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McMASTER UNIVERSITY'S STUDENT NEWSPAPER / THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012
The Silhouette
YOUR VOICE ON CAMPUS
Est. 1930
VOLUME 82, NO. 19
THE PRAGMATIST
THE ADVOCATE
THE PROVIDER
THE ACTIVIST
THE OPTIMIST
DAVID CAMPBELL
CHRIS ERL
SIOBHAN STEWART
ALEX RAMIREZ
MUKHTAR GALAN
WHO’S YOUR CANDIDATE? Presidential elections like this don’t come often for the MSU. The five candidates in this year’s pool, each of whom have a legitimate shot at success, are campaigning on far different interpretations of the students union’s purpose. Should it build on current successes, or undergo radical reform? Does it have a place in broader issues of social justice, or should it stick to the everyday concerns of Mac students? Voters have less than a week left to decide: who’s going to run your MSU?
TYLER HAYWARD / SENIOR PHOTO EDITOR ILLUSTRATIONS BY JOY SANTIAGO / MULTIMEDIA EDITOR
PROFILES OF THIS YEAR’S CANDIDATES
WHAT’S MISSING IN PLATFORMS?
THE HOPEFULS MAKE THEIR CASE
A5
A6
A7
Rhodes Scholarship
THIS WEEK...
Public Transit
From McMaster to Oxford
ANDY
Potential HSR strike looming
Rhodes Scholar Dhillon still ‘in disbelief’ over being named recipient of famous scholarship Julia Redmond Silhouette Staff
For most university students, the start of the final semester involves graduate school applications, or the beginning of the job search process. For one McMaster student, the post graduate plan is one of incredible prestige. In December, Sheiry Dhillon, a fourth-year student in the Health Sciences program, was named one of two Ontario Rhodes scholars for 2012. Even though weeks have passed since the announcement, Dhillon is still in disbelief. “It feels as if I’m suspended in between two worlds,” she said in an interview. “On one side, it’s such an incredible opportunity and I’m so excited to go to Oxford…and on the other side, it just feels so surreal and I am so excited, but at the same time
I have to remind myself that this is actually happening.” Awarded to approximately 80 students each year, the Rhodes scholarship is widely considered to be the most prestigious program of its kind in the world. It is given annually to students from the British Commonwealth, the United States, and Germany for post-graduate study at Oxford University. The scholarship was established by British entrepreneur Cecil Rhodes, who at the time of his death in 1902 was considered to be one of the wealthiest men in the world. In his will, Rhodes stipulated that the scholarship not be given to “mere bookworms;” instead, he intended for the scholarship to be awarded to young people who wanted to “fight the world’s fight.” Dhillon certainly fits the bill. Since her high school days,
Sheiry has been interested in global issues, particularly maternal and child health. Her impressive resume includes an internship with the Canadian Centre for International Justice and a summer working on a primary health research project in rural Northern India. “If I look at those experiences, it’s really just a common thread of pursuing my passions, my interests,” she said of her extracurricular activities. “I guess that helps qualify me for the Rhodes, because I guess it came across that I’m quite passionate about global health.” Her specialization in the Health Sciences program has been in global health. Her passion for the subject led her to work with the department to “develop a global women’s health perspective in the • PLEASE SEE DHILLON, A3
Dina Fanara
Assistant News Editor
CANADIAN FILMAKER DAVID CRONENBERG RETURNS WITH HIS FIRST FLICK IN FOUR YEARS SEE D8
INSIDEOUT
PRESSURE TO ACHIEVE THE PERFECT BODY CAN LEAD TO DANGEROUS EATING DISORDERS SEE C1
...IN THE SIL
Students trying to get to and from McMaster may have a hassle to deal with. Hamilton Street Railway (HSR) workers may begin striking on Jan. 30 after Members of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 107 voted 94 per cent to strike on Jan. 15. The HSR workers, under the ATU Local 107, have been in negotiations with the City of Hamilton for a three-year contract. Despite over a year of negotiation, an agreement has not been reached, during which time, HSR workers have been on the job without a contract. Some demands made by ATU Local 107 include annual hourly pay increases for the next three years, changes to overtime pay for part-time workers and increased vacation allowance based on years of service. a A Jan. 24 offer by the City was rejected by the union. If negotiations fall through, over 600 employees will strike.
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the
PRESIDENT’S PAGE Katie Ferguson VP (Administration)
Duncan Thompson VP (Finance)
Matthew Dillon-Leitch President
Alicia Ali VP (Education)
THE NEXT GREAT STUDENT LEADER MSU President discusses what to look for in his successor
Matthew Dillon-Leitch President president@msu.mcmaster.ca ext. 23885
Every year the president tries to help describe what to look for in a candidate during the election cycle, hoping that their insight will help potential voters. With that in mind, here is my attempt: The President of the McMaster Students Union has an incredibly challenging and rewarding job. Every day you get to think of new ways to better student lives, and actually try to do something about it. Think about it - my job (for a year) is to
fight for student interests in every way possible. To defend students from things they believe are wrong, and to promote initiatives which will help them. When looking at a candidate, almost everything is important in some respect. You must examine every element of a candidate’s campaign. From their posters to their platform, from class talks, the way they speak to a oneon-one conversation. Each of these aspects are clues as to how they will perform on the job. A platform is a representation of what a candidate believes is important, and the feasibility of their goals is indicative of what they know can be accomplished. An immense number of issues will arise throughout the year that have nothing to do with someone’s platform. There will be
surprises, difficulties, and challenges that will test his or her capabilites, and you need to believe that your candidate can weather the storm. You must believe that he or she will consistently represent you in a positive and effective manner. The president is meant to serve students at their very best, and this is why we expect so much of them; they are a reflection of our values and principles. Furthermore, the president must be able to deal with high pressure situations and must be able to remain calm and fight for what is best for students. The president must be able to bring all students together, as they are not here to represent a small portion of the community, but rather the entirety of the undergraduate population. The president must be able to listen to students every day,
MSU TEAcHiNG AwARDS AND THE RoLE of STUDENT EvALUATioNS iN THE qUALiTy of oUR EDUcATioN
Alicia Ali VP (Education) vped@msu.mcmaster.ca ext. 24017
It’s that time of year again – teaching awards are in the air! Until February 6, you can nominate your favourite professor for an MSU Teaching Award by going to https://msumcmaster.ca/teachingawards. So, why nominate your professor? The purpose of these awards is to call attention to the importance of teaching, as well as to recognize those who have demonstrated excellence in the field of education. As we fall into the routine of school, it is often easy to criticize professors for giving too much homework, making us write too many tests or papers and quite possibly forcing us to take a 60% exam. Unfortunately, in the midst of all this complaining we often forget the professors who help make our undergraduate experiences so worthwhile. It becomes our responsibility as students to not only recognize great professors, but also to inspire others to improve their skills in the classroom. Great teachers inspire lifelong learning in their students. Not many people realize it, but the students of McMaster play an integral role in the excellent standards of education at this institution. Institutional goals are furthered when we take the time to acknowledge the excellence at this institution. Now let’s take a step back for a moment and consider the art of teaching. On a surface level, it would be easy to categorize professors as passive or active,
maybe even technologically savvy or stuck in the Stone Age – but for some, teaching doesn’t come naturally. The Centre for Leadership in Learning (CLL) is a resource on campus for professors to help enable their own success in teaching and learning. This venue, located on the fifth floor of Mills is a place for professors to discuss ideas for the classroom, move into more technologically-inclusive learning practices, or just research concepts of teaching and learning. The Centre runs a number of sessions designed for professors and graduate students to enhance their teaching abilities and get the most out of the knowledge and experience they bring into the classroom. On a personal level, I can confidently say that there are a few professors who have made a real difference in the way I perceive the world around me. Oftentimes, teaching evaluations don’t give us a fair opportunity to judge the way a professor might change their teaching style, which is why the concept of mid-term evaluations (currently run informally in the Faculty of Business) are becoming practiced more and more. Encourage your professors to run mid-term evaluations half way through the semester and share the information with the class. Open and frank discussions on what does and does not work – both from a faculty and student perspective are valuable tools to ensure high quality teaching, which in turn leads to a higher quality of education for future students. So, why nominate your professor? Our teachers are the backbone of our education system. Those who inspire a higher degree of thought and understanding. Those without whom it would be otherwise impossible to learn. The real question is - why not?
The President’s Page is sponsored by the McMaster Students Union. It is a space used to communicate with the student body about the projects, goals and agenda of the MSU Board of Directors.
www.msu.mcmaster.ca
at every hour, as the job never ends. You represent the heart of McMaster - students. And a president must be willing to go to hell and back for them. I have loved every moment of this job. It has been the opportunity of a lifetime and the most rewarding experience I have ever had. I hope that whoever has the position next year is passionate about students and student issues. I hope that next year’s president is someone who will listen to you no matter what the issue. I hope that the 2012-2013 MSU President is a leader who constantly looks to foster community amongst the student body. Whoever this will be, it is your decision to make. Choose wisely, examine everything and I am sure you will make the right choice.
THE SILHOUETTE • A3
THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012
Rhodes Scholarship
Dhillon one of two Ontario recipients Prestigious award not intended for “mere bookworms”
TYLER HAYWARD / SENIOR PHOTO EDITOR
Shiery Dhillon, a Health Sciences student, is one of 2012’s Rhodes Scholars. “They just always believed in my work and have always given me the opportunglobal health curriculum.” ity to excel in a lot of different fields,” she The Brampton, Ontario native credits said. her experience at McMaster University Although her short-term goals upon for much of her success. “I don’t know if graduation have been identified, Dhillon I would have had this ophas not decided what she portunity if I had gone to plans on doing with her McMaster has a larger university…Mcstudies at Oxford yet, but Master has always been she remains confident that always been home to me, and it’s been global health will continue home to me, and to be her focus. so important for my growth it’s been so and development in these “I’ll definitely be purlast four years,” she said. important for my suing my interests in the In particular, she credglobal health field.” She growth and its her mentors as a major expects to study for either a influence on her schoolMasters of Science in global development in ing and on her decision to health or a Doctor of Philthese last four pursue the Rhodes Scholarosophy in public health. years.” ship. “Right now I’m going in “I’ve had some mentors with an open mind and I’m and some good friends that just looking at the next three have been a part of the Rhodes commun- years as an opportunity to really focus on ity and they’ve just said incredible things my interest in research and epidemiology… about the community…so I started thinking and perhaps, afterwards, maybe medicine about [applying] when some of my mentors is an option, or maybe it’s not,” explained started suggesting it,” she explained. Dhillon. • CONT’D FROM A1
Sustainabilty
Composting remains top priority for Mac able to students, the first compost bin was set up early last week in front of Union Market as part of the pilot project. If sucEnvironmental issues have come to the cessful, it may be implemented throughout forefront in every way, and McMaster Uni- the Student Centre. The project is in its preversity is no stranger to the trend. liminary phase at this time, and is in effect Over the past few years, the sustaina- in the Student Centre only at this time as, bility movement has led to positive change “it’s an easy place to start with,” said Feraround campus. To top off the efforts, the guson, explaining the need to begin on a Sustainability Office at McMaster, in col- small scale as composting can be a difficult laboration with the McMaster Students initiative if not implemented effectively. Union (MSU) and the McMaster Uni- If not handled responsibly, especially versity Student Centre in a busy place like the (MUSC), has implemented Student Centre, a stench a compost system in the of organic waste could be The push for Student Centre as part of uncomfortable and harmcampus-wide a pilot project to promote ful. To ensure that such an composting began outcome does not become a composting campus-wide. “Composting has been in 2009. Since then, reality, it was decided that a priority on campus over numerous campus the compost effort begin as the past few years,” said a smaller pilot project prior eateries have Katie Ferguson, MSU VP to widespread implementa(Administration), who has tion. implemented been working in collabfurther explained composting in their thatShe oration with McMaster’s the hope is to get ofkitchens.” Office of Sustainability to fices across campus combring composting goals to posting as well, all while fruition. working to “educate faculty The push for campus-wide composting and staff on what can and cannot be combegan in 2009, noted Ferguson. Since then, posted.” The MSU office will soon begin numerous campus eateries have imple- composting organic waste. mented composting in their kitchens. Additionally, with a growing number More recently, there has been consider- of students commuting to McMaster daily able demand on behalf of students to create and the cost of parking on campus remaina composting service available to them and ing exorbitantly high, carpooling is not MACgreen has also been vigilant in pro- only smart alternative, but also one that moting the initiative. Sustainability at McMaster is trying to pro Currently, Mary E. Keyes’ East Meets mote. West Bistro, Bridges Café, TwelvEighty, Students can register their carpool arUnion Market, La Piazza, The Phoenix rangement by Feb. 3 with Sustainability and the Communications Research Labora- at McMaster, receive free parking for the tory have implemented composting in their week of Feb. 6 and enter to win an Apple kitchens. iPad 2, funded by McMaster Security and To make the eco-friendly option avail- Parking Services. Farzeen Foda
Senior News Editor
A4 • THE SILHOUETTE
THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2012
ExCEL Building
For the students by the students “Learning Laboratory” could be ready as early as 2015 Farzeen Foda
Senior News Editor
The Engineering Technology Building (ETB) came as a new addition to the McMaster campus last year, and as the Faculty of Engineering continues to grow, it is now spearheading another campus construction project – the ExCEL building. The new building aims to exhibit sustainable technologies and provide space for numerous student groups and projects through the Faculty of Engineering, while maintaining a net-zero energy rating, a concept relatively new to building design. The McMaster Engineering Society will be holding a related referendum in March along with the Society’s presidential elections. The vote will gauge student support of a levy to fund the construction of the building. The annual levy will be $50 for undergraduate Engineering students and $30 for graduate students in the Faculty, explained Kelton Friedrich, a current Masters in Engineering student and ExCEL Project Coordinator. The impact and use of the building will be more concentrated at the undergraduate than graduate level, he explained. Significant government funding has been allocated to the ETB project, “so government funding will support the green initiatives implemented in the [ExCEL] building, but not the construction,” said Friedrich. And to guarantee benefit to all students contributing to the building, the levy, if approved, will not be implemented until all of the funding is secured and construction is set to begin, he explained. The levy will be implemented
C/O KELTON FRIEDRICH
for a period of ten years, and while students will contribute financially to the project, consultations on the design and planning for the building are to be conducted by undergraduate Engineering students, and student involvement is expected to continue once the building is completed as well. The funds raised by the student levy are expected to provide approximately 30 per cent of the total capital required, while additional
funding will be sought from external sources, such as alumni donations and government funding. The building is estimated to cost between $7 million and $8 million. If all things follow the expected timeline, McMaster University may see the new “living laboratory” by 2015. The new building is expected to be a branch of the John Hodgins Engineering Building, facing the Psychology Building.
Former Mac Athlete
Diaby charged and arrested
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Dundurn Student Residence
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Former McMaster basketball player, Mouctar Diaby, 26 has been arrested and charged with “one count of weapons trafficking, four counts of possession of drugs under $5,000, three counts of trafficking and one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking,” according to the Hamilton Spectator. Diaby played for the McMaster basketball team from 2008 to 2010. Following his arrest on Jan. 24, Diaby remains in police custody in Hamilton’s Barton Street jail. Diaby’s family was able to post $10,000 in bail and former McMaster assisstant coach Frank Lostracco offered $2,000 in bail, however, given the current circumstances, the court decided that bail would only be considered with a minimum of $20,000. If convicted of these charges, Diaby could face four to five years in prison. Police suspicion surfaced in July of last year, when Diaby was initially contacted by an undercover officer from the Toronto Police drug squad who arranged to purchase $700 worth of cocaine from Diaby.
When ETB was built, the intention was to include the student space needed by the Faculty and Engineering student clubs. Due to funding limitations in the Faculty of Engineering, the remaining funds needed to complete the construction of ETB came from the Bachelor of Technology program, which now houses its activities in the building. The issue of inadequate student space for engineering student
groups remains an unresolved issue. The new building, estimated to be approximately 20,000 sq. ft. – much smaller than ETB – will, by virtue of its size and sustainable technologies, be much less expensive, explained Friedrich. The need for student space for Engineering projects and clubs was recognized by the Dean of Engineering, David Wilkinson, who proposed the construction of another space, while asserting a belief in the need to engage students in the process. After proposing the idea to students in 2010, several approached him in support, and momentum on the project began. As part of the capstone project completed by all senior Engineering students, the opportunity to contribute ideas and a sustainable plan of action was presented. Numerous considerations were addressed by students in the Engineering and Management program, Mechanical Engineering and Civil Engineering. The planning for the building has employed an Integrated Design, which describes the use of student input to design a student space. “Often, following construction of a building, many changes need to be made, as the space does not work for the people using it,” said Friedrich, explaining that the approach implemented in the constrcution of the ExCEL building bypasses that possibility entirely. While student input has already begun with respect to the planning of the building, it is expected to continue after the building has been constructed through the Sustainable Building Operations Club, which will monitor the building’s energy usage and analyze the data.
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Diaby was charged with drug and handgun trafficking. The deal was carried out in Oakville. Later that same month, Diaby was contacted by another undercover officer who claimed to have $9,000 worth of cocaine to sell to him, a deal which was made near Main St. and Dundurn St. in Hamilton, but completed at Diaby’s apart-
ment located at 200 Bay St. S. Another dealing, which occurred on Jan. 12, involved the sale of $700 of powdered cocaine as well as a handgun. It was following this meeting, that Diaby was arrested. Diaby has been ordered back to court on Feb.1 to establish a trial date.
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THE SILHOUETTE • A5
THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012
MSU PRESIDENTIALS THE CANDIDATES
DAVID CAMPBELL
MUKHTAR GALAN
ARTS & SCIENCE IV
CIVIL ENGINEERING & SOCIETY V
David Campbell doesn’t think the MSU is without its problems, but as far as he’s concerned, that’s not a reason to be discouraged. That’s because, according to Campbell, the organization is in a “fantastic spot” to grow relationships, improve services and do more to benefit its members. “I’m really optimistic where the organization is right now … We need to ask how we, in the great position we are in, can help,” says Campbell, whose platform focuses on practical applications of the MSU’s resources in three areas: education, student life and sustainability. Campbell doesn’t deny that there are internal problems that need fixing, but emphasizes that there are many things the administration can get done in a year, so long as it focuses is on providing tangible benefits to students. “The SRA is not in good shape. It is not operating correctly,” he says, but adds, “I don’t think it should be our focus or the focus of the presidential elections.” His platform includes midsemester course evaluations, improved access to clubs and the reduction of waste on campus through composting. Ultimately, Campbell says the MSU’s ability to provide students with tangible benefits trumps any existing internal organizational problems, and that the MSU president shouldn’t be preoccupied with things that prevent results from being given to students.
