CMST 2XX3 was developed with the goal of highlighting queer representation in media and popular culture as a space for survival and joy

A new course, CMST 2XX3: Queer Popular Culture, has been added to the undergraduate academic calendar at McMaster this year, tailored to explore modern queer popular culture and legacy.

Christina Baade, chair of communication studies and media arts department at McMaster University, explained that the course was created with student need and interest in mind.

She explained that she drew on her personal research area in popular music, sound studies and radio/audio technologies to create a course that highlights positive elements of being queer, as opposed to only highlighting the struggles of the community.  

“Very often, sexuality studies can focus on trauma or problems. I think popular cultures are a really useful way [to] look at how people make space to survive and how people make joy even in really difficult political circumstances," said Baade. 

Very often, sexuality studies can focus on trauma or problems. I think popular cultures are a really useful way [to] look at how people make space to survive and how people make joy even in really difficult political circumstances.

Christina Baade, Chair
Communication Studies and Media Arts Department

Baade was inspired by her research students, who noticed what she described as a lack of structured exploration into specific elements of queer popular culture. She expressed the importance of including students in the development of this course through the McPherson Student Partners program, as they offer important cultural and generational perspectives.

Together, they have decided to cover certain key topics surrounding queerness in popular culture and look forward to further student input and conversation.

Baade and her team also hope to integrate various technologies and methods of assessment while prioritizing discussion and exploration into niche topics within queer popular culture. 

Key themes in the course include global and Western popular culture and media across queer subcultures, as well as the commercialization of Pride and how evolving media plays a role in creating space for communities and conversations. 

“Pop culture is always a great way to get into challenging concepts and important conversations in a way that's approachable and can feel safe for a wide range of folks,” said Baade. 

Pop culture is always a great way to get into challenging concepts and important conversations in a way that's approachable and can feel safe for a wide range of folks.

Christina Baade, Chair
Communication Studies and Media Arts Department

This course will be available to all students registered in Level II or above and is scheduled to run in the Winter 2026 term.

Following through on MSU President Piper Plavins’ campaign promise, the Pride Community Centre is developing a 2SLGBTQ+ mentorship program for the coming year

As a campaign promise of current MSU President Piper Plavins, incoming students are set to have access to a new 2SLGBTQ+ mentorship program through the Pride Community Centre come September 2025. Both Kiran Oberai, the centre’s director, and Plavins confirmed in interviews with the Silhouette that the program is on track to launch in September and elaborated on the plans.

In line with Plavins’ election promise, both interviewees suggested the aim of the program would be to pair incoming 2SLGBTQ+ students with third or fourth-year student mentors who could provide support through the transition to university life and, Oberai hopes, long-term friendships.

In her interview, Plavins explained that the inspiration for this program was personal.

“A lot of this was inspired by my own personal journey. Here I was trying to navigate coming into university being an adult while also trying to accept my sexuality and figure out who I was . . . I did feel very alone and I didn't have that support.”

Plavins added that she hoped the mentorship program could help support incoming students in similar positions.

“So they know one person . . . It's really important to have one person in your corner to help guide you and support you,” said Plavins. She also hoped mentors could help guide incoming students to existing resources.

Oberai’s vision for the future of the program was focused on addressing similar needs.

“I think McMaster does still have a lot of barriers for queer students.”

“It's often very refreshing to talk with someone who gets it . . . You don't have to explain your experiences and explain why you're facing challenges before you can get that support from someone . . . I think that experience is often overlooked; that of peer support and emotional connection," said Oberai.

I think that experience is often overlooked; that of peer support and emotional connection.

Kiran Oberai, Director,
Pride Community Centre

Creating pairings of mentors and mentees with similar experiences would be important to the success of the program according to Oberai, how to make these connections based on limited information will be a key issue for the program's development.

“We started having these conversations already . . . what information is important to pair students? Is it important that they have a similar queer identity? Is it important they have similar other identities like race, ethnicity, ability?”

Getting enough engagement to make more specific pairings was a hurdle both Plavins and Oberai identified. Each hoped to find ways to engage both current and incoming students, identifying this as a key step for the ongoing planning phase.

Both Oberai and Plavins hope that as the planning stage progresses, they can learn from the experience of other mentorship programs at McMaster. 

Oberai, a student of the faculty of arts and science, used the example of the faculty’s mentorship program to explain his own excitement for this program.

