www.thesil.ca
McMASTER UNIVERSITY'S STUDENT NEWSPAPER / THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2011
The Silhouette
YOUR VOICE ON CAMPUS
Est. 1930
One win away
VOLUME 82, NO. 15
INSIDE THE SIL ANDY
Brian Decker Executive Editor
Saying the McMaster football offence has been potent as of late is like saying Lamborghini has built a few cars. They’re not just moving the ball and scoring points; they’re doing it in brilliant fashion. In their three playoff games in 2011, they’ve outscored opponents Queen’s, Western and Acadia by a total of 126-53. Even with shaky starts – they trailed 3-0 after a quarter to Western and 14-0 early to Acadia – they’ve been able to put points on the board virtually at will. But perhaps just as impressive has been their defence, keeping Western out of the end zone in the Yates Cup until the game had been decided and shutting down Acadia after a hot start to let the offence work its magic. But as much as the Marauders have looked like an unstoppable maroon freight train in their impressive playoff run, they’ll need every part of their game to be firing
THE SHEEPDOGS ADAPT IMPECCABLY TO NEWFOUND FAME
SEE D8
INSIDE OUT
• PLEASE SEE MAC, S2
JIM NEALE / ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY SPORT
Matt Peressini scored the first six of McMaster’s 38 unanswered points in 45-21 Uteck Bowl win over Acadia.
SRA meetings stir controversy semblies. Others are asking whether cially since most of the day-to-day ical opponents. this is really what McMaster stu- work is being done by full-time em- For some involved, it has been a dents want or need. ployees. major source of frustration. Nabil Khaja, a first-year student As SRA elections continue to Meanwhile, petty arguments in Science, earned a spot on the receive record low voter turnout, and personal attacks during meet- Standing alone Student Representative Assembly there exists disagreement among ings further slow progress. Mem- At the Nov. 13 SRA meeting, (SRA) after winning in a by-elec- members on how to make their bers are picking sides, applauding tion in mid-October. Though he student government relevant, espe- for friends and snickering at polit• PLEASE SEE CIVILITY, A4 was part of his high school’s student council, he’s now learning that the SRA operates a little differently. “It’s very political,” he said. “It’s not like your typical high school student council. Everyone streets to fight tuition increases. Here, we got a mahas a political stance and goals that Sam Colbert jority of 30 people in a room to say, ‘Yeah, I can get they’re looking to further.” Managing Editor behind that.’ Khaja says that not only has there been difference of opinion, Thank you, McMaster Students Union, for the Union Is this really the best my student representatives can do for me? but difference of perceived purpose Market. for the Assembly. Its coffee and bagels are cheap, its employees are In one sense, members of the SRA run the multi “We’re all people working friendly, and it’s right on my way to most classes. million-dollar, twenty-thousand-person organization toward good goals, but there’s not For me, an average Mac undergrad, it’s one of the that is the MSU. Their wishes are the commands of the Union’s total consensus on what the ultimate most valuable things the MSU does. goal or direction should be that I see So last week, when the Silhouette got multiple employees – and that includes everyone from the clearly right now,” he said. visits and emails from members of the Student Rep- Sil’s editors to President Matt Dillon-Leitch. And Unlike in years past, this SRA, resentative Assembly (SRA) about a resolution they when student leaders meet with politicians to lobby for better or for worse, is looking had passed that said our students union would of- on tuition and other matters, they take with them the outside the services and operations ficially “stand in support” of Quebec students pro- reputation that the SRA has defined for the Union. of the McMaster Students Union testing a 75 per cent tuition hike, my reaction was But in another sense, they are actually mandated to do relatively little. Yes, they meet once every two (MSU), which it is charged with simple. weeks and form a variety committees, and yes they governing. So what? There’s a group of members The resolution was not a first step lowering our established their positions by virtue of election. committed to bringing broader own tuition fees – at least, not it any obvious way. It But as long as the Board of Directors (made up issues of social justice to the attenwas just about defining the position of the MSU on of the MSU president and vice-presidents) is doing its job, the SRA can go – and has gone – long stretchtion of the Assembly, encouraging it matter that was only barely within its purview. to take a stand on behalf of students. Yet, there was a real sense of accomplishment es of time without doing much on the way of signifi Some members see this as a among those student politicians I spoke with. To cance. progressive break-away from the them, the SRA had done something significant. In • PLEASE SEE SRA, A8 ‘status quo’ mentality of past asthe next province over, 20,000 students took to the
COMBATTING THE PERILS OF JEALOUSY IN RELATIONSHIPS
Sam Colbert Managing Editor
Opinion: Assembly needs to stay relevant
SEE C5
OPINIONS
ARE WE PREPARED FOR REAL-LIFE SPACE INVADERS?
SEE A7
BUSINESS
Anniversary commemorates 30 years dence Cup,” SOCS has managed to stay strong and pull through. Over the years, thousands of When an organization has been McMaster students have been given around as long as the Society of Off the opportunity to hold the position Campus Students (SOCS), which of Welcome Week representative has just this past weekend celebrat- for SOCS. ed its thirtieth birthday, bumps in In 2001, a student named Jamie the road are often faced. Kuss was selected to represent Whether it be the group’s jour- SOCS during Welcome Week of ney from a club under the juris- that year. diction of the McMaster Students However, only days before Union (MSU) into an independ- Welcome Week was to begin, Kuss ent society at the University or the passed away after battling for some yearly struggle to win the “Resi- time with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoDina Fanara
Assistant News Editor
blastic lymphoma, which is a terminal form of cancer that effects the lymphatic system. Immediately following, SOCS began the James Kuss Memorial Fund, raising money for the McMaster University Bone Marrow/ Leukemia Research Fund. For the past decade, SOCS has worked hard to raise money in Kuss’ name. Last weekend, a donation of $20,000 was made by SOCS to the Fund in Kuss’ name. The initial presentation of the oversized cheque was made on
Friday, Nov. 19. The Kuss family made a special appearance the following day at the SOCS 30th Anniversary party at the Phoenix, retelling Kuss’s story and thanking SOCS for the donation made in his honour. Nichole Fanara, a current SOCS rep, explained that, “the speeches about Jaime Kuss were really moving, people were crying and they retold his story.” Jamie’s older brother, Tim Kuss, gave an eloquent speech on • PLEASE SEE SOCS, A5
THE BIG DAY: THE DOS AND DON’TS OF A JOB INTERVIEW
SEE C9
the
PRESIDENT’S PAGE Duncan Thompson VP (Finance)
Katie Ferguson VP (Administration)
Matthew Dillon-Leitch President
Alicia Ali VP (Education)
MSU AttendS AnnUAl CASA lobby ConferenCe In ottAwA Alicia discusses the federal lobby agenda of the MSU and the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations
Alicia Ali VP (Education) vped@msu.mcmaster.ca ext. 24017
Each year, the costs of pursuing a university or college education in Canada increases. High costs are clearly a barrier to access, but the greater cost will be paid by all Canadians if responsible choices to make higher education more accessible are not made now. From Movember 14th-18th, I spent my time in Ottawa lobbying Members of Parliament on issues of post-secondary education. This was made possible through our federal lobbying partner, the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA). Our mantra is that Canada’s universities are the innovation engines of our society. They bring private and foreign investment, attract international talent and build global connections. Accessibility is the foundation on which a sustainable, high-quality post-secondary education system is built. We spent the week lobbying on three specific policy priorities, which were set by our membership this summer during our Policy & Strategy Conference, hosted right here at McMaster. I will take this opportunity to highlight the week. First of all, pursuant to the Canadian Student Loans Program (CSLP), we asked for amendments such that an assessment of a student’s assets not include ownership of a vehicle, which will ultimately promote greater participation for rural and suburban students. Our research has proven that the median cost of a used car in Canada is $11,400 which essentially means that students with a car, commuting to campus, will be assessed for a lower loan amount because they own a vehicle over $5,000. This is problematic, as 42% of students who claimed a vehicle over the $5,000 limit, did not receive a loan. A total of 84,600 students claimed a vehicle in the 2009/2010 CSLP assessment. Our second focus was amending the CSLP to eliminate the expected parental income contribution through an annual reduction of 25% per year, over the next four years. Statistically, more than 1 in 5 students from middle-income families in Canada receive no parental support towards the cost of their education. There is an unfortunate expectation that parents will contribute to their child’s
education, but that is not necessarily the case. It is important that the ability or willingness of parents to contribute to their child’s education not be taken into consideration for the purpose of loans. There was a relatively positive response amongst both government and opposition MPs with regards to this matter. Copyright legislation was our third area of focus. Our primary request of the government was to create a free market for academic materials. We want to end the private tax on books, thus saving students $30 million each year - at no cost to the government. Put simply, when we buy textbooks from a campus/Canadian retailer, the mark-up on our books is considerable, especially in comparison to online bookstores like Amazon. This is because Section 27.1 of the Copyright Act has made parallel importation illegal for commercial booksellers (i.e. bookstores like Titles and Chapters). The regulation currently states that if a Canadian copyright holder sells a book for a price less than 10% above the American retail price, it is illegal for physical bookstores to import copies of that book from the United States. This is why you’ll often see a Canadian price and an American price on the back of a book. Books imported from outside of the USA must have a 15% markup, causing serious financial barriers for students studying in French, and/or other languages. Now, these rules were initially made to protect Canadian industry, but they lacked the foresight to take online purchasing into consideration. This is especially true now, since many students have begun to purchase their books online through resources such as Amazon. There was a strong commitment from government on this issue, especially considering it puts $30 million back in students’ pockets and doesn’t cost the government a single cent. In addition to these issues, we discussed aboriginal student funding and off-campus work permits for international students. The MSU met with all Hamilton area MPs, and we are happy to report that their responses to our requests were extremely positive. Our 115 meetings throughout the week included six with Cabinet Ministers, one with the Prime Minister’s Office, meeting the Leader of the Liberal Party and Leader of the Green Party, as well as the Director General of the CSLP. While this is only one step towards the betterment of post-secondary education in our country, all in all, it was a fantastic week turning your student dollars into constructive action.
MSU PreSIdent: we HAVe SPIrIt, yeS we do! A few weeks ago, I travelled with a large number of McMaster students to London to watch Mac play Western in the Yates Cup. Now, the game was fantastic and as you are probably aware, McMaster has now played their way into the Vanier Cup - for the first time since 1967 no less. What was truly amazing however, was the amount of Mac students and fans in attendance that day. I witnessed a cohesive McMaster community, on the road in another stadium. This is precisely what is so unique about McMaster, and serves as an example of the type of community we have. Welcome Week does help to build a sense of community and throughout the year, there are different events and programs which foster cohesiveness. Despite these efforts, we often feel disconnected from a united campus community. Part of this is a result of how diverse our interests are and that
The President’s Page is sponsored by the McMaster Students Union. It is a space used to communicate with the student body about the projects, goals and agenda of the MSU Board of Directors.
www.msu.mcmaster.ca
realistically, no group can bring everyone together. But I believe that there is an appetite for more here at McMaster. I believe that we have already begun to build this sense of community. One needs to simply look at the amount of students who went to Western to cheer the Yates Cup or were at TwelvEighty and Burridge Gym to watch the uTECK Bowl, and it is clear that Mac is teeming with pride. With this kind of commonality, I believe there is the potential for a united campus on a myriad of issues outside of our sports teams. In an article that appeared in the Sil a few weeks ago comparing McMaster to Western, it was said that perhaps we have a thing or two to learn from UWO. I admit that there is always the possibility to learn from other schools, but I also think that perhaps we ought to accept that we are unique. We are different and that is what makes this school so special.
Matthew d Pres
president@m ext.
THE SILHOUETTE • A3
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2011
Origins Institute
Virtual world a reality at Mac McMaster 3D theatre attracts entertainment and research interest
TYLER HAYWARD /SENIOR PHOTO EDITOR
The Origins Institute’s 3D theatre in MDCL 1110 opened its doors to the public on Nov.9. Kacper Niburski
Assistant News Editor
In a three-dimensional world, expressions of art from novels to paintings are often limited by their two-dimensionality. A page, a canvas or a screen all fail to capture the world as it is, becoming instead a representation of how it appears to be. That is until now, thanks to McMaster’s Origins Institute. Following the trend of 3D entertainment that characterizes much of the modern movie and media industry, McMaster’s Origins Institute 3D theatre opened its doors to the public on Nov. 9. The theatre originally opened in 2006, based on a proposal by Dr. Ralph Pudritz, director of the Origins Institute. It was suggested that the MDCL 1110 lecture hall, which was under construction at the time, should be retrofitted for use as the theatre. After receiving various sources of funding, the theatre opened with the movie Our Sun: What a Star!,
for which all the shows were sold out. The high demand has only continued with the recent opening of the 3D theatre, where all showings are sold out until January. The theatre works through a combination streaming and emission of data. The data are generated at the Swinburne University of Technologies Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing, which is then transformed into the animation used for 3D processing. The Origins theatre makes use of this processed data by screening it through two projectors, one of which emits horizontal light waves, while the other emits vertical. The two congeal on a perforated screen, and emit the light back to the viewers and their 3D glasses, creating an illusion of three-dimensionality. “The 3D theatre brings topics of great interest and at the forefront of research within astronomy to the general public and school groups,” said Robert Cockcroft, PhD Candidate in Physics and Astronomy and coordinator of the Theatre.
This much is certainly true, as people young and old have been drawn to the mysteries of the Universe that unravel before their eyes. One such mystery is the existence of exoplanets, a heavily debated and thoroughly interesting topic in astronomy. The current film, Extreme Alien Worlds, is an exploration of such exoplanets beyond humanity’s solar system. The theatre, however, will not solely be used for public amusement. It has also been designed to serve as a research and teaching tool, which Cockcroft suggested will “allow researchers to visualize their data in 3D, revealing features that otherwise might not be seen in 2D.” Thus, the theatre itself serves as both a means of education and entertainment. It is the composition of the two, which are often opposed, that has changed the meaning of “wishing on a star,” because not only can one understand the stars, but through 3D, they can also attempt to catch one for themselves.
A4 • THE SILHOUETTE
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2011
Christopher Newfield
Speaker series targets higher education
TYLER HAYWARD / SENIOR PHOTO EDITOR
Privatization of university education sustained by “Wheel of Death” Farzeen Foda
Senior News Editor
Universities have undergone a drastic shift in recent years, much of which, most would argue, has been positive. Due to systematic mobilization of resources toward research and innovation, a greater influx of discoveries have been observed – a trend to which McMaster can certainly attest. There are, however, negative shifts that have persisted. One of them is the transition of funding sources for universities from public to private. Christopher Newfield, professor of American Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, explained at a McMaster Seminar on Higher Education on Nov. 21, that higher education is more frequently being seen “as a private right rather than a public good.” The talk was hosted by the President’s Office and jointly
funded by the Public Intellectuals Project. Newfield spoke at length about the economic spiral that has led to the current state of universities, contending that the shift from public to private funding for post-secondary education has been sustained by the “American funding model cycle of decline,” which he referred to as the “Wheel of Death.” Based on the model, the root of the increasing privatization of universities, in the United States specifically, stems from a reduction of state funding. In Canada, on the other hand, post-secondary education is largely regulated at the federal level. Inferences made on the “Wheel of Death” suggest that reduced public funding is met by reluctance on the part of university faculty and administration to adapt to the change. This stubbornness pushes the issue onto students, who are left
with no choice but to comply with increasing tuition fees. In turn, the cycle ultimately facilitates the use of the student population as an “indispensable ATM machine” resulting in exponentially increasing levels of student debt. As noted by Newfield. In discussing educational attainment, he noted that Canada fairs better in the proportion of individuals who complete their postsecondary degree or diploma, but those increasing numbers mean little when the substance of those credentials is consistently diminishing - a trend he has noticed in his own students who often reach the brink of graduation lacking basic skills and competencies. To rectify this, Newfield called for a simple process: “putting the content back into the credential.” Astonishing to him as well was the increasing numbers of students who don’t quite know what they want out of their education.
To counter this, Newfield suggested a revitalized perspective to post-secondary education, focusing on essentials skills rather than instruction in the first and second year, leaving heavy instruction to the senior years of the university career. This would involve more student-professor interaction in the early years of university education. These reasons compounded, argued Newfield, necessarily requires a shift in roles of universities and the ways in which they should be managed.
While Newfield discussed the state of the issue in the United States, a similar trend has unfolded in Canada as well. Newfield noted the effects of the “Wheel of Death” are certainly reversible, but change will require strategic planning of educational goals, followed by seeing the funding for those goals. While more graduates obtain decrees without substance, and funding for research constantly dwindles, whether or not this shift will occur remains to be seen.
