January 19, 2016

QUID
NOVI
Journal des étudiant-e-s
en droit de l’université McGill
Published by the McGill Law
Students’ Association
Volume 37, no 10
19 janvier 2016| January 19, 2016
QUID
NOVI
QUID NOVI
3644 Peel Street
Montréal, Québec H2A 1X1
[email protected]
http://quid.mcgill.ca/
http://www.quidnovi.ca
EDITORS IN CHIEF
Nathan Cudicio
Alexa Franczak
Hyacinthe Huget
LAYOUT EDITORS
Peggy Giordano
Marie-Pier Gauthier
Chen Yu
ASSOCIATE REVIEWERS
Kaishan He
Lindsay Little
Elspeth McMurray
Shy Shalev
Andrew Stuart
Kayla Tink
Journal des étudiant-e-s
en droit de l’université McGill
McGill Law’s Weekly Student Newspaper
Volume 37, no10
19 janvier 2016| January 19, 2016
What’s inside ?
Quel est le contenu ?
ÉDITO
3
WHO THEN, AT THIS FACULTY, IS MY NEIGHBOUR?
4
peer-to-peer perspectives
6
Mini-conférence BLG sur la recherche étudiante à la Faculté
de droit – appel de propositions
7
BLG Student Research Mini-Conference – call for proposals 7
What’s Up? A Look into your Executives’ Accomplishments 10
Questions entrevue McGill Law Fashion Show Committee 12
STAGE D’ÉTÉ À EQUITAS MONTRÉAL: CALL FOR APPLICATIONS WITH
THE INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS INTERNSHIPS PROGRAM
14
Disability Seminar Series
14
What Our Curriculum Still Needs
16
Assisted Reproduction: Navigating the Criminalization of
Commercial Surrogacy and Reacting to Unexpected
Situations
17
The ABC’s of the Examination and Evaluation Committee
18
Dear Mister 2L
20
Projet de sensibilisation à un enseignement non sexiste
21
Overheards
23
COLUMNISTS
Charles Daoust
Hyacinthe Huguet
Lindsay Little
Suzanne Zaccour
Want to talk ?
Tu veux t’exprimer ?
Envoyez vos commentaires ou articles avant
jeudi 17h à l’adresse : [email protected]
Toute contribution doit indiquer le nom de
l’auteur, son année d’étude ainsi qu’un titre
pour l’article. L’article ne sera publié qu’à la
discrétion du comité de rédaction, qui
basera sa décision sur la politique de
rédaction.
Quid Novi is published by the McGill Law
Students' Association, a student society
of McGill University. The content of this
publication is the sole responsibility of
the McGill Law Students' Association
and does not necessarily represent the
views of McGill University.
Contributions should preferably be submitted
as a .doc attachment (and not, for instance,
a “.docx.”).
The Quid Novi is published weekly by the students of the Faculty of Law at McGill University. Production is made possible through the direct support of students. All contents copyright 2015 Quid Novi. Les opinions exprimées sont propres aux auteurs et ne réflètent pas nécessairement celles de l’équipe du Quid Novi. The content of this publication does not
necessarily reflect the views of the McGill Law Students’ Association or of McGill University.
Co-Editor-in-Chief
ALEXA
FRANCZAK
First Editorial of the Semester
Happy 2016!
Welcome back to a new and exciting semester.
I hope that everyone has recovered from the pleasant surprise, or disappointing shock, of last semester’s mid-term and final
grades.
As you will see in these pages, the next few months are filled with engaging lectures, events, and articles to keep you interested
in the ongoings at the Faculty.
While we prepare ourselves to complete another grueling semester, there are a few things that you should keep in mind.
Last semester, the Quid Novi partnered with the Affidavit, the journal of students in law at UQAM, to ask:
Le problème d’accès à la justice au Québec, aussi tabou qu’il soit, ne peut plus être refoulé ou ignoré. Le Comité
d’action sur l’accès à la justice en matière civile et familiale, pour ne nommer que lui, fait un rapport inquiétant
de ce problème à l’échelle pancanadienne.
En tant que juristes ou futurs juristes, il est légitime que nous adressions cette question qui teinte la profession
juridique. Proposer des pistes d’approche à cette question est un point de départ à exploiter.
We hope to publish an edition with articles from both Faculties addressing this question in February. Please send any articles to
[email protected] by February 1. Note that English articles will not be published in the Affidavit, however authors may choose
to have their articles translated into French for publication in the Affidavit.
As always, I encourage you to submit items to the Quid Novi. Unfortunately, last semester submissions were low and several
issues of the Quid were cancelled due to a lack of content.
The Quid is published for the benefit of the Faculty and students, so please take advantage of it. Content is not limited to lawrelated topics, so feel free to share whatever is on your mind. Anecdotes and experiences, responses to articles, fictional stories,
anonymous love letters – all of it can be published. We are especially interested in having editorialists contribute on a regular
basis. Items must be submitted before Thursday at 5:00pm for publication on the following Tuesday.
Do not forget that we are accepting Overheards – so if you overhear anything a little amusing from your fellow colleagues (especially from professors), please submit them for publication.
You can either email them to [email protected], or submit them anonymously through a google form posted on the Quid Novi
Facebook page.
We are always open to feedback on the Quid. If you have any comments on the content, constitution, or production of the Quid
Novi, please get in contact with us. The same applies if you would like to get involved with the production of the journal.
Continue to read the Quid Novi, discuss it with other readers, and pass it around. The success of the Quid depends on dedicated
readers like you!
Finally, the last issue of the Winter 2016 semester will be published on March 29.
Good luck!
QN • 19 jan 2016 • 3
QN • 24 NOV 2015 • 3
WHO THEN, AT THIS FACULTY,
IS MY NEIGHBOUR?
ANONYMOUS
Submitted November 2015
I am in my final week of law school and this will be my first
and last submission to the Quid. Let me say from the start that
never in my time here have I lost sight of the privilege that it
is to be a member of this faculty. McGill has a solid reputation
both in Canada and around the world and I feel very privileged
to have attended this institution for my law degree. I have no
doubt that it will open doors for me and I don’t regret coming
here. It has been a humbling experience; I have grown a great
deal these past few years and I am grateful for it. I am also
proud to have been a part of this student body and can say
without hesitation that I have been surrounded by bright, ambitious, and good people. I am aware and thankful for this. I have
also made some very good friends here and know who they
are now. Yet, in spite of this, I have some reservations about
the atmosphere at this faculty. I write this piece to express my
observations, which I recognize are mine and mine alone and
may not be shared by all of you. I write this not to express my
grievances but to express something I would like to see change.
