S The Silhouette Thursday, February 2, 2017
NEWS OLD SCHOOL What platforms historically win MSU elections? Page 3
ARTS & CULTURE MEXICAN KITCHEN Farmers’ Market stand is a local Mexican favourite Page 17
SPORTS ACCESSIBILITY A look at the rise of accessible athletics at Mac Page 23
GOOD VIBES The MSU president-elect talks election night, his campaign team and what comes next Page 5
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Volume 87, Issue 19 Thursday, February 2, 2017 McMaster University’s Student Newspaper
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www.thesil.ca | Thursday, February 2, 2017
The Silhouette
| 3
News Historic buildings could be torn down Hamilton city council votes in favour of demolishing historic buildings in Gore Park Emily O’Rourke News Reporter
Canada is turning 150 this year, but the future of a set of Hamilton buildings that predate the confederation remains cloudy. Last week, Hamilton’s city council’s planning committee voted in favour of demolishing units 18-28 King Street East, and to demolish all but the facades of buildings 18-22 facing Gore Park. The plan is to turn the strip of pre- and immediately post-confederate buildings into a five-storey rental or condo property with commercial space on the ground level. Built between 1840 and 1875 by renowned architect William Thomas, the Victorian-era row houses remain a staple in Hamilton’s heritage and streetscape. “[The buildings are] part of the original Gore Park plan and integral to the street life of that area. They’re three to four storeys and because they’re pre-confederate and early Victorian style buildings, they actually fit well with the streetscape,” said Thomas Allen, the architectural journalist behind Rebuild Hamilton.
“[The demolition is] something that’s concerning because all that old, original charm that was once there is now all in danger,” he said. “That’s a scary thought to a lot of historians and a lot of people that live in Hamilton because they wouldn’t want to see the character of Gore Park vanish.” The demolition has been up for debate since 2013, when the buildings’ owners applied to demolish the strip of buildings. At that time, Ward 2 councillor Jason Farr worked in favour with the developer to save the building’s facades. However, upon the developer’s disinterest, he pressed city council to approve the buildings as heritage property, which was successful Although the buildings are slowly deteriorating, they remain structurally sound. Several groups around the city are protesting the destruction of these historic buildings, including Friends of the Gore, an ad-hoc committee who “oppose complete or partial demolition of 18-28 King Street East and support city council’s unanimous resolution to designate them under the Heritage Act.” “The buildings serve as an important connection to our
history, but they also provide a very real and modern contribution to the urban landscape of today,” said Ned Nolan, member of Friends of the Gore. “People today are gravitating to old, revived buildings because of their character, craftsmanship, beauty and unique ways in which they interact with the street at a human scale.” The demolition is not scheduled to begin for another few months, as the city has to
“The buildings serve as an important connection to our history, but they also provide a very real and modern contribution to the urban landscape of today,”
approve the development plans. The developer has to withdraw the objection of heritage designation, but groups around the city are hoping to see the province step in. Andrea Horwath, Hamilton Centre MPP and Ontario NDP leader, wrote to Ontario Culture Minister, Eleanor McMahon, in an attempt to ask the province to take immediate action in order to save these heritage buildings from demolition. The letter reflects on the historical significance of the buildings,
and urges McMahon to take action. “It is clearly time for a renewed conversation at city council about heritage,” said Nolan. “I believe the Ontario Heritage Act gives municipalities the power they need to create a presumption of heritage preservation on all our old buildings, and I think this should be seriously explored by council.” @emily_oro
Ned Nolan Member of Friends of the Gore
MADELINE NEUMANN / PHOTO EDITOR
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NEWS
Thursday, February 2, 2017 | www.thesil.ca
MEET YOUR NEW MSU PRESIDENT-ELECT President-elect Chukky Ibe talks about future plans, his campaign team and divine nonchalance
Chukky Ibe won the 2017 MSU presidential election by 1000 votes. MADELINE NEUMANN / PHOTO EDITOR
Sasha Dhesi News Editor
After a flurry of campaigning that took over campus, intense debates and one very long election scrutinizing process, the McMaster Students Union has chosen its next president-elect: Chukky Ibe. Ibe won by a considerable margin, with at least 1,000 votes between him and each of his contenders. This year’s election saw a voter turnout of 9,327, meaning 41.6 per cent of the MSU population voted in this year’s election. This is slight decrease from last year, where 44.5 per cent of the MSU population voted. Ibe, a fifth-year Political Sciences student, ran on a platform aiming to improve the lives ofv undergraduate students at every level, ranging from large-scale projects such as implementing better wifi to smaller projects like the MSYou, which will survey other candidates’ platforms to add popular projects from other platforms. Ibe recalls Jan. 26, the last day of voting, as a calm day. Rather than linger over the election results all night, which were not released until 3:30 a.m. on Jan. 27, Ibe opted to decompress following the end of the campaigning period. Rather than gather with his campaign team waiting for the election results, Ibe opted to take the evening for himself and wait until the morning to see the actual results of the election. Ibe turned off his phone and computer and went to bed early. “I tell my friends it’s like ‘divine nonchalance’; you control the things you can control. Once it’s done, you just wait for whatever outcome it’ll be,” said Ibe. Ibe missed the traditional call the new president-elect receives from the current MSU president, and did not find out he had won the election until much later that day when he finally felt comfortable checking social media. “Helen [Zheng, Chief
Returning Officer of the MSU Elections Department], woke me up. She came to me in my dream and she said, ‘Chukky, it’s okay to check your phone’. I checked my email, and I had gotten an email from this guy who helped me out with the campaign and he said congratulations on being the next MSU president,” said Ibe. Ibe’s plans for the next few months before he takes office include finishing his degree and ensuring his suggestions for Welcome Week are implemented before planning ends in March. While still in shock about his win, Ibe believes his platform truly represented the needs of the people and the election results reflect that. Ibe cites his experiences outside the MSU as well as his campaign team for his win. “I’ve always been a part of many communities on campus, so when I say a thing [from my platform] it’s not coming from thin air. When I talked to people, it was less about my platform and more about what their concerns are,” said Ibe. Ibe’s campaign team was on the smaller size, with about 13 core team members and about 115 volunteers. Ibe feels his team’s diversity is another aspect to why he won this election. “We had a balance of people who had done things for a long time, and people who had no idea what a campaign team should look like. We also had people who were MSU bubble deep and people who give zero shits about the MSU,” Ibe said. Ibe is ultimately excited to see what he can bring to the MSU in the coming months.
@SashaDhesi
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NEWS
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, February 2, 2017
Campaigning 101: the team behind the candidate
| 5
A veteran campaign and brand manager, Kamini Persaud outlines how to win elections and why she got involved in the first place
Sasha Dhesi News Editor
Every campaign season, behind every candidate, there is a diligent group of students who volunteer their time to help run the campaigns, who work just as tirelessly to secure their candidate the McMaster Students Union’s presidency. One of these people is Kamini Persaud, a third-year Communications Studies student who has now been on three campaign teams, most recently as president-elect Chukky Ibe’s brand manager. Persaud’s involvement and success as a core team member is impressive; she was the brand manager for John Tambakis in her first year and helped him clinch third place, and managed Sarah Jama’s tumultuous campaign last year, who not only had Jama’s disqualification repealed but also achieved second place. Persaud has been involved with presidential elections since her first year, when Tambakis, one of her Welcome Week residence representatives, asked her if she wanted to get involved with his campaign. “I went to my first meeting and there were five of us and he was like, ‘Okay. This is the core team,’ and I was like ‘I didn’t sign up to be on the core team.’ I just thought I was going to wear a button and hand out cookies,” said Persaud. She was tasked with being Tambakis’ brand manager, where she worked with a team to manage his social media and
Third-year student Kamini Persaud has been involved with presidential campaigns since her first year. MADELINE NEUMANN / PHOTO EDITOR
image. Persaud was surprised to find that she had thoroughly enjoyed the process, and found it applicable to her future pursuits. “I didn’t want it to end. I understand how students think, and I’ve taken a lot of classes on it because this is my program,” she said. “It just kind of made sense that I kept doing this so I could apply what I was learning in class because sitting down learning in class for me was nothing. But when I was doing PR in the real world, I was like, ‘I get it now.’”
Persaud emphasized the amount of work and dedication that is put in into creating a successful campaign, most of which excludes the two-week campaigning period. Persaud feels there are a few basic aspects to every successful campaign. She first cited having the right candidate, someone who exuded a calm charisma who students would feel comfortable getting behind. She also explained the importance of appealing to the masses, as opposed to focusing on niche groups who already vote.
