S The Silhouette Thursday, July 9, 2015
OPINION
FEATURE
ANDY
SHINERAMA
COFFEE CULTURE
MODERN ROMANCE
Is keggar fundraising an ethical practice? Page 9
Three new coffee shops worth visiting Page 6
A review of Aziz Ansari’s first novel Page 19
COMING SOON The 12-sto re Learning C y Living, entre is se replace T2 t to 8 and T29 by 2019 Page 3
LOOKING BACK
S
SEPTEMBER 26, 1969
Festival season
The Silhouette
Volume 86, Issue 2 Thursday, July 9, 2015 McMaster University’s Student Newspaper
EDITORIAL BOARD executive editor | 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 Patrick Kim news reporter Alex Florescu features reporter Daniel Arauz opinions editor We’re hiring! sports editor Sofia Mohamed sports reporter Jaycee Cruz lifestyle editor Jason Woo lifestyle reporter Michelle Yeung andy editor Tomi Milos andy reporter Vannessa Barnier news editor
news reporter
media
Jonathan White photo reporter Jason Lau video editor Philip Kim social media coordinator Esther Adjekum photo editor
After the summer of 1969, The Silhouette anonymously covered “the greatest music festival of all time.” Next month you can look forward to the coverage of a number of modern festivals spun from this mother of all gatherings.
sales ad manager | sgiordan@msu.mcmaster.ca
Sandro Giordano
CONTACT
LEGAL
MUSC, Room B110 McMaster University 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8S 4S4
The Silhouette welcomes letters to the editor in person at MUSC B110, or by email at thesil@thesil.ca. Please include name, address and telephone number for verification only. We reserve the right to edit, condense or reject letters and opinion articles. Opinions and editorials expressed in The Silhouette are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editorial board, the publishers, the McMaster Students Union or the University. The Silhouette is an editorially autonomous newspaper published by the McMaster Students Union. The Silhouette Board of Publications acts as an intermediary between the editorial board, the McMaster community and the McMaster Students Union. Grievances regarding The Silhouette may be forwarded in writing to: McMaster Students Union, McMaster University Student Centre, Room 201, L8S 4S4, Attn: The Silhouette Board of Publications. The Board will consider all submissions and make recommendations accordingly.
Executive (905) 525-9140, ext 22052 Production Office (905) 525-9140, ext 27117 Advertising (905) 525-9140, ext 27557 5,000 summer circulation published by the
ette
ou @thesilh
In our June 5 issue, we incorrectly labelled Ivor Wynne Centre as the David Braley Athletic Centre in our “Looking Back” feature on Page 2. The featured convocation photo was taken in Burridge Gym.
VIDEO: Livestream
Visit www.livestream.com/ accounts/7495863 for a link to the archived recording of the June SRA meeting
FOLLOW US aster /TheMcMette Silhou
CORRECTIONS
er /McMast te t Silhoue
Please also note, the Andy article “The Weather StationLoyalty” on Page 18 was written by contributor Ben Robinson.
The Silhouette
In this
issue:
| www.thesil.ca
Thursday, July 9, 2015 | 3
News Increased accessibility funding in Ontario Page 5
McMaster’s consolidated budget breakdown Page 4
No longer just the home of Tim Hortons, coffee culture is peaking in HamOnt Page 8
Living, Learning Centre
A new 12-storey residence and services building is set to replace the temporary buildings by 2019
Rachel Katz News Editor
Two buildings on the McMaster campus will soon be torn down to make way for a new one. The University recently announced that T28 and T29 will be replaced by a new “Living Learning Center.” The 359 000 square foot building will boast residence space, classrooms, underground parking, and will house certain student and hospitality services. The building will also be the new location for the daycare that was displaced when construction began on L.R. Wilson Hall. Dean of Students Sean Van Koughnett was excited to discuss the initiative. “There isn’t really a lot of space on campus to put up new buildings so we’re looking at this as an opportunity we have to take advantage
of... I’m not sure we’ll have another chance like this in the foreseeable future,” he said. The project has been allotted a $118 million budget and will be financed by the University. “Similar to how a household would take out a mortgage,” Van Koughnett explained. The current proposal shows the building to be 12 storeys, eight of which will be residence floors. A total of 500 new suite style and traditional with washroom spaces will be available, which will significantly contribute to meeting the demand for more residence rooms. The remaining floors will hold large and small classrooms and student services, specifically the Student Wellness Center and Student Accessibility Services. The building will also include public space for students to re-
lax and hold informal meetings. Although the Student Wellness Center was renovated last winter, Van Koughnett expressed the desire to put these services in a more prominent and convenient location. The SWC was renovated to improve accessibility for students in wheelchairs and make reception areas more private so more students felt comfortable seeking help. “These were deficiencies that were important enough to address now and we determined that it shouldn’t wait four years… students entering first year this fall will be done before the building is projected to open,” Van Koughnett said. While current students will have graduated by the time the Living Learning Center is slated to open in Fall 2019, Van Koughnett emphasized the importance of student involve-
ment in the project, citing former MSU President Teddy Saul’s involvement on the design committee. Once an architect has been hired and details have been confirmed, he said “we definitely want [student] involvement on all aspects of the building.” He is hopeful that an architect will be hired over the course of the summer and that ground-breaking is anticipated within the next year. Van Koughnett anticipates the Living Learning Center will be a successful and rewarding endeavor. He said, “I’m confident that if we get the right people involved, and we have a student voice that we’ll end up with something we’re really proud of.”
“
There isn’t really a lot of space on campus to put up new buildings so we’re looking at this as an opportunity we have to take advantage of... I’m not sure we’ll have another chance like this in the foreseeable future.” Sean Van Koughnett Dean of Students
@RachAlbertaKatz
4 |
NEWS
Thursday, July 9, 2015 | www.thesil.ca
Breaking down the budget The 69-page 2015-16 consolidated budget for the university was recently released. Here’s a graphic breakdown of what it means for students
The full budget can be viewed at: http://www. mcmaster.ca/bms/pdf/2015-16_budget.pdf Stay tuned to thesil.ca for more information.
NO
Glen
val
Rd.
. t. W gS
King
y Ave S.
Arkell St.
8
klin
.
Mac
Av e. S
e Rd . S.
n
Parad is
io
Paisle
Barclay St.
ar
S.
M
St. W .
St. S.
Kin
Rd. S.
Ehima Osazuwa MSU President
Total sources of funding will increase by $18.4 million (3.3%) due to net tuition growth in relation to both applied tuition rate increases and enrolment growth. In addition, $3 million in one-time funding will be transferred from investments as a budget balancing strategy.
d St.
system.”
