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Page 6 Shane McCartney talks origins of cooking and creating Saltlick SALT
FRANK TURNER What does Canada mean to the English singer-songwriter? Page 18
Why you won’t find water bottles in Union Market Page 3
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Volume 87, Issue 21 Thursday, February 16, 2017 McMaster University’s Student Newspaper
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In 1966, McMaster University looked to expand east into the Westdale area. Then-president H.G. Thode was looking to create a “completely integrated medical school with a teaching hospital.” This would have meant 97 Westdale homes would be demolished to make room.
COVER PHOTO Madeline Neumann/Yung Lee
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www.thesil.ca | Thursday, February 16, 2017
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News Bye-bye plastic, hello boxed water In an effort to promote sustainability and healthy active living, Union Market has phased out plastic water bottles Saad Ejaz Contributor
In an effort to engage in more sustainable practices, the McMaster Students Union has stopped selling plastic water bottles this month, while pushing for boxed water cartons and re-usable water bottles. Originally proposed as part of Justin Monaco-Barnes’ MSU presidential campaign, the union is further developing existing initiatives to make the MSU more sustainable. “Roughly 41 per cent of universities in Ontario have switched to a model where it’s single use plastic water bottle free… and we thought we would do the same as it is a pretty significant step in the right direction,” said Monaco-Barnes. The new program is different from programs at other schools that completely phase out single use water bottles. Monaco-Barnes referenced previous applications of phasing out all single use water bottles to the increase in soft drink sales. “One thing we noticed from other schools and consultation was that when they got rid of plastic water bottles there was a spike in pop and other juices which is obviously counter intuitive to a healthy active lifestyle,” he said. “So we wanted to make sure that if we were taking out single-use plastic water bottles… we were putting in something that could still reach that demand but also be more sustainable.” To compromise, the MSUrun Union Market introduced boxed water cartons in September alongside the store’s existing plastic water bottle selection. But as of earlier in Feb., Union Market has phased out single-use plastic water bottles. While the boxed water containers are more expensive than the cheaper plastic bottles, they match the price of higher end brands.
“We are hoping that if we can have enough students commit to not buying plastic bottles, that will be a driver for the university to not stock them.” Blake Oliver McMaster Students Union vice-president (Education) There is more to the increased sustainability of boxed water cartons than just their material. The cartons are square in shape, allowing more to be packed within a truck, creating a means to save on travel and gas. The boxed water cartons also require less input of water to be made. Currently it takes nearly three litres of water to make a single water bottle, whereas boxed water cartons only require one litre. Blake Oliver, vice president (Education) of the MSU explained an upcoming campaign that will focus on how students can be more sustainable in their practices on campus. “We are going to be encouraging students to not buy plastic bottles on campus. We are hoping that if we can have enough students commit to not buying plastic bottles, that will be a driver for the university to not stock them,” said Oliver. Monaco-Barnes also mentioned further sustainability efforts, but that these would be issues tackled in the future. “That is a down-the-road thing that I am going to stress to the incoming president… that it is something that would benefit students and the environment in an impactful way,” he said.
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500 ml of boxed water costs $2.20 plus tax, and 1 L of boxed water costs $2.99 plus tax. MADELINE NEUMANN/PHOTO EDITOR
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NEWS
Thursday, February 16, 2017 | www.thesil.ca
A new lease on Life Sciences Following deliberations with both students and faculty, the Honours Life Sciences program has created new specializations aimed to introduce students to new fields Steven Chen News Reporter
New specializations are coming to life for the next academic year. With an enrollment of over 1,100 students in the Honours Life Sciences program, the School of Interdisciplinary Sciences has been working to devise new specializations for the benefit of this large cohort. The surprising twist? Students themselves are helping to spearhead the design of these specializations. Four Life Sciences students at the university currently serve as MacPherson Student Partners under the direction of Prof. Kim Dej, who holds the MacPherson Leadership in Teaching and Learning Fellowship. Together, they are involved in a two-year project to analyze the impact of specializations on student engagements and academic success. “Last summer, [the faculty] reached out to students, where we held a day-long workshop asking them what they would like to see. That workshop made us realize we should have been working with students all along,” said Prof. Dej, “[I think] an important part of life science curriculum development has these partnerships with students.” Over the past year, the student partners have been working on curriculum design, looking at outcomes, as well as survey data. They have come up with eight tentative sub plans before finalizing two as optional specializations for the program. The specializations gravitate towards the subject of human health and wellbeing
The new specializations aim to introduce students to fields outside of the traditional professional fields such as medicine and research. MADELINE NEUMANN / PHOTO EDITOR
to captivate student interest. Rather than merely serving as a gateway to professional school, the specializations are more so intended to provide exposure to diverse topics and many potential career paths. Students working for students appear to be the key theme of this project. “Talking to friends of mine who have either graduated or are in fourth year, they feel like they needed more structure in the program,” said Aisha Mohamed, a third-year Life Sciences student, and MacPherson student partner. “ It’s been nice getting feedback and knowing
that we can make changes to accommodate them.” “I would have wanted more guidance out of first year that would direct me for the next three years,” added Hannah Kearney, also a student partner. The two specializations, Sensory Motor Systems and Origin of Disease, are currently in the process of being finalized. Pending approval by the Senate, the new plans may be offered as soon as in the Fall 2017 curriculum. Looking forward, Prof. Dej hopes to accomplish much more for the students in the Honours Life Sciences program
“Talking to friends of mine who have either graduated or are in fourth year, they feel like they needed more structure in the program.” Aisha Mohamed MacPherson Student partner
by directing an interdisciplinary approach. Some of the areas she hopes to cover include public health, policy and science communications, among others. “This isn’t the end; we want to explore more and hopefully explore outside the faculty to find things that cross these academic silos. Students who enter into the sciences are still interested in humanities and social sciences, and we wish to make these things thread together,” she said. @steven6chen
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NEWS | 5
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, February 16, 2017
Let’s talk : food security
C/O MAC FARMSTAND
A growing problem within the city, different groups work within both the Hamilton and McMaster community to fight food insecurity Emily O’Rourke News Reporter
Food insecurity is a frightening reality for a large number of Hamiltonians. With the rising cost of food, people throughout the city are left feeling insecure about how, when and what they will be able to eat. The monthly cost of food for a four-person family in Hamilton is estimated at over $700 per month, and over 17,000 people within the city access food banks on a monthly basis. Food insecurity can mean different things for different people. For some, it can mean a lack of physical, economic and culturally acceptable access to food, and in extreme cases, it can mean that one’s nutritional food intake is too low. It can also refer to a lack of locally grown, sustainable food in one’s city. In all cases, food insecurity is detrimental to the health of those affected. Hamilton’s Community Food Security Stakeholder
Committee reissued a Food Charter for the city in 2014. The charter envisions “a healthy, sustainable and just food system” and seeks to guide municipal policies and community action to raise awareness about farm income, fair food prices and low paying jobs within the food industry. There are several initiatives implemented throughout the city that raise awareness regarding the issue and help those that are in need of a dependable and sustainable food source on a monthly basis. One of these initiatives is Neighbour to Neighbour. Neighbour to Neighbour provides emergency food programs for those in need through a food bank in the form of a grocery store. Each person visiting is allocated points to spend on key nutritional items such as meat, dairy and produce, as well as non-perishable food items. This ensures that customers have the agency and comfort of choosing their own groceries for their family.
