The Silhouette - December 1, 2016

S The Silhouette

Burlap & Twine

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Standing Strong

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MOTHER-DAUGHTER SKINCARE COMPANY TALKS BUSINESS IN HAMILTON

ALICIA JACK TALKS ABOUT HER PROCESS OF RECOVERING FROM KNEE INJURY

Thursday, December 1, 2016

MSU REPORT CARD EIGHT MONTHS INTO THEIR

YEAR-LONG TERM, THE MSU PRESIDENT

AND VICE PRESIDENTS ARE

EVALUATED ON MEETING THEIR PLATFORM POINTS PAGES 4-5

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The Silhouette

Volume 87, Issue 15

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MCMASTER THESIL

Thursday, December 1, 2016 McMaster University’s Student Newspaper

LOOKING BACK

EDITORIAL BOARD

In November 2000, the Student Representative Assembly voted on the name for the highlyanticipated student centre.

McMaster University Student Centre just beat out B.F. Trotter Student Centre in the SRA vote.

editor-in-chief | thesil@thesil.ca Scott Hastie @Scott1Hastie managing editor | managing@thesil.ca

Rachel Katz production editor | production@thesil.ca

Nick Bommarito online editor | online@thesil.ca Haley Greene sections

Sasha Dhesi Steven Chen news reporter Emily O’Rourke features reporter Alex Florescu news@thesil.ca news editor

news reporter

opinion editor

Shane Madill

opinion@thesil.ca sports editor

Cullum Brownbridge Lauren Beals sports@thesil.ca

sports reporter

& culture editor Daniel Arauz & culture reporter Michelle Yeung aandc@thesil.ca

arts arts

media

Madeline Neumann photo reporter Yung Lee production coordinator Nicole Vasarevic production@thesil.ca video editor Philip Kim social media coordinator Jasmine Ellis online content coordinator Susie Ellis online@thesil.ca photo editor

COVER PHOTO

EDITOR’S NOTE

Yung Lee

CONTACT

LEGAL

MUSC, Room B110 McMaster University 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8S 4S4

The Silhouette welcomes letters to the editor in person at MUSC B110, or by email at thesil@thesil.ca. Please include name, address and telephone number for verification only. Letters should be 300 words or less.

We reserve the right to edit, condense or reject letters and opinion articles. Opinions and editorials expressed in the Silhouette are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editorial board, the publishers, the McMaster Students Union or the University. The Silhouette is an editorially autonomous newspaper published by the McMaster Students Union. The Silhouette Board of Publications acts as an intermediary between the editorial board, the McMaster community and the McMaster Students Union. Grievances regarding the Silhouette may be forwarded in writing to: McMaster Students Union, McMaster University Student Centre, Room 201, L8S 4S4, Attn: The Silhouette Board of Publications.

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(Article condensed due to size)

This is the last Silhouette issue of 2016!

Thanks to all of those who picked up a newspaper, visited our website, followed us on social media, tweeted us your hate and read the Speculator. We appreciate all of it.

Our next issue will be January 12, 2017. Good luck on exams and enjoy the winter break!

- The Silhouette Editorial Board

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016

The Silhouette

News Hamilton’s youth speak up Both youth and community leaders gathered to establish recommendations to combat racism for the city Bina Patel Contributor

On Nov. 25, McMaster students held an anti-racism initiative at the Hamilton Central Library to allow youth and community members to engage in this important conversation.

The McMaster Womanists hosted the meeting in collaboration with other clubs, including McMaster Muslims for Peace, McMaster Indigenous Student Community Alliance, Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights McMaster and more.

“McMaster Womanists decided to organize this event as a direct response to the community consultation that was hosted by the Anti-Racism Directorate of the ministry.

They came to Hamilton at the end of September, and didn’t really reach out to a lot of youth,” said Sarah Jama, co-president of McMaster Womanists.

The community consultation held on Sept. 26 attracted approximately 150 people, and focused on establishing whether or not systemic racism existed in Hamilton. Audience members critiqued the event for ignoring past research that had already completed by community organizations.

According to the description given by the organizers of the initiative, this most recent meeting aimed to elevate community voices and develop

strategies on how to combat racism in Hamilton.

In the planning phase, the clubs determined how they wanted the event to unfold and see racism be addressed. This included giving people who had experienced racism first-hand the opportunity to speak and share their thoughts on how to combat racism in the city.

The meeting attracted more people than the 100 that the organizers had anticipated.

This included representatives from clubs, organizations in Hamilton, McMaster students, professors, volunteers and other community members.

After hearing speakers share narratives about racism and discrimination, attendees split into groups to discuss a range of topics from gentrification and Indigenous concerns to hate crimes.

In addition to facilitating a focused dialogue, there was also an emphasis on what Hamilton could do to be progressive, such as stricter rent controlled areas protection for small commercial enterprises.

Over the course of this component of the event, individuals had with others in the group and then shifted to other tables with a different focus so that they engage in a multi-faceted conversation that touched on many concerns. There was an emphasis for this meeting to include those who truly represented victims of racism.

In addition, organizers wanted to hold the initiative at a location that was more accessible than that which was chosen for the community consultation in September: Mohawk College.

“We wanted to take an opposite route and have a consultation that would involve the community directly. It was a grassroots initiative,” Jama said, explaining why the main branch of the public library best suited the meeting.

As attendees expressed their concerns and ideas to help fight racism, facilitators took down notes to include in a report. McMaster Womanists hope to use what is taken from this event to impact further change.

“It’s a grassroots report that we’re going to use to lobby locally, provincially and maybe even federally. People were really engaged so I’m hopeful that the report will be robust,” Jama said.

Preliminary demands include the cessation of carding in Hamilton, formal responses condemning “alt-right” groups in Hamilton which have been linked to white supremacy, implementing measures to prevent discriminatory hiring practices, and more.

An executive summary of their findings will be published in December. @theSilhouette

The meeting saw an overwhelming response from the community.

C/O FATIMA YOUSUFI

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FEATURE

Report

The Board of Directors

4 |

Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016 | www.thesil.ca

Justin Monaco-Barnes President

Emily O’Rouke News Reporter

Justin Monaco-Barnes has had an exciting first semester as acting president and Chief Executive Officer of the McMaster Students’ Union. Acting as an advocate for McMaster’s student body, Monaco-Barnes’ presidential platform revolves around sustainability, service enhancement and the expansion

of student space on campus.

To date, he and the board of directors have been successful in breaking ground for shortterm goals and paving the way towards long-term goals.

A major point throughout Monaco-Barnes’ campaign was environmental sustainability.

Although his original plans of expanding the teaching and community garden and installing solar panels haven’t come to fruition yet, there have been several other successes towards a greener campus so far.

Through lobbying towards the federal government with sustainability in mind, McMaster was able to secure nearly $43 million in both federal and provincial funding in order to repair and improve the Arthur Bourns Science Building and create systems to enhance ongoing energy conservation efforts on campus.

On a smaller scale, Monaco-Barnes has been working with Union Market to reduce single-use plastic water bot-

tle waste by eliminating the product entirely from the store and replacing it with boxed water packages, which are more sustainable in packaging and transportation.

One of Monaco-Barnes’ biggest successes this year was the proposal of a much-needed Pulse expansion. In early November, Monaco Barnes and vice president (Finance), Ryan MacDonald, presented a $60 million proposal that sees a 60,000 square foot athletics and recreation expansion. One part of the plan includes an entirely separate building dedicated to entirely unprogrammed student space, tying in with his platform point concerning student space on campus. The plan is currently in referendum and students will be able to vote upon the outcome in January during the 2017 presidential election.

“It’s been a success in my eyes already because we literally turned nothing into something,” said Monaco-Barnes, regarding the Pulse expansion proposal.

Blake Oliver VP Education

Alex Florescu Features Reporter

Blake Oliver’s first semester was successful, having either completed or begun every point of her platform promises.

Highlights of the semester include the first Policy Con, held on Nov. 12, which Oliver

began as a means of creating more discussion around the more than 20 policies passed by the Student Representative Assembly. Oliver found that due to the length and complexity of the policies, most would pass without debate or amendments.

It was attended by 60 people, including about two-thirds of the SRA. “I wanted to have a more robust process to have better policies with more research, more student consultation and involvement, and more debate,” said Oliver.

While feedback indicated there was not enough time between the Sunday morning email and the SRA meeting for members to read the attached, amended documents following the Policy Con weekend, Oliver sent out the draft papers to all delegates and SRA members the Wednesday before the conference, the same day that they

would have received them as per the old structure.

“If it continues to be successful, we will likely make an amendment to Bylaw 3 to ensure that SRA members are attending as a part of their responsibilities,” said Oliver.

Following original setbacks with CASA and ADVOCAN, two lobbying groups whose focuses did not align with McMaster’s, Oliver and Monaco-Barnes partnered up with the Wilfred Laurier University Students’ Union to lobby together in Ottawa on Indigenous Students, Students with Disabilities, and International Students.

“Overall, I felt like this was much more productive as we were able to meet with over 30 MPs to talk about priorities that I had specifically ran on,” she said.

Oliver’s promise to lobby for Indigenous course require-

Card

FEATURE

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016

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With first semester coming to an end, it’s time to take a look at how the board of the MSU has done so far

Shaarujaa Nadarajah VP Administration “We were able to turn this idea of a Pulse expansion, and make it into something pretty fantastic that addresses a lot of issues on campus.”

Other successes throughout Monaco-Barnes time in office so far include doubling funding for student-run clubs, improving training for mental health services on campus, and improving hiring strategies that allow the hiring practices within MSU services to be more inclusive.

