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McMaster TAs and RAs move towards a strike // PAGE 4
NEWS: What are the rules around protesting on campus? // PAGE 3 ARTS & CULTURE: The Cotton Factory creates a space for artists // PAGE 15 SPORTS: McMaster takes home the Yates Cup // PAGE 22
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Volume 90, Issue 10 Thursday, November 14, 2019 McMaster University’s Student Newspaper
LOOKING BACK
Sept. 26, 1969 THE PLACE TO BE
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Hannah Walters-Vida
A Silhouette columnist writes about their experiences at Woodstock, calling the festival, “a spectacular triumph of the hippy philosophy.”
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NEWS
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019
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News Freedom of expression on campus A pro-life protest on Oct. 30 is raising concerns about the limits of protesting on campus Wei Wu Contributor
On Oct. 30, pro-life demonstrators stood by L.R. Wilson Hall carrying signs with images of aborted fetuses. It is not clear whether the demonstrators were students at McMaster, or whether they had connections to any existing clubs. According to Michael Coutu, a student at McMaster, the demonstrators exposed passersby to their signs and distributed pamphlets, which contained graphic images of aborted fetuses. Coutu is concerned about whether the demonstrators received clearance to be on campus. “Although they were not particularly loud or disruptive, I still found the images and rhetoric being spread very concerning and ill-advised,” said Coutu.
Students have raised their concerns online regarding the contrast between the Oct. 30 situation to the May 11 protest during May at Mac, in which student activists were ticketed for trespassing during a peaceful protest that criticized McMaster regarding a range of issues. One of the issues was sexual abuse within student organizations such as the Maroons. Initially, the May at Mac demonstrators did not provide identification when asked to do so by security and were asked to leave. However, some of these individuals returned and continued their demonstration later on, which resulted in them being ticketed for trespassing. Mac Daily News released an update after May 11, stating that university security had been working with limited information at the time. According
to this update, security had approached the May at Mac protestors because of complaints from community members about the protestors’ pamphlets, which included “unsubstantiated allegations” made against a named McMaster student. Still, the update referred to the method of ticketing as “regrettable and unfortunate”. The university stated they would take steps to rescind tickets and clear them from the students’ records. The juxtaposition between how the university approached the protests of May 11 and Oct. 30 — initially issuing trespassing tickets and charges for one group but not the other — raises questions regarding the limits of protesting on campus and the types of images that are allowed to be publicized on campus. In a statement on freedom of expression, McMaster
University clearly states that it supports the freedom of expression of all its members, as well as freedom of association and peaceful assembly for all of its members. The university affirms that members of the McMaster community have the right to exchange ideas, challenge received wisdom, engage in respectful debate, discuss controversial issues and engage in peaceful protest. So long as students do not infringe on the rights and freedoms of others, students are free to host and participate in demonstrations at McMaster. Members of the McMaster community are not required to obtain permission from the university administration in order to protest or demonstrate on campus. Although the demonstration on Oct. 30 touched upon a highly sensitive topic that some
individuals may have found deeply disturbing, university policy protects the right to share their beliefs and engage in public discourse at McMaster. “Other images, even though we might not agree with them, we might not find them agreeable, would be allowed and permitted. That’s part of the freedoms of expression the university campus has,” said Gord Arbeau, McMaster’s Director of Communications, adding that he did not know about the prolife demonstration. McMaster maintains that it supports freedom of expression and peaceful protests on campus.
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NEWS
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Nov.14, 2019
A strike is in the cards After months of negotiations, TAs and RAs move closer to a strike
Hannah Walters-Vida Editor-in-Chief
After unsuccessful negotiations on Nov. 5, the Canadian Union of Public Employees local 3906, the union representing McMaster Teaching Assistants, Research Assistants and other academic workers, announced that they are inching closer to calling a strike before the end of the month. The announcement comes after months of labour negotiations between CUPE 3906 and the university. Since August, CUPE 3906 has been negotiating on behalf of McMaster TAs and RAs. They are represented under CUPE 3906 unit 1, one of the union’s three bargaining units. In August, the employment contract for academic workers at McMaster expired, as it does every three years. The contract, called the collective agreement, outlines the rights and responsibilities of employers and employees, including rules about wages, work hours and benefits. When the collective agreement expired, the university and CUPE 3906 entered into collective bargaining to renegotiate the agreement on behalf of its members, giving the union a chance to push for improvements to their working conditions. To prepare for negotiations, CUPE 3906 released a survey for its members to identify their bargaining priorities. One of CUPE’s main sets of bargaining priorities is centred around wages and work hours. Under the previous collective agreement, graduate TAs earned
$43.63 per hour, and undergraduate TAs received $25.30 an hour. However, the agreement also states that they cannot work more than 260 hours a year, or more than 10 hours a week on average. For graduate TAs, this results in a maximum of $11,343.80 a year. Nathan Todd, the president of CUPE 3906, pointed out that unless TAs have other means of financial support, such as scholarships, this maximum will not cover fulltime tuition, which TAs must pay in order to maintain their conditions of employment. Furthermore, says Todd, many TAs work above their hours. Between running tutorials, grading work and holding office hours, they can work above their hours without overtime pay. One way that CUPE 3906 hopes to address this is by proposing to increase the minimum number of hours for TA contracts from 33 to 40. While this does not allow TAs to work more than the allotted 260 hours, it helps to increase the number of paid hours on shortterm contracts. Additionally, CUPE 3906 has stated that McMaster has proposed changes that will make it harder for TAs to take on additional guaranteed work hours. According to CUPE 3906 representatives, the university is proposing to remove language in the collective agreement that allows TAs to increase their number of guaranteed number hours if they get hired for additional work in their second year. The university has a policy not to discuss the content of ongoing labour negotiations, so representatives have not confirmed whether McMaster made
this proposal. Another bargaining priority is the implementation of university-wide paid TA training. Currently, the collective agreement between CUPE and the university allows TAs three paid hours a semester to participate in health and safety and orientation training, which is meant to provide new employees with general information about the university and resources available to them. The agreement states that orientation training can point new employees towards professional development resources that they would presumably have to access on their own time. CUPE has stated that this is insufficient. Instead, the union has proposed five paid hours of pedagogical training and three hours of anti-oppression training. “I don’t think asking for training on how to do your job is unreasonable. It’s the kind of thing you’d expect from any professional workplace,” said Todd. CUPE’s proposals also include paid family medical leave, preference to Indigenous applicants for positions in the Indigenous Studies Program and protection against tuition increases. According to Todd, the proposals that the university put forward during the Nov. 5 meeting did not speak to enough of the priorities that CUPE had raised. He also said that the university’s proposals included concessions, where the employer takes back gains that had been made through bargaining in previous years. “Those are the two things that we asked them to do at the end of the last negotiations to
keep negotiations forward, because we can’t accept a contract that has concessions,” said Todd. McMaster representatives have not commented on the details of their proposed bargaining agreements. In a historic vote on Sept. 26, 87 per cent of CUPE’s unit 1 membership voted to authorize a strike. The positive strike vote allows the bargaining team to call a strike if they are unsatisfied with the deal that the university offers them during negotiations. After another unsuccessful bargaining meeting on Nov. 5, CUPE announced that they are inching ever closer to declaring a strike. Gord Arbeau, director of communications at McMaster, said that in the case of a strike, the university would remain open and exams would still be scheduled. He stated that the university is undergoing contingency planning to determine how to mitigate the impacts of a potential strike, but did not elaborate on what these strategies would entail. McMaster has an existing policy that outlines the rights and responsibilities of undergraduate students in the case of work stoppages. According to the policy, undergraduate students are entitled to withdraw from academic activities during a work stoppage, and cannot be penalized academically for doing so. However, they still must meet course requirements, and have the right to extended deadlines, make-up assignments and other alternative arrangements. Furthermore, students who feel that the disruption has unreasonably affected their grades may submit appeals. A strike would also have
significant effects on TAs and RAs. According to Todd, if a strike were initiated, unit 1 members would stop receiving payment and some benefits from the university. Striking members would cease duties related to their employment, including tutorials, labs, grading and email correspondence with students. However, unit 1 members would be eligible for strike pay. CUPE 3906 offers $15 an hour of tax-free strike pay to striking members for 20 hours a week, which amounts to up to $300 a week. On Nov. 18 and 19, CUPE 3906 will meet with university representatives for a mediation session in a final attempt to negotiate a collective agreement. If they are unable to reach a deal, CUPE 3906 will be in a position to call a strike. According to Arbeau, the university is hopeful about the upcoming meeting. “We remain hopeful that an agreement that is responsible and reflective of the important work that the membership does [and] hopeful that an agreement can be reached without a work stoppage,” he said. CUPE 3906 also hopes to come to a fair deal in order to avoid a strike. In a statement from Nov. 9, CUPE 3906 wrote, “We remain eager to reach a fair agreement that reflects your priorities ahead of this deadline, and hopeful that the employer’s entire bargaining team will come to the table on the 19th ready to do the same.”