$18.4 million
woo d
6%
The increase in tuition that all international students can expect to see this year.
The amount of money going into scholarships, bursaries and work study programs. This amount has declined from previous years as the Queen Elizabeth II/ Aiming for the Top MTCU scholarships are being faded out.
Bon
3%
The maximum increase in tuition students can expect to see this year. Depending on program, the percent increase may be lower.
$30.7 million
Long
The projected amount of money to be made from tuition collection during the upcoming school year.
I am obviously disappointed with the proposed tuition rate, which represents the highest legally permitted increase. This is a trend that we are actively working to reverse. The MSU will continue to work with stakeholders, including the University and the provincial government, to advocate for a more affordable and accessible postsecondary education
Main
. St. W
8 doke
. W. Main St
Che
403
y xp
eE
ok
ed
Ch
o d R d. S .
$245.7 million
“
Lo n g w o
Tuition
Expy
NEWS
| www.thesil.ca
Thursday, July 9, 2015 | 5
Investing in accessibility Ontario to invest $6 million in accessibility programs at universities and colleges across the province
ICYMI A roundup of some of the top stories around campus this summer MOSAIC LAUNCH June 12 Mosaic hosted its first course registration this spring. The platform replaced MUGSI and SOLAR this past winter, and implemented a new system for course regristration that would avoid having students logging on at the same time and crashing the system. Instead, students were split into smaller groups and given specific log on times. Mosaic had a rough start this winter with multiple daily crashes in its first weeks, but it managed to support the registration system with more success and fewer crashes than its early days, and the years of SOLAR.
PAN AM ON CAMPUS Reza Moridi addresses the crowd. INSET: Sarah Jama sharing her a statement.
Amanda Watkins Editor-in-Chief
Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, Reza Moridi, came to McMaster on June 23 to announce an additional $6-million investment in accessibility programs at Ontario Universities. “McMaster University is a fitting place for today’s announcement. This is an institution committed to creating and supporting a learning environment, and has put a lot of thought and planning into ensuring that students with disabilities have access to the services and support they need to thrive and prosper,” said Moridi. The province will be investing $4.5 million to help students with disabilities through an Accessibility Fund for Students with Disabilities, and a Summer Transitions Program. Similar to McMaster’s Shifting Gears program, the Transitions Program will offer workshops and courses for high school students with disabilities coming into postsecondary education. Jama addresses the crowd on the importance of increased accessibility
“It’s very hard for students sometimes to transfer from high school to university without this kind of support, because often, students with disabilities are not taught to self-advocate and speak up for themselves. “Programs like this, and funding like this, will teach students that they matter, that they belong here, and that there is a space for them and a voice for them at McMaster,” said Sarah Jama, McMaster student and Ontario Director of the National Educational Association of Disabled Students. This announcement comes on the heel of Jama’s recent presentation to the Student Representative Assembly’s June 21 meeting, on a proposed increase to the services provided for students with both visible and invisible disabilities. Jama, also a member of the SRA’s Social Sciences Caucus and Abilities Ad Hoc Committee, addressed the need for a peer-based program that will allow students with disabilities to help one another, at this past Sunday’s meeting. Today’s announcement will hopefully lead to meeting the clear need and demand for increased accessibility services on campus.
July 2
AMANDA WATKINS/ EIC
The remaining $1.5 million of the investment will be going towards a variety of programs including: note-taking services for students with visual impairments; interpreter services for deaf, deafened and hard of hearing students; learning assessment services; and computer and tablet applications that change text-to-speech and vice versa. Previous investments in accessibility on campus have lead to the creation of the Accessible Campus website, the Innovative Design for Accessibility, or IDeA, competition for students, among other campus-based initiatives across the province. Moridi explained that Ontario universities and colleges have seen close to a doubling of students with disabilities since the first implementations of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act in 2003, thus making accessibility on campus an even more pressing issue. “Your success matters to all of us. Together we can build a more accessible, more enlightened, more inclusive, and more economically prosperous Ontario.” @whatthekins
“
Previous investments in accessibility on campus have lead to the creation of the Accessible Campus website, the Innovative Design for Accessibility, or IDeA, competition for students, among other campusbased initiatives across the province.
While the Pan Am Athletes Village is located in Toronto, due to the fact that a number of games will be taking place in Hamilton, a few athletes are currently staying closer to their game venue, right here on campus. Les Prince Hall and Hedden Hall are the two temporary homes being provided for athletes, along with Centro as their main food hub. Lots M and H are also being rented out for spectators coming to town for the games.
CFMU OUTSIDE June 25 CFMU hosted their inaugural “CFMU Outside” event this past month at Jack and Lois, located at 301 James Street North. The event was postponed due to weather, but in the end successfully helped the campus radio station receive greater off-campus exposure. The event hosted a lineup of the station’s DJs working live from the James North patio space.
6 |
FEATURE
Thursday, July 9, 2015 | www.thesil.ca
COFFEE
CULTURE
The same city that brought the country Tim Hortons (for better or for worse), is now home to a solid selection of unique café experiences. Daniel Arauz Features Editor
@DanielArauzz
Pinecone Coffee Co. large open windows complete with stained glass. Originally hailing from Victoria Island, owner Denise Higginson has taken her love of coffee around the continent, and cites some of the cafes in the larger scenes as a source of inspiration and aspiration, “I think every neighbourhood in Hamilton should have a great coffee shop. A lot of cities have that and it would be great if Hamilton could have that too. In Vancouver, one block could have two really good coffee shops but
they’ll have their own flavour.” Having its own flavour seems to be a prevalent theme for Pinecone, whose cool marble and light wooden interior, set it apart from the more rustic décor that local cafes have often gravitated towards. Pinecone is a breath of fresh air, and the community of office workers and residents have visibly embraced this charming and bustling space. Students should take note: come September, this atmosphere is perfect for those in need of a break from crowd-
ed libraries. As excellent as Pinecone currently is, it is still very much a café in its infancy that has already successfully set itself apart in terms of service and aesthetic, and they are certainly worth keeping an eye moving forward. If the new coffee shops expected to open in town have the passion, friendliness and innovative spirit that Pinecone Coffee Co. has, Hamilton will become a coffee hotspot in no time.
Clockwise from left: Interiors of Pinecone Coffee Co.; Denise of Pinecone preparing a drink; cookies at Pinecone; the espresso machine at Cafe Oranje.
