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Thursday, September 26, 2019
TAKE BACK THE NIGHT TBTN celebrates its 38th year in Hamilton// PAGES 6-7
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FEATURE: A revival of 21st century art at McMaster’s Levy collection // PAGES 10-11 ARTS & CULTURE: Transport yourself to the forest with Lost Illusions at Centre[3] // PAGE 19 SPORTS: The men’s cross country team has high hopes for the season ahead // PAGE 23
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Volume 90, Issue 5 Thursday, September 26, 2019 McMaster University’s Student Newspaper
EDITORIAL BOARD editor-in-chief | thesil@thesil.ca
Hannah Walters-Vida digital media specialist | dms@msu.mcmaster.ca Maxine Gravina managing editor | managing@thesil.ca Neda Pirouzmand online editor | online@thesil.ca Razan Samara production editor | production@thesil.ca Elisabetta Paiano sections
NEWS Trisha Gregorio news reporter Shamir Malik news@thesil.ca
news editor
September 30, 1955
LOOKING BACK KEEP IT DOWN In a letter to the editor, a student complains about loud people in the library. Vocal library patrons continue to be a topic of contention. Just check out Spotted at Mac to see the discussion continue.
FEATURES Adrianna Michell features@thesil.ca
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COVER PHOTO Cindy Cui
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www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019
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News The Campus Store is swapping maroon for green In an effort to reduce the impact of plastic on the environment, the McMaster campus store will stop selling single-use plastic bags. supporting more sustainable practices, is now working closely with a group of students in the SUSTAIN 3S03 course to raise awareness of the campaign and continue to help the store look at greener alternatives.
The campus store is seeking to reduce the environmental impact of plastic bags. CINDY CUI / PHOTO EDITOR
Shamir Malik News Reporter
The Campus Store will no longer be selling single-use plastic bags in an effort to make McMaster University more sustainable. According to Donna Shapiro, the campus store director, the store was selling over 20,000 plastic or tote bags each year. “We look at the waste on campus and we look at the plastic bags. Those bags are heavy duty plastic bags. We’re not talking about Walmart plastic bags, because they have to hold textbooks,” said Shapiro. The Campus Store has previously taken measures to reduce the environmental impact of bag sales in the past, charging 15 cents per plastic bag. While the initiative failed to reduce plastic bag sales, it prompted the store to look into other more sustainable alternatives. Louise Walker, the sales
floor manager at the Campus Store, said it took their team a long time to evaluate alternatives such as paper or compostable bags. Each time they pursued an option in hopes that it would pose a solution, she said, they realized that it was much worse than plastic. Eventually, she reached
The initiative is the first of many steps the Campus Store intends to take to make McMaster more sustainable. out to the university and got into contact with Kate Whalen. Whalen is the former developer and manager of McMaster’s office of sustainability as well as the current senior manager of
academic sustainability programs at the university. While many at the Campus Store supported the elimination of single-use plastic bags, they also considered student needs. “I think my biggest concern was that the thought of a customer coming here and not being able to put their items in [a bag]. So Kate [Whalen] helped us think about the donation bin, where we could take donation plastic bags,” explained Shapiro. The donation bin encourages shoppers to bring their own bag. If customers do not have their own bags, they can reuse a donated plastic bag or purchase a water resistant tote bag for 75 cents. “The goal is not to sell the bag — the goal is for students to bring a backpack, their own recyclable bag or to carry it in their hands,” emphasized Walker. The campaign, called “Maroon is the New Green,” launched on Aug. 24. The initia-
tive is the first of many steps the Campus Store intends to take to make McMaster more sustainable, according to Walker.
“The goal is not to sell the bag — the goal is for students to bring a backpack, their own recyclable bag or to carry it in their hands.” “We’re looking at changing a mindset. People are used to bringing their bags to the grocery store but they’re not used to bringing their bags here,” said Walker. The Campus Store’s remaining plastic bags, as well as bags donated by the store’s staff have been filtered into the donation box. The store’s green team, a group of staff interested in
The Campus Store is already looking at what reusability could look like in the future. They are working with student groups to create more sustainable products, such as washable cutlery sets and stainless steel straws. The Campus Store is already looking at what reusability could look like in the future. They are working with student groups to create more sustainable products, such as washable cutlery sets and stainless steel straws. “It fulfills two things: it’s a student entrepreneur we will be supporting, but also they are reusable materials,” said Shapiro. She added that the Campus Store is always open to feedback about how they are able to improve a process. Students are encouraged to provide feedback to the Campus Store regarding their green initiatives at campusstore@mcmaster.ca.
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NEWS
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019
McMaster students celebrate a fake homecoming Despite the history of HOCO, Mac students celebrated a ‘fake homecoming’ party on Sept. 21 without major problems.
More than two thousand students attended FOCO on Sept. 21 C/O ANONYMOUS
Shamir Malik News Reporter
More than 2,000 maroon-clad students ventured to Dalewood Avenue last Saturday to celebrate McMaster’s first ever “Fake Homecoming” or FOCO, one of the largest student street parties that the university has seen in years. FOCO was planned in response to the university’s decision to move its annual Homecoming event to the weekend of Oct. 18, overlapping with the end of reading week. The unsanctioned street party began as a Facebook event called “MAC FOCO 2019 - A new beginning”. According to the page, it had over 2,700 attendees. The party coincided with the McMaster Marauders’ 47-19 win against the Windsor Lancers. While the reason for the timing change is likely due to the 2019 football schedule, students took it upon themselves to organize a replacement Homecoming event that satisfied their own schedule. The Facebook event description stressed that although the McMaster administration had decided to move HOCO,
this would not stop students from taking advantage of an opportunity to celebrate. Visitors to the page were told to come to Dalewood on Sept. 21 and show their school spirit.
More than 2,000 maroonclad students ventured to Dalewood Avenue this Saturday to celebrate McMaster’s first ever FOCO, the largest student street party the university has seen in years. The event attracted the attention of the Hamilton Police and the McMaster administration. A day before, both parties stated in a press release that they were visiting residences to remind students to respect the community. The Hamilton police noted that they — as well as
city partners — would have an increased presence in the neighbourhood to discourage anything and anyone that might be disruptive. Particular emphasis was placed on forbidding large parties and alcohol on the streets. HOCO has a history of safety concerns and in previous years, there have been issues of students publicly urinating and disrupting neighbors and making inappropriate comments during HOCO concerts. In addition, one woman was run over by a police horse during Homecoming in 2018. Fortunately, FOCO did not run into such problems. Hamilton Police closed off Dalewood between Main Street West and Westwood Avenue and used caution tape to section off homes not housing students or interested in participating. With the exception of a few medical calls and bylaw tickets, the police made no arrests. Students remained respectful and enjoyed their time day-drinking on front lawns and walking down the street. Some students even helped clean the street after the parties subsided, earning the gratitude of the Hamilton Police. In
addition, the MSU planned a litter pick-up on the street for the Sunday after. On Twitter, the Hamilton police wrote, “A special thanks to these #McMasterU students for taking the time to clean up after today’s unsanctioned homecoming event in the Ainslee Wood/Westdale area in #HamONT. Thanks for being #good neighbours.” FOCO also drew in other students from outside Hamilton.
“It’s a cultural thing. Of course there will be another FOCO. If we want to, university students are going to plan something like this again.” “It was lit. I had a really fun time and I wasn’t worried about anything. Overall, it was really relaxing,” said Trevor Chang, a third-year Laurier student and regular HOCO participant.
The success of FOCO has encouraged some students to plan a similar event next year should McMaster’s annual Homecoming fall during reading week once again. “It’s a cultural thing. Of course there will be another FOCO. If we want to, university students are going to plan something like this again,” said a McMaster student who wishes to remain anonymous. Regardless, the event supports the possibility of over 2,000 McMaster students attending an entirely student-run Homecoming event with no major issues. @TheSilhouette
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NEWS
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019
Joyful revolution Even without SACHA’s march down the streets of Hamilton, community members gathered to celebrate Take Back The Night’s 38th year
Trisha Gregorio News Editor
cw: References to sexual assault If you were near Hamilton City Hall at around 6 p.m. on Sept. 19, you would have heard throngs of people yelling “revolution!”. If you had taken a closer look, you would have seen Danielle Boissoneau, the coordinator for Take Back The Night, standing behind a microphone on a makeshift stage and prompting each shout from the crowd with an exuberant “joyful!” Together, they formed a chorus — a call honouring this year’s Take Back The Night theme: Joyful Revolution Always. Take Back The Night is an annual event organized in Hamilton by the Sexual Assault Centre (Hamilton), a non-profit organization that supports survivors of sexual assault. Traditionally, Take Back The Night has been an opportunity for women and gender non-conforming folks in the community to speak out against sexual violence and to advocate on behalf of survivors. It has also celebrated with music, performances, art and tables for local organizations that support women and non-binary folks. The first instance of Take Back The Night in Hamilton dates back to 1981. This year marks the event’s 38th year in the city and its first year in
recent history without a march. The Take Back The Night march began as a symbolic protest to the violence that women experienced when walking alone at night. Since then, it has grown into a method of raising awareness of all forms of violence in the community as well as a way to show support for survivors. On Sept. 12, however, SACHA released a statement on their blog to announce that they decided not to march this time. The organization cited safety as a main concern, though the matter swiftly became a discussion of not only safety, but also about relationships with the Hamilton city police. “On Sept. 4, 2019, the Take Back the Night (TBTN) Committee hosted a ‘TBTN Community Townhall on Safety’ — we wanted to hear right from the community what safety looks like for them … What was interesting was that no one mentioned the police as a place of safety,” wrote a representative from SACHA in their official statement. The situation snowballed into a series of meetings. In consideration of the feedback and turnout from previous Take Back The Night events, SACHA attended a meeting with Ward 3 Councillor Nrinder Nann, intending to ask for four street lanes to be closed instead of the one lane that Take Back The Night attendees used in previous marches. They were surprised to find out they were not allowed to follow the usual
Take Back the Night attendees outside of Hamilton City Hall CINDY CUI / PHOTO EDITOR
route used in previous Take Back The Night events.