Yes, we are busy. Yes, it’s hard to make time. Yes, I also have
other people to see. But how far does this excuse go? For how
long will we say that we are too busy to be a good friend?
More than just the ephemeral nature of relationships, I have
witnessed some situations that stunned me.
I resigned from a senior position on a law journal at the end of
last year. I was effectively bullied out by one of the other chairs
and resigned before the end of my term because I couldn’t take
the disrespectful work atmosphere anymore. I also left because
this relationship was affecting my health. Besides leaving a
project I had worked hard to build with others, it was painful to
watch the indifference of many of my peers on the journal when
I left. One of whom had taken a step back from the journal
himself for personal reasons and who had been someone I had
reached out to in the past, but who did not express that much
concern at the time of my departure. Only one person replied
when I announced my resignation and no-one really checked in
In coming to this faculty, I recall being impressed by its focus on on me afterwards besides a transition meeting or two. Sure it
pluralism - transsystemia; students coming from Cégep alongwas awkward for everybody, but that silence was rough for me
side students with Masters degrees; anglophones and francoand akin to indifference.
phones; people from Montreal and others from elsewhere in
Canada and around the world. This is more than can be said
I
for the majority of other law schools in this country, be they
in Quebec or elsewhere. Being a bilingual person with a mixed
heritage, I thought I would feel at home in this environment. Instead, I noticed very quickly that these denominations, as much
as they may constitute the student body as a whole, are actually
separate groups of people who interact with one another within
their denomination as opposed to interacting with people from
different groups, as I had imagined. McGill is a cliquey place.
I challenge the assumption that this law school is a community.
A community, to me, is a group of people with differences, but
also one where there is reciprocity and continuity in relationships. What bothers me about this faculty is the ephemeral
nature of friendships and relationships. I have noticed several
times that my friends were those in my classes but once the semester was over, so were those friendships. Maybe it’s just you,
you say? Well, maybe I had something to do with that, yes - but
I did try to maintain many of those relationships afterwards yet
many still faded, much to my chagrin actually.
QN •
19 jan 2016
•4
use this example because all of those concerned by the above
situation are McGill law students. It was an isolated situation
and I am over it now but still, I am sure some of us have suffered from others’ indifference as well. I think it is indicative of
an underlying indifference to others’ wellbeing at this faculty
and I cannot say this more clearly - it’s not right.
concept to a duty to care in this context - not something that
can be actionable in court, but something to be strived for.
What scares me is that I know that I am not alone in this
turmoil. I have run into more than one law student at McGill
Mental Health and have had conversations about it on some
occasions with others. I’ve also noticed that many of us feel as
though we need to deal with these issues alone and the stigma
surrounding mental health often prevents us from opening up
and seeking help. That is why I write this here rather than in
a Quid edition devoted to mental health that only some will
read. I think the number of law students suffering from mental
health disorders are surprisingly high and I know that many are
triggered by the environment at this faculty. I know this can be
changed.
It is my last week of law school and I would regret not saying
this before I go. I have no doubt that we will all graduate with
different recollections of our time in law school, but I hope
that those graduating in the years to come will remember this
faculty as being a supportive community. That memory starts
while you are still here - strive to make this a better community
now, for yourselves and for those around you who inevitably
will go through some hard times and who will be needing support.
We owe it to each other to look out for one another. We do.
We’re not good at being a community that really cares, but I
think we could be and should be. Here is my advice to those
who have just started and who are still here: keep in touch
Putting aside this unfortunate resignation, I am also sensitive
with your friends, ask them how they really are, be authentic
to the atmosphere at this faculty because I have gone through about how you’re really doing, do not judge and above all
a hard time here and I know it would have been easier if I had show that you care. However this might be, show it, act, be a
felt better supported. Though I have been functional and never good friend, and strive to make this place a better community.
had to take time off because of it, my mental health has been There is so much we don’t control in this world, but improving
an all too familiar issue for me these past few years. I was
this community is within our reach right now and we should
diagnosed with dysthymia, or persistent mood disorder, at the strive to do so.
end of my second year. I am doing much better now but most
of my time here has felt like a dark spell. This is not the most
I have made mistakes with people, I have not always been
severe mental health condition, I acknowledge that, but still - the friend that I am describing, but I have also tried my best
loneliness, low self-esteem, low confidence, mood swings, and these past few years to keep in touch with those who matter to
feeling marginalized by my peers and by the political climate
me, to return the help I’ve been given by upper years, to give
have been my reality here and culminated in repetitive suicidal advice, and to encourage others to carry on even when it gets
thoughts and plans. I recall having these thoughts every day,
tough and to pass along opportunities when they came along. I
several times a day, for months.
invite you to do the same.
I have so much gratitude for many people here and it seems
fitting to end this piece with a few thank you’s to people who
made a difference to me... Though there would be many more
people I could thank, I would like to extend my profound gratitude to Professors Helena Lamed and Shauna Van Praagh, two
of the faculty’s most unsung heroes, who are truly committed
to change and to their students in their own unique ways, and
who inspired me to carry on this path. Thank you.
Most of us reading this have read Donoghue v Stevenson, and
all of us will have read that case by the end of this year. “Who,
then, in law, is my neighbour?” The infamous saying by Lord
Atkin is a quotation that has been used time and time again to
illustrate the difficulty in extending, applying, and restricting
the common law duty of care. Forgive me for being so academic and for bringing up unpleasant memories for some, but And now that all is said and done, it is time to say goodbye,
this is a concept we can all relate to and I find it fitting to use to McGill.
analyze our fragmented community. I would reword this legal
QN • 19 jan 2016 • 5
Weekly Submission
Law
peer-to-peer
program
Peer-to-Peer Perspectives
Perspectives du programme de soutien des pairs/Peer-to-Peer Perspectives
In our weekly series, Perspectives, we’ll be writing about our experiences at the Faculty and what helps us relax, manage stress, and
stay connected. If you have a topic you’d like to see in Perspectives, let us know during our office hours or send us an email at peer.
