The McGill Tribune Vol. 30 Issue 1

SSM U EXECUTIVES DID TH IS SUM M ER, PACES 6&7

~ P u b lish ed b y the Students' Society of M cG ill U n iv ersity ~ ______________ Volum e No. 30 Issu e N o .l

N EED TO PICK UP A C O U R SE? C H EC K OUR G U ID E, PAGES 12&13

G o v e r n o r G e n e r a l r e a c h e s o u t t o y o u t h in M o n t r e a l N o r t h

By Theo Meyer_______________________

Managing Editor

Governor General Michaëlle Jean speaks at a Youth Dialogue forum in Montreal North on Tuesday. Jean listened to residents’ concerns about polices abuses and media bias. ( Adam Scotti / The McGill Tribune )

Governor General Michaëlle Jean addressed an auditorium full of youth and community leaders in the Montreal North borough at a youth forum on Tuesday August 31. Jean attempted to dispel some of the pub­ lic anger that has simmered there since the shooting death of Fredy Villanueva two years ago.

Police shot the unaftmed Villaneuva, aged 18, after a dispute in August 2008, killing him and setting off several riots in Montreal North.

At Tuesday’s event, the latest in a series of Youth Dialogues held by the governor general in several Canadian cities, Jean tried to engage the community and address youth concerns.

“I’m convinced that despite young people’s many achievements, there’s still a tendency in some quar­ ters to dismiss you,” she said.

After Jean’s remarks, members of the crowd took turns voicing vari­ ous grievances: police discrimina­ tion against minorities, unfamiliari­ ty with local bylaws, and media bias against them. As they talked, the governor general sat in the crowd taking careful notes.

Youths are more likely to coop­ erate with authority figures, said one girl who spoke, if they treat youth with greater respect, rather than

“commanding like we’re animals or something.”

Most people who spoke did so in French, though a few made their comments in English. Black and white faces appeared in the crowd, including many Flaitian immigrants; when Jean briefly slipped into Cre­ ole during her speech, a number of audience members whooped.

The event hit an emotional cre­ scendo near the end of the audience remarks, when Fredy Villanueva’s mother stood up to address the crowd and told her she did not want to lose another son.

Though much of the event focused around Villanueva, some parts struck a lighter tone. Singers, dancers, and poets that performed, including “Family Squad,” a local modem dance group, and a girl in the audience who drew loud ap­ plause with an impromptu rendition of “Amazing Grace.”

Students’ Society Vice-Presi­ dent External Myriam Zaidi, who at­ tended the forum along with SSMU President Zach Newburgh, said the event was very relevant to McGill students, whom she urged to help out in Montreal communities.

“Students at McGill know how to fundraise and get things done,” she said. “They’re university stu­ dents and they should do what they can for youth in Montreal.”

1

M a n a g e m e n t F ro s h t h e m e c h a n g e d a ft e r a lle g a tio n s o f r a c is m Facebook note sparked student outcry

By Matt Essert

News Editor Less than a week before the start of faculty frosh, the Man­ agement Undergraduate Society changed their controversial “Tribal Frosh” theme following complaints of racism and cultural insensitivity.

Much of the controversy began

on August 19, when Sarah Woolf, a U3 Arts student and former Stu­ dents’ Society councilor, posted a Facebook note complaining about the MUS’s racist promotional vid­ eos. In doing so, she ignited what she termed the “unofficial launch of a campaign against the MUS Frosh 2 0 1 0 .”

“It seems I was the first person

to post this or to indicate that this was unacceptable,” Woolf said. “From there, there were many, many people who expressed great dissatisfaction with the whole thing on Facebook or through other forums.”

After reading Woolf’s post, several students wrote emails to the MUS or posted comments on Woolf’s note expressing sentiments ranging from ambivalence in the form of “I think its alright” to pas­

sionate disgust shown by comments like “SHAME AND EMBARRASS­ MENT” and “grossgrossgross.”

At the request of MUS Presi­ dent Céline Junke, Woolf met with her, MUS Vice-President Internal Aram Aharonian and frosh co-chairs Johanna Izett and J.P. Briggs, as well as several other critics of the theme on August 22 to speak on behalf of the students who had expressed dis­ satisfaction with the theme.

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Woolf “left the meeting think­ ing that there wasn’t going to be much of a change,” she said, but was pleased to see the ,MUS Frosh web­ site taken down later that day. The theme was changed to “Superhero Frosh,” and the MUS issued a for­ mal apology the next morning.

“I was happy to do whatever I could to try to rectify the situation, but by no means was this anything See “S U P E R H E R O ” on page 3

N ews c it y

F o r th e G a z e tte , no m o re S u n d a y s Montreal paper cancels its Sunday print edition, though no jobs are lost

By Theo Meyer

the newspaper’s Social Notes fea­ ture, and The New York Times Sun­ day crossword puzzle have all made Twenty-two years after its intro­ the shift. duction, the last copy of the Sunday Some readers were disappoint­ Gazette hit Montreal’s dépanneurs ed at the Sunday edition cancelation, and doorsteps on August 1, cutting Asselin said, but others were happy the Gazette’s printed editions down to make the adjustment as long as to six days per week.

The Times puzzle remained in the The venerable newspaper— paper. “I don’t think we’ve lost a Montreal’s sole English-language lot,” he said. daily—made the announcement in The Gazette cut no jobs when it mid-July, citing the small amount of made the change, and the newspaper advertising dollars brought in by the said that it will devote the resources Sunday edition. freed up by the Sunday edition’s “The Sunday edition has al­ cancelation towards increasing its ways been a challenge to break even online coverage. on,” said Bernard Asselin, the news­ The Sunday Gazette’s cancela­ paper’s vice-president of advertising- tion came just a year after La Presse, and sales, in a recent interview. “The one of Montreal’s .three French-lan­ ratio of advertising, the revenues guage daily newspapers, cut its Sun­ from circulation and so on were al­ day edition as well. ways challenging.”

“It’s part of a very broad trend Most of the Sunday Gazette’s of cutting and trimming,” said Marc popular content has been moved Raboy, the Beaverbrook Chair in to the expanded Weekend Gazette, Ethics, Media and Communications which publishes on Saturdays. Susan at McGill. “We’ve seen newspapers Schwartz’s science-focused column, like the Gazette shutting down en­

Managing Editor

Y o u t h f o r u m in p h o t o s

tirely in the past year or two, espe­ cially in the United States. I think we have to be prepared for that pos­ sibility in Canada as well.”

Other newspapers have tried to boost their weekend circulation num­ bers by offering special promotions.

The New York Times, for example, advertises special subscription rates for its Friday, Saturday, and Sunday editions under the moniker “The Weekender.”

As big metropolitan dailies at­ tempt to adjust their business mod­ els to an increasingly Web-oriented world, other newspapers may con­ sider moves similar to the Gazette’s.

“I think, on the whole, we’re going to see conventional newspa­ pers trying to reduce costs without drastically reducing their services,” Raboy said. “The Sunday edition is an obvious place to do that.”

— Additional reporting by Tori Crawford

CAMPUS

M c G ill b u y s t h ir d f o r m e r h o te l to b o o s t r e s id e n c e s p a c e Ex-Marriott to be functioning by Fall 2011

By Maria Flores

News Editor McGill added a third former hotel to its residences earlier this summer with the purchase of the Marriott Courtyard Montreal, which will be transformed into a residence in fall 2011 after a year of renova­ tions.

The university had previously expanded its residence system by purchasing the Renaissance Hotel in 2003—now New Residence Hall— and the former Four Points Sheraton in 2009—now starting its second year as Carrefour Sherbrooke.

“This year, although we as­ sumed that everyone who would want space would get the space [in residence], we really are operating above capacity,” said Deputy Pro­ vost (Student Life and Learning) Morton Mendelson. “We want to be able to meet our guarantee that our freshman students have places in residence.”

The, building, located at 410 Sherbrooke West, across the street from Carrefour Sherbrooke, is cur­ rently under renovation. McGill plans to have it ready for next year’s incoming class.

“We bought it with the under­ standing that there was work needed

on the building to improve its safety and to make it more suitable for our purposes,” Mendelson said. “That work has already started and will take place over the coming year.”

other issues as well.

“The front and the back of the building will be replaced, McGill networks will be installed, there is some jvork in the garage and the basement, and there are different cosmetic things and co-compliance issues,” Porrit said.

been a more careful assessment of the kind of work that has to be done,” Mendelson said. “We have a less optimistic—or a more real­ istic-appraisal of what has to be done and the amount of time we need to do it.”

In the case of Carrefour Sher-

Building facades to be redone in revonations of McGill’s newest residence (Alice Walker / McGill Tribune)

But safety issues are not the only thing on the agenda, according to Mike Porrit, executive director of Residences and Student Hous­ ing. The major structural project is the replacement of the building’s fa­ cade, however there are a number of

While there is much to be done before the building starts function­ ing as a residence, it will almost cer­ tainly be complete by the time stu­ dents move in, which was not true of Carrefour Sherbrooke last year.

“This time around, there has

brooke, the university spent fewer than six months completing its reno­ vation, and difficulties arose when it was discovered that more work needed to be done.

“The project grew but we were really constrained in time,” Mendel­

son said. “Carrefour Sherbrooke in terms of its renovations is complete from the point of view of areas that serve students and we expect that will be the case for the new resi­ dence in September.”

The residence-to-be, which will house roughly 270 students, has been designed mainly for fresh­ men. As part of a long-term agenda, though, McGill Residences plans to be able to accommodate exchange, visiting, graduate, and even upperyear students. “[We want to] make this new building all first-year students be­ cause it is typically more preferred by them, but we do have a high need for graduate student spaces as well,” Porrit said.

According to Porrit, a study will be conducted this year with stu­ dents regarding residences to find out what students of all years look for in housing. Based on this data, decisions will be made regarding the future purchase of additional build­ ings or the possible alteration of cur­ rently owned property.

“Residences want to encourage students in second and third year to stay in residence,” said Joshua Abaki, the Students’ Society’s vicepresident university affairs. “Hope­ fully once they finish this they will be able to attract and keep more stu­ dents in and give a residence posi­ tion to everybody who applies.”

3

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

CAM PUS

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M c G ill c a m p u s b e c o m e s p e d e s tr ia n fr ie n d ly

Bicycles and cars banned from campus as well as McTavish Street Cyclists not travelling to the university have been asked to take the bike path on University and de McGill took several steps to Maisonneuve rather than cutting make campus more pedestrian- through campus. Those entering the friendly this summer, drastically campus are asked to dismount their reducing the number of vehicles on bikes. “[Cyclists are] not to ride their both Lower Campus and McTavish bikes on campus, so we ask them to Street.

On May 28, McTavish Street dismount and that’s a difficult chal­ was closed to cars and non-official lenge,” said Pierre Barbarie, asso­ traffic was eliminated from across ciate director of University Safety campus. Changes included the re­ and Security Services, adding that moval of parking spaces, restricted disputes constantly arise between delivery hours, and the required dis­ cyclists and security agents.

“We have issues with the cy­ mounting from bicycles on campus.

“We wanted to create an en­ clers in terms of not respecting the vironment that was free of parking rules, challenging our agents, and and try to start dealing with some of our agents being verbally assaulted the transportation issues,” said Jim on a daily basis,” he said. “[Security agents] are the mes­ Nicell, McGill’s associate vice-prin­ sengers and they have taken abuse cipal (university services). “We have that nobody deserves to take,” he cyclists, cars, delivery vehicles and added. pedestrians all in the same area.”

Although happy with the chang­ The move was part of the uni­ es, Students’ Society Vice-President versity’s broader Greening McGill Internal Tom Fabian explained that initiative, as well as an attempt to the initiative has also brought a lot create a safe environment for pedes­ of complications. trians on campus. Although cars are “There’s not a bunch of cars still seen on campus, fewer parking spots and restricted delivery hours lined up all over campus and that’s between 7 and 11 a.m. have signifi- great,” he said. “But it has caused tons of hell for us to not have any canly reduced traffic.

“We had to make sure that cars on campus during Frosh and whatever traffic that does occur Open Air Pub, too. We don’t know there is the minimum possibility of when [deliveries are] going to ar­ rive. I don’t want to have a deliveran accident,” Nicell said.*I

By Maria Flores

@mcgilltribune

News Editor

News in Brief Former McGill Principal Named Canada’s New Governor-General Former McGill Principal David Johnston was named the 28th gov­ ernor-general of Canada on July 8 , capping a long academic career at biking should not be the exception.

“Certain cyclers feel that sense several Canadian universities.

Johnston served as McGill’s of entitlement that they can get any­ where with those two wheels and no­ principal from 1979 to 1994, after body should be telling them what to which he returned to teaching law do or how to ride,” he said. “You’re at the university. He has also held not supposed to be jaywalking, so positions at Queen’s University, the you will get a ticket. Why should it University of Toronto and the Uni­ versity of Western Ontario. He most be any different for bikers?”

Nicell, meanwhile, said he recently served as president of the hoped that over time students will University of Waterloo.

“On behalf of the entire McGill adapt and respect the rules.

“I don’t want our security offi­ community, I offer my sincere con­ gratulations to Prof. Johnston on cers to turn into police.” being named to this important of­ fice,” said Heather Munroe-Blum, McGill’s current principal, in a press release issued shortly after the announcement. “He will serve the people of Canada extraordinarily us.”

SSMU President Zach New­ well and will bring the determina­ burgh said that he is pleased about tion, dedication and dignity the post the way the situation turned out and demands.”

Johnston’s appointment, Mu­ thought the MUS was very gener­ nroe-Blum said, symbolizes the ous in changing their theme only a importance of research, innovation, couple of days before Frosh. and higher education for Canada’s “I think it’s a learning oppor­ global progress. tunity for everyone who was in­ “David Johnston has made an volved in Frosh week,” Newburgh enormous contribution to higher said. “I hope that when this kind of education in Canada,” she said. “We issue arises again in the future, if it at McGill are absolutely delighted does—and I’m sure it will—that the process we’ll go through in order to to see this inspired choice to be the make sure that racism and discrimi­ Queen’s representative in Canada.”

Professor Johnston has also nation and prejudice don’t exist on our campus is just as good as the end served as chairman of the Board of Overseers of Harvard University, we want to reach.”

“We all are [pleased with the from which he graduated in 1963. result],” added Woolf. “It’s a vic­ McGill awarded him an honorary tory for everyone involved, for the doctorate in 2000. In the release, incoming froshies who don’t have Munroe-Blum noted that Johnston’s to be part of a racist event, for MUS legal background should help him who has shown how to take respon­ navigate the constitutional com­ sibility for these things, and for the plexities of his new position.

David Johnston is set to take Montreal academic community as a whole. It’s a small one, but it is a over from Michaëlle Jean, the cur­ rent governor-general, on October victory.”

1.

