Student-Prof team pitch e-books 9
New website causes a stir 4
Rez runs out of room 5
Interviewing a McGill MP 7
The Bull & Bear A publication of the
McGill’s Management news since 2003
MANAGEMENT UNDERGRADUATE SOCIETY
bullandbear.ca
September 2011 • Volume 9 • Issue 1
Shout out to Frosh committee! Now get back to class.
Photos courtesy of Thuymi Do | www.thuymido.com
MUS Frosh 2011
Page 6
Second Floor Construction Progresses, January Opening Planned Kristine Pinedo Lead Lifestyle Editor
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he renovations on the second floor of the Bronfman Building are tentatively expected to be completed by January 2012, at which point the floor will reopen as an interactive study and learning area. It will no longer be home to the Howard Ross Library. It was originally anticipated that the second floor renovations would be concluded by this fall. However, in an agreement between Library Services and the Desautels Faculty of Management, the plan was revised and the concept of the Business Intelligence Centre was born. The old library’s book collection will remain in McLennan Library and the second floor will be solely allocated to study areas and interactive learning centers. The new Business Intelligence Centre will feature an
open design concept accommodating 443 seats in total, maximizing seating to the fire restriction. There will also be 11 group study rooms and a computer lab with dual-screen monitors. The new floor plan also includes several interactive learning spaces. A trading room equipped with Bloomberg terminals will be reserved for Investment Management students. In a deal announced in February, the Desjardins Group will provide funding and technology to the trading room, totalling $1 million over 5 years. There will also be an interactive classroom which will seat 64 and will be used for classes such as Organizational Behaviour which require more group discussion and learning. The floor will also be home to a 36-seat conference room and the new MUS office. The project has taken longer than anticipated due to the change in plans, as well as the
Image courtesy of SAIA BARBARESE TOPOUZANOV Architects
A rendering of the Business Intelligence Centre, a new interactive study space on the second floor of the Bronfman Building planned for completion in January.
“deconstruction phase.” The demolition process has been more time consuming because they are trying to recycle and salvage as much material as possible rather than throwing it away. The Business Intelligence Center will not be entirely void of library resources. There will
be an office for library liaison where one to two librarians will be available to help students with research and answer any questions. Students wishing to check out a course textbook for a few hours may do so through the Library Dispenser, essentially a book vending machine. Project
The Brief 2-3 :: News 4-6 :: Lifestyle 7-9 :: Opinion 11-12
Manager for Desautels, Michelle Forsythe, explains it is the “ultimate accessible library” and will essentially allow students to check out textbooks twenty-four hours a day.
Always online at www.bullandbear.ca
The Brief
2
What not to miss in Management this month.
The Bull & Bear Alex Pajusi Executive Editor Ian Burke Cameron Lead News Editor Ivan Di News Editor David Lin Lead Opinion Editor Jessica Simmonds Opinion Editor Kristine Pinedo Lead Lifestyle Editor Chris Conery Lifestyle Editor Mohammad Awada Markets Editor Kunal Shah Photo Editor Manuella Djuric Advertising Director Michaela Hirsh Ad Coordinator Sean Alex Finnell Online Editor
VENI, VIDI, AVICII
The MUS brings Avicii to McGill for an exclusive performance. Opening act by Royce & Tan. Tickets on sale now. Ivan Di News Editor
The Management Undergraduate Society is set to host the Swedish DJ Avicii in Montreal on September 15th in an exclusive concert for McGill students. The concert is a collaboration with At Night Management & Bookings and Spin Artist Agency.
Tim Bergling, the Swede behind the mixer, is an up-andcoming DJ, remixer and record producer whose performances have drawn rave reviews around the world. His single “Bromance” reached number one on the international Beatport chart. At just 21 years old, Bergling already commands a vast knowledge of music. “Avicii has a great
Fortin. Tickets are being sold at the Y-intersection or in the Bronfman lobby with a valid McGill ID. Tickets are $55 at press time. Bracelets to the concert will be available for pick-up on the 14th and 15th in Bronfman basement.
Sept 23 + 24 - Bronfman
Olivia Siu Marketing Director
Dann Bibas Staff Writer
style that I think McGill students will really enjoy. The concert will be a great way to start off the new year.” said MUS VP Communications Rebecca Black. “We want to throw the best event for the lowest cost. The money we do make will go to other MUS events, to make it more sustainable and affordable,” explained MUS president, Dave
Graduating Case Competition
Michael Horowitz Layout Editor
Rodion Gusev Special Advisor
Sept 15 - Telus Theatre
U2 student? Check out U2CC on Nov 4 + 5
This two-day event allows students to interact with top Canadian employers and demonstrate their skills through resolution of a business case.
