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In defense of liking dumb sh*t (We’re looking at you Neko Atsume fans) Page 17
The Silhouette Thursday, March 10, 2016
Mac o’s democracy SRA results and electoral reform and the General Assembly, oh my! You’ve been voting a lot lately, find out what it all means. Page 5
SPORTS
OUA Champions
Men’s Volleyball is getting ready to fight for CIS gold
OPINIONS
Israel-Apartheid Week Hearing from student groups on campus Pages 14 and 15
ANDY MOVIE REVIEWS
London Has Fallen The Little Prince Pages 31 and 33
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MARCH 2, 1973
The first Mac baby On Feb. 21, 1973, Sandra Fillipov made history as the first baby to be born at the McMaster Medical Centre. Now the McMaster Children’s Hospital, the original health care centre was used as more of a General Hospital and became exclusively a children’s hospital on April 4, 2011.
Did you know you could still pick up copies of
SEX AND THE STEEL CITY on newsstands across campus? Because you totally can.
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 10, 2016
Meet the people behind the profs Page 4
The Silhouette
News
Study up on the changes coming to VP elections Page 5
Bringing her degree to life Since graduating from McMaster with a degree in Fine Art and Multimedia, Allison Rutland has brought her talent to the big screen Bina Patel Contributor
Allison Rutland is arguably one of McMaster’s most notable alumni. She graduated from the Faculty of Humanities in 2002 with a concentration in Multimedia and Fine Arts. She now works for one of the world’s most renowned animation studios, Pixar. Just a few weeks ago the talented alumna won an Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Character Animation in A Feature Production at the University of California for her work in Inside Out. Rutland considered pursuing a career in animation early on but she did not give it much thought, especially while attending high school. She recounted, “I was interested in it when I was younger but then in high school I thought I would be an environmental scientist, and then ended up going to McMaster for Art.” She credited McMaster for establishing a theoretical perspective of art, and noted two professors in particular. “Judy was the painting professor and Hugh was the life drawing [professor] — they were really good, I really enjoyed them,” Rutland said. The move from McMaster to Pixar Animation Studios was a gradual process. After her undergraduate education, Rutland applied to Sheridan College for computer animation. And after working on film and television in Toronto and London for a few years, she decided to apply to Pixar in California, something she says friends helped her accomplish. “I had friends who were at Pixar three years before me and it kind of made me want to apply here. They
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Canadian campus news Saad Ejaz Contributor
Canada invests in strategic science and engineering partnership On Wednesday March 2, Kirsty Duncan, the Canadian Minister of Sciences, announced $48 million in funding to 76 research initiatives across Canada through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada’s Strategic Partnership Grants. The funds will be used to help create environmentally friendly jobs, grow the economy and protect the environment.
McMaster research receives $12.3 million for wireless patient monitoring
Sully from Pixar’s Monsters University remains one of Rutland’s favourite animation projects. C/O PIXARPLANET.COM
helped me submit a reel.” Rutland says working on animated films requires a range of skills. Animators are assigned various shots by the leads, followed by a shot briefing. “You get a series of shots and you animate what’s in those shots. Sometimes there might be several characters and sometimes there might be one character. It’s not a definite thing,” she explained. Rutland and her team have worked on some high profile movies, including Brave, Toy Story 3 and Monsters University. She says that Sully remains one of her favourite projects. “I had a fun time on Monsters University. I ended up getting a lot of Sully shots and kind of got to know
that character well because I got so many shots with him. It was really fun.” The staff works rigorously on these films and, according to Rutland, animators always feel their comfort zone is being pushed. “It’s one of those jobs where you’re always learning. You kind of have to approach it almost as a student every time and you’re always going to come across something that’s really difficult,” she said. “I like that aspect of it because I always challenge myself to learn and get better.” Of the 120 animators at Pixar there are roughly 25 women, a ratio Rutland explained has affected the way some characters are created. Brave
for instance was a female heavy film and therefore required for a high level of femininity in its characters. “When there’s a female character, you kind of end up getting the women to animate them cause they can bring a certain amount of femininity that maybe the men wouldn’t know about. All my shots were Merida, she was the only character I animated with them,” she explained. Rutland is thankful for all the small steps that led her transition from an undergraduate at McMaster to an animator at Pixar. “It’s a really great job, I love it. I feel very lucky to have gotten in at this time to be where I am.”
A team of researchers at McMaster University will be receiving $12.3 million to advance a potentially lifesaving post-operative care system called SMArTVIEW. With SMArTVIEW, trained nurses will be able to connect with patients through wireless devices to monitor patients remotely, keep track of vital signs, and provide education to ensure their recovery and wellbeing.
U of T receives $4 million for cancer-screening software The University of Toronto has received $4 million dollars from the National Cancer Institute in the US for a software called Pathcore. Pathcore is a software that is used by pathologists to diagnose diseases such as cancer. The project involves six different data centres across Canada and the United States with the intent that diseases such as cancer can be diagnosed in a timely and effective manner.
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Thursday, March 10, 2016 | www.thesil.ca
Professors of McMaster gets personal The people behind the “Professors of McMaster” Facebook page
From left to right, Nafis Hossain, Mohammad Ali Khan, Osamah Al-Gayyali, and in front, Annie Cheng. Not pictured is Damian Tran. JON WHITE / PHOTO EDITOR
Alexandra Florescu News Reporter
There is a certain relationship between students and professors that makes students wary of approaching the people at the front of lecture halls. Osamah Al-Gayyali, now a third-year Biochemistry student, decided to do something about this. He got the idea while at the Biochemistry Society’s “Meet the Profs” event in his second year, where he could not shake the feeling of fear when approaching professors. Ironically, the event was held specifically with the goal of fostering student professor relations. When he saw his first semester professor Karun Singh, Al-Gayyali pulled him aside and took a different approach. He asked Singh if he would take a selfie with him. To his surprise, Singh agreed. “I take my phone out and all of a sudden I see three other biochem students trying to
squeeze in … So, I went on for the next two to three weeks, taking selfies with every single professor I knew. Dr. Yang, Dr. Miller, Eric Brown...” recalled Al-Gayyali. From a single selfie came a collection, and from that collection Professors of McMaster was born. Inspired by Brandon Stanton’s Humans of New York, Al-Gayyali decided to adapt the concept to showing students that professors are approachable. Al-Gayyali decided that it was time to move past selfies, recruiting Annie Cheng to take pictures for the page instead. Cheng and Al-Gayyali were already well acquainted. In fact, all five team members behind the initiative were in the same biochemistry group. “Except for Mohammad [Ali Khan]. He was the outsider,” they joked, clearly at ease with one another. Already two years in the running, the Facebook page for Professors of McMaster is
bound to feature at least one professor familiar to any given student. Each post involves a lengthy process. “From the interviews, we try to get something out of them that they don’t present during lectures and stuff, so more of their personal side. But sometimes profs are uncomfortable with sharing that side of them,” said Cheng. “So we ask them questions related to their education and history … their interests,” added Ali Khan. When asked what is so intimidating about professors, the group joked around, saying “they were old and scary.” On a more sombre tone, it became apparent that the fact that professors hold your marks and sometimes even your future in their hands was a big factor. The other was the fear that professors were too wise and busy to glean any benefit from conversations with students – a myth that professors shot down immediately in interviews with
“Because interviews are in their offices, I was worried it would be boring and look the same. But every prof has a different style, I find, which is interesting to me.” Annie Cheng Professors of McMaster Photographer
Professors of McMaster. Keeping things in perspective was another important message that professors seemed to communicate. “You know, at the time, you feel like you’re under a lot of strain but, in the grand scheme of things, like one midterm or test isn’t going to define your future. I think that’s an important message to send out to students,” said Nafis Hossain. While the interviews follow interesting narratives, Cheng says that the pictures tell a story on their own. “When I first went in though, because [interviews are] all in their offices, I was worried it would be boring and look the same. But every prof has a different style, I find, which is interesting to me.” In the future, Professors of McMaster hopes to start a webpage, where they can post full transcripts and audio clips of the interviews. @alexxflorescu
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 10, 2016
NEWS
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Shaking up the system... sort of With the 2016-17 Student Representative Assembly having been elected, the time has come to re-evaluate how the MSU selects three of its most high-ranking roles
Patrick Kim News Reporter
After the assembly of an ad hoc committee last summer and a public referendum during this year's Presidential elections, the beginning of some changes have finally come for the McMaster Students Union's Vice-President elections process. The Student Representative Assembly ratified several of these changes on March 6 following some slight revisions to the new policies brought forward by Miranda Clayton, the Operations Commissioner of the SRA. This shift is a result of some of the dissatisfaction with the internal voting process, both inside and outside of the SRA. In January 2016, a general referendum to move VP elections at-large failed to reach the required two-thirds majority by about 20 votes. One of four major changes includes the decision to elect candidates in a semi-open ballot. While voting will remain private during the meeting, each SRA member's vote will be released in the meeting minutes, with the goal of improving transparency. “The SRA should ideally be acting as an electoral college, meaning that they should be gathering as much feedback from their constituents as possible,” said Clayton. The assembly also approved a long-overdue change to the
votes of SRA members who run for a position on the Board of Directors. Any VP candidate that is serving as an SRA member will now be required to abstain during the voting period. This was based on several recommendations that the VP ad hoc committee made over the summer. For a decision made by a group of less than 40 students, this is an important revision for those who don’t hold a seat on the SRA when they run for a position. While internal pressures and politics will remain, it's a welcome change for students who want to burst the “MSU bubble.” “A lot of the time, the older SRA members know somebody who's running,” said Clayton, discussing some of the implicit and explicit pressures. “So new SRA members will get a message that's like, 'Oh, you should vote for this person, because I know they're the most experienced.' But it doesn't really give new SRA members a chance to really critically think for themselves.” Said Clayton, "I don't think this cultural shift will happen overnight, but I do think it'll happen over time." The other two changes stem from one of the major internal complaints from last year's VP elections, whose meeting extended to 22 hours, an enormous barrier for students trying to remain fair and engaged during the whole process.
“The SRA should ideally be acting as an electoral college, meaning that they should be gathering as much feedback from teir constituents as possible.”
"I think the biggest concern was just that this is the same meeting as VPs." With all of these changes, there is the hope that more students will engage with an organization that has been criticized for being too insular. Asked on her thoughts, Clayton said, “I would have preferred it was at-large, but I think given the circumstances this is the best we could do, and I am
happy with these changes.” “The final voting power is not in the hands of students, which is what I would have liked instead, but if we start this cultural shift now ... I am really interested to see where this goes.” @patrickmkim
Miranda Clayton SRA Science Based on this feedback, the policies have outlined a shift towards a debate-style format amongst candidates, as well as a significant reduction in time allotted for VP presentations. Clayton explained that this helps in fixing a great deal of redundancy, as all VP candidates spend a significant amount of time meeting each new SRA member beforehand. The Speaker is also elected during the same meeting as the VPs, and the changes will also be reflected in the time allocated to Speaker candidates. Current MSU Speaker Inna Berditchevskaia explained that this will also help shift the focus away from their platforms, which is less important than for the VPs. “[The Speaker's] platform isn't quite as important as how [they] handle a question period," she wrote in an online conversation.
