Quid Novi Vol. 30 No. 006: January 20, 2009

42.9 MB·English

by  McGill University. Faculty of Law

Universite McGill,
McGill University,
Faculte de Droit
Faculty of Law
no.
Volume 30, 6,
Volume 30, no. 6,
20 Janvier 2009
January 20th, 2009

JANUARY 20TH 2009
tern, his insidious influence will be all
BREAKING THE LEGAL SKULL
the more damnable! This cannot be
permitted to transpire.
by Stefan Szpajda (lAW 11)
As any good law student should know,
replacing amorphous community norms
Note: This article is in response to An appetite for power is not satisfied with overbearing positive law brings a
Natai Shelsen's response to Tim Bot by rationed privilege. After a period of measure of otherwise nonexistent cer
tamer's response to the rising vein in disturbing colonizing behavior they will tainty to procedure. But we should think
his neck that was in response to the acquire the chits of less war-like stu twice before bestowing those with ten
abuse of class participation, which was dents, who for all their posthumous no dencies toward self-importance with
in turn likely in response to a metaphor bility will not be appreciative of their hitherto uncharted levels of legitimacy,
ical rising of another sort altogether. relegation to the proverbial bench by for in response to our chortles guilty
pushy chit-mongers. Possessed of parties will merely proffer a receipt.
* * * means to unequivocally quantify their
right to pontificate unselfconsciously, It is not surprising that Bottomer's call
Last semester, the Quid featured an they will in all likelihood enthral! us with for the implementation of a chit system
article much in line with the popular incisive commentary on topics ranging did not go unanswered. Unfortunately,
pseudo-economic theories of the day, from the Charter to ... the Charter. A the charge was taken up by Natai ''I'm
penned by our very own Tim Bottomer. right which under Bottomer's system a Pacifist" Shelsen, who earnestly di
In it he proposed a chit-system of in shall benefit from the weight of the rects us to consider the plight of Jane
class participation based on the follow state's various enforcement mecha Law Student. (Who I might tangentially
ing two principles: a) people do not nisms. Imagine, self-righteousness add is somewhat arbitrarily distin
value that which they are provided for being granted proprietary rights! A con guished from her less worthy friend
free; and b) people should think before comitant sense of entitlement to bask Josie Law Student. I suspect it's a
they open their mouths in class. I do in warm timbre of their nasally voices French-English thing, personally.) Her
not find it necessary to respond to the will doubtless emerge. Whatever shame argument is based on the proposition
particular details of his "Modest Pro or self-doubt that existed before will be that learning can and ought to be com
posal", as the propositions upon which replaced with pride of ownership. A munal, as only in such a communitarian
it is based are irreconcilably at odds new Rome shall be founded in this very environment can the true and worthy
with the best interests of the faculty. faculty, whereupon the victorious tri talents of the individual emerge. Does
Allow me to explain why this is so. umvirate shall wreak havoc on all. The n't it make you feel good inside?
Iron Law of Oligarchy won't yield to
Bottomer is correct to assert that peo your crummy paper-based system, But why should we bother with Jane
ple do not value things that that they Bottomer! Law Student, whose irrefutable stupid
receive for free. He fails to consider, ity makes it difficult for her to follow in
however, that the inverse of this state Bottomer's second proposition, that class? Perhaps the self-same students
ment is that they tend to really value people should think before they speak who lament the influence of the busi
things for which they have paid a fee. in class, is likewise incomplete. Let's ness world in our environment fail to
a
His analysis thus omits the effect of re universalize this maxim la Kant, and see that our very faculty has been
placing ambiguous moral incentives to systematize the ensuing results. Faced stricken with the disease of commerce!
regulate class behavior with quantifi with glowing insight from a succinct, in Whereas simple admissions standards
able economic incentives. The small telligent, and chit-respecting student, and fear of humiliation used to suffice
chance that some of these mealy Professors might be tempted to con (Note: as they do now in China!), we
mouthed yobs possess enough decency clude that either that we are all brim are now forced to creatively solve the
to keep quiet out of fear of complete ming with wisdom or that we would all problems we foolishly created our
social exclusion will cease to be rele be better off if we took steps to self-in selves. If we can't reduce our class size
vant. With the introduction of his sys form. Burdened by the rigid, Germanic to ten diligent scholars, we should at
tem, the first and only question will be legitimacy of a chit system, there will be least take steps to protect their sanity.
