Volume 43, Issue 7

Volume 43, Issue 7 • November 22, 2022 • thelinknewspaper.ca "Granny Smith Asshole" Since 1980

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NEWS

3

Downtown Daycare to Close in July

Parents and Concordia Community Fighting for a Solution

PHOTO AUTUMN DAREY

Autumn Darey

O

n a cold November morning, parents helped their smiling children up the steps inside the Centre de la petite enfance (Early Childhood Centre) Concordia, located inside the Grey Nuns building. The children were excited to be back at their daycare, unaware of the stress weighing on their parents' shoulders.

The daycare and board of directors, which is made up of parents of current and former daycare attendees, received a letter on Oct. 19 about the space being repossessed.

Other parents were told during the annual general assembly on Nov. 10.

A repossession is different from an eviction because it infers personal use of a property, meaning it will not be used for another business. Repossession of a property can be done with a notice to the leasee of at least six months.

The announcement came as a shock. Parents and directors thought they were still in conversation with Concordia about finding a new location. The loss of the daycare would leave 80 children without care, and many parents without essential support to continue their work at Concordia.

CPE Concordia, which has been in operation since 1979 and in the Grey Nuns building since 1981, was the only downtown childcare centre for Concordia

employees until 2019, when the Concordia Student Union opened their centre. The CSU, however, prioritises undergraduate students. During its 43 years in operation, the daycare has nurtured hundreds of children.

The Link spoke to a group of six parents trying to find a solution before the repossession on July 1, 2023. They believe that a seven-month timeline to find a new location up to government standards, along with renovations, is a nearly impossible task.

The parents explained they had to wait to get into the daycare for anywhere from two to three years.

Max Bergholz, parent and associate professor in the history department, said that Concordia has used the availability of childcare, which McGill, Université du Québec à Montréal and Université de Montréal all have, to attract people to work at the university.

“The daycare is able to prioritise staff, who can ask for daycare positions when negotiating,” Bergholz explained, saying that some parents negotiate a daycare spot for their children as part of joining Concordia. He added that Concordia is “against its own best interest” to lose such an important resource to bring people to the university.

As of publication, Concordia still lists the downtown CPE on its list of childcare centres, along with the Loyola CPE—which can accommodate up to 14 children— and the CSU daycare.

When reached for comment about the closure, Concordia spokesperson Vannina Maestracci said that portion of the building “is needed for academic activities originally planned for that space.”

Maestracci also said that Concordia has been “communicating with the CPE for a year concerning this project” and that while they looked at various options, “none were feasible[.]”

When asked about the feasibility of other options, Bergholz said that Concordia’s ‘non-feasibility’ reply makes it seem like the CPE “was aware that this decision was going to be made” and that the director of the CPE and the board of directors agreed to it. He and the other parents stated they did not.

According to a document provided to The Link by the board of directors at the CPE, the daycare received 1 million dollars annually from the provincial government. Concordia provided an additional $50,000 yearly has since the mid-2000s, as well as the space in the Grey Nuns building.

Since the story broke, various people both at Concordia and

outside of it have been voicing support for the parents and the CPE. Pamela Carson started a petition which has received over a thousand signatures since it was launched late last week.

Maestracci’s email ended in saying that the university regrets that there are “no other possibilities to keep the daycare within Concordia premises given the limited and suitable space we have in our downtown campus.”

The Link has also learned that the daycare at Loyola, CPE Les Petits Profs, was renovated between May and October 2021. Concordia was able to relocate the daycare for renovations by placing the children into the Jesuit Conference Hall, and “divided the larger spaces into smaller areas using partitions and then fenced off an area outside as a temporary play space.”

“What kind of values is Concordia upholding right now?” asked Varda Nisar, a Ph.D. candidate and public scholar at Concordia. “If they have been trying to promote their image as very inclusive and everything, [the closure] really attacks some of the most marginalised people.”

She added that those with kids have a lot of responsibilities and parents have survived the last two years without much support as their kids stayed home due to COVID-19.

The Link reached out to the Equity office, only to be referred to Concordia spokesperson Vannina Maestracci.

While the director and staff of the daycare did not comment publicly, the parents stressed how important they are to them and their kids. The staff greeted the children at the door starting in May 2020 when they first returned after provincial lockdowns ended. They helped the kids unbundle during the winter and then dressed them back up when they went outside for activities and to go home.

Arwa Hussein, another Concordia public scholar and Ph.D. candidate, recalled how her son, when upset, cried for one of his favourite daycare staff members, Deborah.

Varda Nisar said that for those who moved to Canada and do not have family here, the staff are integral. “They are the only people who know my kid more than me, who know [...] exactly what she likes, how she sleeps, how she eats. My mother doesn't know my kid more than them.”

The parents hope they will be able to find an alternate location for the CPE. Knowing their children are cared for would allow those who teach at Concordia to continue the work they came to the university to do.

thelinknewspaper.ca • November 22, 2022

NEWS

4

Concordia’s Branding Tainted by a Dead Man's Horrific Past Fed up Design Students Take the Reins on a Project to Present a Rebranding to the University Hannah Vogan Trigger warning: This piece contains mentions of pedophilia, sexual abuse and incest.

P

lastered behind Andrée Uranga was a Zen Den poster. A colourful 8 1/2 by 11-inch sign riddled with tranquillity-inducing leaves labelled, “Zen Den: Find Wellness On Campus.” To many, it is no different from other advertisements posted by the university on campus. To those with a keen eye for the history of typography and typefaces, it is poor visual communication.

Uranga pointed at the Zen Den poster behind him, “[Concordia is] promoting peace and quiet with the typeface of a rapist and an abuser.”

Uranga and Ankine Apardian, both passionate third-year design students and Concordia Design Art Student Alliance executives, are working to revive the organization, which had been dead for two years due to COVID. One way they plan to rekindle DASA's once-burning flame is by implementing a rebranding project to replace Concordia's primary typeface: Gill Sans. "This whole thing has to be redone," said Apardian.

Gill Sans was created by Arthur Eric Rowton Gill in 1926.

This prominent and notorious figure in the design and art world spent most of his years in the United Kingdom. He is known for his sculptures, drawings, typefaces and his involvement in the Arts and Crafts movement. He is also, however, remembered for

PHOTOS IVAN DE JACQUELIN

the pedophilic sexual assaults on his two daughters, exposing himself to children, having incestuous relationships with his sisters and engaging in acts of bestiality.

In Fiona MacCarthy's biography “Eric Gill,” the bibliographer and cultural historian mentioned how Gill's obituaries labelled him as one of the "most influential figures of his period."

Yet, Gill's work was very sexually-driven and explicit. His most notable works were based on his nude daughters' and sisters' bodies. Gill's sculpture, Ecstasy, was designed after his sister Gladys, someone Gill had been having incestuous relations for most of his life. For this, among many other reasons, Gill's work is considered controversial and unsettling to many.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has recognized Montreal as a city that is thoughtful of design.

“In granting Montreal with this title, UNESCO is acknowledging the city's creative potential in the design disciplines, based on the strong concentration of talent here as well as the commitment and determination of the Ville de Montréal,” reads Design Montreal’s website.

Apardian and Uranga do not understand how a university, rooted within an official UNESCO city of design, would

not research the material they are using for their branding.

The use of Gill Sans as Concordia's typeface dates back to around 2006, after an effort to modernize their previous logo.

Concordia representative Vannina Maestracci said the word “Concordia” is in its own custom typeface. Every other letter or symbol that the university uses falls into the Gill Sans font family.

Concordia adapted this typeface after focus groups were conducted with students and alums.

The signs and posters around campus aren’t the only documents that utilize Gill Sans. All things published by Concordia are composed in Gill Sans, meaning territorial acknowledgements, apologies; mental health and sexual violence policies are all examples of essential resources spoiled with Gill's touch.

