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New and returning students are invited to different events organized across campus
Virinder Singh, staff
To kick-off the new fall term, the annual UMSU Bison Bash will be occurring on the U of M Fort Garry campus. The festivities will last weeklong from Sept. 9 to 13 and will mark the 3rd annual Bison Bash hosted by UMSU.
Bolu Akindele, UMSU vice-president of student life, said that one on of her portfolio responsibilities is overseeing the fall orientation event — the Bison Bash week.
Akindele described this event as “kind of a tradition all across Canada with student unions — students unions tend to have their own events.” She noted that the university has their own fall orientation event, but mentioned the importance of ensuring that student unions also conduct their own.
“There’s definitely some significance historically, with our fall orientation and Bison Bash and obviously it is just an amazing opportunity for students to have an amazing time, and get to interact with people and be in an amazing
atmosphere,” said Akindele.
“UMSU has continually done this over the past few years.”
She added that this orientation event provides the opportunity for students to learn about UMSU and the services and supports that they provide. Students can also familiarize themselves with places on campus and meet friends by attending.
Students can look forward to the free breakfast from the UMSU’s Degrees Diner at 10 a.m. for the entire week while supplies last.
“We expect to provide lots of food for as many students as possible on the first floor of the University Centre,” said Akindele.
Another event to note is the UMSU Bison Bash Market.
“Local businesses, vendors, university students, entrepreneurs are going to have the opportunity to connect with hundreds of students and faculty, staff […] who can purchase things to support businesses and local businesses here in Winnipeg,” she said.
The market will be taking
place all week from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Multi Purpose Room on the second floor of UMSU University Centre.
Tuesday, Sept. 10 will feature a carnival party from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., also located at the second floor Multi Purpose Room.
Free food and refreshments will be available alongside games such as cornhole, giant “beer” pong, Jenga and Connect 4. DJ Osky and UMFM will be present to provide music, with entertainment consisting of a juggler, mime, magician, stilt walker and an aerial act.
Later that night, karaoke will be happening from 9 p.m. until 1 a.m. on Wednesday at the UMSU’s VW Social Club.
“Students can just unwind and have an amazing time and sing some of their favourite songs,” said Akindele.
The final event of the week will be the UMSU street party located on the third floor of the University Centre. Doors open at 9 p.m. on Friday and the party will continue until 2 a.m. on Saturday.
Tickets are required and a student ID card or proof of enrolment is needed to enter the event. General admission is $15 and last-minute buyers will be charged $17.50. Only those 18 and older are permitted to attend the street party. Live performances by the Dirty Catfish Brass Band and DJ Hunnicutt will occur at VW Social Club. Meanwhile,
IQ’s will
“I encourage everyone to grab their tickets, join us and have an amazing time and get to meet amazing people as well,” said Akindele.
Universal birth control coverage to start in Manitoba
Free birth control for all Manitobans with a prescription starting Oct. 1
Milan Lukes, staff
Prescription birth control will be free for Manitobans starting on Oct. 1, health, seniors and long-term care minister Uzoma Asagwara announced on Aug. 22.
During a press conference at the Manitoba Legislative Building on the date of the announcement, the minister said that “right now, cost is a barrier for many folks accessing birth control.”
“Our government will cover the prescription birth control costs for pills, IUDs, injections — for anyone with a prescription,” said Asagwara. “We are incredibly proud of Manitoba’s public health care because it’s built on the belief that costs should never be a barrier to you receiving the health care that you need,” added the minister. The Manitoba Pharmacare Program will cover the full cost of approximately 60 commonly used birth control methods. This includes pills, hor-
mone injections, intrauterine devices and other methods, according to a news release from the Manitoba government. This does not include the morning-after pill, a form of emergency contraception.
“We are doing the work right now of evaluating the best approach for something like the morning-after pill,” said Asagwara. “Currently, it is available for folks without a prescription, and so we’re taking a good look at how do we best ensure that the morning-after pill is most accessible to Manitobans.”
Dr. Jacqueline Gougeon, a family physician, stated during the press conference that this announcement “further empowers women to make decisions around their educa-
“Our government will cover the prescription birth control costs for pills, IUDs, injections — for anyone with a prescription”
— Uzoma Asagwara, minister of health, seniors and long-term care
tion and careers that are based solely on their own hopes
and dreams and not around unintended pregnancies. This decision represents renewed choice and opportunity for so many of my patients and removes a tremendous barrier to adequate health care and gender equity.”
To Heaven Kaur, UMSU Women’s Centre representative, this announcement is “an important step” that should have been taken a long time ago.
“It’s more accessible –often, people don’t have the money, especially with students” Kaur said, citing that the cost of tuition is already a large expense.
A provincial spokesperson told the Manitoban that the
estimated cost of this program to the province will be $11 million.
Manitobans who are not covered under another provincial or federal plan will be able to obtain free coverage by presenting their prescription and Manitoba health card at a pharmacy.
photo / Nischal Karki / staff
feature a silent headphone disco with DJ CODE-E and DJ C8E. Degrees will have boardgames, mocktails and a $5 food menu. A photo booth will also be on site.
photo / Milan Lukes / staff
U of M sues former law dean for over $600K for fraud
University alleges Black-Branch utilized misappropriated funds to his own benefit
Milan Lukes, staff
The U of M is suing its former law dean Jonathan Black-Branch to recoup funds that were misappropriated during his deanship with the university.
In a statement of claim filed in Manitoba Court of King’s Bench on Aug. 12, the university is seeking damages in the amount of $660,944.60.
The university is being represented by Jeff Hirsch and Miranda Grayson of Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP.
The 33-page lawsuit states that Black-Branch “knowingly pursued a course of fraudulent, reckless, deliberate and high-handed conduct.”
In the recently filed lawsuit, the university claims that Black-Branch has been “unjustly enriched” from the misappropriated funds. It stipulates that he breached his contractual and fiduciary duties which “he attempted to conceal through fraud, deceit, or fraudulent misrepresentation.”
According to the lawsuit, Black-Branch “had access to various university funds, including operating funds, faculty of law endowment funds and the Desautels Fund.”
Black-Branch was appointed as dean of the faculty of law effective July 1, 2016 for a five-year term. He was also appointed as chair and director of the Marcel A. Desautels Centre for Private Enterprise and the Law effective May 1, 2017.