no room left for the soft factors and It appears to me that the only analogy
"Do I have enough chits to talk about
community norms. The unintended con that sufficiently captures Jane Law Stu
my cherished and, as far as I'm con
sequence of this will be more rigorous dent's situation is that of the individual
cerned, unexplored belief that we have
standards that do not necessarily corre standing on railroad tracks awaiting the
a problem with access to justice in this
country?" If the answer is in the affir spond with the expectations or desires crushing blow of a train. Upon realizing
of faculty or students. Once again, the the severity of her circumstances, she
mative, we shall be powerless to stop
them and their pointless anecdotes. If entitled prick with the stupid grin on his is faced with several options.
face will disproportionately impact the
it is in the negative, we are all their po
classroom environment. Armed with She may of course remain stationary
tential victims as they seek more chits.
the illusory transparency of a chit-sys- and allow the bone-crushing experience
3
Qu1o Nov1
IN THIS ISSUE ...
EDITORIAL
QUID NOVI
Breaking the Legal
Skull. ..3
CEGEP, SHMEGEP
3661 Peel Street
Montreal, Quebec Grad Ball. .. 4 by Rachel Sevigny (Law Ill)
H2A 1X1
Co-Editor-in-Chief
[phone] Le Mouvement McGill
www.law.mcgill.ca/quid Franc;ais ... 6
I have wanted to write an article for the Quid about former
Computer Corner. .. S
Editors-in-Chief CEGEP students in McGill Law for sometime now. Finally,
Rachel Sevigny after three years, I have been able to put my thoughts and
Nurse Jane Goes to
Courtney Retter experiences into words. I would like to thank my friends
Hawaii. .. 9
and colleagues who have had to listen to my ranting/com
plaining for all these years - it is much appreciated.
Assistant Editors-in-Chief The Proportionality of . ***
Martin Rioux War ... to
When I first found out that I would be coming to law school, I had
Lucinda Tang
a vague idea as to what I should expect. I knew that the classes
American Law Schools ... u
would be different and hard, and that I would be going to school
Managing Editors with people of all ages and with a variety of different backgrounds.
Letter from the Director of
Aidan Talai What I wasn't expecting, however, was the reaction that I received
Libraries ... 12
once people discovered that I was coming to McGill Law School
a right out of CEGEP.
Layout Editors DROIT l'image ... 14
Suzanne Amiel
lexi Pace Recrutement de Mon One of my first memories of law school is when we were all waiting
Chanel Sterie in line in the hallway in front of the library and I started talking to
treal...t6
Krtsta Zeman someone. We had that typical superficial conversation (you know,
the one we would all have for the first two weeks of school) where
A Fond Farewell. .. tS
we'd ask where we were from, and dum-dum-dum ...w here we did
Associate Editors
our undergrad. I told that person that I had actually came from
Suzanne Amiel Care About the Environ
can
Joey Bertjawski Dawson and that it was a CEGEP. me paranoid, but that person
ment (JSDLP) ... 19
L.aura Easton
pretty much wrote me off and started to talk to someone else. After
Faizel Gulamhusseln
this conversation, I contemplated telling people that I would soon
Daniel Haboucha lntervention. .. 19
Allison Jaskolka meet that I did my undergrad at McGill or something (which would
Ali Khan be true in a couple of years) but in the end I decided not to.
Dya Kirtsman S-P-1-R-1-T ... 21
Marie-Pier Leduc
Jae lim Nomination de Philippe So for the next two or three weeks, I started to notice that as soon
Kristin McHale as I stated that I was from CEGEP, people would dumb-down the
Couillard. .. 23
Eva Warden
conversation or slowly let it die off. I suppose I got used to it, but
Randee Zeitz
Krista Zeman Justice and Procedure. .. 24 it was always an annoying thing about school and meeting new
Richard Zuroff people.
Truth v. Satya. .. 25
I then got what I like to call the "CEGEP Complex" where you think
Staff Writers
Mathieu Kissin Hockin Report. .. 26 you are being discriminated against because you are from CEGEP.
Marianne Knal For instance, when CEGEP students are singled out for whatever
Hinda Rabkin reason (i.e. when talking about doing a minor program) it bothers
Time to Get Married. .. 27
me ... continued on page 5.
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Contributions should also include the student year of the contributor.
