The McGill Daily: Volume 113, Issue 10

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Published by The Daily Publications Society, a student society of McGill University.

Published by The Daily Publications Society, a student society of McGill University.

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table of Contents

November 13, 2023 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

Table of Contents 3

Editorial •

Standing with Muslim and Jewish Students

4 News • •

Student Rally for Gaza Government Response to Israel–Palestine Conflict Abortion Rights in Chile

•

7

Sci + Tech •

Our Giant Leap Hackathon

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Culture • •

Review of Priscilla Review of You Exist Too Much

10 Commentary • •

Body Positivity and Body Neutrality Freedom of the Press and Student Journalism

12 Compendium!

•

Winter Horoscopes

EDITORIAL

Volume 113 Issue 10

November 13, 2023 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

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Standing with Muslim and Jewish Students

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ince October 7, reports of Islamophobic and antisemitic hate crimes across Canada have reached record highs. People from all corners of the world are feeling the effects of the conflict in Israel and Palestine.

In our October 30 editorial, The McGill Daily called upon the Canadian government to urge for a ceasefire – a position we wish to reiterate as the violence continues and the death toll rises. As section 2.2 of our Statement of Principles states: “we recognize that power is unevenly distributed, especially – but not solely – on the basis of gender, age, social class, race, sexuality, religion, ability, and cultural identity. We also recognize that keeping silent about these relationships helps to perpetuate oppression.” As a student publication, we believe that this principle is especially important when it comes to the well-being and safety of our student body, and we oppose any violence against Palestinian, Muslim, Jewish, and Israeli communities.

Hate crime reports released for the month of October showed that in Toronto, which has the largest Muslim and Jewish populations of any city in Canada, hate crime rates were more than twice those of October 2022. In response to this horrifying increase, Toronto Chief of Police Myron Demkiw met with local Palestinian and Jewish communities to discuss concerns. He reported: “I’ve heard directly that they are not only concerned for their family and friends living in the conflicted regions but they are also fearful for their own safety right here in our city.”

These fears have been echoed in other provinces. In BC, a rabbi’s home was egged and marked with a swastika, while in Ottawa, a mosque was desecrated. To see such heinous acts of hatred become so widespread is both disturbing and incredibly disheartening.

Unfortunately, this rise in hate is also close to home for many McGill students. In Montreal, the first 12 days following October 7 saw 12 reports of hate crimes and 13 reports of hate incidents against the Jewish community, while four hate crimes and seven hate incidents were reported against the ArabMuslim community. In the following weeks, incidents only escalated. On November 6, both a Jewish community centre and the Beth Tikvah synagogue were firebombed. Only days later, two Jewish schools in Côte-des-Neiges were attacked by gunfire. Additionally, a report from Canada’s Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights released just this past week found that Islamophobia, especially in Quebec, has risen over the past year with expectations of worsening in light of current events. For many, such reports evoke the traumatic memory of the 2017 Quebec City Mosque shooting, the effects of which are still felt today. The culmination of so many incidents has understandably contributed to heightened fears for Montreal’s Muslim and Jewish communities over their safety.

During this time of hurt and division, it is paramount that we uplift one another – especially when it comes to those who are the most vulnerable. It is important to recognize the history of Islamophobia and antisemitism in Canada, and to stand against the terrifying rise we are witnessing today.

Muslim and Jewish communities in Canada have faced a long history of oppression. A Statistics Canada report from July 2023 found that despite making up less than one per cent of Canada’s population, Jewish people are the most targeted religious group in Canada when it comes to hate crimes. On October 19, Prime Minister Trudeau’s special representative for combating Islamophobia Amira Elghawaby gave an address warning against allowing the situation in Israel and Palestine to become a “rekindling” of the antagonism against Arabs and Muslims following 9/11. She explained that in the years following 2001, Arabs and Muslims “felt collectively blamed, stereotyped and racially profiled.” We must recognize and call out the false and dehumanizing narratives pushed by politicians and media on Palestine. Conflating the ideas and actions of extremists with those of all Muslims will only put this community at a greater risk of racial profiling and violence in Canada. The conflation of Jewish people with the ideas and actions of the Israeli government is equally incorrect and equally dangerous.

Actions are being taken across the nation in an attempt to combat this rise in Islamophobia and antisemitism. Over the past several weeks, over 80 Canadian business leaders have signed a joint letter calling for municipal, provincial, and federal governments to increase safety initiatives for Muslim and Jewish communities. The letter states: “No person, regardless of their background or beliefs, should ever feel threatened in the place they call home. Every Jew, Muslim, Israeli, Palestinian, and every individual living in Canada deserves unwavering assurance that our leaders and institutions will protect them from bigotry and violence.” In a November 8 statement, Trudeau also spoke in solidarity with Canada’s Muslim and Jewish communities: “We’re seeing right now a rise in antisemitism [...] and Islamophobia across this country and around the world [...] This needs to stop.

This is not something that is acceptable in Canada, period.”

However, we urge Trudeau to show his solidarity through actions as well as words by calling for an immediate ceasefire and stopping the sale of Canadian arms to Israel.

According to a 2022 report from the Initiative against Islamophobia and Antisemitism (IAIAS), 11 per cent of McGill students identify as Muslim and 7.8 per cent as Jewish. We recognize that a significant portion of McGill students are directly affected by the situation in Israel and Palestine, and we believe that we have a responsibility to support and uplift those in our community who are feeling isolated or targeted right now. We call upon McGill to uphold their 2022 IAIAS promise to “listen, learn, and change course where necessary” when it comes to Islamophobia and antisemitism on campus. At the time of writing, Canada has not yet called for a ceasefire, and as such, we encourage our readers to continue to contact their elected representatives to demand that they advocate for an immediate ceasefire. To our Muslim and Jewish students who are going through a difficult time, consider reaching out to the Muslim Students Association, Independent Jewish Voices, or the Student Wellness Hub for community events and resources.

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News

November 13, 2023 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

How the Canadian Government is Addressing the Israel-Palestine Conflict Canadians divided over government response

Gemma Holland News Contributor content warning: Islamophobia, antisemitism, genocide, violence

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n light of the current conflict in Israel and Palestine, many individuals and groups have staged protests to display their discontent with the actions taken by the Canadian government.

The direct statement from Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, is that the government “fully supports” Israel’s “right to defend itself in accordance with international law.” However, other leaders and Members of Parliament have different opinions on the issue and, as the crisis has progressed, the government has struggled to maintain a unified front.

