The Silhouette - September 12, 2019 by The Silhouette

INSIDE>>

NEWS: How clubs are bracing themselves for Student Choice Initiative // PAGE 6 ARTS & CULTURE: Night Market will bring oddities to Supercrawl // PAGE 20-21 SPORTS: What’s in store for the women’s rugby team? // PAGE 25

The Silhouette

Thursday, September 12, 2019

What is the future of print media in Hamilton? // PAGE 8-9

The Silhouette

/THEMCMASTER SILHOUETTE

@THE SILHOUETTE

/MCMASTER SILHOUETTE

@MCMASTER SILHOUETTE

Volume 90, Issue 3 Thursday, September 12, 2019 McMaster Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Student Newspaper

LOOKING BACK

March 3, 1972

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 | managing@thesil.ca

Elisabetta Paiano sections

NEWS Trisha Gregorio news reporter Shamir Malik news@thesil.ca

news editor

FEATURES Adrianna Michell features@thesil.ca

features reporter

OPINION Steffi Arkilander opinion@thesil.ca

opinion editor

SPORTS Graham West sports reporter Claire Gopaul sports@thesil.ca sports editor

ARTS AND CULTURE arts & culture editor Andrew Mrozowski arts & culture reporter Lauren Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Donnell artsandculture@thesil.ca

A for Effort You win some, you lose some. Words of wisdom to keep in mind as we enter a new semester. Good luck everyone!

MEDIA Cindy Cui photo reporter Matty Flader production coordinator Katarina Brkic production coordinator Zoya Gomes production@thesil.ca photo editor

ONLINE video editor Jaden Lall social media coordinator Erica Mark online@thesil.ca

CONTACT

LEGAL

MUSC, Room B110 McMaster University 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8S 4S4

The Silhouette welcomes letters to the editor in person at MUSC B110, or by email at thesil@thesil.ca. Please include name, address and telephone number for verification only. Letters should be 300 words or less. We reserve the right to edit, condense or reject letters and opinion articles. Opinions and editorials expressed in the Silhouette are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editorial board, the publishers, the McMaster Students Union or the University. The Silhouette is an editorially autonomous newspaper published by the McMaster Students Union. The Silhouette Board of Publications acts as an intermediary between the editorial board, the McMaster community and the McMaster Students Union. Grievances regarding the Silhouette may be forwarded in writing to: McMaster Students Union, McMaster University Student Centre, Room 201, L8S 4S4, Attn: The Silhouette Board of Publications. The Board will consider all submissions and make recommendations accordingly.

Editor-in-Chief (905) 525-9140, ext 22052 Main Office (905) 525-9140, ext 27117 Advertising ccpc@mcmaster.ca published by the

COVER PHOTO Elisabetta Paiano

WRITE FOR US NEWS news@thesil.ca

OPINION opinion@thesil.ca

SPORTS sports@thesil.ca

ARTS & CULTURE aandc@thesil.ca

The Silhouette

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Sept. 5, 2019

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News

CUPE calls for strike vote

Negotiations hit an impasse largely over whether to bargain within the framework of Bill 124 Hannah Walters-Vida Editor-In-Chief

After a summer of labour negotiations with McMaster University, the union representing McMaster teaching and research assistants has declared a strike vote for the end of the month. Since June, the Canadian Union of Public Employees 3906 has been negotiating the collective agreements governing academic workers at McMaster University. Last Wednesday, CUPE 3906 Unit one announced that they had reached an impasse, opting to file for conciliation and declaring a strike vote for the end of the month.

Collective Bargaining In June, CUPE 3906 met with McMaster’s bargaining committee and each party proposed changes to the collective agreement. According to Gord Arbeau, director of communications at McMaster University, the University does not publicly discuss the content of ongoing labour negotiations. However, he stated that they aim to reach fair agreements with their employees. “The goal is to reach a fair and equitable agreement with our bargaining partners that represents the important work that the members of that unit perform,” said Arbeau. CUPE 3906 presented a list of priorities including increased funding, improved mental and physical health support, increased paid training, better representation for Indigenous members and improved working conditions. They reported that the university had been receptive on several issues including pregnancy leave and labourmanagement relations. However, CUPE 3906 stated that they had not reached agreements on their proposals for tuition waivers, paid training, increased minimum hours

and restrictions on contract or volunteer work. CUPE 3906 also stated that there were problems with the University’s proposed compensation package. According to a bulletin released following the meeting, the University was bargaining within the mandate of a new provincial bill that limits compensation increases.

What is Bill 124 and why does it matter? Bill 124, also known as the “Protecting a Sustainable Public Sector for Future Generations Act,” would place restrictions on the agreements that unions and employers can make with one another. During collective bargaining, employers and employees negotiate compensation and salary increases. Usually, collective agreements mandate annual wage increases in order to keep up with the rate of inflation. As of this month, yearly inflation in Ontario sits at 2.1 per cent. However, Bill 124 proposes that compensation and wage increases for public service workers cannot increase more than one per cent each year. According to Ontario Treasury Board President Peter Bethlenfalvy, “the legislation would allow for reasonable wage increases, while protecting the province’s front-line services, restoring the province’s financial position and respecting taxpayer dollars.” CUPE 3906 has criticized the bill for restricting workers’ rights to free collective bargaining. If passed, the bill would empower the provincial government to nullify collective agreements that do not abide by the one per cent wage cap. In practice, this means that the government could require parties to restart the bargaining process if their agreement does not align with the provisions in Bill 124. The provincial government would also be empowered to retroactively veto collective agreements made after June 5. “If the Ontario government has the power to unilaterally

overrule agreements made between workers and their employers — and to interfere with the ability of workers to freely and democratically negotiate the wages, benefits, and working conditions in their workplace — then the right to collectively bargain is severely undermined,” says an article from Canadian labour news website rankandfile.ca. Furthermore, CUPE has stated that the proposed wage cap would cause substantial harm to public service workers, since the annual rate of inflation surpasses the one per cent annual wage cap. At an emergency meeting following the announcement of Bill 124, CUPE 3906 members expressed concern over what this could mean for McMaster employees living in Hamilton, where the costs of living have increased significantly in recent years. According to a 2018 report from the Hamilton Housing Foundation, the average cost of rent in Hamilton has increased at double the rate of inflation since 2012. “Anything that’s below the level of inflation is a cut and phrasing it as a one per cent increase is just a willful misinterpretation of the facts … It’s part of fragmenting the social services we’re relying on, and the people it’ll affect the most are people who are already marginalized,” said Julia Pyryeskina, a volunteer with CUPE 3906. While Bill 124 is not yet legally binding, the university is committed to bargaining within the limits of the proposed legislation. “... The province has been clear with the broader public sector about its intentions ... we’re part of the broader public service and we’ll make sure that we’ll work to be aligned with the intent of the legislation and the intent of the province,”

stated Arbeau. CUPE’s stance is that, since the bill is not yet law, McMaster should be negotiating a fair deal outside the parameters of the proposed legislation. “We’ve asked the university to partner with us against Bill 124 … they have the opportunity to stand with us and bargain a fair deal and work with us against Bill 124 and they’ve denied to take that chance,” said Nathan Todd, CUPE 3906 president.

At an Impasse After meeting again with the university’s bargaining committee on Aug. 21 and 22, CUPE 3906 reported that they had come to a standstill, in large part because they were unable to reach consensus on whether to bargain within the confines of Bill 124. They also reported that the university had refused to entertain CUPE 3906’s proposal to entertain the 1 per cent wage cap in exchange for movement on proposed measures such as paid training and tuition freezes. On Sept. 4, CUPE 3906 released a statement announcing that they had filed for conciliation, requiring a neutral third party from the Ministry of Labour to assist with negotiations. They also announced plans to hold a strike vote at the end of the month, at which point CUPE’s membership will decide whether to give the bargaining team the power to call a strike. A positive vote does not immediately trigger a strike, but instead empowers the bargaining team to authorize a strike if they are unsatisfied with the deal that the university offers. According to the statement, the ability to go on strike is a powerful tool when entering into conciliation, since the possibility of a strike indicates that failure to come to a compromise

HANNAH WALTERS-VIDA/ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

will yield serious consequences for the university. Angie Perez, former CUPE president, says a strike is nobody’s first choice. However, she says, it may be necessary. “...No one wants a strike, it’s horrible for the union, it’s horrible for everybody … But if that’s the only way we’re going to be listened to, and it’s the only way that we are going to have a real deal … that is not going to be hurting us and other people, we are not asking for unreasonable things,” Perez said. CUPE is appealing to the McMaster community for support while they prepare for a strike vote. “In order to avoid a strike, we must convince the University to meet us halfway. If they refuse to offer pay and benefits increases that keep up with inflation, they must offer enhanced job security, protections against future tuition increases, and opportunities for more paid hours to keep TAs and RAs-inlieu from falling even further behind,” says a statement on the CUPE website. @theSilhouette

CUPE 3906 Unit 1 represents TAs, RAs, demonstrators, tutors and markers Collective agreement: employment contract for employees covered by a trade union Collective bargaining: process through which the collective agreement is renegotiated Conciliation: process through which a neutral third party is called in to help negotiate an agreement

NEWS

Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019 | www.thesil.ca

Another year, another set of plans A summary of year plans from the board of directors Trisha Gregorio News Editor

The McMaster Students Union board of directors released their year plans on July 16, 2019. These documents outline what the vice president (Finance), vice president (Administration), vice president (Education) and President intend to change and/or accomplish for 2019-2020. The year plan also reviews the benefits and drawbacks of each point made to reveal the long-term implications that could come with their implementation.

