Since 2020, the Black BHSc association has been a rapidly growing organization that breaks racial barriers and provides opportunities to promote black excellence
By Patricia Marcelo
The Black BHSc Association was created by a group of black BHSc students with the goal of fostering a supportive environment among current and prospective black BHSc students. In 2021, black students made up 2 per cent of the BHSc population. After almost 4 years, the number of black students in the BHsc program has nearly doubled.
President of the BBA executive team Alador Bereketab explained how the BBA works to address challenges faced by black BHSc students and create meaningful change to make the program more inclusive.
“With every BBA student, there is a reason why they are in the BHsc program. We’re planning these events because as BHsc students we have a platform to do something… we recognize this privilege of having funding and resources so we want to use what we have and bring opportunities to other groups,” said Bereketab.
The BBA has conducted much outreach and hosted many events such as a high school information night, a BBA study night, and a Tote and Toast evening, all to break down barriers for black students and improve transparency for black students to realize different health care opportunities.
To commemorate the end of Black History Month, the BBA hosted a Black Health Conference on Feb. 29. This is the second conference of its kind hosted by the BBA and allows current black students to network with black McMaster alumni and other black healthcare professionals.
Bereketab showed great excitement prior to the event, anticipating 60 students to attend.
“The BBA team is an incredible group of students that have created a community that is unique to a lot of different spaces. Bringing events like the Black Health Conference is giving students beyond the BBA exec team that experience and sense of community and connections with other students and alumni who went through similar experiences.” said Bereketab.
The first keynote speaker was Begna Dugassa, an established public health nutritionist, researcher and author. Dugassa shared how his experiences in Ethiopia and education in the USSR have led to his current work in public health.
Dugassa works to understand how the history of colonialism and inequities influence health in marginalized groups. He has made aware of this career opportunity that allows black BHsc students to take their experiences and integrate it into health care and social justice.
Following Dugassa, the BBA introduced Ida-Maisie Famiyeh, a first year medical student at University of Toronto. Famiyeh spoke on the challenges she faces as a mother and how turning to faith during her struggles helped her develop the resilience to pursue medicine.
Famiyeh shared how becoming a mom drove her to become a strong advocate for health care, especially for loved ones.
Famiyeh encouraged students wishing to pursue medicine to turn all experiences including struggles into motivation to continue their undergraduate journey and to become better physicians.
The final guest speaker was Dr Semir Bulle, a current psychiatry resident at the University of Toronto and the former co-president of the Black Medical Students’ Association.
Dr. Bulle specifically spoke about his advocacy for zero-gun violence in Toronto. He shared stories of black individuals who are victims of gun violence and did not receive justice. Dr. Bulle’s take home message to students was to seek outreach opportunities to promote better education and resource accessibility.
The conference concluded with a networking event that allowed black students to connect with the speakers as well as nine black BHsc alumni. The alumni provided insight on how they dealt with challenges in their careers and how they overcame them. This period provided current black Bhsc students to connect with alumni and healthcare professionals that have similar experiences.
Marie-Claire Kapesa, a student who attended the conference, shared how the conference impacted her.
As an ex-member of the BBA, Kapesa also praised the current BBA team.
“It makes me emotional seeing the black health science students and the community they were able to build. I didn’t have that in my first year and it’s heartwarming to see the friendships and support that they have been able to give each other throughout and the legacy they have created.” said Kapesa.
More information about the BBA can be found on the BHSc Program’s website. Their instagram also posts information about any upcoming events.
C/O McMaster Sports Business Association
MSBA’s yearly industry conference is quickly approaching and this year's concept is looking like a winner
The McMaster Sports Business Association’s sports industry conference is back, this time taking place on March 22 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The annual conference, which has become a mainstay for the MSBA, is something that the organization is extremely proud of and excited to offer to McMaster students looking for opportunities in sports.
Presidents Jared Bertrim and Tenzin Choney spoke very optimistically when discussing the upcoming event, stating that it is something that their entire executive team had dedicated themselves to. There’s a reason that this is the pillar event for the MSBA.
