The Silhouette — January 18, 2018

S The Silhouette Thursday, Jan. 18, 2017

INSIDE>> Busy bees: local honey farmers sticking in Hamilton // PAGE 3 Comedian Hasan Minhaj shares university memories // PAGE 13 Marauders go pink for breast cancer awareness // PAGES 24-25

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Your look at the candidates’ platforms

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Volume 88, Issue 17 Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018 McMaster University’s Student Newspaper

EDITORIAL BOARD editor-in-chief | thesil@thesil.ca

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news editor news reporter

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features reporter

features@thesil.ca opinion editor

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& culture editor Daniel Arauz & culture reporter Razan Samara aandc@thesil.ca

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MCMASTER THESIL

LOOKING BACK M urphy

Stephenson

Steubing

Thomson

Z uk

It s a five-way race to Tuesday's vote The

M cM aster

S tu d e n ts ’ Union

Dresiriontiai

campaign, 1974 version, entered its fina* phascthTs week with five candidates on the campus hustings

g earin g up fo r th e T u esd ay vote.

Nom ination

sh eets

for

M k e Zuk w ^ r tay t h O fficer Julian Ward

b y

^ the

Highlight of the w eek’s c a m ­ paigning was W ednesday’s “ G reat Debate” in the D ow nstairs John where noise, disruptions and poor acoustics w ere the nam e of the game as the candidates m ade statements and faced questionning from a panel of cam pus m edia re p re s e n ta tiv e s a n d th e 250 students present.

Bruce Thomson, president of the M cM aster E n g in e e rin g S o ciety was concerned m ainly with the level of education at M cM aster. He said learning is not all academ ic but is social as well and the MSU plays an im portant role in these student activities. He m ade no projections and stated th at he could do as well as any of the other candidates.

MSU V ic e -P re sid e n t H a rle y Steubing believes “the policy of the MSU has been too long concerned with priorties relating to money m atters. There is a definite need to become accountable to the student body which could be accom plished by the publication of a financial statem ent.”

The new student centre, Steubing added, will help to bridge the

n u sim gs

A1

t

BrUCC Th™ “ 4

p n ^ d ^ d ltn e^ h iesd a jf

disparities between on-campus and off-cam pus students. By m aking it m ore student oriented ra th e r than another m oney-making enterprise the student centre will become m ore than ju st another building offering new alternatives.

S te u b in g a lso p ro p o sed the placing of student notice boards throughout the cam pus that would im prove com m unication by listing day to day events. He also added, There ia a need to review all the e x istin g MSU p o licie s so the student will bet m ore for the m oney he puts in .”

SRA m em ber Lom e Stephenson spoke of im p ro v in g e x istin g facilities in the are a s of cultural affairs and housing. “ Education and cultural affairs is an area that has been neglected too long. G reat opportunities exist in this a rea and we m ust tak e advantage of th em .”

He added that in relation to other u n iv e r s itie s M c M a ste r r a te d num ber one in student services.

“That is not to say we can sit back and pat ourselves on the back for what we have. We m ust expand our scope by attaining a balance between student program s and

I wonder when they are going to ask me a question I can answ er? Ju st what have I got myself into? Don’t you think I m ake a handsome candidate? I wonder what those other guys have existing facilities so students will attain a wider interest and in­ volvem ent.”

On the housing situation he said, “ I have no exact solution to the problem of student housing except that the MSU m ust come face to face with the problem, its a lte r­ natives and then take on a long

up their sleeve? Now just what does MSU mean?

I wonder what those five guys are doing in the Downstairs John at this tim e in the afternoon.

term program .”

Fourth speaker Mike Zuk made no claim to cam pus fam e stating he was just an ordinary student who h asn’t participated much until this tim e.

He saw three things of utmost im p o rta n c e : co m m u n icatio n s, en h an cin g th e u n iv e rsity e x ­

photo by D IC K W E S T B R O O K

perience and the true society idea.

“At present involvement in these areas are lacking,” he said, adding that the educational and cultural affairs commission should be a via b le so u rce of stu d e n t in ­ volvement.

Zuk also promised a review of the rental structure of the Bates

Apartments.

A1 Murphy, one of the founders of Radish, roughly outlined a check­ off plan that would allow students to allocate where $15.00 of their $25.00 MSU fee should be spent. He stated, “ It is a feasible idea based on the idea that students know what they w ant.”

M u rp h y ’s proposal for SRA plebiscite meetings where issues would be open for discussion by all students would serve, he said, to allow students to run their own government.

On the security issue, Murphy said that he did not feel there is a need for a police force on campus.

A security force would better fulfill cam pus needs he added.

The question period followed the opening statem ents.

A1 Murphy and Mike Zuk, when asked what they knew about the operations of the MSU, claimed th ey knew nothing. “ I am m arried ,” said Murphy when a fem ale student inquired about his sudden in te re s t in th e MSU presidency.

Steubing was questioned about budgets and the bickering that goes on for money and replied,“In re g a rd to the check-off plan presented by my honourable op­ ponent, I feel it would not work because you would have a barage of lobbying groups trying to get their hands on money. Even though there is self-interest of the SRA presently, if this can be minimized in the future the present system can work very well.”

On the issue of full time salaried

positions Stephenson said, “By restructuring a few areas within the adm inistration you could take some of the pressures off people who may have too many other things to do. Also it would initiate more involvement and get more ideas flowing.”

Thomson, based on his ex­ p e rie n c e in th e E n g in e e rin g society, thought that volunteers can and will run functions ef­ ficiently without the high costs of full tim ed salaried employees.

V arious stu d e n ts a p p e a re d disappointed a t the evasive and repetative answers to questions that the student expected the prospective presidents to be in­ formed of. “ It seem s to me that although Murphy appears to have some good ideas he is not experienced enough in the a rt of student politics. Although Steubing tends to ;h ave p la tfo rm s s im ila r to Stephenson, he would be the best president due to his experience with the MSU,” said a third year G eography stu d e n t a fte r the debate.

Next round in the cam paign is Sunday at 2 pm when Mac Radio will hold a phone-in show with the candidates.

P olls in nine b uildings throughout the cam pus will be open Tuesday from 10 am to 3 pm.

An advance poll will be open from 2 to 5 pm Monday in the Arts II cafeteria. Election results will be posted in the SRA Lounge, Went­ worth House as the votes are tallied.

five

one

for

for

one

all VOL. 44

HAMILTON, ONTARIO, FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 1974

NO. 17

Long, ro cky rood m oy lie ah ead for plan to increase Senate reps

by DAN P.H. PARLE M c M ^ ^ tll t ^ ^ t St^ a t o r s have begun a m ovem ent to attain more Senate representation for students but they m ay find the road to significant representation a long and rocky one.

Dr. David M. Winch, chairm an of The Ad Hoc Com m ittee to Review Senate, Senate Com m ittee Structure, and Senate By laws outlined som e of the problem s involved in changing the size and content of the university Senate.

“We can recom m end anything to the Senate, but it can only im ­ plem ent re c o m m e n d a tio n s th a t are not in violation of the University A ct” , said Winch. He explained th a t th e c u r r e n t University Act calls for M cM aster University to have six student senators, four und erg rad u ate and two graduate representatives.

There a r e good in d ic a tio n s though that the c u rren t University Act may be review ed in the Provincial legislature soon. Any changes in the num ber of Senate seats, for any group, m ust be m ade in the Provincial legislature.

The University Act is regularly reviewed about every five years, which is one of the reasons why the current c o m m itte e on S e n a te structure was struck. The Senate has it within its power to influence the legislature’s decisions.

Winch d e c lin e d to s p e c u la te whether th e c o m m itte e w ill recommend an increase in student representation on the Senate but he noted that “everyone w ants m ore seats on the Senate for their p a r­ ticular group but all ag ree th at a sm aller S e n a te w ould be desirable” .

Currently the Senate is com ­ posed of representatives from the faculty, adm inistration, alum ni, and students.

Winch expects his com m ittee to make its rep o rt in the spring, Probably in M arch. He prom ised that, “it is going to be con­ troversial. It would be utterly impossible to give every group that has made subm issions to the committee w hat it asked fo r” .

Sheryl S m ith , th e stu d e n t member of the Winch com m ittee told the S ilh o u e tte th a t “ th e possibilities of restru ctu rin g of the

senate a re excellent” .

Student Senator Ted McMeekin w as a s k e d w hy th e stu d e n t sen ato rs chose to m ake a sub­ mission to the com m ittee asking for m ore student representation on the Senate. “ I t’s really to ensure a significant quality and quantity of student input into Senate decisions,” said McMeekin. He went on to mention other reasons for having more student senators. He said m ore student senators would relieve the c u rre n t student senators of an

excessive amount of committee work.

M cM eekin sa id th e stu d e n t senators don’t want a m ajority of seats on the Senate but they do want an equal num ber of seats with the faculty m em bers. He said that if you m ake the assum ptions that s tu d e n ts are m a tu re and responsible for their own education then parity on the Senate with faculty is a logical step. “ I don’t think students are going to get involved with the Senate until they see their involvement as

meaningful. I am optimistic that the community of scholars at M cMaster will see the logic in it.”

The University Senate is the body which regulates most m atters of an academ ic nature at Mc­ M aster. At present it consists of 68 m em bers, including faculty, ad­ m inistration, alumni and students.

Some m em bers of the student body look upon the present system as giving students only “token representation” in m atters which affect them very greatly and directly.

Free student service

SRA studying income tax plan

by DOUG SCOTT Silhouette News Staff Students m ay get their income tax done free of charge this year.

A proposal presented to the Student R epresentative Assembly ea rlie r this week suggested a free tax service for students and old age p e n s io n e rs .

T he a s s e m b ly , however, tabled the report with the re c o m m e m d a tio n th a t it be returned to the Student Executive C o m m itte e to stu d y the

ram ifications of the suggestion.

H arley Steubing, Vice-President of the M cM aster Student’s Union, expressed an opinion that as the plan now stands there would be some obvious rip-offs; We have to recognize the caution issued by one of the com m erce representatives on this assem bly th at the service has to operate with guaranteed quality.

The operating budget for the service provided for funds of

Last o rig in a l gra d w a s a lso oldest Dr. H arris Lachlan MacNeill, a m em ber of M cM aster’s first graduating class in 1894, died in Chedoke Hospital on Tuesday, Ja n u a ry 15, a t the age of 102. He w as a p ro fe s s o r of th e U niversity’s Divinity College for 11 years and retired in 1943.

Born in Paisley, Ontario, in 1871, Dr. MacNeill taught New T estam ent Studies a t B randon College in Manitoba for 26 years before joining the M cM aster faculty in 1932 as Professor of New T estam ent Interpretation.

A fte r his r e tir e m e n t, he rem ained active in M cM aster

alum ni affairs and continued with his religious research until five years ago when his eyesight began to fail. An honorary deacon of MacNeill Memorial B aptist Church in Westdale, w hich w as n am ed a fte r a cousin, he was the recipient of an honorary doctor of laws degree from M cM aster and was the first person to receive an honorary degree from Brandon College.

Survived by his wife Vera, Dr. M acN eill w as b u rie d on J a n u a r y 17 in W oodland Cemetery.

$2350.00 with over 70 percent of the budget to be returned in salaries to students.

Reasons for the service were given a s : a tim esaver to students; assurance that students and old age pensioners could take full advantage of all tax reliefs and p ro d u ctio n of a fa v o u ra b le MSU im age of getting involved in community affairs.

