The McGill news v.71 1991

168 Pages·1991·207.1 MB·English

by  McGill University. Graduates' Society.

McGill
University
Libraries
Mclennan Library

NO MATTER WHERE IN THE WORLD
YOU'VE BEEN
THERE'S NOTHING LIKE ...
Australia and New Zealand.
Now you can
join fellow McGill alumni on a fantastic 18 day Thrilling Extension To 11The Outback."
CoclDauafdoeg rsvolegauek aioxn.lg sfetM. eu. f orQFhiergua u hynlteoltodyie uelt-nihe.sn stseI gtcnspo,oece wra laiutdnenkdvcd. eo ar.As efnE: dl ctpvAhiebiee nulrr eeeySc g k"obtiLrluesaataatvnrhunaedetdtly.ri s ond N anDe Atet oaawiltitpwsl s,h Zn b.to e erUtaasentln.als dsnMfe-edtrro'a.ss"u, k cneittny TaTAAdohl oidwrcneietnec iSs oeni-nptiieargni lht-n oantgsu-isl grai .ahf teMn tAt daiolmt iAt cCoeeyr a oceSiporrpsnpar sciRo.nh rogFt ctusurk.nla .lO in tRbsynrfo eeetuoar nn k teidhfgxa rhtpsortltiu o padgr taaeh iAi lTrty yhht.er eeaAr snhRl sieRcepaedoor cStrCk topa.e frtnO iitnothrngneees.,
Christchurch. Graceful, very British "Garden City." Outback. Visit to camel farm. Tour to Olgas. Sunset viewing
Sydney. Australia's cosmopolitian harbour haven. and tour of Ayers Rock.
Cairns. Home of Australia's glorious wonder of the $1199*
world-The Great Barrier Reef.
Graduates' Society of McGill University presents
South Pacific and the Lands Down Under
$5630
*
18 Days • Departing November 6, 1991 From Montreal
1 [phone]
Reserve NOW by calling TOLL FREE:
or call Ray Satterthwaite [phone], (or mail the coup~n below to our Travel Planning Professionals.)
ASK ABOUT YOUR EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT
THOSE LANDS DOWN UNDER
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University holiday to the South Pacific and Lands Down Under. I understand that making
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Return to: The Graduates' Society of McGill University
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*All prices are shown in Canadian dollars, per person, double occupancy.
EAT U RES
12
Nurse, PhD
No longer content to follow, nurses are carving out a research
role for themselves with a new credential. Francine Ducharme
earned the first nursing PhD in Canada-at McGill.
by janice Paskey
14
Not Another Art Cop
For Ad am Gopnik, BA'80, a job on The New Yorker was the
only job worth wanting. He waited six years. Now the
magazine's art critic, he's also co-curated a show for the
Museum of Modern Art that's redefining "fine art".
by Kim Schenck, BA'Bl
16
Tokyo's Reign
lt's where the world's economic pulse begins, and where
rising numbers of McGill graduates want to go. As all eyes
turn to Tokyo, what chance have these adventurers for
career success as we know it?
by Nancy McHarg
19
Don't Even Knock
Walk right through the Yellow Door, hinged on the greystone
in the McGill Ghetto, where neo-vaudeville and social work
have meshed since 1903.
by Denise Roig Tarr
D E P A R T M E N T S
~tters ...................... 2
Editor's Notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Martlets .................... 4
Comic Perspective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Quebec Focus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Old McGill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Society Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Reviews .................... 24
Alumnotes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
In Memoriam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Alumnotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Cover concept and design: Marc Drolet,
Luc Prevost and Danielle Laporte.
L E T T E R S
Hart-felt thanks Feminist Ideology Unclear even more: caring, courageous leader
Please give my thanks to the Hart couple In the Winter issue, you reprinted ship based on scholarhip that is honest
who have generously paid for my recent Harvey Schachter's editorial "In Praise and forthright. How appropriate for your
copy of the McGill News. (Ed. note: The of Feminism" in order to "commemorate Christmas issue.
