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Qatar’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, confirmed the ceasefire deal would come into effect on January 19. Final votes and sign off were expected on January 16.

The deal includes a temporary ceasefire, allowing for a pause on the destruction inflicted upon Gaza, as well as the release of captives held in Gaza and a great number of prisoners held by Israel. It will also allow for displaced Palestinians who moved South to return to their homes in the north of Gaza.
Montreal’s residents took to the streets to celebrate, with Montreal4Palestine (M4P) calling for an emergency protest at 6 PM, on Wednesday evening, in front of the U.S. consulate on St. Catherine street.

M4P is a multi-generational community-based movement fighting for the total liberation of Palestine through awareness and education. Originally founded in 2021 under the name “Canada Sanctions Israel,” this grassroots organization is the project of a group of friends who met during a Montreal protest for Palestine when six Palestinian families were forcibly evicted in the occupied East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah in May 2021. This movement has been holding protests every Sunday since the Al Aqsa Flood on October 7, 2023, calling for a ceasefire, enforcing an arms embargo on Israel, and sanctioning the State economically and politically.

While emergency protests during the middle of the week are not something new for M4P, the general vibe of this protest wasn’t the usual anger and frustration — it was hope.

Resounding drum sounds in the busy St. Catherine streets were accompanied by protestors performing the folkloric Palestinian dabkeh. Trays of baklava and knafeh from the Palestinian-owned Knafé Stop were going around. People were embracing each other, smiling to one another, and screaming “Mabrook!” “Alf Mubarak!” (‘Congratulations! Thousands of congratulations!’).

“467 days of the most brutal genocide known to mankind,” said one of M4P’s founders, Mahmoud Khalil, in a speech addressing the protestors. “I am very honoured to stand in front of you all today, and say, clearly and loudly, that Gaza is victorious! Our resistance is victorious! Allah’u akbar!”

“Allow me to say, Montreal4Palestine, our beautiful community, our beautiful family, mabrook, congratulations to all of you! Not only on our victory, but on your humanity.”

Following his speech, M4P’s organizers played an audio from a Gaza resident, thanking the Montreal community in Arabic for never forgetting about Palestine and for always showing up on the streets: “All the love from Gaza’s grounds to you. To every individual and person, every man, every woman that went out on the streets during these times of war.”

Although the overall sentiment was one of celebration and joy, speeches also stated the importance to continue the fight, to honour the fallen martyrs, and to not forget about Palestine — all 27,027 square kilometers of it.

“We will continue to do this [protesting] until liberation, insh’Allah,” said one of the protest chanters. “The blood of our martyrs, the tears of our women will not go in vain. Our resistance, fighting for the sake of Allah, will not be forgotten.”

The ceasefire is set to take place in three phases. The first phase:

• Will last six weeks.
• Thirty-three Israeli captives, including women, children and civilians over the age of 50 – taken during the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023 – will be released.
• In exchange, Israel will release a larger number of Palestinian prisoners during this phase, including prisoners serving life sentences; around 1000 were detained after October 7.
• Israel will withdraw its forces from Gaza’s population centres to areas no more than 700 metres inside Gaza’s border with Israel. However, that may not include the Netzarim Corridor (militarized belt bisecting the Strip and controlling movement along it), the withdrawal from which will take place in stages.
• Civilians will be allowed to return to their homes in the north of Gaza, and the surge of aid will be authorized into the enclave – up to 600 trucks per day.
• Wounded Palestinians are to leave the Gaza Strip for treatment, and Israel will open the Rafah crossing in Egypt seven days after the first phase’s implementation.
• Israeli forces will reduce their presence in the Philadelphi Corridor — the border area between Egypt and Gaza, and will then withdraw completely no later than the 50th day after the deal is put into action.

Both the second and third phases are entirely dependent on both sides meeting conditions agreed upon in the first phase. Although less developed than the first phase, the second phase of the agreement so far includes:

• Hamas releasing all remaining living captives — mostly male soldiers, in return for freeing more Palestinians held in the Israeli prison system.
• The document also requires Israel to “completely withdraw” from Gaza.

The third phase remains unclear, but the main points include the return of the bodies of the remaining captives, with a three-to five-year reconstruction plan of Gaza, conducted under international supervision.

However, these conditions are still debated within Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netenyahu’s cabinet, with far-right-wing members expressing their discontent and complete disagreement. Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has threatened to resign from his position if the ceasefire deal is ratified.

The Israeli cabinet was set to sign the agreement on Thursday, but it was then moved to Friday, January 17, after Netenyahu called off the vote, claiming that Hamas was “reneging parts of the agreement.” Following this statement, senior Hamas official Izzat al-Risheq clarified that the Palestinian group was committed to the ceasefire agreement announced by mediators on Wednesday.

While the ceasefire agreement was declared on January 15, Israeli forces have since intensified their attacks on the city of Gaza, bombing about 50 sites throughout the Gaza Strip, 24 hours after the announcement was made. At least more than 100 civilians, to date, have become fallen martyrs – proving that the ceasefire does not mark the end of Palestine’s struggle.

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When trying to find the time in a busy schedule to expose ourselves to the world of literature, joining an extracurricular may seem like the last thing anyone wants or is able to do. Enter: the McGill Book Club. This club is a low-commitment, welcoming environment for students who want to keep up their reading habits throughout their studies. They offer book recommendations for a wide variety of genres, including mystery, literary fiction, poetry, and more. Here’s how it works: find their registration form through their Linktree, found on the McGill Book Club Instagram (@bookclubmcgill). They will ask you about your reading preferences in order to pair you with other like-minded students. The Book Club also hosts special events throughout the semester, which are open to all students. Just this past semester in Fall 2024, they hosted movie nights, book sales, and communal spaces to come and relax your stress away with others hoping to do the same.

McGill is also certainly not lacking in opportunities for students to realize creative pursuits of their own. The Veg magazine at McGill releases new issues every semester to feature all kinds of student-created works, such as poetry, short stories, visual art, and photography. Like McGill Book Club, The Veg also puts on special events during the semester to promote student artists and foster a community of art makers and lovers alike, the members of which they call “the veggies” (a name so adorable, it’s almost worth joining just for the title). The Veg welcomes submissions throughout the semester and all up-to-date information about the upcoming issue can be found on their Instagram (@thevegmagazine).

Likewise, McGill’s very own student-run music magazine, Counterpoint, releases articles twice weekly with two specialized columns. The first of these, New Music Mondays, features reviews and spotlights on emerging new artists and freshly released songs and albums. There are also Friday publications under their Miscellaneous Music Fridays column, featuring commentary, news, opinion pieces, and more covering all things music. These articles can be found on their website or through their Instagram (@counterpointmcgill).

In the tune of student-authored projects, also upcoming this semester is the McGill Drama Festival (MDF), an annual event put on by Player’s Theatre in which a variety of student-written scripts are performed on a live stage. This year, MDF is putting on six different plays, all of which are student-acted, -directed, and -produced. Be sure to check out Player’s Theatre’s Instagram (@playerstheatre) or their website for updates on how and when to go support these McGill artists!

The literary community at McGill is alive and well, if only a fraction of the greater literary culture of Montreal. Within walking distance from McGill’s campus are several local businesses working hard to foster Montreal’s love of literature.

One such shop is De Stiil, located in the Plateau, where “customer” really isn’t the right word to describe the store’s frequenters. At De Stiil, books on display are hand-chosen by the owner, Aude Le Dubé, based often on her own interests and occasionally on the tastes and interests of her customers. Inside, the store feels more like a home than it does a retail outlet, with long tables to display the books in lieu of tall dividing aisles. In addition, the store hosts various literary events, including author visits and writing workshops, to which a whole section is dedicated on their website. This community is open and welcome to everyone, and even offers special De Stiil merchandise to prove it.

