The Bull & Bear | December 2014

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The Bull & Bear

SOLIDARITY WITH SURVIVORS NO LONGER TOO BIG TO FAIL NICKI MINAJ & FEMINISM EPHEMERA GALLERY

DECEMBER 2014

‘twas the night before finals...

A Publication of the

Table of Contents Issue 1, Volume 13

EDITOR’S NOTE

NEWS 4 Beyond the Budget 6 A Year in Review 7 Solidarity with Survivors

FEATURE 11 Home for the Holidays 13 Christmas Traditions 15 Sleigh Bells on Sherbrooke 16 Boxing Day

BUSINESS 17 Black Friday Massacre 18 No Longer Too Big To Fail 20 The Future of Canadian Energy

OPINION

22 Why Are You So Obsessed With My Ass? 25 De-Bigotize McGill 26 Rekindling Student Democracy

LIFESTYLE 28 Home Alone 4 29 Ephemera: Fridge Door Gallery 30 Movie Review: Horrible Bosses 2 The Bull & Bear is published by the Management Undergraduate Society.

The content of this publication is the responsibility of the Management Undergraduate Society and does not necessarily represent the views of McGill University.

Welcome to Canada!

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nternational first years - you are now beyond the wall. While there aren’t any wildings here, you’ll soon be faced with the daily struggle of dodging icicles as you march (or, more accurately, trudge) to and from class in heavy snow and bone-chilling wind. Growing up in Dubai failed to equip me with any kind of insulation against freezing. Personal experience has taught me that Montreal winters aren’t for me – they’re hypothermia-inducing nightmares. If this is your first trip to the North Pole, I have a few suggestions to make: 1. Beyond the obvious winter jacket (Canada Goose doesn’t count), you might want to invest in some - but realistically all - of these items.

Toques, gloves, scarves, long johns, and boots that go higher than your ankles; but most importantly, a toilet seat warmer.

2. A really BIG suitcase that will serve as a portable closet for the aforementioned stuff (the one you brought with you is not big enough).

3. In case you missed Montreal during the summer, glance out onto Boulevard Saint Laurent on a Friday or Thursday night and watch the ladies wear exactly the same thing they do during the month of July.

4. You need to wear deodorant indoors: you might perspire, whether that be in “the cluuuuuub” or the metro.

For the rest of my McGill peers, thank you for enduring the blatantly obvious. We all know that winter is coming.

In this holiday issue, we feature holiday-themed articles from silly Christmas traditions to staying in Montreal over the holidays. We showcase a piece on Nicki Minaj’s Anaconda and the re-appropriation of female sexuality. We have a piece calling on the shortcomings of SSMU and certain elements of its student governance and, on a lighter note, every college students’ holiday wish list. We review Horrible Bosses 2, and the Fridge Door Gallery. Finally, our news team discusses a sitdown with McGill Principal Suzanne Fortier, summarizes the SSMU budget and covers students engaged in discussing a sexual assault policy at McGill.

Enjoy the magazine, stay warm, and happy holidays!

Alain Kasparian Managing Editor

BRIEFS

YOUR GUIDE TO EVENTS AROUND CAMPUS & THE CITY

TELUS Fire on Ice Firework Spectacle December 13, 20, 27 & January 3 At Old Port Montreal. Brighten up your finals season!

The Botanical Garden Christmas Fair December 5-14 At the Montréal Botanical Gardens. Come to view festive holiday decor and to sample ‘green’ holiday treats!

De-stress Yoga, Therapy Dogs, and Guided Relaxation December 8- December 19 At the SSMU and Brown Building. Nothing relieves stress like a furry friend!

Christmas Concert Series at Notre-Dame Chapel December 6- December 21 At the Notre-Dame-de-BonSecours Chapel. Hear the sounds of the season in Montreal’s oldest chapel (for free).

Editorial Board December 2014 Max Feinsot EXECUTIVE EDITOR Alain Kasparian MANAGING EDITOR Sijia Ye CHIEF LAYOUT EDITOR Yuliya Gorelkina Elizabeth Emerson Suzanne Ma Lucia Mkhitarova LAYOUT EDITORS Nat Carson Stella Lee Jenny Liao MEDIA EDITORS Ana Maljkovic Julia Rodriguez Kathleen Tully NEWS EDITORS Alan Liu Arash Nayerahmadi BUSINESS EDITORS Chukwubwuikem Nnebe Stéphanie Thomas Jennifer Yoon OPINION EDITORS Chelsey Ju LIFESTYLE EDITOR Kosa Akra Victoria Paskannaya Ebuka Ufondu WEB EDITORS Paul de Bretteville MARKETING DIRECTOR Vareesha Khan COVER PHOTO & FEATURE COVER PHOTO

NEWS

BEYOND THE BUDGET

TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT THE REVISED SSMU BUDGET AND WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT SEMESTER Bria Hebert, News Writer

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n November 6, 2014, SSMU VP Finance and Operations Kathleen Bradley presented the revised 2014-2015 budget to the SSMU Legislative Council. The budget revision process is largely directed and overseen by the VP Finance and Operations, the General Manager, and the Comptroller.

Changes to the Budget The new ‘University Center Building Fund’ is a restricted fund, created to prevent discrepancies between the University Building fee and the rent amount. Any excess money collected from the University Building fee is reserved or restricted exclusively for rent payments.

“In the building lease with McGill, energy is indexed to a maximum of 8 percent Energy Price Index; this year, it was 5.6 percent, so there was too much fee money collected in comparison to rent payments due. We created the ‘University Center Building Fund’ so that that money would not go to anything but rent, since that was what the fee was passed for,” said Kathleen Bradley, VP Finance and Operations for SSMU. Many of the executives have had increases to their portfolio budgets. The External Affairs budget was increased for a speaker series. Additionally, all of the services have broke even, meeting SSMU’s requirement as an incorporated, not-for-profit (organization?) .

“We created a mental health budget under the University Affairs [portfolio]. That mostly went to Mental Health Awareness Week… The Club Fund is back up to about $86,000.”

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Due to the strict nature of Human Resources laws in Quebec, salaries are the most confidential portion of the SSMU budget. The only salaries that are public are those of the executives, as directors of notfor-profit organizations must disclose their salaries.

SSMU employs over 100 students and around 20 permanent staff members.

“With student staff, we always try to give a range so students have an idea of whether the job is feasible and if they can make enough money to support themselves, but what we don’t want to create is any animosity between people in the office. Not all student staff positions make the same wage, so we don’t want to create any sort of power dynamic or perceived inequality among student staff, which is why we keep that pretty confidential” stated Kathleen Bradley.

Frosh & 4 Floors Most SSMU events are run through the portfolio of the VP Internal. This year, frosh ran a $3,600 deficit. Frosh is the largest event that SSMU organizes in collaboration with various faculties across campus.

In comparison, in 2013 Frosh incurred a deficit of $21,000. This was attributed to the miscalculations regarding Paypal charges for online payment services.

There was also the implementation of a new system, which split up sponsorship revenues between faculties.

4 Floors is an annual Halloween party hosted by SSMU that takes place in the William Shatner University Center. This event also runs through the portfolio of the SSMU VP Internal. 4 Floors ran a $5,281 deficit this year despite a five dollar raise in ticket prices.

In the October revisions of the SSMU Global Budget

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NEWS this was attributed to the unanticipated external security costs, many of the security cost changes being attributed to the construction on McTavish. Four Floors also ran a $5,444 deficit in 2013.

Mini Courses & Gerts Mini Courses, Gerts and The Nest – the student run café – , are the three SSMU operations overseen by the VP Finance and Operations. During the 2013-2014 academic year, Gerts made a $40,092 profit and operated at a surplus of $15,081.

“Any profit in a department goes to offset a deficit in another department. It goes back into the global budget, and any surplus from the budget at the end of the year goes into Capital Expenditures Reserve Fund (CERF)” said Kathleen Bradley.

According to the Global Budget revisions, “the introduction of a new Operations Manager has seen improved margins on alcohol and food, less waste and better relationships with our beer suppliers.”

The original failure of the building fee forced changes to the mini course budget. The goal was to increase profits to assist SSMU, given the strenuous financial position.

Class enrollment was increased by $5.00 per person, and Mini Courses made a profit of $29,000 this semester. As the Building Fee was only successful after Mini Courses began running at the start of the academic year, there was no opportunity for class costs to be adjusted.

Bradley stated that “right now we are keeping the prices for this year the same because this is an entire year budget… Sales were just as high, technically enrollment was a little higher, but people didn’t seem to be too deterred by the increase in price and we also have not received any complaints that they are too expensive.”

The Nest The student-run cafe is operating despite a serious deficit of $76,282. The Nest operated at a loss of $24,542 for the 2013-2014 academic year, and is currently not meeting its mandate to be financially sustainable. The Nest was shut down for September this year and only opened January-April of 2014. The startup costs for The Nest were allocated from CERF (Capital Expenditures Reserve Fund) three years ago.

Kathleen Bradley stated that “this is mostly due to high labour costs and low food prices.We will have to revisit that sometime later in the year. If it is still continually losing money, we will have to readjust the model… We wanted to let it run for another semester, see how it does and then reasses.”

“What students want is cheap food and what the mandate of The Nest is, is to be local, homemade, vegan-friendly, sustainable; those things have a price… We’re trying to make the two mesh.”

SSMU Funding

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SSMU operates eight funds, all overseen by the Funding Committee. The Funding Committee is responsible for reviewing received applications and distributing funds accordingly in order to support mandates and supplement student activities.

A consolidated application was introduced for the 2014-2015 year to cut down on the number of repetitive applications. The committee consists of the VP Finance and Operations, the VP Clubs and Services, representatives from the SSMU Council, the Environment Commissioner, the Community Engagement Commissioner, the Equity Commissioner, a representative from the First Year Council, Members-at-Large and the Funding Coordinator.

“There was a lot of really awesome stuff in the Ambassadors Fund this year that was all eligible, so we very slightly went over, but you can do that with a ⅔ majority of the Committee” stated Bradley.

With the exception of the Club Fund, which comes from the SSMU Operating Budget, all of the funds are directly funded through fee-levies. These funds include the Campus Life Fund, the Ambassador Fund, the Space Fund, the Charity Fund, the Equity Fund, the Environment/Green Fund, the First Year Council Fund and the Club Fund. As of November 10, 2014 the Ambassador Fund, Space Fund and Equity Fund have been depleted. The funds’ balances, excluding the $60,000 Club Fund, will be topped up in the Winter semester.

“We get a wide variety of applications and also try to fund as much as we can. For example, the Green Fund is usually uncontested, so we are trying to ramp up the publicity for that even if you just want to make your event more environmentally friendly,” stated SSMU Funding Committee Coordinator Rochelin Dalangin.

What to Expect Winter Semester Bradley stated: “The Nest will be looked at most closely next semester. The Black Students’ Network will be changing because they will now have a fee levy, so I will be working with them to see how that plays into how they run their service.”

“The long term financial plans are to look at our investment portfolio, our Capital Expenditure Reserve Fund, the needs and renovations in the building, any long–term asset acquirement and planning for ten years, and how that will affect the society’s finances.

