The McGill Daily: Volume 113, Issue 16

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Table of Contents

table of Contents CONTRIBUTO R CALLOUT FO R THE MCGIL

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Editorial

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News

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CAQ’s New Tuition Plan

South Africa’s Case Against Israel Comité de Sages

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Features

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Culture

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TedxMcGill’s “Kaleidoscope”

Review of Catinat Boulevard Tuning in to CKUT

+ Tech 10 Sci • Underrepresented Groups in Physics

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EDITORIAL

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CAQ’s New Tuition Plan Is Worse Than the First

ince the CAQ first announced increased tuition fees for out-of-province students in October 2023, other unsettling developments have come to light.

On December 14, the government announced an updated plan which is arguably even worse than the original. The xenophobia and racism that the Legault government previously made half-hearted attempts to disguise amidst confusing economic figures is now more blatant than ever. According to the new proposal, English-speaking universities in Quebec will not only have to set potentially devastating tuition hikes for their out-of-province and international students – they will also have to make passing grades on a French proficiency test a requirement for these students to graduate.

This mandate is just one of many created by the CAQ in the last few years under the guise of “protecting the French language.” With the rollout of discriminatory languagebased legislation only continuing to increase, Quebec risks setting a dangerous precedent. For instance, since its passing in 2022, Bill 96 has made life for non-francophone residents of Quebec difficult: all immigration services must be carried out in French six months after the candidate’s arrival in the province, companies must publicly display their workers’ French language proficiency, and all civil administrations – such as government agencies, health organizations, and social services – must carry out their business primarily in French. The Legault government has actively been fostering an exclusionary, nationalist atmosphere in Quebec – one which they are now deliberately extending to academia.

The CAQ’s December plan proposes that not only will out-of-province and international students at Englishspeaking universities face stark increases to their tuition rates, but that international students from France and Belgium will, conversely, see decreases to their tuition rates. While most out-of-province and international students will pay upwards of $12,000 and $20,000 respectively, French and Belgian students will reportedly have their tuition fees reduced by almost two-thirds to $2,881 – the same rate as Quebec students. Furthermore, La Presse reported that the Legault government is currently seeking to offer this same price reduction to students from Switzerland who identify as francophone. President of the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN) Eva Ludvig said of these developments: “If a government were trying to devise a plan to starve Quebec’s English-language universities out of existence, it would look a lot like this.”

The new policies for the tuition hikes reveal another side to the CAQ’s objectives that is far more sinister. By singling out francophones from France, Belgium, and Switzerland as the sole recipients of this tuition reduction, the Quebec government is deliberately turning their backs on the millions of French-speakers outside of Europe. The fact

that students from the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East, and other parts of the world are actively being excluded from the plan to “protect the French language” points to the hypocrisy and bigotry atop which this mandate stands.

It’s clear that the only francophones the CAQ wants to attract are francophones from Europe.

McGill has made it clear that it does not support this updated plan, emphasizing that there will still be significant impacts on university enrollment as well as the Montreal economy. As such, the university has promised to implement a new bursary called the Canada Award to offset the increased tuition costs. The bursary amount would range from $3,000 to $9,000 each year for out-ofprovince students in the Faculties of Arts, Education, Nursing, and Music as well as the School of Architecture and most science programs.

Unfortunately, this bursary program is an insufficient response to the negative repercussions of the new tuition plan. First of all, international students are not eligible for this bursary, despite also experiencing tuition increases.

Additionally, McGill’s December 19 press release states that only 80 per cent of out-of-province students will be eligible, without explaining what excludes the other 20 per cent. Ultimately, however, one of the biggest questions is how McGill will maintain this bursary program. McGill has admitted that the new tuition increases could cause them to lose between $42 and $94 million each year due to drops in enrollment. While President Saini has said that the award “will require the University to make financial sacrifices,” it’s hard to know how much they’re willing to sacrifice to maintain current tuition rates if McGill’s financial situation worsens.

These tuition hikes are an unacceptable attack on future students’ access to education, and it is unlikely that ongoing negotiations between university administrations and the Quebec government will produce positive results. It’s crucial that we continue to fight for the quality and accessibility of education through whatever means possible.

In response to these tuition increases, student associations at McGill and Concordia are planning to go on strike from January 31 to February 2. Student strikes are a tactic that have been used by student associations in Quebec on numerous occasions to oppose tuition increases, the largest and most recent example being in 2012. If your department’s student association will be striking during that time, join the picket line and don’t go to class! If you’re not striking this time around, there will be other ways to participate, learn, and show your solidarity. Students at Concordia will be organizing teach-ins on campus activism on January 31 and February 1. For action happening at McGill, follow @ssmu_ea on Instagram for updates.

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The ICJ’s Ruling Could Set a World Precedent

News

Developments in South Africa’s case continue to spark conversation Gemma Holland News Contributor

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n December 29, South Africa submitted an application against Israel before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) alleging that the state had violated the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide through its treatment of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The subsequent public hearings for the case commenced on January 11 and concluded on January 12. Since it began, the global implications of the case have ignited public debates, garnering both support and criticism from nations worldwide.

South Africa’s application asserts that Israel’s actions in Gaza “are genocidal in character, as they are committed with the requisite intent” to destroy a substantial part of the Palestinian national, racial, and ethnic group.

The claim argues that Israel, via its government and agents, is breaching its obligations under the Genocide Convention and has committed genocidal acts against the Palestinian people. South Africa has invoked Article 41 of the ICJ Statute to seek provisional measures aimed at protecting the rights of Palestinians and ensuring Israel’s compliance with its obligations.

