The McGill Tribune Vol. 28 Issue 16

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The McGill

blished by the Students' Society of McGill University

B T JN K

Volume 28 Issue 16* January 13,2009

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arnival students get cheeky CUPE takes heat for Israeli boycott Proposal by group's Ont. section ignites controversy James G ilman An academic boycott o f Israel proposed by the Ontario section of the Canadian Union o f Public Employees has ignited controversy, w ith the union's president publicly apologising for comments he made comparing Israeli strikes on a university in the Gaza Strip to crimes com m itted by the Nazis.

On January 5, CUPE Ontario's university workers committee announced that it would "bring a resolution to its annual conference supporting a ban on Israeli academics doing speaking, teaching or research work at Ontario universities as a protest against the December 29 bombing o f the Islamic University in Gaza."

Israel maintains that the Islamic University has close ties to Hamas.

CUPE Ontario President Sid Ryan also publicly called for a boycott o f Is­ raeli academics who refused to condemn Israel's recent military activities in Gaza. The bombings began on December 27 w ith air raids targeting Hamas, the Islamist organization that has controlled the Gaza strip since 2007.

According to Ryan, the proposal is part of a worldwide campaign called "Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions for Palestine," which began in mid 2005, largely inspired by boycotts and sanctions o f apartheid South Africa.

"The academic community, the political community, civil society, and trade unions from Palestine made a request about a year or tw o ago to imSee PROPOSED on Page 2 e Redmen avoided a hairy situation after winning one of two games this weekend. See SPORTS, page 18

tudents' Society still embroiled in CASA battle Tganization claims SSMU owes tens of thousands in unpaid dues I

Bernard Rudny

I After more than 18 months and tw o changes o f legal fcunsel, the Students'Society's lawsuit w ith the Canadian Allimce o f Student Associations is still far from over.

I Although a court date was originally set for December 12, has been delayed to May 7— more than tw o years after the jit was filed. SSMU requested the delay in November because fa change in legal representation.

SSMU was a member o f CASA until October o f 2005, when IcGill undergraduates voted to w ithdraw from the organizaon. SSMU then took out a prospective membership in the Ca­

nadian Federation o f Students, but was forced out o f the CFS after conflicts w ith other members. CASA and the CFS are both national associations which lobby the federal and provincial governments on behalf o f students.

CASA originally filed suit against SSMU in 2007 for roughly $28,000 in unpaid membership fees, plus interest. However, CASA's by-laws charge a high rate o f interest: three per cent every 15 days. With interest, CASA's total claim could be up­ wards o f $80,000.

The annual membership fee for CASA was $40,000 and SSMU paid $12,000, which they considered a partial payment.

After CASA filed suit, SSMU offered to pay an additional $8,000,

HOCKEY

but their offer was rejected.

A similar suit was filed by CASA against the University of Manitoba Students' Union in 2007, and settled out o f court in the fall. That settlement did not include interest. According to CASA National Director Zach Churchill, the organization would welcome a negotiated settlement with SSMU. "We have not received a subsequent proposal [after SSMU's $8,000 offer], to settle. And we are very interested in settling this case," he said. "We're w illing to compromise when it comes to settlements. We're not here to gouge anybody."

See LAWSUIT on Page 3

BASKETBALL

Concordia vs. Redmen January 14 at 19h00

Double-header against Concordia January 17

McGill

Carleton vs. Martlets January 18 at 13h00

Martlets game at 18h00 Redmen game at 20h00

ATHLETICS & RECREATION

McConnell Arena

McGill Sports Centre

redbîrd

SPORTS SHOP

H o o d ie s s t a r t in g a t $25

N ews

COVER PHOTO BY ADAM SCO

SPECIAL INTERVIEW

Heather Munroe-Blum meets the press McGill principal discusses the economy, tuition, and Richard Pound To kick off the New Year, McGill Principal Heather MunroeBlum invited editors from the McGill Tribune, the McGill Daily, and Le Délit to discuss relevant campus issues. Below are excerpts o f Munroe-Blum's thoughts o n ... ... the economy.

We are in very challenging economic times__ There's ac­ tually a bit o f a silver lining in McGill's underfunding. Because, unlike some o f our peers, we've not been funded at the level provincially that we w ould have liked and [so] we don't have an endowm ent on the scale o f other public universities in Can­ ada and the U.S. So we don't depend on endowm ent payouts at the core o f our operations. We've also had a conservative investment policy. So that is one area that has been hurt, but an area in which we've been hurt less than others.

I think the biggest silver lining for us is that we did our biggest recruitment o f professors in the past decade— we're not just starting now. Many o f our peers were just getting ready to do a massive round o f hiring, but now have hiring freezes because of economic uncertainty.... The w orry is that in the mid-gos, when there was an economic downturn, both provincial and federal governments made traumatic cuts— sometimes 20 to 25 per cent— to [some areas of education]. So we need to advocate that we stay the course on public invest­ ment in education. ... the need to remain competitive with the United States.

We need investment in bridges and roads, that's for sure, but if we only invest in things that aren't linked to supporting talented people then we'll have a little blip o f jobs and invest­ ment, but we will not be prepared to sustain economic growth going forward. [U.S. President-elect] Barack Obama has made it clear that he's going to invest in science and education at a high level, versus George Bush who didn't. So if we don't in­ vest in higher education then it w ill create a disequilibrium between Canada and the U.S. that will hurt us. ... tuition "re-regulation."

Ever since I've come to McGill I've argued for a different policy on tu itio n — one that could be characterized as re-regulation, not deregulation. I don't believe in driving costs as high as they can possibly go, since I don't think that [fosters] either accessibility or quality w ithin a university. But I do be­ lieve our tuition fees are too low. I believe our funding overall is too low— that's empirically supportable— and our policy ...

is that we work to raise tuition w ithin a normal range. For example, you could use the Canadian average [to determine a normal range], or the Canadian average plus the average o f the public American universities.

Re-regulation w ould mean that we would have the flexibility to set fees, after approval from the Board o f Governors, but w ith a notion ... that 30 cents on every new dollar o f tuition w ould go directly into student aid. To this day we cannot say what I hope to be able to say at the end o f my remaining four years as principal: that no qualified student is unable to come to McGill because they don't have the financial means to afford it. ... the restrictions that prevent students from working in areas with level-3 and 4 travel warnings set by the Canadian government.

Of course we are never happy when things don't get communicated sm oothly and effec­ tively, and [in the case o f the new travel policy] nobody would say that they were. I'm not going to pretend they were, and I don't th in k Deputy Provost (Student Life and Learning) Morton Mendelson would say that they were either.

I think the process that has evolved is a good one, and I associate myself w ith it fully, and that is a small group working w ith Professor Mendel­ son to iterate on the regulations on international travel. Those policies w ill be coming back to Sen­ ate for discussion after they have completed a wide consultation process. We are a deeply inter­ ADAM SCI nationalized university, we're proud o f it, and our McGill Principal Heather Munroe-Blum and Director of Media Relati< goals are to support student m obility in every Doug Sweet on Thursday. way that we can while being prudent on safety. most unfortunate confluence o f remarks and context, < We have lost three colleagues in the third world he's apologized, so I see the matter as put to bed. If there v in less than six months, so it's a really tim ely issue for us. anything I knew in him that was consistent w ith the way remarks were interpreted, then I would have a very differ ... the controversy over McGill Chancellor Dick Pound point of view. saying that 400 years ago Canada was a "pays de sauvages."

Chancellor Pound has expressed regret for the impact o f his comments. This is someone who I have known for the better part o f a decade, and who has dedicated himself to ac­ cessibility in sports and has reached out to special groups— including Aboriginals— in the sport area. So I think it was a

Special thanks to The Daily and Le Délit for contributing the discussion and eliciting some of Munroe-Blum's responses — Compiled by Matt Ches

EDUCATION

Proposed ban aimed at Israeli academia Ryan claims possible measures wouldn't target individual academics Continued from COVER plement a BDS campaign against the regime in Israel regard­ ing the occupation [of Palestine], and o f course the apartheid wall that's been built around the West Bank," Ryan said. "So that's where it came from, and that campaign is now gaining a lot of currency in a lot o f places."

Ryan's remarks were heavily criticized by the Jewish com­ m unity and others, many of whom saw his comments and the proposal as discriminatory and anti-Semitic. The situation worsened after Ryan compared Israel's strikes on the Islamic University to Nazi actions during the Second World War. "The remarks that he made in which he analogized Israe­ lis and Jews to Nazis was really disgusting. In our view he en­ tered into the dark realm o f anti-Semitism," Canadian Jewish Congress CEO Bernie Farber said.

On January 7, Ryan issued a public apology, stating that he was wrong to say what he did, and claimed that he was "caught up in the emotion." He admitted that the comparison he used was "hurtful and com pletely beyond the pale."

Ryan, however, maintains his support for the proposed boycott, which he says would not apply to individual academ­ ics but rather to academic institutions. "[Our proposal] is not a ban on individual academics or boycott o f individual academics, but rather looking at the institutional structures themselves—jo in t research projects, programmes and conferences, tw inning o f universities, fund­ raising for universities, that kind o f stuff," he said.

CUPE Ontario is the province's biggest union, and Ontario universities employ approximately 20,000 union members.

Despite the criticism that he has faced, Ryan has main­ tained his opposition to Israel's action in Gaza.

"I know I'm on the right side o f this issue," Ryan said. "I'll continue to speak out, and I'll continue to highlight, best as I can, the atrocities that are taking place in Gaza today."

Even after apologizing, Ryan and CUPE Ontario have con­ tinued to face criticism, w ith supporters o f the Jewish Defence League o f Canada picketing outside the CUPE Ontario offices

on January 9 to protest the proposed boycott as well as Rya comments.

In 2006, CUPE Ontario adopted a resolution that suppo ed boycotts and sanctions on Israeli businesses as part o f effort to bring about Israeli "withdrawal from occupied territ ries," which has led many critics o f the union to claim that CU! Ontario has an anti-Israel bias.

"One scratches one's head in absolute amazement as why it is that [Sid Ryan] seems to feel a liberal democracy li Israel should demand his attention when terrible atrociti< terrible genocides are going on in the world and he remai silent," Farber said.

CUPE members employed by Ontario's universities v\ vote on whether the proposal will be made part of the unioi mandate at an upcoming CUPE conference in February. ■

— Additional reporting by Thomas Qu

Iww.m cgilltribune.com

13.01.09 • The McGill Tribune • 3

ATIONAL

anada's first fem ale black politician to be onoured w ith postage stam p iosemary Brown, BA '55, improved the lives of Canadian women A ndrew S eO Canada Post is set to issue a new commemorative stamp Black History Month this February in honour o f Rosemary awn, a Jamaican im m igrant and the first African-Canadian aman elected to public office.

In 1972, Brown, a freshman New Democratic Party canfate and McGill alumna, won the Vancouver-Burrard seat | the Legislative Assembly o f British Columbia. She held an acted position in the Assembly until 1986, but continued to ark in public service until her death in 2003.

"It truly is a well-deserved honour," said North Island amber of the Legislative Assembly Clare Trevana, an Opposibn Critic for Women's Issues. "She was an amazing MLA and |e [British Columbia] NDP couldn't be more thrilled."

Brown's tim e in office was marked by her long-standing bmmitment to human rights, social justice, and protection of Jinorities. She also attained a legendary reputation in Cana|an politics for tackling women's issues. "[One] o f her greatest accomplishments [was] the adtncem ent o f the status o f women," said Robin Geary, a pér­ imai friend and constituency assistant to Brown during her Irm s in office. "She frequently represented women who were ] the margins o f society: fam ily supporters, garment workers, Jose who were paid the lowest o f wages."

During her tim e in office, Brown served as a founding lem ber o f the Vancouver Status o f Women Council, and the anadian Women's Foundation. In 1975, she also became the Jst African-Canadian woman to run for the leadership o f a anadian federal party. Despite losing to Ed Broadbent, a wellaown social democratic politician, Brown finished a close tcond.

"We're pleased to honour someone who always fought |>r equality and recognition for Canadian women and miarities/'said Jim Phillips, director o f Stamp Services at Canada ast. "The stamp is truly a lasting piece o f Canadian philatelic

historyw w orthyofof theNational NationalArchives."

Archives." history orthy the At least 20 McGill alumni have previously been fea­ tured on stamps issued by Canada, the United States, and other countries, including Wilfrid Laurier, James Naismith, and Wilder Penfield.

While an undergraduate at McGill, Brown's four years in Montreal exposed her to the harsh realities im ­ migrants in Canada faced in the early 1950s. As one of the few black students at McGill, she found it difficult to secure roommates in her first-year at residence and was given a room by herself. She later experienced fur­ ther discrimination in the city's job and housing market.

Her new life as a Canadian contrasted sharply w ith her native upbringing in Jamaica where her grandm other was recognized as a "national treasure." "[Brown's grandmother] was a well-respected lobbyist, and you can imagine it was a rude shock for Rosemary to be subjected to racism when she first arrived— an experience which followed her to British Columbia," said Geary, who delivered the eulogy at McGill graduate Rosemary Brown will be Brown's funeral. honoured with a postage stamp this February.

It was her pursuit o f a women's studies degree at McGill, however, that would influence her deci­ and became the CEO o f Match International, an international sion to embrace Canadian society and political life. development agency which focusses on global women's is­ She would later credit her Canadian literature Professor Hugh sues.

MacLennan as one o f her early mentors in her autobiography Despite her distinguished career in Canadian politics, Being Brown.

Geary described Brown as a personable human being who In 2007, the City o f Montreal renamed McLynn Park in the Côte-des-Neiges— Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough as loved gardening and remained devoted to her family.

"She was extremely funny, charismatic, and someone who Rosemary Brown Park in commemoration o f Brown's achieve­ truly believed that we could achieve equality in the electoral ments. sphere. You just loved her," he said.

Brown's influence as a member o f the NDP was eventually The Brown commemorative stamp, one o f tw o issued for felt across Canada. Her advice would later influence Nova Sco­ Black History Month, features a painted portrait o f the late tia MP Alexa McDonough to successfully pursue the federal politician in front of the grand B.C. Legislature. The stamp was leadership o f the NDP. After leaving politics, Brown served as illustrated by Montreal artist Suzanne Duranceau and will go chief commissioner o f the Ontario Human Rights Commission,

ITY

CAMPUS

rotests over Gaza return :o d ow nto w n M ontreal lore than 25 Quebec organizations ndorse rally on St. Catherine Street K ayan H ui Protestors took to the streets o f dow ntown MontreI on Saturday for the second tim e in less than a week, ondemning the Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip.

According to media reports, over 1,000 people atnded last Saturday's demonstration. Protestors first athered at Dorchester Square at the corner o f Peel treet and René-Lévesque Boulevard before making heir way along St. Catherine Street to the Guy-Favreau [omplex, the main federal government building in /lontreal. Many protestors wore the keffiyeh, a tradiional Arab headdress, around their necks in an unspoen show o f solidarity w ith the Palestinian people, as hey repeated slogans in both English and French, such is "Peace, Peace, Gaza" and "Solidarité avec Gaza."

Protestors waved the Palestinian flag and held >icket signs and banners, which in some cases depictd images o f injured or dead civilians. Protestors also >urned and stomped on an Israeli flag during the threelour demonstration.

Frustration w ith the federal government was a ommon sentiment among the demonstrators.

"If Canada is one o f the countries to have pioleered human rights, it should be clear that this is ethaic cleansing," said Osama Kishta, one o f the protestors at the rally.

In a press release issued by Quebec Workers Fed­ eration (FTQ), organizers said that their efforts would push the federal governm ent to participate w ith the nternational com m unity in reaching a "negotiable po­

litical solution."

The demonstration wasn't perceived positively by everyone, however.

