The Silhouette - February 13, 2014 by The Silhouette

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McMASTER UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER

Thursday, February 13, 2014 VOL. 84 NO. 22 EDUCATION

Ontario launches credit transfer database

SOLAR eclipsed

Anqi Shen Online Editor The Ontario government has launched an online database providing centralized course-tocourse information for postsecondary students looking to transfer credits. The ONTransfer.ca website was announced in mid-January and the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities is in the early stages of developing the initiative’s functionality and offerings. Similar online transfer guides have been launched in previous years in British Columbia and Alberta. “What we’re trying to put in place is a system-wide process that ultimately will involve all, hopefully, post-secondary institutions in Ontario,” said Brad Duguid, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities. At this point, the University of Toronto, McMaster University, the University of Ottawa and Western University have not signed onto the ONTransfer initiative. Algonquin College, Cambrian College, Confederation College and St. Lawrence College are also not yet committed. According to McMaster University’s provost, David Wilkinson, McMaster applied to join the database but a glitch along the way led to the University being excluded when the initiative was announced. “We’re actually very interested in the credit transfer process. The best we can understand is there was a paperwork mix-up somewhere and the courses we accept for credit are not loaded on the database, so we’re in the process of fixing that,” Wilkinson said. The ONTransfer initiative, part of a $73.7-million investment by the Ontario government over five years, will unfold alongside the government’s push for greater differentiation among post-secondary institutions. As universities and colleges develop further in niche areas, they will also be expected to find commonalities in course offerings and provide more opportunities for student mobility. How that process will unfold remains to be seen. “It’s a question that we [at McMaster] ask ourselves and we also engage the ministry on, because the ministry is pushing universities to be differentiated one from another in a number of ways,” Wilkinson said. “So the more we become differentiated, the more difficult it is to imagine a credit transfer system that treats courses that look similar at different universities as being ‘equivalent’ in both content and quality.” The Ministry estimates that about 21,500 post-secondary students transfer between Ontario post-secondary institutions annually, and that transfer pathways have doubled to 600 over the past two years. By 2015, the Ministry intends to “implement a well-established, province-wide credit transfer system” that would “expand and improve” post-secondary transfer pathways. Visit thesil.ca for the full story. @anqi_shen

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Mac finds downtown space Tyler Welch News Editor McMaster has found a new home for its Downtown Centre after hearing from the city that its current building, the old Wentworth County Courthouse at 50 Main Street East, is needed again for municipal purposes. Roger Couldrey, McMaster’s vice-president (administration) told the public about the find. “We are pleased to announce that McMaster is taking over more than 50,000 square feet of space at 1 James North, right at the corner of James and King,” he said in an interview with the Daily News. McMaster will be leasing the entire building at 1 James Street North—an office building on top of Jackson Square mall. “I think it’s a great location. It’s one of the best corners in downtown Hamilton, and is a stand-alone building that we can make our own. It allows us to contribute once more to the rejuvenation of downtown Hamilton,” said Couldrey. More than 200 staff members and 4,000 students will occupy the new Downtown Centre. Most service units from the current DTC will be making the move to the new building, while a few others will be implemented into the Medical Health Campus that is currently under construction and set to at open at the start of 2015. Financial Affairs - whose overseas investments, purchasing, accounts and treasury - and Advancement - the office responsible for fundraising and donor relations - will be making the move to 1 James North, along with the office of Institutional Research and Analysis and the Centre for Continuing Education. Some of the research units

New federal budget emphasizes funding for youth and training. PAGE A5

will be packing up for McMaster Innovation Park, while the Regional Medical Associates will be making their own arrangements for new space. The new lease was signed after negotiations between Yale Properties and the University, through Strategic Procurement and Facility Services. “It is a long-term lease, not indefinite but long-term,” said Couldrey. He continued, “we are not making the details public. The University will be investing quite substantially in fitting out the new space.” The 50,000 square feet at the 1 James Street North property is a smaller space than the current DTC but Couldrey doesn’t see it as a problem. “The DTC was built as a public building, a court house, and is very spacious. The new building will be designed to normal office standards. By virtue of the multiple parties moving [elsewhere]

we actually have a need for less space,” he said. Thousands of students and hundreds of staff transitioning to 1 James North will have to find a new place to park. The building is in a convenient location for access to public transit but those who drive to the DTC will have to pay for parking under the building or in a nearby lot. McMaster hopes to make the move in late 2014 and early 2015, permitting a lease extension on the 50 Main Street East building. “The City originally gave us notice to move out of the DTC building by Dec. 31 2014. We have asked for an extension and are hopeful that a small extension will be possible. We are planning the move accordingly,” said Couldrey. McMaster has operated out of the Downtown Centre for 13 years. @tylerwelch4

What does it takes to keep up with volleyball giants? PAGE B6

Valentine’s Day won’t be a dry one with this handy guide. PAGE B1

the S ’ T N E D I S E PR E G PA Do You Have An Idea To Improve Our Campus? Do you have an idea that would help improve life at McMaster? There is a way to make your dream a reality. The Student Life Enhancement Fund (SLEF) is a pool of money dedicated to “seed funding” for starting up new projects on campus. These projects are often proposed by departments and oﬃces around the University, but some of the best ideas for new projects come from students themselves.

David Campbell President president@msu.mcmaster.ca

ext. 23885

You may already recognize some of the projects on campus made possible through SLEF. The bicycle repair station on BSB field was a student-led initiative paid for by SLEF, and the new Student Wellness Lounge (SWELL) in the MUSC basement was also built through SLEF funding. Other start-ups, like the McMaster Teaching and Community Garden (across from the Greenhouse on campus) and MacTV are also initiatives that received seed funding from SLEF. In short, if you have an idea for how to improve campus, SLEF can help you carry that idea to fruition. Applications for this funding are due on February 28th, so don’t waste any time applying! If you would like more information on eligibility or advice on creating your application, you can check out the website at enhance.mcmaster.ca. Also, all four of your MSU Board of Directors sit on the panel which helps distribute the funding, so don’t hesitate to come to any of us with questions about how to make your application stand out.

enhance.mcmaster.ca

Every student has ideas on how to improve our school. Few realize the resources which exist to help make this happen. Submit your idea to SLEF, and help make a diﬀerence on the McMaster campus.

Here are only a few of the improvements that have been made to the McMaster Campus through the Student Life Enhancement Fund. To learn more, visit enhance.mcmaster.ca!

The President’s Page is sponsored by the McMaster Students Union. It is a space used to communicate with the student body about the projects, goals and agenda of the MSU Board of Directors.

www.msumcmaster.ca Spencer Graham VP (Education)

David Campbell President

Anna D’Angela VP (Administration)

Jeff Doucet VP (Finance)

fb.com/MSUMcMaster @MSU_McMaster

Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014

theSil.ca

A3 Editors Tyler Welch & Rachel Faber & Tomi Milos

VIDEO: McMaster couples dish on relationships. thesil.ca

Email news@thesil.ca @theSilhouette Phone 905.525.9140 x27117

Mosaic project to replace SOLAR Rachel Faber Assistant News Editor A McMaster initiative will change the way students interact with the University online. The school is working on a project called Mosaic, an initiative that aims to replace the current business process with a new enterprise resource planning, or ERP system. The project is set to be fully operational in the Fall of 2015., though the MUGSI/SOLAR revamp was originally slotted to launch this summer. Mosaic is a “student service centre that will provide students with self

service capabilities and one place for all their administrative information,” said Melissa Pool of the University Registrar. Students will be able to log in and see their admission status, student fees, scholarships and awards, registration, schedules, and degree audits, according to Pool. Students will be able to request their transcripts online, as well as view their unofficial transcripts. “You will be able to see your full record, as opposed to just partial like it is now,” said Pool. MUGSI and SOLAR will be replaced with a new registration system. Students will still have designated times to log on and register, but will no lon-

What is the best feature of the Mosaic project?

You won’t have to register at midnight. There will be guaranteed access when you need to register. There is an opportunity for easier self-service.

ger receive that annoying message that the website is full. “The rush to register at midnight will be replaced with staggered registration times that guarantee system access,” said Pool. Students will be able to see their timetables immediately, and register into preferred sections. “It really takes the anxiety out of the process,” said Pool of these changes. However, if there is no room in a preferred section students will have to continue to check for spaces. Staff and faculty across the University are already using a Mosaic system. This part of the project launched at the beginning of Dec. 2013 and is being used, mostly,

for financial purposes such as research grant applications and awards. The undergraduate application process will remain the same for the University but the grad school application process will be a part this new web system. As it becomes closer to being ready for student use, Mosaic hopes to get student representatives to help in the decision-making processes. “About 130 people are currently working on it in total,” said Sheldon Smart of Mosaic. These people are always changing as different aspects of the project are put in motion. So far the new system has approximately 700 users per day. The project is also involved with Deloitte

consulting firm, financial affairs, and University Technology Services. Smart did not comment on how much exactly this project will be costing and if these costs will be affecting students directly. Students will not see the cost of Mosaic specifically on their list of student fees, but financing for the project will be coming out of the overall budget of the University. A couple months into the project, Smart noted that there have been anticipated challenges as the system is brand new and training for users is ongoing. Smart and Pool both believe that this project will result in an improved experience for the McMaster student. “We are really excited to provide this for students,” said Pool. @rachfaber

How will students be directly affected? The replacement of MUGSI and SOLAR with a new state-of-the-art registration system will benefit students.

What will course selection look like for students?

Students will be able to register in specific sections of a course, giving them more control over their timetables. Students can select the courses they hope to register in beforehand and check to see if they need any permissions or waivers.

What are some main features that students can look forward to in 2015?

Online transcript request functions, including unofficial transcripts, available on demand. A “student planner” to assist in planning what courses to take. User-friendly degree audit capabilities.