During this time, BlackBranch used $518,722.35 of university funds to pay for professional development programs.
This includes $151,895.26 on programs at Harvard University with transaction dates from Dec. 2017 to July 2018. Other incurred expenses include $176,589.87 toward an IE Brown Executive MBA,
$58,275.96 for an Executive LL.M., $79,482.61 on a Yale Global Executive Leadership Program (YGELP) and $52,478.65 for a Masters in Social Innovation from the Cambridge Judge Business School.
“The defendant fraudulently caused the professional development fees to be paid for his own benefit, in breach of University Policy and the Desautels Agreement, and attempted to conceal the payment of the professional development fees,” stated the lawsuit.
Black-Branch also fraudulently obtained reimbursement for meals and accommodations associated with the professional development programs. This includes $4,435 toward courses taken at Harvard University and $3,662.05 for the YGELP.
Over nearly three years, he expended university funds on 201 meals at the Manitoba Club totaling $21,679.62. In part, he tried to conceal these payments by falsifying the names of people he dined with.
Black-Branch used $17,310.16 of university funds to cover membership fees to the Manitoba Club and the Oxford and Cambridge Club.
The lawsuit also reveals that Black-Branch misappropriated $20,135.42 for personal expenses.
University funds were spent on accommodation expenses during a visiting fellowship at the University of Cambridge, a personal donation to Yale University and telecommunication expenses at his residence in England.
The final claim states that Black-Branch diverted $75,000 to the Foundation of International Society of Law and Nuclear Disarmament (ISLAND) from the law programs and staffing fund — contrary to the fund’s purpose. Black-Branch was cited as the president of the board of trustees and/or a director of ISLAND.
Investigation and dismissal
According to the recent lawsuit, the university’s vice-president (administration), then Lynn Zapshala-Kelln, received a disclosure on or about Feb. 25, 2020 pertaining to Black-Branch’s financial activities as dean and director and chair of the Desautels Centre.
The university’s director of the audit services department, Janice Martin, was appointed to investigate the complaint.
Following an investigation,
it was revealed that BlackBranch “had misappropriated various university funds… [and] that he had done so in a manner designed to conceal the misappropriation and to avoid the control and oversight of others at the university.”
“The university terminated the defendant’s employment on or around July 14, 2020,” reads the lawsuit.
Black-Branch was disbarred in the province earlier this year and fined $36,000 following a verdict by the Discipline Committee of the Law Society of Manitoba.
He was found “guilty of professional misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a lawyer in numerous breaches of his duty of integrity,” reads the Feb. 14 decision.
Evading scrutiny
The university relies on two main financial tools – Concur and EPIC – to cover the costs of supplies, services and expenses, according to the lawsuit.
Concur is the travel and expense tool whereas EPIC, an acronym for electronic and procurement and information centre, is the procurement tool for acquiring goods and services.
Claims submitted through Concur required approval from the claimant’s immediate supervisor, termed the “one over one.” The provost and vice-president (academic) is regarded as the one over one for the dean of the faculty of law.
Conversely, EPIC did not require one over one approval and was approved by the sign-
ing authority. The lawsuit states that the signing authorities in the faculty of law were the dean, two associate deans, the office manager and the financial officer.
“Invoices submitted by the defendant through EPIC, however, could be approved by the defendant or one of his subordinates with signing authority within the faculty of law, and did not attract one over one scrutiny,” reads the lawsuit.
Black-Branch is accused of “submitting, or directing his subordinates to submit, the claims for the misappropriated funds through EPIC, rather than Concur, to avoid one over one scrutiny.”
He is also alleged to have submitted claims to the financial tools with false, misleading and/or incomplete information.
None of the claims have been tested in court.
Changes to financial procedures
Mike Emslie, chief financial officer/comptroller of the university, said that “a directive was sent to all staff in 2020 requiring that professional development, travel or memberships be pre-approved and processed through Concur which enforces a one-overone approval.”
“The university has significantly increased its oversight and analysis of expenditures to identify and investigate potentially problematic transactions which further reduces the risk of similar issues occurring in the future,” said Emslie.
Richard Jochelson, the cur-
rent dean of the faculty of law, said “my own experience is that UM has done its due diligence in getting one over senior management to review dean expenses.”
He added that, “my expenses as a dean, regardless of systems used, including EPIC, do indeed have one over approval. If the expense is hospitality, the purchase of graduation regalia or even a textbook, ultimately it needs to be approved by a one over.”
The U of M administration said that “UM Audit Services developed the Fraud and Financial Irregularly Reporting Policy that came into effect in 2022 to provide the university community with a clear and concise framework to report fraud and financial irregularities. At the same time, UM developed online training to provide guidance and education to the UM community. Expenses of deans are also now audited every quarter.”
The administration also mentioned measures that were already in place to prevent fraud.
“An online tool was put in place in 2012 for people to anonymously report potential fraud. Additional measures include the Safe Disclosure (Whistleblower) Policy, which also complied with federal legislation/requirements.”
After being served the statement of claim, Black-Branch has sixty days to prepare and file a statement of defense, if served outside of Canada and the U.S. His last known address is England according to the lawsuit.
photo / Nischal Karki / staff
Jonathan Black-Branch
Photo provided / UM Today
Churchill Marine Observatory opens for arctic research
World-class research facility to focus on the changing arctic environment
Sylvester Delali Agbado, staff
The U of M Centre for Earth Observation Science has opened the Churchill Marine Observatory (CMO), a world-class research facility near North America’s only arctic deep-water port in Churchill, Manitoba.
This new facility strengthens Canada’s leadership in arctic climate and environmental research. The CMO is one of the few multidisciplinary research units created by the U of M Centre for Earth Observation Science. It focuses on studying the impacts of the rapidly changing arctic environment, particularly on marine transportation, climate change and oil spill response.
Michael Benarroch, president and vice-chancellor of the U of M, said “for many years the University of Manitoba has been building partnerships with Inuit and First Nations communities and organizations throughout the artic to further our collective understanding of the challenges and opportunities climate change will bring our province.” Benarroch stated that “we have been asking how we can ensure our work brings truly positive benefits to northern communities through responsible economic developments and environmental protections.” The CMO will answer many pressing questions about responsible economic development and environmental protection in northern communities.
