31 January 2024 by The Manitoban

Community marches for justice for Afolabi Stephen Opaso

Federal government to cap international student permits

Alicia Rose, staff

Colton McKillop, staff

he words “No justice, no peace,” echoed at Union Station Saturday afternoon as more than one hundred people gathered to protest the killing of Afolabi Stephen Opaso, a 19-year-old Nigerian international student at the U of M who was fatally shot by police on Dec. 31, 2023. The march was organized by the U of M Nigerian students’ association, the Black students’ community (BSC) at the University of Manitoba and the Nigerian association of Manitoba, to raise awareness about Opaso’s death and the ongoing investigation into his killing. During her speech, Titi Tijani, president of African communities of Manitoba, demanded that police avoid using “lethal force” in such situations, “so that people in our community, especially young people, can feel safe,” she said. “We are here today, not for long speeches, but to stand in solidarity with the Opaso family, and the families of all victims of fatal police shootings in our community and our province,” said Tijani. Among the organizers for the march, Dola Akintan, vice president student engagement for the BSC, said the march was organized to show support for Opaso and his family.

Cont’d p. 5 / Students

Nursing student reinstated Simon Pensato, staff University of Manitoba nursing student and former senior stick of the U of M Nurs-

News

photo / Matthew Merkel / staff

ing Students’ Association Arij Al Khafagi’s status as a student has been reinstated. Al Khafagi was previously suspended following social media posts she made that were critical of the Israeli government, which U of M administration deemed

Research & 3 Technology

antisemitic. On a post to her Instagram on Monday, Jan. 29, Al Khafagi thanked president of the Canadian Palestinian Association of Manitoba, Ramsey Zeid, and U of M Jewish community members for their support.

6 Comment

In her statement, Khafagi said that she hopes “the University of Manitoba can be a hub of open dialogue and communication, a place where concerns and opinions are openly expressed, and an institution where students are not censored.”

Arts & 12 Culture

The federal government is capping permits for international students for two years as part of an effort to combat “bad actors” in the post-secondary sector, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Marc Miller announced last Monday. Undergraduate study permits will be reduced by 35 per cent from last year, with around 360,000 to be distributed among the provinces and territories according to population, with the most significant decreases planned for provinces with the “most unsustainable growth” in international student population, according to the government. In his announcement, Miller stated that some provinces would see about a 50 per cent reduction in permits. Ottawa will re-evaluate the number of permits available for 2025 at the end of this year. Julie Lafortune, spokesperson for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada stated that, while matching permit allocations “with a province’s per capita share of the population is the prime consideration,” other factors are being discussed with provinces and territories. Provinces and territories will be tasked with deciding how to distribute permits among post-secondary institutions. Wab Kinew said at a press conference in Neepawa last Monday that he is awaiting details from Ottawa, but that the policy could put “upward pressure” on tuition rates in the province.

Cont’d p. 4 / 35 per cent

15 Sports

Barred from UMSU

Aim for accessibility

Draw a card

Get Yiddish with it

Making the save

Student-at-large banned from board meetings

Doctor with disability shares her story

Value in hanging out online and in person

UM profs’ Yiddish film book launches Feb. 7

Bisons goalies block pucks for days

January 31, 2024

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Historic agreement to protect Manitoba watershed Indigenous communities in northern Manitoba protect Seal River Watershed

Memorandum of Understanding was signed between four Indigenous nations, the Manitoba government and the Government of Canada to protect the Seal River Watershed. The Seal River Watershed is comprised of 50,000 square kilometres of biodiverse land in northern Manitoba, and makes up eight per cent of the province, according to the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society. The memorandum will allow a feasability assessment to analyze the probability of the initiative’s success. The assessment will determine if the Seal River Watershed is eligible for more permanent protection. Jina Cook is a youth land guardian for the Seal River Watershed Alliance from Barren Lands First Nation. She finds that the efforts being made are “community-driven,” and that the alliance of communities is “very inspiring.”

“I’m very excited to see more happening,” Cook said. Stephanie Thorassie, executive director of Seal River Watershed Alliance (SRWA), said, “no matter what is happening in the world, we want to be able to say that this space is set aside for us to be able to be authentically ourselves.” The SRWA is made up of four nations for which the watershed is ancestral territory: Barren Lands First Nation, O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation, Sayisi Dene First Nation and Northlands Denesuline First Nation. Thorassie, a member of the Sayisi Dene First Nation, said the Seal River Watershed remains “virtually untouched.” Research conducted by the SRWA showed that 99.97 per cent of the watershed remains in “pristine” condition. While the assessment is underway, interim protection was granted, prohibiting activities such as hydro development or extraction of natural resources that lead to

destruction. Thorassie said the assessment will prioritize “Indigenous knowledge, the cultural information, the traditions [and] the languages,” expressing the importance of communities promoting and upholding the inclusion of Indigenous values. Representatives of the four nations involved in the project determined that “the best way to create this protected space and the best way to make this a reality for the people was to ensure we did it as one unit,” said Thorassie. “As one unit we are stronger.” Claire Herbert, Canadian watershed information network co-ordinator, explained that addressing watersheds in their entirety is a more efficient method when looking at issues compared to separating them into artificial government-created districts “Water doesn’t care about borders,” said Herbert. According to Thorassie, SRWA completed an Indigenous knowledge study two

photo provided / Seal River

Michaela de Hoop, staff

years ago that discussed land use with over 300 people from the four communities involved. She explained that study will play “a major part in the feasibility study.” Thorassie explained the role the watershed plays in the climate crisis on a global level. “The watershed is a set of

lungs for our planet that we so desperately need,” she said. To follow the efforts of conservation on the Seal River Watershed Indigenous protected area, you can visit the Seal River Watershed Alliance’s website at www.sealriverwatershed.ca.

Student-at-large suspended from UMSU meetings Motion passes to suspend Victoria Romero from meetings until fall 2024 Michaela de Hoop, staff Student-at-large Victoria Romero has been suspended from attending UMSU board of director meetings for the remainder of the 20232024 academic year. During the Jan. 25 UMSU board of directors (BoD) meeting, board members were presented with motion 0590 that, following amendment, was moved by the executive committee to suspend Romero from meetings until fall 2024. During the Jan. 11 BoD meeting, Romero questioned UMSU president Tracy Karuhogo about the UMSU statement addressing the death of Afolabi Stephen Opaso. In the discussion that followed, Romero characterized the provided mental health resources as inadequate, saying students deserve more timely support “when they want to kill themselves.” Following this, Karuhogo made a request to not make “such triggering statements without a warning,” which was echoed by UMSU chair, Elbethel Masresha. Following Romero’s statements, vice president finance and operations Vaibhav

