The Silhouette - January 24, 2013 by The Silhouette

DOWNTOWN HAMILTON CASINO DEBATE HEATS UP Open discussion at City Hall draws a crowd of opposition; Carmen’s Group proposal to be out Feb. 6 Page A4

The

Silhouette

Getting Thrifty: The Essential tips for looking like a walking hand-me-down Page B10

McMASTER UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER

THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2013 VOL. 83 NO. 19

WHO IS FIT TO

LEAD? Seven competitors are seeking election to the 2013-14 presidency of the McMaster Students Union. For candidate profiles, see A6-A7. Each candidate makes his campaign pitch to Sil readers on A11.

Becoming the team to beat Mac’s men’s volleyball is finding success under coach Dave Preston Page B1

REVIEWS

INDEX MSU Election 2013: The candidates in this year’s presidential race are of two different approaches. While both aren’t always winning strategies, both are important. EDITORIAL, A5

Glass hearts: A different look at the fragility of human relationships

Eat for cheap: From coffee to curry, where to get the best value for your dollar at campus eateries. BROKE STUDENTS, B7

COLUMN, A8

Tech-NO-logy: Living without technology is a harder challenge than one may expect. TECHNOLOGICAL, A9

Broken Baskets: The men’s basketball team is dealing with a series of ill-timed injuries in their tense season. INJURIES, B5

The Year’s Best ANDY counts down the top five of its favourite music and movies from 2012 Pages C4-C7

MAPS director fired, financial statements released Part-time students association not following through on pledged Wilson Building donations Sam Colbert Executive Editor The McMaster Association of Part-time Students cleaned house last Friday. Its board of directors announced that MAPS had “ended its relationship” with its beleaguered executive director Sam Minniti and that none of the current board would stand for reelection at the Association’s Feb. 5 annual general meeting. On Monday, MAPS released its 2011 financial statements, the contents of which had been kept under wraps for months. The news comes after an investigation of MAPS by McMaster University “in light of significant concerns that were raised regarding MAPS’ business practices,” according to a December statement from the University. The investigation began last spring, after McMaster’s board of governors denied MAPS’ request that its per-student fee be increased from $7 per unit to $10 per unit.

Now, the University is looking for more oversight of the Association. In a statement released last Friday by McMaster’s Provost, David Wilkinson, the University outlined a number of conditions for the continued operation of MAPS, most of which were centred on more transparency and better financial reporting. Meanwhile, multiple candidates in this year’s McMaster Students Union presidential election have argued that summer students who were full-time students in the fall and winter shouldn’t be paying MAPS fees, given that their MSU membership lasts into the summer. MAPS fees are charged to students who take fewer than 18 units in a two-term academic session. David Campbell, who is on leave from his post as the MSU’s Vice President (Administration) to run for the presidency, has even included the sentiment in a platform point. MAPS’ 2011 financial

statements showed that the organization had student fee revenue of $507,035, of which $354,023 went to salaries and benefits. In addition to Minniti’s reported income of $126,152, the financial statements outlined $101,117 in back pay he received that year, which “relates to a retroactive pay adjustment” for a period between November 2005 and November 2010. In a separate note, the financial statements added that “uncertainty exists as to whether a further sum to a maximum amount of $88,117 may still be owing” to Minniti. They also describe Minniti’s recent termination. “As a result, severance pay may be owing, however, the amount, if any, is not currently determinable.” In 2010, MAPS pledged $1 million to the construction of the Wilson Building, a new oncampus liberal arts facility that will be up in place of Wentworth House by 2015. The Association

“

In addition to Minniti’s reported income of $126,152, the 2011 financial statements outlined $101,117 in back pay he received that year, which “relates to a retroactive pay adjustment” for a period between November 2005 and November 2010. In a separate note, the financial statements added that “uncertainty exists as to whether a further sum to a maximum amount of $88,117 may still be owing” to Minniti.

promised to pay that money out over 10 years at $100,000 a year. MAPS gave only $60,000 to the project in 2010 and gave nothing in 2011. It also neglected to make good on its 2012 instalment of the pledge, according to Gord Arbeau, McMaster’s Director of Public & Community Relations. “The project remains on schedule and is moving ahead as planned,” said Arbeau about the Wilson Building’s construction, the bulk of which is funded by a grant from the Ontario government and a donation by McMaster’s chancellor Lynton (Red) Wilson. “As 2012 progressed, the University’s focus on was gaining an understanding of MAPS’ financial and business practices, and the focus now is on ensuring that MAPS enacts the requirements that we laid out in our statement last week.” MAPS’ Feb. 5 annual general meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. in Gilmour Hall 111.

the

PRESIDENT’S PAGE Jeff Wyngaarden VP (Finance)

Huzaifa Saeed VP (Education)

Siobhan Stewart President

David Campbell VP (Administration)

THE QUALITIES OF A QUALITY PRESIDENT

Siobhan reflects on the demands of the job and offers food for thought on what to look for in an MSU President

Siobhan Stewart President president@msu.mcmaster.ca ext. 23885

MSU Presdentials are upon us once more! It’s a time when different presidential candidates are vying for your votes and campaign colours are out in full force. Right now, students are taking stock of what the MSU is doing and are discussing the issues that directly shape our students union. The student body is actively exploring the issues that impact them and how the student experience at McMaster can be improved. As a voter, you will probably think about the role of the MSU President and what you would like to see reflected in a candidate. Traditionally, it is the role of the current MSU President to comment on the qualities of a good candidate. I intend to provide some insight on what my experience has been like and illuminate some of the qualities I feel may be useful to a president. I hope that my words help you further understand the role in order to empower you in your choice. This is not intended to bias your selection by any means, only to convey some of the key features that you should consider when evaluating candidates and electing your next MSU President. Reflections on the Job The MSU President’s role is to advocate for and engage with the student body. The job calls for someone who is always willing to bring student issues to the attention of those within the McMaster community who have the ability to create a positive change. The role needs someone who is not afraid to make tough decisions and is capable of looking out for the best interest of students. The president’s job intersects with almost all elements of the entire organization. To the naked eye, the MSU may seem like a simple organization. You may use Compass to buy your GO train ticket to go home on the weekend, eat lunch at TwelvEighty, or even join a club this year. In these perspectives, the MSU should come across as a simple organization. However, the game changes when you become the president, empowered through the MSU’s channels to fulfill particular tasks and working with different elements within the organization. The job of MSU

President has been the most intense experience of my entire life. Winning the election was one thing. Doing the job is another. Being in the role requires a high level of energy and a degree of stamina, some things a president needs to be able to manage. Qualities of a President There is no single type of person that makes a successful MSU President, but there are some key characteristics that individuals should embody. No MSU President is the same as a past MSU President because we have all been very different people with our

with a passion for student life. A great deal of the job requires the president to go to numerous meetings to represent student interests. It is important to pick someone who you think would accurately reflect your values and key things that you find important. Who do you think has what it takes to effectively communicate on your behalf? What is important to you in your next MSU President? Do you want them to be approachable? Knowledgeable? Kind? Again, these are just a few things to think about when choosing a candidate on your ballot.

own unique experiences and visions for the organization. There is no perfect president, nor perfect candidate. Every candidate brings something new to the table. The question is what do you want on your table? Engaging with Students The role of MSU President calls for someone who has a genuine desire to serve the student body and its collective interest. It calls for long hours, hard work and for someone who is always willing to listen. It calls for someone

Knowing the Issues There are some simple aspects to student life on campus. There are also complex elements to the student experience. Students are not all the same and are not all looking to get the same thing out of their campus. A president needs to be able to understand the complexities of the University, the ways in which the MSU interacts with various branches of the organization and how the MSU achieves its mandate through different

FOR UPDATES ON YOUR 2013 MSU PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS STAY TUNED TO

www.MSUMCMASTER.CA/ELECTIONS

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.msumcmaster.ca

bodies within the University. The MSU President needs to be able to do this while balancing consistently changing external factors, internal complexities of the organization, and the long term interest of students. Presidential candidates should present a strong understanding of student issues. In essence, a strong platform reflects the issues that students feel need to be addressed by the MSU. A good platform is also well-informed and well-researched with respect to the potential of the organization. What are the issues that you are currently facing? To make an informed choice, ask questions and see which candidates have concrete plans about the issue(s). Selecting a candidate with clear vision and defined implementation strategies will ensure that the issues addressed are the ones that are important to you. Adaptability Another thing to keep in mind is that there is far more to the role than just a platform. To give you a rough idea on what I spend the majority of my time on, I would say that 15 % of my time has been spent directly working on issues that I raised in my platform, while the rest of the time is spent on a variety of other problems, businesses, and tasks. Why am I sharing this? Well, while platforms and campaigns are important, it is also important to recognize that you are electing more than just a platform. You are also electing an individual who has a particular leadership style, strengths and weaknesses. Understanding their skill set, personal accomplishments and professional experiences within the McMaster community may also be beneficial when making your choice. The MSU President should articulate a clear vision for the organization but this is not an arm chair job. A president also needs to have the ability to work dynamically in order to implement their platform and other initiatives within the organization and campus community. The role truly requires a degree of flexibility as challenges within the organization can emerge at any time. I could never have anticipated everything I have faced since last January. It isn’t just about foreseeing every problem every time. It is also about acting quickly, decisively, and responsibly when required. In summary, the decision is ultimately in your hands. Remember that the leadership of the organization will not only impact next year but future years as well. Make sure you ask questions and get engaged with the process.

NEWS

News Editors Aissa Boodhoo-Leegsma, Boodhoo-Leegsma Julia Redmond and Anqi Shen Section Meeting Thursdays at 4:30 p.m. Contact news@thesil.ca

Thursday, January 24, 2013

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Online voting helps turnout but not foolproof Simply Voting system more convenient but still had email issues 20.6%

22%

24.1%

19.9%

17.7%

19.7%

The last ten years of McMaster elections, and the percentage of the student body that cast a ballot.

23.7%

22.2%

20%

33.4%

12.9%

2002 Anqi Shen Online News Editor For the MSU, paper balloting is a thing of the past. It’s been that way since last year, and the students union intends to keep using Simply Voting, a digital balloting software that the MSU used in the last presidential election. “We’ve seen an increase in voter turnout over the past couple of years,” said Steven Thompson, chief returning officer for the MSU’s elections department. “Online voting helps with that. It’s more convenient since there are no crazy line-ups. It also saves

2012 [the MSU] money and is more secure.” Voter turnout at McMaster was at an all-time low in 2009. Only about 13 per cent of the student body casted ballots that year. The number nearly doubled the following year, reaching 22 per cent. Voter apathy among students has been a long-standing challenge in universities across the country. At the University of Manitoba, voter turnout has averaged about 10 per cent. Queen’s University, with some of the higher turnouts in Ontario, has had more than 30 per cent of its student body vote in each of the

past five years. The MSU hoped to engage more students when it introduced online voting in its 2011 election, using UTS’s MacVote software. They switched to Simply Voting last year, and turnout rose to 33.4 per cent – the highest in a decade. But online voting doesn’t always run smoothly. Some McMaster students didn’t receive e-mails with voting passwords last election, even with multiple emails sent. “I believe there were about a couple hundred e-mails that bounced last year,” said Thompson. “We re-sent e-mails to those who may not have received them,

but some people just had full inboxes.” Although 200 people doesn’t seem like a huge number, it’s worth noting that David Campbell, who’s running again this year, lost by only 47 votes to Siobhan Stewart in 2012. That election took place before the mass Mac email system switchover from MUSS to Gmail. Thompson explained that limited storage space was the main cause of some technical glitches, adding that the MSU doesn’t anticipate any this year. A more serious online voting malfunction happened earlier this week at the University of British

Columbia, whose students union also use Simply Voting. An overloaded e-mail server on the voting system resulted in 1,171 students not being able to vote for their board of governors and senate for more than 24 hours. A makeup ballot has since been made available. At McMaster, online polling will open on Jan. 29 at 9 a.m., about three hours before the all-candidates debate hosted by the MSU. While there will be no voting booths, laptops will be stationed in the Student Centre from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Jan. 29 to 31.

NEWS IN BRIEF Maryssa Barras The Silhouette Intern

Alumni Association hosts Welcome Wednesdays

New mentorship program launched

City of Hamilton issues cold weather alert

Humanities launches Experiential Ed. centre

Study finds 905 residents oppose austerity cuts

Starting on Jan. 23rd the Mcmaster Alumni Association will be hosting Welcome Wednesdays. Once a month students will be welcome to visit the Alumni House for free coffee and bagels from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Members of the Student Relations Committee will be present for information on how to get involved on campus. Registration is required and free at alumni. os.mcmaster.ca.

On Jan. 23, Communication Studies and Multimedia unveiled a new mentorship program where upper-year students are paired with first and secondyear students. A meet and greet social was held to introduce and pair up mentors with mentees. This program was the result of a student-led initiative and will have continued socials for mentors and mentees to bond.

There is a cold weather alert for the City of Hamilton as of Jan. 18th. Cold weather alerts mean that temperatures are expected to go to or below -15 C. The cold weather could reach up to 10 degrees lower than average for this time of year, is expected to last all week, and could potentially warm up over the weekend. Students should be advised that the coldwarm trend will continue for the weeks to come.

The Faculty of Humanities is launching the Humanities Target Learning & Experiential Education Centre (HTLC). Funded by the Faculty of Humanities and full-time Humanities students, the HTLC was passed by students through the McMaster Humanities Society Referendum with the goal of increasing career exploration an experiential opportunities for Humanities students, and will be hosting events throughout the semester for interested students. The official launch is on Jan. 21 in CIBC Hall at 10:30 a.m. Students, faculty and staff are all welcome.

A new study by the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA) found that over two thirds of residents in the 905 region of Hamilton do not want the governments deficitcutting agenda to compromise the quality of university education in the province. 86 per cent of residents oppose university funding cuts, and 75 per cent oppose shifting the cost of higher education onto students with higher tuition fees.

From retail management to wholesale to logistics, this program offers the unique skills you need to launch your career as a fashion buyer, logistics coordinator, product development manager, visual merchandiser and many other exciting career options.

FASHION MANAGEMENT & PROMOTIONS POSTGRADUATE CERTIFICATE

business.humber.ca/postgrad

S A4 NEWS

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Public consultations held over downtown casino Mac prof and other experts cite detrimental effects

YOSEIF HADDAD/SENIOR PHOTO EDITOR

Aissa Boodhoo-Leegsma Senior News Editor While snow was flurrying outside, hundreds of Hamiltonians were packed into Council Chambers inside City Hall on Jan. 16 for public consultation on the proposal for a casino in downtown Hamilton. The event became standing room only as a crowd gathered outside the chambers to peer into the proceedings. Inside the Council Chambers there was a sea of black and red signs representing the “Say NO to Downtown Casino” campaign, with sparse pockets of

the yellow and black signs of the casino supporters. Several speakers opposed plans for a downtown casino, and they were met with loud applause. Robert Murray from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health discussed how close proximity to a casino aggravates problem gambling habits. Hannah Holmes, a professor in economics at Mac, conducted an economic analysis of a downtown casino and discussed the pros and cons at the event. Her ultimate conclusion, that the negative implications outweighed the positive economic benefits, was met with applause.