-Maria Flores

City of Montreal agreed with McGill to close off McTavish street to car traffic (Holly Stewart / McGill Tribune)

free campus.”

Fabian agreed, however," that cyclists should dismount on cam­ pus.

“There’s a lot of bikes that come in that are not McGill students because it’s a very convenient way,” he said. “[So] we just have a huge amount of bikes coming through and that’s just taking away from students walking around, which can be an­ noying.”

Barbarie said that every other form of transportation requires a certain amount of walking and that

“ S u p e r h e r o ” m o t i f c o in e d in d a y s b e f o r e f r o s h Continued from COVER

I did by myself,” Woolf said. “Lots and lots of people wrote [to the MUS and] called them.”

Frosh co-chair Izett explained that there was never a concern of racism during the months of plan­ ning.

“The first time we heard about [concerns of racism] was the Friday when we got an email,” said Izett.

“And then the emails just came for the next three days up until Sunday night when we decided to change the theme.”

“We spent three weeks trying to decide what kind of theme we wanted,” added Izett. “We knew that we wanted to have a competition, to boost up the theme spirit, so we wanted to have something that had a sense of community and we knew we wanted four separate groups and [we thought] ‘How are we going to get them to join together?”’

“We wanted something that people could rally around,” said Aharonian. “And in hindsight, that was what we messed up on. We should have just said the blue team, red team, pink team, yellow team.

We messed up on that one.”

“The goal of Frosh is to provide the best possible welcoming experi­ ence to the incoming Management class,” Junke wrote in the formal apology letter on the MUS website.

In the letter, Junke also apologized for the theme and asked for forgivness from anyone who was offended by the theme.

The decision to change the theme placated many of the critics, but the debate over whether or not “Tribal Frosh” was a racist theme continued.

Andrew Doyle, a U4 Engineer­ ing student, former Engineering Un­ dergraduate Society president and current Engineering senator, also posted a Facebook note in response to Woolf’s. In his opinion, Woolf and others overreacted to the theme.

“The main point was that while it could have turned out to be a racist event, just imitating other cultures is not in itself racist,” said Doyle.

“Since so many people knew about the theme and the planning process [over the course of the summer], if it was racist it would have come out and somebody would have said

F o llo w u s o n T w itte r

something.”

Woolf, however, argued that even though no one spoke out soon­ er, the theme was still racist and un­ acceptable.

“There’s no getting around it: the frosh theme was racist,” she said. “The analogy that I used was you would not have a frosh theme that was ‘Frosh 2011: Black Face.’

You wouldn’t do that, so why is it okay to pick a theme like ‘indig­ enous groups around the world?”’

Paumalü Cassiday, a U3 psy­ chology student and a Kanaka Maoli, or native Hawaiian, said that he and many other native people are generally more concerned with “real world” issues. But, upon consider­ ing the Frosh theme, Cassiday said that he felt that a “Tribal” theme was racist and inappropriate.

“It doesn’t matter who it’s mak­ ing fun of, whether its Maoris, Hawaiians or whoever else—the point is that it’s disrespectful,” Cassiday said. “You’re mocking a culture that has already endured so much and whose people have overcome so much and have fought for so much.

It’s just like a slap in the face for

Curiosity delivers - mcgilltribune.com

News in Brief McGill Opens New Central­ ized Service Point for Adm in­ istrative Needs McGill opened a new inte­ grated service point in the recently renovated basement of the McLen­ nan Library, designed to centralize administrative services for students.

After nearly five years of plan­ ning and development, the $4.9 mil­ lion renovation has created a new space offering assistance with reg­ istration and Minerva, the issuing of McGill ID cards, and various tran­ script services.

“This project really is more than just about the renovation,” said Kathleen Massey, McGill’s registrar and executive director of enrolment services. “Students have complained about red tape and have complained about run-around, and despite the fact that most people have put their hearts and souls into trying to cre­ ate very good services, it wasn’t ad­ dressing the run-around.”

The service center has brought together several services that were previously spread across campus, including offices in the James Ad­ ministration Building and the Brown Student Services Building.

The Principal’s Task Force on Student Life and Learning endea­ voured to end this run-around and create a centralized office with a team of staff members that could provide almost every service from one desk counter.

“The whole point behind this service point was really to rethink how we delivered services. Not just where we delivered services, but how we did that,” Massey said.

“Really, this project is not just about the bricks and mortar,” Massey added. “It’s really about rethinking how we provide services and trying to make those services much more convenient for students.”

The new service point is lo­ cated at 3415 McTavish St. across from the McGill Bookstore and is open Monday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

-Matt Essert

I I !

I I I I I I I I I I I I I

»-

CA M PUS

J -B o a r d d i s m i s s e s p e t i t i o n a g a i n s t N e w b u r g h SSMU president cleared of wrongdoing in last year’s Winter General Assembly

By Tori Crawford

Editor-in-Chief In a June 24 decision, the Stu­ dents’ Society Judicial Board dis­ missed the petition put forward by the McGill chapter of Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights against Zach Newburgh, the former speaker of SSMU Council.

In the factum submitted last March, SPHR claimed that as chair of last winter’s General Assembly, Newburgh, who is now the SSMU president, placed himself in a con­ flict of interest. The factum alleged that this conflict of interest stemmed from the fact that at the time of the GA, Newburgh simultaneously held the position of speaker and president of Hillel Montreal. Because of this, SPHR claimed that Newburgh did not act impartially, particularly dur­ ing debate over the motion re: The Defence of Human Rights, Social Justice and Environmental Protec­ tion.

More specifically, SPHR took issue with the allowance of amend­ ments to preamble clauses, which broke precedent from previous GAs. Newburgh contended, however, that Robert’s Rules of Order, which the SSMU Constitution binds GAs to follow, permit such amendments.

During the case, the J-Board sought to determine first and fore­ most whether or not Newburgh fulfilled his constitutional duty as speaker. They asserted that only if it was found that Newburgh had violated Roberts’ Rules would they investigate whether this failure to do so was the result of bias or a conflict of interest. Citing specific clauses from Roberts’ Rules that allow for preamble clauses to be amended, the J-Board determined that Newburgh had fulfilled his duties as bound by the constitution, and therefore dis­ missed the petition.

Newburgh, for his part, was happy with the decision on a person­

al level as well as for the clarifica­ tion it provided regarding GAs. “I’m glad that my name has been cleared of wrongdoing, and I think that a little more light was shed on the conflict of interest policy that we have,” he said. “This was a re­ affirmation that General Assemblies and our various governing bodies are governed by Robert’s Rules of Order and not by precedent.”

Justyn Teed, SPHR VP finance, said that although the organization is disappointed that their petition was dismissed, they hope that the inci­ dent will serve as a tool for prevent­ ing similar disputes in the future.

“While we are disappointed with the decision, we understand that it was a complicated issue, with many different factors coming into play,” Teed wrote in an email to the Tribune. “We hope that we were able to raise awareness about the potential for bias within the General Assembly procedures to prevent any occurrences in future years.”

In addition to the specific deci­ sion in the case, SPHR v. Newburgh may have a larger impact on the rules that govern the J-Board as a whole. J-Board rules state that any petition must be submitted within 10 days of an incident. However, after consulting with the Board within a week of the GA, SPHR filed their initial factum after the 10 -day peri­ od. While such an extension is under the purview of the J-Board, New­ burgh said that a committee will be formed this year in order to examine the rules that govern the J-Board as an institution.

“There were many issues with the J-Board from the last year, and in particular the acceptance of this case,” he said. “So we’re going to be working over the course of this next year to set up a committee to look at the rules that govern the ju­ dicial board, for the reason that they should be accountable to certain rules and procedures.”

SSMU President Zach Newburgh bones up on his Robert’s Rules of Order (Adam Scotti / McGill Tribune)

Ivan Neilson, last year’s SSMU president, agreed that the arbitrary nature of the rules that govern JBoard often provide the justices with too much discretion.

“The rules are fairly out of date simply because they haven’t been looked at in depth for a long time.

Particularly last year, we saw where, or-how much, discretion is really left to the Judicial Board,” he said.

“We have a whole series of rules, and then what happens depends on the circumstances, the J-Board can choose to ignore those rules alto­ gether.”

Despite the result of the case, Teed said he was confident that SPHR will be able to work produc­ tively with the SSMU during the school year.

“The Judicial Board made its

ruling and we have accepted that ruling; we have no reason to believe that Zach will let the J-Board influ­ ence his future decisions and we are , looking forward to a professional relationship in the coming year,” he said.

Newburgh echoed the senti­ ment, and assured that SSMU would hold no personal vendetta against the group.

“I think now that the case is settled, there is now headway for us to really build a strong relationship and I hope that SPHR will take the opportunity to get close with this year’s executive,” he said. “Just like every other club on campus they are a very integral part of our commu- « nity, and if we’re going to build a community together we’re going to need their hand in partnership.”

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Curiosity delivers - mcgilltribune.com

6

OVERHEARD @ SSMU What are your long-term goals for the year?

Essentially, to build a commu­ nity together, to improve accessibil­ ity to the SSMU and to give green and sustainable initiatives a chance on campus. So, really thinking big, and that’s the acronym I gave during the campaign. The campaign may have won, but we’re going to need everyone as partners in this initia­ tive.

'

What did you accomplish over the summer?

I finished up a lot of projects that Sarah Olle had been working on. We finished the student lounge, which hopefully looks good. We’re still working on that. We finished the new meeting room next to the Lev Bukhman Room.

I worked on the SSMU Hand­ book and a lot of other publication materials. I revamped all the bro­ chures and informational material. I also made it a point to start working on the website. It’s taken a lot longer than expected.

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, i

What are your top priorities this year?

For clubs, I think that in the past clubs have felt a little alienated from SSMU—that the bureaucracy was a little difficult to work through.

I’m putting more forms online this year. That’s always beneficial. With services, it’s the McGill name and issues of liability [brought up by the McGill administration].

I’ve also been working with Zach Newburgh and Josh Abaki about getting meal card readers in the [SSMU} building, so that stu­ dents in their first year can actually use their meal card plan in the build­

In your campaign, you talked about GA reform. Is that some­ thing you will be working on this year?

That’s something that I’m defi­ nitely interested in. First of all, we need to set up a committee to review the General Assembly. See if it’s something that’s worthwhile, review its purpose and see if we’ve been fulfilling that aim. But certainly, the

GA is a first-come, first-serve de­ mocracy. We like to flaunt it as di­ rect democracy, but the reality is, it isn’t. We want to make it accessible to every single student on this cam­ pus. not just to the first 600 to show up to a room full of angry antago­ nistic individuals. I’d like to see the creation of town halls prior to a GA so we can address the issues at hand, hear debate and post that online.

Is there anything that your predecessor did last year that you are looking to change or to con­ tinue doing?

Ivan Neilson did a tremendous job in restructuring our organization.

He led this initiative to revamp our committee terms of reference. He established various sets of commit­ tees and he also removed some that were obsolete. Generally, Ivan set a positive atmosphere in the office.

I’d like to bring that atmosphere out­ side the office, making sure that the SSMU executive and the SSMU or­ ganization is known to students and is loved by students all across this campus.

McGill has never really had much school spirit or pride, but this seems to be something you want to change. Do you think that students are not open to creating pride, or that it has just never been done?

I would say that the student experience at McGill University is mediocre at best. There are few things that the administration and the students do together, but the administration doesn’t show sup­ port for us although they have the intention. Our intention is to create school spirit.

,

ing. That hasn’t been done in the past, and I think it could be really beneficial.

Did your experience working as interest group coordinator last year help you hit the ground run­ ning?

I think there’s a lot to learn in this job, because the portfolio is split between three very different areas.

You run the building, you have pub­ lications and you have clubs and services. For me, clubs was very easy, because I had been doing that.

I knew every club like the back of my hand.

What are your long-term goals for this year?

One of my long-term goals was to kind of help create the new Gerts, which is undergoing some renova­ tions. I want to phase the renova­ tions out over three years because there’s a lot of money that needs to be invested in it to make it look the way the people that created the new designs intended. We basically need to amortize these costs so that we can do a really good job, because there’s nothing worse than trying to do something very half-assed and going too fast. We’re yet to get the new actual floor plan in the works because [the designers] sent us a few

designs and they look too modern. It didn’t look like a bar that would ap­ peal to the average student. So that was a bit of a discouragement.

Is there anything from pre­ vious years that you plan to con­ tinue doing?

Something I want to continue, which my predecessor did a very good job of, is tying the faculties to­ gether, getting them into SSMU and being more friendly [to one another] and giving a face to Gerts. Gerts did really well because the faculties were really into coming in and doing their events there. That’s something I definitely want to continue.

Do you foresee any obstacles in the upcoming year?

One of the obstacles we’ve [al­ ready] had to overcome was getting a lease on the SSMU Building from McGill and that was kind of worri­ some when we first got into office.

But [negotiations have gone well], and that’s good for us because now we know we can start investing in projects that will help the building *« and increase efficiency, especially concerning our energy audit, from which our score was not that high.

But there is still a lot of room for improvement to make this building a lot more green.

7

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

In anticipation of the new school year, the Tribune sat down with SSM U’s executives to see what they accomplished over the summer and what big items are on their plate for the coming year. Our photographers, meanwhile, asked them to physically demonstrate their eagerness to spend long hours at their desks in the Shatner Building. The results were spectacular.

What are your long-term goals for the year?

To make sure we have some big events at SSMU, I created two new events that have never been done before. To promote them throughout the year, I have a campaign called the “Get Ready” campaign. I’ve cre­ ated a website that is sort of a fgrum for these six big events that 1 have for the year. I wanted to create hype on the website throughout the year for each event. I also want to fos­ ter a diversity of different, smaller events that are easier to put together through Gert’s or through whatever other means that I have.

In your election platform, you mentioned that you wanted

to get students more involved. Is that something you are doing just through these events or do have other plans to get students more involved as well?

I want to get students involved in the event planning as well. In my committee, anyone who wants to can join in, and we’ll make a committee structure and make sure there’s lots of people involved in the planning process so that we have a lot of stu­ dent input on how things should run.

I’m also contacting a lot of different faculty and departmental student as­ sociations to see what kind of events they want to put on and get them involved in planning events, and I can help out since SSMU has the re­ sources to do that.

Is there anything that your predecessor did last year that you might want to do differently?

On the events side, I delegate a lot, so I get a lot of people involved and I just make sure it runs smoothly.

In the end, it’s a student-run event, so what’s the worst that could hap­ pen? It’s not like we’re professional party planners who are contracted out. So, I don’t have a lot of stress in general because I get a lot of people to do a lot of different things and it all comes together. I’m really work­ ing on getting in contact with a lot of students, as many as I can, because that’s basically what the VP Inter­ nal’s for - talking to students, mak­ ing sure students know who I am so they can come to me with anything.

What did you work on over the summer?