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CUPE 3906 refuses to accept a contract with concessions. CINDY CUI / PHOTO EDITOR
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www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019
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Designing the workplace Joel Cutcher-Gershenfeld studies digital fabrication and what it means for those about to enter the workforce
Digital fabrication will likely affect the workplaces of the future MATTY FLADER / PHOTO REPORTER
Shamir Malik News Reporter
As accelerating technological advancement changes the digital landscape, the role played by social institutions like schools, companies and the government will shift. Students entering the workforce may be faced with the aftershocks of this digital shift and are looking to prepare themselves. On Oct. 2, students filled McMaster’s LIVElab to hear Joel Cutcher-Gershenfeld discuss the potential impact of the growing presence of technology in the modern workplace. Cutcher-Gershenfeld, author of Designing Reality: How to Survive and Thrive in the Third Digital Revolution, is currently a professor at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. In his book, he argues that there have been two “dig-
ital revolutions” in the last 50 years — and that we will soon experience a third. “The first digital revolution was the shift from analog to digital communication, which gave us the Internet. The second digital revolution [was] the rise of digital computation, which has given us what is now the ‘internet of things’ … [and] ubiquitous computation all throughout society,” he said. As much as these two digital revolutions have transformed the world, Cutcher-Gershenfeld added that the ability to use this digital technology to make physical objects — a process he refers to as “digital fabrication” — changes everything. He points to fabrication laboratories as a particular example. Fabrication laboratories, or “Fab Labs”, are small-scale hubs equipped with digital manufacturing tools such as 3D and laser printers. Fab Labs can rapidly manufacture industrial-quality goods, allowing people to turn their ideas into tangible proto-
types. “What we’re talking about is the ability to make what you need by what we call self-sufficient production, in which you are making what you need without having to work for someone else … The capability to, in a sense, have a small rapid prototyping facility that can produce industrial quality goods is happening faster and faster,” said Cutcher-Gershenfeld. When Cutcher-Gershenfeld began writing his book, there were only 1,400 Fab Labs and maker-spaces worldwide. There are now 2,000. According to Cutcher-Gershenfeld, access to these Fab Labs will increase exponentially in the coming years. While the impact is currently modest, he believes that Fab Labs will give way to the rapid evolution of digital fabrication and, by extension, will change what the workplace might look like for students who are about to graduate and enter the workforce.
During his talk, Cutcher-Gershenfeld emphasized the potential dangers associated with the growing presence of Fab Labs. Currently, it is difficult to predict the impact that Fab Labs will have on the economy. However, Cutcher-Gershenfeld warned that without the support of social systems, like government regulation, the ability to manufacture products digital outside of a factory setting may have repercussions on existing industries. Judy Fudge, labour studies professor at McMaster University and organizer for the event, echoed Cutcher-Gershenfeld’s concern towards the rapid emergence of new technology. “[Things] could change dramatically for the worse if we don’t think about the social systems to make sure they [also] change for the better,” Fudge said. Fudge planned Cutcher-Gershenfeld’s talk as an opportunity for students and staff to see how the workplace
is evolving and how some individuals are working to improve it. The seminar was planned with the Socrates Project, a McMaster initiative that brings attention to modern problems through an interdisciplinary lens, as part of their ongoing “Future of Work” lecture series. According to Socrates Project Director Rina Fraticelli, partnering with McMaster’s School of Labour Studies was an opportunity for the Socrates Project to stimulate discussion on how the average workplace might change in the future. After the seminar, Fraticelli said, “It seemed to me that . . . one of the biggest preoccupations . . . of students who are looking ahead [is asking] ‘What will happen when I graduate? What’s the world going to be like?’”
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PRESIDENT’S PAGE
ALEX JOHNSTON VP (Finance) vpfinance@msu.mcmaster.ca 905.525.9140 x24109
For the next six weeks, a large focus of mine is the MSU Feedback Survey. As a student, I noticed that there wasn’t one centralized medium to provide general feedback and suggestions to the MSU. Having friends involved with MSU services was the only way I believed I could voice ideas and learn about some of the different services offered. A large priority of mine this year was to increase our financial and operational transparency to students at large. To do this, I have been trying to solicit as much feedback as possible about how the MSU can improve its outreach and operations. During financial transparency week, I had informative conversations with various students about their thoughts on this matter. Several students at that time said they had never been sure how to provide feedback or voice their perspectives. I strongly related to feeling like these students and wanted to change this reality for future years. Although various MSU departments and services administer specific surveys
November 14, 2019 | thesil.ca
throughout the academic year for key advocacy goals and service usage, as an organization, we never solicit feedback relating to our overall performance. As a student organization, we must ensure that we are adequately listening to all the diverse students on campus. I am hoping the MSU Feedback Survey assists in achieving this goal. The survey is broken down into a few key sections. The awareness section aims to understand students’ perceptions and the success of our current outreach strategies. Next, there is the student engagement and collaboration section, designed to gauge which services students utilize and why. Additionally, I hope this sheds light on the motivations of students for using certain services and not others. The following section relates to advocacy, in terms of whether students feel as if their voice is heard and what issues they want to be prioritized in the advocacy efforts of the MSU. To conclude, the survey asks about one’s overall perception of the MSU, asking what the MSU does well and also how the MSU can improve moving forward.
