The Silhouette - March 28, 2019 by The Silhouette

S C UTTH E The Silhouette

Thursday, March 28, 2019

SPORTS:

How Christina Buttenham helped the Maruaders win gold // PAGE 23

NEWS: Vigil on campus mourns the victims of New Zealand attack // PAGE 3 ARTS & CULTURE: Graduating studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; works in SUMMA show // Pages 18-19

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The Silhouette

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Volume 89, Issue 26 Thursday, March 28, 2019 McMaster University’s Student Newspaper

#TBT

March 12, 1987

EDITORIAL BOARD 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 online editor | online@thesil.ca Yvonne Lu sections

NEWS Cassidy Bereskin news reporter Ryan Forrest Tse news@thesil.ca news editor

FEATURES Hannah Walters Vida features@thesil.ca

features reporter

OPINION Sabrina Macklai opinion@thesil.ca

opinion editor

SPORTS Justin Parker sports reporter Jessica Carmichael sports@thesil.ca sports editor

ARTS AND CULTURE arts & culture editor Razan Samara arts & culture reporter Rya Buckley aandc@thesil.ca MEDIA Kyle West photo reporter Catherine Goce production coordinator Sukaina Imam production coordinator Sabrina Lin production coordinator Katarina Brkic production@thesil.ca photo editor

ONLINE Sasha Roshan social media coordinator Martin Burwell online@thesil.ca video editor

CONTRIBUTORS staff writer Elliot Fung staff writer Andrew Mrozowski staff writer Rida Pasha staff writer Neda Pirouzmand staff writer Drew Simpson staff writer Graham West staff writer Eden Wondmeneh COVER PHOTO Noah Hoffman Katarina Brkic

The Sil Fun? Yeah!!! We’ve come a long way in advertising our available jobs since this nightmare of an ad came out. Speaking of, we’ll be hiring for our editor, reporter, design, photo, video and social media positions within the next few weeks! Keep your eye out on the MSU job site. 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 8,000 circulation published by the

WRITE FOR US NEWS Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. news@thesil.ca

OPINION Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. opinion@thesil.ca

SPORTS Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. sports@thesil.ca

ARTS & CULTURE Monday at 11:30 a.m. aandc@thesil.ca Join our weekly meetings in MUSC B110!

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 28, 2019

The Silhouette

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News Students hold vigil to mourn Christchurch victims Fifteen speakers addressed the large crowd, remembering the victims and calling for a united response against white supremacy and Islamophobia

Daniella Mikanovsky Contributor

The speakers encouraged Muslim and non-Muslims alike to actively stand against discrimination in all its forms. KYLE WEST / PHOTO EDITOR

Ryan Tse News Reporter

CW: Islamophobia, violence On March 19, hundreds of students, faculty and staff filled the McMaster University Student Centre courtyard to mourn the victims of the Christchurch massacre. The terrorist attack was committed on March 15 by a white supremacist who opened fire in two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, killing a total of 50 people and injuring 50 others. The attack was considered the worst mass shooting in New Zealand’s recent history. The vigil was organized by the McMaster Muslim Students Association in collaboration with the McMaster Muslims for Peace and Justice and the McMaster Womanists. The three groups brought 15 speakers from various parts of the community to speak. The vigil began with a rec-

itation from the Quran. In a particularly poignant moment following the prayer, the organizers honoured and read out the names of the 50 who died due to the attack. A theme echoed throughout the vigil was that the attack reflected a larger movement of white supremacy, Islamophobia and bigotry across the globe. “White supremacy exists, toxic masculinity exists, misogyny exists. Xenophobia, racism and Islamophobia exist. These things

In a particularly poignant moment following the recitation, the organizers honoured and read out the names of the 50 who died due to the attack.

Following the speeches, the organizers held an open prayer in the MUSC atrium. exist in New Zealand, in the United States. They also exist right here in Canada, in Ontario, in Hamilton,” said Khadijeh Rakie, a staff member of the McMaster Equity and Inclusion Office. Rakie encouraged Muslim people to grieve freely. “I don’t think our strength or grief must be looked at in one way, or need to be performative or palatable or always available for public consumption,” said Rakie. Speakers pointed out the connection between Christchurch and the 2017 Quebec mosque attack, completed by a white supremacist, which killed six people in prayer. “Far-right populist lead-

ers around the world and false media narratives have stoked the fires behind the dehumanization and demonization of Muslims worldwide, causing events like the one in Christchurch,” said one student speaker. Many speakers also expressed appreciation for other faith groups who have supported and stood in solidarity with them since the attack. Other speakers encouraged Muslim and non-Muslims alike to actively stand against discrimination in all its forms. “As different societies face all forms of prejudice, persecution and rhetoric against immigrants, refugees, visitors and worshippers of all kinds of faith, backgrounds, and communities, we must all stand together against all forms of violence, ignorance and hatred,” said another student speaker. Mahmood Haddara, the president of McMaster MSA, called for compassion and unity. “We need at times like these to build those connections with

each other, to turn towards each other, to remind ourselves of that love and that connection, to look at the person next to you regardless of their skin colour or their belief and remind yourself that they are your brother or sister in humanity,” said Haddara. Following the speeches, the organizers held an open prayer in the MUSC atrium. Gachi Issa, one of the organizers of the vigil, said she is grateful for the support from the McMaster community and hopes the vigil will also spark discussion about discrimination and Islamophobia in Hamilton and on the McMaster campus. “The message is first and foremost to mourn these [50] and counting victims in New Zealand, but it’s also to localize it,” said Issa. “The same thing that has killed them affects us here.” @tweetingryantse

NEWS

Thursday, March 28, 2019 | www.thesil.ca

Students M.I.A at the MSU GA The four members of the MSU board of directors made up half the total attendance at this year’s MSU General Assembly

The assembly lasted a little longer than five minutes. RYAN TSE / NEWS REPORTER

Ryan Tse News Reporter

Attendance at the annual McMaster Students Union General Assembly hit a new low this year, with a total of eight members showing up. Eight students represent 0.000293 per cent of the MSU’s student membership. The number of students needed to reach quorum this year was 724. MSU president Ikram Farah delivered an address at the start of the assembly, speaking about the recent Ontario government cuts to the Ontario Student Assistance Program and new Student Choice Initiative guidelines. Following Farah’s remarks, a motion to adjourn the meeting passed unanimously. The assembly lasted a little longer than five minutes. GA frequently sees a low turnout. Last year and in 2016, approximately fifty students attended. In 2017, just 27 students were present. Still, this year marked a sharp decline in attendance. Moreover, unlike in previ-

The assembly lasted a little longer than five minutes. ous years, no GA motions were submitted to the MSU by the March 13 deadline. The low turnout raises questions as to whether the MSU sufficiently advertised GA, which is the main constitutionally-mandated meeting for students to pass motions affecting the entire student body. MSU speaker Elizabeth Wong said that many channels

This year, the GA event page on Facebook page was created only one night before the event, and a total of 164 students were invited.

were used to promote GA, including social media pushes, text messages and posters and banners in public spaces. However, Student Representative Assembly social science caucus leader Fawziyah Ali said that promotion this year was less effective than in previous years. “In terms of Facebook promotion, poster promotion, I don’t think it was as advertised as it could be, so people didn’t know that it was happening,”

The low turnout raises questions as to whether the MSU sufficiently advertised GA, which is the main constitutionally-mandated meeting for students to pass motions affecting the entire student body.

Ali said. “There should have been better promotion, because MSU GA is an important event, especially to bridge that gap between the MSU and students.” Student engagement with the MSU, particularly regarding elections, has been relatively positive this year, with a record number of students running in the SRA general elections and increased candidate turnout for first-year council elections. These increases in MSU engagement have been largely attributed to improved promotion efforts from the MSU. This year, the GA event page on Facebook page was created only one night before the event, and a total of 164 students were invited. For comparison, last year’s event page included 212 invitations and was created more than a week in advance. GA has hit quorum before, most recently in 2015 and 2012. While this was largely due to the boycott, divestments and sanctions motion in 2015, the high attendance in 2012 is considered to have been the result of an extensive promotion

campaign run by the board of directors. “It’s not like you want contentious issues to happen so people come out. That’s not at all what it is. You hope that there are no contentious issues, but there is always something to talk about,” Ali said. Vania Pagniello, an incoming SRA representative, noted there may still be a significant gap when it comes to educating students about how GA works and why it is important. “I think the average student doesn’t even know what a motion is,” Pagniello said. Ali speculates that students may also be looking to nonMSU networks, such as the Hamilton Student Mobilization Network, to raise awareness of social issues. “I think there’s some disenchantment in terms of students and their relationship to the MSU,” said Ali. Until more is done, it seems that GA will continue to be an under-utilized tool for effecting change on campus. @tweetingryantse

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 28, 2019

The Silhouette

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Mac researchers receive $3.3 million Some projects include reconciliation efforts and the value of sports programs for at-risk youth

Research projects funded through the grant cover a wide range of topics, including reconciliation efforts, the history of smallpox and the effects of taxation on trade. KYLE WEST / PHOTO EDITOR Saba Manzoor Contributor

The federal government has awarded $3.3 million in grants to 72 social sciences and humanities researchers at McMaster. These grants are a part of the federal government’s social sciences and humanities research council’s “Insight Development Grant” program.

