The Silhouette - September 27, 2018

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NEWS: MSU’s plans to increase voter turnout in upcoming election // PAGE 5 FEATURE: The uncertain future of safe injection sites // PAGE 6-7 A&C: Ursula Johnson challenges treatment of Indigenous art // PAGE 16-17

The Silhouette

Thursday, September 27, 2018

COME SAIL AWAY Catching up with the McMaster Sailing Team as they prepare for nationals // PAGE 20-21

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Volume 89, Issue 7

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Thursday, September 27, 2018 McMaster University’s Student Newspaper

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

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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.

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SEPTEMBER 28, 1945

PEAK REGISTRATION FOR THE CLASS OF ‘49 Admissions to McMaster in 1945 was at its peak. While previous years saw around 750 student registrants, registration in 1945 soared to nearly 850.

WE WANT YOU The Silhouette is always looking for contributors. Visit our office in MUSC B110 or email a section editor for further information!

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018

The Silhouette

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News MSU gearing up for municipal election The education team has been working to get students to the polls this October

McMaster students can have a significant sway in the election results should they turn out to vote in large numbers on Oct. 22.

SILHOUETTE PHOTO ARCHIVES

Daniella Mikanovsky Contributor Maanvi Dhillon Contributor

On Oct. 22, Ontarians will be heading to the polls for the second time this year to cast their ballots in an election. Hamilton’s municipal election will decide the mayor and ward councillors for the next four years, and the McMaster Students Union has been working hard on a campaign aimed at increasing student voter turnout.

In particular, the MSU Education team will be rolling out another #MacVotes campaign to keep students informed about the upcoming election and to motivate them to cast a vote.

An important initiative will be the Ward 1 candidates’ debate, which will be happening in the MUSC atrium on Oct. 16.

As Shemar Hackett, associate vice president (Municipal Affairs), explains, it is crucial that voters are informed when they cast their ballot.

“The candidate who wins this election will represent Ward 1 for the next four years, which

“In addition, the MSU will advocate for issues that have been selected as priorities under the umbrellas of transportation and housing.” is why it is imperative that students are critical and research all the candidates before going to the polls on Oct. 22,” said Hackett.

The rest of the #MacVotes campaign will involve extensive promotion, both online and in-person. An official website will highlight advanced polling locations, platforms summaries and identification needed to vote.

In addition, the MSU will advocate for issues that have been selected as priorities under the umbrellas of transportation and housing.

One transit priority entails eliminating area rating, a controversial system that allows wards to pay different tax rates for municipal services. This initiative allows suburban and rural communities to pay less than older Hamilton wards to compensate for their purported decreased access to certain services.

With respect to housing, the MSU will be pushing for Hamilton to toughen up housing regulation by moving forward with a bylaw that requires landlords to be formally licensed. This would help protect off-campus students who often encounter unsafe living conditions in their rental homes but are left vulnerable by the lack of proactive enforcement of safety standards and bylaws.

In the wake of a string of break-ins in Westdale, safety has also become a growing concern for off-campus students. Questions are being raised about the effectivity of police responses to these incidents and to student safety at large. This may also

become a deciding issue for student voters.

Overall, students make up a large and influential portion of the electorate in Ward 1. According to a profile of the Ward, the fastest growing demographic are those between twenty and twenty-four. This means McMaster students can have a significant sway in the election results should they turn out in large numbers.

However, it remains unclear whether many students will actually vote. The most recent MSU presidential election had an unusually low turnout rate of 28 per cent. Despite this, Ward 1 has historically has had some of the highest turnout

“Overall, students make up a large and influential portion of the electorate in Ward 1.”

rates in the city.

Stephanie Bertolo, MSU vice president (Education), understands the potential power of student voters.

“By voting in this municipal election, students are able to have a major impact on the decisions made in the City of Hamilton over the next four years,” Bertolo said. “Each individual vote adds up to better transit, safer housing, and more opportunities for students before and after graduation. It shows the city that we are a major stakeholder and that they must listen to us.”

The stakes are high for students in this municipal election, and the MSU will be pushing to spread that message. Whether that is enough to get students out to vote, however, is a question that can only be answered on Oct. 22. @theSilhouette

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NEWS

Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018 | www.thesil.ca

Ward 1 councillor candidates 1A03 This week’s candidates want to improve Hamilton transit, but stress different ways of doing it Ryan Tse News Reporter

As the Hamilton municipal election looms, The Silhouette will be interviewing Ward 1 candidates about their platforms and why they believe McMaster students should vote for them. This week, we are featuring Lyla Miklos, Sharon Cole and Richard Massie.

Lyla Miklos Ward 1 Candidate Lyla Miklos has been involved in several organizations in the past. In particular, she held leadership positions for the Hamilton Pride Festival, the LGBTQ advisory committee for the city of Hamilton, Elect More Women and Hamilton’s status

“Students should believe that in voting for me that they will have an ally at City Council who values them and their contribution to the community,” Lyla Miklos, Ward 1 Candidate

of women advisory committee.

She is now an education worker for the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board.

Miklos describes herself as queer, feminist, sex positive and a labour activist. Her platform is focused on affordable housing, public transit and access and equity.

She supports landlord licensing and wants to educate students on tenant rights. She also wants to increase enforcing of existing housing bylaws and ensure that future developments are affordable.

Miklos states she has a strong commitment to improve the transit system, noting that she herself frequently depends on the Hamilton Street Railway.

“Having a dependable and efficient public transit system is what truly defines a world-class city,” said Miklos.

She is also a strong supporter of light rail transit and what it represents as a commitment to natural resources.

“Students should believe that in voting for me that they will have an ally at City Council who values them and their contribution to the community,” said Miklos.

Sharon Cole Ward 1 Candidate Sharon Cole is the board director of the Elizabeth Fry So-

ciety in Hamilton, a group that supports women in the community. She also serves as the president of the Bentley Place Condominium Corporation and has many years of experience in the business field. In the past, she has been involved with St. John Ambulance.

Cole’s main priorities are housing solutions, improved public transportation and economic growth.

With respect to affordable housing, Cole wants to work with the McMaster Students Union to implement a rental housing licensing bylaw. She believes this will keep landlords accountable.

To improve transit, Cole hopes to address a lack of funding for the HSR. She believes there may be “funding alternatives” and wants to work with the city on this issue. She supports a “complete commitment” to Hamilton’s 10-year transit plan, which was approved by the city council in 2015. Cole is

“I’ve lived a life of continuous learning, specifically learning from those I come into contact with, and I embrace every opportunity connect with people of all ages, backgrounds and differences,” Sharon Cole, Ward 1 Candidate

also a proponent of LRT. Cole stated that her experience balancing motherhood, education and career aspirations have helped her become who she is today.

“I’ve lived a life of continuous learning, specifically learning from those I come into contact with, and I embrace every opportunity connect with people of all ages, backgrounds and differences,” said Cole.

area rating for the HSR, which results in different tax rates for different regions. He also wants to increase city funding for transit expansion.

“We need to increase the frequency, reliability and convenience of HSR routes,” said Massie.

Massie supports the LRT “if done properly.” In particular, he stresses the importance of connecting it to different stations and services.

“I have the political will and resolve to change the status quo and not just make empty promises,” said Massie. “I believe strongly in creating jobs for young adults, protecting the environment, building affordable housing, funding transit, and supporting community services to help those in need and who don’t have a voice.”

