The Silhouette- Dec. 3, 2015

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INSIDE >> NEWS // BDS UPDATE // PAGE 3 >> OPINION // THE WHITE STUDENTS’ UNION EPIDEMIC // PAGE 13 >> LIFESTYLE // LOCAL AND INEXPENSIVE HOLIDAY GIFTS // PAGE 19 >> ANDY // YOUNG MILLENIAL DIGIMON // PAGE 28

The Silhouette Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015

THE MSU REPORT CARD

Ehima& Daniel& Giuliana& Spencer.

We made a list and we checked it twice.

Here are the evaluations of your MSU President and Board of Directors. // PAGE 6

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Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015 McMaster University’s Student Newspaper

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

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Ana Qarri @anaqarri production editor | production@thesil.ca Michael Gallagher @michaelradar online editor | online@thesil.ca Shane Madill @shanemadill sections

Rachel Katz @RachAlbertaKatz news reporter Patrick Kim @patrickmkim news reporter Alex Florescu @alexxflorescu features reporter Daniel Arauz @DanielArauzz opinions editor Talia Kollek @TaliaKollek sports editor Sofia Mohamed @itssofiaAM sports reporter Jaycee Cruz @_jayceecruz lifestyle editor Jason Woo lifestyle reporter Michelle Yeung @yeung_m andy editor Tomi Milos @tomimilos andy reporter Vannessa Barnier @vjbarnier news editor

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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. 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.

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DEC. 8, 1972

City sports wins On Dec. 3, 1972, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats took home their twelfth Grey Cup at Ivor Wynne Stadium. The Silhouette was on the sidelines to capture their 13-10 win against the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

WE’RE HIRING! WANTED: PHOTO REPORTER Are you interested in portrait photgraphy? Do you enjoy interviewing people and love the style of Humans of McMaster?

You can apply to be a photo reporter on the MSU job portal: www.msumcmaster.ca/jobs/397

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015

In this

issue:

McMaster launches new Sexual Violence Response Protocol

The Silhouette

News

Page 5

BDS divestment list still a work in progress

| 3

The Silhouette’s report card on the MSU’s 2015-2016 Board of Directors Pages 6-7

Following a successful campaign at last year’s General Assembly, McMaster’s BDS group aims to have complete divestment list by early next semester Students voted decisively in favour of BDS at the MSU’s General Assembly in March 2015.

C/O ALEX YOUNG

Daniel Arauz Features Reporter

After a long and controversial campaign, the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions campaign’s demands became an official part of the MSU’s purchasing policy following last year’s General Assembly. However, one full term following the vote, the MSU and BDS McMaster have yet to produce a final list of companies to divest from.

The BDS movement identifies itself as a non-violent campaign that seeks to divest from all companies involved in the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories. The campaign was met with opposition from Israeli student groups, and garnered comments from the former Harper government

condemning the movement and its policies as instances of hate crime. However, the BDS campaign at McMaster has been slightly revised, only boycotting companies involved in specific illegal settlements, and not all Israeli companies.

In mid-September, members of the BDS McMaster, a group of about 15 students along with about 200 volunteers, were tasked with forming a comprehensive purchasing list for the MSU. The current MSU vendors list is made up of almost 3,000 companies and individuals that the MSU both purchases and receives money from. Individual BDS members and volunteers researched about 200 different companies each, primarily using online search engines, and occasionally contacting companies to further

inquire about their involvement in occupied territories. The estimated number of companies to be affected by the policy has not been finalized.

BDS McMaster group member Lina Kuffiyeh explained, “This list basically has everything and we have to spend so much time figuring out which companies we should boycott because the list is so huge.” Kuffiyeh expressed the desire for a smaller list from the university that excludes students that have given money to the MSU. While there are no clear plans for future initiatives for the group, Kuffiyeh hopes that the enthusiasm for the campaign will continue after it has been fully implemented. “A lot of students take the BDS movement personally,” stated

Kuffiyeh. “I know it’s personal to me because I still have family back home in Palestine who are directly targeted by the occupation so I hope it continues to resonate with students on campus. I also hope students realize that BDS isn’t just about Israeli occupation, it actually relates to a broader umbrella of ethical purchasing.”

The small group of BDS students are currently verifying the companies that are slated to be boycotted, while also juggling academic responsibilities.

Members of the group are aiming to have the list completed by the end of the school term, or January at the latest. @DanielArauzz

“

I [hope] students realize that BDS isn’t just about Israeli occupation, it actually relates to a broader umbrella of ethical purchasing.

Lina Kuffiyeh BDS McMaster

4 |

NEWS

Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015 | www.thesil.ca

McMaster’s hidden treasures Despite being used by many of McMaster’s faculties, the Lloyd George Reeds Map Collection remains one of the university’s hidden gems The Lloyd George Reeds Map Collection celebrated its 50th anniversary in November.

JON WHITE/PHOTO EDITOR Rachel Katz News Editor

FREE WEEKLY SHUTTLE BUS EVERY TUESDAY STARTING TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 Commons pick-up at 6:00PM | 7:00PM | 8:00PM Final drop off 9:30PM

Mary Keyes pick-up at 6:30PM | 7:30PM | 8:30PM Final drop off 10:00PM

LOOK FOR THE

BIG YELLOW School Bus!

Tucked away in a corner of Mills Library lies one of McMaster’s hidden treasures.

The Lloyd George Reeds Map Collection is home to 130,000 maps, 18,000 aerial photos and 3,000 atlases.

The late Prof. Reeds, who passed away in 2002, was born on a farm near Lindsay, Ontario. He is considered one of the founders of Canadian geography, the subject area he taught in at McMaster for over 30 years. He began gathering maps to supplement his lectures, but his hobby did not become a collection until 1965, when the library system took ownership of the project. Since then, the collection has expanded to serve the needs of many faculties at McMaster.

Gordon Beck, the current Maps Specialist at Mills, is excited to see the range of ways the collection can supplement courses.

“We started off supporting mostly geography, but now with GIS, we're supporting more and more departments not only because of GIS but also because we now have a large format scanner,” Beck explained. The addition of this scanner has helped revive the paper map collection.

Thanks to the digitization project, the collection is more widely accessible than ever before. “We have a lot of environmental assessments that take place here so we also service the community around,” Beck said. “Engineers, lawyers and people from banks, all those types of people will come in to view things we have in the

collection.”

The collection is open to students during the week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., but Beck added, “we're also open to the general public because we do have maps in the collection like topographic maps and other maps that we get from the government, free of charge, on the condition that we make them available to the public.”

Despite being a fairly midsized institution, McMaster boasts what Beck estimates is the third largest map collection in the province, just behind the University of Toronto and Western University. Due to the limited availability of space on campus, the digitization process means some physical maps can be discarded. “[For] the historical collection, we would never get rid of the paper original,” Beck said. Some of the collection’s older specimens are stored in the archives in the basement of Mills so their preservation can be properly regulated.

While Beck feels as though more could be done to promote the physical maps on campus, its online presence has kept the collection relevant. “I think what's happening is that … people are doing searches and they’re finding us through our digital collections,” he said. “As we get more of this stuff in digital format, there are more and more classes that are able to use our material.”

“Pretty much anybody at some point in their life is going to be interested in a piece of land and how it has changed over time,” Beck added. “That interest in temporal studies has helped [the collection] to cut across all faculties.” @RachAlbertaKatz

NEWS

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015

Canadian campus news

New protocol for

supporting survivors

Gabi Herman Contributor

White students unions declared hoax An array of “White Students’ Union” Facebook pages have surfaced, claiming to be affiliated with universities and colleges across North America.

They have no connection to the universities themselves, and have been widely criticized.

Western University has received attention for a “White Students’ Union” group claiming affiliation with the school. A representative from Western wrote in a statement that the page “does not represent any group sanctioned by Western.” A similar page claimed to be affiliated with McMaster last week, but was also revealed to be a hoax

by CBC Hamilton.

University of Ottawa pledges sustainability Last Monday, Nov. 23, the University of Ottawa became the first Canadian university to sign the Montreal Carbon Pledge.

Under the pledge, institutions are committed to reporting the carbon footprint of their portfolios. University of Ottawa has also committed to responsible investments.

Amanda Watkins Editor-in-Chief

McMaster’s Human Rights and Equity Services has just launched the university’s first-ever Sexual Violence Response Protocol.

Spearheaded by Meaghan Ross, the recently hired Sexual Violence Response Coordinator, the protocol is an effort to provide university staff and community members with the information needed when accepting a disclosure about sexual, gender-based or other related violence.

“The response protocol is really about ensuring that survivors who have experienced violence receive a consistent response and a response that is survivor-centered,” said Ross.

The SVRP was developed through two primary initiatives — the work of the Anti-Violence network as well as a joint program between the Sexual Assault Centre of Hamilton and the YWCA, which involved research on current disclosure responses on campus.

“We know that it’s been people’s experiences [on campus] that when they disclose instances of gender-based violence that they could get really good responses or they could unfortunately get very victim or survivor-blaming responses. So it’s meant to provide some clear guidelines about ways to be more consistent in providing responses that really honor what

those survivors are saying,” she said.

The protocol was officially implemented at the end of November with the launch of a website outlining its details as well as references and HRES contact information.

The website also includes a series of important definitions of terms like sexual violence, gender-based violence and survivor-driven response, that are meant to give community members a better understanding of the disclosures they may receive and how to react to them.

The protocol itself has nine bullet-pointed concrete commitments including a “highest priority on survivor safety and ensuring that the campus is welcoming, safe and inclusive for all members of our community” and “Communicating that sexual violence is not — and will not be — tolerated and will be actively addressed on an ongoing basis.”

Ross explained that in particular there were two parts of the protocol that she was impassioned about discussing and including: confidentiality limits and creating a non-judgemental space.

“We know that survivors have come forward to speak to make disclosures, but they haven’t always been informed about what the person receiving the disclosure’s confidentiality limits are. And the difficult thing about that is that survivors start to tell their stories and they don’t know where that informa-

Indigenous studies at University of Winnipeg Starting in September 2016, all incoming undergraduate students will be required to take at least one indigenous studies course. The request for this requirement was brought forward by the Aboriginal Students’ Council and the University of Winnipeg Students’ Association, and was approved unanimously by the university’s senate. University of Winnipeg will become the first university to require an indigenous studies course for students in all faculties.