During the public hearings, Mr. Vusimuzi Madonsela, representing South Africa, contextualized Israel’s actions within a broader historical framework, encompassing Israel’s 75-year apartheid, 56-year occupation, and 16-year siege on Gaza. South Africa contends that Israel’s deliberate

South Africa’s application asserts that Israel’s actions in Gaza “are genocidal in character, as they are committed with the requisite intent” to destroy a substantial part of the Palestinian national, racial, and ethnic group.

India Mosca | Visuals Contributor imposition of unlivable conditions on Gaza qualifies as a genocidal act. Emphasizing the targeting of civilians and the destruction of essential infrastructure and healthcare, South Africa’s application describes Israel as “a silent killer of people.”

In response, Israel vehemently denies these allegations, characterizing South Africa’s case as a “profoundly distorted factual and legal picture.” Mr. Tal Becker, Israel’s lawyer, highlighted the civilian suffering in the conflict, attributing it to Hamas’s alleged strategy of “seeking to maximize civilian harm to both Israelis and Palestinians, even as Israel seeks to minimize it.” Israel argues that its actions throughout the conflict have been legal, self-defence responses to attacks by Hamas.

Further, Israel accuses South Africa of curating a manipulated narrative, taking advantage of the term “genocide.” To counter the claims of genocide, Israel utilized the UN Charter to illustrate their right and responsibility as a state to, when attacked, “legitimately” respond in “a forceful and proportional manner.”

As the ICJ case is ongoing,

global opinions vary. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has dismissed the genocide allegation as “meritless,” citing concerns about Hamas’s status as a terrorist organization. Both Germany and the United Kingdom, among many other countries, have also rejected the genocide case, with UK Prime Minster Rishi Sunak calling the case “completely unjustified and wrong” and the government of Germany expressing its belief that the “accusation has no basis whatsoever.” Conversely, countries including Namibia and Bangladesh have issued statements supporting the ICJ case. Namibian President Hage Geingoh took to X to express his rejection of Germany’s stance, stating that “no peace-loving human being can ignore the carnage waged against Palestinians in Gaza.”

He also reminded the world that “The German Government is yet to fully atone for the genocide it committed on Namibian soil.”

With countries around the world coming forward with their positions, Canada’s stance has remained quite ambiguous.

Canada refrained from announcing its stance on the

case until both South Africa and Israel had made their arguments before the court, and even then, its position was vague. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s statement was that although Canada “wholehearted[ly]” supports the ICJ, it “does not mean we support the premise of the case brought forward by South Africa.” These statements have led to public confusion and criticism, with various groups expressing their outrage and discontent with Canada’s lack of a clear position.

This includes Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East, who made a statement declaring their “outrage” at Canada’s refusal to support South Africa.

In its interim judgement delivered on January 26, the ICJ ordered that Israel must immediately “take all measures within its power” to prevent any acts that fall within the genocide convention. While this interim ruling is not the final ruling from the court on whether Israel’s actions constitute genocide, it does point to a belief among the judges that Israel’s actions may be in violation of the genocide convention. The court asserted

that “the civilian population in the Gaza Strip remains extremely vulnerable” when calling for immediate action by Israel. For these provisional measures to be ordered, the court does not need proof of genocidal conduct; however, it means that at least some of the state’s actions could be considered acts of genocide.

As the ICJ case continues, the international community will be watching closely, recognizing the broader implications for global politics. The case highlights the shifting dynamics in global politics with perceptions of justice and accountability at the forefront.

Many nations, specifically in the Global South, have come forward and condemned the decisions and actions of Western nations, suggesting that in addition to Israel, the Global North is on trial for its “hypocrisy” in applying international law.

Raising questions on the issues of precedent cases, the trial will be a defining moment in international law, prompting South Africa’s representative Blinne ní Ghrálaigh’s assertion that “the very reputation of international law hangs in the balance.”

January 29, 2024 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

News

Quebec’s Comité de Sages Criticized for Having No Trans Members

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Committee aims to ease rising social tensions regarding issues related to gender identity

Enid Kohler News Staff Writer

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n September 20, thousands of protestors congregated nationwide to oppose education on sexuality and gender identity in schools. The march was met with counter-protestors who accused the marchers of denying students access to critical education concerning inclusion and respect for gender diverse people.

In downtown Montreal, hundreds of protestors and counter-protestors vocalized their opinions in front of Quebec Premier François Legault’s office near McGill’s Roddick Gates.

In response to these tensions, Legault stated in a press scrum that, “we’ll put in place a committee with some experts that will look at the different subjects, the rights of the children, all the debate around gender decisions, and we’ll look at what’s done in other countries, and the committee will come back to us.”

The “committee” Legault referred to is known as the “comité de sages”.

Suzanne Roy, Quebec Minister of Families, presented the mandate and structure of the committee on December 5, 2023. The committee aims to advise the Quebec government on issues related to gender identity, and will be composed of three members. These are Diana Lavallée, former president of the Council on the Status of Women and former president of the Quebec Interprofessional

Berglas said that the committee “won’t progress queer rights or trans rights at all but I also don’t think it was ever meant to. I think it was meant to placate trans foes.”

Health Federation; Dr. Jean-Bernard Trudeau, former deputy director general at the College of Physicians; and Patrick Taillon, professor of constitutional law and human rights and freedoms at Laval University.

The committee, which has a budget of approximately $800,000, will produce a report that is expected to be published in the winter of 2025. The report will analyze the potential impact of the policies, practices, and guidelines surrounding gender identity on Quebec society at large, and will also identify issues that the government should further examine. The Quebec LGBT Council will assist the committee.