In addition to being lauded for the quality of their research, McMaster’s humanities and social science researchers have also been recognized for the communicability McMaster was one of nearly 80 post-secondary institutions

across the country to receive part of the $141 million overall grant funding provided by the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada. This announcement comes a few months after McMaster maintained its rank as Canada’s most research-intensive university on the list of Canada’s top 50 research universities. Funding through government programs, such as the SSHRC-IDG, continues to play a significant role in establishing the university’s rank on the list. In addition to being lauded for the quality of their research, McMaster’s humanities and social science researchers have also been recognized for the communicability of their research. In particular, they were the recipients of the 2017 SSHRC award of excellence for communications, which recognized the accessibility of McMaster research for non-expert audiences. One of this year’s research grant recipients is Jeffrey Denis, an associate professor in the

department of sociology. Denis’ funds are being put towards a collaborative project with Reconciliation Kenora, a non-profit organization comprised of Indigenous and non-Indigenous residents in Northwestern Ontario. The goal of Denis’ project is to improve local relationships and better understand the reconciliation efforts that prevail in this part of the province. “Our plan is to conduct a series of video-recorded sharing circles with Anishinaabe, Metis and settler residents about what reconciliation means, the barriers and enablers to achieving it and how to engage more people in the process,” said Denis. Brent McKnight, an assistant professor with the DeGroote School of Business, is another grant recipient this year. Through this funding, McKnight will be evaluating how external considerations, such as environmental, social and governance factors, contribute to financial investments. Specifically, McKnight will

be examining how these factors play into a retail market investment decisions.

The goal of Denis’ project is to improve local relationships and better understand the reconciliation efforts that prevail in this part of the province. “There are few sources of funding for social science research and this multi-year grant is critical,” said McKnight. Mark Norman, another grant recipient, is a postdoctoral fellow in the department of health, aging and society at McMaster. With the funding, Norman will be investigating the organization and social meanings of

sport and physical recreation in Ontario youth detention centres. According to Norman, despite their popularity in youth correctional facilities, evidence suggests that implementing sports programs for at-risk youth produces mixed outcomes. Norman’s project aims to reconcile the knowledge gap and explore why these programs are yielding these results. “It is crucial that Canadian governments and post-secondary institutions invest in social sciences and humanities research, particularly projects that investigate pressing social problems or provide insight on how to ameliorate social injustices in our society,” explains Norman. Other research projects funded through the grant cover a wide range of topics, including the history of smallpox and the effects of taxation on trade. @theSilhouette

6 |

NEWS

Thursday, March 28, 2019 | www.thesil.ca

The 411 on MSU policy papers The MSU is advocating for mandatory faculty AOP training, accessible pedagogy and investigation into racial profiling Health and Violence One of the key issues that the MSU points out in the “Health and Wellness” policy paper is that referrals from the Student Wellness Centre are not tailored to the needs of students. The MSU suggests that the SWC neglects to account for how students will reach community referrals or how much it

will cost them. The policy paper brings forward a number of recommendations to combat these issues, proposing the SWC connect with MSU peer support services to provide support for McMaster’s diverse student population. The MSU also recom-

Neda Pirouzmand Staff Writer

mends that the SWC offer harm reduction services and feedback opportunities to students. The policy paper also includes recommendations for other university stakeholders, suggesting that professors and teaching assistants be required to undergo mental health first aid training.

Student Rental Housing and Near-Campus Neighbourhoods According to this policy paper, McMaster off-campus resource centre resources are underused by students. The OCRC has not posted on Facebook since April 2017. Another issue is that demand is overtaking supply in the student housing market. The

quantity and quality of available housing opportunities is on the decline. In light of these issues, the MSU recommends the city of Hamilton to proceed with its proposed investment of $347,463 to hire three full-time employees for a two-year rental

licensing pilot project beginning in 2019 to annually inspect buildings in Hamilton. The MSU also suggests that McMaster seek more public-private partnerships to improve the supply of nearby student housing.

University Accessibility This policy paper first notes that McMaster has a ten year plan to make its campus “car free,” which would reduce accessibility by moving the HSR bus stop from University and Sterling Street to the McMaster Go bus station. According to the paper, another accessibility concern lies in the fact that most McMaster professors neither consider nor actively incorporate strategies and recommendations outlined in McMaster’s accessibility resources.

The paper also points out that learning materials are often inequitable and the university has significant work to do when it comes to promoting and implementing accessible pedagogy. The MSU puts forward a number of recommendations to improve the university’s accessibility practices. The paper argues that all professors teaching in rooms fitted for podcasting should post podcasts and use accessible formats for supplementary class

material. In addition, the paper suggests that intramurals reduce their pre-playoff participation requirement from 50 to 30 per cent, as students with disabilities may not be able to make all games. According to the paper, student accessibility services should have an open catalogue for student notes, where students in need would not be limited to resources from one student.

Racial, Cultural and Religious Equity The dominant issue highlighted in this policy paper is the fact that faculty staff and many student groups do not receive mandatory anti-oppressive practices training. In addition, according to the paper, McMaster Security Services has been involved in the excessive carding and racial profiling of students. Another issue concerns the fact that there exists no record-keeping system of student demographics in relation to enrollment and dropout rates by

faculty. Students are also largely unaware of the McMaster Religious, Spiritual, and Indigenous Observances policy. Some recommendations in the paper call for McMaster to explore alternative enrollment application streams for underrepresented groups. The paper also suggests that applicants looking for research funding from Mcmaster identify how their research will appeal to or account for marginalized populations.

According to the paper, McMaster should mandate equity and diversity requirements for all undergrads. Chairs of hiring committees, security staff, teaching assistants and faculty members should undergo mandatory AOP training. Another recommendation calls for the EIO to investigate carding and racial profiling trends centered around McMaster Security Services. @theSilhouette

SUKAINA IMAM / PRODUCTION COORDINATOR

OPINION

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

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Sponsored by:

So, if you’re carrying that McMaster MasterCard in your wallet, we hope you feel good about using it and we hope you are even more stoked about the discount you received on your insurance. If you’d like to learn more about the affinity programs offered through the association, check us out anytime at alumni.mcmaster. ca – Access Benefits. Questions? Contact alumni@mcmaster.ca or call 905-525-9140, x23900. And hey, thanks for your participation!

PRESIDENT’S PAGE

Nominations for MSU Vice President and Speaker positions are open until 10:00 AM on April 6. All MSU members (undergraduate students enrolled in 18 units or more) are eligible to run. Interested candidates may simply attend the meeting in Gilmour Hall 111 or email the MSU Speaker in advance via speaker@msu.mcmaster.ca. No campaign is required for any of the available positions - candidates need only to attend the Student Representative Assembly (SRA) meetings on April 6 and 7. The positions are elected by members of the incoming SRA. Those interested in observing the election can either attend the SRA meetings in person or watch live at www.facebook. com/StudentRepresentativeAssembly.

March 28, 2019 | thesil.ca

KRISTINA EPIFANO

STEPHANIE BERTOLO

SCOTT ROBINSON

Vice President (Administration)

Vice President (Education)

Vice President (Finance)

vpadmin@msu.mcmaster.ca 905.525.9140 x23250

vped@msu.mcmaster.ca 905.525.9140 x24017

vpfinance@msu.mcmaster.ca 905.525.9140 x24109

As the Vice President (Administration), there are three overarching areas for which I am responsible: overseeing services, facilitating the administrative and political aspects of the Union, and planning Welcome Week. The portfolio is extremely vast, which at times can be challenging, but it also means the job changes from day-to-day, giving me the opportunity to grow as an individual. While most of my time is spent supporting others and helping them accomplish their vision, I was also able to implement new initiatives to enhance the student experience. Although, the most rewarding part of my job was the opportunity to learn from and support a multitude of passionate student leaders. I have realized that the qualifications for my job are simple: you need to be willing to empower others, actively listen to the needs of students, have hard conversations, and above all else, care about the well-being of others and student life on campus. If you have these skills or are interested in learning more, feel free to stop by for a chat.

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.

The Vice President (Education) is the chief lobbyist for the organization, advocating to the municipal, provincial, and federal levels of government as well as to the University. They supervise an Education Department made up of three Associate Vice-Presidents, three Research Assistants, and an Advocacy Coordinator. As a team, they write advocacy position papers, run campaigns, and gather research about current issues in post-secondary. This position requires knowledge of the current challenges in post-secondary education and government relations, strong argumentation skills, and a willingness to adapt to changing circumstances. The latter is particularly true with the recent change in provincial government, resulting in major changes to OSAP and the structure of student unions. Next year, a large portion of this role will be to advocate against these changes and present arguments to a government focused on reducing spending. If you have any questions at all, please reach out to me.

The MSU Vice President (Finance) role is unlike most other professional opportunities for recent university graduates, offering an immense amount of authority and autonomy. The role will challenge you and enhance your leadership, management, communication, and analytical skills. The VP (Finance) is responsible for overseeing the financial direction and strategy of the organization. The MSU operates with approximately $14 million in yearly revenue, representing 24,000 students. Thus, there is a large responsibility to ensure that student money is spent effectively and efficiently. A strong fiscal steward is needed in order to ensure that the organization is financially stable. However, a formal background in finance or commerce is not necessary. The VP (Finance) must be a strong advocate when working with the University or government officials and also be motivated by a sense of service to students. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you are interested - I would be happy to discuss the role.

