The Silhouette- March 24, 2016

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THE COP ON CAMPUS The Silhouette Thursday, March 24, 2016

Former Police Chief Glenn De Caire is the university’s new Director of Parking and Security Services. Students are fighting to get him and his police presence off campus // Page 6

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Thursday, March 24, 2016 McMaster University’s Student Newspaper

LOOKING BACK NOV. 19, 1966

EDITORIAL BOARD

In this 1966 issue of The Silhouette, editors looked back on old photographs of the university’s campus in the 1920’s. The photos to the left were taken at McMaster’s first location in Toronto.

The top image shows McMaster’s “campus” — three buildings, one of which was called McMaster Hall — situated next to The Royal Ontario Museum. By 1930, the University had fully moved to Hamilton, and McMaster Hall was purchased by The Royal Conservatory of Music.

editor-in-chief | thesil@thesil.ca

Amanda Watkins @whatthekins managing editor | managing@thesil.ca

Ana Qarri @anaqarri production editor | production@thesil.ca Michael Gallagher @michaelradar online editor | online@thesil.ca Shane Madill @shanemadill sections

Rachel Katz @RachAlbertaKatz news reporter Patrick Kim @patrickmkim news reporter Alex Florescu @alexxflorescu features reporter Daniel Arauz @DanielArauzz opinions editor Talia Kollek @TaliaKollek sports editor Sofia Mohamed @itssofiaAM sports reporter Jaycee Cruz @_jayceecruz lifestyle editor Jason Woo lifestyle reporter Michelle Yeung @yeung_m andy editor Tomi Milos @tomimilos andy reporter Vannessa Barnier @vjbarnier news editor

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Changes coming to the Honours Life Sciences program Page 4

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Getting students into the entrepreneurial spirit Page 11

The Reckoning in retrospect McMaster’s annual Afrofest brings together the university’s diverse African community in an uplifting, empowering way

Canadian campus news Rachel Katz News Editor

Bomb threat at York University

MacAfricans’ annual showcase provides both an evening of entertainment as well as education for the audience.

C/O NELSON NWOGU

Steven Chen News Reporter

Many months of preparation lie behind the curtain in a performance that soulfully plunges within the heart of African culture. On March 19, the McMaster African Students Association hosted their annual Afrofest theatrical production at the McIntyre Performing Arts Centre at Mohawk College.

This year’s production Afrofest 2016: The Reckoning serves as the third independent segment of a trilogy of shows.

MacAfricans previously staged The Revolution in 2014 and Resilience in 2015. The story centres around the lives of two brothers from conflicting tribes, yet raised by a single father.

With war presiding between the oppressive Brata people and the rebel Tsuli people, a muddled dilemma emanates.

Oluseye Oduyale, Vice-President of MacAfricans and Biochemistry student at McMaster, shares the inspiration behind the performance

“We want to be a club that gives back to the community and the people who make us who we really are.”

Oluseye Oduyale Vice President MacAfricans held on Saturday. “The concept of The Reckoning was to show that there is a balance in the world — chaos and order, good and evil, just two different perspectives on life. Neither of them are necessarily wrong, but they need to co-exist in an [equilibrium].”

The premise of the Reckoning parallels the Rwandan genocide and the xenophobic attacks in South Africa. The themes extrapolated from the performance bring forth commentary on the consequences of terrorism and xenophobia.

In past years, Afrofest has

also addressed topics ranging from social injustice, to corruption, to human trafficking. “We really tried to bring up current affairs and get people thinking about issues specifically pertaining to continental Africa and to raise awareness as a whole,” Oduyale added.

Afrofest also aimed to showcase the richness of African culture, done by the exhibition of dancing, singing and poetry weaved into the performance.

The proceeds from the Afrofest show goes into a $25,000 scholarship fund for African students at McMaster University. “We wanted to support African students who are coming into McMaster, and it gives Africans an incentive to come to university,” said MacAfricans club President Akinjisola Akinkugbe. The fund will be used to carry forth an annual $5,000 scholarship.

Primarily executed through the annual Afrofest shows, the McMaster African Students Association reaches out to educate, engage and entertain the

McMaster student community in affairs and topics relevant to Africa and Africans in the diaspora. “[MacAfricans’] number one priority is to educate people about Africa and to break the stereotypes that people have about Africa,” noted Akinkugke.

Additionally, there is the concern of the underhand stigmas surrounding international students here at McMaster, for instance the assumption that “African students are unable to speak English.”

Another assumption made by many is the matter of club exclusivity, “People always think that you have to be African in order to be part of the club.

That is not true. You just have to be one that appreciates culture and diversity and breaking these barriers,” expressed Oduyale.

“Over the years, we want to be a club that is an empowerment club. We want to be a club that gives back to the community and the people who make us who we really are.”

On March 21, York University evacuated part of its campus after a bomb threat. Bus stops on campus were temporarily relocated to the edge of the university grounds, and Toronto Police spent several hours investigating the cause of the threat — an abandoned suitcase in a washroom.

Laurentian receives $5 million for climate change initiatives in Indigenous communities Laurentian University has received $5 million in funding to support an initiative to study the effects of climate change on isolated First Nation communities. The funding will be used to help these communities cope with and adapt to the climate change as well as help limit the effects by working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

UVic hiding sexual assault allegations The University of Victoria joins Brock University on a list of schools that have hidden allegations of sexual violence. Three UVic students have come forward saying the current systems in place at their university are “fostering a culture of silence.”

The university has defended itself, saying that while it does warn students about releasing sensitive information, that no barriers prevent students from sharing their stories. @RachAlbertaKatz

4 |

NEWS

Thursday, March 24, 2016 | www.thesil.ca

Bringing science to life The Honours Life Sciences program faces remodelling following curriculum changes

Students apply theoretical knowledge in a handson way through chemistry labs.

KAREEM BAASSIRI/ PHOTO CONTRIBUTOR

Alexandra Florescu News Reporter

The recent change to the Honours Life Sciences curriculum tops what has been a year of many changes for the program.

The current curriculum draws in students looking for flexibility in course selections. Despite graduating with the same degree, students in the program have taken a variety of courses such as biology, psychology, ecology and more. The reasoning behind the changes in curriculum arose from concerns surrounding whether the flexibility ultimately held students back from developing the necessary skills that they need to progress past graduation.

For Biology professor

Kimberly Dej, this is a major concern. “We knew that students appreciated the flexibility but we also worried about what students ended up with when they graduated. Whether you’re in health care, politics and policy – you have to think like a scientist … And what we found is that by fourth-year students were still taking a group of courses that were very broad and they were still experimenting with courses. So there was no progression upward through the years.”

A committee made up of all the contributing departments and two student members was assembled to revise the curriculum. While in the past, required courses were grouped by year level of the course, the new curriculum groups required

courses by broader skill sets: research skills, communication skills and an experiential component. Courses that were mandatory before are conserved under this system, but are organized differently.

Under the umbrella category for research skills is the living systems laboratory course that aims to introduce students to novel research techniques. Making statistics a required course was done as a means of ensuring that students in science are able to understand and interpret data presented in research. Past analyses showed that most students take Genetics, so making it a required second year course was not considered to be a big change.

The communication courses ensure that students

have the necessary skills to hold their own symposium, hold a debate and develop other skills necessary in the scientific field. Finally, the experiential component features a thesis or project course in third or fourth year, a placement course, community engagement course or peer-mentoring course.

“It’s a real shame if you graduate with a science degree and you’re never in a lab and all you do is fill in multiple choice bubble questions. I think we are letting down the students if they spend four years doing that, so we wanted to think about how they can apply these skills in really meaningful ways,” said Dej. The number of electives that students are able to take is conserved in the new curriculum, meaning that there is no loss in flexibility to do a minor or to take courses outside of science.

Students currently in their second year of Honours Life Sciences and higher will not be affected by these curriculum changes. Students currently in level one of a gateway program that plan on entering into the Honours Life Sciences stream will take courses as per the new curriculum but will have the same admission requirements as the previous years. The following year will also see changes to the courses requirement for entry into the program, with math, biology, chemistry and physics being required.

The next step is to develop

“What we found is that by fourthyear students were still taking a group of courses that were very broad and they were still experimenting with courses.

So there was no progression upward through the years.”

Kimberly Dej Professor Department of Biology subplans, or specific smaller sets of courses within Honours Life Science that allow for a greater variety of interests. Students will be actively involved in the development of these subplans, as they were involved in the development of the curriculum through surveys and a public discussion.

Students with questions or concerns are encouraged to reach out to the administrative department, as well as those who are interested in being involved in the creation of curriculum changes. @alexxflorescu

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www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 24, 2016

NEWS

| 5

Breaking down Fall Break Having garnered over 2,000 responses, researchers from across the University are making headway with the results of the Fall Break surveys

Rachel Katz News Editor

For the first time in its history, McMaster instigated a weeklong break in the fall of 2015.

This marked a major departure from the University’s previous practice which, following advocacy efforts from the MSU, included a short, two-day break added to a weekend at the end of October.

According to Heather Poole, a post-doctoral fellow working with the McMaster Institute for Innovation and Excellence in Learning, many universities and colleges across the country have introduced a midterm break in their fall semesters to help students cope with the stress that tends to accompany the accumulation of midterms, essays and extra-curricular commitments. The break is also intended to help prevent students from dropping out of school.

The addition of a weeklong break is in and of itself unremarkable. More and more institutions are adopting the practice every year. “In spite of the fact that this has become a pattern across the country, nobody has really looked at whether it actually helps students to manage stress and whether it helps them academically, and so that’s what we’re seeking to do,” explained Poole.

As part of a team of staff from multiple departments and divisions within McMaster, Poole and her co-researchers have taken to scrutinizing the break from multiple perspectives, asking students, professors and other members of the University’s staff to participate in surveys prior to and after the break last fall, as well as a follow-up survey in January. “We were interested in whether students are actually using this for stress-relief activities, whether they are using it for studying, with those sort of being the goal set out by the University, or whether they are going home to a part-time job or to family responsibilities,” she said. In addition to the surveys, a small number of students volunteered to send the researchers text message updates over the

“In spite of the fact that this has become a pattern across the country, nobody has really looked at whether it actually helps students to manage stress and whether it helps them academically, and so that’s what we’re seeking to do.”

Heather Poole Post-Doctoral Fellow McMaster University course of their Fall Break, and others had cortisol samples taken before and after the break to examine stress levels as cortisol spikes when a subject is under pressure. Despite the small sample size, Poole commented that a change in cortisol levels was observed, however she would not confirm whether levels increased or decreased as a result of the break.

While the group is still analyzing the multiple types of feedback they received, Poole has already been able to make some observations about some of the results, mainly the surveys thus far. Part of these surveys asked students to rate their perceived stress levels as well as check off items from a list of standard “stressors,” such as losing one’s keys or having to write a test. “When we look at what happened in patterns of pre- and post-Fall Break, the number of stressors that students were reporting was lower after the break, so they were actually experiencing … fewer stressful events after the fall break [however] they were reporting higher perceived stress after the Fall Break.” More analysis must be done before these results can be interpreted in a meaningful way, however the preliminary results show that the effects of McMaster’s

Fall Break could be more complicated than simply reducing student stress levels. The team hopes to gain more insight into the complexities surrounding stress levels in follow-up focus groups.

The response rate for the surveys was higher than Poole anticipated.

“People seem to be really interested in it, which is really good and I mean it’s not always that typical in research.”

The questionnaires sent out immediately before and after the break garnered about 2,300 responses each. The January follow-up survey was filled out by about 1,150 students. Of those who responded to the first two surveys, close to 80 percent reported that the Fall Break was beneficial. However, the remaining 20 percent found it to be detrimental on the whole.

Poole hopes to look at the latter group with greater focus.

“It’s possible that students in a particular faculty are saying that their stress has increased or maybe it depends on how many assignments or tests they had right after the break,” she explained. This information could be given to instructors to improve how courses are structured.

Much like the students, professors gave a mixed review of the break.

“A lot of professors are saying that it was useful for them personally as sort of prep time, but then others are saying,

McMaster’s thoughts on the Fall Break How did the Fall Break influence your stress?

How did the Fall Break influence your academic performance?

Increased %

18

%

53

%

Reduced

69

9%

No change 8% %

22

Unable to assess 4% %

14

well it’s kind of too early for that … which was also a thing that came out in a lot of the students comments.”

