February 19, 2019

theconcordian

 /theconcordian  @theconcordian  @theconcordian  theconcordian.com

CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY’S WEEKLY, INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER VOLUME 36, ISSUE 20 | TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2019

Defending his dream

Second-year Stinger Carl Neill steps into a new leadership role

Sports p. 12

also in this issue...

news

ASFA votes, policy changes

life

p. 3

arts

music

opinions

Quebec cancels Students reignite Campus church Anemone finds divest campaign p. 6 hosts the circus p. 9 serenity in pop p. 10 immigration p. 15

news

NEWS EDITORS /// news@theconcordian.com IAN DOWN & MIA ANHOURY ( @IanDown1996 @mia_anhoury)

CITY IN Quebec is put back on the stand BRIEF LAWSUIT

Gender advocacy lawsuit challenges Quebec’s awareness of transgender issues

MIA ANHOURY NEWS EDITOR Hunters held a protest in front of the Palais des congrès on Saturday to object Quebec’s long-gun registry, passed in 2016, according to The Montreal Gazette. The deadline for longgun owners to register their weapon was on Jan. 29. The 200 protestors planned the demonstration at the same time as a Montreal Outdoor, Hunting, Fishing and Camping Show at the convention centre.

Gun control activists said the registry will save lives.

Canada Goose announced on Thursday it is opening a new factory in Montreal, according to The Globe and Mail. The factory would create 300 jobs and accommodate around 650 employees by 2020. The second Canada Goose factory in Quebec would b e l o c a te d i n t h e C h a b a n e l district.

A burning vehicle was found by police officers in Saint-Leonard late Friday night, according to Global News. The officers smelled smoke that led them to the fire, which firefighters were able to put out. The vehicle has been taken to a lab for a forensic analysis to determine the cause of the fire.

The Centre for Gender Advocacy’s lawsuit concluded its fifth week of hearings on Feb. 15. Photo by Ian Down.

IAN DOWN NEWS EDITOR When the cross-examination was over, Hon. Judge Gregory Moore congratulated Louis-Simon Corriveau for keeping his composure on the witness stand. The questioning Corriveau endured was one of the more aggressive during the five weeks of hearings, according to Moore.

“You did very well,” the judge said.

Corriveau is an equality consultant in the Secrétariat à la condition féminine, which advises the provincial government on matters of equality between men and women.

On Friday, Feb. 15, he was asked questions from Plaintiff Lawyer Audrey Boctor, who represents Concordia's Centre for Gender Advocacy (CGA) in its lawsuit against the provincial government.

Since the beginning of January, the CGA has been challenging sections of the Civil Code of Québec that it says violate the rights of transgender and gender nonbinary people—in particular, transgender and nonbinary parents, immigrants and youth.

To understand how government decisions promote or diminish equality between men and women, the provincial government uses a method called Gender-Based Analysis (GBA).

Canada committed to the practice in 1995 as part of the United Nations’s Beijing Platform for Action, according to the Government of Canada’s website.

However, in 2011, Status of Women Canada (now the Department for Women and Gender Equality) revamped the process to include other factors in its analysis, including age, physical ability, race, and ethinicity. The new system, GBA+, also accounts for transgender and gender nonbinary people. Quebec has not committed to adopting GBA+.

The Secrétariat à la condition féminine is tasked with encouraging government bodies and officials to implement GBA. While ministries may choose to keep track of data on transgender and gender nonbinary people, Corriveau said his agency cannot compel them to do so.

“If we have data about trans and nonbinary people, we include it,” said Corriveau.

“Inclusion of different variables depends on accessibility of data.”

The defense asked Corriveau if people identifying as a gender that didn’t match their biological sex affected the reliability of their data. Corriveau responded that the Secrétariat is concerned first and foremost with biological sex in its analyses, and that gender identity is only “a compliment” to that data.

During her cross-examination, Boctor passed around documents from other provincial governments outlining their strategies regarding GBA. Ontario’s plan acknowledges trans and nonbinary people in its data collection, in addition to cis men and women. Alberta’s plan acknowledges that “gender is only one factor” in understanding the barriers that people face in society.

Quebec’s plan makes no mention of either transgender or nonbinary people. However, it does recommend that government bodies take into account “age, education, income, cultural community affiliations, disabilities, regions, or health, along with any other relevant variables.”

Boctor criticized Corriveau for his knowledge of these policies. “You’ve been at the Ministry [for the status of women] for a year and a half and you’re not aware of what’s going on in [other provinces]?” she asked.

Corriveau told The Concordian he was not authorized to answer questions about his testimony.

* * *

“A thorn in the foot of a lion.”

After a two-hour break, the court heard testimony from Roger Noël, the coordinator of the Bureau de lutte contre

Graphic by @spooky_soda

l’homophobie (BLH). It was this testimony that drew Raphaële Frigon to the courthouse on Friday. Frigon works for the trans advocacy group, Fierté trans - Euphorie dans le genre. She is frustrated with the difficulty her organization has in acquiring government grants from BLH, especially compared to more general LGBTQ+ advocacy groups. “We just applied for a grant from the programme de financement, and our grant got denied. And I think that’s interesting, given that we are running a trans project that is solely dedicated to trans issues,” she said.

While the lawsuit will not directly impact the funding these groups receive, Frigon is optimistic that it will inspire positive change. “It’s like a thorn in the foot of a lion, and you can tell it’s having some impact already, and I’m hopeful that something will come out [of it],” she said.

Friday's testimony concluded the fifth week of the lawsuit’s hearings. Last week, the court heard from Jonathan Boisvert, the interim director of expertise and jurisdictional activities, on the legalities of changing names and gender markers in Quebec. Hearings will conclude on Feb. 27.

FEBRUARY 19, 2019

theconcordian

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STUDENT POLITICS

Switching funds around for a strike

ASFA to allow associations to re-allocate $200 from budget after funding motion rejected JAD ABUKASM ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR The Arts and Science Federation of Associations (ASFA) rejected a motion that would have granted funding for member associations going or considering going on strike during their council meeting last Thursday.

Council voted ASFA would allow its members to temporarily re-allocate $200 from any budget lines to their strike due to the associated time restriction.

While no f und s f rom t he association will be redirected into immediate financial help for its members, ASFA will temporarily loosen its budget rules to let its student associations finance their strikes.

Prior to this council meeting, ASFA’s member associations were required to adhere to their budgets, as approved by the

executive team last July. Member associations’ money could not be transferred from one of the five budget lines to another, with the exception of changes approved by council.

ASFA’s decision to not directly fund member associations created significant debate within council.

With a slight margin of only two votes for budget handling, member associations will still have measures for funding their strikes, while ASFA can stay mindful of its budget.

T he feder ation’s or iginal stance was that it will support every member association that wants to or is considering going on strike. The original proposal was to create a $2,000 pool with money taken from the Special Project Fund (SPF) from which member associations could ask for funding. Any unused funds would go back into the SPF.

“I think it’s a great initiative,” said Finance Coordinator Gigi Cordeiro, “but we just don’t have the budget anywhere to do this.”

Cordeiro added that although giving member associations resources to organize their strikes is pertinent, ASFA has to consider their f inancial situation . By looking into ASFA’s spending, Cordeiro discovered a lot of money had not been budgeted. ASFA spent approximately $1,000 on phone lines for member associations, which they didn’t know they had access to. Also, with its ongoing legal files, the federation has had to spend part of its budget on lawyers. Cordeiro said she preferred reevaluating ASFA’s budget before making any financial decisions. This explains why the council voted in favour of budget handling rather than direct funding.

This measure was not supported by all members. Some were seeking direct funding in regards to their student strikes. “ The gap that ASFA could fill was the immediate fundi n g , b e c a u s e s t r i ke s m o v e quickly,” said Nicholas Gertler, vice president of internal and external affairs of the COMS Guild. “Requiring that member associations move around funds f rom, let ’s say, social academic events is effectively punishing students that want to go on strike, because you get less events that are going to benefit your community since you decided to go on strike,” said Gertler.

Member associations have the option of applying for the SPF to promote new initiatives.

The SPF can be sought for strike funding. However, the urgency of the matter forced ASFA to

implement measures to rapidly help members going on strike.

The SPF would not have been efficient in this case, but other strike funds are available for member associations.

Some member associations, like t he Jour nalism St udent Association ( JSA), who voted fo r s t r i k i n g a g a i n s t u n p a i d internships, were satisfied by the funding they received from the Concordia Student Union (CSU) strike fund, said Fiona Harrison-Roberts, the JSA councillor. Harrison-Roberts voted against creating a money pool, seconding Cordeiro’s stance on the budget issue.

While Harrison-Roberts granted that the CSU funding process was quite slow, she also agreed it was safer for ASFA to look into its budget before making any financial decisions.

Council was divided on the strike funding motion before the amendment was approved. Photo by Jad Abukasm.