2~----------------------------------------------------~
JANUARY 20TH 2009
tern, his insidious influence will be all
BREAKING THE LEGAL SKULL
the more damnable! This cannot be
permitted to transpire.
by Stefan Szpajda (lAW 11)
As any good law student should know,
replacing amorphous community norms
Note: This article is in response to An appetite for power is not satisfied with overbearing positive law brings a
Natai Shelsen's response to Tim Bot by rationed privilege. After a period of measure of otherwise nonexistent cer
tamer's response to the rising vein in disturbing colonizing behavior they will tainty to procedure. But we should think
his neck that was in response to the acquire the chits of less war-like stu twice before bestowing those with ten
abuse of class participation, which was dents, who for all their posthumous no dencies toward self-importance with
in turn likely in response to a metaphor bility will not be appreciative of their hitherto uncharted levels of legitimacy,
ical rising of another sort altogether. relegation to the proverbial bench by for in response to our chortles guilty
pushy chit-mongers. Possessed of parties will merely proffer a receipt.
* * * means to unequivocally quantify their
right to pontificate unselfconsciously, It is not surprising that Bottomer's call
Last semester, the Quid featured an they will in all likelihood enthral! us with for the implementation of a chit system
article much in line with the popular incisive commentary on topics ranging did not go unanswered. Unfortunately,
pseudo-economic theories of the day, from the Charter to ... the Charter. A the charge was taken up by Natai "I'm
penned by our very own Tim Bottomer. right which under Bottomer's system a Pacifist" Shelsen, who earnestly di
In it he proposed a chit-system of in shall benefit from the weight of the rects us to consider the plight of Jane
class participation based on the follow state's various enforcement mecha Law Student. (Who I might tangentially
ing two principles: a) people do not nisms. Imagine, self-righteousness add is somewhat arbitrarily distin
value that which they are provided for being granted proprietary rights! A con guished from her less worthy friend
free; and b) people should think before comitant sense of entitlement to bask Josie Law Student. I suspect it's a
they open their mouths in class. I do in warm timbre of their nasally voices French-English thing, personally.) Her
not find it necessary to respond to the will doubtless emerge. Whatever shame argument is based on the proposition
particular details of his "Modest Pro or self-doubt that existed before will be that learning can and ought to be com
posal", as the propositions upon which replaced with pride of ownership. A munal, as only in such a communitarian
it is based are irreconcilably at odds new Rome shall be founded in this very environment can the true and worthy
with the best interests of the faculty. faculty, whereupon the victorious tri talents of the individual emerge. Does
Allow me to explain why this is so. umvirate shall wreak havoc on all. The n't it make you feel good inside?
Iron Law of Oligarchy won't yield to
Bottomer is correct to assert that peo your crummy paper-based system, But why should we bother with Jane
ple do not value things that that they Bottomer! Law Student, whose irrefutable stupid
receive for free. He fails to consider, ity makes it difficult for her to follow in
however, that the inverse of this state Bottomer's second proposition, that class? Perhaps the self-same students
ment is that they tend to really value people should think before they speak who lament the influence of the busi
things for which they have paid a fee. in class, is likewise incomplete. Let's ness world in our environment fail to
a
His analysis thus omits the effect of re universalize this maxim la Kant, and see that our very faculty has been
placing ambiguous moral incentives to systematize the ensuing results. Faced stricken with the disease of commerce!
regulate class behavior with quantifi with glowing insight from a succinct, in Whereas simple admissions standards
able economic incentives. The small telligent, and chit-respecting student, and fear of humiliation used to suffice
chance that some of these mealy Professors might be tempted to con (Note: as they do now in China!), we
mouthed yobs possess enough decency clude that either that we are all brim are now forced to creatively solve the
to keep quiet out of fear of complete ming with wisdom or that we would all problems we foolishly created our
social exclusion will cease to be rele be better off if we took steps to self-in selves. If we can't reduce our class size
vant. With the introduction of his sys form. Burdened by the rigid, Germanic to ten diligent scholars, we should at
tem, the first and only question will be legitimacy of a chit system, there will be least take steps to protect their sanity.
"Do I have enough chits to talk about no room left for the soft factors and It appears to me that the only analogy
my cherished and, as far as I'm con community norms. The unintended con that sufficiently captures Jane Law Stu
cerned, unexplored belief that we have sequence of this will be more rigorous dent's situation is that of the individual
a problem with access to justice in this standards that do not necessarily corre standing on railroad tracks awaiting the
country?" If the answer is in the affir spond with the expectations or desires crushing blow of a train. Upon realizing
mative, we shall be powerless to stop of faculty or students. Once again, the the severity of her circumstances, she
them and their pointless anecdotes. If entitled prick with the stupid grin on his is faced with several options.