[email protected].
- Maxime, Stacey, Stefanie, Farnell, Jared, and Melissa, Members of the Law Peer-to-Peer Support Program
Coping with Grades Day
By Stefanie Cardarelli and Melissa Moor
Grades day can be overwhelming for many students (ourselves included!). No matter what you saw on Minerva on Friday, you
should be proud of yourself for completing the first semester of law school. If the semester didn’t go as well as you had hoped,
what is most important is how to move forward.
Knowing that everyone handles receiving their grades differently, we would like to suggest a few ways to cope with, and learn from,
your grades:
First, don’t feel like you need to talk about your grades with your classmates. Sometimes discussions at the faculty can contribute
to unnecessary stress. In 1L, my friend group and I decided not to share grades for this reason.
Second, remember that 1L midterm grades are not worth very much. This was your first time writing law exams, a new kind of
evaluation that it took all of us a while to get used to.
Finally, you still have plenty of opportunity to learn and grow. What matters most is that you learn from your first exam experience
and figure out which study habits work best for you. Maybe writing notes by hand works for you, or maybe you learn well by
drawing diagrams. Your experience with December exams can help you figure out which study habits to keep and which to throw
out. Remember that you can take a look at your exams at the SAO until February 2nd, which can provide helpful feedback.
QN •
19 jan 2016
•6
Mini-conférence BLG sur la recherche étudiante à la
Faculté de droit
– appel de propositions
Préparez-vous un travail dirigé ou un essai de recherche pour un cours pendant cette session d’hiver? Avez-vous
rédigé un essai l’été ou l’automne dernier? Cette initiative vous permettrait d'acquérir de précieuses expériences et
de partager vos idées avec vos collègues et vos professeurs. Elle est parrainée par Borden Ladner Gervais, organisée
par le Centre Paul-André Crépeau de droit privé et comparé, et coproduite par l’Institut de droit comparé, la vicedoyenne à la recherche et le doyen
Quand et où ? Vendredi 1er avril 2016, de 14 h 30 à 17 h 30 (y compris un vin d’honneur), à la Faculté de droit
Qui y est admissible ? Des étudiants des premier, deuxième et troisième cycles
Comment pourrais-je soumettre une proposition ? Préparez un résumé de 150 à 200 mots sur l’argument de votre texte
(et non pas la toile de fond juridique) y compris son titre. Envoyez cela par courriel au professeur Robert Leckey avant 17 h le
vendredi 19 février 2016. Utiliser comme sujet de votre message « Conférence sur la recherche étudiante : proposition »
Et si je travaille plusieurs textes ? Personne ne sera invité à présenter plus qu’une fois. Si vous soumettez plusieurs propositions,
les organisateurs peuvent en choisir une.
Les organisateurs donneront des nouvelles à tous ceux qui soumettent une proposition, que celle-ci soit retenue ou pas. Nous
distribuerons des conseils pertinents aux présentations dans le cadre d’un colloque scientifique.
Pour plus de renseignements, veuillez svp appeler le professeur Leckey au (514) 398-4148.
BLG Student Research Mini-Conference
– call for proposals
Are you writing a supervised term paper or research essay for class during this winter term? Did you write a paper
last summer or fall? Get valuable experience presenting your work and enjoy sharing your ideas with colleagues and
professors by participating in this event, sponsored by Borden Ladner Gervais, organized by the Paul-André Crépeau
Centre for Private and Comparative Law, and co-sponsored by the Institute of Comparative Law, the associate dean
(research), and the dean.
When and where: Friday 1 April 2016, 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. (including wine and cheese), at the Faculty of Law
Who’s eligible? Undergraduate and graduate students
How do I submit a proposal? Prepare an abstract of 150–200 words that summarizes your paper’s argument, rather than the legal
background and include the paper’s title. E-mail these to Professor Robert Leckey by 5 p.m. on Friday 19 February 2016. Use
this subject: “Student Research Conference – proposal”
What if I have more than one paper on the go? No student will present more than once. If you include more than one proposal
in your e-mail submission, the conference organizers may choose one.
Conference organizers will notify all students, whether or not their proposals are accepted. We will distribute tips on presenting in
a conference setting.
For more information, please telephone Professor Leckey at (514) 398-4148.
QN • 19 jan 2016 • 7
chrlp
Disability Seminar Series
Le Disability Seminar Series est de retour et il y aura deux séminaires ce semester! The theme of this year’s seminar is ‘Liberty
and Security of Persons with Disabilities: Rhetoric and Reality’.
Le troisième séminaire est intitulé Involuntary Confinement and Involuntary Treatment. This session will engage with the rights
violations associated with involuntary placement and involuntary treatment and identify strategies for limiting their use.
Date: le 25 janvier
Heure: de 13h à 14h30
Lieu: NCDH 202
Please RSVP to [email protected] by January 20th.
QN •
19 jan 2016
•8
QN • 19 jan 2016 • 9
LSA President
What’s Up?
VincentPierre
Fullerton
A Look into your Executives’ Accomplishments
While our stomachs are still stuffed and our minds are empty
after the well-deserved winter break, I wanted to take a moment to divert your attention to something other than academics: your LSA. Often, amid the frenzy of schoolwork, we forget
that we have a team of nine dedicated student executives who
volunteer insane amounts of time and energy to ensure that
student life at the faculty is as thriving as possible. They do an
amazing job, which I felt the urge to share with you. Here is a
short update on what your executives have been up to this past
semester.
Charlotte Bernèche – VP Administration
Charlotte est en charge de vous communiquer toute l’information de l’AÉD. Certains ne le savent pas, mais c’est elle qui vous
envoie, deux fois par semaine, ces fameux Listserv. Elle est également en charge d’organiser et de prendre les procès-verbaux
de toutes les réunions du conseil de l’AÉD.
série d’événements les plus apprécié les uns que les autres, du
souper de bienvenue au Welcome Ball.
Enfin, en plus de reprendre les activités traditionnelles du LSA
(cueillette de pommes, cabane à sucre, etc.), Andrée-Anne a
innové en proposant la première édition du chalet LSA qui aura
lieu la fin de semaine du 23 janvier.
Raymond Grafton – VP Internal (Ongoing Events)
Ray is in charge of our beloved weekly coffeehouse. That
involves managing the beer inventory, securing the liquor permits, coordinating with clubs and ensuring that the event runs
smoothly overall.
