vol 107, iss 15, December 2, 2020

UMSU to restart efforts to leave federation of students Board votes in favour of defederation for the second time in two years CAM CANNON, STAFF

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he UMSU board of direc- every two calendar years, according tors voted 28-1 to defederate to a 2018 change to the provincial from the Canadian Federation of UMSU Act — which, if successStudents at its Nov. 26 meeting. In fully passed, would have meant the order to successfully leave the fed- reaffirmation of UMSU’s federaeration, UMSU must now initiate tion membership. a petition and get it signed by at The motion reads: “Whereas the least 15 per cent of the student pop- corporation’s [UMSU] memberulation, then hold a referendum. ship in an external organization The meeting began with a must be affirmed by a majority presentation by representatives vote of the council every second from the Manitoba office of the calendar year.

Canadian Federation of Students.

“Whereas per the UMSU Act, if Highlighted in the presentation the corporation’s [UMSU] memwere lobbying efforts toward bership in an external organization goals such as the abolition of is voted on by the council and not tuition, health care for interna- affirmed by a majority vote, the tional students and preventing the council must take all required steps controversial provincial bill 33 — to terminate that membership.” which, if passed, would enable the The motion was debated in a minister of economic development closed session of the board. and training to set guidelines for Brenden Gali, chairperson of changes in tuition as well as pro- the Manitoba chapter of the fedhibit compulsory student fees from eration, expressed disappointment being charged by student unions. upon hearing of the vote result.

The presentation also pin“It is incredibly disappointing pointed the services the Canadian to hear that [UMSU’s board of Federation of Students provides to directors] wishes to move in the members — including members of direction of severing ties with us,” UMSU — such as international said Gali. student identity cards, assistance with filing taxes, a national stu- See ‘We maintain’| Page 4 dent health-care network and antiracism workshops.

The board then introduced motion 0497 — a motion required

SPORTS

Off the green

ARTS AND CULTURE

Fire in the Hole A virtual series of staged readings

Bison Trent Robertson prepares through lockdown

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VO L 1 0 7 · N O 1 5 · D e c e m b e r 2 , 2 0 2 0 · W W W.T H EM A N I TO B A N .CO M

Index

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VOL. 107 NO. 15 December 2, 2020

Arts & Culture

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PAGES 13-14

A virtual, experimental exhibition In conversation with the featured school of art grad students

14 New music on the way from Winnipeg’s PETRIC

In conversation with the country trio’s guitarist

News PAGES 3-5

Diversions

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In the dark Changes announced to UMSU-controlled club spaces

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7 Community is more than people

Land and water defenders active during the pandemic

Sports PAGES 15-16 6

EMT phone home Prof wins award for virtual health care

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Working from home Bisons train through code red

Editorial 8

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Robophobia The cyborg economy is coming, and humans should not be afraid

Comment

PAGES 10-11

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A memory factory Journalism will never lose its qualitative value

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Bad and worse options Students who wish to avoid potential COVID-19 exposure may be out of luck

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News

News Editors: Gillian Brown and Amira Tekle Contact: gillian@themanitoban.com amira @themanitoban.com

UMSU board meeting update Accessibility, advocacy and ‘compassionate grading’ were on the Nov. 26 agenda

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t its Nov. 26 meeting, the 6, would take effect for the winter ods of assessment, as students have launch an advocacy campaign UMSU board of directors 2021 semester. complained about difficulties asso- around the new provincial bill 33 received presentations from the Among the recommendations ciated with poor internet connec- — the advanced education adminCanadian Federation of Students are a requirement that professors tivity and submitting assessments. istration amendment act — after an and the U of M student senate and instructors post recordings of The fourth recommendation upcoming meeting with Eichler set caucus. The board also defeated a their lectures, or at least annotated is to have professors review their for January or February. motion reaffirming UMSU’s mem- slide shows of lectures, on UM course outlines and ensure that bership in the federation.

Learn to address concerns of inac- academic workloads are not above ALC accessibility UMSU vice-president advo- cessibility for students with poor their pre-pandemic expectations.

UMSU is also making progress cacy, Kristin Smith, presented to internet connections.

The final recommendation is to on recommendations to make the the board on behalf of the stuThe second recommendation is prohibit features on online exams Active Living Centre more accessident senate caucus about ongoing adding the requirement that envi- that prevent students from going ble for transgender and non-binary advocacy efforts to improve student ronmental scans — in which the back and forth between questions. students. experiences with online learning software scans the room a student According to Smith, the proposA proposal which includes meaand to encourage an environment is taking an exam in to set a “base- als have not only been developed in sures such as adding menstrual for “student success.” line” for the proctoring software the caucus, but have also worked hygiene product dispensers to the The caucus is advocating for the — be implemented for Respondus with the assistance of two profes- men’s facilities and the addition of implementation of a “compassion- e-proctored exams. sors in the faculty of education and clothing hooks to shower spaces has ate grading scheme.”

The proposal is intended to have their full support. been received by Douglas Brown, dean of kinesiology and recreation If implemented, the university reduce student anxiety about false management. would allow for the possibility of accusations of academic miscon- Advocacy activities The recently launched Manitoba A meeting will be set to further excluding one final grade from duct by providing video evidence GPA calculations in each term, an that no cheating has taken place.

Alliance of Post-Secondary discuss the implementation of these extended voluntary withdrawal Smith remarked that this year Students (MAPSS) finished up its measures.

“I just want to publicly thank studeadline and more compassion- there has seen an influx of accusa- first lobby week for provincial policy and budget recommendations. dents who worked with me on [this] ate guidelines for authorized tions of academic misconduct. withdrawals.

According to Smith, ordinarily The group attended meetings with for their time and their leadership “It’s basically a negotiation pro- students tend to admit to the mis- the Manitoba Liberal caucus and […] this could not have been done cess that’s ongoing,” said Smith. conduct they were accused of, but the Manitoba NDP caucus, along without them,” said Smith.

“But we don’t want compassion- this year, students are maintain- with the Minister of Economic ate grading to be the permanent ing their innocence — many feel Development and Training Ralph solution. It’s just simply not a ten- the process of appeals is too inac- Eichler, among others. able solution.” cessible and that they are already Minister of Finance Scott The senate caucus has submit- “presumed guilty” before an appeal. Fielding requested that MAPSS ted a set of five recommendations Thirdly, the caucus is advocating provide a budget submission “conto be reviewed by the university’s for professors to allow more time taining costed and implementationCOVID-19 recovery steering com- for students to submit assignments ready solutions,” said Smith. mittee which, if enacted by the U of online, or to offer alternative methMAPSS is also planning to M senate at its next meeting on Jan.

Holiday hamper program in full swing Applicants can receive gift card option rather than food donations DAMIEN DAVIS, STAFF

he shape of education and student life is continuously changing over the course of the year, and students of all backgrounds have had to adjust and adapt to different academic circumstances and pandemic-influenced choices made by the province and the university.

Students have been especially vocal in their financial concerns that stem from the university’s tuition increase. It was announced last spring that the 2020-21 academic year would see a tuition raise for undergraduate and graduate students by an average 3.75 per cent.

Given the tuition increase, along with mandatory student fees, UMSU vice-presidents Tino Dogo and Savannah Szocs see it as no surprise that students would struggle with food insecurity or being empty handed during the holidays.

“Obviously it’s a bit different this year with [COVID-19],” said Dogo, UMSU’s vice-president community engagement.

announcement throws student clubs for a loop

CAM CANNON, STAFF

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UMSU

situation this year and there’s obviIn a typical year, Dogo applicants. explained, UMSU would collect “We’ve been super fortunate this ously going to be a lot more people the toys, food items and other year to have an overwhelmingly who need these hampers.” donations that it receives from part- large amount of monetary donaAccording to Dogo, last year, ners all across campus. Donations tions from our regular donors, lots pre-pandemic, they received about would then be sorted into hampers of student groups and faculty offices 150 applicants. for different sizes of families. In a and things like that,” said Szocs, “This year, unsurprisingly, the pre-pandemic holiday hamper pro- vice-president student life. number has gone up.” gram, As of Nov. 24, Dogo said orgathe program has received “We’re just really glad that we could figure about 180 applications, and nizers would estimates that they may out a way to keep it going during [COVID-19], he try to see around 200 applicants match for the program this year. especially because during these times are a “We’re just really glad donor when people need it the most” — Savannah that we could figure out a with way to keep it going durSzocs, UMSU vice-president student life speing [COVID-19], especially cific because during these times hamare when people need it the per to support a family.

UMSU has seen a lot of the most,” said Szocs.

