McGill Tribune Vol. 32 Issue 7

TRIBUNE

THE Mcgill

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Tuesday, October 16, 2012

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Volume No. 32 Issue No. 7

SSMU fall General Assembly marked by low turnout

Assembly passes two motions before losing quorum; motions to be ratified through online voting system Erica Friesen News Editor

Students vote in the SSMU General Assembly. (Sam Reynolds / McGill Tribune)

Despite efforts to make the General Assembly (GA) of the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) on Oct. 15 more accessible to students, the assembly lost quorum after passing two motions.

The revamped GA showcased several new features, including the introduction of online ratification.

Although motions still need to be passed by the assembly, they must now also be ratified through an online vote that represents at least 10 per cent of SSMU’s constituent.

Voting on yesterday’s motions will be open for seven days, from Oct. 16 to Oct. 23. Results will be announced on the last day at 5 p.m.

The GA was also live-streamed, and featured a “mood watcher,” to whom students could send text messages anonymously if the debate

made them feel uncomfortable, or if they thought the debate was moving in an unproductive direction.

The use of clickers to speed up voting was among the intended reforms pioneered by the SSMU executives. However, SSMU President Josh Redel said that the order for clickers fell through. SSMU will be looking into a text and mobile appbased audience engagement system for the next GA. Despite the alterations, the GA lost quorum after voting on just two motions. However, Redel said he was pleased with the GA, and thought the mood watcher and use of social media were effective. “[Low participation] might just be a reality of McGill,” Redel said.

“I’m intrigued to know how much [improvements to the GA] could change that culture, [but] I think people enjoyed this, and hopefully See “SSMU GA” on p. 2

Manfredi releases long-awaited report on the Open Forum Report provides summary of discussion on free expression, Manfredi offers three recommendations for further steps Bea Britneff News Editor On Oct. 10, McGill Principal and Vice-Chancellor Heather Munroe-Blum announced the release of Dean of Arts Christopher Manfredi’s Report on the Open Forum on Free Expression and Peaceful Assembly.

Manfredi’s concluding recommendations include the clarification of several clauses in the Code of Student Conduct, the revision of the provisional protocol, and a review of McGill Security’s training program.

Munroe-Blum mandated the series of open fora following Dean of Law Daniel Jutras’ report on the events of Nov. 10, 2011, when an occupation of the James Administration Building ended with riot police dispersing and pepper-spraying stu-

dents on campus.

The open fora were intended to provide students, faculty, non-academic staff, and senior administration with an opportunity to engage in dialogue about campus issues, including freedom of assembly on campus, and the limits of this freedom. Four Open Forum sessions took place between March 1 and May 2 of this year.

Manfredi’s report on the Open Forum, which can be accessed online through the Open Forum blog, described the key issues that constituted the focus of the discussions— as well as the different opinions expressed regarding these issues.

Early in his report, Manfredi compared McGill’s policies, protections, and regulations to several Canadian and American universi-

ties and institutions. The points of comparison include student codes of conduct, freedom of speech, peaceful assembly, and the disruption of meetings.

Manfredi found that several of the institutions possess specific policies regarding freedom of speech and expression, and that the code of student conduct for each institution defines “prohibited behaviour” and establishes “disciplinary procedures for investigating … and sanctioning behaviour contrary to the Code.”

“Universities place limits on the rights to assembly and expression,” Manfredi concluded. “Assemblies and demonstrations must be ‘peaceful’ or ‘lawful’ to enjoy any protection at all. Beyond this, even assemblies or demonstrations that fall within ordinary definitions

of these qualifying terms are usually prohibited if they otherwise disrupt normal institutional activities.”

In his section on free expression, Manfredi stated that there was much debate about “expressive activities” such as protests, demonstrations, and occupations, and that many participants commented on the limited responsiveness of the McGill administration to “dissenting voices.”

With regards to peaceful assembly, Manfredi said that much of the discussion involved “the question of how much, where, and with what consequences disruptive activity can legitimately take place.”

Manfredi noted that all participants in the Open Forum agreed that McGill should be a violence-free zone.

However, other opinions ranged

from the belief that peaceful assembly is a form of disruption—even in the absence of violence—and should not be tolerated, to the view that disruptions on campus should be allowed in all circumstances.

“The Open Forum discussions indicate that the university community accepts the necessity of limits, and that most recognize that the peaceful/non-peaceful line is more complicated than a simple distinction between violent and non-violent,” Manfredi concluded.

“McGill’s Code of Student Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures and its Charter of Student Rights currently inadequately define the limits to acceptable protest.”

Manfredi closed his report with See “Manfredi” on p. 2

NEWS

Manfredi Continued Continued from from cover cover

SSMU GA Continued from cover

three specific recommendations.

“The Code of Student Conduct should be clarified with regard to section 5, 6 and 10 of the Code, namely ‘disruption,’ ‘unauthorized entry and/or presence’ and ‘unauthorized or fraudulent use of university facilities, equipment or services,’ ” his first recommendation read.

The second recommendation dealt with the James Protocol, a provisional security protocol governing access to the James Administration building issued after students occupied the building’s 6th floor in February for six days. Manfredi recommended that the protocol be “revised or reconsidered with a view towards adopting a less restrictive approach to access and security.”

Manfredi’s final recommendation concerned McGill Security Services, which came under criticism last year for what some students at the forum called the increased “securitization of campus.” Manfredi emphasized the importance of training security personnel for disruptive situations.

“McGill Security should review their training program … in order to ensure accuracy and integrity in the case of incident reports and disciplinary proceedings,” he wrote.

In an email to the McGill community on Oct. 10, Munroe-Blum confirmed that she has accepted Manfredi’s three recommendations,

and is ready to undertake the necessary measures needed to fulfill them.

“My colleagues and I are committed to addressing directly the matters identified in the report,” Munroe-Blum wrote. “In some cases work is already under way to deal with [these issues]; in others I’ve asked those responsible for substance and process to consider appropriate next steps and report back to me by November 15, 2012.”

Manfredi said he believes his second and third recommendations can be implemented relatively quickly without much additional consultation from the McGill community, however, he admitted that this might not be the case in regards to the Student Code of Conduct.

“Modifications to the Student Code of Conduct are undoubtedly more complicated,” Manfredi said in an email to the Tribune. “However, there is already a Code revision process under way.”

Josh Redel, president of the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU), said that the SSMU executive team is unable to comment on the report at this time.

In her email, Munroe-Blum stated she will reserve her comments on the report for the Senate meeting scheduled for Oct. 17, as well as the next meeting of the Board of Governors.

NEWS

that means that the next one will have more people.”

One student, who asked to remain anonymous, liked the idea of getting students involved through social media, but questioned the requirement of online ratification.

“After the first motion passed I think we all realized that… our participation doesn’t mean as much as it used to,” she said. “That’s disappointing.”

Redel said that ballots for online voting would be finalized in time for polls to open by noon today. He added that there will be additional features to facilitate students’ understanding of the motions as they vote, such as videos of recorded debate, and hyperlinks in the ballot questions.

Motions The two motions passed as binding resolutions concern the installation of a bouldering wall in the SSMU Building, and the renaming of the SSMU Breakout Room to the Madeleine Parent Room, in honour of a recently deceased McGill alumnus who advocated for gender equity.

Since the assembly lost quorum for all subsequent votes, the GA acted as a consultative forum for the remaining motions, which were therefore passed as non-binding

resolutions to be discussed at SSMU Council.

One of these was a motion to renew SSMU’s mandate to support accessible education. Last year, the mandate meant that the society opposed the proposed provincial tuition increase of $1,625 over five years, which the newly elected Parti Québécois cancelled soon after their election to provincial parliament in September.

SSMU Vice-President External Robin Reid-Fraser pointed out that SSMU has supported this policy for a long time and that the role of this mandate this year will depend on the development of the student movement.

“The context of the student movement right now is quite different, because we have a change of government, [and] the tuition hike that students were striking about has been cancelled—at least for now,” Reid-Fraser said.

Some students, however, suggested that SSMU should not renew the mandate, pointing to the tension that arose surrounding the issue last year, as well as the Arts Undergraduate Society’s ultimate vote against joining the student strike.

“The last [time] that we had [a policy] about supporting accessible education, we had a previous Vice-President External spend sev-

in brief

CLAIRE STEWART-KANIGAN ELECTED ARTS REPRESENTATIVE TO SSMU Last Wednesday, Claire Stewart-Kanigan was voted in as representative of the Arts Undergraduate Society (AUS) to the Students’ Society of McGill University’s (SSMU) Legislative Council. Stewart-Kanigan won with 41.8 per cent of the total votes (975), beating out other candidates Ryan Mitton (32.2 per cent) and Harmon Moon (25.9 per cent).

SSMU Council typically has three representatives from the AUS, elected by arts undergraduate students each year. However, one of the representatives elected last March, Sean Phipps, resigned from the position.

Stewart-Kanigan is currently a joint-honours student studying po-

eral thousands of dollars of students’ money on a cause that they did not support, and that ultimately they voted down,” Harmon Moon, U3 history, said.

The greatest amount of debate came from a motion mandating SSMU’s opposition to Canadian military involvement in Iran.

“I want to point out the hypocrisy of this motion in condemning McGill or opposing any ties that the university has to weapons research, but not condemning Iran for engaging in the same kind of research,” Beni Fisch, one of the founders of the Moderate Political Action Committee (ModPAC), said.

“I understand that this is a very complicated issue,” Reid-Fraser, one of the movers of the motion, said. “In general, this [motion] is very much opposing war because it is something that can affect many innocent people’s lives, not just on the Iranian side.”

Both motions were passed by the assembly and will be discussed at SSMU Council.

Additional motions passed by the assembly as a consultative forum resolved that SSMU oppose Plan Nord and further development of the Canadian oil sands, as well as lobby McGill to divest from companies engaged in activities concerning these issues.

litical science and Canadian studies, and is co-president of McGill Students for the New Democratic Party.

In her platform, Stewart-Kanigan stated three main focuses: helping students know where their tuition is going, ensuring that spending is directed by an ethical, students-first mandate, and prioritizing the establishment of student-run spaces.

“A central function of an arts rep is just that—to represent. So of course that is always going to be my overall priority,” Stewart-Kanigan said in her platform video.

“I’ve been a delegate and representative [for] numerous clubs in the past so I’m no stranger to giving up my own view in favour of the democratically elected conclusion,”

she continued. “However, consent building through lots and lots of communication and outreach will be a big focus of mine.”

AUS President Devon LaBuik expressed confidence in StewartKanigan’s ability to succeed in the position, even though he sees it as a challenging one.

“As Arts representative, I think the hardest thing is to make sure student voices are heard and not just yours,” LaBuik said. “This is a very difficult position to be in since you’re elected, but you have to keep in mind you have to get an aggregate of opinion, and that’s very tough.”

According to LaBuik, the main problem AUS faced in this election was low voter turnout. Only one of

every ten eligible students voted, despite the fact that the online voting process takes no more than a few minutes. In a faculty with over 7,000 students, LaBuik said that engaging students can be difficult.

“What we did [that was new] this election was candidate videos and sending them out to students,” he said. “We’d probably have to do something [else] in the next election though. Our goal by the end of the year would be try to get 20 to 30 per cent of the students to vote. [It] will be tough, but we’re going to try our best to get people more involved.”

—Jimmy Lou

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student government

First of SSMU’s “roaming Councils” held at Mac campus Motion on increase of M-SERT fee passes; student-run café feasibility study to be conducted Bea Britneff News Editor On Oct. 11, the Students’ Society of McGill University’s (SSMU) Legislative Council convened for the third time this academic year.

Although meetings are traditionally held in the Lev Bukhman room in the SSMU Building, this Council was hosted at McGill’s Macdonald Campus in Ste. Anne de Bellevue.

Thursday’s Council meeting was the first in a series of “roaming Councils” SSMU will host throughout the year. According to SSMU President Josh Redel, the goal of “roaming Councils” is to break away from operating out of a single building, and to reach out to other McGill student spaces.

“By going to different places, it allows councillors to gain perspective on other students at McGill, and [as a result], I hope that councillors are better able to make informed decisions,” Redel said. “It [also] allows other students to come watch and ask questions at Council in the comfort of a familiar environment.”

Redel explained that the purpose of travelling to Macdonald Campus for Thursday’s meeting was to help SSMU councillors un-

derstand the types of challenges the Macdonald Campus Students’ Society (MCSS) faces.

“I think we can also learn a lot from [MCSS],” Redel said. “In my experience … I found that smaller schools and faculties can often lend lessons to the bigger associations that often lose sight of the importance of getting to know students at a more personal level.”

According to Redel, future locations of “roaming Councils” will include residences, student areas in different faculties, and other venues across campus.

Council began with a presentation from SSMU Sustainability Coordinator David Gray-Donald, who spoke about the creation and history of sustainability initiatives and policies at McGill, as well as the university’s lack of a concrete sustainability strategy. “[The former director of the McGill Office of Sustainability] didn’t think there was a need for a strategy,” Gray-Donald said. “We have all these [projects] going on as a policy, [and] there’s lot of money… but no strategy.”

Gray-Donald also elaborated on the Office of Sustainability’s Vision 2020 project, a year-long con-

sultation process intended to lead to a sustainability strategy.

“Vision 2020 … started in February,” he explained. “[The Office has] been doing an analysis of where we are with sustainability at McGill.

[We’ve created] five working groups [to address] five areas or dimensions of the university that we want to see sustainability happening in.”

Following Gray-Donald’s presentation, councillors voted on the only motion on the agenda for the evening. The motion concerned the increase of the SSMU “Safety Network” fee by $0.50 for all students at McGill’s downtown campus, with the increase going towards the McGill Student Emergency Response Team (M-SERT).

M-SERT is one of the 21 student-run, volunteer services offered through SSMU, and provides emergency first-aid response to McGill’s downtown campus and residences, as well as at various McGill events.

SSMU Vice-President Clubs and Services Allison Cooper explained to councillors that M-SERT is requesting an increase to SSMU’s base fee in order to offset its current operation costs, as well as the planned expansion of its coverage on campus and in Montreal.

SSMU Council at Macdonald Campus. (Bea Britneff / McGill Tribune) The motion passed quickly, with 21 votes for, two against, and one abstention. M-SERT must now submit its question to a referendum—the date for which has not yet been decided. The motion read that the extra fee would be applied starting in the winter 2013 semester.

In response to Dean of Arts Christopher Manfredi’s report on last spring’s Open Forum on Freedom of Expression and Peaceful Assembly, SSMU Vice-President University Affairs Haley Dinel announced that she will be involved in a group working on his recommendation to clarify the wording of the Code of Student Conduct.

“I am co-chairing a commit-

tee with Associate Provost (Policies, Procedures and Equity) Lydia White that is partly responsible for review of the Greenbook,” Dinel said. “[The] report will really help us figure out how to better change the Code of Student Conduct.”

SSMU Vice-President Finance and Operations Jean Paul Briggs also announced that, starting this week, the Operations Management Committee will be conducting a feasibility study of the student-run café alongside team members from the Sustainability Case Competition. Briggs’ executive report to Council stated that the goal is to have the study completed in four to six weeks.

campus

Campaign McGill leaders discuss fundraising strategies

Marc Weinstein talks about McGill’s philanthropic objectives, building relationships, and where the money goes Last Thursday, reporters from campus media met with Marc Weinstein, McGill’s Vice President (Development and Alumni Relations) and Derek Cassoff, Director of Communications (Development and Alumni Relations), to discuss McGill’s History in the Making campaign—the largest fundraising campaign in the university’s history.

Launched publicly in 2007, the campaign has raised over $700 million for the university to date. According to Weinstein, roughly 65 per cent of this money comes from individuals, 20 per cent from family foundations, and 14 per cent from corporations.

Le Délit: How do you make the distinctions between [individuals] who are high paid executives of a certain company, versus a corporation?

Marc Weinstein: At the end of the day, it’s who writes the cheque … [for example] if an individual is sitting on a board, and he or she has that responsibility ... but at the end of the day, if the cheque comes from the individual personally, it’s not a corporate gift. It’s an individual gift.

McGill Tribune: As far as the statistics for individual donors and corporate donors go, how does McGill compare to other universities in Canada or North America?

MW: McGill is extremely strong on raising philanthropic dollars from individuals compared to some of our sister universities across Canada, and especially in Quebec.

Quebec’s mindset is a different sort of mindset when it comes to philanthropy—it’s highly corporate. We’re very strong on the individual … [but] our alumni pool is extremely diversified, and … 55 per cent of [our] alumni pool live in Quebec and 45 per cent of them live everywhere else … So it’s more challenging for us to keep them engaged, keep them interested, and keep them connected and value their education.