Elana Cipin Staff Writer Photographers: Amélia Couture Holly Sherlock Kapil Mehra Jordana Cohen Nicole Himelfarb Theodora Meyers Soumia Zehri
The Bull & Bear is an editorially autonomous newspaper published by the Management Undergraduate Society of McGill University. Editorial opinions expressed in the Bull & Bear are the sole responsibility of the Bull & Bear’s Editorial Board, and are not necessarily those of the University, MUS or their officers. The Bull & Bear is not responsible for the delivery of any goods or services sold or advertised through its sponsors or Business Directory and is not liable for loss or damage of whatever nature and extent resulting directly or indirectly from any use of the information made available by the newspaper and sponsors.
September 2011
The Management Consulting Association presents: MEET THE ACCENTURE MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS An informal day in the life panel, case cracking tips and tricks and networking opportunity! September 9 2011 from 10:00AM to 12:30PM Accenture and the McGill Consulting Club are hosting: an informal “day in the life” panel – ask all of your questions on management consulting and the lifestyle a case cracking tips and tricks presentation – gain some insight on how to ace case interviews a meet and greet session – get the opportunity to network with management consultants form all levels!
Join us September 9 2011: in room 423 from 10.00AM to 11.30AM in room 151 from 11.30AM to 12.30PM There are limited spots; please register via myfuture https://management.myfuture.mcgill.ca/students/ The Bull & Bear
What not to miss in Management this month.
The Brief
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South Africa Info Session - 5 Hot Cities Sept 20 / 5:30pm / Bronfman 151 Come and get the overview of what this exciting trip will entail, how you can apply and how you can get CLASS CREDIT! This trip is a unique opportunity to obtain real hands-on learning about national competitiveness while contributing back to society.
AIESEC Info Sessions Sept 8 / 6pm / Bronfman 422
Sept 14 / 6pm / Leacock 232
AIESEC McGill provides students with leadership opportunities, international internships, opportunities to go to regional, national and international conferences, corporate exposure and the ability to develop a worldwide network.
McGill Restaurant Club Dine at a discount at Montreal’s best eateries Kunal Shah Photo Editor
The McGill Restaurant Club (MRC), a satellite of the Montreal Restaurant Club (MoRC), officially opened its doors to McGill students on September 1. Founded by McGill student Monty Lennie, the MRC aspires to help students discover and indulge in affordable fine dining experiences in Montreal. Montreal has the highest number of restaurants per capita in North America and that alone can make the process of discovering eateries beyond the McGill Ghetto area a daunting experience. This problem is often accentuated by the fact that restaurant review websites, which students often consult, not only bombard them with hundreds of options, but also provide impersonal reviews at best. The MRC hopes to address this coordination failure by providing its members with a curated list of eateries in Montreal, bundled with reviews, professional photographs and discount vouchers. The MRC staff scout for exciting restaurants to review and are also often invited by restaurant owners who are eager to showcase their product to hitherto unaware university students. Every week, an MRC team consisting of a writer and a photographer visit shortlisted restaurants and assess the complete dining experience at each restaurant. Restaurants are graded on their ambiance, quality and speed of service, quality of food, portion sizes and friendliness of the staff. The MRC team publishes a list September 2011
Photo by Kunal Shah | The Bull & Bear
McGill Restaurant Club founder Monty Lennie.
