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S g n i t r o e p S hang c Patrick Deane talks about anti-disruption policy // PAGE 3 Takes spicier than Novemburger’s tastes // PAGE 17 Soccer captain looks back at his career as a Marauder // PAGE 26
The Silhouette Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017
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Volume 88, Issue 14 Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017 McMaster University’s Student Newspaper
EDITORIAL BOARD editor-in-chief | thesil@thesil.ca Shane Madill @shanemadill digital media specialist | dms@msu.mcmaster.ca Aaron de Jesus managing editor | managing@thesil.ca Rachel Katz production editor | production@thesil.ca Catherine Tarasyuk online editor | online@thesil.ca Haley Greene sections
Sasha Dhesi news reporter Cassidy Bereskin news@thesil.ca news editor
Emily O’Rourke
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features@thesil.ca opinion editor
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Justin Parker Jessica Carmichael sports@thesil.ca
sports editor sports reporter
& culture editor Daniel Arauz & culture reporter Razan Samara aandc@thesil.ca
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Madeline Neumann photo reporter Kyle West production coordinator Grant Holt production coordinator Timothy Law production@thesil.ca photo editor
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Mac's Maud plucked by game fans
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Dave Bartnik, a McMaster student patrol at last week's game, described the incident: “Western flag carters poked Maud up against the fence with their flags, two Western student police pulled him up into the bleachers by the hat. “Twenty or more fans swarmed Maud, pushed him onto the floor of the bleachers and began physically tormen tingboth Maud and the costume.” GordStirret and two other McMaster students ran over to help Maud. At this time, the Western student policeand the London police became in volvedand broke up the battle. “The negligence of Western’s stu dent patrol caused the whole incident” said Bartnik. “ Most Western fans weren’t there to watch the game, most of themwere throwing garbage.” Stirret, one of three crusaders who triedtosave Maud, said “when they (the Western cheerleaders) were on our side, we treated them well. Maud was just entertaining the crowd and wasn’t in stigating things.” Virginia Butler, Sports Editor of The Silhouette, was at the game. She was equally agitated by the behaviour of Westernfans. “The student police didn’t do anything. What they did to Maud qualifiesas vandalism,” she stated. Maud wasn’t hurt but the costume wasdamaged. "The eyes were really foggy-I could hardly see, the next thing I knew I was upside down. I was under people, I couldn’t move and had a little trouble breathing,” said Maud. According to Maud, “It was the peo plein the band, the cheerleaders and the securityguards who instigated the whole thing.” Joyce Wignall, co-ordinator for the activities of Maud, also looks after the costume. "We had several hundred dollars of repairs done on Maud before the school year," said Miss Wignall. “We didn’t an ticipate anything like this. Now we’ll havetogo through the year with Maud in astate of disrepair.” Maud’s tail was torn off and some of the feathers are missing from the costume. However, Maud will still ap pearat Homecoming.
Editor-in-Chief (905) 525-9140, ext 22052 Main Office (905) 525-9140, ext 27117 Advertising ccpc@mcmaster.ca 8,000 circulation published by the
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Both Miss W ignall and the anonymous Maud concur that “he” will never again have to play the mascot. Ross Tripp, chairman of Men’s Athletics and one of the football coaches, said he only heard of the poor behaviour of Western students. Tripp said he hopes that this is only an isolated incident and that it will not be repeated. He feels that the behaviour of the McMaster students is an issue of greater regard. His concern was the $2 round-trip to Western, termed Wasted on Wheels. “This is totally unacceptable, and must be put into perspective,” said Tripp. “Going to see a game under those conditions is not in keeping with what we’re trying to do in Athletics.” “Cheering and supporting is en couraged, but physical violence and ver bal obscenities is going too far.
Gang extortion WINDSOR(CUP)—Criminal gangs are using the threat of violence to extort money from foreign students at Ontario universities and colleges, a police in vestigator said here recently. George Crowley of the Metropolitan Toronto police said the criminal gangs, known as “Triads”, and their victims are mainly from Hong Kong. The gangs threaten visa students and often their families in Canada or China with violence if they do not pay “protection” money. Crowley and Yau Pat, another member of the Toronto police, were in Windsor to warn students of the ex istence of the protection rackets. Pat urged foreign students receiving threats from gangs to contact police. Visa students have the same right to police protection as Canadian citizens and landed immigrants, he said. Ken Long, University of Windsor dean of students, said the Triads are “a threat to the university environment.” Fear of extortion could drive a student away from school, Long said. Crowley said courts in Windsor and Toronto are currently hearing cases aris ing from charges of extortion involving visa students and Triads.
Chris Jones/Silhouette
McMaster University President Dr. Alvin Lee and Maud helped kick off this year’s United Way campaign at McMaster last Friday However, official Al Greenleaf, United Way Education Chairman, won’t stop the play until the $95,000 line is reached.
CUEW contract extended By DAN DILKS Silhouette Staff
The Ontario government has once again continued it’s Inflation Restraint Act and left the Canadian Union of Educational Workers (CUEW) with little power to negotiate contract revisions. It is a very difficult task to get the University to make major revisions to a contract which is legally binding until August 1984 explained Mike Coombes, chief negotiator and acting President of local six of the CUEW here at McMaster. Because of the Ontario government’s actions, the contract which would have expired in August 1983, was extended for one year, leaving the union with 5% pay increases, no power to strike and no right to arbitration. Tom Slee, Secretary of local six, ex plained that the union and the university
must both agree to any revisions to the existing contract and that so far the university has acted only on minor pro posals. The McMaster local of the CUEW would like their contract to include Gender Harassment Protection and also a clause to maintain the ratio of teaching assistants to students in order that teaching assistants are neither over worked or underworked and also to maintain the quality of education. The CUEW represents approximate ly 1000 teaching assistants, graduate students, and undergraduate students at McMaster and approximately 6000 workers at six locals nationally. Since 1975 when the union was first established at the University of Toronto
Jelly Jum p finalists drawn yesterday The following 20 people, whose names were drawn yesterday will be taking the plunge this Saturday as they search a pool of jello for the key to a new car: Kathy MacFarlane, Charles Sweeney, M. Smith, Donald McCleod, Karolyn Poland, Walter Schlichthorn, K. Ahmed, Ron Moore, Winchi, Lisa Smith, Lori Neill, Charles Luhtala, John Lake, Shirley Jones, Dallaway Hall, Wendy Reynolds, Brooke Fraser, Susan Best, John Nakamura, Joey Bennett. The tickets were drawn by Mr. Jack Evans, Vice-President Administration and Kim Griffiths, Student Ser i e s Chairperson, under the watchful eye of Terry Fallis, McMaster Students Union (MSU) President Captain toward, MSU Master of Ceremonies for Homecoming weekend, provided the drum roll.
and 1979 when it was established at McMaster, the CUEW’s aim has been to protect its members and to improve their working conditions. The Ontario government has made it much more difficult for the union to acheive its goal because they have been left little bargaining power. With rumours around Queen’s Park that their contract will be extended for another two years, the CUEW will need full support of its membership in order to persuade the universities to make any contract revisions.
In fact this years negotiations will allow the CUEW to observe the univer sities willingness to bargain in a fair and just manner.
Hamilton women march to "take back the night" By MAUREEN BACSU
la in H a r p e r / S ilh o u e t t e
The Silhouette welcomes letters to the editor in person at MUSC B110, or by email at thesil@thesil.ca. Please include name, address and telephone number for verification only. Letters should be 300 words or less. We reserve the right to edit, condense or reject letters and opinion articles. Opinions and editorials expressed in the Silhouette are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editorial board, the publishers, the McMaster Students Union or the University. The Silhouette is an editorially autonomous newspaper published by the McMaster Students Union. The Silhouette Board of Publications acts as an intermediary between the editorial board, the McMaster community and the McMaster Students Union. Grievances regarding the Silhouette may be forwarded in writing to: McMaster Students Union, McMaster University Student Centre, Room 201, L8S 4S4, Attn: The Silhouette Board of Publications. The Board will consider all submissions and make recommendations accordingly.
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While the players were taking a beating on the field, Mascot Maud was tackled in the bleachers, at last Saturday’s football game at Western.
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Silhouette Staff Only 45 women met at City Hall to participate in the annual countrywide event that unites women to “reclaim the night.” The Take Back the Night March was organized by the McMaster Rape Crisis Centre. Mary McKeen, an organizer of the march and director of the centre, said that the march was organized “in reac tion to the physical abuse perpetrated against women.” Carol McSweeney, another organizer and a worker with the centre, called at tention to the need for better lighting and police patrols at McMaster University as well as in Hamilton parking lots and allies. Many McMaster students who were interviewed complained about the poorly lit alcove between University Hall and Gilmore Hall. One concerned student commented, “often I have walked back late at night through that alcove and there is not light on at all. I always feel as if I am taking a chance of being attacked by walking through there.” Ms. McKeen blamed the low turnout on bad weather and insufficient publici
ty. Approximately 120 people turned out last year and an estimated 200 people were expected to attend this year. Ms. McKeen feels that the reason for the low attendance was mainly due to the fact that people have an “it won’t happen to me” attitude. Although Hamilton had an unex pectedly low turnout for the march, Mon treal boasted the largest attendance of
2,000 people. According to Ms. McKeen, the march’s purpose is to make the com munity aware that women live in cons tant fear of physical abuse. “Most women don’t believe they’ll ever become the victims of rape” said Ms. McKeen. The marchers were very en thusiastic and many of them wore sand wich signs to state their cause more clearly-“No means no,” “Women unite against violence,” and “No woman asks for it.” Ms. McKeen expressed her wish that more people be informed of the potential violence that women must face all the time. According to Ms. McKeen, “one woman in four will be sexually assaulted during her lifetime and a rape occurs every 17 minutes in Canada.”
Universities Week If you’re still wondering what the purpose of University is, a whole week of events is planned answering that very question. October second to eighth is National Universities Week, a “celebration to mark the achievements of Canadian Higher Education.” Among the activities planned in and around Hamilton are Homecoming Weekend, a Jelly Jump contest, a Red Cross Blood Donor Clinic, several lec tures by the Health Sciences faculty as well as recitals by the McMaster Sym phony Chamber Players. Take in the activities which are posted around the campus and read The Silhouette for coverage of the events.
Give blood!
Don’t forget the Blood Donor Clinic this Monday, October 3, in the Council Chambers of Gilmour Hall. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. At the last clinic, 225 donors gave 179 pints of blood. The Red Cross is hoping that this clinic will be even more suc cessful. So bring a friend, bring the gang...and give the gift of life.
