Tag: Awareness

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News

The World March of Women’s fifth action concluded this Sunday

Protester chanting slogans in megaphone during the 2021 Montreal International Women's March on October 19.

Marchers chanted “Equity is Possible through Diversity” as this year’s focus was on the rights of Indigenous and marginalized women

Montreal’s Coalition of the World March of Women (WMW) held a march this Sunday Oct.17, concluding the fifth international action which, this year, emphasized the rights of Indigenous women.

Marchers wore red, a symbol that shows solidarity for missing and murdered indigenous women and girls. Red scarves were given out by event organizers at Cabot Square Park before the march departed at 1 p.m.. The crowd chanted “Equity is possible through diversity” during the speeches, right before taking off for the march.

Protesters of all ages, backgrounds and genders chanted and marched down Saint-Catherine Street to the beat of hand-held drums.

The WMW was a feminist movement that initiated in Quebec after the Bread and Roses march in 1995 to combat the growing impoverishment and violence against women.

The movement was “born of the desire to unite women of the world around a common project,” as stated on the official WMW website, and grew to “an international feminist action movement connecting grass-roots groups and organizations working to eliminate the causes at the root of poverty and violence against women.”

The first international action happened in 2000 and has since occurred every five years. Beginning on March 8, International Women’s Day, and closing on Oct. 17, the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, the WMW holds a series of events to put forward and raise awareness for their demands.

The fifth action was projected to take place in 2020, but the Coordination du Québec de la March mondiale des femmes (CQMMF) decided to postpone it due to the pandemic.

The WMW regroups activists and women’s groups in Montreal. But, it is also just one part of a global movement. Diana Lombardi, coordinator for Réseau d’action des femmes en santé et services sociaux, an umbrella group for women’s groups in Montreal, explained: “When we sit down and think about what themes to bring up for the march, we ask ourselves: how can what we are doing in Montreal support and make space for women’s voices who are less heard?”

Nakuset, executive director of the Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal, highlighted why the WMW is fighting for Indigenous women’s rights. “We’re still facing no clean water in Iqaluit, we’re still facing missing and murdered Indigenous women, we’re still facing poverty, we’re still facing homelessness, we’re still facing our children being apprehended in youth protection.”

“We learned this summer that there are over 6500 children in mass graves, therefore we need your help,” she said.

This year’s march was organized around five major themes: a strong sense of solidarity and the demands of indigenous women, poverty, violence against women, climate justice, and the rights of immigrant, racialized, and migrant women.

Lombardi was also on Montreal’s WMW coordinating team for this year’s actions. “Our goal is to speak more to the population that it is possible to make changes […] and what we are suggesting is good for all communities, not just a few. We are thinking of a society with less violence, cleaner spaces, less poverty, and a place for all people” said Lombardi. “How can we not fight for that?”

The poverty theme assesses the growing impoverishment of women by asking decent livable wages. “The housing crisis in Montreal is making it harder for women to come out of poverty, which makes accessing clean and affordable housing more difficult,” said Lombardi.

Montreal’s Rental Market Report for 2020 highlighted that the average rental prices on the Island of Montreal went up 4.2 per cent in 2020, which has been the largest increase since 2003.

The WMW is also demanding more recognition of violence against women. Femicide has been discussed by Quebec media more than ever since the start of the pandemic. In 2021, 16 women in the province of Quebec were reported murdered through acts of domestic violence, with an alleged 17th case on Monday.

Lombardi adds, “the housing crisis in Montreal is not helping women who are experiencing domestic or interpersonal violence looking for a safe place to be.”

She also notes that immigrant, racialized, and migrant women “who might not have high status” and “who are trying to be included in Montreal and in Montreal’s society” are failing to be noticed by the city.

“Can we recognize that we have a problem with systemic racism?” she asked.

 

Photograph by Lou Neveux-Pardijon

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Student Life

Tech your discrimination elsewhere

From left to right: Behrmann, Palluet, Gendron, Godoy, Testaouni. Photo by Elisa Barbier

Queer Tech MTL hosts a panel on identifying as LGBTQ+ within tech industries

Getting together. Networking. Breaking free from isolation.

