2008 Woodie Awards
Allegations also made against McGill law professor Payam Akhavan
McGill University has been at the centre of a number of allegations made by the official media of the Islamic Republic of Iran this year. The Islamic Republic News Agency, the Iranian government's official state media outlet, published a pair of articles earlier this year attacking Nobel Prize-winning lawyer and human rights activist Shirin Ebadi.
TAs and contract faculty deadlocked in struggle with administration
There's no end in sight for the York teaching assistants and contract faculty strike, in spite of a new round of bargaining that began last week. The York administration and members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees local 3903 began a new bargaining session last Thursday.
Weinberg laments apathy
As part of World AIDS Week, student-run think tank Pearson House held a speaker's event on HIV/AIDS and public policy last Wednesday. The speakers included two McGill professors and two students. They dicussed issues such as grassroots movements, problems with criminalizing HIV transmission, tax initiatives, and how students can get involved.
Aylward and Larochelle to study at the University of Oxford next year
McGill students Stephen Aylward and Vincent Larochelle were named as the university's newest Rhodes Scholars last week, joining the 128 McGill alumni who have won the prestigious and highly competitive scholarship to study at the University of Oxford. Established by Cecil Rhodes in 1902, the scholarship is awarded based on four primary criteria: academic achievement, leadership, good health and athletic vigour, and what Rhodes termed "sympathy and protection for the weak"-generally taken to mean some sort of community involvement.
Thomson House gathering of politicians aims to get out the student vote
Local provincial election candidates fielded questions from the McGill community at Thomson House on Wednesday. The event, hosted by the Students' Society, lasted for several hours and included Liberal, Action Démocratique du Quebec, and Québec Solidaire candidates who touched on issues ranging from student fees to corporate greed.
Since 1979 revolution, persecution of progressive faith has intensified
The Bahá'í Faith is a monotheistic religion founded in mid-nineteenth century Persia (present-day Iran) by Mirza Hoseyn Ali Nuri, also known as Bahá'u'alláh (Glory of God), and is one of the youngest independent religions in the world. The Bahá'í Faith grew out of the Babi movement, which split from Shia Islam earlier in the nineteenth century.
SSMU splits up Silverstein's portfolio
With no candidate to replace resigning Vice-President Finance and Operations Tobias Silverstein, the Students' Society Legislative Council approved a motion to divide up the responsibilities of the portfolio at a Council meeting last Thursday. The motion, which was moved by the SSMU Executive Committee, stipulated that the portfolio remain empty for the duration of the year, and provided a set of recommendations for dividing up Silverstein's duties after he formally steps down on January 2.
The staff at Illinois's Miller Park Zoo have found an original way to make some extra cash this holiday season. The gift shop at the zoo is selling "magical reindeer gem ornaments"-essentially reindeer droppings hung on strings that are meant to decorate Christmas trees.
In the past, the Tribune has been one of Turner's harshest critics. We were unimpressed with her performance as VP Internal last year, and endorsed her opponent RJ Kelford in the 2008 elections. This year, however, we've been pleasantly surprised by her performance as Students' Society President.
Each year, the vice-president clubs and services inherits a gargantuan portfolio that threatens to overwhelm even the most dedicated SSMUshie. Cook's greatest accomplishment this year has been staying on top of her challenging workload, while still remaining accessible to clubs and services that need guidance.
In a strong SSMU executive, Vice-President University Affairs Nadya Wilkinson has stood out as the strongest of the lot. The UA portfolio has been especially busy so far this year, and Wilkinson has handled the major crises-the implementation of a travel ban and the controversy surrounding McGill's ombudsperson-impressively.
We may be stretching the report card analogy too far, but the Tribune is awarding its first-ever grade of "W," as Silverstein is withdrawing from a "full-year course." Silverstein announced his resignation (effective January 2, 2009) in the second week of November, citing professional concerns with the portfolio.
The Tribune had high hopes for Alfaro this year, but we have yet to see any tangible progress made in the vice-president external portfolio. While Alfaro has been hamstrung by an unprecedented number of elections this semester, his campus initiatives have been uninspired.
Webster has been an articulate, pragmatic, and refreshing member of the executive this semester. She has had a great deal of success as SSMU's de facto party-planner. SSMU Frosh was a hit. Open Air Pub, a perennial Tribune staff favourite, was well-attended and hosted better bands.
When we weren't giggling and whispering with vice-presidents in the gallery, the Tribune paid enough attention at Council to award SSMU's legislative body a B+. The approval of the controversial pro-life club Choose Life was handled with maturity, and the Tribune congratulates Council for throwing out an attempt to pass the General Assembly motions omnibus.