“...we wanted to hear right from the community what safety looks like for them … What was interesting was that no one mentioned the police as a place of safety,” SACHA Official Statement In an effort to reach a compromise, an alternate route for the march was proposed. However, this second option required the inclusion of five paid duty officers, an unexpected fee that SACHA was unable to pay. In a prior Take Back The Night event, the city had provided SACHA with funding for three officers. There had been no such offer this year. “We took it upon ourselves to revisit the table with the city and the police. We tried to work out an agreement … and then the agreement started to fall into bad faith negotiations, because they started trying to sneak in things at the last minute that were not acceptable,”
said Boissoneau. In the end, SACHA decided it was best to cancel the march. Lisa Colbert of the Woman Abuse Working Group said she had not been sure at first about SACHA’s decision. As she prepared her organization’s table for the event, she admitted that the march was something she enjoyed. However, although the energy might feel different this time, she recognized that to march despite the predicament with the police would be to do the opposite of empowering those who were marching. Similarly, Kat Williams of the Workers’ Arts and Heritage Centre said that a successful partnership with the police and all public servants would not be possible while those in power continued not to listen. “In order to serve the people who are in the margins, the people who are suffering — those are the people we need to elevate. It’s especially important for the police industry to listen to those people, and I don’t think that has happened at many gatherings recently,” she added, taking care to emphasize that her views do not necessarily represent that of her organization. In the same regard, Gachi Issa of the McMaster Womanists expressed support for SACHA’s decision. Taking into account Canada’s history with the police, she believed SACHA
did the right thing by prioritizing the needs of the most marginalized communities.
“In order to serve the people who are in the margins, the people who are suffering — those are the people we need to elevate. It’s especially important for the police industry to listen to those people...” Kat Williams Workers’ Arts and Hertiage Centre With this in mind, Issa said that the presence of the police was always something that should be contested. “The police had never been safe for the most marginalized communities and have been created and set up in a way to marginalize us further and to kill us. My hesitation is to always critique the involvement of police and police presence,” Issa said.
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CINDY CUI / PHOTO EDITOR
For Boissoneau, the change in this year’s Take Back The Night event was a reminder for community members to hold institutions accountable. Institutions like the police and SACHA, she said, must focus on their responsibilities to the people. When asked whether she believed the cancellation of the march had a profound effect on Take Back The Night this year, Boissoneau stated that it had. She admitted the people were disappointed about not having a march — but this disappointment, at the same time, was causing them to re-evaluate how they defined reclamation. “A lot of people are like, we
must march to be able to be powerful. I don’t necessarily think that that’s true. I think that people have the ability to reclaim their autonomy … There’s so many different ways to do it. Marching is only one of those ways,” said Boissoneau. Jessica Bonilla-Damptey, SACHA’s director, did not agree that there was a palpable difference. She acknowledged that the march had always been a big component of Take Back The Night but that despite its absence, joy was the dominant feeling in this year’s event. “I am seeing lots of folks — folks from everywhere, all different nationalities, all dif-
ferent walks of life, all different languages. Everyone is smiling, everybody’s participating. Everybody’s around the tables, looking at what kind of resources are available in our community and everybody’s celebrating … I see joy and I hear joy around me,” she explained. For Bonilla-Damptey, the priority was to embody this year’s theme of joyful revolution. The importance was in the community coming together to celebrate each other and show support for survivors, regardless of the role that the police played in the event-planning process and regardless of what might have been different this year. Issa felt that the same sentiment was applicable to the idea of community care. “We are safe because of each other. Not because of police or because of security. We make each other safe. In order to get to a revolution, we have to be able to sustain each other and to find joy within each other,” she said. On Sept. 19, there were no buses waiting to accommodate people who could not march
alongside the assemblage and, as the sun set over Hamilton City hall, there was no crowd following SACHA’s usual route.
“We are safe because of each other. Not because of police or because of security. We make each other safe. In order to get to a revolution, we have to be able to sustain each other and to find joy within each other,” Gachi Issa McMaster Womanists There was, however, music and spoken word. There were tables that belonged to groups that supported women-identifying and non-binary folks. There
were t-shirts and there were signs that said We Believe You and Empower Others. Despite the aftermath of SACHA’s nuanced relationship with the police, Bonilla-Damptey stressed that one facet left unchanged in this year’s Take Back The Night was its ability to facilitate connections within the community. Attendees lined up for food. They took buttons and pens as they stopped at each table to speak to the person running it. They gathered to hear the story of Lucy, an elderly survivor for whom the crowd chanted, “We believe Lucy!” People tend to believe, according to Boissoneau, that revolution began at an individual level. She argued, however, that when individuals get together and collectively reclaim their space, as hundreds of people did on Take Back The Night — that was revolution.
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NEWS
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019
Two professors named to the College of New Scholars Chandrima Chakraborty and James MacKillop’s research places them at the forefront of Canadian intellectual leadership.
University Club MATTY FLADER / PHOTO REPORTER Olivia Fava Contributor
Two of McMaster’s professors, Chandrima Chakraborty and James MacKillop, have recently been named to the Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists. Founded in 2014 and based in Ottawa, the College of New Scholars aims to gather the “emerging generation of Canadian intellectual leadership” from a broad range of disciplines. Recipients of the College’s title must have demonstrated exceptional achievement in the early stages of their career. By pooling together award recipients, irrespective of their disciplines, their goal is to encourage a dialogue between intellectuals with diverse perspectives, and hopefully inspire new insights. The College acknowledges five aspects of the current academic landscape that inform their mandate: the increasing use of new media in research communication; the emergence of interdisciplinary research; the majority of Canadian professors being recently hired;
greater female representation in academia; and greater First Nations and visible minority representation in academia. A clinical psychologist by training, MacKillop’s award-winning research focuses on addiction — the factors causing it, how it sustains itself and how it can be treated. He is currently the director of McMaster’s Peter Boris Centre for Addictions Research, and co-director of the Michael G. DeGroote Centre for Medicinal Cannabis Research. He studies both cannabis addiction and the potential risks of prescribing cannabis medically. He is a member of the department of psychology, neuroscience and behaviour. MacKillop was not available for comment. Chakraborty, on the other hand, is part of the department of English & cultural studies. In the past, her work has focused on the relationship between religion, masculinity and nationalism in India, with an analysis of media and literature. Currently, she is focused on the 1985 Air India bombings and the post-9/11 targeting of South Asian populations.
Chakraborty was nominated by McMaster to become a member of the College. According to her, the nomination was formally initiated by the previous president, Patrick Deane. She considers the nomination not only personally significant to her, but also significant in its recognition of the value of research that engages the community. “Much of my work straddles a number of different fields. History, memory studies, trauma studies, nationalism, masculinity … For me, this nomination is a recognition of that kind of work that crosses those kinds of disciplinary boundaries. I also think this recognition is important because my work is very much situated in the community,” she said. Specifically, Chakraborty referenced her current work on the Air India bombings, through which she has interviewed families of victims and collecting photographs. She has been learning from the community and recognizing them, in her own words, as “carriers of knowledge”. She works as a mediator to bring a seldom-rec-
ognized tragedy into the realm of public consciousness. Chakraborty’s efforts have resulted in the first-ever public archive on the Air India tragedy. She emphasizes that this project is not simply about researchers writing about the tragedy but also about families sharing their stories on their own terms. The archive also engages questions of race, Canadian citizenship and public mourning. “Why is it that if 329 people were on that plane, and about 280 of them were Canadian citizens or permanent residents, why do Canadians of [student] age, for instance, not know about this tragedy? How do certain griefs become part of the public realm and part of the national consciousness whereas certain other kinds are seen as local? … Is it ignorance, is it apathy, is it racism, what is it?” she asked. When asked what she would attribute her personal success in terms of this recognition, Chakraborty named her childhood experiences as a child of refugees as well as her experiences as an immigrant in Canada.
“I might be an English literature prof, but I don’t speak like white Canadians — accent and gender and race and all of those things. You learn to work harder than others … you always feel like ‘I really have to prove myself, because nothing is given to me,” said Chakraborty. She also expressed gratitude to her teachers and family, her colleagues at McMaster for their support and the students who have expressed interest in her work. The College of New Scholars summarizes its membership criteria as “excellence.” Congratulations to these two researchers for demonstrating the excellence of the McMaster community in a range of disciplines on the federal level.
