The Silhouette — March 1, 2018

S The Silhouette Thursday, March 1, 2018

ALL HANDS ON DECK Isabelle Lei on recapturing her love for swimming Pages 22-23

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NEWS: SRA rescinds Peer Support Line operating policy // PAGE 5 ARTS & CULTURE: Batik Boutik brings designs that appreciate the African culture // PAGES 16-17 FEATURE: Local policy aims to destigmatize bed bugs // PAGES 6-7

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Volume 88, Issue 22 Thursday, March 1, 2018 McMaster University’s Student Newspaper

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

Shane Madill @shanemadill digital media specialist | dms@msu.mcmaster.ca Aaron de Jesus managing editor | managing@thesil.ca Rachel Katz production editor | production@thesil.ca Catherine Tarasyuk online editor | online@thesil.ca Haley Greene sections

Sasha Dhesi news reporter Cassidy Bereskin news@thesil.ca news editor

Emily O’Rourke features@thesil.ca

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by LISA GETSON Sports Staff

The 13th annual McMaster Women’s Invitational Swimm­ ing and Diving meet was held this past Saturday Nov. 29th at the Ivor Wynne Centre.

Invitations were sent to all teams swimming in OWIAA. Squads from Waterloo, Toronto, Queen’s, Guelph, York and Windsor were present for the meet.

Rookie swimmer Nancy Rutherford her 100 metre freestyle finish at the looks at her timer in anticipation after Mac Invitational on Saturday.

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Yvonne Lu social media coordinator Jaime Cook online content coordinator Susie Ellis online@thesil.ca video editor

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Dee Dee Inns, a first year McMaster swimmer swam well qualifying for the CIAU’s in three events, the 200 metre In­ dividual medley and the 100 and 200 metre backstroke. Inns looks to be a promising swim­ mer for Mac so watch for her in upcoming events after the New Year.

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Julie Girvan swam 32 lengths in 11 minutes placing se­ cond in the 800 metre freestyle, an extremely lengthy race Marg Hulter was fourth in the 200 metre freestyle followed by Siobhan Woods.

L eadin g Mac in the quickest race,50 metre freestyle was Nancy Naylor and just seconds behind, Linda Cook, Nancy Rutherford, Vyv Ounpuu and Sandra Cook. Mary Frank and Kelly Dever had fast times and tied for second in 100 metre breaststroke followed closely

by Josee Labrosse and MaryBeth Gauld.

Tw o fem ale fencers square off in OWIAA action on Saturday in the dance studio.

The meet was exciting and ran smoothly through its dura­ tion, thanks to Heather Coburn for her time and a job well done.

by A UDREY BUSTA RD

The team is travelling to Florida during the Christmas break for a training camp. The season gets into full swing after the New Year.

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All of McMaster’s swim­ mers made great attempts in their quest to better their times.

Vicky Hemming way only two seconds away from CIAU times in 100m backstroke. Judi Enns had a personal best in 100m but­ terfly followed by Viv Kerenyi.

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Mac fencers went on to win place behind U of T. Photo by LORlf

Fencers second at tournd Sports Staff

In their first tournament of the season, McMaster womens varsity fencing team earned a very respectable and well deserved second place last Saturday in the Phys. Ed. Com­ plex as part of the OWIAA schedule.

In the individual standings, three of McMaster’s four team members-Kris Boley, Bonita T o w ell and A udrey Bustard-advanced to the sec­ tionals which are to be held at

the next com p etition February at Brock.

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was shown by Doofl who substituted for K ip midway through thetT ing Her good style gressiveness won her Mac’s two victories aga% T s team All the women on thet including Karen Satok, wh not compete on SaturdtBi ed very hard in prepafl their tournament.

Coaches Geoff Elder Neal Shoen worked equal hard in training the teaft team and coaches are lot enthusiastically towardsfi success in tournamenjiB

At the end of a long day, results showed the University of Toronto on top with a total of three team victories. McMaster with two victories, Western with one, and Brock without any team victories.

With the exception of U of T. which has a strong ex­ perienced team, the other teams involved, for the most part, were competing this year with new team members.

A very good performance

Synchronized swimmers back to domination of sport Margo Mountjoy Neil placed first in and first and se lively, with their KB their talent and expet^K expect to see a strongs them Neil also claimed first; her senior figures wWI Murray placed fourth!

Morton seventh.

The exhibition team Susan Beardsall and l i Morrison swam a strongan teresting routine. (We In your warm-up robes, girls’

The 1980-81 edition of the synchronized swim team are following in their predessors water wings. McMaster has dominated the sport from 1978-80 and it appears that the team is ever strong this season This past Saturday, the nine members of McMaster’s Syn­ chronized swim team competed at York University in their first sectional meet of the season

This year's novice #cl pulled in good results forsu" niing in their first figureso petition. I^aurie Wagner,Le McKay, Nancy PethickapdLi da N’eske placed fifth, sever and ninth respectively-ur tunately Neske fell ill befbrem eet.

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He added, “ The results were promising showing that we can depend on our experienced swimmers, but also we have a strong core to draw from. The core will make up for their lack of experience with sheer drive and determination.’’

The McMaster Invitational is only a six dive meet but it takes points from ten dives to qualify for the Canadian cham­ pionships. Bonnie Tysdale a fourth year McMaster diver, placed first in the one metre diving and second in three metre diving. Tysdale chose not to dive the required ten dives, but is confident she’ll do it at the next meet.

and Europe A l l r e s e r v a t i o n s a n d full p a y m e n t m u s t b e d o n e b y D e c . 15, 1980

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Editor-in-Chief (905) 525-9140, ext 22052 Main Office (905) 525-9140, ext 27117 Advertising ccpc@mcmaster.ca

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McMaster women’s swim coach Tom Woodhouse relaxing after the meet said, “ It was a good learning experience for the swimmers as our team is composed largely of rookies who have had little competitive experience. It gave them a chance to swim in a big meet with all the pressures they will experience at the OW’s.”

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The meet was dominated by W aterloo, Toronto and McMaster. Combining the swimming and diving events Waterloo and Toronto tied with four firsts, while McMaster came a close second winning three firsts. McMaster and Waterloo were second in five events and Toronto in four Toronto had four third Diace finishes with McMaster and Waterloo two.

Photo by HASSAN JA M A L

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Mac third at swim Invitational

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Justin Parker sports reporter Jessica Carmichael sports@thesil.ca

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“Rookie swimmer Nancy Rutherford looks at her timer in anticipation after her 100 metre freestyle finish at the Mac Invitational on Saturday.”

WE WANT YOU TO CONTRIBUTE Check out our paid position openings for 20182019 over at msumcmaster.ca/jobs 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, March 1, 2018

The Silhouette

| 3

News Mac to reduce CoRE fee next year The changes will come in the wake of low demand from first-year off-campus students

The CoRE program only had 20 students enrolled in its first year.

SILHOUETTE PHOTO ARCHIVES

Cassidy Bereskin News Reporter

In an effort to improve the off-campus first-year university experience, McMaster Housing and Conference Services introduced the optional Commuter in Residence Experience program in 2017. But the program did not launch without its hiccups.

“CoRE grew out of the recognition that first-year off-campus students have unique needs, and commonly struggle to make the same connections to the campus as their counterparts in residence,” said Simon Wilmot, Residence Life coordinator.

To sign up for the program, students must pay a $325 registration fee. Some benefits of CoRE include the opportunity to participate in residence Welcome Week activities, access extra study spaces and consult with off-campus Community Advisors.

CoRE students can also join on-campus communities, attend events, access residence academic centres that provide free drop-

in tutoring services and organize community events through the Community Activity Fund.

In spite of these benefits, the program has not been in high demand from first-year off-campus students, with only 20 registering for CoRE in 2017.

Although 11 CAs were initially hired, this number was reduced to three due to the lack of student interest.

Wilmot believes that CoRE did not attract a sufficiently high number of off-campus students because of the high cost and lack of advertising for the program.

“As this was a new program our marketing came out late in the admissions cycle and unfortunately did not resonate with incoming students,” said Wilmot. “We also believe that the initial cost of the program was a barrier to participation for many students.”

A former Society of Off-Campus Students representative, however, believes that CoRE’s low demand stems from the fact that most first-year off-campus students were not

consulted in the development of the program. “[CoRE] first years were isolated from Welcome Week events and only interacted with their CAs and not at all with the SOCS reps,” they said.

To improve the program, the SOCS representative suggests that HCS schedule events at accessible times as off-campus first-years tend to miss concerts, for instance, because the last Go bus leaves campus at 10:45 p.m.

The rep also recommends increasing outreach to off-campus students from the university.

