MSU NIGHT MARKET BRINGS A BLEND OF CULTURAL EXPERIENCES
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McMASTER UNIVERSITY'S STUDENT NEWSPAPER / THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011
The Silhouette
YOUR VOICE ON CAMPUS
Est. 1930
VOLUME 82, NO. 9
CHALLENGING THE STATUS QUO PERHAPS MOST FAMOUS FOR HIS SURNAME, LIBERAL MP JUSTIN TRUDEAU IS ONE OF THE YOUNGEST, YET WELL-KNOWN FIGURES IN CANADIAN POLITICS. WITH A STRONG ENVIRONMENTAL MESSAGE, TRUDEAU VISITED MCMASTER TO CONNECT WITH STUDENTS ON POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT.
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TYLER HAYWARD / SENIOR PHOTO EDITOR
Liberals triumph in Westdale Kacper Niburski
Assistant News Editor
The ‘red sea’ has combed over the province again, though this time, it’s only a minor flooding. Dalton McGunity and the Liberals scored a minority parliamentary caucus on Oct. 7, just one seat shy of a majority. While that may come as a disappointment to some, the Ancaster-Dundas-FlamboroughWestdale (ADFW) riding stands as a Liberal stronghold yet again this year. With 21,646 votes, compared to the next best 17,120 for Donna Skelly, the Progressive Conservative candidate, Ted McMeekin cruised into victory as the Liberal MPP. Neither new to the political scene nor lacking experience, McMeekin’s prominence as a politician is well recognized and merited. As a member of Ontario legislature since 2000, a cabinet Minister of Government and Customer Services in 2007, and an ADFW Liberal MPP since 2007, McMeekin has gleaned a variety of political titles. “My political success is not
McMeekin, is “most certainly the very best for ADFW.” McMeekin highlighted that the Liberal Party’s interests coincide with those of the ADFW. His previous track record, some may argue, stands as a testimony of that. From the years, 20072011, McMeekin, along with the Liberal Party, was involved in overseeing $12.5 million in funding for textbooks and school supplies, protection of the Pleasantview Lands, $30 million in funding to If you’re a local, clean up Randle Reef, creation relational sort of of the new Westdale Urgent Care person with a record Centre, a $4.4-million investment to expand Ronald McDonald House of accomplishment, and, most pertinent to McMaster people tend to students, managing the grant and embrace that.” operational details of the Wilson Building for Humanities and Social Sciences. According to the polls, the “After the last election, I voters did just that. made a list of 20 specific things I As to what the voters may wanted to get done, and I’m pleased have embraced, some ambiguity to say that 19 of those things today surfaces. McMeekin did not are a reality.” elaborate his platform at length, “These next four years however, he reminded that, “It is will be no different,” McMeekin whatever Dalton wants.” This, according to • PLEASE SEE MPP, A4
SPORTS
because I have the best constituency team in Ontario. It’s because I have the best constituency team in the country,” he stated in an interview with the Silhouette. He added, “I believe all politics are local. It’s relational. It’s collaborative. If you’re a local, collaborative, relational sort of person with a record of accomplishment, people tend to embrace that.”
Ted McMeekin - ADFW Liberal MPP MCMEEKIN’S RESULTS
ONTARIO GENERAL ELECTION YEAR
VOTES
PERCENT
2011
21,646
43.7%
2007
20,525
41.5%
2003
23,045
47.5%
BY-ELECTION JONATHON FAIRCLOUGH / PRODUCTION EDITOR
INSIDE THE SIL
2000
19,000
59.6%
Eng. Olympics continues at McMaster Farzeen Foda
Senior News Editor
MEN’S SOCCER MAKES A NATIONAL SPLASH, KNOCKS OFF NO. 1 YORK , SEE S3
OPINIONS
POST-THANKSGIVING BLUES GOT YOU DOWN? YOU’RE NOT ALONE SEE A7
ANDY
ANDY LOOKS AT THE LATEST IN NEW CD RELEASES SEE D7
High school students across Ontario are awaiting a pivotal moment in their lives, as university applications will be due soon. To make the choice a little easier for prospective science and engineering students, McMaster held the 22nd annual Engineering and Science Olympics on Oct. 7 outside the John Hodgins Engineering Building. 1,450 grade 11 and 12 students from across Ontario took to the McMaster campus, competing in a range of activities hosted by the Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of Science. Over 150 McMaster faculty and students were involved in the planning and implementation of the 2011 Engineering Olympics. Eight of the high schools in a attendeance were Hamilton high schools. Events and activities were held throughout the McMaster campus, featuring 16 competitions, as well as lectures, presentations and open house events to give students a taste of science and engineering in action and a sense of the university experience. The games involved a variety of science-based challenges, including a game of “Engineering Jeopardy.” The “Teachers Challenge” gave students a chance to see their teachers compete. Students were encouraged to assist vocally and cheer for their teachers. “The teachers are competing against each other, building marshmallow towers with pasta and marshmallows. “They are winning scholarship money for their students,” said Deborah McIvor, Olympics Coordinator, McMaster Engineering Outreach. The money won will be given to a chosen student intending to pursue undergraduate studies in Science or Engineering at McMaster upon graduation from high school.