@TheSilhouette
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Sept.26, 2019
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Students gearing up for climate strike A student group is calling on McMaster to cancel classes and assessments for Friday’s climate strike
Protestors at a Fridays for Future climate strike ELIZABETH SVYATNENKO / CONTRIBUTOR
Hannah Walters-Vida Editor-in-Chief
Monday night, a group of McMaster students issued a petition urging McMaster administration to cancel classes and assessments on the afternoon of Sept. 27 so that students, staff and faculty can participate in a climate strike this Friday. The students organizing the petition are a part of McMaster Students for Climate Change Advocacy (MSCCA), a McMaster-based climate advocacy organization. The planned climate strike will come as part of a week of mass climate actions from Sept. 20-27, culminating in a global general strike to raise the alarm on the climate crisis. Climate activists are planning a mass disruption, calling on people from all facets of society to walk out of school and work, thus disrupting business as usual and forcing leaders to pay attention. “Together, we will sound
the alarm and show our politicians that business as usual is no longer an option. The climate crisis won’t wait, so neither will we,” says a statement from Global Climate Strike, an environmental organization coordinating the protests. While organizers hope that this will be Hamilton’s largest climate strike, it is not the first. Since March, young people from schools across Hamilton have been organizing regular protests to bring attention to the climate crisis. In collaboration with Fridays for future, young people from around the world have been walking out of classes on Fridays to demand immediate, far-reaching action on the climate emergency. By making sacrifices to their education in order to attend the climate strikes, the activists are demonstrating that the climate crisis is an immediate priority. “You’re really going to show that these people are in it for the long haul and especially if you’re missing work [or] you’re missing school. You are taking consequences and showing the
fact that . . . if you don’t take care of this now, you won’t have a job, you won’t have school,” said Kirsten Connelly, MSCCA founder and co-president.
“If you don’t take care of this now, you won’t have a job, you won’t have school,” Kirsten Connelly MSCCA founder and copresident The urgency of the climate crisis was highlighted in a 2018 report from the United Nations International Panel on Climate Change. According to the report, it is of critical importance to limit global warming to 1.5°C within the next decade. It is very likely that failure to do so will result in catastrophic changes including mass extinction, floods, wildfires and the spread of infectious diseases. Earth Strike Canada, the organization coordinating
the Canadian climate strikes, asserts that the climate crisis is a result of an economic system that relies on indefinite growth, requiring unsustainable resource use and thus diminishing future quality of life. Earth Strike Canada’s demands include investments into green technological advancement, resource management reform and economic reform. MSCCA’s role has been to encourage McMaster students to participate in the climate strike. To accomplish this, they are urging the university to cancel classes and evaluations on Friday afternoon so that students, staff and faculty can participate without penalty. “Students shouldn’t have to choose between global citizenship and McMaster citizenship,” stated Connelly. On Sept. 13, Concordia University announced that they would be cancelling classes the afternoon of Sept. 27 to allow students to attend the climate strike. McMaster students are urging the university to follow suit. Last week, McMaster
issued a statement saying that the university would stay open on Sept. 27 so that academic and research activities can continue as scheduled. However, MSCCA members are still hopeful. As of Wednesday afternoon, the petition had over 2,100 signatures on Change.org, and the numbers are growing.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the petition had over 2,100 signatures on Change.org. Organizers are pushing for a mass climate strike around the world. Hamilton’s climate strike will be held on Sept. 27 at 12:00 in Gore Park. @TheSilhouette
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FEATURES
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019
Collection Returns Home to Hamilton for a 21st Century Revival The McMaster Museum of Art curates an exhibit that re-evaluates art history
MATTY FLADER / PHOTO REPORTER Levy Collection at the McMaster Museum of Art
Adrianna Michell Features Reporter
A trove of paintings is held on McMaster’s campus. Monet, Matisse and Van Gogh are just some of the artists in the collection. Staples in galleries around the world, immortalized in art prints or socks, these artists have reached the pinnacle of the art world, but also having a place in Hamilton. The collection of European masterpieces comes from Herman Levy, a Hamilton businessman and art lover who once took art history classes at McMaster. Levy was a jeweler by trade and in his spare time an engaged member of the McMaster and Hamilton art communities. His interest in
European art prompted him to collect famous works from the canon throughout his lifetime, including German expressionists and French painters. Levy donated his private collection to the McMaster Museum of Art in 1984, and upon his death in 1990 left a bequest so the collection could be expanded. The accumulated art works now belong to McMaster and have toured the world, a testament to the collection’s prestige. The Levy collection’s return from a cross-Canada tour brings 185 European and American art works back to their Hamilton home. But first the works had to be curated into an exhibit that would resonate with viewers nearly 30 years after Levy’s death. Faced with this challenge,
Pamela Edmonds, the senior curator at the MMA, interpreted the pieces to provoke new ideas and interpretations in the homecoming exhibition. French masters Monet and Matisse now hang on the white walls of the MMA. Monet’s painting of Waterloo bridge shows an industrial scene against a hazy sky, not unlike the real scenes of Hamilton’s shores. Except this image is worth millions. Another work by the impressionist sold for $110.7 Million in May 2019. But cost doesn’t necessarily equal value. “The Monet is something I’ve been told is in demand all the time for people to see, but is it more about the cachet or whatever around the artist, or is it the actual object. And so
I was trying to play with the hierarchy — of why something if it’s worth $50 million makes it more important? Does it really? . . . For me, I could be just as connected to something if I don’t know the artist,” said Edmonds. Levy’s donations reflected his art interests: artists are predominantly European, and almost exclusively white. Edmonds, throughout her career as a curator, has questioned why galleries and exhibits didn’t seem to reflect perspectives beyond the western canon. Without curation, dominant voices within the art canon remain unchallenged, despite representing very few experiences captured in the visual form. This prompted the curator to consider how to include more
works from the long history of non-western visual arts in the newest presentation of the Levy collection. The latest exhibition of the collection, it is from here that the world unfolds, which opened Aug. 24 and will run through Dec. 14 2019, prompts viewers to reconsider the familiar art works. In this exhibition, the big names in the Levy collection are accompanied by artworks that speak to the gaps of a history without much diversity. Contemporary, modern and historical works come together to create an aesthetic experience that contradicts the elitism of the art world. It doesn’t pretend to represent all of art history, but nods to what is missing. Reflecting on her curatorial
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McMaster Museum of Art Upcoming Events Talk by Merray Gerges November 1, 12:30 - 1:30pm McMaster Museum of Art Talk by Kenneth Montague November 15, 12:30 - 1:30pm McMaster Museum of Art Panel Discussion November 20, 6:00 - 9:00pm McMaster Museum of Art practice, Edmonds says, “it was a great opportunity for me to bring together a show . . . from a lens that critiques that canon but still does so respectfully — these are amazing artists — but trying to put a spin on it that’s questioning the way that art has been presented in that linear, universal, humanist way.” The exhibit, titled it is from here that the world unfolds goes against curatorial convention by avoiding linearity. It doesn’t present a history. Instead, it presents moments in time, space and aesthetic perspectives that speak to one another and to the viewer. That’s what Edmonds thinks that art spaces should be about — a conversation between the art, creator and the person experiencing it. “The museum, the library,
those are kind of the few spaces left that you can congregate to talk about ideas, or to engage in ideas. And I think that specifically within the university, we should be having an engaging conversation around art and ideas … I wanted to take a collection that was maybe more historic but bring it into the 21st century.” The MMA holds a unique position compared to other galleries and museums in Hamilton. Situated on McMaster’s campus, the MMA has a responsibility to the students, staff and community members who live, work and study here. Edmonds wants students to feel comfortable coming through the front doors. The rules and etiquette of galleries-past do not need to deter visitors. No
longer should art spaces exist as stuffy and exclusive places, they should exist for everyone, equally. At the MMA, the quiet is welcome, but not mandatory. As long as you don’t touch it, the art is yours to engage with however you like. As the world moves faster and public spaces are closed, the museum is one of the last few spaces that exist for the public good. It is one of the few places that are quiet, free of charge and open for all. Museum goers can expect to see historic works alongside yarn-like sculptures and red squares. If the viewer finds themselves frustrated, then Edmonds says: good. She wants to set up questions without answers and evoke feelings from viewers. Even negative emotion-
al reactions are good, because it means the art is speaking to someone. For students, the MMA could be a space to decompress or learn something new — but it’s up to you. Edmonds encourages on-lookers to take what they want from the exhibit, even if there isn’t any further engagement beyond viewership. Visiting it is from here that the world unfolds, time periods and emotions collide. Looking at the giant canvas of Wailing Women (1990) by Ken Currie along with Sun Ra’s chaotic jazz accompaniment, there is a confrontation of eras and aesthetics. The interplay is jarring, and be advised, so is Currie’s painting of a mob of dismembered women. But it is also a reminder of the non-linearity of the exhibit.
