March 15, 2022

The Concordian VOLUME 39, ISSUE 21

CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1973

UNIVERSITIES UNITE WITH MONTREAL COMMUNITY TO WELCOME UKRAINIAN REFUGEES

TUESDAY Mar. 15, 2022 The donations were collected St. Michael’s Ukrainian Catholic Church in Hochelaga.

CATHERINE REYNOLDS/THE CONCORDIAN

Many small efforts contribute to helping the incoming refugees after millions flee the war zone

BY HANNAH TIONGSON Assistant News Editor

Following Montreal’s first solidarity rally to support Ukrainians facing the Russian invasion, Montrealers are proactively preparing for relief efforts to help Ukrainians. The rally was organized by McGill and other universities on Feb. 24.

On the evening of March 9, Concordia University and Université de Montréal joined together to help the McGill Ukrainian Students’ Association (MUSA) make perogies (a popular Ukrainian dish) and donuts for a fundraiser scheduled the next day.

All the money collected went to the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) and the Canada-Ukraine Foundation.

“What can we do as students right now?” asked Julia Hukowich, social and cultural director of MUSA. “You know, it’s small; we can probably only raise a couple of hundred dollars from this, but it’s something,” Hukowich added.

By the end of their fundraiser, the MUSA collected close to $900, with over 65 students attending the fundraiser showing support.

Annika Pavlin, a firstyear international development student at McGill, shared her disappointment towards McGill while in line.

Concordia, along with McGill, shared their positions regarding the war in Ukraine in recent emails.

Both universities defined Russia’s invasion as “conflict.”

“I’m here to support the private organizations, the clubs that have had to do what McGill is refusing to do, which is raise money, raise awareness,” said Pavlin.

Vitalia Khmil, president of the Concordia Ukrainian Students’ Union (CUSU), shared the same frustration as Pavlin.

“They just sent us an email [...] they’re trying to stay inclusive. They didn’t mention anything about a war per se.

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IS NOW THE APPROPRIATE TIME TO EASE COVID-19 MEASURES? Experts say it should be properly safeguarded to mitigate potential outbreaks

BY GABRIEL GUINDI News Editor

planted seeds of uncertainty and confusion among patrons entering her establishment.

“It’s nice and all that we are able to open up at 100 per cent capacity, but the after-effects of people being in lockdown, people having a curfew, and the general public not really knowing what the rules are and aren’t, those effects are definitely felt in the restaurant,” said Deschenes.

For many businesses heavily impacted by COVID-19 regulations, this is a breath of relief.

The hardest hit businesses, like restaurants and bars, are grate-

ful that they can now return to serving customers free of added restrictions and measures imposed upon their business.

Martin Vézina, vice president of governmental and public affairs for Association Restauration Quebec (ARQ) claimed that many restaurants feel reassured with the easing of sanitary measures. “This is good news for us because it comes down to a certain sense of normalcy that we haven’t seen since March 2020. We’re looking forward to opening at full capacity.”

Restaurants that opened amid the pandemic like Bistro La Franquette are cautiously optimistic about easing measures. Co-owner Renée Deschenes has experienced many changes in health measures over the course of her restaurant’s existence, and feels like the added confusion from constant modifications has

texted postiive for COVID-19.

Though the government is adamant about continuing to lift sanitary COVID19 measures, many are still questioning whether now is the best time to ease all restrictions. The virus’ prevalence has prompted experts to envision potential risks that could emerge from these actions later down the line.

Quebec’s Interim Public Health Director Dr. Luc Boileau announced in a press conference last week the easing of certain COVID-19 measures.

As of March 12, Quebecers will no longer need to present their vaccination passport in public venues such as restaurants and bars, and businesses will be able to operate at 100 per cent capacity. By mid-April, the province intends to lift mask mandates, excluding on public transport, where mandates

will remain in place until May. Though Boileau and the Quebec government regard mask measures as an effective one, they cannot continue to oblige it. As the government continues to return to normalcy, Boileau said in his March 3 press conference that masks will become a personal choice. In last week’s press conference, Boileau lifted more health measures. For example, if asymptomatic, people will no longer need to self-isolate for five days if in contact with someone that has

COMMENTARY

FEATURES

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How do students feel about vaccine mandates?

A homeless shelter coordinator shares his experiences

An otherwise endearing story misses the mark

We tried listening to a new album every day for a month

A talk with Quebec climber Monique Richard

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Most businesses optimistic in return

Experts are not fully convinced that now is the time to lift measures Assistant professor at the McGill University Department of Medicine and infectious disease specialist Dr. Matthew Oughton is more Continued on page 2

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MONTREAL PREPARES FOR UKRAINIAN REFUGEES Continued from page 1 They said ‘conflict,’ and it’s really important to get the vocabulary right because it’s clearly a war going on,” said Khmil.

Along with Khmil, Markel Reva, VP Finance of the CUSU, agreed Concordia can and should do more to help.

“They provided us with links to psychological care here and helplines, stuff like that, but that’s literally it”, said Khmil.

The current situation in Ukraine is very distressing for students like Khmil and Reva, who are trying to focus on midterms while their extended family is currently in Ukraine.

“We are trying to contact our universities to see how can we help Ukrainian students because we have midterms, we have exams, we have quizzes, and with all [that] happening [...] I couldn’t read a single thing on my paper,” said Reva.

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On Wednesday, Reva met with Andrew Woodall, Dean of Students at Concordia University, hoping to get more help.

“It is still very unclear on the position that Concordia is taking regarding the Russian aggression and the war in Ukraine.”

Woodall suggested that Reva speak with Graham Carr, President and Vice-Chancellor of Concordia University.

Though Reva can’t do much at Concordia right now, he and his family have offered their help through donations to St. Michael’s Ukrainian Catholic Church.

Among the many churches turning into donation centres for Ukrainian refugees, St. Michael’s Ukrainian Catholic Church has been accepting donations for refugees since Feb. 26, the third day of the Russian invasion.

St. Michael’s Ukrainian Catholic Church is now receiving a large number of donations every day.

About two weeks ago, Reva’s family opened their home in the South Shore to collect donations 24/7 and bring them to the church. This included medication, clothes, food, hygiene products, sleeping bags, and more.

With Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s new program to facilitate the immigration process of Ukrainian refugees, Montrealers have been helping newcomers through the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) Donation boxes filled nearly every empty space in the church. CATHERINE REYNOLDS/THE CONCORDIAN

Montreal Branch. This organization represents around 42,500 Ukrainians in Quebec.

The UCC helps in different ways, working as volunteers to help newcomers find housing, jobs, assisting with documentation, English tutoring, and more. The Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel program will accept an unlimited number of Ukrainians who want to come to Canada temporarily.

“It’s a huge undertaking that needs to be done, and we really appreciate the collaboration that we have with the city of Montreal in particular,” said Michael Shwec, president of the UCC Montreal Branch.

“We’re in a tight connection with the city to put together a robust plan to welcome them and make sure that they have a safe and warm place to stay,” Shwec added.

The UCC also provides a link on their website to donate money through the Canadian Red Cross.

“All Montrealers donating to the Red Cross and helping fund medical supplies and other forms of humanitarian aid are making a powerful impact on Ukraine’s ability to defend its people,” said Bogdan Lytvynenko, former news editor for The Concordian.

“Every dollar is critical. It is heartwarming and inspiring to see Montrealers donating and joining the rest of the world against the Russian aggression even despite being thousands of kilometres away from the warzone,” Lytvynenko added.

Restaurants are popular again now that COVID restrictions have eased up. KAITLYNN RODNEY/THE CONCORDIAN

MONTREAL EASES COVID REGULATIONS Continued from page 1 cautious, and believes that though COVID-19 cases are low for now, the future of living with the virus can’t be accurately predicted. According to Oughton, continuing vaccine education, heavier viral monitoring, improving indoor air quality, and individual optimal vaccine protection are the four items that should be of primary concern

while measures are eased.

Given how the virus has surprised many over the past two years, especially amid the emergence of variants with increased transmissibility like Omicron and BA.2, lifting sanitary measures may eventually lead to re-imposed measures on public spaces and venues. “All of a sudden within about a month or so it (Omicron) exploded in so many different parts of the world. So, could we see that same process again, given all of the surprises that COVID-19 has dealt us over the past two years, we should expect to be surprised.”

Despite the difficulty of accurately predicting if or when the next wave will hit, Oughton believes that if it does, it will be difficult for both the government and public health authorities to convince the public to respect re-implemented COVID-19 measures. “After two years, I think it’s fair to say that a lot of people are very tired of dealing with this. [...] Unfortunately, just because we are tired of the virus, that doesn’t mean the inverse, that the virus is tired of us.”

Despite the decline in cases, Oughton stated that most of Quebec’s population is not optimally protected from COVID-19. “If you look at the numbers, we’re about 91 per cent of people with at least one dose, we are at something like 87 per cent of the population with two doses, but we’re just only barely above 50 per cent of the population having three doses.”

Peter Darlington, associate professor in the Department of Health, Kinesiology, and Applied Physiology at Concordia University explained that a virus’s lifespan ultimately depends upon the number of people it can infect. “How contagious it is would have an impact, because the virus essentially wants to be in as many people as possible. If you

TUESDAY Mar. 15, 2022

McGill Ukrainian Students Association (Above) organized a perogie and donut sale, which raised almost $1,000 for the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.

