Global temperatures continue to rise alongside fossil fuel emissions, leading to intensified weather trends and climate patterns. Data released earlier this fall revealed that the ten deadliest extreme weather events of the past 20 years were exacerbated by the burning of fossil fuels. The European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) “is almost certain” that 2024 will surpass the average global temperature record set in 2023. It will likely be the first calendar year where global temperatures have consistently been 1.5 degrees above the pre-industrial level. This is the temperature threshold that the Paris Agreement states would bring irreversible damage to our planet if crossed.

Canada has been disproportionately impacted by these trends. Temperatures across the country have been rising at approximately twice the rate of the global average. Highly reflective melted snow and ice causes increased absorption of heat, creating a cycle of warming in northern regions. This phenomenon, known as “Arctic amplification,” is causing the Canadian Arctic to warm three times faster than the global average.

Canada’s Changing Climate Report from 2019 stated the effects of widespread warming will intensify across the country. Human-caused climate change has exacerbated the severity and frequency of recent devastating heatwaves, as reported by Environment and Climate Change Canada. The consequences of these phenomena bring threats not only to our ecosystem but to our health and our lives.

This past summer broke global heat records in Canada and internationally. Temperatures have remained high throughout the fall due to weather patterns intensified by climate change, causing record-breaking temperatures in Montreal, Toronto, and Ottawa. Montreal’s temperature high on Halloween broke the 1956 record at 24.4 degrees, ending the month on an alarming note.

Last winter was Canada’s warmest since 1948. In Montreal, mean temperatures were approximately four degrees warmer than average. El Niño patterns – naturally occurring above-average sea surface temperatures in the South Pacific – led to warmer weather internationally during the 2023-2024 winter. Rising ocean temperatures worldwide have contributed to the intensity of last winter’s El Niño.

What can we expect for this winter? It is likely that we will experience a La Niña winter, which brings large-scale cooling to the ocean surface temperatures and generally lowers global temperatures. Regardless of whether or not we see cooler weather this winter, global temperatures will continue to rise due to the relentless burning of fossil fuels.

While Canada has made strides in reducing emissions and minimizing pollution, it is not enough. The Canadian government continues to approve natural gas pipelines that pass through Indigenous territories without consent and criminalizes Indigenous land defenders opposing these projects. At the same time, fossil fuel lobbyists continue to exert influence over Canadian politicians, discouraging the government from adopting more ambitious climate goals. It is imperative that Canada cut emissions and limit new oil and gas projects before it is too late.

The next few months will be especially important for the fight against climate change. The COP29 Climate Change Conference will be held in Azerbaijan from November 11 to 22. At this conference, climate scientists intend to create a stricter timeline for transitioning away from fossil fuels, and increase the funds allocated to help impoverished countries adapt to climate change, such as through climate reparations.

2025 will be a big year for climate policy at McGill: the McGill Board of Governors has promised to divest all direct holdings from fossil fuel firms listed in the Carbon Underground 200, per a vote in 2023. This decision was the result of 12 years of campaigning by Divest McGill, which continues to advocate for the university’s divestment from indirect fossil fuel funds. However, the university’s climate change response leaves much to be desired, especially given that it is not on track to meet its emission reduction goals for 2025.

Climate change affects everyone, but it disproportionately affects vulnerable populations in Canada and across the world. Indigenous populations in the Canadian Arctic are facing the country’s most intense climate change patterns, impacting their physical health and well-being, as well as their cultural practices. Climate change threatens Indigenous communities’ access to nutritious food, clean drinking water, transportation pathways, and traditional land-based knowledge systems. Indigenous people make up ten per cent of Montreal’s unhoused population – despite comprising only one per cent of the city’s population – and are therefore more vulnerable to increasingly cold winters. These are just a few examples of how climate crises are contributing to colonial violence. Climate oppression is also a tactic used by Israel to further oppress Palestinians, weaponizing the climate crisis and depriving Palestinians of strategies to adapt to this change in one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable regions. Israel has systematically stolen Palestinians’ land and water, limiting their access to food and destroying their natural resources.

Student activism has been key in fighting climate change. McGill has a rich network of climate justice groups, focused on intersectionality and fighting climate oppression as a collective. The Disability Inclusive Climate Action Research Program (DICARP) works with McGill’s Faculty of Law to implement effective climate change policies that protect the human rights of disabled people. McGill Students for Greenpeace, the first university chapter of the Canadian climate justice organization, advocates for sustainability practices around campus and in the Montreal community. Divest McGill continues to pressure the university to cut ties with fossil fuels.

Climate change is not just an issue of environmental justice, but an issue of human rights: the attack on our environment is part of a complex system of oppression as a direct result of capitalism and colonialism. In watching temperatures rise year after year, we are seeing the repercussions of corporate greed from fossil fuel companies impact every facet of our society. We must continue to be proactive in our fight to support marginalized communities, and make our planet a better place.

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“It’s not for us to have shame – it’s for them.”

These are the powerful words Gisèle Pelicot gave to an Avignon court on October 23. Pelicot has now testified for the second time in the ongoing rape trial that has taken both France and the entire world by storm. This case has forced people from all over the world to confront the rape and abuse culture that, for too long, has reigned in silence and impunity. Through her courageous decision to make this trial public, Pelicot reveals the fissures in the judicial and societal systems’ prosecution of sexual violence. Pelicot’s argument is central to how this case is being received worldwide: rather than humiliate the victim, shame must be turned against the perpetrators as a tool to enact change.

The “Mazan rape trial” – first taken to court on September 2 – is an unprecedented case in which Dominique Pelicot, 72, is accused of repeatedly drugging and raping his wife, Gisèle, 71, over the course of nearly 10 years. This trial not only addresses Gisèle Pelicot’s marital rape, but also the rapes her husband subjected her to at the hands of dozens of other men between 2011 and 2020. Dominique Pelicot has since admitted to the crimes and is on trial alongside 50 other men. In the videos filmed by Dominique Pelicot, the police counted 92 rapes by 72 rapists, ranging in age from 26 to 74. Many of these men were recruited online and lived within 20 kilometres from Pelicot’s village, Mazan. An analysis of the rapists’ demographics from The Guardian revealed the variety in their profiles, including a computer expert, a nurse, a journalist, and a former fire officer. Most of the co-defendants are on trial for aggravated rape before the Vaucluse criminal court – although not all of the perpetrators have been identified – and face up to 20 years in prison. Despite damning evidence, at least 35 of the defendants have denied the rape charges.

Pelicot has been preparing for this trial for the past four years. She explained to the court on October 23 that “I’m holding on because I also have all these women and men behind me today […] The veil must be lifted on rape. That’s why I’m in this courtroom every day. It’s not just my fight; it’s also the fight of all [other victims].” In the past months, Pelicot has become an icon and a voice for feminism in France and across the world. Her decisions to reveal her identity, make the trial public, and allow the videos her husband made to be used openly in court are changing the way we talk about rape and sexual abuse. Pelicot is actively shifting the spotlight onto her rapists. “I’m a totally destroyed woman,” she told the court on October 23. Yet, she declared in the same statement that she “wants all these women who are victims of rape to be able to say, ‘Madame Pelicot did it, we’ll be able to do it.’ I don’t want them to feel ashamed anymore. Because when you’re raped, you’re ashamed, but they’re the ones who should be ashamed. I’m not expressing anger or hatred. I’m expressing a determination to change society.” And through this trial, she just might.

The narrative around rape has to change. During the trial, there have been several disgusting claims made by defence lawyers trying to reverse the situation in court. Some lawyers have even questioned the validity of Pelicot’s claims. On September 18, a team of defence attorneys showed 27 photos to the court, arguing that she appears to be conscious in the images. This is just one example of how justice systems consistently place blame on victims and try to downplay the perpetrators’ crimes. Pelicot denounced this pattern of attacking survivors, saying, “I have the impression that the culprit is me, and that the 50 behind me are victims.” The way the defence lawyers are treating Pelicot is a prime example of the persistent humiliation and degradation women face once they decide to speak up.

This trial is unprecedented, not only for the scope and nature of its accusations, but also because of its global impact. To many, Gisèle Pelicot represents every woman who has survived sexual violence. Her choice to openly challenge the discourse on rape and sexual violence has resonated with survivors around the world . One in three women worldwide have been subjected to physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime, with the majority reported as intimate partner violence. This trial is in line with many other cases of sexual violence around the world. For instance, the rape and murder of a female doctor in India back in August sparked a national outcry regarding women’s safety. Similar discourse followed the We Will Stop Femicide Platform’s report disclosing the murder of 34 women in Turkey this September. This is just the tip of the iceberg – the Mazan rape trial exposes the prevailing rape culture both in France and the rest of the world.

Journalism has the power to influence the way sexual violence is perceived by the public. Not only is it the responsibility of the media to platform this trial – especially due to Pelicot’s wishes to make it public – but it is essential to report the proceedings with care. Media coverage must empower survivors by amplifying their voices and challenging rape culture.

In France, there is now a movement to add a clause on consent to the legal definition of rape. While these kinds of advances are promising, we hold the responsibility to understand the widespread issue at stake and to actively make sure that Gisèle Pelicot’s courage is not in vain. There is an urgent need for individuals, societies, and judicial institutions to recognize their failures in addressing sexual violence. Existing narratives surrounding rape culture must be changed and systemic impunity in courts must come to an end.