"We are once again dismayed by expressions of ha­ tred that marred this demonstration," said David Ouel­ lette, research director for the Quebec-lsrael Commit­ tee. "The rhetoric that we see tim e and again in these demonstrations is hateful and divisive, and targets the Jewish com m unity of Montreal."

Neverthless, more than 25 organizations and groups in Quebec endorsed the rally.

"You're seeing a very diverse and representative turn o u t o f all Canadians [at this protest], a very repre­ sentative group o f people that shows t h a t ... w hat the Israeli military is doing is deplorable and completely unacceptable," said Nasser Abukhdeir, vice-president external for the McGill chapter of Solidarity for Palestin­ ian Human Rights and one o f the lower-level organizers o f Saturday's protest.

Abukhdeir, who had been present for the entire rally, added that the Jewish presence in Saturday's pro­ test was w orth noting.

"Throughout my activism there has always been a strong Jewish presence. I think a lot of the Arab comm u­ nity saw that and was very consoled by it," he said.

The afternoon was highlighted by speakers from the Montreal community, each o f whom disapproved o f the crisis in Gaza. As the rally came to a close, a stilldetermined group o f demonstrators continued their protest along St. Catherine, chanting slogans o f peace and solidarity w ith Gaza. ■

Lawsuit first served in 2007 SSMU has run through three lawyers in case Continued from COVER According to SSMU Vice-President External Devin Alfaro, SSMU and CASA representatives haven't spoken about the case since an in­ formal discussion last May, around the tim e o f an initial court date. Al­ faro expressed regret about the length o f the dispute, but didn't think it could be resolved out o f court.

"I guess we could look into putting [the $8,000] offer on the table again, but it wasn't fruitful the first time," he said.

If the case does go to court in May, it will be after numerous de­ lays. Since 1972, SSMU has almost always been represented in litigation

by Montreal attorney John Feldman. However, Feldman was ill when CASA initially filed suit, and in his absence Lewis Cytrynbaum briefly represented SSMU. Feldman later returned and took over the CASA case. According to Feldman, SSMU was not satisfied w ith Cytrynbaum. Cytrynbaum re­ fused to comment as to why he ceased representing SSMU. However, Feldman was replaced as counsel by Réna Kermasha last November, causing the latest delay in the case. The change came after a falling out between SSMU's long-time attorney and the current SSMU Executive.

Although the legal costs so far have been significant— SSMU President Kay Turner estimated them at about $10,000— Alfaro didn't express much concern about the society's day in court.

"I'm optimistic. I think we have a pretty strong case," he said. ■

The McGill Tribuni

4 - News - 13.01.09

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Former PMO staffer Ian Brodie back at McGill McGill Institute for the Study of Canada welcomes former chief of staff T heo M eyer

Ian Brodie, a former chief o f staff to Prime Minister Stephen Harper from 2006 to 2008, is a visiting scholar this semester at the McGill Institute for the Study o f Canada. A McGill alumnus, Brodie was previously a professor at the University of Western Ontario and is currently teaching a class at McGill entitled Current Chal­ lenges in Public Policy.

You attended McGill University twenty years ago as an undergraduate majoring in political science. What is it like to return as a professor?

I'm thrilled to be back, to find that although there are all sorts of new buildings and renovations, the political science program is much the same and the students have the same questions and interests that I had, and my friends had, 20 years ago.

How did your education, specifically in political sci­ ence, influence your decision to pursue a Master's degree and a PhD after graduation?

I think the McGill political science program gave me a re­ ally serious love for the study o f political science. I had some pretty good advice from some people that landed me into the right MA program and the PhD program. I w ould say that was critical— I might otherwise have ended up doing something quite different.

How did you make the leap in 2003 from a professor­ ship at the University of Western Ontario into Stephen Harper's office?

The truth of the matter is that the chief o f staff at the time, Tom Flanagan (who was a professor o f mine from my MA pro­

gram) needed my wife and my wife's particular skills in the o f­ fice, and put up w ith me as part o f the deal to get her. So I came just as sort o f a freelance political scientist to do a bit of w riting, and maybe a bit o f policy work and some work on a platform. But I found a taste for senior management o f p o liti­ cal staff, so I ended up as executive director of the [Conserva­ tive] Party while we were setting up the party for the first tw o years of its existence. And then I moved back to Parliament Hill in the summer o f 2005 and put together many o f the prepa­ rations for the 2006 election campaign and the government from 2006 until this past summer.

Did you ever anticipate assuming such an active role in politics when you were studying political science?

Let's just say I w ent to Ottawa in May 2003, and at that point it was the farthest thing from my mind that we m ight eventually win. I was there at that point just to lend a hand with the Canadian Alliance Party and help prevent it from blowing itself apart. I found that if you put in a little more work than what's needed [just] to keep the party alive, and you get the right group of people together, it is possible to win.

You became the centre of a bit of controversy last Feb­ ruary when it was alleged that you leaked a memo related to the U.S. presidential primaries. Can you comment on that?

This was investigated at some length by a whole team of investigators and a report was finally produced on this. When I went into the political world, I w ent into [that] world on the staff side because I was quite happy to leave the public world to elected people ... It's a horrible feeling for a political staffer to be discussed in public like that. But I think the investiga­ tion did not get to the bottom , I w ould say, o f who leaked the

WELCOME BACK TO CAMPUS The most successful problem solvers look at things differently and see solutions that no one else can. Who would have thought of using fish protein to stop gas freezing in subsea pipes?

One of our people did. Right now we are looking for students and grads that can bring a fresh perspective to the energy challenge. Best of luck this semester.

Think further. Explore student and graduate opportunities at www.shell.ca/careers and quote reference G G Y 4 0 7 J when you apply.

Shell is an equal opportunity employer.

Ian Brodie, a McGill alumnus, w ho worked in th e DAYLIFE.COM PMO from 2 0 0 6 -0 8 , is re turning to academia. memo, but they were pretty clear in clearing me from respon­ sibility in that. Someone is out there who did that and some­ day I hope they'll come forward.

How would you say that your experience in the Prime Minister's Office has affected the way you approach the academic discipline of political science?

I think on the whole, political science has a pretty good handle on what goes on in the political process, but there's much more nuance now and much more colour to w hat I know about the political process than I had when I was exclu­ sively in the academic world. I'm looking forward to sharing the fruits of some o f that in the classroom. !

— Compiled by Theo Meyer

u| p «1 ■ t O

speed

On Saturday, Britain's Prince Harry issued a public apology after the News o f the World, a Brit­ ish newspaper, published a video where he uttered racist language.

The incident occurred in 2006. He purportedly referred to an army colleague, while w aiting for an air­ plane to Cyrus, as "our little paki friend." In addition, he called an­ other cadet, who was wearing a muslim headscarf, a "raghead."The video was filmed and provided to the newspaper by a fellow cadet.

Third in line to Britain's throne, Prince Harry has a history of dis­ tasteful behaviour.

A Normal, Illinois couple took their love for Mexican food to the next level when they were wed in a Taco Bell last Friday. Paul and Caragh Brooks, who already shared their last name before marriage, sat in one o f the fast food restaurant's orange booths in front o f several dozen guests w hiletheirt-shirt-clad friend Ryan Green administered the vows. Green was ordained online.

Customers continued to order food during the wedding, which cost about $200 in total. The couple, who dated online for nine months before the Australian bride moved to the U.S., had been engaged for less than tw o weeks. Restaurant manager Karl Hamlow said that he never expected the restaurant to host a wedding.

— Source: Associated Press, BBC

www.m cgilltribune.com

13.01.09 • The McGill Tribune • 5

SPEAKER ON CAMPUS

Andrew Miall discusses global warm ing myths Geologist acts as climate change mythbuster; describes 6 misconceptions A lison Bailey Geologist Andrew Miall spoke last Thursday about popu­ lar climate change myths that complicate the developm ent of good public policies. A crowd o f approximately 150 attendees filled the Redpath Museum Auditorium beyond full capacity, forcing many to take a seat on the stairs.

Miall, a professor at the University o f Toronto, described the top six misconceptions that have created a disconnect be­ tween scientists and the general public. "[These myths] are not actually wrong, but they're mis­ leading. The problem is that there are overly simplistic repre­ sentations o f im portant environmental and energy issues in the general media."

According to Miall, examples o f global warrming myths include images o f ice falling o ff glaciers, glacial retreat, and declining polar bear population. He attributed some o f these fallacies to notable figures such as Al Gore. In his 2006 docu­ mentary An Inconvenient Truth, Gore claimed that rising levels o f CO2 have caused a rise in temperature; Miall asserted that the opposite is occuring.

"Its been known by climate scientists for well over a de­ cade that the temperature rises first and the CO2 content lags by about 1,000 years," Miall said.

Because knowledge in the field is not yet perfected, such

falsehoods are easily spread and these misinterpretations pro­ vide a strong basis for arguments for many o f those who deny the existence of global warming.

"It makes it easier for sceptics to point to flaws in effective theories and concepts and thereby keep doubts alive," Miall said. "Consequently it makes it much more difficult for proper leadership to call us around necessary policies and solutions."

In order to avoid such misunderstandings, Miall sug­ gested scientists treat the public w ith a higher level o f intel­ ligence.

"I th in k it's im portant that science is not talked down to the general public. I think we insult the intelligence o f people from oversimplifying things," Miall said.

However, Hilary Best, U3 geography, said that some sim­ plification is not necessarily a bad thing, especially if it will catch the attention o f consumers.

"I think the image o f the side o f a glacier falling o ff— yes, it m ight be part o f a long term cycle— but if that grabs the attention o f the public and they th in k that this is something that we need to act on then part o f me thinks there's nothing wrong w ith that."

Julie De Gea, Ui Geography, said that w ith a fast-paced market economy such as Canada's, it is not surprising that the media takes this particular approach.

"I th in k that it's clear that the media is going to change over the actual facts to make it more understandable to the

public, to make the public — want to learn and read about it," De Gea said. "Slogans like 'drill baby drill' are clearly going to get public attention."

Indeed, Miall said that we need to tackle the issue w ith a large-scale approach.

"We need to convince the consumer, developers, and our political leadership to de­ sign better cities," he said.

What remains unclear is how this w ill be achieved w ith ­ out simplification. According to Best, Miall failed to present MCGILL.CA a constructive alternative in approaching public policy.

"I didn't feel as though he was presenting anything really cutting edge," she said.

Best is concerned that not enough attention is given to such issues, and that perhaps the best place to start is close to home.

"I really feel that McGill should be pushing the climate change issue or having more public lectures like this one," she said.■

CAMPUS

SnowAP '09 projected to lose over $6,000 Security and rental costs increase, raising concerns over event's future M att C hesser SnowAP, the Student Society's w inter beer tent, is pro­ jected to lose over $6,000 fo r the second consecutive year, raising concerns over the event's future.

In 2008, SnowAP lost over $8,000 despite a one-tim e pri­ vate donation from the McGill Alum ni Association to cover part o f the operating costs. This year, the event has been budgeted to lose between $6,000 and $7,000. The losses, for 2008 and 2009 respectively, have vastly increased from 2007, when SnowAP lost approxim ately $2,500.

SSMU President Kay Turner and Vice-President Julia Webster pointed to a number o f increased costs and a bad calendar configuration for the large deficit in 2008. The rent­ al cost for the SnowAP tent doubled between 2007 and 2008, and security costs have increased steadily since McGill Secu­ rity began staffing the event in 2007.

"Last year, SnowAP opened on a Thursday [January 3], but most students didn't arrive in Montreal until Monday [January 7], so we lost quite a b it o f revenue there,"said Web­ ster. "This year our costs are up because we're open for a little b it longer and our security costs have increased."

Lost revenues from last Wednesday, when Montreal Fire Prevention officers ordered an evacuation o f the tent at 3:15 pm because o f heavy snowfall, may also affect the bottom line. Webster estimates that the evacuation may have cost as much as $2,500 in lost revenue.

"The tent was deemed a collapse risk because o f snow accumulation in the tent gutters," said Webster. "I th in k that it was a liability issue from McGill's standpoint and that there was no one available to make the right decision, because the tent company wasn't able to come and say 'Oh yes, this is n o rm al'or n o t.... This has never happened in the three pre­ vious years that I have been involved w ith SnowAP."

ADAM SCOTTI Volunteers prepare for an afternoon rush of thirsty patrons.

Decreased te n t capac­ ity has also played a role in increased deficits, as the M on­ treal Fire Prevention Office has cracked down on the number o f patrons allowed to attend the event. Capacity was re­ duced from 650 patrons three years ago to 338 persons for this year's SnowAP. According to Webster, the size o f the tent has been the same for all 13 years o f SnowAP's existence.

Both SSMU executives ex­ pressed concerns about the m ounting costs, and empha­ sized that they are open to new ideas to improve the event.

"Obviously, if [SnowAP] were to continue running deficits [the size o f the one it ran in 2008], I'm not sure that it w ould be the most respon­ sible use o f student money to continue w ith the status quo," Turner said.

The future o f SnowAP has also been called into question because o f its negative impact on the environm ent.The tent is heated by a num ber o f gas-oil burners.

"Given the current format, I don't see how the CO2 o u tp u t could be significantly lessened," said Trevor Chow-Fraser, author o f the 2008 SSMU Sustainabil­ ity Assessment."We found that you could drive almost tw o times around the w orld in a car . . .

PHOTOS BYADAM SCOTTI j it .j H ahnnt SnowAP collected over $15,000 in total revenue from its abbreviated Wednesday opening the same am ount of CO2 as the day throu9 h Saturday night, but the event is still forecasted to finish in the red.

[SnowAP heaters.] ... I don't see any reason why an awe­ some party couldn't be held inside, still be w inter themed, and still be a celebration o f student life on campus."

Turner, however, claimed that an indoor event w ould not attract the same attention.

"SnowAP w ouldn't be the same thing in any other form, for example, if we brought it into the SSMU Ballroom," said

Turner. "I'm really torn. On the one hand, the environm ental­ ist in me does find it a little b it difficult to take. But at the same tim e in terms o f facilitating student life, SnowAP is such a great event. It's one o f the only events we have that includes everyone, and can bring the entire student comm u­ n ity together. It's really hard to reconcile those tw o different points o f view." ■

O pinion NOT AN© ^BfE STUDENT POLITICIAN

COUNT HER FEET

ICUPE's academic ban doesn't make the grade

Should SnowAP be left out in the cold?

RJ Kelford

Riva G old

RJKELFORD@GMAIL.COM

YOURCOLUMNISHURTFUL@GMAIL.COM

hirteen may be SnowAP's unlucky number. The event is currently cel­ ebrating its 13th anniversary, but this could also be the last year McGill students drink themselves warm on lower field. The allure o f huddling together with yourfriends and taking turns at the "warm spot" at the table is irresistible. It’s like the entire bar is on a camping trip. But recent financial chal­ lenges may be too much to overcome. Can we save SnowAP? And, more importantly, should we?

SnowAP could have been a mere nov­ elty event. Nobody pitches an idea like "let's hold OAP in the winter," and expects jt to last. But that tent found a place in our heart.

It made sense to try and recreate OAP's success. SnowAP's tim ing is also excellent: it's the perfect way to start a new year, as friends meet up and recount their holiday adventures. SnowAP brings us together using Frye's siege mentality: we thum b our noses at winter by drinking outside in a tent.

SnowAP also provides excellent opportu­ nities for campus groups. This year Queer McGill, Science Carnival, Fine Arts Council, IRC, and Feel Good Day are all taking advan­ tage o f this unique venue. Finally, SnowAP is one o f the Students'Society's biggest events, and one o f the most recognizable events on campus. It's good for SSMU to be visible and involved in something that students enjoy.