"It would be surprising [if the university did not know], considering we are talking about an academic establishment. It would be strange if they didn't really research the material that they are putting into their branding," said Apardian about the university's knowledge of Gill Sans history.

However, at the time of the rebranding, Gill's disturbing past had already been made public for 17 years, after MacCarthy's biography blew up the public’s previous perception of Gill.

“There was no knowledge on

our part of the history of the creator then, nor did it come up in conversations around this redesign. The typeface, a tool and technology to achieve communications goals, was chosen based only on visual expression,” stated Maestracci.

Alison Reiko Loader, a parttime professor that teaches critical visuality and design justice to third-year design students, sat at a table answering questions and chatting alongside her colleagues: first-year part-time typography and visual communication Professor Pata Macedo and Philippa Langshaw, the department chair of design and computation arts, who teaches the second year environmental sustainability and collaboration course. Langshaw spoke with us through the speaker of Loader's phone.

The design professors conversed about how much time has elapsed without anyone recognizing the error—primarily given how long and tedious the branding process is.

“Clearly, they were not trained by design faculty,” Loader said of the designers who implemented Gill Sans at Concordia.

“Definitely not because they would have heard this,” added Macedo. “Because it is something that first years learn, it is not just Eric Gill, it is a part of their training where they learn about a history of a typeface,” added Loader.

Concordia's Visual Identity Throughout the Years Macedo thumbed through a thick book of typefaces and briefed the assignment she gives to first years. Her students are required to present the history of a typeface.

She showed Blackletter, a font widely associated with the Nazi party, demonstrating how typefaces can hold associations and evoke emotions in those who see them.

"The point is, it is in our branding, even though it may seem insignificant and a small thing," Loader said. "It is still visual communication to the world."

DASA's plan to rebrand the university began when Macedo taught Apardian and Uranga.

Macedo was and is very forward about the Gill Sans controversy.

The first-year design students are taught to take design seriously as it is a service exchange for, in this case, a typeface representing a company. The passion for this project was instigated when they could see the same passion beaming through their teacher.

The rebranding initiative led

by DASA is expected to surpass the duo's time at Concordia.

DASA plan is still in an embryonic state and is anticipated to take its time. As they are carefully building a case to explain and present to Concordia, starting with the typeface being terrible and why it is immoral. They also intend to give historical background and context about other rebranded organizations that ditched Gill Sans.

Following their presentation, they will propose a rebranding project.

Finally, DASA will not only request for the font to be dissolved by the university but will additionally provide alternative typefaces to replace Gill Sans.

Concordia would not be the first to replace the tainted typeface; the organization Save the Children and the television net-

work BBC both modified their use of the typeface because they no longer wanted to be associated with a pedophile.

Uranga and Apardian hold this project dear to their heart as the two don't understand why a next-generation university would employ a typeface designed by a man who committed such vile acts.

They believe that the font does not conform with the image Concordia is trying to communicate.

This next-generation image Concordia strives for is relayed through its posters sprinkled throughout campus, which highlight the nine-steps Concordia is taking in the direction towards being a next-generation university. Some steps are contradictory when Concordia chooses to persist with using Gill Sans.

“Double Our Research,” writes Concordia in the first of its nine-step plan, and “Embrace The City, Embrace The World: Achieve public impact through research and learning” in the seventh. Leaving hypocrisy to stick out like a sore thumb to teachers and students after the university’s lack of research into the origin of Gill Sans. The ninth and final step is “Take Pride: Celebrate successes and be purposeful about building a legacy.”

Apardian stressed that using this typeface alone can be a telling legacy to design organizations as “someplace that has never heard of Concordia before. [There might be] a designer who has the type of eye for this kind of stuff, and notices that. There are immediate associations you make– it is not a nice association.”

“You walk down this hallway.

You actually see the pillars of what it means to be a next-generation university. I don't think [Gill Sans] fits into any of those,”

IS IT APPROPRIATE FOR THIS FONT TO BE USED EVERYWHERE BY THE UNIVERSITY? JUDGE FOR YOURSELF.

5 COURTESY LOYOLA HIGH SCHOOL &CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY

NEWS

1974

2006

Gill Sans

“The point is, it is in our branding, even though it may seem insignificant and a small thing, it is still visual communication to the world.”

—Alison Loader Uranga added. “It's everything but next-generation.”

Concordia has also adopted a “sustainability action plan,” which includes long-term vision as well as five-year plans.”

With one of the focus points as part of this plan being research, Concordia is in a compromising situation when they decide to maintain a typeface, solely because of its visual components rather than surface-level information which can be uncovered with a single Google search.

"How can we be inclusive if we aren't going to be thoughtful about questions about what kind of design we use?” asked Loader.

“It is right in our branding."

According to Uranga, Concordia cannot bear the sash of sustainability without factoring in all the rings that go into it.

“You scrap the idea of social sustainability when you continue to use the typeface Gill Sans created

by Eric Gill,” he said.

DASA is pushing to get Concordia to comprehend how unsustainable it is to keep a typeface braided into such controversy.

Uranga explained that, when studying design, you are taught that design is not only about communicating through your work. Instead, it is about the ves-

sel in which you communicate through. At Concordia, that vessel needs to be sustainable, emphasized Uranga.

Apardian noted that getting Concordia to ditch Gill Sans will be a tricky battle considering the debate around separating the art from the artist. “[Eric Gill] was also a sculptor, and in that sense, he was a designer and an artist. And as designers, we always make sure to create a big distinction between art and design,” Apardian described. “We are not just creating for expression; we are creating to represent values, we are creating to represent people, and we are creating to represent an institution […] This is not a matter of being able to separate an artist from his art. It's about a design that we are sticking on the face of universities.”

Langshaw elaborated that typography is not something everyone understands and, typically no importance is placed on it.

Langshaw, Loader and Macedo avoid using the font whenever they can. All three of them have it blocked from their computers. Macedo turned down a job employing her to use the typeface because she refused to work with Gill Sans; she said she walked out happily too.

“It would be nice not to be embarrassed about a typeface with a history,” mentioned Macedo.

“You shouldn't have to turn down work because you [don't want to work with a typeface],” added Loader.

Loader remarked on DASA's rebranding idea, saying the university could start by acknowledging its wrongs and then gradually fizzle out the font's presence. “They can change their typeface on their website, on new things that are printed, like their every new magazine,” she said.

“They can introduce other typefaces—because there is no reason why you can only use one.”

With all the hope DASA has for this project, Apardian and Uranga believe a rebranding would be a victory for the university, Concordia's design reputation and a victory for sustainability. Concordia can only benefit from this project, as it would further prove to faculty and students how willing they are to be a sustainable next-generation university.

“If we want to be contemporary, inclusive and work with diversity, then why not just switch?” Langshaw said. “It is not just the font itself—we are promoting a behaviour.”

thelinknewspaper.ca • November 22, 2022

6

NEWS

No to International Intervention Haitian Community Objects to Canada’s Role in Haiti Crisis Myrialine Catule

T

hree rows of chairs were placed in a half-circle. Around 15 Haitians and other supporters were waiting for the assembly to start. Forty-five minutes later, the animator took the mic and asked, to the few people sitting in front of him, “what should we do to get more people in our event?”

On Nov. 12, the organization Solidarité Québec-Haïti led a group discussion with community members for the third week at the Saint-Damase church located in front of Crémazie Blvd..

This old church was transformed into a Haitian community centre named La perle retrouvée.

Everyone in this room had Haiti in mind. Many community members voiced their concerns about the humanitarian crisis in the country and to denounce the role played by the international community that led to this stage.

They were strongly motivated to mobilize more people to the cause.