By completing the survey, students will be entered for a chance to win the following prizes: one of two pairs of Charity Ball tickets, one of two pairs of Life After Mac tickets, one of 10 $15 TwelvEighty gift cards, and one of 50
coffees from Union Market. We want to hear from students about how the MSU can improve what we offer to students, so please consider filling out the survey online at surveymonkey.com/r/ msufeedbacksurvey.
“As a student organization, we must ensure that we are adequately listening to all the diverse students on campus. ” Considering the Student Choice Initiative, it is critical that we listen to students and understand the needs of the undergraduate population. It is important to regularly reflect and create opportunities for feedback to ensure MSU services continue to improve student life on campus.
The President’s Page is a space sponsored and used by the McMaster Students Union (MSU) Board of Directors (BoD) to communicate with the student body. It functions to highlight the Board’s projects, goals, and agenda for the year, as well as the general happenings of the MSU.
SARAH JOSH MARANDO FIGUEIREDO President
VP (Administration)
SHEMAR HACKETT VP (Education)
ALEX JOHNSTON VP (Finance)
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Nov.14, 2019
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loves Hamilton. Help us (Re)envision the HSR. We’ve created a digital space where you can share your ideas.
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Budgets Make Your Dreams Come True about spending with a purpose perhaps I can entice some of you to keep reading further.
Dream Big — that’s Macs Money Centre’s theme for this year’s nation-wide Financial Literacy Month. The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC — an awesome resource for all things financial) in collaboration with the Bank of Canada, launched the 8th annual Financial Literacy Month. The goal is to encourage Canadians to take control of their finances and reduce financial stress by making a budget, having a savings and debt reduction plan, and understanding their financial
rights and responsibilities. Mac’s Money Centre wants to encourage and support your quest to become money savvy and successful. We know that you all have dreams and money is one of the fundamental tools that can help you make those dreams a reality. We know that is message is old and boring, but the truth is that designing a budget is the key to making your wants a reality. The “B-word” has really gotten a bad rap! So let’s try and make it less averse. If we call it a spending plan and talk
The whole idea of tackling your finances seems overwhelming, an exercise in determining priorities and donning a straitjacket that will keep you from doing what you want. But that couldn’t be further from the truth! A budget doesn’t limit your freedom; it gives you freedom! It’s really all about being aware and intentional with what you do with your money. It ultimately is about deciding what is important to you and following your values. When your spending plan is aligned with what you want, it provides a roadmap to how you will reach your goals — and that’s empowering. You will find ways to meet your commitments and pursue a future that is based on your goals, preferences and needs for flexibility and creativity. Hey, I’d be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge that a plan
can initially make you feel restricted but you need to see this is a temporary condition. Once you figure out where your money is currently being used, you can then decide if these expenditures are a good use of your resources. Is it a change to your life style? Or a realignment of your priorities? Of course. But once you start to spend on items or experiences that add meaning to your life it’s not so hard to give up some of the other things that you thought you needed. Most of us let money take control over ourselves but a spending plan allows you to be in control. A budget will outline the core costs of your living needs: housing, transportation, and communication expenses. But then there are the costs associated with expenditures that are, to some degree, discretionary and determined by your goals and values. Your budget is unique and driven by
what you have pre determined to be necessary to make your life fulfilling. You are in charge of what you spend and that gives you flexibility. Now you might be thinking this isn’t possible for me. But I’m challenging you to give this some thought. Designing a plan takes time and some professional input can be helpful. Come and see us at Mac’s Money Centre! It’s way easier than you think and you’ll start on the road to financial freedom.
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OPINION
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Nov.14, 2019
Opinion Having Chinese diplomats on our campus is alarming Chinese diplomats on campus are symptomatic of deeper political problems J. Contributor
If you need any additional proof that the McMaster Students Union made the correct decision to revoke MSU club status for the McMaster Chinese Students and Scholars Association, then look no further than Mac CSSA’s own lawyer. On Nov. 3, Mac CSSA made an appeal to reverse the SRA’s de-ratification of their club, during which Mac CSSA’s lawyer revealed that “Chinese consulate officials have attended informal Mac CSSA events” and “those visits by officials were solely for the purpose of just explaining consular services … like if there’s an emergency event, contact us [the Chinese consulate]”. This may seem benign, until you consider why Mac CSSA was de-ratified in the first place. According to Mac CSSA’s public statement, they reported Uyghur activist Rukiye Turdush to the Chinese consulate after she gave a speech on campus that criticized China’s genocide of Uyghur Muslims. Alarmingly, Mac CSSA later argued that Turdush’s talk was considered an “emergency event” due to “thousands of Chinese students at McMaster experiencing immense emotional distress” as a result of Turdush’s speech. Mac CSSA does not represent all Chinese students, and their response is actually quite insulting to the Chinese students at McMaster, myself included, who instead condemn the concentration camps in Xinjiang. Additionally, I cannot imagine the emotional distress that Uyghur students at McMaster must be experiencing, as they
risk potentially being reported to the genocidal regime currently destroying their people, should they dare respond to the Chinese nationalists who openly defend a government that commits genocide against Uyghur Muslims.
Mac CSSA does not represent all Chinese students, and their response is actually quite insulting to the Chinese students at McMaster, myself included, who instead condemn the concentration camps in Xinjiang. However, more importantly, the statements from Mac CSSA’s lawyer are clear evidence that Chinese government officials — while on McMaster’s campus — instructed students to inform them of emergency events, with an “emergency event” loosely defined to cover whatever causes “distress”, which apparently can include criticism of the Chinese government. The reporting of Turdush’s talk to the consulate shows how these Chinese diplomats’ instructions have been successfully heeded. Given that consular officials hold an extraordinary position of power, their alleged dissemination of such instruc-
tions on campus is deeply problematic, regardless of how “informal” these visits are.
Given that consular officials hold an extraordinary position of power, their alleged dissemination of such instructions on campus is deeply problematic, regardless of how “informal” these visits are. Currently, universities around the world are trying to fend off increasing interference from the Chinese government. Australia is formally investigating such interference amidst incidents which include a Chinese diplomat inciting death threats against a democracy activist at the University of Queensland. Meanwhile, the United States recently required that Chinese diplomats notify U.S. authorities prior to visiting universities. Similarly, we must also firmly respond to such intrusions on our campus, while also remaining measured. This is not the time to vilify Chinese students at McMaster. Already, the McMaster Chinese Students Association has received crude comments on their Facebook page, even
though McMaster CSA is completely unrelated to Mac CSSA. Homogenizing Chinese students at McMaster in any capacity is extremely dangerous, as it plays directly into the propaganda line of the Chinese Communist Party: that all Chinese people are united behind the CCP. In reality, nothing could be farther from the truth.
