28 February 2024

Vol. 110

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UMSU exec positions to change for upcoming year

VP community engagement to dissolve, VP advocacy to reformulate

Kyra

UCampbell, staff

MSU executive positions will look different in the upcoming academic year as the organization plans to focus its efforts on advocacy issues.

The organization is dissolving the vice president community engagement position while the vice president advocacy position will split into vice president university affairs and vice president external affairs.

According to UMSU president Tracy Karuhogo, discussions on changing UMSU executive positions began in summer 2023. At conferences, Karuhogo saw other student union executive positions at

other institutions structured differently than the current U of M framework.

We noticed from different student unions that it was something we could do so much better,” she said.

“spread too thin” played into the decision to split the role into vice president university affairs and vice president external affairs.

ernment.

“We need to make sure that our voices are really put to the forefront”

Karuhogo said that UMSU has “really gotten a handle of doing events” but that a “revamp” of the union’s advocacy strategy is necessary.

Currently, the vice president advocacy deals with both internal and external responsibilities. Karuhogo noted that executives being

— Tracy Karuhogo, UMSU president

Under the new roles, the former will oversee internal responsibilities, including the university senate and board of governors, while the latter will oversee external responsibilities, including the Canadian Alliance of Students Associations and the provincial gov-

Karuhogo said that specializing the roles will benefit students as it will allow for a greater focus on issues that are brought to both the university and external bodies.

As students, “we need to make sure that our voices are really put to the forefront,” said Karuhogo.

Karuhogo also noted that the recent provincial election makes the UMSU executive feel they are getting “a fresh start with the new government.” She says the change in the executive will allow UMSU

to strengthen current relationships with the premier and minister of advanced education.

Regarding the dissolution of vice president community engagement, Karuhogo explained that all of the executives take on community engagement responsibilities within their own portfolios and collaboratively through projects like orientation week and holiday hampers.

Karuhogo said the executive’s goal is to make “UMSU’s advocacy really shine,” and hopes that students will see the changes as a positive step.

UMSU presidential candidates

Divya Sharma, Joy Okafor

Sarah Cohen staff

Divya Sharma

Sharma is currently a second-year student studying global political economy. She identifies as a sister, mentor, student and immigrant. Sharma also describes herself as full of energy and said she wants to make sure the work she completes is the best it can be.

Sharma has worked with the Manitoba Council for International Cooperation, CBC Manitoba’s community advisory board and the Manitoba chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Sharma said the reason she was selected to serve as a youth delegate for the United Nations 68th commission on the status of women was because of her dedication to equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI). She believes her work as a page for the Manitoba government and EDI officer for the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce will be “an asset” while she completes initiatives and goals if elected.

As current vice president community engagement, Sharma has loved every aspect of her job, including speaking with students, negotiating contracts, working on issues such as healthy sexuality and having a more managerial role.

Sharma believes UMSU has a lot of potential for this upcoming year.

“Students want a bigger emphasis on advocacy,” Sharma said. If elected, she said she feels that it is “more possible than ever” to address issues such as international student health care.

She also hopes that she can aid all UMSU members in

knowing and understanding what UMSU is and how the union can support them.

The number one issue Sharma wants to focus on if elected is “food scarcity on campus.” She said food drives and free meals are important to ensure UMSU is “feeding that hunger.” Sharma also promises a year-long mental health campaign to address students’ needs.

When it comes to transit, Sharma said UMSU provides Winnipeg Transit with “so much money” because of the U-Pass program available to students. “As major stakeholders,” Sharma said she believes that the union has a right to express the lack of needed services and find a collaborative solution between Winnipeg Transit and UMSU. Lastly, she wants to continue collaboration and support for communities on campus, as well as ensuring the UMSU ventures

program continues successfully.

Sharma hopes that, if elected, students feel represented and supported throughout the next year through advertising and holding events that “give students the opportunities to connect with peers.”

Joy Okafor

Okafor is an international student from Nigeria in her fourth year of studying management information systems and accounting. She enjoys spending time with loved ones and playing basketball.

She is running for president because she wants to create a “fun and exciting” space on campus where students are able to express themselves and have any resource they need “at the tips of their fingers.”

Okafor said she plans on serving students with “an

open-door policy.”

“I want students to really [...] understand the fact that we are representing them,” she said. “I genuinely want to encourage everyone to know that their voices are heard, and their ideas are amazing.”

Okafor began university during COVID-19 lockdowns, and said she was unaware of student groups on campus. Once in-person instruction resumed, Okafor said that she was able to get involved in leadership opportunities with Asper’s first year committee, UM’s Pre-Law Society, the Business Analytics Association and Black Students’ Community. She said that these positions have allowed her “to work with students and work for students.”

Okafor’s platform emphasizes three main elements: advocate, elevate and unite. Okafor wants to advocate for international student health

care, lower tuition prices and new scholarship opportunities for students.

“We are that diverse [and] scholarship opportunities should be able to work for all types of students,” she said.

Okafor also wants to hold concerts and promote Greek life on campus.

She believes that these initiatives will “give students outlets to express themselves,” and “make sure that those just kind of fun activities on campus and are in U of M.”

Okafor said that, if elected, her primary focus as union spokesperson will be to ensure that “students feel represented and supported.” She said that she will achieve this by prioritizing “equity, diversity and inclusivity” in UMSU advocacy and events.

Divya Sharma

Joy Okafor

photo / Mattthew Merkel / staff

photo / Ebunoluwa Akinbo / staff

Candidate for vice president university affairs

Colton McKillop and Sarah Cohen, staff

Rachhvir Dhaliwal

Dhaliwal, a third-year political studies student, is running unopposed for the newly created position of vice president university affairs.

Dhaliwal said she is running for this position to make sure that student voices at the U of M are “heard and valued.”

Dhaliwal said she has heard concerns in conversation with peers over the past years, and that if elected, she will prioritize finding solutions for these concerns.

Equity on campus is important to Dhaliwal. She said she will also advocate to expand students’ access to mental health services.

“I believe that every mind

matters,” she said.

Dhaliwal hopes to “ease the financial burden” for students by working alongside the other executives to increase scholarships and bursaries for students. She also said that, if elected, she will “continue to prioritize Indigenous issues and amplify Indigenous voices.”

She has held board positions in multiple student organizations, including the UM Pre-Law Society, University of Manitoba Punjabi Students’ Association and University of Manitoba Sikh Student Association. Dhaliwal also has worked with the governments of Winnipeg and Manitoba.

Regarding another aspect

of the university, Dhaliwal said she believes in the importance of building strong relationships with faculty and administration “in order to provide more support to students.”.

When students need an advocate, Dhaliwal said “a strategy that incorporates collaboration, empowerment, education and active listening” is required, and that she will work to ensure that many points of view are considered during the advocacy process.

Dhaliwal said her main priority will be making sure that “students’ concerns are met with solutions.”

Candidate for vice president external affairs

Prabhnoor Singh

Singh is a second-year political studies student running unopposed for the position of vice president external affairs

Singh grew up not seeing people that looked like him in leadership positions, and he wants young people who look like him to come to the university campus and see him in a leadership role, and to know that they “are welcome on campus.”

He said he wants to make the campus environment more diverse, inclusive and inspirational to leaders of any community.

Singh was one of ten pages selected to work in the legislative assembly in high school. He believes his experience

working with government would be an advantage to him in the position of vice president external affairs.

Singh’s resume includes holding the title of founder and president of the University of Manitoba Punjabi Students’ Association, co-chief events coordinator for Racial Equity and Inclusion Alliance and director of external affairs for the University of Manitoba Sikh Students’ Association.

When serving students, Singh said, if elected, he will be an active listener. He believes that being available for students and listening is important when trying to provide solutions to their concerns,” and intends to listen to ideas students have.

“At the end of the day, people won’t remember who we as executives were, but they will remember what we have done,” Singh said.

International student health coverage is an issue Singh wants to highlight. He plans to lobby for “ better and quicker implementation” of coverage for international students. An issue he hopes to collaborate with the city on is a more accessible transportation network for students. He said this would include bus arrivals in shorter intervals during “rush hours” so students are not passed by full buses.

photo / Ebunoluwa Akinbo / staff

Sarah Cohen and alicia rose, staff

photo / Ebunoluwa Akinbo / staff

Vice president finance and operations candidates

Sarah Cohen, staff

Adil Hayat

Hayat is a second-year political studies student who is running for vice president finance and operations because of his interest in U of M finances and the number of questions raised about UMSU finances this year.

This past year, Hayat has served as the director of finance for the U of M Undergraduate Political Studies Students’ Association and as the chief financial officer for REIA. He has also served as treasurer for the Winnipeg Foundation’s Youth in Philanthropy program.

Hayat said he is familiar with accounting as well as “the basics of business management,” and feels that he can succeed in these roles.

For Hayat, being elected as VPFO “is the next step after doing finances for a community group or a faculty.”

“I don’t want to be the VPFO that just promises accountability, or that just says, ‘I will be transparent with your money,’” he said. “I want to be the VPFO that provides guidance” for students to access the services they pay into with their fees.

Along with guidance, Hayat said he wants to “celebrate the resources” available for students through UMSU as a method of information.

Hayat said financial guidance, clarity and accountability are the pillars of his platform. He said he wants to be able to guide students to monetary assistance and resources they are entitled to, as he believes that easing financial burdens can “lead to better academic results.”

Hayat said he is committed to “being clear and consistent” with students’ money and discussing financial reports in open session for all students to hear, within the limits of the law.

According to Hayat, financial accountability is key. He

wants to diversify spending and to be held accountable for those expenditures in order to “make our businesses lucrative again.”

“Accountability is visibility,” said Hayat. He said he plans on being visible to students so “anybody can come and ask me about their money.”

He said he plans to promote the participation of students in UMSU’s finance committee. With student participation, he says he will make sure that “budget decisions reflect a diverse range of perspectives.”

“While it may not be possible to fulfill every request, my goal is to create a budget that meets the essential needs of all students,” he said.

Carolyn Wang

Wang is a second-year stu-

dent studying finance and accounting.

