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McMASTER UNIVERSITY'S STUDENT NEWSPAPER / THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011
The Silhouette YOUR VOICE ON CAMPUS
Est. 1930
VOLUME 82, NO. 1
Phoenix headed for Refectory MDL ready to head up projects BRIAN DECKER EXECUTIVE EDITOR
PHOTO C/O PETER SELF
This space on the second floor of the Refectory is set to host the Phoenix after its move from Wentworth House. SAM COLBERT
2009. Finances for the move were approved at the May 5 Board of Governors meeting. With demolition plans finally on Rumours that Wentworth the way to Wentworth, the GraduHouse’s days were numbered have ate Students Association (GSA) is been circulating since the ‘80s. moving its popular campus bar to Over the years, it has housed the a new home. Downstairs John student pub, stu The Phoenix will reopen dent services and clubs offices, a in the upper level of the Refectory daycare, a physiotherapy clinic building in the winter of 2012. and the MacCycle Co-Op. Its oldBridges Café, which will remain est tenant, residing on the upper floor since 1969, has been The Phoenix Bar and Grill. TIMELINE: Mac’s campus bars For the most part, the GSA is hoping that the move is 2001: ‘The Rat’ closes The Rathskeller smooth so as not to mess with a good thing. The Association’s The Phoenix business plan explains that “the uniqueness of the of the Phoenix’s The Downstairs John atmosphere and ambiance [is] something that should be retained Quarters/ TwelvEighty in its new location.” It goes on to point out 1971: The MSU’s Downstairs John opens 1969: The that “undergraduate students make in the basement of GSA opens up the bulk of the Phoenix’s paWentworth House, the The Phoenix tronage, and should continue to be current location of the in Wentworth catered to in the new facility. The Daycare centre House 2009: In response Phoenix’s current customer base is to operating losses, Quarters is re-named an extremely loyal one.” The University recently TwelvEighty 1968: The named a new Wilson Building for MSU-owned Rathskeller Studies in Humanities and Social 2002: Quarters opens in the opens in the new Sciences as its top capital spendRefectory MUSC, replacing the ing priority. Self was unable to building MANAGING EDITOR
in the building’s lower level, has been closed since May 1, so construction can begin this summer. “There’s some need in the long-term to get it to a location that will be more permanent,” said Peter Self, Graduate Studies’ assistant dean for graduate student life and research training. He said that plans have advanced quickly since the GSA starting talking with the University about the matter in
1970 19801990 2000 2010 Downstairs John
comment on whether the Wilson building was going on the Wentworth House site, but explained that there were other reasons for moving The Phoenix, particularly building accessibility. “To be honest, in the last year and a half or more, the bigger push has come from the GSA itself, from the graduate students, wanting to get into a location that’s accessible,” he said. In addition to a larger patio, more kitchen space and a stage, the new location offers the potential for alternative uses. The new Phoenix may include meeting space, a coffee bar and a lounge area, as well as more varied menu selection. The business plan explains that a “Fresh, Fun, and Friendly” strategic approach would allow the bar to build on its strengths without alienating current patrons.
One month into his term, MSU President Matt Dillon-Leitch says he’s ready to start making an impact on the MSU. After a month of transitioning into his new role, DillonLeitch and his administration are wrapping up their period of transition and preparing to put their own initiatives into place. “We started back in April, and really, I’ve been transitioning since I was elected in February,” said Dillon-Leitch this week. “We’ve been meeting with [outgoing MSU President Mary Koziol and her executive board] and looking at what we wanted to continue from what they were working on. “I wouldn’t say we’re used to it, but we’re as close to being comfortable as we have been yet,” said Dillon-Leitch his team putting some of their long-term projects into practice. Perhaps the biggest project the new President and his staff will undertake will be addressing some of the more ambitious campaign promises Dillon-Leitch offered up last winter: funding student ideas and the increased availability of required courses in the summer. Dillon-Leitch proposed during his campaign that the Sponsorship and Donations Committee, an MSU fund that provides funding for travel and conferences for clubs, be more openly extended for student projects and initiatives.” “This hasn’t really been promoted to the average student. A lot of what will make this successful is if students know about it,” said Dillon-Leitch, who insisted that students can take advantage • PLEASE SEE ADVOCACY, 3
Inside the Sil this week... Lip Dub Coming to Mac............................................... pg. 3 Waiting’s got us bored.................................................. pg. 5 Sex & the steel city....................................................... pg. 7 Mac QB goes to CFL camp .......................................... pg. 9 Alternative Summer Movies..........................................pg. 11