MSU Diversity + Equity Network to bring advocacy back to the streets, aiming to spark conversations on equity, diversity and inclusion on campus
On Mar. 11, 2025, the MSU Diversity and Equity Network announced on Instagram that the Diversity on the Street series, giving students a chance to win prizes while sharing their thoughts on campus life and diversity, equity and inclusion.
Diversity on the Street is an Instagram reels series that amplifies the voices and thoughts of McMaster University students on diversity and equity. In each episode, a DEN executive engages with students on campus, asking questions about equity, diversity and inclusion while also raising awareness about the services DEN provides.
This past month, DEN released the first episode of the series, titled "Hot Takes for Hot Chips," where they asked McMaster students to share their hottest takes. This episode aimed to celebrate the diversity of opinions within the community.
Aisha Mahmoud, a social and political advocacy coordinator for DEN, shared her experience working on the series and its goals. She explained that DEN aims to engage students in a way that is both interactive and reflective of popular social media formats. She also emphasized that the series aims to highlight the diversity of the McMaster community.
“DEN is a service that is still finding its identity. One of the best ways that we can show who we are to students is by creating a really authentic online presence, and just putting ourselves out there by actually meeting people,” said Mahmoud.
DEN is a service that is still finding its identity. One of the best ways that we can show who we are to students is by creating a really authentic online presence, and just putting ourselves out there by actually meeting people.
Aisha Mahmoud, Social and Political Advocacy Coordinator,
Diversity and Equity Network, McMaster Students Union
Mahmoud also noted that the second
She explained that previous videos focused on diversity, equity and inclusion but they did not seem to engage students in the way DEN had hoped. As a result, DEN sought to explore different ways of showcasing diversity through these interviews.
Mahmoud mentioned that the second episode was designed to engage students with a variety of musical genres and introduce them to new artists or cultures.
“The idea is that by asking the next student to rate the previous song, we’ll be introducing them to a genre, artist, or culture they haven’t interacted with before,” said Mahmoud.
Mahmoud shared that the third episode was inspired by DEN’s recent mandate
“Everything we thought of [for the episodes] was still informed by celebrating and showcasing the diversity on campus, but maybe in ways that people wouldn’t necessarily expect,” said Mahmoud.
She emphasized that the goal was to record the videos in places where students already gather and feel comfortable, such as the McMaster University Student Centre and The Hub.
Mahmoud also shared her vision for expanding the series.
“It would be really cool if we continued this style of interviews at ClubFest, going around and introducing some of the cultural clubs or diverse groups in a street interview style,” said Mahmoud.
She also noted that they wanted to create a legacy for the series, ensuring that despite turnover from the academic year with new members joining and executive members graduating, the series would remain a consistent presence.
“We want to have a recurring series so that the identity of the service and our social media presence has one consistent throughline despite that turnover,” said Mahmoud.
The next two episodes will be released in the coming weeks. For more information and to watch the series, students can follow DEN on Instagram.
MSU's Diversity + Equity Network releases the findings of its research on student perspectives on racism and belonging at McMaster University
On Jan. 31, 2025, the McMaster Students Union’s Diversity + Equity Network announced the release of findings from its research study titled Understanding Student Perspectives: Racism, Belonging and Discrimination in an Ontario University Environment.
The study was conducted in collaboration with DEN’s student research team and professor Jeffrey Denis from the faculty of social sciences. It examined student experiences with racism at McMaster to inform efforts to create a more inclusive campus.
In the fall of 2023, DEN ran an Instagram poll asking followers if they had experienced discrimination on campus. Of the approximately 120 students who responded, 43 per cent reported experiencing racism.
Leilani Xue, a third-year sociology student and assistant director of DEN who worked on the research study, told The Silhouette that first-year students reported the highest instances of racism.
Xue noted that, upon reviewing other research studies on university campuses, the team identified a lack of open discussion and information about racism and discrimination at the undergraduate level. This, combined with the poll results, prompted the development of a larger research study examining how students of diverse backgrounds experience belonging, perceive discrimination and racism, and how these perceptions shape their overall comfort and sense of safety on campus.
From March 1 to 22, 2024, DEN’s research team collected 283 survey responses. The survey explored participants’ demographics, personal experiences with racism or discrimination, instances where they had witnessed racism, and their awareness of and satisfaction with campus services and resources.
The finalized report found that 16 per cent of students reported personal experiences with racism, while 37 per cent reported having witnessed it on campus.