Student Representative Assembly
Civility lacking in student government • CONT’D FROM A1 a motion from SRA Social Science Ryan Sparrow, suggested that the MSU officially stand in support of Quebec student protesters, who are fighting 75 per cent tuition hikes. “I think as a student union, we should be cognizant of the struggles that are going on across Canada, even throughout the world at times,” explained Sparrow in an interview. The motion, though, outlined no other plan for action. “There was really no other direction that went along with it, but it’s up to students and the McMaster community to determine what they want to do with a stance like this,” said Sparrow. “The SRA, in recent years, has been viewed as a body that mostly deals with internal issues … like what happens with TwelvEighty, Union Market; Bread Bin’s another big one this year,” said Chris Erl, SRA Humanities. “This [resolution] kind of gets us looking to the outside world into the larger student movement, as opposed to simply within the MSU.” He added, “This year, the politicization has, I think, exponentially increased our relevance in the eyes of students and the conflict that comes along with that.” Matt Wright, a former SRA member and runner up in last year’s MSU presidential election, was in attendance at the meeting as an observer. It was after the motion that he rose, simply to explain that if a Social Science member on the Assembly did something that was not in the interests of his or her constituents (of which Wright is one), there were procedures in place for recall, which essentially means the impeachment of a member. Sparrow asked MSU Speaker Jeff Wyngaarden, who chairs the meetings, if there was any way to have Wright removed from the room. But before the idea could get anywhere, Wright left on his own. “I have no idea what students want,” said Simon Granat, SRA Social Sciences, speaking on the
matter of the relevance of the SRA to students. “I’m guessing. I’m trying to give it my best guess, but I’m guessing … I think right now, the focus is very broad; we’re talking about everything and the kitchen sink, but we don’t know what of all that is a student concern.” He also noted that “the focus of the Assembly this year is really split” between internal matters of MSU operations and broader social justice issues. Granat has tried to keep focus on internal issues like student hunger, quality of teaching and study space. “Those aren’t glorious issues, no one’s going to praise us for them, but they’re things that are really going to help people,” he said. Maintaining decorum Before Wright brought up the possibility of recall, he was sitting at the back of the room as an observer. He wrote on his Facebook wall, “SRA 2011/2012 is my new favourite TV show. Except the characters suck because they can’t seem to remember their rehearsed lines. And the plot doesn’t really make sense. And there isn’t really any drama except for people tripping over their ego. I would’ve cancelled after the pilot.” The post received 28 likes and 44 comments, many of which were made during the meeting, some by SRA members. Facebook commentary was not isolated to Wright’s post. Earlier in the meeting, the Speaker had asked that all members of the SRA leave their laptops and phones at the front of the room during the meeting. Sarah Ali, member of the Social Science caucus, responded by saying that there were members of the Assembly that had family in the hospital, and as a result, wanted to keep her phone on her in case one of her family members attempted to contact her. Other members asked to keep their laptops in case they needed to look up information relevant to the meeting.
For those reasons, Wyngaarden allowed them to keep their devices. During the meeting, Ali posted a derogatory remark on Facebook about VP-Administration, Katie Ferguson regarding points she had made. The post has since been deleted. Toward the end of the meeting, SRA Science Andrea Somers addressed the behaviour of other members. Somers declined interview, wishing to not exacerbate the situation, but did explain that “I rose on a point of privilege and called for a little more respect and decorum around the table. I stated that I personally believe that in order to function as a unified body we need to start with respecting each other.” At the meeting, she spoke passionately, to the point of yelling, according to other members. Social Science representative Samira Sayed Rahman responded in a similar tone, asking Somers to speak more quietly. During a role call at the end of meeting, Sayed Rahman acknowledged her name with the tonguein-cheek response, “Don’t cry at meetings,” directed at Somers. “Personal attacks have absolutely no place in the assembly at all,” said Granat. “Voter apathy is high, and I think this is one of the reasons why ... [students] are just going to tune out and say that we’re completely useless.” Reportedly, motions to censure have been coming forward, though it’s not yet known who the targets are. The censure process involves singling members of the Assembly out for their behaviour, allowing other members to air grievances about the person before voting on whether or not to officially label their inappropriate behaviour. In the past, censure has jeopardized members’ future on the SRA. It could also hurt, for example, the possibility of the member becoming MSU President or a VP after graduation. The matter will be addressed at the next meeting on Nov. 27.
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THE SILHOUETTE • A5
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2011
Student Society Recognized
CUPE 3906
SOCS reflects on 30 years
Union reaches agreement with Mac
Memorable past recognized at ceremony
YOUSIF HADDAD / THE SILHOUETTE
In memory of Jamie Kuss, SOCS made a donation to cancer research. • CONT’D FROM A1 Saturday. He explained to those in the audience how he wanted Jamie to enjoy his first year at McMaster. However, he was worried when Jamie didn’t get into residence, which had been an important part of his own university experience. Upon entering first year, Jamie chose to
get invoved with SOCS instead, and became a valued member of the society, first as a member, and then as a Welcome Week rep in 2001. The audience listened in silence as Tim recounted the story, ending by explaining that just days before Welcome Week 2001 was to start, Jamie lost his battle with cancer. The event overall was a very moving one, making past and present members extremely proud to be a part of the society.
Current SOCS Vice-President Athletics, Arjun Sithamparapillai, stated that, “It makes me proud to be part of a society whose spirit and dedication shows no parameters. It is extremely rare to witness established alumni cheering as if it was still Welcome Week.” It is The event also extremely served as a museum for thirty years’ worth rare of SOCS miscellanto witness eous items. established Whitney Evans, current SOCS Vicealumni President Social, cheering stated that, “the memorabilia room as if it was made SOCS alumni Welcome feel at home, with old photos, trophies, Week.” t-shirts, posters and more.” Kaialise Mattiozzi, current SOCS Vice-President Promotions, added, “To see the past, present and future of SOCS congregate under one roof was fantastic.” Mattiozzi further explained, “to also see the changes SOCS had gone through over the years, as well as what hadn’t changed, was truly remarkable. I thought I couldn’t love SOCS any more than I did, but that night proved me wrong.”
Alex Rockingham Silhouette Intern
An agreement has been reached between McMaster administration and CUPE 3906, a union representing the University’s Teaching and Research Assistants. Two weeks ago, the union approved a strike mandate, demanding wage increases and benefit improvements. In the end, the strike was not implemented, as both parties reached a settlement through negotiation. A tentative agreement was reached late on Nov. 17 after a series of thirteen bargaining dates. Based on the details released pertaining to the agreement, it appears that the days of hard haggling have paid off for the TA and RA union. CUPE 3906’s bargaining team was able to negotiate wage increases for both McMaster graduate and undergraduate employees, as well as improvements for their benefits, such as the union’s Family Dental Plan. Other gains made by the bargaining team include a bi-weekly payment system, the settlement of eight outstanding health and safety training grievances, and paid printing costs. The ratification vote process ran on campus from Nov. 21 to Nov 23, and the union ultimately ratified the agreement. Bulletins outlining the agreement details are available at CUPE 3906’s website.
This is a paid advertisement by the MSU
A6 • THE SILHOUETTE
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2011
EDITORIAL
editor’s extension: 22052 letters: thesil@thesil.ca
The Silhouette
‘Occupy’ name losing meaning
McMaster University’s Student Newspaper
TheSil.ca
I totally occupied my breakfast this morning. I cut up a banana, spread some peanut butter on bread, made a sandwich and occupied the crap out of that sandwich to start my day off right. Perhaps eating this delicious breakfast has nothing to do with the Occupy Wall Street protests. I’m not protesting global income inequality or rallying against corporate control. And for most Occupy protests, you could say the exact same thing. The ideals of Occupy protests, however ambiguous, are at the very least respectable. People just want a better world and are trying to find a way to make sense of that need and anger. But the use of the term ‘occupy’ to describe every kind of protest at all has completely tainted and delegitimized any power. People have occupied campuses, small towns and large rooms. They’re springing up everywhere to try to raise awareness for their causes. But do they really have anything to do with the original Occupy protests? Spare me the ‘We are the 99%’ slogans and the Guy Fawkes masks. Just because the word Occupy is slapped in front of a place where a protest is happening doesn’t mean it’s in the same vein as the original protest. How about Occupy Ron Paul? Or Occupy Black Friday? Sure, there are legitimate political reasons to oppose a Republican presidential candidate or a wild orgy of consumerist shopping sprees, but the branding of this opposition as ‘Occupy’ events takes away from the protests themselves and turns them into a crappy internet meme. For some reason, people feel the need to take advantage of what will undoubtedly become 2011’s buzz word and either water it down with their own protest or make some joke of it (I heard some guy at Jimmy Gringo’s say his burrito was going to occupy his colon). If there’s one thing we can learn from the Occupy protests it’s that expressing discontent with political matters is perfectly acceptable in our society. No matter what people are upset about, they can get some friends together, be pissed off together and make a big stink about it. Until people stop trying to call it an Occupy something, however, they’re not going to get much attention at all. • Brian Decker, Executive Editor
Editorial Board Executive Editor... Brian Decker Managing Editor... Sam Colbert Production Editor... Jonathon Fairclough Senior News Editor... Farzeen Foda Asst. News Editor... Dina Fanara Asst. News Editor... Kacper Niburski Opinions Editor... Andrew Terefenko Sports Editor... Fraser Caldwell Asst. Sports Editor... Brandon Meawasige InsideOut Editor... Natalie Timperio Asst. InsideOut Editor... Cassandra Jeffery Business Editor... Sonya Khanna Senior ANDY Editor... Jemma Wolfe ANDY Music Editor... Josh Parsons ANDY Ent. Editor... Myles Herod Senior Photo Editor... Tyler Hayward Multimedia Editor... Joy Santiago Asst. Photo Editor... Ricardo Padilla
LOOKIN’ GOOD, FORGI!
Silhouette Staff
Thanks to a Yates Cup bet with MSU President Matt Dillon-Leitch, Western University Student Council President was forced to wear a ‘Go Mac Go’ T-shirt the week of Nov. 21-24.
Bushra Habib, News Christine Pugliese, News Ben Orr, Sports Maggie Cogger-Orr, Sports Ryan Mallough, Opinions Rob Hardy, Opinions Erin Chesney, Opinions Paul Fowler, Andy Nolan Matthews, Andy Jason Scherer, Andy Jenna Shamoon, InsideOut Sandro Giordano, Ad Manager
Though the ‘stache needs a little work, the shirt is looking great on him. We’ll assume Forgione will be cheering for the Marauders in the Vanier Cup. PHOTO C/O MATT DILLON-LEITCH
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to the vanier cup. holy crap. this is happening.
to much forgiveness in this business.
to flying to vancouver. xoxoxo ath & rec.
to the sil’s depleted travel budget.
to royal gala apples.
to crappy, breaking down apples.
to meow-y christmas. to tiger woods.
to thinking vitamin water is a vegetable.
to gino’s. we finally caved.
to our colons. oh god what have we done.
to tridents. to murrayland.
to citrus lime. why did anyone think this would be a good idea.
to sweater vests.
to trenchcoats.
to spectacles.
to black ties.
THE SILHOUETTE • A7
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2011
OPINIONS
production office extension: 27117 opinions@thesil.ca
Brace for the second space race Andrew Terefenko Opinions Editor
Did you feel it? Earlier this week an asteroid brushed right by our little blue sphere in space, giving some of us a genuine scare. I’m not talking some dinky, burns-up-inour-atmosphere asteroid we scoff at several times a day. We almost got hit by a 400-metre wide clump of coal and space evil. To put this into perspective, the asteroid, named 2005 YU55 (rolls right off the tongue), came closer to us than the moon does at any given time of the year. That’s a frightening thought. There was never any actual threat from the astral rock, as observatories around the world have long predicted its arrival and trajectory, and given enough data to back up the claim that it would not directly impact us. What the asteroid did do, though, is remind us just how fragile our planet is, and how Earth has little to no defense plan in the event that an asteroid decides not to take the scenic route. Prompted by the event, many small groups have banded together in an effort to plan combat against real-life space invaders. They have approached the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs, which is a completely legitimate organization apparently, to inquire into their contingency plan for the unthinkable catastrophe. The verdict? If a foreign space object comes at us with no warning, such as from behind the sun where we less time to predict its move-
JOY SANTIAGO / MULTIMEDIA EDITOR
In the playground of our solar system, asteroids are the bullies after our precious lunch money. ment, we are helpless, and there would not be nearly enough time to deal with it adequately. Awesome. Not that it is super
urgent, as the chance of it happening is too slim to bet on, but slimmer odds have prevailed, and all it takes is one to really ruin our day.
I suppose this is yet another side effect of a world that is constantly divided, ceaselessly warring and generally displeased, but that is
Holidays hit our dollar hardest Rob Hardy
Silhouette Staff
Another Christmas season started to make its presence known this past week, and once again we are poised for the same in-your-face bombardment we get every year. If anything about Christmas has changed over the past couple of decades, it’s simply that the holiday season gets bigger every year. It’s one last kick at the can to consume and buy a disgusting amount of products that will lose their glimmer almost as fast as the credit card bill comes due – or, maybe until Apple comes out with the next iPhone. Call me out of the loop, but I fail to recognize the need to be able to access the internet from four different personal devices. It’s a huge shift to evolve from the selfish children we once were to one day being completely un-materialistic, but some of us never quite get there. These days it seems adults are nearly as excited to unwrap their video game systems as the kids are – at least those who still have a job and a roof over their heads. For these people, lining up for an entire night to await the opening of a Black Friday sale so they can begin to load up several shopping carts is a way of life. Please recall, three years ago, when a frenzied mob of shoppers literally broke down a door and trampled a store associate to death at a Walmart on Long Island, NY. Even with the abysmal economic situation, especially in the United States, the concept of a lean Christmas may still be a few years away from popularity. But it is already the reality for many of the 45 million people south of the border who are on food stamps. And while many in Canada are still relatively safe from similar fates for now, the storm clouds are gathering. Last week, a panel on CBC Newsworld discussed the state of the job market and was quite clear in declaring that the Canadian economy is either entering another recession, or has truly never left the one that began in 2008. Why then is it business as usual when it comes to yet another Christmas season telling us to buy, buy, buy? And why are people still marching along
another issue entirely. The point is that out planet is a target in a galactic shooting gallery, and the sooner we take steps to protect it, the sooner we can get back to poking each other with nuclear sticks and comparing the size of our GDP’s in the bathroom. The next time we are expected to have a solar system flyby is in the far-flung year of 2028, when we are finally going to have those flying cars that we were supposed to get back in 1995. Then we can just start flying above the ruins of a charred, broken planet, kind of like The Jetsons. Actually, very eerily like The Jetsons. There is also the distinct possibility that we repeat the mistakes of brainless gigantic lizards that lived 65 billion years ago. They lived their lives in squalor and ecstasy, and paid the price when they failed to respond to the asteroid threat. Do we want to be mocked by alien civilizations when they learn we met the same fate as the dinosaurs, creatures that we dig up, display and make cult classic films about? So before those Hanna Barbera prophecies come to fruition, let’s pour some of that money we don’t have back into the space programs we have forgotten about, before they get to have the ultimate “I told you so” moment. Don’t forget, there is an entire belt of roughly 1.7 million asteroids just waiting between Mars and Jupiter, and all it takes is a slight gravitational disturbance to get them to look in our direction.
NOTICE Send us an e-mail if you’ve seen this goblin, he has stolen our writers and we are always looking for more!
INSIDE WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
The holidays bring to mind merriment, togetherness, and long-ass shopping lines. with this circus that has become completely out sands of dollars on boulevard flowerbeds when of step with what is going on in the real world? we have one of the worst poverty rates in the I think it’s time we scrap all these celebra- country? tions and out-dated Santa Claus parades. We It’s time for some priorities. We need to reknow very well that a growing number of people evaluate and begin forgoing some of the things throughout the GTA are in far too much pain to we have become accustomed to, or worse, feel be able to celebrate anything. People who have entitled to. In Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, lost their jobs, their homes, their families and physiological requirements like nourishing food even the will to live are often in no mood to take and decent shelter are the most basic and absopart in a fleeting seasonal indulgence, one that lutely essential. might depress them all the more. This, coupled In other words, you wouldn’t go on a shopwith a community of people becoming all the ping spree to buy luxurious extras if you haven’t more unable to truly care and relate to their eaten and may get evicted from your shabby fellow neighbours without the now-familiar apartment. The same applies to the public purse. screen of social media, is a recipe for a huge dis- Why are we funding parties for part of the popuconnect. lation when others are living a desperate life I’m probably in the minority, but wouldn’t style? this money be truly better spent funding the As humans, we have a drive to take care of dwindling resources of the food banks, or in- ourselves first, but at some point we have to realjecting much needed resources into public hous- ize that financial segregation can turn into a dising? Having city councils adopt some austerity aster, as it also drives away investors when large measures as a social experiment to see their ef- portions of a city’s population, and eventually fects prior to them being forced upon us, as in infrastructure, have fallen on hard times. One Europe, would be an unexpected but welcome need look no further than Hamilton, because as I change for the better. hear people crowing about how great this city is If you think about it, who really wants to I have to wonder, aside from a few nicer areas, if live in a city where we spend hundreds of thou- they need a pair of glasses.
HEADTOHEAD Is it ethical for the school to sell energy drinks on campus during exam season, given possible health risks?
Page A10
Feedback What are your thoughts on the ongoing Occupy movement?
Page A8
This Week in Opinions Slut Walk Overseas
Inactive Action
B-Line Sorrows
The Slut Walk marked an important milestone in female rights. Is it a good fit for other cultures around the world?
Changing your Facebook status to support breast cancer may not be as effective as you think. Find out real ways to help those in need.
In this busy season, we mourn the loss of the old route of the HSR B-line. Is there a need for the change to be reverted?