“This is our flagship event — it’s the one we put the most time and effort into at the end of the year. It’s a three-hour long conference. In the past we’ve had it in person, due to COVID this year unfortunately we have to have it online. We’re still going to have a great lineup of guests through three different panels,” said Bertrim.
“This is our flagship event — it’s the one we put the most time and effort into at the end of the year. It’s a three-hour long conference. In the past we’ve had it in person, due to COVID this year unfortunately we have to have it online. We’re still going to have a great lineup of guests through three different panels."
Jared Bertrim, MSBA Co-President
The guest speaker panel this year features three primary sections; sports marketing, sports finance and a McMaster alumni panel. The MSBA aims to provide insight and opportunity for their members through this event by offering an elite group of speakers in each of these sections. Each section will have an allotted time of 50 minutes. Each panel will feature guests with interesting knowledge and perspectives to share.
“Those attending can expect an interactive event. I know we’ve all probably been to a lot of Zoom meetings or conferences where we sit back and listen, but we’re looking forward to being very interactive, where we have workshops [and] where you can work in breakout rooms . . . A big feature as a whole is the question-and-answer periods — that’s where we find students get the most value,” said Bertrim.
Of the three sections, both presidents seem to agree that the alumni panel is the one they are most looking forward to. It is a newbie section to the conference, but one that will surely be of interest to many students.
“This is actually our first year that we’re doing the McMaster alumni panel. The MSBA is six or seven years old and in the past we haven’t had that deep of an alumni network to pull from, to get speakers from. Now that we have a couple past presidents, a couple past McMaster students, we’re excited to have that panel,” explained Bertrim.
Choney also expressed her excitement for the new panel, explaining how interesting it will be to follow the journey of past McMaster students and past club members. It is largely viewed as an opportunity for current students to see the steps that alumni with similar academic or career aspirations have taken to get themselves into a position of success in the sports industry.
“This year it’s going to be super exciting because of the alumni panel. We get to ask them how they started at McMaster to where they are now, so kind of following along their journey after grad,” said Choney.
"I think this year it’s going to be super exciting because of the alumni panel. We get to ask them how they started at McMaster to where they are now, so kind of following along their journey after grad."
Tenzin Choney, MSBA Co-President
Although they are disappointed to have to host the conference online this year, they are happy to reap the benefits of a virtual conference, for example drawing in large crowds of student audiences.
“In the past we’ve stuck to local Hamilton guests, who have been great, but this year we get to go further and beyond. One of our panel alumni members works in Montreal right now for their hockey team, so we’re excited to have some further stretched members join our event,” explained Bertrim.
With the school year nearing a close, the MSBA is hoping to cap it off on a high note with their industry conference. Exams are a stressful time for nearly everyone and an event like this could be a great way to relieve some stress and enjoy it.
“We usually like to end the year with a bang. Exams are around the corner, so we want to end the year great,” said Choney.
“We usually like to end the year with a bang. Exams are around the corner, so we want to end the year great."
Tenzin Choney, MSBA Co-President
Speakers have not yet been announced, but will continue to be revealed as the date of the conference arrives. Those interested in attending must purchase club membership for five dollars. More information can be found on the club’s social media accounts on Instagram or Facebook.
Virtual conferences have helped some students feel connected to the community during the pandemic
C/O Alexandra Koch on Pixabay
Each year McMaster University hosts at least half a dozen conferences, most of which are student-run. Most students are guaranteed to attend at least one of these conferences during their time at university. These events bring together like-minded and passionate individuals, offering them a chance to learn more about niche topics and network with a larger community.
As with all campus events this year, conferences have had to adjust their approach due to the pandemic and make the transition to the virtual environment. For many of these conferences — that typically occur during the latter half of the winter semester — planning has been well underway since the summer or early fall.
Similar to the conferences themselves, this planning took place exclusively in the virtual environment, through Zoom calls and group chats, as students sought out new ways to carry forward events that they had loved in past years in these strange times.
Unlike typical in-person conferences which often follow a similar format, each virtual conference this year looked slightly different, with organizers choosing the platform and structure that best suited their needs.