While Monaco-Barnes claims to have helped implement the university’s new sexual assault policy, his work on the initiative has coincided with action the university was already taking.

Overall, Monaco-Barnes has been working diligently to advocate for and improve student life at McMaster. In achieving short-term goals within his presidency, he is able to build and develop long-term strategies to ensure McMaster is the best it can be.

Sasha Dhesi News Editor

As the union’s Chief Administrative Officer, Shaarujaa Nadarajah’s role is mainly focused on maintaining and supporting the day-to-day operations of each MSU service.

Currently, Nadarajah only holds check-ins with parttime managers once a term and during the each service’s

peak usage, meaning each PTM meets with Nadarajah a few times throughout the year for half-hour meetings discussing the strengths and weaknesses of their service. PTMs may ask for more proactive check-ins, and Nadarajah has highlighted that some PTMs have asked for this.

Nadarajah also holds monthly meetings with all SRA caucus leaders in order to help them fulfill their platform, meaning that SRA members are also being supported in that respect.

While it makes sense to move attention to peak usage months, having one official meeting per term means that PTMs are only meeting with their direct superior a handful of times throughout their terms and places much of the onus of support on PTMs themselves.

Thus, Nadarajah has offered adequate, but not exceptional support to PTMs and SRA members.

With that said, Nadarajah has done a commendable

job fulfilling her platform, by restructuring SRA training, clustering services’ trainings and debriefs and running workshops to aid people outside of the “MSU bubble” apply for positions with the MSU. In addition, Nadarajah plans on implementing a blended learning format to SRA training mimicking the format of Welcome Week training, where SRA members may learn the more bureaucratic aspects of their role through online modules, and focus on professional development during the weekend retreat held in June.

Nadarajah has also made strides in making various MSU services more accessible for the general public, by implementing workshops and information nights for individuals to come and reach out to PTMs, something that often hinders people from volunteering with various MSU services.

Nadarajah has taken on other projects, such as sitting on the space audit committee,

which took a look at the way MSU space is allocated, which occurred during the summer.

The final audit found that the Maroons did not need an office, and re-allocated that space to Maccess, as well as shifting the distribution of storage space for services in the MSU committee room.

Nadarajah has also been involved with various campaigns in order to support various SRA members.

It is clear that while Nadarajah may not offer exceptional support to her staff, she has made efforts in other administrative areas to better the union and has been proactive in the McMaster community. @SashaDhesi

Ryan MacDonald VP Finance ments have also been set in motion, with the creation of the Joint Indigenous-Admin Consultation Group that will begin meeting this December.

Oliver also successfully lobbied to remove mandatory yearly intake appointments for students with permanent disabilities, removed the need for students to have to hand deliver accommodations to professors, and removed the $20 doctor’s note fee, all of which can create barriers and issues with disclosure.

Furthermore, Oliver wants accommodation documentation to be focused more around functional limitations of the student rather than DSM diagnoses. In the future, she wants to ensure that students waiting for proof of documentation will be accommodated for while they are waiting, pushing others to take students at good faith. @alexxflorescu

Steven Chen News Reporter

Ryan MacDonald’s role as vice president (Finance) comprises the standard duties of overseeing the MSU’s budget, providing financial insight and some advocacy work.

Clarity and transparency have been points of focus over

the course of his term thus far; MacDonald has made efforts to break down dense financial jargon into understandable monthly statements that may be accessed through the MSU website.

In addition, he hosted an MSU Open House event on Nov. 28, which gives the chance for students to talk to Board of Directors and SRA in a Q&A manner as they break down student fees and possible changes for the 2017/2018 budget cycle.

“We want to create a way where people can provide input, but in a way that is easy to use and students aren’t afraid to be able to speak up and say what they want to.”

MacDonald has without a doubt taken full advantage of his freedom in day-to-day activities to develop numerous projects with the student financial interest in mind. From revamping the TwelvEighty Business Plan,

to evaluating Clubs funding, HSR Presto negotiation, Emergency Bursary and many more, Ryan has gone above and beyond with project planning and execution.

One of his largest projects this year was Homecoming. The concert package set a record with the third largest revenue driven by any campus concert in the province. Due to the Homecoming event, Campus Events had its best performance financially in at least the last five years.

While the vice president (Finance) is typically involved in advocacy, MacDonald has shown remarkable interest by serving as a delegate for the recent Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance general assembly. On top of this, he was published on the OUSA Ancillary Fees Policy Paper, which discussed topics such as standalone ancillary fee protocol,

transparency, student control and fair cost sharing.

MacDonald’s record is blemished with the recent incidences involving the Exclusive Club Card. As per his memo on the ECC referendum, MacDonald claimed there was no opt-out period for the card. In fact, there was an opt-out period. MacDonald retracted that statement. @steven6chen

6 |

FEATURE

Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016 | www.thesil.ca

Burlap & Twine & all things fine The James St. N skincare oasis has become a staple destination for shoppers from all over the city and beyond Rachel Katz Managing Editor

Tucked in the middle of a row of faded red awnings, it can be easy to miss Burlap & Twine from the street. However, step inside the James St. N shop and one is immediately struck by two things: the beauty of the space inside and the intoxicating aroma of the store’s natural soaps, bath bombs and skincare products.

Karina and Dominika Gerlee first opened the doors of their store in 2013, however the business itself dates as far back as about 2009. In the three years since Burlap & Twine opened, the business has seen its clientele expand and its sales prosper. And with a second location poised to open during the holiday season, the mother-daughter team has plenty of excitement and hard work ahead of them.

In the beginning…

For Dominika Gerlee, Burlap & Twine’s storefront is a lifelong dream realized.

“I’d always wanted my own business. I didn’t know what it was, I was always going with different ideas, but I knew that was the path I wanted to take,” she said.

After a friend gifted her with a set of bath bombs from popular skincare company

Lush, Gerlee was sold.

“From that moment on I decided that I was going to learn how to do these, I was going to take courses, do whatever I need to do.”

At the time, Gerlee was attending Mohawk College’s Business Administration program.

“I totally wasn’t into it, even though I ended up graduating with honours,” she admitted.

“Basically I took my OSAP loan and I opened up the store. I took a chance, and… [although school] was good and I was great at it, I just knew I didn’t want to sit in front of a computer; I knew it wasn’t for me.”

Gerlee moved to Hamilton from Toronto, and said that at first, she did not like her new city. “It took me a while to embrace it… what happened was that I ended up living on James St. when I was going to school… and then I just fell in love with James St.” Towards the end of her program at Mohawk, the storefront that now houses her store was for lease. “It wasn’t like I had a big plan or anything. I just jumped into it and hoped everything was going to work out.”

At this point, Burlap & Twine had been a home business for a few years, complete with a dedicated customer base that followed the company from their online store to James St. and helped the physical storefront take off right away.

Suds and fizz By the time Gerlee launched her storefront, that customer base knew they could rely on an extensive range of Burlap & Twine products.

“The only thing that’s different from when I first opened is that I started carrying a lot of local brands, a lot of different Canadian brands,” Gerlee said.

The opening of a physical store meant Gerlee and her mother could expand their options for products such as soaps and bath bombs. Gerlee taught herself how to make bath bombs, however she has taken advanced soap-making classes to master multiple methods of the craft.

“I’m not formally educated… I’ve just sort of picked stuff up along the way. My mother also used to teach skincare and cosmetology at a school [in Poland], so a lot of that knowledge came from her. She does some of the products as well.”

As their product line has expanded, Gerlee has focused on ways to reuse and recycle their products.

“We have soap balls… which come from the bottom of the soap pots,” she explained.

“At the beginning I used to throw it away but then I started playing around with [the scraps] and molding them and everyone loves them.”

Gerlee is also adamant

FEATURE

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016

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SOME OF OUR FAVOURITES

Candy Cane Crème This sharp peppermint-scented bath bomb is softened by notes of vanilla and coconut for the perfect little holiday indulgence.

Bonus: actual candy cane pieces on top.

C/O YUNG LEE

“I’d always wanted my own business. I didn’t know what it was, I was always going with different ideas, but I knew that was the path I wanted to take,” Dominika Gerlee Owner, Burlap & Twine about keeping her company’s products natural. While other skincare companies add ingredients to their bath bombs that can be harmful to the skin, Burlap & Twine avoids adding “foamers”, or chemicals, to their products.

“We do use colour,” Gerlee said. “That’s fun, and everyone loves a little bit of colour. But we do a lot of [products] without colour for the people who want things 100 per cent natural.”

Whether neon or pastel, every item from Burlap & Twine is a miniature work of art. Gerlee’s soaps and bath bombs look delectable, and from a distance her cupcake shaped soaps and bath melts could be mistaken for desserts. The elegant shapes and delicate scents of the products stand out from their simple paper bag packaging, creating a

striking contrast and enhancing the brand that helps Burlap & Twine stand out on the James St. N strip.

These are a few of my favourite things Asking any Burlap & Twine fan to name their favourite product is difficult. Asking the business’ owner is even more difficult.

Gerlee has no favourite product, but she does swear by her wares.

Her business keeps her on her feet, and while she finds she has less time to try out her own bath bombs, she enjoys the opportunity when she can.

“I’m a freak when it comes to the bath… I joke around with people that that’s my office. I’ll even be on the phone, but that’s the only time I can relax,” she admitted, laughing.

Gerlee loves hearing what products her customers love, however. “That brings me a lot of joy… Because as nice as the store looks it’s not that glamourous behind the scenes… I look like a mess most of the time.