Leaders from northern Manitoba and the Kivalliq region of Nunavut, alongside the U of M vice-president (research and international), and the U of M president and vice-chancellor, attended the grand opening. Special guests included the Honourable Renée Cable, minister of advanced education and training; His Worship Simionie Sammurtok, mayor of Chesterfield Inlet; and His Worship Mike Spence, mayor of Churchill.
At the grand opening, Dr. Feiyue Wang, associate dean of research and innovation at the Clayton H. Riddell faculty of environment, earth, and resources and lead on CMO project stated that the “UM has long been a global leader in arctic research with a specific focus on climate change and its effects.” Wang continued by saying “at the CMO our research is intensifying around scientific, technological and socio-environmental issues as the arctic opens for better or worse, as never before.”
The CMO was funded by a $45 million investment from the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the provinces of Manitoba and Alberta and other federal and private partners. This funding has provided cutting-edge research infrastructure which includes three core facilities.
The first, the Ocean-Sea Ice Mesocosm, features out-
door pools for controlled oil spill experiments and studies on ice melt interactions. The second is the Environmental Observing System, which consists of advanced monitoring stations along the Hudson Bay shipping channel. The third core facility at the CMO is a 65-foot former fishing vessel, Research Vessel William Kennedy, which offers mod-
ern facilities for arctic science research cruises.
The CMO also honours the legacy of the late Dr. David Barber, an arctic research pioneer. A permanent plaque will be placed in his memory at the CMO. In addition to research, the CMO will engage in community outreach, including the Churchill Barber Science Symposium,
where residents can discuss arctic research with experts. Several research projects which will include international participation will begin at the CMO in November 2024.
photos provided / University of Manitoba
Journeying into school psychology
U of M researcher works to improve the lives of those with autism
Rhea Bhalla, staff
Janine Newton Montgomery’s journey into school psychology began as a kindergarten teacher. When her role teaching students to read led her to cross paths with a school psychologist, she felt drawn to the career’s focus on processing difficulties and understanding how children learn.
While enrolled in graduate school and training to enter the field of school psychology, she found herself continually working with children on the autism spectrum.
“As I worked with these kids, I noticed that despite the many challenges that they had, they had remarkable but often unnoticed areas of strength,” Newton Montgomery said. “As a former teacher, that was very meaningful for me in terms of understanding that we can do things to help them show their strengths and even compensate for areas that are more difficult for them.”
Ultimately, Newton Montgomery decided to focus her research and clinical practice on children with autism.
“I didn’t pick autism as a research and clinical area, it picked me,” she said. “The people I worked with were so phenomenal and really touched my heart.”
Today, she is a professor in the U of M’s department of psychology and the program coordinator for the university’s school psychology program.
Newton Montgomery also runs the U of M’s Social Cognition Lab. Social cognition is a science-based approach to analyzing how people understand their emotions and the emotions of others, and navigate the social situations presented by everyday life.
autism, as people on the autism spectrum often find social cognition challenging.
Those with autism tend to struggle with emotional intelligence. Newton Montgomery noted that this relationship presents a good model for studying emotional intel-
interpretation of emotional intelligence looks at levels of problem-solving ability, the other focuses on the characteristics associated with that ability, such as optimism, flexibility, and stress management.
“As I worked with these kids [with autism], I noticed that despite the many challenges that they had, they had remarkable but often unnoticed areas of strength”
— Janine Newton Montgomery, professor in the U of M department of psychology
ligence while also providing avenues to positively impact those with autism.
The majority of the lab’s work is centered around
Emotional intelligence refers to the ability to perceive, control and express emotions effectively in interactions with others. While one
“I first used that concept in my clinical work to identify areas and strategies that we could use to improve the social interactions of people on the autism spectrum and, later on, I saw some research potentials there particularly related to enhancing quality of life for people on the autism spectrum,” she said.
Studies show that emotional intelligence can be increased in all people, said Newton Montgomery. Inter-
vention projects at the Social Cognition Lab have designed programs for people with autism that provide education about emotional intelligence, opportunities to talk about emotions and knowledge about social norms and rules.
“Our findings are that we’re making a difference, not only in emotional intelligence, but in quality of life overall,” Newton Montgomery said. “People say that they’re happy, or have more friends, they’re able to process work situations that are social, better.”
She explained that those on the spectrum may find their strengths overshadowed by their challenges. While people on the autism spectrum may have a harder time navigating social demands, they take diverse approaches to tasks and are often highly skilled in specific areas.
“There are many innovators
out there who happen to have autism, and they can be innovators when we ensure that our attitudes and our environments don’t get in the way,” Newton Montgomery said.
She added that autism is highly prevalent. To improve relationships with people on the autism spectrum –whether as a teacher, friend or ally – asking them about how best to provide support is crucial.
“Every person on the spectrum is unique,” said Newton Montgomery. “It’s called the spectrum because everyone is so diverse.”
graphic / Teegan Gillich / staff
Improving health information for communities
Community-based research seeks to improve health services information
Eve Alexiuk, volunteer K
ristin Reynolds, an associate professor in the U of M’s department of psychology, began her research experience with a remarkable mentor.
As an undergraduate student, she worked with the late U of M professor emeritus John Walker on a qualitative exploration of how young adults understand mental health which resulted in the innovation of online education and self-assessment tools.
“That project just kind of set my stage for what I wanted to do for the rest of my career,” said Reynolds.
She explained that her experiences with Walker shaped her approach to knowledge translation in research.
“He was just deeply inspiring and motivating and his view was always if you want to get at the heart of an issue, you have to talk to people,” Reynolds said. “You have to talk to and with people who have lived these experiences and who are undergoing challenges and might have really important voices to be heard.”
Since then, the vision for her research has grown from Walker’s belief that to truly understand the crux of an issue, we must hear from people who have lived those experiences.
Today, Reynolds oversees the Health Information Exchange Lab, conducting community-involved projects which mobilize evidence-based approaches that address the mental health needs of population groups. Relying on a wide range of research methodologies, Reynolds’ lab explores perspectives on mental health amongst older adults, those who are pregnant and postpartum and the healthcare providers who work with both groups.
and perspectives shared. The lab evaluates each resource using community feedback, gaining insight into whom the resources are working for and why. This approach
through multiple projects. For example, Reynolds co-developed the Connect Program in partnership with A & O : Support Services for Seniors, a not-for-profit organization
volunteers. She noted that the community provided the concept for the program through an initial qualitative exploration of the mental health
In partnership with local organizations, the lab invests back into the community with resources tailored to the needs
allows them to refine their resources and identify those whose voices have not been well-represented.
