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INSIDE>>
NEWS: Talking to MPP Sandy Shaw about SCI // PAGE 3 ARTS & CULTURE: What’s on in Hamilton this month? // PAGE 9 ARTS & CULTURE: Dishing out comfort food downtown // PAGES 10-11
The Silhouette Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020
S R E D U A R A M E TH
SERVE
A recap of the volleyball teams’ winter performances // PAGES 12-13
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The Silhouette
Volume 90, Issue 12 Thursday, January 9, 2020 McMaster University’s Student Newspaper
EDITORIAL BOARD
WANTED: YOU! The Silhouette is looking for volunteers for Volume 90! We are looking for volunteer staff writers for all sections. All INVOLVED of our volunteer gigs are open to GETTING McMaster students taking 18 units or more. Visit msumcmaster.ca/jobs to find more information.
editor-in-chief | thesil@thesil.ca
Hannah Walters-Vida digital media specialist | dms@msu.mcmaster.ca
Maxine Gravina managing editor | managing@thesil.ca
Neda Pirouzmand online editor | online@thesil.ca
Razan Samara production editor | managing@thesil.ca Elisabetta Paiano sections
NEWS Trisha Gregorio news reporter Shamir Malik news@thesil.ca
news editor
FEATURES Adrianna Michell features@thesil.ca
features reporter
OPINION Steffi Arkilander opinions@thesil.ca
opinion editor
WHAT’S NEW WITH THE SIL? The Silhouette is switching up our schedule! Our print issue will now be coming out every two weeks instead of every week. We will still be coming out with weekly online content, so make sure to follow us on social media to keep up!
SPORTS Graham West sports reporter Kyle West sports@thesil.ca
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www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020
| 3
News
In conversation with MPP Sandy Shaw How new provincial policies may threaten younger generations
Sandy Shaw speaks at Queen’s Park C/O SANDY SHAW’S CONSTITUENCY OFFICE
Adrianna Michell Features Reporter
Sandy Shaw, the Member of Provincial Parliament for Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas, has returned home from a stint at Queen’s Park. Before the winter break, the Conservatives drove Bill 124 through the House on Nov. 8, a move that has been widely criticized. “It’s been a long week of fighting for hardworking people in the province of Ontario,” said Shaw. As a member of the New Democratic Party and the representative for the riding in which McMaster sits, Shaw knows student issues are important for her constituents. According to Shaw, Bill 124 was just the latest in a series of Conservative attacks on students’ funding, freedom and future. Bill 124, also known as the “Protecting a Sustainable Public Sector for Future Generations Act,” limits wage increases for public sector employees to one per cent per year, among other things. This does not keep up with inflation in the province,
which fluctuates between 1.5 and 2.5 per cent yearly. In a press release, Ontario Treasury Board President Peter Bethlenfalvy explained the rationale behind the Bill. “The legislation would allow for reasonable wage increases, while protecting the province’s front-line services, restoring the province’s financial position and respecting taxpayer dollars,” he said. However, the Bill has also been criticized for its effects on workers. “Bill 124 . . . caps the wages of a million workers of families in the province of Ontario. At the same time, this government is giving themselves promotions and raises,” said Shaw. Despite the pushback from Shaw and the NDP, the Conservative government sought to pass the Bill. Although Bill 124 was announced in early June, soon after, the provincial government entered an extended summer recess ending in late October. As a result, despite the intense controversy surrounding the Bill, the debate period lasted for less than two weeks. Shaw
was concerned the Bill had been passed too quickly. “I personally did not support this exceptionally long break. I mean, there’s a lot of work that we need to get done in the province. And this is a government that doesn’t take the time to study legislation, to get legislation right,” said Shaw. Unions across Ontario have launched complaints against the Bill, including the Canadian Union of Public Employees and the Ontario Nurses Association. According to Shaw, the Act will impact the most vulnerable workers in the province, many of whom are women and marginalized community members. The Act also has specific impacts for McMaster; it caps the wage increases of McMaster teaching and research assistants at one per cent, despite efforts by the Canadian Union of Public Employees 3906, the union representing McMaster teaching and research assistants, to increase wages. “Students need to be recognized for what they are, which is contributors to the province, contributors to their communities, and that they are struggling