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Change to special needs therapy in Canadian schools In typical McMaster fashion, Cheryl Missiuna’s novel approach to helping children with Developmental Coordination Disorder “revolutionizes” therapy options for patients Sabrina Lin Meducator
Frustrated by the inefficiency of the therapy model used to support children with special needs in schools, McMaster School of Rehabilitation Science professor Cheryl Missiuna decided it was time for change. At the onset of her journey, she didn’t realize how her team’s innovative service delivery model would
revolutionize the field of special needs therapy in elementary schools across Canada. Prof. Missiuna has served as Senior Scientist and Director at the CanChild Research Centre for seven years and is leading the Partnering for Change project. The project introduces a novel service delivery model that allows occupational therapists to provide services to school-aged children with
Developmental Coordination Disorder. Touching nearly one in five children across Canada, DCD is a motor disability that affects a child’s ability to complete everyday self-care and academic tasks such as zipping up a jacket, folding a piece of paper or using a pencil for schoolwork. In Ontario, children identified with DCD are referred to school health support services
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for occupational therapy, after which they spend up to 24 months on waitlists to receive in-school treatment. Without the proper support, children with DCD remain at a standstill in these crucial years of development. Meanwhile, secondary academic, mental health, and physical health issues unfold, making their needs more complex and difficult to cope long-term. Promoting collaboration between families, educators, and therapists, Partnering for Change is distinct from previous therapy models as it takes a more holistic approach to special needs therapy. “We have had traditional models in the past of servicing children one child at a time. At Partnering for Change, we recognize that this one-child-at-a-time model is not effective in large part because the kids spend so long on waitlists. Even if we had an intervention that was effective, children are waiting two years to see a therapist,” Missiuna said. In response to this issue, she has worked with families, educators, therapists and other stakeholders to create a socio-educational therapy model that sees the whole school as the client. This is a departure from the current medical model characterised by referrals, check-ins, and long wait times. “[Partnering for Change] helps to support features within the school to change or improve the environment around the child,” she said. Unlike previous methods, the development of the model centers around the needs of the children it services. It provides support with a focus on the child, and employs strategies in the classroom to resolve problems the child is having. Occupational therapists play an important role in the process. After observing the child in the education setting, they assist in the development of individual learning profiles that are catered to the needs of the child. OTs will then provide knowledge and resources to educators and parents by either
In Ontario, children identified with DCD are referred to school health support services for occupational therapy, after which they spend up to 24 months on waitlists to receive in-school treatment. suggesting specialized instructional strategies or recommending specific tools that enhance learning. P4C has seen widespread success in the school community. Missiuna explained that this is largely due to participatory action research, an approach that incorporates the opinions of families into the project design. “From the very beginning, we made sure that we were developing a model that was going to target issues that were identified by families, educators, and the health care system,” she said. As the John and Margaret Lillie Chair in Childhood Disability Research, Missiuna hopes to continue to develop P4C in the next four years, systematically expanding its outreach both provincially and nationally. The program has already been implemented in 40 schools across three school boards, including the Hamilton Wentworth Catholic District School Board. In addition to contributing to the field of childhood disability research, the new integrated delivery model has the potential touch the lives of nearly 400,000 Canadian children who are affected by the disorder.
NEWS
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 10, 2016
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PEP-talking ethics New to McMaster, the Program on Ethics and Policy Information is looking to tackle ethical issues amidst global health and disease concerns
C/O MCMASTER.CA
Lauren Beals Contributor
What if you could eradicate a disease from the face of the planet, but doing so would mean taking away resources from prevalent health concerns? What if someone asked you if modern research should continue to use tissues samples from third world countries, even if the sample population felt exploited? Maybe you would flip a coin. Or you could call in the experts. No better experts could be found than those at McMaster. Recently, the University has assembled their own A-team of global health ethicists with the new Program on Ethics and Policy Information. Meagan Kay-Fowlow, the Program Manager for PEPI,
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describes the program as “an ethics consultation and research program” dedicated to helping “stakeholders in global health research navigate through the ethical challenges that impact their work.” This may include overcoming ethical barriers that threaten global health projects, anticipating ethical risks or enhancing the quality of current programs. Take the example of the emerging Zika virus. PEPI might look at ethical questions regarding its elimination through vector control, or work with policy makers as they try to ethically mitigate its spread. Researchers could also consult PEPI as they create projects to better understand the virus. Beyond global consulting, PEPI also supports the independent pursuits of its team mem-
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bers encouraging collaboration with local scholars. “We’re really excited to be at McMaster because there’s already so many great people working on issues in Global Health,” said Kay-Fowlow. “There’s a great deal of potential for research collaboration on exciting and pressing issues.” Leading the charge is Claudia Emerson, PEPI’s Director. A former senior scientist with the University of Toronto, Emerson brings a wealth of experience from roles with the University Health Network and as a core investigator with the Ethical, Social, Cultural Program for Global Health funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. “She is a critical asset,” said Kay-Fowlow. “She sets the vision for the work we do.”
Emerson, who established the program at McMaster, also conducts her own research on disease eradication with notable works including malaria and polio advocacy among other issues. To many people, Emerson’s bold ideas can be intimidating and often deter them from getting involved. To others, their only experience with ethics is approval from the research ethics board before a thesis. PEPI aims to change that. “We hear this a lot. It’s also a perspective we are trying to change,” said Kay-Fowlow. “The perception is that paying attention to ethics means that scientists have extra work to do, or have more hoops to jump through. But we see ethics as enabling, paying attention can enhance the quality and efficacy
of projects.” She also hopes to involve the student community through social media and emerging initiatives. “We’re hoping to engage in some interesting discussions and we’ll definitely be sharing information about ethical issues and work that we’re doing in this area,” said Kay-Fowlow. Despite their difficulty, ethical questions are vital to innovation in the modern world, and working toward their answers can reap real benefits. “It’s very rewarding to see the impact of the work,” explained Kay-Fowlow. “Many of the questions we face relate to the challenges posed by cutting edge technologies, and it’s very stimulating to try and figure out how we can harness that power to achieve some good.”
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HUMANS
Thursday, March 10, 2016 | www.thesil.ca
Satesh Seegobin Life Sciences II
Yung Lee Photo Reporter
What are you looking forward to most right now?
options for myself at the end of undergrad.
I’m just trying to make a name for myself right now. Although I’m studying life sciences, I’m actually planning to minor in business – I want to have more
I’m really interested on how everything works and happens in the world of business. Watching the news and learning about stocks and the field of
commerce is just so cool. To pursue my interests on buisness, I decided to take more courses that are from the commerce or economics department, as well as teach myself some buisness with all the materials available online. So, I recently launched a
What did you learn in first year outside of class?
small startup on tutoring. It’s still pretty small but it’s slowly getting there. Right now, I am getting some help from my family members and friends to get it going. So
far, it’s going pretty well. I don’t know how it will turn out but I am very excited to see where it takes me.
Shanna Bennett Social Sciences I
I learned that it is better to make friends than it is to sit alone in class. I very much regret not living in residence and having that unique first year university student experience. I’m a quiet person – like very quiet. I feel like people often think I’m stuck up, but I’m not. I’m just really, really shy. When I first came to university, I just stuck to my group of my friends that came to McMaster. But, what I learned over the last seven months is that it is way better to make friends than having no one. It’s always good to have someone. What is your biggest struggle in first year so far? My biggest struggle in first year was just showing up to class on time. See, I have a part time job — OSAP and everything, you know? First year was really hard in general to just work, study, and show up to class. A lot of the time I showed up to my
work shifts instead of showing up for class and I realized that I didn’t know what was going on in class. So, I’m trying my best to have that work-school-social life balance.
What is your goal right now? I am looking forward to just finishing first year safely and finally starting a degree with
more focus, and not just a general one. I really want to work towards my goal instead of just choosing stuff to fill for credits. My goal right now is to do an internship or get job at a
drug rehabilitation clinic, and by learning and specializing in psychology, I want to help those people in need.
HUMANS
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 10, 2016
What do you see yourself doing in the future?
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Ikram Farah Political Sciences & Labour Studies II
I’ve always wanted to become a teacher for the longest time – especially a high school teacher. That’s when I had the most self-growth. Transitioning from grade eight to high school, I was always the troublemaker. I literally didn’t care about anything. But in high school, I had this one teacher who really believed in me and my abilities. Other teachers always thought, “oh, she’s too cool for school” as I always had a bad attitude in class and to them. For some reason, I always showed that I didn’t care about anything to the teachers even when I was doing pretty well in academics. But inside, I was always the biggest social justice junky – I always loved learning about water, sanitation in developing countries and global health policy. I really loved all that. Just like everyone else, I had the experience of having bad teachers and also had the privilege of having great teachers who inspired me to take pride in my education, talents, and interests. So, my main goal right now is to become a high school teacher because I want to give back to students like myself back in high school. Do you have any other goals in mind? Another goal I have is to someday work for the United Nations. Interestingly, I am homesick to a place that I have never been before, which is Somalia in Africa. I definitely want to be able to one day give back to my country because my mother came to Canada as a refugee, which is why I want to help out the marginalized people from developing countries. Especially, I don’t think it’s okay that some people around the world don’t have access to clean water. That is why I want to look into research of cleansing and sanitation of water, as well as come up with plans to help people gain access to proper sanitation and water – I really believe that having clean water is not a privilege, but a basic human right. What kind of obstacle do you foresee in your future? I am pretty busy with academics and extracurriculars right
now. I feel like in university, one of the toughest questions that people get asked is, “What do you want to do once you finish university?” or “What are you planning to do with your degree?” All kinds of questions asking about your future and your vision. Thankfully, I am very certain of what I want to do. I know where I would want to go to. I would say my struggle right now is more so about how I would reach my goal - like figuring out what opportunities are available for me right now, and what kind of jobs that I should seek out as an undergraduate student to achieve that goal.
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The McMaster Students Union
PRESIDENT’S PAGE Vice Presidential elections will be held April 2 and 3. To be considered for a VP position, simply email your intent to the Speaker via speaker@msu.mcmaster.ca. At the last SRA meeting, an amended operating policy was passed, bringing with it exciting changes to the electoral process. Starting in this year’s election cycle, VP elections will take place over two days and a debate will replace the old pooled question model. In addition, transparency tools have been added: SRA members’ votes will be published, and any SRA member who is also running in a VP election will be required to abstain. We think these changes will help the student body better engage in the process and hold their elected representatives accountable.
VICE PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTIONS To run, please email the MSU Speaker (speaker@msu. mcmaster.ca) for more information, and attend the SRA meetings of April 2 and 3. March 29 & 30 VP Meet and Greet in TwelvEighty, 5PM-8PM (Free food!) April 2 (VP Election Day 1) Presentation and Debate April 3 (VP Election Day 2) Speaker Election, Individual Questions for VPs, Voting
As the Vice President (Administration), there are three overarching areas for which I am responsible: overseeing services, facilitating the political aspects of the MSU, and planning Welcome Week. The portfolio is extremely vast and extremely varied, which at times can be overwhelming; however, it presents the opportunity to work on many different projects and grow as an individual. There is also room in the portfolio to work on one’s own personal projects. One such example for me was overhauling the MSU’s peer support services. In addition to the formal management tasks and priorities, a great deal of the role involves building relationships with MSU staff and volunteers, so that the organization can run smoothly. Through my time as the VP (Administration) I have realized that organizational skills, approachability, event planning abilities, and an open mind are core requirements for the role. If you have these skills I encourage you to run for the job. It has helped me grow immeasurably as a person and is an experience I will cherish for a lifetime.
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) role is usually divided into two parts, termed the ‘external’ and ‘internal’ portfolios. The former includes advocacy to the federal, provincial, and municipal governments, while the latter focuses on McMasterspecific initiatives. Together, these two portfolios include hosting municipal relations events, writing policy papers, running advocacy campaigns, improving support for mental health and accessibility, and advocating for better financial aid. This position requires extensive knowledge and experience of post-secondary education, as well as a willingness to learn and adapt to changing circumstances. Commuting between multiple cities each week can be tiring and difficult; candidates should be hard-working and handle stress well. Lastly, preparation and professionalism are essential, as the VP (Education) often meets with Ministers, MPs, MPPs, City Councillors, and University representatives to advocate for student interests. Please reach out to me if you have any questions.
Being the MSU Vice President (Finance) is unlike most other professional opportunities for a recent university graduate. Very few positions offer as much authority or autonomy. This position tests, defines, and enhances one’s leadership, management, and communication skills. The VP (Finance) is responsible for overseeing the financial direction and strategy of the organization. With over $15 million in yearly revenue, representing fees from over 22,000 full-time undergraduates and 30 services and departments, the VP (Finance) must respect student money and be diligent in its use. The position requires a strong fiscal steward, in order to ensure that the organization is stable and steady financially. However, a formal background in finance or commerce is not necessary. The VP (Finance) must be a strong advocate, working with the University and external partners on transit, student space, financial accessibility, and many other issues. Feel free to reach out to me if you would like to discuss the role.
