The Silhouette — March 15, 2018

S

INSIDE>> NEWS: Sexual violence survey explained // PAGES 4-5

ARTS & CULTURE: Terra Lightfoot performs with HPO Strings // PAGE 17 SPORTS: Kickin’ it with Jacob Edwards // PAGES 24-25

The Silhouette Thursday, March 15, 2018

IKRAM FARAH IS THE OFFICIAL MSU PRESIDENT-ELECT (FINALLY)

How this year’s election may affect future presidentials Page 3

S

FOLLOW US

The Silhouette

Volume 88, Issue 24 Thursday, March 15, 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 Cassidy Bereskin news@thesil.ca

news editor news reporter

Emily O’Rourke features@thesil.ca

features reporter

opinion editor

Reem Sheet

opinion@thesil.ca

/THEMCMASTER SILHOUETTE

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

Madeline Neumann photo reporter Kyle West production coordinator Grant Holt production coordinator Timothy Law production@thesil.ca photo editor

@MCMASTER SILHOUETTE

To vote or not to vote - is there a question

By DEAN RIVANDO Silhouette Staff

Voters on September 4 are going to be faced with the perennial problem fac­ ed by voters at every election—should I vote on the basis of the candidate, the party or the leader? The questions becomes especially tricky in an election where the party establishment and in­ deed the leaders of the two old parties are similar if not identical, in both philosophy and voter appeal.

Both Brian Mulroney and John Turner are products of the corporate boardrooms: both leaders preach an e s s e n tia lly s m a ll-c c o n s e r v a tiv e philosophy of restraint, rationalization of go vern m en t p ro g ra m s and v e r y moderate government spending in cer­ tain politically salient areas of the economy as the answer to our economic malaise. Edward Broadbent, the leader of the NDP, supports a slightly more pro­ gressive philosophy on economic issues, but this really amounts to a little less restraint, less rationaliation of programs and slightly higher spending in those high profile areas of economic concern.

It is unfortunate that, while the NDP prides itself on having set the agenda in this campaign, their policies in economic matters at least, have been no more vi­ sionary than their neanderthal conservativce colleagues, but simply different in degree.

But enough of the economy. What are the other issues in this campaign? Surely issues such as our foreign policy stance, the massive social displacement that ac­ companies the introduction of technology to replace jobs, protection of our environ­ ment, and even issues such as capital punishment and abortion have taken a high profile? Not at all. Not only have the party leaders tried to bury or avoid these issues, but there is no evidence to show that voters are even interested in these policy areas. The reasons for this are clear.

The parties have certainly played an important role in determining the agen­ da for policy discussion in this campaign, and the media have conspired with them in this regard. (Anyone who watched the three senior male correspondants from the three major television networks ask questions that played into the hands of the party leaders by not challenging them on issues that are not as salient as bum patting knows what I mean about the media). What it amounts to is this: the instruments through which the grassroots in this country can affect change, the political parties, have become guardians of the status quo.

In this election more than at any other time in recent history, the party grassroots have relinquished whatever influence they had in the party leader­ ship, in the interests of political oppor­

tunism (read winning). Otherwise, why would the Conservative party, enjoying the spillover effects of the shift to the right in the United States, elect a moderate, almost left leading leader like Brian Mulroney?

The liberals elected a right leaning continentalist named John Turner, when the philosophical bent of the party, especially in the final years of the T ru d eau a d m in is tra tio n , b eca m e especially left leaning and nationalist.

Even the ND P has decided to moderate their tone. The party leadership decided that, for this election anyway, they would no longer speak of forming a govern­ ment, since this “ scares” voters away.

They might as well tell the people not to vote for them if they expect change, since the party cannot put their ideas into practice anyway.

If the leaders are essentially the same, and the parties can only be depended upon to support the status quo, then the only alternative criteria with which we can decide who to vote for are the qualities of the individual candidates in any riding. If you elect the candidate that can best represent your interests in a parliamentary caucus, you at least can be sure that your concerns will be raised in the House of Commons. However, any expert on parliamentary government will tell you that the individual caucus members are called upon, in the final analysis, to “ tow the party line” and vote with his or her party. In other words, no matter what the M P ’s personal opinion, or that of the members constituents, the member must vote the same way the party votes or risk censure by their party and parliam entary colleagues. The result in this case would be a decrease in

*High quality computers at low prices

528-2827 ■ » ^ f * p £ N S IV E

paper presentation, you probably will not get an interview.

Your scholastic achievements are important, and your extra-curricular ac­ tivities are very necessary reinforcers for the paper impression you make on company recruiters. Without a good

Assuming you do get aninterview ap­ pointment, prepare yourself ahead of time with as much knowledge of the com­ pany and its operations as you can, also prepare some questions of your own to ask the interviewer.

First Year Students—Start Now to qualify for the best job offers!

Yes, graduation is a long way off, but there are some factors that employers give serious consideration to, factors that you should start to work on now!

Be a joiner and a worker. Employers are most interested in what you do out­ side of class time—whether you hold

THE COMMANDO GAME

WAR GAMES?

Question Not to ask are obvious: “ Just what does your firm do?” “ Where is your company?” “ What is the job I am applying for? ” Use our company boxes and binders, the library, friends, any source you want, but get to know the company.

If the company holds a briefing ses­ sion for the candidates, be sure to attend.

M a n y m a jo r c o m p a n ie s and organizations from across Canada visist our Campus between mid-Octorber and early April to interview students for per­ manent or summer jobs after the end of the Academic year. If you are interested in employment, you cannot afford to miss out on this opportunity.

In place of the formal resume, we use the University and College P la ce­ ment Association Application Form (UCP A Form for short) which is much sim p ler to com p lete. C opies a re available from our office (free.)

notion for the contest, advanced last winter by alumni councillor and Senate secretariat assistant Ron Cooley, ’82, ex­ pects it to succeed: it called the scheme “ both v ia b le and w o r t h w h ile .”

Up to four cash awards will be made, with the first-place essayist receiving $300, and any runners-up $100 each Also, the top prize-winning essay will be published in McMaster News. Finally, the declared winners will be acknowledg-

The alumni committee—chaired by physics professor Dr. Carm McMullen, ’49—which considered and developed the

S T

Companies hold briefing sessions to s time during the interviews by co lot of material about the company: the jo b (s) with all the candidates at I same time.

A list of typical questions asked I recruiters is available upon request our office.

We recommend that you complet one copy in rough, have us or someor else review it and make suggestions fc improving it, then have one copy type up, leaving the space for the compan name blank, and the last page blank.

Run off photocopies of this form a you need them, complete the compan name and fill in the last page relatin how your education, background trainin and experience relates to the particula company and to the position they hav advertised.

Start now and avoid the rush.

Hamilton Hall Room 409.

ed at Recognition Night in early spri when the University, the alumni assoc: tion, and the student government, sail undergraduate achievement.

To attract entrants, the associati will advertise this fall in The Silhouett the student newspaper, and will a other campus media, and also instn tors, to co-operate in publicizing theco petition.

The graduates' organizati must still choose the topic for essa> perhaps having to do with education with McMaster, or something of w contemporary interest—which are to about 1,500 words in length. Work si mitted to fill a course requirem ent, pi o r p r e s e n t, w ill be welcome It

I OLUMBIA SECONDARY SCHOOL THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR YOUR

r PRE UNIVERSITY EDUCATION! • Internationally accredited co educational hiqh school £ a

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

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

The Board will consider all submissions and make recommendations accordingly.

This brings m e back to the orign question of the criteria that should be u ed when voting. If you cannot find a go candidate, party or leader to vote for, tl least you can do as a responsible citizi is express your dissatisfaction by spo ing your ballot. Even this act is le reprehensible than staying at home a refusing to exercise your freedom choice that many have fought and di for, but as yet few have achieved.

Hamilton Hall Room 409. 1

To encourage pen-paper prowess among McMaster’s students, the alumni association, beginning in the fall, will sponsor an annual essay writing contest for the University’s undergraduates. The competition will be held for two years, after which a review will determine whether it should be continued.

&

LEGAL

However, we cannot all be party leader or candidates. This is why it is so impo tant to vote.

Alumni to sponsor undergrad essay contest

Madeline Neumann

8,000 circulation published by the

Amorphism

This means that you and I, and every other person who has seen the porblems in our system, cannot sit back, throw up our hands and cynically mouth amorphisms that “ the little guy has no say” or “ what can one person do, anyway.” In this regard, we must all be leaders.

down a part-time job, what clubs you join, whether you hold office, how fre­ quently you participate, whether you are involved in after hour sports, etc.

G et out and p a r t ic ip a t e lm Something, Anything, but be A CTIVE! There may not be any credits for out­ side participation in most courses, but most people develop better work habits, better retention and become more decisive when forced to work under a bit of pressure such as the time constraints of participating in sports, club activities or a part-time job. This type of ex­ perience will help you throughout your life.

COVER PHOTO

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

as a nation.

Start job hunt

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

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

leaders, who are the status quo, and who are the representatives of the consti­ tuents, are people that have the political will to constantly search for the most ef­ fective solution for the problems we face

the M P ’s power within their party to ef­ fect change. It’s a catch-22 situation.

A s a p erso n o b s e r v in g and sometimes participating in the political process, I can only point out some of the caveats in our system of electing representatives. However, there is one solution I can suggest. If there is no leader that provides distinct leadership, no party that can provide an avenue for change, and no representative that can adequately represent your interests, there is a need for fundamental reform of the system. This change can only take place when the people who are the

Prepare for the interview, if you want the job!

*Full sales & Servicing Support For all your computer needs come to 891 King St. W. (corner of King & Longwood)

The calm before the storm Still—but deadly. This is the scene awaiting first and second year students in the Bookstore’s Togo Salmon Hal annex With nearly three thousand first year students alone, the Bookstore staff sets up this auxiliary store t( handle the overflow. Even so, the lines in the basement of the Arts Complex will continue to grow....

Prepare for the interview- get the jo b !

books, software & accessories available'

video editor

CONTACT

MCMASTER THESIL

The Silhouette, Thursday, August 30,1984.

sports editor

arts

/MCMASTER SILHOUETTE

LOOKING BACK

•Popular

Justin Parker sports reporter Jessica Carmichael sports@thesil.ca

@THE SILHOUETTE

W'h°m3,'° M'n'S,rv of Educa,'on’

• Over 90% of our graduates gain adm,ss.on into University in the U.S. and Canada

NOT REALLY...

•A n all rounded education Earn a diploma and gam rich experience by mixing with students from 20 other countries and participating n |oint activities Academic programmes specially desiqned lor

W e s are available for Grades 'he 11 Ans' us,n sciences If B and 13ess a"d

Just a game filled with action, challenge and teamwork played by people like you who enjoy the outdoors. If you are interested in finding out why our customers keep coming back for the finest in adventure games call our office todayl

$25.°° special, thats $10 off with Mac I.D.

