QUID NOVI
NCDH 305 - 3644 Peel Montréal, Québec H2A 1X1
McGill University Faculty of Law Faculté de droit de l’Université McGill
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Vol 44 No 14 14 March 2023
quid.law@mcgill.ca @quidnovi.mcgill
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF RÉDACTEUR EN CHEF Zack Goobie ART DIRECTOR DIRECTRICE ARTISTIQUE Souang Wu LAYOUT EDITOR ÉDITEUR DE MISE EN PAGE Ezequiel Indriago Perez COPY EDITORS SECRÉTAIRES DE RÉDACTION Kim Baronet Giuseppe Sutera Sardo COLUMNISTS CHRONIQUEURES ET CHRONIQUEUSES Brandon Grimaldi Ella Johnson Gary Preteau CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ISSUE COLLABORATEURS ET COLLABORATRICES Alexandre Darmame Keira Chadwick Victoria Flaherty Special thanks to Prairie Koo for designing the layout. ~ The Quid Novi is published weekly by the students of the Faculty of Law at McGill University. Production is made possible through the direct support of students. All contents copyright © 2023 Quid Novi.
Les opinions exprimées sont propres aux auteurs et ne réflètent pas nécessairement celles de l’équipe du Quid Novi. The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views of the McGill Law Students’ Association or of McGill University. Envoyez vos commentaires ou articles avant jeudi 17h00 à quid.law@mcgill.ca. Toute contribution doit indiquer le nom de l’auteur, son année d’étude ainsi qu’un titre et un sous -titre pour l’article. Les images doivent être soumises séparément. L’article ne sera publié qu’à la discrétion du comité de rédaction, qui basera sa décision sur la politique de rédaction disponible sur notre Facebook @quidnovi.mcgill.
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QUID NOVI
CETTE SEMAINE...
INSIGHTS
COMMUNAUTÉ
2 | MONTRÉAL: WHERE THE 2 | MESSAGE FROM DEAN STM IS BROKEN AND NO ONE WANTS YOU TO USE A CAR!
LECKEY Job Opportunity
3 | “I THINK I TWEAKED MY
4 | MEET THE TEAM
Priti Majumdar, Columnist
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Vol 44 No 14 14 March 2023
EVENTS 3 | LA RENAISSANCE À MCGILL LAW Skit Nite 2023
7 | TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE
6 | OVERHEARD
IN COLOMBIA: THE SPECIAL JURISDICTION FOR PEACE, A C C O U N TA B I L I T Y A N D INTERSECTIONALITY CHRLP’s McNaughton-Humphrey Public Panel Discussion
PLAY Considering the Effect of NIL on NCAA Athletics
9 | MEET THE TEAM
11 | RECKONING WITH RACISM:
10 | RÉCIT D’UNE VAGUE ET
12 | BLAST FROM THE PAST
KNEE” Navigating my First Major Injury
5 | THE LONESOME, CROWDED WEST
8 | THE STATE OF COLLEGE
D’UN BARRAGE Réconcilier le politique et l’académique dans les micro-sociétés universitaires
6 | SLIPPERY SLOPE
Moot Court Overrun by Banana Peels
Giuseppe Sutera Sardo, Copy Editor (FR)
POLICE, JUDGES, AND THE RDS CASE McGill Law Journal Annual Lecture
Skit Nite 1990
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Vol 44 ● No 14
MESSAGE FROM DEAN LECKEY Job Opportunity
Dean Leckey is hoping to hire one or more trans students for a project involving a few hours this summer and early fall. If you are interested, please write to dean.law@mcgill.ca, including your phone number.
MONTRÉAL: WHERE THE STM IS BROKEN AND NO ONE WANTS YOU TO USE A CAR! Brandon Grimaldi | 1L
QUID NOVI • 14 MARCH 2023
La STM vous souhaite la bienvenue à bord – for those who have taken the bus or metro in Montreal, this message is familiar and almost as iconic as the tune that rings out in metro stations when trains are about to depart. However, code soixante sur l’ensemble du réseau is becoming nearly a daily occurrence. This code signifies overtime opportunities for the STM workers of the metro network. Its increasing usage indicates a disconnect between the STM’s staffing capacity and its operational needs. A few months ago, the STM revealed its disastrous financial situation, declaring a $77 million deficit for 2023. 1 Although exacerbated by lost revenue during COVID, the transit agency has been under severe financial distress for some time. To regain its financial footing, the STM has introduced some critical cost-cutting measures, most notably the end of the 10-minute-max bus network.2 This promise for buses to run every 10 minutes was implemented in 2010 on 31 of the network’s most-used lines. It was once hailed as a response to ridership demands. In recent years, it has dropped to eight routes, and since January 2023, no more buses keep this promise. 3 While this is happening, the few remaining incentive parking lots around transit hubs have been significantly reduced, with consistently fewer spaces for those who drive to the metro instead of taking the bus. From experience, this is the case for many living in the East End and West Island, who find themselves far away from the city’s more connected central grid and consistently underserved by public transit options. https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/stm-unveils-2023-budget-with-77mdeficit-1.6172022. 2 https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/stm-permanently-ends-10-minutes-maxservice-on-remaining-bus-routes-1.6221242. 1
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Ibid.