MSU president Josh Marando

vice-president (finance) Alexandrea Johnston

Marando’s year plan begins by tackling everyday student life by proposing changes to TwelvEighty and a renovation of the McMaster University Student Centre third floor enclosure, which has largely gone unused, through the addition of a Student Lounge. This is intended to help accommodate McMaster’s growing student population, which has reached over 23, 000. The obstacles that this project faces include funding. With that being said, he is determined to meet the expectations and needs of students. “Not only is this year plan meant for you to be updated on what I will be working on and [am] hoping to accomplish this year, but also it is a mechanism through which I can be held accountable to the pillars and platform [that] I was voted on by the student body.” On top of the question of financing, another main concern is that construction may disturb the average student’s everyday life. While Marando’s year plan highlights the MSU MUSC surplus fund as a potential source of capital for renovations, it is unclear whether renovations will become a Alexandrea Johnston’s year plan puts a spotlight on business units across campus. Union Market will be gearing up for a rebrand. Compass, after losing its partnership with Metrolink, is in need of a solution to mitigate this loss, which Johnston plans to do by reducing its hours of operation. TwelvEighty and The Grind are both under renovations for their infrastructure and systems. The details of these renovations include introduction of a TwelvEighty to-go menu. Johnston is also participating in a campaign to educate students on the Student Choice Initiative. She plans to prioritize both financial and operational transparency in the MSU as part of the SCI campaign. This

already been approved to renovate Clubspace, which could overlap with the MUSC third floor project. In terms of student finances, Marando laid out an objective for a more timely and direct distribution of the Federal Tuition Tax Credit, a government initiative meant to support graduates for a six month grace period after they have finished school, and to eliminate tuition late fees. He advocates for students to be able to access their tuition tax credits when they are in need of it for their tuition and for credits to be given to students as upfront grants. He anticipates potential issues in the future to include government influence, which could result in grants being removed in an attempt to cut costs. Marando’s plans push for better campus maintenance this year through upgrading larger lecture halls and making McMaster more accessible. While he acknowledges the extensive work that needs to be done for coordinating accessibility on campus, there is already an accessibility audit being performed to help to inform a

Compass, after losing its partnership with Metrolink, is in need of a solution ...which Johnston plans to do by reducing its hours of operation. is to better inform students on where their ancillary fees go. In the wake of the SCI, Johnston plans to streamline budgets for clubs while improving club support and championing larger campus events. This involves both Underground and the Silhouette, as well as Welcome Week reps.

vice-president (ADMINSTRATION) SARAH FIGUEIREDO

Campus Accessibility Master Plan. To support the health of students on campus, Marando plans to add more personnel to the Student Wellness Centre and to help students with booking appointments by introducing an online system. In the wake of sexual assault allegations amongst the Maroons, he is also attempting to address issues of sexual violence on campus by recommending that a Trauma Specialized Counsellor be housed in the SWC and, on a wider scale, for prevention and response mechanisms to be incorporated in large school events. As an Arts and Science graduate, the arts were a significant part of Marando’s platform; he called for support for the arts at McMaster, both in terms of funding and in adding more performing arts spaces, in order to contribute to the creative scene on campus.

Sarah Figueiredo’s plans revolve primarily around part-time managers. In her year plan, she calls for a more comfortable environment for PTMs by finding a way to facilitate smoother transitions into their roles and creating opportunities for these MSU leaders to foster a sense of belonging and support. In the long-term, Figueiredo plans to streamline the vice-president (administration) role over the next three years by connecting with VPs from other universities and reviewing the responsibilities that come with their positions. She hopes that this will make the role more specific and consequently, more sustainable.

The Silhouette

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019

vice-president (EDUCATION) SHEMAR HACKETT

THE YEAR AHEAD Many components of the year plans illustrate the impact that the SCI and broader provincial funding changes will have on student affairs. As always, financial feasibility is a concern. The amount of money available to pursue the year plan initiatives without external sources of funding is, unfortunately, limited. As the year unfolds, the board of directors will be faced with many decisions to navigate changes that will befall the MSU. @TheSilhouette

PHOTOS C/O MSU Communications Officer

Shemar Hackett zeroes in on two areas that his platform seeks to prioritize: accessibility and affordability, both of which require multiple physical and financial changes. He plans to increase on-campus funding to contribute to the academic success of students with accessibility needs. In the same vein, he intends to lobby to MPPs and city councillors to reallocate citywide funding towards his goals. For the MPPs, he wants to work on a provincial policy paper so as to delineate the barriers that students with disabilities face. Like Marando, Hackett

He plans to increase oncamps funding to contribute to the academic success of students with accessibility needs. places focus on sexual violence support. He intends to increase awareness and make policies more survivor-centric, hoping to make the student body more aware of the services and protocols available to them. He

has a similar approach to mental health support, planning for a more holistic review of student wellness on campus as well as advocating for more student support during the exam period. He seeks to protect students from unfair bylaws and to help them with holding their landlords accountable. Furthermore, he plans to run a waste management campaign and to advocate for a better transportation system. Regarding the provincial governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s choice to allow students to opt out of ancillary fees, he intends to run a campaign to illuminate the ser-

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He seeks to protect students from unfair bylaws and to help them with holding their landlords accountable. vices that the MSU provides to McMaster students, the majority of which are reliant on funding received through these fees.

NEWS

Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019 | www.thesil.ca

In the wake of the Student Choice Initiative As the school year gets into full swing, clubs are preparing for the financial impacts of the Student Choice Initiative Shamir Malik News Reporter

The Government of Ontario’s Student Choice Initiative was announced on Jan. 17, 2019. It called into question the tuition and ancillary fee guidelines that many students across the province had grown accustomed to. The SCI is part of the Government of Ontario’s plan to make postsecondary education more affordable in Ontario. The new framework has already attracted much attention due to its changes to tuition and OSAP support. This year, the SCI will also allow students to opt-out of ancillary fees that have been deemed non-essential by the Government, which includes fees allocated towards clubs and student organizations. The McMaster Students Union has created a webpage that advocates for students to support the non-essential fees and explains the impact the SCI may have on student life. The MSU represents over 20, 000 full-time undergraduate students and over 30 student-oriented services. Typically, money collected through the MSU fee that students pay as a part of their tuition is distributed amongst various student services on an annual basis. According to the webpage, the MSU will change to a pay-per-service model in the coming year. Many services that were previously guaranteed will now be subject to optional funding. The list of optional services includes the Child Care Centre, Campus Events, Mac Farmstand, The Silhouette, CFMU and emergency student grants. In addition, all student clubs will be at risk of losing all or a significant portion of their funds. “The MSU has consistently been our biggest source of funding, and for that, we are very grateful, but that also means we will likely lose a significant portion of our funding under the new opt-out policy,” said Edward Cui, co-president of the McMaster Dragon Boat Club. One of the primary concerns for many presidents, executives, and general mem-

MSU clubs prepare to cope with the Student Choice Initiative. CINDY CUI / PHOTO EDITOR

bers is that decreasing financial support will reduce the accessibility of club activities. “I’m sure other athletic organizations at McMaster would agree: sports are not cheap. Yet they are so integral to the health and wellness of our student community,” said Cui. “The team fees of McMaster Dragon Boat have been historically lower than the dragon boat teams of neighboring schools, but there have still been instances where the financial burden becomes a barrier to student participation.”

“... we will likely lose a significant portion of our funding under the new opt-out policy.” Edward Cui Co-president McMaster Dragon Boat Club Katie O’Donnell and Sara Elgadi, co-presidents of the McMaster Classics Club, are worried that without financial support from the MSU fee, they will be unable to afford

the larger events that they have offered in years past. They recognize that they will likely no longer be able to execute high quality events, which makes them fear that students will lose interest in Classics. For them, this idea is upsetting because everything they do is for the benefit of students, and to lose their support would be detrimental to their club. The MSU promises that all of its services will continue to operate this year. However, everyone is already planning measures to face future years of reduced financial support. Elgadi and O’Donnell are already working on fundraising opportunities such as T-shirt sales, book sales and bake sales. Some clubs are turning to external support from the community. Cui and his team have been reaching out to various community partners for potential sponsorship opportunities. He sees a bright side to all of this, noting that regardless of how their budget turns out this year, this is a good chance for the club to establish longterm relationships with local businesses and increase their reach for years to come. Currently, MSU club members fear that students are not aware of exactly how club

budgets will be impacted by SCI. They believe that McMaster clubs are an integral component to student life on campus. “While we understand

“Opting out doesn’t take [money] away from McMaster itself, but rather, it takes opportunities away from you as students to network, make friends and receive guidance.” Sara Elgadi & Katie O’Donnell Co-presidents McMaster Classics Club the decision to opt-out, we would like to remind students that the fee is very minimal and helps support our clubs which aim to give you a better university experience,” said Elgadi and O’Donnell, “Opting out doesn’t take [money] away from McMaster itself, but rather, it takes opportunities away from you

as students to network, make friends and receive guidance.” Despite the possible changes and challenges that MSU clubs may face, a strong sense of optimism remains for the school year. “To McMaster students: this policy change may seem to put a damper on your plans for the year,” said Cui, “but don’t let it stop you from exploring your passions and interests on campus.” McMaster students will be able to opt-out of non-essential fees through an online process available on Mosaic from Sept. 12 - 20, 2019 on Mosaic. @TheSilhouette

A week of events to help you thrive and succeed. Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

September 16

September 17

September 18

September 19

September 20

Academic Workshop: Setting Goals for Success 12:30 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Student Success Centre, GH 110

Community Engagement and Volunteer Fair 11:00 a.m. - 3:00p.m. McMaster University Student Centre, Atrium

Career Development Session: LinkedIn Lab 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Student Success Centre, GH 110

Connect with on- and off-campus volunteer opportunities.

