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all our readers and clients. The Daily returns January 12th Au nom du bureau publicitaire de la SPD, joyeuses et paisibles fêtes à tous nos lecteurs et clients. Le Délit reviendra le 17 janvier The McGill Daily & Le Délit | 2011.11.28 3

ACTUALITÉS CURRENT EVENTS TAs avoid strike McGill accedes to three of union’s five demands, but hours will not be increased

Michael Lee-Murphy Lerona Lewis, AGSEM presi- McGill’s version of the article read: TA hours relative to student enrolment 4.1% The McGill Daily dent, said that the administration’s “the hiring unit shall make every effort to couch a pay increase in effort to maintain adequate teaching “changes” to statutory holiday pay- support for undergraduate courses 3.0% or the first time in their ment was a “ploy...so that it doesn’t by such means as utilizing Teaching 4.5% history, McGill’s Teaching appear that it is actually a 3 per Assistants, or the equivalent in accord 4.3% Assistants (TAs) have signed cent increase in pay [in the con- with established practices.” F 3.1% a new collective agreement with- tract’s first year], simply to justify The administration agreed to 1.7% out going on strike. that they don’t have any money.” AGSEM’s version, which changed 1.5% In a General Assembly last “The bottom line is that there “maintain” to “improve,” and delet- Thursday, the TA unit of the was an increase... The way you ed the clause regarding the “equiva- 11.6% Association of Graduate Students present your arguments or you lent” of TAs. Employed at McGill (AGSEM) frame it, the University can do it to The administration has refused, voted overwhelmingly in favour suit their agenda, but the bottom however, to make a commitment to TA hours = of ratifying the contract offer in a line is that we know there was an increasing the number of hours TAs -12.9% Undergrad enrolment = vote of 97 to 26, or 77 per cent. increase,” she added. are able to teach, a major defeat for data 2007 to relative Numbers Of the five primary demands After five months of negotiations some AGSEM members. Grad enrolment = the union was seeking, McGill, in – and an initial rejected offer – the Biology TA Justin Marleau spoke large part, acceded to three – a pay administration presented AGSEM to The Daily immediately after vot- raise for TAs of 7.3 per cent across with a second offer on November 18. ing, saying he was disappointed in three years, paid training, and The administration had previously the contract. “We didn’t get any multiple mandatory meetings with rejected all of the TAs’ main demands, commitment about the stabiliza- 2007 2008 2009 2010 course supervisors. precipitating the union’s use of various tion of TA hours... After we got the The hourly wage for TAs will pressure tactics over the last month. pay increases in the last bargain- increase from $24.99 this year to Last Thursday’s ‘yes’ vote means ing agreement, they just cut our $27 TA hourly wage $25.51 in January 2012, $26.51 in that TAs will not strike this spring. hours,” he said. $26.51 $26.63 2013, and $26.83 in the final year of In addition to new mandated Dominique Jacques, an $25.74 the contract. meetings with course supervisors Atmospheric Sciences TA, said $25 In response to the union’s and the wage increase, TAs will that, without increased hours, $24.99 demand for a nine per cent wage also have access to a three-hour anything else was “very little in $24.15 increase across three years, McGill paid training session, offered in terms of gains.” $23 $23.44 had initially offered 3.6 per cent September and January. Article 22, for Jacques, was across the length of the contract. The sessions will cover the plan- “complete bullcrap. It’s words that $22.76 * 1.2 per cent, plus “statutory ning of effective discussions, grad- mean nothing.” Michael Di Grappa, Vice-Principal $21 holiday compensation” (Administration & Finance), main- ing in humanities and sciences, Molly Alexander, AGSEM’s advi- tained that the increase in hourly preparing lectures, and grading and sor from the academic department wage did not amount to 7.3 per cent feedback in French. of the Confédération des syndicats 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012* 2013* 2014* over three years, but was instead the In the week leading up to the nationaux, said that the clause “sets original 3.6 per cent offer, in addition vote, the AGSEM executive exten- [AGSEM] up for the next round” of to “changes in the way TAs will be sively discussed one new addition negotiations, while acknowledging Sources: AGSEM collective agreement, McGill Enrolment Services. compensated for their paid holidays.” to the contract: Article 22. that it had no binding power. Alyssa Favreau | The McGill Daily Occupy Montreal comes to an end Montreal police clear Square Victoria over five weeks after occupation began

Chantelle D'Souza square, and prohibiting them from only major altercation between News Writer occupying the square from midnight police and protestors occurred to 6 a.m., citing various city bylaws. when a group, codenamed “Steve,” While some protestors seemed peacefully tied themselves to the fter over five weeks of protest, confused about what exactly was on-site kitchen tent and refused to the Occupy Montreal move- going to happen, most planned on leave. “Steve,” along with dozens of A ment in Square Victoria – cooperating. occupiers who stood outside of the which occupiers had renamed Place “We are leaving this place on police line, chanted various protest du Peuple – has ended, as the Service good terms,” said Greg Adams, a slogans, the most popular being de police de la Ville de Montréal protestor who was still living on “We are the 99 per cent. You are the (SPVM) moved in early Friday morn- site as of early Friday morning. “We 99 per cent.” ing to dismantle the remaining tents. have our heads held high, a song on The group was cut loose from While no arrests were made, 16 pro- our lips and joy in our heart.” the tent and escorted off the prem- testors were escorted out of the park At 9 a.m. Friday morning, crowds ises by police officers, who had the after tying themselves to the onsite of police officers stopped traffic and square completely cleared by noon. kitchen tent. cordoned off the area surrounding When asked how he felt about Signals that the occupation was the park. They proceeded to dis- relations with the police officers, Victor Tangermann | The McGill Daily ending came earlier in the week, as mantle the remaining tents, despite one anonymous protestor, who had City workers remove the remains of Occupy Montreal. the City of Montreal changed its atti- jeering and chants of protestors. City been living in the camp for the past tude towards the movement. City workers gathered the remains of the four weeks, replied, “I only got one police and they didn’t have to resort packed up his tent. “This is just the spokesperson Gonzalo Nunez issued site, and material that was deemed hug, so I’m a little disappointed, but to force,” he said. physical part of the movement. The a statement last Wednesday night reusable was put into storage, from not dismayed.” Despite eviction, protestors mental and spiritual part is still there.” saying that “the period of tolerance which people could retrieve their SPVM Sergeant Laurent Gingras seemed to agree that the movement Occupiers planned to hold a is over.” Protestors were then given belongings starting next Tuesday. said in French that the operation is far from over. protest last Saturday afternoon, warnings by the City instructing them The atmosphere of the eviction went well. “There was a good col- “The occupation is symbolic,” where they would discuss the to remove all “installations” from the remained largely peaceful, as the laboration between the people and said protestor Pierluc Benson as he future of the movement. 4 The McGill Daily & Le Délit | 2011.11.28

CURRENT EVENTS ACTUALITÉS MUNACA supporters interrupt Principal’s speech Munroe-Blum discusses McGill’s importance to Quebec economy

Jessica Lukawiecki of the building by security. gram – which included raising MBA supporters around the room. healthy civil society,” she added. The McGill Daily Over 100 MUNACA strikers picketed tuition from just over $2,000 per year Referring to current difficulties Referring to a report that was outside of the Sheraton Centre on René- in 2009 to $32,500 this academic year. being experienced by the global released at the lunch by SECOR – a Lévesque Ouest during the lunch. “It is in our interest that we economy, Munroe-Blum stated in Canada-based international stra- hile Principal Heather According to MUNACA VP project internationally the quality French that McGill, too, experienc- tegic management consulting firm Munroe-Blum spoke to Finance David Kalant, who was of training that we can provide. In es “highs and lows, as is evident.” – titled “Driving Excellence and W some of Montreal’s big- picketing outside, “[MUNACA] is doing what we did with the MBA “In such circumstances, it is good Prosperity in Quebec,” Munroe- gest corporate stakeholders about here to send [Munroe-Blum] the program, we did just that, and I to look back and consider every- Blum stated that McGill’s “educa- McGill’s continuing impact on message that we’re still on strike – congratulate McGill and Heather thing we’ve achieved. Fifty years ago, tion and training of highly skilled Quebec, MUNACA strikers sought she’s talking all about community at Munroe-Blum,” he said. Quebec did not have an organized people” increases Quebec’s pro- to make an impact of their own. McGill, and we’re part of it, but right Munroe-Blum, who delivered her post-secondary education system... ductivity by nearly one billion dol- The lunch and talk, which was now we’re not really part of it.” speech in both French and English, Today Quebec has an exceptional lars each year. hosted by the Board of Trade of Munroe-Blum sat at a table of hon- covered topics such as McGill’s under- university system,” she said. Kalant spoke to The Daily after Metropolitan Montreal, centred our with other guests, including the funding, competition with other “Our economy is only as strong as the event, explaining that the around “McGill’s heritage and its chair of McGill’s Board of Governors universities and countries, and the our education system, and that sys- protests, both in and outside of ongoing impact on the province Stuart Cobbett, and editor-in-chief of strength of the McGill community. tem is only as strong as the people the building, had been planned of Quebec, the role of universities, the Montreal Gazette Alan Allnutt. Minutes into her speech, one who support it,” she said. “Students, throughout the week prior. research, and graduate diplomas Michel Leblanc, CEO and presi- MUNACA supporter stood and their families, employers who know Although he did not know how the as wealth drivers in our society,” dent of the Board of Trade, opened yelled, “Heather Munroe-Blum, the importance of an educated work message was received, Kalant explained according to a press release. the lunch by explaining in French is this leadership? Sending in riot force, and generous visionary com- that, “the point being, the message was Eight MUNACA supporters, who that schools, such as McGill, are police to your campus. I was there munity leaders must support our uni- received. We got our message through.” individually rose from tables around “part of the wealth of Montreal.” that night on November 10. Is that versities, along with stable, effective, Kalant confirmed that the the room to condemn the actions In speaking about the importance your idea of community?” predictable, government support.” MUNACA supporters who spoke of the Principal – crying out “shame of financing universities, Leblanc Munroe-Blum continued her “When you are investing in edu- out at the lunch were free to leave on McGill” and “please resolve the pointed out McGill’s role as a leader speech despite being interrupted cation, you are investing in your without consequence after being strike” – were quickly escorted out in its recent changes to the MBA pro- every few minutes by similar union economy...you are investing in escorted out of the building. Prince Arthur Herald staff resign over controversial article

Henry Gass Comprehensive Counseling Services student-run online newspaper James said the article was one of “I think my job in retrospect, or The McGill Daily in West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania based at McGill. According to several reasons he quit. what I was doing most importantly, – and originally published on mer- its statement of principles, “Our “When I brought it up to the was keeping the crazies at bay, and catornet.com, argued the damag- authorship shall reflect freedom company in terms of my opposition when I left, the floodgates broke our editors and about ten writ- ing social and psychological effects of expression, and vigorous, open, towards it, they defended it with the loose,” McRobie continued. ers have left the Prince Arthur that children raised by same-sex intellectual debate. We will pride concept of free speech and no censor- The Herald has not removed the FHerald after the November 18 couples could suffer. Mercatornet. ourselves on hearing all sides, ship – which I 100 per cent agree with article nor has the editorial board publication of an article criticizing com describes Fitzgibbons as having cherishing intelligent and well- – but the fact of the matter is that the acknowledged any of the resignations adoption by same-sex couples. practiced psychiatry for 35 years. informed dialogue.” article was, I thought, poorly written, on its site. A “Letters to the Editor” The article, written by The Herald, almost a year Alexandra Markus, a former poorly cited, it wasn’t well-researched,” page was posted on November 23. Rick Fitzgibbons – director of into its existence, is an entirely assistant editor at the Herald, said he said. “If an article is poorly written, When The Daily went to press, it fea- the newspaper doesn’t “really have it just shouldn’t be published, regard- tured three letters supporting the arti- much of a filtering process.” less of the argument.” cle and four letters criticizing it. “They don’t refuse articles, because After reading the article, James James called the “Letters to the they believe that refusing any article is contacted the Herald’s managing Editor” page “kind of their concession,” censorship,” she said. “They took this editor, Rebekah Hebbert, but did as opposed to removing the article. whole no censorship thing a little bit not receive a response. He then “The company position on it was too far – a lot too far, actually.” contacted the newspaper’s CEO, like, the damage has already been Deane McRobie, former manag- Alexandre Meterissian, and another done. Regardless of whether it was a ing editor, said he had been told to editor who had resigned. poor article or not, there’s no point in “axe liberal articles.” James then contacted his writers, removing it now because that would McRobie said he left the Herald whom he said offered support for only, I don’t know, show a sign of about two weeks before Fitzgibbons’ his resignation. He resigned the next weakness or something,” he said. MILTON PLACE article was published, saying that day, as did several of the business and McRobie described “a business JUST A FEW BLOCKS FROM he was at odds with some of the finance section writers. model in play” aimed at generating members of the Board of Directors. In an email to The Daily, Herald website traffic, building a solid fan base, McGILL According to McRobie, “There were Chief Communications Officer Marc- and creating controversy, although he 105 Rue Milton. Montreal, QC probably forty articles out of which I Olivier Fortin stated, “We don’t dis- noted that it “happens almost neces- Heating, edited things that could’ve exploded, cuss any internal matter concerning sarily at the expense of quality, or the Call 514.982.9179 to make your appointment today! Hot Water, like [Fitzgibbons’] article.” the company. However, know that expense of balance, or at the expense “I took a lot of heat for the being the majority of vacant positions have of journalistic integrity.” [email protected] Electricity, Cable Included! the one who would send these arti- been filled and that we will continue “It’s sad. It was a great idea to cles back,” he added. to present both sides of the debate.” begin with. It was supposed to be “I didn’t resign of my own Markus, as well as McRobie and a campus alternative. It was sup- Situated in the heart of the downtown Montreal and steps away from McGill accord. I was fired, but I saw it com- James, commented on what they posed to be the kind of free speech, University this apartment building is ideal for students. ing in that, I mean, the situation saw as a more partisan direction the free-thinking alternative to existing Building Amenities: On-Site management team, On-site Laundry Facilities, Camera could not have gone anywhere else Herald has recently taken. McRobie campus media,” he added. Controlled Entry, On-site maintenance sta, Suite Amenities, Bright Suites, Open after a certain point,” he continued. said the paper “got hijacked.” Markus emphasized that the Concept Kitchen, Large Closets “The Directors were not very toler- According to McRobie, at the Herald staff “have been nothing but ant of views but their own.” Herald opinion pieces undergo kind to me.” Cameron James, former Herald three edits, with articles in other “I honestly don’t have any com- business and finance editor, was the sections going through two. Neither plaints about anyone in particular,” last editor to resign, two days after James nor Markus saw Fitzgibbons’ she said. “They were a joy to work Fitzgibbons’ article was published. article before it was published. with, but it just got too much.” The McGill Daily & Le Délit | 2011.11.28 5

ACTUALITÉS CURRENT EVENTS Le Québec, un modèle d’interculturalisme L’historien et sociologue Gérard Bouchard définit l’interculturalisme québécois.

Samuel Sigere et Louis-Philippe qui considère les cultures comme l’assurance automobile du Québec Tessier égalitaires dans un pays et donc un instructeur masculin ne pouvant Le Délit les traite de la même façon. Dans avoir de contacts avec des femmes. son idéologie, l’interculturalisme Selon monsieur Bouchard, un tel ne donne aucune valeur aux différ- cas ne devrait être accommodé au ans le cadre de sa série de entes cultures d’une société, mais nom de l’égalité des citoyens définie conférence «Dialogique», cherche plutôt à créer une culture par l’État. Dle professeur Norman commune tout en préservant les dif- L’application de l’interculturalisme Cornett, ancien professeur férences individuelles. Selon Gérard ne s’arrête toutefois pas aux d’études religieuses à McGill, a reçu Bouchard, le Québec est l’exemple accommodements raisonnables. l’historien et sociologue Gérard parfait d’un interculturalisme réussi. Ces dernières années, une nouvelle Bouchard à l’église Saint James La société québécoise, de part idéologie judiciaire, le pluralisme, sur Sainte-Catherine; la rencontre son histoire, sa culture, son respect s’est développée. Dans un effort de était ouverte au grand public. et sa protection des droits et liber- renoncer à la vocation universelle de la loi qui crée des injustices et des inégalités dans une société «Le Québec est l’exemple parfait multiculturelle, cette nouvelle doctrine se propose de prendre en Gracieuseté de Madame Tucker d’un interculturalisme réussi.» compte les minorités et leur culture Norman Cornett et Gérard Bouchard. pour rendre des décisions plus Gérard Bouchard justes et égalitaires. Cette doctrine Gérard Bouchard pense toutefois tés fortement religieuses, s’expliquerait a cependant des limites et il parfois que l’ouverture d’esprit démontrée par par la relation particulière que la Pendant près de deux heures, tés individuels, a tous les moyens est difficile pour les juristes de savoir cet effort est louable et devrait être société québécoise entretient avec la monsieur Bouchard, ex co-président nécessaires pour être un succès. jusqu’où prendre les différences encouragée à tous les niveaux de la religion. L’expérience traumatisante de de la commission Bouchard- L’interculturalisme ne peut réussir culturelles en compte. Ainsi, en société et à tous les âges. D’ailleurs, l’oppression par la religion catholique Taylor sur les accommodements que lorsque l’État établit des lois tenant en compte l’importance de la il y existe, selon lui, un clivage entre hante toujours la mémoire collective. raisonnables, a présenté sa vision de assez souples pour pouvoir concil- virginité dans une culture donnée, les plus de 40 ans et les moins de 35, Cependant, la menace de prise de l’interculturalisme au Québec. ier les intérêts et valeurs de cha- de jeunes hommes ayant sodomisé qui adhèrent plus à une vision inter- pouvoir par ces minorités, maintes fois L’interculturalisme québécois est cun, mais assez rigides pour éviter une jeune fille pour préserver sa culturelle de la société que leur ainés. évoquées dans le débat et à la com- apparu dans les années 70 en réac- toute déviance. En 2007, un juif has- virginité avaient reçu des peines Cette résistance aux accommodements mission Bouchard-Taylor, n’est pas une tion au multiculturalisme canadien sidique avait exigé à la Société de légères pour le viol. raisonnables, surtout avec les minori- réalité. x L’avenir de l’interculturalisme Entrevue avec Gérard Bouchard

Quartier Libre: Y a-t-il eu que ces étudiants se sentent exc- cet idéal, donc c’est naturel que le dernière veut généralement légifér- dans l’histoire de l’humanité. des recommandations spéci- lus, et en acceptant, ceux-ci vont modèle soit favorisé. er pour l’ensemble et uniformiser Contrairement au passé, où le fiquement pour les universités s’exclure eux-mêmes. Ceci les les choses, ce qui n’est pas du Québec se défendait contre le tra- sous l’angle des accommode- empêcherait de s’inclure à la vie LD: Mais cela ne crée- tout la même chose que l’esprit ditionnel ennemi fédéral qu’il con- ments raisonnables dans le universitaire. Mais généralement, rait pas des incitations qui anglophone, qui est plus près des naissait déjà très bien, la mondiali- rapport Bouchard-Taylor? nous n’avons pas fait de recom- amèneraient d’autres groupes individus. sation, elle, n’a ni queue ni tête et Gérard Bouchard: Il n’y a pas mandations spécifiques pour les à s’exclure de la communau- n’est pas présente à un endroit fixe. eu de recommandations spéci- universités dans notre rapport té étudiante, ce qui pourrait LD: Dans le contexte de Elle est omniprésente. Sous cette fiquement sur les universités. puisque nous n’avons pas observé créer des tensions ou con- la société québécoise, qui se optique, j’ai hâte de voir si les jeunes Cependant, nous avons traité du de problèmes. traindre l’intégrité du corpus définit comme une minorité continueront dans cette nouvelle sujet dans certains chapitres du universitaire? francophone et fragile en culture «mondialisée» et multicul- rapport puisqu’il y avait des ques- Le Délit: ne pensez-vous GB: Bien sur! Mais les admin- Amérique du Nord, pensez- turelle, ou bien s’ils retomberont tions intéressantes en rapport pas qu’il existe quand même istrateurs ont quand même laissé vous qu’il serait temps que dans les mythes nationaux tradi- avec la société universitaire. Par une différence entre le sys- ces associations se multiplier et celle-ci commence à se redé- tionnels. Ces mythes sont très forts exemple, le cas des organisations tème d’éducation francophone ils voyaient ça sous un bon œil. finir pour briser avec l’idée et correspondent à des angoiss- musulmanes. Devraient-elles être et anglophone, ce dernier Mais nous pouvons critiquer cette qu’elle va se faire engloutir es bien réelles. Malgré un certain situées en marge de la société étu- favorisant plutôt ces formes initiative puisque ces étudiants se par la majorité anglophone? pessimisme, je reste quand même diante, ou incorporées au système d’exclusions? soustraient quand même de cette GB: Là nous ne parlons plus ouvert à d’autres possibilités. x comme les autres associations? GB: Le moule était déjà là dans mainstream culture. Cependant, du Canada anglais, mais plutôt Le problème est qu’en refusant le cas de McGill et la vie étudi- l’approche anglo-saxonne diffère de mondialisation. Cette source —Propos recueillis par Louis- cette alternative, il y a un risque ante était déjà structurée autour de de l’approche francophone. Cette d’inquiétude est sans précédent Philippe Tessier et Samuel Sigere. 6 The McGill Daily & Le Délit | 2011.11.28

CURRENT EVENTS ACTUALITÉS PEPPER SPRAY AND MILK Steve Eldon Kerr remembers how November 10 dissolved into violence

few times a week, I slip we encountered frequent cheers of on a red polo and a red support from passersby and sung a A cap emblazoned with the range of songs in both English and McGill logo and work a short shift French. At one point, a Francophone in a McGill dining hall serving other student organizer, who had seen the McGill students. Sometimes I don’t full scope of the Concordia congre- even bother to change out of the gation I’d somehow wandered into, shirt when I go to the library, and gleefully uttered into his walkie- I end up in McLennan, wearing my talkie, “mec, j’ai un vraiment fukton red shirt, staring at the sticker noti- d’anglophones ici.” fying me that this is a graduate stu- As the march of 20,000 students dent’s carrel, which itself is thought- crawled its way back to McGill fully displayed alongside another College, the crowd was in good small McGill logo, lest I somehow spirits. I had heard vague plans to forget where I am. McGill dominates move the protest up to the James my life. It is where I study and where Administration building to increase I work, but also where I relax with awareness amongst McGill students friends and occasionally get drunk. of the tuition raise, but I knew noth- So it was quite a surprise to find ing about an occupation. When the myself sitting in a McGill dining march reached the Roddick Gates, I hall, rubbing milk all over myself told the people I was with that I was to try and take the sting out of the going to a friend’s house on Aylmer mask of pepper spray I was wearing. to change my rain-sodden shoes. (Milk, it turns out, does the trick far I asked them to let me know if the better than soap and water.) That protest moved before I got back. night, November 10, McGill had On my way to the house, I passed dominated me in a new way. about 10 police on horseback can- The day began unassumingly. A tering down Sherbrooke. Less than in time to see the bike police cycling The sound of riot police beating march against tuition hikes, peace- a minute later, a group of police on away from the Milton Gates. We saw their shields is much louder than I ful and even joyous, crowded the bicycles passed by the same way. A some friends in a group of people had expected – it produces a terrify- streets near campus. I joined up friend I was with joked about how that had formed a human chain ing rap-rap-rap sound, like gunfire. with the McGill contingent a little much better it would be to be a around James. My friends beckoned On TV, the camera is typically far late, around 1:30, as they walked horse-cop than a bike-cop, which to us to join them. We linked arms removed from the action, and the down Ste. Catherine towards probably sums up the genial mood right in front of the building’s main sound is dimmed so the reporter can the Berri/UQAM metro stop. By we were in, and how unthreatening doors and asked what had happened. be heard. But in reality, you have to the time I arrived, we numbered we found the police. One of my friends told the story of the remind yourself that it is only plastic roughly a thousand people. Our About half an hour later (at 4:42 occupation – how a group of students hitting plastic, despite 10,000 years of ranks swelled when we were joined p.m., in fact – I know exactly what had made their way into Principal evolution imploring you to run. by about two hundred MUNACA time, thanks to my cellphone), as I Heather Munroe-Blum’s office, had As the lines formed and the members. I saw many people at the was tying the laces on a pair of bor- been treated roughly by security, and police advanced, one word was march who I hadn’t seen before rowed black sneakers, I got a call then had texted friends, asking them uttered more frequently than any at McGill protests, and everyone from a friend telling me to come to congregate in front of James. other: “don’t”. “Don’t throw,” “don’t seemed pleasantly surprised by the quickly to James. I assumed it had Just then, I looked over my grab,” “don’t push,” “don’t punch.” turnout, especially given the day’s something to do with the protest. shoulder and saw about fifty police Sometimes we shouted these words gloomy weather. As we marched, My friend and I ran to campus just in full riot gear filing through the at the cops, and sometimes we said Milton Gates in a narrow column. them to each other. I saw a young My friend suggested we leave, but man throw a piece of candy in a he and I remained in the chain. pink wrapper at the riot police, an Something about the scene attempt at irony – but even before it below was perfectly cinematic: the fell, protestors were chastising him orange glow of street-lamps dimly for inflaming the situation. lit the square as raindrops bounced As the police approached, some off the steel-toed boots of the riot people retreated towards the Ferrier police. For a nice, middle-class boy building, but many more linked arms who has always been taught that and faced the police. I was still piled the police are the good guys who up against the front door of James protect me from danger, the situa- with my friends, but other protes- tion carried a hint of unreality. tors formed a line perpendicular to It was jarring, then, to see police the building to face the riot police. It move up the hill towards James. As had become us against them, and I they came near me, their riot gear didn’t even know most of the people came into focus. Some of the police on my side. were carrying what looked like rub- Some of the protestors had ber-bullet guns. They all had pep- clearly been in situations like this per-spray cans that looked like bull- before; they covered their noses horns fastened to their hips. They and grabbed water bottles. Other, wore plastic visors on their black more inexperienced people like helmets. As they approached, they me left their eyes and noses badly beat their shields with their batons. exposed. But then, standing near

