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The Manitoban is the official student newspaper of the University of Manitoba. It is published monthly during the summer and each week of regular classes during the academic year by the Manitoban Newspaper Publications Corporation.
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Dr. Gerald and Reesa Niznick Centre to be constructed at the Bannatyne campus
Iyanda
Ajuwon, staff
On Sept. 20, the U of M announced a $5 million gift from Dr. Gerald and Reesa Niznick in support of a new state-of-the-art dental clinic.
Michael Benarroch, U of M president and vice-chancellor, stated that “throughout Dr. Gerald Niznick’s years of pioneering work in dental research and patient care, he has always demonstrated his belief that the future of health care depends on well-educated, well-rounded and highly skilled professionals, which, as an alum, he knows U of M provides.”
Benarroch continued, “we are incredibly thankful to Dr. Gerald and Reesa Niznick for this generous gift in support of a new dental clinic, which will create the learning and training space that our students need.”
In a media release, Dr. Niznick stated, “Reesa and I are pleased to support the construction of this beautiful fivestorey building. It will provide medical students with lec-
ture facilities for an enhanced learning environment and dental students with state-ofthe-art clinics for training on the full scope of patient care, utilizing the latest technologies.”
The dental clinic is a 33,770 square-foot facility at Dr. Gerald and Niznick Centre on U of M’s Bannatyne campus, and it will be equipped with state-ofthe-art technology.
“We are grateful to the Niznicks for their long history of support that has enabled us to innovate, adapt and optimize our operations to better meet the evolving needs of our community,” said Dr. Anastasia Kelekis-Cholakis, dean of the Dr. Gerald Niznick college of dentistry.
In addition to the state-ofthe-art dental clinic, the Dr. Gerald and Reesa Niznick Centre will include Ongomiizwin – Indigenous Institute of Health and Healing, a childcare facility, new classrooms and laboratory space for U of M’s college of medicine.
U of M to kick off Student Success Month in October
Learn the various student supports that are available during the academic year
Sylvester Delali Agbado, staff
The U of M has announced Student Success Month for October 2024. The event aims to educate students on the various supports that are available as they navigate the academic year.
Francois Jordaan, academic integrity coordinator for the Academic Learning Centre, outlined a series of activities scheduled for Student Success Month. He explained that the event’s general theme, “momentum,” aligns with the new strategic plan recently launched by the U of M.“We think it fits in really well with Student Success Month, [it’s] saying to students that we would like you to keep that momentum, that excitement at the start of September when you’re really excited and it’s moving through to October and you’re getting a little bit stressed,” said Jordaan.
The Student Success Month features a booth kickoff on Oct. 1 at the UMSU University Centre, running from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Other partners such as the Academic Learning Centre, Student Advocacy, health and wellness and the Sexual Vio-
lence Resource Centre will also be present. There will be some games to help students interact.
The first theme of the Student Success Month, running through the first week from Oct. 1 to 5, is called “asking for help.”
Jordaan added that the goal for the week is to bring together different partners across campus and raise awareness that asking for help is a positive action, not a sign of weakness. He said, “we want to show students that it it’s a good idea to reach out for help.”
The university’s food bank will also be having a tabling event on Oct. 4 to take donations and also create awareness about the important role that it plays on campus. The second theme of Student Success Month, “academic skills,” will run from Oct. 6 to 19. This theme focuses on helping students develop specific academic abilities. It was strategically scheduled to align with the International Day of Action for Academic Integrity on Oct. 16.
Jordaan explained that the goal is to educate stu-
dents about academic integrity and what they should know around artificial intelligence usage, but to also provide skills when it comes to academic work.
In addition, librarians will educate students on how to access various services, including sourcing information at the library.
The Academic Learning Centre will also host workshops on academic writing for both undergraduate and graduate students. Jordaan explained that “the aim is just to kind of, again, get students aware that there’s these really great resources available to them that can help with their academic work. And we really want them to make use of these services.” He also added that there will be an open dialogue on the use of generative AI as it has become more prevalent and the need to embrace it so that students can use it ethically.
The third theme of the month will focus on “wellness and connections” from Oct. 20 to 31.
More partners have been included in this year’s Student Success Month, includ-
ing the International College of Manitoba, extended education, Black Student Union and the Indigenous representative for UMSU.
Also, this year’s Student Success Month will also incorporate a QR code that will be helpful to students who do not get the opportunity to participate. This QR code will help get input from such students about their interests regarding any of the three themes. This will enable organizers to send a list of relevant resources to each student.
There will be a footprint across campus, noted Jordaan. Events will be present at buildings within the faculty of science, the UMSU University Centre and the Indigenous Centre. “We’re trying to reach as many students as possible,” he said.
In order to keep the momentum throughout the academic year even after the program ends in October, there will be resources provided to students — a continuation of academic workshops and a health and wellness project.
This year’s Student Success Month will feature several in-person workshops, along
with a few being online. These workshops aim to help students connect with peers and faculty, build relationships and reassure them that they are not alone.
“It’s a great place for connecting with fellow students,” said Jordaan. “It’s a great time to kind of see where you might need a bit of help with, […] connect with different people and that you’re not alone.” He added, “we’re all in this together as a community.”
Student Success month offers a variety of opportunities for all students with its different themes. Whether focused on asking for help, academic skills and wellness and connections, or academic integrity, students will find significant benefits throughout the month, and beyond all, it aims at boosting student success during the challenging part of the academic year.
For more information about Student Success Month, visit umanitoba.ca/current-students/um-commons/student-success-month.
photo provided / University of Manitoba
From left to right: Michael Benarroch (U of M president and vice-chancellor), Dr. Gerald and Reesa Niznick and Anastasia Kelekis-Cholakis (dean of Dr. Gerald Niznick college of dentistry).
Five U of M researchers receive SSHRC Insight Grants
Funding to support research in social sciences and humanities
Sylvester Delali Agbado, staff
Researchers at the U of M have been awarded a collective $955,927 from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) through Insight Grants.
These grants are designed to provide long-term funding for research projects of two to five years in the social sciences and humanities. Specifically, those that investigate significant issues concerning individuals and societies in areas such as economics, resource management and history.
Mario Pinto, the U of M’s vice-president (research and international), stated to UM Today that “these projects will help understand human thought and behaviour and advance the UM strategic priority for fundamental research underlying all advances of clinical, scientific, economic and societal value.”
“I congratulate these five leading innovators, whose fundamental threads serve as a foundation upon which future inter and multidisciplinary themes can be built,” he added.
Each grant recipient has projects that incorporate wide-ranging spheres of learning, including Indigenous cultural restoration to financial assessments related to climate change. The funding will assist to add to the extensive discourse and innovations in their particular research areas.