Currently, the Health Information Exchange Lab is working to support mental health
that aims to provide specialized support for older Manitobans. This peer support initiative aimed to combat isolation and loneliness in older adults by arranging weekly one hour visits with
erences. As it expands, Reynolds shared that the process of individualizing the program is grounding the program in each community, stating that the Connect Program “will have a variety of homes.”
Another project resulted in the launch of an online selfdirected cognitive behavioural therapy program to help individuals reduce perinatal anxiety. Program users appreciated that it allowed them to receive support whenever and wherever their anxiety may arise, she said. Now, Reynolds hopes to collaborate with the Anxiety Disorders Association of Manitoba to offer this material as a peer support program.
Regarding healthcare providers, the lab is working with Riverview Health Centre to explore the experience of long-term care staff and management. Specifically, the lab is exploring changes in their experiences during acute phases of the COVID-19 pandemic and the present.
Reynolds has woven the principles of community-engagement into the very fabric of her lab’s culture. She emphasized the importance of each lab member cultivating this area of research with “their unique lenses and passion.”
Just as she was invited to participate in research as a student, Reynolds made it known that it is not her work alone that fuels the continued innovation at the lab. “I’m sort of the face of the lab and the director of the lab, but also there’s so many good grad students and undergrad students […] helping to lead the way as well,” she said. “My hope for students always is that they can get connected, and get connected with labs who are supportive and action oriented.”
perspectives of older adults.
The Connect Program is currently being expanded across Canada. The lab is working to tailor this program according to community pref-
graphic / Fumnaya Ifeadi / volunteer
The pitfalls of smartphones
How the convenience of smartphones in life comes at a cost
Milan Lukes, staff
The advent of the smartphone, comprising of computing capabilities not originally associated with telephones, undeniably changed the way that humans operate and interact.
In 1994, International Business Machines (IBM) released the Simon Personal Communicator, commonly known as the IBM Simon – the first smartphone and the device that introduced touch screens to phones.
The IBM Simon featured a 60 by 293 pixel monochrome display and offered mobile applications such as a calendar, email, address book, notepad and the ability to send faxes.
But humans could not stop there, and understandably so. With a device that greatly augmented the convenience of everyday life, it was only logical to improve upon such an instrument. After all, the IBM Simon only had a battery life of just around an hour –a mere fraction of the typical eight-to-twelve-hour battery life of modern smartphones.
So, substantial improvements were made over time including the incorporation of front and back-facing cameras, video-recording capabilities, higher screen resolutions and remarkable storage capabilities.
In 2020, a staggering 96 per cent of Canadians aged 15 to 44 were reported to have a smartphone, according to Statistics Canada.
I am fully supportive of smartphones in life, and it would certainly be hypo -
critical for me to state otherwise, as I sport an iPhone in my pocket. I have owned a smartphone for eight years now, since first acquiring a Moto G 3rd generation. The ability to be readily connected with loved ones and staying informed is undeniable. After all, what if someone around me or myself is in an immediate emergency?
Yet, I would be remiss if I did not address the pitfalls of smartphones.
In August, the Manitoba government announced a cellphone ban in classrooms starting in September. For students in kindergarten to grade eight, cellphone use will be banned during all school hours, while for grades eight to twelve, the ban applies only during class time.
The ban aims to limit distractions and augment focus – an initiative I fully support.
A recent publication in the journal Nature revealed that the mere presence of a smartphone to participants aged 20 to 34 reduced basal attentional performance.
With the constant ringing, vibrating and entertainment provided by smartphones, it is not surprising in the slightest why these gadgets serve as a distraction. Phone activity can also stimulate the release of dopamine and can potentially lead to addic-
tion, as published by the American Physiological Association.
There is even the word nomophobia (no mobile phone phobia) in the Oxford English Dictionary, defined as the anxiety of not having access to your mobile phone or service.
Harmony Health Care IT, a data management firm, surveyed over 1,000 Americans and found that on average, four hours and 37 minutes was spent staring into their phone screen each day. This equates to over one full day of screen time per week, which over a lifetime, can add up to years on your phone.
Not only can this represent time discarded from chasing your dreams in life – specifically if you are mindlessly scrolling through social media – but this also amounts to time lost with loved ones.
As seen on Granset, defined as the busiest social networking site for individuals over
their 50s, one forum post reads “losing grandson to smartphone.” In the post, the grandparent expressed their concern with their grandson’s smartphone usage, writing “I feel invisible.” Rarely will you regret not spending more time on your smartphone, but you will surely regret not spending more time with a friend when they are no longer here.
the gateway to anxiety, stress, depression and various disorders – as published in numerous peer-reviewed journals. With social media now in our pockets and at the tips or our fingers, the youth of today are particularly vulnerable.
Rarely will you regret not spending more time on your smartphone, but you will surely regret not spending more time with a friend when they are no longer here
Smartphones are not going anywhere soon, they can always be manufactured, but time spent with others is merely temporary. As morbid as it sounds, your family and friends will not be around forever – but I am sure there will always be someone out there willing to sell you a smartphone.
Next time you reach for your smartphone to scroll aimlessly on social media or to watch mind-numbing videos, give your grandparents or friends a call instead and schedule a visit.
Smartphones are also
“Why don’t I look like that? Why is my life so boring? Why don’t I have that?” are but a few questions one might internalize while scrolling, not recalling that most people only share the highlights of their life – not the low points.
Numerous studies conducted in multiple countries show that social media can amount to body concerns, eating disorders and poor mental health from social comparison.
Of course, the pitfalls of smartphones can vary depending on the applications that are utilized. As published in the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, a one-week break from social media can yield significant improvements in well-being, depression and anxiety.
At the end of the day, I still choose to live life with a smartphone – but I am cognizant of the pitfalls. I am envious of those who grew up in a world where the smartphone did not yet exist.