But SnowAP almost didn't get o ff the ground this year, and may not return next year. The budget is a big issue: SnowAP's expsenses run between $40,000 and $50,000— a big financial risk. Last year, the two-week-long event lost just over $8,000.

Nevertheless, I'm optimistic about this year, thanks to the better timing, interesting pro­ motional efforts, and the rapidly-spreading news that mixed drinks are now available.

And while the tent's capacity is even lower than it was last year, the SnowAP directors have been able to prepare for it.

T

The single most contentious issue is SnowAP's environmental impact. How do you heat a tent for nine days? Burn oil.

SnowAP's carbon emissions are roughly equivalent to 40 car trips from Montreal to Toronto. This information should incite SSMU to partner w ith a carbon offset pro­ gram— it's the type o f investment students expect them to make. But the issue of over­ all environmental impact is still hard to ad­ equately resolve.

The last, and most important, point to consider when discussing SnowAP is Gert's.

Even w ith a 14-person team working (for free) to promote the event, SnowAP still loses about as much as Gert's does in an entire year, and it owes much o f its success to the unpopularity of Gert's. SnowAP does create an amicable atmosphere, promote its activities and specials, and engage the McGill community. The novelty o f drinking in a tent is also a draw, but the real attraction is catching up w ith friends in a cool and fun atmosphere. If Gert's provided that, SnowAP would be in trouble.

If SnowAP is cancelled next year, SSMU should consider it an opportunity for Gert's.

If they put the same effort into promoting Gert's as they did into SnowAP, they could provide similar benefits w ithout the finan­ cial or environmental burden. These ben­ efits would also continue throughout the year as students continue to return to the bar. An ambitious SSMU Executive could use this as the jum ping point to bring Gert's back to life.

So what should we do w ith SnowAP? As long as it's sustainable in a budgetary and environmental sense, there will be enough interest to keep the event going.

But we need to think about the opportunity cost: someone could buckle down with that team o f 14 people, and make Gert's awe­ some. If that happens, SnowAP may need to pack up. ■

n 2001, Toronto Mayor Mel Lastman expressed concern about visiting Kenya— he feared that natives would boil him alive while dancing in circles around him. The city's Olympic bid that year was unsuccessful. In 2007, Nappanee's Avril Lavigne released her third album, The Best Damn Thing. It certainly was not the best damn thing.

And when the army was called in to help Ontar­ ians w ith snow removal, we didn't exactly rush out to buy w hite trilliums. Yet, to this day, I've never been so ashamed to say I'm from Ontario.

The Canadian Union o f Public Employees' Ontario university workers com m ittee recently proposed a ban on Israeli academics speaking, teaching, or researching at Ontario universities, unless they explicitly condemn Israeli action in Gaza. The ban purportedly protests the bom b­ ing o f the Islamic University in Gaza. I don't want to explain my position on the conflict between Israel and Gaza, because I think the issue is far more complex than 700 words w ill allow. You can donate your Facebook status to whichever gross oversimplification o f the conflict you pre­ fer, but you'll never convince me that it's okay for Israel to kill so many people in Gaza— or for Hamas to know ingly encourage women and children to w a if inside buildings that are about to be bombed. But even if events in Gaza were reducible to Israel being evil, a ban on Israeli aca­ demics is still an ineffective and destructive way to address the conflict.

CUPE's proposal doesn't target the appro­ priate group o f people and it sets a dangerous, xenophobic precedent. CUPE's main critique o f Israel is that it harms civilians in Gaza. Oh, the irony: the proposed action also targets civilian professors and academics, w ho have precious little to do w ith Israeli m ilitary strategy.

And what impact is this ban supposed to have on the actual Israeli policy? When CUPE sup­ ported a boycott against Israel in 2006, it proved ineffective. If the Israeli governm ent w on't listen to nuclear-armed countries, it certainly w on't lis­ ten to a Canadian union that threatens to lim it research-abroad opportunities in a tim e o f war.

I

Shouldn't university workers care just a little bit about academic freedom and censorship: A key ingredient in liberal academia is free anc open debate. By banishing Israeli scholars anc researchers from Ontario campuses, CUPE woulc deprive students of the opportunity to study anc engage w ith the Israeli perspective. Not only does this infringe upon freedom o f speech, but it also means that the opinions o f Israeli scholars w on't be scrutinized or debated in a Canadian setting. Most Canadians probably don't support Marxism or Machiavellian ethics, but we none theless engage w ith these ideas because that's what education is all about.

Israeli contributions to academia aren't purely political, either. Israel has consistently brought medical, technological, and agricultural advancements to the international stage. A CUPE ban could have devastating effects on long-term collaborative projects in many areas.

And let's not forget what CUPE is: a union.

Don't unions have some sort o f mandate to rep­ resent their members? The purpose o f CUPE is to secure fair wages and decent working condi­ tions for its members— not to selectively alien­ ate them, decrease their legitimacy in the public eye, or force them to defend a single, controver­ sial political position. As for Ontario universities, the ban will only increase polarization and anger on campus. Is comparing Israelis to the Nazis (as CUPE Ontario President Sid Ryan did) really going to motivate the average Israeli to help the people o f Gaza?

Whether you support Israel or rail against it, CUPE's proposal is a bad idea. As 70,000 people have died in the Sri Lankan Civil War, CUPE has said nothing. As the North Korean government has imprisoned up to 200,000 o f its own citizens for political reasons, CUPE has said nothing. And this past summer, when hundreds o f civilians were murdered in South Ossetia, CUPE said noth­ ing. Along w ith being incredibly misguided and ineffective, CUPE's policies show a clear political bias and could set a terrifying precedent. As if the mess at York University wasn't bad enough. ■

FOOT IN MOUTH

Sex, violence, and prime tim e hypocrisy Eric W eiss ERIC.WEISS@MAIL.MCGILL.CA

y parents now have HBO. That may not sound exciting to most o f you, but it's a momentous occasion for me. I grew up in the suburbs and consequently spent a lot o f tim e watching movies. HBO was always som ething o f a w et dream for me, something that other kids had but th a t I could only fantasize about while masturbating to still frames o f an Animal House VHS. What could possibly compare to 24-hour access to doz­ ens o f hit movies? And, more im portantly, w hat could possi­ bly compare to watching them in their original, uncensored, R-rated glory?

For those w ho don't know, the M otion Picture Associa­ tion o f America has tw o ratings that matter: PG-13 denotes films that are appropriate for viewers older than 13, while R (for"Restricted") denotes film s that are inappropriate for any­ one under 17. At first glance, this rating system makes sense.

Any nudity, dismemberm ent, blood, hard drug use, or explic­ it profanity (like the word "fuck") w ill earn a film an R rating.

I have no problem w ith this rating system, which helps par­ ents make inform ed decisions.

But I do have a problem w ith w hat happens to R-rated content when it appears on television. Having watched countless stripped-dow n cable movies, I know th a t net­ w ork executives w ould rather live in a violent w orld than a

sexy one. On television, R-rated violence magically becomes TV-14, as editors cut out any n u d ity or profanity w hile leav­ ing gore untouched. The best example o f this is probably Starship Troopers: television viewers see m ultiple characters being ripped in half, impaled, and disemboweled, but every instance o f nudity is removed. Don't get me w rong— I love action movies and bloody, over-the-top gunfights. But I don't like the hypocrisy o f perm itting bloodshed while forbidding sexuality.

Watchdog groups like the Parents' Television Coun­ cil claim that censoring questionable content w ill help people— particularly impressionable children— lead moral lives. Assuming, for the sake o f argument, that children set their moral barometers according to the media (something I don't believe), does modern television program m ing really encourage sound moral conduct? 13-year-olds already know w hat breasts look like, either from personal experience or the Internet, and to assume otherwise is naïve. Sex is a natural part o f life and censorship doesn't make it any less likely to happen. My utopia w ould include both n udity and colourful jokes, but it w ould never include violence.

I blame the influence o f Evangelical Christianity for much o f this hypocrisy. For decades, the religious right has been unw illing to examine the role o f sexuality in a fu n ctio n ­

ing society. Groups like the PTC impose their insecurities on the public in order to overcompensate for their problems at home. The fear o f sex is so extreme that the Federal Com­ munications Commission w ould rather flirt w ith Starship Troopers than let a half-second o f Janet Jackson's nipple go unpunished.

As a (relatively) stable and mature adult, I'm able to pro­ cess cultural images and discern where entertainm ent ends and reality begins. I'm annoyed that my media options are lim ited by other people's fears and moral judgm ents. Expo­ sure to sexual content w ill not make me an unfit citizen, and it's certainly no worse than violence.

I support the existence o f R-rated content, but I also understand that some programs aren't suitable for children.

I just don't expect to see these programs half-filtered dur­ ing prime tim e. Those o f us w illing to brave R-rated hellfire should have the freedom to see both sex and violence. If par­ ents don't w ant children watching material they find objec­ tionable, they should use the parental control features that are a standard part o f modern television packages, instead o f im posing th e ir values on other people.

This is where HBO happily enters my life. Now, when I watch American Pie, I finally get to see Jason Biggs fuck the pie. ■

vww.mcgilltribune.com

12.01.09 • The McGill Tribune • 7

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EDITORIAL

Many wives and many problems W

a prosecution under Section 293 in the last 60 bec and a failed attem pt to prohibit same-sex ally Oppal is facing an unusual d i­ marriage in A lberta— have been questionable. years, and many legal experts question its con­ lemma. Last week, the B.C. attorneystitutionality. Blackmore himself has denounced general laid polygam y charges against But the clause can also be used to provide tim e Winston Blackmore and James Oler, tw o lead­ the charges as a violation o f his religious liberty for discussion and new legislation, and this is under the Charter o f Rights and Freedoms, and ers o f a Mormon fundam entalist com m unity what's needed in this case. he has a strong case. in Bountiful, B.C. However, the tw o men are It's about tim e Canadians started discuss­ If Blackmore is convicted in B.C., his case w ill charged under a law th a t may violate the Cana­ ing their polygamy laws. Section 293 is an inad­ almost certainly make its way to the Supreme dian Charter o f Rights and Freedoms. equate and archaic piece o f legislation. The law Court on appeal. And if Canada's to p court de­ It's hard not to sympathize w ith Oppal. dates back to 1892, and its original form explic­ Both the RCMP and B.C. law enforcement have clares Section 2 9 3 invalid, the B.C. governm ent itly targeted Mormons. The current version isn't may invoke the Constitution's notw ithstanding had their sights on Blackmore for years. The much better. As w ritten, Section 293 could af­ 52-year-old is a form er bishop o f the Fun­ fect any num ber o f polyamorous or non-tradamentalist Church o f Jesus Christ o f Latter ditional relationships— it prohibits "any kind Day Saints— an organization whose leader It's a b o u t tim e C anadians sta rte d o f conjugal union w ith more than one person was once one o f the FBI's 10-most-wanted discussing th e ir p o ly g a m y laws. at the same tim e, w hether or not it is by law fugitives— and has more than 20 wives. There recognized as a binding form o f marriage." have been repeated allegations o f sexual A public debate over polygamy w ill in­ clause to override the Charter's freedom o f reli­ abuse and exploitation w ith in the Bountiful evitably ruffle some feathers. Various religious com m unity, w hich is often described as a "cult." gion clause and lock up Blackmore. groups (including Mormon fundam entalists and Perhaps you're starting to appreciate Wally But translating allegations into arrests has been some Muslims) routinely practice polygamy in Oppal's dilemma. He did the right thing. In the a challenge, as victim s are often unw illing to Canada. They w ill obviously defend their right testify. to a long-standing custom. But critics point to absence o f stronger charges against Blackmore, he exercised the best option available to him.

Much like Al Capone's arrest for tax evasion, high incidences o f abuse and violence in some But there's still the issue o f constitutional­ the polygamy charges against Blackmore are a polygam ist comm unities, and the inherent gen­ ity. Safeguarding Blackmore's conviction may last resort. For Oppal, even a flawed legal case der inequality o f these relationships. is better than letting the situation in Bountiful require the use o f the notw ithstanding clause.

Canadians are ultim ately responsible for The notw ithstanding clause allows govern­ th e ir laws, and ignoring Section 293 w on't make continue undisturbed. ments to override certain Charter clauses in But Oppal w ill have to clear a series o f legal the problem go away. The current debate over hurdles in pursuing his case against Blackmore. exceptional cases. Canadians should be wary polygam y and the Criminal Code may have In Canada, polygamy is outlawed by Section started w ith Bountiful, B.C., but it can't end about invoking it: some o f the clause's past ap­ plications— namely upholding Bill 101 in Que­ there. ■ 293 o f the Criminal Code. But there hasn't been

Jacob Kanter sports@mcgilltribune.com

CORRECTION

Photo Editors

Niki Hyde Adam Scotti

In last week's editorial ("Got milk? Yup. Got hormones?

Maybe."), the Monsanto Company was identified as the exclusive distributor o f the growth hormone rBST. Although Monsanto was the exclusive distributor o f rBST from 1994 through 2008, they sold the rights for rBST to Eli Lilly and Company in August o f 2008.

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There's still a presidential glass ceiling

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n 220 years, America has elected tw o presidents who weren’t w hite Protestant men. One is, Ba­ rack Obama, who w ill take the oath o f office a week from today. The other was John F. Kennedy, the first Catholic elected to the office in i960.

While being Catholic doesn't seem like a bar­ rier to office today, Kennedy faced religious dis­ crimination just as virulent as the racial discrimi­ nation Obama has faced. If anything, prejudice against Catholics during Kennedy's campaign for the presidency cut across demographic lines more than the racism against Obama 50 years later. Many African-Americans, for example— though victims o f bigotry themselves— were deeply suspicious o f Catholics. It was only after the young Senator Kennedy helped secure Mar­ tin Luther King Jr.'s release from jail that King's fa­ ther switched his support from Nixon to Kennedy.

"I had expected to vote against Senator Kennedy because o f his religion," the elder King said in the speech in which he endorsed Kennedy.

Kennedy's election in 1960, like Obama's in November, expanded the definition o f the type o f president Americans are willing to elect. That definition, however, is still by no means com­ pletely inclusive, and it should be. In February 2007, the Pew Research Center released a poll on the traits that make Americans more (or less) like­ ly to vote for a presidential candidate. According to the poll, four per cent of Americans said they were less likely to vote for a presidential candi­

I

date who happened to be black. Seven per cent said they would be more likely to vote for a black candidate, and 88 per cent said it made no dif­ ference.

The poll's results indicate that being black is by no means the greatest obstacle for a presi­ dential candidate, however. Seven per cent o f respondents said that they would be less likely to vote for a physically handicapped presidential candidate, while 11 per cent said they would be less likely to vote for a woman (although 13 per cent said they would be more likely to). And in terms o f racial bias, Hispanics faced the stron­ gest opposition. A full 14 per cent of respondents stated that they would be less likely to vote for a Hispanic presidential candidate, with only four per cent more likely to support him or her.

But biases based on disability, gender, and race pale in comparison to Americans' religious prejudices in electing a president. Thirty per cent o f those polled replied that they would be less likely to vote for a Mormon candidate, and 46 per cent said they would be less likely to vote for a Muslim candidate— the same percentage who replied that they would be less likely to vote for a gay candidate. And finally, a w hopping 63 per cent o f respondents said they would be less likely to vote for a candidate who doesn't believe in God. Though Americans have been electing presi­ dents since 1788, the Pew survey's litany o f Ameri-

cans' presidential prejudices demonstrates how much progress has yet to be made. Obama's vic­ tory has enabled black mothers around the coun­ try to truthfully tell their children that they can be president one day w ith enough hard work and determination. Can Hispanic mothers tell their children the same thing w ith as much confidence when 14 per cent o f the electorate seems stacked against them? How should American teachers let their brightest Mormon and Muslim fifth-graders know that religious prejudice will likely prevent them from ever holding the nation's highest of­ fice? Should gay presidential hopefuls conceal their sexual orientations? Should atheist politi­ cians attend Protestant services once a year to avoid alienating 63 per cent of the electorate?