A CTION, EXCITEMENT A N D FUN! 662-4132

students

CM<O I- l’ M B IA * >\l>\|(\ si hi i|)| , ,| ‘

'

'

\

l>

\

• Excellent school facilities including computers a u d io • n!H e(,u,Pment, laboratories and a gymnaswm Dedicated, highly qualified leaching staff •W elfare ol overseas students well looked after • University guidance and counselling provided btudent accommodations arranged school residence for conscientious students) •s c a le d in a quiet environment which is veiv conducive to learning • lower cost of living ,n Hamilton than Toronto

<30T E5S! « HSTfiffT' HAMILTON, ONTARIO t8V3fu TEL 3873381 . TELEX 06,8916 esse Z

will

be

the

members of I

McMullen’s ad hoc committee, plus ^ of the McM aster News editorial advis1 board, under high school English I# Paul Murphy, ’64, who’ll judge essays. Suitability for publication n general interest magazine will be oW the criteria which they’ ll apply *n P3 •ng judgement.

Benefits

In recommending the contest, 5 Cooley predicted that the associa'1 would benefit in several ways fro1111 sponsorship of the activity: it would ra the o rg a n iz a tio n 's p ro file am0 undergraduates; provide McMaS News with something outside its 081 content; and add to the maga»B reputation among faculty by Prov* ^ with a composition with some acader flavour. As well, the contest, of cour will help ‘deserving students to cont>r their studies’ , Mr. Cooley stated. ^ Further information is aval a through the alumni office and will be<j ried as it becomes available in th* 1

It is never too early to start thinking about future elections. With municipal and provincial elections within the next few months, it is important to consider the odd quirks possible with each.

WE WANT YOU TO CONTRIBUTE 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 15, 2018

The Silhouette

| 3

News Ikram Farah is the MSU president-elect This year’s unprecedented race may lead to changes in the Elections Department Sasha Dhesi News Editor

Now well over a month since the campaign period ended, the McMaster Students Union finally has an official MSU president-elect: Ikram Farah. Following this year’s race, students may see changes in the Elections Department as they reconsider their current system.

This year’s MSU presidential election saw two disqualifications, something unheard of in the MSU’s history. Candidates Farah and Rabeena Obaidullah were both disqualified.

Both candidates appealed to the highest electoral board, the Electoral Appeals Board, whose decisions are final and binding.

According to the declarations released on March 13, the EAB overturned a series of violations for both candidates and reinstated both.

The rationale behind Farah’s disqualification and for both candidates’ reinstatement remains unclear as the MSU has not yet released the minutes from any of these meetings. On March 13, both Obaidullah and Farah were reinstated, resulting in Farah securing the MSU presidency.

On March 11, the Elections Department presented a delegation to the Student Representative Assembly, where they outlined some of their major issues with the current system for electoral appeals and fines.

The two representatives, Shaarujaa Nadarajah and Iku Nwosu, spoke of the difficulties the Elections Department and committee have.

In particular, they highlighted three major issues: limited information, a strict time constraint and lack of perspective as to why certain fines were submitted.

During an election, all MSU presidential candidates are subject to the Elections Department’s rules. If found violating multiple rules, the Elections Department has the power to

disqualify a candidate.

According to the meeting minutes from the Election Department’s Jan. 25 meeting, Obaidullah was disqualified for campaigning in private Facebook groups, among other infractions.

The exact reasoning behind Farah’s disqualification remains unclear as the meeting minutes from Election Department’s Feb. 5 meeting have not been released, but according to press releases, two additional violations were ratified at this meeting against Farah, resulting in her disqualification.

During the March 11 SRA meeting, Nadarajah stated that one of the major limitations of the current fines process as the limited information presented to the committee.

Currently, elections committee members are presented all complaint forms the night the voting period ends and are expected to come to a final decision before the night is over.

When it comes to fines, elections committee must decide whether or not to fine a candidate based on a complaint form which they received a few hours prior to the election night meeting.

The form asks the complainant to outline the infraction, tie it to a rule and provide any supplementary evidence along with a witness signature.

Candidates are only informed of their fines following the final decisions. Candidates may contest fines, so long as they announce their intent to appeal a decision within five business days.

“One of the limitations of elections committee is that we can only look at what’s in front of us… a paragraph is describing a situation to us,” Nadarajah said.

In addition, Nadarajah also stressed that the time limit meant the elections committee would be forced to do a cost-benefit analysis of their decisions and ultimately value

the quickest decision in order to announce a president-elect before the next morning.

Nadarajah also stated that while the elections committee has eight members, it only needs five to reach quorum, meaning that under certain circumstances only three members are enough to disqualify a candidate.

She also discussed the subjectivity of election committee’s decisions, namely that it is difficult for the election committee to establish when a candidate has impacted the integrity of an election.

They then went over the structure of other student union electoral offices, such as the University of Western Ontario and Queen’s University. UWO uses a demerit system and candidates are informed of any fines throughout the campaign period. At UWO, 30 demerit points automatically results in a disqualification.

At Queen’s, their equivalent elections team is comprised of five others in addition to the Chief Returning Officer and each person has a specific job, whether that be investigating fines or handling finances.

Both Nadarajah and Nwosu stated that the Elections Department may need to mirror some of these systems, whether it follow UWO’s quantitative approach or Queen’s and its delegation of duties.

Nadarajah and Nwosu offered a list of recommendations for reform. They argued they should increase transparency between candidates and their office with respect to fines, increase the threshold within the elections committee to disqualify a candidate from half the committee to two-thirds the committee and better outline and detail the appeals process.

This year’s MSU presidential election and its disqualifications was unprecedented event that may alter the way in which elections are run through the MSU. @SashaDhesi

MADELINE NEUMANN / PHOTO EDITOR

4 |

NEWS

Thursday, March 15, 2018 | www.thesil.ca

Combatting sexual violence on university grounds

The province, university and student union present their efforts and ideas on how to tackle gender-based violence WRITTEN BY CASSIDY BERESKIN

The

sexual violence.

The legislation also calls for Ontario universities to construct a sexual violence response policy and report on sexual violence and student support to the minister of advanced education and skills development.

“The plan is the foundation for a public education and awareness campaign on sexual violence, harassment and other unwanted and inappropriate behaviour. We launched this plan because every person in this province has the right to feel safe — whether at home, work or school or in their community,” said Yanni Dagonas, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development.

The Student Voices on

Sexual Violence survey was developed in consultation with members of student groups, private career colleges, public colleges and universities and sexual violence researchers. CCI Research refined the survey and approved it for pre-testing and focus groups in the fall of 2017.

In addition, since 2015, the ministry’s sexual violence reporting advisory committee has been giving the ministry involved with the survey insight about the prevalence of sexual violence at post-secondary institutions in the province.

The survey will be used to guide institutions towards addressing issues related to sexual violence and improve services, policies and awareness about sexual violence.

“The Student Voices on Sexual Violence survey is an important tool for gathering information from postsecondary

students about their experiences, general attitudes, and beliefs related to personal safety and sexual violence,” read part of a statement on the website of the survey.

The survey will allow post-secondary students to report on issues pertaining to sexual violence on campus, including sexual assault, sexual harassment and sexual exploitation. Questions in the survey concern topics such as awareness of protocols and services available to survivors and students’ experiences with unwanted behaviours and sexual violence.

The implementation of the survey comes in the wake of the federal government’s recent promise to improve financial support for sexual assault crisis centres in Canadian post-secondary institutions. In particular, as part of its 2018 federal

budget, the Trudeau government called for $5.5 million to be provided through the ministry for the status of women Canada to universities over the next five years.

Nevertheless, the federal government explicitly stated that universities that do not adopt “best practices” may have their federal funding stripped as early as 2019.

practices, Ross said that the university has been taking a number of steps to support survivors and tackle the issue of sexual violence.

For instance, in 2015, Ross was hired as the sexual violence response coordinator at the university’s office of human rights and equity services office. In her role, Ross facilitates the implementation of McMaster’s sexual violence response protocol to address disclosures of gender-based and sexual violence, responds to individual disclosures and launches prevention and education initiatives in the campus community.

In January 2015, the university released its sexual violence response protocol, which guides members of the campus

community to respond to individuals who disclose incidents of sexual and gender-based violence in a consistent and survivor-centred fashion.

Two years later, McMaster ratified its sexual violence policy, which stipulates the university’s commitment to addressing sexual violence and explains what options survivors and complainants can take to obtain support and disclose and report incidents of sexual violence.

Specifically, the policy highlights how survivors can take a criminal reporting route or a non-criminal one. It specifies that individuals who opt to take either a criminal or other path may have to attend a hearing, either through the university, arbitration or criminal court.

The policy also outlines Ross’s role, the importance of confidentiality, support services

for survivors and investigation and adjudication processes that may take place should an individual file a complaint of sexual violence to the university.

“The start of 2018 marked the first full year that all of Ontario’s publicly assisted colleges and universities had a standalone sexual violence and harassment policy in place,” said Dagonas. “This milestone marks a crucial foundational step in the work we’re doing together to address and prevent sexual violence on campuses across the province.”

When asked if she believes that McMaster is implementing best practices, Ross said that the university has been taking a number of steps to support survivors and tackle the issue of sexual violence.

province In February and March 2018, students at post-secondary institutions across the province were invited via email to complete the Student Voices on Sexual Violence survey, which was mandated by the Ontario government as part of the “It’s Never Okay: An Action Plan to Stop Sexual Violence and Harassment” legislation.

Included in the Ontario government’s plan are amendments to the ministry of training, colleges and universities act of 1990, which requires post-secondary institutions in the province to participate in a student survey pertaining to

The

university Although the Student Voices on Sexual Violence survey was developed and released in February 2016, predating the federal government’s announcement, the recent implementation of the survey at universities including McMaster has raised questions about the motivations underlying it.

However, according to Meaghan Ross, McMaster’s sexual violence response coordinator, the university has yet to be informed about what the government means by best practices.

When asked if she believes that McMaster is implementing best

Against the backdrop of federal and provincial government efforts aimed at addressing sexual violence, McMaster University implemented a sexual violence policy in January 2017 and the Student Voices on Sexual Violence survey in February 2018. According to the McMaster Students Union, however, the university needs to take a more intersectional approach to the problem of sexual violence.

NEWS

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 15, 2018

The

student union The McMaster Students Union, however, believes that Ontario universities need to be doing more to tackle the problem, something their advocacy team highlighted in their a sexual violence prevention and response policy paper which was presented to the Student Respresentative Assembly on March 11.

The paper was researched and written over the course of the last few months and completed at the last MSU policy conference. According to the policy paper, the university should be bringing a more inter-

sectional approach to address the problem of sexual violence.

“The services provided by McMaster University should be informed by a recognition of the intersectional nature of sexual violence, in which individuals’ race, ability, indigeneity and socio-economic status, among other factors, can render them vulnerable on multiple fronts,” reads part of the report.

The policy paper includes initiatives aimed at preventing sexual violence, such as inviting guests who help dismantle rape culture rather than normalize it. It also emphasizes the need for improvements to campus infrastructure, such as increased lighting at night, citing a Laurier University study that revealed

that women and marginalized students tend to feel less safe.

The paper also calls for more accurate tracking of data, inclusion of specific data such as students’ demographic information, increased transparency with the public through the release of yearly sexual violence incident reports and the addition of counselors who are trained in anti-oppressive practices.

The paper argues that McMaster’s sexual violence policy lacks consideration of how the policy may need to be applied differently in the context of racialized men as opposed to white men as racialized men are increasingly subjected to racial discrimination in the judicial system.