Fall Career Fair 11:00 a.m. - 3:00p.m. DBAC, Sport Hall 110+ employers interested in hiring Mac students for full-time, paid internship, co-op, part-time and summer job opportunities.

Exchange In-Flight Social 11:30 a.m. - 1:30p.m. BSB Field Join the McMaster Exchange Program for a BYO picnic lunch. Register on OSCARplus.

No registration required. Company Recruitment Event: PwC 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Faculty Club, Dining Room

Business attire recommended. All Students and Alumni welcome. No registration required.

Targeting: Final-year B. Eng.

Academic Workshop: Reading Academic Articles and Textbooks 1:30 p.m. - 2:20 p.m. Student Success Centre, GH 110

Academic Workshop: Note-taking for University 1:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Student Success Centre, GH 110

Business attire required.

Learn more: bit.ly/maccareerfair

Career Development Session: Are you Career Ready? 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Student Success Centre, GH 110 Register on OSCARplus.

Company Recruitment Event: ExxonMobil 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Webcast Targeting: New Grads and Co-op Students Register on OSCARplus.

Company Recruitment Event: Restaurant Brands International Inc. 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Faculty Club, Dining Room

Company Recruitment Event: Labatt Breweries 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Great Hall, University Club

Targeting: Third and Final-year BCom, BEng, BA Communication & Multimedia, Economics

Business attire required. Register on OSCARplus.

Academic Skills

Career Development and Employment

@MacSSC

studentsuccess.mcmaster.ca

Personal Development

Global

GH 110

10 Tips for Fall Career Fair Remember, it’s better to bring too many copies of your resume than to run out! 4. Create and practice an elevator pitch that includes who you are and highlights your skills and career goals. The goal of this pitch is to convince hiring managers — in a brief amount of time — that you would be an asset to their organization. Fall Career Fair is McMaster University’s largest career event of the year, featuring 110+ employers all in one place. This year, the fair will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in DBAC Sport Hall, with opportunities for full-time, part-time, paid internship, co-op and summer jobs. 1. Research the companies that are attending the fair (bit.ly/maccareerfair). Consider

which companies seem the most interesting or relevant to your career plan. 2. Prepare some questions that you can ask each employer. This will help you make the most of each conversation. 3. Visit the Student Success Centre’s drop-in hours (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.) to have an advisor critique your resume.

5. Attend one of the Student Success Centre’s workshops to learn how to successfully connect with hiring managers. Go to OSCARplus and select the SSC events and workshops calendar to register. 6. Dress for success. Your clothing should be clean and without any slogans or rips. 7. At the fair, be courteous and respectful of others’ conversations.

8. Visit the career fair advisor booth if you need help at the fair. We have experts who are ready to meet with you and discuss your career goals. 9. Take your time when talking to company representatives. This will help you establish a personal connection. 10. Send thank-you notes to each employer you have connected with at the event. This is a simple courtesy that will show employers that you are genuinely interested in their organization. There’s a great career waiting for you. Thanks to the Fall Career Fair, it’s easier to find than you might think. Visit bit.ly/maccareerfair for more information. Sponsored by:

Good luck! A special thank you to this year’s sponsors: JNE Group Of Companies (gold sponsor); Parker Hannifin Canada (silver sponsor); ArcelorMittal Dofasco (bronze sponsor); EMCO Corporation (bronze sponsor); Imperial (bronze sponsor); and, Oracle (bronze sponsor).

FEATURES

Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019 | www.thesil.ca

The Future of News in Hamilton Publications in Hamilton moving away from print, or shutting down entirely, in media industry facing threats to funding

Adrianna Michell Features Reporter

THE STATE OF PRINT

MEDIA The constant drive of Hamilton print media is largely owed to the Hamilton Spectator, the city’s near-daily newspaper published since 1846. Sold to a parent company, TorStar, in 1999, the Spec may be owned across the lake, but it has been run, staffed, and read by Hamiltonians since it first began publication. In August 2019, the

Spec’s printing press stopped rolling. TorStar had decided to send the paper to a contracted plant. With the Spec’s final issue rolling out of the historic printing press this August, 73 full-time and 105 part-time staff will be out of work. The building itself might be sold off in an effort to cut costs. The Spec will still be in print, but printing will be outsourced to a plant outside of Hamilton. Despite the changes, John Boynton, TorStar’s chief executive, emphasized the company’s commitment to fully supporting the Hamilton community. If the Spec build-

ing is sold, Boynton anticipates keeping the head office of the Spec in Hamilton, but they are not required to do so. The headquarter’s future location will likely be based on TorStar’s financial interests, despite the importance of the Spec in the Hamilton community. With no promises from Boynton, the future of the Spec in Hamilton is not guaranteed. The Spec has been experiencing the same issues as other organizations in the news industry, with potential readers opting for digital media or bypassing reading altogether, where readers are being lost to

the recent media ‘pivot to video’ and podcast boom. Sasha Dhesi, a Silhouette alumna and the Ontario representative for the Canadian University Press, said that the printing press’s closure is unfortunate as the city is losing an important part of the community. While she is not surprised by the move of media to a digital space, she acknowledges the downsides. “It’s really sad to know that it’s not in Hamilton anymore. I used to drive by the Hamilton Spectator printing building . . . every time I came into Hamilton when I was visiting my parents … knowing that the building isn’t going to be [printing] anymore is sad.”

“… knowing that the building isn’t going to be [printing] anymore is sad.” Sasha Dhesi Canadian University Press Ontario Representative Another blow to Hamilton print media came with the closure of Hamilton Magazine. Founded 40 years

ago, the publication has focused on local news, community and arts. Hamilton Magazine ran independently for a number of years before being bought out by the Toronto-based media company PostMedia. With this summer’s issue being its last, two of Hamilton Magazine’s three employees will lose their jobs, while one will assume another PostMedia position. Marc Skulnick, Hamilton Magazine’s former editor, was unable to comment. THE LEGISLATION Despite the precarity of print media, the federal government has committed to spending almost $600 million over a five year period, along with providing other incentives, for big media companies to stay afloat. It is unlikely that benefits from government media bailout would trickle down to Hamilton news publications such as the Spec. An independent panel made up of media unions and associations across the country will dole out the government incentives. Panel members include the Canadian Association of Journalists, News Media Canada and the Association de la presse francophone, among others. Independent news

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019

The Silhouette

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Newspaper archives at Mills library CINDY CUI / PHOTO EDITOR

organizations, small media outlets and individual journalists don’t have a seat on the panel. The panel gets to decide which companies received government bailouts while also representing the interests of their organizations. The very groups with a stake in the decision are the ones making it. “I just don’t think it’s the right solution. I think it carries the potential to do more harm to news agencies’ credibility than it does to actually do anything more than protect existing systems in the short term,” said Russell Wangersky, a columnist at the St. John’s Telegram, in an interview with CBC. While legislation at the federal level will affect large news corporations, the provincial Student Choice Initiative is likely to impact student publications across Ontario. Proposed last year, The SCI will come into effect this school year. The guidelines mandate that universities offer students the option to opt-out of ancillary fees for any services the Conservative government deemed non-essential. Essential services include athletics and recreation, student buildings,

health services and academic support. Student news organizations are classified as non-essential under the SCI. A survey by OneClass, a Toronto-based education-technology company, said that 57.4 per cent of students would optout of fees to support student newspapers. Jerry Zheng, a growth marketer at OneClass, administered the OneClass survey. “I think it will definitely mean the end of print distribution for the student newspapers,” said Zheng in an interview with the Waterloo Chronicle. The fate of student news might not be as dire as Zheng suggests. However, the option to opt-out, if taken by a significant number of students, could effectively defund campus media. Student newspapers are responsible for holding institutions accountable, providing the student body with important information and act as training grounds for journalists. Defunding student media across the province effectively silences student voices. “If 80 per cent opt-in we’re a bit tight on cash but we’re not ruined. If only 20% opt-in then we’re destroyed. No one else is covering university

