The McGill Daily Vol. 111 Issue 06

Volume 111, Issue 6 | Monday, October 18, 2021 | mcgilldaily.com anti-neoliberal since 1911

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

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table of Contents

October 18, 2021 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

Table of Contents 8 3

editorial • Kellogg’s Workers Strike

5 •

News

Countdown to a Safe Campus • McGill Senate Advocates for COVID-19 Measures • Column: Return to Campus 2021

AGM &

Call for Candidates All members of the Daily Publications Society (DPS), publisher of The McGill Daily and Le Délit, are cordially invited to its Annual General Assembly:

Wednesday, October 27th @ 6:30 pm Online event (via Zoom)

The presence of candidates to the Board of Directors is strongly advised.

The Daily Publications Society is looking for a Community Representative for its 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.

To RSVP to the AGM and/or to submit en application, visit:

dailypublications.org/agm-2021

Questions? chair@dailypublications.org Application deadline: Friday, Oct. 22, 2021 @ 11:59 p.m.

10 12

features • What Another Liberal Government Means for the Climate

culture • Album Review: A Beginner’s Mind • Tegan and Sara’s Impact

compendium • Horoscopes

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EDITORIAL

Volume 111 Issue 6

October 18, 2021 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

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contributors Eve Cable, Saylor Catlin, Valentina de la Borbolla, Ariane Fournier, Rasha Hamade, Zoe Lister, Tiana Koundakjian, Sophie McLean, Robert Muroni, Viola Ruzzier le délit

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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.

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We Have Nothing to Lose But Our Grains

O

n October 5, around 1,400 Kellogg’s workers at four different US plants began a strike after the company drafted a new labour contract that denied workers benefits previously provided by the company.

Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers’ International Union (BCTGM) president Anthony Shelton said the following on the issue: “Kellogg’s response to these loyal, hardworking employees has been to demand these workers give up quality health care, retirement benefits, and holiday and vacation pay. The company continues to threaten to [outsource labour] if workers do not accept outrageous proposals that take away protections that workers have had for decades.” This is after workers worked “seven days a week, 16 hours a day” during COVID-19 lockdowns, according to Kellogg’s employee and union president Trevor Bidelman, while executive earnings and bonuses increased significantly.

This isn’t the first large-scale strike that has taken place this year: in the past few months, two other member groups of the BCTGM – Frito-Lay and Nabisco workers – went on strike for better working conditions, better pay, and more time off.

Prior to this, the most recent strikes affecting these companies took place in 1973 and 1969, respectively. Both resulted in improved conditions, pay, and benefits for workers. Earlier this year, Volvo Trucks workers in Virginia went on strike, successfully securing a new labour contract that included a signing bonus, increased wages, and more. Currently, 10,000 John Deere employees are striking in response to a new labour contract, the first strike at the company in over three decades.

In the entertainment sector, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), a union representing tens of thousands of film and TV crew members, will begin a strike on October 18 unless a deal is met. 60,000 production workers in the industry would strike for the first time since the 1940s, effectively bringing production of film and television in the US to a halt. Approximately 24,000 healthcare workers in California and Oregon just voted to authorize a strike on October 14 after months of bargaining for fairer wages.

While these strikes are taking place in the US, Canadian unions are following suit: Alberta Real Canadian Superstore union members served Loblaws a strike notice in September, Quebec daycare workers are currently on a rotating strike, and Canadian Union of Public Employees locals in New Brunswick (who represent 22,000 workers in the province) voted in favour of a strike earlier this month. Across industries, across borders, workers are standing in solidarity to improve conditions for the working class. The labour movement is being revitalized: in the US and Canada, tens of thousands of workers are striking, putting immense pressure on companies to provide fair working conditions.

While not all of these strikes succeeded in obtaining every improvement they advocated for, all have resulted in improved working conditions. Strikes get results, whether it be increased wages and bonuses, better hours, ending mandatory overtime, guaranteed time off, benefits, or annual pay raises. Striking

sets a precedent for other unions; they encourage workers to advocate for change in their respective workplaces.

Anti-union rhetoric, often perpetuated by management within workplaces, as well as larger figures, including CEOs and politicians, has obstructed workers’ liberation and made organizing an uphill battle. Amazon founder and executive chairman Jeff Bezos is notoriously anti-union, and Amazon employees have reported that management engages in active union-busting efforts. Their anti-union campaign allegedly includes targeting and firing pro-union employees, even stalking and spying on them to gain information on organizing initiatives. The Intercept reported on Amazon’s anti-union tactics at their Alabama factory, where Amazon hired RWP Labor, a specialty firm that assists companies in “maintaining a union free workplace.” A management-side attorney estimated the amount Amazon spent on anti-union consultants was in the millions. Unfortunately, no US Amazon factory has successfully unionized – yet. In spite of these unsuccessful efforts, it is important to remember the labour movement has always been “about failing forward. [...] Workers trying, workers losing, workers trying again.” With unionization efforts galvanizing labour rights movements across the continent, workers are growing more and more empowered.

Despite corporations’ best efforts, the number of largescale strikes in the US this year alone displays a trend of workers recognizing the power dynamics at play in their workplaces, recognizing their value as workers, and successfully organizing as a result. The COVID-19 pandemic has drawn attention to labour rights and inequities present in most workplaces, especially in regards to safety: lack of safety protections for workers, no paid sick days, and no hazard pay, among others. As companies complain of labour shortages (i.e. workers choosing not to work for below liveable wages or in unsafe conditions), workers are putting themselves in strong positions for bargaining. The number of manufacturing strikes that have taken place this year alone show the momentum gained by workers: the more high profile successful strikes that take place, the more workplaces are inspired to strike for their rights.

As consumers, it is our responsibility to support these actions: Kellogg’s workers are asking that we stand in solidarity with their strike efforts by boycotting Kellogg’s products. Striking and boycotting work in tandem to put pressure on corporations to take their workers’ concerns seriously.