Due to the extensive planning required to schedule the McMaster school year, students will not see any short-term changes to the structure of their academic year. “I would be surprised if any changes come

about based on this research for next fall, but we certainly feel like it’s been a worthwhile study and we’ve gotten a good sampling of the student voice,” Poole concluded. Poole and her team plan to release further results in June. @RachAlbertaKatz

The research into Fall Break is being conducted by faculty from multiple disciplines across the University: • Heather Poole, McMaster Institute for Innovation and Excellence in Teaching and Learning (MIIETL) • Michael Agnew, McMaster Institute for Innovation and Excellence in Teaching and Learning (MIIETL) • Ayesha Khan, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour • Jeremy Sandor, Student Success Centre • Nathan Cooper, Student Wellness Centre • Sean Beaudette, Residence Life Office

6 |

FEATURE

Thursday, March 24, 2016 | www.thesil.ca

THE HIRING AND FIRING* OF GLENN DE CAIRE Chronicling the hiring of the former Police Chief and the mobilization of students to remove the Director of Parking and Security services from campus

*REQUESTED FIRING

Amanda Watkins Editor-in-Chief

After six years at the helm of Hamilton Police Services, Chief of Police Glenn De Caire’s contract was renewed for another two years of service. A powerful and lucrative position, De Caire’s contract was racking up $240,580 annually. The contract, although short-term, was not one to turn down, and one De Caire did not.

Less than a month later, on Dec. 18, 2015, De Caire announced that he would be retiring from the Hamilton Police Services.

Surprising everyone, including his former employers and the community, De Caire explained that he would be leaving his post as Chief to become the Director of Parking and Security Services at McMaster University, a position he began this January. His Police Services retirement party will be taking place on the date this article is released, March 24, at Liuna Station.

Throughout his years of employment, whether at Police Services or now at the University, De Caire has not been a well-liked man.

This past year, after serving as Police Chief since 2009, a group of sworn police officers were asked to vote in regards to the renewal of De Caire’s contract. The majority 72.1 percent of police surveyed opposed the extension of his contract.

Contrary to this number, his contract was still renewed, and he eventually turned it down.

Now, turning a new leaf at McMaster, students are starting to show a similar vote of non-confidence in De Caire’s abilities and beliefs. On his first day on the job, Jan. 17, the campaign “De Caire Off Campus,” launched earlier that month on Facebook, hosted a protest outside the Parking and Security Office in the Clarke Centre.

Started by McMaster’s Revolutionary Students Movement, the campaign condemned his previously racist actions while working at Police Services. De Caire is well known in the city for enforcing the controversial and now illegal practice of carding in the city of Hamilton.

Carding, or “street checks,” was originally developed as a tool to document illicit activities in municipal areas and were previously known

FEATURE

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 24, 2016

as Field Information Reports.

The process allowed a registered police officer to stop and question someone on the street asking for personal information like their name, age, height, eye colour and a description of their activities at the time. Over time, carding became a practice used to racially profile predominantly young non-white men, and legally document and target their actions through police surveillance. Without justification, this practice preyed on many young black and brown men in the city.

However, recently, thanks to an amendment to the provincial Police Services Act released on March 22, carding will be an officially illegal practice as of January 1, 2017 as it was denounced a violation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

While carding may soon lack technical validity in the province and therefore on campus, this is not De Caire’s only liability. He has been known for numerous other scandals in the city including but not limited to the possession of confidential police assets in his home, a lack of transparency in fiscal planning for Police Services (unlike most large municipal police organizations, during his time as chief, the HPS never publicly posted its budget) and a general distrust from his employees and the community.

With all of this information publicly available and well known, De Caire was still hired by the University and remains in a position many students are not comfortable with and are hoping to change.

HIRING Hiring the Director of Parking and Security Services requires a committee of known stakeholders from across the University’s administration. This year’s committee featured six McMaster employees, all from different departments of the University. This year’s board included: outgoing Director, Terry Sullivan; Assistant Vice President and Chief Facilities Officer, Mohamed Attalla; Assistant Vice President and Director of Teaching and Learning at MIIETL, Arshad Ahmad; Assistant Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, Wanda McKenna; Director of Public and Community Relations, Gord Arbeau; and President of the McMaster Students Union, Ehima Osazuwa.

“This was a national search,”

“There were a series of advertisements across the country to encourage applicants. I think we had well over 100 applicants for this position.”

Gord Arbeau Director of Public and Community Relations said Arbeau.

“The job description was developed — it was the existing job description that was updated from the last time we hired a director — and it is quite a lengthy document … and then there were a series of advertisements across the country to encourage applicants. I think we had well over 100 applicants for this position,” he said.

The search committee had no shortage of applicants, with resumes coming in from across the country. To compile this extensive list, three members of the committee — Atalla, McKenna and Sullivan — worked with a third party hiring group to narrow down the search.

“I never knew the 100 people that applied, they narrowed it down to five people,” said Osazuwa, another member of the hiring committee.

“I got to read the applications and we had an interview process with each of the five candidates,” he said.

Terry Sullivan, the outgoing director and one of the key stakeholders in hiring, is a former employee of Hamilton Police Services. Previously working as a Superintendent and Division Supervisor with the HPS, Sullivan became Parking and Security Director in 2005. Him and De Caire have been known to be in touch through their connection to HPS, making his selection for the top five unsurprising.

“We looked for an understanding of McMaster, an understanding of its traditions and culture of inclusivity, an understanding and awareness of how this role fits into this inclusivity and its culture, and the committee would hear from the various applicants about how they would fit into this existing

culture,” said Arbeau.

De Caire’s stance on inclusivity has been questionable over the years with his carding practices and statements both publicly and privately about where he stands on racial profiling, including a circulated email that stated it’s “time for these black kids to stop blaming the police,” as reported by CBC Hamilton. And even though this information was publicly available, the University did not present any of these details to the hiring committee, and it was up to their own initiative to do any background checks outside of what would have been done by the three hiring committee representatives in the preliminary hiring stages.

“I expect the university to do that background [check] before presenting candidates to me,” said Osazuwa.

Osazuwa also mentioned that during the hiring committee’s assessment of De Caire’s interview, resume and cover letter, none of the members brought up the darker details of his history with Police Services.

After the interview process, De Caire was selected for the job and offered a Letter of Employment from the University.

The letter does not define a set amount of time for De Caire’s role on campus, and instead the position will exist for him as long as he chooses to continue in the job and is not removed from campus.

The job will see a drop in salary for De Caire, with the most recent Director, Terry Sullivan, making $133,852 annually, but the long-term position also delivers a level of security that his previous police job did not offer.

BACKLASH Nick Abrams, a fourth-year Anthropology and Religious Studies student, is a member of the Revolutionary Students Movement and one of the key planners in the initial protests and campaigning around De Caire’s hiring.

The first protest against De Caire’s hiring happened on his first day on the job. The assembled team of students eventually turned the protest into an online petition that received 228 signatures of support in its first week. Shortly after the release of the petition, the campaign was translated into a motion at the MSU’s General Assembly on

March 14.

The General Assembly accepted proposed motions from across the student body, and the RMS, in partnership with the McMaster Womanists, the Revolutionary Communist Party, McMaster United in Colour, and several other student groups motioned for “the General Assembly [to] endorse this campaign to get Glenn De Caire Off Campus … call on the university to terminate Glenn De Caire from [his] position of head of Security and Parking … call on the university to end its campaign of increasing the presence of police on our campus.”

“We have to force awkward conversations between the President of the MSU and President of the University, which I’m excited about,” said Abrams.

The University has not officially attempted to increase the presence of police on campus, but the hiring of a former police officer has led some to speculate about the future of on-campus security.

“I expect the university to do that background [check] before presenting candidates to me.”

| 7

THE DE CAIRE

MCMASTER

TIMELINE 2009

De Caire becomes Chief of the Hamilton Police Services.

Oct. 2015 The job posting for Director of Parking and Security Services is posted on the McMaster website.

Early Dec. 2015 De Caire’s contract with the HPS is renewed for two years. He eventually turns it down in favour of retirement.

Dec. 18, 2015

Ehima Osazuwa MSU President The full motion passed with more than 80 percent of voters in favour at the General Assembly. But since the GA did not reach quorum, the motion was taken to the Student Representative Assembly to make a final decision on the MSU’s stance.

At the March 20 SRA meeting, the governing body of the MSU voted in favour of the motion, meaning it is now a responsibility of the MSU to talk to University administration to advocate for his removal and clearer outlines for the future of campus security.

“The goal is to get him off campus … and to also implement something to ensure that something like this doesn’t happen again,” said Kayonne Christy, a fourth-year Life Sciences student, President of the McMaster Womanists and one of the campaign’s coordinators.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 >>

De Caire announces he will be the new Director of Parking and Security Services at McMaster.

Jan. 17, 2016 It is De Caire’s first day at Mac. A protest is held outside his office and progresses into a petition.

March 21, 2016

After a motion is brought forth at the GA, the SRA agrees that the MSU should advocate to reconsider his hiring.

8 |

NEWS

Thursday, March 24, 2016 | www.thesil.ca

Motion to remove CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7, “The hiring and firing* of Glenn De Caire” The motion also called for “the university to form a new hiring committee made up of students, faculty and campus support staff to make the new hire.” The current hiring committee is not seen as fit to make a new decision if De Caire is eventually removed from the campus.

“Something like this should have been a lot more known.

And the fact that they hired him during exam time seems pretty sketchy,” said Christy. “A lot of students are going home, a lot of students are stressed with schools, and no one’s really focusing on that … They should have been a lot more transparent and a lot more honest about this.”

“In general, it just seems weird that the university would hire someone that used to be a Chief of Police to the position — are the students criminals?” added Abrams.

NEXT STEPS “Realistically speaking, the University is not going to get rid of Glenn because we ask them to.

But I think it is important that we have these student voices,” said Osazuwa, the link between the MSU and University administration.

After the March 21 SRA meeting, Osazuwa spoke with President Patrick Deane about the motion, and hopes to continue the conversation with Deane and Gord Arbeau for the rest of his term.

“I read the motion as one way: trying to make the campus safer for more people. And if there are certain individuals people feel uncomfortable around, we need to address that issue … I don’t know if getting rid of Glenn is the best solution, but we need to do something,” said Osazuwa.

Osazuwa feels that there are a variety of measures that can be taken to create the safer space students are demanding.

It is all part of an ongoing discussion and no concrete plans or intentions have been put forward.

“Part of me is also worried that summer months are coming and that the conversation is going to die off. I don’t think that is the right approach, I think we need to have this conversation head on and try to come to a solution that is best for all parties — the MSU, Glenn, the University, the people that are uncomfortable — I don’t want it to slip under the rug.”

While Osazuwa is the current liaison, some responsibility to pursue these changes also rests on the shoulders of incoming President-Elect Justin Monaco-Barnes who will assume Osazuwa’s responsibilities as of May 1. “[Justin] has been very good at listening to what is happening … I’m trying to do this as best as I can so I don’t leave Justin in a very uncomfortable situation.”

“I recommended to Patrick [Deane] that the university should have Glenn talk about this. Glenn cannot hide, it is good for him to come out and have this conversation.”

Ehima Osazuwa MSU President Parking and Security Services has yet to reach out to the MSU about this conversation and has instead routed McMasters Public and Communications Department to address the situation.

“I recommended to Patrick that the university should have Glenn talk about this. Glenn cannot hide, it is good for him

to come out and have this conversation.”

De Caire contacted The Silhouette after our initial editorial on his hiring [“On background checks,” Jan. 28, 2016] was released. After recent attempts to reach out to him, we were redirected to Gord Arbeau. He stated, “Any questions about the Director of Security and questions about the process in which he was hired would be referred to [him],” according to a recent policy implemented by the University during these past few weeks.

As the conflict surrounding De Caire’s hiring and request for firing develops, we hope to hear from the new Director himself in regards to his plans for his time at McMaster and his reaction to this motion from the student body.

@whatthekins

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www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 24, 2016

NEWS

| 9

Home sweet (affordable) home Following an announcement from the provincial government, Hamilton’s mayor is eager to start work on improving affordable housing strategies in the city Crystal Lobo Contributor

Ted McMeekin, Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and MPP for Ancaster- Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale, announced an updated Affordable Housing Strategy on March 14. This multi-faceted strategy involves an investment of $178 million across Ontario over the span of three years. It declared the construction of up to 1,500 new affordable housing units.

Additionally, the announcement mentioned funding for the Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative. Furthermore, building frameworks for portable housing benefit and Supportive Housing Policy were also mentioned.

This funding from the provincial government is a positive step towards helping homeless Hamiltonians according to Mayor Fred Eisenberger.

“There are a lot of positives here that talk about many of the things that municipalities have been asking for, which is long-term care, a focus on poverty and homelessness, as well as providing benefits to residents that are having problems in terms of affordability,” said Eisenberger.