This year, UMSU has had to program’s regular donors increase The holiday hamper program is find a way to create the hampers their donations and other donors taking applicants until the end of with as little in-person contact as who “normally give physical food the day on Dec. 2. possible. items” have given monetary donaFor the pandemic, the program tions instead. plans to use monetary donations “I think they’ve all recognized to offer a gift card option for that, since we’re in this different

Photo club president says UMSU is ‘actively shutting us down’ AMIRA TEKLE, STAFF

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n Nov. 20, UMSU announced that all student clubs will no longer be allotted permanent space in areas controlled by UMSU, including in UMSU University Centre (UC) and the Helen Glass Centre for Nursing, leaving some clubs without a place to call home.

The announcement read “UMSU has made it a priority to enact changes that ensure that all of the 206 student clubs at the U of M receive equal support — specifically when it comes to providing space to meet.”

Club spaces controlled by UMSU will be available for booking under this new system, and no clubs will receive exclusive space. Clubs will also be allocated secure storage space in a separate area under this plan.

The change will not be affecting the designated community groups, including Rainbow Pride Mosaic, the University of Manitoba Indigenous Students’ Association, the womyn’s centre and the student accessibility centre.

However, this is an unwelcome move to the clubs who will no longer have a space to come back to when campus life is back to normal, including the UM photo club.

Photo club president and computer science student John Baptista said the move — one that his club has been publicly pushing back against for months now — appears to be UMSU “actively shutting us down.”

See ‘A loophole’ | Page 5

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News

News Editors: Gillian Brown and Amira Tekle Contact: gillian@themanitoban.com amira@themanitoban.com

Petition for lower tuition gains thousands of signatures Second petition to circulate widely in a month highlights quality of education during pandemic CAM CANNON, STAFF

PHOTO BY ALEXANDER DECEBAL-CUZA

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n Nov. 22, third-year faculty of arts student Simranjeet Kaur — under the name “Advocating for Students” — launched a Change. org petition calling on the U of M administration to reduce tuition for the coming winter semester, citing decreased quality of education and lack of access to services on campus.

At press time, the petition has been signed by more than 4,000 people.

Kaur’s petition is the second petition demanding a better deal for students facing difficulties amid the COVID-19 crisis to gain traction in the last month.

The last petition — which called for similar action by both the U of W and U of M — has garnered over 8,100 signatures at press time.

According to the student who started that petition — U of W student Umar Awan — the University of Winnipeg Students’ Association (UWSA) has taken action. The UWSA passed a motion at its Nov. 12 meeting to raise the issues in Awan’s petition to the University of Winnipeg senate as well as to “engage in a proactive campaign to approach faculties/departments directly with the outlined issues of online course-

work” and “engage in additional lobbying and campaigning work with regards to tuition fees during the [COVID-19] pandemic.”

UMSU vice-president advocacy Kristin Smith said UMSU has also reached out to Awan, to no avail.

The most recent petition comes at a time where students have reported dramatic increases in terms of mental health issues.

Additionally, UMSU has seen an increase in hardship fund applications this year, indicating that the COVID-19 crisis has financially impacted a significant number of students.

Kaur said her friend “was suicidal for a couple days” after the university threatened to de-register them for next term because they could not pay late fees on time.

“It’s like the university is treating this as a business but, honestly, if they want to treat this as a business, their customer approval ratings are very low right now.”

“I mean, it’s an educational institution — you should be a little more compassionate with students who are out of jobs,” she said, adding that students are a particularly vulnerable population whose employment is often precarious.

According to Kaur, the petition was first spread by word of mouth — friends telling other friends — but

also through the use of class email lists accessible through the U of M’s online learning management system, UM Learn.

The petition asks that the uni-

“It’s like the university is treating this as a business” — Simranjeet Kaur, petitioner and faculty of arts student versity “remove charges for services that are no longer accessible to students” and urges the administration to “open up more room for discussion about student affairs, letting everyone have a say so that there is more understanding about concerns of different demographics in the student population.”

Not only does the petition call on U of M president Michael Benarroch, members of the university administration and a number of deans for action on their part, it also warns of efforts toward organizing students to withhold their tuition fees in the

winter semester as part of a “tuition strike.”

The petition reads: “If the University of Manitoba fails to meet these demands or fails to open up a dialogue, we will push for a tuition strike for winter term 2021.”

The last time students successfully went on a large-scale tuition strike in Canada was the 2012 Quebec student protest movement dubbed the “Maple Spring.”

The 2012 strike saw months of mass protests leading to a special election resulting in the provincial Liberal government being deposed and the tuition hikes which the students were protesting repealed shortly thereafter by the new government.

The strike came after a history of direct action by students traceable to the student movement of the 1990s, which took place mainly in Quebec and involved massive rallies against tuition increase and cuts to postsecondary education and financial aid.

“After the petition hit 1,000 [signatures] and over, I had emailed UMSU asking them to back it up,” said Kaur.

“If there are already 1,000 signatures in a day, it seems to be a pretty prominent issue.”

At the time of her conversation with the Manitoban on Nov. 27, Kaur had not yet heard back from UMSU regarding her petition.

‘We maintain our mandate to support and advocate for students’ Continued from front page “Our concern […] of course, is the wellbeing of students who, while […] studying and attending classes from home during a pandemic, have also just gone through a stressful period of unease with the looming potential of a faculty strike,” Gali said.

“We maintain our mandate to support and advocate for students, so while this motion has passed and moves in the direction of ‘defederating,’ it will be business as usual for us.”

According to federation bylaws, any member association wishing to terminate membership must first hold a petition for a referendum to be signed by at least 15 per cent of the member association’s membership.

If the petition is successful, there will then be a referendum held in which all members of UMSU may participate. If the referendum ends with a majority vote against continued membership in the Canadian Federation of Students, a vote to ratify the withdrawal of UMSU from the federation will be held at the federation’s next general meeting.

Pending success in all of the above steps, decertification would take effect the following June 30.

Tensions go back years

In 2005, UMSU left the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) — a federal lobbying organization for students which rivals the Canadian Federation of Students —

and afterwards joined the federation.

A legal drama then unfolded with CASA suing UMSU over unpaid membership fees in 2007. The lawsuit was dropped after UMSU and CASA reached an undisclosed financial settlement.

As far back as 2013, UMSU has made efforts to leave the Canadian

free.

In February 2019, CASA gave a During the 2013-14 academic year, presentation to the UMSU board of the then-UMSU executive refused directors just days after UMSU parto pay fees to the federation over ticipated in a CASA mental health an ownership dispute involving an initiative.

UMSU website. As a result, UMSU In March 2019, UMSU launched was made to pay close to $1 million a now defunct website, demandbetter. to the federation in 2016. ca, as part of a marketing campaign In 2016, there were public tensions toward holding a second referendum when then-UMSU president Tanjit on leaving the federation. The camNagra alleged that members of the paign centred around the idea that “It is incredibly federation executive verbally harassed the dues paid to the federation could her and UMSU demanded a public be put to better use by UMSU. disappointing to apology. There was also an incident In April 2019, UMSU budgeted in November 2016 at the federation’s $30,000 for the 2019-20 academic year hear that [UMSU’s Day of Action protest in which a for a marketing campaign toward board of directors] then-UMSU executive complained leaving the federation, some of which that the federation prevented him was put toward demandbetter.ca. wishes to move from speaking at the rally.

At the Oct. 22 UMSU board of in the direction of In early 2018, UMSU held a non- directors meeting, UMSU’s vicebinding plebiscite in which more than president advocacy, Kristin Smith, severing ties with 64 per cent of voters voted in favour of voiced the position that the federaremaining in the federation. tion is to blame for its poor relationus” — Brenden Gali, That year, UMSU continued ship with the provincial government, CFS-MB chairperson to push to leave the organization calling the federation “incredibly and it was demonstrably a prior- antagonistic.” ity of then-UMSU president Jakob Presently, there have been recently Sanderson. In November 2018, the renewed efforts marked by UMSU’s Federation of Students.

UMSU board of directors voted board of directors receiving another That year, UMSU struck an ad- against reaffirming membership in presentation from CASA in early hoc committee to review how fed- the Canadian Federation of Students November, followed by the preseneration dues collected by UMSU are and Sanderson publicly endorsed the tation from the federation and subsespent as well as to evaluate whether idea of UMSU leaving the federation quent vote which took place Nov. 26. the relationship was worthwhile for and becoming a member of CASA UMSU. instead.

A tough nut to crack In September 2013, it was revealed In Januar y 2019, UMSU The Canadian Federation of that UMSU removed all pages pro- denounced the federation for its Students is a notoriously difficult moting the Canadian Federation of support of the boycott, divestment organization for members to leave — Students from day planners that were and sanctions movement citing the organizations that attempt to leave handed out annually to students for divisiveness of such a position. often find themselves embroiled in

lawsuits over membership dues owed to the federation or to get the federation to recognize votes to leave.