Just around the corner from Currie’s work is a set of 16th century religious icons beside a mid-dentury mixed-media piece that is almost erotic and references a variety of eras. The exhibit is jarringly ahistorical, but purposefully so. Museums are places for the free flow of ideas and dialogue around art and the world in which it is created. The MMA is a place to see important works from the European art canon, but it also gives students, staff and community the opportunity to think about dominant narratives in the art world. Levy’s legacy is held in trust for present and future generations, and will continue to spur creativity and criticism for years to come. @TheSilhouette
PRESIDENT’S PAGE
SHEMAR HACKETT VP (Education) vped@msu.mcmaster.ca 905.525.9140 x24017
In just a few weeks, advance polls will open ahead of the upcoming federal election on October 21. As a student, voting can be seen as a confusing and inaccessible process. I recall voting for the first time four years ago while I was living in Les Prince Hall. Between the lengthy platform booklets and my lack of knowledge about current issues in Hamilton, I felt that my vote wouldn’t matter. Looking back, I realize how wrong I was and now understand the important role voting has in making tangible changes at local and national levels. You don’t need to have extensive historical knowledge about current issues to vote. You need only be a Canadian citizen at least 18 years old on election day. Along with proper identification, simply bring an idea of the direction you think Canada should move towards within the next four years. There are countless reasons to vote, so I encourage you to get informed and decide which candidate best reflects your priorities. The largest voting demographic in
September 26, 2019 | thesil.ca
Canada is comprised of Millennials and Gen Z. Therefore, students can make a tremendous impact on this election. Working alongside student leaders on campus, the MSU will be running a MacVotes campaign. This campaign will include a series of events throughout the month to help inform and excite students about voting. We will have a booth set up in MUSC to field questions about the election, visit a few classes to speak to the importance of voting, and give away free prizes to first year students living on campus who visit one of our tables set up in residence lobbies.
on campus. From Sunday, October 5 to Wednesday, October 9, students can cast their vote in Celebration Hall, located in the basement of Kenneth Taylor Hall. Students will be able to vote in any riding across Canada at this poll during the following hours: • • • • •
October 5: 9 AM - 6 PM October 6: 12 PM - 4 PM October 7: 10 AM - 10:30 PM October 8: 10 AM - 10:30 PM October 9: 10 AM - 10:30 PM
Despite all of that information, if you are reading this and still feeling overwhelmed or unsure of where to start, I suggest checking out msumcmaster.ca/macvotes. The website has a few resources on candidates, voter information, and details about the election process to make it easier for students to get informed. I am happy to answer any questions about the election or MSU advocacy efforts via my email, vped@msu.mcmaster.ca. I hope to see students at the polls!
“The largest voting demographic in Canada is comprised of Millennials and Gen Z. Therefore, students can make a tremendous impact on this election.” We have also organized two events that give students the opportunity to directly speak with those running for office. On October 2 from 5:30 PM to 7 PM, we are hosting a mixer called Politics and Platters at TwelvEighty, where students can come out to meet candidates and get to know who is running in our riding, Hamilton West-AncasterDundas. We will also be holding a Federal Candidates Debate on October 8 from 2 PM to 4 PM in the MUSC Atrium, where we will ask candidates questions on the future of work for students, support for Indigenous communities, and environmental sustainability. Students need not be concerned if they don’t have the time to vote on October 21, as Elections Canada is providing an advance voting location
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.
SARAH JOSH MARANDO FIGUEIREDO President
VP (Administration)
SHEMAR HACKETT VP (Education)
ALEX JOHNSTON VP (Finance)
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019
The Silhouette | 13
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OPINION
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019
Opinion A big McMess: McMaster’s mental health failings Minimal mental health support is leading to increased pressure on students to provide front-line mental health care Mads Clement Contributor
CW: mental health, suicide In 2018, the Student Representative Assembly voted to rescind the Peer Support Line (PSL), an anonymous hotline that existed to support students and their mental health. PSL offered students a place to chat with another student trained in peer support about difficulties that they were experiencing. These challenges could range from relationship issues to academic problems. According to a former vice president (administration) of the McMaster Students Union, the main reason the PSL was rescinded was because it received too many “crisis calls”, which posed a liability to all parties involved. Given student staff were not trained in crisis management or how to address calls with students experiencing suicidal ideation, this is a reasonable concern. However, closing a mental health-based service has had negative impacts on the student body. We have lost one more resource on our already very small list of mental health resources. Anonymous peer support is extremely valuable. These services can be accessed without the fear of your name being officially attached to your mental health issues and because peers can relate to you on levels that adult therapists often cannot. Having someone who can relate to you without worrying about whether you will be institutionalized is an important facet of mental health care. For these reasons and many others, students were outraged by the closing of PSL. We took to Twitter and Facebook, asking for answers as to why such a valuable service would be rescinded. It’s hard to find mental health care on campus, and reducing our options makes it even harder.
I actually received a reply from a member of the SRA to my outraged tweets where they wrote; “actually, there are 4 new counsellors that have been added to increase 4,000 hours of counselling to decrease the waiting time that students face when accessing the Student Wellness Centre.” There are three main reasons why this resolution is an issue. Problem number one: as mentioned above, going to a therapist is not the ideal option for everyone, as some students are likely to have minimal shared experiences with therapists. This especially applies to marginalized folks; patients of colour are less likely to find a racialized therapist that understands the impacts of systemic racism on their mental health. 2SLGBTQ+ students face a similar struggle when dealing with cisgender, heterosexual therapists. The same can be said of various other marginalized identities. The second problem is that four more therapists isn’t
enough. Ask anyone who goes to therapy at the SWC about
However, closing a mental healthbased service has had negative impacts on the student body. We have lost one more resource on our already very small list of mental health resources. how long they wait for appointments. In the majority of cases, there’s a two week to one month gap in between appointments. This is not adequate. On top of that, the therapists and counsellors are so swamped with students that they rarely have time to dedicate care to their patients beyond a surface level interaction. Mental health problems often run a lot deeper than
what therapists are able to deal with because of their volume of patients. Since there are many students floundering for mental health care outside of the SWC and PSL, more pressure has been put on the MSU peer support services: Women and Gender Equity Network, the Pride Community Centre, Student Health Education Centre and Maccess. These services, like PSL, are run by students who have entry level peer support training and are not compensated for their work. They are not equipped to handle the volume of students coming to them for help, let alone the degree of mental distress some of their space users are in. These students are not trained therapists. Additionally, the majority of students that volunteer for these services are marginalized, which leads to the issue of marginalized students taking on all the mental health work on campus. These students, because of the pressures in their own lives and the added pressures of dealing with the mental health crises of others that they can’t always handle, often develop their own mental health problems and also need support or therapy. This system is unbalanced and unsustainable. We need a balance of both
therapists and peer support services. Therapists can provide specialized care to those who need it, but they are at capacity at McMaster University right now. We need more therapists; specifically therapists who have experiences with marginalization. It’s super weird talking about institutionalized transphobia with a cisgender, heterosexual person. This needs to change. In addition, the MSU peer support services need more funding and volunteers should be compensated for their work. They put hours of unpaid labour into an unforgiving system that does not support them. McMaster needs to rework its mental health support systems, and it needs to do this as urgently as possible. Everyone suffers when mental health services are limited, not just mentally ill folks.
@TheSilhouette
McMaster student-run services need to better accomodate students for their mental health. MATTY FLADER / PHOTO REPORTER
The Silhouette | 15
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Sept.26, 2019
Liberals – come get your mans Justin Trudeau’s policies aren’t as pretty as he is Nicholas Marshall Contributor
Grits. Reds. Libs. We need to talk. Let us consider Justin Trudeau’s domination in the 2015 federal elections. Here, Trudeau, the son of the heavenly father of our Constitution, descended from the lofty peaks of Canadian society to liberate our wretched souls from the clutches of Harper’s conservative austerity. I take it you were feeling pretty confident this time around. Trudeau was a media darling, beloved on the world stage and, in contrast with our neighbors to the south, a head of government that was hoping to unite our diverse population with Canada’s virtues of multiculturalism and equality. But then, the scandals started rolling in. They began as relatively innocuous misdemeanours; his trip to India donning garb of another culture may have seemed like a substantial embarrassment, but it was only foreshadowing whats to come. Things started to get more serious when the Liberal government approved the expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline.
The Trans Mountain pipeline is poised to carve a path straight through the Liberal rhetoric on climate change, and undermine every word that spilled out of Trudeau’s mouth about protecting future generations.
Trudeau was a media darling, beloved on the world stage and, in contrast with our neighbors to the south, a head of government that was hoping to unite our diverse population with Canada’s virtues of multiculturalism and equality. Nothing could have prepared us for the big fish: the SNC-Lavalin scandal was a
disaster for public confidence in our prime minister. A private corporation lobbying the government to change the law in their favour so that they could escape conviction was and is an international scandal. But to also pressure and demote your attorney general and then lead a coverup inside your own cabinet demonstrates a profound lack of respect for the political process and the rule of law. In fact, according to the ethics commissioner, the sitting prime minister had broken the law. At least things couldn’t get any worse, right? We soon learned that the prime minister was “two-faced” in more ways than one. So, where do we go from here? Justin Trudeau has been involved in scandal after scandal, while Andrew Scheer, the Conservative party leader, is climbing in the polls. Scheer, the leader who pinky promises that his personal opinions about gay people won’t inform his policy decisions. So what do we do? The truth is, most people like how the Liberals brand themselves, but in practice they
don’t like watching their feminist darling sell war machines to Saudi Arabia. So, perhaps it’s time to wake up to the fact that Liberals campaign themselves as New Democrats and govern themselves as Conservatives, especially when they know no one is looking.