That is the major project for next semester” stated Bradley.

“We want to get things done as quickly as possible. We ran into some difficulties this year. Clubs are getting their content later than we would like. Also we started the instalment system so right now, we are getting a lot of feedback. Next semester, we will be working out any kinks” stated Rochelin Dalangin.

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NEWS

A YEAR IN REVIEW WITH SUZANNE FORTIER

The mcgill principal disusses her year, budget cuts and innovation on campus PHOTO VIA MCGILL

Victoria Eon, News Writer

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cGill Principal Dr. Suzanne Fortier took office in September 2013. On November 12, Dr. Fortier discussed her first year in office in an intimate session with campus media outlets in the SSMU Green room. She emphasized that over the past year, she has actively engaged with the university community – sitting in on classes, joining constructive discussions about student life and learning, and streamlining the ways McGill utilizes limited resources.

Principal Fortier reflected on McGill’s accomplishments of the past academic year. “It’s a hardworking community. It’s a resilient community,” Fortier said. “Even though we have lots of challenges [and] heated debates, there is a sense of commitment to McGill – a sense of belonging. It is not something we can take for granted. It is an accomplishment of this community.”

Balancing the University Check Book With continuous budget cuts at the provincial level, McGill has been forced to use resources more efficiently.

“I do believe it is important for this province to get its financial situation in order. As a citizen, I am not opposed to a goal of reaching a balanced budget. It is important for the long-term. The more we live outside of what we can afford, the more we will create an unstable situation for this province.” Fortier added, “It is not an easy reality. Getting finances in order will allow the province to rebuild our economy and increase innovation.”

Budget cuts have unfortunately impacted McGill in many ways, from reductions in jobs and services to increases in select fees. The university has an established procedure for shifting operational costs. This plan also determines the financial burden for students.

“In this province, auxiliary fees go through a referendum process. Rising costs do affect students who do not have the capacity to pay more.” Fortier affirmed the importance of expanding the bursary program to help such students continue their studies. “It is with this program that we try to mediate the negative impact.” She continued, “Through the process of a stu-

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dent referendum, students will be consulted on how to shift costs.”

The Social Sphere Budget cuts are only a part of ongoing and spirited political debates on campus. At the last SSMU GA, students voted to postpone indefinitely the Motion to Stand in Solidarity with the People of the Occupied Palestinian Territories. When asked if SSMU’s attempt to take such a strong stance on geopolitical issues was constructive or destructive for the student body, Fortier drew from her experience at McGill.

“These are enormously complex questions. As individuals, we can take a position. It is difficult to take positions at the university level. I remember when we faced those questions with Russian scientists during the Cold War. In the end, there was no action towards Russia’s education sector, and it was the right thing to do because we did not destroy the strength of Russia’s education.”

Fortier expressed that education is the most meaningful way to create peaceful relationships. “The one thing we need to preserve to make this world better is education.

The more people are educated, the better the chance we have to live together on the same planet,” she exclaimed.

Fortier has been in support of expanding the traditional sphere of education to include traditionally taboo issues surrounding consent and mental health. In light of two major student initiatives this fall – specifically on those two topics – Fortier explained that McGill is responding to new challenges that students are facing.

“There is work going on right now. Mental Health is the biggest concern of our student population. On consent, there is work going on between the Deputy Provost, the Dean of Students, and students to amend this issue.”

Fortier stressed the importance of student leadership.

“We are a big community, so there’s no way we can consult every individual. But there are ways that individuals can be heard. It is important that students use those avenues, and participate in this discussion.”

Innovation and Corporate Partnership

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NEWS While the administration is increasingly turning inward to address issues of campus culture, they are also looking outward for alternative sources of funding for campus initiatives. This fall, McGill received a $500,000 grant from Bell Canada to support the creation of a Wellness Portal to complement McGill’s Mental Health Services. “We are constantly raising money through philanthropy,” Fortier responded. “The Bell grant is a gift to us.

We are constantly recruiting local and global gifts so that we can deliver better services, have better bursaries, etc.”

However, some people have expressed concern over the increased involvement of corporations and the risk of corporate interest interfering with the university. In response, Fortier pointed to an AdHoc committee that examines which investments are socially-responsible. “We are careful to not accept money that has strings attached, that [is] not in accord with our own principles and values.

There is a strong policy for accepting gifts so that we preserve the values of the university.”

In general, Fortier supports the expansion of research partnerships. “It is hard for McGill to go as far as making a direct contribution to society – whether it’s developing a new product or policy. You have to work with others.

You have to make partnerships. While research may be an individual activity, innovation is almost always a team effort.”

Although technical research is often given more attention, Fortier noted that McGill partners with a variety of actors, citing recent contributions made by Professor Macdonald, who developed legislation for same-sex marriage. However, Fortier made a clear distinction: “It is not at McGill where the legislation will be passed, but somewhere else.” She added, “We need the professors and students [to] work with outside partners.”

In addition, Fortier sees a need to revise the policies

surrounding the approval of contracted research, especially in areas such as medicine and military technology.

“We need a rigorous process that involves different people from the community, like we do in the ethical conduct of research involving human subjects. There is a group who examines the research protocol, the structure, definition, intention. We need that for contract research.”

The Limits of Innovation Fortier has high hopes for McGill students; however, she is unsure of the impact she can have in helping them realize their potential, given the university’s financial realities. “It is unbelievable the opportunities we have at McGill,” Fortier said. “We should expand on these opportunities. I’d love for the university to be able to invest in ‘out of the box’ ideas – new ideas.

That’s where we make the biggest leap in knowledge.”

Fortier has high hopes for research at McGill.

“Because I came from research, I know McGill is where the biggest advances will come from. The students are really talented and bright. We can invest in them and see a little further.”

“We know in which direction we want to go. What we don’t know, is the pace at which we can get there.”

Fortier acknowledged that the pace is unfortunately determined by the university’s financial situation. “If we had the ability to recruit more resources, we could go faster,” she acknowledged.

Principal Fortier believes McGill students and staff will achieve great advances in technology, science, humanities, and more. She is continuously impressed by McGill’s student body. “No matter what ideas I have, 99 percent of the time, students have already thought of them and started implementing them. There is so much opportunity on this campus.”

SOLIDARITY WITH SURVIVORS STUDENTS ENGAGE IN PASSING SEXUAL ASSAULT POLICY AT MCGILL Ana Maljkovic, News Editor

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n November 13, approximately 50 students gathered in SSMU Lev Bukhman for the effort of getting McGill to pass a sexual assault policy for the first time in the university’s history.

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PHOTO VIA GOODMENPROJECT

The event was presided over by VP University Affairs Claire Stewart-Kanigan and several members of the student working group behind the initial draft of the policy.

The working group held the event as an effort to provide

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NEWS students with information on the progress of the policy, as well as to garner feedback and to give interested students the opportunity to join the movement.

The push for a university supported sexual assault policy was initiated following the controversial and highly-publicized case of three McGill football players who were charged with the sexual assault of a Concordia University student. Although the case has been ongoing for over a year, it was only last November that the Deputy Provost, Ollivier Dyens, made a formal commitment to expanding McGill’s use of proactive measures to address sexual assault on campus.

The student working group behind the policy has been collaborating with the Dean of Students, Andre Costopoulos, and the Harm Reduction and Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, Bianca Tetrault, to draft the proposed policy. However, the group asserts that they are still looking for consultation – ideas and suggestions from the wider McGill community and non-student groups – to form a full-fledged policy that effectively addresses the needs of sexual assault survivors at McGill.

The initial policy was drafted by members of SSMU, the Union for Gender Empowerment (UGE), the Sexual Assault Centre of the McGill Students’ Society (SACOMSS), and the Quebec Public Interest Research Group at McGill (QPIRG McGill). The draft has since been endorsed by the SSMU Council, SSMU Equity Committee, the SSMU Executive, the Feminist Collective of McGill Law (FCML) and Women and the Criminal Law (WCL), all of whom have adopted status as signing parties of the proposal.

A Pro-Survivor Approach One of the primary objectives of the proposed policy is that it intends to take a pro-survivor stance when dealing with sexual assault cases affecting students at McGill.

As stated in Article 3.4.1 of the current draft, “The University recognizes the right of survivors to define and articulate their own diverse experiences, and is committed to respecting the survivor’s self-identification in the context of support and disciplinary proceedings to the degree of possibility.”

The policy also takes a consent-based definition of sexual assault, and defines consent as “an affirmative decision to engage in mutually agreed upon sexual activity and is given by clear words or actions.” Silence, passivity and lack of resistance alone are not considered to be consent, nor are particular sexual acts occurring in dating, marital or sexual relationships without affirmative consent.

Acts occurring in the context of previous sexual activity between two individuals, consent to one form of sexual activity, any form of coercive action in a sexual encounter, drugs or medication, situations of power dynamics, and unconsciousness are also listed in the policy as non-consensual activities.

Still, there is an expectation for some pushback to

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the policy. “I think it would be naive of us to assume that everyone would agree with this policy, especially considering the viewpoint that we put forward is one that is very specific and very rigorously pro-survivor,” explained Kai O’Doherty, a member of the student working group and one of the speakers at the event. “We’re trying to elaborate on why we’re pro-survivor and where that comes from, and why some people’s concerns might not outweigh the need to make survivors feel comfortable to come forward and receive the support they need.”

“People definitely question whether the University is a place for a sexual assault policy, arguing that sexual assault should just be dealt with through the criminal justice system,” expressed Cecilia MacArthur, another member of the working group who spoke at the event. “I think that’s something we really want to emphasize, that not all survivors are comfortable going to the police, and that we want this policy to support them.”

Other mandates in the policy include the creation of an office under the Office of the Dean of Students with the implementation of a full-time Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC) position. This individual is intended to be the primary resource-person for issues regarding sexual assault.

“People definitely question whether the University is a place for a sexual assault policy, arguing that sexual assault should just be dealt with through the criminal justice system,” - Cecilia MacArthur, Student Working Group Cross-Campus Connections The drafting of a formal policy comes at a time when sexual assault on university campuses across Canada and the United States has re-entered the media spotlight.

In Canada, several cases have been reported at schools across the nation, including Lakehead University, where a third-year student expressed claims that the university failed to provide her with help following an assault by a fellow classmate, and the University of Ottawa, where two hockey players were suspended last year and the entire hockey season was cancelled following charges of sexual

December 2014

NEWS assault at a hotel during a team trip to Thunder Bay. Across the border in the United States, there have recently been several high-profile cases, including the efforts of Columbia student Emma Sulkowicz, who developed a performance art piece, “Carry That Weight,” as a form of protest against the fact that her rapist is still on campus. Sulkowicz, along with 22 other students from Columbia and Barnard College, has filed a Title IX complaint against the institutions, claiming they mishandled sexual assault cases.

On the West Coast, meanwhile, the state of California recently implemented a “Yes Means Yes” law, which defines consent on an affirmative basis for all post-secondary educational institutions receiving funding from the state. The law has been met with controversy and pushback, but similar measures have been pushed by the American government, with the publishing of a list of colleges and universities under investigation for violations of Title IX. The list includes Harvard, Princeton, and Berkeley, and every Ivy League school except Harvard has since implemented “affirmative consent” as the norm for sexual encounters on campus.