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 14, 2019

EDITORIAL

| 9

Editorial

How to train your SOP

There needs to be structured training policy and better support systems in place for student opportunity positions Emily O’Rourke Editor-in-Chief

On paper, the McMaster Students Union’s student opportunity positions sound really great. They allow recently graduated students to spend a year learning and training in a position that is geared toward their respective careers. They also allow students to explore different opportunities within their industries under the advice of a mentor, typically one who is a full-time, permanent staff member of the MSU. What they don’t tell you, however, is that without thorough and adequate training, you’re left to flounder. This isn’t to say that the experience isn’t valuable. It absolutely is. I taught myself more than I expected to learn this year and in many ways, the lack of training and support from upstairs strengthened my skills. I connected with a great network of other, incredible Letter to the Editor in response to “A welcoming workout environment”, published March 21, 2019

In response to the article “A Welcoming Workout Environment” the staff at the Pulse wanted to let readers of the Silhouette know about the current and future plans the Pulse has for creating an inclusive welcoming environment for all our members, with specific consideration for our female members. In interest of being clear, “The Pulse” is the gym and programs within that gym, that is located within the David Braley Athletic Center. At the Pulse, we understand that many women are more comfortable exercising in a women-only environment. Knowing this the Pulse has a dedicated “Women’s Only” space in the Pop-up Pulse. We equipped this women’s only space with free weights, weight racks, cardio equipment, plate-loaded equipment and

journalists, and very successfully ran a whole newspaper with the help of my staff. Obviously, I can’t speak to the other SOP positions offered, but the Editor-in-Chief position is one of the few that are without a full-time, permanent staff member. The Silhouette is entirely operated by the Editor-in-Chief and their staff, in addition to the Board of Publications, which serves as the governing body for the paper’s major changes. Without the guidance and mentorship of a full-time supervisor, the Editor-in-Chief is left to run the paper as they see fit. While this is a major opportunity for the Editor-in-Chief to do what they feel is best for the paper, it is genuinely one of the most difficult jobs that I have had to deal with. This year was obviously unique on many different levels. Whether it was the announcement of the Student Choice Initiative, the ridiculous flak we got from people on social media or 12-minute voicemails from

people who were mad at me for getting rid of the Games page for a week, all of these things made for a strangely difficult year. What made this year significantly harder than it needed to be, however, is the fact that my training wasn’t as extensive as it should have been. While it’s not on paper, training is typically done by the outgoing Editor-in-Chief, who also is the only person on staff who understands precisely what is needed for the role. This is a major expectation to be placed on someone who is in a one year, contracted position and typically checked out by the time hiring rolls around. Instead of placing so much pressure on someone who is not contracted or paid to be involved with the Silhouette after April 30, invest in training that is comprehensive to the position in more ways than the outgoing Editor-in-Chief can offer.

functional training equipment. This popular workout spot is blocked off from the rest of the PuP with privacy screens and is the female-centred environment the author asks for in her article. While our existing women’s only workout space in the PuP is appreciated by our members, the demand for women’s only space is greater than our current facility allows. This is why as part of the Student Activity and Fitness Expansion project we have included a dedicated Women’s Only space in the new main Pulse. As part of the SAFE expansion this new training room will provide everything that is available in the main Pulse space but in an environment exclusive to women, giving our female members more options and more space to enjoy a great workout. In addition to our women’s-only workout space (current and coming-soon) we offer two Instructional Programs that are exclusively for women

members: Women on Weights Level I & II. Women on Weights is a program that has been designed to engage and teach women of all ages and abilities the importance of exercise, specifically that of resistance training. This program teaches participants proper exercise technique, gym etiquette, different types of aerobic training, and specific resistance training techniques. Most importantly though is that our Women on Weights participants develop knowledge of their bodies, and a self-confidence that empowers them to be confident and comfortable within just about any gym setting. The Pulse also offers nearly 40 weekly drop-in classes at the Pulse that are overwhelmingly attended by our female members. These classes are created to meet the demand from our female members for community based programming in a supportive, encouraging, and safe environment. While these class-

@emily_oro

to tacos & tequila to paying off your colossal dentistry bill to getting a job to getting a library card to dark cover streak to finally wearing t-shirts to pitches getting approved

to finding your blog from 2013 to forgetting to strategically use your MSAF last semester thereby breaking your streak of using your MSAF every semester since 2015 to spraining your ankle on your birthday to first dates at political meet-ups to second last issue :(

to Sasha’s dad, for finally realizing his dream of opening up a restaurant!

to the End of Gronk

to melatonin sleep

to dark year

es are not exclusively for women, they do serve the demands of this population and offer all novice exercisers a safe space to gain fitness knowledge with a trained professional instructor, and also gain confidence before venturing out on the coed floor. Finally, every year in August the Pulse hosts mandatory staff training for all new and returning Pulse staff. A significant focus of our training is creating a welcoming inclusive environment for our Pulse members. Our staff know that gyms can be intimidating, and in an effort to combat this we focus on making the Pulse as welcoming as possible. This includes training staff to monitor and enforce gym etiquette, and the behaviour of our members (as an example we do not allow loud yelling or distracting behaviour while members are lifting, nor do we allow profanity, or any other intimidating behaviour). We also have a zero tolerance policy for any form of sexual harassment and

to almost having a heart attack

violators are dealt with promptly. We believe that our programs, philosophies, and training make the Pulse a uniquely welcoming environment for all genders, and helps us mirror the diversity of the McMaster community. If someone is considering attending the Pulse but feels unsure, please check in with our front desk and ask to talk to the personal trainer on staff. They are there to help, and will give orientations as well as answer any questions you might have. Also if someone has an experience at the Pulse that doesn’t meet their expectations, we want to hear about it! Please email thepulse@mcmaster.ca with any feedback, questions, or concerns. Lee-Anne Wilson Fitness Coordinator Athletics and Recreation

10 |

HUMANS

Catherine Goce Photo Reporter

What is the McMaster Muslim Student Association about and what are your goals? Islam is a very communal religion and there’s a lot of emphasis on doing things with other people and having a community. Are you helping other people? If there’s someone that needs help, are you there for them? Are you giving to charity? Are you connecting to other people? We have a lot of Muslims on campus, there’s like 2,000 - 3,000 Muslims. So for all of those Muslims this is a place that they can come where they can get spiritual support. We have Friday prayers every week where we get around 600 people coming out to, so that’s kind of like the foundational part. We also have a ton of other programs like social programs for them to meet people, we have a professional service program for resume writing, networking, we’re doing an engineering streams event this week for first years to decide which stream they want to get into. The idea is basically just to provide Muslims on campus with all of those services that they need as a spiritual community but also that kind of friendship, to meet new people, getting you through university with all this stress and studying and mental health and stuff like that. Why did you decide to join in and what led you to become president of the association? When I started in first year I wasn’t like “oh I’m going to become president”. I wasn’t even super involved. I think in October or November they had organized this program where there would be a dinner and then they’re going to put on a play and it would just be like a fun social thing. One of my friends asked me to be part of the play and so I was part of the play as an actor and had fun. Then, I got involved as a sub director and I was just doing little things like advertising, printing out flyers and posting them around, making posts on Facebook. End of the year comes and they’re doing elections for executives and I got nominated for public relations representative. I thought I’d just run and maybe I won’t win but at least I got nominated so I’ll give it a shot and I’ll see what

Thursday, March 28, 2019 | www.thesil.ca

happens. Somehow I won and I ended up as an executive in second year. That’s when I got really involved and I was really passionate about it. Then, I got nominated for president and I was like “I don’t really want to be president” because MSA is a huge clubs so I thought I didn’t want to be in charge of all of this, I don’t have the experience and I’m not qualified. But again, a lot of people were like “you really should do it”. I had a lot of goals that I thought the MSA could improve if we did X Y Z, so I gave it a shot and if I win I have this opportunity to try to improve the MSA and make the community better, more welcoming and more efficient in terms of the way we plan events stuff like that. So I ran and I won and here I am. You’re really passionate about it and it’s a lot of fun and there’s a lot of great opportunities. You can do a lot because we’re such a big club, but it’s also so stressful and demanding especially at certain times of the year when things are just really

“You can’t be someone that holds grudges, you have to be welcoming and loving and kind and forgiving.” Mahmood Haddara McMaster Muslim Student Association President piling on. From your stance, what are the best characteristics of the Muslim faith that you feel have influenced you the most in your life? I’ll say the first one is that there’s a lot of emphasis on helping other people. There’s a scripture called hadith and there’s a part of that scripture where he says it would be better for you if one person needs help for you to go and walk with them and help them and take care of them until their need is satisfied, then for you to stay in the mosque and pray for I think either a month or six months, a very long period of time. That’s something that I heard and I was told from a very young age and it’s really been imprinted on me by a lot of mentors and

teacher figures from the community. You need that spiritual side and you need to develop your connection to God, but you will not come close to God and be worshiping him in the way that he wants you to if you’re neglecting people around you. A lot of people need help, there’s mental health issues there is the stress of being in school, people need help studying, people need help financially in terms of charity we do an orphan sponsorship program every year that lasts a month and we raised over $25,000 this year. If you are not doing your bit for the community then you’re not worshipping God the way that he wants you to. That’s really why I’ve stuck through all of the stress because I thought to myself that yes I could quit and just come to school and chill with my friends and stuff but I wouldn’t really be using the privilege that God has given me to go to university and have enough money to pay tuition and stuff like that if I wasn’t also giving back to the community here. Number two would be the idea of forgiveness. There’s this idea that God is obviously all merciful, but if you want God to forgive you, you need to forgive other people. I’ve come across this a lot in the MSA, any organization that’s big enough there’s lots of conflict and people get stressed and people are butting heads, but that idea that I really try to imprint on myself and pass onto people is if you expect God to forgive you for your sins and your mistakes then you need to also forgive other people. You can’t be someone that holds grudges, you have to be welcoming and loving and kind and forgiving if you want God to show those same things to you. Since recent events, what are

