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Men’s washroom sign replaced by gender-inclusive sign

Some speculate this was done to draw attention to lack of inclusive washrooms

Colton McKillop, staff

For the second time in six weeks, an unknown person has replaced the sign for a men’s washroom in the Price faculty of engineering building with a gender-inclusive sign.

The dean of the Price faculty of engineering Marcia Friesen speculated that a student may have replaced the sign to protest the delay in converting some of the building’s washrooms to gender-inclusive facilities.

“We have known for a long time that there are a disproportionate number of men’s washrooms to women’s washrooms in the building, meaning there are fewer women’s washrooms than men’s washrooms,” she said.

“It’s been an issue for women in the faculty for decades, frankly.”

Friesen said when she became dean in January 2021, she assured students who reached out to discuss the issue that she had “already reached out to physical plant to explore those opportunities,” including converting some washrooms to gender-inclusive facilities.

“Physical plant had indicated that they could certainly see the perspective and at the same time they have a limited budget and a priority queue for renovations, and that a change of use would require a code review as well,” Friesen said.

“Although on the surface it seems like an easy fix, when you get into the details it is a bit of a longer process.”

Alex Rana, UMSU’s 2SLGBTQIA+ community representative, pointed out that the arts building has had gender-inclusive washrooms since his first year.

“I feel like they definitely should have been installing those earlier instead of waiting until now,” he said.

“They said that they’ve been working for over a year on it, but there’s been students who have needed it for more than the past year, so certainly that could have been done earlier and then this wouldn’t be an issue right now.”

Friesen sent an email to students in response to the incident, explaining the delay in providing gender-inclusive washrooms and asking the student who changed the sign to come forward to discuss their concerns.

“Changing signs without warning does not enhance safety, neither for this washroom’s ‘traditional’ users nor ‘new’ users — both of whom may not be expecting to find a new set of washroom users in the space,” Friesen’s email said.

Friesen said that when people talk about safety in gender-inclusive washrooms, they often think of “the safety of female-identifying persons who may feel threatened,” or of trans people encountering transphobic people in the washroom.

“But another safety issue is comfort for everyone involved, so that everybody going into a space shouldn’t be surprised as to what they might encounter, in any space.”

Rana said the terms used in Friesen’s email were not appropriate.

“Referring to people as ‘traditional’ versus ‘new’ is that the sign for the men’s bathroom has been switched,” Rana said.

“It’s definitely an issue in engineering for sure, but the lack of [gender-inclsuive washrooms] throughout campus is also a big issue.”

/ staff Ebunoluwa Akinbo photo /

not respectful or appropriate and there’s definitely better ways that could have been said,” he said.

Numerous buildings on campus do not have any gender-inclusive washrooms.

“The lack of women’s bathrooms or gender-inclusive bathrooms has been causing students to feel unsafe for how many years before this, right? So, they’re kind of only drawing attention to the safety now news@themanitoban.com

MAPSS proposes free international student health care

Rally at Manitoba legislature taking place Sept. 28

Matthew Merkel, staff

The Manitoba Alliance of Post-Secondary Students (MAPSS) recently submitted a proposal to the province of Manitoba calling for the reinstatement of free health care for international students.

In 2018, the province cut universal health care for international students in order to save a reported 3.1 million dollars. Nearly a year later, the Manitoba government estimated that international students contributed over 400 million dollars to Manitoba’s GDP.

UMSU vice-president advocacy and MAPSS chair Victoria Romero said that international students are imperative to the University of Manitoba and the province. Romero said it is disappointing to see a group that contributes economically, culturally and intellectually in Manitoba not be valued by the government.

“Since the moment the provincial government revoked international student health care coverage in 2018, this has been something that’s been of utmost priority for MAPSS and for UMSU as well,” she said.

Romero said MAPSS was unsuccessful in its attempts to sit down with the provincial government to work out a costed proposal last year. With a provincial election on the horizon, she thinks now is the perfect time to advocate for the restoration of fully cost-free international student health care.

Romero said that the proposal has been submitted for review by Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Immigration Jon Reyes.

She stated that due to a lack of engagement from the province, MAPSS is hoping to set up a coalition with the provincial NDP and Liberal parties. Romero said that MAPSS plans to present them with the proposal and a petition that she has requested both parties read in the house. She said the reading in the house will enable the number of petition signees, as well as the government’s decision, to become part of legislative record.

On Sept. 28, MAPSS will be holding a rally in support of international student health care at the Manitoba Legislative Building.

“We‘re going to have representation from all of our member schools, which again is UM, the U of W, Assiniboine Community College and Red River College Polytechnic,” Romero said.

“We‘ve been planning it for a couple months, and this is our opportunity to really show the physical manifestation of the support and how many people this is impacting, so hopefully we send a good message.”

UMSU international community representative Kunal Rajpal will also be attending the rally.

Rajpal said that it is unfair to charge international students for health care, as they are still attempting to learn how health care in the province works and are already dealing with the stresses of moving to a foreign country.

He added that he feels inflation, a low minimum wage and the housing crisis have also made Manitoba an unattractive home for prospective international students and immigrants.

“Health care is a human right,” he said.

staff Dallin Chicoine / / graphic

“We‘re not asking for anything new. Before 2018 we had public health care, we had health cards and we were treated like a domestic student[s].”

In the meantime, Rajpal encourages international students to make sure they fully understand their insurance plans. He pointed to resources on the U of M and the Manitoba International Student Health Plan website.

According to Rajpal, the next best thing students can do is continue to advocate for free international student health care.

“I see it as something that is rightfully ours,” he said.

“The government was giving us healthcare in 2018 with less than $3.1 million, and to save that they took it away.

“In my opinion, that was a wrong financial decision, because we’re bringing in way more than compared to what they have to spend.”