New tax benefits introduced by the governm ent m ay now make it necessary for pensioners to fill out a tax return to get property tax rebates. If senior citizens had to go to another source the average cost of preparing a tax return would be in the area of eight dollars.

Many of the m em bers of the assem bly thought the service was a good idea but tabled the report to stu d y f u r th e r le g a l and organizational implications.

Paul H arris who had prepared the report thought that it was a bad move on the part of the SRA. “For one reason, work for the service has to be done now, for example the training of employees and appointm ent at old age homes m ust be set up. Secondly the SRA talks about student initiative and then when a good program m e arises it is shot to pieces by an elitist firing squad which does not exactly lead to the soliciting of input of students.”

photo b y D IC K W E S T B R O O K

An official act of parliam ent has been passed naming the newly formed lake in front of Divinity College ‘Lake W arner,’ in honour of the so o n -to -re tire M cM aster S tu d e n ts’ Union president. The engineering feat was ac­ complished by dam m ing up Cootes Paradise. At present the first floors of the residences are under water. Dean of Men Gus M acFarlane has assured the Silhouette, however, that each

residence will be supplied with a life guard and an emergency meeting of the Senate will be called to give consent to a new ferry service which will commence next week. Gerry Toms, MSU employment commissioner said that a captain for the ferry boat, Titanic II, has been hired. The new captain is one Tug Boat Annie, cousin of the McMaster Flying Club’s Ace Jorgenson.

Referendum on Senate parity to be included in SRA ballot Students, during the Student R e p re se n ta tiv e A ssem bly e le c ­ tions, will get a chance to vote in a referendum on student parity in the Senate.

This SRA p a sse d a m otion Tuesday night instructing the Chief Returning Officer to place the referendum on the ballot.

It will re a d : Do you support the concept of equal representation of students with faculty on: (a) Senate and its com m ittees, (b) the Board of Governors and its com­ m ittees, (c) the faculty and all of its other academ ic committees?

Yes or No for each of the above.

Jean Jacobs had his contract as L iquor F a c ilitie s C o-ordinator ratified this week. Jacobs becam e m anager of the R athskellar Pub in November.

A report on a tax service for students and pensioners was tabled and sent back to the SEC. The

service would be offered at no charge to help students and senior citizens take advantage of tax benefits.

H arley S teubing, M cM aster S tudent Union v ic e-p re sid e n t, informed the assembly that the C an a d ia n N atio n al R ailw ays Station in Dundas is going to be phased out.

T his would fo rce M cM aster students to use the Burlington station, a considerably further distance to travel. It was decided that letters will be sent out to bring some pressure to bear on CN to reconsider this move.

T h re e c o m m issio n ers w ere ratified at this weeks meeting. Ken Noma will fill the vacancy in Communications and Rosie Grauf and C h arles M e rriv a le w ere ra tifie d a s E d u ca tio n al and Cultural Affairs Commissioners.

Derek W arner, MSU president,

informed the assembly that the Ontario Federation of Students had restructured its organization and was prepared to become m ore of a lobby for students. M cM aster was asked to join.

F o u r SRA m e m b e rs, Steve Fuller, Ken Noma, Tom Dececchi and C hris P riest, will go to the upcoming OFS Conference and th en re p o rt th e ir findings on whether or not the Federation would be a viable organization to join.

Delegations from the floor in­ cluded a m em ber of Mac E x­ plorers asking for a subsidy and a student asking for the installation of U H F c o n v e rte rs for the residences. Wayne Shipwell from Mac Explorers was referred back to the Students Executive Com­ m ittee and Bob P orter was refferred to the Inter-Presidence Council on the other point.

“I wonder when they are going to ask me a question I can answer?

Just what have I got myself into?”

WE WANT YOU TO CONTRIBUTE We are back to 28 pages.

As always, we will continue to accept volunteer submissions, feedback and inquiries. Feel free to send an email to the section you would like to contribute to.

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018

The Silhouette

| 3

News

Welcome to election season Written and compiled by: Sasha Dhesi News Editor

Emily O’Rourke Cassidy Bereskin Features Reporter News Reporter

Vanessa Polojac Contributor

Graphics and photos by: Timothy Law Production Coordinator

Madeline Neumann Photo Editor

Kevin Hu Volunteer

What is ranked voting?

The McMaster Students Union Elections Department uses ranked voting instead of first past the post for elections.

Ranked voting allows voters to arrange their candidates in order of preference. In order to win an election, candidates must have more than 50 per cent of

Voter turnout history

51.1% Highest turnout: 1973 12.9% Lowest turnout: 2009

the votes.

If no one has more than 50 per cent of the votes, a series of runoff counts occurs where the candidate with the lowest number of votes is eliminated and redistributed according to the ranked preference.

60% 40% 20% 2013

Let’s see it in action: Here, no one has more than 50 per cent of the vote and triangle with the lowest number of votes is eliminated.

3rd preference: Votes go to the second preference, granting square the win.

Sun

3rd preference:

Mon

14 Campaigning begins

1st preference: 2nd preference:

2015

2016

2017

Election season at a glance

1st preference: 2nd preference:

2014

15

Wed

16

Thurs

17

Meet and Greet

21 Sil debate

Tues

Sat

18

19

20

25

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MSU debate

22 MSU & You

Fri

23 Voting opens

24 Voting closes

4 |

NEWS

Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018 | www.thesil.ca

Life Sciences VI

MUHAMMED

AYDIN

Running for McMaster. Running for You.

maydin2018.com

Muhammed Aydin is a level VI Life Sciences co-op student.

His platform focuses on food, housing, technology and infrastructure.

Aydin is currently the facility head for the McMaster Muslim Student Association and has some previous experience with the McMaster Students Union through his time as an executive member of the Student Walk Home Attendant Team. He has also worked as a peer career mentor.

His first pillar focuses on making food cheaper on campus. Aydin would like to implement a $5 meal option at Union Market, which would include a main, a snack and a drink.

He would also like to create a

Pay-It-Forward button system, which would allow someone to pay for a product to be used by a stranger at a later time.

Aydin’s second pillar lays out his plans to improve student housing. He hopes to create a landlord approval system where students may outline their past experiences with landlords and inform students of their rights as tenants. This approval system would also work as a verification system for landlords. Aydin also hopes to create a website for verified landlords to post their listings, preferably tied to the current listings website that the Off-Campus Resource Centre offers.

Aydin’s third pillar concerns technology. Aydin hopes

English and Cultural Studies IV

LINDSAY

D’SOUZA

to improve WiFi on campus so that one could access WiFi anywhere on campus. He also plans on creating an MSU app meant to act as a resource hub for all MSU resources and services.

Aydin’s last pillar addresses infrastructure on campus.

Aydin plans on building bigger bus shelters throughout campus so that every bus stop has one.

He also wants to repair the bike repair station on campus and add two more stations on campus. He also hopes to create a campaign informing students of their ability to call Facility Services to request repairs, particularly for electrical outlets on campus.

Aydin would like to implement a $5 meal option at Union Market, which would include a main, a snack and a drink.

Step Forward

lindsaydsouza2018.com

Lindsay D’Souza is a level IV English and Cultural Studies student. Her platform, split into eight pillars, discusses improving community on campus, student wellness, advocacy and safety.

D’Souza was previously an Student Representative Assembly (Humanities) member from 2015 to 2017. During her time on the SRA, she sat on the Executive Board and the University Affairs committee. In addition to her work with the SRA, D’Souza has also been involved with the Ontario University Student Alliance as both a delegate to their general assembly and a summer research intern.

She has also been involved with various leadership groups on campus.

D’Souza’s first pillar focuses on academic success. She plans to re-examine the deferred exams system; create an ad-hoc committee to review three-year degrees, review academic routes interdisciplinary students can take and push the last day of cancelling classes without a failure by default.

The second pillar focuses on improving community.

D’Souza hones in on improving Homecoming, by advocating for a redesign of the Homecoming Expo and limiting midterms during Homecoming.

The third pillar addresses employment after graduation.

D’Souza hopes to continue working with the university to make sure that the university follows through on the McMas-

ter Employment Engagement Strategy.

D’Souza’s fourth pillar lays out her plan to support MSU clubs. She plans on creating an online clubs reimbursement form, upgrading MSU Clubspace lockers to better suit their needs, creating a summer networking retreat for clubs similar to the ones offered to MSU part-time managers and SRA members and creating workshop opportunities.

The fifth pillar covers improving technology on campus.

D’Souza wishes to create a resource hub where student can readily access technology-related information such as that taught during TechLit week this year. D’Souza also hopes to introduce low-cost personal IT

services to help students take care of their personal devices.

Through her sixth pillar, D’Souza also plans on improving transit by being a part of the creation of the MSU policy paper on public transit, set to occur in March of this year.

D’Souza also plans to collect data from the U-Pass Presto card to see how students use the HSR. D’Souza’s penultimate pillar focuses on student safety.

She hopes to follow through on the results of the Ward 1 participatory budgeting project, which showed that students wish for more street lighting in the neighbourhoods around McMaster. She also hopes to revamp the current McMaster security app, MUSST.

D’Souza’s last pillar focuses on student wellness. She hopes to better promote the Student Assistance Program, a counselling service offered to all MSU members; she hopes to introduce care managers into student residences, ensure the Student Wellness Centre expansion includes student voices, restructure both the SWC website and the MSU Health Plan, given the expansion of OHIP to include the cost of many prescription drugs for people under 25.

NEWS

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018

Political Science IV

IKRAM

| 5

#FillTheGaps

FARAH ikram2018.com

Ikram Farah is a level IV Honours Political Science and Labour Studies student. Her platform focuses on advocacy and improving student life.

Within the university, Farah has worked at the circulation desk in Mills Library, as a Community Advisor and as a student partner for the MacPherson Institute.

In the McMaster Student Union, Farah has served as an Ontario University Student Alliance delegate and represented the Social Sciences faculty as a caucus leader on the Student Representative Assembly during the 2016-2017 year.

Under her “Transit — Your Destination” pillar, Farah hopes to work with various groups to improve transit for both interna-

tional and commuter students.

Farah plans on partnering with Airways Transit Limited to create a service that transports international students to and from airports. She also plans on working with Metrolinx to extend Go bus hours to better match student schedules.

Farah’s “Revamping Your Campus” pillar focuses on the need for more outlets on campus, improved lighting in low-traffic areas on campus and student-populated areas off-campus and reduced physical barriers.

The “Re-EXAMining Exams” pillar seeks to improve students’ academic experiences by advocating for an extended study break before exams and the opportunity for students

Life Sciences IV

RABEENA

OBAIDULLAH

with multiple exams in one day to modify their schedule.

Through her “A Student’s Success” pillar, Farah also seeks to develop what she calls a “Brighter World Transcript,” meant to highlight students’s involvements outside of academia. She also hopes to improve the McMaster Student Absence Form by adding a part outlining a the student’s estimation of assignment completion and standardize the three day period of the MSAF to be three business days across the board to ensure students have the time they need.

Farah also focuses on improving food options on campus. Two platform points that centre around this are Farah’s

plan to implement a “Tax Free Tuesdays” initiative that would make McMaster Hospitality Services food tax-free on Tuesdays and working with Bridges Café to offer healthier options at other restaurants on campus.

Farah also plans to reduce financial barriers for students by advocating for an earlier bursary date and re-evaluation of the OSAP structure to ensure that accounts for program cost discrepancies.