Inside The Sil
Mac yearbook
Marmor '84 is bigger and better than ever, Karen Cronin talks with editor Dave Moore. Pg- 2
Controversy
Food and nursing directors deny th e p o s s ib ility of food poisoning. Pg- 4
That's entertainment The Violent Femmes are. crude but boy can they play! Pg. 9
Homegrown musical
Rehearsal for Hometown a musical based on Hamilton is still going strong. Pg-12
Sporting life
Mac gets kicked but marches back. Pg. 13
Homecoming weekend
See the schedule for next week's events and activities. Pg. 15
Volunteers feature
There’s more to volunteering than meets the eye. Pg. 17
Sounding off Choose the right speed reading course, James McCluskey’s report helps. Pg. 19
“While the players were taking a beating on the field, Mascot Maud was tackled in the bleachers, at last Saturday’s football game at Western.”
WE WANT YOU TO CONTRIBUTE Next week will be the last opportunity of the term. As always, we will continue to accept volunteer submissions, feedback and inquiries. Feel free to send an email to the section you would like to contribute to.
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017
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News Mac’s new “anti-disruption” guidelines The new precautionary guidelines being developed have campus activists concerned over the exact nature of the policy Cassidy Bereskin News Reporter
On Nov. 13, an article published in the Hamilton Spectator highlighted McMaster’s development of an anti-disruption policy aimed at barring students from disrupting future speakers on campus. In his article for the Spectator, Andrew Dreschel praises McMaster president Patrick Deane’s prioritization of an anti-disruption policy and his commitment to free speech. He argues McMaster does not currently protect free speech sufficiently, citing low scores from organizations such as the Campus Freedom Index as evidence. Deane, however, has expressed interest in clarifying the new guidelines being developed since the article’s release. “The university is engaged in developing guidelines around the limits to acceptable protest intended to assist event organizers and participants, as well as those seeking to engage in protest, rather than an anti-disruption policy,” said Deane in an email interview. The university’s efforts come in the wake of the disruption that Jordan Peterson experienced when he came to deliver a lecture at McMaster last March. In particular, after being disrupted by student protestors, Peterson was forced to leave the room and complete his lecture outside. Following the protest, both the Revolutionary Student Movement (Hamilton) and the McMaster Womanists put out statements on their social media stating they were verbally and physically accosted while protesting the event. Deane wrote a letter that defended Peterson’s right to speak on campus, citing the university’s commitment to academic freedom.
According to Dreschel, Deane has already “established a committee of academics to talk about what the ethical frame for [the guidelines] should be.” “Once complete, [the guidelines] will, of course, be made widely available to members of the McMaster community,” said Deane. Campus activists are concerned with the university’s anti-disruption efforts, arguing McMaster does not adequately protect marginalized groups on campus. All activists who spoke wished to remain anonymous out of fear of violence. “Protest is the only way powerless people can give themselves a voice,” said one student activist. “Any university that tries to protect free speech by threatening marginalized students with punishment if they protest is a university where a single institutional perspective dominates,” they added. The campus activist explained that the university’s commitment to free speech is eroded by the fact that it is endorsing a policy aimed at constraining activism. Another campus activist believes that the policy will allow right-wing groups to evade accountability when inviting and condoning bigoted speakers in the future. “It gives them a way to hold politically incorrect events without fear of being shut down,” she said. “When students spoke out about their concerns with having Peterson speak, the school actively ignored those concerns. The only way students were able to get their message across was through disrupting the event to protect the LGBTQ community on campus.” The exact guidelines will likely be completed early 2018.
@cassidybereskin
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Nolunchmoney’s Second Course initiative A recent partnership with Mac Bread Bin, Hospitality Services and Paradise Catering has expanded the initiative to offer free food on campus Donna Nadeem Contributor
With the cost of tuition, textbooks and living, finding food on campus at a reasonable price can be tricky to find. Nolunchmoney is an online initiative that battles food insecurity and has recently started a pilot program called Second Course to expand their initiative to battle food insecurity in innovative ways by working with event managers to offer free food events to students at McMaster. This initiative was originally founded by Frank Chen during his time as a McMaster undergraduate to battle food insecurities for students at McMaster with the help of services like McMaster Bread Bin. Nolunchmoney began as a Facebook page to help guide
students who are on a tight meal budget. The page has received more attention recently, going from 1,000 followers to 3,000 followers in the past year. To keep up with demand, Nolunchmoney has begun expanding their services. The team began planning their new program during the summer and launched to initiative two weeks ago. They got in collaboration with Paradise Catering who agreed to donate their baked goods at the end of the day that go uneaten and would otherwise be thrown out. The only issues with this are the public health concerns and liability issues, which they have been trying to address. “Working with Chris Roberts, the director of McMaster hospitality services, and Taylor Mertens, director Mac Bread
Bin, we have been trying to find ways around those policies and trying to work to expand to more nutritious food,” said John Vu, a fourth-year student and co-president of Nolunchmoney. For over two years, Nolunchmoney has been running programming through their blog and Facebook page. The program has since continued to be run by McMaster students. The team uses their social media to constantly keep students updated on free food events with their calendar and their webpage as well as regular posts. “We got Paradise to agree to donate their baked goods at the end of the day because they typically just get thrown out, and we bring the baked goods to Bridges, and have an event,” said Vu.
“[The] food is typically gone within 30 minutes, so we have been trying to find ways to expand by increasing the volume and recovering more nutritious foods,” he added. Nolunchmoney’s future goals aim to continue to expand their program by finding more services that will work with them, along with working to increase the volume of the nutritious foods. By posting on their social media pages, they hope to increase student engagement of the events that offer free food to help students and to get students more aware of this major topic.
@theSilhouette
Nolunchmoney began as a Facebook page to help guide students who are on a tight meal budget. The page has received more attention recently, going from 1,000 followers to 3,000 followers in the past year. To keep up with demand, Nolunchmoney has begun expanding their services.
C/O KEVIN HU
NEWS
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017
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Environment Hamilton holds emergency HSR riders meeting HSR users voice concerns over the reliability of local transit Cassidy Bereskin News Reporter
Following a month marked by hundreds of missed hours of Hamilton Street Railway service, Environment Hamilton, a not-for-profit organization that advocates for environmental protection, held a meeting at Hamilton City Hall. Environment Hamilton’s Emergency HSR Riders Meeting, which took place on Nov. 14, called for HSR users to voice their concerns about the transit system. The meeting included presentations from a number of relevant speakers and a question and answer period. Sara Mayo, a social planner from the Social Planning Research Council of Hamilton, spoke about the need for increased HSR funding in Hamilton. While she noted that, between 2013 and 2016, there was a 15.1 per cent increase in municipal HSR funding, Mayo acknowledged that there are still areas to improve. Ryan Deshpande, McMaster Students Union vice president (Education) and Stephanie Bertolo, MSU associate vice president (Municipal Affairs), spoke about McMaster students’ persisting problems with the HSR. “A commute from the mountain to McMaster can be
anywhere from 40 minutes to over 1.5 hours.… Our students on the mountain and amalgamated parts of Hamilton are not properly served by the HSR,” said Bertolo. “For many of us — low-income students, international students, working students — the HSR is our only option for transportation.” Deshpande proposed that Hamilton City Council make substantial investments into transit, arguing that the hiring of 58 additional bus drivers is only a short-term solution with the lack of funding being the core problem. “We would like our contribution to the HSR system to be valued. More than that, we want every rider to get the HSR service they deserve from every part of this city,” said Deshpande. Two other speakers included Don McLean, co-founder of Environment Hamilton, and Dennis Guy, the Manager of Customer Experience and Innovation at the HSR. McLean talked about the nuances and expressed concerns of the HSR funding system and how residents who live in suburbs pay increasingly less compared to residents who live in the City of Hamilton. Guy spoke about the 10year local transit strategy and where the HSR sits under the status quo. During the question and answer period, HSR users voiced a number of concerns with Hamilton transit. One commonly highlighted issue was the inconsistency of wheelchair accessibility on the HSR. Another critique concerned the HSR’s lack of accountability when it comes to racism and islamophobia within the HSR, particularly against Syrian and Somali newcomers. Most of the complaints, however, stemmed from the fact that HSR drivers continue to be overworked. During the question and answer period, Sheldon Albricht from Amalgamated Transit Union Local 107 stated that it is not uncommon for HSR drivers
to work 10 hours without leaving their seat. In addition to criticizing the HSR on a number of grounds, many attendees proposed ways to improve it. One attendee, for instance, encouraged all councillors and HSR employees ride the HSR to and from work for a month. Another attendee emphasized the need for drivers to receive more robust accessibility training. Others suggested that the HSR schedule more breaks for drivers and encourage drivers to ensure that all seats are occupied before deeming their buses full. The HSR’s most pressing problems won’t evaporate anytime soon. Nevertheless, users and MSU representatives are voicing their concerns and working to improve the transit system.
“For many of us — low-income students, international students, working students — the HSR is our only option for transportation.” Stephanie Bertolo MSU associate vice president (Municipal Affairs) @cassidybereskin
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New compost bins coming to MUSC A coalition between student groups hopes to improve sustainability on campus William Alexander Contributor
Permanent compost bins will soon be installed in McMaster University Student Centre thanks to the efforts of a coalition between the McMaster Students Union’s Sustainability Education Committee and an independent project for a third-year sustainability course. The coalition has already met with MUSC’s administrator and has secured a grant from the Student Life Enhancement Fund to finance the project. They plan on installing the new bins at the beginning of the new year. Currently, MUSC is serviced by temporary green compost bins. These were pro-
vided by members of the project to allow for composting in the interim, and have been dutifully emptied and sorted by members of the project since late October. Fiona McGill, chair of MSU Sustainability Education Committee, explained that sorting the compost bins has been no easy task. “People just see an open bin and they throw stuff in there,” she said. To confront the problem, a sign has since been added to the temporary bins reminding students that plastic is not compostable. As of Nov. 13, responsibility for the bins has changed hands to the custodial staff as members of the group reach the end of their pilot project’s term. Permanent compost bins existed in MUSC in the past, but were removed in the last student centre renovation in 2016 and were never replaced. “Lots of student groups tried to [implement bins] in the past, but they weren’t successful,” said Alicia Giannetti, a member of the project. By meeting with several members of the administrative staff within the university, her group managed to finally get the bins approved.