Don’t let that wide smile and laid-back demeanor mislead you: Mukhtar Galan is as serious as it gets when it comes to striving to serve the MSU as President. Characterizing himself as “happy-go-lucky,” Galan is nothing short of positive in his campaign, most of which in centred on tackling the abysmal state of McMaster’s technology systems. Whether it’s MUGSI and SOLAR’s outdated services or Internet access throughout the campus, Galan has captured his campaign in four simple words: “Where is the WiFi?” “After talking to students about their concerns, I was always floored with the same concern: the technology is not up to appropriate standards for a world-class institution,” says Galan. This is but one aspect of his campaign. As a fifth-year Civil Engineering student who has served on the McMaster Engineering Society, the Engineering Student Societies Council of Ontario and, most recently, as a caucus member for Engineering in the SRA, he is focusing on a variety of concerns. Among the most notable is a more relevant and frequent GO Transit schedule, as well as a restructuring of the MSU’s services. Ultimately, these three platform points are an attempt to “bring back relevance to the MSU.” Galan’s platform is perhaps not as comprehensive as his opponents’ – something he says is actually by design. “It’s great to have overarching concerns. But in order to ensure such broad goals such sustainability, we need to get to the root of everything. We need specifics. That’s what I’m offering. A technical, practical and, most importantly, specific plan.”
CHRIS ERL
SIOBHAN STEWART
HISTORY & POLITICAL SCIENCE IV
ANTHROPOLOGY IV
“There are a hell of a lot of problems inside the MSU,” says Chris Erl, and perhaps he should know. A former news editor at the Sil and current Humanities rep on the SRA, Erl has seen the MSU from multiple angles, something he says has opened his eyes to various problems. With a typical 25 per cent presidential voter turnout, internal conflict on the SRA and a Board of Directors that Erl says “is undemocratically elected,” the fourthyear History & Political Science student is advocating to transform the MSU into a different kind of body. Erl is no stranger to advocacy. He spearheaded the MSU’s ‘We Need LRT’ movement – something he’s picked up in his campaign platform by supporting better bus service from the HSR – and an ad hoc SRA committee on democratic reform for the assembly. His platform also lists big issues like Anti-Opression Policy and Fair Trade certification as priorities. But before he takes a stand on external issues, Erl says it’s time for someone to assess and transform union’s internal needs, something he says has been badly neglected. “We have no legitimacy in the eyes of someone like Brian McHattie, our city councilor, if we don’t fix the problems inside the MSU first,” says Erl, who added that an MSU president can’t serve their mandate unless they – and the rest of the organization – are responsive to students. “If things don’t change, we risk losing our legitimacy and relevance in the eyes of students.”
WORDS BY
SAM COLBERT, BRIAN DECKER AND KACPER NIBURSKI
PICTURES BY
TYLER HAYWARD
In the next two weeks, be sure to check underneath your seat, because there might just be “something for you.” Be it through with class talk gimmicks or conversations in the student centre, that’s how Siobhan Stewart is presenting her platform. A fourth-year anthropology student, Stewart is no stranger to the MSU scene. She has served as MSU Diversity Services Director, cochaired the Global Citizenship Conference and represented Social Sciences as an SRA representative, in addition to maintaining extensive connections within the University and Hamilton communities. Such experiences have certainly molded her and her aspirations for presidency. “My diverse experiences have added particular goals in my campaign, all of which focus on the student body.” This is no more apparent than in Stewart’s affable personality and campaign slogan, “Something for you.” “In a week and a half, it’s hard to personalize a campaign. But ‘something for you’ signifies what I’m all about. I want to enhance the student experience as whole,” she says. Her platform, as it’s displayed on her website, draws from the old, the new, the borrowed and something exclusively “for you, the students.” Among the many campaign initiatives, Stewart is advocating for Bridges to become a study space, a peer support line, green roofs and, most notably, an extended fall break. “I touch on a lot of issues people can connect to in some shape or form.” To that end, Stewart has “the desire to connect and to show people what is valuable to them is valuable to me, and therefore, the MSU.”
ALEX RAMIREZ LABOUR STUDIES & POLITICAL SCIENCE V
For Alex Ramirez, the MSU presidency is more a means than an end. His decision to run, he admits, was “fairly lastminute.” In fact, it wasn’t until the holiday break in December. But involvement in the political sphere is nothing new to him. “I do think I carry a persona of being a very outspoken and critical person on campus,” he says. In addition to his activism at McMaster and a stint with the SRA, Ramirez has done a lot of work in the Hamilton community. He hopes to use his position atop the MSU to get students out into Hamilton, making change for the better. “It’s not going to be the administration or the professors; it’s going to be the students. It has to be the students, and the students are represented by the MSU. That’s why I really want to use the MSU as an agent to be something huge, to be something that can be a salvation for the city.” But before he takes on Hamilton, Ramirez recognizes that the MSU will need to undergo serious reform. “I don’t think that the existing structures are legitimate,” he says, particularly given low voter turnout. By opening up channels for student involvement, he plans to change the president’s role “from being one that represents and makes decisions for students to one that facilitates student interests.” Step one in that pursuit: a major shift in campus culture. “My platform is settling for nothing less than a complete transformation of the MSU.”
A6 • THE SILHOUETTE
THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012
EDITORIAL
editor’s extension: 22052 letters: thesil@thesil.ca
From The Executive Editor:
The Silhouette McMaster University’s Student Newspaper
Candidates not addressing key issue
TheSil.ca
Editorial Board Brian Decker Executive Editor
For the first time in a while, every candidate in this year’s MSU presidential election is a serious one. With apologies to Mr. James Lim and Mr. Steve Running, we’ve got a full pool of candidates who are trying to get more votes more than laughs. But somehow, everyone in this year’s election is still overlooking the most serious issue facing our students and our campus. This size of our enrollment has outgrown our campus capacity. It’s not exactly as if this is a secret. The university recently published a comprehensive study on campus capacity, one that clearly said we’ve squeezed more into this campus than we have space for. But somehow, not one of the five presidential candidates have made a point in their platforms of putting pressure on the university to lower enrollment back to an appropriate level for the space we have. The problems are pretty clear. More students are being offered space in residence than can be accommodated and our current MSU president ran last year on a platform decrying the lack of study space. Our exam period goes on too long – shortening the holiday break – because we don’t have enough buildings or space to accommodate the tests. Some candidates have addressed that last issue’s symptoms, but not its cause. Siobhan Stewart wants to add a reading week-type break for first semester, but says the biggest obstacle is that the exam period needs to be three weeks long to accommodate all the tests. If that’s such a big obstacle, why isn’t that a bigger campaign issue? It’s not as if the University is in an easy position with campus space. Dalton McGuinty’s government wants to increase enrolment province-wide, and just ponied up nearly $50 million to build a new building that’s expected to make space for – you guessed it – more students. That’s not exactly the kind of gift the administration can turn down, and it’s not easy for a student union leader to fight against the powerful interests of the government and administration. But that is exactly what the job requires. If there’s one group that has a lot to lose in this situation, it’s the students. And if someone is supposed to look out for students, it’s the MSU president. Every candidate this year will spread their message about listening to what students want and letting the needs of the membership dictate their goals of their mandate. But it’s getting hard to believe any of that’s true if none of them have made a point of addressing the biggest problem staring us in the face already.
Sam Colbert Managing Editor Jonathon Fairclough Production Editor Farzeen Foda Senior News Editor Kacper Niburski Assistant News Editor Dina Fanara Assistant News Editor Andrew Terefenko Opinions Editor Fraser Caldwell Sports Editor Brandon Meawasige Assistant Sports Editor Natalie Timperio Senior InsideOut Editor Cassandra Jeffery Assistant InsideOut Editor Sonya Khanna Business Editor Jemma Wolfe Senior andy Editor Myles Herod andy Entertainment Editor Josh Parsons andy Music Editor Tyler Hayward Senior Photo Editor Ricardo Padilla Assistant Photo Editor
• Brian Decker
Joy Santiago Multimedia Editor
Silhouette Staff
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to running out of pulled pork.
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to two wins at the thunderdome. you go, girls.
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to oxford commas.
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to good grammar.
to 31 hours in 2 days.
to the lack of sushi in my belly. to taint jabs. still not cool.
to keeping it below the table.
to moon bases. that dude needs a mini-me.
to homemade space cameras.
to amurrica.
to man’s ball. not man’s balls.
to obsucre passwords you inveitably forget.
to da borck presss.
to open letters from kingsley morris.
to arkells. sweet concert, fellas.
to drives back to kingston.
THE SILHOUETTE • A7
THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012
OPINIONS
production office extension: 27117 opinions@thesil.ca
Candidate Comments
Chris Erl “Acting in your best interests”
Siobhan Stewart “Something for You”
Hello McMaster! I want to first take this opportunity to thank all of you for reading this article, visiting the table behind the Tim Horton’s in MUSC and asking questions. I love meeting with everyone and discussing the ways in which we can work to make McMaster a better place for all students. I hope you have had the opI have the vision to portunity to visit my website and to see what needs to read up on the different initiatives that I am passionate about bringing be changed and the to our community. expertise to know To develop each of my eight how to change it” platforms points, I have spent the past few months speaking to all of the stakeholders involved in these with the issues that affect you. That’s not right. You pay into issues, from students to profesthe MSU and expect us to deal with sors to administrators, including the everyday problems you face. We President Patrick Deane. can do better. You should feel like Their overwhelmingly posithe MSU is acting in your best in- tive responses have made me even terests, not just the best interests of more dedicated to making each of itself and the small clique that runs these ideas a reality, if elected MSU President. it. As a member of this year’s As- When developing the platform, sembly, I’ve been fighting for you. I wanted to highlight the issues I helped implement our new AntiOppression policy, and rewrote our Positive responses policy on public transit. have made me even There is still work to be done. more dedicated to After hearing the concerns of students over this past year, I have making each of these developed a platform that is pracideas a reality” tical, responsible and works toward improving life on campus. I am fighting for better bus ser- brought up by Mac students, and vice. We can bring the B-Line back develop solutions to address them. through campus. We can also sup- Mental health is a very important plement your eight-month bus pass issue on this campus, and many by offering you a twelve-month partners, including students, the option that would work over the Student Wellness Centre and the Student Success Centre, have all summer. Better food on campus is an- begun to develop ways to address other issue students have brought these issues. to my attention. I will work to get While some candidates have MSU clubs exempted from Paradise similarly recognized mental health Catering’s monopoly and provide as an issue that the MSU president better food options at TwelvEighty, should be focusing on, I alone have and introduce a $4 pint and local created an action plan to tackle this craft brews. And I’ll start a com- problem – The Peer Support Line, munity garden on campus to pro- as well as the Fall Break. The Peer vide food for Mac BreadBin, our Support Line aims to cut the long wait times currently faced by stuMSU-run food bank. Anyone who understands the dents attempting to access the Stuorganization knows the MSU needs dent Wellness Centre, by providing to work better for students. By an anonymous peer with whom one simply putting a job and volunteer- can easily reach out. ing board in Union Market, we can Furthermore, the Fall Break, let everyone know about the differ- in one of the various forms it may ent opportunities that already exist take – depending on the wants and needs of students – would be a way in the MSU. I’ll give up the president’s to take time to regroup and recharge apartment to incoming first years in order to be as successful as poswho have done good work in their sible in all parts of life. community. We can work to im- So, if you are heavily involved prove our community in other ways, with MSU club life on campus and too, like fighting for multi-faith want to use part of Clubs Training prayer space in the student centre to collaborate and foster relationand funding student art projects in ships with other clubs, we have that. If you want an alternative to Hamilton. I am fighting for real, practical the library with Bridges as a study solutions that students want to see. space during exam period, we have I have the vision to see what needs that too. to be changed and the expertise to If you want a student-developed Marketing Strategy so that we can know how to change it. We can do some amazing things all better connect with our MSU, we next year, but there is a lot of work also have that. to do. As your president, I will take No matter what, I know that we up the fight for a student union that have “Something for You.” works for you. We have the ideas, we have the momentum, now let’s get the job done. I’m running for the presidency of the MSU because I believe in this student union. It’s sometimes hard to remember what we are here for. The SRA spends its time dealing with mundane things like the price of chairs and paperclips instead of dealing
David Campbell “Tangible, affordable objectives”
Mukhtar Galan “Positivity and perseverance”
Alex Ramirez “Relentless dedication”
“The power of presidentials.” This is a phrase I’ve found myself using a lot lately. It is a phrase to reflect my optimism surrounding the whole process of our student elections, and the possibilities of our Students Union. Last year, students spoke up about study space, and with thousands of students championing the issue, the University dedicated half a million dollars to the libraries. Thode was renovated and libraries were opened for longer hours. Though the problem is still far from fixed, the issue was acknowledged, and positive steps are being taken to address it. This is the power of presidentials. The elections give students a chance to speak up, and tell the University what they care about. Students tell the MSU where they are falling short, they tell the University what is lacking from their experience at Mac, and most of all they lend their voice to what they want to see done about it. So what do students want to see from the MSU? My platform is based on the idea that students want tangible, affordable objectives. They want to see ideas, both those that are small and practical, and those that dream big, which the MSU can achieve and which will affect their lives. With this as my starting point, I have formed my platform around three pillars: Education, Student Life, and Sustainability. Educational points, like mid-semester evaluations, give students a voice in how they are taught. Other initiatives, such as addressing service levels at the Student Wellness Center, aim to improve the student experience. Finally, practical sustainability programs, like the expansion of composting on campus, help to address
Throughout my years here at McMaster, I have been involved in the McMaster Engineering Society as a Welcome Week Representative for three years, and served on its executive for two. This year I finally decided to get involved – specifically with the Maroons as Social Coordinator. I felt that this was a perfect way for me to be a part of the MSU, because it embodies something that I am very passionate about: spirit. It was through this role that I was able to show my maroon colours, learn about my leadership style and understand how I could fit in to the MSU fold. I have also recently become involved with the Student Representative Assembly (SRA), as a member of the Engineering caucus. This was a particularly eye-opening experience for me. My time on the SRA has taught me so much about the MSU and the different perspectives that each student brings to this organization. Although it is clear that
This is not my first election, but it is by far my biggest. Running for a seat as a Social Science SRA three separate times (being successful in two of them) and also running for VP (Education) in the previous two years have given me a fair amount of experi-
I want us to take the reins and guide the MSU to better address our concerns about education” students’ concerns about the environment. Ultimately, I think this is what students want. The MSU next year has enormous potential, with good financial standing and a University administration that wants to hear its ideas. My goal is to make sure we take advantage of this opportunity. I want us to take the reins and guide the MSU to better address our concerns about education, to promote diversity and support in our student life, and to work toward a sustainable future. I think this is possible next year, and that together we can make this vision a reality. But in the end, it’s not up to me. It’s up to the students who vote. After all, that’s the power of presidentials.
I will bring my positivity to this position, without losing focus on achieving my goals and those of students” my involvement with the students union is not as extensive as some of my fellow candidates, it was these experiences that affirmed my desire to run for MSU President. As President, I believe that I have the ability to bring about change. That #GoodFeeling I keep talking about is not only a representation of my ideas for the MSU, but also for my personality. I am positive, optimistic and passionate. One thing that I will always strive for is to be happy. I can assure you that I will bring my positivity to this position, without losing focus on achieving my goals and those of the McMaster student body. As President, I am aware of potential road blocks ahead of me, but I will approach these the same way that I always have, with positivity and perseverance. The MSU should represent all students and provide services for our undergraduate student body that will improve student life. I believe that my platform and vision for the MSU adequately represents the needs of the student body so that they can get the best out of their time here at McMaster. My vision is simple and achievable. I want to improve the efficiency of this campus and the MSU for the betterment of student life. Throughout the course of this campaign thus far, I have gotten to know all of my fellow candidates and I would like to wish them the best of luck with their campaigns and their future projects. I am so thankful for all of the support of my team and the McMaster community; I can promise nothing less than my best.
I was born a fighter, and have personified myself as an example of student integrity and a champion of student dignity” ence in the circus that is MSU elections. But I was born a fighter, and have personified myself as an example of student integrity and a champion of student dignity throughout my five years here at McMaster. This has been exemplified from the countless amount of student peers who, although they disagree with me on many things, still respect my strong-willed principles and relentless dedication to student engagement and community activism. The first couple of days of campaigning have been hectic and exhausting. I will never forget the emotions I felt at 7:58 a.m. on Monday morning, when the hysteria of the elections really kicked in for everyone involved. I could sense it. Seeing campaign members of every team scrambling to get into their positions for the best strategic areas of the student centre, hearing “ 7:59! Go! Go! Go!” I think it is safe to say that this election will generate a substantial amount of voters who never voted before. There are five candidates with dedicated teams, recruiting supporters every second they can. I can sincerely say that I would never have expected the climate of the election to be at the level it has been within the first couple of days. But finishing my last year of my undergraduate degree, there is a growing momentum towards student politics that I am happy to finally see. I have had a number of great discussions with students who are genuinely interested in discussing certain elements of my platform – and I have thoroughly appreciated each and every one of their perspectives. As the next week will be nothing short of a long, hard fought battle, I only see more students getting involved and engaged in political debate, which I would argue is not only healthy for intellectual creativity, but necessary to transform and innovate the collective culture of the McMaster student body. 2012 is the year of transformation. That is why I encourage the student body to Join the Revolution.
This Week in Opinions Lean on Vegans
Engineer Solutions
Culture Jammin’
Vegans are an oft misunderstood breed. Take a deeper look into the lifestyle and motivation behind the difficult lifestyle.
Canada’s foreign aid policy is turning some heads. Find out why six hundred engineers gathered in Ottawa last week.
Consumers have more control over the media culture than they may be aware of. A look into the way the world works today.
