McGill Tribune Vol. 39 Issue 17

The McGill Tribune TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4 2020 | VOL. 39 | ISSUE 17

Published by the SPT, a student society of McGill University

McGILLTRIBUNE.COM | @McGILLTRIBUNE

EDITORIAL

FEATURE

KNOW YOUR ATHLETE

Experience does not pay tuition

Looking in, coming out A visual feature

Camille Vibert

PG. 8-9

PG. 5

PG. 16

(Leanne Young / The McGill Tribune)

Soil carbon levels still recovering from Mayan deforestation

PG. 7

McGill’s ROAAr unveils its fully functional 19th century printing press

The press will be used as an educational tool for multiple faculties Hannah Murray Contributor Patrons of McGill’s Rare and Special Collections, Osler, Art, and Archives (ROAAr) filled the fourth floor of the McLennan Library Building on Jan. 30 for the unveil-

ing and demonstration of the earliest surviving Columbian printing press in North America. The event also launched the library’s Book Arts Laboratory, which will use the press as an educational tool for several faculties across the university.

McGill’s printing press, first invented by George

Clymer of Philadelphia in 1813, is the earliest functioning model of a Columbian press in North America. The library’s copy was manufactured in England in 1821 and obtained by McGill in 1958: The principal and director of libraries at the time, Cyril James and Richard Pennington respectively, spearheaded the printing press’ acquisition.

PG. 4

Thursdays (a) Live makes its debut of the decade CKUT and Jam for Justice host student music showcase

Kate Addison Staff Writer On a chilly Thursday night, a small crowd of student musicians and their supportive fans filed into the basement of The Yellow Door. With enough Tim Hortons’ hot chocolate to fuel a small army and a “shoes off

at the front door” policy, Jam for Justice and McGill radio station CKUT’s Thursday’s (a) Live offered students both a cozy reprieve from the biting January cold and a chance to support up-andcoming talent.

Considering McGill’s history of notable musical alumni, CKUT’s monthly

showcase is intended to provide a platform for emerging student musicians to perform for a live audience.

Mariam Salaymeh, the outreach and events coordinator for CKUT, explained why live events such as Thursdays (a) Live are an important resource for the musicians at McGill.

PG. 12

Starting the conversation about eating disorders SSMU hosts second national eating disorder awareness week Alaana Kumar Staff Writer University life is filled with academic and social pressure which can give rise to increased mental health concerns.

One class of mental illness that affects many students is eating disorders. According to the National Eating Disorder Associa-

tion (NEDA), it is estimated that between 10 and 20 per cent of women and four to 10 per cent of men attending university suffer from an eating disorder. These illnesses are characterized by irregular eating habits and an extreme fixation with eating, food, weight, and body image. These often-undiagnosed illnesses can lead to struggles with depres-

sion, anxiety, and even substance abuse.

The Students’ Society of McGill University’s (SSMU) Eating Disorder Resource and Support Centre (EDRSC) aims to ensure that McGill students are aware of the impact of eating disorders and disordered eating as well as the support available for them on and off campus.

PG. 14

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4 2020

NEWS

SPHR hosts talk to explore the presence of racism in Quebec McGill discusses racial discrimination following the 2017 Quebec Mosque Shooting Victor Wang Contributor The Islamic Studies Library hosted “Islamophobia as Racism,” on Jan. 31, a talk that focussed on the phenomena of racialization and racism, especially with regard to Muslim women. Organized by the Students in Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR) McGill and the World Islamic and Middle East Studies Student Association (WIMESSA), Associate Professor of Philosophy at McGill Alia Al-Saji was the featured keynote speaker.

The event began with an introduction from Ehab Lotayef, organizer of Muslim Awareness Week, who reminded the audience about a commemoration event for the 2017 Québec mosque shooting victims.

“We decided to launch Muslim Awareness Week […] to express to society the concerns and contributions of the Muslim community [and] to connect as human beings,” Lotayef said.

Al-Saji started by discussing US president Donald Trump’s travel ban between 2017 and 2018, highlighting how the system that had been used to determine which countries were included on the ban list, and pointing

to her own experiences as an Iraqi woman. She noted that Pakistan had been omitted, despite its majorityMuslim population, while Iranian people were subjected to intense scrutiny at the border as new versions of the travel ban were created.

“The ban was designed to […] train and habituate the discretionary gaze of border agents to exclude through a peculiar othering lens,” AlSaji said. “The ‘enhanced vetting’ to which Iraqis are submitted is […] a way of hiding their racialization under the guise of reasonable criteria of security and risk.”

Al-Saji pointed to a number of additional factors that better capture the process of racialization in today’s society, including clothing, gestures, and practices.

“Racialization is [...] the historical and social process by which races are constructed, perceived and [...] lived,” Al-Saji said.

Al-Saji also expressed concern over Premier François Legault’s comments claiming that Islamophobia did not exist in Quebec.

“François Legault later specified that […] there had been isolated incidents but no ‘current of Islamophobia’ systemic in Quebec society,” Al-Saji

said. “Commentators hastened to add [that] Quebec was not a racist society.”

In response to Legault’s remarks, Al-Saji argued that the term ‘lone gunman,’ Al-Saji said is used to link independent cases of mental illness to white terrorists, causes a problematic sense of active ignorance.

Additionally, Al-Saji disputed the claim that cultural racism, a term she gives to anti-Muslim hate, should be considered as distinct from mainstream conceptions of racism, as it considers more than skin colour.

“This response seems to freeze the concept of race in its 19th and 20th century scientific form,” Al-Saji said.

“Race is itself a historical and contextual concept.”

The final component of the talk explored the oppression against Muslim women. Al-Saji focussed on the concept of unveiling, and explained that women are often blamed for choosing to commit to their cultural practices.

“Culture is […] represented as supplementary to the body,” she said.

“Muslim women who [wear a] veil are seen not only as victims but as complicit pawns of their own oppression.”

To Al-Saji, the argument that

Anthropologist Lila Abu-Lughod noted that the hijab can exist in both one’s private and social space. (WIMESSA / Facebook) changing one’s cultural practice, behaviour, and clothing can prevent cultural racism is wrong and problematic.

“Veiling forms an [integral] part of one’s bodily sense of self that cannot be removed without violence to that self,” Al-Saji said. “One’s lived body cannot be disentangled [from] biological and cultural elements.”

The talk was well encompassed by the words of Michelle Hartman, director of the Institute of Islamic Studies.

“I wanted to put this commemoration [in] the context of [Bill] 21,” Hartman said. “Our institute has come together, and [...] pledged to fight against this law.”

Faculty Club hosts discussion on the future role of the Trudeau government Panellists discuss the federal government’s relationships with Alberta and Quebec Savannah Sguigna Contributor In an evening of discussions, a panel organized in collaboration with the Institute for Research in Public Policy welcomed a full house at McGill’s Faculty Club. Titled ‘Justin Trudeau and the Politics of Federalism’, the event extensively examined Ottawa’s interprovincial policies entering the new year.

Chantal Hébert, a political journalist at the Toronto Star, began the night with a show of candor, challenging the other panelists to maintain a balance of hope and concern.

“This parliament is opening 2020 on an incredible show of federal [and] provincial unity,” Hébert said.

Hébert revealed that she was impressed by the unanimous support for the United States – Mexico – Canada Agreement (USMCA), but is still concerned by the ways that progress can be inhibited by a minority government.

Daniel Béland, a McGill professor of political science and the Director of the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada, was the first to introduce the rising concern of Albertan separatism, noting how the division of right-and left-wing politics has manifested in geographical conflict.

“This issue of fairness and trust within our federal system [reveals how] partisan divides [have become] way stronger now,” Daniel Béland said. “[...] The times have passed and now we live in a different context [....] These elections at the provincial level [have] change[d] the partisan map across the country.”

At the opposite end of the table, Christopher Ragan, Director of the Max Bell School of Public Policy and a McGill professor of economics, steered the topic of ‘Wexit’ instead to the movement’s relationship with Ottawa. An Alberta native, he reasoned that there is more concern for self-preservation in Western Canada than for federal opposition.

However, the event moderator, Charles Breton, was quick to challenge this view. An Executive Director of the Institute for Research in Public Policy, Breton restated his suspicion of the West during the question and answer session.

“As someone [who has] lived in Vancouver for 10 years before coming here, when we talk about Wexit, there’s only one part of the West that wants out and it’s not British Columbia,” Breton said.

The panel addressed how the disparity between British Columbia and Alberta indicates the necessity of proceeding with the interests of

Alberta separatism comprises a series of movements in the 20th and 21st century to advocate for the succession of Alberta from Canada. (Savannah Sguigna / The McGill Tribune) each province in mind. In examining the intricacies of interprovincial negotiations, the panelists emphasized the consequences of categorizing conflict.

“For as long as I have been in politics, Alberta has been all in or all out,” Hébert said. “[...I] don’t think that the kind of debate over Québec’s place in Canada really parallels the current debate about Alberta and Saskatchewan alienation. Both are very real, but they’re grounded in very different phenomena.”

Hébert and Ragan described how ‘Wexit’ will be dependent on the federal government’s course of

action, but could create further division in Canada as political and economic fluctuations prove inversely proportional.

“One of the lovely ironies is that […] the decline in the price of oil, which is a big and negative shock in Alberta is a positive shock to the economies of Ontario and Québec,” Ragan said. “So I’m actually surprised that this hasn’t been a point that has been picked up as something that’s adding to the political tension.”

Despite the challenges facing the minority government, the panel easily identified where Canada is ca-

pable of growth, and the possibility of unity.

“In the end, federalism is not for or about those political actors— it’s supposed to be about the people.

It’s an institutional arrangement that’s there to increase accountability,” Breton concluded.

As this parliament moves forward, the audience reflected the developing curiosity of the changing political climate.

“It was a good catch-up [...] there hasn’t been a whole lot going on in politics right now,” Nathan Collett, U2 Arts & Science, said.

“It’s good to see so much interest.”

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4 2020

NEWS

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McGill commemorates the 2017 Quebec City mosque shooting Speakers call for unity between McGill and Muslim communities Margaret Askey Contributor McGill’s Associate Provost (Equity and Academic Policies) Angela Campbell, the Institute of Islamic Studies, and the Muslim Students Association (MSA) held a commemoration event for the victims of the 2017 Quebec City Mosque shooting on Jan. 29, exactly three years after the incident.

The ceremony began with an introduction by Ehab Lotayef, a Canadian Muslim and an IT Manager at McGill University. Lotayef expressed his desires to see more engagement from non-Muslim Canadians with the Muslim community moving forward. “[This event is] part of Muslim Awareness Week, an initiative by the Muslim community to go beyond just compassion and sympathy after what happened in 2017,” Lotayef said. “[We want to] build bridges and connections and get the whole society to know more about Muslims, as, I hate to say it, but as normal people.”

Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) Christopher Manfredi was in attendance on behalf of McGill’s administration and led the audience of approximately 50 people in observing a minute of silence for the six victims.

Regarding McGill’s commitment to addressing issues like Islamophobia, Manfredi cited the University’s continued support of Muslim students and faculty.

“As we remember them, we also renew McGill’s profound and shared commitment to an inclusive campus, wherein diversity is not

merely tolerated, but welcomed and celebrated,” Manfredi said.

Manfredi expressed his gratitude towards those in attendance for gathering in a time of mourning to support one another.

“I deeply appreciate our coming together today to mark this important moment, as a gesture of remembrance and of our community’s steadfast commitment to openness, belonging, and inclusion,” Manfredi said.