Ben Barrett-Forrest/Multimedia Editor

McMaster student wins Mandela award Tomi Milos Features Editor This year’s Black History Month became a special one for Michael Abraham when the twenty yearold McMaster undergraduate became the first recipient of the inaugural Nelson Mandela Award at the recent John C. Holland Awards ceremony on Feb. 1. The first-year Social Science student was thrilled to receive the new award commemorating the late black icon, but humbly acknowledged he wasn’t expecting to win anything. “I thought all the awards for youth achievement had been handed out, so I thought, ‘Oh well, I guess I didn’t win anything this year, it’s cool’.” Abraham said his dejection quickly turned to elation when he heard his name called in connection with an award that is meant to go to a young member of Hamilton’s black community who “rises above challenge and difficulty to make a difference” and “uses the spirit of kindness and helpfulness to build a better and more inclusive community.” Having lived in Cape Town,

South Africa for a decade, Abraham is well versed in the anti-apartheid leader’s accomplishments and said the award was “a lot to live up to”. Abraham is heavily involved in social work as a director of programming for the Youth Action Council of the NGen Youth Centre, a Summer Literacy Camp counselor for the Focus on Youth Program and a volunteer in the learning resource office at Hess Street Elementary School. To keep up with his studies, Abraham said he’s had to make sacrifices like stepping down from his previously mentioned position within the Youth Action Council so that he could devote more time to studying and Steel Express, a breakdancing group he teaches. He’s been asked to take on a more senior role within Steel Express as the two founders look to bolster funds for a retreat called “Breaking Barriers” in March, but he relishes the added responsibility. Abraham is aware of the privilege he’s been afforded in coming to Canada and takes any opportunity he can to pay his dues, noting that he is indebted to multiple

mentors who have helped develop him into who he is today. “I always felt that I needed to do something to pay back the fact that I’m here when I felt unworthy of that.” He was also quick to point out that the old adage, “do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life,” rings true in his case. “I just really enjoy working with others and learn so much from each experience. As I’m helping them, they’re helping me just as much” Abraham would look to emulate the modesty and drive that Mandela exemplified in the future. @tomimilos

YOSEIF HADDAD / SENIOR PHOTO EDITOR

CANADIAN CAMPUS NEWS Mohammed Habib The Silhouette uLethbridge launches research centre in fluorine technology

YorkU professor’s book offers fix for outdated PSE structure

New app to help students manage mental health

New multiple-entry visas to benefit foreign students

uOttawa developing campus master plan

A new hub for fluorine researchers in Canada and worldwide was launched by The University of Lethbridge, coined as the Canadian Centre for Research in Advanced Fluorine Technologies (C-CRAFT). The centre will allow the researchers to collaborate and share expertise on fluorine - an element with critical importance in both the medical and industrial fields. According to the lead, Chemistry and Biochemisty Associate Professor Michael Gerken, the facility will attract more qualified academics, reel in greater funding, more potential partners and eventually build the University’s reputation for this niche area of chemistry.

York Professor George Fallis wrote Rethinking Education, a critical analysis of the basic structure of Ontario’s PSE institutions. In his book, Fallis suggests policy-makers focus on improving and diversifying the programs available, while also creating new means teaching – specifically an increase in undergrad honours programs and polytechnic education. Fallis also indicates that the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU) does not currently have a system to document and asses the quality of research published in universities, thus creating a chasm between the MTCU and the research missions of PSE institutions.

The Royal Ottawa Health Care Group, in partnership with the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) and the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC), recently launched a “HealthyMinds” app, which aims to help students cope with stress and manage emotional and mental wellness. The app is free to download in either English or French and features a daily mood tracker, a step-by-step guide to overcoming problems, tips for stress-busting and other features to help cope with anxiety.

After regular calling from The Canadian Alliance of Students Associations (CASA), the Canadian government finally announced that visitors to Canada will be automatically considered for a multiple-entry visa for 6 months at a time, for up to 10 years, without having to reapply. The CASA believe improving clarity of visa applications will help governments reach the goal of increasing Canada’s international student population, since it will now be easier for international students to visit home. Discussion with the PSE sector was sparked by Canada’s recently launch of its new International Education Strategy.

The University of Ottawa is now actively seeking suggestions for a grand improvement to the campus. Thus far, some respondents have noted crowding in study and public spaces and others have identified a need for more green space and lab and research space. uOttawa launched a new blog for updates and feedback from students and stakeholders in the area. Direct consultations are planned with members of the campus and Ottawa communities, though uOttawa will have an open house later this month. According to current estimates, the campus master plan initiative is expected to be complete in the summer of 2015.

theSil.ca

Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014

FEATURE

Federal budget focuses on youth, training CASA impressed with step forward while CFS is left disappointed Jane Lytvynenko CUP Ottawa Bureau Chief OTTAWA (CUP) — In a bid to foster job creation, the Conservative budget, presented on Feb. 11, took a student and training focus. Aiming to ease debt loads and address a “skills mismatch,” the Economic Action Plan introduced new programs and changes in funding to existing government initiatives like apprenticeships, internships and research funding. “Creating jobs and opportunities remains our government’s top priority,” said Finance Minister Jim Flaherty in his budget speech to the House of Commons. “We’re making sure that opportunities are there for everyone.” In an initiative to train new workers for available jobs, the Economic Action Plan 2014 announced changes to the Canada Job Grant program, which was created with the last year’s budget. The new program will be launched this year and direct up to $15,000 per trainee in funding from the government and employer. Since its introduction the program was met with pushback by the provinces, who were originally asked to provide $5,000 of the $15,000 funding. Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau said the Conservatives promised the grant a year ago and were not able to deliver. Although the program is set to begin April 1, Leader of the Opposition Tom Mulcair is also skeptical. “This cannot be done without the provinces,” he said to journalists on Parliament Hill.

While employers are still responsible for providing a third of the grant, the budget says if provinces refuse to negotiate an agreement, the remainder of the funding will be provided directly through Service Canada. Employers will also be able to provide their share of the grant through wages, reducing the burden of coming up with $5,000 up front. The new budget also created the Canada Apprentice Loan as a part of the Canada Student Loans Program. The loan will “provide apprentices registered in Red Seal trades with access to over $100 million in interest-free loans each year.” An apprentice will be eligible for up to $4,000 in loans per period of training. The budget says, “at least 26,000 apprentices are expected to apply.” “Anytime interest-free loans are made available to students it’s a positive step,” said Jon Champagne, Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) national director. CASA chair Amanda Neilsen agreed and said the budget — and loan program — are “a step in the right direction.” Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) national chairperson Jessica McCormick was not as happy with the new loans program. She said rather than adding to the constantly growing student debt in the country, the government needs to allocate funds to grants and nonrepayable assistance. Another project, the Flexibility and Innovation in Apprenticeship and Technical Training, is aimed at encouraging innovative training techniques for technical apprentice training. While only a pilot project, the FIATT will have the ability to support 12 multi-year programs implementing training techniques such as simulators, video conferencing and online learning. FIATT will see $13 million in funding over four years, starting this year.

MInister of Finance JIm Flaherty at the 2013 budget announcement The Youth Employment Strategy overseen by the government annually receives $300 million for skills and experience acquisition. The government will review the program to “align it with the evolving realities of the job market.” According to the budget the program will likely focus on science, technology, engineering, math and skilled trade sectors. Also as a part of the Youth Employment Strategy, the federal government announced a reallocation of $15 million per year for 1,000 internships in small and medium-sized businesses. McCormick said there are 400,000 young people seeking jobs in Canada and “the investment would only affect about 1 per cent.” To help with the job search the government will also make changes to the National Job Bank, modernizing it and making it easy to use. The federal government acknowledged that the vehicle assessment for the Canada

Student Loans program has not been adjusted since 1995. The Conservatives say they will eliminate the current $5,000 exemption for vehicles, meaning students who own them can increase their loan amount. Nielsen said lobbying against the vehicle exemption is a longtime goal for CASA. She is happy the government decided to tackle the problem, saying “that’s going to give students $8 million in financial aid that didn’t exist and improve access.” However McCormick said eliminating the vehicle exemption barely scratches the surface. “The vehicle exemption will help some students who have cars but the vast majority of people that are accessing the Canada Student Loans program could benefit from non-repayable assistance.” Flaherty said the government is on track to balancing the budget next year as projected. “We don’t want to pass on our debts to future generations,” he said.

JANE LYTVYNENKO / CUP OTTAWA BUREAU CHIEF

“

“Creating jobs and opportunities remains our governments’s top priority. We’re making sure that opportunities are there for everyone.” Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance

Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014

theSil.ca

A5 Executive Editor Jemma Wolfe Email thesil@thesil.ca @theSilhouette Phone 905.525.9140 x22052

VALENTINE’S DAY

Celebrating love of all kinds When my grandpa died on Valentine’s Day, the holiday took on a different meaning

to full colour.

to “ee.”

to reading week.

to headaches.

to 50th birthdays. cheers, dad!

to winter.

to my cauliflower week. Jemma Wolfe Executive Editor It was one year ago this Valentine’s Day that I found my grandpa’s body. On an otherwise usual Thursday, I arrived home after an anthropology tutorial to find him laid down by a heart attack at the side door of the home we shared. He hadn’t made it inside. A lot of things changed on that day. I lost my housemate, my grandfather and my friend. The world lost a scientist, a beer-connoisseur and a remarkable human being. As anyone who has lost loved ones will know, that day was the first day of a journey I didn’t choose to embark upon; one I didn’t even realize was in motion until long afterwards. Such journeys, of course, are not without their ups and downs – some immediate, some down the road. I found out what it feels like to ride in

the front of an ambulance in a state of shock. I know what it’s like to hold the hand of a person you’ve known your whole life, when their hand has no life left in it. I realized the inanity of the things we cling to, as I grieved the melting of the snow bank into which he had fallen. I discovered what it is to have the association of an innocent object trigger a wave of uncontrollable sadness, and that this is inevitable as much in private as it is in public. I became anxious that I would lose more people that I loved suddenly, soon, without warning. I also questioned the fact that grandpa died on Valentine’s Day. “Why did it have to happen on Valentine’s Day?” I repeatedly asked myself. I suppose I was worried that this celebratory day would be spoiled by sadness, or that the inescapable nature of such a heavily advertised day would be hard to bear. I’ve discovered that neither is

the case. In fact, my feelings are quite contrary. I’m now glad Valentine’s was the day. For what other day of the year is entirely devoted to love? Behind the commercialism, superficiality and fanfare of February 14, the essence of love remains. Valentine’s has become a reminder of my wonderful, supportive friends, of the strength of my family and the love I have for them, and of the romantic love I share with my partner. Valentine’s isn’t just for lovers - it’s for love of all sorts: friendly, familial and romantic. And it’s for the kind of love that lingers in my memory of a time, a place and a person who is lost but never forgotten – especially on Feb. 14.

to valentines from friends. to sex and the steel city. to finally getting on the breaking bad bandwagon. to lazy saturdays. to ke$ha hour. to ottawa with the best. to brunch.

to the end of the guelph mercury press. to sugar crashes. to goodbyes. to underground ke$ha. it’s underground for a reason. to budgets. to the job hunt - until i find one. to paying rent. to my neverending search for boots.