The independent project is an assignment for a third year course titled Implementing Sustainable Change. In a course report from last year, Academic Sustainability Programs senior manager Kate Whalen wrote that the course encourages “interdisciplinary, community-based, student-led, and experiential education related to sustainability”. The project itself encourages students to go out into the community and find a way to make a positive difference for sustainability. The bins will be financed with part of a $15,000 fund provided to the Sustainability Education Committee by the Student Life Enhancement fund last year. The coalition also plans on printing infographics informing students how to properly sort their compost. As for the remaining sum, McGill said that the committee is “looking for student input on how it should be spent.” When asked about the future of the initiative, Giannetti replied that her team hoped that after the MUSC bins are installed they can expand and implement compost bins across campus. McGill added that they “would love to get more student
groups on board.” They emphasized that improving sustainability can sometimes be a long process, but they hope that their success will motivate other groups to take action at further encouraging sustainability at McMaster. “[I] love to work with other groups on campus dedicated to sustainability,” said McGill. She can be reached at sustainability@msu.mcmaster.ca
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Improving the Indigenous university experience New OUSA report identifies concerns of Indigenous students and suggests several key areas of improvement Saad Ahmed Contributor
The Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance recently published a policy paper with a focus on improving the experience of Indigenous students in the province. OUSA is an organization that represents 150,000 professional and undergraduate university students at eight student associations across Ontario, entirely made up of elected student representatives from each of their member associations. Their principal focus is on improving affordability, accessibility and quality of post-secondary education by forming credible solutions, developing and agreeing upon policy options, and pushing government to implement them. The paper, presented to the OUSA Fall General Assembly on Oct. 29, reflects on recommendations from Indigenous students to provide a solution to enhancing post-secondary education in areas such as “finan-
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cial and non-financial barriers, decolonizing and Indigenizing institutions, Indigenous support services and Indigenous employment and community development,” according to the OUSA press release. OUSA outlines strategies to combat barriers that prevent the participation of Indigenous peoples in Ontario universities, and emphasizes the need to strengthen and maintain meaningful relationships with the Indigenous population. “The best way to ensure that universities can provide engaging and meaningful experiences for Indigenous students is to pursue a path towards reconciliation via ‘decolonization’ and ‘Indigenization’. In short, it has to go beyond Western values and traditions, reconciling the historic and ongoing injustices committed by the province’s colonial structures,” the policy paper stated. The paper also addresses specific concerns crucial to the success of Indigenous students in post-secondary education,
including difficulty accessing information, financial support and culturally relevant health supports. The 42-page policy paper outlines 51 recommendations suggested by OUSA, some of which include: developing experiential learning opportunities, promoting Indigenous women’s safety and suicide prevention and increasing Indigenous student financial assistance. Piers Kreps, co-president of the Cooperative of Indigenous Studies Students and Alumni at McMaster University, is an author on the policy paper. “Various recommendations within the policy, which range from early outreach to Indigenous youth, to recognition and incorporation of Indigenous knowledge in the academy, are strategically aimed at several key government actors… which call for not only recognition and action; but increased funding, representation and visibility,” he explained. OUSA is lobbying the government with these recom-
mendations in hopes of having a direct, positive impact on their undergraduate education policy to the benefit of the Indigenous students of Ontario. The implementation of these recommendations is much needed at this time, as the policy paper also indicates that “only 11 per cent of Indigenous peoples aged 25 to 64 have a university certificate, diploma or degree at a bachelor level, in comparison to 29 per cent of non-Indigenous people in the same age bracket.” OUSA believes that these statistics are a clear illustration for the government of Ontario to step in and invest in strengthening Indigenous student access and involvement in universities across the province. @theSilhouette
“Various recommendations within the policy, which range from early outreach to Indigenous youth, to recognition and incorporation of Indigenous knowledge in the academy, are strategically aimed at several key government actors…” Piers Kreps Co-president of the Cooperative of Indigenous Studies Students and Alumni
PRESIDENT’S PAGE
November 23, 2017 | thesil.ca
Dollars
the Operating and Capital Bud- reserve, which equals approxi- of $660,000 compared to a loss in gets for the following fiscal year, mately 1.3 years of our operating value of $114,000 in our portfolio a process that entrenches student budget. The audit recorded $6.4 last year. Another significant coninput in the allocation of funds. million in reserves for the entire tributor was the $495,000 surplus Changes to the 2017-2018 bud- organization, which represents in our health and dental plans, gets as approved by the SRA in- 50% of our overall annual bud- representing 27% of the health clude more flexibility for Campus get. The MSU has a strong bal- and dental budget. To reduce this Events, investing in MSU media ance sheet that provides stability surplus, the health fee decreased platforms (such as the Silhouette, and the flexibility to invest and by 4% this past September. In adCFMU and the Underground), grow. Potential future budget- dition, student benefits increased creating a better and more af- ary impacts include increases to with the installation of the Stufordable health plan for students, minimum wage and the new Stu- dent Assistance Plan (SAP). SAP and supporting growth in our dent Activity Building. provides students access to 24/7 DANIEL TUBA services and business units. At psychological and other forms the end of every fiscal year, our The 2016/2017 audit of counselling over the phone D’SOUZA organizational finances are au- shows that the MSU is through a toll-free call center, Vice President (Finance) dited by KPMG, a professional in a healthy fiscal state along with multiple other beneaccounting firm. In September, fits. We will continue to monivpfinance@msu.mcmaster.ca the SRA received and passed the Our operating fund produced tor this surplus while evaluating 905.525.9140 x24109 2016/2017 audited statements, a surplus of $115,000 which rep- future enhancements, the impact which are public documents resents 4% of our operating bud- of OHIP+, and potential savings The McMaster Students Union available online. get. For the entire organization, for students in the 2018-19 acais a not-for-profit organization The 2016/2017 audit shows we produced a $805,981 surplus demic year. that provides multi-faceted sup- that the MSU is in a healthy fiscal for the year, a number that transThe full details of the auditport and events aimed at en- state. We have a strong reserve in lates to 6% of our overall budget. ed statements can be accessed hancing the student experience. our operating fund, within the A large contributing factor to on msumcmaster.ca. Students The $128.09 Operating Fund fee limits set out in Corporate Bylaw our surplus was our investments, with questions regarding the fiprovides students with multiple 3 – which ensures responsible which provided impressive re- nancial status of the MSU are enservices and business units, in- capital retention. There is $3.4 turns compared to the previous couraged to email me or visit the cluding peer support services, a million in our operating fund year. We achieved a gain in value MSU Main Office in MUSC 201. massive Clubs department, and Historical View of Revenue vs. Expenditure of the MSU one of the best Campus Events $16,000,000.00 departments in the country. Other MSU fees go towards the HSR $14,000,000.00 Bus Pass and the MSU Health and Dental Insurance plans. The $12,000,000.00 administration of fees comes with the responsibility to ensure stu$10,000,000.00 dent money is spent effectively, $8,000,000.00 while seeing that it remains transRevenue Expenditure parent to the student body. $6,000,000.00 The different budgets within the MSU are influenced by input $4,000,000.00 provided from part-time student leaders and staff. Every year, the $2,000,000.00 Student Representative Assem$0.00 bly (SRA) reviews and votes on 2004/05
2005/06
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2018 Projected
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The President’s Page is a space sponsored and used by the McMaster Students Union (MSU) Board of Directors (BoD) to communicate with the student body. It functions to highlight the Board’s projects, goals, and agenda for the year, as well as the general happenings of the MSU.
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017
EDITORIAL
| 9
Editorial Why we’re moving away from the report card Evaluating the board of directors is impossible with the resources available to the Silhouette Sasha Dhesi News Editor
As the News Editor, I have made the executive decision to cut the McMaster Students Union board of directors report card we typically print in the last issue of the Silhouette before the exam break. Instead, we will print a check-in where we consider how far the board has come with their year plans. In previous years, the Silhouette published report cards where the staff evaluated the work the board has done so far in their term. As a part of this team last year, this process was fraught with issues. First and foremost, the report card style unfairly favoured the vice president (Education) and vice president (Finance), as they are able to easily prove they have completed aspects of their year plans. The vice president (Administration)’s job focuses on supporting employees and handling the day-to-day problems of the union, while the president focuses on long term projects.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
It has been a long time since I’ve spent any measure of time on McMaster’s campus. I used to visit the art museum and Mills Library when I was there during my undergraduate days. Those were almost ten years ago now and I hear, through the local media, only occasionally what’s happening on campus. I’m a Hamiltonian, born and living here, a settler on Anishnaabe land and it’s been in that intervening decade that I’ve been coming to learn about history, about the stories that have been told and re-told, all of this in service of my vocation as a writer of songs, as a husband and father of three children, as a supply-teacher for this city’s public-school board, as a chaplain at a local long-term care home. Things have, certainly, changed in those intervening
These are often difficult to prove and would result in lower marks relative to other board members, something I did not appreciate about the report card format. In addition, we often run into gaps in knowledge that often cannot be filled without causing issues for those we ask. It is unfair of us to ask MSU employees to go on the record and speak against their superiors when their term is not yet over, but this was often what we had to do to confirm the board’s job performance. It was rare people would feel comfortable speaking out on the record, and I would not expect them to do so. Don’t get me wrong, I think the report card format was a fantastic way to jolt the board to work harder toward their goals and bring attention to their successes and failures. But grading the board would either imply one board member is better than the others, lack the information needed to be accurate or ask people to disparage their superiors on the record. None of these are ideal but unless we can address each of these concerns,
the board’s report card will always fall flat. With this in mind, the board has to start addressing some of these concerns on their own. There should be a formalized system for MSU employees and members to address their concerns and then publicize this feedback. As paying members of the MSU, people deserve to know what the board is doing during their terms. To their credit, the board does relay information about their work to the public via social media and their weekly President’s Page in every issue of the Silhouette. But without an open and anonymous forum to discuss the success of their work, it will be difficult to analyze their work. The check-in will focus on what the board has done and hopefully this will spark a discussion about whether or not the board has achieved enough since their election.
years, though it’s hard to say whether it’s me or the place or, perhaps, both. There is little wistfulness in those changes, though because change must come. What, we should ask, should abide? What is the place of a university in these times? What I have learned in those early years has been refined by life in the present days; fatherhood, solidarity, brotherhood, the ways that families age and change: all these things bear noticing. What should abide is a commitment to gentleness and to peace, to a mutual understanding of others and their lives. If there are things that continue in the present, they are not things at all, but the relationships that formed around people and friends, formed, failing and flourishing. In the spirit of these friendships, in the obligation
of citizenship, I write this letter now to present students at McMaster and to those who read the Silhouette. I would ask that the university continue to be a place where peace can be made and found, where healthy, human relationships can continue to present themselves to one another. A concrete way that such things can be done is by the complete refusal of the university to acquiesce and cooperate with institutions that deal in death in its many forms. If any research is being done on ways to destroy and degrade the human person and body, it must cease. If any co-operation is occurring between the military-industrial complex and the university, it, too, must cease. If any destruction of the natural environment is happening, because of the university’s action or inaction, it must, finally, cease.
@SashaDhesi
to not letting this moment define you, mustering up the courage and working hard to make a comeback. Then years down the road, taking the time to laugh about this moment at a book signing of the authorized biography you wrote about The Rock to Dennis and Flora to Geordie Shore to Joe “Poo Pee Bathroom” Kim to Daniel Turducken Stinkerbutt to Confidentiality Claus(e) to garlicky sheen Shane to yellow buses
to disappointing yourself more than usual to letting down the millions of people around the world who look up to you to almost getting hit by a car to ominous fortune cookies to mice having no conception of a sandwich to fake sushi to yellow buses to this week to men telling women where they can feel safe to grapefruit techniques
to Nintendo taking up most of my free time since birth
to dry hands
to winter, which means I get to make more Russian food
to application deadlines
to misery
to morning pudding
to homemade hummus
to the chill in the air
to shower oranges
to greige
to Cyrus
to not being able to eat raisins
I have acted on these principles as best I can by refusing to support the McMaster Alumni Association until the university acts on these principles, divesting from fossil-fuel companies, publicly standing with those who are being marginalized and oppressed in our present society and elsewhere. It is only as this university acts as a vision of a possible future that support for its various actions and arts can be gained.