I have been working with the Post-Graduate Students’ Society a lot to see what kind of strategies we can adopt this year regarding tuition increases and the ideas that our prin­ cipal is pushing for regarding tuition increases. I have also been working a lot with TaCEQ, we have created a plan of action for the year which is really great because this is the first time this is done. Finally, I did-a lot of studying about what is going on and how to counter what is going on, so I learned a lot.

What will be your strategy to prevent tuition increases?

Informing students, especially

What did you work on over the summer?

Some of the things I established as my priorities for the year, for ex­ ample keeping the libraries open longer [...] Now McLennan will be open 24 hours a day from the third week of the term until the end of the year.

I have also been working on work-study. Normally we have quite a few students apply and not enough positions, so I launched a summer research project to see where we can increase student employment, and we have already started to increase the number of students employed. * A nother thing is the off-cam pus support program for off-cam pus stu­

dents. The idea is for students who live off-campus to have fellows de­ pending on where they live to pro­ vide support and keep students con­ nected. That program is now up and running.

How are you planning to get more people sitting on SSMU’s committees?

I made a call out to students to apply to sit on committees and I received over 60 applications and they are already filled. That is also one of my priorities: to get a good base of students who represent the McGill body. I’m excited, since a lot of them seem very enthusiastic and they bring'great ideas into com­

since [the tuition freeze was lifted] in 2007. For about three years there was not much being done, there was no “threat” from the government or anyone else so we lost a lot of the people since then. Back in 2007, there were a lot of students who were informed and mobilized regarding the de-freeze, so now we have to start back from almost scratch and inform students about the conse­ quences of tuition increases as well as other alternatives. So it’s going to be a very informative year.

How will you incorporate TaCEQ with the external portfolio and SSMU? Since each VP external of the four member’s associations are the

Board members of TaCEQ I can’t incorporate it to SSMU, we are al­ ready incorporated. But SSMU is working on the TaCEQ’s website, we are going to make an English version, since the previous website/ blog was not up-to-date and with no English page. We are also going to promote the English acronym which is QSR (Quebec Student Round­ table). It’s going to be less compli­ cated for students to hear and that’s what it means. Also I’m inviting a lot of members of SSMU, making them aware of the meetings that we have each month. I’m also perfectly bilingual, so I love interpreting or translating for students who do not understand.

mittees. It’s a great way to get in­ volved.

What strategies are you plan­ ning on using to get the adminis­ tration not to increase tuition?

We launched a summer re­ search project on the self-funded tu­ ition model to help us at least coun­ ter the administration’s arguments for self-funded models.

The other thing is getting stu­ dents to raise their voices about the tuition increase, as well as show that it is contrary to McGill’s com­ mitment to improve the university within thè student body. So mobiliz­ ing senators and students as well as meeting with the administration.

JO SH U A ABAKI, V P U N I V E R S I T Y A F F A I R S

O pinion Last week, three young Canadi­ an Muslims (one a McGill alumnus) were anested for allegedly partaking in a terror plot. No evidence has so far been released, no verifiable facts fm ash o u r @ m cgiIltribune.com exposed, no hearing conducted. Still, mmrnm** j§ # these men are already considered The Art of terrorists by many Canadians. Ste­ phen Harper took the opportunity to Understanding alarm us about the “very real threat” Beautiful People of “homegrown terrorism.” So much Each Other for presumption of innocence.

That the likes of Canadian-bomand-raised Dr. Khurram Sher, respect­ “The mind of a bigot is like the ed pathologist, father of three, superWebsites where people can enter pupil of the eye. The more light you star hockey player, even a former their personal information, upload à shine on it, the more it will contract.” Canadian Idol contestant, are being seven year old picture of themselves, - Oliver Wendell Holmes cynically used by Muslim Canadian and be matched with their soul-mate A polarizing topic comes up. We Congress founder Tarek Fatah to jus­ on a thousand levels of compatibility get anxious. Adrenalin floods into tify nation-wide suspicion of anyone have caught the eyes of nerds and our veins, and our hands shake with with ties to Pakistan, Afghanistan, or other socially awkward Internet users the rhythm of our drumming hearts. Somalia - no matter how thoroughly everywhere. While most of these We don’t just disagree. We disagree Canadian - is embarrassing in the sites market themselves to the aver­ big-time. This is a sensitive subject, land of true patriot love. age, online Joe, beautifulpeople.com and today we will not compromise.

Earlier this year, we saw our attempts to grab the attention of only Today, we are settling the score. country criticizing the wardrobe of the most attractive web surfers.

We are prisoners of our nervous a handful of Canadian women, and Beautifulpeople.com is an on­ systems. We salivate over the oppor­ dictating to them how they ought to line dating site where, in order to reg­ tunity to enter intellectual combat. I dress. Isn’t that oppression? ister, applicants must be judged as at­ want to destroy your arguments. You Bigotry also reigns in the debate tractive by other members of the site. want to explode mine. over the Islamic Center in Lower That’s right-the site actually restricts With our emotions hijacked, we Manhattan, with thousands of Ameri­ who can register. These single-anddo not realize that our engagement is cans likening it to the erection of a lookings who have resorted to online severely impoverished, and our dis­ statue of Hitler at the former site of dating sites are refusing a large por­ course inevitably fruitless. Indeed, Auschwitz. Another mosque, Masjid tion of the population because they’re we will both walk away with our be­ Manhattan, has been there since not hot enough. liefs reaffirmed and our mutual hatred 1970, even before the Twin Towers.

Consider the homepage of the reinforced. Instead of understanding Doesn’t this imply that all Muslims website. The §rst picture shows two you through your experiences, I fill in are complicit with the attacks on men, four women, a snake, and a the blanks with my own prejudices. 9/11, and that all mosques are train­ lion. The take-home message from In the end, my heart oozes hatred ing grounds for terrorists? this is that if you’re beautiful, it’s towards an enemy carved out of my When will we take the time to okay to have sex with a lion. It seems own ignorance. You become a de­ ask our fellow Canadian her reasons the domain name bestiality.com was formed shadow of my own evil. for wearing the niqabl When will already taken when the founders set Has the thought of exchanging we invite Canadian men and women up their site. not just thoughts, but entire perspec­ - besides alarmists like Tarek Fatah While I don’t disagree with the tives, ever occurred to you? What if and his ilk - to talk on our shows and idea of meeting other people on the we swapped minds for an hour and express those mainstream views of Internet, this site has some serious understood one another’s sincerest Islam adopted by millions of Mus­ social and economic flaws. First, intentions? What if you could look lims, not just a few radicals? what is “beautiful?” The site’s own­ through a window and see into my We must remember that bigotry ers fail to define the word anywhere. sincerest intentions? What if I could is a process, not an event. Next time Different people find different things replay, episode after episode, the very we find ourselves infuriated by an attractive. It’s superficial to judge experiences that weaved together individual or a. group, we must ask others solely based on their looks-or, your moral fibre, and understand you ourselves a prudent question: did we rather, an edited photo of themselves. as you ought to be understood? exchange minds?

Personally, I wouldn’t want to be in

ExêH in g in g M in d s J ^ o h a m m é â f A shour

To Infinity and Beyond The glitz and glamour of attend­ ing a prestigious university in a sexy city can be quickly extinguished by seven a.m. wake-ups, whole librar­ ies worth of reading assignments, and that smug bastard in your history class who seems to expertly manage both. Before long, you’ll experience the long lines at the Arts basement

Subway and the cyberspace torture that is Minerva, then you’ll really start feeling depressed.

But we’re big kids now, right?

We’ve made it this far, to a place where light afternoon reading could be titled “The Ecological Validity of a Non-Valid Probably Improbable City-State” by Professor Tweed Jack­ et. Which is exactly why I want to start off the year with the following key words. Pay attention: they may determine your success at McGill.

Here we go: Finding Nemo, Toy Story, Ratatouille, Up, and Wall-E That’s right, animated films.

And good ones. If there’s something all these films have in common it’s that you probably liked them. If you didn’t, you are in one of the most distinct minorities in the history of

mankind. There are more people in the Solidarity For Cute Puppy Hat­ ers club than in yours. Why is this?

Because these films have consistently maintained that goal of all endeavors: creative excellence.

Since its humble beginnings, Pixar has consistently produced high-quality movies. Pixar’s journey has been fascinating to follow, with personal creativity and product qual­ ity continually in conflict with larger, strict financial goals. Despite initial­ ly being overbearing, Pixar’s parent company, Disney has been swayed by a consistent record of success to step aside and gradually give the ani­ mation studio greater independence.

Among the company’s executives are people like John Lasseter, Brad Bird and Pete Doctor - artists, not

a relationship with someone who needs to be reassured by other Inter­ net users that they’re attractive. That doesn’t sound like love to me.

Social psychological research has demonstrated that attractive people tend to be more socially ac­ cepted than others, leading me to be­ lieve that they don’t need to use tools like the Internet to meet other people.

My guess is that the beautiful people spend more time looking for love at the bars than on the web. The found­ ers could make much more with on­ line dating sites for every other group of people: the young, the old, Lady Gaga fans, lion/snake fetishists, etc.

Even subdivisions of their original site, like ididntpass.beautifulpeople. com could net them extra dough.

It’s also problematic that the site makes judges out of Internet users, which is generally a bad idea. For example, last July an online poll was launched on Justin Bieber’s website in which users voted on which coun­ try he should visit next. The leading country? North Korea. These same people are responsible for memes like “Rick Rolling” and Lolcats.

Recently, beautifulpeople.com has set up another weapon in their fight against unattractiveness, an on­ line sperm and egg bank. The bank, for those who want to have beautiful, shirtless children, will provide the means for uglies and beautiful people alike to have beautiful children. This is wrong for many reasons. Sperm banks are typically for those who cannot have children, not for those who would like to have children of a certain genetic background. It all starts to sound a bit like eugenics.

While the idea of using online dating as a means for finding true love might be a good one, beautifulpeople. com has taken this concept too far.

The site’s goals are fundamentally flawed, from their repeated attempt to build strong relationships out of pure physical attraction, to their at­ tempted removal of “ugly people” from the world. The site’s founders should re-think and re-model their business idea.

standard corporate big-shots. They’re the ones actually directing the films.

How often do the creators of art seen by millions have almost full control over how that art is made and dis­ played? Less often than Minerva makes sense, that’s my estimate.

The Pixar story is a random case for inspiring resilience at McGill, but it’s a fitting one. At McGill we are constantly surrounded by an at­ mosphere of competitiveness that demands results. Through such a pro­ cess we fit into the overall structure of the institution. There is a fine line between a culture that fosters success and one that requires its own nuanced version of it, a line McGill often flirts with. It’s bound to get tricky when the organization that rewards accom­ plishment is also the one that defines

YOUR OPINIONS HERE A R E YOU B U R STIN G A T TH E SEAM S? A R E YOU TH E KIND O F P ER SO N WITH AN OPINION ON P R A C T IC A LL Y E V E R Y T H IN G ?

BE A COLUM NIST! SEN D A C O V ER L E T T E R . C V , AND W RITING* S A M P L E TO O P IN IO N @ M C G IL L T R IB U N E .C O M

DO IT NOW. T H E T R IB IS ALSO LOOKING FOR A CARTOONIST. DON’T MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY!

it. But in the face of everything, re­ member our computer-generated friends, from the fish who got lost to the rat who can cook. Pixar was by no means getting high fives from Disney right off the bat, but now they have to dodge thankful bear hugs 24/7. It’s because they stuck with their own definition of excellence from day one.

Yes, we are big kids now. We have made it here. But let’s not roll through it; let’s rock it with eyes wide open. Whether the prof gives you an A- or a B on an essay, a student news­ paper tells you to think this and that way, or a campus group says boxers - not briefs - are the way to go, know that part of striving for excellence is defining it for yourself.

TheMcGill

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T r ib u n e w w w .m cg illtrib im e.com

Editor-in-Chief

Beginning at the Milton gates—to which I m ust walk from anywhere else

Tori Crawford editor@mcgilltribune.com

Managing Editors Mookie Kideckel mkideckel @mcgilltribune .com Theo Meyer tmeyer@mcgilltribune.com

Production Manager Adam Scotti ascotti@mcgilltribune.com

News Editors .

Matt Essert and Maria Flores news@mcgilltribune.com

Confessions of a Renegade Cyclistit.

Opinion Editor Ricky Kreitner opinion@mcgilltribune.com

Features Editors Alison Bailey and Shannon Kimball features @mcgilltribune .com

Arts & Entertainment Editors Brahna Siegelberg and Ryan Taylor arts@mcgilltribune.com

Sports Editor Sean Wood sports@ mcgilltribune .com

Photo Editors Holly Stewart and Alice Walker photo@mcgilltribune.com

Design Editor Zoe Brewster design @mcgilltribune .com

Copy Editor Kyle Carpenter

Online Editor Iain Macdonald online@mcgilltribune.com

Advertising Manager Dallas Bentley cpm@ssmu.mcgill.ca

on campus due to the newly imple­ mented and absolutely enforced cyclist prohibition - I know all the tricks to get myself hom e in the shortest time possible: treating Milton’s frequent A RRET signs and red lights as mere suggestions, barely braking while fly­ ing through a red light ,at St. Laurent and Prince A rthur, squeezing tightly around pedestrians and parked cars to slip next to the m oving traffic, h o p ­ ing drivers make space enough n o t to

To those whose m isfortune ' it

hit me. Fast approaching the complex

may have béen, at two p.m. on any given'weekday at the beginning o f this summer, after my logic class ended, to have found themselves somewhere along the m ost direct route - and I mean the m ost direct - between cam­ pus and my apartm ent on Rue St. H u ­ bert, I sincerely apologize. N o harm was intended. I acted a fool.

Understand: I consider myself a genius navigator o f these Montreal streets. My ego rests largely o n the se­ cure bedrock that is my ability to get from point A to point B w ithout hav­ ing to stop my bike or even slow it down. A nd my ego is too im portant

intersection o f Berri and Roy, my eyes scan the horizon, apprehend the situ­ ation, and I make my move. N ext I cut across the double yellow into an

o f a thing to be sacrificed for the sake o f fluffy words like safety and respon­ sibility. It’s n o t go big o r go home, but go big to get home. T h at’s my motto.

alley, through a small bank parking lot, finally cruising on the sidewalk for the final stretch, whistling past visibly aggravated pedestrians, attaching my bike to any object I can fit my lock around.

In essence, I do w hat I want.

T he only rule is that you don’t need to choose a single set o f rules. I claim the rights o f an automobile when they best suit my interests, and those o f a pedestrian when they do.

I once saw a letter in the Gazette in which the writer said that he hates pedestrians when he’s driving, and hates drivers w hen he’s a pedestrian,

but at b o th times he can’t bloody stand M ontreal cyclists. I laughed while reading this, but merely as a de­

sincerely, even if grudgingly, pledge to keep in m ind that other people actu­ ally do exist in this world besides us,

fence mechanism. My actual reaction

and that a modicum o f respect for that fact should probably be shown.