As of November 8, the Palestinian death toll was estimated at 10,569 according to the Health Ministry in Gaza and the Israeli death toll was estimated at over 1,400 in addition to 242 hostages taken into Gaza by Hamas. Gaza is currently under siege and has been cut off from food, water, fuel, and other supplies by Israel in response to attacks by Hamas. To address this humanitarian crisis, on October 27, Canada reported that until November 12, it will match every donation up to $10 million made to the Humanitarian Emergency Appeal. As tensions increase, the stance of the Canadian government has come under increased scrutiny.

Trudeau has been clear that the Canadian government supports Israel, however, this stance does not encompass all of the members’ positions.

While members including Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre and NDP foreign affairs critic Heather McPherson have echoed Trudeau’s belief that “Israel has every right to eradicate Hamas,” other members have different opinions. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh recently declared “Canada must call for a ceasefire to end the killing of innocent civilians in Gaza immediately,” and the need to end the siege on Gaza. In addition, over 30 MPs, including 23 from the governing Liberal party, have signed a letter to Trudeau calling for him to advocate for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The letter voiced Canada’s need to act as “the longer this conflict goes on, the more innocent civilians will pay with their lives,” and also posited that while Israel may deserve assistance, that it cannot come at the expense of innocent lives. Thus far, the Canadian government has resisted calls from the NDP, Green Party, and some Liberal members for a ceasefire, instead, supporting the

India Mosca | News Editor possibility of humanitarian pauses.

This has raised debates over the discernment between these two terms, humanitarian pause and ceasefire, neither of which have a formally agreed legal definition.

Both terms would involve a pause in fighting so that aid and supplies can be delivered to Gaza, the main difference being how long the breaks in fighting will last. A ceasefire is typically implemented as a long-term agreement to cease hostilities, on the other hand a humanitarian pause would mean a less formal and temporary break for the purpose of sending aid to vulnerable civilians.

In response to the violence in Israel and Gaza, there have been frequent protests throughout Canada, many of which have targeted the stance and actions of the Canadian government. A recent cause of this upset was the censure and ejection of Sarah Jama from the Ontario NDP (ONDP) caucus. This occurred after Jama expressed her support for the Palestinian people and called for an immediate ceasefire in an October 10 statement on X (formerly Twitter). She was then urged by the government to issue an apology, which she did 24 hours later. Despite this, the ruling Conservative party pushed for her censure, and was

later removed from the ONDP caucus. ONDP MPP Peggy Satler said that Jama’s expulsion was due to the party leadership’s disapproval of her “insistence on acting independently, unilaterally, and with repeated disregard for the [ONDP] Leader.” This response encouraged both praise and contempt from the public, becoming an additional catalyst for many pro-Palestine protests.

On October 30, pro-Palestine protesters staged sit-ins at 17 MPs offices in 12 cities across Canada.

During these sit-ins, the names of Palestinians who have been killed since October 8 were read out, and the protestors called on MPs to demand a ceasefire and an end to Canada’s complicity in Israel’s apartheid. Sit-ins targeted the offices of MPs who have not pushed for an immediate ceasefire. Three of these sitins occurred in Montreal, at the Ahuntsic-Cartierville office of Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, David Lametti’s office in the riding of LaSalle—Émard— Verdun, and Rachel Bendayan’s office in Outremont.

As well, there have been a number of pro-Israel protests.

However, these protests have not been met with the same criticism from politicians as those in support of Palestine. While rallies

held for both Israel and Palestine have remained peaceful, Trudeau has responded to the two groups distinctly, while he continues to reiterate the government’s support for Israel, he denounced “[t]he glorification of violence” and “the demonstrations that have taken place, and are taking place, across the country in support of Hamas’ attacks on Israel.” In contrast to the Canadian government, some Jewish organizations, including Independent Jewish Voices Canada, have stated their solidarity with the Palestinian people. At a rally held in Toronto on October 29, Corey Balsam, the national coordinator of Independent Jewish Voices declared that “[w] e’re of course gutted by the attacks

on Israeli civilians on Oct. 7,” and that they “continue to be terrified at the loss of life, the collective punishment and the just extreme, really inhumane treatment of Gaza right now,” calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

As the bloodshed in Israel and Palestine continues, Canada has become divided into those in support of each side. As unrest over the conflict continues, both Jewish and Muslim communities have expressed their concerns over the heightened risk of hate crimes. Since the beginning of the conflict, there has been a noticeable increase in hate crime occurrences. On October 12, the National Council of Canadian Muslims reported that recently it has received double the complaints of Islamophobic incidents than normal. Additionally, Yair Szlak, President and Chief Executive Officer at Federation CJA, has warned that the Quebec Jewish community “is under attack,” following the overnight shooting on November 8 at two different Jewish schools located on SaintKevin Ave. in Côte-des-Neiges and Chemin Deacon in Outremont. No one was injured and authorities believe the shots were fired overnight and the investigation is ongoing to assess the hatecrime situations. In response to this notable rise in hate-crimes against both Jewish and Muslim communities in Montreal, Vincent Richer, Deputy Director of the Montreal police force has announced an increase in police vigilance and presence as hateful acts proliferate.

This statement by the Montreal police force follows a recent confrontation between Israeli and Palestinian students at Concordia that turned violent on November 8. The confrontation began after the Israeli student club, StartUp Nation and Concordia’s Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR), set up tables for events they had both reserved on the same day. Both groups have stated they were unaware that the

Thus far, the Canadian government has resisted calls from the NDP, Green Party, and some Liberal members for a ceasefire, instead, supporting the possibility of humanitarian pauses.

News

November 13, 2023 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

other group had booked a table on the same day and Concordia’s Student Union has been unable to confirm which group actually requested a table first. SPHR was holding a fundraiser for Gaza, selling Keffiyehs to raise money for humanitarian efforts in Gaza.

StartUp Nation’s setup included putting up posters of the 240 hostages depicting the hostages taken by Hamas on October 7 and an artistic representation of an empty sabbath dinner. Tensions arose when it was noticed that some of the posters put up by StartUp Nation were attached to a wall in front of the SPHR’s

table. Multiple people began to remove the posters of the hostages surrounding SPHR’s table, however SPHR declared that this was not an act they condoned.

The President of StartUp Nation insisted that the posters were not intended as a provocation and had been put up before SPHR’s table was set up as they “didn’t know that they would be here today.” Soon after Concordia campus safety and prevention as well as Andrew Woodwall, Dean of Students, arrived to inform StartUp Nation that many of their posters did not align with Concordia’s guidelines and thus had to be removed.