For example, the arts and science program’s New World of Work Forum used Microsoft Teams to host a week-long series of events as opposed to their typical one-day conference. On the other hand, McMaster Model UN used the platform Gatherly to allow delegates to interact in a manner more reminiscent of a typical conference.
“What was really great about [Gatherly] was that you're able to see everybody's faces and in a way you're able to have different floors. So comparing it to where the conference would have taken place, Gatherly had different floors that you could go through and I know delegates who really enjoyed that. So it wasn't like you had to leave a Zoom chat, and then join another one to go see your friends on another committee, you just go through the different floors. It was like a real Model UN conference,” explained Zahra Panju, one of the MacMUN executives.
"So comparing it to where the conference would have taken place, Gatherly had different floors that you could go through and I know delegates who really enjoyed that. So it wasn't like you had to leave a Zoom chat, and then join another one to go see your friends on another committee, you just go through the different floors. It was like a real Model UN conference."
Zahra Panju
MacMUN executive
McMaster Energy Association and McMaster Indigenous Health Movement both used Zoom to host their conferences, allowing students the flexibility to drop in for events.
“[The conference] usually runs from the morning around till 5 o'clock and this year it was on a drop-in basis. We just provided the same Zoom link for the whole day so no one was obligated to stay the whole time. No one really wants to stay in front of a computer from nine to five. We understood that and so we made it a drop-in basis,” Iyah Alideeb, one of the co-presidents of McMaster’s Energy Association.
Many groups also recorded their events so that if students couldn’t attend the live event, they would still be able to attend in a way.
While this flexibility is something that many students appreciated about virtual conferences, it also might have contributed to the lack of connection others felt. Typically, many of these conferences involve formal or informal networking events that allow students to connect with each other as well as professors and other community members. However, such events are difficult in the virtual environment.
“When you have that in-person experience, you're networking with so many people, you're basically surrounded by so many different people who have similar goals and interests to you . . . So that does build a sense of community. I guess that it was a bit harder this year just because not everyone has a camera and you can just drop in and drop out. There wasn't really a networking session, because it made it difficult to balance the professionalism of Zoom and using Zoom Webinar, versus a regular Zoom call that might not spotlight the speakers well enough,” said Alideeb.
When you have that in-person experience, you're networking with so many people, you're basically surrounded by so many different people who have similar goals and interests to you . . . So that does build a sense of community. I guess that it was a bit harder this year just because not everyone has a camera and you can just drop in and drop out.
Iyah Alideeb
co-president of McMaster’s Energy Association
Although networking in the traditional sense was difficult, some students noted that they appreciated the opportunity the virtual format provided to invite speakers from across the country or even around the world, who may not have been able to attend if the event was in person.
“We had a speaker from the Northwest Territories who was able to join us, who we probably wouldn't have been able to have at an in-person conference, just due to costs and travel and things like that. So that was a real positive of the Zoom format,” said Konrad Kucheran, one of the students behind the Indigenous Health Conference.
Furthermore, many students involved in organizing these events felt that they were able to form strong connections with students also on planning committees. There was not only a sense of solidarity as they navigated these new experiences together but also a sense of community and connection as they worked to make the events they cared for so passionately a reality.
“I think definitely within our team — we have a team of eight executive members plus a writing team — so I think it was definitely good community-building for us, facing the challenge together and all figuring out how to run an online conference,” explained Desmond Kennedy, co-president of McMaster Energy Association.
“I would say the conference and more specifically the club that put it on are really one of the only ways this year that I've managed to have that sense of community. Discussion posts in classes and things like that don't really cut it in terms of creating that connection to community and so on. So [the Indigenous Health Conference] has been great for developing community,” said Kucheran.
I would say the conference and more specifically the club that put it on are really one of the only ways this year that I've managed to have that sense of community.
Konrad Kucheran
Indigenous Health Conference Organizer
Students did note though that they were concerned this same sense of community might not have been felt by the conference attendees, for similar reasons as to why networking was difficult. The virtual environment demands a kind of proactive element to forming connections that just isn’t present when you are physically in the same space as others.