That part of it is the downfall, but all that hard work you put in is worth it when people tell you ‘this cleared up my skin’ or ‘I love that,’” she said.

Despite launching her storefront with little planning, Gerlee has figured out her niche market with relatively few missteps.

She explained that sometimes she will put more money into a product that does not sell, but

added that happens rarely. From her perspective, she, and many other business owners in Hamilton, face the same challenge: the city itself.

“I find that... there’s not enough people street-shopping,” she explained. “If you go to downtown Toronto, you can go for hours, and there’s just not enough of that here. It’s growing, and the vibe is coming, but when is it going to happen– like really happen?”

Gerlee added that over the years she has gained a customer base that extends to the Hamilton Mountain and Burlington, but said it has taken time to develop that base. To do her part, Gerlee said her goal is to create a space where new customers feel welcome.

“I just want it to be a fun environment where you can go to smell stuff and try stuff and all of your senses are aroused in some sort of way, so I think for people [we’ve] been a destination stop… and I think being part of that James St. culture [has been how we’ve contributed most].”

(New) home for the holidays Following the success of her James St. N location, Gerlee has taken on a new challenge: a second location. Located in Burlington, she is planning on using the space to try new merchandizing techniques and

carry more products. “People [in Burlington] really like that sort of handmade, independent business culture,” she said, explaining the reasoning for the location of the new storefront, set to open during the holiday season.

“Christmas is so crazy here.

Last Christmas was amazing; it was more than I could have ever expected. And our sales have grown 40 to 50 per cent every year that we’ve been open, so if that’s going to be the case this year, then I’m probably not going to be sleeping at all,” she said.

From Mohawk College student to successful businesswoman in just over three years is an accomplishment, however Gerlee still says she has not felt tangible success.

“I feel really proud. But I’m one of those people who always wants more, and I just want things to grow,” she explained.

“I’m always learning, I’m always creating, I just feel like things are getting better and better, but I haven’t sort of reached a peak.

I don’t know, maybe ask me in five years, we’ll see then.”

Snowflake This woodsy holiday bath bomb is perfect for a cozy night in. Key scents include sandalwood, cedarwood and floral notes.

Cinnamon Bun soap Coloured with mica, this spicy-sweet soap is a musthave for the winter. Made with coconut oil, palm kernel oil and extra virgin olive oil, your skin will thank you for this treat.

@RachAlbertaKatz

Mention this feature at Burlap & Twine for buy-one-get-one on any regular-priced item. One transaction per customer; offer expires Dec. 24, 2016.

PRESIDENT’S PAGE

Blake Oliver

Vice President (Education) vped@msu.mcmaster.ca 905.525.9140 x24017

This week, you won’t find Justin and I in our offices on the second floor of MUSC – but I can promise you that we aren’t taking a break from advocating for students. From November 28 to December 1, we are in Toronto to meeting with representatives from the provincial government to advocate for students.

It was only two weeks ago that I was in Ottawa writing about our federal advocacy week, and our provincial advocacy week has quickly followed.

So what’s the difference between federal advocacy and provincial advocacy? Why do both? Which issues are the same, and which are different?

While federal advocacy is important, the lion’s share of my external work is in provincial advocacy. This is because most control over post-secondary education exists at the provincial level

December 1, 2016 | thesil.ca

– how high tuition is allowed to be, how much funding universities get from the government, what statistics institutions have to report about campus sexual violence, the financial aid and student loans system, funding for new buildings and deferred maintenance: the list is endless.

To ensure that our advocacy to the province is effective, the MSU is a member of the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA), a collective of eight student unions across Ontario who lobby the provincial government on behalf of undergraduate students. As your MSU Vice President (Education), I also sit on OUSA’s Steering Committee, where I work with student leaders from across the province to determine priorities and influence government. This week, we set up as many meetings as we could at Queen’s Park to talk to politicians about what students want to see.

ticularly timely. The framework that determines how much universities can charge students is expiring at the end of this academic year, so it’s an important time to push for a freeze in increases and for more robust access through tuition-funded aid programs. The province has been very engaged in discussing sexual violence response with a new bill mandating institutions to create a policy and procedure for disclosures. We are focusing on encouraging prevention on campuses with better mandated training and expertise at the government level. Finally, this Monday, a bill was re-introduced into legislature that, if passed, would make statistics like student satisfaction and employment rates more accessible to prospective and current students at institu-

tions across the province. We think this will improve transparency and access for underrepresented groups by eliminating informational barriers.

We hope that we can push the government to create a tuition framework that works for students, encourage sexual violence prevention and education at institutions, and support the new Pathways to Post Secondary Education Excellence Act for accessible data collection. While we are here, we’ll be encouraging politicians to follow up by asking questions and writing letters in support of our asks, but we can’t know our full effect until later down the line, as is the nature of advocacy work. In the face of the long timeline, we are hopeful and optimistic that our lobbying will be effective.

We are hopeful and optimistic that our lobbying will be effective.

When we do a lobbying week, we typically pick three issues to talk about. This year, the three we are discussing are • Tuition • Sexual violence prevention and education • Data collection and accessibility Each of these issues is par-

msu_mcmaster

msumcmaster.ca

@msu_mcmaster

/msumcmaster

teXt ‘msu’ tO 71441

The President’s Page is a space sponsored and used by the McMaster Students Union (MSU) Board of Directors (BoD) to communicate with the student body. It functions to highlight the Board’s projects, goals, and agenda for the year, as well as the general happenings of the MSU.

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016

EDITORIAL

| 9

Editorial U Sports needs to take a look in the mirror The 52nd Vanier Cup was poorly attended and the worst possible way to launch a rebrand Scott Hastie Editor-in-Chief

The 52nd Vanier Cup took place at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton on Nov. 26. This probably comes as a shock to you, considering less than 5,000 people attended the game and 243,000 watched on Sportsnet.

For comparison, Tim Hortons Field can hold 24,000 and just over 300,000 watched the Vanier in 2015 and 2014.

This probably doesn’t mean anything to you, but it should. McMaster played a role in hosting and organizing the event, and student dollars help fund University Sports. The investment students make is not paying off and leadership needs to acknowledge they are behind the times.

For those who follow the U Sports, the Vanier news is frustrating given the cockiness shown by CEO Graham Brown.

Four days before the game, Brown told the Hamilton Spectator that he expected 16,000 or 17,000 to attend.

This quote was insulting.

When Brown said it, there were about 7,000 tickets sold. Moving 10,000 tickets in a short period of time, when the game was between two out-of-province LETTER TO THE EDITOR Ms. La Grassa’s well-written opinion should be required reading for professors and others who frequently receive

teams, was never going to happen, and all U Sports fans knew it. U Sports would not even list the attendance in the box score on their website, likely too embarrassed at their own failure to post the dismal figure.

To his credit, Brown has made himself available to the media and he is candid when talking about what university sport needs to do to make itself relevant in the Canadian sports media landscape. But it’s not the only surprising quote we have seen from him.

In June, Brown told the Globe and Mail he plans to nearly triple the U Sports budget in the span of three years, going from $3.25 million to $10 million. A few months later, the league launched their rebrand, going from Canadian Interuniversity Sport to U Sports. The Vanier Cup, hosted at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, was supposed to be the official transition. U Sports could not have chosen a worse event to use as the launching pad.

It gets uglier if you dig into the nuts and bolts of their rebrand. U Sports is pitching itself to corporate sponsors as a way for them to access the 18-24 year-old market. If

you tuned into the game on Nov. 26, that market was not represented. There were some undergraduates in attendance, but the broadcast’s crowd shots showed people mostly above the age of 30.

And yes, the two competing teams were Calgary and Laval. Defenders will say it is hard to sell tickets for two out-of-province teams, but what does that say about U Sports?

You can’t get interest in the national championship of your most popular sport? (Crazy idea: don’t host neutral-site events.)

The 52nd Vanier Cup was an abject disaster. U Sports tried to draw attention to themselves with the rebrand, highlighting how they have turned a page as an organization. Instead, it cemented the existing beliefs in the brand: the support and interest for events is regional and the undergraduate market is not that excited about U Sports.

We can hope that the Vanier result teaches Brown a lesson: you don’t have all the answers and fixing Canadian university sport requires more than a facelift. Changing the name of the league doesn’t mask its problems; it only changes the shade of lipstick on the pig.

emails from students.

I often receive emails from students, and sometimes respond with a delayed short reply. La Grassa’s piece is a good reminder that I we can all do

better in our email etiquette, and her strong choice of words drove home the message.

Joey Coleman

to the 104th Grey Cup.

to Big Streak.

to hot UM.

to everything else with the Grey Cup weekend.

to sinful Sundays. to Rachel’s coco runs, but not those kind of coco runs.

to soulless sex.

to #thumbs.

to cryptic emails from your attractive TA.

to slow cookers. to the Canadian return of the Strokes. to no bra Mondays. to streak and style. to opt-out exams. to popularizing the Sandlot World Juniors Drinking Game. Get on board or get out of the way. to boxed water, but not Boxed Water.

Pay me in product if you want my official endorsement. to Behie and the other coaches leaving Mac football. Thanks. to a glass half full.

to featurama.

to being wholesale. to Purolator fuck ups. to typos on 2011 memes. to lost wallets. to poorly-timed flu fights. to the misunderstanding of Secret Santa. to Vine stars. to monotinize. to the return of lonely office days. to the lack of empty lockers at the Pulse. to a glass half empty.

