The Silhouette - January 24, 2019 by The Silhouette

S The Silhouette Thursday, January 24, 2019

w o N serving Chef Joanne Rappos shares her student friendly chickpea recipe // PAGE 19

INSIDE>>

NEWS: MSU candidates answer key questions // PAGE 3 ARTS & CULTURE: Women’s Art Association celebrates 125 years // PAGE 17 SPORTS: Paula Schnurr’s journey to coach of the Year // PAGE 22-23

The Silhouette

Volume 89, Issue 18

/THEMCMASTER SILHOUETTE

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Thursday, January 24, 2019 McMaster University’s Student Newspaper

LOOKING BACK

September 23, 1955

EDITORIAL BOARD

Jan. 9, 1986

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF | THESIL@THESIL.CA Emily O’Rourke @emily_oro DIGITAL MEDIA SPECIALIST | DMS@MSU.MCMASTER.CA Aaron de Jesus MANAGING EDITOR | MANAGING@THESIL.CA Sasha Dhesi @SashaDhesi PRODUCTION EDITOR | PRODUCTION@THESIL.CA Hamza Furmli ONLINE EDITOR | ONLINE@THESIL.CA Yvonne Lu

What else is new?

SECTIONS

Cassidy Bereskin NEWS REPORTER Ryan Forrest Tse NEWS@THESIL.CA NEWS EDITOR

In 1986, the Federal government planned on cutting the staffing budget for Student Employment Centres on a national level. McMaster’s campus employment centre said that this move would cut the staff of campus employment centres by 30 per cent.

Hannah Walters Vida FEATURES@THESIL.CA

FEATURES REPORTER

OPINION EDITOR

Sabrina Macklai

OPINION@THESIL.CA

Justin Parker Jessica Carmichael SPORTS@THESIL.CA

SPORTS EDITOR SPORTS REPORTER

ARTS ARTS

& CULTURE EDITOR Razan Samara & CULTURE REPORTER Rya Buckley AANDC@THESIL.CA MEDIA

Kyle West Catherine Goce PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Sukaina Imam PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Sabrina Lin PRODUCTION@THESIL.CA PHOTO EDITOR

PHOTO REPORTER

Sasha Roshan Martin Burwell ONLINE@THESIL.CA

VIDEO EDITOR

SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR

COVER PHOTO

We want you

Joanne Rappos Razan Samara Hamza Furmli

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 6,000 circulation published by the

Interested in volunteering at the Sil? Come to a meeting or email one of our section editors for more info!

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019

The Silhouette

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News Where the presidential candidates differ The candidates were united in opposition to the government’s changes to OSAP and student fees, but held different opinions on increased police presence

The candidates disagree about campus accessibility, the Ontario government’s free speech mandate and McMaster’s efforts to address sexual violence. KYLE WEST / PHOTO EDITOR

Daniella Mikanovsky Contributor

Ryan Tse News Reporter

The Silhouette recently surveyed the four McMaster Students Union 2019 presidential candidates on their opinions on where the MSU and the university are doing well and where they can improve. The survey consisted of seven statements. Candidates were asked to indicate their level of agreement with each statement on a scale from “strongly agree” to “disagree.” The first question asked candidates about their opinions on the statement that “The MSU is committed to equality and inclusiveness.” The candidates all agreed on the MSU’s commitment to equality and inclusiveness. Jeffrey Campana and Madison Wesley indicated they “strongly agreed” with the statements, whereas Justin Lee and Josh Marando said they “agreed.” The second question asked candidates whether or not “In-

creased police presence will promote increased safety of students on and around campus.” There were a range of opinions on the relationship between McMaster students and the police. Lee was the only candidate to agree that police presence will promote safety. Campana was neutral, while Wesley disagreed. Marando was the only candidate to strongly disagree. In September, a string of break-ins in Westdale prompted a greater police presence in the area. During the same month, a video depicting a woman being run over a McMaster police horse was widely shared on social media. The candidates were mostly in agreement with the statement that the MSU should oppose the provincial government’s free speech mandate requiring Ontario universities to implement a free-speech policy. Wesley was the only candidate not to agree with the statement, choosing a “neutral” response instead. Campana

The candidates were mostly in agreement with the statement that the MSU should oppose the provincial government’s free speech mandate. indicated he agreed, while both Lee and Marando chose “strongly agree.” In October, the Student Representative Assembly unanimously passed a motion opposing the government mandate. The next question asked candidates whether or not the MSU should lobby against the government’s changes to tuition, student fees and the Ontario Student Assistance Program. The survey showed that all the candidates were in stark opposition to the provincial government’s changes to

tuition, student fees and OSAP anounced on Jan. 17. Lee, Marando and Wesley all strongly agreed with the statement, while Campana selected the “agree” response. Regarding McMaster’s accessibility, Wesley and Campana indicated there was room for improvement, as they strongly disagreed and disagreed with the statement that the school is “fairly accessible” for students with various disabilities. Lee and Marando were neutral on the issue. The results also show that none of the candidates are satisfied with McMaster’s current efforts to prevent and address sexual violence. When asked if McMaster does a “sufficient job” in this area, Campana and Wesley strongly disagreed, while Lee and Marando disagreed with the statement. McMaster’s sexual violence policy is up for review this year. Overall, it appears that while there is a high degree of agreement amongst candidates on topics such as the

Campana indicated he agreed, while both Lee and Marando chose “strongly agree.” Ontario government’s recently announced tuition and OSAP changes, candidates differ in their views on issues like the relationship between students and the Hamilton police and McMaster’s response to sexual violence. The voting period for this year’s MSU presidential election is taking place from Jan. 22 to 5 p.m on Jan. 24. To vote, students can fill out the ballot sent to their McMaster email or login and vote at www.msumcmaster. ca/vote.

@tweetingryantse

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NEWS

Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019 | www.thesil.ca

SRA winter policy papers: an overview

McMaster urged to step up on scholarships, campus infrastructure and student retention.

At the McMaster Students’ Union Student Representative Assembly on Nov. 25, the SRA passed three policy papers, as presented below. Full policy papers can be found in the “SRA documents” section of the MSU website.

Tuition & student financing in post-secondary education Donna Nadeem Contributor

Rising tuition is one of the most pressing issues affecting post-secondary students in Canada. Once enrolled, Ontario Student Assistance Program provides a number of grants and loans to students with financial need to lessen the costs of tuition. While not mentioned in the policy paper, it should be noted that Ontario government’s recently announced changes are expected to reduce tuition by 10 per cent but also scrap OSAP grants for low-income students and remove the six month grace period that students were previously given to pay off their loans following graduation. The policy paper argues that restrictions to the

current OSAP deny many individuals access to its services, pushing back these students’ entry into post-secondary education. It also notes that tuition increases by a substantial rate each year, continually surpassing the rate of inflation. According to the paper, currently, 53 to 70 per cent of student financial aid through OSAP includes loans. Although offering loans to pay back tuition later may appear to help with accessibility and enrollment, the more tuition rates increase, the greater the amount students will have to pay back. During student interviews included in the policy paper, students said that they have noticed tuition rising, but not at a specific rate, and acknowledged that they were unsure of the details

surrounding tuition rate. However, students also said they felt strained financially and found it harder to pay off their debt each year. The policy paper also points out that McMaster has one of the lowest budgets for entrance scholarships in Ontario. McMaster’s automatic entrance awards are lower than those offered at Queen’s University, University of Western Ontario, University of Toronto and the University of Guelph, for instance. The MSU recommends that McMaster consider a monthly tuition payment plan. Recommendations for the government include re-evaluating interest rates on student loans and making OSAP cover a larger percentage of tuition for low-income students in some programs.

On-campus infrastructure Anastasia Gaykalova Contributor

Major themes in the Infrastructure policy paper include campus accessibility, transparency, deferred maintenance and student study spaces. The SRA’s first recommendation is for facility services to oversee a new campus accessibility review with a new action plan, examining infrastructure concerns in more detail. Regarding accessibility, the SRA believes elevator issues and the installment and repair of automated doors should be seen as priority areas for maintenance. The policy paper also affirms that “bad weather should not be a deterrent for students to access their education.”

Another concern addressed is the lack of air-conditioning in some residences. Currently, only five out of twelve residences have AC. During warm weather, the heat poses a risk for students’ health, as many reported experiencing heat stroke symptoms during Welcome Week this past year. The paper recommends that all residences have AC and that Residence Life provide more fan rentals. Another infrastructural problem is that buildings at McMaster are not as well maintained as they should be, creating a non-ideal learning environment for students. For instance, many older buildings have broken seats and tables. The policy paper also touches on insufficient and inefficient on-campus workspaces.

For instance, the university does not have enough group study facilities for its growing student population. Many such places are often full or completely booked. These issues are planned to be resolved by introducing more compact book stacks to free up space. Some on-campus spaces also lack reliable wifi. The policy paper explains that the university is planning to create a self-reporting network tool for students to report “dead zones,” which can be fixed. To ensure future buildings consider the needs of students, the SRA suggests that some MSU members sit on a design committee for the coming Peter George Centre residence.