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Pg. A8
Pg. A11
A8 • THE SILHOUETTE
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2011
Hushed talk about the Slut Walk Blackberry
does disease
Ingie Metwally The Silhouette
Is the Slut Walk a degrading walk of shame or a feminist movement? Apparently, it is the latter. On Apr. 3, thousands of people gathered to protest violence against women and the blaming of rape victims. Michael Sanguinetti, a Toronto police officer, was the one to incidentally inspire the march. In January, Sanguinetti was speaking before a group of York students on the subject of sexual assault. He suggested that women should avoid dressing like sluts in order to prevent rape. It’s no surprise that many people were outraged by his comment, but the outcome of his verbal mistake has been extraordinary. So what does it really mean to take part in the Slut Walk? “Whatever we wear, wherever we go, yes means yes, and no means no,” the crowd of Toronto protestors chanted as they marched on through Queens Park and onto College Street. What these people want is to have police no longer blame any rape victim for what has happened to them. The protestors argue that it isn’t the fault of the victim at all, and how they dress shouldn’t be applicable to why they were raped. Most are apalled at how many people criticize the victim in cases where she may have not been dressed appropriately to their standards. A University of Guelph student, Sierra Chevy Harris, stated that the officer’s comments are “a small example of how a large amount of people in the justice system truly think.” Harris, along with the thousands of other protestors, simply wants to put an end to slut shaming. The ‘Sluts’ of Toronto are parading proudly around the city, trying to raise awareness of their cause, grabbing the attention of people around the world. The march that began in Toronto inspired plans for similar events in over 60 different countries, and has actually occurred in multiple countries, including the UK and Australia. The Slut Walks all over the world are promoting the freedom of choice in what every woman wears. The protestors are proclaiming that women shouldn’t be afraid to dress ‘sexy’ and they shouldn’t have to feel vulnerable while doing so. “We need to criticize the people who are actually committing the crimes,” said Harris. The women who are simply exercising their freedoms should not be persecuted, and rape should not be a debatable topic. To some, the Slut Walks are revolutionary, the feminist demonstration of the new century. To older feminists, the Slut Walks are trivial, and aren’t the greatest fights of the feminist movement. To Margaret Wente of the Globe and Mail, “Slut Walks are what you get when graduate students The walks bring out all manner of women, but is it for all of them? in feminist studies run out of things to do.” The issue here is that the women’s clothing. attitude that rape victims are to blame has almost disappeared from The Slut Walks may be applicable to those women residing in the more developed nations of the world, like Canada, the US, and conventional society. The feminists of today need to relocate their efforts in fighting Britain, but it is not at all ready for the rest of the developing world. for women’s rights. Sure, being able to wear whatever you want The women of our society should be looking out with a more worldshould be a right available to all women. But there is no fairness in ly perspective, protesting for the rights of women that have yet to where on one side of the world, women are complaining that they achieve the level of independence women of Canada have been privcannot dress like ‘sluts’ and feel safe, and on the other side of the ileged with. Before walking out in a bra and tights, ready to protest world, women simply want to feel safe in their own neighbourhood, her right to dress like a ‘slut’, a woman should rethink her priorities dressing in the most respectable manner possible. Rape is a disturb- and what she can really do to make a difference in the world. Clearly ing crime, in every circumstance, and if the feminists of today want women have a lot more power than expected of them by society, and to really help the women of today, they should be focusing more when they gather together in numbers, they can really make a differon preventing the crime itself, rather than preventing judgment on ence. WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Nour Afara
The Silhouette
Texting? Of course you are. Almost 2 billion people use smartphones worldwide, and I am just one person in a sea of texters, Facebookers, Tweeters, and…does anyone even use MySpace anymore? Like everything done in excess, compulsive texting does in fact lead to painful consequences. News flash to the Tweeters who update that they’re going to going to sleep, waking up, napping, and bathrooming: Blackberries and other notable smartphones, such as iPhones, emit dangerous electromagnetic waves that are extremely harmful to your health. Blackberries, though, emit a whopping 1.54 Specific Absorbtion Rate (SAR), which means they are more dangerous than most phones. Obviously, RIM would never advertise that their Blackberry could potentially harm your health in any way. Instead, they advertise new apps that would cause Blackberry users to use their phone more often. Now, what physical side effects are there to rigorous use of a CrackBerry? Though some studies present data showing the connection between phone use, specifically Blackberry use, and cancer are inconclusive, others provide evidence that people should limit their Blackberry use because it puts the body to be at a higher risk of cancer. While cancer in not an immediate effect, severe headaches and joint pains in texting fingers are common. They are part of what some call the BlackBerry Disease. Those headaches and pains are just the beginning of scarier consequences to BlackBerry use. Knowing this information and continuing to use your BlackBerry is utter nonsense. But as a self-proclaimed CrackBerry addict, I find the addiction understandable, though the consequences are horrifying. What can we do to avoid such problems? If there were a BlackBerry Rehab, I would be there. Unfortunately, no one will help us and we will have to fight the disease on our own. The general public would probably reject any sort of boycott. Why? People structure their life around their BlackBerry; work contacts, friends, Friday night dates, exam times and more are all crammed into that little square of plastic. As a result, RIM will probably continue to make cancer-causing phones. Thus, the only sure-fire way to protect our health is to limit the use of our CrackBerries as much as possible. Even if it means turning on that speakerphone and having all of Mills Library listen to you schedule a hot date, rest assured that you will not be a victim of the infamous BlackBerry Disease.
SRA strife Facebook activism is inactive action Better behaviour might bring voters • CONT’D FROM A1 In others words, it’s really up to them to make something out of the Assembly, and often, they don’t. In meetings, they quibble over the small stuff. Outside meetings, they form alliances and strategize. It gets political; for some, it’s seen as a launching pad into their own careers in public service. Last year, some of them tried to get McMaster students as a whole to endorse a party in the federal election. Earlier this term, they flirted with a motion that would publicly call our riding’s MPP Ted McMeekin a liar for a mix-up that led to his cancelled visit to a meeting during the provincial election. In the process of discussions like this that members get defensive, they get angry, and little gets done. It’s no wonder that voter turnout for SRA elections hovers around five per cent. But the cynics will tell you that SRA members are only motivated by two things anyway, neither of which is representing their peers. The first is the hope of becoming either MSU President or one of the three VPs, which are pretty tempting fulltime jobs for a recently graduated student. The second is ego. But I’m not trying to bash you personally, SRA members. Most of you that I’ve met seem like good and intelligent people with real enthusiasm for this school and its students. But please, worry less about what the students union is and more about what it does. Leave the political causes to popular movements; if a student uprising like the one in Quebec does grow at McMaster, respond to it accordingly, but don’t use the SRA to create one on students’ behalf. That’s not representation. Cut the bickering, and focus on doing your honest best to serve Mac students in a pragmatic way that is within the jurisdiction of the MSU. There are real issues here that could use your attention. If you can’t do that, then you’re only gathering every other Sunday night in Council Chambers to resume a battle against irrelevance. That is, unless any of you can get me free coffee at the Union Market.
Updating your status does not end global oppression. Erin Chesney Silhouette Staff
It is very inspiring that in a world of daily overdose on hatred and violence that there are so many of us out there that want to provide aid and comfort for those less fortunate. In recent years, the act of being charitable has almost become a trend of our generation. Organizations such as Free the Children and Habitat for Humanity are supported heavily by youth participation, which gives the perception that helping the less fortunate is a ‘cool’ thing to do. Social media, then, is the prime location for such noble causes to recruit other righteous individuals. Facebook and Twitter have been beneficial forums for exposing millions to a variety of ways that they can make a difference. However, there is one trend that has formed out of this new wave of technologically savvy do-gooders that I am hesitant to support. These include changing one’s display picture to a picture of a cartoon character for child abuse prevention, or saying in your status where you put your purse to promote breast cancer research. Within minutes, these trends go viral, and before you know it the majority of your online friends have followed the chain. I whole-heartedly agree that these are worthy endeavors that completely deserve all the publicity they are receiving. However, the question I put forth to you is, what is actually being accomplished? It is simple enough to make a change to one’s profile, but how is this helping to further research or improving dire situations? The fact is, they don’t. The reason I believe that these movements are so successful is because they consist of simple actions that anyone can do, and subsequently, people feel like they have the ability make a positive impact. Although the intention is honorable, I do not feel that anything productive is being done. Generally speaking, no money is being generated and no new volunteers are being engaged. All these campaigns essentially accomplish is making people feel better about themselves for doing their good deed of the day. Now, this is not to say awareness is not a beneficial project to pursue. For example, on
RICARDO PADILLA / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
The vow of silence is an example of activism outside of the computer chair. November 30, Free the Children will be con- paigns and decided to take action. He vowed ducting their annual vow of silence. Anyone on his Facebook to give one dollar to charity can participate in this venture, for which you for every person who ‘liked’ his status. In the “stand in solidarity with children who are si- end, he received 73 likes, and now a noble lenced by poverty, disease and exploitation.” organization is reaping the benefits. In my This project brings awareness to a noble opinion, this was an ingenious act of kindcause through action. The difference between ness, for he turned around an unproductive this and the above-noted internet campaigns use of technology and made it into something is that the Vow of Silence not only raises worthy. money for charity, it also teaches the par- At the end of the day, getting the word ticipants a valuable lesson about lacking the out there is not something to be discouraged. means to speak out against injustice. Rather It is very commendable to want to make a than a quick click of a mouse, this project ac- difference. However, would it not make more tually makes a significant impact. sense to put your efforts towards something Social media is a wonderful tool for ex- more productive? So, dear readers, I send out posure and I am not implying that there is not a challenge to you. Whether you follow in the a beneficial place for it in charitable causes. footsteps of my friend or you create your own A few months ago, one of my friends was innovate way to benefit an honourable cause, just as frustrated as I am with the constant take productive action towards making this bombardment of Facebook awareness cam- world a better place.
THE SILHOUETTE • A9
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2011
?
“I feel like the people doing it are out of options and it has resulted in this.”
What is your opinion of the Occupy movement?
-John Waldock, Psychology IV
Feedback
“We should first address more serious concerns like human rights violations. Their message is also not unified.” -Stephanie Tran, Peace Studies @ U of T
“I feel that capitalism is egalitarian. It is impractical because of how our government is structured.” -Kyle Park, Communications II
“We’re creating a community to encourage students to go from apathy to action.” -Laura Hunt, Social Work & Health Studies III
Compiled by Ricardo Padilla and Andrew Terefenko
It’s important to create a dialogue to discuss important issues around the world.” -Shane Stratton, Enviro Sci IV
A10 • THE SILHOUETTE
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2011
THE SILHOUETTE • A11
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2011
ANMOL LAMBA Novice Coach, McMaster Debating Society
AND HASHEEL LODHIA VIce-President, Financial, McMaster Debating Society
HEADTOHEAD ANMOL: McMaster’s examination period will soon be upon us. As students tackle a demanding course load, they have to deal with another one of university’s realities – sleep deprivation. In this precarious state, it becomes simple to turn to methods that allow you to stay awake for longer periods of time, a very common method being energy drinks. I believe the university should not sell energy drinks in its dining locations for various reasons. While energy drinks may be safe in moderation, there are many potential risks that students are generally uninformed on, chief among them being the effect of caffeine on the human body.The caffeine content of most energy drinks (Red Bull, Rockstar) is 3 to 3.5 times more than the caffeine content of regular cola drinks (Coke, Pepsi) per volume of liquid. So while these drinks are just as available as any other beverage, their effect is a lot more severe. Ingesting too much caffeine can lead to caffeine intoxication, which can result in restlessness, anxiety, irritability, fidgeting and insomnia, among other, more serious effects. As these differences between energy drinks and other beverages are not made explicit, I feel that the average student is simply not informed enough on what should be the proper dosage of energy drinks. The positive connotation that the term “energy” only serves to further distort the potential medical risks that come with the drinks. HASHEEL: I disagree. Several cups of coffee carry the same amount of caffeine as an energy drink. More people drink at least one coffee a day than those who drink energy drinks because it is more socially acceptable and available on campus. Not just that, but it is mostly at night, when coffee isn’t readily available, that students resort to these drinks. In fact, 400 mg of caffeine per day carries little evidence of health risks and even provides some benefits such as preventing type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and liver diseases (which would probably be the most beneficial to university students). The most common reason adults drink energy drinks is because they have been or
plan to be alert for an extended amount of time. The body can lose a great amount of vitamins and fluids that are essential for proper functioning. Further, these drinks are designed to be incredibly easy to digest by the body and pass through the system with no traces or negative effects. A: Caffeine may have potential benefits, but these benefits are often only applicable under a controlled dosage. My primary concern is that students will greatly exceed this dose with continued use of energy drinks as they attempt to survive a university lifestyle. One does not absolutely need energy drinks to accommodate the needs of their study schedules. The scores of students that do not use energy drinks are a testament to this statement. A proper sleep schedule can be achieved through balanced priorities, where free time during the exam period can be used to catch up on sleep or studying and habits such as partying, gaming and television can be put on hold. A proper studying technique can also be achieved by beginning to study sooner rather than later, allowing all the material to be covered in a paced manner. I realize that these lifestyle changes are easier said than done, but I feel that energy drinks only serve their purpose as a last resort to cram for exams. By selling energy drinks, McMaster is condoning the use of this last-minute studying. The availability of energy drinks on campus makes them more accessible to students, and students fall into habits that promote an irregular schedule, fuelled by procrastination and Red Bull. H: Your point about wasting time is irrelevant. Suddenly banning the sale of energy drinks on campus is in no way going to change the amount of partying, video gaming or hours spent watching Community. Students will just find other means of stay-
ing up at night studying, as it is a common and often necessary part of the “university life” you so frequently bring up. Second, selling a product on campus does not necessarily mean McMaster condones its regular use. In fact, in every single food venue on campus, McMaster sells bulk amounts of candy, more so than they do energy drinks. We trust students to not eat candy for every single meal of the day so why don’t we trust these adults with caffeine? Many energy drinks offered on campus are sugar-free, providing students with healthier choices. On-campus energy drink prohibition does not solve anything. We are just forcing students to relocate their source of quick forms of energy: off campus. Actually, upon further thought, what else can students acquire off campus, with about as much ease as it takes to walk to the nearest convenient store? Mind enhancing drugs such a Ritalin and Adderall can have even better effects on their late-night studying than simple caffeinated drinks. It does not make sense to ban energy drinks right across from the two on-campus bars that offer specials on Jagerbombs. A: While it is true that other unhealthy foods are also sold on campus (such as candy), a lot of these foods already come with a social stigma of being a fatty food and general knowledge that they should be consumed in low amounts. Energy drinks don’t necessarily have this stigma, at least not to the same degree as other common fatty foods, even though they might be equally damaging, if not more. Thus, it makes sense to single out energy drinks as a potential issue in the University.
WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
As for the point about serving Jagerbombs at TwelvEighty or the Phoenix, students don’t frequent these specialized establishments in the same way that they
DEBATE: Is it ethical for the school to sell energy drinks during exam season? do Centro, La Piazza, Bridges or Bistro. They aren’t consistently exposed to Jagerbombs as they frequent these other locations, often with the hopes of finishing their mandatory, overpriced meal plans. With concerns over Ritalin and Adderall, the University does not directly sell it, and cannot thus be held responsible for its eventual use. The University’s responsibility towards energy drinks is far more involved as it directly sells them. As energy drinks are made accessible to students, the long term effects of continued caffeine intake must be considered by the university. Students could potentially develop an addiction to energy drinks as they begin to develop a tolerance level over the years, which brings about the issue of overdosing. Other health detriments may also accompany this addiction, such as the effects of caffeine intoxication mentioned earlier. H: As mentioned earlier, what about coffee? It has a very similar impact as energy drinks. Wouldn’t a more reasonable solution to your problem be to make coffee more available at night time so students don’t need to consume all the sugar, guanine, ginseng, etc? I don’t agree that caffeine is an “easy way out”. It does not allow students to concentrate more or to do better on their exams. The hard work and studying must still be done. In fact, lack of sleep from an all-nighter of studying has proven to be more detrimental for grades than spending the same amount of time getting at least one REM cycle in. All students know and experience what an all-nighter can do, therefore they should have the right to willingly take the risk of staying up to study. I am not denying the facts and saying that these drinks are good for you. However, I am arguing that university students are old enough to make their own decisions about caffeine in the same way that they are old enough to make their own decisions about alcohol and tobacco. McMaster does not need to deal with issues like this. I think it is much more beneficial to focus our energy on educating students about alcohol and drug use, or even the misuse of mind-enhancing drugs such as Adderall.
Bring back B-line Kevin Simms The Silhouette
The Silhouette published a striking opinion piece three weeks ago [“Filled on full bus blues” – Nov. 3] indicting the Hamilton Street Railway. The anger surging from the article is justified. All students who ride the bus, either to and from campus or around the city, know that it could use major improvements. I agree with the sentiment that we as students are mad as hell. We should ask ourselves, though, are we going to take it anymore? I have been at Mac since 2008, and every year there is at least one, usually more, articles published in the Silhouette raging against the HSR. Clearly, this issue stirs a deep pool of emotions beneath the relatively calm exteriors of most students, especially those waiting for a bus. The question these students need to ask themselves is, what can they do to improve the situation? I had the privilege of working on the referendum to renew the bus passes during the last round of MSU elections. I learned in that campaign that this issue energized students, and that they almost unanimously support the bus passes. The referendum passed with 92 per cent in favour of keeping the passes. It received support from 4460 students, but where are those students now? It is not enough to bring the bus pass back in a referendum; we have to demand that our student government and the University administration take action on this issue. This action does not have to be grandiose, and no one needs to occupy the Student Centre. The first step should be small but impact students immediately and for the better: bring back the B-Line! In 2008, the B-Line operated on the same route that the 1A King, and the 51 University – right through campus. The University decided to reroute the B-Line later that school year. I never heard a credible reason for the rerouting of the B-Line onto Main Street. There
RICARDO PADILLA / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
was talk at the time that the move would make campus safer for pedestrians. This argument is odd since the other buses, and construction trucks and delivery vans, continue to drive through campus. Regardless of the reasons for rerouting the number 10 B-Line, the time has come to bring it back. The resurrection of this bus route will not solve the underlying problem of insufficient buses to McMaster, and across the city. However, it will help, and it is a first step. Anyone who takes the B-Line can attest that it is not as crowded as the other buses that stop on campus. If the HSR. is willing, we could have this bus back on campus in time for Jan. 3 when second semester begins. If we as students affect the rerouting of the number 10 bus back onto campus, we will have earned a voice in transit negotiations in the future. Concerted collective action can convert the anger and frustration every one of us feels when a bus passes by our stop into constructive change. Bringing one bus back onto campus may sound too petty to warrant this high rhetoric about change, but it is these small, meaningful changes that give students a say in the University’s administration. I would encourage everyone to write to your representatives in the student government, and demand that they pressure the administration. When you have done that, write to the University administration and pressure them yourself. We all live in the McMaster community. We all face the problems in that community. I see no reason why we, as a community, cannot begin to solve those problems together.