While videos have been circulating the internet, they show only a fragmented portrayal of the event and the entire context and account of the confrontation remains uncertain. Numerous videos and conflicting recounts of the confrontation have emerged, resulting in some ambiguity over the initiation of the conflict. Videos show shoving matches, chanting, and shouting between students, non-students, and staff. During this conflict, multiple altercations broke out resulting in the injury of two Concordia safety staff and one student. At 1:30 p.m. police arrived, calling for the crowd to disperse

and arresting a 22 year old proPalestine student.

Another video that went viral depicted a Concordia student who has been alleged to have said an antisemitic k-slur. However, a longer video shows a middle-aged nonstudent being verbally aggressive and homophobic toward the student. Since then, the student has clarified they did not say antisemitic slur, and in fact was not even aware of said slur. In a statement to the Link, the student emphasized that “any kind of slur is not something that I want to be associated with, especially as someone who’s from a marginalized community,” and

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mentioned the immense fear they now feel on campus. Subsequent to the conflict, in an email, spokesperson Vannina Maestracci from Concordia discussed the event, writing that “the safety of our community is our priority.”

Additionally, in response to the confrontation, many organizations and leaders have expressed their opinions on the issue, denouncing the violence that transpired, and the Center for Research-Action on Race Relations has urged educational institutions to take necessary action in order to prevent violence and discrimination on campuses.

Students Rally For Gaza

Demonstration at Y intersection to speak up for Palestine India Mosca News Editor

On November 9, students in Montreal organized a walk out in solidarity with the people of Gaza in response to calls for a national day of shutdown for Palestine were made by groups, including the Palestinian Youth Movement in the US and Canada.

Cheers and waving flags resonated throughout campus on Thursday afternoon as hundreds of students from McGill, Concordia and UDeM, as well as different CEGEPs, gathered at the Y-intersection in downtown Montreal calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza strip.

The rally was originally slated

to take place at the intersection of Guy Street and Maisonneuve Boulevard near Concordia University, but the location was changed after an altercation took place in the university’s Hall Building between Jewish and Palestinian student groups.

The Concordia administration addressed this violent incident in an email, expressing concern about the rise in acts of intimidation motivated by Islamophobia and antisemitism throughout campus and around the city.

In light of Israel’s continued assault on Gaza, more than 500 students and demonstrators made their way to the Roddick Gates and continued to the entrance

of Scotiabank on Sherbrooke Street where they joined another pro-Palestine demonstration.

Speeches were given by different organizations and speakers, expressing their support for Palestinians, condemning all forms of oppression, and celebrating student activism.

Leaders of the rally said they were inspired by the turnout and encouraged the crowd not to lose hope. “The more we are silenced, the more we will continue to fight and the more people will be drawn to our cause” said one of them. Another speaker echoed “do you really think that a population as resilient as Palestinians will be silenced?”

Salma, a McGill graduate student, spoke out about “the beauty, the resilience and the strength of a united student front for justice.” “Let me make one thing clear,” she said. “Do you know why administrators feel the need to condemn student solidarity? Because they know that student activism works! That student awareness works!”

Her powerful speech continued by recalling the multiple campaigns successfully carried out by students. “It was students like you that forced McGill to divest from the apartheid in South Africa 38 years ago this month,” she said.

As the voices of students rose, chanting “the students, united, will never be defeated!” or “Free, free Palestine,” hands raised in applause and held up signs saying “Ceasefire Now. Stop the Genocide.”

A speaker from Independent Jewish Voices McGill also took the stage to reaffirm that “all forms of oppression of Jewish or Muslim students were inherently linked.”

They then called for an end to the violence, intoning: “How can anyone with a conscience try to silence activists for human rights?”

Despite the cold weather and snow, students stood together behind the Palestinian flag and marched towards Scotiabank, continuously calling for peace as well as official recognition of the genocide and apartheid currently being enacted towards

the Palestinian people of Gaza.

The rally persisted in front of the Scotiabank, as the bank is a prime target of the Canadian Boycott, Divest and Sanctions movement.

They are a major shareholder in Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest private weapons manufacturer, whose weapons are frequently used against Palestinians. Students have persistently criticized their universities for investing in companies associated with Israeli arms production, accusing the administration of complicity in the ongoing genocide.

Over the past month, student groups all over the world have been organizing and using their voices to advocate for the respect of human rights and decency, rising together to use their right to speak up for Palestinians.

Similar events in support of an end of violence in Gaza will continue to be organised by organizations such as the Palestinian Youth Movement Montreal and Independent Jewish Voices McGill.

Scan the QR Code to sign the petition demanding the Canadian government call for a ceasefire.

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November 13, 2023 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

News

Abortion Rights Debate Continues to Cause Tension Throughout Chile

A look at the current climate surrounding abortion law in the country

Rebecca Johns News Contributor Content warning: gender-based violence, sexual assault, death

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n Chile, tensions over the uncertain future of family planning and the right to abortion have been growing once again. On September 28, large pro-choice protests took place outside La Moneda, the historic home of the Chilean government in the capital of Santiago. They yelled, “derecho a decidir,” and “aborto por la vida,” which translates to “the right to decide,” and “abortion for life.”

The organizers referred to the movement as ‘the green tide,’ a symbolic name that references the growing momentum of feminism in Latin America. This marks the latest in a number of demonstrations calling for improved women’s rights.

Back in 2018, over 40,000 women marched through Santiago. The protest ended tragically, with three women being stabbed. In 2019, an anti-rape song recorded by a group of Chileans went viral and was utilized by protestors worldwide. Moreover, reports of underage school children experiencing sexual assault rose by 55 per cent in 2022. The response was a number of strikes and the closure of a school in the centre of the city. After a slight lull, a second wave of protests is being seen across Chile.

This growing tension can be pinned down to the impending release of the new Constitution. The new set of laws will be the third attempt to rewrite the Constitution that has been in place since 1980, under the dictatorship of Augustus Pinochet. However, in 2022, President Gabriel Boric’s attempt to introduce one of the world’s most left-leaning bills of rights was voted down, leading to the election of a new Constitutional Council. There,

the conservative Republican Party won 23 out of the available 51 seats. This has granted their leader, far-right Catholic Jose Kast, the opportunity to lead in the drafting of the new bill. Kast had previously expressed deep opposition to abortions, such as trying to outlaw the contraception pill back in 2007. He also previously proposed removing the Ministry for Women, a position he has since abandoned.

His Constitution will be voted on by the public in December of this year.

Currently, abortion is legal in three situations: when the life of the mother is at risk, when the fetus is not viable, and in cases

The organizers referred to the movement as “the green tide,” a symbolic name that references the growing momentum of feminism in Latin America. This marks the latest in a number of demonstrations calling for improved women’s rights.

of rape during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy (or 14 weeks if the woman is under 14 years old).