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“It’s about narrowing down the demographics that don’t vote. That’s what Ehima [Osazuwa, MSU president 2015-2016] did; he got the people who don’t usually vote to vote, and that’s why he won,” Persaud said. She also notes campaign teams focus too much on the presentation of the candidate as opposed to what their candidate is saying, and reliance on alienating language, which deters students from paying attention. “Students do not care about businessmen or politics, they don’t care about jargon. They care about things that are relat-
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able,” she said. While Persaud does not plan on running for a public position herself, she has expressed interest in running another campaign, with a few conditions. “I would only do it again if it were a candidate I believed in, and knew was going to win,” Persaud said. But with Persaud on a high, it will not be long until she is asked again.
@SashaDhesi
6 |
NEWS FEATURE
Thursday, February 2, 2017 | www.thesil.ca
President-elects: by the book
The focuses of campaigns of the past and the statistics of elections from the 70s to present
Steven Chen News Reporter
2016-2017: Justin Monaco-Barnes “#bethechange” • Ran on a platform focusing on a long-term sustainable strategy for McMaster and proposing changes to our building infrastructure to promote environmental practices. Before in his presidency, plans for the Combined Heat and Power co-generation plant have been underway, forecasted to save 15 per cent on energy input as compared to traditional plants. • He also ran on a platform pushing for the enhancement of athletic and recreation facilities. • The athletics and recreation student activity building and Pulse expansion referendum was held, but failed by 10 votes. 2015-2016: Ehima Osazuwa “Forward Together.” • Key platform points included interfaith accessibility, gender-neutral washrooms and women in governance with an overall campaign advocating for minority groups. • Campaigned for extended late-night food options on campus like Union Market as well as putting more kitchenware on campus.
2014-2015: Teddy Saull “Make it matter” • Campaigned to work towards better lighting in student neighborhoods and red security poles around Westdale area. • MSU fee freeze. Platform point successful ensured that the $122.61 fee did not rise for his year of presidency. 2013-2014: David Campbell “Your Money. Your Education. Your Experience. Your Campus.” • Landslide victory in his second time around, being first choice on 53 per cent of the nearly 6,000 votes cast. • He ran for president in the 2012 election as well, though losing narrowly by a margin of 47 votes. • Emphasis on creating small and tangible change, such as extending library hours and eliminating redundant part-time student fees in the summer. 2012-2013: Siobhan Stewart “We have something for you” • Campaigned for the green roof initiative, a project designed to incorporate an eco-friendly seating area and garden into the McMaster University Student Centre. • Peer Support Line and Fall Break were points in her
platform
•
2011-2012: Matthew Dillon-Leitch • Ran on increased study space, allowing students to provide input on their education, and lobbying for student ideas. 2010-2011: Mary Koziol “Imagine More.” • Campaigned for biweekly farmer’s market on campus, consistent presidential blog, and mass notification text updates from the MSU. 2009-2010: Vishal Tiwari • Ran on a platform of transparency by proposing an internal review of the MSU practices • Green roof initiative and water bottle-free McMaster 2008-2009: Azim Kasmani • Overtook candidate Jeremi Jones as president-elect after a series of three ballot re-counts. • The paper ballot system was soon overhauled. 2007-2008: Ryan Moran • Proposed the development of a landlord registry system 2006-2007: John Popham • Created a bursary program and created a used bookstore on campus
FROM LEFT, JUSTIN MONACO-BARNES, EHIMA OSAZUWA, TEDDY SAULL, SIOBHAN STEWART
Lost in 2005-2006 (second time running)
2005-2006: Tommy Piribauer • Campaigned to contact HSR about how buses are scheduled, advocate for increased service on weekends 2004-2005: Shano Mohan • Eight vote difference; second time running • Campaigned on a promise of not making promises; issue-based campaign • Off-campus support system and landlord registry 2003-2004: Neville Boney • Women in leadership as well as HSR bus pass negotiations 1985-1986: Mike Kukhta Establish an MSU run employment centre through some government subsidy First-year “common course” be offered to all entering students, to bring students together from all faculties 1974-1975: Peter Cameron Introduced a counter-calendar to publicize the results of student course evaluations, such that students could get both pros and cons of a course before they enrol
THE SILHOUETTE ARCHIVES
40%
of president-elects have been of visible minority
8
votes that seperated the closest race in MSU history
ONLY 13%
of president elects have been female
47%
of president-elects have been BOD members prior to their presidency
NEWS
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, February 2, 2017
| 7
Fallout from the failed referendum Students voted no to new buildings on campus leaving questions for the university and athletic department Scott Hastie Editor-in-Chief
McMaster University was 10 votes away from being a completely different campus. Now, the university and McMaster Students Union face a stark reality. As part of the MSU presidential election, the MSU ran a series of referenda questions. The most significant project was the possible expansion of McMaster’s fitness centre, the Pulse, and the creation of a new student activity building. Students had three options. Option A meant supporting both projects while option B supported just the Pulse expansion. Option C supported neither. It was close; option C finished with 3,910 votes and option A had 3,900 votes. This referendum question offered a long-term solution to a problem that has hampered McMaster for years: student space. According to the presentation made to the Student Representative Assembly in Nov. 2016, the student activity building would have added 40,000 square feet of student space. Some of the major commitments for that space would have been a multi-faith prayer space and “unprogrammed” study space. Funding was likely at the centre of the reason this referendum question failed. If option A won, it would have raised the total athletics and recreation fee from $259.09 to $482.59 when the building opened. These numbers reflect students who are taking 30 units and the fee would increase annually to Consumer Price Index. The failure leaves the university and students union at a crossroads. Undergraduate enrolment continues to rise and while new buildings have been built or are in the process of being built, they do not approach the level of student space that the activity building offered. The 2011 campus capacity study cited data from 2008-2009 that classified the need for more student “lounge and service space” as a top-five priority. For example, L.R. Wilson Hall opened in Sept. 2016. It does not offer a significant amount of student space and it closes at 10:00 p.m. on weekdays. Construction began on
the Living and Learning Centre last week and when it opens, it will provide some more student space. However, the building’s main purpose is to address the lack of administrative space for the Student Wellness Centre and student accessibility services and provide 500 more residence rooms. The issue of student space is not going away and the complaints around the student activity building were largely about its cost, not its necessity.
New buildings have been built or are in the process of being built, but they do not approach the level of student space that the activity building offered. There are ramifications for the McMaster athletics and recreation department as well. As outlined in the Nov. 2016 presentation to the SRA, the athletics and recreation department is in $600,000 deficit. If the referendum question passed, there was a potential to increase the funding for varsity programs. How the athletic department moves forward in this new financial reality will be a key storyline over the next 12 months. Proposed images of the new athletics and recreation building that failed after going to referendum @Scott1hastie
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PRESIDENT’S PAGE
February 2, 2017 | thesil.ca
about them. These are the people who make your undergraduate degree an amazing experience, who make you want to learn and grow. And not only that, but they’re the people who would make the best examples for other instructors. They’re the people we want to encourage to keep going, keep teaching, keep giving. To recognize their contribuBLAKE tions to student life and learning, the MSU awards outstandOLIVER ing teachers each year with Vice President (Education) MSU Teaching Awards. We host a ceremony each March vped@msu.mcmaster.ca and give out awards in a variety 905.525.9140 x24017 of categories - academic division awards, lifetime achieveWe’ve all had instructors that ment awards, teaching assistant we just didn’t like for one rea- awards, pedagogical innovation son or another. Professors who read straight off of slides without further explanation, teaching assistants with inconsistent grading, course coordinators who won’t answer emails. These are the instructors we end up talking about with our friends, and the courses we encourage them not to take. But what about all of the wonderful teachers at McMaster? The teaching assistant who noticed you were having a tough day, and asked you how they could help? The professor who made you fall in love with organic chemistry? The instructor who introduced a new and interesting activity every class, who you could tell just really cared about teaching you the material and helping you learn? It’s time for us to start talking
awards, community engagement awards, and more. But we need help from you, the students of these great teachers, to nominate those who are deserving of these awards.