She is running for the position of VPFO because she sees a demand for affordability in UMSU businesses. She also said students lack financial opportunities and are paying fees for services they do not necessarily use.

“I want to make university more affordable and to aid the financial burden of students by making UMSU more affordable for all students,” she said.

Wang acknowledged that many U of M students struggle with finances at the same time as prices rise across the board. She hopes to address that by reducing the price of services and foods on campus that she feels are priced too high for students, along with finding a way for students to opt out of fees for services they do not use. She also said

she will hold promotions and menus at UMSU businesses that have options costing less than $5 and $10.

She said her time spent as the Arts Student Body Council director of finance and chair of the finance committee allowed her to help manage a budget of thousands of for arts students. She has also volunteered for mental health and empowerment groups on campus.

Wang said she believes that students should be electing someone passionate about student issues “instead of someone who wants something on their resume.”

If elected, Wang said she will donate a portion of her salary to “a scholarship fund, or something like that.”

Another goal Wang has is to “revamp the UMSU spaces,” adding things like more micro-

waves and additional places for students to eat so they can connect with one another.

Wang said she plans to invite students to meetings where budget issues are being discussed, and that she will seek opinions on where to allocate money from students before budgets are finalized. She intends to provide more funding to the student services that are used the most while “cutting down on expenses,” she said.

Wang also plans to create a reporting service for students to anonymously give feedback about what they need from student services.

Adil Hayat

photo / Mattthew Merkel / staff

Carolyn Wang photo / provided

Vice president student life candidates

Bolu Akindele

Akindele is an international nursing student from Nigeria who hopes that her friendliness and approachability shine as she runs for vice president student life. She loves having conversations with people and looks forward to speaking with voters throughout the election period.

Akindele said she is “committed to enhancing student life” by creating an “engaging and vibrant” campus for all students, she said. By collaborating with various communities, groups and clubs, she hopes to “create a more diverse and inclusive” university experience.

If elected, Akindele said she plans to increase student involvement by organizing events and initiatives that students “want and need.” She says there is currently a “concerning” lack of student engagement.

She said simplifying the process to start clubs on campus is an important goal for her. This includes better promotion of existing student clubs, so students are aware of the “diverse range of student groups” and how to get involved in them.

Akindele is dedicated to “equity, diversity, inclusion and Indigenous reconciliation” on campus. She hopes to cultivate an “inclusive, supportive and anti-racism” university community. She plans to work with marginalized communities and meet their needs.

She is also committed to raising awareness of UMSU funds and financial resources for students. She also wants to make the UMSU food bank more accessible to students.

“This would help a lot of students, particularly international students like myself,” she said.

Akindele has held the position of vice president membership experience in the

Black Students’ Community.

Mental health is an important issue for Akindele. She said she will advocate for accessible mental health resources on and off campus.

She said she will work to “foster an environment that prioritizes mental well-being, and empowering students to thrive academically, socially and emotionally.”

Akindele believes campus safety is important. Two ways she proposed improving campus safety are opening sexual violence prevention workshops for all students, and raising awareness of the UM Safe program.

She said she wants to ensure that each student feels welcome at campus events, and she plans to listen to the student body’s needs in order to “plan and execute events [that] align with the diverse interests of students.”

Commitment to inclusive

events is also an important part of her platform. She said she will promote events “featuring a wide range of activities, performances and food options that reflect the diversity of” students to ensure “every student can fully participate” in campus activities.

Michael Prokipchuk

Second-year political studies student Michael Prokipchuk said he enjoys keeping busy and working with students.

He believes he has the “experience and the skills and the network” necessary to do the job. He has been on the UMSU board of directors for two years as U1 representative and governance chair. He has also served as a constituency assistant for MLA Billie Cross, which involved attending meetings and working with officials at various levels of government.

“I think my combined skills, time and experience will bode well for me in my candidacy,” he said.

Prokipchuk said he wants students to know that although student leadership is young, “we’re all here looking to do our best.”

“I’m not running for this position for the salary or the title or any type of personal benefit,” he said. “I know that my experience, my network and my skill set can be used to do this job right.”

Prokipchuk wants to hear from students. He said that each one of the over 20,000 undergraduate students on campus has a vision of what they want to see at the university, and he feels it is important to hear from students in order to “implement measures that support” all students.

Prokipchuk hopes to continue to expand the hardship

fund. He said that removing financial roadblocks and barriers is important, wherever that is possible.

He also plans to implement treasurer training for all registered UMSU groups, which would have to be completed in order to be recognized by UMSU, similar to requirements to take the sexual violence prevention workshop. He argued this training could help to counteract issues around financial accountability for councils and clubs have faced.

Prokipchuk said he is promising policies that are “inclusive and actionable.” He believes that students currently face barriers at events for reasons that could “range from ticket pricing, a general feeling of exclusivity or just not knowing what events are happening.”

Sarah Cohen and alicia rose, staff

Bolu Akindele

photo / Matthew Merkel / staff

Michael Prokipchuk

photo / Matthew Merkel / staff

Community representative

Black students’, Indigenous students’, women’s representatives

BLACK STUDENTS’ REPRESENTATIVE

Clifford Emelumba

Emelumba is a first-year student, planning to major in theatre. He enjoys reading, watching films and meeting or helping people. He also volunteers at the gift shop in St. Boniface Hospital.

He chose to run for the position Black students’ representative because of his “passion” for Black students being “heard and valued” on campus. Emelumba said he feels it is important to have an advocate “who understands and addresses the unique needs of Black students.”

He said as Black students’ representative, he will act “as a vocal advocate for the needs and concerns of Black students.”

Emelumba said he will work to improve access to supports and resources for Black students to secure “equal opportunities for success.” He said he is running to help Black students and acknowledged that he “can’t just do it on [his] own,” but that he will need support from the community.

Emelumba held leadership roles during high school. Combined with his “passion to be outspoken,” and his desire to work collaboratively, he feels this makes him a good candidate for the position.

Emelumba said that “cultural competence training for faculty and staff,” is important in order to establish an inclusive learning environment. He also said that mental health resources specific to Black students’ needs are import-

ant. Lastly, he said he wants to create “spaces for black students to connect, share experiences, and build a sense of community.”

Emelumba believes that financial assistance such as scholarships and grants specifically for Black students “will play a crucial role in promoting equitable access to education” for the community. He said funding initiatives can grow “a sense of belonging, empowerment and representation,” which contributes to the successes of Black U of M students.

Damilola Ojo

Ojo is a third-year economics major and the current Black students’ representative on UMSU. She said she enjoys learning about “how the world works” and has always been interested in Black advocacy. She believes being a resource for fellow Black students is part of her purpose in life.

Ojo said that being elected for this upcoming year would mean that she could accomplish the goals, events and initiatives she begun this term.

“I hope to serve my community by being a point of contact,” said Ojo. As the “middleman” for students and the university, she hopes to be able to bring issues and find solutions at the bi-weekly board of directors’ meetings.

If elected, Ojo said her experience in advocacy would be “a nice way to merge” her “talents and experiences” to “further extend the lengths at which Black students evolve and excel” at the University of Manitoba.

She hopes to connect Black students with Black student clubs so they can all understand and access the resources that they have between then. She also wants to “amplify representation [of] Black students on campus and [in] UMSU positions.”

Ojo believes that right now Black students require accessible aid for mental and physical health, which she describes as “the foundation of a healthy and prosperous” student body. She emphasized this in the context of the Black community where she said, “it is easy to feel segregated or marginalized.”

INDIGENOUS STUDENTS’ REPRESENTATIVE

Michaela de Hoop

De Hoop is a third-year science student. She is Cree from Opaskwayak Cree Nation and The Pas. De Hoop is running for the position unopposed. She chose to run for Indigenous students’ representative in order “to bring a voice to the Indigenous community.” She said she enjoys being “hands-on, planning events, being part of the action and advocating” for issues that matter to her.

De Hoop plans to host fundraisers for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-spirited people. She also wants to host workshops for all students to learn about Indigenous cultures. “I’m a strong believer that hate is bred from ignorance,” she said. “I want to make sure that there’s opportunities for people to learn

about Indigenous teachings so that they ’ll understand the cultures more.”

De Hoop is currently a member of the Indigenous Circle of Empowerment, the Blankstein Momentum program and was previously Indigenous affairs reporter for the Manitoban. She has also worked with the Northern Manitoba Food, Culture and Community Collaborative and helped prepare an Indigenous cookbook as part of a community garden project.

De Hoop wants to create opportunities to learn about traditional Indigenous knowledge. “ The university is really good at what they do have, but I think you can never have too many workshops or classes where you can learn things,” de Hoop said. She also hopes to transform the Indigenous Leaders Gala into an annual event.

De Hoop said Indigenous students are lacking mental health resources at the U of M, and that waitlists to see Elders-in-Residence are quite long. While resources are available, she said there needs to be more options for students to access “supportive professionals who are knowledgeable in Indigenous culture and trauma” in a timely matter, especially for those in crisis who need immediate assistance.

WOMEN’S REPRESENTATIVE

Heaven Kaur

Kaur is a second-year science student and the only

candidate for women’s representative.

“I’m running for women’s rep to make a difference in the community,” she said, mentioning that, while she could have run for other positions, she said “as a woman, it felt right” to run for women’s representative. Kaur is passionate about women’s needs.

One way Kaur said she hopes to serve her community is to ensure that personal hygiene products are available where they are needed, especially as not every restroom on campus has menstrual products.

“Not many people know that the Women’s Centre is a place where you can go for support,” as well as a variety of resources, she said. Kaur wants to ensure communication between the Women’s Centre and students. Lastly, she wants to host “panel discussions with women-identifying professionals who can come” and share their expertise.

Kaur said that women students at the U of M “deserve opportunities to unite.” If elected, Kaur promised to work toward her goals of reducing period poverty and allowing students to connect with professionals to “gain tips, advice and knowledge.”