Even if it means getting hom e fif­ teen seconds later than we otherwise

was guilty as charged.

In soberer m om ents like this one ï .can admit that I ’m a serious safety hazard to myself and many, many others. It’s no w onder McGill banned bikes from campus. I ’ve already heard from a few non-cyclists w ho claim to feel much safer on campus w ith­ o u t having to be constantly on guard lest they get side-swiped from around a blind curve. N o t surprisingly, stu­ dents prefer no longer having to part like the Red Sea at that one tight spot between the grassy knoll and the Redpath M useum steps. I can hardly blame them.

I ’m comfortable with these pub­ lic confessions because I know I ’m not thç only cyclist w ho recklessly takes liberties available only to those w ho use such versatile and frankly awesome machines. I’ve seen a lot o f close calls myself. T here are accidents reported in the G azette all the time.

T he continually poor reputation o f Montreal ^cyclists cannot be entirely undeserved.

Pedal power, to paraphrase Uncle Ben, comes with pedal responsibility.

A t the beginning o f a new school year, I suggest that we collectively and

might.

The glamour of the sporting life awaits...

The Tribune is looking for a sports editor.

Send your cover letter, C v , and three writing samples to editor@mcgilltribune. com

Publisher Chad Ronalds

Contributors M a n is h a A g g a rw a l-S c h ife llite , M o h a m m e d A s h o u r, Jo h a n u B o th a , G ra e m e D a v id s o n ,

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The McGill Tribune is an editorially autonomous news­ paper published by the Students’ Society o f McGill University in collaboration with the Tribune Publication Society. Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those o f the Students’ Society or McGill University. Let­ ters 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 300 words and submitted only to the Tribune. Sub­ missions judged by the Tribune Publication Society to be libellous, sexist, racist, homophobic or solely promotional in nature will not be published. The Tribune reserves the right to edit all contributions. Editorials are decided upon and written by the editorial board. All other opinions are strictly those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the McGill Tribune, its editors or its staff.

Please recycle this newspaper.

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The Tribune applauds the Man­ agement Undergraduate Society’s decision last week to change the name of their frosh week from “Tribal” to “Superhero,” though we are deeply concerned over the predictably .hy­ perbolic reaction to the original idea.

The change came after howls of protest over the initial theme, and the online dissemination of a promotion­ al video depicting a handful of Man­ agement students posing as members of various African and Central and South American tribes. MUS pulled the video from the Internet once the extent of oppositional fury become apparent, so some of us have not seen it. However, those who did were con­ cerned by insensitive imitative attire and mock tribal dances. The deci­ sion to change the theme was right for several reasons.

First, Frosh is an environment in which the goal for many students goes no further than to get drunk and get laid. Regardless of the theme, Frosh is not a serious environment.

It’s commendable for MUS to want, as they explained in their letter of apology, a Frosh that emphasized camaraderie and group cohesiveness.

However, they should have realized that the chaotic environment in which the event takes place would inevita­

bly undermine any benefits of such a theme.

Second, depictions like those in the MUS video reduce the complexi­ ties inherent in any society to simple, easily understandable, if not always accurate, stereotypes. We are divided over whether depictions of tribes are inherently offensive-of course, no one has a copyright on specific dress or movement. However, the fact that real tribes were chosen for depiction leaves little room for interpretation, and thus the concern over their ste­ reotypical portrayal.

It’s also reductive to speak about indigenous societies only when refer­ ring to their experiences of oppres­ sion. They should be as fair game for discussion as established countries.

Still, in light of .injustice and adver­ sity that cannot be ignored, some extra sensitivity is to be expected and is generally justified.

Yet the Tribune feels that there’s a lot more at issue here than the cor­ rectness of a single MUS decision and the poor taste of a previous one.

While the Tribal Frosh theme was insensitive, “racism” is a serious accusation. A term with more con­ notations than real definitions should not be used lightly. Nobody can be seriously convinced that Manage­

ment students harbour a secret hatred of indigenous people. MUS did not intentionally spread hate and they did not incite anyone to violence.

We’re appalled, though cer­ tainly not surprised, by the breathless protests calling the original idea “im­ bued with white supremacy.” The tone and content of the anti-MUS campaign sounded all too familiar. A small subset of the student population claims to be offended-sometimes justifiably-by something said or done by a fellow student or administrator.

Immediately-and baselessly-they as­ sume the most malicious intent on the part of the supposed offender, and respond with fierce and accusatory language stolen from their professors and postcolonial studies textbooks.

Eschewing any possibility of actu­ ally teaching anybody anything or trying sincerely to correct the per­ ceived wrong, they hammer the op­ position over the head until the latter submits to their overpowering will.

It’s trigger-happy and desperate, a university-level version of bullying, hardly less brutal than if it were of the physical sort, which, as we saw dur­ ing the Choose Life protests last year, it actually does occasionally become.

At the beginning of- a new school year in-which these types of

controversies can only be expected to multiply, it’s important for every­ one to consider what the proper goal is of debate on a university campus.

Should it be to bludgeon others into compliance, or to share with them the insightful ways of thinking we have ourselves only recently discovered?

Self-righteousness and antagonism make poor teachers. Serious and thoughtful discussion is something we would like to,see more of.

Similarly, we need to re-examine the knee-jerk rapidity with which we generally assume the worst intentions on the part of our fellow students. Is there anything in our personal experi­ ence to which we can refer that would suggest our opponents live their lives with fundamentally less wholesome motives than we do ours? If not, does there remain any legitimate justifica­ tion for the screeching temper tan­ trums some students immediately re­ sort to upon deciding something has offended them?

The Tribune urges you to con­ sider these questions, and the many ways in which you might personally contribute to or detract from what, if we all decided to give it a shot, might be a truly unique atmosphere of moral and intellectual education and bound­ less growth.

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Time

Location

Tuesdays Tuesdays W ednesdays Tuesdays W ednesdays

4:00-5:30pm 6:30-7:30pm 7:00-8:30pm 5:30-7:00pm 7:00-8:30pm

B30 Ballroom B30 B30 B29

Saturday

4:00-8:00pm

Mont Royal Park

September

Danan^ BALLROOM BELLY DA N C IN G BO LLYW O O D DA NC E B R E A K D A N C IN G B U R LES Q U E H IP H O P B E G IN N E R HIP H O P IN TE R M E D IA TE LATIN DA NC E SALSA B E G IN N E R 1 SALSA B E G IN N E R II S W IN G DA NC E

Thursdays Mondays W ednesdays Mondays Mondays W ednesdays Thursdays Thursdays Tuesdays W ednesdays Tuesdays

5 :0 0 -6 :30pm 4:00-5:30pm 7:30-9:00pm 7 :0 0 -8 :00pm 5:30-7:00pm 6:00-7:30pm 8:00-9:00pm 6:30-8:00pm 5 :0 0 -6 :30pm 4:30-6:00pm 7 :3 0 -9 :00pm

Ballroom Ballroom Ballroom Ballroom Ballroom Ballroom Ballroom Ballroom Ballroom Ballroom Ballroom

E a tin g & D u n k in g B A R TEN D IN G (Masters) C A RIBB EA N C O O K IN G IN DIAN C O O K IN G ITALIAN C O O K IN G M ID D LE E A S TE R N C O O K IN G P E R U V IA N C O O K IN G BAKING & D E S S E R T W IN E TA S TIN G (Masters)

Month. & Days 28 28 29 28 29

5, 5, 6, 5, 6,

October 12, 19, 26 12, 19, 26 13, 20, 27 12, 19, 26 13, 20, 27

September

October

November

December

30 27 29 27 27 29 30 30 28 29 28

14, 21 4, 18, 25 6, 13, 20, 27 18, 25 4, 18, 25 6, 13, 20, 27 7, 14, 21 14, 21 5, 12, 19, 26 13, 20, 27 5, 12, 19, 26

4, 11, 18, 25 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 3, 10, 17, 24 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 30 1 ,8 , 15, 22, 29 3, 10, 17, 24 4, 11, 18, 25 4, 11, 18, 25 2, 9, 16, 23 3, 10, 17, 24 2, 9, 16, 23

1 ,2

September

October

November

December

3, 10, 17, 24 4, 11, 18, 25 1

1 2

6 :0 0 -9 :00pm 6 :0 0 -8 :00pm 6:00-8:00pm 5:30-7:30pm

École des Maitres Midnight Kitchen Midnight Kitchen Midnight Kitchen

27

4, 18, 25

W ednesdays

6:00-8:00pm

Midnight Kitchen

29

6, 13, 20, 27

Tuesdays Tuesdays O ne-day course

6 :0 0 -8 :00pm 6 :0 0 -8 :00pm 6:00-9:00pm

Midnight Kitchen Midnight Kitchen École des Maitres

1 ,8

28

5, 12, 19, 26 7

September

October

BUILD A C O M P U T E R FR O M S CR ATC H PUBLIC SPEA K IN G

O ne-day course

9:30am -4:30pm

B29

31

Two-day course

9 :30am -1 :30pm

B29

3, 17

S P E E D R E A D IN G 1

O ne-day course

9:30am -4:30pm

Ballroom

3

S P E E D R E A D IN G II

O ne-day course

9:30am -4:30pm

Lev Bukhman

16

Languages A R AB IC B E G IN N E R F R E N C H B E G IN N E R 1 F R E N C H B E G IN N E R II F R E N C H IN TE R M E D IA TE 1 F R E N C H IN TE R M E D IA TE II F R E N C H C O N V E R S A TIO N 1 F R E N C H C O N V E R S A TIO N II G E R M A N B E G IN N E R ITALIAN B E G IN N E R KO R EA N B E G IN N E R JAPAN ESE B E G IN N E R M A N D A R IN B E G IN N E R S IG N LA NG U AG E SP A N IS H B E G IN N E R

Tuesdays Mondays Mondays W ednesdays W ednesdays Thursdays Thursdays Thursdays Mondays W ednesdays W ednesdays Mondays Mondays Mondays

7:00-8:30pm 4:00-5:30pm 5:30-7:00pm 4:00-5:30pm 5:30-7:00pm 5:30-7:00pm 7 :0 0 -8 :30pm 4:00-5:30pm 4:00-5:30pm 4:00-5:30pm 5:30-7:00pm 7 :0 0 -8 :30pm 7:00-8:30pm 5:30-7:00pm

B30 B29 B29 B29 B29 B29 B29 B29 B30 B30 B30 B29 B30 B30

F it n e s s & H e a lt h PILATES YOGA ZU M B A

Thursdays Mondays Tuesdays

4:00-5:00pm 8 :0 0 -9 :00pm 4:00-5:00pm

Ballroom Ballroom Ballroom

December

23

Two-day course W ednesdays Thursdays W ednesdays

E d u c a tio n

November 2, 9, 16, 23 2, 9, 16, 23 3, 10, 17, 24 2, 9, 16, 23 3, 10, 17, 24

2 1, 2 1

— —

2, 9, 16, 23, 30

— ------------;-----------------

November

December —

September

October

November

28 27 27 29 29 30 30 30 27 29 29 27 27 27

5, 12, 19, 26 4, 18, 25 4, 18, 25 6, 13, 20, 27 6, 13, 20, 27 7, 14, 21 7 ,1 4 , 21 7, 14, 21 4, 18, 25 6, 13, 20, 27 6, 13, 20, 27 4, 18, 25 4, 18, 25 4, 18, 25

2, 9, 16, 23 1 ,8 , 15, 22, 29 1 ,8 , 15, 22, 29 3, 10, 17, 24 3, 10, 17, 24 4, 11, 18, 25 4, 11, 18, 25 4, 11, 18, 25 1 ,8 , 15, 22, 29 3, 10, 17, 24 3, 10, 17, 24 1 ,8 , 15, 22, 29 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 1 ,8 , 15, 22, 29

September

October

November

30 27 28

14, 21 4, 18, 25 5, 12, 19, 26

4, 11, 18, 25, 30 1 ,8 , 15, 22, 29 2, 9, 16, 23

December

2 2 2

December '

2

* Times, dates, rooms, instructors, and prices are subject to change until registration week

REGISTRATION INFORMATION NEW ONLINE REGISTRATION IN-PERSON LATE REGISRATION I IN-PERSON LATE REGISRATION II

I

September 7-13, www.minicourses.ca Activities Nights, September 14-15,4pm-7pm, Shatner University Centre September 16-17,4pm-7pm, Room B29, Shatner University Centre

I

S tudent L iving Clocky Clocky is one of the mpst irritating devices ever made, surpassing even cell phones with Ludacris ringtones. While it’s not a new gadget, it’s a sound investment for heavy sleepers. Hitting the snooze button twice cues Clocky to wheel itself off the nightstand and cruise around the bedroom floor, beeping like R2D2 on methamphetamines. The combination could wake a hibernating grizzly bear.

W ake the Fade Up The fact that all of the reviews for this product are in all caps confirms that this coffee will KEEP YOU UP ALL NIGHT. This cup of joe is the most powerful legal stimulant on the market.

Krvptonite New ettabouYork Fahiqetti dit Chain r o c k Anyone who has owned a bike in Montreal knows that bike theft is rampant.

Lehgettaboudit is an eight pound, tempered boron, manganese chain.

While it can still be cut with power tools, it’s much easier for crooks to go after the quarter-inch cable lock on the bike next to yours.

1 0 g a d g e ts that m ake September a bit easier

Pow erstU k You just left for another long night at W McLennan only to find out that your iPod and phone are out of juice and all three of the desks with outlets are taken.

The Powerstick is a portable charger for all of your favorite devices, and it doubles as an 8 GB USB storage device.

by lain Macdonald

Sharpie Liquid Pen If you’ve ever wanted M to write in pen, pencil, and permanent marker at the same time, this product is for you. It’s a pen that erases like a pencil, and writes smoothly like a rollerball pen. Three days after writing, the ink becomes permanent, like a Sharpie.

Livescribe This pen records everything you write and hear. Then, after class, you can synchronize your notes and audio ort your computer for playback.

The pen can also play back what was said in conjunction with a particular note. Although this gadget may be pricey, it’s useful for fast-paced lectures.

Dropbox Can’t remember M where you put that USB drive with your term paper on it? Dropbox can fix that. This online storage system allows users to easily access files from any computer.

With competitive pricing and an easyto-use interface, Dropbox is a good replacement for typical mobile data storage.

Bose In-Ear Head­ phones These headphones combine excellent sound quality with affordability.

While any pair of headphones are capable of drowning out library talkers, these are also comfortable enough for long study sessions.

InfoScan TS Highlighting textbooks may be a useful study tactic, but it lowers the resale value of the books. The InfoScan TS is a digital highlighter - just run it over the text you want to highlight and the pen will remember what you highlighted and then translate it into a text document.

