The McGill Tribune Vol. 37 Issue 10

The McGill Tribune TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2017 | VOL. 37 | ISSUE 10

Published by the SPT, a student society of McGill University

EDITORIAL

McGILLTRIBUNE.COM | @McGILLTRIBUNE

FEATURE

‘90s STYLE IS BACK

In countering hate and racism, SSMU must keep local issues at the forefront

Tackling the gender gap and sexism in Canadian politics

Climate Barbies and Superheroes

A look into McGill’s fashion scene

PG. 5

PGs. 8-9

PG. 15

( Sarah Bentivegna)

Creative Supplement

PULL OUT FEATURE

EUS Council passes motion to limit subsidies for drinking events New policy seeks to ease costs for students who don’t drink Kendall McGowan Staff Writer On Nov. 22, the Engineering Undergraduate Society (EUS) council will vote on a motion to reduce the use of EUS

student fees for subsidizing alcohol consumption at faculty events. Council introduced the motion at their Oct. 25 meeting, where students were invited to give feedback before it goes to a vote at their Nov. 22 meeting.

Plan to procrastinate, studies suggest

Active procrastinators experience positive effects on attitude and overall work performance Jade Prévost-Manuel

Contributor

It’s a Friday night, and a midnight deadline looms ahead. At 11:55 p.m., many students race against the clock to submit their assignments. Perhaps they’re scolding themselves for having again left homework to the last minute, or reflecting on the countless times this has happened before.

More often than not, students are bombarded by articles and memes that condemn procrastination,

whether it be in our academic or daily lives. Putting off important tasks is nothing new: Even Socrates theorized about the reasons behind the human tendency to postpone. But not all hope is lost. Students and professors can actually view their tendency to procrastinate as beneficial rather than dysfunctional—research in the field of organizational behaviour has indicated that procrastination might actually have positive effects on both attitude and performance.

PG. 7

The policy would limit the size of EUS subsidies for events that serve alcohol, such as wine and cheese events.

Further, it prohibits subsidies for one-day events that budget for over three drinks per person and any drinking event that

does not provide a non-alcoholic option other than water. The policy aims to address the exclusivity of drinking culture at EUS events, and the unfairness of nondrinking students’ fees subsidizing binge drinking.

PG. 2

2 NEWS

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Projet Montreal to pursue sustainability initiatives in Plateau-Mont Royal Improving transportation and cleanliness are central local issues Fionn Adamian Staff Writer Following Projet Montreal Leader Valérie Plante’s win in the city-wide mayoral election on Nov. 5, other Projet Montreal candidates swept elections for Borough Mayor, City Councillor, and Borough Councillor in Plateau-Mont-Royal on the same day. The candidates’ victories signal resounding approval of their platforms to improve the economic and environmental sustainability in the borough, where many McGill students live.

“This is a party that cares about accessibility for everyone,” Kiana Saint-Macary, U3 Arts and Sciences and Projet Montreal volunteer, said. “I’m ecstatic about the election results.”

Running for his third term as mayor of the Plateau-Mont Royal borough, which encompasses the Milton-Parc, Plateau, and Mile End neighbourhoods, Luc Ferrandez garnered 65.6 per cent of the vote, defeating Équipe Coderre opponent Zach Macklovitch. The Projet Montreal candidates running for the six other council positions in Plateau-Mont Royal won by similar margins. Ferrandez pledged to carry on with the environmentally-friendly transportation policies that characterized his tenure.

Beyond the highly-discussed Pink Metro Line, Projet Montreal officials have proposed several other plans to improve transportation in the Plateau-Mont Royal. During his previous terms as borough mayor, Ferrandez low-

ered speed limits and made many streets oneway to improve biker and pedestrian safety.

To build on Ferrandez’s policies, Projet Montreal officials have suggested installing a bike lane heading east on Avenue des Pins.

“With the collaboration of [the Montreal city council], we’ll be able to move quickly on having a secure cycling path that will be helpful for a lot of McGill students who need to go east,” Jeanne-Mance Borough Councillor Maeva Vilain said.

Projet Montreal’s focus on public transportation has impressed many students concerned about the environment, who contend that these projects will reduce the carbon footprint of commuters by providing more alternatives to driving and by shortening travel times. Andrew Figueiredo, U2 Arts, volunteered with Denis Coderre’s Plateau team.

“Transportation is so much more than how you get places, it’s a matter of sustainability,” Figueiredo said. “The more public transit the better in that regard.”

Projet Montreal officials also emphasized the importance of improving the cleanliness of the Milton-Parc neighbourhood, a frequent point of complaint among residents because of the heavy student presence there.

Vilain pointed to a joint project headed by the SSMU Community Affairs Committee and the Projet-led borough government to collect furniture thrown out on the street to clean and sell for future use. “[Collecting furniture is] beneficial for the cleanliness of the streets but also for envi-

Projet Montreal candidates in Plateau Mont Royal plegde to improve transportation and cleanliness within the borough.

(Summer Liu / The McGill Tribune) ronmental issues,” Vilain said. “It’s a shame to throw all of that away.”

Yet some students who admire Projet Montreal’s agenda raised concerns about whether the party has sufficient experience to implement their program effectively.

“Most of their candidates were fine and dandy candidates but they weren’t people who had a lot of experience, in either government in public services, or even in business,” Figueiredo said. “Many of them were just local activists. There’s no problem with that,

but when you have a new majority in place, you need to have that experience there.”

Looking forward, Projet Montreal officials expressed the importance of engaging with students and residents beyond the election season.

“I really want people who live in JeanneMance to see that having a university close to them is something positive,” Vilain said. “I want the students to feel aware that they are living in a real neighbourhood and not just on a campus.”

EUS Council passes motion to limit subsidies for drinking events New policy seeks to ease costs for students who don’t drink Laura Oprescu Contributor On Nov. 22, the Engineering Undergraduate Society (EUS) Council will vote on a motion to reduce the use of EUS student fees for subsidizing alcoholic drinks at faculty events. Council introduced the motion at their Oct. 25 meeting, when students were invited to give feedback before it goes to a vote.

The policy would limit EUS subsidies for events that serve alcohol. Specifically, it prohibits subsidies for one-day events that budget for over three drinks per person and any drinking event that does not provide a non-alcoholic option other than water. The policy aims to address the exclusivity of drinking culture at EUS events, and the unfairness of non-drinking students’ fees subsidizing drinking-focused events.

The policy does not affect events that make a profit for the EUS—such as Open Air Pub (OAP) and Blues Pub—events that are revenue-neutral, or events that take loans from EUS to buy alcohol. The policy will only affect events that the EUS subsidizes without receiving equal profit in return, such as the McGill Engineers Run The World (MERTW) pub crawl.

The motion was largely drafted by Morgan Grobin, U3 Engineering.

“The policy in its current form does a fairly good job of addressing the unfairness,

EUS will vote on a motion that will eliminate subsidies for events such as pub crawls and wine and cheese mixers.

(Summer Liu / The McGill Tribune) which was my personal goal, but not a great job of addressing the culture,” Grobin said.

“The catch-22 here is that there is no way to address the culture without addressing the finances, but we can’t pass a motion addressing the finances because we still have a toxic culture.”

Though she was one behind the motion’s development, Grobin feels that it is difficult to change drinking culture with policy alone.

“The people who don’t want this motion also don’t want a culture change,” Grobin said. “They like those events because they are binge drinking events. I see the motion I wrote to be the best way for [binge-drinkers] to protect their society-organized binge

drinking while still giving the EUS an out to say ‘Yes, we organize these events, but your student money is not subsidizing them.’”

Grobin estimates that the financial impact of the motion will be minor since events can make up for lost subsidies by increasing ticket prices.

“Realistically, if this motion were to pass, the only effect would be that ticket prices for MERTW and MERTWinter would go up by $10 per person,” Grobin said. “The motion’s goal is for us to take a more responsible look at how we are spending the student fees we collect with regards to binge drinking.”

Councillor Vivian Campbell presented notice of the motion to the EUS. She had

previously worked with Grobin on the original policy as part of a large effort to combat drinking culture in engineering.

“Tackling drinking culture is important for the EUS because we value inclusivity,” Campbell said. “We are looking at adding clauses to require options for people to attend drinking events without drinking alcohol.”

Campbell believes it is impossible to make events that involve large amounts of drinking inclusive for all students.

“I would prefer to discuss how we can make the overall social culture more inclusive, by expanding to include large recurrent events that do not centre around drinking,” Campbell said.

Head OAP Manager Malcolm McClintock is working to reassure students that the policy will not target OAP. He interprets the policy as a move toward addressing the accessibility of drinking events rather than condemning drinking itself.

“I encourage the people who think this is ‘taking away their beer’ to consider the culture surrounding drinking events and whether or not it is inclusive,” McClintock said. “The sentiment of the policy is to make sure student fees are not going towards binge drinking events which only a non-representative number of students attend.”

The next EUS council meeting is on Nov. 22 at 6 p.m. in the EUS Common Room. The motion will be put forth at this meeting.

NEWS 3

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Black Students’ Network holds panel on racial profiling and how to combat it

Journalist Desmond Cole discusses police brutality

McGill Faculty of Law professors weigh in on Bill 62 Bill 62’s clause on face coverings makes it discriminatory, says Professor Colleen Sheppard

Andras Nemeth Contributor

Writers and activists Desmond Cole, Robyn Maynard, and Andrea Ritchie visited McGill on Nov. 8 for a panel discussion on the nature of racial profiling and police violence, hosted by the Black Students’ Network (BSN).

In conversation with McGill PhD candidate Rachel Zellars, Department of Integrated Studies in Education, they discussed the history of law enforcement discrimination in Canada and the country’s inability to confront its own racism.

For Maynard, tackling racial inequality starts in the classroom; telling young learners honest historical reports of systemic violence in Canada is the most important step to addressing the country’s history of discrimination. “[Accurate historical accounts] are important, especially in Canada, where we’ve really been denied this history of slavery,” Maynard said. “I asked at my book launch with several hundred people, ‘Did anyone learn about the history of Canadian slavery in elementary or high school?’ Two people raised their hands. Specifically because we are raised to believe that slavery and racism and police violence is something that’s a very American crisis.”

Cole’s advocacy against carding in Toronto— a process in which the police stop citizens and record personal information about them, such as their appearance and contact information—made him a prominent voice against discrimination in Canada. He spoke about activists’ efforts to limit racialized police violence in Ontario.

“Why are we sending police to noise complaint calls?” Cole said. “Why is it that when two neighbours at 11 in the evening have a dispute about noise, somebody with a gun has to come and solve it? This is a danger to black life every single time it happens. But the police associations say ‘No! My job security! My hold on power! You need us! Anything could happen!’ [...] But we know what ‘anything could happen’ means. We know who ‘anything could happen’ is going to land on.”

The panelists agreed that enabling and combatting racism occurs at an institutional level, but Ritchie pointed out that individuals can also take action to counter discrimination.

“The cops don’t just [act] without our permission, we call them in to do it,” Ritchie said. “People call child welfare on each other, people call noise complaints on each other, elders call about the youth on the corner. So let’s not be the third-party machine including the police. We have to get rid of the values producing prisons, police, and cages, not just the prisons, police and cages.”

During the event, BSN Interim President Andreann Asibey elaborated on the importance of BSN for supporting students on campus.

“We wish people would reach out to us more,” Asibey said. “There are many people who preach about social justice and decolonizing education and advocating [against] anti-black racism but they don’t reach out to us, it’s quite sad. We have an office, we want people to come chat with us. I know we are the Black Students’ Network, but we are here for everybody.”

Asibey also reiterated some of the panelists’ points, highlighting the importance of supporting black students affected by the racism that is pervasive within institutions like McGill.

“We reach out to black students because historically we don’t have a sense of support and community at institutions like this, but we are also here for non-black people because there are other racialized students and people of colour we can be here for,” Asibey said. “We are here to work together.”

Activist leaders agree that solving police issues involves institutional changes as well as individual ones. (insidetoronto.com)

Panelists debated the constitutionality of Bill 62 and its effects on religious neutrality.

(Lauren Benson-Armer / The McGill Tribune)

Miranda Shepherd Contributor On Nov. 8, the McGill Muslim Law Students’ Association (MLSA) hosted a panel discussion at which Law Professors Colleen Sheppard, Mark Walters, and Johanne Poirier weighed in on the constitutionality of Bill 62. Panelists offered different perspectives on the legislation—which the National Asssembly of Quebec passed three weeks prior—to discuss its potential infringement upon religious freedom rights.

