The Silhouette
MCMASTER UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER
www.thesil.ca
Thursday, August 9, 2012
EST. 1930
Norovirus-free since Volume 82.
Vol. 83, No. 3
Search continues for Westdale assault suspect Anqi Shen
Online News Editor
Hamilton Police are searching for a male suspect who they believe is linked to at least two sexual assaults on King Street West and in the Dalewood and Traymore area. Police have released a composite image of the suspect and are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying him. The most recent assault occurred on July 28 near the intersection of Paradise Rd. and
Longwood Rd. A woman was walking alone at 2 a.m. along King Street W. when a male attacked her from behind, then stabbed and sexually assaulted her. The victim broke free and was taken to hospital, where she was treated for non-life threatening injuries and released. The suspect is described as a white male in his twenties, about six feet tall, with short, dark hair and a tanned complexion. Police believe the suspect, who was last seen running eastbound on King Street W., sustained a facial injury during the attack.
Investigators have linked the suspect to an earlier assault, which occurred on April 21 at approximately 3 a.m. near Traymore and Dalewood. A woman was grabbed from behind, pushed to the ground and sexually assaulted. To prevent the victim from dialling 911, the suspect took her phone, which was later found nearby. SEE POLICE, 3 Hamilton Police Services has released a composite of the suspect.
PHOTO: MAC CLEARS THE WAY FOR DOWNTOWN HEALTH CAMPUS
Demolition of the Hamilton board of education’s headquarters began on Aug. 1, the day that McMaster University took possession of the property. The plot of land at 100 Main St. W. will be the location of a McMaster family health centre. The project is going ahead despite vocal opposition from community members, who felt that the 46-year-old Education Centre building had historical significance and the potential for future use. YOSEIF HADDAD SENIOR PHOTO EDITOR
INSIDE THE SIL THIS MONTH
3 7 10
Mac band looking to land on world stage Marauders introduce new basketball recruits Hard feelings toward AGH on James St. North?
Changes coming to student health plan Sam Colbert Executive Editor
After switching insurance companies, the McMaster Students Union is offering what it says is a better, and less expensive, health plan to students. In all areas of coverage, the plan has either offered the same benefits or has improved, said Jeff Wyngaarden, Vice-President (Finance) of the MSU. The MSU left Trothen and McConkey for ACL Insurance, who also administers the dental plan. ACL has developed relationships with pharmacies, including Shopper’s Drug Mart, so that Shoppers will offer discounted rates on the co-pay component of the plan. ACL is willing to make similar arrangements with local pharmacies.
Shopper’s will also be able to determine if a student is covered based on their student number. Although the per-student cost will be less for the MSU, students will not feel those savings right away. The health plan will cost each user $56.71 – same as last year, plus an increase for CPI. This is about ten dollars more per student than the cost of the plan. “We can’t lower the fee right now because it has to go through the Board of Governors first,” said Wyngaarden. “But it’s a possibility for future years because we’re going to be taking that extra money and putting it in the health plan account. It’s possible that we could decrease the fee, increase coverage at no or less cost … we have a number of options.” Almost 16,000 students used the health plan last year.
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NEWS
Thursday, August 9, 2012 • The Silhouette
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News Editors: Aissa Boodhoo-Leegsma, Julia Redmond and Anqi Shen news@thesil.ca
Gentlemen show no cowardice in voting Sam Colbert Executive Editor
Voting is over, and before the site crashed on Aug. 7 at about 10 minutes to midnight, Of Gentlemen and Cowards appeared to be in first place. If this was, indeed, the outcome of the three-week audience-choice, online voting period, then the four McMaster students are headed to an appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman. But as of the night of Aug. 8, official results had not yet been released. And given how back-and-forth the battle for first was on the final voting day between Of Gentlemen and Cowards and Virginia group Aaron Crawford and the Badcards, it could have gone either way. “I’m a massive mix of overwhelmed, nervous and excited,” said front man Simon Edwards. “We know they haven’t announced anything yet and so we’re not about to start celebrating, but I simply can’t believe we finished the voting in first.” It began in the spring, when Of Gentlemen and Cowards spotted the contest on SonicBids.com, a music social media platform that connects bands with promoters, festivals and other opportunities. The competition was for a chance to get their music into We Made This Movie, which is currently in production. Rob Burnett, who is the CEO of the Late Show with David Letterman’s production company Worldwide Pants, is the film’s director. They
submitted their song “Save Me” to be considered for the soundtrack. Out of over 1200 applications from an international pool of bands, the McMaster boys were selected as one of 24 finalists in the We Made This Movie Music Contest. They were then chosen as one of the four winners, which guaranteed their song a spot in the film. A secondary contest for one of finalists to play on the Letterman show followed, and Of Gentlemen and Cowards found themselves in a neckand-neck battle for first. “We kind of threw everything we had into this campaign,” said Edwards. “We play a lot of charity shows around campus, and we try to do as many free things and favours for people as we can. Here’s where we’re really hoping to cash on those,” he said. The campaign has gotten support from a number of McMaster organizations, as well as coverage in the Hamilton Spectator, CBC Hamilton and AM900, to name a few. “We couldn’t be happier with the response we’ve gotten,” said Edwards. Check back at www.thesil.ca for updates.