Since the passage o f the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1868, natural-born Ameri­ can citizens o f any race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation have been constitutionally able to run for president. The American voters who elect the president, however, lag considerably behind their progressive Constitution. While members of m inority groups such Hispanics and Muslims are legally able to win the presidency, the Pew poll suggests that Americans' prejudices will prevent such citizens from being elected president any­ tim e in the near future. Americans have expanded their definition o f the presidency w ith Obama's election, but that definition needs to expand fur­ ther to include all qualified Americans. ■

The McGill Tribune is an editorially autonomous newspaper published by the Students' Society of McGill University in collaboration with the Tribune Publication Society. Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of the Students'Society or McGill University. Letters to the editor may be sent to letters@mcgilltribune.com and must include the contributor's name, program and year and contact information. Letters should be kept under 30 0 words and submitted only to theTribune. Submissions judged by theTribune Publication Society to be libellous, sexist, racist, homophobic or solely promotional in nature will not be published. TheTribune 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. . « '.'1 P o 'J It i I > '11 1 ) 3.1 1 I ,, T L i ’ i . - i t c i La' V j 'iJar. m t ' ! J 111 ■ ' ’ . ' i l l (.i ) I. HUto"' b 'u J V c 'a v lil'J 'V E ,/It 'jL /

8 • The McGill Tribune • 12.01.09

Letters to the editor Alumni express concerns about McGill's new appointment It has come to our attention that McGill has recently cross-appointed Dr. Philippe Couillard to the faculties o f Law and Medicine ("Philippe Couil­ lard Joins McGill Ranks," The McGill Reporter, 08.01.09). This is an issue of significant concern, as Dr. Couillard is currently under active investigation for possible conflicts o f interest during the last few months o f his term ("Philippe Couillard sous enquête," Canoe.ca, 09.01.09) . The Lobbyists Commissioner, André Côté, has come out and said that he has reason to suspect that pri­ vate healthcare industry lobbyists had several illegal contacts w ith Dr. Couil­ lard prior to his resignation in June 2008. Less than tw o months after his resignation, Dr. Couillard was hired

by Persistence Capital Partners, a firm w ith aspirations o f investing in private healthcare in Quebec.

Legal investigations aside, we feel it is unseemly for an academic institu­ tion to hire an individual whose p o liti­ cal actions contradicted the prevailing evidence-based policy research. The m ajority opinion and the amalgam of scientific studies in the medical and health economic literature support public healthcare as the most equitable, efficient and cost-effective method of delivering healthcare. Private, for-profit healthcare systems favour the rich over the poor, result in unnecessary duplica­ tion o f services, lengthened w ait times, inflationary salaries and expenses, and the siphoning o f patient and taxpayer dollars into private pockets.

McGill is a public university. This appointm ent sends the wrong mes­ sage to McGill staff and students, to its five affiliated teaching hospitals, to its faculties o f Medicine and o f Law, and to the general population that relies on McGill to provide high-quality, equita­ ble and unbiased health services.

— Adam Hofmann, clinical fellow, McGill Faculty o f Medicine, and Cory Verbauwhede, LL.B. 2006 Some people love Max's impartiality...

Mr. Silverman, I just wanted to take the tim e to w rite you about your recent article published in the McGill Tribune ("More rockets and w rongdoing in Gaza," 07.01.09) . I th in k you deserve all the praise for w riting your article about Gaza w ith im partiality, despite your religious background. Many people around the w orld are voicing their opinion about the events in Gaza, but I believe that open ears w ill only be granted to people like you who are inform ed about the history o f the conflict and w ho speak in favor o f the truth, wherever it lies. I usually glance quickly through your column when reading the McGill Tribune, but as of now, you've earned yourself a faithful reader. You have all my respect— hats

off to you.

— Akeel Ali U2 electrical engineering ...while others dislike his oversimplifications

Re:"More rockets and wrongdoing in Gaza" (07.01.09) Mr. Silverman disagrees with Is­ rael's actions in the Gaza strip. While I certainly find Israel's actions disagree­ able— to me killing, mass or otherwise, is only justified when in self-defence— I stop short of disagreeing. Silverman calls Israel's actions "disproportion­ ate," as if armed conflicts are some gruesome set of equations that must be balanced. Condemning Israel's ac­ tions as disproportionate implies that proportionate force would be more acceptable. Why? Israel's main goal in this conflict is not to exact revenge, but to stop Hamas from firing rockets.

Should Israel wait until these rockets kill enough of its citizens to make their response proportionate? Or should Israel mothball its air force and just start firing homemade rockets for a fair fight?

The current situation in Gaza is complex, and Silverman oversimpli­ fies matters. Yes, Israel did breach the ceasefire on November 4 by killing six Gazans. But Silverman neglects to mention that the Gazans Israel was at­ tacking were armed Hamas members who were allegedly digging a tunnel into Israel to kidnap Israeli soldiers. Sil­ verman uses such oversimplifications to justify statements about Israel going on a "murderous rampage." Conflict invariably involves saddening deaths, and yes, perhaps Israel is being overly aggressive, but it is by no means indis­ criminately going on a killing spree.

For the record, I personally don't agree w ith many o f Israel's past p oli­ cies. I think that the current hum anitar­ ian situation in Gaza is deplorable, as is the Israeli embargo. But I'm troubled when people make shocking blanket statements concerning a situation that is highly nuanced.

— Michael Garfinkle First year medicine Hamas loves death Hamas deliberately stores its weapons in schools and homes. Hamas barricades children on rooftops in order to maximize collateral damage.

Israel sacrifices the element o f surprise by warning civilians o f ensuing dan­ ger through air-dropped leaflets and text messages, but Hamas continues to shield itself w ith noncombatants knowing that news o f civilian casual­ ties w ill hurt Israel's public reputation.

In essence, more civilians killed is a greater victory for Hamas. Where Is­ rael makes an effort to keep civilians out o f harm's way, Hamas throws civil­ ians into the line o f fire. The only thing Hamas loves more than dead Jews is dead Palestinians.

— David Haberman, Uo agricultur­ al and environmental science Don't let history repeat itself There is no doubt that history re­ peats itself. It should then follow that we should learn from past errors. How­ ever, our history books are filled w ith stained pages in all chapters that re­ flect our inept nature. What were the take-home messages and moral les­ sons that we gathered from past injus­ tices in human history such as slavery and the Nazi genocide? We have all but forgotten our moral obligations, as recent history witnessed the atrocities in Rwanda and Darfur. We have rightly deemed these crimes as inexcusable, but w hat is equally unforgivable is the silence and inaction o f the internation­ al com m unity to not only act and bro­ ker in stopping them , but also prevent future occurrences.

The current crime being perpe­ trated against the Palestinian people in Gaza is no different; in fact, it is worse in that governments such as that o f the United States are providing political cover for the culprit, despite the rising death toll in civilian casualties and the undeniable hum anitarian crisis. The stance o f the Canadian governm ent isn't any more respectable: stating that Israel has a right to "defend itself," no m atter how disproportionate the re­ sponse. This tarnishes Canada's long­ standing history o f humanitarianism that includes intervention and tireless peace brokering in the Cyprus unrest as well as the Suez crisis.

Let us not use this opportunity to point fingers at the warring fac­ tions and fall into a circle o f blame.

However, the fact remains that the Palestinians o f Gaza, many o f whom have been displaced twice in 1948 and 1967, are again under siege by the very force that displaced them. The popu­ lation was collectively punished for exercising democracy by an 18-month blockade, while the world watched in silence. This is currently followed by a continued bom bardm ent o f one o f the most densely populated regions on earth, while not providing an option for any o f the inhabitants to take ref­ uge. It is quite unclear w hat is now re­ quired o f this civilian population, who not only were robbed o f their ancestral heritage, but continue to get harassed.

We criticize the past generations for supporting, providing cover, and living in ignorance during slavery in the Unit­ ed States and the apartheid regime of South Africa, while labeling those op­ pressed as "terrorists" or "uncivilized" just to justify their inaction.

Today we are still witnessing the injustice and p lig h t o f the Palestin­ ian people, and I w onder how coming generations w ill evaluate our stances.

As a Canadian and Palestinian in the Diaspora, I am overwhelmed w ith a feeling o f impotence as I follow the events in Gaza. Although as individu­

als we do not possess the resources to stop the ongoing massacre, we must awaken our consciousness to the cur­ rent events, educate ourselves, and take a moral stance, so history does not judge us as harshly as it did our prede­ cessors.

— Jamal Daoud PhD biomedical engineering Hillel McGill is misrepresenting antiIsrael protestors First o f all, thanks to James Gilman and the Tribune for doing such a good jo b reporting on the January 4 protest against the ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza ("Montrealers protest Israeli ac­ tions in Gaza," 07.01.09). The article contained some disturbing statements

by David Ouellette o f the Quebec-lsrael Committee and Hartlee Zucker, the president o f Hillel McGill.

Ouellette claims to have heard "jihadi, radical Islamic slogans shouted in Arabic/'He then, in a perversion o f logic, states that these alleged statements "in effect" call for the "massacre o f Jews."

Well, I was at that demonstration as a volunteer for security and walked up and down the length o f the 8,000-plus person column for over four hours.

During this tim e I did hear some Islamic chants praising God, but is that a crime, or somehow extremism?! When Martin Luther King Jr. praised God in his many speeches was he labeled a Christian extremist?! To cut to the chase, I think Ouellette heard what he wanted to, assuming he can even understand Ara­ bic. Furthermore, after reading many articles on Gaza demonstrations across the U.S. and Canada, I've found that each one has quotes from a member o f an Israeli "advocacy" group claiming that they heard racially charged chants in Arabic. I think w hat is actually hap­ pening is a concerted tactic by Israeli "advocacy" groups to dehumanize not just Palestinians in directly affected areas, but anyone standing up for their basic human rights, anywhere in the world. It's a despicable and ugly tactic.

As for Zucker's distaste for the burning o f an Israeli flag during the protest— get over it. The Israeli military has murdered hundreds in just the past few days, including targeting schools packed w ith civilians, rescue personal, and police officers. Flag desecration is a legitim ate and legal protest o f the Is­ raeli regime's war crimes. Burning flags is one thing, but your blind support of any and all o f Israel's actions, no mat­ ter how much blood is spilled, is some­ thing you should be concerned about.

I know I am.

— Nasser M ohieddin Abukhdeir PhD chemical engineering and vice-president external o f Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights McGill Brevity is the soul of wit Your site is th o u g h t provoking.

Great job.

— Pat Williams

r

> THE TRIBUNE PRINTS EVERY SINGLE LETTER WE RECEIVE. DON'T BELIEVE US? JUST LOOK AT THIS PAGE. MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD. SEND YOUR THOUGHTS TO LETTERS@MCGILLTRIBUNE.COM TODAY.

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GIZM OS & GADGETS

eep your sweaty resolutions

Decaf this!

hy you should go to the gym past January

Caffeine test strips

A-ri ipniur Ct a» K ath erin e S tavr o Most New Year's resolution lists include three infamous ]nd rarely followed) words: get in shape. Those who are mo­ o ted enough will join a gym, and some may even go beind the month of January. Those less willing to spend the : will opt for the latest fad diet. Which of these two is the etter choice? Consider that frequent dieters and substance ddicts typically follow the same cycle: dieters often reduce insumption of favourite foods, which can lead to withdrawal [rmptoms, and ultimately relapse.

This year, don't let your New Year's resolution restrain you lorni what brings you pleasure. Instead, make healthy choices id become more physically active. Not only will your jeans fit ir, but you'll feel more mentally content. Exercise prompts ie body to release natural endorphins, which behave simibrly to morphine and are natural painkillers. Working out also lelps normalize circadian rhythms. After just a few weeks of raining you'll start to notice more regulated sleeping patterns Ind an energy boost you thought could only come from Red lull.

Fvorric*a Exerciseran canalcn alsoholn helpallo\/iatn alleviatecoacnnal seasonalrlonrocci depression. Just 10 minutes of daily exercise—which can include anything from carrying loads of groceries home to running from the bus stop to your apartment— can help ward off winter blues. Daily physical activity can reduce tension, anger, anxiety, and sad­ ness. The lattes, cigarettes, and massages often used to sup­ press these sombre feelings can be replaced by a run or a new relationship with the stairs.

For those who are appalled at the idea of breaking a sweat, yoga and meditation can have similar mental benefits.

Although not top cardiovascular activities, they do promote muscle strength and flexibility (both physical and cognitive).

Brief but regular workouts will improve your physical and mental well-being. Rather than pumping your body with caf­ feine and other substances that temporarily relieve drowsiness and depression, unleash your natural endorphins to give you a cleaner high. This year's New Year's resolution should involve burning the crystallized wings that represent energy boosters, and the inauguration of a new and healthy you, where exercis­ ing your body and mind becomes an achievable goal. ■

D+caf test strips can now be used to test whether your decaf coffee is really decaffeinated—or, for the hard-core addicts, whether your dubious vending-machine cup has enough in it to get you through the day. The strips can be used in hot or cold beverages before adding sugar, milk, or other extras, and are 98 per cent effective in determining whether there are 20 mg or more of caffeine in a six ounce cup in roughly 30 seconds. ■

MEDGADGET.COM

CASH A ND CAREERS

C a m p u s C a le n d a r V-Day McGill's Comedy and Burlesque Show When: Jan. 15,8:30 p.m.

Where: La Sala Rossa, 4848 St. Laurent

V-Day McGill is holding their annual Burlesque &[ I Comedy Show. Tickets are $8 for students and seniors and ' $10 for adults. All proceeds from the show will go to care-| I fully selected Montreal charities aiming to end genderaased violence.

Can You See M e Yet? When: Jan 15-17,22-24,8 p.m.; Sat. matinees at 2 p.m.

Where: Players'Theatre, third floor Shatner

Set against pre-war tensions in 1938, Cassandra search-1 I es for sanctuary within an insane asylum, confusing fellow I inmates with members of her ill-fated family. For tickets, I call 514-398-6813 ($6 students and seniors, $8 for adults) or | ^email foh.players@gmail.com.

Gaming for a good cause When: Jan. 16,6 p.m.

Where: room 1B16, Burnside Basement

Twitching for Warcraft, StarCraft, Dota, or Counter] I Strike? Come game with us for our bi-weekly LANparty. All I proceeds will go to Leucan, an NGO dedicated to support-1 ing families of children with cancer. $2 per hour, $5 unlim­ ite d . Open to anyone.

An evening for the Elizabeth House Foundation" When: Jan. 17,7 p.m.

Where: Mosaikart, 4897 St. Laurent.

There will be live music from LineSpectra, Simon Hon -1 I eyman, and Tara Hall, a silent auction, and drink specials. [ All proceeds go to the Elizabeth House Foundation, in sup­ port of young families in need. Tickets are $15; email mcgill. | iotaract@gmail.com or call 514-972-8904.

Call for writers from RADIX magazine When: Jan. 21, all day Where: everywhere!

RADIX is McGill's spirituality magazine, and covers ar-1 I tides and art related to religious, spiritual, and philosophi-i cal issues. Submit content for the next issue, "All about] Food," by Jan. 21. Visit mcgillradix.blogspot.com for more] information.

McGill Business Conference on Sustainability When: Jan. 29-31 Where: McGill

Speakers include M. Steven Guilbeault (co-founder] of Équiterre and spokesperson for Greenpeace), Robert] I Weese (VP GE Canada), and other experts in both industry and academic fields. $100 for students. Register online at] lmbcs.mcgill.ca/participate.html.