McGill Restaurant Club Membership Regular ($2/mo): ›› Restaurant Reviews ›› Photographs ›› Discount Vouchers Premium ($4/mo): ›› Group Dining Events ›› MRC Blog ›› Events Calendar ›› Monthly draw for $50 gift vouchers of the top 10 restaurants of the month each month on their website. These restaurants are sorted into three categories: MRC Favourites, Must Try and Worth Mentioning. Reviews, a set of professional photographs and discount vouchers for each restaurant are made available to the
members. This month’s selection features not only a wide range of restaurants – from Corsican and Greek restaurants to Vietnamese and Japanese restaurants – but also a wide range of discount options, from a free basket of fries at Frites Alors to 25% off at Chez Le Portugais. The MRC also plans on organizing group dining events on a regular basis, providing an opportunity for members to explore the city’s culinary delights with a group of like-minded individuals. Members can choose to have their membership automatically renewed each month and can pay for it either via their PayPal account or by using a credit card. Upon registering with the MRC, members receive an ereceipt, which they must present with their McGill ID card to the featured restaurant to make use of a discount voucher. These ereceipts serve as a membership card and can be used multiple times throughout the month. The Bull & Bear
News
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Ian Burke Cameron, Lead Editor ian@bullandbear.ca
Student-Led Consulting Resource Launches Despite Backlash Career Services and MUS Voice Concerns Over Management Consultants Network Alex Pajusi Executive Editor
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student-run website meant to help McGill students through the consulting interview process launched this summer despite criticism from Management Career Services that it undermined their recent improvements in consulting resources. The Management Consultants Network (MCN), created by recent BCom graduate Khaled Kteily (BCom 2010), features a document database of guides, articles, and first-hand accounts of consulting interviews. With documents like “6 Steps to Success” and “Firm-Specific Advice,” links to case preparation books, and the ability to interact with other users on the site, Kteily hopes that the MCN will appeal to all students considering a consulting career after graduation. The site, which launched June 15, now has almost 200 registered members. Kteily, who conceived the idea for the site after going through consulting recruitment himself, sees it as a valuable addition to the existing resources available to students considering a career in consulting. “The aim of the site has always been to supplement the resources that are available on campus.” Management Career Services, which has recently worked with students and firms to augment its own consulting resources, has opposed the site since its inception. “We have made it clear to Khaled for almost two months that his project was putting in jeopardy our efforts to step up consulting recruitment at McGill.” said Marie-José Beau-
din, Executive Director of Career Services, in an email statement. Beaudin claims that the site’s content is inappropriate and its approach is not consistent with Career Services’ philosophy.
affect recruitment and harm the students.” The MCN’s launch comes as Career Services has created its own “Career Resources Portal.” The new portal includes a
these new resources, declined to be interviewed for this article. The Management Undergraduate Society (MUS) has distanced itself from the MCN, citing concerns over its content
The 6 Steps to Success, a guide for aspiring consultants on Khaled Kteily’s Management Consultants Network.
“One of our major concerns was the serious confusion it has created in our relationships with consulting firms,” Beaudin said, “and we had to reach out to the firms to make sure this would not
“Consulting Career Handbook” as well as case books and other resources. Mathieu Prévost (BCom 2011), a recent graduate who helped Career Services develop
and the conflict it has created. “The MUS is not associating itself with it or promoting it in any way, shape, or form,” said MUS President Dave Fortin. The MUS works closely
with Career Services and also the Management Consulting Association, an MUS chartered club. “Anything that is a potential conflict for them becomes a conflict for us as well,” said Fortin. According to Fortin, the site featured untrue information regarding firms. “There are far more credible people working on this in conjunction with Career Services that have credible information that isn’t just what pops out of one person’s head,” he said, pointing out that Kteily had yet to begin working at the time of the site’s launch. Kteily, who attended 13 firstround consulting interviews before accepting a position at Oliver Wyman, disputed claims that his information was not credible. “At no point have I claimed that I have firsthand knowledge about being a consultant,” Kteily stated. “That said, I have had extensive experience in the recruitment process.” Kteily lauded the improvements to Career Services’ consulting resources, saying “students next year will have access to a number of resources that weren’t available in the past.” He believes that the faculty should be willing to promote the MCN and let students decide whether or not to use it. “Any student that has gone through the interview process will use a number of resources to prepare, and I hope that the MCN will be one of them.” The Management Consultants Network can be found at www.themanagementconsultantsnetwork. com
See the news firsthand. Write for The Bull & Bear. Apply at bullandbear.ca
September 2011
The Bull & Bear
News
Ian Burke Cameron, Lead Editor ian@bullandbear.ca
5
Residence System Runs Out of Room Temporary Residence Installed at Quality Inn Ivan Di News Editor
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eventy-four incoming McGill students this year are living in the Quality Inn on Sherbrooke and Parc as the school struggles to cope with overcrowding in its residences. McGill Housing has increasingly experienced overfilled residences as it has tried to match a growing demand of eager first year students looking for residence life with the limited number of rooms available. According to Michael Porritt, Director of Housing and Residences, “[McGill] suspected there might be an issue in May. After June 15, the suspicion was confirmed that McGill wouldn’t have enough beds. So we sought out a solution.” McGill looked to several local Montreal hotels, evaluating their suitability to act as a temporary residence. Eventu-
Officially, Quality Inn is a satellite of New Rez, where the students will have representation in the Rez Council. ally, the Quality Inn on the corner of Sherbrooke and Parc was deemed the best option for both McGill and the hotel management. “There are many hotels in Montreal, but [the] Quality Inn has the best combination of services, prices and location that would work for both us and for them.” described Porritt. The students, who mostly had unfortunate lottery tickets in their Residence picks, were notified of their change in fortune in August. The students were offered double rooms on two floors reserved exclusively for McGill students. The news was mostly well received, as there are many perks available to the students at their makeshift residence. As Mathieu Labaudiniere, a U0 student September 2011
Photo by Amelia Couture | The Bull & Bear
74 first-year students were assigned to live at the Quality Inn on Sherbrooke and Parc after McGill ran out of rooms in the residence system.