However, since 2018, clinics can refuse abortion based solely on their ideological perspective.

Kast claims that if he were to introduce a total ban, he would be simply representing the views of his country. Indeed, a 2021 poll stated that 54 per cent of Chileans disagreed with the legalization of the medical procedure up until 12 weeks of pregnancy, regardless of the reason.

In 2015, a campaign group called InformAborto launched a public prolife campaign. Their social media shows them driving through the streets of Santiago with a large and explicit image of a fetus, with the words “torture and disappearance”.

This reflects their attempt to liken it to the crimes of Augustus Pinochet, who was responsible for over 3000 human rights violations.

Despite this, there has been great outrage coming from the left in response to these proposed measures. Paloma Zúñiga Cerda, a member of the Democratic Revolution party and part of the Constitutional Council, argued that the views of the Republican Party were deeply hypocritical. For one, she notes that Kast has failed to condemn the murders that took place during Augusto Pinochet’s dictatorship. This, she claims, shows a stronger disregard for life than that of pro-lifers.

Moreover, earlier this year, 15 members of the house voted against condemning the sexual violence that took place during this time. One member of the Republican Party referred to the hundreds of reports of rape and sexual assault as ‘urban legend.’ Similarly, others have drawn comparisons to the perceived lack of state action against the rise in domestic violence against women.

For example, only 73 per cent of the

Rebecca Johns | Photos Contributor

A huge consequence of Chile’s strict abortion laws is the rise in at-home abortions. Around the city, one can find numerous fliers on how to obtain misoprostol, a prohibited medicine commonly used to terminate an early pregnancy. This pill is increasingly used illegally by Chilean women, an act that can be dangerous and extremely isolating. Indeed, in 2017, up to 70,000 abortions took place in this way.

cases of femicide recorded between 2010 and 2019 ended in sentencing.

The UN have also called on Chile to improve gender equality in the country, citing that in 2018, 5.8 per cent of women aged 15 to 49 years reported that they had been subject to physical and/or sexual violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months.

Cerda wonders how the right can claim to be protecting the life of the unborn child while showing disregard for the lives of countless women. She has since voiced her attempts to ensure gender equality is provided by the next constitution.

A huge consequence of Chile’s strict abortion laws is the rise in at-home abortions. Around the city, one can find numerous fliers on how to obtain misoprostol, a prohibited medicine commonly used to terminate an early pregnancy. This pill is increasingly used illegally by Chilean women, an act that can be dangerous and extremely isolating.

Indeed, in 2017, up to 70,000 abortions took place in this way.

In 2014, this was responsible for up to 900 deaths in Latin America, and Human Rights Watch claims this has disproportionality affected poorer and Indigenous women.

This act is punishable by five years imprisonment, yet this hasn’t stopped a number of clandestine groups supplying the drug. Alongside the medication, these “abortion doulas” provide emotional support to those in the process. Organisations such as Advocates for Youth even offer training to those as young as 14 to help those who want to guide others with the procedure.

Chile continues to be divided on this policy. The conservative members of the constitutional council affirm that they “are not making any changes that could affect the three-cause abortion law,” yet the Green Tide continues to spread the hashtag, “#SeraLey,” or “It will be Legal.”

November 13, 2023 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

Sci+Tech

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Interview with the Organizers of Our Giant Leap Hackathon 2nd edition of international competition comes to Montreal

Andrei Li Sci+Tech Editor

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n October 29, the Daily sat down with organizers of Our Giant Leap Hackathon, which took place on October 28 and 29 at McGill. The hackathon, run by the Diversity and Gender Equality Project Group of the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC), asks participants to study the role of space technology in solving global gender disparities. The Daily spoke with organizers Nathan Schilling, Sobia Nadeem, and Yulia Akisheva about the importance of the SGAC and the hackathon, as well as their outlooks on diversity in the aerospace industry.

This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

Andrei Li for The McGill Daily (MD): Could you tell me more about the Space Generation Advisory Council?

Sobia Nadeem (SN): SGAC is an international organization made up of young space technology professionals.

It’s free to become a member, and you can get more involved by applying to project groups: sustainable policy, aerospace research, etc. Several of our working groups have the opportunity to present at the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space [COPUOS]. People involved in SGAC also regularly publish their work at conferences, such as the International Astronautical Congress. The SGAC gives you the insight and ability to contribute to space technology at an earlier stage of your career.

MD: Could you tell me more about the history of how this hackathon came about?

SN: The hackathon falls under the umbrella of our Giant Leap Initiative for gender equality in STEM. Our event is just before the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs [UNOOSA] Space4Women conference happening this week in Montreal. The hackathon is not directly affiliated with the conference, but it does give a taste of what it’ll talk about. In our hackathon, students get exposure to outer space and space exploration under the hackathon theme: this year, supporting women and gender minorities in remote communities.

Yulia Akisheva (YA): The idea started with a conference in Toulouse, France, with a local event focused on women in space. We built on that event — published articles, did outreach, kept in touch with the space community — and we ended up going to South Korea in 2022. Our mission was inspired by The Moment of Lift by Melinda Gates: empowering women to shape their own futures.

The hackathon is only one of our

many projects that focus on this topic.

Nathan Schilling (NS): The hackathon grew out of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in eliminating the gender gap in science. We’re focused on getting more women into space, into STEM, and using space tech to support women worldwide. Our first hackathon, in Daejeon, South Korea, ended with the winning team being able to propose an idea and actually begin to commercialize it. Our overall goal is to get more women, minorities, and youth into STEM.

“Our overall goal is to get more women, minorities, and youth into STEM.” - Nathan Schilling MD: Broadly, what are the objectives of the Our Giant Leap Hackathon?

NS: Our objectives are twofold.

First, to get teams to find solutions to the gender gap through space technologies. This year, we’re looking at leveraging space technologies to support remote communities worldwide. Second, to get career developments for hackers — networking with mentors, industry specialists, and fellow hackers. We’re really invested in the international dimension — getting hackers connected and fostering opportunities for global collaboration.

MD: How did you, personally, get involved with the SGAC? SN: I was previously a director for SEDS [Students for the Exploration and Development of Space]. I loved the work I was doing, but I wanted to have a greater impact on the international scale, and SGAC gave me that opportunity.

NS: My ex-girlfriend faced a lot of sexism in the space industry, and I really felt a need to address this issue. When I learned of the SGAC and the hackathon, I thought: here’s an opportunity to work on an issue I care about.

MD: What were the most challenging aspects of organizing this hackathon? The most rewarding?