Send your event to features@mcgilltribune.com with the name, date, location, and a short blurb.

Accepting a job? Think again What to consider before taking the offer C rysta l C han After hours of resume-writing, networking, and inter­ viewing, accepting the first job offer you get—whether for the summer or for a career— is tempting. However, it's important to evaluate whether a job fits before you accept it.

Even if your aim is money, instead of boosting your re­ sume, the position shouldn't conflict with your values and long-term goals. If you hope to go into social justice, avoid companies with shady labour policies— even for seasonal employment. If you have an option, choose even low-level or temporary jobs that relate to your field of interest or teach you transferable skills. If you're specifically looking for an intern­ ship or job in your desired field, make sure the position allows for networking and relevant experience. Remember, however, that there is a lot to be said for having an industry position on your resume, even if it is just pouring coffee.

Is the work environment too stiflingly conservative or too unstructured? Assess what type of environment brings out the best in you. For example, some work well under commis­ sion, while others can't stand the constant competition. If pos­ sible, visit the location before you start, or study the people around you on the way to the interview. Are they happy? Also, bosses often choose candidates similar to themselves, so even if you haven't met future colleagues you can imagine whether

you belong among them.

Consider the duties of the position. If it could become long-term, make sure there are opportunities for experience and advancement. Don't be shy to ask for a detailed job de­ scription by asking, "What will my typical day be like?" Make sure you are clear on what you'll be doing and the hours you'll be doing it. Remember that you will probably be more pro­ ductive and the hours will pass more quickly if you enjoy the type and pace of work and feel proud doing it.

Even if you're in it for the experience instead of the money, plan a budget. Consider expenses such as transporta­ tion, meals, and proper business attire. If you plan to stay in a corporate setting, business clothing will be necessary in the long run anyway, but if you plan to work at Google, anything beyond a few shirts and pairs of pants is unnecesary.The cost of daily commuting can also add up, but so can the expense of relocating to avoid it. Remember that any field experience is a bonus and can balance out a low income or early mornings.

If minimum wage means you'll learn invaluable skills for your future career plans, it's probably worth it.

Most of us need to earn money to pay rent and tuition, but also need relevant experience and connections. Finding jobs that balance the two requires careful consideration of job offers before accepting them. Make a pros and cons list and trust your intuition. ■

MISCELLANEOUS

Bags: the new beer pong Bags, a Midwestern counterpart to pitching horseshoes, is an integral component of any proper tailgate, barbeque, or house party. Bags sets can be made yourself, though they are also available online, and nothing compares to throwing bags of corn kernels at a piece of wood with a hole in it.

You will need: Two boards (made of plywood or plas­ tic; each should measure four feet by two feet and have a six-inch hole positioned nine inches from the top. Prop one end of each board up about 12 inches from the ground, and position them 33 feet away from each other); eight bags (six inch square duck cloth bags filled with one pound of shelled corn each; four per team); and eight people, four per team.

How to play

• One member of each team pitches from one platform while their partner pitches from the opposite platform.

• Matches are broken down into innings in which the player stands behind her or his respective platform

and throws four bags at the opposing side's platform in hopes of making it into the hole or landing it on the board.

• The first side of players alternate throwing each bag until they have thrown all four, at which point the play­ ers from the opposing board throw in the same man­ ner.

Scoring

• A bag goes through the hole: three points • A bag lands on the top of the platform and stays there for the duration of the inning: one point Bags uses cancellation scoring, so any bags thrown by opponents during a frame will cancel each other out. For in­ stance, if one player scores five points and their opponent standing at the same platform scores three points, the first player earns only two points. The first team to reach 21 points wins. ■ —Kaylea Howarth

F EATURES-----------S e lf-p o rtra itu re and digi C re

C aro lyn G

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& A dam L evine

ist's inner landscape—takes on new meaning in the digital age when nearly every image is created with a scrutinizing online audience in mind.

The explosion in digital self-portraiture exhibits the way that commercial photography functions on a level that is rare­ ly explored. The photographic self-portraits that accompany personal ads on Craigslist—and to a lesser degree, personal profile pictures—are designed with the explicit intent of selfadvertisement. The line between artistic and commercial pho­ tography has become more blurred than ever. Commercial photographers like Annie Leibovitz (Vanity Fair) and Richard Avedon (Harper's Bazaar, Vogue) frequently find their work on display in art galleries and museums. Could amateur digital photographers be next? Photography's democratization in the digital climate fuels the growing debate in the art world as to whether this new wave of self-portraiture possesses any merit as an art form.

Social networking sites are changing the way we interact with each other, and with the increasing availability of digital photography, the link between image and reputation has be­ come stronger than ever. Profile shots change both our meth­ ods of social interaction and our self-perception, raising the question of whether self-portraiture and its amateur explosion are enhancing or devaluing portraiture, an art form that has been around for centuries. "[Digital portraiture] affords all sorts of opportunities for new forms of self-expression and self-stylization," says Jonathan Sterne, chair of the communications department at McGill. "For the better part of the 20th century, participating in media culture for most people meant consumption: listening to the radio, going to a movie, buying a magazine. Amateur photography was a notable exception during that period, and Questioning the artistic merit today it's more like a model. Today, participation can mean cre­ Some observers stand by their SLR's and dismiss contem­ ation and self-stylization and expression."

The self-portrait has existed since the beginning of art it­ porary photography as insignificant in the face of the photog­ self. In its most basic sense, it is a celebration of the subject, raphy of the past, which required a wider skill-set.

"As far as digital photography goes, everybody seems to highlighting more desirable qualities in a permanent and timeless form. Contemporary art historians examine the vari­ think that they can shoot now. Just buy a digital camera and ous devices and constructions that portrait artists use to con­ put it on automatic and you just go and shoot," says Barbara Solowan, Art Director of the Canadian Art Foundation. vey meaning and create identities for their subjects.

Mik Rubin, U2 art history, however, is more forgiving.

Self-portraiture as a genre is being completely redefined "It's definitely an art form," says Rubin. "I totally think it in the digital age. Online self-portraits, primarily those exhib­ ited on sites like Facebook, Myspace, and Craigslist, are stylized could be art, I just don't know if it's good art. Self-portraits and symbolically loaded. They have become self-promotion­ are very common, and I think that just because they're so al—and often skillfully manipulated marketing tools intended prevalent with new technologies that they shouldn't really be for use as a statement of personality and social identity. The looked down upon. It's always been done in art."

The styles of self-portraits most commonly found on historical intimacy of a self-portrait—an expression of the art­

Craigslist and Facebook reveal contemporary attitudes about constructions of art and photography. Even amateurs are in­ stinctively concerned with aesthetic value when taking pho tographs because they know the photographs are subject tc public scrutiny in these online forums.

"Aesthetically, I think that most people would argue there isn't much artistic merit. It's interesting culturally because these pieces are like a performance. The person presents an image of themselves," says Laura Benshoff, Lh cultural studies.

Being exposed to dozens of self-portraits on a daily basis via the Internet, we often process images without recognizing the subtle messages they convey or the conventional styles of pictures for personal ads or profiles. Yet many of the common styles of self-portraiture seek to simultaneously empower and objectify the subject.

Styles of self-portraiture

One well-known convention in portraiture is a bird's-eye view, in which the photographer holds a camera above his head and peers up at the lens. This sends a number of implicit messages, among which is an evident self-awareness. Often, the arm holding the camera crosses the frame, clearly reveal­ ing the image as a self-portrait.

A second convention, in which the photographer holds a camera straight ahead and poses in front of a mirror, sends similar messages. Self-awareness again plays a role because the camera is perfectly visible. Interestingly, the camera lens appears to point away from the subject and directly at the viewer; as a result, the viewer may experience some subcon­ scious discomfort, as if being monitored and subjected to the camera's eye.

It might appear overly simplistic to categorize and name these photographic styles. Yet a wide variety of digital photog-

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culture: g a la n g u a g e o f im a g e s phers rely on the same established forms to portray specific tals. Users observe other users and mimic their successful lotographs. Thus establishing a language of digital self-porliture. With each variation on the self-portrait, a number of jferent codes convey subtle messages to viewers. Positionj of subject and camera are crucial to creating feelings of auarity and subservience that play a subconcious role in what 5ms sexier and more exciting.

Art historians have explored similar notions of subject-toJist positioning and the power of looking within paintings, exploring such ideas, they describe the political, controlling ; as "the Gaze," which represents the demeaning nature of |ing looked at and observed.

Social networking sites afford the rare privilege of crafting |elf-identity—wherein the profile owner controls all content at is viewed. The profile picture, displayed in a position of aminence, has undergone a strict stylistic judgment: does |is photograph complement the personality that the profile vner wants to present? Does the self-portrait enforce the entity that is being built and crafted?

"I think the Internet makes portraits very self-portrait-y," ys Rubin. "People pose, and they put themselves in a posibn where they know they'll get a picture taken of them. I bn't know if it's that different from self-portraiture because |ey're literally displaying themselves the way they want to be splayed so they look the way they want to look. Literal selfbrtraiture with a camera in hand is totally merited as a way to |present yourself."

from our historical fixation with photographs as evidence.

There is a tendency to believe that something is true if we see it in a photograph.

In general, Craigslist's digital self-portraits operate within a slightly different structure in that they portray an object of lust rather than one of friendship or sociability. On other social networks, users often possess friend counts in the thousands, and the user's relationship status is often prominently dis­ played. This suggests that the goal of the profile—as anchored by the stylized self-portrait— is to display the personality that one would like to present in order to attract friends or lovers.

In considering the online photographic self-portrait as one of the most prevalent modern means of expression, the shift of intended audience from the self to an online public is extremely significant. This contributes to a culture of exhi­ bitionism, in which we expect and desire an audience for the crafted presentation of our actions and appearance.

"To see the kind of style of individuality that someone presents of themselves online isn't purely narcissistic," says Gregory Brophy, cultural studies professor at McGill. "But it's one of a number of phenomena that are creating a culture of spectacle."

Though self-portraits have always been deliberately used as individualistic self-representations, in the digital age the focus of the self-portrait has shifted from the self to an un­ specified online audience, whose views and comments are generally used to validate the subject's self-worth.

"The question is, who are you making this self-portrait for?" says Benshoff. ■

Self-portraiture for self-promotion

In the current image-saturated digital culture, the effecl/eness of photographs in building an identity largely results

m a g e s o f th e s e lf

he evolution of the self-portrait from elite to everyday C aro lyn G régoire & A dam L evine

From its roots in portraits of the Renaissance elite, to digiI self-portraits taken with cameras or cell phones then post­ online, the variations of portraiture are almost as numerous the variations in art itself. The National Portrait Galleries in ndon and Washington D.C. display many of the most famous ortraits and self-portraits from throughout history.

Before the Renaissance, selfportraits were rarely seen, and even portraiture was an honour reserved for the elite. During the middle ages, the most common subjects of portraiture were reli­ gious figures or wealthy patrons of artists. In the Renaissance, artists displayed changing aes­ thetic concerns, and lowbrow portraiture came into existence as portraits of lower-class sub­ jects began to appear. For exam­ ple, Botticelli's Portrait of a Young ANDRO BOTTICELLI'S PORTRAIT Man, created between 1445 and OFA YOUNG MAN-, IMAGES. 1510, deftly captures the youth and EASYART.COM

alertness of its subject, whose identity is unknown.

The self-portrait also became more prevalent during the Renaissance as artists became famous enough to merit creat­ ing their own portraits. At the same time, lowbrow portraiture was gaining popularity, so less well-known artists could paint their own portraits in good artistic conscience. In one incarna­ tion of this, artists would create their own formal seated por­ traits, such as Da Vinci's Alberti's Bronze Profile. Artists would also insert themselves into larger works, such as Raphael in The School of Athens.

As portraiture progressed, female self-portraits became much more

common, largely due to the contribu­ tions of prolific women paint­ ers Elisabeth V ig é e -L e b ru n and Frida Kahlo.

Much later, photo­ graphic selfportraits came RAPHAEL'S THE SCHOOL OFATHENS] UTEXAS.COM to the forefront.

Because early photographic methods were labor intensive and required a camera operator to photograph the sitter, the photographer was unable to photograph himself. Advances in photographic technology throughout the nineteenth and twentieth century made self-portraiture possible and popu­ lar.

As cameras became smaller and lighter, photographic technology improved, and exposure times decreased, the photographic self-portrait naturally came into vogue. With the advent of the digital camera, the amateur photographic self-portrait has exploded as an art form. A 2006 exhibit at the Musée de l'Elysée in Lau­ sanne in Switzerland, titled "We're All Photographers Now," helped institutionalize the phenomenon, which has received a growing amount of attention from the art com­ munity. Look no further than Facebookfora prime example of this burgeoning trend. ■ FRIDA KAHLO'S SELF-PORTRAIT WITH THORNNECKLACE AND HUMMING8//ÎD; TATE.ORG.UK

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Arts & E ntertainmentENTERTAINMENT

The S im p le Bar Necessities A quick and dirty guide to Montreal's drinking and dancing hotspots K yle C arpenter & L aura T ind al

Foufounes Electrique 87 St. Catherine East, by St. Laurent.

What's good: This legendary punk rock haven is a mas­ sive three-story hangout for both people who look like Rancid oadies, and young people looking for cheap drinks. Despite ts rough-and-tumble ambiance, Foufounes Electrique is far rom a dive. It's like drinking in a stylish open warehouse that ust screams of Jager shots. Also, be sure to check upstairs for list of upcoming live shows. Foufounes boasts five different events each week, so some nights are more worthwhile than Dthers. The "Skate Wednesday" is dwarfed by "Gogo Tuesdays," /vhere pitchers are half off.

What's bad: Thursday's "Ladies' Night" isn't worth sitting hrough the playlist of "electro, reggaetown, and 80s" music, nstead, opt for a mix of dance and punk music on Fridays, and especially the $1 beers and $1.50 shooters before midnight on Saturdays—as long as you're willing to pay the $8 cover.

When To Go: Tuesdays and Saturdays

Stout" and "Frosty Morning."

What's bad: Brutopia's main drawback is that from Sunday to Wednesday the upper floor is closed, which limits seating to the often-crowded first floor. And if you're not into microbrews, be pre­ pared to shell out more money for a pint of name brand beer.

When To Go: Mondays and Thursdays

Le Divan Orange 4234 St. Laurent, near Rachel What's good: Like a mix be­ tween a bar and a friend's living room, Le Divan Orange is quite big for a small venue.The front area has couches (hence the name) and small tables to sit and chill with friends.

The food is exotic but comfort­ ing vegetarian fare— sandwiches, Stand by the stage or grab a seat on the couch at Divan Orange. salads and pastas that are well-priced and tasty. Actually a cooperative, covertheir official website. charge is suggested, and the money made at the door all goes When To Go: Fridays and the first Saturday of the Month to the band, furthering the friendly, laid-back atmosphere.

Best known for experimental and psychedelic rock, there's live music almost every night after 9:30 (although it's closed on See BARS on Page 14 Sundays) which is often loud and unclassifiable to any single genre. Be sure to check out the happy hour drink specials between 4 and 8 p.m.: $4.75 a pint.

What's bad: Although lots of great, well known indie acts play here, it's mostly a venue for bands still in their early stages, so music can be hit or miss, but it's usu­ ally a lot of fun. Bands such as Fleet Foxes, Aids Wolf, and Monotonix have played in the past.

When To Go: Live music from Monday to Saturday after 9:30 p.m., or go for happy hour.

Café Campus Foufounes: punk bar with an electrique feel.

