VOL 45 ISSUE 4: The Youth Issue by The Plant Newspaper

VOL 46 ISSUE 3 Dec. 6, 2016

The Youth Issue

the plant

2 Contact

Staff

Athina Khalid

Editor in Chief

Julia Crowly

Managing Editor

Chloe Wong-Mersereau

Copy Editor

Samantha Dagres & Camron Heshmati Calderón

News Editors

Hannah Gold-Apel

Arts & Culture Editor

Maud Belair & Zachary Brookman

Voices Editors

Sabina Elkins

Science Editor

Joey Roselli

Sports Editor

Gaby Drummond-Dupuis

Curiosities Editor

Alexandra Khalimonova

Arts Editor

Vienna Pouliot

VOLUME 46 ISSUE 3 - TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2016

letter from the edito r

It’s finally election day — well, in the US at least. But the United States’ hegemonic role on the global stage means that we’ll all have to deal with today’s results. There’s a lot of talk about the “apathetic youth” when it comes to politics. We apparently don’t care about governmental policy, social issues, or the economic prosperity of the state. I don’t buy it. Young people played a crucial role in Bernie Sanders’ popularity and in the result of the 2015 Canadian federal election. Hopefully, American youth will turn out in high numbers in today’s election. We won’t know until this evening, but youth voter turn-out will play a big role in tonight’s result. If they vote in high numbers, young Americans will have played a pivotal role in electing the first female president and in not electing America’s first Great Leader/President-for-Life. Young people drive Black Lives Matter, LGBTQA+ rights, indigenous rights, and feminist movements. Last week, Media@McGill held a talk with NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden (via videoconference). Around 7,000 people clicked “going” on the Facebook event; another 15,000 clicked “interested.” Despite the fact that only about 600 people would be able to get in, thousands (mainly students) lined up across the McGill campus and up University Street for the chance to see Snowden projected in Leacock 132. Summer internship programs with the federal govenrment and the Prime Minister’s Youth Council receieved thousands of applicants. Clearly, we youths aren’t as apathetic as we’re reputed to be. This isn’t to say that politics is completely accessible; political institutions can seem remote and irrelevant. By getting involved, young people can make politics deal with issues that affect our generation in particular. It can be hard to know where to start with one’s political involvement. The most important part of political involvement is being critical and being aware of the real impact of one’s actions. For example, many reports suggest that geo-tagging oneself at Standing Rock did not actually affect the police’s attempts to locate #NoDAPL protestors. However, the social media phenomenon displayed broad public opposition to the Dakota Access Pipeline, helped protesters on the ground and may impact political decisions. The cause itself is not the only important aspect of political engagement; it’s also how one engages. It may feel like one person can’t change much. But collectively, individuals can catalyse a broad range of changes, from particular policies to overarching social structures. We have the responsiblity to try. Athina Khalid Editor in Chief, 2015-2016

index

Cover Artist

Jeremy Allen

Photographer

Tali Freedman

Web Manager

Contributors

Adeline Guèdègbé Alexander Lutchman Adam Gwiazda-Amsel Shir Gruber Thomas Lima-Barbosa Nathanaël Fleuriné Xavier Kieffer Harrison Weinreb Yu-Hsuan Ko Cristopher Derfel The Plant is an editorially autonomous student paper. All opinions expressed in The Plant do not necessarily belong to The Plant, but are those of individuals. All content submitted to The Plant or its staff belongs to the paper. We reserve the right to reject or edit all submissions for brevity, taste and legality. The Plant welcomes typed and signed letters to the editor under 400 words.

news

voices

visual arts

arts & culture

science & spo rts

curiosities

news

EDITORS: Samantha Dagres & Camron Heshmati Calderón VOL. 46 ISSUE 4 - DEC 6, 2016 news@theplantnewspaper.com For the first time since the beginning of had. Most young people did vote for Clin-

The Death of Liberalism

Young Canadians Contiue To Face Fiscal Troubles Alexander Lutchman Contributor Millennials are unsatisfied. Though they are the largest group in the work force, many young people feel left behind: they see an expanding economy, but the numbers on their paychecks aren’t much higher than what their parents saw. Without much room for improvement, the public remains apathetic and institutions are slow to change as a result. The notion of modernity itself has taken on a distinctly regressive tone, as platforms embraced by political parties tend to move further away from the needs of the people and toward the ominous ‘elites’. In 2015, 45% of Canadians aged 1824 voted Liberal, largely because of their promises to better the economic standing of young voters. Some of the biggest issues facing youth were unemployment and the rise of “precarious work” – unsecured jobs with undefined hours and low wages. The Trudeau government, propelled to a parliamentary majority on the backs of these young voters, is leaving these issues

by the wayside. According to the Canadian Labour Congress, 71,000 full time jobs were lost in July 2016, while 40,000 part-time jobs were gained. Unemployment among youth is at 13%, though a bigger problem is underemployment. 48% of young workers work part time and 20% work these hours by necessity. Finance Minister Bill Morneau recently commented on this issue, saying that young people should get used to underemployment – reminiscent of President Hollande telling the French to get used to terrorism. This sort of apathy from the highest levels of government is pushing an entire generation into poverty, proving how uncommitted they are to solving the crisis faced by an electorate they promised to help. According to the Canadian Wellbeing Index by the University of Waterloo, Canadians’ wellbeing grew only 9.9% from 19942015 while the economy grew 38%. The Trudeau government may throw young people a bone every now and again, with a carbon-tax plan and rhetoric on legalization of marijuana, but signing trade deals such as the CETA and urging APEC to further expand agreements leave most entering the work force with no job options.