under all kinds of burdens imposed by this government … it’s just cruel and heartless,” said Shaw. The provincial government is defending the one per cent wage cap by citing the province’s need to balance its budget. Shaw disagrees. “Essentially what they’re saying is [that] the deficit is the fault of frontline workers in the province of Ontario, [that] it’s their responsibility to fix the deficit ... And so the reason I think the break was so … wrong [is] because when we came back after five months, the government ran this legislation through the house in two weeks,” said Shaw. Shaw views the province’s actions as an all-out attack on students. Bill 124 was preceded by budget cuts for schools at both the elementary and post-secondary levels, which include the now unlawful Student Choice Initiative and reduced funding for the Ontario Student Assistance Program. “In what world does this make sense? In what world does it make sense that students that struggle just to pay this increasing tuition burden, that students [that] struggle with part time, precarious, low-wage, minimum wage jobs, if they can find them at all, now are losing jobs [where] they can earn money on campus,” said Shaw, referring to the SCI and other Conservative education policies that impact education. Announced on Jan. 17, 2019, the SCI gave post-secondary students the opportunity to opt out of “non-essential” student fees, which included and thereby endangered on-campus organizations and student media. In response, the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario and the York Federation of Students took the directive to court, labeling the SCI as unlawful and criticizing the unjust procedure that led to its passing. The Divisional Court of Ontario ruled in favour of CFS-O and YFS on Nov. 21,
2019, stating that the bargaining process between autonomous universities and student unions did not fall within the jurisdiction of the provincial government. But where do we go from here? Shaw says that we all have to play our part. While Shaw is on the house floor holding the government accountable, students can lend their voices too. “Students have shown, historically, time and time again, that when they mobilize, that when they speak up, that’s powerful. And this is a government that does not want to hear powerful voices. They want to shut down debate. They want to shut down dialogue,” said Shaw. While mobilization may be possible, McMaster students have diverse political views, as does the rest of the province. Despite differences, there is one thing that all students may have in common. “Every student I’ve ever met is concerned also about the world in which they’re going to graduate into,” said Shaw. For Shaw and the NDP, slashing student services isn’t a solution for balancing provincial budgets. As she returns to the legislature, Shaw pledges to fight for student interests, aiming to ensure that the world we graduate into is one where the needs of vulnerable workers are prioritized.
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PRESIDENT’S PAGE
JOSH MARANDO President president@msu.mcmaster.ca 905.525.9140 x23885
Throughout my years at McMaster, I have had the privilege of meeting and befriending a wide variety of individuals. These folks have taught me that there are many different types of leaders, all valid and meaningful. To celebrate the dedication of students and the unique ways they demonstrate their leadership qualities, the MSU hosts Student Recognition Night. The annual awards ceremony recognizes various McMaster leaders who have contributed to enhancing student life on campus in different capacities. Nominations are now open for the 2020 MSU Awards, whose recipients will be announced during Student Recognition Night on March 9, 2020. For those nominating someone anonymously, the application deadline is January 22, while for those nominating themselves, the deadline is February 5. This gives folks that were nominated by someone else the time to submit any missing documentation. Students can nominate either individuals or groups who have
January 9, 2020 | thesil.ca
positively impacted the undergraduate experience at McMaster. The five awards presented every year are the following: The Honour M Award is the highest award that the MSU bestows, recognizing outstanding leadership, volunteer service, contribution and/or special achievement in extra-curricular activities. A nominee must have completed at least two years of MSU membership and are usually in the final year of their academic program. The Rudy Heinzl Award of Excellence is awarded in recognition of an outstanding one-year achievement, which improves the lives of students at McMaster University. A nominee can be any McMaster community member.
those campus groups that best represent enthusiasm, participation, dedication, and increasing school spirit. To read more about criteria for awards or to make a nomination, visit www.msumcmaster.ca/awards. All completed nomination packages must
be uploaded by noon on January 22 or February 5, depending if you are nominating yourself or someone else. I strongly encourage you to nominate any student or group who have had a positive role in shaping your time at McMaster.
“Students can nominate either individuals or groups who have positively impacted the undergraduate experience at McMaster. ” The MSU Merit Scholarship Award is presented to recognize outstanding and valuable service to university, student, or residence governments, departments, clubs, societies, charities, or athletics. A nominee must be an MSU member who is not in the final year of an academic program. The J. Lynn Watson Award for Community Service is presented by the MSU 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 outstanding spirit. The Selection Committee will consider
The President’s Page is a space sponsored and used by the McMaster Students Union (MSU) Board of Directors (BoD) to communicate with the student body. It functions to highlight the Board’s projects, goals, and agenda for the year, as well as the general happenings of the MSU.
