February 3rd, 2011

McMASTER UNIVERSITY'S STUDENT NEWSPAPER

www.thesil.ca

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2011

FROM CAMPUS TO YOU AND BACK AGAIN

Business school begins process of recovery

VOLUME 81, NO. 18

RACIST?

Deane hosts open meeting to put PACDSB report concerns to bed SAM COLBERT

SENIOR NEWS EDITOR

“There will most certainly be action taken on the behavioural issues outlined both in this report and in the earlier Human Rights and Equity Services report about the business school from last spring.” These were the words uttered by Patrick Deane, president of McMaster University, at a town hall-style meeting on the recent report from the President’s Advisory Committee on the DeGroote School of Business (PACDSB).

The purpose of the Feb. 1 gathering was not to dwell on the conflict in the business school, though. With current DeGroote dean Paul Bates stepping down and incoming interim dean Robert McNutt taking over, Deane hopes that the school can begin a process of healing.

“When [McNutt] arrives, he will be looking forward. His mandate will be to bring about the regularization of relations within the faculty and to achieve some of the goals that were laid out in the report.”

When McMaster’s office of Human Rights and Equity Services (HRES) published a report last spring called “Preliminary Audit on Allegations of Discrimination and Harassment at the School of Business McMaster University,” Peter George, McMaster president at the time, established the PACDSB to deal with the matter.

Any formal action taken

by HRES to address allegations of harassment, though, was to be dealt with independently of the PACDSB. Deane has recently received the confidential findings of the human rights office, and will determine in the coming weeks if the matter should be turned over to tribunal.

The PACDSB spent months conducting extensive research, interviewing faculty, staff and administration in the business school, as well as relevant individuals outside the school and outside McMaster.

Its report was made public in December. Among its recommendations were that the business school restructure its administration, that the “behavioural tone within the Faculty” is altered and that “the University work with Mr. Bates to redefine his role at McMaster.”

As a result, Bates has agreed to step down. He will fulfill his contract in an administrative role at the new Ron Joyce Centre in Burlington. The satellite campus, which houses McMaster’s MBA program, was a pet project for Bates. McNutt, who has a long history in a variety of roles with McMaster, will take over as interim dean on Mar. 1.

The report cites sources of conflict between Bates and his faculty. When McMaster hired Bates in March of 2004, they hoped that he would boost the school’s profile externally. His experience was not in academia, but in the business world, where had he led four major investment firms on the way to being named the Most Influential Broker of the Year by Investment Executive Magazine in 2000. He spent time on the boards of the Toronto Stock

EST. 1930

Panelists discuss implications of controversial Maclean’s Magazine article on enrolment of Asian students in Canadian universities.

FARZEEN FODA

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

“Too Asian,” according to an article published in Maclean’s Magazine, is a common descriptor used by prospective post-secondary students for some Canadian universities, particularly the University of Toronto, the University of Waterloo and the University of British Columbia. This notion has fuelled outrage, disappointment and fear in Chinese-Canadian communities across the country.

In response to the Maclean’s article, and other such articles that portrayed a similar sentiment, a panel discussion was held on Feb. 1 in Gilmour Hall to discuss the issues surrounding the article. “It’s not the words that they say. It’s the implications of those words,” said one of the panelists, Karen Sun, an environmental and social activist. Sun is currently the Executive Director of the Chinese Canadian National Council Toronto Chapter (CCNCTO).

The other panelists included Florence Li, a co-organizer of the Youth Coalition Against Maclean’s and Project Coordinator for the CCNCTO, and Jeet Heer a cultural journalist and academic.

Heer worked with current Publisher and Editor-In-Chief for Maclean’s, Kenneth Whyte during his time at the National Post.

The final panelist, Donald Goellnicht, is a professor in the Department of English and Cultural Studies and is an Associate Dean in the School of Graduate Studies at McMaster.

The 2010 University Rankings Issue of Maclean’s Magazine featured an article in the University Issues section about the growing enrolment of Asian students at • PLEASE SEE DCS, A5 the post-secondary level, a trend

that universities apparently worry of Asian students. will deter applicants of other ethnic The original title of the groups, specifically Caucasians.

Maclean’s article, “ ‘Too Asian?’:

The article begins with an Some Frosh Don’t Want to Study at interview with a high school gradu- an ‘Asian’ University” was changed ate, identified as Alexandra from to “The enrolment controversy: Toronto’s Havergal College, who Worries that efforts in the U.S. to admits that U of T was excluded limit enrolment of Asian students from her pool of prospective uni- in top universities may migrate to versities because “the only people Canada”. The revised title refers to from our school who went to U of the silent “Asian ceiling” or quota T were Asian,” said the high school on the number of Asian students graduate. admitted to elite U.S. universi Finally choosing the Uni- ties. This anti-Asian sentiment has versity of Western Ontario, the view ignited fears of such a trend moving of this high school graduate, ac- north. Undergraduate-level admiscording to the artision procedures at cle, represents the Canadian universiwidespread view ties currently rely that “an ‘Asian’ The history of racism almost exclusiveschool has come in Canada sheds a ly on transcripts, to mean one that different light on the which would seem is so academically to be the equal-opmatter, leaving focused that some portunity approach, students feel they but lends itself to several minority can no longer comcurrent debacle groups concerned the pete or have fun.” of racially divided about the

Across universities, accordthe spectrum, it implications of the ing to the Maclean’s has been found that words in the article.” article.

Asian students typ T h e ically work harder panelists present at and tend to be high achievers, and the meeting held at McMaster, enso it is no coincidence that it is these titled, “Beyond ‘Too Asian’: Restudents that are drawn to the top imagining Community and alliance programs at the top schools, which in the Internet Age” discussed the tend to be those that specialize in implications of the article.

Math, Science and Business, three Karen Sun expressed her areas in which U of T, Waterloo and disappointment with the article as it UBC come out on top. relates to the narrow-minded school

An article in the Toronto of thought that keeps Asians “perStar, originally entitled “Asian stu- petual foreigners.” Even third and dents suffering for success” was fourth generation Chinese-Canrenamed “Educators encourage adians whose grandparents built the parents of Asian background to let Canadian Pacific Railway are subtheir children study trades and arts,” ject to such discrimination, she said. while the Maclean’s article was also The ideology put forth by renamed after causing substantial the Maclean’s article and stereounrest in Chinese-Canadian com- types of Chinese-Canadians comes munities, being criticized for being as a source of frustration and dismay racist and perpetuating stereotypes for Sun. Sun ran in the last munici-

pal election, but felt she was overthrown by a candidate that simply had better connections than her.

“Because you’re a visible minority, because you’re not part of the old boys’ club and they don’t want you there, you’re always going to be one step behind, and it is very frustrating.”

Evidence for possible “Asian ceilings” at U.S. universities comes from findings that Asian students typically require much higher SAT scores than white applicants to be at equal standing in the admission process. Sun felt held back similarly, stating that, “the problem with the Maclean’s article is that they are saying that [Asians] are too hardworking … they’re working so hard that it is making it harder for other people, so let’s’ hold them back.”

Sun reflected on the aftermath of the article within the Chinese-Canadian community. Many people wanted an apology, and many were unsure of what they wanted but knew that this approach to the successes of the ChineseCanadian community cannot go unnoticed.

Sun felt that if the community doesn’t react now, “maybe universities down the road may feel it’s okay to put quotas [on the admission] of Asians, black people, or whoever they felt were messing with the way things should be.”

Many have criticized her view, dismissing it as paranoid, but the history of racism in Canada sheds a different light on the matter, leaving several minority groups concerned about the implications of the words in the article. With a focus on discrimination of Asians throughout history, Sun was careful to stress that there may be ramifica• PLEASE SEE HISTORY, A3

[This Week in the Sil] Power of peer pressure Peers can play an important role in our lives. Knowing when to say enough is key to dealing with peer pressure.

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Companies we all hate

There’s no place like...

Santino Marinucci delves into some of the world’s most hated corporations, and why.

Julie Doiron talks with ANDY about a career on the road and her new journey at home as a mother.

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the

PRESIDENT’S PAGE Nick Shorten VP (Finance)

Mary Koziol President

Joe Finkle VP (Education)

John McIntyre VP (Administration)

FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH Campus groups come together to celebrate the rich cultural diversity at McMaster University Mary Koziol President president@msu.mcmaster.ca ext. 23885

In a society that is constantly evolving, it is important to remember the events and peoples who have brought us to where we are today. In light of February being Black History Month, this statement bears particular importance.

Bringing awareness to the history of this particular group of people illuminates a past rife with unimaginable horrors and challenges but also uplifting victories and the awe-inspiring perseverance of a people.

In addition to celebrating individuals of African descent, Black History Month also encourages us to realize that despite the considerable gains made within the past century, racism alongside societal and cultural oppression are still very

much a reality. One of the core goals of the McMaster Students Union is to make post-secondary education accessible to all qualified, willing students.

Yet black students remain one of the most underrepresented groups on campus. This trend is salient amongst faculty members as well, however the October launch of the African Caribbean Faculty Association of McMaster (ACFAM) is an important step in addressing this disparity.

Despite the importance of realizing there is still much progress to be made, I encourage you to not let the negatives detract from appreciating the extraordinarily diverse cultures and peoples being revered during Black History Month.

There are a number of events happening throughout the month on our campus to help you do just that. These events include artists, movie nights, One Mic as well as a cultural show, Pangaea.

One of the things I find most rewarding about being a McMaster student is the chance to interact with people from vastly different backgrounds than my own.

Black History Month is a chance to learn more about the very rich history of individuals of African-descent who are scattered all over the globe. It is also a time to appreciate the depth and complexity of what it means to be Black in the twenty-first century. As an avid reader, I have encountered many unique narratives from Black history, yet all sharing the common thread of persecution and resilience. Whether reading about the tragic tale of Tom Robinson in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, learning of the horrific realities of slavery in Toni Morrison’s Beloved and Lawrence Hill’s The Book of Negroes, or reliving the tumultuous yet exhilarating account of Martin Luther King Jr’s battle in the civil rights

movement through his father’s Daddy King, I came to see how the tapestry of Black history is both boundless and heterogeneous. This is a history that stretches back thousands of years and continues to be incredibly relevant in our community.

In a society as diverse as our own, understanding the narratives of those around us is paramount to peaceful coexistence and mutual appreciation.

Regardless of your background, take the time this February to indulge in Black History Month, stepping outside your shoes into those of others from different times and places.

As President of the MSU, the activities of MSU clubs like the African Caribbean Association and the McMaster African Students Association, as well as groups like OPIRG make me incredibly grateful for the opportunities we have to deepen our understanding of such a impactful time in history.

Study space

MSU recognizes student contributions

Mills can create space, but we need your help

Annual ceremony presents deserving students with awards that reflect their committment to the McMaster University community

Mary Koziol President

John McIntyre VP (Administration)

president@msu.mcmaster.ca ext. 23885

vpadmin@msu.mcmaster.ca ext. 23250

One of the major concerns students bring to my attention is the lack of quiet study space on campus.

Given that McMaster is at or near capacity, space on campus is a crucial issue and will be a defining challenge in McMaster’s future. Quiet study space is something University Librarian Jeff Trzeciak and I have spent a lot of time discussing this past year, as it is a priority for both of us. Jeff worked diligently to increase Mills’ hours to 24/5 on the second floor. The administration of Mills is also in the midst of reallocating space on the fourth floor to create more study space.

However, given the magnitude of the challenge, creative solutions are needed – and this is where you, as a student, can get involved with making a difference. One of the obstacles the libraries face with their study spaces is that it takes a small army to move two million volumes when they are shifting materials to accommodate new student seating. There is currently space that could be opened up if we had sufficient bodies to help with the move. We are looking for a few volunteers to commit a bit of time into helping with this process.

If you are interested in being part of our proposed solution, email me at president@msu.mcmaster.ca to donate a few hours of your time.

It makes me proud to be a McMaster student when I sit back and think of those who may be deserving of an award. We are all extremely lucky to be at this institution, with an abundance of ideas and initiatives brought to fruition by students who are committed to much more than just their academic education. When I mention the word award, who is the first person/campus group that pops into your head? Why not take the opportunity to nominate them for their hard work?

The McMaster Students Union (MSU) has five awards that are presented annually at our Student Recognition Night, hosted on March 22nd, 2011. We are currently accepting nominations for each of these awards, due February 18th at

noon in hard-copy to the MSU Office (MUSC 201). Nomination forms and more information can be found at http://awards.msumcmaster.ca.

Below is a brief description of each award and their criteria – take a moment to reflect on who you could nominate in recognition of their signifiant contributions.

The Honour M, the highest award that the MSU bestows, in recognition of outstanding leadership, volunteer service, contribution and/or special achievement in extra-curricular activities. Recipients of the award are admitted to the McMaster Honour Society.

The Rudy Heinzl Award of Excellence is presented in recognition of an outstanding one-year achievement, one which improves the lives of students at McMaster University.

The MSU Merit Scholarship Award is presented annually in

recognition of outstanding and valuable service to university, student, or residence governments, departments, clubs, societies, charities or athletics. Recipients of the award receive a $500 scholarship in one of two categories; single-year contribution or overall achievement.

The J. Lynn Watson Award for Community Service is presented to the campus group that has made the greatest one-year contribution to charitable giving.

The MSU Spirit Award is presented annually to the campus group that has demonstrated superior spirit.

Nominations are also currently open for McMaster’s President’s Award of Excellence (Student Leadership), found on the Student Affairs website.

There are countless McMaster students deserving of recognition for their contributions, so do your part by submitting a nomination!

McMaster PANGAEA FOOD, DRINK, FASHION, MUSIC, DANCE, PAVILIONS PERFORMANCE, CULTURES CONVERGE, FOOD, DRINK, FASHION, MUSIC, DANCE, PERFORMANCE, PAVILIONS, FOOD, DRINK, FASHION, MUSIC, DANCE, PERFORMANCE, PAVILIONS, PERFORMANCE, FOOD, DRINK, FASHION, MUSIC, DANCE, PERFORMANCE, PAVILIONS, FOOD, DRINK

Sunday, February 13th, 2011 | MUSC | $10 from Compass, $12 at the door

The President’s Page is sponsored by the McMaster Students Union.

It is a space used to communicate with the student body about the projects, goals and agenda of the MSU Board of Directors.

www.msu.mcmaster.ca

THE SILHOUETTE • A3

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2011

Check back at thesil.ca for MSU Presidential election and referenda results.

Grocery Shopping

Hamilton Farmers’ Market reopens

VANAJA SIVAKUMAR THE SILHOUETTE

Puff pastries, sticky buns with walnuts, Portuguese custard tarts, organic strawberries, Hungarian garlic salami, spiced gouda cheese, and jumbo shrimp are just a few delectable items that can not only be purchased, but sampled and smelled to your heart’s content at the newly renovated Hamilton Farmers’ Market.

The market is now open right next to the Hamilton Central Public Library, so munching on a honey crisp apple while reading about molecular genetics has never been easier.

The renovations have brought in six new vendors, making a total of 66 different stalls, four of which are located in Jackson Square. Many of these vendors are local farmers and family-run businesses that offer produce grown in and around Hamilton.

Energy efficient light bulbs and other appliances have been introduced, as well as detailed health inspections and extensive plumbing to aid the vendors in their food preparations.

Another new decorative addition is the Birks Clock, which has been a historical symbol of Hamilton’s pride for more than 90 years.

On Feb. 11 and 12, the market and library will celebrate their opening with live entertainment, free cooking demonstrations every 15 minutes and library tours on the hour. There is also a community kitchen located within the market that will be holding cooking

demonstrations and classes on food preparation.

Along with the new look and location, the market will try to make other improvements. Bill Atanas, the Manager of the Hamilton Farmer’s Market, explained that “we want to work with community agencies like the Food Bank to promote healthy eating by bringing in workshops to teach proper food handling techniques.”

With the renovations come changes in bus routes to better suit McMaster students as well as Hamiltonians in travelling to and from the market. Located on York Boulevard, the Bayfront bus route takes customers right in front of the market, and feasible parking across the street is also available. Having three separate entrances also helps in making the market more accessible; one from York Boulevard, one connected to Jackson Square and the last one, which is currently under construction, will be from the Hamilton Central Public Library.

While walking through the market, the hustle and bustle of busy shoppers looking for ingredients is a demonstration of how successful and needed the new Farmer’s Market is to Hamiltonians. “It is so exciting to see the turn-out and the public coming back,” said Atanas.

He emphasized the importance of the McMaster student body to the market and said that he and the City of Hamilton welcomes McMaster students to come and check out their diverse food collection. “I want to get the McMaster students involved with this … their input would be very much appreciated in The market, along with the downtown library, will celebrate its reopening on Feb. 11 and 12. order to improve the market.”

CHRISTOPHER CHANG / SENIOR PHOTO EDITOR

Community Relations

Deane discusses improving History of racism relationship with city elicits anger, fear

FARZEEN FODA

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

McMaster University boasts 72 recognized clubs devoted exclusively to social issues within the Hamilton community, while individual faculties and faculty members play active roles in a similar capacity.

McMaster University has made considerable effort to bring down the barriers between the University and the City of Hamilton, yet there may be more that can be done.

On Jan. 31, McMaster University President Patrick Deane held a meeting in Gilmour Hall to discuss the relationship between McMaster and the surrounding community in order to better understand the current relationship and decide how to move forward positively.

“The University and its community have an absolutely vital relationship, which has to be strengthened and nurtured in every way possible,” said Deane before discussing the age-old problem of friction between universities and the community, dating as far back as the Medieval Times.

Throughout the meeting, several topics pertaining to McMaster’s involvement with the community were discussed. A resident of a nearby neighbourhood expressed her frustration with communication on the part of the University. Having a strong interest in the public lectures held by the University, she stressed that it is difficult for community members to remain informed about such events on campus.

Gord Arbeau, Associate Director of Public Relations, Community Relations and Marketing, supported McMaster’s communications efforts, referring to the McMaster Daily News website which is a comprehensive source of such information. However, Arbeau admitted that over the last couple of years the University has not been a regular advertiser in the Hamilton Spectator.

Individual departmental

websites also provide important information, but for those not as well immersed in McMaster faculties, departments and their websites, and for those who do not own a computer, there needs to be an easier way.

Thus, the Hamilton Spectator is an effective medium for communication with the rest of the city.

Effectively engaging the community and keeping residents informed about public events on campus will achieve nothing if access to campus doesn’t cater to this ideal relationship, thus Deane prompted discussion on this matter and many responded with concerns regarding the availability and exorbitant price of parking on campus.

Further discussion suggested that perhaps the University needs to start by reaching out to the community by holding events outside the campus. It was noted that many people feel intimidated by the campus environment, and avoid visiting because they feel like they don’t belong.

As the University continues to grow and student off-campus housing spreads further beyond the confines of the campus, students are rapidly outnumbering families.

A Hamilton resident noted that “the university continues to expand and our problems continue to get worse.

The number of families that live in the community is down so low that quite frankly, families don’t move in anymore.”

“The University is very aware of this and it is not an easy question,” said Deane, acknowledging the problem and outlining the inevitability of it since the province expects to increase post-secondary participation to 70 per cent from the current proportion of 63 per cent of the population.

While the university continues to grow, there is no doubt that McMaster students do what they can to give back to the community. “We are very engaged, there are plenty of opportunities for students to get involved with the community and there is no lack of willingness on our part or on the part of the

students to get engaged,” stated Phil Wood, Associate Vice President (Student Affairs).

McMaster students were strongly encouraged to vote in the last Municipal election, many clubs affiliated with various community services give students the opportunity to volunteer within the city and the Pyjama Parade during Welcome Week gives first year students a chance to meet families that live in the Westdale community.

The Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour hosts the Discover Psychology Public Lecture Series which tackles a different intriguing topic in the field of Psychology each session.

Students and community members are encouraged to attend free of charge. The Micheal DeGroote School of Medicine holds the Mini Med School, run by the Medical School faculty and students. For a nominal fee, students and members of the public can attend weekly lectures that reflect those intended for actual medical school students.

Several other faculties and departments hold similar events, inviting guest speakers or lecturers.

Several universities across Ontario face conflict between the institution and the city to which it belongs. Coming from Queen’s University, Deane drew on his experiences on the matter, eluding to the strong disconnect between the university and Kingston residents.

Fortunately, McMaster has maintained positive relationships with the surrounding community.

Still there is more that can be done to strengthen these ties, and there are certainly concerns that need to be addressed.

Deane was confident that further efforts to engage the community could result in considerable gain for both the University and the City of Hamilton. “With the number of students and faculty we have, a great many of them are very engaged with the idea of working with the community. So I think there is a lot that can be done and I’m very optimistic about what can be done.”

Article centre of controversy onstrations, Florence Li, co-organizer of the Youth Coalition Against tions for other minority groups in Maclean’s has used the power Canada as well. of social networking to stand up

Racial discrimination in against the stereotyping of Asians.

Canada has a long history, dating A Facebook group “ ‘Too Asian?’ back to the late 1800s with the con- TALK BACK” is a public forum struction of the Canadian Pacific for communication about the efforts Railway, after which the Chinese of the Coalition, as they collaborate Head Tax was put in place. The Chi- with community groups and student nese Exclusion Act soon followed unions to lobby the Toronto City shortly after World War II even Council for support in getting an though many Chinese-Canadians apology from Maclean’s. fought in the Second World War.

The Facebook page has

Campaigning for an apol- been able to get people to attend ogy for the Chinese-Head Tax various events to promote the started in 1983, cause, “allowing but it wasn’t until people to come 23 years later, in ...instead of seeing together, build an 2006 that the Canthis as a problem, online community adian Government and talk back,” said it is in fact a huge Li. The article esformally apologized for the outachievement that pecially motivated right discrimination Chinese-Canadians Li, a graduate from faced by the ChiQueen’s University, are gaining nese community in which has been deCanada at the time. scribed as being a admission to

In 1979, universities in such dominantly “white” W5 aired a special university. “When numbers.” called “Campus I look back at my Giveaway,” which time at Queen’s, I stressed the condon’t look back very cern of Asian students “taking fondly. I wasn’t made to feel like I over” Canadian Universities. Out- belonged,” she said. rage ensued across Canada at the Jeet Heer, who worked time and an apology was given to with Kenneth Whyte, discussed the Chinese-Canadian community. Whyte’s provocative style in his Sun noted that one of the main rea- work with other publications such sons an apology was given for the as the conservative Alberta Report.

W5 presentation was because it was Don Goellnicht of McMaster Unilaced with factual errors. versity looked into the hidden mes The Maclean’s article sages throughout the article, noting comes as an even greater source of that “stereotypes, both positive or shock and disapproval after the W5 negative, are dangerous.” incident thirty-one years ago. The The far-reaching claims W5 “Campus Giveaway” special of this article make it seem like a addressed the same issues and took catastrophic occurrence, however a similar approach that has been the issue is specific to just three interpreted by many as racist and universities, and instead of seeing narrow-minded, and this article is this as a problem, it is in fact, a sparking the same level of outrage huge achievement that Chinesefor the same reasons.

Canadians are gaining admission to

Unlike the protests of 1979 universities in such numbers, noted that took place through public dem- Goellnicht.

• CONT’D FROM A1

A4 • THE SILHOUETTE

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2011

DECISION

2011 MSU PRESIDENTIALS

MSU Presidentials are conducted using a method of voting called Single Transferable Vote or STV. This electoral system ensures a candidate does not win the presidency without obtaining at least 50 per cent of valid votes cast.