In 2008, students at Cape Breton University voted to end their membership in the Canadian Federation of Students. The federation refused to acknowledge the vote but nonetheless their student association stopped collecting dues on behalf of the federation. The federation subsequently sued over unpaid membership fees.

In 2015, the Cape Breton University Students’ Union (CBUSU) lost the lawsuit and was ordered to pay roughly $400,000.

Efforts were made toward leaving the federation once again in fall 2015 but ultimately the CBUSU could not, because according to federation bylaws, a petition cannot be recognized if membership fees are outstanding. At one point, the union considered declaring bankruptcy as a result, and the CBUSU eventually reached a court-ordered settlement with the federation. Today, the CBUSU is still a member of the federation.

Over the last decade, there have been a number of similar cases with varying outcomes involving student unions from the University of Guelph, the University of Victoria, Selkirk College and Concordia University, among others.

UMSU did not respond to requests for comment by press time.

VOL. 107 NO. 15 December 2, 2020

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‘A loophole we wanted to close up’

PHOTO BY JOHN BAPTISTA

Continued from page 3 The photo club — which has roughly 50 regular members and provides darkroom services to more — started a petition in May calling for UMSU president Jelynn Dela Cruz, vice-president student life Savannah Szocs, UMSU general manager Thomas Blumer and UMSU service centre manager Leeandra Wren to make efforts to save its original space at 116 University Centre. At press time, the petition had garnered more than 750 signatures.

The photo club’s former space at 116 University Centre was damaged in the fire that took place outside UC March 13.

Its space included the last public

darkroom existing at the U of M and made photography more affordable for students, offering its members free development for black and white photos and $2 development for colour photos and selling film at cost to students.

Baptista said that is no longer a possibility, as construction began to convert the darkroom into a different space began without their knowledge.

Baptista said “the fire prompted UMSU to rethink what they want to do with [its] space.”

“It prompted them to think that they don’t want to give us the space anymore.”

UMSU vice-president finance and operations Brendan Scott said UMSU believes the change is neces-

sary for a number of reasons, includ- university — for the better part of the direction. ing the allocation of permanent space year, the photo club is not optimistic “Now it just feels like we’re kind to clubs in exchange for votes by past about the possibility of moving its of being strung along [by UMSU], UMSU executive candidates. operations into the Fitzgerald space. we’re being played,” he said.

“The fact that […] spaces could be The U of M staff member given as a “We’re being hooked onto somepromised to clubs was a loophole we contact by UMSU to the photo club thing, we follow it and then UMSU has not responded to repeated emails redirects us and we get hooked on wanted to close up,” said Scott.

“So that in future years of UMSU, from the club, and Baptista is worried something else and we have to folthere isn’t [executives] or people that this new announcement from low that.” running saying ‘Hey, if you get your UMSU will affect the Fitzgerald Scott said UMSU found three whole club to vote for me, I’ll give darkroom arrangement. darkroom options for the photo club you space.’”

Baptista said he is now worried — two on campus and one off-campus.

Scott also said there is a lack of the photo club will be left without a “While the darkroom will not be accountability from clubs, saying that darkroom and be “back at square one” connected to a space that they may “the fact that there could be damages with this new announcement. rent out, they still at any point would in there and we wouldn’t find out “At the end of the day, we’re stu- have access to a darkroom in some until the end of the year is kind of dents, too. So […] I have my [com- form.”

With the club’s history spanning [troublesome].” puter science] classes, my physics Scott said a full-time staff mem- classes to worry about, [and] now 50 years — making it one of the oldber will be assigned to deal with club est student clubs at the U of M — spaces and bookings once campus life Baptista is afraid the photo club won’t returns to normal. survive without a darkroom.

“Now it just feels like Baptista acknowledged that stu“We can’t not have a darkroom [or we’re kind of being dent club space isn’t of the utmost else] we’re not going to have a club importance right now due to the anymore,” he said. strung along [by COVID-19 pandemic, but said the “If we didn’t have a darkroom […]

UMSU], we’re being we can’t let members scan film, they club urgently needs storage space — which it had prior to the fire — and can’t develop film, they can’t print played” — John that the club will eventually need a film,” said Baptista.

Baptista, UM photo darkroom space again when normal “If they can’t develop and print film, campus life resumes. there’s no point in selling film at that club president point as well which is a big way of “We’ve resorted to just keeping [club supplies] in our houses and it’s how we keep up our club.” getting [to be] a lot.”

“With this [change], we might The photo club was offered a actually have to rethink how our darkroom in the Fitzgerald build- I have to [worry] about something club works.” ing by UMSU and the U of M July I thought was fixed, something I “I love this club so much and I’ve 30, shortly after the Manitoban pub- thought we were already past,” said learned so much about its history, I lished an article July 21 detailing the Baptista. would hate for me to be the last presiclub’s predicament.

Baptista said the changes in plans dent of the club.”

However, after struggling to get in and lack of communication have contact with UMSU — and now the left the photo club without proper

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News Editors: Gillian Brown and Amira Tekle Contact: gillian@themanitoban.com amira@themanitoban.com

Professor receives CBC Manitoba Future 40 award

Recognition for provincial leadership in virtual health care SARAH DORAN, STAFF

PHOTO PROVIDED BY JENNIFER HENSEL

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BC Manitoba released its list of the top 40 researchers and educators in the province under age 40 last month. Among the list was Jennifer Hensel, an assistant professor of psychiatry at the U of M’s Max Rady college of medicine, who was included for her pioneering work on virtual mental health care in Manitoba.

Hensel’s passion for program development and improving access to mental health care began during her training and residency in Ontario, where she completed her master’s degree at the University of Toronto’s Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation.

“I was noticing that there were a lot of challenges in providing services, a lot of gaps in access to service, a lot of variability in the services that we provided not only within programs but certainly geographically,” Hensel said.

“I became very interested in how we do that better. I was always interested in research […] but rather than research in drug development or basic science, I became very interested in health services research […] more applied, pragmatic research.

“How do we do things better? How do we develop programs to really meet the needs of the people that are going to be using them? How do we get services to people who need

them?” common, she added, is that people Telehealth and virtual care solve who might not otherwise seek treata number of problems people face ment are increasingly using techin receiving health care, both in nology like apps or online tools to Manitoba and elsewhere. manage any symptoms on their own.

Hensel mentioned geographical However, not every patient distance as a major barrier in the entirely benefits from virtual care or province, with rural and remote self-management, Hensel said. communities often lacking access to “There’s a fine balance between mental health care in particular, but making it convenient and reducing also talked about urban complications the stress of having to get to the office like public transportation schedules — there’s a lot of costs associated with that, too, parking and travel and so on and parking.

Even having to plan around — but then balancing that with that infants and young children can person’s need to actually physically make health care difficult. Telehealth get out of the house and challenge allows patients to receive care when their anxiety and challenge their and where it is convenient for them, depressive symptoms,” she explained. rather than what works best for their Of course, with the COVID-19 provider. pandemic, patients and providers Although both patients and pro- were left without much of a choice. viders have expressed uncertainty “I think when [COVID-19] hit, a about whether mental health care is lot of people had to suddenly shift to as useful virtually as it is in person, virtual care and really didn’t know Hensel is confident the result is the much about it or how to do it,” Hensel same. said.

“There was a lot of anxiety about “There have been a lot of studies that have compared the use of tel- that among physicians, for good reaehealth assessment to a face-to-face son, but my reaction was, ‘Finally!’ assessment showing that you can, in Finally, we have this wide-open landthe vast majority of cases, effectively scape to be able to move forward with and accurately diagnose and provide virtual care. So, [COVID-19] has treatment and build rapport with a obviously removed all of the adoption patient,” she said. barriers that were there.

An interesting side benefit to mak“Technology, virtual care, teling virtual mental health care more ehealth — this is not a new solution

that people are talking about. It has been touted as a solution for years and years and years, but there’s been a lot of reticence to adopt it into practice that [COVID-19] has effectively

“Technology, virtual care, telehealth — this is not a new solution that people are talking about” — Jennifer Hensel, assistant professor removed out of necessity.”

Manitoba also had to start from closer to the beginning in shifting to virtual care than other provinces.

“In Ontario, they already had an infrastructure to equip providers with the technology that they needed to be able to provide virtual care fairly quickly,” Hensel explained.

“Manitoba didn’t have that infrastructure. They have a good telehealth system, but for you to access telehealth, you have to go to a clinic that has a telehealth unit […] When I say telehealth, I’m talking about the traditional telehealth assessment

that’s done in a suite. It’s located in a health care clinic, there’s usually somebody from the other end to help facilitate it.

“So, Manitoba has a great infrastructure for that, but they didn’t have any infrastructure for the homebased virtual care where the patient can access it in their home, so they had to quickly come up with some way for us to do that.”

Hensel also acknowledged all the topics that need further investigation.