Police urge caution FROM 1 The victim did not sustain any severe physical injuries. In the April 21 incident, the suspect was seen running toward Dalewood Ave. along Traymore Ave. He is described as a white male in his twenties, 5 feet 5 inches tall with a medium build, wearing a dark hoodie and dark track pants. Despite the height differential, Detective Sergeant Maggie Schoen said investigators “were able to link the same suspect to both incidents based on other descriptors provided and his M.O.” Police are asking anyone with information to contact Detective Scott Moore at (905) 546-4614 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-2228477. Terry Sullivan, Director of McMaster Security Services, said they will continue to monitor the situation. “We are in constant contact with the Hamilton Police and will be circulating the bulletin of the suspect,” said Sullivan. Unrelated to the sexual assaults, four armed robberies took place in Hamilton’s west end last week. The incidents occurred in the Ewen Rd. and Rifle Range Rd. area, at the intersection of Broadway St. and Ward Ave, in the Victoria Park area and in the area of Bowman and Baxter St. In each case the armed bicyclist took out a handgun and demanded valuables from his victims.No one was physically harmed during these robberies. The suspect is described as a white male in his twenties with a thin build, wearing dark clothes and sometimes a baseball cap. Police have increased patrol units in the city’s west end in response to the assaults and robberies. “Students in the area should be aware of what’s happening in the community,” said Det. Sgt. Schoen. “The more informed they are, the better witnesses they will be.” McMaster officials say safety alerts and new information in the sexual assault investigation will continue to be updated on the McMaster Security Services website.
C/O JAMES OVERTON
When the voting site crashed with ten minutes to go in voting, Of Gentlemen and Cowards were in first. They must wait to find out officially if they’ll be appearing on Letterman.
EDITORIAL The Silhouette
McMaster University’s Student Newspaper
TheSil.ca
Editorial Board Sam Colbert Executive Editor Jemma Wolfe Managing Editor Andrew Terefenko Production Editor Aissa Boodhoo-Leegsma Senior News Editor Julia Redmond Assistant News Editor Anqi Shen Online News Editor Kacper Niburski Opinions Editor Brandon Meawasige Senior Sports Editor Scott Hastie Assistant Sports Editor Sam Godfrey Senior InsideOut Editor Amanda Watkins Assistant InsideOut Editor Nolan Matthews Senior ANDY Editor Bahar Orang Assistant ANDY Editor Yoseif Haddad Senior Photo Editor Jessie Lu Assistant Photo Editor Javier Caicedo Multimedia Editor Karen Wang Graphics Editor Sandro Giordano Ad Manager
Legal The Silhouette welcomes letters to the editor in person at MUSC B110, or by email at thesil@thesil.ca. Please include name, address and telephone number for verification only. We reserve the right to edit, condense or reject letters and opinion articles. Opinions expressed in The Silhouette are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editorial board, the publishers or university officials. The Silhouette is an editorially autonomous newspaper published by the McMaster Students Union. The Silhouette board of publications acts as an intermediary between the editorial board, the McMaster community and the McMaster Students Union. Grievances regarding The Silhouette may be forwarded in writing to: McMaster Students Union, McMaster University Student Centre, Room 201, L8S 4S4, Attn: The Silhouette Board of Publications. The board will consider all submissions and make recommendations accordingly.