The mayor cites housing and homelessness as a significant issue in the community of Hamilton. Eisenberger acknowledges that homelessness impedes many Hamiltonians from leading stable lives and successfully providing for their families. He states that the effort in combatting this issue must be collective.

“This is a community-wide issue and resolving this issue I think is a collective responsibility for all of us. To do that we would be making some significant investments in our human capital.”

Currently, there are 6,000 people on the wait list for affordable housing in the city.

Each affordable housing unit costs $200,000 to build from scratch. As such, Hamilton requires more resources than those provided by this an-

Hamilton’s mayor Fred Eisenberger is looking forward to the new steps being taken to improve affordable housing in the city.

C/O THE SILHOUETTE ARCHIVE

“This is a communitywide issue and resolving this issue I think is a collective responsibility for all of us.“ Fred Eisenberger Mayor City of Hamilton nouncement from the provincial government.

“The amount of money they set aside here on the provincial level just kind of scratches the surface in terms of the greater need,” said Eisenberger.

Moreover, the announcement declared that developing Indigenous housing strategies in conjunction with Indigenous communities would be a priority.

“I think that's going to be a provincially-led initiative that we're certainly going to be partnering on,” said Eisenberger. He added that along with Indigenous communities, immigrants and Syrians who are new to the city will be included in the affordable housing strategy in Hamilton.

McMeekin hopes to pass the legislation for inclusionary zoning before June 9, when the provincial legislature closes for the summer. This mandate would require new construction projects to include affordable housing for people with low or moderate earnings. Eisenberger believes it is a positive step for the province and this city.

However, he acknowledges that implementing inclusionary zoning will not be a simple task.

“Inclusionary zoning really has to be supported by and mandated by the city and the developing community. There's going to be a need to have some pretty intense focused discussions about how we actually achieve that so that we get the benefit of additional housing units,” said Eisenberger.

McMASTER SEMINAR ON HIGHER EDUCATION:

THE ENGAGED UNIVERSITY

The Engaged University and the Responsibility of its Educators Thursday, March 31 at 2:30pm | Location: Convocation Hall, University Hall In September of 2008 students and faculty at The Kings University, Edmonton were introduced to the Omar Khadr case, and in the seven years that have followed both parties have engaged with the issue and with the young man in the centre of it.

This engagement raises challenging questions about the role of the university in cultivating thoughtful members of civil society. This is the story of one university’s experience in blending theory with praxis, of seeking to know, and of putting that knowledge into responsible service in the community.

Arlette ty,ZEdinmocntokn Presenteultdy ofbArtys atDThr.e Kin g’s Universi

Free Admission all are welcome!

Dean of the Fac

mcmaster.ca/presidentsoffice/lectures.html Free parking available – please email saulles@mcmaster.ca to make arrangements

10 |

NEWS

Thursday, March 24, 2016 | www.thesil.ca

Meducator: New developments in pneumonia research Anna Goshua Arshia Javidan Meducator

Why do we get sick? Moreover, why do we get better? That essentially encapsulates the research being done by Dawn Bowdish and her team at McMaster University’s Immunology Research Centre. Bowdish is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology, and her research focuses on pneu-

monia, the most costly bacterial infection in Ontario.

The bacteria that causes pneumonia is initially found in the nose, where no symptoms are observed unless it enters the lungs, bloodstream or cerebrospinal fluid. Bowdish specifically investigates why the bacteria leaves the nose in the first place, with a focus on the aging population.

“We’re particularly focused on older adults, as they contract

pneumonia at much higher rates, and the consequences can be very serious,” Bowdish said.

The long-term complications of contracting pneumonia include increased risk of dementia, type II diabetes and cardiovascular disease later on in life. In order to shed light on why older individuals are more susceptible to contracting pneumonia, Bowdish researches age-related changes in the immune system that may be involved.

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The data is compelling in demonstrating that as we age, our levels of inflammation increase. Inflammation is a cellular response to injury or infection that is carried out by the immune system. Many age-related diseases, such as conditions involving dementia, some forms of cancer and cardiovascular disease, are linked to inflammation.

“For reasons that we’re just beginning to understand, this increasing inflammation seems to impair white blood cell function. The bacteria is able to capitalize on these inflammatory changes in the immune system in order to thrive,” Bowdish explained.

“We think that we can target age-related inflammation as a way of improving immunity. We’re testing this in an animal model at the moment.

By reducing their age-related inflammation, we can improve their outcomes from pneumo-

nia, which is a finding we’re quite excited about,” she said.

If the preclinical testing phase determines that age-related inflammation is a viable drug target, then the next phase would be a drug-screening program that would further examine the effectiveness of anti-inflammatory drugs in improving immune function.

This drug has the potential to decrease the risk of devastating illnesses such as pneumonia.

Bowdish has seen how older adults benefit younger generations. “I think grandparents are really important.

There’s a lot of data to support the positive role of older adults in society. They volunteer more hours than younger people and they provide a lot of unpaid caregiving. So we want them to be as healthy as they can possibly be. Essentially, my research is about keeping grandchildren and grandparents together for many years to come.”

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Prof. Dawn Bowdish works as part of McMaster’s Department of Pathology.

YUNG LEE/ PHOTO REPORTER

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 24, 2016

NEWS

| 11

Turning passion into profit Ontario’s Summer Company grant allows students to become the CEO of their own company Emma Mulholland Contributor

With the end of the academic year approaching, students are beginning to look for summer jobs and employment opportunities in places ranging from retail to research. The government of Ontario, however, wants to give students the opportunity to become entrepreneurs over the summer, through a program known as Summer Company.

“The goal of Summer Company is to introduce students to the world of entrepreneurship … to [help students] turn a hobby into a business idea … [and] to provide training and mentoring to the students so that they get a greater understanding of the business world,” said Dragica Lebo, Business Development Officer with the Hamilton Small Business Enterprise Centre.

Students apply to the program with a potential business idea and can receive up to $3,000 of funding from the provincial government to support their business. In the application process, students state how much money they initially require to start their business.

According to Lebo, “no matter what the business is, all students have the same rules and regulations … the province will only give $1,500 so anything beyond that has to come from the student … if a student needs more … they will need to supply it themselves, or prioritize what they need … they have up to $1,500 [though], so we really try to help them take advantage

“Most of our students who participate in this program have never taken a business course before. Most of them just have a hobby or an idea … and want to see if it can be a viable company.”

Dragica Lebo Business Development Officer, Hamilton Small Business Enterprise Centre of the whole $1,500.”

After successfully completing the program, which requires students to attend training sessions, meet with local business mentors and properly keep track of receipts and invoices, students can receive an additional $1,500. Whether or not students decide to continue their business after the program ends is usually dependent on the situation, says Lebo. Many students who participated in the program in Hamilton continue part-time during the school year, and then pick it up again the following summer.

Several McMaster students who went through the program have also continued their businesses, either full time or part time. “The most helpful part was probably the connections that [Summer Company]

Dylan Kiteley launched his own business, Oracle Nutrition, as part of Summer Company while still a McMaster student. KAREEM BAASSIRI/ PHOTO CONTRIBUTOR

helped us to establish … they put us in contact with people that could help with the legal aspects [of the business],” remarked Dylan Kiteley, a former participant who used the support of the program to establish a permanent retail location for his company, Oracle Nutrition.

In addition to providing financial support for students, Summer Company also aims to provide students with mentorship and business literacy skills.

Summer Company itself sees a wide variety of business plans, but a common theme is that many students applying to the program do not have business backgrounds.

“Most of our students who participate in this program have never taken a business course before. Most of them just have a hobby or an idea … and want to see if it can be a viable company.

This program gives them the

opportunity to test the waters out,” explained Lebo. Bi-weekly meetings with community business leaders offers students everything from moral support and encouragement, to practical advice on navigating the business field. “[The mentor’s] role is to assist and guide the students from beginning to end of their companies within the program … to encourage the students in the world of business … and to help them through each phase and ensure that the [students] are on the right track,” said Lebo. Several prominent community leaders from a variety of fields, including McMaster professors, have volunteered time during the summer to work as mentors in the program.

Summer Company has been running in Ontario since 2001, and while it is open to students from age 15 to 29,

Lebo notes that an interesting demographic shift has been taking place in the past few years. “About five years ago [the program] was very college or university [student] dominated … but in the past few years it’s been very 50/50 [between high school and post-secondary students] … I think that the entrepreneurial bug is embedded in students in a younger age … there are more business classes in high school than before … a lot of [high school] students are showing interest … they see that they can apply what they know, try something different, and see what it’s like operating a business.”

As classes come to an end and the hunt for summer employment begins, with a little help from the Ontario government, some students will be spending the summer hoping to break into the business world.

12 |

HUMANS

Thursday, March 24, 2016 | www.thesil.ca

dd Shawn Khan

Yung Lee Photo Reporter

Health Sciences II

What do you think was the biggest change coming into university?

One thing that was a major switch from high school to university was help. You switch from a person who is constantly giving help to someone who is asking for help. For instance, in chemistry, you are no longer that “go-to” person anymore.

This is not necessarily saying that you know less, but you just find more people that possess different strengths from you.

I also kind of adopted the common mindset that exists in my program. To be honest, it is quite goal-driven.

One thing I’ve noticed is, because we are all good at science, it makes us stick to our own unique interests: being a painter, a cook, a singer. I didn’t value that in high school.

I always thought I was the science person. But in university, I’m not that person anymore, but rather one of the very few painters in my program, so in a way, that made me keep up with my interests for arts in that aspect. But at the same time, I feel guilty painting when I have

so much schoolwork to do. It is a guilty pleasure.

What does your identity mean to you?

I guess I recognize that my identity is constantly changing.

But, when I think about my identity, I think about what has stayed the same over the years. I think I’ve always tried to think outside the box as in like, “Here’s a problem, how

dd Youwei Chan

Chemical Engineering IV

could I approach it differently?”

In terms of my identity in the family, I was always the youngest one. I’m always the one who finishes high school last, university last, so I’m always the one seeking advice. But, outside of home, I’m usually the advice giver, which is pretty interesting to see. Lastly, in terms of identity, I feel like I don’t think about it very often.

What are you looking forward to the most right now as a forth year?

Finding a job.

What are some of the struggles?

There’s all the stress that’s coming from finding a job. It’s not easy. I’m interested in jobs that relate to wastewater treatment and I would want to eventually start out by having a basic job, become a manager, and even start my own business one day.

I just need to find a job first to have a start.

What’s one piece advice that you would give to a first-year student?

Study hard in first year. I didn’t study that much so my grades weren’t great. If i were to start over, I would study hard and even do engineering and commerce at the same time to build my future career.

HUMANS | 13

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 24, 2016

What new perspectives have you gained from this experience?

Supriya Parikh Life Sciences IV

Just thinking again about the clothes that I buy for sure. I went shopping last weekend, and it made me think that I really shouldn’t buy just the cheap stuff that I would wear once and put it in the back of my closet.

Now, I always think about the people behind it and the things they go through to bring us clothing here.

You can view more photos online on the Humans of McMaster Facebook page: www.

What are you up to right now?

I recently took a Global Sustainability course (LIFE SCI

3D03), and for our final project, my group and I decided to do it on sustainable clothing and fabric, with the intention of making sure that people are thinking about the clothes that

GraduatinG? Gain practical, hands-on skills with a career-focused post-grad program.

they have and buy, and what they should be doing with them. So, we started this project by collecting clothes from people since last friday, and we are allowing them to have

the option of picking up new, different clothes next Thursday in return. If nothing gets picked up, we donate them to charity in Hamilton.

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Thursday, Mar. 24, 2016 | www.thesil.ca

The McMaster Students Union

PRESIDENT’S PAGE

What are you doing on April 8? Classes will be over. Assignments and tests will be completed.

This means that you will have a few hours to spend with thousands of other McMaster students. Light Up

The Night is back for its second year.

To celebrate the end of an amazing year, the McMaster Students Union has partnered with the McMaster University Alumni Association and the Student Success Centre to expand on last year’s inaugural event. Thousands of light bulbs will be strung between buildings and trees, with the illumination of campus culminating in a fireworks show at 10:00pm.

The second annual year-end block party will feature carnival rides, games, and food. Ride the Gravitron, have fun with friends in the Tilt-a-Whirl, or take in the view from the Ferris wheel. Stroll the street playing the midway games and enjoy free food, including mini corn dogs, churros, and cotton candy. Gorilla Cheese will also be on hand, serving their standard menu with a cash and carry service.

In addition to food and carnival attractions, there will be live mu-

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.

sic from 8:00pm onward. Light Up Board games will be set up at the Night will boast a main stage, a tables in the MUSC Atrium from side stage and a DJ booth. Special 6:30pm-11:00pm. This portion of musical guests Yukon Blonde and the evening will be hosted by the Darenots will take the main stage Student Success Centre and the Mcshortly before 9:00pm.