I write this letter in hope. Joshua Weresch The Silhouette welcomes letters to the editor in person at MUSC B110, or by email at thesil@thesil.ca.We reserve the right to edit, condense or reject letters.
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HUMANS
Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017 | www.thesil.ca
Miranda Clayton Post-Graduate Social Work I
Kyle West Photo Reporter
Could you please introduce yourself? My name is Miranda Clayton, I am the social and political advocacy coordinator for McMaster Students Union’s Maccess. And what year and program are you in? I never know what to say when people ask this because I am in my first year of a two year post degree program but I did my undergrad here too. So, it is my seventh year at Mac, but my first year in this twoyear post-degree social work program. What differences have you seen at McMaster since Maccess opened? A lot of general easiness about being a disabled student on campus. A lot of the reason we opened Maccess is because being a disabled student is very isolating. So when you don’t feel like you have anybody to talk to about it, you kind of become withdrawn and it is easy to dislike coming to campus. When you have a space where you
can go to relax and decompress between everything, we are seeing that a lot more disabled students are just more comfortable in general with being here and existing within this academic space. A lot of the time people with disabilities are not really welcome on campuses. Since you have been here for seven years now, what was it like when you were in first year without a service like Maccess? Honestly, it was awful. That was why I was such a big advocate for this space. So, in my first year was when I first suspected that something was wrong, I ended up being right. I have Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which is a connective tissue disorder, and honestly in my first year I felt all of the isolation that I was talking about. I was wondering where I could go when my hips were hurting from sitting for too long in lecture. I had nobody to talk to about any of this. You can either talk to a doctor at the Student
three out of ten experience. What was it like dealing with the medical services for disabilities?
Wellness Centre, you can hope that you somehow make a friend that gets it. I have a lot of really nice friends, but I did not have any that really understood how frustrating it was to be balancing being a student and being disabled and where those intersect. It was overall like a
“We encourage people to stick up for themselves and to form a network among the disabled students in Mac to talk...”
For me it was personally very frustrating because I went in in my first year and said, “Hey, I don’t think something is right, joints really hurt, I’m super tired, I don’t really know what I should be doing about this. Could I get a referral to somewhere to figure this out?” and the doctor at the Student Wellness Centre completely invalidated me and said that I was probably just depressed or having a bad transition into first year. I was like, “Yeah my first year isn’t going great, but this has been going on for awhile and I don’t think that it is caused by that. Even if it is I would like to rule out other stuff ”. She very reluctantly gave me a referral and that is when I actually got started on the diagnosis process. It actually
took a few years to nail it down. Had I just laid down and taken that, I would never be where I am today and I wouldn’t know what to do about this issue. Is a common experience? I don’t want to generalize people’s experiences, but invalidation is definitely something that many disabled people experience and face in the medical field. It is very easy for a doctor to say that they know better than you because they have all these years of schooling behind it. Which they will know more than you on somethings, but nobody can tell you how you feel better than yourself and your own body. Which is why we encourage people to stick up for themselves and to form a network among the disabled students in Mac to talk about which doctors they had better experiences with and which they had not so good experiences with so that we can give people the heads up. But, also to make sure that they are going to be somewhere that makes sure that you are going to be taken seriously. We are all just trying to do our best everyday. facebook.com/HumansOfMcMaster
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017
The Silhouette
| 11
Opinion Students matter Last decade’s MSU left you at the curb, will you do the same to future Mac students?
MADELINE NEUMANN / PHOTO EDITOR C/O GREG SOUTHERN ONTARIO / FLICKR Joey Coleman The Public Record
Hamilton city council isn’t anti-student, it’s pro-vote. Since students don’t vote, city council doesn’t care about your issues, and the result is they make decisions against your interests. In the 2006 municipal election, only 10 students voted at the on-campus polling. The city did not repeat the experiment of on-campus voting in 2010 or 2014, citing the high cost for so few votes. Considering the damage this low turnout did to student power at city hall, this was probably a good thing. Since 2006, for the past decade, whenever the HSR lacked drivers, buses were pulled from the 51-University. Five seniors on a grocery shuttle charter take priority over hundreds of McMaster students left waiting on the university line. Why? Because that grocery charter had five more voters than the university line. Writing for this newspaper from 2006 to 2009, I regularly opined on anti-student senti-
ment in the community. I was especially critical of over-policing and targeting of the student community by mayor Fred Eisenberger and councillor Brian McHattie. I thought as an undergraduate that council was anti-student and it wasn’t until a 2009 discussion on Parliament Hill with a McMaster professor that I realized they were not anti-student, they were pro-vote. The very small anti-student minority in Ainslie Wood and Westdale vote, and they put more ballots in the box than students. Traditionally, McMaster Students Union presidents have shown up at city hall to declare their position as the “Chief Executive Officer of a multi-million dollar corporation and major employer in our community”, bought tickets to civic events and participate in photo ops. This spring, that changed. This year’s MSU president is regularly at city hall challenging the status quo, representing students and acting on students’ material interests. Wisely, he empowers the vice president (Education) and
associate vice president (Municipal Affairs) to challenge city hall’s targeted bylaw enforcement of students, lack of consideration of student housing issues at the rental housing committee, and starting to plan to mobilize student voters. The combination of Silhouette coverage and MSU action is already seeing results. The HSR stopped removing the 51-University bus from service as city hall legitimately fears this year’s MSU will take actions and not merely use words to protect student interests. On Oct. 26, the Silhouette published an editorial suggesting that it is time for students to reconsider the UPass in light of the city failing to live up to its obligations. The day prior, Oct. 25, the MSU president, Chukky Ibe, stood in front of the Ontario Municipal Board to testify against a city attempt to split Ainslie Wood into two wards and remove the ability of students to effectively influence Council races. Ibe told the board that students are “often scapegoated
In the 2006 municipal election, only 10 students voted at the on-campus polling. The city did not repeat the experiment of on-campus voting in 2010 or 2014, citing the high cost for so few votes. for political gain”. He provided an excellent statement on behalf of MSU members, one that I expect will be cited in the pending ruling if the OMB rules against the split. The MSU standing up to city council in a quasi-judicial hearing is unprecedented — it made the MSU a legitimate force at city hall. Students are a significant source of revenue for the HSR, and the only new revenue this year. All HSR fare categories,
except post-secondary students, were frozen this year. The HSR cannot afford to lose your money. Both the Silhouette and the MSU have started planning for the October 2018 municipal election. city hall is hedging their earlier bet that students don’t vote. It is no coincidence that the HSR reversed its decade-old practice of always cutting buses to McMaster first when buses weren’t available — effective student journalism, MSU representation, and the possibility of students voting next year combined to create his reversal. The city doesn’t care if thousands of students are not getting bus service, but it does care if those students become voters. The question now is: are you going to vote next year, or will you leave the next decade of McMaster students standing at the curb waiting for buses that won’t come?
@JoeyColeman
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November 25-26, 2017
MSU Campus Events and TwelvEighty Nightlife is proud to announce that the JAMES BARKER BAND and special guest, Andrew Hyatt, will be performing at Country Night inside TwelvEighty!
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Time: 9:00am Where: MUSC 311/313 Several courses will be offered during the Novemver 25-26th weekend. Please visit the events calendar for more details.
Thursday, November 30, 2017
CANFAR McMaster will be holding its annual Coffee House on November 30 at 8PM. Come out for amazing performances, refreshments and to support AIDS research!
MacUke Coffee House Tuesday, November 28, 2017 Time: 08:30PM until 11:00PM Where: Bridges Café Come join MacUke for our end of term Coffee House! Come and enjoy some great music and destress before exams!