Colton McKillop and Sarah Cohen, staff

Clifford Emelumba

photos / Ebunoluwa Akinbo & Matthew Merkwel / staff

Damilola Ojo

Michaela de Hoop Heaven Kaur

representative candidates

International students’, racialized students’, accessibility representatives

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS’ REPRESENTATIVE

Dhruvi Shah

Shah is an international student from Kenya, in her third year studying political studies. One focus for Shah is seeing the international student community thrive. She believes she can achieve that by bridging the gaps that exist between international students and the resources that are available to them.

As international students’ representative, she hopes to grow a network of international student alumni who would give current international students information about their fields and provide mentorship as people who were once in their position as students.

She said there is a gap between the services being offered and services being used.

Shah said an important issue for her is the reimplementation of Manitoba health care for international students, and with the recent change in the provincial government, she believes “we have a better chance now to gain back that health care,” she said.

Shah said that right now, international students “need a sense of belonging.” One way she suggests that belonging can be found is through “bringing communities together through the celebrations of their most important and culturally significant fes-

tivals.”

Krupa Mashru

Mashru is a fifth-year athletic therapy major and likes to dance, which has helped her make connections with people both on and off campus. She is a Kenyan-Indian international student.

Mashru said that international students have lots to worry about in addition to their studies. She is running for international student representative so that other international students have someone to rely on. She hopes to be the voice and connection between the international student population and the university.

One goal she has is to conduct regular student support workshops where students can learn more about the resources available to them, especially health care.

Since 2019, Mashru has been involved in many organizations, such as Let’s Talk Science, and student councils. She has served as vice president membership experience for UM International Students’ Organization, the vice president internal affairs and vice president of social media and marketing for Laksh. The two main issues Mashru wants to focus on are health care and cultural integration. She hopes that she can work to get health care that is “more affordable and more accessible” for international students so that that money is not a barrier to seeking medical attention.

Sarah Cohen and alicia rose, staff

Mashru feels that there events that promote cross-cultural collaboration can help “create a more friendly and inclusive campus community.” She feels that more exchange programs could help promote diversity on campus.

Right now, Mashru feels that international students need access to support in many areas. She said that financial barriers prevent international students from having “an equal chance to thrive intellectually and professionally.” She said creating a “friendly, inclusive campus community where diversity is valued and cherished” is critical.

RACIALIZED STUDENTS’ REPRESENTATIVE

Christabel Attoni- Oteari

Attoni-Oteari is a third-year criminology student, running unopposed for the position of racialized representative. She likes to volunteer in her community both inside and outside of school, to “help [people] in any way possible.”

This year, Attoni-Oteari spent time working with the current racialized representative. Through this work, she said she has gained opportunities to see what has been completed, and built valuable skills and experiences. She hopes that everything she has learned will allow her “to make some waves” if elected.

Attoni-Oteari wants to help close the gaps between racial-

ized communities. She says that these making connections between racialized communities is necessary for making change.

“If there’s going to be a continuous gap, that change can’t be fully made,” she said.

She plans to provide workshops for racialized students who do not yet have a student group to learn how to complete their goals in a “safe space.”

Attoni-Oteari emphasized her desire to advocate for the racialized community, saying she “want[s] to be the person in the room” that racialized students can trust to advocate for them.

“I’m somebody who’s always been proud of my racialized identity, and to have the opportunity to be in this role, I want to help other people find pride in their racialized identity,” said Attoni-Oteari.

Attoni-Oteari aims to build connections with racialized students in other community groups, including racialized 2SLGBTQIA+ students, women and international students, in order to serve the diverse range of students in racialized communities.

ACCESSIBILITY REPRESENTATIVE

Ekamjit Singh

Singh is an international Punjabi student in his second semester. He likes playing basketball and chess. He is running unopposed for the position of accessibility repre-

sentative.

Singh chose to run because of issues he has spoke with other students about regarding accessibility on campus, which he worries the administration may not know about. He said that even if the administration is aware, it is “not willing to address” these issues.

Singh doubts that accessibility services can “actively fulfill” students’ needs. He experienced issues going through the process of enrolment in accessibility services, and wants to help other students navigate the process. Singh wants to focus on making the accessibility services process more accessible to students.

As accessibility representative, Singh wants to be “the anchor between students and the administration.”

Singh plans to focus on several policies. He said he will develop a feedback system to hear from students about issues they are facing and figure out solutions to the problems.

The concept of chardi kala, meaning optimism and mental resilience, is important to Singh. He says it is “something that can help get [students] through their accessibility needs.”

Singh aspires to fulfill the concept of sarbat da bhala, or “the benefit of the whole world.”

Ultimately, Singh said the accessibility community needs a room that meets students’ needs.

Dhruvi Shah

photos / Ebunoluwa Akinbo & Matthew Merkwel / staff

Krupa Mashru

Christabel Attoni-Oteari Ekamjit Singh

Fighting food insecurity

U of M professor explores food equity, sugary drinks and healthy diets for children

rhea bhalla, staff

Canada is currently facing severe levels of food insecurity.

In 2022, 18.4 per cent of Canadians across the provinces (and 19.6 per cent of Manitobans) lived in a foodinsecure household, a number that increased since 2021.

For the 6.9 million Canadians impacted, their experiences range from anxiety over the grocery bill, to skipping a meal, to not eating for days.

Natalie Riediger is an associate professor in the U of M’s department of food and human nutritional sciences whose work looks at food insecurity and food-related health inequities.

“Nutrition and food security are responsible for the greatest gains in life expectancy over the last 100 to 150 years globally,” Riediger said. “In terms of the future, I think it remains a critical issue.”

One of Riediger’s research interests is taxation policies surrounding sugar-sweetened beverages such as sodas, fruit drinks and energy drinks.

In 2022, the World Health Organization released its first global tax manual for sugar-sweetened beverages. The manual discussed the experiences of countries like the United Kingdom, South Africa and Mexico that have successfully implemented the tax.

Proponents of the taxation policy cite strong evidence linking sugar-sweetened beverages to obesity, Type 2 diabetes and chronic disease onset. A 20 per cent taxation on these beverages is postulated to decrease consumption by 10 per cent in its first

year of implementation.

Despite this, the discussion around a sugar-sweetened beverage tax may not be as straightforward as it seems.

“I was drawn to that because of how grey it was,” Riediger said. “It’s not all black and white. Dietary patterns are changed by our context.”

Using a Canadian social justice perspective, an article Riediger co-authored examined the proposed tax policy.

The authors suggested that to make conclusions about taxation on sugar-sweetened beverages, policymakers should consider the lessons learned from taxation on tobacco. It was effective at reducing smoking rates in the overall population, but it did not affect all people equally. Smoking prevalence decreased much less among those with lower levels of education and those who belonged to lower socioeconomic groups.

There are also important differences in the types of beverages included in

proposed taxation policies. Sweetened coffee, which is heavily consumed in regions of higher socioeconomic status, has not been the target of current or proposed taxation.

The authors highlighted this fact, stating that, “economically advantaged people may continue to drink their Frappuccino, untaxed, while less wealthy people are taxed for their cola, despite similar added sugar content.”

Additionally, the authors state that taxing sugar-sweetened beverages may further stigmatize obesity, as moralistic views of obesity often frame it as only a matter of personal responsibility, ignoring the role of

obesogenic environments that promote eating in excess. This stigmatization is known to have mentally- and physically damaging ramifications.

“The research I’ve been working on really dives into the nuances of what food means and how it relates to our lives more broadly than just nutrition,” Riediger said.

Riediger noted that Indigenous people are highly represented in Winnipeg’s inner city population. The inner city region is disproportionately impacted by poverty.

“That’s something that struck me as being obviously very relevant to the Canadian context, but especially the Manitoban context.”

Much of her research focuses on food and health equity for Indigenous populations.

In another study, Riediger and her co-authors explored diet quality among Canadian Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth from 2004 to 2015. They found that, although food insecurity continues to profoundly impact

Indigenous communities, diet quality has improved for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth.

The authors attributed these improvements in diet to limiting foods viewed as unhealthy (ice cream, candy, French fries, etc.) rather than introducing more healthy foods (whole grains, fruits, vegetables, etc.). They found that food insecurity may lead to poorer diet quality, widening health disparities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth.

Food insecurity is linked to many adverse health outcomes in children. It may lead to obesity, due to lower-income families choosing cheap, easy-to-prepare foods with low nutritional value. Children may have nutritional deficiencies, causing stunted growth or anemia. They may also experience challenges with emotional stability and feel fatigued during the day, impacting their academic performance.

Riediger emphasized the importance of food. As an essential commodity, food is connected to many fields of study.

Environmental science plays a tremendous role in securing the food we need to thrive. Food is a major contributor to the Canadian economy. Even social events and celebrations tend to incorporate the sharing of food. Whether medicine, dentistry or art, food is inherent to the human existence.

“Food transcends every single discipline,” Riediger said. “It’s a universal part of our lives.”

graphic / Teegan Gillich / staff

Program integrates arts and humanities into health care

Exploring the Rady faculty’s Alan Klass program

elah ajene, staff

Traditional science entails the isolation and thorough understanding of specific phenomena, often emphasizing the removal of external influences to focus solely on the subject of study. This approach, while effective for scientific inquiry, poses challenges when applied to real-world scenarios.

This sentiment, articulated by sociologist Susan Wingert, underscores the importance of integrating arts and humanities into health-care education to bridge the gap between scientific rigour and the nuanced realities of medical practice.

The U of M’s Alan Klass program in health humanities offered by the Rady faculty of health sciences champions the integration of arts, humanities and social sciences into health-care education — fostering holistic development among healthcare professionals.

The approach allows health-care professionals to show up as “whole” individuals, explained Wingert, who serves as the program steward.

The program’s core objective is to infuse the human ele-

ment into health care, emphasizing the significance of self-expression, reflection and creativity for both personal well-being and patient care.

Wingert explained that the concept of health humanities may be unfamiliar to many, requiring concerted efforts to elucidate its relevance and benefits in health-care practice.

“Even when I started in this program, I was bringing the social sciences part of it, and even it took me a while for me to figure out, ‘how do the arts, how does reading a short story, how does taking a photography workshop relate to health care?’” Wingert said.