“When you don’t have enough food, it impacts your health and that impacts society as a whole,” said Charlotte Redekop-Young, Manager of Emergency Food Services at Neighbour to Neighbour. “One in four children [and] one in six adults live below the poverty line [in Hamilton] and that’s an issue for all. We’re all concerned about providing an adequate food supply to those in need.” Not only is the struggle a prominent issue within the city, it also affects students at McMaster. According to Meal Exchange, a charity aimed to end food insecurity, approximately 39 per cent of Canadian university students are affected by food insecurity. On-campus initiatives like McMaster Bread Bin aim to combat these statistics. A student-run service, Mac Bread Bin works towards building stronger food systems within the McMaster and surrounding community. The service offers resources that include an on-campus food bank,
“One in four children [and] one in six adults live below the poverty line [in Hamilton] and that’s an issue for all.” Charlotte RedekopYoung, Manager of Emergency Food Services of Neighbour to Neighbour a monthly Good Food Box filled with fresh, local produce and anonymous assistance in acquiring non-perishable goods. A community kitchen is also in development. Mac BB also hosts several events and campaigns throughout the year that raise awareness surrounding food security. “Being food insecure turns the everyday task of feeding oneself into a gigantic burden. It holds individuals back from
doing what they would like to do as so much of their time has to be devoted to finding that next meal,” said Daniel Lu, McMaster Bread Bin’s social and political advocacy coordinator. Several initiatives both on campus and throughout the city are actively searching for volunteers and donations on a monthly basis. Participating in local food drives, community gardening and fundraising for these initiatives go a long way in the process of eradicating hunger in Hamilton. “Do we want to live in a society where other people are going hungry? Are we comfortable with such disparate circumstances in our community?” said Tahima Shamsheri, McMaster Bread Bin’s other social and political advocacy coordinator. “A strong community is one that is integrated and organized, one that can mobilize around the sharing of resources to ensure basic standards are met for all of its citizens.” @emily_oro
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FEATURE
Thursday, February 16, 2017 | www.thesil.ca
SALT LICK Alexandra Florescu Features Reporter
Shane McCartney brings a little bit of Southern American cooking to James Street North every time he opens a new restaurant. But before he expanded up and down the street, McCartney’s started with 282 James Street North. To this date, Saltlick is McCartney’s favourite restaurant he owns. It was only natural to interview McCartney in the place where it all started.
HANDS-ON FARMHAND
McCartney picked up cooking through extensive research and reading. While other cooks were learning from others, McCartney was teaching himself. “I learned and I studied it for a long time. I never had anybody show me how to do a brisket, I kind of just read a lot, watched a lot, went down South and experienced it and then I came up with my own method,” said McCartney. One method McCartney uses for preparing briskets is injection, which refers to the addition of a mixture of sauces to give the meat more flavour. The exact mixture varies from
cook to cook, so even among those who inject, the outcome is not the same. Self-teaching seems to be a theme with McCartney, who built the smoker that smokes the meat day and night at the back of Saltlick. Rows upon rows of meats hang from the smoker, smelling like a campfire and warming employees in the cold months. Shane McCartney has also learned with his stomach. “I go down south quite a bit. Last time I went to Memphis, Nashville, Baton Rouge and New Orleans and I ate my way through there.” While he loves the food from the South, Hamilton is home. To McCartney bringing that kind of cooking here is a happy compromise.
282 JAMES STREET NORTH
Before Saltlick was Saltlick, it was a deli. Before that, McCartney worked for a corporation opening restaurants for them. He was living above the James Street North bar, the Brain, and commuting to Toronto, where he worked as a chef. Five years in, he was offered a job as a cook for Jack and Lois, a retro diner that is a three
minute walk away from Saltlick. McCartney watched the food scene grow in Hamilton from the heart of it all. When an opportunity to buy a piece of land on the street popped up, he claimed it and hasn’t looked back since. “I flipped this place from a deli into Saltlick. I opened Knead Pizza and our new place, Bar Sazerac, so I am pretty invested in this street,” said McCartney. A street bustling with new and old restaurants, James Street North harbours its own community of chefs. McCartney can attest to that. “We all know each other. The community is so small; the chances are that the staff at Lake Road Restaurant worked here once or visa versa. Everyone kind of just bounces around,” he said.
FOOD FOR THE FAMILY
At Saltlick, it is all about the quantity. Perhaps not the place for picky eaters, Saltlick serves food family-style. Everyone at one table orders the same food that comes out on a large wooden slab and gets passed around. At other restaurants, you may find yourself torn over several options. There is no chance of
lamenting a missed option at Saltlick, where you can order from three to five meats and two sides to share for the whole table. “The food here is very ‘me’. I am big into four, five ingredients that are really powerful on their own and are put together nicely [and sourced] as local as possible. I enjoy eating several small portions. A steak and potatoes is boring halfway through it, so it is nice to move on to some other flavours,” said McCartney. “The big part of this place is about sitting with your friends, sharing in the experience together. You are forced to share, which is the way most people grew up on their Sunday evening.” The customers who eat at Saltlick might as well be eating in McCartney’s home kitchen – he eats the same meals at home. “It was a selfish idea because as I was saying, this is the way I want to eat,” admitted McCartney.
method for storing meats for extended periods, smoking became a delicacy in the food industry for its flavour. The time the meat spends heating in the smoker breaks down the connective tissue and renders out the fat. “We use all-natural charcoal as our fuel source and then
WHERE THERE’S SMOKE
we use post oak and cherry for our flavour. We don’t use any propane or any gas or anything like that,” said McCartney. Flavour is time, as smoking is an around the clock process. Briskets take 12 and 13 hours,
McCartney brands Saltlick as the modern version of a Southern smokehouse. A Southern cooking staple is smoking. Although it originated as a
“
I go down south quite a bit. Last time I went to Memphis, Nashville, Baton Rouge and New Orleans and I ate my way through there. Shane McCartney Owner, Saltlick
FEATURE
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, February 16, 2017
| 7
C/O YUNG LEE
“
The big part of this place is about sitting with your friends, sharing in the experience together. Shane McCartney Owner, Saltlick
pork 18 to 20 hours. The process pays off, with many customers’ favourite item on the menu being the brisket. McCartney himself loves the ribs. “The ribs are the best ribs I have ever had, and I am not just saying that because they’re mine. We use back ribs, which are a really meaty cut. So you get a nice big mouthful of flavour.”
HISTORY AND TRADITION
Saltlick’s unique décor features an amalgamation of old and new. The painting of a ham with the word “Ont.” written over is a pun on Hamilton and appropri-
ately represents the meat restaurant. The Atlantic Fish sign hanging over the front windows, not so much. Saltlick has never offered fish, so the sign is an odd choice. As it turns out, the piece of land McCartney bought used to sell fish. “When I purchased the building, the last business that was in it was Atlantic Fish. That sign was on the outside but I cut it down and put it in here. It is a little bit of history. The butcher block over there is from a little Italian deli that was here in the 40s and 50s,” said McCartney. As for the display at the front of the restaurant that features toy cows grazing in a pasture, it was the original eel tank. Where Atlantic Fish had live eels, Saltlick has fake cows. “I don’t know why I decided to keep it. You don’t see these any more,” said McCartney. The story behind the name for Saltlick is a bit more personal for McCartney. “When I was a kid and I grew up on my uncle’s farm, the first job I got to do was drive the tractor around and deliver all the saltlicks throughout the field. We were going to call it a meatery at one point, but we decided to go with smokehouse because it was a real direct approach.”
Shane McCartney, owner of Saltlick.
GREENER PASTURES
For those looking for bold flavours and shared meals, Saltlick is the place. For those who are already a fan of McCartney’s work, it will not be long before he comes out with something new, and likely Southern-inspired. More recently he opened Knead Pizza, his only non-Southern themed restaurant, Big Tobacco that does low country, shrimp and grits on Hess and Bar Sazerac that mimics a New Orleans oyster bar on James Street North. The next one? “It would be cool to have a pizza, records, beer, and pinball place,” said McCartney.