“I think it was a really meaningful relationship just to have an upper-year [student] to talk to . . .this program isn’t going to be geared to matching students within the same program, so it will be a lot of thinking about what challenges queer students face on campus and how can having someone to talk to about that really support students?”

So [planning] will be a lot of thinking about what challenges queer students face on campus and how can having someone to talk to about that really support students?

Kiran Oberai, Director
Pride Community Centre

Despite the challenges each of them identified, both Plavins and Oberai believe the program will meaningfully help 2SLGBTQ+ students.

“The transition into university can be difficult for many individuals and it's really important that you have support and have someone to help you navigate this time. And I think that for queer students this is an additional level of support that will really help them to flourish and build their own community here at McMaster," said Plavins.

More details will be made available through the Pride Community Centre as the mentorship program is developed. Interested students should consult the centre's social media in September for details.

With no motions and only four attendees, Mar. 31 general assembly concludes in under 20 minutes and sparks renewed concern about engagement in student politics

On Monday, Mar. 31, the McMaster Students Union held its annual General Assembly, with no student participation. Adam El-Kadi, the MSU's vice president (administration) and chair of the meeting, opened the event at 5:03 p.m. and adjourned it just 18 minutes later at 5:21 p.m. Only four MSU members were present, far short of the approximately 780 students required to meet a quorum.

With no submitted motions and no observers in attendance, the meeting consisted only of a land acknowledgement, a brief procedural explanation and a presentation by MSU president Jovan Popovic. The official minutes confirmed the assembly was non-quorate, meaning any motions passed would be non-binding.

The General Assembly is one of the few democratic avenues through which any MSU member, meaning all full-time undergraduate students, can propose motions directly to the union. In contrast, most MSU policy decisions go through the Student Representative Assembly, which meets biweekly and involves elected faculty representatives.

A motion to adopt the agenda passed with four votes in favour and none opposed. Popovic then delivered his presidential report before the meeting concluded at 5:21 p.m.

In the weeks leading up to the event, the MSU made a post informing students to attend and submit motions, calling the GA a chance to shape the union's operations and advocate for change. Despite this, not a single motion was proposed by students.

Low attendance and engagement with student politics has been a consistent challenge in recent years for the MSU. But this year's lack of turnout has drawn particular concern from student leaders. In an email statement, Jovan Popovic, the MSU president, expressed concern about the lack of students who directly participate in shaping the direction of the organization's future.

Low attendance and engagement with student politics has been a consistent challenge in recent years for the MSU. But this year's lack of turnout has drawn particular concern from student leaders.

"Despite considerable outreach efforts, which included social media, banners, printed materials and features in our monthly newsletter, we saw a disappointing turnout of only four students. This outcome is deeply concerning, especially when we consider the reach of our communication channels. For instance, our March newsletter alone was read by over 10,000 students. If just 10% of those readers had attended, we would have far surpassed quorum," stated Popovic.

Popovic emphasized the union's commitment to improving future engagement, including starting promotion earlier in the academic year and collaborating with student leaders across campus.

"Our goal is to empower students to understand how their involvement in the GA can drive real, meaningful change on campus and ensure that the MSU truly represents the diverse voices of our student body," he stated.

Our goal is to empower students to understand how their involvement in the GA can drive real, meaningful change on campus and ensure that the MSU truly represents the diverse voices of our student body.

Jovan Popovic
President, McMaster Students Union

Although this year's meeting was largely procedural, the MSU maintains that the GA remains a vital part of its democratic structure. Moving forward, the union hopes new strategies and broader student outreach will reverse the downward trend in turnout.

For now, the empty seats at this year's GA serve as a reminder of the gap between available student governance platforms and student participation in them.

Engineers Without Borders' fee of $0.41 will no longer be included in MSU members' supplementary fees following referendum

After an appeal process, the results of the Engineers Without Borders Referendum, held earlier this year during the McMaster Students Union Referenda period, have been released.

The referendum to remove the $0.41 EWB fee from students' supplementary fees has been confirmed as successful, meaning the fee will not be included in next year's membership fees. Over 2,026 students voted to remove it.

The "yes" campaign, which supported the continuation of the fee, was disqualified due to receiving eight standard violations and seven severe fines exceeding half of the spending limit, as per Rule 7.12 of the MSU's bylaws. Multiple violations for the "yes" campaign led to the Elections Committee their campaign invalid.