By using various mediums such as photography, creative writing and graphic medicine, the program encourages participants to become keen observers of life, fostering deeper levels of communication and understanding beyond traditional scientific approaches.

“It helps us to attend to some of the things that in the sciences we separate from what we’re interested in,” Wingert said.

Earlier this month, Wingert facilitated a workshop titled “Storytelling for Con-

nection and Communication in the Health Professions: Close Reading of Short Stories,” where participants had the opportunity to delve into a short story — closely examining its construction, character dynamics and underlying themes.

“It’s a fun way to look at observation and interpretation and our own reflections, what we bring into experiences and how that shapes our experience with the world and how we interact with other people,” she explained.

Another one of the program’s creative writing workshops through CancerCare Manitoba is held for patients who have undergone or are currently undergoing cancer treatment — providing an outlet for participants to explore their emotional journey.

Beyond offering a space for reflection, these workshops also facilitated connections among participants, fostering empathy and support among those sharing similar experiences.

“That’s been one of my favourite experiences, to write with them and give them an opportunity to reclaim who they are,” Wingert noted.

The Alan Klass program is

not only committed to community engagement but also professional development. Single-session workshops cater to the busy schedules of participants, allowing them to explore the program’s offerings without long-term commitments. Wingert believes the program has an undeniable impact on professional development for students and health-care practitioners. By facilitating opportunities for self-reflection and embracing vulnerability, participants can gain insights into their roles as health-care professionals beyond clinical expertise. Themes of resilience, empathy and self-care permeate the workshops, equipping individuals with essential skills

to navigate the complexities of health-care practice while preserving their humanity.

While the Alan Klass program is offered to students, staff and faculty across the U of M, its primary audience is the Rady faculty of health sciences. Looking ahead, the program seeks to expand its reach by developing a non-degree certificate in health humanities.

By providing specialized training, the program aims to empower individuals to incorporate humanities content into their respective fields, thereby fostering a more holistic approach to healthcare delivery.

“It’s an opportunity to show up as a whole person,” Wingert said.

Wild pigs spread north, pose new threat to Canadian farmers

Species’ prolific breeding, resiliency, adaptive qualities foster growing population

Lucas Gomes, volunteer

Wild pigs, an invasive species commonly known as boar or feral hogs, have spread across Canadian provinces, causing damage to farmers’ crops and livestock.

Wild boars were first brought to Canada from Europe in the late 1980s to diversify Canadian livestock and for wild game. The demand for boar meat declined severely in the early 2000s, and in response, farmers across Canada released their stock into the wild.

According to a national survey of the species, the wild boar population has spread across Canada at a staggering nine per cent each year since its late 1980s to early 1990s introduction. The boar’s prolific breeding is fostered by the species’ early sexual maturity, typically within six to eight months. Sow, female pigs, can have two litters a year each producing an average of four to six piglets.

The species’ ability to

reproduce has implications for any possible solution. If 65 per cent of wild pigs were killed each year, their population would still grow, University of Saskatchewan college of agriculture and bioresources professor Ryan Brook said in a 2023 news article for the Associated Press. According to the Economist, the Canadian wild pig population is over 62,000 and growing.

So far, the population spans from British Columbia to Quebec, with the majority residing in Saskatchewan and other prairie provinces.

Farmers are greatly affected by the invasive species. The pigs pose a threat of destruction and disease they carry.

Wild pigs are known as “opportunistic omnivores,” eating everything in their path. Roaming Canada in groups known as sounders, they can destroy acres of a farmer’s land. In what is known amongst farmers as a raid, these pigs dig their snout deep into crops’ soil and

trench through — what they do not eat, they destroy.

These raids happen most often at night, as wild pigs are more nocturnal during the summers. During the day, they burrow in mud to avoid the heat exposure.

The average boar in Texas is roughly 130 pounds. Recently, Brook observed a boar in Canada that weighed more than 600 pounds.

Wild pigs have adapted to the cold prairie winter — their thick skin and long legs have brought them success in plowing through snow. Additionally, the species have learned to survive by burrowing under snow for shelter.

Wild pigs carry diseases that threaten the profitability of pork producers. African swine fever is a viral disease carried by wild pigs that can cause high death rates in livestock pigs. The spread of this disease could cost the United States pork industry 15 billion American dollars in two years, according to a study done at

Iowa State University.

Texas has faced a wild pig problem for decades, which costs citizens 400 million American dollars in damages annually. The state has employed measures to mitigate the species’ proliferation, namely encouraging hunting and traps, but has failed to sig-

nificantly reduce their population.

With feral pigs currently occupying more than 750,000 square kilometers across Canadian prairies, Brook noted that Canada is not adequately ready for this impending crisis.

graphic / Teegan Gillich / staff

photo / Leif Norman / provided

Words mean things

‘Bored,’ ‘winnow’ and ‘yokefellow’: what they mean to me

Joshua Brandt, staff

In the Manitoban office, scrawled with red EXPO marker upon a gigantic white board, looms a very important clause: “Words mean things.”

From this, I glean inspiration. As somebody on the verge of graduating with a degree in English literature, I’m staking my vocational future on words. In this sense, I’m very glad they mean things. Although, I’m more pleased still that they foster meaning.

Words are the tools with which we make sense of everything by exploring and expressing what things mean to us. They are the necessary apparatus through which we share ideas.

To illustrate this wonderful process, I will list three words and extrapolate meaning from them as a trio: “bored,” “winnow” and “yokefellow.”

Through the demanding process of interpretation, the reader will gather a form of my meaning. The reader is, of course, under no obligation to agree with the meanings I derive. I do not intend this editorial to be an exhortation or treatise, and certainly not a pulpit from which to moralize.

Bored

The definition of the adjective “bored,” according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, is to be in a “state of being [that is] weary and restless through lack of interest.” Historically, however, the word has roots as a verb. For a long time, to “bore” something has meant to pierce it. As the Online Etymological Dictionary points out, to be “bored” is to be “pierced, perforated, cylindrically hollow.” In other words, to be “bored” is to be empty.

With the verb in mind, the contemporary meaning of “bored” can be varied, meaning a lack of interest and connoting a fundamental lack.

In this sense, when we say we are “bored,” we are also saying, we are “aimless.” Indeed, we are much closer to echoing Hamlet’s lament, “How weary, stale, flat and unprofitable seem to me all the uses of this world!” than we might think.

Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard seems to have thought of boredom in this way too. To be “bored,” he thought, indicated an absence of meaning in one’s own life.

Being “bored” is uncomfortable, then, because it is a state in which we, as individuals, feel purposeless.

Nevertheless, the fact that we are “bored,” and seek to fill our emptiness implies that we can be un-bored, or purpose-filled.

Winnow

According to Merriam-Webster, to “winnow” is to “separate or sift,” to “narrow or reduce.”

Winnowing is an agricultural practice whereby chaff is separated from edible grains or seeds. It was a favourite metaphor of the authors of the Hebrew Bible, and now I pick it up again.

To un-bore ourselves, to find meaning, we must “winnow” our lives, sifting what matters from what does not. Through this winnowing process, we form a telos, a goal, a purpose.

Winnowing is not an easy task. It takes courage and lots of introspection. Indeed, to quote Kierkegaard, “there is nothing […] which every [one] is so afraid as getting to know how enormously much [one] is capable of.”

It’s much easier to take the chaff and grain together. Likewise, it’s more comfortable to pedal along with our trivial lives as they are than it is to explore what we might become after discarding a little chaff.

Before we set out to do and

become, however, we must first discern what it is that’s worth doing and what type of person it is worth becoming.

To “winnow” is to do just this.

Naturally, we will have differing opinions about what our goal should be, yet we must sift diligently to find out if our telos is a genuinely important one. It may change over time, but that is part of the winnowing process.

Personally, as I’ll explore in the next section, I feel selfless relationships are the most important telos

Yokefellow

According to Merriam-Webster, a “yokefellow” is a “close companion.” And a “yoke” is “a wooden bar or frame by which two draft animals (such as oxen) are joined at the heads or necks for working together.”

This is a delicious metaphor, for a “yokefellow” then becomes someone to whom we are joined, striving forward. They share a mutual load and help us pull it.

In The Brothers Karamazov, Fyodor Dostoevsky writes, “everyone of us is responsible for everyone else.” This is a profound insight that begs a lifetime of contemplation. Nevertheless, in the spirit of this editorial, it means that we are all each other’s “yoke-

fellow.” As humans, we are global yokefellows, pulling together the cart of flourishing and abundance, bonded by the yoke of existence. We often want to pull the cart closer to ourselves, however.

Every time we strain on the yoke by pursuing our own materialistic and covetous desires, or by engaging in the will to power, we imbalance and topple the cart, harming our “yokefellow.”

Inversely, when we give ourselves to each other, when we invest in the telos of relationships by pulling the cart, not for our own prosperity, but for our “yokefellows,” we not only generate global flourishing and abundance, but also un-bore ourselves, for we gain a fulfilling purpose — the purpose of filling the other.

Indeed, while difficult to understand, desiring what is best for our “yokefellow,” is, I think, the best way to ensure we also receive what is best for us, for it fulfills us. To paraphrase G. K. Chesterton, we become taller when we bow.

Still, the moment we see an opportunity to pull the cart of flourishing and abundance toward us, we seldom refrain.

It is difficult to see that selflessness is the best way to live because, in general, we conduct our lives under the premise that flourishing and abun-

dance are scarce.

Adam Smith’s quote, “It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their […] own self-interest,” suggests that a scarcity mindset is inherent, and that the only way to placate it is to cater to it.

However, I cannot believe that flourishing and abundance are in scarcity, for we can spread flourishing and abundance when we adopt selfless postures toward our yokefellows. Flourishing and abundance are not things to seize — they are things to give.

For example, if we are benevolent to the baker, might they be benevolent to us? Maybe the brewer and butcher will be as callous as ever, but that is no justification to withhold benevolence. How can more selfishness remedy a selfishness problem?