SARAH JOSH MARANDO FIGUEIREDO President
VP (Administration)
SHEMAR HACKETT VP (Education)
ALEX JOHNSTON VP (Finance)
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best part is, now you can do it without having to go to college after graduation. If you’re looking for a competitive advantage in the employement market and to be job-ready upon graduation, McMaster University Continuing Education offers the Degree + Diploma program pathway. It is an opportunity for current undergraduate students to apply their electives towards
Pinar Ovali, a Communications student at McMaster, is taking the Degree + Diploma Web Design Certificate program through McMaster Continuing Education. When aked about her experience with the program Pinar says, “I will have a very useful certificate for my field at the end of the program. As a Communications undergrad, I know that taking this program will benefit me tremendously when I start applying for jobs.” Taking this program provides a huge personal return on investment, allowing you to develop your academic resume sooner and getting you one step closer to your dream job. Degree + Diploma is offered through McMaster University Continuing Education. There are many certificate and diploma
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OPINION
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020
Opinion Chinese students aren’t brainwashed Chinese students at McMaster deserve to have their opinions heard — they do their research and you should too Anonymous Contributor
The CSSA-gate at McMaster has triggered an interesting online debate between members of the Chinese community at McMaster and the rest of campus. Many non-Chinese students mistakenly believe that the Chinese students who questioned the procedures and implications of the McMaster Students Union’s decision are brainwashed as their life before coming to Canada was behind China’s “Great Firewall”. Some of them seem to perceive such Chinese students to be victims of an absolute information barrier, which supposedly leaves them no choice but to accept the government’s propaganda. Therefore, it seems righteous to “enlighten” those Chinese students with patronizing questions or bombardment of pictures of historical incidents like the Tiananmen Square Protest. These gestures, although they may have good intentions, are pretty amusing to this new generation of Chinese students who were born and raised in China, including me. Let me explain why. First, Chinese people have access to the largest ever-increasing reservoir of information and news on China — in Chinese. Such information not only comes from stateowned media channels, but also non-official channels, social media platforms, online chatting groups and other online platforms. Contrary to what many people in the West may believe, the fact that state-run news stories about China are heavily censored does not make them factually inaccurate. Due to the rise of social media platforms as well as the anti-corruption campaign, it has become increasingly difficult and costly for government officials to cover up catastrophic or controversial stories. Therefore, most people, if curious enough, can get
a pretty good grasp of what is going on simply by combining information from state media and other channels. Second, while China’s “Great Firewall” does block a few websites, such as Google and Facebook, it does not block all Western media. In fact, Chinese people have access to a majority of Western media channels through state and non-state owned media. Some include the Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France-Presse, the Economist, CBC, The Globe and Mail and CNN. Selected news coverage on China and international affairs are translated into Chinese from tens of languages. In any country in the world, a larger blockade to absorbing foreign information is usually the barrier of a foreign language rather than the “Great Firewall”. Therefore, translated news stories offer a very informative picture of the world to the Chinese people. Lastly, the “Great Firewall” is not an absolute blockade of information, despite the websites that are blocked by censorship. For those who want to obtain unfiltered information, they can get around the firewall through a virtual private network proxy to gain access to those blocked websites. Such VPN services are usually not blocked by the government. You may argue that China’s censorship of information is still controlling people’s minds but — and this may come as a surprise to many — contrary to the idea that the Chinese are ‘brainwashed’, Chinese people are usually hyper mindful of the fact that the government dominates and controls information inflows. Hence, they do not take media at face value and are usually super critical of it. This is particularly true for educated Chinese students on McMaster University’s campus. They generally obtain information, compare multiple sources and do some further research
A student reading the news with their eyes blindfolded. CINDY CUI / PHOTO EDITOR
before they come to their own conclusion. In this new era of fake news in the Western media, more and more Canadians are trying hard to seek the truth and stay critical of Fox News, CNN, the National Inquirer, and tabloid sources that may provide dis-information, mis-information and mal-information. In order to be engaged citizens of the world, we all have to be investigative journalists to some degree to search for stories from different sides. However, in China, people have been carrying out such independent investigations on controversial events for decades because of the apparent censorship. Sadly, Chinese students were judged based on two assumptions: that the Chinese students are absolutely “brainwashed,” and China is an evil country. As a result, the Chinese students who questioned the MSU’s treatment of the Mcmaster Chinese Students and Scholars Association were mocked as if these students couldn’t think critically because they are Chi-
nese. Therefore, despite the fact that we’re in Canada, Chinese students’ voices can be immediately dismissed, our rights can be compromised and our character can be attacked based on these assumptions. This article is not arguing that Canadian students are “brainwashed” by all the fake news about China or that you shouldn’t believe anything Western media says about China. Rather, its purpose is to serve as a gentle reminder that biases against China and Chinese students can exist on campus. In this increasingly divided world, keeping a cool head and sticking to the facts are valuable qualities that make us Canadians truly multicultural and inclusive. It takes some effort to do your own research, fact checking and comparing different sources of information, but we can’t afford to be lazy. It might not be that difficult to carry out a Google search on different sides of stories about the recent happenings about Xinjiang, Hong Kong or Mac CSSA. It
might not be that difficult to truly listen and respect opinions from the Chinese students’ side as equals. If some members of our community, within the Student Representative Assembly or outside of the SRA, can truly reflect what happened in the MAC CSSA-gate instead of getting defensive and maintaining their anti-discrimination responsibilities merely as lip services, it might not be that difficult to correct the mistakes made. At least I wish.
