The Tribune TUESDAY, JANUARY 30 2024 | VOL. 43 | ISSUE 16
Published by the SPT, a student society of McGill University
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EDITORIAL
FEATURE
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Cutting corners in higher education must be avoided at all costs
Canada’s housing crisis has been decades in the making
PG. 5
PG. 8-9
Endometriosis and mental health: A novel study on the silent battle PG. 7
(Brian Chang / The Tribune)
‘Legally Blonde’ features stellar vocal performances, a great sense of humour, and a whole lot of pinkPG. 14
Discovery of asbestos in Arts building disrupts ‘Legally Blonde’ production, worries students Students cite lack of clear communication from administration over the closure Lily Cason Managing Editor
O
n Sunday, Jan. 21, students in the Department of English received an email from their chair, Professor Erin Hurley, who shared a Jan. 19 announcement from Facilities Management and Ancillary Services (FMAS). The announcement ex-
plained that plaster debris found at the back of the stage in Moyse Hall had tested positive for asbestos, a carcinogenic material used in construction between 1930 and 1990. The message specified that several spaces in the McCall MacBain Arts Building—including the stage (room 165A), room 165, room 165C, room 100, and part of the basement—are off limits as testing continues and FMAS does “remediation work.” This announcement comes after Mc-
Catching up with Shakespeare McGill’s annual Shakespeare Lecture explores new facets of the Bard Kellie Elrick Staff Writer
I
n 1592, the bubonic plague hits London. It isn’t the first time, and it won’t be the last. Theatres—including the Globe—close for almost half a year. William Shakespeare writes King Lear.
In 2020 (cautioned groan), Jessica B. Hill is slated to play two Shakespearean heroines at the Canadian Stratford Festival: Helen in All’s Well That Ends Well, and Lady Anne in Richard III. Stratford cancels the season (spitting on Colm Feore is against CDC Guidelines). “I put my scripts
under the couch,” Hill said during the lecture. “I couldn’t look at them; that’s how much it hurt.” As we enter a different stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are forced to reckon with how a return to live performance has changed how we view theatre—and what a world without it would lose. PG.13
Gill closed three buildings at the Macdonald Campus early last year due to the discovery of asbestos, prompting McGill’s Internal Audit unit to look into the handling of the situation. The investigation culminated in a report, 25 recommendations, and the creation of a task force. Unlike last year’s asbestos-related closures, no university-wide message has been sent about the Moyse Hall closure. PG. 2
Delving into the world of sportswashing engulfing pro-sports Exploring sportwashing and its utilization by organizations and countries alike Sara Escallon Sotomayor & Marco Zeppilli Sports Editor & Staff Writer What is sportswashing? Sportswashing has been the buzzword of choice for Western com-
mentators in the sports world for the last three years. In rapid succession, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign Public Investment Fund (PIF) acquired Newcastle United in Oct. 2021 then bought into the top tier of men’s professional golf via LIV Golf, the PGA Tour,
and DP World Tour merger. Then, the 2022 World Cup was held in Qatar. To top it off, Saudi Arabia nationalized four soccer teams in their own SaudiPro League, providing the league with limitless cash and newfound access to top-tier talent. PG.16