Middle Eastern or West Asian students, followed by Black students, were most likely to report experiences of racism. Black, Middle Eastern, Latin American and South Asian students were most likely to report witnessing it.
Among religious groups, Jewish and Muslim students were the most likely to report experiencing discrimination, followed by Sikh and Hindu students, who reported feeling more affected than Christians or those without religious affiliations.
Most students who experienced racism said it significantly impacted their mental health, while many were unaware of campus resources. Those who knew about them often did not use them or report incidents.
Most students who experienced racism said it significantly impacted their mental health, while many were unaware of campus resources.
The report also provides recommendations for McMaster University to foster a more inclusive campus. These include increasing diversity among faculty, staff and university leadership and encouraging instructors to diversify curriculum content and discuss available resources. The team also suggested evaluating anti-racism and cultural competency training initiatives and raising awareness of the reporting process for racial discrimination.
Now, DEN’s research team is preparing for a second phase of research, set to launch between March and April 2025. This new study will collect qualitative data through focus groups, allowing researchers to engage directly with students, particularly those who identify as Black, Indigenous or as people of colour.
“Our first study helped us get a general understanding of [racism and discrimination on campus] . . . but now we want to actually talk to students and hear about their experiences on a lived experience level,” said Xue.
Our first study helped us get a general understanding of [racism and discrimination on campus] . . . but now we want to actually talk to students and hear about their experiences on a lived experience level.
Leilani Xue, Associate Director
Diversity + Equity Network
Their goal for this second study is to collaborate with students, faculty and staff on campus to inform inclusive, student-centred policy changes.
The full study, published earlier this year, can be read online. For more information about DEN and the work it does, interested students can visit its website and Instagram.
Despite the impacts of slavery that still permeate today, the richness of Black history deserves to be platformed and taught
As a Black person, when I was younger, I never questioned who we were before slavery. However, I had a general understanding that most people, including myself, saw Black history largely through the lens of slavery, its repercussions and the decades of institutionalized and systemic racism that followed.
As I grew older, I began to question this narrative and way of thinking, especially as I became increasingly drained by the constant stream of racist content and controversial debates in the news and on social media.
These debates often force people to relive and explain the pain they’ve endured to ignorant audiences who refuse to understand that we don’t want to live with this reality. Yet, we are forced to learn it, endure it and overcome it, only to explain it again and again.
Even when it wasn’t blatant racism, the ongoing discussions about issues like racial disparities in health care, beauty industries or employment felt exhausting. While extremely important, I felt these conversations would continue to go in circles without addressing the root issue: education about Black history, or rather, the lack thereof.
Education boards and universities must reflect the crucial perspectives that only Black people or people of colour can provide. If an educational institution is to adequately deliver education about marginalized communities, it is essential that it includes marginalized voices.
Misunderstandings and a lack of awareness of Black history highlight an education system that overlooks these vital topics in primary, secondary and post-secondary education. Correcting misrepresented history and integrating accurate, comprehensive accounts of Black and BIPOC experiences could shift these often polarizing debates toward a more informed, constructive dialogue that fosters understanding and empathy.
Many Western countries profited from slavery and to this day profit from the work of immigrants. The enduring consequences have left other countries economically disadvantaged following the era of colonialism. Yet, the knowledge of how our ancestors survived before these traumatic events is rarely discussed or acknowledged. Why is this important history so often left out of mainstream conversations?
Black history, both before and after slavery, is vast. Its influence continues to shape the world today in countless ways.
Including Black history before slavery in education could help humanize Black communities by shifting the narrative from one of pity to one of strength and depth. It would show just how devastating the impact of slavery was, highlighting the rich cultures and histories that were interrupted.
Including Black history before slavery in education could help humanize Black communities by shifting the narrative from one of pity to one of strength and depth.
The more Black history is omitted from education, the more I question whether there is genuine intent to create change. Black history should not be confined to Black people; it is part of the broader history of humanity and must be taught to everyone. A country that profits off a community’s culture and boasts diversity should teach the full history.
Black history should not be confined to Black people; it is part of the broader history of humanity and must be taught to everyone.
Including this history would help us better understand concepts like cultural appropriation versus cultural appreciation. It would create a space for other BIPOC communities to also share their histories. Canada, as a diverse nation, is home to vastly different lived experiences based on race, and this diversity is not accurately reflected in the education system.