The pen can hold up to 500 pages of text at a time, and can be plugged into your computer to retrieve your highlighted notes.

Original Ring Thing This ring has a bottle opener carved into the top side. Wear it on your hand and simply put your fist on the bottle cap and pry.

At only $8, it seems silly to buy a normal bottle opener.

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14

Curiosity delivers - mcgilltribune.com

TR A V EL

F ig u e r a s : t h e t o u r i s t - f r e e p a r t o f S p a in A seaside combination of tradition, partying, and octopus

By Alison Bailey

Features Editor Paradise on earth,or something very close to it, is located in the north of Spain, where the provinces of Galicia and Asturias meet at their northern-most points. Three cities, Ribadeo, Figueras, and Castropol,

surround an estuary giving off a spectacular view from nearly every angle.

This part of Spain is known as La Costa Verde, or the Green Coast, because of all of the rainfall it receives, creating lush green land­ scapes that cover the countryside.

Well-preserved old houses and farms add to the region’s charm. Due to the lack of sunlight, many travelers stay clear of this part of Spain, leaving you with a truly authentic Spanish

Floral patterns in the streets of Figueras ( Alison Bailey / McGill Tribune )

experience free of traditional tour­ ist attractions. After only a couple of days, I was snapping my head around any time I heard people speaking anything other than Spanish.

In the fisherman’s town of Figueras, everything revolves around the sea: the traditions, the economy, the nightlife and, most importantly, the food. Octopus, squid, mussels, crab—everything to the seafoodlover’s delight can be found here, cooked to perfection.

This is one of the few places on Earth that you will be able to find oc­ topus or calamares en su tinta (squid in its ink).

The best time of year to go to Figueras is in early August, when the small town pays tribute to a saint and a virgin, and all 700 inhabitants participate in festive celebrations.

A number of processions are held during this time. Of particular importance is one where a statue of the virgin is brought from the church to the docks where hundreds of boats are waiting to take it around the estuary, passing by Ribadeo and Castropol before making their way back to the port of Figueras where a mass is held. The following day, locals cover the streets in flowers shortly after sunrise.

Since life revolves around the sea in Figueras, going to the beach, snorkeling, and boating are the most popular leisure activities. Because of the nature of small towns, every­ one knows everyone, and going to the beach is a social event. You’ll find many more topless beach-goers than you will in North America, and

The Pennaronda beach at high tide, only a 20 minute walk from Figueras ( Alison Bailey / McGill Tribune )

that’s not to say the ratio of men to women is higher.

Figueras is also one of the best places to vacation because of the inherently easy-going and laid back nature of Spanish culture. There is no pressure to do much of anything, be it waking up before noon, or get­ ting a job before your twenties. This is perhaps a contributing factor to

the country having one of the high­ est unemployment rates in Europe, but nevertheless makes for a great vacationing place.

Figueras is a very small town that hosts only a few restaurants and no hostels. When visiting, your best chance of booking something is in Ribadeo, Galicia, only a 5 minute drive down the road.

m a r an«r che>e>£e>

By Shannon Kimball

Ingredients

Features Editor • This French twist on macaroni and cheese is a holiday classic in my family that is usually served with beef bourguignon, homemade rolls, and a few too many glasses of red wine. Now that Fve moved back into my Montreal apartment after a summer away from home, curling up with this cheesy treat is the perfect way to relax after class and let the nostalgia kick in.

The key ingredient is freshly grated nutmeg—it tones down the sharp gruyere cheese and adds a bit of sweetness. If possible, avoid buying generic nutmeg powder and splurge on real seeds and a grater.

L.

• • • • • • • •

5 oz. grated gruyere cheese 1 lb rigid penne pasta 114 cup whole milk 1 cup heavy cream 2 tbsp. butter 2 garlic cloves, peeled 1 heaping tbsp. of flour 2 tsp. freshly ground nut­ meg Salt and pepper to taste

Directions 1. Preheat the oven to 500 de­ grees Fahrenheit, or set your oven to broil.

2. Warm the milk and garlic cloves in a pan over high heat.

Once the milk has reached a boil, take the pan off the stove, and cover the pan for fifteen minutes.

Remove the garlic and reserve the milk.

3. Boil water and cook the pasta until al dente. Drain and set aside.

4. In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the flour and whisk for one minute.

Take the pan off of the heat and slowly whisk in the reserved milk.

Season to taste with salt, pepper, and nutmeg.

5. Return the pan to low heat, and continue to whisk the seasoned milk for five minutes, or until thick.

Remove the pan from the heat and add the cream.

6 . Combine the pasta with the white sauce in a large baking dish.

Add the grated Gruyere cheese on top, and broil for 5-10 minutes, until golden brown.

Not your average macaroni: gruyere cheese, penne pasta, and nutmeg ( Shannon Kimball / McGill Tribune )

J

15

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

S TU D E N T LIFE

A n A m e r ic a n S t u d e n t ’ s G u id e to M c G ill a n d C a n a d a Tim Hortons and free health care, eh?

By Shannon Kimball

Features Editor One fifth of the McGill student population is composed of inter­ national students, most of whom are American. Starting university is challenging as it is, not to men­ tion if you’re doing it in a new country. Here are a couple of tips to help you succeed in school and in Canada.

M oney M atters

• The Canadian dollar and the U.S. dollar used to be virtually in­ terchangeable, but when the U.S. market crashed in 2009 , the CAD became significantly stronger than

the USD. Even though the USD has recovered, many Canadian stores have become cocky. Cab drivers usually accept U.S. cash, but don’t count on the dépanneur cashier to do so.

• Banks offer the most fa­ vourable exchange rates, and it’s cheaper to exchange large quanti­ ties of money. If you’re receiving money from home, investigate your bank’s wire transfer fees.

While it’s expensive to perform an international wire transfer, it can take up to thirty days for an inter­ national cheque to clear.

• Remember that Canadian change is actually valuable. Don’t let your loonies and toonies pile up, or else you’ll have to pay for groceries with a bag of coins.

• Practically everything but

health insurance costs roughly $200 per semester, which is a very reasonable rate compared to plans in the U.S. Go to the student menu on Minerva to confirm your coverage. To reimburse expenses M cGill M atters • If you’re in a four year pro­ incurred outside of the McGill gram, don't forget to renew your Health Clinic, bring receipts to study permit and CAQ after three the Blue Cross office at 550 Sher­ years. Failing to do so may result brooke West.

• Canadian schools haven’t fol­ in registration problems. Allow at least three months for the paper­ lowed the grade inflation seen at work to be processed, or just pray, most first-tier schools in the U.S., that the administration will be too and McGill is no exception. Expect overwhelmed with the other four the averages in your courses to be thousand international students’ between a B- and a B. Roughly fif­ paperwork to care. Go to mcgill. teen per cent of students in each ca/internationalstudents for more class will receive an A, and most professors are unlikely to budge. information.

• You may live in Canada, but The average class grade appears that doesn't mean you get free next to your grade on the tran­ health care. McGill’s international script, so graduate schools will be

maple syrup is more expensive in Canada than in the U.S., so save the shopping expeditions for when you go home at winter break.

sympathetic.

T he Stereo typ es

• Contrary to popular belief, you won’t develop a Canadian ac­ cent during your time at McGill, unless you spend every weekend in the Maritimes. Adding "eh" to the end of every sentence to sound Canadian is just silly.

• Learn this fact: Tim Hortons is better than Dunkin’ Donuts.

• When you return home, you may encounter people wbo say things like "You go to school in Canada? My cousin Bob in from Saskatchewan! Do you know him?”

Reply "yes" just to freak them out.

O D D S & ENDS

U n f o r t u n a t e c u lin a r y a n d b a th r o o m a d v e n tu r e s

Prawn curry gone very, very wrong

By Alison Bailey

Features Editor Although I risk a great friend­ ship, and much more, by telling this story, I feel I have a duty to society that I rhust fulfill. The least I can do at this point is not disclose the name of the person to whom this hap­ pened. Nevertheless, I insist that this story -is true.

Let me begin by saying that there are some things in life that one should always remain in complete control of, such as one’s bowels.

Bob was a very good friend of mine who had a knack for cooking.

One day, upon returning from a long journey in Europe to visit his girl­ friend, Bob was cooking a wonderful

prawn curry for his darling sister and and take his mother and sister out to his lovely mother. For anyone who dinner.

It is one thing to lose control of knows anything about cooking, this meant that Bob had to first cook the one’s bowels in the privacy of one’s prawns. At this point. Bob became home. It is another to lose control of very hungry, which as we all know is such things in public, and upon ut­ a cook’s worst enemy. Bob could not tering “I fear the worst” to his sister, even wait for the prawns to defrost Bob did just that. A look of sheer before he devoured well over half of .agony appeared on Bob’s face as them. He initially felt no effects, ex­ everyone’s worst nightmare filled Bob’s underpants. Yes, he had shat cept perhaps mild satisfaction.

However, this early sentiment his pants.

Just as it seemed matters was short lived. In a couple of hours, Bob had completely evacuated by couldn’t get any worse, Bob discov­ oral means all traces of the prawns ered the washrooms were up a set of from his system. For the next 24 stairs, and were not individual rooms hours or so, Bob’s digestion was ex­ that could be locked but rather the tremely uneasy at both ends, as he public kind with rows of stalls. Well, had to rush to the washroom every desperate times call for desperate measures, so Bob instinctively took couple of hours at very little notice.

However, Bob was heading his shirt off and stuffed it in the eastward in a couple of days time, so crack of the door in hopes that this he decided to stay true to his word would prevent anyone from entering

the washroom. He then proceeded to remove all other clothing. Bob stood there in the nude, looking for means to clean himself. Toilet paper, the first and most obvious choice, is great for small clean-ups. But Bob was not a small man and the damage far exceeded any assistance toilet paper could have provided. The sink was the only way to go. * Sitting up there, a small water current running down the crevasse of his behind, Bob felt a great relief until a gentleman entered, struggling only slightly with the shirt blocking the way. You can imagine this poor man’s surprise when his eyes fell upon quite a large naked man sitting on the sink. The expression ‘wrong place at the wrong time’ was coined for precisely this situation.

Although Bob must have been able to somewhat foresee this chain

of events, one can never truly pre­ pare for a moment like this, and so Bob found himself greeting the gentlemen with a “Good evening, sir,” and after a small moment that allowed them both to fully gauge the situation he continued with “Can you please give me a moment?”

Ladies and gentlemen, our tale ends soon after: Bob left the estab­ lishment quicker than you can say “prawn curry.” Indeed, he will most likely never return. Nor will he likely eat prawn curry for quite some time.

Nor will he likely be speaking to me anytime soon. However, I do hope you have enjoyed this story and that you’ve learned whatever lessons can be drawn from this unfortunate tale.

LIKE WHAT YOU SEE? THINK YOU COULD DO BETTER? WRITE FOR FEATURES OR STUDENT LIVING MEETINGS ON WEDNESDAYS @ 5:30 RM. IN THE TRIBUNE OFFICE, SHATNER 1 10 FEATURES@MCGILLTRIBUNE.COM

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intramural

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SPORTS

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REGISTRATION DATES

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GAME DAYS

FREE AGENTS MEETING

BALL HOCKEY

MEN & WOMEN

COMPETITIVE INTERMEDIATE RECREATIONAL

$160.00 per team

August 24,12:00 to September 15,17:00

8

Mon, Tues & Sunday.

13-Sep 17:00 Tomlinson Hall

BASKETBALL

MEN & WOMEN

COMPETITIVE INTERMEDIATE RECREATIONAL

$160.00 per team

August 24,12:00 to September 15,17:00

8

Mon. to Fri. Weekends

13-Sep 17:00 Tomlinson Hall

FLAG FOOTBALL

MEN & WOMEN

COMPETITIVE INTERMEDIATE RECREATIONAL

$160.00 per team

August 24, 12:00 to September 8,17:00

8

M onday& Sunday

7-Sep 17:00 Tomlinson Hall

ICE HOCKEY

MEN & WOMEN

COMPETITIVE INTERMEDIATE BEGINNER RECREATIONAL

$750.00 per team

August 24,12:00 to September 8,17:00

11

Mon. to Fri. Weekends

7-Sep 17:00 Tomlinson Hall

OUTDOOR SOCCER

MEN, WOMEN & COREC

COMPETITIVE INTERMEDIATE RECREATIONAL

$220.00 per team

August 24,12:00 to S eptem ber8,17:00

11

Mon. to Fri. Weekends

7-Sep 17:00 Tomlinson Hall

ULTIMATE DISC

COREC

COMPETITIVE INTERMEDIATE RECREATIONAL

$160.00 per team

August 24,12:00 to Septem bers, 17:00

4 Men & 4 Women

Mon. to Fri. Weekends

7-Sep 17:00 Tomlinson Hall

VOLLEYBALL

MEN, WOMEN & CO REC

COMPETITIVE INTERMEDIATE RECREATIONAL

$160.00 per team

August 24,12:00 to September 15,17:00

8 4 Men & 4 Women

Mon. to Fri.

13-Sep 1 7 :0 0

Tomlinson Hall

* Ail sports have COMPETITIVE, INTERMEDIATE, AND RECREATIONAL levels, and BEGINNER for ICE HOCKEY PLEASE NOTE THAT REGISTRATION DEADLINES ARE STRICTLY ENFORCED - SPACE IN MOST SPORTS IS LIMITED - REGISTER EARLY

2010-2011 INTRAMURAL SPORTS PROGRAM GENERAL INFORMATION

Areyou looking for ¥/ork?

The Intramural program offers the McGill community to participate in organized sports on a recreational level.

Catering to over 400 teams and 6000 participants, McGill students have the opportunity for part-time employment to serve as officials and timekeepers.

Applications are now being accepted for officiating positions in the McGill Intramural Program for: Basketball Flag Football Ice Hockey Soccer Ultimate Disk Volleyball.

Please forward your resume (.doc) to perry.karnofsky@

ELIGIBILITY •

All full-tim e McGill University students are eligible to participate. McGill staff and alum ni w ho have purchased a Sports Complex Membership may also compete in intram ural activities.

•

Players are required to present their McGill identification card to the tim er prior to each game. Failure to com ply w ith this rule w ill prevent the individual from participating in that game.

HOWTO ENTER Individuals are encouraged to form their own teams. Teams may come from the same faculty, departm ent, residence or any other group. Captains must enter their team by paying the team entry fee on-line prior to the entry deadline. Teams are taken on a first come first served basis.

•

Delegate one member o f your team to register.

•

www.mcgill.ca/athletics - click on the "On-Line Services" icon and login

•

Click on 'Browse' under 'Leagues /Tournam ents'

•

Select the sport and league from the first tw o drop down menus, then click on the blue link under the table.