Volunteers from St. Michael’s organized donations by category to distribute to incoming refugees PHOTOS BY CATHERINE REYNOLDS

look at Ebola for example, the Ebola virus is not as transmissible because it has to travel through fluid, it’s not like an aerosol.” Darlington added that, the more variants like BA.2 are transmitted, there’s a greater possibility of other mutations occurring.

“Transmissibility is what derives its effects across a large population,” Oughton said. “Contagious diseases require close contact often for transmission so the more opportunities there are, the more you’re going to see some of these infections start to come back.”

The data on the presence of the BA.2 variant in areas like Montreal is still limited, but the lack of sufficient testing has prompted the Quebec government to re-monitor the virus through wastewater testing, a measure that experts like Oughton have been waiting for.

“I think it’s a brilliant measure and I’ve been arguing for this for a long time. By re-instituting our wastewater screening, we will have an early indicator that on a population level gives you a reasonable measure of the amount of disease activity.”

Safeguards like providing third doses to the near 50 per cent of Quebecers who have not yet received it, educating the public regarding the continued presence of the virus, and ensuring proper air quality in higher transmission zones are all effective measures to lessen the chances of transmission and re-imposed sanitary restrictions.

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The Concordian

A member of the organization Soy Nosotras invites rally participants to share their testimonies of violence against women.

“Hey, hey! Ho, ho! The patriarchy has got to go!”

“Long live image resistance, long live solidarity and sisterhood. Long live International Women’s working days,” said Ishita Tiwary, spokesperson and assistant professor at Concordia

BY HANNAH TIONGSON | Assistant News Editor ON MARCH 12, HUNDREDS OF MONTREALERS GATHERED AT PARC METRO STATION TO MARCH IN SOLIDARITY FOLLOWING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY.

The main message was to show the urgency to stand in solidarity with women facing all the injustices caused by the pandemic and all the social issues happening in all communities across Montreal and internationally.

The rally is a yearly demonstration organized by the Women of Diverse Origins (WDO) organization to commemorate International Women’s Day and to recognize the history of injustices and inequalities that women face.

The organization was initially created in the wake of the Global War on Terrorism, the American-led military campaign launched following the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

WDO includes women from different ethnicities, religions, and ages who join together to support women’s rights and fight against patriarchy, racism, capitalism, colonialism, fascism, and imperialism.

To honour the different ethnicities that make up the organization and to better represent all these women, the WDO invited women from various cultural backgrounds to share a word at the protest.

“Our stolen sisters — we still remember [them] from all across the land,” said Wet’suwet’en elder,

activist, and chef Marlene Hale. “Whether it’s one thing or the other, with the Indigenous, the non-Indigenous, for the coloured, we have been there before for each other.”

Kavitha Culasingam, a community organizer with the Centre des femmes d’ici et d’ailleurs, pointed out how the rise in violence against women and femicide in Quebec jeopardizes women’s rights of living equitably.

The Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development Canada, and Isabelle Charest, Minister for Education, shared a statement on March 2021 stating the COVID19 pandemic increased the rates and severity of sexual and domestic violence against women in Quebec.

“It is important to remember that we can lose our rights at any time, and [we should] continue to fight,” said Culasingam.

Culasingam highlighted women’s injustice in Quebec. Alee Coloma, a spokesperson of PINAY Quebec, an organization for migrant and immigrant Filipino women, called attention to the wars happening around the world and the injustices that follow.

“When we talk about war, we are not foolish enough to think that war is only

Marlene Hale speaks at the international women’s rally.

happening in Ukraine. War is everywhere. In Europe, the Middle East, in Africa, in South America and Asia [...] and who does war affect to the most, but women and children?” said Coloma.

During wars, women are particularly vulnerable to sexual violence, abuse and exploitation while caring for their families.

Ishita Tiwary, spokesperson and assistant professor at Concordia said, “On this day, we raise our voices to demand peace, NATO provocation and the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian borders.”

ist Fightback Students organization, is to transition into a socialist society.

“You see all the rise of violence in women, you see the rise of inequality, you see the attacks of abortion in the U.S. and across the world, they are real concrete reasons to fight against women’s oppression. But the root of all this, what we are seeing is that as the capitalist system,” said Bissonnette.

Another solution suggested by Hélène Bissonnette, a member of the Social-

PHOTOS BY CATHERINE REYNOLDS /THE CONCORDIAN

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Concordia students and TAs protest against sexual violence injustice at Concordia Concordia’s teaching assistants union and students gather to protest against a lack of transparency in sexual violence cases, aiming to spread awareness

BY MARIA CHOLAKOVA | Contributor

“When women’s rights are under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back!” That’s how protesters made their voices heard at the “Stand up Against Harassment” protest on March 8, International Women’s Day. The rally, held by the Norman Bethune statue, was intended to highlight the importance of acknowledging the lack of transparency in Concordia’s response to sexual violence and demand structural change.

The Teaching and Research Assistants at Concordia (TRAC) union organized the event, aiming to spread awareness and demand change regarding sexual violence victims who have been subject to Concordia’s treatment towards people suspected of committing sexual violence. Mya Walmsley, a TRAC delegate from Concordia’s Department of Philosophy, started her speech with a chant, enforcing the rally’s message for change, saying “We want change! When do we want it? Now!” One of the reasons for the protest was philosophy students refusing to work with an unnamed professor in the department, who has an alleged history of sexual harassment. Until safer working conditions are set in place, the TAs and students refuse to work with him.

Late last year, the TRAC union created a petition, with 250 signatures, demanding from the university to be more transparent about

cases of sexual assault and violence.

Concordia has been involved in six sexual allegation cases, from multiple departments, with one case dating back to the 90’s. In addition, from 2012 to 2018, six former Concordia students filed complaints to the Human Rights Commission about Concordia’s lack of response towards its students surrounding sexual violence cases.

“For a decade, the university has known about these allegations, and rather than working with survivors of sexual harassment, rather than working with students and staff to find a long-term solution, Concordia has swept these issues under the rug,” Walmsley explained.

Protesters gather near Norman Bethune statue voicing their anger towards a lack of accountibility. PHOTOS BY KAITLYNN RODNEY /THE CONCORDIAN

The TRAC demands structural change to create a safer working environment, and an institutional response to sexual violence and harassment, emphasizing that sexual assault policies and gender violence must be survivor-centered, and it should never be a survivor’s responsibility to avoid the person who harassed or attacked them. Furthermore, the union demands Concordia protect survivors’ rights to tell their own stories, even if they have filed internal or external complaints. In addition, Students and TAs working and studying under the supervision of accused faculty members should be able to decide who they want to work with, or if the allegations have been dealt with satisfactorily.

Mathilde, one of the event organizers who wished to be referred to by her first name, made her stance on the topic clear. “Today, we hold Concordia accountable for their action and responsibility towards all members of the Concordia community. We want everyone to be safe!”

Apart from the TRAC members and representatives, dozens of students and supporters joined the protest. Ra’anaa Brown, a doctoral student in the Art History Department

joined the protest to show her support and draw awareness to unrecognized sexual violence at the university. “As a woman, as someone who has several sisters, as someone who knows non-binary and queer folks, this is an incredibly important cause for me,” Brown said. “Today is International Women’s Day, and it’s when women can come together across the globe, recognize our important contributions to society, but also fight for the basic human rights that we still do not have access to.”

Nelson Graves, both a master’s student and a TRAC delegate member in the philosophy department, has dedicated his time to fighting against prejudice in the Concordia administrative system. “It is a structural change. Yes, Concordia has the mandatory sexual violence course. However, someone that will perpetuate sexual violence is going to do it anyway, regardless if they have completed the course,” Graves explained. He believes that Concordia needs to enact more change, investigate how they work with survivors, and improve on transparency.

Six former students filed complaints to Concordia’s Humans Rights Commission on the lack of transparency towards sexual violence cases.

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Commentary

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How do you feel about Concordia’s dropping of the vaccine mandate?

BY JULIETTE PALIN Commentary Editor PHOTOS BY CATHERINE REYNOLDS

We can thank the vaccine passport for Quebec’s high vaccination rates, but now all incentive to get vaccinated is gone. As of March 12, the Quebec vaccine passport is no more in bars, restaurants, movie theatres and more.

This means people who chose not to get vaccinated, once incentivized to get the shot by limitations placed by the Quebec government - limitations as recent as January - have no more reason to get their covid immunization.

To be transparent, here’s how I feel about the whole thing.

Even as a pro-vaxxer who feels safer with the shot and boosters, no public incentive will make me drag my feet. So imagine someone who just doesn’t want to be vaccinated – despite the public and personal safety it can bring us, many will never get the shot(s) for a variety of reasons. Some of these reasons should be respected, but the general population should make up the difference, in a way.

This is my opinion — one of many different ones felt on the Concordia campus, as the university dismantled their vaccine mandate. While it was only in place for certain gatherings, sports clubs, the gym and Reggies, our campus bar, students had a lot of thoughts to share.

We went around Concordia’s downtown campus on Friday to ask students how they felt vis-avis the return to normality.

Guillaume Sercia STUDYING HUMAN ENVIRONMENT “I think its a good thing [the vaccine mandate is going away]. At some point we have to come back to reality, to normality. [...] It wasn’t a big issue for me, but I was frustrated for the people who couldn’t take part in regular activities. I would feel safe even without a vaccine, so it doesn’t bother me.”