With Andrée-Anne, Ray also contributed to the success of
orientation. His lively attitude and high spirits were just what
was needed to get every 1L in the proper mood. He organized a
wide variety of events, from the pub crawl to the several night
life events.
Le succès fulgurant de l’agenda de l’AÉD est dû à Charlotte, qui
a travaillé d’arrache-pied, cet été, pour en faire une version jolie
et utile. Les deux cents cinquante exemplaires ont été écoulés
Ray also organized the Malpractice and got our champs to bring
en moins de deux semaines. Charlotte a également pris l’initia- back the trophy to the faculty!
tive de créer un calendrier des événements, qui est affiché dans
l’atrium.
Brouk Negousse – VP Clubs
Si vous êtes membre exécutif d’un club, vous connaissez
Samuel Blair – VP Finance
assurément Brouk. Il s’occupe de tout ce qui touche aux clubs :
Sam is in charge of the LSA’s finance. Other than writing a
enregistrement, financement, organisation d’événements. C’est
million cheques and processing an equal number of cheque
également lui qui organise le fameux Clubs’ Day.
requisitions, he makes sure that budgets are respected and that
money is allocated properly.
Brouk a entrepris ce qui était longuement nécessaire : l’informatisation des formulaires pour les clubs. Plutôt que de noyer
Up to this point, Sam has done a great job in keeping the LSA
les clubs et l’AÉD dans la paperasse, il a créé des formulaires en
financially afloat. We are currently on budget and on track toligne pour l’enregistrement et les demandes de financement.
wards a balanced year. Sam also spent 3 days in a row in the LSA Cette amélioration considérable restera avec l’AÉD dans les
office while our accounts were being audited. His help during
années futures.
that process ensured that the audit was able to determine that
your money is well spent.
Valérie Olivier – VP External
Valérie represents the Law Faculty in various fora, most notably
Andrée-Anne Dion – VP Internal (Special Events)
the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) and the
Andrée-Anne organise tous les événements spéciaux du LSA, en Conférence des associations des étudiant.e.s en droit (CADED).
passant par la cueillette de pommes au chalet hivernal. Elle aide You probably know her best as the exec responsible for the LSA
également son homologue, Ray, dans ses tâches.
apparel.
La semaine d’orientation – qui a été grandement appréciée des In addition to being our very own VP External, Valérie is acting
premières années – n’aurait pas été pareille sans la contribution as the President of the CADED, which will hold its annual cold’Andrée-Anne. En coordination avec Ray, elle a su organiser une loquium at McGill on January 23 and 24. With the help of a dedi-
QN •
19 jan 2016
• 10
cated team, she has spent the last three months organizing this
General Accomplishments
huge event, which will host 300 students at McGill for two days In addition each exec’s work within their portfolio, the LSA Exec
of riveting conferences, socializing opportunities and great food. and LSA Council have worked together to achieve the following:
Anne-Sophie Ouellette – VP Academic
Anne-Sophie est presque en permanence dans des comités, à y
représenter vos intérêts. Voici une liste des comités où elle siège
: Conseil de faculté, comité d’implémentation de la réforme du
programme, comité du SAO, comité du curriculum, comité de
sélection du Doyen, etc.
Non seulement Anne-Sophie suit-elle assidûment la vie académique, mais elle prend également des initiatives. Elle défend
fermement la place du français à la faculté et prône la diversité
des cours. Anne-Sophie a notamment réussi à convaincre l’administration de créer un nouveau cours de droit autochtone, en
français. Elle travaille également à améliorer les services du SAO
et à développer de nouvelles politiques plus accommodantes.
Jia Bao Wu – VP Professional Relations
If you’ve been at a sponsored event, you’ve seen Jia Bao. As our
VP PR, he is responsible for everything relating to sponsorship
and the LSA’s relationship with donors. He also organizes many
of the sponsored events, such as conferences, and assists Ray in
the organization of sponsored coffeehouses.
•The purchase of much-needed new audio equipment for coffeehouses;
•The successful update and amendment of the LSA constitution;
•The creation of an Exchange Students Committee to bridge the
gap between exchanges students and the McGill community.
Projets à venir
Malgré l’impressionnante liste qui précède, l’AÉD a encore plusieurs projets en tête. Plusieurs me tiennent particulièrement à
cœur.
D’abord, grâce à l’initiative de Suzanne Zaccour et Lauren Phizicky, une nouvelle signalisation non-genrée désignera la salle
de bain pour handicapés du troisième étage. Ce sera la première
salle de bain complètement non-genrée de la faculté.
L’AÉD fera ensuite le ménage dans ses frais étudiants. Afin de
rendre votre état de compte de McGill plus transparent, l’AÉD
prévoit soumettre à un référendum plusieurs questions sur les
frais. Il sera entre autres question de renommer un frais et de
jumeler deux frais. Vous aurez également à vous exprimer sur
une augmentation des frais de l’AÉD pour palier la perte d’un
revenu annuel. Enfin, vous aurez à déterminer la destinée du
fameux fond 50,000$ destiné à la santé mentale.
In a context where firms are cutting their recruiting budget and
where the LSA’s sponsorship revenue has been declining year
over year, Jia Bao has accomplished the remarkable feat of
Ces projets ne sont qu’un aperçu de ce que nous réserve la derkeeping sponsorship revenue steady this year, as compared to
last year. He has done so by reaching out to new LSA partners to nière moitié de l’année scolaire. Et comme toujours, tout votre
exécutif est à votre écoute et prêt à vous aider dans vos idées et
diversify revenue sources.
vos projets. Je vous souhaite une excellente année 2016 et une
encore meilleure session d’hiver!
QN • 19 jan 2016 • 11
Co-Editor
Questions entrevue McGill Law
Fashion Show Committee
Nathan
Cudicio
Nathan
Je suis en compagnie de Véronique Saad, une étudiante de
2ème année en droit à McGill et aussi co-organisatrice de la
toute première édition du McGill Law Fashion Show.