ASFA’s new cash-handling policy New rules include safeguards to protect federation's cash from theft

JAD ABUKASM ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR The Arts and Science Federation of Associations (ASFA) approved a new cash handling policy in its council meeting last Thursday.

The motion came after former Finance Coordinator C aleb Owusu-Acheaw used money from ASFA’s petty cash fund for personal use, as previously reported by The Concordian .

The policy outlines how ASFA receives and processes money and provides a regulated way of handling it to avoid future misconducts.

During her time as Interim Finance

Coordinator, Gigi Cordeiro noticed that ASFA had a poor record-keeping method for its transactions. Marguerite Rolland, ASFA’s advocacy and executive coordinator, said this is a major issue during big events like Frosh.

“During Frosh, A SFA has a lot of cash because we have ticket sales,” Rolland s aid. “Sometimes we have amounts such as $5,000 in cash.”

To f ac ilit ate t he job of memb er associations, the policy sets specific steps for when money enters ASFA. Two sections—one for handling cash from member associations, the other for handling internal money—lay out the steps members need to follow in

order to safely hand money to ASFA as well as deposit money into the bank.

“We’re trying to think of a logical way to approach [money handling],” said Rolland. “We want to provide specific safeguards for that amount of cash.”

Regulations were also tightened for money that hasn’t been deposited in the bank yet. ASFA will have a deposit safe in its main office with very limited access. This safe will only be used for member associations to cash-in money.

The cash-in process will be done weekly and will be prepared by ASFA’s finance coordinator and office manager.

After declaring all cash generated within five business days, member associa-

tions will have to deposit their money at a mutually chosen location that is accessible to all parties involved, as long as it ensures the security of the money. This measure was amended to make any money transfer as inclusive as possible for all members , since A S FA’ s o f f i c e a n d s o m e m e m b e r associations’ offices are in restricted access locations.

While handing the money to ASFA, member associations have to f ill out a revenue form in order to keep track of transactions. This helps the executive ensure the money in the safe matches the amount declared on the forms.

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theconcordian

FEBRUARY 19, 2019

NATION Biomaterials, the future of design? IN BRIEF Concordia students using fungus to create everyday items RESEARCH

ALEXIA MARTEL-DESJARDINS STAFF WRITER

MIA ANHOURY NEWS EDITOR

British Columbia’s gas pipeline’s A metro car built with fungus and a dress construction was put on hold made of kombucha scoby (a symbiotic when Indigenous artifacts were culture of bacteria and yeast) might seem found on site of the Wet'suwet'en unrealistic, but Concordia students and Nation, according to CBC. The researchers are making these ideas a Unist'ot'en Clan claims to have reality. found tools made of stone.

“It’s not something you can take lightly, because in some way, you have life in your Health Canada has seized an hands,” said Théo Chauvirey, a Concordia eyewash for contact lens users Master of Design graduate student, while that contains a drug requiring a handling the surprisingly light metro seats prescription from a Richmond and panels he built for the Master of Design beauty store, according to Global year-end show last April.

News. The eyewash has been For his final project, Chauvirey constructed removed from stores in the past a life-sized metro car with mycelium—the and those who own it have been root of a mushroom. This material presents advised to stop using it. many advantages: “Mushroom is super fast and cheap to grow,” Chauvirey said. “It’s a A strike was avoided at a Yukon sound absorber. You can do acoustic panels hospital after the Yukon Hospital with it, you can do thermo insulation, and it’s Corporation and its union came fire resistant.” The seats, floor, ceilings and to a tentative deal on Thursday, wall panels of his metro car are all made of according to Yukon News. The mycelium. Chauvirey used a material kit from union, which represents 250 hospital Chauvirey graduated from Concordia in the winter 2018 semester. Photo by Hannah Ewen. a company called Ecovative Design. employees, was negotiating heavy Chauvirey started by adding water to workloads. The union will vote natural fibres like hemp and wood chips. The anything else, like the environmental cost of the regeneration of the natural environment. whether or not to ratify the tabled mushroom that grows on the residues of these the infrastructure.”

Hunter also seeks to increase awareness deal on March 4. materials expands and can be molded into Chauvirey also collaborated with Bioartist about the environmental costs of laboratory any shape, like metro seats. He also had the WhiteFeather Hunter to create a dress made tools. “The main purpose behind my work A delivery man was stabbed by opportunity to re-exhibit his work at the Maker of scoby. Chauvirey and Hunter grew the is to provoke cultural critique of the biotech two teens who fought him for Faire—an event where artists and engineers kombucha scoby in an inflatable swimming industry, which is often spectacularized and chicken wings he was delivering can show their works of art, inventions and pool to obtain the shape of a long skirt. remains largely unquestioned by a dazzled to a customer in Toronto on projects—in November, and then more recently Hunter completed her master’s of fine arts public that do not possess the technical Saturday, according to The at Concordia’s 4th SPACE. at Concordia and is currently working on her knowledge to be able to deconstruct the National Post. The injuries were “The interest in biomaterials lies in the fact PhD, in which she explores the possibilities hype,” Hunter said. not life-threatening. The boys were that it’s design-oriented towards reducing the offered by the of use of biomaterials in Although Hunter acknowledged that charged with robbery and assault environmental impact of objects we consume,” laboratory research contexts. She believes, Canada is behind other countries in terms of with a weapon after they were said Martin Racine, graduate program director like Racine, that the industry of biomaterials biotechnology awareness, she said Montreal caught by patrol dogs. and associate professor in the department of is expanding rapidly, due to climate change. is forward thinking. It “is at the cutting edge Design and Computation Arts at Concordia. “Biomaterials look to replace some of the of the biotech industry in terms of Canada’s London, Ontario’s arenas and Racine produced an exhibition that questions problematic industrial approaches that have place in the global biotech craze,” she said. community centres will have the materials used to design everyday objects led to the destruction of ecosystems, such Chauvirey also looks forward to pursuing naloxone sprays in stock for a as well as their obsolescence. as the dye industry or textile industry as a research and finding tangible applications one-year pilot project that will Racine added that some companies are whole,” said Hunter. for biomaterials. “I think this material is begin in June, according to CBC. becoming increasingly interested in using Chauvirey’s and Hunter’s designs apply just amazing for education purposes,” The project, approved last week, these new materials. “Some car companies, the concept of biomimicry, which aims to said Chauvirey. “Everyday, I discover new will cost around $20,000. The spray like Ford and GM, are starting to research copy elements found in nature. “At the end people working with [mycelium] and I’m is used for emergency treatment biomaterials to replace the plastics used in car of an object’s life span, we can compost it like ‘oh, I thought we were pioneers but of an opioid overdose. doors, for example, so it’s encouraging to see and then enrich the soil with it. Like leaves we are behind!’” these kinds of initiatives,” he said. when they fall off trees,” Racine said. The Racine's exhibition runs until March 10.

Graphic by @spooky_soda Chauvirey aimed to duplicate the new goal is to produce objects that contribute to Visit metadna.ca for more information.

Azur metro cars in Montreal with mycelium. He realized that this material may not have the necessary rigidity for the counter-levered floating seats in Azur cars when one of his seats broke during the Maker Faire. “I really wanted to stick to that design because it’s very important in public transport,” he said. “That structure is super complex, and mycelium wasn’t the best fit for that because mycelium works best in compression and in this case I was working with flexion.” The rest of Chauvirey’s structure is still in good condition, and is stored in his design studio.

“I didn’t revolutionize anything,” Chauvirey said. “I think what was interesting with my metro project was the fact that I applied this material to a field that nobody talks about, which is public transportation.” Chauvirey noticed that biomaterials research tends to overlook ways to improve public transit infrastructures. “It’s considered green, so that’s The dress is made of kombucha scoby, a symbiotic Chauvirey built metro seats and panels for his master of cool, period, and we don’t think about culture of bacteria and yeast. Photo by Hannah Ewen. design’s year-end show. Photo by Hannah Ewen.

FEBRUARY 19, 2019

theconcordian

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WORLD Sexual violence policy update IN BRIEF Mandatory training, intersectionality discussed at Senate meeting SEXUAL VIOLENCE

MIA ANHOURY NEWS EDITOR The Left Party of Sweden voted on Saturday not to campaign on a promise to leave the European Union, in a referendum they called Swexit, according to The Local Sweden. The party made the decision a week after a farright party in the country also dropped the referendum.

Ahead of the Saudi Crown Prince’s visit to Pakistan, Saudi Arabia significantly decreased the visa fee for Pakistanis, according to Gulf News. The reduction was put into effect on Friday.

The World Health Organization revealed that almost 1,000 children have died of a measles outbreak in Madagascar since October, according to The Independent. This occurred despite an emergency vaccination program that was established in the country. Approximately 66,000 people are currently infected.

Ethiopia and Djibouti signed a deal on Sunday to build a gas p i p e l i n e b e t we e n t h e t wo countries, according to The Sunday Times. Djibouti’s energy minister s aid it is the “most expensive project ever built in t he Hor n of Af r ic a Reg ion .”