@jemma_wolfe

The Silhouette

McMaster University’s Student Newspaper

EDITORIAL BOARD

MOMENT IN TIME

Jemma Wolfe | Executive Editor thesil@thesil.ca

The Sil shifted publication dates in 1985 over superstition

On Friday, Feb. 14, 1986, the Silhouette published a newspaper. This sounds unremarkable except for the small fact the Sil always publishes on Thursdays. The 1986 editorial board, however, felt supersitious about publishing on Feb. 13 and delayed printing until the 14th. Then-staffer David T. Shaw explains in this introduction to his Valentine’s column.

Kacper Niburski | Opinions Editor opinions@thesil.ca Laura Sinclair | Sports Editor sports@thesil.ca Alexandra Reilly | Assistant Sports Editor sports@thesil.ca

Come again? They may have been published in previous weeks, but these online pieces deserve a second look

Most popular

Most underrated

Most discussed

OPINIONS: “For the Redsuits, the few do not define the whole” by Nichole Fanara. First published on Wednesday, Feb. 5.

ANDY: “WTF, Woody” by Bahar Orang. First published on Wednesday, Feb. 5.

OPINIONS: “McMaster’s punishment of Redsuits is hypocritical” by Wade Genders. First published on Wednesday, Feb. 5.

About Us MUSC, Room B110 McMaster University 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8S 4S4 E–Mail: thesil@thesil.ca Facebook.com/ TheMcMasterSilhouette Twitter.com/theSilhouette Production Office (905) 525-9140, extension 27117 Advertising (905) 525-9140, extension 27557 10,000 circulation Published by the McMaster Students Union

Write To Us Letters to the Editor should be 100-300 words and be submitted via email by Tuesday at 12:00 p.m. to be included in that week’s publication.

Legal

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

Remember to check out our website throughout the week for fresh content daily! We’re no longer Thursday exclusive – we’re your constant source of everything McMaster, every day.

thesil.ca

Section Meeting Times News Thursdays @ 2:30 p.m. Opinions Tuesdays @ 1:30 p.m.

Amanda Watkins | LifeStyle Editor lifestyle@thesil.ca Miranda Babbitt | Assistant LifeStyle Editor lifestyle@thesil.ca Bahar Orang | ANDY Editor andy@thesil.ca Cooper Long | Assistant ANDY Editor andy@thesil.ca Yoseif Haddad | Photo Editor photo@thesil.ca Eliza Pope | Assistant Photo Editor photo@thesil.ca Ben Barrett-Forrest | Multimedia Editor photo@thesil.ca Karen Wang | Graphics Editor production@thesil.ca Colin Haskin | Video Editor photo@thesil.ca

Sports Thursdays @ 2:30 p.m.

Olivia Dorio | Distribution Coordinator thesil@thesil.ca

LifeStyle Thursdays @ 12:30 p.m.

Sandro Giordano | Ad Manager sgiordan@msu.mcmaster.ca

ANDY Wednesdays @ 11:30 a.m. Video & Multimedia Mondays @ 1:30 p.m. Photo Fridays @ 1:30 p.m.

Staff Reporters Tobi Abdul Sarah O’Connor Ana Qarri Sophia Topper thesil@thesil.ca

Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014

theSil.ca

A6 Editor Kacper Niburski Email opinions@thesil.ca @theSilhouette Phone 905.525.9140 x27117

Editorial Cartoon

A HEART IN HINDSIGHT

Farting around with love

Content: Kacper Niburski & Andrew Terefenko / Graphics: Karen Wang

Kacper Niburski Opinions Editor Dear eighteen-year-old Kacper, I hear you are in love, and know that this is just about the best feeling a person can be in. It’s your first, and it’s beautiful because she is. Before her, you used to wonder what love was exactly. You didn’t have much of a definition when you first found yourself in her arms and she in yours, but you promised to at least to give her romantic poems and corny jokes until the morning came. You waited six months to say you loved her and when you tried that first time, it came out choppy, roundabout, and borderline skeptical as though you were questioning yourself even then. You first started talking about the weather. Then the movie. Then you kissed her to stop blathering altogether, hoping that your lips smacking against one another was enough sound and fury for the time being. At the time, she laid on top of you and you wondered if maybe Adam and Eve was a true story because you fit together so nicely, then you exhaled and she did too and you couldn’t tell if was your breath or hers that you were inhaling. Then you said it. The words came and went suddenly and it was your three-worded masterpiece. It was all you needed to say, all you never could until right then, right there, no sooner, no later. It was love. Though the first utterance was guttural and nearly incoherent, I am writing to years after that very moment you sat on that couch with her, and I want you to know that love hasn’t changed much since that moment when you first gave it existence by finding the words for it. As far as I can tell, the best definition isn’t any different than a stuttering young eighteen-year-old can figure out. For love is farting around a girl and then farting around with her after the smell abates. Sometimes she farts too, and that’s when you know it’s real. Because no matter what you produce or sounds you excrete, love is just hot gas that can eventually grow cold without the right fuel. Everything you have done after that first invocation, Kacper, from these words to this letter to your entire existence, has been about creating this fuel for yourself and others. You want all to feel the luxury of love. But know that this feeling, overwhelming as it is now, will end. One day before you can notice it or find your voice or stop your hands from shaking, things will pass, they will change, and when it’s all over, all that is left in the aftermath is what you made of it. So don’t rush to find the finish line, Kacper. Instead, cherish her. Laugh with her, talk with her, love her anyways. I want you to grab her hand right at this moment, and I want you to feel it with all the sensation you can muster. Course your fingers along her palm learning the contours of her skin, then maze your way to her knuckles and feel if they have any callous and then move slowly towards her cuticles, soaking in all the tiny hairs grazing across her fingers, and stop there, at the beginning of her nail where there are small, red scars from her incessant picking and try to press your fingerprints into the wax of her skin so as to make sure she won’t forget you and you won’t forget her either. Then when you’re satisfied, when there’s a print of your uniqueness on her, do it all again. Do it until you have her memorized or until she says, “Kacper, we’ve spent all day in bed, don’t you think we should do something other than play with my hands?” And if she doesn’t say that, then I want you to do whatever you want – fully, entirely, with the sum of everything you can give – because it is only you who knows what that is. For now, it’s her. It won’t always be, but it is now and don’t you damn well forget it. Don’t think about anything else except this moment, this second – the very limited centimetre of her life that she has given you and you have given her. Together, you have almost made an inch and that means something. What? Only you will know, and maybe you already have figured it out. I mean look at how much you’re smiling. Look at how much she is. Yet that smile will fade and the two of you will fade with it. During those times, I want you to persevere if not for yourself, then for her, and if that’s not enough, then for the both of you. That way, when you see her again, and when you see how different the two of you have become and yet how similar she has remained with those hands and those fingers and those cuticles – those scratchy-scratched cuticles – you’ll have stories to tell that are shown in your laughter and the tapping of your feet. You’ll talk about life, and love, and how silly the two of you were back then, and there won’t be an awkward silence between the two of you. Talk. Talk. Talk. It’ll be a time-machine of words, and each one, hesitantly weighed and anxiously delivered, will be a ghost of love, a ghost of the two of you. When it ends and the conversation wilts away, she’ll leave and the words will be all that remain. You’ll be left with your own and she with hers and the two of you will see if they still meant what they used to. So, make sure that they will when that ending comes. Stay trusting with her because it’s better than anxiety, stay happy with her because it’s more fulfilling than sadness, and stay so hopefully in love with her because one day you won’t be. You deserve it, and she all the more. Until we meet, warm regards - Kacper

The queer in here Spaces need to be open where the idea of normal doesn’t take on arbitrary and isolating conventions

Elise Milani The Silhouette Queer, through definition, has been used to describe something as odd or strange in comparison to the norm (what is seen as natural in society). As we already know, in our society, heterosexuality is what is normative. This is where heteronormativity is derived. It is the assumption that we are all straight, because that is what is “normal” and how it should be. Individuals who fall under the LGBTQ* umbrella, all exist outside of conventional norms in society through our desires alone. What I mean by that, is that our desires (or lack thereof) for another person are outside of what is considered normal. This is where the “queer” identity comes from for many people. This is where our power comes from. Just with the existence of our desires, and our courage to follow them, we are challenging normativity. We are presenting something that is “odd” or “strange” in contrast to what is deemed as being “nor-

mal” in society. We have been ostracized, beaten, mocked and murdered for the mere existence of our desires. (And in many cases around the world, we still are.) Yet, we never stopped challenging people to question the norm, and look at how far we’ve come. Our desires are a powerful thing that can shake conventional norms. When I talked about ‘queerness’, I’m not talking about gayness. I’m talking about something that challenges societal conventions. Polyamory/non-monogamy, asexuality, oral sex, anal penetration, BDSM have all been considered queer – many still are - under the norms held by society at large, regardless of whether or not they are performed by straight people or otherwise. None of these things are wrong, they’re just considered deviant. So to ‘queerify’ space we need to create a space where presenting ideas of ‘deviancy‘ isn’t thought about as being ‘odd’. It should be normal to challenge conventions, and it should be celebrated. That is what I describe a queer space to be, and that is where the desire to queerify society stems from. The concept of queering space can make people feel uncomfortable, however, this discomfort is not harmful. Under our normative society, individuals do feel discomfort and exclusion on the basis of what is deemed

right and wrong. Individuals are shunned and mocked for not fitting in. We shouldn’t be encouraging each other to conform to societal “norms.” That is harmful. Queer spaces don’t hold prejudices against deviance nor do they uphold societal norms - they are just asking you to be yourself.