10 |

HUMANS

Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016 | www.thesil.ca

When everything is going wrong, what motivates you to keep going?

If I’m going to be completely honest, something goes wrong at least once a day, but I’m totally okay with that. As a fourth-year university student, I have learned that nothing planned goes perfectly but that there is so much beauty in these failures. Throughout my time on this campus, I have failed a couple of midterms, have gotten rejected to several positions I applied to, and even lost a few of the closest friends that I had started out with. In that exact moment, it was devastating to have to hear you tell yourself that you’re a disappointment.

It hurts, it’s painful. But it’s healthy and extremely necessary. I am the biggest fan of counting my blessings and I try to incorporate that every day.

I ensure that I dedicate time to reflect on what I am thankful of and focus my attention to positives. I always think back to where I was a few years ago and how much I have grown, so how could I not be proud of myself?

What’s something you want to achieve before you die?

Patricia Kousoulas Life Sciences Level IV

YUNG LEE/ PHOTO REPORTER The idea of being a mother creates an incredible feeling inside of me. My mom has been everything to me and will always be that person in my life that reminds me everything is going to be okay. She is selfless, hard working, a fighter and the most supportive individual that

exists within my world. The thought of me being able to be that for someone else and being able to give so selflessly would be the biggest gift offered to me.

I dream of raising a family and bringing children into world and being able to teach them to be bold and brave. I want to

Keerthana Chandran Chemical and Bioengineering V

raise someone that is brave and confident, someone that is kind and loving, but most importantly a fighter in everything that they do. This might sound so silly since I am just a young person myself, but I think there is such a correlation as to why so many of What do you do to motivate yourself?

In the past couple years, my biggest motivation was God. He was helping me and motivating me. Even during those moments when engineering got really hard. When those moments came, I knew that God had a plan for my life. He was orchestrating all the things in my life. Knowing that even though I’m going through a struggle, it would be okay. There’s a verse in the bible “something difficult to hear”

JEAN WANG/ PHOTO CONTRIBUTOR

my friends already call me the “mom” in their life. I just want to be someone that impacts others and pushes others to find their full potential within themselves.

It feels like God’s not there right now. It feels like this year has been so rough. Things that have been going on with family and school. I feel like I’ve almost lost a love for God that I used to have. I feel like I’ve forgotten the sweetness of the gospel. I get so caught up in the difficulties and disappointments that surround me. There’s a really famous preacher and one of the things he’s said, “It’s very hard to get me perturbed by

the troubles and difficulties that surround me because I have such an absolute confidence in the power and provision of God”. I wrote this quote on my whiteboard a while ago, and I keep trying to erase it but it just won’t erase. Is this just a reminder to me? A reminder that no matter how your life gets, God is sovereign over all that.

facebook.com/ HumansOfMcMaster

Yung Lee Photo Reporter

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016

The Silhouette | 11

Opinion Survival of the fittest Why the structure of tutorials need to change at McMaster

MADELINE NEUMANN / PHOTO EDITOR Elizabeth Ivanecky Contributor

With course evaluations available until Dec. 8, McMaster University needs to adjust the structure of tutorials that often accompany lecture-sized classes. Tutorials simply do not accommodate all types of personalities and learners.

The choice to remain anonymous in lecture halls isn’t present in tutorials. This tutorial strips more reserved students of this anonymity and forces them to share their opinion.

What do shy students do then? Do you let the system change you or show the system it doesn’t own you, but lose easy marks in the process?

Thankfully, many professors and TAs are aware of students who have more difficulty expressing themselves among their peers and do offer ways for such students to make up their

participation mark in ways that go beyond oral expression in classrooms. They opt for giving such students the opportunity to write up written responses to a set of issues discussed in tutorials. Even with professors and TAs who are more attuned to the personalities of their students, there are other problems with the tutorial set-up that need to be addressed.

The main problem is the fact that tutorial discussions benefit a certain kind of learner or student. Those of us who absorb information best through lectures are most likely going to excel in tutorials where we learn by listening to our peers and expressing ourselves. No doubt those of us that learn by reading and writing can take notes during tutorials in order to retain some discussion material.

However, for those of us that learn by doing things, there are few alternatives. Unless our

professor gives us an assignment where we find examples in the Hamilton community of what Marshall McLuhan meant by “The medium is the message,” then we are probably not going to get much out of a discussion of issues.

Similarly, those of us who are visual learners will also have difficulty in this rigid setting.

It does help when professors and TAs show diagrams of the functioning of body systems or flow charts showing timelines of historical changes, as it would with any learner. For a visual learner, these actions need to be consistent.

Perhaps the faultiest thing about tutorials is the mark breakdown. In a typical tutorial worth anywhere from 10, 15 or 20 per cent of our grade, we are expected to make at least three to four significant comments showing we engaged with the readings discussed to gain full

marks.

But the math doesn’t add up. Say you have a 50-minute tutorial with 14 other peers and on a regular basis, the TA or professor leading this tutorial is guaranteed ten students who come to class. In an ideal world, if all 15 students were determined to receive full marks for tutorial participation, they would each have to make three or four strong points for discussion. With the assumption that these points take time to develop in an oral delivery, you’re looking at around five minutes

The main problem is the fact that tutorial discussions benefit a certain kind of learner or student.

of class time for each student to make these points.

This does not even include the regular commenting that a TA or professor would provide during such discussions. Already, the time allotted for these small-group discussions is not nearly adequate in meeting the student’s bare minimum needs of success let alone inspiring thought-provoking discussions.

Although tutorials are meant to be spaces where students have the opportunity to voice their opinions, they often either get led by a select few students or become strings of awkward silences echoing in the minds of students reluctant to be present for that.

It’s time to say goodbye to tutorials that are led by the few and welcome a space that makes students actually want to come to tutorials.

12 |

OPINION

Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016 | www.thesil.ca

Summarizing the section The Nov. 28 MSU Finances open house was a perfect culmination of the Opinion section this term

C/O MCMASTER STUDENTS UNION

Shane Madill Opinions Editor

It might not be fair to say that all of Opinion this term has been leading up to this, but there would be a good case for it.

We have had articles about how better engagement and scheduling should be a priority when it comes to advertising resources, one about keeping the university accountable, another about setting the precedent for the upcoming McMaster Students Union presidential election, one about the MSU’s involvement in causes like Movember and one about general financial literacy. These don’t even include the consistent theme through multiple pieces over the last few months of how students could do more to fight issues of any scale.

I can think of no better way to sum up the term than

a relatively small MSU Open House in MUSC for five hours on a Monday.

We could talk about how more could be done to promote the event, but this is realistically true for almost any event on campus. We could get into the usage of the surplus from previous years and talk about whether the cuts or additional resources to specific services have been worth it. We could even step back a bit and talk about how it’s a great idea for the MSU to attempt to increase student involvement in its finances, especially after an odd referendum and before an upcoming MSU presidential election.

These, of course, don’t mention any new perspectives, voices or opinions that are worthwhile and could be drawn from a relatively simple event.

All of these would fit what the Silhouette Opinion section has

typically talked about thus far.

It’s not like the MSU’s finances are some sort of secret either. Everything you could possibly want is readily available with the cost of services per student, monthly financial reports, audited statements from previous years and operating and capital budgets all available on the MSU website. Even the Student Representative Assembly’s meeting minutes talking about certain services and potential changes have seemingly been available at earlier times than usual. Anyone could find something to talk about from any of these resources, write up a few hundred words and fit perfectly with the new identity of the section.

The main limiting factor, however, continues to be how to get students to care about issues. While all the previous topics and perspectives that the section have taken thus far

THE UNION MARKET. WE ACCEPT CASH, DEBIT, AND CREDIT OPEN LATE, WITH EXTENDED EXAM HOURS!

have been fine, it’s difficult to sit back and go through the motions for every single topic.

The university and paper have had countless good initiatives, articles, reports, findings and contributions to the community, but without much context about why it matters. It’s simply too easy to ignore or forget about an issue.

Most articles submitted to Opinion this year have been for advocating a certain perspective. While influencing students is the main part in writing a good Opinion piece, this is rarely explicitly stated as a point in a piece as a next step or a recommendation for the issue.

Even the pieces on advertising have been about how to get as many people to know a resource or perspective rather than the actual effectiveness of that resource or perspective.

This open house was a sudden realization of this point.

It was basically an info dump, which is completely fine for the purpose of letting people come up with their own conclusions.

However, there’s no actual point about why people should care.

This isn’t to say the MSU or the Silhouette should have a perspective on internal finances, but rather why having a perspective is important.

It might seem obvious, it might seem like it’s dumb to state, but every opinion, article, event or perspective is fundamentally based on whether or not you can convince other people that your work matters.

Taking a side or providing information is meaningless without getting your audience to care about the main topic.

@shanemadill

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OPINION | 13

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016

Why are we being so sedated about sedatives?

C/O JONATHAN HOWARD Priscilla Ip SHEC Contributor

Many might be surprised to learn that Hamilton, the city that Mac students call home, is a hot spot for opioid prescriptions, overdoses and deaths.

Just last month, the city of Hamilton issued an online survey for Hamilton residents and workers about safe and supervised injection sites. This asked various questions about personal perceptions, community impacts and common concerns. I was made aware of this survey through friends on social media sites, as well as through class, and I was excited to hear that the city of Hamilton was working to address such a pressing public health concern.

Before I considered filling in the survey, I wanted to make sure that I was as informed as possible and decided to research

v

RESOURCES ON AND OFF

CAMPUS

more about the pros and cons of safe injection sites. I was surprised to find the amount of controversy surrounding this topic.