According to the head of the United Nations integrated office in Haiti, Helen La Lime, the multidimensional crisis in Haiti pushed the country into humanitarian disaster. During the last few months, citizens have been taking over the streets of the country, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry. After the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021, Henry took on some of Moïse's responsibilities. Since then, the population has been protesting for a fairly elected government.

Organized crime has become out of control. Gangs are seizing roads, restraining economic activities, and kidnapping and raping civilians, according to a report from the UN integrated office in Haiti.

Moreover, the increase of fuel price announced by the government triggered a gang war with the Haitian National Police in the past weeks.

This led them to take control of many key installations in Port-auPrince, such as the Varreux oil terminal. Then, to give more firepower to the police, Henry purchased military artillery from Canada.

In addition to this uptick in violence, the report indicates that inflation exploded to 30.5 per cent in July. This put low-income families in a difficult situation, as they couldn’t afford basic necessities.

Furthermore, an outbreak of cholera has returned in the country after three years without any reported cases, according to UNICEF. The threat of an occupation was looming over Haiti when Prime Minister Henry asked for help from

the international community to re-establish peace in the troubled country on Oct. 7. That being said, invading the island was not unanimous among world leaders.

China’s UN representative, Geng Shuang, affirmed that sanctions were needed for the gangs and an embargo should be applied on small arms, weapons and ammunition intended for criminal use, but he disapproved of a military intervention.

Many other political leaders are denouncing the corruption of Haiti’s government. On Nov. 4,

“They make us believe that it is impossible for Haitians to find a solution by themselves,” Sully added. “We need to support what’s being done in Haiti [instead of trying to impose our decision].”

Historically, Haiti has been subject to multiple foreign military invasions. Many interventions were justified as bringing back peace and stability. These actions, however, left the country in a worse state than before.

In 1915, the United States occupied the country until 1934.

Afterwards, UN peacekeepers oc-

The Core Group, composed of Brazil, Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, Spain and the United States has been meddling in Haiti’s politics for 19 years. Core Group is responsible for urging Prime Minister Henry to take the reins in 2021.

“There is no respect for Haitian sovereignty from Canada and the United States,” said Scholl-Dimanche. She strongly denounced the imperialist guardianship of the Core group, opposing yet another occupation in Haiti.

would be strongly condemned by people and that it was not the solution. For him, Canada should only play a light supporting role.

On Nov. 9, the cabinet of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau published a report highlighting “the need to support a Haitian-led solution to the current situation [and] facilitate access for the delivery of humanitarian assistance to those affected, solicit contributions for Haiti, and hold those responsible for the unrest to account through sanctions.”

cupied the country from 2004 to 2017. Many cases of sexual abuse were reported during this period.

Interventionists were also blamed for causing the spread of cholera, which developed into an epidemic, killing around 10,000 people, according to the UN. Canada interfered in Haiti’s affairs without being called out for way too long, denounced Solidarité Québec-Haïti. “The first insult to Haitian sovereignty from the Canadian government was the creation of the Core Group,” she said. She recalled that no Haitian participated in the Ottawa Initiative on Haïti meeting in 2003.

“Haiti has been the first Black country to gain independence, which is one of their greatest achievements and one of their biggest burdens,” said Frantz André, spokesperson for the Committee of People Without Status and member of Solidarité QuébecHaiti. He explained that Haïti is being shown as an example to other countries who are still under imperialism to restrain them from requesting their independence.

André was surprised when representatives of the federal government reached out to him. They wanted his opinion on Canada’s actions going forward. André said his answer was that occupation

Since the second half of the 20th century, the Haitian community in Canada has kept growing. According to Statistics Canada, 165,095 Haitians lived in the country in 2016. Keeping that in mind, what should Canada do to alleviate this well-established community in our society ?

Solidarité Québec-Haïti believes that Haitian problems should be handled by Haitians.

The organization will be holding another meeting on Nov. 26 to brainstorm about what they can do to amplify the voice of Haitians. Community members are invited to participate.

GRAPHIC MYRIAM OUAZZANI

Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly announced that Canada will impose sanctions on “Haitian political elites who provide illicit financial and operational support to armed gangs.”

“The one who caused the problem cannot be the solution,” said Jennie-Laure Sully, member of Solidarité Québec-Haïti. A murmur of agreement echoed in the church after her statement.

She explained that she could not imagine that the international community could bring a real sense of help to Haiti after all the harm and damage done to the country in the past.

thelinknewspaper.ca • November 22, 2022

NEWS

7

TRAC Under Fire for Inaccessible General Assembly At-Risk Populations Are Still Fighting for Equal Access to Meetings Sophie Dufresne

M

ichael Iantorno, a Concordia PhD student who is immunocompromised due to a chronic illness, attended Teaching and Research Assistants at Concordia Union’s general assembly over Zoom on Nov. 9.

He specified that although he is willing to join meetings in-person, he joined TRAC’s GA virtually to see how accessible it was for those who are not. “I’m glad I went, but disappointed about the results,” he said.

meetings. However, in light of the several requests for a virtual meeting option TRAC received, they complied in an updated statement.

In their most recent statement, TRAC explained the GA would be hybrid; however, they claimed they could not “offer equal access to the meeting for those who attend via Zoom” due to a lack of “technological [and] human resources.” This stemmed from a lack of organization and knowledge about hybrid meetings,

“They do not think they have to respect their own mission statement.”

— Brock Dishart On Nov. 7, Technoculture, Art and Games Research Lab published an open letter—drafted by their student membership, of which Iantorno is included—to TRAC denouncing the union’s statements concerning their stance on hybrid meetings.

In TRAC’s original statement, they announced their GA would only be in-person due to the difficulties that lie in organizing hybrid

claimed Concordia doctoral student Brock Dishart, who volunteered for TRAC’s mental health action committee last year.

Dishart, who is also a student representative for TAG, explained how after reading TRAC’s two statements, it appeared to them as though accessibility is not a matter the union believes is necessary to consider when planning meetings.

To Iantorno, it is unacceptable “to not even strive for equal access [...]. You should design accessibility at the forefront of events.” He added that people who are already marginalized should not be responsible for ensuring accessibility to events.

The purpose of TAG’s open letter was not “to simply wag a finger at TRAC,” explained Iantorno.

“We were trying to call them in.”

The research lab members have successfully run several hybrid meetings over the past few years, he added, and were willing to share their expertise with the union on how to make meetings accessible to everyone.

Iantorno said TAG has yet to hear back from TRAC. Sam Thomson, President of TRAC, explained that hybrid meetings are imperfect, “especially [for] an organization with limited resources.” People who attended the GA online were able to vote and “make interventions,” he added, “but sometimes, because of the contingencies of technology and the spaces we’re in, it is

GRAPHIC NADINE ABDELLATIF

harder [for online members] to participate [in hybrid meetings].”

According to Iantorno, the sound quality was awful and no audio transcription was provided. He added that he had to abstain from all votes because by the time he raised his hand to vote in favour of a motion, the votes in opposition were already being counted.

“The quality of participation was much lower [for people over Zoom] and I don’t think they could equally participate,” Iantorno said, clarifying that his internet connection was not the source of the problem.

TAG’s open letter highlighted that “[a]ccessibility is not an afterthought,” and reminded the

union of its mandate “to build […] a society that […] ensure[s] everyone is able to contribute to their fullest potential.”

“It seems clear to me,” said Dishart, “they do not think they have to respect their own mission statement.”

“If we learned anything from the pandemic—and we’re still in the pandemic—[it’s that] these events need to be hybrid and they need to be accessible,” Iantorno said.