A screenshot of the SVRP’s new website.

C/O SVRP.MCMASTER.CA

| 5

Human Rights and Equity Services has launched a new initiative to support survivors of sexual violence

tion might go,” she said.

Limits of confidentiality refers to the fact that not every community member has been trained to safe-guard the information they have been provided, and may feel the need to share the information they have been told with someone else who can then in turn deal with the disclosure. Both Ross and the website explained that if someone is coming to you with a disclosure, you need to make it clear to them that their words will remain confidential.

“Folks need to be aware of their limits, and if they have questions about that or they are worried about that then I have a very high level of confidentiality so they can refer it to me,” said Ross.

In terms of creating a non-judgmental space, Ross and HRES want to ensure that those receiving disclosures are not asking any leading questions, or providing inappropriate advice or comments.

“So folks aren’t asking questions about what the survivor did or didn’t do, or making any sort of assumptions about that. And that they also are not providing advice … it really needs to be about the survivor and what makes sense to them,” said Ross.

Ross and HRES will be hosting three information sessions about the SVRP during the upcoming week: Dec. 7 at 12:30 p.m. in MUSC 224 and 5:30 p.m. in MUSC 313, and Dec. 9 at 3:30 p.m. in MUSC

“

The response protocol is really about ensuring that survivors who have experienced violence receive a consistent response and a response that is survivorcentered.

Meaghan Ross Sexual Violence Response Coordinator

224.

The protocol and its corresponding website are both very comprehensive and its existence is a formidable step for McMaster as an inclusive and understanding community.

“It signals a good moment in McMaster’s history, that we’re really saying that we have a commitment to survivors,” said Ross.

“It’s a really good starting place that the university has this commitment.” @whatthekins

6 |

FEATURE

Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015 | www.thesil.ca

MSU REPORT CARD Ehima Osazuwa been notably progressive, and has been characterized by significant promises to improve student equity. These include plans to promote women in governance, improving interfaith accessibility, MSU President introducing more gender-neutral washEhima Osazuwa is the President rooms and updating university and Chief Executive Officer of infrastructure to better serve the McMaster Students Union. the needs of students with As President, Osazuwa acts as visible and invisible disabilities. the key advocate for the student Osazuwa has generally fobody in matters within the cused on better addressing the university and beyond. Osazudiverse needs of the McMaster wa’s vision for the MSU has

community, while also tackling long-term issues such as tuition and diversity.

Communication Osazuwa has still been extremely communicative and accessible when needed. The President uses social media to frequently promote MSU Services and initiatives, and has even started a vlog series about his platform and role within the MSU via their Youtube channel. While this content has not been effectively promoted, it nonetheless provides a more effective way of communicating his platform for those who seek it out.

Fulfilling Job Description So far, Osazuwa has delivered on his promises to improve the McMaster Clubs

infrastructure and increase funding. He has also improved food accessibility by helping to increase Kosher and Halal food options, as well as installing new vending machines in Mills Library.

However, due to the longterm nature of his platform, the majority of the President’s goals are works in progress. The extensive amount of behindthe-scenes work will, for better or worse, will not see their completion or corresponding campaigns until next term.

Tuition 101, MSU Wants You, gender neutral washrooms and OUSA’s provincial advocacy information campaigns are all slated for next semester.

Nonetheless, the President has taken all the necessary steps by meeting with various MSU services, clubs and university administration to tackle those ambitions. Reception to these efforts has been positive overall,

and all parties are satisfied with the level of communication and collaboration.

Time is of the essence for Osazuwa, and he himself admits the difficulties of slow administrative processes when dealing with external parties. Osazuwa identified his frustration, but also stated, “I think my team and I have done a good job managing that time, but we only have 24 hours in a day, right?

There’s only so much you can do in that time, so I think that’s been the biggest challenge.”

B+

Giuliana Guarna A graduate of McMaster Biology, Giuliana Guarna is this year’s VP (Administration).

She previously served on the SRA for two years and has experience with multiple MSU services. As the Chief Administrative Officer for the MSU, Guarna is in charge of overseeing the MSU’s services.

Communication Despite coming from different presidential campaign teams, this year’s Board of Directors seems to mesh seamlessly. For Guarna, this means that she comes to work looking forward to collaborate with people she can rely on.

“In my interactions with past boards, I’ve never seen a team integrate so well together.

We definitely disagree, which is important because how else do we have progress, but I think we are very respectful of each other

and very supportive in every aspect.”

Fulfilling Job Description While Guarna’s platform points remain largely unresolved, she says it is because she has had to adapt to the role, putting platform points on the backburner in order to focus on other issues. For Guarna, this has been the highlight of her term. “I think it’s discovering unexpected areas to improve your portfolio,” she said.

Among the newer projects, Guarna implemented behaviour descriptive interviewing, with the goal of creating a more transparent system in which experience working within the MSU is not as high a priority as skills an applicant learned in a different environment. The process has already been used to hire three PTMs.

Another task she took on later was the creation of a PTM onboarding package, which is distributed to newly hired PTMs as a how-to guide for navigating the early days in their role.

One platform point that did not make it off the page was a checklist for event planners to use to ensure that events are accessible. Monthly feedback forms from PTM also did not make the cut, with the first SRA feedback form being addressed this Sunday and the PTMs undergoing a mid-year evaluation process now. On the other hand, the traditional bi-monthly meetings with PTMs have allowed Guarna to gather feedback while circumventing the tediousness of forms.

While Guarna could not have forseen the factors that led her to refocus her efforts, the vice-presidential candi-

dates are largely chosen based on the merit of their platform. By voting for a candidate, SRA members voice their support for platform points they want to see realized. While VP Administration this could be a flaw of the electoral process, or an issue specific to the role of the VP (Administration), Guarna was ultimately elected on her platform and she will hopefully be able to revisit some of her popular platform points in the next term.

B

FEATURE

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015

| 7

Daniel D’Angela The VP (Finance) is primarily responsible for overseeing the budget of the McMaster Students Union. In addition to the day-to-day finances and responsibilities, the VP (Finance) acts as the chair of the Silhouette Board of Publication, and is expected to involve themselves in projects that relate to the financial standing of the MSU.

Communication One of D’Angela’s major goals as VP (Finance) was to improve the transparency and communication associated with his position.

However, his platform also included a communication strategy surrounding the new health and dental plan, which arguably hasn’t had a significant effect beyond Welcome Week, and a “Budget Townhall” at the

beginning of the year outlining the use of student money, an event with a relatively small turnout.

Despite this, D’Angela has been making a concerted effort to communicate in new and logical ways. SRA members who have worked closely with D’Angela echoed that sentiment, and one noted that he’s been very receptive to working individually with SRA members seeking help with their own year-long goals.

Fulfilling Job Description D’Angela has made significant strides towards completing his platform, and has been most successful so far in improving financial transparency for the Union and for its student representatives. The previously noted

implementations of financial training for SRA members and monthly financial reports are good examples of tangible and sustainable efforts to improve financial literacy.

His biggest project remains in the works however, as he is hoping to implement a multiyear plan to provide solutions for student space on campus.

While this goes beyond the infrastructure expansions planned for MUSC and is currently in a survey-phase, it is unclear how successful this plan will be yet.

“It’s preliminary for me to say what it will exactly look like,” he said. “Getting that information is what I really want to be one of my long-term goals this year so that next year’s team can clearly see ... what’s the best plan.”

Some more ancillary platform points are on sched-

ule, including the improvement and protection of services at the Underground.

D’Angela did note he believes he needs to spend more time working on his platform of improving transit advocacy, but considering that he has been on-schedule with the rest of his platform thus far, it’s fair to expect a similar, consistent effort.

VP Finance

B+

Strides and setbacks Finished

• • • •

MacVotes campaign New PTM hiring process Better food accessibility SRA financial literacy training

Still to complete • • • •

MSU and city of Hamilton employment collaboration Further tuition advocacy and policy Launching Maccess Transit advocacy

Spencer Nestico-Semianiw also elected as the President of the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance, the provincial lobbying organization the MSU belongs to. The Arts and SciVP Education ence student’s initiatives are varied and tackle multiple issues important The VP (Education) portfolio to McMaster students, from is known for the vast range of initiatives it covers. Despite that, federal and provincial advocacy to improving course evaluations Spencer Nestico-Semianiw has for students and faculty. Prior to not only taken on the duties of being elected as the VP (Educathe MSU’s lead advocate, he was

tion), Nestico-Semianiw served as the External Affairs Commissioner for the SRA.

Communication Nestico-Semianiw has so far been very communicative with the MSU at large. He is highly active on social media and responds to correspondence quickly. He has a blog on the MSU website that he updates on a monthly basis, and while he posts links to it on his Twitter account, it could be promoted better, much like Osazuwa’s vlogs. He did mention that internal communication with other members of the BoD had been somewhat problematic.

“I think a challenge that we sometimes have with the board is who is in charge of what as-

pects of a portfolio,” he said.

Fulfilling Job Description Again, much like Osazuwa, many of Nestico-Semianiw’s platform points are still in the process of being implemented.

He has taken on a large portion of the President’s affordable tuition plan, a task he said he was not expecting to play such a large role in organizing. In the time he has held the position of VP (Education), Nestico-Semianiw has organized OUSA’s general assembly, however he hopes to be able to focus more on a collaboration between the MSU and the to encourage Mac grads to work in Hamilton after earning their degrees. “We’ve had a lot of progress on indi-

vidualized work with employment … during our Municipal Advocacy Week we met with city managers and Hamilton Economic Development to talk about more employment issues for the city … but so far nothing has materialized in terms of a comprehensive system,” he explained. Looking towards the new year, Semianiw is faces the challenge of implementing his remaining platform points.

A-

8 |

HUMANS

Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015 | www.thesil.ca

“I gave you $20,000; you gave me 1-ply.” / “1-ply is better than no-ply!” (Burke Science Building)

Jason Lau Photo Reporter

Throughout this term, we’ve been going around campus and encountering random humans from all walks of life. “Humans” has always been known to move beyond the empty “How are you’s?” We’ve been helping people tell their stories, and stimulate more meaningful conversations. But as much as we’ve been able to listen to and learn about their humbling stories, one thing stands out: all of these humans have shared them knowing they would be thrust into the spotlight, that they would be published in our paper. So what happens when people don’t know that their stories will be brought to the limelight?