studying mechanical engineering, described, “We really like Quality. I think it is really great, it is great how Quality is so close to everything.” The students are also happy with the perks. “We get free TV with cable. Our internet is free and is provided by the hotel. There is a cleaning staff that comes in once a week to clean our rooms,” continued Labaudiniere. Two floor fellows are assigned to Quality to further help the students ease into residential life. Basil Kadoura, U1, studying neuroscience and minoring in drama and theatre is a floor fellow on the third floor. Kadoura commended the students for how quickly they made the hotel their own. “They are all taking advantage of the situation. People on the outside see it on the down, but we don’t. There are 74 of us, and there is a tight knit community.” This community feel was evident in their aptly named motto: “Quality and not Quantity.”
Other amenities such as dining and laundry are not included, however. Yet the students are unfazed; “The Students do their laundry up the street, laundry is $1.50. McGill cut a sweet deal and you save 25 cents,” joked Mathieu.
McGill has exclusivity over the two floors, the rest of the hotel still operates as a hotel. It is important that while the students ease into the comfort of residential life, they are mindful of guests sharing the hotel with them. For now, the relationship
“We get free TV with cable. Our internet is free and is provided by the hotel. There is a cleaning staff that comes in once a week” For meals, the students are enrolled in a Saver Meal Plan, where they are allowed to eat at any cafeteria on campus. The Meal Plan is the cheapest plan available while still being taxexempt. As per the agreement, while
has been amicable. “The rest of the hotel works like a hotel. They understand that we are students, and the students are considerate that this is a hotel,” described Kadoura. Officially, Quality Inn is a satellite of New Rez, where the
students will have representation in the Rez Council and can participate in all the activities hosted throughout the year. For now, the agreement with Quality Inn seems like a win-win situation. However, McGill has no long term agreement with Quality Inn for what happens after this year. And it might not need to. According to Michael Porritt, as part of the permanent solution to the overcrowding residences, McGill has purchased another hotel on 410 Sherbrooke, which used to be the Mariott. “The new residence will have 280 beds. McGill purchased the hotel already and is currently doing renovation. It should be up and ready by September of next year for the incoming students.”
The Bull & Bear
News
6
Ian Burke Cameron, Lead Editor ian@bullandbear.ca
Photos courtesy of Thuymi Do | www.thuymido.com
MUS Pirate Frosh!
The first frosh since the administration’s changes posed challenges for organizers, but left first-years smiling Alex Pajusi and Ian Burke Cameron
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he MUS held its piratethemed frosh this year between Friday, September 2 and Sunday, September 4. The event, which had 475 registrants, featured favourite activities such as Beach Day, Power Hour, and the Pub Crawl. “Frosh is a great opportunity for new students to learn about all the great life in Bronfman, have a great time, and meet older students who can help them over the year,” said MUS President Dave Fortin. This Frosh was the first to take place after a series of changes made late this summer by the McGill administration. The changes, which the administration alleges were made in consultation with students and the Milton-Parc community, included starting frosh after the start of classes and charging $2.50 per beer at the beer tent. “It’s certainly been a bit more challenging this year because of [the
changes],” admitted Fortin. This year’s frosh committee, headed by J.P. Briggs and Liz Rondon, were unfazed by the changes. “Pub crawl is going to be a hit,” said co-chair Liz Rondon, “There are tons of different activities that people can join.”