More information about

Richard Massie Ward 1 Candidate Richard Massie has 14 years of community volunteer service in various roles.

His three main platform points are economic development, infrastructure and housing and clean greenspaces.

Massie plans to address affordable student housing by increasing the number of spaces available. He wants to offer bonuses to developments that are “100 per cent rental housing” and ensure that at least 20 per cent of those units are for low-income people. Two other ways he will tackle the problem are through changing bylaws and speeding up construction approval.

One of Massie’s ideas to improve the HSR is to end

“I have the political will and resolve to change the status quo and not just make empty promises,” Richard Massie, Ward 1 Candidate

the first two candidates’ platforms can be found at www. lyla4ward1.weebly.com and www.sharoncole.ca, respectively. Richard Massie can be contacted at r.massie@ rogers.com.

@theSilhouette

C/O LYLA MIKLOS C/O SHARON COLE C/O RICHARD MASSIE

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Sept. 27 2018

The Silhouette

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Mac alumni found Disability Justice Network of Ontario The network is seeking to build a community for people with disabilites across the province and establish a Youth Advisory Council

Although the group’s plan is to expand the network across Ontario, the organization is currently only focused on disability justice in Hamilton.

C/O DISABILITY JUSTICE NETWORK OF ONTARIO WEBSITE Saad Ahmed Contributor

The Disability Justice Network of Ontario is a new Hamilton-based organization dedicated to addressing issues faced by the city’s disabled community, with the hope to scale the organization across the entire province within the next three years.

Two of three of the organization’s co-founders, Sarah Jama and Eminet Dagnachew, are McMaster alumni, and the third co-founder Shanthiya Baheerathan is a current student at the university.

The initiative launched on Sept. 13 to a full house at the Hamilton Public Library auditorium. The co-founders opened the launch by outlining the organization’s values.

“Our mission statement is to build a just and accessible Ontario where people with disabilities can thrive and foster meaningful relationships, build community, and learn skills meaningful to all people, communities, and organizations,” said Baheerathan.

“We hope to do programming, education, activism, advocacy events and research. Community consultation and focus groups will be held to figure out what our needs are.”

Sarah Jama DJNO co-founder Last year, the co-founders were approved to receive a Trillium grant over 36 months to create and run the network.

Jama, an activist and recent McMaster graduate, hopes to bring the community together to help make individuals with disabilities heard.

“We’re all about building community and personal political power. People with disabilities haven’t been treated

as though we have the capacity of a community, which is why implementing things like accessible spaces is very hard to this day,” said Jama. “This is why we hope to build a community and collective power to help address the isolation faced by people with disabilities.”

The initiative will be led by the co-founders and volunteers and will partner with other organizations in Hamilton to make the most of the network’s capabilities.

The network hopes to be unique from other disability services offered in the city.

“There are a lot of services that already exist for people with disabilities. We want to uniquely position ourselves in that landscape so that we don’t have any service overlap or reproduction.

We’re in the process of mapping out those services and organizations to ensure we can have the highest possible impact,” said Baheerathan.

The initiative will be led by the co-founders and volunteers and will partner with other organizations in Hamilton to make the most of the network’s capabilities.

“We hope to do programming, education, activism, advocacy events and research.

Community consultation and focus groups will be held to figure out what our needs are,” said Jama. “Workshops will be held for schools and service providers to help build spaces that go beyond accessibility and assist in integrating disability justice into their practice.”

At the launch, Baheerathan also announced the creation of the network’s Youth Advisory Council.

“We don’t just want to focus DJNO around adults with disabilities. If you’re a young person aged 16-29, identify as having a disability, and want to get involved in disability justice organizing, the DJNO Youth

Advisory Council is a great way to make your voice heard and learn about community justice organizing, as well as develop skills in public speaking, event planning, advocacy, research, and much, much more,” she said.

Although their plan is to expand the network across Ontario, the organization is currently only focused on disability justice in Hamilton. As outlined on their website, Hamilton has one of the highest percentages of people with disabilities in Ontario.

“By launching DJNO in our city, we hope to service our community and build momentum to expand this movement,” reads a statement on the network’s website.

Whether it is advocacy, education or programming, the DJNO hopes to be community-informed and community-led. If you have any questions or concerns, you can reach them at info@djno.ca.

@theSilhouette

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FEATURE FEATURE

Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018 | www.thesil.ca

The State of

Supervised Injection Sites

in Hamilton

Without secured provincial funding, the future of overdose prevention sites is unclear.

Hannah Walters-Vida Features Reporter

As the funding period for Hamilton’s only overdose prevention site draws nearer to a close, community organizations and stakeholders have come together to push for the continued existence of opioid support services.

In 2017, 87 people in Hamilton died as a result of opioid overdose. This represented a death rate 72 per cent higher than the average in Ontario.

According to the Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario, the number of opioid-related deaths in Hamilton has almost doubled over the past 10 years.

Additionally, sharing needles can make people more vulnerable to blood borne infections. In 2016, there were 230 newly diagnosed cases of Hepatitis C in Hamilton, 32 per cent higher than the provincial rate.

Supervised Injection One method of harm reduction that the city has pursued is supervised injection sites, which aim to minimize the risks associated with the injection of drugs.

An SIS is a place where people bring pre-obtained illegal drugs to be injected in a clean and supervised environment. SIS staff members are trained to respond to overdoses and can connect clients to other support services.

In December 2017, the city of Hamilton funded a study to assess the feasibility and need for an SIS in Hamilton. The study analyzed health and crime information as well as qualitative data from community stakeholders.

In a survey conducted as part of the feasibility study, 80 per cent of people who inject drugs stated that they would use an SIS if it were available.

The study found that an SIS would be likely to have community benefits, such as lowering needle litter and reducing stigma towards people who inject drugs.

Multiple case studies have found that the presence of an SIS has safety benefits for individuals who inject drugs and can lead to fewer opioid-related deaths and illnesses.

A 2011 retrospective study of a Vancouver SIS found that fatal overdoses in the surrounding area decreased by 35 per cent after it opened. To contrast, overdose-related deaths in parts of the city with no nearby SIS decreased by only 9.3 per cent.

Furthermore, the presence of clean needles reduces the risk of blood borne illnesses such as Hepatitis and Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

However, SIS are not without their risks, perceived or otherwise.

The 2017 Hamilton feasibility study found that perceived risks included police monitoring of SIS and the potential to be identified as patients at the SIS. There were also perceived community risks of increased crime, and that the perception of an SIS may create a negative image of Hamilton.

Overdose Prevention Sites in Hamilton

In June, the Shelter Health Network and partners opened a temporary overdose prevention site at Hamilton Urban Core Community Health Centre. Unlike SIS, which are permanent facilities that require federal approval, overdose prevention sites are temporary facilities approved by the province that address an immediate need.

OPS facilities can be set up in a matter of weeks. As a result, many cities use them as building blocks to eventually transition to a permanent SIS In June, there were 112 clients using the overdose prevention site at HUCCHC. By August, this number had risen to 332.

So far there have been a total of 11 overdoses, all of which have been treated on site.

Currently, the temporary overdose prevention site at HUCCHC is relying on $116,300 of provincial funding.

However, this money will run out on Nov. 30.