From a policy perspective, the City’s strategy of promoting public transportation alternatives at the expense of car owners has reached an impasse. The STM cannot meet the demands and habits of its ridership. Meanwhile, the city alienates car owners into choosing between car ownership or public transit. However, as we’ve seen with the declining bus service, frequent metro delays and breakdowns, when people have the choice, they would rather rely on their cars. Cars have been targeted as significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, which explains why so many steps have been taken to curb their usage: lane and speed reductions on major boulevards and priority passages for buses and bicycles, essentially making driving inconvenient. However, with the federal government’s plan to ban the sale of new gas-powered vehicles by 2035, 4 the number of cars is unlikely to decrease and more likely to be replaced by electric ones. I believe those that currently own cars are not close to giving up the conveniences they provide. I also think that the City’s strategy is backward. Fix the transit system first, give commuters the options they need to switch from singular to collective mobility and do not punish car owners now when all they are doing is compensating for a subpar transit network. If we want to see what mobility in metropolitan Montreal looks like in the future, then a serious conversation needs to be had about the place of buses, metros, trains, the REM, AND CARS. Indeed, the disconnect between these different modes of transportation is only hindering the progress to a better integrated and user-friendly system; we should not have to choose between one or the other, but rather have a plan to manage the benefits of private and shared travel. https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/ news/2022/03/2030-emissions-reduction-plan--canadas-next-stepsfor-clean-air-and-a-strong-economy.html. 4
“I THINK I TWEAKED MY KNEE” Navigating my First Major Injury Zack Goobie | 3L
On October 22nd, 2022, I tore my anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and partially tore my lateral meniscus while playing intramural basketball. During the second half of a doubleheader, I “blew” my knee on a non-contact incident at Love Competition Hall. Despite having played competitive sports since I was five, this is my first major injury, and it has been a roller coaster. I knew something was odd when I first went down, but I imagined it was a sprain, and that I would be fine in a few weeks. I texted my dad that night to tell him that “I think I tweaked my knee”. I could more or less walk out of the gym, but there was no way I could walk down University to get to the McGill metro station. Some people suggested I go to the emergency room, but the last thing I wanted to do was wait hours for a non-emergency. I just iced my knee and went to bed. The next morning, I had to roll my office chair to my kitchen to make breakfast. I started to think that this injury was serious. The next issue was that I had been reading about the state of the Quebec healthcare system for years but never experienced it firsthand. As an out-of-province student with no family doctor in Quebec, I knew getting care might be difficult. When I started to look for care, I had no idea what health services were offered to me as a McGill student. Maybe
this was due to Zoom School or simply ignorance, as I had never had health issues during law school. Either way, I had heard of the Wellness Hub, so I started my search there. When you click “doctors and nurses” on the webpage, the first thing that comes up is how the Quebec Government is essentially to blame for the lack of medical professionals at the clinic; this did not seem promising. However, I decided to try, but could only secure an appointment more than a week later. I needed care fast as I had no idea how I would walk up Peel for class (update: I’m still struggling).
That’s why general practitioners are so important. In the past few months, I felt my ACL tear, saw my quadricep muscle reduced to nothing, and limped around Montreal before getting surgery three weeks ago. I don’t necessarily live far from campus (around 25 minutes by metro) but getting to class has at times been such a grind (this is from someone who thought that the trek up Peel was overrated, so I now apologize). This experience has led me to think more about acces-
sible infrastructure. Professor Jodoin talked about this in my 1L Foundations class, but I don’t think you can fully understand the importance of an elevator in a metro station until you can’t get down the stairs. Anyway, if I have a piece of advice, it would be to not blow your knee in law school and, if you do, go to the McGill Sports Medicine Clinic. As I continue to limp up and down Peel, I hope you are protecting your knees during your daily activities.