Photos by Victor Tangermann | The McGill Daily the doorway of the James building, I didn’t expect to see pepper spray. The pepper spray came, though, and pretty indiscriminately too. The first person I saw sprayed was standing near me. Before I’d felt it on my eyes, I felt it on my cheeks and down my throat. The word “pepper” is mislead- ing. You might think it is like a really hot curry: deadly on the eyes, but tame against the skin. It is not. It feels toxic. My first reaction was to cough, but the spray stuck firmly to the inside of my throat. I grabbed a water bottle that someone had offered me and took several deep gulps, but the par- ticles were still there, fiery against my skin. My cheeks simultaneously itched and burned. I wanted to scratch, but scratching only made it worse. Still, at that point, I wouldn’t say that I’d been pepper sprayed. I only had to wait a couple of minutes to earn my battle scars. I Victor Tangermann | The McGill Daily had ended up on the very edge of a huddle close to the police line. The we should come back and do this in with the way the situation was being He barely acknowledged my pres- group was tightly packed to reduce the summer. A cop who was patrol- handled. We wanted to do everything ence. Given the obvious pain I was the angles from which we could be ling behind the line of shields came we could do to remain peaceful with- in, I was frustrated, if not surprised. sprayed. To the right of me was a close to me and leaned over the line out acquiescing to police demands. As I descended the Arts build- good friend. A cop leaned over our of police. I buried my face in my scarf The whole point had become to stay ing steps, I saw another forty or shoulders with a can of pepper spray; and turned away. I must have looked where we were, to peacefully dissent so riot police moving up from the we turned our heads away in oppo- pathetic. I was too scared of being hit in the face of violence. Y-intersection. I had no desire to be site directions. A second later, the with more pepper spray to risk look- But we couldn’t manage to stay caught in the middle of another con- same cop shoved his can between ing at a cop. Egyptians and Syrians put. The police had started using frontation, so I walked to the Leacock our linked arms and sprayed upwards who stare down bullets for their cause their batons to jab people in the building. On my way, I passed a girl at our faces. My friend was his prima- are much braver than me. Still, I had chest. I got it between my shoulder who told me that I could get treat- ry target, or at least got hit with more no intention of moving. and chest, a painful and unsettling ment in Leacock. When I arrived at pepper spray, but I’m not sure if the The police refused many polite spot. The baton met a tendon just the doors, attempting to enter, secu- cop was particularly concerned who requests to speak in English. They beneath my shoulder, and the force rity again met me with a blank stare he hit. In any case, he got me pretty didn’t say much to us, but what of it pushed my head backwards so of refusal. I later learned the treat- badly too. Now I really had been pep- they did say was mostly in French. that I hit the feet of the people behind ment area had been set up in the per sprayed. It fucking hurt. The only sentence I heard clearly me. At this point, our line had begun SSMU building, but misinformation At first, the only thing you can do enough to understand was spoken to fracture – people were standing spreads quickly during confusion. is close your eyes. I shut mine tight to a guy next to me, asking him to up and moving back. During this, a It was just before 5:30 at that and stumbled around to the far side chuck the wooden part of his sign police officer pointed behind us and point, and I remembered that I had of the group, around the door, away away. The man didn’t understand, said, in English, “look over there, why to get to work. The riot police I saw from the action. Someone started but a girl on the other side of him don’t you go and help your friends.” from the steps of the Arts building pouring water over my face. I had quickly grabbed the wood and He was trying to trick us into moving. had moved to the Milton Gates. The to kneel so they could get it into my pushed it towards the police so they A few minutes later, when the last of situation seemed to have calmed, and eyes. It felt as if my eyeballs were could kick it behind their lines. us did stand up, I was hit very hard on I reasoned that I could walk up to the swelling up and about to pop out of It all amounted to a mounting my calf by another baton. BMH cafeteria through the campus their sockets, with my eyelids strain- sense of injustice among the protes- With their rubber bullets and tear road that runs parallel to University. ing to keep them in. I’m not sure tors – people who had been pepper gas, the police could have had us all When I rounded the top of the how long it was until I could open sprayed and who were sitting down face down in a puddle in seconds. amphitheatre, I was surprised at the my eyes again, but as soon as I could, on their own campus were still pre- They didn’t, of course, but given chaos that remained. The largest I moved back to the front of the line. pared to hand back batons to the such power it was obvious we were group of protestors were now being My vision was still blurry and my police who refused to speak English not going to fight, and so their vio- forced out of the Milton Gates by eyes still burned, but I was over the on a predominantly English-speaking lence was gratuitous. Their presence around 100 riot police. I saw police initial shock. I soon formed part of campus. Yet the police intimidation ensured the safety of everyone, but indiscriminately pepper spraying a group that sat down in front of did not stop, and that kept us sitting their use of force ensured injury. For the front line of protestors as they the police. It was only when my ass down. We did not want to be intimi- the first time in my life, I had some beat them back. Two plumes of was soaked in an inch of water that dated out of our right to peacefully idea of what it is to be helpless in the smoke rose near the Milton Gates. I remembered it was raining. I half- protest. It had nothing to do with face of the law. We knew we could I didn’t know at the time that the jokingly muttered to my friend that tuition anymore, and everything to do not win, and we knew we must not plumes were tear gas. fight, but we were going to resist. It It was impossible to distinguish didn’t feel like a choice. When your between protestors and bystanders, voice is silenced, your body is all you and given the high police presence have to leave a mark. I didn’t under- around the doors to the McConnell stand that before. Engineering building and the clouds The group of protestors had of toxic chemicals, I’m not surprised started to splinter. Some people had bystanders were subjected to violence. run down the stairs of the amphithe- I asked a police officer to let me atre while others had moved around walk up to BMH through campus. the corner of James. I saw a group He told me to wait a couple of min- try unsuccessfully to get into Ferrier. utes, and then, after about forty riot The police sensed their opportu- police had charged out the Milton nity, and, having pushed us around Gates, sweeping protestors out in the top corner of the amphitheatre, the process, he let me walk up. they charged at us. Every one of us And so I found myself in the turned and ran in different direc- changing room at BMH, naked tions. I ran towards the entrance of from the waist up, pouring a glass the Arts building, and ended up cut of milk on my face. I slipped on off from my friends, who fled down my red McGill polo, and started the stairs of the amphitheatre. The answering calls from people who police were well trained for situa- remained outside. My friends were tions like this; their charge quickly bruised, but okay, and had recon- split us up into smaller groups and vened in BDP to hear each others’ effectively ended the protest. stories over pitchers of cheap beer – Alone, I ran up the stairs of the a normal Thursday evening, except Arts building and asked the security that our eyes were bloodshot about Henry Gass | The McGill Daily guard to let me in to wash my face. 12 hours earlier than usual. 8 The McGill Daily & Le Délit | 2011.11.28

CURRENT EVENTS ACTUALITÉS Student-led initiative seeks to reform Board of Governors Reform Project sets tight deadlines as it tries to maintain November 10 momentum

Erin Hudson been, a fundamentally undemo- commission from people sitting in 2012 for ratification before a gen- on a relatively large scale along The McGill Daily cratic institution, and I think that a room and to just appoint them eral assembly. those lines by the end of the year undemocratic institutions don’t is, to me, ironic.” Block explained the time frame then I think that we will lose steam produce good decisions for the After two hours, quorum was lost, put forward in the assembly. and this issue itself could just could bout fifty students, faculty, people that make up that institu- at which point the assembly became “A movement can lose a lot of kind of die out.” and community members, tion and are affected by the deci- an informal discussion regarding steam over the summer,” he said. The follow-up meeting for the A including striking McGill sions and activities of that institu- how the assembly was run. “If we don’t accomplish something MGRP is scheduled for Friday at 3 p.m. non-academic workers, gathered tion,” he said. Associate History Professor off-campus last Thursday evening to A group of between 15 and Daviken Studnicki-Gizbert explained take part in a student-led initiative 20 students met twice before that the assembly had focused too to reform McGill’s governance struc- Thursday’s assembly in order to much on amendments to the word- ture, beginning with the University’s plan and organize. SSMU VP Clubs ing of proposals. Board of Governors (BoG). & Services Carol Fraser facilitated “My reading of the situation was The BoG – the highest decision- the assembly, which ran according that we latched onto the wording,” making body in the University – is to loose Robert’s Rules of Order. he said. made up of 25 voting members and Three proposals were brought Speaking to The Daily after the two student non-voting observers, to the meeting and ratified. The assembly, Burnett said, “I think it and meets six times a year. proposal on the project’s guide- represents a lot of the problems The initiative, known as the McGill lines states that the project’s that we’re trying to solve in terms Governance Reform Project (MGRP), assembly “stands in support of a of people at McGill. Whether emerged from a demonstration imme- governance structure that is demo- they’re students or workers of the diately following November 10. cratic, transparent, accountable, community around the University, One of the project organizers, and more appropriately reflects [they] don’t have a lot of experi- former Daily News and Features the social and academic interests ence working with each other, and editor Niko Block, recounted how of the McGill community in the don’t have a lot of experience talk- discussions around the project context of broader society.” ing about what a community is.” began on November 11. The next two proposals “I think a lot of students who “We need to do something that is addressed the structure of a com- have been doing the planning for big and lasting, and we need to cre- mission and a follow-up assembly. this just didn’t understand where ate some fundamental institutional The commission will consist other people may be coming from change at McGill,” he explained. of 12 members responsible for and didn’t structure the meet- “We need governance reform researching and presenting recom- ing in such a way that those con- because there’s no accountability mendations at a subsequent gener- cerns really could be brought in,” whatsoever within this institution,” al assembly. However, the election Burnett added. Block added. of commissioners stopped due to a Gregory Mikkelson, an associate Stephen Strople, McGill secretary- debate over the election process. professor in the Environment and general, commented on the MGRP in Associate Islamic Studies Philosophy departments, spoke a statement to The Daily. Professor Michelle Hartman voiced about his impressions immediately “I believe the Board is always her concerns. after the assembly ended. interested in hearing what its mem- “This is a certain assembly of “I’m really glad that this hap- bers say about governance or other people who were able to come at a pened – that there’s an effort being issues, and that, of course, includes certain time… It’s a bit weird to be made. I’m not entirely clear on its student members,” he said. talking about governance reform whether they’ll be able to pull it Arts Representative to SSMU and all these democratic pro- off, especially in the time that they Jamie Burnett spoke to the signifi- cesses and using Robert’s Rules envision,” he said. Lindsay Cameron | The McGill Daily cance of governance reform. of Order and doing this in a very The commission is to finalize its “McGill is, and always has proper way, but then to form a recommendations by January 30, The project was initiated at a demonstration on November 11. More Montrealers relying on food banks New demographics depend on non-perishable donations

Andreanne Stewart and those with jobs. food we receive from them is insuf- According to Marzena Gersho, hope among food banks that the News Writer Dominique, age 45, was a Social ficient to complete our food baskets, director of communications and holiday season will help sustain Work student at the Université de [so] we have to find donations wher- national programs for Food Banks resources in the moths to come, Montréal until mounting debt forced ever we can.” Canada, “It takes support from every- but the hope is tentative. he use of food banks in him to withdraw. Now he uses the Dany Michaud, executive direc- one to really make an impact. The gov- Mehrabi said, “It is a time where Montreal has increased by 32 food bank almost every day. tor of Moisson Montréal, explained ernment at all levels, the public. We do everyone wants to give and to help Tper cent in the past four years, “If you have nothing, you eat noth- how the organization is dealing need to address the short term solu- out, we do our best campaign at this according to a Hunger Count sur- ing. I can’t even afford to put milk in with the strain. tions, but in terms of reducing hunger time but it’s a matter of sharing, and vey released this month by Moisson my coffee,” he said. “We have improved the efficiency it is about that long-term impact.” I’m afraid people might not have as Montréal, Canada’s largest food bank. The growing demand for aid, com- of our operation in order to respond In regards to action on a federal much to share this year.” Moisson Montréal collects and bined with a shrinking donation pool, to this increase, to make more level, Gersho said, “We propose pol- “We have to do what we have to distributes food aid to 211 organi- has begun to strain local food banks. with less, to maximize the food we icy recommendations to government do. We will make adjustments. There zations on the Island of Montreal, According to Fred Mehrabi, coor- receive,” he said. that stress a number of things such is no option of refusing people who providing food for almost 150,000 dinator of Côte-des-Neiges food The situation faced by food as cost of housing, access to employ- come to the food bank,” he added. people each month. bank MultiCaf, “The amount of food aid organizations is not unique to ment insurance, child tax benefits. Moisson Montréal is holding According to Hunger Count’s we have received in donation has Montreal. A similar report released We work with government at all levels its Christmas Food Drive until report, new demographic groups are decreased by about 10 to 15 per cent.” by Food Banks Canada indicates a 26 to include policy that will really help December 9, in which the orga- turning to food banks to stave off He continued, “Although Moisson per cent increase since 2008 in the to reduce hunger.” nization hopes to provide 35,000 hunger, such as the elderly, students, Montréal is our main supplier, the need for food aid in Canada. Looking forward, there is households with a Christmas meal. The McGill Daily & Le Délit | 2011.11.28 9

ACTUALITÉS CURRENT EVENTS

OPINION Tyranny of the minority? A student shares his alternative viewpoint

Murtaza Shambhoora Science and Economics classes ticipation. Those of Hyde Park despite the Arts Undergraduate us who do not want Society strike on November SSMU to fight against 10 and the “We Are All McGill” tuition hikes should ver the past few weeks, demonstration on November 14. speak up instead of we have seen a minority Furthermore, neither of the dem- just complaining about Oof McGill student activists onstrations managed to attract a the issues. Those of monopolize dialogue over issues majority of McGill students or dis- us who are tired of such as the MUNACA strike, tuition rupt regular schedules. MUNACA should speak hikes, QPIRG and CKUT opt-out The problem is that the above- up and ask our student campaigns, and the administra- mentioned viewpoints are no longer bodies to no longer stand tion’s handling of the “occupiers” on discussed on campus, or they are in solidarity with them. November 10. If one were to look at dismissed as “ignorant” by student Our apathy is the reason the mediums through which McGill activists intent upon spreading their that a mere 250 students pres- students express their thoughts on own anarchic agenda. If I don’t sup- ent at the AUS General Assembly the above mentioned issues – The port the movement against tuition mandated a strike for 7500 Arts stu- McGill Daily, General Assemblies, hikes, I am accused of not being in dents at McGill while simultaneously Facebook groups – they would get solidarity with my peers. If I speak advocating for funding QPIRG. It is a sense that the entire campus is out against MUNACA, I am accused also the reason that SSMU is official- vehemently in support of MUNACA, of supporting an elitist and insen- ly against tuition hikes – a move that and against tuition hikes and the sitive administration that refuses can seriously underfund a University current administration. freedom of expression. Realism no that is already lacking financial sup- As we all know, that is not the longer has a place on this campus; port. We should be angry that activ- case. The vast majority of the student idealism has taken over. ists accuse the administration of McGill population is not pick- Realism is understanding that high- engaging in one-sided propaganda ing sides on the MUNACA issue, er education is not a right but a sac- when it comes to MUNACA issues and just wants them to return to rifice worth paying for. Realism is while our own student society gives work as soon as possible. Students understanding that the administra- us no information about the flipside Amina Batyreva | The McGill Daily Batyreva McGill | The Amina either don’t care whether tuition tion cannot meet MUNACA’s wage of the tuition issue. is increased by a mere $325 a year demands if students want tuition to Speak up so that we can ensure or are in support of it to protect remain frozen. Moreover, realism that healthy dialogue is present the reputation of the University is understanding that the philoso- within the student body, and that we attend. A lot of us believe that phy of “occupy everything, demand our student representatives are cally active students dictating poli- Saideman of the Political Science the protestors involved in the nothing” will not work. To change not pushing an ideology we do cy for all of us. department has also blogged about “Occupy James Admin” movement the system, you must work with it, not support. We have always been For those of you who would like the issues of student idealism and were hooligans who were intent not against it. warned that political organiza- to read a different viewpoint on tuition hikes on his website. upon causing chaos without a con- However, we cannot blame the tions must be saved from a major- tuition hikes: Tarun Koshy, in his crete set of demands and that they student activists who are dominat- ity implementing legislative agen- recent article “The Day Intelligence clearly crossed a line that evening. ing campus discourse right now, das that ignore the marginalized. Died at the Roddick Gates” written Murtaza Shambhoora is a U3 I make these assumptions due to since they have a right to do so. The Unfortunately, we are witnessing for the Bull & Bear, manages to give Political Science student. You can the fact that the majority of my only way we can ensure a diversity a tyranny of the minority instead an explanation of why they should reach him at murtaza.shambhoo- peers still attended my Political of viewpoints is by increased par- – with a few motivated and politi- be implemented. Professor Stephen [email protected].

OPINION Say no to student democracy A response to the McGill Governance Reform Project

Thomas Granrud tion. In other words: they call for I am part of the executive of disagree, I would never think of with the administration. We need Hyde Park a student-run university, inspired, the Political Science Students’ occupying the office of our chair, to show the administration that we I am sure, by César De Paepe, Karl Association. It is my impression Richard Schultz. are not just as a group of adversarial Marx, and others who applied that we have an excellent relation- Precisely because the University is students who find great pleasure in never imagined I would similar ideas to democracy at the ship with the chair and the profes- not a democracy, our impact as stu- occupying offices and have nothing write a piece with this title. workplace. I disagree strongly sors in our department. We are con- dents depends not on the number of to contribute except anger and dis- I After receiving an invitation with such ideas. sulted on which courses students representatives we have, but, rather, satisfaction. Rather, we ought to be to attend a communal assem- There is a crucial difference would like to see and we are active- on the ability of those we already solution-oriented representatives of bly for the revolutionary “McGill between a nation-state and a uni- ly involved when new professors send to the decision-making bod- a diverse student body. I am sure Governance Reform Project,” I versity. Universities are institutions, are hired. We are not in a majority, ies to work constructively with the such an approach will be an impor- felt I had no choice. The project not countries. I do not believe that but we have a say and a vote. We administration before and during for- tant contribution to improving the calls for the democratization of institutions should be run on the are actively involved in processes mal meetings. Surely, we do not need negative campus discourse. At the the McGill governance structure, principle of popular sovereignty. outside of and before formal meet- more representation as much as we end of the day, we are all McGill. particularly through increased Just as workers should not run a ings in which decisions are made need better representation. student representation on deci- corporation, students should not through a vote. Through these con- I believe that a reform of the Thomas Granrud is a U2 sion-making bodies. Some stu- run McGill. We need, however, to sultative processes we are indeed governance structure is unneces- Political Science student. He can dents believe proportional rep- have a voice and better dialogue. able to find common ground on sary. Instead we must change the be reached at thomas.granrud@ resentation is the most just solu- This is in the interest of us all. most issues. In the event that we way we approach disagreements mail.mcgill.ca. 10 The McGill Daily & Le Délit | 2011.11.28

LETTERS LETTRES

By construing the female employees as incapable of handling the occupiers, [Masi] relied on the “damsel in distress” stereotype to elicit an emotional response. It was unnecessary and offensive. While we understand that it was a stressful situa- tion for everyone involved, Masi’s use of sexist language is unacceptable.

The Gender, Sexual Diversity, and Feminist Studies Student Association

Whether you agree with the Dear Xavier Van Chan, When students occupied In his account of the events During the McGill Senate protestors or not is irrelevant. administrators’ space, students of November 10 at the Senate meeting on November 16, Deputy The crux of the matter is this; You write to us as President felt threatened, and riot police meeting on November 16, Provost Provost Anthony Masi made com- riot police used pepper spray and of the McGill University were called. Less than 24 hours Masi focused on the women who ments about the experiences of batons against peaceful members Montreal Young Alumni Branch, later, all of our space was equally were working on the fifth floor the employees working on the fifth of our community, many of whom soliciting funds. This is our occupied by a full brigade of fir- of James Administration during floor of the James Administration were not involved in the protest response to your request. ing cannons. This ceremony says the occupation, noting that “the building in the course of the whatsoever. I am shocked and My sister and I are quite something rather striking about women who were in the offices November 10 student occupation. incredibly angered by the events proud of our academic achieve- the types of violence that we are at the time, and there were only Masi stressed that those working of November 10, as they serve ments at McGill. We’re also proud supposed to find acceptable. several women…were pushed on the fifth floor were women, to underline a larger problem at of our father who has spent 33 If a student walking into the and shoved…they were fright- emphasizing their fear and the McGill. During Principal Heather years at McGill as a lab techni- administration building to open ened and they were crying.” fact that they were crying. This Monroe-Blum’s tenure, the rela- cian. He always put 110 per cent dialogue is unacceptable, then the I was not on the fifth floor of portrayal reinforces the victimiz- tionship between the administra- into his work. He never com- presence of huge war machinery James, and cannot speak to the ing narratives that restrict women tion and the rest of the University plained if he had to start early should be unfathomable. The firing truth of this statement, though to a submissive gender role. We, community has become untenable or stay late to finish a project. of cannons glorifies war in a way the occupiers have contested its the Gender, Sexual Diversity, and adversarial. Students, faculty, He did what he had to do. that should not be imposed upon veracity. That being said, I find it and Feminist Studies Student and staff are not being heard. The Since September 1, 1,700 everyone in a public space. If glo- troubling that Masi is exploiting Association roundly condemn administration has lost its way. McGill University support workers rification is not the intent, perhaps gendered language to strengthen Masi’s use of misogynist gender ste- HMB is ultimately responsible (MUNACA) have been on strike. they are meant to startle us into his rhetoric and promote a spe- reotypes to strengthen his rhetoric. for the actions of McGill Security This strike is not only affecting the remembering and imagining past cific account of what took place. By construing the female staff that led to the escalation of McGill community, but also the wars. Or maybe they’re just part of The women inside the building employees as incapable of handling violence. If half of the occupi- family members of these work- an important tradition. Recreating shouldn’t be used as tools to vilify the occupiers, he relied on the ers’ accounts of the role of McGill ers. We have visited our father on and performing “traditional” acts of the students, nor should “women “damsel in distress” stereotype to Security are true, someone the picket line and watched him violence seems counterproductive crying” be used to strengthen elicit an emotional response. It was needs to get fired and it needs put in 110 per cent rallying up the if we are trying to work towards a the idea that an occupation is, by unnecessary and offensive. While to be Heather Monroe-Blum. picketers. We’ve noticed McGill future in which this violence does nature, violent or wrong. Should we understand that it was a stress- security on “High Alert“ videotap- not exist. We are inevitably going to the occupiers have turned around ful situation for everyone involved, Mo Sougal ing the strikers. 80 per cent of the have to break from past traditions when they realized that the staff Masi’s use of sexist language is Case Manager, Campbell Cohen Law Firm MUNACA members are women; if we hope to find novel and more inside were primarily female? unacceptable. His description also McGill Alum 2010 many mothers and some grand- peaceful ways of resolving conflict. I don’t want to marginalize ignores the fact that some of the Political Science mothers. We wonder why McGill The firing of cannons sends the anyone’s experience or police emo- occupiers were themselves women. has decided to use such a heavy- message that violence is accept- tions, nor am I saying that I don’t Masi’s sexist comments are espe- handed approach when all these able as long as it is organized by empathize. I was scared; appar- cially disturbing given that he has workers are fighting for is parity the right institutions. But this is ently they were too. It’s an awful the authority to veto any disciplin- with the other Quebec universities, not news. The administration has thing for anyone to feel this way in ary measures resulting from sexual which we believe they deserve. been sending us this message a space they consider safe – be it harassment complaints at McGill. This is not the McGill we all semester. Though not always their office or campus. But that’s We demand that the Deputy remember. We will not donate to physical in nature, members of our not the point. What I want to make Provost immediately issue a pub- any institution that squashes free community have at least been sub- clear is that it’s unacceptable for lic apology for his comments. speech with the use of injunc- ject to various forms of structural Masi to manipulate these experi- tions and intimidation. Our dona- and oppressive violence limiting ences by way of language that tion to the Alma Mater Fund is their right free expression and emphasizes stereotypes of women The GSDFSSA ZERO and we encourage other their right to be in public spaces. as weak, in need of protection and alumni to withhold their dona- None of these forms of violence sympathy. This rhetoric erases tions or find more worthy causes. have a place on our campus. If our the women’s agency by employ- community is invested in restoring ing them as nameless pawns, and Sincerely, feelings of safety and trust, then disregards the fact that crying, fear, a careful consideration of vio- and trauma are not gender specific. Christine Caporuscio lence, both explicit and symbolic, Given that the women published B.Sc 2006 (McGill) is necessary. Our administration a letter which describes their Jessica Caporuscio has a particular responsibility in experiences without employing B.Sc 2009 (McGill) safeguarding the campus from all these same stereotypes, I would forms of violence, and acknowl- ask that Masi watch his tone when edging their role in perpetuat- speaking on behalf of others, and ing as well as preventing it. stop using paternalistic language that places him in a questionable Nicole Buchanan position of authority and care. U3 Anthropology Sophia Kehler U4 Environment and African Studies Flora Dunster U3 Art History Honours Former Daily Copy editor

The Daily recieved too many letters to print. They will be printed in January. Send your thoughts to [email protected]. The McGill Daily & Le Délit | 2011.11.28 11

POLITICS POLITIQUE Boire de l’eau, Federal government to address water quality issues within c’est mal First Nation communities Attention, chronique de droite Parties collaborate in effort to provide clean drinking water

Jean-François Trudelle toujours annoncer que son produit Juan Camilo Velásquez ing on where they live. A continuing won’t be satisfied until 100 per cent Le Délit maintiendra votre température The McGill Daily affront to our sense of wholeness, of First Nations homes have fresh corporelle. Heureusement qu’il y a justice, and fairness as Canadians running drinking water and waste peu de grands déserts en Europe, is the fact that members of First water management,” she added. e temps des fêtes est toujours on arriverait bien rapidement he Conservative govern- Nations communities and other Randy Christensen, author of the le bon moment pour sortir à court d’Européens! Ils sont si ment has decided to back aboriginal communities across the report issued by Ecojustice, expressed L vos meilleures bouteilles amusants à regarder se débattre T the Liberals in their efforts country are living in conditions of his satisfaction in a press release, and d’eau. Vous reluquez avidement contre la fatalité. Le spectacle to address the need of First Nations deep poverty and great hardship,” expressed the need to move towards cette Fiji que vous avez achetée au prendrait fin abruptement. communities in Canada for clean, he added. better access to clean water for First prix fort parce qu’elle a supposé- Décidemment, rien n’arrête le running water, after a motion ment un délicieux arrière-goût de progrès sur le Vieux Continent. passed at the House of Commons noix de coco. Vous n’attendez que Si l’utopie européenne le dit, on November 17. The motion, “So many of our citizens la fin de la messe de minuit pour alors ça doit être vrai. Qu’allez- which was moved by interim Liberal aller ouvrir cette Evian que vous vous faire, chers lecteurs? Vos Party Leader Bob Rae, seeks to cre- are actually living in third avez payée sept dollars à cause de sa bouteilles de Fiji et d’Evian achet- ate a bill with all parties to improve forme excentrique et pour l’aspect ées au prix fort n’étaient que dup- access to clean drinking water on world conditions.” pratique de sa poignée faisant aussi erie. Vous ne serez pas pleins de First Nations reserves. office de bouchon. vigueur pour ouvrir vos cadeaux. The motion was passed days Carolyn Bennet St Paul’s MP, Liberal Critic for Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Quel sentiment satisfaisant que N’ayez crainte, il y a de la bière. Il after Ecojustice, a non-profit de boire de l’eau de si bonne quali- y a du scotch, du cognac, du vin. environmental law firm, issued John Duncan, Conservative MP Nation communities in Canada. té, être réhydraté et plein d’énergie La nature fait bien les choses n’est- its report on water quality in for Vancouver Island North and “The government’s commitment pour déballer ces cadeaux qui ce pas? Profitez-en, avant que les Canada. The report gave the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and to ensure all First Nations reserves vous ont tenu éveillé toute la nuit. bureaucrates ne décident que le federal government a failing Northern Development, announced have clean drinking water is a move Sachez que si votre chroniqueur vin vous donnera le cancer à 75 grade, and stressed the lack of the availability of new funding to in the right direction, and all parties in préféré travaillait pour une com- ans et devrait être interdit, que improvement in the quality of address the pressing water issues the House deserve credit for stepping pagnie d’embouteillement d’eau le scotch brûle trop la gorge des water for First Nations commu- for Aboriginal communities in up on the issue,” said Christensen. au Royaume-Uni, il finirait sûre- néophytes et présente donc une nities. Grades were determined Northern Manitoba. Bennett also said that many ment en prison pour deux ans. Je forme d’oppression discrimina- by evaluating treatment and test- “I am proud to announce today First Nations communities with- crois que c’est le rêve de certains, toire des Écossais envers le reste ing requirements, drinking water that, in addition to those ongoing in Quebec have been identified mais passons. de la planète et que la bière est quality standards, source water commitments, we are also provid- because of their lack of clean water. Eh oui, la Commission responsable des publicités sexistes protection, and measures for ing an additional $5.5 million to sup- “There were certainly many européenne n’a que faire à la télé et doit disparaître des transparency and accountability. port infrastructure improvements in communities identified in Quebec de l’effondrement de la tablettes. En plus, elle est produite According to the report, “Federal Manitoba’s Island Lake community,” that have problems. When I was superbureaucratie européenne, par un peuple qui n’a pas de gou- management of water – for places said Duncan during the House debate. at Akwesasne – which is partly du chaos économique et vernement depuis plus d’un an! like First Nations reserves, military In an interview with The Daily, Quebec, partly Ontario and partly monétaire qui sévit et des taux Oh, l’enfer pour un eurocrate! bases, and federal parks – still fails Carolyn Bennett – MP for St Paul’s the US – they had [water quality] d’intérêts en hausse sur la dette Considérez cette interdiction to meet basic benchmarks for safe and Liberal Critic for Aboriginal problems,” she said. «blindée» allemande. Après trois comme une bénédiction. Vous consumption.” Affairs and Northern Development According to Bennett, the pro- ans de laborieuses discussions et aurez l’air plus intelligent en ayant Rae addressed the House of – said that this is not only an issue posed bill will be a step in the right vingt-et-un experts plus tard, elle la gueule de bois. Vous pourrez Commons during the debate on for Aboriginal communities. direction, but she believes that est heureuse d’annoncer que vous dire fièrement que vous n’avez the motion, urging them to begin “It’s something that all Canadians government needs to do more to ne pouvez plus prétendre, si vous pas succombé aux mensonges de efforts no later than spring 2012. are embarrassed about, because it help First Nations communities. êtes un embouteilleur, que l’eau l’industrie de l’eau embouteillée. “[We need] to address, on an really is that so many of our citizens “The long-term solutions are not réhydrate! Paul Nuttal, député Vive la révolution! Occupy Dasani! urgent basis, the needs of those First are actually living in third world con- only the infrastructure and building européen britannique du parti Je vous souhaiterais bien un Nations communities whose mem- ditions, when we have the constitu- the systems, but also getting the train- eurosceptique UKIP, a déclaré joyeux solstice d’hiver, un joyeux bers have no access to clean, run- tional responsibility to serve these ing to the community so they can qu’un tel règlement faisait paraître décembre, une joyeuse célébra- ning water in their homes,” said Rae. conditions,” said Bennett. keep those systems operations. So le règlement sur la courbure des tion de l’amour fraternel univer- “We have to recognize that “We hope that as we come up it’s the long-term sustainability of the bananes (car il y en a un) sain. sel, mais j’aime trop Jésus pour ça. Canadians live, unfortunately, in to the budget, that we will demand systems that we are also calling on the Toutefois, une compagnie peut Joyeux Noël. x very different conditions depend- a real strategy for this because we government to approve,” she said. Happy holidays from The Daily!