“

“When I talked about ‘queerness’, I’m not talking about gayness. I’m talking about challenges societal conventions.”

FEEDBACK Compiled by Kacper Niburski & Eliza Pope

Should the Olympic Games in Sochi be boycotted?

“The Olympics should not be canclled, however, the Russian laws need to be revised.” Arsh Bedi, Health Study III

“We don’t need to attack the Olympics; this is an issue to be dealt with within Russia.” Lisa Allan, Humanities III

“Something should be done, but awareness is a better method.” Ryan Morris, Pre-Justice I

“I won’t because it would have little effect.” Martin Joshua, Political Science III

“Unless it affects the athletes, there is no point. Russia needs to fix its own problems.” John Kwan, Life Science I

OLYMPICS

Boycotting the boycott

More proactive actions can be used to better deal with Russia’s stance on LGBTQ issues

masses to bury their head in the sand and wait for it to be over? I’m not proposing we turn the other cheek and let the Sochian scandals simmer in the back of our minds, but there is more that can be done. Done by you, me, and the rest of the tens of thousands of people lumped into “Boycott Sochi 2014” Facebook groups. Call someone who is involved. Inform people in your circles who are uninformed. Educate yourself on every side of the issue, so you can take the steps towards actually Andrew Terefenko making a difference, even if the difference Production Editor is minute in the grand scale of things. It is called activism for a reason. Boycott the Olympics, they said. Their The Olympics will carry on regardless stance on human rights is downright mediof whether you boycott them or not, as eval, they said. Know what they didn’t tell hard as you may find that to believe. As you? How completely and utterly fruitless much as it is a venue for that effort was going to the toughest and more be. talented among us to strut Boycotts don’t work, their stuff, it also has the they just don’t. Not on “Your actions are unintended effect of shintheir own, anyways. You what prompt reaction. ing a ever-scrutinous light want to make a statement on the country it is held, Inaction only prompts - that you do not support and history has proven that the kind of subhuman your own personal as soon as the light is gone, practices that the host people forget. satisfaction, and boy country practices - and People forgot about that is commendable, ain’t that worth a lot to the Greek controversy surreally it is. What needs the rest of us” rounding Athens’ imposto sink in, frankly, is you sible infrastructure costs can’t make a statement and the people who were by practicing a strict left in the 2004 games’ wake. People forgot regimen of targeted apathy. You need to do about the human rights’ violations that more. made Beijing a hot topic only six years ago. You don’t like a brand of coffee that You know what you can do? You can pays slave wages to migrant workers? Spend remember. Remember that these problems your money on brands that don’t, buy fair are still problems long after the games are trade. You don’t want to fund an oil golover, and keep shouting to anyone who will iath that laughs all the way to the bank as listen until the problems are fixed. People marine life trudges through petrol sludge? who are disadvantaged overseas do not Invest in an alternative energy lifestyle, or magically get their rights back when we go even just use the gas station slightly further back to our daily lives. Remember who they down the street. Your actions are what are. prompt reaction. Inaction only prompts And if you can’t do any of those things, your own personal satisfaction, and boy then please stop giving a damn, because it ain’t that worth a whole lot to the rest of us. reflects poorly on those who do. So why is it that when Russia’s gay-ablative attitude mars the greatest of @andrewterefenko games, the most vocal among us call for the

“

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Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014

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OPINIONS

theSil.ca

Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014

Science education The beginning of the end not up to code Graduation brings with it a storm of uncertainties, from the future of one’s career to their self perception Kacper Niburski Opinions Editor

SILHOUETTE FILE PHOTO

The sciences do not teach the language of computers, and this is problematic Gregory Wygoni The Silhouette “Science” was dubbed the word of the year in 2013. And though this may an impressive achievement for the human race, especially considering that the runner ups were “snuffalgapus” and “bieberlicious”, one cannot commend ourselves too generously. We still have a long way to go. For example, let us go on a short walk from MUSC to BSB. Once there, realize you are in the science sector: chemistry, biology, physics. But yet, there is a lingering feeling that something is missing, Geology? Perhaps, but I argue there is something else, something deeper. These science students, McMaster’s finest in the most pragmatic of arts, will not have the science that allows all what they learned to become possible. It is the magic glue that holds things together. Okay, it isn’t mathematics, which is the basis for what I am arguing, but instead computer science. Software and hardware are behind every innovation. You want some nuclear magnetic resonance, read the software output.

You like polymerase chain reaction, try automation. Computer science, and the principles that underlie it, lay the foundation for much of modern science. It is not a difficult concept to debate then that digital literacy has never been more important. It empowers you to make what you want, and have the necessary skills to contribute positively in your field. Yet most science students - not even to speak of the humanities, social sciences, or health study students - lack programming skills. Even our math majors can barely string together a valid function. What is worse, the computer science students who are learning how to code are doing it perfunctorily. They worry only about output, rather than the language. The current paradigm for computer science in university is not different for any other program, do what they want, do well, and don’t be creative in your approaches. Such terrible practices are then translated to industry. These habits also permeate through the online learning of CodeAcademy and the like. They teach you the basic format and

language constructs, and that is all. You complete the exercises, all in a daze, and then wonder what is next. It is like learning the alphabet and thinking you can write a book. The fact of the matter is that most students don’t know how to program, and those that do only know it robotically. This author does not evade these categorizations. To know how to program well, to appreciate the beauty of a language, to use its syntactic sugar well, is an art. To have great test coverage, to be efficient and write simple code is an ever expanding hallway in your worst nightmare. Is there a reason most students do not learn how to code? Yes, because they believe it to be hard. If this is any counterpoint, I was able to learn. Secondly, as to why students who do know how to code, code poorly, I can only proffer the argument of patience. The art is long, and time is short. Most students think once they learn the alphabet they can put together Brave New World, yet the same is not for “Hello World.” The only solution I offer is teach computer science early, teach it well with as many different ways as possible, and wait. Good stuff is waiting behind our semicolons.

On Jan. 31, I began my last day on this planet. For the beginning of the end, it wasn’t spectacular. Like every other day in recent memory, a groggy, morning sun hung over snow-drunk clouds. A few weak rays peaked through my blinds only to find me waltzing with my pillow to the music of my snores. It was two in the afternoon. And it was morning for me. An alarm clock was my proof – it rang at 2:03 p.m because god knows I could use the three extra minutes of sleep. With it came the ritual of a city’s muse: I showered. I brushed. I ate. I drove. I listened. I moved. I listened. I moved. I drove. I listened. I ate. I worked. I tried to sleep again. But I couldn’t. Though this day throbbed no different than any other, something felt strange. At first, I couldn’t pick it out. Nothing special occurred in between the little scrums of my existence. Nothing had changed. Nothing was different. All was as it was, which is a roundabout way to say unfortunately average. I wasn’t unhappy. There wasn’t enough time for that, and certainly I was okay with the idea of day’s consistency. After years of tumult, I finally had a flat line. I needn’t worry about the troughs and crests. I was chaos tamed. I was predictable. I was expected. And I was exactly what we all hope for in the end – a life where we can sit back, relax, and do it all again tomorrow. Yet I couldn’t do exactly that: I couldn’t sleep. Then as I tried to draw imaginary pictures in my ceiling, I realized the reason for my unrest. Earlier in the day I had signed up for my graduation photos. And this scared the shit of me. There in my bed, I saw it all span in front of me. Faster than

this sentence can be typed and certainly shorter than it takes a reader with their individual thoughts – does she like me, I should probably be studying, I regret nothing and that’s a problem because it means I haven’t lived – to reach this sentence’s exhausting end, I saw myself dressing up, waving to my parents, and walking off a stage like an actor after a long script that no one knew the words to. I saw a curtain close, people clapping, and what those next steps meant. In short, I saw a lifetime that would one day end, a story that would reach a final period, and the emptiness of a white page after it all. Soon, I will leave this place, this planet, this universe. I will no longer be a student. Then, after a million of little things that won’t matter to you and will hopefully matter to me, I’ll die. I’ll be no more. The moment I signed up for my photos, this extant rush didn’t come to me. I scheduled the photo haphazardly, almost laissez-faire. Yet in my bed I realized that eventually, I’ll move, I’ll shake, and I’ll do. I’ll live a life away from these doors, doors I have spent the better part of four years getting to know. And though some days I pretend to hate it, though I’m often suffocating under an avalanche of books, I’m afraid for when those doors close. I’m afraid for when the groggy, morning sun doesn’t hang over snow-drunk clouds, when I am not dancing with my pillow, and when I can’t write these stupid, little words any longer. Most of all, I’m afraid I won’t be me anymore for it is here where I found myself.

“

“In short, I saw a lifetime that would one day end, a story that would reach a final period, and the emptiness of a white page after it all.”

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Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014

OPINIONS

Darkest coffee and cheapest wine

Kacper Niburski Opinions Editor

BAHAR ORANG / ANDY EDITOR

A zero-sum game

Humanity causes many of the problems on this Earth, but at the same time, we are its only solution

SILHOUETTE FILE PHOTO

Nazwa Warda Bintay Salim The Silhouette The earth is a very small planet when considering this whole milky galaxy as part of a gigantic universe. We, the homo sapiens, the best of creations supposedly by a god, or just through a natural process of selection, have never turned a deaf ear to those tears of our mother earth. The very thought of Earth being a mother to us is not even there anymore. Just like a mother who grooms up a child in her loving cradle, this mother earth has been very obliging to us to bless with fruits and water, with dates amidst the dry, deadly and sweltering desserts, nurturing us with rain for a golden harvest, rivers flowing with shoals of fish for fisherman to live on or with the fresh tint of air to breathe in a hot sunny day. It showered us with the beautiful soft flaky snows so that we can enjoy the perfect chilly Christmas nights with a hot cup of coffee. No ink can describe the

enormous and countless ways we have been blessed with this small planet, only bothering to acquire ungratefully as much as we can from it never realizing that each of us are obligated to return to it at least the smallest amount that we can. Survival of the fittest has been the only mantra of the 21st century. In the competitive run for materialistic accomplishment we have always brutally killed and knowingly murdered the innocence within us, not knowing what aftermaths we are leaving behind as footprints for our next generations to manage. Nature has endured our actions. Over the years mother nature has waited patiently for better days. The results are right in front of our eyes. We need to open our eyes to the truth, not intentionally hide away from it for our own selfish benefits. Success and achievement can no longer have a positive effect on us if we are to leave behind our children with a plundered planet, floating in deadly breathable poison.