Dishart emphasized that since 2022 is the deadliest year on record in terms of COVID deaths in Quebec, TRAC should ask organizations such as TAG for help on how to run hybrid meetings.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK PHOTO ANDRAE LERONE Protesters stand in solidarity with the women of Iran on Parc Avenue, Montreal, on Nov. 19.

The demonstrators' action in the picture refers to the first sentencing to death by Tehran court of a person arrested for taking part in the protests in Iran.

The rally was one of many occuring worldwide in support of women's rights, sparked by the death of 22 years old Mahsa Amini at the hands of the Iranian Morality Police.

The Link is bringing back Photo of the Week!

Submit your photos to photo@thelinknewspaper.ca

thelinknewspaper.ca • November 22, 2022

8

FRINGE ARTS

Movie Review Nisha Platzer’s back home : a Level of Intimacy Rarely Seen on Screen Concordia Alumna Chronicles Communal Grieving in New Documentary Jaime Kerr

COURTESY JULIA PEPLER

S

ixteen-year-old Josh Platzer lost his life to suicide in 1999.

His death ruptured the lives of a tight-knit group of Vancouver teens, his parents and his 11-year-old sister Nisha Platzer.

She left B.C. to pursue an undergraduate degree in communications studies at Concordia and honed her skills in experimental filmmaking, only returning years later to seek specialized medical treatment. The only practitioner of this treatment, Platzer learned, was Swan—the mother of Josh’s best friend Sam. It is from this initial encounter that Platzer’s latest documentary back home takes root.

Selected by Cannes Docs for its Docs-in-Progress Canadian Showcase, the film had its world premier at the 2022 Vancouver International Film Festival.

Filmed over the span of five years, this project follows Platzer as she reconnects with Josh’s circle of friends—a world she did not have access to in younger years. Electing not to interrogate the causes behind Josh’s death or preach about the nature of suicide, the film instead centres connections forged in the aftermath of trauma and highlights the process of shared grieving.

Platzer explained in an interview with The Link that she had never intended to make a film about Josh. What began as a series of recorded conversations with Josh’s loved-ones took on cinematic potential when Platzer asked

to film the first meeting of Josh’s friend group in over 17 years.

By the time Platzer started collaborating with producer Joella Cabalu, she had already accumulated three years of footage. The long-term nature of this documentary is a testament to Platzer’s respect for its subjects.

“These were people who were teenagers for the most part when they lost [Josh]. It was a tragedy and trauma for them as well. I wanted to really be delicate and avoid retraumatizing anybody,” said Platzer. “I’m building relationships with them because I want to be in their lives, not just because I want to make a film about them.”

For Platzer, it was necessary to ensure the filming process was never intrusive and that Josh’s friends felt comfortable enough to recount their stories on their own terms. Consequently, back home’s interviews can hardly be categorized as intrusive. Avoiding traditional journalistic camerawork, Platzer’s shots linger on hands, mouths and the background details of her immediate surroundings.

When Josh’s friend Sara is first introduced, no title cards appear on screen, and the audience is greeted with shots of ferns, fences and the crossed legs of Sara and Platzer as they sit in the grass.

Sara laughs, commenting on Platzer’s continuous filming.

“Do you want me to stop?” asks Platzer.

thelinknewspaper.ca • November 22, 2022

“It’s scary but kind of fun at the same time,” Sara replies.

This level of respect is admirable and, more importantly, allows back home to capture a level of intimacy rarely seen on screen. The film’s most emotional episode is visually nothing more than a hastily shot conversation between Josh’s friends. Immersed in warm lights and wine, they recount the night of Josh’s suicide; the sincerity with which they do so would be hard to come by in traditional documentaries.

This is where the magic of back home lies. While at first it feels like the audience is intruding upon something not meant for them, the warmth and vulnerability on display—including by Platzer herself—invites viewers to share in the grieving process with them.

That’s not to say that the film is only carried by the strength of its emotional subject matter. back home is a visual feast thanks in large part to Platzer’s use of film. Gorgeous 16mm shots fire off countless nerve endings. Sky-dominating mountains, bare feet balanced on train tracks, and bus rides down industrial corridors all equally ooze colour and depth.

Non-traditional to the core, Platzer also experiments with film processing techniques throughout. She immersed film in seawater and concocted a unique film developer out of plants from nearby mountains as a testament to Josh’s favourite haunts. Platzer explained she even mixed some film strips with Josh’s ashes.

“You have these really physical representations of place, of [Josh] and his actual body in the materiality of the film,” said Platzer. “That produces these different textures and patterns on the emulsion and you can kinda see that throughout.”

Despite these tributes to Josh’s life and memory, it can’t be denied that back home’s emotional core rests in the relationships Platzer forges with Sara, Swan, Sam and other loved ones Josh is survived by.

Throughout, Josh rarely descends from his almost mythical status. With photos of a skinny, red-headed youth, Nirvana CDs, a stolen copy of The Catcher in the Rye, letters to friends detailing hypothetical bank robbery plans, Platzer does a fantastic job of conveying a volatile, sensitive

soul through these objects left behind. Even more profound, though, are the conversations, the pained expressions, the shared laughter that happen over these documents.

There is only one scene in which footage of Josh appears. Platzer shows her parents a never-beforeseen home movie of him as a toddler. Her mother and father watch their round-faced, ginger-haired son roll across picnic blankets spread on the lawn. They laugh as he puts toys in his mouth and splashes in a kiddie pool. The silent footage continues—their eyes betray the weight of their memories.

In the end, that’s all back home really is. There is no soaring catharsis, no tear-stained confrontations or revelations from the past.

Instead, the film slowly but consistently pummels viewers with quiet moments of grief, joy and connection. By the time the cameras stop rolling, the wound of Josh’s death remains open—perhaps even more raw than before— but it is a pain bared together.

COURTESY JEREMIAH REYES

FRINGE ARTS

9

Harold R. Johnson’s Philosophy of Storytelling Author Delivers Impactful Swan Song with The Power of the Story Claire Helston-VanDuzer

H

arold R. Johnson (19572022), a member of the Montreal Lake Cree Nation, was an Indigenous writer and lawyer, who served in the Canadian Navy. His 2016 book Firewater: How Alcohol is Killing my People (and Yours) was a finalist for the Governor General's Award for English-language non-fiction.

Originally from Molanosa, Saskatchewan, Johnson studied at Harvard Law school, after which he returned to Canada and managed a private practice for years.

Eventually, he was made crown prosecutor of Saskatchewan.

Released in October 2022, The Power of Story: On Truth, the Trickster, and New Fictions for a New Era, details Johnson’s philosophy of storytelling. Drawing from Indigenous ways of knowing, Johnson asserts that everything—personal lives, careers, histories—can be conceived as a story, and that misunderstandings between people arise from conflicting stories.

The Power of Story is the last book Johnson worked on before he passed, and it is quite the leg-

acy to leave behind. This text recounts a meeting between Johnson and a multi-faith ecumenical society who asked him to speak on the power of storytelling. Recited around Johnson’s outdoor fire, these individual stories are what the book is made up of.

In Johnson’s eyes, everything is a story, and the capability of changing one’s story is something to be cherished.

Often focusing on his own experiences and culture, he tells stories of his Indigenous upbringing, and uses his understanding as a crown lawyer to provide many lenses through which to view the topics he discusses. Though much of the subject matter in this novel can be quite serious, Johnson’s calming way of writing lends his stories an optimistic tune, while not omitting the facts.

This matter of fact approach to storytelling is aided by the work’s conversational setting. Speaking to his guests around the fire, Johnson often asks them to refill his tea, and notes their reactions to his stories. He punctuates the end of each story by communi-

cating with his guests, and by proxy the reader as well. These indirect asides to the reader work together to create a well-balanced conversation between the reader and Johnson. By asking questions directly to his guests, the reader is placed in the conversation.