“The outreach to first-year off-campus students from the university is non-existent,” they said. “Whereas residence students get emails from Residence Life, off-campus [students] don’t get that because of the privacy act, so we cannot gain the emails of first years to let them know the schedule before Welcome Week.”

To ignite more interest from first-year off-campus students, Wilmot will be working to rebrand the 2018 CoRE pro-

“As this was a new program our marketing came out late in the admissions cycle and unfortunately did not resonate with incoming students.”

Scott Wilmot Coordinator Residence Life gram. HCS will specifically be connecting the CoRE program to Living and Learning Communities, which bring together like-minded students in residences at the university.

“We hope to connect off-campus students with these communities and provide them with access to exclusive LLC programming and resources,” said Wilmot.

HCS is also plans to lower

the program fee.

“We are also reducing the program fee from over $300 in 2017 to less than half of that in 2018,” said Wilmot. “We are still working on some of the details, but our intention is to dramatically reduce the cost of the program.”

Wilmot’s objective is to recruit over a hundred students to the program in 2018 and then double that the following year.

As the university takes steps to rebrand and lower the cost of the program, HSC will need to ensure the needs of CoRE students, reps and off-campus first-years’ voices are met. Jennifer Kleven, who leads the CoRE program at HCS, is open to hearing feedback from students and reps.

@cassidybereskin

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NEWS

Thursday, March 1, 2018 | www.thesil.ca

Protesting on campus may change New guidelines on protest promise to maintain civil debate, but has campus activists concerned about their rights

GRANT HOLT / PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Cassidy Bereskin News Reporter

On Feb. 15, the university released its first draft of guidelines highlighting McMaster’s commitment to freedom of expression and what it deems acceptable limits to protest.

Campus activists are concerned that the guidelines unfairly

constrain dissent and silence marginalized voices.

The guidelines were based on a report developed by the ad hoc committee on protest and freedom of expression. Members were selected by Patrick Deane in consultation with groups including the McMaster University Faculty Association, McMaster Students Union and

STUDENT ELECTIONS TO McMASTER GOVERNING BODIES

VOTING DAYS: MARCH 6−8, 2018 For information about candidates in the election of undergraduate and graduate students to the BOARD OF GOVERNORS, SENATE, and the UNIVERSITY PLANNING COMMITTEE, please see the University Secretariat elections website: www.mcmaster.ca/univsec/elections/index

Questions may be directed to the University Secretariat, phone 905.525.9140, ext. 24337, or email unielec@mcmaster.ca

“We are dealing with more issues than was the case in the past. We all have things to learn, and debate.”

Neil McLaughlin Committee member Ad hoc committee on protest and freedom of expression Graduate Students Association.

McMaster announced their intent to consider issues of protest and freedom of expression on May 3, 2017, two months following the Jordan Peterson protests on campus.

The report outlines a number of recommendations for the university, such as the development of an online lecture series aimed at improving education about topics such as free speech and activism. The report recommends that the series be sponsored by the MacPherson Institute.

“I have found the MacPherson Institute useful, with getting help and expert knowledge about teaching, active learning and the like,” said Neil McLaughlin, a member of the committee. “I have improved my own teaching work-

ing with them, but there has not yet been a concerted effort to address directly some of the most controversial issues.”

The guidelines list examples of what the university would consider acceptable and unacceptable protest. Generally speaking, the guidelines list any sort of behaviour that would impede an event’s progression as unacceptable, such as blocking the audience’s view by standing or preventing the audience from paying attention to the speaker.

“I think universities across Canada, and certainly in the US, could benefit from more attention to the dynamics of dealing with highly controversial and politically contentious issues than we have given to the topic,” said McLaughlin.

“We are dealing with more issues than was the case in the past. We all have things to learn, and debate.”

In addition to articulating the university’s stance on freedom of expression and protest, the new freedom of expression guidelines stress the responsibility for event organizers to communicate and enforce them.

In particular, in the event that dissenters do not adhere to the guidelines, organizers or moderators are asked to first inform the individual or group that they are disrupting the event and will be asked to

leave should they persist. If they continue to interfere, Security Services can take action.

Although it is stated in the guidelines that speaking events should only be cancelled in extreme cases, it remains unclear what constitutes an extreme case.

Campus activists are concerned that the guidelines will unfairly constrain protest and harm marginalized groups in the community.

According to one activist, who asked to be anonymous, the guidelines excessively infringe on the right to civil disobedience.

“As an organizer, this puts me both in a dangerous position and in a position that forces me to keep silent, narrowing what I can and cannot do or say,” said the activist, who argues that white supremacy and bigotry will persist in the face of a lack of accountability.

While the university believes the new guidelines will curtail disruption efforts, activists are encouraging students to reject them.

The university secretariat will receive feedback on the guidelines until March 30.

@cassidybereskin

NEWS

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 1, 2018

| 5

MSU rescinds Peer Support Line Making sense of the SRA’s decision to discontinue Peer Support Line Sasha Dhesi News Editor

Following deliberations at the Feb. 25 Student Representative Assembly meeting, the SRA has decided to rescind Peer Support Line.

Created in 2013, PSL is an anonymous hotline and online chat system students may access to receive peer support. The service currently operates from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. every day.

As a part of the regular service review, which every McMaster Students Union service must go through, the MSU services committee deemed PSL’s current structure as unsustainable. Following deliberations with Executive Board, the board in charge of making long-term decisions on behalf of the student union, the two governing bodies decided to recommend rescinding PSL. One of the main concerns both EB and the services committee have about the current operation of PSL is the number

of crisis calls it receives.

“Five years on, the PSL now receives mainly crisis calls, posing severe safety concerns for all parties involved — both the users of the service and volunteers who are performing frontline trauma intake, which is not something that student volunteers are trained or equipped to facilitate,” said Preethi Anbalagan, vice president (Administration) and vice chair of EB. “To be clear, if rescinded… the resources currently used to facilitate PSL would be earmarked to enhance the depth, profile, and awareness of all peer and crisis support services.”

In addition, both EB and the services committee feel that peer support networks have expanded considerably since PSL was first introduced in 2013, such the creation of hotlines such as government-funded Good2talk and the MSU’s Student Assistance Plan, which includes a hotline equipped with professional counselors, among others.

“Since [2013], the peer support resources of the MSU have grown considerably, Women and Gender Equity Network and Maccess have become very important peer support services.

In addition, renewed focus in both the Student Health Education Centre and the Queer Students Community Centre has resulted in expanded peer support availability as well,” said Anbalagan.

Both the services committee and EB recommend incorporating the chatline function into other peer support services.

They both also recommend increasing promotions of chat lines such as the Student Assistance Plan and the Good2Talk line, both of which are equipped with professional counseling.

EB specifically recommends the MSU continues develop the Caring Communities Network, a program launched by MSU president Chukky Ibe to train individuals in various clubs or associations to provide support and give referrals.

EB also stresses renewing the MSU’s commitment to peer support by developing other forms of identity-based support programming and explore creating a peer support centre in the Student Activity Building.

During the Feb. 25 SRA meeting, the services committee, EB and PSL gave delegations outlining their stance and the future of peer support within the student union.

Executives from PSL made their own delegation, where they argued that the MSU should not view discussions of suicide as a crisis.

PSL argued that their service has never branded itself as a crisis line and that many individuals who access their line eventually access professional help after receiving peers support from PSL volunteers.

“Most of the students who call PSL to talk about suicidal ideation would not consider themselves to be ‘in crisis’ — in fact, it is often the very fear that it will be taken as a crisis and

escalated beyond their control that prevents these students from discussing their ideation with professionals or even friends,” said Pranali Raval, PSL’s assistant director.

They also stressed the importance of the kind of support PSL offers.

“We would like to point out that the newly introduced or strengthened services — i.e., the Student Assistance Plan, COAST, Good2Talk — offer professional support, as opposed to peer support. While these services may allow student involvement, they are not in the form of peer support,” said PSL’s promotion coordinator.

The SRA ultimately voted in favour of rescinding the service.

PSL will continue to function until the end of this semester, after which point it will no longer exist within the MSU peer support network. @SashaDhesi

McMaster Students Union’s

EVENTS CALENDAR SRA Generals

event for club members of RATIFIED MSU clubs only!

Polling March 6 to 8, 2018

MSU General Assembly

Where: msumcmaster.ca/SRA For polling, ballots will be sent electronically to the McMaster emails of students.