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www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020
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The privilege of forgetting Understanding the burdens of others is difficult if you don’t acknowledge them first
Nina de Villiers Rose Garden plaque. CINDY CUI / PHOTO EDITOR Roba Dekamo Contributor
Most people experience some level of privilege based on a combination of characteristics society considers integral to who we are. Some factors that influence privilege include race, socio-economic status, sexual orientation and gender identity. Based on these characteristics, your life will be harder or easier, and unfortunately you don’t get a say in the matter. Many people are able to live easier lives due to privilege. For example, white folks are less likely to be pulled over while driving and men are less likely to be targets of sexual violence. However, one privilege I never considered, likely because doing so would contradict its very nature, is the ability to forget. A friend of mine invited me to take part in McMaster University’s Mens’ Walk in Solidarity with the the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. As we
made our way through campus, we stopped at four memorial sites: the Student Memorial Garden, Nina de Villiers Rose Garden, the Montreal Massacre Commemorative Stone and the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Memorial. During one stop, a group member reminded us of how frequently we may pass by these sites, often daily, without giving them much thought. He defined this as “the privilege to forget”. This isn’t to say men are dismissive of acts of gender-based violence and their impacts, but to say that, as cisgender straight men, many of us don’t have to carry the weight of our very safety being threatened on the basis of gender. Therefore, we can either consciously or unconsciously ignore the realities that women and non-binary folks face on a daily basis in terms of their physical security. My daily decisions aren’t impacted by the threat of violence because I am a man. I don’t consider how late I can
stay on campus if I am not walking home with friends. I don’t prioritize being aware of my environment or worry about who I’m surrounded by when I am out dancing. The women in my life can’t say the same. While walking through campus with my mom, she helped me realize how easily I am able to forget. We crossed paths with a few friends and when one of them, a female engineering student, stated her program, she was met with all the affection I had come to expect from my mom but with one additional praise I didn’t anticipate: my mom called her brave. She cited the events of Dec. 6, 1989, the École Polytechnique massacre, where a man killed 14 women in a horrible act of misogyny because he said they were “feminists” for being in engineering. My mom reassured this young woman that her decision was hers to make, and that by defying gender norms she had been brave and made at least one mom proud.
My mom found my friend brave for pursuing her passion, for choosing a field of study dominated by men and for doing what she wanted regardless of the standards. Brave for doing what men consider normal. This was another reminder of my privilege to be able to dismiss the concerns that women often have to take into account when making decisions. Will I feel safe and comfortable in this space? Welcomed or alienated? Is the discomfort worth pursuing something I want? I never had to face these questions when weighing my options in high school. I remember a time in my first year when five women I was friends with mentioned that they always felt better when I joined them on late night escapades to find a kegger or backyard party. I was taken aback by the statement, not just because I’m built like a determined toothpick but because I never considered my physical safety to be in jeopardy by simply being
out at night. To be fair, this anecdote isn’t as much about forgetting as it is about learning, but even beyond this experience years ago, these thoughts don’t occupy mind nearly as much as I’d argue they should. I learned a lot from those friends and they helped me realize a few things: my understanding of the world was very limited and I had a lot to learn, but also we as a society need to share more. Sharing the burden of repairing broken systems and perceptions, but also sharing our experiences to help inform and educate each other about things some individuals may never experience themselves. Violence against women and gender-nonconforming people exists 365 days of the year, at a rate drastically higher than men experience. This allows a lot of male identifying folks the luxury of tuning out the subject for 364 of those days, and acknowledging its significance as it arises, be it a news article, story from a friend or national observance. Year round, men need to ask more often, listen more intently and genuinely care for what women and non-binary folks have to say about these issues. We can use each others’ experiences to learn a lot about the things we can never experience ourselves and hopefully this can help change the ways we think and act for the better.
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OPINION
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020
Exam culture puts students at risk Promoting all-nighters through memes normalizes unhealthy behaviour Kayla Freeman Contributor
Each year of university can feel like a new beginning, culminating in a gruelling session of final exams. Final exams are customarily used to test students’ comprehension of course material over the course of the semester. However, many students study for exams by cramming as much information as they can the week, or sometimes even the night before the final. This trend has birthed what is commonly dubbed ‘exam culture’. Habits such as pulling all-nighters and drinking excessive amounts of caffeine are shared on social media and amongst friends, sometimes in an attempt to justify these unhealthy behaviours. Promoting these behaviours amongst peers and friends by sharing your poor habits can cause students to believe that these practices are acceptable, or even commendable. The realistic approach to
approaching education, on social media and otherwise, is to understand the repercussions of these exam habits. Rather than shaming friends and followers across Instagram or Twitter, I opt to lead by example. Refusing to contribute or engage with this type of behaviour on the internet may dissuade friends from posting these habits online due to lack of engagement. Also, encouraging positive habits will hopefully have the same impact by influencing others to adopt improved means of coping during exam season. After I finished my first year, I learned how to study for exams in a way that was not detrimental to my mental or physical well-being. Students are often overwhelmingly stressed during exam season, as due dates for final papers, projects and exams approach. This can lead to issues such as insomnia, anxiety and lower sleep quality. The stress felt during exam season can lead to poor sleep quality and push
students to consume excessive amounts of caffeine. It is easy to see that these habits that are built over the years of undergrad, or even high school, often translate into normalized behaviours that negatively impact both physical and mental health. I believe one of the biggest problems that students face today is that these poor habits are being shared across various social media platforms in an attempt to normalize them. Sharing your unhealthy habits can encourage others to follow these behaviours, which is harmful. Often, I see students compete on social media about who stays up the latest, who drinks the most caffeine or who buys the most snacks. When these mindsets are shared online, they become accessible and may incite a trend, leading others to partake or post similar photos or videos. Along with this, it has become increasingly common to see students indulging in unhealthy foods, easily accessible
THIS THURSDAY!