In an alleged effort to uphold state religious neutrality, section 10 of Bill 62 introduced a ban on wearing face coverings when giving or receiving public services, including public transit, healthcare, and education. MLSA hosted the panel following debates among students over the legality of this bill, particularly with respect to the seemingly disproportionate effect it has on Quebec’s Muslim community.

“We decided that instead of speculating as students, it would be beneficial to all to educate ourselves on [Bill 62’s] validity from experts in the field,” the MLSA wrote in a Facebook statement. “This is why we organized this event, to enlighten ourselves and help others understand whether this law is constitutional.”

The panel opened with Sheppard arguing that although many of its provisions are sound—such as the call for equitable treatment of citizens regardless of religious affiliation—the problem with Bill 62 lies in its mandate that all persons have their face uncovered during public exchanges. For Sheppard, it is this addition that renders the legislation out of sync with its earlier notion of state neutrality.

“The fundamental flaw of this law is that it targets a particular religious group at a moment when it is endeavoring to advance religious accommodation and state neutrality,” Sheppard said. “[Bill 62] is internally contradictory and incoherent.”

Sheppard also discussed how the bill discriminates on the basis of both religion and gender because Muslim women wearing niqabs will be systematically excluded from accessing public services. In targeting an already marginalized group, the law undermines gender equality. “[Bill 62] is perpetuating stereotypes about Muslim women’s helplessness, their oppression, their non-integration in society, and so perpetuates a kind of islamophobia,” Sheppard said. “[Bill 62] could be counterproductive and work against women’s emancipation, potentially increasing their isolation from society.”

In contrast, Walters explained why the court might uphold the statute, proposing a connection between the law and its purpose.

“Section 10 isn’t about religion, it’s about making sure that public officials can identify people when necessary, can communicate with them, and can ensure public security,” Walters said. “Its purpose is not about restricting rights to freedom of religion, and so its purpose is not discriminatory.”

Although Walters maintained that some situations do necessitate facial identification—for example, when assessing the credibility of a witness in court—he admits that such cases are rare. To Walters, the majority of public interactions do not justify the removal of face coverings for the sake of facilitating proper communication, such as when a Muslim woman in a public library would be required to remove her niqab while speaking to staff members.

Poirier concluded the panel by examining the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on the cases of Belgium and France, both of whom authorized a complete ban on public facecoverings in 2011. She considered the impact of such legislation on coexistence, a value she believes should upheld in society, with the panelists agreeing that Bill 62’s potential for religious neutrality is not being fully realized.

4 NEWS

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Disclosure policies remain absent in SSMU and PGSS Our Turn and CDN say disclosures are essential in pro-survivor policies To Marc-Antoine Séguin, director of Student Advocacy University Affairs at the Legal Information Clinic at McGill (LICM), McGill’s policy created a created a much-needed channel for reporting improper conduct.

“Within McGill, within the context of this policy, the point is to give people on the inside an opportunity to disclose any behaviour or comment that they are not comfortable with,” Séguin said. “What this policy is meant to do is make people feel safe when bringing concerns forward.”

Article 2.7 of the Policy on Safe Disclosures states that people who disclose information must not have malicious or wasteful intent when making a report, and that they are not required to show full evidence to support their claims.

“Someone who makes a [Good Faith Report] is not someone who is right, not someone who correctly identifies something,” Séguin said. “It’s just someone who is [reporting] for the right reasons.”

According to Séguin, the

Julia Métraux Staff Writer Policies for safe disclosure, or whistleblowing, protect members of companies, unions, or societies who report misconduct within their organization.

These policies strive to support members who report anything from financial mismanagement to harassment and assault. McGill University recognizes disclosures through its Policy on Safe Disclosures (“Whistleblowing”), adopted in November 2015. Yet neither the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) nor the Post-Graduate Students’ Society (PGSS) have their own policy for ensuring safe disclosures.

The university’s safe disclosure policy could potentially serve as an example for SSMU. In pursuit of a procedure that encourages people to disclose, the policy mandates that valid whistleblowers be protected against retaliation. This policy applies to all members of the McGill community, including students, professors, and casual employees.

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Both the Students’ Society of McGill University and the Post-Graduate Students’ Society have yet to establish their own safe disclosure policies.

(Gal Sandaev / The McGill Tribune) largest barrier that students face with the Policy on Safe Disclosures is not knowing it exists.

The policy is not listed in students’ rights resources like SSMU’s Know Your Rights Campaign.

“I think this policy is helpful, but it’s not used very often, and it’s still a relatively unknown policy,” Séguin said. “There has been an intention by the Dean of Students [Christopher Buddle], at least internally, to have this policy being used a little more [for students], and it’s something [LICM Student Advocacy] recommends for students.”

After the Winter 2017 resignations of former SSMU president Ben Ger and former vicepresident (VP) external David Aird for gendered and sexualized violence respectively, current VP Finance Arisha Khan recognized the importance of a whistleblowing policy within SSMU. “I’d like to see a [safe disclosures] policy that broadly makes SSMU more accountable to its constituents,” Khan said. “[The policy would] ultimately act as a deterrent to deleterious actions and provide a safe and effective mechanism to students wishing to make a disclosure.”

The Community Disclosure Network (CDN), a group which formed to bring to light Aird’s alleged sexualized violence, reiterated the importance of such policies in an email to The McGill Tribune.

“Protection for those who decide to come forward is obviously incredibly important,” the CDN member, who chose to remain anonymous, wrote. “One way to ensure this is to enshrine specific procedures for protecting those who come forward in a

policy.”

In Khan’s research of whistleblowing policies at other universities, she identified several student unions that have them, including the University of Nottingham Students’ Union and Bath Spa University in the United Kingdom.

“A lot of schools have whistleblowing policies that cover student unions and associations,” Khan said. “A lot of schools in the U.K. actually have their own whistleblowing policies [for student unions and associations], and they’ll have staff to help facilitate the process.”

While PGSS also lacks a formal whistleblowing policy, the Society has informal networks for aiding students. Newlyelected Secretary-General Maria Tippler elaborated in an email to the Tribune on her work in this realm when she served as PGSS Student Support Commissioner earlier this year.

“I individually informed members [who ask for assistance] of their rights according to McGill’s charters, policies and regulations and what may be the implications of the resources they could potentially take,” Tippler wrote. “If a member is certain they wish to formally follow a procedure, I would provide them with pertinent resources, all available information, [and] the official PDF of [McGill University’s Safe Disclosures] policy.”

PGSS Equity Commissioner Emil Briones also acknowledged the importance of a survivor-focused approach to handling disclosures.

“Embedded in my work as Equity Commissioner is continuously striving to have a nuanced understanding of the power dy-

namics and social relations embedded in the activities of PGSS and by extension McGill,” Briones wrote in an email to the Tribune. “To be survivor-centered [...] is fundamental in doing equity and anti-oppression work.

And to be survivor-centered is to honour [the survivor’s] disclosure, treat it with discretion, and follow their lead.”

The forthcoming SSMU Gendered and Sexualized Violence Policy and the National Our Turn Action Plan both recognize the importance of maintaining the safety of those who disclose. Our Turn’s Action Plan is a commitment from 20 student unions, including SSMU, to implement a strategy to address rape culture on university campuses. In liaising with Our Turn, SSMU VP External Connor Spencer recommended that the Action Plan include a section on disclosures. “[Safe disclosures] fit into the larger discourse of what [...] pro-survivor policy work looks like [...] and that was my personal contribution to Our Turn. I asked them to add that, ” Spencer said.

“Often, what stops people from coming forward is the worry of ‘Oh an article is going to get put out,’ and deal with everyone knowing and not being able to deal with [reporting] quietly.”

SSMU President Muna Tojiboeva agrees that a policy that addresses safe disclosures is essential to fostering positive relations with the student body.

“I think that a [safe disclosure policy] is a very important step moving forward,” Tojiboeva said. “If students don’t feel safe disclosing, that’s reflective of the relationship between SSMU and students.”

OPINION 5

Tuesday, November 14, 2017 Editor-in-Chief Nicholas Jasinski editor@mcgilltribune.com Creative Director Noah Sutton nsutton@mcgilltribune.com Managing Editors Audrey Carleton acarleton@mcgilltribune.com Emma Avery eavery@mcgilltribune.com Selin Altuntur saltuntur@mcgilltribune.com News Editors Holly Cabrera, Domenic Casciato, Calvin Trottier-Chi news@mcgilltribune.com Opinion Editors Jackie Houston & Alexandra Harvey opinion@mcgilltribune.com Science & Technology Editor Izze Siemann scitech@mcgilltribune.com Student Living Editor Grace Bahler studentliving@mcgilltribune.com Features Editor Marie Labrosse features@mcgilltribune.com Arts & Entertainment Editors Dylan Adamson & Ariella Garmaise arts@mcgilltribune.com Sports Editors Stephen Gill & Selwynne Hawkins sports@mcgilltribune.com Design Editors Daniel Freed & Elli Slavitch design@mcgilltribune.com Photo Editor Ava Zwolinski photo@mcgilltribune.com Multimedia Editor April Barrett multimedia@mcgilltribune.com

In countering hate and racism, SSMU must keep local issues at the forefront On Sunday, Nov. 12, thousands of activists filled Place Émilie-Gamelin for the “Large Demonstration Against Hate and Racism.” A McGill contingent, led by Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Vice-President (VP) External Connor Spencer, joined forces with a coalition of Montreal activist groups to protest hate and the far-right. SSMU Council endorsed Spencer’s—and McGill’s—involvement in the protest in an Oct. 12 motion. This decision should be commended, as it recognizes the increasing prevalence of discriminatory forces on and off campus, and helps fulfill the role that student government must play in promoting equality. Just recently, xenophobic posters promoting a white nationalist group appeared on McGill campus. Quebec’s Bill 62 is xenophobic legislation that stands to hinder Muslim women’s access to education and other public services. McGill is launching an investigation into anti-semitism on campus. There are students within the McGill community who feel silenced, targeted, and undermined by discrimination.

However, it is important to

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Web Developers Daniel Lutes webdev@mcgilltribune.com Julia Kafato online@mcgilltribune.com Copy Editor Ayanna De Graff copy@mcgilltribune.com Business Manager Daniel Minuk business@mcgilltribune.com Advertising Executives Grayson Castell, Noah Cohen, Vincent Li ads@mcgilltribune.com Publisher Chad Ronalds

TPS Board of Directors

Nicholas Jasinski, Daniel Minuk, Katherine Hutter, Julia Métraux, Anthony Kuan, Elli Slavitch, Holly Cabrera, Jeeventh Kaur, Katherine Milazzo, Becca Hoff

Staff Writers

Julia Métraux, Fionn Adamian, Kendall McGowan, Cherry Wu, Grace Gunning, Gabriel Rincon, Avleen Mokha, Virginia Shram, Sophie Brzozowski, Kate Lord, Sam Min, Oceane Marescal, Miguel Principe, Emma Carr, Wasif Husain, Jordan Foy, Patrick Beacham, Winnie Lin, Cordelia Cho, Erica Stefano, Gabriel Helfant, Margaux Delalex

Contributors

Andras Nemeth, Arshaaq Jiffry, Caleb McKend, Catherine Morrison, Cicily Du, Emma Gillies, Gabe Nisker, Gabriela McGuinty, Gal Sandaev, Hana Shiraishi, Jade PrévostManuel, Janson Kappen, Jasmine Acharya, Kimberly Johnston, Laura Oprescu, Leanne Young, Leo Stillinger, Lisa Perrett, Lucy Keller, Mary Keith, Meagan Peters, Miranda Shepherd, Ronny Litvack-Katzman, Stephanie Sim, Summer Liu

Tribune Office Shatner University Centre Suite 110, 3480 McTavish Montreal, QC H3A 0E7 T: 514.398.6789 The McGill Tribune is an editorially autonomous newspaper published by the Société de Publication de la Tribune, a student society of McGill University. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of The McGill Tribune and the Société de Publication de la Tribune, and does not necessarily represent the views of McGill University.

Letters to the editor may be sent to editor@mcgilltribune.com and must include the contributor’s name, program and year and contact information. Letters should be kept under 300 words and submitted only to the Tribune. Submissions judged by the Tribune Publication Society to be libellous, sexist, racist, homophobic or solely promotional in nature will not be published. The Tribune reserves the right to edit all contributions. Editorials are decided upon and written by the editorial board. All other opinions are strictly those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the McGill Tribune, its editors or its staff. Please recycle this newspaper.

