Vol. 42 Issue 5: October 1st 2024

Yesterday marked the fourth National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada. Hundreds of people marched in Montreal to commemorate the victims of the residential school system. READ

INVESTIGATION: CSU WILL

OWE STUDENTCARE AROUND $175,000 AT MINIMUM FOR TRIAL

OF NEW PROGRAM

The trial period for the Legal Essentials Program began before a referendum could be held in the byelections. BY FÉLIX-ANTOINE BEAUCHEMIN AND CHANTAL BELLEFEUILLE // NEWS EDITOR & COPY EDITOR

The Concordia Student Union (CSU) recently entered a trial period in a new Studentcare service that would cost up to $350,000 per semester if the service is maintained. Even if the service is cancelled at the end of the trial period, the CSU would owe Studentcare approximately

$175,000. In September, the CSU entered the trial for Studentcare’s Legal Essentials Program without consulting the student body, which has since been criticized by many student actors. “The student has no choice and no voice in the matter of how they are represented and

who represents them,” said Dave Plant, former CSU council representative.

During a CSU council meeting on Sept. 18, Plant challenged the contract with a motion against the CSU council’s implementation of Studentcare’s Legal Essentials Program.

@theconcordianmtl @theconcordian @theconcordian theconcordian.com

The CSU council had unanimously passed the proposal to enter the trial period on July 17, and it officially began on Sept. 1 until Dec. 31.

NEWS

Three protesters arrested at Palestine walkout protest on Wednesday pg. 2

SPORTS

Stingers women’s hockey wins the annual Theresa Humes Cup pg. 6

LES PAGES

FRANCOS

When the Pine Needles Fall : Un livre pour résister pg. 8

ARTS & CULTURE

Embracing touch: John Lee Clark’s journey pg. 11

MUSIC

Genre Guide: Vol. 1 — Electronic pg. 13

OPINIONS

Dealing with major life changes pg. 15

Collage of banners from the Sept. 30 Truth and Reconcilitation March, featuring Wolastoqiyik activist and artist Jeremy Dutcher. COLLAGE BY HANNAH BELL // PHOTO EDITOR

A CONCORDIAN INVESTIGATION

(CSU Studentcare contract, continued from cover)

Plant claims that the CSU council was misinformed when buying the sales pitch presented during a special council meeting on July 17.

Studentcare’s Legal Essentials Program will cost $30 per undergraduate student per year if it is accepted by referendum during the CSU’s byelections this November. This is in addition to the pre-existing Studentcare health and dental fees of $225, according to the Studentcare website.

THE LEGAL ESSENTIALS PROGRAM

In a July 17 CSU special council meeting, CSU General Coordinator Kareem Rahaman presented the Legal Essentials Program as an insurance plan to the student councillors. This, according to a legal review of the contract, was incorrect.

“[The] Legal protection plan is a service offered by [Studentcare] which gives students access to lawyers,” Rahaman said during that meeting. “It’s an insurance product, where if you need help filling in immigration forms, and instead of paying lawyer fees, it is covered. You pay $30 in advance, and you have access to a lawyer for housing and immigration law, and on top of that, you have the CSU services like [the Advocacy Centre] and [the Legal Information Clinic (LIC)], and this service is meant to work in tandem with [those].”

Rahaman’s presentation to the student councillors contained many inconsistencies.

The legal review of the contract, which was commissioned

by

Plant, shows that the contract is not an insurance product, contrary to Rahaman’s claims. Studentcare instead acts as a middleman between the students and an unspecified law firm of its choosing.

This is also how Studentcare offers its other plans, such as health coverage.

Rahaman alleged that the contract would cover housing and immigration law. Studentcare’s plan does not include coverage regarding immigration law and issues concerning non-lease housing. However, these services are covered by CSU services such as the LIC and the Housing and Job Resource Centre (HOJO).

In cases of accusations of sexual misconduct or criminal offences, the Advocacy Centre can represent students facing suspension or expulsion from the university. A lawyer obtained through the Legal Essentials

Program will not be able to represent students in these cases.

Rahaman also said during the special council meeting that this plan was “meant to work in tandem with” other CSU services, such as the LIC. While that seems to indeed be the current situation, the CSU executives had previously met with the LIC on Jan. 26 to inform them of their intention to discontinue the clinic and replace it with Studentcare’s Legal Essentials Program. Rahaman was a CSU executive at the time, acting as the CSU’s finance coordinator.

Rahaman did not respond to requests to comment.

THE SIGNING OF THE CONTRACT

“When I brought this up with the council, there were a lot of council members asking more questions and interested in what I had to say because they weren’t fully aware of what the contract entails,” Plant said after the meeting on Sept. 18.

The program is currently on a semester-long trial period, with the CSU covering the costs.

Should the plan be accepted by referendum, the agreement between Studentcare and the CSU would be extended and locked in for four consecutive years, and the CSU would have to pay Studentcare $10 per student for the trial period.

Although Concordia University has not yet announced its official numbers for the 202425 school year, nearly 35,000 undergraduate students are currently enrolled. Therefore, the CSU would have to pay Studentcare around $350,000 for

this semester alone.

If the student body rejects the agreement during the November byelections, the CSU would still have to pay $5 per undergraduate student for up to $175,000.

“The consequence is that if the fee levy doesn’t pass, which chances are it won’t, it’s going to be $175,000 down the drain when this is a deal

that isn’t even necessary in the first place and was not handled appropriately,” Plant said.

At the Sept. 18 council meeting, Rahaman explained that the CSU would use leftover funds paid by students for previous years’ insurance premiums to pay for the fall 2024 term of the contract, no matter the outcome of the referendum.

The CSU would also have to notify Studentcare of the cancellation of the agreement by Nov. 30. The CSU has not yet announced the dates of the byelections, and last year’s byelections ended on Nov. 9.

On Sept. 18, a standing committee was formed by the CSU council in response to Plant’s motion against the Studentcare agreement for further review of the contract.

CSU General Manager Robert Henri signed Studentcare’s Legal Essentials Service Agreement on June 27, three weeks prior to the council’s vote on July 17.

Miranda Bohns, a McGill law student who volunteered at the LIC for a year, said that Henri’s signature may have pressured the council members to sign without being adequately informed about the contract.

“Having the general manager pre-sign this document brings into question whether the students really felt like they had the power to disagree with any points,” Bohns said. “They also might have had the impression that this first signature was legally binding, which puts them in a bind, quite literally. It brings into question whether their signatures were given free of will.”

According to Bohns, for a contract to be valid, all parties signing cannot be misled before signing. The contract cannot have abrasive points as it is legally required for all parties to have a complete, comprehensive understanding of the document they are signing.

The councillors had access to the contract for two days before the meeting, but the presentation during the meeting itself contained factual errors and misinformation.

“It [the contract] is putting a lot of [CSU] services that students already have at risk, and I think that is covertly happening,” Bohns said. “I worry that Studentcare is going to be not only hindering but abolishing [for CSU services].”

Concordia groups continue efforts to decolonize the university

A new school year calls for progress.

GINANE DESLAURIERS STAFF WRITER

This semester is giving light to new progress and projects for Indigenous and Inuit students at Concordia.

As the recent announcement of tuition waivers for Indigenous students from communities in Quebec made headlines, many other groups at Concordia continued their work to make the university a safe space for Indigenous students.

Announced in early 2023, the Kaié:ri Nikawerà:ke Indigenous Bridging Program is relatively new and still growing, with now seven full-time students, according to Program Coordinator Saba Din.

“I’m happy to announce that we have expanded the Bridg-

ing Program. We now offer four bridging options,” she said.

“We have the bridging option to Bachelor of Engineering, to the Bachelor of Commerce with JMSB, and then we offer bridging options to major in psychology either through a BA or a BSC. We’ve been able to launch that this year.”

Din also hopes to expand the program further by working in collaboration with the Faculty of Arts and Science.

“What we’re hoping to launch next year are two new options,” she said. “One would be a general bachelor of science option. So students can enter the bridging program and access any bachelor of science program at Concordia. [...] We are also hoping to launch a Bachelor of Arts in journalism.”

Beside expanding the choices of programs, other projects like seminars are now available to help Bridging Program stu-

dents familiarize themselves in the new university environment.

“They’re doing things that will address their needs, getting them familiar with the campus, doing holistic reflections on their purpose at the university, what their goals are, things like that,” said Din. “I think that’s been a nice opportunity for the students to also build community with each other.”

According to Din, the process has not been without its challenges. As a new program, there are still some aspects that need polishing, like the students’ course scheduling.

“We manage the scheduling for the students because we want to ensure that the students are in the same classes as much as possible,” she said. “So, to be honest, I noticed that scheduling can be a challenge sometimes.”

Sometimes, courses conflict

with events such as tutoring in the Otsenhákta Student Centre (OSC).

The OSC is also growing and currently working on bringing Indigenous culture to Concordia University to support students, according to Cheyenne Henry, manager of the OSC.

The OSC hosts weekly checkins for Indigenous students to offer them a space to talk and share academic and life updates.

According to Henry, the OSC’s goal is to foster student’s mental, physical, spiritual and emotional state, while enhancing cultural support.

“When we’re talking about growth at the Centre, [it] is that cultural support through the Elders, and something that we’ve been working on is an Elder in residence program,” said Cheyenne. “And every Elder has different gifts and different teachings. So I think peo-

ple that leave their homes are lacking the interaction, [...] that intergenerational knowledge.”

The Indigenous recruitment officer position is also being rebranded, according to Allan Vicaire, the senior advisor at the Office of Indigenous Directions (OID).

“One of the things that we’re thinking about and we have discussions on is instead of having a reposition [of the responsibilities of the role], maybe it should be like a liaison community [officer],” he said.

The Kaié:ri Nikawerà:ke Indigenous Bridging Program and the OSC are considering giving prospective and current students the option to study in their community.