Nadeem Alhajzein

Ahmed Riad

“I don’t totally agree with the idea of a vaccine mandate being removed. I feel like [the] Quebec government is kind of like, going up and down different rules.”

“But I do understand how it’s supposed to be trying and getting people to go back to normal, I guess. But I still feel like it’s something that should still be at places because it does help us.”

“It’s great, people [now] have the choice of taking the vaccine or not, I personally took the vaccine. […] People should have the freedom to take the vaccine or not.”

STUDYING STUDIO ARTS AND ART HISTORY

STUDYING ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

Marwa Khalid

STUDYING SOFTWARE ENGINEERING

Carles Ngoupeyu

STUDYING ACCOUNTING “I don’t agree with the vaccine mandate. They didn’t think about the non-vaccintaed. [...] You just feel alone, separated from others. Those who are vaccinated will say the opposite because they have access to everything. But when you are not vaccinated, it’s just different. And to feel like you can’t enter a store because you didn’t get a vaccine; feeling like you’re limited in your actions because of a vaccine, it’s just really terrible.”

Yannis Affoum

STUDYING FOR A CERTIFICATE OF SCIENCE FOUNDATIONS I’m actually kind of happy. It’s very annoying to always have to worry about these things, and always having to show your phone, show your QR code, and all these things… It’s kind of annoying. And for people who dont have a QR code, it’s kind of discriminatory.”

here&there

“I wouldn’t really feel comfortable.

Obviously, it’s a really crowded place, there’s a lot of people, and if they are not wearing their mask, you don’t know if they have [COVID], or dont have it, or even if they are facing symptoms. The removal of masks doesnt mean they don’t have COVID. [But] I don’t think it was the university’s place [to implement a vaccine mandate], I think it’s the government that makes that decision, then the university should follow.

Trend Anxiety: The interconnectedness of fashion and the world What are the clothes we wear saying about us?

BY TARYN MARTIN | Contributor

Slow-fashion, fast-fashion, sustainable fashion, timeless fashion, upcycle, resell, in-season, out-of-season — an endless supply of words to give meaning to the clothes we choose to wear.

At first glance, they seem to be buzzwords, ultimately deeming some clothes “good,” and some clothes “bad.” But more than buzzwords, these terms provide a direct correlation between

our clothes and the world around us.

Most of us have now experienced our first large trend cycle, with the return of Y2K fashion. But we are also experiencing trend cycles on a ridiculously smaller scale, one with a timespan of two months, instead of 20 years. Trends cycle so fast it actually induces my anxiety.

I went into H&M on Saint-Catherine St. for the first time in years

last week, and felt completely overwhelmed. The fluorescent lights highlighting this season’s neon psychedelic trends, the seemingly infinite amount of clothes, the intensity of shoppers searching for something that will undoubtedly be out of style before they even return home. Not to mention the EDM blaring over the sound systems making me feel even more off-kilter, which only aggravated the situation.

I couldn’t help but question, when we buy clothes, what are we buying?

As consumers, we must acknowledge

the relation between clothes and the world around us — they don’t just represent your stature. We must understand the direct effect of the fashion industry and fast-fashion on the environment, on its involvement of child labour and on the society in which we participate.

Once we understand the factors that go into our clothes, it’s important to buy and wear them in a way that is responsible and adheres to our beliefs and morals about the world.

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The Concordian But many of us fall into the trend trap, in which we buy something only to wear it once or twice and never reach for it again. We all remember those early pandemic era trends of 2020 — namely cow and zebra print on literally everything, whether it be pants, tops, hats, shoes or furry bags.

I couldn’t scroll through Pinterest without seeing some rendition of the alternative animal print trend, and now you’d be hard-pressed to find them anywhere.

Trend anxiety doesn’t just manifest itself in the chaos of fast-fashion shopping, as it also implores us to keep buying new clothes in order to retain the perception of being “trendy.”

In today’s social media-driven world, trends have made fashion more about others than about ourselves.

Maybe you feel really comfortable in a certain trend, and you know you can source it in a sustainable way. You’ve already done the hard part by acknowledging how your clothes make you feel regardless of the perception of others.

From here, we can wear trends in a way that respects the interconnectedness of fashion to self and the world around us.

When you’re shopping, choose pieces — regardless of their trend status — that you believe will last a long time.

This means assessing the quality and durability of the garment, and questioning whether the piece will stand

TREND ANXIETY Continued from page 5 As someone who loved clothes and fashion from a young age, I have always considered my clothes as a representation of myself. My style fluctuates, which presents to the world my personal growth and changing environments. Moving to Montreal from Halifax influenced my style the most in recent years, with my wardrobe becoming more of a collection built from various trips to the thrift store and less from stops at my local Lululemon. It reflected the culture of Montreal youth and my personal endeavors, mainly that of caring for the environment.

That’s the thing with clothes. They tell others something about you which often remains unsaid. It is a signifier to the world; this is who I am because this is what I wear. But if what we are buying is an extension of ourselves, what do trends have to do with it?

In this case, maybe trends are a signifier to the world simply that we know what is trending. For lack of better terms, wearing a trend makes us cool. It’s not an inherently bad thing. Trends have been around as long as fashion itself has, and it’s not wrong to want to participate in them.

the test of time in your wardrobe, even when it may no longer be trending. This eradicates the disposability of clothes.

I used to go to the thrift store and purchase every trendy item I found because I thought I’d get the chance to wear them all. Realistically, so many of those pieces went unworn because they’re too hard to incorporate into my daily wardrobe. It’s helped to really consider before buying each item, how will I style this in numerous ways to really get wear out of it? If my

JAMES FAY

Do StudyTok hacks really help?

Too much time on TikTok can actually have productivity benefits TALIA KILOT Assistant Commentary Editor

I know I spend too much time on TikTok. I tell myself that it’s mainly for journalistic research, which is at least partially true, considering that this article, as well as many others of mine, are inspired by videos I see while scrolling through my TikTok feed.

While the majority of my For You Page is riddled with Taylor Swift conspiracy theories, cute thrifted outfits, and cool new restaurants to try, a study hack sometimes slips into the mix (maybe that’s the algorithm telling me something…).

Because I have a pretty intense week of schoolwork coming up, I decided that this would be a perfect time to test out some of the tricks that I’ve saved over time and see if they actually work for me.

ing about the “TLDR” Chrome extension that summarizes long readings into bullet points to save time. I have an absurd amount of reading to do this week, so I was stoked to try it.

I probably should have known that it wouldn’t actually work, but I was still

Serves me right for believing in things.

Racing to the finish line I must say that I was very apprehensive about listening to the Mario Kart soundtrack while writing an assignment. Still, I’d seen tons of TikToks claiming that it helps give you a sense of urgency (as if the looming deadlines aren’t enough), so I figured that

Textbook heaven The first one I tried is a true game changer. Maybe I’ve just been living under a rock, but I was completely excited to see that something like this exists.

Z-lib.org is a free textbook library that gives you easy access to textbooks and research material, which is particularly helpful when the university libraries don’t have what you’re looking for or when you want to save some cash. I was writing a paper and needed a specific book that was already signed out from the university library. To my pleasant surprise, it was on z-lib and I didn’t even have to go in to get a copy!

Too good to be true The next tip was definitely too good to be true. I saw a TikTok boast-

JAMES FAY

quite disappointed when it spewed out gibberish that honestly confused me more than the reading itself. There were two settings: short/concise and detailed/section-wise, but they both came up with the same useless summaries. I also tried with another academic article in case the one I had was the reason it wasn’t working — spoiler alert: it didn’t. I still had to read a million pages on top of the wasted time trying to figure out how to use the extension.

style changes, will I no longer care for this item? Is it comfortable enough?

We should all try to buy clothes mainly out of necessity. If you actually need a new pair of jeans, think twice before buying a new skirt or dress. Realistically, clothing is an investment. Buying clothes you know you’ll wear helps the environment, and saves you money in the future.

I needed to be open-minded and give it a try. I also don’t generally listen to music while writing, unless it’s a dark academia classical Spotify playlist to calm myself down when I have tight deadlines. They also help me convince myself I’m much smarter than I actually am. I was pretty sure that the Mario Kart wouldn’t really have the same effect, but, after listening for a little while, it’s safe to say that working with these tunes was much easier than trying to stay on Rain-

bow Road. At first, the fast-paced tunes were stressing me out, but after a few minutes, the words were flowing from my hands almost faster than my brain could keep up. My assignment was done within the hour — I highly recommend it.

Tomato timers Though not an exclusive TikTok hack, I definitely saw some videos preaching the Pomodoro method, which consists of allotting yourself specific amounts of study and break time to increase productivity. The most common time frame is 25 minutes of work to every five-minute break, a pattern that you repeat until you’ve finished your tasks.

I did two cycles of the Pomorodo method and found that it didn’t really work for my way of studying. Setting the timer definitely helped me actually start writing, which is often the most challenging part for me, and I appreciated knowing that I would get a break after 25 minutes. Once the 25 minutes was up, however, I was in a flow state and didn’t want to stop at that moment. For the sake of the article, I continued with the method (you’re welcome), and then took the five-minute break, which definitely didn’t feel long enough. But, I had the same challenges after the second cycle as well.

That’s not to say that the Pomodoro method, or any other study hack mentioned in this article or on TikTok won’t work for you (though if you do figure out the reading summarizer extension PLEASE message me).