Audrey Carleton Managing Editor Last week, The McGill Tribune published an op-ed criticizing upstairs neighbours for their “categorically inconsiderate” behaviour, such as bodybuilding, blasting music, and having loud sex. I was disappointed by Sidney King’s assertion that upstairs neighbours are inherently selfish and rude. In my time as a student in Montreal, I’ve lived on the first floor, the 11th floor, and most recently, the third floor of various apartment buildings, so I have a strong sense of the pros and cons of all living situations. As a current upstairs neighbour, I would like to clear a few things up.

King’s argument makes inaccurate claims about what upstairs neighbours are actually doing when you—the downstairs neighbour—hear late-night

remember that mass demonstrations like this are only one of many different, valid ways to confront hatred and racism. Participating in a march alone is not enough.

Within SSMU and students’ scope of effective action, there is a need for focused initiatives at a local level that promote inclusivity and equality on McGill campus.

SSMU must actively seek relevant stakeholders’ input on how to better educate the McGill community on sensitive issues, and how to implement policy that recognizes and supports students’ varied experiences. This involves giving marginalized groups a stronger platform to share their voices.

On their website, Sunday’s protest organizers encouraged people to “take the streets […] to express [their] anger at racism, hatred, and the far-right.” These are very real threats—and people deserve to be angry. However, protests with such broad visions risk undermining the effectiveness of their activism. Dubbed online as a protest opposing racism, Islamophobia, colonialism, sexism, transphobia, and other forms of hate—all of which are claimed

to be related to capitalism and austerity—the “Demonstration Against Hate and Racism” lacked a coherent and effective goal for people to mobilize around. The protest’s messaging appeared to emphasize anger and opposition to the far-right writ large, more so than opposition to one particular discriminatory event.

The point of the “Demonstration Against Hate and Racism” was to be all-encompassing—that is, a resounding rejection of all discrimination encouraged by the far-right. While broad, societal-level strokes are laudable and important, they must not overshadow the need for concurrent work at a more focused, community level. McGill is SSMU’s domain.

As such, it is on the local level where the Society and its members can have the most impact. Without discounting the symbolic value of SSMU participating in a citywide protest, it is imperative that it carries the momentum from this rally to enact change at the local level—because this is where it is most desperately needed.

Moving forward, it is crucial for students and student leaders to

EDITORIAL understand the multiple channels for advocacy, activism, and solidarity.

To effectively counter the far-right and other discriminatory groups, students must make use of all of them. That means responding at different times, in different ways.

Moreover, These channels must prioritize the voices that have been silenced by persistent hate.

SSMU must seek input from those who are targeted, and ask how the McGill community can work together to make campus a safer place for everyone. By consulting the most important stakeholders in each issue, SSMU can continue to educate the McGill community.

Workshops, speakers, and issuespecific, on-campus programming, such as the Quebec Public Interest Research Group’s (QPIRG) Culture Shock and Social Justice Days, respond to racism in supportive, productive, and sensitive ways.

While SSMU and its constituents should not be afraid to be ambitious in combatting racism on a broader scale, it is key to understand where the McGill community has the potential to make the most impact. That’s right here at McGill.

A letter from your upstairs neighbour stomping. For example, they’re likely bodybuilding or playing indoor sports. While I cannot speak for all upstairs neighbours, in my own case, this is untrue.

Personally, I have never touched a weight in my life, and I do not engage in team sports. What you’re hearing is probably just my nightly at-home Zumba workouts. There’s a difference. The former involves more throwing and catching, while the latter involves a lot of jumping and stepping. Regardless, I believe it’s well within my right to work out the way I choose, when I choose. A double standard exists between the upstairs and downstairs neighbours, with upstairs neighbours statistically far more likely to receive building complaints while exercising. The expectation that upstairs folks not get their sweat on from the comfort of their own homes is unfair.

King also asserts that upstairs neighbours have a propensity for loud music and hosting live concerts with Eminem himself. This is true in some cases—my old upstairs neighbours used to enjoy practicing their DJ sets at all hours—and I know how annoying it can be. But now that I’m an upstairs neighbour with a downstairs neighbour who works part-time from home as a piano teacher, I can confirm that this sonic relationship goes both ways. We, upstairs neighbours, can hear you blasting music too, and we do not appreciate being singled out and asked to take full

“

We, upstairs neighbours, can hear you blasting music too, and we do not appreciate being singled out and asked to take full responsibility.

”

responsibility.

As for the argument that upstairs neighbours have a propensity for having loud sex, this is a sweeping generalization, and one that is, quite frankly, none of your business. It’s possible that you’re hearing the cage of small pandas that I keep in my bedroom being let out to jump on the bed and engage in nightly play. You could also be hearing my sex noise machine—it’s like a white noise

machine, but instead it makes sex noises. I find them soothing. Either way, this is not for you to speculate on, so putting in earphones might be the best call.

It’s also important to keep in mind the many other sacrifices that upstairs neighbours make.

During the summer, upstairs neighbours face the hottest indoor temperatures, because heat rises.

Being closer to the sun, we’re also awoken by the brightest rays in the early morning. And during winter, many of us face steep, icy steps when entering and exiting the house. Being an upstairs neighbour is not all noisy rainbows and butterflies.

At the end of the day, all upstairs neighbours want is a positive relationship with our downstairs counterparts.

Speculative accusations get in the way of this, and throwing around unfounded claims about our behaviour is not productive.

Living upstairs comes with its own difficulties, and having to fend off attacks like this is just one of them.

ERRATUM An article published in the Nov. 7 issue titled “Open letter to SSMU executives denounces Fall 2017 General Assembly” incorrectly stated that the petition called for quorum to be raised to 350. In fact, the petition only calls for the quorum to be raised substantially while the motion to the Board of Directors calls for the quorum to be raised to 350.

The Tribune regrets this error.

6 OPINION

COMMENTARY

Grace Gunning Columnist McGill has come under fire for awarding former principal Heather Monroe-Blum an honorary doctorate on Oct. 31. The university highlights her “unprecedented renewal of McGill’s outstanding professoriate” and her “unwavering efforts to find necessary resources to maintain McGill’s excellence.” Yet, Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) and oncampus labour unions note that multiple caveats exist in Munroe-Blum’s commitment to accessible education— notably, her lack of support for oncampus staff, cutting funds for student services, and advocacy for tuition hikes.

COMMENTARY

Janson Kappen Contributor In her Nov. 4 column in The Globe and Mail, Margaret Wente denounced the decision of Universities Canada, a national university lobbying group, to release the demographic data for each university faculty in a national database.

Her argument is that universities have come to prioritize inclusivity over performance; hiring staff, for instance, has supposedly become a competition to select the most marginalized candidate, rather than the one most genuinely qualified for the position.

Furthermore, she argues that the current imbalances in certain fields—“the shortage of female math professors, [or] the scarcity of Indigenous medical students,” as she puts it—are not necessarily attributable to differences in opportunity, but differences in preferences within these groups.

Here’s what Wente does not understand: Publishing demographic data about the diversity among faculty

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Reconciling Monroe-Blum’s multiple legacies While the accolade does not reflect these controversial policies, MonroeBlum’s legacy is not an issue of truth.

It is an issue of narrative—specifically the narrative constructed around McGill as an institution—and who controls it. It is true that Munroe-Blum increased the university’s prestige. It is also true that she promoted policies that hurt students and staff. These seemingly conflicting accounts can and should exist alongside each other, without one eclipsing the other.

The disparate legacies of Munroe-Blum point to a larger issue: The lack of trust between students and administration. In the face of administrative decisions that cut funding for student services, students often believe that their interests are not the interests of the university administration. For example, the recent restructuring of McGill Mental Health and Counselling Services left many students feeling that their basic needs are being overlooked. Creating one-sided narratives that diminish the complexity of a McGill principal’s legacy does not help. Both students and the administration have an obligation to create an environment of openness, honesty, and responsibility, so that the difficult-to-breach gap between the two groups—and their diverging ideas of

what it means to better McGill—can be bridged. This begins with addressing how both parties communicate with each other.

The goals of McGill University as a research facility, a financial entity, and a prestigious institution are not necessarily analogous with the goals of students, who tend to focus on the university as a source of support and education, rather than one of profit or prestige. For example, the restoration of various on-campus buildings is essential to the university’s image and infrastructure, but might seem superfluous to employees facing salary cuts.

It would be unrealistic and disrespectful to demand that McGill rescind the honorary doctorate.

However, the university could respect those simultaneously disadvantaged under Munroe-Blum’s administration by acknowledging statements from oncampus labour unions, or dissatisfied former students. In the wake of decisions that—while serving the administration’s goals—left students and staff without certain resources and support, the university is obligated to pursue dialogue with those affected.

In doing so, it must work toward more satisfactory policies for everyone on campus.

Whenever the administration undertakes a new initiative, it must ask, “Who is this initiative serving: Is it our alumni and competitors, or our students and staff?” If the initiative is meant to serve students, they should then be made an active part of the decisionmaking process. Consulting student members of the Board of Governors is not good enough—university administration must make a concerted effort to reach out to the broader student body. This will prevent policies with good intentions, but misguided application. Furthermore, crucial decisions, such as the revamping of Mental Health Services, must be made not just with students in mind, but with the support of multiple, varied student voices over a period of time. This is not to say that McGill never attempts this: This summer, for example, McGill Counselling and Mental Health Services emailed students with a survey on the efficacy of the program. Consultative initiatives like that have the right idea— to be effective, however; they must be done regularly and comprehensively.

Conversely, it is students’ responsibility to respond in kind.

Although there may be a tendency to mistrust or ridicule any administrative initiative or communication, this is not conducive to the implementation

of student-first policies. In an ideal situation, students would use the available democratic institutions, such as SSMU, to influence the administration’s decisions. This is impossible if students do not see these institutions as agents for dialogue.

Statistics show that most do not, with only 21 per cent of students voting in the 2017-18 SSMU executive elections.

The lack of trust and engagement indicates that, just as the administration must improve by championing student goals, the student body must revive its use of official channels for selfadvocacy. Even if justified, anger and withdrawal from democratic institutions are ultimately self-destructive.

An award such as Munroe-Blum’s by nature reflects only one thread in many narratives that shadow her tenure. These are written by mistrustful students, on the one hand, and bottomline focused administrators on the other.

Sometimes these stories align, but more often, they are contradictory. Students must look deeper than these highly public flashpoint moments; students and administrators alike must seek the kinds of conversations that lead to a respectful and sustained dialogue.

Only then can the opposing narratives of students and the administration be reconciled.

Hiring discrimination exists—it’s time for universities to acknowledge it

and staff is, at worst, harmless. At best, however, this data allows universities to expose and correct existing biases in hiring committees that routinely select white applicants over applicants from visible minorities, even when both applicants are equally qualified.

More generally, affirmative action policies are not about lowering standards for people from disadvantaged groups. They are about making sure that qualified applicants are not being looked over, merely because they are from a particular minority group.

A plethora of evidence suggests that hiring discrimination persists in high-paying, white-collar jobs. Sonia Kang, an assistant professor at the University of Toronto Mississauga, published a study last year in which 1,600 fake resumes were sent to private sector employers. The study compared the number of interview requests for resumes with markers of visible minority applicants—African or Asiansounding names, and extracurricular organizations with racial cues—to “whitened” versions of the same resumes.

The results of the study were bleak, although unsurprising. Resumes with whitened African names yielded a 25.5 per cent response rate, whereas only 10 per cent of unaltered names received a response. For Asians names, 21 per cent of resumes received a response after “whitening” the names, whereas only 11.5 per cent received a response with the unaltered name. Furthermore, in a separate study, the researchers

found that a third of Asian and African respondents “whitened” their names on resumes, and at least two-thirds of respondents knew someone else who did.

This study illustrates that, even when applicants are equally talented, it remains harder for visible minority candidates to obtain employment. Part of the shortage of diversity in university faculties today is not due to a shortage in qualified minority applicants, but that these applicants are being arbitrarily passed over. Acknowledging that discrimination exists—which can only be proven through the release of demographic data—is the first step toward improving equitable hiring practices.

It’s easy for Wente and others to discredit programs like affirmative action, by saying that they reward unaccomplished minorities and punish qualified (white) applicants. But, studies like Kang’s demonstrate that discrimination still exists in hiring practices.

It’s important to correct these implicit biases for obvious moral reasons, but also for pragmatic ones.

Having a more diverse faculty, staff, and student population simply expands the pool of qualified individuals at an institution, and helps to increase performance within these institutions.