Varma was unable to give his board report and left the council chambers. During the following recess, Masresha asked Romero to apologize to board members, which they declined to do. Masresha used Robert’s Rules to remove Romero for the remainder of the meeting. In an interview with the Manitoban, Karuhogo said the executive decided to put forward the motion based on board members’ and other students’ feedback. She said the executive committee did research and that it wanted to ensure it brought the facts to the board. Of the 20 BoD members who voted in the secret ballot, 11 voted in favour of the amended motion, seven voted against, and there were two abstentions. In the motion, Romero was accused of violating the safe environment policy for alleged harassment toward board members, related to the “insensitive comments” made at the Jan. 11 BoD meeting, which Romero was removed from. At the Jan. 25 meeting, Romero said the terminology

photo / Ebunoluwa Akinbo / staff

was “ambiguous and in a very negative light.” The wording was changed to remove the term “insensitive.” “Saying they were insensitive comments is an opinion. It is not something that has been voted on by the board,” Romero said at the meeting. During debate, Karuhogo requested that two recordings be played — A video posted on Romero’s Instagram and a recording of the comments in question from the Jan.11 meeting. In the Instagram stories, Romero explained the situation from their side, saying that they had been “kicked

out” of the meeting “for discussing student suicide.” “It is incredibly disappointing to see student leadership respond to my comments in this way,” they said later in the video. Now, Romero is ineligible to run in the upcoming UMSU election, as they are not a member in “good standing” with UMSU, which is one of the criteria to be able to run in the election. When asked about their plans to return to UMSU following the suspension, Romero told the Manitoban, “elected or not, next year I will be back in there.”

Romero said they appreciated that board members acknowledged that a one and a half year ban was “outrageous,” however they wished the motion had not gone through at all. As of Jan. 27, Romero intends to appeal the decision of the board. “As disgusted and appalled as I am about this motion, at the very least it is tangible evidence I find of mistreatment,” they said. “It is something I can use as a catalyst for change, hopefully, and hopefully make right what has been done.”

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Shortfalls in menstrual equity at U of M, audit reveals Research group audits washrooms to raise awareness of need for menstrual products

olunteers for the Period Poverty and Equity on Campus and Beyond project at U of M’s Fort Garry and Bannatyne campuses have found significant room for improvement when it comes to to reaching menstrual equity across the institution. The main issues found throughout the audit were gender inequity and a lack of products across both campuses. During their work on this project, Hunter noticed the lack of disposal bins in men’s washrooms, which could cause problems for many. The Menstrual Products Pilot Program initiated by UMSU last year — which provided free menstrual products in 10 washrooms across the U of M — did not provide menstrual products in any men’s washrooms. “Periods are not binary,” said volunteer auditor for the project Mikayla Hunter, who audited the over 100 wash-

rooms on the Bannatyne campus on their own. Hunter was critical of the UMSU pilot project for only including one of the 10 washrooms involved in the project was at Bannatyne campus. Research assistant Hannah Belec highlighted the disparity of available products across the Fort Garry campus. She said after researchers compile data from the audit, it will be made into a report to be released to the public and presented to the university. Research assistant Victoria Romero hopes that the data compiled will show the U of M that a university wide menstrual equity plan is a “necessary initiative.” As part of the project’s initiatives, U of M students and staff had the chance to take part in a button making workshop to highlight the importance of menstrual equity. Project co-ordinator Chloe Vickar said the workshop was a “meaningful opportunity” to be part of a commun-

ity with others to discuss the audit and experiences of menstruation on campus. “Menstruation can be a really isolating experience,” she said. Vickar reiterated the importance of menstrual equity being a gender-inclusive project. “Not all women menstruate, not all people who menstruate are women.” Looking toward alternatives to the U of M’s current situation, Vickar pointed to McGill University, where students are charged a 90 cent fee per semester, which provides menstrual products for students who need them. Vickar suggested that when it comes to expanding menstrual equity at U of M, there’s room for funds to be reallocated. To continue pushing the project forward, Romero would like to see collaboration with UMSU, similarly to the initial project launched last year. Romero, who was the UMSU vice president advo-

photo / Matthew Merkel / staff

Kyra Campbell, staff

cacy at the time of the program’s launch, worries that many at the university are unaware of the project. Romero hopes that the

compiled data will also help UMSU advocate for menstrual equity on campus after the report is complete.

Cont’d from front page

“The Manitoba government is in early-stage discussions with the federal government and is seeking clarity on Manitoba-specific allocations,” Orinthia Babb, a spokesperson for Minister of Advanced Education and Training Renée Cable, said in an email to the Manitoban. Lafortune said the department “can’t comment on the finances of educational institutions,” but stated it is “working with the provinces to ensure the best outcomes.” She said the cap is necessary as the “growth in the number of temporary residents in Canada has become unsustainable,” but Ivan Nunez Gamez, a U of M international student from Honduras and co-president of the university’s Racial Equity and Inclusion Alliance, argued that provinces like Manitoba “need those skilled workers.” “Now they’re being forced to reduce the amount of skilled workers they’re going to potentially have, and create very niche and very specific areas, creating greater competition for immigration,” he said. Some Canadians are concerned about the impact international students may have on the housing market.

A September Environics poll found that 44 per cent of the 2,000 polled, Canadians feel there is too much immigration in Canada, up from 27 per cent of those surveyed in 2022, and a Leger poll from November found that 75 per cent of respondents think immigrants are contributing to the housing crisis. Following Miller’s announcement, Housing Minister Sean Fraser told reporters that though constructing new houses is his priority, the cap will reduce “pressure” on regions with a high quantity of international students. Fraser told reporters that he had considered similar measures while he was immigration minister, but held off to give the provinces a chance to regulate the matter themselves. However, some experts say it is not so simple. Professor of economic analysis and policy with the Rotman School of Management William C. Strange has argued that that any population increase causes housing prices to rise. Miller said the cap is intended to address the issue of small private colleges bringing in large numbers of international students and charging high tuition while under-funding campus

resources. Tomiris Kaliyeva, an international student from Kazakhstan and president of the University of Winnipeg Students’ Association, said while she agrees that these schools are a problem, she doesn’t agree that this is the solution. “If it was the solution, then it should have been accompanied by other policies, once again, to protect international students from financial burdens, from xenophobia and racism, that we will definitely see right now,” she said. Lafortune said that international students “are not responsible for the shortage of housing,” but said the growing number of new students “adds significant demand for housing and other services.” Nunez Gamez said his “main concern” with the government’s decision to cap international students was the “potential rise in xenophobia” it could cause. “I think we already live in a very divided country, and a lot of it is being weighed on immigrants,” Nunez Gamez said. The post-graduate work program will also see changes, with international students no longer eligible if they are enrolled in a program that uses a curriculum licensing

photo provided / Tomiris Kaliyeva

photo / Ebunoluwa Akinbo / staff

35 per cent reduction to address housing crisis, combat ‘bad actors’ in private colleges

arrangement, in which a private college is permitted to teach the curriculum of a public school. Those completing graduate programs such as a master’s will be eligible for a three year work permit in the near future. Nunez Gamez said that those pursuing undergraduate degrees should not be considered any less valuable. “In fact, we need to understand that an undergraduate degree opens the door to get a master’s, opens the door to get a doctoral degree,” he said. Work permits will also be open to international master’s and doctoral students’ spouses, but not to the spouses of undergraduate and

college programs. Lindsay Larios, an assistant professor of social work at U of M specializing in citizenship and immigration in Canada and its intersections with family politics, worries that the limit on work permits for spouses would “lead to a lot of family separation.” Larios argued the federal government is limiting the number of permits “because that’s a jurisdiction that they do have control over.” “It’s something that they can act on without having to go through provinces or work with provinces,” she said.