A12 • THE SILHOUETTE
SpeculatoR The Hamilton
Thursday, November 24, 2011
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2011
INSIDE THE SPECULATOR
A37: Bisexual crisis, two many decisions C00: Ten tips for pleasing your badger P12-18: Seven pages of unshaven backs ZZ: Top claims he invented Movember
Contracting oral dysentery since 1968
F
SRA sedition to the letter Tiberius Slick Speculator
Inspired by the recent visioning letter “Forward with Integrity” from President and ViceChancellor of McMaster University, Patrick Deane, the Student Representative Assembly (SRA) of the McMaster Students Union has put together a letter of its own. The new document written to McMaster students, controversially titled “Two Steps Back into Bedlam,” postulates a few key ideas that the SRA has been discussing at this year’s meetings. First and foremost, the maniacal manifesto suggests that instead of the usual protocol, McMaster Students Union elections from this year onward are decided by rousing three-match series of butt-naked bare-knuckled boxing, or in the case of female candidates, foxy fisticuffs. The contenders are expected to uphold the tested and true mandates of said sports, those of honour, sportsmanship and good spitting trajectory. The current MSU president is not wasting any time, as this new policy allows him limitless re-elections should he succeed in the round-robin tournaments. Matthew “Blue-Collar Bloodsucker” Dillon-Leitch has already made progress on his strict training regimen of hopes, dreams and wishful thinking. On the subject of teaching environments, the SRA letter argues that students do not feel comfortable with curriculums that give them less than a majority of class time to dedicate to digital persona upkeep via smartphones. To this end, there’s a ten-year plan for replacing teachers with white noise generators in an attempt to phase out the professors’ “thankless task of spending twenty years of their lives to be ignored by mangy, spoiled
miscreants.” Members of the Assembly also feel that, on the topic of the research versus education argument, the school will instead make a slow but steady shift towards funding the arts and only the arts, as “that’s where the dolla dolla bills be at, yo.” This decision came to them after seeing a statistic claiming students of the arts spend an average of six years on campus, as opposed to the other faculties’ average of four. Later on in the document, in a parallel to Deane’s letter, it was written, “2011 is not 1887, nor is it 1955, nor is it 2011 really, because the Gregorian calendar is a conspiracy pulled over on us to raise more money for corrupt fireman charity services.” Following the statement, the letter presented images displaying its grand blueprints for a new “Leitchian Calendar Research Centre,” in which future students will discover the truth behind the conspiracy and finally reveal to us all that we are really in the year 2023 and the apocalypse already happened 12 years ago when a Google image search accidently displayed an image of a nude Joan Rivers. When contacted for confirmation, a Google employee promptly ended the phone call. When called again, the number was discontinued. The SRA hopes that with the collective effort of the student body, McMaster University can regain its reputation as a mythbusting academy full of the Hardies and Drews of tomorrow. In the letter’s closing statements, the Assembly promises to act on most of these promises, but because the Mayan prophecies make it unclear as to how much they have to actually commit, the tentative date set for these plans is “half-past mind your own business.”
SAL “MEATBALL“ MARINARA
Complementary to the fighting round is the old-timey photography contest.
“Occupy Lounge Chair” has some deep-seated issues “I heard that Professor Zerming in the Humanities department got dental benefits, First it was Wall Street, then but I’m pretty sure I could teach Chicago, then it was St. James Park his class as well as he does,” says in Toronto, and then downtown Johnny McArthur, a third-year Hamilton. student. “I think I should get a Now it’s a leather lounge raise, or at least some fuzzy slippers chair in the McMaster’s David to match my Alpaca-fur sweater Braley Athletic Centre, with cheers that I got on my volunteer trip this and celebrations from the McMaster summer to the Scarborough Zoo.” proletariat, yelling “HUZZAH!” The health and condition and “HURRAH!” and other cool, of the lounge chair in question is jovial throwbacks. That’s right – the Occupy movement is on Mac soil – and Theodore Montezuma, the movement’s leader couldn’t be prouder. “We chose the lounge chair because it’s pretty big, just like our desire to change the world in our day and age.” The Speculator found Montezuma amongst the trees in Cootes Paradise. He said they talk to him and dictate his political platform. “They told me to occupy the lounge chair, I complied, I have nothing else to say about the trees.” Early on Monday, Nov. 21, one of the chairs was annexed by the growing McMaster Occupy movement. The McMaster movement differs from other Occupy movements in that it aims to reduce the general comfiness disparity that prevails on campus. Eight people now call the area around the chair their home, continuing to pester the volleyball teams about the fourth estate and economic inequality. Mac’s occupy protestors want a Kingsley Morris Speculator
the main concern of the McMaster administration at this point. Tim Dong, PR and closet wombat, released this statement tonight at 7 p.m.: “We are in full support of our students right to protest on campus, but we are worried about the state of the leather chair and its environment… that thing needs to be oiled and lathered twice a day or else it’ll start to crackle.” Many believe that McMaster’s concern over the
leather lounge chair is just an excuse to disperse the protestors. Word is already spreading that eviction notices will be handed out to the eight students in question, citing concern for the chair as well as concern over body odour violations as well as crimes commited during the Occupy drum-circles, which have slowly evolved into full-out circle-jerks. “We are not ready to comment on our plans for the
protest… just know that we have the mace and the fire-hoses ready,” said Dong, with an effeminate grin on his face. The protests will continue on Friday, Nov. 25, with rumours circlulating that the next space to be occupied on campus could be the Student Centre fireplace or those dingy hallways in the top floor of Mills library.
SKIZZY IMAGES
big, possibly red comfy chair like the one in this photo from the University of Calfornia.
What did you learn this week, Timmy?
“First it was spray-on butter,
now pepper spray? ” Disclaimer: Stories printed in The Hamilton Speculator are fact. Any resemblance to persons real or dead is likely intentional and done out of spite. Opinions expressed are those of The Speculator and if you disagree with them you are wrong. And stupid. Possibly ugly as well.
S1 • THE SILHOUETTE
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2011
The Silhouette
SPORTS
The men’s volleyball squad notches a thrilling five-set win over the Queen’s Gaels in Kingston. Details on S7.
YOUR SOURCE FOR MCMASTER MARAUDERS SCORES, STORIES, UPDATES AND ANALYSIS
THE 47TH VANIER CUP: ONE LAST GAME
S2 • THE SILHOUETTE
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2011
Vanier Cup Preview
Mac gets shot at national title • CONT’D FROM A1 cylinders as they face the powerhouse Laval Rouge et Or in the Vanier Cup. Laval is looking to claim a record seventh national title in 15 seasons as a team. They’ve won every Dunsmore Cup since 2002, have never lost in the championship game, and their model of corporate support – the team has its own board of directors apart from the athletic department and operates on a $2-million budget, nearly four times that of McMaster – is influencing football programs across the country. This year’s edition of the Rouge et Or appears to be no different, cruising to an 8-1 regular season and disposing of Canada West champions Calgary 41-10. Led by a staggering front seven and a powerful running back in Sébastien Lévesque, Laval poses a challenge to McMaster that will require the best the Maroon and Grey have to offer. Their most recent games suggest the Marauders are up to the challenge. Despite trailing early to the Axemen in the Uteck Bowl, the Marauders showed off what they can do on both sides of the ball, scoring 38 unanswered points and holding Acadia to little production on offence. “It’s the same thing we do every week. We play four quarters of football. It doesn’t matter if we go up by 20 in the first quarter or if we go down by 20. We’re going to play four quarters and we’re going to come out with the win,” said linebacker Ryan Chmielewski. While Uteck Bowl MVP Kyle Quinlan usually gets most of his attention for throwing to OUA MVP Mike DiCroce, fourth-year receiver Brad Fochesato – who grew up playing rep football with Quinlan for the Essex Ravens – was the quarterback’s primary deep threat on Nov. 18. After the Marauders tied the game at 14 in the second quarter, Quinlan found Fochesato for a spectacular 75-yard touchdown pass to make it 21-14. The pair would connect for more than 140 yards in the second quarter alone. “That’s what they do. They’re both from Essex, they’ve been playing together a long time. Kyle knows where [Fochesato] is going to be and he gets him the ball,” said Chmielewski. A win on Friday would constitute an achievement never before reached by McMaster’s football program. They’ve never
won the Vanier Cup, having only played for the national title once – 44 years ago, in a 10-9 loss to Alberta. But with a win or a loss, Mac has now elevated its status as one of the premier football teams in all of the CIS. They’ve gone from struggling, to enjoying extended playoff runs, and now find themselves playing for the national championship. With a deep, young roster the Maroon and Grey could be a strong contender to return to the national title game sooner than later. “I think [making the Vanier Cup] is huge. We’ve never won a bowl game. I think it’s big for McMaster, it’s big for the Hamilton community and it’s big for Ontario,” said Chmielewski. HISTORY IN THE VANIER – SORT OF: Mac has one made one national championship game before, but never the Vanier Cup – when they played Alberta for the national title in 1967, it was known as the Canadian College Bowl. The Marauders were so strong that year
because the University offered a one-year Physical Education certificate, which attracted students from across Ontario – especially athletic, football-playing ones – to the school to help work towards teaching careers. The Marauders looked to be in position to win until a last-minute turnover deep in Alberta territory doomed their chances, and the Golden Bears walked away with a 10-9 win.
36-32 victory, advancing to win the Vanier Cup.
TRIPLE CROWN FOR PTASZEK?: McMaster coach Stefan Ptsazek is on the cusp of a rare feat. Having already won the Vanier Cup twice – in 1991 as a player and in 2005 as an offensive coordinator, both times with the Laurier Golden Hawks – he could accomplish the rare feat of having won CIS footBOOKENDS TO TWO SEASONS: Mc- ball’s biggest title as a player, assistant coach Master and Laval have some history against and head coach. each other, including the two teams’ first action of the year – a preseason game on Aug. RINGS OF SUPERSTITION: Laval’s Glen 28 in Quebec City. Constantin hardly has enough fingers for all The Marauders led 10-5 at halftime be- the Vanier Cup rings he’s won as coach of the fore both teams sat their starters for the sec- Rouge et Or. But even though he could wear ond half and the Rouge et Or finished with a a different one each weekday – he’s won 24-10 victory. five as Laval’s bench boss – he chooses not The two teams planned to play a pre- to wear one at all. For Constantin, wearing a season game in 2010 before the suspension championship ring isn’t as good as the drive of Waterloo’s team for the season forced a re- to chase another one. scheduling. “Some of my kids ask me why I don’t The last time the two teams played, out- wear my [championship] rings. I go ‘Guys, side the preeason, was in the 2003 Mitchell the best-looking one is the next one,’” Said Bowl, when Laval escaped Hamilton with a Constantin at Tuesdays press conference.
Kyle Quinlan led the Marauders to a convincing victory in the Uteck bowl, beating Acadia 45-21.
PHOTO C/O JIM NEALE, AUS
THE SILHOUETTE • S3
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2011
Football
Veterans vie for Vanier Cup
PHOTO C/O RICHARD ZAZULAK
Matt Peressini is one of nine Marauder seniors who will suit up in the Maroon and Grey for the last time on Friday. Brandon Meawasige now we have a shot at our first national title “When you’re playing with the best receiver in the province, you’re going to get Assistant Sports Editor in over 40 years.” Ptaszek continued by attributing the Ma- opportunities,” Peressini added. “That was a For nine Marauders, Friday’s Vanier Cup rauders’ playoff results to the play of its vet- factor as well.” After a successful season in every sense game against Laval at Vancouver’s BC Place eran players. will be their last chance to don the Maroon “There were tons of distractions, char- for Peressini and his squad, the receiver will and Grey on the football field. tered flights, hotel food, and national media get to fulfill a childhood dream to cap off Of that group, most will be playing in attention,” the coach commented. “As much 2011. their last game of competitive football, a as the stakes changed and the surroundings “It is an unbelievable feeling. I’ve been culmination of years dedicated to hard work changed, being focused and mature about all here for a long time and the reality is a lot of and commitment to the sport. the hoopla is a result of the leadership and guys were never able to win the big one in their careers for this school,” said Peressini The lucky ones – those with a future on veteran presence in our locker room.” the gridiron – will use this game to showcase Among those nine veteran players is re- of the opportunity presented to him and his their skill sets, discipline and talent that have ceiver Matt Peressini, who led the team in teammates. helped McMaster become one of the most receiving touchdowns, scoring eight of the That opportunity has been on Peressini’s mind for a long time. exciting teams to watch in the entire country Marauders’ 21 in the regular season. this year. “When I came back for my senior year, I “It’s huge. Its what I’ve been dreaming They’ll have a chance to play one more knew I would be able to contribute to the of- about since I was a little kid: wanting to play game for Mac thanks to a Nov. 18 win over fence. I attribute that to my connection with university football and playing the biggest game at this level,” said the veteran receiver. the Acadia Axemen. Kyle (Quinlan),” said Peressini. “I’m really proud of our coaches and The veteran receiver also took time to Surprisingly, most of the seniors do not players,” said coach Stefan Ptaszek. “The give a shout out to OUA Most Valuable Of- dread their last 60 minutes on the football field. Rather they seem to embrace every stakes were higher than they’ve ever been fensive Player Michael Dicroce.
second of preparation both physically and mentally to leave it all between the lines on Nov. 25. Whether it is the end of a five-year career or just the prologue to a new one, the Vanier Cup is a national spectacle the likes of which most football players in this country never have the privilege to experience. Senior linebacker Ryan Chmielewski, the heart and soul of the Marauders’ ferocious defence, seems more than prepared to handle any test thrown his way. “We just have to keep doing what we have been doing in order to have success against Laval,” he said. When asked how McMaster’s seniors are approaching their last game, Chmielewski made sure to emphasize the eagerness of his team to get out onto the playing field and compete for a national championship. “To be honest, we cannot wait to play in this game,” said the veteran linebacker of the looming Vanier Cup match up. The senior’s reaction is slightly surprising, as most would assume that the last game of a playing career would bring with it a touch of the bittersweet. Instead, Peressini and Chmielewski both seem more than happy to face the conclusion of their Marauder careers. Their last game at Ron Joyce has been played, post-game celebrations at the Phoenix will soon be a fond memory, and the CFL may come calling for their services. While time will take them from McMaster, the Marauder veterans insist that their team and the school that it represents will always have a place in their hearts. “I would love to play football after this,” said Chmielewski. “After we win this game, I may look into playing at another level and seeing who’s interested. But for now, I’m focused on this game and bringing the Vanier Cup back to McMaster. It’s where our heart is.” Ptaszek believes that the success of this senior group is the result of an attitude that has veterans asking more of themselves. “The guys are looking at the question, ‘what has the program done for me?’ and responding by asking themselves what they can do for the program,” said Ptaszek. With a win on Friday, this group of players can do for this program what no other group before them has been able to do: bring the Vanier Cup to McMaster.
S4 • THE SILHOUETTE
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2011
A ride of self discovery Former Mac running back bikes for charity and peace of mind
TYLER HAYWARD / SENIOR PHOTO EDITOR
After four years of varsity competition, Jordan Kozina went in search of a new challenge in the form of a cross-country bike ride for MS research. trucks that travel over its two-and-a-half kilometers and cross the river halfway between Montréal and Quebec City. The Laviolette Bridge towers 160 feet above Jordan Kozina found himself partway the St. Lawrence River in Trois Riviéres, prac- across it on his bicycle in the narrow shoulder, tically shaking with the wind as nearly 30,000 just inches away from roaring transport trucks cars pass over it each day. on one side and a waist-high barrier that was It is not meant for bikers or pedestrians, the only thing between him and the St. Lawbut to handle the heavy traffic of cars and rence on the other. Brian Decker Executive Editor
It was much, much more than the former McMaster football running back had bargained for. Cycling across Canada to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis research, Kozina stopped at MS Society offices across the country. He simply wanted to cross the river to get to the office in Trois Riviéres, and having taken the only route on his map to get to the other side, was in a danger he had severely underestimated.