“Frosh is a great opportunity for new students to learn about all the great life in Bronfman.” MUS VP Engagement MarieLouise Schmidt expressed optimism during the opening ceremonies in the Bronfman basement. “I can’t wait
to see all the hard work that our committee’s done over the summer and I’m sure it’s going to be a blast. The pub crawl, which featured two routes, took first-years on a tour of several popular restaurants and bars. A party at Time Supper Club followed, which was well-attended by frosh participants. Beach Day, held at the traditional Beach Club in Oka despite earlier rumors that it was to be held elsewhere, brought multiple faculties together for a sunny day of dancing, swimming, and barbeque. Some frosh participants hoping to attend the Power Hour after-party at club 737 were met with hostility from club security who barred entry to any men wearing shorts or ripped sleeves. At approximately 1:00am, they would not let any more participants in the venue, saying only that the club was closed.
PIRATE FROSH SCHEDULE Friday ›› Opening Ceremonies in Bronfman ›› Pub Crawl ›› Night at Time Supper Club
Saturday ›› Beach Day ›› Night with Arts at Telus Theatre
Sunday ›› Lower Field Time ›› Scavenger Hunt ›› Power Hour ›› Closing Party with Science at 737
Photos courtesy of Thuymi Do | www.thuymido.com
September 2011
The Bull & Bear
Lifestyle
Kristine Pinedo, Lead Editor kristine@bullandbear.ca
7
A Word with a “McGill MP” Laurin Liu speaks of her sudden surge into Canadian Politics Ian Burke Cameron Lead News Editor
On May 2, the New Democratic Party made Canadian political history by winning 58 seats in Quebec on their way to forming the Official Opposition for the first time in the party’s history. The stunning victory involved dozens of newcomers to politics, one of which was McGill’s own Laurin Liu, who is now the representative for the constituency of Rivère-des-Mille-Îles. Liu, who is still a current but now part-time student studying Canadian history at McGill, recently spoke with The Bull & Bear over the phone about her new role as both student and Member of Parliament, politics, her thoughts on dealing with the press, and her future. Liu grew up in Montreal, and was interested in politics from an early age. She began an NDP campus club at her CEGEP and joined McGill’s NDP club upon her arrival at the school. Having also worked as an elections coordinator for SSMU, Liu was quite comfortable in political settings by the time of the May 2nd election. When asked about the pressure and workload of a federal election, she joked: “As a student I’m used to staying up all night, getting stuff done.” As for her studies, Liu insists that while they are not her
sole focus anymore, they remain one of her top priorities. When asked what this sudden change to her lifestyle meant for her, she replied: “I don’t really see it as a premature start [to my career], to be honest I didn’t give it much thought as to how it fits in with
wavering. When speaking of the party, Liu became quite animated, explaining to The Bull & Bear that “If you look at the polls in Quebec…the honeymoon with the NDP is not over,” and that the NDP has “captured the imagination of Canadians.”
the significant media attention she has received since the election. Though she has been met with some coldness by Le Journal de Montréal, much of the coverage has been mildly positive. Oddly, searches for “Laurin Liu” on large French-Canadian
“As a student I’m used to staying up all night, getting stuff done.”
Laurin Liu’s Parliamentary headshot.
my wider career…right now I’m thinking short term.” In accordance with her current indecision about the future, Liu was not prepared to make a statement regarding what her role will be when the NDP looks to form a government in four years, though it is clear that her commitment to the party is un-
Liu also defended both the strength and unity of the NDP caucus in the wake of Jack Layton’s passing, stating that she believes “the election in Quebec was won by Jack, but we have to unpack that statement a little bit…his positions during the campaign are positions shared among the caucus. It’s a pretty difficult time, but I think we’re ready to keep working to realize his dream.” Liu has also had to adjust to
news source websites such as La Press and Le Devoir yield no results. However, national Anglophone papers do mention her, if sometimes only in passing. The Globe and Mail referred to her as part of the group of “twentysomethings studying at McGill,” and went on to explain that she truly represents the new age of politics. She did, after all, learn of her victory via text message. Perhaps the most positive press coverage she has received
since becoming an MP was from the National Post’s lifestyle section: Liu was named one of Montreal’s most eligible women by Shinan Govani, the paper’s social columnist. When asked to comment on the article, Liu simply laughed. Liu acknowledges that her history with the McGill Daily and CKUT have helped her somewhat with understanding the media, but reserves most of the credit for the “steep learning curve” she has experienced over the summer. She explained to The Bull & Bear that the incumbent MP’s have been more than helpful to the young MP’s, making their abrupt transition from students to Members of Parliament a little smoother. Laurin Liu is a prime example of the potential created by simply getting involved in something one cares about. Regardless of political affiliation, she should be an inspiration to youth in politics. She even left The Bull & Bear with a piece of advice for our readers: “If you want to make a positive change, it’s really important to start local…start with getting to know a local organization and local issues…that will take people far.”