“Traditional narratives of racism, and their role in propagating inequities in criminal convictions, must be acknowl-

edged in the language used within the McMaster policy, and McMaster must further make an effort to propose strategies to address and prevent biased rulings,” read part of the paper.

The paper also argues that university should implement mandatory bystander intervention training and consider that institutions such as police services, which may be involved in a criminal reporting context, may limit people of colour from reporting incidents of sexual violence to the university.

McMaster has made strides in its response sexual violence.

According to the research done by the MSU, however, the role that identity plays in shaping students’ perceptions and experiences of sexual violence continues to be overlooked.

The policy paper includes initiatives aimed at preventing sexual violence, such as inviting guests who help dismantle rape culture rather than normalize it.

@cassidybereskin

8 MONTH BUSINESS CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS

COMPLEMENT YOUR DEGREE WITH A GRADUATE CERTIFICATE.

| 5

•

Analytics for Business Decision Making

•

Business Analysis

•

Creative Arts Business

•

Multimedia Sotrytelling

•

Supply Chain Management

Get future ready.

Apply today.

To learn more about these programs and other graduate certificates visit mohawkcollege.ca/gradstudies

6 |

FEATURE FEATURE

Thursday, March 15, 2018 | www.thesil.ca

Mixing it up Women are jockeying for spaces in Hamilton’s DJ scene Emily O’Rourke Features Reporter

B eing a woman in a male-dominated scene, spe-

cifically in music, is never the easiest course of action, but prominent Hamilton DJs are making waves within the scene.

The fight for a place in the music scene has created a supportive community of women who are working together to make their beats heard. With a focus on helping each other through collaboration and promotion, these women are making sure that their respective music scenes see an inclusive space for everyone.

DJing in general began to take off in the 1960s and 70s, finding influence particularly within the hippie and disco eras. Most of the DJs shaping the movement during this time were almost exclusively part of the LGBTQ+ scene and after the Stonewall riots in New York City, nightclubs became a pop-

Creating Space in Hamilton

T he early years of DJ Fazooli (Julie Fazooli Marquis)’s career,

there were several instances that made it difficult to be a female DJ. There were very few other female DJs when she first stepped onto the rave scene in Toronto in the late 1990s and the misogyny was rampant.

For that reason, Fazooli took it upon herself to learn how to spin by actively watching her heroes while they played, and “obsessively” listening to mixes trying to figure out how it was done.

“Any time I asked someone to teach me how to spin, they always assumed I wanted to date them,” said Fazooli. “My first live performance at a rave was filmed, and when I saw the footage, they had pretty much focused my whole screen time with the camera pointing up the back of my skirt. I got intimidated regularly by men who would line up in front of the

ular scene and became a more inclusive space.

From the beginning, DJing has served as a space for loud self-expression, a cultural movement founded on peace, love, unity and respect. From there, the evolution of the nightclub scene took form, reflecting the needs for particular styles and communities and creating various types of music genres that we know today.

Female DJs have always been an inspirational force within the scene, with the earliest female DJ on the scene being traced back to 1912. In 1922, Sybil True was one of the first people to ever play records on the radio, borrowing records from 6a local record store and playing them on air to encourage young people to gain interest in radio broadcasting careers.

Another important woman on the scene is Annie Nightingale, who was one of the first globally famous radio DJs. Her beginnings in 1963 at turntables to stare me down and watch every movement of my hands.”

Despite these instances of misogyny within the scene, Fazooli continued learning and teaching herself the ways of the turntable. She continues to DJ today, playing a multitude of venues within the city including Club Absinthe, the Casbah, Sous Ba and This Ain’t Hollywood, to name a few.

“I’m the type that bites back when annoyed, so now I get treated with a ton more respect and people know I am very capable of what I do, and not mess with me,” said Fazooli.

“You gotta be tough sometimes — there’s no room to be passive and sometimes people need to be reminded that women are just as talented as men when it comes to DJing.”

Last year, Fazooli and other other female DJs in Hamilton, including Donna Lovejoy, I Heart Hamilton and DJ Rosé,

“

Female DJs have always been an inspirational force within the scene, with the earliest female DJ on the scene being traced back to 1912.

BBC Radio 1 is still one of the highest-revered positions on the charts, and in history.

With the help of a few prominent Hamilton DJs, including DJ Fazooli, DJ I Heart Hamilton, DJ Donna Lovejoy and DJ Rosé, women in Hamilton will have the opportunity to mix up the scene.

came together to create the Diamond DJ Collective. The collective serves as an alliance to combine their different strengths and to promote themselves within the community.

Each DJ within the collective uses different styles and genres of music together that blend well when they play together. They also come from a variety of different social backgrounds and immersed into each one.

“The tides are turning. By having conversations and being open about experiences we’ve had, it’s so empowering to voice it and be validated by other women,” said DJ I Heart Hamilton (Kristin Archer). “From there we can figure out how to make the scene more inclusive.

There’s a lot to unpack but we won’t get anywhere without having some tough conversations.”

CATHERINE TARASYUK / PRODUCTION EDITOR

“

“My first live performance at a rave was filmed, and when I saw the footage, they had pretty much focused my whole screen time with the camera pointing up the back of my skirt.”

DJ Fazooli Disk Jockey

FEATURE

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 15, 2018

Women’s DJ Workshop T o keep up with the stamina that female DJs have been seeing

over the past few years, Fazooli and fellow DJ, Donna Lovejoy, launched a series of workshops.

Under the title of Women’s DJ Workshop, the pair are teaching introductory classes to women and non-binary folk in Hamilton.

Women’s DJ Workshop originally came to the pair after being approached by the Art Gallery of Hamilton to create a series of workshops, but found that logistics would be costly, making it inaccessible for individuals to join. The duo then condensed it to an introductory, one-afternoon workshop so that people could test the waters first.

“DJing is incredibly intensive in both time spent practicing and finding records, and the financial burden of buying

pricey equipment and building a proper vinyl collection,” said Fazooli. “You need to have an insatiable thirst for music and playing with music to even consider it as a hobby, as it’s a big investment on both of those levels. So a proper introduction to test the waters to see if it’s a good fit is key.”

For those who felt intimidated by the technical aspects, the workshop created a friendly and educational atmosphere. By pointing out all of the similarities between all of the different brands of equipment, the workshop ensured that new DJs were able to confidently adapt to changes when they were faced with an unfamiliar set-up in a live situation.

The major goal of the workshop was to start a conversation and about what it would be like to become a DJ without

overwhelming students. Fazooli stresses that DJing is not an easy set of skills to earn, so the workshops aim to make it as simple as possible to understand, taking away the fear of misconception or obstacle for students.

“I think when people are put in front of all of this equipment and a few crates of records they get easily overwhelmed,” said Fazooli. “So this was a chance to kind of simplify and break it down so that people could see that once you practice and get the techniques and concepts down, the world opens right up for you and it begins to be a lot of fun.”

“The music scene is still very deeply rooted in being open to everyone as it always has been, with very few exceptions,” said Fazooli. “I find it hard to fathom that any scene would exist without women and non-binary people as an intrinsic part of their foundation.”

While DJing in general is heavily male dominated, the support and encouragement from two talented women in the capacity of a student can be crucial. Being backed by a network of women can help other women gain confidence to move forward on their own and have the ability to create their

own style.

The workshops will continue on a bi-monthly basis beginning in April, and Women’s DJ Workshop will be hosting a meet and greet DJ session on March 17 at Dr. Disc.

“

“DJing is incredibly intensive in both time spent practicing and finding records, and the financial burden of buying pricey equipment and building a proper vinyl collection.”

DJ Fazooli Disk Jockey

Moving forward Iandn future workshops, Lovejoy Fazooli will be covering

more information about troubleshooting and specific technical aspects to ensure students feel armed with knowledge of how to overcome stressful technical mishaps.

By preparing students for anything that may come their way, the pair hope to instill a sense of independence, which is a quality that is crucial in DJing, and to create a new wave of empowered individuals, capable of creating new and exciting ventures for themselves in our community.

@emily_oro

“

By preparing students for anything that may come their way, the pair hope to instill a sense of independence, which is a quality that is crucial in DJing.

| 7

PRESIDENT’S PAGE

March 15, 2018 | thesil.ca

RYAN DESHPANDE CHUKKY IBE Vice President (Education) & President vped@msu.mcmaster.ca president@msu.mcmaster.ca

If you have never personally felt what it is like to disappear into thin air, or questioned if your life matters, then to you, maybe the subject of freedom of expression can be an academic debate. However, for many students on this campus who have lived much of their lives in fear of the state and its institutions, the stakes are too high, and our humanity is on the line. This is not merely an academic debate, but part of an ongoing struggle for self-determination and the rights to exist in peace, safety, and dignity. Some believe that there is no issue that cannot be debated and unpacked in the classroom.

Nevertheless, we find it challenging when someone explains that their house is on fire, and the response is to simply debate it.

The Ad Hoc Committee on Protest and Freedom of Expression recently released a report

that considers the roles of freedom of expression and protest within an academic context, and proposed guidelines for event organizers, participants, and protestors in relation to protest and academic discourse. We recognize that there are communities and individuals who don’t feel their voices are adequately represented in that conversation. As such, we believe it is important to elevate these voices to ensure marginalized perspectives are included and heard.

By supporting freedom of expression and attempting to dictate how dissent should take place, the report fails to appreciate the limitations of public debate, academic freedom, and systemic inequalities that make protests a necessary and essential form of public discourse. Academics have used, and still use, freedoms to justify violent and pernicious systems. Civility in itself causes harm to those who are not afforded it. From intellectual justifications of eugenics, ethnic supremacy that leads to mass incarceration, and Indigenous genocide, academics have used civil discourse to participate in the sins done to our beloved home on Native land. This argument is true for various ideologies that are present across the political spectrum. Such ideologies were themselves created and upheld by “civil discourse.”

Academia is in dire need of disruption. Disruption is necessary in the realm of academia to hold civil discourse accountable.

We should ask ourselves: should some issues simply not be de-

bated? How can we peacefully tell others that we deserve to be treated equally, that our lives have worth, and that the pain we feel is inherited and real? Debate presumes equality in the history and power of those who participate in it, and neutrality in the argument.

In addition, debates should not be the end goal of public discourse.

Winning a debate should not come at the cost of understanding, resolution, and harmony. Disruption becomes a necessary venue in the context of debates that are designed for one side to lose.

Disruption is necessary in the realm of academia to hold civil discourse accountable In the current political climate, we have witnessed how the presence of individuals and the perpetuation of their respective views can cause a reaction. It may be easier to look externally for the causes of protest and disruptions.

Yet, it is important to acknowledge the existence of frustration, disenfranchisement, and the lack of trust in institutions to treat us with dignity and respect. Protest is used as a last resort because the systems that have been designed to adjudicate, despite their well intentions, are not sufficient for justice. Forms of protest should not be restricted or controlled, especially considering how those who choose to protest on this campus have historically done so in a way that is respectful of the institution.

Disruption is the expected outcome for institutional inac-

tion. The University’s response to academic freedom and protest has yet to account for the real hurt, pain, and frustration that certain communities at Mac feel.

We want accountability and validation from the institution, but we are not expectant of it. The University should show their commitment to the wellbeing of the students and our learning environment. Not because people are offended or uncomfortable, but because history should not repeat itself.