it is in the negative, we are all their po face will disproportionately impact the
tential victims as they seek more chits. classroom environment. Armed with She may of course remain stationary
the illusory transparency of a chit-sys- and allow the bone-crushing experience
3
Qu1o Nov1
to come to its preordained conclusion. lite obligation to listen only when I am ArrENTION ALL
This, of course, is comparable to silence good and ready to do so. I shall finally
in class. Whereas the train metes out cap it off with a "look what I did!" smirk GRADUATING
justice swiftly, failure in life is gradual. and sink softly in my seat. Not inter
The effect, however, is the same: total ested? I thought as much. STUDENTS: THIS
annihilation and a mess that others
have to clean up. It seems that this is Finally, for fear of being labeled as one YEAR'S GRAD
not in the least a reasonable option. who can deconstruct without construct
ing, tear down without erecting, and BALL DEPENDS ON
But is the only available alternative to criticize without perfecting, I now offer
inquire of the train why it must travel so a prescriptive element to my analysis. You!
quickly and fiercely toward the poor, There is "third way" to solve the emerg
stranded individual? It strikes me as ing Participation CrisisTM that I would
odd to think so. With admirable like now to briefly introduce. It's called by Megan Cowan and Lisa
alacrity, the individual who is both co violence.
Smith (lAW Ill)
gent of her circumstances and aware
that they must change will bound off There's a lot of talk in law school about Hello to everyone, and a BIG congratu
the tracks, thereby sparing herself and "pedagogical method" and "engaging lations on reaching your final semester!
the passengers of the train the trouble with the sources". I would personally Returning to the Faculty for the last
of a collision. Similarly, Jane Law Stu like to hear more about a pedagogical time certainly brings about mixed emo
dent should elect self-awareness as her cane engaging with the backs of stu tions, and what better way to finish off
means of redemption. Step aside, and dents' motherfuckin' skulls. That's your three, three-and-a-half or four
watch the train roll by. This will prevent right, cold, merciless, and violent blows years here than a huge party?
crushing defeat, and allow the passen delivered by well-trained faculty to de
gers to arrive on schedule, unencum serving students. This open, honest di In the next week or so, you will receive
bered by her twisted remnants. If, from alogue will engender a sense of a survey about the biggest end-of-term
a safe distance, she feels the need to camaraderie amongst the Silent Major party there is - the Grad Ball. The sur
inquire why the choo-choo train shuf ity who stay in their seats and not in the
vey was designed by the Grad Ball com
fled by so quickly, she may well do so stretchers. It will likewise create a safe
mittee to make sure that this year's ball
on her own time. The paragon of effi space for non-intrusive and non-obnox
will be the best one the faculty has ever
ciency, she will both be knowledgeable ious questions, leaving un-whacked
seen, and for that we need your help!
(for having inquired after class) and ap students with a greater sense of accom
pear knowledgeable (for having kept an plishment for having avoided injury.
With the extreme cold of late, it might
appropriate air of intellectual disinterest
seem difficult to think of spring and the
in class). Given reality's tendency to Not convinced? I invite you to examine
end of the term - but in order to get
take a back seat to perception, she will the empirical evidence outfitted by his
things rolling, we need to hear what
only gain ground. This is thus in no way tory. Consider the Pythagorean theo
YOU want at YOUR graduation ball.
an exclusionary measure. It simply fa rem. It's perfect, right? Well, Hippasus
Afraid the ball will conflict with your
vors inclusion on sustainable terms. of Metapontum didn't think so. So
plans to write the Ontario bar? Let us
Pythagoras drowned his sorry ass. Par
know! Dying for a seven-course meal?
It is clear that the bubbly Shelsen thus tisans of irrational numbers have been
Tell us! Don't have much money to
fares no better than our curmudgeonly afraid of water ever since. Frankly, as
spend on tickets due to 4+ years of stu
friend Mr. Bottomer. Where he trusted far as I'm concerned, this is both Just
dent loans? We want to know! Our sur
blindly in a reductionist economic and Proper.
vey will touch on all of these aspects
model, she merely pretended that such
(and more!), and there will be plenty of
factors do not exist. In response to her
extra space for you to fill in any other
rhetorical "What is the point of selecting
comments or suggestions you might
well-rounded, accomplished students if
have.
we have to check those things that con
tribute to our qualifications at the
The committee promises to do our best
door?", I humbly submit that I am an
to take all of your ideas and preferences
accomplished yodeler (twice decorated,
into account when organizing this year's
you bet your life) and will be glad to
ball. Obviously, we can only do so if you
demonstrate my uncommon gift the
actually tell us what you want in the
next time Professor Poindexter is mid
survey, so PLEASE take a few minutes
way through a half-way interesting
to fill it out and let us know what you
thought, or about to dismiss the class.
think - we think the ball will be that
I shall continue to do so until I am sat
much better because of it.
isfied, and release the class from its po-
4
20 JANVIER 2009
i n n o c e n t
•
~u 'JQnt to help ;n:ofl3fully comrict.ed persons p1·ove theu: inoocenoe _ Join Innoce..::e ~~~ill.