Student engagement & retention Matthew Jones Contributor

This policy paper highlights key issues regarding student engagement and retention, including student dropout rates and off-campus students’ engagement within individual faculties and services. At McMaster, 10 per cent of first-year students do not continue onto pursue their degree. The policy paper notes that marginalized students are more likely to experience barriers to completing post-secondary education. “[The] policy aims to utilize evidence-based research to identify gaps and targeted opportunities for particular focus groups of students, including first-year students, first-generation students, racial-

ized and marginalized students and student groups, and commuter students,” reads part of the paper. The MSU paper emphasizes that marginalized students should have “equitable access student success and satisfaction on campus” in response to structural barriers. The policy paper makes several recommendations, such as the incorporation of prior-learning assessments for students who want them. The paper also raises concerns regarding off-campus students’ engagement with respect to public transit, volunteering and community engagement. “The MSU advocates for greater transparency and efforts by the university towards student engagement on campus and within the broader Ham-

ilton community,” reads part of the paper. According to the paper, commuter students face a higher risk of dropping out when they feel disengaged and disconnected from campus. Commuter students may be restricted from developing social connections or a sense of belonging on campus. The paper recommends creating a “centralized social hub” to address the disconnects faced by commuter students and the campus. Additionally, the document advises the off-campus resource centre to work more to encourage campus opportunities to bolster social events while also increasing the number of resources for students who commute.

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019

The Silhouette

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MSU presidentials debate highlights The candidates discussed a number of issues, including the Ford government’s tuition changes and sexual violence response

KYLE WEST / PHOTO EDITOR

Ryan Tse News Reporter

On Jan. 17, the McMaster Students Union hosted a debate featuring the 2019 MSU presidentials candidates four candidates. Here are some of the highlights.

The first question of the debate concerned whether the candidates are more focused on advocacy or student life. The first question of the debate concerned whether the candidates are more focused on advocacy or student life. Josh Marando said he would be more focused on advocacy. Jeffery Campana explained that the limited one-year term of a president would mean

smaller initiatives are more important to him. The debate quickly turned to Ontario government’s decision to restrict Ontario Student Assistance Program grants and make some student fees optional, a move that was announced the morning of the debate. Madison Wesley pointed to the announcement as proof of why advocacy is central to the MSU president’s role. Justin Lee and the other candidates were also quick to condemn the new changes. When the topic reasserted itself later in the debate, Marando noted the need for students to be “prepared to mobilize.” When candidates were asked to outline their main platform priority areas, Wesley pointed to the need for improved mental and physical health support systems, while Lee chose his “HSR Drivers Accountability” platform point. Marando said he is focused on making students feel welcome, and Campana spoke about his plan to place free menstrual products in all-gender bathrooms.

The debate quickly turned to Ontario government’s decision to restrict Ontario Student Assistance Program grants and make some student fees optional. On the subject of off-campus housing, all the candidates said they were in favour of the new MSU landlord rating system. Marando pushed the need to continue supporting landlord licensing, while Wesley and Lee talked about continuing housing education programs for students. The discussion became more heated when candidates were asked to critique an opponent’s platform point. Marando pointed to the lo-

gistics of Campana’s on-campus ice rink proposal. Campana, Lee and Wesley criticized Marando’s proposed increase of the maintenance budget and various advocacy goals. One audience member asked how the candidates would increase campus safety. Ideas ranged from Wesley’s call for improved police response to the need to upgrade lighting and fix emergency poles on campus, put forth by Campana and Lee, respectively. When asked about sexual violence on campus, all of the candidates agreed that training for students, Welcome Week reps and staff needs improvement. Marando pointed out that none of the other candidates’ platforms addressed sexual violence. Campana countered by saying that the issue could not be fixed in a one-year term. The candidates were also given the opportunity to explain what made them unique. Marando cited his comprehensive MSU experience.

When asked about sexual violence on campus, all of the candidates agreed that training for students, Welcome Week reps and staff needs improvement. Campana did the same while stressing his experiences outside the MSU. While acknowledging their relative inexperience, Lee and Wesley stressed the creativity of their platform and noted that they represent the only ethnic minority candidate and only female candidate, respectively. The full debate can be found on the MSU Facebook page. @theSilhouette

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NEWS

Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019 | www.thesil.ca

Mac researchers tackling causes of domestic violence The federal government is asking professors to evaluate the first Triple P program in Canada

Students will have the opportunity to get involved with the Triple P program evaluation at McMaster. KYLE WEST / PHOTO EDITOR Areej Ali Contributor

The Trudeau government has granted over $3.4 million to McMaster researchers to fund a study that aims to identify and combat systemic causes of domestic violence. Andrea Gonzalez, an assistant professor in psychiatry and behavioural neurosciences at McMaster, is currently overseeing the “Triple P” program, which stands for the positive parenting program. Triple P is a public health parenting intervention initiative that aims to improve the “knowledge, skills and confidence of parents” while working to reduce the pervasiveness of emotional and behavioural problems in children. The Triple P program is part of a larger project that originally began in Australia over 30 years ago. Gonzalez will be evaluating preventative intervention of child maltreatment, leading one of the first Triple P program studies to be conducted in Canada.

“We have a number of main objectives but really we are looking at the impact of the Triple P in promoting family relationships and improving parenting practices and prevention of child maltreatment,” said Gonzalez. “The Triple P has been widely evaluated in multiple countries actually around the world, but it has never been evaluated in Canada.” According to the Triple P program’s website, the program does not advocate how to be a parent, but rather provides tools and strategies to promote healthy families, focusing on children who are in the age

Many teams on campus that work on family violence prevention, partner violence and other aspects of violence will also be able to aid in the evaluation.

bracket of three to eight years old. The program is being implemented in Ontario and Manitoba. It is anticipated to entail a multi-method evaluation network and will most likely also consist of a ‘quasi experimental design’ in Ontario, according to Gonzalez. This involves choosing various communities and areas that fit the age bracket and particular population sizes. Community agencies will be asked to participate in the program and the evaluation will be facilitated in these specific communities. There is one study to date that focused on efficacy of early intervention of child maltreatment. The McMaster researchers will be drawing information from and referring to this particular study. Gonzalez hopes to study the impact of Triple P in fostering healthy and sustainable family relationships and and preventing child maltreatment at its roots. McMaster students will

have the opportunity to participate in the program. For instance, Triple P will rely on “environmental scans,” specific type of data collection, regarding existing parental programs in Ontario. Once the project is launched, there will be opportunities to contribute to the researchers’ collection of questionnaire data. In addition, there will be opportunities to contribute to behavioural data and to be trained in techniques that will

“The Triple P has been widely evaluated in multiple countries actually around the world, but it has never been evaluated in Canada.” Andrea Gonzalez Assistant Professor Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences

be used in the project. Many teams on campus that work on family violence prevention, partner violence and other aspects of violence will also be able to aid in the evaluation. For instance, the Triple P will be partnering with the Institute for Clinical Evaluative, an organization that has a site on the McMaster campus. “They have all the data linkage,” Gonzalez said. “We will certainly be partnering with those investigators as well as the ones in Toronto.” For more information about the project, students can contact Gonzalez directly at gonzal@mcmaster.ca. Students can also visit the Triple P website to learn more about the program.contribute to its funding.

@theSilhouette

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OPINION

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018

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PRESIDENT’S PAGE

STEPHANIE BERTOLO Vice President (Education) vped@msu.mcmaster.ca 905.525.9140 x24017

On Thursday, January 17, the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities announced changes to Ontario’s tuition framework, the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP), and institutions’ ancillary fees. While this Ministry expressed that these changes would improve the affordability of post-secondary education, they will instead make it more expensive for the average student. The Ministry announced institutions will have to decrease the cost of tuition for domestic students in every program by 10% for 2019-2020 and then freeze the cost for the following year. This means that students will save roughly $660 each. Ontario has the highest tuition rates in the province that have increased above inflation for as long we can remember. However, the provincial government also invests the least amount of funding per student in Canada. This announcement did not come with any mention of increase in operating grants to universities, which would help to restore a fairer cost shar-

January 24, 2019 | thesil.ca

ing model between students and the provincial government. Instead, universities will now have to operate on a reduced budget, forcing them to make cuts. We are concerned about how these cuts will impact the quality of education for students across Ontario. Moreover, international student tuition still remains unregulated, which means they may see higher than average increases. As well, universities may look to increasing the cost of parking and food sold on campus to subsidize the cost of operations.