the Industrial revolution, young people are likely to have a lower standard of living than their parents. Despite the National Assembly passing a 2002 act to combat poverty and social exclusion, 157,000 Quebecers are accessing food banks. Many seeking an alternative to neoliberalism have found refuge in populist rhetoric such as Donald Trump’s. The Conservative Party of Canada is considering Kellie Leitch for leadership, a woman who suggested Canada should screen foreigners for “Canadian values.” Millennials from all walks of life are considerably more left-leaning as compared to earlier generations at the same age. In the past, populist parties needed to shift left to gratify voters, but a growing number of millennials are seeing big parties move away from the electorate. America has for a long time presented itself as the leader of the western world. As a result, many Canadian youth look to American politicians for representation. The progressive movement in the United States, fuelled by the Occupy movement and spearheaded by Bernie Sanders, saw two crushing defeats this year, first at the DNC primaries and then at the general election. Many people see the Democratic Party as obsolete because it failed to address the economic concerns that young people

When Xanax Became “Xannies” Jackie Lee Contributor “I was a little nervous the first time I tried it,” said Michelle Ray*, “I heard so much about it from various friends […] I had to try it.” She explains how she remembers the first time she tapped into mixing repressed Xanax with alcohol. Drug trends are often generational. The most popular recreational drugs amongst today’s youth include marijuana, ecstasy, cocaine, codeine, and, notably, prescription drugs. Patterns can be seen from decade to decade when observing the parallels between popular stimulants and the drugs most commonly used. The 80s were characterized by a peak in cocaine use; the 90s with a spike in ecstasy use; today we find ourselves in the midst of the prescription drug epidemic. Prescription drugs have become much more available to teenagers. With a simple chemical alteration or two, otherwise-illegal drugs are slipping into the market and rapidly gaining popularity. The common prescription alprazolam brand (Xanax) has been appropriated by drug dealers and is being sold for roughly 10$ a bar. This repressed anti-anxiety medication is now more accessible than weed, according to Ray. What is lost on the streets when selling this repressed opioid are the medical pre-

the plant

cautions and the warnings on side effects, which include: Do not drink alcohol while taking Xanax; Do not take if allergic to benzodiazepines; Only use if prescribed by your doctor; Only use if 18 or older; Misuse of habit-forming medicine may lead to addiction, overdose or death. The effects differ according to the quantity taken. Possible side effects include “anxiety relief, playfulness […] It’s not really confidence, you just stop caring. You’re not analyzing yourself anymore when you go out,” said Ray. “It heightens the [effects of] alcohol. Suddenly those two glasses of wine feel like four,” she added. Both Xanax and alcohol are central nervous depressants, and when combined, act as symbiotic substances that intensify the effects of the other. The disinhibition means that it is “more likely to get [you] into trouble like unwanted sex or injuries,” said medical professional Dr. Yaremko. “Xanax is highly addictive.” “It has that numbing feeling. Every time you go out and drink, you want that feeling… And that’s what’s bad,” said Ray. “We don’t know the long term effects on the brain,” said Dr. Yaremko. Ray opened up about certain fears after hearing about a friend who died in a car crash this year while under the influence of both alcohol and Xanax: “We’re aware

the plant

of the possible consequences, and you hear the stories, but at the end of the day, you think ‘it’s not going to happen to me.’” Deaths caused by mixing Xanax and alcohol are not uncommon. The potentially lethal duo only gained attention after the death of American celebrity Whitney Houston in 2012, who was found with both Xanax and alcohol in her system at the time of her death. This appears to be but the beginning for this decade’s party drug trend; maybe we are the Generation of Xans. “It’s fun for a while when you’re aware of what’s happening,” said Ray. “But then you wake up the next morning, and you’re like, ‘how did I get here?’ The memories are all gone. It’s scary.” *Names have been changed.

the plant

ton. Despite a humiliating loss to a deeply authoritarian reality show star, the Democratic party continues supporting corporatist candidates, such as Senate Minority Leader elect Chuck Schumer. Potential DNC chair Keith Ellison is being praised by the left and was even endorsed by Sen. Sanders, but this man has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars from super PACs, supports the war in Syria, and subscribes to the culturally-Marxist identity politics that led to voluntary racial segregation at the University of California and University of Connecticut. Oxford Dictionary’s word of the year is “post-truth,” emblematic of the situation that many young people find themselves in. Misinformation and biased reporting have dominated the political scene, with NPR even cutting short live interviews with conservatives. Social media has allowed anti-liberal activities on both sides of the spectrum as exemplified by the now famous “burkini” ban as well as Mount Royal University students being attacked for wearing “Make America Great Again” hats. These so-called progressive political institutions, run elusively by corporations, are failing to address the grievances of the Canadian youth and take the necessary measures to ensure economic stability for the future generation.