Likewise, it is equally dehumanizing to dismiss legitimate criticism as racist or antiChinese, as that erases the real and valid experiences of minorities who have been oppressed by the CCP. Likewise, it is equally dehumanizing to dismiss legitimate criticism as racist or anti-Chinese, as that erases the real and valid experiences of minorities who have been oppressed by the CCP. For example, last week’s article, “CSSA-gate at McMaster: The scars of exclusion”, declared that the “real test for racism, in my view, is ... in how you treat those who don’t agree with you, and who do things that make you uncomfortable”. My response: tell that to the Uyghurs who are suffering in concentra-
tion camps for the high crime of not being sufficiently Han Chinese, or the visible minority students who, after Mac CSSA’s actions, became fearful of openly criticizing the Chinese government. I am Chinese too, and I am proud of my heritage — but I refuse to parrot the nationalism that leads some to defend the Chinese government in oppressing my people and in inflicting horrific suffering upon millions from Xinjiang to Hong Kong. That is also why I am alarmed to see Chinese diplomats interfering in campus politics by instructing students to report on vaguely-defined “emergency” events. Moving forward, we must improve efforts to support, integrate and include students who come from countries where liberal democracy is not the norm, and where basic rights — such as those of expression, assembly and press — are alien concepts. We must also remain wary of Chinese government attempts to monitor and control students on campus, whether through diplomats or proxy organizations. Finally, we must remember that Chinese government interference on campus is a political problem, not a racial one. After all, ethnic Chinese voices are among those most critical of Chinese Communist Party oppression, as we are one of its main victims.
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www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019
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An open letter from a faculty member to the MSU: sense and “censure-bility” The MSU should ensure that proper procedural practices are followed when making decisions Anonymous Contributor
As a non-Chinese faculty member, I have been following events unraveling around the Student Representative Assembly’s decision to de-ratify the McMaster Chinese Students and Scholars Association. As an associate chair of my department, I interact with undergraduate students on a daily basis, which is why I was troubled to hear about how the Student Representative Assembly proceeded with the de-ratification of a student-run group on campus. Recent reports reveal that SRA representatives believed that they had placed Mac CSSA on probation for six months, while the group itself was not notified. Furthermore, Mac CSSA was de-ratified during a meeting on Sept. 22 for which the club was not given due notice. From reading the SRA meeting minutes and watching live streams of the SRA proceedings, I was struck by the unanimity of it all. Many questions were raised but not discussed and many comments were made but not challenged. Some SRA members even mentioned the absence of Mac CSSA or any rebuttal document at the final de-ratification meeting. Yet, no one in that room tried to table the motion to de-ratify Mac CSSA. What would have changed if the proceedings had been delayed to allow for a chat with the Equity and Inclusion Office, to consult a lawyer and, at the very least, to allow CSSA members to attend the de-ratification meeting? By not properly engaging with opposing voices in the SRA chamber, the rush to judgement that occurred with the de-ratification of Mac CSSA seems to have emerged from a groupthink mentality. Given my experience as an equity-seeking person myself, as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, watching this unfold has made me extremely emotional. By speaking with one voice, rushing to judgement and bypassing the regular procedures, the SRA’s actions threatened not a single group on campus, but the entire institution. This type
of prosecution, though clearly not at the same level of magnitude, has shades of the Lavender Scare or even McCarthyism. In those times, as the guilt of the accused was decided prior to the public accusation, any irregular process to convict them was sufficient. Never mind that once accused, there was no chance of defense. Only after the Sept. 22 de-ratification and after Mac CSSA had initiated an appeal process themselves did the SRA give Mac CSSA a chance to answer questions regarding the allegations put forward to de-ratify them. The evidence presented by Mac CSSA in their appeal was dismissed and the SRA denied their appeal.
By ... bypassing the regular procedures, the SRA’s actions threatened not a single group on campus, but the entire institution. I’m not defending the actions of Mac CSSA and I’m not even saying that the MSU is wrong to censure a club. But I strongly believe that the cornerstones of our democracy are the right to a fair trial, the right to defend oneself and the right to be presumed innocent. In a fair system, if your arguments are valid, your evidence is sound and your process is unbiased, there is no reason to fear the presence of the accused. Particularly when dealing with an equity-seeking group, it is imperative to ensure that all the necessary steps of a process have been taken with care so there is no questions about the outcome. Even if the outcome may not be different, a fair and transparent procedure is necessary. The process is what protects our values. It is what protects us from fear-mongering, from undue influences and partisanship. Joshua Marando has admitted that he made such mistakes with regards to CSSA “not being
The MSU Clubs sign for Clubspace, located in MUSC C/O KYLE WEST
informed at the meeting” as well as the miscommunication of the “initial probation”. While he referred to them as “big oversights,” they were downplayed as “not intentional by any means,” implying to me that even a compromised process can be justified. The SRA should not be allowed to get away with this. When we compromise procedural justice, even the most righteous of intentions can lead to significant unintended consequences. In this case, the irresponsible management of Mac CSSA’s de-ratification has had profound consequences. Due to my position as an associate chair, I interact with many Chinese undergraduates, graduate students, staff and faculty colleagues, all with varying views. This incident has led to the alienation of a large group of people who may have differing political views, but who are still important members of the McMaster community. As a student government body that represents people with diverse backgrounds, it is critical for the MSU to maintain an impartial political stance, and treat everyone equally and fairly, which includes international students. The MSU should not forget that Mac
CSSA is a club of their own fellow students. They are not some nameless and faceless foreign government entity that some SRA members may have implied in the height of their groupthink euphoria. The Mac CSSA de-ratification reveals the kind of power the SRA has — in terms of club de-ratification, they are able to act as witnesses, judge, jury and executioner in a decision-making process. It must be made clear to them that such power comes with the trust of the McMaster community, which should be used to strive for equality and inclusivity, instead of dividing the campus by abusing it. This should really be a wake-up call for the MSU that undue procedures can be a slippery slope that you cannot come back from. The step to de-ratify a club that consists of fellow students is a serious one and deserves thoughtful action. With that being said, this Mac CSSA-gate fiasco could provide an opportunity to establish precedents and norms to prevent it from happening again, similar to the development of the Miranda rights for people accused of criminal actions. The MSU should really reflect on why they were so
quick to compromise their own processes — what was their justification and what would have been the harm of following the correct procedures? The MSU should take measures to counteract groupthink by assigning a devil’s advocate or equity champion, by consulting a specialist before making a decision, by involving third-party members to get impartial opinions or by setting up a rule that the leadership should be absent from discussion to avoid overly influencing decisions. The MSU should also be aware of the systematic barriers and implicit biases that may have played a role in their flawed procedures. They have an obligation to reach out to the less privileged groups of students to help them be a part of the community, to have a voice at the table, to communicate and connect and to be valued. As David Farr, acting president of McMaster, recently said, “Equity, diversity, and inclusion are critical to our academic mission and vital for innovation and excellence.” The MSU should play a leading role in that mission, rather than acting against it. @TheSilhouette