While some efforts have been made in the United States to dismantle rape culture and promote improvement in sexual assault policy, few Canadian schools have taken steps towards formulating formal sexual assault policies. By law, Canadian universities are not required to keep track of and disclose the number of sexual assaults reported on campus. While some schools have Bystander Intervention programs in effect, and many campuses have support services similar to SACOMSS and Mental Health Offices, there is an overwhelming consensus that the nation’s educational institutions fall short in tackling the issue of sexual assault and rape culture.

For the group behind McGill’s sexual assault policy, this deafening silence is one of the things they hope to combat with the introduction of this proposal.

“Sexual assault does happen. It happens in residences, it happens with students not in residences, it happens with people who aren’t students. It happens.

And in terms of proof, there aren’t many high profile cases because it’s hard to come out as a survivor and support systems are typically confidential,” O’Doherty expressed.

“There’s a reason SACOMSS exists. It exists because there is a problem for which there is a lack of support, such that students have made their own group to support survivors.

And they’re very much running, very much doing a lot of work. So there’s definitely sexual assault that happens on campus, and it’s not talked about because of the nature of the problem, because of the nature of those who are affected by it, and also because of the lack of willingness for people to hear about it and for it to be something we talk about.”

An Implementation for Change Although the process of drafting the sexual assault

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policy has been in the works for quite some time, the parties involved acknowledge that the timeline ahead may be long. Once the proposal is finalized, it will be brought to Senate to be voted on.

“There’s no way to really predict how long it will take to go through Senate,” explained MacArthur, “but we have talked about trying to get a policy that we’re happy with by the end of this scholastic year. We have been working with the administration, so I would say that this initial draft is something we are content with, but obviously we have very little student consultation. We’ve been working with a specific group of people from a couple of different student groups, so now is the time that we are opening it up.”

“Obviously, we want this to get to Senate as soon as possible, but we also want to make sure this is the most adequately consulted process possible,” O’Doherty added.

“In the past we’ve said we want it implemented this year, but at this point our priority is to make sure we come forward with something we’re happy with.”

Although the proposed policy is very much student-focused and intended to attend to the needs of survivors at McGill, the student working group hopes to garner both consultation and support from non-student groups on campus. Once the process of passing the policy through Senate is complete, the group will work closely with McGill administration to draft an Implementation Guide that will outline specific details regarding procedure and discipline, among other things.

While collaboration with McGill has improved, it seems there is still more to do, particularly with regards to the university continuing to show an active investment in promoting a safer space for survivors of sexual assault.

“I would say it would be a gross overestimation that McGill has changed its view and is now doing incredible things for survivors. I think that Andre has been working with us really hard, and the hiring of Bianca is really important she has been doing great work, so I think that those two specific people have been working with us,” O’Doherty concluded. “In terms of greater McGill, we don’t really have a gauge yet, to be honest [...] We’re going to have to prove to them that rape culture exists, we’re going to have to prove that survivors exist, we’re going to have to prove to them that this policy is useful, and then we’re going to have to get them to pass it. And I don’t think that’s going to be an easy process.”

If you have experienced sexual assault, student resources on campus are available. The Bull & Bear encourages all survivors and their allies to reach out to SACOMSS. For support and more information on SACOMSS’ services, call 514-398-8500, drop in to the Centre or visit www.sacomss.org.

If you are interested in learning more about the proposed policy, or would like to get involved with the process of passing a sexual assault policy at McGill, you can visit http://sexualassaultpolicyatmcgill.com.

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DECEMBER FEATURE

THE HOLIDAY FEATURE YOUR BEST SOURCE FOR FINALS PROCRASTINATION

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December 2014

Feature

HOME FOR THE

HOLIDAYS

A look at the different opportunities available to students celebrating the holidays away from home

Victoria Eon, News Writer

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ecember in Montreal brings plenty of snow, festivities and the familiarity of home. However, for the many students who can’t go home during the two week break and instead stay at McGill throughout the holiday season, traditions can be reconfigured to meet a new standard.

Far From Home McGill attracts young people from all over the world.

Unfortunately, due to hefty travel expenses or time constraints, not all these students can afford to go home and spend the holidays with their families, particularly international students.

Each year, McGill faculty and staff are encouraged to host international students for a holiday meal, winter activity, or family gathering. Organized by Student Housing Services, the Holiday Hosting Program is designed to alleviate homesickness and gives students the opportunity to celebrate major holidays in a family setting. In order to participate in this extension of McGill hospitality, students must complete an application process, then are selected and matched to faculty members’ families.

New Traditions For many students who stay in Montreal spending the holidays with a host family is not always an option. Chris Zhang, a U2 Food Chemistry student, celebrated Hanukkah 2013 with a friend in Ontario. “I learned the meaning behind the holiday, and witnessed his family’s traditions.”

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PHOTO VIA VAREESHA KHAN

Since coming to McGill, Zhang, a student from China, believes he has adapted well to Montreal winters, and has acquired new ways to celebrate the season. “I went back to China over the summer,” Zhang said. “I spent half my time studying and the other half doing whatever I like: reading, traveling, and singing.” Zhang added, “I do my hobbies during the holidays and that’s my celebration.”

Samantha Leong Jun Wei (U0 Dietetics) looks forward to travelling and participating in Winter sports such as skiing. Leong, a student from Singapore, plans on visiting Mont Tremblant and spending time with friends and sorority sisters. However, despite making alternative plans for her first Winter Break, Leong admits that missing out on family celebrations will be tough.

“Most of my friends are going back to their own country, so I have no plans for Christmas if I stay in Montreal,” Leong explained. “It’s so festive but you aren’t in the mood to celebrate when you’re alone.”

Staying in Montreal While university holiday programming caters primarily to international students, there are many from the Montreal area whose families have moved away or choose to spend their holidays elsewhere. Despite these changes, these students still consider Montreal their home, and thus some choose to stay. Others become close with their friends in Montreal and choose to celebrate the holidays with them. In this case, “home” doesn’t come pre-packaged with all the amenities needed to celebrate a holiday

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Feature

PHOTO VIA VAREESHA KHAN

meal, for example. Therefore, students are required to reinvent the process of partaking in the holiday cheer.

“I have friends from out of province or from Quebec who feel more closely connected with their friends than family,” said Madeleine Hackstetter, U2 Nutrition.

“Spending the holidays on your own and putting down roots in a new place is an integral part of becoming an adult,” she added. “Forming new traditions and lifelong bonds with people you’ll spend the holidays with starts in university. It starts with the people you meet now.”

The natural transition away from traditional family-centered events is a common part of growing up. It is a hallmark trait of adulthood, a time when workplace obligations can prevent quick trips home. This major shift normally occurs after undergraduate education, which makes the McGill community different.

‘Framily’ The university experience refines personal routines and beliefs, and even modulates how and when students celebrate. New relationships fill the emotional gap created byleft by being far away from family. These bonds lessen the heartache of being distant from family for some, while for others, new friendships fulfill a need that could never be accomplished by a biological family.

In this parallel sphere of social relationships, friends tend to form ‘friend families,’ or “Framilies,” to compensate for the lack of biological family with whom to celebrate. Clubs, teams, and other peer networks become seasonal or even permanent replacements for biological

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“Forming new traditions and lifelong bonds with people you’ll spend the holidays with starts in university. It starts with the people you meet now.”

- Madeline Hackstetter, U2 Nutrition student families. Such new traditions are made on the framework of old traditions.

While most students view going home as a standard, some students view it as a luxury, especially for those who can’t go home or have no home to return to.

“I believed that going home was a standard growing up,” said Sarah Dowd, U3 Education. “When I joined university and realized how international it was, it became clear that seeing my family as often as I do is a privilege.”

Dowd described how her sorority accommodates women who can’t go home by hosting Thanksgiving dinners and Christmas parties. “We make the holidays easier.”

December 2014

Feature

CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS: A WORLD TOUR

You thought ugly sweaters and a giant tree in the living room was weird?

Niall Carolan, Lifestyle Writer

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s our semester crescendos into a finale of cramming and frostbite, students can be left with little to hope for. While coffee and endless knit-wear do their best to keep us sane, let’s take a look at the lighter side of the holiday season. With bizarre traditions being passed on for generations without question, it is not surprising that the holidays are a breeding ground for absurdity. Starting in North America and travelling across the globe, it’s quite fun to explore quirky Holiday celebrations that don’t involve Saint Nick.

Among the multitude of ridiculous holiday traditions around the world, many come from North America. The most common tradition in Christian households is the decoration of the Christmas tree. I myself love decorating Christmas trees, yet not once have I stopped to think “Huh, I wonder why Dad just dragged a 10 ft tall evergreen into our living room?”

The legend begins in 7th Christianity by using the fir tree as a symbol of the Holy Trinity. (For the record, the only correlation between the tree and the Trinity is the triangular shape – just go with it). Germans began decorating the trees to attract people to Christmas fairs in the hopes of luring them into buying gifts and food for the

“Huh, I wonder why Dad just dragged a 10 ft tall evergreen into our living room?” bullandbearmcgill.com

holiday season. The tradition eventually made its way to North America during the American Revolution. Fighting on behalf of the British, German soldiers posted in Canada during Christmas time began decorating the trees around them. Although they were the enemy, their tradition stuck with the Canadians. After that, Christmas trees began appearing in England upon the arrival of King George III. Slowly, decorated trees became the norm during the reign of Queen Victoria. The size of the British Empire was enough to establish the traditional ornamenting of the tree around the world, but mostly in the Americas.

Now, to examine the ultimate celebration of shameless holiday-tackiness: the ugly Christmas sweater. Holiday editions of the plain sweater became wildly popular in the last several decades thanks to social media. Although not always Christmas themed, his wearing of hideous sweaters were pioneering laid the foundation for ugly sweaters everywhere. Lights, tinsel, and shiny balls were adhered to sweaters to make them just a little bit more tacky. Thus began the era of ugly Christmas sweaters. While the trend faded away in the ‘90s, it somehow weaseled its way back into our lives in the early 2000s (an interesting correlation to note: the number of “Ugly Christmas sweater” parties increased during the re-emergence of the trend).

Just when you thought the summit of outrageous traditions had been reached, I introduce to you: the Christmas Pickle. It is a decorative glass ornament like any other, but with origins steeped in superstition. This odd Christmas decoration first appeared in Germany (clearly, Germany was an innovative hub) in the 1880s and spread to the Americas by import. The idea behind the Christmas Pickle is bizarre: it is the last ornament to be hung deep inside the tree. In the morning, the first child to find the

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Feature Pickle receives an extra gift from “Santa Claus.” If an adult finds it first, the Pickle is said to bring them good luck for New Year. While this seemingly unfair Pickle hunting contest is not as widely accepted as the “Christmas tree” century Northern Germany when St. Boniface converted the Pagan tribes to or the “Ugly Christmas Sweater,” it has its own pockets of extreme fandom. Fun fact: Berrien Springs, Michigan hosts the annual pickle festival in early December to “spring” into the holiday season.