Mahmood Haddara McMaster Muslim Student Association President CATHERINE GOCE/PHOTO REPORTER

some words of encouragement you would have for the people in the Muslim and non-Muslim communities? I was at the vigil that happened last week and it was really encouraging how many people came together. What I’m telling myself right now and what I think both the Muslim and non-Muslim communities should be reminding ourselves is that yes there are people on both sides of the spectrum that have a lot of hatred and they’re trying to spread hatred, there are people in the world that are very hateful, but there’s also a lot of people that are willing to come out and support. We had people that came to our Friday prayers the day after the shooting happened. There were people sitting outside the gym while we were praying because they wanted to be there to support us and they wanted to show us that there are people in the community that are going to be here for you and they’re going to stand with you. From a Muslim perspective, it’s difficult and people feel alone and they feel like the whole world is against you, I would remind them that we have this whole community that we built in

the MSA, we have all of your Muslim brothers and sisters on campus. But you also have the support of the entire campus community and all the good people in Canada and in the world that are always going to be there. There has been many instances of hate that we’ve seen, but there have always been people that stand up. What I would say is that in times like these, both the Muslim and non-Muslim communities need to remind ourselves that there are other people out there that share the same values as us and we need to reach out to them and strengthen those bonds. Because if we just disappear into our own silos and think we need to just be more exclusionist and isolationist in response to events like these, then it’s only going to get worse and we’re only going to see more hatred.

facebook.com/ HumansOfMcMaster

OPINION

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

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Is Your Degree Enough to Get You Ahead In Your Career? In today’s tough job market a degree alone may not be enough to get you the job or promotion that you’re looking for. Employer expectations are higher and are expecting more than the knowledge that comes with a degree. They are also scrutinizing candidates based on their enhanced skillsets and experience to ensure they are hiring someone who will fit and integrate into their business and culture with the least disruption.

Whether your focus is in the field of business, health or professional development, there are many to choose from:

Savvy students are realizing this trend and responding by upskilling themselves to ensure that they stand out in the employment crowd and that their resume rises to the top of the pile. If you’re thinking about getting ahead, McMaster Continuing Education offers a variety of learning options from diplomas and certificates to micro learning options.

• Professional Addiction Studies To make it easier for Mac students, McMaster Continuing Education offers a faster route to get you ahead with Degree + Diploma. This opportunity allows you to earn a diploma or certificate while you work toward your degree. You can use your elective credits in your current program of study toward a diploma or

series you can sign up at mcmastercce.ca/events/freebusiness-entrepreneurship-series Regardless of what you decide, by recognizing the demands of today’s job market and being proactive to acquire the skills that businesses are looking for will make you more visible and appealing to employers. Continuing Education will give you that competitive edge to get ahead and land that job you’re looking for.

• Business Administration • Project Management • Human Resource Management • Data Analytics • Science of Cannabis • Crisis & Mental Health Training • Health Information Management certificate with Continuing Education, allowing you to gain your qualifications faster. This opportunity is gaining popularity among Mac students and can be easily set up by contacting your Academic Advisor. If you’re not ready to jump straight into getting a diploma

or certificate you can always try one of McMaster Continuing Education professional development courses or attend our upcoming free Business Entrepreneur Series micro learning session that is running in spring. It’s a great way to gain valuable and recognized skills in a condensed learning format. To attend this

To learn more about these valuable learning options visit www.mcmastercce.ca By: Jenna Tziatis, Marketing Assistant McMaster University Continuing Education

Sponsored by:

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OPINION

Thursday, March 28, 2019 | www.thesil.ca

Opinion Hitting faculty reps with hidden fees Being a Welcome Week representative comes with costly hidden fees that unfairly exclude candidates

There should not be an associated fee to volunteer as a Welcome Week representative. THE SILHOUETTE PHOTO ARCHIVES

Eden Wondmeneh Staff Writer

Faculty representatives and Maroons can shape incoming studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; initial impression of the McMaster University community. They guide us through Welcome Week and are meant to play the role of mentor and role model. A few days into Welcome Week, new students grow accustomed to the vibrant suits and are well aware of the colour distinctions of each faculty. Suddenly the suit, which at first glance may appear as a horrendous fashion statement, is at the top of many first-year studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; wish lists. For some students who hope to mentor and inspire incoming students, becoming a faculty representative during Welcome Week is not feasible. Even if they do make it through the competitive application process, they are unable to participate due to representative fees that candidates are not made aware of at any point

For some students who hope to mentor and inspire incoming students, becoming a faculty representative during Welcome Week is not feasible. during the application process. On Jan. 22, a call was released on the DeGroote Commerce Society Facebook page for 2019 business faculty representatives. Applications were due by Feb. 1, with prospective green suits contacted for interviews. The role requires faculty representatives to attend two training sessions prior to summer break and another session the week prior to Welcome Week. Green suits are also high-

ly encouraged to participate in May at Mac and Shine-o-rama, both orientation events running during the summer break. Despite the large time commitment and the cost of the $60 green suit itself, students who made it through the application process and ultimately became a green suit, were immensely excited about the experience to come. This excitement, however, was soured with the introduction of a representative fee of over a hundred dollars that was not advertised at any point during the application process. The representative fee is a confusing, hidden fee that prospective and new faculty representatives are appalled by. The fee is estimated to be around $120.00, but with the McMaster Students Union funding cuts, new representatives expect this to be a low-ball estimate and have yet to be informed of the final cost. This cost is said to cover training, food and participation in Welcome Week. This contribution to Welcome Week

The fee is estimated to be around $120.00, but with the McMaster Students Union funding cuts, new representatives expect this to be a low-ball estimate and have yet to be informed of the final cost. especially annoys students who never signed up to subsidize part of Welcome Week that as first-year students we already paid a mandatory $120.98 FirstYear Orientation levy for. For business students fees to join clubs specific to their faculty is not uncommon. Most clubs require students to pay a small fee for registration.

However, in the case of the representative fee that impacts all faculty reps, the fee is substantial, and no one made them aware of the fee prior to joining. With a lack of discussion of financial support, some students are genuinely happy they didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make the cut. It is simply unfair for students who underwent the incredibly extensive process to become a faculty representative to be cut from the position because of an inability to pay for the high fees. The faculty representative fee ensures that those who are willing and chosen to volunteer their time to enrich and support incoming students secure their spot by coughing up money. If this is the inequitable model the green suits and other faculty society representatives decide to rely on, then they should at least be transparent to their applicants.

@theSilhouette

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OPINION

Thursday, March 28, 2019 | www.thesil.ca

Appreciating our instructors Students should do a better job at acknowledging the efforts made by their instructors through being engaged in class and filling out course evaluations Rida Pasha Staff Writer

Whether it’s the real world being brought into the classroom by a professor, or the ease in explanation provided by a teaching assistant, there is no doubt that a good learning experience is a product of the time and energy of professors and TAs. However, these educators are often overlooked and underappreciated for their efforts to bring life to course content. It’s time we become more active in acknowledging our professors and TAs. The 2019 Teaching Awards Ceremony, an event run by a subcommittee of McMaster Students Union Macademics, was held on March 15, presenting nominated professors and TAs with awards for their excellence in teaching. As someone involved in organizing and attending the event, a common remark made by the winners was that the greatest compliment they could receive was hearing apprecia-

tion from their students. Although we generally view professors and TAs to be confident people in positions of authority, it was interesting that many of them discussed how even though it’s their job to lecture or run tutorials, they still feel a sense of nervousness before the start of each class.

It’s easy to take their efforts for granted, but if you really enjoyed a class, let your instructor know after class or send them an email with follow-up questions. Though instructors are strongly educated and qualified, it’s reassuring for them to hear that they’re doing a good job from their students.

Let’s take the time to compliment instructors that incorporate memes into their presentations, relate class material to our generation, take feedback seriously and actually make course improvements based off of them. It’s easy to take their efforts for granted, but if you really enjoyed a class, let your instructor know after class or send them an email with follow-up questions. Trying to be actively engaged in class is a great way to show instructors that what they’re saying is interesting. Although three-hour lectures can start to drag on, it’s great to ask questions or give your professor a nod of understanding when they look in your direction. With course evaluations now open, spare a few minutes to describe what you like about your classes so far, and provide suggestions if you have any. Not only is this an opportunity to give your input, it’s also a great way for professors to cater their class to their students’ needs, something many profes-

sors genuinely want to do. When it’s Teaching Award nomination season, make sure you nominate professors and TAs that are doing a great job. The process takes no more than five minutes and can make all the difference for the educators you’re nominating. Besides the fact that appreciating your teachers is a kind gesture, it’s also important to remember that beyond the course they are teaching, professors and TAs have industry knowledge and professional experience that could benefit you. Whether you’re interested in learning more about the field they’re in, getting advice about graduate school or acquiring volunteer opportunities, it’s not a bad idea to start building a relationship with your instructors by showing them how they’re making your learning experience better. Of course, be genuine and mean what you say, but recognize that sharing your thoughts and opinions about a class can result in a really great professional relationship.

Of course, be genuine and mean what you say, but recognize that sharing your thoughts and opinions about a class can result in a really great professional relationship. There are classes you will love and others you will hate. But amongst the many that are boring, annoying and difficult, we all have at least one class that we look forward to attending, even on a rough day. As students, let’s take the time to show our appreciation for our beloved educators that make a positive difference in our lives.