However, the mission of these actions is to support the cause as much as you are personally able; minimize your purchase of Kellogg’s goods, be ready to cancel your streaming services in support of IATSE, and support other boycotts, like the ongoing calls to boycott Amazon. Shaming others for their inability to fully participate in a boycott is unproductive and often ignores the needs of disabled people. Nonetheless, it is crucial to express solidarity with workers in any way possible. Support your local unions, unionize your workplace, and participate in strikes and boycotts however you can.

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Financial Statements April 30, 2021 Independent Auditor's Report To the Directors of Daily Publications Society / Société de Publication du Daily Opinion We have audited the financial statements of Daily Publications Society / Société de Publication du Daily (the Organization), which comprise the statement of financial position as at April 30, 2021, and the statements of operations, changes in net assets and cash flows for the year then ended, and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies.

In our opinion, the accompanying financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Organization as at April 30, 2021, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended in accordance with Canadian accounting standards for not-for-profit organizations.

Basis for Opinion We conducted our audit in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Statements section of our report. We are independent of the Organization in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in Canada, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Responsibilities of Management and Those Charged with Governance for the Financial Statements Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements in accordance with Canadian accounting standards for not-for-profit organizations, and for such internal control as management determines is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Organization's internal control.

Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures made by management.

Conclude on the appropriateness of management's use of the going concern basis of accounting and, based on the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the Organization's ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in our auditor's report to the related disclosures in the financial statements or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our opinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our auditor's report. However, future events or conditions may cause the Organization to cease to continue as a going concern.

Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the financial statements, including the disclosures, and whether the financial statements represent the underlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves fair presentation.

We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit.

In preparing the financial statements, management is responsible for assessing the Organization's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless management either intends to liquidate the Organization or to cease operations, or has no realistic alternative but to do so.

Those charged with governance are responsible for overseeing the Organization's financial reporting process.

Auditor's Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Statements Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion.

Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards will always detect a material misstatement when it exists.

Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

As part of an audit in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards, we exercise professional judgment and maintain professional skepticism throughout the audit. We also: Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.

Daily Publications Society / Société de Publication du Daily

Daily Publications Society / Société de Publication du Daily

Statement of Financial Position As at April 30, 2021

Statement of Operations For the Year Ended April 30, 2021

2021 $

2020 $

Assets

2021 $

2020 $

Revenues

Current Cash Accounts receivable (note 3) Prepaid expenses Equipment (note 4)

490,329 18,617 5,075

325,455 27,916 5,075

514,021

358,446

7,959

7,675

521,980

366,121

67,375 10,672

15,665 9,570

78,047

25,235

Liabilities Current Accounts payable and accrued liabilities Salaries and commissions payable Long-term debt (note 5)

40,000

-

118,047

25,235

Emergency reserve

150,000

150,000

Operations reserve

75,000

75,000

7,675

7,675

171,258

108,211

403,933

340,886

521,980

366,121

Commitments and contingency (notes 6 and 7)

Advertising Student fees Other Government assistance

2,808 322,835 314 20,000

29,215 311,494 303 -

345,957

341,012

42,783 159,203 81,342 481

76,412 93,823 132,975 1,280

283,809

304,490

62,148

36,522

Expenses Selling General and administrative Printing and production Financial Excess of revenues over expenses from operations before interest income Interest income Excess of revenues over expenses

899

2,282

63,047

38,804

Unrestricted $

2021 Total $

See accompanying notes and additional information

Net assets

Invested in capital assets Unrestricted

Daily Publications Society / Société de Publication du Daily Statement of Changes in Net Assets For the Year Ended April 30, 2021

Balance - beginning of year

Emergency reserve $ 150,000

Excess of revenues over expenses Balance - end of year

Operations reserve $

Balance - beginning of year

October 18, 2021

Date

Excess of revenues over expenses Balance - end of year See accompanying notes

75,000 Operations reserve $

Emergency reserve $

Approved pproved by

75,000

150,000

Invested in capital assets $

150,000 150,000

7,675 7,675 Invested in capital assets $

75,000 75,000

108,211

340,886

63,047

63,047

171,258

403,933

Unrestricted $

2020 Total $

10,524

66,558

(2,849)

41,653

302,082 38,804

7,675

108,211

340,886

October 18, 2021 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

news

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Countdown to a Safe Campus

Dr. Fauci receives honourary degree, McGill still without vaccine mandate Zoe Lister News Contributor

“C

ountdown to a Safe Campus,” a Facebook page started by McGill Law Professors Richard Gold and Richard Janda, set a goal for McGill University to adopt a COVID-19 vaccine mandate before October 1.

That day marked McGill’s 67th Annual Beatty Lecture with Dr. Anthony Fauci as the featured lecturer. The virtual event honoured McGill’s bicentennial and awarded Dr. Fauci with an honourary doctorate, recognizing his accomplishments and leadership to the community.

Dr. Fauci, director of the U.S National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases since 1984, has served as a leading expert

Though the university has decided to honour Dr. Fauci with its greatest distinction, it has not implemented Fauci’s recommendation to mandate the COVID-19 vaccine on university campuses. throughout the pandemic.

At the beginning of August, Dr. Fauci said, “I would encourage private enterprises to seriously consider the idea of mandating vaccination in the enterprise for which they are responsible, whether that’s a university or a place of business.” Though the university has decided to honour Dr. Fauci with its greatest distinction, it has not implemented Fauci’s recommendation to mandate the COVID-19 vaccine on university campuses.

The main points of Dr. Fauci’s lecture were the likelihood of the pandemic worsening this winter, COVID-19 being airborne, and how the overall health of all should

be prioritized over the individual liberty of a few. Fauci emphasized the importance of a vaccination mandate as well as other protections against the spread of the virus i.e. social distancing in classes, but McGill has not followed these recommendations.