The council is composed of more than 70 organizations across Quebec and works to raise awareness among legal, social, and institutional actors to defend the rights of LGBTQ+ communities.

However, the committee has been criticized for its lack of transgender and non-binary members. Cospokesperson for Québec Solidaire, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, said that it is “unusual” to be discussing such “sensitive” issues “without bringing the voices of the people concerned to the table.” He added that “we would undoubtedly find it special, as Quebecers, for example, a committee on the future of the French language with no French speakers.”

When asked if she could imagine a government committee responsible for studying the status of women without any women on it at a press briefing, Lavallée responded, “probably not.” Moreover, when questioned about the absence of members of the LGBTQ+ community on the committee, Roy stated that the committee is not intended to represent the interests of the LGBTQ+ community, but that it will benefit from its collaboration with the Quebec LGBT Council. The head of the Quebec LGBT Council, James Galantino, said that “Unfortunately we were told the committee would exist with or without us. So if the committee exists, we’d rather have a role in it.”

The Daily spoke with Abe Berglas, Administrative Coordinator at Queer McGill, about the comité de sages. When asked about the committee’s potential to progress

Eve Cable | Visuals Contributor the rights of members of the LGBTQ+ community, Berglas said that the committee “won’t progress queer rights or trans rights at all but I also don’t think it was ever meant to. I think it was meant to placate trans foes.” Regarding the role of the Quebec LGBT Council on the committee, Berglas stated that “the Council should take a firmer stance and should refuse to collaborate with the comité de sages. I am worried that lending any sort of legitimacy to the committee will just enforce its power.”

Kimberly Manning, Principal of Concordia University’s Simone de Beauvoir Institute, also expressed concern regarding the committee, specifically due to the lack of transgender and non-binary representation. She stated that “I think [the committee] is a really disturbing development in the history of the province” and that the composition of the committee demonstrates the lack of the government’s regard for prioritizing those affected by the issues at hand.

Manning added, “By putting [the committee] on the table, they’re giving permission to a rise in hostility and transphobia.”

Berglas further explained that the committee will negatively impact the rights of the transgender community by delaying important advancements

“By putting [the committee] on the table, they’re giving permission to a rise in hostility and transphobia.”

- Kimberly Manning such as the implementation of X gender markers on provincial identification documents like health cards and driver’s licenses.

In 2021, the Quebec Superior Court demanded that the province change several sections of the Civil Code of Quebec to include the ability of non-binary people to be recognized by their gender on provincial identification documents. Now, government agencies like the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) are stating that they need the input of the comité de sages before they can move forward with the implementation of X gender markers.

“Even if the final report were amazing, there has actually already been a negative effect of the committee,” said Berglas. They

added that “the very existence of the comité” will delay trans rights.

When questioned about the role of Queer McGill in light of the comité de sages, Berglas explained that they helped organize a protest on January 15 to advocate against the negative implications of the committee. They said that “it went quite well” and that they were “effective in getting [their] message across to a lot of people.”

They added that the protestors “walked along René-Levesque, so there was some exposure there, and we were able to cause some disruption, which was the goal.”

Berglas encouraged students to participate in student activism, specifically related to the advancement of LGBTQ+ rights. They have learned from their experience as a student at McGill that student activism can influence the university’s administration: “I’d like to think that the Quebec government has a similar enough power structure to also do that.” Concerning the comité de sages, Berglas said that they would continue to organize counter-efforts to the committee, emphasizing the importance of “making noise and not going down without a fight.”

To find out more about Queer McGill’s advocacy work, you can visit their website, queermcgill.org, or their Instagram page, @queermcgill.

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January 29, 2024 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

“Kaleidoscope”

TEDxMcGill gathers unique and colourful perspectives for their annual conference

Genevieve Quinn | Visuals Editor Sena Ho News Staff Writer

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n February 4, TEDxMcGill is returning with their annual conference showcasing nine carefully selected speakers and two performers. The event, to be held at Le National Theater, has been in the works for months, TEDxMcGill chair Chelsea Wang told the Daily. The team is excited to present the culmination of their work alongside the speakers and performers who will present a variety of interesting and innovative ideas with the public. This year, TEDxMcGill is featuring Dr. Joe Schwarcz, Elaine Xiao, Brad Crocker, Nithya Lakshmi Mahasenan, Nick Cholmsky, Linnea Nguyen, Ramiro Almeida and Dr. Ryan Chin, Jiordana Saade, and Oran Magal – a lineup ranging from McGill professors, to business owners, to students.

After months of brainstorming,

organizing, and arranging the details for this event, Wang said, “We’re just really excited to put it out to the world. Not only are we following this TED tradition of platforming interesting, compelling, innovating ideas to foster a community hub of free exchange, but it is also just a moment to bring the community together.”

TEDxMcGill, founded in 2009, organizes a yearly showcase to continue the TEDx legacy of “ideas worth spreading.” This year, they are presenting the theme “Kaleidoscope,” based on the instrument designed to display varying patterns through refractions of light, shifting in colour and design. The TEDx program was initiated to promote and encourage people from all across the world to speak on experiences, new ideas, or contrasting perspectives to shift our understanding of reality.

Most often, speakers provide a space for breakthroughs or new innovations in research, but their talks are meant to spark

productive conversation across global communities. Thus, the theme “Kaleidoscope” is meant to express everything that TEDx stands for: the exploration of beauty and diversity among the societies we live in. Nanami Haruyama, VP Memberships for the organization, commented on her brainstorming process for this theme.