@theSilhouette

Instructors do a lot to ensure students have a good learning experience. Students should in turn show their appreciation through being engaged in class and filling out course evaluations. KYLE WEST / PHOTO EDITOR

OPINION

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 28, 2019

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You’re paying for misinformation Student fees should not be used to support groups on campus that deliberately share and promote misinformation

McMaster Students Union recognized clubs should not be allowed to spread misinformation. KYLE WEST / PHOTO EDITOR

Sabrina Macklai Opinion Editor

The McMaster Students Union recognizes over 350 clubs. According to the MSU Clubs page, the purpose of these clubs is to “provide an insightful and meaningful contribution to the McMaster and Hamilton community.” Being a MSU-recognized club affords certain privileges including being eligible for funding from the MSU. This funding comes directly from the MSU organizational fee, a $130.26 fee that all full-time undergraduate students pay. Within this fee, $8.02 are collected per student to support MSU clubs. As students are paying for the operations of these clubs, the MSU has a responsibility to ensure that these clubs are not deliberately sharing and promoting misinformation that can be harmful to students. McMaster Lifeline is the pro-life group on campus. Their mission statement is “to advocate with loving care the legal rights and social support of pregnant women and their unborn children.”

While the presence of a pro-life group on campus is already cause for controversy, the issue at hand is not solely the groups’ existence but that they use student space and resources to share information that is factually incorrect. The group can often be found at a table in the McMaster University Student Centre, a privilege of being a MSU club, spreading scientifically false information on abortions and reproductive health. In addition to misinformation, the group is known for distributing graphic and potentially triggering images. Groups like McMaster Lifeline should not be given a platform by the MSU to disseminate false information about students’ health. Namely, the group fails to state that abortions are safe, medical procedures that are fully legal in Canada. Instead, they spread the false rhetoric that “abortions are never medically necessary”, which is simply a lie. In fact, any student-run group on campus does not really have the credentials to provide healthcare information or advice

to students. Abortion is a serious topic that should be discussed with a healthcare professional who can provide factual, non-judgemental information, not with students who some of which have “no experience engaging with people on the topic.” The MSU should be cautious in ratifying clubs that provide this type of information, as the results can be extremely harmful to students. With over 350 clubs, it can be difficult for the MSU to ensure that operations of each of their clubs are aligned with the core goal of supporting students. However, that is not an excuse for allowing this behaviour to occur. Multiple students have on many occasions voiced their concerns against these clubs’ actions. The MSU failing to take action blatantly goes against their responsibility towards their student constituents. The MSU Clubs Operating Policy states that the MSU “will not attempt to censor, control or interfere with any existing MSU club on the basis of its philosophy, beliefs, interests or opinions expressed until these lead to

Groups like McMaster Lifeline should not be given a platform by the MSU to disseminate false information about students’ health. activities which are illegal or which infringe upon the rights and freedoms of others”. Due to this policy, on March 22, pro-choice students who were protesting McMaster Lifeline’s table in MUSC were removed and not allowed to distribute pro-choice pamphlets. A claimed “victory for free speech on campus” by the MSU only served to help promote the misinformation on campus. While the actions of McMaster Lifeline may not be illegal, they certainly are harmful to students and may actually be violating the Clubs Judicial Policy, stated under the MSU Clubs Operating Policy.

Specifically, their actions may be considered to “unnecessarily cause a significant nuisance for an individual or group” (5.1.1.3), have “conduct unbecoming of an MSU club” (5.1.2.7) and most importantly, actions that “unnecessarily jeopardize the safety or security of any person or property” (5.1.3.3). If the MSU truly wishes to provide a meaningful contribution to the McMaster and Hamilton community, it can begin with properly investigating clubs that may be found guilty of any offences described by the Clubs Judicial Policy. Only then can they truly ensure that their clubs support and protect McMaster students. If students do wish to learn about their options with respect to their reproductive health, the Student Wellness Centre offers birth control counselling. If a student wishes to speak in a more informal setting, the MSU Student Health Education Centre offers relevant literature, referrals and peer support. @_sabrinawitch_

OPINION

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 28, 2019

| 15

The future is open

Our next president must prioritize open education in order to increase the accessibility of postsecondary education

OERs are any type of educational materials that are in the public domain or introduced with an open license. KYLE WEST / PHOTO EDITOR

Sabrina Macklai Opinion Editor

With tuition and living costs on the rise, obtaining a post-secondary education can be extremely costly. One of the higher costs of education are textbook fees; a first year life sciences student can expect to pay $825.15 in new textbooks. To reduce the overall cost and increase the accessibility of post-secondary education, open educational resources were created. OERs are any type of educational materials that are in the public domain or introduced with an open license. They can be freely used, shared or adapted by anyone. There are many benefits of open education. For students, the use of OERs can alleviate the stresses associated with exorbitant textbook costs. In addition to cost-saving benefits, there are correlations between the use of OERs and higher grades, and the use of OERS and lower course withdrawal rates. Even more, accessible OERs can remove barriers for students with print disabilities. The use of OERs also avoids the problems characteristic of traditional textbooks. Problems such as bundled

content, use of access codes that control and limit access to material and the assignment of “updated” textbook editions made for the sole purpose of profit generation are resolved by the use of OERs. With all the benefits, it begs the question why hasn’t McMaster University done more to push for OERs?

OERs are any type of educational materials that are in the public domain or introduced with an open license. They can be freely used, shared or adapted by anyone. Recently, McMaster professor Catherine Anderson created the first open-access linguistics textbook with support from the university and a $15,000 grant from eCampusOntario’s open textbook initiative. While this is a great accomplishment, An-

derson’s textbook is not enough to create open education on campus. The McMaster Students Union has advocated for OERs in the past. Last year, they ran the #TextbookBroke campaign with the support of the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance. This campaign aimed to encourage instructors to adopt OERs in efforts to address textbook affordability. The 2018 McMaster University budget submission form also recommends that the university invest $50,000 to support professors in adopting or creating OERs that are specific to McMaster courses. The document contains many suggestions for the university, moved forward by the MSU. However, in light of the recent changes to post-secondary education funding made by the Ford government, it is unclear if any of the MSU’s recommendations, let alone a $50,000 fund for OERs, will materialize. But beyond advocacy efforts by the MSU, the university has yet to provide legitimate support for open education. According to Olga Perkovic, co-chair of the McMaster OER committee, the committee’s workings are not supported financially or with policy.

There are many benefits of open education. For students, the use of OERs can alleviate the stresses associated with exorbitant textbook costs. This is in contrast with Queen’s University, who are at the forefront of open education in Ontario. The OER committee at Queen’s is a top-down movement, that is, their provost specifically made open education a priority, which involved providing financial and infrastructural support. According to the MSU budget submission, other Canadian universities including the University of Alberta, Simon Fraser University and the University of Calgary have thousands of dollars in funding allocated for OERs. McMaster ought to follow suit and prioritize open education for its students. To do so would mean to commit dedicated funds alongside time and efforts to ensure faculty members have the capacity to implement

OERs in the classroom. In the meantime, instructors can help support the open movement by using open materials in their courses whenever it is possible. There are many available collections of OERs for instructors to use. For example, the non-profit organization eCampusOntario hosts a provincially-funded open textbook library that carries hundreds of textbooks and other educational resources from a variety of disciplines. Students can also support the open movement through discussing implementation of OERs with their instructors, uploading and encouraging their peers to upload their research onto McMaster’s institutional repository MacSphere and contacting the committee to recommend a president to ensure open education is a priority of the incoming president. To stay up to date on the happenings of McMaster’s OER committee, the group’s meeting minutes are publicly available through McMaster LibGuides. @theSilhouette

The

HUNGRY GAMES FOOD FOR THOUGHT A Battle of THE

McMaster Chefs

The Challengers

PAUL HOAG

Executive Chef McMaster University CCC,CEC,CHT

Tuesday, April 9, 2019 Celebration Hall (KTH B116) Doors Open: 6:00 P.M. Event: 6:30 P.M. – 7:30 P.M. Hosted by:

Liana Bontempo MPH, RD Registered Dietitian and Wellness Manager

Colin HatheriLl Assistant Chef La Piazza

ANDY LEUNG Assistant Chef East Meets West Bistro

Join us at The Hungry Games – Food for Thought an interactive culinary showdown where some of McMaster’s top chefs will demonstrate their skills to find out who’s got the best ‘chops’! Students will learn about foods that can help power your brain and boost your memory (perfect timing with exams only a few days away) from McMaster’s award-winning hospitality team and sample the food the chefs are dishing out! Audience members will have a chance to ask the chefs and McMaster’s registered dietician any questions about how food can help with improving memory and vote on your favourite dish as we announce the winner of The Hungry Games.

More info at macblockparty.ca

FREE FO O D!

Foodgrammers Unite! The Student Success Centre wants you to be a judge at The Hungry Games! Follow @MacSSC on Instagram for contest details.