Clubs Night Nomination Due Date Thursday March15, 2018 Where: TwelvEighty Bar & Grill Time: 8PM to 11PM In collaboration with Campus events, the Clubs department is happy to invite ALL club members (both general and exec) to our first ever CLUBS NIGHT! There will be a cash bar, FREE FOOD, Karaoke and a photo booth. Please note that this is an

Stay Connected:

Tuesday March 20, 2018 Where: Burridge Gym General Assembly 2018 will be held March 20 in Burridge Gym from 4-7pm. Registration will open at 3:00pm. Please bring a valid student card to register. Motions must be submitted to the MSU Speaker by email no later than Wednesday, March 13 at 12pm.

Please email speaker@msu.mcmaster.ca to submit a motion, or for an General Assembly related question.

Tuesday, February 27, and information packages are now available from the front desk of the MSU office (MUSC 201), as well as from the MSU website via msumcmaster.ca/valedictorian. Candidates will have until 4:30pm on Friday, March 23 to submit their nomination packages to their respective faculty or program offices.

Successful applicants will subsequently be contacted to present a draft version of their valedictorian address to the selection committee during the month of April.

All eligible graduating students are encouraged to apply.

Spring Valedictorian Nomination Due Date Friday March 23, 2018 Where: msumcmaster.ca/valedictorian The nomination period opened on

/MSUMcMaster

Check out the full Events Calendar at: msumcmaster.ca/events

@MSU_McMaster

msumcmaster.ca

6 |

FEATURE FEATURE

Don’t let the BED BUGS

BITE Bed bugs may be remembered as an aspect of a harmless children’s nursery rhyme, but these insects are known to leave more than just bites Emily O’Rourke Features Reporter

In recent years, several North American cities have seen a major spike in the number of bed bug reports. From increased travel and stricter laws surrounding the use of pesticides, bed bug infestations have become a common occurrence.

Bed bugs are oval-shaped insects and are visible in all stages of life. Adult bugs are around the size and shape of an apple seed, flattened and brown.

Although these bugs are not known to transmit infectious diseases to humans, some people may have allergic reactions to their bite.

The insects typically attach themselves to surfaces including clothing, furniture and luggage and can affect anyone, anywhere and at any time. Bed bugs are attracted to the carbon dioxide that we exhale and our blood as a food source. They are not necessarily related to a lack of proper hygiene in those affected.

ACTION PLAN In 2014, Hamilton’s bed bug problem was nearing an epidemic after seeing a 600 per cent increase in the issue since 2006. In 2015, city councillors approved a $1 million, threeyear strategy to eradicate the problem.

Entering its second year, Hamilton’s Community Bed Bug Strategy sees six points of action in the elimination of bed bugs. Of the six points, which include public education, workplaces, assistance and advocacy, the focus on the Integrated Pest Management protocol ensures prevention and to treat the affected space with heat, vacuuming and pesticides.

To ensure its effectiveness, the integrated approach depends on the cooperation of building residents, the building owner and the pest control company. If followed correctly, this approach is said to minimize disturbance to residents and business operations, in addition to lowering long term pest control costs.

The assistance aspect of the strategy provides help to some residents of Hamilton who are of low income or on disability who are unable to do their part in pest control treatment. It typically takes a landlord, a pest

control company and a tenant to eliminate bed bugs, and the tenant is typically responsible for preparing their unit. If they are unable to, however, the city is able to provide them with some assistance.

“

Hamilton’s bed bug strategy hopes to break the stigma associated with the issue through public education in the form of advertisements.

Within the strategy’s first year, the city assisted 48 people to eliminate bed bugs from their home, provided consultation to 66 residents and trained approximately 300 property staff representing around 12,000 apartment units.

STIGMA A key element in the fight against bed bugs surrounds ed-

ucation and ending the stigma attached to the issue. The stigma is attached to the notion that these pests are due to a lack of proper hygiene and is typically associated with those who live in low-income neighbourhoods.

Terry Quinn, the manager of Hamilton’s bed bug strategy, notes that breaking the stigma surrounding bed bugs is challenging. Hamilton’s bed bug strategy hopes to break the stigma associated with the issue through public education in the form of advertisements.

“You may have seen some bus shelter ads that talk about a ‘no shame, no blame policy,” said Quinn. “We’ve been working with a number of landlords on that and landlords have been on board in recognizing that they can’t be blaming people for pests; [tenants] are allowed to report it. Bed bugs can find anyone anywhere any time, so there is really no reason to be ashamed for having bed bugs.”

The stigma is often a reason as to why more people are reluctant to talk about the issue, or to reach out for assistance in eliminating the insects from their home. Quinn notes that the city often hears from landlords when tenants are afraid to report the issue.

Bed bugs are not a threat to one’s physical health, but have

been known to take a psychological toll on those who are affected. Margaret Howard*, who asked for her name to be changed due to the stigma associated with the issue, is a student at McMaster who experienced bed bugs in her student house and the psychological trauma that came with it.

“I was extremely anxious about the issue, and had trouble sleeping at night because I imagined them crawling all over me,” said Howard. “Multiple coworkers noticed that I was sleep deprived, looked terrible and that my performance at work was deteriorating. I reacted very badly to their bites, and

“

A major player of the prevention of bed bugs is the understanding that anyone can be affected by the issue, and the issue is not exclusively subject to poor hygiene.

FEATURE

| 7

How to keep the bugs away

they swelled up to the size of a nickel to a quarter and did not disappear completely until two months after the initial bite.”

Matt Thomson hosts community events in the downtown core. Within the past year, Thomson has hosted community socials surrounding the issue of bed bugs and has created a network of peer support for individuals who are affected by the problem.

These events are typically casual, consisting of outdoor campfires or craft beer nights and serve as a way for those affected to discuss the issue freely and without fear of stigma.

“One way to blow apart awkwardnesses is to just name it and the social awkwardness around bed bugs is a big concern,” said Thomson. “Unless you have a personal connection [to bed bugs], the stigma it doesn’t really go away. While the city’s messaging is important, it’s that face-to- face connection that that’s super important.”

PREVENTION As the issue of bed bugs continues to grow, it is important to be able to recognize the insects and to act quickly. A major player of the prevention of bed bugs is the understanding that anyone can

be affected by the issue, and the issue is not exclusively subject to poor hygiene.

“I think one of the main barriers to the public educating themselves on this topic is that they believe if they are clean, hygienic and earning a sufficient income, they will not have to deal with the issue of bed bugs,” said Howard. “They think they are protected, when in reality, they are not.”

Hamilton’s Community Bed Bug Strategy will be focusing on the elimination of stigma through ad campaigns and public education while equipping landlords with the tools that are necessary to eradicate the problem. The city is also distributing posters and videos regarding how to do laundry if you are affected, or why you should not pick up discarded furniture.

There is no real way of knowing if the strategy is working until resident reports of bed bugs have diminished, but taking necessary precautions to preventing an infestation and educating oneself on the severity of the issue is the first step.

1.

Check all used furniture or clothing for bed bugs before bringing these items into your home.

2.

When travelling, check hotel rooms for bed bugs before unpacking any luggage. Leave contents in the luggage and keep it on the shelf or away from the floor, furniture or bed.

3.

Eliminate clutter.

4.

Wash and dry your clothes immediately after returning from a trip.

5.

Regularly vacuum your room and mattress.

@emily_oro

C/O PIXABAY

PRESIDENT’S PAGE

March 1, 2018 | thesil.ca

PREETHI ANBALAGAN Vice President (Administration) vpadmin@msu.mcmaster.ca 905.525.9140 x23250

Mental health and wellness support are pivotal aspects of the operations of the McMaster Students Union.

The MSU operates to serve the best interest of the student population.

That is why recently, there was debate over whether or not to continue with the operations of MSU Peer Support Line (PSL), one of five services within the MSU’s Peer Support Department. The Services Committee conducted a review of the line and in doing so, consulted members of the service, users of the service, and researched other peer support

delivery models. As a result of the research, the Services Committee made a series of recommendations to enhance and propel peer support in ways that were separate from the operations of PSL. Ultimately, the Student Representative Assembly - the governing body of the MSU - chose to rescind the operating policy of PSL, effective the end of this year. This decision was made to ensure peer support continues to be delivered in ways that are best for all stakeholders involved.

PSL was created years ago when conversations surrounding mental health and illnesses were minimal and insufficient. There were far less resources dedicated to peer support.

As time progressed, peer support services such as the Women & Gender Equity Network and Maccess were developed to address identity-based needs. Futhermore, the Student Wellness Centre received an additional $100,000 in funding, which expanded their professional staff, adding 4,000 more counselling hours. Moreover, since PSL’s inception the government of Ontario has created Good2Talk, which is a free, confidential helpline specifically designed for post-secondary students. Even more impactful, the MSU invested in the Student Assistance Program. The SAP is a free,

confidential service now offered to McMaster students, parents and roommates, that serves as a 24/7 multi-lingual, confidential crisis counselling and support phoneline, staffed by professionals.