I then went on to try Dialogue, a virtual care service. I got a virtual appointment with a nurse who suggested I try private health clinics. As a Canadian, this was so foreign to me. All these clinics had prices for the different services they offered. I didn’t want to pay for a consultation as it was against the very nature of the promise of universal healthcare. I finally stumbled on the McGill Sports Medicine clinic, and I am happy that I did. I saw a doctor two days after my injury, got a referral for an MRI, saw an orthopedic surgeon, and have been going to physiotherapy there ever since. Having an injury when you do not have access to a family doctor and are unfamiliar with the healthcare system is scary. 3
Vol 44 ● No 14
MEET THE QUID Columnist
Priti Majumdar | 2L
What was your favorite class, before starting at the Faculty of Law? I really liked the Fitness Phys-Ed class I took at Dawson College with Nicole Jones, LOL. She was a ROCKSTAR of a teacher, and really got me into the passion for fitness and healthy eating that I have now. She taught Yoga, strength, and cardiobased workouts in such a way that you appreciated movement and self-care and naturally carried that appreciation for movement for the rest of your life. Last time I checked, she teaches yoga at the Akasha Yoga Studio- try it out! What do you enjoy doing when you’re not studying?
QUID NOVI • 14 MARCH 2023
Where are you from/ Where have you lived?
trom’s beautiful pieces ever since 1L; she writes so beautifully, intelligently, all the while keeping her audience engaged. Her work inspired me to also share my writing in an easy-going and welcoming outlet. She is also just such a sweet and approachable human being. Go Sofia!
I was born in Montreal! I never lived outside of this city, but I grew up in Little Burgundy for most of my childhood, until moving to Lasalle about 7 years ago. #GoLasalle #ShoutoutToDavidDiaco #LasalleGang #HighStabbingStatistics What drew you to the Quid? What did you do before McGill Law? I wanted to share my experience with the law- be it through I obtained my Bachelor’s my experiences growing up, or in Education for Kinderthrough everyday thoughts I garten and Elementary have as I move through law students, also at McGill. It school. I try to submit more was a 4-year program, and personal stories, rather than I absolutely adore teaching. academic work, so hopefully I currently teach part-time there is something for every- in elementary schools, so all one to read! I should say, I was the hard work of becoming inspired and drawn to the Quid a teacher was worth it. Now after reading Sofia Watt Sjos- onto becoming a lawyer. :) 4
I love spending time exploring parts of Montreal, trying new vegan recipes,
doing Pilates and Barre, buying new houseplants, painting, cleaning, and reading romance novels. What’s your favorite Montreal neighborhood? 100% the Old Port! There’s just something about those beautiful buildings, the cobblestone, the tourists, and the cafes that I can never get tired of. It’s beautiful yearround, and you can do all kinds of activities during the summer and winter! Where would you like to travel in the next 5 years? Morocco, Nashville, New Orleans, Chicago, Korea, and Australia. Mind you, I have the absolute worst gastrointestinal issues the minute I leave Montreal, so this is all wishful thinking.
THE LONESOME, CROWDED WEST Ella Johnson | 2L
I just returned from a trip to Utah to visit some friends who live there. When I planned a spring break hiking trip, I expected a week relatively free of law. But I have never learned so much law while travelling. I flew into Salt Lake City (SLC) and made two fourhour drives between SLC and Moab, a 5000-person town in southern Utah populated by regular Utahns and young outdoorsy folks trying to put down roots after a couple of years wandering in their cars (including one of my friends). I am lucky to have friends who make a habit of learning all they can about the places they live. So, as we passed through mountains, the desert and red rock structures, I peppered them with questions about natural history and received some unexpected lessons in the unique land law of the West and the increasing number of disputes arising around it. Given the lack of density in the West, almost half the land is publicly owned. Many landowners own an enormous amount of land: 70,000 acres is a reasonably standard parcel, according to the gentleman I sat next to on the plane ride home. My hunch is that owning that much land makes it impossible to assert possession aggressively. That is also why ownership so often gives way to legal access protections under the West’s customary laws. When we were driving, it was not easy for me to tell if the land was public or private. There are exceptions – some families still have big wrought iron gates at the entrance to their ranch bearing their names. But some of the Western ranching states (and certain counties in Utah1) are fence-out states, meaning that if you do not want cattle wandering on your land, erecting a fence to keep them out is your job. So, some people may not even have fences. It probably works in the ranchers’ best interests to have some of their borders unfenced to allow their cattle to roam a bit wider to get nutrients out of a relatively barren landscape. 2 I was shocked by how much more willing people seem Summit County, Utah Council, Staff Report, 8 July 2020, “Code Amendment: Public hearing possible action”, online: <https://summitcounty.org/DocumentCenter/View/11287/Staff-Report-and-Ordinance-906-Livestock-Fencing#:~:text=3.-,Utah%20is%20a%20 %E2%80%9Cfence%20in%E2%80%9D%20state%20with%20 the%20exceptions%20for,to%20Utah’s%20fence%2Din%20law>. 1