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Vice President (Education)
February 16, 2017 | thesil.ca
is the case. The policy work that we do in the MSU is essential to our advocacy efforts to improve our school. It’s thoughtful policy that brings forward positive change in university systems and government legislation. And it’s thoughtful policy that allows students to keep their elected officials (like me) accountable. Too often, policy is removed from its constituents - the idea behind the Policy Conference is to make the process accessible and reflective of the students we represent.
works, how to get involved, and how the University uses student feedback to enact change. If any of these sound remotely interesting to you, I urge you to attend!
Registration for the conference closes on Friday, February 24 but space is limited so sign up as soon as possible at msumcmaster.ca/policycon.
It’s thoughtful policy that brings forward positive change in When I began my role as Vice university systems and President (Education), I knew I government legislation. vped@msu.mcmaster.ca 905.525.9140 x24017
wanted to engage more students in the MSU’s policy and advocacy work, but I wasn’t sure if they would be interested. Students are busy and time - especially on the weekends - is precious. I set out last semester to create a conference that would allow students to review and provide input on our policy process entitled “MSU Policy Conference”, and worried that no one would attend. Give up a Saturday to do policy work? I can understand why that might not be attractive to everyone. However, I was pleasantly surprised to see over 60 students come out to our first ever MSU Policy Conference in November and contribute to our advocacy objectives. “Policy” can oftentimes be synonymous with (or at least reminiscent of) dry and tedious work. I don’t think this
This term’s conference is occurring on Saturday, March 11. The topics include Food Security, First Year Transition, and Indigenous Students. I’m particularly excited to engage with students on these topics after hearing so many different perspectives on them throughout the recent MSU Presidential campaign period. To provide your input on these policies, you don’t have to be involved with the MSU, have prior experience in advocacy work, or even do exhaustive research - you just have to arrive at the conference ready to learn and voice your opinion. In addition to talking about the specific policies, we’ll also be covering how MSU advocacy
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The President’s Page is a space sponsored and used by the McMaster Students Union (MSU) Board of Directors (BoD) to communicate with the student body. It functions to highlight the Board’s projects, goals, and agenda for the year, as well as the general happenings of the MSU.
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, February 16, 2017
The Silhouette
| 9
Editorial Make your house a home Your student house is more than just a roof over your head Rachel Katz Managing Editor
Scrolling through the McMaster housing groups on Facebook, posts proclaiming a house’s proximity to campus, low rent or length of bus ride to neighbourhood amenities are abundant. These are but a few of the selling points landlords and tenants scrambling to find another person to fill out the house use to promote their homes, but there are more important factors than the newness of the stove. You will be spending a lot of time in your student house, so it’s important to find one that suits your needs. Understandably, students are looking to keep the cost of living low. But there’s more to a house than four walls and that kind of lumpy bed and secondhand dresser your parents have been storing in the basement. Renting a room or house that is inexpensive and convenient seems like a nobrainer, but it’s important to
consider a number of other factors too. Do you like living close enough to campus to see Thode, MDCL or the Wilson building? Are you happy to share one kitchen with upwards of five people? Will that horrid shade of beige the whole house is painted slowly grate on you over the course of the long winter? While convenience feels like the right answer, it’s also worth considering your student rental as an investment in your own future and happiness. It’s okay if it takes time to figure out what that means for you. For me, that means having a 15-minute bus ride between my home and campus and living in an apartment. While a bit more expensive than the standard rental in Westdale or Ainslie Wood, I actually enjoy spending time in. The short commute to school and the relatively slight increase in price has resulted in a boost to my happiness during the school year. I understand that this is
a point of privilege; I am able to work two jobs during the school year meaning I can set aside living expense money every week and month. I also acknowledge that living farther away from campus can be more of a stressor for some people. I’m not using my own experience as the “correct” one to have. What I’m saying is that you should care about the place you call home during your university years. When it comes to your housing situation, it’s okay to really consider what you want. If you want to be picky, be picky. Believe me, there is not much worse than trying to spend time in a dark, grimy student rental. At the end of the day, the investment either in commuting time or rent is probably worth it. Appliances and 30-second walks to campus do not make a house a home; your happiness does. @RachAlbertaKatz
How to pitch a story to the Sil Do you have a story you think students should know about? The Silhouette is always accepting story pitches! Email the relevant section with details about your story. It is important to include why this story is important! The existence of an event does not make for an interesting read. Tell us about the people involved, what is happening and why it matters! To get in touch with our editors, flip back to page two for all the section emails details!
to the Serge Ibaka trade. Finally, the Raptors have a power forward.
to Big Salon. How do any of these prices make sense? We demand answers.
to reading week 2.0.
to February sports banter.
to heart-shaped pizza and pancakes. to that Arkells show. What a night. to Motown medleys. to trimethylxanthine. to the beginning of Vol. 88. to paying for regular shipping, but they deliver it as fast as express. to the Tiger-Cats free agency haul. Shutdown secondary. to betting on when Donald Trump will be impeached. I’m putting my money on June. to all of the Westdale dogs, especially the golden samoyed. to Slow Cooker Sundays. It’s a movement! to Taggart and Torrens hitting 100 episodes. to sleeping through a midterm but still having your MSAF. (This is what it was made for, right?) to McMaster United Nations turn up. to Cake. to the reborn ear. to ZakMcDonald.net.
to James Dolan’s treatment of Charles Oakley. to FirstOntario’s security. Did they have the night off? to not being able to hear out of one ear. to Tessica. to the Grammys. to the supervisor search. to the razor slipping. I look 19 again. to rowdy Wednesdays. to fitting a whole Red Bull in your mouth. Not the liquid, the can. to Chuck. You’re an asshole. to you, the reader. to my gif-maker not working. Letting me down in crunch time. to shootouts. to lumber store pickups. CORRECTIONS
In the Feb. 9 issue, the kicker to our page four article said that the Pinehurst building was for sale. In fact, the building has been sold, as noted in the body of the article. The Silhouette regrets the error. For further corrections, email thesil@thesil. ca.
10 |
HUMANS
When did you guys first meet? Jennifer: We met through cadets. That was about 10 years ago. Johnny: We met when we were 12 years old. But, that being said, we only dated for about 3 and half years. Jennifer: We didn’t talk until five or six years later. Johnny: We’ve known each other for that long and we became friends somewhere along those years. It wasn’t like the movies. Jennifer: We’re not one of those elementary school sweethearts. We’re very different people. Johnny: You can think of a spectrum and we would be at two opposite ends of it. Tell me about one good thing about each other.
Thursday, February 16, 2017 | www.thesil.ca
Johnny: She's is the kind of person you can relate to very well, no matter who you are. She can put herself in your shoes very easily and then she can feel what you feel, and I find that very amazing, because not that many people can do that.
Jennifer Lin & Johnny Cho Music Cognition III & Biotechnology IV
Jennifer: He gets things done and he’s really efficient. If you get him to do something, he never lets you down. If you want him to do something in a week, then he will get it done. I find that so admirable, because I procrastinate so hard. I mean, I leave things to the last possible second. He just gets things done. Its like magic, I turn around and he gets things done already. How did you propose to her? Johnny: You have to tell the story. Jennifer: He was going to propose on our second year anniversary, but it happened two months before our anniversary. I actually took a trip to China, and I had a dream where he picked up a ring and said,“this is yours”, and he’s like, “oh, you weren’t suppose to find out.” I said, “find
out what?” Then he spilled the beans, but he didn’t tell me where, when and how. So, I was expecting something, but at the same time I wasn’t. So, fast
Rowan Dela-Rosa & Connor Czarnuch Engineering I & Nursing I
forwarding to our anniversary, he was going to take me out for a bike ride. But, for whatever reason I didn’t want to do anything. I was like, "I’m not
moving from this bed." So, we talked an he said, "here."