The philosophy of peer support has always been one of empowerment and honouring one’s experiences. However, when these experiences include crises and trauma-related topics, peer supporters are limited in their effective ability to respond to student needs. Student staff and volunteers at PSL continued to face crisis calls, even though PSL was never intended to be a crisis line. PSL listeners are not professionally equipped to adequately support those in crisis, nor should they be trained in that capacity. It was critical that the organization reconsidered how services handle crisis and the continuum of approaches for handling risk among peer support services. Rescinding

PSL, while simultaneously enhancing support for students via other avenues was the logical adaptation agreed upon by the SRA. To that effect, there are exciting renovations coming to the Queer Students Community Center, intersectional programming from the Women & Gender Equity Network, continued generalized peer support through the Student Health Education Center, as well as support sessions with Maccess. With the construction of the Peter George building, there will be an expanded floor dedicated to the Student Wellness Centre and the new Student Activity Building will host a dedicated peer support hub. Our Peer Support Department is always growing and changing to meet the needs of students. The decision to rescind PSL rested not on whether the MSU should provide peer support, but rather what was and what will be the best way to offer support for students into the future.

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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, March 1, 2018

EDITORIAL

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Editorial Sacrificing the editorial this week to bring you some important information. - Shane Madill, Editor-in-Chief The Silhouette is hiring for next year’s staff!

We will have 18 paid part-time positions for students in the 2018-2019 year. The Online, Managing and Production editor roles are now open for applications.

Online Editor Responsible for how thousands of readers will interpret our work, Online works to make sure every single piece of content reaches as many people in as many unique and engaging ways as possible.

Perfect for applicants with Wordpress or social media experience.

Managing Editor Every article online or in print goes through Managing for copyedits and quality checks, so strong English skills and high attention to detail are required. Working with each section, they help enforce the high Silhouette standards expected out of every written piece.

Production Editor All forms of graphic design go through Production with constant coordination with the rest of the multimedia staff. Our award-winning visuals require an eye for design, InDesign expertise and the ability to think creatively to give every piece of content the visual appeal each deserve.

You have until March 7 at 11:59 p.m. to apply, so get those cover letters and résumés in over at msumcmaster.ca/jobs. Every other paid position will be available in the coming days and weeks.

to training gophers to steal ramen for you

to the MDCL stampede

to grub in the tub

to impulse buying pasta sauce

to practicing safe awards to EXO to learning how to drive

to threatening profs to sending packages to the wrong address to the WiFi mafia

to opening your jar of new skin

to losing all your underwear

to smooth shapes

to carpool tunnel syndrome

to eating strawberries to the jockiest staff

to morning pudding

to new hair

to pitas disguised as burgers

to being vindicated

by BuzzFeed quizzes

to being the trunk in a phone tree

Get involved with us Can’t wait to get started? Come to one of our meetings in room B110 of the McMaster Student Centre and pitch your articles or multimedia abilities to us. We’re always looking for volunteers.

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OPINION

Are you interested in current affairs, campus events and student politics?

Join our News team as a writer!

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A pressing opinion about campus life or the community?

Write for Opinion!

Send them an email at news@thesil.ca Weekly in-person volunteer meetings are Mondays at 4:30

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Send them an email at opinion@thesil.ca

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HUMANS

Thursday, March 1, 2018 | www.thesil.ca

and 12 so I wanted to get out of Hamilton, but then when I found the health sciences program and running here it was just a really good fit for me and it ended up being amazing. I have really stayed engaged within the McMaster community after graduating by being a course instructor. I started teaching the year that I left and that has really kept me grounded here. Hamilton is a great city and I can’t wait to be back. Having since moved away from Hamilton I can now fully appreciate how much community it actually has, I find that while it is a big city you never feel that way because there are so many tight knit communities throughout the city.

What are some of your accomplishments within the community?

I think my biggest and what I strive for within the Hamilton community is to add to that aspect of community connectedness through my work in connecting long term care within retirement homes and schools. I think that is really important and our population is aging and for the first

Chelsea MacKinnon Health Sciences alumnus

Kyle West Photo Reporter

Could you please introduce yourself?

My name is Chelsea MacKinnon. I did my undergrad at McMaster in the Bachelor of Health Sciences program. While I was here at McMaster, I was the pool manager and I was on the varsity cross country and track and field teams. So that was my undergrad career and then I went to the University of Toronto to do my master’s in music and health sciences. Now I am doing my second master’s at Queen’s University, but from the Toronto campus. I’m doing my master’s of management, innovation and entrepreneurship, which is really exciting and I am in the health care focused area of that program. I will be done at the end of August and

I can’t wait to be done with school because I am currently working two different jobs full time.

I work at a not for profit organization called the Room 217 Foundation. They advocate for music in caring practices so in health care, palliative care and all types of care, even child care in schools and education.

My role there is that I am the research coordinator so I have to show that all of the Room 217 services, products and education actually make a tangible difference. Then I also work here at McMaster in the bachelor of health sciences department as a course instructor. I teach a third-year course called “Music, Health and the Community” where my students learn all about music and the brain and then they take what they learn to then put it into practice when they go into the Hamilton community when

time we have more older adults than we do children. This has never happened before in Canada. Our children and youth are going to grow up in a society where there are a lot of older adults and seniors who have cognitive, physical or any other types of challenges. It is really important for us to teach our children and youth that it is normal to be old and long term care homes aren’t scary and they should be in my mind the pinnacle of the community. I try to work towards that vision by bringing children into those homes and fostering those inter-generational relationships.

It is through McMaster that we are right now really able to help a number of different communities. Without my students and their placements we would not be able to be in 10 different homes and schools right now. I think that it is really great that McMaster and the health sciences program are supporting this vision.

How does it feel to be nominated for the Woman of Distinction award?

I was extremely humbled and flattered. I didn’t know I was going to be nominated. It really means a lot to be recognized in that way, I think it’s obviously such an honour to be nominated and I think it comes with some weight. It also really drives me even more to work to make the community a better place for everyone, our older adults, our children, our females and males. I still am a bit in shock that I was nominated.

they go to run an intergenerational music program.

I also have a fourth-year class and some project students.

What made you get involved in the McMaster community?

To be honest, when I was in high school I had no interest in going to McMaster because I was Hamilton born and raised, went to Westdale, visited McMaster for Welcome Week in Grade 11

facebook.com/HumansOfMcMaster

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 1, 2018

The Silhouette

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Opinion Midterm exam schedule Mosaic should consider adding another schedule to help students out

REEM SHEET / OPINION EDITOR Reem Sheet Opinion Editor

With midterms either resuming or beginning for most students and final exams lingering around the corner, scheduling your time is becoming more of a challenge.

As reading week has now come to an end and the regret of not being as productive as your professors expected you to be when they assigned their due dates has set in, it would be nice to have a more convenient way to organize your workload.

An exam schedule for midterm exams, like the one that is currently available on Mosaic for finals, could help reduce the stress that already exists for students while they try to prioritize their to-do lists.

It would also help students plan ahead of time for the reading week and allocate their time according to the importance of

assignment weights.

Presently, students rely on course syllabi on Avenue to Learn for midterm exam dates.

However, this is not always productive, as sometimes instructors do not decide the midterm date in advance for certain courses and students are forced to readjust their schedules as a result.

With midterms either resuming or beginning for most students and final exams lingering around the corner, scheduling your time is becoming more of a challenge.

This results in either lack of proper preparation for exams or student having to pull all-nighters to complete work from other courses with less effort than they would have if they had the time to finish assignments wholeheartedly.

However, a posted exam schedule would not only help students, but also instructors to mentally prepare for their schedule and organize their time accordingly.

This means that students would not only be able to better organize their to-do lists, but also their leisure time.

As reading week proves every time it comes around, students need a breather whether we anticipate it or not. Though we plan to complete assignments, catch up on readings and study for upcoming exams every reading week, it is usually the case that we don’t get to doing so until the weekend before the

break is over anyway.

With busy schedules, students are sometimes too busy to fit in time for relaxation and we may find ourselves procrastinating in times we really shouldn’t be.

This may be the product of lack of organization or merely poor coordination between professors in planning due dates, which is a conspiracy that students joke about often.

If there was a way to make planning easier and more productive between instructors and students, this might be a good start.

In addition to making orgaization and time management more manageable, having a midterm exam schedule available at the beginning of the semester on Mosaic would also allow for international student and commuters to better plan for trips to visit home without worrying about the possibility of

missing something in their time away from school.