If you miss us during the break, there’s plenty more on our website. Go to mcgilldaily.com for all the fun! 12 The McGill Daily & Le Délit | 2011.11.28

POLITIQUE POLITICS

Water fee hikes proposed to provinces and territories Increases to improve sustainability and efficiency in natural resource industries

Annie Shiel “Charting a Course: Sustainable the federal government, and col- rations in the pulp and paper indus- hydraulic force of moving water The McGill Daily Water Use by Canada’s Natural laborative governance involving a try. According to Parent, they worry and the water flows back into the Resource Sectors,” 86 per cent wide range of stakeholders. that even a 1 per cent increase river with no loss in quality.” of Canada’s water is used by the NRTEE Vice-Chair Mark Parent would be financially problematic, Whether provincial governments report released earlier this natural resource sector, which said that the suggested fee hike was given their recent performance. will actually adopt the proposed fee month by the National includes mining, agriculture, ther- less than 1 per cent. Other industries already pay hike remains to be seen. A Round Table on the mal power, oil, and gas industries. “We’re not in a water crisis yet, premiums that allow them to The Quebec Ministry of Environment and the Economy The report also included and so a small price at the start employ more sustainable practices. Sust-ainable Development, (NRTEE) suggested that Canadian three main recommendations could create sustainable conser- In the hydro-electric industry, for Environment, and Parks (MDDEP) provinces charge higher fees for to encourage efficiency and sus- vation behaviour of about 15 per example, much of the water that is declined to comment publicly on water use in the natural resource tainability in the future: the use cent for that 1 per cent [price] used goes back into the system. the report but did refer to its cur- sector in order to improve efficien- of policy instruments such as an increase,” he said. Hydro-Québec Media Relations rent water regulations. cy and sustainability. increase in water fees, the collec- The goal of the report was to Representative Gary Sutherland The MDDEP’s current regula- According to the report, titled tion of better data on water use by address concerns about the future explained that the company already tions set water fees in Quebec at sustainability of water usage in pays water-power royalties to the $0.0025 per cubic metre of water Canada, given the prediction that there will be competing demands for water in the future. “With climate change, “We’re trying to come up with Become a suggestions before there’s a crisis,” governments around the said Parent. He explained that, “with climate world are behind the ball, Parliamentary change, governments around the world are behind the ball, trying to make up policy in the middle of cri- trying to make up policy sis… So we’re really being proactive Guide in this report, trying to get ahead of in the middle of crisis.” [the problem].” According to Parent, many industries in the natural resource Mark Parent NRTEE Vice-Chair Give guided sector were supportive of a water fee hike. Quebec government in order to used after using 75 cubic metres, tours of “They get [that] they need employ hydraulic power. with a higher fee of $0.07 per cubic water to produce their products, “Hydro-Québec’s electric- metre set for certain industries. so they’re concerned about it being ity generation activities do not “The department does not Parliament there in the future,” he said. imply a consumption of water or intend to amend this regulation Some corporations involved in withdrawal from the water cycle,” in the short term,” stated MDDEP these industries, however, do have Sutherland explained. “Electricity spokesperson Hélène Simard in Apply concerns. Among them are corpo- generation makes use of the French. online! Deadline: Friday, January 13, 2012

www.parl.gc.ca/guides Aquil Virani | The McGill Daily The McGill Daily & Le Délit | 2011.11.28 13

POLITICS POLITIQUE Un homme et son pêché Monsieur Legault, «If you can talk the talk, walk the walk»

Francis L.-Racine dans nos institutions publiques; l’Assemblée nationale, mais il faudra Le meilleur moyen d’assurer Terre pour atteindre et convaincre Le Délit rapprocher le citoyen de nos aussi que son mandat soit plus long l’intégrité de la vie publique est l’électeur moyen. Ses vingt actions institutions pour qu’il s’en saisisse que celui d’un gouvernement et de sanctionner les comportements sont sans conviction, il reste et surtout qu’il soit judicieusement qu’il soit irrévocable par la même jugés inacceptables et dans les généralités sans préciser a politique québécoise est informé sur tous les débats et les Assemblée nationale. On se retrouve incompatibles dans notre société sa pensée et il ne permet pas au forte de rebondissements et enjeux de la société québécoise. donc avec une personne, certes L de péripéties à l’emporte- Revenons à notre vieil ami nommée par l’Assemblée nationale, pièce. Dernièrement, nous avons François Legault; le mécanisme mais qui pourra interpréter à sa «Legault utilise tous les pu constater l’apparition, ou la choisi par ce dernier pour guise un code d’éthique selon son réapparition (après seulement un an rentabiliser balai et porte- bon jugement en tant que grand et demi d’absence) de notre bon vieil poussière est la création d’un philosophe des mœurs publiques. sophismes de la Terre pour ami François Legault. Désormais commissaire à l’intégrité de la vie De plus, il a sous son parapluie grand-prêtre du changement, il publique. Voici dans sa simpliste de juridictions, la moitié de la atteindre et convaincre vient de lancer son nouveau parti: et épurée splendeur la description police provinciale. Bienvenue à Coalition Avenir Québec. Prenons dudit commissaire: «Dotée d’une Autocrate-City! Le pouvoir du l’électeur moyen.» le temps d’admirer la simplicité indépendance et de moyens qui lui commissaire dépend non pas de dérisoire de son «programme». permettraient d’agir efficacement, son élection, mais bien du titre Monsieur Legault semble cette nouvelle autorité, relevant qu’il porte, c’est-à-dire de lui-même. juste et démocratique. L’intégrité citoyen d’avoir la vérité; on est loin innover avec un commissaire à de l’Assemblée nationale, Ce faisant, il peut intervenir à sa des élus est essentielle au encore une fois de l’intégrité. l’intégrité de la vie publique. Selon regrouperait, en les élargissant, guise dans n’importe quel dossier bon fonctionnement de notre Monsieur Alfred Sauvy le dépliant résumant les mois de les mandats actuellement dévolus gouvernemental et s’ingérer dans démocratie et elle ne devrait mentionne que «biens informés, consultation de François Legault, au Commissaire à l’éthique, au des prérogatives d’élus. En fait, pas être laissée à un individu au les hommes sont des citoyens; la CAQ propose de faire «le grand Commissaire au lobbyisme et à François Legault prend le poste dessus de l’Assemblée nationale mal informés, ils deviennent ménage dans la vie publique». En l’Unité permanente anticorruption de Lieutenant Gouverneur, il le Ayons confiance en nos élus ou des sujets». En restant dans les effet, toujours selon l’exhaustif du ministère de la Sécurité saupoudre d’un peu de légitimité changeons-les, point! «on-verra» après plusieurs mois de cahier de point form de la CAQ: «En publique.» Par la suite, le (nommé par l’Assemblée nationale), Cependant, le vrai péché de consultations et de rédactions, le toutes circonstances, l’action du programme est agrémenté par il change son nom en Commissaire François Legault n’est ni son manque chef du parti nouvellement formé gouvernement doit être marquée quelques tapes-dans-le-dos à à l’intégrité de la vie publique et de rigueur et de professionnalisme ne vise qu’à assujettir les Québécois du sceau de la transparence, de la la sauce cohésion-égale-succès. il lui donne en cadeau la police pour se présenter devant les à sa désinformation. Avec pour rigueur et de l’intégrité. C’est peu Encore une fois, je me fais le provinciale et diverses prérogatives Québécois avec une page recto- slogan «Le Changement… dire que d’affirmer que des gestes défenseur de la tarte aux pommes. dont celle de faire tomber un verso de «on-verra», mais bien son on verra», François Legault a décisifs devront être posés pour Cependant, considérons les gouvernement dûment élu par objectif facilement observable. À désormais trouvé chaussure à correspondre à cet idéal.» Son idéal tenants et aboutissants de son un simple courriel aux médias. travers ces phrases creuses et ses son pied avec les Croisières CAQ, c’est davantage d’intégrité, mais qui idée de commissaire à l’intégrité Irrévocable, légitime par lui-même «actions» dignes de messages de mais malheureusement. Espérons n’est pas pour l’intégrité? Nous le publique. Premièrement, en et non imputable: belle bibitte biscuit chinois, monsieur Legault ne qu’il ne fasse pas embarquer les sommes tous. Sérieusement, il faut grand manitou de la droiture, d’intégrité, ça va laver blanc au prend pas position, il n’explique pas, Québécois dans son beau grand rétablir la confiance des Québécois le commissaire sera nommé par maudit! il utilise tous les sophismes de la bateau vide d’intégrité. x Legality of pepper spray questioned Health effects of chemical discussed

Laurent Bastien Corbeil 2000, researchers at the University incident at UC-Davis is part of a The McGill Daily of Helsinki found that pepper wider problem. spray, or Oleoresin Capsicum spray, “There have been comments could cause immediate, but not from law enforcement officials that ideo footage of police offi- permanent, damage to the corneal this was inappropriate use of pepper cers using pepper spray structure of the eye. In another spray. Who decides that they could V against student protestors study, published by the Journal of use pepper spray anyway?” she asked. at the University of California - Davis Correctional Health Care in 1997, Blum added that more severe (UC-Davis), has drawn international experts noted that the inappropri- punishments should be leveled attention. The images, which have ate use of pepper spray could inflict against officers who use the sub-

been widely circulated on the inter- “behavioral and mental health stance abusively. Henry Daily Gass McGill | The net, have renewed a debate over the effects” on individuals. “The officer at UC-Davis was proper usage of the substance. In the United States, the only given a paid suspension. That Deborah Blum, a Pulitzer American Civil Liberties Union filed is not punishment,” she said. Prize-winning journalist who has a request to the California appeals Information on the UC-Davis written extensively on the sub- court in 1999 to declare the use of and Montreal police departments’ ject, considers weaponized pep- pepper spray dangerous and cruel. training methods could not be per spray a potentially dangerous Pepper spray has been found to be obtained by The Daily at the time Riot police use pepper spray on students at McGill. tool. In an interview with The a contributing factor to many deaths of press. However, the Institut de Daily, she explained some of its of individuals in police custody in the police du Québec says that pepper It should only be used if the officer vaporized for one to two seconds. harmful effects. U.S. Fewer deaths have been report- spray should only be used after the is threatened,” she said. According to Blum, the families “Pepper spray works by amplify- ed in Canada, where pepper spray suspect has been warned verbally, In Quebec, the Association pari- of some of the UC-Davis students ing allergic sensitivities. It irritates is subject to tougher regulation: for and considers it to be less serious taire pour la santé et la sécurité du who were pepper sprayed are now and damages eyes, membranes, example, pepper spray is sold as bear than physical force. travail – an agency that aims to pro- looking to file a lawsuit. bronchial airways, anything it repellant, and civilian use against For Blum, pepper spray is not mote a safe working environment “They’re looking at a lawsuit,” touches. It is particularly dangerous humans is prohibited. taken as seriously as it should be. for government employees – issued she said. “Some of the students to asthmatics,” Blum said. Blum argues that police offi- “I know people who were both a series of recommendations on were sent to the hospital, and one The dangerous effects of pep- cers are not properly trained to tasered and pepper sprayed. Being the use of pepper spray in 1998. It was definitely coughing up blood. per spray are well-documented. In handle pepper spray, and that the pepper sprayed is far more painful. states that suspects should only be It’s just shocking.” 14 The McGill Daily & Le Délit | 2011.11.28

À BOIRE EN VILLE A SIP OF MONTREAL Pour quelques flocons de plus Chronique: Carnets métèques

Marek Ahnee Puis la magie des fêtes s’efface blanc immaculé recouvrait la ville de fabuleux mystères: cidre de Et si la nuit tombe aussi vite qu’à Le Délit pour laisser place à un été moite, de nouveau, les chasse-neige, glace, canneberges séchées, Gotham City, la sécurité règne véritable empire des moustiques. manticores d’un univers inconnu, pacanes, fudge aux noix, bleuets dans les rues éclairées, du moins La vie quotidienne de la petite déblayaient devant moi toute et tous ces fameux drinks… C’est plus qu’à Washington. Malgré le ’est par des temps pareils république sucrière reprend, aux ambition de rejouer le Docteur dans ce décor de Nouveau Monde tempérament latin imputé aux que les alcools forts sont couleurs estivales ternies par la Jivago. qu’en première année un ami Québécois, Montréal semble le Cinventés. Montréal glisse corruption, le communalisme et La neige n’est pas seulement kenyan ismaélien m’invita pour centre d’une société nordique. De lentement dans un long hiver. À la l’ennui. Les étendues blanches du la formule hivernale de l’H20, ni célébrer la fête de Kushali. Faute la Scandinavie à la rue Sherbrooke, même période, un hémisphère plus Nord étaient des terres d’évasion même une ressource poétique; d’halwas et de rasgoulas, ce fut il faut croire que la neige prédestine bas, l’océan Indien sombre dans que littérature, cinéma et télévision elle est avant tout un mode de vie. par une glace à l’érable que nous à des univers urbains conviviaux. un lourd été. Entre soleil brûlant avaient nourrie dès l’enfance. Depuis cinq siècles, un monde rendîmes hommage à l’Aga Khan. À l’heure où on se lasse déjà et grosses pluies chaudes, le Noël Je vis la neige pour la première s’est formé autour d’elle, sur Le froid a offert à Montréal fierté d’écouter en boucle les Carols mauricien rime avec le charme fois en octobre 2009, d’une fenêtre elle, par elle. Maisons, fenêtres, et légendes sportives. La vieille des supermarchés, les vers du mascarin d’un sonnet baudelairien. du sixième étage de Leacock. Un chauffage, tunnels, la neige a taillé Québec fut terrassée. Le hockey grand monsieur Gilles s’imposent. Les flamboyants rougeoient et ami me tira subitement la manche une cité à sa mesure. Du vêtement donna à la cité une nouvelle religion, Il commence ainsi: «Dans la les litchis ploient sous le poids de pour que je regarde dehors. Ce à la nourriture, l’étranger à cette en remplaçant par une crosse blanche cérémonie Où la neige leurs fruits. La messe de minuit se fut un coup de foudre qui perdura société doit apprendre les règles profane celle des archevêques. De au vent se marie Dans ce pays de chante à la musique des éventails. malgré le revers du flocon: Noël dictées par le froid. Adieu mangues Montréal à St-Dilon, la neige a aussi poudrerie…»; plus loin il conclut: Le 25 décembre, les enfants lancent boueux, sloche et nombreuses confites et ananas au piment, les engendré une culture festive, entre «La chambre d’amis sera telle qu’on des pétards dans le jardin familial. chutes d’albatros. Et lorsqu’un étals du marché Jean-Talon recèlent violon et bière, à l’abri des flocons. viendra des autres saisons». x Du baume au cœur Chronique: Morceau de pipeau Hands

Lucas Roux libèrent de l’énergie, de la chaleur. nité. Pas de résolution pour eux. “You’re not a real Montrealer until you’ve had a Le Délit C’est bien fait, le corps humain. Tant que les bicyclettes dis- smoked meat sandwich with a Cott cherry coke,” he D’accord, il y a le trafic qui men- paraîtront des rues de la ville dès said in memoriam. ace de ses grosses roues. Mais une que le temps se gâte, les mauvais- It was with those cigar-like fingers he squeezed es feuilles sont à peine tom- bonne lumière suffit à les garder à es langues pourront toujours par- more mustard onto his plate. Kind eyes, encouraging. bées que Montréal porte déjà distance. Le reste, ce n’est qu’un ler du vélo comme d’un hobby aux Lson manteau blanc. L’hiver test de patience. yeux plus gros que le ventre. I would know those hands, their tight grip on s’installe et c’est donc les pieds Ah oui, il y a les cris des Rob Puis Montréal sera pognée the steering wheel. Me in the passenger seat, with sur le chauffage que j’en viens à Ford de ce monde, qui courent dans son approche récréative des crunched wet leaves stuck to the roof of my mouth. parler d’hibernation: pas celle des les rues dans Montréal la blanche. infrastructures cyclables. Quinze “Guys talk in locker rooms talk my dear. Trust me.” écureuils (ils l’ont oubliée), mais «On n’est pas en Floride icitte, pistes au bord du fleuve, si scé- Flick the keys out of the ignition- goodnight. bien celle des bicyclettes. on n’a pas douze mois l’an pour nique, mais une seule qui descend Trust those hands. Avec les premiers flocons, ce rouler à bicyclette.» Eh bien si, jus- de Laval, et sans lumières syn- ne sont pas que les jupes qui sont tement. On a le même calendrier, chronisées (quand je parlais de At times, they were fists of fury. rangées au placard. Pour beau- non? test de patience!). The crusher of cherry coke cans, of confession, of coup, l’hiver sonne aussi le glas Pédaler l’hiver, c’est plus déli- Sans compter que venu novem- my mother’s collar bone. des coups de pédales, et bien cat que le reste de l’année. Mais bre, pouf, il n’y a plus rien, ou si He swore never to hang Christmas lights for the des vélos passeront les fêtes au conduire l’hiver, c’est bien pareil! peu. sake of those hands, chaud, dans le hall ou au sous- Pourtant personne ne s’insurge Alors il faut continuer Yet bit his nails like a child. sol. quand une file de chars patinent d’enfourcher la selle, qu’il neige, Face à la neige et au froid, la et se rentrent dedans. grêle, ou que sais-je! Quitte, peut- They’re released now, years too late. fidèle monture des jours d’été ne Un poids, deux mesures, être, à boire un verre avant, ou Those cigars have since unraveled into dry tobacco semble plus de taille. Et pour- comme cette résolution des deux, histoire de se donner un leaves. tant, qu’est-ce qu’un peu de neige Jeunes libéraux qui sous-entend peu de baume au cœur. sinon un gros tas de fun! Certes, une application plus sévère du Sur ce, cette chronique tire sa “Montreal was different when I was here,” he says. ça glisse, mais le sol meringué de Code de la sécurité routière révérence pour l’année. Si vous His hand loosely clasping a glass of red. Kind eyes, neige saura vous envelopper des envers les cyclistes. Une ques- me retrouvez en janvier, ce sera acknowledging. bonnes grâces de la nature. tion de «justice sociale», qu’ils depuis la Suède, où des files de La température? Une fois les disent. cyclistes bravent déjà la neige en mains et les oreilles emmitou- Mais chaque jour des mil- tenue de soirée –l’esprit viking, — Christina Colizza flées, il n’y a plus que la pilosité lions d’automobilistes font fi des sans doute. nasale qui gèle. Et puis les jambes lumières rouges, des arrêts et des En tout cas, je vous raconterai ne tournent pas pour rien, elles limites de vitesse, et en toute impu- ça. D’ici là, à la vôtre! x

Retrouvez Le Délit en décembre sur les ondes de CKUT 90,3FM tous les jeudis à 7h et 8h10 dans Le lendemain de la veille! Inkwell The McGill Daily & Le Délit | 2011.11.28 15

A SIP OF MONTREAL À BOIRE EN VILLE The dying breed of dive bars A search for authenticity in the urban nightscape

Mercedes Sharpe-Zayas Culture Writer

t was one of those cold nights on Parc, the kind that leaves your eyes Iwith a tearful glaze. Frustrated with the bitter wind, I dipped into the warm refuge of Bar Primetime for a quick kick to keep me going. Drifting past the clattering echoes of the pool table, I settled down amidst the ranks of older men lining the wooden bar and ordered what I considered a clas- sic – rye and ginger. “What the hell is rye?” the bleary-eyed waitress laughed, staring at the liquors behind the bar in utter stupor. Evidently, drinks were not their specialty. Finally, a bearded gentleman lift- ed his gaunt finger from the weath- ered pages of a book to point out a hidden bottle. “It’s the rye content that gives the whiskey its name,” he muttered as he tucked his head back down. Anita, the waitress, prepared the drink, asking what brought a young girl to the bar by herself. Upon mentioning my interest in dive bars, she took one quick glance around the room and winked, “Well, honey, you came to the right place.” The topic of dive bars elicits a mul- titude of reactions, most drenched in mild apathy. “Oh, the greasy spoon of bars,” remarked Rebecca Borkowsky, a U1 English Literature student, “Yeah, I don’t do those.” While some students would never step foot into the dark depths of an elusive dive, others praise them for their eclectic atmosphere, cheap beer, and impressive collection of nineties rock. “I’ve revealed some of my deepest secrets over a pitcher Amina Batyreva | The McGill Daily at this place, usually to the soundtrack of a soft-rock ballad,” recounted Aaron with parts of it being bought out by the – evoking a strong sense of place 1930s and 1940s would hang large bill- munity spirit. While these bars might Vansintjan, a U4 student in Joint Jewish communities. It wasn’t until the beyond their gritty façades. When boards boasting “Verres Stérilisés” to stand in solidarity against the prob- Honours Philosophy & Environmental past 10 or 15 years, though, that you Wilder returned to his game of pool, all who walked the streets. Yet, as the lem of public alienation, they are not Studies and the current chair of the began to notice a real change.” As the the well-dressed man sitting beside years moved on, these taverns were always doing so in legal terms. The lim- DPS board and former Daily Design rents were driven up and storeown- him picked up where the conversa- torn down, one by one, until only ited profits accrued from VLTs, juke- and Production editor, during a night ers could no longer afford their units, tion left off. He went by the name of the façade of “Aux Verres Stérilisés” boxes, pool matches, and inexpen- out in the dim wooden tavern of Aux a wave of traditional shops closed Marco, and claimed to be a “secret remained on the corner of St. Hubert sive drinks often suggest alternative Verres Stérilisés. down. Primetime was one of the few partner” of Primetime. “It’s the poli- and Rachel. “This bar has been open means of income to sustain business. The quintessential image of rustic bars that managed to resist the post- tics of dive bars that give them their since the 1940s, passed down from “It’s a controlled environment, but it’s grit associated with a neighbourhood modern push of gentrification. “If character,” he explained, “these face grandfather to father to son,” the bar- corrupt,” Wilder hinted. Fortunately dive can be either appealing or appall- you’re looking for an authentic experi- to face interactions between the tender explained in broken English, for the dives, dystopian representa- ing, depending on perspective. For ence, this is it,” Wilder insisted, “one of patron and the owner create authen- as he placed a single white rose on tions of the urban city often entice the some, these residual spaces are seen the few places that stayed true to the ticity.” Anyone who has spent a night the cash register. “People are gather- younger crowds in search for a cheap as archaic and anarchic, in contrast to authentic spirit of Parc.” out at Plage Montenegro (formerly ing from the neighbourhood, they’re thrill. “The real problem arises when the postmodern veneer of gentrified What puts these dives on the Miami) can relate to this, with the drawn by the conversations and the you reach a certain carrying capacity,” brandscapes. For others, these mis- “cutting-edge” of the fast-paced, owner’s infamous reputation for cheap drinks.” Marco warned, “If too many students conceptions of blight are folded into post-industrial bar-scene is, ironi- pouring free drinks to keep the con- When I ventured out to St. Henri, a started coming to Primetime, it would a portrait of urban authenticity, inspir- cally enough, their resistance to the versation flowing. similar trend towards neighbourhood no longer be true to itself. It would kill ing nostalgia for an unspoken history. forefront of change. These alterna- And it’s these conversant propri- identity was taking place. The dolled- the spirit.” As a result, these holes in As I took a sip of my drink back at tive nightlife spaces aren’t the work etors who are our city’s true histori- up waitress at Le Black Jack Bar would the wall must limit their advertising Primetime, a young guy by the name of designers or expert mixologists. ans, scattering obscured chronicles go back and forth between answering schemes to word of mouth and unas- of Neal Wilder jostled up next to me Rather, they’re socially constructed of drinking cultures across the my questions and fact checking with suming awnings. It’s a strategic game wearing a suit and tie, asking for a pen. and collectively imagined by a mar- city. Back in the day, the advent of the regulars, creating an unconven- of survival, maintained by an age-old Having grown up in the area, he gave ginal voice – those members of the advanced dishware sanitation was a tional sense of community. cautionary tale: With any public dec- me a brief history of the street, “All of community who may elsewhere major attraction for drinking estab- This is not meant to glorify dive laration of authenticity, an obituary is Parc used to be owned by the Greeks, feel isolated, but here, feel at home lishments in Montreal. Taverns in the bars as the last saving grace of com- soon to follow. 16 The McGill Daily & Le Délit | 2011.11.28

À BOIRE EN VILLE A SIP OF MONTREAL OPINION Love in the time of caffeine addiction A student speaks out about her experience with coffee

Karen Huang it incredible that anyone would go urge to collapse into the first chair I while I’d had a growing suspicion In the end, it doesn’t really mat- Hyde Park out of their way for coffee. After all, see and loaf there for a few hours, I that students’ routine coffee intake ter what coffee does, or doesn’t, do. it’s nothing more than a drink. know I’ve been drinking too much was linked to some sort of pla- It has become inextricably woven I have since seen the light. Now, coffee. That feeling doesn’t stop me cebo effect. For me, at least, coffee into our academic lives, and we h, coffee: the staple of the I believe that coffee intake is noth- from going back for more, though, doesn’t always do what it’s reputed need it more than we may realize. typical university student ing short of a transcendent experi- because going cold turkey is even to do. I’ve had days when I’ve drank After all, no lecture hall would be A diet. Forget water – this cup ence. I’m willing to be 10 minutes worse. A few weeks ago, under the two cups and still feel sleepy shortly complete without someone accom- of Arabica paradise is the elixir of life. late for my first class of the day if it impression that I’ve been getting thereafter. Perhaps my tolerance has panied by their favourite mug or After all, it’s what keeps us going at means I can get my morning fix at headaches from excessive coffee increased. Perhaps I should stop paper cup. Coffee is to the university 3 a.m., when those term papers still one of my cafe haunts near campus, intake, I stopped drinking it alto- diluting my coffee with milk and student what fast food is to the aver- refuse to write themselves. It’s also because nothing keeps me focused gether. The result was not pretty. upgrade to three cups a day, prob- age North American. Even when we what keeps us from dozing off amidst like a good old cup of caffeine First of all, I felt more like the undead ably at the expense of my sanity. Or realize its detriments, we always go back-to-back classes that inconve- addiction. And hell, I’m writing this than ever. And, every day, my coffee do I keep drinking coffee for the back for more. niently start in the ungodly hours of as I happily sip my second cup of craving increased, until it seemed as sake of it because it’s supposed to Oh coffee, I really wish I knew how the morning. the day at 8 p.m.: who needs sleep though the only thing that would save be, as I’ve said, a staple of the uni- to properly quit you. But, then again, I A few years ago, I read a Gawker when you’ve got coffee? me from some imaginary impending versity student diet? Meanwhile, don’t really want to. article about how Alec Baldwin But with every good caffeine apocalypse was a medium regular somewhere out there, the heads of made his own iced latte at Starbucks high comes an equally awful caffeine at Java U. Needless to say, I relapsed coffee conglomerates are probably Karen Huang is a U1 English with macchiato, milk, and a cup of crash. When I feel my internal organs sooner than I’d planned. laughing at my petty plight as they Literature student. You can reach ice, just to save two dollars. I found groaning, when I feel the sudden Despite my dependence, for a gleefully count their earnings. her at [email protected]. To drink or not to drink Why some university athletes may be hesitant to take to the cup