Does this make their story any less important?

How do people tell their stories when nobody is listening or even looking? These questions are what brought us into countless pungent bathroom stalls and questionable nooks and crannies all around campus, in search of the forgotten stories of McMaster. With the help of photo volunteers Maha Moin and Christina Caldi, here are the highlights of what we found.

“

How do people tell their stories when nobody is listening or looking?

“20 million years from now, a race of alien archaeologists will discover a piece of petrified wood bearing this inscriptions as the only evidence of humanity’s existence.”

(Thode Library)

“After a while you learn the subtle difference between holding a hand and chaining a soul. And you learn that love doesn’t always mean learning.” (Thode Library)

“Secular in flesh but sacred in our sayings / here to circumvent the schemes of the serpents and the slain.” / “Ey yo kid I never shiver when I’m sitting by the river / I got the all black bomber with the letter and the zippers…” (Mills)

“We are like dice. Even if they seem random we can throw ourselves into a certain direction.” (Thode Library)

“To sin is to submit to your fears, and to love is to trust and be at peace with your humanity, expressed as compassion.” (Thode Library)

TOP LOCATIONS FOR PHILOSOPHICAL GRAFFITI?

1. Study Carrels

2. Empty Stairwells

3. Bathroom Stalls

HUMANS

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015

OTHER NOTABLE QUOTES

(Burke Science Building, Togo Salmon Hall, Mills Library, Thode Library)

ONLY AT

@MSU_1280 T W E LV E I G H T Y O W N S T H U R S D AY S .

THURSDAY, DJ HARTBEATZ DECEMBER 3RD WITH:

$4.50 COVER BEFORE 11PM | $9 COVER AFTER 11PM

DOORS OPEN AT 9:30PM $4 DOMESTIC BEER | $4 RAILS (VODKA, RUM, RYE, & GIN)

| 9

Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015 | www.thesil.ca

The McMaster Students Union

PRESIDENT’S PAGE

Students are the most financially invested stakeholders on this campus.

Each year, the University generates over $1 billion in revenue, with more of this funding coming from students than from any other single source.

Each year McMaster receives approximately 40% of its operating budget from tuition, as well as more than 7% from ancillary business units such as Hospitality and Conference Services. Both of these revenue streams are largely funded by undergraduate students, which is why the MSU believes that the university should better align its spending to reflect its role as a student-centered institution.

Later this month, the Board of Directors, on behalf of the MSU, will submit a list of budget recommendations to the University, in order for the 2016-17 budget to better reflect student priorities. The recommendations prior-

itize three key areas of investment for the University: financial accessibility, increased paid TA training, and increased investment in student space.

We propose that some of the costs of these initiatives be defrayed by freezing the salaries of staff on the Ontario Sunshine List at inflation.

Ontario is already the most financially inaccessible province in post-secondary education. Among other financial accessibility measures, the Board of Directors that the University work with the MSU as we actively lobby the provincial government for a fully funded tuition freeze. A freeze would improve financial accessibility for students while protecting institutional excellence and program quality.

Additionally, the Board proposes that the University move its student financial assistance funding away from merit scholarships toward needbased grants. Specifically, we recommend that the University reallocate more than $1 million from the Senate Scholarships and the Hooker Scholarships, as well as over $2 million from the McMaster entrance scholarships.

We propose that these funds be redirected to the McMaster bursary program, which would benefit thousands of students in financial need.

The MSU believes that TAs play a vital role in education. For this reason, we believe that the University should fund a minimum of three additional hours of paid TA training. This additional training could focus on teaching quality, mental

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.

health sensitivity, and other important institutional initiatives. The increased training would cost the University $250,000, representing an increase of only 0.04% of the University’s total staffing expenses.

To pay for these initiatives, we propose that McMaster freeze the salaries of all staff on the Sunshine List: that is, all salaries over $100,000 per year would

grow only at the rate of inflation. The University spends roughly $634 million per year, or 61% of its total operating expenses, on faculty/staff salaries, pensions, and benefits. Over five years, a Sunshine List salary freeze would save over $22 million, maintaining annual inflationary increases of roughly 2%. This change would prevent exorbitant salaries from monopolizing the University budget, leaving more funds available to benefit students.

The MSU’s budget submission will be available in full via msumcmaster.ca by the end of the month.

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015

The Silhouette | 11

Editorial Faces like mine Amanda Watkins Editor-in-Chief

There are two university staff members that I see everyday who look like me. They are both women, and they are both very soft-spoken. We don’t ever exchange more than a “Hello” with one another, but between us there seems to be an unspoken agreement that we acknowledge and respect one another’s work. It’s not often that I see university staff faces with a similar bone structure to mine, the same skin colour as mine, or whispered hints of accents and languages that remind me of my family and my ancestors. But, I see these traits in these two women, and for that, they are the closest things to visual role models I have on campus.

Both of these people are custodial staff, and for the most part, they are the only staff members on campus that I have seen with faces like mine.

It is alarming to me that the only adult faces I see like mine on campus are the ones that are forced to work behind the scenes, not the ones actively being portrayed as representatives of our

university. During my time as an undergraduate at McMaster, I only ever had one minority professor, and I was only ever taught by her for one of my four years. When it comes to minority women on campus, the message I get is quite clear: your role is best served in service, unless you’re willing to try and beat the odds.

I’m happy to have the role models that I do on campus, our service staff work hard for our campus and community.

But I hate that I very rarely see these same role models at the heads of classrooms and hosting office hours — the same roles that I would like to see for myself and my sisters.

Where’s my big family of Asian, Latin, Black, Brown, Middle Eastern and Indigenous female professors waiting to welcome me into their academic arms?

Where’s my professors who look like me and who are happy to look like me and want me to learn from their visual example?

According to a 2010 study by the Canadian Association of University Teachers, only 17 percent of university faculty were minorities, without a report of how many of those were women. This may seem representative given that Canada has,

+ 3 FREE COKE

minority woman who is filling a job that, aside from a single digit number of exceptions in our 85-year history, has consistently been held by white people (and only 12 of those white people being women).

With this being said, it is part of my intrinsic nature of holding this position to feel a need to represent my sisters of all colours and try to be the professional role model many of them have yet to encounter on campus.

In general, I see a variety of colours and cultures on campus, but very rarely do I see them outside of our student body and our service staff. At this point, I don’t even care if I see professors and staff who are the same genre of minority as me, I just want to see more than one person representing minority women from the side of faculty.

So McMaster, I get that you’re trying, and I know that we work hard to promote a diverse campus, but I’d like to propose a New Year’s resolution for you: let’s get a female university staff in a range of colours — I want to see women of colour on campus clearing off chalk boards for more than one reason.

“

It is alarming to me that the only adult faces I see like mine on campus are the ones that are forced to work behind the scenes, not the ones actively being portrayed as representatives of our university.

@whatthekins

to fresh new water bottles.

to pocketless pitas.

to tunnels.

to Kevin.

to a wonderful term 1 staff.

to pocketed pitas.

to J.L., you will be missed, but have an amazing exchange!

to cultural pita expectations.

to a lack of response to impressive emails.

the face of Orange Wilson.

+3 TOPPINGS

according to the last census, a population consisting of 20 percent minority citizens, but how is this percentage of staff distributed through the university? Does one faculty have more exposure to minority role models than another? Another disappointing statistic comes in the form of unemployment research. The largest group of unemployed professors in Canada is those of female visible minorities, with eight percent unemployment — a sizeable feat compared to the roughly four percent unemployment running across their male and white counterparts.

It isn’t a matter of there simply not being enough racialized women with PhDs and credentials; we know they’re out there, they are just not being hired as much as other groups.

Even when I was hired for my job and then was hiring positions for this paper, I heard one of our former staff members say blatantly sexist and racist micro-aggressions about hiring multiple women of colour (FYI, they asked “are we hiring too many?”).

I hold a position of power among my student body, and I acknowledge that. I am a

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Abilities AbiliTEAS

Bridges - Health Sciences Musical - Cabaret Night

MSU Presidential Election Nominations

When: December 03, 2015 from

When: December 04, 2015 from

When: December 01, 2015 at 12:00PM

06:30PM until 08:00PM

07:30PM until 10:30PM

until January 15, 2016 at 05:00PM

Where: MUSC 204

Where: Bridges

Where: McMaster University

MSU Diversity Services’ Abilities pillar

Come join the Health Sciences Musical

Nominations for the MSU Presidential

has a weekly series called AbiliTEAS! If

for Cabaret Night, a holiday-themed

Election will be opening this December

you are a student with a disability, we

night of music and fun in Bridges Cafe! It

1st 2015 at noon!

will be offering snacks, resources and

will be a great evening of performances

The President is one of the most

peer support in a space where you can

with all different singers and sounds. All

important roles in deciding the direction

bond over lived experience and engage

donations will go to supporting the arts in

of the MSU and will be elected at large

in meaningful dialogue. The event will be

Hamilton! Contact aroras25@mcmaster.ca

by the students. If you are interested in

taking place in the WGEN office, MUSC

for more information!

running, find nomination forms on the

204, from 6:30pm-8:00pm Come join in on a supportive space!

Feminism 1A03

Elections page during the nomination period at: https://www.msumcmaster.

When: December 06, 2015 from 12:00PM

ca/services-directory/31-elections-

Bridges - Mac Soup Kitchen Coffeehouse

until 03:00PM

department/presidential-election

Where: MDCL

Be sure to submit your forms before 5pm

When: December 03, 2015 from 08:00PM

A 3 hour workshop looking at:

until 11:00PM

Intersectionality, trans rights, sexual assault

Where: Bridges Cafe

and gender based violence, cons to popular feminism.

A showcase of musical talent for charity with live music and free food. Donations are welcome. Contact murraj8@mcmaster. ca for more information!

When: December 07, 2015 from 08:00PM

Macappella Term Concert

Where: Bridges Cafe

When: December 03, 2015 from 08:30PM

To finish off the Spark semester with one

until 08:30PM

Spark-wide group activity (coffeehouse) and

Where: Westside Baptist Church,

on a high note for students.

Tickets are $7 and open to all!

GOOD LUCK ON EXAMS!

Bridges - MSU Spark Closing Ceremonies until 10:30PM

Hamilton

on January 15th 2016.

VISIT: msumcmaster.ca/calendar to view the full calendar of events!