Master Board Game Society. Feel In addition, George Stroum- free to drop in, mingle, and play boulopoulos, an old faCanadian media vourite or What are you doing on icon and host of make new Hockey Night in friends April 8? ... Light Up Canada, will deover a new The Night is back ... liver a Last Lecg a m e . ture and question Stu d e nt s and answer period in Burridge Gym are also welcome to bring their own from 6:00pm-8:00pm. Attendance games. is free but registration is required All McMaster students and via macblockparty.ca. alumni are welcome. There is no There will also be indoor activ- admission cost. A McMaster Uniities in abundance. A coffee house versity student card will be required at Bridges Café, hosted by Resi- for access to the rides and free food. dence Life, will run from 6:00pmCheck out macblockparty.ca 11:00pm. Step inside this inviting for more details. Follow the MSU space to hear student talent, and, on social media for updates on the if you are an aspiring musician, to event and information on how to light up the Open Mic stage. get Light Up The Night swag.

“

”

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 24, 2016

The Silhouette | 15

Editorial Not your song to sing This year’s MSU BOD “Swan Song” targeted the wrong people

Ana Qarri Managing Editor

Every March, past and present MSU student leaders, University administrators and some members of The Silhouette, get together for Student Recognition Night, an evening that highlights achievements and successes in student politics and service provision. Apart from the awards ceremony, one of the most anticipated parts of the evening is the current MSU Board of Directors’ Swan Song — a humorous and final goodbye from the President and the Vice Presidents of the MSU that has traditionally been used to poke fun at student politics, sing a couple self-deprecating lines and throw a few (welcome) jabs at our coverage.

Unfortunately, this year the song crossed the line from humorous to offensive. Although much of the song was funny and light-hearted, I have two issues with it: the individual attack towards a student activist, and the way it ridiculed the efforts of student activism, specifically the pro-Vice Presidential election reform campaign team and the Student Mobilization Syndicate.

Addressing student con-

cerns of increasing tuition rates and groups that have requested that the MSU be more active beyond its role with OUSA, the song included lines like, “They say that tuition has doubled; maybe because they’ve been here for 10 years,” and in the same vein, “They’re now on the SRA; at least I’ll soon be gone.”

For anyone involved with the MSU, the identity of the person the BOD was referring to is very clear. It’s also well known that this person is also a mature student who used to attend McMaster and has now returned for reasons that we’re not aware of and which frankly are none of our business. Whether their choice to leave was because of financial reasons, health reasons, or simply a matter of personal choice, whatever angle you decide to look at this line from, it is extremely offensive.

The person in question is also, as the song gives away, a new member of the Student Representative Assembly. The lines only create unnecessary and damaging animosity between the executive branch of the MSU and its governing body members, which should expect more respect from the BOD. There is a difference between inside jokes and personal attacks towards people you don’t engage in constructive

dialogue with. That the person was also not present (or invited) to Student Rec Night makes the whole thing even more uncomfortable.

Beyond the personal attack, I was also disturbed at the willingness of the Board to ridicule the efforts of student groups whose goals are to push for change within the MSU. I’m not arguing that their stances are good or bad, but students should feel free to speak their mind about how they want to govern their student union without being ridiculed. For example, one line from the song about the VP reform petition was: “VPs-at-large they tried to file a petition once or twice… by once or twice I mean maybe a couple of hundred times.” It later added, “It’s too bad you lost VP to some Yik Yaks and memes… 21 votes,” referring to the small number of votes the pro-reform side lost the referendum by (a sad 0.3% under the two-thirds majority needed). What good does it do to ridicule the efforts of students with good intentions and students who want to improve the democratic process of our union? The BOD are the people in power. Whether you choose to respect their opinions or not, they still hold a lot of ground.

Ridiculing student movements

to “lesbians for each other.”

to guinea pig programs.

to guessing gossip.

to lens repairs.

to Seamus.

to inconvenient free dinners.

to sports banter. to Mr. Krabs.

to the perceived definition of “opinion.”

to “Pupper” Day.

to stressful sororities.

to Morgan.

to the smell in my apartment.

to the Sean Paul production schedule.

creates a hostile environment that discourages people from expressing opinions that the larger voices within the MSU might look down on.

Before anyone messages us to let us know that we don’t get the “point” of the Swan Song, that it’s meant to be in jest, let me assure you that we know. We know that it is meant to highlight the sometimes ridiculous and immature nature of student politics, and give the BOD a chance to respond to criticisms they’ve faced throughout the year. But it is not meant to be malicious or attack individual people. It’s not meant to discourage student activism, espe-

to lies.

cially not activism that doesn’t align directly with how the MSU sees itself. The petitions and activist groups get attention because they speak to people — the numbers speak for themselves: both in the number of people who signed the VP reform petitions and those who voted in favour — and the last thing the MSU should be doing is making people feel that they will be ridiculed for wanting to make a change or be involved.

Though the Swan Song does not take away from this BOD’s accomplishments, it ends the year on a sour note. @anaqarri

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

A response to “Review: The Drowsy Chaperone” in our March 10 issue This letter was condensed to fit in this week’s issue. To read the letter in full, visit thesil.ca Michael Bredin Contributor

I recently had the pleasure of directing McMaster Musical Theatre’s production of The Drowsy Chaperone. First, I wish to say that it is of course regrettable that the author left the show feeling offended and hurt. With this response, it is my intention to respect that, as

well as any negative experiences she has faced because of racism and discrimination, but to also provide another opinion and shed light on my point of view.

A variety of opinions on issues such as racism and insensitive cultural portrayals are essential, as this is a conversation that must involve everyone in order to make any progress, not just specific groups of people. I

believe it is everyone’s right to sympathize with the struggles of any subset of people and to comment on how the group is viewed by the rest of the population, though, as Huang mentions, I am a white man and I certainly cannot empathize with the struggles of minority groups.

The goal of “Message from a Nightingale” is to shed light

on how Chinese culture has been broadly and offensively portrayed in American culture in the past, and I believe that this goal was accomplished.

This number is intended to be wildly inappropriate and offensive, and this is made extremely clear by the main character and narrator of the show, Man in Chair. Though some may disagree from an ethical stand-

point with the approach taken by the show’s original creative team, it is an approach that has resonated with audiences for almost two decades now. The approach here is the use of comedy and exaggeration, instead of drama, to comment on an issue and point out societal flaws.

‘AAJA NACHLE’: A Fusion Formal

Meditation Circle

All students are invited to come attend the

When: March 28, 2016 from 02:30PM until

performance! We hope to see everyone there!

When: March 24, 2016 at 07:00PM until

03:20PM

Please contact baligakc@mcmaster.ca for more

Where: SWELL meeting room

information!

March 25, 2016 at 12:30AM Where: Geraldo’s Banquet Hall,

(MUSC B118)

Burlington

All are welcome, whether you are interested in

$35.00 General Admission ticket. Age restric-

meditation but don’t know where to begin, or

tion is 18+ but no restrictions as to whether

are already engaging in reflection or spiritu-

McMaster student or not. This event is a dry

al practices and looking for the support of a

event, ther organizers have asked all attendees

group.

to please refrain from drinking alcohol during the event.

event, and are encouraged to sign up for a

Aromatherapy for Exams When: March 30, 2016 from 12:30PM until 02:30PM Where: Bridges Cafe The McMaster Magicians are proud to present

Body, Mind, Spirit Circle

the first McMaster Magic Coffeehouse! This

Hosted by: McMaster Indian Association

When: March 29, 2016 from 11:30AM until

showcasing all forms of magic and illusion.

(MIA)

12:20PM

All students are invited to come attend the

Bridges - Mingle & M.Ur.M Conference (presented by Mac M.Ur.M Society)

Where: McMaster Museum of Art – basement Educational Library A supportive space for sharing and listening

is a coffeehouse that is dedicated towards

event, and are encouraged to sign up for a performance! We hope to see everyone there!

Please contact baligakc@mcmaster.ca for more information!

to each other’s journeys, questions, and ideas

When: March 24, 2016 from 08:00PM

about spirituality and authentic healthy living.

until 11:00PM

In discussions, you are welcome to speak or

Where: Bridges Cafe

simply be present through listening. Whether you are looking to explore your spirituality or

McMaster Engineering Musical: The Legend of

following a specific spiritual path we can learn

Hercules.

from each other in an atmosphere of respect and openness.

The Mingle & Make Ur Mark (M.Ur.M) conference is an annual event that is geared towards elevating the conversation around how we are each making/on our way to making our mark!

It is a space for professors, students and facul-

Bridges - McMaster Magic Coffeehouse

ty to explore education in the greater context

When: March 29, 2016 from 08:00PM

of serving our communities and societies. The

until 11:00PM

conference has a ted-talk style format, with

Where: Bridges Cafe

an accompanying mingling portion to mingle and continue to elevate conversation. Please

The McMaster Magicians are proud to present

contact hajizaa@mcmaster.ca for more infor-

the first McMaster Magic Coffeehouse! This

mation.

is a coffeehouse that is dedicated towards showcasing all forms of magic and illusion.

Visit msumcmaster.ca for a full calendar of events!

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 24, 2016

The aftermath of Israel Apartheid Week Page 18 & 19

The Silhouette | 17

Opinion

Music snobbery: let it die Page 20

The Japanese hotel Henn-na has replaced its employees and concierges with robots, including one T-Rex. Until robots replace all service workers, the author believes human employees should be treated with respect. C/O 60PAGE.COM

The customer is always wrong

Don’t expect employees to bend over backwards for you, dealing with unreasonable demands is not part of our job description

Talia Kollek Opinions Editor

When I’m not busy being your friendly neighborhood opinions editor, I work retail.

I adore my job. I work at a little independent clothing store selling dresses I love, and working for employers that I respect. As far as sales work goes, it is the best case scenario. However, even in the best of retail environments, there is always one problem: the customers.

Despite what you may think, retail and food service jobs are difficult. At best you are physically exhausted from standing all day; at worst, you are emotionally defeated by the time you clock out. Even just your environment can make your job nigh impossible. Did you know that the United Nations has banned “music torture” — the repetitive playing of songs — as an interrogation

technique? It is safe to say that my human rights were violated during the 2011 holiday season. Even the best job can be horrific when you have to listen to the same 30 songs again and again. To this day I break out in a cold sweat when I hear a hint of Mariah Carey. Even with pleasant music, the tedium will get to you if you put in enough hours, which you are most likely going to have to do, because for the most part, food service and retail do not pay well.

I digress. The point of this article is not to ask for your sympathy, but for your respect.

I’ve had people yell at me because they locked their keys in their car, I’ve had customers blame me for clothing not fitting properly, or because other customers are taking too long in the change room.

I have come to the conclusion that people forget that when they act like unruly children they are having an impact on a real human being, not a retail

robot.

Many — though certainly not all — of us at university live in a comfortable academic bubble. Many will go directly from degree to career without experiencing a minimum wage service job. When we are lucky enough to be removed from underpaid and overworked sectors of the workforce, it becomes easy to forget that the only reason our university functions is because of the people serving us our meals, tidying our classrooms, or moping our floors.

If you would like your karma to remain intact, you can start with the three golden rules of how to treat a retail or foodservice worker: respect our time, respect our abilities and respect our limitations. Do not expect someone to serve you a full meal three minutes before the restaurant closes; cleaning up after you is going to push them into (most often unpaid) overtime. Respect the

fact that many of these jobs are harder than they look. Retail and food service is designed to seem effortless and comfortable to the customer — case and point, the drive through — but what is often overlooked is the sweat that goes into making the job seem easy. Doing many of these jobs well takes experience and hard work.

Despite being capable, recognize that working a minimum wage job does not grant you much sway in your place of employment. Yelling at someone working the floor at Urban Outfitters is not going to help you get the discount you think you deserve. Cursing at a McDonalds employee will not make your fries fry any faster. Be reasonable and polite in your requests, because you may not only ruining another human’s day, you are also impairing an employee’s ability to do their job effectively. So thank your bus drivers, be nice to your cashier, and tip your

Did you know that the United Nations has banned “music torture” – the repetitive playing of songs – as an interrogation technique? It is safe to say that my human rights were violated during the holiday season of 2011. barista. Accept the fact that you may be the customer, but you are not always right. @TaliaKollek

18 |

OPINION

Thursday, March 24, 2016 | www.thesil.ca

The student group McMaster Muslims for Peace and Justice set up a “barrier wall� to protest Israeli treatment of Palestinians. It was part of a series of events for Israel Apartheid Week (IAW).