Thursday, August 9, 2012 • The Silhouette
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Executive Editor: Sam Colbert (905) 525-9140, extension 22052 thesil@thesil.ca
Welcome Week x2? I’m not trying to make waves. I’m just saying, is all, that the incoming first years might be entitled to a one hell of a Welcome Week. Well, maybe ‘entitled’ is the wrong word. Here’s the story. Remember the fee that was passed at least year’s MSU general assembly? The one that was to charge every incoming first year a mandatory $110 fee in place of MacPass sales? If you interpret the relevant documents in a certain way, you might find that the University is required to match that fee. In other words, they’d have to double the Welcome Week budget line to roughly $1.14 million. It works like this. When the McMaster Students Union and University sat down to figure out how they were going to translate this general assembly vote into an actual fee, the University agreed to take on the administration of that fee. An agreement on ancillary fees between the two organizations says that the University must match any of its ancillary fee increases on full-time, undergraduate students, effectively doubling the funding for that particular cost. There are some points of ambiguity. Is this a fee increase, or just the shifting of a fee from optional to compulsory? And does it count as a fee on full-time undergraduate students if it’s only charged to first-years? But that doesn’t really matter; it’s not going to happen. There will be no Super Welcome Week this year. And that doesn’t mean that the University is in the wrong, or that the MSU has failed in its ploy to milk McMaster for customized nightgowns for the PJ Parade. Both sides understand that this was a fine solution to a problematic fee – why argue over semantics? In fact, it was the willingness of our student leaders to work cooperatively with the university that allowed this fee to work out. Had they been sticklers over the agreements and demanded fee matching, McMaster would likely have withdrawn support. So we’ll let this one go. To argue over it would defy the spirit of the fee cooperation. It would only do harm to the student-University relationship. But perhaps the more concerning truth, if you’re the kind of person who grows concerned over this kind of thing, is that our students union is just not that kind of students union. It offers services, provides jobs and plans fun stuff for its members, all of which is great. We don’t antagonize the University, or the provincial government – even when tuition continues to rise, or when the University doesn’t heed our concerns with a new copyright deal that will see an increase to student fees, as happened earlier this summer. Sometimes cooperation pays off, and sometimes it doesn’t. But the way we define “union” contrasts with some other schools in a big way. When members of Quebec student protest group CLASSE came to Hamilton on a solidarity tour through Ontario, executive committee member Jérémie Bédard-Wien called out the “shitty executive” of student unions in Quebec that were initially against the student strike. That’s executives like ours that he’s talking about. We stick with the lobbying groups that want to show support for the Ontario tuition grant, not the ones that would rather go on strike because tuition has continued to increase. But it’s not their fault - if there is any blame to go around at all, that is. They know the influence a supportive and vocal student body has when they sit down for meetings with politicians or university administrators. And here, we just don’t have it. There’s no appetite for it. In other words, we’re not that kind of students union because we’re not those kinds of students. Please pardon the way I generalize. We do have active students on this campus who have been vocal about problems in the way our education and university experience is funded. They’re the kind of people who might walk into a university administrator’s office with a copy of the ancillary fee agreement, demanding some extra Welcome Week funding. But they’re relatively rare. I’m not trying to evaluate. This is a debate student politicians have been having with one another across the country recently. I’m just trying to put us on the political map. I guess what I’m saying is, if you’re okay with who we are, great. If not, then speak up. And hey, maybe I’m also pushing someone to get us a load of Welcome Week dollars. Do you think Radiohead will come play for half a million?
to the pommel horse handstand.
to the filth and the illness.
to the apple imac.
to kacper. safe travels, bud.
to comfy jammies. to quiet bathroom contemplation.
to spiders and sleeping commando. there is no hope when they meet.
to people who studiously respect restroom etiquette.
to the impromptu saunas in my living room.
to shooting down brash ideas. we only do it because we know you can do better, idiot.
to that awful pre-rain fishy smell.
to the abbreviation of august, because i am not getting those precious seconds back. to monkeys who look like people we know, and people who look like monkeys we see on television. to olympic medalists. heck, even last place is better than y’all. to the ongoing thought processes that bring us quality t.v dramas.
to the unstable voting servers, hope you guys got it. to underground cellphone nonreception. to strife in the middle east. that part of campus always has hooligans. to the not-faintenough smell of raccoon corpses in our local “paradise”.” to anyone who wins at jenga other than me.