Historical Teenage Achievements That Will Knock You Down A Peg Sam Dagres News Editor 1. Mark was 10 when he witnessed Jesus’ arrest and wrote his Bestselling Word Of God’s Son Who Is Also God: Gospel Of Mark. 2. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart wrote his first opera, Die Schuldigkeit des ersten Gebots, when he was 11. 3. Anne Frank was 13 when she began writing Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, while hiding from the Nazis. 4. Annie Oakley was 15 when she became a legendary markswoman. 5. Alexander the Great was 16 when he founded his first colony, Alexandropoulis. 6. At age 17, Malala won the Nobel Peace Prize for her advocacy of girls’ rights to education. 7. Joan of Arc was 18 when she led the French army to victory against the English during the Hundred Year’s War. 8. Bill Gates co-founded Microsoft at 19. 9. At age 20, Mark Zuckerberg launched Facebook from his dormitory room.

the plant

voices

EDITORS: Maud Belair & Zachary Brookman voices@theplantnewspaper.com

VOL. 46 ISSUE 4 - DEC. 6, 2016

The Lonely Generation Maud Belair Voices Editor I sit at my desk in my bedroom trying to do some work. Morrissey sings, “If you are so very entertaining, why are you on your own tonight?” I’ve been listening to the song from 1986 at work a lot these days, where loneliness is not so flagrant, but also at home when it seems dazzlingly accurate. Though “I Know It’s Over” was released so long ago, its subject matter is somehow more pertinent than ever before. Written in a time when plans were made over a rooted phone, an abundance of friends to choose from was not guaranteed, and the fear of missing out on them was not a constraint. If you had plans with Tom on Thursday, you and Tom better both show up for your plans on Thursday. Plan-cancelling is as common as a street corner nowadays, but somehow is the sword of Damocles over each of our millennial heads. We have all felt the sweet liberation from a commitment as well at the bitter feeling of rejection after someone has been “too tired to make it out tonight.” At the end of the day, it all comes down to the value of the time spent together. It is problematic when these values don’t line up with the plans of both parties. The power of a cellphone is key when one cannot bother to show up to a commitment. Since the cancel-er does not see the cancel-ee’s honest physical reaction and the society we currently live in tells us that having feelings of disappointment is bad, the cancel-ee quickly says it’s ok and halfheartedly tries to reschedule. The burn of rejection is still felt, albeit deeply hidden. Nobody is safe. While you’re stuck upholding some prior commitment, your so-called friends are having the most epic night. There could be a secret Grimes show at your favourite bar, but because you’re with Kevin shopping for socks, you can’t go. The thing is, you don’t really like Kevin and none of the really cool things actually happened, so you stayed home and watched Louis C.K.’s standup show Hilarious for the 3rd time. Was that waste of time better than being with Kevin? The excess of options suffocating millennials is causing us to shut down, curl up in a ball at home while listening to

the plant

the dark humour of a middle-aged, balding man. The fear of missing out is enhanced by social media. Not making the hypothetical Grimes show would not be bad if you were already busy but would feel exponentially worse if you were not invited at all, com-

bined with the soul-crushing misery of seeing pictures pop up on Instagram or inside jokes hatch on Twitter. Thoughts begin to flow through your mind: “They didn’t want me there... They don’t like me… I’m not cool enough...” Why wouldn’t your carefully created internet persona not fit in with theirs? Aziz Ansari, Parks and Recreation alum-

the plant

ni and standup comedian, deems Generation Y the least lonely generation. Ansari claims that because millennials are always connected to their friends through social media, it isn’t such a big deal when they see them for real. In my opinion, based on Ansari’s own reasoning, it is easy to disagree