Right: A student signing the wall on the BSB lawn.

JON WHITE / PHOTO EDITOR

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OPINION | 19

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 24, 2016

IAW? NBD. Biran Falk-Dotan Contributor

I’ve been a student at McMaster for three years, and every year the same controversy comes up.

One side claims that Israel is a tolerant and peaceful nation; the other side blames Israel for the oppression and deaths of Palestinians. Each year, The Silhouette publishes multiple Opinions articles on this issue.

During my time at Mac, this issue and Boycott Divestment Sanctions dominated two MSU General Assemblies, taking precedence over matters that were immediately relevant to McMaster students. My claim is going to be unpopular with both sides: as students, we should focus on other things.

The Israel/Palestine problem is complicated. On one hand, many Palestinians live in poverty and suffer legitimate oppression, but on the other hand many of Israel’s actions are in response to a real security threat. Everyone agrees that there is a problem, but nobody can agree on the solution.

Should it be a one-state or twostate solution? Should other states actively accept Palestinian refugees? The MSU has endorsed a boycott, but boycotts must have specific policy goals in order to be meaningful. We should acknowledge that there is no widely accepted solution.

Even if the solution were clear, the Israel/Palestine issue has no implications for the personal, social, or academic activities of McMaster students.

Case in point: BDS passed last year, and what difference does that make to McMaster students? The only people affected are those who are now unable to buy certain products, and those whose relatives live in Israel/Palestine. Meanwhile, we have plenty of important issues on campus that are not getting enough attention. Tuition fees, mental health support, and campus accessibility are all relevant and important topics that are compromised by us shifting our limited attention to Israel/Palestine. As McMaster students, we should focus first and foremost on the issues that

affect us and our communities.

“We can’t just do what is good for us,” you might object, “we need to address humanitarian issues around the world.”

My response might surprise you: I agree. On average, a few hundred people die annually due to Israeli/Palestinian violence, and that is a reprehensible loss that I take very seriously. However, I think there are more pressing conflicts in the world.

For each Palestinian who dies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, about 100 Syrians die in the Syrian civil war. China executes thousands of people every year, often for non-violent offenses. Over 3000 civilians have died in the Yemeni civil war in only a year. There are dozens of grievous human rights abuses around the world in states like North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Ukraine, Iran, Ethiopia, Burundi, and others.

Each of these results in greater loss of life than in Israel/ Palestine, yet these abuses receive little attention on campus.

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In the aftermath of Israel Apartheid week, we should be asking ourselves whether the conflict should be a priority for McMaster students.

If we really want to improve the plight of oppressed peoples globally, then each of these problems should receive at least as much attention as Israel/ Palestine.

In fact, if our aim is simply to save lives, military conflicts are not even among the chief concerns. In 2015, over 200 million people had malaria, and nearly half a million died of it, even though it is easily treatable. According to the World Health Organization, five million deaths (including 1.4 million child deaths) occur every year because of polluted drinking water. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the world, and it is also treatable and preventable. In fact, even in Israel/Palestine, more people die of car accidents each year than of military violence and terrorism combined. If our aim is to save lives, I think we need to start looking at the options most readily available to us. By investing in medicine for the poor, we can save more people with greater certainty, and without divisive

If our aim is to save lives, I think we need to start looking at the options most readily available to us. debates.

Every life is important and each life is equally valuable.

For that reason, I think our humanitarian efforts should focus on situations in which we can save the most lives, and in that respect the Israel/Palestine argument is only distracting us from the worst problems and the problems we can effectively address. The McMaster community, including the MSU, should focus on issues that are relevant to McMaster students, not the issues where a few small groups of people have made lots of noise.

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20 |

OPINION

Thursday, March 24, 2016 | www.thesil.ca

Take note You are not impressing anyone with your unusual taste in music Sunanna Bhasin Opinions Columnist

“Nobody cares about the Smiths anymore, get over yourself dude.”

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I’ll be honest. I went through a borderline snobbish phase concerning music. Mainstream tunes were overrated, and if you hadn’t heard of the Blue-Speckled Egg Boys — I wouldn’t be surprised if this band actually exists — then we could not have a civilized conversation. It’s fine to go through this hipster phase if it remains just that: a phase.

It becomes a problem when you remain a member of the I’mbetter-than-you-Taylor-Swiftplebians crowd. Sooner or later, you realize that your family is done with your shit, and your pre-set Indie stations will have been deleted from every radio in the house. None of your friends want to hear about the new Speckled Egg album, and you have no one to take to your lo-fi dream pop neo-jazz underground festival.

I no longer classify myself as a judgmental music snob. I threatened to become one, but got over it after being exposed to other music snobs. Jimmy Kimmel conducted an experiment at Coachella 2013. He asked people about bands that were “obscure” (because they were fictional) and festival attendees claimed to known and went on to praise their music.

When I saw where I was headed — what I could become — I had to take a step back and evaluate why I was so harsh on the One Directioners of the world. I still personally don’t like the (in) famous boyband, but what’s so bad about liking their music?

Enjoying “One D” does not necessarily make you a less cultured person. I can understand why people enjoy their music; it’s toe-tapping, head-nodding fun! Music is meant to create an inclusive and interactive space for everyone. Who are we to judge others for their tastes

When I saw where I was headed — what I could become — I had to take a step back and evaluate why I was so harsh on the One Directioners of the world. when we know Iggy Azalea’s rap in “Fancy” by heart? (Remember, the first stage of grief is denial, fellow snobs!)

When addressing music-snobbery, there is a lesson to be learned from an unlikely source: Justin Bieber. His new style has attracted many former and current music snobs who claim to appreciate his musical transformation — as everyone should. This is despite most of us having wanted to stick a dagger in the car radio as soon as “Baby” started playing. There seems to be no point in judging an artist’s new work based on their past offenses. Thank you Bieber for showing us that good music can come from unexpected places.

My message to you is to just be real and honest. There’s nothing wrong with saying you haven’t listened to the latest Weeknd album yet just as there’s nothing wrong with belting “Shake it Off ” in the shower.

I’m not judging, and let’s hope that others aren’t either. After all, what good comes out of being so exclusive? Best case, you just lose potential fellow concert-goers, and in the worst case, friends. @SunannaB

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 24, 2016

What to do if your “peach” is infected Page 22

The Silhouette | 21

Lifestyle

Put down your phone and actually talk to somone irl Page 24

ARCADE: A retro take on conventional bars

C/O MITALI CHAUDHARY & ARCADE HAMILTON

As Hess village begins to change its image, Hamilton gets its first arcade bar for those looking for a cozier place to turn up Mitali Chaudhary Contributor

Nestled in the loft of an Irish pub just off of the loud bass and strobe lights of Hess Village is a throwback to simpler times: The Arcade Bar. Retro, cozy and stocked with an impressive collection of classic arcade games, it offers a fresh take on Hamilton nightlife.

Arcade’s humble beginnings mirror those of its soft-spoken owner, Justin Kavanagh, who moved to Canada from Ireland ten years ago, and whose passions include restoring classic cars and motorcycles.

Inspired by his admiration for the 70s and 80s, Kavanagh interestingly coined the name of the bar first, and then realized that including the arcade games that were such a significant part of his childhood would create a niche in the club and bar scene that Hamilton has yet to experience. Offering a selection of craft beer, cocktails and food cooked by his wife, it delivers a different, but fun way to spend a

Friday night.

The concept of an arcade-bar fusion is not Arcade’s only defining quality. As an alternative to clubs, which allow for a grimy floor and scant conversation, the bar creates a more mellow environment where dancing and drinking is still encouraged, but also a place where real connections can still be made with others.

This might be a hint at a shift in the wants of bar-goers and the newer cohort of students that are flooding to McMaster, and Hamilton. As Kavanagh notes, “There seems to be a major move towards smaller, independent, foodbased [places] … it seems that the next generation doesn’t want those giant clubs.” Indeed, the incredibly loud, packed nightclubs of the early 2000s might be on their way out, as young adults crave a more intimate space. Arcade’s unique setup, and resulting unique demographic, makes it a strong alternative; an interesting mix of twenty-somethings to sixty-

year-old regulars comprise the usual attendees, which according to the owner, makes for very interesting conversations.

The bar’s distinct character is also playing a part in bringing some attention to the smaller businesses on George St., normally passed up by Hess regulars. “Nobody really knows this strip,” remarks Justin. This might be changing soon however, since the entire area has been displaying obvious signs of a transition, as many new pubs and restaurants are opening along the road, and quite a few of the clubs on Hess are rumoured to be in the process of being sold or shut down.

It’s clear that Arcade is one of what is definitely soon to be many that cater to a change in interest in the nightlife scene, though it is currently the only “barcade” in Hamilton. “People want something slightly different to do,” as Kavanagh puts it, and The Arcade Bar offers just that.

22 |

LIFESTYLE

Thursday, March 24, 2016 | www.thesil.ca

Let’s talk about genital health Tips to keep your vajayjay healthy, all year round Alex Killian SHEC Contributor

People tend to shy away from talking about genital health.

It might be personal, but it’s important information. The vagina is a sensitive ecosystem, full of good bacteria (microbiota) that keep everything (including the bad bacteria) in balance. However, it really is a fine balance, and as soon as one thing gets out of hand, you often have yourself an uncomfortable situation.

CLEANING Soap and other cleaning products are not necessary, as your vagina is self-cleaning. These products can actually cause more harm than good by killing off the good bacteria. This promotes the development of a yeast infection, or more seriously, bacterial vaginosis. You can

purchase a pH neutral intimate area wash for the vulva, which can be helpful in maintaining pH balance and preventing yeast infection but avoid soap, douches or other cleaning contraptions at all costs.

•

YEAST INFECTIONS

•

Yeast likes warmth, moisture, changes in pH and sugar. Avoiding the following conditions that would make you susceptible to yeast growth is the best way to prevent infections: • For one, wear loose cotton panties while working out and try to shower as soon as possible after exercise • During bikini weather, try to avoid sitting in a wet bathing suit all day — bring a change of bottoms for after your swim, or swim towards the end of the day and jump into the shower right after

•

•

While on your period, change sanitary products frequently and once again wear loose cotton panties When it comes to intimacy, flavoured condoms should not be used for penetration because of their sugars Adding probiotic yogurt into your diet, especially when taking antibiotics, may also be an effective yeast infection prevention method It’s important to note that vaginal infections can present more serious conditions and as such, please do not hesitate to see a doctor

supplements if you are actively having penetrative sex. The acidity it adds to your urine will cleanse the urinary tract and hinder bacterial growth.

Some evidence also indicates that cranberry supplements and juices help prevent and remedy UTIs. Drinking lots of water is also crucial in maintaining a healthy urinary tract. If left unattended, UTIs can travel up the urinary tract to the kidneys and lead to more serious health consequences. The suggestions here may help prevent a urinary tract infection, but will likely not help resolve it once it has developed enough to present symptoms.

Usually a course of antibiotics is also required, so be sure to book an appointment with your physician at the slightest suspicion.

URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS

Urinary tract infections, or UTIs, are commonly characterized as pain or burning during urination, as well as frequent urinary urgency. For prevention, it is helpful to take vitamin C

SHAVING For those that want to get rid of hair down there via shaving,

Soap and other cleaning products are not necessary, as your vagina is self-cleaning.

These products can actually cause more harm than good. there are several quick tips that can make it a painless experience. Firstly, investing in a good razor and keeping it clean is key.

Use a razor that has three or more blades, and after three to four uses, change it up to ensure a clean shave. Shaving with the grain and using antiseptic ointment and moisturizer afterwards helps prevent razor burns and ingrown hairs. Finally, frequent shaving makes it all easier to maintain.

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LIFESTYLE

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 24, 2016

THE SKINNY Michelle Yeung Lifestyle Reporter Man climbs 80-foot-tall tree in Seattle, refuses to come down

| 23

Leaving the nest (and those who raised you) behind

A man decided to climb an 80-foot-tall tree outside of the downtown Macy’s store in Seattle this past Tuesday. (As Makonnen would say, “goin’ up on a Tuesday,” am I right.) According to witnesses, the man threw an assortment of pinecones, apples and branches as he cussed at passerbys. Police officers closed down several surrounding streets. The man remained in the tree overnight and, as of Wednesday morning, continues to rebuff police negotiators.

Phife Dawg dies at 45

Phife Dawg from A Tribe Called Quest passed away after suffering from various health issues in recent years; in 2008, he received a kidney transplant due to complications with Type 1 diabetes. Born Malik Taylor, the rapper co-founded A Tribe Called Quest in 1985 with his then-classmates from Queens, New York, Q-tip and Ali Shaheed Muhammed.