“A Hamilton casino could only be a success if it could become a destination casino, attracting tourists,” said Holmes. “This is not likely to happen. I think local businesses stand a possibility of losing out if locals spend money at the casino instead of in their communities.” Bruce Barbour, representing Flamborough Downs, Hamilton’s only current large-scale gaming operation, spoke about the 400 direct jobs provided by Flamborough Downs, and how slots and horse racing will cease to exist there as of March 31. While Barbour sought to inform the audience about the is-

sues facing Flamborough Downs and its staff, Paul Burns, from the Canadian Gaming Association, took a much clearer lobbying approach to address concerns over a downtown casino in Hamilton. Despite heckling from the audience and clamour that erupted multiple times throughout Burns’ speech, he remained adamant that a casino would be profitable and not detrimental to the community. “The question tonight isn’t ‘should casino gaming be allowed in the greater Hamilton area.’ That’s already been answered in the affirmative, with facilities in the Hamilton-area for the past

decade … Gaming is an entertainment choice, a choice that is enjoyed responsibly by the overwhelming majority of people who choose to play.” These remarks were met with open opposition from the audience, with one attendee exclaiming, “It’s more than a choice; you’re marketing to the poor.” The Carmens Group, managed by the Mercanti family, has announced its interest in bidding for the casino development, and have said they are partnering with the Hard Rock Café. The group plans to publicly announce their partners and plans on Feb. 6.

• • • • •

EDITORIAL

Executive Editor Sam Colbert Email thesil@thesil.ca Phone 905.525.9140 x22052 General Meeting Mondays at 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, January 24, 2013

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The politicians and the political This year’s MSU election contains two types of candidates, and both are needed

to news tips from jess. to open calls for anonymous letters about part-time students unions. to matthew van dongen, for doing what i couldn’t. i’m only a little bit sorry about the speculator, though. to group shots. i wasn’t optimistic at first. to the piano on the fourth floor of mdcl. i had no idea.

to esophagitis. i’ve got it. i’m convinced, doctor. to coffee, chocolate, citrus and garlic. to breaking character. to when news happens outside the student centre. it’s too cold outside for journalism. to the classic friday bad-news press release.

to riddle skittles.

to being too tired and hungry to think of another thumbs down. i really tried.

to so much to do.

to so little time.

The Silhouette McMaster University’s Student Newspaper

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Legal The Silhouette welcomes letters to the editor in person at MUSC B110, or by email at thesil@thesil. ca. Please include name, address and telephone number for verification only. We reserve the right to edit, condense or reject letters and opinion articles. Opinions expressed in The Silhouette are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editorial board, the publishers or the University. The Silhouette is an editorially autonomous newspaper published by the McMaster Students Union. The Silhouette Board of Publications acts as an intermediary between the editorial board, the McMaster community and the McMaster Students Union. Grievances regarding The Silhouette may be forwarded in writing to: McMaster Students Union, McMaster University Student Centre, Room 201, L8S 4S4, Attn: The Silhouette Board of Publications. The Board will consider all submissions and make recommendations accordingly.

JESSIE LU / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR

Sam Colbert Executive Editor In this edition’s coverage of the MSU’s presidential candidates, we mixed compliments with criticism for each of the seven contenders. We talked about personality and picked on platform. But even with the added commentary, we stuck with a pretty balanced distribution of coverage. Each candidate got their fair shake at an interview with the Sil, had a few paragraphs written about them and got space in the Opinions section to make their pitch. And at the Tuesday debate, it will be no different. The candidates will sit in a row, getting equal time to respond to the same questions. It doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense. In this election more so than most, it shouldn’t be hard to figure out who the more qualified candidates are. There are candidates who’ve been planning this thing for months. They launched sites, made pages, posted videos and put up posters on day one. They have teams and campaign headquarters. They’ve got detailed and specific platforms. They’re making a conventional run at MSU presidency. And they’ll probably do well

because of it. They’ll do well because they’re running as politicians first. But there are candidates who, before they were ever politicians, were simply political. They had beliefs – ideologies, even. And that might hurt them in the election, because when it comes to MSU presidential races, running on an ideology can be like fitting a square peg (or maybe a square piece of red felt) into a round hole. And that’s why, this year, the Silhouette is not endorsing anyone. That’s not to say that picking the right person for the job isn’t important. And our editorial board certainly has some opinions on the matter. But on Thursday, results will come in. Platforms and personalities will be forgotten as the candidates are ordered one through seven on the first ballot count, and then eliminated one by one until the CEO of next year’s MSU is chosen. The divide between these candidates won’t matter any more. But it should. If not at the ballot box, it should matter once a conventional candidate has been picked. Hopefully, both the president-elect and the MSU’s membership can take the genuine beliefs of the runners-up seriously.

“

But there are candidates who, before they were ever politicians, were simply political. They had beliefs – ideologies, even. And that might hurt them in the election, because when it comes to MSU presidential races, running on an ideology can be like fitting a square peg (or maybe a square piece of red felt) into a round hole.

COME TO OUR GENERAL MEETING Written for the Sil before? How about taken photos? Or pitched a story idea? Or maybe you’ve never done any of that, but think you might want to try. Or maybe you just want to meet us. Or see where we make the newspaper. Or maybe make a friend. We’re friendly people, and we think you are, too. Anyway, come to our general staff and contributors meeting. There might be pizza. Bring your own sunlight and fire exits.

Mondays at 5:30 p.m. in MUSC B110 The Silhouette: Endorsing James Lim since 1930.

FEATURE

Thursday, January 24, 2013

ADRIAN

FACULTY LifeSci IV PLATFORM Domination DISPOSITION Jolly

EMMANUEL Within two days after being elected MSU President, he plans to disband the entire Union. Adrian Emmanuel is running to be elected (for-life) as Emperor Adrian of the Space Maroon Empire. Emmanuel has been contemplating a run since last year’s presidential election, and in the past year developed his platform for the Space Maroon Empire. Steeped in space-fiction ideology, Emmanuel’s campaign has been a mostly grassroots endeavor, run by the candidate himself and centred on promotion via Facebook and a platform video on Youtube. He envisions McMaster as more than a school and aims to win the hearts and minds of each and every person at McMaster – through force, if necessary. “I will remove anyone who is in my way … [But] the administration has the right to know I’m going to turn their space into a country … even if there’s nothing they can do about it. “As I’ve told people, I’m an emperor, not an asshole.” While Emmanuel’s passion and dedication to the job is clear,

HAMAN

his platform struggles to identify clear short-term goals, and comes off too forward-thinking and long-term for the average student voter to appreciate. In the shortterm, Emmanuel plans to convert TwelvEighty into an alternative dance facility. But Emmanuel relies on his life-long rule to accomplish his major feats: growing an on-campus military and launching the entire campus into space as a battleship colony. While Emmanuel’s illusions of grandeur may be interpreted as theatre of the absurd, he hits surprisingly close to home in identifying a core issue: the bureaucratization of campus. His plans to dismantle the MSU are about eliminating red tape, telling students exactly where their money goes and what it is used for and consequently building students’ trust in their student body.

“I’d vote for David.” Who would you vote for other than yourself?

MAN

The name Haman Man probably doesn’t ring a bell for most McMaster students. While most of the other candidates have aggressive poster campaigns and a perpetual campaign headquarters in MUSC, Man has so far flown under the radar. But in this year’s presidential election, the mildmannered fourth year should not be underestimated. Man’s campaign, as little advertised as it may be, focuses on accountability, accessibility, engagement, and inter-university initiatives. The reasoning behind the pillars is reflective of his own personal commitment to change, which he has tried to pursue in his own way through his years at Mac. “One of the factors in my decision [to run] was the fact I had been trying to make a couple changes at McMaster, and the avenues I took to get those changes weren’t really fruitful,” he explained. His decision to run was recent – he submitted his nomination form in mid-January – but he hopes to embrace the opportunity to promote his causes. Along with

EROR

THE EMP

accessibility issues, which encompass issues including access to SOLAR at peak registration hours, Man plans to start an anti-calendar, a course calendar with student reviews, and he hopes to promote student engagement in provincial and federal government. While Man’s range of personal interests is broad, it doesn’t translate well into a platform; he has a few major points, but the scope of his plans is unclear. And without the social media and campus presence of his competitors, widespread support for Man’s campaign is unrealistic. Man also envisions a different future for the MSU, one that emphasizes the union’s role in advocacy. His goals are consistently more long-term; he speaks often of “paving the road” for future developments and improvements. But as optimistic as his dreams may be, Man has so far been unable to compete on the same level as some of the other candidates.

FACULTY Biochem IV PLATFORM Accessibility DISPOSITION Old Soul

THE RAC As the current MSU administration comes into its final months in office, the MSU presidential elections are in full swing. This week, the Silhouette sat down with each of the candidates to get the inside scoop on their campaigns.

THE DR

EAMER

“I’d vote for Dan.” Who would you vote for other than yourself?

FACULTY ISci III PLATFORM Reform DISPOSITION Determined

DAN

FAHEY Dan Fahey is not your typical MSU presidential candidate. To start, he’s the first student in iSci to run. But most notably, he’s not from McMaster. Fahey is an exchange student from the University of Leiceister in England. “I’ve not met a single person who has had a problem with it,” he said of his being from away. “Hamilton is really similar to back home, it’s almost like another part of England. It’s very similar, culturally.” Fahey is a radical candidate not only in his background, but in his platform. Upon coming to McMaster, he was “shocked” by the state of student government, and cites a feeling of “democratic responsibility and obligation” as his reason to run. “You’ve got all this community and stuff going on, but the governance is disconnected. It seems weird,” he said. While other candidates look to make more minor changes within the MSU, Fahey is vocal about his plans for radical reform. He wants to see the election of the three VPs, and a larger, more open SRA that better represents minority groups

at Mac. But as noble as his plans may be, Fahey’s emphasis on democratic restructuring is unlikely to resonate with a disinterested student body. Presidential voting turnout hit a peak last year, even though just a third of students voted. His message of student activism calls to mind the Quebec protests of 2012 – an association he welcomes in designating the red felt square as his campaign marker. In his mission to cater to underrepresented campus groups, including students who are female, racialized, first nations, queer or with disabilities, Fahey neglects the bigger picture. His platform fails to address the more common issues of the average student, such as campus capacity and mental health. The kind of change he wants to make is undeniably positive, but the kind of grassroots movement he hopes for won’t come to light if the majority of students are ignored.

“I’d re-open nominations.” Who would you vote for other than yourself?

ICAL

THE RAD

DAVID

CAMPBELL He had no intention of coming back. But here he is, running for MSU president for the second year in a row. David Campbell, current (VP Administration) of the MSU, is following the footsteps of previous VPs and sticking around to aim for higher office. “One year just isn’t a lot of time to get projects done,” he explained. “We have all these projects on the go with the whole organization that I want to see continue, and so I decided to run to see that happen.” His 2012 campaign was popular, but ultimately put him in a close second to Siobhan Stewart. He considers this reason to stick to similar campaign points, and a strategy of being upfront and honest with voters, making the spirit of both years the same. Campbell’s campaign is very practical. As the candidate most familiar with the inner workings of the MSU, he insists that he knows what can be achieved in a year-long term. “My platform shows that I have a much greater understanding of what can be done, what

should be don ideas. I think that,” he argu the other can don’t see that A series such as addin around the s extending lib concrete and He is also saving studen nating redund dent fees in th that has been candidates, as under fire. But whil dream big, Ca thinks inside paign counts the little thing rather than m fect bigger ch happy with th is headed, Ca the skills and keep it on tra

Aissa Boodhoo-Leegsma

Julia Redmond

Senior News Editor

Assistant News Editor

A7 S

JACOB The 2013 MSU Presidential Elections are now underway. JESSIE LU/ ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR

FACULTY LifeSci II PLATFORM Innovation DISPOSITION Chipper

BRODKA Within the course of just a few days, Mac students have come to recognize the floating blue balloon and the #upfromhere and immediately think: Jacob Brodka. Brodka prides himself on being from outside the “MSU bubble,” having gained much of his experience through Transition and Orientation Planning at the Student Success Centre and through the CLAY and HORIZONS conferences. For being a second-year student, Brodka speaks with a clarity and confidence that would be more characteristic of a seasoned politician. But he still exhibits an approachability and genuine interest in students that is polished but energetic – a reflection of his overall young, eager campaign team. “I’m interested in creating a new dialogue with people who aren’t traditionally involved with the MSU and with voting.” Brodka hopes to harness student interest and bring a wider group of stakeholders together in a Change Forum, where student ideas are nurtured. Brodka believes campus

capacity is the most pressing student concern. He admits that the MSU has limited sway over University finances, but must use its lobbying power. “Someone can’t wake up MSU president and somehow magically create new classroom sizes. This is a lobbying point; this is something that involves the government, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be having the discussions.” With a ten-point campaign, the actual practicality and feasibility of developing all these wide-ranging initiatives within a one-year term seems dubious. Innovation, change and creativity are central components of the Brodka campaign, but his limited experience in navigating administrative policy and being part of a consensus-building process may hinder his momentum. Of all the campaigns, Brodka’s is probably the most concerned with creating buzz and bringing new voters into the fold while maintaining their interests. But in an effort to do that he may lose sight of all the ambitious initiatives he has put forward.

LIST

THE IDEA

“I’d vote for James.” Who would you vote for other than yourself?

FACULTY Math IV PLATFORM Openness DISPOSITION Approachable

JAMES

CE IS ON On the ballot: “Are you in favour of implementing a mandatory fee of $0.90 per MSU member to support the McMaster Marching Band?” “Are you in favour of lowering the CFMU fee from $17.29 to $12.50 per MSU member, indexed to CPI, for the 2013-14 fiscal year?“ YES NO ABSTAIN

te for James.”

ould you vote for r than yourself?

McMaster is more than just a school for James Dowdall; it’s a family. Dowdall, who hails from Calgary, calls his first-year roommates “brothers” and his circle of friends a “family away from home.” And it’s clear he wants McMaster students to feel the same way. “For a lot of students, it’s intimidating to get involved in the MSU. It’s scary,” he said. “It’s about trying to make that personal connection so students can feel welcome in the MSU.” When Dowdall sat down with the Silhouette, he spoke freely about his time at McMaster, choosing his degree and everything from his high school experiences to his passion for baking and for animals. It’s a small but vital indicator of what his interactions could be with students at large. In his platform, Dowdall identifies a number of issues that are clearly important to students – study space, mental health issues and off-campus housing, to name a few. His platform points resonate with a broad range of

people at McMaster. But in his keenness to cater to everyone, Dowdall’s platform lacks cohesion. His campaign, run under the slogan of “I will be that president” is enthusiastic, but has no central brand that students can easily identify. His twelve distinct proposals, categorized under four main pillars, would make for a hefty presidential workload at best. Although in his fourth year at Mac, Dowdall doesn’t have the student government experience that presidential candidates conventionally do. He began with the MSU as a poll clerk, and worked his way up to becoming the parttime manager of SWHAT. But the absence of an SRA position doesn’t strike him as a problem. “I began to realize that experience doesn’t make a candidate; there’s a leadership aspect to being president,” he said. “I realized I [have] the skills to be president, and more than that I [have] ideas that could really help develop students.”