•

After paying the team entry fee, you have 24 hours to visit the Intramurals page on the Athletics and Recreation website to com plete the roster form.

•

Once paym ent has been made and the registration form has been received, your team w ill be officially entered in the league.

mcgill.ca or fax 514-398-4901. Experience preferred.

INFORMATION:

514-398-7011

FALL 2010 FITN ESS AND RECREATION CO U R SES C o u rs e Aquatics

D ay

T im e

C o st

W ks

Adults Learn To Swim (Level 1 B eginner)

M onday S aturday W ednesday S aturday Tues & Thurs

18:30-19:25 11:15-12:10 18:30-19:25 11:15-12:10 18:30-19:25

39.86/57.59

8

44.30/88.59

10

W ednesday S aturday

18:30-19:25 11:30-12:25

26.58/44.30 26.58/44.30

8 8

Friday M onday W ednesday S aturday W ednesday Friday Tuesday (beginner) Tuesday Thursday

16:30-18:25 18:00-18:55 18:00-18:55 13:30-14:55 19:00-20:25 16:30-17:55 18:00-18:55 19:00-19:55 19:00-19:55

79.74/101.89 39.87/62.02 39.87/62.02 53.15/75.31 53.15/75.31 53.15/75.31 39.87/62.02

10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10

Friday Tuesday & T hursday Tuesday & Thursday M onday Thursday M onday

18:00-18:55 17:00-18:25 18:30-19:55 19:00-20:25 18:00-18:55 2 0:3 0-2 1 :55

84.17/128.46 84.17/128.46 53.15/75.31 39.87/62.02 53.15/75.31

10 10 10 10 10 10

M onday & W ednesday Tuesday & Thursday S aturday M onday & W ednesday M onday & W ednesday Tuesday & Thursday M onday & W ednesday Tuesday & Thursday

17:00-17:55 19:00-19:55 12:00-12:55 12:00-12:55 19:00-19:55 18:00-18:55 17:00-17:55 17:00-17:55

39.87/84.17 39.87/84.17 20.38/42.53 39.87/84.17 39.87/84.17 39.87/84.17 39.87/84.17 39.87/84.17

10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10

Two D ay Course, TB A O ne Day Course, TBA Sunday M onday & W ednesday

M onday & W ednesday Tuesday & Thursday M onday & W ednesday Tuesday & Thursday Friday M onday & W ednesday Tuesday & Thursday M onday & W ednesday Friday M onday & W ednesday Tuesday & Thursday S aturday Tuesday & T hursday M onday & W ednesday S aturday Thursday M onday & W ednesday

09:00-17:00 09:00-17:00 11:00-11:55 08:00-08:55 16:00-16:55 18:15-19:25 19:30-20:40 08:00-08:55 16:00-16:55 17:00-18:10 17:00-18:10 18:30-19:40 18:00-18:55 18:00-18:55 16:30-17:55 19:00-19:55 13:00-14:10 17:00-17:55 14:30-15:40 13:00-13:55 17:00-17:55 12:00-12:55 08:00-08:55 18:00-19:25 11:00-11:55 20:0 0-2 1 :25 16:00-16:55

79.74/88.60 48.73/53.16 31.01/53.16 42.53/77.96 42.53/77.96 66.45/110.74 53.16/88.60 53.16/97.46 42.53/77.96 53.16/88.60 53.16/88.60 66.45/110.74 39.87/84.17 62.02/106.31 46.96/69.10 53.16/97.46 66.45/110.74 53.16/97.46 39.87/62.02 53.16/97.46 53.16/97.46 26.58/48.73 62.02/106.31 93.03/137.32 20.38/42.53 31.89/49.61 39.87/84.17

1 1 10 8 8 10 8 10 8 8 8 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 8 10

Tuesday & T hursday Tuesday & T hursday M onday & W ednesday Thursday Friday W ednesday S aturday S aturday M onday M onday Tuesday Tuesday W ednesday W ednesday Thursday Thursday Friday Friday Friday Friday Friday Saturday Sunday M onday Thursday Saturday Sunday

08:00-08:55 20:00-20:55 20:00-20:55 14:45-16:15 14:45-16:15 15:00-16:15 10:30-11:20 11:30-12:20 16:00-16:45 17:30-18:15 16:45-17:30 17:30-18:15 12:15-13:00 13:00-13:45 16:00-16:45 16:45-17:30 08:30-09:15 09:15-10:00 14:30-15:15 15:15-16:00 16:00-16:45 10:45-11:30 11:30-12:15 16:45-17:30 17:30-18:15 11:30-12:15 12:15-13:00

44.30/79.74

8

44.30/79.74 62.02/79.74

8 8 8 8

A dults Learn To Swim (Level 2 & 3 Interm ediate) Swim Fit (C ardio-R espiratory Endurance) Stroke Im provem ent Stroke Im provem ent

8

Dance Ballet Belly Dancing Belly Dancing Belly D ancing - A dvanced Flam enco Dance Fever Hip Hop - S treet Dance Hip Hop

REGISTRATION INFORMATION On-line and walk-in registration for fall programs begins at 12h00 Tuesday, August 24,2010 and continues through Monday, September 27, 2010. Registration takes place on-line and in the Client Services office (G-20C) o f the Sports Centre, Monday through Friday 8h30-20h00. Most classes begin instruction the week of September 13, 2010. Pay-As-You-Go classes begin the week o f September 13,2010, and run until December 19,2010.

Full-time McGill undergraduate students may register for courses at the member's fee. Non-members can register for courses but may only use the facilities during their designated class times. Please note: There w ill be no classes held on October 9,10 and 11 due to the holiday weekend. Be sure to download our TOP 10 TIPS TO REGISTER ON-LINE, found at www.m cgill.ca/athletics.

C o u rs e Sports

D ay

T im e

C o st

Tennis Intro

M onday M onday Tuesday W ednesday Thursday Saturday Sunday M onday Tuesday Tuesday W ednesday Thursday S aturday Tuesday W ednesday Thursday

16:00-16:55 20:00-20:55 17:00-17:55 14:00-14:55 17:00-17:55 09:30-10:55 10:00-11:25 2 1 :00-21:55 16:00-16:55 19:00-19:55 15:00-15:55 18:00-18:55 11:00-12:25 18:00-18:55 16:00-16:55 19:00-19:55

31.89/45.18 31.89/45.18 31.89/45.18 31.89/45.18 31.89/45.18 31.89/40.75 31.89/40.75 31.89/45.18 31.89/45.18 31.89/45.18 31.89/45.18 31.89/45.18 31.89/40.75 31.89/45.18 31.89/45.18 31.89/45.18

6 6 6 6 6 4 4

18:00-19:55 . 17:00-19:55 16:30-17:55 17:30-19:25 19:30-21:25 2 0:00-21:55 09:00-10:55 15:00-16:25 2 0:30-21:55 19:00-20:25 19:30-21:25 20:0 0-2 1 :55

88.60/132.89

10

79.74/146.18 70.88/115.17 70.88/115.17 70.88/115.17

10 10 10 10

53.16/97.46 53.16/97.46 53.16/97.46 70.88/115.17 70.88/115.17

10 10 10 10 10

Tennis Inter Jazz I & II Jazz II & III Latin Dance Lindy Hop I - Swing Dance Social Dance

Tennis A dvanced

Fitness & Wellness Abs, B ack & Bootie Body Design Body W orks B oot Camp Cardio Jam C lassic Cardio CPRXFirst Aid CPR R e-C ert De-Tox C ycle Hatha Yoga I

Tuesday & Thursday

Hatha Yoga II Kick, Punch, Jive & Jam Pedal Jam Pedal & Pum p Pil창tes Pilates/Yoga Pil창tes I & II Power Yoga

Spin Spin & Trim Step Tai Chi Zum ba

Sports Fencing I Fencing II H ockey I H ockey II Skating

Squash Intro

Squash Inter

McGill

51.39/69.10 35.44/53.16 23.92/37.21

6

W ks1 !

6 6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6

Martial Arts A ikido

Tuesday and Friday

C apoeira Judo Karate Kendo

M onday, W ednesday, Friday M onday & W ednesday M onday & W ednesday Tuesday and S aturday

Kickboxing Kickboxing - S avate I Kickboxing - S avate II Tae Kwon Do Shaolin Kung Fu

M onday & W ednesday Tuesday & Thursday Tuesday & Thursday M onday & W ednesday Tuesday & Thursday

Outdoor Pursuits | Equestrian

j S aturday Sunday

13:30-15:25 13:30-15:25

141.76/150.62

6 6

M onday & W ednesday Tuesdau & Thursday W ednesday & Friday Tuesday & Thursday Tuesday & Thursday Tuesday & Thursday Tuesday & Thursday Tuesday & Thursday M onday & W ednesday Tuesday & Thursday M onday & W ednesday Tuesday & Thursday M onday & W ednesday M onday & W ednesday M onday & W ednesday M onday & W ednesday

12:15-13:00 12:30-13:15 12:15-13:00 12:15-13:00 13:00-13:45 12:15-13:00 13:00-13:45 12:00-12:45 12:15-13:00 12:15-13:00 12:00-12:45 13:00-13:45 13:00-13:45 13:00-13:45 13:00-13:45 12:15-13:00

13.29

13

M onday Tuesday W ednesday Thursdcfy Friday Friday Friday Sunday

18:00-18:55 17:00-17:55 18:00-18:55 17:00-17:55 17:30-18:25 18:00-18:55 12:30-13:25 12:00-12:55

2.21 2.21 2.21 2.21 2.21 2.21 2.21 2.21

STAFF FITNESS A qua Fitness B adm inton [FULL] Belly Dancing Body Design - A dv Body Design - Intro D ance A erobics H atha Yoga I H atha Yoga II Pil창tes - Intro Pil창tes - A dvanced P ow er Y oga Lite Spin [FU LL] Stretch & Strength Tai Chi Tennis [FULL] Zum ba

Fitness & Wellness (Pay-As-You-Go) STEP TAE BOX B O O T CAM P B O D Y D ESIGN P O W E R YOG A SPIN ZU M B A ZU M B A

One On One Fitness A ppraisal (Private) P ersonal Training (Private) P ersonal Training (Sem i-Private) Skating (Private) S kating (Sem i-Private) Squash (Private) Squash (Sem i-Private) Sw im (Private) Sw im (Sem i-Private) Tennis (Private) Tennis (Sem i-Private)

23.92/37.21

by by by by by by by by by by by

appointm ent appointm ent appointm ent appointm ent appointm ent appointm ent appointm ent a ppointm ent appointm ent appointm ent appointm ent

6

or www.mcgill.ca/ athletics

44.30/48.73 44.30/48.73 58.47/67.33 17.72/22.15 23.92/32.78 26.57/31.00 35.44/44.30 17.72/22.15 23.92/32.78 26.57/31.00 35.44/44.30

1.5 1.25 hrs 1.25 hrs 1/2 hr 1/2 hr 4 5 min 4 5 m in 1/2 hr 1/2 hr 1 hr 1 hr

A&E S ΠO C 3 Q E Q aO Q EO aD aCD Q m U 8 B S P E IE O C O ffC tK jrs

BBEBB

SSMU FROSH On Sunday night SSMU froshies were treated to one final night of entertainment, a concert starring Torontonians k-os and Keys N Krates.

Keys N Krates featured a drummer, keyboardist, and DJ with a laptop and turntables. The band describes their work as “hands-on remixing,” a style that transforms recognizable riffs and melodies into rave-style mixes. The band’s great­ est strength was their manipulation of tempo, and in turn, the audi­ ence. The trio used Hitchcockian suspense to create explosive and dance-worthy moments. k-os introduced himself as a “sonic scientist,” and “rap n’

8

roller,” and he lived up to the title.

His music defies any kind of cat­ egorization, blending pop, hip-hop, rock, rap, and reggae. His lyrics are saturated with literary references and social commentary, leaving plenty of room for interpretation. 1 still haven’t figured out if the lines “Everyday is Saturday night / But I can’t wait for Sunday morning” are about partying or the apocalypse.

Both groups had good things going for them, but in the end, the performances were a little too “frosh.” Just like newly emancipat­ ed teenagers, the bands felt it neces­ sary to set aside normal behaviour and go a little wild.

Keys N Krates frequently

NXNE 2 0 1 0 This year's North by Northeast music festival featured close to 650 bands on over 40 stages through­ out Toronto. Often playing second fiddle to the similarly named, but • unrelated, South by Southwest fes­ tival, 2010 seemed to be NXNE’s coming-of-age. From scoring bigname headliners like Iggy and The Stooges and De La Soul, as well as a good number of up-and-coming buzz bands like Surfer Blood and Avi Buffalo, this year’s line-up

A demanded attention. The festival might not have “taken over” the city, but it was pretty hard to ignore.

Starting off a packed Thursday night, Montreal’s Young Galaxy and The Besnard Lakes brought their atmospheric guitar rock to the Mod Club. The former charmed with a mid-set shower of bubbles from the ceiling and the latter hit it out of the park, playing a tight set en­ hanced by the impeccable lighting system. Later at the Dakota Tavern,

LOLLAPALOOZA Since becoming permanently stationed in Chicago’s Grant Park in 2005, Lollapalooza has consistently delivered two things: impressive lineups and droves of people look­ ing to see said lineups. This year featured hugely popular artists such as Green Day, Lady Gaga, and

played an annoying pitch that sounded like a fire alarm and k-os’ performance lacked his regular polished sound. Unpleasant guitar solos, dissonant noises, and bizarre sampling were abrasive, not edgy.

But the audience was happy Sunday night, the concert was free, and the music was invigorating. But I think we could have done with a little less chaos.

—Emma Hambly

8+

Arcade Fire alongside only slightly lesser-known but no less awesome acts, including Mumford & Sons, Chromeo and Wolfmother. Dozens of other bands and a host of DJ acts also took to the park’s eight stages.

Most sets can seem upsettingly short for diehard fans, but to those

Alberta’s Ghostkeeper gave the au­ dience a taste of their raw countryblues while Japandroids drained the crowd’s remaining energy with their 2 a.m. “surprise special guest” slot.

Friday night saw garage-rock take over the sweltering Garrison, with California’s Best Coast and The Soft Pack hitting the right blend of noise and pop to dance the night away.

Not to be outdone by club shows, the Hollerado Nacho House

(nachos and beer in a house that isn’t yours) was a festival highlight.

Taking place on a warm and sunny Thursday afternoon, close to 200 people crowded onto the apartment rooftop of Audioblood Media, a Toronto press and management team, to watch a slew of young and promising GTA bands. By the time Hollerado took the stage, the crowd was as enthusiastic as they were inebriated ($3 beers, anyone?), but they pulled out all of the stops

anyway, including confetti cannons, spray-paint, and a hefty dose of performer-crowd interaction.

If there’s one gripe about NXNE it’s that, unless you find yourself at Dundas and Ossington, it’s nearly impossible to venue-hop without breaking the bank on cab fare. Your best bet is to pick a venue for the night and stick to it.