An exam schedule for midterms on Mosaic would help increase organization, productivity and time management for students, especially around times that are meant for a compromise between studying and relaxing such as reading week.

@ReemSheet

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OPINION

Thursday, March 1, 2018 | www.thesil.ca

Students and minimum wage

McMaster’s minimum wage increase could be negative for students Takhliq Amir Contributor

On Jan. 1 of this year, Ontario’s general minimum wage, in accordance with Bill 148, Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, saw what is considered a somewhat drastic rise from $11.60 an hour to $14 an hour.

As a student who has held various work positions over the past few years, I was nervous due to the predictions that such a minimum wage hike would shrink the economy or cost vulnerable populations, including youth like post-secondary students or recent graduates, our ability to find good jobs.

When the bill went into effect at the start of the year, news of a Tim Hortons in Cobourg cutting its workers’ benefits and other branches asking their employees to pay for uniforms or turn in their tips began to emerge. Such stories, as well as concerns raised by small businesses even before the change occurred, seemed to only propagate the fear that now seemed to be coming true.

Although McMaster made changes to its part-time wage grid to reflect the new mini-

mum wage and continued its policy of paying part-time staff 15 cents higher at minimum, my first thought was to question whether McMaster would be hiring fewer students as a result moving forward.

Tied to the Ontario government’s current theme of fairness for all, the ideal vision for the new labour law is to stimulate economic activity by increasing consumer spending — after all, what will individuals do other than spend the extra money they earn? This, in turn, is expected to lead to job creation and offset some of the expected loss in employment, a logic that some are still finding hard to grasp.

The tight timeline has led to understandable anger and agitation, even pushing some employers to either implement or consider drastic changes.

Some have suggested replacing temporary workers with “higher paid, more productive” employees or, alternatively, introducing automation to reduce the need for human capital where possible. Others have expressed concern in their ability to keep on workers, stating that they don’t want to fire their employees but

are unable to keep all of them at a higher minimum wage when their budgets are often limited and their profits modest.

I can see that these fears aren’t irrational. However, this issue remains one largely created by the way that it has been painted in the media even more so than any large-scale impact it has had in such a short time.

For instance, variable projections were made about how many jobs would be lost due to this law.

The impact of the new minimum wage is supposed to be negligible at a macroeconomic level, with these numbers equalling the number of fewer jobs that might be created as opposed to the number of jobs lost. A slight technicality, but it does mean a difference.

While the bill seems to have its merits and faults, perhaps a valid argument is made by individuals who believe that

it creates greater barriers for those who don’t. This includes the vulnerable populations this bill aims to help, including youth or new immigrants who may already be having a tough time finding work.

While McMaster hasn’t necessarily made any cuts to the number of positions open to students, it remains a question whether academic institutions moving forward will cut positions, especially independent researchers whose capacity to hire students depends on the funding they have received for their projects.

However, it’s too early to label this as a failure. Doesn’t it seem sensible to assume that those who do have work positions may just help grow the economy simply because $14 (and $15 soon) sounds a lot better than $11.60? The main voice of opposition has been the small businesses, but the individual

perspectives have largely been silent, most of whom stand to benefit from an increased wage.

It remains a question whether academic institutions moving forward will cut positions, especially independent researchers whose capacity to hire students depends on the funding they have received for their projects. @theSilhouette

WORK FOR OSS THE BEST B EVER.

Start your own summer business. Get hands-on training, mentoring, and awards up to $3,000. Find out how at Ontario.ca/SummerCompany or 1-888-576-4444.

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OPINION

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 1, 2018

| 13

Midwifery at McMaster McMaster’s midwifery program needs to address patients with traumatic histories Touka Ali Contributor

Pregnancy and birth are such transformative periods in one’s life and as a midwifery student, it is my goal is to do everything in my power to make it a positive experience.

I think that McMaster has the potential to equip student midwives to do this. The program has taught me not only how to be a good midwife, but how to help patients enjoy their experience.

However, I think that there is always potential for improvement. I’ve noticed the lack of adequate education integrated into the program surrounding caring for clients with a history of sexual violence, and this is something that needs to change.

Unfortunately, many survivors experience re-traumatization during maternity care, and many of the conditions that trigger re-traumatization are preventable and/or can be dealt

with properly if maternity care providers are adequately trained to care for survivors. I want to feel prepared and equipped to provide survivors the quality maternity care that they deserve and my program should help me do that.

I want midwifery care to be an opportunity for healing, and this can be facilitated by increasing training and education in this area. It’s about time that survivors’ healthcare/maternity care needs are prioritized.

Presently, there has been increased momentum around the #MeToo movement and I think that this momentum is a great opportunity for healthcare providers to reflect on the care they provide and the ways in which they may be facilitating or preventing progress.

Our healthcare system has the power to either perpetuate or resist rape culture and given McMaster’s reputation for healthcare education, we have a responsibility to make sure we

align ourselves with the latter of the two.

At its core, midwifery as a profession historically corresponds with social justice and human rights activism. The significance of the #MeToo movement has been emphasized socially and has now found it’s roots in most educational facilities, which is why it is important for healthcare providers to

I’ve noticed the lack of adequate education integrated into the program surrounding caring for clients with a history of sexual violence, and this is something that needs to change

have better understandings of the larger power structures that impact the clients we care for.

The people we care for do not exist in a vacuum and their health and wellbeing is implicated by larger systems, including the many ways in which rape culture manifests.

It is vital to incorporate this understanding into the healthcare system, because we do not want to reproduce a lack of understanding in our care.

The McMaster midwifery program presently provides some education in this area, but there is always room for improvement.

I’ve grown up around stories my mom used to tell me about her days as a midwife, so I was exposed to the profession at a young age. My mom was a midwife during war conditions, but she has this gift of making people feel safe and calm with just her presence.

My mom was an anchor for the women she cared for during

— 2018 —

difficult times. I’ve grown up around stories of what my mom has done for other women via midwifery, and I’ve also seen firsthand what midwifery has done for the women close to me.

When it came time to choose a career, I chose to do something that resonated with fundamental aspects of the human experience.

Midwifery gives the power back to women and pregnant persons, and it’s a great responsibility to be in the position to empower someone during such a transformative time of their life.

This is not a responsibility I take lightly, which is why I think its important to strive towards improving the learning happening inside the classroom and aligning it with current social and political education.

@theSilhouette

spring valedictorian nominations are here!

Nominations are due by March 23 at 4:30pm.

Nomination forms are available in MUSC 201 and online: msumcmaster.ca/valedictorian

late forms will not be accepted

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www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 1, 2018

Arts & Culture Clothing starts a conversation Jessie Goyette hosts Hamilton’s first Plus Size Flea Market Razan Samara A&C Reporter

The sun shone through the glass windows of a small family-run restaurant in Hamilton’s east end, bouncing off metallic clothing racks and bright yellow walls. What once was Donairs At Gage had transformed into a Plus Size Flea Market for a Saturday afternoon.

Shoppers poured in and out of the former restaurant, rummaging through fashion forward pieces and unique plussize finds, including a vintage red rain jacket that caught a few eyes.

A DJ played music throughout the busy afternoon as shoppers posed for photos with pineapple-shaped balloons in front of a cheerful lemon-printed backdrop. Jessie Goyette walked from booth to booth, making sure her event was the warm and welcoming experience she had hoped for.

The Plus Size Flea Market was one of the first of its kind.

Several marketplaces have been popping up around Hamilton, but Goyette felt that they always had limited sizing or didn’t carry pieces that suited her. She knew others felt the same way.

Goyette is very active in the Hamilton community. She’s an advocate, artist and current Leadership in Community Engagement student at McMaster University and founder of Safer Gigs Hamilton. Naturally, she decided to take matters into her own hands and carve out a space to celebrate plus-size fashion.

In a matter of three weeks, Goyette seamlessly put together the entire event. Around 10 vendors were present, including well-known names such as White Elephant and Girl on the Wing, with a selection of pieces size 10 and up.

Edencole Dresses, located on Ottawa and Cannon, had a selection of affordable dresses, tops and leggings at the market.

Birds of North America, a

contemporary, vintage-inspired clothing line by a Toronto-based designer, Hayley Gibson, was also a vendor.

The market also had independent vendors like the Mermaids Purse, a colourful collection of vintage goodies from the 1950s to the 1990s curated by Chelsea Ward and Snake Pit Vintage, Goyette’s own clothing collection.

“I have an interest in fashion. [With] all the really exciting new businesses that are popping up all around Hamilton, there are a lot of people in the plus sized community who don’t know that these businesses have plus size options,” explained Goyette.

