Three weeks and counting for a legitimate response to the sexual allegations within the Maroons A half-hearted statement won’t fix the ways in which the McMaster Students Union has treated survivors of sexual assault
Graphic by Katarina Brkic Two long weeks after The Silhouette released an article regarding the gaps within the McMaster Students Union sexual violence disclosure processes, MSU President Ikram Farah finally released a statement. The statement, which reads as a rambling pat on the back, condemns sexual violence and commits to a systematic review of the Maroons and the MSU as a whole, something that two Maroons representatives brought...
The need for a formal human resources department The fact that the McMaster Students Union has operated this long without a human resources department is shocking
Photo by Kyle West From the Student Representative Assembly requiring a survivor to disclose their assault in order for the removal of a perpetrator on the assembly to news of rampant sexual assault within the McMaster Students Union Maroons, this past year has been filled with controversy. Given the events of this year, and what has occurred in the past, it is shocking that the MSU lacks a formal human resources department. HR...
A discussion on consent McMaster University needs to take action and make consent education a priority
Photo by Kyle West By: Eden Wondmeneh Consent education seems to always be an afterthought at McMaster University. The word “consent” is consistently thrown into events, seemingly out of place, with no elaboration, discussion or focus. During Welcome Week, the word was plastered on posters that appeared at all the major events and was projected in vibrant colours on the big screen prior to the concert. The way consent education was...
Students have a responsibility to hold the university accountable Whether it be through protesting outside the student centre or attending Student Representative Assembly meetings, students need to be engaged in the university’s politics
Photo by Kyle West When I started out as the Opinions Editor for The Silhouette this past year, I admittedly didn’t care much about student politics or governance. I was unfamiliar with the policies of the McMaster Students Union and had no idea what happened during Student Representative Assembly meetings. Nowadays, I regularly watch the SRA livestreams and perform my due diligence to be aware of changes occurring within the MSU. A...
Making sustainability easy McMaster University needs to make changes as an institution to reduce their disposable waste, rather than putting the onus on students.
Photo from Silhouette Photo Archives By: Saadia Shahid On Feb. 27, the McMaster Students Union promoted its three-day education campaign “Compost at Mac” which highlighted several composting bins around campus. The campaign encouraged students to locate areas within the university where compost bins should be placed. This was done in efforts to reduce the waste produced by students and also to promote composting. Another table that I...
Hitting faculty reps with hidden fees Being a Welcome Week representative comes with costly hidden fees that unfairly exclude candidates
Photo from Silhouette Photo Archives By: Eden Wondmeneh Faculty representatives and Maroons can shape incoming students’ initial impression of the McMaster University community. They guide us through Welcome Week and are meant to play the role of mentor and role model. A few days into Welcome Week, new students grow accustomed to the vibrant suits and are well-aware of the colour distinctions of each faculty. Suddenly the suit, which...