Carolyn
Bolu
Divya
Prabhnoor
Rachhvir
U of M students shaken in wake of bloodshed in Bangladesh
How the violence in Bangladesh has affected the mental health of students
Progga Paromita, volunteer
The night after the police opened fire on a peaceful protester, Abu Sayed, I slept for only 45 minutes.
The violent events that transpired in Bangladesh from July 15 has tainted the headspace of Bangladeshi students at the U of M. Bangladeshi students at the U of M experienced shock and grief because of these violent incidents abroad, and I hope to understand how the unrest in Bangladesh affects our psyche.
July 16 marks the day that police shot Abu Sayed, a university student in Rangpur, while he stood peacefully in support of the quota reform protests. Two days later, police clashed with protesters at the BRAC University campus in Dhaka. These incidents show the magnitude of the bloodshed. Bangladeshi society stands transformed. They have impacted the mental state of the U of M student community. The peaceful gatherings and protests in Win-
nipeg demonstrate the shock that the Bangladeshi students experienced.
Bangladeshi students lived a normal university life and were swept up in lectures, assignments and personal obligations. On July 15, extreme political violence ensued in Bangladesh. More than 600 people died in clashes between police, pro-government groups and protesters from July 16 to Aug. 6, according to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). The OHCHR further stated that police forces used firearms against peaceful protesters.
ize the scale of the violence. Reading a deadly news story is not unfamiliar to most people. But soon, I realized that the proximity of the unrest was unprecedented. The clashes, resulting in injuries and deaths felt near and intimate in a way that many young students have not experienced.
the month of July. We sought comfort in each other, trying to make sense of the horrors transpiring back home. The U of M Bangladeshi student community felt extreme distress and anxiety surrounding these incidents. As the violence continued, students at the U of M felt powerless.
With rising death tolls, violence unraveled like ripping off a blindfold
During the BRAC university clash, police used batons and tear gas canisters against the students, as reported by The Daily Star. My peers and friends study there. With rising death tolls, violence unraveled like ripping off a blindfold.
Initially, I did not real-
I received news of my neighbours, cousins and peers getting injured during protests. Many students lost their loved ones during the violence. It’s like watching an explosion from a window, thinking your house is safe, before realizing that you are also in danger. Students continue to mourn the deaths and injuries of their friends and peers. These events irrevocably damaged the lives of my peers. They peacefully gathered to express their grievances with the unrest.
On July 18, students first gathered at the U of M Fort Garry campus to express their support for the students in Bangladesh. The Winnipeg community subsequently organized multiple protests over
“I didn’t sleep and eat for six or seven days,” says Rifah Tasfia Islam Arpa, a Bangladeshi student at the International College of Manitoba. “And that time […], my final exams were coming up, and my studies were really in the down low,” she said. “For six days, I was not even able to know [if] my injured friends and cousins [were] alive or not.”
The bloodshed in Bangladesh has deeply affected the mental health of students at the U of M.
Overall, it’s uncomfortable to compare one’s own life trajectory with that of the university students who died during these protests. Students at the U of M submit assignments, worry about grades and dream about the future. Those included in the death toll once experienced these emotions. Abu Sayed stud-
ied English at Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur. I study English at the U of M. We may have shared many literary opinions and likes. These thoughts distress me. They bring to light a collective trauma that Bangladeshi students have undergone. Collective trauma explains the thoughts and memories of a traumatic event, shared by a society or group. Over 600 lives lost, as reported, marks the grief, loss and trauma of the students. Students feel the absence of their late friends. However, peaceful gatherings at the university campus, offering comfort to friends, demonstrate the strength and unity of our student body. These are tangible steps essential in addressing the collective trauma we face. We feel deep mourning and sadness for what has transpired in Bangladesh.
Over one month has passed since the beginning of the violence, and I still sleep no more than three hours a night.
Academic perfectionism: The silent struggle
As students aim for academic excellence, many struggle with the toll
India Schlegel, staff
I remember when I was first called a perfectionist. I sat across from my therapist with a confused expression. I was appalled, “how can I be a perfectionist? Nothing I do is ever perfect,” I said. She responded with a smirk. Then it clicked. That’s the point.
I had been struggling with procrastination in university. Assignments felt so overwhelming I would shut down entirely, avoiding them at all costs to prevent the intense anxiety. At one point, it got so bad I hit a mental wall. I sobbed to my partner at the time. I couldn’t finish the semester. It felt like the end of the world. I was going to fail. And if I failed, my life would be over.
I emailed my professors, and I emailed an academic advisor. Without handing in my final essays, I barely passed two classes and failed another. This came after getting an A average the previous year, something I felt incredibly proud of. It felt like a fall from grace, or rather, it revealed the dark reality that I am a failure, and I could only keep it at bay for so long. It’s precisely this harshness that perpetuates a cycle of harm. A loop that drove my problem further when the anecdote was self-kindness. My professors were incredibly supportive, kind and understanding. One professor assured me that I am an intelligent person and a good student and that he hoped I would be back when I was ready. When I read that email, I cried again.
academic perfectionism also present higher levels of fatigue, anxiety, depression and hostility per a publication in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. It adds that those who exhibit perfectionism have a greater likelihood of developing suicidal ideation.
At the start of each year, we often plan to be organized, focused and successful, but these plans rarely accommodate our humanity
The pressure we feel as students can be intense. According to a meta-analysis published in the Psychological Bulletin, over the past 27 years, academic perfectionism has steadily increased, reflecting a broader shift toward high and
often unattainable standards of achievement. Perfectionism in academia is not just about reaching goals and striving for excellence, which is positive and helps us stay motivated. Academic perfectionism is about the unrealistic expectations we set or feel others impose on us. It comes with an all-ornothing tendency. It’s associated with harsh self-criticism, fear of failure, and, of course, my specialty, procrastination.
A publication by the Harvard Division of Continuing Education explains that those struggling with perfectionism also tend to procrastinate. If they cannot do it perfectly the first time, they’ll avoid the task in fear of repeated failure.
Those who experience
This construct manifests in different forms: self-oriented perfectionism, where we push ourselves to impossible heights; other-oriented perfectionism, where we impose these standards on those around us; and socially prescribed perfectionism, where we believe others expect perfection from us. A study in Cognitive Therapy and Research suggests that high parental expectations and criticism can contribute to these tendencies.