Farah plans on addressing student support by making improvments to the Note-Taker initiative currently offered

by Student Accessibilty Services. She hopes to collaborate with their office to incentivize students by offering them MSU

Courtesy Cards as a short-term plan, and then eventually offer honorariums.

Farah also hopes to foster a safer campus for students by advocating for the addition of a second Sexual Violence Response Coordinator to improve the university’s response to sexual violence on campus.

Create Tomorrow, Today

rabeena2018.com

Rabeena Obaidullah is a level IV Life Sciences student. Her platform attempts to address a wide range of student issues.

Obaidullah is currently an Student Representative Assembly (Science) member. She is a sitting member on the Municipal Affairs committee. Obaidullah also has experience volunteering with various McMaster Student Union services and leadership programs.

Divided into five pillars, Obaidullah’s platform spans a wide array of topics, ranging from improving McMaster Hospitality operations to creating new and improved transit options for commuting students.

Obaidullah’s first pillar focuses on improving and assisting with time-management for

McMaster students. Obaidullah hopes to implement a tracking system that would inform students of the number of people currently in a given study space such as the libraries. Obaidullah also plans to create new transportation routes to cut the time it takes to commute to the university with a new Go bus route and introduce new transportation methods to Hamilton such as UberPool.

Obaidullah’s second pillar lays out her plan to better academics. Obaidullah plans to improve spring and summer classes. Her plans focus on collecting information through surveying students and then offering courses students would like in the spring and summer term based on this informa-

tion. The Faculty of Health Sciences currently uses this system already. She also plans on advocating for an interdisciplinary minor in Innovation and Entrepreneurship and introducing courses concerning health and wellness to all faculties.

Obaidullah’s third pillar focuses on improving and cutting the cost of McMaster’s Hospitality services. Her platform ensures that they can offer 10 per cent food rebates and will reduce student spending by up to 13 per cent in regards to food.

With the expectation of the new Student Activity Building to have a grocery store, Obaidullah plans on creating an online platform for students to weekly order and conveniently pick up their groceries.

The focus of Obaidullah’s fourth pillar is diversity.

Through creating a multi-faith centre, Obaidullah plans to use this space as a resource so that students have accessibility to practice their religion. Obaidullah also plans on creating an MSU clubs volunteer portal and create a resource hub for international students to ease the transition when entering McMaster.

Finally, Obaidullah’s last pillar promotes student involvement with the McMaster community. Obaidullah plans on working alongside Redeemer College and Mohawk College to ensure students vote during the upcoming municipal election.

She also hopes to improve the health of McMaster students by

anonymously tracking health trends from the Student Wellness Centre and providing support in response to outbreaks.

Obaidullah would also like to create a McMaster app that gives students access to include academics, finances, navigation and other services.

6 |

NEWS

Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018 | www.thesil.ca

Political Science III

KYLE

PINHEIRO

#ImproveFASTR

kylepinheiro2018.com

Kyle Pinheiro is a third-year Political Science student. Pinheiro’s platform consists of a five pillar model called “FASTR,” which stands for “Food, Accessibility, Safety, Transportation and Responsibility.”

Although he has not held any major roles in the McMaster Students Union, Pinheiro has worked as an International Students Mentor for McMaster Social Services and as event staff for McMaster Free the Children. Pinheiro has also been involved with McMaster Model United Nations as a delegate and is a member of the Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas Youth Council, a group created by the Liberal government to listen to youth voices.

In the food portion of his platform, Pinheiro highlights the need for more space in the McMaster Bread Bin Food Collective Centre, an on-campus food bank that is currently operating out of the Refectory basement. He also proposes the creation of a frozen food delivery service for Hamilton’s homeless shelters, which would ensure that leftover food from the FCC does not go to waste.

In his accessibility pillar, Pinheiro addresses his plan to develop an interface for students to report malfunctioning electrical outlets on campus.

He also seeks to develop an app for Avenue to Learn.

The app will allow student to more easily view grades and

Social Work IV

KIRSTIN

use Avenue to Learn on their phones. Pinheiro also hopes to add integrative features from Mosaic, McMaster’s main online administrative website.

One of Pinheiro’s minor points includes the addition of microwave locations to the McMaster University Student Centre.

Pinheiro’s plan to improve safety entails providing McMaster Students Union staff with robust suicide crisis prevention training and sexual assault violence prevention training.

He also wants to improve student safety by including more red-security poles on campus, particularly at bus stops and poles beside entrances to major buildings.

Pinheiro seeks to address students’ problems with the Hamilton Street Railway primarily by implementing a test project for an expanded and heated bus shelter program at the university.

Pinheiro also plans on working with the HSR to expand the 51-University line to run during evening hours Under the last pillar of his platform, responsibility, Pinheiro notes the importance of working to implement projects that were introduced by former MSU presidents.

He also seeks to develop an app for Avenue to Learn. The app will allow student to more easily view grades and use Avenue to Learn on their phones.

Raise Your Voice

WEBB kirstinwebb.com

Kirstin Webb is a Level IV Social Work student and currently an Student Representative Assembly member for social sciences. Her platform focuses on improving life on campus and within the community.

As an SRA member, Webb has contributed to McMaster Student Union policy papers, been a delegate to the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance and currently sits on the MSU’s Municipal Affairs committee.

Webb has also worked with the Social and Planning Research Council of Hamilton.

Webb’s platform is centred around three pillars that include on-campus issues, community development and a collective relationship between the MSU and the student body.

Her first pillar surrounds pertinent issues on campus, addressing accessibility, representation and educational opportunities for students. This first pillar includes platform points such as retracting the new Smoking Ban policy and creating designated smoking areas on campus, increasing incentives for student notetakers while providing access to notes through McMaster Student Absence Form submissions and providing free menstrual products in all single user washrooms per building on campus.

Within this pillar, Webb also supports current plans for Indigenous sovereign confederacy on campus while working collaboratively to promote authentic representation within

the MSU and undergraduate student population. She further aims to continue to advocate for students for an increase in the number of experiential education opportunities for all students.

The second pillar aims to build relationships between McMaster and the city of Hamilton. This pillar is particularly focused on student safety off campus. The points within this pillar include exploring the addition of security poles within the community, increasing the role of civic engagement around Hamilton City Councillor elections, integrating SoBi to McMaster’s U-Pass in order to promote the exploration of Hamilton in a sustainable way and finally adding a fourth

pillar to Welcome Week’s strategic priorities so that first year students can explore their new home.

Webb’s final pillar sees a collective effort between the MSU and the undergraduate student body. This pillar sees an increased provision of bystander intervention training for MSU members in addition to creating a response protocol. She also aims to politicize the role of the MSU president which would entail the president calling for action on student issues while being involved within political processes of the university and increasing student representation and engagement outside of the MSU by creating opportunities and space for students.

Further, Webb’s platform sees the opportunity for undergraduate students to create a campaign point that will be introduced within her year plan if elected. Until Jan. 24, students can submit ideas, either online or at Webb’s campaign table, surrounding what they would like to see within the following year.

NEWS

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018

Engineering and Physics VI

CONNOR

| 7

It Is Your Destiny

WONG wong2018.com

Connor Wong is a Level VI engineering and physics student.

Wong’s platform surrounds transparency, logistics, sustainability and inclusion within our campus.

While Wong does not have any official MSU experience, he has experience coordinating between groups and communicating with professional contacts from his time doing co-op placements. Wong has also worked and played in a jazz band for several years now.

His first point aims to create transparency within the MSU’s advocacy work in order to reassure the student body of the MSU’s usefulness as an organization. Within his platform, Wong notes that the

general media focus on campus events and awards rather than the advocacy work undertaken by the MSU, and contributing overall to the general impression of inactivity on the organization. Wong also aims to make financial decisions made by the MSU to be fully transparent and publicized by creating a nice, big, potentially shiny poster and hanging said poster up in a central location on campus.

Wong’s platform also intends to reflect upon the “tragically moist” and costly Light Up the Night. Although he feels as though the event should be completely eliminated, it does require a second look, particularly within its funding.

Further, Wong takes a

sustainable approach within his platform by addressing the potential replacement of all walkways on campus with canals in light of recent weather trends.

Wong cites that this action will double as a restoration and preservation of the local environment.

Finally, Wong promises to block off all of the stairs on campus during inclement weather in order to ensure inclusivity between the currently unblocked stairs on campus.

Further, Wong takes a sustainable approach within his platform by addressing the potential replacement of all walkways on campus with canals in light of recent weather trends.

PLATFORM HIGHLIGHTS

Muhammed Aydin

$5 meals at Union Market

Landlord approval system

Improved WiFi

Lindsay D’Souza

Case managers and residence

No midterms during Homecoming

Personal IT service

Extended Go bus service

Better lighting on and off campus

Increasing sexual violence support

Skills exchange

Bringing UberPool to McMaster

Minor in innovation and entrepreneurship

New space for Mac Bread Bin

More red security poles

Expanding HSR 51-University line hours

Kirstin Webb

Sexual violence policy review

SoBi integration into the U-Pass

Increasing student representation outside of MSU

Connor Wong

Replace all walkways with canals

Microwave monitors

50 per cent MSAF per semester

Ikram Farah Rabeena Obaidullah Kyle Pinheiro

PRESIDENT’S PAGE

January 18, 2018 | thesil.ca

wanted to improve student life, and ended up creating Light Up the Night, the annual McMaster block party. David Campbell advocated for and eventually achieved increased transit schedules for students. Siobhan Stewart advocated for and in time got a fall reading week for students.

MSU presidential elections matter. These aspects of student life we celebrate and may take for granted began with candidates CHUKKY putting themselves forward, and students voting for them.

IBE As students begin the proPresident cess of deciding what candidate they believe in and choosing president@msu.mcmaster.ca who to rank first, second, third 905.525.9140 x23885 and so forth on the ballot, there are several critical questions that For some, it is hard to believe that must be asked. What are the mostudent politics can make a dif- tivations behind a candidate runference in student life. However, ning? What have they done in the the results of student politics can past to uplift and enhance stube seen every day, from where we dent life at McMaster? The best decide to eat on campus, to how marker for future success is past much we receive in financial aid. success, combined with lessons MSU presidential elections will learned from previous failures. continue to shape the student experience at McMaster University.

Politics and campaigns undeniably matter.

They matter because two years ago, Justin Monaco-Barnes promised students an expansion to the Pulse and more student space. Soon, we will be breaking ground on the Student Activity Building and beginning the Pulse expansion project. Ehima Osazuwa ran a campaign in part concerned with lowering tuition, and a year later we saw transformative changes to the OSAP program through the MSU’s leadership in provincial advocacy. Teddy Saull

The platforms of candidates give students a sense of where their priorities lie, allowing students to decide who will best deliver the change they desire. Nonetheless, the role of the MSU president is only partially related to fulfilling ideas on a platform. Fundamentally, the job is to articulate the concerns of the student body to relevant stakeholders, while be-

Obama shared great wisdom when she said, “The presidency doesn’t change who you are, it reveals who you are, and the same thing is true of a presidential campaign.” Candidates are permitted to make mistakes, learn, and come back the next day even better. Whether you are running for us, want to fill the gaps, building tomorrow, today, allowing stu-

MSU presidential elections will continue to shape the student experience at McMaster University ing an impassioned advocate for such concerns. The job is part advocacy, part representation, part platform, and part student relations. It is essential for candidates to strike a balance throughout these roles.