This is what Queer Tech MTL is all about. It’s a group that invites people who self-identify as part of the tech and LGBTQ+ communities to gather at monthly events.

The meetings, which started in October 2016, explore elements of the workplace for members of the LGBTQ+ community. They also offer many networking opportunities.

Attendees arrive for the panel. Photo by Elisa Barbier

On Jan. 18, the group gathered at the Keatext office in the Mile-End. Keatext is a text analytics app that helps businesses quickly review customer feedback.

At the meeting, attendees were welcomed with snacks and beverages to hear about “creating the authentic self at work.” Luc Plamondon, who has worked at Keatext for four years now, offered up the space to Queer Tech MTL.

Queer Tech MTL was launched in September 2015 by Naoufel Testaouni, who was soon joined by Jason Behrmann. Testaouni has been working for tech companies on and off over the last five years, and is now a customer experience manager for the data services company, Local Logic. Behrmann completed a PhD at McGill, focusing his research on assessing the social and ethical implications of technologies in healthcare for the LGBTQ+ population. He now works as a communication corporate strategist for FinTech.

Testaouni said the idea for Queer Tech MTL came when he found himself looking for the LGBTQ+ community within tech corporations, but was unable to find anyone. Queer Tech MTL is made up of 400 members who attend events on and off.

“We encourage startups to come, to learn how to promote diversity in their companies,” said Testaouni.

The meeting featured a panel composed of Marie Isabelle Gendron from Pratt and Whitney Canada, Carlos A. Godoy L. from TD Bank and Elodie Palluet from Keyrus Canada. Before starting, Behrmann presented the crowd with statistics on the LGBTQ+ community within the tech world.

“Nearly half of transsexuals do not get promoted, hired or get fired,” said Behrmann. “And, 63 per cent of graduate students go back into the closet when they get a job.”

The panelists discussed their experiences with coming out at work. Gendron said Oct. 7, 2014 was “like a day of resurgence” for her. That was the day she came out as transsexual at her job.

When reminiscing about her experience, she said she remembers it was a shock for her boss, but she was accepting of her nevertheless. It was a big challenge, Gendron said. “Being transsexual is not a choice, but coming out is the choice to live,” she said.

Godoy came out while working for TD Bank. He said TD bank is known for their support of LGBTQ+ clients and employees. “I have it super easy—I am a white French-Canadian, born in Montreal. I am a man mostly interested in men, and I am a banker,” said Godoy. However, he said he has, nonetheless, lived through instances of discrimination in the workplace. He recalled once being called “the drag queen” by one of his former employers.

Testaouni introducing the panelists. Photo by Elisa Barbier

Palluet said she had a more complicated coming-out experience. She has had to resign from two positions because of her boss’ behaviour. Now, however, Palluet said she is at a job where she does not experience discrimination.

The panelists described the tech environment in Montreal as “very friendly” and “young.” However, Katherine Chennel, an aerospace engineer who attended the meeting but is not a member of Queer Tech MTL, told The Concordian she experienced something very different when she came out while working at Bombardier. She said she was coincidentally offered a retirement package soon after coming out as transsexual.

The panelists also discussed measures taken by their corporations to further integrate the LGBTQ+ community in the workplace. Gendron said she has seen Pratt and Whitney take measures to help all employees of the community feel safe, and she has received a lot of support. The company has psychologists to educate people in the workplace and implement anti-discrimination policies.

“I want my employees to be happy at work,” said Godoy, quoting William Edmund Clark, the executive chief of TD. Godoy added that TD sent a controversial and revolutionary memo in the early 90s to all its employees. The memo read, “We know that there are gays and lesbians. Some of you may have a same-sex partner, and we want you to know that your partner is entitled to the same things as another employee’s wife or husband.”

Attendees during the panel. Photo by Elisa Barbier.

Gendron talked about Fondation Émergence, an initiative to educate the public on the LGBTQ+ community and the problems they still face today. The initiative will be presenting a documentary showcasing the LGBTQ+ community within three different companies in two months. Palluet added exposing the problems the community still faces is an important part of the education process.