According to the Canadian University Survey Consortium, 40 per cent of first-year students in Canadian universities are visible minorities.

Although this represents one of the highest rates in the world, the faculty at

Diversity is essential to any university. (Winnie Lin / The McGill Tribune) most universities is still predominantly white and male. Part of the reason why some undergraduate students from underprivileged backgrounds don’t pursue faculty positions is “because they don’t see themselves reflected” in the faculty, as Enakshi Dua, an associate professor at the York University School of Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies, explained in a Globe feature on diversity in post-secondary spheres.

If enough people are passing the opportunity away because they lack mentors from their own community, then a huge pool of talent is lost. By

releasing demographic data about their faculties, universities can acknowledge—and hopefully, over time, correct—the lack of diversity within faculties. This would inspire undergraduates to pursue such positions in the future.

Whether or not one agrees with affirmative action policies when selecting faculty and staff, releasing demographic data is a small, harmless step toward understanding markers of discrimination, and keeping universities accountable for their hiring practices.

7 science & technology

Tuesday, November 14 , 2017

Plan to procrastinate, studies suggest

Active procrastinators experience positive effects on attitude and overall work performance

Jade Prévost-Manuel Contributor A study published by Jin Nam Choi, a former assistant professor at the Desautels Faculty of Management who is now a professor of organizational behaviour at Seoul National University, examined how certain types of procrastinators experience positive outcomes equal to those of non-procrastinators.

In an interview with the Social Behavior and Personality Journal (SBP Journal), Choi distinguished between passive and active procrastinators, who differ in their use and perception of time, motivational orientation, stress-coping strategies, and personal outcomes.

“Active procrastinators tend to make intentional decisions to procrastinate because they love time pressure or pressing performance context, and they ultimately produce satisfactory results even when they leave many tasks until the last minute,” Choi explained.

When faced with an upcoming deadline, active procrastinators turn their stress into motivation—a tactic that Choi says essentially immunizes them from the difficulties that passive procrastinators deal with.

Passive procrastinators, on the other hand, are unintentional procrastinators, and become paralyzed by their inability to make decisions quickly and as a result postpone

crucial tasks.

When asked about his procrastination research, Choi said that the idea was spurred by self-reflection.

“I felt uncomfortable single-mindedly blaming procrastination as a self-handicapping behaviour because I regard myself as a procrastinator of many things,” Choi said to SBP Journal. “Thus, based on my own internal reflection, I introduced [the] new concept [of] active procrastination.”

In an email to The McGill Tribune, Choi suggested that active procrastinators experience a period of increased reflection that may spur creativity.

“Active procrastination may allow [individuals] extra time and opportunities to reflect on the given challenge, thus increasing the possibility of coming up with unconventional, innovative solutions, rather than resorting to immediately available standardized, typical approaches,” Choi wrote.

The results of the study indicated that although active procrastinators engaged in the same amount of postponement as passive procrastinators, they exhibited a better control of their time and greater self-efficacy. Choi also found that actively procrastinating did not have an effect on quality of the work produced.

Further research in the field has corroborated that postponing work may be

Active procrastinators can see an increase in creativity and the quality of work output.

(Cicily Du / The McGill Tribune) equally as productive, or unproductive, as completing it in advance.

“Pre-crastination” is a psychological phenomenon describing the tendency to complete tasks far ahead of deadlines, just for the sake of having them done. Studies with university students have demonstrated that pre-crastinators expend a greater amount of energy when hurrying to complete their tasks than active procrastinators. So while neither

strategy is sure to yield positive productivity, a balance between the two must be struck.

Choi also believes that active procrastination should be viewed in a more positive light.

“Active procrastination is a critical time management skill [...] that made my own academic career successful,” Choi wrote. “[This tool] is helpful in dealing with multiple issues with different urgencies.”

The mitochondria: More than just the “powerhouse of the cell”

Team of McGill researchers lead study into new mechanisms of mitochondrial function Ronny Litvack-Katzman Contributor The cells in our bodies perform functions that have yet to be fully understood.

These structures which have existed for two billion years continue to baffle the scientific community. The mitochondria, an organelle with many unique features and functions, has been a topic of widespread research ever since its discovery in the late 19th century.

Continuing this long tradition of investigating the mysterious mitochondria, Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at McGill Nahum Sonenberg and his team of researchers have uncovered a mechanism through which the mitochondria plays a key role in preventing cell death in the absence of sufficient nutrients.

Mitochondria have already gained celebrity status among organelles. Aside from synthesizing Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)—a molecule that provides energy to cells—the mitochondria is responsible for many other functions, including thermal heat production in various mammals during early life stages and hibernation. They work as coroners, allowing cells to die when it becomes necessary to make room for the formation of new tissue. They even serve a neurological function—storing scores of calcium ions to be used in regulatory processes and in the transmission of information from neuron to neuron.

John Bergeron is a professor in the Department of Medicine and co-director of one of the two McGill laboratories which took part in the recent study. Along with Heidi McBride and her team from the

Montreal Neurological Institute, he played a key role in Sonenberg’s success in isolating important information about how the mitochondria aids in the functioning of a cell.

MTOR, a type of protein enzyme, serves as a core component of two protein complexes which have the ability to regulate cellular activity.

“The paper represents a discovery linking mitochondrial function to the master sensor of cellular nutrients, and regulator of growth in cells known as mTOR,” Bergeron said. “mTOR senses nutrients,

insulin and growth factors, and translates this information to a downstream cascade of events that increase cell growth, metabolism and cell replication.”

When mTOR is blocked, the loss of the protein triggers the mitochondria to produce more energy, which is essential for cells to survive under low-nutrient conditions. This is where Sonenberg’s new research deviates from the previously known knowledge of the enzyme. “[Sonenberg] originally discovered that this process was tightly regulated through

Mitochondria are linked to the maintainence of cellular nutrients and regulating cell growth.

(Kimberly Johnston / The McGill Tribune)

protein synthesis ignition factors,” Bergeron said.

Ignition factors signal the beginning of transcription (the first step in protein synthesis) and are under the control of mTOR. The McGill team’s work embodies the next generation of cutting-edge biochemical research, which uses advanced testing methods at the microscopic level that enable rapid testing of mitochondria to view alterations in cells. This type of work has become a “hallmark” of Sonenberg’s methodology, according to Bergeron.

Beyond Sonenberg’s advanced research techniques, the professor is helping biochemists across the world come closer to deeper understanding of the multi-billion year-old organelle.

“The uncovering of a mechanism is always a goal of fundamental basic research in biology,” Bergeron said. “Filling in further details as to exactly how [mitochondria] divide and send signals to make these life and death decisions for cells is a challenge that only can be met by more detailed research.

The work has immediate ramifications since the mTOR inhibitors touched upon in the paper are the basis for a new generation of drugs currently under test for cancer therapy.”

The effects of the study could be farreaching.

“The integration of mitochondria into the life of cells has evolved over the past billion years or so with more surprises sure to be found that will advance human knowledge with hoped for benefits to health and disease prevention,” Bergeron said. rennacSmaC yb dennacS

Climate Barbies and Superheroes

Tackling the gender gap and pervasive sexism in Canadian politics

By Alexandra Harvey, Opinion Editor The tension was palpable at a Nov. 3 press conference in Vancouver when Environment Minister Catherine McKenna stood up to a reporter from Rebel Media, asking that the organization refrain from calling her a “Climate Barbie.” The initial comment resulted in a ferocious backand-forth exchange in which the Rebel reporter, Christopher Wilson, claimed that he had never personally used the derogatory nickname—a blatant lie. The term has been used repeatedly by the reporter on his Twitter account. McKenna’s risk in making this statement was clear, and things got pretty awkward. Yet McKenna, more than most, understands that sometimes women need to brave discomfort and ridicule to stand up for their right to be treated as legitimate politicians.

McKenna assumed office in October 2015 as Liberal Member of Parliament (MP) for Ottawa Centre and was appointed Minister of Environment and Climate Change in Trudeau’s Cabinet the following month. As a leading female figure in federal politics, she is keenly aware of the ingrained sexism.

In the House of Commons, this often takes the form of disproportionate heckling toward female MPs during question period. Bullying has only worsened in the age of social media, when private citizens turn to Twitter and other online platforms to perpetuate sexist rhetoric. “[When] I went into this job, […] I don’t know that I expected that some people would decide that it was OK to call me names, and make fun of the way that I dress, or speak, or look,” McKenna said in an interview with The McGill Tribune. “I’m quite happy to take people on, or have discussions about policy […] but having to also do this rear guard action about things that are completely irrelevant to what you’re trying to do […], that is tough.”

Former MP Rona Ambrose is one of only three women in Canadian political history to serve as Leader of the Opposition. She was a strong champion for women’s rights during her 13 years in politics in her various positions in the Cabinet and as leader of the federal Conservative party from November 2015 to May 2017. Before leaving politics, she introduced the groundbreaking Bill C-337, legislation that would institute mandatory sexual assault training for judges. The bill passed unanimously in the House of Commons in May, but has yet to go through the Senate.

“My bill is being held up and it’s just sitting there,” Ambrose said in an interview with the Tribune. “[It deals] with a really important women’s issue. There are still a lot of men who don’t think these are issues that we need to talk about [....] They roll their eyes at this stuff. It’s very frustrating. When I see that, I think we’ve still got a long way to go.”

Her experience with sexism as a woman in public service echoes McKenna’s, and she has made it clear that she will not be silent on the issue.

“The political environment is extremely sexist for women,” Ambrose said. “I’ve dealt with unbelievable attacks on social media [...] these are people [who] are extremely sexist and misogynistic, and [who] use very violent language, [even threatening] sexual violence. I’ve never seen that toward men [....] We, as women in politics, have never, ever known anything different.”

McKenna and Ambrose are not alone in their battles against systemic sexism in politics. In

a 2016 study by the Inter-Parliamentary Union, 65.5 per cent of female parliamentarians from 39 countries reported that they had been subjected to “humiliating sexual or sexist remarks while in office.” In most cases, these sexist remarks were made by their male colleagues. Such attempts to demean and objectify female politicians—especially coming from inside the political sphere— exacerbate the patriarchal culture in politics and discourage other women from getting involved.

Professor Kelly Gordon, assistant professor of Political Science at McGill University, acknowledged that Canadian federal politics can be toxic for women. In particular, she emphasized the stereotypical notion of masculinity that dominates politics.

“For example, one of the first times that [Trudeau] was viewed as a serious contender in politics was after his boxing match with Brazeau,” Gordon explained. “If that is the prerequisite to entering politics and being a political contender, then that excludes a lot of women and a lot of men. [....] It’s a very masculinized sort of culture.”

In a climate where political legitimacy and machismo seem to go hand in hand, women are left out. Those who do choose to enter politics are held to the standards of an ‘old boys club.’

Yet, more and more women are refusing to conform and, in doing so, are actively changing the ways that political institutions operate. McKenna and Ambrose are just two of these trailblazing women. Hopefully, the momentum generated by female politicians will help dismantle the systemic sexism underlying politics.

Hillary Clinton, the first female presidential nominee of a major American party, expressed this sentiment to a sea of empowered fans in Montreal on Oct. 23.

“The only way we will get sexism out of politics is to get more women into politics,” Clinton said.

According to Clinton, barriers to female involvement will become less prevalent once women are adequately represented in parliament. Closing the gender representational gap in Canada is crucial to inciting progress: Currently, women make up only 26 per cent of the House of Commons members. Canada ranks 64th in the world for female representation in parliament, a placement that pales in comparison to the gender balance in many developing countries.

The shortage of female voices in politics means that women’s issues aren’t always on the agenda. This is a problem, according to Nancy Peckford, national spokesperson and executive director for Equal Voice, a multi-partisan organization dedicated to increasing female representation at all levels of government in Canada.

“Women bring a perspective that is not as frequently considered but matters a great deal to the public interest,” Peckford wrote in an email to the Tribune. “There is so much value in what women have to offer.”

Equal Voice aims to ensure that the female perspective is heard in Canadian politics. The organization is pursuing this mission by bringing together and empowering current and future female leaders. Most recently, Equal Voice championed an initiative called Daughters of the Vote, which invited 338 young emerging female leaders—one from each federal riding—to take

CREATIVE SUPPLEMENT

Fall 2017

The McGill Tribune is proud to present the Fall 2017 Creative Supplement, highlighting excellent creative work by McGill students, including poetry, photography, illustrations, music, and mixed-media.