History is essential because it shapes our present. Without understanding our history—its beliefs, systems and laws—we are doomed to repeat the same mistakes. Slavery and colonization left deep scars on BIPOC communities, dismantling Black culture in profound ways—economically, systemically and culturally.
But what was taken from us? How did our ancestors live before slavery? What were the beauty standards? What religions did we practice? How was wealth measured, and who was considered wealthy?
These questions should be explored in more classrooms at all levels of education—not only in Black history courses but across various disciplines. This is not just to uplift or educate Black students, but to offer a new perspective to non-Black communities and highlight the beauty of Black cultures that existed before they were nearly erased by the colonial period.
It is time to make these discussions more productive and less divisive.
The McMaster Okanagan Office of Health & Well-being and Student Wellness Centre invited the community to explore new ways to support mental well-being
Thrive Week at McMaster has been celebrated annually since 2018. Each year, McMaster Okanagan Office of Health & Well-being and Student Wellness Centre dedicates a week to raising awareness and fostering conversations about mental health. This year's initiative took place from Jan. 27 to 31, 2025. Students, faculty, staff and alumni came together to participate in a variety of events focused on supporting mental well-being.
Thrive Week was organized in partnership with other campus organizations. For example, on Monday, Jan. 27, the libraries hosted an event called Library Pets at the Connection Centre in Mills Library.
Participants had the chance to interact with therapy dogs, offering a moment of relaxation and connection through animal companionship. This event was designed to provide a break from academics and an opportunity to de-stress, as studies have shown that spending time with animals can reduce stress.
On Tuesday, Jan. 28, another pet therapy event was held: Pet Therapy Visit with Biscuit. Students were invited to visit the dog Biscuit in the Health Sciences Library for some downtime and to experience the mental health benefits of interacting with therapy animals. To see more of Biscuit in the 2025 Winter term you can visit the PGCLL room 201 in the wellness lounge at these specific dates.
Another notable event on Jan. 28 was the Queer Study Buddies: Create Your Own Bookmark session. This event, a part of the ongoing Queer Study Buddies initiative, was held in a safe and supportive space in Mills Memorial Library for students from the 2SLGBTQ+ community to take a break from stress. Attendees could make personalized bookmarks while relaxing and all supplies were provided.
Wednesday, Jan. 29, featured an event titled How Can We Support the Mental Wellbeing of Ourselves and Others, hosted by Women & Gender Equity Network. This session offered practical strategies for supporting both personal and collective mental health. The event emphasized the importance of creating a supportive environment and included a discussion on the concept of collective care, a practice focused on communal support for mental well-being.
The event emphasized the importance of creating a supportive environment and included a discussion on the concept of collective care, a practice focused on communal support for mental well-being
Later that day, the McMaster Museum of Art hosted a Collage Button Making Workshop. Participants were given a tour of the Ascending Horizons exhibition before taking part in the button-making activity. This hands-on workshop allowed attendees to engage creatively while providing an opportunity for social interaction and stress relief.
On Thursday, Jan. 30, the Student Wellness Centre Health Promotion team organized a Sunset & Hot Cocoa Walk from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., beginning at the Peter George Centre for Living and Learning. Participants were encouraged to bring their own mugs to reduce plastic waste as they walked and enjoyed hot cocoa while watching the sunset. This outdoor event promoted relaxation, physical activity and environmental consciousness.
Thrive Week concluded on Friday, Jan. 31, with the McMaster Social Science Society Wellness Fair in the McMaster University Student Centre Atrium. This wellness fair featured a range of activities and wellness resources, allowing students to explore different ways to support their mental health. Participants could engage in activities such as gratitude crafts and bracelet making and visit booths set up by various campus wellness organizations.
Throughout the week, the events provided a diverse mix of opportunities aimed at promoting mental well-being for students to engage in. Whether through creative outlets, social interactions, or therapeutic experiences, Thrive Week highlighted the importance of taking time to care for one’s mental health.
Thrive Week highlighted the importance of taking time to care for one’s mental health.
To learn more about Thrive Week, McMaster Okanagan Office of Health & Well-being, the Student Wellness Centre and their resources to support students' mental well-being, you can visit their websites.
This year's annual IRISE Conference will explore how to create better healthcare through racial equity, medical justice and amplifying Black voices in the field
The Black Aspiring Physicians of McMaster will host their seventh annual iRISE Conference on Jan. 25, 2025. This year the conference will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in L.R. Wilson Hall room 1055 at McMaster University and focuses on the theme of decolonizing patient care.