Our communities are resilient and self-reliant. We are accustomed to experiencing threats to our lives and livelihoods. These threats are not caused by, nor do they cease, with controversial speakers on campus. Yet, we are hopeful that the University recognizes the responsibility that comes with its role as a public institution.

The response should go beyond academic freedom to include prudence, temperance, fortitude, and justice. It is critical that those in power look beyond debate and into the hearts and histories of those for whom it matters.

The University has welcomed commentary on their suggested guidelines and report. Feedback can be provided to univsec@ mcmaster.ca prior to March 30, 2018. As an alternate avenue to participate in the conversation, we encourage students to send us their commentary on the policy.

We ask that students continue to engage with one another and actively cultivate our community.

One that is not devoid of disruption, but recognizes how essential it is for societal progress.

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, March 15, 2018

EDITORIAL

| 9

Editorial Just savour it Let the little things take centre stage

To those of you in the latter half of your undergraduate degree, what do you remember about the end of high school?

I can tell you that I don’t remember much of Grade 12.

I think I enjoyed myself a little bit, but I was also the head of three clubs, applying to university and grappling with the idea of moving away from home. I wish I could say I have a fountain of memories of lazy spring evenings or poorly-planned adventures, but most of what I remember is staying up until 2 a.m. writing essays or studying for the calculus class I was almost failing.

Maybe I’m just getting nostalgic as I inch closer to graduation (or, more realistically, panicky as I careen closer to my thesis presentation), but I wish that I had more exciting or interesting or even sappy memories about that time. And even though it feels like I don’t have time to breathe sometimes, there are some things I’m trying to keep in mind as I work through the next month and a half.

I realize how cheesy this

sounds, but I remember the end of high school and how busy I was, and how I felt like I was fumbling for whatever small memories I could catch and hold onto for the future. I forgot to have a little fun while I was there, and despite being almost as swept-off-my-feet busy now, I’m trying to not let that happen again.

It’s hard to do, but I’m trying to savour fleeting, seemingly inconsequential moments. I’m taking mental pictures of my friends laughing at ridiculous jokes. Or bottling the way the sun looks on my bedroom wall during that golden post-sunrise time. Or relishing the chilly air during a late-night walk home from an evening out.

I’m also doing my best to not blame myself for everything that happens around me. This one is tough; I am accountable for all my own actions, but I’m working to accept that there are factors that may be out of my control in so many situations.

Sometimes the rug will be yanked out from under you and, as upsetting as that is, remember that it’s not the end of the world.

I’m trying.

An old fake proverb from

Mad Magazine states: “may you do various things and may other various things happen to you”. Words to live by. And it’s hard to accept that some things are out of my hands, but I’m realizing how important that is to acknowledge.

I don’t want to remember my last year of undergrad as a messy, stressful, uncertain period. And I’ve resolved that I’m not going to. I have had so many cozy nights at my favourite lowkey bar. I’ve hosted my first dinner party (it was pancakes, but conceptually it was still a dinner party). I’ve achieved and earned rewards and opportunities I’ve worked my ass off for, and all of those experiences outweigh speedwriting a response paper or cramming for the GRE. No one other than me will remember why those events are so important on a personal level. Similarly, no one will ever wholly understand why a particular outing or person or food is worth preserving in your mind.

Remember that.

NEWS

OPINION

A&C

SPORTS

MEDIA

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

Do you have something you want to get off your chest? A pressing perspective about campus life or the community?

Is new media in Hamilton on your radar? Enjoy music, movies, arts, fashion and games?

Do you stay updated with Marauder sports? Do you have commentary to share about your favourite teams?

Interested in photography or videography? Want your art featured as the compliment to an article?

Send them an email at: news@thesil.ca

Send them an email at: opinion@thesil.ca

Send them an email at: aandc@thesil.ca

Send them an email at: sports@thesil.ca

Send them an email at: production@ thesil.ca

Weekly in-person volunteer meetings are Mondays at 4:30

Weekly in-person volunteer meetings are Mondays at 1:30

Weekly in-person volunteer meetings are Mondays at 3:30

Weekly in-person volunteer meetings are Mondays at 12:00

Weekly in-person volunteer meetings are Tuesdays at 2:30

Rachel Katz Managing Editor

@RachAlbertaKatz

to buying my silence for only $8,000 a month

to seasonal allergies

to welcoming and positive interviews

to missing a part of your finger

to the MSU Pride Community Centre

to thinking you have awkward arms

to finding out a good place to break up with people is outside the Silhouette office

to more people being broken up with outside the Silhouette office

to old friends at shows

to shmangled old friends at shows

to rides from undercover cops

to the ones that hurt you the most

to Sonic Obama

to teenage humans

to Ark + Anchor

to baby kicking

to office Footloose

to turf face

to Mac’s philosophy faculty and admin staff

to split soup

to putting mental health first

to chromatic abberation

to mandolin slices

to fake positive graffiti

10 |

HUMANS

Kyle West Photo Reporter

What kind of prejudice do you think you experience?

Being Type I diabetic, there’s less so a barrier in terms of the way people treat me. But when I’m trying to find work, sometimes when I tell people I’m Type I diabetic, I feel like they think it’ll be a burden and consider hiring someone who doesn’t have a disability.

Sometimes, I feel like I can’t do certain jobs, like standing up for very long is really rough for a diabetic because it really drains your glucose levels, and that drains so much of your energy.

What are you studying at McMaster?

I was originally coming to McMaster for environmental sciences and although anyone from business to geography to arts and sciences can and will change a world a little; I really wanted to make my studies in religion and peace studies impactful on the world because I liked seeing other religions and understanding their values.

A lot of people go into a peace studies or religion studies class because they think it’s easy or they’re going get a good mark, but it’s so much more.

Thursday, March 15, 2018 | www.thesil.ca

What else do you think McMaster has to offer?

Aside from that, McMaster also has a lot of clubs so I started learning about social justice activism, and I was fascinated by religions and their history and wanting to solve problems having a problem solver mentality. [And] at the time, I was reading this book about Palestine, specifically Gaza, about a doctor who was very top notch so he got to know many people in power and changed some of their views and the way others saw Palestinian and Muslims.

That really sparked my interest.

Could you please expand on what sparkerd your interest?

Reading these books and gaining the perspective I did in these classes was important to me. I liked how diverse the courses were, and in fact, the first course I took was called, “Islam in America” and it was cool to learn about a minority and their last 100 year of history. The course got me more interested in Islam and so I spoke to some friends at McMaster Muslim Student Association and now, I am a Muslim. It led to a huge identity change; I’ve been Muslim since 2014 now.

Being a Muslim comes with new

Josh Buzzell Religious Studies and Peace Studies III

have approached me. [And] it’s kind of tough when government officials come to your home and it’s a worry in the back of your head that someone’s going challenges; they’ll react to you differently when they find out or know that you’re Muslim.

Sometimes, I feel like some people don’t make it comfortable for me to let them know. Another thing is all the questions; from left, right and center, asking about why I pray, and stuff like that. It’s normal to me now so I don’t mind it and I think it’s also a good way to clarify things. Some of the tougher things are related to my family. Also, when something in the community happens, sometimes government officials ask other people in the community, “what do you know”, “what’s going on”. So a few times, people

“I really wanted to make my studies in Religion and Peace Studies impactful on the world because I liked seeing other religions and understanding their values.”

make something up to make you look guilty for something.

Fortunately, I haven’t done anything illegal or I don’t think I’ve done anything illegal so there’s that. But it’s just hard to have that happen to anyone I think.

But having the ability to make choices, the right choices ,and creating an impact in spaces of social justice is the most rewarding thing; learning from Hadeeth and Qur’an, this holds close to my heart.

Done in collaboration with Student Accessiblity Services 2018

Josh Buzzell facebook.com/HumansOfMcMaster

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 15, 2018

The Silhouette

| 11

Opinion Silenced mental health concerns McMaster’s mental health services are not responding students’ needs

RAZAN SAMARA / ARTS CULTURE REPORTER REEMAND SHEET / OPINION EDITOR Kamila Matysiakiewics Contributor

McMaster University boasts commitment to mental health and well-being and claims to prioritize these services for students.

But what is really happening on the front lines? What is the actual student experience of trying to access counselling services at McMaster?

Mental health services for students are inadequate at McMaster University.

When trying to get access to services on campus, students can expect to experience wait times of a couple of weeks or more between appointments.

This is unacceptable and needs to be addressed.

For the students who have the courage to come forward and seek counselling, they are prone to the possibility of being told that resources are stretched thin and that their needs can be

left unaccommodated.

There are several reasons as to why this could be the case.

A simple solution to the lack of resources and the ridiculous wait times that students experience could be as simple as hiring more counsellors to meet the need of students or introducing new specialized services to give students more direction in choosing where to invest their wait time.

Generally, when seeking an appointment, students can expect to receive a consultation appointment the same day and they are assigned a counsellor.

This is the way things should run, but this is often not the case.

The real issue comes when student requests to book regular, weekly appointments with a counsellor. The wait times between appointments are usually a few weeks.

In the life of a struggling student, there are so many

things that can happen in the span of a few weeks and the consequences of this wait time could be a detrimental to one’s health.

In order to address their concerns, the students that are coming forward and seeking help need consistent, weekly sessions to have the chance to be heard so that they can begin understanding their concerns and developing strategies and solutions for to address their

When trying to get access to services on campus, students can expect to experience wait times of a couple of weeks or more between appointments.

concerns.

In my personal experience, I sought counselling through the McMaster University Wellness Centrr. After my first appointment, I had a wait time of three weeks for the next appointment.

The day before the second appointment, I phoned the Wellness Centre to confirm the time of the appointment.

Later that same day, I received a voicemail stating that the appointment had been cancelled because the counselor was going to be away.

To think that if it had been me that cancelled the appointment in short notice, I would have been hit with a $50 fine is an upsetting reality in addition to the lack of follow up about scheduling another appointment. Given that my total time between appointments added up to five weeks, this experience was more than frustrating.

I’m not the only student

who has felt like they were slipping through the cracks of the system after having the courage to reach out and seek help. This is unacceptable at such a large, renowned educational institution like McMaster University that students and parents depend on for well-being.

Each year during the MSU presidential elections, most campaigns have some mental health platform promising to improve services and hire more counselors.

And yet, action generally ends at hash tags, buzzwords and expressing sentiments about the importance of mental health awareness.

These are important first steps and are necessary to help end the stigma surrounding mental health, but they’re not enough to directly meet the needs of students. @ReemSheet

GET YOUR FREE

Spring/Summer Employment Important Dates Special Student Discounts Workshops & Programs Mental Health Study Tips & more!

UNDERGROUND MEDIA + DESIGN UNION MARKET • MUSC 201 STUDENT SUCCESS CENTRE STUDENT WELLNESS CENTRE STUDENT ACCESSIBILITY SERVICES & LOCAL PARTICIPATING VENDORS!

McMaster Students Union’s

EVENTS CALENDAR guests must be signed in by a McMaster student. 1 guest per student. No guest list available.

Clubs Night

Thursday March 15, 2018 Where: TwelvEighty Bar & Grill Time: 8:00PM to 11:00PM 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. Ratified MSU clubs only!

St. Patricks Night

Saturday March 17, 2018 Where: TwelvEighty Bar & Grill Time: Doors open at 10:00pm Are you feeling lucky? Want to win $1000*?