Billions of humans inhabit the planet. Therefore, through the telos of relationships, opportunities to spread flourishing and abundance are billionfold.

graphic / Teegan Gillich / staff

Colonization is far from over

Continued exploitation is evidence that Canada is still a colonial state

Braden Bristow, staff

Colonization never ended in Canada. Depending on who you are, that’s either a controversial statement or an incredibly obvious one.

When I say this, I am not explicitly referring to the continued presence of settlers in Canada as ongoing colonization. Rather, I am referring to the continued exploitation of land and resources.

The clearest example of exploitation of the land in Winnipeg is where the city gets its water supply. Winnipeg, for those who don’t know, has taken all of its drinking water from Shoal Lake since 1919.

Shoal Lake is located along the reserve lands of Shoal Lake 40, an Ojibway First Nation. In order to build the aqueduct that carried Winnipeg’s water, the city stole 3,000 acres and isolated the First Nation from mainland Canada by building a canal through reserve lands.

Winnipeg, by its own admission, has never paid for this water and never actually negotiated the surrender of the water with Shoal Lake 40. In fact, an agreement with Shoal Lake 40 was not made until 1989, a full 70 years after Winnipeg began taking all the water the city could drink. This sounds bad, but it gets worse, don’t worry.

Between 1997 and 2021, the community of Shoal Lake 40 was under a boil water advisory. While hundreds of thousands of Winnipeggers enjoyed fresh clean drinking water, the very people Winnipeg exploited — and continues to exploit — were forced to boil water anytime they wanted a glass of clean water. In fact, at least three First Nations in Manitoba are still under long term water advisories: Mathias Colomb Cree Nation, Shamattawa First Nation and Tataskweyak Cree Nation.

When Winnipeg was thirsty, a $17 million aqueduct was built, which amounts to roughly $283 million today when adjusted for inflation. However, the same investment is not made in First Nations. I will give credit where credit is due, the situation has improved. According to the government of Canada, at least 144 boil water advisories have been lifted. However, 28 advisories still remain in effect across the country. There is no excuse for this.

In 2010, the United Nations recognized access to clean drinking water as a human

right. Water as a human right apparently doesn’t carry over to Canada.

Water isn’t the only resource being illicitly extracted from First Nations in this country, and resource extraction is far from a thing of the past.

Ontario’s Ring of Fire mineral development region is a 5,000 square kilometre expanse.

The Ring of Fire is located within Treaty 9 territory and on the traditional lands of Marten Falls First Nation.

While Marten Falls is in support of the mining region, other First Nations within the region, such as Neskantaga First Nation, oppose the development.

This project is projected to make around $9.4 billion in its first 10 years with no clear amount going toward First Nations. The only money actually being provided to First Nations outside of employment is possibly somewhere within the projected two billion dollars generated for government bodies.

By the Ontario Chamber of Commerce’s own admission, there is “confusion” on the level of responsibilities for the business and government regarding this project’s impact on First Nations communities. The fact of the matter is that the mine is being built on traditional territories and engages in resource extraction on treaty land. The entire Ring of Fire development project is another example of blatant colonial exploitation of traditional Indigenous lands. Resource extraction is a complicated topic, especially when it takes place on traditional lands. However, if resource extraction absolutely must take place, it must be with the consent and inclusion of First Nations or it shouldn’t take place at all.

The second example is less of a resource extraction issue and more of a transportation issue. The Coastal GasLink pipeline’s construction has been opposed by thousands of protestors — both Indigenous

and non-Indigenous — along with the Hereditary Chiefs of the Wet’suwet’en people. Yet, Coastal GasLink’s official website is bold enough to make the claim that it engages in “true partnership with Indigenous communities.”

Coastal GasLink never obtained consent from the traditional leaders of the Wet’suwet’en, only the elected band council whose powers are derived from the Indian Act. Since the opposition to this pipeline there have been videos posted to various news sources, like CBC and Democracy Now! showing RCMP officers arresting and removing land defenders from their traditional territories. These attacks are disturbing acts of colonial violence which ultimately service Coastal GasLink. When Canadian corporations can build massive development projects on treaty land with massive projected profits, especially without the consent from the First Nations involved, coloniza-

tion has clearly never ended. Colonization is not a thing of the past. Colonization is a thing of the present, and from what it looks like, the future. Winnipeg continues to enjoy fresh water from Shoal Lake while First Nations around the province go without clean water. Mining corporations like Coastal GasLink and those associated with Ring of Fire continue to profit handsomely off of Indigenous lands.

Things aren’t hopeless, of course. There are still land defenders putting up a resistance to colonial violence and there are people like you who can do something. If this article makes you angry or upset, that is a good thing. This should make you angry. Wherever possible, educate yourself, speak out against colonial bullshit like this and support the Indigenous people doing something about it.

graphic / Dallin Chicoine / staff

Capitalism doesn’t support enduring friendships

Reflecting on love, life and economy

Lakshmisree Shaji, staff

Friendship is a deeply social process. bell hooks writes in All About Love, “friendship is the place in which a great majority of us have our first glimpse of redemptive love and caring community.”

Many sociopolitical forces make us choose friends and maintain friendships, like race, class, gender, language, religion and more.

These forces can also restrict friendship. For example, many women share the tired statement that female friendships are dramatic and they prefer friendships with men. In this way, many women perform for the deep-rooted misogyny in society.

I observed friendships functioning as part of the social fabric during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. While I was thankful that no one in my immediate family was ill and we were safe in our home, my friendships went through a rough patch.

I was in a bad place — mentally and academically — as I was supposed to start my masters in September 2020. The initial few months of isolation extended well into 2021

because none of us wanted to risk the health of my 83-yearold granddad.

So, I took up freelancing writing jobs, applied to a few more universities, noticed how some friendships fizzled out while some ended in outbursts of anger and went up to the terrace of my house to cry.

Later on, when I started my pre-masters, I attended classes with a 11-and-a-halfhour time difference. My labour was exploited while I paid the international student fee for attending Zoom classes, which was $7,584 for the fall term.

The pandemic forced us out of the life and career cycle influenced by Fordism, only to push us back into it harder.

Everyone was struggling, some more than others. People have been dying, many have been losing jobs and academic prospects and many suffer from long COVID-19 conditions, all of which have stopped us collectively from processing trauma. We have become alienated both physically and mentally from each other.

Looking back, it becomes clearer how the capitalist system actively encouraged this alienation. As we transitioned

into working from home, the boundary between work and personal life — or whatever was left of it — slowly dissolved into nothing.

Those who lost jobs and those who had to keep working faced challenges that affected their relationships. As Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels wrote in The Communist Manifesto, “by the action of modern industry, all family ties among the proletarians are torn asunder, and their children transformed to simple articles of commerce and instrument of labour.”

While this thought is in conversation with the idea that the foundation of the family is based on capital, the point stands.

The modern industry 2020 aided in the appallingly increased wealth gap between the rich and the poor during the pandemic. According to Joe E. Stiglitz, writing for Scientific American, globally between 2020 and 2021, billionaire wealth ballooned by $4.4 trillion while simultaneously over 100 million people fell below the poverty line. Living in a country like India, where the wealth gap is glaringly visible, I saw personal

relationships paying the price. I have always lost and found friendships when I least expected it. The only time I sensed the loss of friendships

before it actually happened was during the pandemic. The system drained us so much that we collectively lost compassion and love, which are fundamental to healthy friendships.

I’m not merely lamenting the friendships I have lost — I would like to think I have found my peace. But I’m appreciating the friendships that endured. I feel gratitude to them for staying. For resisting systemic injustices, for being my comrades. I love every one of them.

I love the park scene from the movie Joyride, where young Audrey and Kat meet for the first time in a predominantly white neighbourhood. They go to play on the slide together when a boy comes up to them and tries to bar them from the slide while saying racist things to them, to which Kat replies with a swear and sucker punches him.

I have friends like that in real life. I will not lose them to capitalism.

There is a difference between freedom and safety at the U of M

Freedom of speech and challenging conversations inspire intellectual growth

Olivia Macdonald Mager, volunteer

In the last few months, multiple articles and letters to the editor in the Manitoban have discussed the meaning and limitations of freedom of speech and expression in a university environment.

Although this can quickly become a highly political conversation, I want to try to talk today not about contemporary events but about one of the reasons why I enjoy being a graduate student in the history department (I promise this departure will make sense in a minute).

Growing up, my parents and extended family always encouraged me to participate in their conversations about local, national and international politics. We talked about everything from the Iraq War to abortion access, from the issues behind a local labour action to the legalization of cannabis.

These discussions around the dining room table and during family gatherings informed my initial interest in history and my appreciation

for debate. Throughout these discussions, I was always free to speak my mind in an environment where adults maintained my physical safety.

However, this never shielded me from being challenged on the merits of my argument, feeling embarrassed when I got something wrong, angry when someone didn’t listen to my points or sad if others thought my ideas were weak. Although my feelings may have occasionally gotten hurt, I was always safe.

Though a classroom discussion is very different than one with family, parallels can be drawn. In the undergraduate and graduate history seminars I have attended, my professors have worked to create environments that allow students to speak their minds while remaining physically safe.

This does not mean that students will not be challenged on their views or the merits of their arguments. As students, we are in university to be challenged. We should

be free to speak our minds and express ourselves while knowing that we may come under criticism for those views and expressions and that our position as students at this university won’t be jeopardized in the process.

How are we as students to grow and learn if the expression of an idea, be it controversial, offensive or unwise, will result in administrative action?

Students are the least protected constituency on any university campus. Although we do have student unions, their comparative strength, bargaining power and ability to confer rights to an individual member is limited in comparison to faculty and staff unions and the central administration.

The U of M’s Respectful Work and Learning Environment Policy, phrases the discussion of expression and academic freedom in the negative, including the expressions “does not condone,” “prohibits” and “does not detract.”

Constructed with the noble

goal to create an environment “free from discrimination and harassment,” the use of this adverse language also serves to limit other forms of speech and expression.

Where is the U of M’s policy that supports my freedom of expression and speech as a student? Where is the policy that says, “Yes, you are completely ill-informed and opened your mouth anyways. You can still come to class next week?” Where is the policy that says that students are allowed to grow and learn and become productive members of society in an environ-

ment that does not seek to banish when they get something wrong?