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015

The Silhouette | 13

Opinion D E T C E

J E R

Dear white students unions*: disband There is no need for this group on campus Kyle MacDonald Contributor

I am white. When I work on my family’s genealogical records or listen to the folk music that links me to my far-flung relatives, I immerse myself in the stories of white people, but I do not know of anyone who would claim that these are racist practices. We should all be able to engage with our origins and identities.

Unlike these practices, the White Students Unions that have recently surfaced at a number of Canadian universities , including McMaster, are not so benign. The idea of whiteness does not provide a valuable framework within which to understand oneself or the world; rather, it perpetuates violent and divisive untruths that we need to scrub from our discourse.

There are better ways to discuss and understand European identities. These White Students’ Unions should acknowledge the lies on which they are founded and disband immediately.

I am not going to retell the

history of racism, which has been told many times by people far more qualified. Let it suffice for me to say that white people as a group have little in common that is worth preserving.

My ancestors and their countrymen created the notion of whiteness in order to set themselves above their neighbours, for the express purpose of subjugating people of colour by force of arms, in order to carry out the exploitative missions of empire and slavery.

When groups of white students try to create “white spaces,” the standard response is that every space is dominated by white people. This is true, but it misses a point that must be resolved if the whiteness movement is going to die: to white people, common spaces don’t feel white, because being white doesn’t feel like anything.

To be white in North America feels largely as it should feel to be human: free to go where one wants and say what one thinks, without fear of violent exclusion. We are numb by design: white people are free to be

individuals in public, not forced to represent our nationalities or ethnic groups, precisely because racism designates white as normal. As a result, we are able to forget where we come from.

Despite the legacy of colonialism, European ancestry is not inherently shameful. On the contrary, I am proud of my roots from Ireland and Scotland to Poland and Greece. But I am proud of these places individually, because of my family’s small part in their rich histories, not because they are each mostly white. I have no German ancestry; as such, despite the whiteness of its population, I care about Germany in the same way that I care about Uganda or Thailand: as a historically and contemporarily important nation with a beautiful, complicated legacy that does not directly involve me.

Moreover, I am more Canadian than European. My father’s Scottish ancestors settled in Nova Scotia’s Margaree Valley.

Some of my relatives still live there, an afternoon’s drive from Halifax. As a result, I am far

closer in history to the eviction of Black Nova Scotians from Africville than to the recent Scottish independence movement.

The idea of whiteness not only obliterates the distinctions between groups of European descent, but also makes arbitrary, indefensible decisions about who is white or European. The truth is that Europe is a construction, like whiteness or like binary gender: useful perhaps for drawing a broad outline of the world, but always doomed to fail when examined closely, and in many cases completely useless even as a starting point. As far as the Mediterranean is concerned, the Danube, the Nile, and the Suez Canal all carry the same water and end up in the same place: as rain over Athens or Tripoli, no colour but that of the sky.

To those white students who feel alienated from their cultural identities, I urge you to ask your grandparents to tell you their stories. Read history books for context. Learn the languages of your ancestors.

“

White people as a group have little in common that is worth preserving.

Learn to cook the food they ate.

Sing their songs. Understand the strengths and the flaws of their worldviews. Reach out to other students and community members who genuinely share your heritage. Find ways to rejoice in its beauty together.

Use it to make this campus more accessible to those whom racism works to exclude.

To anyone involved in a White Students’ Union: give your head a vigorous shake.

Delete the Facebook group and acknowledge your errors. You won’t lose anything by sacrificing whiteness.

*After this article was written it was discovered that this trend was a hoax. Despite this, we still believe this article offers a unique perspective. For more information on the trend, see page 5.

14 |

OPINION

Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015 | www.thesil.ca

King Street, a business and residential area dominated by students near campus.

Studentification is gentrification

THE SILHOUETTE ARCHIVES

“Student ghettos” are bad for both students and local residents Sophie Geffros Contributor

“

Students have a responsibility to our neighbourhoods, and to our city.

Community members in Westdale and Ainslie Wood are right to be concerned about the continued growth of so-called “student ghettos” in those neighbourhoods. Given that an increase in student residents leads to higher rents, fewer single family homes and an increase in high-end expensive retail outlets, it is hard to see this growth in its current form as anything other than gentrification in a mortarboard.

One of the great tragedies of gentrification is the rate at which it forces the elderly out of homes they have lived in all their lives. This is partially caused by the fact that businesses no longer cater to them — why bother when there are thousands of young people with

ample disposable income — and partially by the rapid increase in the cost of living in a gentrifying neighbourhood. Since 2006 the population of Westdale over the age of 65 has decreased dramatically.

Ainslie Wood encompasses the area east of Osler, south of McMaster, and west of Longwood. A longstanding working class neighbourhood, the majority of the low rises and single-family homes were built after World War II to provide housing for veterans and widows. Many of the single-family homes were sold to veterans in the post-war period for a dollar.

Unlike Westdale, it remained a strong working class neighbourhood until well into the 21st century — only recently has the number of student occupants overtaken traditional residents.

Many community members have expressed the opinion that the closing of Prince Philip School and the construction of a 15-room student house sound a death knell for the neighbourhood.

To understand how the 18 to 24 year old population of Ainslie Wood could increase from approximately 15 percent in 2001 to 45 percent in 2012, we first need to look at McMaster University’s full-time undergraduate enrollment numbers, which have increased by 129 percent since 2001. In that time, the student population has more than doubled. In the 2009 Campus Capacity Report, it was noted that there exists a 30 percent student housing deficit, meaning that there is not space for 30 percent of students who apply for student housing. In that same period, rents in Westdale Village increased by over 20 percent. In their rush to cater to wealthy students, Westdale landlords had effectively made it very difficult for students — or anyone else — to live there.

Rents have increased in Hamilton as a whole over the past five years, no doubt in part due to the two percent vacancy rate in the city. Since 2012, the waitlist for social housing in Hamilton has increased by six percent. At present, there are 6,000 households waiting for placement in city housing.

Many of those households are currently waiting in shelters

or in accommodation that is unsafe for human habitation.

One of the most common complaints about gentrification is the way that gentrifiers move into a neighbourhood, raising the rents and changing the cultural landscape, and then leave.

35 percent of the residents of Westdale and Ainslie Wood moved there within the last five years.

Ironically, student renters are victims of this gentrification as much as they are perpetrators of it. It is not unusual to see single rooms in student houses be rented for 500 or even 700 dollars — rents that would fetch a onew or two-bedroom apartment on the East Mountain and in Stoney Creek. It’s no wonder that over the past ten years, the non-student population of Westdale and Ainslie Wood has decreased to one third of its previous size.

Students have a responsibility to our neighbourhoods, and to our city. It doesn’t benefit anyone to have the elderly and families with children pushed out of neighbourhoods so that unscrupulous landlords can charge outrageous rents to students. I cannot tell you how many times I have seen and heard these students express disdain towards living in the city centre or in the east end, and by extension, towards the residents who already live there.

There is a pervasive perception of the downtown and the east end as dirty and dangerous, and not places where university students should even think of renting. It’s classism in its purist form.

Regardless of what neighbourhood you rent in, students must start thinking of ourselves as residents of a city. Neighbourhoods around the university are not de facto McMaster dorms, they are established communities with vibrant histories. Students must be more interested in integrating into communities, in supporting local initiatives around gentrification and transit justice, and in living with the local residents rather than displacing them. If we don’t, we can’t act surprised when locals object to more student housing in their neighbourhoods.

OPINION | 15

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015

My war on Christmas Talia Kollek Opinions Editor

I have completely different feelings towards the holidays than my father. It has never bothered him when someone wishes him a Merry Christmas. “I’m not offended if someone wishes me happy birthday when it isn’t my birthday,” he used to tell me, “What harm can extra good will do?”

I, on the other hand, despise December. Every sprig of mistletoe, every nativity scene and every adorned tree drives me up the wall. As one of the few Jewish students at my high school I ran a campaign to get music other than Christmas carols played over the PA system in the mornings.

When someone asks me what I’m doing for Christmas I will reply — at times, coldly — that I do not celebrate. Although on principle I haven’t seen any movies starring the Grinch, I’ve been told that my attitude is comparable.

I fully recognize that I am biased, but you should understand that my resentment is not unfounded. While other kids my age associated Christmas with gift from Santa, I was left wondering why he hadn’t also visited my house. As a child of European and Israeli parents, the promised eight days of gifts for Jewish children was not a reality for me. This isn’t to say that I now feel hard done by it; I had more than enough toys to keep me busy growing up, but it meant that I wondered what I had done wrong to receive the proverbial lump of coal.

Presuming that it was a lack of chimney, my mother explained the truth to me when she found me trying to make a tree out of cardboard and a green magic marker. Finding out that I was different from other kids in something that is often portrayed as a ubiquitous experience hit hard.

I relate to, and feel sorry for, the fictional Anthony Goldstein, the only Jewish character in the Harry Potter books, who would have most likely felt as alienated as I did The author advises that you not make a dreidel, or Jewish spinning top, out of clay, as it will break.

C/O WHEATANDTARES.ORG

when watching all the witches and wizards around him celebrate a holiday that easily took up one or two whole chapters of each book. I feel even sorrier for all of the Jewish kids, myself included, who weren’t able to picture themselves at Hogwarts as a result. I can suspend disbelief in allowing for charms and hippogriffs, but being Jewish is such a large part of my identity that I can’t envision my magical self as being anything but.

Anthony, much like myself, would have had a lot of experience being looked to as the token representative of Hanukah, or as it has often been described to me, “Jewish Christmas.”

Every time a Hanukah song was played at an assembly — inevitable the hateful and nonsensical “dreidel dreidel” — people would look to me as if to say “is this what your religion looks like? Have we made you feel included yet?” The truth is that I feel no connection to the Hanukah songs often played by Gentiles.

To start, none of my holiday tunes growing up were in English, and if you made a dreidel out of clay, I guarantee you that it would break. If you are going to include a token Jewish song, please at least just do it justice.

This type of clumsy attempt at inclusion tends to just make me feel worse.

Perhaps even more upsetting to me than hearing “Jewish” songs I don’t know is knowing the Christmas ones a little too well. You can only live in Canada for so long before you absorb Christmas knowledge, and for me growing up, that was carols. It never ceases to disturb me that I know more tunes about the birth of Jesus than I do about the victory of the Maccabees. I feel extreme guilt over being more assim-

ilated than not, but there is little that I can do about it.