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence at McGill or in Montreal, you can call the Office for Sexual Violence Response, Support, and Education (OSVRSE), the Sexual Assault Centre of the McGill Students’ Society (SACOMSS), or the Montreal Sexual Violence Helpline for support. As a McGill student, you can also receive resources through The McGill Students’ Nightline, the McGill Peer Support Centre, and the Legal Information Clinic at McGill (LICM). If you can, consider donating to or volunteering at organizations such as The Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal, Auberge Shalom, Multi-Femme, and the West Island Women’s Shelter. We must do everything we can to support survivors of sexual violence and continue to uplift their stories.

The post Giséle Pelicot is Changing the Narrative on Sexual Violence appeared first on The McGill Daily.

I can guarantee that this heartwarming documentary will make you laugh and make you cry – sometimes at the same time. Self-proclaimed “greatest actor in the world” Will Ferrell embarks on a roadtrip across the United States alongside long-time friend Harper Steele in an adventure brimming with smiles, tears, and truly inspiring displays of emotional intimacy. Harper Steele, former head writer of Saturday Night Live, re-explores her favourite seedy diners, bars, and sports venues across the country – but this time post-transition. As she navigates these difficult spaces, Steele unravels her tangled thoughts and feelings every step of the way, leaning on Ferrell in what can only be described as one of the most beautiful displays of trust ever put to film. The documentary explores this duo’s friendship through a captivating mixture of Americana imagery, 70s radio hits, and masterful comedic interludes.

– Eliana Freelund, Culture Editor

VIDEO GAME – Life Is Strange (2015) by Dontnod Entertainment

It’s rare to find fantasy fiction that, while preserving the supernatural or futuristic, captures the dueling grittiness and whimsicality of the everyday world. It’s even rarer to find such “magical realism’” in video games. Set in the quiet coastal town of Arcadia Bay, Life Is Strange weaves a classic and beautifully rare story in a medium often maligned as ill-fitting for such a narrative. Max Caulfield’s journey through time and space is a fantasy epic, a mystery thriller, a coming-of-age tale, and a slice-of-life reflection all rolled around the beating heart of Max’s star-crossed love for her childhood friend, Chloe Price. Prepare for your heart to be ripped into a thousand pieces and reassembled into a chaotic jumble, by the storm at the centre of Max’s choices.

– Andrei Li, Sci+Tech Editor

BOOK – Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments: Intimate Histories of Riotous Black Girls, Troublesome Women, and Queer Radicals (2020) by Saidiya Hartman

Through a mix of historical research and close narration, Hartman spotlights intimate stories of “wayward” Black women in American history. She breathes life into torn photographs or scraps of police records that may have otherwise been forgotten, doing so with the grace of a seasoned archivist. “Part Three” of the book focuses extensively on the lives of queer Black women in 20th century America, shedding light on how Black women were experimenting with sexual freedom and queerness decades before white women were celebrated for doing the same. Every single young girl or woman in this book is written about with the utmost love and this love is what allows the modern-day reader to develop a closer relationship with past queer histories.

– Arismita Ghosh, Commentary Editor

FILM – The Birdcage (1996) directed by Mike Nichols

Alongside one of the most heartwarming and charming representations of queer joy, The Birdcage is a masterpiece in all aspects of filmmaking. Partners Albert (Nathan Lane) and Armand (Robin Williams), who own and perform at a Jewish drag club, must hastily play “straight” when their son, his new fiancée, and their staunchly conservative future in-laws decide to visit. The fact that this did not win Best Picture, Best Comedy, Best Leading and Supporting Actors, Best Cinematography, Best Writing, Best Set Design, Best Costuming, and/or Best Makeup at the Academy Awards is, in my opinion, absurd and frankly homophobic. As two of the defining comedic actors of their generation, Williams and Lane both bring their sheer talent and unapologetic devotion to their roles. The writing deftly weaves real issues of queer culture and acceptance into one of the funniest scripts in recent history, making The Birdcage a true star in both the oeuvre of queer film and the expanse of twentieth-century cinema entirely.

– Luxe Palmer, Copy Editor

TV Show – Interview With The Vampire (2022 – present) created by Rolin Jones

Based on the book of the same name by Anne Rice, the TV show Interview With The Vampire adapts Rice’s story to a modern setting. In 2022, journalist Daniel Molloy travels to Dubai to meet with the vampire Louis de Point du Lac. Following up on a project they began 50 years ago, Louis recounts his life’s story to Molloy, which the latter plans to turn into a book. Louis’s story extends across America and Europe, describing his romance with his maker Lestat, his frustration with the overt racism of 1910s New Orleans, and his familial bond with teenage vampire Claudia.

– Emma Bainbridge, Coordinating Editor

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When it comes to LGBTQ+ rights, there has been an alarming trend towards global regression over the past year, the effects of which have been felt by queer and trans communities worldwide. Countries such as Georgia, Indonesia, and the United States have set concerning precedents across multiple continents, passing and promising laws that repeal existing rights in place for queer and trans people. For instance, just this past July, Georgia passed a “Family Values” bill that, according to Al Jazeera, provides “a legal basis for authorities to outlaw Pride events and public displays of the LGBTQ rainbow flag, and to impose censorship of films and books.” Civil Rights Defenders states that this legislation outright bans gender-affirming care, adoption by queer or transgender parents, and “annuls same-sex marriages performed abroad.” In the United States, the far-right’s proposed Project 2025 plan, rising book bans, and state legislation pushed by conservative politicians like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, all pose a significant threat to the safety and well-being of LGBTQ+ Americans. Canada has also been moving backwards, failing on many occasions to protect the rights and security of queer and trans people.

Yet, as some areas of the world are regressing when it comes to protecting LGBTQ+ communities, other places are progressing. In 2019, Taiwan became the first region in Asia to legalize gay marriage, with Thailand following suit just a few weeks ago. While many Western countries often pinkwash themselves as a haven for LGBTQ+ rights, such landmark developments show Asian nations moving towards a more inclusive future, whereas countries like the U.S. and Canada are becoming more repressive. These contemporary milestones illuminate the other side of queer visibility today: just as they have done in past decades, queer people continue to fight, to persevere, and to thrive.

Canada, specifically Montreal, has a long history of LGBTQ+ activism and groundbreaking victories. In 1977, Quebec became the first province in Canada to write the prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation into its Charter of Human Rights. This amendment came about as the result of extensive activism from Montreal’s queer community, who banded together following a deplorable police raid on Truxx and Le Mystique, two gay bars that were located on Rue Stanley. The raid culminated in 146 arrests and led to a massive protest, consisting of roughly 2,000 participants. The pressure put on the then-governing party, Le Parti Québécois, led to both political and social advancements in human rights in Quebec and Canada. The Canadian Museum of History states: “Public support for gay rights solidified after the raids and was instrumental in leading to the first Montréal Pride march on June 16, 1979.” This march, organized by queer rights pioneer John Banks, was instrumental in advancing the fight for queer and trans rights in Montreal. The events following these raids, in conjunction with the raid of The Sex Garage in 1990, are colloquially referred to as “Montreal’s Stonewall.”

Montreal’s rich queer history is preserved in the Quebec Gay Archive. There, you can find examples of the large role LGBTQ+ people have played in Montreal’s legacy as a city. The first queer establishment in North America was recorded in Montreal in 1869. Over the last century, many queer nightlife venues were founded throughout the city, such as the numerous lesbian bars started by Denise Cassidy in the late 1960s. Additionally, the first queer publication in Canada, Les Mouches Fantastiques, was established right here in Montreal and ran from 1918 to 1920. This magazine, which mainly featured poetry and essays, is a shining example of queer Canadians’ literary achievements.

Today, you can follow projects like Queering the Map and Walls Have Ears, which are useful resources for those seeking to learn about queer history and the lives of LGBTQ+ people. On Queering the Map, created by queer Montrealer Lucas LaRochelle, queer and trans people across the world can upload their daily life experiences online to document their collective history. Specific to Montreal is Walls Have Ears, an exhibit and “pilot project” that combines multimedia and interviews to precisely map the queer history of different neighbourhoods, universities, and college groups within Montreal.

McGill students and faculty have been instrumental in creating queer spaces at this university. Gay McGill, now known as Queer McGill, emerged following a 1972 seminar titled “Biology and Social Change,” and has been integral to McGill’s queer community ever since. Queer McGill continues to host important programming, creating safe spaces for queer and trans McGill students. The club started Gay Line, now known as the Canadian Association of Education and Outreach (CAEO), which provides a phone hotline for queer and trans Canadians in need of a social safety network. Currently, McGill and Montreal have many organizations in addition to Queer McGill, such as the Union for Gender Empowerment and the Quebec Public Interest Research Group (QPIRG) that aim to bring together queer communities.

As members of the LGBTQ+ community or as allies, we all have the responsibility to stand in solidarity with other oppressed groups and people who are suffering around the world. Showing up for queer and trans people also means opposing genocide, oppression, and imperial violence. By amplifying the voices of all marginalized people and advocating for them, we are all advancing our collective liberation.