Provincial Funding The Ford government has put on hold the opening of any new OPS or SIS and withhold the extension of funding for current sites.

The Hon. Christine Elliott, Ontario Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, has stated that it is necessary to review the merits of OPS and SIS before opening new ones or extending the funding periods of current sites.

One of the Ford government’s main concerns is the issue of rehabilitation. According to Elliott, further study is

In 2017, 87 people in Hamilton died as a result of opioid overdose. This represented a death rate 72 per cent higher than the average in Ontario.

FEATURE

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018

needed to determine whether SIS and OPS help with rehabilitation.

“What is happening that is saving lives? What else can we do to save more lives? Are there other examples that we should be looking at besides supervised injection clinics,” Elliott asked during question period on Aug. 13.

The decision to withhold funding has sparked backlash.

According to official Opposition leader Andrea Horwath of the New Democratic Party, the immediate needs of people who rely on SIS and OPS are of utmost importance.

“People can’t get treatment if they are dead,” she stated during question period on Aug, 13.

Other stakeholders have also expressed concern about

the decision to put funding on hold. In an open letter to Elliott, the Registered Nurses’ Association noted that SIS and OPS have already been proven to save lives, and therefore should not be subject to a review period.

“Preventing deaths from overdoses must be treated with the same rigour and commitment as other avoidable deaths that are not stigmatized. We all share the responsibility and consequences of further marginalizing extremely vulnerable groups,” the letter states.

What Is Being Done in Hamilton?

Currently, Shelter Health Net-

work is pushing to extend the funding period for the OPS. Additionally, De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre and Wesley Urban Ministries have put in applications to Health Canada to house permanent supervised injection sites. However, the approval process for a permanent supervised injection site can be complex and can take years.

Hamilton city council has expressed support for the continued existence of SIS. On Sept. 17, the Hamilton board of health, a standing committee of the city of Hamilton, voted unanimously in favour of a motion to write to the provincial health minister in support of SIS. Approximately 20 McMaster medical students lobbied city hall to bring the motion for-

ward. According to second-year medical student Debbie Brace on behalf of the group, the data clearly demonstrates the benefits of SIS. “People will die without these sites. It’s pretty clear cut,” Brace said.

Ward 3 city councillor Matthew Green echoed these sentiments, noting that without the maintenance of safe injection sites, people will be forced to inject unsafely in public spaces.

“If we know that this is happening, the question is: ‘do you want to have it to happen in a safe space or an unsafe space?”

Green asked. “And do we want to save lives or not?’”

| 7

What Now? While Hamilton city hall has expressed support for the sites, decision-making power rests on the provincial and federal governments.

Elliott has said that a decision will be made by the end of September.

Hamilton relies heavily upon opioid support services.

The decisions that will be made in the weeks to come will have major impacts on the Hamilton community. Until these decisions are made, the safety and well-being of OPS clients across the province remains unclear.

@theSilhouette

A 2011 retrospective study of a Vancouver SIS found that fatal overdoses in the surrounding area decreased by 35 per cent after it opened. To contrast, overdose-related deaths in parts of the city with no nearby SIS decreased by only 9.3 per cent.

PRESIDENT’S PAGE

KRISTINA EPIFANO Vice President (Administration) vpadmin@msu.mcmaster.ca 905.525.9140 x23250

September has been an incredibly busy month; from Welcome Week finishing, marking the start of new academic journeys at McMaster, to a jam-packed Homecoming weekend filled with celebrations for alumni and current students alike. Now, the McMaster Students Union (MSU) is excited to commence a phase of hiring for parttime student manager positions.

Over the past few weeks, you may have noticed student life starting to buzz on campus; exciting events and programming are offered nearly every other night by the MSU’s wide range of services. Students may have interacted with services in different ways – perhaps by attending an event, receiving support, visiting office spaces around campus or even purchasing fresh local veggies from them. I would like to acknowledge our frontline staff for interacting with students on a day-to-day basis, dedicating a substantial amount of their time to improving the student experience at McMaster. However, it is also important to note that behind each

September 27, 2018 | thesil.ca

of these events or in the back office supporting and empowering these volunteers, one can find the service leader known as a part-time manager. These roles are filled by students that oversee, lead, and set the vision for their respective services.

The MSU has begun the search for passionate, responsible, and self-directed individuals to join next year’s team of part-time managers. Successful candidates will be people committed to enhancing the student experience through program delivery, advocacy, and events. Within the month of October, the following part-time positions will be hired for next year: Mac Farmstand Director, Shinerama Coordinator, Horizons Coordinator, Creating Youth Amongst Leadership (CLAY) Coordinator, Welcome Week Faculties Coordinator, and Macycle Director. If you have an interest in any of the missions of these respective services, I encourage you to check out the available roles on our jobs page. All opportunities will be posted on September 30 at www.msumcmaster.ca/jobs.

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.

The title of part-time manager can sound intimidating. Some have a hard time believing that they, as a regular student balancing school with various other commitments, can fulfill the role.

Though I consider part-time managers to be heroes sans capes, they are all students who found something they were passionate about within the MSU and applied themselves to the cause.

“Part-time manager positions are an opportunity to grow, develop personal skills, and enhance one’s own student experience.”

All are welcome to apply to be a part-time manager. Traditionally, a part-time manager will possess: • Passion to enhance student life on campus in areas specific to the service

•

Willingness to work with others and lead a team • An open-mind and a readiness to learn about topics such as budgeting, MSU operating policies, and administrative tasks Students don’t need a five page résumé, a multitude of leadership experiences, or to have even held previous positions within the MSU to apply and be a successful part-time manger. Any and all previous experience is considered valuable. Part-time manager positions are an opportunity to grow, develop personal skills, and enhance one’s own student experience. If you apply yourself to extracurricular commitments, you might just learn more about yourself and life in general than you would learn within a classroom.

On top of the positions opening on September 30, additional part-time manager positions will open for hiring in November and January. If anyone has questions or would like to chat more indepth about these opportunities, please don’t hesitate to reach out and connect with me.

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018

EDITORIAL

| 9

Editorial What a drag How McMaster’s smoking ban prioritizes health and wellness concerns over safety and accessibility for smokers Emily O’Rourke Editor-in-Chief

In September 2017, McMaster released a statement saying it will attempt to ban smoking on campus that following January, establishing itself as “Ontario’s first 100 per cent tobacco and smoke-free campus.”

The ban was to take effect in January 2018. In its initial months, anyone smoking on campus was to be given a verbal warning and a reminder of McMaster’s smoking cessation policies. Eventually, enforcement was set to include follow-ups

by McMaster Security Services through Human Resources, the Provost or Student Affairs, or, the smoker was to be issued a university violation notice.

Currently in the latter half of these punitive measures, with some reporting to have received tickets for smoking on campus,

it’s safe to say that the smoking ban is in full effect. This means that smokers will continue to smoke, but will have to find places off campus that work.

Sure, on paper this smoking ban looks good. It could make campus a bit healthier, it could prevent excessive second-hand smoke and, if given the proper resources, it could help more students, staff and faculty to quit smoking.

A campus-wide ban doesn’t help smokers in a meaningful way. Instead, it just means that they will have to walk off campus. The reality is that the smoking ban is leaving those who smoke in conditions that are unsafe and inaccessible.