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OPINION
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Nov.14, 2019
You can’t spell “diet” without “ED” Calories, BMI and dieting aren’t indicative of good health Ember Contributor
cw: fatphobia, disordered eating Food is what fuels our bodies. So why is it that there is an ever increasing rise of popularity in dieting and diet culture? A movement that encourages us to deprive ourselves; to aspire to be thin. To put it plainly? A hatred for fat bodies that results in widespread disordered eating. The way we frame different topics and discussions is very important. This especially applies to the way we talk about food, our bodies and other people’s bodies. Caloric science is based on outdated Western scientific methods from the nineteenth century by Wilbur Atwater. It is the estimate of how much energy is contained in a portion of food by burning it in a tank submerged in water, and measuring how much burning the food increased the temperature of the surrounding water. However, it is hard to accurately predict the energy stored in food; our bodies do not work as simply as a furnace burning fuel. There are many factors that influence the calories of
the foods we eat, like how the food is prepared, if cellulose is present and how much energy it takes to digest the food. Not to mention, there are additional factors that affect digestion, such as metabolism, age, gut bacteria and physical activity. Labels on food do not accurately represent what we’re putting into our body nor what we’re getting out of it. Ever since Canada enforced the Healthy Menu Choices Act back in 2016, which requires food establishments to list the amount of calories in their products, there has also been an increasing number of discussions surrounding the negative impact of the addition of calories to menus. Another measurement that is often used to determine how healthy we are is body mass index, even though it is an inaccurate measurement of “health” for multiple reasons. It was meant to analyze the weight of populations, not individuals, and doesn’t take into account whether mass is fat or muscle. As a result, BMI is a biased and harmful method to gauge health. Along with measurements like calories and BMI, language
surrounding food can also be dangerous. You may hear things like “carbs are bad”, or you may hear discourse on “healthy” versus “unhealthy” foods, “cheat days” and “clean eating”, to name some examples. This language can contribute to the notion that we should feel bad for eating food, when it simply is a way to nourish ourselves and additionally, something to enjoy. Diet culture is so pervasive and present in society. It is encouraged by menus listing calorie amounts, peers, elders and healthcare professionals in various ways. Thoughts like “nothing tastes as good as skinny feels” stem from conflating “health” and “weight”, which has roots in racism, classism and fatphobia. Hannah Meier, a dietitian who contributed to a project tackling women’s health, writes about how society glorifies dieting. In Meier’s article titled “A Dietitian’s Truth: Diet Culture Leads to Disordered Eating” she writes, “I was half-functioning. I remember filling pages of journals with promises to myself that I wouldn’t eat. I planned out my week of arbitrary calorie restrictions that
were shockingly low and wrote them all over my planner, my whiteboard, the foggy mirror in the bathroom.” For many of us, the mindset of diet culture swallows you whole, consumes your every thought and waking moment, then spits you out like rotten food. Oftentimes, people aren’t advocating for diets because they want to be “healthy”. Instead, they often feel passionate about dieting because of their hate and disdain for fat people since they associate being “fat” with “unhealthy”, “unhappy” or “unlovable”. It’s also important to note that views on fatness and fat bodies change depending on the time period and culture; renaissance paintings often depict fat women in angelic and celestial aesthetics. As well, certain cultures, both past and present, value fatness as a symbol of privilege, power, wealth and fertility. Diet culture, eating disorders, and fatphobia are so tightly knit together that they are like an ill-fitting sweater woven by your grandmother that you didn’t want or ask for. Sometimes you think about
wearing it, to make things easier or simpler. But it won’t. You will only become a shell of your former self; a husk that is barely scraping by. Any joy derived from depriving yourself is temporary. A scale will weigh how much of you is there, but it won’t weigh how much of you has been lost to an eating disorder. It is a mental illness, a distortion of reality and external factors that influence how you think. You can’t just stop having an eating disorder on a whim. Calorie counting isn’t healthy, demonizing certain foods isn’t healthy and having preconceived notions about someone’s health based on how their body looks isn’t “just caring about their health.” Stop calling food “unhealthy” or “healthy”, start calling it “nourishing” or “not/less nourishing. Eat food that makes you happy and makes you feel good. Bodies are so many things, including wonderful and complex. You only have one — so treat it with kindness.
@TheSilhouette
Eggcetera menu displaying the calories in each menu option. CINDY CUI/PHOTO EDITOR
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| 13
Stop freaking out over rainbow poppies A lot of the outrage surrounding rainbow poppies has been misled Sarah Homsi Contributor
As vibrant, red poppies take residence on jackets and over people’s hearts, they act as a solemn symbol to remind us of those who have fallen during times of war. This year, the lead up to Remembrance Day feels different. My various social media platforms have been overwhelmed with people disputing the rainbow poppy. Some are seething over its alleged disrespect to the symbolic and traditional red poppy, as they believe that breaking the tradition of having a red poppy, which represents remembrance and peace, will dishonour our veterans. Meanwhile, others are applauding its inclusion of a historically persecuted group, because it recognizes the 2SLGBTQ+ veterans that have fought for us. The Internet has not been this divided since the white/gold versus blue/ black dress fiasco of 2016. As is
the case for most viral internet debates, misinformation is being spread. Images can often convey news faster than words. The image of the rainbow poppy that has been circulating online, a grainy yet colourful enamel pin on a black background, was taken from a United Kingdom-based seller’s eBay page. This seller has been selling the item for many years but has since taken it down due to the controversy. As many of us have borne witness to people getting in heated debates over the rainbow poppy, ask yourself if you have actually seen anyone donning it. While people have been fervently accusing members of the 2SLBGTQ+ community of pushing the “gay” agenda, it should be noted that the rainbow poppy was never part of any sort of campaign from members of this community. Rather, it was something being sold on eBay that Twitter discovered, which result-
ed in arguments on what is the most appropriate way to honour our veterans. Regardless of whether or not the rainbow poppy was put forward to be distributed and worn in November — even though they were not made with the intention of being widely distributed and worn — one cannot ignore the hate that was spread as a result of this dispute. Those adamantly opposed to the rainbow poppy seem to be using it as an opportunity to condemn the 2SLGBTQ+ community, promoting a fictitious narrative that there was actually a plan to make rainbow poppies a mainstay. Apparently, anything other than a red poppy is disrespectful to some, despite the existence of purple, white and black poppies, all holding a different meaning. Those arguing against red poppies are implying that representation has no place when we honour those who have fought. A lot of the
arguments made against the rainbow poppy were instances of homophobia, masked under the guise of saying these arguments were intended to respect the vets. Some people have made it very clear that they can pick and choose which lives to honour, and which to not.
Apparently, anything other than a red poppy is disrespectful to some, despite the existence of purple, white and black poppies, all holding a different meaning.