Nearly all Canadian universities outside Quebec require proof of vaccination.

In mid-August, the university released a statement explaining its decision to not mandate the vaccine. It cited a Quebec law that allows people to refuse forgoing a recommended medical procedure.

The university additionally cited its confidence in its health and safety measures, writing that “education and incentives will be effective [...] to get as many people as possible vaccinated.”

Part of this confidence stems from the university adoption of Quebec’s vaccine passport.

Starting in September, the vaccine passport became mandatory for non-essential activities on campus. As of mid-October, these non-essential activities vary from sports and student organizations to dining halls and libraries.

Essential activities, including attending class and accessing residences, do not require the vaccine passport. The university will now be providing students and faculty with the option to use a vaccine passport “fast-pass” sticker, which will expedite the checking of vaccine passports in dining halls and other areas that require the passport.

In addition to the requirement of the vaccine passport, McGill has added other incentives for students and faculty to get vaccinated.

This has included providing the community with information targeted to those who are unsure about receiving the vaccine, as well as social media outreach such as the “Ask an Expert” video series which explains why it is important to get vaccinated.

Though the vaccine passport and McGill’s outreach may be useful in prompting students and faculty to get vaccinated, mandated vaccination is essential to stopping the spread of COVID-19, according to Dr. Fauci.

The “Countdown to a Safe Campus” Facebook page has been advocating for this on its posts.

Articles about vaccination and Dr. Fauci’s recommended COVID-19 precautions are found on the page as well as opinions related to how the university should implement

Eve Cable | Illustrations Editor the mandate. When referring to Dr. Fauci being awarded an honourary McGill degree, the page wrote, “So how come McGill isn’t following the advice of the person the Principal says ‘expresses its highest ideals’?”

The university claims to have a readied response for the current Quebec alert level of COVID-19 and increased alert levels of the virus. There are four alert levels in total: Vigilance, Early Warning, Alert, and Maximum Alert. These levels are determined by the epidemiological situation, transmission control, and healthcare system capacity.

Currently, McGill’s campus is in the “Vigilance” alert level.

are buildings with ventilation.

The university claims campus buildings are well-ventilated, which protects against the virus and reduces the risk of spread.

In September, the university claimed that 85 per cent of its community was fully vaccinated, according to numbers from the Ministère de la Santé et des Services Sociaux. However, only 74 per cent of Quebec’s population is fully vaccinated. This high percentage of Quebec citizens unvaccinated likely led to the fourth wave of COVID-19 seen in September. McGill tracks its own cases which are updated every Tuesday and indicates if there was any community transmission

“If McGill is the great university it claims to be, it can listen and learn from its own distinguished honourary degree recipient [Dr. Fauci].”

- Countdown to a Safe Campus As part of the protective measures against the spread of COVID-19, the university began testing wastewater for the presence of COVID-19 at La Citadelle, Carrefour Sherbrooke, Royal Victoria College, and Solin Hall starting in October and will begin testing at other residences “in the near future.” Wastewater testing allows the university to estimate the level of the virus spread and increase COVID-19 measures accordingly. Another precaution set in place by McGill

of the virus. The university also claims to notify individuals who have been in moderate or highrisk contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19, and has the contacts self-isolate and get tested. Students and faculty, however, have expressed concern over the adequacy and transparency of the university’s contact-tracing methods.

Though the vaccine is heavily encouraged, there are currently no vaccination clinics on McGill’s campus. There was a vaccination

clinic available to students and faculty at the beginning of the semester, but those looking to get vaccinated now would have to get vaccinated at an off-campus location. As for students on the Macdonald campus, there are also no on-campus clinics, leaving few convenient options for students looking to get vaccinated. In addition to the lack of vaccination clinics, the university also does not provide on-campus COVID-19 testing – students must book their own testing appointments. This is due to Quebec’s decision to not include universities as part of their designated testing centers.

McGill provides self-assessment symptom forms and has laid out a written plan with steps for someone who thinks they may have been exposed to COVID-19.

With approximately 85 per cent of classes being held in-person and many of these classes with no online option, there is an added risk of COVID spreading in classrooms. Professors are not required to wear masks in the room, which again adds an additional risk.

“Countdown to a Safe Campus” expressed its disappointment at the university’s continued refusal to implement a vaccine mandate and wrote a message in its most recent post directed towards McGill Principal Suzanne Fortier. The message pushed the precedence of the collective good over individual liberty and to avoid taking actions that divide the community. It also noted that, “If McGill is the great university it claims to be, it can listen and learn from its own distinguished honourary degree recipient [Dr. Fauci].”

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October 18, 2021 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

news

McGill Senate Advocates for More COVID-19 Regulations

Motion Passed to Establish Ad Hoc Advisory Committee

Robert Muroni News Contributor

O

n September 22, the McGill University Senate passed a motion that they say looks to further student protection against COVID-19 and increase student involvement in administrative decision making regarding the pandemic. Part of SSMU’s prolonged battle with the university’s administration over COVID-19 regulations, the motion advances two initiatives: a first resolution that “urges the university to adopt measures beyond those currently in place to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 infection,” and a second resolution that “proposes the creation of an Ad Hoc Advisory Committee of Senate on COVID Academic Planning and Policies (“Ad Hoc Advisory Committee”).”

Efforts by McGill’s student body to ramp up protective measures against the raging pandemic have been ongoing for some time now: an earlier motion was presented to the Senate Steering Committee at its September 2021 meeting which, if passed, would have required the Senate to “urge the implementation of a proof of vaccination against COVID19 requirement for all students, faculty and staff seeking access to the McGill classrooms, libraries, laboratories, and indoor research or study spaces.”

Despite these appeals, McGill has not updated their policies; the university’s website affirms their commitment to no vaccine mandates of any kind, referencing worries about their ability to “legally require [mandates] in the Quebec context” without government intervention.

Efforts by SSMU to ramp up protective measures against the pandemic have been ongoing for some time now [...]