Every time I get “Silent

As a Jewish kid who grew up in a Gentile neighbourhood, I hate December Night” or “Deck the Halls” stuck in my head it is a reminder that this holiday does not belong to me, but that I can’t help but be involved in it whether I want to be or not.

Thus this December I have a simple request: please stop assuming that Christmas is a universal experience.

Any holiday with “Christ” in its name is nowhere near secular enough for the entire population to be cele-

“

Although on principle I haven’t seen any movies starring the Grinch, I’ve been told that my attitude is comparable.

brating. Please stop tokenizing our holiday in half-hearted attempts at inclusion, because as the kids who know the truth about Santa long before you do, this affects us more than you’d like to believe. @TaliaKollek

Hey, Present your valid McMaster I.D. on

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16 |

OPINION

Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015 | www.thesil.ca

Discrimination won’t lead to security The new refugee plan screens out single men for no logical reason Sunanna Bhasin Opinions Columnist

As the refugee crisis continues, with thousands of people fleeing crisis in the Middle East. Canada has been proactive in taking steps to accept Syrian refugees despite citizens’ concerns over security after the horrific Paris attacks orchestrated by ISIS. While it is in Canadian spirit to be accepting and receive these refugees with open arms, there is also the appropriate way of doing so. Trudeau has faced criticism regarding his

original plan to bring in 25,000 Syrians by the end of this year, with 51 percent of Canadians disapproving of his plan to settle Syrians across Canada.

Since the backlash, Trudeau has backtracked but not necessarily in the most diligent manner.

The new refugee settlement plan consists of accepting 25,000 Syrians by the end of February 2016, but the most controversial and illogical aspect of the new plan is the rejection of unaccompanied or single straight adult men.

In an interview with CBC, Trudeau claims that Canada

will not be accepting single adult men right away because he claims that the most vulnerable should be given priority.

While he says this decision is not final, his statement raises the question of whether vulnerability is really the reason for this decision? If it is, then are these young, single men not more vulnerable to recruitment

by ISIS? If one of Canada’s goals is to put an end to ISIS’ terror, then openly discriminating against single Syrian men is not the best way of showing support. In fact, this decision could have serious implications

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If one of Canada’s goals is to put an end to ISIS’ terror, then openly discriminating against single Syrian men is not the best way of showing support.

in terms of who ISIS chooses to target during their enrolment process, because the men who feel excluded by a country that claims to be all-embracing may be more inclined to find a home with the terror group. This is not as far-fetched an idea as it may seem, considering the propaganda ISIS uses to draw men and women in. They are made to feel wanted and accepted. This new adjustment to Trudeau’s plan is short-sighted and illogical because it can be argued that single men are just as vulnerable as single women.

Perhaps their vulnerabilities manifest differently, but they exist nonetheless.

Another explanation could be that Trudeau’s exclusion of single men is for security reasons. There is a great concern among many Canadians that a mass movement of Syrian refugees into the country could allow terrorists to slip under the radar. Yet, while it may be more common to see male ISIS

members in online propaganda videos and on the ground initiating attacks, it is wrong to assume that single men are the most high-risk. Even though the Canadian government has not directly said that this is the reason for excluding single Syrian males, it surely sends a questionable message. Not only is it wrong to discriminate against single men, while men who have families are welcome, it is naïve to think that these men are the only ones capable of working for ISIS undercover and spreading terror in Canada. In fact, one of the suicide bombers in the Paris attacks was 26-year-old female Hasna Aitboulahcen, who also opened fire on police when they approached her flat, with a Kalashnikov assault rifle.

Experts have said that the risk of a terrorist getting into Canada during refugee settlement is slim, but even if it is a concern it should not manifest itself as discrimination against one gender over the other. The reality is that yes, there are risks associated with accepting a large number of refugees in a short period of time. However, a better way of responding to Canadians’ criticisms is to extend the timeline of Syrian integration into Canada. They can still be protected abroad during the process, but there is value in ensuring the settlement of refugees is done in a safe, controlled manner without leaving one group in the dust with no firm promise of acceptance in the near future.

Below: Prime Minister Trudeau plans to bar single male Syrian refugees from entering Canada.

C/O CTV NEWS

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015

The Silhouette | 17

Lifestyle THE SKINNY

New

Michelle Yeung Lifestyle Reporter

coffee

Artist doctors photos of the Kardashian clan

shop on the block:

Artist Alexsandro Palombo doctored photos of high-profile women, including Kim Kardashian and Kendall Jenner, for a domestic violence campaign. In the photos, the women were bruised and beaten, inciting outrage from the subjects and the public.

Saint

James

Star Wars: The Force of Body Shaming

Carrie Fisher, also known as Princess Leia Organa from the original Star Wars trilogy, claimed that she was asked to lose a significant amount of weight for the reprisal of her role in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Despite the movie’s progressive nature, the comment made against Fisher is yet another example of body shaming aginst women in Hollywood. Would Harrison Ford be chastised for gaining a couple pounds?

We know the answer to that.

Never let go (of hope), Leonardo DiCaprio

With the awards season approaching in the new year, Oscar buzz has already begun. Unlike previous years, there is no front-runner for best picture; there is, however, talk that this might be Leo’s year for best actor for his work in The Revenant.

Does the Academy have a heart? We will soon find out.

C/O SAINT JAMES EATERY INSTAGRAM

Sonia Leung Contributor

Bound by a passion for coffee and food, close friends Dave and Rocky poured their hearts into Saint James Espresso Bar & Eatery, Hamilton’s newest cafe.

Having gleaned much from the community, they decided to give back to the city that contributed so much to their lives. Snuggled in the middle of the art district on James Street North, Saint James has a lot to offer. Be sure to try their stateof-the-art steampunk coffee, only available in three other locations in Ontario.

When I visited the café in mid-November, its doors had only been open for a month.

Saint James is already making a name for itself, inviting locals in with their one-of-a-kind coffee vibe. As you enter their cozy establishment, you are greeted by an open kitchen where they bare it all. The seating layout is refreshingly different: there is only one big table where strang-

ers gather and become strangers no more, an optimistic injection of camaraderie between Hamiltonians. The co-founders have witnessed meaningful connections form between customers with their bold floor plan. “We want to be like a living room where people come in and relax and we’ve started to carve that, I think,” muses Rocky.

The “Saint” component of their title refers to the fondness and respect the founders have for the downtown hub that James Street North has become. Being a neighbour in the neighbourhood is their motto-as we wandered in conversation over a cup of Steampunk coffee, Dave and Rocky would casually wave to a regular customer or the truck driver cruising by on the road. It’s smiles all around at Saint James, and I want to get in on it.

True to their down-toearth vibe, Dave and Rocky were eager to share their inspirations and passions. ...

How did you get into coffee?

“I was at Detour and one of their guys, Jeff, who’s awesome, pulled an espresso shot [for me]. On my motorcycle ride home, I still tasted it and I thought to myself, ‘this is just not possible.’ I’ve had [multiple] experiences like this with coffee that made me want to learn how to make good coffee.”

What is your favourite menu item on the menu?

“Right now the clear winner is the Drive Thru sandwich. It’s like a sausage muffin with a hashed brown in the sandwich.

People love bacon, people love sausage, people love eggs, so we put it all in a sandwich. It’s our overall number one best seller.

People even get it for dinner!”

What is steampunk coffee?

“It’s based on a filter, but it uses

steam, which extracts a lot more flavour. Then, at the end of the cycle, it uses what’s similar to a siphon, so it uses a vacuum to suck out the flavour. The great thing about steampunk is that as it cools down, the flavour profile changes and you start to notice more notes. [The steampunk machine] does tea really well too, so eventually we’ll dabble with tea.”

“It’s a good time to be a Hamiltonian,” says Rocky fondly. Indeed it is. Just over a decade ago, this street was lifeless. It is now the art district of Hamilton, with the hustle and bustle of independent boutiques, galleries, restaurants and coffee shops. Now, more than ever, is a good time to be in the Steel City. “You don’t have to go to Toronto for good food or coffee anymore,” Rocky enthuses, and he’s right. Come by for the Drive Thru sandwich and a cup of steampunk coffee for a taste of Hamilton.

18 |

LIFESTYLE

Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015 | www.thesil.ca

Recipes for the holiday season Ingredients

Alice Li Contributor

Candy Cane Hearts

Santa Hat Brownies

1. Place two candy canes facing each other (to create a heart shape) on parchment paper.

2. Melt white chocolate and dark chocolate in separate bowls.

3. Load the melted chocolate into a piping bag, or a ziplock bag and cut an opening in the corner.

4. Squeeze the chocolate out until it fills the bottom half of

1. Use a small round cutter and retrieve 12-16 circles from your favourite batch of brownies.

2. Cut 12-16 small strawberries, cleaned and hulled, then slice of the base of the strawberry so the bottom is flat.

3. Make buttercream. i. Mix one stick of unsalted butter with eight ounces of mascarpone cheese until light and creamy.

Candy Cane Hearts • • •

two candy canes (per serving) white and dark chocolate sprinkles

Santa Hat Brownies • • • • • • •

12-16 circular brownies 12-16 strawberries one stick of unsalted butter 8 oz mascarpone cheese two teaspoons vanilla extract three cups of powdered sugar salt

the candy heart. Refrigerate until it hardens.

5. Layer the other kind of chocolate on top, and fill the chocolate heart fully.

6. Before the top layer hardens, top with sprinkles of your choice Refrigerate until it hardens.

Attention McMaster Students!

You are entitled to $600 in dental coverage.

ii. Add two teaspoons vanilla extract, a pinch of salt, and three cups of powdered sugar. iii. Mix well until desired consistency.

4. Layer a ring of buttercream on top of each brownie, top with a strawberry with light pressure to secure it in place.

5. Top the tip of strawberry with a bit of buttercream to finish the look of a Santa hat!

Did You Know?

Full time students enrolled in 18 units or more are entitled to $600 in dental coverage from Sept.

1st to August 31st.

FREE* Take-home Teeth Whitening Kit. * with the completion of your new patient exam and professional cleaning appointment.

