a bar for the first time and getting her first pair of heels), but she is private about her lesseraccepted hobbies such as basket weaving and playing the harp. Dr. Ferrah-Fowler, like many but not all autistic women, has low selfesteem and settles for romantic partners like Sheldon, who do not give her the attention she wants and deserves.

Unlike men with autism, women are often actively aware of their social ineptness, and it often makes us feel inadequate, whereas men with autism might not really care for interactions.

Women with autism are masters at mimicry, so it makes sense that for the first episodes of being on the show, Amy adopted Sheldon-like communication strategies in order to better integrate into the group. Her

research on ape brains informs her mechanical understanding of social phenomena. For example, Amy takes her lab observations of primates to inform her about human relationships, describing Bernadette as the “weak link” and easy target in the friend group because of her small stature and kind-nature, despite the fact that Bernadette has the most demanding voice of the whole group. This shows us the struggles that Amy has in her quest to decode and understand human interactions from the safety of her primate lab. All in all, if one were to go so far as to criticize the representation of autism in Dr. Cooper, they would also have to know enough about high-functioning autism to address how the show presents Dr. Ferrah-Fowler.

For me, Sheldon is also an example of someone who is able to do brilliant work and gain respect from society without any need for good social skills. Not once in the entire show did Sheldon ever have a characteristic meltdown aside from complaining. Both of these things were comforting to me before I had the information to understand the pathology I was relating to because it gave me the impression that if I continued to work hard in school, I would find my own circles where I would be valued for my labor. Sheldon represented the ideal of someone who has gotten to a point in his life where he was able to manage embarrassing meltdowns. For years, I was afraid that I would

daisy Sprenger| Illustrations Editor

9

However, the discussion on representation has to include the real, diverse perspectives of actual autistic people, not just people who perceive and live with those with autism. Fundamentally, I don’t experience the world in the same way as most people do, which will lead me to other interpretations. never get to the point where I could manage my feelings and feel like I had as much control over my life as “normal” people. Working a 9-to-5 job is still something I worry about.

One of the most meaningful episodes of The Big Bang Theory to me, “The Itchy Brain Simulation,” focused on Sheldon’s insistence that Leonard wear an itchy sweater until a long-overdue DVD rental was returned. “You wouldn’t make jokes if you could feel the way that I feel,” says Dr. Cooper, referring to his ASD tendencies. In the end, Leonard finds this out after developing a horrible rash from the sweater that the DVD issue had been resolved years ago, and Sheldon had orchestrated the entire situation to educate Leonard to have some empathy for the costs of living with ASD. Leonard has a tantrum, which might be the only time the audience sees Sheldon’s experience through neurotypical eyes.

Sheldon admits in this episode to constantly having internal mental breakdowns which may come across as baseless complaining and nonsensical demands, but the fact that Dr. Cooper’s meltdowns are never depicted on a show demonstrates the progress he has made over the years in managing his reaction to triggers. For this reason, I consider Sheldon to be a badass.

In the end, I want to leave you with this thought. Of course ASD is underrepresented in film, and of course autism looks different for everyone. However, the discussion on representation has to include the real, diverse perspectives of actual autistic people, not just people who perceive and live with those with autism. Fundamentally, I don’t experience the world in the same way as most people do, which will lead me to other interpretations.

Maybe part of my individual relationship to autism means that I need more visible, or what you might call obvious, symptom portrayals in media in order to access the purpose of characters

and furthermore be able to relate to them. The point is that autism does not have to be disabling, because if progress is futile, why go to therapy for it or fight for accommodations?

Do autistic people need to adopt a neurotypical external presentation to be happy?

Intuitively, the classic female experience with ASD shows us that pretending doesn’t help us live happier lives. I would argue that Sheldon and Amy would be worse off if their symptoms were concealed. Do autistic people need to learn to enjoy what triggers us to be happy? Not really. I am perfectly happy never putting a carrot in my mouth ever again and telling most people that I simply have allergies!