“I encourage you to speak out against these changes and express how they will impact you.” The major concern for affordability comes with the changes to OSAP. In 2017-2018, the previous provincial government increased the amount of grants students would receive to pay for their education. This included the 30% Off Tuition grant for most students eligible for OSAP and the Free Tuition program, which provided students with a family income under $50,000 enough grants to cover most tuition costs. The Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA) advocated for these changes for over ten years and were excited that the government used student voices to inform their policy decisions. On Thursday, the provincial government rolled back a lot of these changes, including scrapping the 30% Off Tuition grant as well as decreasing the amount of grants available to students while increasing the number of loans. They also increased parental expected contributions to students’ education, making it more difficult for families and students not receiving fi-

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.

nancial support from their parents to pay for their education. We are deeply concerned about how this will impact the affordability of education for students across Ontario. The final portion of the announcement, and the one with the least clarity, was about ancillary fees. The government announced universities must make an opt-out option for non-essential fees by the 2019-2020 academic year. It is uncertain which fees this encompasses. What we have thus far from the Ministry suggests “fees used to fund major, campus-wide services and facilities or fees which contribute to the health and safety of students” will be considered essential. However, optional fees may include the fees paid by students to the MSU, which operates a number of services, clubs, media outlets, and businesses, as well as providing representation and a collective student voice to the university, municipality, province, and the provincial and federal government. Causing a portion of what will be deemed non-essential ancillary and student union fees to be optional can threaten the ability of students to be a united voice. Further, it will diminish the collective bargaining power of students for things like insurance and transit. Universities are not just places for academics, but also

for personal and professional growth. The opportunities that allow for this are funded by these “non-essential” fees. An opt-out option would create a shift from collectivism to individualism, resulting in a very different university experience for generations to come. I encourage you to speak out against these changes and express how they will impact you. OUSA is collecting stories online, to be shared on social media and in our meetings with government. You can also tweet your story and use #OUSA in any public post. On Friday, January 25, the MSU is providing buses to Toronto so students can protest these changes at Queen’s Park. Buses leave from IWC at 12PM and the march against OSAP cuts will take place from 2-4PM. Register for a spot on a bus at msumcmaster.ca/osaprally. The MSU and OUSA are strongly advocating against the announced changes that make university less affordable for students. We will continue to meet with government officials to discuss student concerns. Students have the power to make change. Collectively, we are stronger. Whether you choose to share your story online, send a letter to your MPP, or express your concerns through protest, it will become impossible to ignore the student voice.

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019

EDITORIAL

Editorial A call for stronger presidential platforms Whoever wins tonight should fight to keep their promises, but also consider what is actually in the MSU’s power Cassidy Bereskin News Editor

Last week, the Silhouette News team wrote up platform critiques for each of this year’s McMaster Students Union presidential election candidates. The critiques collectively point out that while the candidates are trotting out some interesting ideas, many are patently unfeasible. Madison Wesley advocates for a McMaster campus store textbook rental program, but the director of retail services at McMaster told our News contributor that the program would be impossible to implement. Justin Lee hopes to unveil “Uber for Busses,” but does not establish how he will work with app developers, the Hamilton Street Railway, McMaster and Hamilton city council to bring

this to fruition. Jeffry Campana aspires to build a McMaster ice rink by 2020, but as our News Reporter highlighted, plans to do the same in previous years collapsed in the face of insurance and accessibility obstacles. Josh Marando wants to increase the deferred maintenance budget by $12,000,000 a year. Nevertheless, as our Features Reporter articulates, Marando’s plan hinges on acquiring Ontario government grants. Under the Ford government and recent budget cuts, this plan is just not feasible. This is not to say that this year’s candidates have a limited knowledge of the MSU and what students care about. With a renewed focus on issues like accessibility and food security, the candidates seem to be cognizant of at least some pervasive

student concerns. They just also failed to do their MSU due diligence and consultation homework. Whoever wins tonight should keep in mind that the MSU president does not have jurisdiction beyond the maroon-coloured walls of the union’s office. Our next MSU president should fight to uphold their promises, but also shrink their imagination down to what is possible during their term.

@CassidyBereskin

to Matthew McConaughey being in a movie called the Beach Bum to Razan’s cookies to Conference Championship games to understanding grad school admissions officers to Hannah being the most athletic person in the office

to chickpea dick to Foug Dord, again to this year’s Oscar nominations to you know, well, everything to lack of heating in ABB labs to people covering their SUVs in Lot M to wax mannequins to Billy

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HUMANS

Catherine Goce Photo Reporter

Have you always wanted to teach?

Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019 | www.thesil.ca

and those are very near and dear to the heart of students. So, we have to take them seriously and pay attention to them if we want to be good teachers.

Yes, absolutely yes. My parents are in the teaching profession so they’re very passionate about teaching and I think I got this from them. Since very early childhood, teaching and relating to students and people has been part of my breakfast table conversation so I think I always knew I wanted to be a teacher, and being a professor is beyond my dream come true. I studied in Bulgaria for my undergraduate degree. I have a degree in Arab theology, and I did my masters as well. I’ve travelled in Europe, as well as Germany, and France before I came to Canada, which is where I came to do my doctorate degree. I’ve travelled the world, I’ve travelled to the deserts of Libya and I’ve lived there in my childhood because my parents are researchers as well. I would say I’ve travelled a lot and have a cosmopolitan upbringing which has it’s own positive and negative sides but here I am right now.

“A lot of the young people who are in terrorist networks in the Middle East [...] feel so disgusted with the world that is right here and right now, the world of consumption and commodities, that they want to return to a utopian message that was conceived in the 7th and 8th century, and I want to understand why.”

Why do you think it’s important to educate students on communications, culture, television and technology?

Dr. Dilyana Mincheva department of communication studies and mulimedia

I think those are very important topics and they will continue to have even more importance in the future. What I usually tell my students is that in the past, if you wanted to explore those big questions of bravery, freedom and justice, you would usually go and read a novel. I think that in the 21st century, if most young people want to know something about those topics they would go to television shows or YouTube, which are forms of heavily mediated entertainment. Rarely you would encounter students in the lecture hall talking about Shakespeare, or talking about the novels of Dickens, but they will be very passionate about TV shows like True Detective which I teach, or Sense8, or anything that’s on Netflix these days. I do believe that the responsibility of communications professors is to make students realize that all those big questions of the past are still here with us and are still important, but we have different staging and performances of those answers in new forms of media

want to recreate whatever social norms existed in the 7th and 8th century literally. They feel so disgusted with the world that is right here and right now, the world of consumption and commodities, that they want to return to a utopian message that was conceived in the 7th and 8th century, and I want to understand why. I want to understand what is so wrong with the world right now that young people very often from western societies need to go back to that text and relive it in their actual lives. I don’t think the answer is obvious, I think that part of the answer is that whatever kind of rejection those people feel in western societies comes from their economic circumstances, their social upbringing, the forms of marginalization, that those people go through here that fuels their desires to feel like super heroes and feel extraordinary. If they particularily have that musilm background it is very easy for them to go back to what they consider their true culture and reinvent it to utopian terms.

What are some important messages you try to convey to your students? I always tell my students to try to never give up on their dreams. What I absolutely love about my classrooms are that they are very diverse. I always want to tell them that the reason they come to university usually becomes meaningful by the end when they finish. Usually students come into university quite hesitant about what they want to do and what kind of career paths they want to do. Towards the end they have a convincing idea for themselves what they want to pursue in life, what kind of career path or graduate degree. I always tell them to not be afraid to follow the path that you think you deserve the most because you are the lamb who is going to make those dreams possible, it’s not the university or your professor, or your family, it’s your own agency and your own drive that’s going to bring you to the point in life you think you deserve the most.

to be part of the McMaster community because I come from a very small Eastern European country. It’s true that I have traveled all around the world and in Europe, but I have never imagined I was going to end up in Canada and at McMaster University, which is one of the best universities in Canada. What I’m trying to say is that I come from a very small marginal nation somewhere in Europe and I’ve been socialized to believe that the big players in the world are either Western European countries or in North America. We, the people from Eastern-Europe, are deeply insignificant, that we have nothing interesting to say, that we can contribute nothing and always have to shine with the light that those big nations cast upon us. For me to have this journey from the margins of Europe to McMaster is really something that still fascinates me even though I’m here and talking to you right now.

What’s a life changing moment of your life?

facebook.com/ HumansOfMcMaster

It was a really life changing moment

You are one of the only proffessors who pay attention to terrorism in your lectures, why is that such an important topic of research? That’s a very important question for me. I pay attention to terrorism for a number of reasons, as I mentioned I majored in Arab theology, and Arab language is the language of the Quran and Islam. Islam has many different faces and many linguistic incarnations these days. But, the Quran was revealed in Arabic and is the foundation of everyone who is a Muslim person. As someone who comes from a background of Arab Theology, it is very important for me to realize why young people these days want to reinvigorate a message from the 7th and 8th century and bring it to the forefront of their identity projects. A lot of the young people who are in terrorist networks in the Middle East are people who

I also think those fantasies of becoming a super hero and super Muslim, are very deeply western fantasies, consumerism, and western forms of competitiveness and they have nothing to do with the original Quranic message. So it is very interesting to me to see how young people who are fascinated with terrorism are actually people who are fascinated at the same time with western forms of capitalism, consumption and dreaming. How they kind of try to hijack something that’s a historical message and turn it into an identity project in the 21st century is fascinating to observe as a scholar.