THE MENT OR

“I’d vote for Jacob.” Who would you vote for other than yourself?

FACULTY ArtSci Grad PLATFORM Continuity DISPOSITION Earnest

one, and feasible k I have a balance of ued. “In looking at ndidates’ platforms, I at nearly so much.” s of simple points, ng more outlets student centre and brary hours, promise d tangible results. so adamant about ents money by elimindant part-time stuthe summer, a point n echoed by other as MAPS is already

le other candidates Campbell ultimately e the box. His cams on students valuing ngs the MSU can do, motivating them to efhanges. If students are the direction the MSU ampbell definitely has d the know-how to ack.

DOWDALL

THE VE

TERAN

FACULTY SoftEng II PLATFORM Transparency DISPOSITION Frank

RORY

YENDT Rory Yendt is looking to “engineer a better student union.” The question is, how much does he know about the current student union? Yendt, a second-year student and a SRA member, is campaigning with the primary aim of making the MSU a more financially transparent body. He wants every ancillary fee to go to referenda at least once every four-year period so that students can see where their money is going. Referencing the recent financial mismanagement of MAPS, Yendt stated, “I believe students now more than ever want to know what’s going on with their money.” Another finance-based platform point – creating an MSU scholarship – seeks to use the MSU surplus to help students who demonstrate financial need pay for their studies. He especially distinguishes himself from the archetypical politician by stating his intention to avoid pandering and structuring his platform purely on buzz topics.

“I believe [running for MSU president] comes down to taking it a bit more seriously and basing it a lot more on what you plan on doing rather than just trying to convince voters,” he said. However, Yendt’s campaign often reflects a lack of thoroughness and student consultation. The proposal for a 24-hr student space in Thode certainly addresses the widespread concern over campus capacity. But other platform points have either already been addressed (in the case of the MSU making its financial documents accessible on its website) or ignore the extent of the President’s role in addressing academic, administrative and community issues. In his deciding to run only two weeks ago, Yendt sold himself short and limited his ability to compete with other experienced or well-researched candidates. Given how the MSU Presidentials are typically dominated by upper-year students with extensive political experience, in this election Yendt seems out of his depth.

NCIER

THE FINA

“I’d vote for Jacob.” Who would you vote for other than yourself?

OPINIONS

Opinions Editor Mel Napeloni Section Meeting Wednesdays at 2:30 p.m. Contact opinions@thesil.ca

Thursday, January 17, 2013

COLUMN

As people come and go

A8 S

Life between the rims Wear your glasses with pride and don’t let the world get you down

How do we deal with the transient nature of love? Bahar Orang Assistant ANDY Editor I think I’m obsessed with the fragility of human relationships. I reflect upon past relationships and consider the future of my current relationships. I remember boys who held my hand during the short summer months. I remember long-forgotten friends who comforted me while I cried about something dumb. I remember teachers who wrote “keep writing” in my yearbook and schoolmates who made me laugh in the middle of the soccer field. I remember strangers sitting next to me on the bus, strangers whose faces and eyes and expressions I studied so carefully that they were not so strange when the bus came to my stop. I think about the people who touched my life who I will probably never meet again. Or the people who once meant so much to me, who mean a little less every single day. I think it’s one of the tragedies of life – that we invest so much in one another, only to have it fall apart or fade away or suddenly not matter anymore. We find each other wonderful and fascinating and beautiful and incomprehensibly irreplaceable, but in only a matter of weeks and months and years – we move on. Sometimes we look back, but other times it’s too painful, or we simply don’t care to anymore. And we find new people, make new friendships, kiss other strangers and the cycle continues. Meet, fall in love, separate, forget, repeat. This must be one of the most unforgiveable things about human nature. Perhaps it is an evolutionary fact of survival. We have to know how to move on. When a loved one dies, eventually we learn to move on – the human race could not exist otherwise, we would have died-out centuries ago, it wouldn’t have taken long for every human on earth to experience loss. But I don’t think I’m talking about death. I’m talking about break-ups, failed friendships, random interactions, brief encounters – all those emotions we feel in those moments. Where do they all go when the people we experienced them with have gone? Does the love go with them? Or does it stay hidden inside both of us, a memory we’d rather keep somewhere under a dusty mass of years? Does it all just become a secret that we can’t even share with ourselves? And the memories, the memories! Where do they go? How can our hearts hold so many memories that we leave untouched for so long, sometimes forever? I often wish that I could play all my memories like a never-ending reel, a film that I would watch for days and days, sobbing and laughing and experiencing them one more time. But what good would that do me? The ex-lovers who lifted my chin with two fingers and stared straight into my soul – what good could come from looking into those eyes again? The friends who made me laugh until a little bit of pee came out, why should I want to relive that laughter only to have it end more suddenly and coldly than before? And then I have to ask myself, is this fate of all relationships? Is anything forever? Is it something we have to accept when we enter into all forms of human contact – do we have to tell ourselves – this will end someday? There will come a time that I mean nothing to you and you mean nothing to me and it won’t even matter that we mean nothing to each other. Or maybe it will matter, but only to me. So dance with me anyway. Laugh with me anyway. Hold me, fuck me, inspire me, scare me, stay with me a little longer anyway. Or do we have to find a way to believe that some relationships must be different. Some relationships must exist outside of this universe where people fall asleep beside each other and then rarely think of one another again. And that we have to resist those conditions that reality has handed to us (however deluded and unsafe it might be), those conditions that explicitly state that people die, change, make mistakes, have regrets, and sometimes wake up one morning and feel differently for no apparent reason.

KAREN WANG / GRAPHICS EDITOR

Abdullah Sheikh Silhouette Staff Living life with a pair of spectacles bridged across your nose. A heavy rain can obscure your vision just as much as it can soak your clothes, and a stiff wind may take both your hat and eyesight away. Still, one can’t really speak out against eyeglasses (with the exception of these in favour of contact lenses) because, well, without them many of us would be unable to see. My first day with glasses was quite the debacle. Around nine or ten years ago, I found myself unable to read the blackboard in my elementary school class. In that haze of childhood apathy and hakuna matata every child goes through, I chalked it up to nothing important but did resolve to speak to my mother of it.

The day just went downhill after I told her. Within the hour we were driving down to Wallmart (not yet evolved into its super variety) to meet with the optometrist. He checked my eyes, and to my horror actually prescribed eyeglasses! To think, I’d have to wear those dinky little frames, indicative of nerds everywhere, on my face for the rest of my life. Needless to say, I began to count the days until I would turn eighteen and qualify for laser eye surgery. The doctor knew better, however, and promptly informed me of the nature of laser eye surgery. A big queasy and not just a little turned off from the prospect, I decided that cutting my eyes open to fix them wasn’t the best way to go about avoiding glasses. It was then that they put the glasses on me, kicking and screaming.

Imagine it (for those of you not personally acquainted with the feeling). Seeing the world through a washed up glass, and suddenly having someone yank it away. That first moment of clarity, of being able to see clearly for the first time in who-knows-when. It was a moment I relish to this day. With those wide-eyed Nintendo spectacles on my face (yes, Mario and co. did lend their names to glasses back then), it felt like I was in a whole new world. I guess that puts me firmly in the camp of eyeglasses. Functional, chic and more than just a little bit liberating. Regardless of any nerd or geek connotations (and really, what self-respecting adult uses these terms anyway?) I think glasses are great. One shouldn’t be afraid of wearing them because of what others may think.

FEEDBACK Have you ever voted in an MSU election?

“No. I am not politically oriented. But

“Yes. I love my campus. I want to see it

“No. I feel detached because a lot of

I also find that a lot of platforms are

reach its full potential and see all the

changes don’t happen during my four

really vague and things stay the same.”

greatness that can come out of it.”

years here. It’s not personal.”

Natasha Cruz, Commerce, IV

Kelsey Allen, Labour Studies, III

Hersi Mren-Minha, Life Sci, II

Thursday, January 24, 2013

OPINIONS A9 S

Proverbial piggy bank Let’s not allow another president to pick our pockets

MEL NAPELONI / OPINIONS EDITOR

Nichole Fanara The Silhouette Thank you journalism! Thank you for being an inquiring body, thank you for following leads, and thank you for fearlessly publishing controversial topics that will now result in justice for thousands of part-time students! No thank you to McMaster University for not properly giving a shit about their student’s financial burden. Anything that has “McMaster” right in the name generally comes back around to the University. I would think that an institution that demands thousands of dollars from its students would bat an eyelash when a student-run government has used its name in vain, and stolen thousands more from their students. Who is ultimately responsible? MAPS, the part-time student run governing body (much like the MSU for full-time students) was recently hit with a financial inquiry that found their president and exec team stealing money from their society and feeding themselves inflated salaries, trips to Europe, and expensive and unnecessary luxuries. The most interesting part to this story is that this went unnoticed by students and McMaster for YEARS. And their president used to be a president for the MSU only a few short years before. Think about that before you vote this time around. There are two things that bother me most about student

governments funded by students. The first is the supplementary fees that we are forced to pay for through our tuition. With no opt-out option, how is this fair for students who do not wish to be a part of the union? Sure, we could debate that the union is here to help us and in our best interest, but that aside, students deserve a choice. If a student doesn’t want to pay for it they shouldn’t have to - this is not a tax. But there is a lot of money involved here. What if I don’t agree with what the MSU is doing? What if I don’t use the facilities, don’t care, or just would like the healthy democratic option to opt-out and save a couple hundred dollars on my tuition? My second issue is this - how has it become so easy for presidents and exec members to steal money from McMaster students? And why? What is it about our system that makes these sticky fingers so easily satisfied? I don’t think any of us have the answers right now, but I do know that this is more than a moral issue. McMaster should not make it this easy to for her students to suffer financial burdens by the hands of its own. If there is no opt-out option for a fee that costs students hundreds of dollars, than McMaster herself needs to oversee what and where this money is going. I want to know what exactly it is that I am paying for, and why. If there is nothing to hide, then the answers to these questions should be accessible. Let’s not allow another president to pick our pockets.

Technological futility Why technology is detaching us from relationships we need right now Aaron Grierson The Silhouette With the New Year having passed us by already I’m wondering what sorts of new years resolutions were made, if any at all. I know that a lot of people are overloading the gym still, three weeks later, which I suppose is a good. But I wonder if there are any people other than one friend of mine who made a vow to be “less technologically reliant” as she put it. Aside from hibernating her Facebook profile (lets be honest, killing them is nearly impossible) it will be interesting to see what she does in this personal crusade. Hopefully, the results are inspiring. I feel like I’m beating a dead horse but the more I see it, as much as I love technology, the more I think it’s ruining our genuinely human relationships. And let’s be honest, this dead horse has cybernetic legs and technologic eyes that can shoot laser beams from them. I just don’t want to feel the kick of those legs. So, perhaps I’ll (hopelessly) continue to use technology in what I feel is moderation. I only surf the web with a computer or laptop because really, my phone bill is enough as is. And we’re on computers enough as is; with all of the assignments we have to do and all the games and movies to be played. And I admit, Skype is really handy, especially when your good friend moves out east to educate rural French children in the ways of English. Facebook is also a fantastic way to keep in touch with people, even if you’re the only one doing the work. But there is a more serious

side. Like when two people hang out and one or both spend the whole time on their phones. What kind of human interaction is that, if not escapism? How is that an acceptable amount of effort to consider one another friends? I guess it could be worse though. It could be a couple on the same couch sexting one another for hours at a time. (Sexting, for those that are unfamiliar with the term, is just like writing your own 50 Shades of Gray and probably just as well performed.) Daily life really leads me to wonder; aside from how long a person can text while walking before crashing into something, how far we have to go from everything is absurd. I mean I had to go online just to find the Silhouette last Thursday, even by 4pm the newspapers were mysteriously absent. And with ebooks, I shun web browsing as much as I can personally. Call me retrograde, but I like the feel of paper in my hands when I am enjoying a story, no matter the sort. With the advancements in technology, wonderful as they might seem, we’re really just taking advantage of old tricks. I recently discovered that cell phones have been able to transfer data since 1997! Who knew history class could teach such useful information? In spite of this marketing made it sounds like the hottest thing ever a couple of years back. Perhaps it will be a day of escape, where people put their electronic lives on pause and take time to create something meaningful for once.

S A10 OPINIONS

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Show a friend you care Sometimes, the smallest signs of compassion can mean a lot Tarun Sanda Silhouette Staff “Hi, how are you?” We hear this phrase countless times in our day. We could be delivering it, or be on the receiving end of it. At times we have this interaction with acquaintances as we’re passing by one another, with barely enough time to stop and make eye contact and respond. At times it seems like we’re all more focused on our phones than the people in front of us. This brings me to my question. When you come across someone and ask them how they are doing, or how their day went, do you really mean it? When you’re on the receiving end of this question, are you answering truthfully? The Super Bowl is less than two weeks away. NFL fans across the globe are anticipating the conclusion to one of the most exciting post seasons in recent memory. However just a few months ago, the NFL and the sporting world was struck by tragedy. Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher shot his girlfriend, Kasandra Perkins, several times, drove to the team’s headquarters, ducked behind a car and put a bullet through his head. It was

the seventh suicide of a current or former NFL player in the past two years. “We’d just been together,” says Brady Quinn, now a Chiefs quarterback. “I’d just seen him and his girlfriend and his little girl, Zoey, at the stadium. We were talking about how she was doing, how cute she was.” Many times we lose touch with our good friends. We are immersed in our own personal lives, and in turn make friends with the people who remain part of our busy day. Life goes on and friends change. What if that’s only your side of the story? What if your best friend in high school still has trouble replacing that close friend that was once you? They could be dealing with something severe. Something they cannot share with someone they just met. They need a friend; they need you, but might not even reach out to you in the first place. They’d face every problem on their own. But it’s hard doing it alone. Recently an old friend of mine had called me at 2 a.m. He was in tears. He told me his story. He told me how he tried to kill himself. How he wanted the pain to stop.

YOSEIF HADDED / PHOTO EDITOR

I spoke to him till sunrise, and once I knew he was okay, I thanked him. I could not imagine what might have happened had he not mustered the courage to pick up the phone and call me. Nobody ever wants to be in a situation where you begin asking yourself: “Why didn’t he or she reach out to me? Had I known I would have stopped everything and gone to them.” You never know what’s going

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on with somebody. The look on their face can be deceiving. They may say they’re fine, but you may never know the truth. What you can do is try to make a sincere effort to connect with people. Take a minute out of your day to ask how someone’s day went. The smallest things, be it a gentle smile while passing by or a simple wave across a lecture hall, can make someone feel noticed and respected.

Maybe that might keep them from doing something tragic, leaving you, and everyone else, filled with regret.

“

“I could not imagine what might have happened had he not mustered the courage to pick up the phone and call me.”