“It’s still a form of colonization by making people leave their homes to come to the big city and study,” said Din.

People lining up the streets during the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation march in Montreal on Sept. 30, 2024. PHOTO BY HANNAH BELL // PHOTO EDITOR

Ka’nahsohon Kevin Deer from Kahnawake Mohawk Territory at the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation march in Montreal. PHOTO BY HANNAH BELL // PHOTO EDITOR

Three protesters arrested at Palestine walkout protest on Wednesday

Protesters spray painted the SGW campus’ tunnel, committed assault and marched down De Maisonneuve Blvd.

JEREMY

COX NEWS EDITOR

A walkout protest took place in the Henry F. Hall building at 1 p.m. last Wednesday. The walkout, which lasted just over an hour, involved heated altercations between the many involved parties.

Protesters spray painted pro-Palestine and anti-Israel slogans in the Sir George Williams (SGW) campus under-

pass, and three people were arrested for mischief, assault, and obstruction of a peace officer.

Direct Action Concordia announced the protest on Sept. 16 in an Instagram post. It was mobilized by the Concordia Student Union (CSU) club Concordia Communists, the university’s branch of the group Communist Revolution. In the post, the organization said that the purpose of the walkout was to call for the university to cut ties with Israel and to call for the removal of police forces from campus.

“I had a meeting with seven other people [a few weeks ago], and we were standing, and they [security guards] told us that it was unauthorized, that we looked like we were planning something,” said Sylvia Mondestin of Communist Rev-

olution, expressing her discontent with the increase in security measures on campus.

“We were planning a student strike, that’s true. But we’re allowed to gather as students of Concordia, and we’re allowed to say that we’re not okay with where our tuition money is going.”

The walkout started on the ground floor of the Hall building, where activist Samar Alkhdour led the rally, speaking through a bullhorn. Alkhdour, who immigrated from Gaza in 2019, lost her daughter, who had obtained a visa to Canada, in January.

Tensions rose shortly after the beginning of the protest when I’m That Jew Founder Eitan Chitayat started a counter-protest, accompanied by the Zionist group The StartUp Nation Montreal, which is also an active CSU club. Protesters chanted over his speech, crowding around him. Protesters were corralled into the Hall building tunnel toward the LB building.

StartUp Nation declined to comment on the events.

A 22-year-old female, a 20-year-old female, and a 20-year-old male were arrested for mischief, assault, and obstruction of a peace officer, according to SPVM Media Relations Agent Manuel Couture. The police responded to an altercation between campus security and protesters spray painting the tunnel. Protesters threw what Couture reported to be objects and bottles at officers.

“Criminal acts such as assault on security personnel and antisemitic graffiti are simply unacceptable,” said Concordia Spokesperson Vannina Maestracci. “Students can express themselves in a civil and re-

spectful manner, but we will not tolerate violence, in any form, on our campus.”

Alkhdour continued the rally as protesters chanted and spray-painted the tunnel walls. The crowd moved into the Guy-Concordia metro pavilion from the LB tunnel entrance. Protesters drummed on various surfaces in rhythm with different chants, including Pâtisserie Cocobun’s storefront gates. It was there that SPVM reinforcements effectuated the arrests.

Once exiting the metro station, protesters stood in the intersection of Guy St. and De Maisonneuve Blvd. W., block-

ing traffic, eventually marching west down De Maisonneuve Blvd. W. after setting off the security alarm in Concordia’s Learning Square building. As police followed the crowd, officers threw waste bins and bags at protesters who had moved them into the middle of the street.

The walkout ended around 2:15 p.m. when participants dispersed into Peel metro station. Soon after, at around 2:30 p.m., the Specialized Investigation Section of the SPVM arrived on the scene to inspect the premises.

Samar Alkhdour giving a speech at the walkout on Wednesday, Sept. 25. PHOTO BY DIEGO CERVANTES // ASSISTANT VIDEO EDITOR

Pro-palestinian protestors holding a banner reading “Justice for the martyrs of Palestine.” PHOTO BY DIEGO CERVANTES // ASSISTANT VIDEO EDITOR

The front windows of the Hall Building, on the morning of Sept. 1. The windows were smashed by protesters the night prior. PHOTO BY CHANTAL BELLEFEUILLE // COPY EDITOR

Concordia deletes political statements from departments from its website

Professors accuse the university of violating their academic freedom.

FÉLIX-ANTOINE BEAUCHEMIN

NEWS EDITOR

Concordia University Provost and Vice-President, Academic Anne Whitelaw sent an internal memo on Sept. 5 prohibiting departments from posting political statements.

In addition to this ban, the university took down departmental political statements from Concordia’s website. Among the statements that were deleted were pro-Palestinian stances from several departments.

“Like many universities, Concordia is facing a series of un-

precedented challenges with respect to its campus politics,” Whitelaw wrote in the memo. “Recent geopolitical conflicts, particularly in the Middle East, have led to an escalation of tensions that have made dialogue and debate increasingly difficult. The tensions have had a chilling effect on campus, leading some students, faculty, and staff to feel that it is unwelcoming.”

Whitelaw cited the university’s Policy on the Use of Concordia University’s Name, and the Governance of its Visual Character and Digital Presence to outlaw departmental political statements.

“The use of the University’s Name, in a manner which could directly or indirectly convey the message or impression that the University is engaged in a purely commercial, political, illegal or immoral activity

is prohibited,” reads the policy, which was last updated in December 2022.

However, multiple professors have opposed this new decision, saying that it infringes on academic freedom. This is notably the case of Elena Razlogova, an associate professor of history at Concordia University and the regular councillor for the history department and the School of Irish Studies to the Concordia University Faculty Association (CUFA), which represents full-time faculty members and professional librarians.

“With these new regulations, the employer restricts the ability of CUFA members to collectively represent themselves through their departments: the employer 1) censors evidence of members’ past work in service to their departments, the university, and society at large; 2) takes away faculty members’

ability to determine the principles and values of the department, as the past statements have done; and 3) restricts members’ ability to make future statements collectively,” Razlogova wrote in an email to CUFA executives and councillors.

Razlogova also noted in the email that Concordia’s new position contradicts some of its previous actions, which supported political statements from departments.

In the email sent to CUFA executives and councillors, she mentioned the Simone de Beauvoir Institute's position statement, “A Feminist Position on Sex Work,” which the university advertised on its website and called a press conference for. This position was also used in a 2013 Supreme Court of Canada judgment, which ruled that some of Canada’s laws regarding sex work were uncon-

stitutional.

“Now the same position statement that served to advertise Concordia's role in public policy and law reform has been censored by the university,” Razlogova wrote in her email. “In its 50th Anniversary year, Concordia University erased its own celebrated history from the internet.”

In the memo, Whitelaw argued that academic freedom only applies to individuals and groups of academic members who teach or do research at the university. According to her, academic units, which include departments, are not protected by academic freedom.

Concordia University spokesperson Vannina Maestracci declined to make further comments on the subject.

Concordia’s American expatriates have 35 days to cast their vote from abroad

Students are dealing with paperwork, deadlines, and uncertainty to vote for a country they left.

JIA SCHOFER

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

@JIAMARGUERITE

With just 35 days to go until the upcoming U.S. elections, Concordia’s voters abroad scramble to cast their vote from Canada.

Tallulah Richard, a first-year creative writing major, believes voting to be her civic duty.

“I’m of the age now that I can have some say in the political and the governing decisions of my country,” she said.

American visa students comprise 5.8 per cent of Concordia University’s international students, excluding dual citizens.

According to a Vote.org report published on Sept. 4, 2024, 18-year-olds accounted for 34 per cent of registrations, up from eight per cent compared to 2020.

Dr. Graham Dodds, a professor of political science at Concordia University, commented on the increase in young voter registrations.

“Historically, younger voters are notoriously unreliable,” he said. “The fact that a lot of [young] people are registering to vote is interesting because it goes against that usual pattern.”

“A university atmosphere is so ripe for learning about new things and engaging in new things,” said Randi Weitzner, a former mature Concordia student and voter assistance lead for Democrats Abroad in New York.

Sky Valin, a first-year music student, is unsure if his vote will make a difference.

“It’s hard for me to want to get much more involved when I really just feel like making an impact is so impossible,” he said.

While students feel a sense of duty about the elections, the result might feel less consequential when away from home.

“It’s not that I don’t care; I’m not necessarily going to be in the country all the time to witness it,” said Richard.

However, Dodds believes these elections should still concern students when they are in Canada.

“It has a profound impact on Canada, whether people here like it or not. It’s a neighbour. It’s a huge economic partner. It matters,”said Dodds.

Dr. André Gagné, Chair of Theological Studies at Concordia, stressed the importance of engagement.

“It’s important for students to take advantage of speaking their minds through this vote. This is how we change things in a democracy,” he said.

The Federal Postcard Application (FPCA) helps U.S. citizens register and request absentee ballots, but each state’s unique requirements can be intimidating and difficult to determine.

“I have not figured out how

I’m going to get my ballot if I’m in another country,” Richard explained.

Despite bureaucracy, once requirements are met, Weitzner said, “it probably doesn’t take more than three minutes to fill out the FPCA form.”

“There are 50 different states and 50 different rules; you have to stand on your head and do a little dance in order to satisfy their requirements,” she said.

She advised voters to act quickly to ensure their votes are counted on time, considering many of the registration deadlines are coming up, the earliest deadline being Oct. 5 in Nevada and Washington, D.C.

“Students have to hit the ground running. If you are out of the United States and you’ve never voted, your state doesn’t know who you are,” said Weitzner.

Overseas ballots can be decisive, like they were in Arizona and Georgia in 2020, according to Newsweek, as they had previously leaned Republican and flipped Democratic during these elections. NPR identified Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Georgia, Michigan, Arizona, Wisconsin, and Nevada as swing states for this election. Unlike “safe” states, which are predictable in the party they elect, any vote in these swing states may define the election.