Sports, eh world – a thing of the past. increased alcohol consump- With the increasingly cut-throat tion of university athletes nature of competitive sports, athletes can be attributed to post- Sam Gregory will do anything to get a step up on game celebrations and the [email protected] their opponents. For professional sense of camaraderie that athletes today that means giving up comes with being part of cGill students are well alcohol or, at least, binge drinking. a competitive team. Again, aware that, while thousands Nowadays there are very few cases for the majority of univer- M of dollars are going towards of professional athletes with alcohol sity athletes, drinking will tuition and housing costs, thousands problems. In university athletics, how- just be part of their univer- more are being blown at the SAQ or ever, this is an entirely different story. sity experience, in the same local dep. For the most part, they University athletes are younger way being part of a varsity are okay with that. Between Frosh, than the average professional athlete team is. For others, they may

Carnival, and the average Thursday and their career span is much short- be forced to choose between risk- Daily Batyreva McGill | The Amina night at Tokyo, alcohol is a major part er. For most university athletes, their ing their future ambitions or forgo- of university life at McGill and across competitive playing career will end ing what seems like a typical uni- the world. For the most part the at around 22 or 23, when they finish versity experience. Wilfrid health risks involved in alcohol use at their undergraduate education. This Five former and current McGill Laurier universities are not life threatening. means they worry less about their students were represented at the University last year People manage to show up to class long-term future, and their entire 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games, after members of the hung-over and are relatively func- focus is on the four years they spend and the Canadian Football League team were drinking tional. However, Canadian universi- playing at the university level. usually recruits a few graduates of on the bus ride home ties – including McGill – are breeding However, there are a few univer- the McGill varsity team every year. from an away game. grounds for high-level athletes, and sity athletes who do want to compete These athletes are not just compet- The move was met this drinking culture is not conducive at higher levels like in the Olympics ing for four years; they are making with harsh criticism to creating a world-class athlete. or the Canadian Football League, and their living by competing. The ath- from both the team Habitual binge drinking among the culture of drinking at a university letes they will be up against that are and the larger student professional athletes is mostly a thing that many of their teammates end up coming from non-university back- body. Their argument of the past. In England, some of the participating in could seriously dam- grounds will probably not be train- was that these students most successful soccer players of the age their future aspirations. ing under this same binge-drinking are just like any oth- 1960s and 1970s had serious drink- The heavy drinking culture associ- environment that occurs at univer- ers and should not be ing problems. Immediately, the name ated with university life is often exac- sities. In order to compete at this under stricter regula- George Best comes to mind. He was erbated at the varsity athletics level. A same level, these McGill athletes will tions just because they the Northern Irish soccer player who study conducted by Frank Butts at the be either forced to forgo or over- play on a varsity team. was named the best player on the University of West Georgia suggests come the heavy drinking culture Alcohol has always planet in 1967 and famously said, “In that university athletes on average that comes with university. and will always be a part 1969, I gave up alcohol – it was the have 5.07 drinks every weekend, while Several universities have tried to of university life, and stu- worst twenty minutes of my life.” Best their none-athletic counterparts have stop the drinking culture within var- dents should have the right to died at age fifty-nine of liver failure. only 3.5 drinks per weekend. These sity sports, but reversing a culture fully experience their time at uni- The stories of Best and other soccer are athletes who train on what is usu- is not easy and is potentially more versity regardless of whether or not pete at the highest level of competi- players who struggled with alcohol- ally a daily basis and require their bod- harmful than effective. Queens they represent the school in a varsity tion, this drinking culture has the ism, have helped to make drinking ies to be in top physical condition. University forced its baseball team sport. However, for the small minor- potential to be a major hurdle in both culture in England – and across the The main explanation for the to forfeit its final two games against ity of athletes who will go on to com- their personal and professional lives. The McGill Daily & Le Délit | 2011.11.28 17

A SIP OF MONTREAL À BOIRE EN VILLE MacLean’s Pub Where everybody knows your game

JF: We have many students. The upstairs is usually occupied by students, and it’s more of a lounge feel. There are pool tables. We have live DJs and bands sometimes, so a lot of the younger folks like that. Downstairs, it’s more entrepre- neurs, older people, business peo- ple, and tourists. It’s about a fifty- fifty ratio. MD: The Habs are winning tonight. Does it get any rowdier when the Habs are winning or when they win? JF: It does. It gets a little more exciting when the Habs win. We notice that we have more of a turn Amina Batyreva | The McGill Daily out after the game when the Habs do win. Because every time the Habs win, people feel like we have won the Stanley Cup; they just haven’t turned over any police cars. alking into McLean’s the game, depending on if the We usually get there in time enough ple that come and work for me are MD: Would you say that every- Pub, located downtown Canadiens win or not. It actually that nobody gets hurt, but I’m usu- here for a long time, and that’s the one that works here is a Habs fan? W on Peel Street, you imme- makes a difference. And during ally a little rougher with the Toronto key. People get to know them, and JF: Yes, for the most part. Not diately know you are in an Montreal playoffs it’s fucking apeshit in fans, I don’t know why. they really know how to get a party that I wouldn’t hire a non-Habs fan, sports bar. Loyal and equally loud here. It’s absolutely nuts. It’s nuts, MD: Are you a Montreal native? going, you know. but I wouldn’t, so… Habs fans, a friendly staff, and, people are dancing on the tables, JF: I am a Montreal native, yes. I MD: Would you say that is part MD: What would you say is your most notably, ten-litre beer towers, we got line-ups all the way down was born and raised here. of the Montreal spirit to watch a most popular draft? are among a few of the features the block, it’s absolutely crazy in MD: What is the craziest fight hockey game and party afterwards? JF: Keith’s, Pale Ale. It’s a great you are bound to see. I went down here, and it’s a hell of a party. you have ever seen? JF: Yeah, that’s all Montreal. beer and we are the only bar that on the bar’s famous Hockey Night MD: You said it gets crazy dur- JF: The craziest fight I have ever MD: Do you guys have a big has these three-litre towers. We in Canada on Saturday, November ing playoffs. The last time the seen? Happened on St. Patty’s Day thing for Alexander Keith’s birthday? also have a ten-litre one. 19, to watch the Canadiens play the Habs were in the playoffs was last in 2009. I was involved in it too, I JF: We do. It just passed a couple MD: You also show Ulitmate New York Rangers. While there, I sat year, when they lost to my favorite got a nice shiner out of it too. It was weeks ago, and that was another Fighting Championships matches. down to talk with the manager, Jay team… I’m a Boston native. funny. I was okay in the end, so it shit show. Is this because you like UFC or Farrar, about his experiences work- JF: This interview is over. was funny. It’s all in context. We had MD: If you had to rank the crazi- because it’s just very popular? ing at a sports bar in Montreal. MD: So what happened after a bunch of kids that tried to storm est times in here, what would they be? JF: I like UFC a lot. I do Mixed they lost? in – about 10 or 15 kids – and I had JF: Playoffs and St. Patty’s Day are Martial Arts myself, so yes, it is very McGill Daily: How long have JF: What happened after they to push them all back and then my about the same. I’ve seen a guy put popular, so we do order it every you been here as the manager? lost? The Boston Bruins went on door man got involved, and all hell his head through the wall. I’ve seen month. People get a kick out of it. Jay Farrar: I have been here as to win the Stanley cup…. Oh, you broke loose. People were going a guy take his clothes off completely We usually fill up the bar for it. the manager for four years. mean the atmosphere here? down, kids were going to La Belle and run around the bar. I’ve had peo- MD: What other sports do you MD: And how long has this fine MD: Yeah, what happened? Province next door and asking them ple having sex on the staircase. I’ve show? establishment been around for? JF: I’ve never seen the bar so for ice for their face, it was a mess. had people pee wherever they want. JF: Every sport. We always show JF: As McLean’s it has been here empty and so quiet at the same MD: What was the craziest fight I had someone casually walk off with the Monday night football with sound, twenty years, almost twenty years. time. Because it was a sudden you have seen over hockey? the condom machine once because and we do all the NFL games here on Since 1992. goal in overtime, and it just went JF: Over hockey? You don’t get it wasn’t nailed to the ground. That Sunday. We have the screens all split MD: Do you know anything completely and absolutely silent. too many. There is a lot of trash was pretty interesting. That is usually up, so we are usually showing about about the history? What is something Everybody just sat here and stared talking and then you know every- what happens on St. Patty’s Day. three or four games at the same time. important that I should know about at the screens in disbelief. You body is always afraid to do some- MD: This article is for our drinks MD: Do you play the Grey Cup? how it started? could hear a penny drop in here. thing because it’s a lot of posturing. special issue at The McGill Daily, so I’d JF: Oh, of course. Actually when JF: Yes, I do. This originally was a MD: Have there ever been any You know, people are full of piss like to ask, do you think this behav- we had the Grey Cup here…we house. It still has the original fireplace fights? and vinegar. iour has something to do with the actually sold out of food one night. over there in the corner. So it started JF: There have been many fights MD: What do you think brings amount of alcohol people consume? People from Saskatchewan are nuts. as a house, built in 1910, and eventu- over the years, but we don’t get a people back to McLean’s? JF: Not necessarily, not neces- MD: People from Saskatchewan? ally it became a tavern in the 1920s lot of trouble in here. It’s an older JF: Two things: ambiance – sarily. I think it really has to do with JF: Yes, people from when it was called the “Vimark.” After crowd, you know. It’s usually when there is always an energy in here, the person. It’s got nothing to do Saskatchewan were here, and that for forty to fifty years, one year it the young kids from Boston come which I make sure that we try to with the alcohol. Here in Quebec, Saskatchewan wasn’t even playing. became Peel Pub, and the next year up and cause a lot of trouble. maintain. When the hockey game’s we have an 18 and over policy. MD: Have you had any famous after that it became McLean’s Pub. MD: Yeah, those Massholes do over, what have you, the music gets When you go down to the United people come into your pub? MD: Would you say your pub do that. cranked up real loud, and we really States, it’s 21 and over, and there is JF: Oh yes, mostly athletes. A lot attracts mostly Habs fans? JF: They don’t know how to get the party going. It’s not like way more binge drinking down in of the Montreal Canadiens come JF: Mostly yes, but we do have drink. And yeah, we have had other pubs where you can hardly the United States than there is in in, some Carolina Hurricanes, the a lot of tourists, so we get people some interesting things happen. hear the music. We’ve got juke- Canada. It’s practically unheard of CBC Hockey Night in Canada crew from all walks of life. We’ve had a few scuffles. We’ve had boxes. People can put in whatever here. Sure you have your college comes in here. They will be in here MD: What is the atmosphere Boston fans and Montreal fans go songs they want. It’s just all about parties and stuff like that but not tonight. They drink like fishes. We usually like? at it, we’ve had Toronto fans and music, and it’s all about staff. That’s like the states where you have fun- get the TSN crew here a lot. We get JF: During the regular sea- Montreal fans go at it. the second thing. We have a great nels and hoses and bonfires…and lots of journalists, mostly athletes, son, we get a pretty good crowd. MD: Who wins when the staff that everybody knows. We all kinds of things going on. but journalists as well. For hockey, we get a big rush Montreal and Toronto fans go at it? don’t have a high turnover. I don’t MD: So who comes mostly to before the game and usually after JF: We always get there in time. hire and fire a lot. Usually the peo- McLean’s? —Compiled by Naomi Braude 18 The McGill Daily & Le Délit | 2011.11.28

À BOIRE EN VILLE A SIP OF MONTREAL Reaching protestors with food “La cuisine du peuple” provides a dining option for the occupiers

Amy Tang rather than make this effort. Others in the line for food, Health&Education Writer Observing this lack of responsi- while seemingly supportive, were bility, Jacques Messier, a seasoned less vocal about the cause. When activist who has travelled around asked for what purpose she was at rom afar, it looks like a hap- Quebec and previously partici- the movement, a woman standing hazard sea of tents and tar- pated in such movements, has in the food line answered simply, F paulin, satisfying only the become the unofficial dishwasher “Why not?” basic need for shelter. At certain for the area. Another participant, Serge times of the day, it might even “I know they need hygiene Jean-Louis, took a different appear deserted. But don’t be so that people don’t get sick,” approach. While he appreciated fooled by first impressions. The Messier said. the food and echoed “the value Occupy Montreal movement, and What he noted at the Occupy of sharing riches and a better its kitchen, “la cuisine du peuple,” Montreal protest was that “it takes world,” he chose to “remain sep- is a hub of activity. As any home- time to make change.” The occupi- arate and have the freedom to owner will tell you, the kitchen is ers stand in stark contrast to the come and go.” Jean-Louis agreed the center of the home, and this peace and love era, the counter- with such movements, but found adage rings true at Place du Peuple culture social revolutions of the the retention of individual iden- – ground zero of Occupy Montreal. 1960s, where “they tried to [run tity important. Mealtimes bustle with an end- away from] responsibility; it was… The kitchen, operating reg- less line of hungry protestors an easy way out”. ularly seven days a week, is and occupiers. The organiza- “[The current movement is] a an invaluable part of Occupy tion of the kitchen is an impres- wake-up call for humanity, where Montreal. The food contributors sive feat, undertaken in what is people are fed up,” Messier said. and the volunteers who work described as a non-hierarchal “They say one person has a lot of here are crucial supporters of the manner. While there is a “head” riches, and others have only just movement, and without them, chef, Mireille Marchant, and a what they need to survive. We neither the kitchen nor the move- supervisor and overseer of secu- have to share more.” ment would be the same. rity, Eric Forest, anyone was free to enter and exit the kitchen area for whatever purpose he or she has. Volunteers were present and worked as required, but were not subjected to any task without first giving their own consent. Forest explained that there were gener- ally four to six volunteers present at all times, and particularly dur- ing mealtime hours. The kitchen is a large, rectangu- lar structure covered in tarp that serves the dual purposes of stor- age and prep area. In front of the kitchen tent, a tarp awning covers a long serving table, upon which were two propane stoves and behind which the food line forms. “I try to use the right quantity for everything, [and if not], we try to reuse it in other ways,” Marchant said regarding food usage. “Usually, I make the right numbers.” Waste is deposited in large com- post, recycling, and garbage bins to the side of the kitchen complex. According to Marchant, the city comes to collect waste every morn- ing. Materials used in food produc- tion arrive by donation, with no apparent lack in supply. And where there is food, there are dishes. As the Occupy move- ment bases itself on equality and non-hierarchical roles, each meal- taker is expected to clean his or her plate in a designated pavilion. Inside, three plastic bins are filled with water, Javex, and vinegar. Left-hand photo by Nicole Gileadi for The McGill Daily, all others by Victor Tangermann | The McGill Daily However, many of the occupiers choose to abandon their plates The volunteers at “la cuisine du peuple” are hard at work to accomodate the many occupiers who routinely visit the tent. The McGill Daily & Le Délit | 2011.11.28 19

A SIP OF MONTREAL À BOIRE EN VILLE Maître du bar Fins connaisseurs de l’alcool fort, des fruits exotiques et du glaçon, ils jonglent avec les coupes et vivent la nuit.

Anabel Cossette Civitella rappellent les deux collègues de tra- Éduc’Alcool pour enseigner l’éthique Le Délit vail. Pour eux, le fait qu’elle soit du barman. «Action service est un sympathique, agréable à côtoyer et programme inclus dans la formation charismatique leur donne envie de de quatre-vingts heures et est néces- l existe différentes écoles de revenir et surtout… d’en redeman- saire pour assurer une formation pensée quant à ce que qu’il der. Éric s’étonne: «Elle a beaucoup de qualité» ajoute la responsable du I faut pour être un bon barman. d’entraînement. Même si elle boit recrutement étudiant. Certains diront qu’il faut une santé avec nous et avec d’autres clients, Néanmoins, le métier de serveur de fer pour résister au mode de vie elle reste debout!» dans le milieu hôtelier peut cer- tardif, d’autres soutiendront qu’une Si le métier de barman ou bar- tainement attirer, autant pour les bonne santé mentale doit primer, maid semble attirant pour plu- perspectives d’emploi que pour les pour résister aux abus d’alcool durant sieurs, il demeure important de salaires payants. D’après madame et après le quart de travail. Faut-il noter que les quarts de travail sont Carrière, il y a une pénurie de main de l’entregent, du leadership, de tardifs et stressants. D’ailleurs, les d’œuvre dans le service d’hôtellerie; l’enthousiasme? Est-ce que le diplôme serveurs et serveuses qui ont bien la demande est grande pour le per- est une denrée essentielle ou est-ce voulu parler de leur expérience sonnel qualifié et les salaires offerts plutôt l’expérience qui prime? étaient tous beaucoup trop pres- s’ajustent en conséquence, une À l’École des Maîtres, en opé- sés pour s’arrêter un moment. information corroborée par Claire ration depuis 1981, la réponse est Non seulement le rythme de vie Champeau, de l’École des Maîtres. claire: «Nous formons des gens Photo: Lindsay P. Cameron est effréné, mais les complications L’Institut d’hôtellerie offrira pour qu’ils soient des profession- Une serveuse mixant un cocktail. légales peuvent aussi alourdir la d’ailleurs, en janvier 2013, un nou- nels. Ils sortent d’ici avec tout le tâche du barman. veau Diplôme d’études profession- bagage nécessaire pour se faire bar est de 80 heures, ce qui en C’est aussi ce que croient À L’ITHQ, Sylvie Carrière soutient nelles (DEP): une formation inter- employer dans un restaurant, un fait la plus longue offerte en ville Sandra, Sonia, et Anela, toutes bar- qu’une formation complète pour les nationale en service et sommellerie hôtel ou un bar» soutient Claire comparé à 30 heures à l’École maids de longue date. Après trois bartenders doit nécessairement com- et restauration de un an et demi. Champeau, directrice des ventes des Maîtres ou 45 heures à l’Aca- ans au Gerts, Gérard* pense lui prendre les bases et tactiques du Le programme obligera un stage de à l’École des Maîtres. Non seule- démie Bar Pro. Par ailleurs, l’Ins- aussi que l’école du cocktail n’est service, mais doit aussi inclure une quatre mois dans les Rocheuses, ment, l’École offre un cours certifié titut demande aussi des frais de pas nécessaire: «J’ai tout appris formation quant aux responsabilités puis de quatre mois en France dans par la formation professionnelle scolarité plus élevés de 715 dol- des gens plus vieux que moi!» du serveur lorsqu’il vend de l’alcool. un vignoble, et pourrait mener au du Québec, mais elle offre aussi lars contrairement à l’école des Pourtant, les cours attirent, et En effet, l’établissement et le barman métier de majordome. un service de placement aux étu- Maîtres qui ne facture ses classes attirent beaucoup de monde, d’après sont responsables s’il arrive un acci- Un tel cours donnerait envie, diants qui terminent leur cours et qu’à 368 dollars alors que l’Aca- madame Champeau, de l’École des dent dû à un client en état d’ébriété. même aux plus rébarbatifs, d’enfi- qui désirent se trouver facilement démie Bar Pro charge 400 dollars. Maîtres. L’École roule à pleine vapeur C’est pourquoi la formation de base ler leur tablier! x un emploi. Madame Champeau Sylvie Carrière, la responsable et offre de nouvelles formations d’in- de service au bar de l’ITHQ s’asso- *Les noms marqués d’une astérisque ajoute: «Certains étudiants sont du recrutement étudiant à l’ITHQ troduction à la dégustation des vins cie depuis une dizaine d’année à sont fictifs. timides et n’osent pas faire valoir soutient qu’il faut tout d’abord par exemple, une autre branche du leur diplôme. Pour eux, le service choisir son futur milieu de travail service de bar qui intéresse de plus de placement est très utile.» et définir ses objectifs de carrière. en plus le néophyte. Pourtant, le métier de barman L’environnement et les condi- Pour ce qui est du service de ou barmaid demande un peu d’au- tions de travail que l’on souhaite bar, le cours s’adresse à ceux qui dace pour réussir. Des barmaids peuvent orienter la décision d’un n’auraient pas d’expérience pra- comme Sonia* au Ziggy’s Pub ou futur étudiant. tique ou qui désireraient rafraîchir Sandra* au Thursday’s Bar sur la «Si on veut poursuivre dans la leurs connaissances, faisant de la rue Crescent à Montréal vous le restauration, dans un établissement clientèle une faune très diverse. diront: Ce qui fait un bon service haut de gamme, cela demande une De l’étudiant qui désire acquérir au bar c’est la personnalité, l’entre- formation plus étoffée, et le sceau de nouvelles connaissances pour gent ainsi qu’aimer les gens et faire de l’ITHQ est reconnu comme son travail d’été à la dame qui veut preuve de beaucoup de patience. étant fiable.» pimenter sa retraite, toutes les rai- «La méthode de travail est aussi De part sa vocation d’école sons sont bonnes pour suivre un essentielle, soutient Sandra en publique, l’ITHQ peut fournir à cours de service de bar. rigolant, sinon, on ne survit pas!» ses étudiants, après les 80 heures Mais attention, ce n’est pas un Alors que le travail au bar pourrait de formation pour le service au art, c’est un métier, appuie Sandra. sembler relever de l’improvisation, bar à la fois un diplôme institu- En effet, elle a appris au fil des ans il n’en est rien. C’est pourquoi tionnel et un diplôme d’études que professionnalisme rime avec différentes écoles de formation professionnelles approuvé par le discrétion lorsque l’on travaille au existent pour inculquer une bonne ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir bar. «Un client qui revient plu- base utile à ceux qui n’ont aucune et du Sport au Québec. sieurs fois de suite avec différentes expérience et qui veulent se lancer Le monde de la restauration et femmes, voilà bien une anecdote dans le métier. de l’hôtellerie vise à faire le plus qui m’a fait comprendre que, si les Le diplôme donne certai- de revenu, sans perte de temps. clients changent, nous, on reste!» nement plus de crédibilité. Par C’est pourquoi le diplôme est Anela, qui travaille aux Trois contre, quelle école choisir? Que une denrée intéressante pour un Brasseurs de la rue Sainte-Catherine, ce soit l’École des Maîtres, l’Acadé- employeur qui n’a que très peu en sait quelque chose. Elle sert les mie Bar Pro, l’Absolute, ou l’Insti- de temps pour former son nou- mêmes clients, tous les jeudis soirs, tut de tourisme et d’hôtellerie du veau personnel. Pourtant, Roxana depuis quatre ans. D’ailleurs, deux Québec (ITHQ), les résidents de Gonzalez, une étudiante au bacca- d’entre eux, Éric et Giancarlos, s’em- Montréal ont l’embarras du choix lauréat en Gestion du tourisme et pressent de la qualifier de «barmaid lorsque vient le moment de choisir hôtellerie à l’Université du Québec idéale» avant de lui payer un verre. son école de tenue de bar. à Montréal, croit que l’expérience Pour les clients, la qualité de la L’ITHQ, par exemple, est une compte pour beaucoup dans la barmaid reste essentielle. «Tous les école reconnue, publique, qui balance. D’ailleurs, «l’école peut ne bars offrent le même alcool. Tous Photo: Nicolas Quiazua fonctionne depuis 35 ans mainte- pas être nécessaire si le candidat les bars offrent les même prix. Ce nant. La formation de service de semble connaître le domaine». qui change, ce sont les serveuses!» Un serveur agréé versant une bière au Blues Pub. 20 The McGill Daily & Le Délit | 2011.11.28

TCHIN TCHIN The McGill Daily & Le Délit | 2011.11.28 21

CHEERS

PHOTOS: NICOLAS QUIAZUA & LINDSAY P. CAMERON 22 The McGill Daily & Le Délit | 2011.11.28

CULTURE CULTURE À chaque boisson son verre C’est bien beau de faire des cocktails, mais toujours est-il qu’il faut savoir les servir dans le verre approprié. Voici un petit guide préparé par Le Délit.

1. Le verre ballon 2. Le verre à cocktail La forme élégante de ce verre concentre les Puisque les cocktails sont habituellement 3. Le verre à liqueur arômes de l’alcool vers le haut du récipient servis froids et qu’ils sont riches en arômes, Semblable à un verre à vin, il est différen- pendant que votre main en réchauffe le con- le long pied permet à l’aficionado de tenir le cié par sa petite taille. Ici, le mot d’ordre est tenu. C’est le verre tout désigné pour appréci- verre sans affecter la température du contenu qualité, et non quantité! Il est utilisé pour 4. Le pot Mason er les pures effluves des cognacs et des whis- alors que sa forme conique dirige les parfums servir à vos invités, après un repas mondain, Pour les hipsters de ce monde, la grande kys les plus fins. Mais attention: les connais- directement sous son nez. Parfait pour les une quantité responsable de digestif tel qu’un capacité et la robustesse du contenant per- seurs sauront qu’il ne faut jamais le remplir cocktails (sans glaçons) tels que les martinis, porto ou un limoncello, car l’intention n’est mettent d’y placer des glaçons et de garder plus qu’au quart! manhattans, metropolitans et les gimlets. pas de se griser, mais bien de déguster. une panoplie de cocktails au frais.

Saviez-vous que la tradition de trinquer vient du Moyen-Âge? À l’époque, lors de banquets réunissant nobles et seigneurs concurrents, l’empoisonnement était une pratique relativement courante. Pour parer à ces possibilités, la tradition voulait que

5. Le shooter l’hôte déverse une partie de son breuvage dans la chope de Il est sans doute le plus connu de tous les verres à boissons. Il est fabriqué avec du verre son invité, et vice-versa. Ils pouvaient ensuite en prendre une très épais, lui accordant ainsi une solidité accrue, surtout auprès des personnes qui, ren- gorgée en se regardant droit dans les yeux, démontrant ainsi dues à la fin d’une soirée arrosée, commencent à manquer de délicatesse. Sa taille varie selon qu’aucune mauvaise intention n’était voulue. Trinquer était les pays: dans certains pays d’Europe de l’Est, sa capacité est de 50mL alors qu’en Nouvelle- Zélande elle est de 15mL. On peut se compter donc signe de confiance, d’honnêteté et de bonne santé. chanceux au Canada: elle est de 44mL.