You h01ve until this ?i'edne sdOI}[ 01t 5. f'01 to 01 ppl y: innocence _b "K8m;;li 1 -rno::l i 11 ..c01
continued from page 2 ... When people I am trying to brush it off, believe me. (I'd you? Alrighty then ...
refer to students who came from CEGEP as like to apologize to my friends who have to
"CEGEP kids" it bothers me. When people hear me complain about this quite often!) What is this undercurrent at the faculty that
tell me I missed out on undergrad and that stigmatizes CEGEP students? What did we
they wouldn't have came in from CEGEP, I But what really gets me are the things I do to warrant such attitude? Sure, we are a
get offended (do you not think that we have hear year after year about the new group of few years younger. Yeah, we don't have an
thought about that when we were deciding students. Someone came up to me this fall undergrad ... but am I missing something
to come here?). I honestly cannot get and told me that they were not going to here ...h ow does that have anything to do
passed it. I start to see discrimination in vote for a particular student in elections be with the rest of the students? If anything,
places where maybe there wasn't any. For cause the candidate was from CEGEP. ARE that is something that could disadvantage
instance, while I was organizing Orientation YOU KIDDING ME? And why on earth are us (in terms of say, writing experience) and
2007, I introduced myself to a guy in first you telling me that when I am a CEGEP stu advantage the rest.
year and we had that same conversation dent who happens to be an elected execu
that I was talking about earlier, and as soon tive member of the LSA? I would like to say this on behalf of all my
as I told him I was from CEGEP, he turned co-cegepien(nes) that what you say, the
his head and spoke to someone else. This One of my favorite CEGEP 'single-cuts' is in comments that you make, the looks you
really hurt me, honestly, is being 2-3 years regards to the JD/LLB issue that is going on. give, we hear them and they stick with us.
younger than someone THAT bad? Fortu If you go to the website that was put up So what if we are a couple of years younger
nately, this guy ended up being a friend of there is a little survey there indicating the than you, we deserve to be here just as
mine and he probably doesn't realize how different options that students would like to much as anyone else does. We had to work
his actions hurt me. see. One of the choices is "J.D./B.C.L. for hard just like you all did to get here. Now
students with undergrad degree and that we are here (and for some of us, we
Another example of my complex getting to LL. B./B. C. L. for former CEGEP students." have now been here longer than you), it
me is when I introduced myself to a transfer When I saw this I nearly peed my pants! doesn't matter where we went to school or
student, who happened to be from Mon Last time I checked law students at McGill when our birthdays are, as soon as we
treal, and the fact that I was from CEGEP Law with a CEGEP background did the 105 walked through the library doors in August,
came up (come on, that was like 3 years credits like everyone else, and learned both a clean slate was made and we were all in
ago!) and before she said anything else, she the common and the civil law ... some people the same boat, whether or not people
said "Oh, so you're like really young," and I actually think that we shouldn't be able to wanted to acknowledge it. Law school is
felt like she was looking down to me. I AM get the same distinction as our peers. ARE stressful enough as is and the CEGEP Com
22 not 12!! YOU KIDDING ME? plex just adds a whole other layer.
You'd think that after three years I'd kind of But I must tell you that my all-time favorite My point is that we are all in the same place
get over it and try to brush it off my shoul CEGEP insult was when someone told me right now, feeling the same things. We are
ders when I hear side-handed remarks that I was a bad, unskilled and inexperi learning the same things and looking for the
about "CEGEP kids" and how we don't de enced president because I was from same jobs. We are your equals, not your
serve to be here, that we are too young and CEGEP!? Really? Is that all you got? That is subordinates. It would be great if both sides
take all the "good" grades. Most of the time why I am not good at my job, a job that I could just wake up and realize that.
people say things like that to me not think have been involved with for three years, be
ing/knowing that I am actually from CEGEP. cause I am a couple of years younger than
5
Qu1o Nov1
to come to its preordained conclusion. lite obligation to listen only when I am ArrENTION ALL
This, of course, is comparable to silence good and ready to do so. I shall finally
in class. Whereas the train metes out cap it off with a "look what I did!" smirk GRADUATING
justice swiftly, failure in life is gradual. and sink softly in my seat. Not inter
The effect, however, is the same: total ested? I thought as much. STUDENTS: THIS
annihilation and a mess that others
have to clean up. It seems that this is Finally, for fear of being labeled as one YEAR'S GRAD
not in the least a reasonable option. who can deconstruct without construct
ing, tear down without erecting, and BALL DEPENDS ON
But is the only available alternative to criticize without perfecting, I now offer
inquire of the train why it must travel so a prescriptive element to my analysis. You!