“I know from personal experiences that it can be super intimidating to go into a new store when you’re not sure if you’re going to leave empty handed [or] fit into anything in the store. So I wanted to celebrate… and highlight all the businesses that you can go into.”

For example, Girl on the Wing has a beautiful selection of plus sized bathing suits that not many people are aware of.

The shop also offers custom orders on swimwear so that shoppers can feel comfortable in just the right fit this coming summer.

The Mermaid’s Purse collection offers unique pieces that radiate creative personality.

Ward gravitates towards colourful and over the top items, like a fun selection of geometric earrings, a blue crushed velvet blouse and a silver housecoat from the 1950s, which all made a debut at the market.

“Being a size 12/14, I will admit I have struggled to find clothing that fit my personality in my size. The outdated belief is that curvy and plus size women don’t want to stand out any more than they already do, therefore for years there has been a lack of fun, unique pieces for women with shape,” explained Ward.

“I believe women of all

shapes and sizes should have a wide variety of clothing to choose from in order to find what makes them feel good.

Everyone has a right to rock something beautiful and shine in the clothing they wear.”

For Goyette, the main idea behind the flea market is not just about shopping local, but rather about building community, confidence and self-esteem. It’s all about celebrating positivity and inclusivity, while also creating a space where like-minded people can meet and share their ideas and experiences.

The idea of hosting a Plus Size Flea Market had been at the back of Goyette’s head for quite some time, but she wasn’t sure how the community would react. As soon as her idea turned into reality, it received an overwhelming amount of positive support. So much so that Goyette is already making plans for another market during the summer.

As unlikely as it may seem, the little donair restaurant became the backdrop of a bustling community of individuals eager to meet and connect over clothing and conversation. @theSilhouette

GRANT HOLT / PRODUCTION COORDINATOR

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A&C

Thursday, March 1, 2018 | www.thesil.ca

BATIK BOUTIK Contemporary clothing line celebrates the beauty of Africa Razan Samara A&C Reporter

Maya Amoah stood radiating confidence in a Patcha Patcha hoodie, tastefully named after its patch-work design. Each patch is a unique off-cut from recycled African Ankara print fabrics. There’s no other jacket quite like it.

We had just finished our interview with Amoah, the creative mind behind Batik Boutik, which is a clothing line ethically made in Ghana that meets contemporary designs with traditional African flair.

She passionately picked at her outfit, telling us the stories behind each piece and pattern.

She held out a glass beaded necklace with a Mother Africa motif engraved as she described the Ghanaian market she found it in.

Throughout our interview, the 22-year-old designer reminisced about her two-month stay at her grandmother’s home in Ghana last spring. It was while walking through local markets and meeting artisans that she fell in love with the bold and vibrant designs unique to her culture all over again.

Amoah, who was born and raised in Hamilton, knew she wanted to bring back the beauty of Africa back home. She wanted to find a way to express her cultural pride and shed light on artisans from Ghana.

She has a special liking for Ankara print, also known as Dutch wax and African wax print, which is a cotton fabric with vibrant patterns. Amoah delved into the history of the fabric, explaining its origins as an imitation of Indonesian batik fabric that was mass-produced by the Dutch.

The Dutch originally meant to sell the fabric to the Indonesians, but the West Africans were much more enthusiastic about it than the Indonesians.

Soon enough the fabric became a symbol of traditional fashion, and now inspires Batik Boutik.

Amoah showed her designs to skillful seamstresses and tailors and began working with them to make a few pieces while still in Ghana. She posted photos on Facebook to see if people would be interested in them

RAZAN SAMARA / A&C REPORTER

and a surge of orders started to come in.

She spent the last two weeks of her vacation scrambling to put everything together.

Amoah found a way to unapologetically express her culture, individuality and pride while ethically sharing it with the rest of her community.

Batik Boutik officially launched last June when Amoah returned to Canada.

Creating a sustainable and ethical practice was also a priority for Amoah. First, she wanted to promote the idea of trade instead of aid by investing in and working with communities, rather than solely focusing on charity. The fashion industry is infamous for exploiting workers, and Amoah wanted to create a system that instead celebrates and showcases artisans.

“Why not bring such a big industry like fashion or business to countries like Ghana where you know there’s already such

a great work ethic and so much enthusiasm to work… [and] tools that we can learn from,” explained Amoah.

“I found that by creating a clothing line it was a perfect kind of vehicle to address those issues and put them into practice.”

Amoah’s designs appreciate African culture. The patterns and motifs on a typical Sunday dress in Ghana have served as the inspiration behind contemporary crop tops and wide legged pants in Batik Boutik’s collection.

A&C

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 1, 2018

Amoah hopes to explore new designs and cuts for her new collection, particularly bell sleeves and other styles inspired by the 1970s. She often looks towards this decade because it was a time where a lot of Black women chose to express themselves by wearing their hair naturally.

Erykah Badu, an R&B singer, activist and actor, also serves as inspiration for Amoah’s vibrant sense of style. She admires the way Badu incorporates Afrocentrism in her style while keeping it funky.

Once Amoah has an idea for a design, she sends her work over to Sarah, a seamstress and designer in Ghana, who then

visits markets and sends back pictures of different fabrics for Amoah to choose from. Communication is key to sustaining their cross-continental business relationship.

All of Batik Boutik’s clothing, backpacks and accessories are made in Ghana, and Amoah runs the business out of Hamilton by herself. She has no formal education in fashion or business, but relies on passion and determination to learn new skills on her own to help her face challenges.

“I put my full focus on this.

I just work with that momentum and I’m learning new things every day,” explained Amoah.

She spends a lot of time

trying new things, sometimes failing and finding the confidence to pick herself back up and try again. Lots of Googling, a few online courses on Lynda, mentoring classes and the support of the community have kept her motivated.

The hard work is paying off as Batik Boutik has been making a flurry of appearances around Hamilton and Toronto. In the past month alone Batik Boutik has set up shop at the Coalition of Black and Racialized Artists (COBRA Hamilton) launch event, Valentine’s Day Market at Redchurch Café and Gallery, the Can I Kick It? Yes, You Can exhibition at HAVN and Ebony Expressions’ Black History

C/O NATE BELGRAVE

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Month event.

In the future, she hopes to take Batik Boutik into new spaces, host her own rooftop pop-up and appear at an Afropunk Festival.

Amoah placed her Mother Africa necklace back on and swiftly packed her things into a patch-worked backpack before hurrying off to her next event.

She left with determination and big plans to reveal in the coming months. Maya Amoah is a force to be reckoned with. @theSilhouette

WIDE FORMAT printing, PROJECT binding, BUSINESS cards, ROLL-UP banners, BLACK + WHITE & COLOUR printing,

+ SO MUCH MORE!

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www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 1, 2018

Keeping it in the family

Born Ruffians new album reunites original members and pays tribute to their fathers Vanessa Polojac Contributor

Born Ruffians welcomes back original drummer Steve Hamelin to create their most personal album to date, all while reuniting a life-long group of friends.

Uncle, Duke and the Chief is a homage to their biggest fans; their fathers.

The 15-year industry veterans include Luke Lalonde (vocals and guitar), Mitch DeRosier (bass guitar) and Steve Hamelin (drums), but their history in music stretches farther than their own careers.

Growing up with their musician fathers, the three band members were encouraged to develop a passion for music at an early age.

“Our fathers have been extremely encouraging of our musical careers. At the beginning of our career, Luke’s dad used to drive us to all of our shows. All three of our dads tried to break into the music industry while in their 20s, now they live vicariously through us.

We are extremely lucky to have such supportive fathers,” said Hamelin.

Lalonde’s father was a part of a Canadian rock band called Wireless in late 1970s.

With knowledge in the Canadian music industry he influenced Born Ruffians to relocate from Midland, Ontario and move to Toronto when they were just teenagers to pursue their dreams of becoming an internationally famous musical act. Shortly after, they got signed onto English record label Wrap Records.

In 2008, they released their first studio album Red, Yellow & Blue, which got international recognition.

Their record label linked them to many famous bands such as Franz Ferdinand and a cameo on the popular British television show, Skins.

They performed and toured alongside Tokyo Police Club.

From 2010, they became a wellknown Canadian name. Singles such as “Oh Cecilia” became staples in Canadian radio and Born Ruffians became a band in high demand.

They were eventually signed to their current label, Paper Bag Records.

“Now, I see that I need the band in my life. It’s like a first love and I can’t let go of it.”

Steve Hamelin Drummer Born Ruffians “Being a part of this band on and off for this many years has given me so many amazing experiences as well as life-long friends,” explained Hamelin.