Dilyana Mincheva department of communication studies and multimedia C/O CATHERINE GOCE

McMaster Students Union’s

Events Calendar

Diversity Week 2019 Freedom of Resistance Monday, January 28 to Friday, February 1 Where: Various Locations Time: Various Times Resistance takes many forms, join us this week to celebrate creative ways of challenging the status quo. Hosted by MSU Diversity Services. To find out more visit msumcmaster.ca/diversity

to bring you the gift of groceries for FREE! All you have to do? Come play some bingo! Also, enjoy some great tips on how to save money and extreme couponing! Limited tickets available. Tickets are sold online and at Compass. If any tickets remain they can be purchased at the door the night of! Be sure to get your spot ahead of time before they're sold out. A valid McMaster Student card required for entry.

Grocery Bingo

For the Culture Coffee House

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Tuesday, February 5, 2019

Where: TwelvEighty Bar & Grill Time: 6:30pm — 10:00pm Join us at TwelvEighty for your chance to win GROCERIES! MSU Campus Events has paired up with Fortinos (Main Street West)

Where: Bridges Cafe Time: 8:30pm - 10:30pm For the Culture is a coffeehouse celebrating the talent of Black people, Indigenous

Stay Connected:

— 2019 —

MSU_McMaster

spring valedictorian nominations are here! Nominations are due by March 4 at 4:30pm Nomination forms are available in the MSU Office (MUSC 201) and online: msumcmaster.ca/valedictorian

late forms will not be accepted

people, and people of colour. Performances will be limited to people of the described communities and others are welcome to attend and support these folks. We encourage people to share music, poetry and other artwork they wish to bring. A sign up sheet will be posted to the WGEN social media pages and time allowing, an open mic protion will be offered.

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

ity, n u m m o C o t t c e Conn s, e c i v r e S , s t n e v E acy, c o v d A , s t r e c n o C and Clubs. MSUMcMASTER.CA

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OPINION

Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019 | www.thesil.ca

Opinion A vote of no confidence Students should be allowed to vote “no confidence” when participating in McMaster Students Union elections Sabrina Macklai Opinion Editor

Elections for the next McMaster Students Union president are wrapping up with polling closing on Jan. 24. As students cast their ballot this year, they are presented with five options: to vote for one of the four candidates, or to abstain. However, students should also be given the option to cast a vote of no confidence. A vote of no confidence is essentially a vote claiming that the student has no confidence in the presented candidates and would not like any of them to act as a representative for the student. This could be due to a variety of reasons ranging from the infeasibility of the candidates’ platform points to judgements made on the candidates’ character. While students can abstain, an abstained vote has ambiguous meaning. Although one can abstain because they feel a lack of confidence in every candidate, abstained votes can also mean the voter feels uninformed to select a candidate, or cannot decide between equally qualified candidates. Simply put, an abstained vote is not equivalent to a vote of no confidence. The idea to implement a vote of no confidence is not novel. Eric Gillis first proposed it in 2014 while he was the bylaws commissioner for the Student Representative Assembly. Since Gillis’ initial proposal, Miranda Clayton, who worked on the bylaws committee in 2014-2015 before her role as operations commissioner in 2015-2016, has continuously advocated for the idea of a no confidence vote. Gillis and Clayton hoped to have a vote of no confidence implemented for SRA elections. As it stands, if only one person runs for a seat on the SRA, that seat is considered acclaimed by

the individual. This is a consistent issue in the SRA where many seats are acclaimed. In doing so, students are deprived the opportunity to voice their oppositions or give any input into their representation. This makes little sense. If others have to create platforms, run campaigns and be supported by the student body to obtain their seat, why shouldn’t candidates running unopposed be held to the same accountability? In essence, acclaimed seats should not exist as those seats are not truly representative of the people they are meant to represent. Instead, students should be able to take a vote of confidence on candidates running for those seats. According to Clayton, the reason a vote of no confidence has not been implemented yet is largely due to such a change requiring major electoral reform. Ballots would have to be made

If others have to create platforms, run campaigns and be supported by the student body to obtain their seat, why shouldn’t candidates running unopposed be held to the same accountability? to include a “no confidence” option and this would require major restructuring to the online ballot system and perhaps even changes to the MSU constitution. Though these changes may

be a large undertaking, they are nonetheless critical to ensure students are being represented properly. The idea of a no confidence vote, while created with the SRA elections in mind, can be applied to the MSU presidential elections. If students are not confident in any of the candidates running, this is a problem that should be recognized and addressed by the student union. I understand the risk associated in abstaining to vote or casting a no-confidence vote when multiple seats exist. In scenarios like these, it may make more sense to vote for the “lesser of two evils”. But if students truly feel that none of their options are good, they should have a forum to voice their concerns. If the majority of voters have no confidence in their presidential candidates, this calls for drastic change. I’m

But if students truly feel that none of their options are good, they should have a forum to voice their concerns. not certain what sort of change this might entail. It could include holding a re-election, or changing the election bylaws to ensure candidates meet a level of standards and qualifications. This might also be a non-issue. Perhaps students do feel confident in their given candidates. The only way we can know for certain is to allow students to have the option to vote no confidence. @_sabrinawitch_

Ballots for McMaster Students Union elections should have a “no confidence” option. C/O MADELINE NEUMANN

OPINION

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019

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Stepping outside the Mac bubble Students should be aware of opportunities on campus to become informed global citizens Neda Pirouzmand Contributor

Being a student should involve learning about global issues. I have only recently become aware of the global education opportunities at McMaster University that can take us outside of the tutorial rooms, lab spaces and lecture halls. On Nov. 2, the film “I am Rohingya: A Genocide in Four Acts” was screened at the Concert Hall in L.R. Wilson Hall. When a close friend told me about the screening, I did not think much of it initially. It was only afterwards when I talked to her about the film that I realized what I had missed. The documentary was a heart-wrenching production that told the story of the Rohingya people against the ongoing escalation of military violence in their homeland of Burma. Fourteen young Rohingya refugees act in the film to retell their families’ oppressive experiences in Burma which include brutal beatings, kidnappings and

killings that have impacted over half a million individuals within the community. Following the screening, there was a panel discussion with the director Yusuf Zine, the producer and cast members. The impact of this event cannot be understated. Not only did McMaster promote a film that provides insight into global affairs, but it also gave students a chance to hear a first-person account of the vision and process of executing such a film. In partnership with McMaster’s Office of International Affairs, Zine’s special film screening was part of MacGlobal. MacGlobal, which took place from Oct. 22 to Nov. 9, showcased three weeks’ work of programming to shine light on international perspectives. One can only imagine how much work went into planning and executing this amazing three-week initiative. MacGlobal was created by the university in support of McMaster’s Global Engagement Strategy, as outlined in the 2016 docu-

MacGlobal, which took place from Oct. 22 to Nov. 9, showcased three weeks work of programming to shine light on international perspectives. ment “The McMaster Model for Global Engagement: A Strategy Document”. Back in 2016, the university had set a priority to develop a strategy that would increase its integration of internationally inspired programming. This document continues to be a key player in the progression of said strategy, and will hopefully inspire more initiatives like MacGlobal. A key quote in this document is that there must be a call to action for “the transformation of the university on

its own ground, whereby […] our approach to any problem is informed by a global awareness.” This is the kind of perspective that we should be seeking from all of our degrees, and it should be made possible for students from any faculty to achieve. The unfortunate thing is that you have to actively seek opportunities such as MacGlobal or know someone involved in them, as they are otherwise difficult to find. Part of this issue is because we lack streamlined communication of events occurring on campus on any given day. The monitors across campus can only show so much, OSCARplus offers a select niche of events and our Twitter accounts are just as selective. This is something our student leaders should consider addressing. What can be done to create a central hub for daily opportunities, events and special programming to be accessible to all students and faculty members? Questions like this are worth considering so that events like MacGlobal do not go

unnoticed by a large proportion of the McMaster community. This is what we need more of. We need it because this is the kind of stimulation and education that is missing from many of our courses. The kind of learning that comes from MacGlobal is the kind that makes you a more informed global citizen. It sheds light on things that we can become oblivious to in our student bubbles. With this new insight comes a greater ability to learn and apply knowledge. Without a doubt, I have learned an extensive amount of information and developed a variety of skills thanks to my classes. However, what I believe I still lack in my current undergraduate education is integration of course material with current and relevant global issues or contexts. Until this can be achieved in-class, initiatives like MacGlobal should be promoted to more students across campus. @theSilhouette

The office of international affairs, located within the Alumni Memorial Hall, is working towards increasing internationally inspired programming on campus. KYLE WEST / PHOTO EDITOR

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OPINION

Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019 | www.thesil.ca

Assessing summer volunteer abroad programs Students need to recognize the difference between volunteering abroad and participating in voluntourism

When deciding to volunteer abroad, it is important to consider the ethics of your role. SILHOUETTE PHOTO ARCHIVES

Hannah Marcus Contributor

Most McMaster University students have listened to a guest speaker at the beginning of class offering an exciting summer opportunity or seen a table in the student centre displaying images of “exotic” places where students can volunteer. The combination of travelling while contributing to a humanitarian cause is certainly enticing. If volunteering abroad is something you might be interested in, the following considerations can serve as a guide for making informed and ethical decisions. A good place to start when assessing an organization’s merit is through viewing how it advertises its projects. How does the organization frame the volunteer experience? While dolphin rides, rainforest excursions and local village tours may seem attractive, if such components comprise the organization’s central advertisement strategy, the project’s goal is likely to provide a fun

experience rather than helping the local community in any meaningful way.