Whether or not you support the existence of a rainbow poppy, we should all take the time to reflect on why we remember, and refrain from propagating hate rooted in baseless claims. Remembrance Day is about remembering those who risked their lives for our country, but we must also remember the groups our history textbooks often don’t cover. Their lives have just as much meaning. Additionally, we should all reflect on how quickly we share random images on social media without giving them a second thought.
@TheSilhouette
ELISABETTA PAIANO/PRODUCTION EDITOR
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www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019
A&C
FIND US BESIDE TWELVEIGHT Y BAR & GRILL FOLLOW US @MSU_THEGRIND
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at the Off-Campus Housing Fair! RESCHEDULED DATE! Thursday, January 16 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. MUSC Marketplace
Introducing the newly revamped off-campus housing website.
Exclusive to the McMaster Community, find off-campus housing options from any device. Login using your MacID at offcampus.mcmaster.ca
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www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019
| 15
Arts & Culture Making a mill a home The Cotton Factory creates a space for the arts in Hamilton
Lauren O’Donnell A&C Reporter
The Cotton Factory used to be a mostly abandoned groups of buildings in Hamilton’s industrial sector, a remnant from a bygone era of manufacturing in the city. That all changed five years ago, when Laura and Robert Zeidler purchased the property on 270 Sherman Avenue North, transforming them into the vibrant centre for the arts that the are today. They’ve refurbished the boarded-up windows and empty rooms, turning the buildings into warm and welcoming community spaces filled with both artists studios and a coworking space. “A lot of the doors on all of the artists’ studios have glass on them, most of the artists keep their doors open when they’re there so that there’s this really nice feeling of community in the building, which is what we’re really working at,” said Laura. “Another thing we work to develop and maintain the feeling of community in the building is places for collision. So little lounge areas, kitchenettes, all that kind of stuff, so that when they’re heating up their tea they start chit-chatting and finding those synergies to work together.” The coworking spaces in The Cotton Factory allow people to connect with potential collaborators and build relationships with other artists. The buildings that were once empty are now buzzing with activity. The Zeidlers emphasize the importance of creating a space like this for the arts in the city. “What we’re trying to do is provide space for creative things to happen. It’s not just artist studios with people going into their studios and doing art. What we’re trying to develop is a community, and that’s why we do [events] like ‘Explore the
Cotton Factory’ where people can come and see the community, but also the people within the building can go around and see what’s happening in different peoples’ studios. We’re really trying to help support and show the community that’s in Hamilton and around,” said Zeidler. Their work isn’t just limited to the buildings interior. The Zeidlers are working to promote the arts throughout the city. They have hosted the Hamilton Art Week Launch Party for the past two years running. They’ve had concerts with the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra — one of Canada’s leading professional orchestras. They also hosted the Quilt of Belonging exhibit with Tourism Hamilton — a collaborative art project combining art from Canadians across the county. The Cotton Factory was even a venue for the Hamilton
Fringe Festival this past year. Amongst other projects, they are collaborating with the Hamilton Arts Council on an Artist-in-Residence program. “They’re assisting us with our Artist-in-Residence program . . . there’s a studio that we provide and Hamilton Arts Council helps choose the artists. There are two artists and they’re there for three months on a rotating basis and then once a year we have an artist from Europe come to stay — we actually have an Artist-in-Residence from Estonia right now,” said Zeidler. Through this program, The Cotton Factory provides resources for artists that may not otherwise have access to them, giving the creators the opportunity to focus on creating. The Cotton Factory has created more than just a studio space. They have grown a
CINDY CUI / PHOTO EDITOR
community for creators and makers to call home. The Cotton Factory is a shining example of artistic expression in the city. They regularly host events for the community, and they provide a space for artists to express themselves freely. They will also be hosting the upcoming Work In Progress Art Exhibit, which is covered in more detail on
the next page. If you have any interest in the arts, The Cotton Factory likely has something for you.
@TheSilhouette
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A&C
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019
The glass is always greener Learning about the art of blown glass Lauren O’Donnell A&C Reporter
Courtney Downman is a glass artist operating out of the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga. Her work will be showcased at The Cotton Factory as part of the upcoming Work In Progress art exhibit. The exhibit will feature unfinished pieces from
13 artists. Downman says that much of her inspiration comes from the process of creation, which works well for an exhibit of partially finished work. “A lot of the time I’m inspired through the actual making process, which gives me new ideas as I’m creating,” said Downman. Downman’s work predominantly focuses on glass that has been carved down with a saw,
meaning that the beginning of the piece looks drastically different from the end result. “My first thought was to bring a piece that’s 60 per cent finished, because they look so different from when it starts as a complete bubble to where I cut it open and it becomes very jagged and you see the white from the saw lines, and then as I finish the last step it brings it all together. So, I was thinking
of putting a piece out that’s just about halfway there to show the start to finish,” said Downman.
“A lot of the time I’m inspired through the actual making process, which gives me new ideas as I’m creating,” Courtney Downman Artist Glass art is experiencing a rise in popularity at the moment. This is in part thanks to the hit Netflix competition show Blown Away, where glass artists compete to create pieces that match a given theme in a short period of time. Due to the difficulty of working with glass quickly, each competitor was assigned assistants from Sheridan College. Downman was one of the assistants, and she says she’s noticed a positive impact from the show. “I think overall the community was really happy with the way that it brought exposure; [for] a lot of local studios the show has generated searches for handmade glass. People have been reaching out in local ways, which is kind of neat,” said Downman. “It was really neat as well to work behind the scenes without actually having to compete in the contest.” While glass art has always been popular, having a Netflix show has given it a wider platform than ever before. The Work In Progress exhibit is being held at The Cotton Factory, a place dedicated to creating a sense of community amongst artists. Downman says that this community is why participating in art exhibits is one of her favourite parts of being an artist. “We spend so long working quietly, usually alone in our
own studio, so it’s rare that we get a chance to show what we do in a way where we also get to socialize with other people that are like-minded. I love meeting the other artists at the shows because I find there’s always common ground to start with. I’ve had a lot of really cool friendships blossom out of doing different shows,” said Downman.