When he asks questions, adding comments and reassurance, Johnson creates natural pausing points in his book that allow for self-reflection on what he is saying. These pausing points are important, especially considering the subject matter at hand.

About halfway through his book, Johnson recounts stories about the colonization of the Americas and explains, “The main reason Europeans stumbled upon the Americas in search of perfume and spice is because they stank and their food was rotten.” He then takes a pause, addressing his guests reaction: “I see a few people squirming. It's not comfortable to hear negative stories about your history.” It is these opportunities for reflection in his writing that allows for Johnson’s book to read so cohesively

while being thought-provoking.

He takes the time to address the subject matter he's writing about, and gives readers a helping hand

COURTESY INGRID PAULSON

in digesting it.

Johnson covers many topics in his book, ranging from childhood anecdotes to stories about the mistreatment of his people. In telling his own story, he demonstrates his multifaceted philosophy of storytelling. His coherent recounting is

educative as he describes his positionality in the social contracts where his stories take place.

He maintains the power of stories throughout his book. He explains that everyone is in charge of their own story, and their own storytelling. In using these stories, he acts out life lessons that he shares with his guests in effort for them to become storytellers as well. He punctuates the end of a story near the end of the book with: “It's your story, your journey. You are a good storyteller, you can take the plot from here forward and create your masterpiece.” The beautiful symbolism associated with stories here allows for creativity and imagination to flourish for those wishing to take a page from Johnson’s book and begin their own storytelling.

Clear and telling, this final work by Johnson is educational, cohesive and a very intriguing read. The Power of Story: On Truth, the Trickster, and New Fictions for a New Era was published

by Biblioasis and can be found on their website.

It’s In the Bag: Indigenous Business Scales New Heights When a Pandemic Hobby Becomes Its Own Business PHOTO MARIANNA LIENDO-DUFORT

Marianne Liendo-Dufort

U

pon walking into Kel Tech Gear’s studio, rays of light shine through windows on all three walls of the room. Shelves packed with stacks of diverse textiles are propped up against one wall and towering rolls of fabric taller lean against them, not too far from a couple of sewing machines.

Owner and founder Kelsey Deer started her bag-making business amidst the pandemic from her home in Kahnawá:ke. At the time, she was working in a local clothing shop as a seamstress and was eventually let go as she was not deemed an essential worker.

“I made my first real bag in August 2022,” said Deer. It was the Dog Training Treat Bag. After posting it on her Instagram account, it gained enough visibility to reach Toronto—where a determined individual was insistent on purchasing it for his girlfriend.

“My business was not really planned at that point,” Deer recounted. “It was for fun, I had the summer off, I was just making stuff.” This customer nonetheless

encouraged her and ended up being her first sale. Three months later, she officially launched her business on Instagram.

Via word-of-mouth, Kel Tech Gear witnessed its followers and clientele gradually flourish. When the business began, 90 per cent of the customers were Kahnawá:ke locals. Since Deer advertised her merchandise on her social networks, it was mainly her personal followers and community members who shopped at her business.

“I got one order, maybe a year ago, from California,” Deer said. The order was for another Dog Training Treat Bag, which is now her best-selling model. “Now, almost all my orders come from California.”

As her business grew and her customer base expanded outside her immediate community, Deer was forced outside her comfort zone. She needed to find ways to get merchandise to her new international customers. “I didn’t want to ship anything because it was daunting,” she explained.

Deer would originally only send the invoice to her customer once the item was shipped. This system was worrisome to her. “What if I send it and they flake on me and they don’t pay the invoice?”

In August 2021, Deer switched from manually managing the orders to upgrading her online business—and it changed her workflow. “It gave me so much free time to put into the business.”

The system change also allowed her to reconsider the pricing and materials of her products, ultimately upgrading the quality of her products. “In February, I shut my website down for three weeks and I ordered a bunch of new [fabrics and webbings].”

“If I’m charging more, I want to have the best,” Deer insisted. Her newer models are made of nylon instead of polypropylene. Consequently, the cost of fabric has increased– from $9 to $21 per meter—and the quality of her products.

Thanks to these upgrades in the price and quality of her prod-

ucts, Deer has been able to pay herself a decent wage of $20 per hour—more than twice her hourly wage at the beginning of Kel Tech Gear. High quality and hand-crafted products are costly, especially for small businesses who don’t have access to the same resources as the big brands in the game.

“For that price, I would’ve paid the same for [brands like] Patagonia or North Face,” said Viviane Pham, a Kel Tech customer. She owns both a duffle bag, a now discontinued product, and the chalk bucket. Pham was introduced to Deer’s company through the bouldering gym Bloc Shop, as the gym had placed a bulk order for her climbing bags.

Wholesale orders help ensure long-term revenue for Deer.

Breadhouse Climbing, one of Kel Tech Gear’s first clients, sells customized chalk bags produced by Deer. Co-owner Eli Dannenbaum admitted that his lack of sewing skills forced him to find someone to make the bags.

“We wanted everything made locally, instead of made abroad,” Dannenbaum said. “They are slightly more expensive [than big name brands] but are still worth it, as they’re hand made.” He also said he loves the variety of colours, their volume, and especially the diverse ways they can be attached to a climbing harness. “They’re just fantastic,” he emphasised.

“I don’t make a lot of money at all,” admitted Deer. Her website celebrated its one-year anniversary this summer. “[The annual revenue] was 17 or 18 [thousand] on the dot.” This amount does not include her sales made at markets, like the one at the Kahnawá:ke powwow or the Indigenous Winter Market, which can generate $400 to $800.

“I’m just so happy that people actually buy my stuff,” said Deer.

“I’m able to do this and people support my business.” Kel Tech Gear has grown to be profitable enough for her to live off its revenue. “It’s a dream come true, honestly.”

thelinknewspaper.ca • November 22, 2022

10

SPORTS

Stingers’ Weekend Wrap-Up: Nov. 18-20

SCOREBOARD MEN’S HOCKEY L 4-0 vs. UQTR Nov. 19

The Hockey Playoff Preface and Basketball Storylines

W 5-0 vs. McGill Nov. 20 Corey Cup

Conor Tomalty

L Women’s Hockey: Currently first et’s talk Stingers…

in the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec What a week it was for Stingers hockey. The women’s team faced fierce competition from adversaries the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees and the Université de Montréal Carabins. Both of these opponents muscled their way into top-seeded positions in the standings, and put up a fight against the Stingers. Concordia prevailed in both matches, winning 2-1 and 2-0, respectively.

This boosted the women’s team up the RSEQ table, where they secured the top dog status, accompanied by a number two ranking in U SPORTS. The team thrived on all facets of their strategy, from offensive prowess to defensive might, skilled special teams strength and continuous goaltending from Alice Philbert.

Next game is against the Carleton Ravens on Friday, Nov. 25 at 7:30 p.m..

Men’s Hockey: Currently third in the Ontario University Athletics East division The men’s team encountered familiar foes throughout their weekend. They were defeated by the Université de Québec à TroisRivières Patriotes 4-0 on Nov. 19, only to bounce back by vanquishing the McGill Redbirds in the Corey Cup game 5-0. The McGill game was a much-needed relief from the UQTR succession, as Concordia had played against the Patriotes three straight times.

Goaltender Jordan Naylor stopped 62 of his 66 shots faced over the weekend. With the offensive talent exuded from the now-experienced core group, Concordia characterized itself as a team able to make a deep postseason run in the new year. The men’s team ranks Number ten in the U SPORTS rankings following the weekend.

Next game is against the Queen’s University Gaels on Saturday, Nov. 26 at 7:30 p.m..