“Originally I thought of ‘Kaleidoscope’ to try to think of a simile or an analogy to what TEDx represents,” she explained, which she found to be “a combination

and a platform for so many different ideas [and] people from different backgrounds and walks of life.” Rather than settling on a distinct idea, TEDxMcGill sought to reimagine what it feels like to engage in such bustling academic discourse, where anything and everything is possible. This theme also gives audiences a hint as to what they can expect to feel coming out of the event.

Haruyama believes “that if you shift the Kaleidoscope, you have an entirely new perspective, and we wanted TEDx to represent

The theme “Kaleidoscope” is meant to express everything that TEDx stands for: the exploration of beauty and diversity among the societies we live in.

that Kaleidoscope – a shift in perspective. That if you come to our event on February 4, you will leave having a new idea, a new perspective that you haven’t thought about.”

This year’s application and recruitment cycle for TEDxMcGill was especially difficult due to the sheer number of people who applied or reached out to participate. Haruyama reflected on the process of looking through each applicant’s video and blurb about their speech topic to decide on who would be chosen. In total, there were 90 applicants – a large pool to select from. In addition to those who applied, many interested parties contacted TEDxMcGill themselves. She said, “It was so exciting just to hear the different possible talks that it was really hard to narrow it down to the final nine that we ultimately chose.” Despite the wide variety of options and topics that the team was presented with, they still tried to reach out

features

January 29, 2024 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily Concepcion

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world. Different localities may

with.

that

executive team members, speaker coordinator Roberto Concepcion expressed excitement to hear from Elaine Xiao.

“Her talk focuses on overcommitment and burnout, and it’s something that I feel like a lot of us recognize,” he said. Although geared towards students, the all-too-familiar loss of motivation or exhaustion from overwork is something that everyone can resonate

that are designed to create an impact on the listener. For this reason, TEDxMcGill succeeds at preserving the integrity of what TEDx stands for.

“It goes back to that old adage of ‘think global, act local’ in terms of whether that’s building relationships or exploring how certain thoughts can be made into actions,” Wang concluded.

“Being in an environment where that is not just encouraged but is the point of that environment is really empowering. That feeling you get when you’re there is unlike anything else.”

who are passionate and “We look through all of these students well-versed in their area of study. present a diverse array of ideas Xiao “is able to bring in a lot of Hanna Eik, one of the team’s special to that particular location, research and her own personal videos, look at all their talks, Speaker Coordinators, also said, and hearing from the voices that experiences.” The ability to tell “I think it’s nice to see a lot of occupy our communities is so individual stories is what makes to giving TEDxMcGill each TEDx speech unique. and then we start to narrow it younger voices on our stage. critical The TEDxMcGill team also When you see people who look its own unique sparkle. The believes having these upcoming presentations offer like you on stage, it makes you down in terms of the quality, think ‘Oh! I can do the same.’” perspectives not only on their spaces forthatpublic speaking, The team believes that, in order particular research areas but active listening, and academic the potential that we see, and to foster curiosity and learning, also on their personal experience discussion are so important to imperative to have this sort and culture. Thus, TEDxMcGill preserve the flow of imagination the topic that they’re talking itof isdiversity presented at their becomes a focal point for the and creativity in our everyday conference. Over the years, cumulation of research, self- lives. It is not often that one about.” students have become inspired by exploration, and representation can engage in conversations the TEDxMcGill event to apply of the Montreal community. pertaining to the common and get a chance to present their When discussing with a few of the struggle or to new innovations - Nanami Haruyama to people who they felt would bring something unique and special to the TEDx stage. Wang in particular discussed their selection of McGill professor Oran Magal, who she was influenced by after taking two of his courses. She felt that his ideas were extremely compelling and worth sharing with the public.

This once again relates to the goals of the TEDx organization: to find people who have voices that need to be shared, who would greatly contribute to the sphere of academic discourse.

“We look through all of these videos, look at all their talks, and then we start to narrow it down in terms of the quality, the potential that we see, and the topic that they’re talking about,” said Haruyama in discussion of what the team has to do in choosing their final lineup.

Wang described how ambitious the team was this year to seek out people who perhaps did not apply but who the team felt would bring so much to the table.

“Recruitment through application is great and all, but what we find a lot of the time when it comes to opening the doors and letting anybody come in and give us their ideas is that people try to exploit the name of TED, seeing it as a pedestal to boost their own careers or their personal agendas,” Wang stated. “That’s why curation and the membership team is

just so important in terms of closing those floodgates and really actively crafting a speaker list that is not just ideologically oriented or politically driven, but actually idea-based – or talks that are action-oriented, that seek active solutions, and you’ll find that in all of our speakers this year.” The organization wants to be a space where true productive conversation can ignite; instead of simply platforming theory or new research, they want to highlight personal experience and real struggles – stories which can inspire change.

TEDxMcGill is also committed to delivering one-of-a-kind thoughts that not only pertain to the world but are special to the McGill and greater Montreal communities. They seek to provide a space for young people, who are often bypassed in favour of adults or those with more life experience, to voice their ideas.

“This year we’re really emphasizing undergrad. We feel that undergrads feel like they should not – or cannot – talk for some reason,” said Wang,, speaking about what she believes to be one of the most important things to come out of this year’s conference. Of their nine speakers, four are McGill undergraduate students, each with their own perspectives to share. The program finds itself unique in its ability to offer such an important stage to these

Of their nine speakers, four are McGill undergraduate students, each with their own perspectives to share. The program finds itself unique in its ability to offer such an important stage to these students who are passionate and well-versed in their area of study.

own ideas, Eik added, which she finds is one of the most important things this organization can offer to aspiring students at McGill.