Justin Trudeau has been involved in scandal after scandal, while Andrew Scheer, the Conservative party leader, is climbing in the polls. Scheer, the leader who pinky promises that his personal opinions about gay people won’t inform his policy decisions.
This election, it’s time we build our image of the Liberal party based on actions and not on words. We should recognise that the policies the Liberals win on are the actual policies of the NDPs and the policies they sneak in behind our backs are Conservative. And, we must keep in mind that when Canadians don’t have the appetite for a scandal-ridden Liberal, voting Conservative is a counterproductive exercise in masochism (see Doug Ford). When your sheep start to bite, you don’t start shearing wolves. This election has only just begun, so now is the time to get to know your candidates and evaluate them based on what they offer you as a citizen. Take nothing at face value, and remember that these people may not be exactly what you expected. But if you give it time, I’m sure they will all reveal their true colours to you.
@TheSilhouette
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OPINION
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019
Plastic straws are important Life sucks, so here’s why people need plastic straws
Starbucks nitro lids that have been created to replace lids that need straws. CINDY CUI / PHOTO EDITOR Ember Contributor
Recently, there’s been a lot of push for individual initiatives to combat climate change. This can be considered admirable and noble – but they hardly scratch the surface of the problem. These initiatives tend to overlook industries as the largest contributors to climate change, the Global North’s role in plastic pollution and they place misdirected blame on disabled people. In a scientific paper that outlines that the Pacific Ocean is rapidly accumulating plastic, Laurent Lebreton et al. states the following findings. “Over three-quarters of the [Great Pacific Garbage Patch] mass was carried by debris larger than five cm and at least 46 per cent was comprised of fishing nets. Microplastics accounted for eight per cent of the total mass but 94 per cent of the estimated 1.8 (1.1–3.6) trillion pieces floating in the area,” they say. Almost half of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch’s mass is abandoned gear from industry fishing. Another 20 per cent of the mass is thought to be remnants from the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami
in Japan. In comparison, Seth Borenstein, a journalist, noted the extremely small proportion of plastic waste made up of plastic straws. “Straws on average weigh so little – about one sixty-seventh of an ounce or .42 grams – that all those billions of straws add up to only about 2,000 tons of the nearly nine million tons of plastic waste that yearly hits the waters,” Borenstein said. Banning plastic straws seems pretty asinine when you consider a few different factors. It’s interesting how alternatives like the new Starbucks lids were created to replace the use of plastic straws, but they have been found to contain an equivalent amount or more plastic than what a plastic straw contains. Christian Britschgi, an associate editor at Reason, described the miniscule impact of the Starbucks nitro lids. “Right now, Starbucks patrons are topping most of their cold drinks with either 3.23 grams or 3.55 grams of plastic product, depending on whether they pair their lid with a small or large straw. The new nitro lids meanwhile weigh either 3.55 or 4.11 grams, depending again on lid size,” said Britschgi. Point blank, this “solution” is performative – it is a cheap
tactic spearheaded by a corporation to make the common folk feel like they’re making a difference in regards to climate change when it really amounts to nothing. Then why not use paper straws or reusable straws? Well, because these options are awful. Often times, banning plastic straws does not take into account how alternative straw materials can be detrimental to disabled people.
Often times, banning plastic straws does not take into account how alternative straw materials can be detrimental to disabled people. “Biodegradable [straw] options often fall apart too quickly or are easy for people with limited jaw control to bite through. Silicone straws are often not flexible – one of the most important features for people with mobility challenges. Reusable straws need to be washed, which not all people with disabilities can do easily.
And metal straws, which conduct heat and cold in addition to being hard and inflexible, can pose a safety risk,” said Godoy. Another thing to keep in mind is that biodegradable straws can also be made of soy – a common allergen – and because it isn’t food, corporations aren’t required to disclose ingredients on the packaging. Putting the responsibility on disabled people to survive in public without plastic straws because you don’t believe stores should offer straws is venomous.
Putting the responsibility on disabled people to survive in public without plastic straws because you don’t believe stores should offer straws is venomous. It’s not that disabled people don’t care about the environment – we absolutely do. But instead of demonizing us for
existing, shouldn’t able-bodied people help create an accessible, environmentally friendly alternative to plastic straws? Currently, I am a student studying earth and environmental science, and I’m aiming to get a minor in sustainability. I am also disabled and I realize that climate change is larger than any one of us. However, it’s important to note that often disabled people are the ones being accused of holding the environmental movement back, while corporations are conveniently cropped out of the frame. The big picture of climate change and environmental collapse is large enough for all of us to fit inside – so please don’t forget that industries play a large part, too.
@TheSilhouette
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Sept.26, 2019
The Silhouette
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Metal straws are unsustainable Sorry, your trendy $5 straw is not actually saving the environment
Metal straws are commonly used as an alternative to plastic straws. CINDY CUI / PHOTO EDITOR Kayla Freeman Contributor
Since 2019, metal straws have taken over. Every day, I see at least 50 metal straws in peoples’ beverages. That should be a good thing, right? To some extent it is, but people aren’t choosing sustainability for the right reasons. Using a metal straw is currently a trend, but are metal straws even the right answer to saving our oceans and marine life? Of course not. Imagine if saving the environment was that easy. Every day, 500 million disposable plastic straws are used and will likely end up in our waterways. This statistic can scare many people into thinking that the solution lies in replacing plastic straws with their metal counterparts. However, many people fail to realize what materials and emissions go into making a metal straw. The energy used to create one metal straw is roughly equivalent to creating 90 plastic straws, and also produces carbon emissions equivalent to 150 plastic straws. This may not
seem like a lot, but in order to offset the environmental impact of creating a metal straw, it must be used over 150 times.
The energy used to create one metal straw is roughly equivalent to creating 90 plastic straws, and also produces carbon emissions equivalent to 150 plastic straws. We also need to consider the harsh reality of nickel mining that is necessary in order to create these trendy accessories. The Philippines is a predominant nickel supplier. Much of the soil in Palawan, a major nickel supplier in the Philippines, has been reduced
to a wasteland. Metal straws are not the only items that are made out of nickel, meaning that they are not the sole contributors to the destruction of soil in Palawan. However, they are trendy accessories and are produced excessively. This is evidenced through the variety of designs metal straws are offered in. Our materialist society does not hesitate to contribute to this “fast fashion” accessory, with celebrities such as Jeffree Star capitalizing on the movement by coming out with their own packs of metal straws. The excessive production of metal straws contradicts the environmentalist intentions that they are meant to fulfill. If you’re purchasing a metal straw, you would assume that it would be made out of metal, right? Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Many of these items are not labelled due to their “eco-friendly” branding strategy as they are not required to list any ingredients since the straw is not being consumed. Safe metal straws should be made with food-grade stainless
steel as any other materials may corrode over time. Safe metal straws should be made with food-grade stainless steel as any other materials may corrode over time.
Many of these items are not labelled due to their “eco-friendly” branding strategy, as they are not required to list any un this can pose risks to customers that are unknowingly using products that may be unsafe. Additionally, painted or coloured straws also pose a risk of either contaminating the drink or containing unsafe chemicals such as Bisphenol
A (BPA), which is known to cause an array of health risks. Metal straws might not be the only alternative to disposable plastic straws, but they are very popular because of their durability and cost-effectiveness. Make no mistake, I think that we should try to be as eco-friendly as possible. But if you are going to opt for a reusable straw, try to purchase locally and support Canadian businesses, such as Glass Sipper. It’s important to keep in mind that when you are trying to be sustainable to be aware of what goes into the production of “eco-friendly alternatives” because sometimes the good intent gets lost in the action. @TheSilhouette
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A&C
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019
Arts & Culture
A tale of two cities
The City & The City Books combines new and used books to suit the everyday reader Lauren O’Donnell A&C Reporter
Floating in the window of an Ottawa Street storefront is a crocheted pool float in the shape of a pink flamingo. The sign at the top of the store reads “The City & The City Books”(181 Ottawa St. North). Owned by Janet Hoy and Tim Hanna, this independent bookstore opened last spring. The store is located right next to Cannon Coffee Co., so if you like to study in coffee shops, then just a quick trip from Cannon will let you pick up a book and support this local business. The City & The City Books gets its name from the 2009 book by author China Miéville. “[Miéville] writes what’s called the new weird. He defies genre. If you go into a bookshop all of his books could be in a different section. They could be in literature, they could be in science fiction, they could even be in mystery,” said Hanna, “Something we’re interested in is books that defy genre, or not having genre. I always say to people: in an ideal bookshop there wouldn’t be a literature or science fiction section, there would just be stories.
“Something we’re interested in is books that defy genre. I always say to people: in an ideal bookshop there wouldn’t be a literature or science fiction section, there would just be stories,” Tim Hanna Co-owner of The City & The City Books This is clearly evident in the store. The book sections inter-
The City & The City Books store on 181 Ottawa Street. North CINDY CUI / PHOTO EDITOR
CINDY CUI / PHOTO EDITOR
mingle together. Philosophy and literature rub elbows with science fiction and mystery. New books are located on white shelves at the front and used books on black shelves at the back, making it easy to navigate between the two. Hoy points out that one of the benefits of offering used books is the affordability. “It’s great seeing someone get excited because they just found War and Peace for $5,” said Hoy. Hoy jokes that she does have one regret about the name of the store.