Manfredi’s remarks were followed by those of Caroline Savic, representing the office of Jennifer Maccarone, member of the Quebec National Assembly for Westmount-Saint-Louis. She stressed the significance of commemorating the shooting.

“It is our duty to remember, so that it never happens again,” Savic said. “It is an important reminder of the dangers that await us when ignorance, fear, and hatred take hold of people.”

MSA President Hamza Lahmimsi shared his perspective on the subject and underlined the impact that the shooting had on the community.

“Ibrahima, Mamadou, Khaled, Aboubaker, Abdelkrim, and Azzedine were brutally murdered that day, [and] 19 others were left injured,” Lahmimsi said. “It is important to remember that no such tragedy occurs in a vacuum. Women were left widowed, children fatherless. A whole community was wounded by the loss of their beloved friends.”

In his speech, Lahmimsi emphasized that attacks of this kind are inherently tied to Islamophobia and that they should always be regarded as such.

“The shooter’s [...] intentions were ter-

The mosque shooting took six lives and injured 19 on Jan. 29, 2017.

(Margaret Askey / The McGill Tribune) ror,” Lahmimsi said. “He would have wanted for us Muslims to live in fear, to be scared of the community we have loved for so long. His message was clear [that Muslims] are not welcome here. It is becoming increasingly difficult to say whether he was right or wrong. It is truly a tragedy to question whether you are a guest in the country you were born in, and or have lived in, and contributed to for so long.”

Khalid Medani, professor at the Institute of Islamic Studies, concluded the commemoration by discussing public accountability. He

reminded the audience that actively working to confront these issues is paramount.

“It is only when we come together, and are vigilant about understanding that this is really a national and global issue, that we can really make some inroads into dealing with these types of issues,” Medani said.

At the end of the event, the attendees visited the memorial tree planted in honor of the six victims near the entrance of the James Administration building, placing one rose at the memorial for each of the lives lost.

AUS Legislative Council condemns award given to McGill professor Faculty of Arts publicized an award presented by Turkish President Erdogan Emma Gillies Science & Technology Editor The Arts Undergraduate Society (AUS) Legislative Council convened on Jan. 29 to discuss several issues, including a controversial award given to a McGill professor, expanding the Arts Undergraduate Improvement Fund (AUIF) budget, and the AUS elections.

The meeting opened with the Motion Regarding Condemnation of McGill Faculty of Arts Promotion of Turkish Academy of Sciences (TÜBA) Award. In 2019, Turkish President Erdogan presented Jamil Ragep, a professor in McGill’s Institute of Islamic Studies, with an award from the TÜBA. The World Islamic and Middle East Studies Student Association (WIMESSA) President Damla Cakmak explained that the motion would denounce the Faculty of Arts’ promotion of the award, since TÜBA is linked to a government with a history of human rights violations, such as the continued abuse of Syrian refugees by border patrol.

“We […] condemn the promotion of this award by the Faculty of

Arts,” Cakmak said. “TÜBA is no longer a legitimate scientific institution, due to ties with the government […] TÜBA’s members are elected either by President Erdogan or […] other government-affiliated institutions.”

Brent Jamsa, Vice-President (VP) External of the Canadian Studies Association of Undergraduate Students (CSAUS), asked whether Ragep was aware of the human rights abuses that TÜBA is associated with.

According to Cakmak, Ragep was contacted prior to his acceptance of the award.

“Before he went to Turkey to get the award, two representatives from WIMESSA approached him and had a […] conversation with him about how problematic it would be to get an award from […] an institution with a long list of human rights abuses,” Cakmak said. “He knew very well that the students were not happy with it.”

The motion passed unanimously, with five people abstaining.

The council also increased the Arts Undergraduate Improvement Fund (AUIF) budget for renovations in classrooms and ratified the AUS

Food Sales Policy. The policy outlines the procedures and equipment that AUS departmental associations must follow in accordance with Quebec’s food health and safety protocol. It is similar to that of the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU), except that AUS student clubs and organizations do not need to pay a fee and can only serve food on two specific tables in the Leacock Building.

Finally, VP Social Kimberly Yang proposed a motion to extend the AUS campaign dates to include polling period, which will be occurring from Feb. 17 to 19, so that candidates can share their platforms on campus and social media during elections.

Arts Senator Henrique Mecabô remained skeptical on the matter.

“My concern is that if somehow a candidate realized that they were losing the election, as polling continues, they would be able to spend a lot of money on Facebook ads,” Mecabô said.

However, due to campaign spending limits and the inability of candidates to see election results until after the polling period closes, the council agreed that this would not be an issue, and the motion passed.

SOUNDBITE

“We don’t release daily updates or anything like that, so you don’t know [the results] until [the] polling period closes, and the only person I know on campus who has run Facebook ads was SSMU President Bryan Buraga, so I don’t think it’s a common thing.” - AUS President Jamal Tarrabain, on the use of Facebook ads in AUS elections.

FLASHBACK

Jamsa criticized democratic backsliding in Turkey but questioned why the AUS Legislative Council would condemn Ragep’s award while student government organizations at Duke University, where another professor received the same award, chose not to do so. Cakmak responded that, regardless of other student bodies’ decisions, the council could still make a difference on the McGill campus.VP Academic Ananya Nair echoed this, saying that when a department distances itself from an award, it speaks volumes.

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4 2020

NEWS

McGill’s ROAAr unveils its fully functional 19th century printing press The press will be used as an educational tool for multiple faculties Hannah Murray Contributor Continued from page 1.

Now that it has been renovated, the reveal was the first in a series that will focus on the press itself held in the Book Arts Lab. “The press was gathering dust in the library’s basement until [the library received a grant] a few years ago allowing the press to be restored,” Book Arts Lab librarian Lauren Williams said.

The press operated at McGill from 1957 through 1965, and was integrated as a part of McGill’s teaching program, until the library put it in storage in the 1970s.

“It has been almost 50 years since [the press] has been functional, [and] this is what we’re celebrating today,” ROAAr librarian Anne Marie Holland said. “It is [a part of McGill’s] William Colgate History of Printing Collection […] one of the largest subject specific collections [in North America] and a practical, rich universe for the study of the history of books and print culture in general.”

Professor Eli MacLaren of McGill’s English department, whose teaching focusses on Canadian literature and poetry, spoke next. MacLaren discussed how our understanding of the power of books can influence how we learn not only about literature, but also about other cultures.

“Seeing how books are made, preferably with a glass

of red wine in hand […] is really a priceless way to begin to discover what [books] mean and what they have meant at different times and places,” MacLaren said.

Speeches were followed by a demonstration of the printing press, led by Jennifer Garland and Williams, two of the Book Arts Laboratory librarians. The hosts allowed guests to handle the press themselves and create a print with details of the event.

“It’s so easy to use,” Garland said. “But it is literally back-breaking work!”

Restored to its black and gold gilt colours, the press was shiny and ornate, with a large sculpture of an eagle sitting atop one of the main levers, moving with the lever as it is pulled. This design was very distinctive during the 19th century, and was often known as the ‘eagle press’ by those working in the printing industry. Operating thanks to a weighted lever system, the press applies an enormous amount of pressure, making it easier for those pulling the lever to create numerous copies of a design.

With plans to use the press for many events in the upcoming Winter 2020 semester, the lab has been equipped with a number of primary type supplies in order to truly promote the usage of the press. Through these actions, the ROAAr hopes to educate both students and staff on the importance of such historic literary tools, creating a unique interactive learning opportunity.

“Using primary sources to show and not tell is the hallmark of any great university,” MacLaren said.

“Hopefully, this press will do just that.”

The press’s Bronston detailing suggests that it is one of the earliest of its model.

(Merika Ramundo / McGill Library Services)

SSMU Legislative Council discusses mental health policies Council passes new long-term plan for student wellness Deisha Paliwal Staff Writer The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Legislative Council reconvened on Jan. 30 to debate new motions regarding communication between SSMU and the community, as well as new proposed health policies.

The second council meeting of the year saw the passing of the Motion Regarding Amendments to the Effective Committees Policy, aiming to improve the communication between student groups on campus. The policy also affirms the role of SSMU committees and commissioners in discussing with groups that are involved with equity and community engagement.

Ariana Kaye, SSMU Clubs Representative, expressed concern with the section of the motion involving the “Equity Caucus.”

“The motion, as it currently stands, makes reference only to groups that represent a limited segment of the McGill student body, and there is no guarantee that other groups will be invited, represented, or consulted,” Kaye said.

“Only one of the official member groups of the Solidarity Alliance of McGill (SAM), who was consulted, represents an ethnicity, while all others represent political opinions.”

SSMU Vice-President (VP) External Affairs Adam Gwiazda-Amsel, who proposed the motion, addressed Kaye’s concerns by clarifying the roles of certain committees.

“This is a difficulty which needs to be addressed specifically within the Equity Committee and with the Equity Commissioners, [rather than] the Community Engagement Committee,” Gwiazda-Amsel said “There are certain groups that are generally not included in McGill

SOUNDBITE

The policy addresses the proposal of an “Equity Caucus.” (ssmu.ca)

conversations about equity. This [amendment] requires the Equity Committee, which currently has the problems you are citing, to [enter] into dialogue with those committees and work towards improvements.”

The motion carried with 21 in favour, two opposed, and six abstaining.

The council proceeded to discuss the Motion Regarding Adoption of the SSMU Mental Health Policy and Plan 2019-01-09, moved by VP Student Life Billy Kawasaki. The policy presents long-term goals for improving SSMU’s approach to student mental health and wellness.

Kawasaki also proposed an amendment to the motion: Changes included the formation of a health and dental review committee, enhanced specialization of care for marginalized student populations, and the collaboration of the advocacy projects of mental and physical health of

student groups.

SSMU Mental Health Commissioner Olivia Frank gave an overview of the drafting of the policy.

“We did a lot of work with various stakeholder groups across campus to try to create a policy that is as well-rounded, appropriate, and representative of what mental health is like on campus and what we hope it will be,” Frank said. “Most importantly, we amended the structure of what the mental health committee and commissioner would look like, as well as decreased it to a three-year plan, because mental health changes rapidly across campus and Canada.”

The motion carried with 26 in favour, none opposed, and one abstaining.

Council will reconvene on Feb. 13 in McConnell Engineering 603 at 6 p.m.

“Historically, there has not been a commitment to representing the full diversity of the student body at this university within the equity circle. We need clarity to understand which [populations] will be included in these committees, and the assurance that this will not be used to represent cer tain groups of the student body and systematically exclude other groups.” - Ariana Kaye, on the proposal of an “Equity Caucus”

MOMENT OF THE MEETING

To mark the last SSMU Legislative Council meeting of Husayn Jamal as Speaker, Andrew Chase, Ar ts Representative to SSMU, distributed buttons to the council and members of the galler y to honour him.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4 2020

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EDITORIAL

Experience does not pay tuition In exchange for another bullet point on their CVs, many McGill students feel pressured to take on underpaid positions.

Participating in an on-campus club or as a non-executive in student government can require hours of labour without compensation.

However, unpaid work becomes exploitative when students are expected to do the work of a full-time paid employee, without receiving the paycheck. Despite unpaid internships being illegal in Quebec, the Arts Internship Office (AIO) and some student groups such as the Pre-Law Students’ Society have still promoted internships that pay students less than half of minimum wage, if anything at all. McGill has a responsibility to promote equal opportunities for all students, and this means supporting paid career experience, not unpaid internships.