Dr. Lara Rosenoff Gauvin
Dr. Rosenoff Gauvin’s and her teams’ research focuses on the return of Indigenous Ancestors back to their descendant communities through rematriation.
Her work is grounded in the ongoing Respectful Rematriation and Repatriation ceremony at the U of M, and addresses the harm and violence caused by the removal of Indigenous Ancestors from their original resting places to various Canadian institutions. She feels that this is important to respectfully return Indigenous Ancestors back to their original Nations in a manner tailored to each community through their own cultural laws, traditions and sovereignty.
In an interview with the Manitoban, Gauvin said, “I was hired at the university in 2019. And when I came here, the department had just learned that there were Indigenous Ancestors in the labs, in the anthropology, the archaeology labs.” She added, “I’m also the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors. And
so, I grew up with my grandmother, who survived, and her sister, talking about that they didn’t know where the bones of their Ancestors were, the rest of my family who had been killed. She noted how it feels to be involved in such a project as her family also faced similar extreme violence in the past.
Gauvin added that her team works closely with the Council of Elders, Knowledge Keepers, Grandfathers and Grandmothers on campus to seek the necessary guidance for carrying out the work ethically and respectfully.
In addition to the ongoing process, the U of M formally apologized to First Nations, Inuit and Métis people on June 3 for the wrongful acquisition of their Ancestors and belongings without consent.
The $375,000 grant, spanning five years, will support student involvement, training, Indigenous artists and will cover project expenses such as reburial costs. “We have one student who has been working with us since they were in their undergrad and now they’re just completing their master’s, an Indigenous student who is interested and has been a part of the work, and she will continue with her PhD next year,” she said. She added that there is room for more interested in this important work.
Gauvin also acknowledged the importance of this project on her life. “I think it’s the most important thing I’ve ever been a part of. And like I said, it’s difficult work,” she said. She continued by adding that, “I think I was brought to the university also to do this work somehow, […] you know, 20 years ago, I wasn’t an academic at all, I worked in the film industry in Montreal.”
She expressed appreciation to the Elders, Grandmothers, Grandfathers and Knowledge Keepers who have led the work and assisted the department to come this far.
Dr. Changqiu Yu
Dr. Changqiu Yu, assistant professor and CPA research fellow, is leading a project focused on the financial risks of climate change. As the world transitions to a low-carbon economy, companies with high carbon emissions face significant transition risks. She aims to analyze how financial analysts assess the environmental transition risks of these firms and incorporate them into their valuations.
Yu’s project will examine how a firm’s carbon emissions and the transition to greener operations affect its
financial standing and analyst valuations, potentially uncovering new insights into how environmental concerns shape financial decisions.
In an interview with the Manitoban, she stated that more countries and firms are actively working to reduce carbon emissions to meet netzero commitments, which typically impact the cash flow of these firms. She added that high pollution firms are likely to be valued less due to their high emission as compared to low pollution firms.
Yu’s project will also help provide a clear insight for companies to have a clear understanding for valuation in relation to environmental information. She said, “if companies know that investors are actually looking at the information, the emission they are emitting, it can give them a clear motivation that they should cut off the emission.”
Speaking on how the financial market value is going to evolve as more attention is given to carbon emissions in the firm valuation processes, Yu shared that, “I think it’s already developing, people are now able to trade carbon credits permits that allow companies or other entities to emit a specific amount of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases.”
As well, Yu is examining climate policies from around 40 countries, along with the firms in these countries, as part of the research since it is an international project.
Dr. Jessica Cameron
Dr. Jessica Cameron, a professor in the department of psychology, looks at the dynamics involved in romantic relationships, particularly
those arising out of friendships. This grant is worth around $140,000 and it is for a five-year period.
Cameron said, “our main goal is to understand the friends to lovers pathway, or sometimes we call it friends first initiation, which is this phenomenon where people are platonic friends for on average almost two years before they begin a romantic relationship together.”
Few studies have explored friends first initiation, leaving little information on the topic, which Cameron finds “disappointing.” Nevertheless, she finds this new area of research very exciting, and the SSHRC Insight Grant will be used for the research in this field.
So far, the research has found that less than 20 per cent of platonic friends will consider any kind of sexual relationships, which is relatively low, said Cameron.
Cameron was of the view that through friendships, people will be able to discover whether they are compatible for romance or not. She continued by saying, “the friendship allows people to make these bonds, to test out trust, to really get to know each other. To not only decide whether they make good friends, but if they were open to a romantic relationship and were looking for a romantic relationship, they can also figure out whether this is somebody that they would want to have that kind of relationship with.”
She concluded by saying that people should prioritize making friends. “I think my main advice is make friends. The worst thing that can happen is you can end up with
more friends. Friendship, regardless of whether you have a romantic relationship or not, that is a good thing for human beings. We want to feel connected.”
Dr. Fenton Litwiller
Dr. Fenton Litwiller is an associate professor in the faculty of kinesiology and recreation management focusing on the experiences of queer youth in central Canada. Litwiller’s research investigates how queer youth navigate the concept of gender identity within a culture that often communicates their experiences through a negative or traumatic lens.
In relation to their project, Litwiller has been collaborating with and conducting workshops in not-so-represented areas of Manitoba. This includes collaborating with organizations catering to queer populations, so as to introduce joyful and pioneering experiences into the lives of 2SLGBTQIA+ youth to understand their experiences.
Dr. Jieying Chen
Dr. Jieying Chen, an associate professor in the business administration department, focuses on immigrants in the workplace who have been facing significant challenges from their arrival to Canada. The research aims to identify key psychological and behavioral strategies that ultimately enable immigrants to fit into new work environments and further advance their careers. Often, finding employment and career growth has been a huge challenge for many immigrants. Therefore, Chen hopes to provide insight on how such challenges could be overcome through socialization tactics.
photo provided / Dr. Changqiu Yu
photo provided / Dr. Jessica Cameron
Bisons quarterback speaks about his journey
Jackson Tachinski shares his team ambitions and life details as a student-athlete
Abdul-Jalilu Ahmed, staff
The U of M Bisons football player Jackson Tachinski has made giant strides in the ongoing season. The quarterback has racked up 286 passing yards thus far this season, with 81 yards as his longest pass against the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds and 71 rushing yards against the University of Calgary Dinos.
Jackson sat down with the Manitoban to elucidate what life is all about as a student-athlete and the inspiration behind his team.
The Manitoban: What do you think are the shortterm and long-term plans for your career?
Jackson: Obviously shortterm, I just want to work really hard every day, give this team that I’m on my best foot forward and show them that I’ll do anything for them to get wins in the department. So, I want to show them that, especially short-term. And then, long-term, I have aspirations of playing pro football and playing for a while. So, my long-term goals are to be a football player for as long as I can, no matter what league I’m playing in. I love football and I just think the more I can play it, the better it’ll be. So, long-term, it’s kind of far in the future and I’m not really thinking about it too much. It’s kind of living more in the moment, but, I have goals to play professionally. So, if I can do that, that’d be awesome.