THE SILHOUETTE • A5

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2011

Local Labour Dispute

US Steel workers rally downtown With USW Local 1005 fighting for pensions, ten thousand workers, members of supporting unions, retirees and citizens gathered outside City Hall on Jan. 29 to denounce their employer and the federal government SIMON GRANAT BUSINESS EDITOR

This past Saturday, ten thousand people huddled together — as much as ten thousand people can huddle — to support organized labour in Hamilton. Workers, students, politicians and Hamiltonians alike had gathered together for United Steel Workers (USW) Local 1005.

Almost three months prior, US Steel locked out 900 workers as they let their blast furnaces lay idle. The company had decided that the market deemed the Hamilton factory “unprofitable”.

Rolf Gerstenberger, President of USW Local 1005, estimated that about half of the people in attendance at the Jan. 29 rally were members of the union or supporters from out of town, while the other half were members of the community.

The rally was held at City Hall in downtown Hamilton. The event was dubbed, “The People versus US Steel.” It aimed to send Prime Minister Stephen Harper a message.

“I call on the Prime Minister and the government of Canada to do everything in their power to make US Steel behave as a proper corporate citizen ... I also call on the Prime Minister to determine what our strategic steel making capacity is, to ensure that we can make the iron and steel our country needs without having to pay blood money to foreign owners,” said Leo Gerard, President of the United Steel Workers.

“The governments have to do their role to protect the public right, the interests of the people of Canada not the interests of the monopolies of Canada,” said Gerstenberger.

“The government has to play a role to protect the people.”

The rally happened in three stages.

The first stage was a series of speeches, while the second part was a march down James Street, up Bay Street and back to City Hall.

Finally, the rally ended in the warmth of the Hamilton Convention Centre as union locals from Ontario and Quebec offered words of support for US Steel employees.

RYAN JANSSEN / SILHOUETTE STAFF

The 900 steel workers, who have been locked out for almost three months, march

For Gerstenberger, despite the age dignity.” of current pensioners, the rally also applies Some question if the rally will have to students. “Young people should seriously any lasting impact. “Now whether the politdecide if, when they get to retirement age, icians listen to it or not ... they probably won’t they’re entitled to a secure retirement or if but they may listen to it, but we have to work they should just leave their retirement up on having governments that do that,” said to the whims of the stock market. We think Gerstenberger. everyone who retires should have the right Politicians in attendance of the event to a secure pension and be able to retire with included Jack Layton, the leader of the federal

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downtown with supporters.

NDP, Andrea Horwath, leader of the Ontario NDP and MPP for Hamilton Centre, as well as Hamilton Centre MP David Christopherson, Hamilton Mountain MP Chris Charlton, Hamilton East-Stoney Creek MP Wayne Marston and Paul Miller, the MPP for Hamilton East-Stoney Creek.

With files from Zainab Furqan

DCS members seeking more student input • CONT’D FROM A1 Exchange and the Canadian Investment Dealers Association, and became a part-time commissioner to the Ontario Securities Commission in 2003.

At the time of his hiring, McMaster had intended to find an Associate Dean that would provide a link between Bates and the academic side of the school, but ultimately did not follow through.

Bates, using the skills gained in the professional world, is said to have used a business-like approach to handling academic matters of the school. Some faculty reacted badly to being managed by a dean who did not have the same level of experience in matters of academia.

On the PACDSB recommendation, the new administrative structure of the school will include three associate deans: one Academic, one Faculty Affairs & Accreditation and one Graduate Studies & Research.

The report also discussed the Ron Joyce Centre, which it deemed one of Bates’ most significant achievements during his time as dean. Specifically, it covers the resistance Bates encountered from faculty and staff while establishing it. Although it has been a major step in boosting the profile of McMaster’s business school, concerns remain over the viability of the new centre in terms of enrolment, programming and financial outlook.

At end of Bates’ original five-year term in 2009, faculty and university administration were at odds over whether or not to reappoint him. The business school had never, in its entire history, reappointed a dean.

Meanwhile, the faculty members felt that they were not sufficiently consulted in the decision to grant Bates another five years, especially after 81.8 per cent of them voted against it in a poll conducted by the university faculty association. As a result, “the atmosphere in the School deteriorated dramatically,” according to the report.

The change in dean is not expected to be a quick fix. At the meeting at which President Deane spoke, there was some contention over media reports that describe the problems of the business school as being longstanding. Although the conflict only came to a head recently, it does appear that there has been more than an acceptable amount of discord for some time.

According to the PACDSB report, some disagreement over direction is expected in a business school. “This, however, does not give license to bullying, harassment, mean-

spirited sarcasm, intimidation and disrespect.

“It is the considered opinion of the PACDSB that this culture does, unfortunately, exist in the School of Business at McMaster.

It seems that this has been the reputation of the School for quite a while (i.e. much longer than the tenure of the current Dean).”

A vocal group of students were also in attendance at the meeting. One in fourthyear Commerce expressed a concern that a change from Bates to McNutt will bring a shift to research-based education rather than the experiential one which she felt that Commerce students have found very valuable.

Conversely, Deane contended that “the state at which we find ourselves says absolutely nothing about the direction in which the business school is moving.” He went on to explain that McNutt “is a temporary person.

That is the view. He is not from the field of business, he is there to administrate during the period of transition.” He added that students should “not associate academic direction with individuals.”

Despite Deane’s dismissal of the experience-research dichotomy, the question did spark a discussion on student involvement in defining the school’s direction. One fifthyear Commerce student raised his perception of a trend of “disrespect toward student opinion.” Although faculty and administration had been in attendance at past DeGroote Commerce Society (DCS) town open meetings, he did not feel that student ideas had been taken seriously.

Student involvement became a common topic of the afternoon. As another Commerce student pointed out, “When you have unhappy employees, you usually have unhappy customers,” referring to the possibility that faculty displeasure was affecting classroom performance.

Bates has been popular among students, if not with other members of the business school. “He definitely had support from the student body, 100 per cent,” explained David Stewart, President of the DCS, after the meeting. Stewart also referred to the burst of students who came out in support of Bates when the news of the human rights report first broke.

Deane acknowledged the importance of student input in moving forward. Students, he said, will have to be a part of the many changes to come.

“In the end, the only sure way we have of getting ourselves off the front of the Business section, except in a positive way, is to radically reform what we do here,” said Deane.

A6 • THE SILHOUETTE

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2011

EDITORIAL The Silhouette McMaster University’s Student Newspaper

TheSil.ca

Editorial Board

Peter Goffin Executive Editor

David Koots Managing Editor Katherine Marsden Copy Editor

Lame ducks fly again

Sam Colbert Senior News Editor Chris Erl Asst. News Editor Farzeen Foda Asst. News Editor Cassandra Jeffery Opinions Editor Brian Decker Sports Editor Fraser Caldwell Asst. Sports Editor Natalie Timperio InsideOut Editor

Jonathon Fairclough Asst. Photo Editor Simon Granat Business Editor Santino Marinucci Asst. Business Editor Jason Lamb Web Editor

Silhouette Staff Kevin Elliott ANDY Trevor Roach ANDY Victor Pek Sports Ben Orr Sports Julia Empey Sports Maggie Cogger-Orr Sports Sandro Giordano Ad Manager

Contact Us McMaster University Student Centre, Room B110 McMaster University 1280 Main Street West Hamilton, ON L8S 4S4 E–Mail: thesil@thesil.ca Production Office (905) 525-9140, extension 27117 Advertising (905) 525-9140, extension 27557 10,000 circulation Published by the McMaster Students Union

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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.

to puck on the pond.

to wheezing on ice.

to getting the gameopening goal. nhl scouts go to schoolyard rinks, right?

to referenda you’ve never heard of.

to being the only people on campus. i feel like the last living cell in a dead organism.

to grammar. and splelling.

to female sheep. ewe.

sticky desk substances. ewww.

to domino’s pizza.

to noisy neighbours.

to forts.

to leaving my skates in the car.

to online voting. finally a nonpornographic use for the internet.

Dan Hawie ANDY Music Editor

Joy Santiago Multimedia Editor

to the class 3 killstorm.

to fort fingerbang, a proud part of our heritage.

Roxanne Hathway-Baxter Senior ANDY Editor

Christopher Chang Senior Photo Editor

to beating snowmageddon.

to snow forts.

Kaitlin Peters Asst. InsideOut Editor

Myles Herod ANDY Ent. Editor

editor’s extension: 22052 letters: thesil@thesil.ca

You may know, by now, that there is a new student union president idling up there, just around that next corner, and we are all coming on fast, and just about upon them.

And in the eyes of people who follow such events, the current administration will soon have entered what is called a Lame Duck period. This is a term used by political junkies to describe a government on its way out, devoid of power or influence.

But as sure as you may have noticed that there has been an election, you may also have noticed that it is February. The second semester only just started. The academic year is only five months old. The one-year term held by the current MSU President is, according to my abacus, only two thirds of the way through. And if we’re going to write off Mary Koziol and her VP’s now, that’s a lot of wasted time before the regime change.

I know it’s a long-standing tradition around here to expect a Lame Duck period, to expect presidents to coast through their last few months, to assume that if motions don’t get passed and initiatives don’t get put in place by Christmas they might as well go to the trash heap. And it may also be a tradition for the Executive Board to meet all those expectations. After all, babysitting is a fun and easy job. But it shouldn’t, and doesn’t, have to be like that.

Maybe my outlook is skewed because I work in a newspaper factory and, in my line of business, the product of your work comes out every week. I understand that governments, even student governments, take longer to unfold their grand schemes, maybe longer than our current government has left. But it seems to me that three months is a hell of a long time in which to get things done. And even if you only get the ball rolling, set the groundwork for new ideas and initiatives, it’s better than sitting back and waiting for the new guys to move in. It allows for a smooth transition, from one active leader to another.

Now those are the reasons why we, the voters, students, benefactors of political initiatives, should be against a Lame Duck period, and why we should be all in favour of presidents continuing to burn the midnight oil right up until the day they get smoked out of their offices. We don’t stop needing and wanting things just because our government has a short time left in office. A semester is a long time for us.

But why should Presidents and VPs care about these last few months?

They’ve already put in a lot of good work, they’ve already earned the entry on their resumes. They’re already looking forward to their bright futures. Well, I would implore them to remember why they got into this student leadership racket in the first place. I would like to think it was due to some drive within them, for accomplishment, and improvement, and service, and helping others.

I would like to think that such noble principles would be enough to fuel the rest of their terms. But I also know that the year can grind a person down, and jadedness can supplant optimistic plans.

And so, on the chance that perhaps some leaders do lose the will to lead at this point in the year, I give you this sentiment, learned through observation and personal trial and error: it is precisely at times when there is no need to exert effort that you most need to work hard. If for no other reason than your own self-respect and sanity.

Though you may be leaving this place behind, though it may already have given you all that you ever wanted from it, work, and life, will eat you alive faster than ever if you try to sloth your way through it. Even if three months isn’t enough time to see initiatives through, it is a hell of a long time to wake up each day and underachieve.

Any job can be a drag. What defines anything as worthy your time is how much you put in, time and effort-wise. What matters is what you take away from your opportunities, and how you acquit yourself when challenges arise. In the end, it really is the job experience that matters, not the paycheque, or even the reference. If you come out of a job having done the minimum required, you’re a lot poorer for the experience. You missed the real opportunity.

I think, in this period of what are perhaps low expectations, we ought to all of us take a second to remember that there is still time left, and that sometimes the greatest political action of all doesn’t happen until leaders are on their way out, have nothing to lose, and have no agenda but upholding their own principles.

•

PETER GOFFIN EXECUTIVE EDITOR

YOU THERE! GET TYPING! Write for the Silhouette e-mail thesil@thesil.ca MUSC B110

to the executive pooper.

to the bill. to working through the superbowl. to snow shoes: shoes buried in snow.

to orange pop.

to “interesting“ fart facts.

to text-to-voice.

to getting caught.

to escort agency website pictures.

to firsts and lasts.

JOY SANTIAGO / MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

Quackers here shows admirable political perseverance. Attaboy, Quackers.

to being listed as “soc sci five“.

to filth.

to obscure meanings.

Section Meeting Times Photo Fridays at 3:30 p.m. photo@thesil.ca News Fridays at 1:30 p.m. news@thesil.ca Business Tuesdays at 12 p.m. business@thesil.ca Sports Fridays at 11:30 a.m. sports@thesil.ca InsideOut Mondays at 1:00 p.m. insideout@thesil.ca ANDY Mondays at 2:00 p.m. andy@thesil.ca Opinions Mondays at 1:15 p.m. opinions@thesil.ca

For everything in these pages, as well as content published exclusively on-line, visit

TheSil.ca Actually, the site is really a workplace anti-sexual harrassment tutorial video.

No means no, especially when it means “Don’t staple my butt.”

AND ALSO...

Tune in to the Sil’s radio show every Friday at 2 p.m. on CFMU, 93.3 on your dial, cfmu.msumcmaster.ca on the web.

CLARIFICATION While everyone else around here got a snow day on Wednesday, Feb. 2, we here at the Silhouette did not. We were holed up in the basement of the Student Centre. It was a not altogether unpleasant experience.

I was concerned at first about the possibility of a killer storm, but then I remembered that we could probably survive a nuclear holocaust in this bunkjer of an office of ours.

It was, however, hard to find coffee what with campus being deserted.

Actually coffee was in bountiful supply, but farther away than usual. I had to walk outside to get to it. And that was a strenuous experience. And then I realised how much I need coffee.

-Ed.

THE SILHOUETTE • A7

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2011

OPINIONS

production office extension: 27117 opinions@thesil.ca

A nation in turmoil

?

CASSANDRA JEFFERY OPINIONS EDITOR

What is your opinion on the political issue in Egypt?

Feedback

Canadians, as members of a democratic nation, hold a number of responsibilities, such as voting in a federal elections to ensure that we have a direct say in who governs our country. Those of us who have been following international news for the past two weeks realize that this democratic privilege is not “There are more the case for the people of Egypt. civilized ways to President Hosni Mubarak has ruled revolt against the over Egypt for the past 30 years government than and civilians have taken to the streets to protest in support of his destroying the resignation as government official. culture.”

The protest for democratic rights Alexandra Savin is a commendable effort from Egyptian citizens, however, will the resignation of Mubarak lead to political turmoil or prosperity for the nation?

The Globe and Mail has reported that Egyptians have had enough of Mubarak’s autocratic regime as his leadership has only ignored the needs of the poor and have allowed for corruption and official abuse to run rampant throughout the country.

Currently, the protest is a rather peaceful event as the country’s

“I agree with what’s going on, I agree with the people, they should be having a revolution.”

Hanita Kargaran

military has agreed not to restrain protesters. Although there have been a number of disagreements between organizations including student activists, grass-roots organizers, old-school opposition politicians and the fundamentalist Muslim Brotherhood. Public transportation, schools, banks, and internet use have come to a standstill as more than 250,000 have filled Cairo’s Liberation Square.

As an individual who benefits from the democratic privileges of Canada, including the free choice to choose a government, I believe those under the rule of an autocratic regime have the right and obligation to fight for what they believe is a fair and just government. The current events in Egypt are a perfect example of how much power regular people hold over their nation and what lengths citizens are capable of going to in order to obtain equality and basic civil rights. I commend those individuals protesting for a future in democracy, however, amidst the chaos are those who have revolution fever: the thrill of fighting for something just and fair has skewed the potential outcome of the protestors actions. I am by

no means advocating for Mubarak’s behaviour as the country’s leader, however consider this: with the removal of the current regime an opportunity for power lies open.

Who will take control of the people?

Who will form a new government?

According the Globe, tensions are rising from within the Muslim Brotherhood, which wants to govern Egypt along the parameters of Islamic Law. The exchange of one repressive regime for another. Although not all Islamic regimes are deemed as repressive, there are a number of issues surrounding the Muslim Brotherhood who are pining for power in Egypt, such as their Islamism ideology. The Muslim Brotherhood attributes control with religious, Islamic values and advocates for the restoration of the Sharia Law. Sharia Law is an extremely oppressive, Islamic political tradition which often holds strict laws on issues such as divorce and the treatment of women. If an organization such as the Muslim Brotherhood were to seize control over Egypt the nation would find themselves no closer to democracy •PLEASE SEE THRILL, A10

Where’s a gay’s place in Canada?

An attack on one is an attack on all CHRIS ERL

ages of 12 and 22.

The attacks in January had one pressing similarity. Each It is often said that our generation of the hate crimes began with will grow to be the most accepting, the perpetrators shouting at the diverse and progressive people the men they would attack. In both world has ever seen. Building off instances, the victims were assailed the social liberalization that our with taunts of “faggot!”

For simply being, for parent’s generation fostered and our grandparent’s generation struggled simply walking down the street, for to enable, the vast, sweeping vision simply entering a restaurant, the men for this era was that our generation that were attacked found themselves would triumphantly march off to subjected to ridicule. This ridicule universities, reclaim degraded urban centres, employ our uninhibited creativity and embrace all people For simply being, for unequivocally.

That vision is clouded simply walking down with unambiguous regularity with the street, for simply every hate crime, every slur, every entering a attempt to restrict the basic natural rights and freedoms of all people. restaurant, the men

Two headline-grabbing that were attacked hate crimes occurred in Toronto this found themselves past January. Both happened around Church and Wellesey Streets, the subjected to centre of Canada’s largest gay ridicule.” village. It is no surprise that each attack was directed at older gay men. The troubling issue about these attacks is that they were perpetrated was based on nothing more than by youth no older than 21. the nature of their existence, the

Beatings and assaults location of their person and the occur with frightening regularity, timing of the encounter. with approximately two occurring This is hardly a surprise if each month during 2009 in Toronto. one looks at the nature of discourse Among Canada’s hate crime among youth and those that help “capitals” are university towns, raise them. The socialization of such as London, Guelph and all children to act a particular way Kingston, which lends credence to does not account for differences in recently released statistics that show sexuality. The heavy emphasis on the majority of individuals charged heteronormative attitudes in society with hate crimes are between the make homosexuality something ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

“I agree with the revolution, the government sucks.”

Anthony Ha

“Revolting is fine, but taking advantage of turmoil is wrong.”

Christopher Monaghan

to be reviled and rejected at all costs. A byproduct of this is the schoolyard transformation of things from “stupid”, to being affixed with the descriptive adjective “gay”.

Someone is no longer an “idiot”, they’re a “fag”.

For some, these attitudes carry through into adulthood. Taunts and harassment become general hatred and repulsion that segues viciously into physical attacks.

Others seem to take it upon themselves to combat this “problem” in a less direct manner.

Heterosexual crusaders have turned issues of basic human rights, of simple subsistence, into an imaginary war on the last vanguard, the last holy land: the family.

Petitions to the House of Commons seeking to remove sexual orientation from the Charter, seething diatribes on the immorality of homosexuality littering the “letters to the editor” pages of community newspapers and vitriolic, hateful ballot measures like Proposition 8 in California are nothing more than palatable ways of shouting “faggot”.

When a member of the gay community is attacked, some pensive reflection is required.

The eternal question is “why?”

We look to prejudiced religious leaders, a tepid political climate and oppressive gender roles, trying in desperation to find out why there is so much hate directed at gays and lesbians for no better reason than •PLEASE SEE IN THE, A10

Compiled by Cassandra Jeffery and Christopher Chang

[This Week in Opinions] The Meaning of Symbols Symbols are often given negative connotations yet we don’t always need to accept these meanings as our own.

Pg. A8

Screw You, CRTC

Dealing With Rejection

The CRTC is forcing small internet companies to implement Usage Based Billing for customers on March 1. So long limitless internet.

Sometimes in life you fail.

When this happens don’t get upset or mad, instead learn how to deal with the sting of rejection.

Pg. A9

Pg. A9

A8 • THE SILHOUETTE

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2011

Vote yes to keep your bus pass Mac students pay less than 15 per cent of standard bus costs KEVIN SIMMS OPINIONS

Picture this: you have a 9:30 class on Monday morning. You get out of bed, get dressed and walk to the bus stop. The weather is cold and wet and as you walk to the bus stop, which is at least 10 minutes away, the damp cold nips at your nose and chills you to the bone.

You finally make it to the bus stop, and the bus passes you by, not just once but four times. Each time it passes by you look inside the bus and notice that they’re full, but no where near capacity.

When the fifth bus finally comes, it stops, you get on and after all of that, you have to pay.

Needless to say, I love my student card/bus pass.

On Feb. 3 and 4 McMaster students will get a chance to vote on whether they will allow the McMaster Student Union to bargain on their behalf with the Hamilton Street Railway, to renew their bus pass contract. Vote yes, to keep your bus pass.

Your current student card/ bus pass is a great deal. For eight months’ worth of HSR service, students pay $102.70. If students, or anyone else, were to purchase bus passes for eight months they would pay $696.

What this means is that McMaster students save $593.30, and pay less than 15 per cent of the regular cost of eight months’ worth of bus passes.

What do you do with your $593? Do you know? Does it help you stay out of debt, pay your rent, or pay for classes here at McMaster, or even just have some great nights

JOY SANTIAGO / MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

As university students we can find a lot of other things to spend 600 dollars on rather than public transportation.

out at the bar?

The amount students save is less than the cost of most classes here at McMaster. That amount could also pay the rent of some students for a month, with change left over. We’re getting a huge deal.

And the best part about it there’s no hassle, we flash our

student card when we get on the bus and that is that.

What this means is that it is simple and we save. How many other services can offer you both those things?

Standing in the cold waiting for a bus is bad enough.

Watching as several pass you by is

even worse. Having to pay full price when you finally get on a bus makes the prospect almost unbearable.

The threat of having to pay full price for the bus on top of missing out on the opportunity not too, is why I’m voting in favour of renewing the bus pass. Let’s face it, university isn’t cheap. Why pay

more if you don’t have to? I’m not prepared to pay $593 more every year.

As students we have the choice, do we want to pay more? Or do we want to vote to pay less? On Feb. 3 and 4 vote, “Yes” on the bus pass referendum to keep your bus pass and your money in your hands.

Why meaning doesn’t matter Universal symbols and labels can have any connotation you want them to, good or bad PETER GOFFIN

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Adolf Hitler spoiled Charlie Chaplin’s mustache.

Chaplin, renowned film comedian of the teens and twenties, made the narrow ’stache iconic decades before Hitler annexed it from him and ruined it forever. Now no one can pay tribute to Chaplin, or even host their own revival of that particular lip-oriented style flair without seeming to have some affiliation to the Nazi leader.

So it goes.

Words and symbols which once were innocuous, even beloved, get twisted by popular perception into something ugly.

It’s why feminism is now a dirty word despite only meaning a socio-political ideology. Similarly, “Holocaust” once meant a great sacrificial fire. It came from the Greek word holocaustos. Of course now, it is Capital-H Holocaust. The meaning has changed.

It happens to images as well as labels. Just as the swastika was once an Indian symbol of peace and power, it is now specifically interpreted as the Nazi symbol.

That’s because Hitler applied his subjective connotation to it and was persuasive enough for the general public to follow suit. All other meanings of the swastika have been expunged from the public consciousness. Except in India.

To Indians, the swastika is still a positive symbol. And they aren’t Nazis and they are well aware of the other connotation that the symbol has. But they have decided that 2,000 years of religious tradition in their country cannot be surpassed or outweighed by a foreign government having adopted

and perverted the symbol almost 70 years ago.

To Indians, the original, positive symbolism of the swastika is simply more powerful than the newer, negative one. They have chosen to retain the meaning of the swastika that they prefer and want.

The point is that all bad connotations are constructed.

Someone had to imbue negative symbols with their negativity.

Hitler could have used

hurting, it can be done. But it won’t be easy. It took two millennia of religious symbolism to exonerate the swastika in India. It’ll take something nearly as grand to sway the common view of those other contested terms.