Despite these appeals, McGill has not updated their policies.

The group also found that McGill’s anti-mandate commitment renders the institution susceptible to legal claims that “the present policy discriminates against disabled students, staff and faculty.”

The Senate’s first resolution, which advocates for a proof of vaccine requirement, serves as the accumulation of months of student and faculty pleas for more protection against a virus that has claimed the lives of more than 28,000 Canadians to date.

The passed resolution looks to an August 16 letter addressed to Principal Suzanne Fortier, Provost Christopher Manfredi, and Chair of McGill’s Board of Governors Ram Panda, where members of the Faculty of Law evaluate the legality of a vaccine mandate.

In their August 23 letter, faculty members explain that “experts in law […] have long noted that requiring proof of vaccination is not the same as imposing an obligation to get a vaccine.” They conclude that a proof of vaccine requirement should simply be considered an “internal regulation – like requiring protective clothing when working in a university lab,” that aims to advance the safety of students and staff on McGill’s campus. The group also found that McGill’s antimandate commitment renders the institution susceptible to legal claims that “the present policy discriminates against disabled students, staff and faculty,” as they argue a lack of mandate discriminates against those with a disability, contrary to Article 10 of the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms.

The first resolution also broadly advances the Senate’s earlier attempt to urge further

Viola Ruzzier | Staff Illustrator public health measures – the Senate Steering Committee did not include the prior motion on its agenda since some elements of the proposed resolution “did not fall within Senate’s jurisdiction,” according to writing in the second motion. Notably, the first motion’s appendix included recommendations to implement the following provisions:

5.

Improve ventilation sufficiently in ALL classroom spaces to meet occupational health guidelines, including those spaces without mechanical ventilation; 6.

Implement physical distancing in classrooms and density maximums in classrooms until evidence demonstrates that the epidemiologic situation in Quebec is stable;

1. Establish daily COVID-19 7. Ensure that classes are vaccination sites on campus and allow vaccination registration on notified if anyone who attended the class tests positive for SARScampus until demand wanes; CoV-2 so that individuals can 2. Establish SARS-CoV-2 testing monitor themselves for symptoms sites on campus and implement a and minimize the potential that routine testing program to identify they could transmit to their families; asymptomatic cases; 3. Provide short and longterm accommodations for all who are at risk of severe COVID19 outcomes due to pre-existing health conditions, including those who are immunocompromised or have other significant health concerns and those who live with family members at increased risk for these reasons; 4. Ensure that all individuals remain masked in McGill classrooms, libraries, laboratories, and indoor research or study spaces and that instructors remain masked while teaching to prevent transmission within the classroom;

8.

Increase transparency of the reporting about SARSCoV-2 positive tests, COVID19 symptoms, and COVID-19 vaccination rates by implementing a comprehensive dashboard that tracks these metrics twice weekly and making these data available publicly online; and 9. Respect the right of faculty members in collaboration with their chairs/directors to make decisions about how they teach, including the mode of instruction.

advocates for measures beyond those currently in place to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The newly created committee will meet weekly throughout the 20212022 academic year, aiming to work with “the university’s senior administration on COVID-19 related decisions” like “academic planning,” advising members on “how such decisions can be most effectively communicated and implemented.” The committee will consist of: Chris Buddle, the Associate Provost (Teaching and Academic Programs), who will serve as Co-chair; Angela Campbell, the Associate Provost (Equity and Academic Policies), who will serve as Co-chair; Laura Winer, the Director of McGill’s Teaching and Learning services (TLS); and six student Senators.

The Advisory Committee encourages “feedback on matters from members of the McGill community” and will “respond to [any feedback] through the University Senate.”

The passage of this motion is part of SSMU’s advocacy for COVID-19 safety which dates from before the beginning of this semester.

The Daily will continue to cover SSMU’s dealings with administration as the story unfolds.

If you have safety concerns or a tip While the passed resolution did regarding McGill’s COVID-19 protocol, not name specific requests, it still please reach out to news@mcgilldaily.com.

column: Return to campus 2021

October 18, 2021 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

7

Faculty Mandated to Teach In-Person

Professors express frustration with administration Saylor Catlin News Editor As McGill prepared to return to campus earlier this year, it became increasingly clear that guidelines given by the administration did not particularly favour the wishes of students and faculty. Several weeks into the semester, these concerns have gone largely unaddressed, and continue to develop. The Daily is starting a column in which we will dissect the disconnect between the McGill administration and the university community, and respond to new developments related to in-person learning.

I

n the weeks leading up to the Fall 2021 semester, faculty members began to express concerns regarding the university’s preparedness for in-person teaching. Students and faculty were particularly frustrated with how the university’s lack of accommodations and vaccine mandates would endanger the safety of those in the classroom.

In an interview with the Daily, Richard Gold, professor in the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Medicine, explained the lack of warning and time for preparation given to faculty before the start of in-person teaching.

According to him, faculty were under the impression that most classes would be taught online up until right before the start of the semester. They were then told that classes “might not be online,” and if this was the case, there would be social distancing. Eventually, social distancing measures were completely lifted in the classroom weeks before the start of the semester. “It made it very hard for professors to adjust [and] to take into account the circumstances to keep their students safe,” said Gold.

McGill administration’s approach to addressing these concerns and requests for accommodations has been lacking, according to Gold.

He expressed frustration at his months-long attempt to contact the administration regarding their policies. “The scientific experts at McGill, medical experts, epidemiologists, everybody who knows this have been talking to them, trying to get in touch with them, trying to get them to listen for months and they won’t listen and they won’t explain,” he says.

On August 29, a memo was sent to faculty members from Provost Manfredi on the subject of faculty concerns and the return to campus.

In the first paragraph, Manfredi acknowledged that “a small number of academic staff are reticent and have intimated their intention not to teach on campus,” and that this “threatens to compromise the learning experiences for students.”