to be to share their land on some level in the West than I believe they are in the East. Although, Eastern properties are right on top of each other. Therefore, owners accept several restrictions on their property rights. Whether we use the common law torts of nuisance and negligence, or even urban zoning laws, we are indeed restricted in our land use. But we seem far less willing to allow our neighbours to access our land. I know that my dad’s neighbours do not like it when his dog gets loose and runs in their yard. Perhaps a galloping poodle is not a perfect allegory to a docile, munching cow. But still, it seems that in the West, people have greater comfort with the idea that your neighbour’s animal, or your neighbour themselves, might need to pass across your land. Or at least, they had such a comfort in the past. Land disputes over the right of way, water access and other questions at the boundary of public and private property are at an all-time high in Western states, according to last year’s Globe & Mail report. 3 This has been driven by increases in population, newcomers from the pandemic and more out-of-state buyers. One expert, interviewed by the Globe, boiled it down to a dispute between moderately wealthy new landowners’ increasing desire for privatization and the old laws built around preserving access to beautiful natural spaces. It seems to be a dispute between Eastern ideas of property rights and Western ones. Do you value the solidity of the boundaries of your land more in exchange for the requirement that you stick strictly to them? Or do you accept some incursions on your land by neighbours in exchange for your right of access? Perhaps those newer owners come from Eastern cities and bring their attitudes about property lines. Maybe they are acting out of sensitivity about what is yours that comes with having extra cash. Or maybe the increase in population has driven the rising sensitivity to borders – perhaps we need to draw our lines more clearly when more folks are around. Of these, the only option that concerns me is the last. It seems like the opposite reaction one ought to have. I think the more people we have around, the better we should be at sharing. However, maybe it is the spectre of the tragedy of the commons that scares us all when the crowds come around. Nathan Vanderklippe, “As Western US population grows, so does acrimony over access to public lands” (3 December 2022) The Globe & Mail, online: <https://www.theglobeandmail.com/ world/article-western-us-public-land-access/>. 3
Cole Ehmke, “If you fence it, they’ll stay out” (2008) Barnyards & Backyards, online: <http://www.uwyo.edu/barnbackyard/_files/ documents/magazine/2008/winter/fenceout-winter-2008-web.pdf>. 2
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Vol 44 ● No 14
SLIPPERY SLOPE Moot Court Overrun by Banana Peels
Victoria Flaherty and Keira Chadwick | 2L
Forget the rats, asbestos, and flooding plaguing the McGill campus in recent months – we need to talk about the real problem: bananas. Since classes resumed after the break, we have collected four different banana peels off the ground of Chancellor Day Hall. Fortunately, our pro bono work has helped shield the Faculty from liability for any potential slip and fall claims from litigious students. And while slipping on a banana peel is a comedy classic, sitting down for a property lecture in the Moot Court and finding rotting fruit remains
beneath your feet is no joke. Usus, fructus, and abusus do not cover the right to abandon your used fruits on the floor of the Faculty. Although we empathize with the fact that our classmates probably needed a mid-lecture, potassium-rich snack and simply forgot about them, we feel unsettled by this recent trend. We can’t help but wonder whether there is a more sinister reason for this uptick in abandoned banana peels. Was there a focus week workshop on the evils of throwing out your garbage? Does someone have a personal vendetta against
our custodial staff? Did a monkey escape from the labs in McMed? Perhaps it was Darwin, our beloved shearling-coat-wearing Ikea shopper, or Naruto, the selfie aficionado.1 While we understand the potential confusion that may arise from the Faculty’s location on “Rue Peel”, we would like to offer a friendly reminder to our lovely colleagues that banana peels should be disposed of
in the garbage or compost bins after consumption. Thank you in advance for your cooperation in keeping our floors peel-free! We leave you with a bananalaw crossover joke (which is rarer than you’d think): Q: How did the banana win the lawsuit? A: On appeel.
See Nakhuda v Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary, 2013 ONSC 5761. See also, Naruto vs David John Slater, Court of Appeals, April 2018. Yes, we have been reading for Property. 1
QUID NOVI • 14 MARCH 2023
Exhibit 4
Exhibit 1
Exhibit 2
Exhibit 3
Exhibit 4.5
OVERHEARD “What are the obligations that you owe to your exes?” - Adamski in Ethics 6
McGill Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism
Centre sur les droits de la personne et le pluralisme juridique de McGill
McNaughton-Humphrey Public Panel Discussion
Transitional justice in Colombia: The Special Jurisdiction for Peace, Accountability and Intersectionality Xiomara Balanta-Moreno
March 16, 2023 5:00 - 7:00 PM (ET) Maxwell Cohen Moot Court Room 101 McGill Faculty of Law New Chancellor Day Hall 3644 Peel Street
Oscar Parra-Vera
Join us for a talk with three justices of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, a unique court created in Colombia to render accountable those involved in decades of armed conflict, provide justice to victims of the violence and produce “truth” about the events, including through individual amnesties.