They’re the people we want to encourage to keep going, keep teaching, keep giving. From now until February 17, you can nominate professors and teaching assistants for MSU Teaching Awards at msumcmaster.ca/TAC. All that’s required is your email, name of the nominee, and course code - all in all, the process takes less
than 30 seconds. If you know an exceptional teacher, don’t hesitate to nominate them to be recognized. We can’t know about all of the amazing instructors unless you tell us! As well, this year we are running a TA Selfie Contest for everyone with phenomenal teaching assistants. Often unappreciated, we know that a good TA can be the difference between an impossible course and a favourite one. Before February 4, follow @MSU_Macademics on Twitter and tweet a picture of you with your TA with the hashtag #TopNotchTA to be entered into a draw for a $50 gift card from TwelvEighty. Maybe you can spend it on an appreciative lunch for your TA - I’m sure they deserve it.
MSU_McMASTER
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TEXT ‘MSU’ TO 71441
The President’s Page is a space sponsored and used by the McMaster Students Union (MSU) Board of Directors (BoD) to communicate with the student body. It functions to highlight the Board’s projects, goals, and agenda for the year, as well as the general happenings of the MSU.
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, February 2, 2017
The Silhouette
| 9
Editorial The challenge for Chukky Ibe’s presidency will be a significant test of the idea that MSU presidents “don’t do anything” Scott Hastie Editor-in-Chief
Every year, we hear the same sentiments about the McMaster Students Union presidential election: “why does this matter? The president doesn’t do anything anyway.” The criticism is unfair, but the sentiment is understandable. The majority of undergraduate students are just beginning to really engage with politics beyond that silly Grade 10 civics course, and they are starting to see how politicians will fail to deliver on their promises. As I noted in an editorial a couple weeks ago, presidents gone by have struggled to complete their platforms. It has turned some off student politics because they don’t trust the system. These people don’t believe that presidents will ever reach their goals. I wonder if the 2017 election will only feed the narrative. Through our critiques and
during the debates, we found that president-elect Chukky Ibe’s platform had a number of ideas that were created with little to no consultation of relevant groups, meaning the feasibility of these projects is questionable. Here’s an example: at the Silhouette’s debate, Ibe struggled to give a clear answer of where he would find the money to fund the expansion of services, saying he would “repurpose” money within the MSU. When pressed on where specifically the money would come from, Ibe gave an answer for the childcare platform point: repurposing the existing MSU emergency grants, a program designed to help full-time students in times of financial need. The MSU allotted $10,000 this past year for emergency grants. In Ontario, child care costs over $1,000 over a month, meaning changing this fund would not help many students and also disadvantage those students who were claiming the
fund before. There may be other ways to fund this idea through repurposing, but the plan proposed isn’t a solid one. These are the scenarios that discourage people from getting involved. And still, there is an opportunity. Ibe has a lot of work to do to achieve his ambitious platform; that’s a challenge, not a condemnation. By all accounts, Ibe is passionate and hard working. If he can pull off the majority of his platform points, it should inspire people who don’t vote to get involved. The MSU has always been capable of real change and maybe Ibe can be the person to highlight that by completing a number of projects. I stand by our reporting that found a number of significant roadblocks to success, so I’m not betting on it. But yes, I’m saying there’s a chance. @Scott1Hastie
to moon units. to being an “efficientass bitch.” to friend dates. to REAL FRIENDS. to moisture eyes. to office twin day. to 10 Billion Wives. to sorting algorithms.
to Big Adjective. Put down the thesauras, bud. to the lack of dancing at Charity Ball. to giving people numbers, but not a brochure, then asking them if they read the brochure! to the terrorist attack in Quebec City.
to Kyle Lowry.
to people who don’t replace the cartons at Union Market. I do this like three times a week.
to “Riverdale”.
to Panic! at the Disco.
to the job search.
to casual maggots.
to crime-fighting vaginas.
The Silhouette is hiring for next year’s Editor-in-Chief!
All of this could be yours.
If you have a passion for journalism, writing, media, design, coffee and good times, this job could be for you! The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for overseeing the entire Silhouette media operation, including the weekly print product, the website and all multimedia projects.
Print product
Managing money
Moving forward
Leadership
The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for coordinating and creating the newspaper each week during the school year. This includes making pages in InDesign, helping with layout, writing an editorial and deciding where ads should go.
As Editor-in-Chief, you are responsible for paying bills, preparing purchase orders and creating the budget for the following school year.
Consumer expectations for media are changing. The Editor-in-Chief is the captain of the ship and will set the direction for the Silhouette. You should be comfortable with emerging forms of media and have a vision for the Sil’s future.
The Silhouette currently has 18 paid part-time staff members. As Editor-in-Chief, you are responsible for leading this group through training and mentorship.
For more information, visit msumcmaster.ca/jobs!
10 |
HUMANS
How many years have you been part of McMaster University? I have been on the faculty here for 40 years. I have been at McMaster for 46 years. I arrived at McMaster in 1971 as a student. I was a graduate student until I completed my Ph.D. in ’76 and I was offered the position of managing the introductory psychology course, which I did for 30 years and then I handed that over to Dr. Joe Kim back in 2007, and moved on to teaching upper level courses since then. Who did you take inspiration from for doing what you do? I was influenced by couple of my professors - most of them were not Psychology professors. The most influential one was a history prof actually. He taught my first year ancient history class - I had history in highschool and I hated it. It was so boring: battles, treaties, princes, kings. We were required to take this course, and I knew I was not going to enjoy this. During the very first day of class, it was a full class, filled with
first year students, and he spent his entire time complaining about the class that he is teaching. “I really shouldn’t be teaching this course, I’m over qualified, I read and write four ancient languages, I don’t like the textbook they picked for me.” He would go on and on like this for hours. I thought that this is going to be a complete nightmare. However, he came into the next lecture with a whole different thing - everything. He started with ancient Greece - he was in love with ancient Greece. During the lecture, he was so eloquent
Thursday, February 2, 2017 | www.thesil.ca
and animated. I mean, he was so interesting that I forgot to take notes. He really brought the whole thing alive. He talked about economic history, social history and not just about battles, king, and treaties. He talked about the panoply of life and the ancient Greece. After class, I went out and bought every book that he mentioned. Fortunately, he didn’t mention too many, or else, I couldn’t have afforded all of them. I seriously thought about going into history because of this instructor that I had, but then I thought I wouldn’t enjoy it as much I did with him with anyone else. So, I stayed in psychology which I also enjoyed. He really shaped my approach to teaching today because he loved what he taught and he conveyed it to you - very, very clearly.
Richard “Dick” Day Associate Professor Faculty of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behaviour
For the time that you have been here, have you had any strange experiences? The one that I remember and that sticks in my mind was really strange actually. This was
interpreted as a bat - in fact it’s the only one that you typically see in the textbooks. As I was showing this image, an actual bat flew in the room. People were screaming, and yelling, and covering their heads and so on. It took us twenty minutes to get the bat out of the room, but it was a remarkable coincidence that I had to be showing this bat slide as the bat flew in. I can never forget that. about fifteen years ago when I was teaching Personality Psychology in the evening over in the Burke Science Building in the basement.
I was talking about the inkblot test and the blot that is usually
What did you learn after coming to McMaster? When I came here, I worked as a teaching assistant. There were things that I learned back in the day and I still pass it on to the TAs that I work with here - it is once again related to teaching. There are things that comprise 90 percent of successful teaching, first, you have got to love the material that you are teaching. Second, you have got to care about the students that
are learning. If those two things are in place, then the rest of it takes care of itself. I mean that’s 90 percent of it. I think it is true and it’s a conclusion that I can draw from my teaching experience here at Mac. If you could change your major, what would you change it to? I would change the area of specialization that I got into and change it to a different psychology. I got into animal learning, which at the time was beginning to fade out - it’s been very big for many years. I think that if I had known then, I would have gotten into Cognitive Sciences. But I didn’t.
could’ve been a high-school teacher, I could’ve also enjoyed that. Who knows? If you could give a piece of advice to your undergraduate self, what would it be? I think the only advice I would give to myself as an undergraduate would be to not take up smoking. That is the one thing as an undergraduate that I would do differently. I’m not sure if there is anything else I would change. I didn’t really try quitting smoking until I was in my late 30’s by then I couldn’t make it work, so I’ve given up trying.