M: I’m pretty sure you agree with me that there are a lot of expectations from you guys and looking at the target. So, what would you say is the target for you guys this season?
J: I think a good target for us would be, obviously we play eight games in a year, so, I think a good target would be to kind of reach six to seven wins. I think that’d be a very manageable and achievable target. And then, I would really want to host a Hardy Cup. So, if we could be the top of our conference and then host the playoffs all through Winnipeg, I think that’s our goal right now. Because we just got to win a Hardy Cup and we want to do it at home because, it’s not a lot of fun coming to Winnipeg and playing in late October when it’s cold and it’s dark. So, our goal is to force teams to fly on down to Winnipeg and play us in our environment.
M: I’m a student like yourself and I’ve been thinking about how you can combine studies, training and
then playing. Of course, you must maintain your spot in the team and also maintain a good performance in the classroom. How are you able to combine studying, training and playing at the same time?
J: Yeah, it’s a lot of work. You got to have a lot of discipline in what you’re doing and I think, you know, when you’re organized, that really helps. So, for me, I make a lot of scheduling. I like to plan out my day the night before. That just kind of helps me stay on top of things, make sure I’m doing all the little things I got to do, like working out, studying, handing in my assignments. So, being organized, having a schedule, it’s a really big part of it to stay on top of things.
M: As a student-athlete, how are you able to maintain discipline across the board?
J: Yeah, it’s really hard. There’s a lot of tasks you got to do that you don’t want to do, like studying or, working out and getting up at 7 a.m. to go run. But, like I said, it’s kind of a responsibility that when you commit to this team, when you commit to this program, this university, it’s honestly just like an expectation of you to do all those things. So, it’s hard to keep discipline every day, but at the same time, when you have belief in a team, when you have belief in a program, when you have belief in a school, it makes it a lot easier because, when you’re waking up that early, you have something
to look towards, you have something to look forward to. And I think that’s the biggest thing with keeping discipline is just, whatever you’re working for, just kind of keep that in sight, have your goals, whether it’s on your phone or in your room, kind of just have them up there. So, if there is a day that, you don’t want to do anything or, you’re feeling a little more undisciplined than usual, then you can kind of just look at those goals and see what you’re headed towards and see what you’re striving towards. And, it’s very motivational to do things like that.
M: Let’s say a senior high school student picks up our newspaper and they read this interview. What message do you have for someone who wants to join the football program in this school?
J: I think the main message I would have is just treat it with respect. It’s not everyone in the world gets the privilege to play university sports or be a part of a university like this. So it’s definitely a great honour and treat it with respect and with dignity. If you got meetings you got to go to, class you got to go to, workouts you go to, just go to all of them because not everyone gets the opportunity to do that and it’s a pretty special opportunity to be able to do things like that.
M: How do you feel when the headline points to you as a quarterback of the team? How does that make you feel?
J: It’s honestly a great hon-
our. You know, there’s a lot of pressure that comes with the position of being a quarterback, but there’s also a lot of praise. So, as a quarterback, you can get a lot of attention. Whether things are going bad, it’s going to be your fault. And when things are going good, it’s going to be because of you. So that’s kind of how it goes.
And whatever the case is, you kind of just got to try to be the main person that brings people together, brings things together. And yeah, it’s a lot of responsibility, but at the same time, it’s a blessing because not everyone in the world gets to be in the situation you are in. And it’s fun.
photo provided / Zachary Peters
photo provided / Dave Mahussier
photo provided / Zachary Peters
photo provided / Chris Lindsey
Preventing rheumatoid arthritis
U of M professor works on preventative measures for rheumatoid arthritis
Rhea Bhalla, staff
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disorder that occurs when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissues, causing the lining of the joints to swell painfully. This can cause fatigue and pain. Untreated, rheumatoid arthritis can severely damage the joints and tissues, and even compromise the heart, lungs and nervous system.
Hani El-Gabalawy is a physician and professor in the U of M’s Max Rady college of medicine. His focus is rheumatology, the study of conditions that cause swelling of the joints.
“’How does rheumatoid arthritis start, and can I do something about it?’ is a question that has driven my research for the last 30 years,” El-Gabalawy said.
His research career began studying the biology of synovial tissue, the joint lining that is chronically inflamed and ultimately destroys the joint in rheumatoid arthritis.
At the National Institute of Health in Maryland, he studied a cohort of early arthritis individuals, conducting biopsies to better understand the biology behind the disease. After he concluded his work, El-Gabalawy returned to Winnipeg.
“At the University of Manitoba, we continued the work,” he said, “but it really spurred our interest into [thinking] maybe we can go even further back before the inflammation starts in the joint, and understand how it starts before it ever starts, and then prevent it.”
For some groups, the search for preventative measures is especially urgent.
“As a clinician who practices rheumatology, I have seen over the years many, many individuals from First Nations backgrounds who have had rheumatoid arthritis and have not done anywhere near as well as their peers who are non-First Nations in terms of outcomes,” El-Gabalawy said.
Indigenous North Americans experience some of the highest rates of rheumatoid arthritis across the globe and are projected to have a lifespan 20 years shorter than their non-First Nations counterparts.
For El-Gabalawy, this provided a “strong impetus” to address these disparities through research.
In 2019, a paper co-authored by El-Gabalawy, “A Prospective Study of the Develop -
ment of Inflammatory Arthritis in the Family Members of Indigenous North American People with Rheumatoid Arthritis,” was published in The Journal of Rheumatology
The study tested a variety of characteristics and antibodies in 374 relatives of Indigenous people with rheumatoid arthritis.
widely quoted in the literature,” El-Gabalawy said. “We literally followed hundreds of people for many years to be able to publish that paper.”
He also emphasized the
“We are privileged to be part of the new wave of preventing an autoimmune disease before it ever starts”
— Hani El-Gabalawy, professor in the U of M’s Max Rady college of medicine
After around 4.7 years, researchers followed up with the relatives to see who had developed rheumatoid arthritis and compared them to those who did not. They compared their biology, symptoms and length of time until developing arthritis.
importance of screening for the risk of rheumatoid arthritis.
be tested for antibodies that indicate rheumatoid arthritis risk. This method is useful for screening Indigenous people, regardless of where they live.
“We can screen people who are hundreds of miles away without having to have complicated research teams traveling,” he explained.
“Screening is very important finding effective ways of preventing rheumatoid arthritis from starting.”
acids and vitamin D to prevent rheumatoid arthritis in at-risk people.
“We’ve shown in an animal model, in a mouse model of rheumatoid arthritis, that this can be very successful,” said El-Gabalawy. “Now, we are launching a clinical trial in people at risk to see if it reduces their risk.”