A&C

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 28, 2019

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Arts & Culture The Repair Café is coming Workshop aims to promote sustainability in the age of disposal and replacement

Volunteer “fixers” teach workshop attendees at OCAD University how to sew. C/O REPAIR CAFE TORONTO Anastasia Richards Contributor

Our lifestyles tend to be disposable. Many of us are prone to throwing things away and replacing them without thinking twice about it. We reach for simplicity and convenience, regardless of the consequences. The Repair Café, a grassroots organization based in Toronto, will be hosting their first event in Hamilton at the Worker’s Arts and Heritage Centre as part of the ongoing Division of Labour exhibit. Set to take place on March 30 from 1 to 4 p.m., the workshop will gather community members to learn how to fix things together and address sustainability. The Repair Café launched in Amsterdam in May 2009. The philosophies of the event are all linked to promoting sustainability, helping out your neighbours

The philosophies of the event are all linked to promoting sustainability, helping out your neighbours and getting to know others in the community. and getting to know others in the community. In 2013, there was a small group of citizens in Toronto that heard of the event in Amsterdam and wanted to bring it to the greater Toronto area. “Whether it be… electronics, sewing and mending, small motor repair, carpentry. Individuals that have the skill set come to the café, usually held in

public spaces such as libraries or community centres and they teach people how to repair on their own,” explained Suzanne Carte, curator of the Division of Labour Exhibit at the Worker’s Arts and Heritage Centre. Not only does the Repair Café provide you with the opportunity to learn to be handy, it provides an opportunity to meet people in your community. While you wait on your repair or even if you just want to stop by and see what it’s all about, you can get to know your fellow neighbours. “With that, there may be some intergenerational conversation…talking about an object will lead to one’s life, uses for said object, storytelling and all of that. It’s about building community and skill sharing too,” said Carte. We live in an age where disposal and replacement are all

too easy. Many of us are far too keen on replacing things once they’re slightly damaged. The Repair Café workshops aim to challenge this notion by facilitating an opportunity for people to learn how to be handy, as part of a community and on their own. The workshops also aim to challenge gender roles that are present within the context of the work associated with repairs. The Repair Café creates an environment where preconceived notions about gender, such as who can sew and knit or do small-motor repairs, can be addressed and broken down. The Repair Café wishes to create a comfortable and inviting atmosphere so that even those who do not want to come and get something fixed can still feel compelled to attend and be a part of the community. As an example, Carte will be bringing her iron.

“I could probably go and find out how to do it via a digital platform, but I really want to be able to sit down with a person who can take me through the steps, answer any questions that I have in how to better care and serve this object that then services me,” said Carte. Attending the Repair Café will provide her with an opportunity to collaborate with others in her community, share stories with them, exchange knowledge and extend the lifetime of her appliance. The Repair Café hopes to change people’s mindset. Every contribution helps to improve our sustainability practices and it can all begin by learning how to fix the little things.

@theSilhouette

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The Silhouette

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 28, 2019

THE FINAL SHOW

Graduating Studio Art students show the diversity of their works in the annual SUMMA exhibition Rya Buckley A&C Reporter

From April 6 to April 17, the Studio Art program’s 2019 graduates will present the annual SUMMA exhibition. Entitled Counterpoint, the show will be curated by Hamilton textile artist Hitoko Okada. For the first time in over 30 years, the McMaster Museum of Art will not house the show due to its ongoing updates. The exhibition will instead take place at the Cotton Factory. McMaster Studio Arts is a small program, with the fourth year class consisting of only 19 artists. With instruction on a range of media and a focus on environmentally responsible practices, the program has produced diverse artists who care about the world around them. Counterpoint means “to combine elements” and is fitting considering the amalgamation of their various styles and the balance they try to strike within their individual works.

For the first time in over 30 years, the McMaster Museum of Art will not house the show due to its ongoing updates. The graduates organized the exhibition themselves. While it gave them a chance to learn more about the lives of professional artists, it also taught them to work together. Coordinating among 19 people was not easy and after some bumps in the road to find the perfect venue, they are all relieved to see the show finally coming together. Deeshani Fernando Fernando spends a fair amount of time in nature, drawing and photographing the landscape around her. Back in the studio, she takes the colours, textures and lines from the environment to create the emotional and abstract landscape paintings that she’ll be displaying at Counterpoint.

“For me, [Counterpoint is] about… this the balance between the organic and the artificialness in my work… [I] t’s taking… different colors… , textures and mark making and creating harmony and balance between all those different things within one image and creating a sort of peacefulness in that work,” Fernando explained. Throughout the process of organizing the SUMMA show, Fernando learned how to survive as an artist. She feels that she now has an art practice of her own and regards her peers as professional contacts. As she leaves McMaster to pursue teaching, she will take those skills and contacts with her. Caroline (Eun-ae) Lee For Lee, Counterpoint refers to the way her class’s wildly different works complement each other. Having spent four years critiquing and supporting one another’s practice, the exhibition represents the harmony between their different themes and materials. The Korean-Canadian artist explores traditional Korean materials in her work. She portrays these traditional materials in a modern, digital format and then incorporates threading to unite the two ideas. “I always get confused between Canadian and Korean aspects of myself… [T]his sense of detachment, trying to attach to something or being porous, kind of like a sponge, absorbing a lot of different cultures in order to make up my singular identity. And just like maintenance of this traditional and modern form of art,” Lee said. Currently aiming to go into interactive design, Lee feels she learned the reality of being an artist. She has been exposed to the business side of the art world by learning to solve problems creatively and produce even without inspiration. The program’s push toward using materials to convey subtle themes has evolved Lee’s art practice. Sean Cooper Cooper didn’t have a lot of purpose behind his art when he

entered the studio arts program. Four years later, he feels he is a more deliberate artist and currently explores ideas around memory and coming of age. At Counterpoint, he will be presenting acrylic paintings of Westdale, where he grew up. “[W]ith my work, I just try and talk about what that experience was like… [D]ifferent places… might not necessarily be important to other people but I guess I have certain memories there,” Cooper said. The fact that this is the last art gathering of his university career saddens Cooper, but he knows the entire class is proud of the show. Despite the challenges they faced, they demonstrated that they could accomplish anything with collaboration. The different backgrounds and art practices of the class would not seem to mesh, but Cooper feels a nameless common thread unites their work.

The fact that this is the last art gathering of his university career saddens Cooper, but he knows the entire class is proud of the show. Despite the challenges they faced, they demonstrated that they could accomplish anything with collaboration. The different backgrounds and art practices of the class would not seem to mesh, but Cooper feels a nameless common thread unites their work.

Delaney McVeigh McVeigh believes process and environmentalism brings together her diverse class’ work. A self-identified environmental artist, she explores interactions between living things with one another and with inanimate objects. Having grown up in a small town near Point Pelee National Park, she spent a lot of time in nature growing up. McVeigh’s work for Counterpoint is a series of photolithographic prints. This long and old process of creating images is meaningful to her. She tries to present her dystopian and nonsensical images in an aesthetically pleasing way with vintage elements. “I use a lot of vintage imagery in my work… [A]fter World War II… there was the baby boom and they created a very unstable environment where it was a throwaway society. Nothing was fixed, it’s all just thrown away… And then it wasn’t until the ‘90s when the environment became a very serious topic,” McVeigh explained. Her work is personal, but the program has made her more comfortable with speaking about her art. By sharing these narratives with her classmates and professors, they all grew close. She anticipates that this graduation show will be bittersweet, but there is a lot from her time at McMaster that she will be taking with her. She learned to critique her own work and reach out for help, which will help her as she pursues a career in sustainable architecture. Jayda Conti After graduating with her Bachelor of Fine Arts with minors in theatre and film studies and music, Conti will be going into teaching. Her teaching program will focus on educational art programming in the community, something that Conti is an advocate for. She is excited about the fact that Counterpoint will bring her program’s work off campus and into the Hamilton community. Conti will be showing a five-piece installation consisting of floating boxes with deconstructed paintings in them. Her work revolves around her

experiences with depression and anxiety to open a dialogue about mental health. “[S]o for this body of work, there’s five different stories to which I’m telling, one of which is the story about my mother’s cancer. Normally… they’re more negative experiences that I’m trying to understand in a more positive way. So my strokes are colors that are brighter in trying to… accept these experiences and… learn from them but also move forward,” Conti explained.

“[T]hey’re more negative experiences that I’m trying to understand in a more positive way. So my strokes are colors that are brighter in trying to… accept these experiences and… learn from them but also move forward.” Jaydi Conti Graduating artist With her theatrical background, Conti sometimes feels as if she is performing herself. There is vulnerability in her portrayal of her life and she explores privacy versus vulnerability in her work. However, her time at McMaster gave her the confidence to tell her story through theatre, music and art. The graduation show will open with a reception at the Cotton Factory from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 6. The graduating class looks forward to sharing their work with the Hamilton community.

@theSilhouette

A&C

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Artists: 1. Caroline (Eun-ae) Lee 2. Deeshani Fernando 3. Delaney McVeigh 4. Deeshani Fernando 5. Sean Cooper 6. Sean Cooper 7. Sean Cooper 8. Delaney McVeigh 6

KYLE WEST / PHOTO EDITOR

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The Silhouette

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 28, 2019

interFACING with the world around us Thesis student creates multimedia installation about our virtual and physical identities Andrew Mrozowski Staff Writer

Stop. Take a second and look up from this article. You’ll most likely see everyone around you on some form of technology, be it on their phones, tablets or computers. We now live in a world where we are so heavily dependent on technology. According to Yvonne Lu, people should be more conscious about how technology affects their identity. Originally starting off her undergraduate career in commerce, Lu realized her passion laid in a different faculty. Lu ultimately switched to marketing and communications but felt like something was missing. She decided to take on a double major between communications and theatre. Now in her final year at McMaster, Lu decided to combine her two disciplines into one overall thesis, taking the form of an interactive multime-

dia installation and a physical performance called interFACE, as part of the School of the Arts Honours Performance Series. The concept for interFACE came to Lu over this past summer when she was employed by a music video company to be their social media coordinator. Although typically not very active on social media in her own life, Lu found herself getting jealous from the various platforms that she managed as there was an overall feeling that everyone was doing better than her. “Although there definitely were positive and negative experiences, always being on social media and seeing that people younger than me were doing cooler things than I was, working with huge producers, big companies and getting more responsibility than I was… a lot of the times I felt jealous. It’s why I felt I was a step back, I understood why others were successful and a lot of it was

trying to catchup with people,” explained Lu. interFACE examines how young women interact with technology and how this oversaturation impacts their identity as they grow up. Stemming from a vignette of experiences, the multi-disciplinary art experience allows attendees to delve into the development of identity to look at similarities and differences between how we portray ourselves online versus in person. “The question to consider is whether or not social media and digital technology enables us to do more things, or if it consumes us and we are at the whim of the mass media,” explained Lu. This form of installation is experimental as it features two parts. Viewers will first embark through an audio-visual capsule, which is an audio-sensory experience that saturates the audience in a world that Lu and her team have designed to