a hefty 5.5 on a scale of 10. All of this is due to our inherent psychological requirement to express an immediate reaction to all issues at all times. Our phones make everything ever-accessible. We cruise through life trying to tango our way out of quasi-incessant fight or flight responses while desperately trying to “play it cool”. Since everything happens so quickly in our brains, it is not shocking that millennials have a warped idea of what the future means. We are expected to deal with issues as soon as possible and subsequently feel obliged to dismiss greater, long-term problems. For example, instead of saving or paying back student loans many of us spend more money on retail therapy. If we have such a hard time figuring out what to do this weekend, how can we be expected to plan for the next week, month, or even the next decade? This lack of commitment also translates into the realm of love. The existence of Tinder objectifies individuals to mere features on the canvas of their faces. 64% of millennials are single in a generation that is having the least amount of sex. This proves that having someone at your disposal and near you at all times does not necessarily equate to chemistry or conversation. In turn, our “hookup” generation cannot argue that these one-night stands occur less than intimacy found within a relationship. Furthermore, since millenials are also known as the “anxious generation”, we can’t be bothered with relationships. Where to start? We’re not funny, clever, entertaining or good-looking – it would be vain to think so off the Internet. Morrissey sings, “It’s so easy to laugh, it’s so easy to cry, it takes guts to be gentle and kind”. This stands as an open call to youth. I am so frequently amazed by the power and goodness of what my peers accomplish. The only thing I have seen to hold them back (including me) is ourselves. We as a group and as a generation need to learn to be gentle and kind to each other and to stop thinking that our worth is determined by someone else’s Vienna Pouliot 2016 view. The youth of today need to take a lesson with him and these factors make us the from the 1986 generation. Disconnect. Be loneliest generation. gentle, be kind – it will ultimately benefit We are in constant re-evaluation of you and help you evaluate your own value our worth, our contributions, or the according to the person it matters to the value of our presence to others. most: yourself. According to the American Psychological Association, millennials have the highest generational stress rating, clocking in at

the plant

voices

5 VOL. 46 ISSUE 4 - DEC. 6, 2016

EDITORS: Maud Belair & Zachary Brookman voices@theplantnewspaper.com

F is for Feminism

Equality Education Starts Early Hannah Gold-Apel Arts & Culture Editor When I was in elementary school, I thought something must have been wrong with my family: whenever I happened to mention that my dad did the laundry or packed my lunches, kids would often note, “But that’s your mom’s job.” As a li’l one, I had no idea what feminism even was – what I did know, however, was that my mom and dad both did equal amounts of work around the house, shared cooking responsibilities, and worked full-time jobs. Coming full circle, I now work at the same elementary school I attended. Every once in a while, I’ll hear a boy talking about how he can’t like art because that’s “for girls.” The kids repeatedly mention that blue is a boy colour, and pink a girl’s. They think crying is a solely feminine trait rather than a normal bodily function. (Once, a kid lied to my face, saying that he’d been punched and was therefore crying from the pain; in reality, he lost a game of rock-paper-scissors and teared up in shame.)

One of the boys in kindergarten has a pink bag. It’s a lovely backpack depicting the main characters of Disney’s Frozen, Elsa and Anna, back to back in a display of female power and camaraderie. Almost every day, the other five year olds remind this boy that his backpack is definitively for girls and that he should be ashamed for wearing it. Although he can hardly spell his own name, the kid already possesses an instilled sense of shame because of this so-called display of femininity. The truth is that these gender norms are not innate in children. Anyone who thinks a kid is born knowing which gender norms are associated to what has clearly never made meaningful eye contact with a baby. Babies see you as one of two things: good or not good. From then on, pretty much everything else is taught to them by our weird societal standards. If you think the problem is memes or T.V. shows that portray men and women in two very concrete, defined ways, you need to look back a little further into a human being’s formative years.

These gendered views come from the innocuous things we say and do around children when they’re teeny-weeny little things who don’t and can’t know any better. For example, when children don’t have enough snacks in their lunchbox, teachers tend to say, “Tell Mommy to pack you more food.” Similarly, kids are told to have their mothers wash their dirty clothes, or buy them more school supplies. As early as daycare, children are inundated with this idea of mothers as homemakers. Fathers are scarcely mentioned, and when they are, it’s usually something like, “What does Daddy do for his job?” I shouldn’t have to explain why this way of speaking about gender and parents is unfair and problematic, but I will: we no longer live in the 17th century! We’re not born into jobs based on our last names – if we were, I’d be the world’s worst jeweller or apple picker. In a society where the American Dream is jerked off to to no end and we’re told that anyone can accomplish anything if they work hard enough, it’s pretty fucked up that modern kids actually face boundaries and roadblocks in their ability to think for themselves as early as they can

Reforming the School System Sandrine Carle-Landry Contributor I do not know of any student, whether they are in elementary school, high school, CEGEP or university, who has not felt anxiety, fear, sadness or feelings of low self-esteem because of school. Many students prioritize their academic work over their physical and mental health: for example, by pulling all-nighters, not eating healthy meals during exam periods or developing feelings of anxiety. In my opinion, this is not strategic at all. “Good grades” will not be very useful when you are stuck in a hospital room for not having taken care of yourself properly earlier on. Today, success is defined by academic achievement, working hard, and having a lot of money; it’s about getting other people’s approval, owning more and more things and, most importantly, knowing how to follow the rules. Those who do not follow the rules are excluded from society. I cannot be the only one who thinks the fact that the education system oddly resembles a prison, with threats (“If you do not submit your assign-