A common justification for unpaid internships is that what students give up in income, they make up in experience.

However, this notion puts already privileged individuals in an even more advantageous position while dismissing the realities of other students’ financial burdens. While learning skills might be useful in getting a job post-graduation, it will not pay for a student’s groceries, rent, or tuition now. Moreover, some

Ender McDuff Sports Editor Content warning: Mentions of sexual violence From where he was standing, he could not see me. All he saw was a young woman, possibly alone, sitting inside Juliette et Chocolat, enjoying a dessert. She was not making eye contact or flirting. She was just sitting. That is when he, the man looking at her, decided to repeatedly tap on the window, mimic sexual intercourse, and shove his phone against the pane in some perverted attempt at courtship. This was the first time I had ever witnessed the sexual violence that my girlfriend,

students are also parents, who may have mortgages to pay and families to support. The idea that students should be willing to give up a paycheck for these positions closes off career experiences to people who cannot afford to lose hundreds of dollars per week, thus deepening economic divides on campus.

Finances aside, unpaid internships can be incredibly demoralizing. Working overtime to balance unpaid labour with a paid position can lead to exhaustion and burnout, and seeing one’s contributions go uncredited and uncompensated can take a toll on students’ sense of self-worth. Moreover, when students are not recognized as paid employees, they can fall outside the safety net of labour law protection. In November 2018, 54,000 students took part in a week-long protest against mandatory unpaid internships across Quebec citing a need for legal protection as a main concern.

In addition to giving up valuable time, students are expected to pay for their internship credits. Students in the School of Social Work are expected to complete 800 hours of unpaid labour in order to graduate. Faculty of Arts students can also use unpaid internships with written requirements for

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credit. In both scenarios, McGill makes students pay to work by denying them income and then charging them to have their work recognized as credit.

While unpaid internships unfairly exploit student labour, many organizations and professional fields rely on this free labour to keep running.

Some grassroots organizations and nonprofits cannot afford to hire interns. Inversely, student positions in fields such as engineering are paid generously, while full-time social work jobs receive no funding. For students to make a livable wage, institutions like the Quebec government and McGill need to reach an agreement that makes it clear that these fields, and student workers, are worth investing in, and thus need to be compensated.

As an educational institution, McGill has a responsibility to make sure its students receive a proper education. Funding internships in the field of social work and arts would ensure that all students have the opportunity to gain experience without sacrificing much-needed income.

Additionally, despite being a leading Canadian university, McGill has yet to develop a co-op education program, an opportunity that other universities across the country have offered for years. Co-op programs

coordinate paid employment positions that provide students an opportunity to apply knowledge from their courses in the workplace. Students need work experience in order to succeed post-graduation.

However, McGill continues to refrain from making work experience a graduation requirement. In doing so, they avoid the responsibility of finding paid work options for students.

McGill should prioritize broadening the paid work opportunities for students in all faculties. This means providing more extensive job listings on the Career Planning Services website, offering comprehensive career option documents, and developing co-op programs in all faculties such as those available at dozens of other universities nation-wide. Currently, only students who have exhausted their student loans are eligible for McGill’s Work Study Program. McGill should expand this program to be available to more students regardless of their financial resources.

Finally, given the unequal nature of unpaid and under internships, the AIO and McGill student groups should also immediately remove all postings for jobs that pay less than minimum wage. Getting work experience should not mean sacrificing rent or grocery money.

The consequences of “locker room talk” and all feminine-presenting people, experience in their lives every day.

When I was in middle school, I generally spent recess alone, avoiding my peers’ conversations.

That was partly because I disliked what some of my male classmates talked about: They ranked the girls in our class based on appearance and bullied those they deemed less attractive. I knew this was wrong, but it was easier to avoid it than to intervene, so that’s what I did. I never said anything.

When I was in high school, I was a member of the varsity basketball team, and I thought it was important to maintain amicable relationships with my teammates to preserve my position within the group. That is why, when one of my teammates began circulating a female classmate’s nude photos without her consent in the team’s group chat, I again said nothing. I was always a passive bystander.

When I was in my senior year, Donald Trump was revealed to have said, among other disgusting things, that he considered women to be objects for his own pleasure and that he could treat women without regard for their humanity because he was a “star.” A month later, my

country elected him as President.

His opponent, Hillary Clinton, faced immense structural sexism in how the media covered her campaign and the scrutiny that she faced. As a result, Trump was elected despite a litany of sexual violence allegations and the Access Hollywood Tape, which his defenders and supporters termed “locker room talk.”

But for women, these actions are so much more than cheap talk.

They are the foundational blocks of a permissive society wherein men can objectify and harass women, while negating their ambitions, accomplishments, and humanity. 81 per cent of women experience some form of sexual violence, a deeply dehumanizing experience, and 75 per cent of those who are harassed and speak out experience some form of retaliation. There are real consequences to locker room talk— the same talk that begins with boys ranking girls and sharing their nudes, which are both examples of sexual violence.

It is easy for men to miss seeing these consequences, precisely because when men are present, they do not occur. When a woman is without a man, our society has taught men that she is not so much

an independent agent as she is “fair game.” In effect, men are to be respected, while the respect afforded to a woman is dependent on her immediate relationship to a man.

That is why, on that dreadful night at Juliette et Chocolat, the harasser only stopped his movements when I came around the wall to reveal myself, standing by my girlfriend’s side. He and his friends were stunned because they knew that they had been caught. And in knowing that they were caught, each revealed that, deep down, they knew what was happening was wrong.

I shouldn’t have had to be there for them to know they were being violent. And yet, like me in middle and high school, no one had said anything.

Being an active bystander is far from easy, especially when it means telling a friend that they are wrong.

But it cannot take getting caught, or watching those we love get harrassed, for us to speak out for what is right.

As men, we must all do better to hold one another accountable for the way we talk about and treat women. For, until we do, the society men have created, permissive of everything from casual harassment to a rapist in the White House, will go unchanged.

6

OPINION

COMMENTARY

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4 2020

Coronavirus: A case of viral xenophobia

Heela Achakzai Contributor Any sentence that begins with ‘I don’t want to sound racist but,’ will, in fact, be racist. I have heard this, and many other racist and xenophobic things, daily since the news of the coronavirus began spreading on campus.

Not many students can claim that they have not come across tweets or memes making light of the virus and those affected in the Wuhan district of China. After overhearing a student expressing disgust toward Chinese students’ dietary patterns, I realized that the conversations around coronavirus were not rooted in its swift spread, but rather in students’ assumption that their peers from East Asia now pose a threat to their safety. Angry tweets and instagram stories spitting derogatory terms about Chinese people can make people think about how quickly safe spaces can become unsafe in today’s world.

The racist discourse about coronavirus stems from the pervasive, historical belief that immigrants pose a health risk by bringing in ‘germs.’ The panic surrounding coronavirus on campus has lead to racial profiling, which is only sensationalised by ludicrous humour. The panic villifies racialized groups on campus and equates non-white difference with danger. The grave impact of misinformed perceptions needs to be understood and such conversations need to stop.

On Jan. 30, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak of the novel coronavirus a global health emergency. Since the virus spread to over 15,000 people causing 350 deaths, many countries have imposed travel restrictions on travellers from mainland China. Where travel advisories and airport screenings can be compartmentalized as measures pertinent to ensuring the health and safety of people around the world, racist discourse and derogatory memes feed into a bigger problem —sensational xenophobia.

Thirty per cent of McGill’s student body is comprised of international students, 3171 of whom are from China.

Montreal is the sixth best student city in the world, but this does not mean the city is safe for students of colour. Social media outlets have made it easier for unchecked information and myths to result in confirmation bias about certain groups

COMMENTARY

Racism has manifested in entirely new ways since the outbreak of the coronavirus. (medscape.com)

being associated with the virus. One example of this is a video from 2016 which showed a YouTuber eating bat soup, and resurfaced this past week: This video has added to the sensational racism by falsely claimed to be set in Wuhan— the epicentre of the novel coronavirus outbreak The discourse surrounding coronavirus completely overlooks the socioeconomic context of the outbreak. Like those in many countries around the world, wet markets in China do not follow health and safety regulations, or can face bureaucratic barriers in establishing firm regulatory systems. Sensationalized racism assigns blame that persists across borders and influences global narratives. Such narratives parallel the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2003 and Ebola in 2014—both of which were plagued with transmission myths and racism.

As we take precautionary measures and race to lay our hands on a coveted pack of surgical masks, which are currently in short supply across Canada, let us find

in ourselves the courage to defend anyone who is treated unfairly and give support to anyone whose loved ones are actually highly exposed to the virus. Students can all acknowledge that, at times, they may have been bystanders in racist dialogue. Sometimes, disconcertingly, yet quietly, swiping away at the memes; other times, burying ourselves in our computers when overhearing some people make very problematic remarks; and at others, calling-out people right away when conversations steer towards the origins of the virus.

Racism is no longer merely an uncomfortable conversation with a xenophobe, it can manifest as a meme retweeted by a member of your group project who thinks enjoying Corona beer is now funny; it is sensationalized jokes about the food one eats because it not a Western dish.

People must hold themselves to a higher standard of decency when discussing the coronavirus, or any global epidemic, and hold others accountable as well.

Recycling centre closures are symptomatic of a larger crisis

Makena Anderson Staff Writer The pile up of recycling in Montreal has reached a crisis which will likely continue to grow, as one of Quebec’s primary recycling operators plans to close two sorting centres in Montreal as early as Feb. 3. Unfortunately, China’s 2018 ban on several types of recyclables has caused a shift in the world market for recycled and recuperated goods, causing a waste crisis in dozens of cities around North America.

The uncertain future of Montreal recycling threatens to damage the ethos of recycling and erode trust in sustainable practices.

In recent years, Canadians have tossed paper, plastic, and glass into curbside bins, assuming that they would be recycled into new goods. In 2019, however, exports of recycled materials dropped significantly, leaving cities across Canada to deal with a surplus of these materials. This decline in demand is largely due to countries like China and Hong Kong reducing their imports of Canadian plastic scraps by 96 and 72 per cent, respectively. As cities across Canada scramble to cope with a decreasing demand of recyclable goods, operating costs have begun to soar, and materials are piling up with fewer places to send them.

The recycling dilemma Montreal

faces is a symptom of a problem that long precedes a flip in the world market. In an effort to simplify the process for consumers, the City of Montreal uses a single-stream recycling process in which all materials are collected together and sent to a sorting facility. While single-stream recycling is easier for residents and has been shown to increase participation rates, it is often more costly and leads to higher contamination rates. Contamination issues are often a result of overzealous individuals who hope to recycle more than is accepted. Even a small amount of food or a used pizza box has the potential to send entire batches of recycling to the landfill.

This problem is evident within the McGill community as well. The nature of student living promotes needless waste; regardless of the season, one can find an abundance of garbage littered around the Milton-Parc community. A recent study suggests that only nine per cent of Canadian recyclable plastics end up in appropriate sorting facilities. Come May, the issue is exacerbated, as students rush to get rid of couches, carpets, chairs, and everything in between. While student initiatives such as ‘Trash 2 Treasure’ aim to pick up the waste, unfortunately, many of these items end up on the streets surrounding campus instead being sold, recycled, or donated.

Often, when materials do end up

Sustainability projects require cooperation between a municipality and its residents.

