28th of January, 2022

Happy new years!

I am currently on day 2 of McMUN (a new post about it under "SimONU" coming soon).

I am also starting to work on my Integrative Project. As I've been planning my subject since the beginning of last semester, I was able to work on scheduling and specifications in our Project Management class. It will be an "improved" research on my topic from the research paper in Research Methods (Diversity in Quebec television) with my new knowledge of how to conduct a content analysis. I am currently working on the project Description, due on Feb 9th.

In other news, we had a meeting with the SFC committee yesterday. We talked about possible projects for Black History Month. One idea would be to put QR codes all around some classrooms and hallways with links to black history in Canada and the world, black-owned local businesses and resources to learn more about such topics.

Speaking of classrooms, in Social Changes yesterday as well, we were asked about our opinions on social mobility in the future. I brought up that I believed the current wealth disparity proves that only the rich are getting richer, and therefore we should work on abolishing social classes altogether, as Marx had believed. A classmate, who I will keep anonymous, then interrupted me to criticize my leftist beliefs. He started speaking very loudly and pointedly on past genocides caused by what he believed were communist regimes. As it was the end of class, I quickly responded by alluding to the number of deaths caused by capitalist regimes (even if it is indeed people who kill, not ideologies), and left to go back to my job at the café. Yet, this person felt the need to continue criticizing my beliefs by harassing me through text messages, saying (and I quote) : " Take the time to read and you will understand at which point your ideas are intellectually and morally disturbing". I did not answer nor read it right away as I was very busy with McMUN as the co-head delegate of the Sainte-Anne delegation, but I did later take the time to write him back to make him understand at which point these advances were unwelcomed and that he had no right to treat me as a child in need of learning, especially that he had called me and Jodie "cute" for debating him in another class earlier that week. All in all, I believe that their actions are rooted in misogyny and a refusal to understand other's opinions, as well as boundaries. This is also a subject I hope to bring up in future SFC meetings : Consent and Respect.

Anyways, sorry for the questionably-Honours-related rant. I hope you have a nice day!

Maïla Campbell