“The question to consider is whether or not social media and digital technology enables us to do more things, or if it consumes us and we are at the whim of the mass media.” Yvonne Lu Creator of interFACE convey the importance of why we should pay more attention to our own identities. Next viewers will be seated to enjoy the physical portion which expands on what they have observed in the audio-visual capsule. “This is not something that you would see in traditional the-

Performance shots of interFACE. C/O YVONNE LU AND JAMES RAMLAL

atre. It’s not a narrative or linear piece. We are creating a visceral experience for both our collaborators and audience. We want them to feel that they are in the belly of the beast,” said Lu. For the thesis student, what the audience takes away from the experience is the primary objective of this piece. “There isn’t a specific message I want people to walk away with. It’s live theatre and it’s all about interpretation. For us, that’s kind of what I want audiences to walk away with. Questions of what they felt. It’s an emotional journey rather than a narrative,” said Lu. Show times for interFACE will run on March 28 at 12:30 and 8 p.m. and on March 29 and March 30 at 12:30 and 7 p.m. at the Black Box Theatre in L.R. Wilson Hall. Admission is free.

@andrewmrozowski

Descriptor descriptor C/O YVONNE LU

SPORTS

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 28, 2019

Sports League, loss and a labour of love League of Legends A Team Support player Marty Kyorskis and coach Pedro Ribeiro discuss their season and bringing esports into mainstream university competitive sports Coby Zucker Contributor

In week one of the College League of Legends tournament, McMaster’s team was rated 11th overall by ESPN. That’s 11th out of 350 teams across North America. “We didn’t expect it to be that high,” said coach Pedro “Photograph” Ribeiro. “We knew that we had to make a name for ourselves because a lot of teams, typically when they see McMaster, they underestimate our ability just because a lot of these other schools on these rankings do have esports programs at their schools.” Ribeiro and the team let the pressure fuel them throughout their strong 5-1 regular season performance, only dropping games in their set loss to York University. The hiccup in their otherwise dominant season meant they had to face off against the Rochester Institute of Technology in the first round, while other playoff teams were granted an automatic bye into the second round. “It was a pretty thrilling series,” said Ribeiro. “I’ve never really been through something like that.” The first game in the series against Rochester went Mac’s way in a fairly one-sided victory. In the next game, the team’s collective focus wavered, and Rochester snapped up a quick response to level the score at one game apiece. Game three was a 42-minute slugfest that eventually went in the favour of Rochester. After the game, Mac put in their substitute Jungler in an effort to shake something loose. The result was an assertive win to put the series score at 2-2. More than four hours into the series, the last game of McMaster’s season began. “I don’t know how to describe that final game,” said Ribeiro. “It was just a really ex-

Marty “Diminish” Kyorskis competing at Austin Dreamhack LAN in 2016. C/O MCMASTER ESPORTS CLUB

ceptionally played game by both sides, and it was a true skill match up. They were definitely on par with our abilities which, going into it, we didn’t expect them to actually put up too much of a fight. But they really did give it their all.”

“Work hard at it. It’s not a walk in the park. It’s a serious commitment.” Marty “Diminish” Kyoorskis McMaster Esports Club The early exit for the highly-touted squad was particularly difficult as a number of players and staff are graduating this year, including Ribeiro and the

team’s Support player, Marty “Diminish” Kyorskis. Nonetheless, Ribeiro thinks that the remaining players will be back with a vengeance. “That’s unfinished business,” said Ribeiro. “They want to avenge us next year. At least some of the guys, that’s what they’re saying. I know they’re probably going to go hard and try to make up for the mistakes and get better.” The season might be over, but Kyorskis still has much to be proud of at the end of his collegiate career. As a progenitor of the McMaster Esports club, Kyorskis was able to help start legitimizing competitive League of Legends and the rest of the esports scene at Mac. He feels that even more can be done in the coming years. “I think [McMaster] is reluctant to support gaming,

as they see themselves as more of an academic institution,” said Kyorskis. “They think that it’s going to affect their image, for example. But as the sort of train departs the station, more schools will say, ‘Okay, we need to get on this because it’s a big thing’. It is a thing. And we don’t want to look like that school that’s stuck in the past.” Kyorskis would encourage anyone interested to take the same dive into the world of collegiate esports that he made in his first year at Mac. “Work hard at it,” said Kyorskis. “It’s not a walk in the park. It’s a serious commitment. You’re going to have to put in a lot of work and you’re going to have to be able to balance your life around getting better at the game and surviving school, because naturally we don’t want to give up academics in favour of

playing the game. The potential is there because we’ve set up the structure. So work for it, earn it, and you can do it.” So what’s next for Kyorskis and Ribeiro after they graduate? Kyorskis, as one of the best Support players in North America, seriously considered pursuing a career as a pro-gamer before deciding that it was not for him. Instead he is going to work on growing his Twitch.tv following to stay involved with the game. Similarly, Ribeiro can see himself involved with pro or semi-pro League of Legends but feels that he will more likely keep up his competitive League of Legends presence by supporting the McMaster team as an alumnus. @theSilhouette

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www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 28, 2019

You can go home again Returning home from three seasons in NCAA basketball, Christina Buttenham played a key role in the women’s basketball team’s first-ever Bronze Baby Graham West Staff Writer

Christina Buttenham was one of the newest additions to the women’s basketball team this year, and her presence on the court was immediately felt by the Marauders. Buttenham is an experienced player with a great veteran presence, having transferred from the University of Iowa earlier this year, where she played National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball for three seasons. After playing basketball for the Hawkeyes, Buttenham felt a loss of desire to play the game. However, after deciding to come to Mac, she felt a renewed drive to play for the Marauders, mostly due to the fact that she is from Hamilton and already knew many of the players on the team. Her decision to transfer turned out to be a great decision as she felt really comfortable on the team all season, eventually going on to win the U Sports National Championship in Buttenham’s first year in maroon.

“[T]his is the best culture and the best team I’ve ever been a part of. They’re so goofy, and who we are off the court definitely helps us so much on the court and we care about one another and we’re all great friends.” Christina Buttenham Women’s basketball team “I think the style of play was very fitting, and also knowing a lot of girls who already played there,” Buttenham said. “When I came from Iowa, I didn’t even think I wanted to play at all anymore, but I went to a couple of games and I really enjoyed watching. I started missing it again, which I think really

helped a lot and made me want to play again for Mac. Also being close to home was a big factor.” For Buttenham, it was a smooth transition coming to Ontario University Athletics from Iowa as the Marauders’ more fast-paced style of play was one that better-suited Buttenham’s capabilities. However, getting used to the exact flavour of OUA basketball did take some time as she had to readjust from its American counterpart. “Coming back here it’s a lot more fast-paced, a lot more transition and making different reads, setting up screens and just kind of playing off of one another,” Buttenham said. “I find it more enjoyable down here and I think that’s because I grew up playing this style of basketball.” “I think mentally, it was a harder transition for me just to get back into how I used to play basketball before I went away,” Buttenham added. “But the team was really patient, and the coaches were great, and I think they helped [me] so much in getting game-ready to play again.” Buttenham was a key addition to the Marauders’ championship run, especially being a seasoned player with a diverse resume. In their championship win over Laval University, Buttenham was named Player of the Game, stuffing the stat sheet with 13 points, seven rebounds, three assists, three blocks and four steals. Having previously known many of the players on the team, Buttenham was a perfect fit for the team chemistry and consistently had a major impact on the court even leading up to the Finals. “It was amazing, especially having the national tournament at Ryerson [University], and only being about an hour away, we basically had a home crowd and it was amazing playing in front of them,” Buttenham said. “They were so helpful in us winning, that I think that whenever we would have lulls on the court, they brought us energy. Being able to win and then coming back home and getting to celebrate with all of your friends who were at the game was really

Named Player of the Game, Buttenham stuffed the stat sheet in the team’s win over Laval. C/O NOAH HOFFMAN

exciting.” Taking the tournament by storm, team culture was one of the key factors in their championship success. As is the case with most championship teams, team chemistry extends beyond the court. “... [T]his is the best culture and the best team I’ve ever been a part of,” Buttenham said. “They’re so goofy, and who we are off the court definitely helps

us so much on the court, and we care about one another and we’re all great friends. Even now, we’re still texting in the group chat about how much we miss each other.” The women’s basketball team is one of the most revered teams here at Mac, boasting a top-notch coaching staff with incredible players. Even though a few key pieces of the championship team will be graduating

this year, the team is always one that can do major damage on the court. The Marauders will certainly be a team to watch as they will try to defend their title, and bring home back-to-back national championships.

@theSilhouette

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www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 28, 2019

The Silhouette

WHAT I LEARNED AT MAC Fifth-year volleyball player Andrew Richards reflects on the five things being a Marauder taught him

Andrew Richards Contributor

Being on the other side of my five years here at McMaster, I cannot picture my journey any other way. Although there were times when things may not have gone as planned, there was never a moment in time where I felt like I was not in the right spot. When I was first asked to write this article, I was kind of uncomfortable because I felt like it makes it seem like I have my act together when

I am just a senior university student who is still figuring things out.