Slowly, step-by-step (pedal-by-pedal wherever possible, which was rare) he made his way across the Bridge, carefully negotiating the powerful gusts of wind and the precious few inches of space between him and the vehicles rumbling along beside him. After what seemed like an eternity, Kozina finally made his way off the bridge. He kneeled to the ground, shook his head in disbelief and let out
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2011 a laugh at what he had done. “I didn’t foresee it happening. I saw that there was a bridge on a map, but I’m not exaggerating – there was no shoulder,” says Kozina. It wasn’t a bridge he wanted to cross. But like the cross-country journey he undertook in the first place, it was a ride – at this point, anyway – he needed to take. Kozina visited 29 MS Offices and raised more than $25,000 for the journey, and donations can continue to be made until the end of December. The major goal of the expedition was to raise money and awareness for MS research. But while the fundraiser put his mammoth task to good use for charity, Kozina embarked on his journey to search for himself in a place and time where many athletes find themselves lost. “My whole athletic life, I’ve lived for playing rugby and football. That was my gig,” says Kozina. “I knew I would need something else when I was done.” After years of committing his time and his body to sports, Kozina, who bookended stints of rugby with the University of Victoria and Team Canada for the Rugby World Cup with four seasons of football for Mac, wasn’t ready to deal with a life not committed to sacrificing everything for a team. It’s a problem eventually and unwillingly dealt with by student athletes of every sport and school. They come to school to receive an education and prepare themselves for the real world, but student athletes often find their time at school to be a chance to live their dream – especially for a star football player. Playing for a team with fans, a full-time coach, worldclass facilities and a committed family of teammates is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. “It’s a big void. When it’s your main focus, it’s hard to let go,” says Kozina. Candidly, Kozina says that while he’s happy he earned his history degree and enriched himself as a university student, his time on campus was an athletic endeavour first and foremost. “Coming out of high school, I didn’t know what I wanted to do, I just knew I wanted to keep playing sports. I’m really glad that I got an education, but I came here to play sports,” says Kozina, offering an honest assessment more varsity athletes would be sincere to admit. Crossing the Laviolette Bridge was just one of many challenges faced by the Brantford native on his 99-day adventure (including dehydration, adverse weather and a charging pair of 800-pound elk on a lonely road in British Columbia). But with each adverse moment he stared down, Kozina was taking his own steps to exit a world of two-a-day workouts and film room sessions and enter a post-sporting life. “I needed something to help clear my head
THE SILHOUETTE • S5
PHOTO C/O JORDAN KOZINA
Kozina’s journey came to a close at Cape Spear, where he promptly tossed his bike into the ocean and kept only the seat. and deal with it being over.” Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, which was doing was not difficult relative to what Setting off on a trip that totaled more than would have landed him in jail if he tried to other people did. 3,000 km and would raise tens of thousands cycle over it. “I think I learned as much about myself of dollars for a charity just happened to be the So did the arduous trip accomplish its goal and my country and people in three months as task Kozina chose to be the vehicle for clear- for the 25-year old? Only Kozina – who ad- I did in my time at McMaster and the Univering his mind. mits there were times he was tempted to fast sity of Victoria.” Crossing the country on a bike was never track his trip, enrol at Mac and re-join the For now, Kozina is working for a landgoing to be easy. football team with his one remaining year of scaping company in Cambridge and playing “There were a few moments early on when eligibility – knows for sure. the occasional rugby game with his old BrantI was like ‘I don’t know about this,’” Kozina But at the very least, he says that he’s ford Harlequins club team. Another fundraisremembers thinking to himself just 10 days learned a lot about himself and that life’s chal- ing trip for the MS Society or another charity into the trip. lenges are best embraced with patience and may be in the offing in the near future. But he completed every single kilometer perspective. “I learned a lot about fundraising and of the journey to overcome the challenge he “One of the things I came to realize is that working with a non-profit organization,” he had presented himself. challenge is relative and difficulty is relative. says. Even when his chain broke in central The things I thought were difficult before I left But for now, he’s content to set out on life Newfoundland and the only way to fix it was are like water under the bridge,” says Kozina. after athletics. to hitchhike eastward to St. John’s and have it “There were points on the ride where I was When Kozina arrived at Cape Spear, the repaired, Kozina hitched back to the original down on myself and questioning the whole most easterly point in North America and the point where he had stopped to resume the jour- thing. last stop on his journey, he threw his bike – all ney. “But then I thought: a guy in a wheelchair but the seat – off the cliffs and into the ocean. The only time he skipped any stretch [Rick Hansen] did this. A guy with one good The trip was over, and its purpose, fundwas the Confederation Bridge between New leg [Terry Fox] was doing this. Even what I raising, personal and otherwise, was served.
S6 • THE SILHOUETTE
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2011
Women’s Basketball
Women’s Volleyball
Sudbury provides road block
Break comes at right time for Mac
TYLER HAYWARD / SENIOR PHOTO EDITOR
Isabel Ormond and the Marauders enjoyed mixed results over the weekend. Ben Orr Voyageurs in Sudbury the following day. Silhouette Staff The Marauders started strong in Toronto, outscoring the Lions 12-7 in the first quarter The Marauders’ young season has been in- and controlling the court behind the strong consistent to say the least. play of sophomore guard Katie Knight. Still, after splitting another weekend’s York proved resilient however, clawing games, the McMaster women’s basketball back to tie the game at 26 heading into halfteam sits at 2-2, good for a tie for fifth place time on the back of Hayley Flinn, who led in the OUA West division. The Maroon and the Lions with a game-high 14 points. Grey pounced on the York Lions on Nov. McMaster was not to be denied in the 18 before tripping up against the Laurentian second half, though, slashing their way to
24 points in the third quarter alone. Knight would lead the Marauders by totaling 14 points, and veteran Taylor Chariot continued her impressive campaign by adding 10 points and eight rebounds. The Marauders would cruise to a dominating 66-51 win. The victory saw the team briefly rise above .500 for the first time this season, but the jubilation would be short lived, as disappointment would meet them in Sudbury. The Maroon and Grey appeared to have cement in their sneakers during the opening quarter against the previously 0-3 Voyageurs, falling behind 17-6. The veteran Chariot took matters into her own hands in the second quarter, leading her squad back. The Marauders would take a 26-25 lead into halftime after a spirited fight-back. Unfortunately for the Maroon and Grey, their momentum would be short-lived, as the visitors came out flat from the locker room once again. Laurentian would outscore the Marauders 19-10 in the third quarter and would not look back. After a strong defensive effort in the last period, the Voyageurs would claim their first win of the season at their visitors’ expense. Chariot led McMaster with a game-high 15 points. Alyska Lukan would add nine points and six rebounds as well, but it would not be enough in the face of their opponents’ balanced attack. Three Voyageurs would reach double digits in scoring en route to the upset. Looking to move up the OUA West ranks, the Marauder women will travel to Kingston this coming weekend to play the Queen’s Gaels and RMC Paladins on Nov. 25 and 26 respectively. Elsewhere in OUA action, Carleton completed a stunning comeback in the final ten seconds to beat the Western Mustangs 72-71. The nationally ranked Windsor Lancers fell in Ottawa to the upstart Gee-gees and the Brock Badgers continued to roll, winning their weekends games by a combined score of 70 points. Four OUA teams are currently ranked in the CIS Top Ten, as Windsor and Carleton are ranked third and fourth, respectively. Regina and UBC continue to lead the standings. Alberta, Saskatchewan, Cape Breton, Brock, Acadia and Toronto round out the top ten.
Fraser Caldwell Sports Editor
The final point on Nov. 19 brought with it another sobering result for the Marauders. Unceremoniously swept aside by the Queen’s Gaels, the McMaster squad was consigned to its third consecutive loss. For a program that has become accustomed to success, the Maroon and Grey have struggled to cope with a season that has seen them sink to mediocrity in the provincial standings. While the Saturday loss at Queen’s was the more emphatic, the Marauders will rue the result of the previous night far more. McMaster pushed the RMC Paladins to five sets on Nov. 18 before succumbing to defeat in the deciding frame. The Marauders’ veteran setter Amanda Weldon acknowledges that the Friday night match was one that her squad sorely wanted to win but believes that the result is part of the learning curve for her young teammates. “It was definitely a missed opportunity,” Weldon said of the five-set loss. “But I think that we’re such a young team that we’re still learning how to fight from the beginning. “Sometimes we’ll let a team get ahead and then fight all the way back. Other times it doesn’t work out as well.” Gaining experience is a continual process for the Marauders and one that has resulted in the squad’s fair share of growing pains thus far. Weldon knows however that such struggles are necessary for a team dealing with significant turnover in personnel. “It’s true that we miss the experience of past years,” said the setter of her team’s current predicament. “We lost four fifth-years and now we have none. It’s not to say that the rookies aren’t great players, because they are. “But playing on the university circuit is a whole new level for these girls. So we need to gain that experience.” With the adjournment of their conference schedule for the Christmas break, the Marauders will have a relaxed environment in which to gain that experience as they travel to Florida for an exhibition event.
THE SILHOUETTE • S7
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2011
Men’s Volleyball
Marauders show spirit in thriller Fraser Caldwell Sports Editor
It was a nippy night in Kingston, but Dan Groenveld mounted the steps of the charter bus without footwear. He was sporting more icepacks than items of clothing, but the young hitter seemed as if he couldn’t possibly care less. Close behind, Dave Preston was singing, with a look of calm content spread over his features. All was right in the world of the Maroon and Grey. That’s because the Marauders had clinched the most dramatic of wins only minutes earlier, sealing an improbable comeback victory over the course of five sets against the Queen’s Gaels. The Nov. 19 result brought with it two necessary points for a team looking to stay among the contenders in the OUA, and dealt a further blow to a Queen’s outfit that finds itself reeling at the midpoint of the season. More importantly however, the emotional victory demonstrated a maturity and spirit on the part of the Marauders that will stand the squad in good stead for the future. After losing the first two sets of the contest and enduring the jeers of the Kingston crowd, the Maroon and Grey mounted a stirring fight-back to clinch the next three frames and with them, the match. One of the most instrumental contributors in the completion of McMaster’s thrilling five-set triumph, rookie middle hitter Alex Elliot explained the daunting nature of his first road game against the Marauders’ perennial nemesis. “I personally felt a lot of nerves going into the game because it was the first really big road match that we’ve played,” said Elliot. “Queen’s and Western are the two rivals, the two powerhouses. Going into that match and having so many of their fans there too, it was pretty nerve-racking, but once the game starts you settle in, and it became a fun atmosphere to play in.” Beginning the match in top-gear, McMaster was quickly pegged back by a resilient Queen’s defence, led by libero-turnedhitter Alex Oneid. Elliot outlined the frustration that comes with the inability to end points against a stingy opponent. “They started playing some great defence,” said the middle of his most recent opponents. “They were digging out balls
JEFF TAM / SILHOUETTE STAFF
Alex Elliot (17) played a crucial role in the fifth set of Mac’s Nov. 19 win. all over the place. It was really frustrating because they were being so scrappy. They would get down and put the ball over, and we would hammer it back down only to see it come back again. “They were making some great plays.” The hosts’ outstanding level of play brought two set victories with it, and had the Marauders facing the unenviable task of mounting a comeback in the hostile climes of the ARC. Despite their predicament, Elliot indicates that his squad did not lack for confidence as they faced the looming humiliation of a sweep. “Guys were down a little bit,” conceded the first-year middle. “But mostly we knew that we just had to find our game. We knew that we came out strong and we knew that we could play with them. We were just waiting for something to spark us.
“Slowly we started to pick it up in the third.” Even as their game climbed however, the Marauders were very nearly derailed in their comeback attempt, facing hefty deficits in the closing stages of both the third and fourth sets. Elliot believes that his team’s improbable momentum swing to seal the fourth frame did permanent damage to the Gaels’ mentality. “The comeback in the fourth was unbelievable,” the rookie middle exclaimed. “To climb back from 23-19 down is pretty much unheard of in men’s volleyball. “I think they lost all of their momentum. We could see it on the video that their guys were starting to go at each other and getting angry at what they were doing. By coming back in the fourth I think we put them off
their game, and it entirely threw them off in the fifth.” It was during that deciding set that Elliot made his greatest impact on the match, providing the signature moment in a statement match. With the Marauders leading 9-6, the Gaels looked to their star middle Michael Amoroso to turn the tide. The man known as ‘Amo’ to the competitors of the OUA had been enjoying a dominating day on court, but Elliot would put a violent end to Amoroso’s confident swagger on Nov. 19. Queen’s attempted a fake to the outside before setting Amoroso in the middle, but Elliot remained unconvinced and emphatically blocked the Gaels’ star. It was an emotional point, and one that the Marauder believes did wonders for his own mentality. “It really boosted my confidence there,” Elliot said of his pivotal block. “Because I had blocked Joren (Zeeman) heading into the timeout and when we huddled up we all thought that they were going to set Amo on the next point. “So when I managed to go one-on-one, jump with him, and get the block, it was amazing.” For the Marauders as a team, the fightback in Kingston stands as a visceral reminder of the spirit needed to propel them past the best teams in the conference. Elliot knows full well that the Nov. 19 result was a landmark occasion for his squad. “I thought it was a really big moment for the team and I think that [coach] Dave (Preston) thought it was really big too,” said the rookie middle of the victory. “Just to show that we had that fight in us. To show that no matter what the score is, we’re going to battle it out until the last point, until the ref says that we can’t play anymore. “That’s the mentality that we took into those winning sets. We had no way of knowing that we would win. But we just wanted to play and win one point at a time, and that’s how we built the comeback.” Elliot and his teammates will attempt to translate that lesson into further success as they look forward to their final match before the Christmas break. The Marauders welcome the Toronto Varsity Blues to the Burridge Gym on Nov. 26 before the conference season adjourns for the holidays. Game time for the Saturday night contest is 7 p.m.
S8 • THE SILHOUETTE
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2011
Men’s Basketball
Mac looks good against East Brandon Meawasige Assistant Sports Editor
Scheduling is an ally of the Marauders at the moment, and they are intent on making the most of it while it lasts. After losing their season opener to the OUA East kingpin Carleton Ravens, the Marauders have won three games in a row, beating Ottawa, York and Laurentian in the process. The favorable result is perhaps indicative of the OUA regular season schedule, which splits play into two sections for the Marauders, who are in the OUA’s West Division. In the first part of the season the Marauders and other teams in the West play exclusively against teams from the OUA East, while the second part of the season has the Marauders facing exclusively teams from the West. Last year, the trend created by this crossover saw teams from the West largely dominate their Eastern counterparts, with the exception of the aforementioned Ravens, who rule the OUA with an iron fist as national champions. Success in the first part of the schedule is imperative for the Marauders, who lost six games during West play last season. According to Marauder coach Amos Connolly, a good start against Eastern opponents could be decisive later in the year. “Anything you can do successfully right now just gives you a head start,” said Connolly. “I think given the records that you’re seeing right now it’s pretty clear that our conference is giving the other conference some trouble. “That was the case last year as well. If you come out of this section with a leg up on some teams, obviously that is going to give you some breathing room.” So far, the Marauders seem to be enjoying some success, but Connolly fears that his young team may become overly confident. “As a team in our situation we can only try and get better every single day and continue to challenge ourselves,” said the Marauder bench boss. “My concern is that the players feel we are good enough that it gives us license to take our foot off of the gas pedal a little bit.”
Raso dropped a team-high 24 points and added eight rebounds and four assists in the process. Speaking about his veteran guard, Connolly was complimentary of a player who he believes has been his squad’s most consistent performer. “He has been our best player day-in and day-out, in both practices and games,” said the coach of Raso. “He is just very rock solid, and he put up some pretty crazy numbers against York. He just gets it.” Raso’s co-captain, forward Cam Michaud, made a strong contribution as the Marauders downed the Laurentian Voyageurs by nearly 30 points in their 99-70 win in Sudbury. In that Nov. 19 contest, Michaud scored 28 points, and shot 11 of 17 from the floor en route to the win. In addition to the veterans’ contributions, Connolly notes the strong play from the rookies on the team, in particular noting the part played by prized recruit Nathan McCarthy at the forward position. “He has played well for us when we have asked him to contribute from a variety of different roles,” said Connolly of the rookie. “We’ve really mixed it up on him and he has responded very well.” At 6’8”, McCarthy showed why he is so highly touted with a double-double performance in his team’s win against York on Nov. 18. In just 21 minutes of playing time, McCarthy scored 12 points and grabbed 11 boards. It would appear as if the Marauders have found a player that can be built around in the post. McCarthy, paired with rookie guard Adam Presutti, presents a very solid outlook for the near future of this program. With both players contributing as they have been in their rookie seasons, Connolly has lots to work with as he lays out the foundation for success not just in this season, but also in the next few as well. Rookie Nathan McCarthy made an impact, scoring 12 points against York. Next up on the 2011 East schedule for In other words, for this young Marauder ing is: ‘let’s keep going and not settle or be- the Marauders is a trip to Kingston, Ont., team to continue to improve and win basket- lieve that we can remain complacent and be where they will take on RMC and Queen’s ball games they will need to remain focused. successful.’ And that’s on the leaders in the over the weekend. Veteran leadership will also play a key role locker room.” Last season Mac beat RMC by a score of in the team’s improvement and the mainte- Among those leaders is co-captain Vic- 101-39. That leaves the true test to Queen’s, nance of this early season success, especial- tor Raso, who enjoyed a dominating perfor- who the Marauders narrowly beat by a score ly in the attitude department. mance in the Marauders’ 84-70 victory over of 69-67 in their last meeting. That game “What I believe they should be think- the York Lions on Nov. 18. In that game, will tip off on Nov. 24 at 8 p.m. JEFF TAM / SILHOUETTE STAFF
THE SILHOUETTE • C1
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2011
INSIDEOUT
production office extension: 27117 insideout@thesil.ca
Beat the headache blues Trade in the pills for natural remedies, your body will thank you for it Amanda Teseo Silhouette Staff
As students, we rely on the proper functioning of our brain. Whether it’s while taking a test, completing an assignment, or dealing with a tyrant boss, a healthy mind is our greatest weapon to combat daily demands. If you are plagued by headaches, however, they can act as a significant impairment while battling through student life. Your ultimate shield against this everpopular condition is knowledge and preparation. According to the American College of Emergency Physicians, most headaches are stress-induced and not serious. However, if a headache results in significant pain and lasts for more than three days, it may be a warning sign for more serious disorders and thus, medical attention should be sought immediately. There are two broad categories of headaches: primary and secondary headaches. Primary headaches are most typical and include tension and migraine headaches. The U.S. National Medical Library defines a tension headache as pain or discomfort in the head or neck that is often associated with muscle tightness. The pain experienced is classified as dull and pressure-like with no throbbing. A migraine, on the other hand, is defined as a more intense throbbing, pounding pain that is usually one-sided and concentrated toward the front of the head. Migraines are associated with nausea and heightened sensitivity to light and noise. Secondary headaches are those that occur due to an underlying structural problem in the head or neck. This type of headache is a lot more serious than a primary headache and could be caused by a tumor, bleeding in the brain, or other related disorders. As a disclaimer, the remedies mentioned in this article cannot be applied to secondary headaches. Stress is usually the source of
a tension headache or migraine. We, as students, are extremely susceptible to such stress-induced migraines. Oh the horror of preparing for an exam to only have a headache arise as you are waiting in line to enter the examination room. We should always be prepared with coping mechanisms to escape its clutches. Why not pop a Tylenol when you feel a headache coming and get on with your day? The answer to this question is simple: the body becomes reliant on Tylenol. Remember that Tylenol and Advil are drugs and thus, can be addictive. Popping a pill when the going gets tough results in temporary relief, yet chronic dependence, not to mention the kidney and liver damage that can result from over consumption of Tylenol or Advil. Instead, the American Headache Society proposes “relaxation training for headaches.” When you feel a headache coming on, the first thing you should do is try to relax and take steps to reduce the amount of stress you are experiencing. You can immediately reduce the intensity of your headache by completing a “relaxation routine.” This involves taking a few deep breaths, filling and emptying your lungs and abdomen with air, then tensing up
all your facial and neck muscles and slowly relaxing them. Do this multiple times until pain reduces. These simple steps help increase oxygen circulation and relieve muscle tension. There are a multitude of other remedies used to clear up headaches. Check out some of the following relief methods below: Use a thick band: Tie a thick band around your head (just above your eyebrows) when you feel a headache coming on. It takes about 10-20 minutes to kick in, but it works. Use a Hair Dryer: “Blowing warm air on your ears is a great way to reduce the pain of a headache,” says Jessica MacDermid, third year Cognitive Science of Language and Communication Studies. “Place the hair dryer about 30 cm in front of your ear for 10 minute intervals until the pain fades.” Vitamin Action: Try adding LTheanine to your diet by drinking green tea or buying L-Theanine supplements.