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The Bull & Bear 21/07/11 9:27 AM
Lifestyle
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Kristine Pinedo, Lead Editor kristine@bullandbear.ca
Students Nominated for Entrepreneurship Award Campus Swaps idea came from Management class project Ian Burke Cameron Lead Editor
U
3 Management student Shira Abramowitz was nominated this summer for Entrepreneur Magazine’s “College Entrepreneur of the Year Award” for her role in the founding of Campus swaps, a new studentrun social enterprise that began operations last April. The small enterprise – whose slogan is “stuff management” – is a logistical company that offers free pick-up and summer storage for various items that would otherwise be thrown out by students in the spring. It then sells them in the fall at prices as low as $1. The company’s first sale was held the weekend of August 26, and the model has already proven profitable; within three hours of the sale beginning, they had broken even. Christian D’Andrea, the company’s co-founder, pointed to the organization’s low cost structure to explain their profitability. A network of volunteers, the use of Christian’s SUV as a moving truck, and the support of SSMU all contributed to minimum costs. Shira – the only founder to be acknowledged by Entrepreneur Magazine because of her American Citizenship – explained to The Bull & Bear that the idea came to her while doing a project for her Social Context of Business class. She then elaborated, describing that it was also partly inspired by the film The Story of Stuff: “Campus Swaps takes this linear system
Campus Swaps founders Shira Abramowitz and Christian D’Andrea
took a while to warm up to our organization.” They attribute this initial coldness to the novelty of their organization on McGill campus. As one of the school’s first social enterprises, they have been met with some confusion by those unfamiliar with the concept. However, to the co-
“Campus Swaps takes this linear system and transforms it into one big sustainable circle of ownership.”
and transforms it into one big sustainable circle of ownership. When asked if the McGill community is conducive to raising young entrepreneurs, the team replied that “…it’s been a mixed bag…the administration September 2011
founders, the mission of campus swaps is quite clear: “We want to redirect the linear flow of stuff… but we are for profit.” Though Shira and Christian recognize that their organization is at the grassroots level, they
don’t see it staying small or folding any time in the near future. The rapid success of Campus Swaps has encouraged the partners to think big: “We’re looking at going into the States, maybe to Boston,” they told The Bull & Bear. Their confidence clearly showing, Shira and Christian have stated their longterm plans to establish Campus Swaps as a continent-wide umbrella organization that hires local students to run their own local Campus Swaps sales and events. Campus Swaps is also a finalist for Net Impact’s Force for Change Award, an award that recognizes excellence in grassroots efforts aimed at positive environmental impacts. The January issue of Entrepreneur Magazine will reveal the winner of their College Entrepreneur of the year award.