January 31, 2024 news@themanitoban.com

News

Students, community gather to march to protest killing of UM student <

Cont’d from front page know the group is “trying [their] best.” She hopes that after the march, people will be aware that Black people in Canada also face disproportionate police violence, not just in the United States, and that “this is a struggle that we have to deal with.” Although the community struggles, it is not going to keep quiet or stop bringing awareness to these issues. “We’re human beings as well, we came here for a better life,” said Obasa. “We came here because we felt like we have something to contribute to society and that this society would embrace us and love us as a human being as well.” “Seeing that this has happened, I guess we were wrong.” Obasa said she hoped students at U of M who felt unsafe knew that BSC would be there for them, “no matter what happens.” “We’re not backing down,” she said. “We’re not stopping anytime soon, we’re not going quiet anytime soon,” said Akintan.

photos / Matthew Merkel / staff

“As executives, we did not think that we would be planning a candle light [vigil], we did not think that we would be marching to the police, demanding justice,” Akintan said. Akintan said since Afolabi’s death, students have been speaking out about how they felt. “It’s really taken a toll on everybody, but it’s going to be a slow and gradual process for everyone to bounce right back,” she said. Adeola Obasa, co-vice president advocacy for the BSC, said she thinks that the U of M “could have done better” at responding to the situation and given more support to the BSC as they worked to respond as well. “They’re a team as well, and they have their hands stuck as well, just as we did,” she said. Obasa said Opaso’s killing made her feel “helpless,” since there was not much she and the other student organizations could do. “We’ve tried our best to just keep students in the loop,” she said, adding that the BSC executive wants students to

Research & Technology

Vol. 110, No. 20 research@themanitoban.com

Tackling compostable plastic recycling challenges Prairie iGEM’s innovation in compostable plastic breakdown Elah Ajene, staff

of M interdisciplinary undergraduate student group Prairie iGEM is aiming to solve recycling practices and problems with polylactic acid (PLA) plastic in Manitoba through their project, PLAnet Zero. As a student-led group, Prairie iGEM focuses on synthetic biology projects — redesigning organisms to gain new abilities — that address real-world issues. The group embarked on its first fullyear project in 2022, centring around the theme of synthetic biology and its application to solve environmental challenges. Last November, Prairie iGEM secured a silver medal at the iGEM 2023 Grand Jamboree, showcasing their PLAnet Zero project. The team plans to continue the project into the 2024 iGEM cycle, motivated by the potential to make a lasting difference.

Members of Prairie iGEM, Oleksandra Havruk, Karthika Babu and Camille Prefontaine, all from the faculty of science, shared their insights into their ongoing project and its future trajectory. With prairie iGEM’s current endeavour, the PLAnet Zero project, the group aims to address the inefficiencies associated with the recycling of compostable PLA in Manitoba. PLA is a bioplastic made from renewable and organic materials such as cassava and sugar cane. While PLA is biodegradable, its practical use has been limited to industrial setups due to the requirement for consistently high temperatures during composting. Given Manitoba’s cold winters, traditional bioreactors (vessels that break down raw materials using microorganisms under controlled conditions) struggle to maintain the required temperature for PLA

breakdown, causing environmental and operational issues. The team’s solution involves creating a bacterium native to the compost environment that efficiently breaks down PLA at lower temperatures, preventing machinery damage and process interruptions during the winter months. The research team divided their work into two main theoretical approaches. First, they targeted five enzymes, enhancing their efficiency by modifying their composition to improve PLA degradation at lower temperatures. The second approach involved anchoring enzymes on the surface of a model organism, E. coli bacteria, optimizing contact with PLA for improved productivity. “That would provide more contact with the PLA for the bacteria so that bacteria could directly use it as the energy

source,” said Havruk. The PLAnet Zero project goes beyond the scientific aspect, involving an industry team for fundraising and significant considerations for human practices. Aside from inefficient PLA degradation, the team identified a need for better recycling habits in the community. Babu highlighted a lack of awareness regarding the proper disposal of PLA plastic, adding that PLA should be directed to composting bins for environmentally responsible disposal rather than recycling bins. As the project continues, Prairie iGEM aims to implement improvements by conducting surveys, raising awareness and collaborating with composting facilities. “There’s all these things we wanted to do that we didn’t end up being able to do,” Babu said, regarding the team’s plans for 2024. “There’s a lot

more potential for this project.” Additionally, the team values community support — observing a shift from the previous year with increased engagement and backing from local businesses and beyond the U of M campus. Prefontaine emphasized continued collaboration with the community to ensure the project’s success. Members of Prairie iGEM emphasized the interdisciplinary nature of their group, welcoming students from various faculties to contribute. “There’s so many aspects to Prairie iGEM that has nothing to do with actually being in a lab,” Babu said, emphasizing that Prairie iGEM offers numerous avenues for involvement, irrespective of one’s academic background. “We want to make sure that people know that there’s so many ways to get involved.”

Doctor with disability advocates for more accessible future U of M seminar explores anti-ableism and the journey to inclusivity Rhea Bhalla, staff

mobility, she would spend five hours each day driving to a physiotherapy service for several months. Those around her congratulated her on her effort. “It just struck me after a while, who am I doing this for? Because I was becoming quite comfortable as a wheelchair user,” said Spence Green. “I could wheel around now quite happily. I felt quite comfortable in myself. But this felt strange. This felt aberrant.” Considering society’s views on disability, she realized that people with disabilities are often portrayed in British media as falling into a few limited tropes. People with disabilities are stereotyped as needing charity, being ridiculed or being exceptionally inspirational. Yet, for Spence Green, none of these tropes seemed to fit. “I started to have to reckon with a lot of internalized ableism that I had,” she said. “That was difficult to confront, but I think absolutely necessary.” Spence Green made several recommendations on working towards a more inclusive, accessible community. She highlighted the importance of recognizing one’s own biases and lack of knowledge. She loves hearing colleagues communicate when they

don’t know how to accommodate her and invite her to teach them or share her knowledge. “That’s exactly what I want to hear,” Spence Green said. “When they’re eager to learn and they’re not assuming.” Spence Green added that colleagues often assume she is unable to maneuver doors, only to find that while she is comfortable with doors, she may find other aspects of the physical environment challenging to navigate. She finds it helpful “when [she is] allowed to lead the conversations about access.” She also emphasized the importance of language. Much of the language surrounding people with disabilities is passive. People often use terms like “wheelchair-bound” or “in a wheelchair” to describe her, rather than more active language. “Language affects attitudes and attitudes affect behaviour,” she said. “The way we describe patients and colleagues is how we treat them.” She brought up the prevalence of inappropriate terms used in the medical environment, questioning how anyone will realize there are better words to use if the medical systems themselves continue to use terms like wheelchair-bound.