(Alessandra Morales / The McGill Tribune)

at sorting facilities, the materials are contaminated and ultimately end up being sent to landfills. Problems with contamination are forcing many sorting centres to refuse more and more varieties of materials. Other cities have opted to tighten curbside recycling criteria, requiring residents to sort their own paper, plastic, glass into separate bags and containers.

Even with strict criteria, recycling centres are struggling to keep up. The damage these closures will have on

perceptions of sustainability is profound.

If Montrealers do not trust that their recyclables are being handled properly, they may lose faith in the entire operation and abandon their previous recycling habits. Similarly, if consumers lose faith in recycling, they may begin to regard sustainable behaviours as an ineffective way to effect meaningful change.

While the city of Montreal has a responsibility to provide recycling services to residents, individuals should view these closures as a warning that it is time to change their habits. Instead of foregoing the three Rs: Reducing, reusing,and recycling; residents can use this as an opportunity to ameliorate their previous habits.

Students should reflect on which items are necessary for their apartments, plan ahead to dispose of them correctly when they move out, and educate themselves on how to sort materials properly on campus and at home. Ultimately, the economy is not perfectly circular and recycling alone cannot effectively achieve sustainability; recycling is the last ‘R’ and it is imperative that focus be shifted toward reducing and reusing. Moreover, while the three Rs focus on individual actions, the focus of climate change action needs to shift towards holding companies and governments accountable for their environmental impacts.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4 2020

7

Understanding the coronavirus

Lessons learned from SARS, Ebola, and other infectious outbreaks Owen Dunkley Contributor The World Health Organization (WHO) designated the novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak a public health emergency on Jan. 30, garnering increased attention from world leaders and national public health agencies.

As concerns over the spread and severity of a wider 2019-nCoV outbreak continue to grow, researchers around the globe are working to understand the virus and develop new treatments as quickly as possible.

On Dec. 31, China announced a small outbreak in the city of Wuhan of 27 patients with viral pneumonia. The first entire genome of the virus was sequenced on Jan. 10, and by Jan. 23, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) had announced that they were expecting to have a vaccine available within 16 weeks. While confirmed 2019-nCoV cases had skyrocketed past 11,000 by the end of the month, many countries established strong quarantine measures and were working on new methods to fight the virus.

International and national health agencies’ immediate strategies to fight the ongoing spread of 2019-nCoV stand in stark contrast with previous global

The current Coronavirus outbreak has killed over 300 people.

(Ruobing Chen / The McGill Tribune) responses to past outbreaks.

Dr. Brian Ward, a professor in the Department of Medicine at McGill, expressed his approval of how health officials have responded to the novel coronavirus. Ward cited increased preparedness in vaccine development frameworks and international cooperation as the major reasons for this early success.

“2014 and 2015 was a watershed [in the Ebola outbreak],”

Ward said in an interview with The McGill Tribune. “The WestAfrican Ebola outbreak was a big deal, because the pattern up until then had been an explosion [of a given infectious disease], followed by a scrambling to mobilize millions of dollars to get manufacturers to produce a vaccine, and then the virus was gone [before vaccines could return a profit].”

Prior to the 2014-15 Ebola

outbreak, international strategies were largely focussed on ongoing threats to public safety, with little funding going towards the development of vaccines for diseases that had not yet infected humans.

In the wake of that crisis, several governments and funding agencies identified the need for a centralized plan for developing and deploying new vaccines to prevent dangerous viruses and bacteria from entering the human population. CEPI was founded in Norway in 2017 as an international partnership of philanthropic and governmental foundations that agreed to direct continued funding to research for vaccine development.

Before the 2019-nCoV outbreak in December, CEPI had already developed partnerships with labs working on vaccines for MERS Coronavirus, a close cousin of 2019-nCoV. Therefore, a framework was already in place for fast-tracking the development of vaccines for the new outbreak.

Another important factor in formulating a rapid response to 2019-nCoV has been the cooperation of countries involved in the epidemic response. Ward commented on the increased transparency of the Chinese government to release information

about the new virus, including its genome sequence, very early on in the outbreak. “[China had an] ‘antiprecedence’ with SARS where [the Chinese government] held back information,” Ward said.

“With Zika, there was considerable reticence on the part of the Brazilians to release strains.

The Indonesian government has stated as a policy that […] you can be thrown in jail for trying to carry an influenza virus out of the country in anything but your lungs.”

National laboratories are typically wary to provide information about novel pathogens because they have the potential to benefit from the sales of new pharmaceuticals and can immediately protect their citizens.

Countries are thus economically and politically disincentivized from sharing specimens with others so long as they can control the outbreak.

The 2019-nCoV outbreak has already killed over 300 people and is likely to kill many more before the infection can be contained. However, lessons learned from previous epidemics and recent advancements in science may help researchers overcome what could otherwise be a devastating pandemic, both in China and around the world.

Soil carbon levels still recovering from Mayan deforestation

Consequences of deforestation may endure far longer than previously believed

Amir Hotter Yishay Staff Writer Approximately 4,000 years ago, in modern-day southern Mexico and Central America, the Mayan civilization arose and, in due time, spread. Over thousands of years, the Mayans developed a highly sophisticated urban society, numbering 19 million people at its peak.

They built and thrived in dense, teeming metropolises, erecting giant limestone pyramids that continue to draw throngs of tourists to this day. Yet, when the Spanish arrived in the 16th century, they found a landscape dotted with empty cities and opulent ruins. For years, the demise of the Maya puzzled scientists and historians alike.

Scientists now believe that a series of droughts beginning in the eighth century AD, exacerbated by the effects of deforestation, pushed the Mayans toward collapse. Crops failed, cities fell, and the people fled to the coast.

Today, new field methods are allowing scientists to peer into the past to better understand not only the factors leading to the Mayan collapse, but the enduring consequences of their actions, all the more unsettling in light of ongoing efforts to curb climate change.

The capacity of trees to sequester carbon is well understood: Reforestation on a mass scale has been touted time and time again as a crucial measure against global heating. However, the role that soils play in carbon cycling remains relatively under-researched despite the fact that the soils of the world hold over twice as much carbon as the atmosphere. When trees are felled

Globally, soils hold twice as much carbon as the atmosphere. (ancient-origins.net) or burned to make way for pasture or crop land, much of the carbon held in the trees and soil is released into the atmosphere. Some postulate that this release of sequestered carbon can be countered with the regrowth of previously denuded forest. However, a study published in Nature Geoscience in 2018 suggests otherwise.

Peter Douglas, an assistant professor in McGill’s Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, was part of the team analyzing plant wax lipids in lakebed sediments for the study. These organic molecules, produced by plants, have a tendency to bind to minerals within the soil before they are eventually washed away.

Douglas found a curious discrepancy between the ages of the plant waxes and the sediments that they were found in. The team discovered that this gap varied greatly from one period of time to the next; on the whole, the

plant waxes were far older than the sediment.

“Basically, [the plant wax lipids] give us a picture of how long carbon is sitting in soils,” Douglas said in an interview with The McGill Tribune. “Soils are a huge carbon reservoir on the planet, [...] but we don’t really know how that kind of storage reservoir changes over time, especially on long time scales. What we found is that it really decreased a lot over the course of Mayan history.”

Douglas believes that the findings indicate that Mayan deforestation sped up the movement of soil carbon into lake beds: The soil retained carbon for far less time than it had prior.

“What is perhaps even more interesting is that when the Maya had major depopulation and the forest grew back, the age of the carbon didn’t go back up,” Douglas said. “The soils did not regain their capacity to store carbon on long time scales.”

This means that reforestation, while helpful in recapturing atmospheric carbon, might not be quite the silver bullet some have hoped. In the meantime, further research on long-term soil carbon storage capacity is in order.

“For the time being, scientists are unaware if this is a widespread phenomenon,” Douglas said.

If so, poor carbon storage in soils does not bode especially well for humanity. According to Douglas, the findings suggest that it might take a very long time, upwards of thousands of years, to fully rebalance carbon storage levels in soils. In the meantime, one can only hope that our own civilization will avert the Maya’s fate.

Communicating the queer experience Sabrina Girard-Lamas Design Editor

I classified McGill as a work environment. Although McGill’s setting is academic, those with whom I shared my classes today would become my coworkers tomorrow. To me, it seemed more appropriate to refrain from discussing my private life, causing the details of my love life to be irrelevant.

However, over the years, as I got closer to some people, the relationship [with my classmates] slowly evolved from colleagues to friends, and it fostered my desire to come out to them. Since then, communication has been much simpler.

sabrina

nicholas

Once I came out to my friends, I didn't want them to keep it a secret, but I also didn't want them to go out of their way to publicize it to everyone. I think they were mostly scared of outing me against my will. I would [have preferred] them telling our mutual friends, so I don't have to go through the process of coming out repetitively. It’s less awkward [....] I am naturally shy when meeting new people. Communicating naturally and confidently is hard enough without trying to hide who I am.

jasper

It’s really difficult for me to transfer my thoughts and feelings into fully articulated sentences. So, when I have to tell big news or try to express how I feel, it can be very frustrating to put the right words together and be very clear with the person I’m communicating with. When you say something out loud it feels like it’s very final, [like] you can’t go back from what you said or how you said it. So, when I first came out to my brother I asked my best friend to bring it up to him when I was in the shower and out of the room. This was so I didn’t slip up or become too anxious that I couldn’t transfer my thoughts into sentences—I wanted to make sure that I could express myself in a way that was very articulate and well thought out so he didn’t think what I was saying was a new idea I had or just something I wanted to ‘try out’. Coming out is really difficult because you have to put months, maybe years, of conflicting thoughts, emotional experiences, and heavy feelings into one sentence or conversation.

Coming out seems almost a contradictory concept. Although the subject is deeply personal, it is an exercise in communication, and therefore its essence is interpersonal. Coming out in entertainment media is often depicted through a tragic narrative; I believe this wastes the potential of exploring the fundamentals of human communication. Among others, there is the impact of the perception of oneself, the need to convey the right information, the desire to be understood, and the obstacles caused by fear and apprehension.

"It took me some time to digest the news. In the end, it makes sense.

You’ve always naturally gravitated toward women.” «Je n’ai aucun problème avec qui tu es. J’ai peur du traitement que la société t'infligera.»

“Who’s the lucky one?” « Je suis honorée que tu te sentes assez en confiance pour me le dire. » “Did I do this to you? Where did I go wrong?”

“I've known for a long time.” “I am honoured you felt safe to tell me” “Thank you for telling me. I never thought I would meet someone like me.” “I don’t have a problem accepting who you are. I am afraid of the treatment society will inflict upon you.”

«Il m’a fallu du temps pour digérer la nouvelle, mais au final, ça a du sens.

Tu gravites naturellement vers les femmes.»

Regarding coming out, communication becomes especially hard for immigrants and people of colour, because there isn’t always the correct vocabulary in your native language. Words like “gay” or “bisexual” don’t always have a proper equivalent. If there’s a language barrier between my family and I, and if I don’t even know how to talk to them about my life, how can I talk to them about love?

abeer

10

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4 2020

Learning about our universe through bright bursts of light

McGill-affiliated research group illuminates fast radio burst phenomenon Thomas Bahen Contributor On Jan. 6, McGill astronomers tracked down one of the brightest known repeating signals in the universe to a specific part of a galaxy just seven light-years wide. The signal, called a Fast Radio Burst (FRB), was first detected in part by the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME) telescope, a research collaboration between several McGill researchers and astrophysicists around the country.

FRBs interest astronomers because their origins and properties are not well understood.