“I think, because it was purely online and certain friend groups had joined together, there was still a barrier, where it wasn't like you could just go and talk to them after [the conference] because everyone is just signing out the platform . . . you just left the platform and went on to do your own work,” said Panju.
Organizers also found it difficult to reach students, first-years in particular, noting that not everyone has social media or follows their particular accounts while almost everyone would have been able to view a poster put up in the McMaster University Student Centre.
It’s important to remember that even though it has been just over a year since the pandemic was officially declared, that these events are still new and that we’re all still learning. The hard work and care these students have done to ensure these conferences continued to run as best as possible are commendable. There certainly would have been much less to look forward to and many fewer opportunities to connect without them.
“Because even if you can't reach as many people, those that you do, it'll still have an impact on them. So I think still providing opportunities for people to get involved, even if it's not the year when people are able to as easily get involved, I think that is still an important thing to do,” emphasized Kennedy.
With International Women’s Day just behind us, several Hamilton organizations are taking the time to show their appreciation for the women in our community. One such organization is Never Gonna Stop, a youth initiative that is hosting Empower Me: A Women’s Appreciation Brunch on March 16 at the Hamilton Plaza Hotel and Conference Center.
In addition to brunch, the event will feature games, raffle prizes, a variety of visual and performing artists and speakers. The event is open to all ages and genders. It was important for the organizers that this communal appreciation of women be done by not just other women.
“[I]t's really important to have men to support women in our community. Men's voices are heard a lot more than just women’s [so] we're trying to get men to align with women… [W]hen we hear [about] domestic violence, usually it's men doing violence towards women, so… that's what I mean when I say we try to align men with women to support each other,” explained NGS member Gonca Aydin.
The brunch, which is now sold out, is free of cost. Making it free allowed the event to be accessible to everyone in the community. Reducing financial barriers is important for this organization, which is catered towards helping low-income youth.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bukit0TBboP/
NGS was created by David Lingisi, Saifon Diallo and Joshua Kiena, all of whom come from low-income backgrounds. They wanted to create an initiative that would provide physical and mental health-related activities for youth from the ages of 13 to 29.
“[W]e've seen how there's a lot of older people… that have talent basically wasted because they didn't have an opportunity… [A]s the younger generation, we basically want to help [youth] out to make their dreams come true. I want everyone to provide a platform for them, to give them an opportunity to… go to the league, allow them to become doctors and [whatever] they want to do,” said Lingisi.
Lingisi was born with sickle cell anemia and has spent his life in and out of the hospital while still working towards his dream of being a music producer. Each of the co-founders have underwent personal challenges, which fuel their desire to help others overcome obstacles. Growing up in immigrant families, they all faced culture shock in addition to financial barriers.
The initiative hopes to provide the support for low-income youth that they feel is missing in Hamilton. They want to support the artistic, athletic and academic talent of today’s youth by providing them with opportunities and the knowledge to succeed.
Since the creation of the initiative last summer, NGS has hosted a youth panel, a holiday food drive, an All-Star weekend basketball tournament and a talent and fashion show for Black History Month among other events. They are continuously planning new events in partnership with other organizations in the city.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bujp1oFhB_a/
They took on the Women’s Appreciation Brunch because it fits within their goal of creating community. NGS is proud to call themselves inclusive to all genders, races, religions or economic statuses. Setting aside space and time to celebrate women and promote the resources that women can access within the city fits within that mandate.
Most importantly, the Women’s Appreciation Brunch delivers the message of persistence directly to Hamilton’s women. They named the event Empower Me because they want women of all ages to know that they can accomplish any goal that they set out to reach.
“[K]eep following your dreams, whatever it is, don't ever stop, don't let anything stop you. You are able to make it no matter what you're going through, it doesn't matter the situation, just keep going as long as you get one more day… I just want to [say] that everybody's a part of NGS. I'm NGS, you're NGS, anybody going through anything but still fighting is NGS,” said Lingisi.
That is why they named themselves Never Gonna Stop. More than a name, it is a movement and source of encouragement for those involved. Knowing how hard life can be, NGS is focused on motivating others to work hard in order to achieve their wildest dreams.