Men’s Basketball: Currently first in the RSEQ standings Where the women’s team handled the woes, the men’s team improved to 4-0. Another comeback win on the campaign, this time against Laval. Concordia trailed 47-31 at halftime, only to mount the victory, clawing and climbing their way back. Guard Sami Jahan exemplified this late game heroics, collecting 13 of his team-leading 21 points in the second half.

The sport of basketball is broken down possession by possession.

Throughout the year, this men’s team has showcased players who stepped up in key moments. A 4-0 start is incredible, but will it persist moving forward?

Next game is against the UQAM Citadins on Saturday, Nov. 26 at 4 p.m..

WOMEN’S HOCKEY W 2-1 vs. UdeM Nov. 18 W 2-0 vs. Ottawa Nov. 20

Women’s Basketball: Currently fourth in the RSEQ standings The season of woes continued for the women’s team on Nov. 19, losing to the Université de Laval Rouge et Or 79-75. The narrative of this season has not changed, the experienced players make an impact with the rookies struggling to become acclimated to the competition. Point guard Areej Burgonio tallied 33 points on 13 makes through her full 40 minutes of play. Veteran forwards Serena Tchida and Gretta Ineza combined for 26 points and 15 rebounds. Laval has been well-coached for many years, yet the narrow margin of victory shows that progress is being made by Concordia in anticipation of a season already packed with growing pains.

Next game is against the Université de Québec a Montréal Citadins on Saturday, Nov. 26 at 2 p.m..

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL L 79-75 vs. Laval Nov. 19 MEN’S BASKETBALL W 83-79 vs. Laval Nov. 19

SCHEDULE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Thursday, Nov. 24 @ Bishop’s at 6 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 26 vs. UQAM at 2 p.m.

GRAPHIC MAR

ILOU BRICKE

RT

MEN’S BASKETBALL Thursday, Nov. 24 @ Bishop’s at 8 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 26 vs. UQAM at 4 p.m.

WOMEN’S HOCKEY Friday, Nov. 25 vs. Carelton at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 26 @ McGill at 7 p.m.

MEN’S HOCKEY Saturday, Nov. 26 @ Queen’s at 7 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 27 @ RMC at 2 p.m. thelinknewspaper.ca • November 22, 2022

SPORTS

11

Concordia Cheerleading: Lifted to New Heights Cheer is About More Than Appearances Valentine Alibert

F

rom inexperienced to poised for competition, the Concordia cheerleading team has evolved tremendously in recent years. The team has raised their level of commitment and aspirations to new heights.

“This year is the first year where we are really at our peak,” said Monica Knaapen, co-captain of the team. Captains Fatouma Guindo and Knaapen have seen the team grow over the years since their arrival when the group was formed in 2017.

The cheer team is not yet registered at a competitive level, but they are training hard to reach this goal. Outside the three weekly practices endured by the group the captains dedicated time to create routines and mixes.

Knaapen and Guindo have carefully selected new recruits to attain their competitive ambitions.

Participant selections were not based solely on the criteria of confidence, attitude and dedication. The cheer team expressed that being a good cheerleader goes beyond appearances and is far from the stereotypes portrayed in American movies.

“Yes, that’s great if you are a good dancer, if you’ve had cheer experience, if you’re a gymnast, but we look at people who are humbled. People who are ready to step up and help other team members,” said Knaapen.

In addition to cheering for the football, basketball, soccer, and hockey teams at Concordia, the cheer team devote their time seeking collaborations with charities.

Last year, Knappen partnered with a women's shelter in Montreal to provide necessity products and with a children's foundation to distribute toys for Christmas, explained Guindo.

PHOTO VALENTINE ALIBERT Concordia Cheer helped two non-profit organizations in 2021: Chez Doris and La Rue des Femmes, in 2021. Both collectives aim to provide products and services to vulnerable and unhoused women.

Concordia Cheer planned to continue this work in 2022. The team has raised money externally, for example, with associations such as JOVIALMTL who organize events and parties to help bring clubs and communities together.

CHEERLEADER LANDS A JUMP IN THE ARMS OF HER TEAMMATES. PHOTO VALENTINE ALIBERT

Captains had the option of recruiting a plethora of committed candidates this year. Over 100 cheerleaders took part in the September try-out, a record broken since the club's inception.

The captains chose 28 students to make up the team. Wanting to diversify the strengths of the team, the captains selected gymnasts, dancers and other athletes capable of stunting. Guindo herself was a dancer before starting

cheerleading and she explained that cheer has a dance component that she finds compelling.

“Cheerleading is really athletic, and a lot of people don’t recognize it as being a sport, when it actually is. It goes so unnoticed but there is so much to it,” said Knaapen. The cheerleaders proved this with their five-minute performance during the halftime of the Stingers football game on Oct. 29.

The cheerleading team has not finished progressing. Even if it is the last year for the two captains, they will leave a skilled team comprised of important values and commitment to charitable causes.

“We’ve seen how our team has grown since it started,” said Knaapen, with Guindo adding, “and it is going to continue, even after we go.”

Try-outs are planned in January. For people who want to get involved, they can send a message to the Concordia Cheer Instagram account.

FATOUMA GUINDO (LEFT), MONICA KNAAPEN (RIGHT) AND THEIR TEAM ENTER THE FOOTBALL FIELD BEFORE THEIR PERFORMANCE, MONTREAL, OCT. 29 2022. PHOTO VALENTINE ALIBERT thelinknewspaper.ca • November 22, 2022

12

SPORTS

Black Queers on Wheels A Safe Space Tailored to Black Queer Artists on Wheels Joyce-Phil Mbayi

B

lack Queers on Wheels is a sports collective created by and for Black people in the LGBTQIA+ community wanting to practice “art on wheels.” The term was coined by the founder themself, Aman Chevalier, in Montreal.

The collective was initially started by Chevalier in late summer of 2020. They put a callout on Instagram inviting people of all skill levels of skateboarding or other wheel-related sports for a meetup at Jeanne-Mance Park.

The gathering was successful and the participants were predominantly Black queers. Chevalier then took the initiative to create Black Queers on Wheels with the goal to foster a safe and inclusive environment specifically tailored to Black queers. The collective had its first official meetup at Parc des Royaux.

Chevalier grew up in Ottawa before moving to Saguenay, to Quebec City and then to Montreal.

They have experienced firsthand the differences in the skateboarding scenes in these various places.

They described the Montreal skating scene as “white, straight and elitist.” Chevalier explained that after the callout on Instagram, the overwhelming number of responses made it feel necessary to start this organization.

“It was really clear that it was mostly Black queer people who wanted to [participate],” Chevalier explained.” I felt like there was a need in the community for a space specific for that. Because [...] being queer isn't enough. Being white isn't enough. Being a woman isn't [enough], all [the intersections] together were important for me.”

GRAPHIC MYRIAM OUAZZANI

“Skateboarding is of the World,” said Neftalie Williams in an article

by Larry Lanza. Williams is a sociologist that uses the lens of skateboarding culture to explore global concerns of race, diversity, identity and youth empowerment. He further explained how every social issue that affects the world consequently affects the skateboarding community and industry.

Social media videos portray older tattooed skaters teaching younger kids to ride down a halfpipe. The skating community is arguably advertised as open and welcoming to people of different levels and backgrounds.

When skateboarder Rashad Murray was asked if he had seen or experienced racism within his own skate community, Murray’s

response revealed another truth.

He explained that although no one had called him any harsh slurs, he would experience microaggressions that would make him uncomfortable.

Chevalier attested to similar experiences of discomfort. “I felt a little bit like a zoo animal sometimes or that I had to perform or prove myself,” they said. Furthermore, as a masculine presenting person, Chevalier noticed how that appearance gave them privilege, which was further unsettling.