Student newspapers are responsible for holding institutions accountable, providing the student body with important information and act as training grounds for journalists. Defunding student media across the province effectively silences student voices. content to the same degree,” said Dhesi, “Most newspapers, especially now … don’t have the resources in the same way that student news does. Student newsrooms are probably the only place where people can find stable work in news media.” Dhesi also reflected on her own experience in a student newsroom and the diversity of voices she found there. “If you look at stu-

dent newsrooms versus actual newsrooms, you’d be shocked at which ones are more diverse — but not really. I definitely think that losing student newsrooms and losing local media that have that effect reduce[s] the amount of people that [go on in the field] and diminish[es] the quality of journalism overall.” LOOKING TO THE FUTURE While the move to the digital sphere may be the product of old industry adapting to the times, it could mean negative impacts for journalists and the free press as a whole. “And I think when we think about what makes up the Canadian media landscape, more and more publications are dying off everyday, and we really need those … we rely on three major corporations to give us all our news, and that’s just not a good thing.” Perhaps the Spec, the Silhouette and Hamilton Magazine represent different stages of the same trends. All have encountered the monopolization of the media industry, reliance on casual labour and decreasing funding or revenue. Stifling student news could snuff out future journalists before they even learn the trade. Overall, this constrains the field that

holds the powerful accountable and keeps the public informed. As for the future of student news, the Silhouette isn’t going anywhere yet. Hamilton print media has persisted despite challenges that come with over 100 years of publication. As print media in Hamilton moves toward a new era, journalists, publications and readerships must adapt with the changes. Still, news publications have always been more than just print. While the printing press may slow its roll, the voices of journalists will persist. @adriannagracem

PRESIDENT’S PAGE

September 12, 2019 | thesil.ca

reflection, I realized the true extent to which the MSU influences the student experience, whether that be in large or small ways. The diversity of services, business units, and extracurricular opportunities supported by the MSU allows for an enhanced undergraduate journey that is unique to each student.

ALEX JOHNSTON VP (Finance) vpfinance@msu.mcmaster.ca 905.525.9140 x24109

As the Vice President (Finance), I am responsible for overseeing the revenues and expenditures of our business units and services. This year, under a new directive from the Government of Ontario, student union funding has changed drastically. Previously, the McMaster Students Union (MSU) operated under a single user-fee in which service budgets were allocated by elected student leaders, monitored by professional accounting staff, and audited by experts on an annual basis. However, under the directive of the Student Choice Initiative, many services offered by the MSU are now deemed non-essential. These changes could result in the elimination of important services which aid students, as well as the loss of advocacy efforts. As a student, I remember struggling to understand what exactly the MSU did and how it impacted me. It wasn’t until later in my undergraduate career that I realized the concerts I attended or the clubs of which I was a member, existed because of the MSU. Upon

been allocated. We will be seeking feedback from students about how they think we can improve. This will be an opportunity for students to learn more about the different aspects of the MSU and better understand how fees are utilized. It is my hope to engage with as many students as possible

“You have the power to ensure the best possible student experience for yourself, the thousands of other undergraduate students on campus, and future Marauders.” For this reason, when I was elected into my current role, financial and operational transparency was one of my most important platform points. This year as Vice President (Finance), I will be running a Financial Transparency Week in both September and January. Coming up this week, I will be working with the Finance Committee to engage with students about what the MSU is and how our 2019-2020 fees have

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.

throughout the week. You can find us in different locations across campus on the following dates from 10:30 AM 3:30 PM:

• September 12: Mills Plaza • September 16: Mills Plaza • September 17: JHE Lobby • September 19: MUSC Atrium

SARAH JOSH MARANDO FIGUEIREDO President

VP (Administration)

Additionally, if you’re considering opting out of a particular MSU service fee, I encourage you to use these opportunities to seek further information to help make an informed decision. Although the MSU has made a promise to students to continue operating all MSU services for the 2019-2020 year, the future of student life may look vastly different. The MSU may have to change its service delivery to include a pay-for-service model, increased ticket prices, and a reduction of services offered to students, all of which would result in an overall decrease in student life initiatives. However, as a student, you have the ability to help prevent these changes by remaining opted-in to our services. You have the power to ensure the best possible student experience for yourself, the thousands of other undergraduate students on campus, and future Marauders. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email me at vpfinance@ msu.mcmaster.ca. I welcome your insights and feedback.

SHEMAR HACKETT VP (Education)

ALEX JOHNSTON VP (Finance)

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019

The Silhouette | 11

to the Grind expansion to the lovely baristas VISIT US FOR ALL YOUR

PRINT + DESIGN NEEDS

@UNDERGROUNDMSU

to “amazine” to getting 8 timbits when you asked for 5

LOCATED IN THE STUDENT CENTRE BASEMENT

to Shawn Mendes to vol 90 to bandanas to kale chips to not missing your print deadline as badly as last week

FIND US BESIDE TWELVEIGHT Y BAR & GRILL

TO GREEN DAY REVEALING THEIR NEW ALBUM. IM CRYING

to having a class that uses SLACK for online discussion to shops that look open when they’re actually closed to mac to textbooks to thinking your class starts at 7 when it starts at 6 to missing your print deadline again (sorry!) to unexpectedly chilly days to getting up early to getting sick

Why Attend Career Fairs and do some research on them before the event. Tailor your elevator pitch. Make eye contact and shake their hand. Be bold, assertive, and with some confidence, introduce yourself. Tell them what you do or want to do, what you have to offer and why you are interested in them. Customize your pitch based on your research.

Some say that when they last attended a job fair employers told them to apply online, so they felt it was pointless to attend. If you have similar sentiments, I urge you to keep reading. Employers may tell you to apply online (it does save paper!), but the real reason they are there is to get a sense of the person behind the resume that is submitted online—YOU. Who are you? What do you have to offer? Why are you unique? Are you personable? Do you

seem genuinely interested? What do you know about them? Answers to these questions can only be conveyed in an application to a certain extent. Make a real connection so that when your application does come across their desk, your name gets noticed.

Ask useful questions. Based on your research, prepare some thoughtful questions to generate conversation after your introductions.

How can you differentiate your application from other ones in the application pile?

Be an active listener. Really listen to what they have to say; it is easy to start thinking ahead to what you will say next, but concentrate on being in the moment. After the conversation is over, jot down any suggestions they had for applicants before you forget.

Do your research. Explore the event website for the list of employers confirmed to attend

Be ready to dig deeper. If you encounter an organization of interest that is not hiring in

the area you are interested in, don’t despair. Remember that organizations recruit for many diverse roles and hiring timelines are often not predictable. Invite to connect on LinkedIn. Visit your new contact’s profile and send your request from there, so you have an option to ‘Add a Note.’ Reference something from your conversation when you invite them to connect and thank them for their time in speaking with you at the event. After you attend the event and employ the tactics above, you are ready to submit that online application. Don’t forget to mention the contact you spoke with at the Career Fair or Company Recruitment Event. Incorporate their suggestions and offer something you learned from them in your cover letter as part of why you are interested in applying. Now imagine you did none of the above, just attended, had a few

conversations and just applied online. Which application would you be most interested in? Use what you’ve learned in this article at McMaster University’s Fall Career Fair on September 19. This event is open to McMaster alumni and all students. Read the full article on our Medium page: medium.com/mcmaster-alumni

Sponsored by:

ALUMNI

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OPINION

Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019 | www.thesil.ca

Opinion (In)Accessibility in McMaster Courses

Calls for accessibility need to be backed up by action

Students outside MUSC CINDY CUI/ PHOTO EDITOR Ember Contributor

Every day, I am faced with choices that others may perceive as rather trivial or inconsequential. I choose whether to take the stairs or elevator, whether to take the bus or walk to campus or whether to watch a required video for class from 2010 on YouTube that only has auto-generated captions or turn closed captioning off. What people may not realize is how often I must make these choices, how they can make or break my day and how McMaster University’s campus contributes to and reinforces the issues that I and many other disabled students deal with every day. For starters, I use a mobility aid and I have auditory processing issues — neither my brain nor my body can keep up with what society demands from me. When I choose to take the stairs instead of the ramp or elevator, it doesn’t mean my disability magically disappears. By taking the stairs, I’m further crippling myself, because I unfortunately do not have the time to wait for the elevator. When I have to get to class quickly, I take the stairs because

I’m either running behind, or because the elevator is overrun by able-bodied people who have decided that taking the stairs was too inconvenient. When I turn off the auto-generated captions on a nearly decade-old YouTube video, it’s because I’ve decided that incorrect words and sentences popping up on the screen will confuse me more than my delayed processing abilities. Having to make this decision in the first place is very strange, since McMaster University is supposed to abide by the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act which requires that all videos be closed captioned. According to AODA requirements, “any video added to a [McMaster] website AFTER 2014, or being used in a class, presentation, public talk, or online course MUST be properly closed captioned – either as part of the production process, or retroactively.” Now, take a second to think about how many times you’ve had to watch a video in lecture that used auto-generated captions. If it’s been more than one occurrence, then it’s already too many. To add insult to injury, it is stated in McMaster’s own

Academic Accommodation of Students with Disabilities Policy that they are actively choosing not to follow the social model of disability. “It is our institutional aspiration to work towards a campus community that adopts the social definition of disability … However, this Policy acknowledges, upholds, and aligns itself with the medical definition of disability to be in accordance with the OHRC’s definition of disability and accompanying policies and statements,” states the policy. For those who don’t know, the social model of disability refers to the idea that environments (physical, auditory, visually, etc.) are inaccessible and require accommodations. The medical model of disability refers to the belief that disability itself is the problem and needs to be solved. McMaster’s policy is painfully performative: it acknowledges that the social model of disability exists and is favoured by literal disabled people but then contradictorily states that the university abides by and reinforces the medical model of disability. This does nothing for me and other disabled students on campus except let us know

that we cannot rely on the university to support us, as they are too busy playing respectability politics and listening only to the disabled people who don’t cause a ruckus. My own education, as well as the education of copious other disabled students, is constantly under the control of our professors and Student Accessibility Services (for those lucky enough to qualify for accommodations since the university lives and breathes by the medical model). Our success in academia is equivalent to if you had to flip a coin, roll a die, and play Russian roulette simultaneously — it’s essentially impossible.