What would be your second career choice? That’s a tough one. My wife and I were talking about it the other day and I can’t think of too many other things that I could do - maybe running a bookstore would be one choice. I love books. There might be things that I could have done, nothing really occurs to me. Maybe I
facebook.com/ HumansOfMcMaster
Yung Lee Photo Reporter
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, February 2, 2017
The Silhouette | 11
Opinion Building stronger communities, not just safer Stronger emphasis on community involvement and volunteering are needed to bridge the gap Takhliq Amir Contributor
As a student who never experienced life living on campus and did not grow up in Hamilton, I’ve found it hard to feel a connection to this city the same way I do to my hometown. The stress and added weight that often accompany heavy schedules filled with group meetings and other commitments often make going home a relief, but that feeling of relief has recently made me increasingly disconcerted. After having lived off-campus in Hamilton for almost two years now, why do I still not feel like this place is a second home? While McMaster presents a tight-knit community that seems to hold itself proudly compared to other universities with much larger and less connected student bodies, it poorly masks the deep disparity that exists for those who only come to Hamilton for the purpose of education and little else. As students progress through university, it becomes easier to place less emphasis on possible interactions with the Hamilton community. Perhaps they stop having as many lectures, labs and tutorials. Perhaps they have a project course that doesn’t require them to be on campus. Or perhaps they choose to take an online course so that they aren’t required to make a trip into the city from the comfort of their own homes. I can at least claim to live in Hamilton for most of the week, but I have countless friends who commute from neighbouring cities like Toronto and Mississauga on a daily basis. If I do not feel attached to this city as someone who lives in Hamilton, what about the many McMaster students who don’t have any attachment to the city outside of university? It is true that situations like these aren’t easily solved. Growing up in another city or only going somewhere for the sole purpose of education doesn’t
SILHOUETTE ARCHIVES
really give you the opportunity to develop strong attachments or truly care for the city. Being involved on campus is one thing. Being involved in the city is another. There are different factors that play into it, but low exposure to the city makes it harder to work towards building a relationship with it. There needs to be a greater effort made to involve and embrace off-campus and commuting students and to communicate that they are part of the city’s culture instead of just the university. When I saw the McMaster Students Union presidential candidates’ platforms, plans for improvement regarding community engagement and the off-campus experience stood out to me. Similar phrases were existent across most of the candidates’ websites, with promises of improving student life or
removing community barriers, but after reading the particulars of each, I was left more disappointed than optimistic. Despite great emphasis on off-campus late night security, which seemed to be the strongest reference to off-campus anything across most platform points, the definition of most of their ideas of community engagement seemed not to encompass what it meant to truly feel connected to the city and to see it as a second home. Certainly, their efforts must be commended, and off-campus security is a vital and relevant concern that must be addressed. The discussion regarding these issues is a great indication of the fact that off-campus students are still factored into McMaster-wide decisions. These services will undoubtedly go a long way in making people like myself feel a lot safer walking through the
streets late at night after a long day of studying, working on group assignments or simply having a late-night work shift. But that doesn’t mean it’s all off-campus students need. This shouldn’t be a sacrifice of one for the other. I appreciated the ideas of those candidates who offered ideas such as establishing an arts community, providing off-campus students with a space to come together or hiking through the various trails and pathways that can really expose a newcomer to the inner beauty of the city. But they weren’t enough. The MSU campaigns fell short in the approach they have taken to the very relevant issue of community engagement. They seemed to view this as a technical issue, focusing more on tenant agreements or city by-laws rather than focusing on the big picture of community involvement and fully immers-
ing you in city life and culture. Temporary housing or latenight services are all great, but there is nothing like fostering relationships through working or volunteering that truly allow you to appreciate a city and its people. Different people choose to learn about the place they live in differently, but many often need the encouragement, the acknowledgement and perhaps also the incentive to get out and make an effort. While I continue to live here, study at McMaster and volunteer in different parts of the city, I will continue to work on building a stronger attachment with the city that, for all intents and purposes, should feel like a second home. I hope that in the future, McMaster University and the student body will work towards this goal for the countless others who feel the same.
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OPINION
Thursday, February 2, 2017 | www.thesil.ca
The decline of TwelvEighty Four key pitfalls have limited the campus bar’s potential
I firmly believe these are all avoidable and fixable issues.
Axel Stueckmann Contributor
McMaster Students Union Campus Events decided to reduce the number of TwelvEighty’s Thursday club nights until the end of the year. Under this new schedule, there are six dates left in the schedule for the semester: Feb. 2 and 16, March 2, 16 and 17 (St. Patrick’s Day) and April 6 (Light Up the Night). TwelvEighty club nights used to be a staple cemented firmly in McMaster culture. With the decline of the bar’s quality over time and how few dates are left, I have serious doubts about its direction and its ability to live up to expectations. The TwelvEighty I remember begged the question of why not to go, rather than the current negative perceptions about it. It was an atmosphere that provided fun rather than insisting you create it yourself. There are a few key pitfalls that have turned the bar into the epitome of poor management, marketing and a failure to connect with a massive student body.
MADELINE NEUMANN / PHOTO EDITOR
Aesthetics It is inconceivable to me that someone planned the rayless lighting system employed at this bar without the foresight to predict why and how it would be bad for the TwelvEighty experience. Numerous friends have had tense encounters with attempted drugging, creepy onlookers and unsolicited advances. Many people simply do
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not feel safe as the lack of light hides nefarious intentions and promotes inconspicuousness. While the entire area is poorly lit, even seedier corners lined with black couches worsen the situation even more. It can also be petrifying to see the person you have been dancing with in actual light when they in no way resemble the image you held in your head. Music Who is the music at TwelvEighty for? I undoubtedly have hearing loss from the loud blaring of some amateur DJ over the overly-powerful speakers. Play music people actually want to hear. While things like country nights and the annual Battle of the Bands event are good starts, TwelvEighty still needs to mix it up more from the EDM stereotypes. Every successful bar has a wide variety of musical tastes to cater to a large amount of people. TwelvEighty can easily work towards engaging more of the student population and their diverse music preferences. Price A few years ago, I pitched the idea of dollar beer night to a friend at the MSU. A year after that recommendation, Ora, an Italian kitchen and bar in Hess, coincidentally began to provide dollar beer nights. Why should I go to TwelvEighty instead?
Hamilton has a thriving nightclub and bar scene readily available with a bus drive. Until TwelvEighty provides experiences that are worth the price, it is simply too difficult to compete with cheaper or better alternatives. Instead of bartenders playing games on their phone in an empty bar, put them to work and have them pour some drinks. If every Thursday was just a bit cheaper, I guarantee that more students would go. Promotion No one likes the annoying, intrusive and often cringeworthy social media posts concocted by self-important club promoters, but people need to know that you exist. TwelvEighty’s Facebook posts have an incredibly small amount of engagement.Unskillfully designed posters that litter an already-cluttered student center does not constitute a groundbreaking marketing strategy. Get the word out there that events are taking place, or no one will come. It is easy to pick apart TwelvEighty’s downfall in retrospect, but I firmly believe these are all avoidable and fixable issues. If management has chosen to make changes you disagree with or remain complacent not fixing issues, voice your opinions. If a few people strive to make change, we can all look forward to fun on campus comparable with the atmosphere found in other university towns.
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OPINION | 13
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, February 2, 2017
Open letter to the McMaster University administration Not enough is being done to address safety concerns on campus Social Work Class 3D06D Contributors
We, concerned Bachelor of Social Work students, would like to address the safety issues on this campus that have been largely ignored by the university and the president, Patrick Deane. On Dec. 8, 2016, two McMaster students booked a study room at Innis Library under the name “McMaster KKK meeting”. This incident was deemedv a misguided prank by McMaster spokesperson Gord Arbeau, and the two students were subsequently assigned to sensitivity training directed under McMaster’s Student Code of Conduct. The characterization of this incident as a prank and the ambiguous consequence of sensitivity training suggest that the safety of racialized students on this campus is not a serious priority to the university and the president. The Ku Klux Klan is a violent terrorist group that promotes the reactionary politics and ideology of white supremacy, white nationalism and anti-immigration. They are known for terrorizing and killing people of colour. The KKK is still active in North America and publicly endorsed Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. The suggested intention behind this incident is irrelevant, and we condemn the University’s rationalization of it. This incident should be understood and acknowledged as a racially motivated hate crime that threatens the safety and well-being of the racialized students on this campus. This was not an isolated event. On Nov. 21, 2016 the campus was littered with “altright” recruitment posters that reflect the ideology of the KKK and other fascist, white supremacist groups. According to the McMaster Student Code of Conduct, “All students have the right to live and work in an environment free from harassment, intimidation, discrimination or assault.” How is this right being ensured and protected? Certainly not through vague, textbook statements on McMaster Daily News stating the university’s commitment to inclusitivity. Certainly not through sensitivi-
The characterization of this incident as a prank and the ambigious consequence of sensitivity training suggest that the safety of racialized students on this campus is not a serious priority to the university and the president. ty training that is not explained to the public and protects the identities of the offenders. How was the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities policy interpreted to determine such minor sanctions for a hate crime? This is not a sufficient response. The politics of xenophobia, Islamophobia, white supremacy, misogyny and anti-LGBTQ bigotry, emboldened through Trump’s campaign and presidency thus far, are not exclusive to the United States. In addition to the systemic racism and racist police brutality in Canada, there has been a rise in far-right wing activity in universities all over Canada targeting marginalized and oppressed groups. These incidents contribute to a poisoned environment for racialized students on campus. As outlined in McMaster’s Discrimination, Harassment & Sexual Harassment policy, “A poisoned environment can interfere with and/or undermine work or academic performance and can cause emotional and psychological stress.” These incidents not only instill fear and anxiety, but threaten the safety and lives of racialized students at McMaster. We demand a more public condemnation of these events and transparency into the investigation and disciplinary processes that follow. We demand that these issues and the safety and well-being of all racialized students at McMaster be taken seriously and made a priority.