Changing public perception of such powerful words and symbols is like hog-tying a bull. You can’t expect to change everyone’s minds right away or even ever. But you can try. And in the meantime you can learn to live with the fact that yours is a While it can be misunderstood symbol.

If there is any single lesson frustrating to have to be learned from the continued use a symbol of yours of the swastika in India, and much of the rest of Asia, it is that other misinterpreted, people’s definitions of symbols we have to take don’t have to affect your own. Hitler comfort in our own couldn’t take the swastika away from Buddhists and Hindus, and beliefs and say no one ignorant of the true tenents hang to the rest of of feminism can take away its true the world.” meaning either.

There’s that great old Scott Fitzgerald quote about the mark of baby ducks as his party emblem true genius being the ability to hold and, though it would have looked two opposing ideas in your head at a little silly on the sides of his the same time and still function. I Panzers, it would have ruined baby really believe in that. ducks for a lot of people. But it’s The world is a complicated just as possible to take symbols and divisive place. And six billion back. So if we want the swastika people are going to come up with to mean peace, it can mean peace. some pretty varied ideas on just It can also mean “Free Sideribs” or about everything. While it can be “Yield to Traffic” or “No sex in the frustrating to have a favourite word Champagne Room.” or symbol of yours misinterpreted, And in much the same perhaps even deliberately, fashion, if we want feminism to sometimes we have to take comfort stop being dirty word and have it go in our own beliefs and say hang to back to being neutral if not positive the rest of the world. In the end, in connotation, we can make that no one can take away your beliefs. happen too.

They couldn’t even take away If we want cunt, faggot, Charlie Chaplin’s mustache. Not Hitler gave Charlie Chaplin’s facial hair a bad rep. spic, wop, chink, whatever, to stop truly.

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

THE SILHOUETTE • A9

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2011

How to deal with rejection Always try your best, but when you fail, don’t take it to heart JENNA SHAMOON

grade eight was an awful year for me). The year before, I had made the play but I had a more prominent Rejection: also known as the gentler part, meaning I had more than five term for “failure.” It’s something lines. In the grade eight play, my everyone encounters at some character had three lines. Once point. Trying out for a sports team, again, the sting of rejection had applying for a scholarship, asking become all too familiar. But the someone to prom; each of these main reason I was disappointed in events comes with the possibility both these instances was because I of failure or success. The big didn’t prepare myself for possible mistake that many people make is failure. neglecting to prepare themselves Now that I’ve learned to for both outcomes. deal with rejection and everything

People always say “Oh, that comes with it, I’ve created a set don’t worry. You did fine!” or “It’ll of rules known as “The Four Rules definitely work out” or “Yes. It’s to Survive Rejection”: going to be a success.” The truth 1) When you’re going after a is…it’s all bullshit. certain goal or destination, do your

Now don’t think I’m saying best. That way, if you do fail, at that everyone is least you did it with bound to fail at some heart. everything they try, When you’re trying 2) When you’re I’m just saying that trying out for out for something, the world doesn’t something, consider consider that there that there are people always work in our favour. It’s not are people who are who are better than a perfect Edward better than you. That you. That way you Scissorhands understand that u t o p i a n way you understand there are people who neighbourhood out are better for the job. that there are there.

Now you won’t feel people who are

I ’ v e like Ms. Universe certainly come to better for the job.” falling on her ass. terms with the idea 3) When waiting for of rejection. It’s a result, consider the safe to say that it may be my best pros and cons of both outcomes. friend. In grade eight, I tried out 4)

For example, for the volleyball team. I was so asking someone on a date. If he/she sure I was going to make it, since says “Yes,” it’s good because there’s I had been on the team for the two the potential for a good relationship. previous years. I went to the try-out But it could end badly because you and then waited through the week to discover they have a foot fetish. If await my name being on the roster. they say “No,” there’s the loss of

The day comes for a relationship, but there are new announcing the final cut, so I go to possibilities in single-dom. There’s check the list. Looking for the name always a silver lining.

“Jenna Shamoon” was a tough task, 5) Lastly, always hope for the given that my name wasn’t on the best and expect the worst. list. I must’ve spent five minutes These are my steps to dealing with just staring at the list in anger and rejection. They’ve helped me, and I resentment. Not only did I not make hope they help whoever’s reading the team, but I was beaten out by a this. girl who had just injured her arm.

Just remember to be Great. confident but do not escape reality.

Another instance was Do your best, but be aware of when I tried out for the school play unknown possibilities. Bonne in grade eight (Come to think of it, chance!

SILHOUETTE STAFF

The beaver will be sad if you don’t write for Opinions.

Section Meetings: Mondays at 1:15 p.m.

MUSC b110 opinions@thesil.ca

Confidence and knowledge can overcome the sting of rejection and failure.

Screw you, CRTC The beginning of March brings Usage Based Billing ANDREW TEREFENKO SILHOUETTE STAFF

Why is it that just when I am ready to be proud of the country I live in, a blockhead Canuck has to come along and give me a reason not to?

We’re always just two steps short of being an awesome place to live in, and it really tires the nerves to deal with this disappointment on a yearly basis.

What am I talking about specifically? The purely mindless castration of our nation’s internet freedom, sometimes known as Usage Based Billing.

Two weeks ago the CRTC handed down an ultimatum that all internet service providers, provincewide (and eventually everywhere else in the country), must enforce usage caps on their internet billing, only allowing customers to download a set amount of data a month.

Their suggestion was 25 GB a month, after which customers must pay the overuse charges, which are on a flat charge and perGB basis.

This would have been bad enough as a general decision motivated by infrastructure concerns, but apparently this is an entirely greed-driven initiative. Are you familiar with Bell Canada,

the telecommunications giant that even those living under rocks probably have a phone bill with? It seems like they are the culprit.

The CRTC decision lists prices and data caps that are identical to what Bell charges now, and Bell is about to roll out their “Fibe TV” on-demand internet streaming service which they claim will not count towards download caps on their internet service. How nice of you Bell, you shouldn’t have. Really.

If this sounds like the rant of someone concerned about his wallet, it probably is, but only half so. The internet, to me, is something that is supposed to be getting cheaper, faster, and more accessible around the world on a daily basis.

In this age of interconnectivity it is just ludicrous to make us pay a steep fee for the imaginary service of hauling data from one place to another (which only costs an estimated $0.02 per GB, if even that). This is Canada. Why is our internet in danger of falling behind that of third-world countries?

The technology is surely not available, considering Japan has an internet infrastructure eight times as fast as ours, at a price

that is twenty-four times less! That is just baffling to me. Even our neighbours to the south already have internet that matches ours in speed, at half the cost. Why is this?

If you’re one of many that already subscribe the telecom giants like Bell, Rogers or Telus and have had a capped internet access for a while, you may think that this does not affect you. But it surely will, if not immediately.

How do you imagine schools will feel about providing free campuswide wireless internet access when it is going to cost them potentially four times more, given that students are prime candidates for mass downloading? Either your tuition is going to rise to supplement the projected cost, or that internet access is going to slow to a crawl, to make downloading unbearable (a practice already enacted in many American colleges).

It’s not too late I suppose.

This isn’t supposed to happen until Mar. 1. There’s still time to sign petitions and write angry letters to your MP. But time and time again I’ve seen the very limited influence they have. All I can do is cancel my non-internet services with Bell and cross my fingers that my current independent ISP prices don’t go up too high. I sincerely hope that my nation doesn’t fail me yet again. This is Canada goddamnit. And we deserve better.

A10 • THE SILHOUETTE

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2011

In the struggle for full Thrill of revolution has equality, hope remains skewed thoughts on future • CONT’D FROM A7 simply being.

We are a nation that talks extensively about how wonderful we are at maintaining basic, natural human rights. If we are indeed that kind of nation, why do our actions not correspond with our words? Why do we allow the subjugation of an entire people through fear when we pat ourselves on the back for upholding “peace, order and good government” so well? Why do we bother with the notion of equality when we are willingly slow to make it a reality for all Canadians?

Why do we still cling to the vision that our generation will grow to be the most accepting, diverse and progressive people the world has ever seen?

Because it is not impossible to fathom the notion of full equality. It is not impossible to foresee a day in which there is no fear, acceptance of all people and instruments of gender socialization that view people as individuals, not anthropomorphous groups. It is not impossible to have hope.

When your rights are assailed with unnecessary regularity, all you can do is maintain hope. We have to have hope.

The people of Egypt have had enough of the undemocratic leaders in charge.

• CONT’D thanFROM under A7 the rule of Mubarak. than under the rule of Mubarak.

An article written by author and journalist, Marina Nemat draws a number of correlations between the 1979 Iran revolution and what is occurring today in Egypt.

Nemat was an Iranian citizen during the 1979 Iran revolution and participated in protests for democratic rights. Her article describes the problems associated with fighting for regime change without having a follow-up plan for the future. According to Nemat, the 1979 revolution was supported by 98 per cent of Iranians, yet only a few short years after the exile of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, a new Islamic regime came into power.

This, Nemat says, “led to a horrific dictatorship that has been ruling Iran with an iron fist for more than 30 years.” Sound

CHRISTOPHER CHANG / SENIOR PHOTO EDITOR

Canadians pride themselves on inclusivity, but are we really that accepting?

familiar? Thousands of Egyptian citizens are against the Mubarak regime and want his power revoked and once again, an Islamic organization is attempting to seize control with the termination of the current regime’s power.

I agree with Nemat when she states, “I commend the people of Egypt and Tunisia for their courage, and I wish them freedom and democracy. I encourage them to continue their movement, but I also urge them to be alert and to learn from history.”

With the current events occurring in Egypt it’s easy, for young individuals especially, to get caught up with the excitement and thrill of a revolution. However, democracy is difficult to accomplish and not planning for the repercussions of political protests could lead to a severely troublesome future.

THE SILHOUETTE • A11

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2011

Is it okay to eat people?

EDWARD LOVO OPINION

Nothing is wrong with cannibalism.

I am definitely going to get heat for this one.

Part of my last Friday night was spent arguing with a friend over what’s wrong with cannibalism. I was trying to convince her that there was nothing inherently wrong with it, and I also tried to pull a reason out of her that could convince me otherwise. None was forthcoming.

She’s the type of friend who, if we disagree, we’re not just bumping heads, but also calling in the Navy and ordering an airstrike on one another. We can really piss each other off.

Anyway, what’s wrong with cannibalism? There are cultures that practice cannibalism, are they immoral? For those really eager to claim that the culture is immoral, ask yourselves what justifies that claim. My friend gave me some reasons, and I’m sure you’ll offer the same for why it’s wrong. For one thing, cannibalism means eating other human beings!

My God, I guess I was stupid not to have realized that.

Except, we eat animals all the time, and most of us think that’s fine. So why should it matter that instead of eating an animal we’re eating humans, which are animals anyway? “Well,” my friend would say, “cannibals are eating within the same species.”

In response, I would say that eating cows, pigs, or whatever is wrong, and I argue that it’s wrong because we’re eating within the same class – mammalia. I bet most of you are not convinced by this argument but, if so, why should we be convinced by the species argument? Is it because its taxonomy is lower in rank? I guess eating primates is more wrong than eating cows, and since we share even less with the birds it’s more moral to eat birds than cows. A person who eats primates is bizarre, and a person who eats birds is not judged at all. Stranger still is that

we accept this line of reasoning and we harm life, beings with which we share something in common.

Still, there are some responses that lie in wait. Sure we share something in common with all life on Earth, but we have something extra special: intelligence. Making a wild conjecture, I am going to assume no one has ever had a stimulating discussion with an intelligent dead human.

Innate to the human species, along with all other carnivorous animals, is a biological imperative to eat meat, and not to eat one’s own species. This is meant to explain the difference in our moral sense between humans and other animals.

Such a biological imperative, however, cannot explain those cultures that practice cannibalism.

Last, but not least, some people will insist on a psychological or societal imperative.

In other words, people will not eat another human being because society has inculcated into every person an imperative not to; that shows that it’s wrong.

Realize, however, that morality is relative and you cannot claim that a cannibalistic culture is immoral.

Perhaps I misunderstood, and by “societal imperative” is meant “the right lies with the majority”, since the majority will be disinclined to eat their own species. Be wary, however, because this claim implies that the minority in any regime, including democracies, must always be in the wrong when trying to make their claims heard, or that if the majority wants you dead for no reason, you’re dead wrong if you disagree.

Both biological and societal imperatives are far from justifying belief in the immorality of cannibalism. Intelligence is irrelevant when considering the immorality of cannibalism, as well, since intelligence is not something a dead man possesses.

Now, someone reading this might think I’d be more inclined than others to eat humans. No way.

The idea sickens me.

JOY SANTIAGO / MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

Cannibalism is a reality in some cultures, so why does our society see the practice as wrong?

Can’t I at least be bologna?

Stop fighting to be something or someone you’re not, create your own persona EDWARD GULOIEN OPINION

Life can be complex, with all of its social standards, fine print details, deadlines, obligations, financial restrictions, internet dating and mandatory pants-wearing laws. It can be so easy to get caught up in it all and forget about ourselves and our mental health. I think we owe it to our precious brains to put them to some use outside the question and answer bank that’s confining our thoughts in typical daily life.

We should all be doing something with our lives that regularly engages our mind and personality. This is great for not only staving off boredom, but maintaining happiness too.

The trick lies in a task or hobby, often individual to us, which we can be free to express during total immersion. This excludes any type of copying or borrowing.

Too often we see a quality unique to others and try to incorporate it into our being for

resolve. It feels good for a few days. Sure enough, the good-time feeling fades faster than a first-year math class after an extended game of ride-the-bus. This happens with everything from clothing, hobbies, parachute pants, and cars, and it also occurs with personality traits.

This, my friends, can be simplified into one Freudian term: the persona.

It is our idea of who we want to be and how we project ourselves to the outside world.

Most people have one.

Congratulations. We have so much in common. Unfortunately, feeding this persona by no means influences how content we are with our true personality.

That thing that you keep saying you’re going to get done this weekend? Start there, now! Put your blood, spit and nose grease into it.

Forget about the time, your classes, tests, upcoming assignments and that Nobel Prize ceremony you were planning on going to. Completely absorb yourself in your work.

When every part of your

consciousness is in that one task, it takes on your personality. Your fingerprints are all over it and damn it feels good.

Ever had a diary you didn’t want anyone to read? In there was

We need to stop worrying about these unrealistic images of ourselves and run with what we know about our real selves. Express what little feelings we still have.” probably every ounce of you and if anyone read it, your self was on the chopping block. There it would be set for marinating or piled with the rest of bad meat doomed for hot dog amalgamation.

“Can’t I at least be bologna?”

“Nope, it will have to be hot dog. We have a tight limit on the amount of diary we can put in our bologna meats and last week we went over the diary composition capacity.” Pretty scary thought.

No wonder hiding behind masks is more commonplace than revealing our real qualities. Rather than putting ourselves up for evaluation, we can sell a part of ourselves that’s been thought out, produced and edited for the masses.

Fear not, for all incriminating evidence has been removed, but with it every remnant of yourself.

This is okay, up until the point where you actually start believing that this perfect image of yourself is real and what defines you as a person. You’re just another face in the crowd with no defining features and special qualities.

We need to stop worrying about these unrealistic images of ourselves and run with what we know about our real selves.

Express what little feelings we still have and be proud of them.

Involve ourselves in everything manageable and leave our mark on everything. People may not enjoy it, they might fear or hate those proud enough to be so honest with themselves.

This is okay. Shrugging off all the negative feedback may be difficult at first, but those ballsy enough to deal with it can gain something better than all the kiss-assing the world can provide – mainly self-respect and contentment.

Anything allowing true emotional expression should work as a proper vessel for which to spend time developing the self.

It seems like one of the healthier ways to get your personality and conscious content out without a bias from the factors that may hinder self-realization.

Think of it like consuming a hefty amount of fiber and prune juice, leaving nothing to rot inside.

Sounds delicious. Heck, it might even turn out to be better than you expect.

A12 • THE SILHOUETTE

SpeculatoR The Hamilton

Thursday, February 3, 2011 F

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2011

INSIDE THE SPECULATOR

WHITEOUT CONDITIONS

Cold as shit since 1930.

Winter strikes again!

Season assaults Hamilton, destroys sensibility BUCK HOROWITZ SPECULATOR

Bandits hit sperm, blood banks BUCK HOROWITZ SPECULATOR

Winter struck Hamilton today, with absolutely no mercy or regard for the well-being of decent, God-loving people.

“The snow is everywhere. I’m literally up to my ankles in snow,” said, Herbert Humm, Humanities IV. Panic rose faster than the snow levels yesterday as the ruthless flakes piled up, miring innocent bystanders in their homes with nothing to do but eat, sleep, talk to loved ones, watch TV, use the internet, study, read, cook, sing, dance, go to the bathroom, lie down, sit, stand, twirl in circles, watch a movie, and the other basic functions of modern man.

“If I had gone outside, I might have gotten some of the snow in my boot,” sobbed Humm, who at the time of this interview was already going through post-traumatic stress disorder. “Thank God the school called a snow day, otherwise I might have faced some kind of slight inconvenience or deviation from my normal schedule. I swear I would never have made it the two block to campus.”

Asked if this experience has taught him anything, Humm responded in the affirmative. “I know never to trifle with winter,” he said, “and that next year I’m dropping out and moving to Arizona where all I have to worry about is hideous levels of gun crime.”

Above: A local resident flees in terror from the oncoming snowflakes.

Left: An artist’s rendition of the storm terrorizing the city.

University and medical officials are reeling today after a campus blood bank was subject to heist in the early hours of the morning. Police are looking for a pair of unidentified assailants, both in their twenties. They are listed as potentially armed and most definitely bizarre. It has yet to be determined why anyone would want to steal blood, but there has been some speculation amongst the authorities.

“Could be a fetish thing,” said police spokesman Const.

Douglas Beamon. “Some people, never mind who, they sure do like to do weird things with all that smooth silky blood wonderful blood in the bedroom, not that it’s any of your business. It’s a private place and any grown man can do what he wants.”

Also victimized by the wave of robberies was the Gore Park sperm bank, which was subject to a heist earlier this week.

Donors and collectors alike were held at gunpoint while the unknown culprits seized latex gloves, sample cup, and untold quarts of sperm.

“They just came out of nowhere,” said one donor, who appeared to be left-handed. “They told us to get on the floor and not look at their faces. Then they told us to get up off the floor and pull our pants up and then get back down on the floor again. It was all very complex.”

The motivation behind the sperm theft was no less clouded than that of the blood heist, though there were more proposed causes.

“If I had that much sperm, I’d use it to make an private army,” said Melvin Standish, creepy guy from my history class. “Of course I’d need a whole lot of eggs too.

That would lead to robbing an egg harvesting facility. I need more time. Ask me in a few days,” he elaborated.

“Could be an attempt to create the world’s biggest act of snowballing,” said Const. Beamon.

“Some people, never mind who, they might like to pass all that sperm back and forth and back and forth and let it get bigger and bigger, pulsing, almost a living thing, just so big and out of control and – big! – oh so big, and throbbing and palpitating. Not that it’s any of your business.”

While the threat of robbery continues to loom, the donation of bodily fluids has seen a significant drop off, causing Hamilton’s healthcare officials to worry about a drought.

“We need sperm,” said Collection Officer Warren Kish.

“It’s drier than a witch’s twat around here.”

What is certain is that something must be done to quell the rash of thefts before people are turned off of sperm and blood donation permanently.

Just kidding. People will never stop donating. They like cookies and orgasms too much.

“What Did You Learn This Week, Timmy?”

“I learned that even my holes are cold.”

Disclaimer: Stories printed in The Hamilton Speculator are fact. Any resemblance to persons real or dead is likely intentional and done out of spite. Opinions expressed are those of The Speculator and if you disagree with them you are wrong. And stupid. Possibly ugly as well.

Women’s basketball wins two in a row to keep playoff hopes alive. See B6.

SPORTS Men’s Volleyball

Athletics & Recreation

‘Passion’ campaign turning McMaster campus maroon

On a roll Mac looking to build momentum from wins

CHRISTOPHER CHANG / SENIOR PHOTO EDITOR

Kevin Stevens (10) and the Marauders cruised to two wins despite some minor miscues.

FRASER CALDWELL

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

The Marauders added two more wins to their impressive conference total this past weekend, but they didn’t do so in the most attractive of ways.

The McMaster men toppled Torontonian opposition on consecutive nights at the Burridge Gym, knocking off the York Lions in four sets on Friday (25-19, 23-25, 25-23, 25-16) before repeating the trick against the Ryerson Rams the following night (25-15, 25-22, 17-25, 25-20).

The dual victories move the Marauders’ conference record to 13-3, which keeps them level with

the Queen’s Gaels for second spot in the OUA standings. Thanks to the four points, McMaster remains in the CIS Top Ten this week, anchoring the list as the 10th seed.

However, while the Marauders would seal positive results on both occasions this past weekend, they will not have been pleased with the way in which those results were achieved.

Playing two squads that reside in the lower half of the OUA table, McMaster struggled to find their top gear over the course of the weekend, and conceded sets to teams that they would have hoped to shut out entirely.

The form shown by the Marauders against the Torontonians

will need to improve as the maroon and grey approach the end of their conference season, and that fact is not lost on the players.

Friday’s match against the visitors from York began tightly, with both teams struggling to establish consistency from the service line in the opening set. However, when the Marauders began to serve and pass with more authority in the latter stages of the first frame, success soon followed.

Rookie hitter Jori Mantha sealed that set in the hosts’ favour with an emphatic solo stuff, and the Marauders would carry that momentum into the second.

• PLEASE SEE SANTONI, B3

BEN ORR

SILHOUETTE STAFF

You may have noticed the Maroon and Grey have been a little more maroon this year. Beginning in September, McMaster Athletics and Recreation unveiled the “Colour Your Passion” campaign, aimed at increasing school spirit within the student body and McMaster community as a whole. The campaign revolves around one thing: a colour.

The walls of the David Braley Athletic Centre have been painted maroon, and posters instilling the idea that “it’s not a colour, it’s an attitude,” have been plastered throughout the halls. Most recently, a giant mosaic of CIS champion cross-country runner Jessica Pearo was put up. The first thing you see when you enter McMaster’s athletic complex is a larger than life poster of our champion. Clearly, a message is being sent. The Maruaders matter to this university.

Parrish Offer, Business Development Coordinator for Athletics and Recreation, summed up the need for the campaign.

“It is shown in countless studies that students who are engaged in extracurricular activities at University score higher in the classroom than those who do not. The new athletic marketing campaign is designed to attach to as many students as possible by creating a lasting bond between the university and the student.”

This bond is clearly created through school spirit, and more specifically, an attachment to the colours of the school.

“School spirit is often portrayed through athletic competition, however not all students compete on a varsity Marauder team. The colour maroon is all across campus and we have found that students attach themselves with the colour maroon already.”

The goal of the campaign was to be inclusive, and to make everyone feel like a Marauder, says Offer.

“This campaign will transcend athletics to other part of campus so that students will become involved. Hopefully within our walls, but if not, that there is more to university than just the school work. Athletics and Recreation is all about enhancing and adding to the student experience, not just for varsity athletes, but everyone who comes to watch or participate.”

A key element to the campaign was the opening of the appropriately named Maroon Shop, located in the Athletic Centre. Formerly Short Stop, run by the MSU, the

new shop is a joint venture between the Student Union and Athletics and Recreation, and is focused on performance athletic apparel.

“The [Maroon] Shop gives us an opportunity to sell name brand items such as Nike, Adidas and Under Armour with our brand attached. The brand is stylish and creates the message of who McMaster really is. We are not trying to be like anyone else. We are McMaster,” said Offer.

Short Stop never had the success that the Maroon Shop is currently having, and the new products can be seen around campus.