MSU Campus Events and TwelvEighty Bar & Grill are excited to team up with the Student Life Network this St Patrick's Day! $5 entry before 11PM.$10 after. 19+. All

Stay Connected:

Tuesday March 20, 2018 Where: Burridge Gym Time: 4:00PM to 7:00PM 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.

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 is now open, and

/MSUMcMaster

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

@MSU_McMaster

msumcmaster.ca

OPINION

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 15, 2018

| 13

International Student Services mentorship program

A formal process to create a positive impact for McMaster international students Reem Sheet Opinion Editor

International Student Services is currently recruiting over 100 undergraduate students to be a part of a mentorship program that supports international students in their transition to the McMaster and Hamilton community.

Student mentors play an important role in creating a welcoming and inclusive community for students who need the extra support to better integrate into McMaster and Hamilton.

However, this way of bringing support for international students seems forced, almost like a course or a job might. The fact that students who are interested in mentoring and being a part of this program must apply for the role, as if it were a job, is an odd process.

According to an email that was sent by the McMaster Alumni Association to students, mentor interactions in the role would occur “through email, by phone, on social media and in-person beginning in June 2018 and ending in April 2019”.

In addition, all volunteers would be expected to attend an in-person orientation and complete mandatory online training for the position.

Volunteers would also be expected to attend a few monthly mentorship events, where they would have an opportunity to connect with other mentors and international students faceto-face.

Student mentors play an important role in creating a welcoming and inclusive community for students who need the extra support to better integrate into McMaster and Hamilton.

The position is available on OSCARplus and is considered a volunteer position that you would apply for. Although it is a volunteer position, the role has a process that seems a bit too formal for a program that is meant to help International students make friends and feel more comfortable at McMaster.

The main goal in running this program would be to help make a fellow student’s transition to McMaster a memorable one, though the process of qualifying for the role seems a little too formal to be accepted as a mere social relationship that is meant to be enjoyable and genuine.

I’m sure that if students wanted to help themselves get a better sense of the community, they would have paid for a tour to get a similarly formal and so-

cially disconnected experience.

Given that that the incentive for applying would be to “make a positive impact on a student’s experience”, there could have been a more effective way of achieving the same goal and helping benefit students for volunteers who may be interested in applying for this position.

The fact that students who are interested in mentoring and being a part of this program must apply for the role, as if it were a job, is an odd process.

Though both the mentor and mentee would benefit in one way or another, the requirements and expectations on the mentor’s ends seem a bit forced and could have an effect on the mentee where they may feel like the mentor is only putting in the effort to meet the requirements of the mentor position.

This just puts both parties in an awkward position, whereas, if the position was merely a volunteer position that students would sign up as if they were volunteering for a club event, the experience may feel more genuine for all participants.

I am not saying that finding ways to help international students at McMaster integrate and create connection is a bad idea.

This program has all the right purposes and intents.

However, the same purposes can

be achieved simply by having a space for students to connect with other students or running events that would integrate both international students and other undergraduate students that are more familiar with the McMaster and Hamilton community.

Though the purpose of the ISS mentorship program is important and beneficial, the process could be seen as unnecessary for a program that focuses on having a positive impact on a student’s university experience.

@ReemSheet

RAZAN SAMARA / ARTS AND CULTURE REPORTER

MAC BREAD BIN

Food Collective Centre MONDAY TO THURSDAY 11:30AM TO 3:30PM REFECTORY BUILDING Community Space below Bridges Cafe Visit msumcmaster.ca/macbreadbin MACBreadBin

T LI

FE ENHANCEME

NT

ND

STU

EN

macbreadbin

FU

D

MSUMACBreadBin

Start your own summer business. Get hands-on training, mentoring, and awards up to $3,000.

WORK FOR OSS THE BEST B EVER.

Find out how at: Ontario.ca/SummerCompany or 1-888-576-4444.

Summer Company #SummerCompany

OPINION

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 15, 2018

| 15

The purpose of protest on campus McMaster’s proposed guidelines on freedom of expression fail to recognize the importance of students’ and workers’ right to dissent

GRANT HOLT / PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Jo Cenaiko Contributor

This article is written on behalf of the Socialist Fightback Students club regarding McMaster University’s recently released documents on freedom of expression. Socialist Fightback Students defends the rights of students to form collective actions, freely express their political opinions and protest those who spread hateful messages.

In the document by McMaster’s ad hoc committee on protest and freedom of expression, censorship against students is described as “not an option” for the university. However, nowhere in these documents is there any mention of the disruptive role that the university has played in censoring the free speech of students. At the heart of the matter, this omission shows the bad faith that these anti-disruption guidelines were written in.

Events put on by the Fightback Students club have been disrupted by the university. The administration has sent security surveillance, kicked people out of these events and threatened community members with trespassing charges. It’s not just our club; the administration has harassed students who have fought against racism, the smoking ban

and other issues affecting the everyday lives of students.

The ad hoc committee recommends that the university should not limit any speech that is not illegal, even if it is considered “offensive and odious.” Yet the guidelines for protests document argues for the limiting of freedom of expression when the organization of students and community members threatens the privileged position of the administration.

The guidelines document goes into great detail on what kinds of actions are too disruptive for the functioning of the university. They do not ensure students are able to use their free speech for political expression, protest, or collective action. Instead, the goal is to limit protest to what the administration finds acceptable. As a result, there is

The administration knows that the mass movement of students and workers would challenge the very foundation of their positions.

no criticism of the University itself.

Patrick Deane has a salary of $387,287.20 in salary earnings and $22,999.76 in benefits.

Other high-level administrators have similar earnings. These exorbitant salaries and benefits are built on the backs of students paying ever-increasing tuition rates and an army of precarious workers being paid lower and lower wages.

Recently we have seen movements against these top-level bureaucrats. The Ontario College workers held a strike earlier this year for better wages and conditions. CUPE 3903 is on strike as this is being written and across Ontario there is a growing student movement for free education.

The administration knows that the mass movement of students and workers would challenge the very foundation of their positions. The anti-disruption document shows that the goal of the administration is not to ensure free speech. They do not address the policies that have led to a climate of censorship on campus that has taken the form of racial and political profiling. Neither of these documents scrutinized the university’s censorship and disruption.

Instead, students face the brunt of the university adminis-

tration’s’ efforts to strengthen its power. But we should not expect the university to present a fair document to us. An unelected, unaccountable bureaucracy cannot stand for the interests of students. To truly represent the interests of students the president, security and all leading administrators would democratically have elected by and accountable to the students, faculty and staff of the university.

To achieve this goal, it will be necessary to build a different system of university. Students need a university system that democratically serves the interest of students.

We need mass action through student and worker strikes. The administration is taking a stand against any speech that will impede on the “regular academic and administrative business of the University”. As the CUPE 3903 and Quebec Student strikes show, this is inherent in the fight for a more equitable university system.

We should not feel helpless or detached in the face of these types of policies. They affect all of us, but we can face them if we organize together. Democratic control by students and workers is not going to occur without us organizing towards a student strike.

The need to organize will

Democratic control by students and workers is not going to occur without us organizing towards a student strike. only increase. Students face poor employment opportunities, rising tuition costs, rising living costs and austerity measures from all levels of government.

The situation for students and workers is increasingly desperate. Not organizing is not an option.

Yet the policies and guidelines put forward in the anti-disruption guidelines are meant to ensure that student and worker organizing does not challenge the administration. Under the guise of protecting freedom of expression, student and worker rights are threatened. But the need for genuine democracy and free education remains and students and workers will have no choice but to organize. @theSilhouette

JOIN US AT

A FANTASTIC NEW VENUE SERVING GREAT COFFEE & CRÃ&#x160;PES

FIND US BESIDE TWELVEIGHT Y BAR & GRILL FOLLOW US @MSU_THEGRIND

The Silhouette | 17

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 15, 2018

Arts & Culture Terra Lightfoot’s finally home Terra Lightfoot performs newest album with HPO Strings at McMaster’s LIVELab

C/O Dustin Rabin

RachelSamara Katz Razan Managing Editor A&C Reporter

Terra Lightfoot, the Juno-nominated singer-songwriter and Sonic Unyon recording artist, has finally made her first stop in Hamilton since the New Mistakes tour began.

Lightfoot has been playing shows nearly every night for the past three weeks.

From kicking off her tour in Kansas City, Missouri to selling out a show in Winnipeg, Manitoba and playing in four different cities in British Columbia, she’s had one epic performance after the other.

Long-time fans quickly filled both sold-out shows at the McMaster LIVELab on March 9 and 10, waiting for Lightfoot’s highly anticipated performance with the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra Strings in her adopted hometown.

Before music took over Lightfoot’s life, she was an Anthropology and Peace Studies student at McMaster for four years before deciding to start playing music for a living.

“It gets really easy once

you’re doing music for your career to become so absorbed in it that you don’t know who you are as a person anymore. But I do other things, like I hike a lot, do yoga and other things to keep me entertained,” explained Lightfoot.

“But music definitely is a part of every fiber of my being.”

Lightfoot has come a long way since first learning to play “Hells Bells” by AC/DC on the guitar at 12 years old and debuting her self-titled album in 2011.

New Mistakes draws on her unforgettable experiences on the road, telling stories with powerful vocals alongside feet-stomping rhythms of rock, soul and blues.

“Traveling for me is very inspiring. I get a lot of inspiration from the landscapes that we get to see and the cities,” explained Lightfoot.

“I do a lot of hiking when we’re away so nature’s super inspiring for me too. Getting to see the different flora and fauna all over the world, that’s the most exciting thing.”

Long night drives along

the highway until finally pulling over in White River, seeing a blanket of stars over Dakota, drinking champagne in Paris and a sudden chill felt in Berlin have all inspired the lyrics behind some of Lightfoot’s acclaimed tracks.

Constantly travelling has also influenced the way Lightfoot lives her life.

She’s become a more relaxed person since coming to the realization that she can’t control everything around her, rather she lets the road dictate her journey.

Lightfoot’s approach to life is carefree and spontaneous, very much the same way she approaches music.

“I pay attention to the first idea that I get and try and honour it as much as I can. I work with it until I don’t know what’s going on anymore…. Sometimes, I just play it for the first time and it just happens, it just clicks,” explained Lightfoot. “‘Like ‘Ruthless’ is a song on the new record that I wrote in about eight minutes…. And that happens sometimes and it’s beautiful when it does, but it

doesn’t always happen that way.

So it’s something you have to practice at like anything else.”

“Norma Gale”, another new song on New Mistakes, is a track that has been in the works for years.

It first started off as a country song telling the story of famous musician in the 70s that Lightfoot had met and connected with, but the tune changed to incorporate electronic drums over the course of two years.

New Mistakes, which has received a Juno nomination for Adult Alternative Album of the Year, is an album Lightfoot is particularly proud of as it serves to empower women.

“Traveling for me is very inspiring.

I get a lot of inspiration from the landscapes that we get to see and the cities.”

Terra Lightfoot Musician

The people Lightfoot chose to work with on the record strongly support her taking charge of her own music in every step of a song’s development.

“When people listen to this record they can hear a woman in power. That’s not often something we get to listen to because it’s a male-dominated industry.”