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OPINION
Thursday, February 2, 2017 | www.thesil.ca
Employment after graduation The importance of making yourself stand out in today’s crowded job market Alex Polgar Contributor
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Perhaps it was over the holidays that you realized a new chapter of your life is beginning in the not-so-vdistant future, or the beginning of your last semester at McMaster that got you thinking about what to do after. With a competitive employment landscape for new graduates, now is the time to start strategizing and working proactively to line up employment. Upon graduation, many McMaster students are faced with fierce competition when landing their first job out of university. According to Statistics Canada, in December 2016, Hamilton’s unemployment rate was 5.5 per cent, which is slightly lower than the national average of 6.9 per cent. In contrast, Ontario’s youth unemployment rate is 14.3 per cent making it the highest among all provinces. Hamilton’s labour force is also largely comprised of man-
ufacturing jobs, which means that local employers who are seeking university graduates receive high volumes of qualified applications. For those students who decide to move to larger cities likes Toronto, Vancouver or even internationally in hopes for better opportunities, even higher volumes of competition exists. Canada’s Youth Expert Panel weighed in on the topic in a report published in December 2016, and stated, “Many young people complete hundreds of online job applications without receiving any response.” You’re among the most educated demographic ever, you’re attending a leading university and yet many of you will struggle to find a great job upon graduation. So why is it necessary stand out from the crowd and how can you set yourself up for success? Standing out from other the applicants is vital to landing your first career-related job that
Call For Nominations McMaster University invites nominations for the President's Award of Excellence (Student Leadership) This annual award recognizes deserving undergraduate students who have made a significant contribution in improving and developing the intellectual, social, cultural and/or athletic fabric of the McMaster community. Nominations are open to undergraduate students who are in their graduating year. Nominations may be made by faculty, staff and students. For more information on the award, or to obtain a Nomination Form, visit http://studentaffairs.mcmaster.ca/president_award_student.html
THE DEADLINE FOR RETURN OF NOMINATION FORMS IS FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2017
you are proud of. It requires a lot of time, persistence and self-realization. By nature, people are likely to choose the path of least resistance often because it is the easiest thing to do, or because they do not know what else to do. This means that many people submit online application after online application, but do not do much more than that. Getting your first career-related job can be tough, as many new graduates have limited work experience to demonstrate success with previous employers. Setting yourself apart from other candidates, in a positive way of course, will greatly increase your chances of being invited into the interview process and receive quality job offers. To do so, you must go above and beyond simply submitting a cover letter and resume, and thoroughly understanding yourself so you can answer competency questions with confidence.
Employers now more than ever have the luxury of being picky. Intelligence, skills and knowledge are no longer enough to get hired, as employers know that these three things alone do not guarantee employee success. Sophisticated recruitment tools and behaviour screenings seek to find someone who is going to fit in well with a company’s organizational culture, is reliable and will bring their passions to work each day. Surprisingly, there are a large percentage of smart, well-educated people who cannot demonstrate that they can fill all of these qualifications consistently. As you embark on your second semester, continue to work smart and be proactive about your future. Set yourself apart from the crowd and work pre-emptively to prove to prospective employers that you are the right fit for their organization.
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| 17
Arts & Culture Heavenly Mexican treats Through beloved Farmers’ Market stand Carlota Cisneros realizes culinary dreams Michelle Yeung A&C Reporter
When Carlota Cisneros immigrated to Canada six years ago, she got her new life off the ground by working at a local Staples. Although the company taught her about the workings of a new country, Cisneros has always been a cook at heart. She would bring forth this passion at work parties, baking cakes and other delicacies without charge. The reception was always an astounding success – everyone loved her food. After a coworker questioned why she wasn’t pursuing cooking for a living, the rest became history. Since then, she has introduced Divine Mexican Kitchen (soon to be renamed to just Mexican Kitchen), a popular stall that offers everything from authentic Mexican tostadas to a cup of Ethiopian dark roast coffee. “I still remember when my co-worker suggested that I [pursue cooking] as a living – I was so shocked,” she said. “Even though I loved cooking, the thought never even crossed my mind because it seemed [like an impossible feat]. I told her: ‘I am penniless, I have no money to start a restaurant.’” At that point, Cisneros’ friend introduced her to the Hamilton Farmer’s Market, meaning she would not have to open a full restaurant to sell her food. “It was the first time I had ever heard of something like that… when I [went to visit], I fell in love right away,” said Cisneros. Cisneros, known affectionately around the market as Katy, emphasized that all of her food is both authentic and fresh; she sources ingredients from neighbours around the market for her tostadas, tamales, quesadillas, tacos and even Mexican pozole soup, among other delicacies. Besides traditional Mexican cuisine, Cisneros also offers fantastic homemade chocolates
and cakes, as well as freshly-brewed coffee. But it wasn’t always this way. “I started [Divine Mexican Kitchen] over a year ago now with only chocolates, cakes and coffee… I brought [my coffee] directly from Ethiopia, which I fell in love with. But everyone I knew kept asking me where the Mexican food was… a few of them started to come by and I just started to serve them food naturally even though it wasn’t on my menu.” Although Cisneros has since added Mexican food to her menu, she still prepares dishes that customers request. “I still say yes to requests, but my customer base has grown so large now that sometimes I get myself into a bit of trouble by saying yes all the time,” she said. Customers old and new stop by to praise both her dependable menu items and to request an off-menu Mexican
“I still remember when my coworker suggested that I [pursue cooking] as a living – I was so shocked.” Carlota Cisneros Owner Divine Kitchen dish they crave. Word of her talent has spread beyond the market, allowing her to do catering jobs on the market’s off days. Just a few weeks ago, the city of Hamilton hired Cisneros to make hors d’oeuvres for 200 people at an event. Although she enjoys catering, Cisneros’ heart lies with the market. “I adore being [at the market]. It really, really is like a big family. Everybody knows each other and the kids come by to say hello… I consider it as an extension of my own family. It’s
C/O MICHELLE YEUNG
funny… everyone is surprised, especially my husband, that I’m loving this so much. My husband used to tell me how I wouldn’t be able to keep this up, how it’s not for me and that it’s too much… but here I am, and I am loving it more than ever.” When asked what visitors of Divine Mexican Kitchen can expect, Cisneros says that the experience goes beyond just excellent food. “I’m really proud of the hospitality and atmosphere here… my customers tell me how it always feels very happy when they visit… every day I am excited to open the store because even though people are so different, they all love my food. Whether you are Mexican, Canadian or any other ethnicity, I hope my food will help you build connections with all types of people and connect you with our little family here at the Mexican Kitchen.”
C/O INSTAGRAM @CARLOTASDIVINE Flan Caramel Cake.
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A&C
Thursday, February 2, 2017 | www.thesil.ca
Culinary Class Act
The V-Spot
Downtown dundas cafe and eatery offers a diverse vegan menu and comfortable study spots
C/O THEVSPOT_CAFE Above: Vegetable medley with garlic spread. Left: Caramelized onion soup. Adrianna Michell Contributor
What it is The V-Spot Vegan Café & Eatery is like the cool vegan mom on the block, and they’re bringing delicious ethical eats to Hamilton one wrap at a time. You’ve probably already seen the V-Spot on your Instagram feed without even realizing it. Their vegan dishes are a treat for the eye and the stomach. Serving smoothies, wraps and bowls the V-Spot is ideal for lunch with friends or a study date.