Our success in academia is equivalent to if you had to flip a coin, roll a die, and play Russian roulette simultaneously — it’s essentially impossible.

There’s also the issue of being a “good disabled person” — you have to be proactive, be able to predict when your disability will incapacitate you from completing assignments, contact your instructor immediately when an issue arises and be amicable and apologetic about your existence and inconveniencing your instructor (as well as the rest of the student body) with your accommodations. I will not apologize for pursuing education — if I have to pay to be here like anyone else then I should be given opportunities to succeed like everyone else. If your syllabus doesn’t account for disabled students, then your syllabus is garbage. You can’t just slap the word “accessible” wherever you want and then do nothing to achieve accessibility. Accessibility is an ideal to strive for and needs active participation and effort to be implemented. It is not a buzzword to be thrown around just because you don’t want to be called out on your complacent violence.

OPINION

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019

| 13

Trade in your next Starbucks drink for MSU services Please #OptIn because non-essential student services are important to fund

A #ChooseClubs sticker in light of the Student Choice Initiative MATTY FLADER / PHOTO REPORTER

Steffi Arkilander Opinions Editor

From Sept. 12 to 20, the newly implemented Student Choice Initiative will allow university students across Ontario to opt-out of non-essential student services. According to the Tuition Fee Framework and Ancillary Fee Guidelines, essential services consist of athletics and recreation, career services, student buildings, health and counselling, academic support, student ID cards, student achievement and records, financial aid offices and campus safety programs. In terms of McMaster Students Union services, this would include services such as WGEN, Maccess, the Pride Community Centre, SHEC, SWHAT, 93.3 CFMU, the Food Collective Centre and more. Non-essential fees include services such as MSU clubs and the Silhouette. While these budget cuts may not seem to affect you if you’re not directly involved in a club or something like the campus newspaper or radio, opting out of that $9 or $10-dollar

fee will be detrimental to the McMaster community.

... opting out of that $9 or $10-dollar fee will be detrimental to the McMaster community. Let me break it down for you. If you decide to opt-out of the $10 MSU clubs fee, and everyone else follows suit, clubs will lose a huge portion of their funding. Currently, clubs are run solely by student volunteers and many of them hold events for the community, free of charge. Movie nights, de-stressors, cultural community gatherings, discussion groups and karaoke nights — you name it, and a club has probably done it. Clubs also offer an opportunity to students to help grow their managing skills, creativity and passion for a certain area. For many, extracurriculars are a place of refuge. They can serve as a break away from stressful

courses or provide a welcoming community for a variety of identities. Now imagine all of this — gone. All of this would disappear, or be severely limited, because you wanted to save $10, which can get you maybe two Starbucks frappuccinos. Even if you have yet to join a club, I’m almost certain that you’ve benefited off club freebies, bought food at a bake sale or attended an event in the past. If that’s not convincing enough, we can also take a glance at the future of the Silhouette. McMaster’s campus newspaper has historically shed light on crucial events that impact students such as MSU presidential campaigns, the student representative assembly, sexual violence surveys and more. As someone who has just joined the Silhouette team, I can already tell you that we are eager and passionate to break news, events and opinions on things that matter most to students. The Silhouette is constantly striving to hold the MSU and university as a whole accountable. By paying our fee, you are supporting our

reporters, editors, managing, production and online team to continue producing relevant content for you. You are helping potential journalists break into the industry and report on news that affects all of us. There are still so many other non-essential services that I haven’t gone into length, such as MSU Spark, 93.3 CFMU and Mac Farmstand. Maybe you haven’t accessed any of these services, but so many students benefit from them. You may think that it won’t matter if a few students opt out. What’s a few dollars going to do to a whole service or department?

The Silhouette is constantly striving to hold the MSU and university as a whole accountable. However, that’s the stem of the issue — many people will follow the herd mindset

and believe that if they are one of the few to opt out, then it won’t cause a budgeting issue. Supporting the student body and union means that everyone should be opting in, because it’s more than likely that one of your peers have accessed some of these non-essential services. A student union cannot exist without students contributing to the union. That’s why these services function so well. Skip on that UberEats order and contribute to your student union instead by #OptingIn.

@stcffi

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OPINION

Thursday, Sept.12, 2019 | www.thesil.ca

Faculty planners deserve to be paid Welcome week faculty planners are currently unpaid, and here’s why it’s not okay Steffi Arkilander Opinions Editor

Every year, faculty planners are paid through compliments of their parallel programming and through reps expressing appreciation for their coordinators’ work. And … that’s all that they’re paid with. No job, no honorarium or gift card, just through their really rewarding volunteer experience. However, they should be receiving some kind of financial compensation for their work. In 2018, residence orientation advisors received a $1000 honorarium after completing the work stated in their contract. This past year, their contract changed so that they were paid minimum wage with varying hours, depending on the demand of the work that they will have during the year. If you look at both the faculty planner and ROA role, they are very similar in function. ROAs and faculty planners are involved in the hiring of welcome week representatives, supervision of first year orientation and the implementation of events during welcome week and the school year. They are both in charge of coordinating their team by assigning roles such as creating t-shirts, parallel programming, managing social media and more. In addition, they manage the budget for their building(s) or faculty and are responsible for reporting to the residence orientation planner who oversees the ROAs or welcome week faculty coordinator who oversees the faculty planners. Evidently, becoming a planner or ROA is a huge time commitment which students should be reimbursed for, but pay disparity also affects the quality of welcome week programming. Faculty planners are supposed to create programming that is representative of first year students in their respective faculties. However, because planners are unpaid, taking on this role requires a certain amount of financial privilege. Many lower to middle class students who attend university have to work a part-time or fulltime job during the summer. But if you are a planner, the time commitment is so exten-

Welcome week faculty planners during Faculty Fusion CINDY CUI / PHOTO EDITOR

sive that it would be very hard to hold a full-time job. Planning training, rep appreciation events and welcome week events occurs mainly in the summer which is why it can be difficult to simultaneously plan welcome week for free while working to pay off your rent, groceries and/ or other expenses.

Evidently, becoming a planner or ROA is a huge time commitment which students should be reimbursed for, but pay disparity also affects the quality of welcome week programming.

While not all planners are upper-class, the lack of pay can be an issue because it can result in programming that is less representative for first years. First years come from different socioeconomic backgrounds. While class may not initially seem to have much of an effect on programming, it can have a lasting effect on first years. Oftentimes, first years come into welcome week scared and unsure of what to expect; if they attend events planned by someone who has no experience with financial insecurity, then they may feel more alone. Financial burdens affect every part of a person’s identity and if you have had no personal experience with financial insecurity, then it can show in the way you interact with others. Class issues are always relevant and they intersect our lives in every way. It can be a butterfly effect — you may plan an event or fundraiser that does

not take into account that some students cannot afford to pay for anything but their own necessities. You may interact with first years and not be able to empathize with their struggles. You may not even take into consideration exactly how many reps may need financial support during welcome week, or how hard it is to ask for financial aid.

While class may not initially seem to have much of an effect on programming, it can have a lasting effect on first years. With that being said, not all planners are upper-class. There are planners who do hold

a paid job while coordinating welcome week, but it can get stressful to manage a job on top of planning and that may come at the expense of your health and wellbeing. In addition, if faculty planning was a paid position, planners would be able to devote more time towards developing high quality programming. Being a faculty planner is hard work. Your planning can affect first years in ways you cannot even begin to imagine. However, without compensation, being a planner can seem like an unreachable dream for lower-class students. If planners were given some kind of compensation, they can more adequately create programming that actually represents their diverse body of first years.