Ultimately, she believes that “one of the big beauties with TED is the circular nature of being an active viewer and wanting to be a TEDx speaker.”

The TEDx program’s goals are to highlight the importance of seeking knowledge within various communities across the

“Not only are we following this TED tradition of platforming interesting, compelling, innovating ideas to foster a community hub of free exchange, but it is also just a moment to bring the community together.”

- Chelsea Wang

Amanda Fiore | Visuals Contributor

January 29, 2024 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

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CULTURE

Catinat Boulevard: A Compelling Narrative of Hope and Despair Claudia Efemini Culture Editor

Caroline Vu’s depiction of the Vietnam War transcends time and space

award-winning novels, Palawan Story and That Summer in Provincetown (2015), before Content warning: war, racism, releasing Catinat Boulevard in sexual assault, violence October 2023 to much critical acclaim – it was even a finalist s a history student who for the 2023 Hugh McLennan has only briefly learned Prize for Fiction. The novel about the horrific legacy dives into the turbulent lives of of the Vietnam War – confined best friends Mai and Mai Ly in within the realm of academia the city of Saigon during the – I’ve always remained curious Vietnam War. Mai flirts with about the lived experiences of American GIs in bars along survivors. So, at the start of Catinat Boulevard, eventually this year, I decided to pick up a becoming pregnant by Michael, book that explores the embodied an African-American soldier. The realities of the Vietnam War turbulence of the war leaves their in various contexts through son Nat tragically abandoned in historical fiction.

McGill a Saigon orphanage. Meanwhile, alumnus Caroline Vu’s latest Mai Ly rises in the ranks of novel, Catinat Boulevard (2023), the communist resistance and offers a compelling insight into becomes a prominent figure the complex experiences of who writes propaganda and survivors through the lenses of rallies others to join the socialist cultural and racial identity. The struggle. The novel travels McGill Daily had the pleasure across decades and continents, of reconnecting with Vu almost eventually ending in present-day a decade after our previous New York. interview on her novel Palawan Catinat Boulevard ’s narration Story (2014), to discuss her left a stark mark on me as a reader. Vu presents her story in newly released work.

Caroline Vu was born in the third-person through the Vietnam in 1959, only four eyes of Mai and Michael’s child, years after the start of the war. Nat. Whilst I initially felt slightly Due to the increasing danger, confused by this literary choice, I Vu was forced to flee to New was able to fully digest its intent England, and eventually settled the more I read: the narration in Montreal. After living in style became a powerful tool for various parts of the world – accentuating Nat’s abandonment Latin America, Switzerland, and and isolation. One event in the Ottawa – the author now resides novel especially stood out to me in Montreal where she works because of this choice. Upon as a family physician when she hearing that she is pregnant, isn’t writing. Vu published two Mai’s father hits her and kicks her down the stairs. Vu writes this scene through the eyes of Nat: “ It was my first exposure to phys ical violence. Surprisingly I didn’t feel any pain. I only felt a loss of grip as my world tumbled downstairs. I wished my mother had held out her hands to protect me. Instead, she used her own fists to repeatedly hit herself.

Then she howled.”

This is just one powerful instance of many granted by Vu’s unique style of writing that left me curious about her reasons behind narrating in this way. In an interview with the Daily, she replied: “Nat is a kid abandoned by his parents. In the orphanage, he is bullied because of his dark skin. The voice of a kid is more touching. It moves us more because we can identify with it.

We understand that voice because we’ve all been kids ourselves.”

In a time when historicallymarginalized readers are Courtesy of David Moratto increasingly conscious and

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critical of how literature can evoke wounds caused by physical, emotional, and intergenerational abuse and oppression, writers have to be careful not to produce “trauma porn.” Frankly, although Catinat Boulevard does contain depictions of trauma, it does so in a sentimental way that is necessary to portray the devastating disorder that came with the war. The exploration of trauma in this narrative depicts the calamitous circumstances and consequences of the war and the global 1960s more generally, in a sobering way that should not be dismissed. It is the characters’ beautiful complexity and their very different experiences of trauma that elucidate this reality. From racism to abandonment to sexual abuse, Catinat Boulevard covers it all. But Vu makes it clear that the trauma she expresses can also be processed in complex ways, and can even be intricately embedded with humour. Having experienced much of this trauma herself in her own life, it was important for Vu to explore these wounds creatively in her writing, whilst being cognizant of their effects on marginalized communities.

Vu told the Daily : “Yes, there is a lot of trauma in the novel. From war to racism to abandonment etc…To lighten up the story, I added humour. I made each chapter short. There are no drawn-out sobbing scenes. No trauma porn! You know, I’ve experienced the same trauma Nat did: the war, the abandonment, the racism…Adding humour and laughing at certain situations in the book is perhaps a defence mechanism for me.”

The process of writing is central to this narrative. Not in a self-explanatory way, but in a way that is visible and thematic to the reader. Letters appear recurrently throughout the book, which function to connect together the different characters who find themselves spread across Vietnam and the United States. Vu’s frequent adoption of the epistolary form serves to help us as readers get to know each of the characters in a deeper way.

But for Vu, writing emerges as a theme not only to foster more complex characterization, but also to reflect her own love of the craft.