JOH
Pinecone is the youngest addition, only opening its doors two months ago, and is already offering a fresh set of unique practices to set itself apart. This Corktown cafe offers the increasingly popular Aeropress as a brew method for your choice of Phil and Sebastian roasted coffees, Spanish lattes, and some unique seasonal beverages. These items pair perfectly with the spaces’ bright, clean, modern white interior crossed with wooden cabin accents, a charming back alley “patio” and
NS
175 John St. S.
AU G
UST
A
AMANDA WATKINS/ EIC
FEATURE
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, July 9, 2015
ER J AM
ES
Finch Espresso Bar
UPP
601 Upper James Street
perfect introduction to the fruitier and brighter side of coffee, a character that is unfortunately absent in cheap, over roasted and consequently bitter coffees, and the blend is rounded off surprisingly-well by steamed milk in your choice of latte, cappuccino or flat white, and a solid selection of Cake and Loaf baked goods. Finch’s Signature Drink summer menu includes iced espresso, mixed with your choice of bitters, syrups, tonic water or mint. Also unique to the espresso bar is Nitro Cold Brewed coffee, which is brewed for 16 hours, kegged and infused with nitrogen, which gives the drink a strong resemblance to beer more so then coffee. Those in need of something on the sweeter side still have a selection of Italian sodas, ice mochas and highly recommended ice cream floats. “Being an independent café makes you more approachable, I find. You don’t go into a Starbucks and ask what their different drinks are and what they can do differently for you, whereas
here I get people all the time BRU asking. It’s CED ALE a door to get people talking about coffee and explain the differences, and how the different milk drinks are going to make your coffee taste, and then you can talk more about the roast too.” So far, Finch has hosted a brew tasting session, summer drink launch party, and is planning a home brewing class later this month. “I’d always like to push the boundary of what we are offering, and keep our quality going up,” said Jess, who wishes to expand her espresso bar offerings of single-origin coffees, while simultaneously fostering a friendly community space to share with friends and neighbours, and hopefully educate more curious drinkers about her own passion. Whether you’re thinking of visiting from downtown, or already a mountain resident, the trip to Finch Espresso Bar is well worth it: Finch has some of the best espresso in town, and they’re only looking to improve and educate from here on out.
Café Oranje TO N
312 King Street E. LING
Pronounced “Oh-Rahnyuh” (but KIN GW “orange” works just fine), Café Oranje is a modern Dutchstyled café, opened in August 2013, that delivers a delicious variety of brewed coffees from a large variety of local rosters and fresh Dutch sandwiches and desserts. While the Dutch origins are undoubtedly laced throughout the interior decor, and locally sourced baked goods are accompanied by sweet, in-house made stroopwafels, owner Christopher Godwaldt still lets the quality of the coffee take centre stage, offering one of the largest selections of locally roasted coffees in town. “The standard trend right now, especially in Canada, is for a café to choose a roaster and sit with that roaster,” said ChristoWEL
ING SPR
While residents of the downtown core are no longer strangers to a fair share of independent coffees, the Hamilton mountain area has remained largely a coffee dead zone. Unlike downtown, which has understandably been the centre of the coffee scenes growth, the mountain has been a challenging area due to busy roads and an overwhelming amount of drivers instead of cyclists, walkers and commuters that have allowed downtown businesses to enjoy a more consistent set of foot traffic. Finch, which opened its doors in April 2014, breaks the coffee dry spell in a big way, finally providing a space for mountain residents to get expertly crafted espressos and pour-over brews from Pilot Coffee roasters, while still being easily accessible to curious downtown residents via a short bus ride. The wide selection of hot and cold tastes, along with several more dynamic and complex offerings is definitely a treat for coffee fans or those looking to expand their palette. Owner Jess Ramsay’s passion and adoration for coffee, in all its complexities and variety, comes through its menu offerings. The Elevens (Jess’ personal favourite) is a
| 7
pher. “Hamilton has six roasters that are doing really great things with coffee and each one of them sources their beans differently, each one of them roasts their beans differently, each one of them looks for different things in the flavour profiles… and I wanted a place in Hamilton where you could grab coffee from any of those places.” The excellently balanced Oranje House blend is a highly recommended introduction to go with your sandwich, salad, or pie. The “Goldilocks” roast has become a favourite among locals and international coffee loving travellers alike. Local roaster Hero created the beloved blend of Indian Monsoon Malabar bean and Papa New Guinea. The Indian Monsoon is harvested and stored in seaside silos, during monsoon season, which weathers the beans and mimics the conditions coffee beans would experience on trader ships from the Dutch
East Indies trading companies in the eighteen and nineteenth centuries. For summer drinks, Oranje has an excellent cold brew that can even be purchased in a bottle to take home, as well as a weekly staff-pick item, that has so far featured Southern Sweet Tea, Coffee Raspberry Granita and Vietnamese Iced Coffee. Oranje has easily become a stand-out in the International Village community of the city, and its incredible amount of quality menu items makes it an easy recommendation. This café truly has something for everyone which is a commendable feat for a relatively young café with no signs of stopping there. Christopher is setting his eyes on possible expansion opportunities for his own café and the larger café community, the latter of which he hopes to help develop through barista training spaces and competition.
8 |
NEWS The Silhouette
Thursday, July 9, 2015 | www.thesil.ca
Editorial Not so proud of Hamilton Hamilton’s marginalized LGBTQ+ community needs better services Ana Qarri Managing Editor
I’ll admit that Hamilton’s Pride festivities have never been particularly impressive and I’d never been inclined to attend any before this year. But the quality of Pride celebrations in Hamilton this year pointed to the lackluster state of LGBTQ+ affairs in the city. It’s understandable that Pride events in Hamilton gain less attention and have lower attendance than those in larger cities like Toronto, but for the city’s queer community, their existence is equally, if not more, important. However, this year’s events were even more disheartening than usual. At the Pride flag raising event at City hall, a group of Hamilton queer activists left angered by the choice of speakers made by the LGBTQ+ advisory committee— all white, cisgender queer community members, as reported by the outlet Daily Xtra.