Sales for the shop have increased, and Marauders apparel sales at Titles have also increased.

The campaign is focused around the Athletic Centre, with numerous posters and banners being installed, and includes Ron Joyce Stadium and Burridge Gym. The goal of the campaign was to increase traffic for each facility, and success is measured this way.

“Increased traffic through the building and attendance at our varsity events are all numbers that can be gauged. This year we broke a regular season attendance number in football. 75 per cent of students use our building annually, making it one of the most diverse buildings on campus. The DBAC is another place for students to come and enjoy. We will continue to make it the better. Ultimately we want to be as inclusive as possible and increase that 75 per cent to even higher.”

Athletics and Recreation changed their policy this season, allowing free entry to varsity volleyball and basketball games for all Mac students wearing maroon.

This reflects increased attendance at these events and the effort to make Burridge Gym a difficult to play for opposing teams. The campaign has been undeniably successful, but will continue to evolve in the future, according to Offer.

“Additions to the building are continuing. There will also be some changes to the website and extensions to colouryourpassion.ca.

We want more people dressing in maroon to be part of the collective and we will continue to reward with incentives. There will also be more events in the stadium and building that will engage students who are not necessarily interested in sports.”

The Colour Your Passion campaign has undoubtedly begun to change the culture on campus, and Athletics and Recreation hopes the success will continue. So, pull on your maroon, break out the cheers and be a Marauder. It’s easier than ever.

[This Week in Sports] Aged Athletes Our Sports Editorial looks at athletes who hold on to the spotlight for too long and retire before they do too much damage to themselves.

Pg. B2

Blizzardsketball

Wrasslin’ at Western

Ontario’s SnowPocalypse forces Mac’s basketball teams to reschedule their Wednesday night tilts with Laurier Pg. B4

Mac wrestler Kevin MacLelland won all four of his matches, leading McMaster’s brawlers in a pair of weekend tournies.

Pg. B5

B2 • THE SILHOUETTE

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2011

THE SKINNY

What You Need To Know This Week In Sports Sports Editorial

Male Performance of the Week

The twilight of the idols FRASER CALDWELL

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

There is a point in every legendary athlete’s career when the veneer of invincibility begins to irrevocably wear off.

Maybe it’s a suspiciously off night, or a niggling injury that simply won’t go away. But whatever it is, we as spectators and as sports fans know that it is no fluke, no passing fad.

That dominant performer that we’ve enjoyed watching, year-in and year-out has crested the hill. How far down that career mountain our idol happens to be, no one quite knows.

Watching the Australian Open this past week, I couldn’t help but wonder if we witnessed just such a moment in the epoch-making life of Roger Federer.

I make no bones about the fact that I love tennis. In fact, I’ll tell nearly anyone who will listen that the Grand Slams sit behind only the World Cup on my priority list of sporting events.

The NHL could lock out again, and football, basketball, and baseball could simply cease to exist as physical activities, and as long as you could provide me with four yearly doses of green-ball-on-court, I could be a blissfully happy man.

Naturally then I have a little experience with the Fed Express, even while I hardly like the guy.

I won’t bore you with the statistics – the absolutely unfathomable number of Grand Slam titles he owns, or the legendary consecutive semi-final record he holds. But needless to say, Roger Federer will retire as the most prolific tennis player to ever have graced the game.

The Switzer has owned the tennis world to an extent that nearly no other athlete can claim to have emulated in any field. He has spent the better part of a decade making good players look atrocious, and great players appear mediocre.

Even two years ago, when Federer’s form dipped to a level that had many questioning if he was starting to look a little grey, we found out that he was suffering from mononucleosis. Imagine the pain of the poor saps who had been dealt a double-bagel by a player stricken by the kissing disease.

However, if that momentary lapse of form was excusable by illness, then Federer’s more recent setback is far more worrying.

This past Thursday, the man for whom the number one ranking in the ATP once looked to be personally designed faced Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals of the Australian Open.

And Djokovic would beat him. Not just beat him, but dismiss him in three consecutive sets, without even the consolation of extra innings to soften the pain of his exit.

Nor was Federer playing badly. He wasn’t slow, or inaccurate, or overly emotional. His serve wasn’t erratic, and his ground strokes were their usual, graceful selves.

Roger Federer was simply outplayed. Vanquished by a player with a bigger, more varied game that his could not hope to overcome.

And for a man accustomed to imposing his will on any challenger foolish enough to raise a racquet in anger against him, that fact must be exceedingly worrying.

Perhaps the most interesting thing to watch as Federer becomes ever more aware of the passage of time, is how exactly he will handle the realization that he is no longer the player he once was.

For the greats of sport, the act of retirement and the difficult years that directly preclude it can be an extremely messy affair. One need only think of the numerous cases that recent history has provided us to ascertain this truth.

Take Michael Jordan for example, whose own mastery of basketball seemingly came to bore him. So much so, that Jordan decided to try his hand at another American pastime, and announced his retirement from the NBA in 1993, at the peak of his career.

Of course, we know what happened next. His Airness returned to the Bulls in ’95 and went on to win three more NBA titles, after being understandably unable to escape the minors as a stick swinger.

How about a more recent example? Maybe that of the pigskin legend and king of indecision, Brett Favre.

Not only has Brett waffled more than an Alabama pancake house, but the longer that the debacle of his retirement has gone on, the more pathetic it has gotten.

Remember the days when Favre was a respectable figure and a damn good quarterback? One who flung leather better than almost any man before him had done?

Well the problem is that I hardly do. Because since that time, Brett has not only regressed as a passer, but as a human being as well.

Why he decided that snapping photos of his genitals was a better way to pick up younger women than booking the next Just For Men ad, we’ll never know. But what we do know is that it has done serious, irreversible damage to his public image, and indeed to the remembrance of his great career.

The truth is, that when era-defining athletes reach the end of the line, they tend to get a little wacky.

And so, when I think of the rapidly aging Roger Federer, I really just hope he keeps his wits about him. I pray that he doesn’t decide that he needs to dominate another sport. Or maybe, that he doesn’t go exploring with his smartphone.

Tyler Santoni - Volleyball The fifth-year veteran in the middle of the Marauders’ formation managed two more clutch performances to help McMaster to consecutive wins this past weekend. The Kingston native notched 11 points on Friday to be named the maroon and grey’s Player of the Game. He bettered that effort by tallying 15 the next night.

CHRISTOPHER CHANG / SENIOR PHOTO EDITOR

Female Performance of the Week

Jackie Nimec - Basketball Nimec helped the Marauders to a win over the Guelph Gryphons, scoring 19 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in a win that helped Mac stay alive in the OUA West playoff race. It was her second straight double-double after the six-foot wing went for 18 points and 10 rebounds in last week’s win over Waterloo.

Photo of the Week CHRISTOPHER CHANG / SENIOR PHOTO EDITOR

Top 5

Top 5 athletes who should have retired earlier 5. Sammy Sosa 4. Chris Chelios 3. Evander Holyfield 2. Michael Jordan CHRISTOPHER CHANG / SENIOR PHOTO EDITOR

Marauder libero Josh Lichty launches himself into a dig during McMaster’s Friday night contest against the York Lions. The host Marauders beat the Lions in four sets, before repeating that result the next night against the Ryerson Rams.

Come Write For Us! - Sports meeting every Thursday at 11:30 a.m.

Follow us on Twitter - @Decker_Brian @fraser_caldwell @theSilhouette

1. Brett Favre

THE SILHOUETTE • B3

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2011

Men’s Volleyball

Women’s Volleyball

Santoni, Sjonnesen provide offence

Welcome to the West

• CONT’D FROM B1

However, by building a lead which stretched to as much as 11 at the coming of the second technical timeout, the Marauders would self-destruct to dramatically gift the set to the visitors.

The third set was hardly an example of vintage volleyball itself, but McMaster would eke it out with the aid of the chair umpire and force York to the brink in the form of a fourth frame.

Crucial contributions from substitute hitters Shayne Petrusma and Tyson Alexander led the way for the Marauders in the fourth, as they eased past a York side that seemed devoid of ideas after the drama of the third set.

The usual suspect Tyler Santoni was awarded player of the game honours for the Marauders, turning in a typically efficient performance to notch 11 points while converting nine of 14 hitting attempts.

Saturday provided a similar contest for the Marauders, who once again triumphed despite being far from their dominant best.

After winning the first two sets with relative ease, the hosts played another game to forget in the third to allow the Rams into a bonus fourth. That proved to be the best that Ryerson could muster however, as they would fade considerably on route to the loss in that extra set.

Third-year middle hitter Michael Sjonnesen, who has enjoyed what can only be described as a breakout season this year, was vital in the Marauders’ winning effort.

The longtime understudy of the Marauders’ primary middle Tyler Santoni, Sjonnesen hit with great menace in the Saturday victory.

The end result was 15 points for the product of Waterloo, which he achieved while finding the floor on 11 of 19 hitting attempts.

The effort was enough to secure the Marauders’ player of the game

Marauders dominate East-leading Lions

award for the encouraging middle.

As for Sjonnesen’s veteran teammate, Santoni commented that while the team is happy to add four more points to their conference total, the means by which they did so on the weekend were not satisfactory.

“We’re happy with the two wins, but we’re not happy with the way that they were achieved,” said Santoni. “Those are both middle of the pack teams, and we should be beating them in three sets.”

“It’s not that they beat us in the sets that we lost, we beat ourselves. We didn’t play our game, we lost our focus and it’s definitely not something that I want to happen again this season.”

On the subject of the many clutch cameos that the Marauders have enjoyed from bench players, Santoni indicated that such performances have been a great help while the team struggles to cope with injuries to several starters.

“It’s been good, because we’ve had some injuries and had some guys that have been struggling a little bit. It’s comforting to know that we have some guys that can come in and finish the job.”

In terms of what the team must do to continue to succeed, the veteran middle believes that the Marauders must remain determined and resourceful.

“We’ve got to keep grinding games out,” said Santoni.

“We’re going to find ways to win, and we’ve got what it takes to win the OUAs. That’s what I want to do.”

Such commitment will need to be on display this weekend, as the Marauders confront two fresh opponents in their march toward the conference playoffs.

McMaster hosts the Toronto Varsity Blues on Friday night at Burridge Gym, before travelling to Guelph to take on the Gryphons the following night.

Both games are slated to begin at 8 p.m.

CHRISTOPHER CHANG / SENIOR PHOTO EDITOR

Setter Amanda Weldon (9) won McMaster’s player of the game award on Saturday.

FRASER CALDWELL

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

CHRISTOPHER CHANG / SENIOR PHOTO EDITOR

Tyler Santoni stood tall for the Marauders over the weekend.

the Sens suck so does white space write for Sil Sports sports@thesil.ca

The York Lions entered Burridge Gym on Friday night as the best team in the OUA East, but they would be thoroughly humbled by the end of their match with the Marauders.

In a promising match up between the top squads in Ontario’s two-divisional volleyball setup, McMaster swept aside their guests from York in straight sets (25-18, 25-19, 25-15) and sent a strong message to their conference rivals with only two weeks to play before the onset of the OUA playoffs.

The Marauders followed up that victory with another straight-sets triumph, this time at the expense of the Eastern division’s doormat team, the Ryerson Rams (25-6, 25-18, 25-22).

The wins extend the maroon and grey’s conference winning streak to 13 games, and improve the team’s record to an OUAbest 14-1.

Despite the impressive showing, the Marauders continued to be ignored by CIS voters, as their static total of 20 votes in the national rankings sees them remain just outside of the top ten for a second consecutive week.

McMaster raced out to an early advantage in the Friday contest against the Lions, and would not look back from there.

Fifth-year veteran outside Larissa Puhach provided venom on the attack from the opening whistle, and her well-directed aggression would pace the Marauders throughout the contest.

The stout team defence enjoyed by the hosts was equally important, as four of the Marauders entered double digits in the dig column by the end of the night.

Not to be outdone, the squad’s blockers shone as well, as third-year middle Shannon McRobert led the way with four total blocks in the victory.

What all of this added up

to was a surprisingly lop-sided win for the Marauders, who must have expected a tougher task entering their pivotal crossover match.

Encouragingly, the hosts did not react to their early success by relieving the pressure on their beleagured guests, but rather seemed intent on finishing the match as quickly as possible.

Larissa Puhach claimed the cleverly sponsored player of the game honours on the night for the Marauders, finishing with a teamleading total of 18 points on 14 of 32 hitting.

Where the York match up had presented the Marauders with the cream of the OUA East crop, the following night’s contest against the Ryerson Rams promised exactly the opposite, as the Torontonians entered play with only a single win to their name thus far this season.

The first set went very much according to form, as the Marauders walloped the Rams on route to a dominating 25-9 victory, while playing much of their starting lineup.

To their credit, Ryerson would not simply lie down and accept defeat after the embarrassment of the opening salvo, and instead fought back to make the remaining two sets much tighter affairs.

However, despite a valiant defensive effort from the visitors – which would actually see them outdig the hosts over the course of the match – McMaster presented too many challenges for the Rams to overcome.

Sophomore setter Amanda Weldon was particularly impressive, racking up 27 assists in an abbreviated effort.

For her troubles, she was awarded the maroon and grey’s player of the game recognition at the conclusion of the contest.

On the subject of his team’s surprisingly one-sided win against the Lions on Friday, coach Tim Louks indicated that the squad’s greatest strength lay on the

defensive side of their game.

“I thought offensively we were okay, but defensively we were very good,” said Louks. “On our side of the net defensively we had 12 blocks and 63 digs in three sets.

We were very pleased with that.”

When asked whether York’s struggles in Friday’s match may have been due in large part to their unfamiliarity with the stronger Western division, Louks played down any suggestions of the Lions’ weakness.

“York’s more than capable.

It surprised me that it was that onesided, but the outcome itself was not surprising. Will they be better next time would be my question.”

As for the Ryerson match, the coach indicated that he was pleased with the team’s attitude following their vital Friday victory.

“The next night against Ryerson, I thought we were more relaxed and we served with even more intent than we did against York.”

Another area in which the Marauders have shown considerable improvement in recent matches has been their judgment on the attack, with hitters showing greater recognition of the need to adjust to the set presented to them.

“We call it ‘bettering the ball in front of you’,” said Louks.

“I thought they were a little more patient and when you play better defence, you will be more patient offensively because you can feel or trust that we can get things done on the other end of things.”

With the season quickly drawing to a close, such trust is an encouraging sign for the Marauders. They will look to build on that confidence this weekend, as they face another critical set of matches.

The OUA leaders welcome the Toronto Varsity Blues to the Burridge Gym on Friday night, before travelling to Guelph to confront the second-ranked Gryphons on Saturday.

Both games are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.

B4 • THE SILHOUETTE

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2011

Wrestling

Men’s Basketball

MacLelland leads strong showing

Playoff race tightens for Marauders

JULIA EMPEY

Effort hasn’t been something the McMaster Marauders have lacked too often this season. As an undersized and injury-ridden team, they’ve needed solid hustle and hard work from their lineup to play well on most nights.

So when the maroon and grey came out flat in their weekend matchup with the Guelph Gryphons, it was no wonder they were sent to defeat. Guelph walked out of Burridge Gym with a 78-69 win and dropped Mac back to 8-8 on the season.

“We didn’t play with a sense of urgency,” said coach Amos Connolly after the game. “The effort today is not acceptable by any standard that we’ve set here at Mac.”

Guelph dominated the rebounds 40-31, including 13-4 in the first quarter. Connolly says the Gryphons were the better team in every sense of the game.

“I’m not blaming anybody. We got out-manned, we got out-rebounded, we got out-toughed.

We got out-everythinged,” said Connolly.

It’s a loss that puts Mac squarely in the middle of a tight battle for playoff position in the OUA West. Five teams (McMaster, 8-8 Brock, 7-9 Waterloo, 7-9 Western and 6-10 Guelph) will be fighting it out for the last three berths into the postseason with six games left on the schedule.

The playoff picture could have been a littler clearer Wednesday night before the blizzard that stormed across Southern Ontario cancelled three games, including Mac’s tilt with the 11-5 Laurier Golden Hawks.

The loss to Guelph was McMaster’s third in four games since centre Scott Brittain went down with a head injury. With Taylor Black and Geoff Noble also out of the lineup, Connolly says the

SILHOUETTE STAFF

The McMaster Wrestling Team is, according to coach Nick Cipriano, one that consists of a few shy individuals.

“They’re self assured introverts, they do not seek or need the spotlight,” says the team’s head coach. This is a peculiar fact considering that of the various varsity sports offered at McMaster, wrestling is one of the few where the focus is on the individual.

Both the men’s and women’s wrestling teams have been off to successful starts this year.

Four women competed in the 2011 Ontario Junior Wrestling Tournament over the past weekend.

Bianca Fung placed third in Junior Women 48 kg, Christianna Walker placed third overall in Junior Women 51 kg, Erica D’Angelo was fourth in the 63 kg class and Alyshia Anderson came second overall in the Junior Women’s 82 kg.

Four Mac Wrestlers took part in the Western Invitational last weekend. Stephen Tricario finished fifth overall in the 65 kg class, while Kevin Hzu and Matt Van Klink finished fourth and sixth, respectively in the 68 kg class.

2010 CIS Silver medalist Ryan Blake went 3-0-1 this tournament and only forfeited the last match due to a shoulder injury. He is expected to make a full recovery and he still finished second in the 72 kg class. Jordan Creavale competed in the 76 kg class and came fifth overall. Adam Benish finished fourth in the 130 kg tournament.

Most impressive of all was Kevin MacLelland, who went 4-0 all weekend and won the 82 kg weight class.

Up next for the team is the OUA Championship, taking place this year at Lakehead University from Feb. 10-12.

BRIAN DECKER SPORTS EDITOR

BRIAN DECKER / SPORTS EDITOR

Kenan Etale’s Marauders came up short against Guelph and will face 11-5 Laurier tonight.

Marauders are bound to struggle containing bigger teams.

“It’s a tough situation right now. Matt Wilusz is going to have to guard people bigger than him.

Nate Pelech is going to have to guard people bigger than him. Satar Wahidi is going to have to guard people heavier than him,” said the coach of Mac’s suspect front-line depth at the moment.

While depth is an issue for this year’s team, this week’s announcement of some recruits give hope for future teams that they’ll

have plenty of healthy bodies for seasons to come.

McMaster confirmed this week that star guards Aaron Redpath and Joe Rocca have signed letters of intent to play for the team next season. Both are top-30 recruits for next season according to scouting website flagrantfouls. com, and represent key pieces of a recruiting class that is shaping up to be one of the best in the nation.

The two join 6’7” forward Brett Sanders, a Saltfleet High School product who committed to

Mac last week. Also rumoured to be joining the Marauders for next season are prospects Adam Presutti, a 6’2” shooting guard from St. Ignatius of Loyola in Oakville, and Nathan McCarthy, a 6’7” forward from Notre Dame in Burlington.

While the future is bright for Mac, they’ve got a playoff race to take care of right now. That race resumes against Laurier tonight in Waterloo and against Brock in St. Catharines on Sunday.

The games are scheduled for 7 p.m. and 3 p.m., respectively.

THE SILHOUETTE • B5

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2011

MARAUDER SCOREBOARD M. V-BALL

W. V-BALL

W. B-BALL

M. B-BALL

RYERSON - 1

RYERSON - 0

GUELPH - 65

GUELPH - 78

MCMASTER - 3

STANDINGS

G. MCDONALD - 19 PTS

M. SJONNESEN - 15 PTS

J. DOUGLAS - 18 PTS, 10 REB

D. MCCARTHY - 18 PTS, 11 REB

MCMASTER - 3

MCMASTER - 70

MCMASTER - 69

STANDINGS

STANDINGS

STANDINGS

K. GONYEA - 8 PTS

S. KIERNAN - 11 PTS

V. RASO - 13 PTS, 8 REB

J. NIMEC - 19 PTS, 10 REB

OUA

OUA WEST

OUA WEST

OUA WEST

1) WESTERN 15-2 2) MCMASTER 13-3 3) QUEEN’S 13-3 4) GUELPH 12-4 5) WATERLOO 8-8 6) LAURIER 7-9 7) WINDSOR 7-10

1) MCMASTER 14-1 2) GUELPH 13-3 3) WESTERN 12-3 4) BROCK 10-7 5) WATERLOO 6-9 6) LAURIER 5-10 7) WINDSOR 2-13

1) WESTERN 14-2 2) WINDSOR 13-2 3) LAURIER 11-5 4) BROCK 10-6 5) LAKEHEAD 10-6 6) GUELPH 8-8 7) MCMASTER 5-10

1) LAKEHEAD 2) LAURIER 11-5 3) WINDSOR 11-5 4) MCMASTER 8-8 5) BROCK 8-8 6) WATERLOO 7-9 7) WESTERN 7-9

NEXT GAME: FRI. VS. TORONTO

NEXT GAME: FRI. VS. TORONTO

NEXT GAME: THURS. @ LAURIER

NEXT GAME: SAT. @ BROCK

Marauders This Week THURSDAY, FEB. 3 Men’s Basketball @ Laurier - 7 p.m.

FRIDAY, FEB. 4 Track and Field @ Notre Dame (South Bend Indiana) - Meyo Invitational Meet W. Volleyball vs. Toronto (Burridge Gym) - 6 p.m.

M. Volleyball vs. Toronto (Burridge Gym) - 8 p.m.

SATURDAY, FEB. 5 W. Fencing @ RMC - OUA Championship Track and Field @ Notre Dame (South Bend, Indiana) - Meyo Invitational Meet Track and Field @ York - York Open Meet W. Basketball @ Brock - 1 p.m.

M. Basketball @ Brock - 3 p.m.

W. Volleyball @ Guelph - 6 p.m.

M. Volleyball @ Guelph - 8 p.m.

SUNDAY, FEB. 6 W. Fencing @ RMC - OUA Championship

B6 • THE SILHOUETTE

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2011

Women’s Basketball

Track and Field

Marauders keep hope alive

Haliburton leads the charge at McGill Team Challenge meet

BRIAN DECKER SPORTS EDITOR

Thanks to a gutsy win and a nasty blizzard, the McMaster Marauders’ dwindling playoff lives aren’t extinguished quite yet. But with a whirlwind week coming up, they may not be around much longer.

On Saturday the Marauders won their second straight game, beating the Guelph Gryphons 70-65 at home before having their Wednesday night tilt with the Laurier Golden Hawks cancelled due to the snowstorm that shut down both schools’ campuses.

The game is postponed indefinitely; the men’s teams will play tomorrow night in Waterloo, but the women are already slated for a full weekend and won’t play tomorrow.

They’re scheduled to play Brock on Saturday afternoon, then head to Windsor on Sunday for a game that was rescheduled from Jan. 12 after the Marauders didn’t have enough healthy players to play.

It will be a crucial weekend for Mac’s chances at making the playoffs. At 5-10. they’ll likely need to win at least one of their games and hope for a Gryphons loss. Guelph has an 8-8 record and holds the last OUA playoff position, one spot ahead of the Marauders.

Mac will be in tough against the 10-6 Badgers and 13-3 Lancers. Guelph will also be in a tough spot, playing the Lancers and the division-leading Western Mustangs, who are at 14-3.

It’s an unlikely scenario, but if Mac loses twice and Guelph wins both of their games, the Marauders would be all but eliminated from playoff contention (only a runthe-table win streak and a 1-5 finish from Guelph to end the season would save them).

When the two teams met on Saturday, it was a fight which saw the Marauders prevail thanks to a second-half run as well as a lack of composure from the Gryphons.

“That was a character win and a gutsy win,” said coach

FRASER CALDWELL

The Gryphons led their nearest opposition by 19 ranking points.

