ELECTION COVERAGE: Candidate Interviews | Debate Rundown | The Youth Vote Thursday, June 5, 2014
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A cheaper, Marauders Maladies charitable make CFL play NXNE A band of Mac alumni is set bicycle draft to play this summer’s NXNE shop festival. PAGE 14 Three Marauder football A Hamilton bike iniative wants to put you on a bike for less. PAGE 9
players have made the list for the CFL draft.
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Ted wants to invest more money in combating climate change.
Donna wants you to have a job out of university.
Raymond wants to make it easier to get around.
Alex wants to make education cheaper and interest-free.
They came and fought for your vote. This June 12, which candidate is going to get your elusive student ballot?
You be the judge.
MAC VOTES
ALEXANDER YOUNG [C/O MSU]
- PAGE 3 -
LOOKING BACK
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NOVEMBER 18, 1960
The Silhouette
Volume 85, Issue 1 Thursday, June 5, 2014 McMaster University’s Student Newspaper
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Russian scholars visit from Soviet Union Four Russian students took a brief tour through the nuclear reactor after which they had a “fruitful discussion” with Council President Bob Donaldson. Perhaps such a discussion would be “fruitful” today? [originally published in The Silhouette as Russian Students Here For Four Day Exchange]
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Spotted: Sexual assault of Mac student? /McMaster Silhouette
An anonymous social interaction platform held the accusations of assault by a Mac student. See what the Spotted at Mac administrator had to say on the issue. www.thesil.ca
PUBLISHED MAY 2, 2014
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Thursday, June 5, 2014
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Make sure to visit www.thesil.ca for additional coverage including livestream footage and links to the candidate websites.
Local candidates debate issues at Mac The Ancaster-Dundas-FlamboroughWestdale candidates came to campus and talked issues. Who stole the show? Ana Qarri Opinions Editor
On May 28 in the MUSC Atrium, the McMaster Students Union hosted an all-candidates debate with four candidates in the Ancaster-Dundas-FlamboroughWestdale riding for the upcoming June 12 provincial election. The participants were Raymond Dartsch of the Green Party, Alex Johnstone of the New Democratic Party (NDP), Ted McMeekin of the Liberal Party, and Donna Skelly of the Progressive Conservatives (PC). Libertarian Party candidate Glenn Langton and Freedom Party of Ontario candidate Barry Spruce were absent. It was an engaging and wellattended debate. The candidates had the opportunity to offer their perspectives on important issues within the riding before focusing on post-secondary education (PSE). Opening Statements set the tone for the debate Raymond Dartsch began by sharing his hopes for the GP’s success in this election. “It’s not a far-fetched idea that a candidate of the Green Party gets elected,” he said. Donna Skelly, as might be expected from a former TV journalist, was always smiling and unmistakeably confident, but addressed the student audience too formally. Johnstone, a former schoolboard trustee, began by highlighting her community experiences at McMaster and Hamilton. She was evidently the most nervous of the four, but recovered steadily. Both Skelly and Johnstone made remarks about the state of provincial employment and debt rates under Liberal leadership. Ted McMeekin combined personal anecdotes and past achievements as the incumbent MPP. McMeekin appeared as the most comfortable of the candidates, aiming to relate with the audience on their shared love of McMaster and the MSU. McMeekin and Skelly: head to head on almost everything
In most of her answers, Skelly attacked Liberal governance, and on numerous occasions directed her accusations at McMeekin. Skelly spoke many times about the Liberal’s “blunders,” “corruption,” and “mismanagement.” McMeekin concluded some of his own responses by rebutting PC platform points that Skelly hadn’t brought up. While Skelly emphasized PC’s fiscal discipline, in particular in terms of cutting public sector jobs, McMeekin criticized the Tory plan as standing on “the backs of those who need us most.” Skelly stated that we have to “bite the bullet” with regards social cuts, while McMeekin countered that Ontario can only rebuild through investment, not cuts. McMeekin responded well to criticism. A veteran to the area’s politics, he handled attacks against him and the Ontario Liberals calmly and maturely. His responses to questions pertaining to PSE and to the criticisms of Skelly and Johnstone included a fine level of detail and knowledge of McMaster, its funding, and current projects. There is no doubt that McMeekin is well-informed on these issues given his incumbency. McMeekin laughed off a number of Skelly’s attacks, though he did respond to Skelly’s accusations about the public investigation of officials in the Premier’s office. He told the audience, rather passionately, that he thinks if someone in Queen’s Park has done something wrong, the “bastard ought to pay for it.” McMeekin conceded that Skelly’s attacks about the Gas Plant closure were fair, but that this didn’t pose a big problem for his overall performance in the debate. The majority of Skelly’s statements were about issues unrelated to PSE. Skelly’s strategy might have worked for a different audience, but her repetitive attacks did not appear to have any effect on university students who wanted to hear about tuition and employment. As much as Skelly liked to attack the Liberals’ platform, she failed to respond to McMeekin’s criticism of the Progressive Conservatives’ plan to tie marks
The debate took place in the MUSC atrium and saw the candidates cover a myriad of issues ranging from education to transportation, tuition, and even climate change. ALEXANDER YOUNG [C/O MSU]
to OSAP funding, Dartsch’s remarks about her support for the Niagara-GTA highway back in 2011, and Johnstone’s claim that the PC platform makes education inaccessible. Johnstone garners audience support Johnstone’s energy and natural tone, along with her emphasis on accessible education, garnered her support from the audience throughout the debate. The majority of the audience’s applause went to her. She criticized both McMeekin and Skelly on their respective party platforms, while agreeing with Skelly on the Liberals’ fiscal irresponsibility and with McMeekin on the PC’s attack on social services. She jumped into some of the more heated points of the debate, but overall came across as a constructive critic instead of a relentless attacker. Johnstone focused far less on attacking the Liberal government and more on bringing forth NDP’s tuition
plans. She did not miss a chance to remind the audience to vote for the NDP this election. Dartsch emphasizes the importance of fresh ideas Although Dartsch didn’t have a strong presence and seemed tired during the debate, he captured the audience’s attention with his honesty and refreshing approach to the election. He did not push for himself or his party, but for open debate and new ideas. However, Dartsch was stumped by some questions, noting that he’s been too busy being a working parent with five kids to keep up with postsecondary news – a comment that might have left a bad taste in the mouths of some of the most involved students on campus. Dartsch went back and forth between making impressive, well thought-out points, and repeating previous statements and admitting to a lack of knowledge on some topics.
Final Remarks There was no clear “winner” in Wednesday’s debate. Overall, Johnstone and McMeekin out-performed both Skelly and Dartsch. Skelly’s performance appealed to strong PC supporters, yet failed to engage undecided members of the audience due to her forced delivery, which at times sounded patronizing and too rehearsed. Dartsch missed the opportunity to make a strong impression on McMaster students. Johnstone and McMeekin gave the most natural and relatable answers. Both were friendly, and unlike their opponents they appeared to understand the purpose of the debate, and used this to their advantage.
That’s not all
Turn the page to read detailed profiles and interviews with the four candidates who were present at the debate.