Construction is expected to begin in 2020.

Graphic by @spooky_soda

MINA MAZUMDER ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR Members of Concordia’s Standing Committee on Sexual Misconduct and Sexual Violence presented changes to the university’s sexual violence policy at a Senate meeting on Feb. 15.

The policy aims to tackle sexual misconduct cases at the university level. The new policy must be implemented no later than Sept. 1, 2019 as part of the provincial Bill 151, an Act to prevent and fight sexual violence in higher education institutions.

Senate is the highest governing body at Concordia that makes decisions concerning academics, such as approving changes to courses and programs.

“The committee worked on making the language [of the revised sexual violence policy] more accessible and more survivor-victim focused,” said Mathilde Braems, a member of the standing committee, during the presentation. “The reasoning behind this was to make survivors and victims feel as supported as possible.”

As part of the new policy, mandatory consent trainings will begin at Concordia for all faculty, staff and students in September 2019. Lisa Ostiguy, the chair of the standing committee and special advisor to the provost

on campus life, told The Concordian these will include both in-person and online trainings.

The online training will have multiple modules customized for either a student, staff or faculty member. “There will be all kinds of options because we recognize that not every format is going to suit everyone, but we are going to have to diversify how we are delivering training,” she said.

Ostiguy said the university is looking at how trainings can accommodate the larger Concordia community. She attended a conference on sexual assault training in Washington, D.C. in January with Jennifer Drummond, the coordinator at the Sexual Assault Resource Centre (SARC). “We went to 42 different sessions [...] to see what would fit with our university,” Ostiguy said.

In comparison to the revised policy, the newer version includes specific information on how to come forward with a complaint, while the previous version only stated that SARC is the main resource of support on campus.

The new policy also broadened its intersectionality section. This section “raises awareness that some of our communities are at greater risk, and we need to work harder to make sure we are removing barriers for those groups,” Ostiguy said.

Ostiguy said the staff and faculty trainings will help students from non-western cultures learn how to disclose incidents involving sexual violence. International students “may have barriers that make it very difficult to come forward and raise concerns,” she said.

In a recent CBC report, two former students who filed complaints about a year ago said the university never told them the professor they accused was acquitted last September after an in-depth investigation. Ostiguy and Concordia President Alan Shepard could not confirm if they did in fact inform the students in question that their cases had been closed due to provincial privacy laws.

Nonetheless, Ostiguy said the university “always informs the complainant of the process, and we always let them know when it’s finished.”

Ostiguy said the university follows a protocol for every sexual assault victim who discloses their situation. “Every time we launch an external investigation, we always sit down with the complainant and we explain what the process is, and that there is going to be difficulty at the end of the process because we can’t share the outcome of the process,” she said.

Graphic by @spooky_soda

“It’s frustrating for us, because we do take these situations very seriously,” Ostiguy said. “The university acts very appropriately and very carefully in these situations, and I wish we could talk about the outcome but we’re not able to. We can’t talk about any outcome with students, faculty or staff.”

Although the university’s policy against sexual violence relies on the Academic Code of Conduct and various collective agreements with faculty, Ostiguy said it is nevertheless considered a standalone policy. “Concordia created a standalone policy that brings together all of the resources, all of the processes, everything together,” she said.

Shepard said that one of the policy’s advantages is that it makes it easier for victims to disclose their experiences. “If you want to report on an incident, you can find it now, and historically, those kinds of policies were embedded in other policies so you really had to know what you were looking for to find it,” he said.

“I would say that we, as a university and as a network of Quebec universities and CEGEPs, will continue to work with the government in terms of the spirit of 151, which is to support survivors,” Ostiguy said.

With files from Ian Down.

life

LIFE EDITOR /// life@theconcordian.com ALEX HUTCHINS ( @alexhutchinns96)

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Graphic by @spooky_soda

A hilariously well-networked class reignites the fossil fuel divest movement ALEX HUTCHINS LIFE EDITOR Since the formation of Divest Concordia in 2013, the student-run group has been continuously pressuring the Concordia University Foundation (CUF) to freeze current investments in the fossil fuel industry and withdraw all future investments from the top 200 fossil fuel companies. The CUF makes all decisions regarding the university’s $185.9 million endowment fund, which is invested in various stocks and bonds that generate funding for scholarships, bursaries and research coming out of Concordia. Approximately 10 per cent of the endowment fund “may have some connection with fossil fuels,” according to former University Spokesperson Mary-Jo Barr.

Research and mobilization around the divest movement has been largely undertaken by student-run groups like Divest Concordia, Sustainable Concordia, and the Concordia Student Union (CSU) in 2016, when the CSU adopted divestment as their annual campaign. However, in January 2019, a group of students enrolled in a 400-level interdisciplinary geography course began brainstorming ways to utilize the class’s resources and networks to reignite the divest movement at Concordia.

“It’s a methodology class where students learn about how to do research that supports, and is engaged with the work of a social justice institution,” said Kevin Gould, an associate professor in the geography, planning and environment department, who created the shell of the course. “The class has become a space where people that have this common interest [of divestment]

have been able to engage with each other—to learn, to think, to plan,” said Gould. Students are currently in the early stages of developing scopes of research that examine potential avenues for furthering the divestment movement on campus.

Emily Carson-Apstein, who works closely with Divest Concordia and is the external campaigns coordinator for Sustainable Concordia, was a key member in helping Gould structure the class around divestment.

Carson-Apstein said that having the CSU campaigns department working with Divest Concordia meant there was a lot of people-power behind the movement. “[The divest movement] is smaller than it was in 2016 [...] but it’s definitely still present,” she said. “It’s more in

would transfer funds from existing assets to be reinvested in “environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) factors,” according to the university’s website. Divest Concordia representatives at the time condemned the foundation’s decision, saying it was “a flat-out rejection of student calls for full divestment from fossil fuels,” according to Newswire. Noting the distinction between sustainable investment versus fossil fuel divestment is pertinent, as sustainable investment is used as a redirection tactic to avoid addressing the foundation’s continued investment in the fossil fuel industry.

Despite heavy criticism from Divest Concordia, Concordia was praised by some of the wider Montreal community for exhibiting sustainable leadership. The Montreal Gazette published an article on Dec. 2, 2014 claiming that Concordia was the first university in the country to begin taking steps towards divesting from fossil fuels.

However, it is important to note the CUF is able to continue to invest in the fossil fuel industry while simultaneously contributing to the SRI fund, as well as other sustainable investment endeavours. In February 2016, the foundation created the Joint Sustainable Investment Advisory Committee (JSIAC) in response to increased pressure from Divest Concordia, Sustainable Concordia, and the student body to fully divest. Divest Concordia and Sustainable Concordia each occupy a seat on JSIAC, and the committee is the only channel of communication either organization has to the foundation’s board of directors. JSIAC’s influence over the board and its investment decisions regarding the endowment fund ends at making recommendations to the foundation.

However, in the foundation’s 2011-12 annual report, categories such as ‘oil and gas,’ ‘pipelines,’ and ‘metals and minerals’ cannot be found in the common share investment breakdown. Instead, the report vaguely shows an $11.7 million investment in the relatively ambiguous category titled ‘energy.’ a negotiation phase than a public education phase.”

Increasing student awareness of the urgent need for full fossil fuel divestment, community mobilization and conveying the message that Concordia is not an institution completely committed to a sustainable economic future are a few of the goals the geography class hopes to help Divest Concordia with.

In 2014, Concordia boasted the creation of a socially responsible investment (SRI) fund of $5 million, which

FEBRUARY 19, 2019

theconcordian

BLACK HISTORY MONTH In an interview with The Concordian, CarsonApstein stated that the yet-to-be released 2018 annual report estimate of the endowment fund is approximately $218 million, from what the CUF has informed Divest Concordia. In terms of financial transparency, the foundation has continually failed to clearly state which sectors of the economy it’s invested in since 2011, particularly with regards to energy resources. According to the foundation’s 2010-11 financial report, Canadian common share investments in oil and gas were about $9.1 million, investments in pipelines were about $2.6 million, and investments in metals and minerals were about $2.2 million.

However, in the foundation’s 2011-12 annual report, categories such as ‘oil and gas,’ ‘pipelines,’ and ‘metals and minerals’ cannot be found in the common share investment breakdown. Instead, the report vaguely shows an $11.7 million investment in the relatively ambiguous category titled ‘energy.’

According to the foundation’s 2016-17 annual report, a total of about $10 million in both Canadian and U.S. common share investments fall under the categories ‘energy,’ ‘materials,’ and ‘industrials.’

On Feb. 11, 2019, Concordia announced it is the first Canadian university to issue a $25 million

sustainable bond, due by 2039, which will allow the university to finance the new Science Hub at Loyola. However, there have been no discussions of the more than $10 million continued investment in what is arguably the fossil fuel industry.