BAP-MAC is an MSU club that promotes inclusivity & supports Black students aspiring to work in the healthcare field. Harmela Celestin, co-president of BAP-MAC, explained the role of their club.
"We're basically a resource to connect students to different opportunities and provide mentorship to help cultivate the skills and competencies that they need to pursue their aspirations in healthcare. And we don't limit ourselves to medicine, even though we are the Black Aspiring Physicians," said Celestin.
Akudo Eze-Onuorah, another co-president of BAP-MAC, spoke about the large turnout the conference receives each year. "It ranges from 90 to 120," said Eze-Onuorah.
The conference is open to everyone and tickets are available for purchase to the general public.
"Everyone is invited, the good thing about our conference is that we base it in aspiration towards health care like healthcare professions . . . We want our audience to be reflective of a community who is striving towards a more equitable healthcare landscape," said Celestin.
We want our audience to be reflective of a community who is striving towards a more equitable healthcare landscape.
Harmela Celestin, Co-President
Black Aspiring Physicians of McMaster
Attendees can expect a full itinerary of both professional and student panels, a keynote speaker, networking opportunities, workshops, breakfast, lunch and LinkedIn headshots. "Early bird tickets are going on now. It's six dollars and 70 cents and then after the early bird sale it's going to be eight dollars," said Celestin.
Dr. Onye Nnorom is this year's keynote speaker. The student panelists are Danielle Pinder who is a first-year medical student at McMaster University, Fatim Kalogo who is a first-year student in the physician assistant program at McMaster University and Lulwama Mulalu who is a Global Health PhD candidate.
The professional panelists are Dionne Sinclair who is a chief nursing executive, Dr. Kwasi Nkansah who is an emergency medicine resident and Hillaree Alliman who is a registered psychotherapist.
"We're going to be asking them questions as a panel that are related to our theme of decolonizing patient care. Now they [student panelists] will offer a student perspective as people who are more relatable to our undergraduate audience and our high school audience and offer their perspectives as people pursuing their degrees before we go into another panel later in the day of professionals who are currently practicing in the healthcare field," said Celestin.
There will be two workshops that provide attendees with the opportunity to get more hands on experience, including a suture workshop.
"We bring in practicing physicians to instruct a workshop where students have the opportunity to actually suture themselves, they learn how to suture and how to do different suturing procedures on suturing kits that we provide them . . . in addition to that, new to this year we have a workshop with a specific organization called African, Caribbean and Black Organ Health. So we're going to have students interact with a donor transplant case study and kind of speak directly with that or explore the patient interaction experience," said Celestin.
Celestin discussed the significance of hosting the conference annually. "We have the iRISE Conference every year to increase the awareness of these different professions to connect students with professionals who are currently leaders in their fields. And really just to showcase and celebrate all the different black leaders who are innovators in their fields and were pursuing different themes that align with our iRISE Conference," said Celestin.
Eze-Onuorah explained the importance of iRISE being open to all races when engaging in this year's theme of decolonizing patient care.
"We want to make this open to everybody because we feel it shouldn't be just Black people talking about Black people's issues. This should be discussed everywhere so people are knowledgeable. Because we say that the people that are non-BIPOC don't know about BIPOC issues. But if we keep segregating ourselves and not let them know about our issues, how would they know. How would they get information when it's not given to them . . . everyone's invited to come for iRISE so that they can hear about issues that might not just be very visible to them.," said Eze-Onuorah.
We want to make this open to everybody because we feel it shouldn't be just Black people talking about Black people's issues. This should be discussed everywhere so people are knowledgeable.
Akudo Eze-Onuorah, Co-President
Black Aspiring Physicians of McMaster
Eze-Onuorah discussed what she hopes resonates with attendees. "I want them to walk out of the conference, knowing that there's more than just medicine. Because before I thought that being a physician was working in hospital and it was nurse or doctor period . . . If there is anything I want them to know, [it is] that there are more different ways that they could help people," said Eze-Onuorah.
If you are interested in what the conference has to offer, you can buy your ticket online and enjoy a full day of thought-provoking discussions, inspiring journeys, hands-on workshops and more. You can keep up with BAP-MAC's Instagram for more details on the conference and future opportunities to aid your academic experience at McMaster.