Crazy holiday traditions are not just limited to our great continent. One holiday tradition that is equally meaningful to itscountry of origin as it is humorous to the rest of the world is the Christmas pudding ritual in England. This pudding is made at least five weeks in advance on the last Sunday before Advent – the Christian time of reflection before Christmas – and must have at least 13 ingredients, representing Christ and his disciples.

The smell of the pudding swirling throughout the house is said to mark the start of the holiday festivities.

The real hilarity of this tradition lies in the process of making the pudding. The whole family must help out in its preparation by stirring the mixture while making a wish and... adding coins. The English believe that the coins will bring wealth, health, and happiness to those that find it while eating the pudding. Let’s hope so, as the resulting visit to the dentist after cracking a molar while eating Christmas dessert doesn’t seem too pleasant. If the possibility of losing teeth doesn’t excite you enough, fear not, as the pudding is then set on fire prior to consumption to represent the passion of Christ. Regardless of whether you consider this Christmas pudding as a tasty dessert or just a strange and unusual holiday celebration, the English should get credit for their originality.

Now, to examine the ultimate celebration of shameless holiday tackiness: the ugly Christmas sweater.

Let’s bring our focus to St. Lucia Day in Sweden. On December 13, Swedish girls dress up in long white gowns and red sashes to imitate a Lucian Bride in honor of the third-century saint. To make the tradition extra wacky, the girls wear a wreath of burning candles on their head.

The parents are then woken up by the girls singing songs and offering coffee, either that or from the acrid smell of burning hair wafting through the house. If there is ever an acceptable time to put a burning wreath on your head... actually... nevermind: there is never an acceptable time to

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wear something burning on your head. There should be serious safety concerns with this tradition.

The next absurd end-of-year tradition is Spain’s Caganer. A direct translation of “Caganer,” is literally “defecator.” With this knowledge in mind, it’s not hard to guess that this tradition is commemorated by figurines of people popping a squat to... you guessed it... defecate. It may not be the total “em-body-ment” of holiday cheer we have come to expect, but why judge? The tradition behind this less-than-charming statuette lies in placing the squatter in your nativity scene to avoid a poor crop harvest and general bad fortune. To make it even more ridiculous, vendors have begun stocking Caganers with familiar faces, such as Barack Obama and Channing Tatum.

Travelling East to Japan, this tradition is more of a habit than a sentimental meaning.. Although Christmas isn’t widely celebrated in Japan, many still choose to partake in a holiday meal on December 25th. The kicker?

It’s provided by KFC. This tradition originally began in 1974, when KFC’s marketing committee decided to create a meal that would help foreigners visiting the country during the holidays feel more at home. However, the plan did not really work, and it was the Japanese locals rather than the visitors that came to fully embrace the tradition.

Presently, KFC Christmas dinner is so popular in Japan that KFC chains there actually recommend placing a holiday order two months in advance!

Finally, moving to South America, the ceremonious events get a bit dark. Guatemala’s “La Quema del Diablo” happens around December 7. On this day, Guatemalans collect their garbage and create a giant heap in the street, onto which they place an image of the devil. They then proceed to set it on fire. This ritual is said to rid households of evil spirits and negative energy. Although the activity may be meaningful to the participating Guatemalans, it can be an interesting sight for foreigners visiting at that time.

An outlandish tradition almost as peculiar as the Guatemalan devil-lighting ritual is the Venezuelan Christmas roller skating tradition. In the capital city of Caracas, residents from each corner of the city roller-skate to the early morning Christmas mass. As if the roller skates weren’t weird enough, during the night before, all Venezuelan children tie one end of a string to their big toe and hang the other end out of the window for the skaters to pull on as they skate by.

The holiday season can clearly be celebrated in many different ways, and while most winter traditions differ in practice and origin the underlying concept is uniform: it is a special time to share with your loved ones. For that reason, I encourage everyone to participate in an extremely wacky or strange tradition that means something to you!

And if all else fails, I hope some of these crazy stories bring a sense of normality to our own masochistic Holiday tradition here at McGill, consisting of sleep deprivation, constant studying, and endless classes.

December 2014

Feature

Sleigh Bells on

Sherbrooke A Collective Christmas List for Santa’s Favorite University Ryan Ehrenworth, Opinion Writer

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las, Christmas time is here. Santa has made his naughty list and checked it twice.

Though, admittedly it might be hard to convince Santa that McGill students have been nice this year, I took the liberty of writing a wish list anyway:

1. Money

7. Real Food

A meal consisting of ramen noodles and hot sauce doesn’t quite cover all the food groups.

8. Maid Service

Picking up empty beer bottles and cleaning puke off the floor might just be a full-time job.

In the famous words of Jerry Maguire, “Show me the money!” Because, let’s be honest, that’s why we go home for the holidays anyways.

9. Reusable Cups

2. A Gift Card to Gerts

10. The Return of OAP

Because they don’t accept meal plans yet.

For when Solo cups just won’t cut it.

I can dream of summer, can’t I?

11. A Lifetime Supply of Coffee

3. A New Roommate

I’d like to upgrade to a better/newer model.

Should be enough to keep me awake through finals.

4. A NEW GPA

12. Mountain Climbing Gear

I think my old one is broken.

5. A Pair of Slip-free Shoes

To help make it to the summit of Montreal’s most treacherous hills – or just to reach Upper Rez.

No one wants to admit that they’ve taken a spill in all 19 Montreal boroughs.

13. A Re-Opened McTavish Street

6. A Dishwasher

14. A Montreal Canadiens Stanley Cup

That pile of dishes in your sink is almost as tall as Mount Royal.

This might be a better wish for next year.

Just kidding, that’s never going to happen!

Joyeuses fêtes, McGill!

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Feature

Boxing Day

The holiday season is what many hope to be a substantial boost to consumption and GDP

Sébastien Grégoire, Business Writer

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he boxer is sitting on the stool in the corner of the ring. The flashes of the camera sparkle across the stadium, and reporters stand waiting for the finale. He’s about to begin the 12th and last round, when his coach reminds him that he lost most of the previous rounds, and that to win the match, he must K.O. his opponent. If he loses, he will never get another chance at a decent fight, and it just might be the end of his career; the public will lose faith in him and promoters will no longer see potential in him. Before re-entering the fight, he inhales ammonia salts, a chemical that will boost his heart rate enabling him to go all in on his opponent.

Oddly enough, retail stores in present day North America find themselves in a similar situation. It is the 12th and last month of the year and they’ve had disappointing sales the whole year long. Some companies even face bankruptcy if sales don’t live up to expectation, and their only saviour from imminent doom is the holidays.

All countries with a strong gifting culture will get a boost in their consumption culture.

Between the period of American Thanksgiving and Christmas, retailers in the United States make about $620 billion, representing 25 percent of revenues and 60 percent profits of yearly sales. In that same period, big companies will hire approximately 768,000 additional employees to work during the busy season. Needless to say, all businesses operate at full capacity to answer to the demand spike.

Since the economic crisis of 2008/2009, sales during the holidays have decreased, but are steadily regaining lost ground. According to the Gallup polling agency, Americans were each spending on average $907 in 2007, compared with $715 in 2010. The decrease in spending, although recovering, is a testament to consumers’ growing price sensitivity and fiscal conservatism.

An important segment of the holiday dependant businesses that has seen a decline in sales is the greeting cards sector. Since 2008, consumers have found other cheaper and practical ways to send messages to loved ones, such as sending themed e-mails or printing their own personalized Christmas card using popular websites like Moonpig.

Consequently, Hallmark, an industry leader, had to close a manufacturing plant in the USA, and another in Canada.

Also, Clinton cards, the lead greeting cards company in the United Kingdom, had to close shop altogether.

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Meanwhile, the least affected sector is the sales of Christmas trees. In fact, the number of sales has not decreased at all since data exists on the subject, and the size of the market is quite impressive. In the USA alone, people buy over 33 million real trees making it a $1 billion dollar industry. As for the market in Europe, Danish growers dominate the industry. The about 3500 growers export around 10 million trees, mainly to Germany and the UK. This year, economists, politicians, businesses, and in particular, retailers, look forward to the holidays to boost the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for 2014. The National Retail Federation (NRF) expects sales to grow in America by 4.1 percent in 2014, in comparison with last year’s growth of 3.1 percent, to reach a figure of $616.9 billion. The growth can be explained by a number of reasons, the most important being that retail businesses now are more present on social media than ever and can adjust price and inventory quantity of important items according to what customers look at and discuss on Facebook.

The NRF also forecasts business growth between 8 percent and 11 percent for online retailing. PWC and Deloitte, two professional services firms, hold similar predictions. All large retailing businesses have realized that the online business has gradually captured market share.

To regain market share and re-establish their presence, they have adapted their traditional models to follow in the footsteps of Amazon, the pioneer of the online retailing market. Realistically, they have no choice; the rational consumer is expected to buy online instead of going to the store. Buying online is often the less expensive option for consumers as online items are cheaper, there is no consumption tax for online items in the US, and customers save gas money by having their items delivered to their homes. In the future, online retailing is expect to outgrow its bricks-and-mortar competitors.

Retailers only have from Black Friday until New Year’s Eve to make up for disappointing year-to-date sales. With customers being much more price sensitive than before the crisis, and with tough competition from powerful companies like Amazon and Wal-Mart, firms are expected to start price wars in which only the fittest will survive.

The bell has rung for the start of the last round: It’s boxing time!

December 2014

Business

The Black Friday Massacre Investigating the consumer hysteria behind one of the most anticipated weekends all year Alexandre Duchesne, Business Writer

H

ave you ever heard of the Black Friday Death Count? Since 2008, the Black Friday Death Count website has compiled a census of the deaths and injuries resulting from the consumerist plebian dementia, definitive of Black Friday. From the Southern California Toys R Us shooting to deadly Walmart stampedes, it is time, as Walter Lippman would say, to free ourselves from the “trampling and the roar of the bewildered herd.”

Quintessential Consumerism Since 2009, total Black Friday spending expenditures have grown at a yearly rate of 21.15 percent, reaching a gargantuan amount of $57.4 billion in 2013. With 23 percent of retail shoppers camping the night before the long-anticipated day, Black Friday is indubitably a financial massacre for 307 million U.S customers falling year after year into the pernicious traps engineered by retail colossuses.

Corporations initiate the first phase of their Black Friday strategy by implementing aggressive marketing campaigns based on conclusive metrics, targeting the female market. According to a 2006 study by Omnitel, 31 percent more females feel happiness and physiological arousal during shopping experiences, as compared to their male counterparts. Retailers exploit such fault lines in customers’ psychological paradigms and advertising sensitivity, manipulating prices, and thus creating a sentiment of urgency through exclusive price discounts and artificial shortages.

Based on a behavioral survey conducted by Eastern Illinois University, these techniques seem effective. More than 25.2 percent of sampled customers exhibited anxiety during their Black Friday experience. Excitement, happiness and irritability were perceptible on 24.3, 26.6, and 24.3 percent of subjects respectively. What deserves more attention is that during the investigation, observers have denoted increases in irritable aggression (9.9), territorial aggression (8.6), tension (12.6), and yelling (10.4 percent).