Where the Marauder McMaster’s track athletes con- women found the podium on two tinued their preparations for the occasions, their male counterparts provincial championships this past would not manage to find a medal. weekend, travelling to Montreal to However, several encouraging percompete in the McGill Team Chal- formances would be had nonethelenge event. less.

Here, the Marauders bene- The greatest area of sucfitted from a star-making perform- cess for the maroon and grey’s male ance from third-year Nursing major contingent would be the 3000m.

Sarah Haliburton, who would come Here, the Marauders enjoyed four away with both of the medals won finishes inside the top 20, marking

by McMaster on the weekend. the team’s most dominant showing

The veteran runner gar- in any one event. nered a first medal in the 1500m Veteran Andrew Yorke led event, where she the way by finishwon silver with a ing seventh, while The Marauders’ Taylor Reid crossed time of 4:34.56.

The only most accomplished the line in ninth, woman to best Sean Bowen finished male runner, Jimmy 15th, and Tristan her was Guelph’s Jennie Biewald, Tat, one-upped his Sandhu rounded out who claimed gold the group in 16th. own school record by finishing just T h e under two seconds in the 300m event, Marauders’ most acfaster than Halicomplished male with a time of burton. runner, Jimmy Tat, 35.21.”

T h e one-upped his own third-year’s efforts school record in the landed her recognition from the 300m event, with a time of 35.21.

Athletics and Recreation Depart- However, even that hercument as this week’s Female Athlete lean effort could not place Tat on of the Week. the podium, as he eked out a fifth

The aspiring nurse’s placed finish. second medal winning effort came The other notable finish as part of McMaster’s 4x800m relay for the Marauder men was in the team, which also managed to snag 4x200m relay, where the team of silver.

Tat, Matt Pawelke, Scott Hutchin Finishing in a time of son, and Rudy Baronette finished 9:15.23, the Marauders’ entry was sixth. beaten by a six second margin by With the stiff test of the the pace setters from Dalhousie.

McGill meet behind them, the Ma The McMaster women fin- rauders will now split their squad ished in the middle of the pack as a for this upcoming weekend. team, completing the meet in a tie One contingent will travel for 11th in a strong field of 18. to South Bend, Indiana, to compete

The Guelph Gryphons, in the Notre Dame Meyo Invitaperennial leaders on the track and tional. The other will stay closer to the cross-country circuit, easily home, visiting Toronto to race in the took the team title on the weekend. York Open.

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

BRIAN DECKER / SPORTS EDITOR

Jackie Nimec takes a jump shot against the Gryphons.

Theresa Burns after the game. “We needed that to be alive. We needed that win.”

Mac survived a brutish game that saw a glut of fouls slow down both squads, and then overcome a late scare with a Gryphon comeback.

After falling behind early in the third quarter, the Marauders went on an 18-4 spurt that bridged the third and fourth quarters. That run was capped by a Liz Burns jumper, and included the ejection of Guelph coach Tom O’Brien, who picked up his second technical foul after arguing with the referees.

Gryphon forward Jasmine Douglas was also assessed a technical after throwing the basketball angrily upon fouling out of the game.

Guelph pulled within three after Ali Dzikowski nailed a triple off a missed free throw with 1:32

remaining. But after Alyska Lukan grabbed an offensive rebound and score and Jackie Nimec came up with a block on Guelph’s Sam Russell, the Marauders were able to hang on for the win.

“I think we played much more composed with the ball … we got our girls to settle down and make reads,” said coach Burns.

“At crunch time we had some really good stops and some good rebounds not to give them any second chances.”

All of Mac’s starters played more than 30 minutes, including 39 from Nimec and 38 from Taylor Chiarot.

It was exactly the kind of performance McMaster needed from its core players. And if they want to stay alive in the playoff race much longer, they’ll need to see that kind of performance a lot more often.

THE SILHOUETTE • C1

INSIDEOUT THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2011

production office extension: 27117 insideout@thesil.ca

The woes of peer pressure NATALIE TIMPERIO

SENIOR INSIDEOUT EDITOR

To-do list: 1. Decide on the perfect outfit.

2. Buy the right kind of alcohol.

3. Don’t forget to bring a condom!

4. Go to the party.

5. Remember to be myself?

In our day-to-day lives we may sometimes feel the need to conform to a certain type of lifestyle. Although our priorities may not be quite like the ones that appear on this fictional to-do list, our individual social lives often necessitate that we must do, to some degree, what those around us are doing. The social pressure we feel to adopt a certain type of behaviour or attitude, and even dress, in order to be accepted as part of a group is what is better known as peer pressure.

Peer pressure is often assumed to be confined solely to the elementary and high school years. It is during this time that we are most impressionable and exposed to a number of situations which attest to our character. What we do and say is in large part determined by our peers. We tend to fall into particular behavioural patterns that set the scope for our future selves as a result of being a part of our chosen peer groups. The incessant need to be accepted as part of a group to avoid being cast as a social reject leaves us victims of peer pressure.

Although we have left behind these seemingly juvenile to-do priorities, the list itself may be a little more difficult to erase completely from our young adulthood lives.

Upon entering university, we are again vulnerable. We may choose to become part of a group once again and it is from here that much of what we do is a reflection of our peers.

So, peer pressure doesn’t stop with graduation from high school. Rather, it is a recurring cycle which often takes place with, most commonly, any new situation. Peer pressure can even continue to occur after we have settled down into this new situation, albeit we may feel it to a lesser degree.

Take the university years, for example. As we enter first year, we quite often want to “do it all”. God forbid we miss a night out—most of us would rather do not-so-well on that term paper than be forever characterized as an anti-social loser. But, as we work our way up the academic ladder and reach our upper years, the need to be a part of a group is lessened. We find ourselves more comfortable in our own skin and therefore able to cope without being a part of a group 24/7. Peer pressure still exists, however. It of course makes itself less apparent as peer influence becomes part of a larger behavioural pattern.

What then can we do to become consciously aware and so lessen the burden we may feel from our peers?

First of all, it’s perfectly natural to want to identify with your peers. After all, human beings are social creatures so it’s okay to want to be a part of a group and it’s also normal to feel somewhat dejected when you’re not part of that group.

An in-group, which according to dictionary.com is defined in sociology as “a

group of people sharing similar interests and attitudes, producing feelings of solidarity, community and exclusivity” can be an underestimated force causing those in the out-group, that is “a group perceived as other than one’s own,” to be labelled alien in some way.

This in-group/out-group complex plays a significant role in understanding peer pressure.

Recognizing when peer pressure is a negative force in your life may not always be clear, however. When the pressure is openly expressed (“come on, what’s one more beer?”) it can be a little easier to recognize it than when it’s indirect, which unfortunately is more common.

When you’re uncomfortable in a situation it’s normal to look to what others are doing. Usually unconsciously, we learn what is acceptable and what is not, and, as naturally wanting to be accepted, it’s easy enough to mimic the behaviours and attitudes of others when in such a situation. Basically, your mindset may be “everyone else is doing it, so it must be okay.” Before you know it, you’ve been influenced by your peers causing you to do or act in a certain way regardless of whether or not you are comfortable doing so.

It happens all too often. A good example is trends in popular culture: the BlackBerry or iPhone seems to most peoples’ choice of a cell phone nowadays. If, amongst your group of friends, you were the only person without a BlackBerry or iPhone would you not feel some sort of pressure to get one yourself? It may not even cross your mind that the reason you purchased your BlackBerry or iPhone was a result of your peers, but chances are that at least to some degree they had an influence on your decision.

This is only one example of how peer pressure can manifest itself in our everyday lives, and we all learned long ago how to deal with it. Like on the website Teen Health, common coping methods include listening to your gut, planning for possible pressure situations, arranging a “bail-out”, learning to feel comfortable with saying “no” and, most importantly hang out with people who share your core values. But, just as peer pressure can be negative it can also be positive.

In fact, exposing yourself to people you actually feel comfortable being around and internalizing not what you aren’t or can’t be a part of and instead focusing on what you share with others can make peer influence a positive experience. Good friends allow you to explore new situations without causing you to feel like less of a person should you chose not to participate in whatever it may be. The difference here is choice: making decisions that you feel comfortable with rather than making decisions based on those of the ingroup.

Understanding that just because you may not be part of a certain crowd does not make you a social reject is what’s most important. Especially in university, there’s something for everyone to be a part of, so even if you’re the more introverted type, this doesn’t diminish your chances or opportunity to be a part of a group. Just don’t be afraid to pioneer your life because, after all, university is in large part a time to discover yourself and not what others do best.

JOY SANTIAGO / MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

[This Week in InsideOut] V-day hay day?

Recycle style

Like without fright

Valentine’s Day was once-upon-a-time a cherished holiday but nowadays it seems all too commercialized.

Can any fashion trend truly be called new? Or is all fashion simply a blast from the past?

LikeALittle takes university student bodies by storm, including our very own McMaster.

Pg. C2

Pg. C3

Pg. C4

C2 • THE SILHOUETTE

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2011

SEX and the STEEL This historical holiday is notorious for its commercialization CITY

Valentine’s do or don’t?

KAITLIN PETERS

ASSISTANT INSIDEOUT EDITOR

Valentine’s Day; a day that is either loved or loathed by most people.

It often elicits a mixture of emotions (surprisingly, many of which are not rapturous feelings of passion).

Most people would agree that the holiday has become widely commercialized and that the actual historical roots have been lost over time.

For a refresher for those not in the know, Valentine’s Day, formerly known as Saint Valentine’s Day, traditionally originated in the form of a fertility festival in Ancient Rome.

Young women of the times were not given candy and flowers, but were whipped with strips of animal hides as a way of increasing their fertility.

Fast-forward a couple of centuries, and Christians were celebrating a priest named Valentine, who had secretly performed marriage ceremonies for soldiers when the emperor had forbidden it.

In our modern times, it has become the day on which lovers express their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering sweet

treats, and sending greeting cards.

Valentine’s Day continues to change with the times, and in a culture where one knows the price of everything, but the value of nothing, Valentine’s Day has become the unfortunate victim of commercialization.

It seems almost immediately after people are parking their dying Christmas trees at the end of their driveway, that stores explode in a mixture of shocking pinks and reds. Valentine’s candy, cards, chocolates, and vacation packages are being strongly marketed from the end of December to the date of the event itself.

Many people feel that having a set day to express your love for your partner undermines the en-

tire purpose of Valentine’s Day.

Showing affection should come from the heart and be spontaneous.

As well, some people feel that Va l e n t i n e ’s D a y is intended solely for the girl, and many men feel pressured into spending a certain amount of money on their partner.

Ian Stanley, a fifth year history student, said he feels “Valentine’s Day has become too commercialized, and the point of Valentine’s Day isn’t really represented.

“The holiday is more for girls … it’s fine if a girl wants flowers, but it shouldn’t be dictated on a set day.”

Katie Ferguson, a fourth year kinesiology student, isn’t so pessimistic about Valentine’s Day.

She feels that “Valentine’s Day isn’t meant to be celebrated

between only couples. It’s for anyone you love; your mother, siblings etc.”

Ferguson also doesn’t believe that there’s an expectation for the amount of money spent (if any is spent at all).

“I don’t expect my boyfriend to spend money on me; on our first Valentine’s he did, but now we say ‘Happy Valentines’ on the day and that’s good,” she said.

It seems opinions vary widely, from those who fondly remember Valentine’s as the day they were engaged, to the becoming ever more popular “anti-Valentine’s Day” party.

Valentine’s Day is becoming the holiday people love to hate.

In addition to picking up candy hearts emblazoned with “I LUV U”, one can now give out the more controversial “Screw You” among other offensive sayings.

The one sure way to enjoy the day is to escape from the pressure you feel about how you “should” celebrate this day of love and just celebrate it how you “want” to.

And if this means taking Valentine’s Day back to it’s historical roots and whipping your partner with pieces of bacon, then so be it.

ThreadCount Peter Goffin

McMaster Alumnus & Executive Editor Jacket: Army Surplus Store - $50 Shirt: Club Monaco - $60 Jeans: Levi’s - $85 Shoes: Chuck Taylor All Stars - $60

JERK

Describe your style: Doomed 1950s rockstar

Glasses: Persol - $300

Favourite artist: John Lennon Favourite quote: “My only regret in life is that I wasn’t born someone else.”

- Woody Allen What do you look for in a significant other?: Earthiness - visibly dirty if at all possible.

Lifestyle Tidbits Scientists say they have built a Harry Potter-style “cloak of invisibility” that can hide everyday objects by splitting light.

Compiled by Christopher Chang

Escape from the snowpocalypse by curling up by the fire and get writing!

Write for Insideout!

Sacha Baron Cohen has struck a deal with graffiti artist Banksy to swap one of Borat’s old moustaches for a £100,000 painting.

Email us at insideout@thesil.ca

Labrador retrievers can detect the early stages of bowel cancer with more than 90 per cent accuracy, according to a new study.

Or come to a volunteer meeting every Monday at 2 p.m.

THE SILHOUETTE • C3

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2011

FashionWatch

The cycle of fashion

AMANDA MONACO

recreations.

On the other hand, plaid and tartan, an androgynous streetstyle pattern, has incessantly dominated international runways and campuses throughout the decades and shows no signs of leaving anytime soon.

This pattern gained popularity during the punk rock era of the 1970s with designer Vivienne Westwood and further reinvented itself in the 1990s, emerging on the grunge scene with figures like Kurt Cobain. Within the last 10 years plaid has become increasingly popular in women’s fashion, especially with designers Ralph Lauren and Burberry.

However, this lumberjackesque trend actually owes its roots to the Scottish tradition during the 17th and 18th centuries.

Scottish Highlanders wore plaid and tartan to signify their clan, but eventually faced arrest if caught by the British. It had become a symbol of treason against the British crown, and in 1746 it was banned from being worn for 37 years.

Well, luckily it isn’t 1746 and plaid has taken over campuses and runways alike. And if that doesn’t convince you, just look at the emerging popularity of vintage shopping within the past few years.

You can pick out seemingly outdated items from the past that can perfectly articulate the latest contemporary trends. Though trends seem to come and go with the passing seasons, it’s always safe to say that fashion’s cyclical nature can guarantee that your favourite (and not so favourite) styles will be back soon enough.

SILHOUETTE STAFF

Fashion has a strange way of repeating itself throughout the decades.

This bold and ever-changing world is full of wonderful innovators and creators, such as Marc Jacobs, Karl Lagerfeld, and Diane Von Furstenberg, but (gasp!) can we call them recyclers of trends as well?

With the biannual Spring/ Summer and Fall/Winter Fashion Weeks, it can prove difficult and time consuming to keep up with the latest looks of the current season.

Looking around campus you’ll see a plethora of plaid shirts, combat boots, animal prints, nautical stripes, and the list goes on.

But is what we’re wearing truly a new trend? Or is our style just an amalgamation of thrown out and recycled trends of the past?

Take the nautical stripe for example. It has been a favourite on the runways from Paris to Milan, used by designers like Jean Paul Gaultier and the lovely DVF.

However, nautical stripes were actually first used in women’s fashion by the wonderful Coco Chanel. These French stripes, inspired

by Franz Xaver Winterhalter’s 1847 oil painting of Prince Albert Edwards, were interpreted and used to suit contemporary fashion.

It was Coco Chanel herself that started the nautical fashion craze, with a picture of herself wearing a striped sailor top and khakis in 1917.

Since then, stripes have dominated the Spring runways and numerous designers have been paying tribute to Chanel with their own

SILHOUETTE FILE PHOTO

Classics such as plaid tend to repeat themselves as part of the fashion cycle.

Canada Goose jackets take off CHANELE JORDAN SILHOUETTE STAFF

Duck, duck, duck, goose.

No, I’m not playing the silly game we used to play as kids. I’m pointing out the number of Canada Goose jackets I can spot while sitting down in the Student Centre.

Only after fewer than 30 minutes, I am convinced that nearly one out of every five people at McMaster owns a Canada Goose jacket.

Over the last year, these jackets have taken Canada by storm. Everywhere you turn, you see that little red and white circular label on the side of someone’s coat

sleeve. I can’t lie … I tend to get a little jealous when I see the wearer walk through the cold without even the slightest shiver. But I’m not yet willing to dish out a large portion of my savings on just one jacket.

If you’re completely out of the loop, Canada Goose jackets are the warmest (or so it’s been said) jackets on the market.

They are insulated with 625 fill duck down inside the jacket and pockets, and the rim of the hood is lined with coyote fur.

With a variety of different styles and colours, anyone is sure to find one to suit their personal tastes.

Sounds pretty good, eh? But then there’s the price … $500.

Canada Goose jackets start at $495, with some styles retailing for about $700. However, despite this very steep price so many people have them, especially on campus.

This surprises me quite a lot, because as university students, we have a number of expenses. So, why do people still make the investment? Is being warm the only factor? Or is it more because they feel pressure to jump on the bandwagon?

I decided to do a little investigating and get some opinions from people on campus.

First year Humanities student Kayla Greaves says: “Honestly, I just think it’s so stupid. Every-

Feb. 12 Hamilton Bulldogs vs. Rochester Americans Hockey Game 7 p.m. @ Copps Coliseum Feb. 13 Heritage Day Celebration @ Dundurn Castle Two for one admission Visit www.hamilton.ca for more info Feb. 13 Moulin Rouge - The Ballet 8 p.m. @ Hamilton Place theatre Tickets available at the Copps Coliseum Box Office Visit ticketmaster.ca or call 905-527-7666

one looks so dumb having the same jacket. When I walk to school, I feel like I’m seeing a flock of geese.

“When I’m looking for a winter jacket, I want it to be warm but I would never pay $500 for one jacket. I think that $500 is just the cost of having the brand, not being warm.”

However, Alyssa in third year Communication Studies feels very different. “Yes, $500 is a lot of money for one jacket but at the end of the day, I’m warm and that’s all that matters.

“I was tired of buying jackets and not being satisfied. At least I know my Canada Goose jacket will keep me warm and last a long time.

“It also comes with the lifetime warranty so I have nothing to worry about. I consider it to be an excellent investment.”

Of course there’s no denying that Canadian winters are brutal, but is that really enough to justify spending over $500 on one jacket?

It’s clear that these jackets will remain a controversial issue for a long time.

Some find it outrageously overpriced, and some find it to be an excellent investment.

What do you think? Would you spend $500 on a winter jacket?

Or would you rather just face the cold and keep your money in the bank?

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C4 • THE SILHOUETTE

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2011

A battle between coffee conglomerates KAITLIN PETERS ASSISTANT INSIDEOUT EDITOR

From lattes, cappuccinos, and macchiatos, to a skinny frappuccino with a flavour shot and hold the whip.

Coffee has become so much more than a mere caffeine boost these days, and the beverage has transformed into an integral part of casual social interactions. Caffeine becoming an essential part of the social fabric is the only reason that seems plausible for why everyone willingly forks over $5 for a grande when one could buy three Tim Hortons coffee for the same amount.

The two power houses of the upscale coffee world are Starbucks and Second Cup. When it comes down to it though, no one pulls a Switzerland when it comes to the two conglomerates.

You’re either Starbucks crazed or a Second Cup junkie, consistently preferring one shop’s lattes over the other. Visiting both coffee shops allowed a comparative review of the two.

For McMaster students, Second Cup is definitely closer.

Located in Westdale, it’s snuggled in between other essential student amenities and entertainment. One could easily go to dinner, then a show and top the evening off with a hot chocolate without ever having to step foot on a bus.

It’s obvious the Second Cup on King St. West is a popular student hangout. At any time of day one can walk in and see various students intently typing on their laptops while sipping their chai tea lattes.

Though a popular destination, it’s usually always possible to get a seat and one is never left prowling the aisles waiting for

someone to vacate their seat. In contrast, even though the closest Starbucks on Locke Street is further away from the university, it can be almost impossible to find a place to sit. You may be left balancing your coffee precariously on one of the display stands while you ponder where you’re supposed to drink the steaming beverage.

In terms of beverage quality though, Starbucks still seems to be the superior of the two.

The Starbucks beans have a distinct roast that’s unique to their chain.

Melanie Chiarot, a McMaster alumni enjoying an iced juice said, “I like the decor in Second Cup, but Starbucks has more variety and the flavoured lattes don’t just taste like coffee and milk.” But a better coffee also comes at a steeper price.

Both coffee shops offer a variety of desserts, but one cannot truly compare the two. It’s obvious Starbucks’ desserts come in prepackaged and are simply slipped out of their wrappings before going on display.

The range of desserts is universalized across all locations and the end result tends to be rather dry (as if they’ve sat in the counter too long). In comparison, Second Cup offers a large display of mouthwatering desserts, many of which are homemade.

A former bakery owner, Miranda Cassock, mentioned she “used to bake cheesecakes and cakes for the local Second Cup. It was great because I had a steady and consistent customer every month who wanted large orders of my baked goods.”

Their blueberry cheesecake in particular is amazing, and one can get everything from the typical coffee house scone to an exotic

MICHELLE NG / SILHOUETTE STAFF

Second Cup comes out the winner over Starbucks in this battle of the roasters. dried fruit coconut cookie cluster.

And a lot of people like to support independent Canadian franchise owners over a large corporation. Adam Reich, a third year commerce student said, “I always feel a

little better about supporting independent business owners, especially because most are local people.”

All in all, while Starbucks’ coffee can’t be rivalled, Second Cup still offers a good brew at a

Kaitlin Peters

Healthy Banana Cranberry Oat Bars (vegan) Ingredients: 1/4 cup almond milk (or other) 1/2 cup Sucanat or brown sugar 1 tbsp ground flax seed

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 °F and line an 8 inch square pan with parchment.

1/4 cup coconut oil (or other light tasting oil), melted

1. Combine the sugar, ground flax seeds, soymilk, oil, and

1 tsp vanilla extract

vanilla. Whisk together.

2 medium very ripe bananas

2. Cut the bananas into chunks and stir into the wet mixture.

1/3 cup cranberries or raisins 1.5 cups regular oats 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut

Stir in the cranberries or raisins. Set aside.

3.In another bowl, mix your dry ingredients. Add the wet

1/2 tsp cinnamon

mixture to the dry mixture and stir well. Scoop the granola

1/4 cup whole wheat flour (or other flour)

batter into the pan. Smooth out with a spoon or hands and

1/2 tsp baking powder 1/8th tsp kosher salt

press it down firmly.

4.Bake for 35-40 minutes until the edges begin to golden and it is slightly firm to touch. Allow to cool in pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack and cooling completely.

With

files

from

Ohsheglows.com

less expensive price. In addition to being located conveniently, having relatively spacious seating and exceptional desserts Second Cup is the clear winner in this battle of the roast.

THE SILHOUETTE • C5

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2011

The angst of Student love for LikeALittle airport security STEPHANIE HAUCK SILHOUETTE STAFF

If there’s one travel ritual we all know and hate, it’s airport security.

There used to be a time when going to the airport was easy, stress-free and relativity simple.

However, it is evident that many airline passengers will spend more time checking luggage, going through security, and waiting to board their aircraft than they will actually flying.

Whether you believe it is necessary or not, airport security has become the inevitable obstacle we all face at the start and finish of our vacation travels.

Navigating the airport can prove to be quite challenging. In fact, the entire ordeal of heading to the airport seems to stress people out.

In most cases travelers spend at least a week preparing for departure, and bragging to all their friends about travel plans.

Moreover, anxious travelers tend to arrive hours before takeoff, and constantly check and review travel documentation to ensure that everything is accounted for.

Now, does this description not sound familiar? I mean think about it – what other experience do we stress about, tell all our friends, spend days preparing for, and are usually ready hours before necessary?

If you haven’t guessed it – I like to think of the experience at the airport similarly to a first date.