Students should approach candidates with gratitude for the sacrifices they make to run a campaign. In addition, students should also hold their candidates accountable for their statements, ideas, and priorities. Michelle

dents to raise their voice, believe it is our destiny, or you want to see our community improve faster or step forward, we all want to make McMaster dope. I thank all the candidates for trusting their dopeness, and for the teams that support them. Marauders are in good hands, and I look forward to the process and the result. Visit msumcmaster.ca/elections for more information on the OPIRG referendum and details on each of the presidential candidates.

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, Jan. 18, 2018

EDITORIAL

| 9

Editorial Common themes in presidentials Takeaways from previous years of tendencies Shane Madill Editor-in-Chief

1) Get a lead and maintain it

Voters will rank every candidate from one to seven. Round one simply indicates everyone’s first choice on the ballot, and the candidate with the least amount of first place votes is knocked out. For the rest of the rounds, the ballots for losing candidates are redistributed to their top remaining preference.

This continues until a candidate reaches more than 50 per cent of the vote.

However, the preferential voting system has historically meant far less than you think it has. In the last five years, only one year has had candidates move position in the standings from round one to the end of the process. The largest of these was Sarah Jama who moved two spots from fourth to second overall in the 2016 election.

Close calls do happen. Teddy Saull’s 68-vote lead over Jacob Brodka in the first round of the 2014 election decreased to 66 and 11 in rounds two and three, respectively. This still ended in a 101 vote win for Saull in the final round.

Having a solid base of first place votes has shown to be important for momentum, and it is unlikely that a candidate that relies on votes coming from the preferential system will win.

However, with such a large number of candidates this year, the possibilities for overlap between platforms and voter bases are incredibly high. This year has the most amount of candidates since the 2013 election, which also had seven. This year has a higher than usual possibility for a candidate in first place during the first round to be upset in the later rounds.

2) Have MSU experience

David Campbell went from second place in 2012’s presidentials to vice-president (Administration) to winning the presidency in the first round in 2013.

He was the only candidate in the last five years to win at any point earlier than the final round.

Ehima Osazuwa was involved with the Student Representatives Assembly before winning in 2015. Justin Monaco-Barnes’ experience with the Underground represented some unconventional MSU qualifications before winning in 2016. Chukky Ibe was involved with the SRA, MSU Diversity Services and the Student Success Centre prior to his win in 2017.

The one exception to this was Saull in 2014 who noted, “I had never been a part of politics before, except for watching The Ides of March,” in his interview with the Silhouette after winning. He was the president of student council in high school and was involved as a Community Advisor for Hedden and Bates, but was still a candidate from outside of the MSU. You can win as an outsider, but it has generally taken a lot of work and close calls.

This year features four candidates with SRA experience, one with unique MSU experience and two without any MSU experience.

3) There is an increasing need to have one big point

Campbell replied, “Study space, space in general on campus and library hours,” when asked to identify one issue that was the most important to students. Saull promoted the theme of community and made a few points off of this such as off-campus security, the student life enhancement fund and a bigger Frost Week.

Osazuwa’s run arguably changed the dynamics of MSU presidentials. The substantial focus on tuition advocacy resulted in criticism that mostly revolved around how alternative solutions may be better rather than the idea itself. Monaco-Barnes expanded on this with his unique background by promoting the idea of more affordable courseware being printed through

Underground. Ibe’s main point of better WiFi completely overrode the lack of consulting on his other points because it was a point so prominently featured on his and so minimal on everyone else’s.

It is possible to have complete, top-to-bottom platforms win, and having one main point does not mean that the rest of the ideas are weak by any means. It is simply a great way to get people interested in your campaign and to express what your top priority is in a long list of ideas.

This year, oddly enough, appears to be going back to old presidential tendencies with the lack of any one candidate heavily promoting one idea. Each seem to promote themselves as the brand or some tagline or theme with multiple platform points under that. We will see how this develops during the MSU debate on Jan. 18 and our debate on Jan. 21.

4) How important is gender?

In a broader look at the statistics since the 1970s to present done by the Silhouette last year, it was mentioned that only 13 per cent of president elects have been female. It took 22 years to break a streak of male presidents with Mary Koziol in 2010. There have only been four women presidents elected in the history of the MSU. In a Silhouette article in 2013 addressing the lack of women running for president, Koziol noted, “I was told repeatedly not to put women’s issues at the forefront of my platform.

I think that’s an interesting dynamic — that it’s okay to be female and run for an election, but you have to be careful about how proud you are about being female.”

In 2014, the Silhouette noted that McMaster ranked eighth out of nine major research universities in Ontario for equal gender representation in student government.

Koziol appeared again in a

to lying down for five minutes

to being a Boo Boo the Fool

to bacon calibration

to being ghosted by animal people

to wearing sneakers on slippery sidewalks to Tas to the submit button on your grad school apps

to being inconvenienced in the afterlife to five hour night class to people filing their nails in class

to sleeping on rocks to harden yourself up for the cruel world

to the 47F

to loving yourself and owning more than one sad pillow

to forgetting to eat after working out

to being a sweaty boi

to Fin retrieving sacred Polish water for baby brothers

to not knowing if you’re faint in the lab from fumes or a lack of food

to finding a house

to group work

to ending something unhealthy

to life lately

to supportive communities to men on the internet who buy you things to secret TV appearances

to January to hell week to ugly nails to fortune cookies with no fortune to nookies

to cottage boy

similar Silhouette article in 2015 stating, “It’s challenging to say what the MSU could be doing differently. … The ultimate answer is we need a culture shift; one in which people who are traditionally underrepresented feel supported and safe in pursuing positions of influence.”

Another article in 2016 about women in the MSU mentioned Karen Bird, professor of political science at McMaster, who noted, “It is so puzzling that it is the case for local politics and for young women.

Women are the majority in most desciples now, at least across the

university. Women tend to do better in their GPA. They have all the skills and all the ability but there is still something that is keeping women from stepping forward.”

There have been no female presidents in the last five years.

It is statistically likely that either this point or the second point about MSU experience will break this year considering all of the candidates with SRA experience are women and only one out of the remaining three have any MSU experience. @shanemadill

10 |

HUMANS

Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018 | www.thesil.ca

situation a lot better. You were meeting people or just hanging out with your friends. So, when I came into university and getting introduced by all the science reps made me want to do it because I was always the hype man at pep rallies. They were so enthusiastic and helpful right off the bat that it made me realize it was something that I wanted to be a part of. That is how I met people and get involved.

I applied to one other thing that was Humanity First and I didn’t get that, which was a bit discouraging to be honest.

Then I applied to be a science representative and I got it. I was super stoked about that because all the people seemed super nice, even though it seemed like that year there was a lot of people who had done it for a few years compared to the second time I did it where it was almost only new reps. The teams were really different, but we always had the same goal. We all still wanted to make everyone feel comfortable, sing cheer or be

Graeme Oliver Life Sciences III Kyle West Photo Reporter

Could you introduce yourself please?

My name is Graeme Oliver and I’m in third year biology and environmental science. It is not a double major it is a mixed major so that is a bit of a let down but I still like the program.

Manveer Kalirai Contributor

Would you say you have any regrets? Do you ever wish you could go back and change one thing?

I have felt that way before but I wouldn’t say I have regrets. My philosophy is that if a supposed mistake made you learn something, made you realize something — then it really isn’t a mistake. You will make mistakes, and you will hopefully always be learning. Focus on what you got out of the experience, appreciate what you’ve learned and do better moving forward.

When did you realize you wanted to become a doctor?

In Grade 1, I wanted to be a zookeeper. When I found out that zookeepers don’t get to live in the zoo with the animals,

Why did you get involved in extra curriculars?

I knew I wanted to get involved in university because I started to do it at the end of grade 12 and it made the less than desirable academic

I was disappointed and decided that I wanted to be a zoologist instead.

That went on for a while. By the time Grade 8 rolled around, my parents suggested that I become a doctor. I realize now that they weren’t so keen on animals (they never did like being around them, to be honest).

However, I did enjoy learning biology and physiology and all the rest of it, whatever the species. Plus, helping others makes me feel good inside, so all in all it seemed like a good idea. Throughout high school, the more I learned about the human body — how it gets injured and how it heals and how there is so much we don’t yet know — I realized that I wanted to continue studying this. At first, I wanted to become a doctor to please my parents but when I realized

chill if you have to, but most importantly just be helpful to everyone and I really liked that.

I wanted to continue being helpful throughout the year and there was a pilot program for the McMaster Science Society’s mentorship program so I tried that out but it didn’t go that well because people thought it was a tutoring services when it wasn’t.

When people were realizing they were not getting help on an academic level they were not coming out as much because first year is a difficult change and it is stressful. We understood that. It was discouraging at first, but we changed up the format so there was less meetups and more group activities in the second semester, which worked. It felt good to have some improvement.

Where did you go on from there?

In my second year I applied to be a Welcome Week rep executive or a senior rep. Basically just have a group of science reps that I was more or less responsible for. I was fortunate enough to get that position and I really felt like I thrived in the Welcome Week experience because being a goofy guy helps make people feel more comfortable around me.

Then in third year I held

this position and it provided a different experience. I don’t think it was as much adrenaline and different from being a regular rep. It was really nice to be more involved in the set up of Welcome Week because it was a huge responsible to program a whole week for all the first years. It was nice to get a taste of more responsibility.

I then was involved in the second pilot run of the mentorship program. It is now set up more over the platform of social media and it is is to the individuals if they want ot meet up to talk or study together or just do it over text depending on their comfort level. Even if it is just questions about adjustment in how university courses are run compared to high school ones it is nice to be helping them out.

It helps the first year mentees be reassured and feel more at ease.

Why do you like these programs so much?

I feel like I’ve always been the kind of person who enjoys helping others and this really provided the perfect opportunity to do it. I want to make people feel comfortable at McMaster and have as good of a time here as I have had. These programs just really offered the perfect opportunity for me as an individual to share my experiences and help others.

medicine is what I want to do.

When it clicked on a personal level, that’s when I really began to give it my all.

Do you have a Plan B? The way I see it: having a Plan B means that I don’t think I’ll be able to accomplish Plan A. Plan A could be difficult, but I don’t want to undermine my drive to achieve. I’m adamant and ambitious and I believe I can do whatever I set my mind to. For me there is only one plan, the plan. If it doesn’t work out, at least I’ll know that I had given it everything within me, that I

Roshan Naufal Health Sciences II

had done my absolute best.

facebook.com/HumansOfMcMaster

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018

The Silhouette

| 11

Opinion Student (in)accessibility services A note taking system that is set up to fail

REEM SHEET / OPINION EDITOR Alex Wilson Contributor

As many people reading may already know, McMaster Student Accessibility Services facilitates a notetaking programing for students who experience disability to receive notes for their classes.

This voluntary program relies on students registering to be a notetaker and regularly uploading their notes. However, with a lack of resources dedicated to the program and the issues of accessibility on campus, the system is sets up students for failure.

While the ability to request a notetaker is a very common accommodation provided through SAS, the supply is nowhere close to meeting the increasing demand. This was demonstrated through the past three Student Accessibility Forums as well as Maccess’s (In) accessibility Week last year. Students have been saying there is a problem for years, yet no one has taken accountability. When students do have notetakers,

they may stop posting throughout the year, and because there are no contingency plans in place, the students requiring these notes are left with no support. Additionally, once students have selected a notetaker they can’t see any other notes provided by other notetakers in the class.

Who has access to these resources, as limited as they may be, is a continuous concern for students. Only students registered with SAS are able to request a notetaker. While this may make sense to those who immediately jump to conversations of “leveling the playing field” or people “taking advantage of the system”, having certain conditions diagnosed and receiving necessary documentation can take several years and cost upwards of $1,000.