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A8 • THE SILHOUETTE
THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012
Vegan tears are human too Aaron Grierson The Silhouette
Vegetarianism. Veganism. These are both commonplace ideas in this day and age. Yoga too has been gaining popularity over the last couple of years. Looking back on the cultural history of the West, these three things were not so popular or well known. Now that cannot be attributed to media coverage, such as commercials and advertisements alone. For yoga and veganism especially, these things didn’t really exist outside of the area of their origin. This probably has to do with cultural factors alone. Yoga is a form of exercise, muscle control and meditation, centring on the concept of maximizing one’s chi or natural energy. It seems to have explicitly religious connections, concerned with finding the Way that supposedly exists. Obviously, it is also known through its incorporation and use in numerous styles of martial arts. Take a look at popular actors such as Jackie Chan or Jet Li. The martial art styles we see in their films is demonstrative of the years of practice they have put into their ability to attune their bodies with a natural flow. It struck me recently that yoga is essentially a fad. The newest weight loss and exercise hit. Now I say this not from jealousy, racism or cynicism, but from the idea I had about timing. Yoga seemed to be publicized a lot more around the time we started seeing advertisements concerning child (and national) obesity. What better way to lose weight and gain muscle than to practice various forms of yoga? It’s cheap too. Pay for a class, personal trainer or instructional video and get toned abs in a matter of ten weeks! All right,
so there may be some cynicism involved, but really, why else would anything become so popular so fast? Don’t get me wrong, I think yoga is an interesting way to exercise, and it really does improve your physical fitness. I just don’t like seeing things being appropriated for the sake of a quick dollar. If there had been some natural incorporation from East to West rather than basically a stolen and hollowed out religious practice, I may not have written this article. Of course I get the feeling that would only have occurred through the East colonizing the West or just friendly global relations. Regardless of speculation, however, history tells us a different story. From a historical perspective, it seems like veganism also has roots out in the East, and, like yoga, carries religious connection. Their diet comes largely from a central tenant of many religions over that way: nonviolence towards all things. You don’t harm the animal in any way. It’s also important to remember that as with the Ancient Greeks and Romans, some animals are very sacred. This is a stark contrast to the eating habits of Westerners, especially when compared to fast foods. As an exact comparison it’s an ascetic looking at someone who’s been encouraged to take as much as they can. Now, to be entirely honest, this section was inspired by an article I read in my local newspaper. It was a bit of a feel good read, explaining how veganism has gone from something almost shunned and cultic to something more mainstream and widely accepted. Underneath the subtitle was a series of book titles concerning veganism. The two that stuck out to me the most were “Appetite
Borders on aid
PHIL SCHLEIHAUF / THE SILHOUETTE
Hundreds of engineers crowded to Ottawa streets to battle foreign aid policy. Meaghan Langille The Silhouette
Canada has the potential to be a leader when it comes to global development. The problem is that potential is not being realized by the Canadian government and may be hindered further when the next federal budget is presented. In an attempt to further reduce the deficit, the government has asked all departments, including the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), to present budgets that are cut by five to ten per cent. If a ten per cent cut were to come to CIDA, that would mean a budget reduction by $500 million in funds that are crucial to providing an improved standard of living for the world’s poor. Although a deficit still exists in Canada, I think it is safe to say that we have fared pretty well in the midst of the global financial crisis. But there are still billions of people in the world forced to make unfathomable decisions on a daily basis – decisions that force people to choose between buying medicine for sick family members and paying school fees for their children. These decisions are the reality for many. They stifle the potential and opportunities that many of us take for granted. This is the power that poverty wields and that our foreign aid dollars can work towards tackling. However, with potential cuts coming to Canada’s foreign aid budget, we are essentially
reducing the deficit at the expense of the world’s poor. This is something that I and hundreds of members from Engineers Without Borders Canada believe should not happen. We believe aid has the potential to create transformative change for the world’s poor if it is spent effectively and made more transparent. Six hundred Engineers Without Borders members took to the streets of Ottawa last week in Byward Market, each armed with a balloon attached to a handwritten note expressing why foreign aid is important to each of us. Once we’d gathered at the busy market, our team popped their balloons in unison, symbolizing what Canada and our developing country partners would lose if we cut our contribution to international development. In order to continue making progress towards transformative and systemic change for those in poverty, Canada must maintain its investments in essential development programs – programs that empower local champions of development who are intelligent, talented and passionate, but often lack the resources and opportunity to improve their lives, for they are the people who will truly drive the change and unlock the potential of their communities. Now it begs to be asked, do you feel comfortable balancing the budget on the backs’ of the world’s poor?
STEPHANIA LOY SON / THE SILHOUETTE
Vegan food options may seem limited, but outside perspectives can be flawed. for Reduction” and “Skinny Bitch.” These titles got me thinking once again about fads. Obviously veganism is a little more than a fad for some people (serious diet or religious [I know a couple of practicing Buddhists]). I sat there thinking to myself “so we’re encouraging pretentious attitudes and image issues in addition to trying to get people to eat healthier and debasing religious practices. That being said, it’s not like I have a problem with vegans, though I could never do it myself. I just love milk, cheese and meat too much. Besides, we’re omnivores by our very nature. Nature allows us to have the treat of meat (or any other animal products). Returning to the theme of history, we can see that excessive food was once a rarity for most people (and still is). And so I think vegetarianism grew more out of the availability of food more than anything. I follow a similar idea when questioned by people about my eating habits. If there was no meat, I’d probably be reluctant to go out, kill a deer
and have my three servings a day. However, due to capitalist endeavours, there is an absolutely disgusting excess of meat, and until it is all gone, I will continue to try and ensure that it’s not just wasted and those poor creatures die in vain. That very well could be a redeeming quality for meatless food practices. All in all I am not writing to insult these practices just because I don’t partake in them, or because I think they’re genuinely bad for anyone either. I just hope people reconsider why they partake in certain activities, or at least have the decency to read up on the background. In that regard it’s no different from all of the animal rights advocates concerning the food industry and the way animals are mass farmed. They had to do the research to figure out the problems with that system. So maybe if people researched the origins of the fads or trends their partook in, they might realize they’re doing a little bit more than just losing weight.
THE SILHOUETTE • A9
THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012
A land of many lakes Multiculturalism has different kinds of connotations around the world traditions that are important to their identity. But that shouldn’t be a limiting factor in defining what Canada is or represents, and sugI’m not sure how, but about two months gesting that multiculturalism as a policy has ago, I received a letter from a Canadian failed is simply not fair. lobby group that will remain unnamed, Back in October 2011, I spent two which started off as follows: “British Prime weeks in Guyana, a country situated in north Minister David Cameron, German Chan- of South America, bordered by Venezuela, cellor Angela Merkel Brazil and Suriname. It’s the and French President only English-speaking country in Nicolas Sarkozy have South America as a former BritI’ve always seen all declared multiculturish colony. The name Guyana Canada’s multialism to be a failure.” derives from a root word meancultural fabric as ing ‘the land of many waters’ as Part of their argument was around the rise its strength, as an three major, and many hundreds of religious extremists of other smaller, rivers traverse opportunity to in the past 10 years, and the country. how such extremists are exercise tolerance In Guyana, there is a mix negatively impacting of people of East Indian, African and learn about the progress of Western and Aboriginal origin. There is people and their a mix of Christian, Hindu and states. The organization was soliciting monetMuslim religious practices and practices.” ary contribution for celebration. The food reflects ongoing research and these diverse traditions. Differpolicy work. As one of my friends would go ent cultural and religious groups have united on to say: “I was shocked & offended.” through marriage or business, yet when it’s I’ve always seen Canada’s multicultural election time (as when I was there), there fabric as its strength, as an opportunity to is a strong polarization between those who exercise tolerance and learn about people are Afro-Guyanese and those who are Indoand their practices, and benefit from their Guyanese. strengths. Inevitably, however, there is the In some ways, Guyana is multicultural. reality that different cultural groups will But the multiculturalism there is not the look to ‘their own’ as they make significant same as the multiculturalism here in Canada. transitions (i.e. migration), or hold onto • PLEASE SEE CULTURE, A10 Mohammad Zubairi The Silhouette
JOY SANTIAGO / MULTIMEDIA EDITOR
Consumer culture draws a grim global picture Nour Afara
Silhouette Staff
What if we were to go through life just accepting the messages portrayed to us by the media? We are the masses who consume this media. From the Disney characters most of us grew up on, to the toys we just had to have in elementary school, to the brands everyone was wearing, smoking, chewing and regurgitating to everyone we knew. There are all kinds of media that have single-handedly formed our world today, and in that world, is the core corruption called consumerism. Massive companies splat out their advertisements on billboard signs, bus stop posts, bus panels, pop cans, and basically everything else. Right now, look around you and try to pick out the products or slogans that you see. I’ll do it too. I have a chocolate bar wrapper sitting next to me with the slogan “low in fat” pasted in bold red letters on it, and I also have a B-Line bus schedule that advertises that they do not have bus services on the weekends or any holidays. Everywhere you look, there are signs and messages telling you what the companies want you to know. The brand of chocolate I purchased was sold to me on the basis that they had a low percentage of fat in their chocolate bar. This is a very small scale example, but picture this on a mass scale. Let us go with a well known example: Nike. Consumers can recognize that “just do it” is obviously one of Nike’s well known slogans. Why is that? Better yet, how is that? Well, let us start with the genius who put those three words together. It was actually the company Weiden+Kennedy or W+K, who is responsible for this slogan. The company is well known for working with Nike and other big brands such as Coca-Cola, ESPN, Honda, Old Spice and Microsoft. From there, Nike pasted this slogan up with all their products and has since become well known to generally every consumer and shoe enthusiast. Who buys their products? Men, women, children, old, young, middle aged people… everyone. At the end of the day, Nike, through mass advertisements of their products (and sometimes celebrities wearing their products, to give it that extra oomph of appeal), has created their own consumerbased kingdom. Thanks to their consumers, children in third-world countries, in unknown and hidden factories, are working their little hands away to make your new workout shoes. All this happens while they are being paid cents for hours of work. Did I just tarnish your excitement of getting your new shoes? I hope so. Let’s move away from targeting Nike alone and bring in other huge companies that are using children and others in sweat-
shops to do their dirty work. According to “The Sweatshop Hall of Shame 2010,” published by the International Labour Rights Forum, companies such as Abercrombie and Fitch, Gymboree, Ikea, Pier 1 Imports, and of course, Wal Mart, are notorious for their use of sweatshops to make their products. Now, what exactly am I ranting about? Is there something wrong with what they are doing? Is there something immoral about purchasing products from these stores? Indeed there is. The sad truth is that consumers are sometimes aware of the dirty work that these companies partake in and continue to buy their products and further contribute to the growth of a corporate evil empire. However, there is a silver lining to this bleak reality. A breed of anti-consumerists that has been emerging in greater numbers since approximately the early 1980’s, actively speaks out against such notorious advertisement schemes produced by large companies. However, they speak out with actions rather than mere speeches or essays. They call themselves Culture Jammers. A common question is, “what is culture jamming?” Culture jamming is the action of using existing advertisements to comment on the advertisem e n t Massive compaitself. This new nies splat out their m e t h o d advertisements on does not c l a s s i f y billboard signs, bus as vanstop posts, bus dalism, panels, pop cans or even art. The and basically purpose everything else.” of culture jamming is to resist what our popular culture is communicating to us. The foundation of this method is to show consumers everywhere that all they are seeing on those billboards is propaganda for their respective companies. Culture jammers aim to open the eyes of consumers so that they may be aware of the real messages that are hidden in our “everyday” advertisements. As well, culture jammers are activists that want to educate others on the fact they do have a voice. This voice provides them with a chance to project their opinions; whether it is with or against the advertisement. Some may think that there is no escape from things like billboard propaganda and that whatever is painted on that sign is all that there is to read. Culture jammers say otherwise! Anyone can become a culture jammer so long as they are not allowing themselves to be consumed by popular culture and its advertisements; instead, they dominate over consumerism and speak out against its harmful propaganda.
?
A10 • THE SILHOUETTE
THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012
“Someone who is not afraid to change the system and speak on others’ behalf.”
What qualities do you look for in an MSU presidential candidate?
-Wid Naima, Multimedia IV
Feedback
“Being really helpful and reflective of what students are thinking.”
-Jennifer Li, Comm. & MM IV
Compiled by Andrew Terefenko and Ricardo Padilla
“A candidate that can change the way the MSU is operated.”
-Ryan Sparrow, Labour Studies II
Culture in Canada A varied Canadian culture serves as a national lesson • CONT’D FROM A9
ing perspective on a range of issues, Here, there are Canadians of Guyan- whether they are political, economese origin, and Canadians with ori- ical or social. If we don’t optimize gins in countries representing the on this expression, then yes there world from Mexico to Nigeria to is a chance that our elections will Poland to Pakistan become polarized. to China. The list Yet, there are just can go on. Canada so many different I’ve always seen is thus also like groups that such Canada’s multia ‘land of many polarization will not waters.’ There are cultural fabric as come so easily. In a the Great Lakes, of its strength, as an speech given in the course, but it is the 1960s, opportunity to diversity in people Malcolm X said: that makes us so exercise tolerance ‘Unity is the right unique. religion.’ and learn about Differences are Differences people and their aside, multiculturalnot meant to divide, as the media might ism can help with practices.” promote, but rather such unity, and in to recognize varied the expression of expressions of the human experi- these varying cultures through film, ence. music, art, comedy or poetry there This diversity strengthens our is undoubtedly a lesson for people advancement as country by provid- to learn about people.
“Someone with an open mind and doesn’t give in easily, always thinking of the students first.” -Joshua Wiener, Health Sci IV
THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2011
MATTHEW MARTORANA VP - EXTERNAL RELATIONS MCMASTER DEBATING SOCIETY
Matt: With Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis stepping down as Research In Motion’s coCEOs, RIM hopes to send a message to its investors that it is ready to make the necessary changes that will turn the course of the company around. Despite this change in leadership, I argue it is unlikely that RIM will actually have renewed success. The main problem that RIM faces is their failure to innovate against their competitors. RIM’s Blackberry and Playbook offer nothing to consumers that other smart phones and tablets – from Apple, for example – do not already offer. This poses a serious problem. If RIM cannot increase its customer base, it will not be able to survive in the competitive market. In the case The BlackBerry was of Apple roducts, supposed to be a pusers have reliable phone that access to millions the business perof “apps” son could rely on that can but these failures p e r f o r m a l m o s t have tarnished that any action. RIM’s comimage.” petitors are making further innovations to their products while RIM is not. In the case of the Blackberry, one may argue that BBM is unique to RIM, but BBM alone is not enough. (iPhones now have a feature called iChat that does many of the same things as BBM.) Others may argue that RIM has now created a number of apps for the Blackberry, but the selection of apps for the iPhone is much wider. It is difficult to see how RIM can innovate its products to make them more attractive to the consumer, and hence why I feel that they will not be able to turn the fortunes of their company around.
HEAD TO HEAD DEBATE:
Will Research in Motion be able to
THE SILHOUETTE • A11
ANDREW TEREFENKO OPINIONS EDITOR THE SILHOUETTE
survive the year in light of its recent struggles?
Andrew: As a company, RIM has had a lot of trouble dealing with the innovations of their competitors, but I feel that their chief executive board was aware of this in their most recent choice of CEO. By promoting industry-veteran Thorsten Heins, they know full well their need to draw upon his extensive R&D experience to come forth with a new flagship product. Having risen from his starting position to CEO in only five years, coming from his highly relevant previous position as Chief Technology Officer at Siemens AG, he will be a great asset for a company that desperately needs to reinvent both their public image and their core product. In a recent video he posted to the web, he outlined a few key concrete plans he has for the company, which bodes well for a CEO who has to take the reigns of a fairly tumultuous corporate entity. Matt: The appointing of the Thorsten Heins to be the new CEO may be a great short-term solution, but I am skeptical about how this will impact RIM in the long run. Besides luring customers away from Apple and other competitors, RIM also needs to ensure that its own clientele will not switch from using RIM products to Apple products (or products of any other competitor). This has proven to be a difficult task, especially in the last year, in which RIM experienced two network failures. These network failures have created great disdain and mistrust between consumers and RIM. The Blackberry was supposed to be a dependable phone that the businessperson could rely on, but these failures have tarnished that image. This trust with the consumer is especially difficult to gain back when RIM’s competitors do not have a track record of network failures. Although appointing a new CEO may seem like a step in the right direction, I question whether this CEO will be able to do anything different than what Balsillie has already done.
Andrew: The recent three-day service outage was certainly inexcusable for a device that many rely on for day-to-day activities. On that note, RIM sincerely realized the failure on their part to ensure a reliable product and, to that end, offered $100 worth of free apps to affected customers as a gesture of goodwill. Additionally, it can be speculated that the CEO change was a response to that same outage and poor fiscal year. If their Board is willing to go as far as replacing the two co-founders of the company, they can be counted on to make drastic changes for the better future of the company. Matt: RIM has always been a leader and innovator in targeting the business community. I would agree with anyone who claims that there is no better phone for business than the Blackberry (although I am sure some may disagree). But in the last year and a half, RIM has tried to expand their products from the business community to the consumer market. So far they have failed to reach the consumer in the way that many of their investors had envisioned. I see no reason why in 2012 RIM should be any more successful in reaching these consumer markets. Many of RIM’s competitors have bigger budgets and more human capital so that they can put out a better product.Thorsten Heins may be aware of the problems that currently plague RIM, but this does not mean that he is equipped to solve these problems. Andrew: It was not premature for RIM to try to enter the highly congested consumer
market, but it was clear that their marketing model did not succeed. That being said, it is clear through Heins’ initial ascension statements that he has big plans for the company, as far as a decade away. He wants RIM to go back to what it became famous for, and also its namesake, that being of research. Under his leadership, the company will put a far greater focus on R&D and quality assurance if his plans come to fruition. Despite that, 2012 will still be a difficult year for RIM, as they come to terms with bad press and unknown leadership, but it is because of their renewed drive to innovate that I believe their future may not be so grim. They conquered the business world with their aesthetically professional, If their board is compact and surpris- willing to go as far ingly durable as replacing the device, and co-founders, they with many consumers’ can be counted aversion to on to make drastic using touchchanges for the screen devices, the better future.” Blackberr y will still see many years of use in light of their competitors’ extreme focus on removing buttons altogether. They may have fallen behind in the communications race, but clearly have the right set of ideals needed to get back to their former glory.
FEB. 1 - 3 STUDENT CENTRE
Wed. 9am Fri. 5pm
18
TYLER HAYWARD / SENIOR PHOTO EDITOR
The BlackBerry has a very respectable following in the business world, but will it be enough to pull RIM through what is looking to be a gruesome 2012?
With only EIGHT issues left of the Silhouette this year, your chances to contribute are slowly fading! If you have any strong opinions of recent events, ongoing world problems or even everyday annoyances, don’t waste another second and pitch your idea TO US.
ALSO, if you have a specific debate topic you want the Master Debaters to tackle, send that in too!
WE’LL TAKE ANYTHING. WELL, ALMOST ANYTHING. OPINIONS@THESIL.CA
A12 • THE SILHOUETTE
SpeculatoR The Hamilton
Thursday, January 26th?, 2012
THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012
INSIDE THE SPECULATOR
A14: Proctologist alliance gets cheeky C05: Engineer finds clitoris PPP: Combatting illiterasee T13: Top Ten poo-palaces on campus
Pullin it’ to the Golden Globes since 1968
F
A man we can believe in Kingsley Morris’ plan to save the MSU Kingsley Morris Speculator Ladies and gentlemen I have seen the future. I envision a school with less study space, more engineers, and custom courseware for every lecture. I want inaction and apathy, not involvement. I want underage students with low morals. I want Holyfield. I want Holyfield. McMaster needs to be a hotbed for prejudice and poor life-choices, not a place for innovation and development. McMaster needs to be the Gammorah of the 21st century, not a hotspring for left-leaning pinkos. My opponents will say that I’m an asshole. They’re wrong: I’m a realist. They’re the assholes. They’ll promise things they can’t deliver; I will follow through with my agenda. I intend to increase student enrollment by 100% over my 4-year term. To cut down on space I will recruit amputees and cripples who are already compact and ergonomic, making it easy for them to pile into classrooms and tutorials (kickstands will be administered where applicable). Unlike my predecessors I am not riling up friends for my support, nor am I putting up ads
in the student center for my campaign – these things are not necessary. Ideas spread faster than crabs at a football kegger, swifter than a fire at Brandon Hall. My policy is the best because I offer nothing good, only the inevitable: study space will diminish, engineers will multiply, enrollment will rise – and the moment you can accept these sad truths, the moment you abandon the idea of “change”, the moment you will love my vision. This is going to be an election of ideals, and the most prominent ideal that is most obvious to you gullible voters is one of change. The other candidates speak of change, but I offer you something far more tangible: chaotic-neutral fiscal irresponsibility. This doesn’t mean that I won’t turn Bridges into a brothel, nor does it mean that I won’t deliver on my promise to have every 1280 bouncer lobotomized, it simply means that HOPE as we know it, under Kingsley Morris, will cease to be. The moment you give up on hope, the moment you can apply to grad school. So, ladies and gentlemen, that is my vision of the future. Is it ugly? Yes. Is it grim? Of course it is! But is it inevitable? I think you know the answer.