The memo further states that “academic staff are not permitted to determine, unilaterally, that they will teach remotely rather than in-person,” and that “fear about campus safety, residing in another jurisdiction, or concern about relatives who might be at heightened risk or exposure to COVID-19, including those living under the same roof” are not valid reasons for teaching remotely.

This memo is problematic, according to Gold, as it is not a proper interpretation of McGill’s policy. Article 7.5 of the McGill statutes, the highest law in McGill, gives control to the faculty council to make decisions about teaching subject to the rules of the Senate.

As there are no rules of the Senate that discuss modes of teaching, the decision making is left to the faculty’s discretion. Gold explains that there has been a decades-long norm where faculties do this. “The proper interpretation of the power is that it lies in faculty council,” he explains, “and by the Provost trying to say he gets to decide what is good or not is [...] ultra vires,” that is, an act done without appropriate legal authority.

Eve Cable| Illustrations Editor “If that includes some aspects of online teaching then they should be able to do that,” he said, “And we felt that the Provost was overstepping his bounds in terms of saying no.”

In Gold’s opinion, Manfredi’s memo also violates provincial law, specifically the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms which outlines health and safety standards and prevents discrimination.

“We want safe in-person teaching, and we want those who do have genuine concerns to be able to teach remotely without having to jump though a lot of hoops.”

- Kirk Andrew Kirk, President of the McGill Association of University Teachers (MAUT), reiterated the importance of academic freedom in an interview with the Daily. He explained that an important aspect of academic freedom is the freedom to choose the modality of teaching that professors feel would make most sense for pedagogical reasons.

“The university’s policies discriminate against pregnant women, immunocompromised students, [and] students with very severe illnesses,” he says. Gold also explains that the policies discriminate against people on the basis of family status; “If I live in a multigenerational home or I’m taking care of a parent or small

child who is more susceptible, again it discriminates.”

Kirk outlined the many obstacles professors face in requesting accommodations to teach remotely apropos Manfredi’s memo. He described how many faculty members who seek accommodations have been told that to receive accommodations you must have a medical note from a doctor “essentially saying that it would be unsafe for you to be on campus.”

Not all faculty members filing requests have conditions that would warrant a doctor’s note, according to Kirk, and seeking a medical professional in Quebec who can generate such a note is a great challenge for many. He further stated that there are faculty members “who have family members who are immunocompromised or dependents who are immunocompromised, who they’re concerned about passing COVID-19 onto and have a genuine concern about increasing the risk in their family;” faculty members in situations like this would not be granted accommodations for remote teaching, as they themselves do not have a medical reason.

Community and faculty members have vocalized concerns

through several outlets, such as social media, op-eds, and open letters. Overall, Gold says that the administration has so far respected the private right of faculty to express themselves.

He stated that administrative responses have been polite, but have misstated the law and have been “insulting in [...] content.”

Gold further acknowledged, however, that he is a full professor and therefore “less worried than [...] junior colleagues who, even though they do have protections, are still worried.”

Kirk also stated that there has been the underlying implication in some of the administration’s communication that professors are “lazy” or “unwilling” to go into the classroom. He says that this is not the case at all, and the majority of faculty hesitations to teach in-person stem from safety concerns and the wish to reduce potential case increases on campus that would result in an absolute return to remote learning. “We want in-person teaching,” Kirk explained, “but we want safe in-person teaching, and we want those who do have genuine concerns to be able to teach remotely without having to jump through a lot of hoops.”

8

features

October 18, 2021 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

Climate Change: Where Does Canada Stand?

Trudeau’s re-election is concerning for the environment, so what are the solutions?

Zoe Lister, Eve Cable | News Contributor, Illustrations Editor Rasha Hamade Photos Editor Growing climate change anxieties are near-universal amongst the younger generation; we all share this very rational fear of the near future with respect to global warming and the environment.

Most of us have encountered at least a handful of articles and informative videos about what our routine will look like in a couple of decades – from checking the pollution levels every morning on the weather app to erasing Venice from the list of potential future vacation destinations. Predictions for the future of the climate are grim, and we are left wondering what will become of us.

Compared to other countries around the globe, Canada is doing much worse than others and the circumstances are dire. Canada is still a top-ten

greenhouse emitter, while the Climate Change Report does not give very reassuring results, reflecting some of the true danger that our failure to act presents. It is alarming to know that the pace of climate change in Canada is twice as bad as the global rate. This pace will only grow exponentially until something more concrete and constant is done to combat it. This growth will result in serious long-term consequences, with intensified weather extremes, water supply shortages, coastal

flooding, rising sea levels and warming ahead.

However, it is important to keep in mind that these fates are not final. Rather, they depend heavily on the course of action Canada takes next, specifically when it comes to the rate and magnitude of climate change under high versus low emissions.

Not everyone is resigned to a future of climate disasters.

In fact, younger generations have been raised with the knowledge of impending climate catastrophe, and are more prepared and educated

on the topic of climate change than former generations.

Despite this awareness, people are still left feeling powerless due to their lack of opportunities to actually achieve considerable changes.

The operations of just 100 corporations make up 71 per cent of global emissions, and despite the pleas of everyday people, governments refuse to enact concrete policies and regulations. The fate of our planet is currently held in the hands of the old, powerful, and wealthy whose only

[I]t is important to keep in mind that these fates are not final. Rather, they depend heavily on the course of action Canada takes next, specifically when it comes to the rate and magnitude of climate change under high versus low emissions.

concern is financially and politically benefitting from the current status quo and the disasters to come.

The Global Protest of Climate Change Justice march – part of 1,500 global #Uprootthesystem strikes – that occurred on September 24 in Montreal gave a clear understanding of the public demand for change. The message is clear that change from our current system of environmental exploitation is an urgent necessity. Within this, it is imperative that this message is sent with specific targets and requirements in mind. In other words, we need to hold more specific people and corporations as well as the government accountable.