“I find, as a patient as well, if a doctor uses the word wheelchair-bound, immediately there’s a wall put up between us,” she said. “I think you don’t see this as a tool for me […] it’s a comorbidity or is something that you are confined to, and it’s completely negating the fact that this is my independence, actually. This is my autonomy, this is how I move, this is how I work, this is how I do everything.” The medical system in Britain, said Spence Green, tends to pathologize disability. The attitude that disability is something that must be fixed affects the treatment of people with disabilities. Mobility devices like the ones she uses are seen as a “failure.” “I’m really starting to think about the fact that a lot of people don’t want to be cured,” she stated. “I don’t. Lots of people don’t need to be fixed, they need adaptations, and that will be what empowers them.” Spence Green emphasized the need for neutrality when thinking about disability. She reiterated her desire to be considered neither a tragedy nor an inspiration, but simply a person. She highlighted the importance of representation, noting that 30 years prior to

her, a student with a spinal cord injury attended her university. “I think that’s why representation is so important,” she said, “because [university staff] did know that, and they thought ‘well, if someone has done it in the past, we will be able to do it again.’ And so maybe if they hadn’t had that, maybe it would’ve been harder to imagine it.” “Ultimately we just need to imagine more accessible futures.”

photo / Teegan Gillich / staff

race Spence Green endured a T4 spinal cord injury in 2018 when she was paralyzed by a falling man while studying medicine in London. Now a physician, she shared her story and spoke about the need for inclusivity and anti-ableism in the U of M’s “Listen Up Series: Empowering Medicine; Unleashing the Potential of Disabled Physicians in Shaping Healthcare Perspectives” event. “It was a real shock to the system,” Spence Green said. “Suddenly I was waking up at 6 a.m. every day for wheelchair skills classes, learning all the new equipment and medication that I needed […] It struck me, after my injury, that I really didn’t know what it meant to be disabled.” Spence Green explained that she felt pushed to follow a three-part “classic narrative” surrounding disabled people. The first part was that, as a young wheelchair user, she must be involved with sports, becoming a Paralympic athlete. The second was that she must take on an immense physical feat, such as climbing a mountain. The third and main component, Spence Green said, was that she must learn to walk again. Working to regain her

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Political discourse is deafening and talk is cheap Our need for hot takes is less important than real action Colton McKillop, staff

graphic / Teegan Gillich / staff

rom my first introduction to political satire as a child in Mad Magazine and This Hour has 22 Minutes, political and social commentary have always been among my main interests. I steer conversation toward politics — often to the dismay of whatever poor soul I’m talking to — and I am no stranger to a good rant on social media. Recently, however, I’ve been feeling burnt out and disinterested. Friends try to engage me in discussion on the latest political news and I don’t have much left to say. I’m disappointed with the current state of politics. It has been difficult for a leftie like me to watch so many leftwing causes rise up, brimming with hope, and then crash and burn over the years. Tom Mulcair’s New Democratic Party snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in the 2015 federal election, followed by the uninspiring Trudeau 2.0 years. Then there was the spectacular collapse of U.S. senator Bernie Sanders’s 2020 campaign to earn the presidential nomination for the Democratic party amid the sudden onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. We’ve got Wab Kinew here at home, but he has come

into power on the heels of Brian Pallister’s and Heather Stefanson’s scorched-earth approach to provincial budgeting, and there’s lots of rebuilding to do. For the most part, the left’s fortunes over the past decade have been “close, but no cigar.” All the while, dire issues like climate change and income inequality continue to worsen, with governments not doing enough to address them. On a more fundamental level, though, I am disillusioned with the discourse about politics. Social media makes it easier than ever to share our opinions. Everyone is raising awareness and we’re drowning in hot takes at the expense of real political engagement. Consider social media callouts. I want to avoid the typical “cancel culture run amok” narrative here, so let’s start by saying many, if not most, of these call-outs are perfectly understandable. People don’t get to just avoid criticism for bigotry and intolerance under the flimsy guise of “free speech.” No one is undermining free speech by posting online. The energy people put into online disputes would be

more useful elsewhere. Monitoring the opinions of individuals rather than tackling the underlying systemic issues that create them seems inefficient. I don’t have anything against social media call-outs, they’re just not actually politics. It’s not only the influence of social media, however. The annoying free speech absolutists who hysterically think Twitter hordes — I refuse to acknowledge the existence of X — are the harbingers of George Orwell’s dystopia in 1984 are the same people who overemphasize the importance of ideas. There is a tendency among this crowd to glorify the supposed power of ideas and to hold up freedom of speech as the highest ideal, more sacred and important than any other right, and the basis for all other rights. This liberal obsession with the importance of the discourse, or so-called “marketplace of ideas,” is based on a belief in the fundamental rationality of human beings and a vision of politics as a civilized parlour game of debate and compromise, rather than a power struggle with real human costs. Freedom of speech is a fundamental right, but it is not the primary influence on politi-

cal change. Action is. I am not saying people shouldn’t talk about politics. When it comes to political discussion versus actual political work and activism, many people can walk and chew gum. It’s just important to know the difference between the two and recognize that talk is cheap. I am not exempt from this criticism. I’ve had to come to grips with the fact that my opinions about politics have next to no impact, which is why I don’t talk about politics quite as obsessively anymore. There are other things in life worth talking about. This has all been very abstract, so let’s provide a concrete example. For years, people have fretted about the number of people that are skeptical of climate change. Those numbers aren’t as high as they sometimes seem, however. A 2023 Leger poll showed that 72 per cent of Canadians are worried about climate change. Yet in 2020, the Canadian government was still providing at least $4.8 billion in fossil fuel subsidies every year. Public opinion does not necessarily translate to public policy. The difference between a reaction and an action is clear when it comes to climate change, though. An active example is the pipeline block-

ades of the Wet’suwet’en. According to a 2021 report from the Indigenous Environmental Network, direct action from the First Nation’s chiefs and supporters is working to block the emission of 125 million tons of greenhouse gases. The report found that Indigenous people’s resistance to a variety of North American fossil fuel projects over the previous 10 years had prevented or delayed nearly 1.6 billion tons — or 24 per cent — of annual emissions in Canada and the U.S. Is this enough to stem the tide of climate change? No, but 24 per cent of emissions in two major countries is not nothing. We don’t need to raise awareness at this point. So many people are painfully aware of the problems facing us. Let the people who disagree complain while small groups of dedicated people put in the work to create change through direct action. You don’t always have to convince everyone to make an impact. While the right course of action might not be obvious, we can be confident that actually trying something concrete will accomplish a lot more than sitting around talking about it.