At the start of each year, we
often plan to be organized, focused and successful, but these plans rarely accommodate our humanity.
The reality is that university comes with intense pressure that often turns academic success into a measure of selfworth.
However, I found strategies that helped me back into the “game” and excel: I learned to be kind to myself, set realistic expectations and prioritized self-care. I leaned on my logic: failure is a part of life, and I will be okay as life must go on. My final recommendation is to essentially stay healthy. Which includes eliminating negative self-talk and falling into a shame spiral.
And for the professors out there, you’re not off the hook either. The academic environment, focused on producing top achievers, creates high pressure, often pushing students towards burnout rather than success.
Recognizing and address-
ing academic perfectionism is crucial—not only for students themselves but also for educators and institutions. The most valuable thing professors did for me when I struggled was validate that my academic ability didn’t impact my worth as a student. I was given grace with extensions, offers of assistance and endless understanding. Knowing a professor is in your corner makes a world of difference.
And finally, the U of M has resources for anyone struggling with perfectionism. If you’re returning to school and feeling the pressure of academic perfectionism, contacting the Student Counselling Centre is a great idea. Find support from friends, family, peers and professionals too.
Having aspirational goals and wanting to achieve great things is not bad. But let’s check in and ensure it’s not coming at the expense of our well-being.
photo / Milan Lukes / staff
To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 such that each row, column, and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely. In Straights, like Sudoku, no single number 1 to 9 can repeat in any row or column. But rows and columns are divided by black squares into compartments. Each compartment must form a “straight.” A straight is a set of numbers with no gaps but it can be in any order, eg [7,6,9,8]. Clues in black cells remove that number as an option in that row and column, and are not part of any straight. Glance at the solution to see how “straights” are formed.
If you like Str8ts and other
If you like Str8ts and other puzzles, check out our books, iPhone/iPad Apps and much more on our store.
Reconnecting families through storytelling
Getting the story out about a prison literacy program
Maggie A. Clark, staff
To a young child, pic-
ture books can instill a lifelong love of reading. But for many families, the incarceration of a parent can interfere with the tradition of bedtime storytelling.
The John Howard Society of Manitoba recently relaunched its long-standing Get the Story Out initiative. This program allows incarcerated people to read to their children or other young relatives by way of CD and MP3 file.
The society aims to support individuals that are in conflict with the law and to provide support to reduce the likelihood of reoffending.
As part of this initiative, volunteers and staff of the John Howard Society bring children’s books to people detained at four institutions in the province — the Winnipeg Remand Centre, Headingley Correctional Centre, Milner Ridge Correctional Centre and Stony Mountain Insti-
tution — and record them as they read the book aloud.
Local musician Christine Fellows engineers the recordings and sets them to music. The books, along with their accompanying CDs, are then gift-wrapped and mailed to the child. The MP3 file is provided to the child’s caregiver via email.
John Samson Fellows, literacy instructor of the John Howard Society, considers gift-giving an essential part of the human experience: “One of the fundamental things of being a human is giving a gift to another human, and I think that that’s something that we forget incarcerated people are denied.”
According to Samson Fellows, “it’s a feature of the [carceral] system, not a […] bug, that it separates families and communities.”
“I think people also forget that there’s absolutely no internet in Canadian jails and prisons,” they said. Although
Back-to-school tunes
prisoners do have limited telephone access, this comes at a cost for personal calls. In Manitoba, sentenced inmates are charged $3.36 per prepaid local and long-distance call and $4.82 per collect call — charges that can accumulate the longer a person remains incarcerated.
These realities can make it difficult for incarcerated people to stay in contact with loved ones and the outside world, something that Samson Fellows has seen firsthand.
“As a literacy instructor, I keep running into the limitations of [the Correctional Service of Canada’s internet ban].” With nearly all Canadian university correspondence courses moving online in recent years, inmates now have fewer opportunities to pursue higher education. On this basis, a lawsuit filed in June by the John Howard Society of Canada and prisoner Ghassan Salah argued
that the internet ban violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and should thus be declared unconstitutional.
“As the world becomes more connected, the lives of incarcerated people become less so,” said Samson Fellows. Initiatives like Get the Story Out are intended to fill in the gaps. “We have to make […] interventions where we can and I think maintaining the connections between incarcerated people and their
families […] is always a good thing.”
Donations for the Get the Story Out initiative can be made directly to the John Howard Society’s literacy program or by purchasing books for donation through McNally Robinson Booksellers until Sept. 15. For more information, see mcnallyrobinson.com/kids/browse/category/3384/.
for the 2024-25 academic year A playlist of songs that are relevant to school life, but only slightly
Maggie A. Clark, staff
The start of a school year is an excellent time to listen to new music.
This is, of course, because every day of the year is an excellent time to listen to new music. There is a near-infinite supply of the stuff and only a limited window in which any of us can consume it. You could spend 24 hours a day listening exclusively to albums you had never previously heard and, by the end of your life, you will have only scratched the surface of all the music that has ever been made.
To celebrate the start of the fall term, I set myself the task of making a 10-track playlist of songs that are only tangentially related to school. This is not a collection of songs that deal with the subject of education, nor are they necessarily performed by bands I know to be popular amongst my peers. In most cases, they are entirely without direct lyrical reference to school beyond a title or a single phrase broad enough that it could refer to almost anything. It’s a wonder I didn’t strain a muscle with all my stretching.
The result is a set of tunes as eclectic as a first-year student’s course load. Please
enjoy.
“Can You Get To That” — Funkadelic, Maggot Brain (1971).
Our university’s enormous campus will have many a late student stressing about whether they can “get to that” class on time, perhaps while grooving to this funk classic.
“Life During Wartime” — Talking Heads, Fear of Music (1979).
I sure hope no one took David Byrne’s advice and “burned all [their] notebooks.” Contrary to what he would tell you, notebooks do in fact “help [you] survive” your courses. You might need to review them before an exam — you’ll thank me later!
“Matrix”
— Chick Corea, Now He Sings, Now He Sobs (1968).
This jaunty little number for piano, bass and drums goes out to the linear algebra students.
“Sculpture I”
— Ellen Arkbro, Sounds While Waiting (2023).