Fall'90 overseas distribution was funded the tragedy" of 14 women murdered at Bravo, McGill News! This truly is
by grads Richard and Louise Hart.) Ecole Polytechnique. While it seems excellence, leadership and achievement
As you know, Czechoslovakia is in appropriate to commemorate this event, to be proud of.
transition. This change is going to be so that both women and men should Catherine M. Draper, BA'47
gradual and, as our government keeps learn from this tragedy, Schachter's Victoria, B.C.
warning us, often painful. Our currency article is not a commemoration: it is an
is not convertible so far and therefore we attempt to "praise feminism".
cannot send McGill donations in Czech Unfortunately, opportunists have used Disagree with Schachter
oslovak crowns. I am sending you a book, this event to manipulate people emotion
however, about our town, which I am ally into supporting feminism. Instead, I disagree with several points in Harvey
sure you have not heard of before. we need a sober assessment of this Schachter's article "In Praise of Femin
McGill grad Mia Belsky has recently ideology. If the tragedy teaches us any ism" (Winter'90). First, I was disappoint
arrived in Olomouc to teach English. thing, it is that the term "feminism" has ed to see Mr. Schachter cheapen the
I hope her arrival will begin a more become an empty concept. This con Holocaust by comparing Marc Lepine
extensive exchange of ideas, views and fusion explains Schachter's observation to "the Nazis at the death camps". Mr.
visits between our universities. that "instead of rallying to support fem Upine was a minor character compared
JOPaalrolaomcskolayuv cU, DnCiuzvesecershkiot,y sPl ohvDak'i7a0 fiiaentmiPes miednri ihasstanmapdn s bcf eetihnmcgeai"rune sia sewftt sieat,r s wt lhnaaoessr t e euym newcabalrres'as aca rtnir nta oiggm b eomdofyt eh.d wnwMooirt r.wh lS dotc hnphedoa ewecrnhe mort.er omIrfs d otfe ewunmsoy ikm ntihileslinitsns dg dsi iubsfftcyaeh nra e camnesc atehjo,e rtmh e n
men and women what should be em selves from such feminist views.
Intellectual Blackmail braced. Unfortunately, Schachter offers Secondly, he states that a three-year
no help in this issue. He argues that all old cannot be sexually aggressive
Although we desperately need to learn men and women should rally under the towards an adult male "even if there
something from the murder of 14 women term "feminism", but nowhere does he remain patriarchal judges who believe
at the University of Montreal, Harvey present a definition of this term. such anti-women myths". This particular
Schacter's paean ("In Praise of Femin He offers credos for men and women attack on the judiciary strikes me as
ism", Winter'90) will not help us to do so. to recite; men should say: "I am pro scurrilous and unsupported by fact. I
Apparently, he believes that the current feminist. I must struggle to make challenge Mr. Schachter to produce the
war between men and women will end changes in myself, always, and to help names of these judges.
only when men accept feminist ideology. change society." No doubt, it is hon Third, he implies that it was "the 'radi
He makes it clear, moreover, that only ourable to make changes in oneself, and cal' feminists who ... went to jail in
uncritical acceptance will do. to help change society, but it is irre protests demanding the right to vote". It
As he points out, a woman can "believe sponsible to do so by following ideologi was nothing of the sort. The suffragettes
in freedom and equality ... even if as an cal dictates that are not clearly were responsible for those protests,
independent person [she has] some understood. and they were in many cases so religious,
disagreements with the feminist move family-oriented and conservative as to
ment." But no such diversity of opinion Harold Wilson, BA'91 have little in common with modern
is possible for men in this moral uni Montreal, Quebec "radical feminists".
verse. The only legitimate position is Fourth, the Women's Movement con
what he calls a "pro-feminist" one. If men Thanks for Feminism tains a wide spectrum of views, ranging
argue with any feminist claims, in short, from those that are family-oriented (like
they can be accused of sexism. That Thank you for reproducing Harvey the suffragettes'), to those that verge
is intellectual blackmail. For scholars, Schacter's thoughtful article "In Praise of on man-hating. It is this latter "radical
at any rate, every ideology-whether Feminism". I am struck by his integrity feminist" group that causes a majority of
on the left, the right, or anywhere else and fearlessness in writing this. It is no women to distance themselves from the
on the political spectrum-is subject to accident that such an article was penned term "feminism"-not ignorance, or
critical analysis. And what are univer by a member of another oppressed seg selfishness, as implied by Mr. Schachter.