The post Mapping Queer History, Charting Queer Futures appeared first on The McGill Daily.

The past year has been devastating for the people of Gaza. In September, it was estimated that 66 per cent of Gaza’s infrastructure was destroyed by Israeli bombing, including hospitals, schools, and residential buildings. Most of the population has been displaced multiple times, with Israel continuously attacking areas it labels “safe zones.” The humanitarian crisis has even led to a polio outbreak in Gaza, the first in 25 years. Israel has been blocking humanitarian aid from entering Gaza, attacking both those seeking and distributing aid, in violation of international humanitarian law. Reporters Without Borders found that Palestinian journalists attempting to document their genocide have been systematically targeted by Israeli forces.

In July, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled Israel’s occupation of Gaza and other Palestinian territories to be “unlawful.” They demanded that Israel immediately end its occupation and provide reparations to Palestinian victims. Overwhelming evidence, cited by countless international legal experts, shows that Israel’s actions constitute a categorical genocide.

In the past month, Israel has also escalated attacks on Lebanon, carrying out nightly air strikes on Beirut and launching ground incursions into Southern Lebanon in preparation for an invasion. On September 23, Lebanon experienced its deadliest attacks since the end of the 1975- 1990 civil war, when Israeli air strikes killed 492 people and injured at least 1645 more. It is utterly deplorable that instead of complying with international orders to cease its operations, Israel has instead expanded its violence to neighbouring countries. Israel’s actions have brought the Middle East to the brink of regional war, and the international community must do everything in its power to stop Israel before even more lives are lost.

Israel is not acting alone. Its campaign of genocide in Palestine and Lebanon is fueled by weapons imported from abroad, including from Canada. Although the Trudeau government stopped approving new permits for weapons exports to Israel, it has not revoked any existing permits. According to an investigation by The Maple, approximately $95 million in military goods manufactured in Canada could end up in Israel by 2025. Furthermore, Canadian manufacturers are continuing to export military goods to the United States, which is Israel’s main arms supplier. For example, a recent investigation by The Breach found that the engine sensors used in Lockheed Martin’s F-35 warplanes are solely manufactured by Gastops, a Canadian company. It is imperative that Canada take an immediate stand against the Palestinian genocide by imposing a two-way arms embargo, a demand echoed by many civil society groups. The fact that Israel has been allowed to act with such impunity for the past year, enabled by governments such as Canada and the United States, is shameful.

The effects of the ongoing inhumane violence have been deeply felt by people across the world. Many McGill students have family, friends, or loved ones whose lives may be in danger. In this digital age, we are all witnesses to the violence and dehumanization inflicted by Israel on Palestinians, live- streamed on television and on social media platforms. We are living through what Palestinian UN Ambassador Riyad Mansour has called “the most documented genocide in history.”

It’s easy to feel as if we are powerless to stop these injustices, but there are still ways that we as students can take action. We can take part in the global Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) student movement calling on universities to divest from companies complicit in genocide. Additionally, there are ways to take action in and around McGill such as going to events put on by QPIRG (@qpirgmcgill) and Arts for Palestinian Liberation (@artsforpalmtl) which focus on bringing attention to the genocide through art, media, and community. Beyond academia, we can engage in protests calling for the Canadian government to take a stand against genocide. If you’re able, you can also financially support people in Palestine and Lebanon by donating to organizations providing aid, such as the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF), Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Build Palestine, and Islamic Relief Worldwide’s Lebanon Emergency Appeal.

We at The McGill Daily editorial board stand behind all our readers who have been affected by the horrors unfolding in the Middle East. We are committed to practicing anti-oppressive journalism, as outlined by our Statement of Principles, and reiterate our call for an immediate ceasefire. We understand that words cannot capture the gravity of the situation and the magnitude of the suffering. Nevertheless, our hearts go out to you all on this very difficult day.

The post One Year Later appeared first on The McGill Daily.

This June, McGill announced their proposal for the Indigenous Tuition Initiative that seeks to waive all tuition and mandatory fees for Indigenous students from local First Nation communities. The program, which came into effect this Fall semester, positions itself as a reconciliatory effort on the administration’s behalf to cover up many of its past – and present – wrongdoings against Indigenous communities in and around Montreal.

Seven years ago, McGill’s Provost Task Force on Indigenous Studies and Indigenous Education established its now recognized 52 Calls to Action. These recommendations sought to advance the university’s project regarding the “recognition and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.” This initiative followed a 2015 report by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) that called on Canadian institutions to confront their violent and harmful actions towards Indigenous communities. In an effort to fulfill these Calls to Action, McGill has only now instituted this financial aid. However, McGill’s history of acting in opposition to Indigenous activists, such as the kanien’kehá:ka kahnistensera (Mohawk Mothers), makes it clear that McGill has a long way to go in mending its relationship with the Indigenous communities it has harmed, and continues to harm.

Most of McGill’s initiatives for Indigenous students have been introduced since 2015, showing how the university is still in its first steps towards recognizing and addressing its participation in settler-colonialism. Prior to the TRC’s statement, McGill had largely ignored its students’ calls for Indigenous recognition and equality. For decades, students have protested against the McGill men’s varsity athletics team name, due to its use of an anti-Indigenous slur. The university refused to listen to the requests to change the name, and it was only in 2020 that McGill rebranded its athletics department as the Redbirds and Martlets. The insensitivity that McGill has presented towards Indigenous students extends far beyond its blatantly racist actions.

The same year the McGill athletics department changed its name, students from the Black Student Network and the Indigenous Student Alliance sought to call out McGill’s systemic oppression against Indigenous and Black community members. The “Take James McGill Down” movement called to remove the James McGill statue on the downtown campus, due to the university founder’s past as a slave owner of both Black and Indigenous enslaved people. Once again, Indigenous and Black students requested that McGill honour its commitments made to Indigenous and Black peoples, and reassess its behaviours that are a continuation of its colonial past. Any progress McGill has made towards supporting Indigenous students has always been a direct consequence of mobilization efforts from Indigenous students and activists themselves.

The most recent example of McGill’s resistance against Indigenous communities occurred in the legal battles between McGill administration and the Mohawk Mothers concerning the development of the Royal Victoria Hospital site. The Mohawk Mothers requested to excavate the site to search for unmarked Indigenous and non-Indigenous graves, particularly from the MK-Ultra experiments in the 1950s and 60s. McGill refused to agree to their terms until November 2023, when the courts declared that “McGill and SQI [were to] suspend excavation of the site until the parties agreed on how archeological investigations be conducted.” If left to their own devices, McGill would not have listened to the Mohawk Mothers to halt their plans for development, as seen by McGill’s appeal of the Superior Court decision.

However, last month the Court of Appeal reversed its order, leaving the courts unable to enforce McGill’s compliance with the Mohawk Mothers. The judge “misapprehended the scope of his power to make safeguard orders,” the Court of Appeal wrote. Without a court mandate in place, it’s unlikely that McGill will be willing to acknowledge the concerns of the Mohawk Mothers.

Parallel to its injustices against Indigenous communities, McGill has aggressively pushed out policies claiming to fulfill its Calls to Action. This includes its newest announcement for a mental health initiative that would “bolster Indigenous youth mental health services across Canada.” The program, co-led by McGill psychiatry professor Srividya Iyer and Lakehead University psychology professor Christopher Mushquash, aims to provide services to help mitigate generational trauma and cultural disconnect affecting Indigenous youth. The university’s eager attitude in promoting these programs seems designed to distract the public from their lack of achievement in 43 of the remaining Calls to Action.

Although the university appears to be making amends, the administration has a long way to go in reconciling its destructive actions. While its policies may benefit Indigenous students now, they only address one facet of the larger mission: to hold colonial institutions fully accountable for the harm they have inflicted on Indigenous communities. Since McGill has mainly taken a reactionary stance in their proposals, acting only due to student activism, it is vital that we all participate in the fight for decolonization. Organizations such as the Indigenous Student Alliance at McGill make it possible to keep their identity alive in a society that tries constantly to assimilate them into Western ideals.

Despite McGill’s treatment of Indigenous communities, it is our responsibility to support Indigenous peoples and amplify their voices. To keep up with the Mohawk Mothers’ fight against McGill, you can follow @takebacktekanontak on Instagram or read Mohawk Nation News. Additionally, show solidarity by attending the Every Child Matters March for the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation on September 30. Another way to educate yourself on happenings within Indigenous communities is by engaging with media produced by Indigenous people. Within this issue, you can find pieces highlighting Indigenous achievements, such as the launch of the Tiohtià:ke: Mapping Indigenous Stories podcasts, a review of Shawnee Kish’s new single, media recommendations, and more!

The post McGill Must Do More for Indigenous Students appeared first on The McGill Daily.

On September 20, protests were organized across Canada to oppose gender-inclusive education in schools and advocate for “parental rights.” In response, members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies rallied to counter these protests, calling them out for what they are: hate marches against queer and trans communities. In Montreal, police violently assaulted counter-protestors trying to confront the anti-trans march. Both the anti-trans protest and the police response to the counter-protest are extremely disturbing, and reflect rapidly growing transphobia in Canada that we must continue to resist.