/MSUMcMaster
Check out the full Events Calendar at: msumcmaster.ca/events
@MSU_McMaster
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OPINION
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017
| 13
No to anti-disruption Marginalized voices silenced once again Morgan Li Contributor
Recently, the Hamilton Spectator published an article announcing, in a sneering mix of opinion and loose fact, that McMaster is “developing an anti-disruption policy”. The decision appears to be prompted by the vicious right-wing backlash to Mac’s alleged failure to protect freedom of speech on campus, particularly in the wake of Jordan Peterson’s visit to campus last March. In the article, Andrew Dreschel references a poor grade assigned to Mac’s practices and policies of “free speech” by a Campus Freedom Index. This index is compiled by the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, a purportedly “independent and nonpartisan” non-profit organization. Their website presents an attractive face, framing the group as being in defence of respectable concepts like freedom, equality and constitutional freedoms. However, upon even the slightest further glance, this crafted image of impartiality falls apart. The JCCF was founded, and continues to be led by John Carpay, a failed right-wing politician affiliated with a number of conservative advocacy groups and think tanks. The cases it
chooses to take on and defend under the guise of free speech show a clear partisan bias. Their latest legal challenge is against Alberta’s Bill 24, which would prohibit outing LGBTQ+ children in gay-straight alliances. Previous JCCF lawsuits have taken up the case of an anti-LGBTQ+ couple that was barred from adopting children, a marriage commissioner whose license was revoked for refusing to marry same-gender couples as well as various anti-abortion organizations that have faced opposition. That it has also decided to take issue with student-led protest of Jordan Peterson, most known for his refusal to correctly gender non-binary transgender students, is unsurprising. The rallying cry for “freedom of speech” that the JCCF, as well as many of those it defends, is so fond of wielding is one that has long been used by the far-right to obscure their activities and ideological agenda. An article in the Torontoist from July this year explains this in detail, grounding it in a fairly recent history of white nationalist organizing in Toronto. Writer O. Berkman provides a background on Paul Fromm, a well-known self-identified white nationalist, and his cohort. Then a young University of Toronto student in the middle of a growing anti-war movement,
Fromm and his fellows’ political involvement had begun in the condemnation of so-called far-left extremism and “leftist troublemakers”. Under the guise of concern over their “right to dissent”, he has voiced support of (in his own words) American Nazis, Holocaust deniers and other white supremacists for decades, eventually establishing the Canadian Association for Free Expression for that very reason. All of these are talking points that should sound familiar to anybody who has been engaged in today’s campus politics. More recently, the emergence and activities of student groups like the Students Supporting Free Speech at the University of Toronto have followed a close enough course to elicit deep concern. While arguing for the right of free speech of Jordan Peterson, the Halifax Five and similar figures against an “intolerant left”, SSFS has managed a dubious feat of drawing Fromm himself to one of their events. That the invocation of constitutional freedoms is little more than a deflection becomes particularly apparent too when we ask who, faced with institutional censure, isn’t afforded these defences. In the United States, Johnny Eric Wil-
liams, Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor and George Ciccariello-Maher, to name only a few, have been subject to far more severe and immediate consequences than Jordan Peterson for little to no justifiable reason, and these often accompanied by threats of violence and murder. Politically motivated campaigns across the country now target progressive campus organizations, such as the Ontario Public Interest Research Group and other PIRGs, or McGill’s Daily Publications Society, for defunding. Rather than emerging to decry these, the groups that supposedly exist to innocuously protect freedom of expression are comfortably silent or, at times, even participate in these attacks. Only in the last few weeks, University of Toronto faculty have expressed alarm over Jordan Peterson’s professed intentions to create a website to identify and advocate for the removal of university courses that he finds politically objectionable. By no coincidence, these are largely, in his own words, “women’s studies, and all the ethnic studies and racial studies”— fields of study that centre marginalized populations often left out of more mainstream curricula. Similarly, it should be noted who it is to most vocally speak out against the right-wing cam-
pus demagogues that operate under the pretence of respectability — students who are more often than not racialized, transgender, women, queer and/ or holding other marginalized identities. The eagerness with which the McMaster administration now concedes to what are barely veiled right-wing demands is unacceptable, all the while it comes as utterly predictable. Through these “anti-disruption” guidelines, Mac continues to demonstrate how the university remains a colonial institution that, complicit in transantagonism and white supremacy, will always capitulate to the far-right. Institutional condemnation of the “rowdy” students who stand against Peterson and his ilk, long now known to be responsible for harassment and violence towards activists, can and should be understood as a direct attack on trans, racialized and other marginalized students on campus. Make no mistake: no part of this debacle has ever truly been about free speech, and it is a victory to the far right when we accept any attempt to frame it that way. @theSilhouette
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OPINION
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017
| 15
From inside a fraternity
The university experience doesn’t have to be represented as just booze and Greek letters Alex Bak Contributor
Through the various “frat” Instagram accounts that often boast drunk endeavours and the typical mishaps of college students and the advertisements of beer paraphernalia, it became apparent that fraternity life has been coined into a lifestyle brand for college student. What people often forget in the midst of all the advertisements and representations on social media is that these secret Greek letter societies were formed for the betterment of bonds between the respective brothers and sisters in the community. The jaded view that fraternities often get at McMaster as a boisterous pack of mindless partygoers does not do their other pillars justice. I hope this piece can shed some light on the growing impact that fraternities have in the McMaster and Hamilton community and destigmatize the image of Greek life. In my journey as an active member of the Mu Delta chapter of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, I have witnessed numerous achievements by the efforts of the brothers that have changed my view on the supposed lifestyle of fraternities. Through the various challenges that disguises the true intent of PiKA, the yearly chart-topping fundraising in support of the McMaster Relay for Life and the pints of blood donated for the McMaster Stem Cell Drive, I have been proud to be a part of the phenomenal support that a student organization can give to other student initiatives. Even in the next few weeks there will be brothers shaving their heads for the Shave for a Cure initiative. This does not go to say that only one Greek life society is attributed to this cause. The growing Greek life at McMaster is responsible for a good portion of the unseen volunteer environment. Imbued by a sense of collective ownership of the university and as stakeholders of the community’s growth, even more students will participate in these determinations of their peers as the brothers have done. In a seemingly unnaturally inclusive environment, the
status of faculty or years become irrelevant leading to a bridging of a gap between lower and upper years that wouldn’t occur in any other typical, post-secondary situation. This leads to a unique environment, in which both seniors and freshmen are able to benefit and empower each other and push each other to strive for more than they could individually. The group not only works to empower those within the fraternity, but also seeks out the best interest of others in the community by dedicating their time to extracurricular charity work.
In my journey as an active member of the Mu Delta chapter of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, I have witnessed numerous achievements by the efforts of the brothers that have changed my view on the supposed lifestyle of fraternities. My time as a brother has helped me learn that university is so much more than a degree. When your kids ask you about your time at McMaster and wonder about the university experience on day, will you be stumped in trying to remember what you did here, or will you be able to flaunt your involvement with the McMaster community with pride?
@theSilhouette
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www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017
Arts & Culture
Novemburger Radius: The 2017 Mexican Novemburger 2017 is the fourth iteration of the city’s fundraising burger “festival”. 76 restaurants are participating in Hamilton and Burlington this year by creating a signature burger, their Novemburger. Part of the sales of each burger is donated to the United Way. As we conclude another year of festivities our staff decided to try some of the local offerings: two burgers you can get on campus, and one of the more expensive entries from Radius on James Street South.
Emily O’Rourke Features Reporter
If you are looking to pretend that you can spend $18 on a burger this Novemburger, Radius has a spicy option for you. The Mexican, a house made Mexican chorizo patty topped with tequila and butter-sautéed tiger shrimp, house-smoked bacon, fried green tomatoes, pickled onions, cilantro and avocado cream and melted Manchego cheese in between a toasted brioche bun came with an option of a house soup, salad or Tajin-dusted house cut Yukon shoestring fries. The burger itself is definitely interesting. Individually, the ingredients were compelling; between the tequila and butter-sautéed tiger shrimp and the fried green tomatoes, there was an interesting palette of flavour. However, the chorizo patty seemed to overpower the other flavours within the burger, which was disappointing to say the least. The ratio between the ingredients was also rather disappointing. The bottom of the burger saw two soggy, browned pieces of lettuce and the top was centered with two tiger shrimp, which took about four full bites to get to. The fried green tomato gave the burger a satisfying crunchy texture, which was unfortunately one of the only highlights of the burger. Overall, the Mexican missed the mark on flavour and ratio, which was pretty disappointing for its cost. @emily_oro
TIMOTHY LAW / PRODUCTION COORDINATOR RAZAN SAMARA / A&C REPORTER
East Meets West Bistro: Chicken Harvest Burger Razan Samara A&C Reporter
It’s nice to know that our own East Meets West Bistro is taking part in the Novemburger festivities, but after having their Chicken Harvest Burger, I wish I had gone somewhere downtown instead. Semantics is important here: I had their burger, I didn’t taste it. The chicken patty was definitely the five ounces as advertised, but I couldn’t taste the sage, let alone the apple. I was excited at the prospect of having a break from the typical beef patty, but the chicken was disappointingly bland and dry. The meat was topped with warm celery root slaw, which I had never seen on a burger before. The move was innovative; it was just the wrong move for this burger. The celery root slaw felt like a nod towards Russian cafeteria food. It’s inconclusive whether this is better or worse than campus food. The meat and slaw were sandwiched between a brioche bun with a cranberry green peppercorn slaw on the bottom. My favourite part of the whole burger was the cranberry spread, it was a nice balance between sweet and sour. For $9.75, my expectations weren’t too high, but it was still a bland disappointment. @theSilhouette
The Phoenix: Bushido Prosciutto Burger Daniel Arauz A&C Editor
Full transparency: seeing this burger on the Novemburger 2018 website is what first motivated our burger adventures on campus. I am not even one for greasy kitchen experiments, but there was something intriguing about the Graduate Student Association bar and grill serving up the weirdest burger that Novemburger has ever seen. The Bushido prosciutto burger is an unholy combination of misplaced and Japanese-inspired flavours and uncooked Italian ham. I can’t even rationalize this pairing. Is it because sushi and prosciutto involve uncooked meat? Is it because bushido and prosciutto sort of rhyme? The clumsy association with a Japanese code of honour is one thing, but who thought that prosciutto was ever a complimentary ingredient to serve alongside teriyaki beef, sautéed Asian pear, bean sprouts and a sheet of dried seaweed? I was hoping to be pleasantly surprised but the burger was clumsy, the textures were off, and ingredients actively clashed and contradicted each other. Dry seaweed has no business mingling with melted cheese, especially when served at room temperature. The final insult of the sandwich is the “sushi roll” adorned on the top. While we weren’t exactly eager to have salmon or tuna on top of that mess, we were disappointed to find that the piece was just stuffed with more, slimy prosciutto. I want to believe that there are some genuinely good ideas behind this dish. Maybe the chef had a genuinely fantastic experience with a similar flavour combination in the past. Novemburger is often a good time to bring out some good experimental combinations. The Bushido burger isn’t one of them. @danielarauzz
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A&C
Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017 | www.thesil.ca
Stitching stories into the seams
Hitoko Okada explores her narrative and history through clothing Razan Samara A&C Reporter
Hitoko Okada has always been a maker and creative. Craft-making is reminiscent of her childhood; she spent her youth and early adult years designing costumes and props and later started creating fibre sculptures. A mix of fate and years of perfecting her craft drove the Japanese-Canadian artist to pursue her passion for art, making clothes and storytelling as a fibre artist and clothing designer. “I come from a craft lineage. My ancestors were all craft
C/O George Qua-Enoo Hitoko Okada
makers and some of them were in craft making in woodwork, textiles and metal. That has certainly informed a lot of my approach to my work and just ideas of work and what is available to me” explained Okada. Okada’s entry point to designing and making clothes was through her work in theatre and experience in fashion school. Through a very technical and specific process, she built and constructed costumes and props with materials given to her. Yearning for more, she started picking her own materials and working with different fabrics to create fibre-based sculptures that would go on to inspire Hitokoo, her line of casual clothing for women. “It’s a completely different approach, it’s more playful. I can explore my own narratives and I’m feeling impacted by the world that I live in, or issues that I’m interested in or concerned about,” explained Okada. Okada explored different issues and was inspired by the world around her to create several fibre-sculptures and installations that have exhibited through series at galleries in Hamilton and Toronto. Honeycomb cells were used as a motif to represent social
barriers in her Hive exhibition and gemstones represented issues in consumption and the drive for status, wealth and power in her Bling! exhibition. These motifs made a reoccurring appearance throughout her fibre-based sculptures, and naturally became incorporated through screen-printing by the clothing collections Okada was designing at the same time. “I often felt that one was the extension of the other. The art pieces are not something you can take home, I don’t make the kind of art that’s in a frame and you can put on your wall. But having a shirt that is accessible, [makes my art] wearable and very practical,” explained Okada. In her most recent collection, PatchWork, Okada explores her artesian lineage through knitting patches from fine linen yarns and Japanese textiles. Okada’s pieces are evocative of the feudal era and tell a story of personal resilience and healing through cultural narratives. “Stitching, quilting and patching would be a way to preserve fabric and materials especially for the common peasant class. There were certain classes that were only allowed to wear certain colours. I was using
those motifs as a way to connect into my craft lineage but also to think about intergenerational healing,” explained Okada. “My mother and I have been [knitting] with the same fibres, and through our exchange of knitting, we’re having conversation about our family history and the impact of war. She’s sharing stories [about what it’s like to come] from a craft family and how that informs our world view and approach to challenges like poverty and famine.” Through this process, Okada has not only been able to connect with her history, but also with the women purchasing and wearing her pieces. Okada has had interactions with clients who are originally drawn in by the quality of the material but stay to ask questions about the motifs and stories behind her work. “[A client] made a connection with the piece, with
herself, with the world and we had a really lovely exchange and conversation. It’s about building relationships with women, supporting them, listening to their stories. Having a human connection and exchange through this medium — it’s wonderful,” said Okada. Many of the women who have been supportive of the Hitokoo collection are either artists, supporters of art, or change makers that are curious about issues and narratives reflected in Okada’s designs. “That’s always been the common thread through all of the women that are drawn into my work. I think that’s the bell that I’m ringing,” said Okada. Okada’s collections are not part of the clothing and fast fashion industry. Her small production pieces are high quality and long-lasting wearable art that is meant to be experienced.