Another local shop just steps away from McGill is The Word, who opens their door to anyone, student or otherwise, looking for a new book. You can pick up a textbook (for some McGill and Concordia courses – just ask the owner!), browse the overflowing shelves, or even just chat with their friendly and knowledgeable owners. As a second-hand store, The Word is committed to gifting old classics and hidden gems to new hands.

Finally, just a short walk down Rue Sainte Catherine is Montreal-owned and -operated Argo Bookshop. This quaint little shop has kept the literary spirit alive throughout their several decades of operation (in fact, it is the city’s longest standing independent store for books in the English language!). Argo offers various opportunities to facilitate the book-lovers’ belonging to a literary community, including their subscription boxes, through which users receive a monthly customized book recommendation hand-picked by the staff. In these subscription boxes, you’ll find some extras goodies made by local artisans, also available for purchase at the store. For those seeking a more intimate face-to-face experience, while browsing Argo’s shelves, you’ll find handwritten notes reviewing and recommending new titles. Their staff are, of course, always eager to talk about all things books and beyond.

From the outside looking in, it may seem as though the gateway into literary culture is a locked door without a key. These outlets described here attempt to open that door, showing just how permeable and welcoming local literary communities truly are. Whether you’re an avid reader looking to share your thoughts on the new title you just finished, an aspiring writer looking to draw some eyes to your creative work, or simply someone who loves to read but doesn’t know where to begin, McGill and the rest of Montreal host an abundance of opportunities that extend far beyond anything that could be covered in a single article. Perhaps it’s time to get our noses out of our books and explore the whole ecosystem of readers and artists all looking to share their love of literature with one another. Happy reading!

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After the substantial pressure of a long-fought struggle by Divest McGill and their allies, the McGill Board of Governors finally pledged to divest from direct investments in fossil fuels in December 2023.

Given the well-documented negative social and environmental impacts of the fossil fuel industry, this is undoubtedly a major win for climate and social justice organizers at McGill. But despite the McGill Media Relations Office (MRO) recently confirming to the Daily that the divestment has been “successfully completed,” there is yet more work to be done in reducing McGill’s ties to the fossil fuel industry.

Last October, I had the opportunity to interview Emily Eaton, co-author of a study titled “Fossil fuel industry influence in higher education: A review and a research agenda.” Eaton and her co-authors investigated the numerous ways in which the fossil fuel industry influences the curricula and research outputs of higher education institutions.

“There is a growing movement across many universities, especially led by students, that are looking not just at [fossil fuel] divestment but also at disassociation,” explained Eaton. “[They are] acknowledging that it’s not just that universities are invested in fossil fuel corporations, but also [other] ties that they have […] whether that’s funding a research chair or coming on campus for career days.”

These ties, identified by Eaton and her co-authors, include fossil fuel industry personnel sitting on university boards (or vice versa); fossil fuel companies sponsoring research, academic posts, or scholarships; and hosting career recruitment events for students that encourage them to work in the fossil fuel industry. The Daily has uncovered evidence of many of these ties at McGill.

What is the fossil fuel industry?

The term “fossil fuels” encompasses non-renewable energy sources such as oil, coal, and natural gas. This industry plays a significant role in Canada’s economy, accounting for 7.7 per cent of the country’s GDP and 25 per cent of exports in 2023. At the same time, the oil and gas sector is responsible for 31 per cent of Canada’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. On a global scale, fossil fuels account for over 75 per cent of GHG emissions, therefore making them the largest contributor to climate change overall. According to the International Panel on Climate Change’s 2023 report, global warming as a result of the burning of fossil fuels has led to more frequent and severe extreme weather events, putting people’s lives in danger across the globe. Fossil fuel companies have been aware of the industry’s negative environmental effects since the 1950s and ‘60s, yet have continually sought to obscure this knowledge from the general public in order to avoid government regulation.

The Corporate Mapping Project, which tracks the power dynamics within Canada’s fossil fuel industry, names three categories of actors within the industry. First, there are “emitters,” which are the corporations directly extracting, transporting, and processing fossil fuels. The work of these “emitters” is then supported by “enablers” and “legitimators.” “Enablers,” which include many banks, facilitate fossil fuel production by investing in these companies or creating regulations that are favourable to the industry. Finally, “legitimators” work to persuade the public or political elites on the benefits of fossil fuels – they may argue, for instance, that fossil fuels have a place in a low-carbon future, or that transitioning away from them is simply unfeasible. When looking into McGill’s ties to the fossil fuel industry, it is important to consider not just the affiliated companies themselves, but also the other actors providing them with both material and ideological support.

Fossil Fuel Interests on the McGill Board of Governors

In October, McGill appointed its first-ever Deputy Chancellor, Cynthia Price-Verreault. Price-Verreault had previously served on the Board of Governors for ten years from 2012 to 2022, including as Chair of the Committee to Advise on Matters of Social Responsibility (CAMSR, now CSSR), the committee which advises the Board of Governors on divestment from fossil fuels. She is also a former Petro-Canada employee, having worked as Director of Retail Marketing Services for 18 years, per her LinkedIn. Price-Verreault was the chair of CSSR (then CAMSR) in 2019, when the committee first considered and then decided against divesting from fossil fuels.

Price-Verreault is no longer a member of CSSR, but the current chair, Alan Desnoyers, also has corporate ties to the fossil fuel industry. Desnoyers works at the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) as the regional vice president of Private Banking for Quebec and Eastern Canada. The Corporate Mapping Project classifies RBC as an “enabler” for being a key financier of the fossil fuel industry. A report by a coalition of environmental groups including the Rainforest Action Network and the Indigenous Environmental Network found that over the year of 2022, RBC was the biggest funder of the fossil fuel industry in the world. That year, the bank spent a total of 42 billion USD on fossil fuel development projects. Desnoyers has also previously worked at BMO and TD, two other banks which both remain huge investors in fossil fuels.

Page 49 of the McGill Board of Governors Handbook lists examples of conflicts of interest, including “when a Member, whether directly or indirectly, has a personal interest in the outcome of deliberations of the Board” and “when a Member is a member of the senior management personnel of a corporation, institution, or body, […] whose interests may be in competition with those of the University.” It could be argued that RBC’s continued interest in supporting the fossil fuel industry is in opposition to the decisions of numerous governing bodies such as the McGill Senate, SSMU, and even the Board itself, who have voted in favour of divestment from fossil fuel companies and acknowledged the socially and environmentally destructive nature of the industry. Given Desnoyers’s position as a senior employee of RBC – a corporation which profits ostensibly from the development of the fossil fuel industry – how likely would he be to vote for measures which could harm the industry’s growth?

When asked if Desnoyers’s position at RBC has ever been considered a conflict of interest, the MRO replied: “All members of the Committee on Sustainability and Social Responsibility (CSSR) commit to following our Board of Governors Code of Ethics and Conduct.” They added that “A conflict-of-interest declaration process takes place on an annual basis in order to ensure compliance.”

This system is reflective of a larger issue, raised by Divest McGill: the undemocratic structure of the Board. Out of the Board’s 25 voting members, 14 are unelected, including Desnoyers. The President and Chancellor, currently Deep Saini and Pierre Boivin, as well as the 12 members-at-large are chosen by the Board with no formal input from the rest of the McGill community, except in the case of the President where community members are invited to attend consultations. The other 11 Board members — representing students, staff (academic, administrative, and support), alumni — and Senators are elected by their respective communities, but comprise a minority of voting members. The average McGill community member therefore has relatively little say in who gets to sit on the Board and make executive decisions for the university at large, including whether or not to divest from industries such as fossil fuels or weapons manufacturing.