This sudden abrupt and shocking changes in our weather pattern, extreme chilly winds with severe ice-storms, to the engulfing of villages with dark choking ashes from thousandyear-old dormant volcanoes suddenly erupting, lava exploding from now-where leaving people homeless and in shock, fire in the middle of the forest destructing villages after villages, households and properties, tornadoes and cyclones rising in unnatural ways to completely loot a whole city in seconds demolishing all structures raised through years. These are all just mere signs that there could be more devastating effects affecting our It is late already, as manifested from these unanticipated events and calamities. The question thus remains: have we had enough lessons yet? Or do we want to still go back, sit and ponder our own self-interest at the cost of prowling our own mother every day?

If the happiest moment of one’s life is meant to resemble a climax, it’s fitting that mine occurred on the Eiffel Tower. Though the clichéd moment has often spurred inspiration for countless mimic lovers and over-inflated romantics, I neither felt love nor some overarching unity on the Parisian metallic beast. I instead gazed as millions of others had before and millions of others would in the future at a sprawling landscape peopled with artists and doctors, lawyers and criminals, politicians and savages, and I felt so perfectly alone. I was one among many, a centimeter against a ruler, a nobody in a world of nobodies. I wasn’t liberated; I was chained, restricted, and limited. I was shackled. And by realizing this, I was anything but. This, though, means little at all by itself for it is not the revelation that is appreciated, but rather the volatile journey, with its valleys and troughs, its unexpected chances and wasted preparations, that are praised and cherished. There on the Eiffel Tower I was not a singularity, I was not a moment. I was the resultant outcome of everything that brought me there, from the food I ate to the girls I kissed to the classes I took and to those I didn’t. In all, I was all, and that is why I was happy. Up until that point, I was regimented into the routine of everyday. I focused mainly on schedules and rescheduling until I found the pulse of small problems and made them astronomical. Nine o’clock, I woke up. By ten, I was working. By six, eating. Eight, reading. Eleven, washing. Twelve, sleeping, then repeating in that order. Europe was meant to change this rhythmic burden of everyday. When I started planning for the trip, my expectations were informed by the myths of culture and idealism. In Paris, in Berlin, in Amsterdam, I was to find the ideal life, one sustained by the darkest coffee and the cheapest wine and the beautifully ruffled yet perfectly maintained haircuts and clothes. Cities would glint their forgotten raindrops in ancient archways and only I, when gazing up into the bricks that grew into skyless spires, would sense the permanence of this place. Like a stream rippled by a skipping rock, the very throb of the Gothic architecture and the cobbled streets would become personal to me. In a way, they did. From eight in the morning until two the next day, I, along with a fellow student

and Silhouette editor, Cooper Long, travelled the various cities with our plans abandoned. When we arrived first in Amsterdam, we got lost in the first fifteen minutes. And this trend of mindless wanderlust, one which my previously cloistered, protected and nurtured livelihood actively avoided, inevitably continued wherever we went. As a result, I became Kacper fully: an unfiltered, unmitigated, confused boy imitating a man imitating a parrot imitating others. I saw through my falsities, my need for control and reigns, and I let go of all that I pretended to be. I think that person was left somewhere in Amsterdam where the rain drips on and where I was startled by my own voice in the darkness. But this newfound light was not Paris, and these moments were not my happiest. Such a responsibility of an all-consuming joy instead belonged to the endless night sky wishing that the sun would rise. It did, and I woke up and the day wore on and the night came again only to end sometime when the curtain was raised, teeth were washed, and I was back home, or somewhere, or both. Before then, I was on top of the world - or Paris’s part of it at least - and I was laughing. I think that’s why I was happy. Because in Paris, I learned that the ideal human is a traveler exploring the unknown. There at the top of France, I was that human, but so was everyone else, and for the first time in my short, short life, that meant something. I didn’t have to be unique. I just had to belong. All of us were under the same Heaven waiting for the clouds to part. From above, it is said that everyone looks like ants, but from below, so do those who tower above us. I try to think about this now and again because it provides more than a momentary happiness. Though it sounds ridiculous, it allows me to see beyond the glumly cantankerous and the stratospheric troubles that seem to surround me and everyone else in a mysterious, intricate plan. In fact, it let me forgo that nebulous plan altogether. Now I am happy to live with uncertainty, with not knowing. To me, and to the person I have become since the romantics of Europe, that is knowing enough already.

OSCAR-SNUBBED Beloved Sesame Street icon refuses to ack nowledge Chiwetel Ejiofor ’s ac ting chops C4

NOTSPEC.COM

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 13, 2013

HAMILTON SPECULATOR THE

MAKING PIZZA PROCLAMATIONS SINCE 1934

LOCAL

“Escarpment Sedan Skiing” becomes nationally-covered event A2

WORLD

Tens of people shocked to hear of Olympic controversies A5

SCIENCE

Intolerance classic

c commercial angers pro®

human fundamentalist groups

Cure for cancer getting held up by search for new Skittles flavors B3

A queue for two New dating social media service is bringing people together - through compatible Netflix watching habits FRANK ZAPPA Not The One You’re Thinking Of

Coca-Cola® is a human product, and advertisements should reflect that.” Buzz Flipton

TIBERIUS SLICK Pepsi Generation Speculator

Following a controversial commercial, Coca-Cola ® is facing criticism for their use of non-humans in recent adverts. The commercial, which features a family a polar bears cracking open an ice-cold Coca-Cola ® classic, is being submitted to a human rights tribunal to determine if the global soft drink goliath is in violation of several speciesprotecting treaties. “Coca-Cola ® is a human product, and advertisements should reflect that,” said Buzz Flipton, an avid Coke drinker and ten-time champion of the Pepsi challenge. “Inclusivity is fine and all but do it on your own time,” said Flipton.

To combat this negative publicity, c ® is planning a pro-animal cruelty campaign to appease their intolerant demographic, which makes up 5.7% of their total drinkership. “We’re going to hold piñata-bashing events across the country, using real donkeys, and the east coast is going to see a slew of live butchery demonstrations, including post-Q&A,” said Franz Kramer, Chairman of Marketing Direction, CocaCola ® company. The polar bears in question have been moved to an undisclosed location, fearing widespread backlash against their advert appearance. “I think this is absolutely absurd,” said Carrie Sherry, public relations agent and

Pick-up lines to get you [mac]king Cassie Nova-Moore

publicist for the bears. “They are just as human as the rest of us, if not more! So what if their fur is a slightly different shade or their mouths have slightly sharper, more numerous teeth.” The Coca-Cola ® company is hoping that this will not create a rift between the soft drink goliath and their preferential poster-bears. “It’s tough for a polar bear to find work nowadays, so we’re confident the family will be back in our omnipresent graces before long,” said Kramer. This story was brought to you by Coca-Cola ® and c ® -related products, available at almost any location near anywhere, anytime of the year, for the rest of the foreseeable future.

Publicist Carrie Sherry with the patriarch of the nowinfamous polar bear family.

"I'm so lost in your eyes, I thought I was in IWC" - Tame and timid, this line will get you a fluttering of eyelashes and fluttering of footsteps as they run towards your open arms…or legs. "You and I could get more people talking than the Red Suit Songbook" - Too soon? "I'm like the HSR, I may be slow, but I always get the job done" - This has the potential to be cute. It also has the potential to make people avoid your genitals for all

He’s a butcher in New Delhi. She’s a CEO in Seattle. Now they are starting their lives together thanks to their shared passion for the second season of Breaking Bad. The Screw Queue, a brand new social media and dating service, is finding compatible lovers by matching their Netflix viewing history and habits. “I’ve found love, and if it weren’t for TSQ, I’d never have known it was half the world away,” said Raman Vatsal, owner and operator of the Moo Deli, of New Delhi, India. The person that the service found for him, Sarah Plesser, is a high-powered CEO in Seattle, Washington, and is likewise in the throes of newfound passion. “My family doesn’t understand why I’m suddenly involved with an Indian meatbeater, but they haven’t seen Bryan Cranston’s impeccable performance, so their opinion is invalid,” said Plesser. Anti-TSQ activists are popping up all over the nation to combat this surge of “Netrosexuals” that they claim are “introducing a strain of impurity into the tried-and-true practice of finding your soul mate passed out in a bar, or being set up by your nosy aunt whose four kids have her on the verge of a nervous breakdown.” Submit your Netflix queue and you might find true love sooner than you think. Unless you watch Keeping Up With The Kardashians, then there is nobody for you. Sorry.

The happy couple, matched by an online Netflix-compatibility service, is looking forward to sharing their account, and their lives, together from now on.

of undergrad. Per form with caution. "I'll go down on you faster than Wentwor th House" - That building put the D in destruction. "Lake McMaster has nothing on how deep I'll be going" - What can I say, it knows how to show a canoe a good time. "Is that a Willy Dog, or are you just happy to see me?" - That's probably a Willy D og.

Disclaimer: The Hamilton Speculator is a work of satire and fiction and should not under any circumstances be taken seriously. Unless you’re into that sort of thing. Then do what you want. I’m not your dad.

Sex

Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014

theSil.ca

and the

B1 Editors Amanda Watkins & Miranda Babbitt

inside this week’s issue!