Godoy, Palluet and Gendron concluded by saying that listening to oneself and being one’s authentic self are the keys to living a happy life.

The next Queer Tech MTL event will be held on Feb.16 at 5605 Ave. de Gaspé, second floor.

Categories
Student Life

Raising trans awareness on campus

The trans awareness workshop took place at Concordia’s Centre for Gender Advocacy on Sept. 20, as part of QPRIG’s “Disorientation Week” Photo by Ana Hernandez

A workshop hosted by QPIRG dedicated to trans terminology and acceptance

A trans awareness workshop, organized as part of the Quebec Public Interest Group’s (QPIRG) “Disorientation Week,” took place on Sep. 20 for students and other individuals interested in gaining more knowledge on issues surrounding today’s transgender population.

Gabrielle Bouchard, peer support and trans advocacy coordinator for Concordia’s Centre for Gender Advocacy, hosted the workshop and introduced the participants to the vast world of transgender identity.

Transgender is a term used to describe a male or a female who identifies with a gender that does not correspond with the gender they were assigned at birth, she said.  Bouchard added that the prefix trans- means “from one thing to another.”  In the case of “transgender,” it would mean from one gender to another.  As for the difference between transgender and transsexual, Bouchard explained that transsexual is a term that was first invented by medical practitioners to identify trans-individuals who had undergone a sex reassignment surgery or other medical interventions, such as hormonal replacement therapy.  

Bouchard also touched on the misconceptions that exist for transgender individuals. According to Bouchard, today, many experts and medical professionals still believe that transgender people suffer from a mental illness and that “you need to be cured from it.” She provided the example of certain medical professionals at the Montreal General Hospital who still participate in “conversion therapy.” She explained that these professionals believe these “therapies” are the best solution to “cure” transgender individuals.  

Bouchard said she hopes the next step in the trans conversation would be to ban “conversion therapy” for trans patients. She highlighted the importance of education and understanding since there are still people who express transphobic beliefs.

Photo by Ana Hernandez

“The trans 101 workshop is hugely important because we do have trans students here at Concordia. [The Centre for Gender Advocacy] is a queer magnet for students who come to Concordia … they might have a better [chance of] acceptance for who they are than in other spaces. By giving this workshop, we are giving safer spaces for students who are part of marginalized communities,” said Bouchard.

Bouchard mentioned that not all individuals who come to the Centre for Gender Advocacy are students—many non-students who are also part of the trans community come to the centre to seek help.

Bouchard emphasized the importance of respecting a person’s chosen name and pronoun as part of their identity. “Don’t presume gender [and] don’t be a passive bystander when you see transphobic stuff around campus. Be the voice of these identities,” she said. Respecting someone’s identity is the foundation to accepting trans people. If someone prefers to be called by a different name or pronoun, Bouchard said it is important to support them. “That is the one thing that is always denied for trans people. Just respect that and you will do a world of difference.”

If you are a transgender or non-binary individual looking for support, feel free to contact the Centre for Gender Advocacy, located at 2110 MacKay street near Concordia’s downtown campus, or Queer Concordia, located at 2020 MacKay street.

 

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Arts

More than a show of puppy love

Upcoming art show pits local artists against breed-specific legislation in Montreal

If every dog has its day, then Montreal’s pit bulls deserve next Saturday. On September 24, over forty artists in favour of a different kind of “anti-bullying” initiative will display original works celebrating the maligned breed at Pit Bull: An Art Show.

Dedicated to “Quebec’s misunderstood dogs,” the event aims to counter negative stereotypes associated with bully breeds—dogs that share a muscular body, broad head, and short fur with a common ancient ancestor. According to show organizer, Lindsay Campbell, half of art sale profits and all refreshment sale profits will support Sit With Me Shelter Dog Rescue, a volunteer-run organization dedicated to saving, rehabilitating, and rehoming abandoned dogs most at risk for being put down.“The dog-loving community of Montreal has been so overwhelmed with bad news that we really need a positive night to celebrate our dogs, and the love we all share for them,” said Campbell.