How to get there from Westdale/Ainslie Wood Grab the next 52 bus at Main and Emerson Get off at King at Ogilvie and walk west along King to Miller's Lane. Make a left onto Miller’s; the V-Spot will be on your right on the next block. How much Prices range from $4 to $15, the cheapest option being the Three Bean Chilli. Beverages range from $2.75 to $6.50. What to get Their fresh mango-avocado
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spring rolls are perfect for a lighter, refreshing meal. During the colder months try their spiced garbanzo and coconut stew—it’s as sweet and savoury as it is satisfying. For the best deal, however, get the pizza of the day with a side salad or fries. It will fill you up for only $10; the toppings change with the day, but you can count on something delicious. As a caffeine lover, I’d be remiss if I didn’t recommend getting a coffee to wash it all down. Every cup is made with fair trade locally roasted Relay coffee.
Why it's great The V-Spot’s atmosphere is warm and inviting, and their staff are friendly and passionate about ethical eating. It's a place in which you can truly feel at home, especially considering it is a house to café convert. As soon as you enter through the family home façade, you are welcomed to a calm space perfect for studying or catching up with friends. The back porch during the warmer months offers a back-yard barbeque vibe for every visiting patron, with the quiet bustle of Dundas as the soundtrack.
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The décor and food are equally Instagram-able, with flowers usually on the tables and plenty of light to brighten up your day. As long as you enjoy good food and good company, the V-Spot is the place to be. I’ve brought my non-vegan mom and non-vegan friend to the V-Spot, and they both enjoyed their meals. Bring your coffee date, visiting parents, friends—vegan and non-vegan alike. @theSilhouette
A&C | 19
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, February 2, 2017
Hamilton comic book debuts Local designer and illustrator Sylvia Nickerson’s Creation chronicles Hamilton’s revitilization
A city landscape accompanied the Casino Artspace opening.
Top right: One of Nickerson’s many illustrations of the city made prior to the release of Creation. C/O SYLVIANICKERSON.COM Hess Sahlollbey Contributor
Hamilton is in the midst of a continuous evolution, and with that comes a growing arts and culture community in the city’s centre. While local art galleries, recording studios and independent film production are well established, the comic scene has been growing as well. Sylvia Nickerson is one such comic artist and with her book, Creation, she looks to chronicle the city’s physical changes as well as her own perspective towards it. “I was living in Toronto, but I fell in love and moved here when my partner moved to Hamilton. I was really encouraged by the art community downtown and connected with that.” Nickerson is a graphic designer and illustrator, whose clientele has included the Globe and Mail, the National Post, the
Washington Post and the city of Hamilton. She is an active part of the Casino Gallery Artspace, has helped design a variety of local murals and even helped create the local boutique White Elephant’s Supercrawl 2016 window display. Creation tells a story of love and loss, dreams and death and of the contrasting aspects of the city. Nickerson was inspired by interactions with locals as she came to know her new home city. “People are really down to earth,” she said. “They’re real and I appreciate that [and] I found inspiration in all aspects of the city from the industrial to the architecture.” Nickerson’s shift to comics required a complete transition to a new medium with new rules and structure. Nickerson explained that the transition from newspaper illustration to comics meant
that she eventually moved away from using still-life references for her illustrations, and instead learned to draw mostly from memories of the city. “When I need a specific building or sign I do reference it and creating comics has really disciplined me and how I see the world,” said Nickerson. Venturing into a new medium has allowed her to more easily explore complex local and social issues. Even so, she was surprised to find how much closer she felt to issues of urban decay and gentrification through illustration. “Entering into this medium, I was maybe not entirely prepared for how intense my engagement would become,” Nickerson explained. “I was not just telling a story but also making illustrations which all felt really powerful.” Creation presents a unique take while still maintaining a dissonance between the
rendition and the subject matter. Nickerson was roused by her own home city as well as inspired by the works of Maus author Art Spiegelman and New Yorker cartoonist Roz Chast. Creation is an experimental analysis of human psychology in a small city. No events in the story come off as larger-thanlife and the story’s own narrator questions their own dreams and ideals and doubting whether they can truly fulfill them. “Having become a parent is what really changed how I interacted with the city. I was no longer going from point A to point B. I was becoming a different person at the same time that the city was becoming different… the first three chapters of Creation really explore the darker parts of the city.” While Nickerson was initially going to shy away from stories of struggle, the birth of her child helped her confront how everyone else in the city
were striving to create a brighter future for their children. The comic book scene in Hamilton is still young but Nickerson believes it possesses untapped potential through the various art communities in the city. “I’m not sure I would have started on this project if not for some other young artists who moved to the city and started this Casino Artspace that I am a part of now who brought tons of positive energy to the community that supports the creation of art.” For anyone aspiring to create comics of their own, Nickerson imparted some final advice. “Don’t try to make money,” she said with a laugh. “There is still lot of gratification in telling stories and that is a reward in itself.” @theSilhouette
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A&C
Thursday, February 2, 2017 | www.thesil.ca
Luminous performance
Electroluminescent recalls origins of electronic music scene in Hamilton Sahra Soudi Contributor
Electroluminescent has made their mark on a thriving electronic music scene, creating music that is both sedative and intriguing. Now the group has the opportunity to reflect on their legacy as they played their final show at This Ain’t Hollywood before an indefinite hiatus. From the gentle strobe lights to the twinkling melodic keyboard sounds, being at a local venue with supporters and friends of Electroluminescent felt just as atmospheric as their latest EP, Fragments in Rounds. Electroluminescent is an electronic/psychedelic/noise solo project created by Ryan Ferguson (guitar and keyboard) in 1998 during his time living in Waterdown. Upon moving to Hamilton in 2003, Ferguson began to perform his music. “I was in school and I was too busy to be involved in a band," Ferguson explained. "I was interested in the counterpoint ideas where you take the same musical phrase and repeat against itself it can create a sensibility and if you do it on purpose you can make melodies. I was into the whole DIY aspect where I could make tapes and give them to friends.” “Back then you could buy an analog synthesizer for cheap so that’s then I started incorporating that and became interested in electronic music,” said Ferguson. In 2016, the act was reimagined as a six-piece electronic/psychedelic/noise band featuring Beth de Jong (bass and guitar), Dan Empringham (drums), Sean Ramsay (guitar), Adam Bentley (guitar) and Adam Price (keyboards). After the band’s performance in London, Ontario at the Strangewaves musical festival in 2016, Electroluminescent decided to have one more performance at This Ain’t Hollywood on Jan. 27 along with The Sarah Good Band and Roljui. Since then Ferguson’s music has morphed into ambient, shoe gaze music and experi-
mental noise. Having been musically influenced by American Composer Steve Reich, Ferguson explained the importance of reimagining one of his final performances as a six-piece band. “I didn’t just want to recreate what I’ve done [for] years before but I still wanted to reference [it]. Everyone who’s
"You can trace electronic music back to the Junior Boys and [they] trace back to the early rave scenes here in Hamilton.” Ryan Ferguson Founder Electroluminescent playing in the band has been close to Electroluminescent and I wanted to include them in a new thing.” Hamilton’s electronic/industrial music scene has historic ties to buildings such as the Lincoln Alexander Centre and the Cotton Factory, which used to be venues for raves. “When I started going to Hamilton local music shows it was all indie rock but then the Cotton Factory had raves and you can trace electronic music back to the Junior Boys and [they] trace back to the early rave scenes here in Hamilton,” said Ferguson. “Electronic music is definitely more active today. I don’t know if I directly participate in it but it seems like I do. I’m too old now; I have bad knees. That’s why I like walking electronic music, it’s good for your knees,” Ferguson said, laughing. As the group prepares to break off into other projects, Ferguson is looking forward to his next experimental project. “I’m working on now this underwater sound installation. You don’t really take that to a club or a show. I don’t necessarily see myself as part of this music scene for much longer and I don’t think that’s a bad thing.”
Electroluminescent plays their final show in Hamilton. C/O SAHRA SOUDI
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EVENTS CALENDAR SRA Generals: Nomination Period
Snacks and Polaroids! Admission is Free! We hope to see you there!