6. La coupe | Le Quiazua Nicolas Délit de Illustrations Ce type de verre est apparait à l’époque de 7. Le Low Ball 8. Le High Ball 9. Le Delmonico Marie-Antoinette, dont le champagne était le Son profil bas, ses côtés rectilignes et sa base Caractérisé par sa hauteur et ses bords droits, Ce verre ressemble à une flûte à champagne péché mignon. La légende raconte que la coupe solide lui confèrent toute une personnalité. la forme de ce verre permet d’empiler des gla- raccourcie et élargie. On s’en sert pour servir épousait la forme de son sein. Aujourd’hui, le C’est le verre préféré des hommes d’État: on çons et de conserver l’entièreté du breuvage des cocktails «sour», signifiant qu’ils contien- champagne, plus sec qu’autrefois, est davan- peut facilement imaginer Winston Churchill au frais. Il est parfait pour servir des cocktails nent un alcool de base, un jus de lime ou de tage servi dans des flûtes, sauf pour les occa- faire une déclaration enflammée et poser mélangés tels que le gin tonic, le hurricane ou citron, un blanc d’œuf ainsi qu’un composant sions spéciales telles que les mariages où farouchement son verre sur la table, dans une le long island iced tea. Son cousin, le Collins sucré (comme le triple sec, un sirop, de la l’utilisation de la coupe demeure courante. gestuelle signifiant «don’t bloody mess with me!» Il (dont le nom vient du Tom Collins, le cocktail grenadine ou bien un jus d’ananas). Dans Généralement, la coupe est désormais utilisée est parfait pour savourer la vodka ou le whis- sucré à base de gin), est légèrement plus haut cette catégorie, on retrouve le sidecar, le pour servir margaritas et daiquiris. ky «on the rocks». et plus étroit. kamikaze, le gin sour et le whisky sour. x The McGill Daily & Le Délit | 2011.11.28 23

CULTURE CULTURE Exercice et eau vitaminée Le gym ou l’expérience traumatisante pour un étranger

Fanny Deveaux de chance que d’autres et peuvent titutions comme lululemon jusqu’à Gatorade vient de sortir de nou- À coté de toutes ces boissons, Le Délit même repartir avec un numéro. des boutiques à petite échelle veaux compléments qui viennent un simple et rafraichissant verre Seema, étudiante de psychologie comme le Club des coureurs, «l’effet- en set de trois: un avant l’effort, un de lait, même entier, est inoffensif. en U2 s’est ainsi fait aborder à la fin gourde», comme il est baptisé dans pendant, et un après. Selon leur De la même manière, Muscle ’emblée, il faut mention- de son exercice. Rien de mieux que des cercles d’étrangers septiques, est site officiel, le premier complément Milk, qui vend des boissons et ner que le Français moyen la drague suante. L’aspect social de également un phénomène récent. La du set «Fit», une barre aux noix et compléments alimentaires, est Da peur du mot «gym». Ce l’entraînement semble paradoxal gourde est devenue un accessoire de aux fruits au goût douteux et d’une apprécié des hommes qui veulent dernier lui rappelle le sport-tor- par rapport à la nature même de mode. Boire de l’eau n’est plus vital taille minuscule qui ne remplit pas développer leur masse muscu- ture du lycée où l’on faisait courir cette activité. En effet, même si on mais est devenu tendance. Celles du tout l’estomac contient, outre du laire. Selon leurs chiffres officiels, même les plus réticents autour d’un s’y rend entre amis, chacun prend qui sont les plus présentes dans les sucre, 15% des apports journaliers les teneurs en gras saturés vont minuscule terrain. Tandis qu’ici, sa machine, chacun a son objectif, salles de sport sont celles avec le recommandés en gras, dont du gras jusqu’à 20% des apports journa- au Québec et plus largement en son iPod et son rythme. Il ne s’agit blason ou le nom de McGill, mais saturés. Quand on regarde de près liers recommandés pour leurs Amérique du Nord, on découvre pas de parler aux autres, ni de par- les gourdes associées à des marques le set «Pro» on se rend compte que barres céréalières. En voulant une autre réalité: les salles de sport tager quelque chose. Non, le gym font fureur aussi. La gourde spor- la portion recommandée pour cha- faire du sport, ce qui tradition- à la chaleur étouffante. Bruyantes, reflète à quel point la société se fait tive sort aussi du gym pour prouver cune des trois boissons rapporte au nellement dénote une volonté de on s’y tasse pour extirper l’énergie individuelle aujourd’hui. Et pour- qu’on s’entraîne, ce qui est toujours total 87g de sucres, soit 18 morceaux. prendre soin de son corps, le spor- débordante de centaines d’étu- tant des jeunes s’y rendent pour une priorité pour le sportif. Et encore ce n’est que pour les por- tif ingère des substances, comme diants. socialiser, ou avoir moins l’impres- Un de ces produits qui est en tions recommandées. Qui amène les gras saturés difficilement éli- sion d’appartenir à la société. Cette explosion est la boisson énergé- son verre doseur dans son sac pour minables et nocifs, en excès. Billy, Les étudiants, en général, aiment même société qui les pousse à se tique. Le sujet de la boisson en salle mesurer ses 47mL recommandés? Il y l’étudiant en économie, achète aller au gym. Ils se sentent «plus rendre dans ces salles. d’exercices est primordial vu que a de quoi vouloir courir! Cependant, des produits Muscle Milk depuis énergiques après», comme déclare L’effort physique est important, l’hydratation du sportif n’est pas à il existe de nombreux soutiens l’année dernière. Il témoigne que Lucile, étudiante en Histoire. nécessaire à la santé sans aucun négliger. Mais l’augmentation du à Gatorade, qui affiche plus de la vue des autres étudiants à son D’autres se sentent «épuisés mais doute. Et le gym est un moyen de nombre de produits remet en doute 4 300 000 fans sur Facebook. Ils pen- arrivée à McGill l’a intimidé et l’a satisfaits» comme Seema, étudiante satisfaire cette nécessité. Mais il y le vieux proverbe «on ne boit jamais sent que la boisson améliorerait leur poussé à se construire une image en psychologie. Cependant, quand en a d’autres, plus publicisés sur le trop». On peut même trop boire performance, tandis que d’autres se «d’homme fort». Même si le prix le sportif est questionné avant Vieux Continent, qui est la terre du quand il s’agit d’eau. En effet, il est contentent d’apprécier le goût. est élevé (80 dollars pour trois l’exercice, la plupart avouent sans jeu sportif, qu’il soit individuel ou important de s’hydrater pendant Vitaminwater, son pendant plus mois de consommation) et le goût cachoterie: «Je DOIS y aller, ça fait collectif. Pas le sport collectif de l’exercice, mais il faut le faire quand féminin, est une marque de boisson douteux, cela n’arrête pas Billy trop longtemps que je n’y suis pas compétition, qui draine des sommes on a soif. Boire de l’eau à tout bout qui fonctionne à l’image du jeune qui passe une dizaine d’heures allé.» Le temps diffère selon les inimaginables, mais plutôt le sport de champ peut causer l’hyponatré- tant au niveau des compagnes publi- par semaine dans la salle. Même personnes, allant de deux jours d’équipe à un niveau de loisir. Ainsi, mie, c’est-à-dire la réduction du taux citaires que des produits proposés. si secondaire il jouait basketball pour Billy, étudiant en économie alors qu’à la fac en France, on peut de sodium dans le sang. Cette réac- Ce produit rattaché à Coca-Cola de façon régulière, il a l’impres- jusqu’à deux semaines. Avouer le s’inscrire dans une équipe de foot tion est à l’origine de l’état léthar- depuis 2007 vend son image grâce sion de se développer plus grâce à contraire serait un crime contre son ou de rugby sans ambition compé- gique des coureurs. Cependant, si à la recette-miracle de celle-ci en Muscle Milk et aux entraînements image. Car attention, le gym est un titrice, il est très difficile de faire de boire trop d’eau est une chose, les poussant le coté «jeunes» avec par au gym. Psychologique ou réel? sujet sensible. On ne demande pas même ici sans que l’engagement soit boissons-miracles, compléments ali- exemple l’utilisation de célébrités Difficile de savoir. à n’importe qui s’il va au gym ni sa considérable. Pourquoi faire par- mentaires, énergisants et autres en populaires chez les jeunes (Jennifer Le problème des boissons au régularité. tie d’une équipe devrait rimer avec sont une autre. La boisson du gym Anniston, Lady Gaga,) et des notices gym est celui de la quantité de Les uns mettent en avant la cote douze heures d’entraînement par est sexuée. Vitamin Water pour les de nutrition «délirantes». Malgré calories ingérées par rapport à l’ef- physique, l’impression de faire du semaine? Il y a de quoi démotiver filles, Gatorade et autres Muscle Milk son prix, le même qu’une bou- fort, ainsi que l’hydratation insuf- bien à leur corps ou le souci de gar- les jeunes intéressés, qui n’aspirent pour les garçons. teille de Coca-Cola en Amérique du fisante des sportifs. Les boissons der la ligne, tandis que les autres pas à devenir des athlètes, mais juste L’effet des boissons énergétiques Nord, mais le double du prix pour énergisées peuvent intéresser les parlent de l’aspect social. En effet, à se défouler autrement que sur un serait bien plus psychologique les Européens, les consommateurs marathoniens et autres athlètes s’entraîner au gym est un événe- tapis roulant. que réel. Les produits Gatorade et n’ont pas l’air de bien lire l’étiquette. de haut niveau qui fournissent ment social en soi. Pour certains De plus, l’aspect financier du VitaminWater ne fonctionnent que Elle a été critiquée pour être trop un effort dans la durée mais cer- il s’agit de se «montrer» au gym. gym est considérable. Tous les pro- grâce à l’exercice, et au culte du riche en sucres (4,6g de sucre pour tainement pas pour la plupart des Les filles d’un coté, les garçons de duits dérivés de cette pratique sont corps sain. Cependant, est-ce vrai- 100mL soit par bouteille 23g de fruc- sportifs qui fréquentent une salle l’autre; le jeu des œillades peut com- en pleine expansion. Rien qu’en pro- ment si sain que les publicités le tose, 26% des apports journaliers de fitness. Pour cela, un verre de mencer. Quelques sportifs ont plus duits vestimentaires depuis les ins- revendiquent? recommandés). lait suffira. x

Zone dessin par Mathieu Santerre 24 The McGill Daily & Le Délit | 2011.11.28

CULTURE $1.25 a day When the cost of a water bottle outweighs the cost of a life

Amina Batyreva | The McGill Daily

The West and the Rest water. While I agree with most argu- consider the liquidity of your bank the most basic human needs....” At that ments against bottled water, I would account. A New York Times article time, 1.4 billion people fell below this posit that one is allowed to eschew the reported that if the average New line. Conversely, the average bottle of greener tap water alternative if the said Yorker got their recommended eight water costs about $1.50. Kurtis Lockhart tap water contains a smorgasbord of daily glasses of water from the tap it I would ask you, dear reader, to [email protected] occasionally fatal waterborne viruses, would cost them about $0.00135 per keep this fact in mind while I resume bacteria, parasites, and infections (the day (or approximately 49 cents per sharing the events of that day in July. t was earlier this year, in July. I car- tap water where I live in rural Kenya year). Alternatively, if they got their As I said, I was walking to Westgate ried a bottle of water by my side as most probably holds several of these). 8 glasses from drinking bottled water Mall with a bottle of water... II walked towards Westgate Mall, a That being said, most people read- it would cost about 2,900 times more Many expats and wazungu (mean- plush shopping center in Westlands – ing this article will live in or come from (around $1,400 a year). Nonetheless, ing “white people” in Swahili; singu- an affluent neighbourhood of Nairobi, a Western country. Your tap water is despite this exponentially higher cost, lar: mzungu) working in and around Kenya. The bottle was one-quarter predominantly fine. Completely drink- bottled water consumption is growing Nairobi frequent Westgate Mall to full, or three-quarters empty, depend- able. Thus, whereas I can be forgiven rapidly – faster than all other beverage escape, for a moment, back to their ing on how you look at it. for drinking bottled water (I could die categories except sports drinks. (mostly) Western places of origin. Now, before I proceed with the if I drink tap water), you, reader of the What’s more: as of 2008, the World Westgate’s fine trappings include recounting of my experiences on this West, cannot. This may seem to you Bank set its poverty line at $1.25 (US) resplendent marble architecture (or day, I’m going to pause for a moment like a double standard – c’est la vie. per day, where “poverty” is defined as some other polished stone); esca- and defend my possession of bottled If this is not convincing enough, “not having enough income to meet lators and a three-story fountain The McGill Daily & Le Délit | 2011.11.28 25

CULTURE

somewhat superfluous for a country and I saw only the eyeballs’ white under girl someplace else, that the girl’s mani- time. The doctor administered glucose. plagued by drought; ornate golden bal- belly. She needed help. festly unhygienic appearance is a security After a short duration we were told that ustrades and a glorious air condition- The only thing I could think of doing risk to the people of the building that he we could go see the girl. ing system; a food court and movie was to bring her to a nearby building to is tasked with protecting. But, instead, Rahab, Ruth, and I entered her room. theatre; and, most importantly, other lie down while I called a taxi to transport the security guard asked if the girl draped She was lying upright in her hospital bed, wazungu. These factors all combine her to the hospital. I tried to pick her up, on our shoulders was the same girl lying back against the wall. She was conscious. to make Westgate’s upscale patrons but she seemed to have become unre- just up the street. I replied in the affirma- Together, we smiled. She didn’t speak feel “okay” about indulging their more sponsive again. Her body was limp. Her tive. He said, “Yes, I saw her when I came English. Thus, through Rahab and Ruth, decadent urges for a variety of utterly muscles were asleep. And this made her to work.” I inquired what the time was I learned that her name was Stella. She unnecessary creature comforts. This surprisingly heavy. I needed help. when he came to work. He said, “Around had just recently moved to Nairobi from was my destination and my plan: self- During all this time nobody had 5:00 a.m.” It was now past 11:00 a.m. She a town called Kakamega in the west of indulgence. After all, having lived in walked passed us, but, as I looked for a had been lying, unconscious or semi-con- Kenya. She lives in a slum that neigh- rural Kenya since May of this year, I co-bearer, a rather stout Kenyan woman scious, on the curb for over six hours; all bours Westlands, called Kangemi. don’t feel ashamed to say that everyone in her early thirties strolled by. I asked the while cars were inching past her, min- Now, Rahab asks her how she ended up needs to “escape” once in a while. if she could help me carry the uncon- ute by minute, hour by painful hour. on the side of the road. Stella tells us that However, my plan was interrupted. scious girl to a nearby building. The stout Finally, a woman pulled her car over. the previous evening it got dark before My escape foiled. woman, who introduced herself as Ruth, It was a glitteringly clean, black SUV. A she could return home. And, because she As I walked towards Westgate, along- said she worked just over there, pointing Toyota. The woman in the driver’s seat is new to Nairobi, she still has troubles side the bumper-to-bumper traffic that down the road about three or four hun- got out and opened the car door that finding her way around. Then, in the afflicted Nairobi’s seemingly perma- dred metres, and told me that we could gave access to the back seat. She was an darkness and confusion; she was accosted clogged streets, I saw a girl. The girl was take her there. It didn’t seem that far. older woman – late fifties – with design- by some thieves who stole her cell phone. Kenyan – black. She was lying on the If you’ve ever tried carrying a person er glasses and deep wrinkles under her She was stranded and couldn’t call home ground, prostrate; her torso on the side- completely bereft of all muscular func- eyes. She wore a pink blazer and sleek for help. walk and her legs dangling off the curb tioning, you’ll know that even ostensibly black pants pleats still intact. She intro- Stella is a slumgirl. One of the 1.4 bil- and onto the busy street. She was young short distances can be transmogrified into duced herself as Rahab. lion people who live at or below the pov- – late teens or early twenties – and was onerous marathons. As Ruth and I strug- Rahab, Ruth, and I together lifted the erty line. She struggles to survive every wearing dirty corduroy pants with a cor- gled to carry this vapid human being, who unmoving mass into the back seat. We day with less money then you pay for an respondingly dirty red fleece. Neither possessed unexpected density, we made all got into the SUV and Rahab drove off, unnecessary bottle of water. were severely tattered, just dirty. She what is referred to in the West as “small headed towards the Westlands clinic. Rahab assures Stella that everything wasn’t moving. talk.” Between heavy breathing and facial Inside the SUV, I again, quite strange- is okay now, and then tells us to all join I must add that this didn’t instant- grimaces, Ruth told me she worked as a ly given the circumstances, found myself hands, and Rahab leads us in prayer. ly strike me as unusual. At first, I just beautician. I found this rather fitting, as involved in “small talk.” Rahab informed Again, Rahab is not pushy, she has no thought she was drunk. Imbibing is she was currently engaged in the beauti- me that she was a pastor and that she’s affectations or ulterior motive. She is a favourite pastime of many people fying task of ridding a vagabond from this been born again. She asked me if I’ve simply compassionate; righteous with- over here (like I said, everyone needs otherwise hoity-toity neighbourhood. In been saved (I presume she meant by out being self-righteous. Her prayer to escape). But then I realized that it effect, giving this gentrified Westlands Jesus Christ). Knowing religion to be a is probably one of the most affecting was around 11 o’clock in the morning; street a sort of welcome cleanse: expel- hot topic in Kenya, and currently har- moments I’ve ever experienced. I open that we were in the middle of upper- ling a tiny blemish out of its otherwise bouring some ill-will towards organized my eyes in the middle of the prayer to class Westlands, a place not particularly unblemished façade. religion myself, given that the Catholic observe the three women around me as known for being home to poverty; and As Ruth and I struggled to hold the Church’s policy on condom use is argu- Rahab continues to speak. All have their that she was a girl (female alcohol con- unconscious girl up – each of her arms ably responsible for millions of people heads bowed; all eyes strain, almost sumption is stigmatized in many places around one of our shoulders – I looked contracting HIV/AIDS (among many wincing; this betrays powerful emo- in Kenya). These facts made the situ- around at the traffic-jammed street we other grievances), I answered Rahab’s tions festering under their closed, wor- ation a little more unusual, but, still, I were walking parallel to. I wondered, question very diplomatically. That is to shipping lids. The moment hits me, and was used to seeing such sordid scenes. I with cars moving so slowly and Ruth and I say, I didn’t directly answer. It was all tears begin to fill my eyes. The prayer almost kept walking. labouring so clearly and the unconscious very Romney-esque. ends and everybody says, “Amen.” I then realized that I had some water girl hanging so gravely, why nobody pulled Rahab then asked Ruth if she’s Except me, I was too busy quickly trying left in my bottle, so I stopped, unscrewed over, opened their door, and offered to been saved. Ruth, quite bluntly, said, to wipe my tears away before the others the cap, and stooped. Knees bent and drive us to a nearby hospital (which I later “No.” I found the difference between opened their eyes. But they saw. Again, water bottle held out towards her, I learned was only a few blocks away). As her terse candor and my long-winded no judgment. Rahab told me, bluntly, asked if she wanted a drink. Remaining I peered into the car windows, I saw both fluff rather amusing. Rahab seemed to “Say Amen.” I obliged, still wiping my face down, she didn’t respond. I poked black and white faces gawking from their be unphased by either of our answers. eyes. We all chuckled. her gently. No response. I put the water crawling vehicles. The difference was She simply responded, with a smirk, After this is all over and we say our bottle on the ground so I had two hands that, as I made eye contact with the gawk- “Well, I will be preaching then.” It goodbyes and farewells to Stella, Rahab free and I shook her, all the while my ers, the black faces continued to gawk, wasn’t pushy or judgmental – just car- drops me off at Westgate Mall. After I voice growing louder with variations of but the white faces quickly broke the eye ing and genuine, almost maternal. hug her, she departs and I have finally “Hello... Are you okay?” Still no response. contact and looked in another direction – I then realized the irony in their arrived at my original destination. I walk Something clearly wasn’t right. I turned any other direction. This, to me, was an respective professions. A beautician could inside. As I walk inside I feel uneasy. I her over. She now lay supine. This was admission of guilt – palpable shame. be said to be the antithesis of a pastor. grab a cart and enter the Kenyan retail- the first time I glimpsed her face. And why shouldn’t it be? These peo- One seeking outer aesthetic splendor, the er known as Nakumatt (redolent of a She stirred. ple, no doubt people of means, had all other seeking and propagating the way WalMart or a Costco). Many wazungu Her lids opened, yet her eyes, now vis- driven past the unconscious girl on the to inner salvation. One’s goal is fleeting push their carts mindlessly down the ible, remained eerily vacant; they were road side, as if she were a piece of detri- attraction and the other’s is eternal deliv- countless aisles of countless products – wide, but unaware and terrified. After a tus. They willfully turned their cheek the erance. One’s object the skin, the other’s starring at the shelves as if these shelves few moments, it seemed to me as though other way and, in so doing, blatantly flout- the soul. And yet here they both were, are about to divulge some life-changing she registered the water bottle’s presence. ed any sanctity or dignity that her life, a together, bringing a girl in dire condition secret. These people are as unconscious Her eyes grew wider. I lifted her head up human life, should rightfully hold. They to receive much-needed care. of their surroundings as Stella was when and offered her the bottle. She haphaz- went passed her as she lay dying. And I We arrived at the clinic, and brought I first came across her. Westgate, this ardly brought it to her mouth. Some of had almost done the same. the girl’s still-limp frame inside. After seat of affluence and luxury a mere two the liquid went in, but much spilled out With the girl draped on our shoulders, some time a doctor came. We sat in the blocks away from where she lay on the down her jaw line and under her chin. I Ruth and I made our way slowly to Ruth’s waiting room. After some more time, wayside, unconscious, for over six hours. started to put her head back down on the work place. Shortly before reaching this the doctor returned and informed us And I wondered why I felt uneasy sidewalk, and, as her head descended, her destination, the building’s security guard that the girl’s blood sugar was danger- when I stepped into Westgate. And you’ll lids began to close. Before her lids were saw us and approached. I thought he was ously low, most likely from not eating now wonder why you feel uneasy about able to fully close, her pupils rolled up going to tell us that we’d have to bring the anything for an extended period of buying a bottle of water. 26 The McGill Daily & Le Délit | 2011.11.28

CULTURE CULTURE Ariel à la plage Un autre conte fou du barde soûl

Samuel Sigere un but du Canadien. Elle nagea Le Délit donc vers le fond de l’aquarium pour aller chercher la seule per- sonne qui pourait l’aider, Ginette l était une fois, une jeune la Guinness, la little barmaid de sirène qui vivait dans un «Chante-la en français». I énorme aquarium. Un jour - J’ai ce qu’il te faut ma p’tite! qu’elle s’en roulait une avec son dit Ginette, bien éméchée, affa- meilleur oreiller, Polochon, elle lée sur le bar, la tête entre ses vit un prince tituber sur la plage énormes seins. de l’aquarium voisin. Il était mag- Elle fouilla dans sa réserve nifique. Sa chemise déchirée d’alcool et sortit une bouteille. laissant apercevoir une parfaite L’étiquette jaunâtre annonçait musculature et un six-pack divin. «Vodka Imperial, 80%. Fait mar- Sous le charme, elle s’en alla voir cher les sirènes et les morts-vi- son père, le roi Trois-Dent et dit: vants depuis 1890». -Ok, là là, papa, j’en ai mon -Tiens: bois-moi-ça, ma p’tite! ostie de claque de vivre dans la dit Ginette en versant un shoot. Heineken! Tabarnak, de toutes Pensant à son prince char- les bières, t’as choisi celle-là! Elle mant, la sirène but d’un trait. pue ta caline de bière pis en plus La gorge en feu, elle s’exclama elle goûte mauvais! «Ostie que c’est fort!» avant de En bon père, le roi Trois-Dent tomber dans un profond coma n’en avait cure et, déjà en retard éthylique. Illustration par Matthieu Santerre | Le Délit sur son ivresse à cette heure tar- Quelque heures ou jours dive de la journée, répondit en plus tard, la sirène se réveilla, pir languissant, elle enlaça son mon amour! C’est quoi son nom? une pelle devant ses yeux hor- buvant une gorgée de plus. nue sur la plage mousseuse de la prince, prête à combler ses plus Emmène-la donc à la maison, je rifiés. Elle était en beau maudit. -Moi, là, je crisse mon camp, Molson Dry, au son de la voix de profonds désirs. suis sûr qu’on va être les meil- Elle essayait de protester, de crier et j’m’en vais vivre dans la Molson son prince charmant, qui sortait -Ouf, toi t’as besoin d’un leurs amis du monde! On va aller sa frustration, mais elle resta Dry. Au moins là-bas, la mousse d’une fête qu’on avait donnée mentos! lui dit le prince. Ralf, magasiner ensemble… parler de muette: la vodka avait détruit sa est épaisse et on peut marcher au Vieux Port, dans la cale d’un mon chéri vient voir ce que j’ai mode… voix. Ralf et le prince la prirent dessus! vieux pétrolier russe. Elle ouvrit trouvé! La sirène ne pouvait pas en avec eux. Ils vécurent en bon pa- Toujours en bon père, le roi les yeux et admira ses beaux Surprise, la sirène vit un jeu- croire ses oreilles. risiens avec de la baguette et du Trois-Dent rota sa réponse et se cheveux blonds, ses yeux bleus ne gringalet roux à lunette por- -Oh, c’est tellement un beau bon vin tous les jours, et la petit gratta le bide. Dans une colère et surtout son corps luisant de tant un costume violet pimpant. cadeau! continua Ralf, merci, sirène regretta d’avoir changé de de putain, la sirène s’en alla. sueur au soleil. Elle se sentit sou- Il marchait en leur direction. merci, merci! bière. La morale de l’histoire: la Rien ne ferait bouger son bouf- dain comme une vierge avide de Bientôt, il se tint près du prince. La jeune sirène regarda le bière semble toujours plus mous- fon de père du canapé à part chaleur humaine. Dans un sou- -Oh, my god! Elle est parfaite, prince et son ami Ralf se rouler seuse chez le voisin! x

Jonathan Brosseau-Rioux Title goes here Le Délit Kicker goes here Par l’océan hypocondriaque

Contemplez d’un survol les lèvres alcooliques Aux ardeurs de vos fleurissantes nostalgies Dans l’aube cossue qui hurle en hémorragie L’absurde heurt de mon être neurasthénique

Un rayon d’ombre est atmosphère bordélique Des pas lourds au piano chantent les tabagies Mon regard orphelin muet interagit Par les vierges chemins des forêts bucoliques

Mouillez le front ridé d’une tendresse à boire Que je trouve des sommeils irréels la gloire Cet espace infini de voyage en mon âme

«La jeune sirène regarda le prince et son ami Ralf se rouler une pelle devant ses yeux horrifiés.» Ô rédempteurs et extatiques masochistes Sur la funèbre barque j’écarte les flammes Illustration par Lukas Thienhaus | Le Délit Au fouet musclé de ma jouissance catéchiste. x The McGill Daily & Le Délit | 2011.11.28 27