The main controversy surrounding injection sites is the misleading perspective that they encourage crime and drug use. This perception is in stark contrast with research that has proven that safe sites as a harm reduction measure can help save lives, reduce drug use and improve public safety.

These safety objectives should be something that we can all support.

Part of the controversy stems from a lack of knowledge about what safe injection sites are and how they operate.

Nurses would be present at these sites where users would bring their drugs and be supplied with sterile injection needles and proper disposal

methods. Not only would this reduce the rates of infections related to needle use and sharing, it would also bridge a gap between drug users and healthcare services, which could lead to greater access to care.

If approved, Hamilton would be the second Canadian city to offer supervised injection sites, following Vancouver’s lead.

I was pleased to hear that the results of the survey show 84 per cent of the 1,690 respondents supported the idea of supervised injection sites in Hamilton. This is a symbol of positive change. The board of health is planning to conduct a study on the viability of local safe injection sites with a proposed partnership with a health program and institute at McMaster University. This could be the first step forward in addressing the national problem of increased opioid use and

deaths related to overuse, as well as changing the public perceptions of these issues.

This issue is not only gaining local attention, but national actions are growing in number.

Following a summit in Ottawa during the weekend of Nov. 19 that addressed Canada’s opioid crisis, Health Canada committed to issuing an update on its opioid action plan by February 2017. This summit also added pressure on the federal government to declare a national public health emergency.

Hamilton has among the highest number of opioid deaths in Ontario with a rate nearly double the provincial average.

As McMaster students studying and living in Hamilton, we have a role to play in this community.

We should educate ourselves on these issues and support actions to reduce risks and harms related to drug abuse.

Everyone is affected by the misuse of drugs in some way. You might know a friend or family member struggling with drug abuse, you might be a nursing student playing an active role in care or you might be experiencing addiction yourself.

We cannot be complacent in believing drug use will always be a societal issue and that there is nothing we can do to promote health and safety.

We can’t ignore the research and reports showing not only the rise in rates of drug use, but also the escalating amount of deaths related to drug addictions. We can all be advocates to support measures that are being taken to address this national epidemic starting at a local scale, or even smaller: a university scale.

Student Wellness Centre

Alternatives for Youth

Ontario Drug and Alcohol Helpline

SHEC

Provides a wide range of counselling options, medical services and testing.

(905) 525-9140 x. 27700 wellness@mcmaster.ca

Provides counselling for youth 13 to 22 years old dealing with substance abuse.

(905) 527-4469 38 James St. S

24/7 helpline for users and family and friends of users that makes referrals to services such as withdrawal management and detox centre for all of Ontario.

1-800-565-8603

Provides confidential peer support, referrals on and off campus and anonymous and confidential pregnancy testing.

(905) 525-9140 x. 22041 shec@msu.mcmaster.ca

Take home free pizza for the holidays!

Answer these simple questions, tweet the answers to @theSilhouette or come to our office at MUSC B110 with a copy, and we will give you $15 in Pizza Pizza gift cards!

Name one of the groups that helped organize Anti-Racism Action Initiative.

TWELVEIGHTY PRESENTS

What injury did volleyball player Alicia Jack suffer?

Who is the creator of No Fun?

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December 1, 2016

NOTSPEC.COM

Top tips for surviving the winter break

Good dog!

SHIT HASTINGS Buying Grey Goose at Jackson Square

Following the hellscape that is exams — which includes endless Thode library study sessions, insanely bad diets, no sleep, scrambling to find pencils, memorizing the names of authors for readings you never actually did and almost breaking up with your significant other because of the collective stress — McMaster students will be heading home for the winter holidays.

The break from school is nice, but as most students are aware, the holidays are not a break from life. Here are our

best tips for getting through two weeks at home with your family and your sister’s weird boyfriend.

1. Turn the World Juniors into a drinking game.

Get together with a bunch of friends and bring a ton of booze, it’s time for the World Juniors.

Here are the rules: draft teams by selecting the Canadian skaters. If a player on your team gets a shot on goal, give out a drink. Assists are worth two drinks and goals are worth three. If your player is on the ice for a goal against, you take a

POLL: best place to write exams?

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Defer them and write in February

DISCLAIMER: This is the Speculator, a joke page. The stories and continuing plot lines are fake. If you fell for this, please go to jail, do not pass GO, do not collect $200 and stop texting your mom. Fucking nerd.

drink. Hat tricks mean you can give out a shot to someone.

This game is recommended for the blow outs and not recommended if you have something to do the next day.

2. Hook up with your high school ex!

Hey, why not? When you’re feeling the eggnog one night, shoot them the “you up?” text and see what happens. You’re both in town, what’s the worst that could happen?

3. Avoid your parents by telling them you’re doing an online course and binge-watch

some shitty show like “Smallville.”

Parents are great but in limited doses. Spend more than three hours a day with them and all of a sudden you’re talking about how your second cousin is a cheerleader for a CFL team. Just lie to them as you’ve done since you were 13 and watch some TV. You deserve it.

4. Talk to your fucking grandparents.

This one is serious. Your grandparents love you and want to hear about your life. Be nice to them.

Tweets to the Editor I lost my wallet, if you have it please return it to your mom’s house haha nailed it

“I’m Just a Kid” is a good karaoke song.

- Boris, 27 (and still using 2005 jokes)

- Buck Fucking Nasty, 23

5. Every time your brother’s shitty girlfriend asks what program you’re in at school, even though you’ve told her three times, take a shot.

6. Celebrate New Year’s Eve in style.

This is the last year on earth because Trump is president. Live it up while you can.

FEATURE After three seances and an a gallon of pig’s blood, we know the 2017 WayHome lineup!

A10-11 PER ISSUE: A pint of the ‘nog, buddy.

EVENTS CALENDAR Ink Movement Arts Cafe When: December 01, 2016 from 08:00PM until 11:00PM Where: Bridges Café Ink Movement is hosting our second annual Arts Cafe - a chance to destress before exams, enjoy the artistic talent of your fellow students, and meet new friends! We will have a lineup of musical performers, poetry readings, and an open mic. Additionally, we will be accepting any form of student artwork in advance to display in a gallery-style setting.

There will also be refreshments served!

CANFAR McMaster presents World AIDS Day Coffeehouse When: December 02, 2016 from 08:00PM until 11:00PM Where: Bridges Café Do you love coffee and snacks? Do you

enjoy groovy tunes and renowned improv shows? More importantly, do you want to enjoy all of your favourite things in the cozy atmosphere of Bridges while helping beat the stigmas around HIV/AIDS?!? Then, come out to CANFAR McMaster’s World AIDS Day Coffeehouse.Any interested performers, musicians or volunteers are more than welcome to join in on the fun - just shoot us an email with your performance/help details at mcmaster.canfar@gmail.com

MSU Spark Closing Ceremonies When: December 05, 2016 from 08:00PM until 11:00PM Where: Bridges Café Students registered with Spark are welcome to attend our Closing Ceremonies coffeehouse where session groups and fellow students will be performing throughout the evening.

Cookies and hot chocolate will be provided.

National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women When: December 06, 2016 from 11:30AM until 02:00PM Where: Wilson Hall 11:30 am Keynote Speaker: Robyn Bourgeois Respondent: Bev Jacobs 1:00 pm Commemoration of new plaque and white pine trees in honour of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. Reception to follow.

All Day Poster Display in Indigenous Studies Program ceremonial space.

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The Silhouette | 17

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Dec.1, 2016

Arts & Culture French cuisine finds a home in Hamilton A multicultural take on the French bistro experience prepares to open this month on King William St.

YUNG LEE/ PHOTO REPORTER

Michelle Yeung A&C Reporter

Nestled in one of the many historical buildings in the downtown core is a new restaurant named The French, a modern french bistro that boasts skillful takes on traditional french dishes with rich, diverse flavours.

Featuring beautiful floor-toceiling windows out front, one is welcomed by the restaurant’s namesake on its front door in gold leaf branding, a stylistic decor that is reminiscent of the many French bistros in Paris. It seems that once The French officially opens its doors in mid-December, Hamiltonians will be able to get a little taste of France on King William St. The French is the third venture from owner Jason Cassis, who has already made his mark on the Hamilton food scene with The Aberdeen Tavern and Dundurn Market. Backed by a talented and experienced team that includes head chef John Forcier and manager Cory Tower, The French is prepared for business both in the kitchen and on the dining floor. In particu-

lar, Forcier has worked in the industry for a while, spending the past four and a half years at Canoe, the renowned Oliver and Bonacini restaurant located on the fifty-fourth floor of Toronto’s TD Bank Tower.

Although he credits the world of fine-dining for teaching him a very different way of cooking, Forcier is excited to return to his roots of working in a bistro-style setting.

“For me [The French] is about getting back to simple, honest cooking… the ingredients should speak for themselves. [Personally, I don’t see a point] in taking some beautiful baby cabbages and [doing

something extravagant with it]… I don’t need to get in the way of that cabbage, because it stands on its own. And that kind of translates through all [of our cooking]. Other than make [a duck confit] nice and crispy and well-seasoned, I don’t need to mess around with it; in doing so I can keep giving you the best version of [any dish]. We’re really just taking a very natural approach to cooking,” said Forcier.

On the hospitality front, Tower hopes for The French to shed the idea of French cuisine as an exclusively black-tie affair and lend itself to be an approachable and welcoming neighbourhood spot.