Recruitment from Fossil Fuel Industry

Universities are prime reservoirs for fossil fuel companies looking to recruit future employees into the industry. McGill career fairs have often hosted representatives from fossil fuel companies, particularly within the engineering department. The semesterly TechFair, organized by the Engineering Career Centre and volunteers from the engineering and computer science departments, has become a target for protests on account of the companies it chooses to host. In October 2023, Science for the People Canada created a zine highlighting the harmful actions of companies participating in TechFair, specifically those involved in the military and defense, mining, and oil and gas sectors. The zine argues that recruiters use the tech fair to greenwash their companies’ unethical practices in order to recruit new employees. Science for the People aims to “provide the other side of the story.”

In recent years, TechFair has continued to host companies directly involved in oil and gas extraction. Some of the companies hosted include Suncor, Teck Resources (also known as Elk Valley Resources), and Canadian Natural Resources Limited, which all directly participate in the extraction of fossil fuels. However, in addition to these direct “emitters,” Science for the People also flags “enabler” companies that collaborate with fossil fuel companies and help facilitate these operations by building relevant infrastructure or working to open up new land for exploitation. Examples of these companies include Preston Phipps, Klohn Crippen Berger, Enero Solutions, Alberici, and CIMA+.

In the winter 2025 edition of TechFair, a list of potential companies leaked to the Daily included Glencore, the world’s largest private-sector coal company, which produced 1.1 per cent of the world’s emissions in 2023. The company has also been accused of human rights abuses, environmental damage, and pollution in areas where it operates, such as Colombia and northern Quebec, according to a 2024 report by Mining Watch. Glencore is no stranger to TechFair, having been present at the past three semesterly events. Their inclusion, in addition to that of other oil and gas contractors such as Preston Phipps, shows that careers in the fossil fuel or similar extractive industries are still being heavily promoted at McGill.

Besides TechFair, the Desautels-run Jaclyn Fisher Career Day commonly features banks which invest heavily in the fossil fuel industry. In their September 2024 event, representatives came recruiting from TD, CIBC, and BNP Paribas. According to the Banking on Climate Chaos 2024 report, TD and BNP Paribas respectively provided 178.44 and 186.79 billion USD in fossil fuel financing between 2016 and 2023 (although the latter claims to have stopped financing new oil and gas fields in 2023).

The MRO explained that recruiters at McGill career fairs vary each year, mainly reflecting “market trends” and positions open to university graduates. They told the Daily that “McGill is willing to consider the participation of all lawful companies,” stressing that it is up to the students and not the university to determine which companies they are interested in. They added that if students have concerns about specific participants, they can share them with careers.caps@mcgill.ca.

Research funding and donations

Many Canadian universities, such as the University of Toronto, the University of Alberta, and the University of Calgary, have already been scrutinized for holding research partnerships with the fossil fuel industry. In a 2018 study on corporate influence in Canadian universities, University of Victoria researchers William Carroll and Garry Gray explained that “there is a long history of corporations directly funding research in order to cast doubt on independent scientific findings considered averse to industry interests,” citing the tobacco, pharmaceutical, and asbestos industries as examples. However, Eaton and her colleagues believe that there still remains a “gaping hole” in public knowledge about the fossil fuel industry’s influence on academic research.

The Web of Science database offers searching for academic publications based on the affiliations of the authors and the agencies which fund their research. Using this tool, the Daily was able to search for publications both authored by McGill researchers and funded by fossil fuel companies. The non-exhaustive results included companies which were either listed as “emitters” in the CMP’s Top 50 Fossil-Power index or as members of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP). Out of the 34 total companies included in the list, 14 had funded McGill-affiliated publications (available on Web of Science). The company Shell funded the most publications at 92, followed by Teck Resources at 61 and Imperial Oil at 27. In 2024 alone, McGill scholars published papers funded by Shell Canada, Teck Resources, and Imperial Oil.

A large number of these publications came from the Faculty of Engineering, specifically the Department of Mining and Materials Engineering. The faculty has a history of collaborating with fossil fuel companies – a 2019 Tribune article found that Shell and Imperial Oil had donated $702,775 toward research grants primarily for McGill Engineering students between 2008 and 2015. Both companies routinely collaborate with universities to fund research through schemes such as the Shell Research Alliance and the Imperial Oil University Research Award, which was won by a McGill professor in 2018. In addition to those from Engineering, members of the Faculty of Agriculture and Environment have also been involved in recent collaborations with Shell USA through the EcoToxChip project.

As reported in a Tribune article, McGill accepted a total of $1,137,954.10 in donations from several fossil fuel companies including Cenovus Energy, Suncor Energy, and Gaz Metro between 2008 and 2015. The Investigative Journalism Foundation’s charitable donations database shows that McGill received an additional $1150 from the Suncor Energy Foundation in 2016. Beginning in 2007, the Imperial Oil Foundation also donated $800,000 over a period of five years to the Faculties of Science and Education’s WOW Lab.

McGill’s Gift Acceptance Policy outlines several restrictions to accepting financial donations, including limiting those that “may come from illegal or unethical activities “violating university or government policies on equity and human rights, or gifts with conditions attached that the university deems unreasonable. When asked how the policy is applied toward fossil fuel donors, the MRO gave the reply that it “allows [McGill] to consider donors and gifts on a case-by-case basis.”

Moving forward

Most climate scientists today agree that fossil fuel extraction poses a significant threat to humanity and the planet. They warn that only by phasing out these industries will we stand a chance of preventing further destruction to the environment. While divesting from fossil fuel companies made for a powerful symbolic gesture, McGill’s investment portfolio was just one of the ways the university is connected to the fossil fuel industry. Although the connections identified in this article are by no means exhaustive, they offer insight into McGill’s continued relationship with the fossil fuel industry. Divestment is a start, but McGill has a long way to go before truly cutting ties with fossil fuels.

The post Divestment From Fossil Fuels Is Just The Beginning appeared first on The McGill Daily.

As I am sure everyone told you when you were packing to come to McGill, the key to survival is a) layering and b) a good coat and boots. To speak to the former, I am the biggest proponent of Uniqlo HEATTECH (not really a hot take at this point – note my temperature pun). All jokes aside, HEATTECH is a lifesaver when it comes to insulation. As far as a coat, I personally think you can survive without dropping hundreds on a puffer jacket as long as you have the layers and thermals to take its place. As far as boots go, I do not have recommendations. Finding cute snow boots is not something I have accomplished as of yet. In the interim, I have been sporting a Doc Martin-esque boot that does the trick. Some people seem to be ignoring the snow and sticking to their normal Adidas Sambas, while others opt for a warmer route, sporting the ever-controversial platform UGGs. As long as you can find a shoe that keeps you warm and spares you the embarrassment of slipping down McTavish or University, you are winning.

As far as fashion trends this year, I turned to the real students on campus, conducting some preliminary observational research. The goal was to try to notice what people are wearing, from jackets, to hats, to brands of boots. I parked myself on a bench inside Leacock and watched as people came and left the building, taking note of the apparel I was seeing. Today, January 14, is around -3 degrees Celsius (25 degrees Fahrenheit) with a real feel of -11 degrees. We had some light snow this morning, partial sun, but mostly cloudy. All in all, this is a fairly average day for McGill winter weather, and therefore is a perfect climate for our experiment. Obviously, there is a possibility for observational bias here, as I tend to have strong fashion opinions and might be more apt to observe things that I personally like. With that disclaimer out of the way, let’s start with what people are wearing on campus.