SWHAT hosts Walk-A-Thon to support Interval House of Hamilton, donating $1 for every walk in November
Each November, the Student Walk Home Attendant Team hosts a Walk-A-Thon, where they contribute $1.00 for every walk conducted during the month to a local charity. This November, SWHAT will be raising funds for the Interval House of Hamilton shelter, which provides support services to women, with and without children, who have experienced abuse or violence.
SWHAT is a McMaster Student Union volunteer service which walks home students who live on and off campus. The service operates seven days a week from 7:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m., running from September to April. When students request a SWHAT walk, the service will send two volunteers to escort students to their destination. SWHAT walkers are equipped with a flashlight, radio and umbrella if needed.
SWHAT is located on the second floor of the McMaster University Student Centre in room 234. To request a walk, students can visit MUSC 234 during operating hours, schedule a walk by booking online or call SWHAT at 905-525-9140, extension 27500. On the request form, SWHAT indicates that all information will be kept confidential.
Jonathan Guan, the coordinator of SWHAT, spoke to the Silhouette about this year’s Walk-A-Thon, highlighting SWHAT’s goals to raise both awareness and funds for Interval House of Hamilton. “November is already our busiest month. So we figured it would be a great opportunity to also push a campaign, not only to increase visibility for SWHAT but also to support a local cause”, said Guan.
November is already our busiest month. So we figured it would be a great opportunity to also push a campaign, not only to increase visibility for SWHAT but also to support a local cause.
Jonathan Guan, Co-ordinator
SWHAT
In last year’s Walk-A-Thon, Guan noted that SWHAT donated approximately $200.00 to Niwasa Kendaaswin Teg, a local charity that offers programs and services to Indigenous populations in Hamilton, Brantford and the surrounding areas. Guan also expressed hope that SWHAT would meet or surpass this amount in donations for this year’s event.
One challenge that Guan highlighted is that as the colder months set in, students tend to book fewer walks. “Whenever I hear people becoming hesitant, I’m like, don’t worry about it. This is why we’re here. We are all in the office, eager to go on walks so don’t let the cold weather be a dissuading factor to the booking,” said Guan.
Whenever I hear people becoming hesitant, I’m like, don’t worry about it. This is why we’re here. We are all in the office, eager to go on walks so don’t let the cold weather be a dissuading factor to the booking.
Jonathan Guan, Co-ordinator
SWHAT
In addition to the Walk-A-Thon, SWHAT has launched a weekly initiative called SWHot Chocolate in Mills Library, every Wednesday from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. During this time, volunteers and executives provide small cups of free hot chocolate to students while also raising awareness about SWHAT’s services.
To participate in the Walk-A-Thon, students are encouraged to book walks online, by phone or stopping by in-person.
Students donated their hair at halftime during the Shoot for the Cure women's basketball game
On Jan. 17, McMaster Athletes Care hosted their Shoot for the Cure initiative aimed towards awareness and fundraising for breast cancer research.
The event comes as the 17th annual edition run by the national U Sports organization to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society and additional related charities. Last year, collective efforts by U Sports and Canadian university sports teams and communities helped to bring in a total of $115,000.
The event comes as the 17th annual edition run by the national U Sports organization to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society and additional related charities.
This season, the McMaster University women’s basketball team set up a fundraising page on the CCS website to donate pledges towards research for improving cancer treatments, prevention and support services.
On Jan. 17, the Marauders hosted the University of Guelph Gryphons in a match at Burrduge Gymnasium in Hamilton. During halftime of the women’s basketball game, volunteers received haircuts to help support the initiative.
During halftime of the women’s basketball game, volunteers received haircuts to help support the initiative.
Along with the haircuts, t-shirts were also sold for $15 by McMaster Athletes Care, with proceeds going towards the CCS.
The Shoot for the Cure event will run from Jan. 17 to 31. Donations can be made generally to the CCS or towards registered Shoot for the Cure participants and teams through their website. So far, the Nipissing University Lakers have raised the most money across participating universities, collecting $3,541.06 out of their $5,000 goal.
Per the CCS’ Impact page, donations will go towards funding cancer research, government and policy advocacy and developing a country-wide cancer support system.
By: Neda Pirouzmand
On March 18, Bridges Café unveiled its new “Cards for Humanity” student program.
“Cards” refer to one dollar donations that students can make at checkout in the café. Each donation will go towards a future student’s purchase.
There is a one hundred dollar cap on donations so that funds do not accumulate.
Chris Roberts, director of McMaster Hospitality Services, described the program as user-friendly.