Derek Cassoff: In any typical year, 22-30 per cent of our alumni make a gift, whatever the size, so … our alumni tend to be much more likely to make a gift back to the university on an annual basis versus most of our counterparts in Canada.

That allows us to have such a robust

alumni donor base so we’re not as reliant on corporations to help us meet our philanthropic objectives.

McGill Daily: You said $230 million raised has been earmarked for student support. How much of that has been spent, and what does that translate to exactly?

MW: Your question’s a tough one because some of the dollars we’ve raised are endowed dollars, that every year will spin off interest … and then we’ll create the scholarships, or we’ll marry some of that money with other money we have, and we’ll provide it in more robust scholarships. … [Then] there are other donors who don’t want to do endowments—they want to do what we call ‘direct spent’ … Someone who doesn’t have $100,000 but still wants to help students, well we will tell him or her that [they] can give us a three year commitment for $5,000 and then in three years we’ll revisit … it’s a 50/50 split to be honest, but that money is being very well utilized.

MT: Are there any disadvantages to [McGill’s] donor-centric system?

MW: I think a very good, mature organization will want to be donor-centric because if you’re not donor-centric, [philanthropy] becomes all about just a transaction … It’s about building relationships, and then people will be very accommodating … and want to do it out of their own good will … So I think we need to be donor-centric, otherwise we won’t achieve where we want to go. Donor centricity starts off with listening to what the donor might or might not want to do, trying to make the connection with the priorities of the university, finding ways to somehow make sure that those parts fit nicely together, and then—beyond just accepting the ultimate so-called proverbial cheque— it’s what do we do after all that.

LD: I guess a lot of your job relies on the confidence of the donors. How did McGill Leaks affect the confidence of the donors in that respect?

DC: I think we did a pretty good job … of getting information out to our donor community right away.

As soon as we heard about it we got information out to our donors,

Marc Weinstein.

(Simon Poitrimolt / McGill Tribune) we followed up more specifically with any donors whose files may have been affected … I don’t think we lost a single penny of donations because of that—if anything we had a real appreciation from our donor alumni communities that we were so upfront with the information, and didn’t hold anything back.

—This interview has been condensed and edited by Erica Friesen.

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Tuesday, October 16, 2012 |

NEWS

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SPEAKER ON CAMPUS

Liberal McGill invites Marc Garneau to speak to students Garneau visits McGill as part of Choose Your Canada tour; lecture addresses federalism, Canada since Patriation Christos Lazaris Contributor Last Friday, Liberal McGill hosted the Honourable Marc Garneau for a talk entitled “30 years after the Patriation: where are we now?” in the Lev Buhkman room of the Student Society of McGill University (SSMU) Building. Garneau is the current Member of Parliament (MP) for the riding of WestmountVille Marie in Montreal.

Garneau came to McGill as part of a larger movement entitled the Choose Your Canada tour. According to Liberal McGill President Eric Hendry, the tour aims to bring various Liberal caucus members to university campuses across the country from Oct. 9 to Nov. 4.

“The purpose of this event is to introduce McGill students to the MP for the riding that McGill is in, Westmount—Ville Marie,” Hendry said. “It’s a great opportunity for students to hear a parliamentarian talk about a subject that many [people] are interested in.”

Hendry also noted that Marc Garneau has spoken at McGill before, and was brought back due to his vast field of experience, and impressive knowledge on many different subjects.

“Last time he was here was two

Member of Parliament Marc Garneau spoke to students at McGill. (Michael Paolucci / McGill Tribune) years ago,” Hendry said. “It’s been a while, and he’s a great speaker to bring to … campus as much as we can. He’s had so much experience in so many walks of life.”

Garneau’s talk on Friday covered federalism and Quebec’s place in Canada since the 1981 Patriation—when the Constitution was made amendable only by Canada, without the British Parliament playing a role. While Quebec did not ap-

prove of these constitutional changes, Garneau shared his view that the overall effect of the Patriation was positive for all of Canada.

“Thirty years later … whether or not it was endorsed by the government of Quebec, Quebec avails itself of the constitution, it avails itself of the charter, the amending formula, and the notwithstanding clause in order to achieve its political objectives,” Garneau said. “In

my opinion, the results were very positive for Canadians and for Quebeckers.”

Garneau also explained that Canada is not the only federation in which constitutional changes have not been approved by the entire country, citing Bavaria in Germany as another example.

“Although not an ideal situation, I think we all have to admit that Germany [and] Canada still manage

to function very well sometimes,” he said.

Following his talk, Garneau hosted a question and answer period. Audience members’ questions covered a variety of topics, ranging from the Patriation itself, to Garneau’s potential leadership candidacy, and to Bill C-420—a bill that Garneau himself put forward, and which would establish the Office of the Commissioner for Children and Young Persons in Canada.

Students who attended the event offered positive and enthusiastic feedback.

“I wasn’t aware that he was such an incredible speaker and it was great to see him in his element like that,” Laura Jarecsni, U0 education, said. “It was interesting to hear him talk about his potential Liberal leadership candidacy. I was very excited by that.”

The event also fits into Liberal McGill’s goal to inform students about the upcoming Liberal Party leadership elections, and to encourage them to get involved with the actions of the Liberal Party.

“We’re … hoping to bring in as many leadership candidates to McGill as possible,” Hendry said.

“The leadership election is going to be the focus of our speaking events throughout the year.”

SPEAKER ON CAMPUS

Mary Gordon on the importance of fostering empathy

Social entrepreneur speaks to students and alumni about Roots of Empathy and reducing childhood bullying Andra Cernavskis Contributor As part of Desautels’ Homecoming festivities last Friday, McGill’s Social Economy Initiative (SEI) hosted a presentation by social entrepreneur Mary Gordon in the Bronfman Building. Gordon spoke to the audience about Roots of Empathy, the classroom program she founded 17 years ago to help address aggression and bullying, and to help increase empathy among elementary school children.

Gordon discussed how teaching children to be “emotionally literate” will improve society in future generations. Emotional literacy, she explained, requires an individual to be able to identify his or her own feelings, to identify those feelings in other people, and then to discuss those feelings with others.

“Let me promise you, we are an emotionally illiterate society,” Gordon said. “We have a steady uptake of emotional ineptitude in society.”

Roots of Empathy, as the program name suggests, focuses on building empathy in young children to increase emotional literacy. The program aims to foster the capacity for caring by working with babies.

The children learn to identify how the baby feels in given situations— for instance, if a toy is taken away.

“We have the opportunity to say [to the children], ‘when was a time you felt like the baby, when you were crying inside?’ And I promise you there are many broken hearts in every classroom,” Gordon said.

Roots of Empathy began as a small program in Toronto in 1996, serving 150 children. It is now in every province in Canada, and has a reach of over 450,000 students across the country. The program has also expanded into the United States, Europe, and New Zealand.

According to Anita Nowak, SEI integrating director and current instructor of a new McGill course entitled “Introduction to Social Entrepreneurship and Social Inno-

vation,” Gordon was chosen as a Homecoming speaker for a number of reasons, but Nowak said that the success of Roots of Empathy probably played a large factor in the final decision.

“I think one of the things that is very important in the non-profit sector, and the social enterprise and entrepreneurial endeavors, is that they actually show impact,” Nowak said. “[It’s important] that it’s not just a promise, but that they actually can deliver on the mission that they are hoping to accomplish.”

Nowak also explained how SEI wanted to take advantage of the Homecoming weekend to inform alumni of what SEI is doing, and how they can help. The SEI is a relatively new initiative at McGill that began this past January, and will publicly launch in the spring of 2013. It hopes to integrate social entrepreneurship and social innovation into the teaching and research that occurs in the Desautels Faculty of Management.

A mixture of students and alumni attended Friday’s talk. Many students said they attended because they are currently in Nowak’s Introduction to Social Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation course.

Michael Hibberd, U3 general management, is in Nowak’s class and was impressed by Gordon’s presentation.

“I really did think it was a phenomenal talk,” Hibberd said. “It was incredibly inspiring. I found a lot of things in this talk that I had been thinking about for a long time and looking for, but never found … It was really refreshing.”

Kristen Foster, U2 international management, is also in Nowak’s class and agreed with Hibberd.

“I think [Gordon] does something that our society is starting to do, but [is taking] way too long to do, and that is to get to the root of problems, rather than trying to fix it afterwards,” Foster said. “She is doing it to such [an] extent that it is amazing and inspiring.”

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What happened last week in Compiled by JESSICA FU

Protesters block construction in Charlottetown, PEI

Toyota recalls 240,000 vehicles in Canada

On Oct. 10, protesters halted construction on the realignment of the Trans-Canada Highway near Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island (PEI). According to PEI’s transportation department, the section of the highway in question is currently unsafe because of its sharp curves and steep hills.

This realignment has sparked an outcry from those who oppose the planned destruction of farmland, recreational areas, and a section of old-growth hemlock forest. Despite fencing put up to deter protesters, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police halted construction because a few protesters came close enough to the heavy machinery for authorities to deem further operation unsafe.

Those at the protest included some members of PEI’s Green Party were also present, including interim leader Darcie Lanthier, and incoming leader Peter Bevan-Baker.

Bevan-Baker and several other protesters were charged with trespassing; Lanthier says she expects to be charged with resisting arrest and mischief.

Although construction on the site has since resumed, protesters say they will continue to stage demonstrations to prevent the highway realignment.

Toyota Motor Company announced the largest recall in the company’s history on Oct. 10. The recall affects over seven million vehicles worldwide—240,000 of which are in Canada—and has been initiated due to a problem involving the master window switch on the driver’s side of vehicles.

A problem in the production of the vehicles resulted in poorly greased switches, causing the switch to feel sticky during use. Should car owners lubricate the switch in hopes of fixing this problem, the switch assembly could melt, leading to a fire.

Customers in the U.S. have reported more than 200 problems due to this issue despite claims by Toyota spokespeople that the risk is minimal. According to the company, the inspection and repair process for affected vehicles will only take around an hour.

This announcement is the latest in a series of recalls by Toyota in the last few years, including one three years ago that involved up to 12 million vehicles affected by issues with acceleration. Company officials say that the recently increased number of recalls is a result of Toyota’s ambitious growth goals.

NEWS

| Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Canada?

Conservative government criticized for spending on advertisements The Conservative government has recently come under scrutiny

by NGOs and NDP critics regarding their spending on advertisements. While government programs across the nation have had their funding cut, the Tories have already approved $64 million worth of advertising for the 2012-2013 year, although the total amount will only be available to the public after all the invoices are processed.

Advertisement campaigns on the government’s “Economic Action Plan” website include those for “better jobs,” and “responsible resource development.” Government departments, such as the Department of Finance, have justified this expenditure by arguing that raising awareness for initiatives is an important step in unifying the nation.

In the meantime, the Conservative government has discontinued programs such as the Experimental Lakes Area, and has made drastic cuts to the budgets of other programs—such as the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy—in order to save money.

BC Health Minister apologizes for delayed surgery time Last week, British Columbia’s Health Minister Margaret McDiarmid issued an apology to an Okanagan teenage boy, whose delayed surgery was a factor to his paralysis from the waist downward.

Walid Khalfallah was 13 years old when he was diagnosed with kyphosis—a condition that involves an over-curvature of the upper back.

Because of the severity of the case, Khalfallah’s doctor insisted that the boy seek immediate attention, but delays pushed the date of surgery 27 months behind schedule.

By the time Khalfallah’s parents sought medical help in Washington, rather than delay the surgery further, his condition had worsened, leaving him paraplegic, following the operation.

In her apology, McDiarmid spoke of the fluctuating waitlist, and the current process of improving B.C.’s health care system. McDiarmid added that the number of spinal surgeries performed at the BC’s Children’s Hospital has doubled since 2009.

5

MONTREALERS PROTEST BEHAVIOUR BY CONSTABLE stephanie trudeau Last Friday night, over two hundred protestors took to the streets of downtown Montreal, calling for an end to police violence, and the dismissal of Montreal police officer, Constable Stefanie Trudeau.

This past spring, Trudeau— more commonly known by her badge number, “No. 728”— was caught on tape last spring using pepper spray on peaceful protesters. On Oct. 2, Trudeau was also recorded using coarse language and aggressive behaviour after seeing someone in public with an empty beer bottle.

The protest, which was organized through Facebook, began at 9:15 p.m. at Place Émile-Gamelin.

Protestors—some of whom were masked—made their way to Ste. Catherine’s street, chanting and calling for passersby to join them.

Riot police monitored the situation throughout the night. At 10:00 p.m. the protest was declared illegal, and by 11:00 p.m. the protesters had dispersed.

According to CTV News, Trudeau has been suspended, and is currently under a disciplinary investigation. The police ethics commission has also reprimanded Trudeau for the pepper spray incident.

news analysis

Hugo Chávez wins third presidential term in Venezuela Re-election might reinforce slow economic growth and high inflation; students react to election results Claudia Flament Contributor Hugo Chávez Frías will remain president of Venezuela for the next six years, following his defeat of moderate challenger Henrique Capriles Rodonski in the country’s presidential elections on Oct. 9.

According to Tibisay Lucena, president of the National Electoral Council, Chávez obtained 54.42 per cent of the vote while his opponent gained 44.9 per cent. Out of nearly 19 million registered voters, 81 per cent cast ballots in this election.

Shortly after his victory at midnight, Chávez led his supporters outside the presidential palace in singing the national anthem. The crowd responded by chanting “HeyHo, Chávez won’t go.” Chávez has been the president of Venezuela for the past 14 years.

During his time in office, Chávez’s government has reached out to Venezuela’s impoverished

population through anti-poverty programs such as free educational services and health clinics, as well as low-income housing. His government, however, has also seen an increase in crime rates, restrictions on the media, and state control of the oil industry.

Although Chávez was elected, the process illuminated Venezuela’s political and structural divisions between those who support Chávez’s brand of socialism, and those who desire free-market solutions to economic problems.

Manuel Balán, an associate professor in the department of political science specializing in political corruption and comparative politics, described the foundation of Chávez’s political objectives. Balán explained that Chávez does not promote economic development through the creation of infrastructure and public institutions. Instead, Chávez understands economic development in terms of providing people with basic

resources.

“Chávez lacks a clear economic model,” Balán said. “What the masses are looking for is food on the table. What Chávez does is that he provides the poor just enough so that they can say that the state is fulfilling its promises. Is that buying their vote or is that fulfilling their needs? It is a difficult question to answer.”

Those who criticize Chávez, however, argue that the country is experiencing slow economic growth, high inflation, and food shortages.

Jonathan Benitez, U2 engineering and a Venezuelan student at McGill, said Chávez’s reelection could have disadvantages.

“The possible implications of a third term might encompass destruction of the economy, less democracy, more crime, [and the] middle class leaving the country,” Benitez said.

To build support for the opposition, moderate politician Capriles argued during his campaign that he would not eliminate any of Chávez’s

Chávez was reelected with 54.42 per cent of the vote. (outraspalavras.com) social programs, but would build upon them instead. Balán, however, explained that not all of Capriles’ supporters are as moderately-leaning as Capriles himself.

“His supporters had been very well known for not following [his] kind of moderate political approach,” Balán said. “They are the [right-wing] opposition of the past, the people [that] created the conditions from which Chávez emerged.”

Chávez’s health concerns are also a potential barrier to his ability to govern Venezuela. Chávez was diagnosed with abdominal cancer in 2011, and has since undergone mul-

tiple surgeries and chemotherapy treatments to treat his disease.

In a few weeks, however, Venezuela will have local elections, in which opponents of Chávez will have another opportunity to gain public support.

Luis Pombo, a Venezuelan U1 engineering student, said he voted in the election from Montreal.

“Prior to voting, I was feeling extremely patriotic, even playing the full national anthem as I was getting ready to go to the voting center,” Pombo said. “I felt happy to finally be taking part in the act of voting.”

opinion editorial

THE Mcgill

TRIBUNE www.mcgilltribune.com

Editor-in-Chief Elisa Muyl editor@mcgilltribune.com Managing Editors Carolina Millán Ronchetti cmillanronchetti@mcgilltribune.com Adam Sadinsky asadinsky@mcgilltribune.com

Immediate action needed on the provisional protocol Last Wednesday, Dean of Arts Christopher Manfredi released his long-awaited Report of the Open Forum on Free Expression and Peaceful Assembly. Following a series of open forums, the report sought to solicit community input on the meaning and scope of peaceful assembly on campus.

The initiative was commissioned by Principal and Vice-Chancellor Heather Munroe-Blum in February 2012, following Dean of Law Daniel Jutras’s recommendation in his report on the riot police presence on campus last Nov. 10.