In astrophysical terms, brightness describes the apparent electromagnetic energy emission of some cosmic object when viewed from Earth.

Essentially, this means that very bright signals correspond to high-energy events like stars going supernova. The event must be particularly high energy if it is coming from very far away. However, it is still unknown what event or events FRBs correspond to.

FRBs have an incredible amount of light energy packed into regions spanning only a few light years across. These bursts, which last less than five milliseconds, have surprised several astronomers. In fact, when the first one was discovered in 2007, there were doubts that it was even real.

Shriharsh Tendulkar, former postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Physics at McGill and a co-author of the FRB article published in the journal Nature, discussed the possible sources of

FRBs and the many questions that these strange interstellar phenomena pose to researchers.

Tendulkar first explained that FRBs are similar to pulsars, magnetized rotating neutron stars that similarly emit immense amounts of light radiation.

“FRBs are a trillion times more powerful [than pulsars],” Tendulkar wrote in an email to The McGill Tribune. “We have no idea how to physically make bursts that are this bright and this frequent.”

By improving their understanding of FRBs, researchers seek to better postulate what kinds of cosmological objects emit them. So far, astronomers have categorized different types of FRBs into those that repeat and those that do not so that they can compare them and learn from their differences.

The next step after discovering an FRB is to localize it within a galaxy. Localization places the signal within an environment where only certain stars, gases, and other cosmological objects exist. The process allows astronomers to reason about what created the signal. Researchers have already localized a repeating FRB and several non-repeating FRBs to very different host environments. A few non-repeating FRBs have been discovered in large elliptical galaxies where few young stars are being formed. In contrast, the first localized repeating FRB was found in a dwarf galaxy with an abundance of young stars.

The FRB that CHIME discovered, however, was emanating from a completely new environment, different from those where previous FRB

Fast radio bursts carry an incredible amount of light energy packed into less than five milliseconds. (phys.org) signals have been found.

“We discovered [the FRB] to be in a large spiral galaxy, where there are young stars but the gas is not as pure as in a dwarf galaxy,” Tendulkar said. “This means that whatever is forming these FRBs should be able to form in a lot of different environments.”

According to Tendulkar, the ability of FRBs to originate from diverse environments is just the beginning of what this newly documented radio burst can teach scientists about where electromagnetic energy comes from in space. The recently discovered FRB is the closest such signal to Earth and provides the opportunity for new

avenues of research. Specifically, researchers can look more closely at the amount of energy released in the burst and electron and magnetic field distribution around the source. They could possibly even study corresponding bursts that travel at other frequencies, such as infrared radiation or X-rays.

Tendulakr noted that the following months will be a crucial period in understanding FRBs. “We will be able to study [the FBR] in far greater detail than previously known,” Tendulkar said. “We are now in the process of submitting many proposals to different telescopes to meticulously study this FRB and its environment.”

The causes and symptoms of allergies Studying allergy developments and reactions

Gabe Nisker Features Editor Allergies always seemed so simple: Here’s a list of foods and environmental factors that you should avoid, since your body treats them like enemies.

Dr. Christine McCusker, an associate professor in the Faculty of Medicine at McGill, is the Director of the Division of Allergy & Immunology at the Montreal Children’s Hospital. She pointed out that, 30 years ago, the predominant idea to explain allergies was that the body treats allergens as enemies when they are really ‘innocent.’ However, since that time, researchers have discovered that the immune system is always responding to intruders. In the case of allergies, it activates the ‘threatening’ response for some people and the ‘non-threatening’ response for others.

“In fact, if I eat a nut [and] I’m not allergic, my immune system [still] activates, recognizes what I’m eating, and makes an immune response,” McCusker said. “[...

The] type of immune response it makes is different from the type that you make. So instead of an on-off switch, you make [an allergic response, or] you don’t make [an allergic response], it’s actually a toggle switch [....] You go left, you go right.”

Though our typical surroundings in Canada are far cleaner and more hygienic than they were in, say, the 19th century, many allergists believe that the presence of parasites has led some bodies to create this kind of allergic response.

“If you now have a Godzilla against a human being, which is kind of the scale of difference of what a parasite will look like to the little white blood cells that is trying to fight it, your normal methods of killing or suppressing or getting rid of [it are] not going to work very well,” McCusker said. “So we actually have a system that pro-

motes a certain population of white blood cells that [...] are ‘bombers.’ And what they do is, when they’re activated properly, they run over to the microbe, and they log bombs at it. And the microbe becomes very unhappy and or dies, and it’s problem solved.”

When allergic patients trigger that immune system response, their body activates histamine, a chemical involved in immune response and physiological function.

Signs and symptoms of allergic reactions include hives and swelling, both of which arise from an abundance of histamine.

McCusker and many other allergists believe that allergies develop in the first few years of life as a result of a change in environment after birth. For example, when proteins irritate a child’s skin and cause eczema, or visible irritation of the skin, the body learns to respond to these same proteins when they are ingested in foods later in life.

Anaphylaxis is a commonly used term to describe a severe and potentially deadly allergic reaction. According to McCusker, the likelihood of death from anaphylaxis for allergic patients is around the same as a lightning strike, and it is difficult to predict.

“Unfortunately, I can’t tell you [by] looking at you,” McCusker said. “Are you the person who’s going to walk into that restaurant, have an accidental exposure, and die?

Or are you going to walk into that restaurant, have an accidental exposure, get an itchy mouth, have a few hives, feel like crap, and have to use your EpiPen?” McCusker urges allergic patients who have been prescribed an EpiPen to always carry it with them, whether or not they plan to eat anything. EpiPens contain epinephrine, a hormone that narrows blood vessels and opens airways, helping to temporarily reverse the signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction.

Ultimately, McCusker concluded that it is important

Signs and symptoms of allergic reactions include hives and swelling, which are due to the body’s release of histamine.

(Daria Kiseleva / The McGill Tribune) for those with allergies to tell their friends about how serious their allergies can be.

“One of the biggest problems [...] that people [...] who have allergies [get wrong] is [...] being nervous about disclosing their allergies [and] to talk to friends and say ‘Listen, if I’m not feeling well, you’re coming with me,’” McCusker said.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4 2020

11

Tuesday Night Café Theatre hosts 24-Hour Playwriting Competition Talented young creatives had 48 hours to write and rehearse plays before performing.

Patrick Gilroy Contributor The competition’s rules are straightforward: Twenty-four hours to write a play, 24 more to rehearse, followed by their performance. On Jan. 25, an eager audience filled up the Tuesday Night Café theatre, witnessing four concise and fullyrealized plays.

Each performance ran about 20 minutes. Sam Katz, U0 Arts, directed the first, called The Boogie, which, from its opening moments, toed a tense line between comedy and horror. As Katz, also an actor, made his way on stage, the room was dark and silent. Seemingly setting up a creepy and uncomfortable experience, Katz stood still until “I’m so Excited” by The Pointer Sisters echoed through the speakers and he began dancing, moving awkwardly like an alien trying mimic a human boogie. The gag set a unique tone for the rest of the act, and once the laughter subsided, the piece began prodding notions of justice and punishment—once it had been revealed that the endless dancing was a punishment for murder. Despite some repetition and an extended runtime, the piece seemed to accomplish what it set out to do: Make the audience laugh, make them uncomfortable, and make them think. Each play that followed was as succinct as the first.

Selene Coiffard d’Amico, U2 Arts, directed On Purpose, a play that cap-

Four plays were performed in all, each running close to 20 minutes. (Verdi Gashi / The McGill Tribune) tured grief, love, and family in surprising fullness, while Emma Victoria, U2 Arts, brought to life The Devil and The Wind, a fantastical story which saw the former and the latter personified and locked in a toxic relationship. d’Amico’s piece explored the ways in which the death of someone close to us pushes us to re-examine our relationships and ourselves—and to evaluate our lives in the face of their inevitable end. Meanwhile, Victoria’s play took that

shape of a classic folk tale, standing out in contrast to the secular and modern narratives occupying the rest of the show. The folk tale was made all the more poignant through its Old Montreal setting, grounding its supernatural elements in familiar locations. While d’Amico’s work contributed significantly to the night’s performances, the piece which won the competition, as voted by last year’s directors, was Riley Palanca’s Art, Business, and Coffee.

Funny, touching, and relatable, Palanca’s play focussed on the connections formed between friends and the differences which allow them to compliment one another. With some existential undertones, each scene featured characters engaged in conversation, often speaking pointlessly, revealing their neuroses as much to the audience as to themselves. The play was set up similarly to a sitcom, with each character embodying a particular trait. One character’s mantra, “just gotta keep moving,” contrasted with the laid-back, stoner vibes of another, while a third character’s preoccupation with his financial situation was paralleled by another’s artistic ambitions.

It was an all-encompassing meditation on the struggles of being a young, broke student, and it succeeded largely thanks to the cast’s charm. Art, Business, and Coffee was also genuinely funny, and didn’t force the drama as hard as the other plays tried to. It focussed on the mundanity of daily life and let those moments speak for themselves, instead of shoving quarter-life sadness down the audience’s throat.

If not for the short runtimes, one might not have known that these plays were written and rehearsed in two days or less. Each piece hit on a few specific ideas and carried them through to the end, while the few missteps and awkward moments only added to the joyful, low-stakes atmosphere that makes this festival such a draw among students. The event is set to return next

Docuseries ‘Chile in Revolt’ presents the human narratives of civil resistance Documentaries depict 2019 Chilean protests in bleak and forceful light

Pascal Hogue Contributor The banging of pots, pans, and wooden kitchen spoons together might not seem like a particularly defiant or political image. Yet for Chileans, this action— known as cacerolazo—has been emblematic of decades of struggle and civil resistance against oppressive regimes in the country. It is also the thread that brings together the films screened in the docuseries Chile in Revolt, presented weekly at UQÀM from Jan. 16-31.

A protestor and her pan foregrounds the first shot to the prologue of Chile in Revolt: At an intersection further behind, riot-policemen are seen fighting a handful of protestors. The protestors’s chants and the tinting sounds of her pot are muffled because of the brawl in the background.

The second scene is shot along a Santiago highway emptied of traffic, where riot-police are seen shooting rubber bullets and aiming water cannons towards a dozen protestors, then retreating with apparent indifference as the street goes up in flames.

The prologue comprises only these two shots and lasts barely over a minute.

The effect is nonetheless chilling: The camera remains still throughout, giving an uncanny sense of stability unfitting with the scenes of violent confrontation the film seems to imply that, in these envi-

rons, there is normalcy in such events.

Era Necessario offers a much more vibrant depiction of the 2019 Chilean protests. Here, thousands of Chilean women from all ages and backgrounds have gathered in the streets of Santiago, chanting and banging their dishes, demanding action against sexual violence in the country. Chile has a historically dismal record of sexual violence and the rate of rape in the country are among the highest globally. However, the tone of the film remains hopeful, focusing instead on the sense of solidarity between Chilean women and the sense of community fostered by the protests.

Movilizados depicts the 2011-2013 Chilean student protests against the Sebastian Piñera government and the brutal police repression that ensued. While a bit long-winded, a few powerful moments stuck out. In one, an elder woman tries to convince a barricade of riot-police officers that their work is perpetuating injustices: “If you are here, it is because you are poor like us,” she tells the expressionless officers. The documentary could use more of such candid confrontations where the Chilean struggle is at its most intimate and spend less time on its numerous and often tedious interviews.