For more work not featured here, visit: mcgilltribune.com/creative-f17/

Indian Summer DYLAN ADAMSON

the cleanest that you have ever been felt absolved of guilt, reason, remorse freed empty, salty blue sterile deftness, confidence the pain is gone where once lay feeling freedom reclines comfortably inhales from a cigarette starts thinking & talking about nihilism like all the time cool guy anxiety or whatever, I guess anxiety is not a place, not a headspace, or a pill anxiety is something, if you are very sad you make with your eyes, for your conscience you build it around me, you bring it to me, you beg me to fix it, despise me then you cut me out of your life mr clean sooo so clean

Some People Brigitta davidson

Some people wear their bodies better than others The twist of their waist holds a magic untouched by the majority There is a disarming charm in the crinkle of their nose And the way their clothes slice them up into perfect bite sized bits I am not one of these.

I am an altogether different creature I am in shambles.

A glob of duct tape stuck to itself in a most distasteful way Unsure of what each sticky strap wants With little hope of being straightened out

Gloria François (Cover), Daniel Freed (Top), Julia Spicer (Middle), Ava Zwolinski (Bottom)

Maybe someone watching from afar finds my mess delectable But I’ve always been told mess is something you clean up before guests come over

saturday Maya Keshav and the neighbourhood’s annual redistribution of things. inside-out houses spill pink and gently steaming people onto streets, leaning on other innards, expelled: sofas, old televisions, porcelain. on the other street, skeletons idle next to empty skins, lingering, eyeing the neighbours newly white and ribbed. laid lovingly on the card table there’s a row of kidneys, spare, six slippery hearts (two broken) and a bin of red shiny miscellany: uncovered for hours of morning sun, it’s one long layer of jelly. more, the block over. memories, in heaps and seeping rows, cells of runny honeycomb. some carry blackened stripes and scissored eliminations. others are hand-embroidered, or inherited from mother. some are strongly scented: twenty-five cents for everything about elizabeth. saturday night: and the houses swivel convex again, sweeping, sucking, gathering in. there is space for almost everything, and space between space for everything else. shards curl, edges melt and disappear. seams, unsewn, reseal.

Maddie Murray (Left) Hana Shiraishi (Right) Sarah Bentivegna (Bottom)

And I’m Still Here GEORGIA MAXWELL

I see your eyes Through turpentine Bars, soft oil Somehow forming hard steel.

But in the middle of the living room When light waves H i Tret n as justright, The bars fold ba c k like orange peels So I’ll wait Here.

I can hear footsteps Boom!

in my mind

Thud!

Feet soft Across matted hardwood, Somewhere along the way we hi t concrete puddles We’re free!

As we race oxen ensemble Ramming its straight capillaries.

With its beating heart, I’ll wait here, By the grape vine, In big bay window On top s i t t i n g on little letter desk From here to the couch Across this here mountain floor I’ll feel the safety Of your pillow there.

,

You were never late To moments already begun.

Endurance was never your style, These moments you seem to outrun, And I’m still here.

Galit Sandaev (Left) Gloria François (Top) Daria Kiseleva (Bottom)

MPs’ seats in the House of Commons.

Gordon also underscored the importance of having a parliament that reflects the demographic makeup of the country. Gordon sees childcare as a major issue that parliament doesn’t talk about enough—likely because the affected voices aren’t there to advocate for it.

“It’s such a huge issue and it doesn’t even seem to be on the national agenda […],” Gordon said. “Childcare gets no coverage and it’s a huge issue for women [...] because it’s a barrier to entering politics. It’s a barrier to entering the workforce.”

Ambrose sees the tension between family responsibilities and the demanding requirements of political life as the primary barrier to female political involvement, underscoring the importance of making childcare accessible.

“Regardless of how far we’ve come, women still, in many instances, bear a greater responsibility in terms of [being a] caregiver,” Ambrose said. “It’s impossible to have a work-life balance that includes a family [....] Men succeed more at dealing with these challenges because they usually have a spouse who stays at home with the children [....] That’s not the case for the women I know.”

The irony is that it may require getting more female voices in politics to raise awareness on this issue. But, according to Ambrose, that may not be possible as long as childcare isn’t getting legislative attention. So the cycle endures.

Gordon views our current single-member plurality (SMP) electoral system as the primary institutional barrier to female representation in politics. SMP systems tend to encourage candidatecentric rather than partisan voting patterns. As such, parties within this zero-sum system may be more hesitant to nominate female candidates since they perceive them to be a riskier choice.

Indeed, countries with proportional representation (PR) have made the most significant strides in achieving gender parity within their political spheres, since it is much easier to mandate gender parity at the party level. PR-based systems, such as Bolivia, have also succeeded in applying zipper quotas—legislation that mandates parties to elect alternate male and female candidates—to boost female representation.

However, there are opportunities to encourage female involvement in politics even within the confines of our electoral system. Gordon and McKenna both believe that political parties must commit to running a larger number of female candidates. Getting more female names on the ballot could possibly make all the difference, since recent Abacus data notes the absence of a significant gender bias in the Canadian electorate.

“People understand that there are great women,” McKenna said. “We have to go recruit them. We have to go support them. And we have to help ensure that they win.”

The main challenge in this regard seems to be convincing women to run. Research shows that women need to be asked many more times than men before they finally put their name forward.

In an Abacus data poll, 28 per cent of men expressed desire to enter politics but only 15 per cent of women showed interest. This reluctance circles back to the pervasive sexism in politics that constantly tells women they aren’t good enough.

“Women still second-guess [themselves],” McKenna said. “[They] think maybe [they’re] not perfect, [... they] don’t have all the skills and maybe not all the experience.”

Encouraging women to get involved requires breaking some perceived political rules.

McKenna strongly believes that women—and all aspiring politicians, for that matter—should

feel comfortable doing things their own way.

“Everyone tells you that you have to do things a certain way, but that didn’t fit with what my views were, with what I wanted to do or how I wanted to approach things,” McKenna said. “[…]

I used my own networks, like my kids’ friends’ mums. When I did my campaign we did a flash dance mob!”

McKenna’s pride and confidence are contagious—and this type of enthusiasm surrounding female-centric political methods is warranted. Women have something unique to offer. They need to understand that their specific experiences as women may allow them to tap into different communities or networks for support. Equalizing parliamentary representation makes way for new voices that will ultimately reach more people. McKenna followed her own rules, and garnered support from her own communities, especially drawing on her experience as a mother— an identity exclusive to women. This was key to her becoming the first female MP of Ottawa Centre.

McKenna points out that politics is a dynamic field, and as our society becomes more open, so do our representational systems.

“Ottawa Centre has a huge ‘old boys club,’ and many of them thought I couldn’t win, so they said ‘why would you run there?’” McKenna said. “But now there’s a ‘new girls club,’ and the people that were most supportive of me were women.”

Ambrose also believes in the power of female unity, and thinks that it may be the answer to closing the representational gender gap. “[Sexism] should not stand in the way of [a woman] who would like to run for office,” Ambrose said. “There is a sense of […] sisterhood. Women do band together around these issues.

There are a lot more women in politics than there used to be.”

Ambrose continues to defend the right of every woman to exercise her voice in politics.

Her message to aspiring female politicians? “You are equal, you are worthy, and you can do it.” Ambrose also emphasized the importance of electing female leaders to improve the political climate for women.

“As a politician, you can use your voice to change the environment for women,” Ambrose said. “It’s an incredibly worthy thing to do.”

Leaders like McKenna and Ambrose, and organizations such as Equal Voice, are undoubtedly making great strides in promoting a political sphere more conducive to female success. Equal Voice’s ultimate objective with initiatives such as Daughters of the Vote is to “ensure women are dynamic and equal participants at every political decision making table in the country.” Slowly but surely, this dream is coming true.

The most recent step toward achieving this goal fell close to home. On Nov. 5, Valérie Plante became the first woman to be elected as mayor of Montreal, and women everywhere are celebrating—especially McKenna.

“It warms my heart,” McKenna said. “I think that [Montreal’s] new mayor did it on her own terms. She was happy, and she was real [....] She cared about issues and she was herself.”

There is still so much more to be done. But inspiring women are leading the march toward change, and with hope, someday female politicians will be exclusively recognized for their value and experience. And instead of being compared to Barbie dolls, female politicians will be seen for what they really are—superheroes.

Women make up only (Illustration by Gal Sandaev)

26% of the House of Commons.

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

science & technology 10

The rise of invasive species denialism Why some scientists argue that invasive species are not a global threat Emma Gillies Contributor Recently, dozens of opinion articles have appeared in the media—and even in scientific journals—that deny the risks that invasive species pose to the environment. These arguments claim that the field of invasion biology is biased and unscientific.

Anthony Ricciardi, professor in McGill’s School of Environment, is addressing this issue.

Invasion can be defined as an organism being displaced to a location in which it has no evolutionary history, and establishing a selfsustaining and reproducing population.

In a recently published paper, Ricciardi looked at 77 articles that promoted invasive species denialism and ignored or denied scientific facts. The study found an exponential increase in the number of these articles published from 1990 to 2015.

According to Ricciardi, science denialism in general is the unfounded dismissal of scientific consensus. Invasive species denialism delegitimizes researchers’ findings and credibility, similar to the denialism that affects climate science and medical science.

“There is a scientific consensus that nonnative species introductions pose significant risks […] to biodiversity and ecosystems,” Ricciardi said. “This does not mean that scientists think that every introduced species is going to be disruptive, or even that most may have undesirable impacts.”

While many species do not have strong impacts, some have devastating effects on their surrounding environment, such as the zebra mussel and the Asian longhorned beetle. Further research is needed to improve risk assessment, as invasive

activists. While these critics focus on individuals, they fail to recognize the importance of species.

Some have even gone as far as saying that invasive species ecologists are xenophobic.

Ricciardi stressed that there is plenty of scientific debate in ecology—but genuine scientific debate involves facts and evidence.

“I am certainly not advocating that we invoke the term ‘denialism’ to ban arguments,” Ricciardi noted. “But scientific criticisms should be made in a scientific forum where they are evaluated through peer review. [Contrarians] have to be challenged when they say things that are not scientific, or which have no scientific basis, or [when] they misinterpret scientific evidence.”

In a recent editorial, Maclean’s claimed that “Canada should embrace invasive species,” but Invasive species deniers tend to rely on rhetoric rather than fact. (Cordelia Cho / The McGill Tribune) the article included no scientific evidence. For Ricciardi, this is a prime example of the growing species are capable of altering biodiversity, profits [for businesses],” Ricciardi said.

Another motivation for this denialism number of newspaper articles that attack science, ecosystems, and natural resources, to the point of is growing distrust in scientific institutions. but don’t have to go through the same scrutiny that societal-level impacts.

“A major research objective is to determine According to Ricciardi, this is characteristic of the the peer review process provides scientific papers which species will have undesired impacts,” ‘post-truth era’ in which public opinion is more before they get published.

Denialism instills doubt that impedes Ricciardi said. “When I hear people [non-scientists skeptical of authority that challenges people’s management efforts to prevent new invasions, or usually] say, that the impacts of the invasions world views.

In addition, some professionals feel that they control harmful, existing ones. have been exaggerated, or you can’t trust these “Just like climate scientists have begun scientists because they just want to get more grant can increase their visibility by being contrarian. money […] it’s just as outrageous as when a A few scholarly journals, including prestigious to speak out publically against climate-change climate scientist hears that they’re in some kind of ones like Nature, publish opinion articles that denialism, ecologists must do the same when don’t necessarily include data. Ricciardi also cited their science is under attack in the popular press,” politically-motivated conspiracy.”

Ricciardi highlighted several factors that could denialist books like Where Do Camels Belong? Ricciardi said.

With invasive species denialism on the contribute to this rise in invasive species denialism, and The New Wild.

Perhaps the most prominent motivation rise, Ricciardi says that invasion biologists must including opposition to increased regulation of the deliberate ‘live trade’ of organisms, for markets for this rise in invasive species denialism is the convey their findings better to the general public. existence of conflicting perceptions of nature. Otherwise, the failure to do so would mean less such as the food market and the pet industry.

“There’s a massive amount of genetic Denialists’ contrarianism is not scientific, but effective management of invasive species, which material moving around the planet […] and there rather rhetorical. Denialists range from fisheries is increasingly relevant in areas such as biosecurity, is resistance to regulation because it can impede stakeholders to philosophers to animal rights conservation, and ecosystem management.