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LIFESTYLE

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015

SECRET SANTA

GIFT GUIDE LOCAL HAMILTON GIFTS

| 19

Having troubles finding a gift for that special someone who isn’t really that special, you just pulled their name out of a hat? Follow our suggestions for the perfect local economy enhancing and inexpensive options

Amanda Watkins Editor-in-Chief

^

Help your Secret Santa recipient jazz up their dorm or student house with a Jelly Brothers neighbourhood map print. They have all of Hamilton as well as custom locations.

Mixed Media, 126 James North, $20

^

This beaultiful graphic novel by local illustrator David Collier chronicles all the streets and hot spots that have helped make Hamilton home.

Bryan Prince Bookseller, 1060 King West, $19

^

As you’ve probably gathered from the coverage of cafes in our paper, Hamilton has a pretty bumping coffee scene. Detour and Relay are just two of many sellers roasting their own beans and selling by the bag. Relay Coffee Concession, 590 Concession, $18; Detour Cafe,

41 King West, $8-18

Few generic Secret Santa gifts will be as well-received as fresh, delicious farmer’s market creations. Clockwise from top left: Henry Brown’s small batch ice cream comes in flavours like London Fog, Salted Caramel, Peppermint Candy Cane and more. Hamilton Farmer’s Market, 35 York, Half-litre, $9; A fresh baguette from Genuine’s Bread House Bakery, because bread is the best. Also from Hamilton Farmer’s Market, $4; A half-dozen of uniquely flavoured donuts from Donut Monster. Also from Hamilton Farmer’s Market or the Mustard Seed Co-op, 460 York, $18; Fresh homemade Hewitt’s or Harmony egg nog. Also from the Mustard Seed Co-op, $3-8

Jeniffer LaGrasse Contributor

^

INEXPENSIVE CROWD PLEASERS

^

There are tons of cute tea infuser’s that are perfect for the tea lover in your life.

David’s Tea, $10-15

There are so many great classic board games that are cheaply priced and loved by all.

Walmart, tons of great classic games for less than $20.00

^

^

Every student house could always use more shot glasses.

Mason Jar Shot Glasses, Pier 1 Imports, $19.95

These are a must have! They are magnetic words that can be used to create hilarious phrases on the fridge.

Chapters’ “The Happiness Kit,” $15.00 or “The Obscenities” from Amazon, $15.95

HMV, The Walking Dead, $17.99

^

^

With the New Year around the corner from holiday celebrations, everyone could use a new calendar with their favourite TV show characters on it!

20 |

LIFESTYLE

Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015 | www.thesil.ca

Horoscopes: Exam edition

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21 - Feb. 19): You are going to watch a cute dog video. You will find it hilarious and your day will be brightened.

But this is a lie. You’re still going to fail your exam.

PISCES (Feb. 20 - Mar. 20): Don’t eat fish. It’s cannibalism and you’re going to have mad gas and diarrhea in your exam. And then you’ll be on Spotted @ Mac and your asshole friend is going to tag you.

ARIES (March 21 - April 20): You are blessed with ability to cram this month. Please save all your studying for the 15 minutes before the test for maximum effect.

TAURUS (Apr. 21 - May 21): Take a shower, not because it’s refreshing, but because you reek of sadness and failure. Also you smell like shit. Please have some consideration for the people around you.

GEMINI (May 22 - Jun. 21): The gods are shining a warm light on you this month. Feel free to wear shorts and tank tops outside. It’s not cold. Your mind is simply still adjusting.

CANCER (Jun. 22 - Jul. 23): Now is definitely the time to pick up a new hobby or skill, like knitting scarves with pictures of cats or how to hack into the school system to set off all the fire alarms.

LEO (July 24 - Aug. 23): People will be really empathetic for you this month.

You should definitely just try crying on the floor outside your professor’s office.

VIRGO (Aug. 24 - Sept. 23): Your Netflix account is going to freeze. Maybe try “Study N’ Chill?” Nothing like some hard textbooks to get you sweating.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 - Oct. 23): Mind planet Mercury is in retrograde (or anterograde? I’m not sure) which means you’re going mess up on your test. Guess you’re out of luck.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22): You love telling people that you’re screwed for exams when you’ve made all your notes. Please refrain from telling people this, not only because it makes you a douche, but also because someone’s gonna spit in your food.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 - Dec. 21): You actually still reading these? Christ, stop procrastinating. Get your shit together.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 - Jan. 20): Your computer’s going to break randomly and all your notes will be lost. Don’t bother trying to back your files up; your usb is also going to combust.

Jason Woo Lifestyle Editor

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www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015

CROSSWORD

21. Incantation 23. Royal domain 25. Exclude 27. Eden man 28. Thorny bloom 29. Held on to 32. Hawaiian garlands 34. Tool house 37. Pharmacy item 38. Cowboy ____ Autry 39. Boundary 41. Sports ring 42. India’s continent 43. Letter after gamma 45. More regretful 48. Treat for kitty 50. Felt 52. Syrup tree 53. Spouse’s kin (hyph.)

54. Expiate 56. ____ Witherspoon of “Just Like Heaven” 57. Prevent 59. Storm centers 61. Mother horse 62. Eye part 63. Mediocre grades 66. Lease

ACROSS 1. Defame 6. Summer treats 10. Dunks 14. Love dearly 15. Small pie 16. Opera highlight 17. Actor Roger ____ 18. Pronounce indistinctly 19. Chimed 20. Changes 22. Musical comedy 24. Banished one 26. Chunk of eternity 27. Biblical ship 30. Actress ____ Moore 31. Companion 33. Achieves 35. Little white ____ 36. Shelflike rock 40. Paving material 42. Respected 44. Parking timer 45. NNW’s opposite 46. Made vocal music 47. Kwanzaa’s mo.

49. Greases 51. Gosh!

52. “Mamma ____!”

55. Told (a story) 58. Aardvark 60. Weak 64. Scheme 65. Astronaut ____ Armstrong 67. Fixed gaze 68. Highway division 69. Got it! (2 wds.)

70. Spooky 71. Flock females 72. Sassy 73. Gown

| 21

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7. Dieter’s unit 8. Explode 9. Actress Meryl ____ 10. Challenge 11. Incensed 12. Spotted horse 13. Astronomer Carl ____

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Which late professor, also known as a founder of Canadian geography, started the map collection at McMaster?

_____________________________________________ What’s the name of the New Zealand team that recently produced a modern day adaptation of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing?

_____________________________________________ What unique coffee brewing method has the new Saint James cafe brought to Hamilton?

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www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015

The Silhouette | 23

Sports Balanced barrage lifts Mac Behind double-digit scorers, McMaster handily beats Guelph 99-77 to end 2015

LEAGUE AT LARGE Men’s Basketball CIS Top Ten 6. McMASTER 7. CALGARY 8. WESTERN 9. UBC 10. THOMPSON RIVERS

1. OTTAWA 2. CARLETON 3. McGILL 4. BROCK 5. RYERSON

Women’s Basketball CIS Top Ten 1. SASKATCHEWAN 2. McGILL 3. RYERSON 4. SAINT MARY’S 5. McMASTER

6. REGINA 7. BROCK 8. LAVAL 9. ALBERTA 10. QUEEN’S

Men’s Volleyball CIS Top Ten 1. McMASTER 2. ALBERTA 3. MANITOBA 4. CALGARY 5. UBC

6. LAVAL 7. WINNIPEG 8. SASKATCHEWAN 9. McGILL 10. SHERBROOKE

Women’s Volleyball CIS Top Ten 1. ALBERTA 2. TRINITY WESTERN 3. UBC-OKANAGAN 4. TORONTO 5. UBC

6. MONTREAL 7. McMASTER 8. DALHOUSIE 9. McGILL 10. SHERBROOKE

Men’s Wrestling CIS Top Ten

JON WHITE/ PHOTO EDITOR

Jaycee Cruz Sports Reporter

McMaster scored no less than 24 in a quarter and used strong second and third quarters to secure a convincing 22-point victory over the Guelph Gryphons.

McMaster has preached that their goal is to score 24 or more per quarter while limiting their opponents to 17 or less.

In terms of this metric, they reached their offensive standards in all quarters scoring 24, 25, 24 and 26 respectively.

Defensively they succeeded by this measurement in the second and third quarters allowing 11 and 17 points respectively, while conceding 24 and 25 in the first and fourth quarters.

Assistant Coach Seth Wearing knows there are areas to brush up on.

“We had our moments, but we still need to be better defen-

sively,” said Wearing. “This was the third game in a row where we’ve allowed teams to have big first and fourth quarters.

We need to eliminate those bookends.”

McMaster forced 14 turnovers and capitalized scoring 23 points off those turnovers.

The Marauders also got some easy scores scoring 20 fastbreak points. This team thrives when they get out in transition as it usually leads to a dunk, layup or trip to the free throw line.

“Turnovers can lead to easy scores. It’s hard enough to score in this league, so creating offense from our defense is critical to our success,” Wearing said.

Offensively, the Marauders shot 51.6 percent from the field, just under 30 percent from three, and a respectable 77.1 percent from the free throw line. Leon Alexander had 20 or more for the third time this year, Rohan Boney dropped 18, Troy Joseph added 16 and Aar-

on Redpath finished with ten of his own. Second-year forward Connor Gilmore scored 14 in his return from injury. This was Gilmore’s first full game of the season since he got injured right at tip-off against Brock on Nov. 4.

The offensive distribution was on point.

“Balanced scoring has been a hallmark of this team. We’re hard to prepare for because of it,” said Wearing. “When we share the ball we’re really good.”

McMaster heads into the holidays at 5-2 and on a fourgame winning streak. Each of their last four victories has been by an average margin of 18.5 points. Their only two losses are to opponents nationally ranked higher than them.

“5-2 isn’t where we wanted to be but it’s where we are. Right now we’re getting better everyday and our four-game winning streak is indicative of that,” Wearing said. “We’re getting healthy and looking forward

to the back half of the season.

The group is excited about our opportunity.”

Similar to the other varsity teams on campus, the team will scale down from their normal regimen but the grind will still continue as exam season looms over the horizon.

“The guys stay here until exams are done. We gear down a little bit but we’ll continue to train,” said Wearing. “As student-athletes school will always be the focal point. After that they’ll go home for a few days to spend some well-deserved time with their families, but then we get back to work.”

Catch Marauders Basketball back in action on Jan. 13 when they travel to face the Waterloo Warriors. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m.