Everyone has different ways of learning and aspects of doing school work that are more challenging for them — that’s why it’s so important to personalize your habits to what works for you.

Overall, TikTok seems like a great place to look if you’re trying to figure out the best way to get through your schoolwork. Just be weary of “hacks” that are simply too good to be true.

And plagiarism. All my homies hate plagiarism. Happy(?) studying!

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WE ARE THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE A Montreal homeless shelter coordinator shares his experience working during the peak of the Omnicron wave

BY DALIA NARDOLILLO | Contributor PHOTO BY JAMES FAY

When John Tessier first visited The Open Door seven years ago, he was a drug addict searching for a sense of direction.

What he didn’t realize was how much the homeless shelter would change his life, or that he would end up serving the community he once was part of.

Tessier began volunteering for The Open Door seven years ago. “We have a reputation of doing things a little differently,” said Tessier, the centre’s coordinator. “We build a relationship with the people that we serve.”

The Open Door is a homeless shelter and drop-in centre located in downtown Montreal, Quebec for low-income individuals. The shelter also offers various other services like counselling, referrals to mental health professionals, and drug addiction counselors.

Walking up Park Ave, where The Open Door is located, you would

never think there is a homeless shelter right in front of you. The shelter is in the basement of a church — not easily spotted by the naked eye.

When someone first arrives at The Open Door, they must go down two flights of stairs until they are eventually greeted by volunteers at the front desk.

Afterwards, the volunteers accompany the clients to either a bed, the kitchen area to get something to eat, or a shower. There are many showering stations around the shelter providing access to shampoo, soap, and other personal hygiene products.

Before becoming the centre’s coordinator, Tessier was an Open Door client. “I was a drug addict and I needed services as well,” he said. “After I allowed myself to get straightened out, I wanted to give back. I started to volunteer, and a job opened up.”

Tessier’s day-to-day activities at the shelter are always different. “There is no standard day, I coordinate the entire centre. With the intervention team, we might be accompanying people to court,” Tessier explained. “Right now, one of our long-time users is in the hospital at the rehab centre. One of our team leaders is there with her, helping her get set-up and figure out what her next steps are.”

The pandemic shifted the usual routine at the shelter, as The Open Door couldn’t accommodate as many people as usual. With the tighter living quarters at the shelter, sanitary measures became of utmost importance. The volunteers and staff were equipped with gear such as N95 masks, goggles, gloves, and more.

The Omicron wave has made Tessier more aware of the issues in this community. In particular, the challenges of how Montreal’s shelters are at over-capac-

ity. He recalled the shelter experiencing waves of Omicron infections during the first few weeks of January 2022. This was a very difficult time, even with the isolation period only being five days for essential workers who caught the virus.

Despite the challenges, Tessier said that The Open Door staff remain resilient. When the Omicron wave hit the shelter, everyone still came to work, even when the virus seemed to be getting worse by the minute. “I commend the volunteers who were still coming in here,” said Tessier.

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Features

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TUESDAY Mar. 15, 2022

The Concordian Continued from page 7

“It’s so sad and heartbreaking,” said Tessier in response to the news.

“This is ridiculous and tragic that this happened,” said James Hughes, the president and CEO of the Old Brewery Mission.

“In many ways it shouldn’t be surprising, but it is still shocking.”

“A lot of the centres in the city feel institutionalized and that’s why people won’t go to them,”

“When you do see a homeless person, just go out and say, ‘Hey how are you doing today?’” said Hughes. “Acknowledge them, they are humans above everything else.”

“This Omicron wave hit us, and a lot of places had to reduce their capacity,” said Tessier.

On Jan. 10, 2022, CTV news published an article about a 74-year old homeless man who died in the freezing cold.

The news of this tragic death sparked up a lot of debate among Montrealers.

“It’s so sad and heartbreaking,” said Tessier in response to the news.

“This is ridiculous and tragic that this happened,” said James Hughes, the president and CEO of the Old Brewery Mission. “In many ways it shouldn’t be surprising, but it is still shocking.”

Hughes explained that the Old Brewery Mission – one of the largest resources for homeless people in Quebec – experienced a tough January this year.

Almost reaching full capacity, the shelter has been unable to accommodate as many as they would have liked. In order to do so, Hughes and his team had to turn to large soccer stadiums. During the period of Jan. 13 to Feb. 6, 2022, the Old Brewery Mission was set up at the State de soccer de Montréal. Since then they have been able to stabilize.

A lot of people that come to the Old Brewery Mission only seek their services and do not want to stay overnight, explained Hughes. “A lot of people just say no, I don’t want to stay here for a long time, I am just hungry and I want to warm up.”

“We expect [the unhoused people] to work with a counsellor and work on a housing plan,” said Hughes.

“We’re trying to reduce homelessness above everything else.”

Creating long-term housing plans is one of the main goals that The Open Door shelter works towards with their clients.

“We have an Inuit specific housing program. However, we only have 16 spots in that program,” said Tessier.

As a result, there is a long waiting list.

Projet Logement Montréal (PLM), a housing program that seeks to help house homeless people get apartments, recently made an offer to The Open Door in January 2022 to help support their clients with a more long-term housing plan. According to Tessier, the housing program offered The Open Door 25 spots for clients to join their program, so they could live in available apartments.

However, PLM is not a long-term housing solution. It helps unhoused people for up to three months, with their rent and utilities taken care of during that time. Afterwards, they are on their own.

“There is not enough funding to put people into long-term housing, and that is the main issue,” said Tessier. “If we had around 50 spots with the Inuit housing program that would be great, but since we don’t the waiting list gets long.”

According to Tessier, implementing a transitional house could be a potential solution. In the transitional housing, the unhoused people would have continuous support from the intervention workers until they have a stable living situation.

“A lot of the centres in the city feel institutionalized and that’s why people won’t go to them,” said Tessier. Most people that come through the shelter do not want to feel forced to adhere to a certain set of regulations. “They do not want to feel like they are in a jail or a hospital.”

Due to the various services that The Open Door offers, such as food and clothing, laundry services, shelter during the day, counselling, and referrals to professional mental health and drug addiction, more people tend to want more of those services.

For Shawn MacIsaac, a client and

volunteer at The Open Door, the shelter offers him options that he has not seen at others. “I was referred to The Open Door by a friend of mine, who was a full-time volunteer, and he told me that they offered only vegetarian meals, which was great for me because I am a vegetarian,” said MacIsaac.

The Open Door is staying afloat thanks to the volunteers who work there and the people in the Montreal community who make generous donations.

When Victoria Kalisky, a political science student at McGill University, first read the headline about the death of a homeless man outside in the cold, she was motivated to start a GoFundMe campaign. Kalisky wanted to raise money to help homeless people in Montreal gain better access to winter coats.

Since the beginning of January 2022, Kalisky has managed to donate over 150 winter jackets to The Open Door.

The shelter receives winter jackets that are lightly worn and second-hand, according to Tessier. However, receiving new, muchneeded winter gear hits differently.

“It is just a whole different feeling when we give someone something brand new with the tags still on it,” said Tessier. “The smiles that we see when we are able to give people that are amazing.”

“The secret to this type of work is building up trust and treating people as if they are family. We haven’t lost many workers here because when you walk away from this place, it’s like you are walking away from people you truly care about,” said Tessier.

Daphnée Dunleavy has worked as an intervention worker at the Open Door since August 2021. Central to their role, intervention workers provide guidance and support to the people inside the shelter. “I find it’s a really important experience because you are dealing with people who basically have nothing.”

At The Open Door, Dunleavy can be seen helping people around from her spot at the front desk. Clients come to her with their questions.

As Dunleavy works the front desk, MacIsaac volunteers at the breakfast service shift in the kitchen.

“I start at six in the morning, with the breakfast service, like today I made the oatmeal that we are serving,” MacIsaac explained.

Part of Dunleavy’s motivations for working at the shelter are to combat dehumanizing stereotypes of homeless people. When someone starts working at The Open Door, they begin to understand what kind of a community exists at the shelter, she explained. “Everyone knows each other, it’s really amazing.”

Hughes said that the best way to help one another during challenging times is by getting together in big groups, donating clothes, and starting food drives.

“When you do see a homeless person, just go out and say, ‘Hey how are you doing today?’” said Hughes. “Acknowledge them, they are humans above everything else.”

With spring around the corner, homelessness is still an ongoing issue.

“Homelessness doesn’t start in December and end in March,” said Hughes. “We need innovative solutions all the time.”

The smiles that we see when we are able to give people that are amazing.”

“The secret to this type of work is building up trust and treating people as if they are family. We haven’t lost many workers here because when you walk away from this place, it’s like you are walking away from people you truly care about,”

“They do not want to feel like they are in a jail or a hospital.”

“There is not enough funding to put people into long-term housing, and that is the main issue,” said Tessier. “If we had around 50 spots with the Inuit housing program that would be great, but since we don’t the waiting list gets long.

TUESDAY Mar. 15, 2022

The Concordian

Music

PHOTO AND STORY BY GUILLAUME LABERGE

Concert Review : Tyler, The Creator

Music Editor

After Montreal have been deprived of large arena concerts for the better half of three years, Tyler, The Creator and friends made up for lost time with an electrifying performance at Place Bell on March 9 for the Call Me If You Get Lost tour. Fresh off the release of his massively successful 2021 record of the same name, it was only right for Tyler to go around the world to perform his beloved hits.