Will your few weeks spent abroad contribute towards a longterm project that will endure for several years after your departure? The depiction of local communities through exoticized imagery — a tactic implicitly disparaging of those represented — is another aspect of the organization’s promotional strategy to be wary of. Besides advertisements, it is important to question who is running it. Is it run by the same company facilitating the trip, a locally-based non-governmental organization, community

workers or locals? Generally, if the project is planned and implemented by the company rather than a local organization within the community, it is justified to question if the project is targeting community needs over volunteer interests. Another necessary consideration is the length and cost of the project. Given the time restraints for volunteering overseas as a student, you may wonder then if it is possible to contribute anything meaningful. The answer lies not necessarily in the length of your trip but in the duration of the project itself. Will your few weeks spent abroad contribute towards a long-term project that will endure for several years after your departure? Or has the organization constructed an artificial project catered to your short timeline of service? In regards to cost, be wary of organizations charging astronomical amounts. It is not uncommon for the majority of

your money going towards the volunteer company rather than the local community itself. Finally, of greatest importance, is the question of exactly what you will be doing overseas. As a general rule of thumb, if you are not qualified to do such things in your home country, you should not be doing them abroad.

As a general rule of thumb, if you are not qualified to do such things in your home country, you should not be doing them abroad. More flexible labour laws and a so-called “local skills deficit” do little to address your lack of qualification and risk of exploiting local people for your own gain. There is no reason to believe a 20-year-old westerner

is better equipped to build a local school, plant trees or implement a new educational program than the very individuals who know their community best, and would likely appreciate the employment themselves. In contrast, things like teaching English at the request of the local community, completing small tasks under the direction of local leaders or simply being a passive observer of locally-led community initiatives for your own educational exposure are common volunteer responsibilities characteristic of projects grounded in a more ethically-oriented, community-centric approach to international development. So next time a guest speaker comes to your class to talk about a summer volunteering opportunity or you come across an international volunteer poster on campus, you can take out your mental toolbox to critically assess the merits of the organization. @theSilhouette

OPINION

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019

| 15

Building a brighter future McMaster University and the city of Hamilton need to combine forces when planning for the future installation of the light rail transit Max Lightstone Contributor

In the near future, Hamilton will be blessed with a light rail transit system, spanning the breadth of the city and allowing individuals to travel from McMaster University to Eastgate Square in just over half an hour. While that’s a great move for the city, it’s still lacking something.

The park finally opened in 2009, and currently hosts programs, startups and incubators including The Forge and a United Nations University program. Part of the LRT plan is to build an operations maintenance and storage facility at the McMaster Innovation Park. The OMSF would allow for night-

ly storage and any necessary servicing to the LRT trains, with tracks built along Longwood Road South for the trains to access Main Street West. If you’ve never heard of MIP, it is a large research facility on Longwood Road South beside the Ontario Highway 403. MIP was proposed by the university in 2005 with the goal of fostering industry collaboration while progressing research and development. Following McMaster’s purchase of an old Westinghouse factory and warehouse on the site, the province announced a $10 million investment to advance development. As well, the federal government moved the CANMET Materials Technology Laboratory to the site. The park finally opened in 2009, and currently hosts programs, startups and incubators including The Forge and a United Nations University program. Many of the researchers at MIP are engaged in engineering research, particularly in the materials and automotive fields, but that is quickly changing. Just this year, a $33 million

research facility in collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology opened, and the university has plans for more expansions including an 80,000 square foot Emerging Technology Center. There is even a hotel in the works! New buildings lead to more opportunities for people to obtain work. At the MIP, the individuals employed there are often associated with McMaster. The number of people traveling between McMaster’s campus and the MIP for meetings, conferences and classes is already listed as a concern in the park’s master plan, and this number is expected to increase with time. There are currently only three options to make the trip by public transit: walking across a bridge that is completely exposed to the elements; transfer at King Street West and Longwood Road South to the infrequent Hamilton Street Railway 6-Aberdeen; or taking the route-15 Go Bus from the McMaster Go Terminal, which is also infrequent and expensive. It is evident that a more convenient transit system is

needed to help facilitate the journey between campus and MIP. The city of Hamilton and McMaster have to plan with foresight to ensure that there is capacity in services to meet the demand.

The number of people traveling between McMaster’s campus and the MIP for meetings, conferences and classes is already listed as a concern in the park’s master plan, and this number is expected to increase with time. In this particular case, there’s actually an inexpensive

and easy answer: use the proposed LRT line on Longwood Road South. Adding occasional service between the MIP on Longwood and the McMaster stop would allow residents of the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area to commute easily on public transit and would vastly ease the trip for those students, faculty and researchers who need to get between Mac and the MIP, some of whom currently need to do so several times a day. This would also open up the city to out-of-town guests at the future hotel. It wouldn’t even be an expensive plan to implement since the track will already be installed for OMSF access. A solution like this, however, would require extensive planning, and that’s something that hasn’t happened as of yet. McMaster University and the city of Hamilton need to think towards the future when designing and building, and need to work together to make things happen.

@theSilhouette

The city of Hamilton needs to collaborate with McMaster in the design of light rail transit. C/O GRANT HOLT

MSU CAMPUS EVENTS PRESENTS

A NOT-SO-VALENTINE'S SHOW

TWELVEIGHTY | DOORS: 7:30PM | SHOW: 8:00PM

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14TH ADVANCE TICKETS $5 (TAX

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A&C

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019

Arts & Culture

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Where the Soul is Never Frozen

Hamilton artist reconnects with land by photographing the frozen prairies

KYLE WEST/PHOTO EDITOR Andrew Mrozowski Contributor

From a very young age, Annette Paiement felt connected to the land she played on. It was this connection that would eventually lead her on a road to Hamilton, then on a solo drive to Northern Winnipeg and back home to share her experiences through the Where the Soul is Never Frozen exhibit. “As a kid, I would leave the house first thing in the morning and wouldn’t come home until dusk… I loved to play in the forest, but always had a really strong connection to the water,” said Paiement. Paiement grew up just west of Toronto and while nature was her calling, she pursued a degree in sculpture installation at the Ontario College of Arts and Design. On the side, she would take pictures and use them to influence whatever medium she was working with at the time. She later moved to Hamilton in the early 2000s and became very involved with the arts and culture scene that the city had to offer, so much so that she hung up her camera as she started to pursue other opportunities. “When I came to Hamilton, I really needed to reconnect

“As a kid, I would leave the house first thing in the morning and wouldn’t come home until dusk...I loved to play in the forest, but always had a really strong connection to the water,” Anette Paiment Artist to an environment that could allow me access to greenspace and water. It was for my peace of mind. I felt as if my soul yearned to be here,” said Paiement. Paiement also found serenity hundreds of kilometers away in Northern Winnipeg, a place she has been travelling to for nearly twenty years. “Every time I go, it is always about healing and through that time, I’ve been welcomed into the communities [in Sagkeeng, First Nation] and gratefully so. I’ve been fortunate

enough to be invited to participate in a number of different sacred ceremonies,” explained Paiement. Following the passing of her mother and grandmother in 2016, Paiement went through a difficult time coming to terms with loss. “At this particular time in my life, I helped to launch the Cotton Factory launch and didn’t take any time off. The Elders [in Sagkeeng, First Nation] invited me to [a climate change] summit, and I had just gotten my drivers license so I said I’d go. Without any intention of returning to Ontario I packed whatever I could fit into my Fiat and left,” explained Paiement. Upon her arrival, she realized that the Elders cancelled the summit but invited her to stay with them. While participating in various meetings and ceremonies with the Manitoba government and the Elders, Paiement would take time to drive around by herself in -50 °C weather. She would pick destinations and drove out to take pictures. “There was just something about it that made me feel like I was suspended in this altered [reality]. The prairies are something so different. The expansion of the sky, the horizon

“There was just something about it that made me feel like I was suspended in this altered [reality]. The prairies are something so different. The expansion of the sky, the horizon and all of it flat and frozen. It’s something I can’t even express in words,” Anette Paiment Artist and all of it flat and frozen. It’s something I can’t even express in words,” said Paiement. It was only when the artist returned to Ontario that she decided to turn her photographs into an exhibit for all to experience. Where the Soul is Never Frozen is comprised of approximately ten photographs from

Paiement’s journey. “I see them more as a way to speak about a feeling or a land-based spiritual practice and an appreciation for nature,” explained Paiement. Paiement utilized photography to capture, communicate and take viewers along with her on a healing journey through the frozen prairies. Each work of art has an energy that it gives off, easily transporting the viewer to Northern Winnipeg. As Paiement’s art hangs on the Member’s Gallery walls of Centre[3] for Print and Media Arts, she hopes that it’s legacy has a lasting effect on Hamiltonians and encourages others to connect with the land around them. “It is my hope that people will say ‘let’s try hiking this weekend’ and they will take out their cameras and fall in love with nature. Hopefully they will say ‘why don’t I do this all the time?’,” said Paiement. Where the Soul is Never Frozen is on display at Centre[3] for Print and Media Arts at 173 James Street North until Feb. 2, 2019.