Brutopia 7279 Crescent St., between St. Catherine and Rene Levesque What's good: This favourite student pub is well-known for its menu of unique microbrews—such as raspberry ale— as well as live music and open mic nights. Though the days of the infamous "Pat & Pat" duo have passed, you'll still find live acoustic covers of classic songs on Thursday nights. If it's more of a trivial pursuit you're looking for, then Monday's trivia night is the place for you. Upon arrival, take a look at the chalkboard behind the bar for a list of seasonal beers like the "Chocolate

57 Prince -Arthur East, just past St. Laurent.

What's good: Another three-story venue, the second floor of Café Campus features a huge dance floor and stage for both live bands and DJs. Drinks are cheap— $2 beers except for Thursdays and special events, with spontane­ ous drink specials through the week. The first Saturday of every month is" 8 o's Night," which calls for a fun change in dress and music.

What's bad: Unfortunately, Café Campus's second floor gets busy quickly, and if you get there late it might be too packed to have a good time. Also, if you're looking for info, you're going to need a secondary source or a Frenchspeaking friend, because there's no English to be found on

Drop your books and raise your glasses at this campus.

CLOCKWISE FROMABOVE: TOURISMMONTREAL.COM, DOMINIC GOUIN, NIKI HYDE

POP RHETORIC

R a d io k ille d t h e a lte r n a tiv e ro c k s ta r 'm sitting at home and my radio is tuned to what is supposedly a new alternative rock station. It's cur­ rently playing electro-pop duo MGMT's single "Kids."

Five minutes ago, it was playing the soft, acoustic folk sounds of City & Colour's "Sleeping Sickness." Later on, the same station plays Bob Marley's "No Woman, No Cry." While these songs are different in almost every way, they do share one thing in common: none of them are alterna­ tive rock.

Unfortunately, this trend is not limited to one mis­ guided radio station. There has been a gradual shift in alternative rock stations' programming away from rock music.Their desired effect is uncertain, but it seems likely that there's an attempt to reach broader demographics than solely alt-rock fans. One movement that opened the floodgates to a looser definition of alt-rock music was the bands that straddled the border of alt-rock and hip-hop.

When artists like Rage Against The Machine, Limp Bizkit,

I

and Linkin Park started to pop up all over the charts, they paved the way for the acceptance of hip-hop on rock radio stations. In time, the boundaries between hip-hop and rock were blurred, and songs that had little resem­ blance to alt-rock started circulating in rock charts. For example, I distinctly remember hearing Eminem's "Lose Yourself" and Outkast's "Hey Ya!" at the height of their popularity all over alt-rock radio stations when clearly no one would consider them to be rock music in any sense of the term.

At the other end of the spectrum, who's to blame for allowing songs like Coldplay's'The Scientist"and Ben Harper's "Diamonds on the Inside" to pass off as alt-rock music? It seems that a critical part of this mistake is the failure to understand that being in a rock band does not automatically make every one of your songs count as rock music. If you don't believe me, listen to the undeni­ ably disco departure"! Was Made For Lovin'You"by classic

K yle C arpenter

rock group Kiss, or the haunting cover of Nine Inch Nails' "Hurt" by Johnny Cash, which was played on alt rock sta­ tions only because the original version fits the genre. It appears to be a habit of alt-rock radio stations to see the name of a band and associate their new song with their older work— concluding that it's alt-rock when it isn't.

The ambiguity of songs played on alt-rock radio sta­ tions is only fuelling their own demise, as many (including myself) would rather listen to their own iPods and make their own playlists than have to deal with the mass of nonsensical genre-blending that makes up the majority of alt-rock radio stations today. So who killed alternative rock radio? As much as you can blame the emergence of hip-hop and the misattribution of non-rock songs from rock artists, in the end it's the stations themselves that are to blame for loosening the definition of alternative rock in order to let in whatever is the flavour of the week.B

The McGill Tribum

14 • Arts & Entertainm ent *13.01.09

Bars from SSMU to St. Laurent Continued from Page 13

C O U L D BE

GOOD

what musical talents your peers have to offer.

When To Go: Jazz Mondays, Thursdays

Gert's

J anuary 1 3 - 2 0

Vinyl

3480 McTavish, basement of the SSMU building.

What's good: Gert's is a great place to meet up with friends for a pint after classes. The comfy chairs sur­ rounding the big-screen TV make it a good, laid-back atmosphere for watching sports games, and it provides budding McGill bands with a place to perform all types of music from jazz on Mondays to hard rock to string quar­ tets. Plus, Thursdays have live music and $2 half pints.

What's bad: Gert's is still struggling to decide wheth­ er it's a dingy student gathering place or a legit university bar. On Thursdays the bar is transformed into a club, com­ plete with pulsing dance music, cover, and a dress code.

Also, as can be expected, not all the student bands make music you want to hear, but it's nice to come out and see

2109 BleurySt., rig h t below Sherbrooke.

Tuesday. Music. Anberlin. On tour promoting their new albun What's good: Vinyl has everything that your favou­ New Surrender, this Florida-based alternative Christian rock group ha rite club doesn't—a tiny makeshift dance floor, an art risen from obscurity to Billboard Top 20. house crowd, and a range of music from Chromeo to In­ terpol. In short, it rocks. Everyone's more concerned with Wednesday. Music. 17 Hippies.The Berlin folk band-w hose soun< having a good time than ordering the usual shots of "Liq­ is a unique blend of Eastern European, French, and American influenc uid Cocaine" and fixing their gelled hair every five min­ es-plays at La Sala Rossa. If the show is anything like their series offre< utes. This place is basically the anti-Tokyo Bar, and there is concerts in the 90s Hippie Haus Tanz (Hippie House Dance), be sure t< something about having wood floors and couches in the wear some flowers in your hair. bathrooms that adds a unique touch.

What's bad: If you're comfortable getting covered in Thursday. Music. Joseph Arthur & The Lonely Astronauts. Pro sweat and the occasional spilled drink, then you should lific singer-songwriter Joseph Arthur returns to Montreal to promotr have no problem killing some time at Vinyl— if not, you his recently released album, Temporary People. Let the astronauts tak< might want to reconsider your bar options. Another prob­ you from Club Soda to outer space. lem is that it's hard to know when it's the best time to go, as some nights there are unexplained events that jack up j Friday. Music. Marianne Dissard & Krista LL Muir. Mariannt the cover charge.

Dissard— poet, activist, musician, documentary filmmaker, and perfor When To Go: Fridays mance artist— displays her many talents at Casa del Popolo. Experiencr Dissard's unusual mixture of French and American Southwestern influ Barfly ences, joined by the globally influenced sounds of Krista Muir (other 4062 St. Laurent, at Duluth wise known as"Lederhosen Lucil").

What's good: Looking and feeling like a hole-in-thewall, this tiny spot has some great bands, and the dingy Saturday. Theatre. Can You See Me Yet? To follow up the sell-out o feel only adds to its appeal. Sundays are the best blue- | their production of Closer, Player's Theatre presents Timothy Findley'; grass night in the city, and drinks are always cheap. play which takes place in an insane asylum in 1938. An unusual take or What's bad: The small size can lead to cramped a wartime story, the play explores people's attempts to find safety ant conditions on nights with good bands, and provides no comfort in a world that is crumbling around them. escape when the bands are bad.

When to go: Bluegrass Sundays ■ Sunday. Film. Milk. Check out Gus Van Sant's critically acclaimec film at Cinema du Parc. Sean Penn stars as 1970s San Francisco mayoi Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to hold public office in America If you haven't got M ilk by now, this is your chance.

NIKI HYDE The only place you can le g a lly get drunk on campus.

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13.01.09 «The McGill T rib u n e* 15

w w .m cgilltribune.com

:D R eview s

MUSIC

Paper Moon. W hat A re You G o in g To D o With M e. Winni­ peg-based group Paper Moon has found an instant online audience for their latest EP, W hat Are You Going To Do With PAPER M O ON WHSTASE YOU SOINS TO Me. Nevertheless, the hype may not be reflected in the band's ultimate success, particularly because they fall into that hard-to-define pseudo-New Wave genre. Their music has a decidedly familiar feel and could easily be compared to an instrumental version of Shiny Toy Guns, or a dancier version of Metric. Lead singer Allison Somers will please yone who likes high-pitched girlie voices, but she does have a bit of an oldtool edge reminiscent of singers from Letters To Cleo or Save Ferris. That being id, Paper Moon isn't raw enough to fit into the fern-rock category. Their songs ve fairly prominent keyboard and synthesizer action, topped-off with very buby, pop-sounding guitar riffs. To be fair, their tunes don't have the ridiculously er-produced sound of really mainstream music: the songs are catchy, but are not :king in substance. All in all, this album is worth checking out—just don't expect be too surprised.

— Renée Sutton

Ruby Jean and the Thoughtful Bees. R u b y Je an a n d the Thoughtful Bees. On January 13, Ruby Jean and theThoughtful Bees, a female-fronted electro-rock band from Halifax, released their self-titled debut. The eight-track album is a catchy line-up of addictive dance songs with just the right amount of edge. Bits and pieces of electro influences can be heard throughout the album. The best examples are the notable similarities to MSTRKRFT on the bass-heavy track "Trust Fund,"Crystal Castles on the whimsy song "Not About •/'and Fatboy Slim on the sardonically titled "Danse Danse Resolution." Standout acks include the catchy "You Don't Miss Me," which features heavy bass hooks and good amount of voice distortion without it being overkill. Another song to listen r is the softer, yet still indie rock-esque "Girls You Love," which is based around jilding guitar riffs with a healthy amount of synthesizers. Though as of yet the and has kept a low profile, Ruby Jean and the Thoughtful Bees are definitely a oup to watch out for this year.

— Kyle Carpenter

Animal Collective. M erriw eather P o st Pavilio n . Animal Collective seems to have achieved the unachievable with their ninth studio album—they've harnessed their chaos to create a cohesive, accessible sound. Animal Collective is undisputedly an extremely innovative and creative group, often experimenting with different electronic sounds and distortion in lengthy tracks that are sometimes upwards of seven minutes. Fans and critics have often associated Animal Collective with an edginess that was perceived as ibridled and raw for listeners. Their evolution towards becoming a pop band is 'ident in M erriweather Post Pavilion. The second track, "My Girls,"features an incesnt chorus that is guaranteed to get stuck in your head. Beginning with a feverish sss line, the track slowly builds upon itself to include percussion and a layered verlying track. Listeners are repeatedly told by lead singer AveyTare,"! don't mean seem like I care about/ material things like a social status/1 just want four walls nd adobe slabs for my girls."Yet through their music. Animal Collective crafts such mple themes into melodic masterpieces, and the album as a whole provides a ill experience. Every experimental arrangement and instrumentation fulfills a purose and adds to the song as a whole. The growing speculation that M erriweather ost Pavilion may in fact be the best album of 2009 does not seem justified despite ■\e fact that it's only January, although they have set the bar extremely high for all ther albums this year.

— Arielle Frank

A guy, a girl, a com puter Hexes & Ohs delivers infectious pop fun A rielle Frank

Pure, unabashed pop is coming your way thanks to the sounds of the Montreal-based duo Hexes & Ohs. The band is the final product of the ever-evolving artistic endeavors of Edmund Lam and Heidi Donnelly.

Lam and Donnelly met 10 years ago through Lam's best friend, who happens to be Donnelly's brother. Coincidentally, Lam and Donnelly began dating around that time, although Lam downplays the importance of their relationship with respect to their music. "I mean, that is who we are," says Lam. "But it detracts people from paying attention to the music or taking it seriously."

On their second album, Bedroom Madness, Hexes & Ohs inevitably breach the topic of love and all its metaphorical accoutrements. "[The lyr­ ics] are loosely based on experiences ... I tend to make up things and invent scenarios," says Lam. Hexes & Ohs seem to be artistically dominated

by Lam, who writes almost all of the music and lyr­ ics. "I wanted just to make music that was immedi­ ate and fun and not something you had to try re­ ally hard to like. We just wanted it to grab people," says Lam. The creation of Hexes & Ohs out of previous bands seems to have influenced the current sound of the pop duo. Hexes & Ohs wasn't the first musi­ cal endeavor for Lam and Donnelly, who have been making and breaking bands since they first joined forces. "It's pretty hard to run away from your past and your experiences . . . It always somehow ends up being kind of reincarnated in any project you do," says Lam. "From our previous bands we really developed an idea for what we didn't want be­ cause we experimented with a lot of things."

This experimentation paid off in Bedroom Madness. It is worth noting that Hexes & Ohs are

trying to be just as poppy as they sound.There was a time when the band aimed for innovation over melodic, catchy hooks. "We experimented with noise, twelve-minute songs, kind of going beyond the pop format. It's not that it didn't work sonically, it's just that we didn't enjoy doing it all that much," says Lam. Through years of trial and error, Lam describes how the band took a more pop direction. "[We] pushed the things that we liked further, like the poppy side. Kind of like a distilled concentrated version of everything that we'd done."

The way Lam creates the music for the band's heavily electro-infused sound is quite unique. In­ stead of producing the base track through a syn­ thesizer, all of their songs are first written acous­ tically by Lam. "I generally write the songs on acoustic guitar ... and then I kind of figure things out on the computer and do electronic mixes of it.

Then we bring that to a live setting and figure out what we want to do with live instruments around it. When we go to the studio, we separate every­ thing ... We take everything apart and then put it back together, so we pretty much approach it like a rock band except a lot of members of that band are computers," says Lam. However, guitars are important to start with, as opposed to just computers. Lam adds, "I find it eas­ ier to make songs more universal when you write on guitar because then you know that it works as a song and not just has a cool beat or whatever." This philosophy sums up Hexes & Ohs in a nutshell—all their years of experimenting have led them to their true calling, producing infectious, easily accessible pop music. ■ Hexes & Ohs p lay Jan. 22 a t Jupiter Room (3874 St. Laurent). Tickets are $ 10, available a t Cheap Thrills and indiemontreal.ca.

Mc Çiff (Residences is Hiring

Floor Fellows, Dons and MORE Fellows help to shape die first year experience for dionsands of students living in McGill Residences.

Do you want to be a student leader, show newbies the ropes, plan events, and mentor first years in die transition between living at home and living independently?

If so, now is the time to apply for the 2009-2010 academic year!

For details and to submit an application, please visit www.mcgill.ca/residences/floorfellow

A pplications are due no Cater than January 28th, 2009 a t 5pm Bringing thick-rimmed glasses back, one pop-song at a time.

PHOTOS BY NIKI HYDE

The McGill Tribunt

16 • Arts & Entertainm ent *13.01.09

FILM

FILM

A b ig -h e a rte d b ig o t

Love, landlocked

Crash meets The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Winslet, DiCaprio reunited in Revolutionary Road in Eastwood's Gran Torino B rahna S iegelberg Gran Torino, Clint Eastwood's fourth directorial fea­ ture, tells the story of Walt Kowalski, a cantankerous Ko­ rean War veteran who reluctantly takes a young Hmong boy under his wing after he attempts to steal Walt's most coveted possession— his 1972 Gran Torino.

The film opens with the funeral of Walt's wife, a pointed display of the disconnected modern family.

Walt's children barely relate to him—a firm military man with little understanding of the modern world—while his grandchildren represent the worst of the jersey wearing, belly button-pierced, video game-playing generation.

Walt is an unabashed racist, misanthrope, and church-hater who bemoans the influx of Asian immi­ grants in his neighborhood. He busies his day sitting alone on his porch with his dog and a cooler full of beer, and tells a priest he's nothing but a "29-year-old virgin who enjoys holding the hands of superstitious old la­ dies." He's not afraid to take out his rifle when a group of hoodlums storm onto his property, or to curse his barber in what he considers to be "male banter." In a more comi­ cal moment, Eastwood practically growls when his chil­ dren suggest he move to a retirement community and proceeds to kick them out the front door.