@stcffi

FULL-TIME UNDERGRADUATES HAVE

WITH THE MSU Coverage Includes: • Prescription + Vision Care • Extended Health Care • Accidental Injury Benefits • Basic + Preventative Dental Care • 24/7 Phone Line for Counselling Services

Opt-out ends September 30, 2019

msumcmaster.ca/insurance

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The Silhouette

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019

Arts & Culture

Culinary Class Act

Checking into MOTEL

Grab brunch at this restaurant for creative twists on your favourite meals Andrew Mrozowski A&C Editor

What It Is: Motel Restaurant (359 Barton St. East) takes your favourite brunch and lunch dishes and immerses you in the sweetly-pink ‘no-tell-motel’. From themed-cocktails to sweet and savoury plates, there is something to satisfy every palate. The restaurant is easily noticeable due to its green painted exterior walls, which contrast the brick buildings surrounding the area. Once you step inside, you are instantly transported to the lobby and greeted by Chris Hewlett, the owner and host of Motel. A bright blue neon sign for vibrating beds, pink luggage all around and a long bar extending the length of the space creates an atmosphere that removes you from Barton Street East. On your way downstairs to the washrooms, you will see doors on either side of the hall with room numbers to make you feel as if you are about to check-in for the night. A staple of Barton Village, Motel strives to bring a little bit of luxury to your busy week either through their daily drink specials or one of their specialty dishes like their champagne pancakes topped with edible gold-leaf. How to get there from Campus: For the most direct approach, take the 51 from campus towards Hamilton Go Centre. Walk to the east end of the platform and jump onto the 2. Continue to ride this bus for about 15 minutes and get off at Barton Street East and Emerald Street North. A short stroll to the north-east corner of the intersection will take you to the emerald-coloured building on your left. For a quicker alternative, you could take the 10 from Main Street West and Emerson Street for an express ride to Main Street West and John Street South. Jump off the bus and head south towards Jackson

Street East to wait for the 2 at the bus stop. The Cost: Entrees range in price from $16 to $19.75 and usually will require you to request a to-go box because the portions are quite large. On more than one occasion, a meal from Motel has lasted me both brunch and dinner. Sides are also available and they range from $3 to $7.50. No great brunch can be had without a beverage to compliment. Motel offers a variety of hand-crafted espresso beverages and local freshly-squeezed juices from $4 to $6. If you’re looking for something spirituous, Motel offers a variety of “5 O’Clocktails” for $12. You can also upgrade to Motel-sized drinks for $2.50 or a flask to share with your party for $35. Although the food is tasty and the atmosphere is inviting, I fully understand that this is not in the every-day student budget; however, Motel is great if you are looking to treat yourself after a hard week or need a go-to Hamilton spot to sit down and celebrate with friends. What to get: Every time I go to the restaurant, I typically have to tell Chris to come back to our table three or four times because I am so overwhelmed by the menu. I have learned that your choice will come down to whether you want something savoury or sweet for your breakfast-lunch combination. An added benefit is that Motel sources local ingredients, when they can, for their dishes. If you are looking for a wow-factor or Instagramable moment, try the Champagne pancakes. They come with Devonshire cream, raspberry and pink champagne coulis topped with gold flakes. Fluffy pancakes topped with a light cream, fruity sauce and real gold makes for an incredible breakfast that seems as if it could only exist in a dream. Looking for something savoury? Last time I went, Chris

recommended the Loaded Breakfast Nacho Fries featuring a three cheese blend, crumbled bacon, tomato jam, jalapeno sour cream and two over-easy eggs served on a bed of crispy french fries. This may very well be my favourite item on the menu due in part to its sheer size but also because it tastes absolutely stunning. Motel offers vegetarian options (including most of their sweet brunch options) as well as the I’m a Vegan which brings together marinated kale, quinoa, sweet potato, pecans and Brussel sprouts drizzled with a roasted vegetable vinaigrette. Why It’s Great: No matter what day of the week, you can expect Motel to be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., including most holidays. Some days are busier than others, but they will take your information and text you when your table is ready. The space is a refreshing change from the typical restaurant environment. It immerses you in a different setting so far removed from Hamilton that you will forget what city you are eating in. The food will make you feel like a superstar (still really cannot get over the fact that you can eat gold on pancakes) and the staff are so inviting that you truly feel like a welcomed guest at staying at their motel.

Outside of Motel ANDREW MROZOWSKI / ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR

Champagne Pancakes C/O MOTEL

@andrewmrozowski

Chicken and Waffles C/O MOTEL

The Silhouette

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019

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5 Local Coffee Shops to Get You Ready for Fall With autumn around the corner, warm up to Hamilton’s coziest coffee shops

2 2

Natalie Clark A&C Contributor

The end of summer marks the end of warm weather in the city, meaning that cool fall winds are approaching. And where there is fall, there is coffee. Its warm, cozy and inviting aroma tests your limits as to just how many cups you can have without going completely off the walls. Get ready to channel your inner Rory Gilmore this fall with a visit to these amazing coffee hotspots around Hamilton.

The Holy Cup on James Saint James, located on James Street North in downtown Hamilton, is home to one of the greatest vanilla lattes in the city. Saint James doubles as a restaurant and a cafe, so you can drop in for a quick coffee or have a seat and enjoy their pancakes topped with warm honey, powdered sugar and fresh fruit. With both indoor and outdoor seating, you can cozy up inside and watch the leaves fall or enjoy the crisp autumn breeze on their roadside patio.

The Hamiltonian Hotspot If you live in Hamilton, then

1. Mulberry 2. Saint James Cindy Cui// PHOTO EDITOR

chances are that you’ve heard of Mulberry Coffee House. Their warm and inviting atmosphere makes for the perfect spot to take out your books and get some much-needed studying done. Within its art-covered walls, Mulberry features occasional live performances by local and upcoming artists. Located on James Street North, the epicentre of Hamilton arts and culture, Mulberry Coffee House allows for anyone and everyone to enjoy the complete Hamilton experience.

The Not So Salty Espresso Salty Espresso has been on my recommendations list for a while now. Located on the cor-

ner of Augusta Street and John Street, you can visit this quaint coffee shop for a reminder of warmer vibes. Modelled after the “surf life” mentality, Salty Espresso is the place to escape from the cold breeze of fall and remember the warmer days that were. Make sure to try their sweet and colourful Froot Loop Latte!

The Cannon on Cannon The Cannon has quickly become one of my favourite coffee spots in the city. Although rather small with only a few tables to sit at, the space is full of character and always bustling with people, not to mention they take their coffee serious-

ly! Boasting a wide array of freshly-brewed coffee flavours, espresso-beverages and light brunch items, The Cannon is great for a sit-down to catch up with some friends or to study for midterms. If you tried some coffee and fell in love with it, the shop actually allows you to purchase the beans in bulk, allowing coffee connoisseurs to take a taste of the Cannon home with them.

The New Cup in Town If you’re looking for a new coffee hangout close to campus, then try Phin Coffee Bar (804 King St. West), just across from the Food Basics. The owner, Andrew Meas, is a coffee con-

noisseur and will make sure you get that perfect taste in every sip. Meas aims to attract mainly students, professors and other campus wanderers, creating a quintessential campus hotspot. The Golden Latte will have you feeling like you are drinking in fall itself. Grab a quick coffee at Phin Coffee Bar and take a fall stroll on campus to experience the beautiful changing leaves and all that fall has to offer! @theSilhouette

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Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019 | www.thesil.ca

The Silhouette

Bringing new life to a decade’s-long practice. Hannah Walters-Vida Editor-in-Chief

Andrew Mrozowski A&C Editor

Art comes in many different forms, but for Nicholas Tsangarides, neither paintings nor sculptures captured his essence. His work is contained in small vials that burst with vibrant pinks, blues and yellows. A closer look at his art reveals the macabre reality behind the glass. Specimens float suspended in fluid; their brightly dyed skeletons visible under layers of transparent flesh. The animals’ bones and cartilage are displayed in stunning detail, offering a unique glimpse into their inner structures. For decades, natural history museums have been using the process of diaphonization to display animals. Equal parts art and science, the process

involves chemically treating specimens to make their flesh transparent and staining the bone, muscle and cartilage. Tsangarides recalls being utterly captivated the first time he encountered diaphonized specimens during a trip to the Royal Ontario Museum as a kid. While studying radiation therapy at the University of Toronto, he came across the protocols for diaphonization and he developed his practice under the title Nighttime Nicholas. “It made me really want to create that experience for other people and to try to elicit that feeling in others as well,” he said. First, Tsangarides gets specimens from zoos, museums or pet owners. He only works with recently deceased animals, and he does not kill animals or remove them from their natural habitats. He then must meticulously remove all the skin, fat and organs, while leaving the brain

intact inside the skull.

First, Tsangarides gets specimens from zoos, museums or pet owners. He only works with recently deceased animals, and he does not kill animals or remove them from their natural habitats. The animals are then preserved in formaldehyde, after which they are soaked in a dye that gradually stains their bones, muscles and cartilage. Next, the animals are bathed in a digestive enzyme that renders

their flesh transparent. All the tissues and muscles remain clear so that we can observe the skeleton entirely. It keeps everything together, kind of like a gummy bear with a tie dye skeleton,” said Tsangarides. Although seasoned in his craft, Tsangarides still finds that imperfections can happen. Variables such as temperature, pressure and light can impact the finished product. “I’ve tried to make a point of controlling as many of those variables as possible to have an expectation that I can produce the kind of piece that I have in mind,” said Tsangarides. A deep respect for animals informs Tsangarides’ work. By dedicating time and care towards his pieces, Tsangarides transforms his specimens and gives them new life. He takes months to prepare, monitor and dye each animal. “To me it’s giving energy to this thing that would just go into the ground and become

A&C

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019

something else,” he said. Furthermore, Tsangarides wants his pieces to serve as educational tools, offering an engaging glimpse at biology and reminding people of their fundamental similarities to other life forms.