For example, using Zoom or other videoconferencing technology allows for some visual input, which is helpful for mental health practitioners, but much less is known about how effective telephone appointments can be.

Hensel is confident that the rise in telehealth will stick around after the pandemic is less serious, but there are still a number of questions to be answered.

“There’s a lot of things that need to change for [virtual care] to become a permanent solution,” she said.

“Not just provider attitudes, but the infrastructure, the technology, the payment, the remuneration set up. So, I think we’re seeing the government response to the idea that this actually is something that we should probably look at permanently, but I do think we need to really figure out how to do it right.”

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Colloquium discusses Indigenous activism

Pam Palmater, Winona LaDuke launch new books SARAH DORAN, STAFF

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he Manitoba branch of the “So [Warrior Life] is really about Canadian Centre for Policy action and honouring all of the peoAlternatives co-presented a vir- ple on the ground who risk everytual event with the University of thing to do that for us, despite being Manitoba’s Native studies depart- vilified, despite being targeted, surment Nov. 25. Assistant professor veilled, monitored, arrested, threatNiigaan Sinclair hosted the event ened, experiencing violence. This is with guest speakers Pam Palmater significant work that they’re doing and Winona LaDuke discussing their and you don’t get famous from it […] new books on Indigenous activism.

This is about really saving our future The discussion, titled “Indigeneity, for our people.”

Colonialism and COVID: Land LaDuke is a rural development Defenders and Water Protectors in economist and cofounder of Honor a Pandemic Age,” also served as the the Earth, a non-profit organization Native studies department’s weekly created in 1993 to raise both awareness colloquium, with five graduate stu- and financial support for Indigenous dents asking questions. issues, particularly those related to Palmater, an associate professor environmental activism. LaDuke at Ryerson University’s department lives and works on the White Earth of politics and public administra- reservation in Minnesota, where she tion and an activist with decades of runs a hemp farm. Her new book is experience in Indigenous issues, just titled To Be A Water Protector: The Rise released a book titled Warrior Life: of the Wiindigoo Slayers and covers a Indigenous Resistance and Resurgence. number of recent pipeline standoffs in A Mi’kmaw citizen, she is a member the United States and Canada. of the Eel River Bar First Nation in “I’ve found that in my privilege of New Brunswick. travel, back when I used to fly, but “We often stop at, ‘Oh look, we also just being on the ground, I got a have a problem’ and have some rec- lot of stories,” LaDuke said. ommendations without fully under“So I started writing them […] standing what the root cause is or because the thing is that history how to translate that into action,” needs to be written up. We need Palmater said. to tell our history. We need to tell

PHOTO BY ALEXANDER DECEBAL-CUZA

these stories because [we’re] who’s doing it […] It’s my trying to collect […] the pieces of myself that I have scattered to the wind into one place, to say, ‘This is the history that I saw happening. These are some people that did pretty amazing things. I’m going to do my best to tell some of their stories.’”

In addition to discussing the two books, the colloquium also touched on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on activist groups and Indigenous peoples in general.

Palmater emphasized local groups keeping tabs on shifting environmental legislation and continued protests against industrial projects as proof that Indigenous activism has a place for everyone regardless of skillset.

“It was actually one of the most encouraging things that I’ve seen come out of the pandemic — the way that the Indigenous nations or tribal governments took control over their own borders,” she said.

“The same with First Nations here, with land defenders who, despite all of the restrictions on gathering, made sure that they were still advocating and defending.”

LaDuke agreed, talking about her local community taking advantage

of the pandemic to connect with younger generations and teach them about planting gardens and making traditional medicines.

“We have this moment where we are forced to take a breath,” she continued.

“And in that moment of being

“It’s not like we haven’t lived through pandemics before” — Winona LaDuke, activist and author

forced to take a breath […] let us look at where we are going […] It’s not like we haven’t lived through pandemics before. We are the post-apocalyptic people — we’ve lost so many people we don’t even know what we lost. So much loss.

“And so […] we sit here, and in some ways, I think that there is this absolute coherence that happens in this moment of crisis where you’re [thinking], ‘What are you going to

do?’”

Both panellists agreed that social movements have seen an uptick during the pandemic. Palmater brought up George Floyd and the racial justice protests sparked by his death in May. LaDuke mentioned the removal of statues of Christopher Columbus and American Confederate soldiers, as well as the renaming of the Washington Redskins football team.

“The most significant changes for human beings on the planet have come after sustained periods of conflict, what’s perceived as conflict — disagreement, debate, the planting of the seeds of change,” Palmater said.

“And so I actually get really energized from that.

“When I see our people marching in the streets, some people would say, ‘Oh, I wish our people weren’t marching in the streets,’ [but I say] ‘Thank goodness they are. Thank goodness there are still people willing to stand up.’”

8

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Robots the ally, not adversary, of labourers

There is room in the labour market for both humans and robots COLIN IJEBOR, STAFF

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A

rtificial Intelligence (AI) is a buzzword that has infiltrated almost everyone’s vernacular. Writers, media houses and technology sector billionaires like Elon Musk warn of a gloomy, even disastrous, future with AI — a future that is forewarned by popular culture’s fictional fantasies.

The anxiety that robots will annihilate the human race was driven into popular culture after the 1920 Czech play Rossum’s Universal Robots. In the dramatic play, a scientist named Rossum creates the first robots whom he employs as slave-like labourers. As the play progresses, the robots develop emotional capacities and come to dominate their creators. The popular meaning of the term “robot” is actually derived from this play and means “forced labour” in Czech.

While this outlandish portrayal of full robotic domination can easily be disregarded as fiction, there is yet another, perhaps more realistic, fear that is rearing its head as more sophisticated robots are being developed — the fear that they will replace human labour.

AI and robots are used in a plethora of ways and have become a staple of daily life in most parts of the world. AI has been integrated into virtually every industry in one way or another.

From your smartphone to Netflix, various industries are starting to utilize predictive and interactive technology that is geared toward improving human lives and making them easier.

It is redefining the norm in human-to-human, human-to-non-human and non-human-tonon-human interactions.

Many tasks that were once performed by human beings have become more readily automated too. This has incited worry and fear in people that the continuous development of AI improved robots that are capable of taking on even more specialized roles will eventually devalue human labour as redundant.

In 2019, a Forbes article listed 13 jobs that tech experts predicted would be fully automated by 2030. Warehouse and manufacturing jobs, customer service, banking services and retail checkout were among those listed in the article.

Robots and AI have been a popular topic for the last few years, seemingly reinforcing this belief that they are here to take over.

In fact, in 2017, a study published by Ipsos,

GRAPHIC BY DALLIN CHICOINE

Utrecht University, however, showed that the use of robots had a positive effect on employment, as robots undertook tasks that complemented human employment in other ways. This is a better way of looking at it. AI should be seen as an enabling technology. Rather than By taking on simple and allegedly “stealing” jobs, automated systems repetitive tasks, robots should be seen as aiding in the efficient completion of tasks. have freed people to focus The sophistication of the AI technology that on the more challenging is currently available on the market is only able to accomplish specific and clearly outlined tasks. and nuanced ones — AI does not operate at a human level yet. As a result, AI and robots cannot fully replace people. leading to a form of But, by taking on simple and repetitive tasks, human-robot symbiosis robots have freed people to focus on the more challenging and nuanced ones — leading to a form of human-robot symbiosis. For example, researchers discovered that in factories owned of unemployment.

The COVID-19 pandemic has stirred up by BMW, a German car manufacturer, when these fears even more. Due to the lockdowns paired together, the company’s labourers and imposed in countries around the world, employ- robots were 85 per cent more productive than ers have increasingly automated tasks previously they were when they were alone.

Additionally, while some jobs are being autocarried out by human employees who could no longer go to work. mated, many others are being created. AI and In northern California for example, about robots are paving the way for the creation of 185 toll collectors lost jobs as tollbooths were many new industries. For example, many tech replaced by FasTrak tags that track peoples’ roles have been created in the last few years. toll fees digitally. This rapid deployment of Computer scientists and software developers robots was seen across many industries. “Sally,” are in high demand. Engineers, architects, a robot that makes salads, replaced employees in construction workers and many other workers hospital and university cafeterias. Knightscope are all needed to build artificially intelligent security robots were deployed to guard malls infrastructure. And, people are being trained and stadiums. And human customer-service to develop, operate, maintain and market these agents were replaced by chatbots. systems.

The question is, how valid are the fears of Robots and AI should not be seen as adverpeople who think they will lose their job to saries to compete with. Instead, they should be automation? Various studies have been car- regarded as helpers.

People should learn more about AI and ried out to determine whether automation will damage the employment rate, but they have its applications in whatever sectors they work. yielded mixed results. One study carried out Workers should be encouraged to improve their between 1990 and 2007 by the National Bureau skills regularly in order to enable them to work of Economic Research in the U.S. showed that with artificially intelligent systems and comthe rise in the reliance on robots negatively panies can organize to assist their employees affected the human-robot employment ratio, to achieve this. School curriculums at every as they reduced human employment and wages. level should be updated, and students should be Further, a study done by Oxford Economics, a taught about the future of technology.