We are pleased to hear that Munroe-Blum has accepted all three of Manfredi’s recommendations. Among other things, Manfredi called for a clarification of the word “disruption” in the Code of Student Conduct, a revision to the provisional protocol enacted following the second James Administration occupation last February, and a change to McGill Security Services’ training program.

All too often, however, real action in a university setting is un-

necessarily prolonged by discussion upon discussion, and recommendation upon recommendation. Compared to codes of conduct at other universities, the provisional protocol is far less tolerant in its acceptance of what constitutes a legal demonstration on campus, and severely limits free expression. The provision should be removed immediately, and the university’s policy on demonstrations should temporarily be reverted to the policies outlined in the Code of Student Conduct (as it was prior to February). At the same time, the administration should strike a working group—composed of varied community members, from students to faculty to members of non-academic associations—without delay, to further refine the Code of Student Conduct. As attendees of Manfredi’s forum have pointed out, it is important to reconcile diverse community viewpoints on the boundaries of free speech. The provisional protocol in question was devised without any consultation, and that mistake should not be repeated.

Manfredi’s report rightly states

that it is difficult to balance one person’s freedom of assembly with another person’s right to peaceful

“Students have a right to a Student Code of Conduct that outlines what is acceptable behaviour on campus...” study or access to university resources. That said, students have a right to a Student Code of Conduct that outlines what is acceptable behaviour on campus, and that is applied fairly to all alleged transgressions. The provisional protocol does not meet this criteria.

As the third recommendation acknowledges, the role of security agents on campus needs to be clarified for the McGill community as

a whole. McGill Security Services’ primary mandate needs to be the protection of students—security agents are responsible first and foremost for our safety. They are not law enforcement, but are there to support university activities. Manfredi’s report is correct in asking that all agents understand how to apply the Code of Student Conduct and understand how the disciplinary process works. However, there also needs to be more widespread communication and understanding of their role as university employees who students can trust to call on for help.

The mission of the modern university extends beyond formal teaching and learning; it is a place where expression of differing viewpoints is not only permitted, but encouraged. In its willingness to commission—and accept the recommendations of—Manfredi’s report, the administration has shown that it sees the value in making place for peaceful protest and dissent. The time for discussion and debate draws to a close. Now we need action.

off the board Alexandra Allaire Photo Editor

The awkward moment when replacing a roommate The best thing about first year is that everyone is your friend—that guy in your history class, the girl in the cafeteria, your next-door neighbour, and the security guard you high-five everyday before going to class. Being a newbie in an unfamiliar place can be scary, but it is also an excuse to approach anyone and strike up a conversation, knowing that they are just as clueless and nervous as you are. It’s a complete freefor-all: no cliques, no gossip girls, no bullies, and no crazies. Every person you see is potential friendship material.

However, not everyone can be friends with the world like Mr. Rogers or Oprah. As the year progresses, you might realize that your nextdoor neighbour and the cafeteria girl

aren’t quite your cup of tea. As your friend count slowly dwindles after Frosh, finding the right roommates for the next few years becomes an issue. If you just met the person, how can you know you can trust them enough to share a bathroom?

After first year, you are expected to move out of dorms and into realworld apartments. By April, every freshman has to trade in their meal plans for grocery shopping lists.

Next thing you know, you’re cooking yourself Kraft dinners and paying bills.

If you think picking roommates is a precarious process, what if the final living situation doesn’t work out? Who moves out and who moves in? I can tell you from recent experience that replacing roommates is as awkward as it gets. One of my roommates decided to transfer out of McGill at the end of last year, so my remaining roommate and I asked around and raided both Craigslist and Montreal Kijiji in the hopes of finding the perfect third in our trio.

This sticky dilemma can definitely put a strain on friendships, so here is my guide to making the situation as smooth as possible.

Before committing yourself to your new roommates on paper,

Production Manager Sam Reynolds sreynolds@mcgilltribune.com News Editors Bea Britneff and Erica Friesen news@mcgilltribune.com Opinion Editor Anand Bery opinion@mcgilltribune.com Science & Technology Editor Leigh Miller scitech@mcgilltribune.com Student Living Editor Jacqui Galbraith studentliving@mcgilltribune.com Features Editor Sara Espinal Henao features@mcgilltribune.com Arts & Entertainment Editors Chris Liu and Ilia Blinderman arts@mcgilltribune.com Sports Editors Steven Lampert and Jeff Downey sports@mcgilltribune.com Photo Editors Alexandra Allaire and Simon Poitrimolt photo@mcgilltribune.com Senior Design Editor Susanne Wang design@mcgilltribune.com Design Editor Heather H. Lee design@mcgilltribune.com Online Editor Victor Temprano online@mcgilltribune.com Social Media Editor Lisa Yang socialmedia@mcgilltribune.com Copy Editor Adrien Hu copy@mcgilltribune.com Advertising Manager Myriam Richard cpm@ssmu.mcgill.ca Publisher Chad Ronalds

it’s always a good idea to lay down some ground rules in case of potential breakups. When signing a lease, you don’t think about the probability of one of your roommates bailing out before your apartment contract ends. In my case, this led to arguments about who would pay the remaining part of the rent each month.

Make sure to settle on some agreement that all of you will pay rent until your contract ends. That way, if someone moves out, responsibility for that person’s rent won’t be yours.

If a stranger from Craigslist is not your thing, and you would prefer to move into a different apartment altogether, don’t rush into selling your place too fast in order to avoid next month’s rent. Remember, apartment hunting is a dog-eat-dog world and it’s every person for themself. I cannot stress enough the number of times an apartment was snatched out from under us last minute. Avoid the possibility of ending up homeless, like we almost did twice. Plan in advance if you want to move out, and make sure to find people to transfer your old lease to before signing another one.

If another friend replaces your old roommate, keep in mind that this is a tricky and touchy transition.

I am just getting used to the new vibe in our house. There are positive sides to this situation. A new roommate brings great new furniture for the apartment and some extra silverware you so desperately need. A new fresh face is always exciting, and in my case, we’ve inherited a great cook, which means no more ten-minute meals for me.

It’s probably best if you don’t make your new roomie feel like a fallback plan and your old one feel like they never existed. The switch is probably harder for your just-departed roommate than it is for you. A good balance of mixed emotions is the way to go when approaching this fragile situation.

Last, but not least, you’ll probably have to adapt to your new roommate’s quirks. So maybe you can’t walk around unclothed anymore because your roommate’s boyfriend is sleeping over, or maybe you’ll have to deal with your roommate’s obsession with French cheese stinking up the place. But isn’t that just part of the experience of having a roommate? Sharing your private space can get tricky and awkward at times, but as roommates come and go, the friendships you gain from the experience grow even stronger.

TPS Board of Directors Shannon Kimball (Chair): chair@mcgilltribune.com, Bea Britneff, Jacob Hardy, Elisa Muyl, Jonathan Newburgh, Maria Surilas

Contributors Joshua Freedman, Tiffany Lam, Abraham Moussako, Michael Paolucci, Jesse Conterato, Hrant Bardaujian, Peter Laing, Trevor Drummond, Rebecca Babcock, Cecilie Jensen, Haley Kemp, Alex Kpeglo-Hennessy, Joanna Schacter, Alex Shiri, Hannah Feinberg, Colin Vandenberg, Jimmy Lou, Christos Lazaris, Andra Cernavskis, Claudia Flament, Jessica Fu

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7

columnists The McGill administration’s smart manoeuvre; looking forward from the Manfredi Report Tiffany Lam Commentary The Manfredi Report, made public on Oct. 10, 2012, was a direct response to the Jutras Report’s recommendation calling for a campuswide discussion on the meaning of “free expression and peaceful assembly on campus.” It roughly outlines the escalation of our campus politics since the events of Nov. 10, and further includes his recommendations for action in this period of relative calm.

“Recommendations” have become a familiar theme at the administrative level; the Jutras Report, issued in February, made sweeping recommendations as well. It is all too easy to brush these recommendations off by arguing they don’t

provide direction towards tangible progress. Important lessons go unlearnt without ascribing some value to them. In her email on the report, Heather Munroe-Blum accepted Christopher Manfredi’s recommendations, and this project has taken on a much-extended timeline; a smart move from the McGill administration, as a means to sustain this period of calm.

In the interest of sustaining calm on campus, what is truly needed for the community right now is a chance to restore a certain level of faith in the administration. To do so, it would also be good to be reminded of the values that McGill stands for.

This is why the Manfredi Report

The challenges and biases of factual reporting

rate.

It is not difficult to see that Taleb and Silver are correct. The news media pretends to know things that are essentially unknowable.

We will never know Mitt Romney and Barack Obama on a personal level, no matter how many articles are written about them. Likewise, we cannot accurately predict how the polls will turn in the upcoming weeks. We do not know for sure if Justin Trudeau will eventually ascend to the head of the Liberal Party, and if he does so, how successful he will be. We must deal with the fact that our thoughts on these issues are hardly based in anything substan-

What should a university degree represent?

Abraham Moussako Commentary Over the past few years, there has been an intensifying debate over the role of university education— whether universities are institutions of pure learning, or simply a place to acquire a credential after completing a certain amount of coursework.

Though the topic has generated a fair amount of discussion about what universities should do to motivate learning, most of the talk about it actually misses the point. Because higher education allows—and requires—more individual choice than primary or secondary education, what really matters to this debate over learning and motivation is the individual student.

In his 2002 piece in the Chronicle of Higher Education, entitled

“The media also

tive, and are often nothing more than conjectures.

The media also fails spectacularly in its chief goal of actually reporting news: remember when Osama Bin Laden was reported killed in a firefight, or the Innocence of Muslims was reliably reported as the sole cause of the deaths in the American Embassy in Libya? When swine flu was posited as capable of decimating huge swaths of the population? When new sources reported that Candidate X committed (insert gaffe), only to state hours later that the gaffe was unreasonably exag-

gerated?

These news organizations can argue that they are doing the best with the information they have at the time. However, this limited defense is undercut by the fact that the media presupposes there is virtue in pretending to be authoritative with limited facts. In actuality, it is doing little service to the public with its presentation of wildly misleading views.

So how do we avoid falling into the trap of listening to news that is most likely wrong, and predictions that are apt to fail? Taleb suggests reading books and media that have stood the test of time, increasing the likelihood that the information we are consuming is largely accurate.

One should also be aware of the cognitive failings to which humans are prone, such as applying narratives to nearly every aspect of

our lives. Silver suggests that we act on the basis of probabilistic hypotheses, and then revise them after the truth or falsity of our actions slowly become known.

We can also start to react to the news in a more measured manner, taking everything that commentators say with a grain of salt, knowing that what they say is probably not complete and may need to be amended later. None of these things in themselves are sufficient in providing us with clarity of knowledge.

Ultimately though, these small steps—relying on established forms of media, expecting future revision of all facts, and seeking out bias in narrative—are the best tools we may ever have to separate hasty conclusions from prediction based in fact.

valid, there remains a major tension in the “do away with grades” argument in the realm of higher education.

This is an age of easily-accessible knowledge, with full and free courses offered online by institutions like MIT and Harvard. Now that world-class institutions are making their educational material freely available online, those who want to take time off and learn without the pressure to compete for a number can do so. The movement to bring this philosophy of grade-free education to large universities, then, reflects an implicit acceptance of the importance of the degree as a “credential” certifying learning.

Some economists suggest that university completion—with a satisfactory transcript—is actually a signaling mechanism. The actual gain in hard, quantifiable “skills” (e.g. critical and analytical thinking), among university graduates is gen-

erally small. Rather, students attend university to “signal” to an employer that they were already competent in these skills—the GPA signaling their degree of competence. As economist Bryan Caplan asks, “Which would do more for your career: A Princeton education, but no diploma, or a Princeton diploma, but no education?” Signaling theorists would say the latter.

Several prominent universities, such as Hampshire College, have switched to a “narrative” method of evaluation. Instead of a numerical GPA, instructors write an evaluation of what the course was supposed to accomplish, how well the individual accomplished those tasks, and perhaps whether the student improved over the semester. Other universities supplement their GPAs with a similar evaluation. Upon considering both of these views, what becomes apparent is that the major factor in this equation is not the university, or

employers, or even the post-secondary education system, but rather the individual.

Though a cliché, one gets out of anything what one puts into it, and this happens to be especially true in the case of higher education. Many university students choose to focus simply on their attractiveness to employers, while the choice to go to an institution focused on tests, or one with narrative evaluations, is a personal one. So is the choice of one’s classes. Debating what universities should do with grading systems misses the point, because education at university is driven by the choices of the individual. Therefore, to wring one’s hands about unmotivated students at major universities would point to a problem with their mindset, not with the grading system.

in its chief goal of ...

Commentary

In Nassim Taleb’s book, The Black Swan, the author confidently assures his readers that, to learn anything, one must “minimize time spent reading newspapers,” and “ignore the blogs.” He argues that these outlets always try to apply narratives to what simply may be disparate facts, usually report the same sets of facts, are prone to hyperbole, and seldom correct mistakes that they make with alarming regularity.

Similarly, Nate Silver’s new book, The Signal and the Noise, warns us against relying on experts, whose predictions come about with the same regularity as if foreseen by laypeople—and are often less accu-

However, there is a need to look at the third recommendation more closely. It pertains to McGill Secu-

fails spectacularly

Joshua Freedman

“The Dangerous Myth of Grade Inflation,” Alfie Kohn argues that the entire debate over the issue of grade inflation reveals an inherent problem with grading systems at universities.

These grading scales make students focus more on the number they receive at the end of the term than the material they were supposed to be absorbing in class. Kohn proposes completely eliminating grades, allowing students to focus on the actual course material.

This “no grades” philosophy prompts the inevitable question: how, then, can we determine whether students are learning? How much was understood at the end of class compared to the beginning? Even if we assume that these concerns are

to witness behavior that potentially violates University regulations.”

On one hand, Manfredi wants to ensure uniformity in Security’s reactions, and to ensure that any action against disruption they take is legitimate and based on the Code of Conduct. On the other hand, however, this is clearly a point of contention; protestors on Nov. 10 were obviously upset with McGill’s concept of ‘protection.’

Can McGill students and the McGill administration agree on a concept of protection for our community as a whole? Manfredi seems to have left this out of his report’s recommendations. Sure, McGill Security’s reactions to the student occupation in February were much more passive, suggesting a step in the right direction, but perhaps, in the interest of student politics, there is another discussion that needs to take place.

is, to a certain extent, a welcome addition to discussion of campus politics—its first two recommendations implicitly do just this. The first, which calls for clarification of terms like ‘disruption’ in the Code of Student Conduct, aims to provide a framework for how to continue living peacefully in school. By setting clear boundaries in the student code of conduct, mutual respect, understanding, and dialogue can be ensured within the context of a society that prioritizes “education, service, and social, cultural and personal opportunities” (SSMU’s Mission as stated on its website). The second, which calls for a revision to security procedures and access to the James Administration Building, demonstrates McGill’s ability to identify a source of tension in our society, and as a result, facilitate letting people feel less isolated from the senior administration.

reporting news.

”

“... protestors

on Nov. 10 were obviously upset with McGill’s concept of ‘protection.’

”

rity and the need for “reviewing our current training program for both permanents and temporary personnel” on campus. In the report, Manfredi says that McGill Security is important because “they are usually at the forefront during protest and demonstration situations, charged with protecting individual members of the community (including protestors and demonstrators) and University assets. They are often the first

Science & technology INTERVIEW

Christie Rowe: earthquake hunter

Runaway earthquakes, really weird mud, 1.1 billion-year-old rocks—all in a day’s work Leigh Miller SciTech Editor

Christie Rowe is an earthquake hunter. The Wares Faculty Scholar and assistant professor of earth and planetary science at McGill travels the world studying fossilized earthquakes— earthquakes that occur deep in the earth’s crust, but eventually leave a visible record in rock that has risen to the surface because of uplift and erosion.

Last April, Rowe was part of a team of 28 researchers investigating the fault that caused the massive Tohoku earthquake and tsunami of March 2011. The project, called the Japan Trench Fast Drilling Project, brought together scientists from ten countries to drill cores of the fault.

The Tribune sat down with Rowe to discuss her work studying earthquakes from Africa to Japan, and how to ride out tremours like the 4.5 magnitude quake that shook Montreal last week.

McGill Tribune: What was the deal with the earthquake last week—what happened?

Christie Rowe: Honestly, the western Quebec seismic zone is not very well understood. The theories are that we have very old fault structures in the crust that date back to the Cretaceous, but when we have earthquakes like this, we can’t really be sure that those structures are responsible.

MT: So, should we be worried?

CR: No. Most earthquakes are not dangerous, but [historically] large earthquakes have happened, that are damaging.* An earthquake like the size four that we had is absolutely the fun size of earthquake.