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 10, 2016
The Silhouette | 11
Editorial Mac doesn’t actually
democracy
OK, it does a little.
Amanda Watkins Editor-in-Chief
This week has the McMaster student body gearing us up for the event of the year — the MSU’s General Assembly! Just joking, no one actually cares that much about the GA. Typing that last sentence, I feel a pang of remorse for all those that have dedicated time to planning this year’s assembly (hell, I even feel bad for my own staff because we take the time to report on it each year). But the reason most students genuinely do not care that much about the GA is because most students have, unfortunately, grown accustomed to the fact that Mac doesn’t always care that much about our feedback. Let me preface this by saying, I do not think that Mac
never considers our feedback. But historically, in part thanks to logistics, policy framework, and general challenges that come from working with thousands of students, it can sometimes be challenging for our university to hear and interpret our feedback. The GA functions as a public forum where students can voice their concerns related to the MSU and all trepidations can be motioned and eventually voted upon. Sounds pretty democratic, right? Well, not completely. The GA is often dominated by a few motions that overshadow “smaller” issues students want to bring up, making it hard for all voices to be heard. In addition, for a motion at the GA to be passed, the assembly itself needs at least three percent of the student body, so roughly 650 students, present at the event. This
doesn’t sound like a lot, but historically this number has been hard to reach. What is supposed to be the most democratic form of discussion for students has its limits. And the GA isn’t the only student-driven method that has its barriers. Every year we fill out course evaluations, create petitions and write countless articles asking for change, but don’t always see it, or even hear people acknowledging our feedback. Take for instance the yearly petition that students have created to request their majors be listed on their degrees (this year a Google Feedback Form entitled “Program on the McMaster Degree” if you wanted to sign it). For the last few years, students have gone to the university with the same request, and every year their appeal is denied, and as far as the signees can tell, isn’t even
to Pixar and chill.
to “shitzus.”
to Coffee Meets Bagel.
to RK’s landlord.
to the new SRA crew.
to Westdale Laundromat. None of their dryers work, FYI.
to Ehima’s upcoming FIFA tournament. All bets on Sil staff. to The Guppies. to the office dogs. They are accurate, OK. to long-haired dachshunds. They’re the best.
acknowledged. With this as the current standard for accepting student requests and input, it’s not surprising that events like the GA tend to pass by unnoticed by the
to the vanishing Sports page. to thumbs down experts. to the malfunctioning outlets of 2016. to the Steadicam.
majority of the student population. Why should students make the extra effort to push forward a change if they feel their voices will not be heard? @whatthekins
The Silhouette presents...
SILVISION SILVISION
WHAT’S YOUR VISION FOR YOUR CAMPUS PAPER? This coming March, The Silhouette is launching a reader feedback survey and hosting a public forum to find out what you would like to see happen with your campus paper. Do you wish there were more racks in the library? Do you wish certain sections were longer or had more of a certain type of content? Have you been a dedicated Snapchat follower but want to see more? Now is the chance to let us know!
The survey will be available via our Twitter account. Our public forum is on March 21.
@thesilhouette
S
AAJA NACHLE: A Fusion Formal
Bridges - Project Harvest Mac Coffeehouse
Open Circle Documentary Night and Discussion
When: March 10, 2016 at 07:00PM until
When: March 14, 2016 from
When: March 16, 2016 from
March 11, 2016 at 12:30AM
08:00PM until 11:00PM
06:30PM until 09:00PM
Where: Geraldo’s Banquet Hall,
Where: Bridges Cafe
Where: University Hall B115
Burlington
Join us for an enriching evening as we view
Price: $40.00 General Admission ticket
Project Harvest Mac will be hosting a fun-filled
No Impact Man, a documentary about curbing
Hosted by: McMaster Indian Association (MIA)
coffeehouse to raise awareness about rural
environmental impact. It explores the life of a
Age restriction is 18+ but no restrictions
subsistence farmers in Guatemala.
NYC author as he gives up most of his modern
as to whether McMaster student or not.
Bridges - Rock Our Souls (United In Colour) When: March 11, 2016 from 06:30PM
Please come out to enjoy spectacular performances and entertainment, while supporting and learning about a good cause!
more in line with our values, and supports that we may need to live more sustainably. Light
Join us at Bridges Cafe for a night of artistic
When: March 15, 2016 from
expression as we come together to celebrate
10:00AM until 04:00PM
colour, trans women of colour, and Indigenous
Where: MUSC, CIBC Hall
women resist violence in their communities.
Less than 4% of eligible Canadians donate
There will be musical performances, spoken
blood and more are needed to meet Canada’s
word poetry,dance, and art work, as well as
future blood needs.
food. Contact chrisks@mcmaster.ca for more infor-
When: March 12, 2016 from 09:00AM until 05:15PM
have a chance to engage in discussion on simple living, how our spending habits can be
Blood Donor Clinic
Sustainable Development in a Diverse World 2016
environment over the course of a year. We’ll
tion: please email chaun4@mcmaster.ca
Where: Bridegs Cafe
mation.
an attempt to contribute zero impact to the
To sign up as a performer, or for more informa-
until 09:30PM
and remember the ways in which women of
living comforts and goes completely green in
Bridges - Arts and Science Kaffehaus When: March 15, 2016 from 08:00PM until 11:00PM Where: Bridges Cafe An event where Arts and Science student share
Where: MDCL
their talents with one another through music,
Hosted by: MAC Green and Engineeers
poetry and art. Contact tignanl@mcmaster.ca
Without Borders
for more information!
snacks will be provided.
Visit msumcmaster.ca for a full calendar of events!
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 10, 2016
How to understand (and talk about) Israel Apartheid Week. Page 14 & 15
The Silhouette
Opinion
On Saturday I decided I was going to bake bread. Lately I have been buried under my workload, and my time in the kitchen has suffered. As someone who tries her hardest to eat wholesome food, being faced with the prospect of pizza and takeout during my essay writing extravaganza is a personal tragedy. The solution? I was going to do some therapeutic baking. Well — spoilers — my bread was crap. I lacked patience and time. “So much for home cooked food this week,” I said sadly, staring at a pita bread that could be utilized as a hockey puck. All I wanted were ready-made cheap and nutritional meals. According to a Facebook ad, the apparent solution to my problem was Soylent. Soylent is marketed as a complete meal in a bottle. Nutritionally balanced, and tasting relatively inoffensive, it only costs $2.42 a portion. The website describes it as the “ultimate” food, with tips on how to
C/O AMAZON.CA
What do you read for fun? Page 16
Soy vey! Talia Kollek Opinions Editor
| 13
incorporate Soylent into your lifestyle (“Soylentini” anyone?). The creator has apparently survived months on exclusively his product. If you hate cooking but also hate junk food, this looks like the best option for you. The name should have been my first clue that not all is as it seems. For those who don’t know, it comes from a 1973 film where — actual spoilers here — “Soylent Green” is the only food available to the masses, and it is made out of people. Concerned, I looked up Soylent’s ingredients, which are thankfully human-free. While I am now less worried about accidental cannibalism, I am concerned about Soylent’s “stable shelf life.” A bottle of the stuff remains unchanged for an entire year. This product is supposed to offer me complete nutrition, how does it do that without having a single fresh ingredient? Following some research, I have come to a melodramatic conclusion: Soylent represents everything that is wrong with 21st century food. It entirely strips what little communal food culture we have left by making mealtime a solitary
Soylent is marketed as a shelf-stable meal replacement containing all the nutrition you could ever need. You should be afraid activity (despite the pictures on the website of people laughing while enjoying their Soylent sitting side by side. Fun.) It is part of a disturbing trend towards a loss of cooking expertise, which has been the most important skill we have obtained throughout human history. Soylent is produced out of cheap ingredients — hello soy! — which, along with all other processed foods, has increased our dependence on monocultures such as corn and wheat. Growing a whole bunch of one crop has proven to be devastating to our ecosystems and our health, but hey, may I remind you that one bottle of Soylent is only a little over two bucks? Speaking of ingredients, out of Soylent’s 40 or so, none of them are actually that good for you, certainly not regularly. My food hero, Michael Pollan, argues that you should not buy any meal that has more than five ingredients, and they should all be things your grandmother could recognize. My grandma is a very smart lady, but she does not know what isomaltooligosaccharide is. I asked.
That Soylent can contain only one ingredient I can consume with confidence (water) and still be labeled as a health product is part of our larger misunderstanding about nutrition. Unfortunately, nutritional science is nowhere near as comprehensive as we would like to believe. Pollan has compared modern day nutritionism to Medieval surgery. Sure, it is on the right track, new discoveries are constantly being made and one day it will do great things, but would I let ye olde doctor perform a lobotomy on me? Absolutely not. For example, let’s think about babies. We have developed formula that has doubtlessly saved countless infant lives and helped those unable to breast feed, however, despite the money and engineering that has gone into development, we have been unable to produce something that can nourish a child the same way that breast milk does. We have hardly come close. Soylent is what would happen if nutritional science and engineering had a baby: the current formula is named “Soylent 2.0,” and is described
My grandma is a very smart lady, but she does not know what isomaltooligosaccharide is. I asked. as a “diet inspired by an opensource operating system.” I don’t want my dinner to upgrade like my iPhone and I don’t want Linux to be the inspiration for my next meal. Reverse engineering food has so far been a nutritional failure, but for some reason we are still comfortable outsourcing our cooking. We need slow food, not fast food, and when it comes to eating and health we should be listening to our grandparents, not our engineers. I will take my burnt and disappointing baking failures over a bottle of suspiciously flavourless liquid any day, because when I make something myself, at least I know what’s in it. @TaliaKollek
14 |
OPINION
Thursday, March 10, 2016 | www.thesil.ca
Standing in solidarity Lina Assi & Yara Shoufani Contributors
Each year, Israeli Apartheid Week takes place across more than 150 universities and cities. IAW aims to raise awareness about Israel’s ongoing settler-colonial project and apartheid policies over the Palestinian people. IAW’s goal is to tell the world of the Palestinian struggle, one which is so often erased in mainstream media. Apartheid is a system of racial segregation. In Israel, this in-
cludes military control over the West Bank, two distinct identification systems, separate roads for Israelis and Palestinians and military checkpoints which only Palestinians are subjected to. These restrictions on movement have impeded access to health and education. Palestinian houses are demolished for “Israeli only” settlements, and an apartheid wall — eight times the size of the Berlin Wall — separates Palestinians not only from Israelis, from the world and from one another. Israel’s system of settler-colonialism
and apartheid has dismantled Palestine into fragmented pieces of land, destroying the Palestinian economy and social structures. Israeli Apartheid Week brings the occupation onto campus, so to speak. It aims to show students that there is no Israeli-Palestinian “conflict” because the word implies that the two sides are equal. There is instead an occupied and an occupier; an illegal, inhumane, brutal, military occupation. On March 15 at 6:30 p.m. we are hosting Eran Efrati and
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What exactly is Israel Apartheid Week? Here is why you should get involved There is no Israeli-Palestinian “conflict” because the word implies that the two sides are equal. Maya Wind for a free lecture. Eran is an ex-Israeli soldier, and Maya is an Israeli peace activist whose refusal to join the military led to her imprisonment in Israel. We hope the stories of Eran and Maya will show McMaster students that Israel’s occupation is not only being resisted against by Palestinians, but by small groups within Israeli society as well. We will also be recreating apartheid on the BSB lawn through displays of the apartheid wall, settlements, roads, prisons and even the blockaded Gaza Strip. We hope this display will show students that there is no such thing as neutrality in the face of injustice.
Both Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights and McMaster Muslims for Peace and Justice will be tabling in MUSC to talk to students about Israel and Palestinian resistance movements, such as Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions. This educational week is one that is endorsed by many Hamilton movements and student clubs, including Independent Jewish Voices, McMaster Muslim Students Association, McMaster Womanists, McMaster Indigenous Student Community Alliance, United in Colour, Hamilton Coalition to Stop the War, CUPE 3906, Young Communist League and McMaster Middle Eastern Student Society. The diversity of these clubs reminds us that Israeli Apartheid Week is about more than the relationship between Israelis and Palestinians. It’s part of a movement of students who stand for peace and justice, and against colonization, occupation, racism and violence.