“We are always around each other’s family. We call Luke’s dad ‘uncle’, Mitch’s dad ‘Duke’ and my dad’s nickname is ‘The Chief ’.”

The trio has gone through many of one another’s life changes together over the last 15 years. But being a part of a band for so long, Hamelin decided he needed a break.

He took a four-year recess to return to university. He finished his bachelor’s degree, which was put on hold during the early years of Born Ruffians.

“For some years, I just felt dissatisfied with the direction that my life and the band was going in. That’s when I decided to re-enroll and finish my degree. Now, I see that I need the band in my life. It’s like a first love and I can’t let go of it,” explained Hamelin.

Differing from past records, Uncle, Duke and the Chief is lyrically more personal, emotional and reflective.

The passing of David Bowie, who was a big musical inspiration for the band, sparked the beginning stages of the record. The album deals with death, aging, life, motivation and ambition, themes that are very personal, but can connect universally.

“This record was a threepart process and took us over a year to create. We wanted the record to bring us back to our roots as a trio and in my opinion this album is our strongest record to-date,” said Hamelin In 2018, the band plans to tour Uncle, Duke and the Chief nationally. Born Ruffians will be kicking off their tour at Mills Hardware right here in Hamilton on March 9. @theSilhouette

Born Ruffians is a group of lifelong friends. From left to right: Mitch DeRosler, Steve Hamelin, Luke LaLonde.

C/O MATT BARNES

| 19

20 |

GAMES

Thursday, March 1, 2018 | www.thesil.ca Puzzle 1 (Easy, difficulty rating 0.43)

9

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7

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6 5

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4 9

1 3

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4 7

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Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku on Thu Mar 1 00:58:32 2018 GMT. Enjoy!

Puzzle 2 (Medium, difficulty rating 0.57)

2

6 4

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Across 1. Data 6. Hebrew month 10. Trials 14. Flip-chart holder 15. Country singer McCann 16. Up to it 17. Latin stars 18. Continuously 19. Star Wars princess 20. Stints 22. Arterial dilatation 24. Pacifier 26. Exude 27. Leafstalk 31. Colourful moths

1

32. Under oath 33. Tears down 36. Cereal box abbr.

39. Swiss river 40. Battery type 41. Christmas carol 42. Blasting material 43. Ballroom dance 44. Bullwinkle, e.g.

45. Phi follower 46. Flexible 48. Chairs 51. Never, to Nietzsche 52. Unlikely to be successful 54. Small-time

59. Siouan speaker 60. K through 12 62. Divisions politiques 63. Memo abbr.

64. Affirm solemnly 65. Barber’s sharpener 66. Bubbly name 67. Studies 68. Flaps

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Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku on Thu Mar 1 00:58:32 2018 GMT. Enjoy!

Puzzle 3 (Easy, difficulty rating 0.35)

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Down 45. Believable 47. Stewed 48. ____ voce (softly) 49. Govt. security 50. Find the answer 52. Good earth 53. Not now 55. “Beetle Bailey” dog 56. Poet 57. Langston Hughes poem 58. Recipe amts.

61. Collection agcy.

4 7

4 25. Risk 27. Jr.’s exam 28. McGregor of “Trainspotting” 29. Suit material?

30. Ill temper 34. Take steps 35. Zen meditation 36. Underlying cause 37. Lucie’s father 38. Actor Baldwin 40. Top of a metal fastener 41. Votes against 43. ____ Sorry Now? 44. Inflatable life jacket

6

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1. Wet septet 2. Job 3. Italian wine region 4. School period 5. Applies haphazardly 6. It has a head and hops 7. Prima donna 8. Coeur d’____, ID 9. Exalted 10. Large marine mammal 11. Toes the line 12. Beethoven dedicatee 13. Clothes line?

21. Impresario Hurok 23. ET transports

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Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku on Thu Mar 1 00:58:32 2018 GMT. Enjoy!

The Silhouette

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 1, 2018

| 21

Sports Set up for the playoffs Following a solid win over the Trent Excalibur, the men’s volleyball team is gearing up for a strong push into the post-season

Outside hitter Craig Ireland digs for the ball.

C/O RICK ZAZULAK Griffin Marsh Contributor

In a needed bounce back performance, the McMaster men’s volleyball team pushed aside the low-ranked Trent University Excalibur to close out the 20172018 regular season.

Following a rare loss to the Western Mustangs on Feb. 17, the Marauders returned to form in Burridge Gym for their regular season finale and wrapped up the match in three commanding sets.

The game was a complete team performance with the hitters completing at an excellent efficiency of .443, which included 36 kills and only nine hitting errors.

Individually, the game was led by Marauders Craig Ireland and Andrew Richards who contributed seven kills and 8.5 points, respectively.

Trent presented a negative hitting efficiency at -.167 in an error prone performance for the Excalibur.

With this victory, McMaster has locked up top spot in the Ontario University Athletics’ West division, and hosting rights

throughout the playoffs and into the 2018 U Sports National Championships.

Seeing as McMaster is hosting the National Championships this coming March, Hamilton Volleyball fans will be happy to know that not a single Marauder game will be played away from the Burridge Gym. This string of playoff games begins on Saturday, March 3, as the Nipissing University Lakers, ranked third in the OUA East division, visit for an OUA Quarterfinal Matchup.

Throughout the season, head coach Dave Preston has stressed this is exactly where the Marauders wanted to be. The goal has been from the beginning to control as much home court advantage as possible through the playoffs, a destiny that was sealed with the Trent victory.

The reality is that that original goal for this point in the season may not have come as easy as some followers of McMaster volleyball may have expected.

The Marauders finished this season with a record of 15-2, matching their loss total from the previous two seasons

combined.

This season also started with an early slip, falling to the Ryerson Rams in a loss that was dominantly followed by a 14game winning streak.

Ryerson, while starting strong and finishing atop the OUA East, amassed six losses, which pales in comparison to the top of the OUA West dominated by the likes of McMaster and the Mustangs.

On the subject of Western’s team, the aforementioned Mustangs were the team responsible for McMaster’s second loss of the season.

Similar to Ryerson’s performance earlier in the season, the Mustangs did it with strength by wrapping up McMaster in Hamilton in four sets, a notable result given the fact that the game was held in Hamilton.

It was perhaps a closer game than that suggests, but still shows that McMaster has their work cut out for them through this year’s OUA Playoffs.

As a note for the casual fan: because McMaster is the host of the National Championships, they have automatic qualification into the big show and do

not need to qualify through the OUA playoffs.

That being said, these OUA games present a great way for the Mac men to test themselves in high-pressure situations.

Preston reinforced the fact that McMaster will not take these games lightly.

Analyzing this season on an individual level, McMaster was rewarded with some strong performances across the lineup.

Brandon Koppers found himself in the top 15 of hitters across the U Sports field for kills per set. He gathered 203 kills through this season, joined by his teammates Matt Passalent and Andrew Richards, who added 162 and 161, respectively.

Across the OUA, Passalent and Richards ranked in the top five for hitting percentage, both being in the .290 range.

At the setter position, second year setter David Doty led a commanding season, finishing in the top 20 across U Sports volleyball for assists. He supported his hitters with just under 500 assists. He did this with the 12th best ratio of assists per set in U Sports at 9.24 per set.

This team has high expectations for this playoff run, and it ends with the elusive U Sports National Championship, which is an accolade that has remained out of reach for McMaster despite winning the previous five OUA Championships.

Two years ago when McMaster hosted this very same tournament, their journey was cut short similarly to last year in Edmonton, Alberta. This is now about redemption and resiliency.

For anyone who has seen the promotional video surrounding the National Championships that has been circulating for the past few months, one can expect the intensity in the Burridge Gym to be high and the expectations of world class volleyball to be even higher.

It’s playoff time. There is no more hiding behind your record, your inconsistencies or your future schedule. It is do or die.

As the motto for this year’s tournament so aptly suggests, it’s time to come “Back to Mac”.

@theSilhouette

22 |

Thursday, March 1, 2018 | www.thesil.ca

SPORTS

“Honestly, I had zero expec-

tations going into this year.

Isabelle Lei OUA Rookie of the Year McMaster Swim Team

Falling back in love with swimming Jessica Carmichael Sports Reporter

Coming into her rookie season on the McMaster swimming team, Isabelle Lei had few expectations as to what the year would hold. The British Columbia native was one of many in Mac’s large 2017 recruiting class, and has managed to make a name for herself across Ontario.

The height of her success this year is something she did not see herself accomplishing just one year earlier. In her final year of high school, Lei found herself no longer passionate about the sport she has been taking seriously since she was 11-years-old.