Zayn was, apparently, too good-looking for One Direction

In a recent interview with Complex, Zayn shared how stifled he felt during his time in One Direction. Not only was he unable to flex creatively, he was also not allowed to grow a beard. You’re free now, Zayn.

Grow your beautiful facial hair.

Sasha Dhesi Lifestyle Contributor

A few weeks ago, my mom left the country to visit some relatives. With me in Hamilton and my brother juggling university, work and a research job, neither of us are home particularly often, leaving my dad by himself. My dad started calling me at least twice a day, and began asking me what he was supposed to do for fun now that his wife and kids were too busy for him. I had to confront something I’d never really considered before: my dad’s just as needy as I am.

I never really viewed my parents as people who needed me in any way. Sure, I help out around the house and take care of my parents, but it always felt more one-sided, and that I needed them for support and care. After all, while they’re a constant in my life, I’ve only been in theirs for a fraction of the time. I was lucky enough to have parents who nurtured a healthy environment for me to grow in and I saw them as superheroes, making it difficult for me to see them as people who may feel insecure from time to time.

Chances are, growing up, you saw your parents as superheroes in some sense. If you were lucky enough to live in a healthy and stable home, they took care of you and most of the problems in your life. Your parents most likely hid most issues that were affecting your family so that you could continue living a carefree childhood.

But, as you grow up, this changes. Now that you are an adult,

you have to face the reality that your parents are just normal people who happened to have raised you. As your parents age, you may feel the onus of their care fall onto you, their next of kin, but if you’re anything like me, that also conflicts with your growing desire for autonomy.

It’s well known that university marks the beginning of a slow break away from your parents. Even those who opt to live at home for their undergraduate degree find themselves staying later and later on campus, usually juggling school, work and a growing social life.

This usually brings forth the inevitable internal dilemma of leaving your older parents on their own. My parents are both in their fifties and suffer from several chronic ailments. They both have histories of heart disease and have lost close friends and loved ones to cardiac arrest.

One particular reason I have to go home sometimes is to just make sure that they’re doing okay; something I’ll admit is a little irrational. But as we get older, the dynamic between our parents undeniably changes.

I’m going to level with you:

I have no idea how to deal with this. Do I give up on all my dreams of traveling and living abroad one day on the assumption that my parents may one day need me to care for them?

Do I jump the gun and leave them in the lurch now, and only contact them when I need something? No matter what decision I make on Friday when I decide whether or not I want to visit them, it feels like a decision between these extremes. There’s a double whammy of guilt going on here, where I’m losing out on what I want or being overly cold to the people who raised me. It’s an odd place to teeter.

As someone who’s South Asian, a cultural clash also comes into play. For those who are unaware, many South Asian cultures stress familial bonds, and it’s not uncommon for people to live with their parents for their entire lives. I personally grew up with my dad’s grandma, who lived with us until her death in 2014. Now, my parents understand social contexts, and by no means are forcing me to stay with them for the rest of my life. But every time I mention going abroad, or looking at

Now that you are an adult, you have to face the reality that your parents are just normal people who happened to have raised you. grad schools even a few towns away, my mom always deflates ever so slightly as she remembers that our relationship isn’t nowhere near as close as hers was with her mom.

Ultimately, it’s just come down to taking it day by day. I call my mom in the morning, and my dad in the evening. I haven’t thrown away my autonomy just yet, but I’m not willing to completely separate myself from my parents. I can’t tell you some magical way to maintain your familial relationships, but I can tell you that a call goes a long way and that even just telling them that yes, you’ve eaten, and yes, your friends are fine, and no, you’re not doing drugs, can go a long way.

24 |

LIFESTYLE

Thursday, March 24, 2016 | www.thesil.ca

Taking it to the textreme

Why we need to talk more and text less Christine Chow Lifestyle Writer

When it comes to texting, there are two kinds of people: those who reply right away, and those who don’t. I’m a pretty strong advocate of the former. I like to think replying in a timely manner, particularly when someone needs something from you, is the courteous thing to do. Sometimes, however, that isn’t the case.

As much as I hate the archetypical teenager who’s glued to their phone in literally every family movie ever, it used to be a fairly accurate representation of me. I had a friend who lived on the other side of Canada, and since visiting each other was out of the question, our favourite form of communication was through iMessage. We loved talking to each other so much that we texted each other constantly throughout the day.

We dreamt up fictional universes, shared our insecurities and when one of us wanted to rant about something, the other one of us was always there to listen.

I became so absorbed that my parents made a rule prohibiting phones at the dinner table.

In retaliation, I would sneak away to the washroom, just so I could text her back. Whenever I smiled at my phone, my parents would know it was her. “What’s the hurry?” they would ask, chiding me. “Why can’t it wait?”

It was never that I couldn’t wait.

I just didn’t want to.

Although I had every intention of carrying through

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with our connection, transitioning to the demands of university was too much for me to juggle.

My friend proved less than understanding to this change.

If I didn’t reply, it meant that I didn’t care. Any response that took longer than 10 minutes was too long. One-word sentences like “nice” were disingenuous; “lol” seemed unengaged.

We agreed to stop using “lmao” in our conversations because it seemed too “passive aggressive.”

“Okay” meant things were not at all okay. They became words we used when we wanted to hurt each other–to make the other person doubt themselves.

I became antsy checking my phone dreading the exact moment she’d text me good morning. I started making excuses, desperate to find anything that could explain my inevitable lapses. I was taking a shower. I forgot to charge my phone. I passed out for a nap because class had exhausted me. I was exhausted–but not from class, from talking. Even the mere sight of an alert would give me bouts of anxiety.

Our friendship had no happy ending. The more we argued, the more I drew away.

My friend went off to university herself the following year, and she got caught up in her life, much like I had in mine. The damage we had done to each other, however, was irreparable.

It was impossible to part amicably, to check in every once in a while. So we cut all our ties.

Deleting her as a contact was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, and knowing I could never reach out to her

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again made me feel incredibly alone. But it also helped me realize that texting each other constantly had been neither normal nor healthy. Texting was meant to be a convenience, not a hindrance. We shouldn’t have gone out of our ways to put texting first, and we should have never come to depend on each other in the way that we did.

Life came first. When you were busy, the people you texted were supposed to understand.

I still get anxious when people don’t reply to me quickly, and the truth is, I could spend a lifetime worrying about why people take their time to reply.

I always consider the possibility that people are making excuses, because I kept on making them myself. I always wonder whether I’m being exhaustive, because I felt that way so often trying to keep our conversations going.

I’ve become hypersensitive to cues that indicate people are unhappy with me through text, because I was always expected to recognize the signs without ever being explicitly told.

Worrying, of course, does me no good. I remind myself of that every day. I tell myself to remember why I’m friends with people in the first place, because of their personalities and not because of the way we choose to phrase our texts. I tell myself to remember that if someone has an issue with me, I have to trust they’ll take it up with me in person. Texting isn’t meant to be a replacement for talking. If there’s something important to be said, then we have to speak up about it with our phones down.

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GAMES

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 24, 2016

CROSSWORD

ACROSS 1. Decorator’s advice 5. Put back to zero 10. Ogle 14. Frosted 15. Breathing 16. She, in Toulouse 17. Cast off 18. Singer ____ Reddy 19. Staff officer 20. “M*A*S*H” locale 22. Satisfied 24. Notches 26. Prophets 27. Foot part 30. Chef’s units (abbr.)

32. New (prefix) 33. Sell to consumers 36. Athletic group 40. Auto 41. Apprentice 43. Alias letters 44. Region 46. Concurred 47. Lip 48. Throw 50. Capital of Austria 52. Hair location 55. Assists a crook 57. Acceptable in flavor 60. Metal fastener 64. Mr. Gershwin et al.

65. Gent (sl.)

67. Seep 68. Pulled apart 69. Coral island 70. Unusual 71. Stately trees 72. Appraises 73. Golf hazard

DOWN 1. Dare 2. Resound 3. Stag 4. Strangest 5. College cheer

6. Choose by vote 7. Farm towers 8. Fair 9. Portable shelter 10. Thinnest 11. Upper crust 12. Church leader 13. Marsh plants 21. Vigilant 23. Clairvoyant’s letters 25. Wagner works 27. Machu Picchu native 28. Within earshot 29. Painful 30. Fork prong 31. Garment part 34. Stickers 35. Ventilate 37. Make money 38. Related 39. Papa’s partner 42. Rewrites 45. Map books 49. Make a selection 51. Accompany 52. Ill will 53. Holiday song 54. Warning signal 55. Mete out 56. Southern beauty 58. Not nearby 59. Greek consonant 61. Lion’s sound 62. Biblical prophet 63. Sob 66. Capone and Gore

MINI SUDOKU

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Which researcher specializes in pneumonia

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When was Glenn De Caire’s first day of work at

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Village?

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| 25

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GAMES

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Thursday, March 24, 2016 | www.thesil.ca

JIGSAW SUDOKU

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 24, 2016

The Silhouette | 27

Sports Player profile: Taylor Brisebois

C/O YOUSIF HADDAD

Jaycee Cruz Sports Reporter

She wore the No. 1 because she’s tall and lanky.

Head Coach Tim Louks says that when some recruits ask to play for Mac, one of the first things he asks them is, “Can you block like Taylor Brisebois?”

The six-foot-two middle has been a staple for McMaster volleyball since arriving on campus in Fall 2011.

A product of The Hill Academy — a prep school located in Vaughan, ON — Brisebois’ decision to go maroon was an easy one. Former McMaster Volleyball player Emily Dennis played club volleyball with Brisebois with the Aurora Storm and played a big role in getting her to commit to Mac. Brisebois received offers from Toronto and Queen’s, but didn’t even take her visits because she was so sold on Mac. Brisebois played in 85 matches over her five-year career, steadily improving as time went on. She has been team captain for the past two seasons.

“I was lucky enough to start in my first year, but I really broke out in my third year. I really peaked in my fourth

and fifth years, though,” said Brisebois.

The numbers back her up.

In her fourth year with McMaster she tallied 135 kills in 19 matches, a respectable .285 hitting percentage and 68 blocks. This season, in her fifth and final year, Brisebois racked up 154 kills in 19 matches, a steady .283 hitting percentage and 54 blocks. She averaged 3.5 points per set and accounted for 82 digs — both career highs.

Brisebois has been named to OUA All Star teams four out of her five seasons here making Second Team in 2016 and 2014, First Team in 2015, and All-Rookie Team in 2012. She made two appearances at CIS Nationals in 2012 and 2014 and won an OUA banner in 2014.

Louks has had a huge impact on her.

“He has always had a lot of faith in me. That has enabled me to take risks. He trusts me.

If I make an error, I know he won’t just take me off. He trusts me to figure things out,” Brisebois said.

Her easygoing personality and love for both the game and the people around her make her presence that much easier to miss. One distinctive quality about her is her happy-golucky persona on the court that shouldn’t be mistaken for care-

lessness. Rather, it magnifies a quality she admires in herself.

“When I make mistakes I’ll think about it and try and make the next play better, but I’m not going to let it shut me down. My defense mechanism when I make mistakes is to kind of laugh it off,” said Brisebois.

“Others will look at me and think that I’m not taking it seriously. I like that about myself, but others might not.”

A career moment that stands out to her comes from McMaster’s OUA bronze medal loss against Western earlier this month.

“I really felt like I shut down Kelsey Veltman in the fifth set. That was really fun,” said Brisebois.

Fellow graduating captain Lauren Mastroluisi knows how good her teammate is.

“I’ve seen Taylor transform into one of the best middles in the OUA,” said Mastroluisi. “I’m so proud of her.”

Brisebois’ volleyball inspiration came from former Marauder Shannon McRobert and current teammate Maicee Sorensen.

“I looked up to Shannon in my first and second year and then Maicee for the rest. They both shaped the way I played volleyball and were great leaders,” Brisebois said.

“When I make mistakes I’ll think about it and try and make the next play better, but I’m not going to let it shut me down.”

Taylor Brisebois Middle, McMaster Women’s Volleyball Sorensen thinks very highly of her graduating teammate.

“Taylor doesn’t know this, but I’ve been watching her play long before I came to Mac. She was the player I wanted to be. She has set the standards around here really high, whether it has to do with volleyball itself, or just being a great person,” said Sorensen. “I hope that when my time here comes to an end I can leave half the mark she has.”

Second-year outside middle Ina Onat will miss her teammate dearly.

“Taylor is the most positive and encouraging person I know.

She made it her goal to cultivate our team into a positive and inclusive space and that is what it is today,” said Onat. “Her love

and commitment to our team has been unconditional. Taylor has definitely left her mark on each one of us and we will miss her very much.”

It’s not easy to replace someone like her.