“We are privileged to be part of the new wave of preventing an autoimmune disease before it ever starts.”
“This really has been a landmark paper, and has been
Nutritional supplements, El-Gabalawy added, also present an area of future research. His team is working with a combination of curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, omega-3 fatty graphic / Fumnaya Ifeadi / volunteer
A new finger stick blood test allows individuals to simply put a small stick in their finger, put a drop of blood on blotting paper, place it in an envelope, and mail it to El-Gabalawy’s lab. There, it will
El-Gabalawy motivates aspiring researchers by emphasizing, “If you have a passion for research, the most important thing [...] is to find the right question.”
He added that once you do, tenacity, dedication and passion are essential to overcoming obstacles and achieving your goals.
Carolyn Wang VP Finance & Operations vpfo@umsu.ca
Bolu Akindele VP Student Life vpsl@umsu.ca
Divya Sharma President pres@umsu.ca
Prabhnoor Singh VP External Affairs vpea@umsu.ca
Rachhvir Dhaliwal VP University Affairs vpua@umsu.ca
UMSU is hosting a year-long Mental Health Campaign to combat the stigma associated with mental illness, and promote self-care through activities such as art therapy, yoga therapy, and pet therapy.
Proteins as nutritional tools
Unlocking the potential of peptides to improve human health
Rhea Bhalla, staff
High blood pressure is a leading risk factor for heart disease and affects close to one in four Canadian adults. Cancer causes around a quarter of deaths annually. Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia affect over 650,000 Canadians, a number that is expected to almost triple by 2050.
What do these three diseases have in common? For Rotimi Aluko, U of M professor in the faculty of agricultural and food sciences, they are the targets of research aimed at using proteins as nutritional tools to improve health outcomes.
Whether it is found in a hamburger or soybeans, proteins are large biological molecules made up of units called amino acids that are needed for the body to function properly.
“What we do is very special,” Aluko said. “We deconstruct nature’s assembly of proteins. How do we do that? We simply add enzymes.”
Enzymes, Aluko explained, are the biological equivalent of scissors. Adding an enzyme to a protein allows it to cut the protein at certain points, resulting in fragments. These fragments of protein, called peptides, are studied for their potential health implications.
“You eat it and you can actually benefit in terms of improved health,” he said.
One component of Aluko’s work examined the ability of these peptides to treat high blood pressure, a “silent killer,” in which the heart works harder to pump blood and the force of blood straining the artery walls is abnormally high.
By performing customized cutting of certain proteins identified in terms of their function, a group of specialized peptides are produced with the ability to reduce blood pressure. While these peptides act similarly to anti-hypertensive drugs, which also lower blood pressure, they are consumed as constituents with food.
said, “the fact that we can eat food and not just benefit in terms of normal body growth for your muscles, but actually in terms of being able to have lower blood pressure.”
He emphasized the poten-
to reduce the ability of cells to grow excessively,” Aluko said.
This excessive growth, he noted, is cancer.
“That is something that we’re very proud of, the fact that we can eat food and [benefit by having] lower blood pressure”
Aluko highlighted that, when fed to rats, these peptides were shown to reduce blood pressure. Following the trial on rats, similar findings were observed on a study of human volunteers in Winnipeg.
— Rotimi Aluko, U of M professor in the faculty of agricultural and food sciences
tial of peptides as an alternative or additional nutritional tool for patients who might otherwise be heavily medicated.
“That is something that we’re very proud of,” Aluko
“Another thing we looked at is the potential for peptides
Cancer occurs when mutations in cells cause them to bypass apoptosis, the normal, healthy process of cell death. Cancerous cells grow and divide uncontrollably, using up the body’s oxygen and nutrient resources and impairing normal bodily functions, like the immune system. Cancer is the leading cause of death in Canada and is experienced by nearly half of Canadians during their lifetime.
“The peptides that we gen-
erated from food can actually bind to one of the principal molecules in a cell that encourages the cell to grow too much,” Aluko explained.
“Our peptide combines with it and then can prevent the cell from getting the signal to go.”
Beyond high blood pressure and cancer, Aluko’s team is also working to use customized peptide sequences to prevent the memory loss associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is a disorder of the brain that causes slow deterioration of the memory and cognitive skills, as well as behaviour and personality changes. While the causes of Alzheimer’s disease are not fully understood, they may include changes in the brain such as shrinking, inflammation and a loss of
neurons.
“Some of the peptides that we were able to produce are also able to bind to the principal enzyme in the brain that basically causes the loss of memory,” Aluko said.
“They help by binding to this enzyme in the brain and then can keep the enzyme at bay and prevent the enzyme from causing reactions that lead to memory loss.”
The objective of Aluko’s work is for the practical applications of proteins as nutritional tools to be recognized.
“I would love to really see our inventions eventually translated into products in the market that anybody can just go, and buy and use it to improve their health,” Aluko said. “That will be my ultimate goal.”
graphic / Michele Melendez / volunteer
Respecting boundaries with parasocial relationships
Parasocial bonds can enhance identity, but celebrities face the danger of it
Emma Winram, staff
It is easy to become immersed in the world of social media. Following influencers that pique your interests is exactly the type of escapism one may need. Some people find comfort in listening to a Joe Rogan podcast, watching the Kardashian’s latest drama or analyzing the lyrics of a Taylor Swift song. Although, when someone begins to invest emotional energy, time and interest into consuming media from a content creator, it becomes a parasocial relationship.
A parasocial relationship is a one-sided relationship fans have with their favourite celebrities. Content creators have no idea who the individuals are that know their favourite foods, their pets’ names or details about their relationships. Creators share experiences with their fans to be personable and fans begin to see these creators as friends – even close friends, perhaps.
Parasocial relationships can be an innocent pastime for people, but for some, it can become an unhealthy obsession that leads to the creators becoming uncomfortable.
Recently, pop artist Chappell Roan’s rise to fame has led her to speak out about how fans can be invasive in her life. She said in a recent TikTok video, “It’s weird how people think that you know a person just because you see them online and you listen to the art they make […] I’m allowed to say no to creepy behaviour, okay?”
Roan stated on TikTok that some fans followed her around, “stalked” her family and even demanded photos or hugs in public when she was clear that she did not want to. Of course, this earned
her some backlash. People believe if celebrities stand up for themselves and set boundaries, then they are ungrateful for the fame their fans have brought them.
who share similar interests, experts say.”
Roan’s openness and con-
Putting creators on a pedestal where fans can say or do whatever they want to them is not what fan culture is about
In an Instagram post, Roan responded to this by saying, “I chose this career path because I love music and art and honouring my inner child, I do not accept harassment of any kind because I chose this path, nor do I deserve it.”