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Thursday, June 5, 2014
www.thesil.ca
Krista Schwab News Editor
Ted McMeekin
@TedMcMeekin Liberal Party www.votetedmcmeekin.ca
Climate change, McMaster University, social work, Chapters bookstore and public service were all topics of conversation with local MPP Ted McMeekin, who is running for re-election after 14 years of representing the ADFW riding. McMeekin was born and raised in Hamilton and has a deep connection with his riding. He spent two terms as a Hamilton City Councillor and as the Mayor of Flamborough, and has served in the cabinet as Minister of Government Services, Minister of Consumer Services, Minister of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs, and most recently, Minister of Community and Social Services. He received his Bachelor of Social Work from McMaster University and has also attended Wilfrid Laurier University and Mohawk College. The upcoming election has introduced debate around
Alex Johnstone
@alex__johnstone NDP http://electalexjohnstone.com
You can see the contribution Alex Johnstone has made to the community through initiatives like the declaration of Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) as a living wage employer and the organization of the Elect More Women conference. As a current School Board Trustee for HWDSB, member of the Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction’s working committee on Shifting Attitudes, and board member for the Quest Learning Centre United Church in Westdale, it becomes even more obvious that Alex Johnstone is dedicated
Donna Skelly @donnaskellypc Progressive Conservative Party http://adfw.ontariopc.com
Donna Skelly is describes herself as an extremely hardworking person and a strong supporter of the community. She lives in Ancaster, and is highly involved in the non-profit sector and in local sports. Skelly was a journalist for 22 years at CHCH Television in Hamilton, and has moved on to become involved in politics with the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario. Skelly’s platform focuses largely on job creation and the economy. She has seen a worry in the community about a lack of well paying jobs and avidly promotes PC leader Tim
Raymond Dartsch
Green Party of Ontario http://www.gpo.ca/riding/3/candidate-0
Rayond Dartsch is a registered nurse, a political and environmental activist, and a McMaster and Mohawk graduate. He is the MPP candidate for the Green Party of Ontario. Dartsch identified the most important issue in southwestern Ontario as transportation and gridlock. “I was wondering: who is going to fix this problem?” Dartsch said. “That’s one of the things that drew me into politics in the first place.” The Green Party believes expansion of GO service to communities such as Ancaster, Dundas, and Waterdown, as
ELECTION
a number of issues, but when asked which one is the highest priority for our area, Mr. McMeekin responded with climate change. “I think one of the most important issues that we face is one we are facing around the world, and that’s climate change,” McMeekin said. “I think we need to be doing everything we can to educate ourselves about what we can do to curb climate change and what kind of investments we can make, be they in public transit, bike paths or with the Cootes to Escarpment Park.” But climate change is not his only concern. A veteran of the education system, Mr. McMeekin is determined to place emphasis on education. “My first love is McMaster,” he said. “I have a series of advisory committees but the one I enjoy the most is the advisory committee about post-secondary education. There are 16 students and I meet with them four times a year and get advice from them on all kinds of issues. That makes me a better representative for students and generally the McMaster community.” He also addressed the Progressive Conservative Party’s threat to dispose of the 30% tuition rebate, stating that the Liberal Party will keep the tuition rebate if re-elected.
Mr. McMeekin has represented ADFW as the MPP for almost 14 years, and in that time he has worked with students and the administration to bring in approximately $170 million in capital investment to the university to fund projects such as health sciences expansion, the Nuclear Research Building, the Centre for Spinal Cord Injury and the new L.R. Wilson Hall Humanities building. A lifetime resident of the area, Mr. McMeekin has held many positions including the Mayor of Flamborough, the owner and operator of the original Chapters bookstore, a professor, a community worker with the United Church of Canada, and has worked in many other positions in government. With a background in social work, Mr. McMeekin places an emphasis on helping people in the community. “The promise I made when I was first elected was that I would put together the best constituency team in the province. And I did that,” McMeekin said. “As of last week the three women in my office have responded to over 548,000 requests for information and assistance. […] So I think all of that together equals being a pretty good MPP.”
to the city and its people. Education is very important to both Johnstone and the NDP. The party promises a tuition freeze for university students, and is looking to make student loans interest free. For students in medical school, a credit of up to $20,000 for debt reduction will be given for employment in rural communities. “I’m still paying down my student debt, actually,” Johnstone admitted. “I graduated in 2008 and I still have three more years to go.” NDP policies like tuition freezes and interest free loans will help manage the debts incurred from attending post secondary school. Johnstone is also an advocate of improving the education system, especially for special needs students. “I was a special needs student myself – I actually failed grade one,” said Johnstone. “But I had really amazing teachers and resource staff that changed my whole trajectory. I was able to go ahead and earn two University degrees. That to me really demonstrated
that with the right supports, you can change a child’s path.” In addition to improving the education system, the NDP is looking to attract businesses to Ontario by lowering hydro rates. Their plan involves merging four of Ontario’s hydro agencies to minimize duplicated management costs. In the business sector, NDP plans to reward businesses that create jobs by giving a tax credit of up to $5000 per employee hired. They also plan to cut back small business tax to 3% to help small businesses thrive. “I have a record of working hard on behalf of families, certainly as an elected school board trustee this past term. I’ve worked very hard to get results for families,” said Johnstone. “I always start by saying that I can’t promise you’ll get 100% of what you’re asking for but I will try my hardest and we will look towards a compromise, always. It has worked out really well that way. I think that my track record alone demonstrates that I’m an excellent person to fill this role as MPP.”
Hudak’s plan to create one million jobs if elected in Ontario. “I grew up in Northern Ontario, north of Sudbury in a tiny little town,” Skelly said. “I’m a journalist and I knew back then – I knew when I was 14 – what I wanted to do. I also knew that when I graduated that as long as I wanted to work hard I could work anywhere in Ontario. I knew I could get a job in any field anywhere in Ontario and that is simply not the case anymore.” “If you end up graduating from university with debt and can’t get a job it’s devastating,” Skelly said. “We have to turn the province around by creating high paying, full-time jobs.” The Progressive Conservative Party’s plan encourages students to look to the trades for apprenticeships that will promise high paying, stable jobs in the future. Other sectors they say will assure high paying jobs are science, technology, engineering and business. The plan emphasizes strengthening the private sector in
order to create more jobs. This includes making the tax rate for business the most competitive in North America, as well as reducing rising hydro bills that may deter businesses from settling in Ontario. This comes at the cost of the lost 30% tuition rebate, and reductions in numbers of teachers and education staff under Tim Hudak’s plan to cut 100,000 public sector jobs. Skelly described the plan as “tough medicine,” but necessary to balance Ontario’s budget. “It’s a good solid plan and it’s going to give you hope, it’s going to give you an opportunity to grow up in the Ontario that I grew up in – where taxes were low and where jobs were so prosperous and readily available across Ontario,” said Skelly about the PC plan. “I’m the right choice because I’m extremely motivated,” she said. “This is my second time running, and trust me, if you give me an opportunity to represent you I will work really, really hard. But more so, you have to have the right plan. We have the right plan.”
well as light-rail transit in Hamilton, will help solve the gridlock program. “There’s all this crazy talk of highway 401 having to be expanded to 10 or 16 lanes out to Kitchener,” he said. “But if you have extended GO service…that’s where your solution to gridlock is.” In terms of education, the Green Party of Ontario’s biggest proposed change is the merging of the Catholic and public school boards. Having two school boards duplicates services such as bussing and wastes an estimate of $1.2 to $1.6 billion each year. Along with merging the school boards, the party aims to support youth through the creation of a Social Innovation Fund. The fund would give grants, loans and mentorship to young entrepreneurs in order to offset the high youth unemployment rate. “As someone who is still paying off his own student loans,
I am very aware of the affordability issues facing students, and that has to be addressed, not just by making student loans more available and making people go deeper into debt,” Dartsch said. Another strategy to create jobs is to double the health tax exemption for employers with payrolls of less than $5 million. “Cutting small business pay roll taxes, as far as I’m aware, is very helpful to someone considering hiring because it lowers the cost for that,” Dartsch said. Many have been skeptical of the Green Party, but Dartsch thinks Canada is ready for Green Party leadership. “We’ve had a century or more of experience with the Liberals and the Conservatives, we’ve even had a NDP government for a few years,” Dartsch said. “I think looking at the Green Party platform, it is a fresh look at a lot of old problems and fresh solutions to problems that exist today that didn’t exist before.”