Sinead Gono, the MSU Elections Department's chief returning officer, provided insight into the disqualification and appeal process. She stated that candidates or groups running in an election or referendum must nominate themselves and abide by strict campaigning guidelines.

While the "no" side of the EWB referendum registered their campaign properly and followed election rules, the campaign to continue the fee did not initially nominate themselves and failed to follow standard procedures.

According to Gono, by the time polling had closed, complaints started to come in when the "yes" side advertised its campaign using inappropriate methods. After review, the Elections Committee determined that EWB’s "yes" campaign exceeded the allowed sum of fines, accumulating over $275.00 in penalties. This amount exceeded the $150.00 limit, resulting in automatic disqualification.

Voter turnout for the referendum was 12.9 per cent. When asked about student engagement during voting sessions, Gono stated that the Elections Department made considerable efforts to promote the referendum.

"Obviously, referendums don’t have the same engagement as presidential elections, but given the year we are in, we felt the turnout was really good," she said

Obviously, referendums don’t have the same engagement as presidential elections, but given the year we are in, we felt the turnout was really good.

Sinead Gono, Chief Returning Officer
Elections Department, McMaster Students Union

 The use of the club's funding was cause for concern amongst the McMaster community. EWB's use of student funding to send a non-McMaster student from an undisclosed Ontario university on a trip led to outrage amongst the student body. Prior to the referendum, some members of the SRA voiced concerns about McMaster student fees supporting a fellowship program that does not always include a McMaster student.

More than two months after the referendum, due to the results of the appeal process, the McMaster chapter of Engineers Without Borders will no longer be funded by the MSU.

TwelvEighty Bar and Grill releases three new ambassador meal specials, designed by prominent students of the McMaster community

On Feb. 24, 2025, TwelvEighty Bar and Grill and the McMaster Students Union announced three new ambassador meal specials to their menu, designed in partnership with prominent student figures. These meals, available until the end of the current academic year, were developed with input from student ambassadors and created by TwelvEighty’s chef, Wes Chaplin.

In an interview, MSU president Jovan Popovic and MSU food and beverage manager Mike Asquith shared details about the initiative’s purpose.

According to Popovic, the initiative aims to highlight students who are active in the McMaster community.

“We were looking for prominent people on campus, people that a vast majority of the students would be able to connect with, relate to, know or have heard of . . . Each of these people are very public-facing figures who played a significant role on campus . . . these are people who are very well accomplished and all their roots come back to this university and this campus,” said Popovic.

Each of these people are very public-facing figures who played a significant role on campus.

Jovan Popovic
President, McMaster Students Union

The first ambassador meal introduced on TwelvEighty’s Instagram was Maxime Gratton’s breakfast burger. The Gratton Breakfast Burger features a four-ounce beef patty, sunny-side egg, onion rings, bacon, potato hickory sticks and chilli aioli on a toasted brioche bun, served with a choice of a side.

Gratton, a fifth-year psychology student and player for the men’s volleyball team, has contributed to three OUA championship wins. He is also the founder of Airtime Athletics, a training program for young athletes. He is known for sharing volleyball clips on his Instagram, which has over 4,000 followers.

The second ambassador meal introduced was Mackenzie Barwell’s Poke Bowl. Barwell, a fourth-year communications and political science student, has worked in sports media at McMaster as an in-game host for the Marauders and is the creator of the Marauder Mondays video series. She has also collaborated with organizations like Forge FC, the World University Games and Canada Basketball.

The Mac Barwell Bowl includes tuna, rice, guacamole, tomato, edamame, green onion, carrots, pickled red cabbage, corn, poke sauce and sesame seeds.

The last ambassador meal introduced was Miguel Gonzales’s DJ Migz Mix. Gonzales, also known as DJ Migz, is a recent graduate from the honours kinesiology program with 12 years of DJing experience. He has performed for campus events, including Homecoming 2024 and Welcome Week concerts.

His DJ Migz Mix includes blackened chicken, Cajun rice, sautéed onion and peppers, cheese, corn, lettuce, sour cream, salsa, guacamole and lime. A side of chips and salsa can also be purchased for an additional $2.

In an Instagram post, DJ Migz stated that his ambassador meal is gluten-free and chipotle-inspired.

“As someone with many allergies, I tailored this meal to be inclusive of dietary needs by ensuring it is free of many common allergens! Many of the ingredients are also easily substitutable to be able to accommodate any further restrictions,” stated Migz.

I tailored this meal to be inclusive of dietary needs by ensuring it is free of many common allergens!