STEEL CITY

VALENTINE’S SURVIVAL GUIDE Whatever your status, LifeStyle has you covered with go-to colour coordinated beer, a romantic hair tutorial, cut-out e-cards & more

SEX AND THE STEEL CITY THE BEVERAGE

- 1 part orange juice - 1 part sprite - a splash of grenadine - 1 shot of vodka

Email lifestyle@thesil.ca silhappens.tumblr.com Phone 905.525.9140 x27117

FACULTY LOVE

What are your profs up to this frisky Friday? “Freestyle painting at the Paintlounge followed by a home cooked dinner and a cinnamon heart eating contest.” - Hartley Jafine, Facilitator, Bachelor of Health Sciences and Arts & Science Program

“My Valentine’s day will be filled with poop. I figure I’ll change three diapers loaded with 17-month old baby-girl dookie, pick up two sets of turds from each of my two dogs, and seeing as how it’s February and life is generally awful, I wouldn’t be surprised if I stepped in something getting off the bus on the way home from campus. But I love my wife. Hi Honey, I’m in print media!” – Benjamin Hamby, Professor, Faculty of Humanities

“I hate Valentine’s Day. I have never liked it. Much like Mother’s and Father’s day it’s a consumer holiday. I like romance, but I hate Valentine’s Day. This Friday is the ten year anniversary of the monthiversary of the first date with my husband. He made me steak and peas - the steak tasted rubbery. So, if we celebrate anything, it’ll be that.” - Steph Howells, Faculty of Social Sciences

“I am working on Valentine’s Day, but I plan to spend Valentine’s Day evening with my wife and daughter. We are going to decorate chocolate cupcakes with candy hearts. We are then spending the Family Day weekend at our family cottage on Stoney Lake, near Peterborough.” - Kris Knorr, Instructional Designer

“I’ll be preparing my next 2D06 lecture, of course! How’s that for dedication? :-)” - Alan Chen, Professor, Arts & Science Program ELIZA POPE / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR

Valentine-friendly beers

Estrella

KLB Raspberry Wheat Beer

Früli

Salzburger Stiegl

St. Ambroise Apricot Wheat Beer

The official beer of FC Barcelona (apparently) has a light and refreshing taste. It has a hint of oakiness and little to no aftertaste. Easy to go down, this beer tastes, smells and looks light.

Noticeably fruity, this wheat beer has a very sweet and tart taste. Although its juicy taste and cidery smell are smooth coming in, it leaves a lingering aftertaste that will haunt your future intakes.

Leaning more towards the realm of a cider, this bubbly strawberry-flavoured beer goes down extremely easy and has been likened to a juice for grown-ups.

This earthy lager is surprisingly light with a mildly bitter aftertaste. A bit deeper in colour and stronger in scent, it still pulls a gentle taste and an apply aroma.

More on the citrusy side, this apricot-flavoured beer is also very bubbly and easy to swallow. For someone looking to branch into fruit-flavoured beers, this variety is less obvious.

REVIEWED BY: MIRANDA BABBITT, BRIANNA BUZIAK, RACHEL FABER, TOMI MILOS, ALEXANDRA REILLY, LAURA SINCLAIR, ANDREW TEREFENKO, KAREN WANG, AMANDA WATKINS

theSil.ca

Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014

LIFESTYLE

Celebrating Valentine’s Day as a “single pringle” (one man’s journey) Jason Woo The Silhouette Valentine’s Day has the distinct honour of being a divisive holiday that inspires happiness and depression in seemingly equal numbers. A quick scroll through Buzzfeed will reveal a number of simultaneously hilarious and sad gif-filled articles about Single Awareness Day. As you roam the halls of the university, you start overhearing conversations about how Valentine’s Day is a holiday based solely on consumerism, how both participants in the conversation are independent and proud of it, and that “they don’t need no lover.” But, as a single pringle, I would kindly like to ask these Sad Larrys to respectfully keep it down. If you’re sad that you’re single, go ask that cute upper year in your tutorial on a date. If you don’t care for the holiday, go have your own fun rumpus. Midterms and the winter blues have already

put a cloudy damper on many university students; the last thing we need is more negativity. In these seemingly dark times, I see Valentine’s Day as a hopeful beacon of the now oft missing sunlight. It’s a day where the power of love is celebrated, where I can see the unadulterated happiness and bliss that love is capable of inspiring. When a friend tells me about her Valentine’s Day plans, it just fills me with overwhelming bubbly happiness. If that catchy Pharrell song, “Happy,” has taught me anything, it’s that happiness is contagious – if only you will let it envelop you. Valentine’s Day is also a time to celebrate any love you have in your life. It doesn’t have to be pigeonholed into the archetypical romantic couple. Take a moment to appreciate the love you have for your family. I know that I don’t tell my family I love them nearly as much as I should. Like many other holidays, the fundamental purpose is to use it as a means to

recognize and celebrate something good in your life. Take the day to celebrate with your friends. This year I’m sending my best friend out of province a Valentine’s Day gift. We’re not as close anymore, but times like these remind me of the bond that we have. She’s sending me something too – and I’ll be as happy as any couple in love when I open my own box of chocolate dipped strawberries. Alternatively, you can get together with you best friend to crack a bottle of wine and watch a bunch of rom-coms. Valentine’s Day can be fun and wonderful for anyone as long as you approach it with the right mindset. Love and cotton candy is in the air. Why let such inherently sweet things bog you down if you can let it lift you out of the winter doldrums instead?

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AT ITS VERY BEST

Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014

theSil.ca

LIFESTYLE

Valentine’s Day Edition!

Emily Power & Jason Woo: Second Years, Arts & Science Program

Wearing? Jason Shirt: Comme des Garçons Pants: Club Monaco Cardigan: Uniqlo Watch: Agnis B Bracelets: Urban Outfitters Emily Shirt: Zara Cardigan: Value Village Pants: Value Village Watch: Olivia Burton Necklace: Accesorize

Requirements for a Valentine: “Only one: must enjoy McDonald’s with me.”- Jason “Chocolate, good conversation, and it would be nice if he was a handsome gentleman.” - Emily YOSEIF HADDAD / SENIOR PHOTO EDITOR

RIGHT IN TIME: A Valentine’s Day Cupcake Tour Guide ing

: 5/5

3/ 5

: 3.

R atin g

Emma Suschkov & Emily Power The Silhouette

Two cupcake connoisseurs (and students on the side) scour Hamilton’s cupcake scene and give you Ra their honest reviews. R t

tda s e W

f l’s o2.70 i e W $

C/O EMMA SUSCHKOV

REVIEWS

NEW

Cup of W cakes est Villa dale ge $ 2.5

n en o Bitt cke Lo 15 $3.

Weil’s of Westdale: We chose the red velvet cake with vanilla icing. It had so much icing though, which can be lovely but it tasted kind of generic. The cake was indeed moist but not very flavourful.

A whole new way to earn

Cupcakes of Westdale Village: We chose the vanilla cake with lemon icing and lemon curd filling. The cake was very moist. The lemon curd was very sour, and the icing very sweet and excessively loaded on. All in all, the flavours were a little overwhelming.

Bitten on Locke: We chose the mint icing on chocolate cake with a bit of mint

Aero bar on top and chocolate drizzle. It was just the right amount of icing (perfect cake-to-icing ratio, a delicate matter). Moist and delicious cake. And the metaphorical cherry on top was an adorable presentation!

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AT ITS VERY BEST

Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014

theSil.ca

LIFESTYLE

She wears her heart in her hair Follow this tutorial for a cute ‘do to show off to your boo

Curl your hair.

Make two pigtails.

5 Fasten the two tails so that they cross over. Voila!

With a few bobby pins, twirl your hair around the pigtail.

Repeat on the other side.

YOSEIF HADDAD / PHOTO EDITOR

NOVELTY MCMASTER V-CARDS Cut these out for your friends or your cuddly campus cutie and they’re sure to love you more than Mac loves not closing on snow days.

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AT ITS VERY BEST

theSil.ca

Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014 Marauders get ready to compete at the OUA Championships

B6 Women’s basketball keeps up the momentum

Editors Laura Sinclair & Alexandra Reilly Email sports@thesil.ca @SilSports Phone 905.525.9140 x27117

S VOLLEYBALL

The height of a career Laura Sinclair Sports Editor

YOSEIF HADDAD / PHOTO EDITOR

5’6” Seyar Karimi brings more than just talent to the Marauders men’s volleyball team; he brings an unrelenting sense of positivity and optimism that is infectious to the other players.

When Seyar Karimi approached Coach Dave Preston in the ninth grade letting him know that eventually, he would be playing for him, the chances of that becoming a reality were slim. Karimi - a 5’6” libero, who at the time, was only a manager for his high school team, had a lot of work to do in order to get to play for one of the best teams in the country. But on that day, he made a statement to Coach Preston, and made it very clear to him, and to his friends, that he was serious about one day having the chance to play for the Marauders volleyball team. “All of my friends were like ‘what are you doing’?” said Karimi. “And I was like, ‘I’m going to do it, I’m going to make a statement here’- and I went up to him and said ‘hey, I’m going to be on your team’.” Karimi knew he wanted to play for the Marauders early on in the ninth grade, as two of his high school coaches at Rick Hansen Secondary School — Dave McAllister and Mike Russell — were also the assistant coaches at McMaster at the time. These coaches would always take the high school team to Marauders volleyball games in the Burridge Gym, and from that moment on, Karimi was hooked. “I don’t know if it’s because they brought us here that I really liked it, but I came into that game and I saw the coach and saw everything and thought that I had to come here,” said Karimi. Karimi, however, had a

#6 doesn’t have your traditional volleyball player’s stature - but that won’t stop him couple of major setbacks in his pursuit to become a Marauder. One of these setbacks was that in order to play for the team, he first had to make the roster of his high school team. From grades 6-9, Karimi was always the manager of his school’s volleyball team due to his size. “I never made a team. Every year I tried out, I was too small, and my brother always made the team so, I was always the manager,” said Karimi. By the time Karimi reached the tenth grade, he really wanted to play. Coaches Dave McAllister and Mike Russell took him in as a manager, but decided to give him a shot at showcasing his abilities on the court as well. His grade 10 year marked the very first time he made the school volleyball team, and Karimi decided it was best to develop a good connection with McAllister and Russell if he wanted any hope of making the Marauders team. “Those two guys impacted where I am now… they became like father figures to me, and eventually helped me out,” said Karimi. Another major setback for Karimi was his academic performance. In order to play for the Marauders, he had to maintain a high average in high school to get into McMaster. When he had his meeting with Preston in grade 12, he did not know if he had been accepted into McMaster yet, and he knew that he would have to work extremely hard in order to get there. But it was in that meeting, where the possibility of Karimi actually making the team became a lot more realistic. AT THE HEIGHT OF GREATNESS, B10