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OPINIONS
Thursday, August 9, 2012 • The Silhouette
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Opinions Editor: Kacper Niburski opinions@thesil.ca
An educated
Finding the right words
question
A contemplation of the decline of music lyrics
Rob Hardy The Silhouette
“If we gotta dumb down our style and ABC it Then so be it Cause nowadays these kids, jeeze Don’t give a shit about lyrics All they wanna hear is a beat and that’s it… We don’t know a word to a verse, All we know is the chorus ‘Cause the chorus repeats the same four words for us And the song’s ginormous, the whole formula’s switched ‘Cause we don’t know anymore, what are hits Is it the beat, is it the rap?” - Syllables, Eminem
Sarah Jama The Silhouette
I dismantled my radio the other day. That’s right; I completely took it apart. Forgive me, but I couldn’t help but get sick of the stations. They all seemed to be playing the same cup of tea. Besides, I’d begun to develop the irrational fear of Carly Rae Jepsen’s lyrics melting my brain to smithereens. Thank God for hammers. Don’t get me wrong. I’ve got nothing against music that lacks lyrical depth of any sort. Really, I understand. It’s summer; we all crave music that doesn’t need to be analyzed,
music that we can chant along with like camp songs for simple, easy entertainment. After all, the critical thinking and whatnot ought to be saved for our time in school. No point in thinking deeply unless we’re being graded for our efforts, right? But as good ol’ Eminem implied, there’s no getting beyond the fact that there’s been a huge decline of good music in today’s society. This can easily be proven by comparing today’s music with the music developed back in the nineties, eighties, seventies and even the sixties. Back then, we had The Beatles, Elvis, Michael Jackson and Tupac. Today, we’re stuck with
Justin Bieber, Katy Parry, Carly Rae Jepsen and Ke$ha. Need I say more? The mainstream music contains little meaning, and is cunningly designed to incorporate the catchiest of tunes, with lyrics – specifically choruses – that are easy to remember. Nowadays, more musicians are entering the industry with miniscule levels of talent and are forced to resort to the manipulation of machinery to help their voices sell. Have I mentioned that their lyrics are often filled with taboo and unnecessary sexualisation? Maybe that’s for another time.
Flight and plight of the freshman Udoka Gabriella Okafor The Silhouette
I remember the first time I ever stepped on McMaster University grounds as a freshman. As I examined the trod of a multitude of footsteps all with a sense of direction, a feeling dawned upon me. I felt invisible. It felt like déjà vu. I thought to myself, “Is this going to be high school all over again?” As I took a deep breath, ready to accept the reality that my appearance had assigned to me, something unexpected happened. Someone stopped and said hello. Flabbergasted as I was, I almost thought that I was not the one being spoken to, but it turned out that someone cared enough to stop and talk. Then another feeling dawned upon me, one opposite to that of feeling invisible. After talking to this pleasant stranger for a while, she directed me to the building I was looking for. This act of kindness that was shown unto me made me see
things in a new light. Suddenly I noticed the freshly cut grass and how its greenness showcased the life I was about to start, it radiated out energies unexplained and perhaps showed me a timeline of how much I was going to grow. The blue sky stood out without a single shadow of obstruction. It made me see clearly a form of tranquilizing peace that filled the air, the youthful exuberance that clouded the campus, and, most importantly, it gave me hope. There was the humming of birds, the chattering and grunts of squirrels, the whisper of the leaves in the trees, the screams and laughter of students on campus and the smiles that where thrown my way. All this contributed to the feelings of anticipation and optimism that built up within me. As I tried to navigate my way around, trying to find my way to my first class, there were always people willing to give me a helping hand. As I approached my first class,
the hall was so big, and yet I felt seen even when no one was looking. As we all settled for our first class, I looked around and examined my peers closely, my 2015 class of elites. The thrill, the excitement of welcome week made it all in all worth it. There were a lot of exciting events and a lot of student representatives willing to advise my peers on our journey through our freshman year. I do admit that transiting from high school to university was not easy. The curriculum was far more loaded and much harder than that of high school. But McMaster University is a place where teachers are willing to help smoothen our transition and make our academic careers a success. I believe that we have two families in this life, the family we are born into and the family we choose. McMaster University soon became home to me and we were all family to one another. I met the most amazing people and my experience through my freshman
year cannot be overstated. Many times I fell, and I arose stronger. After a while I was not afraid of falling anymore because there was always a soft landing waiting for me, but more importantly a chance to rebound stronger. Now, freshman year is over and I am not afraid of the bumps that I would encounter while transiting to my sophomore year because I know that I have a family willing to help me through. When I look in the mirror, the image of my growth for the past year is personified. I actually see a reflection looking back at me. I do not feel invisible anymore. My family here on campus helped me discover myself. As we transit to another year, we all hold our breaths in anticipation and eagerness as we await the next freshman class that is coming to fill the vacuum we are leaving behind. If only they knew what a journey they are all in for. Well, I guess they will just have to wait to find out.