When: February 01, 2017 to February 28 at 5pm
Glow Foam Party When: February 02, 2017 - Doors at 10pm
All nomination forms are due in MUSC 201 by 5pm on February 28th, 2017. Be sure to familiarize yourselves with the rules prior to campaigning. See someone breaking the rules? Fill out a complaint form and submit it either in person or via email to the Elections Department before the end of the campaign period.
Where: TwelvEighty Bar and Grill Join us on our premium Thursday club night featuring a Glow Foam Party. So get your comfortable club night attire and dance the night away in our foam filled club night. IT will be wet, foaming along with glow products handed out all night. This one event you cant miss. This is a 19+ event!
Bridges - Karaoke Night When: February 02, 2017 from 08:00PM until 11:00PM
CPR Course (Red Cross & McMaster Student Association)
Where: Bridges Café
When: February 04-05, 2017
The McMaster Life Science Society is back with a new event! Join us on Thursday February 2nd at 8:30 pm for a night of Karaoke,
Where: TBA
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Bridges - Kids4Kids x MacBEAT Valentines Day Coffeehouse A refreshing night of music curated by Kids4K When: February 07, 2017 from 08:00PM until 11:00PM Where: Bridges Café A refreshing night of music curated by Kids4Kids and MacBEAT!
Good Food Box Pick-up When: February 07, 2017 from 10:00AM until 04:00PM Where: MUSC tables The Good Food Box is a non-profit project run by MAC Bread Bin in partnership with Grace Lutheran Church to provide local, affordable, seasonal produce to the McMaster Community.
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GAMES
Thursday, February 2, 2017 | www.thesil.ca
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, February 2, 2017
The Silhouette | 23
Sports Exploring accessibility in athletics Citing barriers faced by students who experience disability, Julia Hanes discusses her mission to bring more accessible opportunities for McMaster students Lauren Beals Sports Reporter
At every McMaster home game there are two groups of people: the athletes and the fans. Both are deeply engaged in the evening’s proceedings. Students wearing maroon both on and off the court carry a passion for the game and a love of intense competition. For varsity sports, most students would say they fall into the second category, happy to cheer for a spirited dunk but not quite able to jump in and do it themselves. But what if students were only able to be spectators? Such was the experience of fourth-year student Julia Haines. As anyone who has visited the David Braley Athletic Centre can attest to, the campus athletic centre is always bustling with student activity. So when she began her first year at McMaster, Haines, like anyone else, was excited to join some weekend intramural teams and work out in the campus gym. She would not be so lucky. At the time the only accessible athletic programming at Mac was a one-day wheelchair handball tournament, that had faced dwindling enthusiasm in recent years. The Pulse, the gym facility on campus, also posed challenges as without an internal elevator Haines required 20 minutes of staff assistance just to reach the cardio equipment on the second floor. Over 7,500 members of the McMaster community participate in over 35 intramural sports leagues every year, with even more students visiting DBAC facilities like the Pulse regularly. Why couldn’t she? “I ended up quitting,” said Haines. “It was just so frustrating. I had other ways of being active [in the community], but this summer it really started to bother me. It doesn’t take that much to have accessible [op-
More accessible opportunities to get active have been added since Haines talked to the athletics department, including a sitting volleyball league on Mondays. MADELINE NEUMANN / PHOTO EDITOR
The Pulse also posed challenges as without an internal elevator Haines required 20 minutes of staff assistance just to reach the cardio equipment on the second floor. tions]… and there are benefits to everyone.” A stroke survivor since her final year of high school, Haines was no stranger to adversity. So she decided to apply some of the same perseverance that had taken her to provincial swimming championships and local soccer titles into making a case for more accessible sports. A few emails later, and she had a meeting with the Director of Athletics and Recreation Glen Grunwald and the director of intramurals Andrew Pettit. Responsive from the get-go,
they were ready to change the way McMaster welcomes all students into the sport community. “[Through my experience] I really started to understand the impact parasports and accessible opportunities have on people,” said Haines. “Sports have a number of benefits, we see it in [research], we hear people say it, it gives you an outlet for stress… all wonderful things. But what we don’t always realize is that sport can have that same impact for people with disabilities as well… that’s what I wanted [for Mac]” They decided to start with a small sitting volleyball league that would run on Sunday afternoons and not require any special equipment. Today, the eight-team league is over capacity and had to move to a prime-time Monday time slot to accommodate all of the interest. “Every Monday night Sport Hall is filled with people playing sitting volleyball,” said Haines. “Our team has four people with disabilities on it, and when I was watching them and and hearing how much fun they
were having and how much they were looking forward to next week… I was ready to sit there and [cry].” Other new initiatives include a revival of the age-old sitting hand-ball tournament and two sport wheelchairs for anyone at Mac to rent out and use whenever the gym is available. “Almost every time I go into the gym someone is either using them or sitting on them or asking about them and it is absolutely awesome,” said Haines. While the changes in accessible programming are certainly welcome, they are only the start when it comes to truly changing the athletics landscape at a university-wide level. Haines envisions a school where paraathletes can not only play on intramural teams, but can complete at the varsity level, no longer delegated to the spectator section because of personal circumstance. “People with disabilities are people who have happened to live through difficult circum-
stances that they wear on their bodies,” said Haines. “Everyone has challenges, people with disabilities just happen to wear their challenges on them.” Haines also encourages everyone to takes steps to actively change how inclusive their own activities are. Whether that is as simple as holding a hockey tournament in an accessible arena, or reaching out to have a conversation about what other steps might be helpful, every action can be the difference between storming the court and sitting in the bleachers. “I know how it feels to be excluded,” said Haines. “I know how it feels to walk or roll past people in the gym playing everyday and knowing that you just can’t… and that you will never be a part of that. So to see people have the opportunity to be with their friends, have fun and exercise their right to participate… it’s overwhelming… it’s everything.” @theSilhouette
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Thursday, February 2, 2017 | www.thesil.ca
Finish line in sight for Mac seniors Jeff Tweedle and Kaitlyn Pansegrau reflect on their respective journeys to track and field success Eamon Hillis Contributor
In distance running, perhaps more than any other sport, victory is not achieved by chance. The sport has demonstrated time again that talent is a trifle, and that those who are able to remain steadfast in their training will inevitably rise to the top. On this year’s McMaster track roster, two athletes exemplify this idea: Jeff Tweedle and Kaitlyn Pansegrau. Tweedle and Pansegrau are fifth-year seniors who specialize in middle-distance events (800m-1500m). In the first two meets of 2017 – Don Wright in London, Ont., and John Thomas Terrier Classic in Boston, Mass. – both athletes performed exceptionally well, and positioned themselves to make this their best season of racing ever. Both noted that they feel fit considering how early it is in the season. “I’m feeling good and training is going in the right direction,” Pansegrau said. “I hope it bodes well for things to come.” Although Tweedle and
Pansegrau’s recent successes may not appear particularly unique to the unknowing spectator, nothing about either athlete’s journey was preordained. Both grew up in the Hamilton area, Tweedle from Stoney Creek and Pansegrau from Dundas, and did not exhibit extraordinary talent as high school runners. Neither was recruited heavily by McMaster, and each made their decision to attend Mac for reasons unrelated to running. “I wasn’t a great high school runner,” Tweedle said. “I was a middle of the pack guy, and I was never able to qualify for the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Association finals. I came to Mac purely for the academics and the great community around campus. Athletics at university was never a guarantee for me. I never knew it would turn into anything.” Tweedle has come a long way since those days. He currently holds the school record in the 1000m, earned a 2016 Ontario University Athletics bronze medal and has distinguished himself as one of
the premier middle-distance runners in the country. His inspiring story is a testament to one of the unique truths of the sport; that for those who are diligent in their pursuit, consistent in their work ethic, and are able to apply themselves long-term, they will find themselves compensated justly for their labours. Pansegrau understands the importance of this consistency also boasts a remarkably steady trend in improvement from year to year. Part of this consistency can be attributed to her careful attitude towards injury prevention, and her willingness to get treatment quickly when injuries do arise. “Aside from minor tweaks, I thankfully haven’t had any major injuries that have put me back too much,” Pansegrau said. “Doing strength and rehab work, while staying on top of the little things right when they come up is something that I continue working at. I try to deal with them right away rather than letting them develop into something bigger.” Both athletes also stressed another important element in