“It’s quite simple. Donate a dollar when you can, or use a dollar when you need it,” he said. “Anyone can donate to the project when purchasing a meal and students can use up to three dollars at a time towards their food purchase.”
Roberts attributes the idea for the program to a McMaster student.
“A student had seen something similar at the 541 Eatery and believed it would be a good way to help students with food accessibility challenges,” Roberts said. “Hospitality Services was supportive of the idea and we have worked hard to get the program elements in place.”
541 Eatery & Exchange is a Hamilton café that uses a pay it forward initiative to give all community members a place at the table.
Café customers can donate a dollar to buy a button, and future customers can use buttons towards their meal.
It should be noted that the program will be funded exclusively via McMaster students, not the university. This may make it less sustainable in the long-term as the successes of the program will be contingent on students’ ability and willingness to donate.
In addition, pay it forward initiatives have the drawback of being vulnerable to abuse.
Students can use cards for humanity donations regardless of whether or not they face food insecurity because there exist no restrictions on program eligibility.
However, Roberts is not focused on those who may try to abuse the system. He maintains that the pilot program’s success will depend on whether it addresses food insecurity and raises awareness for postsecondary food insecurity in Canada.
“There are students who could come and use the program but they don’t because they tell me that they would rather give than receive,” said a Bridges employee named Maggie.
Roberts does not see this initiative expanding in the future as he hopes that the support provided from Bridges will meet the needs of students on campus.
The smooth operation of this program will depend on goodwill. If students do not abuse the program, donations will be allocated towards those who need them the most.
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By: Brian Zheng
Since I started at McMaster University in 2014, I’ve been involved with the McMaster Students Union, from involvement with a presidential campaign to eventually being elected on the Student Representative Assembly. I quit the SRA six months in.
When I started, I was handed several documents to help me understand the MSU and my role within it. Even after two training sessions and reading multiple documents, I still didn’t have a clear understanding of the possibilities within my role.
This is due to the sheer volume of functions the MSU oversees. The MSU consists of over 30 different business units and services, along with individual committees that address issues affecting the 20,000+ undergraduate students represented by the union.
Along with this, there are 35 student representatives from each faculty that make up the SRA. These students are elected each year, based hopefully on their platform points.
With the diversity of functions that exist within the MSU, keeping track of the hundreds of members involved is more than a full-time job; hence, the existence of four full-time student jobs, the board of directors, dedicated to managing all these portfolios.
So, if a potential SRA candidate wants to grasp this wealth of information, it would require them to sift through an incredibly disorganized website, spend hours reading jargon-riddled meeting minutes and likely set-up meetings with a few SRA members.
It’s no secret that the SRA struggles with transparency. The point is, it is not easy to disseminate information about the MSU, let alone in a format that’s easily digestible by students.
But is this the reason why candidates continuously repeat previous or unfeasible platform points? I don’t think so.
The reason why the average student doesn’t understand the MSU has little to do with the disorganization of the information. Instead, students’ lack of awareness is due to the existence of the elitist culture rampant within the SRA.
During my time involved with the MSU, I’ve noticed several condescending statements released both publicly and privately ridiculing the SRA candidate pool.
For example, a current SRA member, on their public twitter stated, “If I hear extended library hours as a platform point one more time I’m gonna lose it”.
In a separate instance, during last year’s SRA elections, another heavily-involved MSU member wrote as their Facebook status, “Lol, @SRA candidate saying that the MSU should make job descriptions, we are doomed”.
These are only a few public statements made by elected members that dramatically contribute to the MSU bubble that many of the same individuals supposedly ran to help dissolve.
After releasing these statements, SRA members had the audacity to wonder why such a limited number of candidates reached out to consult their platform points.
It is important to note that while these factors alone don’t contribute to the unapproachability of the SRA, the public ridicule of students aspiring to volunteer their time is equivalent to schoolyard bullying and needs to stop.
While it is more than possible to develop comprehensive platform points without the help of current and previous assembly members, it is so much more difficult given the overwhelming disorganization of the available information.
Unfortunately, not everyone has the time to sort through the disorganized mess. The inaccessibility of this information can be easily tested by simply trying to figure out where to find the most recent SRA meeting minutes.
Candidates aren’t reaching out, not because they don’t want to, but because the assembly does not appear to be an approachable group. The MSU does not reflect the welcoming environment that it boasts, and as a result, candidates are more likely to run on limited information. Hence, the epidemic of repeated and unfeasible platform points.