@theSilhouette

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The Silhouette

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019

Keeping old traditions alive Women’s Art Association of Hamilton celebrates 125 years with annual juried exhibition

CATHERINE GOCE/PHOTO REPORTER

“Celebrations” on exhibit. C/O JODI KITTO-WARD Natalie Clark Contributor

This year marks the 125th anniversary of the Women’s Art Association of Hamilton. To kick off celebrations, the WAAH is featuring their annual juried exhibition at the Art Gallery of Hamilton. The Celebrations! exhibit features art from current and past members of the WAAH. The WAAH was created in 1894 by a group of women who feared that cultural and artistic pursuits would be lost in Hamilton’s booming industrial growth. The ambitions of the organization at the time were simple. WAAH wanted to create a general interest in art, establish art scholarships, hold lectures and seminars, hold exhibitions of paintings, designs and sculptures and develop art and handicrafts in Canada. 125 years later, these ambitions still hold true, though there have also been some changes. Zorica Silverthorne, WAAH exhibitions chair and vice president, notes that technology and digital media have

contributed to the recent changes made to the organization. “Our website hosts online exhibitions featuring artist members, there is an online gallery for our members to exhibit their works and we are even digitally selecting some of our exhibitions,” mentions Silverthorne. Meanwhile, old traditions are also being kept alive. From the tireless efforts of the founding women of WAAH to the current executive board have ensured that an annual juried exhibition has taken place every year since the organization’s inception. For the past seventy-two years, the exhibition has made the AGH its home. Long before that, the organization played a crucial role in establishing the AGH itself. Needless to say, WAAH has a lot to celebrate. “Our exhibition statement is ‘it is in our nature to celebrate’… whether with a large group of people, small intimate gathering or solitude… ‘Celebrations!’ is open to interpretation,” said Silverthorne. Some of the works of past WAAH members are currently

on display in the gallery’s permanent collection. Silverthorne notes that this is an important aspect worth celebrating. “Even if the woman is no longer with us physically, her work and what she’s contributed should not be forgotten… it’s a chance to bring new life and new exposure to her legacy and not to mention looking to our past and learning from it is always an advantage,” said Silverthorne. Silverthorne gives special mention to various different women presented in the exhibit but mentions that it’s difficult to mention only a few given the many talented artists that are involved in the WAAH. “Some artists to celebrate are Maria Sarkany who had a coin design chosen by the Canadian Mint, well-known local artists Sylvia Simpson, Claudette Losier and our award winners Jodi Kitto-Ward, Jodie Hart and Susan Outlaw,” said Silverthorne. Kitto-Ward, voted “Best in Show” for the exhibit, joined the WAAH in 2009. She currently has two of her pieces featured in the exhibit; “Celebration” and

“Even if the woman is no longer with us physically, her work and what she’s contributed should not be forgotten,” Zorica Silverthorne WAAH exhibitions chair and vice president “In the Forest (The Bruce Trail 50th Anniversary)”. Kitto-Ward has a background in accounting and was employed at an accounting firm before her beginning her career as an artist. “I always had a love for art and enjoyed drawing and visiting art galleries as a child, but I was very self-critical and didn’t think I had what it took to pursue art on a professional level,” explained Kitto-Ward. Later in her life, Kitto-Ward decided she wanted to pursue what made her happy; art. As she began taking courses at Sheridan College, she finally started to feel more confi-

dent in her work as an artist. Kitto-Ward now balances art, accounting and being a proud mom. “I have experienced the support and opportunities provided by the WAAH first hand and I am proud to be a member and part of this historical and celebratory exhibition,” said Kitto-Ward. “It’s important for me to be included in this exhibition… because of what this organization has achieved with women coming together for a common goal of supporting the arts, bringing so much to this city and beyond.” The Women’s Art Association of Hamilton 125th Anniversary Exhibition: Celebrations! Is currently on display at the Jean & Ross Fischer gallery at the AGH until March 3, 2019. Admission is free and more information on the exhibit, and future WAAH shows, exhibitions and events can be found at www.waah.ca.

@theSilhouette

A&C

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Jan. 24, 2018

| 19

Doing the steam museum justice 3D photography exhibit at the steam museum captures the beauty of the 19th century steam engines

KYLE WEST / PHOTO EDITOR

Rya Buckley A&C Reporter

When Hamilton designer Jennifer Kaye visited the Hamilton Museum of Steam and Technology National Historic Site, she was struck by the beauty and craftsmanship of the 19th century steam-powered water pumping engines. It was something that couldn’t quite be captured in a 2D image. That is why her images of the 1859 Waterworks are in 3D. From Jan. 19 to Sept. 8, the Museum of Steam and Technology National Historic Site will host an exhibit of Kaye’s photography entitled Doing It Justice: The Steam Museum. The free exhibit will be housed in the Woodshed that forms part of the Victorian industrial building complex. Kaye recently did a graphic design program at Mohawk College, during which she took a photography course. In that class, she was assigned to use an advanced photography technique and chose 3D photography. She felt the museum lent itself perfectly to the medium. “It’s interesting to stand in the woodshed space and

experience the engine in three dimensions without actually being there and looking at them. It has sort of a retro feel to it actually because we are using the old school three dimensional glasses, with the red and blue panes and the red and blue offset images. So it feels a bit like all the old school movies or even three dimensional comics,” said museum curator Richard Barlas.

“It’s interesting to stand in the woodshed space and experience the engine in three dimensions without actually being there and looking at them.” Richard Barlas Hamilton Museum of Steam and Technology Curator 3D photography is created by mimicking the way each human eye perceives a slightly different view. For each photograph, Kaye had to take two shots

from slightly different angles and bring them together. When she reached out to the museum for help with the assignment, they loved it so much that they asked her to expand it so it could be displayed at the museum. On Jan. 19, the opening reception for Doing It Justice took place, coinciding with the birthday of James Watt. Watt was an 18th century Scottish inventor and mechanical engineer who made significant improvements to the steam engine and thus contributed to the Industrial Revolution. The exhibit opening honoured his contributions to the modern world with birthday cake. Aside from showcasing the machinery, the exhibit will educate patrons on 3D photography and machine art. Kaye prepared an essay highlighting the history of the two forms and the museum staff have been given information on the topic in order to engage visitors. As well, movies from the 1920s and 1930s with machinery in them will be playing in the exhibit. 3D photography became popular around the same time as the steam museum was built, making the use of one to illustrate the other even more

fitting. Kaye also wrote in her essay about the early 20th century history of machine art, tracing its usage as a metaphoric icon to the modern acknowledgement of machines as beautiful objects. “[There’s] real beauty in that kind of machinery. You know it’s big and it’s almost like it was made to be looked at and admired, you know, beautiful materials and… a real pride in the craftsmanship

“[There’s] real beauty in that kind of machinery. You know it’s big and it’s almost like it was made to be looked at and admired, you know, beautiful materials and… a real pride in the craftsmanship that I find really inspiring.” Jennifer Kaye Artist

that I find really inspiring… And the art that uses that uses that iconography, I just find it appealing,” Kaye said. Kaye hopes that the appreciation for the museum will increase and the exhibit helps to bring new visitors to see the steam engines. Barlas hopes that the exhibition gives those who cannot see the steam engines due to the lack of accessibility a way to experience the historic machinery. “[T]he industrial past of Hamilton is so tied to its present and maybe to its future… we’ll have to see. So I think places like the steam museum… honor a past about Hamilton that sometimes we prefer not to spend too much time thinking about, you know dirty industry and all of that, but that’s who we are here. So yeah, I find that inspiring,” Kaye said. The main goal of the steam museum is to promote education about the industrial and scientific history of Hamilton. Kaye has found a way to take a symbol of that history, the steam engines, and do it justice through art. @theSilhouette