Alexandra Sandoval-Mantilla
Indigenous Law Association at McGill (ILADA)
@McGillCHRLP
Support provided by the Manuel Shacter Fund McGill Centre for Human Rights & Legal Pluralism
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Vol 44 ● No 14
THE STATE OF COLLEGE PLAY Considering the Effect of NIL on NCAA Athletics Gary Preteau | 3L
When you’re reading this, spring will be near and, probably more importantly, so will March Madness. The annual NCAA basketball tournament is a sporting staple. Each iteration produces last-second jubilation, heartbreak, and, if we are lucky, a Cinderella team from a school you did not know existed. This excitement is also wildly profitable. In 2021, the tournament represented nearly 90% of the NCAA’s $1.15 billion in revenues. CBS has committed nearly $20 billion to secure the tournament’s television rights for a bit more than two decades. In 2021-22, nineteen NCAA basketball coaches earned more than $3.5 million.1 Bettors spent over $3 billion on the tournament in 2022, which will increase as sports gambling is further legalized.2 The tournament is one of many lucrative sporting events under the NCAA umbrella. Athletes have long been controversially absent from this list. The fairness or unfairness of this reality has been the subject of endless debate. However, in response to a 2021 Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) ruling, the NCAA modified its policies to allow athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness (NIL).3 In the first year of the NIL era, college athletes earned an estimated $917 million. This figure is expected to surpass $1 billion in the 2022-23 collegiate season.4 With some time and data accumulated since its inception, it is an excellent moment to assess the effect of NIL on college athletics.
QUID NOVI • 14 MARCH 2023
Undoubtedly, at minimum, athletes should be given a slice of the insanely profitable pie. Yet, there are still questions of fairness. We should start with the relevant data. The average athlete in the top division of the NCAA received around $3,700 and, in comparison, several athletes have themselves received NIL deals well above $100,000.5 For instance, Anthony HamilRyan Hanable, “Top College Basketball Head Coach Salaries” (9 March 2023), online: BetMGM <https://sports.betmgm.com/en/blog/ ncaab/top-college-basketball-head-coach-salaries-bm10/>. 2 Tim Parker, “How Much Does NCAA Make off March Madness” (9 March, 2023), online: Investopedia <https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/031516/how-much-does-ncaa-make-march-madness.asp>. 3 Jonathan Tully & Dan Rorabaugh, “ What Does NIL mean and why is it so important for college sports” (1 July 2021), online: Palm Beach Post < https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/sports/college/2021/07/01/whatdoes-nil-mean-ncaa-college-sports-name-image-likeness/7819355002/>. 4 Josh Shaefer, “NIL: Here’s how much NCAA athletes earned in first year of new NCAA rules” (1 July 2022), online: Yahoo Finance <https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/nil-heres-how-much-ncaa-athletesearned-185901941.html#:~:text=College%20athletes%20earned%20 an%20estimated,to%20new%20data%20from%20Opendorse>. 5 Ibid. 1
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ton Jr. from Chicago State University and Paige Bueckers from the University of Connecticut earned $400,000 and $1,000 000, respectively, last season through NIL endorsements.6 Clearly, there is a gulf between what is offered to the average athlete and star athletes. However, I am not convinced that necessarily makes the compensation scheme unfair. Star athletes are incredibly valuable to the NCAA, so it seems only fair that they be rewarded proportionally. For example, LeBron James Jr., whose father I am sure you all know, will sell plenty of tickets and draw millions of eyes to the game when he enters the collegiate world. James Jr. should be able to profit on his name and personal image, rather than the NCAA selfishly keeping the entire pot. NIL has also been a boon for women’s athletics. While men’s football dominates the market, women’s sports are well-represented in the NIL market, with six of the top ten most compensated sports.7 NIL has yet to be universally beloved. Critics worry that college sports will revolve around money rather than the sport itself. Teams will turn their recruiting toward NIL deals and will not build up based on recruiting.8 I’d argue college sports are already about money for everyone but the athletes. However, I do understand the attachment to the past, where a star athlete could be the pride of a collegiate community. NIL could create a scenario where stars transfer to the highest-bidding school rather than commit to a community. However, tradition is a weak justification to continue the exploitation of college athletes. NIL deals may improve college sports. Stars that would’ve bolted for an NBA or NFL payday can now justify staying on campus, making for better college teams and performances. Others argue that athletes are already sufficiently compensated by their scholarship-driven education. This stance has two fatal flaws. First, fewer than 60% of college athletes get George Malone, “Drew Timme and more of the biggest NILDeals in College Basketball” (16 March 2022), online: Yahoo Finance <https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/drew-timme-more-biggest-nil-120049038.html>. 7 Kaitlin Balasaygun, “In the college sports pay era, female athletes are emerging as big economic winners” (15 October 2022), online: CNBC <https://www.cnbc.com/2022/10/15/that-nike-bronny-jamesnil-deal-was-a-big-deal-for-women-too.html>. 8 Cody Orr, “NIL hurts college athletics. Here’s How we fix it” (23 May 2022), online: Our Daily Bears <https://www.ourdailybears. com/2022/5/23/23055991/nil-hurts-college-athletics-heres-how-we-fix-it>. 6