sities about if not scholarship? It is thus ment of society, and reminds one of mid- Finally, there is something incongru
ironic, to say the least, that the McGill 19th century United States, when black ous, perhaps even chauvinistic, about a
News is promoting what will, if unchal leaders supported feminism after femin man scolding and hectoring women into
lenged, defeat the efforts of McGill ists had supported emancipation. doing what he judges best for them.
University. It is heartening that this article will
reach a privileged audience whose status Charles Serrao, BA'68
Paul Nathanson, PhD'89 as leaders in society is taken for granted. Montreal, Quebec
'Montreal, Quebec Your winter issue reflects abundantly
refreshing qualities that the world needs Letters continued on page 32.
McGillNews 2 Spring 1991
is 1w here was I when Kennedy was
1~k shot? Too young to remember.
When Hinkley fired at Reagan?
Washing dishes in Banff.
Lady Di's wedding? Rowing through
the early morning rain.
And on the night of January 16, I was
in a boardroom at McGill-far from a
radio-as the Graduates' Society Board
of Directors concluded its annual
meeting.
For those around the table, the news
looked good that night. Richard Pound ..s::0~:
announced a first: the Annual Fund <1::
surpassed the $3 million mark. Alex G
Paterson, Board of Governors Chair, re ~. ...~ ~&!::. ~....:.o......;_---i:~:S.:::.:::..:.....i ~
ported that McGill was hiring a lobbyist With athletics cancelled, student-soldiers lined the football field in 1941.
to push its case in Quebec City. And
Vice-Principal (Advancement) Michael Yet unanticipated links arose with sto him as a freshman at McGill:
Kiefer gave results showing strong ries we thought had little connection to "Gentlemen, thank you for coming to
support for a proposed University-wide the Gulf. Newsweek subsequently called this special assembly ofM cGill men. As
campaign. staff at The Yellow Door (our cover you know, Canada is fighting against the
Then, at 9:30 pm, the heavy oak doors story) to ask if they would assist Ameri Facist forces on many fronts. Canadian
of the large boardroom were thrown can draftdodgers as in WWII. Moshe and Allied troops in Britain, and the
open and, from the excited babble of Safdie (p. 4) had supplied us with a photo civilian population there, depend on
student phonethoners (who were being of himself in Israel, but was uncertain Canadian wheat for their bread. We must
sent home), the news of war hit us like at press time whether that building or not let them down-but we are going to,
the icy air outside. We fled home to any he had designed was damaged. And unless we find the manpower to harvest
our televisions. our profile this issue (p. 14) is of Adam the wheat for their bread.
This was my first war, and it arrived as Gopnik, the art critic for The New Yorker, "Fortunately the authorities at McGill
a rude banner of adulthood. (I later found a magazine that is attracting attention for University share this concern, and this
that my twentysomething set had been its unequivocal opposition to involvement responsibility, and they are ready to
artfully renamed "A New Generation" by in this war in the same way it opposed excuse you from classes to go west and
USA Today, which solicited "first-war Vietnam. harvest the wheat. You may be away for
comments" from us. Just like the movies, As I write today, Canada has fired a month, but I am assured no one will
I'd tell them, except this movie is on all its first shots in the Gulf war, and I'm be penalized academically and you
day and might be harmful to your health.) looking at the autumn 1939 McGill News will be given time to make up the work
Executive Director Gavin Ross called cover, 'War and McGill, 1914-1939", and you have missed."
the Graduates' Society staff together at winter 1940, "Editing the War News", Hundreds ofM cGill students boarded
for a short meeting the next morning and wondering if we'll come to this. the special train for western Canada the
to acknowledge that "this is not just I pulled out the unpublished memoirs next evening. That's how I began my
another day'', and we bantered about our of John Summerskill, BA'46, U.D'71, the university career.