Unlike men with autism, women are often actively aware of their social ineptness, and it often makes us feel inadequate, whereas men with autism might not really care for interactions.

After all of this, try to look at professors through a different lens since academia has a high proportion of autistic people, especially in math-intensive fields. With regards to being uncomfortable with portrayals of Sheldon, critiquing a representation of neurodivergent people without properly understanding the way a neurodivergent person interprets the world might actually stigmatize someone’s positive relationship with their surroundings.

10

March 16, 2020 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

Commentary

Voting as Support of the State

The Nuances of Voting in a Gov’t You Don’t Want to Uphold Phoebe Pannier Staff Writer Disclaimer: The endorsement expressed in this article does not necessarily represent the opinions of The McGill Daily editorial board.

L

et me start by saying that I don’t believe in voting for “the lesser of two evils.” It’s a weird phrase that implies that evil (however the speaker conceives of it) can be quantified, and it implies that some measure of evil is acceptable, even necessary. I do, however, believe that something can be less-than-ideal in some ways while still having value in other ways. That’s a position that I’ve struggled to come to, as it makes me feel like a compromising centrist.

The current electoral process in America is not democratic. It is biased, bourgeois, and serves to uphold existing power structures.

Even the most progressive, leftist politician is still going to exist near the center of the political spectrum (and support some degree of capitalism), because there is no other way to accomplish anything in government, nor is there any other way to gain enough media support to actually be viable for election.

But even if it wasn’t skewed towards capitalism, the “democratic” process would still be oppressive. America exists on stolen land and was built by enslaved people. The country is an ongoing colonial project, which means that it will always benefit from previous violence, and in order to remain powerful, America will always be violent towards those who do not conform to its colonial structures. (This includes, but isn’t limited to, the continued violation of Indigenous land rights, a lack of investigation into the cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women, the disproportionate

imprisonment of Black men and other people of colour, the refusal to help racialized folks in the face of environmental disasters).

The current electoral process in America is not democratic.

It is biased, bourgeois, and serves to uphold existing power structures.

Voting is a tacit endorsement of those structures which enable voting to occur. To involve oneself in the electoral processes of America is to involve oneself in the process of colonialism. To legitimize the state in any way is harmful, but it’s important to recognize that voting isn’t the only way in which we do so: we also follow laws created and enforced by colonizers (that is to say, all laws, even those which I agree with), pay taxes, and benefit from the few social programs the government does provide. However, they also have effects which reduce harm. Laws which dictate certain traffic rules, for instance, save lives by reducing car accidents. Taxes, while they do fund the military, also fund public education. It’s important to recognize that there are situations in which people must legitimize the state in these ways in order to survive, and it would be both ignorant and harmful to pass judgment on them in the same way

Daisy Sprenger | Illustrations Editor

that we might pass judgment on people in the ruling class who also make these choices.

As far as I’m concerned, choosing not to vote constitutes a tacit endorsement: whoever wins, the non-voter says, is someone that I wasn’t invested in opposing. This is a controversial opinion, and I certainly don’t begrudge those who disagree with me (especially those with less institutional privilege than myself ). If someone chooses not to vote because they have a moral opposition to the entire process, I respect that. But if someone chooses not to vote simply because none of the candidates are perfect, I question why it is that they want the “perfect” candidate, anyway.

What use is there in throwing away potential good just because there is also potential bad (especially if that bad is no worse than any of the alternatives)?

The way that Bernie Sanders has been celebrated by many on the left leaves an unpleasant taste in my mouth. He’s revered as America’s potential saviour, which is only true if one thinks that America can be “saved.” It’s ludicrous to believe that one millionaire from Vermont could fix what is rotten at America’s core.

His most fervent fans seem to view the country through rose emojitinted glasses; democratic socialism can’t simply reverse centuries of oppression. It’s my view that there is nothing worth salvaging from a country which was built on, and continues to profit off of, the exploitation of people of colour and the working class. The foundation is rotten and so is everything that was built on top of it.