athletic scholarship money.9 Secondly, an athletic scholarship is not a guarantee of education. I could make plenty of jokes about how much student-athletes learn, but the reality is that most athletic scholarships are conditional. The typical scholarship is a yearly agreement that can be cancelled due to injuries, underperformance, or a coach’s decision.10 So, an injury could suddenly remove access to education for an athlete, leaving them with little to show for what they brought to the NCAA. It seems fairer to let athletes “make hay while the sun shines” on their athletic careers. As an astute reader, you’ve probably noticed that I generally support the introduction of NIL into collegiate athletics. However, I do acknowledge there are still issues with this system. Similar to how an injured athlete can lose their scholarship, injuries could be devastating to an indiJay Bilas, “ Why NIL has been good for college sport… and the hurdles that remain” (29 June 2022), online: ESPN <https://www.espn.com/collegesports/story/_/id/34161311/why-nil-good-college-sports-hurdles-remain>.
vidual’s NIL value. Also, the NCAA requires athletes to provide their own health insurance.11 This means unforeseen circumstances can not only cost athletes large NIL opportunities, but will also be costly on the insurance front. The capacity for athletes to recoup their value to the NCAA depends on the existence of a market for athlete representatives. There is a possibility that this market could shift from athletes to schools, or in another direction away from athletes. In comparison with a revenue-sharing model, the NIL system offers more volatility. This can be a blessing and a curse. Overall, even if NIL deals have not been a cure-all, it has made college sports a bit easier to digest. When we see the crazy buzzer-beaters and standout performances that are staples of March Madness, we know that the athlete making the shot and dribbling the ball will be getting a piece of the NCAA’s monetary pie.
9
10 “Athletic Scholarships: Everything you need to know”, online: NSCA Sports <https://www.ncsasports.org/recruiting/how-to-get-recruited/scholarship-facts>.
11 Karen Weaver, “If college athletes return, who will pay the medical bills” (20 April 2022), online: Forbes <https://www.forbes. com/sites/karenweaver/2020/04/20/if-college-athletes-return-whowill-pay-the-medical-bills/?sh=50a864b47752>.
MEET THE QUID Copy Editor (FR)
Giuseppe Sutera Sardo | 1L
Where are you from / where have you lived? I'm a proud Montrealer who cherishes his hometown roots, while also treasuring my important connection to Italy. What drew you to the Quid? I figured the Quid would be a great way to keep up with what is going on at the Faculty, while also developing my editing skills. What did you do before McGill Law? In college, I studied natural sciences at André-Grasset. I then completed a double major at Concordia University in history and public policy. Quel était ton cours préféré avant de commencer à la faculté de droit? Throughout my academic life, I have been consistently drawn to courses related to American history, and my passion for the subject has only grown with each passing year. Qu’aimes-tu faire quand tu n’étudies pas? Whenever I have some free time, I usually head toward a soccer field or spend quality time with my beloved dog Mia. We both share a deep love for sports, although her dribbling skills need a bit of work. As-tu un quarter préféré à Montréal? With school, I've been spending a lot of time downtown and it has been great! 9
Vol 44 ● No 14
RÉCITRéconcilier D’UNE VAGUE ET D’UN BARRAGE le politique et l’académique dans les micro-sociétés universitaires Alexandre Darmame|1L
Soudainement vous étiez pris.es dans le mouvement. Parts de cette foule de personnes où les sentiments tels des confettis volaient un peu partout sans que l’on ne porte attention à leur viralité. Toute votre existence, votre conscience, votre identité disparaissaient dans cette action commune, où finalement on vous comprenait et on partageait vos sentiments. Telle une gouttelette dans une vague qui n’a plus conscience d’être une goutte d’eau. La vague donnait un pouvoir, la vague donnait un objectif. Avec les autres, rien n’avait été plus clair, jamais vous n’aviez été si fort.e. Les gouttelettes s’entrainaient les unes les autres, rendant la marée plus terrible encore. Car leurs esprits, connectés et jubilants, se sentaient désormais tsunami.