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In attending events on gentrification, Angela Orasch realized that the conversations on this issue were happening in several discrete places. The McMaster University political science PhD candidate decided to plan an event to bring the different groups together in hopes of creating a network to mitigate the negative effects of gentrification.
The result was the Gathering on Art, Gentrification and Economic Development, funded by The Socrates Project and McMaster University’s Office of Community Engagement. The free public forum, open to all interested individuals, took place from Nov. 9 to Nov. 10 at The Spice Factory.
On Nov. 8, a door by donation kick-off party occurred at This Ain’t Hollywood, featuring performances by Lal, Lee Reed and Cheko Salaam. All proceeds went to the Tenant Turn-Up fundraising tour, a mini-tour connecting the housing struggles of Stoney Creek Towers in Hamilton, Parkdale in Toronto and Herongate in Ottawa.
The two-day forum consisted of a mixture of performances, panels and workshops, allowing individuals to both speak to their personal experiences and share strategies to work against the pitfalls of gentrification.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BqAzq-aHz84/
“We wanted to have varied programming… so [people] could learn differently through different means and be engaged in the process…. I think it was just a way to avoid the standard almost academic style of conference… it just didn't feel right for the collaborative spirit of what we wanted GAGED to be,” Orasch explained.
The programming was designed to bring multiple perspectives into the same space so individuals could ask questions to and learn from one another. There were contributions by frontline workers, individuals discussing LGBTQ2S+ concerns regarding gentrification, the Disability Justice Network of Ontario, COBRA and the Hamilton Tenants Solidarity Network, among others.
The participants discussed a wide range of topics, such as the role of art in the economic development of Hamilton, what gentrification means for Hamilton’s Indigenous community, the role of McMaster University in the gentrification process, the service industry and gentrification and the perspective of new Hamiltonians.
“I think ideally if we can build bridges and capacity between groups to start challenging some of the negative stuff that's happening… that would be a great takeaway. [By] connecting and networking with various groups… there might be some room for… mutual interest and mutual goals,” Orasch said.
The goal of GAGED was to produce a report of actionable items and best practices models that will be made available to the public and distributed to City Hall, McMaster University, arts organizations and community groups.
However, this forum is only the first step in what Orasch would like to do about tackling gentrification. As with any multi-faceted and unfolding issue, it is impossible for the negative effects of gentrification to be alleviated overnight.
Orasch would like to see GAGED continue into the future, becoming a hub to connect different affected individuals and groups. She would like to see a team associated with GAGED that can continue organizing events, lobbying and creating publications and policy briefs to tackle this ongoing issue in a sustained way. Looking further into the future, Orasch would like to see the work of GAGED extend to other cities.
“I guess one thing is that it's not just gentrification… but it's a broader economic system that's unfair, inherently unfair, and gentrification is just… one way in which the economic system unfolds in cities. But maybe because it's a cohesive concept it's a good one to latch on to it and create an activism around,” Orasch said.
GAGED could become a model for other cities seeking to confront gentrification. It could also evolve into an inter-municipal forum, uniting the strategies, ideas and expertise of groups affected by gentrification in different cities. GAGED is part of the first step in creating an increasingly cohesive strategy.
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For many of us, technology is not simply a piece of our world but a thread that links the various aspects of our lives together. It makes up the fabric of our communication, education and entertainment. It’s no surprise that it has become a large part of art practice as well.
Centre 3 for Print and Media Arts is organizing Function Keys: A Conference on New Technology and Digital Culture which aims to celebrate both art and technology. In its fourth year, the four-day conference will take place from Nov. 8 to Nov. 11 at The Spice Factory.
The conference will consist of lectures, performances, demonstrations and workshops. Artists, academics and hackers from across Canada and the United States will be present to discuss and present emerging technological trends.
“[W]e're really interested in the acronym STEAM which is science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics…[A]s opposed to splitting them off into individual categories, [it’s about] bringing them all together and understanding how they can inform each other,” explained Ariel Bader-Shamai, an organizer for the conference.
“[W]e’re in a really technocentric world right now and our culture is very technocentric, so I think it makes sense that it would also inform art practice… [T]hey inform each other… by necessity.”