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The Silhouette

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019

In the Kitchen WITH JOANNE RAPPOS

The curried chickpea dish you’ll want to make over and over again Healthy eating can be the last thing you have time to think about when you have papers due and midterms to study for. This curried chickpeas with spinach and tomatoes recipe is an opportunity to cook a healthy meal while fulfilling your craving for a warm and comforting dish. This recipe was made with students in mind. It’s flavourful, delicious, nutritious and simple to make with accessible ingredients from your local grocery store or the Hamilton Farmers’ Market. Unlike the other aspects of student life, cooking can be uncomplicated. This recipe is fast and easy to make regardless of skill level. Have a little more time on your hands? This recipe is made to serve four and is perfect for sharing a homemade meal with your friends or housemates. Complete your curried chickpeas dish with flatbread, naan or steamed white rice. Curried chickpeas also taste better the next day and freeze well too, so make sure to make the full batch and freeze the rest for those tight days. C/O JOANNE RAPPOS

THE CHEF: JOANNE RAPPOS Joanne Rappos is the Hamiltonian home cook behind Olive and Mango, a food blog dedicated to sharing her recipes from a variety of food cultures, including her native Greece and Caribbean influences from her husband’s side of the family. From Rappos’ popular sheet pan meals, like Greek shrimp with tomatoes and feta, to her golden lemon ricotta waffles, there’s something for everyone try making in their own kitchen. The Olive and Mango blog and Instagram feed are thoughtfully curated with photographs worth getting hunger pangs over, which may just be the push we need to get inspired by her recipes. Rappos’ was just as careful with creating this curried chickpeas recipe for the Sil, she even relies on it at least once a week because it’s just that good.

INGREDIENTS:

� 3 teaspoons olive oil � 4 garlic cloves, chopped � 1 red chili, coarsely chopped (optional) � 1 inch piece of ginger, peeled and finely chopped or grated � 8 oz fresh or frozen spinach, washed and drained if needed � 1 onion, peeled and finely chopped � 1 1/2 tablespoon curry powder (any curry you like — I recommend red Thai curry powder) � 1 teaspoon ground chili powder � 1 tablespoon tomato paste � 19-ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed � 24-ounce can whole peeled tomatoes or diced with their juices � 1/4 cup fresh cilantro plus more for garnish (optional) � Salt and pepper to taste

CURRIED CHICKPEAS WITH SPINACH AND TOMATOES DIRECTIONS: 1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, garlic, chile and ginger; sauté until fragrant and softened for about three to four minutes. 2. Add the curry powder and the chili powder and continue to sauté with the onion mixture for one minute more. Then add the tomato paste and continue to cook it while stirring it in with the curry and onion mixture for another minute. 3. Add 1/4 cup of water to the skillet along with the spinach and continue to sauté for a few minutes until the spinach has wilted. 4. Add chickpeas and tomatoes with juices, squeezing tomatoes with your hand as you add them to pan or use the back of a wooden spoon to break apart on the pan. Add a 1/2 cup of water to the pan. 5. Season with salt and pepper and simmer until tomatoes are broken down and sauce has thickened, this will take about 10 to 15 minutes. 6. Remove the pan from the heat and serve with rice and or bread. Recipe notes: If you’d like less intense heat, skip out on the red chili and instead use ½ teaspoon of dried chili flakes. If you use fresh chilies make sure to scrape out the seeds. To freeze, portion out into meal prep containers, cool completely, then freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then reheat until steaming hot in the microwave or stovetop.

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SPORTS

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019

Sports

The inside track

C/O IAN MCALPINE

Jessica Carmichael Sports Reporter

When you are one of seven kids, there are not many activities that are easy for all seven kids to participate. For the Schnurr family, running was the one that worked. At the age of seven years old, McMaster’s cross-country coach Paula Schnurr found herself in a running club for the first time. Joining the Burlington Running Club, Schnurr soon found out that she was actually quite good at the sport. Fast forward to university, and Schnurr got a spot on McMaster’s cross-country team. “There’s something about running that makes you feel good physically, mentally and emotionally, especially being a part of a team,” said Schnurr. “When I was at McMaster as a varsity athlete, I made lifelong friendships from being part of the team.”

“I don’t feel a lot of pressure but I know the men put a lot of the pressure on themselves... Will there be a bit of pressure next year? Probably, because they are the OUAdefending Champions, but that’s okay because the pressure is what makes athletes better.” Paula Schnurr McMaster cross-country coach

Aside from the forever friends that running gave her, being able to continually challenge herself and the nature of competing is what Schnurr really fell in love with. Her competitive edge led her to make the national team and represent Canada at the 1992 and 1996 Olympics for the 1500m, as well as two World Championships. Schnurr went on to win a silver medal representing Canada at the 1994 Commonwealth Games. When her time as a runner came to an end, Schnurr turned to coaching. Starting her tenure with McMaster in 2009, her expertise has guided the Marauders to great success. Most recently, the men’s team found success in the 2018 cross-country season, coming in first at the Ontario University Athletics Championship, and third at the U Sports National Championship. Her team’s triumphs led her to be named the OUA Men’s

Cross-Country Coach of the Year, making her the first woman to ever win the award, and McMaster’s second recipient of the award ever.

“Winning that award is really a reflection of the kind of athletes that are on our team. Because, when your athletes are winning, it makes your coaching look good. So I’m honoured on how lucky we are and that we have a great group...” Paula Schnurr McMaster Cross-country coach

“I was very honoured because it is an award that the coaches vote on,” said Schnurr. “Winning that award is really a reflection of the kind of athletes that are on our team. Because, when your athletes are winning, it makes your coaching look good. So I’m honoured on how lucky we are and that we have a great group of student-athletes.” The group of men and women she has the honour of coaching are a tight-knit group who often compare themselves to a family rather than a team. For Schnurr and her assistant coach Peter Self, who also happens to be her husband, they can not exactly pinpoint why the student-athletes who join their program all mesh so well together, but they are grateful for a team that enjoys being together on and off the track. “I guess it’s a bit of a reflection on the people that we are. We try to make good decisions on treating people well, and when athletes show up and

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019

SPORTS | 23

CATHERINE GOCE / PHOTO REPORTER

C/O IAN MCALPINE

Head coach Paula Schnurr on winning OUA men’s cross-country Coach of the Year and the future for the indoor track season work well, we’re going to reward them by helping them be the best athlete they can be,” said Schnurr. “We feel good that athletes, whether they’re winning championships or just making personal times, can walk away after their time here and reflect that they had a great experience while at Mac.”

The group of men and women she has the honour of coaching are a tight-knit group who often compare themselves to a family rather than a team. Although some couples may find it difficult to work together, the two retired professional run-

ners find balance in both their differences and their passion for running.

For Schnurr and her assistant coach Peter Self, who also happens to be her husband, they can not exactly pinpoint why the studentathletes who join their program all mesh so well together, but they are grateful for a team that enjoys being together on and off the track.

“I mean, we do disagree on certain things when issues come up, but we have a lot of respect for each other. Pete is very good at making suggestions on how we can change things for the better,” said Schnurr. “He pays attention to more of the details, and I’m more focused on the athletes and managing them. I’m the day-to-day person that they see and interact with, but he’s the support.” Winning such a high honour as Coach of the Year and coming in first provincially and third nationally, the thought of pressure would stay at the back of most people’s minds, but not for Schnurr. “I don’t feel a lot of pressure but I know the men put a lot of the pressure on themselves,” said Schnurr. “ Will there be a bit of pressure next year? Probably, because they are the OUA-defending Champions, but that’s okay because the pressure is what makes athletes better.” Instead of worrying too

much about next year, Schnurr and the team’s next focus is the 2019 indoor track season. Unlike the outdoor track season, team goals begin to shift to individual goals. Whether it’s running a certain time or making nationals, the men’s team again have top contenders for doing well this season. “Our women’s team is still young and developing, but it’s the men who are looking towards making nationals, as well as our relay teams,” said Schnurr. Using invitationals like the Don Wright Team Challenge that took place at the Western University this past weekend, and competitions in Michigan and Boston to compete against some of the top American runners, the Marauders are doing whatever it takes to stay sharp. This way, by the end of February for the OUA Championship, and the second week of March for the U Sports National Championships, they will be ready to hit the podium once again.