2014 ADFW McMEEKIN
Thursday, June 5, 2014
Why don’t students vote?
- Born and raised in Hamilton - Represented the ADFW riding for 14 years - Former Mayor of Flamborough and Hamilton City Councillor
Christina Vietinghoff Features Editor
Some students eagerly participate in elections in a partisan way by going door to door or campaigning through social media. Other students earn money by working for Elections Ontario as a Poll Clerk or Information Assistant. But when it comes to voting, it is well-known that students are one of the demographics with the lowest voter turnout for both provincial and federal elections, with only 2 out of every 5 eligible 18-24 year olds casting a ballot in the last federal election.
Light Rail Transit: Yes GO Service Expansion: Yes Education: - Improvement through advisory committees - Keeping the 30% tuition rebate - Investing in innovative education projects
What is being done about it? To combat voter apathy, the MSU has created the MacVotes campaign, aiming to both educate and engage students wishing to vote in any riding. MSU Vice President (Education), Rodrigo Narro-Perez explained, “We want students to vote regardless of where they are, whether it’s here in Hamilton or back home anywhere across Ontario.” The MacVotes website includes a video summary of local candidate platforms and a series of FAQs for students wanting to participate in the election. On May 28, the MSU also hosted an all-candidates (from the Ancaster-Flamborough-DundasWestdale riding) debate on campus that was live-streamed by the Silhouette 15 days before the election. As Narro-Perez explains “the summer time is an obvious barrier but we have focused our efforts through social media to compensate”. Though the campaign is dynamic and presents a useful guide for students to vote, it is unclear whether these types of campaigns are enough to get students to actually register on the voters list and go to their local polling station to vote on election day.
- HWDSB School Board Trustee - Member of Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction subcommittee - Women’s leadership advocate Most Important Issue: Education Light Rail Transit: Yes GO Service Expansion: Yes Education: - Tuition freeze - Interest-free student loans - Up to $20,000 credit for medical school graduates who work in rural areas
- Ran as candidate in 2011 - Was journalist for CHCH TV - Avid community volunteer
The apathetic province Ontario in particular seems to have an epidemic of voter fatigue. Less than half of eligible Ontario residents voted in the last provincial election. Dr. Katherine Boothe, a McMaster political science professor, describes how theorists like Mancur Olson (1971) argue this problem stems from the nature of democracy, “rational individuals know that their potentially significant effort to contribute to a collective or public good (like saving the environment or electing a government) will only advance the cause a small degree, and they will share the benefits whether they contribute or not”, which is coined by social scientists as the “collective action problem”. Voting campaigns targeting youth might not provide sufficient incentive to overcome this problem. As Dr. Boothe said “recent research by Goodman (2012) suggests that young voters’ changing perceptions of citizenship and civic duty have an important role in their willingness to participate – and you probably can’t affect those with more convenient polling places or better buttons.” The challenges of navigating the voting system are exacerbated by the Elections Ontario website. As McMaster student Sara King explains, the website is difficult to navigate “The website is problematic, it’s very hard to find what you’re looking for and the explanations are very confusing.” Furthermore, the youth section in particular contains no compelling information or any attempt to address issues that youth in particular may face when it comes to voting, like voting in their University riding versus their home riding. As King said “The youth section is a joke”.
SKELLY
Most Important Issue: Jobs/ economy Light Rail Transit: No GO Service Expansion: Yes Education: - Emphasis on science, technology, engineering and business fields - Creation of jobs through promoting trade education - Strengthen skills in high school math and commerce
Most Important Issue: Transportation/gridlock Light Rail Transit: Yes GO Service Expansion: Yes Education: - Merge Catholic and public school boards - Encourage many different pathways for students, not just university - Keep education affordable
DARTSCH
The initiative must be yours PHOTOS BY ALEXANDER YOUNG [C/O MSU]
- Registered nurse - McMaster/Mohawk graduate - Political activist
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At the ballot
Most Important Issue: Climate change
JOHNSTONE
www.thesil.ca
If you are 18 years or older on election day, a Canadian citizen and a resident of Ontario, you can vote in the provincial election and you can choose which riding to vote in, whether that be McMaster’s riding or a home riding. However, it will be up to each individual to take the initiative to vote. Despite the MacVotes campaign, the lackluster Elections Ontario programming raises the question of how many students will end up turning out on June 12. Turn to page 8 to read more from Rodrigo, the VP (Education), on youth voting.
The Silhouette
Thursday, June 5, 2014
www.thesil.ca
EDITORIAL
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The need for Buzzfeed (Or five reasons you might actually be addicted to lists) I’m a sucker for lists. Let’s get that out of the way. If you give me a diatribe in 2000 words I will likely use it to line my roommate’s hamster cage, but if you break it down into 20 bite-sized chunks complete with pop-culture gifs? I’ll be on that like macaroni on cheese. Why? Let me break it down. 1. Ain’t nobody got time for that. We’re a culture of movers and shakers. Few people have the time to sit dow and sift through what is no doubt a masterpiece of written word. There’s a time and place for that, (the Sil perhaps?) but the majority of us want to digest content during bathroom breaks. 2. It gives us an easy hierarchy to follow. Words like top, best, worst, or hardest help the brain make logical rankings for everything in a list. We can immediately tell that the number one fact you didn’t know about Pitch Perfect is perhaps slightly more obscure than the number five fact you didn’t know about Pitch Perfect. [editor’s disclosure: I have not seen Pitch Perfect.] 3. There’s a relevant gif for everything. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR "It's become a joke how disruptive the environment has become in certain parts of Mills (the second floor is referred to as "Club Mills"). This seems to be a growing trend: noisy students being allowed to talk, eat, watch videos on computers that are meant to be used for education, and do anything but study in the libraries. Now Thode has a study space in place of its periodicals that will no doubt become a conversation floor in a similar way. This must stop. Something must be done. I am a graduate student and thankfully do not have to put up with this kind of thing, having a quiet study space with respectful student colleagues around me. But, I remember being in even less tense environments than are becoming more
Andrew Terefenko Executive Editor andrewterefenko
There are actually gifs of entire movies. It’s like we’ve progressed so far that we have actually regressed. You can watch all of Terminator 2 in tiny, pixelated gif format! The future is here folks. 4. The nostalgia factor is all too evident. Many of us grew up on lists, watching MTV/ MuchMusic countdown lists, or scrutinizing sports rankings of our local teams. If you’re not first you’re last, am I right? 5. A fifth thing to back up my point. Hard to disagree with that one. If you don’t like lists, you’re probably in a sad, sad minority. Don’t make me break out my 21 Reasons you might be a listophobe list.