How to criticize Israel without being Anti-Semitic 1. Don’t say “the Jews” when you mean Israel. The people in power in Israel are Jews, but not all Jews are Israelis (let alone Israeli leaders). 2. Don’t say “Zionists” when you mean Israel. Zionism is no more a dirty word than feminism. It is simply the belief that the Jews should have a country in part of their ancestral homeland where they can take refuge from the anti-Semitism and persecution they face everywhere else. It does not mean a belief that Jews have a right to grab land from others, a belief that Jews are superior to non-Jews or any other such tripe, any more than feminism means hating men. Furthermore, the word is used to justify anti-Semitic attacks outside Israel (e.g., they brought it on themselves by being Zionists). 3. Don’t use your Jewish friends or Jews who agree with you as shields. AKA, “I can’t be anti-Semitic, I have Jewish friends!” 4. Don’t claim that the Jews control the media/banks/ country that isn’t Israel.
The phrase “the Jews control” should never be heard in a debate/discussion of Israel. 5. Don’t use the Holocaust/ Nazism/Hitler as a rhetorical prop. The Jews who were murdered didn’t set foot in what was then Palestine, let alone take part in Israeli politics or policies. It is wrong and appropriative to try to use their deaths to score political points. 6. Don’t claim that anti-Semitism is eradicated or negligible. It isn’t. 7. Don’t say that since Palestinians are Semites, Jews/ Israelis are anti-Semitic, too. You do not get to redefine the oppressions of others, nor do you get to police how they refer to that oppression. 8. Don’t blow off Jews telling you that what you’re saying is anti-Semitic. Not all anti-Israel speech is anti-Semitic (a lot of it is valid, much-deserved criticism), but some certainly is. Hear your accuser out. If they fail to convince you, that’s fine, but at least listen (without talking over them) before you decide that.
OPINION | 15
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 10, 2016
A pathway to peace
Both Israelis and Palestinians have deep connections with the land. How do we move forward?
achieved through coexistence, mutual respect and shared understanding. Learning to love one another as human beings, and to understand and respect one another’s stories and
How to support Israel without being Islamophobic 1. Don’t claim Palestinians don’t really love their children or don’t really value human life. One dehumanizing tactic is to point to “unnatural” behavior on the part of the targeted group as proof that they are less human. 2. Don’t claim Palestinian children are “taught to hate” or somehow less innocent than other children. This is another dehumanizing tactic — and a particularly disgusting one — as it’s typically used to downplay the deaths of Palestinian children. If you feel the need to say that the deaths of certain children aren’t really as sad as others, ever, you need to walk away from the discussion at hand. 3. Don’t use any variant of the “we made the desert bloom” trope. This is basically the same racist argument European settlers in the Americas used — claiming they deserved the land because they made better use of it than the people whose land it originally was. In fact, Palestinians were farming, tending orchards and rais-
ing livestock on the land well before Israel existed. Even if they weren’t, “I took it because I could make better use of it” wouldn’t get you off a theft charge in court, so why is it relevant here? 4. Don’t say Muslim or Arab when you mean Palestinian. Palestinians are mostly Muslim, but there are plenty of Palestinian Christians, too, as well as other groups. Arab is a wider term, encompassing an entire ethnic group and bloc of countries. Palestinians are a distinct group with their own unique culture, customs, and Arabic dialect. 5. Don’t claim Islam is inherently violent and evil. People who believe this are comparing Islam as practiced in poverty-stricken areas to Christianity or Judaism as practiced in affluent areas. See the problem there? These guidelines are exerpts from two respective blog posts on the topic, courtesy of this-isnot-jewish.tumblr.com
perspectives, is the first step to living side by side and amongst one another in peace. I have often been told that it is wrong to divide the world into simplified categories like “us” and “them.” I’ve learned
that there is an “us” and “them.” There are Jews and Muslims, Arabs and Israelis, who seek to further the divide between us, and there are those who strive to build a better future for the children of Israel and Palestine. In Israel, efforts that strive
905-522-9799 FINDLAYLAW.CA
I believe that the Palestinian people have the right to self-determination. I also believe that the Jewish people have the right to self-determination. As a Jewish woman living in diaspora, I feel a deep connection to my historic homeland, Israel. During my one visit there, I experienced the magic of Jerusalem and of praying in the same places my people have been praying for thousands of years. I experienced the intense feelings of belonging, homecoming and spiritual and religious freedom. During my lifetime in Canada, I’ve experienced the yearning and longing, not just for the people of Israel, but for the physical land, soil and trees as well. These powerful feelings affirm not only my own connection to the land, but my understanding of the connection that Palestinian people feel
to the land as well. I recognize the existence of another group of people that might feel the exact same way that I do. Sustainable, long lasting peace is an attainable goal. However, it will only be
20 HUGHSON ST. S. HAMILTON
Mindy Chapman Contributor
to create a shared society from the top down, as well as the bottom up, are well underway. Government initiatives that require the teaching of Arabic in Jewish schools are helping create broad societal changes by providing Israeli children with the tools to communicate effectively with their Palestinian counterparts. Organizations such as Hand in Hand and PeacePlayers are making real changes on the community level. Both organizations run programming that connect Israeli and Palestinian youth through a shared experience. Hand in Hand does this through multicultural schooling and PeacePlayers through after school recreation activities. In order to promote these incredible initiatives and advocate for the building of a shared community, Israel on Campus is running our first Coexistence Week. By bringing attention to the organizations that are creating positive change in Israeli society, we hope to encourage
There is an “us” and “them.” There are Jews and Muslims, Arabs and Israelis, who seek to further the divide between us, and there are those who strive to build a better future. the innovation and support for similar initiatives. We can no longer allow hateful rhetoric and closed-mindedness to further the divide between us. It is time to work together, learn from one another and build the shared society we want to live in: founded on diversity and coexistence, abounding with peace.
16 |
OPINION
Thursday, March 10, 2016 | www.thesil.ca
The facts on fiction It is probably the most eyeopening and true-to-life literary genre to exist.
Sunanna Bhasin Opinions Columnist
Being in university, we’ve all grown accustomed to reading research papers and academic studies. Unless you’re taking English or literature courses, your novels are probably collecting dust or waiting to be read during a break. But when that time comes around, you’re so tired of reading that you’d much prefer an activity that doesn’t involve consuming long passages of text for hours on end. Last year, when I was drowning in scientific papers and textbook readings, picking up a novel felt less like a leisurely learning experience and more like a waste of time — something that would distract me from my other courses. Reading fiction is often associated with entertainment rather than learning, however — as I have discovered — it is probably the most eye-opening and true-tolife literary genre. The amount of reading required in our academic careers can be overwhelming. It’s easy to see why some people would underestimate seemingly superfluous genres. We think of fiction as basic stories of monstrous creatures and magical Greek islands, when really these tales have a lot to teach us about the world we’re living in today. The Odyssey cannot be reduced solely to a king battling various mythical monsters on his journey home. What are the lengths someone will go to return to their family? When a great hero is on his knees begging to go
home, one can’t help but be reminded of the importance of loved ones. Fiction does not solely provide entertainment;
FEEDBACK
it teaches us lessons about our world and ourselves. Reading literary fiction can even improve our empathy. It asks us to step into a character’s life and understand his or her choices. In Frankenstein, the creature is presented as a monstrous being, undeserving of love from the perspective of his creator. The novel challenges us to consider the perspective of multiple characters, including
What do you read for fun?
Fiction should be a part of your degree, no matter what you are majoring in the creature. We are asked to be active readers and assume different roles as the narration shifts from character to character. Despite subjective interpretations of the piece, every reader undoubtedly learns how to relate. If we can step into a fictional world and empathize with characters we come to know in the span of two hundred pages, we can apply that skill to our own lives. The way you form strong bonds with people and connect with others depends on your ability to see the world through their eyes. So is fiction a waste of
time? It doesn’t detract from your schoolwork. It enhances your perspectives and critical thinking by allowing you to see the world in a new light. You cannot come away from a few hours of reading unchanged. When you read fiction, consciously or not, you relate differently to your own life. Whether you have to escape to Ithaca, or pay a visit to Victor Frankenstein’s laboratory, you gain insight into humanity. Even if you may not recognize it, you are learning. @SunannaB
STUDENT ELECTIONS BOARD OF GOVERNORS
Graduate Representative: Keerthana Kirichanderan
Natassia Lei
“I’m a major bookworm, so I read almost anything as long as it is interesting. Nicholas Sparks, Judy Pickett and Lawrence Hill.”
“Honestly, the original Star Wars books. Not based on the films, but the expanded universe. It’s like World War II pilots in space.”
Health Sci and Gerontology III
Classics IV
Anita Acai Rodrigo Narro Perez
M.Sc., Health Science Education Ph.D., Earth and Environmental Sciences
Undergraduate Representative: Hana Faidi Ali Yazdankia
Honours Political Science, Level III Honours Justice, Political Philosophy and Law, Level III
For the results of Senate and University Planning Committee elections and all candidate résumés: www.mcmaster.ca/univsec/elections
VOTE ONLINE @ MACVOTE
Tuesday, March 15, 2016 – 8:30 a.m. until midnight Wednesday, March 16, 2016 – 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Vote online at https://elections.mcmaster.ca/voter/index.cfm Voters will need their MAC ID and password to cast a ballot. Zach Rudge
Sasha Dhesi
“I’m really into American and Canadian politics. I enjoy reading up on current events.”
“I like reading literature. I’ve recently been reading a lot of Latin American literature if I have time. Mostly the stuff by Isabel Allende.”
JPPL III
General Humanities I
Questions? Contact the University Secretariat, 905.525.9140 x24337, or unielec@mcmaster.ca
By Levin C. Handy (per http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cwpbh.04326) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
You don’t have to sit in school to stand among greatness. › Thomas Edison: Relentless Inventiveness Failure is no biggie. Just ask Edison. If he stopped at failure, he would never have moved on to invent a little thing called the light bulb. So if you’ve failed a class somewhere else, or have a scheduling conflict, come on over. You can catch up with our world-recognized online courses, then move on to bigger successes. Talk about a light bulb moment.
open. online. everywhere. go.athabascau.ca/online-courses
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 10, 2016
Creating a unique wardrobe
The Silhouette | 17
Lifestyle
The dangers of gendered products
Page 18
Page 20
In defense of
dumb shit Jason Woo Lifestyle Editor
Last summer I had an entire month without responsibilities. Between all my sleeping and eating I managed to squeeze in a few binge sessions of Empire, a delicious hip-hop soap opera, and Dance Moms, a show where mothers of child dancers bitch each other out in ways you didn’t think were possible. It was a wonderful time. When I returned to school and told my friends about the shows, mostly because I needed someone who will freak out about #WhoPushedRhonda down the stairs in Empire, I found myself defending my entertainment choices. Some of my friends poked fun at me, and even if they didn’t, I always felt the need to justify my viewing of “bad” shows. I either acknowledged that I was a little stupid for watching them or I changed topics to one of my more “intellectual” pursuits to let them know that I’m not a complete bozo.