—Ryan Taylor

with a more casual musical interest, they are fast paced and exciting. X Japan—a riveting Japanese metal band—delivered a particularly excellent show, rocking out in full heavy metal regalia, using huge pyrotechnics, and braving the 35 degree heat in black leather and

chains.

People who are claustrophobic, heat-sensitive or picky about acous­ tics should probably skip Lollapa­ looza, because it’s about the experi­ ence. Yes, the crowds are vast, the acoustics are bad and holy God, it gets hot. But even if you are one of

the finicky ones, it would be remiss of you to skip over Lollapalooza next summer. Grab a five-dollar beer and get ready to spend three days packed like sardines with a cheerful and drunk crowd witness­ ing some outstanding performances.

—Lukas Samuelson

CP'S SUFJAN STEVENS - ALL DELIGHTED PEOPLE EP

(Pioneer Local)

Dropping out of nowhere this summer, the All Delighted People mega-EP (the thing is 60 minutes long) is Sufjan Stevens’ long-await­ ed return to song-based material.

The EP is an all-encompassing affair and serves as an both an excel­ lent reminder of Stevens’s work to date and a crash-course for the initi­ ated. There’s the sweeping orches­ tral-pop of Michigan and Illinois, the hushed, acoustic ruminations of

Seven Swans, and even the electron­ ic blips of Enjoy Your Rabbit and symphonic flourishes of The BQE. It’s impossible to talk of the EP without mentioning how it begins and ends: with two behemoths of songs that couldn’t be more differ­ ent. The title track—an 11-minuteopus loosely based on Simon and Garfunkel’s “Sound of Silence”—is unapologetically grandiose, taking the densest arrangements from Ste­

vens’ back catalogue and cranking them to 11, with pretty spectacu­ lar results. Meanwhile, 17-minute album closer “Djohariah” (billed as a “guitar jam-for-single-mothers”) builds a cacophonous guitar solo around a fusion-y vamp, and rewards attention spans with some spectacu­ lar instrumental crescendoes. It’d all be incredibly self-indulgent if it wasn’t so good.

In between the two, piano bal­

lad “The Owl and The Tanager,” finds Stevens’ lyrics at their most unsettling: “You touched me inside of my cage / Beneath my shirt your hands embraced me / Come to me feathered and frayed / For I am the ugliest prey.”

The 50 States project be damned, Sufjan is back, and we can all collectively exhale.

—Ryan Taylor

19

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

BEST COAST - CRAZY FOR YOU

( Pioneer Local )

8+

If you believe the hype (and the blogs), California’s Best Coast have made a life-changing, mustown debut record in Crazy For You. I'm not as convinced. Sure, frontwoman Bethany Cosentino and partner Bobb Bruno have crafted a warm, hazey, washed-out record with reverb-soaked vocals and some pretty killer melodies, but that can describe most noisy, pop-punk ga­ rage bands operating today. Frankly, I just don’t see what makes it all that special. And so it goes with

hype, imposing insurmountable expectations on albums that might be otherwise decent. But to dismiss Crazy For You as overhyped hip­ ster trash would mean missing out on what’s actually a pretty good record.

If one thing is apparent on a first listen, it’s that Cosentino can sing. Her delivery is clear, clean and powerful. The lyrics are more polarizing - such simple proclama­ tions of longing, heartbreak and eventual satisfaction are as easy to write off as shallow as they are to

admire for their sincerity. Deciding which school of thought you fall into is the biggest hurdle to clear in order to fully enjoy the album, but her vocal ability is enough to appre­ ciate on its own merits, regardless of lyrical content.

Musically, the album gets a lot of mileage out of the key of G and songs follow a standard pop form.

However, there are enough hooks and sing-a-long moments to distract from the fact that a lot of the album feels somewhat similar.

An album that requires some

serious thought to appreciate this is not, and there are no musical nu­ ances to discover on repeat listens.

Rather, Best Coast is a “whatyou-hear-is-what-you-get” kind of band, straight-forward and without pretence in every respect. If you strip away all of the hype, you get a good (not great) album which makes for easy and enjoyable sum­ mer listening.

—Ryan Taylor

T V SHO W S ENTOURAGE Going into the show’s seventh season, Entourage followers have been anxiously waiting all year for some new excitement in the life of Vincent Chase and the boys.

After leaving off last season with Vince filming in Rome and Eric finally proposing to Sloan, Vince begins shooting a new movie in which he’s persuaded to do his own dangerous driving stunt. Fol­ lowing a near death experience, Vince’s attitude about life and love starts to change completely and sub­ sequently alters his day-to-day rou­ tine. But Vince’s storyline unravels slowly—almost tediously so—and the humour is definitely not as witty as it has been in past seasons. But, have no fear—things pick up in the last couple of episodes, as Vince’s drug use and new relationship with pom star Sasha Grey become quite

B an issue with the new movie he’s signed on for.

Meanwhile, other characters have equally interesting story arcs.

Ari is trying to build up his agency and looks to sign an NFL team in L.A. But with Lizzie on the prowl, trouble becomes inevitable. Turtle lands a tequila venture through Alex, a former employee from his failed car service business, and hires Vince to be face of the line even though funds are running low.

Drama continues to look for work to foot his bills and get his life back on track. Recent episodes have given some hopeful signs that he is ready to take another stab at a Hol­ lywood career, but he is reluctant to voice a monkey in a cartoon series.

As usual, Eric tries to mediate every situation in order to ensure that no one screws anything up.

Vince, Ari, and the gang are up to their usual shenanigans in the show ’s seventh season ( Pioneer Local )

Entourage has thankfully start­ ed to get better with each episode,

THE REAL WORLD: NEW ORLEANS Despite wavering in popularity, The Real World is to reality TV

what Columbus is to accidentally finding continents. Call it an inno-

All smiling faces here, but we all know that’s never really the case on the Real World ( Pioneer Local )

vator, call it an institution—either way, the franchise has produced 23 seasons, not including their latest, The Real World: New Orleans.

This time around, the focus of the show has been the tension between Ryan, an eccentric homo­ phobe, and Preston, his openly gay housemate. Their verbal battles have escalated into a season-long series of pranks that most people would have abandoned as a method of conflict resolution long ago.

These include messing with each other’s belongings and getting at each other’s throats, but never ac­ tually throwing a punch. Despite several attempts at a resolution, the feud has continued to escalate, peaking with Ryan calling the po­ lice on Preston in the latest episode.

While the conflict has been the meat of the show, there have been a few choice subplots as well. These

so there’s hope that there is much to look forward to in the rest of the

Binclude the relationship between Knight and Jemmye (it’s no shocker that at least one pair on any given Real World will pair up), McKen­ zie’s reckless drinking, and Sahar’s attempts to start a singing career.

However, while most of the house­ mates and plotlines are interesting enough, there are a couple of “noth­ ing” characters who simply have no right to be on TV. Specifically, I’m talking about Ashlee and Eric: the pair are rarely involved in any major storyline, and are instantly forgettable when they’re off-screen.

A testosterone-fuelled dude with an anger problem or a backstabbing gossip girl would be a welcome re­ placement for these two nice, meek types in season 25.

—Kyle Carpenter

season, —Brittany Rappaport

20

Curiosity delivers - mcgilltribune.com

TRUE BLOOD Picking up immediately from the intriguing cliff-hanger of season two, season three begins with Sookie Stackhouse enlisting the help of the (very sexy) vampire Eric in order to look for Bill, who has just been abducted by a mysterious source. As the season unfolds, it turns out that it is Russell Edgington—the vampire king of Mississippi- who, along with a brigade of werewolves, has taken Bill as a prisoner.

A host of outrageous events begin to unravel throughout this action-packed season. Sookie finds a friend in the unbelievably attractive werewolf Alcide and almost dies on several occasions, Jason finds a

A new ambition in becoming a police officer, Sam finds his long awaited birth roots in a nasty white-trash family, Arlene realizes she is preg­ nant with the baby of her serial killer ex-boyfriend, and Lafayette gets a boyfriend. Most exciting of all, the love triangle between Eric, Bill, and Sookie comes to a head as Bill’s ac­ tions become increasingly sketchy and sexual tension between Sookie and Eric steadily rises.

For True Blood enthusiasts, this season has gone above and be­ yond to deliver fans with everything there is to love about the show: sex, violence, an endless supply of man candy, a kickass soundtrack, and of

JE R SE Y SHORE 2 This summer’s reality shows lacked complexity, and tended to fa­ vour one overblown storyline over a more cohesive selection. Jersey Shore's Miami revamp is no excep­ tion. The silly idea-tumed-culturalphenomenon has primarily focused on the on-again/off-again relation­ ship between last season’s only serious couple: Ronnie and Sammi.

Despite breaking it off between

course, blood. Lots and lots of blood.

The only real pitfall of the season is the slight overkill of sexual violence.

In addition to Bill’s torture at the hands of Russell and Lorena (Bill’s vicious “maker”), after spending all of season two in a Bacchic frenzy, Tara is raped and taken as the hos­ tage of vampire Franklin .But with one episode left to satiate the pal­ ette of True Blood lovers, I have no doubt that this season will end with the bang to rival all season finales.

—Brahna Siegelberg

Bill rescues Sookie from yet another near-death experience (Sidereel)

B

seasons, the couple (sort of) re­ kindled their relationship in Miami, although it’s far from perfect.

The majority of the early episodes focused on Ronnie blow­ ing off Sammi, getting too drunk, and making out with—to borrow a Shore term—“grenades.” The later half dealt with the consequences of telling Sammi about Ronnie’s behaviour via an anonymous let­

ter. What the show’s producers seem to be forgetting is that aside from Vinny, Sammi and Ronnie are arguably the two least interesting characters in house. Instead of get­ ting into the Ronnie/Sammi fiasco, more time is spent wondering what Situation, Pauly D, Snooki, and JWoww are doing. Remember when you were a kid and you’d be disap­ pointed whenever The Simpsons

ran a Lisa episode? It’s kind of like that; no matter how interesting the plot, downplaying a show’s best characters is never a good idea.

To be fair, some time was spent on the girls’ reaction to the return of Angelina, an outsider who left the first season after only three episodes. But still, the stories in­ volving the most interesting charac­ ters have been weak—nobody cares

that Snooki knocked over a tray of chicken. If that’s the best they can do then there’s serious doubt about the quality of the rest of the season, let alone season three.

—Kyle Carpenter

M c v te s TOY STORY 5 Just when you thought that Pixar couldn’t perfect another time­ less movie, they’ve done it again.

Although I’ve always been pretty skeptical about sequels within the animated genre—need I mention Little Mermaid 2, Lion King 1.5 — this third instalment of Toy Story has truly proven that sequels can rank up to par with their original.

Andy is all grown up and about to start college. But where does this leave his childhood best friends Woody, Buzz and the rest of the gang? As our favourite, fun loving team of toys are uncertain about what lies ahead in their future, they find themselves leaving on a journey out of the safety of Andy’s

INCEPTION It would not be presumptuous to call Inception the movie event of the year. Certainly no other film this year has generated nearly the same amount of buzz as Christopher No­ lan’s most recent blockbuster.

Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) is an extractor, a thief who steals thoughts from the minds of his targets through their dreams. He is hired by a powerful businessman

A room and into Sunnyside Daycare.

An entire new world of toys awaits them there, not to mention the new faces and grubby hands of some rowdy toddlers. The impression­ able leader of Sunnyside’s toys, Lotso Bear, quickly convinces Andy’s toys to stay there rather than take Woody’s advice and return to Andy. But, the toys soon discover that Lotso has some baggage of his own—a dark past that is steering them towards toy box doom.

As we grow into an age where technology, as well as the minds of both directors and producers, are continuously reaching boundaries that were never thought possible, you no longer have to be eight and

under to enjoy an animated film.

Although this movie speaks mostly to the 90s generation, both young and old should be prepared to smile from ear to ear (but also have a few tissues on hand). In the movie where “no toy gets left behind,” I’m pretty sure no one will feel left out of this heartwarming tale of new friends and old.

—Brittany Rappaport

The toys realize it’s not all fun ‘n games at Sunnyside ( Celebrity Wonder )

B+

for a different purpose: to implant an idea into the mind of a rival tycoon’s heir. The complexity of the assign­ ment requires multiple dreamswithin-dreams, dangerously stack­ ing new illusions upon old, until it is impossible for anyone to define a start or an end to anything,.including the viewer. Rough explanations are given, but the film thrives on ambi­ guity, and provides more questions

than answers.

Despite occasional flashes of something deeper, Inception is still a heist film at its core. There are some spectacular and innovative scenes to liven the rest of the usual action fare, which is a saving grace as Nolan still has not mastered the direction of more conventional ac­ tion scenes. DiCaprio is thoroughly unremarkable as usual, with only Jo­

seph Gordon-Levitt making any real impact from amongst the supporting cast.

Although relentlessly over­ hyped, Inception is as good an ac­ tion movie as you’re bound to see this year. Regardless of what one may think about the film’s conclu­ sion, the sheer amount of discussion (and revenue) generated indicate that Nolan’s own act of inception

succeeded.

—Graeme Davidson

21

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

SHREK FOREVER AFTER Reclining in my IMAX chair and slipping on my 3-D glasses, I was totally prepared for Shrek 4 to suck. Instead, I partook a fun, genu­ ine, and hilarious ride through the fairy tale world in absolutely gor­ geous IMAX 3-D. The movie gets off to a bit of

DESPICABLE ME Despicable Me was touted as Universal’s answer to Pixar’s steady stream of successful, adorable, and quirky animated films including Up, Ratatouille, and The Incredibles.

While the style of Despicable Me may resemble that of Pixar, and the characters are of the same eccentric variety, Despicable Me offers a new and interesting story for children and adults with a villain whose sole de­

A-

a slow start, with Shrek trapped in a “Groundhog-Day-esque” scene of mundane family life. Consider­ ing Shrek originated as the anti-cute fairy tale, the scenes of tiny ogres cooing and family life gone wrong were - with the exception of the most unpleasant kid I couldn’t get

8+

sire in life is to make others as mis­ erable as he is. The main character, Gru (Steve Carell) is an established villain who faces competition from an up-and-coming villain named Vector (Jason Segal). When it be­ comes clear that Gru might be los­ ing his status as the world’s greatest villain to Vector, he decides to hatch an impossible plan to steal the moon and regain the respect he has lost.

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CTA is actually seeking for top-level candidates in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering to tackle either Master, Doctorate or Post-doctorate projects.

enough of - a bit much for me. But when Shrek makes his deal with the dastardly Rumplestilstkin and gets transported to a world in which he was never bom, wonderful things happen.