To no one’s surprise, the colour of the season is black. It feels natural to dress in dark colours for the darkest days of the year. Among a swarm of students heading into Leacock, only a few pops of colour stand out among the myriad of black puffers and wool coats. Within the uniformity of an all-black outfit, people are experimenting when it comes to shape, structure, and layers. Black fur hats are paired with long black skirts over jeans. Playing with shapes, textures, and patterns is a way to wear black without looking like you have coordinated your outfit with everyone else on campus. A lot of people circumvent this issue by simply throwing on a colourful chunky scarf (you know the ones).

I am seeing a lot of fur accessories and jackets with fur trim. I enjoy the looks that embrace fur to the fullest extent, with full-length coats or faux-fox bombers. Most of the time, I find the people wearing the most fur finish their statement with a sweatshirt and messy hair, which I simply love. The “mob-wife” vibe transitions really well into winter, as a simple outfit can look chic and on-trend by adding a fur coat or big leather bag to your sweat set. Even if you are an Aritzia Super Puff person, wear a cool scarf, change up your bag, or try funky pants to spice up your outfit. Like I was saying: this is a mix of blending being warm with looking cool. Over the course of my observation, I also observed some seemingly hand-knit hats and eccentric hair accessories. All in all, I urge you to experiment with small additions to your outfit that work to elevate a simple jacket.

One of my favourite observations, and possibly the most unintentionally useful winter accessory, are headphones. While they seem like college-student staples, their dual purpose as ear warmers has recently become apparent to me. In the wake of that observation, I have been keenly observing the different styles and models headphones come in, adding personality (and soundtracks) to people’s bundled outfits.

Sacrificing individuality seems to be out of the question for McGill students. While black and grey hues and puffer coats are the overarching theme of campus fashion, there are glimmers of singularity in varying aspects of an ensemble. Style isn’t everyone’s priority during the winter months, especially when staying warm is at the forefront of our minds, yet putting a little bit of effort into making your clothes feel like yourself makes it easier to break out of a winter slump. The best thing you can do is to not focus on looking “good,” per se, but on having fun and making these dark days seem a little brighter. Whether through colours or layers, playing around with your clothes and mixing and matching is the joy of winter dressing. See you on campus!

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Why, year after year, do our New Year’s resolutions seem destined for failure?

Humans have been making New Year’s resolutions for thousands of years. About 4,000 years ago, ancient Babylonians made New Year’s resolutions; they are considered the first people to do so. March, when the crops were planted, marked the start of the new year for the Babylonians. To celebrate, they would hold a massive 12-day religious festival in mid-March called Akitu. During Akitu, they would crown a new king or affirm their loyalty to the reigning king. At this celebration, Babylonians would also make promises to their gods, willing to pay their debts and return any objects they had borrowed. If they followed through on their promises, the gods would show them good fortune for the coming year. If not, they risked falling out of the gods’ favour.

When Julius Caesar established January 1 as the beginning of the new year in c. 46 B.C., Romans began to offer sacrifices to the two-faced god Janus, making promises of good behaviour in the upcoming year. By the 16th century, for early Christians, January 1 became the traditional day for reflecting on one’s past mistakes and resolving to do and be better in the future.

Despite a rich history of New Year’s resolutions among human civilization, humans have long ignored a critical aspect of the etymology of the word “resolution.” “Resolution” directly originates from the Latin noun resolutionem, which refers to the “process of reducing things into simpler forms.” The noun comes from the verb resolvere, which literally translates to “to loosen.” By the 1540s, resolutionem became associated with a method of problem-solving, in the sense of solving a mathematical problem. In the 1780s, the word “resolution” in the context of the New Year had evolved to mean a “specific intention to better oneself.”

Herein lies a problem. Humans have continuously interpreted “resolution” by its noun and verb forms, leading to its association with a promise to better oneself in the New Year. Even as early as 46 B.C., when “resolution” had yet to be explicitly paired with the New Year as we know it today, Romans made sweeping promises of good conduct for the upcoming year. These large-scale promises can be overwhelming, leading us to give up on our New Year’s resolutions shortly after we set them. Like the Romans did in 46 B.C., we, too, tend to make ambitious promises to ourselves each New Year that can prove difficult to achieve.

What if we focused on the adjectival form of resolution instead? Both the noun “resolution” and the adjective “resolute” come from the same Latin verb resolvere, yet we tend to separate the two when it comes to making New Year’s resolutions.

This is a mistake: the adjective “resolute” holds a great power that is distinct from the meaning of “resolution.” The word “resolute” means “marked by firm determination” or “determined in character, action, or ideas.” Is this not the most fitting way to view New Year’s resolutions, as something to be achieved with staunch determination?

For too long, we have interpreted New Year’s resolutions as broad, sweeping promises to do and be better. We need to reframe the way we think about New Year’s resolutions by focusing on the adjective “resolute” instead of the noun “resolution.” Why not think of New Year’s resolutions as actions we want to achieve with resolve, determination, and willpower? Rather than aspiring to make a positive change to our lives or characters each year on a vague scale, we should set concrete goals for ourselves and work to achieve them resolutely. If we set action items for ourselves – like aiming to meditate for five minutes a day, or to go on walks outdoors three times a week – perhaps we would have higher success rates in achieving our New Year’s goals.

As we move into the end of January, it is worthwhile to reflect on the adjectival root of the word “resolution” in “New Year’s resolutions” to actually achieve what we set out to do in 2025.

The post An Empty Promise or Unwavering Goal? appeared first on The McGill Daily.

Traditional methods like dieting and exercise, while important, don’t always work in the long term for everyone. Bariatric surgery, though effective, is expensive and invasive, and not an option for most people. That’s where a new type of treatment — GLP-1 receptor agonists — comes in, offering a fresh approach to tackling obesity.

GLP-1 receptor agonists are medications that work by mimicking glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), a hormone in the body that controls hunger. This helps people feel full for longer by reducing cravings and slowing down how quickly food leaves the stomach. This combination makes it easier to eat less and gradually lose excess body fat. These medications were originally designed to help people with diabetes, but researchers soon noticed their potential to aid weight loss even for those without the condition.

McGill University is at the forefront of this promising topic of research. In a major study, McGill researchers reviewed data from 26 randomized controlled trials involving over 15,000 people who were overweight or obese but did not have other significant health issues, such as diabetes. The results were striking: participants using GLP-1 medications, over the course of 12 to 18 months, lost a significant amount of weight, often between 15–20 per cent of their total body weight. One such new medication, retratrutride, showed shocking success with some participants losing up to 22 per cent of their weight after 48 weeks of weekly treatments.

Alongside weight loss, the study highlighted other health benefits of the treatment. GLP-1 receptor agonists improved metabolic health markers like blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and cardiovascular outcomes, reducing the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure. By alleviating strain on the heart and preventing arterial plaque buildup, these therapies could help address the serious health risks often tied to obesity. According to a report by McGill’s Office for Science and Society, these treatments could also shift the narrative around obesity, emphasizing its biological roots rather than placing responsibility solely on the individual.

While this breakthrough could revolutionize obesity treatment, there remain many challenges to consider. As highlighted in a discussion on the McGill Journal of Medicine podcast, questions about affordability and long-term safety are key areas of this study that require further research. These cutting-edge medications are expensive, making them inaccessible to many people who could benefit from them. Obesity tends to affect lower-income groups more, and without changes in healthcare policies on medication pricing, these treatments may not reach the people who need them most. Moreover, obesity is a chronic condition, which requires long-term treatment. The side effects of using these medications over the span of decades are still being studied.

There is also the need to balance this medical breakthrough with broader societal changes. Medications like GLP-1 can be life-changing, but they are not a standalone solution to obesity. Issues like access to affordable healthy food, better education about nutrition, and tackling the stigma around obesity must remain part of the conversation – and they should come first to reduce the risk factors of developing the condition in the first place. GLP-1 therapies, as a treatment rather than a preventative measure, should be seen as one tool among many in a much larger effort to improve public health.