Miguel Gonzales (DJ Migz)
Recent Graduate, Honours Kinesiology

Asquith described the initiative as an opportunity to test new menu items with direct student involvement.

“It gives us a great test for new items to see if maybe this is something we could add in the future as a more permanent fix,” said Asquith.

The student ambassadors provided general descriptions of what they wanted their dishes to include. TwelvEighty’s chef, Wes, refined the concepts into final menu items.

Popovic mentioned that most of the ingredients used in the dishes were already available in the kitchen, which minimized the need to source additional ingredients and ensured that meals could be easily incorporated into the existing menu.

“While we needed the creative vision from Wes to really make these actual dishes, it was fully inspired by the direction that the students gave us,” said Popovic.

Asquith mentioned that TwelvEighty aims to collaborate more with student groups and clubs. He noted that the restaurant is also diversifying its menu, with a growing focus on cultural variety, which it plans to continue.

“We are trying to show this year that we’re open to anything. We just need to make the right connections and do it well,” said Asquith.

The new menu items are available to order both in person and ahead on TwelvEighty’s website. They will be available until the end of the winter 2025 semester.

Final ruling confirms Piper Plavins as MSU president-elect, bringing election process to a close after appeal deliberations

Following the resolution of a disqualification appeal, Piper Plavins has been officially confirmed as the next president of the McMaster Students Union. The appeal, initiated by the request of presidential candidate Olami Olalere, was dismissed after two levels of review, finalizing the results of the 2025 MSU presidential election.

Olalere was disqualified from the race after accumulating a combination of standard and severe campaign violations.

In an interview with The Silhouette, Sinead Gono, the chief returning officer of the elections department of the MSU, said that Olalere received a total of nine standard violations and two severe violations.

Under MSU election rules, surpassing half of the spending limit in fines—$200.00 of the $400.00 limit—results in automatic disqualification. A standard fine is worth $15.00 and a severe fine is worth $35.00. Additionally, Olalere received $42.00 in poster violations for a total of 21 poster violations valued at $2.00 each, as per presidential election rule 7.10.4. In total, Olalere accumulated $247.00 in fines.

“The rules are very specific and I feel that they’re quite clearly laid out . . . There’s a threshold and if you pass that in terms of monetary value, then you get automatically disqualified. That’s what happened in this case,” said Gono.

There’s a threshold and if you pass that in terms of monetary value, then you get automatically disqualified.

Sinead Gono
Chief Returning Officer, MSU Elections

After his disqualification, Olalere filed an appeal in two stages. According to Gono, in the first stage, the MSU Elections Committee reviewed his objections and overturned only one $0.00 violation, which did not impact his total fine amount.

In the second stage, the Elections Appeal Board, which is an independent panel consisting of the MSU deputy speaker, the university secretariat and a member of the McMaster community, upheld the original decisions in full. As a result, Olalere remained disqualified and his name was removed from the official ballot.

Due to the MSU’s ranked-choice voting system, votes cast for Olalere were not discarded. Instead, they were redistributed to the next-ranked candidates on each ballot.

“There’s no erasing of votes . . . They now consider the other ranked options,” said Gono.

Gono emphasized that the elections department followed its policies and treated all candidates equally.

“We did the best that we could on our end. We followed the process that we always follow . . . The rules are pretty set in stone and we try to make them as clear as possible,” said Gono.

This year’s election cycle also saw a rise in voter turnout. Gono credited the increase to coordinated efforts by both the elections department, the MSU as a whole and the efforts of the candidates themselves.

“There was a union-wide goal of reaching 20 per cent turnout . . . We worked tirelessly on promotions and events . . . The candidates also made this election really exciting for students . . . I also think we’re seeing a natural rebound in student engagement post-COVID,” said Gono.

The candidates also made this election really exciting for students . . . I also think we’re seeing a natural rebound in student engagement post-COVID

Sinead Gono
Chief Returning Officer, MSU Elections

The final certified results have officially confirmed Piper Plavins as MSU president-elect. She is set to begin her one-year term on May 1, 2025.

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.

Following the provincial election results, maybe it is time to get more involved with and volunteer with the MSU

If the 2025 Ontario provincial election was your first time voting, you may have woken up disappointed last Friday morning. I am told you get used to this feeling and admittedly, three elections in, it feels, if not less disappointing, less catastrophic.