Vu explained: “Catinat Boulevard is an ode to the written word. There are letters written by Michael to Mai. Letters written by Nat to Mother

Marc-Antoine Zouéki | Photos Contributor Superior. There are imaginary stories that Nat writes about his mother Mai. There are stories Mai presents to her writing group. There are entries Mai keeps in her diary. There are real-life stories Amanda writes for her newspapers. There is the email Mai Ly sent to Nat. There is the manuscript Nat tries to get published. There are the letters of rejection.

is intimately interwoven in the ending of the novel. Whilst Mai discovers her love for writing as a Vietnamese immigrant in search of community in California, Nat uses writing to escape the horrors of living as an abandoned Black child in an orphanage in Saigon. Their writing transcends time and space to reveal parallels despite their isolated lives. Mai writes “problems started long

“For Nat and Mai, writing is therapeutic. It gives meaning to their loveless lives. Although they’d never met in person, they’d conversed through their writing. This is the power of the written word. It can bring people together. It can bring people together. Even dead ones!”

- Caroline Vu For Nat and Mai, writing is therapeutic. It gives meaning to their loveless lives. Although they’d never met in person, they’d conversed through their writing.

This is the power of the written word. It can transcend time and space. It can bring people together. Even dead ones!”

Mai and Nat’s love of writing

before the kid walked this earth,” reflecting Nat’s words which read “trouble started years before my birth.” Catinat Boulevard ultimately reminds us that though physically far apart, Nat and Mai remain close, their lives forever interconnected despite all their troubles and despairs.

January 29, 2024 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

Culture

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Tuning in to CKUT

All about the radio station in McGill’s backyard Evelyn Logan Culture Staff Writer

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artially burrowed in the basement of an unassuming building, three-quarters up the hill to the McGill’s Upper Residences, rests the CKUT recording studio. On any given day, you can find magic happening in this basement. Most of the time when I make this breathless trek it’s to volunteer on the show Radio is Dead, but a few days ago I found myself on the second floor of the station for an interview. I met with Madeline Lines, the station’s Funding and Outreach Coordinator, to talk about all things CKUT. Even though I had some background on the station from volunteering, as our conversation jumped from McGill and CKUT’s intertwined history, how CKUT survived the pandemic, and CKUT’s status as a third place, I realized that this radio program has had an even larger role in our community than I previously assumed.

I first learned about CKUT in the summer leading up to my first year at McGill during one of my many fraught social media searches for clubs. I came across their Instagram account, @ckutmusic, and was undoubtedly intrigued – but also slightly intimidated.

When I asked about CKUT’s history of engaging in anti-oppressive movements, Madeline remarked how proud she was to be working for a station that was always “ahead of the curve.” She told me about shows like Dykes on Mikes, which has been platforming the voices of lesbians since 1987, and Gay Day: a 24-hour show dedicated to queer issues and news. Gay Day has a history of openly addressing “taboo” topics, like the HIV/AIDs crisis, long before other news and media outlets acknowledged them.

Madeline also informed me that many members of the AfroCaribbean community have poured their hearts into CKUT and its programming, with decades-running shows like West Indian Rhythms and Bhum Bhum Tyme. “It feels really special to be a part of that,” Madeline replied when I asked what CKUT’s rich inclusionary history meant to her. “We’ve been a place where you can come and share your story and connect to your community before the age of social media.”

CKUT began as the McGill Radio Club in the 1930s. What CKUT is today was built by McGill students in “the basement of what is now the SSMU building,” Madeline recalled.

This long history of McGill student

Evelyn Logan | Photos Contributor Madeline recalls feeling similarly when she first got exposed to the radio programs in her hometown of Calgary. “Radio is intimidating from the outside, but once you get in there you find that they’re all a bunch of sweeties,” Madeline said.

She would later go on to participate in radio while in university, finding it to be a place for her to experiment live on air while offering a reprieve from the strenuous and often restricting nature of journalism school. At CKUT, Madeline works mostly behind the scenes, where she can make the most of the program’s experimental side. During our interview, she emphasized how much the station values giving everyone who wants an outlet to share their truth, especially those belonging to marginalized communities.

involvement is part of what makes CKUT so special – generations and generations have built and fought for CKUT. Their biggest fight to date was in 1987 for their spot on the FM dial, which they won over Concordia’s radio station. Although CKUT has slightly splintered off from McGill and become its own entity, they’ve never lost sight of their roots. If you want to learn more about CKUT’s past, head over to ckut.ca and check out their digital archives.

Like all of us, CKUT struggled during the pandemic. They were quickly able to adapt by giving programmers equipment to record radio shows from home, but the loss of in-person presence around the station was the biggest change. However, Madeline told the Daily that things are finally starting to feel normal again: “it’s been a slow trickle [...] every day

that I come into the station it feels more and more alive.”

For McGill students, as well as members of the greater Montreal community, CKUT has long served as a “third place.” Ray Oldenburg, an urban sociologist and the originator of the term, describes a third place as somewhere time can be spent besides home, school, or work. Recently, there has been a great deal of discourse on TikTok about the role of third places in today’s society and what we can gain from them. This conversation isn’t entirely new. A few years back, The

Even if you aren’t tuning in to the radio, CKUT can still provide a listening ear and place of acceptance for students, and everyone in the Montreal community.

Atlantic and CBC published articles on third places. Both articles stressed the importance of having a place to go that wasn’t work or school: a place where you can relax, be creative, and meet people. This is why CKUT means so much to many McGill students.

With the comfy couches and inviting atmosphere, many other volunteers can be found hanging around the station. As a third place, CKUT not only offers an outlet for people who want to be creative on the air, but also a place to get involved with countless other interests. “To McGill students who aren’t super passionate about music or creative things, there’s a place for you here too!” Madeline promised.