“Writing an ampersand is hard,” she said.
Hoy and Hanna are hoping that the store can help make buying school books easier for students. Hoy and Hanna are hoping that the store can help make buying school books easier for
students. “When you get your syllabus for the beginning of the year and the list of books that you need, if we know what people are looking for we’ll be out looking for it,” said Hoy. Come the winter semester, if you’re struggling to afford textbooks, it’s definitely worth a look to see if The City & The City Books has what you’re looking for. Hanna emphasized that, for students, they were going to try and have everything possible from spirituality to philosophy and political
science. The store isn’t limited to just books. There are eclectic socks, cards and most importantly, cat tarot decks. That alone is worth the trip down to Ottawa Street. Not to mention, Ottawa Street has art galleries, a board game cafe, thrift stores and restaurants. If you’re planning a day trip out with your friends, it’s a must-try hotspot. While you’re there, stop by The City & The City Books to have a look around to see where the words can take you. @TheSilhouette
The Silhouette | 19
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Sept.26, 2019
Lose yourself in “Lost Illusions” Take a journey through the forest with Centre[3]’s newest installation
Lost Illusions art installation at Centre[3]. CINDY CUI / PHOTO PHOTO EDITOR Donna Nadeem Contributor
If you walk by Centre[3] for Print and Media Arts (173 James St. North), you will no longer be able to peek through the gallery’s front window at the usual art. Instead, you will see a black curtain and green leaves, setting the atmosphere for the forest that has grown inside. From Sept. 5 to Oct. 3, Andrew O’Connor, a Hamilton-based multi-disciplinary artist, is exhibiting his sculptural, audiovisual installation, “Lost Illusions” — transporting visitors to Hamilton’s surrounding forests. O’Connor is a Hamilton-based artist, DJ and designer whose work explores and blends light, video, 2D mixed media, animation and interactive installations. O’Connor completed his undergrad at McMaster University in 2012 with a double major in multimedia and studio arts. O’Connor has exhibited in Europe, the United States and around Canada and is a confounding member of
HAVN (26 Barton St. East). “Lost Illusions” is about the moments of tranquility and solitude that resonate when being truly present with the natural landscape. Blending layers of painted surfaces infused with projected light, shadow and movement, the scenery elicits an introspective, meditative quality influenced from experiences of walking through moonlit trees under the midnight sky,” said O’Connor.
“‘Lost Illusions’ is about the moments of tranquility and solitude that resonate when being truly present with the natural landscape,” Andrew O’Connor Artist Lost Illusions
The exhibition was made possible with the support of the Ontario Arts Council’s Media Artist Creation Project grant. O’Connor’s core idea was to blend projection lighting with painting. Unsure of what the final form would take, but focusing on site specifics, he knew that he wanted his artwork to change the entire ambience of a room and influence how a person felt when they walked in. “The whole idea was that I wanted to capture that peace and tranquility that you can feel when you’re immersed in nature. When you’re away from all the distractions of society, the technological distractions . . . all the fears and anxieties when they melt away, you’re at peace. That was something that I definitely wanted to convey above all. It doesn’t matter to me what people see specifically, it’s more about what emotions that people are feeling from it,” said O’Connor. O’Connor experimented with a variety of different materials to be the foundation of his work. He tried acetate, but
found that it ripped too easily when being transported. After much trial and error, the artist landed on dura-lar, a polyester film that is a mix between mylar and acetate. O’Connor started with six stencil drawings that he created while hiking around local Hamilton forests. The artist scanned them into his computer, digitally cleaned them up and applied them to create the basis of “Lost Illusions”. “One idea that stuck out for me was . . . I remember I would just film stuff as I was biking through woods. I started filming the treetops as I’m biking through woods and I would look at those video clips and that sort of imagery stuck with me . . . A lot of it are just closeups of trees with the sun shining through and gusts of wind blowing the leaves,” said O’Connor. Although the video component was vital to O’Connor’s piece, something was missing. He realized that audio can immerse an audience and add depth to artwork. “Given my background with
DJ-ing, I did a bunch of recording sessions of myself using a MIDI controller fading in and out, activating certain effects on the video clips as I’m listening to the composition, taking those recording and splicing together the best bits,” said O’Connor. The still art and projections amalgamate to enchant the viewer, transporting them directly into the heart of Mother Nature without the pressures of the outside world. “If students want an escape from whatever’s happening in their life, the exhibition has a very entrancing affect on you if you give it the chance. As students, we can be extremely stressed with our studies, but this piece is an entrancing piece, it’s a sense of escapism from the stresses and anxieties of your life,” said O’Connor. “Lost Illusions” is on display at Centre[3] for Print and Media Arts at 173 James Street North until October 3, 2019. @TheSilhouette
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A&C
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019
Journey through “The Boat Project/everythingwillbefine” reflects on the past while voyaging towards the future
Andrew Mrozowski A&C Editor
When I say “journey”, what do you think of? You might think of an expedition into the lush rainforests of the Amazon, or maybe the popular rock band. But what if I told you there was a deeper meaning? The passage of time can be seen as a journey through history, documenting each detail and every change. Hamilton is known for its history of producing and manufacturing steel, giving it the nickname, “The Hammer”. With the rise of the technological age, steel mills closed down around the city giving rise to other sectors such as arts and culture. According to Ernest Dae-
twyler, an Swiss artist based an hour outside of Hamilton, we experience journeys all around us, ranging from our own individual lives to a much grander scale of the world itself. “Throughout life we go through cycles and there’s a lot of uncertainty,” said Daetwyler. This thought eventually inspired the beginning of “The Boat Project/everythingwillbefine”.Two years ago, Daetwyler started collecting driftwood that washed up on the shores of the Great Lakes, bringing the pieces home with the intention to create a memoir of their journey. “[Driftwood] has its own memories. It comes from the forest, the trees, the branches. It’s a natural product. The way it’s grown is very specific to
each piece and how its journey has been throughout the turbulent water with the waves, the light, the wind, everything has its history. Every piece of driftwood is different,” said Daetwyler. Around the same time, Carol Podedworny, the McMaster Museum of Art curator, approached Daetwyler to do a commissioned piece for the garden space located directly in front of the museum, which prompted Daetwyler to start thinking about the city and its history. “Hamilton is defined by the harbour and its industrial past. Hamilton is a steel town so originally I thought more of doing an industrial art piece — a sunken ship out of steel but
then I came up with a more modern concept,” said Daetwyler.
“The way [driftwood is] grown is very specific to each piece and how it’s journey has been throughout the turbulent water with the waves, the light, the wind, everything has its history.” Ernest Daetwyler Artist “The Boat Project/ everythingwillbefine”
With hundreds of driftwood pieces at home and still thinking about industrial boats, Daetwyler looked to ancient European history to add another layer to his piece. The artist started to develop a concept for a driftwood boat pulling elements from a variety of different ancient naval ships across Europe. “The driftwood boat is more of a new form of transformation, a new form of journey for a new city that is developing,” said Daetwyler. Construction on the boat began in Daetwyler’s studio but quickly became much larger than anticipated. The base, comprised of a welded chassis, was made to support the weight of the driftwood beams that would
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Sept.26, 2019
The Silhouette | 21
“The Boat Project/everythingwillbefine” on campus in front of the McMaster Museum of Art. ANDREW MROZOWSKI / A&C EDITOR
Hamilton form the underside of the vessel. Smaller pieces of driftwood were then bolted and screwed together to rest on the frame. This completed “The Boat Project” at a final length of 27 feet. Transporting the vessel was no small task. It had to be brought to McMaster’s campus in on a flat-bed trailer and lifted with a crane so it could finally ‘dock’ at its new home. As Daetwyler developed and completed the boat, he started to think about how the boat could apply to students at McMaster as well — what was their journey? “I was thinking more about the idea of venturing into something, the idea of going on a journey — going on a voyage, which is something for the stu-
dents of McMaster [can relate to] going to university. It’s a big step and journey with risk involved,” said Daetwyler. The artist reflected on his own past journey, recounting a time when he was in Zurich, Switzerland and how “The Boat Project” gained its second title, “everythingwillbefine”. The first time he saw this second title was on the rooftop of an industrial building, in German as “alles wird gut” in the 90s. Daetwyler was intrigued by this saying, and it stuck with him as a statement that is open to multiple interpretations. “One student at McMaster told me that she went almost every day to the boat because she understood that ‘everything
will be fine’ was a very positive encouragement . . . it can be very much understood in that way as sort of a send off to somebody who is going on a journey and you can say ‘it’s gonna be fine, it’s gonna be okay, you’re gonna be alright’,” said Daetwyler. The vessel is due to set sail away from the Museum of Art’s Artist Garden in 2020; however, the impact that it has left on some students will last a lifetime. University is much more than a time to get an education. It one of the biggest journeys that most will go through in their lives. A journey through self-discovery, where you will push yourself outside of your comfort zone and figure out what you truly want from life. “The
Boat Project” is a reminder that everyone is going through a journey and in the end, “everything will be fine.”