This is the second year in a row the transphobic 1 Million March 4 Children protest has taken place. Although the organizers claim to be concerned about their children’s welfare, it is clear that what they really want is increased control over their children’s lives and the information their children are exposed to. Enforcing so-called “parental rights” comes at the expense of children’s autonomy, and has serious potential to jeopardize their safety. Children should be free to explore their gender identity and involve their parents in this process whenever they feel comfortable doing so.

In Canada, the transphobic ideology spouted by the 1 Million March 4 Children is present in both federal and provincial politics. Saskatchewan and New Brunswick already have active anti-trans legislation, with many other provinces, such as Alberta and Ontario, at risk of implementing similar policies in the near future. In Saskatchewan, Bill 137 prevents children under 16 from changing their name or pronouns at school without parental consent. Similarly, the New Brunswick government now requires schools to obtain parental consent for children wishing to use different names, and makes it optional for teachers to use their students’ preferred pronouns. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is planning some of the most repressive measures in the country so far, including restricting access to gender-affirming healthcare and requiring parental consent for lessons about gender and sexual identity in schools. All of these policies have been condemned by human rights groups such as Amnesty International and Egale, underscoring the serious risk they pose to trans children.

At the federal level, opposition leader Pierre Poilievre has openly supported Alberta’s aforementioned policies, and stated that trans women should not be able to access women’s sports, bathrooms, or changing rooms. These beliefs are not uncommon within his party. At the Conservative convention in September 2023, 69 per cent of delegates voted for a policy to ban gender-affirming care for youth. Additionally, 89 per cent voted for a plan to ban transgender women from women’s spaces, such as in shelters, prisons, and bathrooms. With an election likely coming up in the near future, these troubling statistics indicate that a Conservative win would undoubtedly lead to even more repression of trans communities.

In Quebec, the CAQ recently established a committee known as the Comité des sages to advise government officials on matters regarding gender identity. Despite their supposed mission statement, this committee has no trans members, clearly disregarding trans perspectives. Abe Berglas, former Administrative Coordinator of Queer McGill, told the Daily that the committee “won’t progress queer rights or trans rights at all but I also don’t think it was ever meant to. I think it was meant to placate trans foes.” The forming of this committee has even delayed progress on policies that would benefit trans communities, such as X gender markers on provincial documents. Although the situation in Quebec may not be as dire as in other provinces, we must continue to stand up for trans rights to prevent further injustices from occurring here.

September 20 has once again proven what many LGBTQ+ folks know to be true: we can’t trust the police to protect us from transphobic and queerphobic hate. When anti-trans protests happen, it’s important that we stand together in opposition to show that there is no place for hate in Montreal, Quebec, or anywhere in Canada. Keep an eye out for future counter-protests and show up if you’re able to! Support groups at McGill that uplift and advocate for trans people, such as the Trans Patients’ Union, Queer McGill, and the Union for Gender Empowerment.

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So why not, McGill? The Daily believes that fine arts education is a fundamental aspect of academia and should be accessible to all those interested in studying it. We call upon McGill to expand its arts programming to give students an opportunity to pursue these disciplines at a post-secondary level.

McGill has previously incorporated the visual arts into its program offerings. In 1948, McGill began its Bachelor of Fine Arts program, which gave students instruction in the visual and fine arts. This program gave way to many successful artists like Mary Filer and Nancy Petry. The program was born out of the desire to expand McGill’s course offerings and was aimed at veterans returning from the war; but received significantly more women. Gwendolyn Owens, the director of McGill’s Visual Arts Collection, explained to the Daily how the Bachelor of Fine Arts program “ended up morphing into the Art History Department, which used to teach more studio art, but now doesn’t.” Owens cited a change in dean as explanation for why studio classes were eventually removed from the fine arts program.

At present, McGill has very few offerings for visual arts instruction for most students. Only architecture students have the option to take courses in sketching, and only students studying education in the arts may take studio courses. Outside of those programs, McGill offers virtually no courses for students who want to learn visual arts skills. While Concordia University offers a wide range of fine arts courses, these are not options for McGill students. Credits in fine arts courses taken at other institutions cannot be transferred to McGill, as there is no equivalent program.

Although McGill doesn’t have a fine arts program, it does host artists-in-residence, sponsors guest lecturers, and houses a robust Visual Arts Collection. Students also engage with art and education through clubs and workshops. Fleeting Form Studio, a student-led project which focuses on art-based activism against climate change. The project’s founders, Saskia Morgan, Ava Williams, and Hannah Marder-MacPherson, mentioned in an interview with the Daily how information about creative happenings around campus are often “few and far between.” One of the issues with McGill and its treatment of the visual and fine arts is that promotion for these events and happenings rarely seem to reach the students. Owens further commented on this dilemma, saying: “those kinds of things are all happening, almost under the radar. From my perspective, we need to figure out a way that people can know about these things.”

As such, many student-led clubs have been created in order to address this need, including the McGill Arts Collective, the McGill Students’ Visual Arts Society and the McGill University Photography Students’ Society. Though these clubs provide an excellent outlet for students to build community amongst other artists and hone their skills, it shouldn’t be the responsibility of the students to create these educational spaces. If the university has over 40 clubs in the category of fine arts, dance, and performances, shouldn’t it be a sign that our education should also provide this dimension? By offering these types of courses, McGill would ensure that students are able to have a more well-rounded education.

Fine arts education has been proven to positively impact academic and social development. It gives students a space to explore their creativity and learn new skills while providing a break from traditional academic courses. Introducing fine arts programming at McGill would allow students who are passionate about the fine arts to develop that interest in conjunction with other academic streams. At the very least, it should be possible for McGill students to take fine arts courses at other universities, such as Concordia.

McGill should offer fine arts programming for its students and continue to place the arts on the same level that it does other program offerings. If you recognize the value of fine arts education, support clubs and student groups at McGill. Even if you’re not interested in practicing the fine arts yourself, you can attend dance, theatre, or musical performances put on by these clubs, or attend exhibitions showcasing art and photography done by McGill students. Look out for and attend visual and fine arts events hosted at McGill, as larger turnout shows that these events are valued by the student body.

The post The Fine Arts Deficit at McGill appeared first on The McGill Daily.

Concordia president Graham Carr recently made headlines after revealing, in an interview with The Canadian Press, that registration for the Fall 2024 semester had dropped by roughly 40 per cent. This figure accounts for a 28 and 11 per cent decrease in out-of-province student and international student enrollment, respectively. These numbers are shocking yet fully reflective of the CAQ’s exclusionary policies. The proposed tuition hikes and French-language proficiency tests have driven away a large portion of potential non-Quebecois students.

The damage done to Quebec’s two largest English-speaking universities is staggering. The drop in registration this fall semester has caused Concordia to lose around $15 million, on top of their already steep $30.9 million deficit. While McGill has not yet publicized how the tuition hikes have concretely affected the university, President Saini previously warned that these policies would result in serious financial consequences. As a result, McGill implemented a hiring freeze last year, amidst warnings that up to 700 jobs could be cut.

The ripple effect of the proposed tuition hikes has also extended to institutions not directly implicated in the original announcement. Bishop’s University, unlike McGill and Concordia, was granted an exemption from the tuition hikes. Nonetheless, the university has also seen an unprecedented drop in enrollment for the fall semester. Bishop’s incoming student body has 10 per cent fewer out-of-province students, despite the fact that their tuition rates have remained relatively unchanged. The principal and vice-chancellor of Bishop’s University, Sébastien Lebel-Grenier, recently told CBC: “It seems fairly obvious that the announcements by the Quebec government have created a lot of uncertainty and fear in our students. It’s had a chilling effect.”

Perhaps the most troubling change to Bishop’s student demographics is the sharp decrease in international students. In his interview with CBC, Lebel-Grenier revealed that there are approximately 40 per cent fewer international students who applied to Bishop’s for this fall semester. He attributed this sharp drop to the numerous provincial, as well as federal, policies that have targeted international students over the past year. Incoming international students now have to pay more than double the amount in minimum tuition fees that has existed for twenty years. If you want to study in Canada as an international student in 2024, you now have to prove to the federal government that you have the funds to pay a whopping $20,000 in tuition fees. Additionally, the federal government has reduced the number of international study permits approved by 35 per cent in comparison to 2023. While this move was supposedly targeting “bad actors” taking advantage of vulnerable international students, organizations such as the Migrant Workers Alliance believe that this will punish international students for the government’s failures.

What message does this send about the kind of students Quebec wants at their universities? Academic spaces exist to cultivate and develop different forms of knowledge; yet, the CAQ seems to want to limit these spaces to either Quebec students or wealthy, international, French-speaking students from Europe. These policies will likely only exacerbate the existing class divisions in Canadian academia, and contribute to rising xenophobia in Quebec and Canada as a whole. International students are often the target of harmful stereotypes and made into scapegoats for politicians looking to distract their constituents from their government’s shortcomings. We must challenge these narratives wherever they appear, and identify the true culprits driving this inequality.

Post-secondary education should be accessible to all, and not limited by financial or geographical circumstances. It’s clear that the CAQ’s policies, which intend to limit university education in the province to students of certain classes and backgrounds, are deterring many potential students from seeing a future for themselves here. Cultural and linguistic diversity is a strength, and Quebec’s English-language universities are surely going to suffer from this loss.