Dr. Gagné believes it is essential for students to consider the future of their home country.

“What kind of country do they want to live in when they return? Or even if they stay in Canada, what kind of country will emerge depending on the leader chosen?” he said.

SPORTS Stingers women’s hockey wins the annual Theresa Humes Cup

Another tournament, another trophy for Stingers women’s hockey.

BY MATT PISCINA SPORTS EDITOR

Ed Meagher Arena was the site of the annual Theresa Humes Cup this weekend, which the Concordia Stingers women’s hockey team won for the first time since 2016.

Between Sept. 27 and Sept. 29, the St. Francis Xavier University X-Women, the Queen’s University Gaels, the Université de Montréal Carabins, and the Concordia Stingers all competed for the trophy that pays tribute to Theresa Humes, a Stingers Sports Hall of Fame inductee in 1997 and trailblazer for women’s sports at Concordia.

“Theresa Humes was a really big part of pushing women’s sports forward at Concordia, especially for our women’s hockey program,” Stingers women’s hockey head coach

Julie Chu said. “The things we were able to get way back when there weren’t as many people fighting, vying, and trying to be advocates for the women’s side of the game — she was that person.”

The Stingers faced off against the X-Women to begin the first game of the 56th annual tournament. It took some time for the Stingers to find their skating legs.

Early in the first period, Stingers goaltender Jordyn Verbeek attempted to clear a puck rolling toward the Concordia net. The clear attempt ended up on the stick-blade of an X-Women forward and was put in the back of the net. After 20 minutes, St. Francis took that 1-0 lead into the locker room.

In the second period, the tide began to turn in favour of Concordia. Although only registering eight shots, the Stingers conceded just four. The staunch defence allowed them to play with possession for the majority of the period, which gave the Stingers a chance to capitalize.

A goal from newly-appointed captain and forward Caroline

Moquin-Joubert and another from forward Jessymaude Drapeau gave the Stingers a 2-1 lead. They carried this to the final horn and got their first win in the tournament.

The Stingers were now on to their next opponent: the Queen’s Gaels.

Centre Emilie Lavoie started the scoring with a shot into the top corner of the Gaels’ net, giving the Stingers a 1-0 lead. Drapeau entered the goal column next, scoring three minutes into the second period. The momentum kept building for the Stingers as Lavoie netted her second of the game, making it 3-0 Stingers going into the final frame.

Forward Emilie Lussier added a goal of her own to secure a 4-0 victory for Concordia. With the win, the Stingers punched their ticket into the championship game.

Sunday’s final saw a rematch between the Stingers and X-Women. Both teams were coming off wins on Saturday, hoping to bring home a trophy.

The first period offered an even playing field, with both teams getting limited scoring

chances. However, in the second period, the ice opened up.

The X-Women struck first on a goal six minutes into the frame, giving them a 1-0 lead on the national champions.

“For us, it was like ‘make a decision’ if we wanted to change the momentum of the game because, for about five or six minutes, it was more St. FX that was setting the tone,” Chu said postgame about the Stingers’ response to the X-Women goal.

“To the credit of our players, the response wasn’t to shrink but to actually get going and have some good jump.”

This jump was what the Stingers needed and ultimately got.

Lavoie added to her tournament lead in goals by scoring one late in the second period and one in the third. Just a minute after Lavoie’s go-ahead goal, forward Noémie Gaudreault scored her first of the tour -

nament to give the Stingers a cushion. A late goal from forward Megan Bureau-Gagnon sealed Concordia’s 4-1 victory. It was the Stingers’ first Theresa Humes Cup win since 2016.

After the game, Lavoie was awarded tournament MVP. Despite the personal achievement, Lavaie gave all the credit to her team for winning the cup.

“[The MVP award] feels good, but obviously, it’s teamwork out there,” Lavoie said. “We worked hard all weekend to be here and just to play for each other, so I’ll give the credit to my teammates — I didn’t do this by myself.”

With the Theresa Humes Cup wrapped up, it marks the end of the Stingers’ preseason action. The next time they hit the ice for a game, it will be at McGill University for the first regular season game of the year. Puckdrop on Oct. 19 is set for 12 p.m.

What do Concordia athletes do when the season’s over?

As fields start to freeze over, so will Concordia’s fall sports — but not its athletes.

MATHILDE COLLS

SPORTS EDITOR

ASSISTANT

Whether it's football, rugby, or soccer, these outdoorsy disciplines can only last so long when it gets colder. But what do Concordia’s student athletes do when the offseason arrives?

“In fall, there’s much more pressure. It’s way more competitive,” rugby player Nicole Amaral said.

There are several reasons why these fall sports aren’t played during the colder months, especially in a country like Canada. The harsh winter conditions make it almost impossible — playing soccer in -10°C temperatures on a slippery, icy field is far from ideal. Indoor facilities are often unavailable, being instead used for winter sports like hockey and basketball. Additionally, there’s the risk of

overworking athletes, which is why separating sports by season has become a tradition in university sports.

These challenges define the sports calendar and shape the athlete's offseason, which becomes essential for recovery and preparation.

For Concordia Stingers men’s soccer player Michael Valentino Santanella, planning is the key to surviving the winter off-season. As a player for both the Stingers and AS Blain ville, his winter quickly fills up with training and gym sessions.

“During the winter, we still have two practices a week during the semester, along with two gym sessions,” he said. The Stingers men’s soccer team also plays occa sional friendly games. Ac cording to Santanella, they place significant emphasis on recovery while maintaining solid training. “We do recovery after each training, take ice baths, and stretch after every session. We’ve got a solid injury preven-

tion program.”

Even in the offseason, Santanella stays on top of his game.

“I go to the gym every day for a good 30 minutes. I also try not to eat too much sugar,” he said.

Rosalie Girouard, goalkeeper on the Stingers women’s soccer team, said the biggest difference between the fall and winter season lies in the mental as - pect of the

"The workload in terms of training is quite similar, but the hardest part during the season is having two games a week, which can be tough physically and mentally," Girouard explained.

The offseason, for her, is a chance to refocus and develop as a player. “In the offseason, we can concentrate on our development and getting ger without the pressure of winning games or making [the] playoffs.”

Like the men's soccer team, the women’s team also plays friendly matches. “Our coaches do a great job finding competitive teams for us to face during the offseason,” she said.

Stingers women’s rugby player Nicole Amaral, now in her fourth year, said the winter offseason provides a crucial opportunity to fill gaps in her training.

“Our fall season is very short but intense. We don’t have much time to focus on individual rugby skills because

we’re more concentrated on plays and team chemistry,” she said. “In winter, we get to focus more on skills.”

Beyond training, friendly games and recovery sessions, the team also bonds through dinners and “check-ins,” which are meetings focused on performance expectations. On a personal level, Amaral doesn’t stop at team practices to get her exercise.

“I love going to the gym — maybe even more so during winter. Last year, I tried spinning and yoga because I wanted to try a little bit of everything,” she said.

Amaral believes staying active in different ways gives her the freedom to enjoy sports without the pressure to perform.

“I love skiing, and I run as well. It’s great to play a sport just for fun. Also, it’s so much harder to lose shape and try to get it back before the season, so it’s better to stay active, even if it’s in different ways.”

Forwards Courtney Rice, Kristina Stathas, and Audrey Clavette look on from the bench between their shifts. PHOTO BY HANNAH BELL // PHOTO EDITOR

GRAPHIC BY KEVEN

The Scoreboard: Theresa Humes Cup & fall playoff implications

Week five of Stingers sports action is now in the books.

BY MATT PISCINA SPORTS EDITOR

Both fall and winter sports teams were in action at Concordia. The first tournament of the hockey season is now complete, and the fall sports teams continue to push toward the playoff season. Here is what happened over this past weekend.

SOCCER

Both the men’s and women’s soccer teams were on the road to play McGill University and Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR).

The women’s team opened their weekend by dropping a tough match against the McGill Martlets by a score of 3-1. Then, it was onto UQTR to try to end the weekend strong.

Four saves by goalkeeper Rosalie Girouard and a goal by defender Lauren Curran was all the Stingers needed in their 1-0 win. They wrapped up their road trip by adding another three points in the standings, heading home for their next two games. They will face the Université de Montréal Carabins and the Université de Sherbrooke Vert et Or next weekend.

The Stingers men’s soccer team also played two road games this weekend. On a fivegame point streak, the Stingers looked to continue their road to the playoffs this past weekend.

McGill and UQTR held the Stingers off the scoreboard for their second and third straight game. With 13 points, the Stingers are second in the RSEQ men’s soccer standings. It will be a dogfight to see who ends up in the playoffs, as three teams behind Concordia are within just three points. Concordia looks to return to their winning ways when they face the Carabins and Vert et Or on Oct. 4 and Oct. 6.

FOOTBALL

After a heartbreaking loss to the McGill Redbirds on Sept. 21, the Stingers were back on the road against their rival Université Laval Rouge et Or.

In another tough contest, the Stingers lost their third straight game by a score of 34-10. However, kicker Eric Maximuik made RSEQ history by kicking a 56-yard field goal — the farthest field goal made in the league’s history. Concordia will play the winless Université de Sherbrooke Vert et Or on Oct. 5.

RUGBY

Both men’s and women’s rugby played tough opponents

over the weekend, with the men’s team facing the École de technologie supérieure (ETS) Piranhas and the women’s team facing the Université Laval Rouge et Or. Both opponents finished last year’s regular season without a single loss.

The Stingers struggled to keep their opponents out of the in-goal area. The men’s team surrendered the most points they had all season, en route to a 40-14 loss. The women’s team also gave up over 40 points, losing the Rouge et Or by a score of 45-15.