the plant

ment at the due date, I will deduct points from your grade”), surveillance (“What are you doing in the halls, young man? You should not be going to the bathroom during class hours”) and punishments (“Because you were late, you will recite the poem in front of the classroom”), is absurd. I think that we, the students, must do something about it. Learning is something fun and we all do it in different ways. What you learn does not get validated just because you passed an exam or got a good grade. Learning should not be intellectual regurgitation: memorizing as much information as possible, vomiting it on the test the next day, and forgetting all that was “learned” once the exam has been handed out. Many students have told me that because their program in CEGEP is so demanding, they do not have the time to read and study what they actually want. Instead, they find themselves learning things that are of no particular interest to them, only to forget about them immediately. It takes up all of their energy, and, instead of spending their free time learning what they enjoy, they spend lazy hours stuck on Netflix indulging in guilty pleasures or spending their nights getting wasted. You cannot learn anything when

the plant

fear is preventing you from enjoying it: fear of wasting time, fear of getting a bad grade, fear of disappointing parents and teachers, fear of not graduating, fear of not getting a job in the future. Instead of asking each other questions on the content of the courses, students ask when the due date for an essay is or if their assignment needs a cover page, unnecessary trivialities when it comes to their understanding of the core class material. Schools are not an environment that promotes learning and it needs to be changed. The school system we currently have is heavily based on inequality and competition. Even though Quebec post-secondary school fees are amongst the cheapest in Canada, the grading scheme for evaluating students and the infamous R Score promotes unhealthy competition amongst students. If schools were really institutions of learning as they promise, they would be first and foremost free of charge, there would be no business advertisements for them on the metro and in other public places, and students would not be hierarchized based on their grades. Additionally, the job market undervalues people who do not have diplomas. Employers tend to value a bureaucratic piece

the plant

retain memories. In short, the way early childhood educators refer to parents and gender can have a big impact on children. If a young boy is constantly hearing about his mother in the context of traditionally female responsibilities, it almost makes perfect sense for him to grow up telling women that their place is in the kitchen. Speaking this way to children presents more opportunities for bullying and less room for children to grow into who they might naturally be (not to mention the problematic heteronormativity in assuming every kid has a mom and a dad, and that they both fulfill a certain role). By making small changes, like letting kids use whatever coloured markers they’re drawn to or using the term “parents” instead of “mommy,” a less polarizing view of men and women’s roles in the home can be developed. This isn’t about being a feminist, if that word turns you off (which, sorry, it shouldn’t). It’s about teaching kids from an early age that their genders should never dictate their lives.

of paper over a person’s tangible abilities and skills. The absurdity of this notion can be found in the French expression “gagner sa vie,” which refers to having a job. Everybody deserves to live whether they work or not. Living is not about working and making money, living is about breathing, smiling, loving. Reforming the school system in Quebec is necessary. I do not argue for a system without schools, but rather schools without the current system. Schools should be a safe place where kids and adults can go to learn in a peaceful and respectful environment. The school system should not be based on future opportunities and competition but rather on cooperation and compassion. There should be no set curriculum: we should be able to freely choose what we want to learn. Everyone is curious, unique, and different and a disparity should not exist amongst the population because of different skills. Mathematics and sciences should not be given more importance in school than language, music, or art. We need individuals who are confident in themselves, who like what they are doing, and who help each other in order to build a healthy society. Everything starts with learning, so reforming the school system should be on everyone’s agenda.

the plant

visual arts

1 . L O V E P A T X I M T N A L P per

eplantnewspa h t @ y f i t o p S r track on ou f o t s i l l l u f Listen to the

the plant

visual arts Simple Minds By Xavier Kieffer

(Breaking the door) Selling his soul for more She shines through his eyes She crumbles out of the world Swallowing the nocturnal pearl I’m coughing tears leering at us Howling like bullets, big flower pellets lodged in my skull, only rotten hull I feel the stork re-harvesting me Shatter the venomous alter Don’t prostitute your mind In the city of ponds Where cold bodies cast shadows On those mirror desires

Flow of Time By Nathanaël Fleuriné Youth, representing the ones that feel threatened by the legacy of those before us, The ones that can feel the weight of the greatness that have preceded us The ones that stay in with Netflix on their lap Or the ones that go out to enjoy the night The night that is no thrill until they have wasted their lips On the tempting kiss of Mary, Molly or Charlie

Theme for Finding Happiness By Ariana Pagnotta

The instructor said, Go home and write A page tonight. And let that page come out of you — Then, it will be true I wonder if its that simple? I am eighteen, in college and very confused on what the future will hold for me. I am someone who needs a plan. I cannot survive with living life on a whim, constantly improvising. This does not mean that I cannot deal with changes in life, I am very good at that surprisingly. People usually question how I just so happen to always follow something I make before hand, as if I’m some kind of monster who doesn’t live life to the fullest.

Youth, for the ones that push blasting voices in their ears To feel the intensity of emotions deep inside For all the angst, and late night snacks For all the bedtimes past midnight Or for the young ones that have already tasted The sweet burn of liquor in their throats To forget what we think we know And hope for a grand, simpler and greater tomorrow.