Though the U of M provides a physically safe space for me to learn and study, until the university approves a positive policy statement ensuring my rights as a student to express my ideas and be challenged on them, my Instagram account will remain rather silent. Is censorship and self-censorship what the university is determined to promote?

graphic / Teegan Gillich / staff graphic / Teegan Gillich / staff

In service of struggle, break the academic hush on Israel and Palestine

U of

W

profs on connections between schools in Palestine and Winnipeg

Jan DeFehr, Carla Manfredi, volunteers

I(DeFehr) have fond childhood memories of an elementary school teacher quieting her classroom saying, “a hush fell over the room.” All her students would respond, “hushhh” and a seemingly magical silence would fall.

A hush has also fallen on our university campuses, but it is brimming with tension, fear and pain. It feels unsafe to speak about Israel and Palestine for many students and faculty.

We consider safety on Winnipeg campuses in relation to safety in Palestinian universities. The Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor indicates that Israeli military bombardments have destroyed every university in the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli army has “targeted academic, scientific, and intellectual figures,” killing 94 professors, hundreds of teachers and thousands of students since Oct. 7, 2023. Israeli attacks on Palestinian schools have been well documented. The BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights reported in their 2020 working paper — long before the genocide began — Israeli authorities targeted educational infrastructure as a means of delegitimizing Palestinian statehood.

first half of 2022, [and] more than 8,000 students were affected.”

The history of Palestinian education cannot be divorced from the violent creation of the state of Israel in 1948. As Al Jazeera summarized in 2017, “between 1947 and 1949, at least 750,000 Palestinians from a 1.9 million population were made refugees beyond the borders of the state. Zion-

Faculty and students increasingly mobilize for Palestinian liberation

Between 2020 and 2021 alone, there were “over 420 attacks on, or interferences to education” as reported by Track Attacks on Education. The Palestinian grassroots anti-apartheid wall campaign, Stop the Wall, reported systematic attacks on schools, including instances of “terrorizing and detaining” teachers and students. It found “115 education-related violations by Israeli authorities or settlers were documented in the

ist forces had taken more than 78 per cent of historic Palestine, ethnically cleansed and destroyed about 530 villages and cities, and killed about 15,000 Palestinians in a series of mass atrocities.”

Many argue the Nakba never ended as Israeli settler-colonialism perpetually kills Palestinians and dispossesses them from their homelands.

Academics have drawn attention to the physical violence perpetrated on Palestinian universities and its impact

on Canadian campuses. Ted Rutland at Concordia University remarked on X (formerly known as Twitter): “every day, another Palestinian university is destroyed, another group of Palestinian teachers, profs, writers, and journalists is slaughtered. And over here, it’s a less gruesome crackdown on anti-Zionist students and profs.” Israeli nationalists smear critics of apartheid Israel as antisemitic, portraying the West as innocent. David Landy and his co-editors wrote about this phenomenon in the 2020 anthology Enforcing Silence: Academic Freedom, Palestine and the Criticism of Israel. Others silence the voices of the colonized with demands for a balanced approach that ensures that “the colonizer’s voice is continually heard, is continually present and intruding into the conversation.”

Rahab Ibrahim Abdulhadi, writing in the same volume, noted that even claims of concern for students can

be used to stifle analysis of the Israeli settler-colonial project. Undoubtedly in our view, silence on Canadian campuses helped enable the present deadly silence on Palestinian campuses.

Attempts to silence university faculty have not succeeded. Faculty and students increasingly mobilize for Palestinian liberation. The Canadian Federation of Students, the largest and oldest national students’ union, has reaffirmed its solidarity with Palestine. The Faculty 4 Palestine Canada network includes over 600 faculty of all ranks from over 55 institutions across Canada. The network began this new year with a National Week of Action organized by scholars from across the country, presenting the “Palestine Prohibited” webinar on Jan. 19, 2024.

We value University of Manitoba professor Ben Baader’s call in the Manitoban for campus cultures allowing “respectful, nuanced and intellectually honest discussions.” We ask universities to make factual statements that

respect Palestinian life. We ask the Uniter to stop limiting use of the terms Zionism and anti-Zionism so that writers can fully participate in political discussions about Israel’s founding principles, policies and practices.

The transnational grassroots Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM) has emerged from 75 years of Palestinian resistance against imperialism and Zionist ethnic cleansing. The Palestinian youth of PYM assert that “education must be wielded in service of struggle […] study and struggle are intimately tied to one another.”

With unrelenting care for every member of our learning communities, we must now, in our collective grief and outrage, lift the hush that has fallen until Palestine is free.

Jan DeFehr and Carla Manfredi are associate professors at the University of Winnipeg, and write as members of the Manitoba chapter of Faculty 4 Palestine.

graphic / Teegan Gillich / staff

Feminism and genocide: a reflection on ‘Hear our Voices’

Faculty 4 Palestine’s MB chapter on feminism, nationalism and stating solidarity

Dana Medoro, Serenity Joo, volunteers

Discussions about feminism in the context of Israel and Palestine are tied up with concepts like nationalism.

Hosted by the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR) in an event organized by the Jewish Child and Family Services (JCFS), Ayelet Razin Bet Or — the former Director of Israel’s Authority for the Advancement and Status of Women — addressed an in-person and online audience about Hamas attacks against southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. In a talk titled “Hear Our Voices,” she covered reports of sexual assault on Israeli women by the Hamas militia on that day.

The event’s purpose was to convey two key assertions: that people who do not believe the accounts of sexualized violence are antisemitic and exclude Jewish women from the #MeToo movement; and that Jewish women matter, here echoing the phrase popularized by the Black Lives Matter movement.

We do not disregard Israeli women’s testimonies about sexualized violence on Oct. 7. What we contend is that accounts about mass rape were compromised by spurious or false stories told at the same time, such as the reports of beheaded babies that were never confirmed true. Ultimately, this neither platforms Israeli women who experienced sexual assault.

Razin Bet Or herself raised the tall-tale of beheaded babies more than once, and referenced go-pro videos. Why mention this unproven story at all when survivors’ testimony could be emphasized?

Israel’s propaganda and misinformation surrounding the very real testimonies of rape overshadow the survivors’ testimonies themselves.

Another aspect of Razin Bet Or’s talk that troubles us is how it distorted feminism in what appeared to be a justification of the ongoing mass murder of Palestinians and levelling of Gaza since Oct. 7. Razin Bet Or remained resolutely silent about any Palestinians’ suffering, gender-based or otherwise.

ality in making the claim that Israeli and Jewish women are being silenced and disregarded while completely overlooking violence against Palestinians from such a prominent platform as the CMHR.

That Razin Bet Or used the word “gaslighting” in the context of this supposed silence is particularly ironic, given the operations of Israel’s global propaganda machine, the frightening Zionist suppression of dissent across university campuses.

In another ironic turn, men opened and closed the event at the CMHR, as if protectively circling their guest. Al Benarroch, executive director of JCFS, had the last word, and he stressed the importance of protecting “our girls” and “our women.” Rather than allow survivors’ stories to stand on their own, Benarroch referred to Israeli women with this possessive language. This is the grammar of patriarchal ownership, condescension and exclusion.

No connections were made between patriarchy and the obvious and correlated violence against Palestinian women and girls. Razin Bet Or’s talk never once mentioned the fact that the IDF uses sexual violence as a form of colonial control against Palestinians. Most of her slideshow of proof consisted of references to X (formerly known as Twitter) and to cartoons depicting Israeli women, as well as descriptions of what she referred to as the “barbaric” acts of Hamas.

Her presentation also relied on the absurd notion that Israelis are “abandoned by the international community,” a stunning claim in the light of the overwhelming ideological, financial and military support pouring into Israel from a number of Western states, including Canada.

from Black-led and Black movements (#MeToo, Black Lives Matter) was glaring, highlighting that the event did not seek any sense of solidarity or community with or alongside other women’s movements.

We suggest instead that Israeli women who have experienced sexual assault are not being heard, not because feminists are ignoring them but because those women’s voices are being ventriloquized to shore up support for a genocidal government.

than cartoons and rumours does not mean that nobody believes Israeli women. It means that we know that truth is one of the first casualties of war, and the misinformation campaigns we are seeing comprise a particularly horrendous, one-sided siege.

This, in fact, is the material silencing that the “Hear Our Voices” event enacted.

If our feminism is to be truly intersectional, we cannot view claims of rape in the context of patriarchy only.

Israel is exploiting women and appropriating Black feminist and activist rhetoric in order to demonize and justify annihilating Palestinians

Indeed, Razin Bet Or stated in her opening words, “on October 6, there was a ceasefire,” effectively erasing decades of violence wrought by the Israeli occupation.

There is a striking illogic-

The #MeToo movement was founded by Black activist Tarana Burke to raise awareness of the sexual abuse of Black women and girls. Its basis is to advocate for the most marginalized victims of sexualized and patriarchal violence.

The speakers at the “Hear Our Voices” event appropriated this rhetoric, repeating the slogan “me too, except if you’re a Jew.” The unacknowledged borrowing of phrases

A truly feminist philosophy would not divide “us” from “them.” It would be critical of war altogether, demanding the end of violence and oppression, and asserting a common allegiance rooted in abolishing patriarchy, including and especially the dismantling of the military industrial complex.

Wanting clear answers in the light of Israel’s propaganda and violence does not equate with antisemitic feminism. Expecting sound evidence and testimony rather

Towards the end of her talk, Razin Bet Or exhorted us to “learn the facts from official government, Israeli government.” Such a statement asks us to ignore the long record of the Israeli government’s lies about the occupation of Palestine. This record of disinformation and violence is clearly documented and factchecked, and it reaches back decades before the current genocide.

Razin Bet Or reiterated her position as a feminist, a misnomer considering feminists do not base their politics in nationalism, but rather on liberating all from patriarchy. Nor do feminists exclude the voices of other women, in this case the Palestinian women who are — as we write this — enduring childbirth without care, caesarean sections without anaesthetic, menstruation without products and the murder and maiming of their children, hour after hour.