When did you guys first meet? Rowan: My friend and I were talking about how difficult it is to get dried oatmeal off of your dishes, and then this guy (Connor) comes in. He’ll tell you what he said.
What are some challenges you face as a couple?
Connor: I said, "If you put on a saran wrap before you put the oatmeal in, then you wouldn’t have to clean the bowl and all the crusty oatmeal stuff." Thatthat was the first thing I ever said to her. Do you have advice for other couples?
GAGANGEET KAUR/PHOTO CONTRIBUTOR
Connor: If you can’t see each other, still try to talk to each other. Even of you’re really busy, make some time, because if that starts to happen you can drift a part. We always talk to each other when we can’t see each other for a while. It is definitely hard to manage school and relationship, but it is possible and we are the proof of that.
Johnny: It was nothing extra. I’m a simple man.
Connor: I have a hard time focusing on my work when she’s around me. Rowan: I think the thing that’s hard for me is that not being able to see him. We have crazy schedules, and when I don’t get to see him, I don’t know what to do. I just sit down and do my work and then I think, “what am I doing?” I don’t like it when I’m alone. I think that’s the hardest thing.
facebook.com/ HumansOfMcMaster
Yung Lee Photo Reporter
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, February 16, 2017
The Silhouette | 11
Opinion Why does Mac refuse to recognize Greek life? It’s time to about revise the university’s policy about fraternities and sororities
NICK BOMMARITO / PRODUCTION EDITOR Ashley Emmens Contributor
As the winter rush period is coming to an end for many sororities and fraternities, one lingering question remains in the Greek life community of Hamilton. Why does McMaster refuse to recognize any sororities and fraternities? According to McMaster’s “Policies, Procedures and Guidelines,” on Dec. 12, 1989, the McMaster Senate approved a motion to prevent the university from granting recognition to fraternities and sororities. This motion also stated that McMaster has no responsibility for them and that they must remain independent of the university. The most recent date of approval of this document was Oct. 11, 2000. There appears to have been no updates or revisions to this policy in the past 17 years. However, many Greek organizations have died out and many new ones have been introduced since the decision was made.
Other Canadian universities, such as the University of Toronto and Carleton, recognize fraternities and sororities on their campus because of the benefits provided. It is time for McMaster to reach out to these Greek organizations, learn what they are about and see how they can contribute to the McMaster experience. Greek life is a place to belong for students trying to adjust to the transition of going to university, in need of a loving support system, who are looking to make new friends or who feel like something is missing. It is where sisterhood and brotherhood mean lifelong friendships, a shoulder to cry on and many laughs to be had. There is a great diversity in the type of people involved in Greek life with people from different ethnic and social backgrounds and all with their own unique interests. During rush, students attend social events either by themselves or with their friends, and try to make connections
with sisters or brothers. This process builds confidence, conversational skills and teaches students how to network. Whether or not the students continue with Greek life after rush, the skills they have gained can still prove to be vital assets in the workplace. Business Insider reports that according to a new survey by Gallup, the engagement in the workplace and happiness of Greek members is significantly higher than those who are not involved. The survey by Gallup also indicates that Greeks are better at their jobs because they have a higher likelihood of being more intellectually and emotionally connected with the organizations that they work for as well as being more enthusiastic about their work. According to USA Today College, 85 per cent of Fortune 500 executives were a part of Greek life, and almost all United States Presidents were involved with Greek life. Another one of the most important things about Greek
life is philanthropy. Examples of philanthropy for Greek organizations in Hamilton include: • Tau Sigma Phi’s focus on breast cancer research • Delta Psi Delta’s focuses on the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, local women’s shelters and the local food banks • Lambda Phi Epsilon’s focus on community service • Alpha Pi Phi’s focus on the Alzheimer Society of Canada One possible reason McMaster could have adopted its policy against sororities and fraternities might be due to how they are misrepresented in the media. Unfortunately, hazing scandals top headlines, but philanthropy events are more likely to go unnoticed. When many people think about sororities and fraternities, they think of excessive drinking and hazing due to the way that they are depicted in movies and some unfortunate real-life incidents in the past. Today, all sororities
and fraternities in Hamilton have strict anti-hazing policies to prevent these things from happening. Another negative concept that is usually associated with sororities and fraternities is its exclusivity. However, exclusivity is a way to ensure that people who join are surrounded by like-minded people who share a strong social personality. Greek life is going to exist regardless of whether or not McMaster chooses to recognize it. By incorporating it into the university, McMaster would have the ability more closely regulate it. In reality, Greek life defies many of the stereotypes placed on it and is centered on academic and moral pillars that involve dedication to academics, philanthropy and sisterhood and brotherhood. It is time for McMaster to recognize all the amazing opportunities that Greek life offers in Hamilton and revise its policy against sororities and fraternities.
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OPINION
Thursday, February 16, 2017 | www.thesil.ca
MSAF: Relief or grief?
Shifting the weight of assessments to final exams does more harm than good
MADELINE NEUMANN / PHOTO EDITOR Grace Huang Contributor
As midterm season continues, discussions about the McMaster Student Absence Form can be heard everywhere on campus. Since 2010, students have been using the MSAF to get out of tests and assignments. Depending on the course, the assignment or midterm would be pushed back to a later date or the equivalent weighting would get carried over to the final exam. Both of these ways generate temporary relief, but how much is the MSAF really benefitting students? Being evaluated on knowledge and applications at the intended date is as beneficial to the student as being evaluated on the same thing a few days later. The only difference would be that they would have had a few more days to gather their thoughts and have more confidence before submitting their work or writing their test. The MSAF becomes questionable when the weights of these assessments get pushed into the final exam. This can make exams worth well over 60 per cent of their final course grade and puts unnecessary stress on students at the final
push of exams. The MSAF should only be used to extend deadlines and push back test days rather than be used to skip midterms. The MSAF is special to McMaster. Most universities in Canada only excuse students from missing schoolwork if they provide a valid reason with proof. Prior to 2010, McMaster had the same policy, but students began forging doctor’s notes to get out of evaluations. In response to this problem, the school created the MSAF so students could excuse themselves once a term. This was a great idea to begin with, but students have gradually taken advantage of this with the “strategic MSAF.” The strategic MSAF has been used as a saving grace to get out of perceptually challenging midterms, but this is not conveying the right message. Being able to opt out of something unfavourable is simply not something that happens in the real world. While it may feel relieving in the moment, it adds extra unnecessary pressure to the final exam. Many professors have informed their classes that students who use their MSAF on the midterm do not do as well
on the final exam as the rest of the students. Reasons for this include the stress factor stated previously as well as the fact that missing a midterm means missing a checkpoint that prepares students for the final. In other words, if students do not prepare for a midterm because they plan to use MSAF, they would have to work twice as hard in preparation for the final. Again, pushing a midterm back a few days in a period of bunched up midterms is certainly beneficial for students, but temporarily getting rid of it and reweighing the mark distribution to the final exam is
simply unwise and ludicrous. In addition to the stress and forecasted low performance, using the MSAF to reweight marks to the final can also harm the content stored in a student’s long-term memory. Students often lose focus of how the point of studying is to be evaluated on their knowledge. Students who do not have these evaluations will have gaps in their understanding of content, especially if the final is cumulative, because of the lack of reinforcement studying. The consequences could carry over to the next year, as lots of material can be prerequisite to
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the next year’s courses. With negative outcomes outweighing the positive, it is undeniable that the MSAF should not be available to reweight midterms. The use of the MSAF is beneficial when assignments and midterms are cluttered and the student just needs a few more days for one evaluation. The McMaster administrative team and course coordinators should seriously consider eliminating the trap of shifting the weight of a midterm to the final because it causes unnecessary stress and reduces overall learning for the student.