For most of us, a first date means stress, anxiety and excitement.

This is quite similar to the experience we have traveling, although we are extremely excited to arrive at our destinations, we are also quite nervous and anxious about the trip itself.

Once at the airport, most travelers are greeted by a smiling attendant who usually talks in an overly enthusiastic voice.

After your bags are handed off to a complete stranger, you precede to customs where they make even the most innocent

of people somehow feel guilty, by grilling you with question after question.

On a first date, most of us do not even realize that we are interrogating the opposite person, talking a mile a minute with absolutely no filter.

A friend of mine once asked her date if he knew the capital of Nepal and if he wanted to send his children to private school.

Similarly, I once told a customs officer that I was born on Sept. 17, 1889, which would make me almost 122 years old.

It’s quite evident that the interrogating customs routine and the initial first date dinner conversation can have a lot in common.

However, I think it’s in everyone’s best interest to get their birth date right, and save geography quizzes for the classroom.

Once you have made it through dinner and customs, it’s on through security or the awkward minute or so where you decide to kiss your date – or invite them inside.

In either case both eventually require you to remove your shoes and in some cases even your clothes.

Security, especially the full body searches recently implemented at the airport, is similar to the awkward first date foreplay.

Once you have removed your shoes and emptied your pockets it’s time to wait for either someone to make the first move, or a kind wave from the security officer signaling you’re next.

The full body search is where things in both scenarios get a little awkward.

Especially if your date is venturing with his/her hands every single bodily location known to man, so to say, just making sure it is all there.

Finally, when the foreplay is over, or they signal all clear, it is time for the real adventure.

Whether you’re taking off on vacation, or just plain old taking off – I hope you enjoy the ride, and more importantly, the destination.

JOY SANTIAGO / MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

CHRISTOPHER CHANG / SENIOR PHOTO EDITOR

LikeALittle is useful for those shy students who want to break the ice without the fear of rejection.

SONYA KHANNA SILHOUETTE STAFF

“At Mills Library: Male, Brown hair. Studying away, but I see you looking up at me. Come over and talk to me next time.” Make way for the latest phenomenon to sweep the web. Established in October 2010 at Stanford University, the site has taken universities by storm by providing a location-based hub as a means for anonymous flirting—and on the downside, another excuse to put off studying.

Comparable to popular social networking site Twitter, LikeALittle functions as a realtime “flirting-facilitator program” enabling would-be shy students to express their inner thoughts. The site acts as an outlet for students to meaningfully connect with their peers in a less invasive atmosphere.

The stress some students experience when approaching an attractive individual is less troublesome with the help of this site.

“It is difficult and awkward to make that first move,” said founder Evan Raes in an email to the College News Network.

“LikeALittle empowers people to communicate in a more authentic

way with the people around them.

People feel very comfortable opening up to strangers when they’re anonymous.”

This site is an optimal tool to use as an ice-breaker to ease into a conversation with someone without the shyness factor. It helps create a spark from a possible missed connection. The anonymity of the site is certainly an attractive feature, and to add a pinch of humour to the site the founders have enabled the use of various fruit names to conceal the identity of students.

According to Raes, “the fruit names contribute to the positive, playful spirit of the site. People find it difficult to take negative comments seriously when they have been written by a Blueberry.”

The sole purpose for this site is a clear indication that sex truly consumes a large fraction of student life, aside from studying of course. However, while some student surf the site with the intention of facilitating a hook-up out of an anonymous mock “tweet”, others may do so purely for entertainment purposes.

Fourth year Kinesiology student Shama Kassam admits, “I find the site really entertaining.

I don’t really go on there to write anything about anyone but I like the fact that it’s anonymous and it’s kind of interesting to read about what other students are actually thinking.”

You walk down campus on any given day and students seem slightly reserved when it comes to approaching individuals they think are cute. This witty website allows for an interesting glimpse into the minds of students.

While some posts are slightly raunchier than others, it can be fascinating to peer into the lives, as well as into the sex lives of other students. The compelling aspect to LikeALittle is that many people love to believe the posts are about them; it’s quite flattering to read a flirtatious post that may be geared towards you.

This seems ideal, but what about the potential threat of negative, demeaning posts? Have no fear. “Each college has five moderators who monitor the school wall and delete insulting posts,” explained Raes. In addition, “an automatic filter that screens for negative words or phrases” is used on every post.

Users have the ability to report offensive posts, as well as being able to immediately remove negative comments so long as they have an email address for their respective school. A positive feature is that the campus community controls which content is filtered onto the site.

While the site’s popularity continues to expand rapidly, concerns may arise about the dominance of technology in the place of basic social interaction.

Will the authenticity of mingling with people face-to-face eventually become obsolete? Or are sites like LikeALittle an innovative way to break down social barriers?

C6 • THE SILHOUETTE

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2011

THE SILHOUETTE • C7

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2011

BUSINESS

production office extension: 27117 business@thesil.ca

Companies we hate

CHRISTOPHER CHANG / SENIOR PHOTO EDITOR

SANTINO MARINUCCI

ASSISTANT BUSINESS EDITOR

I can go on forever talking about companies that have given my friends and I a hard time, but I thought that I would take the time today to go through some companies that just steam my kettle.

There has been a theme surrounding all internet companies lately where they have decided that charging overage fees for people who use too much bandwidth is ok.

No this is defiantly not okay.

Although it would be unfair to single out any one internet company responsible for this, I thought I would compare overage fees between companies to show you why they all suck.

Bell, who usually champions good service and fair prices, has some of the highest fees that I have come across.

Bell currently charges $2.50 for every gigabyte of bandwidth you go over.

This is compared to Cogeco Cable, who charges $1.00 for every gigabyte over your bandwidth limit – a lot of cash to dish out just for a little bandwidth.

Despite the fact that they are even charging us with these fees, they can and will charge whatever price they want and will continue to gouge us as long as they can.

Needless to say, all Canadian internet companies make the list based on this policy.

Another company that generally gets our knickers all tied in a knot is the fast-food chain McDonald’s. Despite the fact that the company is usually rated in the bottom 10 per cent of the American Customer Satisfaction Index, it regularly promotes an unhealthy lifestyle that many disagree with in a society that is steadily moving towards a more health conscious mindset.

While McDonalds may be good for late night food runs, the food that they provide is questionable. McDonald’s likes to purchase their meat from privatized farms in Central and South America.

Some of these grazing farms require large amounts of forest to be cleared to be effectively utilized. In South America, substantial parts of the rainforest have been cleared to raise these cattle farms, effectively destroying parts of the rainforest.

So not only is McDonald’s polluting our bodies, but

they are contributing to the destruction of the rainforest.

Well, contributing to the destruction of the rainforest is a hard act to follow but Wal-Mart, one of the country’s largest retailers, easily surpasses this with their complete disregard for human rights and social policy.

Have you ever sat down and thought about how Wal-Mart manages to maintain super cheap prices on items and still stay in business? Easy – exploiting your labour force costs nothing and this is why Wal-Mart makes the list of our most hated companies.

Not only does this company affect people’s personal lives, but it affects small towns and businesses that just cannot compete with their prices. This is so prevalent that there is an entire website called Wal-Mart Watch and they report on all negative things that the company does.

When you have an entire website dedicated to how you destroy local communities and exploit your workforce, it is pretty easy to say that Wal-Mart sits unfavourably in the pits of all of our stomachs.

• PLEASE SEE WHY, C8

[This Week in Business] Free Internet?

Should the Internet companies continue their overage billing to cash-strapped customers?

Pg. C8

Greece faces fraud

MARS Apprentice

Manufacturing company Siemens is caught paying off government officials in Greece.

Find out which team won the first challenge in the boardroom this week.

Pg. C9

Pg. C10

C8 • THE SILHOUETTE

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2011

Raging Bull

Your Money

Murdoch’s online paper a hit? Should the Internet be free?

Or should we be free to use the Internet?

SIMON GRANAT

money to run an ISP, to maintain a tower, to lay Ethernet cables and to pay people to do it. We can’t simply The other day a friend asked me, say that these people shouldn’t be “do you think the Internet should be fairly paid, or that Internet service free.” should fall into disrepair simply in

I said, “not free, but cheap, the name of free Internet. and Canadians should be free to use But let’s be honest, we’re it.” getting hosed by Internet provid On Jan. 27, the Canadian ers. They’re one of the most profitRadio and Television Broadcasting able sectors in Canada. Just say that Corporation (CRTC), the regulatory your Internet bill is a meager $40 body for media communications per month. If there were 30 million in Canada, stated, after substantial Internet hook-ups in Canada that lobbying from Rogers and Bell, that would be a total revenue of $120 Internet service providers are al- million per month – about $1.4 lowed to bill on a per usage basis. billion a year – not accounting for

Upon hearing the ruling, an $80 dollar bill that businesses, internet junkies, nerds and other schools, offices, libraries or anyone cave dwellers flipped. else needs to hook up.

Face it: the Internet was Bell Canada’s gross revnever free. What’s happening now enue was $1,670 million for Q3, will be akin to Ontario Hydro being 2010. Although I appreciate sucprivatized; prices cessful capital acwill go up. The only cumulation we difference is that we should change the Face it: the Interneed hydro to live, nature of how we while the Internet is net was never free. view the Internet only needed to enter- What’s happening as a service. Is it tain. Heaven forbid something now will be akin purely that a service that we consume, like a can be used to steal to Ontario Hydro burrito, where we be absolutely free. being privatized; pay for each bur I agree that or should it be prices will go up.” rito the Internet is also considered a utility a form of informathat everyone should tion, but it’s not the have? only form of information. There are People’s reactions to also newspapers, like the one you’re the CRTC ruling make it eviholding right now, television or the dent that for Canadians, the Inradio. The ‘net is different though; ternet is something more than a its interactive, and we’re hooked. burrito – it is an essential utility.

For students the current The Internet should be run price of the Internet is hidden. If we like a public utility. live at home our parents pay it, or if Billing should be based on we live with others, we share it but the cost of maintaining the service it’s rare that students foot the full and paying people fairly. Billing cost of the Internet. should not be based on squeezing

To make matters worse, every possible dime from consumour generation has come out of the ers. womb coddling a keyboard and ‘Free’ is a tricky word. The now they’re trying to cut the Ether- Internet should come with a price net cord.

– it has to if we want the service

When we think of the to continue to operate, evolve and services that we value in our so- exist – but it should be priced fairly. ciety I’m not prepared to say that On the other hand, Canthe internet should be free. Health adians should be free to use the Incare, education, even hydro, but I ternet. cannot justify making the Internet If we let the price of the free when people need to heat their Internet increase unchecked, at homes. what point does the price become

And to be realistic, the In- so much that Canadians no longer ternet doesn’t grow on trees, it costs have the ability to access the web?

BUSINESS EDITOR

APPLE STOCK PHOTO

What does the future hold for news subscriptions on tablet computers?

SANTINO MARINUCCI

ASSISTANT BUSINESS EDITOR

The newspapers transition into the electronic realm have been the topic of discussion for a while now. It has been argued that traditional media, like newspapers, will be replaced by tablet computers and electronic sources of news.

While much of this sounds like it is in the realm of possibility, is it really feasible to assume that everyone will own a tablet in the coming years? Especially when most of them start at US$500?

What brings this debate to light is media mogul Rupert Murdoch’s recent dabbling in the national media market inside the United States.

Murdoch has unleashed his new national newspaper titled The Daily and it will only be available electronically.

The idea is to exclusively offer it through the iPad tablet for a significantly reduced price that would be cheaper than purchasing a newspaper subscription.

But is buying into the popularity of the tablet too immature given that the price of the iPad is still very high, and the technology is still young, being in its first generation.

So would a launch on such a large scale be feasible, banking on a large success given the market is not yet saturated with tablets?

Well it’s easy; this type of move is financially feasible for Murdoch. Why is this so? It is because News Corp. has the backing of Fox Television and 20th Century Fox.

Essentially, News Corp. has enough financial backing behind it so that if their venture falls through it will not hit them that hard. This would be different if let’s say, the Toronto Star, which is primarily a news outlet, tried this and failed miserably.

With that said, is Apple’s iPad really popular enough to support such a massive endeavour?

Well the statistical data show that over 55 million iPads will be sold this year suggesting the market will be huge.

However this does not mean that there will automatically be 55 million subscribers to the Fox News media outlet, The Daily.

Newspaper analyst Ken Doctor has reported that they only expect one per cent of iPad users will subscribe to The Daily. This will make it very hard for the electronic publication to make any money at all.

There is also one very important factor that will probably lead to News Corp’s newest venture. This would be the fact that it is a biased news network running a national daily newspaper.

For a news subscription service to successfully work in

electronic form through tablets, it would have to be an easily identifiable, non-biased news network.

This would be like a BBC or CBC, it would be large enough to support a tablet venture financially, and it would be identifiable enough to gain subscribers. To answer the question previously stated at the start of the article, would it be feasible to transfer all forms of news media to tablets, given the recent move by News Corp?

The answer is tricky, for a corporation like Fox News, this venture will certainly not be as successful as they think it will be.

With a negative bias already hurting the Fox News network, getting people to buy subscriptions on their tablets is not likely

Also, although 55 million tablets will be sold next year, there is still a massive public who does not own a tablet, which alienates much of the news-reading market.

On the other hand, switching to tablets over time and with reputable unbiased national news outlets may garner more subscriptions. Furthermore, once prices of tablets decrease significantly, and more people can afford tablets this will be a lucrative enterprise.

In short, News Corp. is definitely premature with their launch and it may do them more harm financially than good.

At least they can afford to fail.

Why we hate some companies Will they ever listen to us?

• CONT’D FROM 7

The last corporation that most defiantly makes the list for being one of the most hated companies in the world is Monsanto, a Canadian-based agricultural/biotech company that manufactures seed products.

This company makes the list because they have been known to coerce and seek legal action against farmers, accusing them of stealing genetically modified seed products patented by Monsanto.

It is also reported that they send out private investigators to small rural towns, and coerce local farmers for information. Kind of like a modern day Gestapo.

If that was not enough for

farmers to take, Monsanto has recently been successful in persuading the United States Department of Agriculture to support their spraying of GM Alfalfa, a pesticide for American crops.

This essentially is a huge kick in the teeth for organic farmers who will most defiantly be affected by cross-contamination of the sprayings, but have little to no say about whether they occur.

As you can see there are many companies that repeatedly squash the little guy, in terms of bad prices, unfair pay, environmental disregard, and unethical treatment.

Needless to say, these companies come by it honestly.

THE SILHOUETTE • C9

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2011

From the Gould Trading Floor

Mid-Week Robbing Peter to pay Paul Market Allegations of money laundering at the Vatican Bank Summary International Indices

After the Dow Jones Industrial was one of the only winners of the previous week the American Index dropped 1.39 per cent by the closing bell on Friday. The S&P also dropped 1.8 per cent. This week’s gainers included the S&P TSX Composite gaining 90 points since open on Monday and Germany’s DAX which gained over 35 points.

High Flying Markets

For the first time since April over 80 per cent of stocks traded above their 200-day moving average. Despite this some concerns still existed in the market. Political instability in Egypt left several stocks depressed.

Included in this is Ford, with a 9.4 per cent drop, and Amazon.com who fell 13.3 per cent after missing analyst recommendations.

Oil

Crude oil rose throughout the week finally closing at US$89.34/barrel while gold fell to US$1343.13/troy ounce on Friday, Jan. 28.

Egypt

Equity stocks will likely drop further in the coming week with the current unrest in Egypt concerning president Hosni Mubarak’s resignation after 30 years in power. His resignation will likely create instability which will raise the price of commodities in demand.

SILHOUETTE FILE PHOTO

The Vatican’s decision to create a financial watchdog has people wondering, are the Pope’s finances above board?

RAMESH AGARWALLA

The scope of criminal proceeds is significant; the International Monetary Fund estimated that The Vatican’s recent announcement some US$500 billion is laundered about creating a financial watch- worldwide each year. dog agency to make its operations In the face of such high more transparent to the rest of the numbers, it is hardly surprising that world has been met by murmurs of the international community has reapproval from the European Union. cently made the fight against money This agency, the Financial Informa- laundering and terrorist financing Nintendo The largest video-game manufac- tion Authority, will work alongside a priority. The IMF is especially turer, Nintendo Co., could expect to newly issued laws to fight money concerned about the possible consee profits to soar as much as 26 per laundering and terrorist financing sequences of these activities on its cent if its new 3D gaming console in a manner that mirrors the efforts members’ economies and on interof other countries. The question national financial stability. goes as expected. remains of how effective these en- Money laundering and deavors will really be terrorist financing can undermine

Money laundering is the the integrity and stability of fiUS Federal Reserve Furthermore, the United States Fed- process used to disguise the source nancial institutions and systems, eral Reserve has announced that of money or assets derived from discourage foreign investment, they will continue to try and stimu- criminal activity. This illegal ac- and distort international capital late the economy by buying $600 tivity can include drug trafficking, flows. In an increasingly interconsmuggling, fraud, extortion and cor- nected world, the problems prebillion in Treasuries. ruption. sented by these activities are global.

THE SILHOUETTE

Due to this global nature, problems in one country can quickly spread to other countries in the region or in other parts of the world.

The techniques used are numerous and can be very sophisticated. New financial products, technological advances in e-commerce, and the global diversification of financial markets provide further opportunities to launder money and obscure the trail leading back to the underlying crime.

Terrorist financing operates somewhat differently from money laundering, but no less insidiously.

This revenue is also frequently obtained through legal means.

The funds are routed to the recipient terrorist organizations through both informal networks and the formal financial system.

Money launderers exploit differences between national antimoney laundering laws and systems, and are especially attracted to jurisdictions with weak or ineffective controls where they can move their funds more easily.

It is for these reasons that the Vatican Bank has been under pressure from the EU to conform its weak banking system to that of the rest of Europe. When police seized close to €23 million in assets from the Holy Bank last September in a money-laundering investigation, the Vatican finally gave in and agreed to comply with EU financial standards by setting up the watchdog agency and passing new laws that crack down on legal loopholes that have allowed criminals to exploit the financial sector in the past.

The law will go into effect

by April 1, 2011.

Greek Debt

Greek fraud allegations Former minister admits he fudged the books SIAVOSH MOSHIRI SILHOUETTE STAFF

The government of Greece recently announced that it will be taking legal action against Siemens, the engineering conglomerate based in Germany.

Following an 11-month investigation headed by the nation’s parliament, investigators have found information that points to the company bribing government officials for seven years between 1997 to 2004.

Government analysts estimate that the actions of the German giant cost the Greek taxpayers close to US$2.7 billion dollars. This came in the form of unneeded government contracts given for communication installations, military upgrades and other purchases paid for with tax dollars.

As of now, a few high profile ministers have admitted to taking bribes. Tassos Mantelis, a former transport minister, told the investigation committee that he had accepted US$136,000 in 1998 for certain government contracts.

Mantelis has been the biggest name to have stepped forward so far. Re-

porters in Greece however, do not expect others to do the same in the following weeks.

This is not the first time that Siemens have been accused of participating in corruption. In 2008, a billion dollar settlement was reached between them and certain US parties. The company was found to have made improper dealings with many levels of government.

It resulted in the firing and arrest of Thomas Ganswindt, a former member of the company’s board of directors.

The probe itself has faced a great amount of criticism. Outside analysis from the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal have gone as far as to label the investigation a circus.

Nick Skrekas, writing for the Wall Street Journal, points out that the investigators, “shed no light on where alleged bribes from Siemens went.” Clearly the German giant benefited from lucrative projects as they had been awarded military installations and certain projects for the 2004 Athens Olympics.

But conspirators from the Greek side have yet to be fully identified as very few politicians have

stepped forward. Greek reporters have speculated that this is because both major parties of Greece benefited from these contracts.

A second flaw that opponents of the probe have highlighted in the report is that, for all of its claims against Siemens, the report carries very little bite.

It argues that more investigation is needed into five socialists and seven conservative ministers, but they are only wanted for charges regarding “political misjudgement” which is a simple misdemeanor – a classic example of the proverbial slap on the wrist.

Finally, no one believes that the charges against Siemens will lead to any actual results.

Germany’s extradition treaty with Greece stipulates that those sent over cannot be charged with a crime or even testify. Even if the correct men involved were to be discovered, gathering testimony for a court of law would be extremely difficult.

By all indication, if the people of Greece seek justice for the corruption their country faces, they must look to revamp their legal system before attempting such massive inquests.

C10 • THE SILHOUETTE

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2011

On Campus

Do you dream of dividends?

Enter the Silhouette MARS Apprentice has Stock Challenge! first Boardroom meeting On Now! It is pretty easy to sign up, just follow these simple steps and you’re on your way to making cold, hard, fictional cash.

Go to the website:

www.wallstreetsurvivor.com/Public/Members/Register. aspx?partnerTournamentid=4835

Fill out your personal information in the boxes provided; chose Canada as your country and Hamilton as your city.

You must register with a valid McMaster email address and handle.

You must enter ‘mcmaster11’ as the promote code. Otherwise you will not be able to compete.

You will then be sent an email confirmation. Follow the instructions to confirm your registration.

From here you can start trading and be one step closer to smelling some prize money.

Contest closes March 11

Prizes to be won!

Winner of first challenge crowned SANTINO MARINUCCI

After setting the tone, the competitors quickly got down to business with their marketing strategies.

The event began with team Infinity The atmosphere surrounding the first board- describing their marketing plan to the judging room meeting for the Mars Apprentice was panel. This consisted of representatives from both exciting and tense as team Infinity and Jan Kelley Marketing, the main sponsor of Industry squared off for their first challenge. the event, alongside individuals from Ronald

The challenge was to create a mar- McDonald House. keting campaign for Ronald McDonald It was interesting to see the differHouse and successfully raise $1300 for their ent marketing strategies both of the teams cause. created, from establishing an online presence

The organization that the teams are to getting right in people’s faces with direct creating these strategies for is a charitable one marketing. that is dedicated to helping children with ser- Since the goal of the week was to ious illnesses or disabilities, show the teams how to effectand their families, lead hapively market while maintaining pier and healthier lives. a budget, the ideas were interThe organization esting.

The teams colthat the teams are lectively raised $11,000 One of the ideas over the course of a 16-day creating these strate- from the Infinity team was to period for the Hamilton initiate a “smile” campaign gies for is a chari- and involve students and indihouse. This location has retable one that is cently undergone an expanviduals taking pictures of themsion to accommodate more dedicated to helping selves wearing the red nose to families who have seriously spread awareness. This showed children with serious that the team could reach a ill children.

Chantell Tunney, larger audience while involving illness.”

Executive Director of people in the cause.

Ronald McDonald House

The overall goals took the floor right before and meaning behind the camthe first presentation started, and gave an paign definitely overshadow the rewards of emotional account of what it is like for the winning the week for both teams; however families that use the house. there can always only be one winner.

“I would like you to think, just for a The team that came out on top in this minute, about a really bad day, and what is our week’s boardroom challenge was close, but tendency when we have a really bad day. Our team Industry ended up taking the win at the tendency is to say, well at least it is not this end of the day. that happened to me, or at least I’m not that In the world of business, it has person because they have been going through always been dog-eat-dog, but it was good to so much. At Ronald McDonald House, we are see that both teams had a similar goal, which the worst-case scenario. We have 365 days of was to raise donations for the Ronald Mcworst-case scenarios.”

Donald House, a worthy cause.

ASSISTANT BUSINESS EDITOR

Around the World

Spain Despite allegations that the Spanish government is unstable, BBVA, Spain’s secondlargest bank, has posted a 9.4 per cent rise in profit or approximately US$6.3 billion dollars. The reports from the bank are also promising for Latin America as over half of the holdings for the Bank are from that area of the world.