quickly and fiercely toward the poor, There is "third way" to solve the emerg
stranded individual? It strikes me as ing Participation CrisisTM that I would
odd to think so. With admirable like now to briefly introduce. It's called by Megan Cowan and Lisa
alacrity, the individual who is both co violence.
Smith (LAW Ill)
gent of her circumstances and aware
that they must change will bound off There's a lot of talk in law school about Hello to everyone, and a BIG congratu
the tracks, thereby sparing herself and "pedagogical method" and "engaging lations on reaching your final semester!
the passengers of the train the trouble with the sources". I would personally Returning to the Faculty for the last
of a collision. Similarly, Jane Law Stu like to hear more about a pedagogical time certainly brings about mixed emo
dent should elect self-awareness as her cane engaging with the backs of stu tions, and what better way to finish off
means of redemption. Step aside, and dents' motherfuckin' skulls. That's your three, three-and-a-half or four
watch the train roll by. This will prevent right, cold, merciless, and violent blows years here than a huge party?
crushing defeat, and allow the passen delivered by well-trained faculty to de
gers to arrive on schedule, unencum serving students. This open, honest di In the next week or so, you will receive
bered by her twisted remnants. If, from alogue will engender a sense of a survey about the biggest end-of-term
a safe distance, she feels the need to camaraderie amongst the Silent Major party there is - the Grad Ball. The sur
inquire why the choo-choo train shuf ity who stay in their seats and not in the
vey was designed by the Grad Ball com
fled by so quickly, she may well do so stretchers. It will likewise create a safe
mittee to make sure that this year's ball
on her own time. The paragon of effi space for non-intrusive and non-obnox
will be the best one the faculty has ever
ciency, she will both be knowledgeable ious questions, leaving un-whacked
seen, and for that we need your help!
(for having inquired after class) and ap students with a greater sense of accom
pear knowledgeable (for having kept an plishment for having avoided injury.
With the extreme cold of late, it might
appropriate air of intellectual disinterest
seem difficult to think of spring and the
in class). Given reality's tendency to Not convinced? I invite you to examine
end of the term - but in order to get
take a back seat to perception, she will the empirical evidence outfitted by his
things rolling, we need to hear what
only gain ground. This is thus in no way tory. Consider the Pythagorean theo
YOU want at YOUR graduation ball.
an exclusionary measure. It simply fa rem. It's perfect, right? Well, Hippasus
Afraid the ball will conflict with your
vors inclusion on sustainable terms. of Metapontum didn't think so. So
plans to write the Ontario bar? Let us
Pythagoras drowned his sorry ass. Par
know! Dying for a seven-course meal?
It is clear that the bubbly Shelsen thus tisans of irrational numbers have been
Tell us! Don't have much money to
fares no better than our curmudgeonly afraid of water ever since. Frankly, as
spend on tickets due to 4+ years of stu
friend Mr. Bottomer. Where he trusted far as I'm concerned, this is both Just
dent loans? We want to know! Our sur
blindly in a reductionist economic and Proper.
vey will touch on all of these aspects
model, she merely pretended that such
(and more!), and there will be plenty of
factors do not exist. In response to her
extra space for you to fill in any other
rhetorical "What is the point of selecting
comments or suggestions you might
well-rounded, accomplished students if
have.
we have to check those things that con
tribute to our qualifications at the
The committee promises to do our best
door?", I humbly submit that I am an
to take all of your ideas and preferences
accomplished yodeler (twice decorated,
into account when organizing this year's
you bet your life) and will be glad to
ball. Obviously, we can only do so if you
demonstrate my uncommon gift the
actually tell us what you want in the
next time Professor Poindexter is mid
survey, so PLEASE take a few minutes
way through a half-way interesting
to fill it out and let us know what you
thought, or about to dismiss the class.
think - we think the ball will be that
I shall continue to do so until I am sat
much better because of it.
isfied, and release the class from its po-
4
20 JANVIER 2009
i n n o c e n t
•
llbu "lr.lnt to help 111·o~fully cotTVict.ed pers;ons p1·ove theu· innocence_ Join Innoce.r-e Uo:iill.