Thursday, January 24, 2013

OPINIONS A11 S

From your candidates ADRIAN

JACOB Some might call me young, some might call me unconventional, some might even go as far as saying I lack experience. But these

DAN As students, we can certainly shake things up a bit. We’re at the forefront of society. We’re young, educated, and energetic. Our ideas can change the world. We can change our cities, our culture, our

JAMES A true leader is not characterized by their experience alone. A true leader is characterized by their innovative ideas and their under-

HAMAN

I am running on accountability, accessibility, engagement and interuniversity collaborations. But instead of parroting what you’ve

DAVID Last week, the Sil released a great editorial in anticipation of the presidential election. Executive Editor Sam Colbert explained in

RORY Are you tired of candidates without substantive platforms? Are you tired of constantly hearing buzzwords and catchphrases that don’t actually mean anything? So

Greetings, citizens! Your emperor is here! My name is Adrian Emmanuel. I am a fourth year Life Sciences student. For anything else about me, and for a newsfeed that consists entirely of me and things I like, add me on Facebook. I will be honest, citizens, I have no clue what goes in an editorial. My plans are clearly and succinctly laid out

in my video, and I can answer questions on Facebook. What I believe I want to do with this piece of writing is tell you why I’m running. I love this school. The last four years I have spent here made me who I am now. I have built relationships here with intelligent, strong people who have helped me grow into

the grand Emperor I am. I’ve been involved in the many clubs and groups like the McMaster Science Society, the McMaster Nerd Club, SOCS, and so many more. Because of this, I feel like a part of a huge community here. McMaster has become home for me. I really, really love this place. I am running for Space Maroon Emperor because I want to

make this place I love and care for deeply better. As I said, this is home to me, and it is also home to the many other people who are part of this community. We can make McMaster great and bring it from its place as an excellent academic establishment to the core of the ultimate human empire!

explanations don’t define me. McMaster prides itself for being at the forefront of innovation and interdisciplinary education, but as Patrick Deane expressed in his Forward with Integrity letter, we must continue in this direction. The idea of a Freedom Credit caters to this, which would allow students to take courses outside of their discipline and have them graded on a pass/fail basis as opposed to a percentage grade. I want to be the kind of President that is relatable and accountable. As a second year student who has been involved

in various facets of the McMaster community, I recognize that it can be difficult for students to feel connected with the MSU office, but I’d like to bridge this gap by holding anti-office hours to speak with students at locations around campus. One of the best ways to create change is to enable discussion. Holding a Change Forum where students, faculty and administration could share their ideas and opinions in order to brainstorm, create and document thoughts that could then be turned into actions. If we want to invest and fund student ideas, we must first

take strides towards providing more opportunities for open discussion. I believe that the MSU can provide more support for clubs following Clubsfest. The McMaster Students Union has hundreds of student run clubs. What better way for these clubs to promote themselves and do what they love best by offering their services during MAC101 month? Have you ever wanted to learn how to play guitar? What about taking a beginners dance class? These classes and more could be offered free of charge to students who want to learn a new skill.

Not only is this a unique avenue to promote MSU clubs and other campus groups - it gives them a platform to showcase their unique talents and interests. The McMaster community has accomplished so many incredible things. We truly do believe that we can only go up from here. I would love to have an opportunity to hear from you! Feel free to stop by our unique campaign headquarters in the Student Centre. To learn more about our platform, connect with us online at www.brodka2013.com.

government, and our school. I’ve seen glimpses of the power of students. For example, last week there was a teach-in for Idle No More. The event brought together students from across campus to share their knowledge and experience for something bigger than themselves. Feminists on campus have brought together students in a venue to discuss politics and the role of women and inclusion that was lacking on this campus. It was also last year that Occupy McMaster provided students with an outlet for discussion and debate. I’m offering something dif-

ferent than the other candidates. Our team outlines a vision for a democratic and inclusive movement that makes student voices the central part of the student union.Our tuition fees are increasing above inflation and the government is making cuts to education. The average student in Ontario graduates with $37,000 in debt. This is the equivalent of a down payment on a house. It does not have to be like this. With your support, I will work to make our student union a conduit for student action. I mean, you pay for it; you ought to have your interests served.

Some highlights from my platform include: Opening a chuck wagon, serving a limited menu that provides a nutritious and satisfying plate of food for no more than 5 dollars.Working towards the establishment of a taskforce on campus racism and prioritizing the establishment of the Women and Trans* Centre Restructuring the MSU to ensure the representation of First Nations, women, racialized groups, queer students and students with disabilities. Working to make VPs directly elected by the student body, as they need to be accountable

and representative to the student body. As it stands now, VPs are elected by the SRA only. The SRA makes up only about 0.001 per cent of the student population. Building a strong, fighting, student movement against fees and cuts to education.And as for sustainability, I will further incentivize the use of travel mugs with $1 coffee. I will also bring in recyclable coffee cups and transition towards glass and cans instead of plastic and help MACgreen enhance its efforts. Check out my full platform at dan4msu.ca

standing of the issues everyday people face. As the part-time manager of one of the MSU’s services, I’ve learned the importance of actively engaging with my fellow students to create a safe and welcoming environment through new ideas. That’s what I bring to this presidential election. What I have noticed during my time in the MSU the intense focus on what is best for the organization. Often we ask, ‘How does this idea benefit the MSU?’ when we should be asking, ‘How does this idea benefit students?’. I believe that the MSU’s po-

tential to impact the life of students is immense. There are issues that we can directly address, like our universal bus pass, how to inform you around election time, better equipping you with the skills you need to succeed and our own environmental impact. There are awesome resources here at home that can make a difference. What the students of McMaster deserve is an MSU that works to make a difference where we can. This organization must focus on the basics! Everyone has different wants and needs, but if we can make a difference in one person’s life, then we have done

our job. Our strengths lie at home, and we cannot forget that. This campaign is about innovative ideas. I am proposing programs like MacOvation, which would pair McMaster students with community mentors to provide the resources needed to help you work, start businesses or be a strong advocate for what you are passionate about right here in Hamilton. During our mandatory contract negotiations with the HSR next year, I will fight for an all-year bus pass so you can explore Hamilton in all seasons. I will promote cultural di-

versity on campus, fight for better study space and implement a landlord Seal of Approval. The individual who has the power to guide the MSU is its President. The person who holds that position is your voice. You deserve a President that is accountable, transparent, understanding, professional and, most importantly, always remembers what it means to be a student. As MSU members, you deserve a leader who puts you first, a leader who is willing to do everything they can to make a difference. I know I am that leader!

been hearing in your classrooms, by the cafeteria and every other inescapable crevice, I want to let you know why this election is important to me. This election isn’t important to me because MSU accounts aren’t transparent. They are. I’m not running because textbooks are too expensive. The money is cycled back to the students. I’m running because if life had chanced another roll on me, I would’ve been born into different circumstances. I could not afford to buy textbooks, so I’d need them on reserve. I wouldn’t be able to

go to school with a health issue, so I’d need an understanding teacher. I wouldn’t have a voice, so I’d need someone to open an ear to me. And still as students, many aren’t far from that extreme. This election is important to me, because although all candidates would fight to solve this, only a couple at most know how. Even less have tried to do so before seeking your vote. I’ve seen great dedication this past year in bringing mental health into a new light at McMaster. I will support a candidate who incites the same ardent

passion. This is because no one else can handle the immense workload and stress it takes to bring improvement without bringing their own pair of wings. It’s not an easy game, manoeuvring the air of bureaucracy. I feel my experience and my attitude have prepared me well to serve you, and serve you well – my background in politics, business, and my attitude to think big (e.g. my bike trip across Europe for charity). I urge you to find out more for yourselves by visiting my website, haman.ca. I guarantee this much:

I’m not going to make openended promises. I will actively demonstrate my promises to you thoroughly with every aspect of my campaign. Come debate time I want you to say, “If Haman Man can accomplish so much in one week, what is he capable of in one year?” I want you to pause. I want you to ask yourself, right now, what are the other candidates showing me they can do? And one way or another, I want you to vote, and engage at least one other person to follow your example. All of this world is yours to remould for the better.

the article that deciding an MSU President should not come down to popularity or sleek marketing, but to one factor – platform. Colbert was making an important point. Platforms are, after all, your only absolute measure of what a candidate actually intends to do as the president of your students union. They are a reflection of what a candidate values, and proof of their level of preparation and insight into the issues that really affect students. But I would take this point further. Platforms are important in that they tell you what a president will do, true, but

the reality is that the president’s job goes beyond executing on campaign promises. Ultimately, the job is only partly about project completion. It is also about representing students – to the city, the community, the province and (most importantly) to the University administration. It’s not “What projects will you complete?” but “How will you represent students?” The most important point to ask about a candidate is how they will ensure that, in discussions involving the McMaster campus, the student voice is never forgot-

ten.

As it happens, this brings me back to talking about platform. The platform is not just a list of projects; it is a representation of how much experience and understanding a candidate has, of how he or she will work with the University and other partners to make sure students always get the best outcome possible. I believe in my platform. I believe in it as a collection of points, but I also believe in it as a reflection of who I am, what my values are and how I will be able to represent students. I believe

that students should be able to access libraries when they need them. I believe that students should not have to pay into an organization, MAPS, that doesn’t represent them. I believe that students should have a student centre that provides them with space that is modern and relevant to their needs. These are just some of the points on my platform that I feel not only represent what I plan to do, but who I am as well. I hope you will like my platform too, and vote for me as your next MSU President.

am I, and that is why I decided to run! Hi, I’m Rory Yendt, a secondyear Software Engineering and Embedded Systems student who is running to be the next President of your Students Union. I believe that students and voters deserve better from their candidates. So with that in mind I built a platform around your ideas and concerns. “Engineering A Better Student Union” is just what it sounds like – a platform written by students, for students and is centred around three main points; 1) 24-Hour Study Space: Yes,

we have 24-hour study space currently, but it is only open during the exam period. What if you can’t do work at your apartment and need somewhere conducive to your learning? What if you want to meet up with some classmates and have an early morning study session before your midterm? What I propose is opening up the Thode Library for the rest of the term, so that students that need that atmosphere to study at off hours may do so. 2) Ancillary Fee Referenda: We all know the kind of danger posed to a student union when it is not accountable. Take MAPS

for instance. Issues like this take place because students are not being consulted regularly about the fees that they pay. What I propose is a rolling fee review system, where fees must come back to referendum every four years to ensure that at least once during your time as an undergrad you are asked about the money you pay. This keeps organizations accountable and transparent. 3) MSU Scholarship: As students, money is tight, and your president should understand that. What I propose is establishing scholarships in the MSU’s name and allowing students to apply.

This would help eliminate some of our large surplus and put more student money back into student hands. A scholarship created by students, for students, with recipients chosen by students. Want more information about “Engineering a Better Students Union”? Check out the PDF on my website, www.roryyendt. com. Follow me on Twitter @RoryYendt, and use hash tags #EngineerMSU and #Yendt4PRES. Like us on Facebook for the latest campaign updates, or stop me in the hall and ask me questions! On Jan. 29-31, vote Rory Yendt for MSU President! Thanks.

THURSDAY

NOTSPEC.COM

HAMILTON SPECULATOR JANUARY 24, 2013

THE

DIGGING DEEPER INTO YOUR SOURCES SINCE 1934

HAMILTON CITIZENS PAY FOR:

A $3.00 pompous paper, fuelled by $1.44 cups of coffee, $56,412 yearly salaries, $34 in Subway gift cards, $560 in Timbits™, $13 in discounted toilet paper, $0 in borrowed ideas, $35.99 in sex toys... After years of shameless self-promotion, egotistical editorialising and needless credit-hogging, the chief newspaper of fictional Hamilton county, The Speculator, is hereby banned from distributing within the realms of tired and weary readers. Only tomorrow, when media organizations will be held accountable for their narcissism, will action be taken, maybe.

Will you respect us?

OLAF VÄÄTÄINEN REPORTS ON OUR STORY A3

WHY THIS STORY CUTS DEEP, B3

READERS DESERVE MODESTY, A9

Coke tensions bubbling

Skin-tight sperm count

Pepsi-Coke peace talks end abruptly

Mac study finds Meggings increase virility

TIBERIUS SLICK Cokehead Speculator

Ten Pepsi diplomats were killed in a canbombing of a Pepsi-Coke treaty negotiation early this week. In response to this act of aggression, Pepsi leaders have ceased any and all cease-

INSIDE TODAY PER ISSUE: $3 too much INCL. HST, PST .

fire talks with Coke, and have vowed to return this violence “ten times over, with zero calories.” Coke has denied any involvement in these bombings, citing their “unending commitment to keeping things Classic, including peacetime conduct.” Follow the story online to see updates to the upcoming carbonated carnage.

ASIA TEQUILA-DASH Erstwhile Speculator

A study released by the McMaster Fertility Institute found that men who regularly wear skin-tight yoga-style pants, or meggings, have higher sperm counts. Participants in the study claimed to

SON OF SAM: THE MINNITI

CRAPTIC CROSSWORD B8

WEATHER

FAMILY TREASON A3

CIRCLES, SQUARED? B3

HIGH: LOVE FOR THE OVERLORD

ZIP, NIL, NADA: SYNONYMS OR

ONE MORE CRAP JOKE A9

LOW: PRIVACY CONCERNS

SYNONOTS? C2

HE’LL MAKE HAMAN OUT OF

Who needs personal space when I

CRAPWIRE A8

YOU: MAN UP IN TWENTY

can poo in peace?

LET’S IDLE SOME MORE C1

DIFFICULT STEPS M2

ALL HAIL C3

What did you learn this week, Timmy? “I learned,

women don’t like it being referred to as their ‘casual vacancy’. ”

have shockingly higher pregnancy rates with their partners, and in some cases occassionally felt like real men. A secondary study is scheduled to be conducted later this year in which researchers will attempt to determine if ankle-length socks have a direct effect on testosterone levels. Jeggings research is inconclusive.

MSU goes to Shit

SPECU

Shit Hastings runs for the top MSU office, on a key platform of total crap. See HITS THE FAN , B2

T.J.’S DOWN UNDERWEAR

EMPORIUM

“VEGAN” TEAGANS

3339/bowl

10 MINUTES OFF MAIN & JAMES | MON-FRI 9-9

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.

SPORTS

Sports Editors Brandon Meawasige and Scott Hastie Section Meeting Fridays at 2 p.m. Contact sports@thesil.ca

Thursday, January 24, 2013

B1 S

EYES ON THE FORSYTH After defeating the No. 8 ranked Waterloo Warriors in straight sets, McMaster head coach Dave Preston has made the Maroon and Grey the team to beat for the men’s volleyball OUA title Laura Sinclair Silhouette Staff

C/O RICHARD ZAZULAK

The McMaster Marauders men’s volleyball team continues to dominate the province and impress the nation with two more wins to add to their so far perfect season. A win in Gryphon territory on Jan. 18 and another against the second place OUA team the Waterloo Warriors on Jan. 19 has helped the Marauders to be one of the scariest teams in the league, and the second best team in the country. During the Friday night game against Guelph, the first set saw the Gryphons get out to a lead that they would ultimately keep until the end of the set. The powerful Marauders eventually tied the set at 24 points, but their efforts were soon surpassed by the Gryphons that won the set 26-24. In the second set, the Marauders got off to a small lead that the Gryphons would fight to hang on to, tying the game at 17 points. The McMaster team refused to let the lead slip, and finished off the set winning it 25-22. The third set saw the Marauders get off to a seven point lead early on, a lead that would only increase as the set continued. The Marauders won the third quite handily, 25-17. In the fourth set, the lead constantly alternated between teams, but after a series of kills from Tyson Alexander, the Marauders got to a four point

lead heading into the technical timeout. The Marauders kept the momentum going, and won the final set 25-17. Tyson Alexander led the score for the Marauders, with 15.5 points and 10 kills, and teammate Jori Mantha was not too far behind with 15 points. The intensity level was high in the Saturday game against the Waterloo Warriors, as the second place OUA Warrior team is a talented squad that is very capable of beating the powerful Marauders. In the first set, Waterloo came on the attack early to try and break the Marauder’s confidence. The Warriors had a four point lead heading into the technical timeout. After the break, the determined Marauders made a comeback, and trailed the Warriors by one point, 18-17. Two aces from Alex Elliot and Austin Campion-Smith got the Marauders to tie it at 20. The Marauders got to a two point lead after a double contact call against a Warrior. They kept that lead, winning the set 25-23. The second set saw the Marauders get to an early lead, causing the Warriors to call a time out. After the break the Marauders kept the lead going by three points heading into the technical timeout.