QUID NOVI • 14 MARCH 2023
Ayant eu le plaisir de lire les articles de mes confrères et consœurs dans le Quid Novi sur les évènements du mardi 10 janvier, je doute avoir grand-chose à ajouter au débat d’opinions. Pour remettre les choses en contexte, l’université McGill a pris la décision d’inviter un juriste au cœur des problématiques de séparations des communautés gaies et transsexuelles dans le mouvement LGBTQ+. Plusieurs étudiants, choqués par certaines positions controversées du mouvement lié à l’invité ont critiqué ce choix de l’institution et, après plusieurs échanges avec la faculté, ont pris la décision d’organiser une manifestation durant la conférence. Une manifestation qui prit certaines dimensions hors de contrôle. Comme beaucoup, j’ai été surpris autant par le choix de conférencier que par les dégâts, les témoignages et les retours concernant la manifestation. De cette surprise, me venait une profonde réflexion pour élucider ce malaise. Certainement mes années d’études en sciences politiques ne me seraient pas inutiles après tout, et appliquant la méthodologie si douloureusement apprise, je me mettais tout d’abord en quête d’identifier de cette question qui me travaillant tant l’esprit : Peut-on réconcilier le politique et l’académique à l’université? Quelles étaient les intentions des parties ? Après avoir tenté d’approcher la question de plusieurs façons, je pense que la meilleure façon de s’y intéresser est de se pencher sur les intentions des parties en présence. Il est toujours complexe de prendre du recul sur sa propre vision et de tenter de se mettre dans les esprits des autres. J’emploierais le style de l’affirmatif, non par prétention de détenir la vérité, mais par simplicité de l’argument et je compte sur mes camarades pour intervenir s’ils/elles n’ont pas la même interprétation des évènements. D’un côté, l’université, s’est intéressée à un phénomène social d’actualité et à ses conséquences juridiques. Elle a probablement conclu que la meilleure personne pour en parler en serait une au cœur des débats. En d’autres termes, l’université avait une visée académique; elle souhai10
tait faire avancer le champ des connaissances de ses étudiants et du grand public de façon à instiller le progrès. De l’autre côté les manifestant.es, conscient.es que l’invité avait des opinions publiques contraires aux leurs et une place influente dans le discours public ont tenté d’anticiper les conséquences de la conférence sur l’opinion publique. Leur but n’était pas de se demander si tous (et toutes) devraient avoir accès ou non à la parole, mais était d’exprimer publiquement leur opposition aux positions de l’invité de l’université et d’empêcher l’avancement de positions contraires aux leurs. Leur visée était ainsi politique. Leur but était d’influencer l’opinion générale et la meilleure stratégie pour cela était, à leurs yeux, d’occuper l’espace public tout en s’assurant que leurs opposant.es y aient accès le moins possible. Je prendrais une pause ici pour adresser le terme « politique ». Si celui-ci fait parfois mauvaise presse, je ne pense pas qu’il devrait être vu négativement. Le politique se rapporte à la gouvernance, au vivre ensemble et aux rapports humains. Cela relève de l’opinion, notamment concernant quelle serait la meilleure marche à suivre concernant l’avenir de notre vie en communauté. Dans ce cadre, exprimer son opinion quant à l’évolution de ces rapports est loin d’être préjudiciable, c’est un droit, parfois même, un devoir. Nous voici ainsi en présence de deux mondes différents, deux objectifs séparés, deux prises de vues différentes qui, quand elles s’entrechoquent, provoquent incompréhension, confusion et rancœurs. Pourtant, il aurait été étrange d’espérer que notre doyen n’annule la rencontre, son objectif étant académique. Il aurait également été surprenant d’attendre des manifestants qu’ils participent silencieusement à la conférence et questionnent sagement l’orateur, car leur objectif était politique. Il s’agissait d’investir l’espace commun et d’afficher publiquement leur opposition aux positions de l’invité tout en limitant ses occasions d’exposer des idées contraires aux leurs. Mais alors, deux visions si différentes ne sont-elles pas vouées à entrer en conflit ? Peut-on vraiment les réconcilier ? Ma théorie est que cela est non seulement possible, mais aussi souhaitable. Ces deux visions sont en coexistence constante; de mon expérience, les universités sont un bouillonnement d’idées diverses et de débats passionnants autant de la part des étudiant.es que des professeur.es. Chaque étudiant.e vient avec un bagage qui oriente ses opinions. Certain.es déclarent que les étudiant.es ne devraient pas s’exprimer sur les choix de McGill et devraient être content.es de ce qui leur est présenté. Je ne