Before seeing Tyler play his set, fans were lucky enough to have three opening acts, courtesy of Teezo Touchdown, Vince Staples, and Kali Uchis. As the first of four acts, Teezo really set the bar high for the performing artists to come with an energetic and highly interactive performance centered around a construction theme decor. Following him was Vince Staples, who despite having a catalogue to deliver an interesting performance, had next to no stage presence. While the songs themselves made up for the lackluster performance, he was still the least interesting act of the concert. Last opening act but not least Kali Uchis was magnificent.

She gave a sensual rendition of her material that saw her go back and forth between her biggest hits and her most recent Spanish cuts, all of which were executed graciously in both languages.

Now up to the showstopper. The stage was set to fit the luxurious vibe of Call Me If You Get Lost, fitted with a manor and balcony, a teal Rolls-Royce and even a boat

Tyler, The Creator lit up the Place Bell on Wednesday

Guillaume’s picks

On Repeat Listen to our latest recommendations here:

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While I was mostly busy listening to a new album a day for the past month for another piece, I still managed to find the time to listen to the hot singles that were being released.

With that said, here are three songs that have been “On Repeat” for me.

STRESSED CONWAY THE MACHINE This might be Conway’s most personal track to date, as he drops bar after bar about some of the most gut-wrenching events of his life, like the suicide of his cousin, or the death of his son. A truly captivating listen.

all make for such a feel-good experience.

HEAR ME CLEARLY (WITH NIGO) PUSHA T This aggressive cut from cokerap king Pusha T sees the MC in his bag with his usual cocaine references and luxurious one-liners over a killer instrumental.

Saro’s picks Lately, I have been finding myself going back to artists that I would listen to and see live back in 2019 — damn that was three years ago… Anyway, here are some singles that could fit your weekend vibe, courtesy of me!

THE LOOP TORO Y MOI

THE DRIPPING TAP KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD

This song feels like having a jam session with your friends. The smooth vocals mixed with this incredibly catchy bassline and the guitar solos at the end

Have you ever wanted to listen to an 18-minute song from a critically-acclaimed stoner acid band? This jammy single will make you melt into what-

which was fixed to the floor.

Tyler was using the props in really interesting ways, navigating to the other smaller stage with the various means of transportation. The Californian rapper began his set with a couple of tracks from Call Me If You Get Lost like “SIR BEAUDELAIRE,” “CORSO” and “LEMONHEAD.” He followed by touching every studio album in his discography, performing at least one song from each of them, delivering some of the strongest material from his 15 year career.

A thing that makes Tyler stand out from others is his flashy personality. It is a well known fact at this point that he is one of the funniest rappers in the industry. Whether he is cracking jokes, interacting with his fans, or even getting booed at, which is something he likes, he always manages to be entertaining even when he isn’t performing.

His stage presence is on another level and his good energy and solid dance moves play a significant role in why this man is such a captivating individual.

Tyler kept fans engaged from start to finish and the crowd’s passion and ardor were at peak form.

It was definitely special to see live music again and Tyler was the perfect candidate to remind us how great concerts are.

ever you’re sitting on (maybe) with its bubbly, mellow vocals and outback-esque rhythm. Uluru eat your heart out!

FOREVER STEREOPHONICS This song will take Stereophonics’ loyal fans back to their Performance And Cocktails album. Kelly Jones’ rough voice pierces through the song’s brit-pop guitar riff, reassuring listeners that they haven’t changed their style, and have rather merely adapted through the years.

OLIVE BRANCH ALANIS MORISSETTE Looking to reconcile with a friend or loved one to “reach out and make amends?” Well, look no further because the ’90s national treasure’s latest single will have you feeling like doing just that. A stripped song with just piano, strings, and the infamous Jagged Little Pill voice.

Music

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TUESDAY Mar. 15, 2022

A new album every day for a month:

how such a laborious challenge helped me grow as a music enthusiast While extremely fun to do, this undertaking truly gave me a hard time

BY GUILLAUME LABERGE | Music Editor

For the second year in a row, I decided to attempt a challenge that requires an extreme thirst and curiosity for discovering new music, a keen sense of attention to detail, and a lot of free time. It consists of listening to an album you’ve never heard before every day, for a whole month. Fortunately for me, the month of February is the shortest month of the year. While it still might sound like a lot considering albums are usually between 30 to 75 minutes long, trust me, it’s not just a lot — it’s way more than that.

Now you may be asking, “Guillaume, why are you doing this? What are you gaining from committing to such a time consuming challenge?” Well, there’s a lot to gain from this experience. The main reason I did this was to expand my music tastes and knowledge. I find that by forcing myself to listen to a full body of work every day that is completely different from the last, it helps me appreciate what every genre has to offer and what makes them stand out compared to others. I see this challenge as I would see a Christmas advent calendar, where every day you open a door to get a different chocolate or treat — in this case you “open the door” to discover a new album and experience it for the first time.

During the challenge, you will also most definitely discover a new artist or album you’ll love, which makes it exciting.

The albums that were selected for the challenge had to fit two important criteria. First of all, I wanted to include as much variety as possible. From jazz to metal and from the early 60’s to the late 2010’s, I wanted to cover as much musical ground as I could. Despite being all so different stylistically from one another, they all share a point in common, which is my second rule: all of these albums had to be considered classics by the music community within their respective genres and eras. During such a tough challenge like this, I was a lot more thrilled and motivated to complete it by listening to respected classics rather than listening to more obscure material, mostly because I know what I’m getting into.

I can’t say this challenge was a breeze for me, because it is never easy to incorporate such a time consuming activity into my already busy schedule, but what I can say is that I was definitely

successful in my quest to become a bigger music nerd. I won’t lie, some days were harder than others and I did a lot of catching up, especially towards the end of the challenge, but my struggles were mostly attributed to the fact that some days, I simply didn’t have the time. On top of that, while I was doing my challenge, artists were still releasing new music (how inconsiderate of them).

The new Beach House, Big Thief, and Conway the Machine albums all made it hard to focus on the older records I had to listen to for the challenge.

My top five favorite albums of the month consists of the following (this list is in no particular order):

CATHERINE REYNOLDS

A record that sees two of the greatest jazz musicians of all time come together for an incredibly smooth 34 minutes.

It’s a meeting of the minds for the ages.

Third Eye Blind by Third Eye Blind Paranoid by Black Sabbath This album is a pioneer in the hard rock and metal realm, the riffs and drumming fills are way ahead of their time and Ozzy Osbourne’s songwriting is in top form on this one.

This pop-rock record offers anything you would want from a 90’s album in the genre: infectious hooks, angsty lyrics, and banging instrumentals.

Funeral by Arcade Fire This album is so grandiose and powerful, it makes you feel like you could take over the world. Just an epic alternative rock experience.

While this challenge might seem scary at first, if you put in the time and effort, I guarantee you that the exposure to a large number of records in a short amount of time will most definitely expand your horizons and sharpen your curiosity as a music listener.

The Low End Theory by A Tribe Called Quest This is such a chill and laid back jazz rap album, it’s definitely for the vibers. This record is perfect to listen to while taking a walk outside.

Duke Ellington & John Coltrane, Self-titled

PIECES OF A MAN Gill Scott-Heron

GETS NEXT TO YOU by Al Green

FUNERAL Arcade Fire

DOOLITTLE by Pixies

BURY ME AT MAKEOUT CREEK Mitski

PURE COMEDY by Father John Misty

ELLIOT SMITH Elliot Smith

DUKE ELLINGTON & JOHN COLTRANE Duke Ellington/John Coltrane

SELECTED AMBIENT WORKS 85-92 by Aphex Twin

MELIORA Ghost

RUST IN PEACE by Megadeth

CONTRA by Vampire Weekend

THIRD EYE BLIND by Third Eye Blind

THE LOW END THEORY A Tribe Called Quest

LORD WILLIN’ by Clipse

SCHLAGENHEIM by black midi

HOMOGENIC by Bjork

SIAMESE DREAM The Smashing Pumpkins

PARAMORE by Paramore

YOU’RE DEAD! by Flying Lotus

THE GLOW PT.2 by The Microphones

PARANOID Black Sabbath LP1 FKA twigs ONE IN A MILLION Aaliyah

EVEN IN THE QUIETEST MOMENTS by Supertramp YES LAWD! by Nxworries AGE OF CONSENT by New Order HOUNDS OF LOVE by Kate Bush

Music

TUESDAY Mar. 15, 2022

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The Concordian The Spirit of the Beehive playing in 2016. PHOTOS BY NATHANIEL SALFI

Furnsss playing at Above the Bayou in May 2016.

Revisited: Teen Angst A look-back at my emo teen music and letting the feels rush in

BY LILY COWPER | Creative Director

We all go through phases. Some are more embarrassing than others, but they all play an equal part in shaping who we are now. To think of these phases musically, the curation of our own tastes over the years can be especially defining.

Call it an accidental reminiscence.

I was browsing through Spotify last month and came upon a playlist called “Alternative 80’s.” “Waiting Room,”

by Fugazi, was playing. Suddenly, after years of repression, I was taken back in time to age 16, when music filled every nook and cranny of my life.

I’d blocked it out for a long time. I moved into a long phase of passivity, listening to whatever random music I happened to stumble onto, including the radio, which in my angst phase was a sin worse than murder.