“I had begun to fall out of love with swimming in Grade 12,” said Lei. “Swimming in club, everything was really time-based, and I had a couple injuries so I was not swimming as fast as I would be. Then I came here and it was a really refreshing change.”

The change of environment helped Lei find the fun in swimming again, seeing improve-

ments in herself she had never seen before. That environment is something that the McMaster swimming team prides themselves on. Creating a family-like atmosphere where all swimmers feel supported is just as important as the races.

When choosing schools in her high school senior year, McMaster’s Health Sciences program really appealed to Lei due to its style of discussion-based learning that she was familiar with from high school.

Although it was an extremely competitive program and she did not have high hopes of getting in, she took a recruiting trip and experienced the swimming family first hand.

“I had two former teammates, Olivvya Chow and Hannah Dvorski, and they just told me all about their great experiences here and on my trip I really experienced that,” said Lei. “They took me on a hike and it was really beautiful to see a different side of Hamilton.”

So, when Lei received her admission to Mac, choosing was an easy decision. Yet her love for swimming still was not

there. It was when she decided to push herself and try to come out of every practice, feeling like she is succeeding and having fun that she began to enjoy herself. “[This year has] definitely exceeded all my expectations,” said Lei. “Since we had a really big rookie class, it was really easy to make friends. Academically, it was a little bit hard adjusting at first, but after a couple of weeks I began to realize it’s not that big of a deal — I just had to adjust my study style and I got the hang of it.”

In the pool, Lei has seen herself improve significantly.

Although she has ended her rookie season with the medals to prove this, her success did not happen overnight.

“I know that I’ve been training really well because my coaches really believed in me,” said Lei. “They put some goals in my mind that seemed really far off at the beginning of the year, but as I started training I was like okay this is actually attainable if everything falls into place.”

Not only did Lei begin

OUA Rookie of the Year Isabelle Lei reflects on her first year as a Marauder

to see it, but so did everyone else. Prior to competing in the Ontario University Athletics Swimming Championships, Lei had earned a total of eight gold and two silver medals as a rookie individually and in relays.

Lei then went on to medal in several events at the provincial championships. Lei won gold in the 200m freestyle, silver in the 100m freestyle and two bronze medals in the 4 x 50m freestyle and 4 x 100m freestyle. Despite all the hardware, the most surprising thing for Lei was taking home the OUA Rookie of the Year award.

“I did not know it was a thing, but when I heard of it I did not expect it to be me,” said Lei. “Then they said McMaster Marauders and everyone was screaming I didn’t even hear them say my name. It was super unexpected.”

As a rookie, Lei would always hear the upper years talk about “OUA Magic” and finally experienced it for herself at that moment.

“No matter if you have a final race or if you don’t, or if you’re on the competitive team

or not, everyone is so invested in each other that you draw off of their energy,” said Lei. “My team back home didn’t really cheer so I’ve never experienced that before, but having my team supporting me during OUA Championships was really powerful.”

Her magical performance during the OUA Championships guaranteed her a spot at the U Sports Swimming Championships two weeks later to compete in her six usual events

SPORTS | 23

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 1, 2018

and one new one — the 400m freestyle.

“I hadn’t done it all season but because my 200m went so well at the OUA Championships, Coach Gray and I decided I should try it and I ended up recording my best time,” Lei explained.

Although Lei did not place as highly at the U Sports Swimming Championships — a star-studded event featuring seven Canadian Olympic swimmers — the little victories still mattered. “[In the 200m freestyle], I went a little slower than I anticipated because everyone in my heat was going a little slow so I thought I was going faster but I wasn’t,” said Lei. “But in finals, I managed to go faster than I did and even though I didn’t record the best time, I was happy with myself because I set a goal to go under 2:04 and I was well under that goal.

Setting goals and being able to check them off is something Lei has been doing all year.

As she looks to the future, her swimming goals are bigger than just herself.

“I would love to continue showing the rookies that come in next year the love and support I received in my first year,” said Lei. “I know a lot of kids who come into university swimming thinking that they are going to quit because Grade 12 is always a hard year with applications and other external stress, so people tend to lose their passion for it.”

If Lei is able to make the incoming rookie class fall in love with swimming the way she did in her rookie season, she would count that as one of her greatest accomplishments.

Isabelle

Lei

OUA Swimming Championships GOLD

200M FREESTYLE

SILVER

100M FREESTYLE

BRONZE

4 x 50M FREESTYLE

BRONZE

4 x 100M FREESTYLE

@JaayCarmichael

“

My team back home didn’t really cheer so I’ve never experienced that before, but having my team supporting me during OUA Championships was really powerful.”

Isabelle Lei OUA Rookie of the Year McMaster Swim Team

KYLE WEST / PHOTO REPORTER

PEER SUPPORTING PEER SUPPORT If peers peer suppor t peer suppor ts, then that ’s a lot of suppor t C1

THURSDAY

THE

HAMILTON SPECULATOR Preparing for Infinity War since 1934

March 1, 2018

NOTSPEC.COM

Students union meeting ends at a reasonable time Despite best efforts, everyone got a good night’s sleep SAINT PETER VEGAS I’m definitely Steve Rogers

While the minutes had multiple agenda items on it such as making the Grind café into a weed dispensary and turning the Silhouette into a peer support service, everyone managed to leave the meeting in time to catch the 9:50 p.m. showing of Black Panther.

“We had a lot on the agenda, and I’m happy we managed to get through it all. Everyone got tired of saying the same things over and over again after the fourth time instead of the 15th, which dramatically cut down on the amount of time needed,” said Charles Ibay, the union’s president.

The meeting was planned to take two hours, but was expected to take 12 hours.

This extra time was to allow for recesses, people who enjoy giving speeches and general bureaucracy hang-ups. However, it only took three hours to get through everything.

As is tradition, most had already decided how they would vote prior to the meeting, but managed to cut down on the amount of time pretending like they were neutral.

The AVTEK member who helps with the livestream was particularly happy as he could see his family on Sunday evening for the first time in months.

Ibay also wanted to note

that the theatre takeover of his Black Panther challenge run with Empowerment Squared takes place on the morning of March 3.

Moving forward, Ibay’s belief that Killmonger was right will also influence future legislation. However, we cannot report how or why at this point in time to avoid spoilers for those who have not seen the movie yet.

Honestly, I just wanted to talk about Black Panther in a spoiler-free way. It was really good! A top five Marvel Cinematic Universe movie.

I’m also going to challenge for the students union’s throne.

TV installed for constant propaganda and the aquarium channel Student centre takes the first step to becoming a Black Mirror episode SAINT PETER VEGAS The church of the students union

Picking up your $20 meal from hospitality services will now come with a healthy serving of bias. Constant videos from the union that feature your favourite services and leaders will play in the populated student centre. To help ease the student population into it, the aquarium channel will also periodically play to create a false sense of security.

“We’ve perfected our ratio of propaganda in collaboration with our business and communications programs to ensure that students will engage with us whether they want to or not.

Democracy will be non-negotiable for next year’s students union election,” said Mikkel Earthbender, the union’s communication director.

Services will also be required to praise the union in a daily ritualistic ceremony or have their funding cut.

Moving forward, the union will attempt to gain public favour to convert every sub-faculty to their own by installing forms of propaganda across campus.

INSIDE IT’S BEEN ALMOST A MONTH SINCE THE ELECTION ENDED AND WE STILL CAN’T CONFIRM WHO THE PRESIDENT-ELECT WILL BE A2 WAITING FOR SRA HUMANITIES TO START USING TWITTER AGAIN B4 I FORGOT THAT SOME PEOPLE PREFER CONSTANT SOCIAL INTERACTION, SO RETURNING FROM THE MID-TERM RECESS WAS A LOT C3

The aquarium channel is more relaxing than the fireplace channel, and I’m not just saying that because the union pays me.

POLL: What’s your favourite obscure service?

SWHAT, but for dogs

Mid-2000s emo music appreciation

Anything that hasn’t been converted to a peer support service yet

The league of copy editors

MACycle, but for segways

The one that gets me out of the office

Anything that provides support for second-year students specifically

All of the above

Tweets to the Editor I disagree with everything the students union has done.

I literally didn’t do anything over the break.

- Jason, 34, has never watched or attended an SRA meeting

- Peter, 21, speaks for all of us

Disclaimer: The Hamilton Speculator is a work of satire and fiction and should not under any circumstances be taken seriously. I don’t really have much to put here.

WHEN ARE THEY GONNA ADD MY BOY, RICHARD RIDER, TO THE MCU? D1 PER ISSUE: Job applications for the Silhouette are open for Online, Production and Managing editors. You should apply.