Despite his cynical and reclusive ways, Walt is a man of principle, and when a gang threatens the harmless Hmong family next door, he drives them off with a pis­ tol. He wakes up the next morning to showers of gifts from the whole Hmong community in his town. He is initially reluctant to form a friendship but eventually ac­ cepts an invitation to dinner and develops an attraction to the family's food and culture. He even develops a spe­ cial bond with the daughter Sue and her brother Thao, whose good-natured ways greatly contrast those of his own spoiled grandchildren. When Thao is forced by the gang to steal Walt's car, the family offers him to work for Walt, who ultimately ends up mentoring Thao in various trades.

Although Walt develops a meaningful relationship with Thao and his family, the film is not the story of the racist curmudgeon who reforms his ways and turns into an old softie. Walt remains steadfast in his convictions and irreversible in his attitude towards the world. He

teaches Thao, whom he persistently calls a "pussy," how to talk like a man, how to fix things around the house, and how to ask a girl out. He does so even while calling Thao's family "chinks,""spoonheads," and "gooks." Howev­ er, when the gang becomes an increasing threat to the Hmong family, Walt must determine how he is going to use his military background for revenge.

In this compelling film. Crash meets The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. Race, culture and religion come to a head, with nothing but the most badass 78-year old in Hollywood standing in the way. Eastwood convincingly plays that racist grandpa who also happens to know how to cock a pistol—with a few growls and snarls along the way. Gran Torino is at once comical, somber, moving, honest, and will simply leave you wanting more. ■ Gran Torino plays a t Cinema du Parc. Check o u t cinemaduparc.com for showtimes.

ROTTENTOMATOES.COM Clint's clearly not in the mood for Chinese food.

BOOKS

Still alive and kicking Exit Lines explores the secret life of seniors J o sh u a R o sen b latt No offense to the elderly, but it's hard to imagine using the words "drama" and "retirement home" in the same sentence. That is, until reading Canadian dafling Joan Barfoot's latest piece of fiction, the bitingly sarcas­ tic dark comedy, Exit Lines. Best known for her quick wit and sharp tongue, Barfoot has crafted a deeply tender and moving story about old age which manages to avoid being overly sappy or sentimental. Forget what you think you might know about the elderly, because at the Idyll Inn, drama abounds and secrets run deep.

Exit Lines, Barfoot's eleventh novel, is set at a retire­ ment home in a small town, which is home to an inter­ esting host of characters. Sylvia Lodge is the acerbic widow of a prominent lawyer; George Hammond, a for­ mer shoe store owner who's been left wheelchair-bound by a debilitating stroke, is only able to speak in grunts and single words. Other characters include Greta Bauer, a long-widowed German immigrant burdened by guilt and living with a heart condition, and Ruth Friedman, the youngest of the bunch, is a recently widowed childless crusader for abused children. Despite their obvious dif­ ferences, the group forges an unlikely friendship, reveling in such simple pleasures as gossiping, drinking wine, and bending the rules. As their bond grows, they reflect back on their lives, and confide in one another certain intimate

details from their past. The reader discovers that several characters have previously crossed paths in the past, and are connected in the most surprising and intimate of ways. These connections, ranging from brief encounters to forbidden love affairs, are at the heart of the unfolding drama in Exit Lines. The plot thickens when Ruth decides to test the limits of their friendship by making a near impossible request: longing for an easy way out of a life once filled with happiness and now marred by tragedy, she enlists the help of her new friends in checking out early.

Well-conceived and skillfully written, Exit Lines is well worth your time. It's an insightful, poignant, and hu­ morous novel that is difficult to put down once you've started reading. What makes Exit Lines so remarkable is that Barfoot succeeds in capturing the everyday reality of the elderly while maintaining a light and playful tone throughout the book. In no way does Barfoot compro­ mise her caustic writing style while she delivers valu­ able insight into both friendship and the aging process along with countless laughs and dialogue that absolutely sparkles. True, life doesn't get any easier as you age, but the story shows how that is no excuse for throwing in the towel. Life goes on, regardless of physical ailments and neglectful children. Exit Lines is a necessary reminder that old age is not so much the culmination of life as it is the continuation of life. ■

C aro lyn G régoire Revolutionary Road director Sam Mendes's latest film is not you typical story of the pursuit of the American Dream. Though set withir the consumer culture of post-WWII America, the film offers more thar just an existential account of suburban languor. Kate Winslet and Leon ardo DiCaprio deliver Oscar-worthy performances in their first collabo ration since the 1997 blockbuster Titanic, the highest-grossing film of al time. Closely based on the 1961 novel by Richard Yates, the film portray* a young, happy couple settling down in the suburbs and settling intc mediocre lives, watching in quiet desperation as their dreams slip awa} and life passes them by.

DiCaprio and Winslet star as newlyweds Frank and April Wheeler, who have just moved into a house on suburban Revolutionary Road April is a failed actress turned housewife, while Frank works a boring of fice job. The audience is introduced to the Wheelers at a party in New York, where their gazes meet from across the room. The film then picks up after they've been married for thirteen years. The Wheelers seem to have it all—the big white house, immaculate lawn, two kids, and a dog But none of this does anything to quench the couple's growing restless ness and discontent.

Increasingly frustrated with their feelings of entrapment in fruitless careers and a waning relationship that brings them no fulfillment, the couple tries to escape the "hopeless emptiness" of the life that they had once prized. Although the Wheelers of Revolutionary Road present a perfect façade to the world, beneath the veneer of suburban prosperity April is no happier playing house than Frank is at his meaningless job.

The Wheelers' attempts to escape their ennui and growing discon­ tent with their lives when their plans are foiled by the couple's inability to overcome their environment and the materialistic values it espouses.

When Frank receives a promotion preventing him from leaving his job, the irony of the situation lies in the advice he is given by his boss-to-be, who tells him that a man only gets a couple of chances in life, and if he misses them, then he'll end up wondering how he ended up as secondrate. Frank's missed opportunity ends up being not his promotion, but rather his chance to start a new life; to revive his marriage and discover what he truly wants from the world. Thus, the Wheelers of Revolution­ ary Road succumb to the empty consumerism which characterized the American middle class of the 1950s.

Mendes's extremely well-made film is strengthened by exceptional actors who deliver a number of noteworthy performances. Kathy Bates is superb in a supporting role as the Wheelers' perky and meddling real estate agent. The dialogue is witty and sharp, and the lines are welldelivered. Ultimately, however, the film's success is founded on the originality and poignant realism of Yates' novel. Although Revolutionary Road does revolve around the rather hackneyed theme of chasing the American Dream—an insidious presence in American literature and film from The Great Gatsby to The Graduate — the film nearly always manages to avoid cliché. More fundamentally, this moving film portrays a theme that we all can relate to— confronting our own mediocrity and witness­ ing our own failure to turn aspirations into reality. ■

Revolutionary Road is playing a t Cinema Banque Scotia (977 St.Catherine).

mÆÆ

ALLM0VIEPH0T0.COM Jack and Rose find out love isn't any easier on dry land.

I’m g o i n g s o m e w h e r e !

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S portsHOCKEY— REDMEN 4, UOIT 1

Redmen m ake sure th a t youth isn't served Battle of Canada's oldest and youngest leads to easy McGill victory M a tt C hesser than five minutes into the first period when he received an incredible spinning, behind-the-back pass from PicardHooper on a three-on-two rush and flipped the puck over UOIT netminder Jeff Dawson's right pad. Bloom would be the beneficiary of another pretty set-up in the third period, when he one-timed a cross-ice, no-look, behind the back pass from Kovacevic past Dawson's outstretched blocker to complete the scoring on a late McGill power-play. "[Kovacevic] and I have played together for a long time now, so we seem to be able to find each other out there pret­ ty easily," said Bloom. "[Picard-Hooper] is new to our line this year and he's great at moving the puck around and creating space for us. On both of my goals the guys made incredible passes to set me up.”

Along with his assists on Bloom's goals, Kovacevic notched a goal of his own when he one-timed a shot through Dawson's five-hole on a powerplay midway through the sec­ ond period. Evan Vossen scored the third McGill goal seven minutes later when he redirected a Simon Marcotte-Legare snapshot through Dawson's legs.

"Kovacevic's line is our big offensive line and they re­ ally played well tonight," said Raymond. "They know .how to pick their spots, and you saw that with those behind the back passes tonight. They're very aware of their situation at all times."

McGill's freshman goaltender Danny Mireault made 25 saves to pick up his sixth victory of the season and was in­ strumental in killing off UOIT's three two-man advantages in the opening period.The only blemish on his night came with seven minutes remaining in the third period when Ridge­ backs forward Josh Vatri fired a low snapshot through traffic that snuck under Mireault's blocker and into the back of the net. "[Goaltending] was a little bit of a question mark com­ ing into this season," said Bloom. "But I think our netminders are gaining a little bit of confidence as the season goes on.

Mireault's had some good games and some bad ones, but [on Saturday] he was awesome."

The McGill victory came one night after the Mid West Division-leading York Lions defeated the Redmen 4-3 in a shootout at McConnell Arena. New goaltender Kevin Desfosses struggled in his debut for the Redmen, as he let in three goals in 14 attempts; the Redmen needed 36 shots to score their three goals, which were scored by Bloom, Guillaume ADAM SCOTTI Doucet, and Ben Gazdic.

Captain Sam Bloom, who led the Redmen with two goals Although the Redmen rallied from two goals down

The University of Ontario Institute of Technology Ridgebacks, in only their second year of existence, learned an im­ portant life lesson on Saturday night: respect your elders.

The McGill Redmen, one of the oldest university hockey teams in Canada at 132 years old, picked up a 4-1 victory over the Ridgebacks on Saturday night in front of 688 fans. Hoards of Management students flocked to McConnell Arena as part of their annual Carnival celebrations.

UOIT was undone by McGill's solid defensive effort in a chippy game dominated by special-teams play.

"It was a tough game to play in," said McGill Head Coach Martin Raymond."They've done a good job with the program at UOIT in a short period of time. They showed tonight that they're a big and physical team, and they provided a real test for u s .... Thankfully our special-teams did some good things for us and we managed to come out with a win."

The teams combined for 25 minor penalties and the Ridgebacks enjoyed three five-on-three advantages in the first period alone—all of which McGill successfully killed off.

The Redmen finished 2-for-n with the man-advantage, while UOIT was i-for-io on the power-play.

McGill's top line of Marko Kovacevic, Sam Bloom, and Al­ exandre Picard-Hooper lived up to its billing as McGill's "skill line," accounting for three of the team's four goals in spectacu­ lar fashion—with a pair of beautiful behind the back passes.

Bloom, a fourth-year forward, opened the scoring less

on Saturday night, checks a Ridgeback into the boards.

ADAM SCOTTI UOIT netminder Jeff Dawson stopped a 39 of 43 shots for a respectable .907 save percentage, but still took the loss.

in the third period to send the game into overtime, they couldn't solve York netminder David Davenport once regula­ tion ended. York's Nathaniel Brooks scored the lone shootout goal in the fourth round.

The Redmen (8-6-0-2) currently sit in last place in the OUA Far East division, but are still contending for a playoff spot, as only two points separate them and the second place Carleton Ravens. The Redmen will host the Concordia Sting­ ers (10-5-0-2) on Wednesday at 7 p.m„ before heading out on the road to take on the Brock Badgers and Guelph Gryphons this weekend. ■

THIRD M A N IN

When you wish upon All-Star ast week, the NHL announced the rosters for the 2009 All-Star Game, which will be held in Montreal on January 25. If you don't care, you're not alone. The NHL has consistently failed to make the All-Star Game an exciting or otherwise worthwhile event for even the most die-hard hockey fans.

Hockey is a game of hitting, defence, and passion; none of which will be on display at the Bell Centre next week. NHL players have demonstrated every year that they're not willing to risk an injury in a game that they see as meaningless. I certainly don't blame them. But as a result, viewers of the All-Star Game are treated to apathetic millionaires floating around the ice, playing a game of shinny that only vaguely resembles professional hockey.

Some analysts say that in order for the All-Star Game to gain legitimacy, the NHL should follow baseball's ex­ ample and give home ice advantage in the Stanley Cup Final to whichever conference triumphs in the All-Star Game. In theory, this would give the players a reason to care if they win or lose, forcing them to give a worthwhile effort and creating an exciting and relevant game for fans. But that's wishful thinking: baseball players can put in a full effort without worrying too much about injuring

L

themselves, but hockey players can't. Would NHL players be willing to risk a season-threatening injury in a game that's only going to affect them if they're lucky enough to reach the Stanley Cup finals? Probably not.

Putting out an exciting product and an authentic game are not the only All-Star related problems that the NHL struggles with. Two years ago, a web-based grass­ roots effort exploited several security flaws in the league's online fan-voting system in an attempt to get Rory Fitz­ patrick, a career journeyman defenceman, into the start­ ing line-up of the All-Star game. The effort ultimately failed, but an investigation by Slate Magazine found obvi­ ous evidence of vote manipulation by the league in order to keep Fitzpatrick out of the game. Not only was the NHL unable to implement a basic online voting system, it couldn't even cover up its own incompetence.

Fast-forward to last month, when early returns showed that Montreal fans had stuffed the ballot box, and the Eastern Conference starting line-up was poised to be comprised solely of Canadiens players. The league had neglected to fix the same security flaws in the system that had caused it embarrassment two years ago. At this point, incompetence is the norm for the NHL. To be fair, the NHL isn't the only league that takes

S teve B eirness

criticism for its All-Star Game. The NFL's Pro-Bowl is also irrelevant and largely ignored by fans. The NBA's All-Star Game receives some criticism for its unimportance and fan-selected starting line-up, but the game is exciting none the less, if for no other reason than because of the spectacular and innovative dunks displayed each year.

But unlike these other leagues, the NHL is in dire need of fans and publicity in the U.S. With hockey becoming increasingly irrelevant to mainstream America, the AllStar Game is one of the few chances the league has to generate coverage for itself. By displaying such a horribly warped version of hockey to the world, combined with its gross incompetence in running even a basic fan-voting system, the NHL only gives itself up for further mocking and ridicule, perpetuating its image south of the border as a second-rate league.

I love hockey— as far as I'm concerned, it's the great­ est game on Earth. But the annual bastardization of the sport that we call the All-Star Game is not hockey. By dis­ playing such a boring, disfigured mess of a game to the world, the NHL is alienating current fans and doing noth­ ing to attract new ones. Enough time and money has been wasted on this event already: It's time the NHL put the All-Star Game out of its misery once and for all. ■

1 8 -S p o rts * 13.01.09

The McGill Tribui

BASKETBALL— U Q A M 85, REDMEN 79

Sp o rts Briefs

Sloppy Redmen fall just short TOs, boards contribute to disappointing loss Jacob Kanter If you can't hold on to the basketball or rebound your opponent's misses, wins are be hard to come by— no mat­ ter how well you shoot the ball. After a pair of disappointing losses to the UQAM Citadins over the weekend, that lesson will hopefully be ingrained in the minds of the Redmen bas­ ketball team.

The Redmen fell 85-79 to the Citadins at Love Hall on Friday night, spoiling a fine shooting effort from senior cap­ tains Sean Anthony and Moustafa El Zanaty, who finished with 23 and 22 points respectively. McGill's impressive 52.8 field goal percentage was undermined by its ineffective­ ness on the boards and its willingness to hand the ball back over to their cross-town rivals—El Zanaty had 10 turnovers and Anthony had five. Gregory St. Amand led UQAM with 20 points and 10 rebounds in only 25 minutes.

"When you shoot 53 per cent for the game and lose, something's wrong," said McGill Head Coach Craig Norman.

"We got beat on the glass, we got beat off the dribble con­ stantly. I thought we had a solid gameplan, but we only ex­ ecuted it in short increments. We didn't play well as a team.

We struggled tonight, and we paid a heavy price for it."