There will continue to be advances in the research institute, predicts that up to 20 million jobs will be globally lost to robotics by year 2030. research and development of AI and robots, so A 2018 study from researchers at the rather than fear it, it should be embraced and Massachusetts Institute of Technology and harnessed to its maximum potential. a marketing consultant group, found that 58 per cent of research participants believed that technology would contribute to the proliferation

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10

Journalism is intertwined with the act of remembering The profession is indisputably too important to forget LUCAS EDMOND, STAFF

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very Sunday morning growing up, and non-profit news outlets like the The value of an article never expires.

I would walk down my home’s CBC exemplify this.

Instead, it ages like a fine wine, green-carpeted flight of stairs to a Erin O’Toole, leader of the gradually refining itself in a dusty old kitchen enriched by the smell of dark Conservative Party of Canada (CPC), archive — almost as if it were stuck roast coffee and my mom with the won significant support within the in time while the world outside was morning’s newspaper in her hands. party after promising to defund the moving in entropic motion, quickly She would either be reading up on CBC’s federally-funded budget grant. forgetting about it. News articles are current events or working on a cross- A move that Daniel Bernhard, an word she had started — of which, I advocate for Canadian broadcasting, Journalists, whether was often a useless hand of help. I has called “extreme.” But Canadians tended to gravitate toward the comics cannot afford to lose more news they intend to or section myself. Nonetheless, newspa- media outlets. not, are continuously pers were a central part of morning When a discourse of value takes routines in my household. place about news media, the conleaving behind But journalism and newspapers versation almost always gravitates are now facing a crisis of validity with towards the needs and utility of the intricate pieces of various newspapers across Manitoba contemporary. To many readers, the and North America closing during value of news expires as time passes. themselves and the pandemic. Since the onset of If a story no longer holds relevancy, others for future COVID-19, newspaper revenues or perhaps bigger news outlets get generations to have dropped significantly. Due to a hold of an angle that makes a this unforeseen crisis, 15 newspapers smaller papers’ story less attractive, interpret in Manitoba and southern Ontario the value of the article is perceived were forced to close this spring. as diminished.

Not to mention print papers are In this way, journalists are always slowly, yet surely, fading away due chasing the next lede — looking for to the digital revolution. People are that next hook that can validate the snapshots of the past that far outlive increasingly receiving their informa- ever-expiring value of “yesterday’s us. tion about the world through social news.”

Most historians already know media. By and large, many people But, this mode of thinking is dam- this. As one of the Washington Post’s are forgetting the value of publish- aging to the profession. Journalism former publishers, Phillip Graham, ing houses and newspapers. Various is just as crucial to future genera- said emphatically, journalism is “the calls to defund publicly subsidized tions as it is to contemporary readers. first rough draft of history.” Stanley

GRAPHIC BY DALLIN CHICOINE

Kutler, the historian who managed to or not, are continuously leaving to get the Richard Nixon tapes from behind intricate pieces of themselves the Watergate scandal released, inter- and others for future generations to preted journalism in a similar way, interpret. This makes the profession calling it “history with a 5:00 p.m. of journalism indisputably one of sevdeadline.” And this is not to mention eral crucial pillars of contemporary the value that journalists produce for storytelling. historians.

Those who wish to devalue the Today, it’s pretty difficult to find importance of journalism are simulnew primary sources not already uti- taneously rejecting its kissing cousin, lized by another academic. Instead, oral history. the field of history has gradually Humans’ unprecedented ability drifted toward redefining theory and to remember the past through arbinew narrative forms. Considering trary symbols such as open-ended this, it’s fairly certain that, some- language is what makes us unique in where down the road, a historian this world. Written and oral language will likely look through and use the helps form identity, convey mysticism archived material that, newspapers and narrative and contributes to the and other media outlets keep digitally very foundation of culture itself. stored.

Journalism does far more than To historians, journalism acts as a provide value-expiring news for set type of recorded oral history that pro- periods of consumption — it is a vides glimpses into the consciousness medium through which we record of various historical actors through- and preserve our past. While it is out time. not the only way to record the past, And because of the sheer volume it remains qualitatively invaluable. of material being published, this With this in mind, doubters of the consciousness can be tracked as it validity and importance of journalism changes, thereby giving historians such as O’Toole and the CPC should just one of various avenues that can be careful, they may end up being help make the unfamiliarity of the remembered not just as the antagoforgotten past more familiar. nists to the art of journalism but to Journalists, whether they intend the practice of remembering itself.

VOL. 107 NO. 15 December 2, 2020

Comment 11

Inequality shining through global lockdown curtains

COVID-19 is a health crisis, but it is also a crisis of privilege GRACE GYOLAI, STAFF

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lon Musk has long been a skeptic of the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic. When California went into its initial lockdown in March 2020 and local manufacturing was halted, Musk declared on Twitter that Tesla wished to continue production despite the local laws that were applied to all non-essential businesses. He later defied laws, keeping the plant open and firing employees who refused to show up for work.

Most recently, Musk got tested for COVID-19 four times in one day, receiving two negative results and two positive results. In response to this, he again tweeted that something “extremely bogus” was going on, questioning the accuracy of rapid testing.

Musk isn’t wrong. Something bogus is going on, but it is not his questionable results. Who gets tested four times in one day? A law-breaking billionaire who has become richer while millions remain unemployed.

Perhaps Musk thinks he is proving a point by airing his test results, but all I can discern is that the ultra-rich have no conceptual understanding of what life in a global pandemic is like for working people. While millions have waited in line for hours to get tested for COVID-19, receiving their results days later, Musk and his wealthy counterparts can get tested four times in a single day.

Typically, when following wealthy businesspeople or influencers on social media, people look to them for lavish content from their extravagant lives. But what’s happening in the

GRAPHIC BY JENELLE MCCANN

world now is atypical. Now, when tographed in Toronto Pearson From one side of the spectrum, we ing to take, but remember, people someone like Kim Kardashian goes Airport talking to then-Tory leader see our leaders and favourite influ- cannot return to the normal life we all on vacation in her private jet and Andrew Scheer with their masks encers going about their opulent miss so dearly unless we continue to posts seemingly hundreds of photos down. This was despite masks being lives, not even having the decency do our part as community members on Instagram, there is a keen sting. required at all times within the air- to refrain from posting about their to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Kardashian said she went on vaca- port. This may have been considered vacations.

We can’t look to influencers for tion for her birthday to feel some a minor infringement of the law, From the other end, we are being guidance, and it has become increassense of normalcy. Simultaneously, but it becomes harder to swallow intimidated by politicians who have ingly clear from Pallister’s irresponthe rest of the world doesn’t even have when businesses and individuals in a poor track record of following sible response to COVID-19 that the luxury of seeing family over the Manitoba are being fined for break- rules. Combine that with fatigue Manitobans may not even be able to holidays. If the average person makes ing the lockdown rules. after months of lockdown and anxi- fully rely on our political leaders for the decision to have a gathering, there Perhaps Pallister is trying to ety surrounding our health, it’s no accurate and measured restrictions. is a sense of real risk and fear that wonder why Manitoba struggles to Look to roommates, to friends or to reminds us we are still in a pandemic, significantly reduce daily cases. family. still in lockdown and still at risk of It’s hard to live so isolated These are the people we can empaDon’t look to your contracting COVID-19. The average and, with winter fast approaching, thize with, and these are the people everyday influencer citizen cannot get tested daily and fly Manitobans won’t even be able to who will remind us all why we are to private islands to pretend things enjoy the simple pleasure of a walk isolating in the first place. for advice during are normal for a brief moment in time around the neighbourhood, but Think of it like this: Manitobans COVID-19 — chances the reality is that most of us are not are not in lockdown because Pallister like these pretentious elites.

Local politicians are not excluded multimillionaires. is mandating it. Manitobans are in are, they will from this critique. In January and Most of us can’t afford to travel lockdown because it is our civic duty have a hard time February of 2020, it was reported that safely simply because we don’t have to protect the vulnerable members of Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister the ability to be tested daily or have our community. Manitobans are in understanding its had snuck off to his luxury villa in priority access to state-of-the-art lockdown for the health-care workers Costa Rica, just as Manitoba was healthcare. who risk their lives to help us, even social impact planning its response to COVID-19 The wealthiest people in the world when hundreds still choose to break and days before the World Health live completely different lives than the rules.