Comment

January 31, 2024 comment@themanitoban.com

Luxury and its joys inaccessible for the common person High cost of indulgences highlight social divides Braden Bristow, staff

graphic / Dallin Chicoine / staff

have a confession to make, my wonderful readers. I am not a hustler and I do not stack paper to the ceiling. I live a relatively modest lifestyle. The most luxurious joys in my life are my PlayStation 5 and freshly ground coffee. I’m not bragging or even complaining, I want to put in perspective what a luxury is to the average person. For some additional context, as of Statistics Canada’s most recent data, which unfortunately stops at 2021, 10.1 per cent of Canadians experience unmet housing needs and 12.9 per cent experience food insecurity. If roughly 13 per cent of all Canadians cannot even afford food, then the fact that I can afford fresh coffee daily is a luxury in itself. However, beyond other indulgences, like playing Baldur’s Gate 3 for absurd periods of time and having overpriced cups of joe, there is an ever-pricier world of luxury. On New Year’s Eve, I was treated by a very generous host to a dinner at 529 Wellington. My meal, which consisted of a six-ounce beef tenderloin and two prosciutto-wrapped scallops, cost $82 before taxes and gratuity. Although the meal was fantastic and perfectly cooked, the price was, frankly, absurd. If the average minimum wage worker in Manitoba desired such a decadent meal with the cost of tax included, they would have to work a minimum of six hours to afford it. Keep in mind that this is without any appetizers, desserts, drinks or additional guests. 529 Wellington’s exorbitant costs stop thou- lating, socially speaking, is a peoples in Canada. Racialized men on average earn sands of people in this fair city privilege I am aware of. from enjoying a luxury meal However, when I say I felt around $12,000 less than their there. racially isolated in 529 Wel- non-racialized counterparts. It is absurd that the typ- lington, I mean it. Not a sin- This earnings gap, albeit ical person cannot reason- gle patron in 529 Wellington smaller, exists even for those ably enjoy such a fine pleas- looked anything but white. who have earned a bachelor’s ure without throwing away From what I perceived, a degree with the gap hovering almost a day’s wage. Luxury majority of the patrons were at $2,500. There is should be used also a real to improve the The typical person cannot reasonably enjoy gender pay gap quality of life racialof the average such a fine pleasure without throwing away with ized women. person. While almost a day’s wage Racialized some strugwomen on gle to make average earn roughly $11,000 ends meet, others sit in the white in appearance. lap of luxury, eating steaks While my experience is per- less than racialized men that would cost some people a sonal to me, there is data to and almost $5,000 less than day’s wage. support what I felt. A compila- non-racialized women. Data from a more recent There are also uncomfort- tion of data from the Canadian able social, gender and racial Centre for Policy Alterna- 2022 survey provides addiincome informadynamics at play in an estab- tives based on the 2016 Can- tional regarding specificlishment such as 529 Welling- adian census revealed distinct tion ton. While I am a Métis per- income differences amongst ally Indigenous Canadians. White earners on average son, I can pass for white in a racial groups. lot of situations. Passing for There is a distinct earn- make almost $10,000 more white, while occasionally iso- ings gap amongst racialized yearly than their Indigenous

counterparts. Additionally, similar to racialized women, Indigenous women also on average earn close to $12,000 less than their male counterparts. Like racialized women in general, Indigenous women are less likely to be able to afford luxury on the basis of their race and gender. I cannot say for sure that every person in restaurant was white when I went to dinner on New Year’s Eve. What I can say is for certain is that these statistics indicate that racialized and Indigenous people would be less likely to be able to afford to eat at a location like 529 Wellington. And then there is also the social aspect to consider. While there is no official dress code, I couldn’t help but notice every patron was either wearing a fine dress, suit, blouse or other classy attire.

For those who are unaware of how to formally dress or cannot afford to, this can be daunting. As someone who enjoys men’s formal wear, if I wanted to afford a cheap suit to fit in during fine dining, I could expect to pay around $200. Luxury, for many people, is inaccessible. This inaccessibility is correlated with where you rest on spectrums of racial identity, gender identity and, most obviously, income. Race, gender and income status shouldn’t bar someone from enjoying pleasures closed off to only the wealthy, or even the average earner. I don’t care if a business like 529 Wellington’s profit margins shrink, I think more people should be able to enjoy their food. Let the people eat cake, I say.

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Validating both online and in-person spaces Connections are important, why judge? Hanako Teranishi, staff what helped me get through year, I rarely play video games ll throughout middle COVID-19. Going through a during the semester or in my school and high school, massive transition without leisure time. Some might my friends and I would recon- being able to be around or see argue that this is part of grownect with each other after other people is incredibly dif- ing up, but I disagree. It is not school online. We would log ficult. I graduated high school so much that I do not enjoy into Skype, join a group call in 2020, during the COVID-19 them anymore, but more so and play video games well pandemic and also completed that I lack the time. And since through the night and into the my first two years of univer- emerging from COVID-19 isosity through distance learn- lation, I crave face-to-face morning. Perhaps it might seem ing. Finishing high school and connections. I have found myself more strange that we would moving to an entirely differrarely meet in person out- ent space while adhering to drawn to playing board gamside of school and that all of self-isolation rules was lonely ing or card games with friends our communications with and felt incredibly anti-cli- than to video games. Board games demand the each other were facilitated mactic. However, I was not physicality of a shared space through online platforms entirely alone. While the whole world and intimacy. The closeness such as Skype and Discord. But it worked for us. We were changed, the online space we of sitting around a table or the happy playing video games shared was kept the same, one floor while people are chatsuch as Don’t Starve Together, certain element of an uncer- ting, laughing or in a fierce debate about Counter Strike: whether the Global OffenShared physical space has become draw two cards sive, Raincompound in bow 6 Seige — an incredibly important part Uno, is such a with shame — of the connections I have fulfilling feelLeague of Leging. ends and many Shared physical space has more. We were also more tain period of time. Through than happy chatting online online gaming, I was able to become an incredibly importmaintain the same relation- ant part of the connections I together. I also cannot help but feel ship I had with my friends have. While I have found this as though this online foun- and, again, it worked for us. Now that I am in my fourth change within myself, it dation of my friendships was

graphic / Dallin Chicoine / staff

doesn’t mean that online spaces are insignificant or invalid meeting places. Our relationships and needs evolve as we grow up. For the longest time, it was my main place of connection during various difficult times. There is a rising demand for connection and a lack of

third spaces — or community places where people meet and mingle. In light of this, why should we dictate which type of meeting place is better than the other? Everyone has different needs, and if their needs are met, then should not that be enough?