Breed-specific legislation (BSL), proposed by Mayor Denis Coderre this summer following a fatal dog attack, may soon make it illegal to own not only pit bull-type dogs, including American Staffordshire terriers, Staffordshire bull terriers, and American pit bull terriers, but also pit bull mixed breeds and those with similar physical builds, like bull terriers and bulldogs. If BSL moves ahead, public muzzling and sterilization of bully breeds will become mandatory in Montreal by early next year.

“Putting a muzzle on my boy will instantly give people the wrong idea, and they won’t want to stop and say hello to him anymore,” Campbell said. “They will fear him and this breaks my heart…because he thrives on attention. He will still try to give kisses and his tail will wag, but he won’t understand what he’s done to deserve this punishment.”

The possibility of having to treat her dog like a danger to the public prompted Campbell to contact fellow canine-loving artists and curate the show. “I knew I needed to do something. Art is all I have to offer… Art is powerful and I hope our efforts can create positive change,” she said.

By bringing together locally and internationally acclaimed artists who use a wide swath of mediums, Campbell hopes to remind viewers of the beauty, diversity and individuality of bully breeds. If public opinion doesn’t visibly sway against BSL, thousands of healthy, happy, and temperamentally-sound pit bulls, and bully breed mixes, could lose their lives because of the way they look, she said.

Starchild Stela, a graffiti artist, illustrator, and zine maker best known for their feminist street art, agreed. “I’m ashamed of my city… Montreal has big problems with animal welfare,” they said, referencing the Berger Blanc shelter animal abuse controversy, and increasingly high number of stray and abandoned pets.

From top left clockwise: Lindsay Campbell, MC Baldassari, Starchild Stela, Sophie Garmand

“I am incredibly sad to think about the repercussions a [pit bull] ban will have on communities.” Starchild Stela plans to contribute a series of femme-presenting characters interacting with their dogs to the event, in an effort to “spark discussions, encourage folks to take action, and even adopt if considering it,” they said.

 

Participating freelance illustrator and muralist, MC Baldassari, is focused on capturing the dignity of the underdog. “I want to make a positive and beautiful representation of a pit bull, highlighting what cute and kind dogs they can be,” she said. “They’re not the villains that are portrayed in the media… we want to propose another way to see them.”

Pit Bull: An Art Show opens on Sept. 24 at MainLine Gallery (3905 St Laurent) from 5 p.m. – 11 p.m. and will run through Sept. 28. For more information visit the Facebook Event.
Disclaimer: A few statements in this article were edited for clarity and accuracy. The Concordian regrets its error.

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News

Marching in memorial of the missing and the murdered

Montrealers stand in unity with aboriginal women

Over a thousand people withstood the grim weather on Oct. 4 to politicize public space, signal their solidarity, and create greater awareness of the disproportionate rates of violence experienced by Canadian aboriginal women.

Founded nine years ago by Bridget Tolley during attempts for a public inquiry after a  Sûreté du Québec cruiser killed her mother, Gladys Tolley, in 2001, the Memorial March and Vigil for Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women held each Oct. 4 has become the national day of action for missing and murdered indigenous women and girls. This year over 130 vigils were held across the country, united in publicizing the plight native women face in receiving adequate help and, for those beyond help, justice.

‘‘I find it important as a white woman to come support the struggle of native women even though I am aware that it is they who must lead this fight,’’ said Meggie Huot, an intern at the Quebec Women’s Federation.

Photo by Andre Ivanov.

The RCMP lists the number of confirmed missing and murdered native women at 1,181 cases since 1980, though the actual number is almost certainly higher;  native activists and organizations put the number at nearly 3,000 cases.

The RCMP stated in a report released in May that although native women form only 4.3 per cent of the Canadian population, they account for 16 per cent of female homicides and 11.3 per cent of disappearances. In the press release for the march, a report by Amnesty International is quoted, stating that indigenous women in Canada “five times more likely than other women to die as the result of violence.’’