Organization declared the novel maintain control by threatening his the average citizen, and that has Don’t look to your everyday influcoronavirus “of international concern.” constituents, but COVID-19 cases in become painfully clear over the past encer for advice during COVID-19 Although this may not have Manitoba are still being reported at year. Recently, we can’t even scroll — chances are, they will have a hard breached local travel restrictions at concerning rates. Dr. Brent Roussin, through our feeds without compar- time understanding its social impact. the time, it proved extraordinarily Manitoba’s chief public health officer, ing the sacrifices Canadian workers When we see billionaires complainirresponsible. is issuing almost daily warnings that have made to the jet-setting rich. ing about being tested four times in And this was not the only instance health-care systems will become While millions of Canadians apply one day or celebrities hosting outthe Manitoba premier displayed a overwhelmed if cases do not start to for Employment Insurance, there landish and unprotected birthday nonchalant attitude to the health decline. seems to be an array of influencers parties, try to find some comfort crisis. Even he — a supposed public That is the real consequence of posting pictures from their vacations in the fact that we as Manitobans servant — has been caught breaking seeing public figures and politicians to fantastical locations. are in this together, and only we COVID-19 protocol. break COVID-19 restrictions — even Everyone has free will and must can get each other out of this dreary In July, Pallister was pho- if they seemed small at the time. assess what level of risk they are will- lockdown.

Comment Comment Editor: Lucas Edmond Contact: comment@themanitoban.com

12

Students are concerned about in-person labs

A letter regarding mandatory labs within the faculty of science KINGSLEY MESZAROS

I

am sending this letter to draw however, I care about stopping the airline exposures increasing, that was attention to the unfair circum- spread, keeping my loved ones safe not a chance that I wanted to take. stances currently imposed by the and my own mental and financial Before withdrawing from my University of Manitoba’s faculty of health even more. classes, I wrote an email to my faculty science on students regarding manI have withdrawn from the course advisor inquiring whether the faculty datory labs and travel as COVID-19 and recognize that I will likely need of science was planning on deferring increases in severity across the coun- an extra year to obtain my degree. the labs further or providing alternatry. I view this as both a public health Numerous other students are also tive options so that students would issue and a violation of student safety. being forced to make the same not have to travel. My faculty advisor I have been implored by fellow stu- decision. then forwarded the email to the dean dents, family and friends to bring it to As I watched case numbers rise, I of the faculty of agriculture, who furthe media for inquiry and hopefully began to feel incredibly uncomfort- ther brought it up with members of support. able with travelling to Manitoba in the administration and the faculty In July, myself and numerous early January to complete my labs. of science. other students registered for deferred Once Canada was placed under a I also helped a fellow student share labs that were set to take place from non-essential travel advisory, this an email that was sent to numerous Jan. 5 to Jan. 15. This lab section was discomfort only grew. Not only was deans, the vice-provost, student advoset aside for students who were con- I concerned about exposing myself cacy and the University of Manitoba cerned about possible exposure to to COVID-19 while travelling, but Students’ Union. She gathered over COVID-19 in the lab during the fall I was also concerned about exposing 30 signatures from fellow students semester or who were forced to live fellow travellers and transmitting the who shared our concerns regarding out of the province due to challenges novel coronavirus to Winnipeg com- the labs. She also gained support brought about by the pandemic. As munities and to my home community from the faculty of agriculture and it stands, the only options offered by in the British Columbian interior. I our course professor. A few students the faculty of science are to attend live in a town that is predominantly also emailed their MLAs who shared the in-person labs, fail or voluntarily populated by people over the age of 60 our concerns. withdraw from the course. At the — including my grandmother, whom Despite voicing our concerns and time of registration, Manitoba’s case- I live with. gaining support from numerous facload was low, and while I understood We have been fairly isolated in ulty members and fellow students, the that numbers would increase come regard to COVID-19, and I refuse faculty of science maintained that fall, I did not expect an increase as to risk changing that and bringing they would be following through severe as this. it here. In order to get to Winnipeg, with in-person labs during the No other options were presented I would have to take four flights remainder of the fall term and the to us. I care about my university total, stopping in Calgary, Alta. or January deferred lab sessions. career and obtaining my degree, Vancouver, B.C. to transfer. With The faculty claims that student

GRAPHIC BY JENELLE MCCANN

safety is imperative to them, yet they to attend the labs — which would are disregarding our concerns and require me to isolate alone in a have ignored the various alternatives Winnipeg hotel for two weeks over students and various faculty members Christmas prior to, and during, the presented to them. labs, and for two weeks again upon I would like to clearly indicate that returning to British Columbia — or my anger is not directed at my profes- withdraw from the course without a sor, who attempted to advocate for us, full refund. The university offered me the ability to appeal for a refund for a maximum of $600.

As I watched case So, I had to choose between either giving up over two months’ worth numbers rise, I began of lab reports, midterms, dedicated studying and all the related fees to feel incredibly or potentially exposing myself to uncomfortable with COVID-19.

I am incredibly disappointed traveling to Manitoba with the faculty’s lack of flexibility. in early January to As much as I dislike this term, we really are living in unprecedented complete my labs times, and the university should be prioritizing student and community safety over the completion of lab work. or at the faculty of science. Rather, I I understand that in-person labs am angry at the fact that the uni- and the skills learned during them versity does not have the resources are imperative. However, we must to even consider student exceptions all learn to adapt to the current cirand concerns due to budget cuts and cumstances as best we can, and the understaffing, which is a symptom university is no exception. of a much larger issue in the lack of To demand out-of-province stugovernment support and funding for dents to fly in and out of Canada’s the university.

COVID-19 hotspot right after the The faculty’s decision left me holidays is inexcusable and a public with two options: fly to Winnipeg health concern.

VOL. 107 NO. 15 December 2, 2020

Arts & Culture

13

An experimental exhibition in more ways than one U of M’s school of art grad students tackle contemporary world issues in online exhibit ZOË LEBRUN, STAFF

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resented by the PLATFORM Centre for Photographic and Digital Arts, 시험/ ‫ تست‬/ yeèhdzà / test is an exhibition that showcases four school of art graduate students from the U of M — Casey Koyczan, Mahsa Merci, Hye Yeon Shin and Julianna Zwierciadlowska-Rhymer — and presents some of the work they’ve been creating over the last year.

Artist Julianna ZwierciadlowskaRhymer said, “all four of us are working on different themes within our work, but they are all important themes within our contemporary world and issues we all need to address such as the food system, gentrification, LGBTQ [issues] and Indigenous issues.”

On the unique title of their exhibition, which references the word ‘test’ in each of the artists’ languages, Koyczan said, “I had suggested that title due to the invitation to try out presenting artworks in an experimental way, to basically test out variations of our practice.”

Zwierciadlowska-Rhymer added that this title “shows the diversity among us and the different ideas we bring forward.”

From Yellowknife, N.W.T., Casey Koyczan is a Tlicho Dene artist who works in a variety of mediums.

Largely influenced by culture, experimentation and Indigenous futurisms, Koyczan has lived across Western Canada and uses an interdisciplinary approach to bring his ideas to life.

In regard to where he finds inspiration, Koyczan said he is inspired by anything and everything around

him. This is reflective of the ideas that me to produce art every day, create my of drawing and, eventually, inspired inform his work. Using installations own planet and engage the audience her to pursue a career in art. that often take on site-specific roles, with my subject matter.”

In her work, Shin investigates virtual reality art, experimental audio Another graduate student featured “the tremendous trauma and negaand video works and compositions in 시험 / ‫ تست‬/ yeèhdzà / test is Hye tive emotions of humans that come of original music, Koyczan aims to Yeon Shin, a South Korean artist who with real estate and housing problems present interactive works that engage creates assemblage works with found caused by over-developed cities.” in his audience’s bodily senses. objects that have been discarded by Shin began creating work about For 시험 / ‫ تست‬/ yeèhdzà / test, others. this topic when she still lived in Korea Koyczan said that his installation but, upon moving to Canada, realis “meant to raise awareness about ized that this was a global issue when missing and murdered Indigenous “I think it’s important she noticed the same circumstances women, girls, boys, men and twoand patterns occurring in Winnipeg. for us to try and spirit people.”

Last but not least, Julianna Mahsa Merci, born in Tehran, Zwierciadlowska-Rhymer is a ceramunderstand one Iran, uses many mediums in her icist from southern Manitoba who another and I believe uses techniques such as wheel-throwwork as well and believes that “each medium has its own potential to coning, hand-building, press moulds and art can be the way vey the idea in a better way.” Through slip-casting in her practice. experimentation, Merci discovers “My current body of work investo open up the new techniques to bring her projects tigates our relationship to food and, conversation without more specifically, our disassociatogether and, so far, portraits, collage and the use of hair have been tion from the production of animal being accusatory” prevalent in her work. products and our disconnection from “As a queer artist, the subject of — Julianna animals as food,” Zwierciadlowskagender, identity and beauty are at the Rhymer said. “The disconnect Zwierciadlowskacore of my practice,” said Merci. “I am between ourselves and our food working on these issues to redefine system is what drives me to want to Rhymer, artist the meaning of beauty and challenge create artworks exploring ideas of frathe meaning of gender and identity gility, extravagance, ignorant blindin our era.” ness and unconscious consumption.”