Lightfoot was taking a break from rehearsal when we met, she was wearing an “I’m the worst” t-shirt and fuzzy socks, a nod towards her contagious easy-going attitude.

The shirt was an ironic choice given the fact that her music has been making many successful strives this year.

Lightfoot will be making her way back to British Columbia next week to play some shows with different musicians, sing a few songs with Jim Cuddy and of course get to be among all the best musicians in the country at the Juno Awards in Vancouver on March 24. @theSilhouette

A little olive oil 18 |

A&C

never hurt

Embracing my love-hate relationship with cooking Razan Samara A&C Reporter

As a child I often lingered around the outskirts of my family home’s tiny kitchen, careful not to exceed the imaginary boundaries my mother had defined. I watched quietly as she bustled in the kitchen, chopping and stirring ingredients for several dishes at once, in what seemed like a random and complicated series of motions.

As I grew older, my mother lifted her boundaries and invited me into her space. She tried to teach me, but it didn’t take long for me to come to the realization that I simply wasn’t good at cooking.

My mother never strictly adhered to recipes but our dinner table was graced with delicious dishes, whereas I relentlessly relied on calculated measurements and somehow managed to make pasta barely edible.

I never explored with ingredients or improvised, partly due to my inability to reach the spice shelf for most of my life, but mostly because I was stubborn. I had to learn to try new things, make mistakes, follow some rules and mix others up to finally make a dish I was proud of.

Along the way I also learned to embrace my heritage and native land. I often find myself adding olive oil to everything, a nod towards the olive trees that make up Palestine’s landscapes and my grandmother’s homemade extractions.

Every recipe I am sharing is inspired by my mother’s traditional cooking, with my own twists to make them easier to prepare and incorporate the kinds of flavours I love. I encourage you to try one out, improvise and make it your own.

Thursday, March 15, 2018 | www.thesil.ca

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 15, 2018

Manakish

I like to call this a Middle Eastern pizza that can be enjoyed at any point in the day.

Thyme Manakish 1. Preheat oven to 270 °C. 2. Place naan on a baking tray

(go for a plain and thick tandoor or clay oven baked bread).

3. Put two tablespoons of

thyme in a bowl and mix in just enough olive oil so that the mixture is a paste-like consistency.

4. Spread it over the naan.

5. Dice tomatoes and add to

Jalapeño Monterey Jack Manakish 1. Preheat oven to 270 °C. 2. Place naan on tray.

3. Thinly slice or grate enough jalapeño monterey jack cheese to cover the naan entirely.

This Isn’t Your Typical Meatballs Recipe

A&C

| 19

This dish is inspired by my mother’s ‘Kebab Hindi’ recipe. It’s a meatball and tomato sauce dish that can be served over rice or bread.

1. Place ½ pound of lean

ground beef in a bowl and add ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, ¼ teaspoon allspice.

2. Get in there

4. Broil for two min-

and mix

utes or until naan turns golden.

4. Add ½ cup vegetable or corn

oil to a skillet and let it warm up on medium heat.

5. Thinly slice ½ cup of onions, ¼ green peppers, and peel and dice 1/3 cup of tomatoes.

6. Sauté onions for five minutes in the skillet.

7. Add the meatballs and con-

tinue sautéing them until the red meat turns light brown.

the naan.

8. Add diced tomatoes and

6. If you have akkawi cheese

slices peppers.

(white brine cheese), you can dice that up and add it too for some traditional flair but this cheese is hard to come by.

9. Add ¼ tomato paste to about 30 mL of water and mix well. the meat and spices with your hands.

7. Broil for two minutes

or until naan turns golden.

3. Make little meat-

balls, but try to elongate them into a more “torpedo-shape”.

Ground Beef Manakish 1. Preheat oven to 270 °C. 2. Place naan on tray.

3. Finely chop ¼ of a large red

onion, ¼ of a tomato, ¼ of green pepper and 1/5 cup of fresh parsley leaves.

4. In a bowl, break apart ¼ lb of ground beef (no fat).

5. Add ½ teaspoon of salt, a

dash of black pepper, cumin, paprika, coriander, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, cardamom and cayenne pepper to the meat.

Feel free to substitute or skip spices to taste.

6. Add finely chopped vegetables to the beef and mix thoroughly.

11. Add salt, black pepper and crushed red pepper to taste.

12. When the sauce comes to

a boil, reduce heat to low, cover skillet and cook for an additional half hour.

A salad that’s high in protein, flavourful and easy to improvise with.

1. Wash a cup of spinach leaves well and dry them with paper towel.

2. Rinse out 1/3 of a 540 mL jar of canned chickpeas and place in a bowl.

3. Jalapeño kick: Super fine-

3. Zesty cumin: Add one

4. Add fresh lemon juice and

4. Add in spinach leaves, salt

ly chop a fresh jalapeño pepper and two small cloves of garlic and place in them in a small bowl.

mix into jalapeño-garlic until it’s a liquid consistency.

5. Add the jalapeño-garlic

7. Spread a thin layer of the 8. Bake for 10 minutes or until

olive oil to the bowl and mix.

naan turns golden.

over everything in the skillet.

Spinach & Chickpea Salad

sauce to the bowl of chickpeas, mix until dressing is evenly distributed.

beef mix on the naan.

10. Pour tomato sauce evenly

teaspoon of cumin, a sprinkle of lemon-pepper spice and two tablespoons of fresh lemon juice to the chickpeas and mix. and olive oil to the bowl and mix.

@theSilhouette

6. Add spinach leaves, salt and

RAZAN SAMARA / A&C REPORTER

20 |

A&C

Thursday, March 15, 2018 | www.thesil.ca

Wynne-ing over Hamilton

Local designer uses her craft to create beautiful and comfortable pieces of lingerie

Rachel Katz Managing Editor

The story of the Hamilton startup business is familiar at this point; an innovative, usually young person finds a gap in current available technology, urban planning or philanthropy, fills the void and makes a name for themselves in the city.

Rosalie Loney’s trajectory is different. She moved from the Guelph area to Hamilton with her husband and then threeyear-old daughter about two years ago. Loney had a background in theatre and costume design, and was looking to start a business where she could use her creative skills from home.

Inspiration struck when Loney realized that her new neighbourhood was home to a bra-making supply store, right in the middle of the Ottawa Street textile district. Bra-makers Supply, owned by Beverly Johnson, is one of the few shops that caters specifically to the lingerie-designing and making market, and over the past 20 years, the shop has enjoyed international renown.

“I discovered all the cool materials and thought I could maybe make bralettes,” said Loney. “They’re really simple and comfortable so I tried making a few. And it took me a while to perfect the design, but when I finally [did] and I was wearing

it, I was like, ‘oh my goodness this is so comfortable. I don’t want to wear anything else’.”

Armed with lace, elastic and a finely tuned set of measurements, Loney started her company, Rosalie Wynne.

Loney draws much of her inspiration from her own experiences shopping for lingerie.

“I have so many memories of shopping for bras,” she said. “Even like, as a teenager, shopping for bras with my mom and… going to La Senza and feeling like [I] must have been the weirdest shape because nothing ever, ever fit.”

When Loney launched Rosalie Wynne, she took her time becoming well-versed in

bra sizing and the typical issues people experience with mainstream companies. Typically, bralettes are sized extra small to extra large, with each cup size matching its band size. It is difficult to find a bralette with a small band but, say, an extra large cup.

Loney herself experienced this problem and used her business to create her own solution. Over the course of eight months, she developed dozens of different cup and band sizes and combinations to ensure that anyone can find the right fit.

“Part of the problem is that when you’re selling bras retail, from a profit side of things you can’t have such a huge range of sizes,” Loney explained. “It’s extremely costly to actually stock that many sizes. And some of them may never sell so that you’ve got inventory that’s dated and you can’t do anything with it.”

To combat the issue of dead stock, Loney has adopted a labour-intensive but economic solution: she still makes every item by hand, to order.

“That way… people can get the right size but I don’t have to stock all of it, I just stock all my components,” she said. “So I can just take that band size and that cup size and put them all together and that doesn’t take too much time anymore.”

Loney’s one-woman show has caught the attention of

Hamilton’s entrepreneur scene.

She is currently enrolled in the city’s Starter Company Plus program, which offers education in all areas of owning an independent business. Loney sees the opportunity as a worthwhile way to strengthen the fundamentals of Rosalie Wynne.

“I finished my business plan and submitted it [at the beginning of March]. It was incredibly helpful to write everything down in such a structured way. I feel much more confident in what I’m doing and I also saw some areas where I needed to become more focused and clear.”

In the near future, Loney hopes to simplify her online ordering process, where the majority of her business is centred.

Limited sizing is available at Hamilton boutique White Elephant, but she aims to include at least one bralette in each cup and band size she stocks.

This way, shoppers can find the perfect combination, even if the store does not have the right two sizes together.

Ultimately, Loney has two goals for each item she sews: comfort and beauty.

“I really want women to feel empowered, to be comfortable and confident in their own bodies and to know that you can be super comfortable in your unique shape, whatever it is, and you can also look gorgeous.”

While Loney sees her business continuing as an independent enterprise for the time being, she has big dreams for Rosalie Wynne.

“In the next few years I’d love to grow my company into a small team here in Hamilton that continues to manufacture everything in house,” she said.

Rosalie Loney has, in her own way, carved a niche for herself in Hamilton. She has found her perfect fit, and continues to help others do the same. @RachAlbertaKatz

C/O Steph Martyniuk Style Group

Loney’s offerings include nursing bralettes.

A&C

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 15, 2018

| 21

An ode to Taro On the Silhouette staff’s relationship with our one of our favourite campus food vendors Daniel Arauz A&C Editor

It’s a familiar lunch-time scene in the Silhouette office. Someone walks in with a white, Styrofoam take-out container, plops down on the couch and before they can even open their lunch, someone will always ask, “butter chicken or shawarma?”

It should come as no surprise that the student newspaper staff, damned to the student centre basement, rely on the neighbouring halal food and bubble tea shop, Taro.

Their prices are reasonable, the portions are generous and they make sure that we can avoid the crowded lines of La Piazza above.

Nestled between the Student Wellness and Education Lower Lounge and the CFMU office, Taro has been keeping the Silhouette staff fed with hearty plates of butter chicken, shawarma, vegetable curry, lentil soup, crispy samosas and addictive Jamaican patties.

Now Taro is such a staple part of my own campus food experience, my memories of its absence are hazy. I have no idea what that space was before Taro.

Was that slot machine always there? Was it part of the old student centre arcade and game room? I think it was empty in my first year but I can’t be sure.

The only thing I clearly remember during Taro’s first few days was entering the office for the first with container filled with piping hot butter chicken and a bubble tea shortly after the shop opened. I remember the staff tradition of communal patty-runs starting and people relieved to know that even if they forgot their lunch on a busy afternoon, a filling meal wasn’t too far.

This year, if you owe Tim a couple of bucks, he will ask that you buy him a patty instead.

When Rachel forgets to bring

something to dip into her hummus, she’ll quickly grab a piece of naan. On long production days, I can throw back their strawberry, banana and blueberry protein shake in five minutes.

One of the Arts & Culture section’s goals was to make consistent food coverage a central part of the section. Whether that be exciting new restaurants or some under-discussed staples that can be found throughout the city, and that we genuinely provide readers with a great experience for a range of budgets.

But after all, we are students.