Loud people at Mills, still? ubiquitous now, as an undergrad. Back then, it was a quiet study room with a couple of trouble-makers. Even though I couldn't focus due to the out-of-place noise, being young and timid (as other studious individuals may be) I didn't have the chutzpah to ask for respectful silence. It was awful, and a lot of time and concentration was lost due to this nonsense. And now, the situation is very clearly worse. Please, staff and management of the libraries; do something. Make it a campaign for study. Study should be encouraged and supported. Loud fun times should be looked down upon in the library; noise and disruption should be quelled or expelled. I, who have been,
and those, who now are, fed up with being pushed out by disrespectful, entitled individuals eagerly await a response, and more eagerly await swift action. Solving this wouldn't cost money, it would only take guts and resolve to preserve and indeed revive a positive, studious environment that those who truly belong in a place of learning deserve and should expect. Kindest regards, especially to those who serve within the libraries and may also be frustrated with this not-so recent trend. " Best regards, -r.
To the picturesque matrimony between B and A. The poutine bar was a nice touch.
To network outages while I am watching Psych on Netflix.
To the few brave souls to visit me during the summer. You keep me sane.
To the day that I accidently closed my door and might have missed a visitor or two. (I was here I swear.)
To new business cards.
To neutered net neutrality.
To the recently departed Sil-lumni who have gone to do some great things already.
To the amount of packaging the new chairs came in. The bubble wrap was bubble wrapped.
To a new format, let’s see how it goes. To our livestream audience. Thanks for participating guys. To a lack of microwave, which you’d think would be a thumbs down but has actually taught me how to use everything else.
To lack of summer Speculator. It’s alive guys don’t worry. To the humidity. Who’s with me? To the way these smell.
To JW, for easing me into this. To Burrito Bandidos, for an exceptional shrimp burrito. Muy Sabroso!
To Godzilla’s lack of Godzilla.
IT’S SIMPLE
525.0000 AND SIMPLY THE BEST
FREE DEBIT TAXI • Over 100 van cabs • Hamilton’s largest fleet
The Silhouette
Thursday, June 5, 2014
OPINION
A marginalized student’s union? Ana Qarri Opinions Editor
As much as inclusion and diversity have become buzzwords in elections and values upheld by student unions, measures to implement equitable services and plans are often met with resistance. Recently, the University of Toronto Student Union (UTSU) UofT campus, home to the controversial student union equity plan. introduced an Equity Plan which, if fully implemented, will remove representation for most colleges and faculty programs and add ten constituency directors. These directors will represent indigenous students, LGBTQ students, racialized students, women, athletes, international students, mature students, students with disabilities, first years, and commuters. Although the UTSU’s plan is in its beginning stages and has not yet passed at their Annual General Meeting, it has already become a controversial topic at U of T and beyond. In an article in the National Post, post-secondary education commentator Robyn Urback condemned the UTSU’s plan for all the wrong reasons. She called it “harrowingly stupid,” and aimed to expose the plan for what she thinks it truly is: an attack on white men. Urback’s article has unfortunately served as a reference point for many U of T undergrads and others who are outraged by this plan. It’s been cited in comments in U of T’s student newspaper The Varsity and other social media platforms as an acceptable rationale for why UTSU’s plan is so “stupid.” Yet, Urback is missing the point, as are many of those disagreeing with UTSU’s plan. While there are many things to criticize about this Equity Plan, none of these criticisms will be taken seriously if they continue attacking “equity” instead of the “plan.” The UTSU’s plan is clearly a decision based on inclusion and the desire to give marginalized communities on campus a voice. Since representation of minorities and democratic bodies elected by the majority don’t always go hand in hand, introducing ideas that aim to better represent marginalized groups is an incredibly difficult task. This attempt to introduce something new and unheard of before in student governments should be criticized constructively and given credit for its radical effort. The exclusion of marginalized identities from student government is undoubtedly an important issue in post-secondary representation. Can the UTSU’s plan fix this systemic problem? I don’t think so. But I think the UTSU’s board understands the level of reform that needs to take place in student unions. The plan will certainly increase descriptive representation on student council, making marginalized identities visible, yet it will encourage a culture of placing the responsibility of meeting minority needs to minority members. It limits representation as something that can be achieved only by those whose experiences are identical to their constituents. This assumption of similarity is extremely flawed, given that our reliance on democratic systems is based on our belief that our representatives are capable of addressing our needs regardless of differences. Instead of emphasizing the idea that women, LGBTQA+ individuals, racialized or disabled students are present in all faculties, across the entire campus and catering to their needs is only the just and equitable thing to do, it will instead encourage the idea that placing one queer, or disabled, or indigenous student on a governing body to represent their communities will create larger cultural impacts. Sure, that one director for radicalized students might offer some insight on a policy, but are the creators of this plan hoping that somehow the one voice in the assembly will be more than that? Will it cause an increase in the number of racialized directors elected for other positions on the assembly, for president? The UTSU’s plan assumes that guaranteeing a seat at the table for these identities will solve complex problems of representation. We want our communities represented, but true success would mean achieving proportional representation in the current structure of student assemblies. It would mean members of marginalized communities being elected by students to represent them without the student union creating mandatory positions. This plan would not work towards breaking down barriers and prejudices that cause the underrepresentation of these groups in the first place. It seems as though the UTSU forgot what the goal of their plan really is: to create a campus where equity is the norm and marginalized identities no longer have to be referred to as marginalized. By restructuring their student union assembly to have boxes for these marginalized identities, the UTSU will be building a system that secures representation but ignores the deeper problems they are trying to address.
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Be on the lookout for more Opinions this summer exclusive to the website at www.thesil.ca. Or submit your own to thesil@thesil.ca!
DEAR MAC,
Dear Mac, I’m about to start my fourth year this Fall, and I still have no idea what I want to do next. Most of my friends know what they are going to do, but I have no clue. I don’t know what my degree will get me, and I don’t know what kinds of jobs I want to do, or what I would be good at. Before, it seemed okay, because I still “had time”, but I’m starting to panic now, because I’m starting my fourth year, and I should know what I want to do with the rest of my life! I’m freaking out, and I don’t know what to do! -Futureless Dear “Futureless”, First of all, just because you don’t know what it is, doesn’t mean you don’t have a future. It’s very common to have doubts and questions about the future, and you are definitely not alone in having them. The first place to start is to think about what interests you, what you like, and what you are qualified to do. Look at the kinds of things you’ve enjoyed doing in the past: What subjects do you like the most? Do you like research? What kinds of job and volunteer experiences do you have? The Student Success Centre website has many resources for career planning (under the “careers” tab). You can also try talking to a Career Counsellor, either at the Student Success Centre (Gilmour Hall, 110), or at your faculty office. You can also try searching up different careers you might be interested in on the internet to see what requirements they may have. You could also try searching up different careers your degree could lead to (e.g. careers in psychology, careers in gerontology, careers in communications, etc.) If you’re interested, you could even try talking to one of your professors, many of them are very helpful, and may be able to help guide you in identifying your strengths, weaknesses, and areas of focus and interest. See if you’re interested in pursuing graduate studies, talk to professors or your academic advisors and see if they have any insight about grad school for you. Think about whether you think you want to go straight to grad school, or take some time off to work or travel, or have some personal time. One other thing to remember is that just because you’re going into your fourth year, does not mean that choosing a career is “now or never”. Many people change their careers throughout their lives. It’s okay to worry, but don’t feel like you have to have your entire life planned out right now. You still have time, and you have a lot of options. -Mac Dear Mac, I think my housemate is stealing my food. We are living in our house for the Summer, after living in the same res this year. I often notice that my food is missing. There are only 3 of us living in the basement, and we all share a fridge, but I’m pretty sure I know which of my housemates is doing it. I’m getting super frustrated, but we are all really good friends, and we are going to have to live together all year, so I don’t know what to do! -Hungry Dear Hungry, This kind of situation can be tough, because when you’re living with close friends, you want to have fun, but you also need to remember to set rules. You might be pretty sure which one of your housemates is taking your food, but remember that you might not know for sure. Something you can suggest is having a “house meeting” where you can set ground rules for living together. Here, you can mention specific rules for sharing food and fridge-space. This way, you aren’t singling out one person, and it is also a constructive way to prevent problems in the future. If this doesn’t work out, try talking to your housemates individually, or leaving notes on your food saying “do not eat”, or labelling it with your name. -Mac “Dear Mac” is a column written by volunteers from the MSU’s Peer Support Line. To email in a question that you want addressed in a column, you can send it in to: psl@msu.mcmaster.ca with the subject line: Dear Mac. The Peer Support Line does not run in the Summer, and will start again in the Fall.