If I am careless about how people live their lives then why are they so curious and judgmental to how I live mine? I can assure them that I am nobody they haven’t met before, I like to eat, sleep, drink, and be in love just like everybody. But there’s this one thing in my heart that I want to understand, and that is life. Are we meant to go to school, find a profession, find a partner, have children then retire? Or are we supposed to live life on edge, work a steady job, not waste our time in school, and just travel the world? Which makes the average person happiest? Which would make me the happiest?

Youth

By Romy Desbaumes

It may seem that I am questioning existence and my level of confusion is just way off the walls, but when I mention these questions to friends they seem to agree and have the same worries. So this made me conclude that who is the one who made up these theories on how each person should live their lives? But then this would be hypocritical to my strong beliefs of having a plan for everything in my life. But maybe this is me growing up and accepting things i cannot always plan for. As I learn from the world I guess the world should learn from me— although it is much older and wiser and somewhat more free.

the plant

arts & culture

VOL. 46 ISSUE 4 - DEC. 6, 2016

EDITOR: Hannah Gold-Apel artsandculture@theplantnewspaper.com

Your Adventure Awaits

A Sit-Down with Author Nisha Coleman

trip to Paris taught her a valuable lesson for violin wherever she got the chance. everyone: “mistakes are needed to grow.” Coleman is a strong advocate for taking She encourages travel, adventure, and exon new adventures. Some of the advice ploration: “It’s often where deep learning happens. And at the very least, you’ll have that she shares is, “I’d say ‘just take the leap. something to rave about when you’re 90!” While advocating for adventure, she There’s not much to lose, and there’s also has a word of caution for students; “I so much to gain. Even if it turns out was careful enough and learned when to terribly, you’ll have a story. If the say no, and how. This is important, espechoice is adventure versus no advencially for women. I hesitate to say simply ture, go for adventure, always.” ‘Get out there and be wild!’ without also During her time in Paris, Nisha says adding a word of caution, to know your that she was able to learn a lot, especially limits and learn to recognize that feeling about herself, that she may not have had inside when something isn’t right. I relied a the opportunity to do had she not taken lot on intuition and for me it worked out.” the risk. In a traditional setting, where you One of the most beautiful lessons in tend stick to norms that may not be right for you, often you “get blocked before you Busker is that our happily ever after may not be what we have seen in countless moveven try.” Like anyone, Nisha says, “I would get ies over time. Your happily ever after starts so down when I would make a mistake be- when you are happy with exactly where cause I thought mistakes were bad.” Her you are.

Kristen Payne Contributor At some point in our lives we will all be faced with having to take the next step. It is different for everyone; it can happen in high school, CEGEP, university, or any time in between or after. The fact is, whenever it does happen, the next step in our lives is daunting, and we may shy away from opportunities that are out of our comfort zone. For author, artist, and musician Nisha Coleman, that next step came once she graduated from university. It was then that she chose to go to Paris. Nisha’s autobiographical novel entitled Busker: Stories from the Streets of Paris recounts her adventures and her time with the people she met in Paris as she made her living as a street musician playing her

Dope Popes (II): Youth Edition Benedict IX (c. 1012 – c. 1056) Zack Brookman Voices Co-Editor

Dope Popes is a column in which Zack Brookman takes a look at some of history’s dopest popes. As any millennial can surely tell you, being a teenager is hard work. The delicate balance teens keep between school work, extracurricular activities, jobs, and social lives is incredibly demanding. However, all of this pales in comparison to the incredibly strenuous and confusing existence of one Theophylactus of Tusculum who, at the tender of age of 20 years old, became the youngest leader of the largest religious institution in the world as Pope Benedict IX. Theophylactus was the son of Alberic III, Count of Tusculum. When Alberic III deemed Theophylactus old enough, the count did what every good father would do to secure his son a position of power: the count bribed the Roman authorities to elect young Theophylactus, who was most likely 20 years old at the time, as Pope Benedict IX in October 1032. The young pope’s main claim to fame is the bittersweet honour of being the only pope to secure the papacy on more than one occasion. After his first election

the plant

as pope, most likely because of his youth, inexperience, and familial connections, enemy forces attacked and expulsed Benedict IX from Rome. Lucky for young Benedict, the newly crowned Holy Roman Emperor Conrad II restored the deposed clergyman to the papacy almost immediately after expelling his rival bishops who accused Benedict of “many vile adulteries and murders”. Benedict IX enjoyed a quiet second wind as the leader of the Catholic Church until September 1044, when he was booted out of Rome once again by soon-to-be Pope Sylvester III. Sylvester would reign for an embarrassing few months before big Benedict and his army returned in April 1045 to give the former pope another chance at Catholic glory. Theophylactus’ second reign as Pope Benedict IX would come to an anticlimactic end (sort of) in the year 1046, when, doubting his capability to oversee the Catholic Church and wanting to marry, the pope abdicated the throne. Nevertheless, in one last characteristic swoop of sinfulness, Benedict IX became the first person to sell the fucking papacy when he gave the position to his ambitious godfather, the archpriest John Gratian, who became Pope Gregory VI, for a sum of a thousand pounds of silver. However, his time as pontiff was cut short when the former Pope Benedict IX, apparently unsuccessful in his attempts at marriage and regretful of his decision to abdicate, attacked his position.

the plant

Benedict IX was actually able to secure the papacy for himself again and unofficially oversaw Rome until July 1046.