Photo courtesy of Campus Swaps
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The Bull & Bear
Lifestyle
Kristine Pinedo, Lead Editor kristine@bullandbear.ca
9
McGill Student-Prof Team Launches Electronic Textbooks Site “eBooksSave” aims to save students money while reducing their paper usage Chris Conery Lifestyle Editor
eBooksSave.com, a relatively new not-for-profit website, enables students to find and purchase electronic textbooks online, saving money, time, and paper. Headed by Assistant Professor of Marketing, Sameer Mathur, and U3 arts student, Victoria Ferguson, the company is changing the way students buy and use textbooks. The project began in winter of 2010. In its first semester it sold 33 eBooks, saving stu-
line; once the book is bought, students have full property rights over it and can share it as they would a regular textbook. In addition, electronic textbooks permit users to search by keywords, highlight, bookmark, underline, and take notes within the interface. “I like that you can search through text for information using keywords. It is more comprehensive than a normal index, not too mention, it’s easier and faster,” notes Ferguson. Users can also access their books over mobile devices such as phones and tablets for further interactive
In its first semester, it sold 33 eBooks, saving students $2200 and 29,000 pages dents $2200 and 29 000 pages. Currently, there are about 1700 eBooks on the site, but this will soon increase to 2300. eBooksSave allows students to not only search for and purchase electronic textbooks on-
learning. Not only are eBooks cheaper than traditional textbooks, but they also save students from the hassle of carrying around heavy books and are less harmful to the environment. According to
Photo by Jordana Cohen | The Bull & Bear
Professor Mathur and Victoria Ferguson, who head eBooksSave.com
Mathur, “electronic textbooks are a win-win option. We can save the money compared to
buying at the bookstore, and trees by reducing our paper consumption!” all of which makes
eBooks a logical alternative to traditional print textbooks. Ferguson has worked as Mathur’s right-hand ‘gal’ since January 2010. He says, “without her, you may as well take away my right arm!” She is a Marketing minor who became involved with the project because Mathur is “just a very sweet Prof. He gave us his personal phone number in class in case we ever had a problem with material, and was never hesitant to help out.” Along with being an Assistant Professor of Marketing at McGill University, Mathur has a Ph.D. in Marketing from Carnegie Mellon University. He is involved in research regarding marketing strategies in emerging global markets, particularly in India and China. He has also investigated how packaging size signals product quality, and is involved with BuddingMarkets. com, a blog about business strategy in emerging economies. Mathur notes that “even if nobody buys a textbook through eBooksSave, at least we’ll have generated awareness about electronic textbooks. Our site has had 14 000 views, at least we’ll have presented a new option for those 14 000 users.”
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Career Services Announces New Resources Career Services has introduced a new online portal (www.mcgill.ca/desautelscareer) to help you succeed in your job search and professional journey from U0 to graduation A year ago Career Services conducted a survey on student satisfaction, seeking to improve their ability to help guide and prepare students for the job-search and recruiting process. Luckily for all careersearchers out there, Career Services has taken this advice to heart and made a great effort to improve its service offering. This year, all current BCom students will have ac-
September 2011
cess to a variety of new services and resources that will facilitate the job hunt and interview process, and most importantly, will help them to find a job they love! The new Career Services platform will accompany every student on their journey from U0 to graduation. It covers all facets, from discovering what job is right for you to succeeding in interviews; from preparing your first CV to signing your full-time offer. To get started, all incoming U0/U1 students will be given the opportunity to take a Career Leader Test, a renowned and accurate selfassessment test - for free. This
test can help students determine what type of job fits them best, taking into account their personality and abilities. As far as personnel, Career Services has reached out to industry professionals to provide first-hand advice to students. On top of this, they have launched three new initiatives: a Peer-Advisor Program where experienced students help U0/U1 students begin their career preparation, a Mentorship Program which matches B.Com alumni with U3 students interested in specific fields, and the introduction of former Finance and Marketing executives who
have joined Career Services as specialist advisors. Finally, Career Services has also revamped their database, updated information, and introduced an Online Resources Portal, a comprehensive website that houses all the online career resources. This website contains lots of valuable information, including new ‘Career Guides’ written by recent graduates from the different disciplines, and the new B.Com Career Handbook, which contains everything you need to know about recruiting, interviewing, CV and cover letter advice, and much more! On top of that, the Portal hosts
the online Career Newsletter, where you can find the latest information for your job hunt – no matter what your level or field of interest. With all of these and many more initiatives, Career Services hopes to ensure that all students have the tools to succeed in their job search, and become a partner in the process. Now that these resources are in place, it is up to students take advantage of them. Will you?