With all this in mind, the re-election of Trudeau might not be the greenest event for Canada’s environmental

features future. Back in April 2021, he announced further efforts to be put into climate change by reducing emissions by 30 per cent by 2030 under the Paris Agreement’s standards. He also invested $53.6 billion in green recovery and planned to work more with global leaders for the cause. Despite these promises, Trudeau has continually failed to act, and prioritizes performative lipservice over actual change.

All of these efforts were only started towards the end of Trudeau’s first tenure as Prime Minister, and probably served a more strategic political purpose than he cares to admit. His focus shifted to issues related to climate change as elections approached, with no mentions of his overall disrespect for Indigenous sovereignty or his signing of controversial pipeline projects. This pattern is expected to continue in the years to come for his leadership, only the more time passes, the less opportunities we get,

As pessimistic, dark, and scary as this might all sound, there are still solutions and better alternatives toward which we should turn for real, effective change, the most important of which is Indigenous land management. and the more concerning the situation becomes.

If we take a look at Canada’s climate reality under Trudeau, its greenhouse gas emissions went from 707 to 730 megatonnes between 2016 and 2019. The air quality in Vancouver was recorded the worst of any major city in the world, and Litton, BC, saw its highest temperature ever recorded in Canada with a record of 49.5 degrees celsius, without mentioning the hundreds of wildfires in British Columbia and all around the country. This is blatantly incompatible with the image Trudeau (and

October 18, 2021 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily Canada as a whole) puts out as a global leader, as well as with specific climate goals previously mentioned.

As pessimistic, dark, and scary as this might all sound, there are still solutions and better alternatives toward which we should turn to for real, effective change, the most important of which is Indigenous land management.

It is crucial to note here that while Indigenous people make up about 5 per cent of the world’s population, they protect 80 per cent of the world’s biodiversity, making any movement to protect the climate inextricable from Indigenous sovereignty.

Part of the larger issue with colonial climate change solutions is that they rarely challenge the extractive nature of our current system.

Indigenous land management and Land Back presents a method of environmental care that has had long standing effectiveness in comparison to the environmental ruin that has been enacted since colonization and industrialization. By returning power to Indigenous communities and upholding their sovereignty, we have the potential to mitigate some of the effects of climate change and participate in more longterm climate solutions.

Indigenous land management takes a more relational worldview when it comes to the environment – one that respects the interdependency of the ecosystem and all those who reside within it.

This moves away from the obsessive individualism and extraction of our capitalist system, wherein concerns are important only so long as they do not threaten profit. Instead, it goes into a more ethical and reciprocal relationship with the environment that is necessary given our state of impending climate emergency.

Increasingly, colonial scientists have turned to Indigenous land management in attempts to fight climate change, for example with

fire-control practices in Australia. Within Canada there is an oppositional relationship between Indigenous land management and the Canadian settler-state – attempts to assert Indigenous sovereignty and environmental protection are met with violence by the state. Indigenous people have continually fought for their land, taken care of it, and know it more than anyone else, as Indigenous people have been here for far longer than any settler present.

Indigenous communities are also among the communities most affected by climate changes onset and consequences.

Their close relationship with the land, reliance on it for subsistence purposes, and higher likelihood to be in severe impact regions (such as coastlines) all put Indigenous people at greater risk for feeling the impacts of severe climate events and changes.

This is why standing for Indigenous communities also means fighting for climate change action, and vice versa, as these two causes are intimately related and mutually inclusive. Each one clarifies and completes the values and principles of the other. This is also why exploitation of Indigenous peoples through capitalist and colonialist systems have such a strong impact on climate change.

Many actions can be undertaken by donating, volunteering, or giving more voice to National Indigenous Organizations. Some of these were invited by Canada to participate in its delegation to the 23rd Conference of the Parties include the Assembly of First Nations, the congress of Aboriginal Peoples, Inuit Circumpolar Council, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Metis National Council, and Native Women’s Association of Canada.

Other indigenous environmental NGOs include Akwesasne Task Force, National Aboriginal Forestry Association, National Aboriginal Lands Manager Association, and

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[W]hile Indigenous people make up about 5 per cent of the world’s population, they protect 80 per cent of the world’s biodiversity, making any movement to protect the climate inextricable from Indigenous sovereignty.

Aboriginal Links International.

Taking a closer look at McGill’s effort towards climate change, some measures have been put in place to be more environmentally friendly. As a matter of fact, the main strategy is called the McGill University Climate & Sustainability Strategy 20202055. Its main goals or long-term targets are to attain a Platinum sustainability rating by 2030, to become zero-waste by 2035, and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040. It is applied through the participation and contribution of everyone; from students, to staff and faculty. The goal is also to achieve this strategy in an inclusive and sustainable way without functioning at the expense of anyone or any other community. Despite this, McGill refuses to divest from the Coastal GasLink pipeline, making many of these efforts fall flat in the face of larger structural change.

While McGill’s Vision 2020 indicates an action plan, it still has significant weaknesses in supporting Indigenous communities and breaking from the extractive colonial system. It does focus on different aspects such as education and academics through research (CommunityUniversity Research Exchange) and teaching (McGill School of Environment or School of Social Work, courses like ENVR 401 and GEOG 302), and sustainability through the bases of UNESCO’s standards.

However,

most of these fail to meaningfully include the Indigenous community. It still falls behind in the domains of energy, green buildings, water conservation, and planning and still has some progress to be made on the transportation, waste diversion, and procurement levels. Even when remembering last year’s protests on campus against the building of the pipeline, little to no action has been undertaken by McGill to help answer the genuine concerns of its students.

In practice, enacting concrete change would require far more incorporation of Indigenous efforts into programs and strategies linked to McGill’s sustainability and environmental initiatives.

This would also mean drawing more substantial links between the two interrelated causes of Indigenous sovereignty and climate change by letting Indigenous and environmental organizations work together on the same projects and events.