Additionally, ongoing violence and associations of eugenics by medical systems against certain communities prevents individuals from reaching out to these systems in the

first place. What we’ve created is a note taking system that rarely works, and when it does only for a select few.

This is unacceptable. When we look at the numerous financial, social and physical barriers as well as medical gatekeeping that already bars so many disabled students from attending post-secondary education, conditions like these only further the message that post-secondary education has not been developed with disabled people in mind and that we are undesir-

However, with a lack of resources dedicated to the program and the issues of accessibility on campus, the system is sets up students for failure.

able. Accommodation services, being afterthoughts and bandaid solutions to an inaccessible environment that will never allow for universal access, we all need to start thinking about accessibility from the beginning.

The current system fails because it relies on certain people in certain roles being responsible for accessibility, allowing others to remain passive. It is also awkward and disconnected from the rest of the teaching environment relying on students to continually offer labour for no compensation. So where do we go from here?

One solution not only addresses problems with the current system, works to create a culture of accessibility and is pedagogically supported. Offer a portion of participation grades to those who upload notes regularly to Avenue. This system incentivizes the provision of notes, integrates it into the classroom environment, removes the need for systems of gatekeeping and normalizes accessibility. Addi-

tionally, we know that diversity in assessment allows students to excel and better meet educational outcomes.

This is one potential solution, of what are literal thousands that could drastically improve accessibility in McMaster classrooms. Other solutions include podcasting more courses, posting lecture notes for all students to access and providing multiple ways to engage with class material.

When it comes to accessible pedagogy, my point is that none of us are exempt. The siloing of accessibility to certain people in certain roles allows for bystanders. Frequently we have conversations about better resourcing SAS (and while that is important), we also need to ask why so few individuals have a role in creating an accessible campus in the first place. @theSilhouette

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OPINION

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018

| 13

MSU presidential elections and student accessibility Candidates have different goals for mental and physical accessibility on campus Reem Sheet Opinion Editor

As McMaster Students Union elections ramp up and candidates introduce their platforms, we can start to get an idea of how the candidates plan on dealing with issues of accessibility on campus. Mental and physical accessibility is an ongoing concern that McMaster students and that each candidate running for MSU president addresses differently.

This concern has been generally assessed in terms of infrastructural concerns and physical accessibility on campus as well as mental health and developing resources that will help students cope with their mental health concerns. However, most of the candidates do not give specific mention to show that how they improve the inclusion of students with disability and special needs on campus.

In terms of infrastructure and improving the campus itself for students, Kyle Pinheiro alerts to the issue of malfunctioning outlets on campus. These would then alleviate mental stress and anxiety for students, as well as ways we can maximize space on campus for studying such as tutorial rooms and hallway space in buildings like MDCL. In addition, Pinheiro plans to decrease traffic areas in MUSC by implementing more microwave stations. In terms of resources, Pinheiro has been consulting with the MacPherson Institute to develop an app for Avenue to Learn to supplement to the current web version.

Ikram Farah’s platform addresses accessibility for McMaster students with a focus on improving Student Accessibility Services, decreasing exam stress,and improving physical safety on campus. As an interim solution, Farah wants to “incentivize note-takers by giving them MSU Courtesy Cards which offer discounts at MSU businesses”, with an end goal to “fully incentivize note-taking through wages or honorariums similar to other institutions, this partnership with the MSU will begin to encourage more students to volunteer.” Farah also hopes to invest more

money into pathways, roads, stairways, and parking lots that can increase physical accessibility and safety on campus. In terms of mental accessibility, Farah plans on advocating for a longer break before exams to allow students to better prepare for exams and hopes to revise the examination policy to allow students with two back to back exams as oppose to the current “three consecutive exams over two days” to reschedule.

Mental and physical accessibility is an ongoing concern that McMaster students and that each candidate running for MSU president addresses differently.

Kirstin Webb has a similar focus to Farah with the hope to incentivize notetaking by using participation marks as an incentive. Webb also hopes to adapt a way to provide access to notes through McMaster Stdudent Absent Form submissions and plans claims says that she will “host and promote educational events about accessibility on campus, specifically in regards to the Equity and Inclusion Office’s FLEXforward program” and hopes “support and host accessibility campaigns that raise awareness around reporting dysfunctional accessibility measures on campus”.

In contrast, in Connor Wong’s platform he states that “If elected, I promise to block off all of the stairs on campus during the winter months to ensure that the currently unblocked stairs don’t feel left out”. In addition, Wong plans on “pruning” the present MSU event for de-stressing before exams “Light Up the Night” and using the funds for “more worthy purposes” such as the possibility of installing a commercial elevator instead.

REEM SHEET / OPINION EDITOR

Rabeena Obaidullah looks at accessibility from a more entrepreneurial platform by addressing issues of accessibility with technological solutions.

With the resource, “The Pulse Capacity Counter”, a resource that will allow students to track Pulse traffic, students will be able to access gym equipment more conveniently by being able to track gym capacity. Obaidullah has a similar idea to address the issue of limited study space on campus with the “Library Live Capacity Counter” resource by installing 3D overhead traffic counters at primary entrances and exits, students will be able to find study spaces more easily.

In addition, this development will allow the university to make monetary decisions about building expansions. Obaidullah assures that resources “such as

online equipment tours and free introductory group workshops” will be offered to Pulse newcomers as well to ensure safety and accessibility.

Lindsay D’Souza focuses on improving the current Student Wellness Centre services by overlooking the Peter George building project and planning on making the building the centralized location for Student Wellness resources.

Muhammed Aydin’s platform assures that the infrastructural issue of building bigger bus shelters on campus and building two more bike repair stations on campus. He also hopes to create a campaign that would inform students about the resources available for students to request repairs for electrical outlets on campus through Facility Services. Aydin also hopes to

improve WiFi on campus to improve online accessibility as well as creating an MSU app that would act as a resource hub for MSU resources and services to be shared on. Aydin also hopes to address both mental and financial accessibility by implementing a “Pay it Forward” system where students can pay for a ‘button’ that would allow students to purchase a product that can be later be used by an anonymous student to improve financial and issues of mental health.

Though many of the candidates running address physical accessibility concerns that apply to all students on campus, diverse accessibility concerns could be better represented. @ReemSheet

Call For Nominations The McMaster community is invited to nominate an undergraduate student for the President’s Award of Excellence in Student Leadership.

Deadline to apply is Friday March 23, 2018 This annual award recognizes undergraduate students that have demonstrated a commitment to the University’s belief in excellence in its student body.

For more information on the award or to obtain a nomination form visit studentaffairs.mcmaster.ca/presidents-award-excellence/

McMaster Students Union’s

EVENTS CALENDAR MSU Presidential Elections Presidential Debate Thursday, January 18, 2018 Time: 4:00pm to 6:30pm Where: MUSC Atriuum

Flashback:

Retro Bollywood and Bhangra Club Night Thursday, January 25, 2018 Time: 10:00pm to 1:00am Where: TwelvEighty “Fancy a variety of music? Do you enjoy top 40 but also reminisce about the true classics?! What if you could have both?

Online Voting January 23 to 25 Time: 4:00pm to 6:30pm Where: Online The campaign period for the MSU Presidential Election has officially begun.

Polling will open online January 23, 2018 at 9:00AM, and both campaigning and polling will end January 25, 2018 at 5PM.

In collaboration with MSU Campus Events, the McMaster Indian Association, Bangladeshi Students Association, McMaster Punjabi Association and McMaster Tamil Students Association present to you the TwelvEighty Nightlife event, FLASHBACK!

More information about the candidates and their individual platforms can be accessed at: www.msumcmaster.ca/elections

A valid McMaster Student card required for entry. (1) guest per student allowed.

Guests must have a ticket and a valid government ID for sign in at the door.

Stay Connected:

/MSUMcMaster

Clay Planning Team Application Deadline

Sunday, January 28, 2018 Time: 11:59pm Where: msumcmaster.ca/jobs

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OPINION

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Jan. 18, 2017

| 15

The strong community that is Spotted at Mac The online community created for students by students is improving the McMaster community one meme at a time Natalie Wylie Contributor

Content Warning: This article mentions disordered eating.

With a growing amount of nearly 30,000 likes and over 5,000 pictures and posts, it is no wonder that every time I open Facebook Spotted at Mac is the first notification that pops up on my feed. Spotted at Mac is a Facebook page that is based on anonymous submissions from students from the McMaster community. The page is multifaceted, as it represents a place for laughs and jokes but also a seemingly comfortable place where people go for help, tips and advice on a plethora of different topics.

Before coming into first year, Facebook was becoming obsolete in my daily life but after officially accepting my offer to McMaster I joined the Class of 2020 Facebook page.

This page quickly became a large part of my personal social media intake as it became very active, with people introducing themselves and asking questions in anticipation of our first year.

The page was filled with excitement and happiness, however, the page died down after my first two semesters. Luckily as soon as that happened the Spotted at Mac page was on the rise and was an instant form of entertainment for me.

Spotted at Mac is home to a university version of Craigslist’s missed connections, where you can try to find the pretty girl you saw sitting outside of Starbucks in the student centre followed by a “coffee sometime?” request.

Spotted is also a place where you can share tips and tricks to make the most of your years at McMaster as well as to help with personal struggles among friends and family. The posts also allow students to connect with new people who have similar interest, or even those who are just looking for a pal.

On a more serious note, this active Facebook page is a place where people go for advice about everything under the sun. In a more recent post on the page an individual asked for advice on how to help a close

For me, one of the most intriguing aspects of [Spotted at Mac] was that it is an initiative created by the students instead of by the university. friend seemingly developing an eating disorder. When I looked at the comment section it consisted of nothing but supportive advice and even invitations to message people privately for additional help. This is the sign of a great community, one in which the people have no obligation to help but choose to out of the goodness of their own hearts.

Many parts of the internet come with hate and negativity, concepts in which Spotted at Mac is free of for the most part.

There is a fair share of complaints and upsetting personal stories too. However, if you are struggling in a class I’m sure someone else is too and that they have posted a meme for you to laugh at, even if it’s just for a second. Allowing you to forget about the 12-page paper you have due tomorrow.

For me, one of the most intriguing aspects of this Facebook page was that it is an initiative created by the students instead of by the university. This is another solid reflection of the McMaster students and our ability to create communities on our own accord, specifically a community free of judgement.

McMaster students are creating their own positive space where individuals can make friends and develop a support team from behind a computer screen. This is a place where no one has to go through anything alone and everyone can engage.

Spotted is a page created by students for students that allows everyone to be a part of a community with little to no rules but to simply be kind.

@theSilhouette

The Spotted at Mac Facebook page currently has 29,000 likes.

THE SILHOUETTE PHOTO ARCHIVES

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The Silhouette | 17

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018

Arts & Culture Making it work after undergrad Hasan Minhaj reminiscences of his twenties and gives students a sneak peak of his new show Razan Samara A&C Reporter

On a cold and miserable date late last fall, the McMaster Students Union’s Campus Events announced that Hasan Minhaj would be signing off Life After Mac week. With exams around the corner, I, along with hundreds of other students, rejoiced at finally having something to look forward to.

The comedian, actor, host and writer has been a Senior Correspondent on The Daily Show since 2014, but most people recognize him from his viral keynote performance at the 2017 White House Correspondents’ Dinner and his stand-up comedy film, Homecoming King.