Everybody gets to really experience it, and know that it’s happening. It’s not dangerous—not scary.

One thing that’s working in our favour is that the crust in this region is very strong because it’s old. That means that when the seismic waves move through the crust, they move quickly and you get less ground shaking [as opposed to] somewhere on the west coast, where the crust is younger and more damaged because of the seismic history. [There], the shaking lasts longer. *Rowe is refering to the 1732 Montreal earthquake that measured 5.8 on the Richter scale.

MT: Were you awake during the earthquake?

CR: Yeah. Well, I heard the earthquake before I felt it, and that’s because the P-waves—the primary waves, the fastest travelling waves—they don’t necessarily

create the type of ground motions you would feel, but they’re very effective at vibrating windows.

You hear the rumbling and you hear the shaking and that’s the P-waves. Then, the next wave arrival that comes through—that’s the S-waves [secondary waves]— and that’s the one that’s going to give you a jolt probably, a vertical acceleration … followed by the surface waves that have a rolling and lateral shaking motion.

MT: Tell us about what you do.

CR: I am a fault geologist, so I’m interested in earthquake processes, but instead of studying earthquakes that happen now, I go to where earthquake source areas have been uplifted and the rocks have been eroded so they’re exposed. These are rocks that have been uplifted 10, 20, [or] 30 kilometres, and the real guts of the earthquake system are now on the surface. I collect those and put them in my office. … As you walk along [a fault] surface you’ll see areas that have melted rock, areas that have broken rock—there’re lots of ways that energy is used in rock destruction.

MT: How do you date earthquakes?

CR: When the rock is melted during the earthquake. Only some earthquakes produce frictional melt, but when it does happen, the glass that forms traps potassium, [which] decays over time to argon. So if you have a potassium-trapping event, and the formation of earthquake glass, then you can measure the argon isotope ratios and it gives you a little clock.

MT: Tell us about the Japan Trench Fast Drilling Project.

CR: The Japanese government, about ten years ago, built the world’s largest science ship.

It’s called Chikyu, which means ‘earth,’ and it’s 600 feet long. It was basically built for this event; it can drill in deeper water, and drill deeper in deeper water than any other ship.

We went out to the very limit of what Chikyu can do, the deepest part of the Japan Trench, and drilled a few holes 850 meters deep in the sea floor, and found a lot of mud—but really weird mud, mud unlike anything I’ve ever seen ... it’s made of the purest clay ... it’s shiny and black because there are titanium oxides and iron oxides that are deposited on the sea floor because of black smoker activity at mid-ocean ridges.

MT: What did the expedition discover about the Tohoku

Rowe on the Chikyu waiting to recieve an 850 meter core from the Japanese fault. (James Kirkpatrick )

Ben Melosh, a graduate student working with Rowe, walks along the Pofadder Shear Zone in southern Namibia home to 1.1 billion-year-old afossilized earthquakes. (Louis Smit)

Earthquake glass from the Sierra Nevada range in California. (Christie Rowe) earthquake?

CR: What this earthquake did was completely run away. It started at depth as a pretty big earthquake, and as it got shallower toward the trench it got bigger, and this is something that we have not really seen before—this is a really unusual event.

One thing that might have happened is that friction heated up the water in the [mud] and effectively pressurized the fault zone, opening it like an air hockey table. There was no frictional contact, and no strength in the fault—that helped it run away.

Think of [the runaway earthquake] like a propagating crack: as the crack opens, it puts more stress on the crack tip, which causes it to open more.

MT: Is there any way to know

if earthquakes like this have occurred before?

CR: Japan has the longest historical [earthquake] records. For a thousand years—at least—they have had instruments that quantify things like ground shaking— intensity and magnitude, and other things like tide gauges that show long-term changes in sea level that are actually caused by the motion of Japan, not by the sea level. We have those records going back 1,200 [or] 1,500 years almost, which is fantastic. That is about the length of time between large earthquakes, so now we have two recorded events— it’s not enough to establish a trend.

MT: Does measuring a small event help us understand a large one?

CR: The short answer is [that] we don’t know enough about large

events yet to even know if there’s some kind of predictive power in a small event … I think one of the big open questions in earthquake science right now is [this]: is a large earthquake just a bigger version of a smaller earthquake, or is it a fundamentally different thing?

MT: What should everybody know about earthquakes?

CR: Don’t be afraid—ride it out, enjoy it … I know a seismologist, who, when an earthquake occurs, will just drop to the floor and lie spread-eagle on the ground and try to determine which way the waves are coming from—I didn’t react fast enough to do that the other night.

This planet is very much alive.

It’s such a cool moment when the human experience intersects with the geologic time scale, and we get to experience an earthquake.

Curiosity delivers. |

Crossword

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

| Tuesday, October 16, 2012

9

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY CALENDAR

By Phi Nguyen

McGill Conference on Food Security

Over 25 countries will be represented at the McGill Conference on Food Security this week. Scientists, policy-makers, farmers, and academics will gather to discuss possible solutions to global food security issues.

See the Tribune’s online event listing to register Lecture: October 16th, 17:0018:30 at Moyse Hall, $10 Conference: October 17-18th at New Residence Hall, $55 for students

Cutting Edge Lecture: Warm bodies in cold places and the carbon footprint of endothermy

Across 1. Santa’s helper 4. Flying insect 8. Teenage affliction 12. Type of cheese 13. Govern 14. Girl (Spanish) 16. Anagram for Bare 17. Urinary Tract Infections 18. VIII 19. Compass direction 21. Subject of numbers 23. Area beside COPI-EUS 24. Period 25. A long time 27. 4.0 Term GPA with 3 courses 29. Force related to lift 30. Mend 31. Prefix, meaning “one” 34. What trees shed 37. A reduction in prices 38. Actor in Daredevil 39. Keen 40. You’ll need an ID to go here 41. Former Chair of Chemical Engineering 42. A kind of talk 43. Worms, etc.

45. Misspelling of ‘scarves’ 47. Victorian, for one 48. Hotel 49. LSD 50. Cybertheque has four

51. Wash cycle 52. One (Scottish) 55. Pre-revolution Russian Parliament 58. Ratings website 60. An artists tool 62. States (French) 64. Oasis tree 66. Old Macdonald had one 67. Side 68. Creative thought 69. Prefix with thermal 70. Prevents you from using uPrint 71. Crème de la creme 72. Used to be

Down 1. Mistake 2. Comes before Scorpio 3. They have 12 inches 4. Pixar villain who wants to steal the moon 5. Autumn spice 6. Pseudonym 7. Sample 8. Do well on 7-down 9. Porcelain dishes 10. Japanese music producer and DJ 11. Canyon effect 12. Batman Villain 15. Abbreviation for attack 20. The Tortoise and the ___ 22. Frozen rain

26. Fossil Fuel 28. Men’s deodorant 29. Before Blu-Ray 30. Online help page 31. _____ trick; real-life impossible move in the SSX series 32. Ball used in dodge ball 33. Tattoos 34. Tardy 35. Eternally 36. Elton John musical 37. Out of 2,400 40. To do wrong 41. Evil 43. Book about a person 44. A cowboy and space ranger’s owner 45. ____-fi 46. French movie theatre 49. Newton’s inspirations 50. Redel’s opponent 51. Short story by Stephen King 52. Yoga pose 53. Crunchy colourful candy 54. Red Muppet character 55. Abbreviation for defense 56. The Beehive State 57. Indigenous people in South America 59. McGill course code for Epidemiology and Biostatics 61. A couple 63. Condoms prevent this 65. Tatami

Solution available at www.mcgilltribune.com Follow us on Twitter! @mcgill_tribune

Murray Humphries, associate professor of wildlife biology at McGill, is featured in the latest edition of this lecture series that never fails to attract a wide swath of the McGill and Montreal community.

October 18th, 18:00 at the Redpath Museum, free

The Neuro Film Series: Charly

Film screening of the Academy Award-winning adaptation of the novel Flowers for Algernon. The film will be followed by a discussion led by Dr. Jeffrey Hall.

October 24, 18:30 at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital Jeanne Timmins Amphitheatre, free – Leigh Miller Images from echobridgeentertainment.com, blogs.mcgill.ca, arcticnet.ulaval.ca

Tired of studying for midterms?

Write for Science and Technology Email scitech@mcgilltribune.com

10

Tuesday, October 16, 2012 |

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

| Curiosity delivers.

TECHNOLOGY

Charitable auction site launched CampusAuction promises deals, brand loyalty, funds for charity Kieran Steer Contributer Big companies have always been pressured by customers, governments, and charities to take an active role in social responsibility. Technology is now bridging this gap.

CampusAuction, an online, Vancouver-based company that launched this August, connects students, businesses, and charitable organizations for the benefit of all.

Open to any user, the site targets students by holding online auctions for products like laptops, gift cards, furniture, and more. For instance, a Toshiba tablet on the site went for $72.00 with an hour and 51 minutes left in the auction.

Unlike most companies, CampusAuction donates a large amount of their profits (either 50 per cent of net profits or 10 per cent of gross revenue—whichever is greatest) directly to charity organizations that bidders select by vote. Users can also choose to donate the difference between their bid price and the item’s sticker price to charity.

“Our president … did a lot of work at the University of British Columbia, and he kept seeing … companies coming onto campus and attempting to get in touch with students,” Alex Hobbs, managing director of CampusAuction, said.

“But it’s a very difficult thing …

Tee-shirts from the charity F— Cancer (vancitybuzz.com) and you’re just at the mercy of luck.

You have to find the right student … with enough time to come and sit with you, and find out about your product.”

The site allows companies that hope to build brand loyalty to overcome this barrier, and facilitates student support for charities, even if they don’t directly donate.

The site also highlights corporations’ philanthropic work. Toshiba continues to be CampusAuction’s biggest contributor, promoting one of their favourite charities by supplying the online company with laptops and electronics. Starbucks, EA Games, Cineplex, and Staples are amongst the other companies that have partnered with the site. Charitable partners include Apathy is Boring,

F-Cancer, and U:end Poverty.

CampusAuction raised $78,000 in charity funding during their nine-week trial in 2011. The site hopes to build traffic to increase awareness of both the charities and companies. They have already received more than 1.7 million web page views, more traffic than an advertising booth on campus could expect, and exposure that would be expensive for charities to buy.

CampusAuction, if nothing else, demonstrates the role technology can play in giving consumers an easy way to donate to charity and meet the needs of what Hobbs calls “not only the next generation of purchasers, but also the next generation of philanthropists.”

MMPA

• Designed primarily for non-business undergraduates • For careers in Management, Finance and Accounting • Extremely high co-op and permanent placement To learn more about the MMPA Program, attend our information sessions: Friday, October 5, 2012 11:00 am – 1:00 pm Room 5001, Brown Student Services Bldg, 3600 McTavish, McGill University Friday, October 19, 2012 11:00 am – 1:00 pm Room 5001, Brown Student Services Bldg, 3600 McTavish, McGill University Wednesday, October 31, 2012 11:30 am – 1:30 pm Room 5001, Brown Student Services Bldg, 3600 McTavish, McGill University

www.utoronto.ca/mmpa

Follow us on Twitter! @mcgill_tribune

COMMENTARY

Why you should get your flu vaccine Bharat Srinivasa Most people don’t give the seasonal flu a second thought. It seems pedestrian compared to the famous 1918 Spanish flu, which claimed more than 50 million lives worldwide. Outbreaks of other influenza viruses occuring nearly every decade since have killed over a million people. Avian flu— currently only highly transmissible between birds, not between humans—is still a dangerous infection that kills approximately 50 per cent of those infected.

Seasonal influenza is far from benign. This virus kills nearly 40,000 people each year in the US alone, and over 500,000 globally. A majority of these

deaths occur in young infants and elderly individuals, who are most susceptible to the virus.

The World Health Organization estimates that seasonal influenza costs around 100 billion USD annually. Nearly five to 10 per cent of the population will be infected with influenza at least once every year. Given its annual prevalence, the overall mortality and economic impact of the seasonal flu exceeds even that of the 1918 Spanish flu epidemic.

Given its impact, seasonal influenza vaccinations are surprisingly uncommon. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that vaccination

rates of adults are around 40 per cent; for children, around 50 per cent. One of the most common arguments for this behaviour is that healthy people don’t need the vaccination. This is far from true.

While healthy people may be able to fight off the virus after being infected, this protracted process may take up to a week. Furthermore, hospitalization is common for severe influenza or secondary bacterial infections (a result of weakened immunity), even in previously healthy individuals. The virus can also trigger underlying asthmatic episodes.

Another advantage of universal influenza vaccination is the

Master of Management & Professional Accounting

concept of herd immunity. If the herd—nearly all the people in a group—are vaccinated, then the small number of people who did not get the vaccine would be safe from influenza infection. Unfortunately, only around 65-70 per cent of health care workers in Canada are vaccinated, which means they risk catching the virus at work or passing it on to already weak patients.

Concerns about the lack of vaccine safety are unfounded, incorrect, and in some cases, dangerous. There seems to be an increase in the anti-vaccine rhetoric in Quebec, and a recent outbreak of whooping cough has been linked to parents refusing to vaccinate their

children.

Anti-vaccine proponents argue that the seasonal influenza vaccine contains mercury and formaldehyde, both of which are highly toxic. Thiomersal, a preservative containing mercury is only present in multi-use doses of the vaccine, and is in fact not present in a number of current single-dose vaccine. Regardless, there has been no evidence of toxic effects from Thiomersal. Formaldehyde, which is used to inactivate the virus, is a known carcinogen, but the levels present in the final vaccine are lower than what our body is capable of producing and breaking down by itself.

A number of myths surround the seasonal influenza vaccination.

These myths have no scientific validity, and may increase the risk of severe influenza infection. The flu vaccine is a harmless jab that, at worst, results in slight discomfort for up to 24 hours. The alternative is an infection that can bring you down for up to a week. Considering what’s at stake, everyone should be getting a flu vaccine this year.

Flu vaccines are available at the Student Health Clinic and the McGill University Health Centre

Student living

Restaurant review

Satay Brothers serve up taste of tradition

Authentic Singaporean cuisine has diners coming back for more Alycia Noë Contributor In the summer of 2011, Alex and Mat Winnicki opened up a quaint seasonal food stand called Satay Brothers at the Atwater Market. The brothers were astonished with the extraordinary response to their traditional Singaporean street food. Customers quickly began flocking back to their humble shack due to the exceptional food and welcoming atmosphere.

The smell of the Winnickis’ food is simply tantalizing, and it tastes even better. Using only quality ingredients from local markets, the food is made fresh to order, and any dish is worth ordering. The passion both brothers possess for their culture is revealed within their cooking, and they dedicate time to developing powerful and unique flavours.

One of Satay Brothers’ signature dishes, Mee Rebus, is a beef broth soup full of hidden treasures.

Each bite provides different textures of tender beef chunks, frosty miniature shrimp, crisp jalapeño slices, smooth homemade egg noodles, and much more.

Another favourite is the Satay Sandwich. It’s the perfect meal on

Just one of the delicious delicacies offered from Satay Brothers. (Alycia Noë / McGill Tribune) the go: two chicken skewers packed between a soft, grilled bun baked the same day, topped with a homemade peanut sauce unique to Satay Brothers, and rice vinegar-based red cabbage coleslaw. The brothers also carry numerous options for vegetarians, such as traditional green papaya salad and gado gado, a vegetable salad topped with peanut sauce.

Prices are also surprisingly affordable, and the average meal ranges from $7-$10. Although portion sizes are not immense, most customers leave feeling satisfied and content.

Satay Brothers has earned a remarkable reputation with locals, thanks not only to their food, but also their personalities. Mat is in charge of the food preparation,

while Alex interacts with the customers. The brothers set the goal of recreating the experience found on the streets of Singapore—they set up wooden picnic tables, with authentic tableware, and even engage in conversation with their clientele. Upon ordering a meal, the care and attention devoted to the experience is immediately noticeable. It’s as if there

is no other place the brothers would rather be than underneath their white tent serving Montreal diners. Even with their growing popularity, nothing has changed. The food is just as enticing as it was on opening day.

Even if the line winds through the market, the brothers take the time to befriend and become acquainted with their customers on a personal level. In the city core, it is refreshing to walk up to the stand and always be greeted by your first name.

This delicious street food can only be found May through October, since the winter weather makes it too cold to serve outdoors. But the brothers have revealed a little secret: due to the great demand, a permanent location will be opening January 2013. For regular customers, there is no better news. Now the question is, can I last three months without this incredible food?