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OPINION | 13
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, February 16, 2017
The housing market is bull Hamilton’s real estate leaves students in a precarious situation Rob Hardy Contributor
There has been growing interest during the past decade in redefining Hamilton to attract investors and make it a great place to live. Rising housing prices in Toronto have led some people to believe that Hamilton is a good alternative. This may be the case for certain home buyers, but many have begun spilling into the city to escape the GTA’s cost of living rather than being attracted by the relative value. For those who don’t know, the Hamilton Spectator recently reported that the Hamilton-Burlington real estate market underwent a 19.8 per cent price jump over the past year, marking the biggest gains in the entire country. The numbers in just Hamilton are even higher at 23 per cent with another 13 per cent increase expected the following year. Given this, what are the implications of house prices going up by a predicted $58,000 in the next year? Hamilton, being so much smaller than Toronto, was previously purported to be a smart location to settle down for McMaster students about to graduate and look for their first job. Now that its cost of living is quickly catching up, this narrative no longer applies. Despite that, downtown Hamilton is still dwarfed many times over compared with Toronto in terms of size, available services and things to do. West Harbour Go Transit service and light rail transit are cited as two reasons for this inflation but neither is running yet, and LRT is still in some danger of being scrapped given the persistent opposition. For those without a car, commuting from Hamilton to Toronto on public transit can take up to two hours each way unless you live right by the Hunter Street Go station or work close to Union Station. Otherwise, longer treks on the HSR and further connections on the TTC easily lengthen your commute. But this problem is really about something so much larger than what is going on in this region. Canada has become a prohibitively expensive nation to live in for at least the past 10 years. The basic need of a home
has been allowed to become a market for people to invest in and make money. The result of the market recently has created a two-tier system where a privileged group is allowed to exploit those who cannot afford to become homeowners. While some get rich, the rest, unable to realistically match housing increases with stagnant wages, have been set up to fail. When my parents, as recent immigrants, bought a home by Gage Park in 1972, it cost $19,500 for a three-storey house with a basement. But the key point is that back then it only took a few years to pay off a mortgage. In today’s world, newly arrived immigrants would find a very different country, one where mortgages can take half your life to pay off. Homeownership has gone from offering security to being a long sentence of debt servitude. This is the difference between what something should cost and what is actually charged. Canada, being the second largest country in the world with one of the lowest population densities on the planet, has vast tracts of land on which to build communities even if we exclude our territories to the north. We have so many resources at our disposal, yet it is clear that we lack the political will to make sure that all people have decent, affordable housing. Instead, we encourage lifestyles that urge us to make large purchases so that these can be taxed with fees and surcharges. Frugal and minimalist living is not a Canadian concept. Regardless of differing opinions about how we have gotten to this point, it should be clear that this has become an unsustainable way of life. Something is wrong when students with multiple degrees are feeling anxiety about where they will live. Concerns about whether they will ever be able to afford a decent house, how much it will cost them and the stress surrounding societal status based on economic success and failure is depressing. And all this comes with a ticking clock: wait too long and it may become impossible to realize that dream of homeownership.
MADELINE NEUMANN / PHOTO EDITOR
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Williams was slightly more critical, but she too admitted that your tutorial buddy is still a catch. “Well like, I guess so?” she said. “His eyes still have that brooding, quality, but now that a few years of university have passed, they mostly just look sunken in from not sleeping.” We asked your mystery
man about how he has managed to stay this almost-hot for so long. He mumbled his name so we couldn’t quite catch it, but he offered some interesting insight. “I don’t know, man. I just try to have this like, rock and roll vibe all the time. And sometimes I even go to the gym. I think the vape is the real kicker though,” he said, clasping his
Amount you vape
`The last, desperate vestiges of love are in the air, and in case you’re still on the lookout for that special someone to share leftover chocolate hearts with, do we ever have a suggestion for you. Do you remember that guy? The hot one? Well, the sort of hot one in that 8:30 tutorial you had in first year? Well he’s back. And guess what! He vapes now. Sources claim they saw Lukas, or Logan or whatever his name was outside the student centre last week, puffing away on a sleek vape pen. “I mean, as far as vape skills go he was pretty alright I guess,” said Laurie Williams, a third-year biology student who was only at your tutorial a couple times. “He seemed pretty modest about it all.” Of course, the most important question is whether or not Timothy or Travis or whoever is still hot. The answer: a resounding yes. “I’ve literally never seen anyone that attractive in my entire time as president of this institution,” commented Datrick Peane, university president.
vape pen in his hand. And there you have it. Don’t be afraid to approach Ben or Bart or whatever. He’s just like you — only he vapes now.
“I mean, as far as vape skills go he was pretty alright I guess. He seemed pretty modest about it.” Laurie Williams Third-year biology student
Hotness
POLL: where should you spend reading week? In your lover’s arms
In the office, on LinkedIn
At the dog park
Making memes with your dad
DISCLAIMER: This is the Speculator, a joke page. The stories and continuing plot lines are fake. Do not read the Speculator while operating a motor vehicle or machinery and definitely don’t read it at World Gym.
Tweets to the Editor Why didn’t they call him Phil-Harmonica at the Frank Turner/Arkells show? - Lizanne, 25
I MSAF’d an assignment to watch the Westminster Dog Show. - Luke A., 21
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www.thesil.ca | Thursday, February 16, 2017
Arts & Culture Family matters at the Cameron House 1960s-inspired band of brothers, Ferraro, discuss their family’s historic Toronto concert venue C/O BLOGTO
From left to right: Gianna, Cosmos, and Tally Ferraro C/O FERRAROMUSIC.COM Vanessa Polojac Contributor
Located in downtown Toronto, the Cameron House has been a famous cultural centre and venue for up-and-coming Canadian talent the past 30 years. Back in 1981, a hotel on the edge of Queen Street West was turned into Toronto’s famed music and arts pub, the Cameron House by Paul Stannella, Herb Tookey and Anne Marie Ferraro. Since then, the venue has received performances by the Barenaked Ladies, Blue Rodeo, the Golden Dogs and many other well-known Canadian bands, often still at the early years of their careers. More recently, the Cameron house welcomed an act close to Anne Marie Ferraro: her own sons’ band, Ferraro. Ferraro is a musical project composed of three brothers: Cosmo Ferraro (guitar/vocals), Gianni Ferraro (drums/vocals) and Tally Ferraro (bass/vocals). The group occasionally enlists
the help of fellow Toronto performer and Jane’s Party guitarist, Tom Ionesco. The Ferraro brothers grew up in a musical atmosphere and were destined to dabble in music from a young age. Like his brothers, Tally Ferraro balances the responsibilities of his academic career, managing the family business and the success of their band. “We were always surrounded by talented musicians and growing up we just gained a bigger appreciation for music and musicians,” explained Tally. Cosmo, the oldest of the three, was the first to pick up a guitar. Gianni followed with percussion and Tally with bass while they all contributed to the vocals. They have been playing together covering their favourite bands for over 10 years but have just recently released their own music for the first time and began to play regularly under the band name Ferraro. “I think that we are closer than many families and it
mainly has to do with music. When you’re in a band with your brothers you can fully speak your mind and express your opinions without worrying about judgment. At the end of the day family will always be there for you,” said Tally. This past year was revolutionary for Cosmo. Their debut album Losing Sleep was released in April and gained wide coverage through the CBC. They secured an opening spot for the Strumbellas and the Sam Roberts Band just this past fall. “The Strumbellas used to play at the Cameron House a lot. They played every Monday night for a few months when they were starting to get noticed internationally. That’s how we gained a relationship with them,” explained Tally. “The Cameron House has given us a platform to meet and perform with a lot of Canadian bands.” In addition to being a part of the band, all three of the brothers have attended univer-
sity to pursue degrees in various fields. Cosmo has a business degree from the University of Guelph and now is the full-time owner of the Cameron House. Gianni has a B.A. in music from Ryerson University and Tally is currently in school studying for a business degree at Ryerson. “You’ll always find time to do what you love. Working at the Cameron House, going to school and being apart of the band can be tiring at times but is never a chore because I love doing it all,” said Tally. In 2014, the Ferraros decided to create a record label to bridge the gap between performing and recording artists and to help fellow Canadian bands like themselves. “There are a lot of artists at the Cameron [House] who are great songwriters and have a great sound but just don’t have the funds to print records or record their music. This was our way to help some of those struggling musicians,” explained Tally. The Ferraro brothers have
“The Cameron House has given us a platform to meet and perform with a lot of Canadian bands.” Tally Ferraro Bassist/vocalist Ferraro greatly contributed to the Canadian music scene in recent years, and 2017 will be another year of touring across Canadian university towns with their old-fashioned rocker attitude and sound. “It’s all about the music. We hope to bring guitars back onto the mainstream media and just keep on creating more content along with fellow Canadian musicians to share with the world.” @theSilhouette
Frank Turner 18 |
A&C FEATURE
Thursday, February 16, 2017 | www.thesil.ca
MADELINE NEUMANN / PHOTO EDITOR
English folk singer-songwriter Frank Turner opened for Hamilton natives Arkells at the FirstOntario Centre on Feb. 10. We got to sit down with him before the show and talked teenage angst, (not) politics and the East Coast.