The Warriors could not compete with the Marauders who continued to bury points, and ultimately win the set 25-19. In the third set, Waterloo refused to let the Marauders run away with it so easily, and got themselves to a slight lead heading into the technical timeout. After the break a kill from Jayson McArthy got McMaster back on track, 19-18. A kill from Danny Demyanenko got McMaster to a lead of 23-22, but the Warriors were not finished yet, sending the game into five extra points. Stephen Maar would seal the deal by giving the Marauder team their last point, with a score of 29-27. Alex Elliot was the leading scorer for the Marauders, with 14.5 points and 12 kills, while Danny Demyanenko was not too far behind him with 14 points and 12 kills as well. McMaster’s road to an undefeated season runs through two formidable opponents. The team cannot look too far ahead and must take each game on it’s own if they hope to protect their remarkable record. The Marauders will host the Western Mustangs on Friday and the Windsor Lancers on Saturday this coming weekend in Burridge Gym, where they will hard-pressed to pull off more impressive wins and try to move up to the number one rank in the CIS poll.

Marauders ahead of the pack in London Laura Sinclair Silhouette Staff The McMaster Marauders track team gave it their all on Saturday, Jan. 19 at the Don Wright Invitational track meet at Western University. Numerous Marauders made their debut at this meet, and there were lots of good times and victorious moments for the McMaster runners at the competitive races. In the 300 m, Kara McPherson ran a personal best time of 43.53 s, which got her to a third place finish. After the 300 m, the 1000 m were next on the track and the field was dominated by Marauders, with the majority of the heat being filled with runners with the McMaster singlet. In the women’s race, veteran Jill Wyman won, with a time of 2:57. Not too far behind was teammate Claire Stewart in third place with a time of 3:06. In the men’s 1000 m, the first, second and third place finishers were all Marauders. Men’s captain Jeremy Walsh won the race with a time of 2:31, while teammates Eric Barry finished second (2:32) and Sean Bowen finished third (2:33). “Running with teammates certainly made it a more enjoyable experience,” said men’s captain and 1000 m champion Jeremy Walsh of the race. “That said, running against teammates made me more nervous than any other race. I know from running workouts with these guys exactly how fast they are and knew that if I didn’t have a lead on them before the last straightaway, that I could have easily been last in the race.”

McMaster has been a force to reckon with through the early goings of the 2013 season. Jeremy Walsh has been setting the example as team captain. C/O PETER SELF

Walsh plans to focus on the 1500 m for the rest of the season, which he hopes will end with him living the varsity athlete’s dream of competing at the CIS Championships. “As my last year running for McMaster, and having been close to qualifying in the past, not racing at CIS would leave a hole in my varsity career,” said Walsh. In the men’s 1500 m, Taylor

Forbes made his debut on a high note, finishing in second place with a personal best time of 4:02. Lastly, the men’s 4x200 m team, consisting of Phil Bottero, Connor Mabbott, Garrick Mok, Olu Olotu, came second and ran a group personal best time of 1:35. Next up for the Marauders is the McGill Invitational meet in Montreal, where the team will face fierce competition from all

over the province at one of the most prestigious track meets in Canada. The team would also like to wish fellow Marauder Maddy McDonald good luck at the NACAC Championships this weekend in Jamaica. McDonald will be representing Canada at the elite cross country championship meet.

“

“As my last year running for McMaster, and having been close to qualifying in the past, not racing at CIS would leave a hole in my varsity career.” Jeremy Walsh, Captain of the men’s track team

S B2 SPORTS

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Marauders hang tough ABOVE: The young Marauder team has got on board with Coach Theresa Burns run and gun style of offense. RIGHT: Hailey MIlligan has become the most lethal weapon of Mac’s offence. LEFT: Vanessa Bonomo shut down MiahMarie Langlois on Jan. 16, holding the veteran guard scoreless. JESSIE LU / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR

Scott Hastie Assistant Sports Editor In the past week, McMaster has taken on the best and the worst of the OUA West. The results were as expected – a loss against the best and a win against the worst. But the margin in those games is what will come as a surprise to Marauder fans. McMaster took on the No. 3 Windsor Lancers, a team undefeated and cruising through their OUA competition. Their fortunes would change when they entered Burridge Gym, as Mac would put on a defensive clinic. Windsor was held to a 28.6 per cent field goal percentage, their lowest shooting percentage of the season. However, the visiting team would prevail 56-48 behind Jessica Clemencon’s 24 points and ten-rebound performance. Mac would find their way back into the win column on

Saturday, taking on the winless Waterloo Warriors. The Black and Gold were a banged-up squad, with their three most-senior players not dressing for the game. Mac would play down to their competition’s level, heading into the half with only a 36-29 lead. Coach Theresa Burns’ halftime speech would inspire her troops to perform to their capabilities, with the game ending in a 70-54 result. The common factor in both of McMaster’s wins was forward Hailey Milligan, who averaged a double-double over the two games. “Hailey continues to step up and show consistency and be able to provide what we need from a veteran post [player],” said Burns of the fourth-year athlete. “She’s come back from Christmas break and she’s just solid. Providing leadership on and off the court.” As Burns alluded to, Milligan

has stepped into her own following the winter break and one of her finest weeks as a Marauder. The 6-3 English major went toe-to-toe with Clemencon, one of the finest big-men in the CIS. Milligan posted 11 points and 15 rebounds against the Lancers. But the forward truly made her mark in the game against Waterloo, dropping 18 points and grabbing 13 boards. Beyond those totals are two more telling statistics; eight offensive rebounds and 8-10 free throw shooting. Milligan has embraced her role on the team and relished her opportunity to be the offensive focal point in the past week. But Burns also credits the overall play of her team as a reason for the recent success. “We’re getting different play out of different people,” said the head coach. Abby Hurd is a player who Burns pointed to as elevating their play as of late. The second-year guard’s

tenure in Maroon and Grey has never been able to truly get off the ground due to injuries, but since returning from an early season injury, Hurd has become a major component of the Mac bench mob. With just over half of the 2012-2013 campaign complete, McMaster has the playoffs on their mind. “We want a home playoff spot,” Burns says of the expectations for the team’s finish. At 6-8, McMaster has an uphill climb ahead of them. The home playoff spot will be a difficult get, with the OUA West being as close as it is. But if the performances of 2013 are a sign of things to come, the Marauders are more than capable of being in a position to host a playoff game in the Burridge Gymnasium. The journey continues on Jan. 26 against the Brock Badgers, with Nicole Rosenkranz returning to McMaster after walking away from the program.

“

“Hailey continues to step up and show consistency and be able to provide what we need from a veteran post [player].” Head Coach Theresa Burns

Thursday, January 24, 2013

SPORTS B3 S

THE SPREAD

UP NEXT MEN’S BASKETBALL JAN 26 | 2 PM JAN 30 | 8 PM

vs. BROCK at LAURIER

SWING Marauder Weekend. Eight hours in one day of McMaster sports.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL vs. BROCK at LAURIER

JAN 26 | 12 PM JAN 30 | 6 PM

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL Ridiculous expectations. And Leaf fans.

vs WINDSOR at RMC

To smoking pot during football season; good job bro.

JAN 26 | 8 PM FEB 2 | 3 PM

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL vs WINDSOR

JAN 26 | 6 PM

SWIM vsLaurier

AND A

MISS

MEN’S TRACK

WRESTLING

To our first comment on thesil.ca. C’mon, “James”.

1 On monday news broke of a UBC football player, who contribuited very little this season, being suspended two months for a positive drug test. Kofi Kuma-Mintah, a third year defensive back, tested positive for cannabis. The seemingly routine suspension raises some interesting questions about banned substance policy and enforcement. In the next issue Sil Sports will be taking a closer look, stay tuned for coverage.

Huge news for basketball fans of every level: Andrew Wiggins is coming to McMaster Feb. 17. The Vaughan, Ont. native is scheduled to play with his prep school in an exhibition game. Wiggins, former son of former Los Angeles Laker Mitch Wiggins, is projected as a future No. 1 draft pick for the NBA. He hasn’t even played a college game yet.

There is an incredible dogfight developing in the OUA West for women’s basketball. Each game has huge ramifications from this point on, with only four points separating third-place from seventh. As the season comes to a close, keep your eye on the women’s hoops schedule. The league is bound to get crazy.

C/O TODD SHURTLEFF

with special guest ANJULIE

THE

FEBRUARY 23

MOLSON CANADIAN STUDIO AT HAMILTON PLACE

MEN’S BASKETBALL

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

OUA EAST

W | L | PTS

OUA EAST

W | L | PTS

CARLETON RYERSON OTTAWA QUEEN’S LAURENTIAN YORK TORONTO

13 11 11 9 7 5 2

CARLETON OTTAWA TORONTO QUEEN’S LAURENTIAN RYERSON YORK

11 10 6 6 5 4 2

OUA WEST

W | L | PTS

OUA WEST

W | L | PTS

WINDSOR LAKEHEAD McMASTER BROCK GUELPH LAURIER WATERLOO WESTERN

11 8 7 5 5 4 3 1

22 16 14 10 10 8 6 2

WINDSOR BROCK WESTERN McMASTER LAKEHEAD LAURIER GUELPH WATERLOO

14 14 7 6 6 6 5 0

1 2 3 5 6 8 11

3 5 7 9 9 9 11 13

26 22 22 18 14 10 4

W | L | PTS

OUA

W | L | PTS

McMASTER WATERLOO WESTERN QUEEN’S YORK RYERSON TORONTO GUELPH WINDSOR RMC

13 11 10 8 6 5 4 3 3 0

OTTAWA YORK QUEEN’S RYERSON WESTERN TORONTO LAKEHEAD McMASTER BROCK GUELPH WINDSOR RMC WATERLOO

13 11 10 9 8 6 6 6 5 4 3 2 2

0 2 2 5 7 7 8 10 9 13

26 22 20 16 12 10 8 6 6 0

___________________________________________________

Sunday 27 January - Septuagesima Morning Prayer 10:30 am Rev Dr John Ferns Studies in the Parables 7:00 pm Rev Paul Luth

MATT MAYS

with special guest JULY TALK

MARCH 6

MARCH 24

MOLSON CANADIAN STUDIO AT HAMILTON PLACE

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE COPPS COLISEUM BOX OFFICE OR CALL TOLL FREE 1.855.872.5000

Tuesday Evenings – 6:00 to 7:30p.m. ESL FRIENDSHIP GROUP Conversation and Canadian Culture

MAC-SIL-JAN25

DANNY MICHEL

24 24 12 12 10 10 8 0

OUA

Reformed theology, Prayer Book liturgy

E SAL 25 ONUARY JAN

0 0 7 8 7 7 9 12

18 18 12 10 8 6 2

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL

134 Emerson Street at Royal Avenue 4 blocks South of McMaster Medical Centre

CINCINNATI RECORDS & HECFI PRESENT:

3 4 7 8 8 9 11

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL

www.stgeorgehamilton.ca

LOST FINGERS

FEBRUARY 12

FEB 3

at WESTERN INVT

S TA N D I N G S

Brandon Meawasige Senior Sports Editor

SHAWN DESMAN

FEB 2

at MAYO INVT.

Tweeting about quiet nights at Madison Square Garden.

Three Downs

JAN 27 | DAY

___________________________________________________

1 1 2 4 5 7 8 7 10 9 9 10 12

26 22 20 18 16 12 12 12 10 8 6 4 4

Thursday, January 24, 2013

SPORTS B5 S

Injuries holding Mac back Scott Hastie Assistant Sports Editor The old adage “you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone” is ringing true for the Marauders. Through the past two games, McMaster struggled to keep their turnovers down, going beyond their 17.5 season average in their past two games against Windsor and Waterloo and the reason for the problems is the injury to point guard Adam Presutti. On Jan. 16’s match against the Windsor Lancers, the Marauders turned the ball over 24 times, a season-high. Mac held a 32-15 lead over the No. 8-ranked team in the CIS after the first quarter but ended up losing the game, 93-77. Head coach Amos Connolly offered a simple explanation for how McMaster dropped their first game against the Lancers: “Not having a point guard is one thing. Not having someone who wants to be a point guard is the next thing. That’s a by-product of being a little bit intimidated by [Windsor’s] pressure.” Presutti has been battling injuries all season but the Marauders were able to get by in games without the former CIS Rookie of the Year. Second-year guard Aaron Redpath is a capable replacement, an upgrade at the point guard position on most OUA teams. But as Coach Connolly will tell you, this team is at its best when Presutti is running the point. The calm play and smart decision-making of Presutti were exactly what McMaster needed to pull out a victory over the Lancers. But Windsor is a talented basketball team, masterfully put together by complimenting their core of players with transfers and young recruits. It’s possible to point to

LEFT: The McMaster Marauders are looking to separate themselves from the rest of the OUA West and solidfy their position among the top of the standings. JESSIE LU / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR

“

Great teams hold themselves accountable without getting all ‘this sucks’. We’re not even at that phase yet. Amos Connolly, Head Coach

the athleticism of the southern Ontario school for an explanation for the ball-handling troubles, but the issues spilled over into the next game against Waterloo. As Mac hit the road for their tilt against the bottom feeders of the OUA West, the team was expected to grab an easy win. But the turnover troubles of the previous game prevented the Maroon and Grey from establishing any sort of offensive

rhythm. Waterloo hung around before Taylor Black took his game to another level and tore apart the Warrior defence. Black used a mix of inside and outside scoring to carry the Marauders to victory, with the game ending in an 81-70 tally. While satisfied with the result, Mac’s bench boss was frustrated with the lack of accountability that players hold

each other to. “Great teams hold themselves accountable without getting all ‘this sucks’. We’re not even at that phase yet,” said Connolly. But the head coach does celebrate the “care factor” of his team, touting them as the team with the most passion that he has ever coached. This factor is a building block for a young team, and shines through when McMaster is put in

the underdog position. With Mac hosting the Brock Badgers on Jan. 26 for Marauder Weekend, this care factor will be on full display in front of a packed Burridge Gym. Brock will be looking for revenge after suffering a slim sixpoint loss at the hands of Mac. Connolly says the team is “hopeful” that Presutti will return for the home crowd after sitting out with a lower-body injury.