“We want you to feel like you can come in anytime… we want to be the place where people want to go because the [price point, atmosphere and food are great]. We don’t want to be just a destination restaurant for special occasion dinners; [The French] will be a local spot for people to stop by without a plan, [to grab a drink or a bite to eat at anytime].

[Come whenever], and we’ll welcome you with open arms,” said Tower.

Although the restaurant has yet to open, avid supporters have already been delighted by a series of preview dinners held at The Aberdeen Tavern. Boasting a small, curated menu, the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.

The menu boasts classic French dishes with flavourful

influences from all over the world. An example, and one of Forcier’s favourites, is the bourguignon, which is comprised of delectably braised beef cheeks, marinated in red wine and pair together with crispy pork belly among other fresh ingredients. “[The menu] was really about nailing down what we wanted [The French] to stand for; we have this classic bistro vibe paired with modern cooking and we wanted to meet half-way… so we decided to look at what Paris is doing right now. Paris is where bistros are born, and Paris is not all French anymore. There are a lot of Middle Eastern influences, lots of Spanish influence, North African, Moroccan…so what does that mean for French food now?

Well, it still means that you’re cooking with an exceptional level of care and discipline… but there’s a an interesting spin and spices [thrown in]. Take the cauliflower puree for instance; we put a North African spin to it with the spices used, along with topping it off with apricots which brings along really Moroccan flavour profile in a traditional French-style dish… we’ve done our own spin on it but it’s still very classic French.

It’s a very multinational take on French cooking,” said Forcier.

Perhaps the most commendable aspect of The French is its attention to detail, in its food and decor. The atmosphere is a meticulous juxtaposition of historical stone walls with contemporary chandeliers and murals. In the kitchen, something as simple as the butter served with pre-meal bread is even made in- house.

“It’s one of the things I’m most proud of. And it’s also a little encompassing of our philosophy. It’s butter. It’s easy, it’s simple. You put it on the

“For me [The French] is about getting back to simple, honest cooking…the ingredients should speak for themselves.”

John Forcier Head Chef table with some bread and you don’t need to think much about it. But here, we do think about that: how do you make an amazing bread and butter service? For me it’s making your own butter and getting the best bread you possibly can,” said Forcier.

When asked about the one ingredient that embodies The French, Forcier was quick to answer.

“I would have to say the butter. It exemplifies the whole philosophy of the kitchen – taking something very simple and making it into something fantastic.” @mich_yeung

Photo to left: roasted chicken breast with herbed polenta and roasted mushrooms

18 |

A&C

ALL WORK NO PLAY NO FUN An inside look at Toronto brand’s Do-It-Yourself origins and rise to small press stardom

Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016 | www.thesil.ca

“

Daniel Arauz A&C Editor

While there are a sea of sassy enamel pin, patches, and other “flair” artists selling their designs on Instagram, there are few designers that so overtly capture the independent, tongue-in-cheek attitude like No Fun Press.

Toronto-based graphic designer, photographer and artist Reilly Hodgson is the creator of the publishing company. A distaste for hyper-motivational branding, combined with a love for DIY punk and hip-hop sensibilities inspires his iconic designs “I don’t have time for that shit. I lived in Vancouver, and that Lululemon attitude is not for me. I don’t need 50 inspirational phrases on a tote bag. That’s not real life,” said Hodgson.

No Fun Press has been proudly sporting their bad attitude since 2011. Since then, the brand has become one of the prominent makers of pins, patches and threads, famously specializing in their unique brand of pessimism. Their products ship globally, and have been worn by the likes of Atlanta rapper Killer Mike and

I lived in Vancouver, and that Lululemon attitude is not for me. I don’t need 50 inspirational phrases on a tote bag. That’s not real life” Reilly Hodgson No Fun founder

YouTube celebrity Pewdiepie.

Hodgson grew up collecting pins and patches, while also learning to make his own punk rock band t-shirts, eventually moving on to zines, posters and accessories.

Hodgson kickstarted No Fun with the Ontario government’s “Summer Company” grant, which helps students between ages 15 and 29 start their own company. He originally planned to use the money to fund Blood of the Young Zine, a publication he had ongoing

No Fun creator Rielly Hodgson also co-founded Blood of the Young Zine, and exhibits his photography in local galleries.

C/O DANIEL ARAUZ

A&C | 19

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016

with friend and fellow artist Dimitri Karakostas.

“I was planning to just funnel that in the publishing thing I was already doing but they [said] it had to be a new thing. So I [thought], ‘I’m going to do the same thing but under a different name. There was stuff I wanted to make that just wasn’t on brand for [Blood of the Young]… between that money and that last bit of OSAP… the grant let me establish a thing, and then the [last bit of] OSAP was just like, ‘fingers crossed, this is make [it] or break [it].’

And I didn’t break.”

Between No Fun Press, and the work in his collaborative zine project, Hodgson decided to drop out of OCAD University’s printmaking program to focus on these projects, spending his last $1,000 of OSAP money on an order of blank t-shirts.

Despite the well-curated branding associated with the press company, the name itself was started as just a working title for the summer grant program.

“I’m more of a creative person than a planner, and they wanted all of this paperwork and these official business plans and shit because they’re putting up real money. They obviously want a real plan,” explained Hodgson.

“I’d written ‘No Fun’ on the top of the page because it was

awful to do, and I didn’t have a set title yet because I was still trying to figure out if I could roll it into the other thing, and by the time I time I submitted it, [the name] seemed right.”

Since then, the design has been appropriated by other hustling 20-somethings looking for an outward expression of the realities of the school, work, side-hustle life style. Hodgson’s plain text designs include ‘Anti-You’ shirts and beanies, as well an exam seasonal favorite: the ‘Stress’ t-shirt.

For many people, their first encounter with the No Fun starts in the streets of their hometowns.

In Hamilton, Toronto and cities worldwide, an attentive eye can spot the occasional No Fun sticker on street signs and local landmarks. Even the walk to Hodgson’s Parkdale studio apartment in Toronto was littered with the brand’s stickers.

“I grew up doing grafs when I was younger, and so my ideas for marketing come from graffiti… I’m just going to put it everywhere. It’s sort of a work ethic thing too… As a graffiti writer you understand the only way to get your name out is to just go and do it and so I have the same kind of attitude running a business, where if I want to put my name out I just have to go out and do it, because no one is going to do it for me,” said

Hodgson. “[During] the first three years, and even now, anytime I do pop-ups in the city, I’ll get people who’ve never seen the products before, but they come through and they’re like, ‘oh those stickers... could I get some?’”

A hands on approach and small-scale of the project has had its drawbacks. Like many graphic designers and apparel makers, Hodgson has also been the victim of corporate bootlegging.

His ‘Anti-You’ slogan has gained more traction than the No Fun name because of the sheer amount of rip-offs. It started with small online Etsy stores that Hodgson said was easy to take down.

The same could not be done once Walmart and Urban Outfitters stole the design.

“Urban Outfitters, Zara and Walmart… the game is just ‘we see this is cool, we’re going to rip it off. We will have made thousands of dollars before they even realize and if they want to sue we’ll bury them in legal fees.’”

Unsurprised, but also not discouraged, Hodgson returns his attention to his newly released Fall/Winter collection of designs, which includes “never satisfied”, “born to lurk, forced to work”, “praying for your mother because she’s sinfully ugly” and a No Fun Magic 8

Ball keychain. All the while, Hodgson maintains a close relationship with fellow artists and designers and is currently featuring patch design by Toronto tattoo artist Brandon Ing. On the side, he still works on his professional photography, which he has been showing in local exhibits since 2008.

This year, he has shown at the Northern Contemporary art gallery in his own neighborhood, and is preparing to show more of his work in December.

“I’ve sort of known since I was kid that I wanted to work for myself. If I can pay the rent and make something, then I’m

“

I’ve sort of known since I was kid that I wanted to work for myself. If I can pay the rent and make something, then I’m happy.”

Reilly Hodgson No Fun founder

happy,” said Hodgson.

“Is this really negative shit going to pay my bills forever?

Maybe. Considering the state of the world maybe it would.

But is this going to be what I want to do forever? No. Not necessarily. I’ve been doing this for five years, before I did this I was paying the bills doing photo work.”

While the success of No Fun Press is not looking to slow down anytime soon, the message of the pessimistic accessory and apparel brand embodies Hodgson’s work ethic and commitment to the hardships of a young artist lifestyle. No Fun could continue to flourish as a generation embraces a similar lifestyle, but if one thing is obvious about Hodgson’s work, it’s that he isn’t afraid of taking another leap of faith when the time is right.

He certainly isn’t letting his success get in the way of a healthy dose of pessimism.

“You do these projects because you like them, not because you expect them to pan out. Not every idea pans out; not every idea is good. I just turned 29, I’ve been doing projects up until then, and every one of them pretty much flopped so [this] is just a surprise. A nice surprise.” @danielarauzz

Hodgson’s studio apartment houses screen printing equipment, his own branded vending machine and his personal collection of art prints, enamel pins and other collectibles.

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A&C

Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016 | www.thesil.ca

Liu Liu Hot Pot Hidden-in-plain-sight 11 Walnut St. restaurant is all-you-can-eat-treat Rachel Katz Managing Editor

There are few reasons to stop and look around on Walnut St. between Main and King. The short stretch of street is mainly taken up by the windowless sides of mid-rise office buildings.

However, a closer look reveals a hidden gem, and one of my favourite places to sit down for an all-you-can-eat feast: Liu Liu Hotpot.

Established in 2002, Liu Liu’s hole-in-the-wall exterior gives way to a spacious interior once one passes through the door.