USA United States stock exchanges closed at their highest value since 2008 on news of a strong manufacturing industry and corporate earnings. Both the Dow Jones and Standard and Poor’s 500 closed at 2008 levels. It should be noted that unemployment and housing market data for the country still remains woeful.

Eurozone As the possibility of more bank bailouts looms, statistics released this week show that the Eurozone is struggling with a 10 per cent unemployment rate. This totals to 15.7 million people out of work in the 16-country Eurozone. The Eurozone is not to be confused with the European Union, whose unemployment rate was 9.6 per cent, approximately 23 million people.

Egypt Due to the continuing civil unrest in Egypt, Moody’s has downgraded five Egyptian banks from Ba1, to Ba2 status. The rating agency is concerned that if the political unrest continues the country’s banking sector could destabilize. As such they warn that further downgrades may result. The banks downgraded are: National Bank of Egypt, Banque Misr, Commercial Investment Bank, Banque du Caire and the Bank of Alexandria.

THE SILHOUETTE • C11

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2011

Your Money

Credit where credit’s due In Choosing a credit card can be tricky business Brief $5.5m Starting price for Indian vacation homes Many of India’s elite are starting to spend their wealth through excess, just like the good ol’ West. Alibaug, the seaside city just a half hour outside of Mumbai, has become one of the newest destinations for India’s rich and powerful. This city has become dubbed the “Hamptons” of India as many of the houses are beyond opulent. If you decide to place a down payment, expect your wallet to feel a lot lighter, as many of these gems start at US$5.5 million.

US$4,683 The price of your Super Bowl ticket

According to reports, the average cost of a Super Bowl ticket this year is running you US$4,683 for a basic seat. Now, usually it would be understandable that a ticket for one of the largest sporting events of the year would cost you so much. However, these costs are four times what they were last year. The cheapest tickets that you can buy online are currently going for US$2,420. So sports fans, if you are planning on going to the Super Bowl this year, you better be prepared to empty your bank account.

3D CHRISTOPHER CHANG / SENIOR PHOTO EDITOR

Before choosing a credit card know your needs-high interest, low interest or rewards, it’s your choice.

SIMON GRANAT BUSINESS EDITOR

Black, white, red, green, gold, silver and platinum. Credit cards come in a variety of colours, most with names like Signature or Elite. There are even some people who believe, the more credit cards you have, the better.

When facing a veritable onslaught of credit cards which one should you choose?

Well, it greatly depends on what you need. The first thing to consider is your credit limit, which is set by your credit history. Have you taken out loans and missed a payment? Have you missed, or have you paid late? Have you had a credit card in good standing for a few years? Or can you only make the minimum payment?

Your credit history is a record of your payments of bills and expenses. Your history is then thrown in a mathematical tumble dryer and out pops your credit score. Companies then use your credit score to determine whether or not to offer you credit, or just about

any possible caveat of your agreement with a creditor.

For instance, if you’ve had a history of late payments or this is your first credit card, chances are that the company will offer you a card with a low limit and high interest. It’s not the best option but for young people without substantial credit histories it might be unavoidable. Since your credit rating almost singlehandedly determines what forms of credit are open to you, it’s very important to keep it in tip-top shape.

The second thing to consider is, what do you want the credit card for and how do you plan on using it? If you’re just using it in case of emergencies and to build your credit rating, then any option you get will be good enough. However, if you have some cred with the banks, and you’re looking to pay off other credit cards to shift money around for business, then chances are a high limit and low interest are what you’re after.

Generally speaking, you’ll find these cards in banks such as TD or MBNA. You’d want to stay away

from credit cards offered by retailers. Canadian Tire, Home Depot and others offer their own credit cards. Some are piggy backed off big banks while others, like Canadian Tire, have in house Finance Departments.

These cards generally offer rewards like free groceries or bonus money that can be redeemed at that, and only that, retailer. These cards are useful, only so much as you shop at that retailer or view the reward as valuable to you as a consumer. Many of these cards are plagued with high interest and annual fees.

For students, a credit card with the best interest rate you can find, or a credit card that offers rewards such as traveller’s points may also be a good option. The latter may come with a higher interest, but for those of us who love to travel, this would be a good way to help supplement some of the costs associated with your March Break excursion to the Republic of Macedonia.

There are some things that you want to avoid putting on your

Bull:

British Petroleum

(NYSE: BP)

Good news for investors, but bad news for the environment: BP’s back. The company posted a higher Q4 profit than last year – US$8.56 billion over US$6.63 billion. What’s more, BP resumed paying dividends. While the company ended up in the red for 2010, the Q4 profit shows that while the Gulf still suffers, BP prospers.

credit card all together. Avoid putting large expenses on your credit card. One trap people fall into is putting whole vacations on their credit cards.

The trouble is that if you do this, you’ll find that after the trip is finally paid off of the amount you paid in interest would be twice the cost of the trip.

Also, other large expenses like tuition and books should be avoided if at all possible, unless you have the cash already in the bank.

Even if you have the money in the bank, large expenses, ones that exceed more than half of your credit limit, pose a chance of harming your credit rating.

As a rule of thumb, if you can pay up front then pay up front.

Otherwise, get a loan from a bank or apply for OSAP, you’ll find lower interest rates than a credit cards, and more generous payment periods.

For students, what credit card is best generally boils down to what you can afford.

If your credit rating is good, you’ll have a greater, and better variety to chose from.

Bear:

Microsoft

(NYSE:MSFT) Chances are that when you type ‘asdfafs’ into Google and Bing, you’ll get the same result. In an all out, noholds-barred search engine rumble, Google has gone on a virtual media rampage accusing Microsoft, owner of Bing, of copying their search software. All of this would be a shame if Microsoft’s credibility wasn’t already shot.

Television unit sales down Toshiba Corporation has announced lower than expected sales for their debut of the glasses-free 3D television. I guess people were not really sold on paying upwards of $2,940 for a television that has technology that has yet to be perfected.

Or maybe people were not sold on having a television with 3D technology that you could only watch 3D movies on, since very few networks have adopted this to their networks.

I do not see it catching on soon.

2015

Year of impending financial doom Financial analyst Barry Wilkinson has compiled a report titled “The Financial Crisis of 2015,” which outlines a number of problems that the world banking system will experience in the coming years.

This includes how banks, unwilling to accept the lower returns on equity, or ROEs, that result from higher capital requirements, may fuel a new bubble by chasing high returns in commodities or emerging markets. So get your wallets ready.

C12 • THE SILHOUETTE

THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2011

julie doiron • country strong the art & art history society • furious

andex

thursday, february 3, 2011

Senior Editor: Roxanne Hathway-Baxter Entertainment Editor: Myles Herod Music Editor: Dan Hawie Contributors: Chris Hoy, Mike Gallant, Colin Leggett, Josh Parsons, Trevor Roach, Parker Martin, Chris Erl, Justin Baird, Katherine Marsden, Catherine Brasch

Cover: Jonathon Fairclough

feb.3

Run With The Kittens Corktown Pub 8:00 p.m.

feb.4

Canadian Winter This Ain’t Hollywood 9:00 p.m.

feb.6

Cam Malcolm The Casbah 8:00 p.m.

feb. 7

Jim Bryson The Casbah 8:00 p.m.

feb.8

Julie Doiron The Casbah 8:00 p.m.

feb.9

music

Heart Hamilton Place Studio 7:30 p.m.

feb. 10

dubbed “snowtorious b.i.g,” mcmaster endures its first snow day in three years. there wasn’t much snow.

in the hammer

The Reason The Casbah 8:00 p.m.

theatre feb.3-5

weekly photo

breathless, pissing in the snow, pooping in the snow, david “koots” booth, unknown spasms, wishful fires in commons, megafaunyl, pall mall headaches, desperate attachments, i miss my cat, back pain, giving joey a bj, ginnnseng, ginnnsberg, dead maus 5000 in my kitchen, fauxlk, big brother camera, itchy crotch, my god joe

this week

Oleanna Staircase Theatre 27 Dundurn Street North Hamilton, ON L8R 3C9 (905) 529-3000

film opening

now

andy’s ticks

Sanctum The Roomate

the right thing is to write things

preferably in this publication

meetings are held on mondays at 2:00pm in musc b110 e-mail your submissions to andy@thesil.ca

science says that when you fart in the bathtub, you are releasing small amounts of feces into the water with you.

musc b110.

column

thursday, february 3, 2011

f.u.b.a.r.

brid of his Sons’ take on family-folk-band-meetspolished-studio-perfection; I can’t hate on four mates playing into that editorial column “[well-off] country boys dan hawie in the big [media] city” image, especially when A friend and I were discussing curthey’ve pulled it off so rent music the other day, and how, well. And sure, I can get over that for the most part, major radio sta- tiny footnote about the non-existent tions have diversified their artist familial relation between Mumford lineups by introducing a wider and his Sons too. They’re still aurange of genres to their repertoire. thentic, right? That banjo must My friend went on to stand for something… mention the burgeoning UK group There’s a growing pheMumford & Sons as an act that nomenon arising with the band’s she’s really taken a liking to because continual steamroll: a sort of mass of their banjo-driven brand of folk eye-opening followed by a mass sorock, and commented on how the cietal wank-off to the sweet, heartauthenticity behind such a genre is wrenching “new folk” tunes of this rare in Canadian music right now. London quartet. Accordingly, lisSave for omitting a few teners and my own peers alike have buzzwords along the lines of “inno- tagged Mumford & Sons’ genre vative,” and “refreshing,” these were as exclusive to being rooted across her words to a tee. And save for my the continental pond. My resulting initial forehead twitch and subcon- face-palm stems from this cultural scious neck jerk, I modestly backed impression. off and spent a few days simmering Canadian music for the over this. better part of the past decade has It wasn’t so much the seen more than its fair share of acts band itself that irked me. No, it draw from a cavernous multi-centuwasn’t the overly earnest whine of ry archive of timeless folk. It reachbandleader/vocalist Marcus Mum- es as far back as Thomas Moore’s ford, or the painfully swelling hy- eighteenth-century “The Canadian

Boat Song,” echoes through the roots-sounds of Acadia and the Maritimes, and more recently has found place in the legacies of Gordon Lightfoot and Leonard Cohen.

For the sake of context, I’m referring to “folk” from a strictly musical standpoint. The history lesson isn’t my point though.

The fact that acts like Mumford & Sons, in all of their glossy production and cleverly ragged flair, have become the flag bearers of this particular genre completely overlooks a distinctly prominent, flourishing music scene rooted in our own backyard.

Only recently have I noticed my friends give nods to this type of “authenticity” that, say, the twang of a banjo, or just about any formulaic hoedown provides through this genre. And yet they fall back over the notion that “M&S did it first.”

It shouldn’t take an overtly produced, fine-tuned business model of four tattered-looking musicians equipped with the thickest of accents and the sincerest of mea culpas to convince anyone that “new folk” is exclusively a foreign trend right now.

That stuff owes more to a shoulder-padded goon at Universal

the big tickle

the silhouette’s art & culture magazine • D3 than to iconic tunesmiths of the folk genre that’s so deeply entrenched in Canadian culture. Hell, you would have an easier time yanking out one of Mumford’s poetic quips from the Sons’ wall of twang, like the despairing, “It’s empty in the valley of your heart,” than separating the cultural bond of folk and Canuck.

There’s a boatload of artists anchored in just about any province, and heaps of independent record labels that cater to pushing this material to a wider audience. If anything, the likes of CBC Radio 3 have become anyone’s best bet for embracing this music. This doesn’t mean I’m in any position to begin listing off my personal tastes, but it does prompt me to tilt some heads in a rightful, less contrived direction.

Look, I get it. The Mums are tearing up the airwaves with a sound completely different from the standard rotation of gritty-ass jock rock. This isn’t some sort of a pretentious slam at that feat, but more a general plea from one music lover to others to acknowledge a sound that’s just as much something of ours. With a few Southern inclusions, this week’s edition of ANDY’s picks is a fine starting point.

andy’s picks

1. Tailor Julie Doiron 2. Wind Blows Yukon Blonde 3. Feral Republic Jason Collett 4. The Hard Canadian Gord Downie & The Country Miracles 5. Sold Dan Mangan 6. Till The Morning Comes Neil Young 7. The Fade Megafaun 8. Angels & Angles The Decemberists 9. Vice Rag A.A. Bondy

what is your favourite folk artist or band?

compiled by gary paulsen & dan hawie

“jason collett”

“fleet foxes”

“bon iver”

“i don’t even know what

“secondhand serenade”

folk is” lauren barnes

pat o’brien

brandy hoover

graham spry

anne marie montpetit

music

D4 • the silhouette’s art & culture magazine

thursday, february 3, 2011

home-brewed jams andy examines diy music house parties There is nothing quite as musically intimate as watching a thrilling live band at the very tips of your fingers. For me, it is the mix of bass in my ribcage, the two days of muffled hearing, and the fact that I can clearly see the individual sweat droplets from their forehead.

Luckily, Hamilton has a plethora of interesting venues, which offer live music every night of the week. Major hotspots include The Casbah and the up-and-coming This Ain’t Hollywood, but students mustn’t forget about the dozens of galleries and cafes that host an array of diverse international artists.

Being students with an affection for drinks, the cover charge for concerts can be an immediate turn-off, especially in trying economic times. Some of the larger venues charge as much as $15 for cover when they offer a mish-mash of touring artists virtually unheard of in the Hamilton music scene.

McMaster students likely represent a large percentage of potential patrons for these clubs but are ultimately faced with an increasingly problematic dilemma: do I eat or do I go see some live music?

It is heartbreaking that modern students are faced with this predicament in the first place. The vast majority of students fall within the age bracket of 18-22, an age when we have an extraordinary opportunity to engage with various art forms and begin to define ourselves as active democratic individuals.

Unfortunately, the high price of venue admission reflects the high costs of touring, which are in turn constructed by the ridiculous standards set by the corporate music industry.

I must digress into a personal anecdote in order to demonstrate how these standards can be subverted. This past week I received a message from a friend advertising a “live jazz party” hosted in his living room. As I waltzed in the front door I was confronted with the smell of cheap red wine and over 50 close friends and acquaintances. And, as advertised, a jazz quartet was setting-up in the living room. Hours later they finished playing to a pleasantly appreciative crowd and no one was worrying about the ever-feared sound complaint.

My point is that private space can be quickly transformed into a first-rate musical venue with a little thought and effort; a living room or basement can be quickly altered by moving a few couches and placing a few rugs.

Also, a small fold-out table can be installed

to allow the artists to have a space to interact and promote any material they are offering.

When organized correctly, house shows provide artists with an audience of open-minded individuals equal to the patrons they may experience in a larger venue. But in order to ensure that the show runs smoothly a couple of preliminary steps need to be taken.

The first step involves gathering a collection of artists to perform. Ideally, if you’re planning on hosting an event you will already have some connections within the community. An important thing to remember is the organization of gear: PAs, drum kits and amps etc. Encourage the bands to share equipment so that time and set transitions can be made more efficient. Space can become a hot commodity in a sweaty basement so make sure you have a designated space for the artists to store their gear.

Once the bands have been organized, the next step is promotion. The first decision to make is whether the show is going to be private or public. Private is easy, just keep promotion limited to social networking sites and friendly word-of-mouth.

Public concerts can be a bit tricky, depending on how many people you hope to bring. Flyers are the classic and most convenient way to promote a show. Keep in mind the demographic you hope to draw and slap up a few flyers in the places that they frequent. It’s amazing how effective this age-old method can be at drawing some unfamiliar yet open-minded faces to a show.

The final step is making those last minute preparations the day of the show.

Move any furniture that prevents an open space for the bands to play and begin setting up the equipment well before the guests arrive. An important principle of the house show community is the idea of pay-what-youcan. Although house shows seek to subvert the cover of clubs, remind guests that the artists are putting in considerable effort by placing a donation jar near the entrance.

In the end, house shows are an incredible way for musicians and fans of music to interact, connect and establish a community. Next time you’re watching television in your living room, think: how could I turn this room into a club? If properly organized, I guarantee you won’t regret it.

•

Josh Parsons JOY SANTIAGO / MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

thursday, february 3, 2011

art

the silhouette’s art & culture magazine • D5

we heart art the art & art history society hopes to open students' minds to local talent McMaster University is known throughout the national consciousness as a school that dominates in the health sciences, particularly with our medical school that churns out the brightest young doctors with diplomas in hand and good intentions in their hearts. It’s a fine thing to be remembered for, but it’s not the only thing the university has to offer.

Unfortunately, forgotten in the medical flood are the fine arts students, with paintbrushes rather than scalpels and canvases as their patients. The talent of these promising young artists is often overlooked, but with the help of campus-wide initiatives there is a push to get their work recognized on both a local and more widespread level.

The Art & Art History Society (AAHS) at McMaster strives to showcase the vast amounts of talent that are present throughout the student community. The society is a collective effort between students in both the fine arts and art history programs at McMaster working together to create events

that involve both faculties and the university as a whole. By hosting shows at a variety of local spaces, the AAHS is doing its part to stop the artistic talent of McMaster from slipping between the cracks and out of the student field of vision.

The importance of art in the lives of people is one that cannot be ignored and one that the AAHS hopes to promote. By displaying art in an accessible environment, it is hoped that students will take a greater interest in the field. Great art isn’t only in museums, it can be found in many places just around the corner, in ones that don’t have a high admission fee or member’s only clubs.

Hamilton has a blossoming art scene, one that several students at the university are becoming a part of. It can be seen through the monthly art crawls and the sheer magnitude of new galleries that are opening in the downtown core.

There is an invisible bubble that sometimes seems to encase McMaster, stretch-

ing as far as Boston Pizza to the West and The Bean Bar to the East, perhaps with brief sojourns to Hess Village added to the mix.

There is an exciting community, particularly art community, on the outside of this campus bubble. Many students in the fine arts program at McMaster have spaces in downtown galleries, notably around the James Street North area, and are becoming part of the broader Hamilton art scene.

Currently, there is an exhibit on display at My Dog Joe coffee shop in Westdale, put together by the AAHS, which features work by several artists from the university in a variety of different mediums.

The artists taking part in the exhibit come from a plethora of academic background, exemplifying the fact that talent comes from many different places and that not all artists are necessarily in a fine arts program.

There is an “Artist Appreciation Event” happening on Feb. 8, where the art-

ists will be available to answer questions related to their work, complete with music and those ever-delicious My Dog Joe goodies and caffeine-infused drinks.

Next time you stop into a cafe to have a coffee, look at the walls around you.

They may be peppered with art from a local Hamilton artist or even a person you pass when you’re walking to class. Great art seems to sometimes slip under the radar when we don’t make the concerted effort to take a good look. With the help of the Art & Art History Society, work from local talent is making a greater appearance, showing us that art is ubiquitous, all you have to do is look around.

Artist Appreciation Event: Tues. Feb. 8 My Dog Joe (1020 King Street West, Hamilton) 8-10 p.m.

•

Roxanne Hathway-Baxter

JONATHON FAIRCLOUGH / ASST. PHOTO EDITOR

D6 • the silhouette’s art & culture magazine

theatre

thursday, february 3, 2011

HHH

out of the closet and into the ring honours performance series continues with “furious”

Furious centres around the Pro Impact Entertainment (PIE), a professional wrestling league known for the famous wrestler, The Marauder (Brock Andrew Stephen).

The play does not hesitate to present to the audience the nature of professional wrestling as a form of entertainment that is entirely preconceived.

Every body-slam, every blood feud, and every wrestler is constructed by Justin (Jason Rule), the writer of PIE’s programming.

From the exposition, we learn that Justin has grown tired of writing dialogue and characters that are typical in a sport that is largely dominated by heteronormative audiences.

Justin’s subsequent plan, hatched with his lover Kit (Derek Hung) is to introduce the first gay wrestler to PIE. Through a montage of images, presented through a projector, Kit and Justin come to a consensus that professional wrestling is an amalgam of stereotypical images.

However, wrestlers that embody ethnocentric caricatures of race (we are reminded of Papa Shango) do not manifest themselves on stage — instead, the topics of sexuality and gender are explored through performances by Erica D’Angelo and Derek Hung, respectively.

For a play that was meant to be open-minded and inclusive, I found it sur-

prisingly focused on the male experience of homosexuality, and not enough emphasis was placed upon feminine ideas of performing as a woman in a sport that condones the objectification of the female figure.

D’Angelo’s role essentially begins as The Marauder’s groupie, Gina Suprema. She is ordered to dress in overly feminine costumes, an order to which she frequently responds with insubordination.

Eventually, her character manages to convince the management to let her wrestle, which leads to the inevitable dispute over the desire to wrestle without becoming a sexual object, a moot point when we consider the general audiences of professional wrestling.

However, that aside, the play was effective at using gay identity as a foundation for addressing their misrepresentation and vilification – the beginning of the performance featured video of a Public Service Announcement from the 1950’s entitled Boy’s Beware, which would serve as a poignant and well-placed prologue if Kit’s character was met with heinous backlash from the beginning.

Instead, we are presented with Grace (Tracy Hamilton), who treats the idea of the first openly gay wrestler with whimsy.

Being preoccupied with business, she is enamoured with the idea of a gay wrestler in

her league, but only to appeal to an audience as an object of hate to be ostracized for entertainment value.

While not at odds with the “homosexuality is bad” mode of thinking presented in Boy’s Beware, the treatment of Hung’s gay wrestler does not meet the same severe context as the old Public Service Announcement.

Grace disregards emotions and overall, the well-being of her wrestlers. Her role is believable as an anti-feminine character, compelling in a production about gender construction. She goes so far as to ignore a serious head injury that renders The Marauder so mentally unstable that he begins channelling fundamentalist Christian ideology as if he were a body-slamming prophet.

In the latter half of the performance, Hung’s wrestler fights The Marauder in an arena of hyperbole: the biblical gay bashing that ensues serves as an allegory for North American attitudes toward homosexuality.

With performances by Spencer Jenkyns as The Conductor, the play succeeds in driving home the point that identities, regardless of the arena, are constructions when we consider the big picture. The Conductor, in the first half of the performance, is an interesting counterpart to The Marauder.

The latter is a hyper-masculine per-

former, hot headed — unable to see through the facade of professional wrestling. The former is a fairly flamboyant (when compared to The Marauder) wrestler who performs as an aesthete, addressing a heckling crowd as boorish, uncouth, and uncultured. Both of these characters were well cast, but I couldn’t help but think — what if Furious was a production that centred around these two?

The Conductor was effeminate enough to replace the role as Hung’s Kit, which would have eliminated the need for The Conductor to step into one of the production’s final scenes, where he states “I haven’t had a line since Scene five”; I felt as though the overall scope of the production was too large to fit in an hour.

Nevertheless, Furious is worthy of your time. Despite its flaws, it will command your attention and open your eyes to outstanding visual effects, and fantastic performances that realistically portray a multifaceted and metaphysical arena.

The cast is to be congratulated for the level of detail in the fight choreography and the accurate depiction of the shock and awe ambience synonymous with early ‘90s pay-per-view.

•

Parker Martin

thursday, february 3, 2011

film

the silhouette’s art & culture magazine • D7

play something country Country Strong Starring: Gwenyth Paltrow, Tim McGraw Directed by: Shana Feste

HHH Like country music, Country Strong is one of those things that you will only like if you’re a little bit drunk. For the record, I only had a buzz.

The film itself is, at its simplest, a story about the downfalls of fame. We meet Kelly Canter (Gwenyth Paltrow), an awardwinning country songstress and superstar, as she’s finishing up a stint in rehab – the result of an alcohol-induced disaster of a tour in Dallas the previous year.