Since the 15th century, European colonial powers have defined colonized people as bestial, primitive and unable to control their base desires. Israel’s imperial project has just found another ideological arm to exercise. And Israel is exploiting women and appropriating Black feminist and activist rhetoric in order to demonize and justify annihilating Palestinians.

Dr. Serenity Joo and Dr. Dana Medoro are professors of American literature and culture in the department of English, theatre, film & media at the University of Manitoba. This article was written in collaboration with the Manitoba chapter of Faculty 4 Palestine (F4PMB).

graphic / Teegan Gillich / staff

Re: Words from Arij Al Khafagi’s appeal hearing

U of M alum responds to Feb. 6 feature

Rhonda Spivak

The Manitoban published on its front page on Feb. 6 a very long statement made by Ben Baader, an associate professor of history at the U of M, which he delivered at the appeal hearing of nursing student Arij Al Khafagi.

In this long missive, Baader made a rather alarming statement indicating that “some Zionist faculty at U of M, and the Jewish student organization Hillel, hand in hand with the off-campus organization B’nai Brith” are engaged “in a campaign of reporting what they experience as hateful and frightening speech [...] in a calculated maneuver to support the current Israeli war effort.”

There is no indication from Baader that he has ever even spoken to any students who are affiliated with Hillel since Oct. 7, or been to the Hillel office. How does Baader possibly know that some Zionist faculty and Hillel are engaged in “a calculated maneuver to support the Israeli war effort,” when he doesn’t have any empirical data to suggest this is the actual case? Is Baader peddling some sort of Jewish conspiracy?

Many Jewish students go to Hillel, a cultural organization, for bagels and coffee or to play cards or nap between classes. Surely by doing this they are not supporting the Israeli war effort. Those students who support the Israeli war effort are certainly able to do so as ending Hamas rule in Gaza is a just cause. But I would suggest that

most Jewish students who affiliate with Hillel are in the process of learning about the conflict, and their views are fluid and developing. It is very problematic that Baader seems to be targeting these students as being involved in “a calculated maneuver to support the Israeli war effort.” By painting them all with the same brush, without any

empirical data, isn’t it foreseeable that Baader will make it more likely that these students become the target of antisemitic verbiage or politically motivated and/or antisemitic attacks?

Baader has a duty to ensure that all students, including the vast majority of Jewish students who see Israel as an important part of their Jew-

ish identity, feel comfortable on campus. When I graduated from University of Manitoba with a B.A. with Distinction, (1985) and a L.L.B., (1989) that was the case, and it should continue to be the case now.

graphic / Dallin Chicoine / staff

The return of the campus coffee crawl

The continued quest for commendable coffee on campus

Braden Bristow, staff

Welcome back to the number one series for coffee-based infotainment on campus: the campus coffee crawl.

Last time I reviewed the coffee on campus, I took them all with a bit of cream and sugar. This time around, I enjoyed my java black.

Each cup I enjoyed in this crawl was a medium roast unless no other option was offered.

I will be reviewing coffee served on campus from four locations: Colosimo Coffee Roasters, Greenhouse Cafe, Belltower Café and the Fresh Food Company.

Like my last foray into the coffee culture on campus, I will consider price, flavour, and where possible, the ethics of the companies, then I’ll give each coffee a rating out of five.

Colosimo Coffee Roasters – Café House Blend

If you are a coffee novice looking to jump into the java world or you just enjoy a simple cup, Colosimo is a great local business that engages in “Direct Trade Coffee.”

Colosimo works directly with coffee cultivators. According to their online page, they pay 25 per cent more to their partners than Fairtrade would pay.

The Café House blend is extremely accessible and straightforward, coming in at a relatively high cost of $3.00 for just 10 ounces of coffee.

For a simple cup with little to no bitter notes, this is a great place to start. The brew was fresh and enjoyable. Coffee can occasionally leave a lingering aftertaste with an odd layer of film in your mouth, but this isn’t a problem at Colosimo.

trade certified, which means, according to Fairtrade International, the beans are fairly sourced, fairly traded and traceable.

campus. Between the flavour and price point, White Buffalo could easily become a daily drinker.

4.5/5 – Close to perfect.

more agitating the longer you endure it.

Were this cup a cheaper price it would be a mediocre coffee reserved for a quick caffeine fix.

I won’t sugarcoat it, this is the worst cup of coffee on campus. It has no real flavour, it smells stale and it is served warm instead of hot.

Welcome back to the number one series for coffee-based infotainment on campus

3.75/5 – A bit pricey but worth the three loonies.

Greenhouse Cafe –White Buffalo Coffee Company

White Buffalo Coffee Company is an Indigenous-owned business that is also smudge certified, meaning that White Buffalo has shown a commitment to “ReconciliAction” along with Truth and Reconciliation.

White Buffalo is also Fair-

White Buffalo Coffee Company knows exactly what they are doing and Greenhouse Cafe lets them shine.

This cup was an extremely fair $1.00, a deal that lasts until the end of the winter semester. While unfortunately unlabelled, I am confident this was White Buffalo’s Wild Horse Medium Roast Coffee based on the flavour notes — syrup and dark chocolate with a creamy and smoky almond taste.

The profile was excellent and despite having had smoother cups, I have yet to have one that tasted better on

Belltower Café – Orient Express 100 per cent Colombian Medium Roast

As much as I love Belltower Café’s daily specials, I can’t say much in the way of their “Joe.” The 100 per cent Colombian Medium Roast cup comes in at $2.50 which, considering the quality of the coffee, is not earned.

From the first pour, the coffee smells stale with no obvious flavour notes or profile. Once I started drinking it, I could detect slight hints of dark chocolate, but other than that it was a fairly bland brew.

This was the type of coffee which, for whatever reason, is

I can’t exactly condemn the coffee as it is just a slightly below-average cup, but I also can’t praise it. Save some money and opt for something from the specialty coffee machine that dispenses mocha and French vanilla coffees.

2/5 – Mediocre.

The Fresh Food Company – 100 per cent Ethiopian Medium Roast

This coffee is hidden within the luxurious club that is the Fresh Food Company. Since it can’t be purchased without paying for the buffet, I snagged a cup when my generous friend treated me to dinner using his highly exclusive guest pass.

My condolences go out to all those who enjoy coffee and live in residence.

However, do not let this coffee reflect on the staff of the Fresh Food Company, who were nothing but pleasant and kind as they served me the food, which I enjoyed much more than their coffee.

The dirt they serve here leaves a strange taste that is far from pleasant. I will only give this cup a 1/5 on the grounds that it contains caffeine and tastes reminiscent of coffee.

The coffee is also Fairtrade certified for what it is worth, though I wouldn’t drink it again in the first place.

1/5 – Avoid if possible.

graphic / Dallin Chicoine / staff

’Toban Listens: The Orbiting Human Circus (of the Air)

Tuning into a radio show on top of the Eiffel Tower

Jacob Davis, staff

Loneliness is a complex emotion. It can strike any one of us at any time, even amid our loved ones and even during what might be the best times of our lives.

For myself, even though my life has incredibly improved, even though I’m in love and in the job of my dreams, loneliness still creeps up every now and then. It is grand in its vastness and cruel in the way it returns only after I’ve recovered from the previous visit, forgetting it was ever there.

The Orbiting Human Circus (of the Air), written and co-directed by Julian Kostner, founding member of indie rock band Neutral Milk Hotel, and also co-directed and developed with Ellie Heyman, perfectly encapsulates that vast loneliness and the lengths we go to remedy it along with the desire for human connection.

The podcast follows Julian,

a lonely janitor employed in Eiffel Tower who is obsessed with a live radio variety show that broadcasts from the top of the tower — “The Orbiting Human Circus (of the Air).”

Things aren’t what they appear to be with Julian however, whose life and perspective are narrated by a voice only he and the listeners can hear.

The podcast’s first season contains eight episodes, each one jumping from Julian’s point of view, with his narrator, as well as intermittent cuts to the broadcast of the variety radio show itself.

The Orbiting Human Circus (of the Air) occasionally features an impressive roster of guest celebrities, such as Mandy Patinkin in episode two who performs a “musicological demonstration.” The host of the fictional radio show, Mr. Cameron, is voiced by John Cameron Mitchell, writer and director of the iconic film Hedwig and the

Angry Inch (2001).

Despite all the praise I’m giving it, however, the show is hard to follow initially, which is what turned me away from it for a long time.

The first episode starts with the narrator explaining what Julian is doing — which is pretending he’s on the titular radio show, only for the show to suddenly play as if the audience is now tuning into “The Orbiting Human Circus (of the Air)” itself.

With some adjustment to it, the podcast has so much to offer — the whimsy of a radio show broadcasting circus and live performances atop the Eiffel Tower, the romance of the performances as well as the feeling of falling in love with a lonely janitor who desperately wants to be on the show.

Listeners should take a warning for darker subject matter, such as mentions of childhood trauma and a particularly sad ending for Julian

photo / provided

and the fate of the circus. The Orbiting Human Circus (of the Air) is a beautiful little podcast with depths and layers that seem never-ending, with a cathartic conversation

on connection, loneliness and a love for the circus.

Reflecting on dating apps

Does the digital dating world appeal to students?

Kelsey Chin, staff

Dating apps feel like cash grabs. These apps are created as obvious ploys for profit while being sold as ways to help users find their “one-and-only,” with a narrative that users’ chances go up by upgrading their profiles to premium at a specific price point.

This is not to say that true connections can’t be made and formed on these apps without these capitalist gatekeeping methods in place. However, the fact that users have to pay exorbitant amounts of money in order to unlock features that could be helpful in their journey is outrageous to say the least.

This might sound like a harsh perspective, but so is love, which can be even harsher.

Dating apps are banking on the hopes that those searching for some kind of connection will be willing to spend to make it happen. Which presumably is why so many of the apps offer premium features — for a premium price.

For the negligible cost of just around $20 per week for the Tinder Gold features, you too can be pickier and choosier than most. For a chance to see your matching “Bees” on Bumble Premium, you’ll have to cough up $29.99 per week.

Price points aside, are these apps worth it?