In Merci’s practice, there is no “When I was [an] undergraduate Much of Zwierciadlowskaspecific process involved in creating [student], I didn’t have any money, so Rhymer’s artistic process revolves her works — she expresses her ideas I had to take this method [of using around allowing mistakes to occur in relation to the material she’s using found objects], but it became my phi- in the studio. “I learn a lot from the and refines them as she continually losophy,” said Shin. “Making art with things that go wrong and, in ceramlearns more about herself. materials discarded by others is a very ics, everything can go wrong at any “I believe this curiosity and the exciting and thrilling process.” time,” she said. “Usually, my ideas desire of production have been with Shin grew up with a love of obser- come from the sculpture I built previme since I was a child, and it is still vation and began practicing Korean ously, thinking about what I could do inside me like a great and warm traditional calligraphy in elemen- differently, how to improve the form, flame,” said Merci. “This flame leads tary school, which fostered her love texture, details or the glaze.”

Zwierciadlowska-Rhymer finds inspiration in the world around her, social norms, politics and how difficult and controversial narratives are discussed from various points of view.

“I think it’s important for us to try and understand one another and I believe art can be the way to open up the conversation without being accusatory,” she said. “I don’t have answers for the problems I discuss in my work, but I am here to present these problems and hope this can lead to further discussions.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted these students heavily.

With restrictions placed on facility access at the university, working from home studios and transporting their art has proven difficult. It has also impacted their opportunities to display work, as many exhibitions have been cancelled in light of the pandemic — not to mention the fact that they currently have an exhibition up that no one can actually visit in person due to the shutdown of Winnipeg’s non-essential businesses.

Luckily, for those of us stuck at home, 시험 / ‫ تست‬/ yeèhdzà / test is currently available for viewing as a virtual exhibition on Tumblr that will be up until Dec. 11. An online panel discussion featuring all four featured artists will take place via Zoom on Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. 시험 / ‫ تست‬/ yeèhdzà / test will be available to view online until Dec. 11.

For more information, to view the exhibition and to register for the Dec. 4 panel discussion, visit platformgallery.org.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE PLATFORM CENTRE & ARTWORK BY HYE YEON SHIN, MAHSA MERCI, CASEY KOYCZAN, AND JULIANNA ZWIERCIADLOWSKA-RHYMER

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Arts & Culture

Arts & Culture Editor: Shaylyn Maharaj-Poliah Contact: arts@themanitoban.com

Creative freedom in a restrictive time

PETRIC’s guitarist talks about the band’s upcoming album and their growth as a group KAELEN BELL, STAFF

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ETRIC — Jordan Day, Jason Petric and his brother Tom — are experiencing a bit of cognitive dissonance. After years under an exacting label, they’ve finally managed to make the record they’d always sought to — but it’ll be released to a world more restrictive and controlled than ever before.

Guitarist and songwriter Jason Petric describes the country trio’s upcoming debut full-length, Flashbacks, as an arrival of sorts.

years — and the string of EPs leading to its debut — as a learning curve, steered by its former producer and a record label that dictated much of its sound and marketing. “As great of a learning experience as it was, it wasn’t really creatively inspiring for us,” he said.

With newfound creative control, Petric said the band knew exactly who they wanted to record with on their debut — Chris Baseford, a producer who’s worked with the kind of Canadian household names that PETRIC seems to “We really believe aspire to, the likes of Avril Lavigne, Nickelback and Meghan Patrick. in what we’ve been An unironic Nickelback nod writing, and we really is a rare thing, but it speaks to PETRIC’s crossover ambitions — believe in the group big, slick, mass appeal music that of guys that step still means something to those making it. out on stage with “We really believe in what we’ve been writing, and we really believe us every night” — the group of guys that step out on Jason Petric, guitarist in stage with us every night,” he said.

“Chris gave us that opportunity, and and songwriter we’re all pretty happy with how it turned out.”

“We played our own instruments Since forming in 2014, PETRIC on this record, we sung our own has honed its shiny, broad appeal harmonies, we wrote these songs,” brand of country, built on the founsaid Petric. “We got real drums on dational vocal harmonies discovit, that was so important to us. We ered while singing together live. used our own band members.”

“The three-piece harmonies Having your own band mem- that the three of us would do bers play their own instruments really, really caught everybody’s may not seem like a big deal, but as eyes — eyes and ears I should say,” Petric tells it, it’s a serious change of Petric said. “All three of us noticed pace following years of significantly instantly that there was a magic less creative control. there and that the fans could see it.”

He refers to the band’s early That magic led Jason Petric to

halt his solo work and reconfigure the vision — he and Day on guitar and backup vocals with Tom on lead.

“Tom’s a way better singer than me,” he said, laughing. “It allowed me to focus on things that I was really good at. I’m a really good side guy for music.”

Petric’s supporting role also means he’s the group’s primary songwriter, though all three members have significant input, exercising a control that they hadn’t previously enjoyed.

Even with an album on the horizon, like so many, the trio has begun working on new music virtually. “[It’s] not nearly as fun, but […]

I’m glad we’re doing it,” he said. “I know we still have magic and music to be heard [by] people.”

He’s excited by the new material, despite his dismay at the band’s inability to bring it to the stage.

“Touring and getting to perform and play it night in and night out kind of makes that experience a little bit grander. It also makes it last a little bit longer — where now, in this digital age, once you put an album out there, it’s kind of old news after […] a day or two.”

However, he said that once they’re able to bring new music to their fans, PETRIC plans to make up for lost time.

“I promise you, we’re going to perform like it’s our last show every time and I can’t wait to do it.”

PETRIC is set to release its first full length album, Flashbacks, on Jan. 13, 2021.

’Toban turntable JR Charron — ‘Impression,’ 3/5 KAELEN BELL, STAFF

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hat do you say about a record The song’s topics are nothing like JR Charron’s Impression? new — being broke and feeling sad, Its instant familiarity and country- respectively — but they’re tightly radio soundalike style is part of the written and true-to-life, personal appeal, its lack of innovation a boon antidotes to the generalities of “This rather than a legitimate criticism. Train.”

It’s classic, nearly old-school radio Charron’s greatest moment is country by today’s hip-hop-skewed “Song for You,” a forlorn tribute to metric with no stilted rapping or his father that explores the fantaprogrammed drums in sight. sies of reunion following loss — Today’s popular country can hold a multitude of voices and comCharron is good at plexities, though it still sometimes falls victim to the kind of “beer, what he does, and chicks and trucks” pastiche that suffocates so much country radio when he manages — Impression, thankfully, is not that. to stretch the Charron’s musical world is conservative and homegrown — parameters of his songs about fathers, sons, women musical world, the and long roads — but it manages moments of introspection, lifting results are more him beyond the lowest end of the blustery country-rock spectrum. impressive Still, some songs, like fiery opener “This Train,” do little to establish Charron’s voice — it’s a the introductions and ceremonies rollicking “my way or the highway” missed, the words never said. Its chest-puffer that feels so familiar specificity and naked feeling are as to be rendered ambient, music refreshingly intimate, a deeply perthat disappears instantly into the sonal missive. ether. It’s a perfectly solid song, but Charron is good at what he does, it reveals the fragility of music like and when he manages to stretch Charron’s — with such standard the parameters of his musical world, instrumentation and aesthetic trap- the results are more impressive. pings, songs need a clear and indi- Still, it can be hard not to feel that vidual perspective, a singular voice you’ve heard it before — music that can rise above all the burly cho- like Charron’s isn’t hard to come ruses and tasteful pedal-steel. by, though he reveals enough of Songs like “Broke” and “Thinkin’ himself to make the intense genre Bout Today” fare much better, commitment mostly work. evidence of Charron’s songwritThough it’s built in the vision of ing chops, chummy humour and big tent, festival country, Impression vulnerability. is a bit more than meets the eye.

Presenting a pandemic-friendly festival of student work

The Black Hole Theatre Company’s recurring festival moves online to showcase student talent

ZOË LEBRUN, STAFF

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he U of M’s Black Hole Theatre Company (BHTC) planned on holding the fourth iteration of its festival of student work, Fire in the Hole, back in April, but were forced to postpone it due to COVID-19 restrictions. Fortunately, Fire in the Hole is back on track and scheduled to begin virtual performances on Dec. 5.

Originally, Fire in the Hole was to feature nine shows with over 50 students involved in the writing, direction and performance as a culmination of the work by the theatre program’s advanced directing class, dramaturgy class and playwriting class.