Though married, while in rehab Kelly becomes involved with a local country performer, Beau Hutton (Garrett Hedlund), who’s working as an orderly at the resort.

Enter Kelly’s husband and domineering manager, James (Tim McGraw), who promptly exerts his control over Kelly and announces that she’ll be leaving rehab early in order to launch a tri-city comeback tour, culminating with the ultimate chance for redemption: another performance in Dallas.

Having already scouted Chiles Stanton (Leighton Meester) – a beauty-queenturned-country-songbird – to be Kelly’s opening act, James convinces Kelly that this is her only chance to recover her faltering career and once again become the shining star of American country music.

Initially reluctant, Kelly agrees, with the condition that Beau also gets added to the opening lineup, thus locking the neurotic quartet into what any audience member could tell would be a doomed fate from the get-go.

While James is busy charming the stage-frightened Chiles, Kelly immediately falls off the straight and narrow, sloshing down a bottle of vodka before her first performance and relapsing before anyone even had the chance to notice that Tim McGraw was wearing a hairpiece. And so the remainder of the movie plugs away, with Kelly becoming increasingly unreliable, James becoming emotionally reclusive, and Beau and Chiles following through with one band-member’s plea that they just “sleep together and get this over with.”

The tale ends with a bit of a pickme-up – Kelly finally staying sober long enough to belt out her hit song “Country Strong” in Dallas – before culminating with a melodramatic plot twist you’d expect out of

a flick like this.

While there was certainly nothing groundbreaking about this movie – neither the writing nor the acting were worthy of a nomination for any of this season’s awards – there is still room to give credit where credit is due.

It is abundantly clear that Gwenyth Paltrow poured her heart, soul, and voice into Country Strong, and the film definitely showcased her ability to portray the nitty-gritty of a life as a mentally unstable, substancedependent starlet.

McGraw, for his part, ended up surprising me, by delivering a convincing – albeit safe – portrayal of a husband who can’t bring himself to fully accept the reality of his wife’s mental illness.

The film’s younger stars – Meester of Gossip Girl fame, and Hedlund who’s also starring in TRON: Legacy – performed stronger as a couple than they did individually, displaying an authentic chemistry during their many on-stage performances.

Indeed, the performances of each of the actors were likely the saving grace of the movie, with each showing off true vocal ability and captivating charisma.

Oddly enough, the film began and ended without a single vocal performance by Tim McGraw – what I expect was a conscious choice on his behalf to try to gain acting credibility without taking the easy way out and belting out a twangy love song.

Despite McGraw’s musical absence in the film, it provided the audience with some knockout country jams (heck, even a rendition of “I’ve Got Friends In Low Places”), with Paltrow’s title tune “Country Strong” receiving a well-deserved Oscar nod for Best Original Song.

Unfortunately, Country Strong suffered from such abysmal writing that all the acting and singing chops in the world couldn’t overcome. It felt like writer-director Shana Feste was just trying to top each scene by introducing an even more clichéd theme in the next. Although we’re all aware that fame coupled with self-destruction is often the reality of Hollywood (or Nashville) success, something about the way it was presented in Country Strong just made you want to burst out laughing.

Though the film was not, as it were, country strong, I hesitate to write it off completely. If anything, see this movie for the music. Or I guess buy the soundtrack if you want to be a little more direct.

•

Katherine Marsden

D8 • the silhouette’s art & culture magazine

music

thursday, february 3, 2011

satirical symphonies

andy examines the burgeoning comedy music genre

A musician and comedian walk into a bar, they could come by bike or come by car. They tell a joke or sing a song, it could come out right or come out wrong. Is it a decent song or a mediocre joke? Could be the difference between crack or coke.

Confusing isn’t it? You see, just like the perplexing discrepancies brought about by derogatory drug references, humorous music can sometimes get pretty puzzling. If done right musical parodies can be hilarious, impressive, and highly entertaining, but without a certain conviction these musical endeavors just leave you dissatisfied.

From Tenacious D to The Lonely Island we have had mainstream trendsetters fully embracing their musical funny bones and setting precedent for countless other musedians or comicians or whatever you call these satirical songsters.

With their infamously awesome combination of outrageous behavior and impressive strumming, Jack Black and Kyle Gass’s Tenacious D has created some songs that can be respected by comedians and musicians alike.

The beauty and hilarity of the song

“Fuck Her Gently” provides some valuable advice for many adolescent boys and has made many chuckle with lines like “that’s fuckin teamwork.” The epically ironic nature of Tenacious D can be heard at its best in their encounter with a devil played by Dave Grohl in the video for “Tribute.”

Axis of Awesome, another self-proclaimed “comedic rock band” claims to have the music industry pegged with their “Four Chord Song.” Cleverly showing just how easy it is to make a pop song, the Axis of Awesome were probably the best comedic music act to grace the Just for Laughs stage in the past few years. The pop charts are indeed at times laughable and these three Australians know how to show it perfectly.

Adam Sandler has long been creating musical comedy such as “The Chanukah Song,” and unexpected tracks such as “Secret” (a secret which may catch you off guard) for years. Through getting laughs and applause with an awesome mix of awkward and authentic talent, Sandler isn’t trying to be a modern day guitar-pyro Jimi Hendrix, and that’s why it works.

With Chris Farley as his seductive

muse in the famed Saturday Night Live sketch Lunch Lady Land, you cannot help but appreciate the marriage of music and comedy.

While SNL has dabbled in the realm of melodic material in the past, the recent expansion via member Andy Samberg of The Lonely Island’s songs and videos has taken satirical music to a whole new world.

Using auto-tune technology, a handful of celebrity guests, and as many outrageous concepts as they can think of, Jorma Taccone, Akiva Schaffer and Andy Samberg have been pumping out hits for the past five years.

Inspiring a wave of easy and entertaining Halloween costumes with their first hit “Dick in the Box” in 2006, The Lonely Island crew has continued to generate hilarity.

By parodying the seriousness of artistic passion with Justin Timberlake’s appearance in “Jizz in My Pants,” T-Pain’s musical collaboration in “I’m on a Boat,” and the newest work of Nicki Minaj in “Do The Creep,” this Lonely Island has apparently been getting much more crowded. “Do The Creep” and its predecessors seem to be reaching a whole new level of popularity that begs

the question, is “knees flexin and…arms Trexin’” 2011’s version of the twist?

Now we cannot forget the internet players like the classic work of Gellieman’s “Aicha” (after so many years, I still can’t figure out if that guy is joking or not), or gangsta styling of Jon Lajoie asking women to show him your genitals. Even the inept stylings of Tay Zonday’s “Chocolate Rain” and Samwell’s “What What (In the Butt)” deserve some credit for the world of musical satire.

Ultimately being a musician or comedian does not have to be mutually exclusive. Bob Dylan was known for humourously turning a phrase for comedic effect, and Conan O’Brien and Jimmy Fallon have recently surprised their fans by breaking out the guitar.

The creativity behind music and comedy often comes from the same place, and these types of entertainers have mastered the blend of joke and song with a lighthearted touch. The other phonies trying to pass off as musical comedians just get confused between crack and coke.

•

Trevor Roach

thursday, february 3, 2011

off the web

under the radar my very worst date www.myveryworstdate.com

As much as everybody hates reliving their worst dates, it’s fun to laugh at other people and their horrible experiences. Laugh, or cringe, or consider yourself very thankful as you read their nightmares that you weren’t out for dinner with someone a pinch away morons with signs from being a stalker, especially when they www.moronswithsigns.blogspot.com start serenading you in a weak attempt at seWhere would we be without people to make duction. Sorry, I guess I’m still a little bitter. us feel smarter? Absolutely nowhere. There’s nothing funnier than a protester, with those strong morals and ideals really fucking up simple spelling and facts. Check out the signs blasting President Obama that are wrong in more ways than one. Get a brain, morans.

the beat get your scene points!

juno nom’s look scrumptious So, the nominees and performers for the 2011 Juno Awards were announced this week, and aside from the heap of ink used over writing and rewriting J-Biebs and Drake (who, combined hold 11 nominations), we couldn’t be more excited about the variety of upcoming artists selected. From Hannah Georges, and Karkwa, to Shad, Old Man Luedecke, and Holy Fuck, this year’s Junos may actually be its most relevant ceremony yet. Tween-appealers Hedley are also slotted to perform, which should make for an awesome bathroom break. HA.

the silhouette’s art & culture magazine • D9

awkward stock photos www.awkwardstockphotos.com Think about the frames that you buy from the department store with a cheesy photo of a smiling family on the inside and how ridiculous they seem. Now, think about all the photos that the developers went through before they decided on that photo as their final choice. This website chronicles all the rejected and awkward stock photos that exist in the corporate world. Well, at least they were trying.

•

Roxanne Hathway-Baxter

ringo’s not your lingo

goodnight stripes

The drummer of The Beatles has decided it’s about time to trademark his name. Ringo Starr has put in the request with the U.S. Patent Office that “Ringo” should now be his, and only his. Not to worry, you’ll still have the chance to name your first-born son Ringo, because we know that everyone is dying to. Just don’t try to market anything called “the Ringo Reacher” or “the Ringo Rubber,” for so many reasons besides the legal recourse.

Yesterday, famed Detroit duo The White Stripes announced on their website that they’ve taken a permanent trip to Splitsville after a three year hiatus. In an official statement, the questionably incestuous duo emphasized that the break up wasn’t “due to artistic differences or lack of wanting to continue,” but more for the sake of preserving “what is beautiful and special about the band.” The eulogy also assured fans that the band’s very moniker now belongs to them, and “you can do with it whatever you want.”

We’re thinking of rereleasing Boy George’s U Can Never B2 Straight as The White Stripes.

Ha.

banksy takes the oscars Exit Through The Giftshop is nominated for Best Documentary and just in case he doesn’t win, Banksy has made his own Oscar statue.

A huge mural has popped up in California depicting a huge hoodie-clad golden statuette with a group of Storm Troopers around the base. It’s a good fallback, if the documentary doesn’t take the prize Banksy can always take a picture of it and hang it on his mantle. That still counts as winning, right?

a ‘lil lit review

• Dan Hawie & Roxanne Hathway-Baxter

The White Tiger is the debut novel by Aravind Adiga that plunges the reader into the hardships of trying to make it rich in India. The novel is composed of seven letters that the main character, Balram Halwai writes to the premier of China. The letters explore Halwai’s rag-to-riches story of how he overcame poverty in his poor village and became a success in New Delhi. The biggest part of the narrative follows Balram’s life when he was a driver for a rich family in New Delhi. Here he learns that success is often accompanied by corruption, cruelty, and a different set of rules than those that apply to the impoverished people who work for them.

The novel delves into deeper issues of poverty and repression in India, both closely related to the caste system. Another major issue that Balram is concerned with is the relationship between India and China, which Balram sees as the two superpowers of the future.

For a debut novel this story is quite outstanding. It is a very fast and enjoyable read, yet this is not to say that it is just some fluffy trash. The White Tiger gives an accurate portrayal of the hardships experienced by the extremely poor in India. However, some artistic license must be given, as it is a rag-to-riches story, which is a very rare occurrence. I would definitely recommend this book for a summer reading list, or to fill any free time.

•

Catherine Brasch

D10 • the silhouette’s art & culture magazine

music

thursday, february 3, 2011

sonic makeover Destroyer Kaputt

HHHH Destroyer, a Canadian indie rock band fronted by New Pornographers contributor Dan Bejar, has cranked out nine full-length albums in the past decade and a half. With a curriculum vitae as long as an academic’s, it’s easy to assume Destroyer would begin to sound a little outdated.

On Kaputt, Destroyer’s brand new full-length, all expectations are shattered. On first listen, the record sounds a little outdated, but not in the way you’d expect. Gone are the fuzzed-out guitars and drones of a band born in the ’90s.

The entirety of Kaputt plays like a soft rock record from the early ’80s, with elements of smooth jazz and soft rock dominating the mix.

Improvised saxophones and fretless basses give the album an overwhelmingly “soap opera” aesthetic, so much so that it seems like Bejar is playing a joke on us at first. And who’s to say he isn’t?

Kaputt isn’t an album that is easy to listen to at first. Destroyer’s sonic makeover creates a smooth atmosphere that makes the listener uncomfortable; this discomfort is telling of the modern music lover’s aversion to easy-listening musical styles.

The production on Kaputt is so polished and smooth that it would irk the average independent music fan, whose “Best New Music” saturated ears have been drenched in fuzzedout noise rock by critic giant Pitchfork Media. The album’s aesthetic is so underwhelming in its dissonance, that it’s actually overwhelming.

This tremendous transformation that Bejar orchestrates works flawlessly in attaining a firm grip on the listener’s attention. Not one to let gimmick take the front seat, however, Bejar brings his same brand of

songwriting and singing to the table.

His distinctive, meandering melodies continue to carry clever lyrics, and the songwriting across the entirety of Kaputt is stellar. Bejar’s songwriting is wildly unique, incorporating some lyrics that seem more like inside jokes than poetry: a signifier that the music is his, not yours. At the opening of “Blue Eyes,” Bejar repeatedly chants, “I write poetry for myself,” a line that resonates with stark honesty.

Although the album lacks a best track in the traditional sense, the symbiosis of the nine songs on Kaputt creates an outstanding whole. The songs on Kaputt are different enough from one another in that every single track could serve as a person’s favourite.

Album closer “Bay of Pigs” stands out more than any other, not only as a composition, but also as an aesthetic departure from the calculated sheen of the rest of the album.

“Bay of Pigs” supplies the album’s most raw emotion, which affects the listener more intensely after acclimating to the smooth jazz gloss of the album’s previous tracks.

It seems that Dan Bejar set out to break any preconceptions that listeners may have about his music, and, in some instances, music in general. Remarkably complex instrumentation leads to remarkably easy listening melodies. Smooth, consonant sounds generate feelings of unrest, rather than calmness. Bejar borrows an outdated sonic aesthetic, and, in doing so, manages to make his veteran band sound fresh and wide-eyed.

Kaputt is an intentionally complex and unintuitive album. Bejar harnesses the power of instincts to dodge the listeners’ expectations, giving Kaputt a unique sound and feel.

Destroyer’s latest LP marches into the aesthetic territory of a new band, but does so in a way that only a veteran such as himself would know how.

•

Mike Gallant

in stereo

thursday, february 3, 2011

the silhouette’s art & culture magazine • D11

featured review The Aquabats Hi-Five Soup!

HHH Forget Prozac, there’s no better cure for depression than listening to The Aquabats. The superhero-costume-clad lads are back with their new album, Hi-Five Soup! and you might not hear a more happy-go-lucky album this year. You know an album is going to be eccentric when every song title ends with an exclamation mark. The Aquabats' style lies somewhere on the border between legitimate pop rock and straight up novelty, but they manage to make it work for the most part. Some of the tracks end up being tedious, but it’s hard to get mad at these goofballs when all they want to sing about is popping wheelies and food fights (on the moon no less). This one should probably only be for fans, but casual listeners might get a kick out of the ridiculous nature of The Aquabats. Guest appearances by Biz Markie and Strong Bad further the absurdity of the album.

Colin Leggett

•

Make Do and Mend End Measured Mile

Deadmau5 4x4=12

Xeno & Oaklander Sentinelle

HHHH

HHH

HHHH

Despite well-received EPs or demos, the true test for any new band is the first full -length. Make Do and Mend from Hartford, CT, pass with flying colours. Continuing their take on post-hardcore in the vein of Hot Water Music, mixed with dabbles of ’90s emo, this album strikes a delicate balance in a number of ways. Full of memorable hooks delivered through cathartic vocals, these songs are ripe for sweaty, finger-pointing sing-a-longs, but still introspective enough to listen to alone late at night. The instrumentation is loud and abrasive, and the singer certainly gives his larynx a workout, but MDAM understand the soft-loud dynamic and are able to show restraint and a melodic grace during their quieter moments. End Measured Mile offers something for everyone, it’s rough enough for PBR-swilling beard-punks, but accessible enough to be on their girlfriend’s iPod. This cements them as one of the most promising bands in punk rock.

With bass-infused, pulsing indifference, Montreal DJ Joel Zimmerman (better known by his chatroom username-comestage persona Deadmau5) has released his third album in as many years, adding to his ever-growing repertoire of unique house tracks. Following albums such as Random Album Title and For Lack of a Better Name, Zimmerman continues to try very hard to seem as if he’s not trying through 4x4=12, with repetitive familiarity embodied in tracks such as the ten-minute leviathan “Cthulhu Sleeps.” Songs like these are great, not only for clubs, but for providing the thought-numbing background noise a silence-phobic generation such as ours needs to function. The album’s stand out track is “Sofi Needs a Ladder,” a distinctly memorable dance song with a solid beat and audible lyrics. 4x4=12 has its place and its followers, but overall, the only thing overtly right about this album is Zimmerman’s math.

Xeno & Oaklander are a minimal/new wave duo from Brooklyn composed of Sean McBride and Liz Wendelbo. Although sharing similar qualities to other married electronic male-female duos such as Mates of State, Xeno & Oaklander compose all of their music exclusively on analog synthesizers. Their first full-length album, Sentinelle authentically sounds as if it was ripped right out of the ’80s, a quality that many other artists seem to struggle with. Although the whole album doesn’t offer an extreme variety in terms of sound, it’s definitely worth listening to for the genuine ’80s feel alone (which, by the way, will definitely grow on you). If you like the album, be sure to watch the interview they have with Vice Magazine, where Sean and Liz explain their digression from classical to electronic music and show off some of their rare equipment.

•

Chris Hoy

•

Chris Erl

•

Justin Baird

D12 • the silhouette’s art & culture magazine

music

thursday, february 3, 2011

nice to come home indie darling julie doiron discusses the balance of family and tour life

Julie Doiron is always quick to link any musicrelated response back to her double life as an avid homebody. Nearly two decades spent on the road with a mix of bands and collaborations, and as a solo act, certainly reflects a well-worn career as The First Lady of Canadian Music.

And although an oversized bag of eminent keepsakes and regal titles like the aforementioned may hang proudly over Doiron’s shoulder, the Moncton-born songstress remains humble, preferring to talk about an endearing life as a mother of three, snug in her Toronto home.

After a year spent touring with her folk trio-mates Daniel Romano and Fred Squire, and with Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie, Doiron took only a short twomonth break before finding herself back on the road for her own national tour. A recent CBC Bucky Lifetime Achievement Award rounds out a successful past year, but Doiron is quick to bring up her familial role as a priority for the coming months.

“With the Bucky Award, there was a whole montage that aired beforehand that had condensed my life into a three minute sound bite. It was interesting, and of course, I was beyond flattered,” she explained from a hotel room in Kingston.

“But it also gave me a newer perspective over my life outside of music. I guess I did do a lot of work over the years, so I’ve wanted to spend this coming year with more time at home as a mother. Maybe I should get another job too?” she laughed.

Doiron had spent the previous night trekking Westward from Moncton after a slew of lauded hometown shows, which she admits were an exhausting, but necessary endeavour. “Christmas always depletes my savings, you know. Three kids kind of makes everything go ‘poof.’ So this tour kind of fell into my lap, and was perfectly timed that way,” she explained.

“On the one hand I adore touring, performing every night, and waking up in the morning and knowing ‘Okay, it’s time

to get in the van for the next town.’ I love the regular routine of it. But I also spent the last three years completely away from my children, who, aside from those weekend all-ages shows, I can’t ever take with me. I was pretty burnt out.”

Following a series of overseas shows with Daniel, Fred, and Julie in support of the trio’s critically heralded debut, Doiron had reached a strained point of weariness; one that was derived not only from homesickness, but a general fatigue with her musical work as well.

She elaborated, “By the end of that last tour I just didn’t want anyone to talk about music with me, or the idea of writing or going on tour. After spending so much time away from home I was feeling quite lost towards the end, and generally felt like I nothing to offer anybody in terms of conversation.”

Her return to Toronto was heavily anticipated as a time for some heartfelt selfreflection. “I really just wanted to spend time

with my kids, figure out who I was, and what I had to offer people,” she added.

Doiron resolutely spent her brief but fulfilling weeks in Toronto balancing her solo material, and home life in calming strides.

With a handful of songs already penned up, she plans to dabble in a more lush direction for her next album, which should receive studio attention during the spring. Any bit of inspiration for the coming months, then, has been left to surface wherever it may.

“I’ve never forced myself to come up with material and, for the most part, I’m not really stressed about writing,” she explained.

“I’ve thrown in some cover songs for these recent shows, and they’ve really served as a testament to how much more comfortable I am right now.”

“I feel very good about where I’m at and how this year’s going to unfold, you know, aside from paying off the debt and bills and all.”  Dan Hawie

D12 • the silhouette’s art & culture magazine

music

thursday, february 3, 2011

nice to come home indie darling julie doiron discusses the balance of family and tour life

Julie Doiron is always quick to link any musicrelated response back to her double life as an avid homebody. Nearly two decades spent on the road with a mix of bands and collaborations, and as a solo act, certainly reflects a well-worn career as The First Lady of Canadian Music.

And although an oversized bag of eminent keepsakes and regal titles like the aforementioned may hang proudly over Doiron’s shoulder, the Moncton-born songstress remains humble, preferring to talk about an endearing life as a mother of three, snug in her Toronto home.

After a year spent touring with her folk trio-mates Daniel Romano and Fred Squire, and with Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie, Doiron took only a short twomonth break before finding herself back on the road for her own national tour. A recent CBC Bucky Lifetime Achievement Award rounds out a successful past year, but Doiron is quick to bring up her familial role as a priority for the coming months.

“With the Bucky Award, there was a whole montage that aired beforehand that had condensed my life into a three minute sound bite. It was interesting, and of course, I was beyond flattered,” she explained from a hotel room in Kingston.

“But it also gave me a newer perspective over my life outside of music. I guess I did do a lot of work over the years, so I’ve wanted to spend this coming year with more time at home as a mother. Maybe I should get another job too?” she laughed.

Doiron had spent the previous night trekking Westward from Moncton after a slew of lauded hometown shows, which she admits were an exhausting, but necessary endeavour. “Christmas always depletes my savings, you know. Three kids kind of makes everything go ‘poof.’ So this tour kind of fell into my lap, and was perfectly timed that way,” she explained.

“On the one hand I adore touring, performing every night, and waking up in the morning and knowing ‘Okay, it’s time

to get in the van for the next town.’ I love the regular routine of it. But I also spent the last three years completely away from my children, who, aside from those weekend all-ages shows, I can’t ever take with me. I was pretty burnt out.”

Following a series of overseas shows with Daniel, Fred, and Julie in support of the trio’s critically heralded debut, Doiron had reached a strained point of weariness; one that was derived not only from homesickness, but a general fatigue with her musical work as well.

She elaborated, “By the end of that last tour I just didn’t want anyone to talk about music with me, or the idea of writing or going on tour. After spending so much time away from home I was feeling quite lost towards the end, and generally felt like I nothing to offer anybody in terms of conversation.”

Her return to Toronto was heavily anticipated as a time for some heartfelt selfreflection. “I really just wanted to spend time

with my kids, figure out who I was, and what I had to offer people,” she added.

Doiron resolutely spent her brief but fulfilling weeks in Toronto balancing her solo material, and home life in calming strides.

With a handful of songs already penned up, she plans to dabble in a more lush direction for her next album, which should receive studio attention during the spring. Any bit of inspiration for the coming months, then, has been left to surface wherever it may.

“I’ve never forced myself to come up with material and, for the most part, I’m not really stressed about writing,” she explained.

“I’ve thrown in some cover songs for these recent shows, and they’ve really served as a testament to how much more comfortable I am right now.”

“I feel very good about where I’m at and how this year’s going to unfold, you know, aside from paying off the debt and bills and all.”  Dan Hawie