KINGSLEY’S 4-POINT PLAN - DOUBLE ENROLLMENT. IT’S GONNA HAPPEN ANYWAY - GET RID OF ART SCI. GODDAMN HIPSTERS. - BRIDGES = BROTHEL. GOTTA WORK MY SOY NUGGETS. - HISTORICAL RE-ENACTMENT OF BRANDON HALL FIRE.
SKIZZY IMAGES
Kingsley Morris, who definitely looks nothing like Rick Moranis, wants to bring a sensible, realistic platform to the MSU. Oh, and to bust ghosts.
Bus accident disturbs sidewalk Tiberius Slick Speculator
Tragedy struck the Steel City last night, shaking its easily disgruntled citizens to their very core. A HSR bus finishing its 2:04 AM route tipped over on its side as the driver allegedly attempted to bring the two passengers closer to the bus stop in an effort to show them just how “close to the edge” he lived his life. Bolero Peloni, 47, was nearly done his final lap of the reportedly disturbing post-midnight bus route in the East End, when a passenger asked him not to stop too far from the curb, as she was a perpetual sufferer of Agyrophobia, the fear of crossing streets. In his eagerness to please passengers and prove his mother wrong, he swerved too close to the sidewalk and tipped the bus on its side, crushing $17 in city property. The accident also woke the second passenger from his sleep, to the extent that he is pressing charges against the city for “interrupting an erotically-charged Ninja Turtles dream.” “We do not condone the kind of showboating behaviour that lead to this incident, nor do we expressly prohibit it, due to the rising difficulty of finding applicants for the soul-draining job in question,” replied a Hamilton City Council of-
ficial in a public statement. Peloni has extensive experience in driving and subsequently toppling vehicles, as he was directly involved with the ’97 truck accident that destroyed several sewage treatment plants in the North Bay, a destruction gone unrepaired in the 16 years since. When approached for a comment, the female passenger declined to speak about the experience, as she did not want the indignity of being publicly recognized as a HSR passenger by her friends and family. Further investigation has yet to confirm the existence of said friends. In a somewhat unprecedented move, the driver has not been removed from his post, as his antics have “drawn the attention of thrill seekers and potential suicides, giving the city the largest boost in revenue it has seen since 1987, when Hamilton was integrated into the Greater Toronto Area, and subsequently re- The HSR bus that toppled over late last night was also reported to have moved once someone acwreckage, but thus far have only workers claim he, “saw the bottom tually visited it.” City workers are currently in- found several rodent corpses and of HSR bus seats.” volved in an effort to salvage usable one unidentified scrotal entity. One As recovery efforts are undermaterial and valuables from the worker is reported missing after co- way, we expect to hear more from
SPECULATOR FILE PHOTO
been painted orange. salvage crews and dream interpreters. The female passenger has sixteen cats.
What did you learn this week, Timmy? I learned that...
“You can’t smuggle everything
in your anus. ” 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.
S1 • THE SILHOUETTE
THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012
The Silhouette
SPORTS
Maggie Cogger-Orr profiles Marauder point guard Liz Burns in this week’s ‘Meet a Marauder’ feature. See S4.
YOUR SOURCE FOR MCMASTER MARAUDERS SCORES, STORIES, UPDATES AND ANALYSIS
SWIMMING
HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
McMaster’s swimmers hone their talents in a series of dual meets. See S5.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Hoops squad bounces back from losses to Lakehead with home win over Guelph. Details on S6.
The Marauder women’s volleyball team notches two more victories on home court to extend their win streak to four. Details on S3.
S2 • THE SILHOUETTE
THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012
Men’s Basketball
Banner celebration: Football team enjoys retrospective gala
Mac looks for positives in mini-slump Brandon Meawasige Assistant Sports Editor
PHOTO C/O RICHARD ZAZULAK
Steven Ventresca and his Marauder teammates celebrated their national championship win on Jan. 22. Ventresca, seen with defensive backs coach Mark Forsyth, was named the Marauders’ Most Improved Defensive Player at the gala.
Men’s Volleyball
Players adjust to new roles Fraser Caldwell Sports Editor
The course of every season poses challenges and demands adjustments on the part of any team. For their part, the Marauders have shown a remarkable ability to roll with the proverbial punches as injuries strike and squad roles continue to morph. With backup players forced into central positions, young players seeing considerable
court time and veterans grappling with the added responsibility of their seasoned status, the Maroon and Grey continue to rumble toward the top of the provincial standings. Over the course of another successful weekend, the Marauders notched consecutive home court victories over the Waterloo Warriors and Guelph Gryphons and offered further proof of their collective strength in the process. Austin Campion-Smith – who has seen limited action for much of this season in re-
lief of setter T.J. Sanders – proved more than able to man the creative controls at the head of the Marauder offence with Sanders recovering from a recent concussion. McMaster coach Dave Preston lauded his sophomore setter’s weekend efforts, praising Campion-Smith’s understanding of his role and continual readiness for action. “He realizes his own value to our program,” said Preston of his substitute play• PLEASE SEE GROENVELD, S8
In the span of just over 24 hours this past weekend the McMaster Marauders went from being a top-seeded team in the OUA, defying the stigma of their youth, to becoming a victim of the negative side effects of inexperience. After losing back-to-back games in Thunder Bay at the hands of their counterparts from Lakehead University, the Marauders, according to head coach Amos Connolly, must bounce back with confidence and use the losses as a learning experience to improve for the future. “I haven’t seen 20 points go on the board that fast in a long time. [Lakehead] put up 34 points in the third quarter. In that scenario, you have to wonder what mentality both teams have coming out of half time. That’s where the difference in experience can show itself,” Connolly said, evaluating the difference between his players and their opponent. “When you play more experienced, hardened athletes in a game that’s more physical, they will more often have the advantage. We have found that in our games against Windsor and Lakehead. We have had a tough time beating them to the rim, we fouled them early, and turnovers didn’t go our way.” Although the results offered a harsh reality for the team, Connolly maintains that looking to the positive is the best route for this tame to take both on and off the court. “We have played four very tough games in our first six games back after the break but we have to look at the fact that we are competing with these teams. That’s what we have to take from that.” Even at the most optimistic points of this season, the road ahead is far from friendly for Mac as they compete in an extremely tough conference that has no break in a long schedule of tough opponents. “There are no gifts in this conference. It is both a good and a bad thing. There is nowhere you look for an easy win. You cannot look at it that way, you just have to play your best basketball against every team,” Connol• PLEASE SEE HOME, S7
THE SILHOUETTE • S3
THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012
Women’s Volleyball
Chemistry factors in win streak Fraser Caldwell Sports Editor
The Marauders are winning, and they’re doing it by committee. A team that was forced early in the season to rely heavily on its few remaining veterans is seeing its balanced approach to the second half pay dividends on the scoreboard and in the standings. After dropping a tight five-setter on the road at Brock to begin the new semester, McMaster has reeled off four consecutive wins on home court. “Our mentality has changed so much, that now we can go out on court and trust every single player,” said third-year outside hitter Kailee Stock of her team’s winning perspective. “Where, when we were losing before, you would feel personal responsibility to score, we have to remember that it’s still a team game. “It’s a huge deal if we can trust everyone on court. I can trust that if Lauren [Mastroluisi] gets set she will get the point, and that if Mira [Krunic] is up to serve she’ll get it over. It’s awesome that we can rely on the rookies like we can, because not every team can say that. We’re very fortunate to have the rookies that we do.” When asked to identify the source of that newfound trust, players are unanimous in their belief that the their holiday exploits in Florida allowed for a crucial period of bonding for a group still looking to come to grips with one another. While other technical areas of the Marauders’ game have been tinkered with, it is their mentality itself that players point to as the force behind their recent success. “Honestly, I think the biggest thing has been our chemistry,” said Stock of her team’s adjustments in the second half. “In Florida I think we improved our game planning and everything – improved our serve, passing and our out-of-system game – but our biggest change has been our chemistry. “When we went to Florida, we all had such an incredible time and bonded so well as a team. Ever since then, we’ve been able to go out on court and play for each other all the time. It’s been amazing because we trust each other so much out there. It’s nice to go to practice and have everyone want to be there as opposed to just going through the motions.” Alongside the team’s progression as a
PRESTON KWAN / THE SILHOUETTE
Kailee Stock is one of several Marauders enjoying a renaissance of sorts in the second half of the season. unit, Stock has seen a marked improvement in her own game. The veteran left side is enjoying a new level of efficiency on the wing that has reaffirmed her place as McMaster’s chief scoring threat. With regards to the cause of her recent spike in form, Stock believes that her success can be directly traced to her heightened awareness and a measure of offensive understanding that allows her to improvise when
the Marauders are out of system. “On court, I think my out-of-system game has gotten a lot better,” said the wing player. “We worked a lot on that last semester, just learning to manage situations better. Obviously I’m not going to get a perfect ball every time, so the focus is on making the smart play. I think I’ve gotten a bit more intelligent on the court.” Their changes, both personal and team-
wide, have lent the Marauders a new sense of confidence and optimism as they head into the final few weeks of their OUA campaign. Entering the home stretch, Stock believes that the prospect of playoff ball and the guarantee of a berth in the year-end CIS Championship have helped to focus the team on further progression. • PLEASE SEE HITTERS, B6
THE SILHOUETTE • S4
THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012
Meet a Marauder
Meet a Marauder: Liz Burns
LB: Definitely Countdown by Beyoncé. I love Beyoncé so any song of hers gets me pumped up.
Women’s Basketball Position: Guard Year: 3 Height: 5’7” 2011-12 FG%: 38% 2011-12 MIN/GAME: 25.5
MC-O: If they made a movie about your life, which celebrity actor would play you? LB: Definitely Jennifer Aniston. I loved her in ‘Horrible Bosses’ and obviously Rachel from Friends is a classic, I still watch it. MC-O: When you were in elementary school what did you want to be when you grew up? LB: Actually I aspired to be a high-end dentist or an orthodontist for some reason. Maybe because everyone had braces. But then I came to university and realized I didn’t want to be in school for 12 years!
Maggie Cogger-Orr (MC-O): What made you decide to come to McMaster? Liz Burns(LB): I’ve always been around McMaster Athletics. I’m from Hamilton, so I really grew up around Mac basketball, my competitive club teams always came to watch the games. I actually still have a ball signed by an ex Marauder.
MC-O: If you were a dance move what would you be? Like the running man or the sprinkler. LB: Without a doubt the stanky leg. I’m SO bad at it the basketball girls always ask me to do it.
MC-O: What is your favourite basketball memory at Mac? LB: It’d definitely be when we got to play at CIS Nationals in my first year, being exposed to that level of competition so early in my career was a great experience.
MC-O: If you could trade places with anyone in the world, famous or not, who would it be? LB: Kate Middleton.
MC-O: What’s your favourite memory with your teammates? LB: Definitely all the Thursday nights spent at Quarters [1280] with my girls once our season is done. If I had to pick one specific night it would be Homecoming this year.
MC-O: Pre- or post-wedding? LB: Post-wedding. MC-O: What’s the best advice anyone has ever given you? LB: One quote that my grandpa gave me actually: “You can’t control the direction of the wind but you can always adjust your sails.”
MC-O: Do you have any pre-game rituals? LB: I always try and get to the gym when there is no one around. I take some time to shoot by myself, wearing my game shorts plus a t shirt. I never wear my jersey until a few minutes before game time. But mostly I just like shooting on my own. MC-O: Is there any player in the NBA that you try and style your play around? LB: Honestly, I don’t aspire to be like anyone in particular; I basically just try and do what my coach wants me to do...just try and play my best. But I do love Dwayne Wade. MC-O: Do your teammates have a nickname for you? LB: Liz Bunns. Check out my water bottle if you’re curious for the story. [Editor’s note: rumour has it Burns forgot the ‘r’ while writing her own name last year]
JEFF TAM / SILHOUETTE STAFF
Liz Burns has been a key veteran member of the Marauders this season. MC-O: Do you have any pet peeves? LB: When the people in front of you walk slowly when you’re going to class. I can’t stand slow walkers.
MC-O: Are you a cat person or a dog person? LB: Dog person, I have a Portuguese water dog named Layla.
MC-O: What’s your favourite night before a game meal? LB: Subway.
MC-O: What’s the top played song on your iPod lately? LB: ‘The Motto’ by Drake featuring Lil Wayne and Tyga.
MC-O: What goes on your sub? LB: Turkey with Swiss cheese and then everything but onions and hot peppers.
MC-O: What’s your favourite pump up song for before a game?
MC-O: What are your team and personal goals for the rest of your season? LB: We want to be better as a team in the second half of the season, make playoffs and be that underdog team that surprises people. We’re looking to peak at the right time, which I think we’re going to do. In terms of my personal goal, I want to continue to be a positive member of the team, work hard every single day to get better, because we do want to win a championship – every team does – and working hard every day is how you get there.
THE SILHOUETTE • S5
THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012
Swimming
Meets act as dress rehearsals Fraser Caldwell Sports Editor
With the OUA Championships looming, it appears that the competition is wary of the Marauders. For the past few weeks, McMaster has engaged in dual meets – short, one day-long events with a small field – and has come up against competition with the most serious of mindsets. The upper echelon squads of Toronto and Ottawa were physically prepared in a way that the Maroon and Grey were not. In the opinion of the Marauders’ sophomore swimmer Cory Helie-Masters, such preparations hint at a shared fear on the part of the competition, a fear of their inability to overcome the athletes of the Maroon and Grey. “They took more time to be physically prepared for it,” said Helie-Masters of McMaster’s opponents. “They took days off of training, shaved down and put on their $500 racing suits. We saw it as a sign that they needed to do these things because they didn’t believe that they had a chance of beating us. “We show up having done five hours of training the day before. Although we’d taken the time to be mentally prepared, we haven’t taken the rest because we’re focused on the OUA Championships and the CIS event.” For McMaster’s swimmers, the dual meets of the past few weeks function primarily as practice runs. They allow athletes to perfect the racing technique necessary to succeed at the more meaningful events that conclude the season. “There are a number of meet-tomeet goals, but these races are chances to practice everything that you need to do while you’re fully rested,” said Helie-Masters. “It’s a chance to find out if you’re doing everything properly. It allows you to check and to get a coach’s feedback instead of waiting until the OUAs and finding out too late that you’re doing something wrong.” For the Marauders’ leading male swimmer Cameron Bailey, the dual events are simply steps on a season-long progression that points inevitably to the OUA Championships. “It’s basically a matter of progression,” said Bailey of the events’ value.
PHOTO C/O ALEXANDER CLANCY
The Marauders’ Kayla Pearce and Alexandra Van Ommen compete in breast stroke at a dual meet hosted by Mac. “What we try to focus on in these dual meets is using them as dress rehearsals of sorts. We go into them tired from hard training, so they’re a chance for us to race tired, which we will be doing come OUAs. “We’ll have to perform while we’re tired, so that’s what we practice in these races.” A vital part of that progression to the conference championships came in the form of the Marauders’ holiday training camp in Jamaica, an intensive period of training that saw the Maroon and Grey spend five hours in the pool each day. “The training effects of Jamaica have been very apparent,” said Helie-Masters. “One of the best things was that we were completely taken away from every sort of distraction and the coach was able to say, ‘We’re going to swim five hours a day, every day, and you’re going to like it.’ “The training effect has been seen and been presenting itself in a lot of races. When we came back, we didn’t slow down, even though we don’t have as much access to pool time here as we did there.” With the conference championships only two weeks away, the Marauders
are each pursuing their own goals in order to properly peak at the most important stage of the season. Bailey explains that his own path is simply one of continued compliance with the training schedule outlined for him by coach Andrew Cole. He is confident enough in his coach’s planning to believe that adherence to the schedule will suffice to put him in the position to mount the podium at year’s end. “My own goal is to follow the program,” Bailey said simply. “Andrew has spent hours creating individual programs for people, so what I have to do at this point is follow what he has for me. If I do that, I know I’ll succeed. I’ve done everything leading up to it and it’s now just the finer details that I have to follow.” For his part, Helie-Masters looks forward to the next few weeks as an opportunity to sort out the details of his life outside of the pool that will otherwise affect his ability to perform. “I’m looking to finally catch up on some sleep,” said the sophomore with a wry chuckle. “Every Tuesday and Thursday we’re at the pool by 6:30 a.m. We’ve had
meets every single weekend, which really eliminates the idea of resting on the weekend. “So I’m looking to fully rein in my studies, catch up on the schoolwork and be in bed by 9 o’clock every single night. If I can do that, when we start our taper I’ll be feeling good and moving really fast.” The preparedness is essential, particularly in a season ripe with opportunity, with the Marauders eagerly gunning for the top two positions in the province. Both Bailey and Helie-Masters are confident that McMaster can overcome opposition from teams such as Western, Guelph, and Ottawa to claim team silver on the men’s side. “Toronto will be a bit harder for us to overcome, but I think that we have a great chance this year of coming second in the OUA,” said Bailey. “The traditional second would be Western. Guelph is there and the Ottawa men’s team is quite good. But so are we.” McMaster continues its road to the provincial championships this coming weekend, participating in a quad meet on Jan. 29.