When it comes to gambling, taking precautions just makes sense. safeorsorry.ca Take our quiz online for a chance at a home entertainment system.

RGBR12136-BW-03_v1.indd 1

8/7/12 9:45 AM

S B6 SPORTS

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Mac loses in three straight sets The women’s volleyball team battled the Gee-Gee’s in the nation’s capital over the weekend, losing their second match in a row.

LEFT: Three Mac players await a serve during a loss to the Rams. BELOW: Lauren Mastroluisi and the Marauders endure a mini-slump to start off the calendar year. C/O RICHARD ZAZULAK

Alexandra Reilly Silhouette Staff Coming off of a loss against the Ryerson Rams, the Marauders put up a hefty fight against the OUA Leading Gee-Gee’s at Monpetit Hall in Ottawa last Saturday. The match started out early on in Ottawa’s favor as they took the lead jumping ahead of the Marauders 8-5 after a double block stuffed a left side attack attempt by the Marauders Lauren Skelly. The Gee-Gee’s continued to prevail taking an 8-1 run putting them in the lead with a score of 16-6. Ottawa’s success continued as the match came to a close with Ottawa once again restoring a 10-point lead jumping ahead of the Marauders 18-8. The Gee-Gee’s would then take advantage of some errors and miscommunication by the

Marauders to eventually take the first set with a score of 25-11. Shannon McRobert took control of the second set early on from the service line with consecutive aces to tie the set at 3-3. Ottawa soon stepped up their game with some steady focus on blocking which put Ottawa back into the lead once again. The hosts gained a hefty lead over the Marauders rolling into the technical timeout with a lead of 16-9. McMaster showed some strength winning the next four points in a row and shaving down the Ottawa lead. The Marauders began to look threatening late in the second set with an ace coming from Kailee Stock that just found the back line. Despite McMaster’s powerful efforts late in the second, Ottawa out worked and managed to clinch a 25-18 win to take a commanding two-set lead over the Marauder contingent.

The third set proved to be the closest of the previous two as a strong rotation from the Marauders. Lauren Mastroluisi brought the Marauders within two points with a score of 10-8. Ottawa soon capitalized on a string of errors from the Marauders taking four straight points. The Marauders stayed within striking distance and pulled even at 16-16 with some confident plays from the service line. McMaster gained speed as they took a brief lead over Ottawa but the home side struck another ace bringing the score to a onepoint difference at 20-19. The hosts clung to the lead and took advantage to gain some final points against the ladies in Maroon, however a cross-court kill gave McMaster hope bringing the set to a close 24-23 score. McMaster would eventually tie the set at 24-24 giving the Marauders hope to continue on

to a fourth set. The teams went back and forth keeping the game at a close score until Ottawa dominated with a final set of consecutive kills winning the set 31-29 and ending the game with a three set sweep. The Marauders own Kierstyn Bakker was the Marauders leading scorer putting up 11.5 points and nine kills as well as third-year

player Kailee Stock showing a sufficiently great performance in the game, converting nine of 26 attempts with only a single error. The McMaster Women’s Volleyball team will now prep for their upcoming double header weekend at home in Burridge gym as they face The Western Mustangs on Friday and the Windsor Lancers on Saturday.

Drug suspension at UBC Laura Rodgers The Ubyssey

VANCOUVER (CUP) UBC defensive back Kofi Kuma-Mintah has received a two-month suspension from playing on the UBC football team. This in response to a positive test for cannabis, according to a release from the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport. The in-competition doping test happened on Oct. 13, 2012. His twomonth sanction started in December and will end on February 12, 2013. He will be prohibited from playing in any games until then, or participating in practices with the team. Theresa Hanson, UBC associate director of intercollegiate and high performance sport, gave this response in a statement:

Kuma-Mintah played 3 games for the Thunderbirds this season. C/O CANADIAN UNIVERSITY PRESS

“We provide athletes with education on the dangers of drug use to help them make sound decisions so we are disappointed this athlete failed to make the right choice.”

INSIDEOUT

InsideOut Editors Sam Godfrey and Amanda Watkins Section Meeting Tuesdays at 2:30 p.m. Contact insideout@thesil.ca

Thursday, January 24, 2013

JAVIER CAICEDO/

B7 S

MULTIMEDIA EDITO

The tastiest bang for your buck Ronald Leung’s campus guide to the best coffee (and curry) prices

PROS 1 Tim Hortons (MUSC)

$ 2 The Union

Market (MUSC)

House of 3 Games (MUSC basement)

Caffeine: The 4 Elements (BSB)

$$ 5 Williams

(MUSC & HSL)

$$$

• • • •

Reasonable prices ranging from $1.24-$1.90 A wide range of sizes, from x-small to x- large Central location in MUSC Accepts student cards

• • •

• • • • •

• • • •

• •

• • • •

CONS • •

Long lines at peak times No substantial food items are sold (only donuts and Timbits)

$1.30 and $1.45 for medium and large coffees Large assortment of snacks and other food Less expensive salads ($4.99) compared to La Piazza or Centro

•

Doesn’t accept student card/meal plan

Best curry (vegan option available) on campus Only place selling bubble tea on campus Huge variety of bubble tea flavours Also sells: Jamaican patties and samosas, as well as specialty beverages and snacks Large collection of arcade games, billiards and air hockey to enjoy

•

Doesn’t accept student card/meal plan

Great cupcakes Sells large assortment of drinks, snacks, and baked goods Cozy sitting area Accepts student cards

•

Location is not very convenient (unless you frequent BSB a lot)

•

Prices (especially for the speciality drinks) can be much higher than other places Long lines at peak times

Large selection of hot drinks in addition to coffee: speciality lattes, hot chocolate, cappuccinos, etc. Convenient location to grab a bite during study sessions (two locations in the HSC alone, one right beside Health Sciences Library) Filling meals consisting of wraps, salads, or fresh-made paninis Many baked goods and snacks Good assortment of cold drinks, such as Ice Caps or Fruity Chillers Accepts student cards

•

S B8 INSIDEOUT

Thursday, January 24, 2013

SERIOUSLYSUDOKU

3 1

2 3

9 5

8 4

6 7

5 7

7 4

3 7

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1 ___ Raton 5 Vulgar 10 Juan’s water 14 ___ do 15 Esther of “Good Times” 16 Nobleman 17 Fall 18 ___ a million 19 Villainous character in Shakespeare’s “Othello” 20 Fizzy drink 21 Pay determiner 23 Able to 25 Stutz contemporary 26 Animal 31 Atomize 35 Actor Linden 36 Away 38 Skylit lobbies 40 Children’s author Blyton 42 Throat problem 44 Simmer 45 1986 Indy 500 winner Bobby 47 Red fluorescent dye 49 Pay stub? 50 Bell-shaped flower 52 Musical composition 54 Fannie ___ 56 Call out 57 Orange-flavored liqueur 62 Adds 66 Drunkards 67 In the least 68 Golf pegs, northern English river 69 Writer Wiesel 70 Jai alai basket 71 North Carolina university 72 Speed contest 73 ___ Is Born 74 Sounds like a kitten

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1 Offers a price 2 Other, in Oaxaca 3 Lump of earth 4 Llama relative 5 Adults 6 Barrett of gossip 7 Couturier Cassini 8 More cunning 9 Faculties 10 Inter ___ 11 Score 12 Impulse 13 Hoopla 22 Nightclub of song 24 ___ standstill 26 “Believe” singer 27 Charged 28 Nobelist Root 29 Appraise, charge per unit 30 Mistake 32 ACLU concerns 33 Threepio’s buddy 34 Give up 37 New Age musician John 39 Apart 41 Indian dish 43 Expiatory 46 Describe 48 “All Things Considered” network 51 Monetary unit of Macao 53 Method 55 Some Art Deco works 57 Soft drink 58 Auricular 59 Got it 60 3:00 61 Neighbor of Sask. 63 River to the Ubangi 64 Cat call 65 IRS IDs 66 Sun. delivery

Thursday, January 24, 2013

INSIDEOUT B9 S

SEXandthe STEELCITY

5 dates under 5 dollar$ Looking to impress on a budget? Charm your date with these inexpensive alternatives

Anna Qarri The Silhouette Are you crushing? Are you broke? Are you having a hard time believing that money can’t buy you love? Lucky for you, we’re here to restore your faith in popular sayings and Beatles song references. Here are five totally acceptable cheap date ideas:

Candy Picnic

Candy picnic? Yes, a candy picnic. Now that you’ve read this phrase three times, and it hopefully sounds normal enough, we can talk. What’s cuter that going up to someone and saying “Hey lovely, would you like to eat your favourite candy with me at some park as we look up at the Hamilton sky, where stars could potentially be spotted?” The ‘lovely’ is optional. The wink that follows is not.

Urban Exploring

If you aren’t into watching the stars and reciting poetry on the first date (or ever), walking around the city and finding abandoned sites, old buildings, and hidden spots could be just what you need. You can get to know Hamilton as you get to know your date. If things don’t work out with this one, at least you’ll get a long list of places to choose from for your next date.

Skating, Biking, etc…

Take your fairly-significant other skating. If they don’t know how to skate, you can hold their hand and teach them. If you both own bikes, get on them and ride away into the sunset, wherever that may be. Probably west.

Art

Whether or not you’re actually artistically knowledgeable, speak with a fake (or real) British accent and charm your date with your humour and wit. Conversations about art are never boring. Luckily for you, Hamilton delivers with its monthly Art Crawls and McMaster’s own Art Museum. So grab a hand (consensually) and get some (culture).

Your bed

Alright, let’s not get ahead of ourselves here, but beds can be pretty comfortable; the weather is horrible and you want to stay indoors. So watch a movie, listen to music, bake some cookies, make some tea and talk about your lives - all from the comfort of your very own bedroom. Making out is totally an option, too.

Growing pains A guide to self-growth and realizing your potential Yashoda Valliere Student Health Education Centre “Try new things; expand your horizons!” Sound familiar? As university students, we are often bombarded with suggestions and opportunities to mould ourselves into new and improved versions of ourselves. This is especially true at the start of a new year, with waves of students determined to shake themselves out of their ruts and routines (or at least into better ones). In the midst of the frenzy, I was drawn to stop and ask the question: why do we feel such a strong urge to change in the first place? What do we truly gain from it – and is it always worth the accompanying risks of unfamiliar territory? Funnily enough, I found my answer in coursework. Those of you who have taken Psychology 2B03 (Personality) are familiar with the humanistic theories of Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers. If you have never heard of either of these men, it’s likely that you’ve heard their terminology borrowed by pop culture – especially the phrase “self-actualization.” Maslow proposed that all of our actions are based in two types of motives. “Deficiency motives” drive us to meet our basic needs, such as food, water, safety, and social belonging, to survive and feel whole. “Being motives,” on the other hand, are growth-oriented rather than deficiency-oriented. Maslow described the tendency toward self-actualization, a Being motive, as “the desire to become more and more what one is, to become everything that one is capable of becoming.” Self-actualized individuals are not fearful or defensive and, as such, are able to view themselves and the world around them without denial and to comfortably accept the way they are. They are playful, creative, and continually appreciate small details in everyday life; they trust their own instincts; they do not view situations as black-and-white dichotomies and they are not social chameleons, conforming to cultural norms. A similar description applies to Carl Rogers’ theory of the “fully-functioning person.” This goal was so important to Rogers that he scrapped the Deficiency motives altogether and proposed that every action, from birth to death, is subconsciously motivated only by the “actualizing tendency” to grow into our true selves. That is, to unlearn the false personalities conditioned into us by society.

So what does all of this have to do with new year’s resolutions? Perhaps one of Maslow’s most inspiring ideas is the concept of “growth choices” as a path to selfactualization. As he put it, “life is an ongoing process of choosing between safety (out of fear and need for defence) and risk for the sake of progress and growth.” The exact same decision, when framed as a choice between growth and stagnation or as a choice between fear and comfort, can have a surprisingly different outcome. To complement his eight-fold path to self-actualization Maslow also listed several barriers, including lack or fear of self-knowledge and conformity to social and cultural norms. To turn your everyday choices into growth choices is to recognize the mental defences you have fearfully erected and to break them down. This is why I challenge myself to make choices that are truly outside my comfort zone, and not just for the occasion of a new year, but to bring myself one step closer to what Maslow and Rogers would describe as realising my full potential. We can all try something that we are afraid to do, beyond the tired stereotypes of going to the gym (in January, at least) or improving our GPAs. You could sign up for a crash course in public speaking, or read a book on a political philosophy you disagree with or even just get that one item on the menu you’ve always avoided. I recently applied for a job I knew was probably beyond me; the interview process still expanded my knowledge of my own strengths and weaknesses and was a useful growth opportunity. It’s important to remember that the value of growth choices is in the process, not the product. Maslow and Rogers described the path to self-actualization not as a simple “on/off ” switch, but as a series of small successes in areas such as honesty, self-awareness, and trust in one’s own judgment, all of which are realistically accompanied by setbacks and sometimes no externally visible success (case in point: I didn’t get the job). Don’t beat yourself up if your leap of faith turns out to be a flop, because the most important outcome from a psychological point of view is the fact that you consciously chose to develop yourself and overcome your traditional patterns of thinking. With that in mind, you can congratulate yourself on getting one step closer to self-actualization.

Hits newsstands on

S B10 INSIDEOUT

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Rockin’ a wolf on yo’ noggin: A foolproof guide to second-hand shopping Miranda Babbitt Silhouette Staff In dark, forgotten corners of the city, often teeming with crime and deceit, lay hidden avenues bustling with long-lost surprises: Thrift stores. Now if you have ever considered venturing into this dangerous pocket of society, be prepared. The trip there will likely test your ingenuity, courage and possibly your agility as you overcome the winding bus routes and horrors of public transit. Ideally, you will have at least five different weapons on you, including, ideally, a bow and arrow. The bow and arrow will catch your opponents by surprise and your “street cred” will inevitably skyrocket. Once you enter your thrift store of choice, do not make eye contact with the employees. You will only be met with judgment. Who cares about your shallow desire to have a “distressed flannel shirt” or “unintentionally but intentionally ripped 90s mom jeans?” Not them. You are stealing clothes from the needy and all you care about is replicating the latest tumblr selfie you saw. You also must haggle for everything. The more you haggle, the more respect you’ll receive. Oh, its only $2? Even better. Maybe you can get it for free and hit up that Starbucks on the way home. After making it through the first three paragraphs, have you

managed to weed out the lies about the so-called “reality” of thrift store shopping? Please say yes. I’m depending on you here. I need to restore some of my faith in humanity. My buddy ol’ pal, Google, has enlightened me on the popular misconceptions people have about thrift stores. There appear to be two kinds of people: those who appreciate a good thrifting find, and those who will greet you with a look of pained pity. To them, finding out my sweater was thrifted is akin to saying, “I am wearing the sweater of the homeless alcoholic who roams the local McDonalds.”