In addition, I disagree with many of his policies. He supports prison reform (rather than abolition), his position on reparations is unclear, he has supported the imperialist “War on Terror,” and he doesn’t support BDS (though he doesn’t support criminalizing those who do, either). In short, he believes many things which I disagree with, but none of those particular things are different or worse than the negative policies of any other candidate. In contrast, his positive policies are significantly better than those of the other candidates.

He is the only candidate still in the running who supports national rent control, an “empty house tax,” Medicare for all, cancelling all student loan debt, and extending voting rights to incarcerated people.

Each and every one of those things would have a material impact on the lives of those oppressed along the lines of race, class, and ability.

Those ideas of his which perpetuate oppression should be critiqued, as Sanders’ positive stances don’t erase his negative ones. He doesn’t get a free pass, but he also shouldn’t be dismissed out of hand just because

Daisy Sprenger | Illustrations Editor a Sanders presidency doesn’t line up with the most idealistic vision that leftists have for the country. A Sanders presidency would be better than any other presidency in this election cycle. Not voting isn’t the same as a vote for no president at all.

My morals make me reluctant to vote, but they also tell me I need to reduce more harm than I cause. If I’m willing to validate the state in some ways, then why would I then turn around and make a show of not validating it by not voting? Not voting doesn’t dismantle the state, it only supports whoever is elected without my input. I’d rather have a president who supports universal healthcare and higher taxes for the wealthy than have a feeling of moral superiority because I performed leftism as rigidly as a Twitter anarchist, which of course isn’t to say that those people are wrong. I have learned and continue to learn from their knowledge, and respect that they are making difficult choices just as I am. I just know that for me personally, I feel most uneasy at the prospect of being complicit while Trump or Biden leads the country into another decade of racist and classist violence.

A Sanders presidency would be a band-aid, not a solution. Some

people are of the opinion that a band-aid merely fools people into thinking that the work of antioppression is done. Intellectually, I understand that argument. But that isn’t a choice I am comfortable making, because my choices with regards to the election will likely impact other people more than they will impact me.

I don’t believe in accepting a lesser evil, nor do I believe in uncritical loyalty. However, I do believe in supporting an imperfect candidate, provided that supporting them will bring about a greater net positive impact than would not supporting them.

I don’t know what a long-term solution might be (to the problems of capitalism, of colonialism, of America). I’ve heard many different suggestions, many of which I could see working, but ultimately it isn’t my place to validate any of them. As a settler and non-racialized person, I simply do not have the positionality to decide in what way my privilege should be mitigated. As far as I’m concerned, the only thing I should be doing is reducing harm where I can.

For me, this means voting for Sanders and continuing to critique those politics of his that are inconsistent with the values he purports to hold.

As a settler and non-racialized person, I simply do not have the positionality to decide in what way my privilege should be mitigated.

As far as I’m concerned, the only thing I should be doing is reducing harm where I can.

March 16, 2020 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

culture

11

Exploring Montreal’s Sleepless Night City is Pretty Culture Column

Ally Pengelly Staff Writer

N

uit Blanche, often referred to as ‘Sleepless Night,’ is an annual all-night arts and culture festival that encourages participants to explore Montreal in new and nocturnal ways.

Scheduled on February 29, this year’s cultural and creative activities took place throughout the city’s neighborhoods until the late hours of the night. Nuit Blanche is a global phenomenon, as a number of countries and cities embrace this annual opportunity to hold an all-night festival. Montreal’s Nuit Blanche offers over 200 activities, mostly free, including late-night museum exhibits, concerts, dining, and so on. The festival is in part characterized by its accessibility, as it uses local spaces in new and distinct ways that allow spectators to take part in activities often only available during work or school hours.

Bustling with crowds, Montreal’s Quartier des Spectacles district was a central location for Nuit Blanche celebration. Various fire pits provided a warm glow throughout the area, enhanced by the addition of orange-illuminated plastic trees. Despite the cold weather, the quarter was buzzing with people bundled up in winter gear.

An illuminated Ferris Wheel, reflecting colourful lights against UQAM, drew a significant lineup.