Few ever gain any significant coverage, though nne noticeable difference was the murder of 15-year-old Tina Fontaine in Winnipeg last summer, which shook Canada into a renewed call to action and caused Liberal leader Justin Trudeau to start a petition for a public national inquiry.

Montreal’s march, which began at Place Émilie-Gamelin and walked to the Parc des Amériques on the corner of Rachel St. and St. Laurent Blvd, was organized by Missing Justice, a chapter of Concordia’s Centre for Gender Advocacy, in collaboration with Quebec Native Women.  Fittingly, at one point it passed the mural for missing and murdered indigenous women on the corner of Ontario St. and St. Laurent Blvd., recently painted by artist Fanny Aishaa with Monk-e and GUKO in 2014. The event ended with a candlelight vigil and the ritual of sharing tobacco. The CGA’s Promotions Coordinator Maya Rolbin-Ghanie put the number at over 1,300 people attending the march.

According to Alana Boileau, justice and public security coordinator for Quebec Native Women, the march allowed members of the public to pay their respects and demonstrate their solidarity with victim families. It was also a way to learn more about the demands for a public national inquiry, which the Harper government has so far refused to respond to, and an opportunity to increase awareness of the difficulties native women face every day. Volunteers distributed postcards made by Amnesty International to raincoat-clad groups demanding an inquiry from the Harper government.

For those inspired to take action, Boileau suggested different ways to get involved. Politically, the Quebec Women’s Federation has made mobilization kits available online for Canadians wishing to write a letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper and other politicians asking for a public national inquiry. Another way to get involved is by simply interacting with First Nations individuals and local communities in and around Montreal.

‘‘The struggle of indigenous women is the struggle of all women. To ask for a public inquiry is a question of dignity for women and indigenous peoples. Also because it touches every woman in Quebec,’’ said Françoise David, spokesperson of Québec Solidaire, who was just one among other prominent speakers who joined Tolley.

Also in attendance were Viviane Michel, president of Quebec Native Women, Alexa Conradi, president of the Quebec Women’s Federation, and Mohawk activist and artist Ellen Gabriel. Two Montreal-based musical groups, Buffalo Hat Singers and members of Odaya, performed at the event.

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News

CUPA walks for mental health

Psychology Association wants to see mental illness accepted

The sixth edition of “Montreal walks for mental health” took place this Sunday, Oct. 5, and for the second time the Concordia Undergraduate Psychology Association (CUPA) decided to take part.

A dozen Concordia students — four of which were CUPA executives — joined a total of 2,000 or so people who came under the banner of the Montreal walks for mental health foundation’s mission to fight the stigma surrounding mental illness. The walk allows the foundation to raise awareness and collect funds, giving them the opportunity to support various initiatives that offer services to people dealing with mental illness. The walk progressed for several kilometers and began downtown at Phillips Square.

In preparation, CUPA organized a two-day bake sale last week, with all money raised donated towards the event.

A number of students came to express their enthusiasm and support towards the initiative. “It was really amazing to witness the extent of people that came out to support mental illnesses. We are extremely proud of the amount of donations we were able to raise, and all the positive energy and words of encouragement we received,” said Elizabeth Duong, CUPA president.

“Today, awareness and education should be our priority. Our biggest challenge is to support families who live with mental illnesses through support groups. They also need assistance to help them use the right resources in the medical system,” said Annie Young, former president of Action on Mental Illness Quebec.

According to the organizers, one out of five Canadians will experience some form of mental illness during their lifetimes. Their objective is to eliminate the prejudices and stigma surrounding mental health problems and allow people to feel comfortable talking about them and seeking help when they need it without the fear of discrimination.

Grievances with the current state of things were shared at the march. Participants complained the health care budgets for mental health aren’t adequate to meet the needs. In the crowd, a Concordia counsellor mentioned how students tend to feel ashamed, and she stated that seeking mental illness treatments shouldn’t be more stigmatized than, for instance, seeking cancer treatment.

“As psychology students, the lack of awareness about mental health and the stigma associated with it is something that we gear our education and careers towards. The walk was an excellent chance for our students to meet and network with numerous individuals that felt the same way,” said Duong.