The danger of falling into this trap is that you undermine your self worth, which is silly, because as a university student, you’re definitely not an idiot. I’m a firm believer that while the vast majority of people are not geniuses, everyone is also intelligent in their own way. And enjoying a piece of stupidas-hell entertainment doesn’t diminish that. If it makes you feel better, you’re probably not alone in the consumption of dumb things. With smartphones and the state of mainstream media (there are seven versions of The Real Housewives), there are more dumb pursuits for you to choose than ever. There’s the cat game Neko Atsume: Kitty Collector, pretty much every Seth Rogen movie and so much more. This means that pretty much everyone you know enjoys consuming something that’s dumb as balls. Moreover, people often fail to acknowledge that not all dumb things are created equal. That is to say, to make a “good” dumb thing actually requires quite a bit of skill. Just watch
Kingsmen: The Secret Service and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen back-to-back and you will see the difference. Both are absurd and crass, but only one is mind-numbingly dull and backwards. There is a hierarchy, and chances are what you enjoy has more worth in it than you give it credit for. There’s also a good reason why you enjoy dumb things. They’re entertaining and allow you to temporarily escape from your world. Watching something fun can take your mind off the stressors in your life. This is not to say you can’t get something from whatever dumb thing you’re doing. Good entertainment can discuss issues in society, showcase people’s talents and even introduce you to a worldview that you might otherwise not be privy to. So next time you want to say Katy Perry is your favorite musician, let them hear you roar, because her music is catchy as hell and you don’t need to be ashamed that you’re not on the To Pimp a Butterfly bandwagon.
18 |
LIFESTYLE
Thursday, March 10, 2016 | www.thesil.ca
How to create a
UNIQUE WARDROBE Talia Kollek Opinions Editor
Don’t overspend at thrift stores Sometimes we can be enthralled by the mediocre because it is surrounded by the totally uninteresting. Something that works is not the same as something that you will wear regularly. Don’t get overly excited, because those “cheap” finds can add up really quickly. My general rule of thumb for thrifting is that I only buy something if I’ll wear it once for every dollar it costs. If I want that ten-dollar bowtie, I had better be willing to wear it at least ten times.
Don’t follow trends A while ago I decided that I was going to dress however I felt like dressing, and not question whether my choices lined up with the status quo. I know this is the antithesis of what you are usually told. My own mother makes fun of me on occasion because what I wear can be 40 years outdated. Ignoring seasonal fashion
advice is one of the best ways to develop your own personal style. Don’t label your style as anything, and don’t be afraid to try things that are out of vogue. This will also save you money. If you aren’t worried about whether this year’s colour is cerise or lavender, you are less likely to go out and stock your wardrobe with new stuff.
Balance the unique and the useful Don’t overdo it. I own more crazy patterned spandex than I would like to admit, but the only way I get away with wearing it is by pairing it with really simple pieces. For someone who prides herself on creative attire, I also own a lot of black. Figure out what you want to be the focal point of your outfit, and use the rest of your wardrobe to highlight it tastefully. I guarantee you’ll get compliments on it all day.
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LIFESTYLE
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 10, 2016
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Spend more, buy less Hear me out. Three years ago I decided that I wasn’t going to buy any clothing made in sweat shops, meaning that my wardrobe slowly filled up with thrift store finds and one of a kind pieces made by hand here in Hamilton. Not gonna lie, it was more expensive. You don’t realize how cheap mass manufactured clothing is until you abstain. I can no longer
go out and buy four or five things in a day, because if I buy one thing from a local designer it clears out my clothing budget for the next four or five months. My no-mass-manufactured-clothing rule has done two things: First of all, I shop significantly less frequently. Secondly, the clothing I do buy is legitimately better quality. It looks better, it washes better, it
Try alterations The best thing I could have done for my wardrobe was learn to sew. You can extend the life of things that might otherwise fall apart, you can alter things to have them fit better (remember those men’s button ups?) and you might even be able to make your own clothing (the holy grail of the unique wardrobe). Worth all the accidental finger pricks in the world, I promise.
wears better. Not everything that is expensive is better made, but if you buy smart, you won’t regret it. You will also be dressed in things that no one else around you will have thought about wearing. You can’t get more unique than a style a seamstress only made once.
Hand-me-downs are your best friend Take all of your parents’ cast offs. I’m not kidding. Some of my favorite clothing has been slyly coopted from my mother’s wardrobe. Keep an eye on your snazzily dressed relatives and when they are giving away old items, snap them up. This goes for all genders. Never doubt the universal utility and timelessness of a men’s button-up. Best of all, they are free.
Make use of the old and toss the uninteresting Some of the things I get the most compliments for are things I bought in 2006. Sure, the Old Navy tank top that I owned in middle school has (shockingly) not stood the test of time, but some of the more interesting things I owned back then have held up. The key is cleaning out your
wardrobe decently often, but hanging on to things that are unique. Don’t use this as an excuse to never throw anything away, but keep your fashion future in mind, because sometimes old pieces can surprise you. The added benefit is that everyone else in your life will think that they are new.
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LIFESTYLE
Thursday, March 10, 2016 | www.thesil.ca
Unnecessarily gendered products are problematic Michelle Yeung Lifestyle Reporter
In the year 2016, companies continue to put new products onto shelves that are distinctly marketed for specific genders. Obviously, this is problematic for many reasons. For one, unnecessarily gendered products avouch the gender binary. Today, men and women live very similar lives. We grow up together, attend the same universities and work in the same offices. There are few distinctions that require us to constantly think about how our gender dictates our role in society. But when products that we use in our daily lives fall into two distinct categories, we are reminded that society really does see important differences between male and female. Affirming this gender binary becomes very problematic for those who don’t fit into it. With the silent assimilation of these products onto the shelves of our local stores, we render those who reside outside the typical gender binary invisible. Obviously, these types of products are most impactful on those whose assigned gender at birth do not conform to their identity. However, it’s a problem for everyone else as well. From what we wear to how we move and talk, we make efforts to act in gendered ways in order to conform to what is expected of us, forcing ourselves to fit into the binary and reinforcing needless stereotypes that further make it difficult for those who do not identify with a certain gender. Often, gendered products not only reinforce the binary, but also suggest that women and men are expected to play unequal roles in society. Consider toys for children: girls are dentists’ assistants and boys are dentists; girls are princesses and men are kings. In addition, there is a financial disparity that results due to gendered products. While it could be (wrongfully) argued that these products are only things for “emotionally sensitive” people to fuss over, there are real-world consequences as
well. It has often been shown that the masculine and feminine version of a product are not priced the same. Typically, the one marketed towards women is more expensive. Due to the distinctions between even the most benign products (e.g. razors), it slowly becomes engrained within shoppers that there is a “right” product for them, that it makes sense to shell out more money to buy a product that most suits their needs as either male or female. However, this is but a marketing ploy; realistically, there are no differences between the two products. Women are therefore paying more for products that aren’t much different besides being the colour pink. In truth, unnecessarily gendered products are as problematic as they are dumb. Companies often employ the excuse that gendered products are beneficial to shoppers because men and women are fundamentally different. For instance, many of these products advertise that the version for women is smaller than the one for men in order to fit women better. Gendered ear plugs are a prime example of this. Again, this is an issue for many people who do not fall into the two distinct categorizations. Moreover, to argue against the reasoning behind these products, it would make more sense to create earbuds of various sizes and let the buyer decide what is the best for them instead of making assumptions on their behalf. Gendering ear plugs and having the distinction be “smaller for women, larger for men” is a vast generalization. These types of products make larger women or smaller men feel invisible. In a society that already pushes for women to be small and dainty, we don’t need earbuds to reinforce this outdated notion. The same goes for the stereotypes we perpetuate against men. Companies need to start catching up with the times and realize that what they may think as harmless marketing tactics do cause very real and upsetting ripples in the world they create their products for.
Companies often create gendered products without considering the effects they may have on consumers who fall outside the gender binary
EXAMPLES AND *FAKE* REVIEWS OF GENDERED PRODUCTS NORMAL BIC PENS VS. BIC PENS FOR HER
“BIC has finally heard the dainty squeals of women from across the globe and put out a new line of pens just for us! I love how the BIC for her pens come in an array of light, pastel colours. I was never able to write down my casserole recipe properly and now I know why; the regular pens were just not feminine enough. My casserole is going to taste so much better now!” – Abby, recovered casserole chef NORMAL EAR PLUGS VS. EAR PLUGS FOR HER
“ Prior to the existence of these women’s ear plugs from Sleep Pretty in Pink, I suffered from insomnia for twenty years. Something about the regular ear plugs just never felt right...I read on a reddit forum that it was likely due to the fact that they were blue in colour. It all made sense! Pink just fits so much better for my feminine ears! Science (and reddit) never lies.” – Martha, recovered insomniac
LIFESTYLE
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 10, 2016
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Bad haircuts are a part of growing up Your sense of self is constantly evolving, the same should apply for your sense of style Sasha Dhesi Lifestyle Contributor
How many bad haircuts have you gone through before you settled on the one you currently have? If you’re anything like me, your hairstyle choice reflected something about you as you grew out of adolescence into this awkward post-child/ pre-adult purgatory. The way in which we present ourselves can say a lot about who we are, after all. I distinctly remember my first truly awful haircut. It was 2010. I had turned 13 a few months before and I had just seen (500) Days of Summer. The only thing I took from that movie was that Joseph Gordon-Levitt likes girls with straight bangs, so I decided, against my better judgment, to mimic the hairstyle. I remember looking into the mirror after the haircut, only then realizing that a simple hairstyle was not going to make me look like Zooey Deschanel, although I wasn’t going to admit that for another two years. Whether we like it or not, we say a lot about our identities by the way that we style ourselves. After all, what are our aesthetics but the simplification of the self into a presentable, marketable thing? It’s well known that our teen years are spent developing our identities, creating the image that we feel best represents us without being alienating. Aesthetic choices are a big part of that, and the way in which we present ourselves ultimately speak volumes about the people we are. After that disastrous haircut, I decided to grow my hair out so I could donate it. As my hair grew, my tastes changed, and my look reflected that. Gone were the bangs and ill-fit-
I remember looking into the mirror after the haircut, only then realizing that a simple hairstyle was not going to make me look like Zooey Deschanel. ting jeans of pre-adolescence, and in were the polka dotted dresses and acne-hiding locks. As I grew more and more fascinated with the styling of films like Amélie and the 1962 version of Lolita, my style grew into an obnoxiously cutesy fit, complete with bows, polka dots and oxfords. It’s safe to say that literally no one took me seriously from age 14 to 16. A lot of people fall into the trap of believing that our ideas are permanent. The person you are now isn’t going to be the person you are a year, month or even a day from now. You learn new things about yourself, you encounter new experiences and you grow as an individual. Chances are that your style is going to reflect that. Don’t run from it, lean into it. A few months before my 18th birthday, it was becoming increasingly clear that no one was going to take me seriously if I looked like an extra from a Wes Anderson movie. So I did something drastic and chopped most of my hair off and into a little chin-length bob, a harsh style when mixed with my naturally dark, straight hair. I learned two tidbits of information from this: unless you’ve done it many times before, cutting your own hair will only
Do you have a funny life experience that you think could be shared with our readers? Write for Lifestyle! Email lifestyle@thesil.ca to get involved
The author shares a photo of what she considers a bad haircut from her adolescence. C/O SASHA DHESI
end badly and will require a trip to the hairstylist anyway, and your family members will freak out when they see that their almost adult relative has decided to play with scissors like a five year-old. I’m still glad I did it; the bob suits me and works well with the sleek silhouettes that I opt for now.
Our stylistic choices reflect the person we want to be perceived as, and that can say a lot about who we are. The Internet and social media add an interesting layer to this, as there’s probably a tutorial out there to perfect any look imaginable. It can be pretty frustrating sometimes seeing these
12-year-olds with perfectly curated Instagram grids, but I’ll manage. After all, in a few years, these same 12-year-olds will be berating themselves for their poor tastes as they continue to grow and evolve into the people they’re going to become.
See where experience takes you.