@theSilhouette
A&C
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017
| 19
Room for more colour Popular music and Hamilton’s music scene should be more open to Asian artists
Emman Alavata of the band Post Romance. C/O ZAK RISTIVOJEVIC Sonia Leung Contributor
A quick review of the Billboard Top 40 hits would reveal the gaping lack of variety in repertoire on any given week. Homogeneity in popular music is not a new complaint, but a lesser acknowledged and comparably prevalent sentiment is the lack of diversity in colour. Asian voices are hard to find in North American music. I lament my inability to name many notable Asian musicians, though I suspect that my inability to list them is a shared phenomenon among most of us. One artist who comes to the forefront of my memory is Bruno Mars, who is half Filipino. If you strain harder, you might recall Steve Aoki, who is Japanese. Where are they in the music scene, especially in Hamilton’s? Their lack of presence in the North American music is disproportionate to their presence in our world, and in our city. If your upbringing was like my own, you likely grew up to Avril Lavigne and Simple Plan, then moved on to Metric and Arcade Fire.
These artists and their work were the pillar of my musical education, the core tenets of my identity. If music were a language, then these artists spoke mine. Our one-way conversations were integral in my formative years. Each song brimmed with teenage angst (not unlike myself) and made me feel heard. It is this nature in music that renders it such a powerful medium. When you hear a song you can relate to, complete with your fears, worries and doubts, you know that you’re not alone in your struggle. Relatable songs are a comfort. While I fully endorse the artists that comprised my teenage iTunes playlist, which was largely indie rock, and consequently monochromatically White, I am cognizant of not having a fully relatable role model. My childhood idols sang about high school social dynamics, prepubescent awkwardness, suburban tedium and existential dread, all of which rang true with my world. None, however, struck every string in the chord. As a
Hong Kong-born immigrant who was raised in Canada, there were no mainstream North American artists who sang about my narrative, no voice that fully described the reality I experienced. At present there is an unreached demographic of angsty Asian teenagers who are aching to hear angsty songs about the immigrant and model minority tropes, but have to settle for All American Rejects. I had the opportunity to catch up with Emman Alavata, frontman of Post Romance, previously known as Detour. Post Romance made their mark as the champions of last year’s Battle of the Bands, and have since released their EP Nowhere Land. Unlike the archetypal indie rock band, Post Romance is headed by a Filipino frontman and Chinese lead guitarist. Alavata recalled that on stage at the 2017 Battle of the Bands, he was one of three Asian musicians who performed that night. “I didn’t think we would win that night,” explains Emman, who cites the absence of Asian artists as the reason for not expecting to win.
His doubts aren’t unfounded. A common frustration the band faces is the confusion between Alavata and Victor Zhang, the Asian members of Post Romance.
As a Hong Kongborn immigrant who was raised in Canada, there were no mainstream North American artists who sang about my narrative, no voice that fully described the reality I experienced. The two are repeatedly mistaken for each other and are not taken seriously when they correct the misnomer. Another grievance is that people who meet the band usually expect the lead singer to be someone White, and greet the band with
surprise upon realization that Emman was not White. These encounters sound familiar to me. A year or two ago, my band and I played at a variety show at a local pub. Our band’s sound was still developing, but took shape of ambient indie. I was the lead singer and the only person of colour on stage, and yet, we were introduced as “a taste of China” and “sounds from the East”. I am not from China, nor do I bring “sounds from the East”. Change is on the horizon, however, and Post Romance is riding the wave. Another notable Hamilton act is Union&Kay, comprised of Christopher Nguyen and Sheena Kay, an up and coming jazz-pop duo. There is room for more colour in our palette and this is the proof and precedent. “If you have a voice, it shouldn’t matter if you are male or female, or any skin colour,” explains Alavata, “As long as you can connect with people, that’s all that really matters.”
@theSilhouette
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Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017 | www.thesil.ca
The little shop around the corner Newest café in Hamilton adds a burst of colour to Bold Street Rachel Katz Managing Editor
On Nov. 6, Hamilton’s newest café, The Nook, opened its doors to the sleepy part of Bold Street just off James Street south. Those familiar with the area likely know the café’s location: a tiny space that has stood — or at least looked to be — vacant in recent history. With a dark exterior and darker windows, the spot was so uninteresting one could almost skip over seeing it without realizing a building was there. But Suad Abukamla saw 6 Bold Street as the place for her vision to come alive. Over the course of almost a year and a half, she and a group of friends slowly transformed the space, breathing new life and a vibrant slick of yellow paint onto its previously black-walled interior. “When I saw things coming [together] I knew I couldn’t stop because I had already started and I wanted to finish,” she said, explaining that even
when she was overwhelmed, she felt motivated to keep working. “Because I was doing the design by myself so I had to do the research, and look up ideas from here and there and what’s next, what’s going to match.” Abukamla handpicked, designed or made every part of her business, from the lighting, to the exact shade of yellow on the walls, to the tables, which she built herself from a pile of scrap lumber left by the former owners. The chandelier that hangs from the middle of the ceiling took months to find, and she looked in five different cities to find the perfect fabric for the chair cushions. “I needed the colours to match; the grey, the yellow and the yellow is very sensitive. So then we finished Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton, Brantford and then we just had St. Catharines, the last city we were going to go to. And I was like, ‘okay I’m not leaving St. Catharines without fabric,’” she said, laughing. “I like details.”
In addition to Abukamla’s requirement that the café’s aesthetic translate exactly as she had imagined, she was also keen on making environmental practices central to her business. The Nook’s patrons will only find a garbage bin in the café’s washroom. All the cups, napkins, plastic lids and drink sleeves are either recyclable or biodegradable. Although Abukamla admits there was no way to entirely eliminate garbage from the renovation process, she intends for the café to reach as close to zero waste as possible. All the construction materials are recycled or eco-friendly, and every business choice has been locally-sourced and to use companies that have environmentally sound practices. Even the coffee is from local roaster Relay. Abukamla’s attention to detail is impressive on its own, but The Nook is not her only project. She is also in the process of completing her Masters in
Bridges Café
Refectory Building
Come check out this hidden gem on campus! McMaster’s Plant based dining experience is a fantastic combination of different ethnic dishes and old classics. Feature Roti Fresh ingredients compliment the unique environment. Mixed vegetable curry,
organic rice, chana or roasted spiced root vegetables,wrapped in a warm Roti skin.
@hospitality.mac
@maceats_foodie
MADELINE NEUMANN / PHOTO EDITOR
engineering and public policy at McMaster University, a degree that will further the work she used to do with the women’s rights and advocacy branch of the United Nations. She hopes to combine all these skills to encourage social change within Hamilton and inspire more women to pursue their goals. “I was the Advocacy and Information Officer [for the UN] and we were supporting security and economic projects for women and I was always telling women… [even though] there were times when they would get overwhelmed, [they] are always super,” she said. “They can multi-task. They will do it. They will succeed.” To facilitate this change within the city, Abukamla is in the process of creating a system for non-profit organizations and community groups to use The Nook’s space, free of charge, after the café closes for the day. These groups can use the space for fundraising, community outreach, meetings, volunteer appreciation or even as a meeting space for book clubs. “Even in school, in my program, a lot of people are creative and they have innovative ideas,” Abukamla explained. “Just take the next step.” Abukamla is grateful to
the community and support network she has befriended in Hamilton. “I have unique friends. I always call them my unique friends. They give me the right advice. They give me the right help.… Find the right people, stick with them and have a mentor all the time.” As the semester draws to a close, Abukamla, like any other student, is likely swamped with final projects and papers. But she still finds time to celebrate her accomplishments. “I am proud,” she said. “I’m happy because [despite] how long it took me to work in this café, everything in this space has a story behind it… it’s just… I can’t express my feelings. But it’s enough to be proud.” A nook is a space that holds multiple meanings: safety, comfort, a place to relax. The Nook aspires to be all those things and empower individuals to create the change they wish to see in their city. And with an owner like Abukamla behind every detail of the business, it is likely to do just that.
@RachAlbertaKatz
A&C
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017
Culinary Class Act
Sagarmatha Curry Palace Indian and Nepalese eatery is a treasure hidden on King William Street Razan Samara A&C Reporter
What it is Previously known by regulars as the Flavour of Himalaya, the Sagarmatha Curry Palace restaurant boasts an extensive menu of classic Indian and Nepalese dishes that are sure to satisfy every taste bud. Once you get past an exposed pipe at the bottom of the staircase leading to the underground restaurant, hungry locals and curious wanderers are welcomed by vast open space contained by orange and purple walls, festive lights, Indian music and rustic wooden dining tables. Service can be confusing (it’s not clear whether or not you seat yourself, or if you wait for a server) and the place is usually packed by 7 p.m., so expect a wait if you’re heading out for a late dinner. However, the warm atmosphere and taste and quality of the food makes up for the restaurant’s downfalls. You can expect a wide range of soups, curries, South Asian dumplings, clay oven baked naan breads and biryani, just to name a few. Their chicken, lamb and seafood dishes are prepared in tikkas, kebabs and tandoori styles.
How to get there from campus Take the 5 bus from campus heading towards downtown for about 15 minutes until you reach Main at Hughson. Walk on Hughson Street South towards King Street East for about four minutes, then turn right onto King William Street. The restaurant’s entrance with be on your left, between The Mule and Hambrgr. Make your way down the stairs to the basement and the restaurant will be on your right.
How much All appetizers are under $5, a basket of naan tandoori is under $3 and the main dishes range between $9 and $12. A small selection of platters and combos can get a little pricey with a range of $14 to $18.
You can expect a wide range of soups, curries, South Asian dumplings, clay oven baked naan breads and biryani, just to name a few. What to get The boneless tandoori chicken served with lentil dal and rice is a must try item. As a tandoori chicken enthusiast, I was blown away by the freshness and quality of the meat. The dal was equal amounts spicy, savoury and sweet, which is great for anyone with limited spice tolerance. Not a fan of sauces? Try the biryani, which can be ordered either vegetarian, with chicken or with lamb. This is one is definitely spicy. The vegetable pakoras, which are deep fried fritters of vegetables and papri chat, a dish of crunchy wafers topped with chickpeas, yogurt and tamarind chutney make great appetizers or a quick snack. No matter what you get, always make room for the naan.