Carson-Apstein explained that a major challenge faced by Divest Concordia over the years has been institutional memory; the passing down of information and strategies from graduating students to newly engaged students. “Most of the folks who were founders of Divest Concordia have moved on by now,” she said. “But I think Kevin's class is amazing [...] It's super cool that the work that's happening in the classroom is going to be directly relevant to stuff that's happening in the world right now.” Drawing attention to the discrepancies and financial patterns of the foundation’s annual reports is one of many strategies the geography class will use to shed light on the realities of Concordia’s investment practices, and continue pushing for full fossil fuel divestment.

Divest Concordia meets every Monday at 4:30 p.m. to discuss news, ideas and strategies.

Meetings are held at 2090 McKay St. in the Z Annex on the top floor for anyone who wants to join the fight.

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50 Shades of Black Not all Black people are the same JOSIE FOME CONTRIBUTOR As Black History Month nears its end, here’s a gentle PSA: not all Black people are the same. If that’s a shocking thought for you, allow me to break it down. It’s no secret that all Black people have roots of some kind in Africa.

Through the evil that was slavery, forced migration, immigration, or whatever compelled your ancestors to uproot themselves and end up in a new land, Black people can now be found on all corners of the world; from Alaska to Australia.

Black people, with their melanin-rich skin, are everywhere— with different backgrounds, different stories, different likes and dislikes, different ambitions, different skills and talents, different short comings, hell, even different shades of skin.

And yet, non-Black people still confuse Black people for one another and assume that the behaviour of one Black person is the standard and behaviour of all Black people.

This is evidenced through systems built in place, such as the police and the media; systems that weren’t built in favour of the Black narrative to begin with. It is not uncommon to read a news story about a Black man being arrested because he “matched the description” of the eye-witness. “Who [is] this generic man we all look like?” Dave Chappelle asks in one of his earlier stand-up pieces. Though Chappelle brings humour to this very serious reality by blaming the sketch artists, the fact remains that Black people are not given the decency of a good second look or the benefit of the doubt.

Before Black Panther, Insecure, Atlanta, and Queen Sugar, Black people didn’t have the privilege of playing a character with depth—and yes, White privilege extends to (and through) the television. TV shows or movies had their typical token Black character that was a “slingin’ dope gangster thug” if a man, or a “sassy, doesn’t-take-your-shit, roll her eyes, neck, and hips” of a lady. Black actors were, and still are, in many cases, stuck in that purgatory of not wanting to shuck and jive for the white writer/director/producer but wanting to fulfill their dream and passion of acting/needing to pay bills. That they had to choose is the problem at hand. Since more Black creatives are entering the writers room, more Black directors are directing, and the number of Black producers is increasing, suddenly Black characters have deeper individual development, making shows with Black characters more enjoyable to watch, but more importantly, making them more relatable.

Which brings me back to my main point: not all Black people are the same. According to Canada’s 2016 census of Montreal, of the 1 million visible minorities, 171,385 of those people are Black. Now, that’s a lot of Black people. Some of those Black people are strictly francophones. Some of them are strictly anglophones. Most are probably bilingual because, let’s be real, ici c’est le Québec hein. Some of those Black people are nerds. Some are jocks. Some play instruments. Some braid hair. Some love to travel. Some love politics. Some love anime.

Some love to cook. All of them have a good customer service voice (you know, the voice you put on to secure the job). All have feelings. And desires. And ambitions.

This doesn’t just stop for Black Canadians. Be it an Afrolatina or a Black person in Britain, Benin, or Brazil—each one is unique. Not one Black person is an ambassador for all Black people, nor should they be. Just like one white school shooter doesn’t represent all white people. So as Black History Month comes to a close, remember, not all Black people are the same—and it’s about more than just their skin tone.

Black people show their activism differently, Black people celebrate each other differently, and each Black person lives a deeply rich and unique life. Let them. It doesn’t matter if you have two Black friends or 10. And the next time you want to tell a Black person that they remind you of another Black person, don’t.

Graphic by @spooky_soda

7

arts

ARTS EDITOR /// arts@theconcordian.com CHLOË LALONDE

INTERVIEW

Photography that illuminates current issues Consumerism and the environment in conversation with Maya Bergeron

“I'm really inspired by photojournalism and the kind of photography that tells stories about real people and their experiences,” said Bergeron. Photo by Mackenzie Lad.

DAISY DUNCAN ASSISTANT ARTS EDITOR Issues of consumption and ideas of challenging societal structures and norms are central focuses of local artist Maya Bergeron’s photography practice.

Bergeron, who grew up in multiple places around Canada, but is now based in Montreal, is a self-taught photographer. In addition to using her passion for colours, travel and plants as subjects for her practice, Bergeron’s photography is also concerned with issues of human rights, women’s rights, and environmental exploitation and justice—influenced by h e r s t u d i e s of E nv i ro n m e nt a n d International Development at McGill University. Using photography as a medium to challenge and explore these focuses, she incorporates a dialogue centred around contemporary life, consumption, and capitalism into her work.

Bergeron is currently showing her photography in the Hive Solidarity Co-op, as part of a group exhibition. While You’re Out Getting Wasted shares photographs from Southeast Asia, China, Latin America and North America. Bergeron has been

work ing on this project for sever al years, as she has travelled to a number of countries and locations, documenting the visual results of consumerism and capitalism in various cultures. She hopes her practice will encourage viewers to consider these subjects further, and work to promote change.

How did you get introduced to your art practice?

MB: I have always loved to travel and have done a lot of solo travelling and volunteer exchanges. When [I was] younger, around 12 and 13 years old, I started to love photography and would take photos of plants, leaves, and flowers—especially on my father’s farm on the Sunshine Coast. As I grew older, and through travelling, photography became very important as a way to capture moments.

This was especially prominent, as I travelled alone and met so many people and saw so many places. Then I became drawn to more political and controversial topics, especially related to travelling itself. I am especially interested in issues like women’s rights, environmental issues, tourism, consumption, religion and exploitation. When I’m home, I photograph much less—which is something I'm working on.

What influences and inspires you?

MB: I'm really inspired by photojournalism and the kind of photography that tells stories about real people and their experiences. I want photos to make people think, question themselves, see the world differently, and change their habits. I'm inspired ever yday by photographers around the world and I always want to see more places, either in person, or through other photographers’ work and storytelling. Photojournalists, documentary photographers and street photographers are those that inspire me most. One of my favourite photographers is [American photojournalist] Steve McCurry.

What mediums and themes are present within your art?

MB: Right now I shoot with Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II, but before I used Nikon D3000, which was really old, kind of bulky and indiscrete for travel photography. I like styles of photography such as documentary, macro and street photography. Present themes in my work would be things in relation [to] bright colours and details, especially plants and flowers. However, I also love to show differences and similarities between

cultures, juxtaposing North America with other [places]. Political themes are often present alongside others—for example, I have a project centred around plants in religious locations, and my current project in The Hive Co-op is related to the issue of waste and our consumer society. I'm also currently working on a project looking at the impact of tourism on women in different parts of Asia.

In future works and projects, is there anything you are hoping to navigate or challenge?

MB: I'm hoping to have the opportunity to continue to meet interesting people that have stories to tell. I would also love to get more involved in the Montreal community and do photo stories on important issues here in the city, or in other parts of the province. I hope to tackle contemporary issues and create social change.

Bergeron's series, While You’re Out Getting Wasted, is currently on display alongside Alex Hill's abstract paintings in the Hive Solidarity Co-op, on Concordia’s downtown campus.

You can also view Bergeron's work at MAYABERGERON.WIXSITE.COM.

FEBRUARY 19, 2019

theconcordian

9

CIRCUS

Palms sweat during cabaret at St Jax Le Monastère features local, talented professionals up close and personal

CHLOË LALONDE ARTS EDITOR Every Concordia student passes by the corner of Ste-Catherine St. and Bishop St., never thinking twice about the church located there. Fenced off on one side, St Jax doesn’t appear very welcoming, let alone home to a circus!

L e Mona s tère is a n on-prof it organisation based in Montreal with the sole purpose of providing affordable, high-caliber entertainment to its diverse audiences. Founded in 2016 by Rosalie Beauchamp and Guillaume Blais, the organisation has been selecting unique venues to allow the public to view performances up close.

With blue and pink lights creating a purple atmosphere, and voices harmonising throughout the church, Feb. 14’s premier was led by “ceremony masters” Brother Tim and Brother Joe. The comedic duo are polar opposites: Tim is quite tall and slim, while Joe is at least two feet shorter. They introduced the talented performers, all Montreal locals, while performing their own stunts and gimmicks in monk’s robes.

The evening began with Chinese pole acrobat, David Ayotte. Wearing red jeans, Ayotte climbed the pole, throwing himself off, miraculously catching himself and continuing to

moonwalk upwards. Watching him made palms sweat, a feeling that persisted throughout the evening.