Continue your search at the Off-Campus Housing Fair. Explore off-campus housing options for the 2020/2021 academic year.
Thursday, January 16 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. MUSC Marketplace
via UberEats or other delivery methods. This can be dangerous, especially during exam season when these poor habits often are used as distractions from studying and can lead to a mentally and physically vulnerable state.
Rather than normalizing poor behaviours, it is more beneficial for these behaviours surrounding studying to be called out and given direction. Overall, exam season is a time when students are most at risk in terms of their health. Rather than normalizing poor behaviours by posting about
your unhealthy habits online, it is more beneficial for these behaviours surrounding studying to be called out and given direction. If we all begin to conform and assimilate to “exam culture,” it will simply lead to more harm for students. During the upcoming semester, it is essential to address and confront negative habits that cause more harm than good. It is also imperative to understand personal limits, rather than conform to the habits of the crowd. Through knowing and understanding individual capacities, poor habits can be substituted for more healthy ones. Investing time in discovering new and improved coping strategies for stress management may encourage students to prioritize their health alongside studies and education.
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Arts & Culture
What’s on in January? Punk City #2: Punk Identity January 10 Una Di Gallo X Ill In the Head Records Art Crawl Location: Hammer City Records - 228 James Street North (basement at rear) Time: 7:00PM - 11:00PM January 11 Punk Beading Circle with Dani Valentine (Six Nations) Location: Hammer City Records Time: 1:00PM - 4:00PM January 11 Total Betty, Bad Crush, Loose Fruit Location: Doors Taco Joint and Metal Bar 56 Hess Street South Time: 9:00PM January 12 Rainbow Punx - Talk, Lunch and Music Workshops for Youth with Non-Binary Punk Mentors Location: Workers Arts and Heritage Centre 51 Stuart Street Time: 11:00AM - 2:30PM
January 17 CCPAC Presents: Frozen Jr Location: Staircase Cafe Theatre - 27 Dundurn St. North Time: 7:00PM - 9:00PM
January 18 The Cotton Factory Presents: Cheers to 5 Years Location: 270 Sherman Avenue North Time: 6:00PM - 11:00PM
McMaster Thespian Theatre Presents: A Midsummer Night’S Dream January 24 to January 26, January 30 to February 1 Location: Robinson Memorial Theatre - Chester New Hall Times: 24th (8:00 p.m.), 25th (2:00 p.m, 8:00 p.m.), 26th (2:00 p.m.), 30th (8:00 p.m.), 31st (8:00 p.m.), 1st (2:00 p.m, 8:00 p.m.)
January 25 PrEP Yourself: Party and Drag Show Location: Absinthe - 38 King William Street Time: Doors open at 8:00PM, show starts at 8:30PM
Designing Paradise" January 13 Sustainability and Health in our Watershed / The Social and Cultural Histories of our Watershed Location: Wilson Hall Concert Hall Time: 1:30PM - 4:30PM January 20 Species Diversity on West Campus / Water on West Campus (Coldwater Creek Valley) Location: Wilson Hall Concert Hall Time: 1:30PM - 4:30PM
January 25 Community Skate Location: FirstOntario Centre - 101 York Boulevard Time: 10:00AM - 2:00PM
January 31 Charity Ball 2020: Masterpiece Location: Hamilton Convention Centre by Carmens 1 Summers Lane Time: 8:30PM - 2:00AM
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www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020
A&C
Culinary Class
Uncle Ray’s Food & Liqour Toronto-based eatery finds a new home in the Hammer Andrew Mrozowski A&C Editor
What It Is: Uncle Ray’s Food & Liquor (10 James St. North) brings a taste of Toronto’s Union Chicken to Hamilton. While on the Toronto menu, Uncle Ray’s is a section dedicated to fried chicken, the new Hamilton restaurant focuses on and expands this concept, becoming the fourth location to house “Ray’s Famous Fried Chicken”. Over the last few months on James Street North, you may have noticed the decal of a bunny wearing an eye patch adorning the shopfront asking, “Who the hell is Uncle Ray?”. After our visit, it is safe to say we know exactly who Uncle Ray is. The name is a metaphor for the passion that you find from all the staff. This not only comes across in service, but also through the quality of food that Uncle Ray’s dishes out to its customers.
How to Get There from Campus: Grab the 51 from campus towards Main Street West
and James Street North. Head north-east past King Street East and you’ll find the restaurant on the east side of the street. Alternatively, you can take the 5C or 1A from campus and jump off at Main Street West and MacNab Street South. Walk north-east towards King Street West, then east towards the intersection. For a quicker trip, you can take the 10 from Main Street West and Emerson Street to Main Street West and MacNab Street South.