NS: The most challenging part of this was adjusting to Montreal. I work in logistics, and there was a disparity between previous, structured events where you knew where everyone would go to lunch, for instance, and this new event of the hackathon, which is less structured and has more uncertainty, in a new city for me. The most rewarding part was serving breakfast, serving lunch, getting to meet all these talented hackers: helping people with small actions.

SN: I previously organized events for the Canadian space sector — it was really familiar and I knew the lay of the land when it came to reaching out to Canadian professionals. In SGAC, I had a very different experience on the international team, so it’s been a challenge and a learning experience.

This hackathon has been very rewarding, especially with attracting an international audience, we even

Courtesy of Our Giant Leap Hackathon have a team participating from the European Space Agency. It was very fruitful to showcase the Canadian space sector to international teams.

People don’t think too much about Canada when it comes to space. It’s unfortunate, because at conferences we stick together and are really tightknit. It’s great having people come to our turf. Everyone is very supportive, and it’s really easy to build new bonds.

MD: What advice would you have for youth who want to get into STEM, but aren’t sure how they would want to?

YA: Join a network, go to events, and talk to people. Don’t hesitate to reach out in a meaningful way to people you are inspired by. The SGAC is a good resource: we’re the largest group of young space professionals globally, affiliated with the UN, with 160 countries represented through 25,000 members. You will be able to find someone, whether it be a sponsor or a mentor: it’s much easier than it seems. Do a project — hackathon, design competition, building a model rocket, anything.

SN: One thing that’s really daunting is that in STEM, there might not seem to be many role models you relate to. Echoing what Yulia said, it’s very important to reach out, find people who have walked your paths in life and share your perspectives. I got into space through mentorship; I failed two of my courses in my first year and put a lot of unnecessary pressure on myself. Through support, I discovered that school is just a tool

to get you where you want to be.

Failure is another part of life: use it to get you where you want to be.

You don’t have to be at the top of your class to succeed.

“It’s very important to reach out, find people who have walked your paths in life and share your perspectives.”

- Sobia Nadeem NS: First, find people who you can connect with in terms of interests and identity. Reach out! Don’t be afraid to cold call, cold email, cold connect through Linkedin and so on. It’s really easy nowadays with technology. Be genuine with your passion, show that you care, and ask for advice. Often, you’ll have a long-term partnership develop.

Courses aren’t everything — getting straight As isn’t enough. You’ll get more mileage by joining projects, doing research, and getting handson experience in the fields you want to work in. Get exposure and experience, because in the end, that’s the most important part.

8

November 13, 2023 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

CULTURE

Priscilla and the Importance of Intimate Cinema

Sofia Coppola’s biopic strips away mythology to reveal a woman’s heart Isabella Roberti Culture Staff Writer

I

t seems we are entrenched in the era of the biopic. For self-aggrandizing white male actors and directors, mythologizing and historically revising cultural figures while glossing over their problematic traits is the new apex of cinema. There is also the narcissistic tendency of male filmmakers and actors to go completely over the top in their techniques under the guise of “method” or “innovation” to prove their commitment to the craft. The result of this excess is usually fulfilling theatrically, but not as a means of representing a lived experience. Unsurprisingly, it took a woman – Sofia Coppola, that is – to prove that the key to a meaningful representation of someone’s life is simplicity and intimacy.

Priscilla, Coppola’s latest film, follows the early life of Priscilla Presley (Cailee Spaeny), pop culture icon and wife of Elvis Presley (Jacob Elordi). In Priscilla, Coppola does away with the masculine biopic trend of grandeur for its own sake.

Instead, she focuses on the inner workings of Priscilla’s life, through which her story comes into being. Coppola’s visually breathtaking sets and incredible costume design perfectly emulate the glamour of the 50s and 60s, pulling us into Priscilla’s world.

But it is the intimacy we are granted and delicacy with which Coppola treats her story that make us want to stay.

Based on Priscilla Presley’s 1985 memoir Elvis and Me, the film follows her life from 1959, when she first met the musician, to 1973, when she divorced him. Although it follows the timeline of their relationship, the film could never be mistaken for one solely about Elvis; the personal transformations Priscilla undergoes during their relationship are clearly its focal point. Coppola takes great care in showing the moments in their relationship when they were apart for extended periods, proving that Priscilla’s personal development is the true focus. Never during these episodes do we see Elvis – we only hear his voice on the phone. Because of his absence, the spotlight is on Priscilla, and we are privy to her subjective account of these separations. A subtle yet effective detail, the film could have been completely different had they ceded this screen time to Elvis.

Following Sofia Coppola’s show-don’t-tell approach to

direction, the scenes where we do witness Priscilla in her intimate moments are when we truly see her character develop.

Dialogue is minimal, and the inner workings of her character are revealed through mise-enscène details. For instance, during Elvis’ return to the military, we see Priscilla revelling in the cozy, pastel warmth of her teenage bedroom, writing in her diary.

As the relationship evolves, her private life does too. When they are living in their Memphis home Graceland, monumental and imposing architecture provides the backdrop for Priscilla’s daily activities, replacing the earlier feeling of youthful yearning with one of isolation. With the help of Cailee Spaeny’s captivating performance as Priscilla, intimate cinematic techniques prove to be the catalyst of the film’s emotional impact.

Coppola worked closely with Priscilla Presley, even having her act as an executive producer, to ensure that the artistic rendering of her story was done justice. As such, her story and relationship were treated with great nuance.

Priscilla and Elvis met when she was 14 and he was 24, creating an immediate power dynamic in a relationship that was clearly one between an adult and a child. A lesser director would turn what was a real woman’s account of her own relationship into some teachable moment or grooming awareness campaign.

But for Priscilla herself, the story was more complex than this. For a long time, she believed the love between them was incredibly

Eric Duivenvoorden | Visuals Editor want to be desired and desire to be loved, overwhelming and blinding. Especially when you are young, you are never taught to distinguish attention and power from love. It is a long and difficult process realizing that you do not have to compromise yourself to be loved, and to see that if this is being asked of you, it is not really love. This is what makes Priscilla’s conclusion so satisfying. When Elvis asks if she is leaving him for another man, she replies with the heartpiercing line, “I’m leaving you for a life that’s my own.” This not only shows how self-assured and mature Priscilla has become, but ends the film on a tone of hope.

Priscilla’s life does not end with her divorce – it begins.

The final scene of the film is and are dispersed sparingly. For Coppola, depicting domestic the cherry on top of Priscilla’s violence doesn’t necessitates freedom. In a moment that is explicit imagery, as raw, emotive serene and bittersweet, she performances from Spaeny and drives away from Graceland after being seen off by the women of Elordi have a far greater impact.