The ways in which art and technology can inform each other can be seen in the events that are scheduled for the conference, from a workshop on location-aware storytelling to a lecture on interactive textiles and two electrifying performances.
On Nov. 9 Function Keys will be putting on a performance in partnership with Strangewaves. Hamilton artist Allie Brumas and Detroit musician Onyx Ashanti will be the highlight of the night. Ashanti is the focre behind a new way of making music called beatjazz. On the night of Nov. 10, electronic music producers Dark Rooms, Orphx and Cape Esan will be performing.
Friday night of #fk4 will be curated by the lovely folks at @strangewavesfes , featuring the creator of beatjazz Onyx Ashanti (Detroit, MI) and local musical wiz, Allie Blumas! Nov 9 at the Spice Factory - event is free but advanced registration required. pic.twitter.com/xtDDBopQMF
— Function Keys (@FunctionK) 5 October 2018
In addition to these bigger names, the conference is providing space for emerging artists and those who may not have an opportunity to show their work in traditional spaces. On Nov. 9, the Mad Science Fair will carve out space for makers, hobbyists and digital media artists to showcase their creative projects.
By providing this space, the conference aims to be more approachable and accessible. The conference is also aiming to reduce financial barriers through a grant from the Canada Council for the Arts. Many of the events taking place will either be free or have a low cost associated with them.
“I think that when things are free, that takes away a barrier…[M]aybe it's something you've never heard of before, never attempted before but maybe you're curious about it…you're not losing anything, all you're gaining is a fun experience or a new skill,” Bader-Shamai explained.
Introducing new technology to those who are unfamiliar with it is one of the goals for the conference. The conference will pair art and technology in ways that some may not have seen before and equip attendees with new skills that they can incorporate into their creative pursuits.
However, the event can appeal to anyone interested in learning more about technology. The conference provides a rare and accessible way for anyone to gain knowledge about new and exciting happenings within the technological and art worlds.
Part 1: Nov. 10 9:30 a.m.–4 p.m., Part 2: Nov. 11 9:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
Barbara Layne is the director of Studio subTela, one of the labs of the Textiles and Materiality Research Cluster at the Milieux Institute for Arts, Culture and Technology. She works with graduate students from Concordia University as well as international collaborators. Ryth Kesselring is also part of studio subTela, where she works as a research assistant on electronics and embroideries for smart textiles.Their two-day hands-on workshop will have participants design and create a small project that incorporates LEDs. The workshop will give an introduction to basic electronics, simple circuits, light-emitting fabrics, Arduino microcontrollers and more. The workshop will also address associated technical, aesthetic, artistic and design issues. No sewing or electronics knowledge is required. There is a $10 materials fee to cover the cost of the electronic components.
The Ecology of Mud, with Nicole Clouston
Nov. 10, 11–2 p.m.
Nicole Clouston is a practice-researcher currently completing her PhD in Visual Art at York University. She is also an artist in residence at the Coalesce Bio Art Lab at the University at Buffalo. Through her practice, she explores what happens when we acknowledge, through an embodied experience, our connection to a world teeming with life both around and inside us.
Her free hands-on workshop will have participants create sculptures using mud that they can take home. Participants will pick from fifteen mud samples collected around Lake Ontario, including samples from Hamilton. The mud will be placed in clear tubes with nutrients to support microbial growth and, with exposure to light and some time, participants will be able to watch the microbial life grow and form vibrant marbling across the surface.
Introduction to Location-Aware Storytelling with Tony Vieira
Nov. 10, 12-2 p.m.
Tony Vieira is a musician, composer and media artist. He has composed original music scores for television, film and interactive media and has created augmented reality and alternate reality projects that have been exhibited internationally. A senior researcher at the York University Augmented Reality Lab and Music Program tutorial instructor, he is currently pursuing a PhD in Ethnomusicology and Digital Studies.
His free workshop will have participants explore approaches and concepts related to hybrid media article, such as virtual embodiment, public private space, place-making, locative listening and more. Participants will be able to create a short audio piece that will be geo-located to a location of their choice.