To help work through some of the advantages and disadvantages of dating apps, five students on campus expressed their own thoughts on dating app life.

While Aadhya Patel, 19, a student at the International College of Manitoba, has not used dating apps, she told the Manitoban, “I think they’re really interesting, but their baseline is just on attraction.”

“You don’t really know how a person is, you’re just looking at them and then swiping left or right, because, you know, if they’re pleasing to the eye or not,” she said.

By contrast, Jordan Miller, 21, a student in the Asper school of business, said based on his experience with Tinder, “I think they’re a good way for people to get out and get to know people. I think it’s convenient.”

mutual interest.

you know a thing or two about each other.”

do that.”

When asked about how dating apps might help shy or anxious people start conversations, Shobhit Negi, 21, a student in the Price faculty of engineering, said, “That is something [that is] hard to say. Because I usually don’t start a conversation, I wait for the other person.”

These experiences are commonplace for most people.

“I think the overall message is just to meet people, get friends, put yourself out there”

When asked if he thinks that they are a better alternative to meeting in person, Miller said, “No, but I think a lot of people nowadays are too shy to actually talk to people in person, so it’s easier to text them off the start and then kind of meet up after

Similarly, when asked if there’s a better alternative to dating apps for people who are too shy, nervous or anxious to start a conversation with someone in person, Em Tardiff, 19, in university 1, said, “If you want something bad enough you can probably look for it, like if you want to talk to someone anonymously [online].”

— Monica Muiro

Bella Garcia, 19, in the faculty of science, said, “Maybe getting someone, like a friend, to hook them up. ‘Cause I’m a pretty shy person too, in-person, and I don’t think I could

However, the question now becomes, if everybody waits for the other person, when is the conversation going to start?

Dating apps differ in the fact that there is no dilly-dallying, at least in a traditional sense. Both participants are there on the app to connect with one another, so at least there’s a

Monica Muiro, 20, in the Asper school of business, said, “I feel like it’s very natural now, ‘cause every[one] is on their phone more often, so I feel like it is very convenient, it’s very effective at the moment.”

“I think the overall message is just to meet people, get friends, put yourself out there,” she said.

This is something hard enough to do in in-person interactions. Gauging where somebody is at is tough at times. Dating apps, theoretically, at least take the miserable guesswork out of the equation.

In the end, perhaps, dating apps are a great way for people to connect with others and also to possibly meet people they may not have had a chance to in real life.

This could be ideal for students who already live such turbulent and busy lives.

The digital world doesn’t necessarily take the place of in-person interactions, as those will always happen. Whether or not they are fruitful is a different thing, but they at least give users an idea of who likes them and if it’s not a match.

While dating apps lack that face-to-face element, I suppose when we are just as likely, if not even more so, to not say anything to our crush in person, is there any reason not to join? Paid features aside, there may be value in dating apps after all.

graphic / Dallin Chicoine / staff

U of M men win CanWest banner for third straight year Bisons track and field teams competed at the annual CanWest championships

Quinn Mayhew, staff

The CanWest portion of the Bisons’ 2023-24 track and field season ended this past weekend at the yearly CanWest championships, which took place at the University of Alberta.

Women’s team

Last season, the women finished fourth at the CanWest championships, attaining 75 points, just below the thirdplaced University of Calgary Dinos. In 2023, the herd won three individual gold and three team bronze.

Looking to improve on last year’s results, the Bisons started off the 2024 CanWest championships with the field events.

Anna McConnell showed out in the shot put with a throw of 14.12 metres, winning the gold medal for the second year in a row. Her chuck at this year’s CanWest championships was just a hair off her gold medal-winning throw of 14.62 metres the previous year.

The University of Manitoba came up clutch to win a bronze medal in the 4×800 relay, finishing with a time of 9:06.27. Arianna Fulcher, Dana Poulton, Lena Klassen and Angela Kroeker ran to the bronze medal position, attaining a faster time than their previous year’s bronze medal win, in which they had a time of 9:10.97.

The women’s 4×400 relay placed fourth on Saturday. Kendall Marriott, Nicole Davis, Zoe Nonato and Donnae Gordon ran a time of 3:59.12, falling one place from last year’s third-place finish.

Manitoba’s Lara Denbow leaped her way to a gold medal in the women’s high jump. Hailing from Neepawa, Denbow soared to an unmatched height of 1.71 metres.

Overall, the women placed fourth for the second year in a row with a total of 51 team points.

Men’s team

Last year, the men’s team

won the CanWest banner, earning a total number of four individual gold medals, four individual silver medals, three individual bronze medals, two team golds and one team bronze.

This year, Calvin Reimer got the herd off to a good start, prancing to a silver medal position in the 1000-metre run with a time of 2:27.31.

From there, podium finishes just kept coming for the herd, as Adam Andres also finished with a silver medal in the 60-metre hurdles with a time of 7.97 seconds.

The Bisons men continued to perform well, placing first in the 4×800, as teammates Alejandro Civetta, Reimer, Dawson Mann and Tristan Allen ran a blistering time of 7:38.64, which shaved over a full second off their previous personal best.

In the field events, the herd was a force to be reckoned with. In the men’s weight throw, both Graham Wright and Joshua Suelzle swept the first two podium places,

with Wright placing first with a throw of 18.02 metres and Suelzle second with a throw of 17.90 metres.

Elite speedster Jordan Soufi also took home an individual gold in the men’s 60-metre dash, attaining a time of 6.67 seconds.

Another two notable results for the Bisons were Mann’s and Allen’s seizure of the first two podium spots in the men’s 600-metre race. Mann ran a first-place time of 1:19.23, and Allen a second-place time of 1:19.72.

In the men’s triple jump, Bison Daxx Turner took the gold with a ginormous jump of 15.63 metres. Turner also

won a silver in the men’s high jump.

Overall, the Bisons men’s team polished off the weekend by maintaining first place in the standings, finishing with a total number of 160.5 points, beating last year’s number of 148.5 points.

It was the third consecutive season in which the herd won the CanWest banner and the R. E. DuWors Trophy.

The University of Manitoba men’s and women’s track and field teams will compete in their next meet on March 7 to 9 at the annual U-Sports championships, which will be hosted by the Bisons.

Host Bisons bow out early in tournament play Bisons basketball falls prey to (un)predictable CanWest tournament results

Joshua brandt, staff

The University of Manitoba women’s and men’s basketball teams were each in action at their respective CanWest basketball tournaments this past week.

The women’s tournament was held in Abbotsford, B.C. at the University of the Fraser Valley, and the Bisons just snuck in as the 12th and final seed.

The men’s tournament was played right here at the University of Manitoba’s Investors Group Athletic Centre (IGAC), and the men secured an automatic spot in the quarter-finals as the fourth seed.

Women’s team

As the lowest-ranked team in the CanWest tournament, going into a win-or-go-home game with a chance to get to the quarter-finals, the Bisons had nothing to lose.

The team was matched up against fifth-seeded University of Regina Cougars, on whom lay all the pressure.

Sure enough, Manitoba started the first quarter by playing tensionless basketball, forcing Regina to call an early time-out.

From that point onward,

however, the Cougars crushed the herd in all facets of play, winning easily 71-45.

The herd lost because of its woeful offence, fizzing out like a firework unable to ignite. It generated a pitiful nine points in the first quarter and only seven in the fourth. Overall, the herd shot an exceptionally poor 23.6 per cent from the field, enabling it to score 45 feeble points.

Throw in its 27 team turnovers, and it would seem the Bisons were following the “how to lose brutally” recipe book.

That is not to say there were no bright spots, however.

Both Emerson Martin and Autumn Agar scored in double figures with ten points each.

Lauren Bartlett also put up seven points to go along with a couple of assists and 11 rebounds.

Bartlett also recently won the CanWest Courage Overcoming Adversity award. While nursing a heavy heart, she was awarded this distinction for her leadership and her spirit, having lost her father to cancer shortly before the beginning of the season.

Bartlett finished her final season as a Bison with averages of 11.1 points per game

and 4.9 assists per game. She finished with a career total of 856 points and 369 assists.

She is also in contention for the U-Sports Tracy McLeod Award, which recognizes an athlete’s “determination, perseverance and unwavering spirit.”

Overall, the herd finished with a 6-15 record and, while losing straight away, it did still make the playoffs, improving from last year. The team will look to be even more competitive in the 2024-25 season.

Men’s team

With much pomp and glamour, IGAC was home to the CanWest men’s basketball tournament this past week. Moreover, the Bisons, as the home team, seemed poised to make a deep run.

As the fourth seed, the herd was forced to wait to find out which school it would play against in its quarter-final match — either the fifthseeded University of British Columbia Thunderbirds or the 12th-seeded University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) Timberwolves.

Surprisingly, UNBC upset the T-Birds, setting up what seemed to be a relatively easy

the Bisons.

In the game, which was attended by about 2,000 supporters, the herd was led by Daren Watts and CanWest first-team all-star performer Simon Hildebrandt. Watts poured in a game-high 23 points, while Hildebrandt chipped in with 20 himself.

The herd got off to a great start, outscoring the Timberwolves by eight in the first quarter. UNBC would bite back in the second, however, as it then outscored the Bisons by eight to even the game up at the half.

The third quarter was a tight affair. The herd led by only three points entering the fourth, struggling from beyond the ark. Its threepoint woes would continue, as it shot only 8-39 from three on the night.

As the herd nursed its slim lead — 73-70, with 3:47 left in the fourth quarter — it suddenly collapsed.

UNBC’s offence got hot at the right time and rode a series of free throws and layups to an 84-78 road victory.

The defeat was crushing to the Bisons, who had not lost to UNBC since the 2013-14 season, and had hopes of winning the tournament on its home court.

Meanwhile, UNBC’s Cinderella run was ended the following day in the semi-finals by the University of Victoria Vikes, who went on to win its third consecutive CanWest championship. In what can only be considered a disappointing season, the herd will look to build off its 13-8 record and challenge for CanWest glory again next year.

photo / Mattthew Merkel / staff matchup for

photo / Ebunoluwa Akinbo / staff