McMaster has a huge campus. Although safe for the most part, the areas that are considered to be off-campus are poorly lit, nearly ten minutes away from public property and

are inaccessible in any kind of inclement weather. Overall, the smoking ban imposes safety concerns to those who light up.

This begs the question as to whether the university genuinely cares about any student, staff or faculty who doesn’t fit into its idea of what health and wellness should look like. There’s no doubt that smoking is unhealthy, but by forcing smokers to take their habit off-campus, the university makes it clear that those with addiction aren’t welcome here. @emily_oro

to anchors to ‘Anchors a Whey’, Justin’s new nautical themed protein and athleisure company

to fake news and also propoganda to party poopers to lawn poopers

to Perfect Sports Weekend

to losing exactly one (1) shoe

to FitzMagic

to spilling smoothies on strangers

to Big Nominees to four of our staff AND our paper being nominated for the MAGGIES

to batpenis to the jorts thief

to S K O L

to everything in Jackson closing before 7 p.m.

to the office brodown coming back

to still not knowing where your shoe is

Letter to the Editor

Your Hamilton Your Vote

City of Hamilton 2018 Municipal Election For more information: www.hamilton.ca/Elections

905-546-4365

RE: Students versus the City - September 20, 2018 Dear Ms. O’Rourke, Regarding your column in the September 20 issue (“Students versus the city”), I have just three words for you: Are you serious?

I live on Dalewood Street, near Westwood Avenue, and for the past two years now, we’ve been inundated with thousands of rowdy, inebriated, obnoxious brats who want nothing more to do but get drunk/high and cause havoc in the neighbourhood during Homecoming.

Is it any wonder that these so-called ‘higher-learning’ kids are a burden to us? Of course they are a burden and we don’t want them in our neighbourhood, driving our property values into the ground!

They do not want to con-

tribute anything to our street (except to urinate and vomit on it) and make noise at all hours of the day/night.

For the most part, students living in West Hamilton are simply LAZY SLOBS. They’re just here for a few years then it’s off to another city (good riddance!), so they do not care about the (cleanliness of the) neighbourhood.

It’s bad enough they don’t show any initiative whatsoever when it comes to taking out (and bringing back in) the garbage/recycling bins, cutting the lawn, raking the leaves, or shovelling the snow.

While true these are the landlords’ responsibilities, students don’t want to get involved in doing these menial,

time-consuming chores as it would take time out of their ‘busy’ schedules of partying, having sex and watching Netflix!

One can only hope the University does the right thing and cancel Homecoming altogether!!

P.S. I don’t expect this letter to be published (I never see any letters to the editor published anyway), but that’s okay, at least I got this off my chest!!

Min Raber, West Hamilton, Ont.

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HUMANS

Catherine Goce Photo Reporter

How would you describe your experience on exchange?

It was so much better than I thought it was going to be.

Basically everything I prepped for wasn’t even what I should have been prepping for. They always say when you leave it’s the hardest thing to say goodbye and it really is, there were waterworks. I did so much more than I expected. I traveled so much more, I met so many people and have these connections all over the world now.

“I traveled so much more, I met so many people and have these connections all over the world now.”

Jessica Moore Exchange Student

What would you say is the best part about living in Australia for 8 months?

Definitely the people I meet.

Now I have connections to jobs over there if I want to go back after I graduate. I have connections in Denmark, in Michigan and all over the states I can’t remember where they’re from anymore but I’ve many so many good friends.

What is something that people would be surprised to know about Australia?

It’s the farthest place you can go with

Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018 | www.thesil.ca

the least change, it was amazing. Everyone is super friendly and the accent is obviously beautiful. It’s basically just like Toronto but Melbourne is a little bit bigger, cleaner and very artsy. A huge culture goes to cafes, brunch, restaurants, having cute little picture stops and festivals every single day.

How is university in Australia different from McMaster?

It’s a lot different, a little bit more slack in the sense that I picture like that Aussie lifestyle having a little bit more of a laid back approach to everything.

Canada has a strong emphasis on getting people to go to university, then get a job, but in Australia a lot of people don’t go to university which was a little bit different and kind of bewildering for me. I’ve learned that Australia is definitely behind. I took classes that I never took before like a dark room class and the documentary class that aren’t offered here which was amazing but other than that the multimedia courses that I took that were within the program range were a little bit like I did first year.

“Do it. If you’re ever hesitant about it, just do it. If you’re scared because someone else isn’t doing it, that’s the least of your worries.”

Jessica Moore Exchange Student

What would you tell students wanting to go on exchange?

Do it. If you’re ever hesitant about it, just do it. If you’re scared because someone else isn’t doing it, that’s the least of your worries. Your first day your school is going to be so orienting. My first week there was so great, that’s when I made all my friends. We had this Welcome Week beach day which was awesome. We all went surfing, played volleyball and I was like “wow this was like the best week of school ever!”.

You’re also going to travel more than expected, so definitely save up a little more money than you think. Depending on where you go there’s going to be a culture change, but for the most part as long as you’re nice and friendly you’re going to make friends and you’re fine.

facebook.com/ HumansOfMcMaster

McMaster Students Union’s

Events Calendar

SRA By-Election Nominations Monday, October 15 to Tuesday, October 23, 2018 Where: McMaster University Time: Starts 9:00am | Ends 5:00pm Nominations for the October SRA By-Elections are opening at 9AM on October 15th and close on October 23 at 5pm. Faculties with open seats include: • Commerce • Kinesiology Nomination forms will be available on October 15th at 9AM in the MSU Office, MUSC 201 and online at: msumcmaster.ca/elections Keep up with our facebook page: facebook.com/MSUElections & twitter: @MSU_Elections for more updates!

Pumpkins, Spice, Maroons, and FYC at Bridges Wednesday, October 17, 2018 Where: Bridges Cafe Time: 8:00pm - 10:30pm The MSU Maroons and MSU First Year Council are hosting Pumpkins, Spice, Maroons & FYC: an evening of live performances and pumpkin painting.

First year students can sign up to perform at the coffeehouse by Monday, October 15.

Brought to you by the Maroons and the First Year Council

If you have any questions, feel free to e-mail elections@msu.mcmaster.ca

Stay Connected:

MSU_McMaster

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

Connect to ts, n e v E , y t i n u m Com rts, e c n o C , s e c i v r e S bs. u l C & , y c a c o v Ad MSUMcMASTER.CA

FOLLOW US @UNDERGROUNDMSU TO STAY UP TO DATE + LEARN MORE ABOUT THE UNDERGROUND!

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OPINION

Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018 | www.thesil.ca

Opinion The cops at Homecoming The increased police presence in student neighbourhoods puts students at risk C/O BRIAN ZHENG

Lilian Obeng Contributor

Two weeks ago, students and alumni gathered in the streets Westdale and Ainslie Wood to celebrate McMaster’s Homecoming. After the incident known colloquially as “Dalewoodstock” took place in 2017, residents and university administration were keen to avoid repeating the levels property damage. The McMaster Students Union president also participated in the university’s promotional campaign dissuading students from partaking in the extremes of party culture.

Also two weeks ago, McMaster went viral. A clip of a girl being knocked down, and subsequently trampled by a mounted police officer began to make the rounds on social media. The video was so clear that news outlets such as CBC Hamilton picked it up. The immediate response to the video was to brush the incident off as a moment of drunken hilarity, but this occurrence sheds light on the evolving relationship

between the MSU and law enforcement — specifically to the detriment of students.