Both Stingers rugby teams will face the Carleton University Ravens next weekend, with the women’s team playing on Oct. 5 and the men’s team on Oct. 6.

BASKETBALL

The Stingers men’s basketball team was on the court for the first time since Aug. 20. Playing at Loyola High School due to ongoing renovations at Concordia’s home court; the Stingers faced the Queen’s Gaels in a preseason exhibition match.

A tough matchup resulted in an 85-76 win for the Gaels.

Concordia will continue their preseason when they face the University of Guelph Gryphons on Oct. 4. Their regular season kicks off Nov. 7.

HOCKEY

The defending national champion Stingers were back on the ice at Ed Meagher Arena this weekend. It was their first home game since claiming the RSEQ championship with a 10-4 win against the Carabins on March 3.

It was also the weekend of the annual Theresa Humes Cup. The St. Francis Xavier University X-Women, the Queen's University Gaels, and the Université de Montréal Carabins participated in this year’s tournament with Concordia. The Stingers were looking for their first Theresa Humes Cup championship since 2016.

Concordia took care of business in the round-robin stage of the tournament. A 2-1 win against the X-Women and a 4-0 win against the Gaels secured the Stingers a ticket in Sunday’s final. It was a rematch against the X-Women for the top spot in the tournament.

Although conceding the opening goal, the Stingers rebounded by scoring four unanswered goals. With a score of 4-1, Concordia claimed the 2024 Theresa Humes Cup.

The end of the tournament also marks the end of the Stingers’ preseason. The next time they hit the ice for a game, it will be at McGill University for the first regular season game of the year. Puck-drop on Oct. 19 is set for 12 p.m.

En partenariat avec et financé par l’Organe.

When the Pine Needles Fall : Un livre pour résister

Les When the Pine Needles Fall : Un livre pour résister

L’ancienne

porte-parole

kanien’kehá:ka

Katsi’tsakwas Ellen Gabriel revient sur la crise d’Oka dans son nouveau livre When the Pine Needles Fall : Indigenous Acts of Resistance.

SAMANTHA JAFAR

CONTRIBUTOR

Ce jeudi 26 septembre, a ce jeudi 26 septembre a eu lieu le lancement du livre When the Pine Needles Fall de Katsi’tsakwas Ellen Gabriel à l’Espace Jax, situé près de l’Université Concordia. L’événement s’est déroulé en anglais avec une interprétation en français.

En plus de l’auteure, d’autres invités ont participé à cet événement, comme l’historien Sean Carleton, le militant de justice sociale Sameer Shaheen-Hussain et la professeure adjointe à l’École de travail social de l’Université McGill Wanda Gabriel.

Abordant les événements de sa vie menant au siège violent de Kanehsatà:ke et Kahnawà:ke en 1990, Gabriel présente sa

perspective unique de porte-parole kanien’kehá:ka durant la crise d’Oka. La crise d’Oka était un conflit territorial entre la ville d’Oka et la communauté kanien’kehá:ka locale. Elle concernait un projet de construction d’un terrain de golf sur des terres où se trouvait un cimetière autochtone. L’opposition des deux groupes a mené à des affrontements violents et deux décès.

À L’INTERSECTION DE NOMBREUSES LUTTES

L’auteure, membre du Clan de la Tortue, rappelle l’importance de lutter pour son identité, sa langue et sa culture. La préservation de ces éléments et des terres ancestrales est essentielle pour les générations futures.

Alors que la colonisation menace la survie des cultures autochtones, le combat de Ga-

briel nous amène à réfléchir sur les effets négatifs du capitalisme, où le profit est priorisé au détriment de la planète et même des droits humains. Cette œuvre va bien au-delà d’une simple biographie. L’au-

teure y décrit son expérience et les événements de sa vie durant la crise d’Oka et présente une touche intime sur son expérience en tant que porte-parole de son peuple.

L’œuvre a été écrite avec l’historien Carleton, chercheur sur le colonialisme et professeur agrégé au Département d’histoire et d’études autochtones à l’Université du Manitoba à Winnipeg, située sur les territoires du Traité 1 et de la patrie de la Nation Métisse. Ses recherches et publications explorent l’histoire et l’économie politique du capitalisme, du colonialisme et de l’éducation au Canada.

Gabriel et Carleton nous font part de réflexions en lien avec notre appartenance et nos relations avec la nature.

L’activisme de Gabriel s’est poursuivi bien après les événements du siège de Kanehsatà:ke et Kahnawà:ke, en 1990. Se consacrant aux causes des droits humains, de la défense des terres ancestrales autochtones et du féminisme, l’auteure explique le lien entre la résistance autochtone et les enjeux actuels mondiaux. Ce n’est pas une lutte isolée, mais plutôt globale qui affectera le futur des prochaines générations.

Katsi’tsakwas Ellen Gabriel et Sean Carleton présentent le livre When the Pine Needles Fall

PHOTOS PAR HANNAH BELL // PHOTO EDITOR

Le Canada est-il à la hauteur de ses obligations internationales?

Le Canada est-il à la hauteur de ses obligations internationales?

Thomas J. Mulcair visite

Concordia pour livrer son analyse de la politique internationale du Canada sur la scène mondiale

JESSICA LAURENDEAU

ECHAVARRIA CONTRIBUTOR

Le mercredi 25 septembre, l’ancien chef du Nouveau Parti démocratique (NPD) Thomas J. Mulcair a été accueilli à l’École de gestion John Molson dans une ambiance électrique pour discuter du rôle du Canada à l’international.

La conférence était organisée par le programme de Concordia Juriste en résidence. Parmi les participants, on pouvait retrouver des gens de tous âges avec une forte présence d’étudiants

en sciences politiques.

Mulcair a abordé divers sujets tels que le droit international, l’environnement, la guerre et la paix. Voici un compte rendu de la conférence.

Une politique environnementale ambivalente

Mulcair a clairement exprimé son opinion que le Canada n’en fait pas assez pour l’environnement. Les applaudissements et les sourires du public laissaient entendre que sa franchise était appréciée, notamment lorsqu’il a dénoncé la contribution du gouvernement Trudeau à l’augmentation des émissions de CO₂, puisque le Canada est l’un des plus grands pays miniers.

Il a expliqué que malgré l’importance d’encourager les autres pays à être plus conscients de leurs actions, le Canada n’est pas un exemple non plus.

« Le gouvernement canadien a constamment manqué à ses obligations dans le cadre de l’Accord de Paris, signé en 2015 », souligne-t-il.

Le Canada n’a pas de plan

Éco-anxiété

concret pour faire avancer la cause environnementale, selon l’ancien chef du NPD. Il a souvent fait référence à l’expression « clean hands », expliquant que le Canada ne peut pas se poser en exemple en matière d’environnement tout en continuant à faire des choix peu responsables.

Politique étrangère en retrait

Le Canada exerce une grande influence sur la création des normes internationales et pourrait aider à instaurer la paix plus rapidement à travers le monde. Mulcair mentionne que le Canada pourrait influencer le conflit à Gaza s’il était capable de développer une politique plus honnête et indépendante, plutôt que de suivre celle des États-Unis.

« Il y a des moments où une politique étrangère

canadienne plus réfléchie et plus indépendante pourrait être effectivement très

utile », estime Mulcair.

Concernant le conflit en Ukraine, le Canada exerce également une grande influence. Pourtant, M. Mulcair affirme que Justin Trudeau a encouragé l’Ukraine à attaquer la Russie avec les armes de l’OTAN, ce qui ne correspond pas aux valeurs de la majorité des Canadiens, aux yeux de Mulcair.

Bien que le président russe Vladimir Poutine ait commis des crimes de guerre, Mulcair souligne que la Cour pénale internationale ne l’a toujours pas arrêté. Pour lui, les paroles du gouvernement Trudeau sont vides d’actions. « Est-ce re-

sponsable? Pour moi, ça ne l’est pas. »

La Cour pénale internationale a émis un mandat d’arrêt contre Poutine en mars 2023. D’après Mulcair, des organisations internationales telles que l’Organisation du traité de l’Atlantique Nord (OTAN) et l’Organisation des Nations unies (ONU), n’ont pas rempli leurs missions initiales. Le Canada, en particulier, échoue dans son rôle.

Pour clore la conférence, M. Mulcair a répondu à une question partagée par beaucoup d’étudiants présents : que peut-on faire individuellement pour avoir un impact? La réponse de l’ancien chef du NPD était claire : il faut s’impliquer, que ce soit à l’échelle locale, régionale ou nationale, et s’intéresser activement à la politique.

et bien-être : un groupe de soutien à Concordia

Éco-anxiété et bien-être : un groupe de soutien

Alors que l’écoanxiété est de plus en plus courante, un groupe de l’Université

Concordia se mobilise pour soutenir et outiller la population étudiante.

ARIANE POITRAS CONTRIBUTOR

Déforestation, pollution, surexploitation… Les informations sur la destruction de l’environnement sont à portée de main. Rapidement, cette avalanche de données devient anxiogène et peut engendrer de l’éco-anxiété. Face à ce défi croissant, Aspen Murray et Di Wang, étudiant.e.s de l’Université Concordia, ont mis sur pied un groupe de soutien visant à offrir un espace sécuritaire afin que les membres puissent s’exprimer librement et transformer leurs craintes en éco-action.

Depuis maintenant plus d’un an, ce groupe à l’intersection de la durabilité et de l’écopsychologie ouvre ses portes à une communauté diverse et inclusive. Les sessions ont lieu au Frigo Vert, un espace communautaire situé sur le campus du

à Concordia

centre-ville. Il n’est pas nécessaire d’être élève ou activiste, ni de se présenter à toutes les sessions, pour rejoindre le groupe.

Après seulement quelques sessions, certains membres disent avoir remarqué une amélioration de leur état d’esprit. Plusieurs ont attendu plusieurs années avant de trouver un groupe de soutien qui correspondait à leurs besoins, leur permettant de briser les tabous sociétaux en offrant une liberté de s’exprimer sans jugement.