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GAMES
Thursday, March 10, 2016 | www.thesil.ca
Having a rough week? Don’t worry, we got you Get in some quality destressing time with a few extra games
QUOTES TO LIVE BY “I say if you love something, set it in a small cage and pester and smother it until it either loves you back or dies.” - Mindy Kaling
“All The Rules In This World Were Made By Someone No Smarter Than You. So Make Your Own” - Jaden Smith
CROSSWORD
ACROSS 1. That’s opposite 5. Clutch 9. Snaky letters 14. Departed 15. Pause 16. Movie music 17. Lacking the ability 19. Distinguishing quality 20. Trapped 21. Aye’s opposite 23. Supplements 24. Sample food 25. “____ Street” 27. Stadium cheers 29. Capital of the Philippines 33. Inquires 37. Mexican house 39. Stingy one 40. Pittsburgh footballer 42. Least fatty 44. U.S. symbol 45. Wooden pins 47. Obtains 48. Missing 50. ____ Valley (vineyard site) 52. Compel 54. Twangy 59. Englishman, for short 62. Conger 63. Paper fastener 64. Scary 66. Work together
SUDOKU
68. Dark wood 69. Korea’s continent 70. Bloodhound’s clue 71. Cookstove 72. Skin 73. Loch ____ monster
DOWN 1. “Oliver ____” 2. Hair dye 3. Peruvian natives 4. Begin 5. Happy
JIGSAW SUDOKU
6. Chafe 7. Sickness 8. Entreaties 9. Detroit time zone (abbr.) 10. Movie showing 11. Drench 12. Great Lake 13. Movie backdrops 18. British noble 22. Sweet spud 25. Clever 26. Doll’s cry 28. Expert 30. Understood! (2 wds.) 31. “____ we forget” 32. Crafts 33. On the ocean 34. Wild attempt 35. Beer barrels 36. Picking 38. Water plants 41. Letterman’s rival 43. Psychic ability (abbr.) 46. Surround 49. Golf device 51. Poker payment 53. Brief summary 55. Slugger Hank ____ 56. Digging tool 57. Female singers 58. Malicious looks 59. “Cheers” order 60. Country singer ____ McEntire 61. Treat pleats 63. Minor quarrel 65. Needle opening 67. Furnace fuel
GAMES
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 10, 2016
Win a Pizza Pizza gift card!
| 23
MAZE
Tweet us a photo at @thesilhouette. The first ten people* to answer all correctly will win a $15 gift card!
Who was the first professor that was featured in a “Professors of McMaster” selfie? _____________________________________________ Where is McMaster Women’s Basketball travelling this weekend? _____________________________________________ How many stars did Andy give London Has Fallen? _____________________________________________ * You cannot be a Silhouette staff member, member of the Board of Publications, full-time MSU employee or a previous winner to enter.
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Enjoy a refreshing and relaxing dip in the pool! Recreational swims are offered daily. Check rec.mcmaster.ca or the Get Rec'd App for times.
Swimming lessons are offered to McMaster students on Sundays. All levels offered from"Absolutely Terrified" to “Life Saving Leadership”. Check the website for more details. Spring classes start in April.
rec.mcmaster.ca
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 10, 2016
The Silhouette | 25
Sports Persistence prevails Lazar Kojovic has made his way up the McMaster Basketball bench and onto the score sheet Sofia Mohamed Sports Editor
JON WHITE/ PHOTO EDITOR
JON WHITE/ PHOTO EDITOR
Growth takes a student athlete from good to great. In basketball, five players are on the court to represent the team at any given time. To be one of those five on the McMaster Men’s Basketball Team, you need to earn it. It comes with time, experience and talent. Every player that checks in and laces up for play on the hardwood is on the court for a reason. It might be the skill they showed in practice or their leadership as veterans. While the five are on the court, the remaining players on the bench are just as important. In addition to contributing when called upon, these bench players are a network of support and help motivate the players on the court. A team this big in numbers and depth is not missing support or motivation. The bench gets loud when big plays are made and clap it out even when a free throw is missed. Still, the rotation fans notice at games are usually eight players. This isn’t always the case as Head Coach Amos Connolly can decide to play some of the younger guys for experience. Fourth-year Oakville native Lazar Kojovic was a part of that rotation this year, but it did not always come easy. “It’s mostly just hard work,” said Kojovic. Playing basketball since the age of 11, Kojovic was given the opportunity to represent McMaster Basketball when he was one of seven first year players to show loyalty to the Maroon and Grey in 2012. McMaster became home for Kojovic because of the strong academics and the great athletics. Kojovic, an Engineering Physics student, has found a balance between books and ball.
LEAGUE AT LARGE Men’s Volleyball CIS Championship Seeding
This season opened up a spot for Kojovic to showcase his talent and he made sure to not take that chance for granted. His first three years at McMaster were quiet, but this year was a little different. “This year, I got a bit lucky with some open shots,” said Kojovic about working his way up the bench and onto the court. Hard work and time has gotten Kojovic to where he is today. A strong work ethic speaks volumes to a player’s potential for greatness. Whether it is producing in a multitude of ways both offensivly or defensively on the court or supporting his teammates by being a vocal presence on the bench, Kojovic has had a successful season and has put skeptics and believers on notice. Rounding off his fourth year with the program, Kojovic’s greatest Marauder memory was when the team made an appearance in the CIS Final Eight in his second year. A big reason why Kojovic loves the game is because of his father who also played basketball growing up. “When I was younger, I would go to his pick-up games every Sunday and watch him score in the most unusual and unique ways. I would always try and practice his moves. My dad pushed me,” said Kojovic of his basketball inspiration. Fans can expect to see more leadership from Kojovic who will finish off his five years of eligibility with the program next year. His time away from the competitive stage this year will be used to polish his ball handling skills and ability to be more open on the court, in order to prepare for another shot at championships. @itssofiaAM
1. McMASTER 2. TRINITY WESTERN 3. LAVAL 4. NEW BRUNSWICK
5. SASKATCHEWAN 6. ALBERTA 7. RYERSON 8. WATERLOO
ALL-STAR SEASON Men’s Basketball Leon Alexander > Alexander’s perfomance this season named him a First-Team All-Star for the first time in his career. He averaged 18.8 points per game in his last season in Maroon. Troy Joseph > Fifth-year forward Troy Joseph was recognized as a Second-Team All-Star after a stellar season. He averaged 13.6 points per game this season.
Women’s Basketball Danielle Boiago > After a dominating season, Danielle Boiago was named a First-Team All-Star. She averaged 17.4 points per game and was a threat on both ends of the court. Clare Kenney > For the second year in a row, forward Clare Kenney is an OUA Second-Team All-Star. She averaged 12.1 points per game and ranked fifth in blocks and rebounds.
Men’s Volleyball Stephen Maar > Taking home the OUA MVP title for the season, Maar was also named a First-Team All-Canadian. Danny Demyanenko > Making his third apperance in four years, Demyanenko is representing as a First-Team All-Canadian. Andrew Kocur > Kocur’s efforts this season landed him a spot on the Second-Team All-Canadian group. Kocur was also named OUA Final Four MVP last weekend.
Women’s Volleyball Joanna Jedrzejewska > Jedrzejewska’s performance this season has named her to the First-Team All-Star team. Taylor Brisebois > Brisebois was named an OUA Second-Team All-Star after a great season. Maicee Sorensen > Sorensen was also named an OUA Second-Team All-Star representing McMaster. Michelle Chelladurai > Chelladurai was named OUA Rookie of the Year and also named to the All-Rookie team.
Track headed to CIS Championships On March 10, the McMaster Track team will travel to Toronto for the CIS Championships meet. Hosted by York Lions, the team will look to bring some medals back to Hamilton. The OUA Championships took place a few weeks ago and McMaster grabbed three bronze medals. The team has their eyes set on gold.
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SPORTS
Thursday, March 10, 2016 | www.thesil.ca
Going for gold
CIS No.1 McMaster Men’s Volleyball seeks to capture their first gold medal in their history
JON WHITE/ PHOTO EDITOR
Jaycee Cruz Sports Reporter
The road ends here. Regardless of what happens at the CIS Men’s Volleyball National Championship this weekend, McMaster’s historic season will end. Since coming to McMaster in 2002, Head Coach Dave Preston has amassed a 247-77 overall record in his 14 seasons at the helm of the program. After beating Waterloo and Ryerson at the OUA Final Four last weekend, McMaster became freshly minted conference champs for the fourth consecutive year. McMaster has won seven of the last nine OUA banners. In addition to that, Preston has led McMaster to the CIS championships nine times in the last 11 years and has medaled three times (2013, 2014, 2015). He’s a proven winner. His track record speaks for itself. Preston enters this week boasting an impressive resumé having led his team tow a 22-3 record vs. CIS teams, producing four conference all-stars (Stephen Maar, Danny Demy-
anenko, Andrew Kocur, Pawel Jedrzejewski), and two OUA all-rookie team members (Craig Ireland and Matt Passalent). Up to now the Marauders have secured two of their three goals for the season. They’ve secured home court throughout the playoffs and they’ve won a conference title. Coach Preston has turned McMaster into a perennial powerhouse, but they are missing one thing: a national championship. The closest McMaster has come to national glory was in 2013 when they were national runner-ups. Beyond that they’ve gotten two bronze medals in 2014 and 2015. Their 2016 outcome has yet to be determined. “We’re where we want to be entering this weekend. One thing I told the team is to never take these things for granted. Sometimes when you win four conference titles in a row, you can take them for granted,” said Preston. “Winning OUA championships doesn’t get old. People dream of being OUA champions. I don’t want our guys to discount that prize. It’s a big deal and now there’s another big deal ahead of us.” Last weekend at the OUA Final Four, Burridge Gym
gave us a foretaste of what this weekend will be like. The gym was filled to the rafters and the Marauders had incredible support. There was no shortage of noise and each Marauder point against Waterloo and Ryerson would incite explosive applause from their faithful. “I think our support around here from the top-down is unbelievable. It’s awesome for our student-athletes to be able to play in that environment,” said Preston. “I don’t want to take that for granted because not many student-athletes get to feel that. It was electric last weekend. I fully understand that this weekend will be even more electric.” McMaster’s pride hasn’t gone unnoticed by visitors. “The reason I know it’s amazing is because I hear student athletes from other schools talk about how awesome it is here,” said Preston. “I don’t want our guys to take our home environment for granted. We’re very well supported and I want our guys to appreciate that too. We’re going to take full advantage of it.” For the first time in months, outside hitters Brandon Koppers and Andrew Rich-
ards returned to the floor, as did veteran middle Alex Elliott. All were missed and warmly welcomed by the fans. A mosaic of what McMaster has become was on full display last weekend with all-star upperclassmen and all-rookies playing side-by-side. Setter Andrew Kocur won OUA Final Four MVP and middle Danny Demyanenko won player of the match in the title game. OUA MVP Stephen Maar continued being his dominant self, leading the team in scoring throughout the weekend. Teams cannot reduce McMaster to a single threat because they have a team of guys that can each dominate on any given night. The depth and rhythm are there and peaking at most important time of the year. A deep bench and contributions across the board are two trademarks of championship teams. “This is what our guys signed up for. I even tell that to recruits. We go through our other matches so that we can get to these ones,” said Preston. “We do what we need to do in order to do what we want to do. Playing for a national championship is something we want to do and that’s what we’re going to take advantage of. Other student ath-
letes can only dream of doing what we’re doing here.” It’s a special time at McMaster. All eyes will be on Burridge from March 10-12. McMaster will be the center of the CIS volleyball world as schools from all over the country will be here to compete for national gold. Competing schools include the University of New Brunswick, Trinity Western, Alberta, Waterloo, Ryerson, Laval and Saskatchewan. McMaster plays in a national quarterfinal at 8 p.m. on March 10 against a familiar foe in Waterloo. The stars have aligned up to now and it’s up to Mac to make program history. “These opportunities are extremely rare for student athletes. To compete for a national championship on your homecourt in front of your home fans is as good as it gets. It’s an exciting opportunity for these guys,” said Preston. “My job is to make sure they’re prepared and I’m going to do everything I can to make sure that happens. These are the things young guys dream about.” @_jayceecruz
SPORTS | 27
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 10, 2016
Marauders fall at Final Four McMaster Women’s Volleyball lost two tough matches against Toronto and Western to end their 2015-2016 season JON WHITE/ PHOTO EDITOR
Jaycee Cruz Sports Reporter
Banner dreams will have to wait another year for McMaster. At the OUA Final Four at the University of Toronto’s Goldring Centre last weekend, the Marauders got a tough semi-final draw getting matched up against Toronto — the best team in the OUA and the No. 2 team in the nation. McMaster pushed the Varsity Blues further than any OUA team had all year. Mac came out of the gates firing and dictated the match early on. The Marauders were playing well and looking energized while the normally unshakable Varsity Blues looked out of sorts. McMaster’s first set win was the first time Toronto trailed since Oct. 31. Toronto took the second and third sets handily before Mac responded late in the fourth set with a comeback, but Toronto muffled McMaster’s furious comeback with a 30-28 fourth set win. Just a week removed from their unforgettable 36-34 second set win over Windsor, McMaster almost pulled off another wild set win. The comeback wasn’t in the