Whether you’re a die-hard fan or had never heard of the comedian before, Hasan Minhaj’s life is an inspirational tale of where passion and hard work can take you after university.

You may not share the same school with Minhaj, but you can definitely draw parallels between university experiences.

Minhaj also dealt with never-ending midterms and the impending fear of missing them, but his roommate, Dusty the brick-breaking champion, had his back.

“My alarm didn’t go off and [Dusty] was on the bottom bunk. He was like ‘Hasan get up!’ and he karate kicked the top bunk and it snapped in half…

I went crashing head-first into tile, which was super painful,” explained Minhaj.

Although Dusty was harsh, Minhaj was grateful.

“But I do owe him, otherwise I wouldn’t have made it to the midterm.” he said.

Minhaj also had the same fears and doubts as many McMaster students. After graduating with a major in Political Science from the University of California, Davis, Minhaj wasn’t sure if he had an employable skill set.

He moved back home and found himself working for a

tech start-up as his first job out of university. However, Minhaj decided that this job was a way to bankroll his comedy dream, which his heart was set on pursuing full-time.

“I think there is always two commodities that you are playing with in life, it’s either time or money… I would say because you have the commodity of time [in your twenties], don’t worry about the money. Quadruple down on what your passions are, do that internship that pays nothing, go move to that city that’s giving you that phenomenal opportunity,” explained Minhaj.

For Minhaj, this means never giving up on your dreams, even if it means closing doors on certain opportunities that would’ve taken time away from the experiences that encouraged his passion.

In many ways, Minhaj has made it. His critically acclaimed solo show, Homecoming King, is streaming as a comedy special on Netflix and is currently touring nationally in the United States, not to mention he’s been having an incredible experience with The Daily Show.

As I sat across Minhaj in a DBAC locker room, he told me how his favourite thing about Canada is Tim Hortons while a cup of non-Tim Hortons coffee turned cold on the table between us. I wondered why he was about to do a show in our very own Sport Hall as gym-enthusiasts used the elliptical upstairs.

“I’m working on my next show and what’s really exciting for me is that colleges and universities are the perfect intersection of what I think is both culture and education,” explained Minhaj. “[Not everybody at comedy clubs or gigs] are thinking about some of the subject matter that I’m talking about, [such as] politics, statistics and topical news. Universities are the rare sort of place where both of those worlds meet.”

Hasan Minhaj spoke at McMaster on Jan. 12. Minhaj is a senior correspondent for The Daily Show and is currently working on his own show meant to address issues such as Islamophobia and immigration.

KYLE WEST / PHOTO REPORTER

Minhaj uses comedy as a way to raise awareness about the issues he cares deeply about, as well as investigate and answer the questions that he has been thinking about. He is currently working on his own show, which allows him to explore issues he wasn’t able to dig as deeply into on The Daily Show.

McMaster students got a sneak peak of this new concept as Minhaj intertwined stand-up comedy, statistics, news clips and memes to address political and societal issues such as racism, Islamophobia, immigration

reform and the refugee crisis.

Minhaj hopes that his audience are not only entertained, but can also take away important messages and educate one another on the issues that impact our national and international communities.

@theSilhouette

“I think there are always two commodities that you are playing with in life. It’s either time or money.”

Hasan Minhaj Comedian

18 |

A&C

Maria Simmons’ with her installation pieces at The Cotton Factory

Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018 | www.thesil.ca

“I was always way happier with the way it looked when it was all bundled. There were always unintentional marks left from trying things and constricting something in a certain way.”

Maria Simmons Installation Artist

GRANT HOLT / PRODUCTION COORDINATOR

A&C

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018

| 19

Some madder root and a little bit of magic Emerging Hamilton artist explores myths and culture through textile installations Razan Samara A&C Reporter

Maria Simmons sat comfortably on bundles of polyester, surrounded by drying fabrics, corn brooms and flowers in her Cotton Factory studio. Unlike the florist she happily shares studio space with, Simmons prefers her flowers in a boiling concoction of natural dye.

Her admiration for natural colours and a bundling technique used to dye fabrics peaked in her third year as a fine arts student at McMaster University.

She had previously thought of herself as a painter, but had felt increasingly frustrated trying to force her large ideas into a single painting.

Simmons began exploring other mediums, including textiles, sculptures and ceramics. Two years later, the textile installation artist’s bundles have become a characteristic component of her artwork.

The bundling dye process consists of wrapping fabrics, placing them in a dye pot, then unraveling the bundles to reveal the final product. Simmons found the globular bundles so visually intriguing that instead of cutting the cords, she cut the process short.

“I was always way happier with the way it looked when it was all bundled. There were always unintentional marks left from tying things and constricting something in a certain way,” said Simmons.

“So I started doing that to different objects, sometimes I would wrap things inside of fabric. [I would] explore this concept of constriction, but also preserving.”

Like much of Simmons’ art, the bundles serve as objects that exist in a certain space, but don’t always make sense with the environment. They are meant to evoke the viewer with a feeling of wonder, allowing them to come up with their own ideas and stories of what the artwork represents.

During the 2017 Equinox graduate show, one viewer took this level of interaction with Simmons’ art to the next level.

“This one woman came and immersed her whole body into the artwork. Nobody knew what to do because it was so bold… she dived right into it and stayed there too,” said Simmons.

The textile installations have a distinctive colour scheme of red, pink and orange hues achieved by natural dyes that Simmons often makes from madder root, pomegranate, willow bark and marigold. The bundles also vary in size and shape.

“It’s this strange process of everything being determined by my arms’ length and what my strength is. So it varies with the different kinds of [bundles] I can make at different points of time. Some days I would feel a lot stronger than others and the work changes based on that,” explained Simmons.

Simmons’ artwork has appeared in solo shows at the Hamilton Audio/Visual Node, better known as HAVN, the Silent Barn which is a community space for artists in New York and, most recently, as part of a collaborative commission for the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra.

Over the past year, Simmons has been inspired by modern myth, folklore and superstitions through the lens of her Mennonite and Irish heritage. She believes that myth has an underappreciated role in modern society and hopes her work sheds light on the stories and experiences around her.

“With a lot of my work last year, it was rooted with marriage superstition, which came out of a personal place because I was engaged and then not engaged very suddenly. So I was reading through all of these historical marriage myths and I found ones that were really interesting to work with,” explained Simmons.

Through textiles, sculptures and a performance piece titled ThreshHOLD, Simmons explored marriage superstitions such as rituals where people would jump over brooms when they would get married.

Since starting her fulltime job as a curator at Gallery

Stratford, and co-running the Chosen Family Collaborative Group, a print zine and online exhibition spaced based in Hamilton and New York City, Simmons has found herself very busy.

“One of the things that I held myself to if I was going to get a full-time job is that I had to continue creating work. The

way I’ve done that is by focusing on more collaborative pieces with different people,” said Simmons.

With her more collaborative pieces, Simmons hopes to do more performance-based and interactive installations.

She’s currently building glacier props for a Hamilton Aerial Group show, as well as design-

ing an interactive sculpture made up of organ pipes from her childhood church. @theSilhouette

20 |

A&C

Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018 | www.thesil.ca

Joining the hive

Hamilton urban beekeepers have people buzzing Hess Sahlollbey Contributor

As urbanization continues to shift world populations from rural areas to major cities, a social movement has been growing where urban residents perform their own farming.

These urban farming enthusiasts eschew processed foods and manufactured products in favour of cultivating and harvesting their own food.

While small urban patches for fruits and veggies are often visible around the city and backyard chickens are nothing new, urban bee-farming businesses like Hamilton’s Humble Bee have been expanding their hives into all of the regions and neighborhoods across the city.

The Honeybee team, originally founded by Luc Peters and now co-owned by Dan Douma, has more than 20 years of beekeeping experience.

What started as small project in a backyard has now seen their urban bee farming business almost doubling every year and on the verge of reaching 200 hives by the end of this year.

“We brought the bees back into the city so that they could thrive and grow again and do what they are supposed to do,” explained Douma.

He entered beekeeping field after he became frustrated with the rampant use of pesticides in commercial

honey production and unsustainable agricultural practices.

“It’s out of necessity that we did this,” said Durma. “We want to keep the bees alive and it’s too depressing to keep these bees on farms where they rapidly die off.”

Humble Bee is currently located in the Cotton Factory, a transformed industrial building from the 1900s.

From their space the duo offer beekeeping lessons, sell tools and beekeeping equipment as well as soothing sprays, lip balms and candles. The roof of the building doubles as their apiary, a place where Peters and Douma aim to open more rooftop apiaries throughout the city.

The duo have set their sites on McMaster as a location for one of their future apiaries.

While they have previously had colonies behind McMaster in Cootes Paradise, Peters and Douma would like to potentially house them on the universities’ roof. They also plan to launch a series of free workshops for Mac students interested in taking the plunge into bee farming.

The classes that the duo teaches, which are in high demand and consistently sold out, hammer in the basics of beekeeping and the essentials to keep a healthy and prosperous colony. Their seminar covers all aspects of the colony from workers, drones and the queen all the way up to the macro

environment.

The equipment required to keep bees were all on display and the duo covered the costs involved in starting a hive as well as the Ontario Bees Act, which sets the rules for beekeeping in Ontario including registering your bees and passing an apiary inspection program.

“It’s out of necessity that we did this. We want to keep the bees alive and it’s too depressing to keep these bees on farms where they rapidly die off.”

Dan Douma Humble Bee Co-owner Hobby beekeeping and urban agriculture also has a strong and growing following allowing farmers to connect with other urban farming enthusiasts.

“Our motto is that the bees come first over everything and we are not about to risk our bees for profit,” said Peters.

The team’s approach to

is always to make more out of a few hives, rather than have a lot of hives that barely produce and are barely looked after.

Currently their Humble Bee honey can be bought at the Mustard Seed Co-op grocery on store on York Boulevard, where a colony can also be prominently spotted from the street.

“One of our big goals is to have hyper local small batch honey where we’re moving towards labelling everything according to the neighborhood it was produced in,” said Douma. “Ideally we would have one bee yard in every neighborhood of the town and that neighborhood listed on the label”.

The duo have also worked with a non-profit in Toronto called FoodShare which is focused on providing fresh food to underserviced neighborhoods and working with urban farms to create job opportunities in big cities for

people recovering from mental health issues.

The duo aim to start their own FoodShare branch that would allow them to be more involved in the community. The program would allow people to heal, recover and grow emotionally and spiritually alongside the urban agricultural spaces that they maintain and toil in year-round This move in urban and hobby farming is one where everybody wins in the city as it ensures more pollination, homegrown food and healthy bees in the city.

MADELINE NEUMANN / PHOTO EDITOR

A&C

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018

| 21

Freelancing as a full-time student How I earned extra cash, networked and developed skills I couldn’t learn in the classroom Using the web to find oddjob and freelance work can let you manage your schedule in ways that traditional part-time employment doesn’t allow.

MADELINE NEUMANN / PHOTO EDITOR

Hess Sahlollbey Contributor

I still remember being in first year, looking at the banking machine and finding that I only had $22 to my name. In that moment I swore to myself that I’d never find myself in that position again.

One of the hardest things to pull off in university is gaining work experience while trying to maintain a high grade point average. Many students, including myself, are put in a position at school where we’re forced to choose between our studies and finding a job.

While joining volunteering societies and committees may be a fulfilling way to invest your time, the harsh truth is that most won’t pay the bills and may not provide you with in-demand skills when you start looking for work.