I really do not. I am just a senior university student who is still figuring things out. But these are the things that I have learned during my time at Mac and maybe they can help others, especially those who are just starting out on their journey.

FOCUS ON SMALL IMPROVEMENTS DAILY One thing we are often told to do in athletics and academics is to set these goals for ourselves, especially big end goals. I used to be a big believer of that, and I have made my own goals, but I think there’s a different way to look at it. If you change your mind from, ‘I’m focusing on one big goal’ to, ‘what’s one thing today I can get better at’, you are able to get more results. Instead of

One thing we are often told to do in athletics and academics is to set these goals for ourselves, especially big end goals. just chasing after one thing, you are also trying to make yourself better. For me, working on improving every day has made me go further. For example, instead of setting a goal of getting a certain grade, set a goal to study harder every day, and eventually you can reach that goal of getting the grade you want.

BE YOUR OWN FRIEND It sounds a little cheesy, but I think university is very hard especially as a first-year. Everyone experiences those moments where things really are not going well. So I think one thing that’s really important, no matter what you’re going through, is to be your own advocate and your own friend. Things are not always going to go so well, so you have to be the first one to let yourself off the hook and forgive yourself. In the past, I have put a lot of pressure on myself and have been my own worst critic. Looking back now, I know that you cannot expect other people to forgive you or let you off the hook if you can’t do that for yourself.

CONNECT WITH THOSE AROUND YOU One thing that we are lucky to have at Mac is the amazing people that are around us. It is a lost opportunity for someone to try and get through four or five years on their own. Everyone you meet at McMaster, you can take something away for them. Whether it be by building a relationship with them, or by

Things are not always going to go so well, so you have to be the first one to let yourself off the hook and forgive yourself.

The Silhouette

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KYLE WEST / PHOTO EDITOR

I know now that everything happens in time and if you try to force things to happen when it is not time, it will not always work out the way you want it to. being inspired by them. Even if you don’t love stuff about them you can still learn from them, and it would be a disservice to yourself and to others to not take advantage of these connections.

THERE IS NO RUSH TO GET WHERE YOU ARE GOING

right away, just know that you have time and if you have a plan, things will work out eventually.

This is something that I struggled with earlier on. Before I came into university, all the teams that I played on before I had a large role. But when I first got here, I was a small fish in a big pond. So it was difficult for me, and I’m sure a lot of other athletes, because you want to start feeling like you’re contributing right away. Though when I look back at the past five years, I am super proud of everything I have done with my team. I know now that everything happens in time and if you try to force things to happen when it is not time, it will not always work out the way you want it to. Don’t be upset if things are not going your way

BE AUTHENTIC TO WHO YOU ARE One really important thing in all this is realizing there’s no one way to do all of this. There’s a lot of amazing people at Mac, but the coolest thing is that ev-

Don’t be upset if things are not going your way right away, just know that you have time and if you have a plan, things will work out eventually.

After being around so many unique people at Mac, if I could go back and encourage my first-year self anything, it would be to just be myself. eryone is unique. As athletes, we put a lot of pressure on ourselves to fit a mould, or to be a certain way. Looking back, something I wish I allowed myself to do more was just be my unique self. I think it is exhausting trying to put on a face. After being around so many unique people

at Mac, if I could go back and encourage my first-year self anything, it would be to just be myself. I may not have it all figured out, but one thing I do know is that these five things are principles I am going to carry with me as I move forward in life. Whether I go on to play professional volleyball or into the work world, I know that if I always take these lessons with me, it will help take me to my next goal. @theSilhouette

GAMES

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 28, 2019

Games

ACROSS

1- Hindu queen; 5- Office subs; 10- Jr.’s exam; 14- North Carolina university; 15- Love, Italian-style; 16- Horrors!; 17- Mil. leaders; 18- Metal pin; 19- River to the Moselle; 20- Achievement; 23- Judge Lance; 24- Japanese immigrant; 25- Lingo; 27- Chinese menu phrase;

29- Golden, in France; 31- Patient care grp.; 32- Mine find; 34- Fight site; 35- Intention; 36- Capable of changing color; 40- Hi-___ graphics; 41- Playthings; 42- Memorable period; 43- Cockpit abbr.; 44- French pronoun; 45- Halved; 49- Lout;

51- Raise a glass to; 55- Crew’s control; 56- Resembling a prehistoric human; 59- Pillar; 60- Fit to be tied; 61- Kitchen addition; 62- French friend; 63- Covered with hair; 64- Robert of “The Sopranos”; 65- Soviet news service; 66- Buffalo skater; 67- Sun. speeches;

8- Military post; 9- Clockmaker Thomas; 10- Riddle; 11- China’s largest city; 12- Pertaining to bodily structure; 13- Rocky hilltop; 21- Exodus;

22- Cocktail; 26- Male cat; 28- Barfly; 30- This one’s ___; 33- Biol. branch; 34- Monopoly quartet: Abbr.; 36- Skin tumor;

DOWN

1- Recover; 2- One of the Furies; 3- Sarge, for one; 4- Not ___ many words; 5- Diamond protectors; 6- Ludwig and Jannings; 7- Motion picture;

37- Sensation; 38- Emotional outburst; 39- Convert into leather; 40- Beam; 46- Proceed in a leisurely way; 47- Table attendant; 48- Commands;

50- Novelist Joyce Carol ___; 52Toothbrush brand; 53- Essential oil; 54- Author Hite; 57- Immerses; 58- Fragrant neckwear; 59- One way to stand;

FREE! Student SURVIVAL GUIDE

COUPONS | ASSIGNMENT PL ANNER GRAB YOUR COPY FROM THE UNDERGROUND (MUSC B117 ) OR AT THE MSU OFFICE (MUSC 201)

Any bitches, complaints, beefs, etc., anyone has about this or any other issue this year...

The Silwhoette Vol. 1

MACMISTER UNIBERSITY. HAMILTON, ON. MARCH 28, 2019

Literal infant gets elected to $RA, does a better job Individuals with weird-ass God-complexes were shocked the other week when it was announced that a literal infant, Bay Bee, was elected to the $RA. Bee, age 0, was elected to the assembly for running on a platform that students could identify with. One major point on their platform was introducting nap time to morning classes and crying literally all of the time, something that really resonated with students “When I read Bee’s platform, it really made me feel that I could be exactly who I wanted to be,” said tenth year student, Brock Lee. “It may be taking me ten years to finish my undergrad but at least I can nap in class now.” According to our sources, those with recurring platform points get thrown in jail by outgoing $RA members. It is the absolute worst elections mistake you could ever make, without a doubt. Although the votes were very close, but Bee ultimately won the election for having fresh ideas for what to do with the assembly. As a thought, it might be because they are a literal infant. Maybe not though. Unfortunately, Bee wasn’t able to comment on their win as their mom picked up when we called and told us that they were sleeping. We’ll be sure to catch a quote from Bee when they wake up. or sometime over the next 18 years.

TOUGH SHIT

NO. 1

We found this super old copy of the Silwhoette under our fridge! (BTW @John our fridge is broken)

Do I look like I know what a JPG is?

University just a scam this Local man is whole time! nervous Who would have thought that only after four years of an undergraduate program do you realize that university is just one big ass scam. On Monday, fourth year students across Ontario came to the realization that, to their surprise, studying at an expensive university literally does not amount to success and that they should have done a one year college program instead. “I can’t believe I was such an idiot when I was 17 and had to decide what the hell I was going to do with the rest of my life!” said fourth year student, Hugh Morris. “Now this crushing amount of debt doesn’t look too cool.”

The news comes just a few months after the government decided to royally fuck students across the province. Which, like honestly, thanks for that, I’m more ready to fight everyone around me now. “You’ll find more luck getting a job after college than you would a fouryear, theory intensive program,” said my mom in 2014. She was right. The only bit of advice that I have for anyone entering post-secondary studies or graduate school is this: don’t do it. Or do it but like don’t do it here. Your call in the end, but I recommend that you don’t. More on B2

It may be nine months later but a local man who wishes to be anonymous (but probably wishes he wasn’t) is still nervous that he’ll bump into a woman he met on Tinder. “Even though she ghosted me, I still feel that she might be obsessed with me,” said the man over the woman, who he hasn’t said a single word to in person. “I can’t even go to a local cafe without being worried I’ll see her there.” The woman, no longer on Tinder, genuinely forgot about this man until it was brought up. “You can’t trust anyone these days when you’re shitty to girls on Tinder.” More on A6

Disclaimer: The Hamilton Speculator is a work of satire and fiction and should not under any circumstances be taken seriously. Unless you’re a Scorpio. Grow the hell up and get out of the bubble.

INSIDE PROFESSIONAL GOSSIPING IS JUST SUBMITTING RECOMMENDATIONS WITHOUT CONSULTATIONS A3 GROW UP A6 I HONESTLY CAN’T WAIT TO NEVER BE ON THIS CAMPUS AGAIN B2 I’LL MISS HAVING A PLATFORM WHERE I COULD JUST... YELL ABOUT THINGS ALL THE TIME AND IT WAS CONSDIERED SATIRE B5 ARTICLE IN STUDENT PAPER CHANGES SOMEONE’S MIND C1 CUTE DATE IDEAS FOR YOU AND THE BOY WHO THINKS YOU’RE STILL IN LOVE WITH HIM C4 I’LL BE AN INTERN UNTIL THE DAY THAT I DIE JM4 YOU ONLY HAVE ONE ISSUE LEFT TO BRING ME THAT ORDER OF MACBALLS JM5 PER ISSUE: Your vote to let me take over the MSU INCL. HST, PST & a Tylenol