This is bad news for a city that has a human rights complaint underway about a case involving a trans woman being denied access to a women’s washroom by an HSR guard. On a larger scale, Hamilton also doesn’t have any functional services directed at meeting the needs of its LGBTQ+ community. Two of the advisory committee members, Chris Erl, a recent McMaster graduate, and Marlon Picken apologized for the lack of diversity. Chris Erl also publicly announced his resignation from the committee in his response to activist Poe Liberado’s social media post regarding the controversy, and stated that the small size of the committee made it hard to ensure quality and due diligence. Everything from the number of events, to the fact that many events were held by the Rainbow Health-funded initiative Space Between, to the quality and lack of diver-
sity at the flag raising event, points to a city that is not taking the needs of its LGBTQ+ community and especially marginalized communities within that community (such as people of colour, with disabilities, indigenous people) as seriously as it should be. Aside from the obvious appeal to social equality and dignity, this issue is important to Hamiltonians of all identities. Celebrating its marginalized communities and investing in service provision for LGBTQ+ people is paramount to Hamilton’s development, as well as its retention of graduating students like myself. I know that I would be more willing to stick around if Hamilton’s queer community was vibrant and its marginalized groups weren’t suffering. And I imagine I am not alone in holding this conviction. @anaqarri
to the new era. to the referendum. to peanut butter cookies and wine. to the continuously wonderful staff members who visit this dark, grey basement. to roomate reunions. to the I.D.H.A.G.A. S.I.N.T.M.E.C.W.O.P. Game. to gay boy shorts.
to sambuca and orange juice. to spotty wifi. to email connections. to Club 77. Ugh. to too much plot in Magic Mike XXL. to questionable subletters. to trusting your gut three months too late. to misinterpreted invitations.
Grapes and Hops Your Village Brewhouse
Beer Kegs & Wine-in-box AVAIL ABLE FOR YOUR SUMMER ENTERTAINMENT
W W W.G R APESANDHOP S .C A • IN WES TDALE VILL AG E • 905 . 7 7 7.17 17
The Silhouette
| www.thesil.ca
Thursday, July 9, 2015 | 9
Opinion The darker side of Welcome Week Keggers are not the right choice for Shinerama fundraising Christina Vietinghoff Contributor
Many Welcome Week representatives will do anything for a donation in their faculty’s name towards Shinerama. Typical activities include selling popsicles in the sweltering heat, a song or dance to entertain a Hamiltonian doing their groceries or even a back massage to a tired fellow-rep. Shinerama is the annual campaign many Canadian universities fundraise for during their Welcome Weeks, with the money ultimately going to Cystic Fibrosis Canada But while most of these creative fundraising techniques are sanctioned by the university, provided the person solicited for the donation provides consent, one common fundraising tech-
nique involving alcohol expressly forbidden by the university has been driven underground. Shinerama Keggers are a lucrative enterprise. For a small entry fee (usually $5-$10 dollars) student houses provide unlimited beer from a keg until it runs out, or the police come to shut it down due to noise complaints or public drunkenness. These events are promoted through Facebook, or more covertly through text or wordof-mouth of the address where it will be held. I thought about writing a news article on this phenomenon, reporting on specific Shinerama Keggers held by specific faculties that friends or I have attended. But pinpointing any one faculty would be unfair. This practice is widespread among all faculties, it’s been normalized in university culture, despite attempts
by the Student Success Centre to emphasize safe alcohol consumption. I’m not here to be a party pooper. In fact, for some people parties are an integral part of feeling welcomed into the McMaster community. But Shinerama Keggers are not the way to go about this and are problematic in several ways. Firstly, while the primary audience is usually faculty Welcome Week representatives (especially for the Shinerama Keggers that happen in the summer), it is not uncommon to hear of first years being invited to the ones that happen during Welcome Week. This contributes to constructing partying and binge drinking as a necessary part of the university social experience, which it isn’t. Such events are also explicitly forbidden, meaning organizers go to extreme lengths to conceal them. Shinerama
Keggers are sometimes referred to as “Apple Juice Parties” or “Charity Keggers” in order to have no official association with Shinerama fundraising. It is kind of ridiculous that mature university students feel that they have to host an “Apple Juice Party” in order to raise donations to compete for Faculty Cup glory that is quickly forgotten. Finally, the irony of fundraising for a health cause, Cystic Fibrosis Canada, by profiting from selling alcohol is rich. Proponents of Shinerama may argue the ultimate goal of raising money for Cystic Fibrosis research justifies the means but many have questioned whether fundraising should even go to CFC or whether it could be more effectively directed. I’m hoping this article will spark an open discussion on the extreme lengths students feel compelled to go to in order to raise money for Shinerama. Although this practice may gradually cease as university
“
This contributes to constructing partying and binge drinking as a necessary part of the university social experience, which it isn’t.” Welcome Weeks are increasingly scrutinized, they might also be simply pushed further underground.
10 |
OPINION
Thursday, July 9, 2015 | www.thesil.ca
Coming out of “coming out” With social media making it easier for users to share their stories, what does coming out mean in 2015? Jason Lau Photo Reporter
“Okay… I’m doing this,” a woman says with a small tremor in her voice. “There is something that I want you to know, and that something is...” She pauses– eyebrows lifted as she takes a large gulp of air. “...I’m gay.”
On June 9th, internet celebrity Ingrid Nilsen disclosed her sexual orientation to millions of subscribers on YouTube. However, Nilsen is not the only person to have released a “coming out” video in the recent months; popular content creators such as Joey Graceffa, Connor Franta, and the Rhodes Brothers are among many who
have done the same. In our increasingly connected world, all forms of coming out statements have been brought into the forefront of our social media. Take fourthyear Life Science student Kevan McDougall’s story, for instance. In a “Humans of McMaster” post back in March (which has been viewed over 10,000
NOW on
facebook and twitter!
UNIVERSITY PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SERVICES TIM SCHOFFER Operations Manager
1.905.304.8075
OFF CAMPUS HOUSING 70 QUALITY PROPERTIES • one to eight bedroom homes • minutes to MAC
times) McDougall shared that he owed himself the courage to be more vulnerable, before discussing personal experiences with his mental health and identifying as gay. While some may liken coming out online to a social media fad–a contest for internet virality–it is in reality anything but a simple fad. Coming out is a highly personal process that is not reduced to a single event in time. “It was definitely a process,” McDougall shares, “one that included coming to terms with myself, speaking with family, coming to university, and being in the right, supportive environment.” The reality of all coming out experiences is that most of it happens away from cameras and cellphones. It is a natural and ongoing process of personal discovery that can span from weeks to years, and even decades. Although coming out statements today are increasingly met with acceptance, there has also been space for fair criticism. Specifically, in an age where the discourse of LGBTQ+ related issues is moving towards normalization, we find ourselves living with a strange dissonance in which this discourse is simultaneously normalized and sometimes interpreted as being over-dramatized, especially when shared online or in public forums. “Moving forward, I think we need to stop treating LGBTQ+ discussions as an abnormal topic we always dance around,” explains Jennifer Chan, a third-year Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behaviour student,
“
Choose to see coming out as an enlightening process of self-discovery, instead of a single moment when one dramatically comes out of hiding.”