Robust transportation leads to justice for all Why transportation equity is needed for climate justice Adam Johnston, volunteer staff Transportation equity and climate justice go hand and hand. A society wanting to solve the climate crisis must address both critical concerns to achieve climate action. In her book Inclusive Transportation, Veronica O. Davis discusses learning the connection between communities and transportation. Davis’s eloquent book links the impacts of how subpar transportation planning favouring automobiles over citizens negatively impacts communities of colour and low-income neighbourhoods economically, socially and environmentally. Davis stresses the importance of redefining what equity is, including capacity building and building communities where it’s affordable and safe for residents to bike and walk, and use public transportation to destinations. In an interview on a November edition of my UMFM show “Not Necessarily The Automobile,” Davis said transportation equity plays an important role in accessing necessities like health care. Meanwhile, Elizabeth Cripps, in her book What Cli-

mate Justice Means and Why We Should Care, says climate change has a harder impact on developing countries, people of colour and lower-income communities than wealthier countries and neighbourhoods. CBC News reported that developing countries will need $215 billion to $387 billion annually until 2030 to help adapt to climate change. A warming planet in cities will impact racialized people, women and lower-income communities. Elderly people are also disproportionately affected, especially if they live in older neighbourhoods facing higher concerns of lack of energy-efficient housing and limited cooling stations during extreme weather events. As Cripps writes, “Climate harm is about lack of privilege. It hurts those already disadvantaged worst of all.” Climate justice is a transportation issue. Underprivileged areas are most affected by the need to to find active transportation or safe, reasonably priced and frequent public transit service to meet their needs. In Winnipeg, low-income people, people with disabilities and women are more

likely to take public transit, walk or cycle to their destination than drive a car. Climate justice is a transportation issue as climate change will cause the worst headaches for those whose footprint was the smallest, thanks to extreme heat waves and torrential rainfall impacting public transit service and the local active transportation network. So, how can we work towards an inclusive transportation system that strives for climate justice? We can strive for improved community engagement on transportation projects. Davis told me in our talk on “Not Necessarily The Automobile” that community stakeholder meetings need to be as accessible as possible, going into communities to ensure diverse community views are shared. Supporting more diverse voices in local groups is also crucial. Jody Wilson-Raybould said in True Reconciliation that reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples should go beyond words and take action. Encouraging local active and public transportation advocacy groups to reach out

graphic / Teegan Gillich / staff

to various immigrant and Indigenous groups and supporting BIPOC communities is a start to ensuring diverse voices are heard in Winnipeg public and active transportation advocacy. At the same time, trust, leadership and new alliances are forming between environmentalists and groups most impacted by climate change. Cripps argues individualism is not the best way to address climate change. “Climate change is a collective problem; it needs a collective solution. Anything else is inefficient, unfair, and ineffective,” she said. Instead, Cripps suggests collective action ranging from fossil fuel divestments to pensions, nonviolent protests and supporting and voting for can-

didates who support addressing climate action. From a Winnipeg perspective, collective action could mean deepening coalition building to support diverse candidates in all levels of elections who will support equitable public transit services while addressing mature neighbourhoods that are not left behind when building our active transportation network. Supporting transportation equity means climate justice. Without either, there are no just transportation systems or climate action. Adam Johnston hosts “Not Necessarily The Automobile” Thursdays at 11:30 a.m. on UMFM 101.5. He can be reached at notnecessarilytheautomobile@gmail.com.

January 31, 2024 comment@themanitoban.com

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Zionism, Hindutva and the fascist brotherhood Divided by culture, united by hatred Lakshmisree Shaji, staff

graphic / Teegan Gillich / staff

see similarities between Zionism and Hindutva — an extremist Hindu-supremacist ideology which promotes creating a single Hindu identity. In short, Hindutva advocates strive for a Hindu ethnostate. I’ve seen discussions about the similarity of the two ideologies before. But as I’m seeing booming popularity for Zionism and Hindutva in diaspora communities, I want to think about them more deeply. I vaguely knew about the Global North’s perception of India before moving from there to Winnipeg. While my interactions with folks at the university and my previous part-time job do not represent the opinions of the entire Global North, it’s concerning that so many people assume that I’m Hindu and I speak Hindi. India is home to diverse religious, linguistic and ethnic groups. There are 23 official languages in India, and Hindi is only one among them, alongside my mother tongue Malayalam which is spoken by over 34 million people. While many people in India are and the imperialist history of hya is the birthplace of Lord Hindu, Pew Research Center the Global North have played Rama. The land dispute between Hindus and Muslims estimated in 2021 that there a part in these perceptions. What aids this misconcep- is rooted in the Hindu belief are over 172 million Muslims tion are the acts of the ruling that the mosque stood in the in the country as well. The assumptions people Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) birthplace of Lord Rama. This make about my identity pri- that align with the interests of land dispute over the mosque began during colonization, marily are a result of years upper-caste Indians. The hyper-nationalist and and the divide between the of representation of certain perception communities abetted the Brittypes of brown folks in Holly- hyper-religious that people associate with ish Empire’s divide-and-conwood and Bollywood movies. While popular culture plays the entirety of India became quer rule. It’s impossible to an important role in bridging a prevalent part of Indian cul- fully recount the massacres, the gaps between cultures, I tural identity after the BJP violence and injustices that take issue with universaliz- was sworn into power under happened over these years. 32 years later, on Jan. 22 ing Northern Indian culture the leadership of Prime Minis2024, a Ram to all of India. was Bollywood I see so many parallels between the spread temple inaugurated movies and of Hindutva and Zionism where the their musicals mosque once do not define India, just like how poverty ter Narendra Modi in 2014. stood. The consecration of the Hindu-nationalist temple is the result of years porno Slumdog Millionaire Modi’s doesn’t. India is not a mono- regime has been committed to of Hindu nationalist extremIslamophobia ever since. ism spread onto every Indilith. Religious conflicts between an’s life. In simple terms, I was taken I see so many parallels aback by how North Indian the Hindu and Muslim popand upper-caste Hindu-cen- ulations of the country pre- between the spread of Hindate India’s independence dutva and Zionism. tric these perceptions were. The partition of India Castes decide people’s from the British, but the parsocial class. The upper castes tition of India in 1947 led to resembled the “two-state soluare close to the temples and a Muslim majority in Paki- tion” proposed by the British other powerful social struc- stan and a Hindu majority in that would have divided the tures, so the further you are India, which led to the deaths country into Palestine for the from these structures, the of between 500,000 and 2 mil- Palestinian people and Israel for the Jewish people. In both more you will face discrimi- lion people. This religious tension only cases, the British intruded. nation. Some lower-caste HinGranted, Israel and India dus and Muslims in India face grew in independent India. One of the major histori- are two very different counsocial and residential segregacal events that defined the tries. What they have in comtion. Friendly Winnipeggers I’ve violence of Hindu national- mon is the intrusion of the talked to aren’t solely contrib- ism was the demolition of the British. The British Balfour uting towards the persistent Babri Masjid mosque — orig- Declaration of 1917 advocated perception of Indian cultural inally constructed in the 16th for the creation of a Jewish identity as an upper caste Hin- century — on Dec. 6, 1992 in state in historical Palestine, di-speaking Hindu. Of course, the city of Ayodhya. Accord- which subsequently aided British colonialism in India ing to Hindu belief, Ayod- establishment of the country

in 1948. Israel has faced resistance over claiming a religiously significant piece of land. Much like the dispute over Babri Masjid, Judaism, Christianity and Islam all consider Jerusalem sacred. However, in 1980, Israel passed a law declaring Jerusalem as the country’s capital even though it was an international city under occupation. This law was declared null and void by the United Nations Security Council. I think this would have helped create a Jewish ethnostate by introducing lack of accessibility to Jerusalem for Christian and Muslim believers, creating religious and political exclusion. After almost 90 years of colonial extraction, when the English left India, the country began to find a place in the globe. In 1988, India became one of the first countries to recognize the State of Palestine and remained a strong ally in the Palestinian struggle for many years. However, the influence of extremist Hindutva groups like Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) — the latter of which had the killer of Mahatma Gandhi in its membership — much like how Irgun Zvai Leumi shaped the Israeli state, I think it changed India’s global political image. Writer and activist Amrit Wilson has noted that the rewriting of history is at the