I recently read a lengthy article that ponders several philosophical questions as to the emerging state of academia in the new millennium [“When school sends you to rock bottom” – July 5]. To this, and some other brief points mentioned, I attempt to offer some consideration. If I can surmise what I uncovered during my extensive research on the state of education in a mere phrase, it would be that people don’t much care what you know but rather what you’ve done. In this way, the university has changed from being a knowledgecentred institution for the average student to a place where we matriculate through our programs via task-based instructions until we have completed what has become this new mandated concept of education. To illustrate this through example, in the old days, people lamented our inability to do long division in our heads. Today, Google has become the new “calculator.” Grades result in how successfully you navigate through the system, just as job success today rests highly on one’s ability to work through the social maze of work culture. How detail-oriented you are and how driven to learn and cultivate your own intellectual progress can become liabilities in achieving positive judgement from others with regards to your effectiveness to a team and someone else’s bigger picture, depending on the situation. Students simply don’t have the time to indulge much extracurricular scholastic curiosity in a subject when their lives are so regimented to the point of suffering from lack of sleep. Society tells us the importance of a university education, when in reality legions of graduates may revert to employment that can reasonably be carried out regardless, though in some cases these degrees are requisite simply because companies prefer employees to have one. That others may still be even more capable, yet lack that credential, dubious as it may be, puts them at some considerable disadvantage. Quebecers understand the context of rising tuition fees as they relate to problems in the larger national context. We need to be cognisant of how our years in university are preparing us, and what the costs are weighed against the actual tangible rewards that have been promised.
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SPORTS
Thursday, August 9, 2012 • The Silhouette
Sports Editors: Brandon Meawasige and Scott Hastie sports@thesil.ca
BASKETBALL
OLYMPICS
Scott Hastie
Maroon and silver mix on podium in London
New season, new faces Assistant Sports Editor
The 2012-13 men’s and women’s basketball seasons are looking promising for Marauder fans.With three recruits for both programs, McMaster is looking to build towards contention in the OUA Final Four. The women’s team is looking to improve on their last season, which ended with 11 wins and 11 losses. Coach Theresa Burns has her work cut out for her, as she has to integrate her three rookies into the physicality of the OUA level while also fixing the hole left but Taylor Chiarot, who led the team in minutes played per game (second in OUA) and points scored per game (fifth in OUA). “I think some teams are going to look at us this year and think we’re down a notch because of losing Taylor Chiarot,” said Burns following a July 13 event to introduce the basketball recruits. “When you lose your program’s all-time leading scorer, those are big shoes to fill, and I don’t think we can fill them.” “We have to be a different team, and I think these players will fit nicely into that mould.” During the basketball recruit introduction, Burns outlined the importance of adding Clare Kenney, a six-foot forward from Kingston, Ontario. Kenney is expected to receive a lot of playing time in first year and make an impact immediately in the Marauder’s transition game. “When she starts feeling comfortable and gaining some confidence at this level, she’s going to beat all the OUA posts up and down the floor,” said Burns. “No one in the OUA is going to catch her in transition, and our job is to get the ball up there and find her.” McMaster faces stiff competition in the OUA circuit, playing in the same division as the University of Windsor Lancers, who are defending CIS champions. Coming off a Final Four appearance, the Marauders’ men’s basketball team is looking to make the proverbial leap and reach the CIS Championship tournament for the first time since 2006. Coach Amos Connolly addressed a number of issues with the team during his recruitment by adding Rohan Boney. The explosive forward will be bringing a new level of excitement to Burridge Gym this season with incredible speed and a nose for
McMaster’s basketball program recently introduced this year’s recruiting class getting to the rim. Boney is expected to contend for serious playing time immediately and bring the fast-paced style of Connolly’s offense to new heights. Boney came to McMaster despite opportunities at other schools. “It’s close to home, and my parents really liked it,” said Boney of his new school. “I can really see myself fitting in.” Jason Quiring is another recruit of the Marauders, becoming the second member of the Quiring family to wear the Maroon and Grey on the hardwood. As shown by his commitment
7
in January, Quiring was a recruiting priority for the Marauder’s
“The rookies are hoping to make the most impact possible to help their team hoist the trophy.” Theresa Burns Women’s Basketball Coach
and adds more depth on the frontcourt.
