C/O Iconscout
After taking the first two games of the season in their only flight trip, the team has set themselves up for another successful year
On Nov. 5 McMaster’s women’s volleyball team played their first games of the season. After making the long trip out to Lakehead — the only trip they will make this season by way of flight — they completed a sweep, winning both games three to zero.
Although the Lakehead Thunderwolves were able to keep scores fairly competitive, the Marauders pulled away with a huge success to kick off their season.
One of the stars of the show for the Marauders was outside hitter Jessie Nairn, a skilled fifth-year student. Nairn, along with Emma McKinnon and Sullie Sundara led the pack on offense, with McKinnon taking 12 kills and Sundara and Nairn taking eight each.
Nairn would later speak to the importance of a strong start for the team following the completion of their successful series.
“I think it was a great start to the season . . . It’s the farthest trip of the year, so it was a big one to start with. It was a great start winning all six sets, going undefeated on the weekend. I think it’s a good start for a young team to get us going,” said Nairn.
Although Nairn felt good about her performance over the weekend, she felt like there was still more to desire. She explained how the team has great talent and significant potential and how there is a serious opportunity at hand for her squad to deal damage. The goals have been set sky high for the season and Nairn feels that they are within reach.
“I think that I can always play better, but thought it was a good start to the season for myself . . . We have a very strong team this year and we are going to make big things happen. Our goals are always going to be to win this league — win the OUA, get to nationals and do big things there as well. This year we really have a good chance to get there,” explained Nairn.
One of the challenges the Marauders must face each year is simply the difficulty of the division they were placed in. Along with the Lakehead Thunderwolves, they also face opponents such as the Brock Badgers, Waterloo Warriors, Windsor Lancers, Western Mustangs and Guelph Gryphons.
Nairn noted the difficulty of the division the Marauders find themselves in, but stressed that the team has what it takes to come out on top.
“The competition in this league is strong, especially in the OUA west. It’s getting stronger and stronger over the years, but I think we have a shot against every single team that we’re up against. We have incredible skill at every single position this year,” said Nairn.
"The competition in this league is strong, especially in the OUA west. It’s getting stronger and stronger over the years, but I think we have a shot against every single team that we’re up against. We have incredible skill at every single position this year."
Jessie Nairn
It may be early, but currently standing first place in their division provides a strong sense of promise for the team as they continue with their season. As one of only four total teams (out of 14 total) who are currently undefeated, they have become one of the teams to beat.
The next matchup for the team comes against the Brock Badgers on Nov. 19 and Nov. 21, with the second game of the pair being the team homecoming. With a 73.7% winning percentage against the Badgers over the last decade, the Marauders should have a great opportunity to extend their streak.
On Nov. 14, the men and women's basketball teams tipped off their seasons against the Lakehead Thunderwolves in Burridge Gym.
Friday night’s matchups saw a packed gym as Marauder fans, family and the MSU Maroons were present to see the Marauders defend home territory. Earlier in the day, the David Braley Athletic Centre played to a high school basketball tournament, so fan presence was anything but lacking.
The double-header kicked off with the women’s game. Head coach Theresa Burns and her squad came into the matchup with a flawless record of 2-0. McMaster suffered a 75-60 defeat to the Thunderwolves as things quickly went awry. Lakehead’s Jylisa Williams finished the night with 35 points to help tarnish McMaster’s perfect record. McMaster guard Danielle Boiago finished with 28 points on 11-17 shooting, but it was not enough to bring the team a win at home.
Shortly after the women's loss, time came for the men to prove themselves after having taken a beating in the nation's capital a week earlier. McMaster went toe-to-toe against Lakehead and came out victorious, handling business at home. It was a physical game, as the Thunderwolves came ready to compete, but ultimately the 85-66 win was in favour of the Marauders. The top contributor for the squad was Taylor Black - 17 points on the board and 11 rebounds for a double-double.
Part two of the home opener weekend was against the same team, but the crowd in attendance could not have been any more different. There was a noticeable lack of energy in the building, but that didn’t stop the Marauders from owning home court.
The women earned a 63-59 win against the Thunderwolves to even out the weekend of play. The Marauders saw help from many, but forward Clare Kenney led the way who put up a career-high 24 points coupled with 12 rebounds for a solid double-double.
“It was about getting the rebounds and loose balls and taking care of the little details. Since Friday was our first loss, it really opened our eyes and showed us that every game is important, so we knew we had to pick it up,” Boiago said about the team turnaround post-Saturday’s win.
The men held their own and played a winning weekend series beating Lakehead 81-73. In a contest that went down to the wire, the Marauders kept their cool and the lead as time ran on an eight-point victory. The Marauders saw key help from guard Joe Rocca, pouring in 20 points.
Marauder basketball will play on Nov. 22 against the York Lions. The women tip-off at 12 p.m., followed by the men at 2 p.m. in Burridge Gym.
Author/ Ronald Leung/ Silhouette Staff
Students back at table in Lakehead University tuition hike discussion
The chief representative for students at Lakehead University has regained the right to vote on tuition hike issues. Student governor Daniel Basca was originally muzzled in an April 2012 ruling that declared student governors in a conflict of interest and stopped them from participating in any meaningful matter at board of governor meetings regarding tuition hikes. This outcome was swiftly met with challenge from the Lakehead University Student Union (LUSU), which threatened legal action. The Lakehead Board of Governors reversed their decision at a Feb. 1 meeting.
Gender neutral washrooms introduced at University of Regina
After two years of campaigning by the group University of Regina Pride, talks about choosing the location of ten gender neutral washrooms on the UR campus are underway. While not new to Canadian institutions of higher learning, with universities such as Dalhousie having their own gender neutral bathrooms, the introduction of these spaces represents the fruits of the labour of student-administration communication at UR. The new project is aimed at reducing harassment and providing an alternative to those who find it uncomfortable to use washrooms for men or women.
Sexual complaints arise over Greek Organization at MUN
The Memorial University of Newfoundland Students’ Union (MUNSU) is dealing with controversy over whether it should officially recognize the Greek Philanthropy Society (GPS). Although the GPS pledged to focus on raising funds for charitable causes, allegations of sexist behavior clouded its case. One MUNSU board member brought up an example of parties hosted by the GPS that charge a lower cost to women, who are then encouraged to wear togas. The MUNSU purports to expect all member clubs to support sex and gender equity.
B.C. research universities feel left out over large grants for nearby trade schools
The B.C. provincial Liberal government is sticking to its plan to support trade and technical programs at key schools, in spite of growing complaints from the province’s research university brass. Faced with an overall $41 million in cuts for post-secondary grants, administrators such as University of British Columbia president Stephen Toope have argued that trade schools, while helpful in addressing unemployment, don’t help students become “versatile and agile leaders.” However, B.C. Liberal Minister of Advanced Education John Yap told The Ubyssey that “Taxpapers invest $5 million … to support the B.C. post-secondary system,” and that the four major research universities – UBC, Simon Fraser University, University of Victoria and University of Northern British Columbia – “receive more than half of the operating grants provided to 25 institutions.”
U Ottawa lecture series spotlights bilingualism and biculturalism in Canada
The University of Ottawa has worked with the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism in Canada. Originally established in 1963 by André Laurendeau and Davidson Dunton in order to address language issues between Anglophones and Francophones, the Commission led to the establishment of the Official Languages Act and the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages (OCOL). U Ottawa, being a strongly bilingual institution, sees itself as a child of the original commission. The lecture series will be featured all across Canada in Ottawa, Toronto, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Montreal and Moncton.