Despite the deeply personal the house who supported her all tone of the story, the experiences that time. The most immaculate Priscilla undergoes resonate detail of the scene, though, is universally among women. There that it is accompanied by Dolly is always a deep and internalized Parton’s “I Will Always Love shedding his kind, loving facade, Coppola once again approaches this development with great courtesy. Scenes of abuse or strife are never exploitative or excessively violent, as is often the case in films directed by men,

And what a perfect choice it was

to end the film with the two women who most famously said no to

the King - Dolly and Priscilla. real, and describes moments of tenderness that would make this seem so. It is only as her idea of love broadens and Elvis reveals himself as a wielder of power that she begins questioning their life together.

When it becomes clear to the audience and Priscilla that the power Elvis wields over her is becoming abusive, and he starts

You” – a song Parton famously refused to sell to Elvis. And what a perfect choice it was to end the film with the two women who most famously said no to the King – Dolly and Priscilla.

A film like this, so respectful of its subject, so personal yet such a ubiquitous female experience, so intimately executed, was desperately needed right now.

Between Elvis and Oppenheimer in the last two years, I personally could not endure another passion project asking me to sympathize with a mythologized version of a white man and ignore his horrible actions. Thankfully, a Madonna biopic is in the works, but the fact that Priscilla was able to garner the attention and critical acclaim it did gives promise to a more sensitive evolution of the biopic that will see more iconic women rendered on the big screen. A love letter to Priscilla at its core, this is how I want to enter the era of the intimate, woman’s biopic.

November 13, 2023 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

Culture

You Exist Too Much: A Queer, Palestinian Story of Self-Love

Evelyn Logan Culture Staff Writer

9

A review of Zaina Arafat’s debut novel

Y

` ou Exist Too Much by Zaina Arafat is a striking comingof-age story about failed communication, complex motherdaughter relationships, and the difficulties of cultural differences.

Although the book isn’t a memoir, as a queer, Palestinian-American woman, Arafat resonates greatly with her protagonist. The story follows a Palestinian-American woman, who remains unnamed, as she navigates feeling stuck in a perpetual state of uncertainty while on the precipice of an enormous life change. From the very first page, I was absolutely wrapped up in her story. This is the kind of book that reads so smoothly that turning the pages feels like less of a chore and more of a reward.

Although the blurb for You Exist Too Much tells of our main character’s eventual “love addiction,” I did not expect love to feature so prominently. But don’t be mistaken, this book is a love story: a story of selflove, growth, learning how to love others, and flourishing in the face of familial and cultural pressures.

Throughout the entire book, Arafat takes the main character on a journey of intense self-discovery. It’s as if she’s unpacking her trauma in real time and we’re all being made to watch. It’s brutal, but the honesty is refreshing.

For example, while the protagonist is in therapy for her “love addiction” she has this thought: “I stared at the clock as the minute hand eclipsed the hour hand for the third time and decided that only a white man would feel comfortable taking up so much space.” The book covers extremely sensitive topics (be sure to consult content warnings before reading), yet Arafat treats these issues with poise and delicacy, using them to further the story rather than just letting them settle within the plot. Every decision within the book feels intentional, meaningful, and necessary to further the protagonist’s characterization and storyline. At one point, the protagonist aims to explain the cultural implications of being a queer woman in Palestine: “To be a woman who desired other women seemed even worse, especially shameful and shocking in its lack of reverence for the male-centric culture. Why would you want to exclude men, the stronger, better gender, from the equation?”

The highlight of Arafat’s novel is that it provides a safe space for cultural learning without any stigma.

Though it’s important not to treat this novel like a history textbook, Arafat doesn’t shy away from mentioning historical and cultural elements relevant to Palestine and the main character’s life. The reader is able to indulge in the main character’s perspective of Palestine and Jordan

Genevieve Quinn | Visuals Editor through the eyes of a child. To do this, Arafat traces the main character’s growth through a series of flashbacks within each chapter. She crafts such vivid depictions of the main character’s hometowns, Aman and Nablus, and paints a picture of deep familial bonds that serve to demarcate the main character’s summers in Palestine from the rest of her time in the United States.

Additionally, Arafat manages to articulately convey the significance

to the conflict in Israel and Palestine.

This comparison serves to illustrate her mother’s frustration “at being stifled” and her father’s refusal “to meet her most basic needs”. By no means does this book aim to explain or justify the political conflicts that have occurred and are occurring currently in Palestine; instead, it shows how these events have molded the identities of the main character and the people in her family.

Although Arafat’s protagonist is

The protagonist’s experiences as a queer, Palestinian woman are full and complete –– Arafat doesn’t aim to separate her love story from her of race, nationality, and sexuality, and how they affect the main character in her journey towards self-discovery.

The protagonist’s experiences as a queer, Palestinian woman are full and complete –– Arafat doesn’t aim to separate her love story from her intersectionality. Throughout the book, Arafat adeptly weaves in references to the main character’s Palestinian heritage and not only displays it in a brilliant light, but also shows how it influences her daily life. At one point, the main character compares her parents’ relationship

never named, the reader is able to form a deep bond with her from the very first page. It is difficult to create an informed opinion on the main character in the beginning of the book, as her life experiences, reasonings for her actions, and thought processes are only explained through successive flashbacks in each chapter. As the reader becomes more informed of her past and more invested in her future, we watch a hopeless, scared young girl transform into a resilient, witty young woman.

This book is remarkable in the sense

that the reader is able to go on a journey of growth and discovery along with the protagonist.

Arafat doesn’t shy away from expressing the more difficult aspects of her journey. Often, Arafat uses such vivid, poetic language to convey the simplest emotions – especially when it comes to descriptions of self-love. One passage begins: “We stepped outside the café, and I felt overwhelmed as we walked off in different directions. I wanted her, I wanted her life, I wanted to live inside her life while still living inside my own. I wanted, above all, for her to like me.” In another scene Arafat explores another side of the protagonist’s desperation for love: “Besides, I didn’t need a partner to feel loved: I was a DJ! I was loved from a distance, the safest way to be loved.”

These passages transport the reader into the emotional state of the main character, fostering empathy for and understanding of the protagonist’s complex character.

Each chapter follows a clear formula that provides the reader with both a sense of familiarity, and a beautiful rhythm to fall into.