The musician talks about the relationship between politics and music. MADELINE NEUMANN / PHOTO EDITOR Michelle Yeung A&C Reporter
Frank Turner is no stranger to the stage. He began touring at the age of 16. Following his attendance at the London School of Economics, he developed a proclivity for history and spent four years as the vocalist for post-hardcore band Million Dead until its dissolution. The English folk singer-songwriter and punk troubadour opened with The Sleeping Souls, for Arkells homecoming concert. Despite his transition from punk rock to folk in his solo career, Turner’s presence very much emulates his post-hard-
core roots with an air of aggression and intensity, albeit in a beguiling sort of way. He writes in what he calls a confessional, autobiographical style, most notably in his fifth studio album, Tape Deck Heart, which documents a raw narrative of heartbreak. Produced by Rich Costey, who is acclaimed for his work with Muse, Tape Deck Heart became one of Turner’s biggest successes both critically and commercially. Turner followed with his most recent record, Positive Songs for Negative People, which offers a more upbeat tone to accompany a personal resurrection from the events of the prior record.
“When we did the first shows with them I was just instantly blown away. I think they’re one of the best bands I’ve heard in a long, long time.” Frank Turner Singer/songwriter
After an unruly debacle that followed some comments he made regarding his political beliefs to the Guardian, it’s no wonder even someone as ardent as Turner has shied away from speaking his mind in the limelight. “[Politics] is an issue which I oscillate on, to be honest… I certainly just made two records in a row that are self-consciously not political because I got to a place in my career where I got pretty sick of politics and music,” said Turner. “The problem with it is that… there’s a large constituency of people who look to music for politics and for nothing else. They couldn’t give a toss if
you’ve written a great song, they just care whether or not you’re singing their pre-existing opinions back to them in rhyming couplets. And if you do that, they’ll love you. If you say any one thing that they disagree with, they will burn you at the stake as a heretic.” Despite his qualms, Turner says he is currently in the middle of a political rebirth in his writing, inspired by current events around the world. He is nervous about plunging into political waters once again, but also finds it difficult not to respond to current events in some way as a writer. Last year, Turner played at the Reading Festival for the 10th year
A&C | 19
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, February 16, 2017
Turner shows off his large variety of tattoos. MADELINE NEUMANN / PHOTO EDITOR
in a row. He has played around the globe, from pubs to festivals to the 2012 London Olympics opening ceremony, which he found to be a cool but strange experience. The show he played at the FirstOntario Centre with the Arkells was his 2,025th as a musician. Although this is his first experience working with the Hamilton natives, he details the gigantic bromance that has formed between him and members of the band already. “[Arkells are] a phenomenal band… when we did the first shows with them I was just instantly blown away. I think they’re one of the best bands I’ve heard in a long, long time… we get on really well, we have fun… Everyone’s in love with everyone else in this camp right now. It’s kind of glorious.” When he’s not touring, Turner’s life is both unexpectedly and expectedly normal. He has a girlfriend. He can be found on walks around London and he’s learning to cook. Fans can look forward to the release of a new record by the end of this year. Over the course of his prolific career, the Brit has created an expansive repertoire that he tucks under his heavily tattooed arms, one of which is actually an ode to Canada.
The show he played at the FirstOntario Centre with the Arkells was his 2,025th as a musician. “I was playing a show in Fredericton, New Brunswick and I [played my song “Tattoo”]… a guy in the front row who [said he was a tattoo artist] and I said ‘cool, I’ll get a New Brunswick tattoo’ as a joke… He had been tattooing in that town for 25 years and no one had ever got a New Brunswick tattoo. So I decided to actually get a New Brunswick tattoo because why the fuck not?” Turner’s nearly two decade-long career has seen him transition from a frustrated punk rocker with precocious musical talent to a singer-songwriter with rare lyrical gifts. When asked which tour stop will become the latest addition to his tattoo collection, Turner glanced at his decorated limbs. “We’ll see, we’ll see. I’m slightly picking my battles these days, space is in high premium.”
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A&C
Thursday, February 16, 2017 | www.thesil.ca
Culinary Class Act
Masala Corner
C/O MASALA CORNER
Quality and cozy Indian cuisine is just a short walk from campus dinner for two at $30, and for four at $56.
Hafsa Sakhi Contributor
What it is: Masala Corner is the perfect name for this delicious Indian restaurant, conveniently placed at the edge of a small plaza across the street from Westdale Secondary School. Masala Corner presents an affordable menu that is flavourful and simple, with popular dishes like butter chicken, naan bread and chicken biryani.The restaurant caters to a variety of lifestyles, cooking up vegetarian and meat dishes, a range of desserts, lunch specials, gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan and Halal food. Upon entering, you are greeted by the cheery chef. He is the only staff member, diligently preparing every order. It is a small restaurant, yet it feels incredibly warm and comfortable, with classic Bollywood music playing softly in the background, and a chalkboard displaying their selection of Indian comfort food. How to get there from Westdale/Ainslie Wood: For most students, the restaurant will be a convenient walk as it is located just a few minutes from the Main and Longwood bus stop. Once you arrive at Main and Longwood, walk towards Westdale, and after two minutes, you’ll be at your destination. The restaurant neighbours Pizza Pizza. How much: The menu is affordable, ranging from lunch specials (vegetarian: $7.99, meat: $8.99), dinner combos (vegetarian: $10.50, meat: $11.50), walk-in specials priced from $0.99-$11.50 and desserts of the day at around $3. The restaurant also offers
What to get: I love the lunch specials that are available until 2 p.m. The portion size is generous and incredibly filling. I get the meat special which comes with the hugest naan bread I’ve ever seen in my life, butter chicken, rice, small salad with dressing, spicy chickpeas and a sweet, syrupy gulab jamun for dessert. The vegetarian special substitutes butter chicken for palak paneer (a spinach and cheese dish). For smaller items, the mango lassi is a creamy, yogurt-based beverage blended with fruit and spices. And of course, adding on some extra samosas with your meal is always a safe bet. Why it’s great: My brother and I both love searching for new places to eat, and he spotted Masala Corner while commuting to school. We contemplated trying it out, and before we entered the restaurant, the head chef waved at us through the glass door and warmly welcomed us to come in. We were shocked at the incredible deals. We ordered the lunch specials and were amazed at the portion size. The food was delicious. I love the diverse menu and it is made special through the single chef working diligently in the back kitchen, cutting coriander and listening to his tunes. The casual and friendly atmosphere, and I felt incredibly welcomed and well-served. I highly recommend Masala Corner for hungry students on a budget who are looking to break up their usual eating routine.