Roan reminded fans that boundaries must be set for artists. Without boundaries, the appeal to create art for the masses becomes significantly less. “I feel more love than I ever have in my life,” she wrote. “I feel the most unsafe I have ever felt in my life.”
A parasocial relationship can easily lead to obsessive behaviour, as per Roan’s situation, but there are healthy aspects to parasocial relationships.
According to a publication in Developmental Psychology, parasocial relationships can help adolescents, in particular, form an identity and develop autonomy. These researchers concluded that associating emotions with people at a distance creates a “safe forum” for people to experiment with different ways of being.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people were isolated in their homes and gravitated toward online communities to decrease loneliness.
Angela Haupt, a defender of the parasocial relationship, writes in TIME, “parasocial bonds are launching pads into fulfilling online and in-person connections with fans
fidence online attract fans to her, but this might lead some to believe that they truly know
her and that she wants to know them too. Understanding that Roan’s online persona is not the real her is a step toward a healthy parasocial relationship. Fans are encouraged to enjoy and appreciate creators. Without fans, there would be no creators. But most import-
antly, fans must remember that creators are human too. Putting creators on a pedestal where fans can say or do whatever they want to them is not what fan culture is about. Be sure to respect the boundaries of your favourite creators so they continue to do what they love while producing content you love.
graphic / Teegan Gillich / staff
Confessions of an AI user: A call for intentional use
Students and educators must understand AI’s potential
India Schlegel, staff
Artificial intelligence (AI) discussions are quickly becoming a regular conversation in the classroom. Each professor and student is tasked with managing the AI conversation and deciding what is allowed and what is not. Alongside the conversation has come debate, both spoken and unspoken. The reality is that the technology is here. Exactly how we will manage it is yet to be seen.
AI is simply technology that aims to mimic human intelligence. And it comes in many shapes and forms.
AI tools have been around for some time. Grammarly, for example, is a commonly used resource. Released in 2009, it outdates ChatGPT, which came out in 2022. Even before that, we had the predictive text technology from T9, which was invented in 1995. T9 was a predictive text technology designed for cell phones, creating ease when texting with only nine keys.
All of these tools count as AI. So why are they viewed so differently?
For one, they are all different types of AI.
T9 used machine learning register keys pressed to words in the dictionary, incorporating users’ frequency of use into their predictions. This technology developed into what we see now in Microsoft Word, Gmail and even search engine’s predictive text. While the guidelines on academic misconduct using AI at U of M are somewhat vague, predictive texts count as AI and run the risk of committing academic misconduct when used. Despite them being automatically integrated into most software.
Grammarly could get you in trouble too and is also included in the list of software that U of M counts as AI and, therefore, prohibited. Grammarly uses natural language processing. Natural language processing (NLP) is a type of artificial intelligence which uses machine learning to interpret human language fluently. Not unlike T9, it uses machine learning driven by user data to check grammar and spelling, indicate tone, and edit your writing for clar-
ity. The difference is the complexity at which it can understand the human language inputted and the complexity of suggestions it can output.
In 2023, Grammarly integrated generative AI into its technology. Generative AI is the same AI technology used by the notorious ChatGPT. AI is littered throughout all our technology. Even search engines use weak forms of AI. So, what makes these technologies different? Why did ChatGPT spark a significant conversation?
Generative AI, unlike the other forms of AI discussed above, can create novel content without repeating the data that trained it. It takes AI a step further than NLP. ChatGPT is the face of it; coming out in 2022, being entirely free to access via internet and being an easy-to-use chatbot made it groundbreaking in both generative AI technology and
ness of Google and where it is lacking. The U of M Libraries state that Google is helpful for finding general information but is not practical for aca- demic research.
crucial knowledge and experience?
accessibility and usability.
However, this is not the first time educators have worried about students’ reliance on technology. Googling was especially problematic when it gained popularity. Teachers are concerned about students’ expectations of finding information easily and whether those sources would be reliable or credible. If you grew up in the internet age, you remember hearing “don’t believe everything you read online” from a teacher or parent.
Now, we have clearly stated guidelines around the useful-
As students, we know. We have been taught to identify reputable sources and use others for comprehen- sion, not citations. We have been taught and learned how to use Google to our advantage, not our detriment. If Google had been banned, and you feared being reprimanded for using it, would you have gained this
New technology welcomes technological panic. The bad press and overemphasized debate surrounding new tech can lead to ill-advised bans and restrictions. I believe this is what we are seeing with generative AI. Currently, the U of M bans all forms of AI, from predictive text to NLPs to generative. Could this negate an opportunity for us as students, educators and administration to be transparent about the benefits and cautious about the harms?
This is the conversation we should be having.
imagine information and come up with citations to academic articles, court cases, etc. And users need to be wary of these inaccuracies.
Even critics of AI list both the benefits and pitfalls. Pitfalls that might first come to mind are academic integrity and plagiarism. Misusing AI can mean cheating, taking a robot’s work and passing it off as your own.
Generative AI can also
It comes with bias. The data fed to AI is biased. Therefore, the data exported from AI may also be biased. Among others, AI also takes an immense amount of computing power, making energy use an issue of sustainability.
On the other hand, Marc Watkins, a writing and rhetoric lecturer at the University of Mississippi, experimented with an AI working group to explore AI’s possibilities. The group used AI as a counterargument generator and brainstorming tool.
The result was that AI as a writing tool helped boost creativity and aid the students’ writing process. Watkins’ account was hopeful and practical while still stressing the importance of understanding the limitations of AI. The biggest issue is that students remain unclear about what usage is acceptable and what is prohibited. It is essential that educators and students alike can make clear and informed decisions about AI use while honouring the pursuit of knowledge and academic integrity.
My call to action: use AI. Use it just once, or use it daily or weekly — experiment with how it can be used in academia and how it can be used personally. It has been found that those who actually use AI, even moderately, quickly begin to understand its benefits. Treat it as a tool like we do any other technology.
I am not saying you should use it to complete an assignment. If not for any other reasons, it produces crappy writing. But it is an advanced technology with many possibilities that are to our advantage. How will we learn what those are if we are too stubborn or too scared to try them? And even worse, to talk about them?
graphic / Fumnaya
Ifeadi / volunteer
Media consumption: Trapped in information planets
Social media algorithms isolate and entrap users
Karl Pulver, volunteer
M
edia consumption has come to dominate our perception of reality and truth. In a world that prioritizes profit over information, our own media consumption habits have defined our political understandings and daily lives.
Today, we consume information at a spectacular rate, more than ever before in world history. According to one study conducted by Meltwater, 500 million years of collective human time is spent on social media each year.
This staggering statistic reveals our dependence on this form of consumption within the contemporary age. Social media, and generally digital media, is how the majority of people now interact with the world. News, art and literature are all available with the push of a button.