Pope Benedict IX

Credit: Wikipedia

The confusion caused by the rivalling Popes Gregory VI (technically the official pontiff), Sylvester III, and Benedict IX was so great that Henry III, new Holy Roman Emperor, travelled to Rome in order to restore order. At the fateful Council of Sutri in December 1046, Henry III declared that both Sylvester III and Benedict IX were deposed and forced Gregory VI to resign from his position as it was technically obtained illegally. Suidger von Morsleben, a German bishop and friend of Henry III, was elected as Pope Clement II. Unsurprisingly (but nonetheless quite entertainingly), Benedict IX did not accept his deposition. Pope Clement II died on October 9th 1047 after a short but respectable time as pontiff and was immediately succeeded by

the plant

– you guessed it – Pope Benedict IX, who seized the papal throne for a third try as leader of the Catholic Church. Benedict was officially recognized as pope and lasted a solid nine months in office before German soldiers, under the orders of the Holy Roman Emperor, drove the thirty-something out of Rome. Eventually, although sources vary, tradition states that after his third term as pope, Benedict IX finally retired to the Abbey of Grottaferrata where he accepted his resignation from the papacy and died in penitence in 1055 or 1056 at the characteristically young age of (probably) 43 years old. In many ways, Pope Benedict IX is a lot like teenagers and young adults of our contemporary world. Despite its countless perks, life as the pontiff was so stressful on the young Roman that the young man actually vacated the position for a while in order to, in a fit of passion that most millennials can surely relate to, follow his heart and marry the woman he loved. Equally reflective of today’s generation, Benedict IX also had a hard time admitting he was wrong and accepting his failures and wrongdoings. In short, the next time you’re feeling down about yourself and the teenaged woes that you face, I implore you to ask yourself: what if I was the Pope?

the plant

science & spo rts

9 VOL. 46 ISSUE 4 - DEC. 6, 2016

EDITORS: Sabina Elkins & Joey Roselli science@theplantnewspaper.com; sports@theplantnewspaper.com

Telomeres

The Potential for Eternal Youth in our bodies after birth for reasons that are Gio Mrakade Contributer Recent advances in the field of molecular and cell biology has allowed spectacular progress in our understanding of the process of aging. The science of aging and human longevity can be addressed from two perspectives. First, reducing the decline that our body faces as we get older and second, reversing aging and rejuvenating function. As is usually the case when faced with a problem, scientists begin by observing natural occurrences. Mechanisms such as the regeneration of limbs in salamanders were found, which provided us with fascinating data on this subject. However, we didn’t have to look much further, as our own body still holds a lot of secrets awaiting discovery. In each and every one of our cells, there is a nucleus where our genetic code is coiled up into chromosomes. At the tips of each of these chromosomes is a structure called a telomere. In 2009, the Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology was awarded to three scientists for the discovery of how chromosomes are protected by telomeres and the enzyme telomerase. This discovery was a huge leap in our understanding of how humans age, and it sparked the exciting question: are telomeres the key to immortality? Telomeres are simple non-coding sequences of nucleotides (building blocks of DNA) found at the tip of each chromosome. When cells divide, they must replicate the DNA accurately and completely to ensure proper function of the daughter cells. However, DNA polymerase, the enzyme that catalyzes this transcription, is not able to copy the full length of the DNA strand. Thus, each time DNA is replicated, the tip of the chromosomes remains uncopied. If the telomeres were not present, this shortening would entail the cutting of genes that code for essential proteins. The presence of this repeated non-coding sequence delays the erosion of vital genes but does not prevent it. Each time the cell replicates, a part of the telomere is left behind. When the telomeres reach critical length, the cell is signaled to stop dividing. This concept of a cell’s lifespan is called the ‘Hayflick limit’. Some scientists thought that the erosion of these telomeres was imposing a limit on our lifespans and causing our health to decline as we age. They deduced that the key to immortality could be telomerase activation. Telomerase is the enzyme that counteracts the erosion of telomeres. It catalyzes the addition of telomeric sequences to the DNA strand, allowing it to replicate without shortening. The origin of telomerase is still a mystery. Very little of it is found