McGill’s research into GLP-1 medications represents an important step forward in addressing obesity. By investigating whether these novel treatments are safe and effective, the university is helping to pave the way for a future where obesity can be managed with the same care, precision, and social understanding as any other health condition.

This isn’t just about science — it’s about changing lives. For millions of people struggling with obesity, McGill’s research offers hope that real, lasting solutions are on the horizon.

The post Breaking Ground in Obesity Research: McGill’s Role in GLP-1 Therapies appeared first on The McGill Daily.

California’s arid terrain and sweltering summers have long made it a hotspot for wildfires, but their severity has escalated in recent years. The Palisades Fire has already burned through over 17,000 acres, while the Eaton Fire has torched 14,000 more. Extended droughts, unprecedented heatwaves, and erratic weather patterns have dried out vegetation, transforming it into highly flammable fuel. Adding to the challenge, the notorious Santa Ana winds, with gusts exceeding 160 kph, have propelled the flames, making efforts to control the blazes futile.

Ongoing investigations reveal a combination of natural and human causes to the fires. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has been looking into possible human involvement, adding another layer of unpredictability. Investigators are looking into potential cases of arson and accidental ignitions, as downed power lines and construction sparks have come under scrutiny.

The cost — both human and economic — is staggering. With damages expected to surpass 250 billion USD, this disaster ranks among the most expensive in U.S. history. Families forced to flee with little warning face not just the loss of their homes but an uncertain path forward. Overcrowded shelters offer temporary relief, while local authorities are scrambling to provide financial aid and recovery programs. The fires have ravaged neighborhoods, wiped out critical infrastructure, and decimated wildlife habitats, leaving a scorched void in their wake.

Amid the destruction, acts of resilience and generosity stand out. Grassroots organizations, volunteers, and nonprofits have mobilized quickly, providing essential supplies, medical aid, and emotional support for those in need. Neighboring states and even international aid groups have stepped in, highlighting how collective action can bring relief during overwhelming crises. Donations, both large and small, are pouring across the world, showing that in moments of destruction, communities still find ways to support one another.

However, these fires are more than isolated tragedies: they’re part of a feedback loop fueled by climate change. Wildfires release massive amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, accelerating global warming and increasing the likelihood of future fires. This self-perpetuating cycle is a dire warning that systemic changes are long overdue. Improved forest management, stricter building codes in fire-prone areas, and transitioning to renewable energy are essential steps to breaking the cycle.

Beyond the environmental costs, the mental and emotional toll of these disasters often goes unspoken. Displaced families face not only the loss of their homes and all of their possessions, but also the uncertainty of starting over. First responders work tirelessly, often at great personal risk, to contain these fires and help residents find safety, yet they too bear the burden of trauma. Calls for better mental health support in disaster recovery plans are growing louder, emphasizing that rebuilding goes beyond bricks and mortar.

These fires also spotlight glaring gaps in infrastructure and policy. Critics argue that outdated building codes, insufficient funding for prevention programs, and corporate negligence have left communities more vulnerable. Utility companies, in particular, are under scrutiny for their role in sparking past blazes, with legal battles over accountability expected to shape future policies.

Wildfires don’t just burn forests — they upend lives, leaving scars on landscapes and communities alike. As smoke fills the Los Angeles sky, the question remains: How many more warnings will it take until it’s too late? Whether these fires become an annual disaster or a sobering turning point depends on what is done next.

The post How Los Angeles Wildfires Showcase Climate Change and Community Action appeared first on The McGill Daily.

The humanitarian situation in Syria is dire, with 90 per cent of the Syrian population reliant on humanitarian aid. While former president Assad fled the country and his repressive regime fell on December 8, the accumulated damages have scarred the country and its population. These “scars” of the regime are quite literal, as at least 28 per cent of Syrians today live with a disability, a physical mark of the horrors of civil war and of the violent repression under Assad. 12.9 million Syrians faced food insecurity in 2024, with millions more facing acute food insecurity. 85 per cent of Syrian families struggle to meet ends, leaving 7.5 million children desperate for humanitarian aid.

Since the beginning of the civil conflict in 2011, 14 million Syrians have been “internally displaced,” forced to flee the country and leave their homes, belongings, and sometimes even family behind. Syria constitutes the world’s largest refugee crisis: while 115,000 Syrians have returned to their homeland since Assad’s fall, over 5 million Syrians live in neighbouring countries like Türkiye or Jordan, and 850,000 Syrian refugees have found sanctuary in Germany, the largest non-Arab hosting country. The rebel fighting in northwestern Syria in late 2024, which ultimately led to the downfall of the Assad regime, added a million internally displaced people (IDPs).

Syria also continues to face the repercussions of the devastating 2023 earthquakes. The disaster caused mass destruction – debris estimated to have a volume of around 100 million cubic meters – decimating northern Syria’s infrastructure and killing over 50,000 people in both Syria and Türkiye.

It is in this context that calls for help have risen across the world Montreal’s Centre Culturel Syrien (CCS): calls for humanitarian assistance on their website encourage donations to “alleviate the suffering of Syrians in need.” Montrealers of Syrian background, interviewed by CBC after the fall of Assad, remain optimistic for the future, even though they admit that there is much to do for the situation to truly resolve. Faisal Alazam, director of the Syrian Kids Foundation, believes that “members of the diaspora have to do their part.” Perhaps the efforts of the Syrian diaspora in Canada contributed to Ahmed Hussen’s efforts in funding humanitarian aid.

Hussen’s humanitarian aid funding will be distributed among what he has described as “trusted humanitarian partners” on the ground in Syria – namely UN agencies, international non-governmental organizations, and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. These funds will provide for the urgent needs of Syrians, granting access to clean water, distributing food, rebuilding infrastructure, and investing in sanitary and health equipment. Canada has promised to prioritize the needs of the marginalized and vulnerable, investing in missions or even protection services defined by Global Affairs Canada as the “prevention, mitigation of and response to gender-based violence.”

As the media today focuses on the most exciting topic of the moment, abandoning important issues for the lack of visibility they trigger, because a sensational story provokes more “clicks”, maintaining awareness of the humanitarian crisis in Syria is as important as it is complicated. The efforts of members of the Montreal Syrian community, embodied by the Centre Culturel Syrien or student associations like the Syrian Students Association of McGill, contribute to maintaining awareness and thus prolonging the call for help.

Overall, if Syria is to “emerge from the dark era of persecution of the Assad regime,” as Hussen hopes, and rebuild after years of destruction, humanitarian help is critical.

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The Trump administration has plans to finish what it started in 2016, a threat it makes very seriously. Trump’s anti-immigration rhetoric is loaded with harmful claims about migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border, as he plans to dramatically reduce the number of refugees entering the country, end automatic citizenship for children born in the U.S. to immigrant parents, and enact the largest deportation event in U.S. history. He continuously brushes aside the issue of climate change; experts speculate a withdrawal from the Paris Agreement within his first days in office, in the wake of mass destruction from California wildfires.

Trump’s foreign policy is an issue of its own. His isolationist American ideology outlines a plan to potentially break off connections with long-term allied nations, disrupting a key system in international politics. The sheer absurdity of his plan to buy Canada and the 25 per cent tariffs he has threatened to impose on Canadian goods has distracted us from the pure aggression behind his threats. The nation is already feeling the implications of Trump’s presidency, as the Canadian federal government continues to tighten border security and prepares retaliation measures against his proposed tariffs.