B.O.D. CORNER
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The vote starts with you
ALEXANDER YOUNG [C/O MSU]
The ballots open next week. What does it take to make students care?
Rodrigo Narro-Perez Vice President (Education) MSU
Your campus this summer Services at your service. It may be summer - but campus is still lively! Within the McMaster Students Union (MSU), there are a large variety of services operating May through August to serve the campus community. Our advocacy and administrative efforts never cease. The MSU Main Office (MUSC 201) is open Monday - Thursday from 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. and Fridays from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. until the end of August. The planning and preparation of the academic year, including Welcome Week and Homecoming is conducted chiefly over the summer months. As well, all full-time undergraduates maintain their 2013/2014 MSUbacked health and dental insurance plans until September. MSU staff are available to assist you with any health and/or dental plan related questions. More information can be found online at msumcmaster. ca/healthplan. In addition, if you ever feel like having a conversation, pitching an idea or are interested in hearing what the MSU is working on, swing by the office, send us a message or give us a call – the Board of Directors are always available to chat. TwelvEighty will operate all summer on modified hours. Open Monday - Friday from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., TwelvEighty is primed to host World Cup viewing parties on a new 70-inch flat screen. Beginning June 13, TwelvEighty will feature every FIFA World Cup game scheduled for noon – follow @MSU_1280 and like fb.com/1280BarGrill for updates. Not into soccer? Well, it is patio season and TwelvEighy’s patio is ready to soak up the sun. With an upcoming $13.00 beer bucket special, you should definitely consider stopping by for a well deserve break. Union Market continues to be your one-stop-shop for both hot and cold drinks, as well as a wise assortment of health snacks and delicious pre-made sandwiches. The store is open Monday-Thursday from 8 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. If you are on campus for summer school, you will be glad to know that Underground Media+Design is open all summer long. Located in the basement of the McMaster University Student Centre (MUSC), Underground Media & Design is prepped and ready to handle all of your printing and design needs. They are open Monday - Thursday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. The Compass Information Center is conveniently situated on the main floor of MUSC. Remaining a one-stop-shop for all transit ticket needs, Compass offers a number summer attraction specials, including specials deals on admission to Canada’s Wonderland, African Lion Safari, Toronto City Pass and Cineplex. Stop by Compass any time Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Bike often? Need a tune up? MACycle offers a number of parts, accessories and has knowledgeable techs to help you out. Keep your ride in tip-top shape and take advantage of the great riding in and around Hamilton during the great summer weather. MACycle is located on the north end of the Ron Joyce Stadium below the stands, across from the Les Prince Hall Residence. The shop is open Monday to Thursday from 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. The Emergency First Response Team (EFRT) is on campus and ready to respond Monday to Friday during the summer from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you need to obtain or renew your CPR and/or First Aid designation(s), EFRT offers a number of wide variety of courses from May to August, all of which can be found at msumcmaster.ca/efrt. A now essential aspect of summer campus life is the Mac Farmstand. Offering fresh, locally grown fruit, veggies and more, the Mac Farmstand is set to open in June. Stay tuned @MAC_Farmstand and msumcmaster.ca/macfarmstand for details and the weekly schedule. For the most up-to-date information on our services and what we have to offer in the summer - I highly recommend taking a look at the Services Directory on our website: www.msumcmaster.ca, follow the MSU on Twitter @MSU_McMaster and like the MSU at fb.com/ MSUMcMaster. On behalf of the MSU Board of Directors, enjoy the summer sun!
For the past couple of weeks, elections in Ontario have been the one of the most discussed topics in the media. Promotional material for all the major parties has flooded television, newspapers and various online forums. While the message each party presents is different, a number of similar issues are being discussed, including job creation, transportation, health care, and public tax dollars. However, in my opinion, something crucial is not being discussed about as often as it should : issues relevant to young adults. Political parties rarely address issues that are most important to youth, especially postsecondary education issues, and whenever these issues are talked about, they are not presented in an accessible way to thier intended audience, compounding the issue. The public is under the impression that ‘students don’t vote’. This is a statement that needs to be corrected. The reality is that students do vote, but the percentage of students who vote relative to the provincial average is lower
than those in other demographics. In the 2011 provincial election it is estimated that youth (aged 18-25) had a voting turnout of 35%. This turnout is estimated to be less than 10-20% than in other demographics, but one must also remember that the provincial turnout was 49% and that there has been a steady decline in these numbers over the last decade. Accusing students as being the only disengaged audience during elections is wrong; low voter turnout is a province wide issue, not just a student one. In an effort to increase student awareness and engagement during this election, the MSU has lauched an information campaign entitled ‘#MacVotes' as an offshoot of the MSU website. All the information that a student will need to be able to vote has been compiled in one easy to access source, with links for those who wish to explore further. The provided information is meant to be non-partisan in order to ensure that students are educated about what each party has to offer to post-secondary education, in turn allowing students to make an informed vote. Promotional material for this campaign has been placed throughout campus; however the bulk of the information is online. We encourage all
students to discuss the elections by using the #Macvotes hash tag on Twitter and Facebook in order to start the conversation and keep youth engaged. This past Wednesday, May 28, the MSU hosted an allcandidates debate for the riding of Ancaster- Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale, the riding that McMaster resides in. This debate was attended by many students, faculty, and staff as well by community members. Candidates from the Green Party of Ontario, the Ontario Liberal Party, the Ontario New Democratic Party and the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario were present and answered various answers pertinent to post-secondary education and the Hamilton community. This debate was recorded and is available on the MacVotes webpage as well as The Silhouette Livestream site. On June 12, Ontarians will be headed to the polls to elect a provincial government. We encourage all students and the public to get informed and get out there and vote. For more information be sure to check out msumcmaster.ca/macvotes and remember to make an educated choice this election!
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Jacob Brodka Vice President (Admin) MSU
Thursday, June 5, 2014
The Silhouette
Thursday, June 5, 2014
LIFESTYLE
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Have any recipes or reviews of local restaurants/bars? Send them to thesil@thesil.ca.