“The walk proved there is hope for victims and that they are not alone. This is the second year that CUPA participated in the walk, and will certainly not be the last.”

Before next year’s walk, make sure to pass by the Mental Health Awareness fair of Concordia, which will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 8, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the EV building.

Categories
News

Polar bears bike for Greenpeace campaign

Greenpeace calls on preservation of fragile Arctic

Dressed-up cyclists rode in cities all around the world this weekend — including Montreal — as part of Greenpeace’s Arctic campaign.

Despite the rain, about 50 people met Saturday afternoon in Laurier Park for the Ice Ride organized by the non-governmental environmental organization. After decorating their bikes and dressing up as polar bears, the riders went along a 12 km ride hoisting 16 letters spelling “Sauvons l’Arctique” (save the arctic).

Greenpeace’s main demand is creating a sanctuary in the Arctic region. “The idea is to create around the North Pole, an area free of oil exploration and fishing,” said Charles Latimer, Greenpeace’s Arctic campaigner. “Climate change impacts the Arctic more than any other ecosystem. [The] Arctic is a climate stabilizer for the planet. If the Arctic changes, we are all affected.”

This ride followed the International Declaration on the Future of the Arctic launched in 2013 by Greenpeace. The declaration explains what the protection of the Arctic should be and was signed by well-known Canadians like David Suzuki and Margaret Atwood and will ultimately be presented to the leaders of the Arctic Council as well as to representatives at the United Nations.

“Definitely, [the Ice Ride] is a people’s mobilization targeted to our politicians and the leaders of the Arctic states as well as the entire world,” Latimer said. The Ice Ride happened in 150 towns around the world; Thailand’s efforts brought 1,200 people in Phitsanulok and created one of the biggest showings.

“We did a poll this summer that showed that three-quarters of people wanted the Arctic protected,” Latimer said.

A participant in the Montreal’s ride, Elisabeth Segura, said, “It is important here because Canada has a big part of the Arctic, we are very affected for everything happening in the Arctic; anyway I believed it is important for everybody, Arctic changes affect the climate in the whole world.”

The wind and rain did not encourage a lot of Montrealers to ride for the Arctic Saturday. Noe Lizarazo, one of the participants, was a bit disappointed by the numbers. “I think unfortunately we need more publicity for the environment for people to start realizing we need to do something,” he said. “As part of the industrial world, we are the more contributing to global warming so it is an obligation to do something.”

The Ice Ride in Canada also supported Inuit communities. Greenpeace helps residents of Clyde River, Nunavut. The National Energy Board gave a licence for seismic testing in Baffin Bay that will have an impact on marine mammals, according to the Inuit community. “We want to share their story,” Latimer said. “Often indigenous people are at the forefront of climate change or industrial development and often they are left with any say on that is happening on their lands.”

Categories
Arts

Walk a mile in someone else’s shoes

Exhibit makes you understand what living with a disability is really like

A big part of the way we live our lives is a question of perspective.  How do you see yourself, the people surrounding you and what you do with what you have? What we call empathy is one of the most beautiful and crucial emotions that human beings are capable of.  Yet, we often forget to think about how other people perceive and live through our world.

See ____ through my eyes tried to palliate to this scarcity of shared understanding. The exhibit organized by Concordia’s Access Centre for Students with Disabilities (ACSD) presented a unique way to get a glimpse into someone else’s way of life. The artists were all Concordia students registered with the ACSD. Together, they created a mosaic of testimonies about how they experience life–probably a little differently than others. Still, messages of hope and determination that were associated with the photos and pieces of art showed that most of them did not let their disabilities define who they are.

The artists presented understandings of their own disabilities. Photo by Frédéric T. Muckle.

What could have been an exhibit about difficulties and differences turned out to be more of an affirmation of one simple fact of life: how you are born and how you grow up to be should not define who you are; the way you see and live your life should.

As Paul Tshuma, one of the artists of the exhibit, explained in a note by his art, “I may be disabled, but my ability to live life to the fullest is not limited.”

Still, various parts of the exhibition showed and described how certain disabilities may affect one’s day-to-day routine.