Following Ayotte’s act was aerial acrobatic duo, Guillaume Paquin and Nicole Faubert. Pushing off of and using each others bodies, the couple made int ric ate, vital and graceful movements. Without pure synchronism, the duo could have easily injured themselves. Yet their performance was sensualimpossible to look away from.

After the duo landed safely onstage, hula hoop artist Melodie Lamoureux took the spotlight. Her gold hoops brilliantly reflected the coloured lights, while Grimes’s “Genesis” began to play. Lamoureux managed to have six hoops circling different limbs all at once. Coordinated spasms somehow allowed the hoops to change colour.

It was mesmerizing.

Enter Francis Gadbois. The acrobat literally threw his bike around the stage, performed wheelies unlike anything seen on the streets, and rode around the stage backward, sitting on the handles facing the seat, standing up on the seat and again on the handles. Gadbois, or as his website refers to him as, Gadbike, is a multidisciplinary performer, skilled not only in extreme biking, but juggling, poetry and mustache care.

Bicycle artist, Francis Gadbois practicing his incredible routine at St Jax. Photo by Mackenzie Lad.

Le Monastère features uniquely performers that call Montreal home, many of which have performed all over the world with Cirque du Soleil and other international circuses. Montreal’s talents are abundant—from the occasional snow unicycler to summer stilt-walkers, the city’s circus and performing arts culture runs deep, much deeper than

the Old Port and Bell Centre.

St Jax will be Le Monastère’s home year-round, with its next performance scheduled for April 5. The cabaret promises new acts every time. For more information about Le Monastère and to find out their scheduled show times, visit le-monastere.ca.

EXHIBITION

Testing the controversiality of sexuality Concordia graduate, Katherina Illenseer creates art to feel at ease with sexuality

ANA LUCIA LONDONO FLORES STAFF WRITER Pleasure Receptors, an interactive installation that opened at Eastern Bloc Thursday evening, contains four stations, each representing a female or male body, covered in sensors and connected through wires to the body. For the body to reach orgasm, each station has to be touched by a person. The sculpted body produces sounds and light when it is turned on, allowing the audience to become part of the performance as they interact with the work.

Featuring Anna Eyler and Concordia graduates Renée Lamothe and Katharina Illenseer, Female Futures explores people’s relationships with the body and sexuality.

Illenseer is a contemporary new media artist, and her practice involves computation, programming, video and sound. Her interactive installation, Pleasure Receptors explores femininity and intimacy between the human body and technology. Pleasure Receptors shows the way the body can reach an orgasm, while reacting to different forms of interaction.

“I took computation arts at Concordia, exploring different technologies and media,” said Illenseer. “I was interested to work with sound, sculpture, electronics and programming so the project really incorporates all of that, and it was about

material practices as well.” awkwardly going and touching the sculpture. that will incorporate more video and sound.

The main purpose behind Illenseer’s work The interaction is very sexual, but also funny.”

“I’m really new to the scene and I’m is to push people out of their comfort zone; Illenseer also created a consent sheet, really stepping out there,” Illenseer said. to see friends interact with the body parts which outlines the way the sculpted body liked “It’s exciting to create work that’s under and even strangers use technology to give to be touched. Interested in how technology, my own deadlines and completely free the sculpted body an orgasm. The piece is such as the internet may depend on human to explore instead of having set projects.” also a way for the audience to feel at ease interaction, the artist wanted to create a Until March 2, Female Futures will be with their sexuality and tries to normalize project that visitors would be allowed to touch. open at Eastern Bloc (7240 Clark St.) sex by making it less controversial.

Illenseer is working on another project, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. every Tuesday, “I was thinking about how our own in which she will recycle the material from Thursday and Friday, and from 1 p.m. to sexual needs and desires are so connected the exhibition and create another artwork 5 p.m. on weekends. to technology and rely on that.

So I wanted to subvert that idea and make a machine that was going to rely on human interaction in order for it to reach a climax,” said Illenseer.

Most of Illenseer’s body of work deals with sex and gender. As a shy person, she is often uncomfortable presenting the subject, but the exhibition helped her get out of her comfort zone.

“A lot of the time, people are timid to touch things and interact with them, but the more you see other people doing it, the more it gives the person security to feel comfortable about touching and interacting with the body,” said Illenseer. “I think it’s Pleasure Receptors by Katharina Illenseer questions the public’s level of comfort with sexuality, inviting them to touch sculptures made of silicone, acrylic and wood. Photo by Hannah Ewen. interesting to see one person

music

MUSIC EDITOR /// music@theconcordian.com SIMON NEW

INTERVIEW

Anemone brings the sun

The Montreal pop band was conceived in the west, born in the east SIMON NEW MUSIC EDITOR “I've been playing music all of my life, and I had friends who were doing music as a living,” said Chloé Soldevila, the creator and songwriter of Anemone.

“I always had this weird conception in my mind that I couldn't do it.”

The Montreal band came to La Sala Rossa on Friday, Feb. 15 to launch their debut album, Beat My Distance . Their sound is serene pop at its centre, with Soldevilla’s bright vocals enveloped in psychedelic instrumentation from her band. The group started with six members on stage, including an extra percussionist, and became more and more numerous throughout the night.

Soldevila was raised around classical music and formally educated in jazz, but held herself back from stepping into the scene herself. She had been travelling in California in the summer of 2015, tagging along to music festivals with friends who were in bands. Her conception of the music scene turned on a dime. “I remember being at a festival, in the artist space with all these people who are in big bands,” said Soldevila. “And in my young mind it was like ‘ah they are so special,’ and then I talked to them, and I hung out with them, and I realized, well, you know, we're just all the same,” she said. Soldevila wanted to bring the sound and the sun back to her home in Montreal. “There's not just sea and sunshine and positiv[ity] on the west coast,” she said. “It's all over the world. It's a genre of music that exists everywhere.”

Anemone was born after that summer, when Soldevila met Zach Irving at a show at Poisson Noir, a DIY venue in Mile Ex where Irving was playing organ. “It's really been natural,” said Irving. They began

From left: Chloé Soldevila, Samuel Gemme and Zach Irving. Photo by Simon New.

working on an album as they recruited Miles Dupire-Gagnon, Gabriel Lambert and Samuel Gemme. “I was looking for people who had that do-whatever-you-want vibe,” said Soldevila. They were based in Montreal, making music tinged with the west-coast psychedelia that had inspired her during her Californian summer. “It's a benefit that we live in minus twenty, cause all of the music that we made, we made it in the winter. Honestly, you're so depressed, you need something to kind of pull you out of the water, so you really appreciate that music,” she said.

After four years of work, and their debut Beat My Distance just released, the band admits the tape doesn’t quite capture what it’s like to see them live.

“The album has a bit of a red-light vibe where it's like ‘recording!’ and then you get a little constrained in a way, because you kind of freak out,” said Irving. “You're sticking to the formula. Live, we don't have a formula.”

When Anemone took the stage, it felt like a free-for-all in a musically triumphant way. There was camaraderie, shredding and champagne. Soldevila led the pack, but every single band member took the group in their own direction at one point. As if they had discovered something and wanted to share it on stage with their friends, the band's sincere interconnectedness allowed them to trust each each other to explore uncharted territory. Soldevilla would be dancing or riffing on vocals and have the

jam coalesce around her. You could see a deep smile come across her face when she discovered, as the audience did, a new and interesting groove. The crowd loved it, and the band minced no words about how essential they were.

“Most people don't realize that they're part of the magic that's happening around them,” said Irving. “Exactly, and that for me is so important to share, and I don't know how to tell them,” said Soldevilla. “I'm terrible at talking on the microphone. So the only thing we can do is show them, and it's tricky, so I hope they get it.” Indeed, she let her actions speak, save for a few moments in the act.

“Thank you!” said Soldevila to the fixated crowd. “It’s all for you.”

Quickspins PLANET GIZA

ADDED SUGAR Self-released The debut album from Montreal trio Planet Giza is a sunny 30-minute break on a dark winter day. Composed of three members, Tony Stone, DoomX, and Rami.B(izzle),

the group has outstanding chemistry on Added Sugar. The buttery-smooth production lives up to the name of the album and complements Stone’s lush, melodic flows. The only outside help comes from Mick Jenkins on single “Brk Frm Nrml” and a co-production from Kaytranada on “ Timeless//3 Stack s.” Added Sugar is not only a great time, but an excellent indication of the group’s potential.

SWMRS

and electronic to the album's pop core, SWMRS fails to flesh out these experimental portions, leaving bland punk at its centre. Listeners will either latch on to these more unique production elements and appreciate the pop sensibilities, or be bored by the vague punk vocals that fall flat.

This tape is for those that are willing to sacrifice vocal energy for glimpses of something new in the punk landscape. Either way, check out that title track.