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MARAUDER VOLLEYBALL MARAUDER VOLLEYBALLACTION ACTION FIGHTING FOR FIRST PLACE Salute our Graduating Seniors Friday, February 24 vs. Queen’s 6 & 8 pm OUA Conference Finale Saturday, February 25 vs. RMC 6 & 8 pm
MCMASTER STUDENTS WEARING MAROON GET FREE ADMISSION WITH VALID STUDENT ID
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GAMES
Thursday, February 16, 2017 | www.thesil.ca
STUDENT ACCESSIBILITY SERVICES NOTIFICATION TO STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES FOR APRIL 2017 FINAL EXAM ACCOMMODATIONS All newly identified or returning students with a disability MUST attend an appointment with a Disability Coordinator before March 24, 2017 in order to receive final exam accommodations for April 2017. For more information, please contact:
STUDENT ACCESSIBILITY SERVICES (SAS)
by phone: 905-525-9140 ext. 20302; or in person at MUSC (Student Centre) B107; or by email at: sas@mcmaster.ca
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, February 16, 2017
The Silhouette | 23
Sports Breaking down the X’s and O’s The Mac men have put on quite a show this season, leading the league in hitting percentage and points per set. Here’s how they get the job done Lauren Beals Sports Reporter
You don’t have to know much about volleyball to recognize a big play. Whether it’s a libero diving from the back row to save a sneaky tip or a serve landing hard in bounds, if the crowd’s reaction doesn’t give it away, then the team certainly will. But there is one play that is always a little more obvious than the others: the kill. A play as decisive as its name, a kill occurs when a ball hit by an offensive player is unreturnable by the opposing team, immediately ending the rally and resulting in a point. In volleyball, kills are like exclamation points, not only do they end the rally; they send a message. And the Mac men are no strangers to a good kill. To accompany their perfect 13-0 record, the Marauders have accumulated 502 kills over the course of the season and sit atop the Ontario University Athletics leaderboard in points per set (16.4). One perceived flaw in a high-octane offense is that big hits can carry a higher degree of risk. If players want to get the ball to the floor without the opposing teams touching it, they will move it closer to a sideline or put more force on their swing, increasing the chance or an error. But with the highest hitting percentage (0.332) in the league, the Marauders have been able to convert possessions into points without sacrificing rallies to mistakes. Team captain Danny Demyanenko also has the highest hitting percentage of any player in the league at 0.542. So what gives the Marauders the edge they need? Second-year middle hitter Craig Ireland says the best hits are actually driven by what goes on before the final contact is ever made.
The men’s volleyball team ranks atop of the OUA standings thanks to their efficiency and depth. C/O KYLE WEST
“To be a good offensive hitting team, it all starts with the basics,” said Ireland. “If your team isn’t able to pass the opponent’s serve so that your setter can consistently run the offence, you aren’t going to get very far.” Like many other areas of their game, passing has been a strong spot for the Marauders all year. Liberos Pawel Jedrzejewski and Seyar Karimi have lead the way, granting their team the fourth lowest number of reception errors in the league so far. “Being a very physical team has of course helped us this year, but when it comes down to it our success as a team is due in large part to our passing and setting,” said Ireland. “We have some of the best passers and setters in the country which allows our offence to progress to the level that it’s at.”
To accomany their perfect 13-0 record, the Marauders have accumulated 502 kills over the course of the season and sit atop of the OUA leaderboard in points per set. Even when an opposing hitter gets the best of them, every touch can be translated into a scoring opportunity, as second-year outside hitter Matthew Passalent describes. “I think our ability to hit well when the pass isn’t great makes us a good attacking
team,” said Passalent. “We practice a lot of high-ball management which allows us to always be a threat offensively even if the pass isn’t there.” After the pass comes the set, another area Passalent identifies as a key factor to the team’s play. “A good offensive volleyball team has the ability of setting multiple options consistently,” said Passalent. “When you have four or five reliable attacking options against only three blockers, rather than just one or two main guys to set… you are going to have more success.” This is where the Marauders depth comes into play. Not only do they have go-to options in Demyanenko and outside hitter Brandon Koppers, who currently sits just behind him in hitting percentage at seventh in the league, the Mac men have
enough threats offensively to be a threat from anywhere on the floor. Having multiple players that can enter a game and convert also means that teams have to adopt a more flexible game-plan on the defensive end, limiting their ability to take control of a game early. In the meantime, Mac is afforded the opportunity to change the look of their offense with every opponent they play, using different players to target weak points in each respective team. The result is the efficient scoring that Burridge faithful have come to know and love from the Marauders and fans can certainly expect to see more of as the team gears up for playoff season. @theSilhouette
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Thursday, February 16, 2017 | www.thesil.ca
When life doesn't give you lemons Fourth-year Joanna Jedrzejewska’s path to volleyball success is the fruit of constant determination to overcome the obstacles of life Camila Stupecka Contributor
Born and raised in Hamilton, fourth-year outside hitter Joanna Jedrzejewska shines on the court with her motivating attitude and impressive volleyball skill. But like anything, the spark has to start somewhere small. Jedrzejewska, along with her brother, fourth-year libero Pawel, have always played competitively in a variety of sports. Her passion for volleyball was first inspired by watching her older brother, Marcin. “We would go to Marcin’s practices in our spare time and just watch,” Jedrzejewska said. “When they would go for water breaks, Pawel and I would play on the side. We admired the athleticism it took to play volleyball.” At the age of 13, Jedrzejewska started playing in competitive leagues, taking her passion for the sport and putting it into practice. Living with her three brothers, who all played volleyball, gave her the competitive edge and the mental toughness she needed to excel in these leagues. As the years went on, her passion grew into a serious interest. Shortly after, McMaster became her next goal. Jedrzejewska’s mission began with a message sent to head coach Tim Louks, asking about a position on the team. Unfortunately, the team was full and they weren’t looking for any more players. Louks still went out to see her on the court and was happily surprised. He saw the potential in her and granted
Jedrzejewska a spot on the team. But that didn’t mean the fight was over quite yet.
Her 5'7" height, which may be seen as a disadvantage to some volleyball players, only motivated her to work harder. “The transition was hard because I was so used to starting on a competitive team and when I came to [McMaster], I was sitting on the bench pretty much my whole first season,” Jedrzejewska said. “[Even when head coach] Tim Louks would put me in, I was like ‘okay, this is my moment, if I want to start I have play well now.’ But for ten games in a row I would play really poorly and I would be taken off right away.” The disappointment she felt after every game, knowing that she hadn’t been able to contribute to her team’s win, pushed her to keep working. Her 5’7” height, which may be seen as a disadvantage to some volleyball players only motivated her to work even harder, causing her to become one of the highest jumpers on the team. “I had to earn my spot.” Jedrzejewska said. And she did. It was the last home game of the season against the best team in the league at the time, the University of Ottawa. The Marauders were down two sets. For the first time since her start
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with the team, Jedrzejewska went in and played one of the best games of her life. “I was getting all my kills, I was really efficient,” Jedrzejewska said. “And we ended up beating them three [sets] to two. And this was the number one team in Ontario at the time. I had proved myself.” Since then, Jedrzejewska has shone on the court as a spectacular volleyball player and a positive leader for her teammates, even in challenging circumstances such as playing all of this season with a torn labrum. Rather than dwelling on misfortune, she has put her injury to good use. “It taught me to fight through the pain,” she said. “And because I couldn’t hit as hard as I used to, it improved my mental IQ.” “You have to make do with what you’ve got. In volleyball, in my position, you’re usually pretty tall. And I’m 5’ 7” and a half so it will be pretty tough to find someone who can give me a chance [at professional volleyball]. Tim gave me that chance and I proved myself. I just need someone to believe in me.” Her mentality in overcoming challenges continues to make her resilient in the face of adversity, allowing her to use what she has to the best of her ability both on and off the court. “It doesn’t matter about the size of the player in the game, but the game in the player,” said Jedrzejewska. “And my heart makes up for [the limitations]. I don’t give up.” @theSilhouette
A RESEARCH STUDY ON CHANGES IN DRINKING OVER TIME AMONG YOUNG ADULTS
ARE YOU 20-23 YEARS OLD?