All your favourite characters - Donkey, Puss, and the rest - are

Gru adopts three orphan girls and tries to use them as part of the plan to break into Vector’s house, steal a shrink ray, and take said moon. In the process, Gru must decide which is more important: preserying his reputation, or acting as a parent to the girls he has adopted to assist in executing his plan.

The film presents the familiar trope of being true to oneself and overcoming obstacles in a different way, as the inherently unlikeable Gru stmggles between doing what he loves and sacrificing it for his new family. While the movie is not

back, but with a twist: they have no idea who Shrek is. Watching Shrek struggle to recreate the life he lost and win back all his friends is a de­ cent story, and, more importantly, leaves plenty of rooms for gags. Far, far away better than Shrek the Third, and maybe even on par with the

first couple, Shrek 4 is a great way to spend a couple hours. Plus, for an Ogre, Shrek looks great in 3-D. —Mookie Kideckel

Despicable or lovable? Gru must decide where he stands ( Movie Carpet

as charming as its Pixar counterparts have been, it has a sweet message of self-acceptance and love, and proves that Disney’s animation powerhouse

isn’t necessarily beyond competition.

—Manisha Aggarwal-Schifellite

DINNER FOR SCHMUCKS Dinner for Schmucks seem­ ingly has a lot going for it: a funny premise (based on the French film Le Dîner de cons) and a big-name comedic cast. It turns out that some­ times the sum can be less than its parts. For one thing, most of the movie takes place before the actual “dinner for idiots” where financial executive Tim (Paul Rudd) has to debut successfully in order to final­ ize a promotion. To do so, Tim is forced to find someone moronic for his superiors to secretly ridicule, and invite him to dinner. Tim’s unwit­ ting victim is 1RS agent and ama­ teur taxidermist Barry (Steve Carell) who agrees to the event thinking that he will be there to show off his “mousterpieces”—famous artworks recreated using embalmed mice.

Barry’s arrival means disaster for Tim and we spend most of the movie watching him attempt to stop his life from unravelling. When we finally hit the dinner, it isn’t as entertaining as it could have been.

Despite some headlining names, Barry’s fellow schmucks prove un­ derwhelming. The Hangover's Zach Galifinakis’s best laughs came from his costume, and Jemaine Clement has a few very funny moments as an outlandish artist, but these moments aren’t enough to revive the film.

Most of the laughs can be attribut­ ed to Carell, whose chemistry with Rudd is disappointingly bland.

Apart from three or four quot­

able lines and one very endearing moment, Dinner for Schmucks of­ fers little, proving the Hollywood comedy formula doesn’t always work. Hiring a bunch of comedic giants «with blockbuster power and putting them all together doesn’t necessarily add up to hilarity. The hors d’oeuvres were tantalizing at this dinner party, but the main course failed to deliver.

— Emma Hambly

Carell and Rudd aren’t quite the hilarious duo you’d expect them to be ( Celebrity World )

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SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD This is one of those movies throughout which you chuckle a bunch of times, have a few hearty glances at the person sitting next to you, and basically enjoy thoroughly.

But I won’t give it much more than that.

It’s a Toronto-based hipster extravaganza about girls who dye their hair, listen to cool bands, and have vegan ex-boyfriends, and guys who barely straddle the line between endearingly awkward and terribly inept. Based on the graphic novel

of the same name, Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera) is a video-game playing, high-school student dat­ ing, unemployed bassist who is sud­ denly love-struck by the uber-cool Ramona Flowers. If he wants to win her heart, he must use his videogame skills to fight off Ramona’s “seven evil exes”—each of whom is more absurd than the last.

As per usual, Michael Cera does the funny awkward thing. But something about him being sexually active and somewhat of a jerk in this

B+

role is not convincing. If you like stylized movies, the film certainly does a good job of presenting itself as an adapted graphic novel, with points racking up in the upper comer of the screen whenever Scott wins a battle, and the word “riiiiiing” float­ ing across the screen each time we hear the phone.

Scott Pilgrim is cute and funny at times, but you might leave the the­ atre feeling as if jo u ’ve just played way too much Guitar Hero.

—Brahna Siegelberg

----------------- S ports-----)

I

, FO O T B A LL

R e d m e n s h o w p r o m is e fo r u p c o m in g s e a s o n

By Adam Sadinsky Contributor

For four decades, Redmen foot! ball victories against rival Universi; ty of Toronto were treated like blue | moons, solar eclipses and Maple !

Leafs’ Stanley Cup — they didn't [ > happen very often. McGill removed > itself from that list Saturday as the ! team opened its gridiron season with | a 40-17 win over the Varsity Blues in | an exhibition contest at the Varsity Centre in Toronto. The victory was the Redmen’s first against Toronto since McGill’s triumph in the 1979 Yates Cup. The win sent a message to the rest of Canadian Interuniver­ sity Sport that McGill, which won a game last year for the first time in three years, is a resurgent team looking to do even more damage in 2010 .

The teams began the game hesi­ tantly as both starting quarterbacks threw interceptions early on. To­ ronto opened up the scoring midway through the first quarter on a 13-yard touchdown pass by Andrew Gillis.

“Even though we started off poorly, the guys stayed with it and continued to believe and play hard,” said Head Coach Sonny Wolfe.

McGill evened up the score - when sophomore quarterback Jona­ than Collin connected with CharlesAntoine Sinotte for a 48-yard touch­ down strike. Collin would finish the day 11-for-17 with one interception.

The McGill ground game was particularly effective, especially the relief performance of freshman run­ ning back Sean Murphy. After an Austin Anderson rouge put McGill

The Redmen will start to build on their 2 0 0 9 season at their regular-season opener Sunday. ( John Kelsey / McGill Tribune )

up 8-7, Murphy broke for a 59-yard run, earning the first touchdown of his career.*Two Anderson field goals in the last minute of the half pushed the score to 21-7 before Murphy struck again with a four-yard run from scrimmage, capping off an 86 yard drive to begin the third quarter.

Although junior Taylor Kuprowski will handle the majority of the car­ ries once the regular season gets under way, Murphy shows promis­ ing potential.

While McGill’s offense was ex­ plosive, the defense performed just as well. The Redmen shut down their Old Four rivals, holding them to a mere 26 yards on the ground and an average of just 1.1 yards per rush.

Since the game was an exhibi­ tion, the 1,000 fans at the Varsity Centre got a good look at a number of players who will occupy substi­ tute roles when the regular season kicks off on Sunday. All 56 players

on the Redmen roster got some play­ ing time in Wolfe’s first opportunity to see his squad battle another team.

“It was an away game against an opponent and an opportunity to have some team-building going on,” said Wolfe.

For a program that has been mediocre at best over the last four years, the future looks bright as many defensive starters and a soph­ omore star quarterback return. With one year of experience under his belt

and joined on offence by returning vets in fifth-year wide receiver Si­ notte and kicker Austin Anderson, Collin could just be the leader of a group that gets McGill back in the playoffs for the first time since 2006.

While a three-win year and a fifthplace finish in 2009 was an improve­ ment over the goose eggs of the two previous years, the Redmen could be headed even higher.

THIRD MAN IN Expecting the unexpectecL.and not getting it*I Every few years, the stars will align to deliver the hard-core sports fan with an entire summer’s worth of quality entertainment. Of course, there are always specific dates in June, July, and August that are worth marking down, but only in the rar­ est of years can you justify to your parents, friends, or significant other the necessity of staying glued to a television or computer screen for 60 days straight.

I had high expectations for the summer of 2010. With the World Cup, Wimbledon, and the most important offseason in the history of the NBA on tap, this summer

promised an unprecedented torrent of constant, riveting sports news.

I built this summer up to be some­ thing special, like catching a glimpse of a rare comet and momentarily re­ discovering the feelings of wonder, happiness, and optimism I had as a child. By the end of July, though, I had come to accept two things: that comets are really just dirty clumps of rock and ice, and that predictabil­ ity is one of the worst things a sports fan can experience.

It started with the World Cup. It isn’t really up for debate that the World Cup is the greatest sporting event in the world. The significance of each match and the constant fre­ netic energy that hangs in the air throughout the course of the tour­ nament is unparalleled in the sports world. However, I couldn’t help feeling that this year’s Cup lacked the magic of years past. Sure, there

were some pretty plays and great individual performances, but when the most memorable parts of a tour­ nament are the botched calls, the dives, and the general lack of goals, something isn’t quite right. The World Cup final didn’t necessarily lack in quality—I jumped up and down as much as any other Spanish bandwagoner when Andres Iniesta scored in added time—but watching Spain hoist the trophy didn’t stir up the level of excitement I thought it would, primarily because I never ex­ pected them to lose.

Subtract the ridiculous threeday match between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut from the equation, and Wimbledon 2010 was more anticlimactic than ever. Federer looked off his game from the start, and it was clear early on in his match against Thomas Berdych that a 17th Grand Slam title was not in

the works. Once Berdych arrived in the final, the tournament was effec­ tively over: give me someone who honestly thought Nadal would lose, and I will call him a liar. Once again, the expected outcome corresponded depressingly with the final result.

If a single moment could have salvaged a summer of predictabil­ ity, though, it would have been one man’s desire to prove to the world that loyalty, pride, and individual legacy can still trump the allure of money, fame, and power in the over­ commercialized, media-saturated sports industry of today. Alas, this was not to be. As I “witnessed” Lebron James wipe the blood off his knife and spit in the face of every basketball fan outside the city of Miami, I realized that I’ve become too dependant on the unexpected in sports. I wanted something inspi­ rational and unbelievable—what I

received was crass, loud, and artifi­ cial.

Perhaps more than anything else, the success of the underdog and the thrill of the upset are what make professional sports so enjoy­ able. If an unexpected result on the scoreboard is too much to ask for, though, sports fans will gladly settle for anything genuine and heartfelt that contrasts with the all-too-common perception of pro sports as an arrogant, selfish, and profiteering.

This summer didn’t deliver on either count, but I’m trying hard to be opti­ mistic, and I’ve already cordoned off the summer of 2012 in my calendar in preparation for the London Olym­ pics. In the meantime, I ’ll be taking my viewing talents to the World Se­ ries of Blackjack, where apparently the unexpected happens all the time.

-Kailan Leung

23

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Sports in Brief Soccer M a rtle ts w in fifth straig h t preseason m atch Paced by a 29th minute goal from Alexandra Morin-Boucher, the McGill women’s soccer team claimed the exhibition Old Four tournament crown in Kingston this past weekend. Morin-Boucher’s goal and a strong performance from rookie keeper Valérie Labbé helped the Martlets coast to a 1-0 road vic­ tory over the University of Toronto Varsity Blues.

“Winning this tournament sh.owed our team has a lot of po­ tential,” said Marc Mounicot, head coach of the Martlets. “We are a young squad with only one fourthyear player and this tournament really allowed us to test out all of players and see the depth of our squad.”

The victory was the Martlets’ fifth in a row, and their strong pre­ season should boost their confidence as they prepare to build on a QSSF finals appearance last season.

The Martlets’ regular season opener will be at Molson Stadium on September 10 against the Sher­ brooke Vert et Or. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m.

-Ed O 'Dwyer

Soccer R edm en, undefeated in preseason, have high expectations A timely goal from Sebastian Munro earned the McGill men’s soccer team a dramatic victory in the Old Four tournament final this past weekend. Munro’s rocket hit the top netting iri the 85th minute, giving the Redmen a 2-1 victory over the host Queen’s Golden Gaels.

The result moved the Redmen’s record to 3-0-1 in preseason play and was the second Old Four title in three years for McGill.

The Redmen hope to continue their strong pre-season play this weekend as they travel south of the border to battle two NCAA teams from Massachusetts. They will take on Amherst College in Amherst on September 4, followed by a game at Williams College in Williamstown on September 5.

The Redmen, who were ranked second in the country by CIS in yes­ terday’s rankings, will open against Sherbrooke on September 10 at home, with kickoff at 8:30. p.m.

-Ed O ’Dwyer

Red Thunder plans to do what it does best this year. Check out their table at Activities Night on September 14 th and 15th at the Shatner University Centre (Julia Webster / McGill Tribune)

IN T E R V IE W

R e d T h u n d e r b r in g s t h e n o is e The Tribune sat down with Red Thunder Co-Founder Monika Fa­ bian for an interview on the group and its plans.

What is Red Thunder?

Red Thunder is McGill’s var­ sity sports fans club. We have a deal with athletics that members [get a shirt and bracelet for $25 that grants them access to] any varsity game for free throughout the year. It’s a great place to meet friends, and you get drink deals, [and] we have sectioned-off seating in the arena and gym. For specific games against big rivals we host big events, and all the “Thunder Nation” comes to all these events. The first one we had last year, which we expect to do again this year, was homecoming, and it was just a sea of red, crazy, rowdy Thunderites. It was actually the first time the football team won in quite a long time, and a lot of the players put it to the fact that the crowd was just so awesome. The main underly­ ing goal, aside from just having fun

and watching sports, is to support the varsity athletes. McGill is often looked at as more of an academic institution than anything else, and people really don’t mention all that much about our athletics which, to be honest, have some of the best teams in Canada.

How successful was Red Thunder last year?

I think we’ve done a really good job, actually. The first event [at the beginning of last year] was amazing.

We had 350 members last year, and when we are there everyone knows.

We have our noisemakers, and we have Big Bessie, our loudspeaker.

Sometime we coordinate with Fight Band. We just have our “sea of red,” as we call it when all our supporters come.

Are there events for people who are interested in school spirit but don’t necessarily want to or can’t afford to pay $25?

This year, it’s going to be a

lot more open. I know Gerts really wants to have more of a sports am­ bience, so Nick Drew [SSMU VP Finance and Operations] and Tom Fabian [SSMU VP Internal] will be showing things like Monday Night Football. They even painted the walls red and have throwback jer­ seys. And that will be open, to ev­ eryone not just Red Thunder mem­ bers.

We make almost no profit off of [the fee]. We have to pay the gym $10 per membership, for use of fa­ cilities and the drink deals and sec­ tioned off seating. Then the cost of the t-shirts and extras pretty much breaks even. After winter break the cost lowers to $ 15.

mote. [We want to get] different faculties involved. I think that’s a great way for people who aren’t so into athletics or sports to learn about being a fan and get involved like they wouldn’t otherwise.

What are your goals for the year?

To increase our number of fans.

We hope to get about 600 members this year. We’re launching a cloth­ ing line. There will be some throw­ back shirts and we’re definitely getting some cool new wear to pro­

You can check out Red Thun­ der’s website at ssmu.mcgill.ca/redthunder. Membership is $25.

Inspirational words?

I think we’ve pretty much been preaching to the choir. Everyone wants to get involved and be rowdy and be rah-rah McGill! In the end, students at McGill are proud to be here. [Coming to McGill sports games is] a great way to get to know your athletes, a great way to make friends, a great way to promote spirit, and a nice break from the aca­ demic side of school.

-Compiled by Mookie Kideckel