the plant

not known yet. In the past couple of years, it was thought that activating telomerase would be the magic anti-aging potion that will keep us young and healthy forever. However, we should not get irrationally enthusiastic; it was shown that over 90% of tumors are associated with high levels of telomerase activity which allows cancer to replicate indefinitely because the telomerase enzyme just keeps on lengthening the telomere. Basically, cancer never grows old. Therefore, we must be out of our minds to intentionally turn telomerase activity on. However, the data does not suggest that telomerase activity is the cause of cancer. Instead, cancerous cells turn on telomerase expression to extend their lifespan; just like what we are trying to do. If telomerase makes cancer immortal, could it prevent normal, healthy cells from dying? Could we replicate this mechanism and use telomerase to extend our lifespan? If so, would that increase our risk of getting cancer? These are all unanswered questions that scientists are attempting to respond to. We have been able to use telomerase in the lab to keep human cells dividing beyond their limit without observing any cancerous behavior. But, the consequences of them living in a human body remain unknown. Moreover, knowing that the reason for the unlimited replication of tumors lies in the activation of telomerase, you might be thinking: why did no one think of simply deactivating the telomerase? That sounds like a perfectly simple cure for cancer. Unfortunately, it is not that simple. The stem cells in our body contain active telomerase, which allows us to regenerate most of our somatic cells (such as our skin) throughout our lifetime. Since tumors are made up of our own cells, there is no obvious way for a drug to differentiate between cancerous cells and our stem cells. Therefore, a drug that would deactivate telomerase in a tumor would also be deactivating them in our stem cells, which would make us unable to regenerate any of our healthy tissues. This opens up another field of research, and the rise of nanotechnology that focuses on trying to target localized tumors without the drug having to come into contact with any other parts of our body. As for the ongoing research on aging, eternal youth has yet to be found and many questions remain unanswered. Can telomerase regulation be used as treatment for cancer and other diseases? Can telomeres serve a purpose in diagnostic medicine? Several drugs are being studied as possible boosters of longevity, but is reversing aging possible? Ultimately, does the way we age reflect our genetics or our lifestyle? And last but not least, if we could, would we really want to live forever?

the plant

Blues Struggle for Fifth Year in a Row It’s Beginning to Look a Lot like Last Place Joey Roselli Sports Editor While the Montreal Canadiens continue to work on their offensive struggles and improve their faceoff wins, the Dawson Blues Men’s hockey team continue to face hardships. It’s already bad enough to say that if the season were to end right now (December 1), Dawson would finish in the same stance as they did last year, in last place (with 10 points and with only four victories of 36 games played). They currently sit in last place with 10 points and 101 goals against. There are still 14 games remaining in the season, more than enough time for improvement. While they got shutout 2-0 against the second place team Sorel-Tracy Rebels on November 25, it seemed to be that the entire squad actually showed up to play and perform. Netminder Felix-Antoine Leblond was phenomenal on his part, also taking into consideration that he conceded simply one

the plant

goal since the other was scored on an empty net with 53 seconds left remaining in the third period. The boys finally understood the concept that head coach Carl Benoit keeps reiterating: stay out of the penalty box. His troopers seemed to have finally implemented that method, because they only took two penalties in the first period due to David Kronish’s two-minute minor for slashing, and Yannick Ethier’s for roughing. The losing spell has now stretched to eight games. As most sport coaches tell their players, “It’s not how you start the season, but how you finish.” Like all other teams in any sport, Dawson’s only goal is to simply win games and avoid finishing last place. Dawson joined the RSEQ’s Men’s Hockey Division 1 league in the 2012-13 season but haven’t finished in the top five ever since. They did accomplish finishing in sixth place in the 2013-14 season, but that was the highest they’ve ever reached. Otherwise, it’s been last place or second to last. The Blues next home game takes place this Friday, December 9 at Westmount arena at 8 p.m. vs Andre-Laurendeau.

the plant

curiosities

EDITOR: Gaby Drummond-Dupuis curiosities@theplantnewspaper.com

VOL. 46 ISSUE 4 - DEC. 6, 2016

dawson diaries

theplantnewspaper.com

curiosities EDITOR: Gaby Drummond-Dupuis curiosities@theplantnewspaper.com

VOL. 46 ISSUE 4 - DEC. 6, 2016

theplantnewspaper.com

theplantnewspaper.com contact@theplantnewspaper.com “Birdalescence” by Gaby Drummond-Dupuis

edito rs of the month sam dagres

What’s your position for the plant? I am News Editor, sometimes with help from Camron, sometimes not. What program are you in? Liberal Farts What’s your favourite thing about working for The Plant? Having people believe your good at grammar. What’s your favorite childhood memory? Playing a cat in the Segal Center’s teen production of Cats with my broadway troop (see image left). My skirt fell off during my solo, the first person to laugh was my grandma, and I cried on stage). How would you describe yourself in three words? Not a bitch

contact@theplantnewspaper.com

theplantnewspaper.com

sabina elkins

What’s your position for the plant? I’m the Science Editor What program are you in? Health Sciences What’s your favourite thing about working for The Plant? Using it as a vehicle for procrastination. What’s your favorite childhood memory? Eating so much spaghetti that it came out of my nose (good times). How would you describe yourself in three words? A goddamn mess

theplantnewspaper.com

y k e e ch 9 6 9 1 e c sin