The internet and social media, in all its vastness, should offer an experience akin to an exploration of an ever-expanding universe of the human condition. Even with limitless opportunities for information, we are collectively less informed. Instead, we live in wildly different worlds that drive us
into tailored media landscapes. The distance and isolation between these landscapes may as well be different planets.
For many, if not all, this is obvious. We have all had bizarre and often frustrating interactions with some of our closest peers and even family members. Conversations can quickly lead to tense arguments as we suffer a major disconnection between our conflicting worldviews.
This phenomenon is often described as an echo chamber. Though this term describes a similar phenomenon, I believe it does not articulate the full scope of the problem. Our information planets are, in fact, a massive network of echo chambers each more pervasive and isolating than the last. Even those who appear to be the most in their own world will always be one more entrenched and isolated.
itics.
Social media has served to justify the bizarre and most extreme positions in our politics. Many may shudder to be reminded of the American presidential debate only a few weeks ago, when a presidential candidate repeated a social media lie that immigrants were eating pets. This is an obviously outrageous claim but one echoed by people with immense power.
People who repeat these messages are not inherently malicious but rather only assert the false realities that they have learned from sources they trust. Of course, those sources are inaccurate, but when those sources claim that they are the sole arbiters of truth, it is difficult to break away from this and trust other more reliable sources.
It is no secret that social media is a for-profit business.
Our information planets are, in fact, a massive network of echo chambers each more pervasive and isolating than the last
These different worlds that we live in, unfortunately, do not end at the smartphone but instead seep inside our pol-
This sort of media politics is also very present here in Canada. Over the past months, we have seen a dramatic uptick of anti-immigrant sentiment online, completely spurred by social media. There have been terrible lies spread about our communities, and those who are stuck within their own information planets do not question these narratives. Instead, they repeat them, inevitably leading to destructive ramifications for our community.
The algorithms meant to improve user experience, instead, isolate and entrap us in our own worlds. These algorithms work as intended, keeping us online and engaged. With the amount of time we collectively spend on these platforms, it is no wonder that this, to many, is the sole means by which we engage and learn about the world. This is at the crux of our issue, as though for-profit media drives us into terrible isolation, we cannot escape its grasp. It is driven by content influenced by those who benefit the most from media engagement.
Online media may come with a slew of negative attributes, but its potential to lead us to a golden age of information is still possible. Even those most aware of our division will not wish to destroy social media. The benefits of the internet and the vastness of information available through it may still lead us to a golden age. How we consume it, however, must change.
One day this could be achieved through a more independent media landscape, not solely driven by profit margins but instead driven by our shared values and desire to engage with one another. Until that day comes our greatest strength is our own awareness.
We cannot expect everyone to fully grasp media literacy, nor can we expect us all to responsibly seek out the truth, but we can attempt to liberate ourselves from this involuntary isolation. Through active and deliberate attempts to inform ourselves, we can one day lift off from our planet and achieve a healthier approach to online media.
Breaking the silence: Consent and sexual violence
Empowering communities through peer-led workshops on consent and empathy
Thandeka Katsika, volunteer
Over the summer break, I was job searching on the UM Connect page and came across an advertisement for the position of Healthy Relationships regulator. As I did research on the job, I read about the Healthy Relationships workshop, which is peer-led and promotes an environment of consent on campus.
violence is inappropriate and somehow more taboo than sexual violence itself.
Continuing these conversations is necessary. They are slowly removing the stigmas that surround talking about sexual violence. There are a number of reasons why people
labelled as either a promiscuous person or a liar.
It challenges the ideas society gave me — that speaking about sexual violence is inappropriate and somehow more taboo than sexual violence itself
The idea of this workshop intrigued me. Growing up, I almost never spoke about sex. Even the sound of the word made me flinch. And so now, being older and seeing that sexual relationships and violence can be spoken about publicly and respectfully is refreshing. It challenges the ideas society gave me — that speaking about sexual
feel uneasy talking about consent and sexual assault. The first and most destructive to our community being the fear of not being believed. I think the amount of courage it takes to come out and speak about a traumatic experience should be applauded, but unfortunately, it is sometimes met with skepticism and judgment. Somehow, the victim is made to feel at fault instead of the aggressor by being
Workshops like Healthy Relationships do not automatically fix the way the entire community views survivors, but they do provide a noncritical space for people to share their experiences. It is a safe haven for people to tell their stories without being concerned about a label that might be thrown onto them.
The safe space also extends to people who are less informed about consent. We live in a diverse community with people who come from all kinds of backgrounds. Some communities are less inviting of conversations about sexual violence. So, education about these
sations in the past. It allows them to ask questions, follow-up questions and even follow-follow-up questions if they need to. It ensures that people treat other people with respect in their relationships and are aware of the respect they are due.
The importance of platforms discussing consent is clear. However, certain etiquette is required to maximize the effectiveness of these talks.
Empathy leads the pack. This involves being able to feel for people with a different experi- ence than yours, not comparing the two or
not want their story shared by anyone else, so it is important to respect that boundary. Anything anyone shares in confidence should be kept in confidence.
Lastly, respect. People’s experiences with consent and sexual relationships differ. While some people are more open about their experiences, others are simply not ready to share, which must be respected. No one should ever feel forced into prematurely sharing their story.
It is encouraging to see the increase in conversations surrounding consent and the continuous improvement of how they are handled.
While there are several things older generations can point out that we do wrong, I believe we do this right. I know our generation cares about sexual violence. We care about allowing people to feel heard and
topics may not have been offered to everyone growing up. Having a platform where you can ask questions and gain a real understanding of consent is important for people who have not been exposed to these conver-
rationalizing anything.
Empathy goes a long way in making spaces comfortable for all.
Closely following empathy is discretion. Many people do
understood. We care about how safe people feel in our community, and we care about learning as much as we can to keep people safe in our community. It is not our ability to fight a war or write a paper without ChatGPT that gives me hope. It is our generation’s empathy and love that will exceed all expectations and leave a positive impact on humanity.
graphic / Fumnaya Ifeadi / volunteer
graphic / The Manitoban Archives
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.
Reel Pride film festival returns with a focus on family
The 39th annual festival showcases queer films and art
Thandi Vera, staff
We are all part of a family, whether it is one we are born into or one we choose.
That is the idea behind this year’s theme for the Reel Pride Film Festival, We Are Family, which runs from Sept. 24 to 28 at Winnipeg’s Gas Station Arts Centre. The annual event, organized by the Winnipeg Gay and Lesbian Film Society, is celebrating its 39th edition.
“We’re all born with a pronoun, but as we take possession of ourselves, and of our own futures and our own bodies and everything else, we decide what our pronouns are going to be,” said Ray Desautels, president of Reel Pride. “It’s like that with family. People are born into a biological family and for some people, that’s not a great circumstance. And later on in life, they choose their family.”