Intersectionality is especially important in order to cater to the needs of those affected by everything and anything that can marginalise people such as race, gender, sexual orientation, class, physical ability, etc., as explained

by Bridie Taylor of WomanKind Worldwide. For this reason, collectives like Black Queers on Wheels are essential.They provide a space for marginalized peoples to gather and an opportunity to build a community of people who share similar experiences.

Chevalier expressed that organizing and maintaining a collective is difficult. Although there is a demand for activities and spaces like Black Queers on Wheels, the issue lies in getting involved. When asked what struggles they faced as the sole organizer, they explained, “It was difficult managing a fund and the social responsibility that comes with the Instagram account.”

This unfortunately led Chevalier to be overworked and, with time, they decided to take a break from managing the collective, including obtaining funds and event

organization. Although there were other participants who offered to work with them on the project, it was challenging to arrange meetings that could accommodate everyone’s personal commitments.

“As much as I tried to get more people involved, there was simply a lack of engagement, especially on social media,” they said.

Chevalier advises that for those who struggle to get more involved you must trust your ideas. Despite there being a community of people who would like to engage and participate, there seems to be something holding them back.

“The beauty of having a lot of intersecting identities is that often your experience informs a lot of what you're about to say, and it's most likely going to be a really good idea,” Chevalier said. Their idea implies every lived experience brings a different perspective to the conversation. This communication is vital towards creating a safe space for everyone, especially within the skateboarding community.

Chevalier, as of now, is not sure if they want to continue with Black Queers on Wheels, marking now an opportune moment for Black queer-skaters and non-skaters alike to step forward and continue to build on the organization’s moral foundation.

Black Queers on Wheels has the option to branch out into collaborative projects with other collectives and organizations, all it needs is a kick and a push in the right direction.

OPINIONS 13

Meghan Markle Is a Diversity Hire

Exploring the Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity Initiative of the British Monarchy Sandra Mouafo

I

have always had a disdain for celebrity culture. Even in my early teens, I would throw around the fact that even Beyonce poops.

The imagery alone never failed to create a silence I relished in.

“Their power relies on the collective interest we give them,” I would constantly emphasize.

Imagine if we all collectively stopped caring about the Kardashians. No more likes, no more views, just the block option from that one Black Mirror episode. Imagine if we, as humans, could overcome our obsession with futility and collectively agree on something. We would be unstoppable. Ending the monarchy is no different.

I didn't care for the royal wedding, the headlines or that infamous Oprah interview with the Duchess of Sussex. Although I will admit the memes were of quality. Still, everything I have learned about the royals, I have learned against my will.

When Duchess Meghan Markle’s social justice warrior public relations arc inserted itself on my Twitter timeline, it just didn't sit well with me. I never doubted that her experience with the royals was anything short of, well, slaveish.

Yet every single narrative, whether in the form of tweets, headlines or reels, seemed to exist as a dichotomy.

Markle was either a victim or an assailant, a devil or an angel, the whistleblower or the silenced. Yet, to me, she came across as an opportunist who got in over her head by marrying into colonialism. Was she not aware of who her husband was? Could she have not simply been an opportunist selfish person until it didn't serve her anymore?

It wasn't until her podcast, Archetypes, came out that I could finally formulate the reason for my lack of enthusiasm for Markle: she reminds me of colourism in its most glaring and unequivocal original presentation.

“As you move along the colour spectrum, the darker you are, the less important, beautiful, viable or all of those things that society has imposed upon based on that notion of [white] supremacy,” explained Dr. Joy DeGruy, a social work researcher and personal hero of mine. “The anti-Blackness started with the idea of the Blacker you are, the less human you are, so Black people then become not fully human beings, so everyone's distancing themselves from that,” she added in the same Good Morning America interview.

The history of colourism dates back to slavery. Enslaved women who were violated, raped and impregnated by their master would birth children whose humanity was almost recognized due to their proximity to whiteness. These children would get to work indoors, doing more domestic work rather than field work—hence the term “house slave”—and would sometimes obtain a basic education that further elevated their status within the hierarchical organization of slavery. They would then be sent

couldn't relate to them, despite admiring their talent and resilience. I simply cannot trust them to honour the intersectionality of the experiences we allegedly share.

I was watching a house slave smile and wave at me from the house. Shouting about injustice from the rooftop, whip in hand, still fresh with blood. The field is too unbearable an environment for me to focus on anything but the rhythm of the blood drops dripping at the hand of privilege.

I also couldn't help but laugh

the theoretical principle of not being exclusionary. Diversity is what allowed Markle into the palace.

Inclusivity is about intention.

“We can’t find people of colour but we would hire them if we could find them,” is a familiar rhetoric that exemplifies intention when it comes to things like an equitable hiring policy, for instance. It is where you get points for participation despite how little work you have put into your performance. Inclusivity is what allowed Markle to gain visibility.

EDI is stuck in the liminal space between what it is and what it could become. And so is Meghan Markle.

Markle’s targeted demographic seemingly shares in her novel subjugation to racial violence.

She has become the proverbial diversity hire—the honorary house slave. Suddenly, injustice is no longer a sad theoretical concept Markle could send thoughts and prayers to, but a reality to be experienced first hand on the daily.

I am sorry for anyone that goes through it, royal title or not. But

GRAPHIC NADINE ABDELLATIF

back home to rule and whip their own mothers and kin as a way to disown their racial identity. They would literally slap the Black off of everyone, including themselves.

Looking at Markle is like looking at a house slave. Watching her story unfold on my timeline was like looking at a house slave get the education a field darkie like me couldn't have dared dream to have. And her podcast is the whip used to put the rest of us field slaves in line with the master's agenda. Not due to its content or guests, but to the very nature and context of its existence.

As I listened to her and Mariah Carey speak about their experiences, I was content with the humility and self-awareness that was present in their exchange. But I couldn't shake the notion that I was listening to a talented multimillionaire and an equally rich actress married to blood money.

Both successful, in part, due to their proximity to whiteness. I couldn't shake the reality of amplifying more rich Black folks. I just

at the panic on the face of the masters who had reluctantly let her in. It was ever so reminiscent of all the empty Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity initiatives promised to us but never delivered by institutions and conglomerates all over the world. And the resulting dissatisfaction of all the slaves in the system, whether they lived inside or outside the house.

This is because the equity aspect of EDI is the one that requires an intersectional, decolonial and anti-racist lens. It is the aspect that looks at the macroscale and systemic issues. This needed anti-oppressive consideration is why equity is often forgotten or replaced with a false notion of equality, which undermines divergence and co-existing oppressions, otherwise known as intersectionality. Equity was the aspect that forced Markle to reappropriate her blackness.

Diversity is only the tokenism aspects of collaboration. It does not require inclusiveness, but merely

But equity is the only place where Markle could have hoped to find true job satisfaction.

Equity is the part that requires you to ask your employees of colour if they are happy. It requires you to scrutinize the distribution of resources and to face biases of its allocation. It is taking a long, hard look at our systems and reforming them in every way that is not conducive to the better. Few people want to do that. Few people are willing to be told of the racism they must address, especially not the royal family.

Like a persistent cough that goes on too long and that we've attributed to allergies for the four changing seasons, the idea of getting the diagnosis of racism and facing it head on seems more terrifying than merely denying its existence. And just like colourism, EDI is a form of internal affliction that re-heirarchizes society on the false premise of inherent, rather than constructed, differences. EDI is addressing symptoms rather than the root cause of oppression.

to allocate Markle as much care as I do for those, like me, who spent their lives on the fields, is simply too much to ask. My compassion is otherwise occupied.

Fundamentally, the rich have no incentive to resolve problems they profit or benefit from, and plenty of incentive to not do so.

Nevertheless, Markle's case raises important questions. Can EDI ever truly work in a context where colourism and other colonial mindsets remain dominant?