Brisebois will graduate with a double major in Sociology and Labour Studies. She wants to possibly pursue a career in Human Resources and is open to possibly coaching boys’ volleyball in the future. Playing professional volleyball is another option, but she is very home and family-oriented so that’s not her priority.

Thinking about the future is scary, but for the moment she’s enjoying her last few weeks at the school that became her home the past half-decade.

“You kind of feel like a celebrity playing volleyball at Mac. You get interviews and pictures taken of you. Kids and teams come in to watch you play,” said Brisebois. “You’re kind of put on a high pedestal so you want to do well and represent your school and community. I’ll miss that stage. I fell more and more in love with Mac as the years went on.” @_jayceecruz

THANK YOU! Marauder Nation!

Thank you so much for the incredible support you have shown us all year.

Together we are doing amazing things and making great memories of our time at McMaster.

We are all Marauders and we all bleed Maroon.

Sincerely, McMaster's Student-Athletes

SPORTS | 29

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 24, 2016

WHAT A TIME TO BE A MARAUDER

Read about the Marauder teams that decorated the walls of the David Braley Athletic Centre with banners in the 2015-16 season

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL

McMaster Women’s Rugby played some of their best rugby this year. With four wins and one loss in the regular season, the team was prepared for defend their OUA title. After defeating the Guelph Gryphons 12-3, the team became back-toback OUA Champions. Gaining their second consecutive OUA title this year, the team went on to take it all as they defeated the host Queen’s Gaels 27-3. The program claimed their first CIS title in history. After a strong season, captain Cindy Nelles was named Most Valuable Player and Rina Charalampis was awarded the Community Service Award. Nelles, Colleen Irowa, Emily Ricketts, Katie Svoboda and Abi Moody were named All-Stars for their work on the field.

For the fourth consecutive year, the McMaster Men’s Volleyball team were named OUA Champions. Well known for the strong volleyball program that has been built under the leadership of Head Coach Dave Preston, the Marauders hosted the championship game and dominated for the banner.

In a straight three-set victory over the Ryerson Rams, the Marauders further cemented the greatness they have created. The team has been playing behind veteran leadership from Stephen Maar who was named OUA MVP. Danny Demyanenko and Andrew Kocur joined Maar as OUA First-Team AllStars. Libero Pawel Jedrzejewski was named a member of the Second-Team.

>> C/O IAN MCALPINE

C/O KAREN STEPIEN

>>

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30 |

SPORTS

Thursday, March 24, 2016 | www.thesil.ca

Nathan to Niagara

McMaster Volleyball loses long-time coach Nathan Janzen to the Niagara College Knights

Jaycee Cruz Sports Reporter

McMaster Volleyball 2011-2016

Knights Volleyball Started March 18, 2016

It started with a man and a clipboard.

Janzen would track stat after stat, not for anyone, but for himself.

“Throughout my university years at Mac I was regularly attending games. I would go with a clipboard and just track stats,” said assistant coach Nathan Janzen. “I just wanted to understand the game. I have a very analytical mind. I like to figure out how things work, especially in sports.”

Watching Mac volleyball games wasn’t the first time he started tracking stats. Janzen started when he played a season for Mac’s baseball team.

“I played for Mac in my second year. Even then I had a clipboard. I was tracking pitches, at-bats, and then I started doing the same thing in volleyball. I was tracking rotations, attacking tendencies and setting tendencies,” Janzen said.

“I just wanted to know what was

going on, and more importantly for me, I wanted to predict what was going to happen next.”

Following his graduation from Mac, Janzen spent short stints coaching at Toronto’s Bloor Collegiate Institute and the Ottawa Mavericks. In 2010, Janzen and his wife moved to Dundas, ready for a new beginning.

“I emailed Coach Preston and wanted to coach club, but he told me he had a different plan for me,” said Janzen.

Preston introduced Janzen to a program called DataVolley, which allows you to track all actions in a volleyball game and save them for analysis and study. It has been a staple in McMaster’s preparation the past half-decade. Since 2011, Janzen’s analytical mind found a home in one of the country’s best programs.

“He opened a door that I never thought was possible,” Janzen said.

His favorite McMaster memories come from 2013 — his first year coaching both teams.

“We won OUA champion-

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ships on the same weekend. The women won in Toronto and the guys won at home. It was definitely a highlight of my career,” Janzen said.

While his impact on the court was significant, his impact off the court may be even larger.

“Another part of my job was athlete support. I would have coffee with athletes and try and get to know them so I could help them. I was just a sounding board for life,” Janzen said. “As much as I would love to believe that this is just about volleyball, it’s not. It’s about people and making an impact in their lives where you feel like you can make a difference for them. Student athletes require an element of support that goes beyond the court.”

One Mac volleyball player said that losing Coach Janzen is like losing an entire lineup. While his impact on student-athletes has been profound, Janzen insists it goes both ways.

Just ask him about his four year-old son, Eli. “Rebecca Steckle babysits my kids all the time. My boy Eli is four years old. He plays balloon volleyball in our living room. He plays this game and he pretends he’s guys on the team,” Janzen said. “McMaster Volleyball has been life for a long time now. I’m really proud of what the young men and women I’ve gotten to work with have become as players and people. I don’t think they even begin to understand the impact they’ve had in my life and my family’s life as well.”

On March 18, Janzen officially began his first day as the Head Coach of the Niagara Knights Women’s Volleyball team, but it was the outcome of a vision birthed in him a few years ago.

“Three years ago I told Coach Louks about a vision I had and wanted to know what he thought. Part of my vision was to make coaching a career in three years. He thought it was possible so going into this year, I knew it was at least time to start applying for head coaching positions,” Janzen said. “I didn’t have any expectations at first, but I knew that it was definitely the next transition for my career.”

“As mush as I would love to believe that this is just about volleyball, it’s not. It’s about people and making an impact in their lives where you feel like you can make a difference for them.”

Nathan Janzen Former Assistant Coach, McMaster Volleyball

The Knights posted their head coaching vacancy this past Christmas and before McMaster entered the postseason, Niagara offered Janzen the job.

“It came about pretty quickly. I thought it was a great fit. They want to win and that falls in line with how I want to operate. I think that Niagara is a fantastic segue for me. I’ve learned to coach under McMaster’s winning environment and coaching at an institution that wants to win is the type of environment I want to coach in,” Janzen said.

Janzen is thrilled for this new season in his life, but admits leaving McMaster was very difficult.

“I’m excited to join Niagara College and be their head coach, but I’m leaving a place that I love. The athletes that I’m leaving behind are incredible people. This is so often not just about volleyball. It’s about people. I’m going to miss the people a ton,” said Janzen. “My time at Mac was life changing. Six years ago I never imagined I would be stepping into a head coaching role at a different institution. I can’t speak enough about how much I’ve learned from Coach Louks and Coach Preston. I’m very excited, but it’s definitely bittersweet. There were tears for sure.” @_jayceecruz

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 24, 2016

Interview with Michael Walsh Page 33

The Silhouette | 31

andy

Daredevil season two retrospective Page 34

Wake up to the Cartoon Revolution

Shows like Sailor Moon getting modern reboots speak to how the cartoon-watching demographic has expanded to include more than just children C/O NICONICO

Trisha Gregorio Andy Writer

Cartoons have been on the rise lately. Adventure Time, Steven Universe, Gravity Falls and Over the Garden Wall have gained substantial followings in the past year, and this audience doesn’t look like it will be going anywhere any time soon. Sailor Moon got a reboot in commemoration of its 20th anniversary, and Digimon got a direct sequel.

Tumblr has also witnessed the return of older cartoons, and bloggers are revisiting shows like Scooby-Doo, Danny Phantom and Totally Spies!. The curious thing, however, is that majority of the participants in this Cartoon Revolution are older than the target audience.

I’d thought of it as a byproduct of the Tumblr-hype.

People on my dashboard like to reblog pretty gif sets, cartoons get pretty gif sets, so therefore these people reblog these gif sets. There was nothing wrong with being an adult and still liking “kid shows” — they have short episodes, and their entertainment value is its own category. Sometimes, it’s a casual attachment that you’ve retained from childhood. Sometimes, it’s just really good, as is the case

with me and Avatar: The Last Airbender. That’s all.

My weekend at ComiCon begged me to mull this over once more.

I’ve barely gotten off the GO Bus last Saturday when I spot a pair of cosplayers huddled on one side of the terminal, fixing each other’s masks. Having gotten sucked into the hype of the show and found myself a fan three trial episodes later, I recognize the characters from Miraculous Ladybug. The show is primarily broadcast in French which made the vast contingent of its fans at this year’s ComicCon a surprise. Even more surprising to me was that these people, clearly avid fans, didn’t seem to be much younger than me, if at all.

Then again, I have been religiously watching the show every week since getting into it.

The encounter with the cosplayers brings into mind a text conversation I’ve had with a friend weeks back, having just gotten into Miraculous Ladybug and confused over what we actually like about it. “Kids shows are so much nicer than ‘adult’ shows,” my friend had said. “Instead of saying that there is no good in anyone, it focuses on proving that there is. If that makes sense.

The messages are always so much nicer.”

We concluded that the appeal, then, must be purely escapist.

This doesn’t explain the emotional attachment I witnessed at ComiCon. My first panel of the day belonged to the cast of Sailor Moon, and not having been attached to the show as a child, I was in there as an objective spectator. Many of my peers, however, some dressed up and others just looking excited to be there, are not.

There was a crowd — groups of excited girls, whispering about favourite characters and talking fondly about their memories of the show’s original run. It wasn’t something I understood, perhaps because I had none of these memories to speak of, but they hadn’t been the only group to do this.

I stopped by as many merchandise booths as I can, and for each one, I experience almost repeats of the conversation between those Sailor Moon fans. A girl in the poster booth would excitedly point out having watched Digimon as a child, and gush about how much it meant to her. A boy at the T-shirt booth waves his newly bought Adventure TIme shirt, talking about how the show makes him feel a child again. Most significantly, clustered around the food court were a number of families

— parents indulging their kid’s interests, or parents sharing their own childhood interests with their children.

It was an odd sight, seeing adults happily telling their kids about the first comics that they read and the first shows they’ve ever watched. Somehow, though, it made me feel guilty for having been so quick to make assumptions on people’s interest in what we categorize as children’s shows.

What I learned from ComiCon is this: we never really forget the things we love as children. These superheroes are our first role models, and these fantasy worlds are often our first encounters with the beauty of fiction. There will always be emotional attachment to something, even if we deny it, because at one point we’ve wanted to be Spiderman or, like those girls, have been inspired by the kind of female character Sailor Jupiter is. We’re shaped by our childhood experiences, and that includes the things we watch. It’s a well-grounded emotional attachment, and that’s why, when shows like Digimon and Sailor Moon get reboots and sequels, people are more than happy to gob it all up.

Is it an escapist appeal?

Sure. I like Miraculous Ladybug because its superhero world was

something I’ve become attached to. That said, we need to stop equating escapism with inferiority to ‘more serious’ shows. Just because she’s watching a show about Parisian superheroes and he’s rewatching the older Justice League episodes doesn’t mean they’re any less than loyal Tarantino fans. At the end of the day, a lot of us are into media and pop culture for the entertainment and distraction factors, and if that means watching singing crystal gems to forget about life’s woes for ten minutes, then so be it.

The most important thing, however, is that today’s shows are sporting what we never really got in cartoons of the previous generation: diversity in characters, prominent strong female characters, and, like my friend pointed out, more positive messages.

If the future of the next generation can be built on this foundation, if these kids can grow up with these characters as their role models, then by all means, I’ll be more than happy to see Cartoon Revolution flourish.

@tngregorio

32 |

ANDY

COMING UP IN HAMILTON

MUSIC

Thursday, March 24, 2016 | www.thesil.ca

REVIEW: Honours Performance Series

Unoriginal Sin

BALTIMORE HOUSE MARCH 24 > PERDU Show MARCH 25 > Asylum Goth Night MARCH 26 > Night Drive MARCH 27 > Discography HOMEGROWN HAMILTON

MARCH 25 > Herd of Elk MARCH 26 > Frankie and Jimmy 5 Piece Band MARCH 30 > Variety Show POETRY BRIDGES CAFE

MARCH 24 > Poetry Reading (7-11 p.m.)

FILM WESTDALE THEATRE

MAR 25-31 C/O HONOURS PERFORMANCE SERIES

Vannessa Barnier Andy Reporter

> The Big Short

> Born To Be Blue

> Brooklyn

Last week, I went to see one of the Honours Performance Series plays, Unoriginal Sin. In the director’s notes, they write, “While we know that this will be something that may cause you discomfort, our overall goal is to make you really consider your everyday views on sex.”