“I think overall the community was really happy with the way that it brought exposure; [for] a lot of local studios the show has generated searches for handmade glass. People have been reaching out in local ways, which is kind of neat,” Courtney Downman Artist With 13 artists who are all specialized in different art mediums, there is sure to be something that interests you, whether that be glass, leather, paint or something else entirely. Artists will be standing by their work, so if you have any questions about their process, you can ask them right on the spot. If you find art that you love, they will also have completed works available for sale that you can take home with you. Work In Progress will take place on Sunday Nov. 17 at 1 p.m. at the Cotton Factory (270 Sherman Ave. N.). Admission is free. @TheSilhouette
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019
The Silhouette | 17
Blown Glass Sculptures C/O COURTNEY DOWNMAN
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www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019
A&C
What's on in November 14th
November 16th
Mac Pride Coffeehouse Location: Bridges Cafe - 2002 Internal Rd Time: 8:00pm - 10:30pm
Hamilton Santa Claus Parade Time: 4:30pm - 6:00pm
Toronto Christmas Market Opening Day Location: 373 Front Street E. Toronto Time: 4:00pm - 9:00pm
Hamilton is a Drag Location: Absinthe, 38 King William St. Time: 10:00pm - 2:30am Holiday Traditions at the Royal Botanical Gardens until January 5th Location: 680 Plains Rd. W, Burlington
November 15th Mac Pride 2019: Reclaiming Our Gender and Sexuality Through Indigenous Storytelling (closed to 2SQTBIPoC) Location: L.R. Wilson 1811 Ceremonial Room Time: 12:30pm - 2:30pm
November 19th QT+ Self-Defense Training Location: The Tower - 778 Barton St. Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019
The Silhouette
November? November 20th
November 28th
Absolute Pitch: Holiday Coffeehouse Location: Ann Bourns Building Room 102 Time: 7:00pm - 10:00pm
COUNT 10: 10 Year Anniversary on Ottawa Street North Location: Earls Court Gallery 215 Ottawa St. N Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
November 22nd Toronto Aurora Winter Festival Location: CNE Exhibition - 210 Princes’ Blvd. Toronto Time: 4:00pm - 10:00pm
November 30th Steel City Studio Location: 2 - 327 King St. E Time: 10:00am - 3:00pm Christmas Shopping Day Location: Ottawa St. BIA 3 Britannia Ave.
November 23rd Christmas Makers Market Location: 98 Vine St. Time: 11:00am - 5:00pm Christmas in the City Market Location: McMaster Innovation Park 175 Longwood Rd. S Time: 11:00am - 5:30pm
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www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019
A&C
Speaking your mind Sitting down with Hamiltonian director Cyrus Baetz Andrew Mrozowski A&C Editor
Hamilton has become an increasingly popular destination for production companies to film their projects. From Netflix’s Umbrella Academy to Marvel Studios’ The Incredible Hulk, pictures of all genres were created on the streets that we call home. One such movie is an indie project called Speak Your Mind, directed by Hamilton-born Cyrus Baetz. Baetz called Dundas home throughout his high school years. When he graduated, he decided to pursue a path in public relations at Humber College. At Humber, Baetz tried out an acting for film and television course for a year and then decided to complete a course on intensive film studies at Ryerson University. Since Baetz completed his studies, he has focused on film, writing, directing and editing two short films and two feature-length projects. Recently, the director has been working on his latest flick, Speak Your Mind. The film revolves around a struggling actor who was told by his therapist to express everything and anything that is on his mind. He struggles to walk the line between what is socially acceptable and what is honest enough to satisfy his own conscience. “Speak Your Mind came
Speak Your Mind movie poster C/O JIM HUANG
from a desire to work with [Steve Kaszas]. I have worked with him on a short film called Blue Collar Buddha . . . He was so special, so talented in the audition and he showed up for the film and really sort of stole the show . . . so I wanted to work with him and I wrote an entire feature script,” said Baetz. Writing film is a methodical process for Baetz. He likes
“. . .[Kaszas] was so special, so talented in the audition and he showed up for the film and really sort of stole the show . . .so I wanted to work with him and I wrote an entire feature script,” Cyrus Baetz Director to work and write by himself, setting time aside each day to chip away at scripts. However, for this production, Baetz was operating under a tight time constraint as he wanted to film in Hamilton, but he was set to move to Brooklyn at the end of 2017. Since he had started the
script at the beginning of the new year, there was little time to make final revisions before going into production. Indie films work on far different schedules than those of major motion pictures. Although each have their benefits, Baetz looks more to the indie side of the industry. “The benefits of the more indie style of the film, once we auditioned the actors, we were able to do a pretty intense rehearsal process . . . it let us perfect the scenes and dig deep in the dynamics, that way we showed up on set and the actors felt comfortable and prepared,” said Baetz. Post-production, Baetz sat down with his laptop and cut together his film from start to finish. This time, he was no longer pressed with a tight timeline. Finishing the final edit of a project that had occupied so much of his time, Baetz was able to reflect on the movie as a whole. “The film is designed to be provocative but also very entertaining . . . at the end of the day it’s a comedy, a bit of a dark comedy at times but it’s still a comedy,” said Baetz. Thus far, the film has been well received,. At the Toronto Independent Film Festival, it won the best no-budget feature, an award for films with budgets under $25,000. While the film has been popular with audi-
ences thus far, Baetz hopes that patrons walk away with their eyes opened to the times that we live in. “[On] a more personal level and more one-on-one based level, the idea is that we assume things about people based on what we see superficially on the fronts they give us and we think we know people who we’ve been in relationships with and [in] friendships with for years, in fact a lot of the time we don’t. Sometimes the only way to really get to know people is to humble yourself and not assume you know them and ask from a place of vulnerability,” said Baetz.
“Sometimes the only way to really get to know people is to humble yourself and not assume you know them and ask from a place of vulnerability,” Cyrus Baetz Director
The Westdale movie theatre (1014 King St. W.) will host a
screening of Speak Your Mind followed by a question and answer period with Baetz. While everyone is encouraged to come out and watch the film, the director believes that students especially will take something away from it. “This film is perfect for students because it’s a film about young people . . . who [are] struggling to find their place in society, in their social circles and find their voice and their confidence,” said Baetz. The emotional yo-yo process that comes along with that, it’s also really relevant in terms of the conversations that any socially and politically engaged student inevitably has been having. It deals with that in a way that genuinely attempts to be fair to all parties and tries to point it in a direction where there’s a compassionate dialogue and I think that’s something that could hopefully be a productive and entertaining fable for any student to enjoy.” Speak Your Mind will be screened at The Westdale (1014 King St. W.) on Thursday, Nov. 14 and will be followed by a question and answer period with director Cyrus Baetz.
@TheSilhouette
We Offer Affordable Coffee Monster Donuts, Bigger Bagels + so much more! @msu_unionmarket
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SPORTS
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Nov.14, 2019
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019
The Silhouette
| 23
Sports Lights out defence at TD stadium The Marauders handed the Mustangs their first loss this year, winning the 2019 Yates Cup
Graham West Sports Editor
On Nov. 9, the McMaster Marauders beat the Western Mustangs 29-15. This marks the eighth Yates Cup win in school history and will hopefully lead to the fifth Vanier Cup appearance for McMaster, although the Marauders will have to get through the University of Calgary Dinos first.
The game was won in old school football fashion, with a strong run game and even better defensive play. Although it was a big win for the school, we wish a speedy and full recovery for Mustangs’ quarterback Chris Merchant, who left the game in the second quarter with an ankle injury. Merchant was the league’s Most Valuable Player this year and had a phenomenal season leading Western to an undefeated
regular season. The game was won in old school football fashion, with a strong run game and even better defensive play. With 37 rushing attempts for 123 yards, the Marauders were able to dominate time of possession at 34 minutes and 30 seconds out of a total game time of 60 minutes. In addition to their successful run game, the team upheld the old saying, “defence wins championships”. The Marauders’ defence held Western’s high flying offence to just nine yards in the second quarter. The Marauders also had two safeties, six sacks, two recovered fumbles, two interceptions and a blocked punt.