CULTURE CULTURE La démence du vin Auto-fiction

Antony Beauséjour Celle de penser sans savoir. Une te débattre, tu ne peux plus esqui- Tu mouilles ton pantalon et fais assieds et t’allumes une cigarette: Collaboration spéciale putain d’émotion: pourtant, je m’étais ver: tu acceptes qu’il te déchire les une marre de pisse. Tu chies au fond une petite lune entre les doigts. Tu promis. La même promesse tous les oreilles. de tes culottes. sens le vent d’automne qui te mord matins; le même mal tous les soirs. les joues. Tu vois les branches brûlées L’aube me lève Tu te fais mal par choix. Tu Tu cries et tous tes voisins se des arbres. Tu entends les gémisse- En réalité, c’est tant l’aube que Mes promesses, je sais très oublies quelques instants que tu es réveillent: tu cries de plus belle. Tu es ments du néant. Tu odores la mort le dégoût qui me réveille. Les yeux bien qu’elles ne valent pas un clou. un trou-du-cul notoire et tu parta- une bête à l’agonie. qui hante le fond de l’air. Tu gouttes lourds, la bouche terreuse et le crâne Pourtant, chaque jour, je fais l’erreur ges la souffrance qui t’entoure. Celle déjà à la tienne. défoncé me confirment que je suis d’avoir foi en moi, quoiqu’à tout coup, contre laquelle tu essaies de t’anes- Tu fais les cent pas en t’arrachant encore en vie, ce matin. je finis par ressentir. thésier à grands coups de dédain les cheveux: tu renverses tout. Tu te Tu t’enfiles les idées noires au chaque putain de jour. tords les doigts, te griffes le corps. même rythme que tu te fous les Je fixe le plafond des yeux: il est Je sais quel remède donner à cette Tu râles. Tu tournes en rond comme clopes à la gueule. C’est machinal. entièrement blanc. Encore. attaque de la réalité qui cherche à Tu te forces à ouvrir les yeux sur un rat en cage. Tu tournes, tournes, Tu t’occupes les lèvres pour ne plus prendre le contrôle de mon esprit. Je la misère humaine. tournes, tournes, tournes: tu perds penser aux siennes. Puis je m’extirpe du lit. Chaque sais quelle cigüe lui faire boire: en ter- pied et t’affaisses et t’affales dans la putain de matin, je me trouve con de mes de poisons émotionnels, je suis La misère de la rue, la misère du flaque. Dans ta merde. Dans ta pisse. Tu y penses. le faire. C’est par automatisme, par un un apothicaire à la droguerie riche en métro, la misère de la rue, la misère Dans ton vomi et ton écume. conditionnement pavlovien parfaite- variétés. de la faculté, la misère de la rue, la En fait, tu l’as constamment en ment réglé, que je me lève: je suis ce misère du marché, la misère de la Et tes pleurs. tête. Son songe ne te quitte jamais, connard de chien pour lequel le réveil Cabernet franc, Pinot noir, rue, la misère du métro, la misère de mais tu l’étouffes autant que possible. sonne à sept heures, tous les matins. Sauvignon: la vie offre un cépage à la rue. Ta porte. Tu y restes. Ton pieu de fortune tous les maux. Mais le temps est un pue tellement que ça t’en fait oublier Pourtant, tu te souviens trop bien. Je suis comme le reste du monde ennemi pernicieux et mon inaction Derrière ta porte, toute cette la pestilence du monde. Tu voudrais Tu ravives mes mémoires, celles du dans ce que je fais, alors. J’imite les nourrit mes démons: vite, le hasard misère que tu n’aurais pas le temps que l’acide de tes trippes te décom- temps où toi, moi et elle n’étions gestes machinaux des voisins dont je cueille pour moi au cellier ma dame d’apaiser en une seule vie. pose. Là. Au milieu du plancher de ta qu’un. Tu te remémores, par volutes me balance. Je répète ce qu’un mil- de compagnie pour la soirée. chambre. Tu voudrais que le temps disparates et volatiles, le bonheur. liard de Chinois dont je n’ai rien à fou- Ta ville, tu le sais trop bien, c’est te défasse. Tu voudrais n’être plus. À tre faisaient, douze heures avant moi. Les mains tremblantes, l’esprit le le monde. Par centaines de millions, nouveau. Elle qui adoucissait tes rages de Je reproduis la routine de l’humanité regrettant déjà, j’arrache l’hymen lié- ils naissent, ils souffrent et meurent. ses mains, qui calmait tes angoisses que j’emmerde tant. geux de cette fille de joie aux yeux Tu es mort et enterré: délirant et du regard, qui rapaillait tes loques vitreux. Je n’ai que faire de son âge ou frénétique, tu te dénudes complète- de chair en un simulacre d’homme Je me fous des autres à perte de sa robe: sans façon, j’en embrasse ment. Au travers des convulsions, tu digne. d’âme. goulument le goulot et en extirpe «La vie offre un te recroquevilles en position fœtale, toute la sève, tout la sagesse. À notre dans ta marre nauséabonde de flu- La lune mitraille ton corps d’un Je fais tout ce qu’il faut faire pour habitude, nos rapports se font brefs, cépage à tous ides corporels. Tu restes ainsi, gémis- kaléidoscope d’images. Tout d’elle qui enlever à ma carcasse les traces de sa sauvages. Égoïste de sa chaire, je ne sant, dans l’espoir qu’on t’utérise donnait une raison d’être à tes mains. condition moisie. Pisse, Tylenol, bouf- lui laisse en finale que quelques gout- les maux.» pour l’éternité. Ses seins, ses cuisses, sa bouche, ses fe, dents. Je fixe le mur, toujours. tes sur l’étiquette puis, repu de ce coït doigts, ses cheveux, ses cambrures, éthylique, je l’abandonne sur le plan- Toi, chaque jour, tu regardes Tu attends le temps. ses rires, ses crises, ses mille départs… S’enchaînent ensuite les cons cher, saccagée par la brutalité de mes Destiny se faire léchouiller les mam- devant moi dans un ordre méticu- fièvres. elons par un chitsu, tu te torches le Doucement, les spasmes Ses neuf cent quatre-vingt-dix- leux. Les cons de la rue. Les cons du cul avec de jolis petits chatons blancs s’estompent. La fièvre tiédit. Ton neuf retours. métro. Les cons de la rue. Les cons Merveille vermeille. et tu sniffes ta coke sur le cul de putes corps est complètement vidé. Tu de la faculté. Les cons de la rue. Les multicolores. touches ta poitrine. C’est ce que tu Tu ne sais pas pourquoi tu con- cons du marché. Les cons de la rue. Je sens ce douceâtre arsenic se appréhendais: tu es encore en vie. tinues dans toute cette merde qu’est Les cons du métro. Les cons de la rue. répandre en moi au rythme des bat- Tu te vautres dans ta merde et tu ton monde. Le nœud du problème, ce Ma porte. tements de mon cœur. Je me laisse dois avouer qu’au fond, tu aimes bien. Tu vas te doucher mollement. Tu n’est pas son départ; c’est ton arrivée. tomber sur une chaise, apaisé. Je te mets un peignoir, parce que c’est La mort, si elle est le néant, est une Derrière ma porte, tous ces cons savoure la montée infinitésimale de Pendant ce temps, à chaque sec- plus simple à enlever, une fois mort. griserie éternelle. Jamais besoin d’en sur lesquels je m’efforce de répartir l’ivresse, je sens toutes les barrières, onde, des enfants sont violés, des Une fois dans le ventre de ta mère. boire le vin; tu reposes dans sa lie. également mes crachats. toutes les angoisses, toutes les dou- vieillards sont battus, des familles leurs tomber, une à une. Mon corps entières meurent de faim. Les Puis tu te prends une autre Et contrairement à l’alcool, la mort Je reviens dans mon trou, après se défait de ses chaînes intellectuel- générations se passent le flambeau bouteille; tu n’étais clairement pas est toujours à portée de main. une journée occupée à l’occuper. les : il est pur, il est vierge. de la souffrance et espèrent pouvoir assez abruti par la première. Cette Devant le miroir, sous la lumière bla- être à ta place. Tu sais que le monde fois-ci, tu te sens beaucoup moins Tu connais les périls de ce spleen farde du néon, je me retrouve devant Je marche pas à pas vers le pays entier est orienté vers le petit con- conciliant avec la dame: les jeux ont qui t’habite. Tu n’as cependant pas à le pire des cons. Je vais devoir passer rose du non-être. Je ne pense pas nard d’égoïste que tu es. Dans ton assez duré. y résister trop longtemps, car tu sens ma soirée avec lui. Encore. donc je ne suis pas. appartement du seizième étage, les les grandioses vapeurs finales de cris des mères, le bruit des armes, le Celle-là, tu l’empoignes et lui l’ivresse qui viennent à toi. Celles qui Penser à ne pas penser: la nuit doit Cet être de béatitude, cette genèse grognement de la petite misère noire défonces le crâne sur le coin du mettent fin à ton calvaire quotidien. revenir, au plus vite. Sinon… avortée, pleine de la grâce du néant, et les soupirs de désespoir sont inau- bureau. Son cou brisé net, tu glisses la ce n’est plus moi. Pour l’instant, je suis dibles. langue sans manières dans son inter- À peine as-tu le temps de Mais l’heure avance et je me sou- mort. stice rouge chair et en biberonnes les t’approcher du lit que tu y tombes: viens qu’après la nuit, demain revient. Puis toute cette décadence te courbes inertes. Avide, tu lui brises raide dort. Tu as cinq ou six heures de J’ai la certitude que demain sera Je me tue, tu me je. Bienvenue, donne la nausée. C’est trop pour toi: les hanches d’un autre coup pour grâce inconsciente devant toi. aujourd’hui qui était hier. Je m’aper- vieil ami. tu dégueules partout. Tout déboule. pouvoir tirer les derniers charmes çois que le temps passe, que ma vie de son bassin ensanglanté. Dans ta *** brûle par les deux bouts. Je fuis le Tu restes immobile dans ton trou La peau te brûle. gorge, la cyprine beaujolaise se mêle passé, j’évite l’avenir. noir. Le temps et l’espace ne sont pas. aux éclats de verre: tu sens d’autant Tu bois pour oublier, mais dès que Tu pleures et tu baves. mieux l’ivresse descendre en toi. tu dégrises, crois-moi, je me souviens C’est trop tard: j’ai pensé. J’ai fait la Soudain, un cri déchire tes abî- très bien pourquoi tu buvais. même erreur que tous les hiers. mes. Ta figure est distordue par la dou- Tu craches un peu de sang. leur: tu espères qu’elle se déchire de *** La même angoisse qui hantait mes Tu le sais, c’est le cri de la réalité. tous ses orifices. Ça t’est insupport- À la fenêtre, la lune quémande seize ans. Celle d’être. Celle de vivre. Curarisé par le vin, tu ne peux plus able. ta compagnie mi-consciente. Tu t’y L’aube me lève. 28 The McGill Daily & Le Délit | 2011.11.28

CULTURE CULTURE Qui m’«M» me boive! Peter Peter, Fanny Bloom et The Barr Brothers à M pour Montréal

Annie Li Bulat et de Cœur de Pirate. Le mois. C’est qu’ils allaient se rendre Le drink suggéré en écoutant ce genre; toutefois la présence de Le Délit contentement remplace le doute loin, la Patère. Ils avaient lancé un sa musique: l’instrument est subtile si on la com- lorsque Peter Peter annonce le titre excellent premier album éponyme Kir au Fragoli et Prosecco – frais et pare à la musique de la reine du folk de sa prochaine pièce, intitulée électro-pop, puis un album d’été pétillant comme la chanteuse. psychédélique Joanna Newsom. «Salope» et dédiée à «une personne (Waikiki en 2010) pour nous Leur concert a débuté au qui a eu beaucoup d’importance remettre l’eau à la bouche après The Barr Brothers Métropolis avec la magnifique dans sa vie». «Si tu étais un oiseau, qu’ils avaient terminé leur tournée The Barr Brothers est la nou- «Beggar in the Morning», la harp- tu serais un pigeon» chante-il en fai- européenne. velle coqueluche indie de Montréal, iste et le cymbaliste utilisant tous sant des mimiques qui se passeront Or, ce qui devait arriver arriva, ayant lancé leur galette le mois deux des archets, le guitariste tirant de détails ici. les deux comparses de Fanny, nuls dernier sous le label Secret City. sur les cordes de sa guitare avec de En espérant que cette ven- autres que Roboto et Kilojules de Comme cela arrive parfois (sou- longs fils, ce qui donne un effet de geance enfantine lui passera sous Misteur Valaire ne sont pas par- vent), il s’agit de musiciens hors bourdon, à la joie de la foule, et les peu, mettant de l’ombre dans un venus à accommoder les besoins Québec qui se sont installés dans pièces, très différentes les unes des concert où il maîtrise pourtant respectifs de chacun des groupes. la métropole il y a quelques années. autres, se sont succédées dans une autant les caresses chuchotées que On ne doutait pas que Fanny allait L’un d’entre eux, Andrew le batteur, égale harmonie. Les Barr Brothers les défoulements à la guitare élec- arriver à s’en remettre, et la voilà a accompagné Lhasa (on note la ont su soulever les spectateurs avec trique. donc réinvitée à M pour Montréal. présence de la belle pièce «Cloud le blues émouvant de «Lord, I just Il s’agissait de son deuxième (for Lhasa)» sur le disque). Can’t Keep from Crying». Vers la Le drink suggéré en écoutant sa spectacle seulement en compag- Ce qui fait leur marque est la fin, le groupe a interprété une nou- musique: nie de son band tout neuf, com- diversité toujours maîtrisée de velle pièce, «Even the Darkness has Gracieuseté: M pour Montréal London Fog (thé Earl Grey, vanille posé d’un claviériste, d’un batteur, leurs styles musicaux (folk, delta Arms», à deux guitares acoustiques L’artiste Peter Peter et lait) et Cointreau – romantique d’un guitariste et d’une bassiste. blues, gnaoua, rock). Par exem- et un mini-banjo autour d’un micro et parfait pour accompagner une L’ouverture était un peu hésitan- ple, «Deacon’s Son» impressionne sur pied, suscitant l’émerveillement eter Peter est ce jeune hip- journée pluvieuse te, mais la voix et la prestance de par sa fusion du rock occidental de l’auditoire. x ster (frange comprise) qui mademoiselle Bloom se portaient avec le blues sahélien. On note Pnous avait gratifiés d’un mag- de mieux en mieux sur scène au la harpe qui fait office de kora. Le drink suggéré en écoutant leur nifique premier album de rock lo-fi fil des pièces, jusqu’à redevenir la Ainsi, l’autre distinction du groupe musique: vaporeux, en grande partie des Fanny drôle, pétaradante digne est l’incorporation dans plusieurs Tchapalo ou dolo (bière de mil ser- chansons d’amour nostalgiques, d’une diva qui nous manquait. pièces de la harpe, instrument vie dans une calebasse) – folk et en mars 2011 sous l’étiquette Le style musical de ses nou- plutôt original dans les groupes de rythmes africains réconfortants Audiogram. velles chansons s’annonce plus ou Il se dit être l’émule de Jim moins semblable à son précédent Morrisson; sa plume ressemble à projet; des approches sont recon- celle d’un certain Bertrand Cantat naissables comme l’électro et cer- et sa musique à celle d’Elliot Smith. taines pièces axées sur le piano- Par exemple, le premier titre de son voix, mais dans l’ensemble, c’est album éponyme, intitulé Homa, beaucoup plus éclectique, plus envoûtait par son spleen inspiré Gracieuseté: M pour Montréal dansant, plus rock, moins pop, par une nuit dans le quartier Le groupe The Barr Brothers moins léger. Malheureusement, Hochelaga-Maisonneuve. les instruments enterraient un peu C’est un Peter Peter en bonne Fanny Bloom trop la voix pour pouvoir com- forme qui s’est présenté le 19 Fanny Bloom! Son retour est menter sur les textes. novembre au Café Campus, débu- attendu impatiemment depuis N’empêche que le tout est suf- tant son spectacle avec la très belle l’annonce crève-cœur de la sépa- fisant pour se précipiter cet hiver «Tergiverse», qui sur disque est ration de son défunt groupe la sur son prochain disque, intitulé Gracieuseté: M pour Montréal interprétée avec les voix de Basia Patère rose, il y a à peine quelques Apprentie-guerrière. Le groupe The Barr Brothers Des photos qui boivent la tasse! Chronique: Photo m’a-t-on dit?

Margaux Meurisse du photographe que cela devient entre sujet photographié et Le Délit palpitant. présence physique du réel. Le Il choisit d’abord un lac ou un photographe avait déjà réalisé réservoir d’eau puis photogra- une expérience similaire aupara- lus d’hommes se sont phie ce paysage et collecte avec vant avec le portrait de l’un de noyés dans l’alcool que lui une petit quantité d’eau issue ses amis qu’il avait fait tremper «Pdans la mer.» Cette cita- de ce lac. Il développe ensuite dans ses larmes. En incorporant tion de W. C. Fields, colle à la sa photo en couleur et la trempe des éléments physiques de son peau du photographe Matthew dans l’eau récoltée: en voici le sujet dans le processus de dével- Brandt. Vous allez tout de suite résultat, il obtient une image qui oppement chromogénique même comprendre pourquoi. porte en elle la matière même de de ses photographies, Matthew À première vue, cette photog- ce qu’elle représente. Brandt repousse les limites raphie noyée dans un bain de La force de cette image réside visuelles de la photographie et couleurs semble être ratée, lou- donc dans sa spécificité à évolu- ouvre les portes vers une concep- pée, en bref une banalité. C’est er dans «son propre bain» et à tion plus matérielle et corporelle lorsqu’on interroge la démarche l’établissement du lien direct de ce médium. x Lake and Reservoir du photographe Matthew Brandt The McGill Daily & Le Délit | 2011.11.28 29

SANTÉ HEALTH Pikolo: la science du café Le Délit vous presente le secret du vrai café

Émile Janda démarche du barista ressemble à Pikolo, on ne fait pas affaire à des Si réussi, ce genre de café pro- arrivage de café pour soutirer le Le Délit celle d’un technicien de laboratoire: snobs du café, mais à des étudiants cure des arômes frais et des maximum de chaque grain.» Qu’il on contrôle la quantité de café, on fauchés comme vous. saveurs subtiles. vienne du Kenya, du Panama ou chronomètre le temps d’extraction, d’Éthiopie, le café du Pikolo est n moins de six mois, Marie- on mesure au thermomètre la tem- Café variété Montréalais, artisan toujours frais et riche en saveurs. Ève Laroche, propriétaire pérature du café, qui diffère entre Ce désir pour le local et le frais E du Pikolo Espresso Bar, lattés et cappuccinos. se retrouve aussi dans la nourri- a su jumeler son amour du café Mais la mesure ne s’arrête pas là: ture. On peut accompagner notre avec un environnement simple et on recherche aussi l’équilibre dans le breuvage d’un pain aux bananes chaleureux. Le résultat est une café lui-même. Extraire le café, c’est fait maison, d’un scone cheddar clientèle loyale et grandissante. retirer des grains une certaine masse et bacon ou de petites tartelettes En nous présentant la variété de en y faisant passer de l’eau chaude. aux pacanes (un incontournable, cafés du Pikolo Espresso Bar, elle On peut diviser cette masse entre les quand il en reste!) nous a révélé la clé de son succès. solubles (les gaz et les solides qui se Avec un souci du détail et Voici un résumé de la leçon. dissolvent dans l’eau) et les insolu- une simplicité honnête, le Pikolo Espresso Bar se veut la répon- se aux chaînes de cafés comme Starbucks et Second Cup. On ne Photo: Justine Chassé Photo:Justine Chassé Un espresso parfait Piccolo Latte s’y sent pas consommateur. Plutôt, on retrouve l’esprit du petit café de quartier et on découvre un monde Le nom de l’établissement fait Marie-Ève soutient la maison du café qui évolue à la fine pointe référence à une sorte de café, de torréfaction Phil & Sebastian, de la science. x le piccolo latte. Dans un petit fondée par deux ingénieurs de verre de vitre, on tire un espresso Calgary qui partagent son goût restretto (20mL de liquide au de l’exactitude. «Ils modifient Pikolo Espresso Bar lieu de 30) et on ajoute 40mL leur technique dépendamment 3418 avenue du Parc de lait moussé. Le piccolo est le du lot et de la région de chaque Prix de l’espresso: 2,75 dollars café vedette du bar éponyme. Le breuvage conserve le goût pointu d’un espresso très court, mais finit en douceur grâce au lait chaud. Un petit délice. Photo: Justine Chassé Si vous êtes aventurier, Marie- Marie-Ève, propriétaire du Pikolo Express Bar Ève saura vous impressionner avec ses méthodes alternatives. Lors de notre rencontre, elle a Qu’est-ce que l’espresso bles (huiles et solides qui conservent utilisé son filtre Chemex pour parfait? leurs propriétés physiques). Les sol- créer un café doux et frais avec ides solubles déterminent la force du beaucoup de corps. «Tout est dans l’équilibre» nous café, les gaz et les huiles définissent La méthode, qu’on nomme dit Marie-Ève. Tirer l’espresso par- l’arôme, les solides insolubles con- pour-over, consiste à verser fait est une question de mesure, de stituent l’émulsion de café nommée 400mL d’eau bouillante sur 25g proportion et de tact. «On cherche «créma». L’espresso parfait, selon de café dans l’espace de trois à soutirer 30mL de café à partir de Marie-Ève, contient 65% de solubles. minutes. Si vous voulez lancer Photo: Justine Chassé 14 à 18g de grains moulus, le tout N’ayez crainte, cette myriade un défi à votre barista favori, en 26 à 30 secondes.» Au Pikolo, la de calculs reste derrière le bar: au commandez un café pour-over. Marie-Ève nous sert le café pour-over Les plus gros buveurs du monde L’alcool et ses effets ravageurs au Royaume-Uni

Alexis Chemblette un pays ou la culture de la bière et ne suivent pas de cours et ne trou- une réforme qui pourrait éradiquer Le Délit a été soumise à une tertiarisation du scotch est ancestrale. Pour cette vent (cherchent) pas de travail, ils ont le binge drinking. Or l’adversaire et financiarisation des plus féro- jeunesse anglaise en déliquescence, comme seule distraction le football principal de ces instituts n’est jus- orsqu’on évoque la mère pat- ces sous Margaret Thatcher a con- peu éduquée et victime de la con- à la télé ou l’alcool, lorsqu’ils choisis- tement pas le gouvernement mais rie au Canada, on aime parler traint ses régions industrielles et currence liée à la mondialisation sent de ne pas combiner les deux. Le les lobbies, comme The Wine L du mariage du Prince William agricoles à une punition bien sim- triomphante, la boisson n’est pas 11 septembre 2009, The Guardian and Spirits Trade Association qui ou des épopées de David Cameron ple: la gueule de bois. Partout, de accessoire à une soirée, elle en est annonçait que l’abus d’alcool était dénonce des chiffres falsifiés ainsi en Libye. Manchester à Liverpool, en passant l’objet. Cette jeunesse a inventé le une cause majeure de décès chez les qu’un manque de sensibilisation Les acteurs anglais les plus par Leeds, les ouvriers boivent, les «Binge drinking», c’est-à-dire de jeunes, mettant en cause le gouver- à l’école, tout en ne revendiquant connus tels Jude Law ou Hugh paysans boivent, mais surtout la boire un alcool sans goût qui per- nement anglais pour son laxisme. aucune corrélation entre le prix et Grant, toujours tirés à quatre jeunesse désœuvrée boit. Les chif- met d’être en état d’ébriété après Ce même gouvernement a néan- la consommation d’alcool. épingles se présentent aussi élé- fres sont tout aussi affolants. En seulement quelques verres. En moins injecté des millions de livres Nombre des jeunes qui ont par- gants que coquets. Partout on jal- effet un jeune anglais sur trois de Angleterre, 45% des jeunes de 16 à dans une campagne de prévention ticipé aux émeutes londoniennes ouse l’accent British ou le Queen’s moins de seize ans a déjà été soi- 24 ans boivent excessivement selon qui n’a eu presque aucun impact. de 2011 avaient consommé des English. Un étudiant canadien gné pour abus d’alcool. Selon de les normes médicales anglaises. L’alcool chez les jeunes anglais est quantités d’alcool importantes. La sur deux accroche une photo de nombreux sondages, le Royaume- On dit que les flâneurs sont sou- aussi une source de conflit entre majorité d’entre eux chôme, ce qui Londres dans son salon. Ce dont Uni qui fait hostilement partie de vent ceux qui boivent trop, ce qui divers partis. En effet, les instituts rend la tâche difficile lorsqu’il s’agit on ne parle jamais cependant, c’est l’Union Européenne, en est le plus pourrait être une explication valide de recherche qui sont dotés des de les sensibiliser; mais surtout, l’Angleterre décadente, l’Angleterre gros consommateur de boissons lorsqu’on sait qu’un jeune sur cinq chiffres alarmants précédemment surtout ne pas augmenter le prix de loin, très loin de son époque colo- alcoolisées. est au chômage, et que seulement évoqués exercent une pression l’alcool, 3000 adolescents qui meur- niale et de son rayonnement à C’est le cas des jeunes qui 30% des jeunes Anglais ont un constante sur le gouvernement afin ent chaque année, ce n’est qu’un travers le monde. L’Angleterre qui demeure le plus inquiétant dans diplôme universitaire. Pour ceux qui qu’il augmente les prix de l’alcool; détail de l’histoire. x 30 The McGill Daily & Le Délit | 2011.11.28

HEALTH SANTÉ Get pumped! It’s hot in here Marlee’s vegan kitchen

Marlee Rubel Exploring the world of energy drinks [email protected]

t has been a strange past Taylor Holroyd “It makes my eyes open,” time, or with alcohol. ences a dramatic loss of energy. couple weeks here at McGill. Health&Education Writer François Lacroix, a U2 Management In a 2011 study published in This is because the majority of I We’ve had our safety impeded student who consumes an average Men’s Health, it was found that the energy in the drinks is provid- by unnecessary riot police, and of four energy drinks per semes- energy drinks typically contain ed by sugar and caffeine, neither our campus has turned into a bat- ccording to a 2007 sur- ter, said. “It makes me shake at the methylxanthines, or naturally of which remain in your system tleground. But, fortunately, some vey published in the beginning. It makes me want to occurring organic compounds like for very long. fine leaders have stepped up to A Nutrition Journal, at least move around.” caffeine, that decrease sleepiness Because of some of the above remind us that our anger can be 51 per cent of university students Lacroix says he only drinks and improve alertness. Most also factors, energy drinks are contro- turned into inspiration and posi- in North America aged 17 to 25 Red Bull during exam time to stay contain a large amount of sugar to versial in some countries. Red Bull tive action. Incredible measures of consume more than one energy awake for longer periods of time. provide an energy source. Many – was banned in France, Denmark, strength, such as those we’re wit- drink each month, typically to stay He estimates that the burst of notably Red Bull – contain taurine, and Norway in the mid-2000s, but nessing on our own campus, make awake for longer periods of time, energy lasts about six hours. which has been proven to improve those bans have since been lifted. it clear that change is possible. to increase energy, or to induce a According to Health Canada, concentration and reaction time. According to BBC News, in 2009 a So the next time you need a buzz for partying. one average-sized 500 millilitre Finally, some also contain gin- town in East Sussex, England pro- minute to sit back and reflect on These figures are troubling energy drink contains around 180 seng, a natural root ingredient that hibited the sale of energy drinks to the changes we’re undeniably wit- since, according to a 2003 report milligrams of caffeine, about the reduces the ability to sleep, a use- minors because of the dangers they nessing take place at McGill, in from the Johns Hopkins Bayview same as a regular cup of coffee. ful quality for an energy drink. pose when rigorous physical activi- Montreal, and within ourselves, Medical Centre, the consumption Infrequent consumption of energy Although energy drinks are ties are carried out afterwards or curl up to your thoughts with of more than 500 milligrams of caf- drinks is therefore not likely dan- known to cause temporary improve- when consumed with alcohol. In something warm and soothing to feine per day can lead to caffeine gerous. Problems can arise, how- ments in alertness and cognition, 2000, a student in Dublin, Ireland take the edge off of the brilliant, dependency, nervousness, irrita- ever, when a person consumes the drinking of them often leads died when he played a rigorous but intense energy circulating bility, and restlessness. multiple drinks in a short period of to a crash and burn effect, where game of basketball after consum- around campus these days. With the effects of the drinks wear ing three energy drinks. that in mind, I bring you my two off suddenly and the Despite the risks and draw- favourite winter drinks for when consumer experi- backs, the use of energy drinks is you need a little comfort to find widespread among students look- your courage. ing to stay awake longer to study, to write papers, and to work. Though energy drinks are often mixed with Vegan Hot chocolate alcohol, such as vodka and Red Bull, Serves 4 the combination can be dangerous, according to the Nutrition Journal. 1 cup canned coconut milk Energy drinks act as stimulants 4 tsp. vanilla extract while alcohol is a depressant, which 3/4 cup white sugar reduces the apparent influence of 1/3 cup cocoa powder alcohol. This can cause consumers A few dashes of ground cinnamon to underestimate their intoxication 4 cups boiling water and drink much more than they normally would. Additionally, caf- 1. Stir together the coconut feine and alcohol are both diuret- milk, vanilla, sugar, cocoa ics, meaning they increase urine powder, and cinnamon. output, which may cause dehydra- 2. Pour in boiling water, tion and vomiting. stirring constantly. According to the United States Food and Drug Administration, the sale Apple Cider of alcoholic energy Serves 4 drinks such as Four Loko and Sparks have been 4 cups apple cider banned or regulated in 2 tbsp. maple syrup many states in the U.S. 4 small cinnamon sticks because they may cause 4 whole cloves cardiovascular failures. 4 whole allspice berries These drinks are popular 4 strips of orange peel among students because 4 strips of lemon peel they provide the rush of an 1 empty tea bag or steeper energy drink as well as the con- fidence and social lubricant effects 1. Pour the apple cider and of alcohol. However, the combina- maple syrup into a saucepan. tion of alcohol with caffeine may be 2. Place the cinnamon sticks, unsafe because individuals cannot cloves, allspice berries, orange accurately judge their drunkenness. peel, and lemon peel into Even some students who con- an empty tea bag or steeper, sume energy drinks are unsure and carefully place them about the health effects into the cider mixture. posed by these energy 3. Place the saucepan over boosters. moderate heat until the cider “I wouldn’t recommend is very hot, but not boiling. it to anybody,” said Lacroix. 4. Ladle into mugs, and “Just because I don’t know serve with an additional cin- Amina Batyreva | The McGill Daily what’s in it.” namon stick, if desired. The McGill Daily & Le Délit | 2011.11.28 31

SANTÉ HEALTH Just one drink? Clinical director at the MUHC Addictions Unit discusses alcohol usage in university

ike a four ton elephant stampeding down a narrow L corridor, finals are seen as an impending and inescapable doom by some. Seeking solace in this difficult period, some univer- sity students are driven into the arms of those bewitching sirens of our modern age – alcohol and substance abuse. Gail Gauthier, clinical director at the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) Addictions Unit, provides insight on the alcohol use of university students.