S6 • THE SILHOUETTE
THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012
Women’s Basketball
Mac wins two on trip to north Ben Orr
Silhouette Staff
After a tough start to 2012, the McMaster women’s basketball team rebounded impressively with back-to-back wins in Thunder Bay on Jan. 20 and 21. Lakehead is home to one of the most difficult gym’s to play at in CIS basketball, but the Marauders escaped with two strong wins, taking their conference record to 7-7 for the season, good enough for a tie for fourth in the OUA West with the Thunderwolves. The first game of the double-header saw a balanced Marauder attack overwhelm their opponents as they took an early lead and would not look back. Bringing a 42-30 lead into halftime, the Maroon and Grey stayed in top gear, closing out a 74-57 victory. An astonishing five Marauders would hit double digits, as Taylor Chiarot (14 points), Liz Burns (13) Stephanie Truelove (11), Hailey Milligan (10) and Vanessa Bonomo (10) all hit the benchmark. After the victory, coach Theresa Burns praised her team’s effort in the first act of their northern road trip. “We were much more focused mentally, and I think our defensive intensity was just
way higher than it has been in both the full court and half court,” said the Marauder bench boss. “I think we were making second and third efforts defensively and that made a huge difference for us.” Act two would follow the same script, as the Marauders would dominate once again with a balanced attack, earning a 73-44 win in the Saturday night tilt. The Wolves had no answer for Chiarot, who would tally a game-high 23 points, and four Marauders hit double figures. “I think you like to get as many people involved in scoring as you can,” explained Burns. “You’re always going to have your top scorers, but I think every player has to be an offensive threat or the other team can focus and double your top scorers.” Coach Burns spoke to the importance of capturing positive momentum, something her squad has struggled to do thus far in the season. “I think it’s huge. This is the time of year when you want to be on an upswing and heading towards a peak, just around playoff time,” said Burns. “Hopefully we can keep it going this week. The two wins moved us up in the standings considerably and we’ve got the
tiebreaker with Lakehead now,” she said. Mac will take on Guelph at the Burridge Gym on Jan. 25, a game that could have serious playoff implications, as the Gryphons are only two points back of the Marauders in the OUA West. “If we can win that one, it’s a four point game,” said Burns on the eve of the home contest. “We can put some distance between us and Guelph. We definitely want to keep this going. “You need to be consistent this time of year. This will be a big test for us tonight, to see if we can play with the same kind of intensity and focus we had on the weekend.” This is a team that has been decimated by injuries so far this season, but the Marauders did receive some good news. Rookie guard Abby Hurd practiced this week and is expected to dress soon, with limited playing time. Coach Burns welcomed the reinforcement. “Having Abby back in the lineup will be good. She was just starting to roll when she hurt her shoulder, so hopefully be get her back on track pretty quickly.” Sam Hunt will remain on the sidelines for a two more weeks, when her health will be reassessed.
YOUSSIF HADDAD/SILHOUETTE STAFF
The women’s basketball team won back-to-back games in Thunder Bay to move their record above the .500 plateau.
Women’s Volleyball
Hitters enjoy success by committee • CONT’D FROM S3
“Things have changed a lot, that’s for sure,” said the outside of the atmosphere in the locker room. “It’s not like we were in a bad mood in the first half of the season or anything, it’s just kind of a downer obviously if you’re not winning games. “It’s been great to start winning and we’re so excited to practice every time out, because we know that we’re getting closer and closer to beating the top teams and being at the CIS tournament.” In the meantime, Stock and her team-
It’s going to be a great game and I know that we’re going to play well. We’re going to bring it, so they should get ready.” mates look to continue their win-streak on the road this coming weekend, as the Marauders travel to London and Windsor to take on the Western Mustangs and Windsor Lancers on Jan. 28 and 29 respectively. The Saturday battle with the Mustangs provides McMaster another opportunity for revenge, coming as it does against the squad that handed them their first loss of the season at the Burridge Gym. Alumni Hall has historically been unkind to the Maroon and Grey, and that fact will only serve to further motivate the visitors to succeed according to Stock. “We definitely look at it as a chance for revenge,” said the outside hitter of the upcoming match in London. “It was only our second game of the season when we lost, but that really doesn’t matter at all. It’s been a while since we’ve won in Western’s gym, so every time we go there we’re ready to go. “It’s going to be a great game and I know that we’re going to play well. We’re going to bring it, so they should get ready.”
THE SILHOUETTE • S7
THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012
Men’s Basketball
Women’s Basketball
Home win for Marauders
Final McMaster
66
Rookie leads Mac to 82-74 win over Guelph
Guelph
63
Player of the game:
• CONT’D FROM S2 ly said, adding, “There is an identity that we need to have no matter who we are playing. We need to learn from the high caliber teams that we have played. I’d have our guys understand that this is the level we need to play at.” With none of the remaining opponents to be taken lightly, the team will have to continue to work hard in order to compete for a favorable playoff position. A lot of that will be the attitude the men take onto the court with them. “Somewhere these guys need to find the confidence that we are a good basketball team. Even though we’re young, there is still this ability to hang with these teams. “What I don’t want is for us to worry too much about the teams that we’re playing, and worry about ourselves and play our game, where the focus is on defense, execution and the ability to create scores,” said Connolly. The first chance for the Marauders to rebound from their mini-slump ended with a 82-78 victory in their Jan. 25 matchup against the Guelph Gryphons at Burridge Gymnasium. “What you can expect from Guelph is a very tough and gritty team. There is no question that they are going to work. We cannot get out worked by them on our own court.” Connolly said before the game on Wednesday. Secondary leadership and scoring is an issue for the Marauders in their coming weekend games. As a result, Connolly hopes that his team will continue to work hard and that individual players on the team will take it upon themselves to make an impact on the results of the game. “We have to go to work, that’s what I need to see from this team,” said Connolly. We need someone other than Victor, because we can expect that from him, to say ‘I am not going to get outworked tonight.’” The win comes as a welcome demonstration of this attitude adjustment. Rookie Guard Adam Persutti scored 27 points in-
#8 Jackie Nimec Position: Forward Points:18 Rebounds: 4 Assists: 4 Blocks: 3
Men’s Basketball
Final McMaster
82
Guelph
74
Player of the game: #25 Adam Presutti JEFF TAM / SILHOUETTE STAFF
Rookie point guard Adam Persutti scored 27 points in the victory. cluding 10 of 11 from the charity stripe. “When I look at that stat line,” says Connolly holding the score sheet in his hands, “I see the future. We need [Adam] to realize that he can take over games and do so.” “We did al lot of good things in our win tonight,” Connolly shared post-game. With the win the Marauders improve to a record
of 10-5, re-joining the pack of OUA leaders after their brief absence. Being able to compete in what is such a difficult conference can only be taken as a positive for the men’s basketball team. With hard work and the talent available on the roster, the future looks bright for this young team.
Position: Point Guard Points: 27 Rebounds: 3 Assists: 4 Steals:1
S8 • THE SILHOUETTE
THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012
Men’s Volleyball
Groenveld lends veteran leadership
PRESTON KWAN / THE SILHOUETTE
The Marauders’ success has come despite a bevy of changes to their lineup and their respective roles within it. • CONT’D FROM S2 maker. “One of the things I stress to our student athletes is to just be ready when I call their number, and sometimes they wish their number was called more often. “But Austin is an amazing example of that concept in action. When I call out number eight, number eight is ready to go. “He’s ready to play and he’s a great kid. Am I surprised by his success? No. But am I impressed by it? Absolutely. It’s a tough thing for a 19, 20-year old kid to step in. At this stage, every one of our games is a playoff match, and he’s handling it incredibly well.” Another young Marauder has made the most of an opportunity originally granted to him through a teammate’s injury. Alex El-
liot – one of the most highly touted members of McMaster’s 2011 recruiting class – has grabbed hold of a starting spot at the middle position after a turbulent start to his career with the Maroon and Grey. A middle hitter in high-school and at the club level, Elliot faced a transition to the outside of the Marauders’ formation as a relatively short central player at the height of 6’5”. However, with Ian Cooper breaking his leg earlier this season, Elliot returned to his roots in the middle and hasn’t looked back since, cementing his place in the starting lineup. Preston believes that the importance of middles in McMaster’s system has helped his rookie hitter embrace his role in the center to an entirely new degree.
“When he played club at high-school, the middle was not an integral spot because they tend to be more outside-hitter-dominated systems,” said the Marauder bench boss. “That’s not the way it works here. Our system is predicated on a strong middle attack. If we own the middle of the court, we have a better chance of owning the match. “Being led back into that, especially after having taken some reps outside, has really led him into a mindset where he’s having fun. It’s almost a rejuvenation of sorts. He feels involved, and his attachment to playing in the middle is much greater than it was when he was looking in from the outside.” Elliot’s partner in the middle, Tyson Alexander has taken the team by storm this season, and his 23-point performance on Jan. 21 serves as a further reminder of his
incredible personal progress. Recruited for his raw athletic potential, Preston believes that Alexander is gaining the volleyball-specific awareness needed to round out his game. “His sport IQ is very high, and his volleyball IQ is going up every day,” said the coach of his third-year middle. “You can’t be submerged in the way that we play the sport around here and not get better at it. You either sink or swim and he’s swimming. “You can tell that he’s carrying himself like a different dude. He’s not zoning out like he used to and being overwhelmed. He comes into timeouts knowing what’s going on.” The Marauders’ growth has been aided by the steady leadership of their veteran players, chief among them being outside hitter Jeremy Groenveld. Returning to action from a slew of persistent injuries, Groenveld led his team through a rough patch of play against the Gryphons to secure the victory. Preston indicates that in the wake of the Marauders’ lackluster third set on Jan. 21, the veteran outside was the catalyst behind the team’s renewed effort following the changeover. “The guy who impressed me most was Jeremy,” said Preston. “As a senior on that team, he basically just grabbed those guys and said, ‘look, this is the way it has to go.’ We had an opportunity to make it more difficult for ourselves in that match and we have in the past. But I’m very confident about the hands that our leadership is in right now.” That veteran guidance will need to continue as the Marauders face another imposing weekend of play, travelling to London on Jan. 28 to take on the conference-leading and CIS no. 6 Western Mustangs before visiting the Windsor Lancers the next afternoon. For his part, Preston believes that the upcoming matches will serve as a crucial proving ground for his squad. He is confident that the Marauders are well prepared for the challenge ahead. “We got two wins on the weekend and showed that we can play tough on a backto-back,” said the coach. “Now we’ve got to do the two matches back-to-back on the road with the added adversity. They are as prepared for us as we are for them. “But we are ready, we’ve got our information, and we know what we’ll be doing.”
THE SILHOUETTE • C1
THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012
INSIDEOUT
production office extension: 27117 insideout@thesil.ca
Inspiration to thinspiration?
Shedding light on the taboo topics of eating disorders Cassandra Jeffery
Assistant InsideOut Editor
According to the Slimband dieting center, the average 20-year-old woman weighing in at 120 pounds and reaching a height of five foot, two inches should consume a total of 1776 calories per day. Not 1880 or 1978, but exactly 1776; one calorie over and the wrath of Jenny Craig will become more stressful then a biology midterm. If you’re looking to be under the 120-pound mark, then try cutting down your calorie intake to 1421 per day. Slimband then goes one step further, suggesting 1065 calories per day for extreme results. After all, extreme measures lead to extreme results. Our society is overly obsessed with calorie counting, to the point that we analyze every bit of food being consumed. Let’s say you eat the 120 calories in a large apple, a 300-calorie slice of pizza, and the 150 calories in a beer; six beers later and you’re over the calorie count for the day. Next time, you’ll just have to avoid eating when preparing to drink. Often, an obsession with food, body weight, and dieting can lead to extremely dangerous illnesses, such as various sectors of eating disorders. The pain and health complications affiliated with eating disorders are an inevitable result, yet time and time again individuals let their unrealistic goals of body perfection compromise their health. Does beauty truly mean pain? Just a year ago, Rory Dakins, thirdyear Commerce student, would
TYLER HAYWARD / SENIOR PHOTO EDITOR
Our society is obsessed with achieving un-realistic body types to the point where our health becomes jeopardized. agree with such a statement. For four years, Dakins fell victim to bulimia nervosa. “I wanted to be thinner, but I
didn’t have the self control in order to restrict myself from eating. So when I would eat, usually junk food, I would feel guilty. Gaining
weight was just not an option, so I cycles, often resulting in continuwould panic and purge,” confesses ous relapse coupled with a negaDakins. Eating disorders are vicious •PLEASE SEE, AN C4
How-to-do-it
Overcome your phobia obstacles Natalie Timperio
Senior InsideOut Editor
So you’ve got a persistent, irrational fear of an object, activity or situation, and it leads to an intense desire to do anything in your power to avoid it? Yeah, you’ve got a phobia. It may cause difficulty breathing, a racing heartbeat, body tremors, a churning stomach or excessive sweating, which might require you to purchase bulk quantities of deodorant. You may experience intense feelings of overwhelming panic and anxiety, borderline insanity or feeling as if death is upon you. The bottom line is, unfortunately for you, when you encounter your phobia, you’re paralysed with a fear like none other. Unless you want to live with it for the rest of your life, in which case I advise you to shut yourself away in a cave right now (so long as you don’t have speluncaphobia, a fear of caves), then allow me to offer you some unqualified advice. Revert to younger years No, I do not mean cowering into
fetal position upon encountering your phobia. Chances are, if you have a phobia, it’s more than likely a result of some traumatic childhood experience that’s somehow nested itself in your subconscious. So, try to think back to a moment in your prepubescent years when you may have experienced a lifealtering moment that caused you great pain and anxiety. Often addressing the root cause of a phobia can help you to understand why you have a phobia in the first place. You can then thank your parents for a wonderful upbringing. Take it easy, lemon squeezy Try calming techniques upon encountering your phobia. If you can visualize something happy, then perhaps your phobia will seem less frightening. And if shutting your eyes for just a moment to picture something comical is simply not feasible, try squeezing a stress ball; they’re a great and easy way to release tension without too much effort. Breathing exercises can help to settle your nerves as well. Self-help with hypnotherapy Those crazy pendulum swing-
ing dudes have it right – hypnosis can help to unlock those latent causes of phobia in your subconscious. We’re not born with phobias; they’re something we develop through experience. Your subconscious holds on to early instances of great fear and seeks to avoid repeating them. Hypnotherapy can delve into your subconscious in a way that you may not be able to do on your own. Insist on the list Make a list of all the situations that may lead to an awakening of your phobia. This has often been termed “the fear ladder.” Arrange your list items from mild to intense scenarios. Assign a final goal to each – what steps can you take to overcome this fear-inducing situation? Beginning with the least fearful situation, take the steps necessary to overcome your phobia in that particular situation. In time, you’ll be able to work your way up the fear ladder to overcome the worst of them all. If all of this fails, then best of luck to you. You’re going to need it. Today is the day to be brave and conquer your phobia.
JOY SANTIAGO/ MULTIMEDIA EDITOR
Fight the sickness
What’s your pet peeve?
follow these tips to keep yourself germ free this winter season
learn how to deal with what erks your gears the most.
Pg. C3
Pg. C5
C2 • THE SILHOUETTE
THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012
ThreadCount Chanèle Jordan Third Year Communications
Favourite quote: “A girl should be two things classy and fabulous.” - Coco Chanel Describe your style: Comfortable and chic What do you look for in a significant other? Honesty, humour, sense of style and intelligence Pants: H&M $15 Shirt: Sirens $20 Blazer: H&M $30 Boot: Photos by Tyler Hayward Michael Kors $150
THE SILHOUETTE • C3
THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012
Town of the Week Come By Chance, NFLD, CA An incorportaed community located on the east side of a deep in draft ending at the mouth of the Come By Chance River near the head of Placentia Bay.
Avoid contagions this sick season
RICARDO PADILLA/ ASSITANT PHOTO EDITOR
Take it from this guy, flu season sucks. Taking the necesarry precautions, however, can spare unwanted illness.
Amanda Watkins The Silhouette
Right after Christmas and right before Valentine’s Day is not just the time of year when single people
wallow in self pity. It’s also the time when viruses and bacteria wallow in the halls using sneezes and saliva as transportation to their next victims. It’s a time when used and crumpled Kleenex is littered throughout the libraries and the amount of coughs echoing through the streets make it feel as though the black plague is upon us. Yes, it’s flu season. When this time of the year comes around, it is necessary to take on a new set of precautions that will prevent us from becoming weighed down with the burden of excess mucus and pockets full of throat lozenges. Thus, here are five simple steps to follow that involve no more than a bar of soap and a trip to Fortinos. Get a head start on your hot summer “bod” - Exercise regularly: Every year we all set the goal of exercising more and getting healthier. Well, there’s no time like the present to start working out those muscles to stay healthy all while getting fit for bikini season (or, if you’re a guy: speedo season). Exercise helps keep our lungs and heart healthy which will in turn help us ward off lung-related infections and keep us feeling refreshed and energetic. There is no better way to avoid infections than through natures fighting off of bacteria with a healthy system. Don’t touch other people: It’s an urge that we all feel the need to succumb to every now and again but should be avoided during this time of the year. It may be difficult to hold back the need to hug that friend we haven’t seen in a week or to replace the usual handshake when meeting new people with a casual wave. But to prevent the spread of unwanted germs we need to stop touching each other as much as we do. Get out more (while still avoiding touching other people): If you’re ever feeling depressed during these cold dark times it is likely that these strong emotions may cause you to feel sick, tired and more stressed than normal. To help feel a bit better during
the cold weather, it helps to go outside, soak up some sun and spend time with your friends and family. Being around other people will allow you to talk about your feelings and have some fun to offset the sadness and the rays of sunshine will boost your spirits with a dose of much needed Vitamin D. Wash Your Hands (just in case you do touch other people): After working out in a public place and trying to get out more to avoid Seasonal Affective Disorder, it is possible that rule number two may have been broken a few times and we have come into contact with several people and several different settings. If this is the case, it is important to wash your hands before doing anything like eating, preparing food or caressing your face. Although you can’t eliminate germ transfers, you can limit them with the simple soap and water process of frequent hand washing. Eat Well (but only after you’ve washed your hands): If you’re hungry and have recently washed your hands, instead of reaching for a meal loaded with saturated fats and hydrogenated oil, try a more balanced diet that contains elements from every food group along with the important vitamins our bodies need. Scientifically controlled studies using vitamin C for colds have shown that it can reduce the severity of cold symptoms, acting as a natural antihistamine. Similarly, vitamin E has been proven adept at regulating your whole cardiovascular system. To ensure that your body is healthy enough to ward off viruses and infections, it is a necessity to purchase vitamin-rich foods the next time you’re at your local grocery store. So don’t forget to follow these steps now that cold weather and influenza is upon us. And even though this time of the year is also when single people slip into a state of bleak sadness, it really should be the opposite. Because let’s face it, we single people are usually the ones who are hitting up the gym five times a week, eating healthily, and coming into little to no physical contact with people. Boo-yah.