Chile in Flames brings viewers to present-day Chile, where civil defiance by high school students to a 30-peso increase in weekly transit fees in Oct. 2019 quickly

UQÀM hosted the series, offering discussion after screenings. (vimeo.com) turned into a large-scale protest for widespread social reforms. The documentary follows the events chronologically, from the millions marching the streets of Chilean cities demanding better living conditions to the government’s refusal to back down by sending armoured vehicles and riot police to quell the protests. In the end, Chileans defy en masse new curfew laws and continue to demonstrate—with the tinting sounds of the cacerolazo as their weapon of resistance—until the government has cancelled the fare increase, and promised new social reforms.

Of all the documentaries screened, Chile in Flames is the most forceful. It

juxtaposes horrific images of burnt down subway trains and brutal police repression reminiscent of Augusto Pinochet’s Chile with powerful human narratives of shared struggle. While the previous documentaries often give the impression that civilian protests merely contribute to a never-ending cycle of violence, Chile in Flames shows a population united by resistance and capable of achieving concrete improvements to people’s lives. It is a neat conclusion to the docuseries: in a country where the status quo has rarely ever yielded to the masses, the film brings hope that institutional change might really be possible in Chile.

12

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4 2020

Thursdays (a) Live makes its debut of the decade

CKUT and Jam for Justice host student music showcase Kate Addison Staff Writer

Zine-making workshop

Continued from page 1. “[At CKUT we] have the resources to support and promote student artists. I wish we were a not-for-profit record label personally, because back in the day we would have had Arcade Fire, we would have had Grimes, so many people that we could have given [a] voice to,” Salaymeh said. “[Students] have so much with academics to juggle, [CKUT] can support them with a venue and the tec [they need].”

Opening what would prove to be an acoustic guitar-heavy evening were the musical stylings of Johnathon Webb, U3 Arts. Somewhat timid but undoubtedly friendly, Webb was a crowd-pleaser, turning to the audience for requests. Featuring acoustic covers of classics from David Bowie to Bob Marley, Webb delivered a charming performance punctuated by adventurous vocals such as a brief moment of falsetto during Space Oddity.

Wrapping up his set, Webb performed an original, jokingly titled “Long March of the Red Army.”

While his emotional ode to a nameless lover lacked the communist overtones one might expect of such a title, it was nonetheless entertaining.

Up next was the duo Moosehowl, made up of U3 Science student Jacob Sanz-Robinson and U2 Engineering student Anthony Porporino, two talented guitarists with a mutual love for classic rock. While the duo performed only Pink Floyd covers with a Grateful Dead song thrown in for variety, they played well together, providing some much-appreciated 1960s hits to a night dominated by folksy love songs.

As Katie Harbour, U2 Science, took the stage the already crowded basement began to get un-

Learn to make environmentallyconscious zines with the McGill Environment Students’ Society and the Art Hive Initiative.

Feb. 7, 10 a.m., Healthy Living Annex, Brown Building Free

Embroidery Tutorial

Bands must have at least one McGill student to be considered. (Georgia Donald / The McGill Tribune) comfortably full. Having recently released her first E.P., titled EP, on Jan. 26, Harbour’s performance drew a crowd. With nothing but a guitar to accompany her, she put on a captivating performance of several of her recently released songs. While her music, which focuses mainly on the turbulent world of young love is unquestionably catchy, Harbour’s rich and clear vocals truly set her apart from the previous performers. In particular, her original song “Useless,” a Rex Orange Countyinspired tune, sounded just as polished in person as it does on her album.

On fourth was Maria Graham, U3 Science.

Unlike the other performers that evening she lacked instrumental accompaniment instead relying solely on her powerful vocals to carry her performance. Though Graham initially gave off a subdued impression, the strength of her voice was put on display during a cover of Chet Baker’s “My Funny Valentine.”

Closing the show was U3 Arts student Sarah

Krier, a self-described bedroom pop artist who already has three albums under her belt. With just her guitar, Krier was unable to deliver the full experience of her synth-heavy repertoire, yet her acoustic performance felt like a comforting conversation with a good friend. Her short and often gentle songs feel much like a diary entry made privy to an audience. When combined with Krier’s laid-back stage presence, listeners could not help but feel at ease. Though Krier’s performance differed from the signature neo-psychedelic style of her online discography, her acoustic renditions were a perfect end to the night.

By 8:45 p.m., the show had wound to a close and the acoustic guitars were shut away. The crowd emerged out from the basement of The Yellow door with the peaceful feeling that only a night of dreamy music and good company can provide.

Recordings of Thursdays (a) Live are broadcasted on CKUT 90.3 FM.

Learn how to embroider clothes and decor. Proceeds go to the Montreal Native Women’s shelter.

Feb. 5, 7:15-9:15 p.m., McLennan M3-17A $3

Gender, Sexualities and Cultural Production in Brazil lecture

Two art historians, Drs. Beatriz Polivanov and Greice Schneider, discuss gendered dimensions of Brazilian EDM and graphic humour.

Feb. 6, 4-6 p.m., Arts W-215 Free

30 Years in One Night

Montreal’s longest running Gospel radio show, Mind Soul & Spirit, celebrates its 30th anniversary on CKUT 90.3 FM with a blockbuster concert Feb. 8, 6 p.m., Evangel Pentecostal Church $20 at the door

Where do I begin?: Adam Sandler’s filmography An Adam Sandler movie for every occasion Gabe Nisker Features Editor In the middle of the 2006 film Click, audiences realized just how fascinated Adam Sandler is with the comedy of bodily functions: From farting to vomiting, he’s joked about it all. But in Click, he reassures his parents his ‘schmekel’—in a nod to Sandler’s Jewish heritage, he uses Yiddish slang for ‘penis’—has gotten bigger since he was smaller. And when they tell him it could not have gotten smaller, he kibbitzes back. He’s a little miffed.

Sandler movies, while oft accused of being vehicles for dumb product-placement, are also silly and sweet coming-of-age stories. The Adam Sandler character is a clown, and as he runs through his emotions, he searches to prove his manhood in the only way he knows how.

He bumbles around, sad, angry, and often innocently charming. While the rest of the world mourns Sandler’s Oscar snub for Uncut Gems, I want to reflect upon his roots. And, so, for two whole weeks, I watched those characters run around on screen to find the perfect Sandler flick for every mood, occasion, or whim.

Sadness

Recommendations: Punch-Drunk Love (2003), Click (2006) Adam Sandler is a master of schmaltz.

Click, which is It’s a Wonderful Life but with

Sandler and mid-aughts technology, is the best example. Released at a pivotal point in Sandler’s career, the film marks his transition toward stories of fatherhood. As Sandler speeds through his life with the help of a universal remote handed to him by the always-committed Christopher Walken, we watch music swell and tears fall. We also watch Sandler fart on David Hasselhoff and eat Twinkies.

Anger

Recommendations: You Don’t Mess with the Zohan (2008), Happy Gilmore (1996) Zohan is an Israeli soldier-turned-hairdresser/sex worker comedy, and it is as stupid and silly as the premise sounds. At the core of the film, Sandler does a somehow-convincing Israeli accent, turning in a committed performance in what Sandler has professed to be his dream role. Watching him punch, kick, run, and even charm his way around New York City as his hairdresser alter-ego, Scrappy Coco, is absurdly funny and kind of cathartic all at once.

Happy Gilmore also straddles that fine line of hilarity, rocking between angry outbursts and dopey romanticism: Sandler yells through his intercom, angry at his now ex-girlfriend, before mumbling sweet nothings in hopes she’ll return.

“I’m sorry, babe, I didn’t mean that either,” Happy says. “I just yell sometimes because I

Adam Sandler has starred in an absurd catalogue of movies (Katia Innes / The McGill Tribune). get so scared, scared of being a nobody.”

Child-like innocence and sweetness

Recommendations: Billy Madison (1995), The Wedding Singer (1998), Big Daddy (1999) The nineties are quite clearly Sandler’s best period, with his films ranking high atop the list of the most childish many have ever seen.

Big Daddy involves Sandler encouraging the Sprouse twins, both playing one boy à la Olsen-Full House, to essentially parent themselves in order to appear responsible and win back his ex-girlfriend.

Billy Madison is possibly the dumbest movie ever made: It’s about a grown man who speaks with a baby affect and must earn his inheritance by speeding through grade school. But, really, its idiocy is its charm.

“My friends or parents would be like, ‘I don’t know. It just seems stupid,’ Andy Samberg told Jesse David Fox of Vulture.

“I would always say, ‘Yeah, but [the actors] know it’s stupid. That’s the difference.’”

The tongue-in-cheek nature of Sandler films is done on purpose, and it’s all for our amusement. I deluged my roommate with Adam Sandler movies for nearly two weeks.

By the end, I figured he was ready to look at me and say the final line of the most quotable moment in Billy Madison, but he does not. Because he does not think this movie made him dumber; we agree that these movies are legitimately funny.

“Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it,” the school principal tells Billy about a trivia contest answer he provided. “I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.”

May God have mercy on my soul. I did watch Jack and Jill, after all.

STUDENT LIFE

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4 2020

13

Dates and mates

Alternatives to mainstream dating apps Janine Xu Contributor

Blued: An Asian alternative to Grindr While Grindr is one of the most popular dating apps for queer men, it also contends with issues of racism, often in the form of dating preferences. Many men of colour have reported racial discrimination on the app, with profiles that list preferences such as “No Blacks, no Asians.” Blued, a replacement to Grindr, is a Chinese dating app for gay men, created in 2012 by Ma Baoli to normalize same-sex relationships in China. The app boasts over 40 million users, and while it caters toward an Asian audience, it has rapidly gained popularity all over the world. Unlike Grindr, which is primarily a dating app, Blued also has traditional social networking options, giving users the ability to broadcast videos, start group chats for a more social experience, and “follow” each other.

With Valentine’s Day rapidly approaching, many students may find themselves reaching for Tinder or Grindr. These dating apps have exploded in recent years: Tinder alone boasts over 50 million active users worldwide since the app was founded in 2012.

While such apps offer a large pool of people to choose from, niche dating apps have been gaining popularity, each with unique features to fill unmet needs. Here are four alternative dating apps to try out this Valentine’s season.

Happn: Finding love next door Similar to Tinder, Happn is a dating app that uses GPS services but takes a far more extreme approach to location-based matchmaking. Boasting a unique concept of “missed connections,” Happn only shows the profiles of people who have recently been in close proximity to each other, claiming that users should “live in the moment.” Unlike Tinder, Happn displays multiple profiles at once, based entirely on location, and can even alert you if you’ve recently been in the same grocery store as someone. This can be a good way to start conversations. Happn also includes a voice messaging feature so users can talk to each other in a more intimate setting.

Its location-based algorithm may cause safety concerns, with reports of the app being used for stalking purposes. However, Happn now allows users to switch to “invisibility” mode to hide their location.

Tastebuds.fm: Music is the food of love With Valentine’s Day around the corner, many people are using dating apps to find their soulmate.