“we are just people who want to love and be loved–like everyone else.” Similarly, Marina Monahar, a third-year Communication Sudies and Multimedia student, also encourages readers to think about coming out differently. “Sexuality is very fluid, and people should do as they please without labels.” While it may not be possible to completely wipe out the idea of publicly coming out, what we can do is redefine the phrase for ourselves. Choose to see coming out as an enlightening process of self-discovery, instead of a single moment when one dramatically comes out of hiding. Choose to learn about the fluidity and plurality of our sexualities, and choose to understand everyone’s story. The only thing we should come out of is a closed mind.
20 YEARS IN BUSINESS 1000’s OF SATISFIED CLIENTS RELIABLE, WORRY- FREE LIVING. CALL TODAY!
www.machousing.com E: houses@machousing.com F: 905.648.9352
Youtuber Ingrid Nilsen in her coming out video.
@jasonlaucker
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, July 9, 2015
The Silhouette | 11
Lifestyle Runnin’ through the 6 Woes or none, if you’re running on a small budget of money and time, consider taking a day trip to Toronto and hitting up six of the hottest spots this summer.
Odin Cafe + Bar 514 King Street E
Odin is a Nordic-inspired cafe and bar that boasts a no-fuss menu of seriously good coffee. This is not a place where you will find a venti no-whip, no-foam vanilla latte with a shot of raspberry. The cafe boasts a generous selection of classic java beverages by day, and wine and beer by night. You will find yourself enjoying the drink in your hand as much as the crisp, white angles of its intricately designed interior. Pair their smooth-as-satin filtered coffee with their soothing aesthetics for the ultimate coffee-consuming experience. If you are a coffee aficionado, Odin is your godsend.
The Dirty Bird Chicken + Waffles 79 Kensington Avenue
Do you enjoy fried chicken? Do you enjoy waffles? Put them together and you have yourself a delectable marriage of flavours and textures that will give you an unprecedented sense of fulfillment and satisfaction. The neutral, industrial vibe of the restaurant appropriately compliments the deliciously fried grub, all served on shiny metal trays. You have a choice of ordering only their famous chicken and a side, but most come to this joint for “The ODB,” a piece of fried boneless dark meat chicken on top of a maple, buttered waffle. Other highlights include “The Dirty fries” and their waffle ice cream sandwiches. Dig in.
Bang Bang Ice Creamery 93 Ossington Avenue
Be ready for a wait! Since Bang Bang entered the Toronto food scene a few years back, the line has not shortened much in front of this Ossington staple. Made in-house, the bakery and ice cream production happens in the back. When you enter, you are greeted by a menu that spans the length of the shop’s back wall. At the front is a complete display of Bang Bang’s famous cookies (vegan included), ice cream puffs, and Hong Kong style waffles (a must try), but most come for the ice creamery’s renowned ice cream sandwiches. Time passes quick in line because you will be spending most of it deciding between the plethora of ice cream and cookie flavours. They even have a birthday cake flavoured cookie…need I say more? CONTINUED ON PAGE 12
Michelle Yeung Lifestyle Reporter @mich_yeung
12 |
LIFESTYLE
Thursday, July 9, 2015 | www.thesil.ca
The Rooster Coffee House 479 Broadview Avenue
The Rooster Coffee House is one of the homiest coffee houses in the city, rife with board games and familiar neighbourhood faces who treat the cafe as their second living room. The vintage suitcases and sleek bar stools gives off a cool but comfortable vibe. Besides the decor, Rooster also serves delicious coffee, including their own specialty roasts. From espressos to custom blends to one of the best hot chocolates in the city, this coffee house will satisfy anyone from the biggest coffee nut, to people stopping in from a break outside at the adjacent Riverdale Park. The park features rolling hills, soccer nets, and a breathtaking view of the Toronto skyline that accompanies frisbee games and casual picnics. Head over to the Riverdale neighbourhood, it will allow you to kill two birds with one stone.
Andy Warhol Exhibit 77 Bloor Street W
Canada’s largest Andy Warhol exhibition has landed in Toronto, smack-dab in the middle of one of the city’s most extravagant, Warhol-esque neighbourhoods: Yorkville. Entitled Andy Warhol Revisited: A Mirror for Today, the exhibit will run from July 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015. Curated by Los Angeles-based entrepreneur Ron Rivlin, who owns much of the over 120 original prints and paintings being displayed, the works include some of Warhol’s most famous pieces from the “Campbell’s Soup Cans”, “Marilyn Monroe” and “Elizabeth Taylor” series. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, and $5 for youth and students. Stop by for a great show by the legendary pop artist.
Harbourfront Movie Screenings 235 Queens Quay W Toronto’s Harbourfront during the summer is abuzz with uproarious energy from the throngs of locals and visitors enjoying a nice day by the water. This stretch of Queens Quay West is one of the most popular spots in the city, rife with shops, restaurants, and cafes. During this time of year, Harbourfront is the location of choice for a variety of events and activities organized by the city, numerous organizations, and the Harbourfront Centre. One such event is free movie screenings every Wednesday evening. Named “Free Flicks,” this is Toronto’s only summer-long waterfront film series. Some films included in the line-up are Raising Arizona, Boy, and The Descendants. Check out their website for the full schedule and prepare yourself for a film viewing accompanied by a serene Lake Ontario at dusk.