C4 • THE SILHOUETTE
THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012
An addiction to Relax, sit back, and the unattainable take a breather
loss. Anorexia is essentially the refusal of food tive relationship to food and body image. “It to the body, whereas bulimia is the process of would go through stages of intensity. For ex- purging unwanted food from the body postample, on certain days I would throw up an consumption. apple. It’s really an addiction that was hard Symptoms of bulimia include “self-into defeat. I would be constantly thinking, duced vomiting, abuse of laxatives and diet ‘What’s worse, gaining weight or just purging pills, and eating beyond the point of fullness,” my food?’” says Dakins. according to the Association. An obsession with food and body image Binge-eating disorder is a constant flux has detrimental effects to an individual’s between overeating and excessive dieting. health and self-esteem, though the severity of Symptoms include periods of impulsive and eating disorders are frequently undermined or continuous eating followed by sporadic dietaltogether ignored. ary crashes. According to the Mental Health Associa- The effects of eating disorders are extion, 70 percent of women and 35 percent of tremely damaging to our health. Anorexia men are on a diet. Of women essentially starves your between 15 and 25, one to muscles, as well as the heart. It’s really an two per cent have anorexia The heart can slowly begin and three to five per cent addiction that was to deteriorate and eventually have bulimia. Ten to twenty stop because of starvation. hard to defeat. per cent of those who deAccording to the website velop eating disorders die I would be Eating Disorder, “bulimics from related complications – constantly thinking, frequently experience muscle that’s a higher rate than any cramps, heartburn, fatigue, what’s worse, other mental illness. bloody diarrhea, fainting epi The severity of eating gaining weight or sodes, dizziness, and abdomdisorders varies among ininal pain.” just purging dividuals, and for the most Rory Dakins eventually my food?” part, detecting that someone conquered her illness. Upon has an eating disorder is difextensive research she realficult. However, eating disorized the damaging health efders are prevalent in both genders and many fects of bulimia were not a part of her ideal cultures. conception of thinness. The most obvious form of pressure that Her fixation with body image did not contributes to an eating disorder is the glam- improve overnight; healing took time and orized media portraying men as buff and energy. Today, Dakins says that she has learnwomen as too thin. Depression, self-esteem ed to accept her body and work towards realproblems and identity issues are just some of istic weight goals in a natural way. the many contributing factors to eating disor- Dakins’ experience will hopefully be a ders. lesson for anyone struggling with an eating The Mental Health Association has cat- disorder. However, our superficial society egorized three of the most commonly known gives us the perception that self-worth is relisectors of eating disorders: anorexia nervosa, ant on an unrealistic notion of perfection. bulimia nervosa and binge-eating. Symptoms We need to stop aiming for an unattainfor anorexia include refusal to maintain ap- able perfection and instead focus on altering propriate body weight, dietary and exercise society’s definition of what perfect entails; extremes, and constant reference to the body apathy should be reserved for the world of as being over-weight, despite dramatic weight celebrity influence, not our bodies. • CONT’D FROM C1
TYLER HAYWARD / SILHOUETTE STAFF
Learning how to breathe properly will benefit your overall health. Maryann Ashley SHEC Media
At the end of last semester, when all of my final papers were due and the impending doom of exams was pressing down upon me, I had a pleasant and unexpected surprise in one of my classes. My professor finished our class a little bit early and offered to teach some relaxation exercises to anyone who wanted to stick around. Only a few of us ended up staying behind. I’m really glad I did though, because not only was it educational, but it was also nice to see a professor taking an interest in the wellbeing of her students. One of the main things we talked about that day was the importance of breathing. It should be pretty obvious to all of us just how important breathing is – we need to breathe to be able to live. Simple. Without food or water we can survive for days; without oxygen we die within minutes. Our breathing can do a lot for our bodies besides just keeping us alive. It’s a natural process that eliminates waste products and toxins from our bodies while also filtering in the good stuff. Even though breathing is so important, many of us are walking around doing it wrong. That’s right, although it is a natural process that happens automatically, there are still proper and improper ways of breathing. If you’ve ever taken any yoga or Pilates classes then you know how important the focus on breathing is to our health. Sadly, we need that reminder, because in today’s society we tend to use a smaller percentage of our lung capacity and our entire bodies can suffer for it. Do you ever slouch, lean forward, draw your arms together, bend your head down or focus so hard on something that your body becomes really tense? This sounds like every typical student to me, and all of these postures restrict our inhalation and exhalation process. This ultimately leads to a lesser amount of oxygen being present in our blood stream, which means that our organs aren’t getting as much as they could. It also means we are not sufficiently eliminating carbon dioxide. In our fast-paced lives, our breaths are too quick and too shallow. We literally need to just stop and take a moment to smell the roses. There are a lot of benefits to be had from simply breathing properly. First of all, if you
breathe through your nose then you are simultaneously protecting yourself from unwanted particles in the air (there’s hair in there for a reason) while warming the air before it enters the rest of your body. Oxygen also energizes the body, rejuvenates the skin, improves brain function, has a calming effect, improves sleep and relaxation, and helps to regulate your body temperature. My professor also told us about how we don’t breathe through our nostrils equally all of the time; you alternate between favouring the left nostril or the right nostril throughout the day. Your right side is associated with energy, while your left side is associated with relaxation and calming (this is the side you want to be breathing from when you’re trying to fall asleep). With this in mind she gave us two different exercises we could do. If you’re feeling sleepy and it’s only the middle of the day and you still have four chapters to read, two meetings to attend and a paper to write, try this one: stand up. Take three quick breathes in while swinging your arms with the breaths, once to the front, then out to your sides, and back to the front. Then bend your knees and swing your arms downward and exhale all the air out of your lungs through your mouth. Repeat. If you’ve had five cups of coffee throughout the day, and you’re pacing the floors because you don’t know what to do with yourself and you have to wake up in only a few hours because you have early morning class but you can’t fall asleep, then try this one: sit straight up, feet on the floor. Keep your shoulders down and really open up your chest (we spend so many hours sitting at desks all day with terrible posture). Rest your hands on your knees directly in front of you, palms up. Focus on your breathing. Eventually inhale through your nose then hold your breath then exhale and pause again before inhaling again. Just focus on your breathing and try to feel it rejuvenating and relaxing your body. Breathing properly really does benefit your body in so many different ways. So the next time you’re hanging out with someone and they sigh really loudly, don’t just ask them, “What’s wrong?” Maybe you should give them props for taking in a bit of extra oxygen.
THE SILHOUETTE • C5
THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 2012
So you’re grievin’ over peevin’? You’re not alone. Take control and learn how to let go of your pet peeves. you get frustrated when your professor is inaudible or incomprehensible? Refocus your attention Let me paint a picture for you: you’re driving Dwelling on what upsets you about your to school Monday morning (late, of course) friend will only fuel your aggravation. The only to be caught behind a car crawling at 20 idea of refocusing your attention is simply kilometers per hour. thinking about something else or becoming You arrive to class late, wet from getting consumed in a task. caught in the rain, and then spill your coffee. Fast-forward the old tape. So you are left to endure the rest of your day Oftentimes, the root of a pet peeve may soaking wet with socks squishing against the stem from the past. soles of your shoes like sponges in puddles of You may have nestled frustration towards water, all without your daily an aunt who acted obnoxious stimulant. and made you feel uncomfort These mishaps had The word ‘peeve’ able as a child. the power to throw off my Maybe your annoyance with Monday morning. We all means to irritate or the way your friend acts when have things that peeve us, aggravate, and ‘pet’ drunk has to do with resenteven in the slightest way. implies something ment towards an aspect of your The word “peeve” own life. or someone that is Fight the temptation to intermeans to irritate or aggravate, and “pet” implies close to us. Thus a nalize. something or someone that Most likely, the person pet peeve is some- is not is close to us. Thus, a pet intentionally trying to peeve is something that per- thing that personally annoy you. If they are, that’s sonally irritates you. a deeper issue, and it should irritates you.” The term conveys be dealt with accordingly. For ownership of the annoyinstance, the person driving ance. slowly in front of you is not trying to make The website pppeeves.com is dedicated your head explode. Your pet peeves are your to sharing what gets people PO’ed. own, and what irritates you doesn’t necessar Some of the most popular posts of what ily irritate someone else. gets on people’s nerves are: “when you open Control your reaction. the DVD case and it’s empty or a different Search for healthy ways to release your movie is in it,” “people who use the word tension. When someone is tapping away ‘gay’ to mean ‘lame,’” and “when you take a during an exam, try calling over a TA or supershower then realize you don’t have a towel.” visor and telling him or her it’s distracting. In the worst cases, peeves can really be But when peeves don’t have a direct soluaggravating. tion, avoid confrontation by separating your An annoyance with a drunk friend’s be- self from the situation and doing something havior might rattle a friendship. A professor’s positive. slurring of words might make him or her hard Through classical conditioning, the peeve to listen to. An exam can be unbearable if will be associated with something positive inyou’re sitting behind someone who’s tapping stead of negative. their heels together. Don’t neglect the context. According to theBridgeMaker.com, a If someone you are dating is constantly comprehensive site filled with psychological late, search to understand an underlying advice on popular issues, there is a list of reason for this that may exist. This can help eight steps one can take to combat a stubborn prevent you from making false assumptions. pet peeve. Whatever approach you decide to take Recognize what peeves you. toward your personal peeves, combating This means identifing exactly what it is them takes discipline and patience. that annoys you and how you react to it. Do It’s a trial and error process. Chances are that you’re not the only one who is peeved by cell-talking movie go-ers. Amanda Teseo Silhouette Staff
JOY SANTIAGO/ MULTIMEDIA EDITOR
Eye Oh Tidbits Alphanazi Spaghetti
Between 1937 to 1945 Heinz produced a version of Alphabetti Spaghetti especially for the German market that consisted primarily of tiny pasta swastikas.
Primal instincts
On average, a human being will have sex more than 3,000 times and spend two weeks kissing in their lifetime.
Drink to think
Your brain isn’t the firm, gray mass you’ve seen on T.V. Living brain tissue is a squishy, pink and jelly-like organ thanks to the loads of blood and high water content of the tissue. So the next time you’re feeling dehydrataed get a drink to keep your brain hydrated.
Cotton forgotten
One of the reasons marijuana is illegal today is because cotton growers in the 1930’s lobbied against hemp farmers - they saw it as competition.
C6 • THE SILHOUETTE
THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012
SEXandthe STEELCITY
Allergies are the killer of affection lergic to cats, dogs or any other furry friend. These are generally not fatal, just can be just as problematic to compromise on. Remember back to elementary school when There are two distinct scenarios when it you so desperately wanted to bring that comes to pets. One is the situation when one peanut butter sandwich for lunch or your pet partner lives at home or with roommates in cat for show-and-tell, but never could on ac- which the pet is not actually theirs. count of the fatal allergies of that kid? While this may limit the amount of time Back then it probably wasn’t that big a you get to see each other, the pet likely won’t deal; you could devour the sandwich or play be accompanying the two of you if you decide with Mr. Mitts when you got home. But what to move in together. if things were a little different, what if that kid However, the situation becomes more suddenly became the person that you were complex if the person lives on their own with dating? a pet, for the decision to get rid of an animal In 2008, the Surveying Canadians to that you are already attached to can be much Assess the Prevalence of Common Food Al- more difficult than deciding not to acquire lergies and Attitudes towards one once settled in. Food Labelling and Risk The question becomes (SCAAALAR) study invesor not it is necessary The complications whether tigated the prevalence of alto get rid of a dear pet for the that arise in lergies to foods commonly sake of a new, potentially lifeassociated with severe anrelationships due long partner if their presence aphylactic reaction, includnot life threatening. to allergies can be is ing peanuts. For the pet lover, having an problematic but as animal has probably always Allergies were found to be present in approximately been a part of their life, but with anything, 3.2 per cent of the populafor those on the other side of working around tion. the equation, the prospect of So what do you do if your them can strengthen a pet dictates a future of dispartner is part of that 3.2 per a couple’s bond.” comfort. cent? Paying more attention Like so many other obto what you eat may be more stacles faced in relationships, complex than it seems. it seems that a compromise is required. One The problem becomes significantly great- popular alternative is to get a hypoallergenic er for people who will not only be giving up breed. preferred foods, but possibly those needed for It may take a little trial and error to find their proper nutrition. a suitable fit, but the discovery of a pet that Consider vegetarians, who might turn to does not trigger an allergic reaction may be peanut butter as a source of. It’s inexpensive the solution that makes both partners happy. and versatile, making it an excellent replace- Another solution may be to have an outment choice. door pet, which would make it significantly But the choice between giving up a pro- easier to avoid allergy-inducing contact with tein source and giving up your significant the animal. other might spark the creativity needed to ar- The complications that arise in relationrange a diet safe for both individuals, com- ships due to allergies can be problematic, but plete with alternative protein sources, such as as with anything, working around them can beans, tofu and protein supplements. strengthen a couple’s bond. Food sensitivities are not the only ones While having a partner choose a food that can complicate relationships. Another or pet over your needs may bring you to the problematic set of allergies are those associ- heartbreaking realisation that they are not ated with pets. right for you, finding someone who is willing Most people are not hard pressed to think to make tough decisions for your health and If your partner sniffles with Mr. Whiffles, perhaps it’s time to make some compromises. of at least one friend or relative who is al- happiness is pretty special. Chantal Cino The Silhouette
RICARDO PADILLA / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
Get to know your McMaster community at the Silhouette. No prerequisites required. Email
insideout@ thesil.ca or Volunteer meetings
Wednesdays @ 3:30 MUSC B110
THE SILHOUETTE • C7
THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012
IntheKitchen
Pulled pork to perfection Jonathon Fairclough Production Manager
Spice it up with pulled pork: Ingredients: 1 boneless pork roast (approx. $20) 1/3 cup of cider vinegar 1/2 cup of brown sugar 1/2 cup of ketchup 3/4 cup of salt and pepper (each) 1/3 cup of garlic powder 2 tsp of coriander 1/4 cup of tomato paste 2 tbsp of Worcestershire sauce Pulled pork is a staple for the starving student and the Sunday football crowd, great for anyone with a taste for barbeque and a low budget. This is one of the easiest meals you can make, with fantastic results. All you need is a cheap slow-cooker (you can pick one up for $40 at any Sears or Zellers location), and the ingredients mentioned above, and you’ll have a delicious amount of pulled pork that can be reheated over and over again for up to ten portion. First, get your boneless pork roast from any supermarket in your area. When you get it home, make sure to wash it under the sink with cold water to get rid of the excess blood, oil and fats that may be on the surface. Then, chop the pork roast up into large chunks (each one should be three inches in thickness, respective to the roast) which will leave you with four of five chunks
in total. Then, in a large bowl, mix the ingredients above until they are thoroughly combined, and if you are a fan of spicy food (as I am), add a half cup of hot sauce or sriracha paste for that extra “kick. Pour half the sauce into the slow cooker before you insert the pork chunks to make a base that will stop the pork from sticking to the bottom. Drizzle the rest of the sauce on top of the pork once it’s inserted and with a fork mix the sauce and pork around so every chunk of pork is covered with sauce. Place the slow-cooker on “low heat” for eight hours or “high heat” for five, though high heat will normally burn your sauce and leave you with a more smokey-tasting pork. This meal is great to make in the morning before class, since you can be away all day and check up on the pork when you get home. Once the pork is cooked, use a fork to “pull” the pork into strings and mix it in with the sauce. Now put slices of bread into the toaster (or better yet, bread buns in the oven) until the surface of the bread is crisp. Put your pulled pork on the bread, add barbeque and hot sauce for added kicks, and enjoy! Pulled pork is great on top of Kraft Dinner or on the side of an egg and bacon breakfast. If you really want to impress your friends, put it on top of a hamburger or hotdog and you will be the king (or queen) Try this one-of-kind pulled pork recipe for a mouth-watering meal. of the kitchen!
SILHOUETTE FILE PHOTO
Student dating meets world wide web Solana Cain The Ryersonian
TORONTO (CUP) - Hoping to marry a doctor or lawyer? How about an engineer from Queen’s University, or a musician from McGill University? A new online dating site is making it a whole lot easier for students to find their ideal match, while avoiding the creeps. Datemyschool.com offers students a chance to meet people online exclusively within the academic circles of their choosing. The free site is quickly expanding in the United States and may soon be on its way to Canada. Datemyschool is currently available for over 350 American universities, and will be adding another 250 to the list within a week. Only those with a post-secondary email address are able to sign up, restricting access to undergrads, grad students, and alumni. Profiles are categorized by school and program and users can limit who can see their profile. On the flipside, students only see the profiles of people that want to be contacted by them. The site was started by two Columbia Business School students, Jean Meyer and Balazs Alexa. After lamenting the lack of avenues to meet students in other programs, they decided to create their own solution. “It so happened that one of our friends from nursing school said there are like 80 per cent girls in her program ... and for us at the business school it’s 80 per cent guys,” says Alexa. “We were thinking, 'Why isn’t there any other way to communicate between departments of a school?'” The exclusivity of the site to students and its rampant growth bears resemblance to the beginnings of another successful social site, Facebook. “When you go out with your friends, you’re highly selective naturally. Why would you not be like that online? We made it so that people have the same kind of privacy that they have in the real world.” Meyer told The New York Times that “people in the 21st century are alone.
We have so many new ways of communicating, yet we are so alone.” He said his generation is pushed to choose career and ambition over matters of the heart. Users of Datemyschool can use the site’s settings to be extremely selective. John-Kurt Pliniussen, a business professor from Queen’s University, thinks that when it comes to online dating, filters are a good thing. “You may not know what you really want, like the perfect person, but typically ... you know what you dislike. And that’s good," he said. Pliniussen met his own wife online and he praises the idea behind Datemyschool for its practicality. “School has never been more expensive and the job market has never been more unreasonable,” he said. “So it’s understandable that we have the thought of ‘I’d love to find someone who is on their way to a great career.’” But some young Canadians think being selective could be a romantic dead end. “How do you know where your true love is? I think going into it knowing specifically who you want to find isn’t a good idea,” said a recent Ryerson grad who declined to give her name. The woman has used Plenty of Fish, another popular dating site, and said “That’s not how love works.” Rebecca Sands, a thirdyear arts and contemporary studies student, compared Datemyschool to the point in history when women were first allowed to enter university and school was seen merely as the road to a husband. “The difference was that women had no choice back then, but now we are all educated, and we want a man who will keep up with us instead of providing for us.” Alexa thinks expansion to north of the border is in the near future.“We’ll open up [in Canada] pretty soon. In Canada it’s pretty cold so people don’t go out much, so we will hopefully help them out.” In the meantime, Alexa might want to do his homework.