We have a full day of class to attend, often multiple jobs to work at, there isn’t always time in the day to bus to a new restaurant. That, if anything, unites our collective experience with food at the Silhouette’s office.

We love food, we love exchanging recipes and making plans to grab lunch or dinner together, but finishing the newspaper has to come first. Catching up on our studies often comes next. The office this year

GRANT HOLT / PRODUCTION COORDINATOR

I remember the staff tradition of communal patty-runs starting and people relieved to know that even if they forgot their lunch on a busy afternoon, a filling meal wasn’t too far. shares baked goods and snack foods every other week, and this is partially because it is easier to make time to do something

you love when you can share the results with others.

In a similar fashion, acknowledging this shared experience with the halal and bubble tea shop down the hall does this too. Not because it is an act that we do for each other, but acknowledging the staff ’s shared experience with Taro reinforces how much we can bond over a trivial relationship with campus food. Even if just amounts to in-jokes on the surface, being familiar with your cohorts go-to orders, speculating over recipe changes and buying each other an occasional snack just exemplifies how much we look to food to be a source of common ground.

While we often have to put our dinner plans together on hold, the Silhouette will always

have this. I have a feeling that even five years from now, the staff of the future will still be laughing over their take-out from Taro. @DanielArauzz

22 |

GAMES

Thursday, March 15, 2018 | www.thesil.ca Puzzle 1 (Medium, difficulty rating 0.47)

1

6 5

3

6 8 4

4

6

3

2

6

6 5

1

3 7

9 1

7

9

3 8

3

8

7

2

2

6

3

8

Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku on Wed Mar 14 22:14:17 2018 GMT. Enjoy!

Puzzle 2 (Hard, difficulty rating 0.61)

1 4

3 7

7

1. Capable of being saturated 10. Gulf 15. Verve 16. Squashy 17. Pertaining to lymph 18. Peruvian peaks 19. Mischievous fairy 20. Hawaiian state birds 22. Tolkien creature 23. Linguist Chomsky 25. Benefits derived from wealth 28. “Gunsmoke” star 31. Academic session 33. Large beer mug

5

2

Across 34. Like Erica vulgaris on the moors?

35. Withstands 37. Distribute 41. Elevated 46. Inhabitant of Oahu, Mindanao or Java 47. Bring into harmony 48. Evening party 49. Recipe amt.

50. High mountain 51. Fads 56. Big ____ 57. Visible exhalation 60. Card game for one

63. Alamogordo’s county 64. Cromwell’s cavalry 65. Like cake slices 66. Limp

4 7

6

1

3

3 8

Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku on Wed Mar 14 22:14:17 2018 GMT. Enjoy!

Puzzle 3 (Medium, difficulty rating 0.46)

6

1

Down

3 21. Large island of Indonesia 24. Club ____ 26. Attacks 27. Volcanic output 29. Unruffled 30. Thin 31. Less outgoing 32. Some M.I.T. grads 36. Dallas-to-Houston dir.

37. Disown 38. Set apart 39. Slid 40. Links standard 42. Addams Family cousin 43. Abate

5

6

5

1. Steinbeck’s birthplace 2. You don’t bring me flowers ____ 3. Kettledrums 4. Strike caller 5. Fan sound 6. ____ all-time high 7. Light meal 8. Cut of meat 9. Suffix with exist 10. No. cruncher 11. Attila, e.g.

12. Cooked but still firm 13. Trysail 14. Puzzle

7

3 7

6

4

8

8 5

8 1

1

8

4

2

44. Guarantees 45. Make blue?

52. Sale sign 53. Trail mix 54. “The Time Machine” race 55. ____ Fein 58. Assn.

59. Siegfried’s partner 61. Lao-____ 62. Distress

1

8 8

8

1

9

2 5

3 5

4 5

2

9

3 4

3

9

7

2 9

1 8

8

6

Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku on Wed Mar 14 22:14:17 2018 GMT. Enjoy!

6

The Silhouette

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 15, 2018

| 23

Sports Onwards and upwards

The men’s volleyball team reflects on a record-breaking OUA weekend and looks to secure national glory one set at a time Ryan Tse Contributor

Marauders fans filling Burridge Gym on the March 10 weekend barely got their money’s worth — not that they were complaining. After an early scare dropping the first set to Windsor, the Marauders wasted no time in establishing their dominance by winning the next three sets.

They then commanded the finals on Saturday, winning in straight sets over Queen’s.

In doing so, McMaster captured an Ontario University Athletics record-breaking sixthstraight title. It’s not supposed to be easy to make history, but the team made it look that way with their quick work of the Lancers and Rams.

Coach Dave Preston was happy with his team’s performance and how they were able to execute the game plan.

“That first set was more about Windsor than us,” Preston said. “They were amazing. So we kind of weathered the storm.

We knew that they were going to be good. In the second set, I thought we did a really good job of responding and waiting for our opportunity to capitalize.”

“I thought we played defence pretty well all weekend,” Preston added. “Even against Queen’s in the final, I thought our block was real good, our defense was real good and our serving strategy worked. I think we executed pretty well. Overall, I was pretty pleased.”

However, the path to becoming the top team in Ontario was not always smooth.

Fourth-year outside-hitter and OUA Player of the Year Andrew Richards admitted that he was not sure what this team would look like coming into the season, especially with the departure of key players last year like Danny Demyanenko and Andrew Kokur.

“There was a little bit of a question mark earlier in the season as to what kind of team

we would be or if we could live up to what we had done in past years,” said Richards. “But our older guys and even some of the younger guys have stepped up big and filled those roles. We opened up the season with a loss, so right from the beginning we had a bit of a wake-up call and we learned some valuable lessons that teams are going to bring their best stuff when they face us. So if we’re not prepared or if we’re not 100 per cent engaged, it’s not going to go our way just because we think it should.”

Without some familiar faces leading the way, this year provided ample opportunity for young players to blossom. In particular, Preston mentioned the emergence of all-rookie middle hitter Bennett Swan, second-year libero Jordan Pereira and sophomore setter David Doty. Doty leads the charge as setter, masterfully organizing the potent Marauders offence.

“As leaders, our leadership council has been outstanding,” said Preston. “But it’s not always about leadership, sometimes it’s about fellowship. Leaders are only as good as the willingness of people to follow. Our other guys are very willing to step in line and do what is necessary.

I’m proud not just of our leaders, but also our younger guys who have stepped up in big roles this year.”

One pivotal moment that gave the Marauders a special boost was a loss to Western in the second-last game of the regular season, which provided an opportunity for the team to refocus and get back to basics.

“Near the end of our season, there were a couple weeks where we were squeaking out wins just by a little bit, and then finally, we lost to Western in our own gym,” said Richards. “That was kind of the last straw. We realized that how we had been playing isn’t really good enough for where we wanted to get to.”

What becomes apparent

KYLE WEST / PHOTO REPORTER

as you speak to the Marauders is how mentally composed the team is, never looking too far ahead or letting any semblance of arrogance or distraction infiltrate the locker room. The team always remains focused just on the game immediately ahead of them, stepping over one stone at a time to achieve their longterm goals.

“Dave’s not concerned with the outcome,” Doty said. “He’s just concerned with how the outcome was executed.”

Both Doty and Richards credit the team’s winning mindset in large part to Preston’s guidance.

Preston’s been on the Marauders’ sideline for 16 years and was awarded Coach of the Year for the fourth time this year. An interesting insight into Preston’s mentality is that he always wants to keep the team grounded so that they are not caught up in long-term championship goals or breaking records. “[Six straight OUA championships] didn’t come up all season, not once. It wasn’t in our language. It wasn’t in our conversations. We talked about it after that match and said, ‘That’s kinda neat.’ But some of these guys have only been here a year, so six means nothing to them,” said Preston. “It’s my job to simplify this as much as I can.

It’s a nice thing to talk about on a Monday afternoon, but the truth is before the games we’re

talking x’s and o’s and how we want to maintain a composure, not how we’re trying to rewrite the history book.”

Another factor that makes him successful is how much he cares for the players, not just as players, but also as men and students. Preston views his role, especially for today’s athlete, as one where he is “facilitating opportunity”.

“They’re self-motivated, self-directed athletes,” said Preston. “They don’t need me screaming and yelling at them.

What they need is someone in front of them who’s showing them the way and telling them how we can do things a little bit better.”

All of Preston’s work in developing the talent of this Marauders squad has put them in a great position to chase down more history this weekend, as they vie for McMaster’s first U Sports national championship.

While the Marauders finished with a bronze medal last year at nationals, this year comes with a new team with fresh faces and another chance at glory.

What makes this weekend even more special is that the championship will be hosted

by Mac for the second time in the past three years. The players know it will be special to compete in front of their home fans.

“We have the greatest advantage we could ask for in

playing at home,” said Richards.

“Now it’s about competing hard, enjoying ourselves and trusting all the hard work we’ve put in.

We know that these next couple of days will be some of the best memories of our lives so we’re really just gonna soak it all in and leave it out on the floor.

We’ve taken care of the OUA so many times, but I think we’re all ready to win the big one, so this is a good year to do it.”

No matter what happens, it is undeniable this season has been a high-flying, successful journey for the Marauders.

“This year we’ve really, really meshed well and I think the team culture has been good,” Richards added. “We don’t have to prove anything to anyone, we kind of do it for ourselves and do it because we enjoy the game and enjoy playing with each other. It’s been a really enjoyable season, and the guys have had a great time along the way.”

For now though, reflection can wait. It’s all about U Sports and the challenge awaiting them this weekend. There’s no doubt the team has the tools to win the championship. Now it’s time to see if they can execute at Burridge Gym and step into the spotlight on the national stage as Canada’s best. @theSilhouette

24 |

Thursday, March 15, 2018 | www.thesil.ca

SPORTS

Sneakerhead

McMaster guard Jacob Edwards shares his passion for collecting sneakers and the highlights of his first year with the Mac basketball program Jessica Carmichael Sports Reporter

Sneakerhead culture first began in the United States in the 1980s thanks to basketball — specifically the emergence of hip-hop music and Michael Jordan’s shoe line. Today it is a worldwide movement where people who love sneakers will spend time, money and effort expressing themselves through the soles on their feet.

One student at McMaster who embraces this lifestyle to the fullest is sneakerhead and first-year player on the McMaster men’s basketball team Jacob Edwards. Edwards has been collecting shoes for several years, and now has about 60 pairs.

“Ever since I started playing basketball I fell in love with the look of Jordans,” said Edwards.

As he grew up, every birthday and Christmas he would request Jordans and slowly but surely his passion for sneakers really began to take off.

But it was the release of the Air Jordan 11 “Gamma Blue” when he was in the ninth grade that really got him involved in

the world of sneakers.

“I wanted my first real pair of retro Jordans,” said Edwards.

“I went to Toronto at five in the morning even though the store opened at nine, and there was a line up of 200 plus people.”

Edwards was lucky enough to get the shoe, getting a size bigger than what he was wearing at the time so that he could still wear them today.

For Edwards, getting these Jordans was more than being in style and staying up to date with the hottest trends. They were a way to express who he was.

Attending high school St. Andrew’s College, an all-boys private school that required students to wear uniforms, his shoes were one of the ways he showed his individuality.