Twinkle lights hang from the ceiling, and a chalk mural just past the door advertises the $20 flat rate for hotpot. The black and white floor tiles contrast with the wooden benches and tables that fill the room, adding to the cozy vibe of the place.

Despite its long history in Hamilton, I first went to Liu Liu during Supercrawl this year.

My friends and I were looking for a dinner spot that wouldn’t be crowded with people attending the festival.

Liu Liu seemed like an obvious choice; it was further east than the festivities and it definitely wasn’t the kind of grab-and-go place most people favour during street events.

Liu Liu seemed like an obvious choice; it was further east than the festivities and it definitely wasn’t the kind of grab-andgo place most people favour during street events.

When you sit down at the restaurant, a server brings over a list of all the hotpot options.

Items range from standard beef and chicken to taro chunks and pig blood.

One of the great features of Liu Liu is that you can afford to try an item out of your comfort zone; there is no fee for unfinished plates.

After placing your order for as many meats, veggies, noodles and tofu as you wish, the raw food is brought to the table, along with a broth, customized to the level of spiciness you want.

Served with a bowl of (delicious) cold noodles and a variety of sauces, patrons then cook the pieces of food in the broth.

Liu Liu is definitely a restaurant for when you’re hungry. There are so many items to try that you want to be able to taste everything and still have room to return to your favourites.

While chances are you can’t go wrong with any of the options at Liu Liu, the sticky rice cakes are a must-have.

They take a while to cook in the broth, but they develop a wonderful chewy texture and complement every sauce perfectly, the peanut sauce in particular.

Fish fillet is another, much faster cooking staple, along with both fried and frozen tofu. Beef and chicken taste wonderful with the noodles, especially when the hot and cold components mix together.

No dinner is complete without dessert of course, and as part of Liu Liu’s all-you-caneat deal, an agar dish called “glass pudding” is served after the meal.

Similar to Jell-O but with less pronounced flavour, glass pudding is the perfect palate cleanser after a hearty meal. The brown sugar flavour in particular is an absolute treat.

Whether you’re looking for a restaurant to celebrate with friends or enjoy an evening off from studying, Liu Liu is the perfect off-campus mini adventure. @RachAlbertaKatz

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Call For Nominations McMaster University invites nominations for the President's Award of Excellence (Student Leadership) This annual award recognizes deserving undergraduate students who have made a significant contribution in improving and developing the intellectual, social, cultural and/or athletic fabric of the McMaster community.

Nominations are open to undergraduate students who are in their graduating year. Nominations may be made by faculty, staff and students.

For more information on the award, or to obtain a Nomination Form, visit http://studentaffairs.mcmaster.ca/president_award_student.html

THE DEADLINE FOR RETURN OF NOMINATION FORMS IS FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2017

22 |

GAMES

Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016 | www.thesil.ca

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016

The Silhouette | 23

Sports The first-year balancing act Stories from three first-year Marauders, faced with their own challenging transition from high school to university.

Mac wrestler Ben Zarah is staying focused and positive as he adapts to the higher level of competiton.

C/O RICK ZAZULAK Eamon Hillis Contributor

The first year of many students’ post-secondary experience is often defined by enthusiasm and promise.

It is a time rich with opportunity, and one that often bestows upon the student substantial changes in their academic and social environments.

It brings with it new expectations, and in those expectations, new challenges. It can prove to be a difficult transition at times, as student leave behind familiar things and wade into the unknown. There is often struggle, but many still thrive.

There is perhaps no better illustration of the transition from high school to university than what is seen in the experiences of the varsity rookie.

It can be a rewarding time, and a challenging one, but often one in which senior athletes look back fondly upon.

For nearly all first-year varsity athletes, regardless of sport, the university circuit marks a significant step up in competition. The other athletes are older, stronger and much more experienced than they are.

Depending on the sport, rookies often take a season or two to grow acclimatized to the level of play and to improve to the point where they begin to see success.

Despite this, some still prosper early.

For McMaster baseball rookie Lucas DaSilva, this was certainly the case. DaSilva won this year’s Ontario University Athletics rookie of the year award for his outstanding season. He achieved a .406 batting average through 18 games, and excelled at shortstop, a notoriously demanding position. Like other talented rookie athletes, DaSilva recalls being the target of special treatment from opposing players looking to test him.

“I did not know what it would be like going in to the season,” DaSilva said. “But the competition was a lot better [than in high school]. Players are smarter and know the game better. The difference in pitching was noticeable, and the

other players were overall much stronger. I saw a lot of fast balls just because I was a rookie and I batted second in the order, so they weren’t going to throw the first pitch off-speed. As the season went on though, I began to see many different pitches.”

Trials such as these can be vexing for rookies, especially those given important roles on their team. There is an inherent anxiety that accompanies any first-year athlete, but for those who find themselves in key positions early, there is an added level of pressure.

William Kelly, fly-half for the McMaster men’s rugby squad, knows this pressure well.

Like DaSilva, Kelly also won 2016 OUA rookie of the year honors for his performance this season. With regards to the pressure he felt starting as fly-half, Kelly acknowledges the important role that some of the senior players had in helping him feel relaxed on the field.

“In the game of rugby, fly-half tends to be a leadership role, much like quarterback,” Kelly said. “I was pretty nervous the first game of the season

against Western. The first few minutes were a bit hectic. I believe the first play we ran we had a knock on and I threw a forward pass. It was guys like fifth-year centre Jamie Leveridge who really eased me into it. They said ‘we know you are good, just have confidence in your skills and play by feel’. As the season went on, I got more and more comfortable with my role on the team.”

Beyond the tribulations that rookies may face on the field, many also come to know burdens within the classroom.

The academic strain on the student-athlete is much greater than in high school, and this is recognized well by McMaster administration. Coaching staff and academic advisors understand the time commitment of varsity sports, and it is often recommended for athletes to spread out their academic career to five years, so not to be overwhelmed.

Heavily-recruited rookie wrestler Ben Zarah, a life science major, understands the importance of balancing training and his academics.

“We have a lot of guys on the team who are in demanding faculties and care a lot about academics,” Zarah says. “Many of them have tough course loads like myself and have learned how to manage it. I’m currently taking a reduced load, and I’m planning on extending my time at Mac to five years.”

Zarah is currently mid-season, and is showing great promise so far.

He acknowledges the quality training that he is getting from his teammates in practice, and finds that he has improved greatly from his time as

a Marauder.

Rookie athletes, like all first-year students at McMaster, understand the many toils and delights that attend ones transition from high-school. It can be a rewarding time, and a challenging one, but often one in which senior athletes look back fondly upon.

“Don’t be too nervous,” DaSilva advises future rookies.

“Focus on your game, don’t change anything. Just stay positive and focused, and don’t let the big guys overlook you.” @theSilhouette

Fly-half William Kelly quickly transitioned to university-level rugby, winning the OUA rookie of the year award for the 2016/2017 season.

C/O FRASER CALDWELL

24 |

SPORTS

Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016 | www.thesil.ca

had no idea what that was,” said Jack. “I would just throw it up and try to get it over the net… I had a long way to go.”

Her learning curve was steep, but Jack worked through it. She trained relentlessly, learning the system under an experienced head coach in Tim Louks, who was intent on realizing her full potential. She improved consistently, and after an especially intense summer of third-year workouts, she was named a starter in her fourth season.

But six games into that season, almost one year ago, that everything changed.

The second set – The turning point

DON’T CALL IT A COMEBACK Lauren Beals Sports Reporter

You never think it will happen to you.

Alicia Jack. The natural talent, the quick learner, the 6’3 “brickhouse” at the net. The happy-go-lucky jokester with the easy smile and the knack for getting a laugh from her teammates. A fourth-year veteran. A starting middle on the McMaster women’s volleyball team.

Until she wasn’t.

“When you get recruited,

you think of the positive things”, said Jack. “The wins, the championships, the teammates you will meet. You never think of the losses, the injuries, [or] the setbacks.”

The first set – An unlikely rise

Alicia Jack wasn’t always skilled.

Talented perhaps, but a lanky grade 11 student without volleyball experience. She did not find her way onto a local club team until she was 16, a whole decade after the volleyball elite typically

start lacing up their shoes.

“I wasn’t a star by any means,” said Jack. “Queen’s was my top choice for university… I didn’t know volleyball at all. To this day I don’t know for sure but I think [my assistant coach] was the bird in Tim’s ear saying ‘I have this grade 12 and she isn’t very good at volleyball but you might be able to teach her a thing or two.”

Whatever he did say was just enough, and when Jack’s time in high school was up, the Marauders came calling. The local recruit would follow her

assistant coach to Mac as the first ever player from her club to play for a varsity team.

When she arrived was a different story. Despite her size, some of Jack’s teammates had played in the Ontario University Athletics league for twice as long as she had been involved in the sport at all. Volleyball is a tactical game, and learning the nuances in strategy can take to years to master, time Jack did not have if she ever wanted to see the court.

“I remember my coach telling me I had to float serve, and I

Nov. 20, 2015: The Mac women faced off with their OUA rivals the Western Mustangs in Burridge gym. Three sets in and the Marauders had stolen two tight wins from the Mustangs, with Jack posting four kills and two blocks on the night.

Mid-rally a tight ball pulled her to the net, the same place she had made her name since arriving at Mac. She jumped, she reached, and landed. But this time was different. Jack landed off balance on a twisted knee.

“I was lying on the ground rolling… and I remember the gym went pin-drop quiet,” said Jack. “That was the moment I knew something was wrong, I knew my season was done.”