Women score seat in playoffs Marauders cap off regular season with two wins; playoffs kick off Feb. 17 Alexandra Reilly Assistant Sports Editor The McMaster Women’s volleyball team had a huge weekend, winning both their final regular season games and securing a spot in the playoffs to finish off their season. The team’s first win came against the Brock Badgers who hosted the Marauders on Feb. 7 in St. Catharines, Ont. Rookie player Sophie Bukovec was busy on Friday’s game with a standout performance, converting 17 of 50 hitting attempts and adding six blocks for a game high 23 points. Taylor Brisebois and Maicee Sorenson were also among some of the Marauders to reach double-digit points in the win. Brock appeared to seize momentum numerous times in the match but would come back to win the fourth set, tying the match and adding a deciding fifth set into the mix. The Marauders were able to take control early in the fifth set leading the Badgers 7-4 as the team’s approached the changeover. The Marauders would build momentum and not give up another point, reaching the end of the match with a 15-4 victory over the hosting Brock squad. McMaster would then return home to Burridge Gym on Feb. 8 and get set to host the visiting Ottawa Gee-Gees for a 6 p.m. start time. It was Seniors night, a night which honored the senior players who will be graduating after the completion of the 2013-14 season. The Marauders would put up a commendable fight to blow the Gee-Gees out of the water and take the game 3-2. After an emotional presentation for McMaster’s four graduating seniors, the Gee-Gees took off

flying, determined to put a damper on the evening’s festivities. The Gee-Gees strong start put them up 16-5 early in the match. After the technical timeout, the Gee-Gees lead would prove to great to catch up to, allowing Ottawa to take the first set and reach a 1-0 lead over the hosting Marauders. With the Gee-Gees fighting for a win in order to secure a home playoff game in the first round of next week’s OUA playoffs, Ottawa was on a mission and was proving to be a difficult opponent for the Marauders. The second set showed Ottawa once again take an early lead over the Marauders with a commanding 19-10 lead. Mac would eventually close the gap to only seven points but would not get any closer, leaving Ottawa the opportunity to close out the second set with a 25-17 win, bringing their lead to 2-0 over the Marauders. With the risk of a 3-set sweep on home court in the Marauders midst, they knew they had to come out in full force in order to win an important third set. A fired up group of Marauders stormed the Gee-Gees grabbing an early 16-7 lead at the technical timeout. The Marauders would eventually power through to take the set 25-9 providing the spark the team needed in order to win this game. With their momentum continuing to grow the Marauders would shake off a trailing fourth set score to grab a lead once again at 16-11. The set would reach it’s conclusion with the Marauders sitting on top, taking the set 25-21 and brining the game to a tie at 2 a piece. For the second straight night in a row the Marauders would go into a crucial fifth set which would eventually decide

YOSEIF HADDAD / PHOTO EDITOR

the outcome of the match. The Marauders went pedal to metal and showed no signs of wavering throughout the set. Taking an early 8-4 lead the Marauders would continue their push and would eventually take the set and the game with a 15-7 victory and a 3-2 over the Gee-Gees. Prior to the match, fifth year seniors Amanda Weldon and Kayla Ng as well as fourth year seniors Camilla ThomeTjomsland and Kierstyn Bakker were presented with tokens of appreciation for the commitment and contributions to the Marauder volleyball program. The ladies in maroon finish the season with a 13-6 record which gives them a second place finish overall heading into the OUA playoffs starting next week. The Marauders will host the Windsor Lancers in the division semi-final contest to be held this weekend on Feb. 17 in Burridge Gym. @Miss_AReilly

theSil.ca

SPORTS

Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014

Marauders let win streak slip Scott Hastie The Silhouette The 13-game winning streak has come to an end. It was a good ride, but the Windsor Lancers put an end to the longest winning streak in seven years in a wire-to-wire game on Feb. 8. McMaster’s offence struggled to find a rhythm throughout the game, and part of that can be attributed to the cavernous St. Denis Centre. It is a notoriously difficult gym to play in because of the tall curtains that fall behind the nets. A shooter’s depth perception is skewed and the coaches concerns were legitimized after the Marauders put up 15 points in the first quarter. The teams would exchange runs, but Windsor kept McMaster. With the loss, Mac only holds a one-game advantage over the Lancers. It’s unlikely the Marauders will lose to the lowly Waterloo Warriors, who sit at second last in the OUA with four wins and 16 losses. It was an entertaining tilt, but not one with many real takeaways. Enrico Diloreto had an efficient game: 8-16 shooting for 26 points, along with 8-10 on free throws. Lien Phillip was a monster, exploding for 20 points, 17 rebounds (with seven on the offensive glass), and only two fouls in 35 minutes. Phillip’s numbers weren’t surprising, but Diloreto’s efficiency is. If Mac sees Windsor again at the Final Four, it’s unlikely that the guard could pull off another game like that. Mac struggled from distance, shooting 7-22 from behind the arc. A lot of those looks were open ones, but those woes can be attributed to the venue.

Taylor Black had his most disappointing game of the season, registering six points in 33 minutes of play. His partner in the paint, Nathan McCarthy, could not find a rhythm on offence either. McCarthy shot 3-5 and split a pair of free throw attempts to finish with seven points. It was the frontcourt’s lowest scoring game of the season. The Marauders had an opportunity to steal the game, coming within three points with 13 seconds left in the game. A turnover from Leon Alexander sealed the game, but the comeback effort was impressive nonetheless. Those looking for this game to be an indictment of who is the top of the OUA West crop should look ahead to a potential Final Four match-up instead of putting a ton of stock into the recent game. The two games were close, and a Wilson Cup battle will be on neutral ground. The CIS top-ten voting committee disagreed with that, and the Lancers vaulted the Marauders in the poll this week. The Maroon and Grey need to just ride out the season and finish with a win over the Warriors to capture first place and a bye through the first round. Their opponent will not be determined until the first round is over, where they will face the lowest remaining seed. @Scott1Hastie

YOSEIF HADDAD/PHOTO EDITOR

Milligan a dominant force Scott Hastie The Silhouette McMaster’s Hailey Milligan has been nothing short of incredible this year. As of Feb. 12, the sixfoot-three centre is averaging a career-high in minutes, field-goal percentage and points per game. Her rebounding is down on average, from 11.5 to 11.1, but her rebounding percentage (an estimate of how many available rebounds one player grabbed) is fourth in the CIS. Hailey Milligan should be an All-Canadian. The slow undoing of the Marauders season has been well documented, but that is not fault of Milligan’s. Without the fifth-year, this season would have

been much worse. You can see it too – when Milligan is off, the team struggles on both ends of the court. She owns the highest offensive (112) and defensive (71) ratings of the team. Her post presence causes teams to collapse immediately, and Milligan constantly faces double and triple teams. Simply put, she is the best player donning the Maroon and Grey and perhaps the most important player to any team in the OUA. Remove Milligan from the line-up, spread her shots across the rest of the team and the end product would not be pretty. She leads the team in effective field goal percentage at 56 percent. That mark is good for eighth in

the nation. But what is more impressive is the efficiency given the number of times Milligan uses an offensive possession. The Brantford, Ont. product uses 28 percent of McMaster’s possessions, and no one above her in effective field goal percentage uses more. Dalyce Emmerson of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies has a 27 percent usage clip, but also plays in a weaker Canada West division, where three of the eight teams have a combined 1644 record. Milligan is putting up eye-popping numbers, playing in the most competitive division in the CIS. The list goes on. Her Player

Efficiency Rating is fourth in the country. She has a low foul count per 40 minutes of 2.8, and gets to the line with a free throw to fieldgoal attempt ratio of 0.3. But still, a spot on the All-Canadian team is not a guarantee for Milligan. Voters could look at the record of the Marauders and put her accomplishments under the “good numbers on a bad team” label. This would be the wrong decision.

Milligan is integral to the success of McMaster, and the regression next year will show that. Hopefully, the voting committee does not wait that long to realize the impact the fifthyear has had on the McMaster program. @Scott1Hastie

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AT ITS VERY BEST

SPORTS

Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014

theSil.ca

Mac gets ready for OUAs

C/O PETE SELF

Laura Sinclair Sports Editor After the Valentine Invitational meet at Boston University, Maddy McDonald is ranked fourth overall in the CIS. McDonald, the OUA community service award recipient, ran to a time of 9:34 in the 3000 m, just two seconds off of her personal best time of 9:32 that she ran at the Junior National Championships last summer. “She kind of tripped up near the end coming around the last corner, she probably would’ve run under 9:34 if that didn’t happen” said head coach Paula Schnurr. McDonald was just milliseconds off of the McMaster record, which was set two years ago at the CIS Championships by stand-out Marauder runner and alumni, Lindsay Carson. “Hopefully she can go after the record at CIS, because it’s going to be a good race,” added Schnurr.