8/10

6/10

 TRIAL TRACK: You Wasn’t Lying

 TRIAL TRACK: Berkeley’s On Fire

 STAR BAR: “I let it fall like rain / Baby you ain’t never gotta worry ‘bout a thing / Swear there’s something special when you text me see your name” -Tony Stone on “Timeless//3 Stacks — LOUIS PAVLAKOS, STAFF WRITER

BERKELEY’S ON FIRE Fueled by Ramen Oakland pop-punk quartet SWMRS released an album that while sparsely intriguing, never lives up to its exemplary opening track. While the band ventures down interesting roads in terms of production, fusing elements of hip hop

 STAR BAR: “Put your pom-poms down you didn’t win shit, go bail out your guilty ass it’s not your business,” - Cole Becker on “Berkeley’s On Fire” — MALCOLM MCLAREN, CONTRIBUTOR

FEBRUARY 19, 2019

OPINION

theconcordian

11

Adulation over accolades

Award shows like the Grammys are not what matters—the people are

Graphic by Ana Bilokin.

IMMANUEL MATTHEWS ASSISTANT MUSIC EDITOR While music award shows like the Grammys are capable of creating great, memorable moments for artists, it is not the Recording Academy—the council that selects the winning artists—that truly distinguishes artists and their impact on the music world. It’s the everyday Jane and John Doe who listen to their music and pay to see them perform.

The Recording Academy's voting membership includes music creators, such as artists, engineers, producers and songwriters. “To be qualified for membership, however, voting members must have creative or technical credits on at least six commercially released music releases on a physical album, or 12 on a digital project,” according to The Balance Careers. Voting members are then allowed to vote online during the two balloting periods.

As Drake said in his acceptance speech for Best Rap Song for “God’s Plan,” “My point is, you've already won if you have people singing your songs word for word, if you’re a hero in your hometown. Look, If there's people who have regular jobs who are coming out in the rain, in the snow, spending their hard-earned money to buy tickets to come to your shows, you don't need [a Grammy].

I promise you, you already won.”

That really got me thinking. Do we even need the Grammys anymore?

Whether it be paying for a monthly subscription to Spotify, or scraping up leftover money for a ticket to a show, many “regular” people help fund artists’ careers, as well as increase their popularity. I can’t speak for everyone, but I know one of the things I look forward to most is attending one of my favourite artists’ concerts, no matter how expensive the ticket is. Escaping reality, even if only for a few hours, is worth any price.

With increasing access to endless amounts of music, both technologically and financially,

the listener’s ability to impact an artist’s career is greater than ever. Buying vinyls and cassettes has been replaced by online streaming—a substantially faster, easier, more efficient system of musical sales.

According to Nielsen, a research firm, Canadians streamed over 59 billion songs in 2018, a 47 per cent increase from 2017.

In the United States, streaming numbers in the first half of 2018 reached close to 403 billion songs. Though the topic of the low streaming-to-money conversion is frequently discussed, I don’t think anyone would argue the power of streaming numbers. They more of ten than not have a significant impact on an artist’s success, including things like ticket and merchandise sales.

As the people continue to play a huge role in artists’ careers, award ceremonies like the Grammys have seemingly lost their notability. As I tuned in to watch the performances, curious as to who the council would choose to award, I couldn’t help but

notice the many empty seats throughout the arena. I wondered if it had anything to do with the unexplained absences of major artists like Childish Gambino, Jay-Z, Beyoncé and Ariana Grande—all of whom won a Grammy that night. Maybe not, but I couldn’t help but wonder.

In recent years, the Grammys have come under fire for critiquing female artists, its low number of female nominations, as well as for failing to recognize the success and popularity of many significant hip hop artists. This is the suspected reason for Drake, Kendrick Lamar and Childish Gambino declining to perform at the show’s 61st edition.

Music award shows will undoubtedly always have their place as star-studded events with high-budget performances and a long legacy. Though, I think that the importance and notability of their awards will continue to lose value. More people will begin to recognize the immense power that regular people have over the select few of an elected council.

sports

SPORTS EDITOR /// sports@theconcordian.com NICHOLAS DI GIOVANNI ( @n_digiovanni)

COVER STORY

Carl Neill is a leader in all aspects Second-year Stinger uses past as a forward to help him as defenceman

NICHOLAS DI GIOVANNI SPORTS EDITOR When Carl Neill played hockey as a kid, his dad wanted to make sure Neill didn’t become a goalie, because he was one himself. “He encouraged me to not do that part of the sport, so I’m very grateful for that,” Neill said.

Neill's dad probably made the right decision, because his son used his talents as a defenceman to lead the Concordia Stingers men’s hockey team in points this season, with 33. Neill joined the Stingers last year after the Vancouver Canucks, the NHL team that drafted him in the fifth round in 2015, didn’t sign him to a contract. He was named to the U SPORTS all-rookie team last season after earning 31 points, the most by a defenceman in the country.

Neill added that throughout his hockey career, his dad was always his biggest influence. “I’m an only child, so I spent a lot of time with my dad growing up,” said Neill, who’s from Lachute, Que. “Just the way he is as a guy, with his judgement and character, he was a big role model.”

With nine goals and 55 assists in 56 regular-season games with the Stingers, Neill is the prototypical offensive defenceman. He tries to model his game after Washington Capitals defenceman John Carlson, who had 68 points and won the Stanley Cup last season. “He’s good allaround,” said Neill. “He picks up points, he’s good defensively, and he’s the type of player you need whether you’re up a goal or down a goal.”

Neill star ted playing hockey as a for ward, and says that ’s what helps make him so dangerous offensively.

The Stingers season ended last Friday, but Neill wants to stay at Concordia until he finishes school. Photo by Hannah Ewen.

He switched positions in pee-wee, and developed his defensive game while playing for the Sherbrooke Phoenix in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QJMHL). “Once I got older, I knew when to jump in the play and make the right decisions,” he said.

The defenceman spent four-and-a-half seasons with the Phoenix, first playing with them at 16 years old in 2012-13. He became team captain in 2015-16, and

Neill was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in 2015, but wasn’t signed to a contract. Photo by Hannah Ewen.

halfway through the following season, they traded him to the Charlottetown Islanders for two draft picks. Neill said it was emotional to leave Sherbrooke, but understands they had to make the trade to build the team for the future.

“Playing junior hockey at 16 was really special, and it was my first time away from home, so the city really took me in with open arms,” Neill said about his time in Sherbrooke. “A lot of teams in junior are run like a business, but [it] felt like a family. A lot of the staff, coaches, and players I’m still in contact with today.”

Two of Neill’s former teammates in Sherbrooke during the 2014-15 season, Raphaël Lafontaine and Charles-Éric Légaré, helped influence him to join the Stingers in 2017. In turn, Neill influenced forward Hugo Roy to join the team this season. Roy played three seasons with the Phoenix, and was team captain after Neill left.

“Recruiting comes a lot from players who know each other,” Neill said. “Especially schools around [Montreal]. They pretty much have all the same things to offer, especially hockey-wise [...]. Knowing Legaré and Lafontaine, I got a good sense of what the program was like.”

As was the case with Sherbrooke, Neill quickly established himself as a leader for the Stingers. In just his second season, he was chosen as assistant captain, alongside forward Philippe Sanche and defenceman Alexandre Gosselin. As a leader, Neill said he wants to be held accountable.

“I’m not going to start yelling at guys about plays I didn’t do myself,” Neill said.

“I try to stay pretty calm and lead by example on the ice.”

The Stingers had a star-studded rookie class last year that included Neill and for ward Massimo Carozza. Both were named to the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) all-rookie team last ye ar. M o s t of t h o s e p layer s lef t to pursue other oppor tunities, such as Carozza, who went to play professional hockey in Italy.

Neill and for ward Jean-Philippe Beaulieu were the only two rookies from last season to stay with the team this year. Neill, who studies human relations, wants to graduate from university before thinking about a professional career.

“With Vancouver not working out, I had a few pro options [in the minor leagues], but they were all a one-year deal,” Neill said. “I felt more comfortable going to school and getting a degree first [...]. For me, it was tough; you see guys whose careers don’t pan out and they have nothing left.”

Neill said he chose to study human relations because it suits his personality.

He applies things he’s learned in the classroom to the locker room, such as conflict resolution and working with different t ypes of people, which has helped him be a better leader. Once he graduates from Concordia, he plans to continue pursuing his dream of playing professional hockey.

“I need to round off my game,” Neill said about what he needs to improve. “Offence has always been a key part of my game, but a better understanding defensively would get me to the next level.”

The Stingers season ended in the first round of the playoffs against the Queen's Gaels last week.

FEBRUARY 19, 2019

FEATURE

Stinger donates hair at Pink in the Rink

Jérome Bédard Guillemette wants to continue breast cancer research

The football player took part in a ceremonial face-off before the hockey game.