The project looks slightly different in the reality of COVID-19 — the whole festival’s production and installation are now happening in a socially-distanced manner, with

auditions occurring through video and, eventually, attempt to reconnect. submission, as well as rehearsals and A Work in Progress will be shown Dec. production meetings taking place 9 and is the only one of the four to over Zoom calls. contain trigger warnings for suicide, Additionally, because of the change of format from in-person to digital, the festival has pared down its This is a unique performance list to 4 shows to begin opportunity for at 8 p.m. nightly.

The Roommates, written by Lynette budding theatre Bonin and directed by Emily Stark, artists to showcase is a light-hearted comedy featuring live music about the importance of their craft growth and human connections. You can catch it on Dec. 5.

A Work in Progress is written by Emily Stark and directed by Mike alcoholism and emotional abuse.

Swain.

New Year’s Eve, written by Josh Both of the main characters, Pinette and directed by Lynette Emma and Mia, harbour dark secrets Bonin, will be performed on Dec. 13 that need to come out. These former at 8 p.m. lovers relive their shared memories Set on Dec. 31, 2019, a young

theatre student navigates a nostalgic typically, these performances would house party on the last day of the include stools, minimal props and decade, searching for the answer to movement, as well as music stands a timeless question: “what does it all to read scripts off of. mean?”

This is a unique opportunity for Finally, Beach House is written by budding theatre artists to showcase Emily Stark and directed by Nadine their craft — be it writing, acting or Maranan and will be shown on Dec. directing — and offers students a way 16 at 8 p.m. to safely connect with their campus Tom and Mary are utterly in community. love and ready to begin their future While the BHTC hasn’t decided together. on the platform that it will run these Years later, Sam finds himself in performances off of, more informathe same beach house they lived in, tion will be released prior to the first desperate for answers. performance.

In this tale of two love stories, Beach House explores the themes of family and identity.

These shows are staged readings For more information on Fire in the rather than full-on productions, so Hole’s programming, please refer audience members may notice that to the festival’s social media pages. actors are not completely off-book —

Arts & Culture

VOL. 107 NO. 15 December 2, 2020

Bison athletes continue to train despite pandemic Tsai and Adamopoulos looking forward to the start of next season ISAIAH WAGNER, STAFF

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ike many other athletes, Bisons Jessica Tsai and Stephen Adamopoulos have had a difficult time continuing to train for their sports, but have continued pushing to remain strong.

Tsai is going into this year coming off of a great rookie per-

“The good thing about being able to work out at home or on your own is that you get to work on whatever you need to improve on, especially the little things” — Stephen Adamopoulos, Bison athlete formance for the Bisons women’s soccer team last season.

She finished her rookie cam-

paign with an impressive 22 total points in 16 games played, a great start to her university career. This led her to be named to the 2019 U-Sports women’s soccer all-rookie team.

Training alone can be tough, but Tsai has adjusted very well.

“Since the first lockdown in March and April, I’ve had more time to adjust to training by myself, so creating a schedule for workouts and runs so that I can stay in shape has become easier,” Tsai said.

“Finding the actual motivation to work out has been the hardest part about staying in shape.”

In November, the Manitoba government announced that the province would move into the critical red stage on the pandemic response system, which entails the closure of recreation facilities.

This has forced athletes to stay at home and work out on their own.

“The biggest difference between working out at home compared to the gym is having limited equipment available,” Tsai said.

“Because of that, I’ve transitioned to doing more bodyweight exercises and I’ve increased difficulty by adjusting how many sets or reps

I do.”

“I can always improve in the technical aspect of the game which, fortunately, is pretty easy to work on at home,” Tsai said.

“I think the mental part of the game has also been something I’ve focused on this year, especially with the challenges we’ve had to face,” she said.

“Learning to overcome adversity, adapt to different situations and working on confidence are all aspects that apply to both sport and life.”

Soccer is a team game and no matter how important it is to better yourself, it is just as important to work on things as a team.

“Throughout this whole year, because it hasn’t been a regular competitive season, we’ve been developing our team culture and team mentality,” Tsai said.

“So, as a team we’ve been listening to podcasts and talks about different about different aspects of sports and competition and then we discuss them at weekly team meetings over Zoom.”

Training for soccer is all about working on technical aspects of the game, but Bison football player

Adamopoulos believes that football is different.

“As a football player, I don’t just need to stay in shape — I have to consistently get bigger, stronger and faster,” Adamopoulos said.

“It has been an overall challenge, but my attitude has been great and I’ve seen some improvement in myself.”

“I do a lot of weight training at home, such as bench presses, squats and deadlifts,” he said. “It is also very important to continue to stretch your body out so no injury can occur.”

The second-year defensive back for the Bisons did not see too much action over his first-year dressing for the team last season but was looking to become a regular in the lineup during the 2020-21 season.

Getting stronger, faster and more prepared must be the goal for every team competing for a championship and that trophy is what is in sight for Adamopoulos and the Bisons.

“I was disappointed that there was no season this year due to COVID-19, but it is just going to teach us to be better and we need to start preparing for next season,” Adamopoulos said.

GRAPHIC BY JENELLE MCCANN

15

Bisons golfer prepares for next season during pandemic South Africanborn Trent Robertson lives and trains in Manitoba MATTHEW MERKEL, STAFF

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or student athletes, lockdown poses the unique challenge of juggling online school with finding creative ways to train for their sport.

Trent Robertson is a Bison athlete attempting to navigate through the strange 2020 fall semester.

A member of the University of Manitoba’s golf team, Robertson is also a new Canadian, emigrating from South Africa, where he fell in love with the game of golf.

“My grandparents got me playing when I was around 13,” Robertson said.

“I wasn’t always keen on the game, as it can be fairly boring to the eye for most people. I was once one of those people but, strangely enough, it’s [now] a game that I love to play and gain most joy from.”

As a new Canadian, there has been an adjustment period for Robertson — adjusting from hot South African summers to frigid Manitoban winters is only part of the culture shock.

Robertson is hoping the work he’s been putting in during the provincial restrictions will lead to success after “I enjoy Canada a lot, I have been fortunate to meet some great people here and I look forward to meeting more,” Robertson said.

“Obviously, the weather is a bit of shock for me, I haven’t quite got used to the idea of wearing a jacket in September.”

As Robertson was finishing high school in Manitoba, the process of choosing where to begin his post-secondary education and also play golf began. Attending the University of Manitoba ended up easy decision.

See ‘So far’ | Page 16

Sports Sports Editor: Isaiah Wagner Contact: sports@themanitoban.com

16

‘So far, it’s been a blast’

PHOTO PROVIDED BY TRENT ROBERTSON

Continued from page 15 “I chose to attend the U of M for a couple reasons,” Robertson said.

“I had recently moved to Winnipeg,

so I wasn’t in a position to relocate again for school. I knew the golf team at the U of M was a solid team which had won a national champi-

onship just a few years prior to me moving to Manitoba.

“This, combined with the idea of getting to work with good coaches

and make some new friends who loved the game, was only going to benefit me both on and off the course,” he added.

For Robertson, the decision to study and play golf in Winnipeg has been a positive experience. From his perspective, the Bisons golf team has a great future ahead.

“So far, it’s been a blast,” Robertson said.

“I was fortunate in my first year to get welcomed in by a good bunch of senior guys who made me feel right at home. I didn’t achieve the results I would’ve liked in my first year, but there were definitely some positives that I took and hope to help me over the coming years.”

Robertson, like many athletes, has run into his fair share of challenges this summer. As COVID-19 continues across North America, Golf Manitoba managed to host a few tournaments for amateur golfers this season. On the collegiate side, the Bisons’ golf schedule was decimated by cancellations.

“Unfortunately, our […] golf season took a hit,” Robertson said.

“With almost all our events being down in the U.S., we were unable to travel down and play. Our conference championship which is held in [Kelowna, B.C.] was also cancelled.”

This off-season has been particularly difficult for Robertson. In

the winter, he usually practices his swing indoors at Niakwa Country Club and lifts weights at the Active Living Centre. However, under code red restrictions, all fitness facilities have been closed in the province, leaving athletes vulnerable mentally and physically.

“The closure of gyms was a big loss for me, personally,” Robertson said.

“With winter being so harsh and practice being limited, the gym becomes a priority. The off-season fitness is huge not just physically but also mentally as it’s nice to get a break from the game and recharge.”

This tumultuous semester has challenged not only Robertson, but also all Manitobans. With COVID19 restrictions remaining tight heading into December, Robertson knows to keep positive.

Robertson is hoping the work he’s been putting in during the provincial restrictions will lead to success after.

“Personally, I’ve had an up and down year with some very good moments and some pretty low moments,” he said.

“I’m pretty confident that with some good off-season work, I can gain some consistency next year.”

“The Bisons will be ready and I’m sure there is only success to come for us.”