Arafat will begin with a canonical, almost anecdotal, situation which furthers the ‘present’ narrative of the story. This anecdote then opens up a window into the main character’s past, which Arafat uses to expand upon one of the main character’s past loves and relationships. The joys, but most often the follies within the relationship create a passageway

through which Arafat inserts a story about the main character’s childhood, relationship with her mother, or something related to her Palestinian heritage. Finally, Arafat circles back to the initial anecdote that opened up the chapter to close out the mini narrative that she created. As such, each chapter constructs a holistic view of the main character by unifying her past, present, and cultural background.

This unique format provides a kind of unified and informed characterization that is rarely seen in many coming-of-age stories. This method prevents the reader from jumping to hasty conclusions about the protagonist, as they are forced to see the full picture of who she is.

In an interview with Electric Literature, Zaina Arafat gave her final thoughts on the main character: “She may never fully overcome her traumas and her demons, but she can identify that by choosing healthy love, she is also choosing to love herself.” This perfectly sums up the feeling the reader is left with upon finishing the book. Even though the ending leaves the reader slightly in the dark about the future of the protagonist, there is no doubt that the protagonist grew throughout the narrative. This book is such a must-read because it displays the beauty and pain of a life well lived: one filled with love, mistakes, and growth. What else could you ask for?

November 13, 2023 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

Commentary

10

Body Positivity and Body Neutrality Are Not Mutually Exclusive An exploration of these two terms

Enid Kohler Commentary Contributor

I

am nine years old and am running through a luscious green field. The coarse blades of grass graze my ankles, and I feel the warm sun on my face. The wind rushes by, providing a gentle, cooling effect on my hot skin. I pump my arms and legs harder, running faster and faster. I feel free.

Flash forward to middle school. I am 13 years old, standing in front of a foggy mirror in the girls’ changing room of my school gym. My fellow classmates stand on either side of me, scrutinizing their reflections.

“Ugh, I hate my skin right now.

It’s so oily,” one says. Another shakes her head vehemently. “No, you look so good,” she whines. “My stomach looks so fat though.”

Suffocated by these negative comments, I nod my head in agreement, offering my own critiques of my physical appearance among the cacophony of self-criticisms.

How did this change happen so fast? At nine, I was running through nature without a conscious thought about my body. At 13, my body was all I could think about.

Yet I was not alone in this shift.

In 2023, a report found that 50 per cent of 13-year-old American girls were unhappy with their bodies, and by the time the same girls were 17, this number grew to nearly 80 per cent. Another study discovered that 70 per cent of adult women reported withdrawing from activities due to negative body image, and 60 per cent were self-conscious about their weight.

Men are also affected. A 2022 study found that 75 per cent of young boys and men report using appearance and performanceenhancing substances to modify their body image, and in a survey of over 50,000 adults, 41 per cent of men were self-conscious about their weight. In 2018, 83 per cent of American women and 74 per cent of American men reported being dissatisfied with their physical appearance at one point in time.

At age 13, when the majority of my peers used this negative selftalk, these statistics would not have surprised me. It seemed normal, natural, even, that my classmates and I experienced negative body image; this was simply the way the world worked. Now, however, I understand how dangerous this thinking is. Negative body image should never be thought of as the status quo.

In an effort to combat these sentiments, body positivity and body neutrality emerged as two approaches to improving one’s perception of one’s external appearance, self-worth and overall well-being.

Genevieve Quinn | Visuals Editor Body positivity, which refers to having a positive, loving view of one’s physical body, originated in the 1960s fat rights movement in the United States. At this time in the US, body positivity helped to raise awareness about the barriers faced by fat people; consequently, the word “fat” was reclaimed as a descriptor instead of an insult.

In 1969, New York engineer Bill Fabrey was frustrated with the negative way society was treating his fat wife, Joyce, and began reaching out to everyone he knew to raise awareness about it. This led to the creation of what is currently known as the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA), which played a key role in founding the modern-day body positivity movement.

At its inception, mainstream fat activism associated with organizations such as NAAFA often excluded people of colour, due to the worry that tackling more than one issue at a time could “dilute” their message. This thinking is extremely dangerous. The body positivity movement should be one of inclusivity and intersectionality that champions every body.

However, when it excludes people of colour, it implies that some bodies matter more than others.

As the Black body positivity activist Sonya Renee Taylor stated, “if the body positive movement is only positive for some bodies, it is not a body positivity movement.”

A movement that was intended to aid marginalized people ironically marginalized entire groups at the same time.

In the early 2000s, after a global expansion of the body positivity movement, it morphed into the

version of body positivity that we are more familiar with today. As 1990s message boards and chat rooms morphed into contemporary social media platforms, fat people continued to build digital communities. At this time, Black and brown people were also able to more easily create their own communities, causing the movement to be more inclusive of people of colour.

However, in recent years as social media became pervasive, the body positivity movement took a turn for the worse. The term “body positivity” became something of a buzzword that often contradicted the original intentions of the movement. White women with hour-glass figures whose sizes did not surpass 16 started being touted as “radical role models,” pushing those who did not fit into this ideal to the sidelines.

As Stephanie Yeboah, influential writer and fat blogger, states, today’s concept of body positivity “has alienated the very people who created it. Now, in order to be body positive, you have to be acceptably fat – size 16 or under, or white or very pretty. It’s not a movement that I feel represents me any more”.

The body positivity movement also began to be critiqued for being unrealistic; radically loving your body every day can be overwhelming and is simply not feasible for many.

Enter: body neutrality.

Popularized by Anne Poirier, intuitive eating counselor and eating disorder specialist it invited people to form their concept of worth, value, and identity around their internal self instead of their external appearance. Unlike body positivity,

which encourages a constant flow of positive thoughts and speech directed toward one’s physique, body neutrality encourages people to simply accept their body without the pressure of feeling love toward it.

Moreover, this philosophy states that beauty and levels of attractiveness do not say anything about a person’s character, lifestyle or the kind of treatment they deserve.

Body neutrality can be a particularly helpful approach to those with disabilities. As writer Rebekah Taussig describes, some people “are frustrated with the demand to love their bodies when they feel betrayed by them. Being neutral could feel like a relief.”

It is clear that body neutrality has many benefits; must we then conclude that body neutrality is superior to body positivity? I don’t think so. In many ways, body positivity’s demanding nature and transformation into something of an insincere buzzword are not conducive to improving one’s body image and feelings of self-worth.

On the other hand, aspects of body positivity – such as directing compliments and positive selftalk toward one’s body – can lead to increased self-confidence and overall well-being.

However, radically loving one’s body can often feel like too big of a step. Instead, body neutrality can be an excellent approach to sincerely accepting one’s body for its abilities instead of its external appearance.