Moog WerkStatt Workshop with Todd Murray
Nov. 11 2018, 9-4 p.m.
Todd Murray also goes by the name SixbySeven. He is a Hamilton resident who has been involved with art and photography for over 30 years. He is a founding member of the Studio 12 Artistic Photographers Collective. His earliest ventures into music synthesizers were in 1978, building his own analog synthesizer.
His workshop is open to anyone with an interest in creating music using a synthesizer. The morning session has a cost of $10 and includes demonstrations of different synthesizers, the synth voice, extended effects, and connectivity. An optional afternoon session allows participants to assemble their own Moog Werkstatt desktop synthesizer to take home. The cost is $350 for the afternoon session but alternative options may be available for those who cannot afford the full price.
For more information on the events, workshops and registration information visit functionkeys.ca
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By: Jenna Getty
As the city ramps up for another election in the coming year, local advocacy groups have begun working together to get more women in governance.
The Elect More Women Conference took place Oct. 21 at Hamilton’s city hall. The conference hopes to see more women in politics and ultimately work to build election teams.
“The most important thing about this conference is to drive home that women are capable, effective leaders with experience to bring to the table and government should reflect the diversity they serve,” said Daniela Giuletti, one of the coordinators of the conference.
The central aim of the conference is to provide women with the confidence to take the next steps, whatever that means for each individual. Whether that means leading a canvassing party, or putting their name forward as a candidate, Giulietti says it doesn’t matter, as long as women feel empowered and supported as they leave the conference.
This is not a question of skill, the skills are obviously there, they are just not being utilized and appreciated in government and politics.
The lack of representation of women in politics is reflected here at McMaster. Of the four positions on the board of directors in the McMaster Students Union, only one is held by a woman, and of the other nine positions on the executive board, only three are filled by women.
According to Giulietti, the lack of female representation in any level of government boils down to risk. Women risk a lot when running in politics, socially, professionally and emotionally. With this in mind, the idea supports the fact that while minorities are often underrepresented in politics, they are often heading community work and other initiatives behind the scenes. This is not a question of skill, the skills are obviously there, they are just not being utilized and appreciated in government and politics.
There are, however, opportunities for women at McMaster to get involved with Hamilton politics. Opting to participate in volunteer opportunities that offer important skill development, sitting in on Council Night at City Hall, speaking with student government, speaking with campaign offices or even getting involved with a campaign if you have customer service experience. These opportunities are available to anyone, you just need to know where to look for them.
The lack of representation of women in politics is reflected here at McMaster. Of the four positions on the board of directors in the McMaster Students Union, only one is held by a woman, and of the other nine positions on the executive board, only three are filled by women.
Guiletti argues lack of representation isn’t just the responsibility of women. To work towards fixing the issue, it must be tackled by the community, not just left to women to fix for themselves. Giulietti recommends student governments taking a look at their own campaign, and reevaluating whether or not it’s accessible to those who are usually underrepresented, as well as working to invite more women and diversity to their teams.
Karen Bird, a political science professor at McMaster, has previously stated that voters are not biased against women running for positions, and instead the issue being that women are not given the chance to run. Bird recommends that electoral parties shoulder-tap women to run.
Canada, Hamilton and McMaster has a ways to go before we have equal representation in politics, and women still have barriers to overcome.
“We have incredibly capable women in office, and thankfully so many supportive men allies. We also have men who think it’s okay to call women in sciences ‘Climate Barbie’,” Giulietti said. “So the most incredible barrier to me, is that despite all of our gains, we still have this crap to contend with.”
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Guests from Ontario universities, local artistic practitioners and professionals in the multimedia industry came together on Nov. 7 and 8 for the inaugural “macGRID” conference and workshop.
Spearheaded by David Harris-Smith, Assistant Professor in Communication Studies and Multimedia, the conference was centered on the growth and development of the macGRID community: a simulation research network formed around high-performance virtual world software. The software, OpenSim, uses mixed reality and avatar technology to develop virtual connections between the university and practicing artists and professionals in the multimedia and motion graphics industry.