At championship races, it’s hard to run to a good time, as the race becomes a lot more tactical. The athletes race to win, rather than race for time, and Schnurr believes that McDonald is sure to be a medal contender, it will just all have to come down to the last lap of the race, where the girls will try and make their final kick to get past one another. “It’s going to be a barn burner. It’s going to be an amazing race, the girls are so close, it’s going to come down to a kick.” Although there are girls that have more speed than McDonald over shorter distances, her strength over the 3000 m distance is extremely encouraging for her position in the 3000 m race in March. “There are girls that are a bit faster than Maddy over 1500, they have a bit more speed, but she’s certainly strong, so I think anything can happen at championships,” added Schnurr. In the 1000 m, Chelsea

MacKinnon ran to a personal best time of 2:51, which was exciting for her and the coaches, as they expected her to run to a time of 2:55. “We thought anywhere around 2:55, or 2:54 would be great, so when she saw 2:51, and when we all saw 2:51, that was pretty awesome,” said Schnurr. Schnurr said that the atmosphere at the track at Boston University is one that is filled with people who thrive from the energy and the atmosphere, and are excited to run fast. There are many sections and the track is extremely fast, so the athletes are sure to stick with the pack and get carried to a great time. So when McDonald and Mackinnon got the meet off to a great start with their races, the men’s team was very excited to hit the track the following day when all of the men’s races were taking place. In the 1000 m, Jeff Tweedle

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raced extremely well, running to a huge personal best time of 2:27, while Eric Barry also posted a personal best time of 2:32. In Tweedle’s race, his heat went out pretty slow, so he had to make up ground and work hard in the final lap to run to an impressive time. In the 3000 m race, Blair Morgan ran to a time of 8:30, while Jordan Bierema was not too far behind, finishing the race in a time of 8:31. While these six athletes ran their hearts out in Boston, the rest of the track team competed in Windsor, where they also managed to run to incredibly fast times. Taylor Forbes was extremely impressive, running the 3000 m in a time of 8:26, running the race practically by himself. His brother Austen was 10 seconds behind him, running an 8:36, while Gabe Ghiglione finished with a personal best time of 8:46.

The Forbes twins will switch their focus to triathlon training, which will mean they will have to sit out the OUA championships next weekend. This gives Ghiglione a chance to prove himself in the 3000 m at the OUA championships alongside Morgan and Bierema. Other highlights in Windsor include the women’s 3000 m, where Raquel Burgess ran to a personal best time of 10:24, while Kierstin Myers finished just behind her with the exact same time. The Marauders are now looking forward to the OUA Championships at York University Feb.21-22, where they will attempt to keep up their momentum and qualify individually for the CIS Championships. @Lsinkky

Wine & Dine for Peace of Mind

Weekly Meeting Time: Fridays from 11:30am - 12:20pm in MUSC 215e

When February 13, 2014 from 07:00PMPM until 09:00PM

•For more info: www.opencircle.mcmaster.ca •Contact: Marybeth at Leismb@mcmaster.ca

Where Phoenix Bar & Grill Join us for our semi-formal Wine and Dine for Peace of Mind event with some great speakers, a silent auction and some great food! http://www.facebook.com/events /204788533050363/

Open Circle Creativity Circle When February 13, 2014 from 01:30PM until 02:20PM Where MUSC 215e Open Circle is a diverse and consensus-based community of McMaster students where we value, respect and learn from each other Creativity Circle is a supportive space for sparking the flame of your creative fire. Join us to... Discuss our thoughts on and experiences of creativity Challenge each other to stretch ourselves in listening to and following our inner voice Connect into our center, here gaining strength that flows out into authentic being and acting Reflect on life and meaning as we seek to integrate creativity and spirituality

Body, Mind, Spirit Circle: Exploring Integrated Living When February 14, 2014 from 11:30AM until 12:20PM Where MUSC 215e Body Mind Spirit Circle is a supportive space for sharing about our journeys, questions, and ideas about spirituality and authentic healthy living. Whether you are looking to explore your spirituality or following a specific spiritual path we can learn from each other in an atmosphere of respect and openness. Try out practices for wholistic living such as meditation, creative expression, journaling, hiking. You are welcome to try out the group anytime with no expectation to join or attend weekly.

Open Circle’s Reflection Circle Guidelines: •Creating an atmosphere of freedom, safety, and respect •Respecting each others' ideas, opinions, feelings, & questions •Working to see that everyone feels the freedom to participate or pass •Respecting confidentiality

kind of objects can you see? What kind of telescope should you use? Join us at the planetarium as we go through the essentials of gazing at the night sky with a telescope. McMaster’s McCallion Planetarium is located in the basement of the Burke Science Building. Tickets are $5 per person and may be available at the door, but cannot be guaranteed so we strongly recommend making reservations. To reserve a seat for any of our planetarium shows, or for more information, please follow the links from our website: http://www.physics.mcmaster.ca/ planetarium/ or call us at (905) 525-9140 ext. 27777.

Kanye West Yeezus Tour Mary Keyes CertifiWhen cate – Getting February 18, 2014 from 01:00AM Started: Focusing until 10:00PM Your Leadership Where Development Compass Information Centre Last day to buy tickets for Kanye West's Yeezus Tour! Kanye will be performaing at Copps Coliseum on Feb 18th. Ticket price: $85.00 *This event is open to everyone (students, community members, etc) Please note: - Tickets will be sold in numerical order! Make sure you buy your tickets at the same time as your friends so you can sit beside them! - There are two sections (114 and 119) – you can choose which section you'd would like to purchase tickets for (there is a map of the sections on the board in front of Compass) Tickets are available at Compass, visit our website for more information! https://www.msumcmaster.ca/ser vices-directory/4-compass-information-centre/event-tickets

Planetarium Show: Backyard Astronomy When February 19, 2014 from 07:00PM until 08:00PM Where McCallion Planetarium, Burke Science Building (BSB), room B149 Backyard astronomy sounds simple enough: get a telescope, point it at the sky and take a look. When you look at the night sky through a telescope you’ll see many points of lights. How do you find certain objects? What

When February 26, 2014 from 05:30PM until 07:00PM Where Gilmour Hall 110 Meeting Room What personal qualities will help me to be an effective leader? How do I build relationships that will enable my group to attain its goals? What makes somebody a leader? Leadership is a loaded term. The label “leader” excites some and makes others uncomfortable. Some students identify as leaders because of the success they have had in guiding teams to achieve goals; conversely, other students want to build their skills in order to start seeing themselves as leaders. This workshop and the Dr. Mary E. Keyes Certificate of Leadership Development are for all students: the experienced, the tentative, and those know that there is more to discuss and discover. This workshop introduces you to a research-based framework for focusing your personal leadership development, so that you can start to illuminate areas of strength and areas of growth. Through experiential activities, facilitators will introduce key concepts and outline the program components required to complete the Dr. Mary E. Keyes Certificate of Leadership Development; for these reasons, this workshop is a prerequisite for participation in all other Mary Keyes Certificate modules. To register for the workshop: Sign onto OSCARplus and click on the workshop in the Student Success Centre Events Calendar. ***

The Dr. Mary E. Keyes Certificate of Leadership Development is designed to help you demonstrate leadership in your community and to foster a lifelong desire to continue thinking and learning about leadership. For more information, please visit http://studentsuccess.mcmaster.c a/experience/leadership/certificat e.html

Blood Donor Clinic When February 27, 2014 from 11:00AM until 05:00PM Where CIBC Hall (3rd Floor MUSC) 115 donors are needed at each McMaster University blood donor clinic! If you keep just 1 resolution this year, make it to save a life. Book your appointment to donate online at www.blood.ca or by calling 1 888 2 DONATE (1-888-236-8283). On average 40 people miss their scheduled appointment to donate at this clinic. Please make every effort to keep your appointment so Canadian Blood Services can maintain an adequate blood supply for hospital patients in need.

Pangaea Multicultural Event Tickets will be available at Compass until Feb 28th! Date of event: March 2, 2014 Location: 2nd and 3rd floor of the Student Centre Time of event: 10:30am-7:00pm Hosted by: Pangaea General admission ticket: $10.00 (tax included) *This event is open to everyone

Happy Valentine’s Day!

SPORTS

Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014

theSil.ca

B10

At the height of greatness

Karimi never let his height get in the way of his passion Laura Sinclair Sports Editor

YOSEIF HADDAD / PHOTO EDITOR

At first, Coach Preston let him know all of the challenges that he would have to face in the CIS, given his small stature. After seeing Karimi’s reassurance that he was up for any challenge, however, Preston had an easy decision to make. “His reassurance through the whole thing was overwhelming,” said Preston. “When you meet somebody like that, with that kind of drive, with that kind of intuitive motivation, it’s captivating.” Karimi was willing to work extremely hard in order to make up for his height. “For a guy of his stature and his size and where we wanted to go, there wasn’t a lot of room. But he said, ‘oh I’ll make room.’ And he was right,” said Preston. Preston told Karimi that there was a spot open on his team for him if he got accepted into Mac. “So I went back to school, and just grinded it out, and it was my best academic year,” said Karimi. Two weeks later, Karimi was accepted into Mac. Fast-forward to two years later, and Karimi not only gets playing-time on the court, but is also in-charge of game-day speeches, a ritual for the Marauders at every game. “They’ll get in a circle, and I have like four or five lines that I’ll rap to chirp about the other team, to get us pumping,” said Karimi. Karimi is also in charge of a lot of the smaller details that have helped in pushing the Marauders from the best team in the province, to the best team in the country. “I like to say that if my team

is a jar of ping pong balls, I’m the sand that fills in the space,” said Karimi. “After every game, every time the coach talks, I play specific music that our team listens to, on road trips whenever there is no music, people are like, ‘where is Seyar?’” Coach Preston mentions his role as a helpful one for the team, as he also makes sure that the athletes and their belongings are taken care of. “He is the guy to make sure that the chocolate milk stuff gets taken care of and that the details get packed in the team bag on the road trips, and that the uniforms and stuff get hung up,” said Preston. On top of all of this, Karimi also contributes on the court. “There’s critical points in times in a match where we rely on him to go in. So he’s not just here for the fun of it, he’s contributing,” said Preston. When it comes to the Marauders volleyball program, Preston stresses that the overall character of a person is more valuable than their talent, or their height. “Whether he is 5”6’ or 7”6’, to me it doesn’t matter - he’s got the charisma and the character, and the drive from within to be successful - that’s what we teach.” Preston will be recruiting this coming weekend in Waterloo, and when he is there, he will be looking for players that have the kind of drive and passion that Karimi has, but he knows that the recruiting process is never an easy task. “Sometimes I’m wrong, sometimes I think a kids got lots of character and he doesn’t, and sometimes I miss one,” said Preston. “Recruiting is not a perfect

science that’s for sure… But I trust my instincts, I trust my judgements, and Seyar’s character is so prominent, I knew I wasn’t missing that one.” @Lsinkky

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“I like to say that if my team is a jar of ping pong balls, I’m the sand that fills the space” Seyar Karimi, Libero, Marauders volleyball team

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