En entrant au Frigo Vert, l’ambiance chaleureuse instaure aussitôt un sentiment de réconfort. Une bande sonore apaisante se fait entendre à travers les discussions, respectueuses et intimes d’un petit groupe installé sur des divans confortables.

Des cadres fixés au mur sont ornés d’art activiste. Le dualisme et la convergence entre le brutalisme du béton et la poésie de l’art évoque la métaphore du groupe de soutien : une communauté qui se rassemble de manière saine afin de faire face à des enjeux sociaux difficiles.

Le groupe, généralement composé de cinq à douze membres, utilise à travers les semaines la technique des 3R : repos (libération des émotions), récupération (régularisation des émotions) et résistance (célébrer les actes de résistances durables). Cette technique est issue du livre Practicing Rest, Recovery, Resistance: An Interactive

Dreaming Journal, élaborée par l’organisme Shake Up The Establishment. Selon la Commission de la Santé mentale du Canada, en 2023, plus d’un tiers des Canadien.ne.s avaient l’impression qu’il est trop tard pour freiner les changements climatiques. S’entourer d’une communauté, exprimer ses préoccupations et participer à des activités écologiques gratifiantes sont d’excellents mécanismes d’adaptation selon Aspen Murray, co-fondatrice du groupe de soutien.

Les actions collectives et

individuelles peuvent être bénéfiques, à condition de maintenir un certain équilibre pour éviter l’épuisement émotionnel. De cette manière, s’investir devient énergisant, amène un sentiment de confiance ainsi qu’un certain accomplissement.

Durant la séance du 24 septembre, il a été question de faire le pouls de la situation et de discuter de ses angoisses, tout en écoutant les autres de manière active et bienveillante, sans tomber non plus dans la positivité toxique. Les membres ont réalisé une méd-

itation spécifiquement dédiée à l’anxiété climatique, visant à s’ancrer et s’équilibrer avec soi-même, afin d’avoir les idées claires pour faire suite à des discussions passionnées. Cinq autres séances auront lieu toutes les deux semaines au Frigo Vert jusqu’au 3 décembre. Étant donné que l’éco-anxiété est de plus en plus courante, cette initiative invite les personnes à partager leurs idées et perspectives tout en trouvant un certain support. La solidarité met un baume sur les angoisses, éclairant la voie vers un avenir plus durable et résilient.

Aspen Murray (gauche) et Di Wang (droite) proposent des solutions à entreprendre lors de la discussion ayant eu lieu le 24 septembre 2024. PHOTO PAR ARIANE POITRAS // CONTRIBUTOR

Arts & Culture Cinéma du Musée collaborates with Concordia to showcase a collection of films

Concordia’s Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema launches a special series.

MAYA RUEL ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

Concordia’s cinema department, the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, along with the rest of the university. To highlight the occasion, the department is collaborating with Cinéma du Musée, who will be hosting screenings of 50-year-old movies all throughout the school year.

The first screening took place on Sept. 22, and films will now be presented once a month until May 2025.

“I thought it would be a good idea to celebrate the anniversary with everyone in the city, not exclusively with people from Concordia,” said Martin Lefebvre, project curator and professor and research chair in

Film Studies at Concordia.

Lefebvre decided to curate a series of films that he believed would grab the public’s attention. For the screenings, he exclusively chose films that were 50 years old like the Department of Cinema with the goal of recreating what the culture of cinema around the world looked like in 1974.

“We really wanted to prioritise the international aspect of the project, since we at the department teach international cinema,” explained Lefebvre. “We are not constricted to a single country, time period, or genre.”

Nine films were selected for the screenings this year, and that choice was not a simple one. Lefebvre made an extensive list of movies he wanted to feature in the project, and then had to narrow it down depending on whether the movies were affordable and whether they were available on modern support.

“There are some movies I would have loved to present, but they would have cost $2000 for a single screening,” explained Lefebvre. “But I am

not disappointed at all in our choices.”

The selection includes movies from Quebec, Senecal, Germany, Cuba, and the United States.

For the first screening on Sept. 22, the department collaborated with the Museum of Jewish Montreal to present The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, a movie adapted from a novel by Mordecai Richler that presents Montreal’s Jewish community in the ‘60s.

The Apprenticeship, Micheline Lanctôt. She taught cinema production for over 30 years at Concordia and is very familiar with the staff and faculty of the department, which is why she accepted the offer to host the post-screening discussion.

“It was the first time I watched the movie again in 30 years,” said Lanctôt.

The movie was received with great enthusiasm at the time of its release and was a success in numerous countries. It won

1974.

“It also had a pretty phenomenal career in the United States for a Canadian movie,” said Lanctôt.

99 people attended the first screening, a number that rejoiced the organizers and the actress.

“I really enjoyed taking part in this movie in 1973 as I was starting out as an actress,” said Lanctôt. “The screening was an important moment for me.”

New photography exhibition highlights the unseen workers of show business

The latest exhibition at the PHI Centre deconstructs mise-en-scène photography.

INDIA-LYNN UPSHAW-RUFFNER CONTRIBUTOR

What traces do we leave as humans and how do we influence our environments? What happens when a location becomes an actor? These are central elements that artists and film industry veterans André Turpin and Léa Valérie Létourneau are exploring in their Clusters exhibition hosted by the PHI Centre. Clusters is a debut collaboration between cinematographer and screenwriter Turpin and set designer Létourneau. The duo, which had previously worked together on movie sets, began their work together on this project after connecting over Létourneau’s photography work. The project consists of seven large prints showing scenes from daily life captured between 2020 and 2023.

Thanks to their experience behind the camera, Turpin and Létourneau know all that goes into making a scene look great on film. But the work of set designers goes under the radar, as films focus on highlighting the actors’ stories rather than the story of the locations they are in.

Létourneau explained that, on film, a location that the artist may have worked on for hours is only seen for seconds, and individual elements are typically lost on the audience.

“Photography gives me the chance to work more with ambiances and creating the mood of a location,” explained Létourneau.

This slowness and attention to detail is evident when looking at the photography in Clusters. Using photo composites, the artists were able to con-

struct a multilayered scene while keeping all elements in focus.

The glassless large format prints enhance the viewer’s immersion, as the images flood the viewers’ field of vision without distracting them with glare. The lighting of the exhibition is also reminiscent of a theater set, with the images hung from the ceiling at interesting angles, as if each image were an actor on the stage of the gallery floor.

The photographs highlight details audiences would never notice in a show or movie. Music and time, smell and texture — all these senses are evoked through the depths of a flat image thanks to the mise-enscène.

The frozen scenes evoque a variety of questions. What is playing on the radio with the shelves full of jazz CDs? How does the canvas-like texture feel on those outdated vertical blinds? How does the stale popcorn littering the floor of the basement, or the mystery liquid in the blender, taste? How do the musty and cramped office spaces smell?

An important element the artists wanted to highlight was the disappearing behind-the-

scenes jobs in the film industry. One of the locations they shot in was the office of a film sets supplier, many of which have shut down. This focus against the backdrop of the exhibition brings visitors to reflect on the unseen labour behind the films they watch.

When asked what advice they would give to students studying in the arts, both Létourneau

and Turpin emphasized curiosity and always making time to learn about other artistic mediums.

“Vision is developed through making a lot of little works. It’s about everyday practice,” concluded Turpin.

Catch Clusters on view at the PHI Center from Sept. 20 to Oct. 20.

Artists André Turpin and Léa Valérie Létourneau. COURTESY PHOTO BY IRWIN CLAMP.

Embracing touch: John Lee Clark’s journey

Concordia PhD student and member of the Deafblind community shares his experience with literature and navigating the world through touch.

MAYA RUEL ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

John Lee Clark is a father, an essayist, a poet, a husband, a Concordia PhD student in interdisciplinary humanities, and a member of the Deafblind community.

Clark’s new book, Touch the Future: A Manifesto in Essays, will be published on Oct. 8. The book took him seven years to write, as he divided his time between numerous different projects.

“The way I work, I always have multiple projects in progress,” said Clark. “It’s like gardening. You plant different species at different times, and they grow at different paces. They have different needs, some need more sun, some need shade. I write a poem

MAYA RUEL // ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

here, I write an essay there, I do research now, tomorrow I might submit stuff out there.” Born in the United States, Clark recently settled in Montreal to pursue his studies. He speaks many languages, including American Sign Language (ASL), English, and ProTactile — a variation of ASL where the persons interacting touch each other and use each other’s hands and bodies as they sign, which makes communication much richer and clearer for those who cannot see nor hear. He is also now learning French as well as Quebec Sign Language (LSQ).

Clark was born in a generationally deaf family and has a progressive-blindness condition called Usher syndrome, which made him lose his sight as a teenager. He showed no interest in reading or writing as a child, which he explains is rather common among deaf children. But as he lost his sight, he had fewer friends and became more isolated, which made him turn to books.

“Although I got out of that phase and gained more friends once I embraced my Deafblind identity, I was infected by the readerly disease, and I have never been cured,” said Clark.

He started communicating using ProTactile, which is a rather recent form of communication. He is a proud leader of the tactile movement, which is an important theme in Touch the Future.

“As warm and witty as he is radical and inspiring, Clark encourages us — disabled and non-disabled alike — to reject stigma and discover the ways we are connected,” reads the book description. “Touch the Future is a dynamic appeal to rethink the meanings of disability, access, language, and inclusivity, and to reach for a future we can create together.”

The book is based on his personal experience and on his interactions and discussions with other members of the Deafblind community.

Clark is a devoted advocate of the right and necessity to touch. He believes that touching the world and touching each other as a means to communicate and connect should be encouraged. Most of Clark’s work gravitates around touch, the sense through which he experiences the whole world.