The marriage of mathematical models and medicine

Researchers create model that identifies mRNA and its instability in Alzheimer’s patients Sam Min Staff Writer Through mathematical modeling and collaboration with scientists at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), McGill researchers, including Rached Alkallas, graduate student in the Department of Human Genetics and the primary author of the seminal study published in Nature Communications, have identified a protein that sharply decreases in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). They then created an algorithm to track the production of this protein by using RNA. In cells, proteins are only produced when they are needed; otherwise, they degrade. For example, when taking a bite of chocolate cake, the human body responds to the increase in blood-sugar levels by producing insulin, a protein which helps transform sugar to energy.

The insulin level rises when sugar has to be taken up, and falls back when no sugar is circulating throughout the bloodstream. After bloodsugar levels return to normal, insulin will be chopped down by some cellular machinery.

The amount of messenger RNA, or mRNA, limits the amount of protein that can be produced. mRNA copies codes of genetic material from DNA, which is then used to instruct protein production in the cell.

Imagine hundreds of construction workers with one physical blueprint of the building at hand; their work progress would be unbearably slow. However, if every worker had a blueprint, their productivity would increase. The same goes for mRNA; the more mRNA, the more proteins can be synthesized. Proteins and microRNAs, short strands of RNA that chop slice mRNA, regulate the amounts of mRNAs. The McGill researchers found proteins and microRNA that can stabilize the mRNA of synaptic proteins in the brain. Synaptic proteins allow neurons to have an easier time communicating with each other by facilitating the release of important proteins at appropriate times. “[We identified six different proteins], consisting of microRNAs

and proteins, that are involved in shaping the mRNA stability profile of the brain,” Alkallas said. “[RBFOX, one of the proteins, turned out to be] dysregulated in the brains of patients with AD.” Quantifying the amount of mRNA in tissue samples is technically challenging. The researchers therefore resorted to a roundabout route; by using public data on mRNA abundance— called “RNA-Seq data”—they built a mathematical model to predict mRNA stability. Researchers at UCSF measured the rate of mRNA degradation in cells that they had grown, and the McGill team then found that their predicted values from the model matched to the values obtained at UCSF. “[UCSF] helped us to test the validity of our theoretical model in living systems,” Alkallas said.

After the confirmation of their model, Alkallas and his colleagues used it to analyze the RNA-seq data from two different populations of humans—a control group and patients who died from AD—and pinpointed RBFOX’s rapid degradation in the brain tissues of Alzheimer’s patients. The protein RBFOX is important to stabilize mRNAs of proteins that facilitate synaptic transmission. The decreased amounts of RBFOX result in destabilizing the mRNA, leading to a reduced ability to send nerve signals—a symptom of AD patients.

“We propose that dysregulation of RBFOX is associated with an altered mRNA stability profile in AD, opening the door to further research on the potential role of RBFOX in AD [progression],” Alkallas said.

There are two main implications of this study. First, other researchers can use the model to study proteins that regulate mRNA stability without actually measuring the amount of mRNA. Second, the researchers found a marker for AD diagnosis—downregulation of RBFOX, potentially leading to loss of brain functions.

The next step of the study is finding a way to stabilize RBFOX to keep the neural connectivity in AD patients robust, and to employ the mathematical model in cancer research, not just in the field of neurological diseases.

“[We would like to] characterize the mRNA stability profiles of human cancers and [determine] the protein and mRNA factors that shape these profiles,” Alkallas said. “We also hope to determine if any such factors drive cancer aggression.”

The research groups at McGill and UCSF combined neuroscience and mathematics to quantify the amount of mRNA, and identified a protein that is downregulated in AD patients.

Normally, you would expect researchers to isolate tissue samples from patients and collect mRNA and proteins instead. This study illustrates how collaborative the research community has become.

McGill researchers identified a key protein for synaptic transmission that is decreased in Alzheimer’s patients. (Winnie Lin / The McGill Tribune)

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

11 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Chad Norman’s life of poetry Veteran poet brings his new collection to McGill, 20 years later Leo Stillinger Contributor When Nova Scotian poet Chad Norman (Masstown, Learning to Settle Down) was a teenager, he and all his friends wanted to be rock stars.

“I bought a Fender bass, and a MusicMaster, a beginning Fender, and a small little amp, and wanted to be a bassist,” Norman said.

But the band needed someone to write their lyrics, and when they asked him, his perspective changed.

“When I got the request for the words, that was it,” Norman said. “I ended up selling both guitars.”

More than 30 years later, this Oct. 25, Norman brought his poetry to McGill as part of a reading tour of Canada. Norman read poems from his newly-published Selected and New Poems, a retrospective volume collecting poems from his 16 books of poetry published since the 1980s. Afterwards, he sat

Chad Norman returned to McGill with a new poetry anthology. (blackmosspress.com) down with The McGill Tribune for an interview.

Norman clearly loves reading his poems aloud. He was first inspired to recite his work in an unlikely venue—a department store.

“I had a great influence, I never found out his name,” Norman said. “But believe it or not, he was hired by The Bay department store [...] to read

Robert Service poems at different locations of [the store]. They even set up a stage where there would be a mock cabin and an old rocking chair, a fake fire. But the guy could read!”

Ever since, Norman has paid special attention to his reading style.

“I want to satisfy the poems.

They don’t get off the page often,” Norman said. “They’re usually in-

between covers, covers of books, covers of magazines. So for them to have that opportunity to visit the world again is up to me.”

Norman last read at McGill 20 years ago, invited by Professor Brian Trehearne, Department of English, who again welcomed him this time around.

“Earlier when [Trehearne and I] were walking up to [his] office, we were looking at the stairs, and he brought to my attention all the feet that have worn those stairs, [like Leonard] Cohen [and] A.M. Klein,” Norman said with clear reverence.

Norman’s poetry is deeply personal. In his poem “Manhood,” he grapples with ideas of masculinity and his relationship with his own father, concluding powerfully: “A son can cry / He will be a man then.”

In writing about his own life, Norman hopes he can speak to others. “[When I think of a poem, I ask myself,] ‘Why has it come?’”

Norman said. “What has it come to teach me? How can I use this in my life, and can I give it back […] [to] help somebody else? One can always hope.”

The “new” poems in Selected and New Poems, from a currently unpublished manuscript entitled Simona, concern an equally personal topic: The Norman’s cat.

These charming poems contain such fine titles as “A History of Kneading” and “The Furry Beggar.” In the latter poem, Norman appropriates the language of love poems to amusing effect: “The vast allure of / Her batting yellow eyes / Combined with a meow.”

The reading began with the earliest poem in the book—“Live at Marty’s,” written in the mid’80s, when the poet was still in his early 20s. There was a beautiful symmetry in that moment; Norman, now an established middle-aged poet, reading to the next generation of young, aspiring writers.

‘A Glimpse Into The Other World’ dismantles colonial impulses with confounding visuals MMFA’s latest exhibition appears as part of the museum’s ‘Woman. Artist. Indigenous.’ series Staff Writer Sophie Brzozowski Kushapetshekan/ Kosapitcikan—A Glimpse Into The Other World, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts’ (MMFA) newest installation, would be easy to miss were it not for the strange and otherworldly sounds emanating from the dark room at the far end of the museum’s permanent collection of contemporary art. Whether intentional or the result of a lack of space, the fact that the installation was hidden spoke volumes. On display until Feb. 4, the exhibition is part of Woman. Artist. Indigenous., the MMFA’s season-long cycle highlighting the work of female indigenous artists.

The exhibition promotes itself as an “immersive, spiritual experience,” that “[transposes] the Innu and Atikamekw idea behind the words kushapetshekan and kosapitcikan, kept secret by those First Nations peoples—without, nonetheless, entirely revealing it.”

Artists Eruoma Awashish, Meky Ottawa (both of Atikamekw descent) and Jani Bellefleur-Kaltush (who hails from the small Innu community of Nutashkuan.)

“Through the work, the artists share an element of their culture in their own way, while leaving a way open for interpretation,” the museum

advertised.

The foreboding, pitch-black room housed nothing but a tall cylindrical mechanism with a projector displaying a film positioned above it. A sheet of canvas wrapped around six sturdy poles, creating a kind of hexagonal cave with one panel missing.

Viewers were presented with a choice: Stand outside the device and watch the film from afar to see the complete image, or step inside the tiny claustrophobic space and see

The MMFA’s newest exhibition is part of a broader initiative to support indigenous art.

(Margaux Delalex/ The McGill Tribune) it from one angle only. I watched music. At one point, the imprint the film (roughly three minutes in of a face and two hands appeared length) twice from both positions onscreen—accompanied by the and each time I noticed something sounds of heavy breathing, as if someone was standing outside the new.

The bizarre, non-sequitur installation, pressed against the shots changed quickly and without material.

During the minutes I spent warning—deer being chased by wolves across the screen, followed inside that shadowy, ominous room, by a close-up of a young girl staring half a dozen people came and went. into the dancing flames of a bonfire. Some sidled up beside me inside the A continuous line drawing of a cramped space, shoulder to shoulder buffalo bounced comically around or back to back in the silence. Some the space, in time with the sinister giggled nervously while others

contemplated quietly.

Stepping out of the dark room back into the bright, minimalist display of contemporary art does indeed give the impression of having returned from another world entirely.

Everything about the piece—from its bizarre, inhospitable location to its strange and fragmentary images— leaves the viewer feeling like they’ve missed something. Appropriately enough, the installation offers merely a glimpse into the creators’ minds.

According to the artists, the creative approach taken during production was “rooted in decolonization.” By forcing viewers into a bizarre and alien experience, the piece forcibly dismantles the colonial instinct to try and define things we don’t relate to. Instead, the viewer has no choice but to accept that the bizarre imagery is simply beyond the scope of their understanding— that the artists gave us only a portion of the story on purpose. The feeling of disorientation is as much a part of the experience as the film—viewers step into the dark and stay there, long after they’ve exited the museum.

The installation appears courtesy of the National Film Board of Canada’s (NFB) three-year plan to increase awareness of indigenous art. The NFB is dedicating at least 15% per cent of funds to producing future indigenous-led projects.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 12

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Artist Profile: Natalie Manchia’s artistry, pragmatism, and success Up-and-coming McGill designer is entering the world market Meagan Peters Contributor A person’s entrepreneurial success, artistic ambition, and full-time enrollment can rarely exist in fruitful harmony. Natalie Manchia is a U2 Management student in her third year, combining her business acumen with a love of fashion. She recently created her own line of handcrafted, streetwearinspired clothing, Natalie Manchia Designs Inc. Over the past year, Manchia’s brand has steadily gained popularity. Her work has been featured on the runways of SynesthASIA, P[h]assion, and Montreal’s Startup Fashion Week. This weekend, The McGill Tribune sat down with her to discuss what it’s like to be a young businesswoman and artist in Montreal.

One of Manchia’s lifelong dreams is coming to fruition. Growing up in Hamilton, Ontario, Natalie always loved doodling and designing; she was taught by her grandmother how to sew an outfit for her teddy bear in the first grade. Her love of the artform was rekindled when she took a fashion course in high school. Around the same time, Manchia began working at a high-end boutique, and says that this is where she learned the most about the fashion industry. The store took a couple clients a day, and employed a skilled seamstress who worked on tailoring upstairs.

Inspired by working at the boutique, Manchia began making one-of-a-kind pieces for herself and her friends. Besides the high school course, she has never received formal training.

“I’ve never learned how to properly

sketch something, or what all the proper seams are,” Manchia said. “If you look at the way I create something, the stitching is pretty straightforward. It’s nothing too fancy, and some of the things that are [fancy] I learned on YouTube. Because of that I feel like my process for making things is really unique.”

While studying at McGill, Natalie has experienced tremendous artistic

Manchia is an aspiring business woman and artist.

(Natalie Manchia / The McGill Tribune) success. She was first approached to show her designs in the SynesthASIA fashion show, and was then featured in a show for P[h]assion, where she is the clothing coordinator.

After positive feedback from these two events, Manchia decided to apply to

participate in Montreal’s Startup Fashion Week. She landed a spot as the Showcase Designer in the organization’s launch party this past summer.

Manchia is now in the process of creating a website for her brand, which is scheduled to be out before the new year.

“Anything I’ve ever made I’ve only sold through friends, and I wanted to get out of that,” Manchia said. “I know I’m making something worth a certain amount. I know how much time I put into it and the quality of the fabric. People said to me ‘why don’t you do an etsy thing?’ and I said no! If I’m starting a website I want it to be legit. I want it to be like Zara, like Nasty Gal, you google my name and that’s what comes up.”