Review: Salt Lick Smokehouse JAM
ES N
282 James Street North
Amanda Watkins Editor-in-Chief
While the name only brings up images of a small goat licking a salted patch of ground, Hamilton’s Salt Lick Smokehouse has a much more pleasant aesthetic and environment. Located in the thriving foodie community of James Street North, the relatively new barbeque joint has been open since this January. I visisted the restaurant at lunch time on a Friday, and there was a line out the door waiting for a table. Unfortunately, eventhough tables were clearing fast, their turnaround was pretty slow with only one person visibly waiting tables. Their menu was written on chalkboards around the room and featured a variety of barbeque sandwiches including chicken, pulled pork and brisket, with a variety of flavouring
options and sides. The restaurant posts their daily offerings on their Instagram everyday, cycling through different meats and sides. A friend and I collectively ordered the pulled pork and brisket sandwiches with a cucmber salad and coleslaw. Both of the sandwiches were great, with the meat cooked well, with a big smoky flavour and just the right amount of sauce. The coleslaw was good and very generous considering how big the sandwiches already were. The cucumber salad was straight up an entire cucumber cut up into a bowl. Overall, eventhough the service was slow (and appeared pretty pissed off), the food was good and worth the trip downtown. @whatthekins
BAR
TO N
LIFESTYLE | 13
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, July 9, 2015
CROSSWORD
ACROSS 1. Accept an invitation 5. 2005 NBA first draft pick Andrew 10. Exam you take before you can perform it 14. Vera starter 15. Scent of a woman 16. Spring break destination 17. Lost 20. Way through the Paris underground 21. Having a toothed edge 22. Home of the 49ers 25. Phoebe of ‘’Gremlins’’ 26. Deerly loved animated film 30. Renegade 33. Delineated sections 34. Become ragged at the edges 35. Spill the beans 38. Lost 42. By what means 43. DNC chairman 44. Wilder character 45. Brosnan, pre-Bond 47. Mayle’s ‘’___ in Provence’’ 48. Westernmost African capital 51. Actress Redgrave 53. Calls forth a reaction 56. South-of-the-border sayonara
CRYPTOQUIP
60. Lost 64. Muscular distress 65. Jewish folklore figure 66. Home of the Taoiseach 67. Sit for a spell 68. Hindu honorific 69. Hexagram
DOWN 1. ‘’Go, team!’’ 2. Gracile 3. Exercise a political right 4. Decayed vegetable matter 5. Flitch or rasher content 6. Food scrap
7. Federal domain ending 8. Boo targets, often 9. Counterbalance 10. Dr. Phil 11. 100 points 12. Decrease in intensity 13. Big bites for bookworms 18. Sign of a bad apple 19. Grampus relative 23. Morning mugful 24. Panacea 26. Verbally attack 27. Home of Kings and Monarchs 28. Catty remark 29. Famous sitcom setting 31. English historian Richard 32. Caustic soda 35. Alphabetic symbol of yore 36. Paul who sang ‘’Having My Baby’’ 37. Simeon I, for one (Var.) 39. Ike’s monogram 40. Cheadle’s’ ‘’Hotel’’ 41. Famous victim of tiger attack 45. Powder-in-a-packet 46. Destiny’s Child, for example 48. Father of thermos technology 49. Carol and Mike’s maid 50. Kin partners 52. One of the Judds 54. Pulls on 55. Store for the future 57. The 13th of April 58. Foget, like an ‘r’, perhaps 59. Poet Teasdale 61. King preceder 62. Dream-time acronym 63. For each and every one
MASH
M.A.S.H.
BAMBOOZABLES Cryptoquip and Bamboozable answers can be found at the bottom of Page 18.
The Silhouette
| www.thesil.ca
Thursday, July 9, 2015 | 14
Sports
New paths for Marauder basketball staff The 2015-16 McMaster basketball season is right around the corner, and change is coming. Different titles and new opportunities have come for three former McMaster Marauder staff members. Sofia Mohamed Sports Editor
Justin Gunter
A familiar face to the McMaster men’s basketball program will take on a new role as the new Head Coach of the Waterloo men’s basketball team. From a spot on the Marauder roster as a guard to a seat on the staff table as assistant coach for several years before being named associate head coach, Justin Gunter has been a key member to the McMaster men’s team. Appearing in three CIS championship games in his time playing in maroon, Gunter was recipient of the team’s Most Valuable Player award the year his team won an OUA championship. Though very active in the McMaster community, Gunter is also no stranger to the Greater Hamilton Area as he has spent years coaching the Blessed Sacrament rep men’s under-19 basketball program and has also been a coach of the Parkside High School basketball team. Now, Gunter will assume a new role and will help his Waterloo Warriors team prepare for the regular season. Ending the previous season with six wins and 14 losses, Gunter looks forward to the challenge as he embarks on a new chapter of his career.
@itssofiaAM
Andrew Baillie
With two seasons as video coordinator and assistant coach with the McMaster men’s basketball team under his resume, Andrew Baillie will take on a new role, but one still close to home. His coaching capacity will still take place in Burridge Gym, but this time with the McMaster women’s basketball team. This coming season, Baillie will be the assistant coach under the leadership of head coach Theresa Burns. As a long-standing member in the Hamilton basketball community, Baillie has coached Ancaster High School and is a teacher and Basketball Academy Director at R.A. Riddell Elementary School. He is also a coach of Blue Star Ontario, a basketball development program. Andrew Baillie, the new staff addition to the McMaster women’s basketball team will help to improve their last season’s 15-4 conference play record.
Nathan McKibbon
New doors have opened for Nathan McKibbon. As assistant coach with the Marauders last season, McKibbon assisted with player development and video. He will be taking the title of the Mount Royal University women’s basketball head coach, ushering them into their fourth season with the CIS. McKibbon, a native of Hamilton has a long list of coaching experience and has been working with women’s basketball teams for many years. Among various other teams and clubs, he has worked with Team Ontario, Transway Basketball and St. Mary’s Catholic Secondary School in one basketball capacity or another. This month, McKibbon will be working Team Canada’s Junior Women’s National Team as the Performance Analyst. With his first season as head coach approaching, McKibbon will help direct the Mount Royal Cougars team in a position of being successful in Canada West.
We’re hiring an Opinions Editor! Are you an involved and opinionated student, passionate about sharing information on the difficult topics in our community? If so, you may be the perfect candidate for our Opinions Editor position.
Getting involved with The Silhouette is a great opportunity to build your resume, improve your writing, and get involved with the McMaster community as an influential voice on campus.
Apply today at: msumcmaster.ca/jobs If you’re interested in working with another section, volunteers are always welcome to contribute articles, photos and videos.