suis pas d’accord. D’une part, être étudiant.e dans une institution, ce n’est pas simplement la fréquenter, c’est faire partie intégrante de sa constitution, participer à ses activités et son rayonnement, y attacher sa réputation et participer à son évolution. Dans ce contexte, il est tout à fait légitime que les étudiant.es veuillent et puissent donner leurs opinions sur les choix de leur université. Deuxièmement, pour beaucoup d’étudiant.es, l’université est leur lieu de développement d’opinions central, ou même unique. Tout le monde n’a pas forcément de vie politique hors de l’institution, et McGill offre, en principe, un cadre sécuritaire et encourageant pour découvrir nos idées. Enfin, nous pourrions soutenir que le choix de McGill était lui-même politique. Lorsqu’une institution invite quelqu’un, elle fait le choix de mettre à sa disposition des locaux, du personnel, de l’attention, des moyens et d’y attacher, dans une certaine mesure, son prestige. Qu’elle le veuille ou non, cela aura pour conséquence de contribuer à la propagation de ses idées. Puisque ces moyens auraient pu être utilisés pour parler d’un autre sujet, McGill a donc fait le choix de favoriser un thème et un.e invité.e plutôt qu’un.e autre. Le choix de faire un acte politique de la part des étudiant.es n’était ainsi pas sans justification, pourtant, ont-ils employé les moyens adéquats ?
fait partie des mouvements sociaux et que les avancées ont été « arrachées » au cours de l’histoire. Le point est pertinent, mais il y a un contexte à analyser, un contexte temporel (nous ne sommes plus dans la même situation qu’aux époques passées) et une réalité contextuelle, McGill et ses étudiant.es se sont imposées comme une institution à l’écoute des causes LGBTQ+. Je viens d’un pays où manifester est un sport national. Nous sommes élevés et socialisés dans le constat que nos droits ont été et sont assurés par l’expression populaire. Néanmoins, j’ai également observé comment la pente vers la violence, la haine et la rancœur est raide, et comment les manifestations prenant un sombre tournant ne sont pas rares et souvent dramatiques. Revenir sur ce qu’il s’est passé n’est pas toujours agréable, mais c’est un effort qui se doit d’être accompli pour assurer la paix et le vivre ensemble dans notre communauté. Faire la lumière sur les évènements du 10 janvier ne signifie pas chercher qui a tort et qui a raison. À mon avis, cela ne signifie pas non plus de s’assurer que tout le monde obtienne ce qu’il souhaite. Faire la lumière sur les évènements signifie comprendre pourquoi, et comment faire en sorte qu’à l’avenir, chacun.e puisse poursuivre ses objectifs sans se sentir menacé.e par l’autre partie.
Selon moi, l’unique moyen pour les mondes académiques et politiques de coexister sont de se reconnaître l’une et l’autre. Ceux et celles qui agissent dans le politique doivent reconnaître que d’autres peuvent agir en ayant une visée académique et vice-versa. Je ne m’exprimerais pas sur les décisions de l’administration de la faculté de droit de McGill, car je ne sais pas quel fut le processus décisionnel. Je suggèrerais néanmoins à l’avenir qu’une rencontre avec les associations prenne place afin d’établir un plan de manifestation. Cette réunion n’aurait pas pour objectif de savoir si la manifestation est légitime ou non, mais de planifier l’évènement afin de s’assurer de la sécurité de tous et qu’elle respecte certaines limites. De l’autre côté, manifestant.es ne semblent pas avoir reconnu. es certaines visées académiques. Les attaques morales sur étudiant.es de McGill, dégâts à la faculté et propos injurieux auraient pu être évités si les organisateurs/rices de la manifestation avaient gardé un contrôle sur les évènements du début à la fin. La stratégie initiale des manifestant.es de faire le plus de bruit pour déranger la conférence est considérable et je laisse ouverte la question de sa pertinence. Je dirai néanmoins qu’une démonstration politique demande de la créativité pour atteindre l’opinion publique : manifestation silencieuse, mise en avant des victimes de ce qu’on dénonce, organisation d’une contre conférence, appel aux médias ou réservation de tous les billets de la salle sont autant de moyens de faire coexister de manière créative les aspects académiques et politiques tout en faisant pression sur les acteurs/rices en présence. Certain.es me répondront peut-être que la violence a toujours 11
Vol 44 ● No 14
BLAST FROM THE PAST
QUID NOVI • 14 MARCH 2023
Take a look at the unique Skit Nite theme from 1990.
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QUID NOVI • 14 MARCH 2023
Vol 44 ● No 14
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