“I’ve tried to make a point of controlling as many of those variables as possible to have an expectation that I can produce the kind of piece that I have in mind.” Interacting with the pieces also serves as a reminder of our own mortality. “The old philosophers used

to do this, they would have a skull on their desk and it would remind them every day that our time is limited and it’s important to live fully,” remarked Tsangarides. At the same time, he wants to create a community for people who are fascinated by the macabre, and who have been isolated and made to feel different for their interests. By bringing his work to the public, he hopes to educate, inspire and welcome people into his community. Although Tsangarides has never been to Supercrawl, he is excited to be featured at the Night Market at Absinthe during the festival weekend. “I wanted to be a part of [Supercrawl] in some way because it is one of the largest street festivals in the country… Being away from the main Supercrawl strip I thought would be better for me because the setting of the night market is kind of punky and more of my

clientele,” said Tsangarides. Supercrawl is a chance for artists to gain more public exposure within the city and for Tsangarides, this event will give him the chance to share his love of art and science with the public and to serve as a reminder to live life to its fullest. Nighttime Nicholas and his diaphonized works will be displayed at the Night Market at Absinthe on Friday Sept. 13 and Saturday Sept. 14 from 6 p.m. - 2 a.m. at Absinthe. @theSilhouette

Diaphonized Specimens C/O NICHOLAS TSANGARIDES

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The Silhouette

Off-the-wall Art Finds a

Night Market at Absinthe will feature tw

Lauren O’Donnell A&C Reporter

With the rise in popularity of Supercrawl, Hamilton’s largest arts and culture street festival, the city is becoming increasingly known for its talented artists. many of these artists can be seen at the Night Market at Absinthe (38 King William St.) during Supercrawl. On Friday Sept. 13 and Saturday Sept 14 from 6 p.m. - 2 a.m., the annual Night Market will once again take place at Absinthe on King William Street, providing a space for a wide range of eclectic and unique artists to showcase their work. Julie Fazooli, the organizer of the Night Market, calls herself a multi-disciplined creative. With work ranging from graphic design and photography to event coordination, it’s easy to see why. Five years ago she piloted the Night Market with her

friend, Lauren Olson, and she has been running it ever since. What began as a small group of five or six artists has blossomed into two days of food, music and creativity. One main goal of the Night Market is to create an all-inclusive space for both artists and patrons alike.

One main goal of the Night Market is to create an all-inclusive space for both artists and patrons alike.

“We do really represent

everybody in our market. We try to get a huge diverse group of people because we want everyone to be represented. It’s important that it’s accessible to everyone, and interesting to everybody and to give everybody a voice … [it’s] a nice little island where everyone is accepted,” said Fazooli. The Market features a mix of what Fazooli calls her top quality oddity vendors. There’s truly something for everyone, whether that be the recycled bicycle rubber accessories of Black Line Accessories, the scientific experiments of Nighttime Nicholas or something in between. The Market is curated to ensure that each artist is bringing something unique to ensure that there is no overlap. Many of the artists also support the environment.

A&C

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019

a Home at Supercrawl

wo evenings of art, food and oddities

“A lot of these vendors are repurposing or reusing or remixing existing objects, which is amazing to see, a lot of it is really sustainable,” said Fazooli.

“...which is amazing to see, a lot of it is really sustainable,” Julie Fazooli Night Market Organizer

In order to make the most of the space, Fazooli and Absinthe have had to choose fewer artists than in years past; however, this means that the artists present are truly the best of the craft.

“It’s going to be a little bit smaller, [but] it’s still going to be a huge party,” said Fazooli, “Bring your friends, bring your grandparents, bring your third cousin twice removed and bring your curiosity.” The Night Market is open to all ages until 10 p.m. and is free. On Friday night, you can see Born in the Eighties, an 80s cover band that brings an exclusive Supercrawl set list that you will not want to miss. On Saturday, catch Take Cover, a 90s cover band that primarily covers grungy, late 90s songs. Both bands perform at Absinthe during their monthly decade themed nights, so if you miss them at Supercrawl you can always see them again. For up to the minute updates and a comprehensive list of vendors, check out the Night Market event page

on Facebook. Supercrawl is a huge event for the arts and culture scene, and it’s important to support local artists, both big and small, in the community. Most of the artists at the Night Market are GTA centred, putting the focus on local and homegrown talent. The Market has made a space for local artists to experiment and create unique work. Social media tag: For the past five years, Fazooli and Absinthe have collaborated to provide a space for a wide range of eclectic and unique artists at their Night Market during Supercrawl. Read more about how the Night Market comes together for Hamilton’s largest arts and culture event!

| 21

22 |

SPORTS

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019

Sports The women’s soccer team aims higher Despite an offseason tragedy and tremendous loss, the women’s soccer team has a great season ahead of them.

The McMaster women’s soccer team before the York Lion’’s match C/O JOJO YANJIAO QIAN/ YORK LIONS

Graham West Sports Editor

With the women’s soccer season underway, the team is likely holding onto the memories of one of their most valuable team members. Recently, players, family members, and the McMaster community lost, Joeseph John Valvasori, the previous head coach of the team. After fighting a long battle with cancer, Valvasori passed away this summer. He will be remembered by players and community members alike for his efforts on the field as well as for his ability to touch the hearts of the people around him. Anthony Costa takes the field this year as the head coach for the team. As a McMaster alumnus and a decorated former student-athlete, Costa not only has an extensive amount of knowledge on coaching but also

of the challenges student-athletes can face. Having learned under Valvasori, Costa seems primed to build off of Valvasori’s contributions to help lead the Marauders to an incredibly successful season. The maroon and grey finished last year with a record of eight wins, three losses and five ties to make their best record since at least 2014, finishing with a season points total of 29. They used the momentum from their successful season to advance to the final four of the U sports championship, where they played the Cape Breton Capers. Ultimately, they lost the bronze medal match and placed fourth overall at the tournament. Nonetheless, they made an incredible effort at the U sports championship and look set to improve on their achievements from last year.

They’ve largely kept together the same roster, which is promising for the team as senior players such as Stephanie Roberts and Hannah Chau-Stacey played a big role last year and will be returning. Roberts was named U sports second-team all Canadian last year, the first women’s soccer player in a decade to do so. Part of the reason she accomplished second-team all-Canadian was due to her leading the country in conference goals for the regular season, scoring 14 points in just 16 games. Another key player, Chau-Stacey, played a big role in her team’s opening game against Windsor. She also notched one of two goals in the team’s win against Waterloo. For her accomplishments in these games, she was just awarded the Pita Pit athlete of the week. Going

into her fourth year, Chau-Stacey provides a solid veteran presence and will definitely play a big role this year. The women’s soccer team opened the 2019-2020 season ranked eighth overall in the nation, a ranking that they hope to outperform as they’ve started out the season with two wins and two losses.

The women’s soccer team opened the 2019-2020 season ranked eighth overall in the nation, a ranking that they hope to outperform. One of those wins was also a blowout against the Windsor

Lancers in their opening game. The Marauders scored four goals in the first half and one in the second to take the game five to one. One of yheir two losses so far was against the perennially great York University Lions, against whom the Marauders played an away game in Toronto. With all of this in mind, the women’s soccer team is poised to have a very deep playoff run as they build off of the accomplishments they achieved last year and hopefully take a shot at gold in the U sports championship. @theSilhouette

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24 |

SPORTS

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019

Men’s Soccer is poised for a deep playoff run in 2019 “I see myself as a guy who wants to be counted on every game,” said Anand Sergeant

The McMaster men’s soccer team faced York this past weekend C/O JOJO YANJIAO QIAN/ YORK LIONS

Graham West Sports Editor

Anand Sergeant is going into his third year on the men’s soccer team and is ready to build off of a highly successful campaign that he had the 2018-2019 season. Sergeant is one of the team’s top players and boasts an impressive resume. For his success on the field, he was named a first-team Ontario University Athletics all-star.

With a large portion of the team in their second year and above, the players have a wealth of knowledge at their disposal. With a large portion of the team in their second year and

above, the players have a wealth of knowledge at their disposal. Their familiarity with the competitive level of play inherent in varsity athletics will continue to guide them in using their strengths to their advantage. Most importantly, the current roster is one that has grown together. “I’m optimistic about our team this year. We have a group of players who have been around for a few years now, so we have more experience under our belts. I think that shows in games like yesterday’s against York, where the result wasn’t what we wanted but . . . this year I really noticed a good composure amongst the whole team. I think that’s a sign that we’re maturing together. We have the players required for a deep playoff run,” said Sergeant. Chemistry may play a large role in the team’s ability to succeed this year, many of the players have gotten to a point where they have a deep understanding of the nuances of each

other’s game.