Satay Brothers Location: 138 Atwater Avenue, Montréal Website: sataybrothers.com Hours: Thursday – Monday 10:30AM-6PM

around campus

McGill beats Concordia; wins $1,000 for Right to Play

Students clean up at World Poutine Eating Competition: Campus Edition Jonny Newburgh Contributor This past Saturday afternoon, McGill’s chapter of Right to Play— an organization devoted to promoting and funding youth athletics in Africa and Northern Ontario—prevailed in a poutine-eating contest over students representing Concordia’s John Molson School of Business.

McGill’s Andrew “Junger” Jung, Nicholas “Big Cheese” Norkser, John “Dirty Mike” Hopkins-Hill, and Doug “Deep Dish” Chalke won Montreal’s first Smoke’s Poutinerie World Poutine Eating Championship: Campus Edition. They were presented with a prize of $1,000, which is intended to go towards campus initiatives. In addition, the $5,500 raised last week during the McGill Right to Play Spin-A-Thon will be used to fund 47 youth activities, as well as the hiring of 16 coaches.

The event was hosted by CampusPerks in conjunction with

Right to Play raises money for young athletes. (www.righttoplay.com) sponsor Smoke’s Poutinerie at the Irish Embassy Pub, on rue Bishop. Smoke’s Poutinerie hosts the World Poutine Eating Competition every year in Toronto, and this year Smoke’s decided to host Campus Editions across Canada. In Montreal, the competition is a relay between rival universities.

McGill’s victory, however, came amidst controversy. According to the previously agreed-upon rules, all curds and fries must have been consumed before the next team-

mate in the four-man relay could begin eating. During the competition, Concordia’s lead-off man Anthony “Durby” D’Urbano did not completely finish his dish. After reviewing video footage of the incident, judges overturned their previous decision—that Concordia had won—naming McGill’s Right to Play victorious.

Behind McGill’s win was a well-kept secret: the Kobayashi shake, named after Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Competition champion

Takeru Kobayashi.

“It is essentially a shake that compacts the stuff in your stomach so you can eat more,” Norkser said. “Wrapping your mind around the fact that it’s going to take you a minute and a half to [gulp] down 1.2 pounds of poutine—a regular-sized poutine—that last quarter really hits you hard.”

Members of Concordia’s team, which included Nima “the Conqueror” Pouyamajd and Greg Synadis, as well as Smoke’s Poutinerie’s

management, expressed enjoyment about being a part of the competition.

“I love poutine, and it was all about performing for the team,“ Pouyamajd said. “Everyone did a great job!”

“I think it went great. It’s an insane way to have fun and raise money for charity,” Kathy Davey, one of Smoke’s Poutinerie’s owners, said. “They’re all winners.”

As for the day’s victors, McGill’s chapter of Right To Play— having consecutively raised more money each of the last three years— seems to be improving on their yearly fundraising goals.

“Last year we hit our max, about $20,500,” Jung said. “To put that in perspective, we raised the most money as a club at McGill, and as a Right to Play representation university club in Canada.”

“We’re just trying to help our organization raise as much awareness and money we can,” Norkser said.

John françois Who is

By Sara Espinal Henao

Photos by

Colin Vandenberg

olin Vandenberg graduated C from Praireview School of Photography, in Manitoba in 2003.

He has travelled to distant corners of the world, photographing individuals and depicting their life stories. At some point along this journey, while traveling across Northern Manitoba, he met John François.

?

E

very morning, John François begins his day by turning on the radio, his most constant companion. The voices of the commentators, the music, and the advertisements fill the air of his cabin as he prepares for the day ahead. John François is good-humoured and light-hearted.

He lives in a rudimentary lodge that his father left him, and survives on fishing, hunting and occasionally, trading what he catches at the nearest town. His cabin is located on the periphery of the Pukatawagan Reserve in Manitoba, half an hour away by canoe across the Churchill River. He enjoys the isolation and peacefulness of this remote area of the country because, as he says, the solitude, the forest, and the land are “healing.” It was precisely the need to heal that drove John François to take refuge far away, distancing himself from his own community.

John François grew up in Pukatawagan, home of the Mathias Colomb Cree Nation (MCCN), located about 800 kilometres north of Winnipeg. Also called

“Puk” by the locals, this small community of only 2,000 people has no road access —except for a few months in the winter—and is only accessible by a bi-weekly local train or small plane.

Getting off the train in Puk is like stepping into open wilderness. The natural scenery surrounding the remote northern reserve is breathtaking, with beautiful lakes, dense forests, and a bewildering view of the Churchill River, one of the last pristine bodies of freshwater in the country, which flows from the foothills of the Rocky Mountains (Kichiwatchya) and pours into Hudson Bay (Kichkamek). However, not everything is beautiful for this northern community. Life on the reserve itself can be quite another story.

Pukatawagan is often referred to by the surrounding communities as the “Dodge City of the North,” and is frequently cited as one of the region’s most problematic reserves. Afflicted by severe overcrowding, chronically underfunded by the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, and contaminated by a toxic spill that local authorities have yet to remedy, the reserve is riddled with neglect. Pukatawagan’s woes date back to the 1950’s, when Manitoba Hydro and Indian Affairs poorly installed a diesel generating station in the town centre that leaked thousands of litres of diesel into the ground.

When the spill was discovered in 1989, the school, nursing station, band hall, and about 100 houses were torn down. Ever since, the the social fabric of the reserve has suffered a severe strain. Many impoverished inhabita

“.. as he says, the solitude, the forest, and the land are ‘healing’.. ” Find more of John François, Pukatawagan, and more Colin Vandenberg photography at colinvandenberg.com Many impoverished residents of Pukatawagan have turned to crime and substance abuse, while the community and government continue to argue over who is responsible for cleaning up the mess.

Not too long ago, John François, like many others in Pukatawagan, struggled with alcohol and drug addiction. Last May, he decided to move away from his own community, take refuge in his father’s cabin, and live off the land. When asked why he decided to leave his community, he simply answered: “it keeps me off the booze. [Away from Puk] there are no hassles. No one’s giving you a hard time.”

Ironically, distancing himself from Pukatawagan has helped John François to get in touch with his own culture again, and regain his tranquility. Although he did not grow up a religious person, he now prays every day. In his cabin, sweet grass is always burning as an offering to the ancestors, as well as a gesture of gratitude for a day of good hunting. He drinks and smokes only occasionally, and hunts and fishes for a living in the same way that his ancestors did.

It could be that escaping to the timeless landscape of the northern forest and returning to the ways of the ancestors is the best way to heal.

14

Tuesday October 16, 2012 |

STUDENT LIVING

Should I go out

| Curiosity delivers.

start

this weekend?

Have you gone out in the last five days?

by jacqui galbraith

Does going to the library count?

YES Do you have homework or tests next week?

NO NO

YES

Can you handle your alcohol?

YES Did you do (most) of it?

Is there someone you’re interested in?

NO YES Are you ok with being “that sober person”?

NO

NO

YES

NO Do you care if you fail?

Are any of your friends going out?

YES

NO

Do you have any clothes not covered in stains?

NO

Prepare to be everyone’s voice of reason.

NO

YES

Can you make friends easily?

Do some laundry and go out tomorrow.

Stop wasting your (or your parents’) money and get to work.

YES

YES

Put the shot glass down!

Put your earplugs in and stay in your room like your life depends on it.

Try not to spill while you shotgun.

Cut loose and enjoy being young while you can.

NO Put on your big-kid pants and meet some new friends.

YES

Are you a first year?

NO

Take this opportunity to do some homework—maybe you will learn some fun facts that you can use to make new friends.

drink recipes

Two new colourful concoctions James Hutchingame Contributor

Tropic Thunder Ingredients approx. 1 cup Orange Juice 2 ½ oz Blue Curaçao Dash of triple sec (optional) This is a simple and sweet drink for those of us who are feeling nostalgic for summertime. It is served on the rocks in a tall glass. Start by pouring the juice over the ice with about 1 ½ inches to spare. Top it off with 2 oz. of Blue Curaçao and a dash of triple sec, if you want to add a bit of body to the cocktail. If need be, stir the drink around and garnish with an orange or a cherry.

Blushing Bride Ingredients 1 part Bailey’s® 1 part Tequila Rosé® 1 part crème de menthe (blanc) This shooter is a creamy concoction of flavours that go together quite nicely. Simply pour the ingredients in the order shown above by thirds into a shot glass. The shot can be layered by placing a spoon over the top of the shooter so the back of the spoon is facing up. Next, pour the ingredients smoothly and slowly over the spoon in order so that they run down the sides— this way they do not splash and mix together.

By Adam Sadinsky

Carrot Parsnip Soup Recipe A brightly coloured and easy-to-make soup to warm you up when the weather and midterms are getting you down…

Ingredients 2 cups chopped carrots (about 4 medium) 2 chopped medium parsnips 1 small onion 1 medium potato 3 cups vegetable stock 1 ½ cups milk Instructions 1) Sauté the vegetables in one teaspoon of oil for about 20 minutes 2) Add vegetable stock 3) Bring to a boil 4) Cover and simmer for 30 minutes 5) Purée mixture in a blender (you’ll need to do this in batches) 6) Add milk, stir, and enjoy!

Curiosity delivers. |

STUDENT LIVING

| Tuesday October 16, 2012

15

odds and ends

The best of McGill freebies

Student perks that will cost you absolutely nothing Susan Westfall Contributor Midnight Kitchen: It’s lunch-time, you’re hungry, and you have no money. It’s time you made a trip to Midnight Kitchen in Room 302 of the Shatner Building. Every day, you will find very tasty, health-conscious, vegan meals prepared by dedicated volunteers, all for free! However, donations are always welcomed.

Coat Project: Are you new to Canada and starting to feel cold already? If you are lacking a winter coat or the funds to invest in one, stop by the McGill Chaplaincy service from November to February, 10am - 4pm, and sift through the donated, slightly worn coats and give one a new home—on your back!

Redpath Museum: The oldest museum in Canada is absolutely free to visit! Discover the history of biodiversity, the collection of minerals, and the myriad of organisms and bones housed in the three floors of colourful exhibits.

Concerts at Redpath Hall: McGill has many musicians,

eager to share their talents. Check the McGill website for times, and join them at Redpath Hall to experience a breadth of musical skill, all free of charge, as students showcase their projects, theses, and sheer talent.

CaPS Career Services: CaPS is McGill’s Career and Placement Service whose professionals can assist you in job seeking, and every aspect of your professional life, pro bono. They offer personal advising, cover letter drafting, career fairs, summer internship searches, and info sessions, just to name a few. Check out the plethora of opportunities offered at www.mcgill.ca/caps.

Legal Information Clinic: Have a problem, but no money for legal advice? Come to the SSMU building and benefit from the band of volunteers at the legal information clinic. Volunteers are trained to give you legal information, referrals, and act as a free commissioner of oaths on a walk-in or phone-in basis.

Counselling Services: Need to talk? All part- and fulltime students who are up to date with their fees qualify to receive free

counselling to deal with psychological, academic, and personal issues.

In addition to the personalized services, the McGill Counselling service provides numerous workshops that target common student problems: stress management, procrastination, public speaking, anxiety, social confidence issues, and many more!

Free Yoga: The Art of Living Club is an international effort to bring peace, awareness, and spirituality into the lives of young people. This expansive collection of enlightened members offers free weekly yoga classes in the SSMU building, along with many other events and opportunities to enrich your deeper consciousness.

Join them on Facebook to learn more.

Software from IT: Take advantage of McGill’s endless network of computing experts and download some free software for your PC or Mac. Visit the McGill IT site and browse through the available software including virus protection, End-Note, SPSS, and more!

student week of the

Q: What is your motto?

A: Everything happens for a reason.

Q: If you could be anywhere else in the world right now, where would it be?

A: Australia. I would love to go so badly.

Q: Who is your hero?

A: Probably my grandfather, actually. My mom’s whole family came as refugees from East Africa.

And my grandfather took care of them through all that, I think it’s a pretty mind-blowing story.

Q: What is your lucky charm?

A: A ring that my mom gave me.

Q: If you could say one thing to Wayne Gretzky, what would it be?

A: Awesome job, man.

Sophia Dhalla Arts and science U3 {Alexandra Allaire / McGill Tribune)

Q: What is your secret talent?

A: I make really, really good blueberry oatmeal muffins.

[They’re] the only thing I can

Geoff Hartley PhD candidate, Applied Health Sciences.

Goals: Explore how cold, heat and altitude can impair physical and mental function.

Increase survival times.

For both sides of the brain.

At Brock University, our exceptional people and facilities help to shape well-rounded graduate students.

Just ask Geoff Hartley. Geoff’s research will impact the survival of people working or playing in extreme climate conditions, from the tops of mountains and glacial environments to tropical forests and oceans deep. And when he’s not making discoveries in the lab of Canada Research Chair Stephen Cheung, he’s exploring new territory as part of a cycling club. Brock is a place that celebrates both sides of the brain, where people become better versions of themselves.

For more information about our 42 graduate programs, check us out at brocku.ca

with Jacqui Galbraith

make—anything else is a fail.

Q: What’s your favourite place that you’ve travelled to?

A: Greece… Basically everything you could want in a country.

Q: Name a song that you consider completely overrated.

A: Probably something that plays on American Top 40 all the time.

Let me think, I haven’t listened to the radio in a little while. Maybe some Maroon 5 song.

Q: What reality TV show are you perfect for?

A: Okay, “16 and Pregnant,” but not that, I’m too late. Not “Jersey Shore.” Maybe if I was a little more ditzy, “The Hills.” Who doesn’t want to live in LA and shop all the time?

Q: Which historical figure would you most want to have a beer with?

A: Maybe Martin Luther King Jr. I find civil rights...really interesting.

Q: What’s the last song you remember listening to?

A: “Lego House” by Ed Sheeran.

Q: What’s your favourite street in Montreal?

A: Maybe Ste. Catherine.

Q: Name one fashion trend you’ll never try again.

A: Jean overalls. Basically my childhood in an outfit.

Q: Rank Christopher Nolan’s batman trilogy from best to worst.

A: Okay, probably 1, 3, 2.

Q: Describe Montreal in three words.

A: Cold, diverse, and awesome.

Q: What’s your signature drink?

A: Like, alcoholic? An Amaretto Sour. Before I came to Montreal, I wouldn’t have known that.

Q: What’s the first thing you think of when I say St. Laurent?

A: Drunk people and poutine.

Q: Who would play you in the movie of your life?

A: Marion Cotillard. The only problem is I’m not French, but if I was. I think she’s so beautiful, and so poised.

Q: Why are you an asset to McGill?

A: My positive attitude. I’m the type of person who would smile at a stranger. I’m on the exec team of the Student Association for Medical Aid, and we do fundraisers and stuff. I’m also a tour guide, and I teach with Making Waves, which is this program where every Sunday we teach swimming to students with disabilities.

nominate a student of the week!

Email us at studentliving@mcgilltribune.com

arts & entertainment My beef with art In my youth, I would occasionally visit the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow. For the uninitiated, the Tretyakov houses a vast collection of Russian fine art—picture the MoMA, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Frick collection all diced up and served as an exquisite borscht. I can’t remember much of what I saw, but I clearly recall Malevich’s “Black Square” on display.

What gives, Tretyakov? All your other pieces at least depicted something; in some way, they spoke to the viewer, and required some permutation of skill and effort. This was a black square. If I could paint a black square by my tender seven years (my bedroom wall was adorned with a number of Blinderman originals, at least half of which could be deciphered as animals, humans, and— after one particularly inspiring trip

to a museum—a reproduction of the armless Venus de Milo), why wasn’t my work considered fine art? I was outraged; as we say in Australia, this was just not cricket.

In my indignation, I sought answers from my elders, but nothing satisfactory emerged. I accepted the “Black Square” as most people accept the majority of recent modern and contemporary art—something too esoteric and abstract for mere mortals to understand.

Since that experience, I’ve approached art with a generous disposition—but it’s time to draw the line.

Open mind? Sure. Provocative subject matter as social critique? Yeah, I guess. Dropping condoms, pantyhose, and liquor bottles on a mattress and calling it “My Bed” (I’m looking at you, award-winning artist Tracey Emin)? Nope. Now we’re just rehashing The Emperor’s New Clothes with Warhol prints. We’ve gotten to the point where something stupid and obnoxiously mundane is lauded simply for being inflamma-

tory (Ms. Emin, who likes to have sex and drink, communicates her insights with all the subtlety of Girls Gone Wild).

To put it bluntly: what’s my beef with contemporary art (if I were an artist, I could communicate this to you by shaping beef mince into the word “art” and serving it at my gallery/kitchen/multipurpose installation space)? Much of what’s praised is abstract and conceptual, and is glorified for possessing depth that—let’s face it—we’re simply afraid to say it lacks. Otherwise (although these categories often overlap), whatever’s produced seems so devoid of skill that even I can claim authorship. In spite of my earlier braggadocio, I’ve made minimum headway in terms of artistic ability; if my skills are sufficient (barring an incredible investment of time and training), I can’t help but fail to be impressed. The result of all this conceptually-oriented produce is that language has had to pick up the slack, leading artists and critics alike

Pop

Rhetoric

Museum-goers baffled by Malevich’s “Black Square.” (www.sergeev.com) to wax grandiloquent on the artistic merits of “negative space” and other equally inane ideas.