The Cost: Entrees are broken into two categories, plates and fried chicken. Plates range from $17 to $29.50. Fried chicken will cost you $18 or $19 depending if you get the O.G. Plate or Lightning Chicken, respectively. I am warning you now, a to-go box will probably be a good idea as the meals are big, providing you with two great portions. Sides dishes range from $5 to $9. The restaurant also has a large list of snacks and appetizers that run from $6 to $19. If you are looking to share a meal with two to three friends, Ray’s Southern Platter costs $69. Uncle Ray’s is able to split cheques. As the name boasts, Uncle Ray’s has a wide assortment
of beer from domestic to craft, as well as a few draught lines. A variety of wines can also be found on the menu as well as a handful of mixed drinks. If you’re gonna grab a drink, expect to be paying anywhere from $6 to $29. Craving something sweet? Uncle Ray’s has a small, yet delightful dessert menu ranging from $5 to $8.
What to Get: The moment of truth — what should you try? When I went to the restaurant with my housemates, we were immediately greeted by the warm, industrial atmosphere of the space. It is slightly reminiscent of HAMBRGR before their renovations. To drink, I enjoyed a Piña Colada that looked like it was straight out of a Caribbean resort. If alcohol isn’t your thing, they also feature pop and three types of water — sparkling, bottled and filtered tap. Looking at the food menu, all of our eyes immediately went to the fried chicken section. Not only is it on the cheaper side of the menu, we figured it would be a mistake not to try their in-house specialty. I ordered the O.G. Plate (which includes gravy, pieces of fried buttermilk,
boneless chicken thighs, hot honey and green onions) with a side of triple cooked fries accompanied by a malt vinegar aioli. My housemates ordered the Lightning Chicken (which includes habanero hot sauce, Nashville style fried chicken, hot honey and pickles stacked on a piece of white bread) with a side of fries. We all exchanged pieces of each other’s chicken, and took a bite at the same time. We were blown away by how the kitchen staff was able to achieve a moist, tender thigh on the inside while being crispy and flavourful on the outside. The O.G. had a savoury, sweet flavour from the gravy and honey mixing on the plate. The Lightning Chicken didn’t taste spicy at first; however, two thighs in and your nose will be running and your eyes will be watering. DO NOT make the mistake of rubbing your eyes like I did! The magic doesn’t stop there as Uncle Ray’s dessert menu features a few delectable desserts. As I was celebrating an early birthday dinner, I was able to get the carrot cake on the house, while my other housemates had the buttermilk soft serve and pot of chocolate. Uncle Ray’s triple-layered carrot cake with cream cheese icing was by far the winner at our
table.
Why It’s Great: Uncle Ray’s Food & Liquor is quickly establishing itself as a go-to Hamilton spot in the downtown core. I know the price really doesn’t conform to the student-budget; however, if you are with a group of friends for a night out on the town and if you’re willing to splurge a little outside of this week’s food budget, Uncle Ray’s provides a great atmosphere to catch up and enjoy some tasty food. A “life-hack” that my housemate and I learned with Uncle Ray’s leftovers: if you bring home your chicken and fries, pop them in the oven at 400°F for 25-35 minutes depending on the strength of your oven. If you can resist for about 5 minutes, your meal will be almost as crispy as when you first bought it.
@andrewmrozowski
Front of Uncle Ray’s Food & Liquor
The Silhouette
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020
Piña Colada
O.G. Plate
Lightning Chicken
Carrot Cake
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Buttermilk Soft Serve
Triple Cooked Fries
Pot of Chocolate
PHOTOS BY ANDREW MROZOWSKI / A&C EDITOR
12 |
SPORTS
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020
Sports A Volleyball Story
With several tournaments over the break, the McMaster Men’s volleyball team had a few W’s on their wishlist
Men’s Volleyball team 2019 KYLE WEST/ SPORTS REPORTER
Kyle West Photo Editor
For those in the know, McMaster Volleyball has long been a force to be reckoned with. Over the years the program has sent players overseas to play in professional leagues such as the Polish PlusLiga, seen its graduates make Olympic appearances and taken down National Collegiate Athletic Association Division one teams. To those who didn’t already know all this, the Can Am Volleyball Holiday Showcase helped shed some light on McMaster’s success. The Can Am Volleyball Holiday Showcase, which took place Dec. 28 to 31 2019, was a set of three matches that pit three of the top Canadian university volleyball programs against strong American foes. Other than McMaster, two other Canadian universities at the Can Am tournament were the Trinity Western University
Spartans and the University of Alberta Golden Bears. The three Canadian teams made their way to the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre to face off with the Long Beach State 49ers, the Lewis University Flyers and the University of California, Los Angeles Bruins.
The three Canadian teams made their way to the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre to face off with the Long Beach State 49ers, the Lewis University Flyers and the University of California, Los Angeles Bruins.