The McGill Daily: How much alcohol is enough for university students? Gail Gauthier: If we look at…a healthy adult female, the guide- lines [put out by Health Canada] would advise not to go over nine drinks per week. Some of the US health guidelines…advise as low as seven. That doesn’t mean in one night. A lot of what happens in univer- sity…is binge drinking. If we’re looking at nine drinks per week, it would be advisable to separate them out. For females, the maxi- mum amount of three to four drinks per episode. For males, it’s 14 per week, also with a maximum of four each time. Alcohol is metabolized in males and females very dif- ferently. Alcohol hits females more quickly than males. Males are able to excrete it faster and Amina Batyreva | The McGill Daily have enzymes to metabolize it. Females tend to take longer time GG: In the point of view of but they have gotten into the pat- treatment for a period of time. would be great places to start. For to excrete the alcohol. What hap- working as a therapist at the tern of having to drink every day. MD: In your opinion, what can students who already have some pens with binge drinking is that Addictions Unit, we get young People do not have to have physi- be done to raise awareness of alco- concerns…just talking about if it’s students may be okay with two people coming for therapy. We cal dependence with tolerance hol abuse or dependence among possible to decrease the amount or three drinks, but, all of sud- encourage people to take a break and withdrawal to be dependent. young adults? of alcohol, set up other activities, den, the alcohol that hasn’t been from drinking to let everything Dependence means that the alco- GG: I think a lot has to be done [and get] support from people removed is accumulated and can re-stabilize. Since alcohol is a hol is on your mind a lot of the with changing the university cul- who are not drinking as much… lead to alcohol poisoning. Alcohol depressant, there are people with time and takes priority over other ture. What is having a good time? a few sessions to discuss about poisoning can occur in somebody mood and anxiety problems. We more important things – relation- When you listen to the music, a these openly can really help. that drinks a large amount in one encourage those people to stop ships, classes, studying. For these large part of it is about drinking In addition to [the Addictions night and hasn’t been drinking for drinking for a month, but it’s real- people, we recommend the option heavily as well. There has got to Unit], where people come when days or weeks. ly hard around campus because of not drinking for a month or so. be alternative things to do that they need specialized attention, MD: What are some long-term they want to…socialize, and so If people aren’t ready, we recom- are available to people [that are] there is Foster Pavilion, which effects of alcohol consumption in much of that is based on drink- mend them to cut down. We talk not so heavily loaded with alco- has a rehabilitation program. It’s adolescence? ing. Most university campuses about friends who don’t drink as hol. A lot of the time, university for English-speaking people, pri- GG: [Since] the brain does not have a lot of alcohol on site. much so that the peer support students are away from home and marily. Resources on the French- fully develop until early adult- MD: What kind of treatments or can have a positive effect. We under a lot of stress and pressure. speaking side, there are quite a hood…the ability to control emo- therapeutic advice would you give? also encourage them to stay [at a I think the university campus few. Centre Dollard-Cormier is tion, judgment, impulse control, GG: Treatment paths depend social event involving alcohol] for could be a positive environment very large for both out- and in- and decision-making may be on [the patient’s] severity. We an hour instead of three to four offering alternate activities and patients. For detox, there is Saint- permanently impaired. For those categorize them into abuse or hours. There are other common support other than partying with Luc Hospital. If you look up the who start to consume alcohol at a dependence. Abuse would be sense things, such as eating first, alcohol. I think messages that Ministry of Social Services and young age, it’s harder for them to binge drinking or drinking in a drinking some water or juice in can get out there and make each look through region six, where stop. If they continue to use sub- way that it interferes with func- between alcoholic beverages. other be aware of alcohol abuse Montreal belongs, you’ll find a stances, it is more likely that they tioning – not doing well in school, Those who have become physi- could be very useful. listing of services. The Drug and will…use alcohol in a dependent missing classes, feeling hung over. cally dependent with daily drink- MD: Could you tell us some Alcohol Referral line (514- 527- manner in comparison to being Alcohol abuse patients are able to ing, withdrawal symptoms, and tol- services that are available for 2626) is a service where people able to modulate their use. not drink for a few days, but the erance, may need help with medi- youth to overcome alcohol depen- can call to get more information MD: What do you think about the cycle repeats. cation or they may have to take a dence or abuse? about resources. accessibility of alcohol in Montreal, Alcohol dependent patients are leave from school and sometimes GG: McGill Mental Health and and especially around campus? not actually just abusing alcohol, consider entering an inpatient University Health Service Centres —Compiled by Rachael Kim 32 The McGill Daily & Le Délit | 2011.11.28

HEALTH SANTÉ Droplets of truth Condensing various water facts and fictions

Ashley Hsu Eight glasses a day? elled up like raisins and lest we quick- Another study from the University tled water. Tap water is controlled Science+Technology Writer You’ve heard it before: we all ly quench our parched throats, ter- of Texas Medical School followed 15 by more rigorous standards than need to drink eight cups of water a rible things will happen. healthy participants with no prior bottled water is, but bottled water is day. If a standard glass is eight ounc- Nothing can be farther from the history of constipation or diarrhoea subjected to more advanced treat- ur body is composed of es, this recommendation works out truth. While thirst can set in when found that, although increasing fluid ment, leading to a lower risk of up to two-thirds water. to be almost two litres a day. But plasma osmolality (concentration intake increased urination significant- contamination during the process. O The human brain is where does this claim actually come of non-water substances per kilo- ly, there was no discernable effect on Test results are inconclusive and composed of 95 per cent water. from? Do we really need to drink gram of water) is above 294 mosmol/ stool. There is a plethora of scientific the safety of water simply depends Water, also helps regulate metab- eight cups of water a day? As it turns kgH2O, one is not dehydrated until literature on the subject of water and on each specific case. The quality olism and body temperature. out, the answer is no. plasma osmolality rises above 302 its effects on human health, but over- of tap water can vary from region Dehydration can have a variety of There is yet to be a paper that mosmol/kgH2O. all, the claim that everyone should to region. Rural areas and some effects on individuals including recommends eight glasses a day In addition to this, there is a notion drink eight glasses of water a day can- First Nation communities are still fatigue, short-term memory loss, on the basis of sound scientific evi- that dark-coloured urine is an indica- not be said to have been indisputably exposed to unsafe tap water, and trouble focusing on fine print, dence. The nearest link appears tor of dehydration. Average urine validated, scientifically. a filtering or boiling process of the and even basic math abilities. to be from the book of renowned osmolality is approximately 600 mos- The question now arises: if water is necessary. Furthermore, Water plays a key role in main- nutritionist ,Fredrick Stare, which mol/mosmol/kgH2O; urine with this drinking more water can be good tap water in some countries is taining normal body functions states: “How much water each day? concentration is usually a moderate for you, why not? When we drink prone to more pollution than the and in preventing disease. This is usually well regulated by vari- yellow colour. At this level of urine water, it gets removed from our tap water here in Montreal. In fact, Considering that water is ous physiological mechanisms, but osmolality, plasma osmolality is much body through urine and sweat. according to CBC news online, reg- essential in so many bodily func- for the average adult, somewhere lower than the 302 mosmol/kgH2O Water also regulates the level of salt ular Canadian tap water is extreme- tions, constant rehydration is cru- around six to eight glasses per 24 threshold of dehydration. In conclu- in our blood. If one drinks too much ly safe to drink – except for in the cial. For a fortunate few – most of hours, and this can be in the form of sion, being thirsty and having yellow water in a relatively short period of regions mentioned above. us reading this included – water is coffee, tea, milk, soft drinks, beer, et pee are not signs of dehydration. time, the kidney will not be able to Although the tap water in always readily available. In fact, for cetera. Fruits and vegetables are also But are there potential benefits remove it quickly enough and the Canadian cities is perfectly safe to these lucky few, the abundance of a good source of water.” to drinking more water than what blood will be too diluted, and thus drink, the bottled water industry water around them can be disil- Somehow, this afterthought has the body requires to function? There will contain an insufficient concen- is prospering and growing fast. lusioning. Many misconceptions caught on, and transformed into are claims that water can reduce the tration of salt. In severe instances Bottled water not only appeals to arise: the idea that we have plen- a solid and seemingly reputable risk of cancer, heart disease, consti- this can result in death. Typically, more people because of health con- ty of water to spare, the thought medical suggestion. The rationale of pation, and help one lose weight. these instances are extremely rare cerns; distaste of tap water organo- that some forms of water are not thinking that, because so much of One study done by the Department and only often seen in elderly peo- leptics (the characteristics that drinkable, and the general feeling our body is composed of water, we of Nutrition at Harvard University ple with impaired kidney functions affect taste, sight, and smell) has that this crucial source of life can must drink large amounts of water, looked at the relation between the or in people who take drugs such as also contributed to a predominant be taken for granted. Two com- is illogical and akin to thinking that, total fluid intake and risk of bladder ecstasy that result in increased thirst public preference to bottled water mon water myths will be exam- because cars require gas to run, you cancer of almost 48,000 participants and difficulty to excreting water. over tap water, thus the surge in the ined: the claim that we should all need to refuel your tank every day. over a period of ten years. These In conclusion, while there is evi- water bottle industry. Nevertheless, drink eight glasses of water a day, So how can you tell how much fluids were not just restricted to dence that suggests there are posi- a four-year review of the water bottle and the stigma of tap water. water you need to drink? Some water, and included a wide range of tive benefits to drinking more water, industry by the Natural Resources of us believe that by the time we 22 different drinks. Researchers cal- which can come from a variety of Defense Council’s (NRDC), an esti- are feeling thirsty, it is already too culated an approximate 7 per cent drinks – and even from food – there mated 25 per cent of bottled water late – our brains have shriv- decrease for every extra glass is no conclusive scientific evidence actually contains tap water. of fluid. There was a significant that suggests we must all drink at Sometimes this water is further decrease in risk for men who least eight glasses of water a day. treated – but other times, it is not. drank approximately six glass- While most bottled water is safe to es, which is still below the eight Tapped in or bottled up? drink, in about 22 percent of the glass recommendation. Tap water usually carries the water bottles tested by NRDC, at stigma of being a health risk and least one sample had chemical con- of containing harmful chemicals. taminants above state health limits. However, it is debatable whether Furthermore, although we spend tap water really is worse than bot- money to buy bottled water because we think it is “healthier,” phthalates – chemicals found in the plastic – are known to mimic and disrupt healthy hormonal functions, such as testosterone. Over time, these have been shown to leech into bot- tled water. Water in plastic bottles containing phthalates has been suggested by studies to be exposed to chemicals seeping from the plastic cap or liner. Unfortunately, there currently exists no legal limit for phthalates in bottled water; the bottle water industry has even managed to shut down the Food and Drug Administration proposal to set a limit on these potentially harmful chemicals. Furthermore, the immense environmental impact of water bottles is just another rea- son to consider reaching for a glass and turning to the tap, instead of Amina Batyreva | The McGill Daily buying a bottle. The McGill Daily & Le Délit | 2011.11.28 33

SANTÉ HEALTH Coffee chemicals A cup o’ joe sounds more like an organic chemistry lab than a beloved drink

Morgane Ciot crystalline alkaline plant toxin, simi- for a buttery smell, and furaneol is Science+Technology Writer lar to nicotine and cocaine. Its main the éminence grise behind the cara- function is to prevent adenosine mel-like flavor of many coffees. from bonding to neurotransmitters. Besides having pleasing olfactory egend has it that coffee was first Adenosine, also known as the sleep characteristics, coffee contains other concocted in Western Ethiopia. chemical, is an inhibitor that abates compounds that are thought to have L Since then, it has come a brain activity by restraining the salubrious side-effects. Coffee beans long way. Modern brewing devices reticular activating system. In other are rich in indigestible polysaccha- and techniques have conferred a words, it makes you sleepy. The pres- rides, dietary fibers that are associated mechanical advantage upon coffee- ence of caffeine prevents this system with antioxidant phenolics. A report making that has turned the process from being inhibited, thus allowing published in 2007 in the Journal of into both a science and an art. At the you to power through those early Agricultural Food Chemistry found same time, popular coffee deriva- mornings and late nights. In broader that these antioxidant properties are tives – like the frappucinos served terms, caffeine is a central nervous passed on after brewing. With 8.7 to at Starbucks – contain a slew of addi- system stimulant. It can make you 10.5 milligrams of antioxidant pheno- tives that make the drinks seem more alert, but can also cause insom- lics per 100 millilitres of the brewed more like frosted cocktails than cups nia, headaches, anxiety, and dizzi- beverage, coffee has more soluble of coffee. Whether your morning kick ness. Caffeine is also a diuretic – a fiber than many other common bev- Victor Tangermann | The McGill Daily involves one of these or a genuine urine-inducing compound. erages. Type II arabinogalactan and barista-brewed artifact, the lowest Caffeine’s potency is especially galactomannan are the polysaccha- example, Starbucks coffees are closer cal compound that prevents stom- common denominators for all coffee, remarkable when paired with the fact rides that are present in both the to glamorized full-fat milkshakes, with ach cells from producing excess and the entirety of its offspring, are that a cup of coffee is typically com- green coffee beans and the final prod- a higher calorie and carbohydrate load acid usually caused by coffee drink- simply water and coffee beans. posed of 98.5 to 99 per cent water. uct. Green and roasted coffee beans than regular coffee has. ing. The darker the roast, the more The most popular and accessible This may seem like you’re being roy- are rich in dietary fiber, and since Frappuccinos, for instance, are soothing the coffee will be for the species of coffee beans on the mar- ally swindled, but the universal solvent phenolics have a tendency to bind made with different variants of syrup consumer’s stomach. ket are Coffea robusta, a bean asso- is important in the brewing process: it strongly to polysaccharides, they are whose main ingredients are sugar, The extraction process also ciated with a harsh, flat taste, and extracts the flavors and oils from the transferred to the brewed coffee. The water, xanthan gum, sodium, and impacts the final components in a Coffea arabica, which is known to coffee grounds, lending your morn- correlation between regular coffee preservatives. Xanthan gum is a poly- cup of coffee. Acids are the first com- have a richer and multi-dimensional ing dose its pungent nature. With less consumption and lower risks of diabe- saccharide that acts as a thickening ponents to be dissolved in water. taste. 70 per cent of the world con- water, the 800 or so volatile aromatic tes may be explained by the presence agent. Depending on the drink, many Sugar comes next, and the bitter cof- sumes Arabica, while the remaining compounds that harmonize to pro- of antioxidants in coffee. However, of the syrups contain maltodextrin, fee components are dissolved last. 30 per cent drinks Robusta. They duce the distinct smell and taste of the fact that coffee is the number one a sweet additive usually added to Too much extraction can produce a have slightly different chemical coffee would be overwhelmingly cloy- source of antioxidants in the western sodas and candy, and carrageenan, bitter flavor, but too little will result compositions, but both contribute a ing and unsavory. drinks shouldn’t be interpreted as a the vegan version of gelatin that is in a sour brew. The magical number, total of over 1000 different organic A select group of these volatile justification for increased coffee con- extracted from red seaweed. according to Richie Nieto, the owner and inorganic chemical compounds compounds have a low odor thresh- sumption, especially given its less ben- The composition of a type of of a coffee bar in New York, is a 19 to this drink. These include carbo- old, are found in high concentrations eficial aspects. beverage isn’t static – chemical pro- to 22 per cent extraction, a formula hydrates, lipids, nitrogenous com- in coffee, and end up forming the pri- One of these is that coffee has cesses determine the exact chemi- that pleasantly balances all three pounds, vitamins, minerals, alka- mary determinants of coffee’s aroma. been linked to higher levels of choles- cal makeup of a cup of coffee and types of compounds. loids, and phenolic compounds. Of Ethylguaiacol, for example, is the terol. This may seem discrepant with have a qualitative and quantitative No matter what the magical this teaming multitude, polysaccha- flavor constituent that lends certain its soluble fiber properties, but cof- effect on your quotidian bever- blend is, a cup of coffee ultimately rides, phenolics, and caffeine have blends a spicy fragrance. Pyrazine fee’s potential health benefits may be age. For example, according to boils down to a cup of water sprin- the most salient impact on health. – the main aromatic compound in jeopardized by some of the extra com- the Journal of Agricultural Food kled with some caffeine, ethylguai- Caffeine, the cardinal reason green bell peppers – provides an ponents that are added to the coffees Chemistry, a dark roast produces acol, phenolics, diacetyl, amongst many students drink coffee, is a white earthy aroma. Diacetyl is responsible many people opt for these days. For more N-methylpyridinium, a chemi- many others. So romantic, I know. When sugar-free ain’t so sweet Katrina Sieniuc explores Montreal’s sodapop past

here’s a reason why consum- Human Nutrition Department, main- them.” Hoffer believes that the origi- tions of drinking diet soda have not sumption but even increase it in some ers continually buy diet sodas tains that these sugar-free drinks do nal reason for this new trend is con- been concretely proven. Some find- cases as “they are ‘unsatisfied’ by the T over their regular counter- indeed save calories, and, thus, are an ceptual: “The desire to experience ings based on epidemiological data lack of calories.” There is also other parts – or even over newer “zero” appealing alternative to sugary bever- the sensory pleasure of the drink, conclude that people who drink more evidence that suggests diet sodas are products. They like it that way. It ages – especially for people who are but [be] reassured that one is not diet sodas have more cardiovascular neutral, and do not have any effect on tastes and feels healthier, right? working on managing their weight or consuming empty calories,” he said. disease events. But this should be total energy consumption. John Hoffer of the Lady Davis have diabetes. In fact, the first formula Going beyond just taste, Hoffer fur- regarded as provisional and sugges- Hendrickson-Nelson pointed to Institute for Medical Research said for the diet soft drink was developed ther posed the possibility that con- tive, rather than as a definite conclu- Canada’s Food Guide for healthy he “would not be at all surprised to at the behest of diabetes patients at sumers drink diet soft drinks “with a sion. “Do not make the mistake of alternatives to diet beverages. It learn that a large proportion of peo- McGill’s Royal Victoria Hospital in sense of virtue and safety, that they arguing that this association proves recommends that we drink water ple have grown up with these drinks Montreal in the 1950s. Since then, are doing something good and prop- that diet sodas are risk factors for to quench our thirst, and low fat and developed an acquired taste for diet drinks have undergone a major er, and that they are being respon- heart disease,” explained Hoffer. A milk or alternatives, and a half cup the chemical sweeteners.” A regular rebranding from a product with a sible. That is an emotional state of more likely explanation for the asso- of juice per day to help us meet our soda drink contains nine teaspoons particular medical motivation, to one doing the right thing.” Varoujan ciation is that people who drink diet nutrient needs. Tea and coffee in of sugar and not much else besides targeted to a broader public as a par- Yaylayan, chair of the Department sodas more regularly are people who moderation are other options that some phosphoric acid. Thus, any ticular lifestyle choice. of Food Science and Agricultural are already “prone to overeat and provide phytochemicals and antioxi- product with the word “diet” on the So, how did the diet soft drink Chemistry at McGill viewed “the to eat the wrong foods in general,” dants. She explained that replacing label superficially elevates one’s soda- transform from primarily a health impact of a ‘healthy’ image of diet concluded Hoffer. In terms of energy milk and alternatives with diet soda drinking-pastime to something of a choice to a “healthy choice?” drinks [as depending] on the level of consumption, Hoffer maintained that can increase risk for osteoporosis. health regimen. Mary Hendrickson- Hendrickson-Nelson contends that sophistication of the consumer and there is some evidence to suggest that Yaylayan suggested that we just drink Nelson, undergraduate academic in today’s age, “diet beverages appeal how informed he or she is”. those who drink diet beverages do not water. “Why do we need sweetened advisor for the McGill Dietetics and to teens and women and ads target In recent years, the health implica- decrease their total daily energy con- water?” he asked. 34 The McGill Daily & Le Délit | 2011.11.28

HEALTH SANTÉ Un cocktail de malade Entre les tabous et les mythes, l’alcool et les troubles mentaux forment un duo mal connu.

Alexandre Gauvreau des Québécois seraient affectés par la meilleure issue contre la maladie tionnement de certains circuits l’alcool devient un déterminant clé. Le Délit un trouble de l’humeur ou un trouble mentale, ce qui reste un concept flou nerveux, de plusieurs mutations Cette réalité s’applique aux personnes anxieux. De surcroît, c’est chez les et malgré tout une évidence pour tout génétiques ou traumatismes graves prédisposées à développer un trouble jeunes que la maladie mentale est la le monde. menant conjointement à des troubles schizophrène, alors que l’altération Deux tabous. plus répandue, avoisinant les 15%. mentaux et au développement de subtile des neurotransmetteurs, Le lien entre alcool et maladie l’alcoolisme, l’Organisation Mondiale comme le glutamate, que cause la con- ’alcoolisme est une dépendance Par maladie mentale, il est impor- mentale n’est pas ténu. On reconnaît de la Santé (OMS) suggère une sommation d’alcool, est parfois suf- grave à l’alcool. Dû a ses effets tant de rappeler que le terme est large entre 15 et 20% de prévalence de la approche thérapeutique qui prend en fisante au déclenchement d’une crise. Leuphorisants et déstabilisants, et fait référence autant à des condi- toxicomanie chez les gens atteints compte les deux problèmes comme elle entraîne une perte de contrôle, tions comme la schizophrénie ou d’une maladie mentale, alors que ce étant reliés et devant donc être trai- Il advient donc que ces deux une détresse psychologique et un dys- l’anorexie, mais aussi les dépressions taux grimpe à 50% chez les troubles tés parallèlement. Il est aussi clair que situations, l’alcoolisme et la maladie fonctionnement social. majeures, le stress chronique, les pho- anxieux, mentionne l’étude. chez de nombreux patients psychi- mentale, s’auto-potentialisent l’une bies, les troubles de personnalité, etc. atriques, la détresse vécue par leur et l’autre et cohabitent, de ce fait, très La maladie mentale, véritable non- Ces situations peuvent être persistan- L’œuf ou la poule? situation médicale mène dans de plu- fréquemment. Et si ces deux condi- dit de la médecine moderne, est un tes ou temporaires. sieurs cas à ce qu’Éduc’alcool appelle tions ont des effets dégénératifs sur la lourd stigma qui affecte pourtant la L’approche médicale est toutefois Qu’en est-il des prédispositions? «l’automédication», soit la consomma- qualité de vie, il est aussi facile de con- population avec des ratios compa- peu reconnue en société, la collec- L’alcoolisme mène-t-il à la maladie tion de substances apaisantes dans cevoir qu’ensemble, cette dégénéra- rables au cancer, mais qui entraîne tion s’embourbe dans un véritable un fardeau de culpabilité, puisque cercle vicieux jusqu’au fond du baril. l’on croit encore que les troubles psy- «Lorsque les symptômes précurseurs de la maladie L’Association américaine des psychia- chologiques s’apparentent à la paresse tres affirme en effet que dans neuf cas plutôt qu’à la maladie. sont associés à la consommation de substances sur dix, une personne qui se suicide souffrait préalablement d’une maladie Or, qu’en est-il de la cohabitation psychoactives comme l’alcool, le risque est plus mentale, alors que l’OMS suggère que de ces deux réalités chez une même 25% d’entre eux ont un problème de personne? Elle n’est pas rare, pour- élevé de développer une maladie mentale.» consommation d’alcool, et que 50% tant, bien au contraire et s’il est vrai des personnes suicidées étaient sous que la dépendance à toute substance l’effet de l’alcool quand elles ont fran- est une forme de trouble mental, tivité ayant une certaine réticence à ou est-ce l’inverse? Des chercheurs le but de réduire la souffrance. Dans chi le seuil. l’alcoolisme a cette distinction de pro- croire que les instabilités psychiques se sont penchés sur la question et ces cas, l’alcool est bien entendu une mouvoir les bouleversements futurs puissent être chimiquement décon- leur conclusion suggère plutôt que solution de choix. Beau, bon, pas cher, À l’approche du temps des fêtes dans l’équilibre psychique de ceux qui struites par l’administration de ces deux conditions marchent main légal. et de la fin de session, même s’il est en sont affectés. médicaments. Pourtant, «en 2005, dans la main. À cet effet, il est sug- vrai que la consommation d’alcool les médecins québécois ont rédigé géré que les prédispositions géné- Le rapport confirme aussi que peut aussi être synonyme de festivités 7,5 millions d’ordonnances pour des tiques et environnementales pour les «lorsque les symptômes précurseurs et de récompense méritée après une Maladies mentales: les chiffres antidépresseurs. Selon le Conseil maladies mentales –car, oui, on peut de la maladie sont associés à la con- période de stress, il est important de du médicament du Québec, entre être programmé pour développer sommation de substances psycho- se souvenir que la vodka ou tout autre Dans sa plus récente étude, 2000 et 2004, une personne sur cinq la schizophrénie ou la dépression– actives comme l’alcool, le risque est alcool n’est peut-être pas la meilleure Éduc’Alcool a publié un rapport reli- (19,2 %) a pris des antidépresseurs sont dans tous les cas très similaires plus élevé de développer une maladie béquille sur laquelle se reposer en cas ant l’alcoolisme et la maladie men- pendant au moins un an», affirme le à celles qui aboutissent à l’alcoolisme. mentale». En ce sens, il est admis que d’anxiété. Pour cela, il reste encore les tale. On y relevait des données d’une rapport d’Éduc’alcool. Il est vrai, à si la génétique n’est généralement pas amis, la famille et les professionnels enquête menée au Québec qui affir- cet égard, que la prévention (c’est à En mettant en lumière les rela- suffisante pour condamner un indi- de la santé, qui ont beaucoup moins mait qu’au courant de leur vie, 23% dire un mode de vie équilibré) reste tions qui existent entre le dysfonc- vidu à une condition psychiatrique, de chances de vous rendre fou. x

Art Essay

Aquil Virani The McGill Daily & Le Délit | 2011.11.28 35

SANTÉ HEALTH Hard facts on soft drinks A look into the potentially addictive nature of our best-loved sodas

Anqi Zhang us well in our hunter-gatherer days, juices, and energy and sports drinks. products. This applies not only and juice) deliver necessary nutri- The McGill Daily it may not suit us so well given the If one is using sugar levels as a mea- to Gatorade, but also to Vitamin ents to our bodies, and are ben- abundance of sugar in Western sure of “unhealthiness”, these other Water, Fuze, Red Bull, Rockstar – eficial under certain circumstances. countries in our current day and drinks are no less culpable. the list goes on. Therefore, we should not respond t is no news to us that soft age. I spoke to several students who Schwarcz offered some inter- It is difficult to avoid sweetened with panic at the sugar levels pre- drinks contain extraordinary regularly drink Coke to ask them esting history of the creation of beverages. Even fruit juices are sented here, but rather simply be Iamounts of sugar. Coke, for why they choose this beverage over Gatorade. Its original purpose encompassed in the “soft drink” aware of our choices. It is encourag- example, contains the equivalent others. Does a love of Coca Cola, was to supply football players category, and if one looks solely at ing that the students I spoke to, who of ten sugar cubes in every can. for instance, translate to a love of all with lost energy and minerals its sugar content there is no reason love the taste of Coke, still impose For the most part, we are aware soft drinks? during long practices. But the it shouldn’t. 12 ounces of Minute limits on their own habits. Though of the health consequences that Tina Latif, a U1 Math and formula also contained a lot of Maid orange juice has only three sugar may be tasty, it does not seem result from excessive sugar intake: Physics student, only drinks Coke sugar – more than was originally less grams of sugar than an equal to actually cause uncontrollable cavities, increased risk of heart – not diet, not Selection brand, planned for, in fact: “The origi- amount of Coke. addiction in people. While dieti- disease, and diabetes, to name not Pepsi. Just Coca Cola, pref- nal Gatorade sports beverage Overall, it is close to impossible cians may bemoan our collective a few. Despite all of this, some of erably from a classic red can. was sweetened with the artificial to pick a drink (that isn’t water) choice as a society to continue con- us informed university students “It’s really refreshing,” she said, sweetener sodium cyclamate. that doesn’t contain obscenely high sumption of these unhealthy drinks, continue to grab a shiny red can adding that “other brands don’t This was banned by the U.S. amounts of sugar. But, as previously so long as individuals are educated of Coke with our sandwiches and have the same recipe.” Though Food and Drug Administration in mentioned, many of these drinks about health consequences, it’s ulti- pizza. We may even jokingly attri- Latif makes jokes about being an 1970 because of studies showing (such as Gatorade, chocolate milk, mately their prerogative. bute this to an addiction or depen- addict, pointing out the empty an increase in bladder cancer in dence of sorts, conceding that, cans on her desk, she follows a rats fed huge doses of the sweet- although we know the detriments self-imposed limit of one can a ener.” So the creator of Gatorade, of our fizzy habits, we still do it. day. “It’s for financial and health Dr. Robert Cade, turned to “fruc- The word addiction gets ban- reasons,” she elaborated. tose, a sweet carbohydrate that tered around a lot, especially in For many people the consump- doesn’t trigger insulin release.” relation to Coca Cola. This may be tion of soft drinks often incorpo- The amount of sugar in because of the unerring similarities rates a ritualistic aspect. Whether sports drinks, though predict- between Coke and another kind of it’s a fixed time, a certain brand, or ably less than that of carbon- coke. Yes, Coke used to contain a specific way of drinking it, many ated beverages, is still sig- cocaine. And, in fact, cocoa leaves avid drinkers of soda have a “thing”. nificant. Both Gatorade and are still used to deliver some of I have my own story of Coca Vitamin Water contain 20 that signature Coke taste – but Cola dependence. In my first year, grams of sugar for every nowadays these leaves are first I spent about a tenth of my meal 12 ounces, the size of a processed and spent so that no plan solely on Coke bottles and typical Coke can. The more of the active drug is pres- soft drinks of the like (I still have a full bottle contains 33 ent. What is a more likely addictive soft spot for Fresca), though I both grams of sugar. When agent in Coke is sugar. knew – and felt – the consequences I grab an “Mega C” Joe Schwarcz, a McGill of my daily indulgence. It became Vitamin Water in the Chemistry professor and author more than habit: I would reach for a morning, I don’t expect of several food chemistry books bottle every time I passed the drink to soon be consuming (including An Apple a Day and fridge at RVC. In an effort to curb the equivalent of 8 sugar Let Them Eat Flax) told The Daily temptation I would consciously cubes. And yet a full bot- in an email that “the “addictive” attempt to reroute my path through tle of Vitamin Water deliv- potential of sugar has long been the cafeteria. More often than not, ers almost the same sugar debated.” The definition of addic- all this did was necessitate a second content as a can of Coke. tion, he clarified, involves three trip to the food area to pick up what According to Gatorade’s features: “A person will increase I had sorely missed during my meal. website: “Years of labora- his intake of the drug to get the Some may call this addiction, tory research has shown desired effect; he will experience and, in many ways, my behaviour that a 6 per cent carbohy- withdrawal symptoms when access did appear similar to mild addictive drate solution provides an to the drug is cut off; and, he will behaviour. But after I had left resi- appealing taste profile when relapse back into drug use.” dence for home that summer, there exercising, is rapidly emp- Schwarcz described studies were no substantial symptoms of tied from the stomach and wherein rats were observed to withdrawal, and, in fact, I rarely absorbed by the intestine, binge when sugar was doled out reached for any of the readily avail- and delivers performance- and show symptoms of withdrawal able cans in the fridge. Quitting enhancing energy to active when it was taken away. Common Coke, if that is indeed what I did, muscles. “ Sounds pretty withdrawal symptoms – such as seemed to be no more difficult than convincing. The amount teeth chattering and shaking – were quitting broccoli or beets. Perhaps of carbohydrates present in also shown when opiate receptors it wasn’t an addiction – as I had told Gatorade even seems modest were blocked. This finding sug- myself for so long – after all. compared to the other recom- gests a disturbing conclusion: that More likely, it was simply deli- mended post-workout drinks. sugar can have an opiate-like effect. cious, and after drinking it for Chocolate milk, for exam- Though Schwarcz conceded that a few days, it starts to become ple, contains twice as much this research is “interesting”, he familiar. So it continued. For a sugar as an equal amount of added that, “I think humans just person with a raging sweet tooth Gatorade. like the taste of sweets.” like me, this sounds like the logi- While it makes sense that There is no doubt about that. cal progression. sports drinks should sup- Sugar is an important source of The Canadian government’s defi- ply carbohydrates in an easily energy. Evolutionarily speaking, we nition of the “soft drink” industry metabolized form (read: sugar) are wired to find the taste of sugar includes essentially any non-alcohol- to an athlete post-workout, this enjoyable, because we need it. ic beverage, including, but not lim- sugar content rarely raises con- While this instinct may have served ited to, carbonated beverages, fruit cerns to casual consumers of these Victor Tangermann | The McGill Daily McGill | The Victor Tangermann 36 The McGill Daily & Le Délit | 2011.11.28 COMPENDIUM! FOURRE-TOUT!