A new hope for affordable transportation
(from left to right) Luca, Brett, Epiphany & Andrew run New Hope Community Bikes, a not-for-profit charity focused around bicycle culture and affordable equipment. TOBI ABDUL/ ASSISTANT LIFESTYLE EDITOR
Tobi Abdul Assistant Lifestyle Editor
Temperatures have risen, the undergraduate HSR pass has expired and now we’re left to figure out a cheap way to get around. Walking limits you to either a short radius or painful blisters and $2 (with a presto) for the HSR adds up quickly. I ventured out to get a bike for the short trips within town and the longer eighteen kilometre commute I would have to do from the GO bus stop to my work. Until you go to buy your own bike, you never quite realize how expensive bikes are. Road bikes can cost upwards of $300, sometimes going into the thousands. Even most of the used road bikes on Kijiji were over $200. As always, my mind drifted towards do-it-yourself and I found a cheap bike on Kijiji in rough shape but with a perfect frame and wires for $50 but needed somewhere to get parts and/ or labour cheap. After talking to a few enthusiasts, I discovered New Hope Commuity Bikes, a not-forprofit charity in Hamilton aiming
to educate, advocate, teach new skills, and provide affordable means for people to get around while staying active. “We take donated bikes and refurbish them. We also teach people how to fix their own bikes and provide a space where they can do that. When you have a bike you want to work on, we will give you access to space and tools and we will help you along the way”, says manager Andrew Hibma, who has been with the shop since its second year. Used parts at New Hope are $5 and new parts start at a fraction of the cost at a bike shop in the Hamilton or Toronto area. Refurbished bikes start at $150 in perfect condition. “We’re one of the few places that you can come to if you need a repair but can’t afford new parts. We can usually do it for less than half the price, even less if you want to put in some sweat equity and do some manual labour yourself,” said Hibma. For $60, I got two new tires, two new tubes, two new brake pads and they even did it for me. If you take the opportunity
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[The bike culture in Hamilton] is growing, but it’s nowhere near where it should be.” Andrew Hibma Manager, New Hope Community Bikes
to learn how to fix your bike yourself, you can rent tools from zero to ten dollars an hour, on a sliding scale. If you just need the tools and the space without instruction, you can rent tools from zero to five dollars an hour. Walking in there with a bike that warranted laughter from the staff and pictures taken of my tires that had exploded, I didn’t know what to expect. As soon as I walked into the shop, I was immediately greeted. A selection of bikes lined the front room, the workshop was upstairs, and the customer repairs were downstairs. A week later, I had a functional bike that is going to end up saving me a ton of money this
summer and reduce my carbon footprint. The only thing needed now is for Hamilton to improve its roads for bikers. There are only a few bike lanes and motorists don’t like to share the road. The bike culture is improving though, even avid cyclist Hibma agreed. New Hope educates the community on safe cycling, hoping that both motorists and cyclists can learn how to get along on the road. “[The bike culture in Hamilton] is growing, but it’s nowhere near where it should be. I think there’s a lot of mindsets we need to get past with drivers and cyclists. It’s too much ‘us versus them’ mentality. As more cyclists take the road, it will become more commonplace and people will get used to it. It’s no different from [driving with] construction or a bus. It’s about teaching cyclists how to ride in a manner that’s safe and predictable so drivers aren’t fearful or annoyed but at the same time drivers need to respect that cyclists have a right to be on the road to get places. I think it will improve with the bike share the city is putting in,
I think that should help with developing the culture. The City is installing some bike lanes this summer too, I think that’s one very important missing link.” Advocacy for cyclists is one of the things that sets New Hope apart from other bike shops. “We are also one of the few shops that engage in cycling advocacy. We go to city council meetings and are almost kind of a voice for cycling. Our main goal is education and getting more people on bikes where at a bike shop it’s almost like a secondary goal, they are a for-profit business primarily,” said Hibma. Many in the community have taken to using New Hope as their primary bike shop and it’s easy to see why. Some have even rented out New Hope’s cargo bikes to start a business, like Jen Vanderherberg, a Hamiltonian who has started a mobile bicycle ice cream parlour named Icycles. New Hope’s annual bike festival runs this year from June 8 to 15. Check out New Hope at 1422 Main Streeet East near Main and Kennilworth and try and find the Icycles bike.
THURSDAY, JUNE 26TH, 2014 12:45PM SHOTGUN, CHEDOKE GOLF CLUB ALL PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT THE MSU SHINERAMA CAMPAIGN AND CHILD CARE CENTRE
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN! msumcmaster.ca/mcmasters TH ANK YO U TO O U R S PO N S O R S :
The Silhouette
SPORTS OUA.tv set to launch
Thursday, June 5, 2014
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Turn the page for an interview with the Women’s basketball assistant coach & team manager for Canada Basketball’s Senior Women’s National Team.
Three Marauders go national
You’ve seen them in print and in the flesh. But are you ready to see Mac athletes in the comfort of your home?
Scott Hastie Sports Editor
It is a move that should have happened years ago, but nonetheless, it is here. In a press release, Ontario University Athletics (OUA) announced a partnership with Stretch Internet to create OUA.tv – the central home for streaming the league’s football and basketball games. Previously, individual schools would broadcast the games on their websites. McMaster used their athletic domain, marauders.ca, to stream games, while some schools used YouTube services or alternative domains. More sports will be added in the future, per the OUA, and championships for volleyball, rugby and soccer will be featured. With OUA.tv, fans don’t have to scour through Twitter feeds to find stream links or deal with a bombardment of ads on athletics pages. Instead, it’s a one-stop shop. According to the press release, you only have to go to one place to watch the game of your choosing. That is what the OUA.tv project comes down to: a move towards a professional product. All major sport leagues have this kind of system to accompany their television contracts, and the OUA joins that company with this deal. The content will never come close to the level of the pros or their NCAA counterparts, but the production just might. OUA.tv could be a catapult, taking a league that is largely an afterthought in the minds of students into the conversation of something worth paying attention to, and possibly, eventually, paying for. Read the full story at www.thesil.ca
(clockwise) Eisho, Malcolm and Crapigna will make a play for CFL positions as all three head off into the CFL draft this upcoming season. c/o RICK ZAZULAK
Laura Sinclair Assistant Sports Editor
Three of the McMaster Marauders top football players for the last five seasons have been selected for the CFL draft. Tyler Crapigna, Aram Eisho and Kevin Malcolm have been selected in the fifth and seventh rounds respectively, and for Assistant Coach Jon Behie, these selections are welldeserved. “It’s certainly not a shock that any of those guys got selected,” said Behie. The highest-scouted CFL prospect of the three was Tyler Crapigna, who was selected 40th overall by the Calgary Stampeders. His success and drafting eligibility is something that the coaches saw coming early on in his collegiate career. “Tyler was one of the highest-scouted recruits as a kicker that we’ve ever brought in, and he certainly lived up to that billing” said Behie. “We had assumed throughout his career that he would be selected for the CFL draft at some point.” Behie notes Crapigna’s ability to keep calm under pressure as a valuable asset that he is carrying with him in to the draft. This quality of his was on full display in the 2011 Vanier Cup Championship final when his dramatic final kick is ultimately what got them to win the Cup. “He missed that first (kick) in regulation, and then bounced back and kicked the winner probably 15 minutes later, that’s a good attribute for a kicker is a short memory and he’s got that.” Crapigna’s potential was recognized by the coaching staff years ago, and his preparation, skill and experience in high-pressured situations are an added bonus for him in the draft. “He’s been preparing for this for a long time and he’s definitely ready,” added Behie. Aram Eisho, on the other hand, was