You h01ve until this 'Red ne sd..y 01t 5p m t:o 01 ppl y: innocence .l01:4"8=i 1 -~ill ..c01
continued from page 2 ... When people I am trying to brush it off, believe me. (I'd you? Alrighty then ...
refer to students who came from CEGEP as like to apologize to my friends who have to
"CEGEP kids" it bothers me. When people hear me complain about this quite often!) What is this undercurrent at the faculty that
tell me I missed out on undergrad and that stigmatizes CEGEP students? What did we
they wouldn't have came in from CEGEP, I But what really gets me are the things I do to warrant such attitude? Sure, we are a
get offended (do you not think that we have hear year after year about the new group of few years younger. Yeah, we don't have an
thought about that when we were deciding students. Someone came up to me this fall undergrad ... but am I missing something
to come here?). I honestly cannot get and told me that they were not going to here ...h ow does that have anything to do
passed it. I start to see discrimination in vote for a particular student in elections be with the rest of the students? If anything,
places where maybe there wasn't any. For cause the candidate was from CEGEP. ARE that is something that could disadvantage
instance, while I was organizing Orientation YOU KIDDING ME? And why on earth are us (in terms of say, writing experience) and
2007, I introduced myself to a guy in first you telling me that when I am a CEGEP stu advantage the rest.
year and we had that same conversation dent who happens to be an elected execu
that I was talking about earlier, and as soon tive member of the LSA? I would like to say this on behalf of all my
as I told him I was from CEGEP, he turned co-cegepien(nes) that what you say, the
his head and spoke to someone else. This One of my favorite CEGEP 'single-outs' is in comments that you make, the looks you
really hurt me, honestly, is being 2-3 years regards to the JD/LLB issue that is going on. give, we hear them and they stick with us.
younger than someone THAT bad? Fortu If you go to the website that was put up So what if we are a couple of years younger
nately, this guy ended up being a friend of there is a little survey there indicating the than you, we deserve to be here just as
mine and he probably doesn't realize how different options that students would like to much as anyone else does. We had to work
his actions hurt me. see. One of the choices is "J.D./B.C.L. for hard just like you all did to get here. Now
students with undergrad degree and that we are here (and for some of us, we
Another example of my complex getting to LL. B./B. C. L. for former CEGEP students." have now been here longer than you), it
me is when I introduced myself to a transfer When I saw this I nearly peed my pants! doesn't matter where we went to school or
student, who happened to be from Mon Last time I checked law students at McGill when our birthdays are, as soon as we
treal, and the fact that I was from CEGEP Law with a CEGEP background did the 105 walked through the library doors in August,
came up (come on, that was like 3 years credits like everyone else, and learned both a clean slate was made and we were all in
ago!) and before she said anything else, she the common and the civil law ...s ome people the same boat, whether or not people
said "Oh, so you're like really young," and I actually think that we shouldn't be able to wanted to acknowledge it. Law school is
felt like she was looking down to me. I AM get the same distinction as our peers. ARE stressful enough as is and the CEGEP Com
22 not 12!! YOU KIDDING ME? plex just adds a whole other layer.
You'd think that after three years I'd kind of But I must tell you that my all-time favorite My point is that we are all in the same place
get over it and try to brush it off my shoul CEGEP insult was when someone told me right now, feeling the same things. We are
ders when I hear side-handed remarks that I was a bad, unskilled and inexperi learning the same things and looking for the
about "CEGEP kids" and how we don't de enced president because I was from same jobs. We are your equals, not your
serve to be here, that we are too young and CEGEP!? Really? Is that all you got? That is subordinates. It would be great if both sides
take all the "good" grades. Most of the time why I am not good at my job, a job that I could just wake up and realize that.
people say things like that to me not think have been involved with for three years, be
ing/knowing that I am actually from CEGEP. cause I am a couple of years younger than
5
Qu1o Nov1
LE MoUVEMENT McGILL FRAN<;AIS
by La Commission des Affaires francophones (Hugues Dore-Bergeron, Alana Boileau,
Arnelie T. Gouin, Faizel Gulamhussein)
a
Lettre ouverte la rectrice de I'U reau des Etudiants de Premiere Annee saire de ce mouvement representerait
njversite McGill, Heather Monroe et des cours de langue sont offerts aux pour elle un moment ideal pour demon
Blum, concernant son appui a la membres du personnel desirant parfaire trer son soutien au bilinguisme. Son
celebration du 40e anniversaire du leur franc;ais. Aussi, de potentiels appui serait pen;u comme un geste con
a
Mouvement McGill Fran,ais changements la loi 15 du Recueil des cret de cooperation. Notre seul desir est
droits et obligations des Etudiants pour de collaborer dans la commemoration
Madame la Rectrice, raient bientot permettre aux etudiants d'un mouvement qui a eu des resultats
de remettre tout travail ecrit en positifs sur !'institution qu'est I'Univer
Le 28 mars 1969, plus de cinq mil per franc;ais. Cet article pourrait meme, site McGill.