With a good post game and perimeter skills above average for a 6’6” player, Quiring will be making the transition from the centre position to the power forward position. During his recruitment, Coach Connolly likened Quiring to the graduated Cam Michaud. As summer training camps ramp up and the school year nears, the Marauder programs are ready to contend for championship glory. The rookies are hoping to make the most impact possible to help their team hoist the trophy.
SAM COLBERT EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Marauders coach Theresa Burns introduces Kenney during a press conference in Burridge Gym on July 13.
Brandon Meawasige Senior Sports Editor
Compared to the monstrous showings at this summer’s London Games by powerhouse teams China and the United States, Canadian athletes have so far mustered a relatively humble 14 medals, only one of which is gold (the United States has 30 and the team from China has 34). That being said, the goal of the Canadian Olympic team prior to the games was to finish in 12th place, putting them currently on track. Not to be misconstrued as some sort of discouragement, the outlook appears to be truly realistic and so far has included some terrific stories. Moments like the eight-man rowing team winning a silver medal or Adam van Koeverden adding yet another Olympic podium appearance to his illustrious career on the water are impressive Canadian athletic achievements. For the McMaster community, both of these moments in particular hold special resonance. Two members of that eightman team, Doug Csima and Jerry Brown, are alumni of Mac’s rowing and football teams respectively. Four-time medalist van Koeverden is also a former McMaster student. Last but not least, Olympic veteran Donna Vakalis, who competes in the pentathlon, is a Mac grad. In total four athletes at this summer’s competition have ties to the Steel City and that number does not include the numerous Marauders involved in coaching and working support staff for the Red and White. These athletes are inspiring examples of the school’s athletic slogan; “leave no doubt,” adding world-class credentials to an historic year for campus sports. Going into the 2012-13 school year, there are titles to defend, young teams with lots to prove and records to be broken. Hopefully recent success on the world stage is indicative of yet another great year for the Maroon and Grey.
INSIDE OUT
Thursday, August 9, 2012 • The Silhouette
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InsideOut Editors: Sam Godfrey and Amanda Watkins insideout@thesil.ca
Keeping frosh intimacy fresh Brandon Meawasige Senior Sports Editor
SILHOUETTE FILE PHOTO
Welcome week sexual excursions can be exhilarating, but try be cautious of your chosen location.
“Don’t be that guy! Always remember to wash your hands and leave a clean poop-station for the next person. Accidents happen, but nobody needs to know (or see) the grim details.” James Earl Bones Toilet Paper Dispenser
Welcome to Welcome Week. In just under a month, McMaster will kick off another school year with a week of orientation designed to introduce, in part, the experience offered here in Hamilton to droves of hormonal kids who aren’t in high school anymore, but have no idea what university is like - no matter how many times they have been to London with a fake ID. It traditionally gets messy, and is known lovably around North America as “frosh week,” a term of endearment, truly. Livers have suffered, virginities have been won and lost, and reputations will last a lifetime. When making your “mark” here at McMaster, try your hardest not to leave that mark too many places, or in second year CMST 20-whatevers. It could get a little awkward when you’re sitting in between them for the midterms – know what I mean? Be selective. There is lots to choose from – we are lucky to go to a school of many cultures, interests and it shows at any school event. Do not go for anything and everything, try find something you like. By the same token, try not to like too many sets of roommates. Never turns out good for anyone. Try to be age-conscious, as you don’t want to the gap in generations to come in between what could be a very fruitful physical relationship. Throughout the year, the school will gladly provide you with guidance for physical and mental health. For now, though, good luck to you. To some it will be about quantity, to some it will be about quality, but to everyone it will be a life-changing experience. Always be smart, that’s what got you here. Enjoy. It goes without saying, but play it safe, as you don’t want one-night stands going sour.
BATHROOM REVIEWS
Gilmour Hall Entrance Men’s washroom off the room between the Student Centre and Titles Bookstore
MUSC Basement Handicap bathroom between Men’s and Women’s rooms, across from Underground.
It’s like this facility was initially built in a factory for BMO field, deemed surplus, and then disposed of in the basement of Gilmour Hall. It’s got four stalls, seven sinks, a dozen urinals and no traffic. In short, it’s beautiful. Oh, what luxury it is to walk in and have so wide a selection of receptacles. That one hasn’t been flushed. That one’s close to the door. Ah, but this one’s just right. And then, when you emerge from the room – which is tucked nicely down a hallway – you encounter vending machines. It’s a perfect finish to a rather pleasant bathroom experience.