Plusieurs de nos lectrices et de nos lecteurs sont familier.ère.s
avec le Fashion Show annuel préparé par la Faculté de médecine de McGill en collaboration avec la Faculté de dentisterie
; pas plus tard qu’en mars dernier nous avons eu la chance
d’assister à leur défilé intitulé Walk Proud. La question que nous
nous posons est légitime : qu’est-ce qui vous a incité à prendre
l’initiative d’organiser le tout premier défilé de mode des
étudiant.e.s en droit ? Serait-ce par chauvinisme vis-à-vis de nos
facultés sœurs ?
d'écoute pour les jeunes en difficulté. De plus, P10 organise
des rencontres individuelles et des accompagnements ainsi
que des "drop-in" en groupe sur une base hebdomadaire. Les
travailleurs de P10 sont aussi proactifs dans la défense des
droits de leurs participants. Par exemple, ils les aideront dans la
lutte pour un changement de nom ou de sexe, pour obtenir le
statut de réfugié, pour accéder à des chirurgies de changement
de sexe, etc. Voici que quelques exemples des services que P10
offre !
Cet organisme est incroyable, dédié et nous sommes convaincus
du bien-être que celui-ci sème. Par ailleurs, cet organisme bénéficiera grandement de toutes les donations effectuées. Nous
sentons que notre aide sera grandement appréciée, suite à des
discussions avec les représentants de P10.
Véronique
Haha, par chauvinisme je ne crois pas ! Je peux toutefois
Nathan
admettre avoir été présente au défilé qu'ils ont effectué l'année Sans nous voler la surprise, à quoi pouvons-nous nous attendre
dernière et l'avoir grandement apprécié. J'avais une grande
en terme de collections présentées cette année au McGill Law
envie d'en organiser un à mon tour ! Organiser un défilé de
mode était pour moi une manière de concilier mes intérêts
dans la mode tout en venant en aide à un organisme dans le
besoin. Mon équipe et moi (parce que vous vous doutez bien
que je ne suis pas seule dans ce projet) voulions aussi inciter
les étudiant.e.s de la faculté à s'investir dans ce projet. Nous
croyions pouvoir atteindre un public varié et nouveau. C'est
pourquoi nous avons fait un appel à tous pour être bénévoles
et/ou mannequins lors de la soirée. Nous sommes persuadés
que nous avons réussi susciter l'intérêt de plusieurs par la
variété d'un tel événement!
Nathan
Si ma mémoire est bonne, le défilé Walk Proud des Facultés de
médecine et de dentisterie avait pour objectif d’attirer l’attention sur la question des troubles de l’alimentation. De son côté,
le McGill Law Fashion Show Committee a plutôt jeté son dévolu
sur une cause quelque peu différente en choisissant de s’associer avec le Projet 10. En quelques mots, pourriez-vous nous
dire en quoi consiste ce Projet 10 et qu’est-ce qui vous a incité à
soutenir cette cause en particulier ?
Véronique
Projet 10 est un organisme qui vient en aide aux jeunes entre 14
à 25 ans qui sont lesbiennes, gais, bisexuel(le)s, intersexuel(le)
s, allosexuel(le)s, trans, bispirituel(le)s, ainsi que pour les jeunes
en questionnement. P10 offre de très nombreux services
gratuits et confidentiels. Par exemple, P10 a instauré une ligne
QN •
19 jan 2016
• 12
Fashion Show ?
quins-bénévoles ?
Véronique
Nous allons avoir une très vaste diversité passant par des chapeaux sophistiqués, à des collections unisexes, à des vêtements
provenant de friperies montréalaises à des vêtements de très
haute couture. Bref, nous allons en avoir pour tous les goûts.
Ce qui est génial, c'est que tous les designers sont montréalais
et les boutiques sont toutes à proximité de Montréal ce qui
permettra à tout.e étudiant.e d'aller s'en procurer si le désir les
empare !
Véronique
Oui nous avons cherché à avoir un nombre vraiment similaire
d'hommes et femmes pour être mannequins. Par contre, beaucoup plus de designers pour des vêtements pour femmes nous
ont répondu et ainsi, nous avons dû avoir un nombre de mannequins féminins légèrement plus élevé. Nous avons toutefois
contacté de nombreux designers qui produisent des vêtements
unisexes. Bonne nouvelle: nous allons avoir plusieurs vêtements unisexes, la plupart provenant de la compagnie MNWN!
Ce sera pour nous la manière de réduire ses barrières genrées.
Nathan
Ce n’est un secret pour personne : il y avait eu vent de controverse l’année dernière autour du Walk Proud qui, bien qu’ayant
fait la promotion de la diversité et de l’importance de l’acceptation de son corps, avait fait défiler des mannequins-bénévoles
qui ne représentaient pas convenablement la diversité du corps
estudiantin (littéralement et figurativement parlant) des Facultés de médecine et de dentisterie.
Nathan
Merci Véronique d’avoir répondu à nos questions ! Avant de
nous quitter, serait-il possible de rappeler à nos lectrices et lecteurs quand se tiendra le McGill Law Fashion Show et où est-ce
qu’ils peuvent se procurer des billets ?
Véronique
Bien sur! Le défilé se tiendra le 29 janvier. Les portes ouvriront
En ce sens, puisque la marque de commerce de la première
à 18:30 et le défilé débutera officiellement à 19:30. Suite au
édition du McGill Law Fashion Show semble être – corrigez-moi défilé, la soirée se continuera avec un DJ jusqu'à minuit. Les
si je me trompe – la destruction de certaines barrières entre les billets sont présentement en vente sur tilt à l'adresse suivante:
sexes en utilisant la mode comme moyen d’expression, avezhttps://www.tilt.com/tilts/mcgill-law-fashion-show-9960dcb9.
vous portez une attention particulière à ce qu’il y ait un certain
équilibre dans la représentation des sexes parmi les manneMerci beaucoup Nathan, et au plaisir de vous y voir là-bas !
QN • 19 jan 2016 • 13
STAGE D’ÉTÉ À EQUITAS MONTRÉAL:
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS WITH THE INTERNATIONAL
HUMAN RIGHTS INTERNSHIPS PROGRAM
IHRIP
The IHRIP is currently inviting students of all years to apply for a summer placement at Equitas Montréal. Ce stage se concentre
sur la promotion des droits humains à travers l’éducation, et notamment, sur l’organisation d’une importante réunion internationale de défendeurs des droits humains organisée par Equitas chaque année (the International Human Rights Training Program).