It may be confusion for some, others may have trouble with daily tasks, and some may be forced to continuously adapt to their illness.

Nonetheless, most of these statements also bring up one very important necessity: one should never be determined by his or her disability.

After all, are we not all subject to bad experiences in our lives? This does not mean that the weight and seriousness of a disability or illness can be lessened by the everyday anxieties of the average John and Jane Doe.  But in the end, it is possible for anybody to overcome a problem with a bit of help and a lot of determination.

To quote artist Christina Tricarico, “you determine your path, not your disability.”

See ____ through my eyes made an attempt of raising awareness by allowing the people concerned by these issues to share what it really is like dealing with a disability or an illness. It successfully achieves its goal.  It also was definitely more creative and enjoyable for the viewer than dry descriptions and numbers explained by people in white blouses. Fortunately, this kind of participatory creative project seems to be a growing trend, according to the ACSD.

The exhibition can also be seen simply as an opportunity for students to express themselves. Painting, photography and writing can allow the artist inside us a way to better understand ourselves. It also can be used as a form of catharsis. It can help us live through difficult moments of our lives. People need ways to deal with reality, and art, in all its forms, can help.

Azalia Shahidi Kaviani successfully described this in the note accompanying her work: “I found deep peace in my heart in art. That is also one of the reasons why I started to paint. When I paint, I feel like flying like a bird in the heavens.”

Let’s be honest, at some point in our lives we all deserve to be able to let go. Especially when you are a living example of courage and determination, just like the talented artists of See ____ through my eyes.

For more information about Concordia’s Access Centre for Students and possible upcoming events, visit the concordia.ca/students/accessibility.

Categories
Opinions

Fighting tooth and nail against sexual assault

Undercover Colors nail polish, picture above, is said to help prevent sexual assault. Photo by Undercover Colors.

Is nail polish the answer to the rape culture epidemic?

Could a manicure prevent someone from being raped?

According to a group of undergraduate students from North Carolina State University, the answer is yes. They have perfected a clear coat nail polish which changes color when in contact with the most common types of date rape drugs (such as Rohypnol, Xanax and GHB). The invention, named Undercover Colors, is being heralded by the popular media as the best way to protect women. Others, however, warn that such an invention is born of a culture which does not understand rape and will ultimately blame the victim for the crime.

Rape, or sexual assault, is often thought of by the public as an act committed by mysterious strangers, sometimes with the aid of drugs. According to Julie Michaud, Administrative Coordinator for The Centre for Gender Advocacy, this perception is deeply flawed. Most cases of sexual assault are perpetrated by someone the survivor already knows and may only use alcohol to inhibit the victim. In such instances, the survivor is not likely to consider testing their drink or to find any drugs at all.

Undercover Colors nail polish, picture above, is said to help prevent sexual assault. Photo by Undercover Colors.

Even in a crowded bar, surrounded by strangers, such a detection system may be dodgy at best. It is unclear at present how elements such as wear and tear will affect the nail polish or how long it will work after the initial application. This product may end up working more due to the media coverage it has received rather than the ability to detect substances. A woman tipping her finger into her drink is not a very subtle gesture and may serve as a deterrent.

Unfortunately and realistically, what this does is train rapists to adapt and evolve as well. Michaud points out that the nail polish will probably cause drug producers to find new drugs which cannot be detected. Although this may take several years, it undoubtedly will happen. In the interim, predators will simply monitor the actions of their victim more closely.

Further, such a media stir will ultimately place the responsibility of sexual assault on the survivor. Society’s message to women is to “make sure the perpetrator targets someone who isn’t you,” according to Michaud. If someone is raped, the question becomes more about why they were not wearing the right nail polish, dressing modestly, or participating in any number of activities portrayed as preventing such behavior. Such a stance ignores the fact that a predator will select a new target, or find way to circumvent any protective measures taken in order to impose their will upon another.

No one doubts the good intentions of the team that invented Undercover Colors, its portrayal as the best defense against rape is deeply flawed. The issue is not the invention, but rather the way our society understands sexual assault.