Initially this seemed like a haven for those of us that seek extreme privacy. Secluded, underground and in a relatively quiet part of the campus. All qualities that would make for a truly blissful evacuatory experience, if not for the one major catch. The bathroom is sadly often occupied by “underprivileged” individuals who, frankly, take their sweet time in there. Cellphone reception is also a bust, making smartphones a useless accessory for those extended trips. Good to use at least once in your academic career, but do not reccomend for repeat use.
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Sam Colbert, Executive Editor
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Andrew Terefenko, Production Editor
10 • The Silhouette • Thursday, August 9, 2012 ANDY Editors: Nolan Matthews and Bahar Orang andy@thesil.ca
A change for James Street
The new exhibit opening at the Art Gallery of Hamilton aims to sell designer furniture, but owners of galleries in the neighbourhood are uneasy. C/O MIKE LALICH
On July 7, the Art Gallery of Hamilton opened the Design Annex on James Street North. Located in the same building as CBC Hamilton, the Design Annex is thoroughly slick, with warm lighting, exposed brick walls and restored ceiling tiles from the 1920s. The Design Annex sells art, furniture and other homerelated items from Canadian artists and designers. “We found that we were losing a lot of social, cultural and economic impact of the design industry from people
who were interested in these products having to go out of Hamilton,” said Mark Stewart, the AGH’s Director of Commercial Activities. The back of the Design Annex can be rented and will also be used for music performances, and the space allows the AGH to be more diverse in its featured artists. “At the AGH, we’re what’s considered a category ‘A’ gallery, which means that we can host and show exhibitions from any gallery in the world. In order to do that, we have
to meet very strict international requirements related to security, humidity and temperature. But we don’t have those qualifications in place at the Annex,” said Stewart. The diversity of the art at the Design Annex makes it seem like a place that would appeal to many different kinds of people, and this diversity is important for the kind of vibrant street that Jane Jacobs imagined. SEE NEW ANNEX, 11
Went for the music, stayed for Chuck Contributor Janine Wong tells of how her trip to the Osheaga festival in Montreal led to an encounter with her culinary hero I had wanted to eat at one of Chuck Hughes’ restaurants ever since watching his Food Network show, Chuck’s Day Off. So when I learned I was heading to Montreal for Osheaga, I thought that maybe if I was lucky, I could get a table at his restaurant. To my expected disappointment, I found that his restaurant was totally booked all weekend. I shrugged it off and figured it just wasn’t meant to be. But sometimes the universe works in strange ways. It all started in an attempt to find the washroom. MGMT was playing to a packed crowd, but it had been a busy day and I was losing my stamina. In my absent-minded wandering, I somehow managed to find my way into a restricted area behind the stage. Any uncertainty I had was overridden by the motivation to relieve my bladder.
After many inquiries and misguided directions from several groups of security guards, I found a building with a long line leading out from the washroom. The only problem was that I was separated from this line by a fence. Confused about this barrier and starting to feel like I was in some place I didn’t belong, I intended on asking a security guard about getting to the washroom, but ended up talking about the band Queen, after seeing my shirt. More people started showing up on the same side of the fence as me and I asked what they were here for. They had two wristbands – one red and one gold. This meant that they had an All-Access Pass and could go anywhere they pleased. I started to feel inferior as I abashedly showed them my media pass. They were sympathetic and revealed that I
could get into the VIP area, which ended up being useful for the next two days. As we talked, a golf cart came to pick up the people with All-Access passes, and they accidentally included me in the head count. As everybody loaded into the cart, I awkwardly stood around not knowing what to do next. To my relief, one of the girls I had talked to took pity on me and asked if I wanted to come along. I jumped at the opportunity and scrambled onto the cart, which was so full at this point that I had to stand in the back, hang onto the roof with one hand and cling onto a passenger for dear life with the other. The precarious arrangement of people made us quite the spectacle, and as a final stroke of pathetic fallacy, fireworks were playing behind us as we drove along the waterfront to Artists’ World, where the artists get to eat, hang out and drink. While we were driving in, a security guard stopped us to check our wristbands. I got a bit anxious as he hassled one girl for not having a red wristband, but somehow I managed to slip through unnoticed. Once we got to Artist’s World, it was ap-