Last year, many students at McGill and Concordia mobilized against the tuition hikes, calling out the discriminatory nature of these policies. Contribute to future mobilization against the CAQ’s discriminatory policies and call out xenophobic narratives that blame migrants, including international students, for our governments’ failures. Support organizations such as the Migrant Workers Alliance, the Migrant Rights Network, and Solidarity Across Borders that advocate for migrant worker and student rights.

The post Witnessing the Effects of the CAQ’s Tuition Hikes appeared first on The McGill Daily.

Daringly imaginative and penned with devastating authenticity, Babel by R. F. Kuang takes readers through the thinnest of veils between worlds into an alternate history of Great Britain during the height of its colonial empire. It follows Robin, a young Chinese boy taken from his plague-ravaged home town of Canton by a mysterious British professor who promises to train him in the art of languages so that he may one day become a translator at Babel, the prestigious institution at the heart of the Empire which holds the secrets to its unrivaled might. Scholars at Babel practice silverwork, imbuing the precious metal with the power of words that are caught in translation between different languages. Robin begins his training only to find himself quickly caught up in a web of affairs outside his control, implicating himself in a series of crimes against the nation as he inadvertently starts to tangle with an enclave of former translators planning a deadly revolution. He grapples with his inherent otherness to the institutional monolith, trying to come to terms with both his identity and the cycle of exploitation in which he is becoming complicit – the Empire is sustained by conquest and the subsequent supply of newly subjugated languages from which its silver-smiths can derive ever more power. But even Babel’s scholars agree: “Every translation is a betrayal.” The paradox inherent in such a phagocytic system as Kuang’s imaginary Britain, an outsize behemoth of industry and dominion, becomes starkly apparent as she hints at the impossible scope of its colonial treachery. 

— Elaine Yang, Features Editor

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin is one of those books that force you to ponder the nature of the human experience. The novel centers around the relationship between the two main characters: Sam and Sadie. We get to see these characters grow and change from both perspectives as they move in and out of each other’s life, while never truly losing sight of one another. This book has the same focus on complex relationships like Normal People by Sally Rooney, but with the backdrop of video games and the added complexities of our contemporary society. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is for the reader that has a hankering for complexity and stories that unfold within the little details. It’s really good for when you’re feeling uninspired by books altogether. 

— Evelyn Logan, Radio Editor

In the eye of the wild by Nastsassja Martin

“The bear left some hours ago now, and I am waiting, waiting for the mist to lift. The steppe is red, my hands are red, face swollen and gashed, unrecognizable. As in the times of myths, obscurity reigns; I am this blurred figure, features submerged beneath the open gulfs in my face, slicked over with internal tissue, fluid, and blood: it is a birth, for it is manifestly not a death.” 

These are the opening lines of Nastassja Martin’s chilling and yet poetic book In the eye of the wild. She tells the story of her “encounter” with a bear in the mountains of Kamchatka, on the edge of Siberia, to carry out an anthropological study among the Evens. As the book unfolds we get more glimpses of this moment where the human and animal world collided. The local populations call survivors “marked by the bear” medka meaning that you become half human half bear. Martin writes in a fascinating way about her rebirth and her inaptitude to re-enter the world as if nothing happened. Her story intertwines physical scars, a necessity to survive and a call to the grandeur of nature. The book isn’t meant to appeal to your sympathy, on the contrary it is an invitation from the author to follow her in the coldest parts of Russian wildlife – where myth meets reality – and into the some parts of her mind.    

— India Mosca, Managing Editor

Journey to the West by Wu Cheng’en

A Chinese classic I read this summer and the previous two summers, too—though I didn’t finish the first time, to my regret. You may recognize this epic as the source material for the hit game Black Myth: Wukong, but its story and legacy have already been entrenched into centuries of folklore. A satire of celestial politics? A critique of religious power? A hero’s journey in search of freedom and enlightenment? Featuring a weary Buddhist monk, a genderfluid monkey with “trouble” as their middle name, and a crew of misfits who’ve inhabited the collective consciousness of generations of Chinese children, inspiring them to forge their own destinies like the heroes of legend.

— Andrei Li, Sci+Tech Editor

Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness by Susannah Cahalan

I picked up this book when staying at a guesthouse with no wifi and found myself unable to put it down! This autobiography chronicles Cahalan’s experience with a rare autoimmune disease, encompassing her journey to a life-saving diagnosis and recovery once she was able to get treatment. Drawing on her skills as an investigative journalist, Cahalan pieces together her “month of madness” through testimonies from family and friends, medical documents, and videos to recount this life-changing experience.

— Emma Bainbridge, Coordinating Editor

The post What the Daily Read This Summer! appeared first on The McGill Daily.

In a “back to school” email from Thursday, August 22, McGill Provosts Christopher Manfredi and Angela Campbell write: 

“In this moment of social polarization, many intense forces stand to divide or alienate us from one another. Nonetheless, we are committed to working tirelessly to sustain collegiality, respect, and engagement even across stark differences and disagreement. 

We invite you to join us in this work, as this critical juncture necessitates our collective commitment and engagement. 

What does this mean, concretely?” 

As we begin a new school year, this question is at the centre of our concerns. 

The summer of 2024 will forever be remembered for the Palestine Solidarity Encampment on the McGill lower field, built by students coming together from different universities in Montreal. This was part of a global movement calling for universities to divest from companies that support Israeli apartheid and the ongoing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. The demands set by students were clear: Disclose, Divest, Defend, and Declare. The administration chose to respond by trivializing the movement, with students claiming that the university did not negotiate in good faith. The encampment was forcibly dismantled on the night of July 10. 

Universities all over the world faced demands from students to divest from Israel and show solidarity with Palestinians. Rather than listening to students, academic institutions chose to bring in riot police to suppress peaceful protests. Even now, mainstream media sources persist in downplaying the significance of student demonstrations, dismissing their calls to end Israel’s genocide as juvenile and naive. Nonetheless, this summer was a powerful demonstration of student activism. As the world seems to be crumbling underneath our feet, the power to create a better world often feels out of reach. However, the attention and backlash garnered by student movements is proof of the influence that we can have.

Student protests have time and again proven to be effective, whether in rising against racial or gender injustice, inequality, and authoritarianism. We have frequently taken the lead in movements that have been crucial in bringing about necessary social change. Some examples include the 1968 protests against the war in Vietnam, the Womens’ Rights movement, and protests against South African apartheid where McGill became the first Canadian university to divest from its holdings in the regime. Last December, the Board of Governors unanimously voted to divest from direct investments in fossil fuel companies, marking the culmination of over 12 years of student organizing.

Let us continue to be inspired by this legacy and foster an environment where each and every one of us feels safe within a community where we can make change happen. This upcoming semester is an opportunity for the McGill administration to begin rebuilding trust with the student body. It is about time the McGill administration lived up to its supposed values of “integrity, equity and inclusiveness” and started truly listening to the demands of its students.

The post It’s time to get mobilized! appeared first on The McGill Daily.

This said, March is as much a celebration of women’s accomplishments as it is a time for reflection on the barriers, historical and present, that hinder efforts toward gender equality. While McGill focuses on celebrating its present accomplishments in women’s rights, the administration neglects to address its role in hindering gender equality efforts over the last two centuries, as well as the role McGill students and faculty have played in the victories of Canadian women.

Officially, McGill has minted itself a pioneer in championing gender equality in higher education. In the “About McGill” section of the university’s website, a featured article titled “Blazing trails: McGill’s women” recounts the history of female students at McGill. A bicentennial piece titled “Women admitted to McGill” touts McGill as the first Quebec university to admit women to its undergraduate body. On the “McGill Giving” page, the 2020 article “Did You Know? A timeline of women’s milestones at McGill” celebrates the fact that the university has “been shaped, challenged, and enriched by women through much of its history.”

It was in 1884, 63 years after the school was founded, that women were first allowed to study at McGill. The “Blazing trails” article frames 1884 as the inevitable result of the university’s liberal-minded administration and donors. Principal William Dawson, at a lecture for the Montreal Ladies’ Educational Association years prior, called the eventual admission of women “the dawn of a new education era.” It was thanks to a donation from businessman Donald Smith, later known as Lord Strathcona, that women would be allowed to attend the university, the first graduating class of whom were nicknamed the “Donaldas.”

All of these articles either omit or gloss over a crucial fact. Although female students were permitted admission, they were still segregated from men in their residences and classes. Royal Victoria College, which at that time included the Schulich School of Music, was constructed as a women’s residence and opened in 1899. The condition of women’s segregation, which McGill frames as an unfortunate but temporary circumstance, was actually a primary requirement of Smith’s endowment. Despite McGill’s supposed openness to gender equality, the Faculties of Law and Medicine were still barred to women. Furthermore, gender segregation fed into views among male students and faculty that women lacked the necessary mental fortitude to pursue higher education. This view was exemplified after Octavia Grace Ritchie, McGill’s first female valedictorian, delivered her graduation speech. Chancellor Richard Heneker of Bishop’s University asked her: “And are you not very tired?”