a
sonnes ont manifeste devant l'entree du grace l'amendement propose par la
a
campus de I'Universite McGill afin d'ex Doyenne la vie etudiante (Mme Jane Nous vous demandons, Madame la
iger que celle-ci prenne plus en consid Everett), se retrouver sous peu dans Rectrice, de repondre aux questions
eration le fait qu'elle sied au cceur d'une tous les plans de cours. suivantes afin de nous eclairer sur votre
province francophone. Cet evenement, position :
on peut dire, fut le debut d'une ouver Toutefois, on ne peut se permettre de
A A
ture de plus en plus significative de la baisser les bras. bien des niveaux, le 1. la lumiere des repercussions posi
part de !'administration de l'universite bilinguisme de McGill est encore tres tives que le mouvement a eues sur l'u
envers le franc;ais. fragile et necessite qu'on adopte des niversite, est-ce que !'administration
mesures supplementaires afin de le ren soutient l'idee de celebrer le 40e an
Bien que le mouvement visait d'abord forcer. Les reponses du premier vice niversaire du Mouvement McGill
la francisation de !'institution, il est au principal executif adjoint (etudes et vie Franc;ais?
jourd'hui clair que ses repercussions etudiante) aux questions concernant
a
furent bien differentes. On ne parle plus l'etat du franc;ais McGill presentees au 2. Est-ce que !'administration voit en cet
de nos jours de la francisation de I'Uni Senat en decembre 2006 temoignent anniversaire une source de motivation
versite McGill. Par contre, l'idee de don d'ailleurs de la volonte de !'administra qui encourage le maintien et !'ameliora
ner davantage de place au franc;ais, tion de continuer de travailler a son tion de l'etat du bilinguisme a l'univer
elle, demeure. amelioration . Les representants de !'in site?
stitution semblent done, eux aussi, au
S'il est difficile d'identifier une per courant de !'importance du maintien Madame la Rectrice, nous attendrons
sonne comme en etant la genitrice, on des efforts. Le contraire serait etonnant impatiemment votre reponse a ces
a
peut neanmoins en rattacher !'emer dans la mesure ou bien des egards, la questions. Nous nous ferons un plaisir
a
gence au Mouvement McGill franc;ais. presence du franc;ais McGill de vous lire et d'engager un dialogue
Effectivement, peu apres les manifesta represente une force pour notre univer constructif avec vous.
tions imposantes de mars 1969, l'uni site. Cela augmente son prestige sur la
versite prit des mesures, timides mais scene internationale et represente une Veuillez agreer, Madame la Rectrice,
concretes, qui representaient les pre richesse indeniable qu'elle peut utiliser !'expression de nos sentiments les plus
miers pas d'une ouverture envers le pour attirer des etudiants ou des pro distingues,
bilinguisme. Des la session d'automne fesseurs de l'etranger. Finalement, il ne
1969, !'administration proposait un plan faut pas oublier que McGill fait partie
quinquennal qui visait l'accomplisse d'une province dont la langue officielle La Commission des Affaires
ment d'un meilleur equilibre entre le est le franc;ais et dont la grande ma francophones
a
franc;ais et l'anglais l'universite, entre jorite de la population est francophone.
autre en tenant de faire en sorte que
Hugues Dore-Bergeron
l'integrite de !'administration soit
C'est dans cette optique que la Com Alana Boileau
bilingue et que 20% des etudiants in
mission des Affaires Francophones Amelie T Gouin
scrits soient francophones.
(CAF) organisera un evenement, au Faizel Gulamhussein
mois de mars, afin de celebrer le 40e
Les annees passerent et les mesures
anniversaire du Mouvement McGill
positives devinrent de plus en plus sat a
franc;ais. Nous nous adressons done 1 Proces Verbal de la reunion du Senat
isfaisantes. Aujourd'hui, par exemple,
!'administration afin d'ouvrir un dialogue du 6 decembre 2006
l'universite met a la disposition des etu a
constructif par rapport au fait franc;ais
diants francophones un assistant au Bu-
McGill. La celebration du 40e anniver-
6