RAZAN SAMARA / A&C REPORTER
Why it’s great Sagarmatha Curry Palace is officially my favourite place to get Indian cuisine in Hamilton. The affordability of the food does not take away from the portions you’re getting. Even if you come with a large appetite, I guarantee you’ll have trouble finishing. Money and portions aside, it’s straight up delicious. The menu also has a variety of vegetarian, gluten-free, dairyfree and vegan items. Overall, I love the flavour and aroma that the foods attain from being patiently cooked in a clay oven. I recommend dining in for the full experience, there’s something about hearing food sizzle past you as its carried off by the hustling waiters. If you’re short on time, you can also get take-out or get delivery.
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GAMES
Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017 | www.thesil.ca Puzzle 1 (Medium, difficulty rating 0.50)
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Puzzle 2 (Medium, difficulty rating 0.45)
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1. Raise 6. Drunkards 10. Exxon, once 14. Fighting 15. Artist Mondrian 16. Fibbed 17. Din 18. Salinger girl 19. View from Catania 20. Thick 21. Perverted 23. PC panic button 25. Snaky swimmer 26. Small batteries 29. Impetuous
32. Sir ____ Newton was an English mathematician 37. Monopoly quartet: Abbr. 38. Bach’s “____, Joy of Man’s Desiring” 39. 1992 Wimbledon champ 40. In spite of 43. Infuriate 44. Word on a towel 45. Narc’s org. 46. Either of two Chinese dynasties 47. Venus de ____ 48. German Mister 49. Levi’s rival
51. Bridal bio word 53. Highly regarded 58. Collide 62. Suit to ____ 63. “Damn Yankees” role 64. Numbers game 65. Clinton cabinet member Federico 66. .... _____ saw Elba 67. Hawk’s home 68. Hey! 69. Some whiskeys 70. Former Russian rulers
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Puzzle 3 (Hard, difficulty rating 0.61)
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26. Synthetic fiber 27. Rice-____ 28. Latin stars 30. Tree used to make baseball bats 31. Japanese dish 33. Pathetic 34. Stage whisper 35. Moore’s TV boss 36. Cheroot, e.g. 38. Move up and down 39. Home run king Hank 41. Pale 42. Bus. card info 47. Recollection
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The Silhouette
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017
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Sports McMaster in motion The inaugural motionballU Marathon of Sport McMaster raised $6,500 in support of the Special Olympics Canada Foundation Jessica Carmichael Sports Reporter
The inaugural motionballU Marathon of Sport McMaster took place on Nov. 18. The event made for an exciting day of athletic competition that teamed up McMaster students with Special Olympics athletes in a variety of sports. Motionball is a not-forprofit organization that builds awareness and raises funds for the Special Olympics Canada Foundation. Founded by brothers Paul, Mark and Sean Etherington in 2002, the organization has held 20 annual events in 18 cites across Canada and have donated over $8 million to the SOCF. “Our goal was to help get Canada’s next generation involved in the Special Olympics movement through integrated social and sporting events,” said chairman and co-founder Paul Etherington. To continue to do so, the new motionballU program was designed to integrate their marathon of sport event into all the major universities across Canada over the next two to three years. For Etherington, it is extremely important for students to get involved in organizations like motionball while they are young. “As we get older, we quickly realize we have to be more well-rounded as a person,” said Etherington. “Yes, you have to be selfish and focus on your studies, your future career and on your friends and family, but there should be a portion of your everyday life that is giving back to your community.” One Mac student who has recognized this importance at a young age is Dawson Lucier. The McMaster kinesiology student first heard of motionball at the Kinesiology Games, a student-run kinesiology conference.
MADELINE NEUMANN / PHOTO EDITOR
After witnessing a presentation by motionball and Special Olympics athletes at the conference, Lucier was inspired to get involved with the organization and is now the student coordinator of motionballU Marathon of Sport McMaster. “The athletes are very accomplished in their involvement with Special Olympics and to introduce the athletes to students at McMaster and vice versa is very important,” said Lucier. “It changes societal attitudes, increases understanding and it is a great fun day of sporting events for a great cause.”
Quick Hits - 120 participants - 25 volunteers - 12 Special Olympic athletes - $6,500 raised Like Lucier, Mac kinesiology grad student Nelson Saddler also believes in the importance of integration. Nelson and his brother Spencer, who participat-
ed at motionball’s Marathon of Sport Toronto event as a Special Olympic athlete, have loved the organization ever since. “It’s important to play with them and understand that they’re a part of our team,” said Nelson. “We want to increase integration and education as a whole when it comes to special needs.” And for Spencer, getting to participate directly with the students makes him feel a part of team. Over the next few years, Lucier is really looking forward to seeing motionballU Marathon of Sport McMaster grow and hopefully transition to an on campus venue so even more students can participate. “I know that this will be a highlight event for everyone who attends it,” said Lucier. “It’s going to set the motion forward for motionballU for years to come.” For the event director of Hamilton’s Marathon of Sport event, Alexandria Haggarty, passionate students like Lucier and Saddler are exactly who she
hopes become involved in future Marathon of Sport Hamilton events. Her brother Mark Haggarty, who has down syndrome, has been involved with the Special Olympics since he was five years old. She has seen first-hand the positive influence the SOCF has had on his life, and has been involved with the organization either traveling around with him, volunteering or coaching on his swim team. Alexandria first heard about motionball while at Dalhousie University, and immediately knew she had to be involved. It was when she moved back to Ontario that she was able to bring her brother to the Toronto event to experience it for himself. After participating in Toronto, her brother, who is one of Mac student’s favourite employees at the David Braley Athletic Centre, could not wait for the event to come to his hometown. “We grew up in Hamilton, so he looked at me immediately and said ‘So when are we doing this in Hamilton?’” said Alexan-
dria. “So the following year we looked into being able to set it up in Hamilton.” Motionball has now held two events in Hamilton, and they have raised a total of $82,000 for the SOCF. “MotionballU is a great opportunity for students to get to know the charity,” said Alexandria. “Our hope is that once they graduate if they stay within the area, or even if they move to other cities, they can join on to the full Marathon of Sport events. Hopefully students that will graduate from McMaster will come join the Hamilton event as either volunteers, committee members or participants.” For students with a passion for sports and a heart for giving back to their community, getting involved with motionball’s Marathon of Sport events is the way to go. The successful McMaster event was hopefully the first of many for any Mac student who missed out. @jaaycarmichael
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SPORTS
Stunting like an all-star
As cheerleading makes its bid to join the Olympics, the McMaster cheer team prepares for nationals in a sport that gets less respect than it deserves Justin Parker Sports Editor
The term “sport” has been questioned lately as the definition is increasingly expanded to include many competitive physical activities that were never thought of as sports before. Where a sport begins and a game or hobby ends is often scrutinized by fans, with non-traditional sports often being excluded. However, the tide is changing. In Dec. 2016, cheerleading was granted provisional status as an Olympic event, along with Muay Thai. Both sports will have until 2019 to show the International Olympic Committee they have what it takes to make it to the worldwide event. For a relatively young sport that continues to evolve, cheerleading offers an exciting opportunity for the Olympics to gain a whole new demographic of fans tuning in to the festivities. For cheerleading itself, it gives the dedicated athletes
involved in the sport a new way to show the world how cheerleading is a sport — and a tough one at that. Christa Kocha, head coach of the McMaster cheerleading team, has been involved in the sport since 1998 and has seen it rapidly evolve since her time cheering for the Marauders. “A lot has changed since I was a cheerleader at Mac,” Kocha said. “The rules and how competitions are run have become very complicated, and they reflect the complications of the sports.” As explained by Kocha, cheerleading has come a long way from the old days of a group of students standing on the sidelines and leading cheers. Yet, as the sport has evolved, the name has remained the same. The name of the sport can be misleading as most cheerleaders do much more than just lead cheers. There are basically two major styles of cheerleading: collegiate cheerleading and all-star cheerleading. All-star cheerleading, which according to Kocha is the future of the
“
Keeping the crowd energized during a game is extremely important for any team, as any athlete can tell you. If a home crowd is quiet and disinterested, the whole idea of a home team advantage disappears. Christa Kocha Cheerleading coach
sport, is primarily focused on competitions that feature a lot of aerobic stunts including jumps, tumbling, dancing and flips. This is all choreographed into a two and a half minute routine and is marked not only on their difficulty and ability to perform it, but also the stylistic choices of the routine. Collegiate cheerleading also incorporates all of these stunts, but the cheerleaders on a university team also have to make sure they maintain and promote school spirit. “There is a huge difference between collegiate cheerleading and all-star cheerleading,” Kocha explained. “Collegiate cheerleading involves our team being out there on the field and leading cheers, getting school spirit going which isn’t always easy for a lot of all-star cheerleaders. They have to learn how to lead cheers in a crowd, which
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doesn’t seem like it is a big deal, but is hard because you have to be on for four hours, smiling and trying to get the crowd engaged, while also performing highly athletic stunts and tricks.” Nicole Parker, a second-year McMaster cheerleader, is one of many who now come into collegiate cheerleading from an all-star cheerleading gym. Parker also got involved in cheerleading in high school but decided to pursue it beyond that. “I always thought that it was something I was supposed to do when I went to high school,” said Parker, who has been cheerleading for six years. “When I would watch all of the movies I was like, ‘oh cheerleaders are the coolest’. When I did high school cheer, someone on the team did all-star cheerleading and said that I was really good and should consider doing it.” One of the most difficult challenges for collegiate cheerleaders is being able to balance the two styles, since the Marauders compete at all-star competitions during the year against other collegiate teams, like Western and Laurier, in addition to cheering along the sidelines. The team also attends extra events like the McMaster Children’s Hospital employee appreciation day or
events surrounding the 53rd Vanier Cup. Not to mention the regular academic pressures on any other student-athlete.