While working off-campus may allow you to start gaining work experience, it can often be hard to commit to working

three or more shifts a week for an employer week after week.

And while faculties are starting to integrate entrepreneurial classes into their curriculum, the most recent being the Integrated Business and Humanities program McMaster introduced this year, there are some things you must learn first-hand and not from a textbook.

To circumvent commitment to a work schedule and to maintain absolute flexibility in their school schedules, many students are turning to freelancing and finding alternative opportunities to earn money during their free time.

One of the opportunities that worked for me was to participate in studies being conducted on campus. While it may sound intimidating, many are as simple as riding an exercise bike or navigating a pen on digital display.

The vast majority are non-invasive, pay cash and might even allow me get a quick

workout in.

The students conducting these studies are always looking for participants and are flexible when it comes to working around your class schedule.

Some of the studies are so fascinating and engaging that the money becomes a bonus.

Most of my friends do them to earn some extra beer money, but with some clever planning, I’ve seen people make close to a grand in a semester.

Since then, I’ve spent some time looking for a variety of odd jobs to earn extra money during my spare time.

I’ve been paid to provide personal training for people in their offices during lunch breaks, bartending a baptism, answering a Kijiji ad to move furniture, taking photos for a wrestling match and teaching an art class for a children’s March Break camp.

My current paid project is to translate a full-length film, which allows me to add a new skill and experience to my

résumé.

I found that with websites and apps like Fiverr now available, the barriers of entry for finding freelance work have been nearly eliminated. If you search the website, you’re bound to find an odd job that you can qualify for.

On campus, my main side-hustle has been with the Centre for Simulation-Based Learning. A friend recommended that I apply through their website’s online application, and now I am a standardized patient, trained to replicate physical and emotional medical scenarios that a real-life patient would have in a hospital or medical clinic.

The centre is located in the McMaster hospital, and the nature of the job allows me to pick or turn down shifts, allowing me to make extra money whenever I have the time.

I found that with websites and apps like Fiverr now available, the barriers of entry for finding freelance work have been nearly eliminated.

A bonus has been that I can network and make connections with people from all walks of life that I normally wouldn’t meet if I focused exclusively on my studies.

While you won’t be able to attain financial freedom while completing your degree, taking a couple hours out every week to hustle and freelance is an engaging way to develop entrepreneurial skills and gain experience in many fields while lessening the financial burdens that university life carries.

22 |

GAMES

Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018 | www.thesil.ca Puzzle 1 (Medium, difficulty rating 0.54)

8 7

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1

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Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku on Thu Jan 18 02:05:11 2018 GMT. Enjoy!

Puzzle 2 (Medium, difficulty rating 0.60)

9

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Across 1. Large-scale 5. Moral principle 10. K-6 14. Furthermore 15. Sporty Mazda 16. Adopted son of Cladius 17. 500 sheets 18. Comprehend 20. Model Campbell 22. Precious stone 23. European capital, in song 24. Alleviates 26. Moo goo ____ pan 27. Vacuum bottle 30. Shackle

34. Baggage porter 35. First person 36. ____ out (dress up) 37. “Splendor in the Grass” screenwriter 38. Abbreviated time off 40. Must’ve been something ____ 41. Wind dir.

42. “Shane” star 43. Soup spoons 45. Small fish 47. Most strange 48. Lennon’s lady 49. Electromagnetic

telecommunication 50. Classic Alan Ladd western 53. Some MIT grads 54. Kate & ____ 58. Having a chainlike form 61. Dublin’s land 62. Suffix with concession 63. Unit of volume 64. “The Godfather” Oscar nominee 65. Mardi ____ 66. Funny Anne 67. Deuce beater

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Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku Puzzle 3 (Medium, difficulty rating 0.52) on Thu Jan 18 02:05:11 2018 GMT. Enjoy!

5 6

2 2

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2 42. Fabric woven from flax yarns 44. Diva’s solo 46. Gift recipients 47. Christian festival 49. Gaucho’s rope 50. Heroin, slangily 51. Salon sweepings 52. Big name in razors 53. Writer Wiesel 55. Make-up artist?

56. Dies ____ 57. Start of a counting rhyme 59. Einstein’s birthplace 60. Period

8

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Down 21. ____ Camera 25. Highest singing voice in women 26. Twisted 27. Attempts 28. Reddish brown 29. Gardener’s tool 30. Actor Byrnes 31. Start of a Dickens title 32. Elects 33. Discharge 35. Not to mention 39. Citrus drink 40. Person’s individual speech pattern

4

9 6

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1. Bring home 2. This can be guilty or not guilty 3. Golfer Aoki 4. Trade 5. Flightless bird 6. Tints 7. Mythical hell 8. Thing 9. Automobile 10. Involve 11. Cordelia’s father 12. Fish-eating eagle 13. Fashion 19. Sudden convulsion

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Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku on Thu Jan 18 02:05:11 2018 GMT. Enjoy!

5

The Silhouette

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018

| 23

Sports Storming into winter Consistency, flexibility and veteran leadership have given the women’s volleyball team a solid start to the winter half of their schedule

THE SILHOUETTE PHOTO ARCHIVES Griffin Marsh Contributor

A dominant Marauders women’s volleyball team stormed back from the winter holidays with two commanding victories to begin the new year.

In their first games back after a break from the competitive Ontario University Athletics volleyball season, the McMaster women’s volleyball team picked up right where they left off with three-set victories over the Brock Badgers and Windsor Lancers on Jan. 13 and Jan. 14 respectively.

It was smooth sailing through the Brock game, as the Marauders handled the Badgers with an efficient performance from a core group of starters.

Scoring was shared across the team with Aleks Arsovic finishing with a game high of nine kills.

The University of Windsor presented more of a test for the women, but stand out performances from Hailey Kranics, Maicee Sorensen and Aleks Arsovic again were too much for the Lancers defence.

This was exactly the response McMaster was looking for coming out of the winter break, where consistency and rust can present potential infringements to success.

For head coach Tim Louks, facing these teams earlier in the season in competitive games allowed them to enter this past weekend with the right mindset.

“Our familiarity with these teams is not going to breed content,” said Louks.

In the previous meetings this season, McMaster scrapped out five-set victories over both of these teams away from Hamilton. So the fashion of this past weekend’s victories presented a real statement for the Marauders moving forward.

The Marauders also played some exhibition games over the winter break, which most certainly allowed them to enter these games with a positive outlook and focus. McMaster participated in the Toronto Invitational in late December that began with a frustrating loss to Laval, but was topped off with two powerful victories over Université de Sherbrooke and St.

Mary’s University.

For coach Louks, these exhibition opportunities not only serve to knock the rust off and reunite the chemistry and connections on the team, but also to create and grow the depth on the roster.

“You are trying to stretch the depth,” said Louks. “And you are trying to validate some of the work that some people have not gotten credit for.”

For Louks, these are opportunities to prepare for the long term. A chance to think about what this team will look like come late February and early March, and prepare the personnel to support that vision.

These exhibition matches seemed to have worked thus far as McMaster looked sharp and focused in their clashes with Brock and Windsor.

McMaster now finds itself on top of the OUA West Conference with a record of 8-1, and sits ranked sixth in the U Sports Top 10, one spot ahead of their East Conference rival, Ryerson.

This is a pretty positive position for the Marauders to be in. Asking coach Louks which

players delivered McMaster to this spot, he was quick to emphasize that it was not just one player.

“I would not necessarily nail one, it’s a collaborative effort for us in terms of raising the bar,” said Louks. He added that he saw a number of leaders on this team guiding the younger players and implementing a vision for this team in numerous ways.

Louks did praise the play of Jill Eisenhauer, complimenting her flexible and adaptive nature throughout the season.

“Jill Eisenhauer for one has really continued to embrace playing right side and that is a highlight that I do not think you would hear very often,” Louks explained.

Moving forward, Louks is clearly focused on continuing to build the complete volleyball package, from serving and serve-receive, to blocking and defense.

“And then it comes down to if it can all shape itself again and again, on a consistent basis,” Louks added.

That may feel like the com-

ment you expect to hear from all volleyball coaches: focus on each element and then put it all together. Yet, watching the Marauders in the Burridge Gym this past weekend, achieving that goal feels in reach. Even when the consistency would wobble, the team managed to collect itself, right the ship and continue forward with control.

McMaster now sets its sights to a busy weekend ahead and a full schedule through January and February. Up next is Guelph on Jan. 19 in Hamilton, followed by a battle with the Waterloo Warriors on Jan. 20 in Waterloo.

Looking forward, Coach Louks finished our interview saying, “We can take a run at this thing, and see if we can make it to the playoffs.”

A rather humble statement if you ask me, as this team seems firmly set on the playoffs and beyond as the season steams

@theSilhouette

24 |

Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018 | www.thesil.ca

SPORTS

Athletes wearing pink tutus in support of the Think Pink Breast Cancer awareness campaign.

C/O RICK ZAZULAK

Mac thinks pink McMaster volunteers and varsity athletes decked out in pink came out in full force to support breast cancer awareness for Think Pink Week

Jessica Carmichael Sports Reporter

As students spent time adjusting to the new semester, the week of Jan. 8 was also the beginning of one of McMaster Athletics’ most highly anticipated events. Athletes from different sports brought out their pink accessories for Think Pink, a week-long fundraiser in support of the Canadian Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation.

Think Pink started as an initiative by the University of Waterloo’s women’s basketball team. Over the last seven years, it has expanded to include multiple varsity teams who host recreational activities and other fundraising events for the entire Canadian university community.

For McMaster, the initiative is spearheaded by Mac Athletes Care, a group of student-athletes from a variety of varsity teams who connect with young people through sport on a weekly basis. For the week of Jan. 8 however, they traded their mentoring obligations

in for fundraising efforts to join other Canadian university programs.

“

“So to be able to be as fortunate as we are as student-athletes with the opportunities that we’ve been given, the least we can do is support such an awesome cause.”

Mackenzie Weins Women’s rugby Think Pink coordinator

The team started off the week with their “Photo Booth Kick-Off ”, which occurred alongside McMaster’s Athletics

and Recreation partner Royal Bank of Canada’s “Someday Wish” wall where students could write on to enter in a draw to win $1,000.

For “Toonie Tuesday”, a variety of activities took place, each costing. Games included a 100 square where students could pick a number and win one of four different gift cards and a couple of candy jar guesses. These games could also be enjoyed with cookies sold by the fundraising team. This was followed up by a fan favourite: throwing pies in coaches’ and support staff ’s faces on Jan. 10.

Unfortunately, Jan 18 “Dodge For A Cause” was unable to run due to the lack of participants but a Jan. 19 FunFair and donation and raffle booths at the volleyball and basketball games this past weekend rounded up the week’s festivities to end on a high note.

Leading Mac Athletes Care as head coordinator for Think Pink is fourth-year computer engineering student and women’s rugby player Mackenzie Weins. While Weins has spent

the last four years volunteering for the program, this was her first year in charge as the program coordinator.

“During last year’s Think Pink, I spent the whole weekend with former coordinator Gabriel Ghiglione and really loved it,” said Weins. “I remember telling Nicole, the school’s CBCAF liaison, ‘Don’t put anyone else down! I’m running Think Pink’,” said Weins. “So I started compiling ideas and sending them to her and she would be like ‘Okay [Mackenzie] you got it!’ and with her support it has been running really smooth ever since.”

Weins came into the week having experience working in event planning with the City of Niagara, special events and assisting with logistical planning for the women’s rugby team, so she was more than prepared to lead her team.