Emily Halpen-Buie started out volunteering at CKUT to find her footing at McGill and meet new people. Since then, she’s started working on Radio is Dead, a show that allows her to “learn and create tasty sounds.” Some students, like Mia Duddy-Hayashibara, spend time at CKUT even when they aren’t working on a show. Mia devotes a lot of her time at CKUT to the music library or learning how to use the soundboards.

She said of the music library, “There are so many gems! It’s a treasure box!”

Yet Madeline also warned that “sometimes we take for granted that places like this exist until they’re gone.” The latest SSMU referendum saw CKUT lose their appeal to

Evelyn Logan | Photos Contributor raise their fee. “We haven’t raised the student fee in 12 years. The costs have risen, but the student fees haven’t risen at all.” Madeline reminded me that it isn’t just CKUT: “all of journalism is facing this issue.”

Madeline stressed that you can help non-profit organizations like CKUT in many different ways: “listening, volunteering, or donating.” For CKUT, it’s not about making money; it’s about supporting the community.

At some point in the interview, I mentioned that I felt like CKUT was McGill’s best-kept secret. Nodding, Madeline replied, “Yes, but we don’t want to be. We want every student to know about us […] CKUT is a good tool to get into Montreal culture outside of the McGill bubble.” CKUT’s ambiance

of rickety, worn-out floors, posters on every inch of the walls, old Christmas lights still hanging, and shelves upon shelves of music equipment, screams home. Its winding hallways and gently sunlit rooms sit quietly, almost waiting for you to speak, especially if you don’t know what you want to say. Even if you aren’t tuning in to the radio, CKUT can still provide a listening ear and place of acceptance for students, and everyone in the Montreal community.

CKUT’s annual funding drive will take place starting March 16. You can keep an eye out for upcoming details on their Instagram, @ckutmusic. If you’d like to get involved at CKUT, you can send an email to volunteering@ ckut.ca, or head to their website ckut. ca for more information.

Evelyn Logan | Photos Contributor

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SCI+Tech

January 29, 2024 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

Underrepresented Groups in Physics Take Montreal By Storm

11th edition of CCUWiP arrives at McGill and UdeM

Andrei Li Sci+Tech Editor

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research symposium? A discourse space on gender inequality? A celebration of diversity in STEM? The answer is all of the above, and more, rolled into one.

From January 19 to 21, the Canadian Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics (CCUWiP) saw Canadian physics undergraduates grace the halls of McGill University and the Université de Montreal (UdeM). Over 100 delegates from underrepresented groups congregated to celebrate their accomplishments in physics and discuss an inclusive and fairer future for science.

Over three days, delegates partook in career panels, a grad school fair, and research project presentations – the usual fare at

Andrei Li | Photos Contributor academic conferences. Student conferences have long served as meeting points for aspiring undergraduates to showcase their research and meet peers from other institutions. However, CCUWiP also served a third purpose: for delegates to share their experiences as coming from underrepresented groups in a traditionally white, Western, and male-dominated field. This shone through in the stories attendees brought to the table: tales from the many walks of life travelled by undergraduate participants.

CUWiP began in the US to “help undergraduate women continue in physics by providing them with an opportunity to experience a professional conference.” Organized by the American Physical Society and first hosted by the University of

South California in 2008, they provided a unique venue for female undergraduate students in physics to meet other women in the field.

The first Canadian CUWiP was organized in 2014 by the Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP), which represents physicists across Canada. Coincidentally, this first conference was also held at McGill University by two of this year’s speakers: Dr. Brigitte Vachon, associate professor of physics at McGill; and Dr. Madison Rilling, executive director at Optonique and then-student in Joint Honours Mathematics and Physics.

This year, a decade later, physics undergraduates returned to Montreal to honour the gruelling work of undergraduate researchers and mark the

progress made toward bridging the gender gap and other inequities in physics.

The Gender Divide in Physics In physics, the gender gap is more of a gaping void. According to a 2021 analysis by Statistics Canada, women are 36.4 per cent less likely to enroll in a postsecondary STEM major than men.

A 2023 report by the CAP found that women make up only 35.3 per cent of undergraduate physics majors across Canada: this figure sinks to an abysmal 22.9 per cent for doctoral students. This stands in stark contrast to other STEM fields. In chemistry, for instance, 40 per cent of students have historically been femaleidentifying. As a result of this gender stereotyping, many

women are likely to leave or avoid entering physics careers entirely.

“In my undergrad, there was a one-to-five girl-boy ratio in physics,” recounts McGill physics professor Bill Coish in an interview with the Daily.

He notes that “the balance has improved quantifiably” though

Women make up only 35.3 per cent of undergraduate physics majors across Canada.

Sci+Tech there is still progress to be made: “Conferences [like CCUWiP] are a good start. We need more outreach at an early stage [...] for example, you can look at the work done by the Physics Outreach Committee at McGill.”

Early education, as Professor Coish points out, is one of the major hurdles to achieving gender parity in physics and other STEM fields. Gender discrimination in the education system represents a key factor in this imbalance.

A 2020 study published in the Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology found that “Boys are more likely than girls to say that their own gender group ‘should’ be good at STEM.’’ Self-reinforcement of gender stereotypes

January 29, 2024 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

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working toward her PhD at Cambridge, Burnell discovered a series of periodic, localized blips from radio telescope data – signals she and her team would later identify as pulsars, a type of rapidly-spinning neutron stars.