thoughts on this 'Third World War''. past president of San Francisco State He later spent two years with the Cana
Back in my office, I fretted about the University, who garnered fame for his dian Infantry. What will the memoirs of
McGill News. As a quarterly, it is hardly clashes with California Governor Ronald McGill students hold now? This is sup
meant to keep pace with the popular Reagan over American involvement in posed to be a short war. We11 see.
press, but even so the war had sucked Vietnam. Summerskill's collegiate diary OONlli ~,
the wind from the sails of most of our is honest and entertaining. In this clip, he
spring issue. recalls the inaugural words spoken to
McGill News EDITOR: ]ANICE PASKEY ACSIRSOCCUIlAATTEISO ANN:D A FLRLI GENRADDS UOAFT TEHS,E P UANRIEVNETRSS, ITY
AssiSTANT EDITOR: DALE HRABI WHO MAKE AN ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION AND
GRADUATES OF THE LAST TWO YEARS, REGARDLESS
DESIGN AND TYPESEITING: INSTRUCTIONAL OF A CONTRIBUTION, RECEIVE THE MCGILL NEWS
VOWME 71 NUMBER 1 SPRING 1991 COMMUNICATIONS CENTRE, MCGILL UNIVERSriY QUARTERLY. THE WINTER ISSUE IS SENT TO THE
ABOVE AND TO ALL GRADUATES FOR WHOM WE
MCGILL NEWS IS PUBLISHED QUARTERLY (MARCH, ADVERTISING MANAGER: RAY SATIERTIIWA ITE HAVE ADDRESSES.
JUNE, SEPTEMBER AND DECEMBER) BY THE ADVISORY BOARD: GREITACHAMBERS (CHAIR), WRITE, PHONE OR FAX US:
GRADUATES' SOCIE1Y OF MCGILL UNIVERSITY. DAVID BOURKE, J OAN CI.EATHER, ABBOTI CONWAY, McGILLNEws
COPYRIGHT OF ALL CONTENTS IS REGISTERED. KATE MORISSET, CATHERINE EKERS, ROBERT FAITH, 3605 MOUNTAIN STREET
PRINTED IN CANADA . . . . . . . . .ISSN 0709 9223 ADA VKIEDI TlAHI DHLAEMY,, DGAAVVIIDN HRAORSHS,> T, NOIMCHTOHLOAMS PHSOOANR, E, TMEOL.N: T(5R1E4A) L3,9 Q8-U35E4B9E C FHA3XG: 2(5M14l ) 398-7338
KATE WILLIAMS, ]AMES WRIGHT
McGillNews 3
MARTLETS
The Future Eventually, Murray says, she hopes tL
Eureka! link McGill's collection by modem with Saf.
Its off to Oxford next October for Fiona of the Past die's head office in Somerville, Massachu
setts, giving him long-distance access to hi
Stewart, a McGill honours English student,
works, and researchers access to work stiJ:
chosen as one of Canada s 11 Rhodes
by Dale Hrabi in Somerville. (She says this experiment
Scholars for 1990. The prestigious
would push "interactivity'' to levels unequal
scholarship goes to candidates who have
Truckloads of drawings, architectural led in Canadian archives.)
shown academic prowess, leadership,
models, intimate black notebooks that led Normally, archives like Safdie's become
compassion for others and, in the terms
to some of Canada's most spectacular struc accessible only after their creators' death
of the trust, "physical vigor".
tures-Habitat '67, The National Gallery "I had no idea that he would offer it while
Past winners have often been athletes of will soon find a home at McGill. The exist he was still in practice," says Professor Emer
national-level calibre, a pattern that ing archive of Moshe Safdie, BArch'61, is itus Bland. The bulkofSafdie'sexistingwork.