Desautels said the festival has become a cornerstone for the 2SLGBTQ+ community, showcasing films that reflect a wide variety of queer experiences from around the world.
The festival, which began in 1985 as part of a grassroots movement to bring 2SLGBTQ+ stories to Winnipeg’s cinema screens, has grown significantly.
Originally a series of monthly film nights advertised through mail-outs, formally became Reel Pride in 2000. Since its inception, nearly 1,000 films have been shown, many of which would otherwise have never been screened in Manitoba.
This year’s lineup includes nine feature films, many of which have never been shown in Manitoba before, along with a collection of short films by emerging Canadian queer filmmakers.
The films come from diverse backgrounds, with entries from Egypt, France, Greece, Canada and Hong Kong. Each reflects unique facets of 2SLGBTQ+ life, with all films selected this year exploring strong themes of chosen family.
Desautels indicated that the full feature films are acquired in two ways. “We look for [the films] and now because we’re getting quite well known we have distributors from all over the world that send us films,” he said. “So, we look at maybe 20 or 30 films and from there we select eight that we choose for the festival.”
One of the festival’s highlights is the Canadian 2SLGBTQ+ Short Film Competition, part of the program since 2004. The competition gives
young and emerging queer filmmakers from across the country the opportunity to showcase their work.
“And for the short films, there’s a call across Canada that goes out. And the young filmmakers, emerging filmmakers, queer filmmakers send us their films,” he said.
“There’s a committee that sits down and looks at that and from all the ones we receive, we choose fifteen of them. Those are shown and they’re awarded prizes throughout the festival.”
The festival also includes an art show, which will be on display every day at the Gas Station Arts Centre. The exhibit
features work by local queer artists, with all the proceeds going directly to the artists.
“Arts isn’t just media film, so we wanted to expand that to give the young queer artists a place to display their work. There isn’t, you know, a unique place for them to come and show their work,” Desautels said.
Reel Pride has relied heavily on volunteers and community support to keep the festival running. From the beginning, the festival has been a volunteer-driven effort, and that has not changed.
“We’re always looking for people to join our board and join the committee. We can
always use another set of hands another set of eyes the more people that can help us pick movies the better movies,” he said.
Reel Pride is already planning for its 40th anniversary next year, and Desautels is hopeful about the future.
“We have to continue looking at it being a place where the community can congregate and get together and celebrate and hear our voices, especially in this time where there’s lots of hate out there, and that seems to be growing,” Desautels said “I think it’s more important that we be visible and that our voices be heard.”
Despite the challenges the festival has faced, including an increase in hate messages on social media, Desautels remains committed to the festival’s mission.
“If we start to sit back, the hate grows and the hate wins,” he said.
“We’ve never had as much hate messages and stuff as we have this year on our social media, we’re deleting it constantly. And to me that reinforces the need that this has not gone away. The fight is not over.”
For more information and to view the full schedule of films, visit reelpride.ca.
A scene from A House Is Not a Disco. The documentary explores the evolving queer community of Fire Island Pines amid climate change and rising seas.
photos provided / Reel Pride
A scene from All Shall Be Well, screening Friday, Sept. 27 at 9 p.m. The film follows Angie, a woman in her 60s, navigating grief and inheritance challenges in Hong Kong’s queer community.
Winnipeg lights up the night
An evening of creativity, public art and surprise awaits at Nuit Blanche
Thandi Vera, staff
Prepare for a night where the ordinary turns extraordinary — Nuit Blanche is back this weekend to light up Winnipeg with a whirlwind of art, imagination and latenight surprises.
This free event, taking place on Sept. 28, invites Winnipeggers to immerse themselves in a diverse range of artistic installations and performances, with each piece encouraging participation, contemplation and wonder.
Since its Winnipeg debut in 2010, Nuit Blanche has become a beloved tradition, part of Culture Days, a national movement aimed at raising awareness and engagement with the arts across Canada.
Originating in Paris in 1984, Nuit Blanche has spread to cities worldwide, offering a unique nighttime experience where art intersects with the urban landscape.
This Saturday, the Exchange District and downtown will serve as the backdrop for hundreds of art lovers to explore creativity through installations, performances and workshops hosted by artists, galleries and independent curators.
One of the featured pieces this year is Concentrate and Ask Again, an installation by local artists Ian August and Andrew Bart.
This larger-than-life magic 8-ball, glowing under purple lights and enveloped in fog, will be displayed in Elgin Alleyway, providing answers to visitors’ most pressing questions. Participants are invited to ask their questions aloud, and the 8-ball will respond, much like the familiar toy that many have turned to for fun guidance over the years.
The creators, long-time friends and collaborators, are thrilled to be part of Nuit Blanche, bringing their playful, interactive concept to life for the public.
“We feel great. We feel super excited. The idea kind of came together and once we got the opportunity to do it, we’re very happy,” said August.
Bart added, “as long-time participants in Nuit Blanche from the other side, just going and enjoying the art. I think it’s a super great event, and to be able to show some artwork at it is like double the fun.”
Their journey from Nuit Blanche attendees to artists was fueled by years of attending similar events in Winnipeg and Toronto.
For August, the opportunity to create something that engages the public and invites
interaction was key.
“I always kind of thought if I had the chance to do it, what would I do? I wanted to be able to do a fun one. So then when I actually got the chance, it was kind of hard to think of one that would actually work and be good,” he said.
The creative process was not marked by an immediate flash of inspiration. Instead, it was a gradual unfolding of ideas, with the artists working to ensure the installation would engage visitors for a prolonged period, keeping them entertained while prompting introspection.
“We were trying to think of, like, does it work for one person, or does it work for a whole bunch of people at the same time? Can different groups use it at the same time? Is it engaging enough to stand around and look at?” August said.
“The 8-ball is a bit of a weird symbol. I think it’s been around since the 50s, it’s kind of like the toy that nobody really plays with that much
but it’s the one that you can still have in your house at any age.”
For Bart, working on the project has been an enjoyable experience.
“This project kind of just blended our two skills really nicely, […] with the video and the sculptural nature of this particular piece,” said Bart. “And this one was fun […] Even just today, we were driving around trying to pick up all the different parts.”
For those looking to experience a different side of Nuit Blanche, the event will feature a wide variety of installations and performances, each offering a different take on contemporary art.
One such piece is moonGARDEN with Spectra by artist Anna Binta Diallo. This captivating light installation, located in Old Market Square, will bring the cosmos to life with a mesmerizing array of human, animal, celestial and natural silhouettes.
Drawing inspiration from mythology and folklore, Spec-
tra encourages visitors to contemplate how various cultures perceive cosmic phenomena such as eclipses and moon phases.