Michaud summarizes the current situation well: “Amazingly, we almost never hear about innovations to teach people not to rape such as creating a comprehensive sex and consent education program in all elementary and high schools, or implementing mandatory consent workshops in universities, workplaces, and other organizations.”

As much as society interprets it as otherwise, the main problem with cases of sexual assault is not what the survivor didn’t do, but what the rapist did do.

Categories
Student Life

Sex, drugs… not rock n’ roll

Date rape drugs are a very present danger.

Campus fun can get out of hand— especially during Orientation week where some frosh activities may include alcohol.

You might have one too many drinks. Let’s be honest—it happens. You are a froshie, running from bar to bar across Montreal with your new fellow classmates, filling and emptying your plastic cup. Beer is cheap.

There are drinking games like Kings Cup or Slap Cup, where odds are that you will walk away covered in booze. And even if you don’t drink alcohol and are merely having a pop with friends at a local bar, date rape drugs are more common than you might think.

The well-known ones are Rohypnol, GHB, and Ketamine. Maybe you are more familiar with the terms, “Special K,” “Party Drug,” or “Roofies.” These drugs have become known for their ability to incapacitate someone, allowing the attacker to commit crimes, such as sexual assault, robbery, and/or physical assault. Quite often, these drugs are both odorless and colorless.

Ketamine can be a clear liquid or a white powder. It’s actually still used to sedate children and animals for minor procedures. In large doses, according to the Office on Women’s Health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (OWH), it causes an “intensely dreamy feeling or deeply detached, hallucinogenic state.” This state is known as the “K-hole” because it might be difficult for the user to talk or move.

Rohypnol, on the other hand,  is usually found in tablet form. The white pill is small and round, and when slipped into your drink, it dissolves and becomes invisible, according to OWH.

Thirdly, according to the same source, GHB looks like water when in liquid form.

I think you get the point. It is not always helpful to know what the pills and powders look like, especially when they tend to be so discreet. They do not swirl around your drink with a banner that reads: “I am spiking your drink.” Most of the time, they are unnoticeable before the first symptoms, which start to kick in after 15-30 minutes.

Symptoms include, but are not limited to, the inability to think and judge clearly, difficulty moving, visual problems, nausea, confusion, and memory loss. Blackouts. All symptoms that could otherwise point to simply having had a few drinks too many.

“I’ve never felt so sick in my life,” said a Concordia student, who wishes to remain anonymous. She had rohypnol slipped in her cocktail at a bar. “I couldn’t stand and could barely move, and was throwing up constantly for over 24 hours, which is what’s scary if you go home with someone. You literally cannot leave your bed.”

In 2008, a study was conducted in the University of Windsor, which investigated the effect of voluntary and involuntary drug use in sexual assaults. A total of 280 undergraduates, 143 men and 137 women, were chosen at random from the participant pool in the Department of Psychology. April L. Girard and Charlene Y. Senn, the pioneers of this study, discovered that a total of 7 per cent of women reported “having men attempting to engage in or engaging in sexual intercourse against their will by giving them drugs or alcohol,” and a total of 3 per cent of men admit to “using these tactics to induce women to have sex against their will.”

Most people are aware that Ketamine, Rohypnol and GHB are considered date rape drugs, but so is alcohol.

“Any substance that is administered to lower sexual inhibition and enhance the possibility of unwanted sexual intercourse is potentially a date rape drug,” according to an article from the US National Library of Medicine, entitled “Drugs-facilitate date rape.”

In 2001, The Canadian Federation of Students reported that 90 per cent of the sexual assaults reportedly experienced by Canadian female students involved alcohol.

“I never leave [my drink] unattended for the reason that I do not want anyone to put anything in it,” said Evgenia Choros, a Concordia student.

“The crazy thing is that I was watching my drink all night, the guys my friends and I were talking to must have slipped the rohypnol in in a split second when I looked away,” said the Concordia student who chose to remain anonymous. “And they seemed like totally normal, nice guys too.”

So stick by your drink. Don’t make it easy for someone to slip something in it. Give it to a friend to watch over before racing off to the bathroom or outside for a cigarette break.

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