@_jayceecruz

1. BROCK 2. ALBERTA 3. McMASTER 4. WINNIPEG 5. REGINA

6. SASKATCHEWAN T7. CALGARY T7. CONCORDIA 9. WESTERN 10. GUELPH

ALLCANADIANS Danny Vandervoort The third-year receiver caught 39 passes for 664 yards and 11 touchdowns, breaking the Marauder single-season receiving touchdowns record. This led Vandervoort to being named a First Team All-Canadian.

Jake Heathcote A breakout season led the linebacker to a place on the Second Team All-Canadian roster. Heathcote racked up a team-high 36.5 tackles and four interceptions.

24 |

SPORTS

Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015 | www.thesil.ca

Progress in performance The McMaster Women’s Basketball team holds a two-game winning streak until play resumes in the new year JON WHITE/ PHOTO EDITOR

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In an 81-58 defeat over the Guelph Gryphons, the McMaster Women’s Basketball team has closed the first half of the regular season and will have some time away from the court before returning to play in January 2016.

McMaster welcomed Guelph, a division rival, to Burridge Gym for the last game at home before the holidays.

Saturday afternoon’s game between the two OUA Central division teams was one that slowly fell in favour of the McMaster Marauders.

McMaster led the Gryphons 24-15 after the end of the first period. Every period after that until the last buzzer played out was McMaster’s game.

McMaster was able to carry a 41-30 advantage into half time.

The third quarter opened with an 8-0 run and pushed the lead to 19 points.

The lead for the Maroon and Grey kept growing and the Marauders were allowed to close out the win at home.

McMaster’s top contributor was second-year guard Hilary Hanaka, who added 19 points on the board off the bench. Following closely after in points made was forward Clare Kenney with her best game of the year with 17 points and 15 rebounds. Danielle Boiago also claimed her own double double with 15 points and 10 boards.

The starting five and bench players were able to produce to come out with a great victory win over the Gryphons.

McMaster was able to score 36 points in the paint, while Guelph only had 18. The Marauders also capitalized on turnovers with 27 points and the Gryphons only answered with 16. While bench points

have been relatively quieter for the team this season, McMaster’s bench was able to add 26 points for the final score sheet.

These kinds of numbers are great for a team that continues to see improvement.

The win moves McMaster to a record of 5-2, tying them with Guelph in the division.

This win has also moved the team to the No. 5 position in the country after coming sixth in last week’s CIS Top Ten ranking.

McMaster is the second ranked team in Ontario in the country’s Top Ten list. Ryerson, currently claiming the No. 3 spot, has already played the Marauders. That game ended in a 64-74 loss to the Rams.

While ranking is telling of talent and calibre, the Marauders can not rule out the other teams in the province, considering they will have to go through them to reach their final destination at the OUA playoffs.

The young team has their eyes set on making it far this year and going into the holidays with a two-win streak is not a bad start.

The team will continue to train and prepare themselves for the twelve games left in the regular season.

The team hopes to cross off the games played in the 2016 calendar with more wins.

While that is weeks away, the winning mindset will be there in practice.

The holidays will be time spent for family, but training will still go on.

The time off away from competitive play will not mean time off from basketball.

The holiday recess for these student-athletes will be time for the players to polish their play and get ready for the second half of the season, where wins will matter more than ever before. @itssofiaAM

SPORTS | 25

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015

Sights set on the sunshine McMaster Women’s Volleyball heads into the holidays with an 8-1 record and a training trip to Florida Jaycee Cruz Sports Reporter

Instead of walking out of the David Braley Athletic Centre in winter jackets and toques into the Canadian weather, the McMaster Women’s Volleyball team will be walking out of the gym into the Sunshine State heat this Christmas break.

The Marauders have won seven of their last eight games and stand atop the OUA West with 16 points and an 8-1 record.

Florida seems like a nice post-exam treat and late Christmas present.

But, as mentioned by Head Coach Tim Louks last week, the team wants to work and that’s what Florida will provide.

Prior to departing for Palm Harbor, FL, the Marauders will be on a scaled down schedule that involves hour workouts each day from Dec. 7 to Dec. 22.

“We’re going to work on defense, blocking, and details like that to lay groundwork for the second half,” said Louks.

“We won’t put a big load on them. We’ll dabble in volleyball the next two weeks but they’ll be studying for exams and doing some strength and agility stuff. That’s what I want them to focus on right now.”

Add a few days back home for Christmas and then the work starts up again.

“After Christmas we always have a lot of defensive practices and serve-receive stuff. It’s just a lot of passing reps and digging reps,” said Mastroluisi.

The trip down south is a business trip of sorts.

“It’s a limited distraction environment,” said Louks. “In

Florida we let volleyball take over for a while and then we get back to life, family, and school afterwards.”

While the warm coastal temperatures and the climate will surely evoke vacation-like vibes, the purpose of this trip is to train and work at their craft in a controlled setting. In Florida the team will have regular two-a-days and practices in between the four-day CIS South and Innisbrook Invitational they’ll host. There will be five teams at the tournament this year. The games will be played at community centers.

“This year we have Sherbrooke and McGill who are both CIS Top Ten teams. We have Brandon University where the CIS championship will be hosted this year and then we have Brock,” said Louks. “It has been pretty good in the past.”

The team won’t be playing any NCAA teams like Florida, Florida State or other American club teams because their seasons finish earlier.

For the past eight years or so Louks has organized a training trip and invitational tournament down in Florida. It happens every other year. The team will be flying out on Dec. 28 and arriving in Palm Harbor, FL, just outside the Tampa area.

McMaster will play and practice on Dec. 30-31 and Jan. 2- 3.

The invitational winner will be announced on Jan. 3. The Marauders fly home on Jan. 6 and play their first match of 2016 at home against Brock on Jan. 15.

“Arguably and historically, coming into the second half of the season, we have turned the Florida training into some good stuff,” said Louks.

Fifth-year captain and outside hitter Lauren Mastroluisi echoes her coach’s words.

“Everyone always says, ‘What’s in the water in Florida?’ because we play so well during and after the trip,” said Mastroluisi. “I think it’s because we’re just focused on volleyball.

We’re not focused on school or relationships. We’re in Florida to play volleyball with our friends.”

This concept of getting away with the team specifically to focus on your game isn’t a new one. You see it in all different sports. Teams retreat away from their regular settings to focus on their craft. The goal of it all is to return better than you were when you went in.

“I’m not expecting anything other than a commitment by our athletes to do the things they need to do. Hopefully that translates into strong performances after the trip,” Louks said.

“Right now we’re great defensively, but we can improve especially when we see teams like Toronto and Ryerson later in the season. Defense does win championships,” Mastroluisi said. “I think that although we’re a good defensive team now, we have the potential to be great because our team is super athletic. In the first game after Christmas break we always go and dig the lights out.”

McMaster should come out firing after the break. A team already catching fire may pick up more steam coming out of the south. After their Florida trip in 2014, the Marauders went a dazzling 10-1 en route to capturing an OUA banner.

Their eyes are on that banner again. Here’s to hoping history repeats itself. @_jayceecruz

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26 |

ANDY

Thursday, Dec.3, 2015 | www.thesil.ca

andy New Year’s musical resolutions Andy breaks down what shows you need to attend in the new year Are You Alone?

Majical Cloudz

Best Song: “Downtown” Soft, deep, and sweeping music for walking through rainstorms during existential crises. Prepare for tears to be washed away by rain.

Venue/Date: Toronto, The Garrison on January 15, 2016.

Emotional Mugger

Ty Segall

Thank Your Lucky Stars

Beach House

Emily Scherzinger Contributor

Coming Home Leon Bridges

Emotion Carly Rae Jepsen

Best Song: “Goodbye Bread”

Best Song: “Elegy to the Void”

Best Song: “Coming Home”

Best described as super weird garage rock, but Segall is so much more than that. You need to listen to his music while lying alone in a snow bank drunk after kissing the person you’re just starting to have feelings for.

Trust me.

Beach House may usually be the perfect music to listen to during the dreaded descent into Canadian winter, but their latest album is a lot more accessible for all emotional states. It sounds like something you’d make in your parents’ basement and nostalgically listen to five years later.

If you’ve ever listened to 1960s blues and liked it, now is your chance to see someone actually perform it — Bridges has the sound of a modern day Otis Redding.

She’s known for that annoying song, “Call Me Maybe,” but her latest album, Emotion, takes us back to the best part of the 80s — the sweet pop that makes you feel like you just ate a huge bag of candy on a summer day.

Venue/Date: Toronto, Massey Hall on March 10, 2016.

Venue/Date: Hamilton, FirstOntario Centre on April 16, 2016.

Venue/Date: Toronto, Danforth Music Hall on March 4, 2016.

Venue/Date: Toronto, Danforth Music Hall on March 5, 2016.

Best Song: “All That”

Disclaimer: She’s touring with Hedley, which is less than stellar, but it’s worth going to see her and then leaving when Hedley takes the stage.

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015

The Silhouette | 27

ANDY’s winter reading syllabus COMING UP IN HAMILTON MUSIC

ABSINTHE DEC 4 > Quarter in the bag DEC 10 > Jocelyn Alice DEC 12 > Ritual THE CASBAH

DEC 18 > Young Rival

DEC 23 > Laura Cole Band HOMEGROWN

DEC 4 > The Cardboard Crowns DEC 5 > Ginger St. James

FILM WESTDALE THEATRE

Currently Playing > Mr. Holmes > Stanford Prison

Experiment

> Peggy Guggenheim: Art Addict > James White This week’s quick pick

Blue Jean Committee

Catalina Breeze Fred Armisen and Bill Hader are terrific on their own, which makes their banding together to form Blue Jeans Committee all the better. The idea to form a hilarious dad-rock band came from watching History of the Eagles, a documentary rather selfseriously charting the rise of the Eagles. Many of us have joked about starting a band with a friend, but Armisen and Hader had the impunity to follow through on their own joke. That they do it in a way that imbues as many 70’s references into the tracks as possible, while remaining pleasantly listenable, makes it all the more worthwhile to check out.