For Weins being able to give back through Mac Athletes Care is an experience like no other.

“The Living Rock, the first place I volunteered, gave me

an opportunity to meet people completely different from myself, which really made me aware of the privilege I have being not just a university student, but a student-athlete” said Weins.

Being able to support The Living Rock or the CBCAF to help give to people in need is an opportunity that Weins does not take for granted.

“What [the CBCAF] offers to women and their families is really incredible,” said Weins.

“So to be able to be as fortunate as we are as student-athletes with the opportunities that we’ve been given, the least we can do is support such an awesome cause.”

“I know for me, sport has been something that has kept me grounded and confident to live my life and to go for it, so I attack fundraising the same way I attack rugby,” Weins added.

“I tell everybody I’m the least talented person on the team but because I look at film, I go to every practice and I work out, it makes up for it. I’ve actually had the privilege to start for the last

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018

SPORTS | 25

two years.”

Tackling the Think Pink campaign with the same intensity as she tackles rugby preparation has helped her lead Mac Athletes Care to raise approximately $10,000 for the cause.

Also in support of the cause, the basketball and volleyball teams wore “Just Cure It” t-shirts and used pink tape during their games this weekend. Both the men’s and women’s volleyball teams were able to win their Friday game against the Brock University Badgers and the University of Windsor Lancers on Saturday.

“

Tackling the Think Pink campaign with the same intensity as she tackles rugby preparation has helped her lead Mac Athletes Care to raise approximately $10,000 for the cause.

Another big win from the Think Pink weekend came from the women’s basketball team, who defeated the Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks 81-59 to give them a four-game winning streak. Unfortunately the men’s basketball team was unable to keep up with the Golden Hawks and trailed throughout the game, losing 7964 to leave them at a disappointing 2-12 record.

Overall the successful weekend was just one of many great initiatives run by Mac Athletes Care that gets student-athletes involved in the Hamilton community. Giving them an opportunity to use the skills they learn in their respective sports and the platform varsity athletics give them and apply them to help others in need. @JaayCarmichael

Think Pink started as an initiative by the University of Waterloo’s women’s basketball team. Over the last seven years, it has expanded to include multiple varsity teams who host recreational activities and other fundraising events for the entire Canadian university community.

Bed bugs can find anyone • You’re not to blame • There’s no shame in asking for help • Report bed bugs to your landlord www.hamilton.ca/bedbugs 905-546-2489

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SPORTS

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018

| 27

Long time running As the Mac cross-country team shifts to their winter season, track star Erin Mawhinney details her race prep and what leads to the program’s success

The women’s cross-country team celebrates at the OUA Championships.

C/O RICK ZAZULAK

Justin Parker Sports Editor

By any measure, the McMaster cross-country team had a good outdoor season, consistently placing in the top 10 of the tournaments they attended.

They ultimately capped off their season with a fourth-place finish for the men and a seventh-place finish for the women at the U Sports national championship in Victoria, British Columbia.

The team now looks to build on that earlier success this coming winter term.

Cross-country is a unique sport in many ways as it toes the line between a team sport and individual competition.

In addition to this, there is essentially no offseason. When other sports pack it in and head indoors ahead of worse weather, cross-country athletes head indoors to continue to compete.

This indoor track season began in December with the Bob Vigars Season Opener hosted by Western University, where Mac sent a group of their athletes who all contributed to the Marauders’ trophy case. While the men swept the podium in the 3000m race, the women’s side of the track was led by fourth-year Nursing student Erin Mawhinney who captured gold in the women’s 3000m race.

“It was cool,” said Mawhin-

ney. “I haven’t won a university race before so that was different. A couple of us do that race coming just out of cross-country season just to see what kind of track fitness we have coming from cross-country, a sort of base for the rest of the season.”

In the new year, the Marauders headed to Windsor for the Can Am Classic on Jan. 13, where Mawhinney placed fourth in the women’s 1500m race.

Sergio Raez Villanueva’s placed first in the men’s 1500m race as the top-performing Marauder over the weekend.

Mawhinney notes that in terms of training not much changes between seasons, although the team does a lot more speed-oriented workouts. One big difference is in the social aspects of the sport during meets.

“We have a lot more time together with the team at meets,” Mawhinney said. “Instead of in cross-country where there is just one girls event and one boys event, track meets sometime span over two days and so you get to spend those two days with the team. It is a lot more team time, which is fun.”

Consistency breeds success and every athlete has their own set of pre-game rituals and habits that help them attack their day at the best of their ability.

Mawhinney, who has been running track since she was 10 years old, recognizes that the actions

leading up to a race are just as important as the race itself.

After packing her bag the night before a meet, Mawhinney will spend time with friends or teammates to her take her mind off of the impending competition and stave off nerves before a race, which have lessened over her tenure.

“I think being in fourth year, I don’t get as anxious or worked up before races anymore,” said Mawhinney. “It was a bigger problem for me in first and second year, but you learn how to just stay calm before the race and have more fun with it. I try not to think too much about the race until I’m warming up.”

When it comes to game day, music plays a key part for Mawhinney as for many other athletes.

“I listen to music on my warm-up jog,” explained Mawhinney. “I usually listen to the Tragically Hip on my warm up, and there’s a sprinkle of One Direction in there as well.

Usually One Direction closer to the race; they’re a pretty happy bunch.”

After the headphones come off, Mawhinney tries to keep things light on the track and visualize the race that lays ahead of her. In order to stave off any pre-race nerves, Mawhinney likes to keep it loose, cracking jokes with her teammates and even her competition.

“I picture the race ahead of time and keep it light and humorous around the track level when we’re warming up because it just makes it way more fun,” Mawhinney added. “I find I race the best when I’m not nervous and some of my worst races have been when I’m just too nervous before. Racing when you’re really nervous before makes you get lactic faster and it is not pleasant. My best races for sure have been when I’m laid back.”

“I try to keep it pretty causal with the other girls that are racing, keep it pretty humorous and funny.

Because it is a kind of funny thing to all congregate and put yourself through so much pain.”

Erin Mawhinney Cross-country As she looks ahead to her final year as a Marauder, Mawhinney has mixed feelings.

“It’s really good incentive to give training my all,” said Mawhinney. “I’m so much more used to the training program here now. I go to our strength and conditioning much more frequently than I did in first and second year. So having it be my last year is like an incentive to train really hard since this is sort of it, but it’s also sad because the team is so fun and it will be hard to find another environment that is as fun as them when I’m not here.”

Although it will not be the same, Mawhinney hopes to pursue running following her time as a student-athlete. A lot of Mac alumni tend to stick around the area and will sometimes still practice alongside current members of the team, so she hopes that she will be able to do that as well.

Dedicated and talented runners make up the McMaster cross-country program and are a significant reason why they can maintain their winning groove into the new year. While we maybe stuck in the midst of a brutally cold winter, the track season is only heating up.

@justinparker81

SO WHERE’S THE PART Y AT? Local newspaper never invited to anyone’s post- campaign celebration C12

THURSDAY

THE

HAMILTON SPECULATOR Enjoying cour tesy cards since 1934

Januar y 18, 2018

NOTSPEC.COM

The Cairn introduced as presidential contender A block of reinforced concrete joins the campaigning SAINT PETER VEGAS I’d get at least 20 votes if I ran

A minor loophole in the union’s candidacy rules has allowed a six-foot tall block of reinforced concrete known as the Cairn to join this year’s presidential campaigning.

Best known for serving the University of British Columbia as their president over the last year, the Cairn became a union member thanks to some stipulations in bylaw two — union membership.

“As it turns out, you can become an honorary member by asking the Student Representative Assembly. The rules for campaigning also do not define whether it is limited to

full members of the union or not,” said Alan Ehrenholz, The Cairn’s human puppet.

Ehrenholz also mentioned that gaining public traction has not been an issue despite being an inanimate object; it has placed first in every advance poll conducted thus far.

“With a rock solid platform based on strengthening the foundations of the union, it is no surprise that students are attracted to a block of concrete being president.”

The Cairn’s main objectives are supporting mental health services and helping with the construction of the new Student Activity Building.

INSIDE WHAT DOES THE PRESIDENT EVEN DO? FOUR OUT OF FIVE VOTERS HAVE NO IDEA A2 NO ONE READ THE PRESIDENTIAL RULES, SO NO ONE NOTICED THAT WE ADDED THE REQUIREMENT TO DO A ROYALE RUMBLE A4

Ehrenholz remains UBC’s Alma Mater Society president after switching the focus of the campaign halfway through after other options disappointed. “I’ve made this decision to run under my own name because, even running as a joke candidate, I was the best option to be your next AMS president,” he wrote online. The voting ballot still used the Cairn persona. This is him celebrating.

Local candidate greatly overestimates power You cannot actually do everything you want SAINT PETER VEGAS I can though. I am the law

After attempting to coerce the city government into making an express route between the university and their off-campus house, a local candidate has finally realized the extent of the student union’s power. As it turns out, most of what the union can control is limited to on campus, and sometimes requires coordination with the university.

“Look, I thought everything in Hamilton catered to us.

I thought the union controlled everything on campus. Why don’t they? They really should,” said Tiberius Slick.

While most of Slick’s plat-

I HAVE PROBABLY BEEN THINKING ABOUT CAMPAIGNING SEASON LONGER THAN SOME OF THESE CANDIDATES B1 OTHER SECTIONS EXIST TOO, SO HERE’S A GRILLED CHEESE RECIPE B3 CAN ANY OF THE CANDIDATES RUN A MARATHON? I ACTUALLY HAVE NO IDEA B4 THE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS HAS SPENT 50 HOURS ANALYZING WHO HAS THE BEST HANDSHAKE OUT OF ALL THE CANDIDATES C2 WE SHOULD VOTE FOR A STUDENT UNION PRIME MINISTER INSTEAD OF A PRESIDENT C3

form contains lots of improvements on campus, the lack of consultation when it comes to off-campus adjustments is apparent. Many of the points made have been on various presidential platforms over the last five years.

“I just thought they didn’t bother doing them rather than having tried and failed.”

Moving forward, Slick will advocate for complete world domination, and will eventually settle for a few additional microwaves in the student centre.

ADDING A KNIFE TO ANY PIECE OF TECHNOLOGY RESULTS IN A POTENTIAL BLACK MIRROR EPISODE C5 TINDER WITH A KNIFE D1 YOUR FUTURE STUDENT PRESIDENT WILL LIKELY BE MORE LIKE CHIAOTZU THAN GOKU WHEN IT COMES TO POWER LEVEL D2 WE KNOW YOU MADE YOUR MIND UP ABOUT WHO YOU WILL VOTE FOR FOUR DAYS AGO, BUT WE WILL KEEP PRETENDING YOU HAVEN’T D4 HOW TO SELL YOUR VOTE E3 Go consult with your advocacy groups before making promises about Hamilton.

POLL: Who is your favourite candidate?

The mouse

Me

That person I vaguely knew from first year residence

The one with the best poster

Abstain is gonna win this year

The one most likely to get disqualified

I always vote for the underdog to make them feel better

All of the above

Tweets to the Editor Why does a student newspaper care so much about student politics?

How dare you insult my candidate?

- Jason, 34, hates democracy

- Logan, 21, only read one page

Disclaimer: The Hamilton Speculator is a work of satire and fiction and should not under any circumstances be taken seriously. Does this week lack subtlety? Probably. That’s okay.

PER ISSUE: At least one candidate responding to a question with the exact same answer as the candidate before them