Tweedle (left) and Pansegreau (right) are hoping to finish their OUA careers on top. C/O MAXINE GRAVINA
“I came to Mac purely for the academics and the great community around campus. Athletics at university was never a guarantee for me. I never knew it would turn into anything.” Jeff Tweedle Fifth-year student McMaster track and field their development – the addition of mileage over the years. For the elite runner, an increase in weekly mileage can quickly lead to an increase in fitness if executed properly. Tweedle logs upwards of 140 kilometres each week. “In my first three years I ran relatively low mileage,” Tweedle said. “But more recently, [head coach] Paula Schnurr and a few of my teammates helped me realize that I needed to be doing higher mileage. It has definitely been a huge turn-
ing point and has helped me realize that my body can handle it, if done properly.” Unsurprisingly, Tweedle and Pansegrau were quick to mention the unconditional support of Schnurr and assistant coach Peter Self. “I definitely have Pete and Paula to thank for my development here at Mac,” Pansegrau said. “Paula really likes to work with her athletes on an individual basis, and I am grateful for that.” Pansegrau and Tweedle both competed in the 1000m at the John Thomas Terrier Classic in Boston on Jan. 27-28. Pansegrau ran a remarkable 2:52.85 for an eight second personal best, while Tweedle ran 2:22.81 to achieve early qualification into the U Sports championship March 9-11 in Edmonton, Alberta. Both will be looking to finish their varsity track careers on a high, and are poised to make waves in the coming weeks. @theSilhouette
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www.thesil.ca | Thursday, February 2, 2017
Leadership, maturity and versatility Fifth-year guard Rohan Boney leads the Marauders through a tough schedule and a transitional season Justin Parker Contributor
The McMaster men’s basketball team had a rough week in Toronto, losing 99-77 against Ryerson on Wednesday, followed by a tight defensive battle on Saturday at the University of Toronto that ended with the Varsity Blues coming out on top 65-57. Their shooting woes came due to the missing presence of the team’s leading facilitator Rohan Boney, who missed both games due to an ankle injury. During a transitional year for the Marauders, veteran players are often a guide for younger players looking to make their mark on the team. This season, Boney has emerged as one of the team’s leaders. Last season Boney wavered between starting games on the court or on the bench depending on the game plan. In the 2016-17 season, Boney has seen his minutes increase, and during those extra minutes, he has contributed all over the team’s stats sheet. This adaptability is one of the key traits Boney brings to the team. “I’m kind of versatile; I’ll play guard and forward,” Boney said. “I try to get my teammates involved and pass it around, score when needed. But just try to keep everything flowing. Last year… my role was to be an energy guy, come in and play fast and play aggressive. This year if I have a bad game it would really show up on how the team does.” Last year, Rohan Boney contributed 10.8 points per game and 2.6 assists per game in 22.6 minutes. This year, he currently leads the team in assists (4.2) and blocks (0.8) per game, while sitting second in points (14.8), rebounds (7.3), and steals (1.2) per game. Boney’s numbers rank him as fourth in the province and tenth across Canada for assists per game. This bigger role has
enhanced Boney’s position as a leader on the team. “I think [Boney] just does what you need him to do,” head coach Amos Connolly said. “I think in the past we didn’t need [Boney] to score as much but we needed him to facilitate and rebound and I think now he looks and he realizes that we need him to score.”
“To see his level of dedication and commitment to the program, and to see him be willing to lead from the side and let other guys lead... I couldn’t be happier with what [he’s] doing for us.” Amos Connolly Head coach McMaster men’s basketball “I think his maturity is what we’re really seeing right now. I think his awareness of the strengths and weaknesses of the group and the strengths and weaknesses of himself and how he can contribute… I’m really impressed with what he’s done as a leader for this group.” Boney sees his role as a leader is to get the team to the best position to win as possible. “Some guys respond differently to certain stuff, like some guys you can yell at, some guys you have to pat on the back,” Boney said. “Honestly, a leadership role [is] trying to get the best result as a team that you can get, and that’s what I try to do every day.” After five years, Boney has learned a lot about balancing
Rohan Boney (22) has been a consistent source of production for the men’s basketball team this season. C/O KYLE WEST
life and school, how to communicate, how to deal with pressure and how hard work can breed success. Playing this long is not an easy feat, but he continues to lead by example according to Connelly. “To see his level of dedication and commitment to this program, and to see him be willing to lead from the side and let other guys lead but still make sure that things are going in the in the right direction, I couldn’t be happier with what [he’s] doing for us.” Despite recent struggles, the Marauders currently sit in second place in the Ontario University Athletics Central division with a 7-8 record. They are six points behind first-place Brock, and looking to regain form with four games remaining in the regular season. While they’ve lost three of their last four games, their next four are against lower-ranked teams starting with a Feb. 4 matchup against the 3-11 Waterloo Warriors.
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SPORTS
Thursday, February 2, 2017 | www.thesil.ca
Fighting to the finish The McMaster men’s volleyball prove time and time again that hard work pays off Camila Stupecka Contributor
The McMaster men’s volleyball team has proved to be a strong, skilled team this season, so it is no surprise that head coach Dave Preston is happy with the performance of the team. Currently unbeaten in University Sports competition, the team is heading into the playoffs confident and full of anticipation. Preston sees how the team is doing, but knows they can do more. “Am I happy? Yes. But not satisfied, yet,” Preston said. “[The goal is] improvement by design. [Right now, we have] really good depth. But now we need consistency, to play the same players over and over, to get a good rhythm.” Such depth allows more players to gain experience and to strengthen as a unit. In this way each player gets exposure, allowing them to work on their skills on the court. The rotation of the setter position in their matches against Western and Windsor during the Think Pink weekend was a prime example. “We had three different setters on [that weekend.] Andrew Kocur, Andrew Richards and David Doty.” Preston said. “We could have just kept Kocur on, [but by rotating them], all of them got setting experience [and all of them brought] different styles to the game.” The focus has been concentrated mostly on the development of unique skills in every player. Coming toward the end of the season, Preston is ready to create some rhythm, allowing for a more consistent representation of smooth plays to emerge on the court. But what is the ultimate strategy when playing such a wide range of seasoned opponents? Being good at everything. “Each opponent has presented a unique challenge.” Preston said. “[It’s] all about match-up.” The Mac men are a balanced and flexible team, which
has been represented in their season-long successes in Ontario University Athletics competition this season. Fourth-year Brandon Koppers, fifth-year Danny Demyanenko and third-year Andrew Richards have stepped up as leaders of the team, working hard and making sure the team improves not only its volleyball skills but their fellowship skills as well. “[The leaders] let people lead and fall back when necessary,” said Preston. “Developing fellowship skills is just as important as developing leadership skills.” Individually, they are also major assets to the team’s overall dynamic; Koppers excels in passing and hitting offside, Demyanenko in his defensive blocks and Richards is an asset at almost every position. Richards’ versatility is what truly impresses Preston. “He has played almost every position.” said Preston. “Whether it’s by necessity or by choice.” Another one of the team’s key moves is to surprise the opposition. The men’s team has been switching two liberos on and off the court, first-year Jordan Pereira and fourth-year Pawel Jedrzejewski. Pereira plays on the defensive and Jedrzejewski plays on reception, and together they not only bring their own unique styles to the court to give further depth to the team, but are also cause for potential confusion for opponents. “Introducing both is really effective,” said Preston. “Jordan is one of the best diggers in the world and Pawel brings stability [due to his] experience and expertise. It brings a positive rivalry.” The team is ready to push the limits and finish the season on a winning note. Marauder supporters hope that the team can carry their momentum into postseason play, and make a return trip to the OUA final four. @theSilhouette
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Keep Hamilton Warm has been collecting new and gently used clothing, footwear, blankets and sleeping bags for those on the streets, in shelters and inner city schools since February 2014. The donations are NOT resold and go directly to those in need. Distribution locations include: Salvation Army Booth Centre and Soup Truck on York Blvd, the Good Shepherd Family and Women’s Shelters on Pearl St., the Good Shepherd Venture Centre on Cannon and Ferguson, Mission Services on Wentworth St N and a couple of inner city schools yet to be determined.
Donations can be dropped off at Dalewood Recreation Centre on 1150 Main St W and Dalewood Ave. Contact Keep Hamilton Warm at keephamiltonwarm@gmail.com or 905.515.5755 for further drop off or pick up arrangements. www.keephamiltonwarm.com
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