picked 56th overall in the final round by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Eisho, who was named to the Marauders roster for three years, brings both accolades and lots of energy to the 2014 draft. “He’s very, very accomplished,” said Behie. Eisho was a standout linebacker in high school, and was the CJFL defensive player of the year for three years in a row. More recently he was named the OUA defensive player of the year and President’s trophy recipient in 2012. “He’s a straight-up gamer, and a guy that’s going to bring a lot of energy to the next level , and his enthusiasm for the game is definitely on display anytime he steps onto the field,” said Behie. The Marauders have benefitted from Eisho’s competitive drive and enthusiasm in their consecutive Vanier Cup final runs, and his heart and passion for the game of football is something that will not go unnoticed by the Blue Bombers coaching staff. Lastly, offensive lineman Kevin Malcolm was the final player chosen in the draft, selected 65th overall by the Ottawa Redblacks. “Kevin does one of the hardest things to do, and that’s throw a football between your legs while upside down, fifteen yards, and he does it very, very, very well,” said Behie. Malcolm has never missed a snap in his four seasons as a Marauder, which is something that the Ottawa Redblacks have recognized and appreciate. “It’s such a valuable thing, and some teams may take it for granted,” said Behie. “But I’m glad Ottawa saw that and understands that it is a difficult thing, and that (Kevin) could have a great career just snapping a football,” added Behie. Over the last two years, the Marauders have been able to produce eight CFL prospects, with last year’s draft consisting of Matt Sewell, Ben D’Aguilar, Mike DiCroce, Spencer Moore and Michael Daly. Behie credits the athletes for their dedica-
tion and hard work that they have put in that has led to their recognition from the CFL. “It’s safe to say that they might have been in this position, and probably would have been in this position no matter what school they chose, and that’s because they’re extremely talented football players and great guys,” said Behie. The players have also been able to maximize their potential through the renowned facilities and programs that McMaster has in place. “We offer opportunity through our systems that we run and through our schemes to prepare them mentally for the next level, and the way we structure our strength and conditioning and the facilities that we have to offer are all considered world-class, and that certainly contributes to them reaching their potential as well” added Behie. The ability of the Marauders coaching staff to recruit these accomplished and talented athletes also does not go unnoticed, as the coaches showing an interest in these players has given them both confidence and interest to come to McMaster in the first place and to work hard to make the roster. Once they make the roster, the rest is up to them. For Crapigna, Eisho and Malcolm, the hardest part of the draft is underway. They are currently trying out for their respective teams and need to make an impression early. Although they will have to work extremely hard at try-outs to prove themselves and to stand-out as players and people, Assistant Coach Behie has all the faith in the world for his athletes. “They just have to keep doing what they’ve been doing. They’ve gotten to this point through hard work and perseverance and dedication to the game of football, so if they just keep going with that, they’re going to be just fine, because all three are extremely talented young guys.”
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Thursday, June 5, 2014
What does it mean to manage a team? Anne Marie isn’t on the court. But she might be one of the most integral members of the McMaster Marauder’s women’s basketball team. “As a manager, you have to be a calm in a storm. You’ve got to have enhanced emotional intelliTake a look through basketball gence and problem-solving skills,” rosters at almost every level said Thuss. house league, university, and She started out with Allison international. They all feature McNeill, who was coaching the someone titled “team manager” or junior women’s program. Canada some variety of the term. Basketball wanted someone who There is no real information could relate to that 16-17 year-old in those four syllables, though. group, and Thuss worked in high Team managers are ubiquitous schools. She had seven years of and necessary in basketball circles, assistant coaching experience at but the job description varies from York University with Bill Pangos team to team. In a game where and his women’s team, so Thuss fit positions like centre and small forthe bill. Doing stats and acting as ward are beginning to veer away a “sounding board” as Thuss puts from their traditional sense, the it, a role was carved out for her team manager is on the opposite in the Canada Basketball sphere. end – there has never really been a Shortly after, McNeill was moved tradition. up to coach the senior women’s Ask Anne Marie Thuss, program and asked Thuss to join team manager for Canada Basher on the bench for the premier ketball’s Senior Women’s National Canadian women’s team. Team, starting with the national And the experience was, in sport organization in 2000, and a word, awesome. Thuss speaks assistant coach glowingly about with the McMaster working with women’s basketball McNeill and now program – what her McMaster alumnus job entails and she Lisa Thomaidis, echoes the above referring to both as sentiments. world-class coaches “My role can and giving credit to best be defined by them for her growth doing anything as a leader. that’s required, But Thuss goes Anne Marie Thuss quietly, so that beyond someone Team Manager, Canada Basketball the coaches and who is an expert Women’s National Team support staff can problem-solver maximize their – during games energy to do their job and athletes she is tasked with analyzing ofcan minimize distractions,” said fensive production and making Thuss. recommendations in game. A That is a humble description Math major, Thuss says this is the for a job that can be incredibly biggest strength she brings to the stressful. Thuss tells stories about bench, as she is able to quickly taking back roads in China with turn around a piece of work. a bellhop to a house in order to And do not underestimate access the Internet and commuthe importance of a calming presnicate with Canada Basketball ence on the bench. With McMasofficials that the team has arrived ter, Thuss is typically the first persafely and everything is okay. She son a post player will come talk to boasts that she can get water, ice after picking up a critical foul in a and laundry done in five different game. She can mellow a player out languages. Thuss would give a kiss and help them make adjustments to a transportation officer in the on either end through a quick chat Dominican Republic to ensure on the bench, and this was key in that her team would have priority Mac’s success this season. in the organizational hell that was In 2013, the Canadian Senior the D.R.’s bus terminal. Women’s National Team held Really, as a team manager training camp in the Burridge with Canada Basketball, she has Gym and Thuss brought in some to be the feet on the ground to of the younger Marauder players make things happen and to solve to watch the practices. She dea problem. You could not train scribes it as a positive experience someone to do this job in a classfor them, to see how Canada’s top room – they would have to go out athletes bring a certain extreme and experience it. intensity to every single possesThose hardly capture what sion. she has done as the behind-theBut you would not know any scenes maestro. Colleagues at of this stuff about Anne-Marie Canada Basketball always say the Thuss unless you asked. Towards same things about her, unsolicited; the end of the interview, she asked “Anne Marie is so calm. I don’t for this story to “not be a big deal.” know how she does.” She did not want the attention - a Bottom-line: Thuss gets shit modest request from someone done. who is integral to success. Scott Hastie Sports Editor
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As a manager, you have to be calm in a storm.
Anne Marie Thuss, assistant coach for the Marauders’ women’s basketball team and team manager for Canada Basketball’s Senior Women’s National Team, works with world-class athletes on a regular basis.
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Thursday, June 5, 2014
Who is Adam Stokes?
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The Maladies of Adam Stokes don’t actually have an Adam Stokes. But don’t let that stop you from seeing these Mac alumni in action at NXNE later this PAGE 14 summer!