In parallel to the traditional three-axial advertising campaigns, retailers deploy an exclusive, fictitious annual

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discount event on a vast array of products. As claimed

by Decide Inc.’s independent survey, items ranging from dolls to jewelry can be found at prices “below Black Friday’s levels” throughout the year. Paradoxically, ascendant pricing trajectories were denoted in the weeks leading up to Black Friday’s hype week. A common example of this subversive demand-oriented pricing scheme is the average price of a Samsung 46-inch Television sold for $1,159 in October. On last Black Friday, the exact article was tagged $1,355.

One can argue that such a price adjustment mechanism is only a reflection of the microeconomic principles of supply-demand. However, what explains the frenzy surrounding Black Friday? According to Arnold Aronson, former CEO of Batus Retail Group, new technologies have permitted the “craft of Black Friday deals that maximize the promotional benefit without wiping out profit.”

With new analytic and data querying tools, MasterCard recently suggested that customers make 70 percent of their purchases at the first two locations they visit, thus increasing the impetus of effective marketing coverage.

Acting as a catalyst, the adoption of proactive aggressive year-long discount measures by online retailers, such as Amazon, has transformed Black Friday into a marketing-directed bonanza.

On top of that, Black Friday’s pervasive strategic marketing induces people to disregard a central axiom of economics: opportunity cost. With 23 percent of retail shoppers braving the cold during the first hour of Friday, and considering the estimated average U.S hourly wage of $21.35, it seems funny that people actually do not save money from attending such exclusive events. Stores open at 7:00 am. Seven hours in line multiplied by $21.35 per hour leaves us with $150 in opportunity costs. Benefiting from average discounts of 35 percent off the “original” price, Black Friday customers spending on average $407.23 will save $219.28. Deducting the $150 from these savings, a gross marginal benefit of $69.28 can be identified. Therefore, a real saving discount of 17 percent can be derived – an offer which can be found yearlong.

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Business

No Longer Too Big To Fail: The End of the Government Bailout Era? New Regulations Would Allow Important Banks to Fail Without Threatening the Wider Economy PHOTO VIA THE DAILY JOURNALIST

Maud Chiche, Business Writer The 1980s: Bailout of Continental Illinois Bank and Birth of the Too Big To Fail Banking Model e have a new kind of bank. It is called too big to fail, TBTF, and it is a wonderful bank,” declared US Congressman Stewart B. McKinney in 1984 after the federal government’s $4.5 billion bailout to rescue the Continental Illinois Bank. McKinney coined the name of what later was considered one of the factors that led to the financial crisis of 2008.

The model relies on a simple fact: when the consequences on the economy of an important bank’s failure are considered greater than the amount of money required to rescue it, a government bailout is the most likely outcome, either through a merger or injection of government capital.

The expansion of economic neoliberalism witnessed in the 1980s, in particular through the elections of Margaret Thatcher in the UK in 1979 and Ronald Reagan in the US in 1980, encouraged free market and “laissez-faire” politics. Countries were opening their frontiers to free flows of capital and the banking system was expanding faster than ever before.

Laissez-faire capitalism gave banks greater freedom with respect to attaining capital and making investment decisions, consequently promoting a more risk-taking behaviour. The free-market environment gave birth to the “TBTF” banks. Ironically, as anti-capitalist as the concept is, the contradiction never raised strong doubt about the risks involved for the economy. Perhaps, investors were blinded by the explosion of the banking industry.

The TBTF banks took advantage of the free-market era to empower and enrich themselves, while unknowingly becoming more and more dependent on government intervention in the event of an economic slump.

W

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2008: Role of Too Big To Fail Banks in the Financial Crisis In 2010, Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke gave a more precise definition of the term TBTF: “A too-bigto-fail firm is one whose size, complexity, interconnectedness, and critical functions are such that, should the firm go unexpectedly into liquidation, the rest of the financial system and the economy would face severe adverse consequences.”

Reading this definition today, we are instantaneously reminded of past events such as the bailouts of Bear Stearns, AIG, and Merrill Lynch in 2008. More broadly, this reflects the passing of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 and the “bailout” of the US financial system – creating the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Plan (TARP) to purchase the failing banks’ distressed assets. Alternatively, we witnessed the consequences that

The model relies on a simple fact: when the consequences on the economy of an important bank’s failure are considered greater than the amount of money required to rescue it, a government bailout is the most likely outcome, either through a merger or injection of government capital.

December 2014

Business followed the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers – a TBTF bank by most definitions – leading us to wonder if the economic consequences would have been less severe had the government intervened.

The banks were truly “too big to fail” and they knew it. Their creditors knew it too, and figured that they would end up being paid, even in case of financial distress – and they were right. During the 2008 financial crisis, most bondholders, even some holding subordinated or junior debt, were left untouched at the expense of taxpayers.

ulations can be raised. In fact, even if the solvency problem of the important banks is resolved, the complicated structure of the big banks makes them very difficult to terminate operations, as shown by the rejection of the “living will” of 11 big banks by American officials last August. In addition, only 27 global banks – such as Citigroup and HSBC – will have to comply with the TLAC requirements, chiefly because the new buffer would not apply to smaller banks and big banks in China and other emerging markets. As a result, only the bigger, more globally-established players will have to raise huge amounts of capital.

For example, analysts at Citi estimated that it would cost European banks 3 percent of their 2016 profit if they were given until 2019 to implement the changes.

The impact on the future global banking is still uncertain. The costs incurred by the targeted banks might hurt their competitiveness and force them to reduce their size, but smaller might also mean safer. If the measures are implemented, we will not know whether the TBTF model of banking has successfully disappeared until witnessing how the banks react to the next financial crisis.

November 10, 2014: The Total Loss-Absorbing Capacity Plan unveiled by the Financial Stability Board At the 2013 G20 Summit held in St. Petersburg, the Financial Stability Board (FSB) was called to collaborate “with standard-setting bodies to assess and develop proposals by end-2014 on the adequacy of global, systemically-important financial institutions’ loss-absorbing capacity when they fail.”

The explicit mission given to the FSB was to create regulations that would make the important banks no longer “too big to fail.” This means that their failure should have no threat to the wider economy, and thus not require government intervention.

On November 10th 2014, the FSB presented the “total loss-absorbing capacity” (TLAC) plan. The global regulation on capital is to be set by a G20 Summit in 2015. It is composed of two main lines of regulations. First, important banks will be obligated to have a buffer of bonds or equity of at least 16-20% of their risk-weighted assets, starting from January 2019. The objective of the capital requirement is to make the banks more solvent and, thus, less vulnerable to future crises. Secondly, the principle of “bailing in” creditors is to be implemented. This implies that regulators would be given the ability to mandate that creditors actually suffer losses on part of their investments, in case of financial distress, to bail in a bank before taxpayers are called up on to bail it out. This would reduce aggressive lending and protect taxpayers should another financial crisis occur.

Some concerns about the effectiveness of the new reg-

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Business

The Future of Canadian Energy INTEGRATING PROSPERITY WITH RESPECT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND FIRST NATION RIGHTS

Jason Lee, Business Writer

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t is the very fundamental pillar of Canadian economy, and it is a Canadian asset that almost the entire world depends upon. No, the Canadian bacon or the maple syrup are not the topics of discussion here. Instead, it is the Canadian energy industry.

Canada currently is the 5th largest energy producer of the world, and is one of the few developed nations that is a net energy exporter. The country is home to the third largest oil reserves, only after Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. Canada’s largest stock exchange, the Toronto Stock Exchange, is highly dependent on the energy companies, as they make up more than 20 percent of its members.

Needless to say, the economic and political importance of energy in Canada cannot be overstated. Yet, the topic is rarely discussed among McGill undergraduates. To understand Canada and its economy, one has to understand the opportunities, the challenges, and ultimately, the future of our energy industry.

Canada’s Advantages The world population is projected to reach 8 billion by 2035. Global demand is expected to rise by 50 percent by the same year. What is notable is that this growth will be accompanied by an exponential increase in demand for clean energy. Liquefied Natural Gas, often abbreviated as LNG, has been at the core of this demand. As a natural gas that has been transformed into liquid form, LNG occupies

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PHOTO VIA THE HUFFINGTON POST

almost 1/600th the volume of conventional natural gas in its gaseous state. Hailed as one of the cleanest natural resources, the trade of LNG has tripled since 1997.

This shift in energy consumption patterns is expected to bring a significant amount of wealth to Canadians. The LNG in British Columbia alone is projected to bring in $150 million in tax revenues and $500 million in GDP over the next 25 years. Because the world’s overall consumption of natural gas has been growing, there is great potential for Canadian producers of liquefied natural gas, which is pegged to the prices of oil and oil products.

Efficient energy use by Canadian consumers also contributes to domestic profits. By 2035, the energy consumption per unit will decrease by 20 percent. As a result, the National Energy Board (NEB) predicts that, over the next 20 years, production levels be greater than domestic needs – meaning exports of energy will be far greater than imports.

Canada’s relatively stable political and economical grounds relative to other producers makes the country an attractive area for energy investment. This is crucial as the oil extraction is a capital-heavy industry and requires significant upfront investment for development.

Largely due to strict government regulations and an initially strong economy, Canada enjoyed the highest job creation, economic improvement and financial stewardship during the aftermath of the financial crisis.

December 2014

Business The energy industry stands to benefit from this stability and economic predictability. The volatility of the Middle Eastern oil industry will draw away investors who will likely take a bearish stance after the economic recession in 2008.

The Canadian government’s efforts in securing Canada’s competitive position in the global market have proven somewhat effective. The government has entered nine free trade agreements in less than six years, including an agreement with India, one of the world’s fastest growing markets. Furthermore, China has become one of Canada’s key trade partners; exports to China increased by 15 percent between 2011 and 2012 alone.

This trade growth has been viewed favorably by foreign investors, who have doubled their investments in Canada between 2009 to 2013 to the tune of an astounding figure $64.2 billion.

By 2035, the energy consumption per unit will decrease by 20 percent.

Economic Challenges As exemplified by British Columbia’s proposed twotier tax regimes for LNG projects, regulatory measures are probably the biggest obstacles facing the Canadian energy industry, Because the market’s growing competitiveness will out-price the costly businesses, Canada is increasingly viewed as a high-cost ground for exploration and production of energy.

With the US investors’ bullish stance on oil projects and the American government’s approval of several LNG terminals and pipelines to Mexico, Canadians should be alarmed by the possibility of our southern neighbour considering an energy alternative to fuel their Fords. After all, Canada currently sends 98 percent of its energy exports to the US. The perception of Canada’s energy being expensive will be devastating for the industry. Though the cash flow into Canada has been positive, there has been a decline of capital inflow into Canadian energy. With $15.8 billion dollars received, this represents a 22 percent decrease in the dollar value from 2012, a downturn which can be partly attributed to the fact that the developing countries have been receiving a greater share of the energy investments ever since the 2008 financial crisis. This trend is worrying because the LNG terminals require considerable amounts of funds. Therefore, Canada must remain an attractive investment option for the foreign investors if it

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is to sustain its energy industry.