Dollars and Sense

Now just in case some of these hilariously awful myths have become a reality for you, I am here to set you straight on the path of thrifty goodness. For those who have been dipping their head in and out of the current fashion trends as of late, thrift store pieces can often be on par with the designer goodies we’re all lusting after anyway. Some people find a lot of pride in saying “Oh this? It’s thrifted,” maybe accompanied by a casual toss of the hair, or an oh-so-humble laugh. Thrifting is not considered an embarrassment. In a way, it’s a considerably noble triumph if you managed to snag an Isabel Marant cardigan for the price of a pair of socks.

A brush with fame

Charity Begins At Home(town Thriftstores)

Secondly, the idea that you’re stealing the clothes of someone in more need than you is ludicrous. Thrift stores do not operate in the same way as soup kitchens. Unlike soup kitchens that can only afford to offer so much, thrift stores channel their profits to various charities. The more money these stores bring in, the better off these charities will be. Though this is not to say you should bear ignorance to those who are more in need than you. If a young woman is eying the almost illegally cheap jacket in your hands, while balancing two babies in her arms with a sparse bag of groceries behind her, then back away from the article immediately. You’re a thrifty person, not a piglet stealing every good deal in the city.

Thrift Store TIPS

1. Bring a friend.

As convinced as you are that those authentic shoulder pads make you look edgy rather than legitimately violent… you’re wrong. Only a friend will break that to you.

2. Wash before wearing.

Believe it or not, thrift stores are a business, not an intentional breeding ground for disease. The employees do in fact wash the clothes. That said, there is no pain in having a little safety-first attitude and wash them before you wear ‘em. Unidentified rashes are never in style. Amiright ladies?

3. Get over the classic thrift store stench.

Thirdly, (and oh-my-goodness-who-came-up-with-this): haggling is not necessarily encouraged. Sometimes in order to get the best bang for your buck, haggling can be an enjoyable and worthwhile experience, but not to the point where you’re arguing over a $5 sweater with a line of pissedoff hipsters behind you. Trust me, they will ironically mock you until you cry. Preserve your dignity, and haggle very sparingly.

As shocking as it is, all humans don’t come pre-made with a manufactured Febreze smell. When we wear things, they smell like us. But now imagine that you, your best friend, that fellow you stare at in Wednesday’s lecture, your uncle once removed, and Kim Jong-Un all combine to create a unique smell. Putting aside any weird imagery that may have formed just now, it’s very possible that the combined smell would be more… strange… than pleasing. The thrift store stench should be a guarantee to you that there has been no robotic apocalypse and that humans still wear clothes.

It’s not everyday that I have meaningful conversations with my taxi drivers. Last week however, was different. Blue Line driver Peter Rihbany drove me home and over the course of the cab ride, reavealed an exciting connection to McMaster and the Silhouette. He was a McMaster student back in the 1960s and had the remarkable opportunity to play in the band

that backed up Chuck Berry during the Halloween Homecoming show on October 31, 1969 in Burridge Gymnasium. I never would have expected to meet someone that has played with such an incredible musical icon as Chuck Berry in such a simple random encounter. I was really excited while flipping through the old volumes of 1969 with full-on focus looking for

Poppin’ Tags

/ ANG R EN W S EDITO R A K IC H P GRA

that Chuck Berry photo and even more excited to learn that he had played at none other than McMaster. Just goes to show, you never really know who you’re going to meet in any given day. • Yoseif Haddad, Senior Photo Editor

Thursday, January 24, 2013

INSIDEOUT B11 S

Professor Chad Harvey Department of Integrated Science

Shoes: Aldo, $89 Socks: H&M, $10 Pants: Banana Republic, on sale $50 Shirt: Banana Republic, on sale $30 Sweater: Banana Republic, $45 Tie: Taken from Dr. Andrew Rainbow, Prof. emeritus Watch: Seiko; high school graduation gift from father Choice Phrases from the Photo Shoot Jessie: Say Cheese! Dr. Harvey: Biology. ... Jessie: Do you want to model for Sex and the Steel City? Dr. Harvey: Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll tell my wife you said that. JESSIE LU/ ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR

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andex

c2 • the silhouette’s art & culture magazine

thursday, january 24, 2013

Senior Editor: Nolan Matthews Assistant Editor: Bahar Orang

Contributors: Simon Marsello, Lucas Canzona, Tomi Milos, Spencer Semianiw, Kacper Niburski, Jacob McLean, Yoseif Haddad, Michael Skinnider, Jemma Wolfe

Design: Karen Wang Cover: Bahar Orang

Over 20 million people tuned in on Monday to watch the second inauguration of U.S. President Barak Obama, seen here dancing with his wife Michelle at the Inauguration Ball later that evening.

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editorial

thursday, january 24, 2013

the silhouette’s art & culture magazine • c3

art: what’s so great about being great? I recently wrote an essay that was about “great” literature. But the essay itself – and the mark I received – were not as great. And it got me thinking about “greatness” – what makes for great writing, great art? Can an academic essay ever be great art? What would the standards even be? Who would set those standards and then decide if the essay met them? The writer? The reader? The grader? And how can I know so instinctively, so unquestionably that my essay is not great? Even if my grade had been stellar, somehow – somehow – I could never call it “great art”. Why is that? What constitutes great art? What medium? What response? Is there a minimum grade it should be assigned? What spot should it fill on ANDY’s top 10 list? How should the artist feel before, during and after? Proud, disgusted, afraid? Who should judge its greatness? Professors, strangers, friends? What if it touches just

one person? What if hundreds of people enjoy it, but none of them are truly moved? Should it make a political statement? Should it make any statement? What if it’s simply beautiful and little else: a string of lovely words that sound like a meaningless poem; or a short film that includes gorgeous scenery with no intended symbolism; or a song that says nothing, but the artist’s voice is goose-bump-inducing – are none of these “great” art? Or are they all? Should it be funny? Popular? Unpopular? Should it break rules? Should it follow rules, but with more flare than ever before? Should it shock, inspire, motivate? What if it does none of those things; what if it’s only an artist’s entirely selfish pursuit of self-expression? It seems that art in general inspires more questions than answers. As ANDY compiled its top ten lists, we constantly asked ourselves similar questions: what makes for a great album, a great film? How can every album and

every film that’s been released in 2012 be judged with one set of standards on one list? Surely the list would be incomplete, contradictory, controversial, and horribly, terribly, undeniably subjective. What’s the point then? In my first year, I wrote a paper titled “why I write.” The essay was a very strange piece that my equally strange (but inspiring and wonderful) TA found moving somehow. But other readers dismissed the paper as bizarre and confusing. I wrote about a feathery blue pen that looked like an ostrich ready to take flight; I wrote about the empty spaces between your fingers; I wrote about the experience of watching someone walk away – watching the distance between your bodies expand until there’s nothing left. I wrote about a sun that looks like an egg yolk stretched across the sky; I wrote about a paper plane floating somewhere in the distance, with a love letter scrawled all over it.

the big tickle

america - victoria n reunion mckinno n

2012 tz-ritson - mallory fi

It made very little sense. It resembled an academic essay in so far that it was typed words on a white page. The experience of writing this essay was so consuming and yet so effortless that I had forgotten it was a piece that anyone would read other than myself. Producing those words, putting them together, taking them apart, was a cathartic, therapeutic, intense but peaceful process of liberation. It’s a feeling that also comes with certain movies, certain songs, certain novels, certain poetry, certain performances – and in those moments I don’t judge, rate, rank or grade the moment or the art. I just feel moved – and that is more than enough. To me, that feeling is what constitutes “great” art. So take ANDY’s final five with a grain of salt. It certainly is a wonderful and meaningful selection of music and film – but that’s just our opinion. •

Bahar Orang, Assistant ANDY

what’s the worst movie you saw this year? compiled by nolan matthews and jessie lu

mirror mirror - victor pope

hunger games - nadav newm an

nchained django u lawley - cheri

c4 & c5 • the silhouette’s art & culture magazine

5 Few rap records managed to pierce the mainstream consciousness this year like Kendrick Lamar’s major label debut. A follow-up to 2011’s standout Section.80, the semi-conceptual good kid, m.A.A.d city balances smooth grooves and impressive instrumentation against Lamar’s malleable flow and weighty lyrics. Very much an autobiographical piece, gkmc frames

Passion Pit’s earliest roots stretch back to 2007, when frontman Michael Angelakos produced a Valentines mixtape of songs for his girlfriend. The recording (Chunk of Change EP) turned into some low-key live performances with the vocalist singing alongside his

Following the sprawling success of their critically acclaimed third album, Veckatimest, the members of Grizzly Bear each went their separate ways. Ed Droste, the intensely likeable lead singer, took some time to rekindle old friendships and venture on a few trips that

sounds good: ANDY’s f

Kendrick Lamar - good kid, m.A.A.d city Kendrick’s adolescence in the rough streets of Compton against the stark counter-pressures of hood conformity and parental aspiration. Each track is exceptionally crafted, affording the skip button little to no utility. In classic concept album fashion, the album opens with a poignant voiceover to be revisited later on. A seamless bass transition drops us straight into opener “Sherane,” a dimly-lit party hip-grinder introducing teenage Kendrick’s love interest. On “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe,” Kendrick spits coolly over a treble-heavy two-chord guitar track. A heavily quotable chorus more than redeems the overt profanity, and a fully orchestrated string outro slams it home. Guest spots are used sparingly and effectively, ranging from K-dot’s Black Hippy label-mate Jay Rock on “Money Trees” to ubiquitous Torontonian Drake on head-

over-heels crush ballad “Poetic Justice,” over a rather well-utilized Janet Jackson sample. West Coast rap mainstays MC Eight and executive producer Dr. Dre hit hard respectively on “m.A.A.d city” and “Compton,” firmly entrenching the record in its roots. Lamar’s artistic inspirations evidently stray far from Compton, however, as samplemining the relative obscurity of two Danish groups on “Bitch” and “The Art of Peer Pressure” will show. The latter ends with a particularly candid snapshot from Lamar’s youth in which he was passed a blunt laced with PCP, which ultimately shaped his decision not to smoke. By far the most ambitious track falls near the foot of the album. “Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst” is a sprawling 12-minute effort in two parts, bridged by an emotionally

draining voiceover that ties together the album’s narrative with themes of childhood innocence, loyalty, prostitution and tragedy. Artistic ambition aside, the record isn’t without effective single material. “Backseat Freestyle” depicts a brash and overconfident young Kendrick laying down classic braggadocio with abandon, while “Swimming Pools (Drank),” a stone-cold serious track depicting alcoholism may well find itself ironically tossed in amongst this year’s party anthems. While Lamar himself has publicly dismissed the “classic” label, gkmc has cemented his heavyweight status in the rap world. In the words of the man himself, now everybody serenade the new fate of Kendrick Lamar. • Simon Marsello

Passion Pit - Gossamer laptop. Later, at the behest of his friends, this turned into a full band that sang at several well-known Boston venues. Passion Pit’s success came quickly. Keyboardist/guitarist Ian Hultquist sums it up: “It was actually really scary how fast things were rising for us, even though it was on a small scale ... When Jeff and Nate [bassist and drummer] joined it really started feeling like a band … everything just felt complete.” The origin of the group’s name stems from a piece in Variety magazine that dubbed drive-in movie theatres “passion pits” because of “their privacy and romantic allure for teenagers”. The aforementioned vibe is felt strongly across Passion Pit’s newest release, Gossamer, especially through the duration of tracks like “Constant Conversations”, where

Grizzly Bear - Shields

lent themselves to dazzling Instagram photos (@edroste). Guitarist and vocalist Dan Rossen retreated to the countryside to record a stunning solo EP, Silent Hour/Golden Mile. Bassist Chris Taylor released a solo album under the moniker CANT, produced records for Twin Shadow and Blood Orange, and is working on a cookbook. Lastly, drummer Chris Bear went into hibernation — kidding. The time apart seems to have given the band a new perspective, helping make Shields their best record to date. Grizzly Bear recorded the album in a yellow house in Cape Cod that will ring a bell for some, and for the first time Droste and Rossen worked on songs together rather than in solitude. To say that the pair is the music world’s Jordan-Pippen duo is not

Angelakos’s rhythmic crooning is backed up by layers of lofty harmony and a chorus of whoa-oh-ohs. “I’ll Be Alright” offers the quintessential wall of synthesized pop that the band has come to be known for, while “Take a Walk” and “Hideaway” sound summer-festival-ready. The choruses in “Cry Like a Ghost” are drawn-out and have a distinct shoe-gaze feel to them. Lyrically, Gossamer is potent, heavy and personal, but it’s easy to turn your mind away from the stories and get lost in all the synthheavy layers. The songs explore issues rangin from alcoholism to self-worth and mental illness. They provide a narrative for being lost in an overly-stimulated society. “Love Is Greed” put me in a pensive state with the lines “love is just greed / it’s selfish and it’s

mean / you follow or you lead”. Angelakos talked about love in a post-release interview, saying “On a literal level, love does not make sense, but that’s what makes it love.” If Chunk of Change audibly resembled an atmospheric ode to a girl and the band’s sophomore release, Manners, sounded like the product of a young, ever-restless mind, then Gossamer presents itself as an introspective hook-laden masterpiece. This record is grown-up yet youthful, methodical yet chaotic. The quintet was able to distill much of its brilliantly upbeat attitude into this recording which went on to peak at #4 on the Billboard 200 chart and #4 on ANDY’s top 10 list.

far-fetched; Droste’s vocals have the guile and finesse of the latter, while Rossen’s singing owns tracks like the former owned the air. Though Shields doesn’t have a standout single, the record is rewarding because of the painstaking attention to sonic detail. “Yet Again” is the perfect example, with a swell of guitars mounts to a crescendo as Droste and Rossen harmonize throughout. Taylor’s twangy bass lends elegiac tracks like “GunShy” a joyfulness despite the morose subject matter. I imagine it must be frustrating for other bands to observe the apparent ease with which Grizzly Bear constructs beautiful ballads that have enough presence to fill cavernous venues. This happened at Massey Hall, where Owen

Pallet joined them with his violin in tow for a soul-stirring rendition of “Half Gate”. It’s easy to forget the bashful drummer, Chris Bear, but on lengthy album-closer, “Sun In Your Eyes,” he provides reason to believe the song is a new high for the band. His frenetic drumming lent the track an even more manic quality at their Toronto show last September. At this point in their careers, Shields is a scary indication of just how good the New Yorkers are and will continue to be - as long as album-ending proclamation of “I’m never coming back” ends up not being true.