parent that most things were already closed up for the night. Then I recalled that Chuck did the catering for the artists at Osheaga. Never in my wildest dreams, thought, did I think that he would be there. But through some strange luck, I saw Chuck Hughes sitting one table away, having a meeting with his crew. I felt like a 12-yearold girl and just about died right then and there. He was one of the friendliest and nicest people I have ever met. He told me they were all out of food for the night, but if I came back, he would sneak me some food. For the next two days, I tried to no avail to repeat the miraculous events from the night before. I started to accept the thought that I would never get to try his food. But on the Monday night, I managed to get a reservation at Le Bremner, one of Chuck’s restaurants in Old Montreal. It was probably one of the best meals I’ve ever had. And, as serendipity would have it, I got to meet him again. And as simple an ending as it was, I don’t think I’ll forget the experience for a long time. •
Janine Wong
ANDY • 11
Thursday, August 9, 2012 • The Silhouette
Design Annex looking to become a part of James community
FROM 10 She writes in the seminal Death and Life of Great American Cities that city districts must serve multiple purposes so that people are drawn to a street at all times, and ideally the afternoon furniture shoppers at the Design Annex would be replaced by evening restaurant customers, then followed by the late-night bar crowd. It’s clear that James Street North is changing, but what is less certain is how these changes can benefit everyone. “Instead of initiating an operation that emphasizes the social and economic disparity that exists in Hamilton, the AGH could have given thought to programs that help people to understand and appreciate the value of art and what artists do,” said Bryce Kanbara, who helped found Hamilton Artists Inc. in 1975 and owns of the You Me gallery on James North. “The on-the-street location could have created possibilities for on-the-street involvement”.
CD REVIEW
The Beach Boys That’s Why God Made the Radio
HHHHH The first 45 that I ever purchased was Surfing USA by the Beach Boys in the early Summer of 1963, and even though the song was a total rip-off of Chuck Berry’s “Sweet Little Sixteen,” the Beach Boys went on to become the dominant American rock and roll band – basically the only one to stand up to the British Invasion of the mid-sixties. The Beach Boys have been making records for more than fifty years. To commemorate that achievement, they are touring this summer following the release of their 39th studio album, That’s Why God Made the Radio. All of the living members of the group (Brian Wilson, Mike Love and Al Jardine) are participating, plus Bruce Johnston and David Marks, who joined the group in the early years. Brian’s brothers Carl and Dennis Wilson have passed away. To me, the Beach Boys will always be the sound of summer. Even though the California lifestyle was just a dream for us, we could all imagine surfing and bombing around in hot rods. What is appealing about this latest album, though, is that instead of pretending they are teenagers again, they reflect on being young – riding in their car, going to the beach, enjoying the summer love, etc. This is most evident in “Summer’s Gone,” when Brian Wilson sings, “It’s finally sinkin’ in … We laugh and cry, we live and die and dream about our yesterdays.” The CD is in two parts. The first several songs are more upbeat, with the best being the title track, “That’s Why God Made the Radio,” and “Isn’t it Time.” The last four songs – “Strange World,” “From There and Back Again,” “Pacific Coast Highway” and “Summer’s Gone” – are particularly strong. Some might argue that they’re among the best the band has made for many years. The harmonies are still great (remember: the original members are seventy now) and are reminiscent of the Surf ’s Up sessions or “God Only Knows.” Brian Wilson is back writing, producing and singing, which is great to see, given the problems he’s had in his life. Old fans of the band will enjoy “That’s Why God Made the Radio,” and perhaps this CD will make the Beach Boys some new fans. • Phil Wood Phil Wood is McMaster University’s Associate Vice-President (Student Affairs) and Dean of Students. He is also the host of “Soul in the Hole,” a radio show on 93.3 CFMU that airs every Wednesday at 10 a.m.
Given that one third of the Art Gallery of Hamilton’s annual budget comes from federal, provincial and municipal public funds, it seems reasonable to think that the AGH could reach out to more of the community. “I have often thought that AGH could designate itself a cooling centre in the summer,” said Kanbara. “It has terrific AC. Folks at Jackson Square need only to cross King Street”. “For us, there was certainly a conversation of how to best integrate into the street, respect what’s going on here and help do things that are for the benefit of everybody involved,” said Mark Stewart. While the AGH and the Design Annex have good intentions with their involvement in James North, it will be important that the conversation between the James North community and the AGH continues so that by telling one story about the street, another isn’t overlooked. •
Nolan Matthews, Senior ANDY Editor
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