Living as a student and young female entrepreneur can be difficult. For example, Manchia does not shop for fabric in Montreal anymore, because she has found that her questions about fabric quality and pricing were not being taken seriously. She has also experienced being underestimated in the business world.

“People just don’t see me as a serious businesswoman,” Manchia said. “Yeah I can create and design these things, but I have great ideas. I’m smart. I can balance my own books if I want to.”

The young designer’s next move is an internship in Milan this coming summer. Fueled by her ambition, drive, and creativity, Manchia’s line is sure to be a hit when her website is launched.

“This is my dream,” Manchia said.

“And if it takes me longer to get there that’s ok, because at least I know where I want to go.”

‘The Florida Project’ finds kitschy grace in America’s Sunshine State Sean Baker’s film finds beauty in truthful representation Caleb McKend Contributor In his previous film, Tangerine (2015), director Sean Baker generated instant buzz by using an iPhone 5S to capture the intimate stories of transgender sex workers.

It is a loud and frantic work, but through the grounded perspective of a phone camera, the under-represented voices on screen become undeniable. Baker’s latest effort, The Florida Project, the story of a young girl’s life in an extended-stay motel, does away with clickbaity filming techniques in favour of regular old 35mm—but sacrifices no authenticity in the trade-off.

The film follows Moonee (Brooklynn Prince), a six-year-old living with her young single mother Halley (Bria Vinaite) in the Magic Castle Motel, a garish purple building in the gaudy state of Florida. The film gives little information on the family’s background, and Baker instead chooses to focus on the motel itself as his main subject. Other children come in and out of the motel’s periphery, various situations and vignettes roll by, but the film remains anchored by the beautifully tacky locales of its Disney World-adjacent setting.

The children propel the camera’s movement, lending an outlook that transforms a region thought of by many as a wasteland into a

huge-yet-homey escape. Baker, along with cinematographer Alexis Zabe, film gift shops and strip mall monstrosities as if they were glorious landscapes, dropping the viewer into the oversized world of a child, and creating a palpable sense of loss when it inevitably begins to shrink.

Just like in Tangerine, Baker has strong empathy for his actors in The Florida Project, and allows them to fully inhabit their characters without resorting to expositional dialogue to flesh them out. Aside from a small role played by Get Out’s Caleb Landry Jones, the only established actor in The Florida Project is Willem Dafoe as the motel’s manager Bobby. For a man famous for his unsettling face, Dafoe’s performance is genuinely heartwarming. Dafoe plays off of his costars and scenery with compassion, making his performance worth much more than star power. The truly marquee performances of the film, however, are those of newcomers Prince and Vinaite. The two have a natural chemistry, and while their lack of film experience shows in small doses,—some moments can seem ham-fistedly sweet—their relationship becomes completely engrossing over a twohour span.

The film builds to a powerful climax, and though its plodding pace and lived-in world are some of its major strengths, the gut-punch

Stolen shopping carts are a fixture of Baker’s Floridian landscape. (variety.com) of an ending can at times seem, tonally, like a different story entirely. This world thrives on repetition, with much of its power coming from familiar neighbourhood sights. The ending’s diversion from that structure feels more like a departure rather than a natural progression.

There are clear moments of development scattered throughout—mostly regarding the effects of Halley’s dissolving relationship with the motel—but the amount of time allotted for them paying off feels particularly rushed. So much space is allowed for growing with the characters at their own pace that the narrative has to catch up a little too quickly.

Any narrative problems the film

encounters, however, are only noticeable because Baker has created such a real world— making filmic set pieces seem unnecessary.

Grounded indie films too often feel the need to surround their realism with well-worn structures and clichés, and it is refreshing to find one that, for the most part, feels genuinely inhabited and natural. By leaning into its world and its characters, The Florida Project takes an area defined by preconceptions of its insignificance and injects it with an undeniably real scale and personality.

The Florida Project is currently screening at Cinéma du Parc and the Cineplex Odeon Forum.

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

13 SPORTS

Martlet volleyball defeats Gee-Gees at home

GAME REPORT

High-octane McGill offence overpowers Ottawa Jordan Foy Staff Writer On Nov. 10, the McGill Martlet volleyball team (5-1) soundly defeated the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees (2-5) in straight sets. The Martlets’ commanding offence was too much for the Gee-Gees, propelling McGill to a quick victory.

McGill came out strong and maintained a lead across all three sets. The Martlets repeatedly dug balls up and hit well against their opponents. Second-year Claire Vercheval praised the team’s consistent, solid performance.

“We applied the game plan right from the get-go,” Vercheval said. “We didn’t start slow, and we really played our own game.”

The first set was a close contest. McGill maintained a lead for the majority of the stanza, but Ottawa managed to close the gap near the climax of the set. In response, the Martlets made effective use of their timeouts to remain calm and focused, winning the first set 25-23. Martlets Head Coach Rachele Beliveau highlighted the stretch as a key moment of the game.

“Volleyball is a game of concentration and momentum,” Beliveau said. “So [by] stopping the momentum from the time out, refocusing on our side, [we could] go back and play the game.”

McGill dominated the remaining two sets, winning 25-15 and 25-20. Over

all three, McGill’s offence was lethal.

Vercheval led the attack with 13 kills, and was particularly dangerous for the Martlets, scoring points from both the front and back rows.

Fourth-year setter Thara Dawoodjee explained that any time Ottawa’s offence heated up, McGill shut them down quickly.

“We were just confident in our abilities so we were able to side-out really fast,” Dawoodjee said. “If they went on a run, we were able to just kind of snap [their] streak and get back and side-out.”

Solid defensive play further supplemented the Martlet offence. Libero and graduate student Marjolaine Ste-Marie led the team with eight digs, while second-year Rowan Fletcher, who led McGill with three blocks, shut the door on the Ottawa attack at key moments in the game.

Despite the strong showing, the team still has progress to make.

“There’s still a lot of things to work on,” Beliveau said. “We don’t play [a] perfect game yet [….] Certainly we’re going to keep working on defence, which was one of our weakest skills, [and] we want to keep a good offence and keep working on it.”

On Nov. 12, the Martlets faced off against the Sherbrooke Vert et Or, defeating them 3-1. The team’s next home game is on Nov. 24 against the Vert et Or.

The Martlets celebrate winning a point against the Gee-Gees. (Hana Shiraishi / The McGill Tribune)

Moment of the game

At match point in the first set, second-year Rowan Fletcher stuffed an Ottawa hitter with a monster block to win the set for the Martlets.

Quotable

“When you try to jump in the air, you really try to look [where defenders’] hands are [.…] When the ball comes to me, it’s like ‘okay [their] hands are there’ and I’m going to go over there.”

– Second-year power hitter Claire Vercheval, on her approach to hitting the ball.

Stat corner

Despite a 42-26 deficit in total digs across all three sets, the Martlets outscored the Gee-Gees in both kills (36-24), and total points (48-34).

ExposFest fundraiser makes it clear: Montreal misses its team Without Montreal’s beloved franchise, the dog days of summer will never be the same Gabe Nisker Contributor In 2004, the Montreal Expos left for Washington D.C., leaving the city—and its die-hard fans—without a baseball team. Since then, fans have filled the void elsewhere, with the Toronto Blue Jays exhibition games in late March, or sports memorabilia shows such as the Sports Collectors International at Centre Pierre-Charbonneau. ExposFest, a family fundraiser organized by Expos superfan Perry Giannias, also serves to fill this niche.

“This is my Sunday at the ballpark,” Giannias said with a smile, as hoards of fans lined up at his booth.

As part of ExposFest fundraising efforts, Expos legends—pitcher Ross Grimsley, second-baseman Rodney Scott, outfielder Otis Nixon, and Quebecois pitcher Claude Raymond—gathered to sign autographs and chat baseball with passersby.

In 2015, Giannias’ niece passed away after a yearlong battle with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), a rare terminal brain cancer. ExposFest was born the following spring as a way to raise funds to combat the disease. Giannias told The McGill Tribune that baseball and his family are two of his greatest passions, and that combining the two in ExposFest was the perfect marriage.

“This was about making a difference down the road,” Giannias said.

Capitalizing on the Expos nostalgia he and many others feel, the main event—held in the spring—brings former Expos into town for autograph signings and family fun.

Other fundraisers, like the one at Collectors International, keep the Expos’ legacy alive through the rest of the year.

The smiles on faces young and old brightened the room, as parents introduced their children to their favourite ballplayers or reminisced about days spent at the Olympic Stadium. The memories of summers past filled the air, as tales of classic Expos seasons in the 1980s and 1990s were shared by both fans and former players.

As the afternoon wore on, the conversation at the booth turned to Major League Baseball today. Whenever the topic of those pesky Washington Nationals arose, Giannias shook his head in disdain. Clearly, the team’s departure from Montreal is still a sore spot for many Expos fans across the city, but Giannis is certain Montreal will get a team within five years. He pointed to the support his fundraisers get as proof that the fanbase is still alive and well.

Until then, his presence in the community will not waver, as he continues fundraising and adding to his massive memorabilia collection of over 1,000 monumental jerseys, baseballs, bats, helmets, gloves, and even bases.

When asked about his favourite items, Giannias was naturally indecisive.

“You are asking me the equivalent of, ‘which son do I like better?’” Giannias said.

He eventually named Maurice Richard’s only childhood baseball glove as one of the coolest items in his possession. Some of his pieces have been displayed at Montreal City Hall, or in Cooperstown at the Baseball Hall of Fame.

It’s an impressive collection—quite like the impressive collection of fans who gather every year to look back on the baseball team the city once cherished. ExposFest has now raised $215,932 for DIPG, and donations are ac-

Gary Carter’s autographed Montreal Expos jersey. (Gabe Nisker / The McGill Tribune) cepted at www.childrenfoundation.com/fundraiser/katdipg/. More information about the event is available at exposfest.com.

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

14 SPORTS

#WNTRivalry: A new chapter in Canadian women’s soccer?

The Canadians’ close game with the Americans was a promising step for Canadian soccer Lisa Perrett Contributor On Nov. 9, over 28,000 excited fans gathered in BC Place in Vancouver, hoping to cheer the Canadian women’s national soccer team on to victory against their American counterparts. In the end, the Canadians were held 1-1 in the first of two matches last week. Canada’s strong play was a marker of something bigger—their desire to establish themselves as consistent, legitimate contenders on the international stage.

Though only a friendly match, the hype for the game was considerable.

Ever since Canada’s landmark bronze medal finish at the 2012 London Olympics—plus Christine Sinclair’s historic hat trick in the semifinals—the women’s national soccer team has held a special place in the hearts of Canadians.

A generation of young female players look up to this team and have been inspired by their play for years. The marketing team capitalized on fans’ excitement, with the hashtag #WNTRivalry trending on Twitter before the game.

Canada hasn’t played the United States since last year, but welcomed the opportunity to play the best women’s team in the world. The Americans, too, were anticipating the chance to play on away turf, as this game marked only their seventh game beyond their borders since they won the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Vancouver in 2015.

The game got off to an exciting start, with both teams scrambling to make an early mark. In the early minutes, American striker Megan Rapinoe found the inside of the far post, but the shot defied the laws of physics, deflecting away from the goal line rather than

behind it. Though neither team was able to maintain consistent possession, the Americans penetrated the Canadian defensive line with a number of dangerous through balls. In the 31st minute, after an unsuccessful clearance by Canadian keeper Stephanie Labbé and her defenders, American striker Alex Morgan muscled her way in the box to strike a bouncing ball into the back of the net.

Despite the opposing goal, Canadian heads remained high. Though struggling to maintain possession, the Canadian team moved the ball well on the ground and increased its offensive efforts. The arrival of left-winger Adriana Leon onto the field in the 31st minute brought a burst of intensity up top. Forward Nichelle Prince patiently and persistently troubled the American defence down the right wing, creating a number of opportunities for the Canadi-

ans. Though they were one goal down at halftime, the Canadians had outshot the Americans five to four.

The second half opened the same as the first closed, with Canada pressing forward for an equalizer. The team’s efforts were rewarded after defender Rebecca Quinn pinged the ball off the crossbar, allowing Leon to poke the ball over the line during the ensuing scramble in the box in the 56th minute of play. The Americans responded with substitutes Carli Lloyd, Taylor Smith, and Christen Press, who brought energy onto the pitch at the 65-minute mark.

As both teams pushed on for a winning goal, more chances opened up. Canadian striker Meagan Kelly joined the game and, racing forward on a bouncing through ball, was denied the game-winner by U.S. goalie Alyssa Neaher, who pushed it just wide of the

post.