When he writes, Clark types on a regular QWERTY keyboard, but his laptop and his phone are also connected to a Braille display. That way, he can type in Braille if he is away from home.

Touch the Future is not the first work that Clark has published. He holds a BA in Deafblind Studies from the Metropolitan State University in Minnesota and an MFA in Creative Writing from Randolph College in Virginia.

When asked whether these studies have been a challenge to undertake, Clark said he preferred his graduate studies.

“I used to think that my undergraduate studies were such a mess because of many barriers related to accessibility,” said Clark. “It is very true that academia is not designed for Deafblind students at all, and very few earn college degrees, and those who do take much longer to do so. But I was also supporting a family and pursuing my vocation as a writer. It is interesting how graduate school is different and a better fit for those who have other pursuits and responsibilities.”

Clark has already published collections of poems, How to Communicate and Suddenly Slow, a previous essay collection, Where I Stand: On the Signing Community and My DeafBlind Experience , and two anthologies. He is currently working on a second collection of poems, a third collection of essays, and a literary history of the Deafblind community, among others.

Artist profile: Kelly Day’s regeneration of trauma and nostalgia

Art education student displays their past traumas and memories in a form of multimedia works.

SHAGHAYEGH

NADEROLASLI ASSISTANT ARTS & CULTURE

EDITOR

Many artists incorporate soft sculptures, performances, and videos in their practice. For multidisciplinary Concordian artist and art education student Kelly Day, their personal history and experience are expressed through these mediums to create regenerative works that seek to materialize nostalgic sentiments. Day encourages viewers to reflect on their past while engaging with the work.

In their recent piece, How to Read a Room, Day narrated a personal story touching upon their experience with a late diagnosis of complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPSTD). This work was on view at Concordia’s VAV Gallery as part of the Vestiges of Belonging exhibition showcasing the works of the VAV’s summer residency

program.

The installation includes a vintage bed frame, a quilted bed sheet, a canape, and a rug. There’s also a video playing on a loop in which Day reads aloud the first chapter of How to Read a Book.

The story of this piece goes back to a party in 2006. Day was having a conversation with the host about their struggle to finish a book, and the host then gave them a copy of How to Read a Book, which inspired this project. When Day was finally diagnosed with CPTSD, they realized that educational roadblocks like this were the result of their condition.

“This work is a continuation of the piece I had done in 2019 called How to Read a Rug,” explained Day. “I would like to continue this project by making How to Read a Curtain and other different textile items that would be in a traditional bedroom to collectively be How to Read a Room.”

Day faced a familial identity crisis in their teenage years when they realized that their father used a false last name, Ryan, which shook the core of Day’s identity. After the death of their father, they were able to speak freely about the situation, producing artworks that demonstrated the ties between

trauma and nostalgia.

“After my dad’s death last year, all the creativity that I was holding back is coming forward,” said Day.

Day’s installation focused on the rituals of objects and materials, and what the modern world overlooks. They believe that particular objects carry a lot of meaning and are intertwined with nostalgia.

Day’s work often involves spatial installations and repetition of materials to convey certain feelings and emotions. They examine the meaning of these objects beyond themselves, such as in their previous piece Tools of Abuse, a process which allows Day to explore these objects’ impact on individuals.

“The nylons [in Tools of Abuse] symbolize abandonment by my mother,” said Day. “She shopped for nylons to wear out dancing to a singles’ country bar regularly to someday meet her dream cowboy.”

The artist said that all these life experiences led them to studying and teaching art education. They teach through a trauma-informed lens based on CPTSD and subtle complexities in children’s behaviour that might go unnoticed. Art education and the inspirational interactions they foster with their

students sustain Day’s creative process.

“I resonate with them because I went through CPSTD myself,” said Day. “That is why I try to connect with the students on a more personal level and give them freedom in their creative projects.”

Day is currently working on a project focusing on their family lineage from Baie-duFebvre, where their ancestors were initially from, to Califor-

nia, where they were born, and their current life in Montreal. This regenerative work encompasses the importance of specific places and their relation to generational presence and familial identity.

“I’m interested in exploring how the body holds memory, and trying to incorporate some distant memories and merge them to current events,” explained Day.

John Lee Clark communicating with interpreter Angel in ProTactile language. PHOTO BY

How to Read a Room produced by Kelly Day. This installation was on display as part of the Vestiges of Belonging exhibition that showcases the works of the VAV’s 2024 summer residency program. COURTESY PHOTO BY LOUIS BARBIER.

QUICKSPINS: 143 — Katy Perry

Katy Perry’s most recent album is a dated piece calling back to the peak of her career.

RYAN PYKE ASSISTANT MUSIC EDITOR

Katy Perry’s newest project 143 is dated — possibly intentionally, as even its title is a reference to codes people would use before instant text messages to convey a message (143 means “I love you,” referencing the number of letters in each word of the phrase).

Despite the sweet, retro vibe of the title and album cover, which shows Perry floating in front of a galaxy, the album is more reminiscent of the 2010 pop that Perry is known for.

“WOMAN’S WORLD” was the album’s lead single. It failed to amass much excitement, not budging past the 63rd spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and only charting for a week.

This did not bode well for the rest of the album.

Perry was once a pop super-

star with numerous #1 hits to her name, such as “Firework,” “Teenage Dream,” and “California Gurls.”

She tries to recapture her previous fame on 143 with bright, bubblegum pop, to little fanfare. She retreads familiar ground with “WOMAN’S WORLD” and “GORGEOUS.”

Both are straightforward female-empowerment songs, like the hugely popular “Firework.”

So what’s the problem? Why is Perry’s newest music, similar in tone and subject to her hits, not skyrocketing to widespread acclaim?

Perry belongs to a different era of music. While the

best comebacks have adapted to the current moment, Perry opts for the safety of familiarity with lines like “She’s a winner, champion/superhuman, number one/she’s a sister, she’s a mother” on “WOMAN’S WORLD.” These are the same vague lines that populated Perry’s early work. However, Perry’s image was very different then, and her music hadn’t exhausted its gimmick.

The most effective tracks on the album lean into Perry’s strengths as a hedonistic pop icon, as demonstrated in some of her earliest work like her first album’s “If You Can Afford Me.”

As such, “GIMME GIMME” is the most effective song on 143. It has a certain self-awareness that is lost in the other tracks.

The beats and instrumentals on the album are varied and creative, easily the most enjoyable aspect. Nowhere is this more evident than with “GIMME GIMME.”

On the other end of the spectrum, “ARTIFICIAL” is the least effective. It spins a tale of some malicious actor deceiving Perry, which is ironic, considering the criticism Perry herself

has received for working with producer Dr. Luke following fellow pop-star Kesha’s allegations of abuse against him.

What was notable about Perry’s previous career was how controversial her music was: “I Kissed A Girl” and “Ur So Gay” were both featured on an album called One Of The Boys, which in itself is often regarded as a sexist phrase. Perry tries to carry herself into the current era without making any kind of explicit switch in her recent music between her beliefs then and now.

This style of music was acceptable in 2008, but not so much in 2024. Society has moved past that era; Perry should as well.

Katy Perry’s 143 does not commit the sin of being boring, but it does commit the much worse crime of being morally inconsistent.

Trial Track:

GIMME GIMME (feat. 21 Savage) Rating: 5/10

Montreal celebrates the essence of hip-hop with Nomadic Massive

The local collective hosted a block party as part of POP Montreal on Sept. 26.

STEFANO REBULI

MUSIC EDITOR

This year marked the 20th year of the local hip-hop collective Nomadic Massive. The group hosted a free block party on its anniversary, Sept. 26, as part of the POP Montreal music festival. They held the show in Montreal’s Mile End neighbourhood, right below the Wala Volo mural on the Carré de Gaspé building.

Formed in 2004, Nomadic Massive is a hip-hop collective from Montreal that has brought together several different MCs and musicians from various backgrounds across two decades. Concordia professor Yassin Alsalman, also known as rapper Narcy, described the collective as “a microcosm of what the world can feel like. Collaboration, international, peaceful. It’s a great testament to hip-hop and our motherlands.”

Montreal rapper Raccoon was the show’s first opener, and he delivered an energetic, me-

lodic rap set with clean-hitting 808’s, even to a small crowd.

The Indigenous rap group City Natives, who hail from the Maritimes, also gave a compelling performance filled with powerful, lyrical delivery over hard-hitting, traditional hiphop beats.

Nomadic Massive took the stage at 8 p.m., treating the crowd to a display of the diversity that hip-hop has to offer. Its three main MCs — Waahli, Lou Piensa, and Butta Beats — were joined by an entire live band, including a DJ, bass guitarist, keyboardist, drummer, horns ensemble (trumpet and trombone players), and a trio of background vocalists. Together, they captured the classic, jazzy, funky, and boom-bap feel of hip-hop’s golden era in the late ‘90s and early 2000s.

The crowd was invested in the performance from the start, responding warmly to the call-and-response chants in the songs, jumping along, and even giving the group an ovation just two songs into the performance. Later tracks like “Duty” and “If I Want To Live” would continue hyping up the crowd, with hands waving and clapping along.

Nomadic Massive launched into tracks from their recent EP Out of Town including “Fly

Shit” whose boom bap drums and beeping melody evoked Nas’ classic track “NY State of Mind” and sounded crisp over the sound system.

The precision of the rapping from artists like Lou Piensa and Butta Beats’ was reminiscent of popular conscious hip-hop artists from the 2000s, notably Common and Yasiin Bey (formerly Mos Def). In a reprise of sorts, keyboardist JMF hopped on the microphone to rap a spontaneous verse, after which the crowd roared enthusiastically.

Vocalist and MC Tali Taliwah’s rapping recalled Ms. Lauryn Hill’s style, and her fiery entrance alongside Meryem Saci fueled the group’s overall energy, while also driving up the crowd’s enthusiasm.