In preparation of Homecoming, the university administration, McMaster Parking & Security Services and the MSU all meet to discuss and determine strategies for deterring improper conduct.

With this in mind, the increased policing of students appeared inevitable. Since St. Patrick’s Day of 2016 — at the very least — police officers have been contracted by the university for additional security.

ACTION officers have been consistently and increasingly patrolling the Westdale area whenever celebratory, or potentially inflammatory, occasions take place, often with horses.

Initially, there was a half-hearted attempt by dispersed student groups to call attention to the increased policing going on at McMaster.

In spite of the MSU’s purported dissatisfaction with the situation, this issue was shelved.

Subsequent board of directors failed to recognize the danger

this presented to all racialized people at McMaster.

The push towards policing was spurred on by our Ward 1 councillor Aidan Johnson.

Johnson, who is not seeking reelection in October, ran on a platform of deliberately increasing police presence on ‘student streets.’ He also expressed support for hiring Mohawk students to help patrol the Ainslie Woods and Westdale neighbourhoods — an idea that the city and McMaster are not in opposition to.

Why does any of this matter? Essentially, students are being used as an ‘easy’ source of revenue — a concerning fact when financial security is tenuous for many of us. Students are ticketed at such a disproportionate rate that the MSU must roll out multiple by-law education campaigns. We are also deliberately exposing vulnerable populations to uncritical surveillance.

The fact of the matter is that certain groups in our society have been historically disenfranchised by law en-

forcement. Heightened police presence is an inherent threat and a reminder of the power dynamics present in Hamilton.

It is plausible that our student leaders were unaware of this history, but ignorance is an insufficient excuse when police officers unnecessarily parade

The fact of the matter is that certain groups in our society have been historically disenfranchised by law enforcement.

Heightened police presence is an inherent threat and a reminder of the power dynamics present in Hamilton.

horses through students and cause bodily harm. We as students have forgotten our initial outrage, and allowed ourselves to uncritically parrot back the talking points of out-of-touch administrators. Our MSU president, however inadvertently, used her image to promote the policing of students and advance the university’s public relations campaign. This doubly highlights the need for the MSU to find ways to retain institutional memory. Our advocacy needs to be much stronger than this.

Ultimately, the response to Homecoming was overblown.

We as students empathize with the desire the City of Hamilton, residents and the university has to contain rowdy, disruptive teenagers. We should wholeheartedly reject the notion that the solution lies in policing.

@theSilhouette

OPINION

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018

| 13

Getting students to vote The city of Hamilton should take a vested interest in making sure McMaster students are able to vote in the municipal election Sasha Dhesi Managing Editor

In about a month, cities all over Ontario will hold their municipal election, elections which will dictate the political landscape for these cities for years to come. The results of this election can bring all sorts of changes to the neighbourhood and yet the city offers little to students to participate, further exemplifying that the city of Hamilton doesn’t care about McMaster students.

Voting stations are scattered all throughout Westdale and Ainslie Wood, mostly at churches and public schools.

The voting station for McMaster University’s address, 1280 Main Street West, is at Binkley Church, which is 1570 Main Street West, far away from any major student residences.

For first-year students living in on-campus residence, putting a voting station on campus would not only allow them

to vote with ease, but it would also help foster an interest in municipal politics and stress the importance of participating in the electoral process at all levels of government.

It’s not as if having a voting station on campus is unheard of; during the 2015 federal election, McMaster University had a voting station which allowed students to vote on campus. I was a first-year student at the time, and I distinctly remember my classmates excitedly voting for the first time because of the convenience.

There is also little evidence of any sort of outreach program by the city. There has not been any major social media campaigns promoting the election and outside of some postering in Westdale and Ainslie Wood, there is no trace of the election in these neighbourhoods outside of candidate campaigning. The McMaster Students Union has launched its usual voting campaigns, but the job

of getting students invested in municipal politics should not fall on the student union.

McMaster students time and time again prove that they’re politically engaged; we consistently have one of the highest voter turnouts for our student union elections and have a multitude of candidates at every level of student politics.

There are even two recent McMaster graduates running in the municipal election.

The city of Hamilton has a contentious relationship with McMaster students, as evidenced by their rather extreme reaction to last year’s Homecoming block party in Westdale. During the whole frenzy surrounding that event, the city seemed to have forgot that the party was immediately cleaned up the next day by a group of volunteers.

This year, the city of Hamilton increased policing in student neighbourhoods, despite there being little evidence of

such a party happening again.

Compared to other universities, such as Queen’s University and the University of Western Ontario, McMaster students are downright boring. Could you imagine the number of volunteers that would be necessary to clean up Western’s FoCo or any other similar event? McMaster volunteers were able to clean up Dalewood Street in a single Sunday.

McMaster students are an important part of the Westdale and Ainslie Wood community, and yet they are blamed for issues like landlord negligence, made obvious through the city’s decision to increase by-law policing in Ward 1, despite multiple students pointing out that by-law maintenance usually falls under the landlord’s jurisdiction.

The city of Hamilton does little to limit the movement of talent away from their city, and instead antagonizes students.

Putting voting stations on campus would not only allow more

students to vote in this upcoming election, it would also act as an act of good faith; the city offering an olive branch in the form of the electoral process.

Like a lot of McMaster students, I enjoy living in Hamilton. It’s been my home for over three years now and I would prefer to stay here when I graduate. But the city’s failure to even attempt to engage young people in municipal politics only illustrates that our voices are not important to them. If the city expects students to stay in Hamilton, they’re going to have to completely revamp their approach to municipal elections.

@SashaDhesi

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The Silhouette

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018

Arts & Culture Falling in love with music Eternal Collective introduces a five-week music festival to build community across genres Rya Buckley A&C Reporter

Autumn is a cozy time. The blistering heat of summer is receding but the freezing cold of winter has not yet dug in. A month of school has allowed us to settle into our environment and our routines. It’s a time for a little tradition, a little Thanksgiving and a lot of community.

While many of us will settle into familiar spaces, Eternal Collective wants you to settle into a larger and perhaps slightly unfamiliar community of music and art lovers with their October music festival, Eternal Autumn.

Eternal Collective is a collaboration between Emily O’Rourke and Vince Soliveri. It came out of their desire to build community and create more

space for intimate live shows in Hamilton. The first of these events is Eternal Autumn.

The festival launched last Friday at The Little Grasshopper Cafe with disk jockeys Kristen Archer, Smooth Transitions and Seema. Each Saturday in October will feature live performances, pop-up shops and interactive elements. Every week will showcase artists of different genres.

“I feel like all of these scenes operate in parallel but they don’t really intersect and… if they did intersect people would realize ‘oh I didn’t know I liked dream pop’…I feel like this allows people to explore that without having to really do much work,” explained Soliveri.

Autumn is a lazy time. It’s tantalizing to be able to attend a show with one artist that you may know and discover a

couple more on the same night.

O’Rourke and Soliveri have created shows where none of the bands playing sound quite the same, allowing music lovers to fall in love with something new.

Another important part of the shows is that they will all take place in alternative venues.

Not only will it allow audiences to learn about spaces in the city that they were not aware of, but it will add to the comfortable vibe of Eternal Autumn.