Then that damn Fugazi song played, and it all came back.

Shortly after freshman year started, I found myself involved with something called, “the scene.” Being punk (close

Me with friends circa 2016.

to) Washington DC then wasn’t so much about being part of a single genre like when it first started. That was a time which gave way to punk legends like Fugazi, then later, Dave Grohl, and by 2015 it was more of an established subculture of DIY. Diverse genres including punk, bedroom pop, lo-fi, alternative rock, hardcore (a subculture of its own), emo, math rock, and many others first came about, and later called it home.

It was hard to remember everything at first. All my favorites who were active during (2015-2017) either broke up or went AWOL in 2019. As soon as I dug deeper, though, every church basement, house show, and sweaty mosh pit came through crystal clear.

Pulling from memory, I could at least remember my very favorites: Forth Wanderers was one of them, who’s first EP Mahogany, 2014 album Tough Love (remember when Lorde tweeted it?!), and later EP Slop was playing for the majority of 2016 and 2017. Probably my favorite band of all time (RIP), Forth Wanderers was formed by three great musicians looking for a lead vocalist. Everything became whole when they came together.

Remembering that led me to remember my other favorite sing-alongs, like

Hop Along’s 2015 release Painted Shut.

If you’re suburban-rural bred like me and in need of some melancholy reminiscence, it will bring out everything heavy in you. Anyone into shows like Shameless and Twin Peaks, or any other malaise will find this album well. Palehound always had a similar effect on me, led by Ellen Kempner, whose voice and lyrics carry the same strength and attitude as Hop Along’s Frances Quinlan.

Also on repeat was Philly-based band LVL UP. Hardcore fans will be disappointed that this was about as angsty as I got — if you want something edgier check out Cold Foamers, Stove, Downtown Boys, or Spirit of the Beehive, but that’s as deep as I’m taking it.

LVL UP songs “Soft Power” or “Angel from Space,” both from their 2014 Hoodwink’d album, had these intense build-ups which did a good job transforming teen angst into pure elation.

Don’t limit LVL UP to your angsty moods though, they’re still the best medicine for any moment. “I Feel Extra-Natural” was my go-to for general sorrow, along with Clique’s “Lil T,” another fave, with major “oof” lyrics like “I’ve been thinking a lot / all the fights we had / and what they were about / I can’t even remember.” More uplifting is the classic Clique banger “Get By,” sure to be a hit the next time you find yourself among a group of angsty teens or, more likely, angsty nostalgic adults. The real angst party soundtrack, however, would be (RIP) Warehouse’s 2016 album Super low (can we agree that all the best music comes out of Atlanta?), whose timeless symphonies would also make great exercise companions.

We were all teens once. It may have been angst during the day, but at night it was all sorrow. Don’t lie. There was a lot of heartbreak, mostly from beginnings and endings that never actually played out in real life. We all had the music to help us get through it.

Some tracks made me fall in love, like Soccer Mommy’s 2015 EPs songs for the recently sad and songs from my bedroom (parts one and two). I can still remember every line, and some still make my heart skip: “I just want you in my life / kissing circles on my thighs / like you do” and “you’ve been spending all your time / living on the backside of my eyes” (both from songs from my bedroom pt.

2). Montrealers can see her perform at the Corona Theatre on March 30.

If Soccer Mommy was my teddy bear back then, Alex G was water. A master guitarist, lyricist and composer, his songs bench heavyweight somewhere

In between sets at Above the Bayou in May 2016.

between lullaby, emo, and indie folk.

Between the years 2011-2019, he was busier than anyone else I listened to, putting out over 24 releases, most of which were full-length albums. As one example out of many, “Thorns” from the 2015 Beach Music release tells a full story in one minute (first verse): “why would I lie / this thing / it haunts me like a shadow / never lets me go / he was cross / I knew how lost / I knew my way / oh, how I played him.”

As I discovered more, I saw every memory attached like a supernatural vision, unearthing old feelings of anger, sadness, grief, and happiness that hadn’t been touched in so long.

It was like opening a time machine.

Other icons from that time including Furnsss, Clique, The Obsessives, Snail Mail, Foozle, Swings, Tall Friend, Shya, Horse Jumper of Love, and Brittle Brian, all of whom bring back all the car trips, late night diners, Fort Reno sunsets, and concerts that made my teen life worth remembering. Each song is a roll of film, vine artistry, finsta post, revealing all the beauty I had wanted to forget.

My teen phase wasn’t just an awesome time for music, it was an awesome time in general. It was a time of intense feelings and discovery. What I found was that even if you’re 22 and permanently jaded, your teenage self is still there.

Just hit play on that old playlist and you’ll remember who they really were.

PHOTOS BY NATHANIEL SALFI OF BLEARY EYED, LISTEN AT BLEARYEYED.BANDCAMP.COM

The Concordian

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BOOKS

Arts

TUESDAY Mar. 15, 2022

Things dipped in gold never grow How the depictions of women in classic literature perpetuate harmful stereotypes that persist today

BY BRIANNA MACNEIL | Contributor

John Steinbeck, J.D. Salinger, F. Scott Fitzgerald. You don’t have to be an English buff to recognize these prominent names in classic literature. These authors have written some of the most highly acclaimed novels, contributing tales heralded as timeless that still permeate the fabric of academia today. Their work has been coated in gold on account of their many accolades, rendering their words in certain circles as immortal, unchanging — which can be dangerous. This is especially true concerning outdated stereotypes of women in these books, which were written by men roughly eighty years ago. These stereotypes uphold archaic ideas of women like a massive golden statue that towers over modern women. These female figures stay the same while the world changes around them. Singer-songwriter, Jhené Aiko, said it best: “if everything is dipped in gold, then baby it will never grow.”

The inaccurate depictions of women in classic literature might not be so alarming if it wasn’t for the surviving stereotypes that actively challenge women to this day. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is a world-famous novella taught in nearly every high school English class.

The themes of racism and misogyny are not the main focal points of the tale but may very well rest in the subliminal consciousness of its readers. The way Steinbeck writes Curley’s wife is comparable to how individuals on social media, news platforms and podcasts have spoken about countless sexual assault victims. The wife is described as being dolled up to provoke male attention, and she is all-too inclined to give men “the eye.” The story ends with one of the male characters murdering her by snapping her neck, with the witnessing men instinctively attaching blame to the wife, the victim, despite her repeated protest.

Looking over her frail, helpless body they shoot her a final sneer: “You God damn tramp [...] you done it.” Of course, the circumstances are not a direct reflection of how we respond to sexual assault victims today, however it does feel eerily familiar to the accursed response

of “Well, what was she wearing?” that is heard far too often in the media.

The Catcher in the Rye, the cult classic written by J.D. Salinger, is another example of how beautifully written classics can perpetuate misogynistic undertones on account of their notoriety. The main character, Holden Caulfield, has a view of women so sexist it rivals that of American Psycho’s Patrick Bateman — satire excluded. Every woman he encounters is subjected to his sexuality, and he quickly analyzes all the ways in which women are ridiculous, attractive (or not), and thus he concludes how much value she has. Even his ideal love interest Jane Gallagher is not exempt from his stringent criticism, despite Holden’s alleged respect for her. He overtly affirms his belief that “most girls are so dumb and all,” but it seems intelligence is not much of a substantial factor in his pursuit of women. His ultimate concern with women is as deep as a teaspoon; he is a self-proclaimed “sex maniac” who does not even need to like the women he “courts,” to put it politely.

Not all representations of women are as vulgar, name-calling or carnal in nature as Salinger and Steinbeck illustrate. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s opulent classic The Great Gatsby characterizes a more subtle but equally offensive stereotype. Tom Buchanan, the burly and violent elitist, has two love interests.

His wife, the soft-spoken and romantic Daisy, and his mistress, the seductive and provocative Myrtle. These two women are emblematic of what we know today as the “madonna-whore complex.”

Daisy and Myrtle serve as foil characters, complete opposites that promote a binary archetype that women fall into.

While one represents the “ideal” female form to be virginal, innocent and docile, the other represents the fallen woman.

She embodies loose morality, temptation and impurity. The greater implications of these stereotypes is that it revokes women’s personhood, confining them to negative or weak impressions.

I am in no way condemning classic literature for not passing the Bechdel Test. This feminist criteria for proper representation of women in fiction is about 10 social eons ahead of these early

20th century texts. It would be irrational to judge historical authors based on standards developed nearly a century after their making. I do, however, believe it is imperative to critique the ideas perpetuated in the literature that we read, especially when they are being assigned to impressionable minds in high school and college. With the right analysis of these outdated themes, we can remove the harm of these representations and turn them into a useful learning tool.

ART EVENT ROUNDUP: March

TUESDAY Mar. 15, 2022 EXHIBITION

Arts

reality of individuals who struggle with hearing disabilities, allowing visitors to experience to a degree what these individuals go through.

The artists also play with the idea and necessity of captions “Captions are broadly considered an obligatory add-on or even an aesthetic annoy+ance,” reads the description of the work.

All the time, created

by Zavitsanos, also plays with words on screens.

The work engages with the physical presence of users. On the bottom of a large screen, two texts are projected simultaneously. When seen together, they are hard to distinguish. But when visitors approach the screen, the system adapts the projection so that only one layer of text appears, making it readable.