You know how sometimes a professor will be one minute late to a class and this will immediately prompt some joker to crack wise about how
if they don’t show up within 15 minutes, you’re all allowed to leave? Well, here’s a 14-minute dissonant organ piece you can play as a countdown timer if you need some “sounds while waiting” for your professor to arrive.
“Out to Lunch”
— Eric Dolphy, Out to Lunch! (1964).
Pro tip: eating lunch is an effective way to restore some of your energy in between afternoon classes. Another effective way to restore energy? Listening to this jazz standard, which I have strategically placed fifth in the list of 10 songs to represent lunch’s status as the middle meal of the day.
“S.P.Q.R.”
— This Heat, Deceit (1981).
I suspect that the reason many of us attend university is because of the institution’s function as a mechanism for upward class mobility — or, as the song puts it, because we live in a society where “we organize via property as power.”
“Whitetail”
— Low, Things We Lost in the Fire (2001).
I was hoping to include the influential slowcore group
in this playlist somewhere, as I have been going through a Low phase for about two months now. Imagine my delight when recalling that the song’s opening lyric is “stay up all night” — something I have frequently had to do after procrastinating an important essay.
“Inside the Golden Days of Missing You” — Silver Jews, The Natural Bridge (1996).
Only the late, great David Berman would dare to ask the question, “What if life is just some hard equation / On a chalkboard in a science class for ghosts?” I often find myself wondering if there is any point to all this academic strife if I am going to die anyway. This guy gets it.
“I Say ‘No’” — Mount Eerie, Dawn (2008).
A nice companion piece to the preceding song. Lest I start fixating too much on my eventual demise, Phil Elverum reminds me to “find life where [I] foolishly saw graves.”
“Table” — Katy Kirby, Blue Raspberry (2024).
This song has nothing whatsoever to do with school. I cannot find even the most tenuous connection, which makes it an appropriate inclusion at the end of my playlist. For one thing, it is the closing track of one of my favourite albums of the year to date. For another, it fits in thematically with how I will sometimes slack off as I approach the end of a semester, safe in the knowledge that I have already done enough to pass my courses.
“Cs get degrees,” as they say.
graphic / Teegan Gillich / staff
graphic / Teegan Gillich / staff
Mindful migrations
Campus birding group offers weekly walks for novices and experts
Maggie A. Clark, staff
irds — you know them.
BYou might have even seen a few. But have you ever taken a closer look?
One campus group has been doing just that since June 2023. The UM Indigenous Birding Club meets on Thursdays at 11:20 a.m. in front of the Louis Riel statue at Migizii Agamik - Bald Eagle Lodge. Their weekly birding walks run from the spring to the fall, this year from March to September. The club is open to U of M community members and birders of all experience levels — faculty, staff and students, experts and novices alike.
Co-lead and co-founder Justin Rasmussen had noticed increased social anxiety among students returning to in-person classes after the start of the pandemic. Inspired by the calming effect of nature, he and his birdloving colleagues at the university wanted to share that experience with others.
“You feel less stressed after a bird walk and more ready for the day, [so] why not bring students and other staff along?” he said.
As a rookie birdwatcher myself, the sentiment was greatly appreciated. My interest in birding began with my introduction to the board game Wingspan. Its eye-catching illustrations and complex strategy hooked me instantly. With hundreds of hours of gameplay under my belt, I have come to know the bird cards like the back of my hand, but I craved a greater familiarity with their real-life counterparts.
Joining the club proved a great place to start. Experienced birders helped identify species I couldn’t and participants were provided with binoculars ahead of the weekly walk.
Kings Park is a frequent destination of the club’s walks, but it is not the only fruitful spot for nearby birdwatching. Rasmussen also cited the former golf course just north of Princess Auto Stadium and the birdfeeders at Migizii Agamik.
“Right on campus here, anywhere, we’ll see some really cool birds flying [overhead],” he said.
The bird depicted in the group’s logo, the black-capped chickadee, can be seen yearround in Winnipeg, while others vary by season. For instance, the indigo bunting — a favourite of club members Mary Kate Dennis and Simone Hernandez-Ramdwar — spends summer in east-
ern and central Canada before heading south for the winter. Indeed, one of the pleasures of birding is in observing the subtle change of the seasons. Dennis noted that species like the American goldfinch and yellow-rumped warbler display striking plumage early in the year that dulls as autumn approaches. On our walk, Rasmussen was delighted to spy a black-and-white warbler, a bird that breeds in northern boreal regions and passes through southern Manitoba on its way to warmer southern climates.
A personal highlight for me was glimpsing another migratory bird, a juvenile Cooper’s hawk — poised, majestic, its beak wet and covered in feathers.
At one point, Rasmussen — with the help of the Mer-
lin Bird ID app — alerted me to the call of a pileated woodpecker. This bird is a musthave in Wingspan — forming a nearly unbeatable combo when paired with the wood duck — so I was thrilled at the prospect of meeting an esteemed avian celebrity. Alas, we never managed to spot it.
I found out later that this is a common story among birders. Club member Muriel Houle heard a red-breasted nuthatch that likewise remained elusive.
“We haven’t seen an owl on a walk yet,” Rasmussen lamented. “There’s been screech-owls spotted at Kings Park and northern saw-whet owls that we haven’t seen on walks […] I’m always keeping my fingers crossed that we’ll eventually see one of those.”
Hernandez-Ramdwar and Houle concurred.
But even the sight of the usual suspects can bring joy to a seasoned birder. A crucial component of the activity is learning to appreciate the world around you.
As Dennis put it, “there’s a lot of birds that get overlooked because they’re not fancy.”
The UM Indigenous Birding Club aims to promote inclusivity and sociability. To that end, their website stresses that the weekly walks “are all about sharing knowledge and building a sense of community. They are not lectures.”
To Rasmussen, “nature is everywhere.” Birdwatching in a public park can be a fun, accessible and relaxing hobby.
“Even if you don’t have binoculars yet — you have a notepad and a pen — start record-
ing your observations. Start learning one species at a time. Before you know it, you’ll know a whole bunch.”
“There’s lots and lots to learn,” said Dennis. “It never ends.”