The Canadians, though disappointed to not come away with the win, were pleased with their performance.

Historically, the U.S. has dominated Canada in soccer: Canada’s last win was in 2001, and overall they’ve lost 49 of their 59 matchups against the Americans. With such a record, the two teams could barely be considered competitive rivals, the Nov. 9 game showed otherwise. With only 19 months remaining before the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Canadian soccer fans were given a glimpse of a newly competitive team—one that is capable of topping their best-ever fourth place World Cup finish in 2003. Perhaps this marks the start of a new chapter for Canadian women’s soccer, where the #WNTRivalry could legitimately become just that.

POINT COUNTERPOINT Should fans bandwagon or remain loyal to losing teams?

Hop on the bandwagon: sports fans deserve fan freedom

Fans should stick with their teams through thick and thin

Gabe Nisker Contributor

Jordan Foy Staff Writer

For the most part, watching professional sports and talented athletes is an excellent source of enterIt feels great to support a successful team, but there’s much more to being a fan tainment. However, it’s not always fun if your team doesn’t win. We cheer for teams precisely because we than winning. Hopping on the bandwagon is exciting and easy, but it denies the develhope they’ll win. Ultimately, though, we set ourselves up to be hurt, as most seasons end in disappointment. opment of a personal connection with a team.

Most teams suffer through down years, only to get to the playoffs—or, even worse, the finals—and Sticking to one team lets you get to know the players, coaches, and staff more lose. Just ask Golden State Warriors fans about how it feels to blow a 3-1 NBA Finals lead. intimately. It is uniquely gratifying to watch the career of an athlete develop, As a fan, there’s one easy alternative to heartbreak—bandwagoning. This way, you can especially if they stay with one team for a long time. cheer for whoever you want, whenever you want.

Everyone knows who the superstars are, but some of the less talThere’s nothing like watching a game with no emotional involvement. Alented professional athletes can be characters, and it can be just as though you’re likely to pick a side during the game, ups and downs don’t take entertaining—if not more—to cheer for them throughout the seathe same toll they would on an invested supporter. Consider Game 5 of the son. Some teams even have zany traditions, such as the Nashville Fans should stick with 2017 MLB World Series, a closely contested back-and-forth championship Predators fans who throw catfish on the ice. bout, ending in a 13-12 extra-inning Houston Astros victory. Unaligned Imagine being a fan of a team like the Toronto Maple Leafs, their teams baseball fans didn’t want the craziness to stop. Astros and Dodgers fans, and watching them draft the likes of Auston Matthews and however, couldn’t wait for the end—but only if their team came out on top.

Mitch Marner. If they ever do win it all, the satisfaction will be Sports aren’t always about When it comes to raising the trophy at the end of the season, most teams go unparalleled for fans who stuck with the Leafs for the long haul. winning—in the end, it’s most home disappointed. It’s far more likely that your team will be in that camp.

The years of suffering aren’t always in vain. fulfilling to forge a personal One solution is to pick a set of favourite players. It starts when you beBeing a loyal fan is a lot like being in a relationship with a come a sports fan. There’s a quality you like in certain players, usually the one person.

There are ups and downs, and over time you make memoconnection with a team. that reminds you of yourself. Then, you get attached to these players. It’s actually ries. At times, it is incredibly frustrating, but when your team finally quite OK to follow them, even if they wear different uniforms. does succeed, it’s much more rewarding. Take the Chicago Cubs’ recent The word bandwagon shouldn’t have such a negative connotation. Cleveland World Series victory in 2016 to end a 108-year championship drought. The Browns fans will tell you that their day will come—and that they could never respect someone emotional journey had immeasurable significance for those fans who had stuck who walked away when the team hit rock bottom. But, as a sports fan, it’s so much easier to enjoy yourself with them through thick and thin. when you’re winning. There’s more fun to be had in joining the winning side. The highs and lows may not If your team is in a rut, there’s always hope for the future. Every season is a new be what you get from commitment to a single franchise, but the consistency far outreaches anything fan beginning—and a chance to move beyond the mistakes of the previous one. Being loyal monogamy gets you. Winning is just much more fun than losing. brings more depth and emotion for sports fans to enjoy.

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STUDENT LIVING 15

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

An inside look into McGill’s fashion scene

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When walking through the McGill campus for the first time, visitors might be struck by students’ diverse and bold fashion choices. With such an international student body comes a plethora of colours, textures, and attitudes—and students don’t hesitate to break nearly every fashion boundary out there.

Among the most popular trends of the past few years are alternative looks from the ‘90s. From all-denim outfits to scrunchies galore, students are repping looks reminiscent of their favourite sitcoms and old photo albums. The McGill Tribune spoke to students on campus who embrace ‘90s grunge about what they wear and what it means to them.

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By Lucy keller & Gabriela McGuinty

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Emily Mernin U3 Literature

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Kyra Kwak U2 Gender Studies & International Development

“I usually try to go for a colour palette. Today I was feeling neutral tones. I thrifted these [boots] and just got paint all over them. This [skirt] is stolen from my roommate [and] this coat is thrifted, [but originally] from Old Navy somewhere. [My shirt] is from my grandma, and I made it into some kind of [top], and this [ring] is a gift from my parents”

Sasha Huebener

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“I am wearing these really extra shoes, and I know Halloween is over, but I’m still about it [....] Aimee Song from Song of Style is my go-to for when I don’t know what to wear, and Alexa Chung, she’s cool.”

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“I have this great chair in my apartment that I always try to dress like.”

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Micah Flavin U3 Psychology, Education, & Anthropology

Martin Law U3 Urban Systems

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Celia Zuberec U2 Cultural Studies & Urban Systems

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“I lived a few years ago at a [...] therapeutic life sharing community, where I was helping people get dressed in the morning and that was actually a big moment where I understood fashion, and, what we wear and why we wear it in a different way [....] I think if you can actually take a moment in the morning and see where you are actually at, [it’s] a good exercise in self inquiry.”

Wan 3 Edna U3 Literature

“I made this dress this summer, and this jacket, my grandma made for me [....] I had a dream the other day that instead of going to grad school, I went to textile design school.”

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Photos by Jasmine Acharya / The McGill Tribune

“I like to skate, so most of what I wear are skate brands, I guess. I just slap on whatever feels right. It was really cold today so this is a thick jumper and it feels cozy [....] I stole this [hat] from my roommate.”

“It’s nice that it’s fall and I can have multiple layers to my outfit. I’m wearing this sweater that I didn’t really think about, but it’s really warm, and then underneath, I’m wearing this shirt that I like, so I can take off my sweater when I get into my warm classroom and have something else going on. I get a lot of used clothing, because then I don’t really see people wearing what I’m wearing.”

McGill on wheels: Bicycle theft and measures of protection Students and professors give advice on keeping bikes safe on campus

Stephanie Sim Contributor Montreal is remarkably bike-friendly; from its bike sharing program, Bixi, to the integration of bike lanes in its planning, the city is uniquely welcoming for those on two wheels. Many McGill staff and students commute to and from school daily by bike, living too far to conveniently walk but not far enough away to warrant taking transit.

During the warmer times of year, bike racks on campus are stocked—a visible sign of the role that bike culture plays in the campus community.

However, what’s less obvious upon first glance, is bicycle theft. A 2012 McGill survey on bicycle theft showed that approximately 50 per cent of students in Montreal have had their bikes stolen, even when they locked them up. Thieves often use bolt cutters to remove bike locks, or they simply remove loose parts that are not locked up, which can be resold individually. Ben Oldham,

Students can take measures to prevent bike theft. (Erica Stefano / The McGill Tribune)

U3 Arts, is a regular bike commuter, and one of many students who has fallen victim to campus bike theft.

“I’ve never had my [whole] bike stolen, but I’ve always locked it up nice, too [....] My dad nags me about it, so I’m always careful,” Oldham said. “Somebody stole the seat off my bike once because it wasn’t bolted to the frame.”

While there is no ultimate solution to bike theft, there are measures that individuals can take to increase their bike’s security and, in the case that it is stolen, their chances of getting it back. The same survey showed bikes locked with a cable have a 30 per cent higher chance of being stolen than those with a U-lock. Although cables are popular, they’re easy to cut with bolt cutters, while U-locks are far more durable and nearly impossible to break.

Another security precaution bike owners can take is to get their bike permanently engraved with a number that is entered into a police database, making it easier to track if stolen. Engraved bikes are less likely to be stolen by thieves looking to resell bikes; the tracking number is a giveaway that it’s been stolen. Eli MacLaren, assistant professor in the Department of English at McGill, learned the importance of engravings the hard way after his bike was stolen from his backyard. “[My family] stores our bikes in a shed behind our house, in our backyard out of view from the street,” MacLaren wrote in an email to The McGill

Tribune. “Someone came into our backyard [in September], opened the shed, and took my bike.

Since [my] bike had no police tracking number, the police said that the chances of recovering it were low.”

Once a semester, McGill Security Services works with the Montreal Police to provide free bike engravings for all McGill students and staff members on the Downtown campus.

This engraving increases the chances of finding students’ stolen bikes.

Locking bikes in high-traffic areas, like around the Y-Intersection on McGill’s downtown campus, also decreases a bike’s likelihood of being stolen. Through his experience with bike theft, Oldham has learned the importance of finding the proper place to park.

“I try to leave [my bike] somewhere wellpopulated, so I figure people would notice someone trying to break my lock,” Oldham said. “I hope it would at least deter someone from targeting my bike.”

Beyond taking these everyday safety precautions, the student biking community as a whole can look out for each other and keep campus security in the loop on suspicious activity.

“As a community, we can all keep an eye out for suspicious behaviour,” Oldham said. “At the end of the day, I think the best thing is to create a culture where we’re always talking to one another about bike safety and watching each other’s backs.”

16 STUDENT LIVING

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

A look behind the lens: Humans of McGill photographer Brock Jenken Student helps catalogue and share the diversity of McGill’s student body Avleen K Mokha Staff Writer Brock Jenken, U2 Science, is a student of many disciplines. Between serving as the U2 representative for the Biochemistry Undergraduate Society, singing in an acapella group, and playing the piano—Jenken’s daily life is full of multitasking. He is majoring in biochemistry and minoring in computer science, and, amid dreams of medical school, he has honed a passion for photography.

Jenken is perhaps known best for his photography for Humans of McGill University (HoMU), a Facebook community featuring photos and interviews with students that has garnered over 5,000 likes since its debut in Fall 2016. Working as one of four page administrators, Jenken brings student voices to the forefront.

“What motivates me is to find people who have stories to share,” Jenken said. “I am mostly a portrait photographer, so I love talking to people and find that it helps in capturing better portraits. When I was given the opportunity [in 2015-2016] to join an initiative like [HoMU], I jumped at it. I like the concept of sharing stories from students your age […] who have such different lives.”

Jenken has been taking portraits on campus for about

Jenken is one of the original photographers of HoMU. (Brock Jenken) three years now, after getting his start with Humans of McGill Residences (HoMR), an initiative of the Inter Rez Council 2015-2016 that led to the creation of HoMU. During his time in university, he has developed a knack for getting his subjects to open up to him.

“I feel that I am getting more selective in the portraits,” Jenken said. “I approach people who are

standing around or sitting on a bench, who probably just finished class [....] I ask if [they] have any experience that [...] helped them grow, that others would be interested in hearing [about]. If they don’t seem comfortable sharing deep stories, I ask them if they have any dad jokes or funny, insightful quips.”

Jenken aspires to go to medical school but plans to work as a freelance wedding photographer over summer breaks to supplement his income. He seeks inspiration from other wedding photographers; his favourite is Brent Kallas, who happens to be a McGill alumnus himself.

“I was very recently photographed by [Kallas],” Jenken said. “He always captures the perfect moment, especially in his wedding photography. As someone who wants to go into wedding photography, I want to be able to capture moments like he does.”

Reflecting on how working for HoMU has enriched his university experience, Jenken feels more connected to people of different experiences and worldviews.

“For me, [portrait photography] always reminds me that everyone is living their own lives,” Jenken said.

“People can get caught up [...] in their personal lives, but it reminds me that we all have different problems.

We’re all going through things beyond control, and that it doesn’t hurt to be nice to someone [because] they might be having a rough day.”

Lost in translation: Texts and what they really mean What you really say versus what they think you’re saying Lucy Keller & Gabriela McGuinty, Contributors

Illustrations by Arshaaq Jiffry