For those people for whom music is the way (Jessie Ye / The McGill Tribune) to their heart, Tastebuds.fm is the perfect dating app. While dating apps like Tinder and Grindr HER: For femme-identifying are “likeable” by others. There are multiple offer integration with Spotify, Tastebuds.fm placfolks categories that can be filled out, including diet es music at the forefront of dating, which attracts While mainstream apps such as Tinder preferences and star signs, but HER avoids those who normally don’t use a dating app. Buildand Bumble offer categories for 2SLGBTQ- putting people in a box by having multiple ing a profile on Tastebuds involves selecting artIA+ users, these digital spaces are often domi- options for categories such as gender identity ists or importing an account from either Spotify nated by a heterosexual audience. HER is a and sexuality. A recent update in June 2019 or Last.fm to generate a musical profile. The app dating app that provides a safe space for queer included a ‘What does this mean’ field across not only finds potential romantic matches but also women and non-binary femmes to connect. the sexuality, gender, and pronouns categories suggests musical artists that the pair would have The profiles on the app are generally more to help users understand each other and sup- in common. Currently, Tastebuds is working on expressive than other dating apps, allowing port queer identity. adding features to connect its members offline users to post multiple pictures or interests that through musical gigs or meetups.

Ditching busy culture for wellness

Leading a productive lifestyle rather than a busy one

Laura Yudo Contributor Conversations around campus are often focussed on the busy nature of our lives, with a subtle competition on who is the busiest; being busy has become a major status symbol in university culture today. At a prestigious institution like McGill, ‘busy culture’ is certainly not an uncommon phenomenon. There always seems to be a constant pressure to have overloaded course schedules and engage in a long list of extracurricular activities.

Busy culture is a product of several factors—necessity, FOMO, escapism, and the digital era in which we live. It becomes an issue when it gets in the way of wellness. Engaging in busy culture can mean sleeping less and having little time for selfcare, which are essential for a healthy mind. With midterm season already here, here are three ways to prioritize your wellness as the semester gets busier.

Say No

Don’t feel pressured to al-

ways say yes. Contrary to popular belief, being busy is not equivalent to being productive.

While being busy focusses on the number of activities one is engaged in, productivity is measured by the quality of the results produced. Prioritizing your wellness means choosing productivity over being busy. It is so easy to get caught up in the countless opportunities to get involved and beef up your resume. However, being productive means limiting the time you spend on things that matter, because it is important to be intentional with the little time and energy you do have. There will always be clubs to join, projects to latch on to, and positions to apply for.

One way to prioritize what is urgent is by eliminating what’s not with a “To-don’t list,” a list of engagements and commitments that are not beneficial. Set boundaries and take only what you can handle. It is okay to be choosy and say no.

Mindfulness

Guilt always finds a way of creeping in when time is spent

resting or recharging. With days of consistently jumping from one commitment to another, there is little room to slow down and be mindful. Using apps like Morning! allows students to set reminders throughout their days to practice gratitude and reflection.

Even amidst the constant grind, you should spend time to focus on satisfying all aspects of life.

Taking care of yourself could mean going to the gym when you don’t feel like studying rather than forcing yourself to get through your work, having regular days off, or simply squeezing in time for a nap. Make space to check in with yourself, connect with people, and recharge.

Let go of perfectionism

Busy culture is a manifestation of perfectionism. It is easy to feel disappointed when you don’t finish every item on your to-do lists. Despite what the loud voice of perfectionism may say, this is the reality of most days: Unfinished tasks, glaring deadlines, and feelings of unproductivity festering even after hours of hard work. To fight this, you

Fighting the busy culture means going against an ingrained norm which can be difficult, but it can also be empowering. (dailybruin.com) must realize that your definition of a productive day might look different from yesterday’s, just as it might look different from others’: Some days, your schedule could be full of club meetings, classes, and work, while other times, it can just be a tough day you need to push through.

While the pervasive notion

is that the amount of work one puts in defines their worth, this is not the case. Fighting busy culture means going against an ingrained norm which can be difficult, but it can also be empowering. A successful person is someone who is content, not someone who has the most commitments.

14 STUDENT LIFE

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4 2020

Starting the conversation about eating disorders

SSMU hosts second national eating disorder awareness week

Alaana Kumar Staff Writer Continued from page 1.

In doing this, the organization is hosting its second National Eating Disorder Awareness Week starting Feb. 3.

In an interview with The McGill Tribune, Paloma Helper, Training Coordinator, and Sophia Esterle, General Coordinator, explained how the centre was created to offer peer support and a safe space for better connection, healing, and understanding of eating disorders.

“Our mission in terms of peer support is to create a financially accessible, nonjudgemental, non directional space that is aware of and educated around eating disorders,” Helper and Esterle wrote.

Learning and understanding the characteristics of different types of eating disorders can help increase awareness of these complex diseases. There are various types of eating disorders, each taking on a different form. Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder are the three most common. Anorexia occurs when an individual participates in selfstarvation, bulimia is when someone engages in binge eating followed by purging, and binge eating disorder is when one has frequent occurrences of eating large quantities of food. Eating disorders are treatable illnesses; however, the symptoms and consequences can be deadly without medical attention.

There is no known cause for the onset of these illnesses, but research suggests that a combination of factors can play a part in the development of eating disorders. Sasha Bell, Communications Coordinator for the EDRSC, described how stigma surrounding mental illnesses discourages individuals from accessing proper care.

“One of the main goals of Eating Disorder Awareness Week is to start conversations around eating disorders,” Bell wrote in an email to the Tribune. “Stigma is a huge barrier to education and accessing support, and we want to provide space for people to discuss their experiences and learn more about eating disorders.”

With the rapid influence of social media and distorted images portrayed online, many stereotypes exist surrounding the various types of eating disorders.

In society today, there is a misconception that eating disorders are exclusive to a cisheteronormative standard of womanhood.

However, this assumption can be dangerous to men and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

“Possibly the most pervasive myth about eating disorders is that they only affect white, thin young women,” Bell wrote. “In reality, eating disorders can affect anyone.”

Research suggests that disordered eating behaviour, particularly compulsive exercise, is an increasingly prominent issue among straight men. A recent study found that another group at higher risk are trans-

SSMU’s EDRSC hopes that the upcoming week of awareness gives people a better insight on the disorder.

(Leanne Young / The McGill Tribune) gender individuals, who reported experi- illnesses. encing disordered eating at almost four “I hope students who come to our times the rate of their cisgender peers. events leave with a more nuanced underOverall awareness can lead to pre- standing of eating disorders, and increased vention and treatment of eating disorders. knowledge of how they could go about acUnderstanding its complexity helps one cessing support,” Bell wrote. practice increased consciousness and empathy for those who are struggling with Students seeking resources and supdisordered eating. Awareness of these port for eating disorders should visit health concerns can also help decrease the https://ssmu.ca/resources/eating-disorstigma often associated with such mental ders.

Ask Ainsley: Should I be worried about the coronavirus Dear Ainsley,

I’m very scared of this emerging coronavirus that’s been spreading around the world and killing people. My friends tell me that I’m the type of person who thinks of the worst case scenario when it comes to my wellbeing.

Whenever I am near people who cough, I get worried that I might catch something. I hear this disease started in China.

Should I be avoiding eating Chinese food or going to places frequented by Chinese people? What can I do to prevent getting this virus?

Sincerely, Worried Sick About Getting Sick (WSAGS) Hi WSAGS, It is normal to feel a sense of panic when there seems to be a constant stream of sensationalized information being flashed on our screens. The first thing to address is your fear of illness itself. It is okay to be worried about being sick, but if you or your friends are noticing that your health is causing an excessive level of anxiety, it may be time to see a doctor. Not only will a checkup with a physician give you an actual indication of any illness, they can also refer you to a mental health professional if this worry has been causing problems in your life. This type of worry is known as illness anxiety disorder and is a real issue that can become debilitating if left untreated.

With regard to the coronavirus, it is important to know that while the World Health Organization (WHO), has described this epidemic as a global health emergency, the risk to students at McGill remains low, according to federal and provincial public health organizations. At this point, protecting yourself means washing your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water, as well as sneezing or coughing into

ports have exaggerated or falsified claims on the origins and reach of this virus so make sure that any news about the virus that you are getting is from a credible, primary source, such as the WHO or the Public Health Agency of Canada.

A particularly appalling result of this hysteria and disinformation that needs to be addressed is the rise of racism against Chinese people. It is easy to get caught up in all this fear-mongering and start panicking but being mindful of those who are most affected by this outbreak is as important as ever. They are as scared of this virus as you are and offering support through solidarity in this difficult time is key. This means not fuelling attitudes around this outbreak that exclude or harass Chinese communities. A prominent example of this prejudice is the one surrounding the ‘bat soup’ theory, which supposes that the virus came from the alleged ‘bizarre’ delicacies of Asian people. These stereotypes are based on a form of Western exceptionalism and disregards the fact that many diseases come from contact with animals that North Americans eat everyday, such as the swine flu, which comes from pigs, and diarrheal E. coli, A more worrying aspect of this emerging disease is the prevalent which comes from eating unwashed meat. Another aspect stereotypes concerning Asian people. (istockphoto) to note is that Asian-run businesses here in Canada are at no greater risk of having this virus than other businesses, your arm to reduce the spread of microbes. These pieces of so you have nothing to worry about when eating Chinese advice are always good to follow even in the absence of the food here in Montreal. In a time that can be distressing for coronavirus outbreak, since there are other more common- those who have ties to China, you have to remember to be place illnesses that are caught in the same way as this virus, kind. What is more dangerous than spreading sickness is such as the common cold or the flu. spreading hate.

An even more contagious aspect of this virus is the spread of disinformation on the Internet. Social media sites, Stay well, such as Twitter and Facebook, have historically done very little to stop the spread of false information and, with this outbreak, the issue of falsehoods is no different. Many re-

Ainsley

SPORTS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4 2020

15

Making space for all memories in the wake of tragedy Mythologizing the late Kobe Bryant

Kaja Surborg Sports Editor Content warning: Mentions of sexual assault and grief.

There is no doubt that Kobe Bryant’s death on Jan. 26 shocked the world. The immediate outpouring of praise from athletes, journalists, and fans alike is a testament to his reach as a basketball player and a person. At the same time as these posts were being shared, another story was being told. It was one that put the events of Kobe’s 2003 rape case at the centre of the plot, a point that Kobe’s character arc could never move beyond.

When a sporting legend dies, the reaction is immediate, visceral, and global. The story that people began building when the athlete was alive suddenly becomes a myth, and everyone seems to have been told a different version.

We learn all too quickly that this legacy is beyond anyone’s control, and as people begin to recount their own narratives, they stop holding space for others’.

A multitude of single narratives emerge, and each author believes themselves to have written the truth.

All humans are flawed and complicated. But a figure with the legendary status of Kobe Bryant is no longer human in the eyes of the masses. As we forget the humanity of the athlete who died, we also forget the humanity of the individuals that they affected.

The woman who accused Kobe of raping her in 2003 became a plot point in his story.

Many adoring Kobe fans treat her as everything from the onetime mistake of a hot-headed young player to the monster who attempted to ruin the career of one of the most inspirational athletes of all time. That she could be a woman, now well into her thirties, with a life full of all the trials and tribulations that human existence entails, is absent from the thoughts of many. This woman, and plenty of other survivors, have been forced to watch the flood of love and support for Kobe, who was able to leave the events of that rape case behind him in 2003, neatly packaged as a “dark period” in his life. They have likely found themselves with their own experiences at the forefront of their minds again, but what is important is that each of these survivors is human.

Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash on Jan. 26.

(NBAE / Getty Images) Everyone who looked up to Kobe is equally human. Personal stories of being inspired by one of the greatest athletes in the world are valid, and admiration of Kobe’s devotion to his children is perfectly normal. Grief and mourning for someone who had been such a constant throughout the entirety of many young people’s lives is an entirely understandable, and human, response.