Cultural diversity shone through the performance as the numerous MC’s seamlessly navigated through different languages during the set, from English to French, Spanish, Creole, and Arabic. “Moving Forward” was a track that notably combined all of them.

Narcy, a former member of the collective, was one of several special guests throughout the night, appearing specifically for an animated performance of the 2007 track “OWD (Oil, Weapons, Drugs).” His syn-

ergy with the other members was outstanding as they collectively rapped, moved around the stage, and even acted along to the lyrics.

Narcy notably invited the students in his Hip Hop Icons: Artist in Focus class to attend the show as part of the course’s curriculum.

“What we learn and talk about in class got a real-life example through the block party and what it represents — hiphop and culture, the music scene,” said Matthew Daldalian, a third-year journalism major currently taking Narcy’s course.

Nomadic Massive’s performance proved to be a communal experience, with one big musical family gathering onstage. Their rich, soulful, diversely-rooted hip-hop catalogue shone before a crowd of several hundred people who were equally present to celebrate the essence of hip-hop music.

“[It was] amazing to see our family all back together on stage. [It] felt great to see them get the love they deserve in the city,” said Narcy.

143 album cover. COURTESY PHOTO BY APPLE MUSIC

Nomadic Massive performing at POP Montreal. PHOTO BY STEFANO REBULI // MUSIC EDITOR

QUICKSPINS: Something for Everybody — Sammy Rae & The Friends

The indie-centric New York band released their debut album on Sept 20.

ALENA VO CONTRIBUTOR

New York City-based band Sammy Rae & The Friends proudly wear their heart on their sleeve, which is evident in their mantra and all over their sound.

“Go put a smile on somebody’s face, go tell somebody they’ve got a place in this world, go tell somebody you wanna be friends with them,” reads their artist bio on Spotify.

This funky band offers a charming blend of pop adjacent to indie and jazz, thanks to unique instrument choices and interesting motifs. Their debut album earnestly strives to mix all of this together; from

the sound to the vibes to the smiles, all of it has a place on Something for Everybody

The first half of the album is arguably the strongest for reasons that become apparent once the second half hits. There’s a lot to balance here, and the album’s beginning does

a great job of walking the line between earnestly feel-good and sugary.

It’s hard not to nod your head at the saxophones in “Cool Doug, at Night” or the infectious clapping rhythms in “Call Ya Back.” The joyousness of these tracks makes them dance-

able anywhere from the living room to the gym.

However, after the “888-98-CALYABAK” interlude, the album hits a sudden turning point where it goes into a kind of “tell, don’t show” mode.

The second half noticeably shifts to a more generic “gonna have a good time” vibe. Those lyrics appear verbatim in “Good Time Tavern,” a song as perpetually positive as its title suggests. From “We Made It” onward, Something for Everybody struggles to maintain the balance that it struck so well in the first half.

Music should feel good because of its energy, not necessarily because of happy lyrics forced into the listener’s ear.

The album’s second half turns the optimism up a notch in an attempt to play to the band’s strength of bringing happiness. Ironically, this is where the record is at its weakest.

The album’s positiveness even affects the more intimate

Genre Guide: Vol. 1 — Electronic

The Concordian lists students’ favourite venues for electronic music.

STEFANO REBULI & RYAN PYKE

MUSIC EDITOR & ASSISTANT MUSIC EDITOR

Genre Guide is a new series where the Concordian’s music team highlights a handful of local music venues based on a specific musical genre. This edition focuses on electronic music.

From the abundance of clubs all along Saint-Laurent Blvd. to the Old Port and downtown, Montreal has been buzzing for decades with all sorts of clubs and music venues. Electronic music styles have played a significant role in the city’s culture and nightlife, setting the stage for its biggest summer events like ÎleSoniq and Piknic Électronik.

New City Gas is a staple for all Electronic Dance Music (EDM) lovers. The highly-renowned event space is Montreal’s largest EDM venue, with a capacity of about 2,500 attendees. Complete with massive LED screens, pyrotechnics, and smoke machines, New City Gas has the full recipe for a spectacle and is known to host some of the biggest international names in EDM. Acts like Calvin Harris and Deadmau5 have already played the space — Concordia student club ElectroCon recently drew hundreds of students to the venue for an event.

New City Gas is a must-witness for a “go big or go home” EDM experience and big-ticket names.

Outside the big stage, the electronic scene equally thrives in small spaces.

Datcha, a bar located at the corner of Laurier Ave. W. and Saint-Urbain St., was commonly mentioned as a favourite among students. The low-lit, smoky bar is relatively small and fits no more than 150 people, which creates an intimate, underground setting. It is widely recognizable for its dotted light setup behind the DJ booth, which glimmers in pink, purple, and blue.

“The place overall was gorgeous, almost like a speakeasy, with great decorations and decently priced drinks. Really good music, granted I do typically enjoy house music,” said Saskia Wodarczak, the Concordian’s opinions editor.

The bar boasts an array of DJs, several of whom mix house music and adjacent subgenres like trance and UK garage. Attendees can get an advanced look at the lineups and sounds to expect thanks to weekly and monthly calendars posted to Datcha’s Instagram. Guestlists are relatively easy to obtain through DJs, but a $7 to $10 cover fee should be expected.

Francesco’s is a discotheque-style club on SaintJacques St. The cozy venue has a small seating area, a narrow hallway, and a powerful sound system. Large LED screens behind the DJ equipment and lights all over the ceiling cast a glow over the dancefloor. With

guitar tracks that close out the album. Songs like “David” follow on the heels of such overt sunshine-and-rainbows lyricism that they wind up feeling relatively shallow and undeveloped. Despite the band’s efforts to embody a warm, positive presence, Sammy Rae’s music is at its best when it’s not trying so hard to be overtly wholesome.

Overall, Sammy Rae & The Friends generally succeed at creating Something for Everybody. If you’re willing to put aside a bit of cringe, this record is perfect for simply getting up and having a good time, whether alone or with those you love. It fulfills the infallible/everlasting demand for feel-good music.

Trial Track: Cool Doug, at Night Score: 7/10

BY FINN GROSU // Creative Director

a 250-person capacity, it is once again an intimate venue, which suits the DIY feel of the music.

“They play new and upcoming EDM artists and DJs, so it’s super cool if you want to hear new music,”

said Vanessa Lapointe, a third-year Communications major at Concordia.

Le Red Room is a small, basement-sized venue on Saint-Denis St., right next to UQAM. The venue succeeds in a minimalist approach: it fits only 100 people into a compact space illuminated by glistening red lights and lasers. This light show perfectly pairs with the bar-club’s bass-heavy music styles, primarily house and techno. Husam Tannira, the president of ElectroCon, Concordia’s EDM event club, cited Le Red Room’s excellent sound system as a big draw, describing it as “quality speakers that shake your body.” Le Red Room is ElectroCon’s favourite, and its members regularly visited the bar all summer following Piknic Électronik events.

Nouvel Établissement is a small bar in the Mile End that does a lot with its tiny space. The dark room is filled with flashing neon lights and light bars, and the room’s small size enhances the sound of the music. The venue is known to book local, underground, and upand-coming DJs, opening the door to a wide variety of sounds and styles spanning techno, UK garage, dubstep, and more. Its novelty cages are a bonus; when Nouvel Établissement becomes an all-out party, its packed-out dancefloor will go way beyond the floor itself.

GRAPHIC

Something for Everybody album cover. COURTESY PHOTO BY APPLE MUSIC

Opinions

Your course outline’s hidden treasures

Four books on your syllabus that are actually worth the read.

ALEXANDRA BLACKIE CONTRIBUTOR

With the new school year kicking into full swing and class readings piling up, many students are starting to dread the lengthy articles and 19th century novels their teachers have in store this semester. Through hours spent at the library stressing over my own readings, I’ve compiled some assigned book recommendations that will keep you captivated not only in the plot but in class as well!

What screams English Literature more than a classic?

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein has been an instant hit since the 19th-century, so much so that it has been added to course outlines in both high schools and universities. The story follows Victor Frankenstein, a young and curious Italian-Swiss university student, who discovers how to bring to life inanimate objects. During his research, he creates a monster. Quickly real-

izing his mistake, Frankenstein decides to abandon his creation, leaving it to fend for itself. Told through the narration of Frankenstein and his monster, the book explores themes of loneliness, familial bonds,

and nature versus science. This thought-provoking read is dissected at Concordia in Professor Brennan McCracken’s ENGL 214 course The Novel. Have you ever considered stealing someone else’s work?

Above all, a friend? June Hayward, an aspiring but not-so-successful author, has been sitting in Athena Liu’s shadow since college. So, when Athena dies from a freak accident, June jumps on the opportunity to steal Athena’s newly finished manuscript. As her secret starts to unravel, June discovers truly how far she’ll go to stay at the top. From New York Times Bestselling author R. F. Kuang, Yellowface explores the alienation of social media and questions cultural appropriation in the literary world. This page-turner can be found in Professor Andy Perluzzo’s ENGL 250 Forms of Popular Writing class, where students explore the ins and outs of the publishing world. Through his wit and masterful style, the Irish poet and playwright Oscar Wilde has been vital to university syllabi for decades, and his 1892 masterpiece Lady Windermere’s Fan is no exception. Lady Windermere has been a devoted wife and beloved woman in society for all her life. After discovering her husband’s new confidante, Mrs. Erlynne, Lady Windermere takes drastic action, leading her unaccompanied into the house of another man. But when the enemy be-

comes an ally, Lady Windermere is saved from social ruin and societal exile. Wilde’s dramatic comedy delves into the notion of deceptive appearances and the satirical aspect of high society in the 19th century. In Dr. Brian M. Peters’ ENGL 243 Satire class, students get the opportunity to analyze the intricate relationship between women and desire in one of Oscar Wilde’s famous plays.