“I think house shows are a lot more comfortable for a lot more people. So making sure that people are comfortable and safe in a more intimate space, I guess, that way community can be built,” said O’Rourke.

Safety is O’Rourke and Soliveri’s key priority at the festival. Soliveri is part of a group called Safer Gigs Hamilton.

They do harm reduction out-

reach at shows and will be set up throughout Eternal Autumn.

However, it takes more than two to make a safe show.

They are putting on bands referred by people who are safety advocates. They have established a zero tolerance policy for any bigoted behaviour. The festival as a safer space to enjoy live music and creates a secure and welcoming environment for diverse audiences.

Attending the show is also a great way to give back to the community. A portion of the proceeds will go toward local non-profits, SACHA Hamilton, NGen Youth Centre, the AIDS Network, Interval House and Neighbour to Neighbour Centre. These organizations mean a lot to both O’Rourke and Soliveri. “[T]hey’re putting in a lot of work in the city and I think a

lot of it [is] unrecognized sometimes. So I think that it comes down to the fact that we’re putting on this thing…it might as well go towards something good,” explained O’Rourke.

O’Rourke is excited to meet the people that come out to the shows. Soliveri hopes that the shows appeal not only to the musical and artistic sides of the audiences but also to their socially conscious sides. In this way, the festival will create spaces as warm as autumn.

The festival begins on October 6 with performances by Jaunt, Ginla and The Crowleys.

Contact Eternal Collective for the location and keep up with their socials for announcements of the upcoming shows. @theSilhouette

CATHERINE GOCE / PHOTO REPORTER

A&C

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018

| 15

Dancing to our own rhythm

One of a kind performance is the brainchild of neuroscience and art Kian Yousefi Kousha Contributor

When it comes to science, the human mind would inevitably shift towards thinking about chemicals in test tubes, DNA or even the exciting world of quantum physics. However, Leonardo Da Vinci, Nicola Tesla, Omar Khayyam and many others have shown us that science also has a place in art, from paintings to designs and poetry.

Similarly, McMaster University witnessed another combination of art and science during Dance Brain, which took place last week at the university’s Large Interactive Visual Environment Lab, better known as the LIVELab housed in the psychology complex.

Dance Brain is a performance where the dancer’s electrical brain activity is measured through an electroencephalogram cap and brain waves are converted into music in real time. The brain-wave music is then danced to on stage, ultimately allowing the performer to dance to their own biological rhythm.

This project, which embraces performance practice and neuroscience, is being held by the initiative of McMaster University neuroscientists, Steven Brown and Dan Bosnyak from the department of psychology, neuroscience and behaviour, composer and sound artist, Gordon Monahan and contemporary dancer, Bill Coleman.

Bosnyak is also the technical director at the LIVELab. Brain-wave music was developed three years ago, but Brown justifies the uniqueness of Dance Brain as the first project to incorporate a dance performance based on the music.

“People have done the sonification of brain waves as musical work but never as a dance work…We wanted for the first time to bring this to the domain of dance,” explained Brown.

The project uses varied methods to enhance the frequencies that are obtained from the human brain which are often too quiet to hear and are at frequencies between five to 20 hertz. Composing the music involves using different methods

to increase the frequencies to a hearing range.

Once the audience can hear the brain-wave music, attendees’ eyes are set on Coleman. He believes that his background in art plays an important role in the scientific aspect of Dance Brain.

“Dance or art is a way of exploring the world and understanding it and as is science…so they are both ways of defining who we are and where we live,” explained Coleman.

According to Coleman, brain-wave music conveys what is happening in the body, especially through contemporary dance. It’s also fascinating to think about how the dancer is placed in a paradox of whether the brain-waves music dictates how Coleman is moving or whether he is the one controlling the music.

From its beginning to the end, the performance amazed the audience. Coleman’s brain waves were accompanied by complementing lights and instruments such as piano. This makes Dance Brain one of the most challenging performances

that has been held in McMaster’s LIVELab. For Brown, Dance Brain is proof that it is possible to convert electric brain activity into music in real time. As on the most unique feats of arts and science here on campus, Dance

Brain opens up the road for more opportunities to explore this principle in the future by involving other scientists, artists and performers in the show. @theSilhouette

KYLE WEST / PHOTO EDITOR

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The Silhouette

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018

URSULA JOHNSON: MI’KWITE’TMN Ursula Johnson challenges the treatment of Indigenous material and linguistic culture

Drew Simpson Contributor

The museum is still and rested thirty minutes after opening at 11 a.m. Light grey undertones of the tile, the walls and even the clear glass feed into this state. The only audible sounds are the receptionist chatting with the artist, Ursula Johnson.

Another glass door with grey undertones opens to Rheanne Chartrand, the museum curator. It is as if the grey cancels out the obnoxious glare of light the door would have produced. Chartrand motions towards the exhibit entrance.

At first sight, the exhibit seems simple. A side room leads into what feels like a room filled

with statements. Baskets seemingly non-functional sit on metal shelving with tags attached. A database, a scanner and a pair of delicate white gloves demonstrate otherwise.

Exhibit attendees are encouraged to wear the gloves, choose a basket and scan the tag as a database educates them in seconds on what the artifact they are holding is. This one is a puppy holder.

The process of the gloves, scanning and reading the information resembles a museum’s archive room. As Chartrand mentions, Johnson points out the limitations of the database’s structure.

“A lot of cultural signifiers or references or terms and their

Baskets seemingly non-functional sit on metal shelving with tags attached.

A database, a scanner and a pair of delicate white gloves demonstrate otherwise. use cannot fully be archived within that database. There’s also no space for a lot of community information or space for contested stories or histories related to that object,” explained Chartrand.

Leaving the Archive Room and entering the main room, black text describing the ex-

hibit sits on a lamented white background stuck to the wall.

The description of the exhibit entails three distinct spaces: The Archive Room, the Museological Grand Hall and the Performative Space.

The Museological Grand Hall holds empty exhibit glasses with white etchings on two sides, labeling the basketry.

Johnson clarifies the archive room’s parody permitting persons to touch the artifacts, yet the empty exhibit glasses do not allow people to touch anything even though the cases are empty.

Furthermore, the Museological Grand Hall reiterates the history of institutions bringing back artifacts from the Indig-

The Performative Space is where Johnson performs traditional Mi’kmaw basketmaking for the audience. enous maker. Often times it is in awe of the spectacle without aiming to understand how the artifact was made.

Historically, many ‘artifacts’ have been mislabelled and misnamed. The etchings and labels pose as recipes and when coupled with the language they tell how each basket was made.

Paired with the Archive Room, the Museological Grand

A&C

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018

| 17

KYLE WEST / PHOTO EDITOR

Hall also gambles the idea of who has the authority to name things and to describe their history. Mirroring Johnson’s sense of humour, the Archive Room does so with a comical twist.

If these neo-artifacts and their descriptions take their place in the chronological database, years later the discussion of pairing history to understand these artifacts will be comical to those aware of the satire.

Within the main room and behind a parting wall there is a long tool about three inches wide and three feet long, sitting on a couple of blonde plywood.

It has a seat for the performer to sit and split the wood. There are wood shavings like locks of curly blonde hair scattered on

Johnson purposely makes beginner mistakes when processing the wood, which also speaks to the disconnection between generations. the ground. Other smaller tools sit to the side.