It’s hard not to feel like a lost election is a catastrophe though, especially when a flawed electoral system and low turnout contributed to a party that received votes from less than 20 per cent of the province’s population holding on to power. It is even harder when one of the election’s few local highlights is Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas, the riding that is home to McMaster, where only 55 per cent of registered voters casted their ballots.

When we promote voting and elections as the most important element of politics, it's difficult to see past these disappointments. But, if we treat voting as the bare minimum of political engagement, we can recognize the opportunities for political action that are all around us, especially as students.

if we treat voting as the cornerstone, only the foundation, the bare minimum of political engagement, we can recognize the opportunities for political action that are all around us, especially as students.

In Jan. 2019, the first of Doug Ford's provincial governments in Ontario announced the Student Choice Initiative, a directive designed to categorize student fees into two categories: essential and ancillary. What at first may look like an effort to save students money was challenged in court by the Canadian Federation of Students as a brazen attack on student organizing.

Far from just an opportunistic move to gain the support of students who may not have been informed about the services their student union fees make possible, Doug Ford’s move was an attack on the principles of student unionism. This attack demonstrates the conservative, individualistic value system that fuels his party.

Regardless of their flaws, student unions are valuable mechanisms for students to engage in politics. Students can get involved in politics through their university unions not just through municipal, provincial, or federal lobbying, but by participating and volunteering for services, clubs, community centres, and media.

While many of us stew over our collective frustration at another conservative government whose election platform promises no meaningful alleviation to the difficulties of student life, we should be thoughtful about where we direct our energy. You may see calls to donate to local charities, or feel pressure to put your co-op or internships to good use at an NGO doing good work in the community.

While working with or donating to charities and NGOs can help people, student unions are vehicles of collective and community power in a way that charities can't always be.

Far from just a service provider, our student union is a vehicle to pool our collective resources. It is a way by which to develop, through an admittedly imperfect democratic process, ways to support one another and to implement these supports by engaging community members and giving them the skills they need to provide them.

The McMaster Students Union allows students to express meaningful solidarity with one another, whether through voting in a referendum to provide hundreds of free meals a day or working in the union-owned restaurant that is going to make those meals.

The MSU allows students to express meaningful solidarity with one another, whether through voting in a referendum to provide hundreds of free meals a day, or working in the union-owned restaurant that is going to make those meals.

This solidarity is inherently political and building a stronger MSU is a way, maybe the best way, for students to express their opposition to a political project that has attempted to crush solidarity in favour of an obsession with individualism.

While the Student Choice Initiative was defeated, student unions still need students to work to strengthen them. Students need to engage themselves and other students in the collective effort of union life; only our engagement can strengthen the MSU's foundation in the principle of solidarity.

When I woke up last Friday Morning, I was disappointed at the results of the provincial election. But, I know the work that I do along with my colleagues at the Silhouette and the MSU is a more impactful form of community work and action than voting once every four years.

If you are one of the many students upset by the results of the provincial election, don’t just accept defeat. Don’t just promise to vote next time. Do something tangible and politically meaningful with your short time as a student and get involved with the MSU.

Discover inspiring on-campus and local events that honour Black history and culture

Black History Month is here, and Hamilton is filled with exciting events celebrating the rich history and culture of the Black community. Throughout February, McMaster's Equity and Inclusion Office is hosting a variety of programs, which can be found on the Black History Month at McMaster website. Whether you're on campus or exploring the city, there are plenty of opportunities to honour the past and embrace the present. Here’s a list of upcoming events you won’t want to miss this month!

Valentine's Day Candygram Sale

MacAfricans is hosting a Valentine’s Day Candygram Sale to help you sweeten your loved one’s day! Pre-order candygram bundles through their Linktree by Feb. 12 and pick them up on Thursday, Feb. 13, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in MUSC 213. Don’t miss this thoughtful and sweet way to show your love!

NSBE Bake Sale

Celebrate Black History Month and Valentine’s Day with a delicious treat at the National Society of Black Engineers' bake sale! NSBE will be in MUSC on Feb. 12, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in MUSC, enjoy African and Caribbean snacks like puff puff, mandazi, and plantain chips, all for under $5!

Boardroom Banter: Games Night Edition

Join Degroote Black for a fun and interactive evening on Thursday, Feb. 13, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in room M12 of the Peter George Centre for Living and Learning. Test your knowledge of business and Black culture with a special twist on Black Card Revoked, a humorous game that challenges players on African American culture, history, and traditions. Enjoy the fun all while competing in teams and making new connections. Exciting prizes await!