If we assume that the abstract and mundane are valid forms of art, and remove the necessity for technical skill to boot, we preclude the need for art to be located in galleries. In fact, we can do away with artists—their craft, in the form of the everyday, the ordinary, and the

crude, is to be found all around us.

Why don’t we take the democratizing logic of “art from anything, by anyone” to its natural conclusion, and admit that such assumptions would mean that the need for professional art is undone by its very essence? Tracey Emin’s made her bed—let her lie down in it.

—Ilia Blinderman

dance

Kaguyahime: Waxing passion, waning love

Les Grands Ballets’ portrayal of the centuries-old Japanese folk tale gracefully merges innocence and lust Carolina Millán Ronchetti Managing Editor Purity and human desire clash in Kaguyahime: The Moon Princess, the first show of the 2012-2013 season of Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal. Les Grands is the third ballet company in the world to stage the abstract piece, which fuses contemporary dance with traditional ballet, and succeeds in bringing a mixture of Eastern and Western artistic traditions to Montreal.

According to a traditional tenth-century Japanese folk tale, Kaguyahime is a small girl who is found inside a shining stalk of bamboo and adopted by a bamboo cutter.

Kaguyahime grows, and with her, an impossible beauty that attracts suitors from far-flung places—including the Emperor of Japan. The Emperor, Mikado, immediately falls in love with the maiden and requests to marry her. Saddened, Kaguyahime reveals that she is a princess from the moon sent to earth for a short

COULD -be GOOD

time, and despite the Emperor’s attempts to use his army to stop her from leaving, she finally returns to her kingdom.

The ballet, choreographed by renowned Czech dance master Jiri Kylian, diverges from the traditional tale by including a full-fledged war sequence that represents the rivalry and ensuing chaos spurred by Kaguyahime’s beauty. Through his fight scenes, Kylian critiques the desire to possess the unattainable, and points to the tragedy of a lust that culminates in hatred, violence, and destruction.

The ballet company truly shines in the portrayal of the fight sequences, executed with refreshing grace and force. These scenes are permeated with symbolism, including the stark contrast between the light white fabric of the villagers’ attire to the lush black velvet of the Emperor’s army. Light and dark clash in a world mired in disarray, represented by the minimalist set design in which figures of horses fall

Film Free Movies at the Forum Saturday, Cineplex is hosting a community day of free films, with all proceeds going to the Starlight Children’s foundation. Selections include Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon 3D, Hugo 3D, and Mission: Impossible–Ghost Protocol. For complete listings, visit www.cineplex.com

chaotically from the sky.

Perhaps the more perplexing scenes are those in which Kaguyahime (Eva Kolarova) appears.

In her solos, Kolarova contorts her body in shapes that range from fluid and smooth to controlled and precise—not quite in unison with the scarcely melodic flute tones that eerily infuse her solos. However, in her performances with other members of the company, Kaguyahime stands out by the ethereal quality of her movements, and Kolarova succeeds in her portrayal of the delicate moon princess, the physical embodiment of purity.

The ballet highlights the contrast between innocence and lustful possession when Kaguyahime, ensnared in golden silk by Mikado (Marcin Kaczorowski), dances in a vulnerable struggle for freedom that culminates in a spectacle of blinding mirrors. The light finally allows her the chance to escape the Emperor and return to the safety of the moon in the ballet’s tragic finale.

THEATRE Bergman’s The Seventh Seal Concordia’s Department of Theatre adapts this classic of cinema.

Using the Book of Revelations as its starting point, the timeless tale investigates the “silence of God”—the Divine’s apparent complacency with human suffering. Running Thursday through Sunday; student tickets are $5. See finearts.concordia.ca for details.

Kaguyahime (Kolarova) engages in a courtship dance with one of her suitors.

(Joris Jan Bos / Les Grands Ballets)

In addition to the skillful ballet company, the production boasts an impressive, world-renowned musical team performing Maki Ishii’s rhythmic score of intermingling Western and Eastern percussion.

The performance includes guest conductor Michael de Roo, who conducted the orchestra for Kaguyahime’s premiere in 1998, members of the celebrated Japanese drum ensemble Kodo, and professional gagaku (imperial Japanese court music) repertory musicians playing in traditional imperial attire.

Les Grands Ballets’ performance of this rare, internationally-

Film Life of Pi Ang Lee (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon; Brokeback Mountain) adapts the beloved novel by Canadian Yann Martel, who will attend a screening Saturday at 3 p.m. A young man survives disaster at sea—only to find himself sharing his boat with a Bengal tiger. Tickets are $12.50; visit www.nouveaucinema.ca for details.

CONCERT Delhi 2 Dublin The embodiment of contemporary cosmopolitanism, Delhi 2 Dublin mixes Indian Bhangra and Celtic musical styles in a way unlike any other band. On tour in support of their newest album Turn Up The Stereo, Delhi 2 Dublin is sure to surprise. Playing this Saturday, 8 p.m. at Il Motore; tickets are $15.

acclaimed ballet is captivating in its distinctive fusion of angular contemporary dance and ballet-based somersaults and duets. The story of the pure, peaceful moon princess disenchanted by the violence of earth is powerful in its simplicity and continues to resonate in this luminous blend of contemporary artistry and ancient wisdom.

Kaguyahime: The Moon Princess runs through Oct. 27 at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier in Place des Arts. Tickets range from $46.04 to $124.04.

THEATRE The Medea Effect Talisman presents the English premiere of the play by Quebecois Suzie Bastien. The show examines the convoluted relationship between mother and son, interweaving word play and philosophical reflection. Running through Saturday; student tickets are $24.50. See www. talisman-theatre.com for details.

Curiosity delivers. |

Arts & Entertainment

| Tuesday, October 16, 2012

theatre

17

War, worship, and wine: resurrecting ancient Greece

Lifted by strong performances, The Bacchae spins yarn of violence and vengeance Chris Liu A&E Editor It’s been said that art finds its highest form in the Grecian tragedy.

After watching The Bacchae, it’s easy to see why. Scapegoat Carnivale’s production of Euripides’ classic benefits from an original translation by director Andreas Apergis and assistant director Joseph Shragge.

The resulting textual clarity aided the talented cast in conveying a story convulsing with hubris, violence, and painful horror—a tale that, after nearly 2,500 years, still packs quite a punch.

How is a god born? From another god’s thigh, of course. Dionysus’ mortal mother was killed while he was still a fetus; Zeus’ flesh became the supplemental womb. As if such an experience wasn’t traumatic enough, the entire mortal side of Dionysus’ family rejected him. It’s blasphemy; it’s sacrilege! This is the tale told by the young god at the beginning of the story; teen angst coursing through divine veins is a fearsome sight indeed.

Alex McCooeye’s Dionysus

trembles with rage and vengeance that borders on the psychotic. The modern conception of the god of drunken revelry caricatures the original in this regard; McCooeye’s fragile and off-kilter performance reminds us of the frightful wrath of gods.

This wrath is directed towards Thebes, where his mortal family resides. The King, Pentheus, refuses to accept Dionysus’ divine status, even after the women of his city are driven by the god into a frenzied ecstasy. Wolves suckle at their breasts.

Milk flows out of the ground when they scratch at it with their fingers.

Wild beasts are ripped apart by their bare hands. That Pentheus precipitates his own grizzly doom (though not before a scene of unexpected humour) by wilfully ignoring all this comes at no surprise—this is a Grecian tragedy after all.

Brett Watson’s Pentheus finds a mostly singular note of throttled rage and impotent indignity, though it serves the character well while verbally sparring with the disguised Dionysus. In the latter parts of the play, the now-enraptured noble fully

externalizes the fool; Watson fleshes out these dimensions with skill—the subtle sighs and vocal quiverings heighten the comic horror of the moment—but even this results after a transition that is all too brief.

Amongst the supporting cast, Teiresias (Greg Kramer) is a standout, dominating his scenes with fullbodied, nuanced enunciation. Equally stunning is the Messenger (Paul Van Dyck). From his lips sprung the most violent and fantastical imagery, more vivid than any graphic representation could ever aspire to achieve. The purity, the monumentality of the terror inspired by Van Dyck’s speech as well as that of the Attendant (Karl Graboshas), are easily the show’s highlights. Agave (France Rolland) is the clearest fusion of oral and physical virtuosity; as the mother of Pentheus, Agave epitomizes anguish in the production, and Rolland fulfils this role with expert precision.

The five-member Greek chorus serves as an amiable interlude to scenes, though ultimately, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Harmonization across the vocalists

The maenads—frenzied followers of Dionysus. (Courtesy of Carnivale Theatre) is incredible, euphoric even, but solo segments have mixed results.

Brian Lipson’s score—a concoction that oscillates between unremarkable golden hues and contemplative minor dissonance—seems uninspired. Leslie Baker’s choreography is as simple and unvaried as the chorus members’ facial expressions, and its execution sorely lacks synchronicity.

A separate choir at the back of the theatre contributes to a nearsurround sound experience—a fantastic decision that could be utilized even more fully. This creative use of the whole of theatrical space is evidenced by the staging of many characters throughout, and is equally beneficial to the performance.

Erwann Bernard’s lighting design generally opts for the unobtrusive,

and is not without a few moments of thoughtfulness. Francis Farley’s minimalist-yet-functional set design is similarly spartan, and it appropriately allows for the focus to be on the cast itself.

If the goal of Scapegoat Carnivale is the revivification of ancient masterpieces for a contemporary audience, The Bacchae is undoubtedly a success. Traditionally, the play is an important form of ritual worship of Dionysus; I suspect the god of revelry and ecstasy, looking down from Olympus, would be proud of this production.

The Bacchae runs through Oct. 20 at the Centaur Theatre (453 Saint-François-Xavier Rd.) Tickets are $18 for students.

visual art

Safe haven

Exhibit explores stories of Montreal’s refugees Haley Kemp Contributor Any excuse to meander around Old Montreal and not study for midterms is a good one, right? Currently showing at the Montreal History Centre, Nous Sommes Ici is an interactive photography exhibit that documents the lives of immigrants to Montreal, and their past struggles with violence in their countries of origin.

Jaw-dropping statistics about the number of “Montrealers” previously considered refugees, and the stories about their past lives they lived are especially eye-opening.

A multimedia experience through pictures, text, video, and artifacts draws you into the lives of the hardship of the exhibit’s subjects.

Although the pieces pose thoughtprovoking questions to the viewer, it

is disappointing to find that they are never answered. The exhibit does not show why Montreal was chosen, how cultural identites are reconciled, nor why the refugees stayed in the city. Nous Sommes Ici is an exhibit to show the lives of a large demographic of Montreal—yet the city is always kept at arm’s length.

Nevertheless, Nous Sommes Ici is incredibly informative, relevant, and relatable to Canadians. Visiting this exhibit will help one begin to understand, if not completely ingrain, the overlooked suffering that many of these immigrants faced. By exploring others’ lives through art, we become a more conscious and involved society.

Nous Sommes Ici, on display at the Montreal History Centre, runs through Apr. 14 2013. $6 for general admission.

www.mcgilltribune.com

BOOK FAIR THOUSANDS OF USED BOOKS

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Redpath Hall Free Admission

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Tuesday, October 16, 2012 |

Arts & Entertainment

| Curiosity delivers.

Film

Lolcats and revolutions: the faceless future of hacktivism Brian Knappenberger’s two-dimensional account of the Internet Hate Machine Ilia Blinderman A&E Editor Brian Knappenberger, the writer and director of We Are Legion: The Story of the Hacktivists, claims to have compiled a documentary which explores the roots of hacktivism. What Knappenberger has created, in fact, is a fawning, if well-intentioned, tribute to Anonymous—the loose virtual collective which originated on the 4chan message board.

4chan, and its /b/ section (the anything-goes message board) in particular, is one of the internet’s most unique locales. Something akin to cyberpunk writer William Gibson’s Walled City, 4chan is an online community brimming with silliness, biting sarcasm, and posts aiming to shock even the die-hard denizens of the internet. By default, all posts are made under the username ‘Anonymous’, leading to the joke that the board is actually populated by the postings of a single trigger-happy user.

Over time, 4chan users began to band together to take part in practical jokes, or harass other users enmasse. These forays (referred to as raids) gradually developed into a haphazard commitment to vigilante justice, with Anonymous hacking into a notable neo-Nazi’s email and

Members of Anonymous at a protest in Los Angeles. (Vincent Diamante / Wikipedia Commons) revealing that he was, in fact, an FBI informant. While a certain cadre of the group objected to this do-gooder stance, such campaigns continued, with the majority of Anonymous fighting against censorship by Scientology and Middle Eastern governments alike.

We Are Legion channels the furious energy that simmers beneath Anonymous’ masks, their rebellious nature, and their acute sense of injustice, but it sorely lacks any second opinions. If the distributed denial-of-service attacks employed by Anonymous in protest of Paypal’s

suspension of service to Wikileaks (while still serving organizations such as the KKK) are the modernday equivalent of civil rights sitins, as various hacktivists assert, where are the comments by ACLU members and civil rights scholars?

If, as Anonymous claim, they were of some help to dissidents throughout the Arab Spring, where are the men and women who put their lives at risk in Tunisia and Egypt, grateful for the virtual assistance they received while speaking out against oppressive rule? These accounts may very well corroborate Anony-

Ilia’s LEGION

mous’ statements—their exclusion, however, leaves the impression that that the viewer didn’t get the whole story.

Neither does the film address in depth the instances of internet activism preceding the rise of Anonymous. Knappenberger presents a slick, streamlined version of hacktivism—in the beginning, groups like L0pht and Cult of the Dead Cow were loosely interested in the idea, and a group named Electronic Disruption Theatre took a stand against Lufthansa’s allowance of planes to deport refugees. Anonymous then

came about, and after playing some jokes using avatars in online chat rooms, the group grew in strength.

How can Knappenberger retell the history of hacktivism without the slightest mention of 1997’s mass takeover of Indonesian government websites, in protest of its policy on East Timor (one of the first instances of a large-scale act of hacktivism)?

What about the virtual sit-ins of U.S. and Mexican government websites, aimed at bringing attention to indigenous rights in Mexico?

These omissions stem from Knappenberger’s somewhat misguided vision for the film. We Are Legion portrays Anonymous as the culmination of internet activism; the volatile democratic apogee of political participation, in line with the internet century’s liberal, populist ethos. Had Knappenberger seen fit to tell the story of hacktivism itself, he would not have portrayed Anonymous as the alpha and omega, but merely an important part of a larger, more complex whole. The sad result, wherein hacktivism is equated with Anonymous, falsely relegates the remainder of the term’s history to Wikipedia stubs.

We Are Legion: The Story of the Hacktivists opens at Cinema du Parc this Friday, Oct. 19

visual art

La Belle Époque, here and now

Exhibit showcases the best of the Impressionist movement, from Degas’ ballerinas to Monet’s gardens Joanna Schacter Contributor A unique opportunity to see works by Degas, Gauguin, Monet, Pissaro, as well as twenty-one canvases by Renoir, has opened at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA). More than a million people worldwide have already viewed the 75 Impressionist paintings on loan from the Sterling and Francine Clarke Art Institute, but this is the first time the collection has come to Canada.

According to Nathalie Bondil, the director of the MMFA and chief curator of this exhibit, “Impressionism has become the best loved and most popular art movement of all time, and yet it turned the world of Western art upside down, restructuring it [into] what it is today. More than a style of painting, it crystallized the aspirations of an era of profound changes in society.” Once Upon a Time... Impressionism makes

it easy to see why.

The show is organized in line with new research in art history.

It tells the story of Impressionism while keeping abreast of the historical context, and deals with themes such as ecology and optical science, the momentum of modern life, art as a commodity, artistic subversion as a manifestation of political progress, and Impressionism’s role in women’s liberation. If you’ve ever wondered why a particular movement is important, or why we should care about art, do not miss this exhibit (nor the incredible information and quotes printed on the walls throughout the exhibit).

In particular, make sure to catch a glimpse of Renoir’s “Peonies” (begin close and move back slowly to experience a focal change in the canvas from blur to nearphotographic), “Sleeping Girl,” the famous “A Box at the Theatre—At the Concert,” and “Blonde Bather.”