The Bull & Bear
Opinion
10
David Lin, Lead Editor david@bullandbear.ca
Beer Tent Blues Jessica Simmonds Opinion Editor
A
s summer draws to a close, the impending changing of the season forces McGill students to pack their bags and make their annual migration to Montreal. Now entering my third year, I am somewhat used to both lugging my suitcase off the train and saying goodbye to summer. But for first year students, starting a new life at McGill can be all sorts of exciting, disorienting, and chaotic at the same time. This inevitable jumble of frenzied emotion that accompanies the beginning of college life thus makes our first week in Montreal a crucial time. Traditionally, Freshman Orientation, or Frosh, makes this pre-classes transitory phase smoother with the introduction of new friends through icebreakers and free beer. But this year, Frosh 2011 was pushed off schedule so that it occupied the first weekend after classes versus the days before. Moreover, the magical well of abundant free beer seems to have dried up, with beer sold on the lower field setting froshies back $2.50 each. Although I’m quite far from first year, I remember weeknight power hours and pubcrawls followed by a relaxing weekend before my first 10am lecture in the intimidating Leacock 132 auditorium. When talking with some close friends regarding the frosh changes, an overwhelming sense of nostalgia-tinged rage permeated the conversation. “Paying for beer ruins the sanctity of Frosh,” one of them, a third year Biology student said. “McGill Frosh is always known as the best because of how lax the drinking rules are.” Upon investigation, it appears that the altered Frosh schedule comes from a late freshman move-in date of August 28th, presumably due to the administrative desire for the residence-related pandemonium to be contained within a weekend. Speaking with Sarah Corkery, U2 Management student, she highlights how welloiled Frosh 2011 seemed to be. “It was super well organized. The rules have gotten stricter, but I don’t think that’s a bad thing,” she says. “I think the events are more planned out now, and having a solid structure to work with makes a difference.” While first-years enjoyed September 2011
Photos courtesy of Thuymi Do | www.thuymido.com
This frosh marked the first where participants were charged $2.50 for beer at the beer tent.
traipsing up and down St. Laurent, it appears that Frosh participants’ reactions to paying for on-campus beer were varied. While some complained -
consume alcohol. Charging for alcohol appeared to be the administration’s strategy in response to this sentiment, so that students abstaining from
they were paying for,” says an anonymous Floor Fellow for an upper residence. “On top of that, they found bouncers were rude and Frosh organizers did nothing
“Paying for beer ruins the sanctity of Frosh” referencing the free alcohol of prior years - others felt as if $2.50 was affordable, and that they got their money’s worth by the weekend’s conclusion. What did confuse participants, however, was paying for alcohol on top of the $90 they contributed
drinking and those underage faced less pressure. However, these students still paid the $90, which had originally been meant to cover the cost of beer - leading to the development of online petitions protesting the fact that Frosh participants of all ages paid
about it,” he continues. From all the controversy surrounding orientation, it becomes clear that Froshies don’t like being lied to or taken advantage of. What makes McGill’s Frosh so uniquely attractive also becomes its
The heavy emphasis on drinking does lead to unsafe behaviours and potentially dangerous situations for registration. Upon some investigation, it seemed as if the McGill administration had imposed the beer charge in August, after the student organizational committee had already finalized budgets and registration fees. The new rule allegedly comes from a survey distributed to freshmen and members of the Milton-Parc neighbourhood that concluded that Frosh was too drink-centric and thus alienating to those that choose not to
the same fee, regardless of who was drinking. Furthermore, online petitions like the “Underage Frosh Bracelets” (with 272 signatures as of September 5th) stress the disorganization of the night events hosted at downtown clubs and bars. “Underage froshies felt like it was a ripoff because they weren’t allowed into the club nights when they had been told beforehand that admission would not be a problem. They wondered what
downfall - treating Froshies like adults gives them an unforgettable first-year experience that is unrivalled by the dry namegames that characterize Frosh at Queen’s and Western. In contrast, the heavy emphasis on drinking does lead to unsafe behaviours and potentially dangerous situations. The first night of Frosh 2011 led to the alcohol-related hospitalizations of at least three upper-residence students - an alarming fact that cannot be taken lightly. It is
inevitable that accidents occur when teenagers have easy access to beer with little adult supervision - Quebec’s drinking age of 18 and a copious amount of Frosh parties help create such conditions, regardless of beer tents charging pocket change to fill up your mug. There is no solution to the problems that the administration and some participants experience during Frosh. They, like Frosh drinking at McGill, will never disappear. It is clear that there is disconnect between the school’s administration and the O-staff it seems like the administration, while never sharing the results of the survey that supposedly explained the need for changes, exercised their control over the student-run organizational committee to an unfair degree. That said, administrative changes to Frosh have had both positive and negative outcomes. Regardless of orientation running through Labour Day weekend, or added alcohol charges, the spirit of Frosh 2011 was never quashed. In fact, the people I heard lamenting the lost essence of Frosh were mostly entering their third or fourth years, and actually had little to do with this year’s orientation. Frosh is dynamic, and changes with every group that is initiated into McGill - if communication between the administration and the student staff is streamlined, and respect runs across both sides, next year’s Frosh will emerge even harder, better, “frosher”, and stronger.
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