@andrewmrozowski
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A&C
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019
Plus size fashion in the Steel City Dollywood Plus Vintage takes Hamilton by storm Lauren O’Donnell A&C Reporter
Tucked away in the basement of the Hamilton Antique Mall (233 Ottawa Street. North) is Dollywood Plus Vintage, a vibrant pink, Dolly Parton-bedecked, oasis of vintage fashion and body acceptance. It is owned and operated by Jessie Goyette, who is a vocal advocate for the plus size community. Last year, Goyette organized the Hamilton Plus Size Flea Market and received overwhelmingly positive feedback. This past summer, Goyette applied for a booth in the Hamilton Antique Mall. She was accepted almost immediately, and she says the response has been incredible. “I had people coming in and buying up everything. I had people messaging me, telling me how this is something that they’ve never seen before or been a part of and how there’s no spaces explicitly for plus size people that are run by independent folks in Hamilton, or even in the area in general. Especially focusing on vintage. That pushed me to keep doing it,” said Goyette.
“I had people messaging me, telling me how this is something that they’ve never seen before or been a part of and how there’s no spaces explicitly for plus size people that are run by independent folks in Hamilton, or even in the area in general. Especially focusing on vintage. That pushed me to keep doing it,” Jessie Goyette Owner of Dollywood Plus Vintage
While the body positive movement is slowly gaining traction, there are still many spaces that do not offer options for plus sized people. Having to choose from a tiny selection of ill-fitting clothing is all too common, particularly for anyone looking to express themselves through fun and innovative fashion. Additionally, having only plus-sized options reinforces the narrative that plus sized bodies should be hidden away. Dollywood Plus Vintage looks to battle that narrative through body acceptance and positivity. “It isn’t just about clothes, and selling clothes. It’s about paying attention to a group of people that are just as deserving to express themselves the way they want to, and embody themselves in whatever way they choose,” said Goyette. For Goyette, body positivity means celebrating plus-size bodies. “I think fat bodies in particular are often devalued or seen as bad. It’s important to acknowledge that people with fat bodies are desirable and worthy of anything that anybody else with a body is. Regardless of their health, regardless of how you whether or not you perceive them to be living healthy or not, that doesn’t matter. I think it’s a human right to be able to express yourself and feel comfortable with who you are, and not be made to feel uncomfortable about the space you take up with your body,” said Goyette. Going forward, Goyette plans to expand beyond clothing. Zines, buttons, patches and stickers are all in progress. “I want to have different types of media, literature and art that explicitly speak to the experience of plus sized people in Hamilton,” said Goyette. She hopes that this will foster a sense of community and acceptance that isn’t always easy to find.
“I want to have different types of media, literature and art that explicitly speak to the experience of plus sized people in Hamilton,” Jessie Goyette Owner of Dollywood Plus Vintage Dollywood Plus Vintage
itself is bright and happy. Any spots not filled with unique clothes are covered with pictures of Dolly Parton, the Grammy award-winning country singer. The VHS copy of Steel Magnolias rests next to zines and patches. Goyette says that Parton’s song “Wildflowers” in particular speaks to her.
“Regardless of their health, regardless of how you whether or not you perceive them to be living healthy or not, that doesn’t matter. I think it’s a human right to be able to express yourself and feel comfortable with who you are, and not be made to feel uncomfortable about the space you take up with your body,” Jessie Goyette Owner of Dollywood Plus Vintage
CINDY CUI / PHOTO EDITOR Dollywood Plus Vintage located at 233 Ottawa Street North
“Much like the wildflower, fat bodies are beautiful in their own way and are dynamic and able to bound back from anything that society might throw at them,” Jessie Goyette Owner of Dollywood Plus Vintage “Wildflowers are still really beautiful despite them not being the norm. They have the capacity to thrive and to overcome anything, regardless
of where they are. That, to me, was something that carried over to the fat experience. Much like the wildflower, fat bodies are beautiful in their own way and are dynamic and able to bounce back from anything that society might throw at them,” said Goyette. Dollywood Plus Vintage has only just begun, and if the initial response is anything to judge by, it will be around for a very long time. Goyette hopes that one day we will live in a world where there’s no need to have an article about a plus sized store because, hopefully by then, it will be so normal. Until then, Goyette’s store can be found in the basement of the Hamilton Antique Mall at stall 01L, and is well worth a look. @TheSilhouette
SPORTS
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Sept.26, 2019
| 23
Sports The men’s Cross Country team hit the ground running As a team that is ranked third overall in the country, expect to see the cross country team live up to its national expectations
Raez-Villanueva running ahead of the competition C/O Zack Jones
Graham West Sports Editor
The cornerstone of most championship teams is strong depth and players that can be subbed in who will deliver a great performance. This is especially true for the men’s cross country team, led by veteran runner Sergio Raez-Villanueva. With a bevvy of talented players on the roster, the team’s potential is sky high. At their first meet of the year in Buffalo, the Marauders sat most of their veteran players to give them rest in preparation for a meet which took place this past weekend on the 21. This allowed many of the younger runners a chance to shine, which they most certainly did. “Veterans and rookies alike, we always say at the end of the day once you’re on the start line it’s all up to you. Sometimes the veteran doesn’t have a good day
but the rookie steps up and really helps. We’ve seen that happen before, never count the rookies out or anyone for that matter. It really comes down to how people are feeling and we help each other as a team and that’s why we’re a team in cross country,” said Raez-Villanueva, star of the cross country team.
“Veterans and rookies alike, we always say at the end of the day once you’re on the start line it’s all up to you.” Sergio Raez-Villanueva Fourth Year runner Cross country Placing second overall at the meet, standout players like the aforementioned Raez-Villanueva, Sam Nusselder and Taylor Cornwall posted the top
three finishes for McMaster at the Buffalo meet. All together their depth helped them place second overall and only one point behind the hosts, the University of Buffalo Bulls. “Sometimes people aren’t having a good day and sometimes where it matters you can’t do it for some reason or another, maybe you’re a little sick but then there’s someone else who can take that charge and what’s nice about this team is that we have that depth that when someone is not feeling that well there’s someone who can take charge and help us get back to the place that we need to be in,” Raez-Villanueva added. Their depth has gained recognition at the national level as they are ranked first in the country, after previously being ranked third at the start of the season. Even though this is very high praise, it is not something the team chooses to focus on. “You never want to get too confident with rankings and such we don’t want to get into
our heads. Within ourselves we always talk, the rank is just there for show sometimes. Sometimes it’ll tell you you’re doing worse some days better but in the end, we’re always training hard, we’re always putting in our best effort it doesn’t matter what they’re saying out there or what people are predicting,” Raez-Villanueva added.
“We’re always putting in our best effort it doesn’t matter what they’re saying out there or what people are predicting.” Sergio Raez-Villanueva Fourth Year runner Cross country
The marauders look to build off a highly successful season last year where they graced the U sports championship podium for the first time in six years. They also got gold for the first time since 1964 at the Ontario University athletics championships last year. All together the cross country team is looking to repeat and have another historic season this year.
@theSilhouette
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SPORTS
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019
A look into the women’s volleyball season Despite a down season last year, it was still a strong season overall and the team looks promising Eamonn Vallely Contributor
The McMaster women’s volleyball team finished their season last year with a record of 10 wins and nine losses, ending with a 0.526 win percentage. Even though it was still a winning season, this was their worst record since 2012-2013, where they won half of their games. The team failed to clinch a playoff spot for the first time in fifteen years. This unfortunate scenario is uncharacteristic of the women’s volleyball team and no one is expecting a repeat of last season. The team is entering this year with serious determination, as any high-level sports team would; especially considering last season’s end
The McMaster women’s volleyball team finished their season last year with a record of 10 wins and nine losses, ending with a 0.526-win percentage. Coach Tim Louks is returning for his 30th season. In Louks’ incredible three decades as head coach, he has been on the sidelines for the many great achievements with of women’s volleyball team. For example, the team won three Ontario University Athletics titles over his tenure, most recently in the 2016-2017 season. Another testament to his prolific career is that Louks has been named Coach of the Year six times by the OUA. An experienced and decorated coach, Louks can surely be counted on to bring the heat this season and inspire the team to overcome any speed bumps along the way. In addition to Louks, supportinge coaching staff for the team are also strong. Assistant coach Nathan Jansen is returning to the squad for his second year in a row. Jansen is a performance analyst for
McMaster’s match against Mohawk College. C/O MOHAWK ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT
the Canadian Women’s Youth National Team. His experience at the national level – having seen some of the best young volleyball players from across the country – brings a unique perspective the Marauders can use to their advantage.
In Louks’ incredible three decades as head coach, he has been on the sidelines for many great achievements with the women’s volleyball team. The team is only looking up from here. They are led by all-star Jessie Nairn, who is a right-side hitter going into her fourth year. Last season, Nairn was the unaccompanied representative for McMaster on the 2018-19 OUA All-Star firstteam choice list, chosen for her accomplishments on the court. Nairn finished 11th overall in
the league, averaging 2.97 kills per set and 3.8 points per set. Boasting such an impressive resume, Nairn leads by example and will likely continue to do so in the upcoming season. Last year, the women’s volleyball team faced a big adjustment as many of their veteran players graduated. With the experience of adjusting to a newer team for a year and still maintaining a winning record, things are looking promising for this team as they take on the 2019-2020 season. The Marauders had a lot to think about this past off-season. With more experience under their belt and with a strong incoming rookie class led by Marina Vesovic, who is a twotime national and provincial champion, they’re a team that can only go up from here. Look out for the 2019-2020 Women’s Volleyball team, they’re coming out to play.