Meanwhile, those with an appreciation for dance will want to explore Phantom Dances, a hybrid contemporary dance work by Thomas Oberlin and Natalie Sluis, graduates of the School of Contemporary Dancers’ Senior Professional Program.
Set to projections and intricate choreography, Phantom Dances explores themes of connection, loss and self-destruction, asking what happens when someone you depend on is no longer around.
For fans of drag performance, The Longest Continuous Drag Show at 171 McDermot Avenue promises to dazzle. The interactive show features local drag artists showcasing their talents in a bid to break the record for Canada’s longest continuous drag show.
In addition to these installations, Manitoba Music will
partner with the Canadian Museum for Human Rights to provide an immersive auditory experience. Local musicians, including Louie Lovebird, Gully, Osani, MA BWE and the Kaptain, will perform throughout the night, offering festival-goers an opportunity to enjoy live music while engaging with interactive art exhibits.
“It’s always really exciting, and that’s what I’m most excited for — to show this off and to see the people out, letting them enjoy it because we’ve just been giddy over here laughing about it and making it happen.”
August echoed his sentiment, emphasizing how public art is vital to Winnipeg’s culture. “It’s really encouraging when you see how many people want to come out and see public art. It shows how important public art is to the city.”
For more information and a full schedule of events, visit nuitblanchewinnipeg.ca.
Trails of Light, a stiltwork program in LED costumes, will be performing throughout the Exchange District.
photos provided / Nuit
Blanche
The moonGARDEN exhibition will be featured in the Old Market Square.
Bisons football remains undefeated this season
The herd achieves four wins in a row for the first time since 2007
Abdul-Jalilu Ahmed, staff
The U of M Bisons football team is holding onto their impeccable and phenomenal start to the season following a crucial win at the University of Calgary against the Dinos on Saturday, Sept. 21. The herd – ranked number five nationally – plucked a victory with a 22-17 score and remained undefeated in four consecutive games for the first time since winning the Vanier Cup in 2007.
The win against the Calgary Dinos becomes a firsttime victory for Bisons football since the 2014 Hardy Cup.
The Bisons announced their presence and ambitions after winding up the first quarter with 7-2 score. With four minutes and 11 seconds remaining in the quarter, Breydon Stubbs piled up an 18-yard run after connecting with a Maya Turner kick, putting the
Bisons ahead. The drive was nine plays and 75 yards.
The second quarter was all action filled with incessant attacks from the Calgary Dinos, staging a comeback to claim a win with 13-0 score.
Evan Smith had a three-yard run while Matthieu Clarke made use of a 40-yard pass from Dom Britton.
The third quarter had little to offer for both teams after ending with 2-1 score for the Calgary Dinos.
The Bisons turned up the heat on their opponent following a ferocious performance and a well-rehearsed approach to complete the fourth quarter at 14-0 score.
Quarterback Jackson Tachinski had a reason to smile with a 14-yard run with a good kick from Maya Turner. The drive was nine plays and 68 yards.
The Bisons pulled another resounding display, finding
the endzone twice in the final frame and held a five-point edge with a minute and 26 seconds left to play.
“It’s cool to be undefeated to this point, and that’s a cool little fact, but we can’t get too ahead of ourselves,” said Tachinski to Bison Sports. “We just need to focus on the week at hand, which is Regina.”
The Bisons’ victory at McMahon Stadium makes a compelling mark to what may be a delightful season for the team and retiring head coach Brian Dobie.
On the Canada West league standing, the herd sits on top with eight points, followed by Alberta, British Columbia and Regina with four points each.
The Bisons football will host the Regina Rams on Saturday, Sept. 28, at the Princess Auto Stadium.
Bisons soccer lose to Alberta Pandas at home Team
opened the scoring but conceded four goals
Abdul-Jalilu Ahmed, staff
The U of M women’s soccer team lost 2-4 to the Alberta Pandas on Sunday, Sept. 22 at the Princess Auto Stadium. The Bisons soccer team made efforts to carry the day, but that was not enough amidst defensive blunders.
Shannon Lee and Nyema Prentice-Whyte scored a goal each for the Bisons while Makenna Van der Veen and Wanda Czebreszuk found the back of the net for the Alberta team.
The Bisons made an attempt for a goal a minute into the proceedings, but the ball went into the waiting arms of Alberta goalkeeper Autumn Wynn.
The Bisons pushed through in the fifth minute through a spectacular free kick converted by Shannon Lee. She lofted the ball with power over the opponent’s defenders which landed at the wide side of the net, as goalkeeper Autumn Wynn was unable to stop the ball.
Alberta fetched the equalizer in the 20th minute following a free kick superbly executed by Makenna Van der Veen.
Four minutes later, the Bisons came close to adding another goal, but goalkeeper Autumn Wynn was alert to prevent the ball from crossing the goal line.
Between the 25th to 30th minute was end-to-end action from both sides mixed with attack, but the two goalkeepers handled the situations with caution.
Makenna Van der Veen had a brace after scoring the second goal for Alberta in the 33rd minute. She had the ball in the Bisons’ half, navigated through the defense and calmly rounded off goalkeeper Holly Dyker to slot the
ball into the net for a 2-1 score.
The Bisons pushed for a leveler but that was made impossible by Alberta’s
/
half as they conceded the third goal in the 55th minute through Wanda Czebreszuk’s strike.
“We’re definitely not happy, but like always, there’s going to be some positives we can take away from today, and we want to focus on those and think about what we can do better to improve for next weekend”
—
Jessica Tsai, Bisons women’s soccer captain
defense, ending the first half 2-1 for the visiting team.
The story did not change for the Bisons in the second
Two minutes later, Makenna Van der Veen had her personal hat trick and the fourth goal for Alberta after sending a low drive shot which could not be saved by Bisons goalkeeper Holly Dyker. Nyema Prentice-Whyte reduced the Bisons’ deficit
after connecting to a pass in the 68th minute.
Jessica Tsai, captain for the Bisons team, came close to scoring for Bisons deep into stoppage time, but the connecting ball moved away from the chance of a goal.
The game wrapped up 4-2 against the Bisons soccer team.
Tsai said that “obviously, we’re not happy about the results. We’re university-level athletes. We’re not here just to have fun. We want to win games. We’re definitely not happy, but like always, there’s going to be some positives we can take away from today, and we want to focus on those and think about what we can do better to improve for next weekend.”
“First of all, we will work a lot on the defensive side of the game,” said head coach Vanessa Martinez. “Just being more compact. Have more communication. Clear the balls far and wide […] and keeping the intensity. You know, keeping the intensity for the whole duration of the game and the focus. That’s something we’re going to keep emphasizing.”
The Bisons soccer team has lost five of the last six games. Their next game will be on Saturday, Sept. 28 against the Calgary Dinos.