cards this time around. Just two points away from sending Toronto to their first fifth set of the year, McMaster fell in four. The 3-1 match score doesn’t display the incredible fight the girls showed. They started the match on a good note, but Toronto just outworked them to the end. In fact, that’s what Toronto did to every team this year. That’s why they’re 21-0 entering CIS Nationals. Head Coach Tim Louks had nothing but praise for the Varsity Blues, who ended up capturing their second consecutive conference title. “Toronto was great, but Toronto has been great all year long,” said Louks. “We weren’t good enough. That’s as good a team as I’ve seen in a long time.” Third-year libero Carly Heath confesses that Toronto wasn’t themselves at the start. “They made an abnormal amount of unforced errors in that first set. We just took what they gave us. We stayed consistent,” said Heath. “They’re very efficient, very smart, and play very clean volleyball and they did not play that way in the first set.” The rest of the match presented a stark contrast with
Toronto taking the next three sets. and ultimately, the match. “They were a completely different team in those sets,” Heath said. Heath played a crucial role in keeping the Marauders afloat after Toronto seemingly threw the kitchen sink at the Marauders defense. Heath racked up an amazing 25 digs and was locked in defensively all match long. Whenever it seemed like Toronto had put a ball out of reach, Heath’s lightning quick agility and polished technique would keep the rally alive. The libero looked like the glue that held the Marauders together through the Varsity Blues’ onslaught. She won player of the match because of her performance. “I have a job and I know what I need to do to do it. We switched our whole defensive scheme for this match. Defense is what I do,” said Heath. “I knew Toronto was a strong hitting team. I knew that I would have a big job to do and I was excited to do it.” Heath finished the weekend with 49 digs over two matches. Coach Louks pointed out a trend in his libero’s gameplay. “In the biggest matches of the year, Carly usually answers
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the bell,” said Louks. “She always does for the big ones.” “It was unreal. It was probably one of the most exciting games I’ve been in. The energy in the gym was unbelievable. All of us were just feeding off adrenaline,” said Heath. “It was a lot of fun. Everyone was playing 110 percent and it honestly just didn’t work out in our favor.” The following night, McMaster played rival Western for OUA bronze. They controlled most of the match until failing to finish the job in the fifth set. McMaster finished fourth in the OUA. “There’s only one thing you can do in OUA women’s volleyball to go to nationals: win the conference title. We took our shot in the semis. I was a bit disappointed we didn’t get more out of a couple people, but I was pleased that others stepped in and did the job,” said Louks. McMaster improved this season finishing 17-5 overall and making an OUA Final Four appearance. They were a set away from potentially upsetting the No. 2 team in the country. Last year they finished 15-5 and lost at home in an OUA quarterfinal. They took it a step further this year and hopefully
that trend continues. “I’m very pleased with these girls. Great year,” said Louks. “It’s unfortunate how everything panned out results-wise, but I think we definitely improved as a team and we’re going to keep improving,” said Heath. McMaster is also saying goodbye to three key graduating cornerstones in Mira Krunic, Taylor Brisebois and Lauren Mastroluisi. Heath admits it’ll be different without this core group of girls. “Those girls have had a huge, huge impact on and off the court. I don’t know the team without those girls. I live with them. I see them everyday,” Heath said. “It’s going to be really, really weird to see them go.” “Those girls have made a good contribution to the program. They’ve represented themselves and their school well,” Louks said. “Those are the kinds of players and people we want to have here. It’s a good legacy.” @_jayceecruz
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SPORTS
Thursday, March 10, 2016 | www.thesil.ca
BASKETBALL ROUND-UP Final Four experience Sofia Mohamed Sports Editor
The time is here. The McMaster Women’s Basketball team has been waiting on this moment all year and it has finally come. Wrapped in a ribbon are tickets punched to the OUA Final Four. But the gift of provincials didn’t just come knocking on their door. The team has had to fight to claim their place in the competition. Saturday’s home win against Queen’s made their dream of a Final Four appearance a reality, following a hard season of personal and professional obstacles. The 65-55 victory meant that the team’s season wasn’t over and they would advance. Danielle Boiago led the team with 22 points. Hilary
Hanaka also stepped up with 17 points. On the defensive end, forward Clare Kenney had an impressive 12 rebounds for the day. Despite some fantastic individual performances, it was truly a team effort. The team proved they wanted it and did everything they could to hold what was so closely in reach. “They were very detail oriented and did a great job of knowing and understanding the scout of the other team so they were able to execute their individual assignments consistently,” said Head Coach Theresa Burns. Burridge Gym was alive with fans and the game ended with everybody on their feet showing support for this very talented team. Rachael Holmes addressed the crowd at the end of the game with a special
thank you to the fans that have showed support along the way. “These women have an extremely good work ethic. We share the ball well and play as a team. We are still getting better everyday and still eager to learn, which is great,” said Burns. Saturday’s quarterfinal win meant more than just a win for the team. Fast forward to a year after last season’s sudden quarter-final loss and this win is much sweeter. It speaks to the growth and talent this team shows. “This was a new year and we are very happy with the win but still the feeling was that we were on to the next step and had more things to accomplish,” said Burns. That next step is this weekend as the team travels to Ottawa. For as long as this year’s schedule has been out, March
Road ends at home Sofia Mohamed Sports Editor
High energy. High emotion. Unfortunate loss. For a team that has been playing and keeping up with the best in the country all year, the playoff season wasn’t as long as the McMaster Men’s Basketball team had hoped. The team was defeated by the visiting Windsor Lancers by a score of 79-78. The team had been preparing all season to avenge the quarterfinal loss by the Lancers a year ago, but they came up short, and for the second year in a row, Windsor ended our season at home. Windsor went on a 16-4 run before the first five minutes of the game elapsed. McMaster was able to tie it up going into the half-time intermission. In the final quarter of play, Windsor carried a 65-61 lead. A buzzer-beater by Trevon McNeil wasn’t enough for the
Marauders to advance. “I thought our prep was solid and we approached this game like others. I think Windsor appeared hungrier and certainly played like they had nothing to lose - they looked and played with confidence,” said Head Coach Amos Connolly. There was huge production off the bench accounted for 34 of the team’s final 78 points. “I was especially proud of the contributions from David, Trevon, and Lazar off the bench. I thought they moved the ball and attacked with confidence,” said Connolly. It was the last home game ever for Aaron Redpath, Leon Alexander and Troy Jospeh — three phenomenal players that have added quality to the men’s basketball program. As Marauder fans poured out of Burridge Gym with a mix of emotions, and the players and coaching staff back to the locker room, it was obvious that
the loss hurt. “I just thanked them for their effort and let them know that I was heartbroken for them. There isn’t much that can be said in those situations other than the reminder of how much we care about them as people,” said Connolly. Both teams knew what was on the line and after the 40 minutes were up, the game favoured the Windsor Lancers. Marauders played until the end despite being down many times in the game. Mac’s Troy Jospeh led the team with 18 points while Lazar Kojovic answered with 13 of his own. For anybody watching that game, goosebumps were felt. The raw emotion from that loss put the entire season into perspective. We witnessed sweet wins and saddening losses. The team bounced back from injuries. They recovered from big losses. They got up and brushed themselves off every time they were down.
McMaster Women’s Basketball will compete for the OUA banner
12 has been a date circled on the team’s calendar. March 12 is the day of the OUA Final Four Championship and the team has been preparing themselves to come out with a victory. Before they make it to March 12, McMaster must defeat Ottawa in Friday night’s OUA semifinal matchup for the opportunity to play for the gold medal and to hoist the coveted Critelli Cup. McMaster Marauders are no strangers to the Ottawa Gee-Gees as they battled it out to overtime a few weeks ago during Think Pink weekend. Gee-Gees were able to come out with the victory by a single point. It was a close game and the team understands that their fate needs to be different this time around. It isn’t a regular season game and losing in this playoff
game will be detrimental. Not only will a loss to Ottawa in the OUA semi-final spoil the OUA banner dream, it will also affect the team’s chance of getting at at-large berth for the CIS Final Eight. “It will be the same process as our Queen’s game. The team needs to know their scout and do the individual job so that we function well as a team. We must outwork the other team for the full 40 minutes,” said Burns. The team has their eyes set on provincial and national success and this season has proved they are more than capable of getting that done. The last time the team has claimed the OUA banner was in the 2007-08 season and they are looking to change that this year. @itssofiaAM
The playoff season has come to an end for the McMaster Men’s Basketball team With the season slowly becoming part of the past, the team must look forward to set themselves up stronger and better. All good teams go through obstacles whether it comes from close losses or tough wins. “We need to take some time to wrap our heads around the season and get next year’s group of leaders together to start to shape how we approach the off-season,” said Connolly While Head Coach Amos Connolly coached his last game of this season, his job for the year is far from over. Now, he will spend time on recruiting to bring in a calibre of players that can hang with the rest of university-level basketball. With successful recruits every year since coming to McMaster as Head Coach in 2006, this year will be no different. “Recruiting is one of the exciting parts of the job - an opportunity to get to know players and sell your program (which is easy to do at Mac).
At this point, we have a strong and deep returning group. Our recruiting process this year is different than in years past because of that depth,” said Connolly.
“There isn’t much that can be said in those situations other than the reminder of how much we care about them as people.” Amos Connolly Head Coach, McMaster Men’s Basketball Learning from losses is easier said than done, but the team will regroup and be back next season to compete with the best. @itssofiaAM
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Thursday, March 10, 2016 | www.thesil.ca
McMaster Musical Theatre drops the ball Page 32
andy
Review: London Has Fallen Page 33
Review: The Little Prince
Mark Osborne’s 2015 adaptation of The Little Prince reinterprets a poignant tale.
Trisha Gregorio Andy Writer
Every year, I naively await the Oscars’ Best Animated Feature Film. Every year, Disney proves itself to be the most powerful force in the animated world, and every year, I nod and grudgingly agree as yet another Studio Ghibli film gets sidelined. With Pixar’s Inside Out setting the bar for animated films this year, Mark Osborne’s The Little Prince was released at the Cannes Film Festival with relatively minimal fanfare. However, I’ve been anticipating this adaptation for a long while, and when it was released for the English-speaking audience late last year, I welcomed it with open arms. Antoine Saint-Exupery’s The Little Prince is dearly loved by the world of children’s literature, and for good reason. It’s intent on driving home the relevance of childlike wonder in the face of the many facets of adulthood, all while retaining a
heartfelt charm that never gets old. Osborne’s version maintains all this, but with a twist. Instead of adapting the book scene by scene, this Little Prince introduces a young girl whose life has been scheduled perfectly to the very seconds by a helicopter mom. The family moves in next to a former aviator — the same aviator from the original story, only much older and quirkier. Priorities start shifting for the unnamed little girl as she gets to know the story of the Little Prince from her neighbour, all of which innocently reminiscent of the aviator’s own experience in Saint-Exupery’s book. The two storylines, old and new, are laced together for the first half, with the distinction made by the animation style. The girl’s daily life is computer animated, while the aviator’s narration of the story of the Little Prince is executed in lovely stop-motion that really cemented the emotional groundwork of the film for me. This first half gives way to a storyline that wholly belongs
This first half gives way to a storyline that wholly belongs to this film alone, and the result is something that can make or break the film depending on who’s watching.