If so, you may be eligible to participate in a longitudinal research study
ARE YOU A RESIDENT OF HAMILTON OR THE SURROUNDING AREA?
Participants will receive gift cards for their valued participation.
investigating changes in drinking over time among young adults.
To find out if you are eligible, call 905.522.1155 ext. 39009 or 39712 OR email: beta@mcmaster.ca Version 1.0 August 17, 2016
C/O KYLE WEST
SPORTS | 25
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, February 16, 2017
On the road to Winnipeg Fourth-year wrestler Jobanjit Phulka is one of 12 Marauder wrestlers advancing to the U Sports Championships at the University of Winnipeg Cullum Brownbridge Sports Editor
On Feb. 11, the McMaster wrestling team welcomed teams from across the province at the Ontario University Athletics Championships in Sports Hall. While OUA teams like Western and Guelph showed promise during the season, it would take a lot for anyone to match the Brock Badgers, who came in as the defending champions and the number one ranked team in the country. Overall, the hosting Marauders grabbed 12 medals at the event, and will be sending 12 wrestlers to the University of Winnipeg on Feb. 24 to compete in the U Sports Championships.
“Cipriano does a good job in preparing us for the big tournaments. I have full confidence in him and myself that I will be where I want to be in two weeks right before the championships.” Jobanjit Phulka Fourth year McMaster wrestling
Leading the way on the men’s side was fourth-year Jobanjit Phulka, who was the lone Marauder to finish first in his weight class. Phulka, wrestling in the 90kg weight class, beat out Clayton Pye from Brock to capture gold, and was a huge contributor to the McMaster men’s team, who placed second overall. Winning gold is special in its own right, but for Phulka, doing so in front of the Maroon and Grey faithful made it even sweeter. “It’s always nice to compete at home,” Phulka said. “I have competed at Mac before, but this being the OUA Championship was a little more special. Having the home crowd cheering you on adds to the excitement and winning in front of them makes it more special… I’d rather focus on the competition at hand, but being at home is definitely nice.” Phulka highlighted the efforts of wrestling head coach Nick Cipriano as a key contributor to his success and for the rest of the team. “Cipriano does a good job in preparing us for the big tournaments,” Phulka said. “I have full confidence in him and myself that I will be where I want to be in two weeks right before the championships.” The McMaster men’s team came into the championships ranked third in the U Sports top ten rankings, and was always going to have their work cut out for them. The Brock Badgers, the top team in the nation, ran away with the overall gold, hav-
C/O RICK ZAZULAK
ing captured eight gold medals out of a possible 11 on the men’s side. “Brock runs a good program, and it shows in their results,” Phulka said. “They are definitely one of the top teams in most weights, but there were a lot of other great schools like Western and Guelph. We were more focused on the competition as a whole and not really just one team in particular.” The men’s team managed to place second overall ahead of Western, thanks in large part to the gold medal performance of Phulka. The Marauders found success in most of the weight divisions, with multiple
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wrestlers – including third-year Robert Smith, rookie Bennet Zahra, and team captain and fifth-year Ahmed Shamiya – all capturing silver in their respective weight classes. On the women’s side, Monica Wood and Nicole Roach both managed to capture silver medals, while Jenna Leslie and Charlene Forde-Smith finished third. Thanks to their respective podium finishes, all four women will also be travelling to Winnipeg. Overall, the women’s team fell just shy of reaching the podium, finishing fourth, just three points behind Western. As the team shifts their sights to the U Sports Champi-
onships, the Brock Badgers are not the only power house team in front of them. The Marauders will face stiff competition from wrestlers from the University of Alberta, who have been ranked second behind Brock for the majority of the season. The University of Winnipeg – hosts of the tournament – rank fourth, while the University of Calgary rounds out the top five. With two weeks to prepare for the last tournament of the season, the team will hope to bring their hometown success out west with them. @Curtains1310
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Thursday, February 16, 2017 | www.thesil.ca
OUA swimmer of the year McMaster’s Olivvya Chow claims victory with six Ontario University Champisonship medals Eamon Hillis Contributor
After three long days of competition at the University of Toronto, fourth-year swimmer Olivvya Chow walked away from the pool with six Ontario University Athletic championship medals. This remarkable performance put Chow in the discussion for 2017 OUA Swimmer of the Year, and cemented her place as one of the elite backstroke specialists in the country. Her OUA medal total includes gold in the 50m breaststroke with a time of 32.11s (.10s off OUA record), silver in the 100m breaststroke, silver in the 400m medley relay (fastest second leg of any team in the finals), silver in the 200m freestyle relay and bronze in the 400m freestyle relay. Chow’s most cherished medal from the weekend, however, is the overall team medal she and her teammates received together. Chow’s outstanding individual performances led the Marauder women to their first podium finish since 2014 with a bronze behind the University of Toronto and Western University. “Going into OUAs this year I was more focused about how our women’s team would place overall than I was about individual performances,” Chow said. “Our goal was to place within the top five, so when we took bronze it was very exciting.” This 2016/2017 season has certainly been Chow’s most rewarding as a Marauder, but like many veteran athletes, she has seen her share of highs and lows over the years. From winning OUA silver in the 50m backstroke as a rookie in 2014, and sweeping the podium alongside fellow Marauders Alexandra Vanommen and Erin MacFadyen, to struggling to qualify for national championship meet in 2015, Chow has learned to persevere. Part of her recent success can be contributed to her ability to change her focus. “As a freshman coming into McMaster I was mostly a
freestyler,” Chow said. “I then transitioned to focus on [individual medley] events, and now this year I’ve been specializing in breaststroke. My events have changed from year to year, but I feel comfortable with where I’m at now.” One element that Chow attributes to her development has been an increasing attention to detail in training. In a sport where form dictates performance, Chow is always in the process of refining her technique and studying her craft. From doing drills in and out of the pool that work to improve explosiveness and efficiency, she believes the little things have made the difference in competition. At the end of high school, Chow found herself heavily recruited by both NCAA and U Sports programs. Originally from Surrey, B.C., her decision to swim for Mac can be accredited in part to the warm team environment she experienced on her recruiting trip. “When I was being recruited as a senior in high school I explored programs in B.C. and the United States, but when I came to Mac I found the atmosphere very different. I felt a strong team spirit, and I could see that the team was like a family.” On Feb. 24-26 in Sherbrooke, Que. the McMaster breaststroke specialist will be competing for a spot on the podium at the U Sports championships. “I just want to go out and have some fun,” Chow said. “A lot of my teammates are graduating this year, so I want to enjoy the experience and make the most of the opportunity. Individually, I would like to qualify for an A-final and go after a medal, but my main focus will just be to enjoy myself.” As the OUA gold medalist in the 50m breaststroke and a silver medalist in the 100m, Chow will be a top contender eyeing her first national medal.
Olivvya Chow doing a breaststroke at the OUA championship relay C/O KIERAN LIEW
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