Can someone who married into and benefits from the reiteration and celebration of colonialism adequately value the importance of its abolishment? Are their voices the ones to center when speaking about the Black experience and its many injustices?

Is healing the system truly possible from inside its house?

thelinknewspaper.ca • November 22, 2022

14 OPINIONS

Being Immunosuppressed in a Supposedly Post-COVID World

How the Removal of the Mask Mandate Puts Those With Autoimmune Diseases at Risk Nico Ha-Ko

M

any people might not think twice when seeing the status of immunosuppressed people mentioned in headlines, as they may not be or know someone who is afflicted by an autoimmune disorder. However, that doesn’t stop COVID-19 from drastically changing the lives of those who have either a suppressed or compromised immune system.

Before 2020, I was considered healthy. I had some issues with anxiety, but physically, my immune system was strong. I wouldn’t get sick any more often than the average person.

That changed in March 2020, when the pandemic first hit, and I started realizing that something was not right with my body. As the months continued, the constant stress of the pandemic caused my symptoms to worsen until eight months later, at the height of the

pandemic in December of the same year, I was hospitalized. I didn’t know it at the time, but I had a chronic autoimmune disease that caused certain parts of my body to attack itself. It is treatable, yet not curable, meaning I will be on medication that suppresses my immune system until the end of my life. As the years continued, and as

I was accepted to Concordia’s english literature program, my identity as an immunosuppressed person lived in the back of my mind.

However, when the mask mandates were lifted, I grew more anxious. I continued to wear my mask because it makes me feel safer; eventually, I noticed I was one of the only people still wearing one. I

noticed the hand sanitizer stations slowly run out of disinfectant; rarely do they get refilled. I try to avoid all public outings, the only exception being when I attend class, but the occasional dirty looks I get from other passengers on the metro for wearing a mask make me feel self-conscious. I considered getting a pin notifying those around me of my status as an immunosuppressed person, though I’m not sure if that would make a difference.

My mom has asked me to consider online university classes, but I have a strong-minded nature that makes it hard for me to give up on a goal after I set eyes on it. I wanted to graduate as a Concordia alumna, and it’s hard for me to stray from that path, even after restrictions were lifted. The only difference for me now is that I worry every time I need to interact with classmates

GRAPHIC PAUL-EMILE LANDEZ

in close quarters. I flinch whenever someone coughs near me, praying that it’s not COVID-19 and that I won’t catch it. The pandemic has affected my life, as I am constantly worrying for my health. It’s exhausting.

I’m not writing this because I’m mad at those around me for no longer wearing masks, I’m writing this because I feel deep-seated frustration for being left behind as the rest of Concordia moves on from COVID-19. I also feel as though my plight is not being taken seriously by academic administrators. Many of my professors have been a saving grace for me, all being very understanding and respectful when I notify them of my situation. Words of support go a long way, especially to those who have a compromised or suppressed immune system and may feel isolated in this supposedly post-COVID world.

Library Rooms Are Not Chill Spaces Some of Us Have Actual Work to Do Autumn Darey

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friend told me McGill offers individual study pods, phone booth-like spaces where one person can work in sound isolation. I’ve been wondering if they’d help keep people from using study rooms as chill spots between classes.

Every year, I deal with the same issue: trying to find a space to do group work or to attend video meetings. You would think the group workspaces at the library would be ideal, yet I continuously run into people reserving the room and using it as a private place to chill for an hour or more at a time.

At this point, I’m not sure if I’m more upset at the people wasting these spaces that are supposed to be for collaborative work, or at Concordia for not providing enough private study spaces. These limited spaces get scooped up days or even weeks in advance, so if a meeting time gets moved, finding a space becomes a struggle.

When people book rooms, they have 15 minutes to show up or forfeit their slot. While many seem to have groups of students studying, preparing presentations, or otherwise working, others have

one single person scrolling on their phone. Those are the people who irritate me. While I’m left doing laps at the library, looking for quiet spaces in different buildings, some students use group workspaces as zen dens. Concordia, for its part, does state such rooms must be used by two or more people at a time. Of course, students with disabilities are exempt from that rule, as they should be.

If people need a place to chill, they can usually find a space in the Grey Nuns reading room. The basement in Faubourg also has spaces if they’re looking for a place where they can still talk but isn’t as crowded. There’s also the option of sitting in the main part of the library: on the upper floors if you want a serene environment, or on the lower floors if you don’t care about people using their outside voices in study areas.

Despite the number of buildings Concordia owns, the university seems to have limited spaces for students to hang out, especially if people are using study spaces to relax between classes.

thelinknewspaper.ca • November 22, 2022

One recommendation I have for Concordia is to use codes on the digital pads outside each room to tell if someone actually showed up for their slots. When coming in, students could type in a code confirming that they showed up to their reservation, encouraging people to cancel their reservation if they’re not going to use it.

Last winter, I had a phone interview with someone based in Toronto right after my class ended. I managed to find a quiet corner on the tenth floor of the Hall building. I did my best to keep myself away from crowds and the sounds of people moving in and out of classes. Thankfully, this floor was far less occupied than the other floors, but I still wish I had somewhere I could have gone for 30 minutes to take the call.

If you’re ever upset or side-eyeing someone for taking a video call in the library, try not to blame them. They probably tried to get a private room for the meeting, but someone needed a private space to watch TikTok for a few hours.

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EDITORIAL

15

Athletes Need to be Held Accountable

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hen the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières Patriotes men’s hockey team took to the ice at home against the Concordia Stingers on Nov. 11, their opponents hurled insults towards the bench—deservedly so, following the controversy surrounding the Patriotes. The comments were not solely because of what one player did to gather this unwanted attention. Rather, such comments were triggered when a teammate was permitted to play days after his initial suspension.

On Nov. 7, TVA Nouvelles released a report indicating that

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one of the UQTR hockey players had created an Instagram account rating women on a scale of one to ten. Each post also provided personal information about the women, such as date of birth and cultural background accompanied by details of intimate relations the creator had with some of these women. The account actively posted content from Aug. 22 to Oct. 30.

UQTR was notified about the account first. In response, the player was prohibited from playing with the team. The university proceeded to enact measures that would protect victims from coming into contact with the perpetrator—a decision made and assured to be in the best interest of the students. This is yet another occasion where a higher education institution pats itself on the back for implementing a Band-Aid solution for sexual misconduct—only for them to revoke the suspension when the Patriotes started losing.

The story’s hearsay component is common knowledge, yet is unspoken throughout the league and media attention alike. This being said, as it currently stands, that player is active on the roster of the UQTR team. A failure on the part of the faculty at UQTR. The inexcusable offences that have presented themselves within the game of hockey, specifically from the men inside the game, are deplorable. This situation further promotes the idea that athletes should receive far more education on how to be a decent person, be-

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cause what may seem obvious to most people is clearly nonsensical to this individual.

Furthermore, UQTR has neglected to take proper precautions to protect the victims of this incident. Stating that measures to prevent victims and the perpetrator coming into contact with each other have been enacted is not enough. This hockey player may still have his image plastered on many UQTR posters and social media platforms. His name still is adored and celebrated in each article it appears in. The point is, he is not invisible. His identity may be concealed but for those involved, he still is a constant reminder of the trauma they faced.

This incident is an example of a university coveting the prowess from a defending national championship title over the protection and support of those who were affected by this player’s actions. The promotion of the idea that if a player contributes to a winning team, they become untouchable, is a scary truth exercised regularly by higher education. His punishment is a mere slap on the wrist in comparison to what should have transpired.

This line of reasoning is immoral. High-profile athletes cannot be put on a pedestal for their elite play and admired for how well they showcased this talent on the ice when they have acted so reprehensibly. The player did something wrong. As punishment, he does not deserve to play.

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