The duo exhibition plays with the audience’s perceptions Guimond related this work about holograms to reflect on the place of disability in the arts to the larger theme of the exhibition, explainBY VÉRONIQUE MORIN which the artists link with the reality ing that, “when you split Assistant Arts Editor of individuals living with disabilities. a hologram, you’re not creating two Guimond explained that the gallery halves, you’re actually doubling. So Artists Amalle Dublon and Constan- was first interested in Dublon and Zavit- by taking away, you’re making more.” tina Zavitsanos come together in Dazi- sanos’ collaborative work titled April “This relates to people with different bao art gallery’s current exhibition, 4, 1980. The audio-visual creation is abilities, whose lives depend on more Flux Incapacitor. The show features presented on a screen at the entrance care or different devices..[...] So this is collaborative works as well as indi- of the gallery. When putting head- where the theory of debt comes in: it’s not vidual creations from both artists. phones on, viewers hear a robotic by needing more care [that] you create Emma-Kate Guimond, coordinator of voice. Because the voice is garbled and a debt, by needing more care you’re exhibitions and special projects for Dazi- difficult to understand, the captions generating care,” added Guimond. bao, described the show’s main theme projected on the screen become essenPlaced at the end of the gallery, as “the creation of abundance.” This tial in their understanding of the work. Zavitsanos’ Girl there’s a better life is idea relates to notions of dependency The dependence on the words being another screen projection. The video and debt explored in the exhibition, displayed on the screen emulates the features two texts overlayed on top of The Flux Incapacitor Exhibit, showing until April 2. COURTESY CONSTANTINA ZAVITSANOS

Words and projections at the Dazibao art gallery

13 each other. New symbols compose the resulting image, creating a hypnotizing experience. During the projection, the images evolve, becoming out of focus at times, with a blue background suddenly appearing behind the transformed words. Headphones made available to visitors play cheerful songs during the video. The marriage of a familiar music beat with intriguing visuals creates a new language that misleads the viewer’s senses and offers a unique experience.

A piece created exclusively for the exhibition, Known Donor Agreement by Dublon and Jordan Lord, is a revisited version of a sperm donation contract. Visitors can read the contract on paper and listen to it through headphones. The work explores notions of mutual consent and care through reflections on friendship, connection, and parenthood. The sensitivity and openness transmitted through the work adds to the reflections enabled by the other artworks in the space.

Guimond described Dazibao’s mission as “to disseminate and present contemporary image-based practices that deal with issues of social importance.” For her, Flux Incapacitor totally fits into this mission, as it delves into reflections about disabilities and their representation in the arts.

Dublon and Zavitsanos’ innovative approach to the themes of abundance and debt shed light on the necessary theme of inclusion and accessibility.

The gallery’s website features La Viewing Room, a page presenting the texts from the exhibition as well as background information about the artists’ past works and studies. This initiative allows the public to deepen their knowledge of the context behind the art pieces.

FLUX INCAPACITOR IS PRESENTED AT DAZIBAO ART GALLERY, LOCATED AT 5455 DE GASPÉ AVE., UNTIL APRIL 2.

FILM

Licorice Pizza

in life, and so the crux of the film becomes determining the true nature of Gary and Alana’s feelings for one another. However, An otherwise endearing story in my watching of the film, misses the mark at depicting I ultimately became most concerned with determincomplex women ing the nature of its relationship with women.

BY LOLA CARDONA | Staff Writer In several scenes, Alana loses her agency and autonomy to the whims of In director Paul Thomas Ander- men, both willingly and unwillingly. son’s latest film, an ambitious teenage In one scene, Jon Peters (Bradley boy meets a young woman who is still Cooper) leans over her as she drives a figuring her life out. The teenager, Gary truck, attempting to “help” her pass a Valentine (Cooper Hoffman) tries to ask car on a narrow lane, getting uncomAlana Kane (Alana Haim) out, but she fortably close to her face. In another, rejects him for good reason: she claims Gary is tempted to touch Alana while to be 25, a good 10 years Gary’s senior, she sleeps, but he doesn’t give in. Other but she’s known to lie. What follows, times, Alana willingly sexualizes or however, is a rocky but heartfelt friend- exposes herself for the attention or valiship as the two come of age in 1970s Los dation of her male peers. There is an odd Angeles. There is no strong plot to speak trend of Alana seeking the validation of. The central conflict comes from the of the boys and men around her. This highs and lows of Gary and Alana’s isn’t to say that no female character can friendship, one that is riddled with jeal- ever have this trait, especially considousy despite the agreement that their ering it happens frequently in reality, relationship is platonic and professional. but the difference in how she and Gary Gary and Alana’s banter and the clash are represented leaves a bitter taste in of their personalities propel the story my mouth. Gary’s inner life is rich. He’s forward. As they get to know each other goal-oriented, confident, and always on and learn more about themselves in the the lookout for a new business venture. process, the audience is on the journey He feels strongly about Alana and enjoys with them, and comedic scenes keep her company, but he doesn’t rely on her viewers engaged. But at the end of the validation and attention the way she day, Licorice Pizza exists for the audi- relies on his. There are moments when ence to spend time with the characters he is jealous of the attention she receives without the rules of a classic film narra- from other men, but he never has to be tive. Changes come and go, as they do as physically vulnerable as she does.

Alana can be endearing because of her relatability as a young woman who is unsure of her future, spending her time with friends to pass the days. Gary can be endearing because of his strong ambition and his dedication for her. But the way Alana is written as needing male validation with no arc that allows her to seek validation inwards makes her character feel incomplete. In other words, Alana feels like a victim of the male gaze, in that she only exists to do something for the men on screen, behind the camera, and in the audience, rather than existing as a complex character in her own right.

Ultimately, my feelings towards the

film are mixed. Women can be insecure and flawed, and deserve to be represented as much as confident, strong women are. Alana is all these things, but her womanhood is tied so much to the men around her, it makes it hard to fully enjoy the film as a slice-of-life, character piece. That said, each character had a distinct essence to them, with their individualized quirks and personalities. The film deals with themes of growth, unrequited feelings, and friendship, all of which make for a lovely coming-of-age tale. But ultimately, the male gaze (as well as some racist jokes), get in the way.

A still from Licorice Pizz, a new movie directed by Paul Thomas Anderson.

The Concordian

14

CLIMBING

Sports A conversation with recordbreaking mountaineer Monique Richard

The Quebec alpinist has summited many peaks, including her recordbreaking climb on Mount Logan in 2018

BY ASHLEY FISH-ROBERTSON Arts Editor

In 2009, during a trip to the Mediterranean island of Corsica, mountaineer Monique Richard found her calling: exploring the untamed beauty of mountains. Following the trip, Richard was consumed by the desire to summit some of the world’s highest peaks, beginning with Africa’s Mount Kilimanjaro. It wasn’t long before the Quebec mountaineer decided to immerse herself in training for the Seven Summits challenge, where she would eventually reach the world’s highest peaks.

The Seven Summits challenge consists of climbing the highest mountain in each of the seven continents. In 2014, Richard broke her first record: she became the first Canadian woman to summit Nepal’s Makalu, the world’s fifth highest mountain. In 2018, Richard broke another major record, becoming the first woman to ever reach the summit of Canada’s Mount Logan on a solo expedition.

As of late, the alpinist has taken some time off from climbing, preparing and training for future expeditions, as well as hosting motivational conferences. Richard sat down with The Concordian to discuss her passion for high-altitude adventures, how she overcomes adversity, preparing for solo climbs, and more.

The Concordian: What initially ignited your passion for climbing?

Monique Richard: My love at first sight for the vertical world was during the GR20 hike in Corsica, reputed to be one of the most difficult in Europe.

Then, my first high altitude experience, on Kilimanjaro.

After looking at the sun rise above the clouds on the summit of Africa, I was hooked! Kilimanjaro was the first in my quest [to complete] the Seven Summits from seven continents […] culminating with Mount Everest in 2012.

TC: As an alpinist, what’s been the biggest challenge that you’ve had to overcome?

MR: From a mountaineering point of view, I would say my Mount Logan solo ascent in 2018. The remoteness, the hostile conditions, the solitude and isolation made this trip the most challenging climb I’ve done so far. From a human point of view, it was the death of my dearest friend Arvid Lahti in 2015 on Mount Rainier after reaching the summit together.

TC: Can you talk to me a bit about your 2018 climb, where you were the first woman to summit Mount Logan solo? How did this major achievement impact your future expeditions?

MR: More than any other expedition, my Mount Logan solo ascent remains the one that has marked me the most during my mountaineering journey.

Beyond the seven peaks, or the mountains of the Himalayas, Logan is the jewel of my expe-

ditions, and it represents my biggest challenge.

First of all, because of the extremely hostile conditions on Logan: the altitude being 5,959 metres, the temperature being Siberian cold, storms (one of them immobilized me in my tent for six days), avalanche risks, white outs, and crevices.

And above all, because in addition to being solo, I had the luck, or bad luck, of being practically alone on the mountain.

I was 100 per cent in charge of all aspects of the expedition, including orientation, camp construction, and meals.

This solo expedition really placed me in unique conditions that allowed me to live an unprecedented experience alone, facing this huge mountain, and facing myself, my dream, my doubts, my impulses, my fears, and of course, my past and the tragedy on Mount Rainier in 2015.

prepare] all the regular mountaineering gear, with some adaptations: a tent for the lower altitude camps and an ultra light bivouac shelter for the high camps. I also bring my 8,000 metre boots because I expect extremely low temperatures.