heart of Hindutva. Like Zionists, Hindutva parties are always finding shaky “evidence” to support their claims that ancient Islamic sites are Hindu in origin. Zionists often claim that Palestine was “a land without a people” for instance. People fear-monger that “Hindus are in danger” and make the blatant Islamophobic claim that Hindus only have India, whereas Muslims could move to an Arab country. This is similar to the Zionist claim that Israel is the only safe country for Jewish people. These troublesome historical and ideological parallels between Zionism and Hindutva manifest in a dangerous alliance between both states. According to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, India is the main purchaser of Israeli arms, and Israel is the tenth largest country in arms exportation. The construction of an ethnostate comes through violence, myth making and, clearly, military and political collaboration between the countries. I’m concerned about the safety of my Muslim and lower-caste friends back home and Hindutva thriving in diaspora communities. My cultural identity cannot become synonymous with neoliberal, ethnoreligious, nationalist right-wing Hindutva. These are ideas that we have to fight on all fronts, globally.

Diversions

Vol. 110, No. 20 graphics@themanitoban.com

Diversions

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Arts & Culture

January 31, 2024 arts@themanitoban.com

Exploring first journeys in life through art School of art student Cecilia-Sif Thompson hosts first solo exhibit

n her first solo exhibit, student and artist Cecilia-Sif Thompson displays the art pieces that have shaped her journey at the School of Art. The exhibition, entitled My First Journey, showcases Thompson’s progress from her first year to her time as an honours student. While this is Thompson’s first time displaying her artwork in a solo show, she’s had plenty of experience showcasing her artwork at other events such as Nuit Blanche and First Fridays in the Exchange. She has gained additional experience curating two prior shows as well. Thompson told the Manitoban there was a difference between the two processes for her. “I feel like when I was curating other exhibitions, I kind of had to think about what other people might want to show, not necessarily what I want to show,” she explained. “This time around I could choose myself what I wanted to show, even if it’s not something other people want to see.”

Thompson said she’s very excited for people to come and see her artwork and to showcase her evolution and progress she’s made as an artist. “It’s a way to show how I evolved as an artist,” she said. “I’m very proud of it.” Throughout the exhibition, visitors will find pieces that explore themes like anxiety and mental health, distance, connections and the human body. Of all her pieces on display, Thompson says her favourite is one she created during her time as an honours student called “Unprotected and Exposed.” The piece, which is a self-portrait of Thompson, is tucked into the right hand corner of the room upon entering the space and features beadwork sewn into the canvas to imitate teardrops falling from the eye. For Thompson, the piece represented her “vulnerable side […] expressing that through art.” Thompson has also displayed five years’ worth of art in the gallery, and there are

many eye-catching and captivating pieces. Her first ever piece, and one of the first displayed once you’ve entered the gallery, is a map of Iceland cut out onto wood and mounted atop a purple background entitled, “Home.” The second is called “Family Ties” and features two painted canvases side by side, with space in between them, connected by strings. The exhibition, which runs from Jan. 24 to Jan. 31, had its opening reception on Jan. 25 and welcomed visitors with some light snacks and refreshments, including Icelandic crepes, homemade by Thompson’s mother. In some closing remarks on the gallery display, Thompson said, “I love sharing my art […] I want to share my art with the world and people, so I’m using my resources with the student gallery.”

photos / Ebunoluwa Akinbo / staff

Kelsey Chin, staff

My First Journey is on display in the School of Art Student Gallery, Taché Arts Complex, until Jan. 31.

Finding forgotten lifeworlds through Yiddish Cinema U of M scholars host book launch Feb. 7 as a part of Yiddish Film Festival Jacob Davis, staff Obsession with communication and connection to diasporic cinema are concepts U of M scholars Jonah Corne and Monika Vrečar explore in their newly published monograph, Yiddish Cinema: The Drama of Troubled Communication. Corne and Vrečar are launching their book as a part of the Put a Yid on It! Festival of New Yiddish Culture, which takes place from Feb. 7 to Feb. 11. Corne, an associate professor in the department of English, theatre, film and media, and Vrečar, independent scholar with a PhD in philosophy and theory of visual culture from the University of Primorska currently teaching at the U of M’s school of art, came together in this project to re-examine what is described as the “golden-age” of Yiddish cinema and the thread of a theme that ties them all together: communication. Corne expressed that, while there are many different stories he could tell about the ori-

gins of the project, one that comes to mind involves his upbringing and the films he watched about Jewish culture in his youth. “I grew up going to Jewish school and really the overwhelming majority of exposure to ‘Jewish film’ or ‘films about Jews’ that I had was basically through Holocaust movies.” After discovering Yiddish films, which were made before the Second World War, he began to hunt down more. “They’re really striking, because they’re — in many ways, at least the ones made in Europe — are about the lifeworld that had been decimated in the Holocaust, which was something that you heard less about than the actual decimation,” Corne said. “I think that’s probably one of the origin points that it just felt like, this whole question of Jews and cinema or Jewish cinema, there was kind of an imbalance there,” he said. “And I just wanted to go further into this quite obscure ‘ethnic, diasporic, very minor,

often very independent’ cinema.” The book is described as a conversation of sorts between Yiddish cinema and the ideas of Jewish media theorist Vilém Flusser, who was born in Czechoslovakia and later settled in Brazil after the Nazi occupation of his homeland. Vilém Flusser is a familiar figure in Vrečar’s life. More than a decade ago she had been writing a PhD on Flusser and the Canadian theorist and U of M alumnus Marshall McLuhan. She met Corne and began to learn about “other dimensions of Jewish culture” due to their companionship. By the time Corne had expressed potentially writing the book, the two of them had been watching films together and discussing them. After one particular session, Vrečar was struck by a pattern throughout the films — they all had “an obsession with communication.” “It kind of just happened, that we started to write it together,” Vrečar said. “I decided that when we

had all these conversations, and you know, I had more knowledge on media theory at the time and Jonah obviously had more knowledge on film and just Jewish culture.” For both authors, the project would be an “interesting collaboration,” Vrečar added. The films the book focuses on range from the 1930s to the late 40s, as Yiddish cinema past this point is not exactly scarce, but not what it once was. Both authors believe that this is due to the Yiddish language itself not being as spoken as widely as it was prior to the Holocaust. They explained that the decimation of Jewish diaspora essentially changed Yiddish-speaking communities. Corne expressed that he and Vrečar noticed a resonance with Yiddish cinema and other diasporic films, which he said had “grown exponentially” since the Second World War. He said that Yiddish cinema is a sort of early example of films made by diasporic

directors making films about assimilation, immigration and migration struggles. “All of that is in Yiddish Cinema.” Putting together a book faithfully examining a history as complex as this would be no simple task. Vrečar said that the initial idea itself was “amazing,” but the execution was what was challenging. “These kinds of projects, they’re a lot of hard work and struggle and you know, the fun part is basically figuring things out, “ she said. “When you get the idea and it works, that’s amazing, right? When you’re like ‘oh my God, this works now’ and that feels great.” The book launch for Yiddish Cinema: The Drama of Troubled Communication will be held Feb. 7 at 61 Sherbrook Street at Handsome Daughter and will be free to attend with a reception and presentation alongside drinks and snacks.