Please note that this internship is part of the International Human Rights Internships Program, which consists of 2 components: 3
credits for the summer semester and 3 credits in the fall 2016 semester. For more information, please visit the Program’s website
at https://www.mcgill.ca/humanrights/clinical/internships.
Le bilinguisme français / anglais est requis pour ce stage. De même, le ou la stagiaire devra posséder de fortes aptitudes de
rédaction. Interns must also be able to work under pressure and possess a certain facility for and confidence in the use of technology, including presentation software.
Please address your applications to Marika Giles Samson, Interim Program Director and submit your applications, consisting of a
CV and cover letter to: [email protected]. La date limite pour envoyer sa candidature est le 25 janvier à midi.
QN •
19 jan 2016
• 14
QN • 19 jan 2016 • 15
Law I
Matthew
Malone
What Our Curriculum Still Needs
Why have the designers of the curriculum let this happen? Here
I point the finger at faculty council, which recently reformed the
curriculum. Presumably, in their view, enshrining a guarantee
of passive bilingualism at the admissions stage does enough to
address this problem. True, bilingualism might be an indication
of academic ability. But requiring students to be bilingual in
admissions for a program that doesn’t require bilingualism in its
curriculum is illogical. It serves no purpose other than to favour
the bilingually-inclined in admissions. How many wonderful,
talented, but unilingual students are turned away from the proStudents in the undergraduate law program, according to
admission requirements, must be passively bilingual. According gram because they are not bilingual? How many of them would
have discarded French and taken all their courses in English,
to curriculum requirements though, they are not obligated
just as many of the “bilingual” undergraduate law students are
to take any courses in French. Many never do. For whatever
reason, passive bilingualism is a requirement in admissions but now currently doing at McGill? The height of this ridiculousness
not curriculum. An English-preferring student can finish 3/3.5/4 is that many “bilingual” students leave the faculty less bilingual
years at McGill Law with almost no exposure to French, save the than they came, since they don’t take a single class in French
odd plenary or reading assignment. This unique English privilege while here. In other words, admissions criteria are divorced
went unaddressed in the recent changes to the undergraduate from curriculum requirements. The curriculum needs to catch
up and be reformed accordingly.
law curriculum.
Why is bilingualism consistently neglected in our curriculum?
This may seem like a strange question; given the accent placed
on passive bilingualism in admissions, one may presume the
same goes for our curriculum. But this isn’t the case in practice.
When students choose their courses, there is no requirement
that they have a bilingual experience (i.e., take classes in both
languages). Students are able to take all their classes in English.
Such a possibility does not exist in French.
The bilingual aspect of our program is integral to the sui generis
transsystemic legal education at McGill Law. The merits of
bilingualism give our graduates a unique edge after graduation.
Furthermore, as a law school in Québec, it seems incongruent
that students are able to obtain a legal education completely
in English in this bilingual province. By neglecting the language
balance in curriculum and cosseting students in English, we are
sacrificing a distinct feature of the program.
QN •
19 jan 2016
• 16
There are obviously many ways to ensure, through curriculum
reform, that students are passively bilingual. An excellent place
to start would be obliging them, as part of a degree requirement, to enroll in a certain number of classes in both languages.
Law students here are already accustomed to choosing from
‘baskets’ to fulfill their degree requirements. They could easily
handle language baskets, too.
It is time for the faculty council to make changes that will correct this imbalance. Let’s show that passive bilingualism is not
just a facade, but a real mark of our legal education.
MJLH
ASSISTED REPRODUCTION: NAVIGATING THE CRIMINALIZATION OF COMMERCIAL SURROGACY
AND REACTING TO UNEXPECTED SITUATIONS
On February 6th, 2016 the McGill Journal of Law and Health will be hosting its 8th annual Colloquium on the legal and policy
issues associated with assisted reproduction in Canada.
The first panel will assess the Assisted Human Reproduction Act’s prohibition of commercial surrogacy and sale of reproductive
material. The second panel will explore how law and health practitioners might react to unexpected situations in assisted reproduction cases, such as situations where surrogates or intended parents change their minds or where there is suspicion of the
unlawful exchange of financial compensation between the parties.
Legislation and legal issues surrounding assisted reproduction are complicated and penalties are severe. This Colloquium will
shed light on the state of the law today, as well as potential ethical implications of modern assisted reproduction technologies
and policies from the perspective of doctors, lawyers, and bioethicists.
When: February 6th, 2016
Time: 10 - 14h
Where: McGill Faculty of Law, New Chancellor Day Hall, Room 100 (Moot Court)
Please RSVP at mjlhcolloquium2016.eventbrite.ca
www.mjlh.mcgill.ca
This seminar is accredited by a recognized provider for 3 hours of continuing legal education/ Formation d’un dispensateur
reconnu aux fins de la formation continue obligatoire pour une durée de 3 heures.
Speakers:
Sara R. Cohen is a fertility law lawyer, founder of Fertility Law Canada, and adjunct professor of law at Osgoode Hall Law School.
Sherry Levitan practices fertility and surrogacy law, acting on behalf of intended parents, donors, and surrogates.
Professor Margaret Somerville is a professor at McGill’s Faculties of Law and Medicine and was the founding director of the
McGill Centre for Medicine, Ethics and Law. She has consulted for international organizations such as the Global Programme on
AIDS (WHO), UNAIDS, and the UNHRC.
Professor Françoise Baylis is a professor at Dalhousie Medical School and holds the Canada Research Chair in Bioethics and Philosophy. Her current research focusses on women’s health and pays particular attention to assisted human reproduction.
Dr. Arthur Leader is an attending physician at the Ottawa Hospital, professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Medicine (Endocrinology) at the University of Ottawa, and founding partner of the Ottawa Fertility Center. He has advised provincial and federal
governments on policy issues related to assisted human reproduction.
Dr. Neal Mahutte is the Medical Director of the Montreal Fertility Centre and is past president of the Canadian Fertility and
Andrology Society.
Sponsored by the Students’ Society of McGill University & Post-Graduate Students’ Society of McGill University
QN • 19 jan 2016 • 17
the abc’s of The Examination and
Evaluation committee
Professor
Shauna Van
Praagh
Originally published January 2015
As the winter term begins and law students anticipate receiving fall term grades, I write in my capacity as Chair of the Law
Faculty’s Examination and Evaluation Committee (Members:
Professor Hoi Kong (Associate Dean Academic), Professor Allison
Christians, Ms. Nancy Czemmel (Director, Student Life and Learning), Ms. Léa Pelletier-Marcotte (LSA), Mr. Luigi Bruno (GLSA)).
averages are closely aligned (within 0.2).