Perhaps the most unsettling is the Trump administration’s Project 2025, co-written by The Heritage Foundation, one of America’s largest right-wing organizations. Among a long list of other concerning propositions, the plan will reorganize the federal government to support a conservative agenda. This includes limiting reproductive care and autonomy: ending diversity, equity, and inclusion plans in schools; and eliminating terms like “sexual orientation,” “gender equality,” “abortion,” and “reproductive rights” from all laws and federal regulations. This social vision is harmful and exclusionary, thinly veiled as a return to American traditionalism, and threatens the rights of the LGBTQ+ community, women, and all minorities.

Another Trump presidency will rewrite American culture, and the pervasion of conservative nationalism will strengthen throughout the sphere of global politics. America is not unique in witnessing this rise of right-wing ideology. Trump is a figurehead, however ridiculous, who is representative of the threat of the far-right felt across the globe. Right-wing populist parties gained ground internationally in 2024, from victories in parliamentary elections across Europe to a historical win in Australia’s national election. Canada too is feeling the threat of radical conservative politics: Conservative party leader Pierre Poilievre continues to gain support in his populist campaign. This new wave of ideology – what has been called “national conservatism” – is quickly becoming the right-wing paradigm in the contemporary “post-globalization and post-liberal era.”

Why has the West embraced social conservatism? What is it that people are truly seeking from these leaders?

Across the world, politics are polarizing: people are more ideologically divided than ever when it comes to the issue of tradition and social change. The current state of the Western world, both politically and socio-culturally, has only fed into this divide: a sluggish economy, political uncertainty, mass dissemination of misinformation, and the increasingly apparent effects of late-stage capitalism. Our affect has waned; we are jaded to social issues and trapped in a world of digital networks and internet escapism. People are looking for hope, the promise that things will get better, wherever they can find it – and they’ve turned towards billionaire conservative leaders at the expense of those who need our support the most. This normalization of right-wing rhetoric has had clear implications in the lives of marginalized people. Through the internet’s immediate transmission of ideas to their impressionable minds, young people have been conditioned to prioritize empty political promises over protection for minority rights. We are moving backwards, creating historical parallels that we cannot ignore. Overt bigotry is masked by policies that claim to restore liberty and freedom, which Vox call “democratic-sounding justification[s] for [right-wing leaders’] actions.”

The balance of our political landscape is teetering on the edge of a slippery slope. The past year has been one of change and uncertainty, but we cannot ignore the implications of Trump’s rhetoric and continue to treat conservative politics as a joke. We must acknowledge what is happening to our neighbors to the south, just as we must recognize the harmful nuances of national conservatism and right-wing populism in Canadian politics. These are not just political issues: they are social issues stunting us as a culture and leaving us incredibly susceptible to authoritarian control.

Politics affect everything we do, and we can no longer afford to pretend that they don’t. In a time when faith in democracy is dwindling, we must continue to make our voices heard, show up for our local governments to make change, and give a voice to those who don’t have one. Now is more important than ever for us to remain unified against hatred and bigotry, to stand together as a community, and speak out against injustice.

The post U.S. Pulls the Trump Card appeared first on The McGill Daily.

Governor General Mary Simon has granted prorogation at the request of Trudeau, which will suspend parliamentary activity and with it, any non-finalized policy until March 24. This gives the Liberal Party a little over two months to elect a new leader and face the imminent non-confidence vote. The leaders of the Conservative Party and the New Democratic Party have promised to initiate this vote in order to trigger national elections, which were not to be held until October this year.

At the moment, Cabinet ministers in the Parliament continue to carry out their day-to-day operations, but new laws, including the non-confidence vote, have been frozen until the end of March. Considering the current state of affairs, Canada’s internal battles, and mounting pressures exercised by Trump, what does this prorogation really mean?

First, it means that national elections will be held much sooner, giving the Conservative Party an advantage. In fact, polls suggest that if national elections were held now, Poilievre and his party would have an upper hand.

However, some experts suggest that Trudeau could request a second prorogation, which has been done in the past by other political figures. This would delay the national elections, potentially giving the Liberal Party more time to reorganize in preparation to face the Conservatives on the electoral stage.

Second, it remains unclear how the new Party leader would be chosen, since the time to do so is limited. Normally, this process is carried out over a period of five months, which is not possible at this time without another propagation.

The candidates who have the potential to replace Trudeau include former Deputy and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, who resigned from the Liberal ranks in December, triggering a wave of dissatisfaction with Trudeau’s leadership among party members. Mark Carney, former head of the Bank of England and Bank of Canada, is another potential candidate. He has stated that he is currently considering the possibility of running for the leadership of the Liberal Party. This statement has been met with a certain degree of skepticism about the viability of his candidature, due to the fact that he has never held political office before.

It is clear that in the upcoming elections, the question of foreign policy, relating to the United States in particular, will be one of the main concerns for the electorate. This is especially pressing considering the fact that Deputy Minister Freeland has resigned partly due to her disagreement with Trudeau regarding the appropriate response to the economic policies promised by Trump. Her harsh criticism of Trudeau has certainly left a mark, and the new Liberal leader will have the task of formulating a response that would be supported by their party members and the electorate.

Polls indicate that a majority of Canadians support Trudeau’s decision to resign, as well as displaying a general sense of weariness among the public when it comes to the ten-year-long Liberal government. Some thus suggest that no matter who takes on the leadership position, the Liberal Party is doomed to lose the upcoming elections. The task at hand for the new Liberal leader would therefore be not only to regain the support of those who grew tired of the Liberal Party, but also to present the voters with a program that would address relevant, monumental issues faced by Canadian society.

The post The Resignation of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appeared first on The McGill Daily.

Moore expresses in her speech the pressure of not feeling “smart enough, or pretty enough, or skinny enough, or successful enough” in the industry. She then accentuates the need for women to “put down the measuring stick” and to stop comparing or conforming themselves to Hollywood’s surreal laws of beauty and perfection. She further emphasizes this in an interview with Variety by describing The Substance’s contemplation of “women and their value diminishing as they age.” She then describes how her character Elizabeth gave great value to “everything external and how she then internalized it.”

While Moore affirms that she did not feel personally tied to her character’s journey, her own ageless looks seem instead to express the actress’ embodiment of Elizabeth’s relationship to beauty standards.

Indeed, Moore’s words appear to tackle the industry’s demanding beauty standards; however, her smooth face at sixty-two seems to abide by them and confirm them… and money makes the process all the easier. While it is undeniable that Moore looks stunning, what I find the most striking is this out-of-reach and, dare I say, out-of-this-world pinnacle of surrealism and unfairness at which women’s beauty standards have risen.

Instead of praising the natural beauty of women at any age, her tricenarian looks communicate unrealistic expectations for everyday women to stay forever young. To my eyes, it illustrates the toxicity of the French expressions that describing a younger woman as une belle plante, a beautiful and fresh blooming plant, and an older woman as une fleur fanée, a fading, wilted flower. Moore’s seemingly unwrinkled and tightly lifted face takes us away from the recent embrace of aging gracefully and brings us back to this impossible state of running against the clock. Always worried that our good looks will fade with age. Always worried that we will not be relevant anymore if we do not look twenty-five. Always worried that we will be replaced by younger, fresher women. Always worried that we will not be sexy or dateable anymore, especially to the male gaze.

I will not deny that Moore’s speech can be inspiring, and I agree that it is ridiculous for women to measure themselves against that fictitious perfect woman Hollywood so desires and fantasizes about. However, to hear this coming from the lips of a woman who has clearly indulged in that very fantasy only highlights the hypocrisy of it all and further glamorizes these unrealistic Hollywood beauty standards. Many women in their sixties will not have by their side Moore’s talented and, no doubt, expensive plastic surgeon, as speculated. While many know her looks are not natural, her youthfulness at sixty-two is praised. Resultingly, such superficial, demanding beauty standards diminish the natural beauty of women at sixty.