Various food trucks scattered

throughout the area also gained attention, ranging from tasty snacks to a mini SAQ. Three large plastic tents offered the possibility to dine at an outdoor bistro, while a mini hockey rink placed at the center of the quarter was crowded with children.

Near rue Saint-Catherine, a large stage drew a significant crowd as electronic music flooded the event. Meanwhile, a large and colourful slide stretching down rue Saint-Catherine encouraged fun for all ages. The events were accessible to all, as the different activities provided something for everyone — from young Montrealers enjoying a night out to families with young children.

Nuit Blanche festivities extended to the Musée d’Art

Ava B provided a friendly and creative ambiance, permeated with the joy of being somewhere usually exclusively accessible during the daytime.

Contemporain de Montréal (MAC), also located in the Quartier des Spectacles. Instead of closing at its usual hours, the museum opened its doors until 2 a.m. and offered free admission.

The museum offered a paint night and plastic tables with paper and paint supplies were full of groups of friends chatting and painting away. Visitors conversed throughout the usually quiet exhibits, generating a casual and excited feel. A sense of camaraderie pervaded the night, enhanced by the significant number of spectators utilizing the museum space and artistic displays as an opportunity to gather with friends and family.

Nuit Blanche events took place simultaneously all over the city, in addition to the scene at the Quartier des Spectacles. One such event occurred at Eva B, a vintage store located near Place des Arts on boulevard St. Laurent. While the store usually closes at 7 p.m., it opened its doors until midnight for a live art auction. A number of artists painted bookcases, mirrors, mannequins, pool tables, and canvasses as onlookers observed and wandered throughout the venue. Bidding took place at the store counter, with each piece starting at $100. Eva B additionally offered a variety of $1 vegan snacks, while its upper floor offered the opportunity to purchase $15 clothing pieces. The store provided a friendly and creative ambiance, permeated with the joy of being somewhere usually exclusively accessible during the daytime.

Listen to Unfit to Print, The McGill Daily’s radio show!

Every Tuesday from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

On CKUT 90.3 FM and ckut.ca Catch up on older episodes on our website: mcgilldaily.com/podcast

A sense of camaraderie pervaded the night, enhanced by the significant number of spectators utilizing the museum space and srtistic displays as an opportunity to gather with friends and family.

It is only fitting that Montreal, a city renowned for its nightlife and culture, would host such a spectacular nocturnal event.

Nuit Blanche provides a unique take on after-hours Montreal, bringing together residents of all ages to enjoy the city’s cultural and artistic contributions. The festival provides the opportunity for visitors to enjoy spaces that may normally be considered too expensive or “off-limits” for all to access. Those interested in

nocturnal cultural events should look into the MAC’s Nocturnes, a similar concept to Nuit Blanche, which keep the museum open into the late hours of the night and providing a casual and fun spot for friends and family to get together. Nuit Blanche provides access to Montreal culture in a manner that allows for spectators to partake in free local activities — usually only available in the daytime — all night long.

Visitors conversed throughout the All members of the exhibits, generating a usually quiet Daily Publications Society (DPS), publisher of Thecasual McGill Dailyand and excited feel.

Le Délit, are cordially invited to its Special Meeting of Members: Date and time:

Wednesday, April 1st @ 6:00 p.m.

Location:

680 Sherbrooke St. West, Room 724

The DPS is currently accepting applications for its 2020-2021 Board of Directors.

Positions must be filled by McGill students, duly registered for the upcoming Fall 2020 & Winter 2021 semesters and be able to serve until June 30th, 2021, as well as one Graduate Representative and one Community Representative.

Board members gather at least once a month to discuss the management of the newspapers and websites, and to make important administrative decisions.

To apply, please visit dailypublications.org/ board-of-directors/how-to-apply/ Deadline: Monday, March 30th @ 5 p.m.

12

Maech 16, 2020 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

Compendium!

Lies, Half Truths, and J. Tru and Soph in seperate beds? :0