As you know, work done by BCL/LLB students is assigned a letter
grade (A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, D, F), with each letter corresponding to an adjective (eg. A-: excellent; B: good, C: competent).
For the purposes of calculating a class average, or a student’s
grade point average, each letter grade is matched to a grade
point value (from 0 to 4). For LLM/DCL students, work is also
assigned a letter grade but, following university guidelines for
graduate studies, those letters are matched to percentages,
and students must attain at least a B- grade in order to pass a
course.
What does this insistence on consistency mean for individual
students? When a student receives a “B+” in a large course,
that grade not only signals ‘Very Good” work but also “above
average” work. A “B” grade indicates “Good” work and thus
“average” work in the extraordinary student cohort to which
you all belong: it signals strong knowledge and understanding, the ability to synthesize and apply what you’ve learned,
and solid development of capacities underscored throughout
a course. For graduate students (LLM/DCL), work must be
“Reasonably Good” (B-) in order to pass a course. For BCL/LLB
students, work that indicates “Competence” (in the “C” range)
will be sufficient to pass.
Why articulate expected class averages? As student members
of the Committee emphasized last year and again this year,
consistency is important across the courses offered in the
Faculty. Over the past year, and continuing this past fall, the
Committee has reviewed the existing guidelines, clarified them,
The Committee is engaged in two related projects over this
and insisted on their application. We let instructors know that
academic year. The first is to improve transparency and commu- course averages in “small” courses usually go up to a 3.2, with
nication with respect to evaluation and grading guidelines at the 3.49 as a maximum upper limit; in “large” courses, averages
Faculty. The second, mandated by last year’s Faculty Council,
are expected to go up to a 3.0, with 3.14 as a maximum upper
is to review and make recommendations related to processes,
limit. We also let them know that course averages usually do
purposes, and forms of evaluation of student work in the Faculty not go below 2.7 and would need special justification to do so.
of Law. This submission to the Quid is primarily related to the
In 2013-2014, reported grades – reviewed and approved at the
first; that is, it is meant to share with students the grading
Faculty’s “Marks Meeting” at the end of each session, prior to
guidelines and standards followed by all course instructors, and release to students - showed general consistency across courses
to improve understanding of the “what”, “how” and “why” of
(B average in “large” courses in which the average is reported on
grading and assessment at the Faculty.
student transcripts; B to B+ in “small” courses).
Instructors are reminded every session that there is no prescribed curve or imposed grade distribution for any course. But
they are expected to submit course averages that comply with
the parameters set out by Faculty Council and overseen by the
Examination and Evaluation Committee. For courses with an
enrolment over 25, the average is expected to fall between a
B- to a B; in those courses, the average grade (from all sections
of a course given in one term) appears on your transcript. For
courses with an enrolment of 25 or under, the average is expected to fall between a B- and a B+; no class average is reported
on your transcript. Further, instructors teaching different
sections of the same course are asked to ensure that their class
QN •
19 jan 2016
• 18
Finally, first year law courses and students have a two-step
grade reporting system. The average course grade for work
done in the fall semester, reported to Faculty Council in January,
is typically a “B-”. By the end of year, the average usually goes
up to a “B”; in other words, as is to be expected, the work done
by students in first year law courses improves significantly over
the year. First year law professors invest much time and energy
providing individual and collective commentary and guidance, in
order to ensure that students understand their grades and learn
from the formal assessment of their work.
This brings me to a concluding, and probably the most important, point with respect to the grading and assessment structure currently in place at the Faculty. Students expect meaningful feedback on their work. This is particularly important at the
mid-year point in first year, but all students, whether halfway
through a course or after the course is completed, are invited
to review their exams and assignments in order to better
understand the quality of their work and whether and how it
met course requirements and the evaluation criteria used by
instructors.
The Committee hopes that this description will help students
better appreciate the grading and assessment structures currently in place at the Law Faculty. Léa and Luigi, the student
members of the Committee, will add their perspectives below.
As for our second, and major, project of the year – that is,
reviewing the processes, purposes and forms of assessment
and evaluation with the objective of providing recommendations tied to the curricular renewal project at the Faculty – the
Committee has been busy reviewing relevant literature in
pedagogy/education and learning from a study of systems at
comparator law faculties undertaken on our behalf by Teaching
and Learning Services at McGill. The trajectories for inquiry
that we are exploring include the following:
•Combination and relationship of norm-referenced and criterion-referenced assessment systems.
•The range of forms of meaningful feedback (formal and informal) for students in large and small classes.
•Relationship between internal grading systems and external
communication via academic transcripts.
•Connections between feedback, assessment, and grading
within faculty-articulated guidelines, and the development of
capacities and knowledge from year to year in our programs of
legal education.
•Implications of change for professors, students, and faculty
programs.
We always welcome ideas – whether through formal consultation or informal conversations. As Committee Chair, I will
ensure that Léa and Luigi have support in turning to you and in
incorporating your input into our continuing work.
All the best for a very happy 2016 - and for a winter semester
full of good challenges and inspired learning!
•Purposes and place of summative and formative modes of
evaluation.
QN • 19 jan 2016 • 19
Dear mister 2l
anonymous
My patrimony, unlike yours, does not contain the ‘abondance
de courage’ that is stereotypically associated with those within
the legal profession. Most people, those who lack the couEver since my first few days in law, you have unconsciously
rage to tell others exactly how we feel, often hope that our
been unjustly enriched with my attention. Your charm and
kindness has captivated my interest and gained my admiration. crushes will find out for us. We hope that you will somehow
take those incomprehensible facts that I have given you and
However, it appears as if I have given you so much attention,
pierce through the non-essentials to find the main idea behind
but yet you seem to give me no consideration. Do you even
notice my past performance(s), the character I try to be when it all (that I like you). But it has probably been more than a
year since you have done a case summary, and unfortunately
you are around? I become an actor in your play; I change
myself so that you would notice me; I have become your jester my curious case of irrational fondness does not come with a
if you will. Unfortunately you don’t give me any lines. Thoset I Micheal Shortz Pub Doc summary.