Monet’s “Tulip Fields at Sassen-

heim, near Leiden” is quintessential Impressionism. Pissaro’s “Road: Rain Effect” beautifully conveys a nostalgic rainy day feeling. Degas’ “Dancers in the Classroom” and sculpture “Little Dancer of Fourteen Years” will demand close examination. Gérôme’s “The Snake Charmer” brings to life the stereotypical European view of the ‘exotic’ Middle East in sharp hyper-realism and unparalleled image depth. Stevens’ “A Duchess—The Blue Dress” is visually intriguing due to the velvet of the subject’s dress.

The hype surrounding the exhibit is more than merited. Be prepared to spend a couple of hours walking through the four rooms of the show, completely absorbed by the paintings themselves; approaching them up close (unlike many exhibits of famous works, only a thin sheet of glass separates the canvas from the viewer) to peer at the prominent, often pixel-like, brushstrokes characteristic of Impressionism,

Degas’ “Little Dancer, Aged 14.” (pmcmurray.wordpress.com) and then moving back across the room to observe the optical illusion of each stroke and smear of garish colour blending together into a cohesive whole. The two hours I spent at the exhibit weren’t anywhere near enough; art lovers, plan for a second visit.

Once Upon a Time... Impressionism: Great French Paintings from the Clarke is at the MMFA until January 20th. Tickets are $12 for those under 30; $10 Wednesday evenings from 5 to 9 p.m.

Curiosity delivers. |

Arts & Entertainment

Album

photography

The Zolas Ancient Mars

Thrill Jockey

Light Organ Records

In their nearly 20-year career, The Sea and Cake have not only maintained incredible consistency in sound and quality, but have also shown incredible versatility. Named after a mishearing of “the ‘C’ in ‘Cake,’” the Chicago-based quartet avoids the labels of genre (although post-indie-breathy-jazz-rock-fusion is a start)—The Sea and Cake are equally suited to background music in Starbucks, a trendy clothing store, a cool friend’s mix-tape, or an easylistening Pandora station. Between its affiliations (to varying degrees) with post-rock patriarchs Tortoise, post-hardcore heroes Slint, postcountry champion Bonnie “Prince” Billy, and a slew of other poster children of ‘post,’ The Sea and Cake has superseded nearly every genre but ‘Good Music’ (look for it in the bargain section of HMV).

With Runner, The Sea and Cake depart from their previous (i.e., post-Biz) material. Here, members Sam Prekop and Archer Prewitt dip their fingers into samba-spiced coffee shop strummers and ethereal synth-scapes. When these two flavours appear in the same bite, the results fall mostly flat—see folk throwaway “Harbor Bridges.” When the band segregates its echoplexed and nylon-stringed sides, like on the looped and loopy “The Invitations,” the result is clearly a case of divided-they-fall. Runner’s highlights, though, gallop right out the gate.

Opener “On and On” is the breeziest breath the band has ever taken, while “Harps” is easily the group’s most viral melody since Prekop figured out how to plug his piano into a computer.

As a consistent sampler by a consistent band, Runner earns its spot in The Sea and Cake’s ‘C’ in canon.

Vancouver’s The Zolas take an original approach to indie-pop with their evocative Ancient Mars release. The duo’s sophomore album is full of imaginative lyricism perfect for a fall heartbreak compilation.

Ancient Mars opens up with “In Heaven,” a lackluster jumble of sounds. It’s not that the track itself is disappointing, but it pales beside those to follow. “Knot In My Heart,” which lays punchy, pop vocals over a crackling synth keyboard, is easily the album’s highlight. It mixes modern indie-pop with the age-old theme of lost love, steering clear of its usual clichés. “Ancient Mars” and “Strange Girl” continue on the vein of introspectively assessing past life and love. “Escape Artist” is a smooth interlude right in the middle of the album, without the build-up that characterizes the rest of the songs. Other memorable tracks are “Local Swan,” a slowerpaced lament, and the bonus track, “Cultured Man,” which uses snare drums to differentiate itself from typical pop songs.

Ancient Mars feels like a narrative whose consistent theme allows for a cohesive album. The Zolas don’t deliver anything wholly new—there are definitely some 90s influences—but they do bring a unique approach to their sound.

Instrumentation and clever lyrics like, “I know you oh so well/since we were 15/so well I feel my joints /when your weather’s shifting” in “Strange Girl” contribute to a brilliant album with only one failing: its ten tracks aren’t nearly enough.

The Zolas will be playing October 17 at Sala Rossa, tickets $18.60 —Alexander Kpeglo-Hennessy

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World at your doorstep

reviews

The Sea and Cake Runner

— Hannah Feinberg

| Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Montreal featured in global highlight of cities

Tyler Hilton Forget The Storm Emblem Music Group The last time I heard a Tyler Hilton song was in 2004, and the track was “Kiss On Me;” the 20-year old singer-songwriter was, meanwhile, guest-starring on the hit TV series One Tree Hill. Now, a good eight years later, Hilton has grown up. Forget The Storm is only his third full-length studio album—his last release was 2004’s The Tracks Of—but this long hiatus seemed to be just what he needed.

Forget The Storm kicks off with the sultry “Kicking My Heels;” a Gavin DeGraw-like pop-soul track.

The song has a solid hook, giving an early 2000s feel. As the album progresses, Hilton tries to channel more of a rock sound with “Loaded Gun,” a catchy pop-rock tune.

“Jenny,” meanwhile, is a heartfelt love song, reminiscent of Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl.” Hilton brings the rock again with “Ain’t No Fooling Me,” but the track loses its steam before it can finish its course.

“Leave Him,” is perhaps the most compelling track, where Hilton begs his girl to do just that. The song fits nicely with the other acoustic ballads on the album, such as “Hey Jesus.”

It’s difficult to know what to expect when picking up an actor’s musical foray, but Tyler Hilton leaves listeners with a pleasant surprise, worth a spot on any fall playlist.

— Alex Shiri

www. mcgilltribune. com

Montreal, Standard Life Building. (Mimmo Jodice) Cecilie Jensen Contributor “Montreal has it all.”

This was how I neatly summed up the city, when writing home about my first impressions of my studentexchange destination. And it would seem that the world-renowned Italian photographer Mimmo Jodice agrees, putting Montreal in league with an impressive list of the worlds’ metropolises featured in his photo exhibition Sublime Cities, at the McCord Museum.

I was lucky enough to attend the exhibition’s vernissage, and in my eagerness, arrived too early. The woman who welcomed me looked slightly stressed as she checked her watch and twisted her bracelet, before deciding to pull back the noentry rope at the exhibit’s entrance, telling me to take a quick tour of it before everyone else arrived. She then hurried off, leaving me to embark on a solitary tour of the world through Jodice’s lens.

A journey from the historyfilled cities of ancient Europe to the (by comparison) modernized capitals of America and Asia, Sublime Cities places Montreal in a unique position at the meeting point of two different worlds: the antique Europe of Naples, Venice, Rome, and Paris, where Jodice’s aesthetic inspiration was born, and the flashy skylines of steel and glass in the skyscraperdominated urban centres of New York, Tokyo, and Sao Paolo. Montreal, as a city which is still developing and asserting its rich European heritage in a strongly North American-influenced geographic setting, lies at the very heart of this clash of

cultures.

The exhibition could have focused on this fairly obvious juxtaposition of the old and the new; however, Mimmo Jodice is not merely documenting the specific features of the different cities he visits, contrasting the antique and the modern.

He also seeks something beyond the visual. His dozen black and white photos of Montreal portray some of the city’s most significant landmarks, yet the manner in which they are taken adds new dimensions of mystery to scenes normally taken for granted. Through Mimmo Jodice’s lens, Montreal emerges as an ethereal metropolis, taking on the very definition of sublime.

When I returned to the museum foyer, the floor was packed with what I presumed to be art and photography connoisseurs, all welldressed and drifting about while elegantly sipping their wine. Three glasses of wine, numerous canapés, and 45 minutes of excellent peoplewatching later, the few hundred guests were finally allowed to view the exhibition. As people slowly started jostling their way into the exhibition rooms, elbowing each other in order to actually see the photographs, I snuck out and made my way home, feeling strongly inspired to fire off a few more e-mails about my study-abroad experiences, this time concluding them all with the words: “Montreal is sublime.”

Mimmo Jodice—Sublime Cities runs from Oct. 11 2012 to Mar. 3 2013 at the McCord Museum. General admission $14, student admission $8.

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SPORTS

BASEBALL — Game 1: Redmen 8, Carleton 7 • Game 2: Redmen 6, Carleton 3 (McGill Wins Series 2-0)

Capital bound: Redmen set eyes on Nationals

McGill sweeps Carleton to win Northern Conference championship; Head Coach Jason Starr lauds team’s turnaround Steven Lampert Sports Editor Head coaches want nothing more than their teams to come together at the right time, so firstyear McGill Redmen baseball Head Coach Jason Starr must feel like the luckiest guy on the field. Fresh off qualifying for Nationals, the Redmen swept the Carleton Ravens to claim the Northern Conference title on Saturday afternoon. McGill will look to ride its momentum into the nation’s capital this weekend as it competes for its second championship in three seasons.

After beginning the year with a 2-5 record, the Redmen looked like a team in transition under the tutelage of a new head coach. Nevertheless, Coach Starr and his team remained positive in light of the slow start.

“Early on we were still trying to find our identity as a team. We weren’t playing bad baseball. We were still trying to gel [and] figure things out,” Starr said. “All of our losses at the beginning of the season were one or two run games. But the guys stayed positive knowing they could play better.”

The positive attitude and confidence paid off in the latter half of the season, as the Redmen reeled off a five-game winning streak after the rough opening to the year. Soon enough, those close losses were turning into close wins. To accomplish this turnaround, the team looked to its veteran leaders. “[We] have a core group of veteran guys. Players like Adam Gordon, Casey [Auerbach], Josh Gordon, Chris Haddad, LJ [Aguinaga].

These are guys [who] were there in 2010 when we won a National Championship. They’re leaders on and off the field,” Starr said. “There is a lot of leadership in [our] room that helps [our] team through tough times.”

The Redmen finished third in the CIBA Northern Conference, and were matched up against the second-ranked Ottawa Gee-Gee’s in the best-of-three semifinal series.

They swept the series and moved on to play Carleton in the finals. While there were a few standout performances, such as Adam Gordon’s offensive production and Elliot Ariganello’s solid starting pitching, the Redmen wins were complete team

efforts—a theme at the heart of all their victories throughout the season.

“The great thing about this team is that every game, someone else steps up … a lot of guys do the little things right,” Starr said. “It really is a complete team effort that we have.”

This is Starr’s first season as head coach after serving as an assistant for the previous seven years. He had big shoes to fill, taking over for Ernie D’Alessandro, who manned the McGill clubhouse for 16 years.

Starr was not so keen on changing any specific game strategy, but instead tried to instill a drive to succeed from the opening day of training camp.

“I wanted to try and bring intensity. When I play [and] when I coach, I’m a very intense person,” he said. “I wanted to make sure that the guys played smart baseball, but [were] intense. [And] that there is a will to win among our players.”

Intensity likely won’t be an issue at Nationals. Instead, Starr pointed out that executing and doing the little things—bunting, moving runners over, playing solid de-

The Redmen celebrate their Northern Conference title.

(Benjamin Gordon / McGill Tribune) fence—might make the difference between an early exit and another championship.

“We feel that we need to execute. We know that playoff baseball and Nationals are going be all close games. So it’s going to be the little things,” Starr said. “Guys are going to get hot and hit, pitchers are going to pitch well, and it’s going to be different guys every game [stepping up]. We want to make [opponents] earn everything they get.”

If this Redmen team has proven anything this season, it’s that they won’t shy away from the added pressure of Nationals.

“We have 25 talented players on this team. If the coaching staff can just put them in a chance to win, then they’re going to get the job done more often than not.”

All bets are on them getting it done and adding to the trophy case.

FOOTBALL — Concordia 43, Redmen 40

Redmen rally falls short, lose heartbreaker to Stingers

Last minute Concordia touchdown dooms McGill after Redmen erase 26-0 first-half deficit; playoff hopes take a hit Peter Laing Contributor With playoff hopes and pride on the line, the McGill Redmen hosted the Concordia Stingers on Saturday afternoon in their final home game of the regular season at Molson Stadium. Unfortunately, despite an amazing fourth quarter comeback, the McGill Redmen fell just short of the Concordia Stingers 43-40.

Entering the matchup, the Redmen—bearers of a long playoff drought—needed a win to keep their playoff hopes in their own hands.

McGill also had a chance to take the lead in the all-time series matchup between the bitter rivals, which stood at 35-35 before the game.

Before the kickoff, receiver and kick returner Yannick LangelierVanasse, who has proved throughout the season to be one of McGill’s best offensive weapons, commented on the team’s task at hand.

“We need to execute and focus on the small details. We have a team that can cause a lot of surprises this year, but the players have to believe

in what we are capable of doing,” Langelier-Vanasse said.

However, McGill came out stumbling in the first half. After hitting a 39-yard field goal to open the scoring, the Stingers compiled an uncontested 26-point run, including an 80-yard interception return to start the second quarter. McGill finally managed to get on the scoreboard with kicker Samy Rassy’s 37yard field goal. After a team safety cut the Concordia lead to 21, McGill concluded an eight-play drive with a short pass from quarterback Jonathan Collin to running back Sean Murphy for the Redmen’s first touchdown. The half ended with the score 26-12.

Entering the second half, the Redmen needed a spark, and got one in the form of an onside kick. McGill recovered the ball and quickly converted thanks to a 31-yard field goal by Rassy that brought McGill within eleven points. After Concordia grinded out a touchdown to cap a nine-play drive, the Redmen added another field goal to cut the deficit to 15 entering the fourth.

Fifth-year quarterback Ryne Bondy, who replaced starting quarterback Jonathan Collin late in the third quarter, wasn’t going to settle for a loss in his final home game as a Redman. Bondy’s presence awakened the lethal, young offensive duo of Murphy and Langelier-Vanasse, who were largely contained in the first three quarters by the Concordia defence. A 99-yard drive, which included two 20-plus yard passes to first-year receiver Shaquille Johnson, concluded when Bondy connected with Murphy for his second touchdown of the game to cut the lead to just eight.

After Concordia was only able to score three points off of consecutive interceptions, Bondy redeemed himself by connecting on a 51-yard bomb to a sprinting Johnson for a touchdown. Fellow offensive star Laurent Duvernay-Tardif raved about Johnson, who finished the game with a team-high 186 receiving yards.

“Shaq [Johnson] is someone [who] brings another dimension to our offence with his natural talent.

Luis Guimont-Mota rushed for 49 yards. (Alexandra Allaire / McGill Tribune) He is a guy [who] is capable of turning a game around in a few seconds by making a big play,” Laurent Duvernay-Tardif said.

On the following McGill possession, Bondy took the ball into the end zone himself, giving McGill its first lead of the game with under a minute to play. However, the lead would be short-lived, as Concordia converted on its final drive via a 19yard passing touchdown with just

15 seconds remaining, making the score 43-40 in favour of the Stingers.

On the final drive, with playoff hopes on the line, McGill’s last gasp wasn’t enough, and the game came to a heartbreaking end with an incomplete pass.

Despite being all but eliminated from playoff play, the Redmen continue their season on Oct. 20 on the road against Montreal.

Curiosity delivers. |

SPORTS

| Tuesday, October 16, 2012

HOCKEY — Redmen 6, Carleton 4

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Redmen win first game in front of Homecoming crowd Ryan McKiernan scores twice in the 6-4 victory over Ravens Rebecca Babcock Contributor The McGill Redmen had a busy Homecoming weekend, facing off against two OUA East division foes.

On Friday night, the Redmen’s slow start to the season continued, falling to Ottawa 4-2, and placing them at 0-3-0 on the year. This changed on Saturday night, when McGill (1-30) overcame a 2-0 Carleton Ravens lead to win its first game of the season, 6-4.

Carleton (0-1-1) came out firing and scored just 30 seconds into the first period. The Ravens were quick to the puck and strong defensively throughout the first frame. They blocked a number of Redmen shots, and looked like the more determined team. Carleton then scored again 12 minutes into the period, but McGill answered with its own tally just over a minute later, when the puck swung around to third-year defenceman Ryan McKiernan on the weak side, who fired the puck into the net.

The Redmen turned on the heat in the second period, scoring two goals in the first two minutes.

Third-year forward Benoit Levesque slapped the puck past Ravens’ netminder Francis Dupuis to tie up the game, while Hugo Laporte continued the fierce attack by deflecting a shot into the net. McGill continued this pace throughout the second frame, creating a number of strong

McGill won the special teams battle, going 2-5 on the powerplay. (Simon Poitrimolt / McGill Tribune) scoring chances. This culminated with another goal off the stick of first-year winger Max Le Sieur, bringing the scoring to 4-2 in favour of McGill.