While it is important to ensure that climate change movements do not lose momentum, it is more important still for these movements to actively recognize and reflect the colonial roots of environmental extraction in order to effectuate structural change.

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October 18, 2021 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

culture

Cabin Fever: A Review of A Beginner’s Mind

Sufjan Stevens and Angelo De Augustine’s take on the indie-folk isolation album

Ariane Fournier Culture Contributor

W

ith the dawn of fall comes the release of great indie-folk albums (think: Stranger in the Alps by Phoebe Bridgers or Damien Rice’s 9) and Sufjan Stevens’ most recent collaboration with Angelo De Augustine beautifully follows in this tradition.

Released through Asthmatic Kitty Records on September 24, the album could have easily fallen down the Spotify abyss of endless indie playlists, but rest assured: the labelmates’ new record is so dreamy, you’ll want to listen to every track from beginning to end.

A Beginner’s Mind, Stevens and De Augustine’s first collaborative effort, was written during a one-month stay at a friend’s cabin in upstate New York. Cozied up by a crackling fire, the artists watched movies every day for inspiration and composed a total of 14 songs, each of them inspired by a film they had seen. Despite choosing motion pictures that cover a wide array of genres, such as “Night of the Living Dead,” “Return to Oz,” and “Bring It on Again,” the result is surprisingly cohesive.

The album opens with “Reach Out,” an invitation into the duo’s reverie. The piece sets the tone for the LP by offering the same beloved folk ambiance as the one in Carrie & Lowell, an opus that was revered by both fans and critics alike back in 2015, and the equally charming Songs for Christmas (2006), one of my personal favourites.

The song was inspired by Wings of Desire, a 1988 film that follows two angels as they wander the streets of postwar Berlin. The allusion to the two song writers’ own withdrawal from society is hard to miss, as they harmoniously sing about

Sophie McLean | Illustrations Contributor “a time and place where history resigned.” With A Beginner’s Mind, Stevens and De Augustine offer their own take on the recluse aesthetic that has been guiding the creative process of many folk artists for some time. Indeed, many of their predecessors have also written and recorded songs in isolation; Bon Iver’s For Emma, Forever Ago, was famously written in his father’s remote hunting cabin in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

More recently, folklore by Taylor Swift was recorded

[The] historically problematic role of wilderness as a tool of colonialism in the United States is, to a certain degree, perpetuated by these kinds of projects. Indeed, the idea of getting back to nature and engaging with wanderlust to foster creativity is rooted in settler privilege.

at the Long Pond Studio, an isolated recording space in the Hudson Valley.

Stevens and De Augustine’s compositions were born out of a creative film-viewing experience, but their album is nonetheless based on a concept that has already been explored multiple times in the indie genre — particularly by white artists.

The isolation album has become somewhat of a trope among folk songwriters and the musical exile narrative is slowly getting old. Moreover, the historically problematic role of wilderness as a tool of colonialism in the United States is, to a certain degree, perpetuated by these kinds of projects. Indeed, the idea of getting back to nature and engaging with wanderlust to foster creativity is rooted in settler privilege. Indigenous peoples often do not have the privilege of escaping to nature, although these lands belong to them: cabins and cottages are expensive second properties owned by the affluent. When enjoying a piece of music inspired

by the cottage recluse aesthetic, you should keep in mind that these idealized sites are not always pristine, uninhabited lands, and are predominantly owned by the white and wealthy.

Despite these few shortcomings, A Beginner’s Mind’s cozy cabin ambiance is inviting. The tone is not dark, as is common in many cabin albums. Instead, the collaborators distance themselves from the cliché concept by proposing a more blissful sound. “This Is (The Thing)” is a piano-driven solace that showcases the duo’s swooning soprano voices. The lyrics are sung in a peculiar meditative hush, providing a sense of stillness. Other notable moments include the eclectic guitar groove of “Back to Oz” and Stevens’ signature dreamlike acoustics in “Fictional California,” whose lyrics are sometimes amusing (“our school spirit was defined by dance and drama”) sometimes glum (“I look alive but I feel so dead, inside I’m bleeding.”) Themes and lyrics go in every direction, which means that it is up to the musical

arrangements to hold the album together. The skillful musicians make use of every instrument from bass and drums to harp and jingle bells, but never resort to the elaborate instrumental sections associated with film scores.

Rather, they aim for a simpler sound, one that is in line with the stripped-down, natural melody indie fans are so fond of. Even their voices participate in this mystical amalgam; the two men’s harmonies are so tight, it is hard to tell whose voice is whose.

When compared to the rest of Stevens’ discography, A Beginner’s Mind does not offer much innovation. That said, it would be unfair to reproach the Detroit native for a lack of originality knowing he has released 12 full-length studio albums and authored over 200 songs. Seriously, what more could you ask of an indie rocker who has already released two Christmas albums? Illinois (2005) and Carrie & Lowell (2015) remain his best records to date, but this new collaborative opus certainly delivers what it had promised: gentle melodies to cozy up to this autumn.

October 18, 2021 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

culture

11

One of a Kind

Tegan and Sara are the queer icons Gen-Z didn’t know it needed Valentina de la Borbolla Culture Contributor

T

egan and Sara Quin have been around for a while. They started making music as high schoolers under the band name Plunk after discovering an old guitar in their basement. At 18, they recorded Under Feet like Ours in their living room, took a loan from their grandfather, and rented a bus to tour Canada. Since then, they have recorded eight more albums, written a book, started a foundation to support LGBTQ+ girls and women, and performed at the Oscars. Some of their die-hard fans who discovered them during the So Jealous and The Con eras have been very critical of their gradual shift to pop music with their more recent albums Heartthrob and Love You to Death, claiming that they are going mainstream. But Tegan and Sara have always been clear on their willingness to surprise fans with new styles, especially after having found success on the Canadian indie scene. “It’s our job to create, not recreate,” they said.