An article in The Daily Mail collected reactions posted on X to Demi’s appearance at the SFFilm Awards. Many denounce the role that money plays in sustaining such youthful looks, with one user further condemning how it is “unfair to expect 50+ year old women to compete with 20 somethings on the dating market (sic)”. Another user addresses how these celebrities are exceptions to reality, but due to their constant representation in the media, “they shape our perception of what is normal”.

However, the comment section of a Facebook post addressing the same unfairness shows greater positivity towards her potentially surgically re-invented self. Many commenters highlight how “gorgeous,” “beautiful,” “amazing,” and “great” she looks, and some even express how the focus should not be on her looks, but on her acclaimed performance in The Substance. The latter appears to condemn this superficial hyperfixation people have with women’s looks at the expense of their professional value – in this case, Moore’s talent as an actress. Indeed, women are too often artificially defined by their outer image rather than by what really matters: their worth as a person and a professional.

These comments emphasize the contradicting space Hollywood women must navigate, where they are expected to respond to the assumption that movie stars must look glamorous and flawless, all while being criticized for it. How does one negotiate in this world? How can one make everyone happy? The comments supporting Moore also express how people should just leave her alone – it is her body and her money. She does not owe anything to anyone and should not be held accountable for doing what pleases her. However, did she lean on the likely shoulder of plastic surgery out of her own free will, or did she do so because of the conscious or unconscious influence of Hollywood?

I think it is important to remember that being a Hollywood star comes with a certain degree of responsibility. She is a woman whose fame has made her greatly influential. Her image is not neutral or innocent but carries the price of being looked up to and inspiring to many – whether for her success, her beauty, or both. Regardless of whether she wants to or not, Demi Moore’s professional and aesthetic decisions endorse certain life choices, and today it is the glamorization of an impossible youth.

The post The Impossibility of Hollywood’s Beauty Standards appeared first on The McGill Daily.

As I neared the bottom of the stairs, I heard a rustling from the garbage bins at the base of my building. Paper bags brushed against one another and the lid of a bin slammed shut. I smiled readily, eager to meet my new neighbours.

I approached the garbage bins but saw nobody. I frowned, gingerly holding the ties of my black garbage bag as I poked my head around the dark corner sandwiched between two brick walls. My sneaker slipped on the cardboard of an IKEA package, crunching against the concrete. A loud rip disturbed the quiet lull of the August evening.

As soon as I steadied myself, I saw them. Three, one by one, climbing out of the garbage bin, scurrying hurriedly along the base of the brick wall. Their tails curled neatly, their tiny feet flashing as their furry bodies ran past me. Astonished, I took a step back.

I had heard about the rats. As a ripe second year, I had just moved into my Ghetto apartment a few days prior. When I was touring houses in the winter of last year, my upper-year friends had warned me about the Ghetto rodents.

“Get ready for the rats,” one would say with a sly smile.

Another would laugh. “True. You can’t escape them, really. They’re everywhere.”

I would shiver, exchanging a wary glance with my future housemates. But I couldn’t help the way my heartbeat fluttered excitedly. There was something mature about the way my older friends talked about the rats, something so adult. Away from the cramped student residences of first year, upperclassmen had houses. They cooked pasta in tiled kitchens, hosted wine nights in each other’s living rooms, and dodged rats when they took their garbage out.

In August, when I mistakenly took the Ghetto rats for my new neighbours, I felt like I had officially been welcomed into a new community – one where furry bodies bonded fellow McGill students together.

At a housewarming party in early September, I hugged friends I hadn’t seen in months, a warm feeling of comfort permeating the dimly lit room. We talked about our summers before moving to the more pressing topic at hand: “How’s your house?” The question of the hour. I spoke to my peers about their new homes, their Facebook Marketplace furniture, their scuzzy landlords. Each person had unique stories of how they had turned their new spaces into a home.

But the through-line of every conversation was the rats.

“Did you get the notice?” they asked, referring to the slips of paper many of us received under our wooden doors, notifying us of rodents in the neighbourhood.

“I didn’t, but I saw them last night. Ten, I swear, right at the bottom of my apartment,” a friend added. We all nodded together, laughing at the quintessential Ghetto ritual of meeting our rodent neighbours.

As I settled into a new routine over the autumn months, I learned to take my garbage out in the mornings instead of at dusk. The night belonged to the rats, when they nestled between apple cores and egg cartoons, ready to spring from the heavy lids of the garbage bins at any notice. I learned to stomp a little extra loudly on the last step of my stairs, knowing to wait a few moments for the rats to scuttle out of the corners before stepping onto the sidewalk. I knew to be extra cautious when I walked through the Ghetto the night before garbage day, sidestepping rodents buried along open trash bags along the curb. In a bizarre way, rats had come to dictate the structure of my life.

Last week, my friends visited from out of town. It was dark when they arrived, and I led them through the narrow roads to the base of my stairs. I warned them to walk heavily up the steps to prevent rats from scurrying into our apartment, and they shared a look of surprise, exclaiming that they never had rats in their suburban university town. Rats were “so city,” they said.

I laughed out loud as I held open my door, acknowledging the banality of rats in Montreal. But I also felt a strange sense of pride. Rats, with their dirtied fur and coiled tails, had become intertwined with my everyday – familiar little creatures that now gave me a perverse sense of home.

I waited for the last of my friends to enter my doorway before following them inside. As I moved to close the door, I saw a small body hustle against the November wind, rushing into the crevices between the garbage bins. I smiled slightly before I shut the door.

The post Welcome to the Ghetto appeared first on The McGill Daily.

This belief was entirely upended when I met Mara Gibea. Mara is an undergraduate student studying political science, and when I met her this past November, she did not have any social media. She only opened an Instagram account in late December of last year.

I trace social media’s influence on my life back to the COVID pandemic. I, like everyone else my age, was sequestered in my room for months, with one of the few things I could turn to being my phone. Social media shifted from something I enjoyed partaking in to my only way to interact with friends and experience community. In that era of the internet age, we all had near-complete control over our image and how we were perceived. “-Cores” and aesthetics became a focus of social life; we grouped ourselves into categories and became hyperfixated on what life was like outside of the digital world.

As such, my idea of “normal” was no longer solely constructed by my immediate community but in that digital space that I occupied, my little corner of the internet. So, when I met someone who chose not to allow their identity to be constructed on or by social media, I was shocked. She was so delightful, stylish, and funny! How did she manage to construct her identity without social media, when I felt like I owed so much of my identity to it?

I interviewed Mara via Instagram DM to pick her brain about all things social media.

Interview has been edited for clarity and conciseness.

Evelyn Logan for The McGill Daily (MD): Why did you decide not to have social media? When we met, were you on a detox, or have you never had it?

Mara Gibea (MG): I first got Snapchat and Instagram in the seventh grade at 12 years old – only three years after getting my first phone. I got it because a friend helped convince my mom to let me get it. As someone who was already hyperfixated on her appearance, social media expanded the areas that I compared myself to others: from looks, to academic performance, to friends and family. It felt like my life was not good enough on its own, and soon, I began relying on social media for my happiness, not only to keep in touch with others.

But keeping in touch with others is what I missed once I deleted all social media platforms. This was in 12th grade at the age of 17. From then on, I was able to better control who I surrounded myself with, compared to when people would involuntarily pop up on my social media. I will admit – not having social media in my first year, especially during FROSH, was hard, because it felt like too much of a commitment to give my number to people who I met casually. But it helped me put myself out there more and make genuine connections!

Even if I have a small friend group, I’ve honestly never been happier. This is why I redownloaded Instagram and TikTok, because I feel secure enough to not expose myself to things that don’t serve me. My accounts are to keep in touch with people I actually know now, instead of adding mutuals for more followers. Because of this, I feel more comfortable posting silly photos. In other words, taking a break from social media allowed me to maintain my authenticity once I got it back.