@TheSilhouette
SPORTS
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Sept.26, 2019
| 25
Motruk Leads Men’s Baseball to Huge First week After a difficult past few years, the men’s baseball team finally looks poised to make an impact on the league
Motruk at the team’s most recent tournament C/O Steve Tyas
Andrew Fayed Contributor
Nikolas Motruk knew that the McMaster Marauders’ men’s baseball team would come out strong in their four-game opening weekend, but even the fourth-year veteran admits that the team outperformed even their own high expectations for themselves. With an absolutely incredible 58 runs in four games, it’s safe to say that the rest of the league has been put on notice, that this year, the Marauders have come to play. “When I started in my first year, we had a total of four wins, and it really didn’t look promising. We had five wins the next year before we finally had a winning record at 10-8 last year which was the first time we had a winning record in five years. So, this year we definitely expected to come out stronger than ever, but maybe not quite as strong as we did,” says Motruk with a laugh. The four games played this past weekend came against the University of Toronto Varsity Blues, the Ryerson Rams, the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees and the Carleton University
Ravens. “We’ve had a bit of a rivalry with them [UofT] over the past few years, last year they actually walked us off in an elimination game in the Ontario University Athletics championship, so we were definitely hungry for them. We knew we had to come out strong and set the tone for the weekend, and we scored five in the first inning,” Motruk said. Motruk’s performance this
“We knew we had to come out strong and set the tone for the weekend, and we scored five in the first inning.” Nik Motruk Men’s Baseball team past weekend jumped off the stat sheet going 9-15 from the plate, with five extra base hits, and 10 runs batted in. Motruk was not only a strong player on the men’s baseball team, but it was enough for him to capture the presti-
gious Pita Pit Male Athlete of the Week award. Motruk credits his ability to stay calm under pressure and his confidence in his batting abilities as the keys to his monumental success. “You can never let baseball get to your head. You always have to keep the same approach and stay confident at the plate. I went into every at bat knowing what the pitcher was going to throw at me and knowing that I had a job to do. When your team is playing well, there are always runners on base so those RBI’s are more of a team stat,” said Motruk. When questioned on being Male Athlete of the Week, Motruk was quick to build up his team and his sport instead of focusing on himself. “It’s not so much of a me thing, I just feel so good for the team that now we’re finally getting this recognition. It’s really a huge step forward for the team in general and for baseball as a university sport. Some students don’t even know that we have a baseball team, so this kind of recognition is really cool,” Motruk noted. As a four-year veteran, Mo-
“It’s not so much of a me thing, I just feel so good for the team that now we’re finally getting this recognition.” Nik Motruk Men’s Baseball team truk has been through it all with the marauders’ baseball team. But back in his first year, Motruk was initially worried about the difference in workload from high school to university as a mechanical engineering student and was very hesitant about playing baseball for the Marauders at all. “I didn’t really want to play baseball at first, I thought that students were all set up to fail and the schedules were so hectic, I thought that there was no way I could do this. I have to give credit to my parents who really motivated me to give it a shot, and I joined the team. I played three innings in my first year, and that was definitely an
eye-opening experience. That really motivated me, even more, to get better. I pushed myself hard over the next couple of years, and here we are today,” Motruk added. You can see Motruk and the Marauders next on Sept. 28 as they face the Queens University Gaels and York University Lions doubleheader in Kitchener.
@theSilhouette
26 |
GAMES
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019
Games
ACROSS 1- They pull their load; 6- Cher film; 10- Compass direction; 14- Gladiator’s venue; 15- Till; 16- Lady of Sp.; 17- Boundary; 20- Rent; 21- Vaults; 22- “Peter Pan” pirate; 26- Body of retainers; 30- Embroiderer or quilter, e.g.; 34- Thing;
35- Cross word; 36- Knock over; 38- Tumults; 39- Stable staple; 40- Milan’s La ___; 42- Shade tree; 43- FedEx rival; 44- Protective envelope; 45- Eschewal of the concrete; 49- Head rests; 50- Not difficult; 51- Be silent, musically; 54- Keats work;
56- Direct; 64- Highest point; 65- Canada’s Battle of Fort ___, 1866; 66- Medicinal plant; 67- Tennis matches are divided into these; 68- Lewd look; 69- Composition;
22- Sex researcher Hite; 23- Capital of the Philippines; 24- Bury; 25- Prepare for publication; 27- Pungent sauce; 28- ___ first you don’t...; 29- Utmost degree; 31- FWIW part; 32- Decorative ivy; 33- Surprisingly; 37- Frothy; 39- October birthstone; 40- ___ Paulo, Brazil; 41- French film; 43- Modern address; 44- Botch;
46- Talks; 47- South American monkey; 48- Get-one-free deal; 51- Dosage amts.; 52- To ___ (exactly); 53- Pluto’s tail?; 55- Celtic language; 57- Hair goop; 58- Charlemagne’s realm: Abbr.; 59- Dead heat; 60- Jazzman Montgomery; 61- Ques. response; 62- Genetic messenger; 63- Calendar box;
DOWN 1- Cul-de-___; 2- “___ tu” (Verdi aria); 3- Debussy subject; 4- Business mag; 5- First king of Israel; 6- Assemble; 7- Mandela’s grp.; 8- Orch. section; 9- Colorful carp; 10- High regard; 11- Oratorio solo; 12- What to do “in the name of love”; 13- Neutral shades; 18- Compassion; 19- In addition to;
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WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON WITH CANADIAN POLITICS? THIS DOESN’ T EVEN NEED TO BE SATIRE C12
THURSDAY
THE
HAMILTON SPECULATOR NEGLEC TED SINCE 1934
September 26, 2019
NOTSPEC.COM
Will Rude the Science Dude denies all interview requests What the hell, man!
STEAMED MILK Avid lover of TV science
We’ve all grown up watching that tie-loving, science-ruling mechanical engineer on television. With this in mind, we were all thrilled to learn that he was coming to campus this past week, so naturally being the bright, perky journalist that I am, I reached out for an interview. To my surprise, I got a big, fat, NO. Did I say something wrong?! Was I too up front? I just wanted to know everything about him and share it with the world! Is that too much to ask? Well apparently, since Will Rude the Science Dude rejected me — adding it to my list of rejections from Datrick Peane, the old metal guy on the bench outside of University Hall and the entire sociology department (now that one is hard to explain). How could he say no to my loving face? Is there a conspir-
acy theory in this? No; because there is a legitimate reason. WILL RUDE THE SCIENCE DUDE IS HIDING SOMETHING. Why else would he not want to partake in the greatest interview of his career? The following reasons are what he could potentially be hiding: TAKE ME TO YOUR LEADER: Why else would he love space? Think about it: You didn’t know him before the TV show, he just kind of came out of nowhere. He’s an alien from a far away planet with an ulterior motive — to warp the minds of our little ones. Be careful and stay vigilant, Will Rude the Science Dude may take a tissue sample if you aren’t looking. I SEE RIGHT THROUGH YOU: Why did Will Rude say no to a video interview? Is it because he isn’t real?! Hear me out with
this one since there is a lot of SCIENCE involved! Hardlight compiled with an optronic computer matrix, projector and a set of memory algorithms create a hologram. Up close it is easy to tell a hologram apart from a human since you can see the holomatter particles linked to create the being (plus their native display resolution is 1080p). Holograms are only programmed to respond to so much. My mad journalism skillz would be too much to handle and he’d probably just blow up from the confusion. DISAPPEARING ACT It is a well-known fact that vampires don’t have a reflection. They can’t check themselves out in the mirror (sad reacts only). A camera utilizes a two-mirror system for the light to refract from your object through the lens to your eye. Given the optics of a camera, if we tried to record him during the interview he wouldn’t show up thus giving
Disclaimer: The Hamilton Speculator is a work of satire and fiction and should not under any circumstances be taken seriously. Sorry Will Rude, we still love you!!!
away his secrets. WHO YOU GONNA CALL? This one is a long shot. How on earth could Will Rude even be alive still? It felt like his TV show was millenia ago, so using deductive reasoning, he must be deceased. I propose to you that it is actually the spirit of the Science Dude who is roaming the world. Best call those Specter Smashers to go after him so he doesn’t haunt the world any longer. I ain’t afraid of no specter! I CAN’T READ Okay so this one could work with any of the afforementioned theories: the Science Dude is illiterate. He said no to my email because he couldn’t read what it said! With that in mind, he could not have possibly read the cue cards back when he did his show in the 90s, standing to reason that he would have to make shit up. Everything we know about science is false,
stemming from one man’s wild imagination. When you go to sleep tonight, think about what you really know. What makes sense in this world? What can be hiding in plain sight? Nothing that we know is for certain.
PER ISSUE: Accept our interview requests