C8 • THE SILHOUETTE
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2011
THE SILHOUETTE • C9
THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012
BUSINESS
production office extension: 27117 business@thesil.ca
South Korea MOOves trade along
After nine years, the ban on Canadian beef has finally been lifted
Alizeh Khan The Silhouette
“Moo.” That is but one word associated with the sentiments Koreans and Canadians have alike after South Korea’s ban on Canadian beef of 9 years was lifted. Among other countries that had stifled trade associating North America with the mad cow disease, the move was considered a breakthrough and success for Canadian diplomacy. Having had the ban come into place in 2003, the 2002 numbers showed that South Korea was the fourth-largest importer of Canadian beef. The expansion of the beef market in Canada is estimated to yield US d$40 million in sales. Korea is already Canada’s seventh-largest partner in trade, with exports estimating $4 billion to the country. The purpose of this achievement remains to spur economic growth within the country, and encourage investment and competition. Keeping the mindset of profit maximization in mind, a higher quantity of beef sold enables companies to prosper and expand in their productivity and efficiency. International Trade Minister Ed Fast has spearheaded his role and taken to his work immediately, after having been named to the cabinet 8 months ago. In part it is due to the minister’s efforts that the change has occurred. “I believe competition will increase and the local market in South Korea for beef could see an increase or decrease of welfare for consumers in terms of prices and quantities,” said Ahlam Ben Kheli-
fa, a third-year Economics major at McMaster University. with South Korean keen to engage and increase trade, their agreement with Canada has seen various indications that free trade could be a pressing matter in the near future. With a lack of import taxes, Canada could see an estimated influx of 33,000 job losses, with 4,000 from the auto sector, reports one Canadian Auto Worker’s study. The import tariff of 6.1 per cent, if eliminated, could see far more Hyundais and Kias entering the Canadian market. This in turn could mean that Korea is poised to be seen as the next Mexico, as felt by the several auto unions. Many Canadians and Koreans have strong opinions in regards to the new change that has taken place. Many people believe that job losses and trade imbalances are yet to come with the changes that are underway. In addition to this, South Korean sentiments mirrored relucntance similar to Canadians. Remaining specific and concerned with the food safety in the country, it was through degrees of negotiation that changes have come to South Korea. Pessimism had also been expressed for any such products making their way into the market in the future.
However, though there had been desires against the 2008 decision to reopen the market to products from the US, bans and protests had taken place within the country.Having been the last major market to lift the ban, the new agreement motions for new changes to be expected with the unionized stances of several countries engaged in trade. The gain is in larger part one that promotes political ties, but nonetheless signals for new developments that are still being negotiated. Having made access with various Asian markets, talks continue with Japan and Singapore for new opportunities.
JOY SANTIAGO / MULTIMEDIA EDITOR
Seeking to solve Hamilton’s brain drain AIESEC McMaster takes a leap to promote Hamilton’s thriving business sector Kathryn Reindhart The Silhouette
In our current struggling economy, having a degree is not enough for entry-level employment. It may seem like a harsh reality check, however the hard truth is employers are looking to students to already have acquired soft skills, business suavity, networking familiarity or volunteer experience on top of a degree. These are just a few examples of how undergraduates can gain that extra edge over a peer when looking to prospective employers. However, consider this. What is the likelihood you will look to these prospective employers right here in Hamilton? The majority of McMaster graduates are likely to leave Hamilton behind and search for these jobs in Toronto or other cities. Yet for the local business community and for many unaware graduates there is a gold mine of opportunity right in the hammer. To provide an example, manufacturing has always had a long tradition in and is making a shift to the science sector. Basing a large reputation on the science field is just one example of how Hamilton is an increasingly good opportunity for McMaster graduates to flee to for employment.
Fortunately for many McMaster students gaining that extra experience outside the classroom does not have to be an issue and Hamilton employers can worry less about keeping youth talent within the community. Demonstrating leadership on McMaster’s campus, students are already working with the local businesses to solve Hamilton’s ‘brain drain’. On Jan. 19 an event called People, Professions, Perspectives was held, with this very idea of solving the ‘brain drain.’ It was a youth-to-business networking forum specifically tailored to McMaster students and the Hamilton business community. The event provided students with the opportunity to listen to key panelists about what companies look for when hiring graduates and how to keep young talent within Hamilton. Responsible for planning and hosting the event is an on campus student run organization called AIESEC McMaster, a local chapter of a broader NGO student run organization which focuses on providing youth with leadership opportunities and global internships. It runs on two main platforms: developing leadership potential in students and driving the business
community by sourcing it with international talent. Hosting the event is just one example how AIESEC works to drive the community and Hamilton busi-
ning People, Professions, Perspectives was to bridge the gap between McMaster students and the Hamilton business community. It connected the two sectors
SILHOUETTE FILE PHOTO
Aissa Boodhoo-Leegsma and Rustam Kasimov led the event. nesses. of student and business into a net “There are students here eager working event, with aims to better to develop their leadership and Hamilton. Needless to say the event learn more about the opportunities did connect the community, with close to home, in Hamilton,” said key panelists, including CEO of the second year Commerce student, Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, Faheem Kaym. David Adames, CEO of YWCA, The main objective, when plan- Denise Doyle, a representative from
The City of Hamilton Community Development Department, Glen Norton and a representative from Arcelor, Mittal Dofasco. As the panelists unanimously agreed, “there is good work right here.” During a question and answer period of the event, students were given the opportunity to ask panelists hard hitting questions regarding future employment. One question that came up was ‘what has to change in Hamilton to get students to stay?’ Once again referring to the transition into a science base manufacturing, McMaster students are being accommodated with job opportunities in order to tempt them staying in Hamilton. The city is working to keep McMaster graduates here. It is imperative to be aware of the chances being offered and to capitalize on every opportunity before graduation. “You are not experiencing Hamilton if you are not getting out of the McMaster bubble,” sais Glen Norton, a panelist at the event. Students can develop themselves professionally and personally by expanding outside the classroom, as was acknowledge at the event, People Professions, Perspectives.
C10 • THE SILHOUETTE
THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012
Local Business Profile
Westdale Prince conquers big box villains Local Bookstore thrives against its retail counterparts
Bryan Prince Booksellers offers a modern approach to bookselling while encompassing an old-time feel. Sonya Khanna Business Editor
Nestled in the comforts of Westdale, Bryan Prince Bookseller first opened its doors to the public almost 23 years ago with a passion for literary works and an itch to spread its love of all things bookworm inspired. The modern demeanor of the store is masked by the warmth of a traditional bookstore charm, unique from the likes of its big box counterparts. Having been around since 1989, Bryan Prince Bookseller has witnessed waves of change within the local community and has carefully adapted the business to the continuous state of flux. Within recent years the store has broadened both its square footage and its customer base, catering in more depth to the student population. “We have noticed that in the last year especially we are seeing more students coming off campus into the community,” says Tracey Higgins, Manager of Bryan Prince Bookseller. “What we need to focus on as business people is having more things like an open mic night at Second Cup or book events that will appeal to the student age and draw people off campus and have them realize there are a lot of resources in the area.” The store has received positive reviews from the likes of students and professors, spawning greater opportunity to diversity customer base. This has allowed the bookstore to spread its wings further in the Mac community, helping to lure students from the confines of student housing and the library and expose them to all that the Westdale community has to offer. Appealing to a mass demographic is just a fraction of what the store strives to achieve. Although the recent emergence and growth in popularity of electronic devices such as the Kindle reader have altered the landscape of the industry in a drastic way, Tracey Higgins
insists the print industry is far from obsolete. What it all boils down to is less about whether print will last, but how it will seek to effectively co-exist and adapt to rapid technological advancements. “We’ve noticed there is a push toward electronic devices, but I think there will be a levelling off,” says Higgins. “There will be people who will like print, people who will like electronic devices and people who like both. I believe there will be a natural levelling off at some point, but I don’t think we will see the end of print in my lifetime. It’s valuable to have time to turn off the electronics and it’s good exercise to have the quiet time where you’re not being inundated.” The purity of tangible literature and the intellectually stimulating power of the imagination outline the lacking aspects of electronic readers. “It’s good to have the option of something static and something to use your imagination,” says Higgins. “That’s something you miss when you have something that’s dynamic. Sometimes you have to flare up your imagination you have to read static words on the page and let the drama take place in your mind and your imagination.” Holding these values, the bookstore has broadened its horizons. Although they do not currently sell electronic reading devices, the business has sought after methods of expanding different platforms and ways to adapt to industry fluctuations. The store has developed an effective special order system enabling a quick and personalized method of obtaining books that are not currently on shelves. “The publishers are responding quickly to the needs and tastes and requests of customers and it doesn’t have to filter through many management levels to be dispersed back to the store,” says Higgins. “If there’s something people have brought up we can consider it right away and do something quickly and
Do you enjoy the complexities of the stock market?
Does thinking about the global economy get you all riled up?
If you’re interested in writing for the Sil business section then come out to our weekly meetings every Wednesday at 1:30 in MUSC B110. Email us for more information at business@thesil.ca
on our own, rather than deciding whether the majority likes it. That’s what is important when you’re working in a community, that they feel they have some contribution to make rather than having it provided.” Combining a sense of something unique and traditional with modern ideas, Bryan Prince Bookseller has mastered the art of developing an easily distinguishable appearance, branding the store as somewhat of an oasis for individuals seeking refuge from the fast-paced nature of society. According to Ms. Higgins, reaching out to the community and giving something back has helped to maintain positive, welcoming relations within the local community. As the industry changes, so do consumer tastes. On the sales front, fiction sales outweighed that of non-fiction sales in years past. In recent years this has evened out, with sales stemming from University presses, including academic non-fiction and popular non-fiction
TYLER HAYWARD / THE SILHOUETTE
items. Sales from University presses have increased 200 to 300 per cent in recent years, with the bulk of all academic works spawning from merely ten publishers. Growth in sales is positively correlated with growing consumer tastes and Tracey Higgins acknowledges the swift response of publishers to appeal to growth in the demand for such items. “Because we can’t compete with the discounts, square footage and sometimes glitz of big box stores, we have to find other ways to compete with them and that is to offer something completely different,” said Higgins. Bryan Prince Bookseller has flourished through the years and continues to maintain a steady position and familiar face in Westdale as it embodies a friendly, personalized approach to business. It acts as a sanctuary for all literature-obsessed beings seeking to become immersed and gain a wealth of knowledge all in a good book.
C11 • THE SILHOUETTE
THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2011
Working hard, or hardly working? Put a lid on inefficient and distracting behaviour in the workplace
Distracting co-workers can unfairly hinder worker productivity and create a hostile work environment. Rachael Ramos The Silhouette
Distractions at the workplace are common and inescapable. Coughing co-workers, workers who are constantly making personal phone calls, socializing, talking too loud and the internet. Do these distractions really diminish worker productivity? Susan Solovic of Allbusiness.com says that workplace distractions are not only annoying but are costly. According to new research, businesses lose US$650 billion annually in productivity because of workplace distractions. So yes, workplace distractions do diminish worker productivity, which results in a costly disadvantage for a company. The average worker admits to frittering away 3 hours per each 8-hour workday, not including lunch and scheduled break-time. Josh Clements, Royal Bank Of Canada employee says, “The only time I surf the web or socialize with others is when there is no
work to be done. If there is no work, what else am I suppose to do?” According to Fabulouslybroke.com, 33.2 per cent of employees attribute their reason for wasting time to the lack of work. To avoid this problem, the employee should take the initiative to speak to their boss about either learning new areas of the workplace or suggesting ways to keep you productively preoccupied. Taking these initiatives will show your boss your leadership skills and this will work as an advantage for you and your future in the company. With today’s growing technology, it is no surprise that workers in the workplace have several ways to distract themselves at work. The cell phone has evolved into a multitasking device. Most companies block certain social media sites to prevent workers becoming too distracted but since many cell phones have the world wide web embedded into their phone, it has now become an alternative to checking other emails, Facebook, Twitter as
well as other forms of social media. For these reasons it is no wonder the number one distraction in the workplace is surfing the web. According to fabulouslybroke.com, the statistics for cited distractions are as follows: 44 per cent are web related distractions, 23.4 per cent is socializing with co-workers, 3.9 per cent is spacing out and 1.3 per cent is applying for other jobs. Surfing the Internet for 18 hours a week during work hours is equivalent to $759 billion in total salary costs for employers. The decrease of productivity caused by web surfing is not only impacting employers but also their clients. Picture this scenario: you have an important task to be accomplished at the end of the day. You come sit at your computer, you start working and things will go on fine for few minutes. Suddenly your mind begins drift and you would rather be checking your mail, then switch back to work. This sets in motion the “Wander Wasting time on Web”. The next thing you know
TYLER HAYWARD/SENIOR PHOTO EDITOR
you have just wasted a good thirty minutes to an hour of what could have been more put to more productive use completing your task. It’s understandable how certain distractions affect a worker’s productivity. For instance, when a co-worker is constantly coughing, you obviously don’t want their germs to spread because of this you are constantly thinking of ways to avoid getting sick and not thinking about the work that needs to be completed; these distractions are unfair to workers. However, other distractions that are selfinflicted are another story, such as web surfing and socializing. There is a time and place for everything: use your designated lunch and break periods for such activities. It would be inappropriate to say sites like Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter are certainly not bad but our constant urge to check sites for new content distracts us from actual work leaving us less productive and at times, inefficient. Time is money.
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RECREATION PROGRAM We offer a minimum of six recreation events each month, providing respite and opportunities for fun and friendship in the community. We bowl, play laser-tag, go rock-climbing, and challenge each other in all sorts of fun ways. We have a great bunch of volunteers who assist at these events and are always happy to welcome more!
INTERESTED? V I S I T O U R W EB-SITE, FIND US ON FACEBOOK OR CONTACT US! w w w. e x tendafamilyhamilton.synthasite .com 905.383.2885 e a f @execulink.com (Buddy Program) e a f . c o n n e ct@gmail.com (Recreation Program)
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a dangerous method • string extravaganza mcmaster museum of art • what is “indie”?
andex
thursday, january 26, 2012
Senior Editor: Jemma Wolfe Entertainment Editor: Myles Herod Music Editor: Josh Parsons
Contributors: Paul Fowler, Dominika Jakubiec, Cooper Long, Simon Marsello
Cover: Jonathon Fairclough
coming up
jan .29
Punk Rock Matinee This Ain’t Hollywood 2:00 p.m.. Ben Caplan The Casbah Lounge 98:00 p.m. Gord Lewis Songbook This Ain’t Hollywood 9:00 p.m.
The Memory of Water Player’s Guild of Hamilton 8:00 p.m. 80 Queen St S. Hamilton, ON. (905) 529-0284 The Pitmen Painters Theatre Aquarius 8:00 p.m. 190 King William St. Hamilton, ON. (905) 522-7529
film
W.E Chronicle The Woman in Black
now
jan.29
Sam Klass Homegrown Hamilton 9:00 p.m.
feb 10-25
jan.28
The Fat Cats This Ain’t Hollywood 9:00 p.m.
theatre
feb 8-25
jan.27 jan.27
Radiosilence Homegrown Hamilton 9:00 p.m.
feb.1
Pete Vandyk The Casbah 9:00 p.m.
jan.31
music
andy’s ticks
opening
in the hammer
waiting, service, lack of service, thanks simon for reading, inside jokes, akg’s, laptops, first world problems, discovering daughter, babysitting, jackson square, sweat, dirty keyboards, late night talks, being undisciplined, sammy davis jr, short stories, film, giving up on readings, late assignments, stradivarius, ticking
“
Most orgies that you go to, I have found, most of it is sad. All that wildness, all those laughs were like the shining silver and gold paper on packages, but there was nothing inside.”
this week in music history...
1971: David Bowie arrived in the US for the first time; he couldn’t play live because of work permit restrictions, but attracted publicity when he wore a dress
• Sammy Davis Jr.
feelin’ randy? get with andy! orgies meetings are held on wednesdays at 2:30pm in musc b110 e-mail your submissions to andy@thesil.ca
editorial
thursday, january 26, 2012
the silhouette’s art & culture magazine • D3
oscar 2012:
snubs, surprises, and a reprise of conservatism I awoke hours after they were announced, my cellphone illuminated with missed messages reflecting ire and disheartenment. Oscar nominations had arrived, not merely soft, but more akin to vapour – a fleeting, if not sickly sweet scent - whisked breezily from memory as soon as it wafted by. Call it sour grapes, but my acerbic stance comes valid. Surely one can shift through the nine competing Best Pictures nominations and assess them as prominently listless entries. Compared to last years rough and tumble field of Inception, The Social Network, Winter’s Bone and 127 Hours - this year’s hopefuls lobby like a campaign on behalf of America, promulgating greatness in the face of past adversity. Case in point: The Help, a whitewash reimagining of African American maids during the volatile civil rights movement. Was it popular? Yep. Was it lightweight? Most definitely. Did it subtly reinforce racial stereotypes while pulling the wool over moviegoer’s eyes? Oh, hell yes! In fact, it’s almost as shameless as a 9/11 fantasy that ties together a fatherless child, a golden key and a mute geriatric who answers with ‘yes’ or ‘no’ inscribed on his palms. Wait. That was nominated, too? Oh my God. Sentiment is where Hollywood’s
heart lays, and while the previous two pander, they remain relative long shots over the swagger and schmaltz of Moneyball and The Descendants – the latter a clear frontrunner. Pitt and Clooney’s chops universally typify quality. Sadly, their pictures, oh so mediocre, seduced voters in the same vein as the Emperors New Clothes – riding their wave of clout to short attention spans and gutless film critics alike. I will emphasize again – these films will not be remembered. Not next year nor ten years from now. In contrast, a bone must be thrown to The Tree of Life, a surprise Best Picture nominee, sporting not only a wonderfully superior Brad Pitt performance but also a vision that remains wildly opaque to even the most seasoned viewer. It makes one question if voters even watched it. Was it just thrown in to shake things up? One to appease the art house sect? Whatever the case, fucking eh. Like any year, actors are obtusely shut out in favour of sympathy votes or outside influence. Chalk it up to the current air of American politics and the GOP race, because it’s the only the-
First Prize:
ory I have behind the heinous exclusion of Drive, or the presumed lock of Albert Brook’s for his sinister supporting work. I still get goose bumps thinking about his scene of soothing a dying friend upon viciously slitting his wrist. Mmmhmm, villainy at its finest. 2011 is apparently the year politics made Hollywood their whipping boy for gore and sex – frank, uncomfortable sex. Michael Fassbender’s brave work in Shame, also a presumed shoe-in, was sorely absence. His substitute? Damian Bichir in A Better Life. Yeah, no one else has heard of him either. Seems that Fassbender’s authenticity as a sex starved, chronic masturbator hit too close for some. You know, the same guys that consistently nominate actresses whenever they play a prostitute. Can you smell my cynicism for this hypocrisy? One last note on Shame: I have a distinct and dejected sense that Fassbender’s snub stems from the film’s rating rather than performance. Marked with an uncommercial NC-17 (equivalent to the once used X), its freedom to confront nudity and graphic subject matter without censorship
$50 gift certificate to Titles! Second Prize:
scared the conservative academy to the bone. So what does this mean? In short, a vote for Shame would have propelled production for similar projects. But therein lies the power of Oscar – ignore it and the artistic risk becomes useless and too great. A similar argument can be made for Cahrlize Theron in Young Adult. Comical, yet equally visceral, her foul-mouthed portrayal, alongside a handicapped Patton Oswald, subscribed to a reality of people unable to grow up. Dark and awkward, it just might be their finest performances, too. Again, though, too icky-poo. Perhaps claims of political infiltration are a bit much. Certainly I don’t have psychical proof. What I do know though is this year’s nominations are littered with nostalgia, oozing with it, in fact. The charming, if not gimmicky silence of The Artist to the overwrought origin of cinema in Martin Scorcese’s Hugo – Hollywood has always been a sucker for narcissism. Change has to come. Challenging films must be noticed. The Oscars oughta grow a pair because with each passing year I’m finding it harder and harder to distinguish the relevance between it and the MTV Movie Awards. • Myles Herod, Entertainment Editor
$25 gift certificate to Titles!