MD: Very interesting, because I’ve noticed that there’s been a shift on social media where people are now trying to appear more authentic and relatable rather than being entirely performative or fake. But still, I feel like this “authenticity” is a performance as well. Since coming back to social media, has the performative nature of it become clearer to you?

MG: I completely agree! I’ve noticed that some people are performative with their authenticity, as consumers have increased their demand for that kind of content. And it seems like, once again, performative vs. authentic sides of the content spectrum are becoming polarized. For me, I would say that while I can spot performative content that pretends to be authentic, it is still hard to do so, but that may also be because of the break that I took from social media. At the same time, this may be true for others who have not taken a break from social media because nowadays, we consume so much short-form content that we don’t have enough time to process what we are watching and make an active decision on the content’s level of authenticity.

MD: I agree. Even though I spend so much time on social media, I still have to check myself when I come across something that’s meant to be authentic. When you weren’t on social media, did you feel out of touch with trends? Did it bother you?

MG: I didn’t feel significantly left out of trends because I noticed them manifesting around me in person, such as last winter with the colourful scarfs and now with the Arcteryx beanie. These are things I noticed before re-downloading social media, so I didn’t necessarily need it to stay on trend, but if I had more niche trends that I was interested in, I feel like that would be heavily maintained through social media, especially if it’s not something you see day-to-day. However, in terms of vocabulary/slang, it sometimes felt awkward having to rely on my friends to explain to me what the new trending phrases would be, such as “demure.”

To social media or not to social media is a question! There are so many different ways to be online without being on social media, like reading blogs or finding interesting websites. Even though we are in a digital age, it doesn’t mean that we have to feel trapped or like we don’t have the ability to opt out, because we do. At its core, social media is supposed to help connect you with your friends, and if it starts to become a source of anxiety or deplete your mental health, you don’t have to partake!

The post To Social Media or Not to Social Media? appeared first on The McGill Daily.

When Black Girl’s protagonist, Diouana, steps off the boat in France, she only has a few moments to take the city in before the harsh reality of life abroad sets in. While Diouana comes to France expecting to work as a nanny for a couple, she is deceived into becoming their housemaid. She quickly learns that France is neither an escape nor her new home. France is ironing and laundry. France is cleaning the kitchen and bathroom. France is work.

Touki Bouki’s Anta and Mory are on the other side of the same dilemma. Dakar lacks opportunity, and the young couple can no longer envision a life of freedom at home. Therefore, with no money and unsupportive families, Anta and Mory connive to escape to Paris. Their desire to emigrate is not shaped by a lack of love for Senegal, nor is it determined by a measurable goal they hope to reach in Paris; it is simply the prospect of change that fuels their move.

Both Black Girl and Touki Bouki take place in the first ten years of Senegalese independence from France, a time filled with uncertainty for what the future of the country might look like. Yet, this newfound independence makes the audience wonder why these characters would want to move to France after finally gaining independence from French domination. What pushes people to leave home without certainty of success elsewhere?

Franz Fanon first coined the term “colonial alienation of the person” in 1952 to describe the internalized inferiority complex of colonized societies. The term has grown to be incredibly useful when examining the ways colonized peoples internalize harmful ideas about their cultures, view their societies through a colonial lens, and measure themselves based on their proximity to whiteness. The term is additionally beneficial in explaining why the Occident is held in such high regard. It is a clear way to explain why Diouana, Mory, and Anta are sure that moving to France is the key to a better life. However, while useful, it is important to not solely rely on the sheer power of Western brainwashing when examining choices made by Senegalese people post-independence. It is important to also recognize Senegalese self-determination and consider the rational approach many people took to the issue of immigration.

For instance, France has had a presence in Senegal since the 16th century, with Senegal only becoming an independent state in 1960. Interestingly enough, many Senegalese academics actually advocated for assimilation instead of independence. This did not mean that people simply forgot about the barbaric nature of imperialism. The understanding of Western hegemony was precisely why a moderate approach for greater Senegalese rights was taken and can account for why so many immigrants decided to move to France. As Aisha Balabare Bawa states in the article “From Imperialism to Diplomacy: A Historical Analysis of French and Senegal Cultural Relationship”, the policy of assimilation was adopted by Senegalese activists and leaders as a way for the Senegalese people to gain equality with French citizens in a non-violent manner.

The pretence of a European life being the best one was not just a misaligned viewpoint – it was, and still is, regarded as the determinant of success. Proximity to European standards determines a nation’s stage of development and immigration to Europe is many Africans’ only way of picturing a life of stability. Whether one profoundly believes in Eurocentrism or not, its stark influence on our day-to-day lives is unavoidable.

As most of the film takes place in France, Black Girl explores Eurocentrism from an immigrant’s perspective. Halfway through the film, we see a flashback of Diouana telling her lover that she will soon be working in France. While skipping around the city, Diouana anticipates that her lover will claim that she is submitting herself to domestic slavery. Diouana shakes these concerns off, as nothing can dwindle her excitement. Through these brief scenes of her life in Dakar, it is made clear that Diouana has internalized the idea of a French utopia imposed on so many colonized peoples. After all, she is willing to abandon the only home she knows for a vague and empty promise of a better life. Yet, her blissful optimism is not merely a result of ignorance.

When foreign powers have controlled your home, an attraction to the thought of immigration is perfectly reasonable. Diouana is not a fool for accepting the world as it is presented to her. While she is not particularly displeased with her life in Senegal, France is portrayed as a paradise, and it would have been foolish of her not to capitalize on an opportunity promised to be thrilling. The isolation she faces in France was not just a result of her ignorance but also of the lasting impacts of colonialism. Her mistress promises her a better life abroad, in the same way that French dominance promised to make the African continent prosperous. Through Diouana’s disillusionment, Sembene illustrates the social and psychological manifestations of the colonial alienation of
the person.

On the other hand, Anta, the female lead in Touki Bouki, is a college student and belongs to a group of pan-Africanists. It would be naive to assume that her desire for a life in Paris with Mory is solely influenced by false notions of Western supremacy. In actuality, anyone watching Mambety’s depiction of Dakar through Anta and Mory’s eyes would come to realize that the couple deeply care for the city. For Anta and Mory, Dakar is driving in the sun and love on the beach. Their city is vibrant and marked with mischief. The love for Dakar seen in Touki Bouki is conspicuous, an aspect that, over time, complicates their decision to leave.

The root of Anta and Mory’s dissatisfaction is not with Dakar itself, but can instead be attributed to the elitism and hypocrisy within post-colonial Senegal. The couple only begins to receive acceptance by their community when they are draped in expensive European fabrics. Moreover, Anta’s so-called revolutionary classmates harasses Mory for his working-class status. While some traditional customs, such as animal slaughter and folklore, are still present in their society, the Senegal they once knew is changing. Like many immigrants, Anta and Mory come to the conclusion that they may not be able to grow with their home, so instead, they must leave it. Similarly to Black Girl, Touki Bouki highlights how a love for your country and a thirst for change are not mutually exclusive – our attitudes toward what and where home is are variable and can always be subject to questioning.

France currently has the largest African diaspora in Europe. The leap of faith Diouana, Anta, and Mory take when choosing to immigrate to France illustrates the core of the African diasporic experience: immigration is not solely a decision based on disregard for one’s home. The insatiable drive to leave home in search of socio-economic stability is taxing, and the alienation one can face after leaving home is burdensome. Immigration is a heavy choice for many. Yet, Touki Bouki and Black Girl magnetically depict the flexible idea of home in a time struck by revolutionary change.

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