#thetimeisnow
COVID-19 is inspiring compassion Despite having to practice physical distancing, communities have never been closer
Apr05

COVID-19 is inspiring compassion Despite having to practice physical distancing, communities have never been closer

• Apr 5, 2020 • Opinion

Photo by Cindy Cui We have seen many drastic changes amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, including the closure of several Ontario universities, the introduction of travel bans and a decline in group gatherings. This has forced many people to quickly adapt — for example, students are learning online, grocery stores have limited the number of toilet paper rolls you can buy and people are being restricted to their homes. Physical distancing,...

What even is a “break” year? Unpaid placements make the midwifery program financially inaccessible for many
Mar24

What even is a “break” year? Unpaid placements make the midwifery program financially inaccessible for many

• Mar 24, 2020 — (last modified) Mar 25, 2020 • FEATURES, Opinion

Photo by Hannah Walters-Vida / Editor-In-Chief By Touka Shamkhi, Contributor It’s 5:30 a.m. and I allow myself to enjoy a few moments of pre-dawn peace before I get up to confront the day ahead of me. As I scramble to get ready, I take a mental note of my plans for the day: placement, work and then tutorial prep. Why work, you may ask? Well, although midwifery students receive reimbursements from the program, it takes a long time to...

OPINION: The referendum for OPIRG’s fee is unjust The MSU is making cuts against a group that advocates for marginalized populations
Mar14

OPINION: The referendum for OPIRG’s fee is unjust The MSU is making cuts against a group that advocates for marginalized populations

• Mar 14, 2020 • Opinion

Cindy Cui / Photo Editor By: Sarun Balaranjan, Contributor Before I begin, I must acknowledge my conflict of interest as a member of the Board of Directors for OPIRG. This year has been troubling for OPIRG in many respects. The Student Choice Initiative forced us to terminate all of our staff. The new Board of Directors had almost no prior experience with OPIRG. Oh, and the McMaster Students Union decided to threaten our very...

OPINION: Let’s keep everyone alive A lack of allergy awareness on campus puts students at risk
Mar14

OPINION: Let’s keep everyone alive A lack of allergy awareness on campus puts students at risk

• Mar 14, 2020 • Opinion

Cindy Cui / Photo Editor By: Elisa Do, Staff Writer CW: death A lot of people hear the word “allergies” and think of seasonal allergies. Maybe they think of a sniffling nose or an itching skin rash. Maybe they think of watery eyes and sneezing; something that comes and goes. However, an allergic reaction can be much more severe than just that. Anaphylaxis is an allergic reaction that is severe, life-threatening and terrifyingly...

OPINION: Drawing a line between university drinking culture and safety It’s okay to drink, but we need to better promote responsible drinking
Mar14

OPINION: Drawing a line between university drinking culture and safety It’s okay to drink, but we need to better promote responsible drinking

• Mar 14, 2020 • Opinion

Cindy Cui / Photo Editor By: Kayla Freeman, Contributor Drinking culture at university has been a long-discussed topic since many university events, namely Welcome Week, Frost Week and homecoming, promote or even encourage the use of alcohol. This often creates an environment in which students feel pressured to consume alcohol in order to conform to standards set by these events.  In addition to university-hosted events, there are...

Opinion: The referendum for OPIRG’s fee is unjust The MSU is making cuts against a group that advocates for marginalized populations
Mar11

Opinion: The referendum for OPIRG’s fee is unjust The MSU is making cuts against a group that advocates for marginalized populations

• Mar 11, 2020 • Opinion

By Sarun Balaranjan, Contributor Note: Sarun Balaranjan is a member of the Board of Directors for OPIRG.  Before I begin, I must acknowledge my conflict of interest as a member of the Board of Directors for OPIRG. This year has been troubling for OPIRG in many respects. The Student Choice Initiative forced us to terminate all of our staff. The new Board of Directors had almost no prior experience with OPIRG. Oh, and the McMaster...