Early tests were negative, but three weeks later an MRI revealed she had torn her ACL. She would need to undergo surgery to repair it, and any activity before then risked further damaging her knee.

“When I got that call... it was devastating,” said Jack. “I remember thinking, ‘I am never going to play again’.”

The third set – The long road back By current guidelines, Jack would need a nine-month recovery at best. And with the earliest available date for surgery not until March, she might not be cleared to play until January of 2017. It would take something special to get Jack back on the court.

That is when things started started to shift. Pieces fell into place and a chance cancellation meant she could undergo surgery on Jan. 25, two months ahead of schedule. She would still have to go under the knife for the first time in her career

SPORTS | 25

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016

and complete half a year of rehab, but she would not do it alone.

Two weeks after Alicia Jack, rugby player and reigning Canadian Interuniversity Sports player of the year Cindy Nelles sustained the same injury. She had captained the women’s rugby team to their first ever CIS title just months earlier and would go on to be named McMaster’s female athlete of the year.

Two weeks after Nelles, basketball star and national Cadette team member Vanessa Pickard tore her ACL in a game against Queen’s following a stunning victory in the Ryerson tournament a week earlier.

“

I was lying on the ground rolling... and I remember the gym went pin-drop quiet.

That was the moment I knew something was wrong, I knew my season was done.

Alicia Jack Middle blocker, McMaster women’s volleyball team

Despite anchoring their teams and playing at the forefront of McMaster athletics, the three Marauders had never met.

But chance timing and a stroke of luck meant injury would bring these three athletes together as teammates, fighting to return to their respective sports.

And Jack was leading the pack.

“There are very few people I have ever met who work as hard as Jack,” said Pickard. “Throughout her entire rehab, she fully

committed to the process and her determination to get back on the court has been inspirational. Her ability to motivate others has helped me more than I can put into words… There have been so many times where she has helped me refocus and reenergize after setbacks and I don’t think I could ever repay her for that.”

Yet the challenge of rehabbing would be unlike anything Jack had ever faced. Grueling, painful and notoriously slow, athletes across disciplines will testify to just how difficult the year the following surgery can be.

“As an athlete I play rugby,” said Nelles. “I’ve broken my hand, had surgery, sprained ankles and all the rest… It is nothing compared to an ACL rehab.

Just to to see that commitment [from her] alone… volleyball players don’t typically see this type of long-term injury. For her to face that battle and not know everything she was getting into, it just shows her incredible mental strength… I am lucky to have Alicia Jack as a friend.”

Impressive or not, rehab was never easy. A self-described “perfectionist,” for the first time Jack was bound to the restrictions set for her by others, and surpassing limits could have serious consequences on her playing career.

“I kept thinking ‘I should be at this point, why aren’t I doing this,” said Jack. “They had to pull me back. I realized that I couldn’t celebrate perfection, I had to celebrate progress instead.”

Three days after her surgery, Jack was already bending her knee. By day four she had dropped her pain meds and by day 15 she had dropped her crutches as well and was walking without support. Two weeks later she was doing quarter squats and exercising on a stationary bike. Seven weeks in, she was in the pool, and by June, she went for her first run.

“We had a joke that she had a fake ‘placebo’ surgery,” said

Nelles. “That they just put her unconscious and then said ‘oh yeah you’re all better’ without doing anything because she was always so far ahead of us. She was like our ‘rehab goals.”

With physical progress came a new mindset that would push Jack to the finish line of her recovery.

“I think I have taken for granted standing on the bench some days… you take for granted what you have, most people do. You always want something more,” said Jack. “If you are on the bench, then you want to be playing. But when you are on the sideline, you just want to be able to stand with [your team]…

I was determined to do whatever it took to get back.”

For the next eight months, Jack spent two hours a day in the gym and four hours a week in physiotherapy. By July she was already matching weights with teammates. She was even in a hot yoga class before she had full range of motion, just trying to get that extra edge she needed. But come November, she had reached her goal. Alicia Jack was cleared to compete again.

The fourth set – The next chapter Nov. 11, 2016: The women’s volleyball team travelled north to Lakehead for a double header.

For the first time in over a year, Alicia dressed for the game. She wouldn’t be on the roster, but she would be back with her team on the bench.

“It was the highlight of my weekend,” said Jack. “Just putting the sneakers on was a huge ordeal for me, just having them back on and putting that jersey back on… it was a pretty emotional experience.”

They won that game handily in four sets to move to a perfect 4-0 record. The next day was a similar story, with Mac leading 23-14 in the second and about to close the set. That’s when Jack was handed the substation paddle. She was going into the game.

“I didn’t think I was even going to get into the game, [so when I did] my teammates said they have never seen me get so serious in my life,” said Jack. “I ended up going into the match for two points. I never touched the ball, but I have never had those emotions flying. I was nervous, I was ecstatic… I took Jill Eisenhauer out and she said I

“

If you are on the bench, then you want to be playing.

But when you are on the sideline, you just want to be able to stand with [your team].

Alicia Jack Middle blocker, McMaster women’s volleyball team

looked like I was going to cry.”

Since Lakehead, Alicia has played in two more games, including her first return to Burridge gym against Brock.

Still getting back into the swing of playing, the steady stream of improvement won’t be stopping anytime soon, but for her it is simply having the opportunity that really matters.

“It is possible now, for me to go into a game,” said Jack. “I am back, I am officially able to play.

It is just a matter of how I perform to get back on the court… but I am definitely not finished.”

ball. But pull back the curtain and you realize she has been here for years.

Quietly grinding in a high school gym to work her way onto a varsity squad. Studying the game until she became a starter who could read a hitter before their coach even gave the call. Fighting through the pain while a physiotherapist forced her knee back into a locked position.

Putting it all behind her to get back on the court.

“It has motived me more,” said Jack. “I push myself more and harder and then I ever thought I could, mentally and physically. I am a better athlete, and a better person because of it.”

With that drive comes a newfound appreciation for the game.

“Putting on that jersey again I realized that each time you step on that court could be your last. Every game I play now; I know I want to give it my all. I never want to have any regrets.”

Alicia Jack. The compassionate leader, the rehab placebo, the friend. The longtime player with the instincts to beat you at the net and the bravery to overcome the experiences she has had there. A fifth-year veteran.

A middle blocker on the McMaster women’s volleyball team.

The fifth set – Don’t call it a comeback You might say that Alicia Jack came out of nowhere. That if you blinked once, you might miss her rise to stardom, or her stunning return to OUA volley-

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Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016 | www.thesil.ca

Mac veterans leading the way

The McMaster men’s volleyball team is in poll position going into the winter break Griffin Marsh Contributor

A dominant McMaster men’s volleyball team enters the winter break flying high.

As the fall portion of this gruelling season comes to a close, 2016/2017 seems to be no different. At the time of writing, McMaster is ranked no. 2 in the University Sports Top 10, entering the break with a perfect record of 6-0.

For the men’s volleyball team, a group that have won the Ontario University Athletics championships four years running and were last year’s Canadian Interuniversity Sports Championship runners-up, success has come to be expected.

What is fascinating about this team is that while their record may look to be a perfect beginning to this season, there is a drive to do more, to be better and to never settle.

“We know we are capable of more and the trap is settling, and I don’t want to settle for being good enough. If you are capable of more, then reset your standards and let’s do more,” said head coach Dave Preston.

This is a statement that has been reaffirmed on a regular basis by Preston, one of a team that is building something, but by no means done.

McMaster enters December with three strong victories against a variety of competition.

They completed an up and down performance against a new U Sports competitor from Brock University on Nov 18.

It finished with a straight sets victory, but each set presented a new array of challenges for McMaster.

Over this past weekend, McMaster knocked off Waterloo in straight sets at home on Nov 25. This was a solid victory, considering McMaster was fighting from behind for most of the first set. They also beat Western in London, 3-1, losing only their first set of the season.

These victories were against two of the most difficult opponents McMaster faced this fall, as Waterloo and Western presenting strong, veteran squads.

“Waterloo might be one of the most physical teams in the country. They are absolutely massive,” explained Preston.

Waterloo boasts a 6’11” outside hitter and 6’10” middle while

“We know we are capable of more and the trap is settling, and I don’t want to settle for being good enough.”

Dave Preston Head Coach McMaster men’s volleyball displaying impressive kills and blocks throughout the match.

Coach Preston had similar thoughts about Western, describing them as polished and a team that always performs well on their home court.

To overcome these two teams, McMaster got huge performances from their veteran hitters, with Brandon Koppers, Danny Demyanenko, and Jayson McCarthy putting up a combined 53 kills over the two games. These three also contributed at the serving line, combining for nine serving aces.

As winter arrives, the focus now shifts towards the exam period, a break, and some non-conference friendly games. McMaster has only played six games so far this season, meaning the winter portion will carry a more intensive schedule. This means the team will rely on their non-conference play against teams in the National Collegiate Athletic Association to stay focused and sharp.

Over the break, McMaster will take on NCAA no.

1 ranked Ohio State in the Burridge Gym on Dec. 30, and then travel to California on Jan. 3 for games against Concordia University and Pepperdine University to round out exhibition play.

McMaster has a lot to be proud of as they enter the holiday season, and a significant journey is still ahead of them.

But one thing that will remain constant throughout is exciting volleyball as a staple in the Burridge Gym. This team carries passion, drive, and enjoyment; three attributes that are difficult to create in a team, but offer something fun and exciting when they come together. @theSilhouette

C/O ALISTAIR BOULBY

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