McMaster is no stranger to the strength of Long Beach State’s volleyball program, having played them over four times in the past two years. McMaster has come out on top in two of the last three matchups. Unfortunately, they fell just short in this year’s match with a final score of three to two. Following the Can Am Showcase, McMaster moved forward with their second act of holiday break tournaments with a two day showdown against the west coast’s Canadian volleyball powerhouse, Trinity Western University, upsetting them in the first match with a thrilling kill to bring home the W in the fifth set. The Marauders also took home another win on the fourth, securing two straight wins against the Spartans. This success provided McMaster with the confidence to enter the continuation of the season with a brand new perspective. Looking forward to the new year ahead, McMaster holds the
top seed in the western conference of the Ontario University Athletics. They are preparing to face several opponents throughout the OUA. First off will be Ryerson University on Jan. 17 and Trent university on Jan. 18. Ryerson, who is second seeded in the OUA’s eastern conference, will surely be a tough fight for the Marauders. However, if Mac continues to utilize the fast attack and strong offensive structure seen over the past few matches, we may see the Marauders to swoop in on the Rams. The Trent University Excalibur coming to town will likely be a relief for the Marauders as the Excalibur is currently in last place, without any wins. Following this game, Mac will face more difficult interconference opponents such as the Brock University Badgers and the Guelph University Gryphons over the rest of the month. McMaster is currently tied
for first in all of the OUA with their Toronto-based rival, the University of Toronto Varsity Blues. Looking to take the season away and start 2020 in the same fashion as the 2019 season, the men’s volleyball team could have the opportunity to end their season as number one. We are looking to see another winning season, which will hopefully lead to another run for the national championship. McMaster volleyball’s winning tradition is in the midst to continue for another year in 2020.
@TheSilhouette
The Silhouette
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020
| 13
No days off Even over the break, the women’s volleyball team was working hard playing games and signing recruits
Marina Vesovic prepares to serve while playing against U of T Dec. 16 MATTY FLADER / PHOTO REPORTER
Graham West Sports Editor
While most of us got some well-deserved rest over the break, the women’s volleyball team was hard at work. Not only did they play games, but they signed yet another top recruit. The Marauders signed Hayley Brookes in early December. Brookes comes from the Halton Hurricanes, a club team in Burlington. The Hurricanes have won consecutive national championships, and the team consistently churns out top university recruits. This includes a standout rookie from the Marauders, Marina Vesovic, who is tied for second-most kills over the season for the Marauders with 42. Brookes is a five-foot-eleven libero whose defensive prowess will certainly be noticed by opposing teams come fall 2020. A libero is resemblant of a game manager, using offensive passing to place the ball for a setter to use to their advantage. They are
also primarily responsible for mitigating the opposing offence’s attack. Signing a top recruit was not the only big event that happened over the break.
Brookes is a fivefoot-eleven libero whose defensive prowess will certainly be noticed by opposing teams come fall 2020. Every year the University of Winnipeg holds a tournament called the Wesmen Classic. This year marked the Wesmen Classic’s 53rd iteration as they hosted eight teams including the Marauders. The maroon and grey won their first game against the Brandon University Bobcats in three sets. Unfortunately, they lost their next three straight games without taking a
set. To cap off the tournament, the Marauders once again beat the Bobcats in the seventh-place game to take seventh place.
Every year the University of Winnipeg holds a tournament called the Wesmen Classic. This year marked the Wesmen Classic’s 53rd iteration as they hosted eight teams including the Marauders. The team’s return to the court was not entirely sour. They faced the University of Toronto Blues on Jan. 3, winning the match in the fifth set. The Varsity Blues sit tied with Ryerson atop of the Ontario University Athletics East division with a
record of eight wins and one loss. A win against the Blues provides the women’s team with great momentum heading into the remainder of the season. The team has a double-header against the Lakehead University Thunderwolves on Jan. 10 and Jan. 11 to start the new year. The Thunderwolves have been struggling so far this season, having won only one one out of eight games, however beating them still won’t be easy.
The team has a double-header against the Lakehead University Thunderwolves on Jan. 10 and Jan. 11 to start the new year. A challenging schedule lies ahead of the women’s team following their double-header. They have two matches against
the Brock University Badgers, who sit atop the OUA West, and one with the Ryerson University Rams, who are tied as the leading team in the OUA East with a record of eight wins and one loss. Even though the Wesmen Classic may not have gone as well as the team would have hoped, it was a productive winter break for the Marauders as they not only played hard, but also secured a recruit who should be a key athlete for the future.
@TheSilhouette
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Student Success 2020 Challenge: Take on your goals and compete for $100 to the Campus Store personal, professional and academic goals by choosing one of four Success Streams: 1. Want it all? — Select two activities from each category. 2. Major/Minor — Choose a category for your major and minor. Select four activities in your major category and two activities in your minor.