have to come up with myself, such as I am told is the point of
I hope one day however to evolve, much like a living tree,
law school.
and find that courage which is probably hidden somewhere
Is it possible that I may be putting you too far up on a pedestal, between my constitutional law book and MacBook. My heart,
for the past few months, has been itching to tell you how I feel.
making you seem so much greater than you truly are? Have I
made you into that reasonable man, that “bon père de famille” My brain, on the other hand, continues to say no! One day I
who can do no wrong? The answer is of course YES! Like all of may just say “Oui” and separate my irrational feelings from my
us who have ever had a crush, I know how easy it is to commit irrational fears. ‘Till then I wish you luck.
the fault of holding one’s interest to a standard of perfection
that no one can reasonably achieve. However I implore you to Sincerely,
understand that, as Romeo once put it, “I am fortune’s
an Anonymous 1 L
fool.” As a fool I am not endowed with the reason to know that
my mind is faulty. The fact that I am a law student does not,
I think, make me immune to the foolishness that admiration
inspires.
Dear Mister 2L,
Then why, you may ask, have I not just simply asked you out?
QN •
19 jan 2016
• 20
Law III
Suzanne
Zaccour
Projet de sensibilisation à un
enseignement non sexiste
#5 : Favoriser la participation égale des étudiantes
Cet automne, Francesca Francoeur et moi avons rédigé plusieurs articles pour faire connaitre davantage les stratégies
d’enseignement non sexiste développées par le Collectif féministe de la Faculté. En novembre, nous terminions la session
d’automne avec un article sur l’observation des dynamiques de
genre dans les cours. Celui-ci incitait les professeur.e.s (et les
étudiant.e.s) à être attentives.fs à la question de la participation égale des femmes et des hommes en classe, et soulevait
des dynamiques qui tendent à s’établir dans la salle de classe.
Cette semaine, je vous présente quelques stratégies à adopter
si effectivement vous constatez un déséquilibre ou des dynamiques genrées dans votre cours. En effet, pour garantir une
éducation de qualité à tou.te.s les étudiant.e.s, il est important de créer un environnement et d’adopter des méthodes
d’enseignement qui favorisent la participation des étudiantes, y
compris des étudiantes timides ou marginalisées.
parler une à la suite de l’autre ou d’interroger un.e étudiant.e
de genre ni masculin ni féminin.
Par ailleurs, nous recommandons, comme certain.e.s
professeur.e.s le font déjà, de pauser quelques secondes
entre la question et l’interrogation d’un.e étudiant.e. Donner
quelques secondes ou minutes pour réfléchir permet aux étudiantes de se convaincre de lever la main. De plus, interroger
constamment la première personne à lever la main favorise les
quick responders, le plus souvent des hommes. Permettre les
interruptions et le fait de simplement donner une réponse sans
lever la main est encore plus biaisé.
De plus, du feed-back et des encouragements favorise la participation des étudiant.e.s moins sûr.e.s d’elleux. Certains cours
sont particulièrement difficiles à maîtriser. Un.e professeur.e
qui reprend le commentaire des élèves pour broder autour
On nomme « confidence gap » la différence que l’on retrouve sera moins intimidant.e qu’un.e professeur.e qui passe à autre
entre le niveau moyen de confiance en soi des hommes et des chose après un simple hochement de tête. Les étudiantes ont
femmes – et on lui attribue une partie de la responsabilité pour parfois l’habitude de se convaincre que leurs commentaires
les inégalités salariales. Ainsi, selon toutes probabilités, les
sont « stupides » ou non pertinents – alors que c’est rarement
étudiantes du cours sont autant ou mieux préparées que leurs le cas – et le feedback positif peut faire toute la différence.
collègues masculins, sont tout aussi intelligentes, mais hésitent
tout de même à participer. À court terme, cela prive l’étudiante Finalement, le document Gender Issues in the College
d’une opportunité d’apprentissage et la classe d’un point de
Classroom de l’Université Columbia souligne l’importance des
vue qui a de la valeur. À long terme, cela nuira à la carrière de méthodes d’évaluation et de travail en classe et leur répercusl’étudiante au moment de s’écrier « objection! », de négocier
sion sur le partage genré du temps de participation en classe
une augmentation de salaire, de réseauter pour trouver des
: « Vary your classroom format. Include small group activities.
client.e.s… Le problème est donc loin d’être anodin.
Integrate collaborative problem solving as well as competitive
argument and debate. Rotate leadership in the class. Consider
Ainsi, bien que la majorité des professeur.e.s encouragent déjà making every student a discussion leader or an expert at some
la participation en classe, il est important d’également encoura- point during the semester ».
ger la dissidence, la critique, le partage d’expériences personnelles et les points de vue marginaux en plus des interventions En espérant que cet article vous aura été utile, je vous soutraditionnelles sur les faits ou le ratio d’un arrêt ou sur un argu- haite un bon début de session et vous reviendrai la semaine
ment juridique classique. Dans certains milieux notamment
prochaine avec plus d’informations sur l’enseignement non
politiques ou activistes, l’alternance homme-femme est utilisée sexiste!
pour s’assurer que les hommes n’occupent pas tout l’espace de
discussion. Une telle stratégie dans la sélection des étudiant.e.s
qui ont la main levée peut aider le ou la professeur.e à favoriser
la participation des étudiantes. Bien sûr, il ne faut pas prendre
cela comme une règle absolue qui empêche deux femmes de
QN • 19 jan 2016 • 21
QN •
19 jan 2016
• 22
OVERHEARDS
“Basically I’m just outing myself as an anti-capitalist!” (Said with an Apple MacBook Air and Second Cup coffee in front of
them)
Why do we bother learning the alphabet if Bs are all we ever see?
Male 1L to female 1L: I love your wrists; you should be a bracelet model!
Student 1: McLachlin introduced me to law. Student 2: For me it was Reese Witherspoon.
On or about November 6th, the Moot Court Privilege was created during Legal Meth [the Quid Team presumes it’s a 2L
inside joke…]
[En parlant d'une disposition de droit criminel]: "C'est un peu comme tuer une mouche avec un bazooka."
2L on going downstairs to the law caf for the first time: "It's kinda weird going to get food without putting a coat on."
“After finishing an exam, head down to the SAO. Apparently that’s where the after-party is.”
QN • 19 jan 2016 • 23