Some members of McGill’s faculty saw the university’s segregation policy as deeply harmful for women’s right to education. John Clark Murray, then-professor of philosophy and an advocate for co-education, publicly criticized McGill’s gender segregation policy and pushed for mixed-gender classrooms. Admission of women, to him, was just the first step toward achieving gender equality in higher education. For his comments, Murray was rebuked by Dawson, the supposed visionary in women’s rights, and “threatened with censure by McGill’s board of governors” who were afraid of jeopardizing Smith’s and other donors’ funding.

By 1889, women made up a third of McGill’s student body, and by 1917 outnumbered men in the Faculty of Arts. Nonetheless, the overturning of gender segregation would not be achieved for several decades. This decision came not as a moment of moral clarity from the McGill administration, but rather as a matter of practicality: the university did not have enough instructors to teach men and women separately. The outbreak of WWII and drafting of male students and faculty were what finally forced the university to establish a co-education system.

In the face of discrimination from McGill administration and government authorities, McGill students and faculty continued to push for women’s rights in Quebec and Canada. Octavia Grace Ritchie, previously mentioned as McGill’s first female valedictorian, was a notable suffragist and member of Montreal’s Local Council of Women. Idola St.-Jean, professor of French language at McGill, was one of the leaders of the Canadian Alliance for Women’s Vote in Quebec, and later, the first woman to run for federal office in Quebec. Women’s suffrage was achieved in Quebec on April 25, 1940, around the same time gender segregation at McGill was fully dissolved.

McGill, in only providing a partial account of its history with women’s rights, does a tremendous disservice to the struggles and sacrifices of previous generations of students and faculty who fought and continue to fight for gender equality. We, the editorial board of the Daily, believe it is crucial to learn about and preserve all facets of our history, to ensure that the injustices of yesterday do not repeat themselves tomorrow.

The post The Origins of Women’s Rights at McGill appeared first on The McGill Daily.

Chloe Muñoz

Experience:

During the debate, Muñoz cited experience on the Inter-Residence Council (IRC). In her pensketch, she says that being an international student has given her experience in adapting to new environments.

Platform:

Muñoz’s policies include ratifying the Policy Against Genocide in Palestine, fighting tuition hikes, ensuring the quality of student services, and holding bi-semesterly mixers to meet with members of the McGill community. In her pensketch, she specifically named access to mental health services such as the Peer Support Centre, keepmesafe, and Nightline as a priority. She hopes to hire professionals to work with student services in addition to student employees to improve the quality of services provided and to help maintain consistency through student employee turnover. Finally, she will continue to work on current VP Student Life Nadia Dakdouki’s project of creating a guide to provide comprehensive financial guidelines for club executives.

Avin Ahmadi

Experience:

Ahmadi has experience on several residence councils: the IRC as well as the Community Equity and Engagement Committee (CEEC) and Environmental Residence Council (ERC). She also has experience in event-planning and community engagement, per her pensketch.

Platform:

Ahmadi wants to make it easier for students to start, run, and join new clubs, and she would like to look into streamlining the process to start new clubs. She hopes to increase health and recreational coverage for students and provide greater variations in MiniCourses offered. She believes that there is currently a lack of communication between SSMU and the student body, and would address this by promoting the McGill app and using this app to facilitate communication with students.

Endorsement: YES to Chloe Muñoz

The Daily’s editorial board endorses a “YES” vote for Chloe Muñoz. Through the pensketch and the debate, Muñoz demonstrated a solid knowledge of the VP Student Life mandate and current projects and presented detailed plans for her mandate. Furthermore, she addressed a commitment to advocating on behalf of issues that are important to many students as well as the Daily’s editorial board, such as the ratification of the Policy Against Genocide in Palestine and the fight against tuition hikes.

VP Sustainability and Operations

Meg Baltes

Experience:

Baltes is pursuing a degree in Sustainability, Science, and Society.

Platform: 

The position of VP Sustainability and Operations was only reinstated last year, and Baltes is passionate about making this position more prominent within SSMU. One of her priorities is making the University Centre feel more like a “student hub” and encouraging students to spend more time in the building by bringing in more vendors in addition to Gerts. She hopes to enhance communications about sustainability certifications that clubs can receive and make sure that SSMU events follow sustainability regulations. She is particularly interested in working on improving the sustainable waste management initiatives on campus. Finally, she suggested more transparency surrounding the use of SSMU fees paid by students, particularly during the campaign for a Base Fee Increase.

Endorsement: YES for Meg Baltes

The Daily’s editorial board endorses a “YES” vote for Meg Baltes. Baltes demonstrated a solid understanding of the position and knowledge of the work current VP Sustainability and Operations Hassanatou Koulibaly has done since the position was reinstated. We believe that it is important to promote student spaces and resources on campus, and we agree with her policy to make the University Centre more welcoming and attractive to students. It is also important for SSMU to uphold their sustainability regulations, and this requires clear communication with student groups, as Baltes promises to do. Finally, we believe that it is essential that SSMU remains transparent and accessible to students, particularly concerning financial matters.

VP External

Coordinating News Editor Emma Bainbridge works in the Office of External Affairs and did not participate in this endorsement due to a possible conflict of interest.

Michal Ekiert

Experience: 

Ekiert is a law student with an undergraduate degree in political science.

Platform:

As VP External, Ekiert would concentrate on government lobbying regarding the tuition hikes, francization, and affordability. In his platform, Ekiert expresses that he is committed to ending Islamophobia, antisemitism, and other forms of discrimination while promoting human rights, freedom of speech, and freedom of demonstration. He hopes to support anti-oppression initiatives and “enhance community-urban relations” – by, for example, strengthening McGill’s ties to the Milton-Parc community. In the executives’ debate, Ekiert communicated a desire to find common ground with the McGill administration, the Montreal police, and the Quebec government and expressed his support for the SSMU Base Fee Increase. Ekiert would wait for the conclusion of the legal proceedings to ratify the Policy Against Genocide in Palestine. 

Hugo Solomon

Experience:

Solomon has been involved in community-based activism for several years.

Platform:

Solomon’s platform centres student-led political and social justice causes and champions transparency, intersectionality, and accountability. He promises to support the ratification of the Policy Against Genocide in Palestine, to stand with the Mohawk Mothers in their fight for justice, to protect student activists from police intimidation, and to fight alongside McGill and Concordia against discriminatory tuition increases. Solomon also aims to update the SSMU External website, to undertake a review of External finances, and to speak directly with students to understand and address their concerns.

Endorsement: YES with reservations to Hugo Solomon

The Daily’s editorial board endorses a “YES with reservations” vote for Hugo Solomon. Although Solomon lacks experience working in a political or bureaucratic environment, he demonstrated a thorough knowledge of SSMU policies and of SSMU-McGill relations in both his pensketch and the executive debates. His commitments to protecting student activists against police intimidation and ratifying the Policy Against Genocide in Palestine better reflect student needs and demands than those of his opponent.

VP University Affairs

Abe Berglas

The Daily would like to disclose that the majority of our editorial board has worked with Berglas, as they served a term as Sci + Tech Editor in Winter 2023 and a term as Copy Editor in Fall 2023. This endorsement is thus inevitably part of a conflict of interest.

Endorsement: YES to Abe Berglas

Berglas’s platform emphasizes accountability among our student community and McGill. They would like to: improve accessibility on campus, especially for disabled students; demand more equity and transparency from the administration; and advocate for student rights and interests. They display an excellent knowledge and understanding of university affairs, and their experience in student governance as both VP UA and Recording Secretary of the SSMUnion are important assets. Berglas’s roles in Queer McGill, the SSMU Equity Committee, the Gender and Sexuality Advocacy Committee, Queers for Palestine, the Student Union Democratization Initiative, and more clearly demonstrate an extensive background of hands-on advocacy and engagement. All of their goals and priorities are emphatically shared by the Daily, as detailed in our Statement of Principles.

The Daily’s editorial board therefore endorses a “YES” vote for Abe Berglas.

VP Internal Affairs

Zeena Zahidah

Endorsement: YES with reservations to Zeena Zahidah

Zahindah’s platform focuses on building a more inclusive, welcoming student campus culture,and generally enhancing the student experience through a shared sentiment of belonging. In particular, she would like to prioritize first-year communications, sustainability on campus, and the inclusion of francophone students. Zahindah does not possess clear experience in managerial or internal communications and organizing, which may partially explain the vagueness of her platform thus far. A more concrete and fleshed-out presentation of her priorities would have made her campaign much more convincing.

The Daily’s editorial board therefore endorses a “YES with reservations” vote for Zeena Zahidah. 

The post SSMU Executive Endorsements 2024–25 appeared first on The McGill Daily.