NICHOLAS DI GIOVANNI SPORTS EDITOR When Jérome Bédard Guillemette first joined the Concordia Stingers football team in 2015, he knew he wanted to raise money for some sort of cause. When his best friend’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016, he finally knew what that cause would be.

“That shook me to the point where I started thinking about my mother, my sister, my girlfriend, and my girlfriend’s mother,” Bédard Guillemette said. “I said, ‘I don’t want anybody to lose a woman they love to breast cancer.’”

His friend’s mother beat the cancer and is currently in remission. On Feb. 9, the

fourth-year defensive lineman donated his hair to Locks of Love in hopes of raising at least $1,500 for the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation. The Stingers women’s hockey team were hosting their first-ever Pink in the Rink event, and Bédard Guillemette cut his hair after the team beat the Montréal Carabins 3-1 at the Ed Meagher Arena.

“I’m really proud of our girls and what they did for Pink in the Rink,” said head coach Julie Chu. The players had a bake sale the day before during a men’s game.

“Every one of us has someone [affected by cancer]; unfortunately that’s how it is.

But we want to find the cure and hopefully little things like this help us.”

Bédard Guillemette grew his hair and beard throughout his four years at Concordia,

The hair was donated to Locks of Love.

only trimming to keep it maintained. He doesn’t know if he will grow his hair out as long as it was again.

“It takes a lot of time and dedication to grow [hair] and keep it clean to donate,” Bédard Guillemette said. “For sure I’m going to donate money again, but it’s something we have to keep on doing because we’re never going to stop research.”

Having seen what his friend’s mother went through with breast cancer, Bédard Guillemette wants to let others know they’re not alone.

“People are trying to do their best to raise money for research,” he said.

“You have to keep on fighting because it’s a hard and long fight.”

Photos by Mackenzie Lad.

Bédard Guillemette said he was happy the Stingers got involved with the cause because it brought the athletic community together.

Bédard Guillemette teamed up with the women’s hockey team to create the first Pink in the Rink event.

After the haircut.

theconcordian

13

COLOUR COMMENTARY WITH KAYLA-MARIE TURRICIANO

I was listening to TSN 690 a few weeks ago on the drive to school, only half paying attention to stats and opinions about sports I don’t always understand. Then, I hear “US$240 million” and “five years” in the same sentence.

Anthony Davis, who’s played basketball with the New Orleans Pelicans since 2012, was offered a supermax deal worth US$240 million over five years and could be a free agent next summer.

According to ESPN, he turned it down because he wants to be traded.

Now, I don’t really care about basketball. But what I do care about is how much money athletes are paid. If you think Davis’s contract sounds ludacris, it’s not even that extreme. He’s only the 24th best-paid NBA player and the 34th highest-paid athlete in 2018, according to Forbes .

And for what? To run a court and shoot a ball in a basket?

But it isn’t just Davis or the NBA . The whole sports world makes no sense. An NBA player’s average annual salary is US$7.77 million; a MLB player’s is US$4.51 million; an NHL player can see US$2.78 million. But for what? To shoot, hit, kick, or throw a ball?

Why do these people need to be paid so much? Sure, they’ve probably spent every day since they were six practising and playing, working hard to get better, all with the dream of going pro. Then one day they achieve their dream, and are now making millions a year.

Professional athletes aren’t the only ones working hard to earn a living and make the best of their lives. It’s not like they’re saving lives or necessarily helping people, which would warrant, at least in my eyes, a much bigger paycheque than someone playing a sport.

It’s the entertainment aspect of the sports industry that’s the problem. The contracts to televise these events are so extravagant and unnecessar y. Fans keep watching, which contributes to the problem. The more people watch, the higher the prices for tickets or merchandise is, and the cycle of too much money being invested into a sport is continued.

Just an example: Floyd May weather was the world’s highest-paid athlete in 2018, according to Forbes, with US$285 million. Most of this was for his one fight against Conor McGregor; the match generated 4.3 million pay-per-view buys. For what? To avoid getting beaten by a UFC fighter with an attitude?

All of this to say that, while professional athletes do put all their blood, sweat and tears into their sport, and while they have made and continue to make sacrifices, at the end of the day, no one is worth that much money.

opinions OPINIONS EDITOR /// opinions@theconcordian.com SANIA MALIK

EDITORIAL

Ignoring Islamophobia doesn't make it go away When an ostrich realizes they’re in danger and they can’t run away, they fall to the ground and remain still while laying their head and neck flat on the ground. That way, they can blend in with the colour of the soil and avoid their threat. This is often referred to as the “ostrich approach,” which Collins Dictionary defines as “a person who refuses to face reality or recognize the truth.”

Recently, we saw the Quebec premier, François Legault, doing exactly that. Near the end of January, he ruled out the idea of dedicating a day to anti-Islamophobia, saying, “I don’t think there is Islamophobia in Quebec, so I don’t see why there would be a day devoted to Islamophobia,” according to the Montreal Gazette. The National Council of Canadian Muslims’s (NCCM) Executive Director, Ihsaan Gardee, told Global News, “[...] taking the ostrich approach and putting your head in the sand is not going to solve a problem or make it go away.”

We at The Concordian wholeheartedly agree with the NCCM’s executive director’s statement. Islamophobia is a real and ongoing problem in Quebec. Denying its existence and prevalence is not only wrong, it’s promoting a lie. The Premier later “clarified” his statement by saying that “Islamophobia exists in Quebec [...] but not a current of Islamophobia. Quebec is not Islamophobic or racist,” according to the Montreal Gazette.

A spokesperson for Legault later clarified, “there is no trend or culture of Islamophobia in Quebec. Quebecers are open and tolerant and they shall continue to exhibit these

qualities.” How does it, in any way, make sense to say that Islamophobia does exist in Quebec, while simultaneously saying there is no “current” or “trend?” Does the government not analyze statistics or facts and figures? Do they not speak to the Muslim community in Quebec, who experience such acts firsthand?

Do they not remember the root cause of the Jan. 29 2017 mosque shooting?

In 2018, a year after the Jan. 29 attack, the NCCM had created a proposal to devote the day to anti-Islamophobia.

The CAQ spokesperson at the time said the anniversary should instead be dedicated to commemorating the victims’ memories, according to CBC. The Parti Québécois also rejected the proposal by saying the term Islamophobia is “too controversial” and there is already an international day that promotes eliminating racial discrimination, according to the same source.

We at The Concordian find it exhaustingly sad that the NCCM has been rejected twice

in trying to promote anti-Islamophobia in Quebec. If the government was truly supportive of its Muslim community, it would have no trouble dedicating one day of the entire year to lend its voice to uplift Muslims and their struggles. The truth is, Quebec has always had a problem with Islam, from the 2013 Quebec Charter of Values that aimed to ban religious symbols and attire in the public sector (like the hijab), to white nationalist groups against Islam like PEGIDA that flourish in the province. And, just recently, Quebec’s Minister for the Status of Women, Isabelle Charest, said the hijab is oppressive. She said, “When a religion dictates clothing [...] this is not freedom of choice [...] it’s a sign of oppression,” according to the Montreal Gazette. Isn’t the government dictating what a woman can and cannot wear just as oppressive, if not more?

Anti-Muslim sentiments are higher in Quebec than in the rest of Canada, according to a 2018 study published in the Canadian

Review of Sociology. CBC reported that the study found that Muslims are the least liked social group amongst Canadians. The study asked Canadians to assign certain groups a score from zero to 100 that demonstrated how much they approved of them and Muslims in Quebec received the lowest score of 56. The study also found that 70 per cent of respondents in Quebec expressed “significant” anti-Muslim sentiment and 57 per cent of Quebec respondents had more negative attitudes towards Muslims than other racial minorities.

The truth is, we can fill up an entire page in this week’s issue of The Concordian with facts and figures demonstrating just how prevalent Islamophobia is in Quebec. Perhaps government officials are putting too much emphasis on the “phobia” part of Islamophobia, when it encompasses more than just a fear of Muslims and Islam. Perhaps they believe Islamophobia only manifests itself in violent attacks, like the Jan. 29 shooting.

But we at The Concordian believe Quebec officials, and citizens, need to understand that Islamophobia exists in more ways than just attacks and fear. It is disliking an entire group for what they believe in. It is scoffing at their struggles rather than acknowledging them. It is questioning whether or not they deserve basic human rights. Islamophobia is real and, using the Premier’s words, is a “trend” in our province. Let’s fight against it—but first, let’s acknowledge it instead of taking the ostrich approach.

Graphic by @spooky_soda

SOCIAL MEDIA

A helping hand versus hypocrisy

Why one student believes getting ghosted by an aspiring public figure isn't okay AMANDA KATHERINE STAFF WRITER Hordes of millennials are trying to become famous. And these aspiring public figures all seem to have one thing in common: they are convinced that they have the potential to positively impact the world.

They want fame, not just for fame’s sake, but because they believe they’re more perceptive to society’s problems than most—and whether through music, writing, or simply sharing their personal stories, they claim to have a sincere, overbearing desire to help others.