When I think back to my nine year old self, happily running through fields and blissfully unaware of my body, I wonder – wouldn’t it be better not to have the terms “body positive” or “body

neutral” at all? What if we could just be, without hyper-fixating on strategies to improve the ways in

“If the body positive movement is only positive for some bodies, it is not a body positive movement.”

- Sonya Renee Taylor which we view our bodies?

Currently, our world is obsessed with the body’s physical appearance. Be it through photo editing apps, plastic surgery, or simply social media in general, it is clear that a preoccupation with the external pervades society.

However, I do not think this fixation is natural – in my mind, humans should be able to exist without a constant stream of commentary on beauty standards, body image and external appearances.

However, in the face of such a world, my wish to be rid of complex terms that comment on the way we view our bodies seems unrealistic. Instead, in order to improve one’s body image and sense of self-worth, adopting body positivity or body neutrality to most effectively suit an individual’s needs seems to be the next best thing.

November 13, 2023 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

Commentary

11

What Decline of Free Press Means for Student Journalism A tense political atmosphere, combined with the use of social media, leads to a bias in news coverage

Sophie Hill and Jason Zhou Commentary Contributors biased and partially censored

2

023 marked the 30th anniversary of the United Nations World Press Freedom Day. It was also the year that witnessed the worst press freedom globally since the Cold War. Last year a record number of 363 journalists were detained in 30 different countries. The threats to the free circulation of media, news and information are increasing wildly, with more news being shared digitally than ever.

Surges in disinformation, technological iterations including new deep fake programs and emerging sociopolitical contexts, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war, are vastly altering the landscape of free press in 2023. A lack of content monitoring online and on social media apps is also a major point of contention between the existence of free independent press and speech, and the perpetration of hate speech and digital violence. This online abuse is exacerbated by current events, with the prime example being the polarising Israel-Hamas War. Perhaps one of the most overlooked sectors of free press is that of student journalists and their often extremely censored relationship to university officials and their peers. Student journalism is now more crucial than ever as the demands for the sharing of news and opinion at the university level have risen over the past few years. However, this increased interest in student reporting is not met with proper press freedom and protection for student journalists seeking to provide platforms for news exchange at their universities.

The hindrances faced by student-run publications are large in quantity and even more complex to eliminate when so many of these organizations are directly funded by the university. Universities often block stories or alter the editing of the content to boost their own image, which results in

information being released to the school community and the restriction of young journalists’ right to transfer information freely and without fear of repression. Data compiled from 2020 by the Student Press Law Center found that one of the most concerning trends for student journalism is the increasing number of cases of censorship by university officials for content due to its “political nature.”

In the 21st century, educational institutions are becoming “more obsessed with ‘protecting the brand’ than they’ve ever been before, and journalism as an industry is weaker and less able to defend itself than ever before,” said Frank LoMonte, a lawyer and journalist that served for nearly a decade at the Student Press Law Center. What the collision of these two major indices results in, is increasing threats faced by student journalists and the clogged flow of information to the university community as students consuming this media are receiving altered and biased content. Free press in a student newspaper is an obligation to the truth without alteration or bias from any external sources.

This principle in practice means that student journalism must remain an independent body of information, separate from the university whose namesake it may take.

Similar incidents have happened on McGill campus.

On March 5, 2012, the Daily Publications Society (DPS) – publishers of the Daily and Le Délit – received threats of legal action from the McGill lawyers in regard to the report of the Development and Alumni Relations documents that were leaked online. The intimidation tactic prevailed as DPS had to concede. In an article discussing the instance, editors wrote that “By threatening student-run media with legal action, this University has yet again used its financial power in order to control student voices on campus.” Student press freedom of expression has

Eric Duivenvoorden | Visuals Editor been an ongoing debate, and it is important for student journalists and authorities to have a clear and open conversation, and to work together.

Student journalists’ work

the local community, and the companies to Canadian media greater global one. corporations. The impacts of this censorship by major The passing of Bill C-18 technology companies were – more commonly known colossal, and exposed the as the Online News Act – extent to which technological sought to support Canadian companies have control over independent media. This censorship was denounced by SSMU and the Daily for the implications it would have on student journalism at McGill.

Student journalists aiming to cover local news should be encouraged, as they do it out of love for the communities and societies of which themselves are a part. With the present uncertain environment of news organizations through free press, it is important for providing increased institutions and publications compensation for the to support student journalists presence of their content in preserving a free press and on digital and social media working towards spreading platforms.

However this the truth. It is only when the bill was not met without next generation of reporters discourse and opposition; the are trained and able to impacts of which are altering produce quality work with the landscape to free press in those in positions of power Canada. Media moguls Google respecting their right to a and Meta began blocking free press, that we can truly Canadian news corporations call this pillar of institutional on their social media strength “secure.” platforms in response to a tenant of the bill which would enforce payments by those

Student journalists aiming to cover local news should be encouraged, as they do it out of love for the communities and societies of which themselves are a part. also represents the local news in campus community. Local news plays a crucial part in communities and societies.

They connect neighbourhoods with one another, promote local events, and share local issues, therefore making the community well informed and united. Their work will have a direct impact in shaping public opinion, while also holding authority accountable.

Student journalism uplifts and validates young voices, connecting students with other students, the university,

November 13, 2023 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

compendium!

12

WINTER HOROSCOPES Aries

Taurus

Gemini

(Mar 21 Apr 19)

(Apr 20 May 20)

(May 21 Jun 20)

Get yourself a cozy blanket to work from your bed to not have to go to the library!

Treat yourself and get a bottle of baileys to make yourself a boozy hot chocolate!

Don’t be sad that the snow is coming, as you will be meeting a very special someone to make snowmen with...

Cancer

Leo

Virgo

(Jun 21 Jul 22)

(Jul 23 Aug 22)

(Aug 23 Sept 22)

As the sun sets at 4:30, Invest in a lamp to get some much needed vitamin d!

Wearing a hat is a completely reasonable reason not To wash your hair, and a great winter accessory!

The combination of research essays and cold weather gives you the ultimate excuse to buy coffee!

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

(Sept 23 Oct 22)

(Oct 23 Nov 21)

(Nov 22 Dec 21)

You shouldn’t skip class because of the weather, except from November to april.

Use your animalistic senses to sniff out the lovely sweat smells when people take off their layers in the metro.

It’s learning the difference between stalactite and stalagmite season!!

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

(Dec 22 Jan 19)

(Jan 20 Feb 18)

(Feb 19 Mar 20)

You’ve never made a gingerbread house but the time has come to discover your architect side!

It’s time for you to start preparing for the holidays!

I highly recommend practicing your recipes to impress during festivities!

You will see someone from your past at the ice skating rink next weekend...