1. Do you agree to increase the non-opt-outable SSMU Membership Fee by the amounts outlined in the table below, per student per semester and payable by all SSMU members starting in Fall 2024 to cover salary increases of the staff of the SSMU (excluding Executives) and to facilitate the operations of the SSMU as a whole, with the understanding that a majority “no” vote would result in would likely result in a drastic reduction of SSMU’s operations, including support provided to the Clubs and Services under SSMU?
2. Do you agree to increase the non-opt-outable SSMU Queer Equity Support Fee by $1.32 from $1.09 per semester, bringing it to a total of $2.41 per semester payable by all SSMU members starting in Fall 2024 and ending in winter 2029 (inclusive), at which point it will be brought back to the Membership for renewal. With the understanding that a majority ‘no’ vote would result in the continuation of the fee at its current rate, severely limiting the ability for QUIPS to provide emergency support to queer and marginalized students.
3. Do you agree to increase the non-opt-outable SSMU Safety Network Fee by $0.14 from $7.01 per semester to a total $7.15 payable by all members, starting in Fall 2024 until Winter 2029 (inclusive), at which point it will be brought back to the Membership for renewal, with the understanding that a majority ʻnoʼ vote will result in the continuation of the fee at its current rate, resulting in the reduction of some SSMU WALKSAFE operations, as well as limitations in the quality of the services offered by SSMU WALKSAFE?
4. Do you agree to increase the opt-outable Referral Services Fee by $1.25 from $6.03 to a total of $7.28 per student per semester, payable by all SSMU Members, starting in Fall 2024 until Winter 2028 (inclusive) at which point it will be brought back to the Membership for renewal, with the understanding that a majority ‘no’ vote will result in a continuation of the fee at its current rate, impacting the Union for Gender Empowerment’s ability to provide services in alignment with its mandates?
5. Do you agree to reinstate the opt-outable SSMU First Year Council (FYC) Fee at a rate of $0.50 per semester, payable by all SSMU members for the purpose of supporting the FYC who represent, organize events, and do giveaways for, but not limited to, first year students. Starting in Fall 2024 until Winter 2029 (inclusive), once per semester, excluding summers, with the understanding that a majority “no” vote will result in a drastic reduction in the representation and event planning capabilities of the First Year Council?
6. Do you agree to increase the opt-outable Black Studentsʼ Network Fee from $1.00 to $2.00 per semester per full -time members, and from $0.50 to $1.00 for part-time members, starting in Fall 2024 until Winter 2029 (inclusive), at which point it will be brought back to the membership for renewal, with the understand that a majority ʻNOʼ will result in a continuation of the fee at its current rate?
7. Do you agree to renew the non-opt-outable Legal Information Clinic at McGill (LICM) fee at a rate of $4.50 per student per semester, payable by all SSMU members, starting Fall 2024 to Fall 2029 (inclusive), at which point it will be brought back to the Membership for renewal, with the understanding that a majority “no” vote would result in the closure of the LICM, which has existed since 1973, and the end of Student Advocacy, which is the sole experienced provider of student representation at McGill in disciplinary and other internal proceedings against the University since 1989? Do you agree to increase the non-opt-outable Legal Information Clinic at McGill (LICM) fee from $4.50 to $5.91 per student, per semester for all SSMU members, starting Fall 2024 until fall 2029 (inclusive), at which point it will be brought back to the Membership for renewal, with the understanding that a majority ‘no’ vote will result in the continuation of the fee at its current rate and will require significant cuts to the Legal Information and Student Advocacy representation services currently offered and reduce the organization’s ability to serve students and the broader community?
8. Do you agree to increase the opt-outable Club Fee from by $1.87 from $4.57 to $5.44 per student, per semester; payable by all SSMU members starting in Fall 2024 and ending in Winter 2029 (inclusive), at which point it will be brought back to the Membership for renewal. With the understanding that a majority ‘no’ vote will prevent the increase of the fee amount, impacting the ability of the funding committee to fund SSMU clubs?
9. Do you agree to renew the opt-outable Campus Life Fee at a rate of $2.00 for full-time students and $1.00 for part-time students per semester starting in Fall 2024 and until Winter 2029 (inclusive), with the understanding that a majority ‘no’ vote will prevent the funding and support of events on and around campus? Do you agree to increase the opt-outable Campus Life Fee by $0.83 for full-time students and $0.41 for part-time students, per semester, raising the fee to a total of $2.83 for full-time students and $1.41 for part-time students per semester, starting in Fall 2024 until Winter 2029 (inclusive), with the understanding that a majority ‘no’ vote will prevent the increase of the fee amount, impacting the ability of the funding committee to fund Campus Life activities?
10. Do you agree to the increase the opt-outable SSMU Student Academic Support Services Fee by $0.67, from $0.93 to a total of $1.60, per student, per semester, payable by all full-time and part-time SSMU members, starting in Fall 2024 and to be charged until Winter 2029 (inclusive), with the understanding that a majority ‘no’ vote would result in increased MiniCourses registration costs and limited free Open Educational Resources?
11. Do you agree to increase the opt-outable SSMU Arab Student Network Fee by $0.50, from $0.50 to $1 per student per semester payable by all SSMU members, starting in Fall 2024 until winter 2029 (inclusive), at which point it will be brought back to the Membership for renewal, with the understanding that a majority ʻnoʼ vote will result in the continuation of the fee at its current rate, resulting in the reduction of some the Arab Student Network operations, as well as limitations in the quality of the services offered by the Arab Student Network?
12. Do you agree to renew the opt-outable SSMU Library Improvement Fund Fee at a rate of $8.50 for full time students and $4.25 for part time students per semester, starting in Fall 2024 until Winter 2029 (inclusive), with the understanding that a majority ”no” vote would result in the termination of the fee?
13. Do you agree to renew the non-opt-outable SSMU keep.meSAFE fee at $2.75 per student per semester, payable by all SSMU members, starting Fall 2024 until Winter 2029 (inclusive) to access 24/7/365 mental health services?
14. Do you agree to the creation of the opt-outable SSMU Student Rights Fund at a rate of $0.25 per student per semester, payable by all SSMU members, starting in Fall 2024 until Winter 2029 (inclusive), at which point it will be brought back to the Membership for renewal, with the understanding that a majority ‘no’ vote will result in limitations for SSMU to provide resources, information, and funding for student rights?
15. Do you agree to the appointment of BDO Canada LLP as the Auditor for the 2024 Fiscal Year for the Students’ Society of McGill University, with the understanding that a majority “no” vote will result in the SSMU’s inability to be properly audited for this fiscal year?
16. Do you agree to increase the opt-outable MUSTBUS fee by $2.00, from $2.00 to $4.00 per semester, payable by all SSMU members, starting Fall 2024, until Winter 2029 (inclusive), with the understanding that a majority ‘No’ vote will result in the fee remaining at its current rate?
17. Do you agree to renew the opt-out-able Student Support Fee at a rate of $9.70 per student per semester, reduced from $10.29 per student per semester, payable by all SSMU members for unlimited access to Udemy & Calm starting in Fall 2024 until Winter 2029 (inclusive), with the understanding that a majority “no” vote will result in the termination of the fee and the service currently provided?

1. SSMU Membership Fee Increase

The Daily’s editorial board endorses a “YES with reservations” vote for the SSMU Membership Fee Increase. We recognize that the Membership Fee, referred to as the “Base Fee” in last semester’s referendum, has not seen an increase since 2019 and that the proposed increase of $27.11 per semester (for most full-time undergraduates) is more reasonable than last semester’s proposed increase of $48.73 per semester (for most full-time undergraduates). We also recognize that the additional fees, which will purportedly cover salary increases for non-executive unionized staff, will allow SSMU to address its financial needs at a time when inflation and the cost of living are increasing. In light of this same fact, however, the Daily is concerned that the $95.59 non-opt-outable fee will be a difficult burden for many undergraduates to shoulder twice a year.

2. Queer Equity Support Fee Increase

The Daily’s editorial board endorses a “YES” vote for the Queer Equity Support Fee Increase. This fee was initiated in the 2021–22 academic year to create an emergency financial support program for queer students, particularly those facing barriers due to homophobia and transphobia. To date, the fund has distributed over $100,000 to queer (and other marginalized) students struggling to pay for food, rent, and medical emergencies. The fund receives an “overwhelming number” of applications each year but is only able to grant about 55% of the funding requested due to budget restrictions. The Daily views an increase (of $1.09 per semester, for a total of $2.41) as integral both to compensate for inflation and the increased cost of living and to protect queer students at a time of heightened homophobia and transphobia.

3. SSMU Walksafe Fee Increase

The SSMU Walksafe Fee Increase would increase funding for SSMU Walksafe and allow the program to expand its operations and adjust for inflation. SSMU Walksafe provides services for McGill students and also elementary school students with the program Walk Buddies. Since the last increase, Walksafe has used student fees to expand their services, and with the current increase, they would use the money for new uniforms and offer new programming on harm reduction, self defence, and street safety. Therefore, The Daily endorses a “YES” vote for the fee increase for Walksafe.

4. Referral Services Fee Increase

The Daily‘s editorial board endorses a “YES” vote for the Referral Services Fee Increase. The Referral Services Fee Increase would increase funding for the Union for Gender Empowerment (UGE). The UGE’s services include providing free/pay-what-you-can reusable menstrual products, gender-affirming gear, and safer sex supplies as well as an alternative library free for anyone to access. This fee increase would allow the UGE to meet increased demand for their services and continue to provide free, accessible resources to students in need.

5. Reinstatement of First-Year Fee

The First Year Council manages SSMU’s services for first-year undergraduate students, such as organizing social events, holding first-year forums, and representing first-year students in Legislative Council. As many first years may experience difficulty transitioning to university, it is important to have services in place to help them adjust and to represent their interests. The Daily endorses a “YES” vote for the First Year Fee Reinstatement.