First Nations The Canadian government’s approval of the Northern Gateway Project was indeed a controversial one. The project would send heavy, oil-bearing bitumen to Asia. The Canadian producers would benefit from the diversification of their markets, and the extreme dependency on the US would be somewhat alleviated. Economically, it made sense.

However, the government was heavily criticized for its supposed disregard to the welfare of the First Nations population. Following a Supreme Court decision a decade ago, the First Nations groups had to be consulted and accommodated if such a project were to cross their land.

In the case of infringements, these groups hold the right to reject the project. Nevertheless, the terms of the ruling were deemed to be vague and insufficient, and most legal experts argue that the native groups do not have a influential veto in such decisions.

There are fervent oppositions from the Coastal First Nations: a union of nine native groups that have vowed to take legal action against the project. They have formed a united opposition with several environmental groups to prevent the completion of the project.

This opposition is only a small sample of the conflicts existing in the Canadian energy industry today. Along with the Northern Gateway Pipeline, different segments of Canada’s Aboriginal population have voiced their grievances against an array of energy projects nationwide. In Alberta, a total of 17 First Nations are preparing a long list of lawsuits to maintain their rights. The rapidity and intensity of energy development is often criticized by these Aboriginal actors as a result of the excessive amount of power given to the government. Lawsuits occur when discussions fail, and the Canadian government must accomplish its duty to first consult with the First Nations before they can proceed with the economic development, especially when it takes place on land historically owned

by First Nations as their hunting grounds.

Canada’s Future Surely, the market for Canadian energy is growing.

Canadian producers should continue to leverage their attractiveness on the global market, and at the same time, balance the need to respect domestic rights. To do so, our government should continue to develop strong partnerships with export markets overseas and take the utmost care to design energy policies that will attract vital foreign investments while protecting our domestic businesses.

Lastly, fair and equitable cooperation must be fostered between the Canadian industry and the First Nations for the production and transportation of energy. A respect for democracy is necessary for the proper leveraging of clean energy and the maintenance for Canada’s economic health.

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Opinion

Why Are You So

obsessed with my ass?

My Anaconda Don’t Want None Unless You Empower Women, Son Ailisha Macharia, Opinion Writer Jennifer Yoon, Opinion Editor 22

December 2014

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nless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve seen Nicki Minaj’s latest music video: “Anaconda”.

Already, it’s been quite the pop-culture centerpiece of 2014, and, as such, has garnered much discussion – with reactions ranging from utter disgust to many a resounding “yaaaas.”

Personally, my first screening of “Anaconda” pushed me to a seemingly counterintuitive conclusion: Nicki Minaj is actually a great role model for young women. I’m not saying – by any stretch of the measure – that she is the perfect feminist role model. However, as flawed as her brand of feminism may be, Onika nonetheless serves as a feminist role model. At best, she is amplifying a powerful image about women reclaiming our bodies; at the very least, she is pushing us to revisit the perception of women in pop culture.

My opinion is not shared by the majority, as most critics have vehemently – and unfairly – maintained that Nicki is “demeaning herself.” All the same, it’s not fair to say that Nicki is attracting misogyny. The fundamental problem with such superficial criticism is that self-objectification – notwithstanding the fact that it makes no sense logically, physically or even grammatically – is not what Nicki is trying to do. Nicki is trying to empower herself by emphasizing her sexuality. She is sending a message that it is possible for a woman to embrace her sexuality independently. It’s true that she’s objectifying the women around her, but with good purpose. To understand the basis behind this claim, we must look into the reasons behind “Anaconda”’s controversy.

Is the debate surrounding the video derived from the idea that the female body is lewd, vulgar, and borderline pornographic? No. Now, let’s call a spade a spade: there is nothing new or scandalous about Nicki’s bare ass. What’s scandalous is that she is in complete control in a video full of objectified and hypersexualized women. She maintains eye contact with the camera, she slaps away Drake’s hand when he touches her – she is always in the centre.

Doesn’t that setup – an empowered individual surrounded by women serving as hypersexual props – sound familiar? Of course it does: this tableau basically describes half of pop culture today. We are so used to the image of the female body being monitored by a man to the point that nobody even blinked an eye when three women were writhing around naked in Justin Timberlake’s Tunnel Vision, or in A$AP Rocky’s F**kin Problems. This being said, why is it so unacceptable for us to accept women reappropriating our own bodies? Seeing as we’re so scandalized by Nicki’s audacity in reclaiming her own sexuality, it has obviously become hard for us to grasp the very notion that a woman could willingly take her clothes off for her own benefit and on her own terms.

The subjugation of women by men is often symbolized through the juxtaposition of a clothed man in a room full of bare women. Nicki, however, doesn’t need clothes to justify her authority: her bareness acts as the armour

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Opinion equivalent to a man’s garb. If, as evidenced by this video, a black woman deciding to wear revealing and sexually-suggestive clothing while giving a man a lap dance – because she is proud of and confident in her sexiness – is a sign that she absolutely respects herself, then why is it that we have so much trouble respecting her, too?

Perhaps Nicki decided to exaggeratedly objectify the women around her as a manner of saying “look at these women, so ubiquitously used as accessories.” Through that perspective, Nicki, as a woman, is challenging – even urging – the viewer to denounce the immorality in her actions. In the context of the thousands of videos in which male artists do the exact same thing, Nicki’s own presentation erves as a very powerful tool of contrast.

In fact, I’m convinced that “Anaconda” is meant to point out this absurd double-standard: that somehow it’s acceptable for a room full of half-naked women to cocoon and be reined in by a man, but it is absolutely unacceptable when such a role is taken over by a woman.

Ultimately, what Nicki is trying to highlight through this video is an example of a woman sexualizing her own body, but – shockingly – not for the benefit of men. She’s firmly taking a stance and asserting that women have no obligation to partake in their own objectification at the hands of men.

If men are criticising Nicki because her revealing clothing makes it easier for them to objectify her, then that’s their problem. But, the bigger issue here is not how Nicki is shaking her ass in front of the camera, but how we, as a society, are responding to her. Specifically, by labelling uncensored libido – namely Nicki giving Drake a lap dance – as inappropriate, we are censoring a huge part of our existence. How do you think you were conceived?

Divine intervention?

In an interview with Complex Magazine, Nicki Minaj clarifies the message of her video: “Every woman is multifaceted. Every woman has a switch, whether she’s going to be maternal, whether she’s going to be a man-eater, whether she has to kick ass, whether she has to be one of the boys, whether she has to show the guys that she’s just as smart or smarter, she’s just as talented or creative. Women suppress a lot of their sides.”

It’s undoubtedly clear that Nicki Minaj purposed her video to show a specific side of herself: one that is both empowered and sexualized. She uses her celebrity status to make her message public, and start a dialogue about female empowerment by means of repossessing her own body and asserting herself as a sexual being.

That being said, I worry that for teenagers – who are by far more impressionable to the “classic” tropes of female subjugation perpetuated in pop culture – this subversive message will be too obscure, too inaccessible for them to appreciate. Watching the video “Teens React to Anaconda,” I heard lines like “From a guy’s perspective, it just looks like she’s trying to get attention,” or “Nobody’s

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Opinion going to like you unless you have a fat butt.“ Instead of rage, I found myself cringing both at their comments, and also at the fact that if I was thirteen again and reacting to this video, the same thoughts would have probably run through my mind.

“Every woman is multifaceted . . . Women suppress a lot of their sides”

- Nicki Minaj, singer/rapper On the other hand, as these teens were discussing Onika’s now infamous video, they gained a more accurate perspective on the role of women in pop culture. In the same video, when asked how hypersexualized representations of women – as opposed to men – could affect our society, a teenage boy responded: “Ouch, that hit a nerve… it kinda bothers me. Why haven’t I thought about this?”

To me, this is progress: the fact that Minaj is provoking reactions and, more importantly, reflections on these twisted, societally-entrenched gender roles – through her blatant caricaturing of female objectification, however extreme it may be. At worst, Nicki is inviting young people to second-guess and question the validity of these problematic portrayals of gender norms, pushed down onto us through their prevalence in modern pop culture.

However, socio-cultural progress, though daunting and seemingly impossible, must start from somewhere.

Nicki is trying to bring about this progress not only in our perception of women in popular media, but more accurately our perception of women of colour (WOC) in popular media. As a result, “Anaconda” is an intersectional statement. In terms of intersectionality – the buzzword denoting the combination of different forms of oppression and discrimination – it seems to me that Onika made this video for women of colour. Again, Nicki is in control and there’s no recipient of her sexual gratification besides herself. Though Minaj definitely is not the first to contest the public gaze in this manner (shout out to Lil’ Kim and Missy Elliott), the reaction and exposure of “Anaconda” has attracted an unprecedented amount of scrutiny to the black woman’s body – and that’s a great thing.

With this video, Nicki attempts to destroy the limiting and reductive notion that a woman of colour should dress and act “respectfully,” censoring her sexual expression in order to be accepted by mainstream feminism. If WOC don’t abide by this notion, our actions will never be perceived as empowering women, and we will never be exemplary feminists. Nicki is proudly parading her body and sex drive while simultaneously exemplifying self-confidence in her sexuality and in the colour of her skin. She encourages us to dispute the widespread belief that con-

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fidence and libido are mutually exclusive; in fact, confidence can come from your libido, not merely despite of it.

Having said that, Nicki’s not the only one to challenge respectability politics. The recent hashtag #HowMediaWritesWOC exposes the toxic discourse that demeans and dehumanizes women of colour; especially, how popular culture warps the way WOC perceive themselves.

A pertinent tweet sums up the gravity of intersectional feminism: “[White women] with zero understanding/ exposure to WOC are routinely allowed to explain ‘what [these] women want/need/are.’”

Most importantly, calling Nicki Minaj or any woman a slut, whore, disgusting or even suggesting that she is degrading towards women – for actions she has rightfully and willfully chosen to take – is a means of oppression.

Therefore, every time you shame a woman for how she expresses her body, her identity and especially her sexuality, you aren’t just “hurting their feelings” or “exercising free expression and the right to be heard: you are executing their oppression with your words. Such words have the power to abet the perpetuation of respectability politics, and exacerbate the real and damaging consequences they specifically have on WOC. Like all women, WOC are also vulnerable to suicidal ideations, eating disorders, depression, and other forms of self-harm. However, they must additionally overcome the censorious and slanderous way media and society present and scrutinize their bodies due to the colour of their skin. Slut-shaming, especially for WOC, reinforces and authorizes these derogatory narratives to continue to be accepted as reality. This amounts to nothing short of an act of violence by putting actual lives at risk. Such serious risks are the reason why speaking on a woman of colour’s sexuality should be handled with the utmost discretion and introspection, especially if you are in a position of privilege (ahem, #swbs).

The existence of this misogynistic and condescending discourse toward Nicki Minaj dehumanizes all women.