The UM Indigenous Birding Club’s walks occur every Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. through Sept. 26. For community members interested in going out on their own, the club loaned three pairs of binoculars to the science reserves kiosk in the Armes Link that any student or staff member can borrow for up to four days at a time. For more information, visit umindigenousbirdingclub. com.
graphic / Fumnaya Ifeadi / volunteer
U Sports get new chief sport officer
Matthew Davies assumes position with substantial experience
Abdul-Jalilu Ahmed, staff
Matthew Davies has been appointed as the chief sport officer for U Sports, the national governing body of university sports in Canada.
In a press release from Aug. 27, U sports confirmed that the appointment Davies takes effect on Sept. 16.
Davies will handle the organization of U Sports national championships and facilitate a working relationship between Canadian sports system and Fédération Internationale de Sport Universitaire.
He shared his expectations ahead of the commencement of his new adventure.
“I am honoured to have the opportunity to join U Sports,” said Davies in a press release.
“As someone who has helped create high-performance championship cultures, I am excited to work with our as well as national sports organization partners to ensure the experience for student-athletes. I want to thank my colleagues at the OUA [Ontario University Athletics] for their support over the past six and a half years, but I am excited to bring my passion to the talented U Sports team as we
work to strengthen university sport across the country,” said Davies in a press release.
U Sports chief executive officer Pierre Arsenault expressed kind words over the appointment of Davies.
“We are excited to welcome Matthew to our executive team,” he said.
“His experience as a coach, administrator and leader within our ecosystem will allow Matthew to make a significant impact as we continue to innovate and grow university sport in Canada,” said Arsenault.
Davies comes into the new role with over 20 years in sports administration, having previously served in different capacities.
He has previously worked with Ontario University Athletics, the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association, the Atlantic University Sport and Réseau du Sport Étudiant du Québec. Further, Davies has served as director of athletics and recreation at Niagara College, assistant men’s basketball coach at McGill University and head men’s basketball coach at the University of Prince Edward Island.
He has contributed to the
photo provided / Matthew Davies
growth of sport policies, programming and partnerships at various levels within the nation’s recreation and sports sectors.
Davies is also known for his vast experience in communication, analysis, sports science and high-performance coaching.
U sports represents 58 universities, nearly 15,000 student-athletes and 7,700 games and events per year.
Bisons football start season with momentous win
Bisons defeat Saskatchewan Huskies 37-24 for the first time in five seasons
Abdul-Jalilu Ahmed, staff
The U of M Bisons have kicked-off the 2024-25 season with mouthwatering and audacious displays after defeating the Saskatchewan Huskies 37-24 for the first time in five seasons. The Bisons football team, ranked 18 by U Sports in Canada, were boisterous to claim victory over the Huskies, ranked 11, at the Princess Auto Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 31.
The first quarter was a major dominance for Bisons’ coach Brian Dobie and his charges as they finished with a 21-0 score.
In the second quarter, the Huskies showed glimpses of brilliance to pluck a 14-4 score.
For the third quarter, the herd rallied to relive their energy and power through a team play and ended with 10-1 score.
The Huskies kept control of
the fourth quarter with a 9-2 score.
The Huskies failed to replicate last year’s comeback performance in which they rallied from 25-7 at the half to beat the Bisons 30-27.
Quarterback Jackson Tachinski and his teammates showed determination with enormous attack and incredible defense.
“We respect the hell out of Saskatchewan. They have had
our number and we recognize that,” said coach Dobie in an interview to Bison Sports.
“To our team overall, to all of us here, it’s kind of our measuring stick. Whether they’re the best team in the conference or the third best team, Saskatchewan has always been our measuring stick. Emotionally, it felt really good to beat them,” said Dobie.
Tachinski told Bison Sports, “I just think we were
composed. There were times in the game where we were up, and there were times in the game where we didn’t really have momentum, but it didn’t really matter.”
“We just looked each other in the eyes and said we’ve got this. We’ve just got to keep pushing. I’m proud of the guys for not giving up and fighting throughout the game.”
Sports teams’ schedules
Canada West 2024-25 — Women’s Volleyball
Manitoba vs. Calgary
Manitoba vs. Calgary
Thompson Rivers vs. Manitoba
Thompson Rivers vs. Manitoba
Manitoba vs. Alberta
Manitoba vs. Alberta
Brandon vs. Manitoba
Brandon vs. Manitoba
Manitoba vs. Regina
Manitoba vs. Regina
Trinity Western vs. Manitoba
October 18 – 6:00 p.m. MDT
October 19 – 5:30 p.m. MDT
October 25 – 7:45 p.m. CDT
October 26 – 5:45 p.m. CDT
November 1 – 6:00 p.m. MDT
November 2 – 5:00 p.m. MDT
November 15 – 7:45 p.m. CST
November 16 - 5:45 p.m. CST
November 29 – 6:00 p.m. CST
November 30 – 6:00 p.m. CST
January 10 – 6:00 p.m. CST
Canada West 2024-25 — Men’s Volleyball
Manitoba vs. Calgary
Manitoba vs. Calgary
Thompson Rivers vs. Manitoba
Thompson Rivers vs. Manitoba
Manitoba vs. Alberta
October 18 – 7:30 p.m. MDT
October 19 – 4:00 p.m. MDT
October 25 – 6:00 p.m. CDT
October 26 – 4:00 p.m. CDT
November 1 – 7:30 p.m. MDT
Manitoba vs. Alberta
November 2 – 6:30 p.m. MDT
Brandon vs. Manitoba November 15 – 6:00 p.m. CST
Brandon vs. Manitoba November 16 - 4:00 p.m. CST
Manitoba vs. Saskatchewan November 22 – 6:00 p.m. CST
Manitoba vs. Saskatchewan November 23 – 3:00 p.m. CST
Trinity Western vs. Manitoba January 10 – 7:45 p.m. CST
Trinity Western vs. Manitoba January 11 – 5:45 p.m. CST
Canada West 2024-25 — Men’s Basketball
Brandon vs. Manitoba November 3 – 4:00 p.m. CST
Manitoba vs. Saskatchewan November 8 – 8:00 p.m. CST
Manitoba vs. Saskatchewan November 9 – 7:00 p.m. CST
Regina vs. Manitoba November 22 – 8:00 p.m. CST
Regina vs. Manitoba November 23 – 7:00 p.m. CST
Lethbridge vs. Manitoba November 29 – 8:00 p.m. CST
Lethbridge vs. Manitoba November 30 – 7:00 p.m. CST