to this film alone, and the result is something that can make or break the film depending on who’s watching. I chose to go into it with the intention of loving it no matter what, and while I didn’t ultimately love some of the changes they made, I liked them enough to allow them to pull at my vulnerable heartstrings. Osborne set out with this film to make his own personal statement about family and parent-child relationships, and make a statement, it did. The problem is that I’m not sure exactly what that statement is. I love Saint-Exupery’s Le Petit Prince, and it might be my longstanding loyalty to the original story speaking here, but the one flaw of the film for me is that its original plotline fell short of where it really needed to be. Instead of growing into whatever they were trying to prove with the added story, the film reiterates the same monotonous mantras from Saint-Exupery despite blatantly being determined to distinguish itself. The moral of the story
became something repetitive and not unlike anything we’ve ever heard before, and the repetition became something that bordered on ridiculous. It stripped away the emotional brilliance that could have been maintained if handled carefully, and while all was not lost at the end of the day, the rescue can only be credited to Hans Zimmer and Richard Harvey’s beautiful score. Osborne’s The Little Prince is a movie targeted towards children, but for a film that preaches about the importance of childlike imagination, it severely underestimates their capability to understand subtle thematic messages in what was otherwise a lovely film. It beats you over the head with the same message, explicitly stated through the little girl, and while nice at first, it was something the second half of the film could have done away with, or at least managed better. @tngregorio
ANDY | 31
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 10, 2016
COMING UP IN HAMILTON
Review: The Drowsy Chaperone After staging Lady in the Red Dress last year, McMaster takes a step backwards with a production of a parodic musical that entrenches derogatory Chinese-American stereotypes more than it subverts them
MUSIC
HOMEGROWN MAR 11 > Glory Glory MAR 12 > Sean Le Sage MAR 15 > Hamilton Newcomer’s Club ABSINTHE
MAR 17 > St. Paddy’s Day MAR 18 > Dead Tired THIS AIN’T HOLLYWOOD
MAR 12 > Wacken Metal Battle MAR 13 > Gung Ho Catalyst
FILM WESTDALE THEATRE
MAR 11-17 A shot of the 2006 Broadway production of The Drowsy Chaperone, an outdated musical that McMaster Musical Theatre recently tried their hand at, to poor results.
Cathy Huang Contributor
> Spotlight
> Brooklyn This week’s quick pick
Kendrick Lamar untitled unmastered Kendrick went and dropped a record on us out of nowhere. As with all of his music, it’s required listening so sign up for a free trial on TIDAL and get to it as soon as possible.
I recently had the pleasure of watching McMaster Musical Theatre’s production of The Drowsy Chaperone. Having already read the notorious play’s Wikipedia page beforehand, I was somewhat prepared for the song, “Message from A Nightingale” going into the show. I was not prepared, however, for just how offensive it would be. The number featured two white cast members in traditional Chinese qipaos (dresses) and chopsticks in their hair, something Chinese people don’t actually do, and another white cast member in a plain green dress and a rice paddy hat. A musical meant to parody musicals in the 1920s — racism and all — written in 1998, and still performed to this day, does little to actually spark discussion about racism towards Asian people. If you read the program, you’ll see that the director chose
to respect the source material rather than the actual minority group he would be hurting. I would like to know how he and the production team handled this with the “utmost care,” and how he thinks “Message from A Nightingale” will “provoke discussion rather than offense.” More importantly, how he thought he, as a white man, was in any way qualified to speak on the complicated and varied experiences of Chinese people. As the red lanterns and cheap dragon kite descended from the ceiling, I figured it couldn’t get any worse, but then they started singing. The song began with terrible accents and ended with references to Chinese foods and replacing ‘l’ sounds with ‘r’s once the emperor, played by yet another non-Chinese cast member, waltzed on stage. Instead of having the few Asian cast members play Asian characters, white people were selected. If you’re wondering, yes, this does
make it more offensive. Maybe they weren’t comfortable playing those roles, but then again, maybe this song should never have been included in the first place. After McMaster School of the Arts’ decision to put on Lady in the Red Dress this year, a play that highlighted the racism Chinese-Canadians face specifically, it seems a glaring oversight to have consciously kept this number in the production. A brief mention of China’s long history by the main character, Man in Chair, is not only insufficient for facilitating a discussion about a topic so complex, it’s not even relevant to the stereotypes presented in the song. The number was inessential to the plot of the musical, and could’ve been replaced by literally anything else. But as uncomfortable as the number made me, the more unsettling thing and the reason I nearly walked out of the theatre was how hilarious the audience seemed to find it all. As soon as the Asian-sounding music be-
gan, they were chuckling. By the time the emperor appeared, they were howling. I’d been laughing up until that point but in a room full of people, I had never felt more alone in my entire life. I was somewhere between wanting to cry, vomit, and start screaming at everyone either involved or just sitting there and laughing. And that’s a lot like what fighting racism as an Asian is like in Canada. No one takes you seriously and white people dismiss you and non-Asian People of Colour alike because they don’t think your struggles are valid. To you they’re still an expendable joke. From Fu Manchu and Mr. Yunioshi to Drowsy and recent remarks made at this year’s Oscars, the entertainment business has clearly demonstrated how little it cares about us, and how little progress we’ve made in the anti-racism movement for Asians.
McMaster Honours Performance Series 2016 Week One
Week Two
Week Three
It’s All Relative (March 10-11)
Who Let the Dogs Out? (March 17-18)
mod. (March 23-24)
Hunter (March 10-11)
Unoriginal Sin (March 17-18)
Ripples (March 23-24) Tides Unturned (March-24)
See the full schedule and showtimes for each date on McMaster’s Faculty of Humanities website.
32 |
ANDY
Thursday, March 10, 2016 | www.thesil.ca
Review: London Has Fallen
Gerard Butler and Aaron Eckhart star in London Has Fallen, an action movie that is as quintessential as it gets. C/O SCREENRANT.COM Joe Jodoin Contributor
Remember three years ago when some over-the-top Die Hard ripoff came out of nowhere, and it actually turned out better than the last couple Die Hard movies? Well that movie got a sequel, full of more of the same mindless action. London Has Fallen is a fun throwback to the simplistic but entertaining action movies of the late 80s, early 90s period of cinema. Think of the classics with Schwarzenegger, Stallone, or Van Damme, full of graphic violence and cartoony explosions. This film will at least provide a short period of escapism for action lovers, but not much
else for other audiences. The story follows Islamic terrorists who carry out an attack at the British Prime Minister’s funeral, in order to kill most of the world’s leaders, including the American President. The only man who can protect the President is Secret Service Agent Mike Banning, and the two men travel around London fighting countless waves of terrorist bad guys. The plot is incredibly unrealistic and silly, but serves to create many over-the-top fantastical action sequences. Gerard Butler does a decent job in the lead role, but has to play a very cliché character with no great lines. Aaron Eckhart
Olympus wasn’t a movie that I thought needed a sequel, and London isn’t a movie that needs to be seen, but it’s a movie that can be enjoyed if you’re bored on a summer afternoon.
plays a boring and wooden prime minister, and Morgan Freeman’s role solely involves sitting in a chair and speaking in a monotone voice. However, because the action takes the spotlight, none of these strange decisions are bothersome. It never became mind numbing or boring, and despite a complete lack of emotional investment, I was having fun watching it. Even though the movie is technically a sequel to Olympus Has Fallen, this really doesn’t matter as the prequel is never referred to at all. Olympus wasn’t a movie that I thought needed a sequel and London isn’t a movie that needs to be seen, but it’s a movie that can be enjoyed
if you’re bored on a summer afternoon and want to relax and watch some mindless action for an hour and a half. Overall, the movie lacks sophistication and elegance, but it makes up for it in gleeful brutality. Be prepared going into this film that there will be many plot holes and countless clichés, and by no means is the movie well made. This is just a good cure for boredom. It isn’t a movie for everyone, but hopefully you will know what you’re getting into if you decide you want to watch it.
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ANDY | 33
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 10, 2016
Hear me out
Thinking of starting a podcast? Check out these five picks
Lore
Serial
Mystery Show
Revolutions
Criminal
In Lore, Aaron Mahnke tells true-life scary stories based on urban legends and supernatural folklore. This is an on-going series, with episodes being released bi-weekly — the most recent one came out on Monday. Mahnke is a writer of supernatural novels, which lends to his ability to flesh out these horrifically true stories into a narrative.
Each season of this podcast — hosted by Sarah Koenig — focuses on a different criminal case. The first season focused on Adnan Syed who had been found guilty on account of killing his ex-girlfriend, Hae Min Lee, in 1999. We are now on the second season, which focuses on Bowe Bergdahl, the U.S. soldier who walked off his post in Afghanistan in 2009 and was captured and held by the Taliban for nearly five years.
Starlee Kine solves every day mysteries. Listeners are able to submit personal mysteries that have plagued them for years, as long as the answer is not easily google-able. Thus far, there are only six episodes, but season two is in the works.
Mike Duncan is currently in his fourth season of this podcast series that examines political revolutions around the world. Duncan is rather serious in his delivery, but this is a strength, given that podcast’s content is focused on historical information and analysis.
As described on their website, Criminal consists of “Stories of people who’ve done wrong, been wronged, or gotten caught somewhere in the middle.” For those of us who are still reeling from the first season of Serial, Criminal is a good replacement. This series is in its third season now.
Release timing? Every two weeks Length? 15 – 20 mins Where? Spotify, iTunes, lorepodcast.com
Release timing? Weekly
Release timing? TBA Length? 30 mins – 1 hour Where? iTunes, gimletmedia.com
Release timing? Weekly Length? 30 – 40 mins Where? revolutionspodcast. com
Release timing? Every two weeks Length? 20 mins Where? iTunes, Soundcloud, thisiscriminal.com
Length? 30 mins – 1 hour Where? iTunes, Stitcher, Pandora, serialpodcast.org
Are you listening to, watching or reading something you think our student body could benefit from knowing about? Write for Andy! Email andy@ thesil.ca to get involved.
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Thursday
MARCH 17th
THURSDAY
THE
HAMILTON SPECULATOR Eavesdropping on your 1280 convos since 1934
MARCH 10, 2016
NOTSPEC.COM
Student advocacy group awaits job offers from government
If a keener student falls in the woods and no one is there to see it, will they still add it to their LinkedIn profile?
An awkward handshake between a student advocacy group member and a Member of Parliament.
KITTY MUTTLING Seeking Government Employment
The “Student Group For All Students Everywhere” has had some successes lately in influencing government policy in regards to tuition changes. Their spokesperson, president, and current student at the University, Jeremy Wrightman, says that students everywhere should thank SGFASE’s new effective strategies. “This year, instead of starting our own campaigns, we decided to advocate for things that the government already wanted to implement,” said SGFASE president, Jeremy Wrightman. “This tactic has guaranteed our success. It also makes people think
we do more than we actually do, which is pretty sweet.” Wrightman thinks that SGFASE will, moving forward, continue to follow the strategies used by this year’s team. He’s confident this will ensure that postsecondary education policy changes a little bit, but not enough to make a dramatic and complicated difference. “If the government says something isn’t possible, it probably isn’t. So we just piggyback on their anti-climactic plans. They have no other interests in mind than students, and money definitely has no sway in politics,” said Wrightman. SGFASE tries not to ask for more than the government will
give.
“You have to be positive and thoughtful of government’s feelings when you criticize policy,” said Wrightman. “We have to maintain a good relationship with them. Plus, I’m gonna need a job when this sweet presidential gig is over.” Wrightman hopes to work in government one day, where he too can keep student groups subservient by letting them play pretend-government and posing in pictures for their LinkedIn profiles. “When we advocate for things that the government is already planning on doing, we know we will be successful. Students deserve effective advocacy, and that’s what we’re offering them,” said student leader Jonathan Kinner
who has been working at SGFASE for seven years, and is joining the government in the fall as their token youth. SGFASE will not try any other strategies anytime soon. “Protests and student organizing never works,” said Kinner. “What good could come from showing that students are passionate about affordable education? Name me one province where that has worked.” The Speculator reached out to Quebec students for comment, but unfortunately they are currently too busy enjoying their rights to accessible higher education.
“When we advocate for things that the government is already planning on doing, we know we will be successful.” Jeremy Wrightman SGFASE President
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