Short story contest 2000 words maximum on the theme of greed Submissions due March 5, 2012
andy@thesil.ca
the silhouette’s art & culture magazine • D4
art
thursday, january 26, 2012
photographs and memories
mma exhibits mesmerize and challenge viewers
A student views Ramona Ramlochand’s kinetic piece “Élan Vital” (2010-2011), on exhibit at the McMaster Museum of Art.
TYLER HAYWARD / SENIOR PHOTO EDITOR
Upon viewing the two current exhibitions at the McMaster Museum of Art (MMA), Liminal Disturbance and Unfallen, I was immediately filled with wonder at the ideas posed by Canadian artists Greg Staats and Ramona Ramlochand. Both exhibitions are an artful array of photographs and interactive pieces that comment on the complexities and wonders of our society. Greg Staats is a photographer and video artist whose work focuses on the concepts of Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) culture. Despite having Mohawk heritage, Staat’s wasn’t raised in the Mohawk culture, and has always felt disconnected from its traditions and rituals. His art expresses this disconnect through the haunting portrayal of the indigenous ritual ceremony of condolence and repair; a ceremony which focuses on the loss of a loved one. Liminal Disturbance is framed by two series of photographs: “Auto Mnemonic Six Nations” and “Six Nations Condolence,” as well as an installation entitled “Dark String Repeat.” These photographs represent the artist’s internal memory; images he’s seen, places he’s been, and the objects that represent his culture. “Auto Mnemonic Six Nations” is made up of abstract photographs including a chair, trees, a forest and a wall. These black and white images are eerie, like images out
of a horror movie, yet manage to express why the artist feels disconnected from his culture; the photographs bring with them a sense of loneliness. By viewing these photographs, the artist encourages us to interpret, experience, and respond to his work. During his “Artist’s Talk” on November 24 at the MMA, Staats spoke of his displayed pieces. He expressed the importance of allowing people to experience the condolence ceremony through his work, even if they know very little about its history and rituals. Staats explained the significance in coming together to take part in an exhibition of works that display a culture that has witnessed so much change and loss. The second exhibition is that of Ramona Ramlochand, whose work reflects the rapidly changing environment in which we live. Unfallen centres around a new kinetic work titled “Élan Vital.” This unusual piece is a tornado contained within a fishbowl, which holds a swirl of colourful hand-painted miniature figures including different people, a fire hydrant, bicycles, street signs, a variety of different animals, as well as many other figurines. This is by far my favourite piece of work from the exhibition. The swirling figures are mesmerizing, and instill a sense of tranquility in viewers. “Élan Vital” is whimsical, a child-like projection of the world. “Élan Vital” is surrounded by a
cluster of photographs taken by the artist over a long period of work and travel. Rather than representing a single place, the photographs represent movement, space, and displacement. One of the main images, titled “unfallen (boys)” depicts two young boys attempting to do headstands on the beach. When turned upside-down, the boys appear to be holding up the world. When looking at the work, I imaged the young boys struggling to rise above the responsibilities put on us by society; the effect of this image is very powerful. Ramlochand uses various techniques to re-order space by placing the photographs upside-down, and playing with the natural way of viewing images. In doing this, the artist explores the experience of simultaneously belonging to nowhere and everywhere. By this, I mean, that although there are people present in the photographs, the place itself almost becomes more significant, more important. I had to adjust the way in which I viewed the images, and rather than paying attention to the people in the photograph, I began to focus more on how distorted the world looks upside-down. Through the manipulation of space, the artist identifies with multiple geographic and ethnic sites, commenting on globalization and our technologically enhanced world. As a student, I would highly recom-
mend this exhibition to anyone who is interested in viewing the world from a slightly different angle. Liminal Disturbance forced me think of how isolated we can be, specifically living in Canada – a country so diverse without one particular cultural way of life. For me, this also translated to the feeling of isolation we can feel in foreign places, or in groups of people we do not necessarily know. Ramona Ramlochand’s Unfallen reminded me of my own childhood - a point in my life during which I had no responsibilities and the world was as colourful and bright as I wanted it to be. As suggested by Haema Sivanesan, the Executive Director of Centre A in Vancouver, Ramlochand’s work can only be described as “toy-like, playful and hypnotic.” Liminal Disturbance and Unfallen– despite being separate – complement one another, making this one of the most interactive museum exhibitions I have seen in quite some time. Liminal Disturbance and Unfallen are on view at the McMaster Museum of Art (MMA) until January 28, 2012.
• Dominika Jakubiec
film
thursday, january 26, 2012
the silhouette’s art & culture magazine • D5
for the love of strings 5 at the First showcases talented string performers
Five minutes into the concert had me questioning why I don’t listen to more classical music. Twenty minutes in had me convinced to take up the cello. There I was at the First Unitarian Church of Hamilton on Sunday, January 22, for the 5 at the First’s concert, totally mesmerized by the talent on stage before me. The 5 at the First concert series was established in 2010 and has since featured many renowned yet local musicians performing a repertoire of chamber music. Executive Director Michele Corbeil explained that, “‘5’ refers to the number of concerts that are in the series and the word ‘first’ refers to our venue - the First Unitarian Church of Hamilton.” For the 2011-2012 season, the theme is love and Sunday’s show of duets had a couples motif woven through it, amplified by the musicians’ discussion of the composers and selected pieces immediately prior to playing them, which elaborated on the romantic histories of the compositions. The first performance was a viola and cello pairing by Caitlin Boyle and Rachel Desoer, respectively. Their rendition of Walter Piston’s “Duo for Viola and Cello” was intense, moody and dark but still pleasant to hear. Boyle and Desoer were captivating to observe; these old friends exchanged frequent glances with each other and were evidently happy to be performing together. The sound of cello and viola – an unusual combination – was very complimentary and the dynamic between musicians put a nice spin on the couples theme. Corbeil elaborated, “One of the benefits of our venue that makes chamber music so wonderful is how close to the musicians you can be… Audience members can see the musicians up close, see their facial expressions and how they communicate with each other through their instruments and music.” Their duet was followed by “Two Choros bis (1928) for Violin and Cello” by Heitor Villa-Lobos, performed by Yehonatan Berick on violin and Rachel Mercer on cello. This Brazilian piece, heavily influenced by folk and street music, was eclectic and energetic. The sound of Mercer’s 1696
Bonjour Stradivarius cello also added to the beauty of the performance. This valuable instrument has been on loan to Mercer from the Canada Council Musical Instrument Bank since 2009 when she won a competition granting her use of the Stradivarius until August of this year. The third couple to perform was husband and wife duo Csaba Koczó (on violin) and Theresa Rudolph (on viola). They played “Three Madrigals for Violin and Viola” by Bohuslav Martinu, upbeat pieces with a Renaissance feel, with their obvious deep bond adding a deeply personal feel to the music. The final piece, “Sextet No 1 in B Flat Major Op 18” by Johannes Brahms, brought all six musicians together for a theme in variations that was rich in sound and texture. After witnessing each performer’s talent on a small scale in the couples section, this grouping was a welcome chance to hear the big sound this larger grouping could produce. This was a gorgeous collaboration by old friends who took the opportunity to “get together and do what we love,” as Mercer said, to the benefit of their captive audience. This talented ensemble thoroughly entertained the crowd gathered at the First Unitarian Church last Sunday afternoon, and certainly convinced one student to pay more attention to the classical genre in the future.
5 at the First’s next show of the series will take place on Saturday April 7, 2012 at 7:30pm at the First Unitarian Church of Hamilton. Tickets are $5 for students and can be purchased at the door. See www.5atthefirst.weebly.com for more information.
“Rachel Mercer and the Bonjour Stradivarius cello, 1696” Oil on canvas by Sylvia Simpson, 2011
• Jemma Wolfe, Sr. ANDY Editor
music
D6 • the silhouette’s art & culture magazine
thursday, january 26, 2012
what is “indie”? tracing the
engimatic history of
ning artists not go unrecognised. By the late ‘80s, the mainstream had begun to notice the underground buzz. R.E.M popped their major label with their 1988 release Green. The mainstream and underground we’re no longer two distinct streams, and with the changed the way in which the term “indie” was used. When Nirvana broke in the earlier ‘90s, the mainstream realized the undeniable appeal of independent artists. Local scenes we’re pillaged as the major labels sought to rampantly capitalize on the trend. A few years later, the trend had been completely exhausted and the industry reverted once again to superficiality and plasticity. It was during this period that the term indie was melted down and reshaped. When, in the early ‘2000s, the garage rock revival began to pick up steam, the term “indie” re-entered the vernacular of journalists. But this time, the referent was no longer a movement of musicians but a style and sound. It described a sound, ultimately based in guitar rock, but willing to flirt with experimental, pop and folk sensibilities. Hopefully, some of your confusion regarding the use of the term has been alleviated. But even I’ll admit that this is just a brief, liner sketch of an evolving and elusive concept. Despite how much is written about the term, it can never be totally pinned-down.
music’s most
elusive
Husker Du
term
The term “indie” pops up more often these days than a tweet tirade from Kayne West. Yet many people are still baffled by the illusory nature of the concept. Is it a simplification of the word “independent”, a style of music or something much more enigmatic? The development of the term stretches further back that many imagine, to a time before many of us were likely even born. The term was first used by journalists as a tag to mark a growing scene of independent musicians in the early ‘80s, but it has since become synonymous with a style and sound. A growing discontent with the over-produced, glitter-glam scene that was flooding the mainstream during the late 70’s sparked a grass-roots revolution to take the music industry back. The clearest example of this was the punk movement, but creative independent music was not limited to this genre. It was pied-pipers such as the Ramones who carved tour circuits across America, making a string of connections wherever they went. For the first time, people could enter dive bar and see freaks playing original music. A mantra swept the nation, “if that drunk fool can do it, what’s stoppin’ me?” Soon, hardcore punk exploded across America in response to the conservative backlash, and a national web of independent music connections grew with it. But the idealism of hardcore proved constricting for maturing artists and their creativity was spilled over the tight confines of the genre. It was bands such as Husker Du and R.E.M. who first really came to define the term “indie.” Both with roots in the punk scene, these bands proved that these aggressive genres could be balanced with a pop sensibility. It was thus that the age of college rock was born. College radio was fundamental to the success of the wave first independent bands across North America. While the mainstream press and media virtually ignored these bands, college stations and campus papers ensured that these cun-
R.E.M
•
Josh Parsons, Music Editor
Minutemen
thursday, january 26, 2012
featured throwback review
cd reviews
the silhouette’s art & culture magazine • D7
Fugees The Score 1996
HHHHH It’s not without precedent that the offshoots of hip-hop and rap dominate today’s mainstream airwaves. For this week’s throwback review, I found it tempting to stray from my usual classic-rock stalwarts and venture down the road less traveled. And where better to begin than with the Fugees. In 1996, hip-hop trio the Fugees bounced back from a relatively unsuccessful debut album and released The Score, a seventy-three minute odyssey that arguably changed the face of hip hop. A punch-packing collective featuring MCs Wyclef Jean, Lauryn Hill and Pras Michel, the Fugees arrived on the East Coast rap scene with 1994’s Blunted on Reality. The Score, their only other recorded work, cemented them in the history books as an act to be remembered, if not cherished. Delivering one cleverly mastered track after another, The Score has scarcely a dull moment. The record kicks off with “Red Intro,” which serves as the perfect preview, subtly name-dropping the songs to come while simultaneously giving the listener an apt cross-section of gang life. Following that, a string of stellar tracks: the fluid bassline of “How Many Mics,” infectious chorus and rhythm of “Ready or Not,” laid-back shuffle of “Zealots,” and of course, “The Beast,” which is just straight-up badass. Surprisingly, the tunes never grow stale. Second-side gems like “The Score” and “Cowboys” mould themselves perfectly around effective covers of Roberta Flack’s “Killing Me Softly with His Song” and Bob Marley’s “No Woman, No Cry.” It seems almost self-evident that a thrilling trip like The Score would sweep its Grammy nominations in 1997. But the x-factor, arguably, in the Fugees’ ability to keep us entertained is their seamless shifting between rappers. Just when you’ve had your fill of Wyclef or Pras, Lauryn Hill sweeps in with a beautiful hook. It’s a small wonder that this second and final effort from the New Jersey trio launched them all into relatively noteworthy solo careers. If you’re not much for hip-hop, this album tables convincing evidence that you might want to give it a try. • Simon Marsello
cd reviews Cloud Nothings Attack on Memory
Katheleen Edwards Voyageur
HHHH
HH
Cloud Nothings are difficult to dislike based on their backstory alone. Band leader Dylan Baldi left college, recorded some songs in his parents’ basement, and turned blogosphere buzz into a North American tour. What post-adolescent music lover hasn’t had this fantasy? Attack on Memory represents a darker, heavier departure from these early recordings. Steve Albini’s unpolished production is a definite factor. Albini, as famous for feuding with Pixies and Sonic Youth as for his analog-only techniques, gives the drums thunderous pop. The vocals may be more divisive. Baldi’s raw-throated delivery, uncannily recalling Tokyo Police Club’s Dave Monks in places, can chafe. Fortunately, his close-miked emoting is mostly swallowed-up by jagged guitar assaults. “No Future/ No Past” is a tension-filled slow burner, while “Stay Useless” is catchy post-hardcore-lite perfection. Both also showcase Cloud Nothings’ eagerness to think beyond the powerchord monotony that is the downfall of most pop-punksters. Cloud Nothings’ aggressive new direction is ultimately satisfying, although somewhat inexplicable. Attack on Memory is an angst-filled outburst from someone living every bedroom guitar hero’s dream. • Cooper Long
y’s d n a ks pic
Unfortunately Kathleen Edwards is more famous for dating Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) than she is for the rootsy rock and vivid storytelling that established her as one of Canada’s most talented songwriters. Voyageur is Edwards’ first album to feature production from Vernon and his involvement in the project put Edwards in the international spotlight for the first time in her career. Ironically, it is Vernon’s busy production that is Voyageur’s downfall. Edwards’ best pieces have always allowed her sharp lyricism to cut through understated country arrangements. On Voyageur Vernon smothers almost every track with layers of instrumentation that sound distractingly out of place. Worst of the lot is “Change the Sheets” which combines embarrassingly trite lyrics, hideous stabs of synth, and Vernon’s obtrusive backing vocals. Voyageur is a complete mess. Fortunately for Edwards’ fans, musical couples are often short-lived.
1. “Youth” Daughter 2. “212” Azealia Banks 3. “Paddling Out” Miike Snow 4. “Purple Haze” Jimmy Hendrix 5. “Butterflies and Boners” P.S. I Love You 6. “Eraser” No Age 7. “One Second of Love” Nite Jewel 8. “Coastin” Cities Aviv 9. “Rapture” Blondie
• Paul Fowler
D8 • the silhouette’s art & culture magazine
film
thursday, january 26, 2012
METHOD AND MADNESS
A Dangerous Method Starring: Michael Fassbender, Keira Knightly Directed by: David Cronenberg
HHHH For those who appreciate David Cronenberg’s work, there comes an undaunted delight in knowing it will break the rules. His origin is a gory one. Debuting in the 1970s, the Canadian filmmaker cemented his status with an array of body horror pictures, drawing upon societies discomfort for sex, violence, medicine and technology. However, unlike like many of his contemporaries (Scorsese and Spielberg), Cronenberg saw film as just another means of art – a philosophy that has undoubtedly allowed him to avoid Hollywood constraints and rise as an original, consistently able to attract A-list talent. So while the grotesque images of Shivers, Videodrome and The Fly are very much part of his lauded past, the new millennium has afforded revision, one that has seen him transition from mind over body.
His newest in four years, A Dangerous Method follows the relationship between the founder of analytic psychology, Carl Jung (Michael Fassbender), and Sabina Spielrein (Keira Knightley), a Russian psychoanalyst who started as his disturbed patient – seething with spastic contortions and frightening hysterics. Over the course of six years, spanning Switzerland to Vienna, the film incorporates hypothetical notions and factual context, sourcing its screenplay on Jung’s personal letters. Soon, as their bond intensifies, a breach between doctor and patient explodes into a kinky, masochistic romance – finding the aggressive Spielrein enamored with the married Jung. In contrast, an air of stately intellect arrives with the film’s second relationship, a man who was Jung’s hero, colleague, and finally, rival – Sigmund Freud. Played by Viggo Mortensen, an actor who usually takes the call of stoic outcasts, the role is superbly cast against grain as Croneberg and Mortensen interpret the man as an adroit and sophisticated luminary. By all accounts, A Dangerous Method is a period piece through and
through – draped in decorative attire of the time, elegant locales brimming with cobblestone and carriages. Inside, however, with its darkened corridors, the picture functions as an absorbing verbal thinker, questioning the repression of our immoral thoughts and actions. Given the advantage of having their work and ideas readily available, the film’s reward comes from observing these historic figures speak and validate them, splendidly embodied by skilled actors. Through Freud’s concepts, Jung breaks through with Spielrein, having her divulge memories of sexual fervor and incestual abuse, subsequently igniting their passionate affair and her eventual path of psychoanalysis itself. Even more fascinating, though, is the contact between Freud and Jung – lavish in insight, zingers, and deceit. A good sign of a film is when you want more, rather than less. While Freud remains calculated, cerebral, a dismayed with clairvoyance, you sense that Jung is the opposite, toying with mysticism and prophecy – but only hinted at.
Influencing their professional divide further is a salacious cameo from Vincent Cassel as Otto Gross, a rouge student of Freud’s, sent to Jung for observation. While there, explicit tales of sexual promiscuity and cocaine indulgence rattle and seduce Jung’s psyche, rationalizing his affair with Spielrein, which, in turn, forms the catalyst of Freud’s fallout. All three bring terrific nuance to their roles, oddly melding into a ménage a trios of verbal sparring. Restraint is the key word for A Dangerous Method. Opting for dialogue and debauchery over bloodletting – this is a film that tells, but rarely shows, save for a virginal deflowering. Yes, instead of the typical ‘cronenberg-isms’ of exploding heads, the film deals with imploding relationships and desires, still undeniably sealed by the director’s acumen. For his first historical effort, David Cronenberg unleashes a stimulating treat for the mind, one that makes you ponder and seek the writings of Jung and Freud immediately afterwards. Tell me, for a film, what’s more admirable than that? •
Myles Herod, Entertainment Editor