“Even if the majority of people don’t like a certain shoe and I do, that does not stop me from wanting to wear them,” said Edwards.

Inspired by National Basketball Association players like Russell Westbrook and Kelly Oubre Jr., he allows his style to match his personality.

After high school, Edwards was recruited to

McMaster due to his top scoring ability, but due to a foot injury during a charity game at the beginning of the year, Edwards has spent his rookie season watching from the sidelines.

“Honestly going through this whole injury has been mentally one of the hardest years of my life,” said Edwards.

“Not getting to experience any of the frosh week and first-year experience and play basketball has been really hard for me. But through it all, my mom has been by my side.”

After being in a cast for a month he was still not seeing any improvements, so he went to the hospital and it showed that the bone was still partially cracked. He was then advised to

have surgery, which he underwent in December, and has been recovering well ever since.

“It’s definitely a beauty in the struggle because it’s totally changed my mentality towards basketball,” said Edwards. “I’m so hungry to get back on the court and it’s just motivated me that much more.”

Although Edwards was not able to excel on the court due to his injury, he did not let a walking boot stop him from rocking what he loves.

“My mindset was if I’m going to be on crutches and I’m going to be in a cast instead of letting the disappointment from not being able to play get to me I’m going to still do what I love by rocking sweet kicks, even if it just one shoe,” Edwards added.

Although many people do not understand the culture of the sneaker world, to Edwards it is just like any other hobby.

“Everyone has different passions, mine is collecting shoes,” said Edwards. “For me, wearing nice shoes completes the outfit.”

As Edwards gets older he is starting to see that there are more to the sneaker world than just Jordans.

When he was younger he leaned towards basketball shoes, but now he appreciates the versatility of having all kinds of good shoes.

“I wanted to expand to dress shoes, Adidas and some Under Armour,” said Edwards.

“True sneakerheads are versatile and can switch their game up from brand to brand.”

The sneaker culture may not be for everyone. The high costs and the crazy designs take a unique person to appreciate, but for Edwards and other sneakerheads, it is a way of life.

@jaaycarmichael

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 15, 2018

SPORTS | 25

AVERAGE SPENT: $150-$200

MAX SPENT: $900

FAVOURITE SHOE: NIKE AIR VAPORMAX FLYKNIT

TIMOTHY LAW / PRODUCTION COORDINATOR

MSU CAMPUS EVENTS & FYC PRESENT TWELVEIGHTY NIGHTLIFE

All ages HIP-HOP & TRAP, TOP 40, LATIN, EDM, DANCEHALL & SOCA FEATURING DJ FREQUENCY X | DOORS: 10:00PM

THURS, MARCH 22 ADVANCED TICKETS: TIER 1 - $5 • TIER 2 - $10 • DOORS - $10 McMASTER STUDENTS CAN SIGN IN 1 GUEST

TWELVEIGHTY

SPORTS

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 15, 2018

| 27

The final set The Marauders ended a strong run just short of OUA gold in the Quigley Cup Playoffs, but have a solid program built for future success

Middle Hailey Kranics is one of many returning Marauders who will look to raise the banner next season.

C/O RICK ZAZULAK Griffin Marsh Contributor

The Quigley Cup Playoffs, the Ontario University Athletics’ women’s volleyball championship tournament, came to a close. Unfortunately, it ended with the Marauder women being awarded silver.

McMaster lost the final on March 10 to the Ryerson Rams in four sets. McMaster took the first thrilling set 29-27, but lost the next three in a dominant Rams performance.

For Ryerson, this capped off a spectacular season as they finished with a perfect record through the regular season and playoffs.

For McMaster, momentum was not in their favour and an otherwise strong season ended in frustration.

During the Quigley Cup, McMaster got production from all across their lineup including notable performances from Rachel Woock and Aleks Arsovic.

They each contributed 11 and 15 kills, respectively.

McMaster’s stellar middle pairing of Hailey Kranics and Maicee Sorenson were somewhat muted from their usual expectations, but still managed to combine for 16 points.

One half of the team’s solid middle, Sorenson, was recognized as the OUA West Division Player of the Year at the conclusion of the regular season, capping off an excellent campaign. Sorenson finished in the top 20 for OUA players for both kills and blocks, and was a key piece of the McMaster attack all season long.

Ryerson had been and was always going to be a challenging opponent for the Marauders.

The Rams were one of two teams to hand McMaster losses this season, and head coach Tim Louks always saw their potential throughout their season.

Coach Louks was also quick to tip his cap to the program Ryerson created prior to their Quigley Cup Championship, saying they were young and that he expected to see them in contention for seasons to come.

While McMaster finished the OUA playoffs with a loss, it should be noted that they survived a fierce five-set victory on Friday night against the University of Toronto Varsity Blues.

That was a game where Sorenson and Kranics showed off their all-star form, combining for 25 kills and 32.5 points. This was more in line with the sort of performance you would expect

from them, as both have been workhorses for the Marauders’ style of play.

Against the Varsity Blues, consistency was king, as McMaster outlasted Toronto through pure offensive efficiency.

This is also what unfortunately gave Ryerson an advantage in the following round. The consistency left the Marauders’ rotation and Ryerson took advantage when they saw the opportunity.

Ryerson executed a thorough game plan, managing to limit the big names for McMaster. This notably included Jill Eisenhauer, who has been a consistent and versatile force for the Marauder offence all year.

Eisenhauer had seven kills and a .312 efficiency in the Toronto game, putting forth a dominant performance. Against Ryerson however, she was held to three kills with a -.077 efficiency. Ryerson clearly watched the tape and knew where to focus their energy.

While there was contribution throughout the lineup against the Rams, a reality that coach Louks took pride in throughout the season, the stifling of Eisenhauer, Sorenson and Kranics presented an uphill

battle that McMaster could not ultimately overcome.

Even with a frustrating end to the season, the future looks bright for the Marauders. McMaster is blessed with a balance of experience and depth throughout their roster. While they will lose a few key pieces due to graduation, these gaps are waiting to be filled by a young lineup.

McMaster is a perennial contender: champions last year, runnersup today and are patiently awaiting for more opportunities to come.

Carly Health, Joanna Jedrzejewska, Caitlin Genovy and the previously mentioned Sorenson will be heading onto bright futures beyond the friendly confines of the McMaster campus. While the graduating players will be sorely missed, when asked about these keys as-

pects of the roster earlier in the season, coach Louks was hard pressed to say the team’s success came from any one piece.

He emphasized that volleyball is a team sport, and insisted that every element of their structure was coming together to give them success.

This is why the Marauders are in good hands and have a good foundation they can continue to build on.

So we pause to say thank you to long-time members of this Marauder roster, but also look to the future, excited for the prospects that are awaiting their shot.

McMaster is a perennial contender: champions last year, runners-up today and are patiently awaiting for more opportunities to come.

This program is practiced, it’s focused and it’s rich with talent. While one season may come to an end and disappointment may sour our mood, fear not, because McMaster will be back and a whole lot of talent is just getting started.

@theSilhouette

YOU ARE ALL FREE NOW Local newspaper can finally cover stories that are not related to elec tions C1

THURSDAY

THE

HAMILTON SPECULATOR Ask ing where the minutes are since 1934

March 15, 2018

NOTSPEC.COM

Students union president finally uses university’s hashtag The level of inexperience was palpable SAINT PETER VEGAS #BlessUp

In a shocking turn of events, the students union president decided to use Twitter to fire back at those criticising the elections process this year.

Attempting to draw comparisons to the Ontario PC leadership race wherein a candidate lost despite winning a majority of ridings and the popular vote, the president tweeted, “Better to have it done right than fast! Haha, suckers, even professionals need a bit of time to work, so that makes our incompetence justifiable! #McSU”.

It is worth mentioning that the students union election was, arguably, done neither right nor fast considering how the appeals board, mandated to be in place by the start of the term, was not in place until after it was actually needed.

With this inability to communicate, it is understandable why election turnout dropped from 41.6 per cent to a number so low that the entire process now requires a complete systemic overhaul.

These were the first tweets sent about the students union elections since the night of the election. The tweet then read, “I understand people are waiting

on election results. Let’s not forget that Migos is also dropping tonight. #Culture2 #Legendray #ScrrScrr P.S., did you hear about the Doomsday clock moving #2minutes2midnight?

That’s crazy”.

Unfortunately, this continued the streak of everything the president touches being terrible.

It then took almost two months to get election results.

It is currently unknown whether the president’s legacy will last longer than the two weeks it took to forget about Migos’ worst album.

Honestly, Twitter is just a vast pit of bad takes, reactionary claims and distracting memes, but by golly, it’s important for journalism.

Bed bugs found on Ryerson’s campus But I’m sure McMaster is fine, haha, right everyone?

SAINT PETER VEGAS All bugs go to heaven

In an exposé by the Eyeopener, it turns out that Ryerson really has no clue to how distinguish between termites and bed bugs. Their Victoria Building, best known for being named after Victoria Beckham rather than the queen, is infested.

This is despite claims that the building had been investigated multiple times, which included a K-9 unit trained to sniff out termites.

“The issue with termites in the theatre building was not hidden, everyone knew that there was an issue with termites,” Muhammad Lachenaie, Ryerson’s president, said. He also said this despite also stating that the university has only hired termite exterminators once in the last five years.

No statement was made about the bed bugs, but we can confirm that there are, indeed, no thermites in the building.

The university considers this a success given their focus,

POLL: Who did you vote for?

I just voted for myself

The joke candidate

The one with the best March Madness bracket

I picked randomly

The one with the best backflips

The one that promises to get me out of the office

I only vote for anyone that promises lofty goals with no follow through

All of the above

and looks to apply for awards for their excellence in termite prevention.

Despite the recent article in the Silhouette about Hamilton’s bed bug epidemic, McMaster swears that there is nothing to worry about when it comes to the possibility of a similar situation.

“Don’t worry. We are taking every precaution to prevent against the termite threat. We hear you loud and clear, and will be learning from the experiences at other universities to

INSIDE make sure our termite prevention strategy is the best it can be,” said Datrick Peane.

As a reminder, Whidden Hall contended with an outbreak of bed bugs in 2016.

Moving forward, students definitely should not question how Hamilton’s epidemic and active efforts for bed bug prevention are not being questioned, acknowledged or implemented by the university, and should feel safe knowing that there are likely no termites in their classrooms.

WOW, THIS TWO WEEK BREAK UNTIL VICE PRESIDENT ELECTIONS IS GONNA BE GREAT AND FUN FOR EVERYONE A2 ARE THE APPEALS OVER? IS IT FINISHED? IS IT SAFE? B1 THESE MEETING MINUTES ARE GONNA TURN INTO MEETING HOURS WITH THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT’S TAKING B4 OH BOY, IT’S HIRING TIME C3 STUDENT RECOGNITION NIGHT, BUT WITH VODKA INSTEAD D1 IF A SWAN SINGS AND NO ONE IS AROUND TO HEAR IT... E2 PER ISSUE: A president-elect

Tweets to the Editor I’ve aged 17 years in the last few months.

Am I too old to break into the industry?

- Sean McGill, 41, Editor-in-Chief

- Bob, 24, contemplating a life in esports

Disclaimer: The Hamilton Speculator is a work of satire and fiction and should not under any circumstances be taken seriously. We tried using more white space this week because that’s the latest and greatest journalism meme.