The Performative Space is where Johnson performs traditional Mi’kmaw basket-making for the audience. However, she purposely produces unusable

splints, as an opposition to set the Indian on display. The entire exhibit is a humorous yet challenging discursion concerning the institution’s treatment of Indigenous material and linguistic culture.

The performance is loud. I helped lift the wood while two other persons scattered squares of mats underneath it. It is ironic that the performance is loud given how institutions like museums have set the Indigenous maker on display to perform their knowledge.

Except for this time, what is being performed is false knowledge, as Johnson purposely makes beginner mistakes when processing the wood, which also speaks to the disconnection

between generations.

Ultimately, the three spaces combine to describe a long and large discussion around colonialism and the impact on Indigenous material and linguistic culture. Specifically, it challenges the museums. Certain museums still find this show controversial, although the exhibit has been touring for the past four years.

“All the institutions that have taken the show are always doing things to open up their collections. They are already doing things to break down the idea of the Indian on display.

The institutions that don’t have those practices, that are mandated in their policies are the ones that are terrified of the show.

They are the ones that can’t take

it because it’s too risqué for them,” explained Johnson.

Ultimately hearing Johnson describes the deeper roots of the exhibit changed the visuals of the room. Mi’kwite’tmn (Do You Remember) takes a simple room and fills it with rich stories. These stories are finally told by the right person who simultaneously parodies that authority. @theSilhouette

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GAMES

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018

Games

ACROSS

1- Indonesian resort island; 5- Reduce gradually; 10- How sweet ___!; 14- Environmental sci.; 15- Accustom; 16- Marquand sleuth; 17- Indian princess; 18- Twangy, as a voice; 19Feminist Lucretia; 20- Muchness; 22- Grain stores; 23- Person of action; 24- Merit; 26- SAT takers; 29- Pressing need;

DOWN

1- Floe; 2- Rent-___; 3- The ___ Ranger rode a horse called Silver; 4- Troy story; 5- Two fins; 6- Absence of oxygen; 7- Cat; 8- Clear the board; 9- Seminary subj.; 10- Nearness; 11- Kit item; 12- Sock ___ me!; 13- Drunkards;

31- Midday nap; 35- Pertaining to punishment; 37- Low in pitch; 39- Christmas; 40- Affirm; 41- Saturn’s largest moon; 42- Crime boss; 43- Repentant one; 44- Sign of injury; 45- Eagle’s home; 46- Sister of Venus; 48- Old Fords; 50- ‘60s campus gp.; 51- Gillette brand; 53- Wild ones are sown;

55- Gift of the Magi; 58- Shellfish which cling to ships; 63- I could ___ horse!; 64- Museum artifact; 65- “The Clan of the Cave Bear” heroine; 66- Shake ___ (hurry); 67- Aquarium buildup; 68- Lustful look; 69- ___ majesty; 70- Uncultivated country; 71- On a cruise

21- Work like a dog; 22- ___ Lanka; 25- Org.; 26- Fights; 27- Variety show; 28- Twisted expression?; 30- Pertaining to birth; 32- Flies high; 33- Lukewarm; 34- Healing plants; 36- The amount overdue; 38- Pertaining to tailors; 41- Nicholas II, for one; 45- “The Thin Man” pooch;

47- To the ___ degree; 49- Moved rhythmically; 52- White poplar; 54- Milan’s La ___; 55- Kind of ticket; 56- Ivy League school; 57- AAA suggestions; 59- Pond organism; 60- Caustic substances; 61- Waiting for the Robert ___; 62- Franklin D.’s mother; 64- Uncooked;

SPORTS | 19

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018

Sports Loving the sport and the team Already into their second half of the season, the closeness of the McMaster women’s soccer team is driving them towards success

Foward Ally Riganelli surveys the field against the Lancers.

KYLE WEST / PHOTO EDITOR Adriana Skaljin Contributor

For Claudia Continenza, assistant captain of the women’s soccer team, soccer has shaped her life both on and off of the field.

The fourth-year English and history student started playing soccer at the age of three, picking up skating and basketball as well. She eventually took to soccer and realized that it is the sport about which she is most passionate.

Continenza started playing for Glanbrook and then Mississauga, eventually moving back to Hamilton and playing for Bishop Ryan Catholic Secondary School. This ongoing passion for the sport lead to Continenza becoming a walk-on for the McMaster team in her first year, where she has played every year since.

“I noticed two differences between playing high school and university-level soccer,” said Continenza. “Firstly, is the commitment level, regarding both determination and fitness.

Secondly, playing at a university level allows you to have new respect for everyone around you, as the team becomes a second family.”

Both on and off the field, the women’s soccer team has become a support system for every player. Whether it is cheering each other on and remaining supportive no matter the outcome during the game, or spending time together outside of the game, the team has created a family-like environment.

“We’re a very goofy team,” explained Continenza. “The majority of the team, fifteen players to be exact, are fourth-years and we have played together throughout our undergraduate career. We are always joking around and choose to spend our time together off the field as well. Some of the girls even live together.”

Continenza speaks on behalf of every player when she says that this family dynamic has bettered their playing skills, as the ongoing support encourages players to take risks on the

field.

“You’re never afraid of messing up, because you know that the team will always support you and will recognize the risk that you were taking,” said Continenza.

It is this support that manages the team dynamic. Anyone who has been on a team will agree that the closeness and positivity between teammates will be reflected in their playing.

Moments such as a scoreless tie against the University of Western Ontario Mustangs back on Aug. 31, and then playing them again on Sept. 21, made the team realize the strength in positivity.

The Marauders ended up losing 2-1 in their game against the Mustangs, but there will still positives to be taken away from that loss.

“We played well during our last game against Western, but I think that we played better this time,” said head coach Joe Valvasori.

Despite the loss that came from the second Western game,

it is evident that the team dynamic pushed for a win in its progression as a team.

“Sometimes, our results don’t accurately reflect how we’ve been doing,” explained Continenza. “This is some of the best soccer that we have played and we are doing everything right. It is just the results that escape us. This is something that we have realized and use as motivation for the second half of the season.”

This concept of a family-oriented team dynamic has been echoed by teammates such as Emma Czernuszka, who has recently been named McMaster Female Athlete of the Week.

“On and off the field we are first and foremost a family,” Czernuszka said. “We win together, lose together, push through every grueling fitness practice and midterm season together, and most importantly we always have each other’s backs. Our trust in each other is put into action every practice and game.”

Czernuszka went on to

explain the ways that coach Valvasori would motivate the team before games. He reiterates the fact that they need to fight for one another and believe in each other because that is what families do.

Valvasori said himself that the team is a “tight-knit bunch that has created a family like atmosphere.” The support that comes from the coaches has contributed to this positive dynamic.

“There is nothing that I wouldn’t do for anyone on my team, and I think that mentality is what allows us to be such a cohesive unit,” said Czernuszka.

It is through their love for the sport and each other that the McMaster women’s soccer team works to achieve their goal of being a unified and successful team both on and off the pitch.

@theSilhouette

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SPORTS

Taking in Sail

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018

SPORTS | 21

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018

“It’s a good feeling to win, so to stay on top we’ll try to stay focused on our tactics which worked out for us... Our boat handling was in sync and pretty smooth for the most part. We were pretty fluid with our movements and if we can keep that up, we should continue to do well.”