Sports

Vol. 110, No. 20 sports@themanitoban.com

Bisons down Trinity Western in two tight affairs Shippam phenomenal as herd moves into sixth and final playoff spot

he University of Manitoba women’s hockey team swept the rug out from under the Trinity Western University (TWU) Spartans’ skates in this past weekend’s CanWest series. In the first game, the Spartans started the first period off very strong, firing many shots at the herd’s net. TWU’s attackers were no match for Bison goalie Emily Shippam, who saved 19 of the 20 shots on net in last Friday’s game. All together, Shippam saved 46 of the 47 shots from this weekend’s series. After getting into some serious penalty trouble, the Spartans managed to kill off a fiveon-three power play, which included a breakaway chance. Eventually, the Bisons opened the scoring with a howitzer of a shot by Samantha Sichkaruk. It stood as the only goal of the first period. The Spartans regained some control over the game halfway through the second period, slotting the puck into

the Bisons’ net and levelling the score at one apiece. Nonetheless, the herd quickly took the reins back, as four minutes out from the end of the second Julia Bird flipped the puck over to Kate Gregoire, who shot a laser which clanked off the crossbar, going bar down to restore the Bisons’ lead. The second frame ended with the Bisons leading 2-1 over the Spartans. The third had little action for the herd. The Spartans had multiple chances on breakaways, but all were stymied by Shippam. The herd closed out the third by retaining its 2-1 lead, defeating the Spartans in the first game of this past weekend’s two-game series. At the end of the first game, Gregoire scored career point number 55 in a Bison jersey, positioning her as the 12th best scorer of all time in Bison program history. Last Saturday’s game was a real boost for the team’s playoff hopes, as it allowed the herd to jump the University

of Regina Cougars for the final playoff spot in the CanWest conference. Shippam was the real hero of Saturday’s game, saving all 27 Trinity Western shots and picking up her second shutout in three games. Very early on in the first period, Norah Collins managed to net the only goal of a somewhat uneventful game. Indeed, Collins scored so early one could nearly still see the Zamboni leaving the ice. Collins managed to score a dirty goal just outside the crease, which brought it home for the herd. Building on the momentum of this early goal, the Bisons continued to play hot in the first and maintained its slim 1-0 lead until the very end of the game, eventually shutting out the Spartans both in this game and from a playoff position. The Spartans did not go quietly, becoming much more desperate in the third. However, despite having multiple chances from in close, they could not get a goal past Ship-

photo / Matthew Merkel / staff

Quinn Mayhew, staff

pam. In a last-ditch effort to beat the Bisons, Trinity Western pulled its goalie, which yielded nothing as Shippam continued to shut out the Spartans. Ultimately, the Bisons finished the game by defeating Trinity Western 1-0, nestling into the sixth and final CanWest playoff spot. As it stands, the herd would

face off against the thirdranked Mount Royal University Cougars in a best two out of three first-round match-up, beginning Feb. 16 and running to Feb. 18. The U of M women’s hockey team will play its next two-game series against the MacEwan University Griffins on Feb. 2 and 3 in Edmonton, Alta.

Bison goalies steal the show against Spartans Hawryluk, Thornton each dazzle, backstop the herd to back-to-back wins The University of Manitoba Bisons men’s hockey team faced off against the Trinity Western University (TWU) Spartans this past weekend in a two-game series, which was a clash of cellar dwellers, as each team is situated well outside of the CanWest playoff picture. Nevertheless, each team played hard, fast and displayed valiant effort, never giving up on any plays and affording fans two extremely entertaining hockey games. The herd entered play against TWU entrenched in a doleful seven-game losing streak, in which the Bisons could only muster an added total of 5 goals. Its last victory was on Nov. 24 — a narrow but thrilling 3-2 overtime win against the University of Alberta Golden Bears. With the Bisons’ offence sputtering, the herd’s goalies needed to perform at their best for it to end its losing streak against the Spartans. And perform is exactly what they did. In the first game, Ross Hawryluk made a remarkable

51 saves on 52 Spartan shots, allowing only one powerplay goal in the second period. Despite this minor blip, he almost single-handedly dragged the herd to a 3-1 victory. The Bisons slotted home a trio of power-play goals — thanks to Dylan Thiessen, Hayden Ostir and Jackson Arpin. The herd rode the momentum from its three first-period power-play goals all the way to the final buzzer. It was saved from defeat numerous times and likely would have lost the game had it not been for the tremendous individual heroics of Hawryluk, as the Spartans’ offensive pressure seemed incessant for significant spells. On the season, Hawryluk boasts a terrific .918 save percentage — fourth best in CanWest — and a respectable 3.18 goals against average. Considering he plays on a team that gives up numerous high-danger scoring chances every game, Hawryluk’s stats shine. In the second game, being a matinee, the Bisons opted to start Kolby Thornton, as Hawryluk no doubt deserved

some much-needed rest. And like his fellow netminder, Thornton played exceptionally. He surrendered one goal in the first and another in the second frame. However, he locked down the net in the third period, allowing his Bisons teammates to capture the lead. Trailing 2-1 early in the third period, Thiessen netted his second power-play goal of the weekend, knotting the game up at two goals apiece. Roughly ten minutes later, the timely Thiessen struck again, firing home a shot past the Trinity Western goaltender to give the herd a 3-2 lead, which it clung to in the dying moments of the game. With its goalie pulled, the TWU Spartans hounded the Bisons in its own end, scourging the team’s bending defence with relentless pressure. Finishing the game with 34 saves on 36 shots, Thornton was mobbed by his teammates after time expired. In what was a stellar weekend for Bison goaltending — combining for 85 saves on 88 shots — this past weekend’s

photo / Matthew Merkel / staff

Joshua Brandt, staff

sweep of the Spartans also marked the first win streak the Bisons’ men’s hockey team has had this season. The herd is now 4-20 on the season, mired in eighth place and eight points out of a playoff position with only four games remaining. As only the top six teams in CanWest qualify for the playoffs, the herd would need to win out and the team in sixth place would need to lose all its games for it to have a chance of making the playoffs. Jonny Hooker currently leads the herd in scoring with 20 points in 24 games. He is trailed by defenseman Chase

Hartje, who has chipped in 15 points from the back end, including 13 assists. After Thiessen’s three-goal outburst this past weekend, he now has four goals and nine points on the season. Manitoba’s leading rookie point scorer is Josh Paulhus, who has three goals and four points. The Bisons men’s hockey team will look to keep its win streak going as it hits the ice again this weekend, Feb. 2 and 3, for a couple of home games against the MacEwan University Griffins.