Makeup Tutorial

Celebrate Black History Month with Zeena Beauty’s free makeup tutorial for Black women on Feb. 15 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Souk Marketplace in Jackson Square Mall. Learn expert tips for enhancing your natural beauty using high-quality makeup designed specifically for Black women’s skin tones, while enjoying Sudanese chai and Ethiopian coffee. For those interested, register on Eventbrite as spots are limited.

Supporting Black organizations and their events during Black History Month and beyond plays a crucial role in amplifying the voices and contributions of the Black community. These events foster a deeper understanding of Black culture, history and achievements while providing opportunities for connection, education and empowerment.

By actively participating in these events, we not only celebrate Black excellence but also help create an inclusive space for future generations to thrive.

Be sure to check out these events and stay tuned for more events by following the Black Student Success Centre and BHMatMac on Instagram for updates. Let’s continue to learn, connect and celebrate throughout the month!

FCC brings students together to learn and share accessible recipes in a hands-on cooking experience

The McMaster Students Union's Food Collective Centre hosted its January cook-along event on Jan. 29, 2025, at The Hub. This event is part of a monthly series designed to promote food literacy, build community and demonstrate how meal preparation for students can be accessible.

This month's cook-along, held in collaboration with Maccess, emphasized making cooking more accessible for people with disabilities. During the two-hour session, participants prepared a coconut chickpea curry, chapati flatbread and a cucumber yogurt salad.

Christine Lin and Harry Li, the FCC's Community Kitchen coordinators, explained to the Silhouette that the event is open to all members of the McMaster community, including undergraduates, graduate students and staff.

"We call it a workshop, but we're really just cooking together. It's a collaborative opportunity to learn from each other, whether participants are experienced or just starting out," said Lin.

We call it a workshop, but we're really just cooking together. It's a collaborative opportunity to learn from each other, whether participants are experienced or just starting out.

Christine Lin, Community Kitchen Coordinator
Food Collective Centre

The recipes chosen for the workshops aim to reflect the FCC's core goals for diversity and accessibility. Each month, the recipes are selected so as to use seasonal ingredients an array of dishes from diverse backgrounds.

Recent events featured dishes like vegetable stir fry and tacos, showcasing a medley of global cuisines. Lin and Li highlighted the effort to ensure that recipes accommodate dietary restrictions, with vegetarian modifications always available.

In addition to cooking skills, participants gained practical knowledge such as meal planning, budgeting and food safety. According to Lin, the workshops also address food literacy, teaching participants how to find ingredients and prepare nutritious meals.

The cook-along initiative aligns with broader efforts to address food insecurity on campus, including the upcoming Food Accessibility Initiative referendum. The referendum proposes increasing the MSU organizational fee by $6.50 to fund the Soup & Bread Initiative, which would provide free soup and bread to students throughout the academic year.

Lin and Li expressed their support for the referendum's proposals, noting that these measures would help relieve the hunger of many students. However, they also emphasized that addressing food insecurity requires a more comprehensive and long-term approach that goes beyond immediate relief provided by such programs.

"Food insecurity is a complex issue. It's great that people will be able to have a free lunch every day, but what about the rest of the day? Are they able to cook by themselves at home? . . . We have to think more holistically," said Lin.

Food insecurity is a complex issue. It's great that people will be able to have a free lunch everyday, but what about the rest of the day? Are they able to cook by themselves at home?

Christine Lin, Community Kitchen Coordinator
Food Collective Centre

Lin and Li noted the importance of increasing the variety and accessibility of nutritious food options on campus. They emphasized that it is not just about providing meals but also about ensuring that students have access to fresh, affordable ingredients that empower them to cook at home.

They also explained how food insecurity differs among diverse groups of students. They suggested that graduate students, for example, can struggle to afford nutritious ingredients. Meanwhile, first-year students may not face the same immediate need to cook due to living in residence but could still benefit from learning basic cooking skills to prepare for future independence.

For students unable to attend the cook-along, Lin and Li also mentioned that the FCC is developing a cookbook featuring workshop recipes. The cookbook will include a variety of cultural recipes contributed by volunteers, aligning with the FCC's focus on representing McMaster's diverse campus community.

Looking ahead, the FCC has plans for future cook-alongs, including a February session in collaboration with the McMaster Community Garden and the McMaster Nutrition Club.

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