When accepted, it inadvertently allows, and even encourages harassment, discrimination, assault and other acts of discrimination. We should opt out of perpetuating these oppressive narratives, and celebrate instead the unprecedented display of such multifaceted representations of WOC – with “Anaconda” being the most recent.

Nicki is leveraging her global reach as a platform to push forward a narrative of empowerment for all women – especially those of colour. The criticism against her highlights a problem we have as a society: the view that the bodies of women are public property, which can be ogled and discussed freely. Through “Anaconda”, Nicki Minaj confirms that she does not need to fit into your mold of a “respectable woman” to be respected or capable of empowering other women.

The views expressed in this opinion piece are the authors’ own and do not necessarily represent those of The Bull & Bear.

December 2014

De-bigotize McGill

Opinion

Uncovering the extreme right-wing undertones in anti-Demilitarize McGill rhetoric

Louis Ramirez, Opinion Writer

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he week of November 9th was a rough week for Demilitarize McGill. Any student who has been on Facebook in the last couple of days will have noticed the backlash against their protesting of the Remembrance Day ceremonies held on Lower Campus. Because this criticism took different forms, it is crucial that we distinguish the responses of concerned citizens from those of deluded chauvinists. While the former were offended by the lack of discretion exhibited by the demonstrators, the latter are calling on the activists to give up their nationality as punishment for what they deem an affront to Canada and its fallen heroes.

Those that fall in the former category have valid concerns, which need to be discussed. However, the others who interpret Demilitarize McGill’s protest as ingratitude for the “privilege” of being part of this nation have to be exposed for the bigots they are. One might not be sympathetic to Demilitarize McGill’s latest stunt, but if it has taught us anything it’s that it is time to de-bigotize McGill.

The first breed of grievances is the moderate one, shared by individuals who are often keen to stress their understanding of Demilitarize McGill’s narrative. However, this segment of the population nonetheless deemed the actions of the student group to be offensive. For them, Remembrance Day is about honouring the incredible sacrifice and bravery exhibited by our country’s soldiers. In this view, protesting the ceremony in the name of whatever convictions some of us may hold misses the point of remembrance, and shows a lack of respect for our nation’s heroes. Remembrance Day is a day of mourning, and Demilitarize McGill showed a huge lack of sensitivity by being present at the ceremony.

The activist group responded to this message by denouncing calls for respect as “tools of suppression,” therefore thoroughly failing to address the flags initially raised by their fellow students. For those who were offended by the demonstrations, Remembrance Day is a solemn time during which we express gratitude for the sacrifices made by others to guarantee the rights these activists enjoyed and will continue to enjoy. Therefore, in light of these honourable losses, tact would have required Demilitarize McGill to stay home and pack it in.

These concerns are well placed, and many intelligent, reasonable people I know exhibit them. Yet, it is worth

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politely asking: how offensive were the activists’ actions really? They did not shout in the moment of silence, they did not attempt to disrupt the procedure, nor were their messages directly offensive to the memory of soldiers. This does not excuse their presence, but it goes some way in distinguishing the protesters from their most ardent critics on the scale of “delicacy.” They might not have shown appropriate respect, but they were sensitive enough not to deserve a comparison with the Westboro Baptist Church.

In contrast with those who were offended, some online commentators have critiqued the activists by questioning their integrity, and have gone so far as to deny their right to be citizens of this nation whose past actions they are now protesting. All whilst claiming Demilitarize McGill are ignorant of the fact they owe their right to protest to our veterans, these individuals overlooked the nasty historical antecedents to their own views. Somewhat ironically, they correspond strikingly well to one of the defining features of early European fascist movements --the ideology many of those we commemorate on Remembrance Day fought and died to defeat.

Calling on Demilitarize McGill activists to resign their citizenship is repulsive and casts doubt on the integrity of the values of those making such absurd claims. More worrying is the fact that these remarks are only the latest in a barrage of bigotry found online by a fanatically conservative minority that is ever increasingly vocal. If these individuals wish to commemorate the fallen soldiers of past wars, then they ought to start by upholding the very freedom established through their sacrifice.

The authors of such comments constitute the Tea Party of our campus, and take every opportunity to zealously pollute our feeds with their insufferable dogmas.

Inasmuch as this is the case, it is crucial that we separate their remarks from those of the reasonable objectors to Demilitarize McGill. The latter ought to be engaged with, the former ought to be exposed as their views have no place on a university campus, nor indeed in the 21st century. Lest we do this, the efforts of the soldiers we commemorate will have been in vain.

The views expressed in this opinion piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Bull & Bear.

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Opinion

Rekindling Student Democracy Is Not a

Cheesy Idea

A tale of how one student’s joke came to symbolize the grievances of many Michael Law, Opinion Writer

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ollowing the logistical disaster that was the October 22nd General Assembly, I went home – frustrated after having been turned away from casting my vote – and created the farcical Facebook event formerly known as the Chuck E. Cheese’s Motion. Despite being genuinely exasperated by the inopportune nature of the fire hazard assessment which made it difficult for many students to partake in the GA, it was quite clear from the start that my planned motion was not serious. Even with its inefficacy, crippling bureaucracy and ineptness in planning appropriate accommodation for a crowd it knew would be unprecedented, I was not actually going to propose a motion to dissolve SSMU, and instead turn the building into a Chuck E. Cheese’s.

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That said, I was still thoroughly surprised by the staggering student response to the event itself, which amassed close to 1,400 attendees in less than two days. In addition, there was also a plethora of posts on the event’s wall, with content that ranged from students being delighted by the hilarity of this cheesy idea to more serious comments doubting its validity as a virtual forum for voicing grievances towards SSMU. However, above all, this shockingly positive reaction simply goes to show that, among the undergraduate body, there is in fact a sense of general discontent with our student government.

On the topic of SSMU, I will refrain from commenting on whether it should take an official stance on contentious issues such as supporting Palestine, although it was

December 2014

Opinion the topic at the heart of the controversy at the last GA. Instead, I will focus on the mechanisms that barred students from effectively producing a democratic decision – a fully avoidable occurrence which only served to heighten the division within the student body.

First and foremost, despite its adherence to SSMU’s established GA procedures, the result of the indefinite postponement of the Palestine motion was not a genuine democratic decision for the critical reason that many students – myself included – were unable to cast their vote.

As a result of space limitations, a significant number of SSMU members who had expressly made their way to the University Centre to exercise their voting right were refused entry, with many of them being repeatedly and arbitrarily relocated to no avail following extended periods of time.

Assembly. As evidenced by this avoidable failure, SSMU’s current procedures are obsolete and cumbersome, an opinion shared by many – including those in support of the Chuck E. Cheese’s motion.

Plain and simple, anything related to “demonstrating leadership in issues of social justice and human rights” – as mandated by the SSMU constitution – should be decided via an online referendum. As these issues tend to generate the most interest among the student body, a framework should be developed to ensure that as many SSMU members as possible can have their voices heard by partaking in the democratic process that is supposed to be the GA. Such an alternative would ensure the assembly is representative – to the utmost – by being accessible to all students from the convenience of their laptop.

As a result, my suggestions are premised on the dual needs of increasing the democratic effectiveness of our forums for public discourse, as well properly clarifying and increasing awareness of SSMU’s role among the students it represents.

1. Streamline the procedures and digitalize the General Assembly as much as possible.

Counting only the votes of the people who were able to squeeze in is hardly democratic, especially when many more were barred from voting. Such was the case of David McCusty, a U3 Pharmacology student who ended up leaving the General Assembly unable to participate in the democratic process: “I arrived at the GA before 3:45 and had to leave for a midterm over three hours later, during which time not a single motion had been voted on,” McCusty insisted. “In the time it took me to leave, write the exam and return, only one motion had been [put to a vote]. And, much to my dismay, I was not allowed in to hear debate and vote on the next motion because the overflow room was ‘overcapacity,’ though security was unable or unwilling to tell me how many people were in the room or what its capacity was.”

Though this kind of extreme congestion is generally uncharacteristic of past GAs where quorum often failed to be met, SSMU should have all the same been more prepared and better equipped to deal with what it knew would be a shortage of space. This is especially pertinent considering the GA organizers were aware of the vocal, campus-wide interest in the motion leading up to the

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Such a digital initiative would enable all students to partake in policy-making without having to be physically present at the ordeal that can be the GA, thereby maximizing the democratic effectiveness of the meeting. As a result, this course of action could strengthen SSMU’s efforts to generate a more consistent level of interest among its members on issues related to student governance. Moreover, by fostering a greater accessibility to this apparatus, the organization could also augment the awareness and understanding of its role on campus.

2. Conduct a special forum on SSMU’s Constitution.

Many, especially those at the Chuck E. Cheese’s event page, have expressed concerns with SSMU’s role on social issues. The above proposal of an online GA could also be used by SSMU as a platform to once and for all specify the nature of its mandate in taking a stance on controversial issues such as international human rights violations. As such, SSMU could conduct a survey and turn the result into a motion calling for a constitutional amendment if the student body sees fit. Ultimately, this initiative could take the heat off the SSMU administration pertaining to the logistical nightmares of such contentious issues.

As outlined above, there are in fact ways to fix this crippling shell that is our student government. After all, you’re paying $89 a year to keep it alive, so why not get something out of it?

The views expressed in this opinion piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Bull & Bear.

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Lifestyle

Home Alone 4: Stuck inMontreal How to enjoy the holidays at your home away from home Charlie Harkness, Lifestyle Writer

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or most of us, the holiday break is a time to head home; specifically, back to a clean, humble abode, stocked with real food – no ramen or Kraft Dinner – and of course reliable heaters. However, when the students are gone, Montreal is still packed full of students who are enjoying the seasonal and festive events, while withstanding the terrible temperatures. So for those spending the break here in Montreal, finishing finals on the first day, or those who are planning on sticking around once they graduate, here are some of the events going on during the holidays.

Christmas Fireworks Saturday’s in December Telus holds firework festivals almost every Saturday in December, and sometimes in the first week of January.

The fireworks are launched in Old Port, and fittingly, the event has been dubbed “pryo-musical” as the fireworks are choreographed to music. The show normally begins around 8 pm and lasts typically around 15 minutes. It is a great way to take a break during finals, if you have the time. Head down to Old Port, watch the show, find a new place to eat, and enjoy what Montreal has to offer.

Christmas in the Parc December 1 – December 25 Every day from December 1- December 25, a variety of vendors and events will gather at Parc Lahaie. The festivities will run from 9 am – 9 pm Sunday to Thursdays, and 9 am – 11 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. You can expect warm bonfires, live music, acrobats, food, Christmas tree sales, and other cultural displays. And did I mention it was free? It’s a great and inexpensive experience a chance to get out of the McGill bubble and go see something new.

Botanical Garden Christmas Fair December 5 - December 14 While most of us would expect the Botanical Gardens to be closed in the winter, it is quite the opposite.

The gardens host 20 exhibitors with floral displays, food items and other goods. There is no admission fee, however you might end up buying an extra gift for someone

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while you’re there.

Christmas Choir Concerts December 6 – December 21 Montreal presents seven choir concerts in the NotreDame Chapel during the holiday season.. Admission for six of these concerts are by donation, while the closing concert is $20. The concerts are another great reason to go to explore the history of Montreal while experiencing the festiveness of the season.