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Thursday, June 5, 2014
The Maladies set to take on NXNE
Making a keynote count Stuart McLean is no stranger to speech. When he takes to the podium for his convocation keynote later this summer, where will he start? Michael Hewlett Contributor
Tomi Milos ANDY Editor
When Toronto’s famed North By Northeast (NXNE) festival takes place this June, McMaster will have a few alumni taking part in the musical proceedings. Aside from being McMaster graduates, Mikey Hill (lead vocals), Kohji Nagata (electric/slide guitar, other instruments), and Emily Anderson are all bound together by the fact that they are part of The Maladies of Adam Stokes, a burgeoning folk-rock outfit that has been together for five years. The trio are joined by Brett Harris (bass), Josh Awerbuck (lead guitar), and Ted Turner (drums). Since the band’s inception in 2009, The Maladies have made a niche for themselves in what can seem like an oversaturated scene of hipsters moaning about their feelings while clad in flannel. Their first ever show took place in humble surroundings at Toronto’s The Central. Reflecting on the memorable gig, Hill said the entire deal was “hilarious.” To some extent, his observation can be taken literally as The Central doubles as a comedy venue and The Maladies’ were preceded by several comedians on the night of their performance. “Some people were there to see the comedians, while others were there for the musicians. Everyone hung out and got along really well. It was interesting be-
cause it’s such a small venue and there were six of us jammed up on the stage, which made it even more intense.” Since that show, The Maladies have gotten a lot of mileage under their belt touring Canada. Nagata explained that this was an eye-opening experience for the group, most of whom had been in bands before but had never taken an album out on the road. “When you first start playing music in a band, you think, ‘Oh, it’d be really cool to go out on tour someday’. So being able to go across the East coast of Canada and play basically every night was really fun and exciting. I think it has refined our live show, but that’s hard to say with any sort of confidence because it’s like watching yourself grow; you don’t notice that you’ve grow about a quarter of an inch when you see yourself in the mirror everyday. But if you listen to our original recordings versus the way that we play now, there’s a stark contrast.” The record that The Maladies were touring behind was their 2012 debut, City of Trees. At 10 songs, the album is easily digestible especially when considering the sparse, intimate nature of the recordings. Anderson, Nagata, and Hill and the rest of the band are currently at work on their sophomore record and hope to have a few new songs ready for their June 20 NXNE show at Tranzac Club.
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Their first ever show took place at Toronto’s The Central... [which] doubles as a comedy venue. Homegrown talent
What other Hamilton bands are playing NXNE? //Huren// The Anti-Queens Ariana Gillis Black Rhino Riot Gruve The Human Orchestra Illitry The Inflation Kills Pet Sun Redanda Thought Beneath Film Thoughts on Air Sumo Cyco We Were Heads WTCHS
Sitting in his house after the 1971 convocation, with his degree resting on the dining room table, Stuart McLean was quietly pleased. He was surprised to feel that his hard work had added up to something. 43 years later, Stuart doesn’t remember who the speaker was at his ceremony, but as the award-winning host of CBC’s the Vinyl Café prepares to take to the podium for this year’s Arts & Science and Humanities Convocation, he seems to have his head in the right place. Stuart sees convocation as a moment of transition that should be treated with gravitas. He respects the accomplishment of the graduates because he knows what a struggle university was for him. “It is no small feat, it asks things of you, some of which are hard.” Statements like that are simple, but they carry the weight of a very accessible truth. Thankfully, Stuart won’t be filling his speech with grandiose phrases that don’t mean much. He thinks that he has a contribution to make, but by no means has an inflated sense of importance. He wants to share one or two ideas that others might not be saying. When asked which of the characters from the Vinyl Café might make for good speakers, Stuart laughed and said that he would like to see Sam’s friend Murphy, who is still in the wonder and awe of boyhood, give a speech. He’s a smart kid and has “an interesting take on things.” Perhaps like Murphy, Stuart sees himself as a side character to the main story, or, in this case, our story. Appropriately, side characters can add perspective because they don’t see the story from the straight and narrow. The humble approach Stuart seems to be taking to his role at convocation can be seen in his take on all of his work. When asked if he saw himself as a cultural journalist or a historian he said he was flattered but that he just saw himself as a writer. While Stuart is used to being in the spotlight, he said he is always a part of a team, “every successful venture is done by the many, not the few.” Speaking of the Vinyl Café, Stuart was quick to point out that he depends on Jess Milton, his producer, and Meg Masters, his story editor, to guide him and, occasionally, hold his hand. Speaking at convocation is a tough job to do well because it asks for balance. You need to speak with gravitas, but avoid being grandiose. You need to be able to say something important, but do it briefly enough to share the spotlight, and simply enough to be understood in such a brief moment. Stuart does not try to be sophisticated; he just tries his best to speak in earnest. Riffing on E.B. White, he is happy if he can, through his writing and performing, bring people closer to big hot fire of truth. He does this on a regular basis with the Vinyl Café, and with a little luck, he can treat us to a similar experience. While Stuart probably doesn’t expect his speech to be what we remember from our convocation in 40 years time, he’s going to help make it a memorable moment. Stuart McLean will give the keynote speech at this summer’s Arts & Science convocation.
Thursday, June 5, 2014
www.thesil.ca
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Nightbox set to start a panic at the Casbah Their Toronto fan base is growing; next stop Hamilton. Where will you be when Nightbox hits the Steel City?
Tomi Milos ANDY Editor
Nightbox is a Toronto band fresh off the release of their excellent second EP, The Pain Sequence. They are playing a show at The Casbah on Monday, June 9. They took a few moments to speak with ANDY while on tour. How old are each of you now? We’re all a little older than last year. You were slated to release new music last year, but that fell through. What happened? We considered releasing a
full-length last year but decided to hold off. We simply weren’t fully satisfied with the tracks. We only ever want to release something we’re completely happy with. So, we started fresh, and that’s when The Panic Sequence happened. The Panic Sequence is your second EP and also your second time around working with Sebastien from DFA 1979 and Al-P from MSTRKRFT. How has that experience been? Apart from ‘Burning’, we produced The Panic Sequence ourselves in our Toronto home. It was a great experience working with Al-P and Sebon our debut
EP. We learned a lot from those guys and they brought out a new energy and creativity in us. We felt it would be cool to take what we learned and have a go producing an EP ourselves this time around. Did you learn anything about the way you guys work with regards to songwriting or just your own inter-band chemistry that helped make the recording process with TPS a little easier? Producing The Panic Sequence ourselves, we had more flexibility to experiment with various sound textures and ideas. We tried a lot of different ideas
until something stuck. Once it did, we tried to not over-produce it, giving the tracks a more energetic, raw vibe. You guys have built up quite a fan base for yourselves through touring and your first EP making the rounds on music blogs, are there any plans of satisfying them with a fulllength LP in the near future? There are no set plans to release a full length just yet but we’ve been constantly writing new songs. We’re going to start recording those tracks as soon as we’re finished this tour. There will definitely be more music coming from us real soon.
You played a few dates with Albert Hammond Jr. in the UK earlier this month. He’s coming off his own successful EP but he’s more famous for the work he’s done with The Strokes. Did he have any wisdom to impart to you guys about attaining longevity with a band or anything else for that matter? He’s now a health buff. Eats right, works out, and all that jazz. We’ve all realized that you’ve got to find a balanced lifestyle on the road; otherwise you’ll wear yourself out. We try and make time for exercise when we can. It helps balance out the late nights.
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MACVOTES Provincial Elections. June 12, 2014
HOW. WHEN. WHERE.
msumcmaster.ca/macvotes #MacVotes For a replay of the ADFW All Candidates Debate please visit:
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