Despite her critical contributions, she was denied the 1974 Nobel Prize in Physics for the discovery of pulsars, which was instead awarded to her supervisor, Anthony Hewish, and his colleague Martin Ryle.

Gender-based discrimination is systemic in physics, and has persisted before and since Burnell’s time as a graduate student.

A cross-cultural study, published in Nature in 2020, showed that women communicating in STEM were

“What sparked [my passion] was the mentors I had growing up. My high school teacher majored in geophysics: she encouraged and inspired me to pursue my current work in medical physics and outreach [...]”

- Michaela Hishon

Andrei Li | Photos Contributor the gender gap in STEM. For Ivanna Boras, an engineering physics major at Queens University, such attitudes are the daily reality of women in her department. “Our voices tend to be ignored,” she says. “As a result, we try to band together.

Luckily, it’s gotten better during upper years.”

Vanessa Smith, Vice President of the Dalhousie Undergraduate Physics Council, says that at Dalhousie, “the undergraduate physics body has a 50-50 split, but there’s only one [fully tenured] female professor in the Department of Physics.” For her, this highlights the need for continued and sustained progress toward gender equality in physics.

perfect venue to exchange ideas and stories – not just academic ideas, but also personal anecdotes of their journeys through the realm of physics.

Between keynotes and workshops, days two and three of CCUWiP also saw the muchanticipated oral and poster presentations.

The poster presentations were laid out in a science fair-esque manner,

“CCUWiP fosters a throughout childhood, along frequently characterized as with long-existing cultural and “bitchy,” “bossy,” and “emotional” sense of socioeconomic barriers against by correspondents. These biases, women, have long contributed the researchers concluded, community. to the gaping gender disparity in indicate that women in STEM find STEM fields. themselves “in a more vulnerable Being a A Safe Space to Share This discrimination continues position when communicating into the professional realm. publicly about their work, which For delegates, CCUWiP woman in Day two of CCUWiP saw could have implications for represents an open, nonastrophysicist Jocelyn Bell them participating fully in their judgmental space for them to STEM can Burnell share her experiences as careers.” This research suggests voice their experiences with one of the first female graduate that a deep, cultural restructuring discrimination in physics, gendered students in astronomy at the of gender attitudes in academia often feel or otherwise. It also provides a University of Cambridge. While is necessary in order to eliminate isolating, and CCUWiP is a place for us to share our stories.”

- Leslie Moranta

Andrei Li | Photos Contributor

with delegates free to move between posters and discuss each other’s work in an informal setting. Student research took centre stage, with the projects exhibited ranging from topics like improving wildfire prediction and the acoustics of the human ear, to exploring the exoplanets orbiting distant stars. Alongside research work, initiatives in science outreach and education were also featured, as well as projects geared toward equity, diversity and inclusion.

During coffee breaks, delegates had the chance to share personal

stories in physics. Michaela Hishon, from the University of Guelph, reminisces: “What sparked [my passion] was the mentors I had growing up. My high school teacher majored in geophysics: she encouraged and inspired me to pursue my current work in medical physics and outreach.”

For some, CCUWiP was a chance to speak out about issues they cared about. Raina Irons, from the University of Toronto, Mississauga, took time to highlight the importance of “creating opportunities and funding for Indigenous students interested in physics and astronomy.” She notes how socioeconomic hurdles are especially high for aspiring Indigenous students in STEM. Undergraduates also had the chance to learn about lesserknown, yet equally crucial, careers in physics. One keynote saw Dr. Rilling speak about her work in science policy: a field which aims to bring the interests of scientists to political stakeholders and achieve support for science on a governmental level.

To many, CCUWiP stands out from other conferences in the way it promotes collaboration over competitiveness. “CCUWiP fosters a sense of community,” says Leslie Moranta, a PhD student at the Institut Trottier de recherche sur les exoplanètes at UdeM. “Being a woman in STEM can often feel isolating, and CCUWiP is a place for us to share our stories.”

For many underrepresented groups, conferences like CCUWiP are a unique chance to meet like-minded peers, share their experiences and accomplishments, and open the next page to a new, more inclusive chapter in physics.

CCUWiP 2024 was organized

by Audréanne Matte-Landry, Joël de Leon Mayeu, and Pénélope Glasman from Université de Montreal; and Olivia Pereira, Simone Têtu, Sloane Sirota, and Ruby Wei from McGill University.

January 29, 2024 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

THE MCGILL DAILY DEADLINE IS HIRING! EXTENDED! DESIGN & PRODUCTION (1)

COPY (1)

The Design & Production Editor is responsible for the design, format, and layout of our print newspaper.

Experience in InDesign and Photoshop recommended.

The Copy Editor proofreads Daily articles for proper spelling, grammar, punctuation, and prose. They also update our style guide.

NEWS (3)

COMMENTARY (2)

News Editors are at the forefront of campus coverage. Always on the lookout for stories, they write and edit about breaking news at McGill, in Montreal, and in Quebec.

The Commentary section is where we publish opinions and letters. Editors are also responsible for the Compendium! section, in which we publish horoscopes, crosswords, and other fun things.

VIDEO (1)

RADIO (1)

The Video Editor will assist our Social Media Editor in generating video content and other promotional material for social media.

Do you like radio and podcasts? The Daily is seeking to revive our CKUT segment and launch our own podcast.

Sound editing skills recommended.

APPLICATIONS DUE AT 11:59 PM ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2.

We are also hiring staff writers for all sections!

Any questions? Visit our website at mcgilldaily.com or attend one of our weekly pitch meetings on Tuesdays at 6:00 PM.

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