For logistical preparations, I need to organize a support team of two: an expedition manager, and a router/weather forecaster.

TC: Can you talk to me about mentally preparing for a climb, especially a solo one? How do you get into the right headspace before your ascent?

MR: Mental preparation is essential in any expedition but especially in the case of a solo.

My mental preparation allows me to anticipate and envision various situations I might encounter during the solo climb.

Since I attempted to climb Logan with a partner in 2017, when we managed to reach a high point on the mountain, it allowed me to become familiar

TUESDAY Mar. 15, 2022

with the route. With supporting photos and maps, I spent time visualizing the various sections of the route, the potential hazards, and picturing myself [climbing] solo in this environment. But I did not expect to not only be solo, but also to be almost alone on the mountain. This was quite an experience, and although it added to the challenge and the fear, I felt so privileged to experience this unique opportunity, alone on Canada’s highest peak.

TC: Do you ever envision yourself writing a book about your adventures in the future?

MR: It’s a project I’ve been working on for many years.

The pandemic has been an opportunity for introspection and reflection, and I’ve started working on my project to write a story about my Mount Logan solo [climb], which will also include my other adventures.

My friend Arvid made me promise to one day write a story of my adventures in the mountains, and I intend to fulfill that promise!

TC: What have your expeditions taught you about yourself, especially in regards to overcoming adversity?

MR: I learned to never take anything for granted. Always question, doubt, evaluate, adjust, and accept what needs to be, without wanting to control events or nature, and even sometimes, let go! It’s part of life. It’s good to reach the summit, but the path to it has much more impact on us and is more enriching on a personal level.

TC: How do you prepare for a solo climb?

MR: For physical preparation, I train four or five times per week. Usually at 5:30 a.m. for an hour and a half to two hours, with weights and cardio.

For material preparation, [I

Montrealer Monique Richard (Above) was the first woman to summit Mount Logan in 2018. COURTESY MONIQUE RICHARD

TUESDAY Mar. 15, 2022

Sports The Concordian

15 YOUTUBERS

The lifestyles and journeys of YouTube sports content creators

Content creators share what their daily lives look like.

BY MARIA BOUABDO Assistant Sports Editor

A common theme in YouTube success stories is the unexpectedness of it all. A lot of sports content creators start making videos as a hobby because they like a sport or a team, but almost none think it will lead to making sports content full-time.

Shannon Skanes, from the Vancouver area, started his YouTube channel “The Hockey Guy” in 2015. He started making vlogs, until one day when he decided to make a video predicting who would win in the first round of the 2015 playoffs.

As time went on, Skanes decided to start making content about the NHL in general, as many similar YouTubers would usually only talk about their favourite team.

Nathan “Grav” Murdock, from Dallas, Texas, started uploading videos on his channel “Graviteh” in March 2017. He started making MLB videos, but when the season ended in September and the hockey season started, he decided to branch out his content. By the end of that year, his channel focused entirely on hockey.

“I was 14, I was just making it for the sake of making it, and thankfully, it’s turned out pretty well,” Murdock said, with four Dallas Stars jerseys hanging on the wall behind him.

“It’s one of those things where I feel like most people that find some success aren’t truly expecting it to work out.”

He switched to making content fulltime in 2019, around the trade deadline, the playoffs, and especially the draft.

“That’s when the whole thing started to become a lot more [of a] reality,” Murdock said. “And I started to take it a lot more seriously.”

Earlier this year in January, Murdock joined Sportsnet, for whom he now makes content on top of making videos for his own YouTube channel.

Skanes also switched from making videos as a hobby to full-time in his

can cause creative blocks, but both Skanes and Murdock have come up with ways to overcome them.

Murdock said he likes to look at old ideas he has worked on and expand on them or make a variation, like for ranking videos.

Skanes usually likes to make videos that are fun for him, whether it’s about a “horrible season a team had in the ’90s,” or uploading a video on his other channel, “The Entertainment Guy,” about a movie or a show he just watched.

Another part of being a content creator is MAD sponsorship offers.

ELIN E SC HMID Oddly enough, both T Skanes and Murdock have received more offers to do ads third year on YouTube, in April 2018. for makeup, jewelry, and mobile “What happened was the channel was games than for hockey products. growing, and it was getting to the point “I’m not doing a makeup tutorial. It’s where if I worked my regular job, I actu- just not happening. I don’t even know ally made less that day than I did if I how I would work that in. Do I work just made YouTube videos that day,” that into a news video?” he laughed, he explained, adding that he had to quit adding that he wouldn’t get paid if his job to be able to cover the playoffs. the ad was done in a sarcastic way.

Although Skanes and Murdock They have both only ever had a b o t h c o v e r h o c k e y , t h e i r few hockey-related deals. Murdock routines are pretty different. has done an ad for the Topps Skate Skanes wakes up every day at around app, and Skanes has had deals with 7-8 a.m. He starts by working on game Bench Clearers and Ben H Sports preview videos and news videos. Then, on eBay. It’s important for them to throughout the day, he moderates the have sponsors that fit their channels. comments section on his channel to They also both said they don’t take prevent it from getting toxic. He keeps any part of their journey and success an eye on Twitter during the day, as well for granted. Murdock said that being as a few other sites, to know whenever a part of Sportsnet is still a “huge something happens in the hockey world. deal” for him. “Hopefully, it lasts “If there’s a trade and I’m not paying forever. But for as long as it lasts, attention and watching a movie, I will I’m happy to be here,” he added. have at least 15 messages between “If I ever take it for granted, that’s Facebook, emails, Discord… There’ll when I know I’m in trouble,” Skanes be messages everywhere, so I have to said. “It’s like a dream job for me. So make sure I’m on it and I get a video I have to make sure that I maintain done,” he said standing in front of that same level of work ethic and that his whiteboard, ready to be filled I don’t take it easy and decide ‘well, out for the review video of the day. I’ve made it’ because as soon as I do During the offseason, Skanes can that, then I’m pretty much hooped.” have a specific schedule, but it’s harder during the season since no one knows what’s going to happen from one day to another. But he always makes sure he has time set aside for the games to be able to do review videos. Stingers basketball teams On the other hand, Murdock wakes will face McGill to end up at around 9-10 a.m. He starts filmregular season ing his daily video, which usually takes him until 11 a.m. He then does Following a week-long hiatus, the the editing and thumbnail, and by the Stingers men’s basketball team will time he puts in the titles and final- attempt to spoil McGill’s hopes at an izes the video, he can upload it at 3:05 undefeated season on the road at 6 p.m., which has become the time at p.m. on Thursday. The George Lengvari which he always uploads his videos, Cup will take place at McGill’s Currie though he’s not sure how it started. Gymnasium and will feature the two He also watches the games every best teams in the conference. McGill night, and once they’re done he starts and Concordia will play again on Saturcultivating ideas for the next day. day afternoon at the Concordia Stadium.

Murdock usually tries to make The women’s basketball teams will two to three videos every week also compete in consecutive matchfor Sportsnet, and three to four ups this week. The Stingers are tied on his channel, while Skanes for the top seed in the RSEQ, while uploads multiple videos every day. McGill will be looking to win their Making a lot of content frequently first game of the season on Thursday.

THE BUZZ The latest news in Concordia athletics

BY LIAM SHARP | Sports Editor

Upcoming playoff hockey schedule The Concordia Stingers men’s hockey team will face the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks in the OUA East quarterfinals at the Ed Meagher Arena on Wednesday. The Stingers finished the 2021-22 regular season with a 9-5-1 record after their final game against the Carleton Ravens on Mar. 12 was cancelled.

The women’s hockey team will compete against the McGill Martlets in a best-of-three RSEQ finals matchup throughout the week. Game 1 will take place at the McConnell Arena on Thursday, Game 2 will be held at the Ed Meagher Arena on Saturday, and if Game 3 is needed, the Stingers will have to win on the road. The finals were originally scheduled for last week but the series was postponed for health and safety precautions.

Six Stingers make RSEQ women’s hockey all-star teams Both fifth-year veterans Stéphanie Lalancette and Brigitte Laganière had exceptional years, earning first all-star team honours for the 202122 season. Lalancette led the Stingers in scoring and finished third in the conference with 21 points in 15 games. Laganière is now a three-time all-star, having also been selected to the first all-star team in 2020, and the second team in 2017. She had another standout season for the Stingers, amassing 17 points in 15 games.

Stingers forwards Rosalie BéginCyr, Audrey Belzile, and Marie-Pascale Bernier were selected to the second all-star team. Fourth-year goaltender Alice Philbert made her all-star debut, recording four shutouts during the season. She is the first Stinger netminder to earn an all-star recognition since 2015.

Women’s hockey head coach Julie Chu named RSEQ Coach of the Year Chu led the Stingers to an 11-3-1 record in the regular season, finishing second in the conference. Concordia hasn’t lost a game since their Nov. 26 loss to Montreal, and have outscored their opponents 40-6 during their eight-game winning streak. Chu is a three-time recipient of the award, having earned the honour in 2016-17 and 2019-20.

Veteran defensewoman Brigitte Laganière was the recipient of the RSEQ Leadership and Community Engagement award, and first-year forward Émilie Lavoie was named the conference’s Rookie of the Year.

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