To get involved, email: thesil@thesil.ca
S
The Silhouette
| www.thesil.ca
Thrusday, July 9, 2015 | 15
16 |
ANDY
Thursday, July 9, 2015 | www.thesil.ca
I survived a Death Grips show The industrial hip-hop group makes it to Toronto after breaking rumours of a breakup Vanessa Barnier ANDY Reporter
HAMILTON’S PREMIER STUDENT HOUSING
$549
ALL IN C LUS IVE LI V I N G
RATES AS LOW AS
WESTVILLAGESUITES.CA 905.522.4066 | 1686 Main Street West
If you’re not familiar with Death Grips, maybe it’s for the best. I mean, unless you enjoy riding an emotional rollercoaster, Death Grips is not the artist to let into your heart. In July of last year, the industrial hip-hop group posted a photo of a napkin announcing their disbandment, which spread like wildfire. There was suspicion, of course, but announcing something so serious with such a blasé attitude is not out of character for a band like Death Grips. They had said that they wanted to go out on a high note – albums such as Exmilitary and The Money Store were praised and overplayed – and fans found this justification to be legitimate, however unfortunate. Soon after it was found that the news of their breakup was a rumour (started by the band themselves), a tour was announced. I was among the lucky ones to procure my ticket within the first ten minutes that they went on sale. Given all of the hype surrounding their breakup and the fact that they haven’t toured since 2013 (after cancelling dates from last year), I was expecting a lot out of their Toronto show. What I got instead was the most dangerous crowd I had ever found myself drowning in and drowned out sound that was better quality the farther you got from the stage. The former surprised me, since it was an all-ages show – meaning that with younger people in the audi-
ence, it wouldn’t carry as much serious energy – and the latter annoyed me, since the Danforth Music Hall is supposed to have fantastic acoustics, given how popular of a venue it is. There isn’t room to complain about the set list, though. The docket of songs left nothing to be desired. The show opened with “Takyon (Death Yon),” which was a strong starting point, given its popularity and punchy rhythm. The rest of the set was ideal – there were about five songs from each of their albums. Fan favorites, such as “Get Got,” “Guillotine,” and “I’ve Seen Footage” were on the list and executed beautifully by MC Ride. “No Love” was extended by a few minutes with Zach Hill’s drumming, which was perhaps the highest point of the show. The show ended rather early (10:30 p.m.), and without an encore. Really, such would be expected, given that it was an all-ages show, and because an encore isn’t something in the nature of Death Grips’ persona. At the end of it all, I’m glad to say that I was able to witness MC Ride in a shadowed silhouette, throwing all of the energy I had only heard recorded up to that point, into a physical form that was as strong as I had imagined. Having Zach Hill accompany MC Ride was a blessing, and I can’t imagine the experience being as potent without him. Despite my gripes with Death Grips, ultimately, I’m glad that they showed up at all. @qualityvabatime
ANDY
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, July 9, 2015
| 17
ALBUM REVIEWS Future - 56 Nights Tomi Milos ANDY Editor
56 Nights dropped in March, so one can be forgiven for wondering why it’s being reviewed in The Sil’s reduced July issue. What one can’t be forgiven for is not having heard what is one of Future’s best mixtapes yet in some form or another. That 56 Nights followed January’s Beast Mode so quickly speaks of two of Future’s discerning qualities. One, that he recognizes how fickle today’s rap industry is and quickly sates his legion of fans with releases that closely follow the heels of one another. Two, that he is not content to completely buy into a mixtape culture that values one or two songs that will blow up the streets mixed in with a lot of filler. How Future differentiates himself from the rest of the pack is through ensuring that his mixtapes can be boasted about as being dud-free. In other words, anything Future comes out with is a certified, grade-A fucking banger. The title refers to the “56
nights” that Future’s DJ, Esco, spent locked up in Dubai during a visit to the 2014 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. While Future is on a professional roll, with a tour with Drake and endless calls for him to feature on others’ tracks under his belt, the Atlanta native is going through no small amount of personal turmoil. Since breaking up with his fiancée, Ciara, because of an affair he had with her stylist, Future has gone through a phase in which he attempted to get over the relationship by turning into the arms of other women and then immortalizing those moments in club bangers. While this approach has yielded great material, it has also taken its toll on Future’s well-being. Although it had been fun to sing along to Future’s tales of debauchery on tracks like “Fuck Up Some Commas,” those songs now feel like the artist’s attempt to distance himself from the very fresh pain of having ruined his relationship. Even though tracks like “Hardly” hinted at the rapper’s true emotions, they were always book-ended by more impersonal cuts.
On 56 Nights, Future spits his heart out over the hard-hitting beats. Rather than getting swallowed by the massive intstrumentals, Future’s personal confessions like “I pour up again and again/ I said I wasn’t gonna fuck with that bitch then I fucked her again,” bring his pain to the forefront. Gone is the bravado that accompanied his boasts of how many women he slept with, instead replaced by a disinterested apathy for the casual sex and drug use that he reluctantly uses as a crutch in order to avoid confronting his plentiful demons. 56 Nights is a step forward for Future in his breakup recovery process, and a reasurring one at that as he proved that he can funnel his frustration towards producing a focussed piece of art that still goes when you hear it in the club with your squad, or as you drive alone at night with your own problems running through your head.
The Verdict
@tomimilos
Of Monsters and Men - Beneath The Skin Rachel Katz News Editor
It is a rare piece of music that can sweep you away so completely that you feel betrayed when it ends and you’re jolted back to reality. Even more rarely can an entire album accomplish the same feat. However, with their second album, Beneath The Skin, Icelandic band Of Monsters and Men has done just that, creating a lush, ethereal, hour-long journey that is equal parts powerful and relaxing.
The Verdict
With their first album, My Head Is An Animal, Of Monsters and Men proved they were a musical force to be reckoned with. However, their lyrics lacked a depth that made their songs truly resonate with the listener. Those days are gone. The lyrics on Beneath The Skin are strikingly beautiful and delivered with emotion of which My Head Is An Animal had very little. Perhaps the difference stems from the presence of an over-arching theme. While their debut album was full of happy,
catchy pop songs, Beneath The Skin really does seem to go deeper, exploring a variety of corporeal and emotional experiences. You feel every ounce of pain and every moment of joy the songs convey but in a brilliant way so that the songs are still memorable and lively. It’s easy to suddenly find yourself dramatically lip-syncing the choruses of songs like “Empire” and “Human” or feel your heart ache while listening to “Organs”. Of Monsters and Men have grown up in the last four years, and that newfound maturity is apparent in every track of their new record. It’s been a long time since an album moved me as much as Beneath The Skin has, and I’ve immensely enjoyed every moment of it. @RachAlbertaKatz
ANDY
Thursday, July 9, 2015 | www.thesil.ca
The Andy approval matrix The best and worst in arts and culture. This is a concept borrowed from New York Magazine. We hope they don’t mind.
HIGHBROW
Misty Copeland becomes the first black principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre. Your move National Ballet of Canada.
Donald Trump makes racist generalizations about South Americans. Further proves that his haircut is not his worst trait.
The Pan Am Games welcome new HOV lanes that have forced even morning people to hate their lives.
America Ferrera puts Donald Trump in his place after making racist comments.
American author Maggie Nelson releases her latest genre-bending novel to critical acclaim.
Fifty Shades of Grey becomes the most popular book of all time.
Amy Schumer takes way too long to apologize for racist joke.
Justin Beiber’s butt becomes insta-famous.
OITNB’s third season gets real.
Scott Disick cheats on Kourtney Kardashian and their three children.
The Bachelorette is still a primetime television series. Ugh.
BRILLIANT
DESPICABLE
As the U.S. begins to infiltrate Cuba, Airbnb takes over and changes tourism for better or worse.
Love won in the U.S.A. Welcome to the club, it feels good.
People do stupid things with fireworks and die.
Rihanna releases a kind of scary but mostly badass music video for “Bitch better have my money.”
Amy Winehouse documentary, Amy, shows the pitfalls of female stardom.
A New Zealand gas station pilots a type of gas made from beer.