RICARDO PADILLA / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
This awesome supplement reduces stress and increases awareness without any side effects. Butterbur is an herb that is famous in Europe for its effectiveness in reducing the severity and frequency of headaches, particularly migraines. As for simple things you can do at home to chase your headache away, one of my favourite home remedies includes Apple Cider Vinegar. Simply add two tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar to 8 oz of water, add honey to taste, stir and drink slowly. Other simple remedies include applying pressure where the bones of your thumb and index finger connect, placing peppermint oil on a Q-tip and rubbing it over painful areas, pressing down on your upper nose, napping and placing a cold damp rag on your forehead. Lifestyle changes: If you suffer from chronic headaches, try
Superstitions
Fight the fiery envy
Are you truly superstitious or do you simply follow traditions?
Don’t let jealousy rear its ugly head.
Pg. C3
Pg. C5
changing aspects of your diet and lifestyle to reduce headache onset. For example, you can try reducing your exposure to strong scents (i.e. perfume, paints and chemicals), avoiding tight and constricting hair accessories (i.e. tight-fitting hats, hair bands, and tight ponytails), improving posture, decreasing cheese intake, drinking less red wine and reducing cold-cut consumption, as well as increasing sleep time, cutting down on smoking and alleviating as much caffeine as you can. Keeping these tips in mind will help you steer clear of headaches and pin point what may have caused one. Ultimately, headaches should not have the power to control your life. When a headache hits you at the worst possible time, you can be prepared with a coping mechanism. Experiment with various treatments, supplements and herbs and find ones that work for you.
C2 • THE SILHOUETTE
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2011
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THE SILHOUETTE • C3
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2011
Word of the week
The meaning of superstitions
Naff Definition: an English slang word to describe something that is lame, stupid, or boring. Used in a sentence: “That party last night was incredibly naff.” ERIC COOMES / THE SILHOUETTE
What’s the meaning behind the umbrella superstition? Cassandra Jeffery
Assistant InsideOut Editor
The beliefs of today’s society are primarily science-based. The Middle-Ages belief that ghouls and demons walk among the living has long since been forgotten. But despite our pessimistic tendencies to deny the abnormal, our desire to succumb to silly superstitions still prevails. We may say we don’t believe in bad luck, but we still knock on wood. Superstitions are common now in the 21st century, though most individuals do not understand the origins behind such acts as “knocking on wood.” Perhaps if the meanings behind ancient superstitions were revealed, fewer people would partake in them. Who says it’s bad to walk under a ladder? The early Christians saw a leaning ladder as a formation of a triangle with the wall and ground. Walking through a triangleshaped area violated the Holy Trinity, and unless you were in cahoots with the devil, you didn’t violate the Holy Trinity. In the Middle Ages, walking underneath a ladder was considered grounds for suspected witch craft – talk about bad spell! “God bless you.” During the sixth century, it was believed that individuals who sneezed were expelling evil entities from their bodies, which is why it became customary for people to congratulate one another when sneezing. During the great plague that swept throughout Europe, people began sneezing violently and thus the Pope passed a law requiring people to bless sneezers, who were most likely on the verge of death. Heavens, the salt has been split! Centuries ago, if salt was spilt it was customary to immediately throw some over your shoulder in order to strike the nasty spirits in the eye, preventing sickness. Black cats are evil. A primary goddess in ancient Egypt often took the formation of a black cat. During
the Christian invasion, priests wiped out all traces of other religions, and in accordance, saw black cats as evil. It’s more than just good manners to cover your mouth when yawning. In the Middle Ages, it was believed that evil spirits could enter your body through the mouth, thus it was customary to cover your mouth while yawning. Today, we knock on wood for good luck. We tap the oak table to prevent some annoyance that, until that point, has been avoided. However, ancient superstitions suggest that evil spirits had the ability to live in wood. Knocking on wood was supposed to prevent evil spirits from escaping into the atmosphere. Umbrellas are never to be opened inside. Ancient pagan societies worshipped the sun god. Since the umbrella was used to provide shade from the sun, the umbrellas themselves were given magical powers. Consequently, opening an umbrella inside was considered offensive to the sun god and as a result bad luck was brought upon the home. Peter Cottontail’s foot a lucky item? It is widely believed that a rabbit’s foot possesses an abundance of luck for the beholder. Stemming from ancient Celtic tradition, obtaining a rabbit foot was seen as a rite of passage for young boys, bringing prosperity and luck to their families. Poor Mr. Cottontail. However much scientific knowledge we acquire, we still blindly follow ancient beliefs. Although we may not believe in the original meanings behind superstitions, such traditions have become custom in our culture. Superstitions, although silly and far-fetched, can be a fun way to uphold tradition. Our children may never believe that black cats are the embodiment of an Egyptian goddess, but around Halloween, the black cat will carry on as the spooky, misunderstood villain.
C4 • THE SILHOUETTE
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2011
FashionWatch
Winter wear ethics
Eye Oh Tidbits Taboo T.V.
The first couple to ever be shown in bed together on prime time T.V. was Fred and Wilma Flintstone. Talk about risky business.
Battle of the sexes
Men can read smaller print, but women can hear better
Colonization at its finest
28 per cent of Africa is defined as wilderness, compared to the 38 percent of North America.
The root problem
Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.
Literature from the past
The first novel ever written on the typewriter was Tom Sawyer.
TYLER HAYWARD / SENIOR PHOTO EDITOR
This winter season it’s important to stay warm while being a conscious shopper. Chris Erl
The Silhouette
They are everywhere. Flocks of them, shuffling along snow-laden sidewalks, seemingly impervious to the trials of winter. They are Canada Goose jackets, proud owners buried somewhere underneath layers of protection. Bulky yet functional, these jackets are both an assault on style and a comfortable addition to the winter wardrobe of Canadians. But what’s really behind that puffy outer shell? Canada Goose jackets are lined with real down. This soft, fluffy material comes from either geese or ducks, and the company assures consumers that it is all ethically harvested. Simultaneously, it notes how the down that lines its jackets is never procured through ‘live-plucking’. That soft fur that lines their hoods? It’s coyote fur. Real coyote fur. Canada Goose – the company that makes them, not a group of real Canadian Geese – defends their decision to use real fur as environmentally sound, and even takes a swipe at animal rights activists who would rather a synthetic fur be used for not realizing the ecological benefits of the real thing. What goes into these jackets is a source of constant controversy. Even Justin Trudeau, son of the former Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau and current Liberal MP for Papineau, faced serious criticism in 2010 when his annual Christmas card featured a photo of his family, bundled up in Canada Goose parkas. If even MPs aren’t spared critique over their donning of such controversial garb, how do students feel about these jackets? Ryan Sparrow, a second-year Labour Studies major, owns just such a parka. When asked to discuss his coat, he commented on how his particular jacket, a typical black variation of the company’s signature line, fit his wardrobe. “It’s stylish, warm and functional,” he said. There exist some aesthetic benefits to the jacket as well, including numerous pockets. “It’s got a pocket on the inside, and areas just to keep your hands warm,” Sparrow noted, demonstrating the purely utilitarian aspects
of the coat. To the average owner of a Canada Goose jacket, functionality trumps all. Who could blame them, really? These pieces have such patriotic names as the “Banff Parka” and the “Calgary Jacket,” and are spotted on every major celebrity when they venture north of the 49th Parallel. The product tries very hard to capture the very essence of what it means to bundle-up in the depths of a Canadian winter. One might even be surprised to find out where they are made. Big-ticket goods like Canada Goose jackets are normally made overseas and shipped to North American markets. When asked where he thought his coat was made, Sparrow provided an understandable response. “They’re probably produced in an export processing zone,” he mentioned, making reference to special areas in the global south where companies can produce goods without dealing with customs regulations. Interestingly, Canada Goose jackets are made in Canada by unionized workers with the Workers United Union, Local 437. In fact, the union and company have currently begun negotiations for a new contract for workers at the company’s Toronto plant. So what about those jackets that say “Made in China” on their label? Chances are, they are one of the hundreds of knockoff Canada Goose jackets floating around the internet and markets around the world. Canada Goose even has a section of its website dedicated to ‘counterfeiting’ of their product. The site is hardly modest and calls on diligent consumers to watch out for products made illegally in Asia, with instructions for upright citizens on how to contact the RCMP if they suspect a site or store is dealing in faux-Canada Goose material. There is even a portion of the site dedicated to naming and shaming sites that have been caught with knock-offs of the real thing. At the end of the day, they are ugly but functional, made with real animal products but produced by unionized workers and are the source of constant critique and debate. All this nonsense about coats almost makes flying south for the winter seem like the only rational option.
Kings of the round table
Each king in a deck of playing cards represents infamous leaders from the past. Spades: King David. Hearts: Charlemagne. Clubs: Alexander the Great. Diamonds: Julius Caesar.
THE SILHOUETTE • C5
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2011
SEXandthe STEELCITY
Don’t let jealousy get the best of you Natalie Timperio
Senior InsideOut Editor
As a child, you may have secretly feared the monster bunking beneath your bed. You now know that it was merely a figment of your imagination. Luckily, this fear died with age, and, with your ability to rationalize fully matured, it’s a laughable situation. Yet, perhaps a new monster has made its way into your life, and unfortunately it’s not an under-the-bed-roomie. Instead, this monster resides within you, or perhaps resides within someone you know. It’s jealousy, and it can easily consume your life, whether you are a jealous person yourself or find yourself in a relationship with a jealous person. Jealousy often spurs resentment, which can quickly turn into rage if it’s not properly dealt with at the time. Many things can cause a person to feel jealous, so understanding what these reasons are is the first step in getting a hold on jealousy before it gets a hold on you. In relationships, jealousy is usually about insecurity. A person who easily feels jealousy in a relationship may feel insecure with their partner – perhaps their partner has lied, or even cheated, and so has caused the other partner to feel insecure about the relationship. When trust has been broken, feeling jealous is quite normal. Your partner has betrayed you and consequently you cannot trust them in the same way as you once did. Yet feeling jealous may not stem from an isolated situation. In fact, people who by nature are more controlling or have low selfesteem can be predisposed to jealousy. In this way, jealousy comes from within and will have little to do with your partner. Think of it this way: your partner could be any other guy or girl and you would still feel jealous. If you’re predisposed to jealousy, thinking back to past experiences can sometimes be helpful. For example, say you were once in a bad relationship where your partner mistreated you – maybe he or she neglected or lied to you. If the issue was never fully solved at the time, a wound can still exist and you can carry these hurts with you into future relationships.
RYAN JANSSEN / SILHOUETTE STAFF
Jealousy causes feelings of anxiety and paranoia, but getting a hold on it before its get a hold on you is the first step. Or perhaps you had some similar experience growing up. Maybe a sibling was given more than you, or was treated better. This can cause you to feel insecure, yet at the time of being a child you could not fully comprehend the problem and so it carries on with you into adulthood. Once you can understand what truly causes you to feel jealous, getting a grip on jealousy may prove to be easier. Predispositions to jealousy, however, are not to be taken lightly. Jealousy will often leave a person feeling anxious and paranoid. In turn, this can easily amount to rage. A person can become irrational, making poor decisions for themselves, their partner and their life in general. Because of this, jealousy can overtake a person to the point where they no longer even feel like themselves. If you’ve ever witnessed
a partner experiencing this feeling, you may feel very put-off. They end up pushing their partner away. Jealousy ruins relationships. But recovery is not impossible. The first step is coming to terms with reality. When feeling as if jealousy is about to overtake you, you must try to accept your situation for what it is, or it will only badly. The next step is positive thinking. A person who experiences jealousy will often feel inadequate. Thinking about all the positive aspects in your life will help to clear your head. Next, stop comparing yourself to others. Let’s say if your partner is out with his or her friends while you’re at home. You might feel as if you should be out having fun with your friends as well. Stop. What does it matter? You’re at home, might as well try to make the best of it.
Following this, accepting that you are predisposed to jealousy is the final step before eliminating it. This is you. But you cannot allow past grievances to control your present or future any longer. If you are in a relationship with a jealous partner, try to understand where they are coming from. Recognize that it may not be you specifically that is a cause and so try to comfort them in any way possible and appropriate. However, if your partner is at all violent, then get out. If you, as a jealous person, are violent towards your partner, then seek help immediately. Self-help techniques will not always work; in this case it is okay to see someone. Just remember, there is a way to eliminate jealousy, and knowing that you will one day be free from jealousy can be the greatest comfort.
C6 • THE SILHOUETTE
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2011
Models and writers wanted for
Sex and the Steel City email insideout@thesil.ca
THE SILHOUETTE • C7
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2011
Organic foods worth the cost Studies show organics are better for your health and the environment Daniel Lewandowski The Silhouette
We’ve all been to the grocery store and have had dilemmas on what to buy. Some of these concerns have been with brand, some with price, but then there is the battle of whether to purchase organic foods or not. The term ‘organic’ refers to foods that are produced using methods that do not involve the use of synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilizers, do not contain genetically modified organisms, and are not produced using irradiation, industrial solvents, or chemical food additives. We always ask ourselves whether or not to purchase these foods because they are deemed to be healthier, but there is also an increase in price, which usually turns most consumers away. But is organic food really that good for us? Are there more positive implications of buying and
eating organic food today? Prior to chemcial pesticides the majority of food produced was organic. It wasn’t until the 20th century that we saw chemical fertilizers and pesticides being used in the food we eat. Organic food came into play around the time of the late 1940s in response to the industrialization of agriculture known as the “Green Revolution”. This is when the motto of “know your farmer, know your food” came into play. Foods that are said to be organic must be free of artificial food additives, and must be processed with fewer artificial methods, such as food irradiation and genetically modified ingredients. The use of pesticides is still allowed, as long as they are not synthetic. Not only is organic farming better for the soil, but it is also
better for the health of the human population. In a recent study, scientists have found that organic vegetable soups contain almost six times as much salicylic acid than non-organic
It is naturally produced in plants as a defense against stress and disease. Organic soups contained an average of about 117 nanograms per gram of salicylic acid, while non-organic ones displayed levels of about 20 nanograms per gram. The use of pesticides Recent studies in the U.S. have shown that organic foods contain is still allowed, as more nutrients than non-organic long as they are not foods. synthetic. Not only is Scientists investigated into the nutrient levels of organic and reguorganic farming betlar foods, in 41 different compariter for the soil, but it sons. is also better for the The only negative implications of organic food can be seen as availhealth of the human ability and price. population.” Sometimes it may be hard to find different types of organic foods in smaller grocery stores, while soup. normal fruits and vegetables will Salicylic acid is known as the always be present there. main ingredient in aspirin, which The other main concern for helps fight the hardening of arteries most consumers is the price of orand bowel cancer. ganic food. It’s relatively more ex-
pensive for organic products and this is a major reason why consumers are turned away. Why pay $3.99 for a couple stalks of organic broccoli when you can get the regular ones on special for $1.49? It is also less common for organic products to go on sale or special, since they require more time to produce. There have been many reasons why organic foods are better for the environment and for humans alike. From its vast importance in helping out the environment with soil and diversity in wildlife, to containing more nutrients and helping to helping fight cancer in humans, organic foods have had a great impact in the last 60 years. If people are willing to spend that extra bit of cash on food that is healthier and better for them, than it surely will go a long way in allowing them to live happy and longer lives.