Vannessa Barnier Andy Reporter

Andy lists off what to read for pleasure after spending an entire term following a professor’s bidding

A Partial List of People to Bleach - Gary Lutz

Solip - Ken Baumann

Paperback: $15.77 Kindle: $4.10 Length: 109 pages

Paperback: $18.15 Kindle: $9.99 Length: 200 pages

Enjoy a colourful collection of short stories – we know you’ll need it after the snow starts to settle in. One of Lutz’s more recent collections, A Partial List of People to Bleach, is an assortment of stories, ranging from time spent with ex-husbands to a nameless narrator’s analysis of their aunt’s relationship. This one will be best enjoyed with a cup of Earl Grey under a heavy blanket.

Like the flickering of your fireplace (screensaver), Solip’s structure is a rapid fire ebbing and flowing from capital letters to punctuation marks.

This highly textured anti-novel is sure to be rich enough to make you swap out your hot chocolate for water. Don’t be worried if the first time through leaves you nothing but cold and confused, some stories are best read twice.

Crush - Richard Siken

The Castle - Franz Kafka

Paperback: $17.95 Not available on Kindle Length: 80 pages

Paperback: $12.67 Kindle: $4.64 Length: 352 pages

The themes of sex in these poems will help keep you toasty warm while you blush through Siken’s poems. This collection made it onto this list with ease, with his accessible style and relatable experiences. From love to ruin and back again, Siken’s poems are sure to fill the quiet moments at your parents’ place this holiday season. I’ve put my copy of this collection in my pockets often, since I find it nice to have a comfortable amount of poetry on me at all times.

You can empathize with the protagonist, K, as both must deal with an unfair amount of snow and cold.

Nothing makes suffering easier than knowing that you’re not experiencing it alone. This sentiment is sort of ironic in relation to the protagonist’s hardships, given that he meditates on his loneliness throughout the 300-and-some-odd pages. Kafka died before he finished writing this novel ­— but hopefully you won’t die from the cold before you finish reading it.

Good Old Neon - David Foster Wallace

Between The World & Me - Ta-Nehisi Coates

Paperback: $24.59 Kindle: $9.99 Length: 336 pages

Hardcover: $30.00 Kindle: $13.99 Length: 176 pages

Return to a hot, wet August with David Foster Wallace’s short story, Good Old Neon.

It’s a rather short read, running about 41 pages online. It is available in DFW’s collection, Oblivion, but if you want to get around to reading the rest of the items on this list, I’d suggest with sticking with this one. It’s certainly better than struggling through Infinite Jest.

If Toni Morrison says it’s required reading, then we’re inclined to say the same.

Coates has made his name as a writer working for big publications like The Atlantic, but here he takes a more personal approach that will draw readers in. Writing to his son in a tone reminiscent of Jame Baldwin’s prophetic collection of essays, The Fire Next Time, Coates educates us all on the racial history of America.

28 |

ANDY

Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015 | www.thesil.ca

Review: Digimon Adventure tri.

The new episodic film series will appeal to those who loved the show as kids, but are now looking for something more serious Hess Sahlollbey Contributor

What’s old is new again, especially when it’s been 15 years since we last saw the DigiDestined. Digimon Adventure tri. is a six-part film series serving as a direct sequel to the first two television seasons of Digimon.

The first of these films, Reunion, has been released in Japanese theatres. Outside of Japan though, the films have already been licensed and are being streamed online in episodic format by Crunchyroll.

Picking up five years after the first season, the DigiDestined are now seniors in high school. With graduation approaching, Tai struggles to grow up and come to terms that his group of friends is growing apart. Mimi lives in America, Joe is studying for college entrance exams and Matt has a band. Tai, however, has no plans aside from trying to see his friends as much as possible, both human and digimon. Tai’s guidance counsellor tells him that he needs to start thinking about his future but Tai yearns for the adventures and happiness he had in the past.

That’s when strange occurrences happen in Tokyo.

Electronics malfunction, telecommunications systems stop working and wide-spread blackouts plague the city. This turmoil culminates with an evil digimon suddenly appearing and destroying the city. Tai’s partner digimon, Agumon, appears and the ensuing battle causes even more destruction. Having defeated the evil digimon, Tai realizes that giant monsters waging war in heavily populated cities are extremely dangerous and can result in casualties and collateral damage.

This time around it’s evident

that the franchise is targeted at adults. The films explore the central theme of growing up and attempt to inject more realism into the franchise. Our protagonists are now on their way to adulthood, facing the same kind of existential crises everyone does at that age, while also trying to protect the world. The DigiDestined have to take more adult approaches to their problems than they could when they were kids. The collateral damage incurred by fighting digimon is so large that it leaves Tai seriously reconsidering whether he wants to be a hero. This, in turn, causes even more problems within his friend group.

His friends and their digimon all look to him as their leader, yet Tai is unable to handle the gravity of their problems. His digimon, Agumon, attempts to comfort him, but Agumon only has the intelligence of a child and lacks direction. Much to his dismay, Tai is obligated to lead others.

Adding to the theme of growing up, the rest of the DigiDestined are facing the other coming of age issues that pertain to young adults. One of the predominant issues is the romantic attraction between certain members of the group.

While it was hinted at in the first two seasons of Digimon, it’s now clear that Tai and Sora have feelings for one another.

Add in Matt and there is a love triangle between the three with Sora conflicted and undecided.

Izzy also has to come to terms with his crush on Mimi while T.K. and Kari continue to have unresolved feelings towards one another.

Building on another theme that started in the Digimon film, the eldest of the group, Joe, is starting to realize that the more effort he puts into his academ-

ics, the more he is distancing himself from his friends. No matter how much he studies, he can never score high enough to get accepted into a prestigious university and his digimon partner is sidelined. The repercussions of Joe’s constant absences and the conflict between helping his friends or studying is a captivating storyline.

In the end, everything comes full circle. If you grew up watching Digimon after school like I did, then you’ll definitely enjoy the chance to be reintroduced to some old friends as they now grow up and face real, relatable problems while also taking part in giant monster battles.

The Verdict

All of the beloved characters from the original show return, but they have noticeably aged.

C/O CRUNCHYROLL

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www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015

Review: Nothing Much To Do YouTube shouldn’t be your go-to for cute dog videos alone. It boasts a strong array of young creatives translating their literary adaptations to the small screen, including the New Zealand-based The Candle Wasters

The Candle Wasters are a team of four who produce the Shakespeare-based web series, Nothing Much To Do, that can be seen on YouTube.

C/O HARRIETT MAIRE

Trisha Gregorio Andy Writer

In an era that has witnessed the steady rise of YouTube and its own brand of celebrities, it seemed only natural that literary web series adaptations would find their way into the vlogging sphere at some point.

Well known for their reimagining of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice into 2012’s Lizzie Bennet Diaries, Pemberley Digital has led this up and coming genre, lining up the ranks with the Emma adaptation Emma Approved, and Frankenstein MD. There is no shortage of alternatives outside Pemberley Digital, either. Some adaptations are definitely better than others, but there is nonetheless a series for almost every area of the literary spectrum. If Jane Austen isn’t quite your cup of tea, Anne Shirley is a seventeen-year-old vlogger in Green Gables Fables, and Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre comes to vlogging life in The Autobiography of Jane Eyre.

Whether you’re up for Edgar Allan Poe retold in A Tell Tale Vlog, or Peter Pan reimagined in

The New Adventures of Peter and Wendy, YouTube has something for you.

Particularly popular for these web series adaptations, however, is the world of Shakespeare.

As someone who has at one point become too weary of Romeo and Juliet retellings and didn’t quite enjoy the web series Jules and Monty as much as I’d like to, I wasn’t too excited about discovering The Candle Wasters. The Candle Wasters is a team of four young women that produced a New Zealand-based adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing roughly a year ago, and if anything, I’m a little disappointed I didn’t find them sooner.

Their adaptation, Nothing Much To Do, is a reimagining told through three different YouTube channels — one for the modern Beatrice, one for the modern Benedick, and a third, more neutral vlog, to show parts of the story not present in Beatrice and Benedick’s stories.

Beatrice (Harriett Stella) and Benedick (Jake McGregor) are high school students caught, to the dismay of their group of shared friends, in a heated

“

Multiple elements of the original Shakespeare play are brilliantly present in the narrative, smoothly transitioned into the world of teenage woes and impressively far from being anachronistic.

rivalry that often gets in the way of the gang’s daily shenanigans. The bitter air between the two, however, makes way for a romantic storyline as the drama in the core of the story unfolds and they are forced to re-evaluate the dynamics of their peer group.

There’s more characters featured in this series than most adaptations, but instead of being scattered and overwhelming, Nothing Much To Do thankfully does not allow any characters, major or minor, to fall flat.

The actors are convincing and lovable in each of their roles, and the chemistry between the two main characters rounds out a charming, well-developed cast.

The larger number also allows the series to branch out from the typical bedroom-restricted monologues, and most episodes feature different filming locations and interactions with secondary characters.

The plot does take a while to pick up, but the modernized adaptation of the same storyline and at times even the exact same scenes from the original Shakespeare is refreshing and realistic enough that you can’t begrudge the slow pace of the first few

episodes. Multiple elements of the original Shakespeare play are brilliantly present in the narrative, smoothly transitioned into the world of teenage woes and impressively far from being anachronistic. It’s obvious that The Candle Wasters have closely studied the material they’re working with, from clever allusions to specific lines in Much Ado About Nothing to cheeky references to other Shakespeare plays passed off as offhand remarks. Combined with an amazing cast and extremely well written dialogue, this easily makes Nothing Much To Do my new favourite literary adaptation on YouTube.

The Candle Wasters are currently working on Lovely Little Losers, an adaptation of Love’s Labour’s Lost serving as a sequel to Nothing Much To Do. They have recently launched a Kickstarter for Bright Summer Night, an adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and with what I’ve seen so far, I can vouch for the fact that this production crew is brilliant at what they do, and deserves all the support they can get. @tngregorio

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The Speculator presents...

A holiday* gift guide!

In part two of our holiday special, it still don’t matter if you’re black or white or if you know which Michael Jackson song we just quoted, these gifts will be loved by all: * Ok, but not like all holidays, just the important ones. Get over yourself.

A White Baby A Wheelchair

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Give the gift of imortality, give the gift of life that will live forever.

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INSIDE Talent

Give your friend or family member a hobby.

Everyone needs one, but not everyone has one — it’s a truth that makes dating a nightmare.

Try signing them up for classes, trapping them in a room with an instruction manual, or give them the tools needed to attempt to write a satirical gift guide.

If they’re good at that last one, send them our way.

We need you.

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