During the time of grieving,

it is often difficult to talk about the less polished parts of someone’s story. People argue that the moment of death is an inappropriate time to discuss past actions of the deceased. It can also, for others, create a desire to zero in on a single decision without acknowledging that everyone has their own relationship to the nowmythic figure. Ultimately, we need to remember that there is no universal experience with someone as influential as Kobe Bryant.

Now is the time to remember all of Kobe’s legacy. We may not treat him as such, but he was human and, as all humans are, he was complicated. There is no one part of Kobe’s legacy that should be lifted over others, and there is no part that should be silenced. Make space for survivors in your life to have their own feelings about his legacy, while also acknowledging that a generation lost a childhood hero. There is no single truth or correct reaction.

2020 NBA trade deadline predictions A guide to possible upcoming player movement

Bogdan Bogdanovic

Adam Burton Staff Writer

Small forward Bogdan Bogdanovic is an oft–overlooked player, but his recent promotion over Buddy Hield in the Sacramento Kings’ starting lineup has demonstrated that he’s a skilled, clutch player, who also led a Euroleague team on a deep playoff run. Additionally, Bogdanovic has the advantage of having an ownershipfriendly contract at $17 million a year.

With his playoff repertoire, versatile playstyle, and desirable price point, it is likely that championship contenders will be looking to add him to their rosters in the coming days.

The Los Angeles Clippers and Lakers seem likely destinations for Bogdanovic, as they will be looking to add depth to their benches going into the postseason.

With the NBA trade deadline quickly approaching on Feb. 6, the window for teams to make last-minute moves is closing.

While most executives and analysts predict a fairly uneventful buildup to the deadline, The McGill Tribune sees the potential for things to get spicy this season, like they did two years ago when Blake Griffin was traded from the Los Angeles Clippers to the Detroit Pistons. Here is the Tribune’s list of the most intriguing trade possibilities in the coming days.

Joel Embiid

At first glance, trading Joel Embiid might seem absurd. However, in light of Ben Simmons’ recent offensive explosion as a direct result of Embiid’s injury, it has become increasingly obvious that Simmons’s and Embiid’s style of play are not necessarily compatible. Because of Embiid’s inconsistent health and spotty record in the postseason, it seems ever more likely that he might be the player on the trading block in favour of building around the younger Ben Simmons.

In exchange for Embiid, the Philadelphia 76ers would hope for an elite shooting small forward to compliment the drive-first, slashand-kick style of play of Simmons; Jason Tatum, of the Boston Celtics, would fit that role perfectly. Jaylen Brown’s formidable improvement, Gordon Hayward’s full return, and Kemba Walker’s meteoric rise as the

The McGill Tribune predicts some interesting player movement.

(Par Jared Weiss / Athletique)

centre of the franchise make the Celtics a contender looking to make a move for a title. While the Celtics have previously described Tatum as “untouchable,”it seems possible that they would be motivated to sacrifice Tatum to complete their roster with a dominant centre like Embiid.

Frank Ntiklinka

Currently trapped on a dysfunctional roster with the New York Knicks, Frank Ntiklinka has had a dismal offensive performance this season, averaging 31.7 per cent from three, and 37.8 per cent overall, for

only 5.9 points per game. These statistics, however, distract from his actual value as a supremely athletic 6’4” guard, capable of defending multiple positions and running a pick and roll.

With an all time low trade value, it is possible that a more savvy organization in need of his defensive prowess will acquire him. Don’t be surprised to see him bought low by the Golden State Warriors or the San Antonio Spurs, who could develop his offensive skills and plug him in to a well-run system.

Andre Iguadala

Veteran Andre Iguodala found himself on the Memphis Grizzlies this season after an off-season trade. The Grizzlies, feeling no need to add Iguodala to their roster of young talent, came to a mutual agreement, saying they would trade him before the deadline.

Aformer finals MVP and elite perimeter defender, Iguodala will be highly coveted by championship contenders. This is complicated by his burgeoning veteran contract, however, which will make him inaccessible to teams close to the salary cap. The Houston Rockets may be a destination for the accomplished veteran, as their defence is lacking, and he would fit in nicely with their catch-and-shoot style of offence.

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SPORTS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4 2020

Know Your Athlete: Camille Vibert

McGill Alpine Skiing MVP discusses career, injuries, and inspirations Shaun Lalani Contributor A mountain undergoes several rounds of deterioration and decay over time. Piece by piece, the cliffs chip away and the rocks weather, but when the snow settles and the trees fill in, the mountain, continues to stand strong. Such is the spirit of Camille Virbert, a second-year alpine skier from Orillia, Ontario, who is a natural-born athlete and a symbol of fortitude to those around her.

The RSEQ Rookie of the Year has faced and conquered several hurdles over her career, and when it comes to the question of her legacy, she is only just getting started.

“I didn’t really have high expectations for [skiing] last year,” Virbet said in an interview with The McGill Tribune. “I just kind of wanted to continue [skiing] and have fun with it, just love it again. [But] then I ended up having a pretty solid season, so yeah, [...] the ceiling’s pretty high.”

Vibert credits her confidence and success, in large part, to the many obstacles that have shaped her competitive personality over the years. “[I] would always get mad at card games,” Vibert said. “[I was] just always fighting for everything. I wanted to be the best at everything. But when I was 13, I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. I had to be independent, even more so than I already

was. It was difficult, of course, but it made me more responsible as a person. So, that was what really shaped me as a person—not wanting to give up, ever.”

Vibert maintained this drive throughout high school, excelling in several sports.

Her talent in skiing eventually earned her a spot on the provincial ski team. Her time with the team was tumultuous, however, as she suffered a career-threatening ACL and meniscus tear in her very first race.

“I didn’t really mesh well with [the coaches] and [then] [...] there were also all the injuries,” Vibert said. “After a while [...], I [realized] that I wasn’t really [skiing] for me but for others and their expectations.”

Vibert worked her way back to health, ready to take her next big step. With the aim of rediscovering her passion for skiing, she chose to continue her career at McGill.

“I wasn’t really enjoying skiing for a while but wanted to rediscover my love for it,” Vibert said. “McGill has a competitive skiing program plus [...], I’ve always wanted to explore in Montreal, [..] so it was a nobrainer really. My grandpa would be proud that I’m practicing my French, though.”

As for her life outside of sports, McGill has been quite a ride for the skier.

“Oh, it’s so busy,” Vibert said. “I am a very social person, and [...] I just love going out and enjoying all the events like Hype [Week] and Carnival. But it’s obviously

Camille Vibert earned Rookie of the Year honours in her first season at McGill. (orilliamatters.com)

hard to balance with everything. Skiing, I find, helps me manage my time. The added pressure just forces me to keep things in check, and I sort of just need to keep going, going, going, or [...] else I just shut down.”

With a month remaining before the RSEQ championship at Mount Stoneham on Mar. 13 and 14, Vibert remains calm and composed.

“I have a bit more expectations for this year [and] just a little more pressure, but honestly, I just want to have fun with skiing,” Vibert said. “It’s just really fun, and I’m happy to be able to be doing it while

studying.”

Life after graduation remains an openended question. She has professed a love for psychology but has promised to remain an active sportsperson. Despite the lingering uncertainty, one thing seems clear: Vibert will continue to conquer every obstacle in her way.

“It’s kind of funny because my brother, when I first got diagnosed with diabetes, he [came] to me and he [said], ‘Your pancreas is a quitter, but you’re not,’” Vibert said. “So, that’s sort of my motto. If life knocks you down, you just gotta keep getting back up.”

10 things: The best animals in sports

Accidents, mascots, pets, and icons bring animals and sports together

Miya Keilin, Kaja Surborg, Zoe Babad-Palmer, Adam Burton, Beattie Bernfield, Griffin Callahan-Auger, & Shaun Lalani Managing Editor, Sports Editor, Staff Writers, & Contributors Sports are known for many things: Upset victories, legendary players, and championship glory.

But what really matters are the cute, loveable animals behind some of the greatest moments in sports history.

Here are The McGill Tribune’s picks for the top 10 best animals in sports.

ATOM AND HUMBER

Chilean footballer Alexis Sánchez has a small family of pets.

Most famous are his dogs Atom and Humber, who have their own Instagram account. These golden retrievers appear to lead very busy lives with tough training and travel schedules, but Sánchez can always count on them to support him every game day.

RALLY POSSUM

The Cleveland Browns’ Rally Possum is not the only possum to bring good luck to a North American sports franchise, but this creature is arguably the best at spreading good fortune. Rally Possum’s appearance in the stands at a Browns home

game in 2018 broke a 635-day losing streak. That’s powerful.

SAN ANTONIO BATS

It was just a normal midseason game for the San Antonio Spurs when, suddenly, five bats swooped down from the rafters in a coordinated effort to stop play. The last time this happened to the Spurs’ Manu Ginóbili, he savagely swiped a bat out of the air with his bare hands. Fortunately for bat lovers everywhere, he has since retired, allowing our winged nocturnal friends to be caught and later released by professionals.

JO PAWVELSKI

In 2016, a three-month-old black kitten made her Stanley Cup Playoff debut in the San Jose Sharks’ arena. The kitten was quickly dubbed Jo Pawvelski, after then-Sharks captain Joe Pavelski, and became an unofficial second mascot for the team. Jo was later adopted by Sharks forward Patrick Marleau.

FLAMBO AND THE HABS

In December 2018, the Montreal Canadiens adopted a Saint-Pierre Labernese named Flambo in partnership with the Mira Foundation, an organization that

trains service dogs. Unfortunately, medical issues prevented Flambo from becoming a service dog, but he remains with the Canadiens and can be seen at home games and is featured on Instagram.

TEE-RETRIEVING GOOD BOYS

NCAA football may not be for everyone, but tee-retrieving dogs could be. These adorable helpers dash onto the field and bring the kicker’s tee back to the sideline after kickoffs. Boise State’s Cowboy Kohl is perhaps the most famous tee-retriever, but other good boys include New Mexico State’s Striking and UC Davis’ Pint.

THE CUBS’ BLACK CAT CURSE

On Sept. 9, 1969, a black cat added itself to the list of Chicago Cubs curses. The Cubs, 61 years into their World Series drought, held a one–and–a–half–game lead over the New York Mets. But during a game in New York, a black cat waltzed toward the visiting dugout and looked Cubs manager Leo Durocher in the eyes before disappearing.

Chicago missed the playoffs for the next 15 years.

PAUL THE OCTOPUS

Paul the Octopus was perhaps

Atom and Humber have their own wholesome instagram account. (nhl.com)

the only successful English talent at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The eight-limbed oracle accurately predicted the winner of eight World Cup games, including the final, by floating over the correct food box.

The clairvoyant octopus passed away in 2010, but for the two-and-ahalf years he spent on earth, Paul did what many humans never could: He made a million dreams come true.

THE BAKERSFIELD CONDOR

A condor, the second largest flying bird in the world and the foolishly-picked symbol of a Bakersfield hockey team, demanded freedom to the rallying cry of the Star Spangled Banner during

a game in 2013. After multiple escape attempts, the devastation of its handler’s reputation, and the successful intimidation of the Condors’ players, the bird headed down the tunnel toward the locker room and out to freedom.

TROLLEY BOY

Trolley Boy captured our hearts when he brought the story of the famed racehorse Secretariat to the big screen. His undeniable athletic prowess, incredible acting ability, and uncanny resemblance to Secretariat more than honours the legacy of the legend. With such a stirring performance, Trolley Boy has fashioned himself into a legend as well.