Keep your health in check with the proper nutrition Randal DeSouza SHEC Media
It’s that time of the year again when eating right (or sometimes eating at all) takes a backseat to juggling assignments, midterms and the semester odds and ends that pepper your weeks in the countdown to finals. Too often will you be blearyeyed and groggy come morning, happily guzzling a frequent coffee laden with sugar and cream and a cream-cheese bagel, followed by a greasy pizza slice and pop for lunch, with a burger and fries and a “small” brownie for dinner. By this point you’ve convinced yourself that you have no time to put towards the preparation of healthy meals. You often envy those friends of yours who come to study sessions with little packages of fruits, nuts and other healthy snacks, while you grab a chocolate bar from the vending machine. But good nutrition can actually help you ace those tests, reduce stress and keep off the unwanted weight gain that follows these high-stress weeks. Seems like a no-brainer, right? Here are some tips to get you started: Eat smarter Remember to balance your daily vitamin and mineral requirements, as this will make your job much easier. You need iron and Vitamin B to maintain the mental and physical energy required to study, or else you’ll drift off to la-la land or get distracted. Ironcontaining foods include red meat, cereals and spinach; chili is a great idea for vegetarians and meat lovers alike. Instead of ground beef, substitute some spinach along with the kidney beans in a vegetarian chili. Remember to get some Vitamin C, as this will assist with iron absorption. Foods containing B vitamins include whole-grains, wheat germ, eggs and nuts. Soy and fish are other good foods said to enhance mental activity by providing the brain with
much-needed nutrients. Vitamin C chewables are not food While dietary supplements are wonderful additions to a balanced diet, they are not food. Real food is better, so get some Vitamin C from an orange, in addition to fiber, betacarotene and other minerals! Stop being a pill pusher, and pack some healthy items for study sessions, such as apples, bananas, dried fruit and cut vegetables. Eat regularly Stabilizing those energy and nutrient levels comes about through consumption of food at regular intervals. Your wallet will also thank you if you curb the temptation to buy empty-calorie snacks from the vending machine. Big meals come with a price Few, big meals might get you your nutrients, but at the cost of reduced mental and physical activity. Instead, consider about 5-6 well balanced, smaller meals that will spread out the calories, such as toast spread with peanut butter, hummus, tuna, guacamole or even cottage cheese and olives, or just a piece of cheese with fruit ‘Like’ breakfast You’ve often heard that eating breakfast is great, but how to eat a smart breakfast is less understood. A coffee and a bagel won’t provide you with much. Instead, try to get some protein, calcium, fiber and some fruit in there. All of this can be found in a bowl of cereal with milk, a cereal bar, fruit smoothies, oatmeal, grilled cheese and scrambled eggs – endless options! Just don’t forget to add a piece of fruit where you don’t see one listed. Fruit-licious! Fruits occupy a coveted niche mong the best foods you can eat to enhance brain function. Blueberries, goji berries and other frozen berry delights contain tons of those great antioxidants and can be easily made into a healthy smoothie with the addition of some yogurt, or low-
fat ice cream, and fruit juice. The sugar in fruits is also cleaner in the sense that you don’t experience the crash that follows refined sugar consumption. Choose your vegetables wisely Some vegetables are better than others – the darker the color, the higher the nutrient concentration. Spinach is more nutrient-dense than most lettuces, and thus is better for your brain. Pick up other vegetables such as bell peppers, broccoli and sweet potatoes on your trip to the grocery store. If you’re strapped for time, pick a day when you can cook your veggies, so the rest of the week involves Tupperware portions for lunch! Snack smarter, study better You’ll find you retain more if you snack smart while studying. Challenge yourself to get two food groups into your snacks to balance the nutrients, and keep your blood sugar stable. Some examples include a banana with peanut butter, a small baked potato with cottage cheese, a baby spinach and feta salad, or cheese with dried fruit and almonds.The list goes on, and the Internet can help you find some examples that are just right for you. Easy recipes can nourish you faster. It doesn’t take a lot of effort really to nourish yourself. Here are a few ideas: Scrambled eggs with toast, cheese and salsa. Easy chili (see recipes online) with minimal preparation – it simmers while you study! Instant noodles with steamed vegetables and tofu, beans or meat. Get enough water! Avoiding dehydration is important, so remember to choose your beverages wisely. Coffee is a diuretic and will dehydrate you, and must not serve as a substitute for water. Try to drink it in moderation. Alcohol is also a diuretic and a depressant, and should be avoided during crunch time. Better beverage options include water, milk, fruit juice and antioxidant-rich green tea.
It’s your last chance to write for us this term! Finish off the term with a literary bang. email insideout@thesil.ca
C8 • THE SILHOUETTE
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2011
THE SILHOUETTE • C9
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2011
BUSINESS
production office extension: 27117 business@thesil.ca
Nip interview bloopers in the bud Avoid common bloopers by broadening your interview prep
RICARDO PADILLA / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
Your body language provides employers with a vivid glimpse into your personality. Sonya Khanna Business Editor
The thought of conducting a job interview can prompt an anxietyinducing fear, evoking dribbles of sweat down your face. Prepping for an interview may be a thorough procedure for some, involving a series of repetitive tasks depicting a seemingly mechanical process: research the company, conduct a mock interview, dress the part; wash, rinse, repeat. Applicants may exhaust countless resources to effectively primp for the recruiting process without any inkling of the displeasing interviewing faux pas that occur more often than not. Monster.ca recently compiled a list of the most common interviewing peeves provided by experienced interviewers. Here’s a breakdown of all things deemed intolerable in interviews. Tardiness: Picture this familiar scenario: you dress to impress and encompass yourself in an aura of sheer professionalism. In your mind you have mentally checked off every important prep task, the only thing that stands between you and the job of your dreams are your godforsaken pre-interview jitters. But what if you misplaced the directions? This common mistake can have disastrous implica-
tions that are easily avoidable if effective research and preparation are conducted before the interview. “I once interviewed a job candidate who phoned me up ten minutes before the scheduled interview to tell me that they were lost,” says Manulife Financial employee Jennifer Ye. “They ended up going to the wrong building, in the complete opposite direction to where our office is located.” Ensure that you leave enough time to account for traveling issues that may arise and arrive at least ten minutes before your interview. “I understand that extenuating circumstances will arise and we are understanding of that,” says Jennifer Ye. “But candidates should do their research and ask these questions beforehand. You should figure out directions before your interview, not ten minutes before.” With the ease of access to the internet as well as the help of smartphones and GPS, direction blunders are easily preventable; however, if these options are not readily available there are always the tried and true option involving the old school method of using maps. Lack of Eye Contact: Eye contact is an important factor as it validates to the interviewer that you are attentive and interested in the proceedings. If you allow your eyes to
wander it can be very off-putting to the interviewer and send across the notion that you are disinterested. Your eyes are extremely powerful tools, if you are uncomfortable with staring into someone’s eyes, Monster.ca suggests looking at the “third eye” just above and between the person’s two eyes. Communication: Too much or too little, what is the happy medium? Try to stay focused and answer the specified questions. Don’t divert too far from the question at hand and attempt to wrap up answering questions in a concise manner within one to two minutes; lack of focus may result in losing the interviewer. “When I was younger I was very intimidated by the interviewing process and I would clam up and get really flustered when I would be asked any questions,” says McMaster graduate and current employee with Oracle Corporation, Reva Pellerin. “Over time I learned how to make my answers more concise and relevant the question being asked and I improved on how I could relate it back to situations that I have encountered.” Asking the interviewer follow-up questions depicts candidates as confident and also shows that they are adequately absorbing information that is being provided, not merely regurgitating textbook answers that may seem appropriate.
“My advice to people is to ask clarifying questions to reiterate what is being asked,” says Reva. “This will ensure you have a good starting point and from there make sure you effectively relate it back to relevant experiences.” Body Language: Body language in another crucial aspect of the interviewing process that evokes understanding of the personality of the interviewee; it may also delve into the current state of mind of the applicant. Refrain from fidgeting distractingly whilst conducting your interview. Constant movement is a source of distraction that suggests a lack of attention and nervousness. To appear confident and well prepared sit upright with your arms uncrossed as not to appear stand-offish. The list of dos and don’ts is endless, yet necessary. Although hand gestures suggest confidence, overly expressive hand movements may be a source of annoyance for some interviewers. Always vocalize responses to the interviewer rather than simply expressing your emotions by responding through head movements.
or maybe on a daily basis, but proudly showcasing these wonders while conversing with an employer is frowned upon. Brush your pearly whites prior to conducting an interview and soak your mouth in mouthwash. Tone down the unnecessary scents because although you may feel like you smell like a Greek God, I’m sure your interviewer could do without being exposed to your mysterious bodily scent.
Slang: Quite simply put, just don’t use it. Leave the ignorantly, purposefully misspelled youth lingo at home. Prospective employers surely do not have any desire to hear or see how marvellously you can distort the English language. If you use the word “sick” in its alternate slang meaning (example: “it’s so sick that I got this job interview”), you’re probably headed in the wrong direction. When you are conducting an interview you are exposing prospective employers to all aspects of you aside from the factual information plastered on your resume. It is an opportunity for you to highlight features of yourself that you feel will give you leverage in the recruiting process. Odour: Body odour, smelly breath Take care in acknowledgand drenching yourself in cologne ing all realms of interviewing prepare all major interview blunders. ping aside from merely memorizing We have all endured one or all effective responses and you will of these at some point in our lives, shine.
Government of Canada unviels PRPP Proposed plan offers employees an inexpensive form of retirement savings Sonya Khanna Business Editor
The Government of Canada introduced new changes to Canada’s pension landscape on Thursday, Nov. 17 that unveiled the proposed implementation of the Pooled Registered Pension Plan (PRPP) framework. According to Minister of State Finance Ted Menzies, over 60 per cent of Canadians do not have a workplace pension plan. Self-employed individuals and those working in small businesses with less than 100 employees will particularly benefit from the implementation of the federal portion of the Pooled Registered Pension Plan framework as it aims to ease savings for retirement to those companies that quite often lack the resources to administer a private sector plan. “Today marks a major milestone in our efforts to ensure
the ongoing strength of Canada’s retirement income system by providing a pension option for the many workers who currently do not participate in a company pension plan,” said Minister Menzies. “Canadians work hard to realize their retirement dreams, and PRPPs will offer them a new, low-cost and accessible pension option to help meet their goals.” “We are thrilled at the opportunity to provide our staff with an option for retirement savings,” said Thomas Lambert, Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Multicultural Radio. “The PRPP is just the kind of option we’ve been searching for. With the savings on the administrative costs we can incentivize our staff towards better retirement savings.” Extensive research and thorough consultations by Canada’s finance ministers have conjured up the optimal method of ensuring the extensive strength of Canada’s re-
tirement income system. To solidify plans for the framework, provincial enabling legislation must be introduced. The benefits of investing in a PRPP include diminished investment management costs attributed with the broad scale of these funds. “Essentially, you will be buying in bulk. This will leave you with more cash in your pocket when you retire,” said Minister Menzies. “Canadians want their governments to act on their priorities and deliver results on a timely basis, and the PRPP is a prime example of what we can accomplish for Canadians when governments work together,” said Minister of Industry, Christian Paradis. “The Government of Canada is therefore confident that the provincial side of the framework will soon be in place to help Canadians reach their retirement objectives.” Employer-sponsored pension plans have tumbled to 34 per cent in 2007 from 41 per cent of
working Canadians in 1991. Although employee contributions for the PRPP are fully tax deductible, proponents against the plan say employees may find it difficult to liquidate their plans before they retire as money will likely be locked in. President of the Canadian Labour Congress, Ken Georgetti, believes that promoting the Pooled Registered Pension Plan is a disastrous solution to the pensions crisis in Canada. “It’s really nothing more than a piecemeal approach that rewards banks, insurance companies and mutual fund companies instead of offering real retirement security options for everyone,” says Georgetti. “Every credible piece of information that we have seen indicates that PRPPs would be far inferior to an expanded Canada Pension Plan in providing retirement security for Canadians. This is an ideological move that flies in the face of
common sense and good research.” The Canadian Labour Congress criticizes the PRPPs inability to provide a secure, predictable benefit in retirement, until death. In contrast to the Canada Pension Plan, the proposed PRPPs will lack the CPP’s survivor and disability benefits and will inadequately match the universal portability evident in the Canada Pension Plan. “Given the haste with which the government has pursued this experiment, we will be watching to see whether the PRPP legislation provides for controls on the outrageously high management fees charged by banks and mutual fund companies on pension investments,” said Georgetti. The Government plans to apply the proposed Pooled Registered Pension Plan tax rules to both federally and provincially regulated PRPPs.
C10 • THE SILHOUETTE
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2011
Redefining the recruiting process Survey shows Facebook continues to gain ground in the job hunting circus Sonya Khanna Business Editor
With rapid improvements to various forms of social media in recent years, it shouldn’t shock many to learn that with continued growth in the competition for talent, social recruiting tops the list two years running as the most popular area to increase investment. According to a survey by leading recruiting software company Jobvite, 89 per cent of companies in the United States plan to use social networks or social media to support recruitment efforts. The Jobvite social recruiting survey was conducted online between May and June 2011 and includes data from over 800 respondents in the United States. One might presume that the vast popularity of social networking sites such as Linkedin would clobber up a greater share of the recruiting pie. Although there may be a smidgen of truth to this, Facebook has rapidly gained ground in the social networking recruiting frenzy, with 55.3 per cent of recruiters acknowledging the use of the popular site. Skeptics may shun the notion of social networking as a valid form of applicant screening, but with two thirds of companies claiming to have successfully hired applicants via social media, evidence shows otherwise. “Our new national survey shows that socially savvy job seekers have an advantage over their fellow job hunters and it’s paying off,” said Dan Finnigan, Jobvite president and CEO. “While referrals are still the top source of new jobs, online social networks play an increasingly important role in job
hunting today.” Recruiting on social networking sites trumped the popularity of job finding via corporate career sites, campus recruiting and job boards. Gains in social media recruiting were most prevalent in small to medium-sized firms, with 25.3 per cent of firms recruiting predominately in the software, technology and internet sector. The services sector, health care industry as well as the finance, insurance and real estate sector were also a dominant respondent demographic reporting growth in social media recruitment, with the percentage of firms recruiting in each industry amounting to 25.3 per cent, 17.8 per cent and 13.1 per cent, respectively. “Facebook definitely plays a huge role in the recruiting process, and in the years to come I’m sure it will be used even more frequently as a recruiting tool,” said recent McMaster graduate and current Bank of Montreal employee, Deanna Pan. “When employers want to gain more insight into the background history of an applicant social media is an important source to look at; I think it definitely provides more depth into the personality of an applicant. Data suggests research of companies by job seekers through social networking sites, building an extensive network of contacts and obtaining a referral by these means are popular ways in which recruitment through social networking is utilized effectively. “I also feel like it’s a great way for job seekers to network with employers,” says Deanna. “When I was looking for a job after graduation I used different sites online including Facebook; I looked at fan
pages for certain companies to get more information on them and even got the contact information of some recruiters.” “Workers who say they find their job through social networking put the count at more than 22 million, an increase of 7.6 million since its 2010 survey,” Jobvite reports. “If that’s accurate, then 15.8 percent of the 48 million jobs filled in the year ending September 30 would be the result of social networks.” Over the span of a year the number of job seekers who claim to have secured employment through social networking has amounted to an astounding 22 million, up 7.6 million from the 2010 survey. Jobvite posits that according to survey data 15.8 per cent of the 48 million jobs reported to be filled in the previous year would be due to social networking. Job seekers with many contacts generally fare better in the job hunting process than their counterparts with less than 150 connections. Facebook boasts the largest percentage of young and strong earners, affectionately deemed “super social job seekers”. Approximately 62 per cent of the individuals in this category are under 40, with roughly 42 per cent earning over $75,000. According to Jobvite, 28 percent of these “super social” job seekers found a job directly by means of social networking recruiting. With constant technological advancements the popularity and prevalence of social media in the recruitment process is sure to evolve further, pushing the limits of job hunting and reshaping how networking is defined. Facebook is being used for more than just updating your status.
JOY SANTIAGO / MULTIMEDIA EDITOR
Do you want more than a lump of coal for Christmas? If so, make Santa happy and write for the Sil business section. Come out to our weekly meetings every Thursday at 1:30 in MUSC B110 or email us at business@thesil.ca for more information.
C11 • THE SILHOUETTE
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2011
Help fight Poverty and Restore Dignity
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But… I am not alone! SACHA (Sexual Assault Centre, Hamilton& Area) is there with 24-hour confidential support, information or accompaniment @
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C12 • THE SILHOUETTE
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2011
sheepdogs • melancholia j. edgar • skyrim • kid koala
andex
thursday, november 24, 2011
Senior Editor: Jemma Wolfe Entertainment Editor: Myles Herod Music Editor: Josh Parsons
Contributors: Jason Scherer, Cooper Long, Sean Hardy, Paul Fowler, Nolan Matthews, Aaron Joo, Will Ahn, Marco Felice
Cover: Tyler Hayward
coming up
dec.4
The Tea Party Hamilton Place 8:00 p.m.
dec.9
The Sadies The Casbah 8:00 p.m.
dec.9
Emma Lee This Ain’t Hollywood 8:00 p.m. Paul Anka Hamilton Place 8:00 p.m.
Twelve Angry Men Player’s Guild of Hamilton 8:00 p.m. 80 Queen St, South Queen Milli of Galt Theatre Aquarius 8:00 p.m. 190 King William St. Hamilton, ON. (905) 522-7529
film
Hugo The Muppets A Dangerous Method
this week in music history... November 24, 1973: Ringo Starr went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Photograph’. His first of two US chart toppers as a solo artist.
now
dec.2
Chelsea Wolfe The Casbah 8:00 p.m.
nov 25-26
nov.28
Guns N’ Roses Copps Coliseum 8:00 p.m.
theatre
nov 9 - 26
nov.26
The Sheepdogs Copps Coliseum 8:00 p.m.
dec.12
music
andy’s ticks
opening
in the hammer
really rude quotes, endless essays, the unfortunate phase of movember, real stache! fake stache!, golden nye?, boyfriends, nostalgia, on a date with a blue sky, go mac go, chad kroeger no apologies, cambodian hookers, lara croft, emma wolf again, new arrested development, butts, gino’s pizza dysentry...