And yet, many of these same people put their “hustle” above anything else, including friends and family. When you need a shoulder to cry on, or an activity to get your mind off things, do not call an aspiring public figure. Between perfecting their craft and practicing the answers they’ll give Ellen DeGeneres in their success-story interview, many simply don’t have time for your mediocre company. Aspiring public figures also experience extremely unique emotions that only Oprah Winfrey can understand. Trying to express their feelings

to small-minded people is exhausting.

For this reason, the aspiring public figure has the absolute right to ghost you. And you’re not allowed to be disappointed or hurt when it happens. Instead, you should automatically support their decision to move onto #BiggerThings.

Ok, enough with the sarcasm. Some aspiring public figures are hypocrites. Behind goodwill hashtags of “authenticity” and “purpose,” these hustlers operate on selfish agendas, and very calculated displays of compassion. Notice my use of the word ‘display’ here. These people jump on social and charitable opportunities that can be plastered all over Instagram, but

never take the time to help anyone behind closed doors.

I’m speaking from both observation and experience. I, like most millennials, have befriended some people who are trying to grow their platform. And unfortunately, I’ve found that most have no problem dropping me like a hot potato. I can’t count on them to check in with me.

Instead, I must chase them—and if I somehow do manage to squeeze into their impossibly tight schedules, I find myself being treated more like a fan than a friend. The most selfish aspiring public figures will have you believe that their grind Graphic by @spooky_soda

is eternally sacrificial. If you comment on how much fun and freedom their lifestyle provides, they’ll follow up with a reminder of the pressures and vulnerabilities involved.

This is a clever and profoundly manipulative way to downplay how much fun they’re actually having. They don’t want us to notice the pleasure and freedom involved in chasing big dreams, because that’s how we’d begin to perceive flaws in their integrity. I personally believe many aspiring public figures are using “passion” and “purpose” as excuses to absolve themselves of responsibility. With swollen egos, these people have grown to believe nearly everything—and everyone—is beneath them.

Disclaimer: not every aspiring public figure is like this. Some are genuine, and their grind is sacrificial. But, to those who might see themselves through my words: Mother Teresa once said, “If you want to bring happiness to the whole world, go home and love your family.” To be clear, that’s not to say you shouldn’t help strangers—but it is to say that you should be willing to help people in private too. If you forget how to be a friend on your way to being that world-renowned public figure, truly, there is no point.

FEBRUARY 19, 2019

the art of being single W/ KAYLA-MARIE TURRICIANO

theconcordian

15

IMMIGRATION

Quebec ought to do better The government’s plan to cancel 18,000 immigration files is irresponsible

Ghosting, bad dates, and trying again So Valentine’s Day was a few days ago. While some single people don’t care, for others it might be hard to deal with being alone when love and romance are so commercially advertised. If you’re one of those people, you might have questions about your relationship status. How do you deal with rejection? How do you deal with ghosting? How do you deal with never feeling like you’re adequate and like you’re going to be single forever while everyone else’s love life is flourishing?

The answer? You just do.

I know it’s frustrating. I know it’s sad. And I know, after a while, it’s exhausting. But I also know that it isn’t the end of the world; you’re going to go on other dates, and you will eventually find your person.

Now, while you wait to find your person, you’re going to (more likely than not) go through a few rough patches. You might be on ever y dating app possible with no luck of finding someone cute and interesting, or shooting your shot just to get rejected. Or, you might go on your fifth terrible date this month, or you might be talking to someone you’re starting to like, but are then ghosted.

You might go through all of this. I feel you, but know that you aren’t alone in this struggle of trying to not be single.

Let’s face it: no matter how many times we think Tinder or Bumble or Hinge (or the countless other dating apps) might work out—after deleting and re-downloading them three times this month—they most likely won’t.

Out of so many people that use any or all of these apps, how many of them actually find what they’re looking for?

As for shooting your shot, I wrote all about it last time, so check it out if you’re still searching for a sign to do it. In terms of having terrible dates, definitely don’t see someone again if you don’t want to. No amount of frustration and loneliness should infringe on this decision; it’s always better to be alone than in bad company.

Lastly, when it comes to ghosting, I have one thing to say. I hate it. It really freaking sucks. And I’m not talking about ghosting when the conversation is going nowhere, or if you clearly have nothing in common; I feel like we’ve all done this at some point. I’m talking about ghosting when you start thinking, “yeah, maybe this can go somewhere.” Then, BOOM .

Ghosted. If you do this, just know I don’t like you. And if you’ve had this done to you, just know, like in every other instance, you’ll be okay. You just move on, try again, and eventually you’ll find your person. Lather, rinse, repeat—but for your heart.

SARAH BOUMEDDA STAFF WRITER P i c t u re a fa m i l y of f o u r. T h e mother is an accomplished univ e r s i t y p r o f e s s o r, c u r r e n t l y finishing her PhD in management and marketing in partnership with various French universities, despite being based elsewhere. Her husband, a qualified software engineer, works for the country’s biggest public company. Their two sons, age d six and 10, are not only h e a l t h y, b u t v e r y s w e e t a n d incredibly smart. Like their parents, they both can speak three languages f luently—including French—and the older of the two is currently learning his fourth.

This picture-perfect family happens to be my cousin’s. She lives in Algeria, where yes, her situation is pretty good as of now—but unstable socio-economic conditions in the count r y and t he r ise of var ious militant groups pushed her and her husband to apply for immigration to Canada back in 2012. They are now onto their second attempt, but the CAQ government’s Bill 9 might get in the way of their Canadian dream.

On Feb. 7, the Quebec government announced that in order to pass its upcoming immigration bill, commonly referred to as Bill 9, it would proceed to cancel all 18,000 Skilled Worker Program applications cur rently pending for treatment and approv al by t he prov ince’s Ministry of Immigration, Diversity and Inclusion (MIDI), according to Le Devoir. The announcement was made nearly 10 days after Premier François Legault promised those files would be duly taken care of before his party would submit its new immigration bill.

Simply put , this measure is i r re s p o n s i b l e a n d t h o ro u g h ly u n f a i r. H a n d l i n g t h o s e 1 8 , 0 0 0 documents is part of the govern-

ment’s duty towards its applicants, and c ancelling them in order to promptly pass a more restrictive immigration law can only be seen as a way for the province to wash its hands from the expectations it ought to meet, while jeopardizing the future of thousands of people.

Think about it: behind those 18,000 immigration requests are actual people, spread across the globe, hoping for a better future here in Quebec. Those 18,000 files affect the lives of men, women, children; entire families, or hopeful young adults. In total, these files represent about 50,000 people, as each file represents a family, according to Le Devoir. Some of them—like my cousin and her family—have been waiting for years, hoping not even for an acceptance, but merely a response from our government. According to the CBC, some applications date back to 2005, totaling a wait time of 14 years.

There’s also a lot of money going into this: applying for immigration to Quebec costs around $1,000, which would correspond, in total, to $19 million to reimburse all those app lic ant s—w hic h Immig r at i on Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette promised to do, while also suggesting that applicants re-apply once the new bill has passed, according to Le Devoir and Global News.

This isn’t a small amount; $19 million could be used to take care of much more pressing, important issues. Besides, asking people to simply “re-apply ” goes to show that Minister Jolin-Barrette has no idea the burden that immigration bureaucracy entails, and just how much it impacts the lives of the people applying.

However, the issue doesn’t end there. The new proposed bill on immigration, while also reducing the number of immigrants admitted in the province, puts a stronger

emphasis on “learning French and learning about democratic values and the Québec values”, as the Bill reads. This resonates with François Legault’s electoral promise to establish a French and “Quebec values” test for immigrants to pass after three years in the province, according to The Globe and Mail . While a French test might be, to a certain extent, understandable in order to maintain the French-speaking character of the province, a test on “Quebec values” can only be seen as xenophobic.

One of our province’s strengths is its welcoming environment and its diversity. Setting up such a restrictive examination would weaken such strengths, while also clearly discriminating against immigrants. Surely all the people born and raised here have some core values they might not agree upon, but those people would never be tested on them the way immigrants would be.

I am not the only one contesting this measure. All three of the main opposition parties of the National Assembly have also expressed their disagreement, according to Le Devoir.

Meanwhile, the Quebec Immigration Lawyers Association (AQAADI) are also hoping to take this to cour t, according to the same source.

Our government needs to reconsider its approach to immigr ation issues, starting with the cancellation of pending immigration requests. The CAQ owes it to the 50,000 applicants it ’s let t ing dow n, to t he cur rent immigrants of Quebec that are only working to better our province like any other citizen, and to the rest of its society.

I can’t help but think of my cousin. She’s brilliant, speaks French fluently, and she and her family have the potential to bring so much to our province. She deserves better from our government.

Graphic by @spooky_soda

16

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FEBRUARY 19, 2019

Graphic by @spooky_soda

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