• Lucas Canzona

• Tomi Milos

thursday, january 24, 2013

favourite albums of 2012 Japandroids - Celebration Rock 2 This year a whole bunch of bands decided that rock, in the traditional indie rock sense perfected by the Replacements, was cool again. But more than any of those other bands, I want to be Japandroids. I want to live the lives described in their songs – stories of being young, drunk and recklessly in love. Celebration Rock, the Vancouver duo’s second album, is everything they used to do refined and pushed to extremes. Japandroids used to sing that “Young Hearts Spark Fire,” but now they actually sing about what that means. It means “that night you were already in bed, said ‘fuck it’ and got up to drink with me instead,” from album highlight and possibly the greatest Japandroids song ever, “Younger Us.” Even if you can’t relate to the kind of drunken adventures that singer Brian King describes, the music makes you want to. Japandroids want you to live, damn it. King said in an interview with the Village Voice that he made every song on Celebration Rock “positive and uplifting” and that “on the whole record I think there’s nothing negative.” While it’s fine for a band to want to make an album that’s nothing more than a celebration of being young and having fun, King doesn’t

give himself enough credit. “Younger Us” retells a spontaneous night as a memory - and with it comes the longing and sadness of all nostalgia. Japandroids used to be “too drunk to feel it” but now they feel everything. “If I had all of the answers and you had the body you wanted,” King sings on “Continuous Thunder,” “would we love with a legendary fire?” I don’t know. But the expectation and desire for everything to be perfect and the importance and difficulty of accepting when it’s not is something that anyone in a relationship has experienced. The intensity of the emotion on Celebration Rock is what makes it so great. Every song is never less than intense and exhilarating - except for one. Japandroids aren’t very good when they try to be menacing and aggressive on “For the Love of Ivy.” They are much better at being sweeping and epic. But the best part is that “For the Love of Ivy” is a cover. The only way for Japandroids to suck is if they play someone else’s song. • Nolan Matthews, Senior ANDY Editor

Frank Ocean- Channel Orange At times I’ve fantasized about the day when I could lie down, put a new vinyl record on that I’ve never heard before and listen to something that I knew would be mind-blowing. I’ve entertained the idea quite frequently with upcoming albums by Arcade Fire and Kanye West. I wish I could’ve done it with Frank Ocean’s Channel Orange. I never expected it would meet the standard. But it surpassed it. Channel Orange will undoubtedly be not only one of the seminal albums of a generation but will also be considered one of music’s most remarkable achievements. It pleasantly evokes the likes of Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye, yet Ocean’s unique talent for effortlessly shifting between his nasal and falsetto delivery immediately distinguishes him from all his predecessors. Ocean carves himself a place in music history with a knife made out of his provocative subtlety. Singing of a Cleopatra turned prostitute and a Forrest Gump turned football player, this album presents so much lyrical variety partnered with musical innovation that it’s impossible not to be intrigued. The horns on “Sweet Life,” the catchy synth on “Lost,” the club dance vibe from Pyramids - all of these

variations constantly draw us in, providing the opportunity to delve deeper into an album that continues to surprise. My personal favorites are “Bad Religion” and “Pyramids”. On “Bad Religion,” Ocean sings more passionately than I’ve heard from an R&B artist for a long time, with an unconventional opening melody that is fascinating and mournful. “Pyramids,” the album’s magnum opus, begins with an upbeat and synthheavy account of Cleopatra’s abduction and ends with a resonating solo by John Mayer. The track is a nine-minute work of art that moves from a song into a story that Ocean tells with the passion it deserves. In the music industry and critical community, it is an unfortunate reality that the status of great albums and artists is slowly forgotten. It happened with the Velvet Underground and to Led Zeppelin. Channel Orange has received the attention it deserves, but I urge for it to not dissipate just yet. The pessimists who lament that music’s heyday was 50 years ago should hear to this album because it disproves everything they believe. Have a listen. • Spencer Semianiw

#5SILVER

andy reels it in:

AMOUR

thursday, january 24, 2013

LININGS PLAYBOOK

I did not expect that an actor resembling the stereotypical homecoming king would’ve won me over with a killer performance. Bradley Cooper does all that and more in David O. Russel’s adaption of Matthew Quick’s breakout novel. Famous for hits like The Fighter, Russel was able to lure industry heavyweights like Robert DeNero and Jennifer Lawrence to a production bursting with Oscar potential. Silver Linings Playbook is a heartbreakingly realistic drama with enough comedic relief — or silver linings — to keep things optimistic. Cooper plays Pat Solitano, a man who has just moved back into his parents’ suburban Philadelphia home after a stint in a mental institution. To put it lightly, Pat has a lot going on. His ex-wife Nikki has a restraining order filed against him for beating up the schlub she was having an affair with (seems fair, right?). Pat struggles with a bipolar disorder and it’s questionable if he’d be better off back in rehab. Even reading his ex’s high school teaching syllabus gets to Pat, with Hemingway’s propensity for unhappy endings directly contradicting his “Excelsior” motto - ever upwards. Lured to a friend’s dinner, Pat meets Tiffany (played by Jennifer Lawrence), a promiscuous widow who he bonds with after discussing the virtues of Xanax and Klonopin. Still delusional with thoughts of resurrecting his failed marriage, he agrees to join Tiffany in a dance competition under the impression that it will demonstrate to Nikki how well he is doing. What transpires is a heartwarming tale of having the courage to confront one’s inner demons, as horrifying as they may seem. Russel expertly avoids cheesy, melodramatic indulgences —ahem, Perks, I’m looking at you —and gets Pat and his father (Robert De Niro) to click on a personal level. I’m not going to apologize for this gushing review, but I will apologize on behalf of Ernest Hemingway, who would have probably preferred a darker ending. • Tomi Milos

DJANGO UNCHAINED

Quentin Tarantino’s latest two films, Django Unchained and, before that, Inglorious Basterds, have at their cores a very simple, immensely entertaining concept: specifically, what I am calling ‘retroactive redemption against historic racism’. Of course, redemption is a theme in many Tarantino movies, most obviously within the Kill Bill series. It might also be argued that ‘retroactive redemption’ is a redundancy in that all redemption, including that portrayed in the Kill Bill series, is necessarily, by definition, ‘retroactive’. The redemption in Django Unchained, however, is retroactive in an extra-textual sense: that is, the viewer is redeemer-by-proxy, enjoying the catharsis of the in-text redeemer’s (Django’s) victory over the racism of our collective past. Of course, we must acknowledge that neither racism nor slavery are entirely in the past. Moreover, attending a Hollywood blockbuster should never be credited as anti-racist practice. That said, the film is at its

most enjoyable if you are willing to pretend for just a few hours that anti-racism is as simple as sitting in a cinema and laughing alongside strangers while white supremacists on-screen are blown to pieces. If one can suspend momentarily their knowledge of the complexities and difficulties of antiracist practice, this film can be cathartic for a wide-range of people: those angry, those guilty, etc. If nothing more, Django Unchained, in its mass appeal, begins a discussion from which progress can be made. If the unanimous laughter at on-screen violence I witnessed in the cinema is an indication of our solidarity against the racism of our collective past, there is great potential for harnessing that solidarity to begin dialoguing on our present. For potentially bringing that conversation to the masses, Mr. Tarantino, I salute you.

Before I watched the film, I was skeptical about its title. “Amour” or “love” felt far too generic: I expected a tired storyline to match its overly-ambiguous and overlyambitious title. But instead I was left feeling touched, moved, distressed, melancholy, somehow nostalgic and strangely serene. It was a flux of different emotions that kept washing over me in the hours, days, weeks and months that followed. I still find myself wondering about the film, trying to come to terms with the very new, very confusing ideas and possibilities the film offered. I was forced to truly revaluate my most basic beliefs and ideals about love and relationships, particularly how those notions may change – no, must change – in the face of death.

• Jacob McLean

• Bahar Orang

the best of 2012 #2

thursday, january 24, 2013

the silhouette’s art & culture magazine • c7

MOONRISE KINGDOM

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES

Despite a scraggly beard that shares the consistency of a porcupine’s quill, I was once a child. Though that soul may have died with pubescence, I remember an idyll world that beamed when I was happy and that cried when I cried. I remember developing a universe that centered around me because as far as I could tell, I was indeed that center. And I remember feeling nothing was particularly important because everything was. Moonrise Kingdom, a film by Wes Anderson, is exactly this – a moment, a feeling, an entire worldly existence of childhood captured in the amber of film. At the very surface, it is no more a story of two children wrapped in the unadulterated swirl of pre-sexual fantasies and love. They elope, as loosely as that word can be applied. They try to find their paradise, Moonrise. And they dance around in underpants when time permits. It is entirely unrealistic. A consistently aesthetic universe somehow contains the foibles of the major characters - characters that often reach a spiritual equilibrium

without consulting the terms of good and evil. But that is the point. Beyond the fantastic picturesque scenery and the inescapable moral scruples describing a world that seems anything but moral, it is a movie about what it means to be children. It is about the limitations of time in the desire for unlimited aspirations, about when imagination is free from the dissatisfaction and realism of adulthood, about the triumphs in simply living fully rather than filling up our time with seemingly triumphant endeavors. At its very core, it is about the world – our world – constrained only by on our ingenuity, not by what we know. Because as children we know nothing, and that means everything. Now as I type here as a presupposed adult with worries, debts, and an evergrowing anxiety, I know this film is good. My inner child tells me as much.

Okay, hear me out on this one. Sure, The Dark Knight Rises isn’t as good as the film that came before it. But what other movie this year made you feel such intense hopelessness, tension and eventual triumph? Part of what made The Dark Knight so good was that it could exist outside of its comic book mythology. The characters and their motivations were grounded and relatable. The Joker was messed up in a way we could understand. The Dark Knight Rises instead relies more on background story from the comic, which makes motivations less clear and the emotional impact less intense and universal. The tradeoff is that the film keeps your inner nerd happier than The Dark Knight ever could. Among The Dark Knight Rises’ greatest accomplishments is how one individual is believably able to hold an entire city hostage. I can’t think of another movie where the villain is able to realistically keep the stakes so high. The Joker may be more intellectually interesting but Bane is satisfyingly scary through sheer brute force. Brute force is actually how the film succeeds in a lot of ways. The Dark Knight Rises tries everything and achieves most of it. The dense plot packs so many twists that

you might grow sick of them by the end, but at least the film is always interesting. Echoing the spirit of the Occupy movement, The Dark Knight Rises directly questions our apathy towards how unequal the world really is, blurring the line between good and evil. Bane’s methods are certainly evil but his goal might not be. Even amidst all the grand action there are still great moments of subtlety. Joseph Gordon-Levitt keeps up his winning streak as the snappy and likeable John Blake. Anne Hathaway slowly comes into role as a witty and conflicted Catwoman. And though the moments between characters Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) and Alfred Pennyworth (Michael Caine) are clunky, they still manage to be oddly touching. The ending of The Dark Knight Rises pulls a classic Hollywood punch by sacrificing a darker and more interesting conclusion for a crow-pleaser, but this is a film that just wants to give you everything. And any movie that involves the destruction of a massive sports arena is automatically awesome to me.

• Kacper Niburski

• Nolan Matthews, Senior ANDY

c8 • the silhouette’s art & culture magazine

thursday, january 24, 2013

ELECTRONIC SOUNDS FROM 2012 (and what to expect in 2013)

The BBC Essential Mix is a two-hour weekly radio program, and for all the hype claiming that Rustie’s show defined the sound of 2012, electronic music was more splintered last year than ever before. How can you define the sound of a year whose best records spanned the range of Grimes’ humanist pop, Death Grips’ cyberpunk and Future’s inimitable moanings? I won’t try—so instead, here are three of the most (subjectively) interesting sounds of 2012 and two predictions for the sound of 2013. EVIAN CHRIST For my money, no producer was more exciting in 2012 than Evian Christ. The eight tracks of his debut EP Kings and Them all draw heavily from the same source material, making the EP feel like a single composition in eight movements: a sonata for Tyga samples, warped 808s, and mutated trance pads. His minimalist production alludes to hip-hop and juke, but Kings and Them defies categorization. On “Fuck It None of Y’all Don’t Rap,” the EP’s darkest cut, Leary manipulates Tyga’s voice overtop codeine-drenched sub-bass and ethereal pads into a dark hypnotic stupor, while “MYD,” a masterpiece of rhythm, layers the exact same elements to build an ecstatic tension. The highlight is penultimate track “Thrown Like Jacks,” which weaves an ambient Grouper sample in and out of a skittering, bass-heavy backdrop. Aside from a couple B-sides, the only other music Leary released in 2012 was

a four-part, 20-minute experimental classical piece inspired by a mysterious Soviet radar system. His sophomore effort promises to be one of this year’s most exciting releases FOOTWORK Footwork is a hyper-regional genre that’s received almost no media coverage outside its birthplace of Chicago since its beginnings almost two decades ago. 2012 saw the release of two crossover footwork albums that presented staggeringly different views of the genre’s future. One, Traxman’s Da Mind of Traxman, interpreted footwork’s signature double-time beats with a globetrotting bevy of samples. His crate-digging, Avalanches-esque spin on footwork was an exciting attempt to bring a genre that’s been alienated from pop music since its inception into the popular sphere. The year’s other highlight, DJ Rashad’s Teklife Vol. 1: Welcome to the Chi, went in the exact opposite direction. In Rashad’s footwork, beats never settle into a groove or a pocket: instead, they skitter around it, with a convulsive, psychotic energy which mirrors that of footwork dancers. Rashad’s vision of footwork is an intensely psychedelic one. Strangely, though, almost every track on the album dissolves into a dark, ethereal space by around 90 seconds in. What’s most striking about Teklife Vol. 1 is how unclassifiable and untraceable the music is. While Traxman’s jazz and

soul samples locate his footwork within a lineage of funk and jazz fusion, Rashad’s cold, stripped-bare beats are a disorientating anti-humanist product of the digital age. Between its cold, schizophrenic rhythms and its dark-ambient turmoil, Rashad’s footwork is fundamentally warped, twisted, broken— and it sounded like nothing else made in 2012. MIKE WILL MADE IT Evian Christ might have been the year’s most interesting producer, but Mike WiLL Made It was the most successful: at one point, three of his beats were on the Billboard Top 10 at the same time. What made him stand out in 2012 was his versatility—what other beatsmith could have worked with both Gucci Mane, Jeremih, Schoolboy Q and Brandy? But the highlight of his output was his beat for Future’s breathtaking trap ballad “Turn on the Lights,” which set Future’s auto-tuned wheezing overtop new-age synths and a new kind of 808 bass hit—and, in the process, created one of the year’s truly heart-stopping songs. SOUNDS OF 2013 2012 saw the emergence of dopewave, a genre that owes as much to trap as it does to chillwave, fusing woozy synths with mutable, unconventional percussion and a willingness to experiment with hip-hop rhythms appropriated that’s equal parts

juke and J Dilla. One of its practitioners, Windslo, is a Denver-based producer whose hazy future-R&B ballad “It’s Too Late,” featured on the DOPEWAVE IS REAL compilation, was one of the year’s standout tracks. Likewise his remix of Lloyd Banks/ Juelz Santana collaboration “Beamer, Benz, or Bentley,” which forsakes the original’s trunk-rattling bass in favor of an off-kilter 8-bit funk. His Instagram hints tantalizingly at a full-length release. Sounding a different note is Blanck Mass (Benjamin John Power, one half of Fuck Buttons). His eponymous debut, released in 2011, presented a naturalistic update on Fuck Buttons’ atmospheric drone-pop and was featured prominently in the opening ceremony of the London Olympics. But while that LP rarely strayed from its nucleus of ambient washes of noise, this year’s 12” recreated the drone of his Fuck Buttons’ oeuvre with the textures of ‘90s techno. The most exciting thing he released this year was “HELLION EARTH,” a 10-minute epic that’s equal parts Orbital and Brian Eno. It’s an apocalyptic spacedisco soundscape that features auto-tuned snares and is arguably the most exciting Fuck Buttons project since their 2008 debut. •

Michael Skinnider