Bryson Dell Athlete

Catching up with the McMaster sailing team at the beginning of their season as they prepare for nationals Jessica Carmichael Sports Reporter

The beginning of the school year means regatta season is here for the McMaster sailing team. This past weekend, they hosted Ontario university sailing teams at the Royal Hamilton Yacht Club for two days of sailing fun.

Organized by team president Caroline Murdoch, the regatta gives the team a chance to get much-needed competitive practice before nationals.

At last year’s nationals the team came in third overall, but this year their eye is on the prize.

The first regatta of the year was hosted by Wilfred Laurier University. Being that it took place prior to McMaster’s annual ClubsFest, only experienced Mac sailors competed.

“It went really well. We came in first place,” said Murdoch. “It was more of an introductory regatta, just getting people back on the water and getting things ready.”

This weekend, while some members were sailing

the west end of Lake Ontario, Joel Millar, a member of both the Ontario and Mac’s team, was representing McMaster at the McGill University regatta.

Where he and his partner Abby Brown helped Mac come in fifth place overall.

As McMaster’s regatta is set three weeks into the season, their new sailors were given the opportunity to test the waters.

Among the sailors was twosport athlete Bridget Webster, and her new sailing partner Bryson Dell.

The pair led the pack in their races, helping McMaster stay on top. For Webster, who also plays hockey on the McMaster women’s team, balancing the fall and winter sports is not as hard as it may seem.

“Even though [hockey] tryouts are during the same time as sailing, by the time we really get into our season, sailing is wrapped up,” Webster explained.

Being able to focus on one sport at a time helped Webster and Dell get first and second place in their races on Saturday at the McMaster Regatta.

“The race was good because the wind was pretty steady at the beginning, but it kind of died down a bit, making it a little difficult just in terms of tactics,” said Dell. “But we did pretty well because we stuck to the left side and tacked up the middle of the course.”

Sailing a lighter boat, it makes it easier for the duo to maneuver in the water, but most importantly to win.

“It’s a good feeling to win, so to stay on top we’ll try to stay focused on our tactics which worked out for us,” said Dell.

“Our boat handling was in sync and pretty smooth for the most part. We were pretty fluid with our movements and if we can keep that up, we should continue to do well.”

Dell, like the majority of McMaster’s team, started sailing when he was young, learning the ropes from his grandfather.

“My grandpa had a boat and sailed for a long time,” said Dell. “So when we were young, we would go out on his boat and I started to learn how to sail, then got into racing. I really like being out on the water

because of how refreshing it is, but I also like the mixture of physicality and strategy.”

Though Dell, Murdoch and Webster have been doing this for quite some time, there are opportunities to learn through McMaster sailing. With their “Learn to Sail” program, students can learn from Mac’s sailors once a week everything they need to know for beginner sailing.

Given the nature of the sport, it is hard for spectators to come out and support the Mac team like they can with football or basketball. But their “Learn to Sail” program is a great way for McMaster students to get involved and expand their horizons, and maybe even join the team at nationals one day.

For now, the current McMaster sailing team will continue to attend Ontario regattas in preparation for the sailing nationals at Queens University on Oct. 27-28.

@JaayCarmichael

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SPORTS

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018

Remember the name

Profiling McMaster’s men’s soccer team third-year starter Carlo DiFeo and what led him to a spot on the Marauders Lucas Uggenti Contributor

Challenge. That’s just another word in the dictionary for McMaster men’s soccer team’s Carlo DiFeo, as he has proven on numerous occasions throughout his soccer career that overcoming challenges is exactly what it takes to achieve greatness.

Although most things come naturally for DiFeo on the pitch, he has never been one to shy away from competition and continues to train every day to make his dream of becoming a professional soccer player a reality.

“Saltfleet’s in my blood,” said DiFeo when asked about his younger playing days.

DiFeo started his soccer career playing for his hometown team, the Saltfleet Strikers, where his father managed and coached him until he was 14 years old. Aldo DiFeo played an important role in his son’s development, always striving to teach Carlo that soccer is more than just a game and that the little things are what make playing worth it.

Aldo used his ability to communicate and his high soccer IQ to help shape Carlo into the player and man he is today, on and off the field.

“My dad is the realest man ever,” DiFeo said. “He taught me how to have the right mentality when dealing with any type of adversity, whether that be not starting in a match or dealing with an injury.”

Aldo had to sacrifice his own personal time to help Carlo continue down a successful path, never once complaining about the hours spent developing game plans and training techniques to help both his son and every player he coached.

Not to mention the countless hours spent behind the wheel, all of this did not go unnoticed by the young McMaster star.

“I wouldn’t be who I am on the pitch without him,” Difeo said. “He made me fall in love with the game.”

DiFeo’s resilience is what separates him from his peers and what gives him the edge in competitions. He will never be the strongest guy on the pitch

Marauders’ Carlo DiFeo is now in his third year with the program and a regular starter SILHOUETTE PHOTO ARCHIVES

or the tallest, but DiFeo has an incredible skill set and an understanding of the game which is unlike no other.

“I wouldn’t be who I am on the pitch without [my Dad]. He made me fall in love with the game.”

Carlo DiFeo Men’s Soccer Team This put him on McMaster’s radar at an early age, where DiFeo was looked at as a potential good fit for the program. Unfortunately for Mac, he decided to stay back for a fifth year of high school where he continued to train with the Ontario provincial team.

DiFeo has had the opportunity to travel the world and play in different countries throughout Europe with the team,

giving him a better look at what international soccer was going to be like.

DiFeo has a knack for finishing what he starts, and his loyalty to the game and his team is a big part of what makes him so successful today. His decision to stay back another year to develop ultimately benefited him and McMaster by the time DiFeo chose to join the team.

“I wanted to play for Mac,” said DiFeo. “I’ve always heard good things about the soccer program and coach Dino [Perri]. It was a team I wanted to be a part of.”

Using his skillset to his advantage, DiFeo always could escape danger by not putting himself in it, which is a lot easier said than done. He is not shy to admit he’s been battling such adversities since he first put on the boots.

“It’s a challenge, especially being a 5’8” midfielder,” DiFeo said. “I played with a group of guys who were taller and stron-

ger. It opened my eyes to the notion that a position is never given, you have to earn your spot. If you’re not playing good that week then you’ll lose your spot and start on the bench. It really opened my eyes to competitive football.”

DiFeo’s most recent challenge came in the form of a position change. He has played most of his life in the number 10 role, an attacking midfielder, and most recently changed to a right fullback.

DiFeo was given a responsibility on the pitch that differed greatly from his usual spot as coach Perri decided to move DiFeo to the fullback role.

The move came as a pleasant surprise for both DiFeo and the McMaster soccer team as he continued to be the most effective player on the pitch.

This opened new avenues for DiFeo outside of McMaster, as he now has found himself a starting role on the Oakville Blue Devils, a successful team in

League 1 Ontario. The position change has allowed DiFeo to become more versatile in attack, giving his coaches a different weapon to use. This has helped him become a regular starter for Oakville which included starting in important matches such as the Canadian Championship final and a match against Frosinone, a top team in Italy.

DiFeo consistently deals with any piece of adversity thrown his way and will continue to strive in the right direction to get to his final goal. With an excellent support system behind him, and a strong soccer program at McMaster, DiFeo is well on his way to a long and successful soccer career.

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