The Redmen led for most of the first half, thanks to a 10-0 run to open the second quarter, giving them a 12-point lead. But the Citadins fought back over the next seven min­ utes, engineering a 13-4 run to close out the half, and took a 47-45 lead into the locker room at halftime.

The Redmen led 56-55 with three minutes remaining in the third quarter before UQAM's Adil El Makssoud nailed a three-pointer to give the Citadins a lead they would not re­ linquish. El Makssoud's jumper was one of only four UQAM three-pointers on the night, as the Redmen held the Cita­ dins to 22.2 per cent shooting from outside the arc and 47.1 per cent shooting from the floor. But UQAM's offensive re­ bounds (12) and takeaways (22) afforded them 17 more shots than their Red 'n'White counterparts.

"They're a very athletic team," said McGill forward Pawel Herra, who finished with 11 points and four rebounds in 33 minutes. "They're always looking to go to the basket and get the offensive boards. All we have to do is find our man and keep him out of lane as much as possible. That's an area we have to improve on."

UQAM led by as much as 15 points early in the fourth quarter, and the game seemed to be slipping away from the Redmen. But Norman's squad methodically fought back with the help of a zone defence and increased focus.

"We tried to limit our turnovers and just play harder on defence," said McGill guard Matt Thornhill, who scored 10 points. "Our guys stepped up, and we tried to force them to take outside shots and limit them from attacking the bas­ ket. ... It worked, but we just ran out of time."

Down 81-73 with two and a half minutes remaining, the

NIKI HYDE McGill's Michael White rushes out to challenge a shot.

Redmen harnessed their momentum to reel off six straight points. UQAM was visibly uncomfortable dealing with McGill's 2-3 zone, and couldn't get into a rhythm even after several trips down the floor. With his team up 81-79 with 45 seconds remaining, El Makssoud dribbled the ball near the sideline before deciding to hoist up an awkward leaning jum p shot. But as had been the case for much of the night, the Redmen couldn't come up with the rebound, and the ball caromed back to El Makssoud. "[The Citadins] had trouble against the zone," said Nor­ man. "But the same things that hurt us all game hurt us in the end. We turned the ball over, we didn't rebound in key situations, and it cost us."

With the Redmen needing one more defensive stop, El Zanaty fouled out after hacking St. Amand, who was able to finally break down McGill's zone defence. He hit his free throws, and a hurried off-balance three-pointer by Anthony predictably missed the basket as El Makssoud tracked the ball down for a thunderous dunk at the buzzer.

"We're going to keep doing what we're doing," said Herra. "Our gameplan isn't going to change, we just have to execute better. We have to take good care of the ball— we can't have this many turnovers, or else [our other games] are going to end the same way that this one did."

However, the Redmen were plagued by the same prob­ lems on the road 24 hours later. 27 Redmen turnovers and 20 Citadin offensive rebounds led to a 72-71 overtime loss— McGill's fifth defeat in a row in conference play.

The Redmen will look to right the ship next weekend against their archrivals, the Concordia Stingers. The teams play at Concordia on Friday night for the first time this sea­ son, before facing off at Love Hall at 8 p.m. on Saturday. ■

Swimming Team captain Danielle Hetherington won four medals—two silver and two bronze— as the McGill Mar­ tlets finished second of five teams at the third Quebec Cup swim meet of the season on Saturday in Trois-Rivières.

Hetherington's silver medals came when she swam the first leg of the 4x50 metre and 4x200 metre freestyle re­ lays, and her bronze medals came in the 50 metre backstroke and the 200 metre in­ dividual medley.

The Redmen finished third out of four teams, but freshman Steven Bielby nearly equalled Heatherington's medal output. Bielby won silver medals in the 400 metre freestyle—with a time of 4:04.65, good enough to meet the qualifying standard for the CIS championships— and the 4x50 metre freestyle relay, and won bronze in the 4x200 freestyle relay.

Next on tap for the McGill swim team is a tri­ meet in Ottawa with the University of Ottawa and the University of Waterloo on January 23, followed by the fourth Quebec Cup compe­ tition in Sainte-Foy, Quebec, the following day.

Men's Volleyball With a 3-1 road win over the University of Sherbrooke on Saturday, Simon Berleur's Redmen finally escaped from underneath a cloud that had

been hovering over them fo seven years. McGill had los 85 consecutive matches tc Quebec league opponents dating back to January 18 2002. The Redmen had onl) 10 league wins during tha span, all of which camt against Atlantic conference teams.

Needless to say, Berleur who played on Canada's na tional team, was relieved.

"It was a great team vic­ tory for us," said Berleur. "It has taken a long time bul we have progressed a lot, es­ pecially this year where you could see the improvement game by game. I dedicate this victory to all the staff ai McGill who have been very supportive. We have worked hard to get to this point but the intercollegiate and ad­ missions offices have been there for us and we are very thankful for that."

Matthew Mosseler led McGill with a team-record 18 kills and nine digs, while Serhiy Kisyuk added 16 kills and 12 digs.

Unfortunately, the Red­ men couldn't sustain their winning ways, and were shut out by the undefeated Laval Rouge et Or at Love Hall on Saturday night. McGill, now 3-8, will face the three Atlan­ tic teams— Memorial, Dalhousie, and the University of New Brunswick— next week­ end at a Laval-hosted tour­ nament in Quebec City.

PICTURE IT. YOU'RE HOLDING THE CAMERA IN YOUR HANDS. YOU LOOK UP. FIVE ASSES ARE STARING BACK AT YOU ACROSS THE RINK. PHOTO@MCGILLTRIBUNE.COM

UPON FURTHER REVIEW

Does fighting belong in hockey anymore?

In the wake of Don Sanderson’s tragic death, it is worthwhile to reexamine fighting's place in hockey. I believe, however, that this one horrific occurrence does not indicate a trend— in fact, fighting makes the game safer. Fighting is here to stay for three reasons.

The NHL needs fighting. Fighting is as old as the sport itself. The NHL— obsessed with its old-time image—will never give up a part of the game that is so entrenched in its history.

Considering how the league has abandoned its small-town roots for larger markets and luxury boxes in recent years, the NHL needs fighting now more than ever.

The players need fighting. A line needs to be drawn between clean and dirty (yet legal) hits, and enforcers draw that line every time they step on the ice. If fighting was banned, play­ ers wouldn't think twice about delivering a cheap shot, and injuries would skyrocket. Cheap shots have caused many more injuries (and deaths) than fights have. For that matter, whether due to a skate to the neck or a puck to the chest, most on-ice deaths have occurred due to the violent nature of the game. Fighting, and the enforcers that instigate it, ensure that hockey's a clean game.

The fans need fighting. Look at the faces in the crowd over the course of a game. There's unbridled joy when an equalizer is scored. There's unbearable tension as a power-play winds down. But for a spectator, an engaging fight—in any sport—triggers an emotional, carnal re­ sponse unlike any other. Especially in the 21st century, when we need our action to be dynamic and engaging, fighting is a necessary facet of the game.

The NHL can still act to protect its players without eradicating fighting. Address the hitsto-the-head issue, make visors mandatory, and fighting will probably decrease. But there will always be cheap shots, the NHL will always hold on to the past, and fans will always salivate when the players drop their gloves. Without fighting, hockey simply wouldn't be hockey.

— Jacob Kanter

I am hesitant to use the tragic death of Don Sanderson as a rallying point for a ban on fighting in hockey, but sports fans would be doing Sanderson a disservice if we didn't dis­ cuss the issue in the wake of his untimely passing. Sanderson didn't die playing hockey— he died in a fight, and it's important to make that distinction. Fighting occurs after the play has stopped. It's not a natural part of the game, and there is little difference between an on-ice fight driven by swollen machismo and a hormone-driven brawl anywhere else.

Fighting isn't integral to the game of hockey. If it was, then we would see fights in in­ ternational hockey and during the Stanley Cup playoffs. The only argument that holds any water in regards to fighting is that it provides the fans with entertainment. And even if that argument is accepted as legitimate, then we're debating a subjective premise: whether fighting makes hockey more or less entertaining. Personally, I prefer hard hits and pretty passes to a George Parros— Derek Boogaard (combined career points: 21) heavyweight tilt, but to each his own. The vigilante justice argument also rings false; these dangerous play­ ers don't deserve to make decisions that should be made by league administrators and on-ice officials. Allow the neutral party to administer justice— like every other professional sporting league in the world.

I'm not saying that I don't enjoy a good fight from time to time, but the brand of pu­ gilism I enjoy is spurred by real feelings and would be as rare as a fight in the playoffs. I hate the pre-planned posturing of hired heavyweights. I hate seeing a clean hit followed by an unnecessary fight. But most of all, I hate knowing that sooner or later, someone will be killed in an NHL fight. It's too late for Don Sanderson— let's not wait for another tragedy to make a change.

— M a tt Chesset

SSMÜ Mini-Courses are affordable, hassle free, non-credit courses that are held in the Shatner University Centre & Brown Building F it n e s s - C o n t in u e d

D ance

Course

Tim e

Location

Cost

M ondays 4 :0 0 P M -5:00 PM

Ballroom

$45

$45

Yoga Learning yoga tones and strengthens muscles, increases flexibility, improves the immune response ond inteqrotes mind and body.

Zum ba Zumba is a class full of Latin dance moves in aerobic interval training, with a combination of fast and slow rhythms that tone and sculpt the body.

Mondays 5:0 0 P M -6:00 PM

Ballroom

$45

Ballroom

$4 5

La n g u a g e s Arabic This class will teach you the basics of spoken and written Arabic.

B30

$45

Ballroom

$4 5

Beginner Mon. 4:00 PM-5:30 PM Interm ediate Mon. 5:30 PM-7:00 PM Beginner 1: Mon. 5:30 PM-7:00 PM II: Mon.4:00 PM-5:30 PM Interm ediate 1: Tues. 5:30 PM-7:00 PM II: Tues. 4:00 PM-5:30 PM Conversational |: Jhurs. 4:30 PM -5:30 PM ||; Thurs. 5:30 PM- 6:30PM III: Thurs. 6:30 PM-7:30 PM W ednesdays 4 :0 0 P M -5:30 PM

B29

$45

B30

$45

Beginner Mon. 7:00 PM-8:30 PM

B29

$45

Conversational Tues. 6:00 PM-7:00 PM

B30

$50

Bartending (Introduction) During this class, you will learn shaking, equipment set up, fruits and garnishes, glassware and of course preparation (and fasting ! ) of various classic cocktails and drinks. Introduction course only. ‘ Guitar Learn all those popular songs that you love to sing to. Students must provide their own guitar.

Section 1 Feb. 26 & Mar. 5 : 6PM-9 PM

M aster's School of Bartending

$60

Section II Mar. 12 & 1 9 :6 PM-9 PM

^ 1 0 Sherbrooke W.

Beginner Wed. 7:00 PM-8:30 PM Interm ediate Wed. 5:30 PM-7:00 PM

B30

$45

C o u rs e

T im e

L o c a tio n

C ost

Ballroom Dancing This course focuses on the Viennese Waltz, Slow Waltz, Foxtrot, and Tango. No partner required.

Wednesdays 5:30 PM- 7:00 PM

Ballroom

$45

Break Dancing This is a beginner level break dance class that will focus on the foundation of the donee. Students will learn basic top rock, footwork and freezes.

This is a fun class that will focus on building strength, musicality and free-styling.

Mondays 7 :30 P M -9:00 PM

Ballroom

International Dancing This course will cover basic steps in Waltz, Foxtrot, Viennese Waltz, Tango and Quickstep.

Tuesdays 5:0 0 P M -6:30 PM

Latin Dancing This course is perfect to try out exciting dances comprised of the cha-cha, rumba, samba, jive, meringue and mambo.

W ednesdays 4 :0 0 P M -5:30 PM

Line Dancing Learn choreographed sequences of steps performed in unison to a variety of music including rumba, samba, swing, country western and more!

Salso Leam a variety of the hottest Latin dance moves while emphasizing correct form, timing, ond style.

The teaching method emphasizes interaction among students, which makes the classes fun!

Wednesdays 7 :0 0 P M -8:30 PM

Ballroom

$45

Beginner Thurs. 5:00 PM-7:00 PM

Ballroom

$4 5

Swing Dancing A mix of rock and 5 0 's/20 's styles and moves, with acrobatic lifts included in the course, this course is meant for all levels.

Mondays 4 :0 0 P M -5:00P M

Tango Quickly gain basic dance moves in Argentinean tango, free of constraints and of strict boundaries.

F it n e s s Brazilian Jiu Jitsu This introduction builds fighting and grappling techniques. All levels are welcome, however this is a physically demanding art and students should be ready to challenge themselves.

Kick-Boxing This course offers the dynamic techniques of kickboxing, self-defense and to work oat a complete regimen of physical conditioning.

Pilâtes Pilâtes is a wonderful exercise system focused on improving flexibility and strength for the entire body without building bulk.

Interm ediate Wed. 7:00 PM-8:30 PM Ballroom

$45

French The beginner's class is a complete introduction, while intermediate is for those who have learned some French before. If you comprehend most of French but want to practice speaking, check out the conversational class. Please check out our selfevaluation form at ssmu.ca/mini/courses to see what level you're in.

M andarin This course will offer you conversational skills, tips for travel in China, and a oeek into the mystery of Chinese culture.

Spanish Need to brush up the Spanish skills for your next vacation to Mexico or Spain? Check out our self-evaluation form to see whnt level you're in.

S50

O thers

Tuesdoys 6 :3 0 PM -8:00 PM

Ballroom

$45

Tuesdays 8 :0 0 P M -9:00 PM

Ballroom

$4 5

Sketching (Introduction) Learn how to sketch and take this beginner's course to unlock the artist in you!

Tuesdoys 7 :0 0 P M -8:30 PM

B30

$4 5

Thursdays 4;3 0 P M -5:30 PM

Ballroom

$45

Saturday, February 7"1 9 :3 0 A M -4:30 PM

Council Room

$60

Tuesdays 4 :0 0 P M -5:00 PM

Ballroom

$45

Speed-reading Run by the Harris Institute, this class will improve reading speed, while also helping them improve comprehension and retention.

W in e T asting Taught at Ifie Masters School of Bartending, learn why you swirl, what to smell for, and where the best wines of the world come from.

Friday, M arch ô*1 4 :0 0 P M -7:00 PM

M aster's School of Bartending

$60

..C..:S | R e g is t e r in t h e C o u n c il R o o m a t t h e S h a t n e r B u ild in g o n : Monday, January 12th from 4 to 7pm Tuesday, January 13th from 4 to 7pm Wednesday, Januory 14th from 4 to 9pm (ACTIVITIES NIGHT) Thursday, January 15th from 11:30am to 2:30pm Friday, January 16th from 4 to 7pm

1010 Sherbrooke W.

Please visit our website at: http://w w w .m inicourses.ca for more inform ation

Course Schedule ond prices are subject to change. Please refer to our website for details concerning room locations, specific stort dotes & times, refund policy and cancellations. Courses start the week of January 19th, range from 5-9 weeks in duration and take place weekly in the evening with certain exceptions. Non-McGill students are welcome and may register for an additional $5/mini-course. Payment in Cash is due at the time of registration. Spots cannot be reserved. Bring your student ID. All courses are guaranteed to be fun.

f f .I f P ïV

Remember the moments with Old McGills 'St fu ll-co lo ur edition yearbook delivered in ay 2 ÔÛ 9 ! Complete with photography by HF Photo, •?i*s official portrait studio, and published by Jostens.

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one for $60 (tax included) at the SSMU office. HF Photo Studio, or online at: http://shop.jostens.com/ more information please contact Matthew Ward at (514) 398*6835 or send an email to cpm ssmu.mc ? rue Stanley. Montréal QC. H3A 1R7

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