Her team’s triumphs led her to be named the OUA Men’s Cross-Country Coach of the Year, making her the first woman to ever win the award, and McMaster’s second recipient of the award ever. @JaayCarmichael

SPORTS

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019

Camaraderie and depth

After several years of missing the podium, the men’s water polo team has captured some new hardware under OUA Coach of the Year Quinn Fairley Graham West Contributor

After a tremendous end to the season in which the men’s water polo team won bronze and the women’s water polo team finished fifth at the Ontario University Athletics tournament, the team looks to have a great season ahead next year, guided by the water polo OUA Coach of the Year Quinn Fairley. This is the fourth time coach Fairley has received this award, and when asked about what winning coach of the year meant to the venerated coach’s response was quick to point out how much the team was involved in the award. “The team really looked together,” Fairley said. “The way the guys operated in the water, the way that they communicated with each other. They were just a really together unit, and for me to win Coach of the Year,

it’s an absolute compliment to them.” Part of coach Fairley’s success can be attributed to his past experience as a player for the McMaster water polo team. “I can relate to exactly what they’ve done,” Fairley said. “Especially as a McMaster player, you know going through the OUA season, going through midterms and all of the external stresses that a varsity athlete would have.” He took a different approach with playing time for the season, to get more players in the pool. This tactic was successful as the players believed in each other’s abilities to make an impact in the pool, even though some players received less playing time for the purpose of chemistry. “When I think of character, we put in a different system of substituting,” Fairley said. “Which meant some peo-

ple actually played less than they might have in years past, because we just took a little different focus and a different way of going about it, and this is where the team brought in to it and then brought in to each other.” Chemistry, camaraderie and depth are what coach Fairley attributes to their success during the season and at the OUA championship. Utilizing everyone’s capabilities and having a great foundation of trust in all of his players, regardless of experience, has been a great contribution to the water polo teams. “What we’re building on more so is camaraderie, using a couple of key pieces but, the other side of our team especially by the minutes and by playing time we were without a doubt one of the deeper teams in the league,” Fairley said. “We made a huge step in culture, we made

Fairley (pictured right) was awarded Coach of the Year follwoing a successful bronze medal campaign. C/O SEVRAN MAMMADOV

a huge step in the way that we operate together, and that’s really what the result is.”

“The way the guys operated in the water...They were just a really together unit, and for me to win Coach of the Year, it’s an absolute compliment to them,” Quinn Fairley Head coach Water polo team After battling through adversity such as injuries and other issues over the past few seasons, getting a medal at the OUA tournament was really

important to many players on the team. As something that has escaped the team for a few years, making the podium was definitely one of the highlights of the tournament. “We’ve had teams that I’ve thought, and think still to this day, should have medaled prior to this year for circumstances, whether it be a poor performance or injuries or whatever, we just never got it done,” Fairley said. The water polo teams will look to repeat their success next year, building off of this year’s newfound success while continuing the new culture of trust developed by coach Fairley as they strive to receive a medal once more.

@theSilhouette

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www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019

Women in wrestling Cassandra Rufenach discusses her wrestling career and her experience as a woman in a sport that is predominately male

The women’s wrestling team is currently ranked No. 9 in Canada. THE SILHOUETTE PHOTO ARCHIVES Adriana Skaljin Contributor

Cassandra Rufenach is a fourthyear biology student and wrestler for the McMaster wrestling team. Rufenach started wrestling in the 11th grade for half a season, and played a full season in her final year of high school. Her decision to start wrestling was inspired by her love for taekwondo, which led to a desire to do something that shared the same level of physical contact. She loved her experience on the high school wrestling team, and continued her career at McMaster for the past four years. “There was a big transition going from high school to university-level wrestling,” explained Rufenach. “At McMaster, we started to learn the sport [beyond] having fun, so I had to relearn everything I knew.” “I started [late into high school] because I didn’t know that women were allowed to be on the wrestling team,” said Rufenach on her experience going into a male-dominated sport. “I remember being told that it was a boy’s sport, but I joined anyways because I was already [participating in] fighting sports.” Rufenach accounts for the physicality of wrestling as the reason why it is male-dominat-

ed. This is reflected in McMaster’s roster size, with the men’s team approximately double the size of the women’s. “The sport [requires a high level of] physicality and is a tough and aggressive sport,” explained Rufenach. “Whenever I tell anyone that I am on the wrestling team, they are surprised because of my size and the fact that I don’t fit the [wrestling stereotype].”

“Everyone has their own individual areas of improvement... As a whole, our closeness helps [to unify us by the fact] that it is our sport.,” Cassandra Rufenach Women’s wrestling team “I think this is because the women’s team isn’t well known,” added Rufenach. “I think we need to make women’s wrestling more well known.” This disparity is not just limited to wrestling, despite the fact that many women show interest in athletics. Rufenach notes that there is still more

progress that needs to be made. “We need to bring [more] awareness to women in sports and show that girls are just as capable as guys,” said Rufenach. “We need to make [female athletics] more apparent [in society] and provide equal highlights for both sexes.” Despite her acknowledgement that wrestling is a male-dominated sport, she commends her team on being inclusive and equal between the male and female wrestlers. “The male wrestlers on the [McMaster] team are good at being welcoming to us females and there is no exclusion,” said Rufenach. “There are physical differences between the women and the men, and the guys take that into account and wrestle us more tactically [in practice].” “Everyone has their own individual areas of improvement,” said Rufenach on the team’s dynamic. “As a whole, our closeness helps [to unify us by the fact] that it is our sport.” When asked about her individual areas of improvement, Rufenach explained how last year she was able to crack the standings unlike the year prior. She owes her new found success to her personal motivation tactics. “I tell myself to stay calm [before a match] and remain

focused,” said Rufenach. “Each match is a learning experience. It should not matter if you win or lose. You need to focus on wrestling your best and at a level that you will be proud of.” Rufenach provided advice to any woman considering a start in wrestling. “It’s going to be hard work; you need to be aware that hard work pays off,” she said. “Don’t be intimidated by the fact that it is considered a male-dominated sport. It doesn’t matter and it shouldn’t matter.” It is evident that with

passion, perseverance and acceptance, female wrestlers such as Cassandra Rufenach have the ability to participate in the sports they love. It is important to move past the male-normativity that is placed against sports, such as wrestling, and strive to recognize female athletics. @theSilhouette

GAMES

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019

Games

ACROSS 1- Hit with an open hand; 5- Each; 9- ___ Kick Out of You; 14- Heap; 15- Travel from place to place; 16- Connection; 17- Locomotive; 19- Secluded valleys; 20- Percussion instrument; 21- Freedom from war; 22- Tried; 23- Fog; 24- Mdse.; 25- Assembly; 28- Flaming felony;

31- ___ la vista; 32- Belonging to us; 34- Cut of beef; 35- State Farm rival; 36- ___ Little Tenderness; 37- H.S. requirement; 38- Become less intense, die off; 39- Chinese menu phrase; 40- You don’t bring me flowers, ____; 42- Purge; 43- Children’s author Blyton; 44- Climbing shoot; 48- Madame de ___;

50- Petrol; 51- Ogles; 52- Glow; 53- Teheran native; 54- Very, in Versailles; 55- Peruse; 56- Vice ___; 57- Finely powdered earth; 58IRS IDs;

DOWN 1- Aromatic fragrance; 2- Turkish money; 3- At ___ for words; 4- Polygon having five sides; 5- Makes amends; 6- Studied, with “over”; 7- Evict; 8- Opposite of post-; 9- Substances eaten or absorbed; 10- Trattoria treats; 11- Corp. VIP, briefly; 12- Melody; 13- Donkey; 18- “Surprise Symphony” composer; 21- Michelangelo masterpiece; 23- Intervening, in law; 25- Dull finish; 26- Standard; 27- Fellas; 28- Bar order;

29- Barrett of gossip; 30- Indication; 31- Listened; 33- Sleazy paper; 35- Bubbling; 36- Young children; 38- Loss of memory; 39- Sheer fabric; 41- Pines for; 42- Put up a fight; 44- Domesticates; 45- Ascends; 46- Early Peruvian; 47- City in West Yorkshire; 48- Shrivelled, without moisture; 49- Eye drop; 50- Mentor; 51- Actress Tyler; 52- Old Ford;

is my ride For school, play and everything in between the HSR wants to take you there. That’s why it’s time to think about the Hamilton of tomorrow and how you’ll help to shape it. Join us in this opportunity to make transit your ﬁrst choice. Tell us how you would (Re)envision the HSR.

Take the survey: hamilton.ca/reenvision

MSU CAMPUS EVENTS PRESENTS

TWELVEIGHTY | DOORS: 6PM | SHOW: 7PM

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IS THIS IN MY PUR VUE? HOW TO DO YOUR JOB WHEN THE GOVERNMENT PLANS ON DEFUNDING IT C12

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HAMILTON SPECULATOR CRYING IN MY OFFICE SINCE 1934

Januar y 24, 2019

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Everything is bad, here are some puppies Nothing is funny and everything is bad, so we hope you enjoy these cute photos, I guess

PER ISSUE: All of my student loan debt

POLL: WHAT SERVICE WOULD YOU CUT IF YOU COULD? The Silhouette

The HOCO street festival thing?

CFMU

Cops on campus

Only one specific club

MACycle

(that club would be Turning Point)

Every leadership conference

Tweets to the Editor Hahahahaha get FUCKED!!!! - @fougdordnation

This is a challenge to all student journalists, everywhere. - An editor at another student newspaper, not in Ontario

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