“I’m optimistic about our team this year. We have a group of players who have been around for a few years now, so we have more experience under our belts,” Anand Sergeant Men’s soccer team player “Growing [up] with guys in your year and adjacent years, you get to know everyone’s tendencies. I think that’s really important when you go on the field together because it’s like [there is an] unspoken chemistry, [you can] communicate and work off the guys around you. I think that experience definitely

means a lot to the team this year,” Sergeant said.

“Growing [up] with guys in your year and adjacent years, you get to know everyone’s tendencies,” Anand Sergeant Men’s soccer team player The team has its eyes set on gold as they strive to make it to the OUA championship and, hopefully, to the U Sports national championship as well. “The ultimate goal for everyone is winning a championship, so there’s the OUA championship which would be massive to win, it’s been a long time since McMaster has done that. Then the ultimate ultimate goal is the U sports national championship, which is in November and brings together the

best teams from every conference,” said Sergeant. Seeing as though Sergeant is a decorated and talented player, his role on the team naturally developed into a leadership role. Sergeant embraces this role and the challenges that come along with it. He spoke of how he was inspired by veteran players and their desire to lead the team. From then on, he felt more of a responsibility to be a leader on his team. Due to his experience, he wants to be someone that other players on the team can look to for advice or answers to questions. He said that his ability to lead lies in his preparation, focus and performance. Sergeant and the men’s soccer team are one to watch this year as they look forward to a great season and deep playoff run. You can catch their next game when they play the Brock Badgers on Sep. 14.

@theSilhouette

SPORTS | 25

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019

Britni French leads the women’s rugby team On a very young squad, two-time team captain Britni French sets an example

The McMaster women’s rugby team C/O CATHERINE GOCE

Graham West Sports Editor

Britni French has been the Captain of the women’s rugby team two years in a row now, making her an incredibly vital part of the team. French is a strong leader on the team as well as a highly-skilled player, having achieved the honour of returning to the U SPORTS All-Canadian second-team for the second year in a row last year. French’s style of leadership is grounded in experience, knowledge and in creating a positive atmosphere on the team. All together, this creates a welcoming atmosphere without losing a competitive and stimulating environment.

French’s style of leadership is grounded in experience, knowledge and in creating a positive atmosphere on the team. “My role hasn’t really

changed much since last year. I’m still in that captain role, a leader, and I have been around the most out of everyone. My role has been trying to create a really positive atmosphere on our team, we have a lot of talks about positivity and having that positive talk on the field.” The team is taking an assertive mindset towards the season ahead. Going forward with the right mindset will help them to win games.

“This year we have a very young team and we’re trying to realize that we’re still capable of doing those really awesome things [that] we have done in the past,” Britni French Women’s rugby team captain “This year we have a very

young team and we’re trying to realize that we’re still capable of doing those really awesome things [that] we have done in the past. A lot of the times I find people in life think like if this happens, but we’re having those conversations like when this happens we are going to do this.” French said.

“A lot of the time when you have a young team you are underestimated which frees you from that constraing of being [at] the top,” Britni French Women’s rugby team captain The team this year is comprised of many young players, although this in no way impedes their potential especially with strong leaders present on the team. This also bodes well for the team in future years as they

will grow together and learn how to play off of each other’s strengths. “I think there’s a lot of benefits. A lot of the time when you have a young team you are underestimated which frees you from that constraint of being [at] the top. We want to get there but having a young team allows people to show themselves a lot of new opportunities and it’s really exciting to see those people shift from more of a supporting role or coming off the bench and now they’re starting.” The assistant coach for the team, Kailyn Jones, was recognized last year as Rugby Canada’s female coach of the year for her work with her club team. This is, of course, a big deal and the fact that they have such a decorated and talented coach is one of the key factors that could contribute to their success this season. “Coach Jones, well Jonesie to us, is awesome. I’ve gotten to play for her both at school and she coaches club as well. It’s really awesome to be coached by a strong female, there’s not a lot of female coaches in the world of rugby and it’s really awesome to see more and more

people stepping into those roles. She has great ideas, she’s really passionate about what she does and I really enjoy playing for her.”

“It’s really awesome to be coached by a strong female, there’s not a lot of female coaches in the world of rugby and it’s really awesome to see more and more people stepping into those roles.” Britni French Women’s rugby team captain The women’s rugby team is looking forward to a challenging but great season. You can catch them at their next game on Sep. 14 against the Brock Badgers. @theSilhouette

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019

GAMES

26 |

GAMES

CROSSWORD C/O DAVID ZASLAVSKY @david_zaslavsky

Author’s note: sorry some of the NYT Crossword rules are broken!

Down 1.Fedora lookalike...but looks just as bad

Across

36. Your mom might say ‘oh my goodness’,

2.When a friend gives you a compliment,

1. Namesake of TSH, dressed for a Greek

but you would type...

that friend “___ you up” (as the youth

Life party

39. Noises of understanding (rarely heard

would say)

9. “NBA Countdown” channel

in lectures)

3.McMaster’s most photogenic gateway

13. “Riverdale” ginger, Veronica’s main

42. Not light

4.“5 minutes of _____ing on BSB Field” - a

squeeze

44. An expensive piece of paper

popular event last year

14. Four to a door in this Rez room

45. Brandon Hall mascot

5.When Billy Ray’s Achy Break Heart

15. TLC Don’t Want No (singular)

46. Mercury and May’s band’s first album

Breaks, it sure _-___

16. Slain heir to the throne of Tolkien’s

47. African republic; capital Lilongwe

6.Innis, or Mills, for short

Rohan

49. Army of the Republic of Vietnam,

7.__, Myself & I

18. Like the sustainable beauty goods store,

abbreviated

8.Something that could save student ser-

but more!

50. Initials for Khruschev

vices - but Doug wouldn’t want this

20. McMaster’s original Christian denom-

52. Monte Carlo resident

9. Dr. Arig al Shaibah, AVP ____

ination

53. ‘Shine Day’ is one of these, for Shinera-

10.___ Boulevard, iconic LA street

21. Main squeeze, modernly

11.Popular order at Saigon on King St

22. Bear witness, or testify

55. Sgt, abbreviated more casually

12.Fargo’s state (abbr.)

23. A lil’ giggle, shortened

56. Uno ___, a place to get a drink on James

16. Country whose capital is Dili

25. Not no

57. If the Science & Engineering library

17. Lise Meitner’s element

26. Chronic, progressive disease (abbr.)

namesake had a fur problem

19. Abu Dhabi country

27. A roadblock on the putting green, with

50. Initials for Khruschev

20. Beaten; got the better of

a little push

52. Monte Carlo resident

24. US nature org. founded after 1962’s

28. Office email abbr.

53. ‘Shine Day’ is one of these, for Shinera-

Silent Spring

29. Internal Affairs, for short

28. “Do I view the world as ___ of tears?”

30. 160 x 8, or, the loveable MSU money

55. Sgt, abbreviated more casually

(Browning)

sink restaurant

56. Uno ___, a place to get a drink on James

30. Daughter of a Russian tsar (pre-18th c.)

34. To hit someone up on Insta

57. If the Science & Engineering library

31. Relaxing times outside the workdays

35. There’s one right by the doors of Mills,

namesake had a fur problem

and it might give your heart a shock (abbr.)

32. Finish, stop 33. Horizons Leadership Developer, for short 37. Famous ‘Cats’ tune, to be sung by Jennifer Hudson in the 2019 adaptation 38. Wild or sweet cherry 39. A source of cocoa - _ ____ 40. A man of distinguished appearance and firm conviction – who also loves to ski 41. Beat old fashioned side in Home Counties 42. “Very disqualified”, in modern Internet slang 43. Latin gold 44. Biblical daughter of Jacob, mother of Saul 48. Criticize angrily (with “out”) 51. S. Korean automaker 52. Sea, in Lyon 54. Yes, in Seville

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PURE INTIMIDATION WHY ARE THE FIRST YEARS SO MUCH COOLER THAN ME? S5

THURSDAY

THE

HAMILTON SPECULATOR LOVING NATURE 1934

NOTSPEC.COM

September 12, 2019

Which Campus Critter are you? Take in the Mac wildlife

oh deer

RATS!

Lonely Turt

damn raccoons

• • • • •

crossing Sterling St. skiddish majestic fears humans makes INTENSE eye contact and then runs away

• shy • needs help crossing the road • threatened by overconsumption of natural resources

• will do whatever it takes for 1 (one) food pellet • HARD WORKER • not enough credit for contributions to science

• • • •

hiding in the bushes stealing your sandwiches sleep all day, party all night misunderstood

Good Boy

• therapy dog for the masses • pure light and joy • surface-level solution to a structural problem, but we love them anyway • can do no harm

Oh No • • • •

YIKES thrives in darkness unwanted please just go PER ISSUE: Shave and a haircut (two bits) INCL. HST, PST & SCI

Disclaimer: The Hamilton Speculator is a work of satire and fiction and should not under any circumstances be taken seriously. Obviously, we used comic sans.