Sally Rooney’s Normal People has gripped the hearts of readers and Paul Mescal fans since its release in 2018. In this character-driven novel, Rooney weaves through the intricate relationship between popular rugby player Connell and the socially awkward Marianne. Despite their differences, they form a deep connection that lasts through their adolescence and early adulthood, persisting through stages of abuse, depression, and loss of identity. Rooney’s writing examines the complexities of human relationships and social dynamics, making Normal People a captivating read for all audiences. Both Sally Rooney’s novel and the Amazon Prime adaption are widely discussed in Professor Andy Perluzzo’s ENGL 250 Forms of Popular Writing course.

Six time management tips to survive the back-to-school whirlwind

Advice to not feel overwhelmed by the storm of deadlines.

MALOU LE BESQ

CONTRIBUTOR

It’s a line almost every university student has heard from their teacher: “I won’t drown you in work,” right before assigning 70 pages to read in under one week.

The beginning of the school year can feel like embarking on a journey in a lifeboat on rocky waves, especially if you’re in your first year and haven’t had the time to figure out what works for you yet. If you already feel lost at sea, here are my top six tips to help you manage your time more efficiently.

Write everything down.

Taking note of everything you have to do, school-related or not, will help you stay on track while still being present and enjoying the activities you participate in. If you need to write

“eat” in your planner, do it! It’s one less thing you have to think about, and it frees up space in your brain.

Make use of free time-management apps.

My biggest tip to juggle the different aspects of your life is to use an app called Notion. You can find plenty of free Notion templates designed specifically for students online (on YouTube or on blogs). To coordinate your schedule with others (friends, teammates, family, or coworkers), download TimeTree; it’s my best friend when it comes to social life.

Have a weekly calendar as well as a monthly calendar.

Having a monthly overview of your life is convenient for knowing when your assignments are due or when your roommate is out of town. On the other hand, not only will

a weekly calendar contain your deadlines, but you will also be able to adjust it depending on your to-do list, your free time, and, most importantly, your energy that day. You might consider turning to a dig ital planner like Google Calendar, which you can reorganize it more easily.

Block time slots.

Know your limits.

For me, September feels more like a new beginning than New Year’s Day ever did. It’s a time of year when I feel unstoppable everything I can. But since no one is secretly Wonder Woman, I advise learning to set boundaries for yourself. Beat the FOMO (fear of missing out), say no to going out when you would rather stay in, and decide on a clear stopping point at night. Pulling an all-nighter to catch up on your reading seems tempting, but find a specific hour when you close all university-related work and take some time for yourself.

“Finish reading report: one hour,” “Commute to work: 25 minutes,” “Go buy new equip ment gear: two hours.” Plan your week according to how much time each task takes you. Check your planner before bed to know what your day will look like when you wake up. That way, you won’t lose time deciding what’s next on your agenda!

Know your strengths (and your weaknesses!).

And most importantly, don’t conform to the mould; listen to your body. While societal expectations sometimes pressure you to get up and go to bed early, it might not fit your lifestyle. If you feel more productive at night, that’s when you should write that essay! Don’t try to wake up at 5 a.m. just because everyone tells you to — it’s okay not to be an early bird.

Yellowface, Lady Windermere’s Fan, Frankenstein, Normal People. PHOTO BY ALEXANDRA BLACKIE // CONTRIBUTOR

Dealing with major life changes

Moving crosscountry and grief: it’s nearly impossible to predict how you’ll react.

SASKIA WODARCZAK OPINIONS EDITOR

The only constant in life is change, and as someone who greatly dislikes change, this was, and has continued to be, a very hard pill for me to swallow.

I think the biggest change for me was moving — whether that was moving province, or moving apartments. However, moving provinces for school was, in all honesty, quite simple for me.

So when I moved out of my

residence building halfway through my first year of university and into an apartment all by myself, I thought that I would have it all figured out and that I would adapt quickly. I, in fact, did not. It took a while for me to make that apartment into my “home,” and if I’m being honest, it never really felt like a “home” to me.

When I moved for university, I had prepared myself by properly “mourning” what I was leaving. As soon as I decided I would move cross-province for university, I started making plans to spend the post-high school graduation summer of 2021 doing everything that I had grown up doing in and around Vancouver.

I spent a day at Lonsdale Quay, got my corn pizza at Krause, and poked around Fort Langley. I scoured Commercial

Drive, experienced a smoky and hazy London Farm, and went up to the viewpoint halfway up to Grouse so that I could see Vancouver in all her glory.

I knew I would never truly be home again, but I was able to accept that

I was moving on with my life and was closing a chapter to welcome a new one.

When I moved from Toronto to Montreal, I thought that it would be a hard transition. It wasn’t, and I think that’s because I’ve felt a lot more at home here than in Toronto, especially with my most recent move.

But one of the major challenges for me was dealing with anticipatory grief. All major life changes involve detachment, but having to detach yourself emotionally and mentally from someone is probably one of the most jarring experiences a body can go through.

I knew that when I moved, I would have to have some sort of action plan to deal with the (inevitable) passing of the two

grandparents I had left, my Nani and my Opa, and as soon as I accepted my offer to go study in Toronto, I immediately began to “detach,” in a way. I painfully realized I would go from seeing them both multiple times a week to twice a year.

I know that if something happens, I can be on the next plane back to Vancouver, but realistically, a plane can’t get me there fast enough. I would still be dealing with the initial grief by myself, especially since getting onto the next flight out wasn’t an option for me when the time came last year. Maybe it’ll work “next time.” Since I already knew that I was seeing my Opa for the last time, I was able to prepare a bit.

My action plan was set on how to deal with an inevitable loss, but did I go through with this plan when the time came?

Absolutely not. And that is okay; sure, I had morbidly gone over it in my head countless times, but when the time came to put it into action, it was like I forgot all about it. I had to cope in the best way I could at that moment.

I think that this goes to show that no matter how much you prepare for any life-altering change, how you react can’t be predicted. You can make up scenario upon scenario, but you won’t know until the time comes. When I moved, there were what felt like two pits of anxiety in my chest and stom-

The never-ending internship hunt

An engineering co-op student’s struggle to find an internship.

DANYLO PERKOV

ASSISTANT OPINIONS EDITOR

When I first submitted my university application to Concordia and signed up for co-op,

I expected a system that would help me find internships with more efficiency and less stress.

Having now completed two internships, I still find my experience as stressful as ever. When I spoke about my disappointment with co-op students from different faculties, it was frustrating to see that my experience wasn’t an isolated case but more of a normality.

My head initially held high, but from the first cover letter drafts to the final day of my internship I felt it gradually descend as I got buried in pa-

perwork and unwanted obstacles on my path.

Creating a whole new course sequence is challenging, and the process can take weeks. You have to account for all the prerequisites, you have to make sure all the classes are taken in the correct order, and you have to reluctantly fill your summers with classes to still qualify as a full-time student.

The mandatory internship application preparation train-

ing during my first semester wasn’t much help either. I spent multiple hours a week watching a recorded lecture accompanied by exercises, which wasn’t really effective in preparing students for potential interviews. Since I was already familiar with most of the material, it felt like a waste of time.

Finding an actual internship wasn’t an easy task either. Writing dozens of cover letters and sending out CVs to 60 different

ach. There’s only one left, and it fluctuates constantly, leaving a general feeling of unease. Before you know a big change is coming, try journaling or talking it out with someone you trust. They can give you tips on how to anticipate the change and how to divulge an action plan, as well as the worst and best-case scenarios for the outcome.

Change puts a lot of stress on our bodies, our mental health, and overall well-being because there is no “correct” way to adapt to it. It is something that is learned. If you don’t think you’re putting stress on yourself emotionally, it is very possible that it’ll come through physically.

There are so many ways that change can occur in your life; whether it’s a breakup, moving, or the death of a loved one. That being said, you are not alone. Have self-compassion, and you’re stronger than you think! We overestimate our capability to cope, and you don’t need to constantly tell yourself that “it’s fine” when it isn’t.

If you are going through change, let yourself feel. Do your best to acknowledge your emotions and accept where they’re coming from is valid. It might creep up on you later. Everyone is going through some sort of change, big or small.

places only to get back one interview is discouraging. When, a few weeks into the internship hunt, you hear of people securing their dream positions and you have only now lined up a single interview, it’s normal to get overwhelmed.

I was constantly horrified that I would be unable to find an internship and would be left stranded, postponing my work term to the next semester like many others and enlarging the

candidate pool even further. While the co-op administration pushed me to find internships and apply to more positions by letting me know when I was behind schedule in my applications, I didn’t feel like they offered much help beyond that point. My success or failure depended 100 per cent on me.

Now, with two internships under my belt, I realize that the only reason I was able to find my second internship was due to internal networking during my first one — completing two internships back to back and then returning to classes after such a significant hiatus. While co-op did provide me with a slightly larger internship database than if I filed my applications separately and an incentive for companies to hire me, the program didn’t do much to help me secure a position.

All in all, the complications of class sequence changes and mandatory training during my first year are the memories that stick with me when I think about co-op, rather than the ones I made as an intern in an engineering department of a company.

GRAPHIC BY FINN GROSU // CREATIVE DIRECTOR

GRAPHIC BY FINN GROSU // CREATIVE DIRECTOR

PITCH TO THE CONCORDIAN’S INVESTIGATIVE TEAM!

PITCH TO THE CONCORDIAN’S INVESTIGATIVE TEAM!

Applications are now open for the Concordian’s new investigative team until Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024.

Send your CV, three examples of your work, a letter of intent, and your investigative story pitch to applications@theconcordian.com to apply.

Be prepared to elaborate on your pitch during the interview. Pitches are expected to be well-researched and to explore issues that affect Concordia students.

Applicants must have contributed to the Concordian at least five times to be eligible.

THIS IS A PAID FREELANCE POSITION.

// 20242025

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