Student seen cycling on campus Courageous cyclist defies recent crackdowns by the MSECBC

Bikuta Tangaman to return his Anthropology paper, Initiative, which has proven to put The McGill Daily which was already “way too fuck- an end to recent illegal bike traffic ing late.” on campus.” FUCK YEAH ESTATE SALE McGill Security for the Current McGill Security Craigslist has a books section? I’m intrigued… Well this one’s crap, this one too, McGill student has been Enforcement of Cycling Ban on Encampment for Illegal Cyclists crap, crap, crap, why are they trying to sell that? ESTATE SALE! Click. Hundreds seen riding his or her Campus (MSECBC) Executive convict (who asked to remain of history books- American revolution- European history. Westmount. Call for A bike on campus at 9:30 Reer Di Railour gave a brief com- anonymous) applauds the bravery an appointment. I called and told a strange woman my name and that I was p.m., on the evening of November ment during a recent press confer- of the alleged student, but raises coming, then drank two more cups of coffee (everything’s moving so fast) and 21, 2011. The report – submitted ence. “I don’t know how he made concern over safety. “It takes balls biked into the bourgeois depths of Westmount in pursuit of fine literature. I anonymously to the Daily – sug- it past our ID Inspection site to to cycle, with the crackdowns and met three McGill profs in two hours of book perusing in a senior’s home. Fuck gests that the student cycled from get to the Leacock Building, but all. But man, is it really worth get- yeah Westmount’s dense ang-y population. Fuck yeah hardcover Paradise Lost Milton Gates, past McGill Security this event certainly raises red ting tackled down to the floor and for $1. Fuck yeah Leonard Cohen poetry collection for 25 cents. Fuck yeah nice Checkpoint A, B, and D12, as he flags. It also forces us to re-evalu- locked up for three office hours old people asking me about what I’m studying. Fuck yeah immediately becom- made his way around the Y inter- ate the effectiveness of our newly in some windowless conference ing an estate sale frequenter. Fuck, how will I overcome the morbidity of being section to head over to Leacock implemented Cycling Spike Strips room in Stewart Bio?” an estate sale frequenter? Large hardcover colour art books for $1? Fuck yeah.

Un homme entre dans un bar. À l’intérieur, un robot fait office de serveur. «Quel est votre QI?» demande-t-il. L’homme répond «180». Le robot lui sert un scotch de grande qualité, vieilli dix-huit ans, et les deux se mettent à discuter de nanotechnologies, de changements climatiques, de biodiversité. Impressionné, l’homme rentre chez-lui avec l’idée de défier le robot. Le lendemain, l’homme retourne au bar. «Quel est votre QI?» demande à nouveau le robot. «100» répond cette fois-ci l’homme. Le robot lui remet donc une bière et entame une discussion sur les femmes, les sports, et les voitures. À la fin de la soirée, l’homme se promet de revenir le lendemain, pour tester le robot davantage. Ainsi, le jour suivant, l’homme entre dans le bar. Le robot lui demande son QI. «60» s’essaie-t-il. La machine lui sert un coca-cola et lui demande: «Alors, vous

READ THIS IT’S FUNNY étudiez à l’UQAM ou à Concordia?» Mon Pays, Ce N’est pas un Pays, C’est l’hiver The Crossword Fairies Across 65. Things that are spread? 33. Zoroastrian The McGill Daily 1. Print precursor 66. Faire passer quelqu’un 34. Ni un oiseau ni Superman 5. Cutting edge? par le ___ d’une aiguille 35. Arrangement 10. Tangy cheese source 67. RCOOR group 37. Bet 14. Foal’s mother 68. Pronom personnel féminin 38. Dime, nickel, or quarter 15. Even 69. Bad marks in high school? 40. Swirly architecture or cal- 16. Céréale pour la bière 70. Tale ligraphy motif 17. Coffin stand 71. One prone to 69 across 44. Father of 19 across 18. Not perfectly round 45. Penny 19. Cain and ___, first children Down 49. Bathroom fixture 20. Legal cutoff for bedroom 1. Imprison 51. Feels for acts 2. Boreal forest 52. Discharge 23. Circle characterizers 3. Belief system 54. Sport nautique 24. Holder of property on 4. Brave 55. Anoint behalf of another 5. Eastern or Soviet 56. To eat, in German 28. Scale 6. Une bicyclette mélangée? 58. “What’s gotten ___ you?” 32. Religious painting or 7. What Stratford is upon 59. ___-do-well symbol 8. Believer in the Supreme 60. Askew 33. ___ de deux Architect 61. Elementary school orga- 36. Cave ceiling decorations? 9. Berry for cordials, jam, or nization 39. Pas seul, ___ quelqu’un liqueur 62. Warg-rider d’autre 10. Hide of 10 across 63. ___ Paul, 2012 presiden- 41. Grassy plain, in Latin 11. Ball tial hopeful America 12. Era 42. Moniker 13. ___ephone (no, it’s not 43. OCD behaviour banana) 46. Lacking in rigor 21. Garçon du père 47. Dont l’appareil auditif ne 22. Période qui s’étend de fonctionne pas 16h20 à 7h 48. Article of faith 25. Sum 50. Established 26. Unclogging procedure? 53. Star bursts 27. East England Country 57. Creative apparatuses 29. “___ do you good” 61. Cochon 30. French Sudan, today 64. Refresh 31. Good time, from the past The McGill Daily & Le Délit | 2011.11.28 37

CONTRIBUTORS COLLABORATEURS Thanks to everyone who helped out this term! Merci à tous pour le coup de main!

Susan Aberman, Anudari Achitsaikan, Ruth Ainsworth, Sabrina Ait-Akil, Djenae Andre, Marek Anhee, Marlise Armstrong, Fariddudin Attar Rifai, Esma Balkir, Morgon Banks, Deveney Bazinet, Jethro Beattie-Booth, Anthony Beauséjour, Tim Beeler, Nora Belbildia, David Benrimoh, Louise Berrebi, Caroline Berrel, Sam Bick, Emilie Blanchard, Niko Block, Émilie Bombardier, Alexandra Borkowski, Sylvie Bosher, Julia Boshyk, Jacqueline Brandon, Naomi Braude, Grace Brooks, Jonathan Brosseau, Jonathan Brosseau-Rioux, Kira Bruce, Abbie Buckman, Eloge Butera, Lindsay Cameron, Richard Carozza, Camille Chabrol, Alex Chalk, Mays Chami, Audrey Champagne, Edna Chan, Hera Chan, Laura Chapnick, Martine Chapuis, Justine Chassé-Dumont, Alvin Chauhan, Zhiying Chen, Oles Chepesiuk, Houda Chergui, Andrew Childerhouse, Lorraine Chuen, Morgane Ciot, Ian Clarke, Will Colish, Christiana Collison, Laurent Bastien Corbeil, Amelia Cordiff, Juliana Just Costa, Catherine Côté-Ostiguy, Anthony Cotter, Madeleine Cummings, Ines de la Cuetara, Laura D’Angelo, Bernard D’Arche, Julie d’Auteuil, Max Dannenberg, Alexander Dawson, Brianna Delagran, Félix Le Dem, Evan Dent, Naomi Desai, Alice Destombes, Rouguiatou Diallo, Nicholas Dillon, Rosemary Dobson, Matthew Dowling, Victoria Downey, Édith Drouin-Rousseau, Lola Duffort, Elena Dugan, Flora Dunster, Julia Edelman, Sofia El Mouderrib, Naomi Endicott, James Farr, Ethan Feldman, Raphaël D. Ferland, Marcello Ferrara, Chiara Fish, Jayda Fogel, Anna Foran, Thomas Fulton, Andrew Gallai, Jane Gatensby, Benoit Gauthier, Alexandre Gauvreau, Zoé de Geofroy, Marzieh Ghiasi, Alexis Gianellia, Nicole Gileadi, Sarah Gliech, Eva Goodman, Joey Goodman, Miatta Gorvie, Alexandra Gosselin, Thomas Granrud, Sam Gregory, Kaien Gu, Daniel Haboucha, Erin Hale, Elise Hannaford, Sarah Hautcœur, Ryan Healey, Matthias Heilke, KT Helin-Glick, Laure Henri-Garand, Joseph Henry, Matt Herzfeld, Benjamin Heumann, Lily Hoffman, Taylor Holroyd, Abby Howard, Brett Howie, Ashley Hsu, Kaj Huddart, Matthew Hunter, Jade Hurter, Claire Hurtig, Marieve Isabel, Mark Iyengar, Alexia Jablonski, Xavier Jacob, Émile Janda, Francois-Xavier Jetté, Molly Joeck, Laïa Julio, Emilio Comay del Junco, Clara del Junco, Max Karpinski, Elaina Kauffman, Sarah Kerr, Steve Eldon Kerr, Devin Kesner, Polina Khomenko, Vera Khramova, Rachael Kim, Ian Gerald King, Keat Yang Koay, Andrew Komar, Kripa Koshy, Maggie Knight, Amanda Kron, Alexander Kunev, Paulina Kyriakopoulos, Alexie Labelle, Annie Lagueux, Vincent Laliberté, Sean Lamb, Noah Lanard, Myriam Landhi, Christopher Lane, Samuel Latham, Annick Lavogiez, Martin Law, Esther Lee, Ryan Lee, Shinae Lee, Sohyun Lee, Michael Lee-Murphy, Camille Lefrançois, Francis Lehoux, Julie Leroux, Cory Lesk, Victoria Lessard, Sara Levasseur, John Levesque, Brendan Lewis, Annie Li, Olivia Lifman, Laura Linden, Kallee Lins, Kelsi Lix, Austin Lloyd, Kurtis Lockhart, Caitlin Loo, Élise Maciol, Jaime MacLean, Ali Mackellar, Nicolas Magnien, William Manning, Luba Markovskaia, Pedro Marzano, Gillian Massel, Davide Mastracci, Valérie Mathis, Deidre McCabe, Kate McGillivray, Arjun Mehta, Emily Meikle, Jais Mehaji, Margaux Meurisse, Harmon Moon, Sheehan Moore, Amy Monroe, Addison Mott, Emma Mungall, Ian Murphy, Farid Muttalib, Rami Nakache, Samuel Neuberg, Raphaëlle Occhietti, Nathalie O’Neill David Ou, Éloïse Ouellet-Décoste, Roxana Parsa, Bora Plumptre, Meagan Potier, Cole Powers, Annie Preston, Marion Provencher Langlois, Oren Ratowsky, Rachel Reichel, Arezu Riahi, Zoë Robertson, Lucas Roux, Nicolas Roy, Marlee Rubel, Joseph Rucci, Louis Saint-Aimé, William Sanger, Mathieu Santerre, Misha Schwartz, Nikolay Shargorodsky, Angus Sharpe, Mercedes Sharpe-Zayas, Annie Shiel, Brittany Sigler, Anna Silman, Samuel Sigere, Victor Silvestrin- Racine, Thomas Simonneau, Zachary Sleep, Daniel Smith, Laura Payne Smith, Lucile Smith, Robert Smith, Isabelle Sokolnicka, Chantelle D’Souza, Evelyn Stanley, Colleen Stanton, Lisa Stephenson, Brendan Steven, Andreanne Stewart, Nicole Stradiotto, Bipasha Sultana, Molly Swain, Athéna Tacet, Amy Tang, Nirali Tanna, Shaurya Taran, Miruna Tarcau, Evan Taylor, Louis-Philippe Tessier, Mathura Thevarajah, Raphaël Thézé, Lukas Thienhaus, Chloe Thimonier, Ryan Thom, Gabriel Toupin, Mai Anh Tran-Ho, Jean-François Trudelle, Sergey Tsynkevich, Afra Saskia Tucker, Aaron Vansinjtan, Chloe-Marine Varin, Guillermo Martinez de Velasco, Juan Camilo Velasquez, Jordan Venton- Rublee, John Watson, Lena Weker, Eric Wen, Adam Winer, Veronica Winslow, Catherine Wong, Henry Wright, Christopher Wrobel, Ethan Yang, Rashad Yusifov, Myriam Zaidi, Anqi Zhang, Jane Zhang, and Andrea Zhu 38 The McGill Daily & Le Délit | 2011.11.28 Volume 101 Numéro 12 le délit L e seul journal francophone de l’Université McGill rédaction É[email protected] 3480 rue McTavish, bureau B•24 Montréal (Québec) H3A 1X9 Téléphone : +1 514 398-6784 Télécopieur : +1 514 398-8318 Rédactrice en chef [email protected] Anabel Cossette Civitella Actualités [email protected] Chef de section Emma Ailinn Hautecœur Secrétaire de rédaction Florent Conti Rédacteur campus [email protected] À votre santé! Anthony Lecossois Arts&Culture [email protected] Chef de section Raphaël D. Ferland Anabel Cossette Civitella ou la boisson en milieu scolaire. Comme stressant. À McGill et ailleurs, la charge Secrétaire de rédaction Le Délit quoi, il y a beaucoup à dire sur le sujet. de travail est importante et prendre un Alexis Chemblette Pourtant, c’est un sujet un peu vain verre peut parfois aider à survivre à la fin Société oire de manière excessive, se goin- qui revient chaque année avant le temps de session. Quand la quantité de travail [email protected] frer, se débaucher, faire la noce, l’or- des fêtes: Éduc’alcool trouve toujours un s’accumule, que les responsabilités vous Francis L.-Racine Bgie, la beuverie… les définitions ne moyen plus élaboré pour attirer notre at- écrasent, un bon petit whisky, une coupe Coordonnateur de la production sont pas exactes pour ce que signifie binge tention. Du 20 au 26 novembre avait lieu de vin ou une pinte de bière fait parfois [email protected] drinking en français. Pourtant, tout le mon- la semaine de la prévention de la toxico- bien mieux le travail que la méditation Xavier Plamondon de en parle avec beaucoup d’inquiétude. manie au Québec. L’alcool et la conduite ou l’étude compulsive. Après, il sera bien Coordonnateur visuel Toutes les universités s’entendent sur avec facultés affaiblies avaient leur place temps de continuer. [email protected] la source de leur consternation: une cultu- au menu de la campagne de sensibili- Et je ne dis pas que cette stratégie est Nicolas Quiazua re de la boisson, des mauvaises habitudes sation. Un point pour l’organisme: une sans faille, je tente simplement d’expliquer Infographie de vie qui résultent en beaucoup de pro- application pour téléphone intelligent qui pourquoi, hier soir, alors que je devais étu- [email protected] blèmes et, au final, une mauvais image de calcule votre taux d’alcoolémie. dier pour un examen, faire des entrevues, Samuel Sigere l’école en question. Le Québec est-il plus ou moins bien écrire deux-mille mots et survivre à une Coordonnateur de la correction Il n’y a peut-être qu’à l’École qu’ailleurs? En 1970, le Québec était la journée qui avait commencée à 6 heures, [email protected] Polytechnique de Montréal qu’on voit province qui dépensait le moins en alcool, après avoir dormi cinq heures, je n’ai pas Anselme Le Texier la consommation de bière comme une par personne et par année, au Canada. En vu d’autres options pour accepter mon Coordonnateur Web source de fierté. En effet, la Poly est le 2010, le Québec arrive cinquième. sort que de boire à la santé du semestre qui [email protected] deuxième plus grand acheteur de biè- La «culture de la boisson», comme on se termine en débandade. Nicolas Quiazua res Molson, après le centre Bell. Comme se plaît à l’appeler, existe réellement. Il y a Le principal problème à la base de Webmestre quoi la culture de la boisson profite tout peu de personnes qui boivent parce qu’ils l’abus d’alcool récurrent, toutefois, est [email protected] de même à quelques uns. aiment bien le goût de ce qu’ils boivent. Il tout autre. Je crois fermement que celui Mathieu Ménard Les universités des provinces mariti- y a ceux qui boivent parce qu’ils sont entre ou celle qui tient à sa santé et qui dépend Collaboration Marek Anhee, Anthony Beauséjour, Jonathan mes sont de fortes rivales en ce qui a trait amis, d’autres qui boivent parce qu’ils sont de son corps pour fonctionner y repensera Brosseau. Emilie Blanchard, Justine Chassé- aux beuveries. Des initiations dans les ré- seuls; il y a ceux qui boivent pour oublier à deux fois avant de se paqueter la fraise. Dumont, Alice Destombes, Fanny Devaux, sidences qui tournent au drame, des évé- une peine d’amour, qui boivent pour crui- Les sportifs qui doivent se lever le matin Émile Janda, Annie Li, Margaux Meurisse, Lucas Roux, Mathieu Santerre, Jean-François nements à l’intérieur même de l’université ser, qui boivent pour oser, qui boivent pour s’entraîner ne peuvent se permettre Trudelle uniquement basés sur la consommation à pour danser… de boire à outrance par exemple. Les mu- Couverture outrance… À McGill aussi les initiations Une nouvelle étude, parue en octo- siciens qui ont huit heures de pratique à Image: Amina Batyreva ont déjà tourné au drame, rappelez-vous bre en Alberta, parle d’«alcoorexie» ou faire derrière leur instrument doivent avoir Montage: Alyssa Favreau de l’équipe de football et de ses abus des l’habitude de ne pas manger de toute la tout leur corps et leur esprit pour y arri- manches de balai avec les jeunes recrues… journée pour garder son argent, et ses ver. Les chanteurs qui se servent de leurs bureau publicitaire Maintenant, terminées les longues semai- calories, pour une fin de soirée arrosée. cordes vocales ne peuvent pas abimer leur 3480 rue McTavish, bureau B•26 nes d’initiation et les pratiques douteuses: Avec le ventre vide, se soûler n’est plus un précieux outil de travail. Et j’en passe. Montréal (Québec) H3A 1X9 à présent, on parle plutôt d’intégration qui problème, même pour les plus coriaces! Finalement, que ce soit le stress ou Téléphone : +1 514 398-6790 ne dure pas plus de quatre jours et qui est L’étude soutient que les filles demeurent l’ennui qui vous pousse à boire, au moins, Télécopieur : +1 514 398-8318 sous étroite surveillance. plus à risque, car elles sont généralement faites-le de manière à ne causer préjudice à [email protected] D’ailleurs, le regroupement des jour- plus conscientes de la quantité de kilo- personne, question que tout le monde pas- Publicité et Gérance naux étudiants universitaires du Canada joules qu’elles ingèrent. se une fin de session et un temps des fêtes Boris Shedov (la Conference University Press) s’en est Ce que je tiens à dire pour notre en une seule pièce et heureux de l’être. Photocomposition donné à cœur joie tout l’automne pour défense (à nous, étudiants débauchés) Le Délit vous souhaite un excellent Mathieu Ménard et Geneviève Robert monter un dossier sur «l’esprit spiritueux» c’est que le monde universitaire est repos! x The McGill Daily [email protected] Joan Moses Conseil d’administration de la Société des publications du Daily (SPD) Anabel Cossette Civitella, Marie Catherine Ducharme, Alyssa Favreau, Joseph Henry, Tyler Lawson, Joan Moses, Mai Anh Tran-Ho, Aaron Vansintjan, Debbie Wang The McGill Daily & Le Délit | 2011.11.28 39

EDITORIAL volume 101 number 23 editorial BoG-ged down 3480 McTavish St., Rm. B-24 Montreal, QC H3A 1X9 In the two weeks after November 10, it has become increasingly clear to the phone 514.398.6784 McGill community that things need to change at the leadership level. If students and fax 514.398.8318 mcgilldaily.com other community members wish to see real reform, they must set their sights on the coordinating editor University’s highest decision-making body: the Board of Governors (BoG). If there is Joan Moses any McGill institution that embodies everything staff and students have been protest- [email protected] ing for years, it is the BoG. It dictates the direction of the University along an increas- coordinating news editor ingly corporate, for-profit, business model, making decisions on behalf of staff and Henry Gass students they have never met, and all behind firmly closed doors. news editors Six times a year, the BoG convenes to make the ultimate financial and adminis- Queen Arsem-O’Malley trative decisions for the University. They do this, in part, in a confidential session, Erin Hudson Jessica Lukawiecki with the public sessions not publicized at all, and with no public minutes. The two student representatives on the BoG – the SSMU and PGSS presidents – are bound features editor Eric Andrew-Gee by confidentiality agreements. It preemptively stifles any dissent staff and students may want expressed in BoG meetings. At the very least, BoG meeting minutes commentary&compendium! editors Zachary Lewsen should be made public, so that staff and student representatives can more effective- Olivia Messer ly represent their constituents’ interests. The fact that the BoG can make decisions like investing in environmentally destructive companies and unilaterally approving culture editors Christina Colizza the term extensions of senior administrators, in a way that is unbeknownst to those Fabien Maltais-Bayda it affects, is absurd. science+technology editor Of the 25 Board members, 12 are “members-at-large,” serving on a volunteer basis, Jenny Lu spending the majority of their time and energy as senior executives in some of the health&education editor largest corporations in Canada (Quebecor, Telus, and HSBC, to name a few). These Melanie Kim members work within corporate business models where the main concern is profit. sports editor The profit motive has no place in a university, where the main concern should be Andra Cernavskis education and student life. McGill should be governed by people with a physical and photo editor emotional stake in the well-being of the University and people who are in touch with Victor Tangermann the needs of the McGill community; corporate members-at-large do not fall into this illustrations editor category. Setting foot on campus six days a year to attend a BoG meeting doesn’t jus- Amina Batyreva tify having “final authority over the conduct of the affairs of the University.” production&design editors Such members-at-large do not belong on a university’s highest decision-making Alyssa Favreau body, and should not have a place on the BoG at the expense of more active and Rebecca Katzman invested community members. The justification for these corporate board members copy editor is ensuring McGill’s financial viability. But this ignores the fact that there are those Peter Shyba other than CEOs who can manage McGill’s substantial endowment while keeping in web editor mind the University community’s best interest. Shannon Palus This reduction in external corporate influence must be paired with an increase le délit in staff and student representation. Under the existing BoG structure, the SSMU and Anabel Cossette Civitella PGSS presidents cannot adequately represent the roughly 30,000 students in the [email protected] University, nor can the handful of representatives for the thousands of faculty mem- cover design bers and non-academic staff, some of whom have been working at McGill for decades Amina Batyreva with no say in the BoG’s decisions. Senate employs a system of proportional representation by faculty – at both the Contributors student and faculty level – that would help solve this problem. Faculty representa- Laurent Bastien Corbeil, Morgane Ciot, Juan tives would better focus student and faculty grievances, and ensure that the student Camilo Velasquez, Steve Eldon-Kerr, Taylor Holroyd, Ashley Hsu, Clara del Junco, Rachael voice is taken into account in Board decisions. Furthermore, the growing organized Kim, Michael Lee-Murphy, Austin Lloyd, Kurtis labour presence on campus has no representation on the Board, despite the fact Lockhart, Mercedes Sharpe-Zayas, Annie that unions collectively represent the interests of over 7,000 campus employees. In Shiel, Katrina Sieniuc, Andreanne Stewart, Marlee Rubel, Amy Tang, Anqui Zhang. that spirit, a democratic and representative BoG should include representatives of all campus unions. Change needs to happen, and this can only be enacted by the Board itself. In order to catalyze this change, we will require the collective voice of the entire com- munity, from students, to staff, to faculty. In September, the Concordia Board of Governors voted to slash student representation on the BoG by 75 per cent, despite every student representative voting against the motion and outcry from the student The Daily is published on most Mondays and Thursdays by the Daily body. We stand witness to a growing trend of decreased student representation, and Publications Society, an autonomous, not-for-profit organization whose membership includes all McGill must act now before McGill’s situation worsens. undergraduates and most graduate students. This movement will only be as strong as the community collectively makes it. 3480 McTavish St., Rm. B-26 There is already a community initiative to reform the BoG. This initiative, the McGill Montreal, QC H3A 1X9 Governance Reform Project, held their first meeting this past Thursday. We strongly phone 514.398.6790 fax 514.398.8318 encourage any and all staff, students, and faculty to participate in this movement. If we want to see a university that is governed by those within the McGill community,

advertising & general manager Boris Shedov reforming the BoG should be the first step. If you’d liked to get involved, visit mcgill- sales representative Letty Matteo governancereform.wordpress.com/about/. ad layout & design Geneviève Robert Mathieu Ménard dps board of directors Marie Catherine Ducharme, Alyssa Favreau, Joseph Henry, Tyler Lawson, Sheehan Moore, Joan Moses, Mai Anh Tran-Ho, Aaron Vansintjan (chair [at] dailypublications.org), Debbie Wang

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