Ice Skating mid-December to mid-March Although it is offered well beyond the holiday break, ice skating is a winter tradition everyone should try at least once. On top of Mont Royal, “Beaver Lake” offers rentals for those who do not own skates, and also provides an icy surface to frolic on. Whether you can skate circles around friends, or cling to metal walkers, skating is a fun way to spend an afternoon with friends. As an added benefit, there is always bound to be cups of hot chocolate to warm yourself up with afterwards.

Place Ville-Marie’s Christmas Tree November – January This is less an event and more a chance to see a grand and festive Christmas tree. Place Ville-Marie’s Christmas tree has been a Montreal tradition since 1962. For some, its lighting marks the start of the holiday season in Montréal. The tree measures 19.20 metres high, 7.92 metres in diameter and is decorated with 13,000 lights. It’s a fascinating spectacle, and another incentive to explore the island.

These are just a few of the events going on in Montreal during the holidays. There are also many shows – such as the annual nutcracker performance – and events – like Luminotherapie at Quartier des Spectacles. Let’s not forget that there are plenty of winter events that extend into next year *cough* Igloofest *cough*. If you are taking the extra time to stay in December, or end up living here, be sure enjoy what Montreal has to offer; it’s called Canada’s most cultured city for good reason.

December 2014

Lifestyle

Ephemera: Fridge Door Gallery Not just for Mom’s Eyes

Tessa Battistin, Lifestyle Writer

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he Fridge Door Gallery (FDG) is one of McGill’s most unique clubs; it promotes fine art created

by McGill students, and also provides them with a space to show their pieces to the rest of the school. The club fills the gap left by lack of fine arts classes, offers artists a place to thrive, and provides Art History enthusiasts a trial run at curation. During meetings, which are held each semester, members review submissions made by campus artists. Members decide on a theme, works are chosen and a Vernissage is born!

Besides having a clever name, the Fridge Door Gallery also sets up semesterly exhibitions that are always centered upon one common theme that unites all the artwork together. This semester, the FDG put on “Ephemera”, a gallery event held at the Glass Door Gallery on Boul. Saint Laurent. “Ephemera” has been a groundbreaking event for the Fridge Door Gallery. It featured not only the sale of student artworks but also a performance piece on the night of the opening, something new for the FDG. Catherine LaMendola, Gallery Manager and FDG Exec, explained that “Fridge Door Gallery is the only group at McGill that allows McGill artists to show their work because McGill has no fine arts program. There is no gallery space at the university so the show gives artists a chance to get some exposure, and to even sell their work at the gallery.”

“Ephemera” features paintings and photography, but also drawings, collages, and an audio mix. The exhibit description described how the show“puts into reconsideration transience and ephemera” inspired by the Dutch’s exploration of these themes through their golden age of vanitas painted studies. LaMendola says that the works displayed “follow the theme of Ephemera” focusing on “fleeting moments, things that eventually will decay.”

Ultimately, the FDG believes that “art gives life to a lost moment, lets fame or fashion endure in our memories, ultimately reflecting life’s ephemeral yet cyclical nature”.

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Upon entering the “Ephemera” exhibit, you were met with a spacious room looking out over upper St. Laurent, complete with exposed wooden rafters and sleek white walls. The exhibition was packed with people, Ephemera was evidently a huge triumph for the FDG. All types of McGill students were in attendance, and some were even interested in purchasing pieces from the show. The featured works were spread out along the walls in thematic order, mostly in simple black frames. A live band set the scene nicely, bringing vital energy into the room.

One unique feature of the gallery space was lying open on the table as you first walked in. It proclaimed “Gallery Sketchbook” on its cover, inviting visitors of the show to write a message or sketch their own interpretation of “Ephemera” right in the book itself. Furthermore, the FDG ran a table at the gallery where they sold small postcards of the artist’s work and handed out glossy gallery guide books that presented each work and the artist’s statement. Heart City Apparel, a clothing company founded by two McGill students, was also featured at the table, showing how two phenomenal McGill operations can pair together to encourage fine art and creativity amongst our student body.

Overall, “Ephemera” was crowded with art loving students who came out to show support for artists in the McGill community. Karlo Trost, a U1 architecture student, created one of the most popular drawing in the show called “Modern Man”. It features a triangular pattern of disembodied hands grabbing each other, surrounding a cyclical design on a black background. This MC Escher-esque piece is just one of the amazing works showcased by the FDG in their successful fall exhibition.

Arash Nayerahmadi, Co-President of Fridge Door Gallery, said “this is the first year we had the gallery off campus, enabling us to host not only the McGill community, but the local Montreal community. It was a pleasure to host the artwork and be able to enrich the art community beyond campus”.

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Lifestyle

Plans Gone Awry with a Side of Hysterical Chemistry A Review of Horrible Bosses 2 Chelsey Ju, Lifestyle Editor

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ost of the time, switching directors for sequels can be a risky move. You have theme, screenplay, actor chemistry, and movie reputation to continue. It is not always a good move, but if executed properly, it can be the right move for an even larger success on the big screen.

Horrible Bosses was a difficult act to follow. Seth Gordon directed the movie with a theme that a large part of society can relate to: “We hate our boss.” Coupling that schema with a great cast (featuring Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis, Jason Bateman, Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Aniston, Jamie Foxx and Colin Farrell), it’s not all too surprising that the movie drew in great success at the box office, and was well received among audiences.

Sean Anders’ Horrible Bosses 2 was, to quote myself, “the right move.” Delivering a kind of humour that ignites the cradle-your-stomach laughter, along with CharlieDay-you-complete-me snickers, this movie was one of the rare moments where the sequel was equally as good, if not better, than its predecessor. Armed with the same incredible cast – minus Farrell, but with the welcome addition of Christoph Waltz (Inglorious Basterds) and Chris Pine (Star Trek) – Anders delivers an original spin on the Horrible Bosses franchise. He has a noticeably different screenplay style than Gordon, incorporating montage and fast-forward cinematography, but his direction helped the

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visuals appear exaggerated and more comedic, adding a nice signature touch to the film.

The plot was quite simple and analogous to the first.

Nick, Kurt, and Dale have a plan to kidnap the son of a billionaire who screwed them over, and ask for money in return. Cool. Sounds like every other comedic, ridiculous movie, right? Wrong: the amount of times that plan goes wrong is the real, meaty plot. The fact that the movie starts off so ridiculous, and then quickly proceeds to escalate further to unexpected levels after opening scenes, lets the audience know they’re in for a farcical treat. Most of the audience probably expected the classic “happy ending”, but by imagining “In what nutty way will they achieve that ending?!”, viewers remained immersed in the movie’s plotline. I suspect that the plot was made to be vague enough in order to allow random side adventures and spontaneous witty conversations to occur, but sometimes it felt like it was a bit much, and a serious plot development should occur to separate the funny brouhaha. Give me some time to rest my rib cage, will you?

The hysterical chemistry between the three lead roles this time around was even more amplified; Nick is more so the smart, logical, parent-type personality, constantly having to deal with Kurt and Dale’s hiccups and ludicrous idiocy. The clever and cute banter between the trio that consistently appears throughout is a unifying com-

December 2014

Lifestyle ponent from the film’s start to end. The supporting cast was quite strong; Aniston returns even more aggressively as the bold sex addict, Jamie Foxx as the street smart, pseudo-thug ‘Mother****er Jones’, and Kevin Spacey as the angry, testosterone-fuelled psycho we knew from the first production. Enter Christoph Waltz in a role I would describe as “the 21st century version of Hans Landa” (aka an evil,powerful, inhumane billionaire who won’t hesitate to screw anyone over) and Chris Pine as his unfathomably spoiled, pretty-boy son. However, a downside to having such a large cast (with reputable roles in the other movies) is the desire to give them all screen time, and the film at some points did feel as if characters were just popping around and saying a few lines, only to be forgotten.

To recommend or not recommend?

I would say yes, if you enjoy clever humour. It was not the type of laughter that is obviously presented through the script; lots of implications, facial gestures, and scene atmosphere contributed to the scripted amusement. I would also say yes, if you enjoyed the first, and generally enjoy three-person lead movies (i.e. Harry Potter, The Hangover, etc.). It is a type of acting that allows the actors to feed off each other’s energy, which, in my opinion, works well for comedy.

I would say no, if you can’t stand comedy movies of an unrealistic nature. The situations that occur in the movie are incredibly exaggerated, and a large number of scenes can be pointed out as “there’s no way that would happen.”

I would also say no, if all you really want to do is watch a movie with the sole purpose of seeing a highly appraised actor in a supporting character’s role. Although Waltz and Foxx perform well when they appear in the film, they do not get nearly enough screen time to really make it worth it in that aspect.

HORRIBLE BOSSES: 2 Directed by: Sean Anders Starring: Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis, Jason Bateman, Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Aniston, Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz and Chris Pine Opened on November 26th

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Conference Call Interview Snippets w/ Jason Sudeikis (JS), Jason Bateman (JB), and Charlie Day (CD).

Q: Have you ever had horrible bosses in real life?

(JB): “I started acting so young. I never really had traditional bosses but I’ve certainly worked for some prickly directors – movie stars, producers, studio heads – but no real horrible story that I can think of; my knees are bent.

I’m waiting for a real son-of-a-bitch to come my way. I’m prepped.”

Q: Have you guys ever been a horrible boss yourself ?

(CD): “No, I don’t think so. I think we’re pretty fair guys, pretty nice guys. No one’s filed any complaints yet that I know about.”

(JB): ...I bossed my two year old into the car pretty quickly this morning.

(CD): There you go.

(JB): I think she would probably tell you that I’m a real ***hole, but we were late for school, Goddamn it!

Q: Horrible Bosses 2 has primarily been made due to the financial success of the film in the United States.

Is this fact a reason enough for a sequel? Why? (JB): Yes, you’re exactly right. When it makes enough money to warrant it. It [even] did really well overseas, which is not terribly common for a comedy. Warner Brothers wanted to do another one, and we were certainly open to it because we had such a good time doing the first one. What we didn’t want to do, was make a film that was not at least as good as the first film.

(CD): ...Then there’s the creative side of it...Jason, Jason and myself had a lot of lengthy conversations about what the second story could be and we weren’t going to do a movie if we couldn’t find a story that made sense [for us]... Creatively I think we got it to a place where it made sense for us to want to do it.

Q: You changed directors for the second movie; I was wondering what Sean Anders brought to the project what like stylistic choices he made that changed it up, if any? How was working with him?

(JS): It was great. Him, and his writing partner, John Morris, are like two of the best like, scriptwriters, comic writers in, you know, Hollywood right now. I think they did a great job with the re-writing of Horrible [Bosses]... it’s like having two more writers on set with us. And then Sean brought... [film directing] and stuff. There’s a chunk in the middle where it almost looks like a Steven Soderbergh film. I mean even like, the stuff of us starting the business [in the plot], you know, all those visual elements to it that feel like a Fincher movie. It’s like something right out of Fight Club.

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