Stewart thought might eliminate her. due at the Blackader-La.uterman Library now scattered across the world in storage or
Although she s no pallid scholar (active in this September, with follow-up shipments with clients, should arrive by September. Es
intramural volleyball and The Outing Club), expected every year. Safdie, 52, says he's timates of its value enter the hundreds
Stewart says: "I was quite convinced glad we asked. of thousands of dollars. Clients in pos·
that I wasn't what the committee was Not that he hadn't been approached by session of drawings or models will be
looking for. " other schools. "I'd always said it was pre encouraged to donate them.
mature," he says. But when he sat down to "All of a sudden," Safdie says, "they look
Clearly, she was. The English Departments
lunch four years ago with Irena Murray, at a drawing that I made 20 years ago and
top student, Stewart is interested in social
Curator of McGill's Canadian Architecture they say, 'Maybe that's worth a lot of mon·
literary history from a feminist perspective,
Collection, and his former professor John ey. Why should I give it away?' On the other
and hopes for a career in publishing.
Bland, their offer struck a responsive chord. hand," he adds, "they can take a tax write-off
Support at McGill came from her father,
Robin, a professor of Entomology at "It seemed audacious to me," says Mur [if they donate the work to McGill] ."Accord·
Macdonald College, and her mother, ray. A shy woman who speaks her convic ing to Canadian tax law, Safdie, an American
Catherine, a faculty lecturer in Dentistry. tions softly, she wondered what to expect. resident, can reap no fiscal benefits.
"My name didn't mean anything to him," The collection's research value is harder
Each year, according to the Dean of Stu she adds, "but then, I liked the challenge." to estimate, and subject to many factors:
dents' office, roughly 14 McGill under Last November, the deal was signed. future work, architectural trends, even war.
graduates apply for the Rhodes, valued Safdie says that, despite a concurrent offer In early 1a nuary, with the future of many
at about $10,000 a year for two years. For from Harvard University, he chose McGill projects in Israel (and the historical aspect
Stewart, this financial shot in the arm for three reasons. With four prominent Ca of the corresponding archive) increasingly
means less pressure to find a job this nadian projects completed or in progress, uncertain, Safdie spoke optimistically. "I
summer. Instead, she hopes to see more he felt a Canadian depository was appropri think it unlikely that Iraq will be able to
of Canada-the West, or perhaps the ate. As well, he felt he owes McGill. "Some significantly strike at Israel." Two weeks
Maritimes-before leaving its shores. people, you know, say 'I've done well in spite later, Iraqi missiles had struck both Haifa
of or without any connection with my edu (his birthplace) and Tel Aviv. (At press time,
cation'," he says. "But I've always thought it was unknown whether any of Safdie's
I was very fortunate to have been [at structures had been hit.)
McGill] ." Finally, he was impressed, he As unpredictable, in a sense, is Safdie's
says, by Irena Murray's curatorial track re future place in the grander scheme of
cord.
things. 'There clearly will be historical ex
Murray and her staff get things done. In amination of Safdie's work," says Nicholas
a vaulted room on the fourth floor of the Olsberg, Head of Collections at Montreal's
Redpath Library, the Canadian Architecture Canadian Centre for Architecture (CCA),
Collection is an archive of work by architects "and the more complete his archive the
linked with McGill and Montreal. Drawings more valuable. It's spectacular that McGill
by Percy Nobbs (the McCord Museum, the has this opportunity."
University Club) and Edward and WS. Max Both Murray and Olsberg dismiss sug·
well (the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts) gestions of rivalry, despite potential over
are among the works that have been cata laps in their collections. Murray calls the
logued for use by architects, critics, art his two "complementary". The CCA, Olsberg
torians, museum staff and students. It's a says, has never taken an active interest in
quiet, efficient domain. Safdie, "partly because we knew he had a
But with its high-tech demands, the Sat longstanding friendship with McGill". In
die influx will change the character of the architectural circles, however, it's no secret
collection considerably; most design in the that the CCA's powers-that-be have long held
nineties, including Safdie's, is done by CAD Safdie's work in low esteem.
Out in front: Rhodes Scholarship winner (Computer-Assisted-Drawing). Spinning Who is Safdie? He was the top student
Fiona Stewart
3-D renderings, lit by simulated sunlight, who turned his bachelor's thesis at McGill
are the order of the day. into Habitat, the add-a-block emblem of
McGillNews 4