I take this to be the thesis of their play, but I don’t think the play successfully achieved their goal. They also stated that they wanted to “tackle the subject of sex in our times as honestly and directly as possible,” and open a discussion about the “complexities” that sex brings to our lives.

Unfortunately, the characters were shallow — almost all were essentially the same characters with only two notable outliers — and the “complexities” of sex were watered down to scenes of people making out and dancing together.

I can’t express enough how boring and unoriginal this play was. Not even the masturbation or kissing scenes piqued my interest — both of which were just meant to be shock factors rather than much of a plot point. The

humour was very uninspired.

When one of the characters (Dylan) is seen flipping through Tinder, he makes a lot of jokes about the app. His gripes are the usual: he doesn’t like when people use group photos as their display photo. Of course the audience laughed — the experience is relatable, and Dylan simply named off everyone’s problems with their Tinder experiences.

Then, there’s a strange, borderline problematic, line. In one scene, Amy and Kyle are on a date — Amy, begrudgingly; Kyle, excitedly — and Kyle spends the whole time trying to convince her to have a good time, and Amy is just bratty about it. Then, Kyle defends his intentions by saying, “when you meet a great girl you have to go after her,” and then calls Amy beautiful. So, how is she a great girl, again? All he knows about her is that she’s attractive. Now, I assume that this was meant to be a subversive part, but I think that that assumption grants the play too much credit.

What I found odd, most of all, was that being gay was either a punch line or a crowd pleaser. In one part of the play, two characters — named Kyle

and Dylan — were talking about their plans for the evening, and Kyle made a joke about Dylan being on Tinder, Bumble … and then Grindr, which he and the audience chuckled about. What is the joke here? Is the joke that Dylan is gay? That he uses an app specifically for men who are gay? I don’t know why there was a pause to make it a joke, and I don’t know why the audience found it humorous.

The gay men were a strange piece of comic relief. Even at the end, when taking bows, they came out together with one hand on the other’s back. Why? For what? To continue to get the positive reaction they got when they had kissed on stage and everyone cheered?

Finally, I was confused about the costume design at the end of the play. Everyone was dressed in white. The associations with white are usually “purity,” and “virginity,” yet, at the end of the play, the virgin (Brooke) was no longer a virgin.

When I asked one of the cast members what the directors’ intention was with this final costume, they were told that that was just the way it was, although the symbolism of the

What I found odd, most of all, was that being gay was either a punch line or a crowd pleaser. “pure” white clothing did not fit the tone of the play’s ending.

The best parts of the play were those without dialogue.

So much more was said in these parts, and the plot moved quicker during the tableau-esque moments.

This play didn’t make me uncomfortable for the reasons they may think — it made me uncomfortable that I had to watch rehashed jokes on stage and listen to an audience laugh and laud about gay men just doing normal things that even heterosexual couples do.

As a final note: I would love to lend my copy of The History of Sexuality by Foucault to the directors. @vjbarnier

ANDY | 33

www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 24, 2016

Interview: Michael Walsh Andy catches up with the Hamilton artist at Toronto ComiCon to discuss his incredible work for Marvel Comics and his sage advice for burgeoning young artists

Walsh’s most recent work at Marvel is on Worst X-man Ever.

Follow the rest of his exploits on Instagram (@mister_walsh).

C/O MARVEL COMICS

Hess Sahlollbey Contributor

Whether you’re a Trekkie, an aspiring cosplayer or simply hoping to meet others who share your interests, this weekend belonged to the fans as they took over the downtown Toronto core. Punisher, Batman and Superman all have big releases this month and made their presence known from the moment I got off the subway and headed to Toronto ComiCon. An annual convention, Toronto ComiCon takes over the city center for a three-day affair full of comics, cosplay and everything in between.

What some fans may not realize though is that attending these conventions could result in your passions and hobbies one day becoming a career.

That’s how it went for Michael Walsh, one of Marvel Comics’ biggest rising stars whom I had the pleasure of interviewing at the convention. We talked about his career, what he’s working on next and what knowledge he’d most want to impart on those who want to create comics for a living too.

While Batman’s home may be Gotham City, one of the biggest rising stars in comics actually calls the Hammer home.

“I almost went to McMaster,” Walsh first tells me when I introduce myself to him having noticed my press badge and white McMaster T-shirt. As an alumni of OCAD, he’s familiar with touring the whole portfolio circuit when he was first trying to get published.

With a heavy, murky use of black ink, his art is difficult to describe. His substantial use of blacks is interlaced with cartoony elements. While the style may look simple, on a deeper analysis one can quickly surmise that it’s a stark juxtaposition to

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the emotional weight that his art carries.

While others on the Toronto ComiCon floor had booths rammed with books, art-prints, merchandise and T-shirts, Michael Walsh sat behind his desk with his portfolio of black and white art in front of him.

He quipped that he doesn’t like travelling with his books, referring to all his illustration work that fans are always eager to buy straight from the creators at conventions. “They’re too heavy and I don’t want to lug them around, I’d rather put my art on full display.”

It’s that same art that has made him so prolific in all of Hamilton’s comic book shops. Whether it was Comic Connection, Big B Comics or Conspiracy Comics, the staff at all the stores held Walsh in the highest regard, eagerly describing his art style with all manner of positive superlatives. Walsh is also equally famous among his peers for his down to earth personality and eagerness to meet fans and talk shop. Even the staff at Mixed Media, an art store on James St North, pitched paintbrushes and inks to me by saying they’re the same ones Michael Walsh uses, long before I had the chance to make his acquaintance.

Walsh first work was Comeback, a comic that he looks back on fondly. Written by Ed Brisson with art by Walsh, Comeback told the story of two criminal agents, who could undo the untimely demise of a loved one, for a large nominal fee of course.

“Comeback was my first professional work, it always gets compared to Looper, because of the timing of the release, but they couldn’t be any more different.

Yeah they both had time-travel but Comeback was more sci-fi street-level crime. It was bad timing, but I’m always happy

when it makes a Comeback [editor’s note: pun is Walsh’s own] and a fan brings it for to me to sign,” said Walsh.

These days however he’s one of Marvel Comic’s most prolific artists. His first job at Marvel was Hank Johnson: Agent of Hydra — a one shot that came out late summer. “Right now, I’m doing this X-men series, its called X-Men: Worst X-man Ever and it’s a five issue mini-series.”

Walsh’s next project will be a collaboration on The Vision with another rising star at Marvel, Tom King. King is a former CIA counter-terrorism agent and has been writing an ongoing based on the eponymous member of the Avengers. Filling in for art duties, he praises his collaborator, saying, “If you haven’t read Tom King’s work its so good. You need to check out his other work because I’m so happy to be working with him.”

His charisma and passion for talking about comics is easily contagious. Before he could get any work in comics however, Walsh was creating posters for concerts. Now he’s happily looking forward to what the future holds.

“I’m in such a good place right now, if I went back and I did something differently back then who knows where I’d be. I went through some really hard times with being unhappy with my output and thinking that my work was just not of a high quality,” he said.

“If I could impart one thing of advice on those that are coming up it’s that you won’t always be happy with what you’re doing. But to be at peace that you’re not always going to be happy with the stuff you’re doing but know that you can get better so keep striving and working for greatness in your own work.”

34 |

ANDY

Thursday, March 24, 2016 | www.thesil.ca

Review: Daredevil season two The Netflix-exclusive series fleshes out its already impressive plot line in season two, with Elektra and Punisher figuring prominently

Charlie Cox returns as Daredevil in the show’s second season, which impressively builds upon the strengths of the first iteration.

C/O NETFLIX

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Daredevil’s second season aims to answer what it means to be a hero, both literally and figuratively.

I didn’t know what to expect of Daredevil’s sophomore season for a couple reasons.

Firstly, the showrunner of the first season left and was replaced by two new guys, and secondly because the show was now going to focus on two other Marvel anti-heroes, Punisher and Elektra.

Luckily, they kept mostly everything that was great about the first season, and fixed mant of the problems. They also keep the show squarely focused on Daredevil himself, while Punisher and Elektra turn out to be two of the most interesting supporting characters ever to be seen on TV. What I loved about Daredevil’s first season was its focus on character development, which lent one the ability to appreciate both the protagonist and antagonist’s points of view.

As Ben Urich put it, “There are no heroes. No villains. Just people with different agendas.”

This quote has never been more accurate than in the second season, as one of the focuses of the season is Daredevil’s ideological clash with the Punisher. Despite both being on the “good” side, Punisher believes that killing the bad guys is the only way to take care of criminals permanently. Daredevil on the other hand believes people’s lives should be put in the hands of the justice system, and that killing is wrong, whether someone deserves it or not. Elektra serves to make this conflict of justice and morality even more complicated than it already is.

Jon Bernthal’s performance as the Punisher was something I was eagerly anticipating, since the last three actors to portray Punisher in the movies have been quite mediocre. Luckily, Bernthal absolutely blew me away. The fourth episode cements his contribution with what is possibly the best scene of the entire show in which he delivers a tear-jerking monologue that serves as the emotional core of the entire season.

Elodie Yung delivers an even better performance as the sexy but scary Elektra. Her

character is completely sociopathic, but always finds a way into seducing Daredevil and convincing him to do what she wants. Elektra is so unhinged that it is impossible to take your eyes off her, as you’re always wondering what she’ll do next.

This is a pretty big departure from the strong but silent Elektra from the comics, but is instrumental to making the show so enjoyable. The returning cast members from the first season are also great, and all serve important roles.

This season also tops off the first one in terms of violence and action, which does make the fights slightly less realistic, but more visceral and exciting.

The shocking amount of gore can get cringe-worthy at times, but it’s a very nice change from the more kid-friendly movies of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The pacing problems are fixed now too, with there being more interesting subplots, and more interesting supporting characters. There is also much more of The Hand, an evil organization of ninjas that are a huge part of the Daredevil comic books, and serves to complicate Daredevil’s life even more. The show is like a revolving door of great dialogue, badass action, and surprising twists.

One choice that I think prevented the season from reaching its full potential was the lack of an over-arching villain. I can name at least five antagonists in this season, but none of them were anywhere near as menacing or dangerous as the Kingpin from season one, or even Kilgrave from Jessica Jones. This made the season finale less epic than the first season’s, because even though the stakes were high, I was not interested in the bad guy Daredevil was fighting. This one complaint doesn’t matter too much though, as the entire season is still incredibly interesting and exciting.

While the first season left me satisfied, this season has made me eagerly anticipate the next season. I can’t wait to see the return of the Kingpin, and hopefully Bullseye.

In the same way that Game of Thrones is a masterclass in adapting books to screen, Daredevil is a masterclass in how to adapt comics to screen. If you’re a fan of good TV, then you will definitely love Daredevil.

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THURSDAY

THE

HAMILTON SPECULATOR Salty since 1934

MARCH 24, 2016

NOTSPEC.COM

The case of the phantom landlord You’ve never seen him but you know he fixed the dryer this morning. Is he even real? Is he even a “he”?

This ambiguous hand is the only photo the tenants have seen of their landlord. INSET: A bag of salt found mysteriously outside their door. How sweet.

MARY KROLL-SNOW Inbetween Homes

When then first-year students Jonah, Kyle and Adam moved into their student house, they were excited for all the experiences that came along with a new rental — finding someone else’s hair in the drain, learning how to use a lawnmower, centipedes, and getting to know their landlord.

While they managed to check off the first three boxes on their list, after three years, they have never formally met their landlord.

“The leases were passed down from the previous tenants,” said Kyle. “They also passed down some

chipped coffee mugs and a lawn chair, but those items were less important.”

The trio initially thought they would be around their landlord more, but have managed to successfully avoid all his visits over their three years of residence.

“There were a number of mornings when we woke up to find a new fan, or an unjammed lock.

Once before exams he left us a box of cookies. That was cute,” said Kyle.

Snow shovels have been known to appear like bouquets on Valentine’s Day, bottles of Drano flow into their home like wine, also on Valentine’s Day. For the most

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part, the situation has worked well for the student tenants.

The students tend to either be asleep or out of it when their landlord has alerted them of his upcoming visit, but Jonah claims to have once spotted him out the corner of his eye.

“Don’t quote me on this, but I think he might actually be one of the Property Brothers,” said Jonah.

“It would be good to see him, but this has been working pretty well for us,” said Kyle.

“Although, I’ve been waiting to see him to bring up the raging mold situation in our basement. I doubt that’s why he’s avoiding us though.”

“Hi. I changed the bulb in the basement bathroom. Shower head looks rusty. Will change next week.

Thanks.”

Unsigned note on the kitchen counter (This may have been the landlord’s son)

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