Over the years, I have constantly heard the notion that the lack of student engagement within the MSU is a result of apathy on the student end. Maybe it’s about time the assembly made it worth students’ time.
Halfway through my term, I left my seat on the SRA. This was not because I couldn’t learn about the organization, but because I didn’t feel like being ridiculed for not knowing.
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By: Jackie McNeill
When I had friends over as a kid, I would pull my mom aside after a few hours and ask, “When are they going to leave?” It’s not that I wasn’t having fun — I loved seeing my friends, but this time with others never failed to become draining and leave me with a need for some alone time.
While I once thought this desire to be alone was abnormal and unhealthy, as I got older I learned to take advantage of it to promote self-improvement. Left alone with just my thoughts, I’ve had the opportunity to think critically about who I am as a person, what I like about myself and what I want to do better.
Learning about who I was, both outside and inside of my relationships with others, and working to better myself has helped to increase my self-esteem exponentially over years of self-reflection.
I’ve experienced how this increase in self-esteem has aided my relationship with myself, but studies show that it can also benefit the way we interact with others.
Megan McCarthy, a professor in the department of psychology at the University of Waterloo, suggests that people with low self-esteem are more likely to stay in unhappy relationships with others, resulting from their resistance to recognize and address problems.
“People with a more negative self-concept often have doubts and anxieties about the extent to which other people care about them,” explained McCarthy.
The self-concept is our idea of self, constructed through a combination of our own beliefs about ourselves and how others respond to us. A negative self-concept, then, can cause someone to assume negative reactions towards them and therefore avoid confrontation or conflict as a defense against these assumptions being actualized.
So, an increase in self-esteem can certainly improve romantic relationships, but those are not the only relationships we experience. Every interaction we have, be it with friends, family, or even our co-workers, can benefit from the practice of self-love and self-care.
Time alone also increases communication with the self through self-awareness. When I spend time alone, my own thoughts, feelings and desires become my priority. This has helped me realize that communicating with myself should remain a priority throughout my life, including when I interact with others, paving the way for honest and open relationships.
In addition, being self-aware has allowed me to be more receptive of others’ thoughts, feelings and desires, which may reflect similar concerns or insecurities that I possess. By reflecting upon the self, we can become more sensitive and considerate towards the people we build relationships with.
It is important to note that my idea of alone is not one size fits all. Spending time alone can simply mean loneliness for some people, and as a Psychology Today article explains this can lead to anxieties, depression, or reminders of loss and abandonment.
McMaster University’s Prof. Tara Marshall illustrates this idea through the example of a breakup.
“After a breakup, people who are more secure in relationships and have higher self-esteem are more likely to desire some time alone,” explained Marshall.
“They may engage in some personal growth-enhancing experiences. People high in anxious attachment, on the other hand, desire to go on the rebound after a breakup,” she added.
Marshall went on to explain that humans are social by nature and we have a need to belong to social groups as our survival has depended on it throughout history. So it is important to balance time spent alone with socialization, just as it’s important to get to know yourself and what will work well for your own self-esteem.
The point of this time spent alone is to improve your feelings about yourself, but also to use this to positively affect your relationships with others. What works for me won’t work for everyone, but maybe by sharing my experience others will venture to learn more about themselves and how they interact with others.
Of course, when trying to self-reflect as a student several issues present themselves. Our days are packed with studying, interactions with peers everywhere on campus, trying to balance friends, a job, finishing that essay and visiting family; our minds never get a break.
So how do you get some quiet time in a busy day? Try the silent study in Mills— it’s a great way to ease yourself into being alone because you’re surrounded by other students, but everyone is focused on their own work. There’s no opportunity for socialization to distract you from yourself.
Sitting still can be difficult, so go for a walk alone in a quiet neighbourhood. No phone calls or music, just reflect on that day or what’s to come and make an effort to think positively.
If these options take too much time, go to bed 20 minutes earlier than usual and let your mind wander while trying some deep breathing. This can help ease stress and relax your mind, leaving it open for reflection.
This time alone allows you to drop what Psychology Today calls your “social guard.” Pay attention to how you behave alone and compare it to how you behave around others, and maybe work to let some of your “alone” self bleed into your public persona.
Whether you crave alone time like me or not, we can all benefit from a bit of self-reflection to better our relationship with ourselves and others. Self-awareness and the resulting higher self-esteem make an impact on the way we interact with others, and can keep our relationships open, honest and healthy.
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