“The macGRID community has been designed to be redesigned,” explained Harris-Smith as he welcomed numerous representatives from the design industry to the first day of the conference.
“Our goal is to bring together researchers and practitioners through education, simulation, training and artistic expression to facilitate networking and collaborative research.”
The macGRID community was developed to link together the physical and virtual world in a mixed reality that would involve computational manipulation to create any desired output. The intended purpose of the system is to allow researchers and artists to continue their work in the virtual world when the physical world is unable to provide the desired resources. The grid would be able to bridge long-distance connections and overcome limitations of the physical body by providing virtual means for movement and action.
Key note speaker Alan Sondheim – author, teacher, cyberspace theorist, tornado chaser and self-professed “independent scholar” – braved Hurricane Sandy to leave his New York home and open the conference with a discussion on the object of “real.” He explained that although physical bodies can be binding, virtual reality systems allow for a branching away from physical limitations.
“Virtual worlds were God’s gift – that is, if there were a God, but there isn’t – to humanity,” he said in his talk. “You can have someone log in from China, Denmark, Africa ... and have them join in, help us, work with us,” he explained as he discussed the endless possibilities of working through virtual realities.
Sondheim not only discussed the practical applications of the technology, but also the artistic. He showcased a series of videos he developed through the manipulation of motion graphic technology that was then electronically transferred and showcased through avatar characters and creations.
The conference continued on through the Thursday, featuring a series of guest research presenters discussing their plans and intentions for the macGRID community.
Professor Harris-Smith hopes to continue developing university-industry bonds through this endeavour and use virtual worlds and mixed reality as a platform for social and scientific experiment. The grid is growing and physical boundaries are gradually being lifted to include broader research options.
Julia Redmond
Silhouette Staff
One may have noticed the swarms of undergraduate students wandering around campus in business attire last week, looking uncharacteristically put together. The unusual dress was probably attributed to the McMaster World Congress.
The annual World Congress is “a learning event,” explained Arush Goyal, a fourth-year Commerce student and one of two speaker recruitment directors for this year’s conference. Now in its 33rd year, the McMaster World Congress is, according to its website, “one of the largest student-run events at McMaster” and “one of the longest running business conferences in Canada.”
“It’s a misconception that it’s just a business event, but it’s not; it’s open to all students from every faculty,” said Goyal.
An estimated 250 to 275 students attended each session, for a total of over 4,000 delegates. Although open to all McMaster students, Goyal estimated that “close to 95 per cent” of the attendees were business students.
Why such a large majority of Commerce kids? “They have an incentive,” said Goyal. “The first years [attend] because they get bonus marks, and second and third years as well.”
However, there’s more to it than that. “Once you attend the conference, you realize that you do learn a lot. As students get older, they become more mature and they say that there actually is a benefit to going to this conference.”
The theme of this year’s conference, which took place on Feb. 1 and Feb. 2 in CIBC Hall, was the “triple-bottom line”: people, planet and profit. The phrase was first coined in 1994 by John Elkington, a British businessman and founder of a consulting firm called SustainAbility.
The three pillars focus on achieving corporate social responsibility, with a focus on sustainable business practices.
In keeping with the theme, the conference welcomed 16 guest speakers, all industry professionals and entrepreneurs. For example, Dave Gardner, Honda Canada’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing, spoke on hybrid cars and the growing role of clean energy.
“I think all of them have added something fantastic,” Goyal said of the guest speakers. “They all give a different point of view.”
One aspect of the event that often goes unnoticed is the planning component, which was led by two conference co-chairs whose primary responsibility was to oversee the efforts of undergraduate students from varying levels involved in the organizing efforts. The executive committee started planning this year’s event in March of last year.
According to the committee, planning the World Congress is even more beneficial than attending. “It’s a great experience … We’ve built on skills like teamwork and networking. You meet a lot of new people that can influence your career in the future.”
And it seems that all the hard work paid off. At the end of the day on the Thursday, Goyal had nothing but good things to say.
“In the last four or five months, we’ve committed a lot of time, a lot of effort,” he said, “and it’s gone fantastically.”