LOWBROW PUZZLE ANSWERS: Cryptoquip- “Always forgive your enemies - nothing annoys them so much.”; Bamboozables- Head in the sand,It doesn’t add up, Double or nothing.
18 |
The Silhouette
| www.thesil.ca
Thursday, July 9, 2015 | 19
Review: Modern Romance Aziz Ansari’s debut novel combines sociology and comedy to deliver a refreshing take on the trials and tribulations of modern-day romances
Michael Gallagher Production Editor
About a week ago I was texting a friend of mine regarding a stand-up comedy show that we both planned on going to. The text was simple, all it said was, “Ahh ok, I was wondering when to drop off the Hannibal Buress money.” I sent it intending to have a fairly straight-forward conversation. Unfortunately for me, my phone had bigger plans. Instead of sending once, somewhere along the way my phone decided it would be more exciting to send that text 20 times. What’s worse is that these texts didn’t get delivered all at once. Even though I sent the first message at around 9:00 p.m., the text was sent periodically over several hours with times like 3:49 a.m., 3:58 a.m., 4:19 a.m., all the way until the next afternoon— each text asking the exact same question. If you’re anything like me, my first thought wasn’t, “I hope she doesn’t think I’m really excited to give her ticket money!” It was, “Holy shit. What other texts have I sent that have done this?” You see, accidentally sending 20 texts about dropping off money for stand-up tickets is funny, but sending 20 texts of “Hey we should hang out!” to that cute girl you met a week ago between the late night hours of 3:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. is basically the opening plot for a 21st century horror movie. Despite that scenario probably being a fairly uncommon experience, worrying about text messaging is not something unique to my life, and for many people my age, it’s incredibly common. This is especially true when it comes to romance. Dating can be stressful enough as it is, and with more and more
people communicating primarily online or through their phones, textual communication introduces a whole new set of problems for modern singles. It’s these kinds of scenarios that make Aziz Ansari’s latest book, Modern Romance, so engaging. The comedian and Parks and Recreation actor teamed up with sociologist Eric Klinenberg to do a study on the highs and lows of modern dating. The result is a book that mixes the fresh and intelligent comedy Ansari is known for, while offering genuinely engaging research. Specifically, what makes Modern Romance such a fun read is that the book isn’t trying to solve the problems present in 21st century romance. Instead, Ansari seems more interested in creating a book that compliments the collective frustrations of single people all around the world. So whether you’re wondering if you should have added an extra “y” to the “Heyy” text you sent last night, or puzzled at the idea of men thinking dick pics are the key to a girl’s heart, Ansari and Modern Romance is written mainly to relate to the ridiculous situations most modern singles face. Despite this, Modern Romance does offer plenty of information that’s both helpful and hilarious. For example, did you know guys with photos looking away from the camera and off into the distance are also the most likely photos to get a positive response from women? What about the fact that even the lowest rated girls in terms of attractiveness on OK Cupid receive more
The Verdict
messages per day than the highest rated guys? Or even, that Japan is currently desperately trying to combat their declining birth rate, because most guys are too busy jerking off into a plastic egg-shaped sex toy? Maybe you didn’t want to know that last part, but even still, most of what Modern Romance has to offer can, at the very least, make you laugh, and at best, can help you correct some of the dating mistakes you’ve made in the past. Even better, the book doesn’t focus on a specific demographic, so it’s almost guaranteed to be relevant to some part of your life. Of course, Modern Romance obviously isn’t perfect. At times it can be difficult to maintain interest when the book covers a particular demographic that I don’t relate to. Moreover, it’s not hard to imagine readers occasionally finding some of the hard data a little dry, but Ansari’s wit manages to overcome these minor obstacles. So whether you’re young or old, from a big city, or a small town, Modern Romance effectively covers something for everyone, and will leave you laughing even after you’re done. @michaelradar
“
The result is a book that mixes the fresh and intelligent comedy Ansari is known for, while offering genuinely engaging research.”
TRUE CRIME? You won’t be able to believe some of the stories in our new crime podcast. Like, some of these might be fake. C1
THURSDAY
THE
HAMILTON SPECULATOR SLIDING INTO YOUR DMs SINCE 1934
JULY 9, 2015
NOTSPEC.COM
Potholes to be returned to streets after Pan Am games
Roads have been made uncharacteristically smooth for incoming athletes, dignitaries and Torontonians. But worry not, the bump and grind will be back soon enough.
Construction workers host a memorial for one of their favouirte potholes before filling it in. INSET: A local blogger poses in one of her favourite Hamilton hot spots.
CASSIE NOVA-MOORE Athletes Village Squatter
There are a few things that are quintessentially “Hamilton”— artcrawl, waterfalls, people throwing cigarettes at you outside of Jackson Square— but one of the most well-known Hamilton characteristics has to be its Swiss cheese-like and bumper-testing roads. The public has known and loved the pothole-littered streets of our city for years. Locals and visitors alike have lamented about their unavoidable encounters with them and many a vehicle can be seen driving through town sporting one of their signatures.
PHOTO C/O TODD LAPPIN (FLICKR)
While they are a commonly noted aspect of our city, and a leading inspiration for op-eds, city planners were unsure how outsiders visiting for the Pan Am Games would react to our curvaceous roads. In an attempt to make our city appear better maintained and user-friendly for our visitors, several weeks before the Games, all potholes were filled. “We were shocked when we received the order,” said local construction worker Brick Walters. “Filling in these landmarks really upset some people.” After a few weeks of debate, an online petition, and one devoted man from Ancaster chaining himself to a well-known hole
outside his home, the city has agreed to go around town and re-dig the potholes after the games have finished. “I think people will be excited to have these as part of their roads again. I mean, they’re a welcome part of our city, they’re no HOV lanes,” said Walters. In true Hamiltonian solidarity, the city banded together to make an important change about an issue that really matters. “It’ll be great to have the holes back. Whether they’re along Main, downtown, or on stolen Indigenous land, I’m glad we could come together and address this pressing issue.”
INSIDE They’re a Hamilton icon and we intend to bring them back bigger and better than ever. Brick Walters Construction Person
REALEST REPORTING A3 WE PUBLISHED THIS FIRST, AND THAT’S ALL THAT MATTERS A4 SOBI IT B4 URINE PUDDLES, BULLET HOLES, AND OTHER THINGS TO LOOK FOR AT THE CLUBS B4 #NOTALLMENNONITES B8 NOMO FOMO C2 THE BEST BODY PARTS FOR FIREWORKS D2 THINGS ALREADY LEGAL IN CANADA D4 PER ISSUE: Follow us on Instagram