“
I put my own dick in my mouth. I was 14 and much more flexible at the time. It was soft and required a lot of pulling. I really wanted that case of beer.” • Chad Kroeger
make something of yourself
write for andy meetings are held on tuesdays at 2:30pm in musc b110 e-mail your submissions to andy@thesil.ca
editorial
thursday, november 24, 2011
the silhouette’s art & culture magazine • D3
all the young punks This past week, amid the end-of-term scramble, I found myself distracted from school work, choosing instead to dwell upon the details of an age-old philosophical problem: what is ‘punk’? Punk infatuated me as a kid. In elementary school, I realized I could terrify my teacher by threading safety pins through my t-shirt and swearing. The idea was simple and complete, and I connected with it immediately. I was angry about something and I wanted people to know it. Today, I now realize the term is so much more complex, elusive and powerful than my pre-teen self could have fathomed. For me, punk is no longer a means of expressing my anger but an entire perspective through which anger can be channeled and dealt with creatively. It is important to make a distinction between punk rock, a form or music, and punk, an attitude. The ‘ground zero’ of punk rock is often agreed to be north-eastern American in the mid-’70s. But punk, as an attitude, has existed since the first caveman contested an arrogant chieftain. Punk rock first populated headlines in 1976, after the Sex Pistols’ Johnny Rotten famously said “shit” on live televi-
sion. Rampantly attempting to snuff punk at its source, media outlets sought to expose the emerging punk scene in Britain, forever tying the attitude to the spiky-haired, safety pin fashion. But punk attitude is older that Johnny Rotten or Iggy Pop, and has maneuvered under the guise of many other terms throughout history, including rebel, degenerate, outsider or freak. The fundamental cornerstone of punk is a discontent with authority, accentuated by a desire to change things yourself. Punk found its most forceful manifestation in 20th-century rock music, but there were countless historical predecessors who laid the foundation. Sun Ra, legendary leader of the mystical-Zionist-jazz Arkestra, was a total punk. As was Nietzsche, and the artists who popularized the Dada movement. But it’s necessary not to confuse punk attitude with revolutionary or counter-cultural desires. At the heart of punk is a feverish dedication to a do-it-yourself ethic and the idea of precipitating seperate subculture within the larger sphere of culture. • Josh Parsons JOY SANTIAGO / MULTIMEDIA EDITOR
the big tickle
what comes to mind when you think of “punk”?
compiled by ricardo padilla & josh parsons
“badass, non-mainstream” laura hunt
“black clothes and spiked hair” ian smith
“fun”
“cultural statement” ehima osazuwa
ranjini nair
“lots of earrings” jordan sutherland
the silhouette’s art & culture magazine • D4
film
thursday, november 24, 2011
prozac planet
Melancholia Starring: Kirsten Dunst Directed by: Lars von Trier
HH Behind the seismic mess that is Melancholia, there is an unquestionable talent at work. Danish director Lars von Trier has exhibited the prowess of a full-fledged artist before, and certainly will again. Just consider 1996’s Breaking the Waves as proof. Alas, his work is also one of pedantic blemishes, full of undue emphasis and laborious design. The eccentricities of von Trier – who was infamously ousted from this year’s Cannes festival for comparing himself to Hitler – are as evident as ever. In terms of nihilistic themes and satirical art-house attributes, Melancholia is a worthy successor to the controversial indulgences of 2009’s Antichrist. Both films begin with shamelessly pretentious prologues that drip with slow-motion photography and classical overtures. From there, however, von Trier leads us down a very long and thorny terrace of tedium, one that details a wedding and a funeral – for the entire planet. Presumably filmed in Denmark, and set in a weirdly stateless, featureless location, the film is split into two chapters, each named after a sister from whom the story is told. The first showcases Justine (Kirsten Dunst), a manic depressive, whose wedding has been expensively arranged by her longsuffering sibling, Claire (Charlotte Gainsbourg) and astronomer brother-in-law, John (Kiefer Sutherland). Dunst’s role owns the first half, which plays out against her lavish wedding reception at John and Claire’s opulent estate. However, what should be a regal celebration quickly dissolves into a nightmare for the bride, whose fragile emotions find her disappearing to take a bath and have anonymous sex on a residing golf course.
Nearly an hour and half of this plays directly into von Trier’s surreal mind and jittery camerawork, as he presents us with the definition of family dysfunction. Eventually, as the catastrophe of Justine’s wedding conquers her, aspects of Melancholia become inexplicably nonsensical. For example, consider the scene where Justine’s husband abruptly abandons her and question if it makes sense. Confoundingly, it is one of the film’s many clunky plot cruxes that we are simply forced to accept through its three-hour duration. In the ensuing days afterwards, Part II kicks in, with focus shifting to Claire, whose calm, mothering presence begins to erode under the apocalyptic collision of earth and a planet named Melancholia. Although the awkward arrival of the new, blue world is touched upon in the prologue and first section, it becomes a reality in the film’s second half. The setting remains the same, finding Claire and John living with a nearly catatonic Justine. Oddly enough, as Melancholia’s trajectory threatens mankind, it is Claire and John who become dejected wrecks, finding Justine springing back to consciousness – at one point even lying naked under the foreign blue glow as earth approaches meltdown. While Melancholia might be seen as an antidote to director Terrence Malick’s equally epic The Tree Of Life, in which the director appointed his characters to submit to a celestial order, this film neither reaches Malick’s beauty or mystery. Instead, Melancholia settles as an idiosyncratic misstep at science fiction. If only Lars von Trier took into account that audiences might actually want to enjoy Melancholia, rather than endure it (or sift through it), he might have been onto something great.
• Myles Herod, Entertainment Editor
thursday, november 24, 2011
film
the silhouette’s art & culture magazine • D5
passionate but flawed J. Edgar Directed by: Clint Eastwood Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio
HHH A heavy-set mood will discomfort the viewers of Clint Eastwood’s J. Edgar. Portraying the broken memories of an aged John Edgar Hoover, Dustin Lance Black’s screenplay flows with guilt-ridden narratives. As the plot transitions mercilessly between time frames with little warning, this quality of a senior in regret makes the film a psychological character study of the passed Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Leonardo DiCaprio’s convincing role as Hoover edifies this troubling persona. And, to be honest, relaying the story to you is just as troubling. Yet this is what makes J. Edgar a good movie. By witnessing the major sequences of his life as they spring to his mind, the audience learns about J. Edgar only as he wants you to know him. It begins when Hoover was just a young man and an attempt is made on the life of his boss, Mitchell Palmer. Tom Stern’s beautiful yet daunting cinematography of Washington D.C.’s evening landscape reminds the audience of current global issues as the city burns under multiple terrorist attacks. Indeed, just as this terror is set in the background at the movie’s outset, the image impresses itself in the back of our minds throughout the film’s duration. And no matter how unethical Hoover’s tactics show to be, we can’t help but agree with him. As such, his arguments against his opponents stress one unnerving fact: that war can, at any time, hit home. Many of the memory scenes recount Hoover’s triumphant cases.
There is an ongoing narrative concerning the political kidnapping of a wealthy aviator’s infant son. Hoover is diligent to remind his peers that the federal government must up the ante on its crime fighting strategy. As this particular case pans out tragically, Hoover’s message gloats an unfortunate reality. Toward the conclusion, Eastwood choreographs a beautiful montage sequence of Hoover’s psyche: “when morals decline, and good men do nothing, evil flourishes.” Case after case, Hoover proves to be not only ruthless against crime, but a social visionary. Although he is steadfast against crime, Hoover is no hero. He is impatient, jealous when others are credited and even willing to taint the news. A famous example is the hunt and killing of John Dillinger. Hearing about Melvin Purvis’ success, Hoover is indignant and orders that the honoured agent be terminated from the FBI, so to take the credit himself. In the end, Hoover had taken truth as a commodity to exploit and promoted justice in the FBI synonymously with his own name. DiCaprio transcends drama and moves into the territory of the educational. His depiction is simply convincing as the Director of the FBI. He is handsome, yet awkward. He demands respect, yet is vulnerable to ridicule. His role makes it clear to the audience that talking about Hoover is as problematic as the man himself. Such is the reason that describing the film’s plot is as relevant as analyzing DiCaprio’s performance. Embodying Hoover’s dispersed memories, DiCaprio does history a service by acting against the his egoistic and deluded intent: Hoover was no hero, but a flawed, yet passionate, human being. I judge the film to be the same. • Marco Filice
D6 • the silhouette’s art & culture magazine Skyrim by Bethesda Softworks
HHHHH The holidays are almost here, and with the semester coming to a close, you are going to need something to do over the break. How would you like to try your hand at slaying dragons, learn magic or melee, cross an enchanted open world and obtain incredible loot, including enchanted swords and armor sets? The game is Skyrim, and it’s the fifth installment of the Elder Scrolls saga. Nominated in four different VGA categories, including Spike TV’s highly coveted “Game of the Year” award, Skyrim is a hot contender for 2011’s best game. It’s not surprising considering that the third installment won over 60 awards including a game of the year award. The next installment, Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion earned PC Gamer Magazine’s number one spot on their “Top 100 Best
miscellaneous
Games of All Time.” The game was recently released for XBOX 360, PS3 and PC. Gamers can customize their character’s appearance and skillset, explore an open world with stunning graphics and align themselves with endless factions throughout the rocky, cold terrain of Skyrim. Skyrim merges the player in a realistic fantasy environment and vivid narratives to tell the story of the last Dragonborn: moments before your scheduled execution, a gigantic dragon attacks the settlement and you are one of the few to escape with your life. At this point you will choose to follow an imperial guard or a rebellion leader; this is the first of many decisions you will be confronted with throughout the game. This series is awesome and is a highly recommended gift to put on your wish-list for Santa this year.
• Jason Scherer
Space Cadet by Kid Koala
HHHHH Released as an “original still picture score,” Space Cadet is a graphic novel with soundtrack by Canadian turntablist, Kid Koala. Both are beautifully simple in their own right; the scratchy whiteon-black style of the comic pairs well with the haunting piano score and the swelling string textures. Koala’s scratching can, at times, overtake the subtle orchestral arrangements, but when put into the context of the comic, everything figures well with the setting. The story develops around a young, ambitious astronaut and her guardian robot, the two complementing each other in interestingly opposing ways. The astronaut is absorbed with her studies, in extraterrestrial botany and geology, while the robot is more emotional and ironically more human in that sense, with interests in painting and
self-conscious, ft. kid cadet & rick bones
thursday, november 24, 2011 the more simple aesthetics of life. The comic has an intimate, nostalgic feel, as it opens with the two parting ways, the astronaut leaving for her space-mission, and so the rest of plot is heavy on the theme of memory, distance and homesickness. Each track also lists page numbers, indicating where one is to follow along. Trying to follow closely took me out of the effect of the story too often. I would suggest playing the album (which is only a little over thirty minutes) and really taking your time going through the comic, paying more attention to the fine details, following along to the music by feel. There are strong moments of pathos and delicate climaxes that you would miss otherwise. Overall, the work is something that has to be experienced, story and soundtrack together. The two are woven excellently, in a way that is delightfully surprising.
by will ahn & aaron joo
• Aaron Joo
music
thursday, november 24, 2011
the silhouette’s art & culture magazine • D7
featured throwback review The Wrens The Meadowlands
HHHHH It was a sweltering summer afternoon in 2006 when I first heard the monstrous guitar crunch of The Wrens’ song “Everyone Choose Sides”. At the time, I didn’t even know what indie rock meant. After I listened to The Meadowlands in its entirety, I did. The Meadowlands is one of the crowning jewels of indie rock in the 2000s, its irresistible shine embodying almost everything that makes independent music special. Despite record disputes and money-addicted executives nagging for a more commercial sound, The Wrens were able to stick to their guns and release the record they wanted to. And they did it all while holding monotonous day jobs. Of course, as endearing as the back-story is, it’s the music that makes The Meadowlands such a special album. The Wrens begin the album with a wistful reflection on their misfortunes, but from the moment the building guitars on “Happy” finally explode into a cathartic coda, there’s no looking back. The Meadowlands is a string of shimmering indie-pop anthems juxtaposed with despairing lyrics detailing the depressions of everyday life. It all climaxes on the guitar storm of “Everyone Choose Sides” with the triumphant cry, “I’ve walked away from more than you imagine, and I sleep just fine!” Sure, The Wrens had a chance to make it big, but it feels great to stick to your principles. The Meadowlands is the stuff of indie legend: old, tired, beaten down and near defeated, but not giving up. Incredible. • Paul Fowler
cd reviews
andy’s picks
Los Campesinos! Hello Sadness
Nickelback Here and Now
Drake Take Care
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Hello Sadness is probably the most heavyhearted album ever recorded by a band with an exclamation mark in its name. On their fourth full-length release in as many years, Welsh seven-piece Los Campesinos! calm down their normally hyperkinetic indie rock. Hello Sadness is Los Campesinos! least high-energy record. Unfortunately, it is also their most disappointing. Gareth Campesinos!’ confessional wordplay, a traditional strong point, becomes grating when his ultra-earnestness is matched by similarly gloomy instrumentation. Lyrics like, “In the frost I drew a dick for every girl that wouldn’t fuck me / Woke early the next morning to find the frost had bitten me” are much less amusing without euphoric guitar and glockenspiel behind them. “By Your Hand” and “Songs About Your Girlfriend” have winning keyboard and guitar hooks respectively, but the record’s slower second half blends together. It is unfortunate that Hello Sadness also meant goodbye to the twee exuberance that made Los Campesinos! past output fun, as well as affecting.
In my version of the apocalypse, people will look to the skies and ask, “What hath Nickelback wrought?” No doubt you’ll think I’m being melodramatic, but until you’ve listened to the Albertan group’s creatively named new album Here and Now, you can go to hell. No, scratch that – go to a Nickelback concert. I’m looking to inflict pain here. Yes, Nickelback have trotted out a new LP, and no, I’m not particularly pleased. For starters, some of the songs on the album rank among their worst yet; opening number “This Means War” is about as derivatively chuggarific and unconvincingly macho as one would expect from the group, while the self-explanatory “Bottoms Up” reminds us, once again, that Chad Kroeger enjoys a drink from time to time. We know, Chad. Everyone knows. So, to recap, the bad news is that Here and Now is likely to disappoint. The worse news, however, is that you probably knew that already.
Let’s just all give Drake a chance for a minute here. It’s easy to dismiss him as that sad guy who whines about being famous, and whose music is just catchy pop, but on Take Care there’s a lot more going on. With production from a member of The xx and a collaboration with R&B artist The Weeknd, much of Take Care sounds closer to the moody and boundary-pushing music akin to these artists than anything on the pop charts. For a guy known for his unapologetically open lyrics, Take Care is surprisingly minimal and impeccably tasteful. The strong sense of atmosphere makes it hard not to be pulled into Drake’s world, making for great musical escapism. The problem is the more overblown, typical hip-hop stuff, because it moves away from the late-night, post-nightclub mood that Drake does so well. But it’s all still pretty good, proving that Drake is an artist worth caring about.
• Cooper Long
• Sean Hardy
1. I Don’t Know The Sheepdogs 2. Happy The Wrens 3. Tiny Dancer Elton John 4. Damaged Primal Scream 5. Old John Robertson The Byrds 6. Sister Ray Velvet Underground 7. No Future/No Past Cloud Nothings 8. Lust for Life Iggy Pop 9. All The Young Dudes David Bowie
• Nolan Matthews
D8 • the silhouette’s art & culture magazine
music
thursday, november 24, 2011
learn & burn the sheepdogs adapt impeccably to newfound fame
When you step back at take a gander at the Canadian musical landscape, it’s easy to spot a healthy stream of rootsy rock ‘n’ roll flowing like the St. Lawrence down the banks of time. Our vast, open land has served as the perfect inspiration for many road-worn storytellers with affection for simple, chordy guitar. That being said, Canada’s tradition of straightforward rock ‘n’ roll is still very much alive. Our latest treat to the world is Saskatoon’s Sheepdogs, who, over the past year, have leapt from the cramped backseat of a tiny tour van to the front cover of the most fabled publication in music, Rolling Stone. Recently, ANDY caught up with Ryan Gullen, bass player for the Sheepdogs, to chat about standing at the helm of a rich tradition and the expectations, opportunities and experiences that arise from such attention. “We’re into older music, you
know? The Band, Neil Young and the Guess Who, that’s the stuff that really inspires us. It’s definitely a sort of Canadian tradition,” laughed Gullen. The Sheepdogs are heavily indebted to this lineage, as pointed out by the countless critics who liken the band to the roots of rock ‘n’ roll past. “I don’t necessarily feel a constraint,” he said confidently when asked about the expectations placed on them by the media. “People do make the connection to the classic rock ‘n’ roll bands, but that’s the type of music we like to listen to and, as a result, that’s what comes out.” He continued, “There are lots of bands nowadays that take cues from the ‘80s. They’re considered modern pop music, yet their music is also derivative of another time. We play what we like and hope that other people will like it too.” The skyrocketing popularity of the Sheepdogs owes greatly to their win-
ning of the first ever “Choose Your Own Cover Contest” hosted by Rolling Stone. Unbeknownst to the band, the contest also offered a spot on the popular fashionfocused reality television program Project Runway. “We were told shortly before that if we did in fact win, we’d have to appear on the show,” Gullen admitted. “Of course, none of us had ever watched the show. Initially they wanted us on the runway, and we wanted to play. Eventually, they came back and told us that they’d love to have us be the first band to play on the show. “It was definitely a weird experience,” Gullen laughed. He went on to praise the show for allowing them to bring a sense of humour to it. Gullen proudly revealed the sense of irony they felt when they approached the show with garnered acclaim from one of the most notable rock critics, Chuck Klosterman.
As a result of their newfound superstardom, the Sheepdogs have been forced, on the Canadian leg of the tour, to move gigs into larger venues. “Our [Studio at Hamilton Place] show sold out in the pre-sale, but there were a lot of people in Hamilton and the surrounding area talking to us through social media and telling us that they wanted to come.” The show was subsequently moved to Copps Coliseum. Gullen went on to celebrate the music-mad audiences that our city fosters. “Hamilton has historically been an great place for us to play,” he said. With tickets still on sale, make sure you catch what the buzz is all about. The Sheepdogs perform Saturday, Nov. 26 at Copps Coliseum • Josh Parsons