After all, many new fans found their way to them through their mainstream successes like “Closer” and “Boyfriend.”

But although they are usually presented as a power duo, they

both have very strong individual presences, like little rebellions from only ever being seen as twins.

Tegan presents as more outgoing, usually taking the lead during their famous concert banter. Sara is more reserved, always looking pensive. But their memoir High School reveals far more complex individuals: Tegan’s confidence comes with a deep desire to be heard and Sara’s distant tendency shows a rich but sometimes troubling inner world. So how to reconcile such different albums, eras, and people?

Perhaps it is by making themselves relatable to so many – and especially to young queer fans – that they’ve been able to stay relevant for more than two decades now.

The best way to understand Tegan and Sara’s music is through their extensive discography – few pop artists have nine albums, which for fans serves as a sort of archive on the band’s growth.

Their music should be looked at like a film in which you get to watch a character grow and navigate different stages of life. If you pay close enough attention to the sounds of each album, you can witness their coming of age, and maybe even yours too. You can hear the loneliness of young adulthood in So Jealous. You can hear deep longing and pain in The Con. You

can hear them gain confidence in Heartthrob and the playfulness of self-discovery in Love You to Death.

The band’s progression is filled with contradiction, showing how growing up is always messy. Their latest album Hey, I’m Just Like You is the perfect chapter-closer and a snapshot into their careers: all the songs on the record were written while they were still in high school, aided by the tapes that the sisters had gathered from friends and family. The most striking element from their newer and older songs is their willingness to look back to a painful, embarrassing, and formative era with compassion and vulnerability – reflection which they also do in their memoir. In an interview for The New York Times, they share their thoughts on the music from their teenage years: “It wasn’t rudimentary,” they explained, “There was something remarkable about what we were trying to say.” Tegan and Sara’s music flips the narrative that says that teenagers cannot make meaningful art and encourages their younger fans to take themselves seriously in their passions.

Although I love the songs that make me feel seen, their most interesting songs are the ones that I relate to the least, probably because they feel like possibilities

rather than old stories. “I’m All Messed Up” is one of my favourite songs, especially when Sara sings it acoustically. The song has a very pop arrangement and feels more spaced out than older songs like “Soil, Soil” and “Hop a Plane.”

The interjections punched in the background – Sara cries “go” and Tegan cries “stay” – have that undeniable entwined Tegan and Sara feel. It is in moments like those that their music feels the most special: when you see how they complement each other while being almost exact opposites.

Tegan and Sara stand out not only for their musical achievements

Nirvana, Ani DiFranco, and The Smashing Pumpkins. They were out and had shaved heads, piercings, mullets, and tattoos in a time where women in mainstream music portrayed approaches to femininity curated to be heteronormative.

Their queerness was shamed and ridiculed by homophobic and sexist press coverage, with articles calling them “tampon rock” and isolating their music from mainstream listeners. But part of their power has been in reclaiming the spaces they were relegated to. They have become cultural icons of the indie music scene as well as the queer community. Their music has been

Tegan and Sara’s music flips the narrative that says that teenagers cannot make meaningful art and encourages their younger fans to take themselves seriously in their passions. but also because they have always been subversive. Their musical influences are very clear in their early albums. They grew up in the nineties and were huge fans of

Tiana Koundakjian | Illustrations Contributor

featured in major queer shows and movies like The L Word and Happiest Season. Even if Tegan and Sara’s look – and in many ways the style of their current music – feels less grungy now, this does not take away from their significance as queer icons. Rather, it is a testament to their evolution as artists and their willingness to explore spaces queer women are rarely allowed to, like pop music.

For fans such as myself, Tegan and Sara opened new ways of gender expression, style, and queer desire which feel deeply foundational to my identity. When I was introduced to their music, for the first time in my life, I did not have to change the pronouns of a song for it to fit my own experiences. I also found the curiosity to explore the style of clothes I wore, and to be more visible in my gender expression.

By seeing them sing about their queer love and heartbreak I felt like I could imagine a life that was just as rich and full as the ones I was seeing straight people have. These may not seem like huge instances of self affirmation, but being able to fully relate to something without having to adapt myself to a heteronormative standard felt amazing. Tegan and Sara’s music feels like coming home, and they have built a community that is safe, and queer, and exciting.

October 18, 2021 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

compendium!

12

HOROSCOPES Aries

Taurus

Gemini

(Mar 21 Apr 19)

(Apr 20 May 20)

(May 21 Jun 20)

Invest in some correction tape. You’ll probably need it eventually.

You will discover a button somewhere in your house whose purpose is unknown to you. Find out what it does.

A plant will speak to you this week. I don’t know what it’ll say, but please let me know if it’s something interesting.

Cancer

Leo

Virgo

(Jun 21 Jul 22)

(Jul 23 Aug 22)

(Aug 23 Sept 22)

You will likely encounter a song you haven’t heard in a very long time. It will get stuck in your head. I’m sorry to have to tell you this.

Go through all your pens and see which ones still work. Then mix them all back together and forget which ones still work.

Watch an episode of a show you loved ten years ago. See how much you’ve changed (or not) since then.

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

(Sept 23 Oct 22)

(Oct 23 Nov 21)

(Nov 22 Dec 21)

A crow holding something in its beak just landed in front of my window as I was writing this. Take it as a sign of something (of what, I don’t know).

Beware of small pebbles.

They have it in for you this week.

Memorize a constellation and try to f ind it this week.

Or make up a constellation and try to f ind it this week.

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

(Dec 22 Jan 19)

(Jan 20 Feb 18)

(Feb 19 Mar 20)

You will be followed by some kind of bird. Probably a pigeon or a seagull, but don’t assume it won’t be a kiwi.

It might be a good idea to clean your oven. It’s almost always a good idea to clean your oven, actually.

Wear something from the depths of your closet. You might remember why you had it in the f irst place. Or why it’s in the depths of your closet.