Head Coach Kelly Nobes was very pleased with McGill’s perseverance, despite the team’s slow start.

“I think it’s a credit to our will and effort level that we chipped away at it and ... got the lead back and held it for the rest of the game,” Nobes said.

From the

Seats

The third period was definitely more physical, as both teams looked to set the pace. Carleton’s effort was far from over, and they dished out big hits and fired as many point shots as possible against Redmen goaltender Andrew Flemming.

However, McGill’s chances paid off, as Jonathan Brunelle scored his third goal of the season, potting home a rebound off of Dupuis, and extending the Redmen lead to 5-2.

However, the large lead was short-lived, as the Ravens answered

with two goals of their own, each within two minutes of Brunelle’s tally. Carleton’s intensity picked up, but the Ravens were called for a costly hooking penalty with just 10 minutes to go, giving McGill a powerplay opportunity. McKiernan took advantage and scored his second goal of the game, all but sealing McGill’s 6-4 victory.

Marc-Olivier Vachon, a second-year centre who assisted McGill’s last goal of the game, was happy with the progress the team

made from the first period.

“I think we had a slow start but we bounced back pretty well,” Vachon said. “After that 2-0 lead, we pushed the pace and we scored a couple goals, and it was [on] the powerplay where we won the game.”

Two-goal scorer McKiernan was also pleased his team’s effort.

“I think we played Redmen hockey for sixty minutes and we got a good effort from the whole team today, which was really important,” he said.

Moving forward, however, McKiernan made it clear that the team still has a lot of work to do if it wants to become a serious division title contender.

“We are focusing on more cohesion. We are still relatively a young team, but we’re getting there,” he continued. “It’s a process and this is just one step in making things register.”

Coach Nobes noted that the first victory of the year is huge for his young Redmen team.

“Hopefully, it will give us some confidence and belief [for the rest of the season].”

The Redmen play exhibition matches against Harvard and Dartmouth next weekend during their short NCAA tour in the United States, before coming back home to battle Queen’s on Oct. 24.

cheap

In heaven at Angels Stadium

By Trevor Drummond

ince the departure of the Montreal Expos following the 2004 season, baseball fans in this city have had to look elsewhere for their fix of America’s pastime. Most are not Washington Nationals fans, though the team descends from the Expos franchise. I became a fan of the then Anaheim Angels, because of former Expos all-star, and my childhood hero, Vladimir Guerrero.

Still faithful to the Halos, despite Big Daddy Vladdy’s departure, my father and I visited Angels Stadium in late August to see the team’s new #27 and MVP candidate, Mike Trout.

Last season, our father-son bonding expedition took us to Camden Yards in Baltimore to see the Angels play. Watching your team play in an opposing stadium

S

is a very different experience from seeing them play at home. You form a connection with your fellow fanatics, but are the minority amongst tens of thousands cheering for the other side.

As we walked into Angels Stadium, something felt astonishingly different. Rather than receiving the dirty looks reserved for the enemy, I blended into the sea of Angels’ red in my vintage Guerrero jersey.

The energy of the home crowd consumes you in a way nothing else can. It is powerful enough to make you truly feel at home, even though you might be over 4,000 kilometers away.

We entered through the left field gates, just as the home half of the first inning was about to begin.

Though our seats were in the upper

deck, we dashed to the standing room area along the third-base line, hoping to get a glimpse of Mike Trout, the Angels’ leadoff hitter.

Using my 6’4” height advantage, I peered over the bodies in front me, not wanting to miss a moment of the action. The rookie centerfielder Trout entered the day leading the American League with a .337 batting average. On the second pitch of the at-bat, Trout hit a frozen rope line drive into the rock pile beyond the centrefield fence.

Fireworks erupted from the spot the ball hit, and the stadium went bananas.

The rock pile is Angels’ Stadium distinguishing feature. Complete with erupting geysers and trickling waterfalls, it was built during the stadium’s 1997 renova-

tion, spearheaded by the Walt Disney Company after it became the Angels’ majority owner in 1996.

More significant was the stadium’s conversion back into a baseball-only venue. The facility had been expanded in 1980 to accommodate NFL football, as the Los Angeles Rams shared the playing field before moving to St. Louis in 1994.

The mezzanine bleachers in centrefield were pulled back to expose the San Gabriel and Santa Ana Mountains, providing a beautiful backdrop behind the scoreboard. Two gigantic Angels hats, size 649½, were erected outside the main entrance, welcoming fans to the new ballpark.

Distracted by the subtle beauty and distinct Southern Californian

feel Angels’ Stadium exudes, our attention returned to the field in the bottom of the ninth by the Rally Monkey—a legacy of the Angels’ 2002 World Championship. With two men on and one out, Trout laced a single up the middle to even the score at 5-5. Torii Hunter, the very next batter, drove a sacrifice fly to deep center, scoring the winning run from third base.

What remained of the 39,000-person crowd exploded in sync with the fireworks from the rock pile. The halo around the 230-foot tall ‘A’ in the parking lot, illuminated only by an Angels victory, shone more brightly than the moon. Walking out, I felt like I was at home in Los Angeles.

Image from jackrandallphotography.com

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Tuesday, October 16, 2012 |

SPORTS

| Curiosity delivers.

VOLLEYBALL — Martlet Invitational

McGill wins bronze at preseason tournament Martlets end preseason play on a high note, optimistic heading into regular season Jeff Downey Sports Editor The McGill Martlet volleyball team enters its 2012-2013 campaign following an unexpected bronze medal at the CIS Championships last season. The team surged to another bronze medal finish this weekend in the 22nd annual Martlet Invitational at Love Competition Hall.

Five teams from across Quebec, Ontario, and the Maritimes joined the Martlets for the latest edition of the tournament.

McGill’s pool-play commenced on Friday afternoon against the Memorial Seahawks. The Martlets breezed through the opener, posting a decisive straight set (2927, 25-22, 25-20) win over the overwhelmed Seahawks. Both third-year power hitter Geneviève Plante and third-year right side Marie-Christine LaPointe provided all the fire power and defensive stability necessary to ensure the seamless victory. Memorial placed fifth in the tournament overall.

The next match was against the Waterloo Warriors on Friday evening, and it turned out to be a spirited and passionate affair. McGill dominated the beginning of the match and claimed the first set by a score of 25-15. However, in the second, Waterloo took advantage of costly Martlet hitting errors en route to a match-tying 25-22 win.

The teams then split the third and

Around the

Catherine Amyot rises to spike ball past a Carabins block. (Jesse Conterato / McGill Tribune) fourth sets in similar fashion to set the stage for the first-to-15, deciding fifth set. Leaning heavily on their veteran setter Marcela Mansure for leadership, the Martlets ultimately claimed the game 24-22.

The win earned McGill a place in the semifinals against retuning champions, the Saint Mary’s Huskies. However, the semifinal was a heartbreaker for the Martlets. De-

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ater cooler

In case you spent your week preparing to jump back to Earth from space, here’s what you missed this week in the world of sports…

spite the reliable setting of Mansure, and stable team defending, McGill seemingly had no answer for the consistent and powerful play of the Huskies. Although the sides split the opening sets, St. Mary’s went on to win the final two sets by the slimmest of 27-25 margins. Despite the defeat, explosive rookie power hitter Catherine Amyot was a bright spot for the Martlets. Head Coach

Rachèle Béliveau weighed in on the new and exciting prospect.

“She is doing really well actually. I know she was a good player, very agile, but for her first time playing at this level she is doing really, really well.” Béliveau said.

After the loss, McGill gathered itself over Saturday evening and prepared for the bronze medal match against the Montreal Cara-

BASEBALL — Is there anything like October baseball? All four Division Series this year went the distance, and every night featured a different dramatic finish. San Francisco went into Cincinnati facing three elimination games at the Great American Ballpark, but channeled its memories of 2010 to take all three games in Ohio and eliminate the Reds. Speaking of recent champions, the Cardinals brought everyone back to 2011, erasing a 6-0 deficit to win the fifth and deciding game of their series against the Washington Nationals (who really shouldn’t have shut down Stephen Strasburg).

In the junior circuit, the YankeesOrioles series was headlined by the struggles of Alex Rodriguez and his replacement Raul Ibanez. Finally, the Oakland A’s’ magical run came to an end at the hands of the Detroit Tigers. The last three World Series champions will all take part in the League Championship Series, so if you want to root for an underdog, cheer for Detroit.

MEN’S SOCCER — Canada’s quest for the 2014 World Cup in Rio de Janeiro continues on Tuesday night as the Red and White play their final game of the third round of CONCACAF qualifying. A win or a draw against Honduras will be enough for the Canadians to progress to the final six or “hexagonal” round for the first time since 1997.

Canada is positioned to qualify after a 3-0 victory over Cuba on Friday night at Toronto’s BMO Field. The Cuban team only fielded a squad of 11 players after four players went missing, three of whom were reported to be defecting to the United States.

BOXING — Orlando Cruz, a Puerto Rican featherweight boxer came out last week. The announcement made waves throughout the sporting world as Cruz is the first boxer to come out, and is one of the highest profile athletes ever to do so.

Cruz’s announcement is significant, as he is still an active fighter. Other

bins. Historically the thorn in the Martlets’ sides, the Carabins looked off-balance and out-of-whack all weekend, and this carried through the bronze medal game. The Martlets took advantage and were rolling from the start. They led the entire way, and claimed the bronze in three straight sets (27-25, 25-20, 25-17).

Sherbrooke defeated St. Mary’s in three sets to win gold.

The Martlets had a productive and strong preseason, amassing two bronze medals and a fourth-place finish over the course of three tournaments. Although the current roster is very different than the one that won the national bronze—injuries have claimed some starters, forcing others to play different positions—a few familiar faces remain.

“When you have a lot of new faces, not used to the level, it takes a lot of patience. So [I] try to teach them all about the experience, but all the rookies are great and they work really hard, so it makes it easier for us [returning players],” Mansure said.

While her team is talented, Béliveau noted that patience is a priority.

“We’re going to be very competitive in Quebec this year, we’re still going to go for it, but we are also preparing for a longer period of time.”

McGill opens its regular season schedule at the AUS Interlock in Halifax, Nova Scotia on Oct. 26.

athletes, like former NBA player John Amaechi, have only revealed they were gay after retiring from competition. Cruz fights Jorge Pazos in Florida next week, and a win in the bout could give him a shot at the world title.

BASKETBALL — The NBA’s preseason got up and running this week with teams playing in the United States, Europe, and Japan.

The Brooklyn Nets played their first game in the borough, debuting their new uniforms and logos. Of note for Montreal basketball fans: the Toronto Raptors will play the New York Knicks in a preseason game at the Bell Centre on Friday night for the second time in three years. Last time the Knicks came to Montreal, they practiced at McGill’s Love Competition Hall with the Redmen and Martlet basketball teams. Tickets for the game are still available and start from $25.

Curiosity delivers. |

MLB

SPORTS

2012 Awards

| Tuesday, October 16, 2012

With playoff baseball underway, the MLB’s best individual performances from the season will be awarded in the coming weeks. A Tribune contributor predicts who he thinks will take home the hardware.

By Hrant Bardakjian

american league

national league MVP: Buster Posey

MVP: Mike Trout

The San Francisco Giants finished last season with a disappointing 86-76 record, having lost their all-star catcher, Buster Posey, to an ankle injury. Fast forward to 2012 and Buster is back with a bang. Sporting career-best offensive numbers and batting percentages, San Fran’s clean-up hitter led his team to a division title amidst the steroid scandal surrounding teammate Melky Cabrera. Buster deserves this award for delivering as a leader and propelling San Francisco into the postseason.

Cy Young: Gio Gonzalez

Rookie of the Year: Wilin Rosario Colorado may have just posted their worst record in club history, but the emergence of rookie Wilin Rosario should give Rockies’ fans something to look forward to. In fact, Posey may have a legitimate challenger for the status of best catcher in the National League in the next couple of years with Rosario in the mix. The Dominican Republic native was a bright spot for Colorado as he set a rookie franchise record, with 28 home runs in only 117 games.

Clayton Kershaw may have been practically unhittable, but Gonzalez was lights out. Gio posted a ridiculous 9.4 strikeouts per nine innings, leading all MLB starters. Similarly impressive is the meagre .206 batting average posted by opposing hitters—a Major League-leading mark as well. Gonzalez was clearly the Nationals’ best pitcher, and with 21 wins—another MLB best—he edges out Kershaw for the award.

While he didn’t win the Triple Crown like Miguel Cabrera—the other top MVP candidate—the batting numbers Trout brings to the table aren’t too shabby. He belted 30 home runs, and finished the season with an impressive .326 batting average. Also, Trout’s defensive play was superior to Cabrera’s, and he led the majors with 49 stolen bases. Though the Angels missed out on the playoffs, Trout’s emergence was the reason the team even contended for a spot.

Did I mention he was a rookie?

Rookie of the Year: Mike Trout

Cy Young: David Price Price had a strong September, in which he posted a 4-0 record, wrapping up a remarkable 20-win season for the Rays. His dominance is reflected in his 2.56 ERA, good for second among starters in the majors.

Price is now in line to take home the award thanks to his best season of his career.

Can you possibly win the AL MVP, yet fail to bring home the rookie of the year award? This decision is a no-brainer. Trout was on top of the league and blew away all other rookies in the running.

Images from baseballstarsin.blogspot. com, the clevelandfan.com, entertainment.wagerweb.com, ESPN.com, saulwisnia.blogspot.com

Sports briefs

By Adam Sadinsky

hockey — Marlets 8, Concordia 1

McGill opens Regular Season with a Win Daoust Records five Points in Victory Ranked as the number two team in Canada in the inaugural CIS Women’s Hockey Top 10, McGill opened its RSEQ schedule with an authoritative 8-1 away victory against Concordia last Saturday.

Second-year centre Mélodie Daoust led the way for the Martlets (1-0-0) with one goal and four assists. Joining Daoust in the three stars was Leslie Oles, who tallied two goals and two helpers, and Katia ClementHydra, who notched two goals and one assist.

McGill held the lead for all but the first 55 seconds of the game, as rookie forward Gabrielle Davidson scored her first CIS goal in

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the game’s opening minute. Two power play markers gave McGill a three-goal lead after 20 minutes.

The game was 6-0 in favour of the Martlets by the time Concordia (0-10) tallied its first, a power play goal late in the second period.

McGill dominated the shot total, directing 44 efforts towards the Stingers’ goal, while Martlet goalie Taylor Salisbury stopped 22 of 23 Concordia shots in the victory.

McGill now heads south of the border for exhibition matches at NCAA opponents Dartmouth, Harvard, and Vermont. The Martlets open up their home schedule on Oct. 27 against the Carleton Ravens.

Martlet soccer

Martlets split weekend games McGilL beats UQAM, loses to concordia Following a 6-0 start to their season, the Martlets came home to Molson Stadium on Thursday night hoping to get back in the win column against Concordia after recording a draw and a loss in their previous two games. However, the sixth-ranked team in Canada came up short again, as the Stingers (42-3) pulled out a 1-0 victory over McGill (7-2-1).

Despite the scoreline, the game was dominated by McGill and the team should have won easily. The Martlets directed 23 attempts towards the Concordia net, and keeper Saby Dagenais made six saves.

On Sunday the Martlets got back on a winning note with a definitive 4-0 victory over the UQAM Citadins. Hannah Rivkin, Melissa St. Onge, Kristina Pearkes, and Meghan Bourque all hit the scoresheet for the Martlets.

McGill’s win on Sunday put them back in second place in the RSEQ standings, one point ahead of the Sherbrooke Vert-et-Or. With four games remaining, the Martlets hold a seven point lead over Concordia for the final playoff spot.

McGill takes to the field next on Friday night against the UQTR Patriotes.

Redmen Soccer

redmen streak snapped Sit fourth in RSEQ The Redmen soccer team ran their unbeaten streak to three games on Thursday with a resounding 4-1 victory over the Concordia Stingers. Four different players scored for McGill (33-3), who sit in fourth place in the RSEQ standings.

Concordia (1-6-2) took the lead in the game’s 26th minute, but McGill responded with an equalizer just before halftime on a goal by rookie midfielder Henri Ashe-Taylor.

The Redmen broke the game open midway through the second half, as Jeremy Hurdle and Winston Pool scored 91 seconds apart to break the deadlock and add some insurance. Marc Palaci-Olgun iced the victory after he connected with a Hurdle corner kick.

The Redmen followed up the effort with a 2-1 loss to UQAM on Sunday.

The weekend results move the Redmen to fourth place in the RSEQ standings. They play their last regular season home game on Oct. 19 against UQTR.

Montreal Alexandra allaire & Sam Reynolds

Colour

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