6. Black Students’ Network Service Fee Increase

The Black Students’ Network (BSN) provides invaluable programming for Black students at McGill. This fee increase would allow the BSN to organize more events, specifically during Black History Month, aimed at supporting Black students both academically and professionally. The increase in funding would help the BSN pay for Black Grad, an event for Black graduates, which would remain underfinanced without the fee increase. Additionally, with the increase, the BSN would be able to further execute the Action Plan to Address Further Racism. Therefore the Daily votes “YES” to the service fee increase for the Black Students’ Network.

7. Legal Information Clinic Fee Renewal and Increase

The Legal Information Clinic at McGill (LICM) offers free, bilingual legal advice to McGill students and community members, providing a service that can often be prohibitively expensive to those who need it. The LICM has not received a fee increase since 2014, and they would have to cut some of their services if the increase did not go through. Given that the LICM serves an estimated 2,000 students and community members per year, it is evident that there is a demand for this type of service. Therefore, the Daily’s editorial board endorses a “YES” vote for both the renewal and the increase of the LICM’s fee.

8. Club Fee Increase

The Daily endorses a  “YES” vote for the Club Fee Increase. There exist over 250 clubs at this university, and they form an integral part of the student experience at McGill. They offer the chance for students to explore new hobbies and make friends outside of the classroom. McGill’s clubs provide opportunities that might be difficult to access elsewhere, and they make university life a richer experience for all students. Moreover, many clubs involved in volunteering and charity work also allow students to grow their co-curricular record, where student achievement outside of the classroom is recognized. The Club Fee Increase would allow SSMU to continue to fund student-run initiatives and allow future generations of students to experience McGill’s opportunities to the fullest.

9. Campus Life Fee Renewal and Increase

The Daily endorses a “YES” vote to both the renewal and increase of the Campus Life Fee. Campus life activities are central to the student experience at McGill: they are places for students to have fun and enjoy a break from their academic responsibilities. For new students, too, campus life events are among the first opportunities to interact with the wider McGill community.

10. Student Academic Support Services Fee Increase

The Daily endorses a “YES” vote for increasing the Student Academic Support Services Fee. This fee funds both SSMU MiniCourses, which offers affordable workshops and extracurricular classes to students in the comfort of their university, and McGill’s Open Education Resources (OERs). Traditional textbooks and other academic resources are often difficult to access due to cost, making them a socioeconomic barrier to student success. According to SSMU: “Over the last decade, textbook prices have increased by 88 per cent, which is four times the inflation rate.” The OERs provided through the Student Academic Support Service Fee grant students access to resources that would otherwise be expensive to obtain, making them vital to equality in education at McGill. This fee drastically reduces the financial burden on undergraduates at McGill, and the Daily believes it is essential to student success.

11. Arab Student Network Fee Increase

The Arab Student Network (ASN) reports that financial difficulties in recent years have limited the services and events that they are able to offer. The ASN currently produces journals to showcase artistic impressions of Arab culture, offers Arabic language classes, and hosts social events for the Arab community at McGill. In particular, they can only offer beginner Arabic classes to small groups of students despite seeing more demand in recent years. The Daily’s editorial board endorses a “YES” vote to the Arab Student Network Fee Increase so that the ASN can maintain and improve the quality of their educational and cultural programs.

12. Library Improvement Fund Fee Renewal

The Daily endorses a “YES” vote for the renewal of the Library Improvement Fund, whose committee currently develops project that seek to ensure greater accessibility within learning spaces as well as increased wellness and inclusivity for students. The Library Improvement Committee utilizes student suggestions and concerns in order to improve library environments for students, placing their opinions at the forefront. Throughout the years, the Fund has consistently sought to better the campus by improving working areas and maximizing comfort.

13. keep.meSAFE Fee Renewal

The keep.meSAFE program at McGill provides a variety of mental health resources and support for students. With a fee renewal, keep.meSAFE will continue offering students access to in-person counselling appointments as well as the opportunity to speak with mental health professionals online at all hours of the day, every day of the year. Given that they accommodate a variety of student needs, are easily accessible, and are an affordable route to obtaining mental health services, the Daily endorses a “YES” vote for the keep.meSAFE fee renewal. 

14. Creation of Student Rights Fee and Fund

The Daily’s editorial board endorses a “YES with reservations” vote for the implementation of the Student Rights Fee and Fund. SSMU is proposing the creation a Student Rights Fund that claims to inform students of their rights at McGill and protect those rights against potential infringements. Although we recognize the importance of an organization that seeks to expand the scope of student rights, it is currently unclear as to what the fund will accomplish due to a lack of elaboration on how they define student rights, as well as the actions they will take to uphold them. Additionally, we perceive the service this fund is offering to be redundant in the context of other groups and organizations committed to advancing student rights on campus.

15. Nomination of Auditor for 2024 Fiscal Year Referendum Question

Given that as a non-profit, SSMU must be audited each year, the Daily’s editorial board endorses a “YES” vote to nominate BDO Canada LLP as the Auditor for the 2024 Fiscal Year.

16. Mustbus Opt-Outable Fee Increase

MUSTBUS organizes trips for McGill students during school breaks, usually at subsidized prices. Common destinations include Ottawa, Toronto, Quebec City, Boston, and New York City. This can provide a more affordable way for students with family in these cities to return home for breaks. This fee increase would allow MUSTBUS to expand the trips they can offer at even more affordable prices so that more students can benefit from this service. Therefore, the Daily endorses a “YES” vote for the MUSTBUS fee increase.

17. Student-initiated question: Student Support Fee

This opt-outable fee would go toward Student Support Canada, a for-profit organization that provides students with unlimited access to Calm and Udemy. In line with our endorsement during the Winter 2022 and Winter 2023 referendums, the Daily says “NO” to the creation of this fee. Student funds should go toward student services, not for-profit outside organizations. Furthermore, the legitimacy of Student Support Canada is questionable. In 2020, the organization was less than transparent with the Carleton University Students’ Association, as reported in the Eyeopener. At a legislative council meeting in February 2022, when the service was being introduced, Student Support Canada’s representative also implied that overhead costs associated with providing these services would be subject to change over the next few years. This past school year, legislative counsellors expressed further concern regarding Student Support’s failure to adequately consult McGill students and to be transparent about its use of student fees, the Tribune reported. All in all, student fees would be much better allocated to services rather than to a corporation.

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Employed throughout the university’s nine downtown residence buildings, Floor Fellows are McGill’s first line of service for first-year undergraduates living on campus. The role is filled by older students – from second-years to graduate students – who live alongside residents in order to ensure their safety and monitor their well-being. Floor Fellows are trained to identify emergencies, medical and otherwise, in order to refer residents to intensive care. First-years who feel ill at ease or who are experiencing health-related or personal difficulties may also turn to their Floor Fellows for support and advice. 

Crucial to the effectiveness of the position is the Floor Fellows’ built-in proximity to residents. In eliminating the existing role, McGill is planning to cover the same scope of services and responsibilities by hiring an additional 30 “Residence Life Facilitators” to patrol dormitory halls and keep residents in check from a distance. Unlike Floor Fellows, the new Residence Life Facilitators will not be living alongside students. The removal of support from close quarters is concerning for the state of resident safety and student support moving forward. The decision to distance prospective help from students living in residences is both unintuitive and regressive. Students transitioning into university life will have their closest point of aid taken away without an immediate means of response to potential crises. For many residents, Floor Fellows serve as their most convenient and comfortable point of exchange with authority without having to navigate the slower and more complicated system of liaising with the school itself. Accessing student services at McGill can be very challenging, especially as a first-year living on your own for the first time in a new city.

The university passed its judgment after an internal “departmental review,” conducted without consulting either the Floor Fellows or their union, AMUSE. Following the announcement on February 15, the union says it is considering taking legal action against the school for the spontaneous elimination of the 65 Floor Fellow positions. Although McGill has invited current Floor Fellows to apply to the newly created Residence Life Facilitator jobs in the coming year, no plan has yet been announced to directly compensate them for the termination of their employment. 

McGill has a long history of disregarding the concerns of Floor Fellows and other AMUSE workers. At the beginning of the current school year, Floor Fellows were relegated to the smallest rooms in their residences, forcing them to share common spaces and bathrooms with their residents and eroding their privacy and sense of work-life balance. As with the decision to abolish the position, Floor Fellows were not consulted about a change that would drastically affect their working conditions. Just a year before that, Floor Fellows went on strike due to inadequate wages and late payments.

It is unacceptable that McGill is continuing to treat its employees this way. If you have thoughts on the decision or the role of Floor Fellows at our university, AMUSE is collecting testimonies to prove the devastating impact this decision will have on students. You can find the form at amusemcgill.ca. It’s important to continue to support AMUSE and the other labour unions at McGill currently fighting for fair wages and better working conditions, such as the Association of Graduate Students Employment at McGill (AGSEM), Association of McGill Professors of Law (AMPL), and McGill University Non-Academic Certified Association (MUNACA). Finally, if you are an employee at McGill, get involved with your union to collectively organize with your colleagues to ensure that your rights are respected.

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