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You are lifting up people, and it is high intensity for two and a half minutes. You are running all over the place, flipping and stuff like that. It’s hard. Nicole Parker Cheerleader
“The toughest part is trying to balance everything and not bringing my stress from school or personal life to cheer practice,” said Parker. “I have two hours to practice and get everything done and not let my emotions get in the way with it.” Keeping the crowd energized during a game is extremely important for any team, as any athlete can tell you. If a home crowd is quiet and disinterested, the whole idea of a home team advantage disappears. Athletes feed off of the cheers and applause of the crowd and
sometimes the fans need a little help from the sidelines. In addition to the demands on the team off the field, the physical skill that is required to cheer is evident to anyone who has ever seen a cheer routine. “It requires you be physically fit and it’s hard,” said Parker. “You are lifting up people, and it is high intensity for two and a half minutes. You are running all over the place, flipping and stuff like that. It’s hard. Because there is a performance factor and looking nice is a factor, they think it should not be a sport because you are marked on if you’re smiling or not.” Cheerleading is currently classified as a club rather than a varsity team. In addition to public perceptions of cheerleading being considered a sport, there is currently no fully established governing body to help advocate its position. While one is in the works and starting to gain traction in the community, it has yet to fully take hold. This is due to the newness of the sport, especially in Canada. It is well on its way to joining the ranks of the traditional sports. “I always think it should be considered a varsity sport,” Kocha said. “I understand it is hard because we don’t have the proper governing bodies. There is a tight hold over varsity teams as I suppose there should be. You want to make sure the kids are safe and regulations are being followed and the brand is being represented properly.” Yet, not being considered a varsity sport also has its benefits and freedoms. “There are also a lot of benefits to it…. It’s hard,” Kocha added. “There are a lot of things I probably don’t understand with how things are run. And I know that a lot of other university teams that are club teams find a lot more
freedom in what they want to do. That’s not necessarily what I want for our team, but I think it is a really complicated situation. I think that is partly our job and our challenge as coaches and members in the community who are we going to do this and make this an actual sport.” Regardless of their classification, the team still competes regularly against other collegiate teams in level six categories. Level six cheerleading is the highest category of all-star cheerleading, featuring the most complex routines and challenging stunts. Mac’s program offers their athletes the opportunity to compete among the best in Canadian collegiate cheerleading while also allowing them time to focus on their life as a student. “It is a high-level team,” said Parker. “Level six is pretty difficult, but the good thing about Mac is that they balance your schooling. You are a student first so the competitions don’t interfere with midterms or exams. They give us breaks when exams are coming up and stuff like that.” To finish off the month, The Marauders will be competing in the Power Cheerleading Athletics Collegiate National Championship. Mac is coming off a fifth place finish last year in the small co-ed division, but this year will be competing in the larger all-girl category that features 10 teams. “We feel very prepared this year,” Kocha said. “It is always a challenge trying to create a really difficult routine in less than three months. Level six is hard because you are doing a lot of free flipping. So you want to make sure that it is safe for them, but it is challenging at the same time and they can do it. I think we put together
a pretty good routine that way this year.” “We feel pretty confident and I’m proud of the team this year,” Kocha added. “They’ve worked really hard through everything and I think it just shows in their routine. I hope we have a lot of fans there this year that would be great. We try to put on a really good show.” Whatever position the team places in, Kocha is proud of how well the team has integrated with the school community in recent years and represented school spirit in any setting. “I’m really happy how we have come together with the school community and I hope it continues that way,” Kocha said. “I really like having them at the games. I think it is really fun for them. I hope the school responds to it and joins in on the fun too.” At the end of the day, classifications become meaningless. It is not about what word you can point to in a dictionary that defines a sport. A sport is made up of the hard work, sweat and tears that are put into every hour spent preparing for each competition or game. It is defined by the teamwork displayed
on the field, court or mat in front of a rowdy cheering crowd. And ultimately, it is one of the few things that works to bring humanity together for one common goal. So whether you are watching or competing, just enjoy it. @justinparker81
GRANT HOLT / PRODUCTION COORDINATOR
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Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017 | www.thesil.ca
SPORTS
My time as a Marauder Fifth-year soccer player Sasha Ricciuti shares the five things being a Marauder taught him as his collegiate career comes to a close Sasha Ricciuti Contributor
When I started playing on the McMaster men’s soccer team, I did not realize how much I was about to learn over the next five years. To play on a team that exemplified what it means to be a hardworking and successful student-athlete transformed me into the best possible version of myself going into my graduating year. The things I have learned on and off the field will stick with me forever. These are just a few of the life lessons I’ve taken away from my time as a Marauder. You are always accountable for your actions If there is one thing I can say I underestimated going into my first year on the team, it was the importance of being accountable. Coaches Dino Perri, Joe Valvasori and Anthony Costa immediately taught me what it meant to be accountable, not only for my actions on the field but off the field as well. As student-athletes, we are representing the entire university every time we compete, wherever we travel. Thanks to them, I will never forget the importance of being the best version of myself at all times, no matter if somebody is watching. Being a student-athlete requires sacrifice Not many people truly understand the time commitment that it takes to be a student-athlete. I quickly learned how committed I had to be in the summer before my first year during the pre-season. Transitioning into the school year, we began practicing five times a week and playing in two games. We also had strength and conditioning training and weekly film sessions through November. This is not always easy as you have to learn to balance school work and having a social life. But irreplaceable moments like playing in a national final in my second year would not have been possible if it was not for those sacrifices. What it means to be a leader Having the captaincy my last year, I quickly learned that it is
much more than wearing the armband on the field. Having had the chance to play under coach Costa, who is a former Marauder, showed me what it really meant to be good leader. So when it was my turn to lead, I tried my best to model his leadership style. From team talks to handling the laundry to getting to know each rookie on a personal level, being a captain was one of the most important things I have done in my life and a skill I know I will use in the future. Your team becomes your family From my first year to my fifth year, the bonds I have made with everyone, from former players to my current teammates, are invaluable to me. As cliché as it sounds, I realized there is truly no “I” in team. We have seen each other at the best of times and the worst, and these friendships will hopefully last a lifetime. Being a Marauder is more than just the play on the field – we are one big family. Appreciate the memories The best team memory I have had would most likely be our playoff run in 2014 when we won a national silver medal, which has only been done once before in the program’s history. We finished second in the Ontario University Athletics West that year, and played Western in a grueling quarterfinal matchup where we won 1-0. We would then host the OUA Final Four that year, beating Ryerson in the semifinals in a penalty shootout that booked our ticket to nationals in Prince Edward
We have seen each other at the best of times and the worst, and these friendships will hopefully last a lifetime. Being a Marauder is more than just the play on the field – we are one big family.
Island. We would go on to win the national quarterfinal and semifinal in penalty shootouts, and play in the national final. Though we fell short losing 1-0 to York in the final, the perseverance we showed that year was outstanding and showed me from an early stage what it meant to be a Marauder. Another one of my most memorable moments would be scoring a hat trick against Guelph this year. During my five years at Mac, I have beaten every single team I have played against in our division – except for Guelph, who also knocked us out of the playoffs last year. I have also scored against every single team in my five years in our division – except for Guelph. Playing them at home for the first time this season, we would not only beat Guelph for the first time since 2012, but I was also able to score a hat trick in a 4-2 victory. We would also go on to beat Guelph two more times, 2-1 in Guelph and then 1-0 in the Ontario quarterfinal playoffs. That feeling of running down the field after the third goal was surreal, and was easily one of the most memorable moments of my life. So to anyone reading this, whether you are a rookie just starting your journey or are going into your last year as a Marauder, cherish every moment you have and make the most of every practice, game and playoff run. Learn to be accountable, make sacrifices, show leadership, build friendships and make memories. And by the end of your journey, you too will know what it means to be a Marauder.
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GERARD FOREPLAY Spice up your h*ck in’ love life with these emo -inspired tips and tricks C12
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HAMILTON SPECULATOR Growing moustaches since 1934
November 23, 2017
NOTSPEC.COM
Luxury finally arrives in Hamilton
An intimate atmosphere, appealing menu and loads of passion are sure to make Sybarite a Hamilton restaurant game-changer
Be sure to get a table before 4:30 p.m. or you might not get seated.
BEV PIQUANTE Still waiting for bougie Goldfish
Just last week, Sybarite, Hamilton’s newest vaguely European-inspired restaurant, opened its doors. From the moment they did, Hamiltonians could smell the change in the air. “It’s almost obnoxious,” said Stella Ola, owner of the restaurant two doors down, which is literally called Truffles and Caviar. “They’ve just weaseled their way in and they’re already stealing our business.” Much like every other trendy restaurant that has opened within the city limits in the last two years, Sybarite is located on what is being called Hamilton’s “Restaurant Row”. “We considered opening in Burlington,” said Amadeus
Sprite, the executive chef. “But we’re pretty urban and downtown, y’know? We get people and we get that they want to try new foods and combinations.” Squeezed between two other restaurants that serve meals that differ only slightly from those around it, Sybarite offers mouth-watering pork chops, grilled salmon and a $24 spinach salad for any vegetarians who stop by. Every entrée features at least one superfood or trend that peaked at least eight months ago. “I love adding goji berries to our braised beef tacos. It really brings out the kale and spinach in the tortillas we use,” Sprite said, nodding knowingly. “I went to chef school you know.” He was quick to add, how-
POLL: Where is your favourite place to eat? At home in my underwear
In the shower, eating oranges
2 a.m. drunk pizza in my residence
The ramen place that’s slightly fancier than the other one
Why would I eat out when I have a homegrown garden? Come on
Alone in the office
Anywhere cookies are offered
All of the above
ever, that Sybarite also offers meals for the less adventurous. “We’ve got the classics too, like our steak frites, but with a modern twist,” Sprite said. I was lucky enough to watch Sprite at work. He prepared the steak beautifully, and added a little extra black pepper at the end with a flourish to show off this modern twist. Like many of Hamilton’s other noteworthy restaurants, Sybarite boasts an in-house specialty: an inspired, somewhat confusing combination of leaves of kale on either side of an assortment of under-roasted vegetables, steak tartare and honey-wasabi braised shiitakes. The dish really dives into the philosophy of food. Called the “Is It a Sandwich?” the dish asks diners to stop and think; is it,
really, truly, a sandwich? Priced at a mere $19.50, you can’t afford to not find out. This concoction is not Sybarite’s only noteworthy draw. Chef Sprite was also insistent that the downtown core welcomes McMaster students to try out various spots, including, of course, Sybarite. “We love students here,” he said. “I would love to see more students come and check us out. We have so many great options for young people that shouldn’t set them back on their budgets too much.” It should be noted that entrees at Sybarite start at $16. Currently, the only student who spends time in the restaurant regularly is Kelly Horseman, a hostess. She earns minimum wage.
Tweets to the Editor I’ll show you how inclusive I am by shutting down all opinions I disagree with.
You better believe I am the Movember champion. Best ‘stache this side of Toronto.
- Jason, 34, enjoys hot takes and even hotter wings
- Timmy, 19, does not actually donate to anything
INSIDE WE DID NOT ACTUALLY EXPECT SO MANY OF YOU TO WANT TO LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE OR WANT TO LEAVE A COMMENT A2 MOVEMBER POP-TARTS AND OTHER TYPES OF SANDWICHES ARE REVIEWED B3 PRESS PAWS ON THIS ADORABLE YOUTUBE VIDEO SO YOU CAN LOOK AT THE DOGS LONGER C1 LOCAL PAPER DECLARED SULTAN OF TEMPTATION AFTER COVERS FEATURE BEER, WEED AND UNHEALTHY FOOD D3 MILD TAKES CONSIDERED TOO HOT, BUT HOT TAKES CONSIDERED TOO MILD IN TRAGIC TWIST D4 PER ISSUE: At least one request to permanently change “Humans of McMaster” to “Dogs of McMaster.” We are not that opposed to the idea.
Disclaimer: The Hamilton Speculator is a work of satire and fiction and should not under any circumstances be taken seriously. Just remember that this is all to distract you from the fact that a mutiny will soon overthrow the paper. Read next week for more info.