The Student Success Centre (SSC) is motivating students to start the year on a productive note with the Student Success 2020 Challenge. To celebrate their accomplishments, the first 100 undergrads to complete the challenge will receive a $100 gift card to the Campus Store and a certificate of completion. Here’s how it works. To participate, students must visit Gilmour Hall 110 after January 13 to pick up their activity booklet. All activities
must be completed by April 30, 2020. The activity categories — Academic Skills, Career Development and Experience Building — were designed to help students meet their goals by connecting them with valuable services and opportunities. Activities range from meeting with an academic coach to volunteering on campus or in the community. Students can customize the challenge to meet their
3. Double Major — Choose two major categories and select three activities in each. 4. Specialize — Become a specialist. Select all six activities in one category. In addition to the $100 gift card, SSC staff want students to know there’s a lot of value in the challenge activities themselves. Here’s what they have to share about the benefits of participating in the Student Success 2020 Challenge: “Throughout your career journey, you will need to
reflect, prepare, connect with people and build experiences. This challenge will get you started with an easy-to-follow list of activities. Good luck!” — Gisela Oliveira, Associate Director, Career and Employment “The Academic Skills team has designed these activities to challenge you to expand your academic development. Use this challenge to set and meet your academic goals.” — Jenna Storey, Academic Skills Program Coordinator “We have selected opportunities that provide students with the chance to develop skills, gain experience and build a professional network. These actions will help students learn about career and industry options so they can prepare for their career journey.” — Anna Magnotta, Manager, Experiential Programs
For more information on the challenge and to pick up your activity booklet, visit the Student Success Centre in Gilmour Hall 110. For more resources and opportunities to support your goals, visit bit.ly/mac-goals to learn about Goals Month.
By Jeff Low Sponsored by:
CREATE A HEALTHIER CAMPUS Do you have an idea to improve the health & wellbeing of McMaster students, staff and faculty? Up to $5,000 may be available to launch your idea. Applications open January 1 to Febraury 29, 2020.
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ANOTHER YEAR, SAME OLD BS S9
THURSDAY
THE
HAMILTON SPECULATOR MARKING THE DAYS SINCE 1934
JANUARY 9, 2020
NOTSPEC.COM
New Year? Who Cares
INSIDE
The start of a new decade doesn’t bother me because time isn’t real
ONTARIO PREMIER PLEDGES TO CONVERT ALL OF HAMILTON INTO A PARKING LOT A3 HELP! THERE IS POOP IN COOTES!! A6 HOW TO FOLLOW INTERNATIONAL POLITICS WITHOUT PANICKING B2 HOW TO FOLLOW DOMESTIC POLITICS WITHOUT PANICKING B5 HOPE I DON’T WRITE 2019 ON ANY OF THESE PAGES! C1 I DIDN’T MAKE ANY NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS BECAUSE I DON’T TRUST MYSELF C4 DAME JUDY DENCH’S HANDS IN CATS CAN’T HURT YOU JM4
BAD MEMORIES
New decade? Don’t know her.
COURTNEY COMPOST I once watched a Ted Talk about quantum physics
With the start of a new decade, a lot of people are made aware of the swift and uncontrollable passage of time. It’s pretty jarring to realize that 1990 was literally three decades ago. And that the Harry Potter kids are full-grown adults. Is it weird that we’re closer to the year 2050 than we are to 1980? I don’t think so — I don’t believe in time. Quantum physics tells us that time isn’t a physical entity, but a shared experience common to all of us on Earth. But not for me. I’ve taken up an enlightened perspective of time based on an elementa-
ry understanding of quantum physics. Hope you all enjoy your slow marches towards death, because I’m on another plane of existence. It must be pretty weird for all of you to be entering a new decade. 1920 — oh oops, 2020 — is a big one! Sorry, I just can’t keep the centuries straight when time means nothing to me. Doesn’t it suck that with every passing second, cells in your body are dying? Is it bittersweet that every time you ring in a new year, you’re reminded that your days are numbered, and another 365 just flew by? That must be rough for you. But luckily, my body just isn’t subject to the passage of time. If I don’t believe in time, it can’t change me! In addition to never aging, I’m also not subject to the perils
of the future. While the rest of you could be dealing with mass food shortages and wildfires as early as 2040 (that’s in 20 years — thanks climate crisis!) I’ll be safe in my timeless void. What’s 2040 to me? Pure speculation. While all of you are dealing
Disclaimer: The Hamilton Speculator is a work of satire and fiction and should not under any circumstances be taken seriously. We’re serious.
with the existential dread that comes with the first few weeks of January, I’ll be basking in my theoretical immortality. Happy New Year!
Seeing felines in your sleep? Picturing your loved ones covered in a layer of CGI-generated fur? Need help recovering from a certain digitally enhanced musical blockbuster? Come out to Collective Alliance of Theatrical Support (CATS) to relieve yourself of your jellicle nightmares.
PER ISSUE: Airpods. INCL. HST, PST & wealth
Enjoy the festivities, mortals.