In addition to their successful run game, the team upheld the old saying, “defence wins championships.” No game can be perfect. In particular, the Marauders had three turnovers in the first
quarter. Retaining possession of the ball will be a key factor in the Mitchell Bowl, the game they play this Saturday Nov. 16 which is the precursor to the Vanier Cup, where they play the Calgary Dinos. The Marauders won’t be able to get away with that many turnovers in one quarter on the higher stage. Calgary’s defence has been a force all season and they held the University of Saskatchewan Huskies to just four points in the Hardy Cup, the final game of the Canada West division.
The University of Calgary will undoubtedly be a tough opponent, as they boast an undefeated home record this season. The University of Calgary will undoubtedly be a tough opponent, as they boast an undefeated home record this season. The game will be played at McMahon Stadium, on the
Dinos’ home turf. The odds are certainly stacked against us as no Ontario University Athletics team has won a bowl game out West since 1968.
The odds are certainly stacked against us as no Ontario University Athletics has won a bowl game out West since 1968. If the maroon and grey beat the Dinos, then it will mark their first Vanier Cup appearance since 2014, where they lost by only one point to the University of Montreal Carabins. If the Marauders win against Calgary, then they will play the winners of the Uteck Bowl, which will be either the University of Acadia Axemen or the University of Montreal Carabins. The Uteck Bowl and Mitchell Bowl are essentially the semi-finals leading up to the Vanier Cup, where the top teams from the different conferences will take
turns hosting and visiting. The Marauders have prospered under head coach Stefan Ptaszek. He has been the head coach for the team in their past three out of four Vanier Cup appearances. In other words, Ptaszek has been influential in three-quarters of the Marauders’ Vanier Cup appearances. Not only is Ptaszek a prolific coach, but he was also an outstanding player. Ptaszek remains the current all-time leader in receiving yards for the University of Laurier Golden Hawks and played in the Canadian National Football league from 1995-2000, as a player, and from 2016-2017 as an offensive coordinator and receivers coach. On Nov. 16 we play the Dinos for a Vanier Cup bid, where two of the best defences in Canada will battle for a place in the history books.
@TheSilhouette
The Nov. 9 game where the McMaster Marauders beat Western Mustangs 29-15, winning the Yates Cup C/O BRANDON VANDECAVEYE/ WESTERN MUSTANGS
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SPORTS
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Nov.14, 2019
Big day at Nationals The men’s cross country team achieved second place at nationals and the women’s team achieved 13th
Team veteran Sergio Raez-Villanueva 2019 MAXINE GRAVINA/DIGITAL MEDIA SPECIALIST
Jovan Popovic Contributor
The 2019 U Sports Championship Cross Country Tournament was held last weekend on Nov. 9. Both the men’s and women’s teams travelled to Kingston for the tournament, which is widely regarded as the most important event of the year for cross country. Both teams put as much as they could into this tournament, knowing how important it was. The men’s team managed to place second overall. The first place seat went to the University of Calgary Dinos, who were the defending champions. The women’s team finished 13th. Team Captain Caroline Forbes led the pack for the Women’s team achieving 27th overall at the tournament. This was an astounding 47 spots ahead of where she finished last year and was awarded the Pink’s Burgers athlete of the week for her accomplishment. Forbes is only a second-year runner yet is one of the team’s most accomplished athletes, she goes
to show how in a year or two the women’s team has a great chance of going the distance and medaling at the U Sports Championship. Having such a young team can certainly be challenging, but the sky is the limit for the women’s team. Leading up to nationals, men’s team veteran runner Max Turek and head coach Paula Schnurr revealed their preparation for the tournament, as well as some team goals. “Our goal is not to just podium, but win. We left last year hungry for more, and know we have a really good shot this year. We’re fit and ready to roll and are excited to see what we can throw down,” said Turek. Despite not placing first overall, as the team had hoped, their second and 13th place finishes are impressive. Just a week earlier, the men’s team came second and the women’s team placed fifth at the Ontario University Athletics cross country tournament. “We went into OUAs hoping for the win, but we just
didn’t have it that day. We know what went wrong, and where our weaknesses are, and what needs to be done in the future to capitalize and win a title. We still have a lot of confidence going into [nationals], expecting to be able to improve from our third place last year,” said Turek. The team seems to have reflected on what went wrong at the OUAs and focused on key areas for improvement going into the U Sports Championships. “After OUAs, our main focus was to just work as a team and concentrate on bringing home a U Sports national title. We wanted to make sure we were well rested going into championships, and be able to execute better than we did at OUAs,” Turek added. Turek stressed the importance of a U Sports title, which the team came ever so close to, eventually settling for a second place finish. The U Sports championship is the biggest stage for them, as it is the only opportunity to compete at a national level.
The team was looking forward to nationals for the entire year, and their eyes had been on the prize. The men’s team trained specifically for this event over the past year, with all other competitions acting as lead-up to the U Sports tournament. When coach Schnurr was asked about the team’s training regiment and goals, she offered a similar response to Turek. “After OUAs, our main focus was to just work as a team and concentrate on bringing home a U Sports national title. We wanted to make sure we were well rested going into championships, and be able to execute better than we did at OUAs,” said Schnurr. As good as second place is, the team isn’t satisfied. This year was significant for cross country, as both the men’s and women’s teams improved from their last year finishes at U Sports. Last year, the men’s team placed third, and the women’s team placed 15th. This year, Turek, Alex Drover and Andrew Davies
of the men’s team managed to place in the top ten at nationals, placing fifth, sixth and ninth respectively. McMaster was the only university to have three runners in the top 12. Drover and Turek made the All-Canadian first team, and Davies made the All-Canadian second-team, being chosen out of every runner in the country which is an incredible honour. Making an All-Canadian team means that out of all the qualified runners in the country they pick the very best for the first team and then the next best for the second team and so on. The Marauders put up a strong fight on their way to finishing second and 13th in the most important cross country tournament of the year. It will be exciting to watch the teams next year as they improve and continue to dominate the track. @TheSilhouette
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www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019
Shop Small Saturday November 30th
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SANTA WILL BE HERE! Santa will be making a special stop at Ferguson Station 10am to 4pm!! Bring your family, friends, pets and a camera down and get free photos with him.
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Back from three hours of training (health + safety and orientation). Glad that I now know how the university works and how to access additional professional development resources. I am well prepared to begin my gainful and fulfilling employment.
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Thanks to McMaster’s living wage, I made enough money to take my girlfriend to Wild Waterworks, the Royal Botanical Gardens, and four different waterfalls this month. I can even afford to go to Pinks sometimes. 7:43 AM 10/21/19 2 Retweets 2 Likes PER ISSUE: A living wage.