sity filed a statement of defence and counterclaim in response to a lawsuit brought forward by Penn-co Construction at the end of August.
Penn-co was contracted to by the university to build the Churchill Marine Observatory (CMO) — a multidisciplinary research facility located in Churchill that received a grand opening on Aug. 27.
Three days later, Penn-co filed a lawsuit against the university seeking nearly $2.6 million in compensation. The company alleged that that the “the university has been unjustly enriched to the detri-
ment of Penn-co” — a claim which the university denies.
The CMO project contract was entered in two phases with approximately $20.5 million in estimated fees. The phase 1 contract price was slightly over $14.6 million, while the phase 2 contract price was over $5.8 million.
Phase 1 was entered in 2017, entailing the construction of the main building, while phase 2 was entered in 2019, covering the construction of the pumphouse and pipeline from the CMO building nearby inlet of Hudson Bay.
In the defence statement, the university said that the phase 1 work reached a sub-
stantial performance on or about May 17, 2021, and phase 2 work on or about Nov 30, 2021. However, the university denied that Penn-co properly completed all phase 1 and phase 2 work in accordance with its contractual obligations.
The university also refuted all Penn-co’s claims of entitlement to additional compensation.
In response to their entitlement claim for compensation for COVID-19 protocols, the university, according to the defence statement, said that “any delays in Penn-co’s
October marks sustainability month at
the U of M
Sylvester Delali Agbado, staff
October is sustainability month at the U of M. The goal is for university community members to engage in efforts that foster a more climate-friendly environment.
The university’s Climate Action Plan highlights four key areas individuals can significantly impact — energy and buildings, transportation, waste and land restoration.
Christie Nairn, director of the U of M’s office of sustainability, shared that her office is focusing on grassroots efforts to achieve sustainability and climate action goals for this year’s sustainability month celebration.
As part of this year’s sustainability month project, a new web page has been launched to provide information and resources. “We have a new intranet page that is helping staff and faculty learn about different resources that can help integrate sustainability into their jobs,” said Nairn.
“So that intranet page will include those resources, helpful tips and tricks in the realm of waste, transportation, land use and energy,” she added.
In addition, the office of sustainability has developed a campus sustainability map for both the Fort Garry and Bannatyne campuses that highlights different areas on campus where people can access different types of programs related to achieving sustainability in the university community.
“So whether it be the ReShop, our local reuse warehouse, or […] where EV charging is, and where you can park your bike in a secure lockup,” she said, “those sustainability maps focus on different things that are available to everybody on both our campuses.”
The green office program allows staff or faculty to sign up as a green office representative or “Go Rep.” This role helps them score their office
or faculty on sustainability practices. By working with the office of sustainability, they can continue improving their scores.
Another initiative the office of sustainability is considering is the “Residence Give and Go Program.” People who are moving in and out of the residences can donate the things they do not want to take with them. New residents can reuse these items, or they can be donated to a local charity. Nairn stated that this initiative will reduce waste on campus and provide items for people who may need them later.
During this sustainability month, there will be a series of programs and workshops. For instance, a workshop on sustainability will be held on Oct. 23 from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in partnership with the science innovation hub at the Graduate Students’ Association
Inaccurate billing for UMSU Health and Dental Plan
Students that opted out
during change-of-coverage period still assessed plan fees
Milan Lukes, staff
Students that opted out of coverage on time from the University of Manitoba Students’ Union (UMSU) Health and Dental Plan were still assessed the fees — up to $393 — in their Aurora account by the fall term tuition deadline.
The Enhanced Care UMSU Health and Dental Plan is a group insurance plan that provides health, dental, vision and travel coverage to undergraduate and graduate students. A legal consultation service is also included in the plan for undergraduate students.
The plan is provided by Studentcare, a collective insurance plan administrator that serves over a million students across the country.
Undergraduate students who are members of UMSU — registered in at least one on-campus course — and who are registered for least six credit hours of courses in the fall term are automatically covered in the plan. Full-time graduate students who are members of the University of Manitoba Graduate Students’ Association (UMGSA) are also automatically covered.
Fees for the UMSU Health and Dental Plan are directly added to student enrolment fees in Aurora, the university’s registration and student records management system. Students can opt out of the plan during the change-ofcoverage period with proof of other equivalent health and dental coverage.
For students that successfully opted out of the program during the change-of-cover-
age period from Aug. 30 to Sept. 25, fees for the plan were still assessed in their Aurora account by the Oct. 2 fall term tuition deadline.
An employee from the registrar’s office indicated that students who opted out on time and received an optout confirmation email would not have to pay the plan fees in their account. “And if they pay, that amount will come in as a credit on their account for winter or any future terms,” explained an employee from the registrar’s office.
Carolyn Wang, UMSU vice-president finance and operations, stated that “UMSU is concerned to hear that some students were still billed for the UMSU Health and Dental Plan and Legal Plan despite opting out before the opt out deadline.
“UMSU does not have control over the Studentcare website where students opt out of their plan, nor the University of Manitoba website, Aurora, where tuition fees are billed and paid,” said Wang.
“However, we have raised these concerns with Studentcare and will continue to do so until all of the issues are resolved. We are awaiting a meeting with both Studentcare and the University of Manitoba to seek further information on why this issue occurred.”
The Manitoban reached out to both Jeff Adams, university registrar and executive director of enrolment services, and Studentcare for comment. No responses were received by our deadline.
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RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY Divyata Gosai
COMMENT Quinn Mayhew
COMMENT Thandeka Katsika
ARTS & CULTURE Boris Tsun Hang Leung
ARTS & CULTURE Carrington Dong
SPORTS Faiyaz Chowdhury
SPORTS Israel Abejoye
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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.
The Manitoban is an independent and democratic student organization, open to participation from all students. It exists to serve its readers as students and citizens.
The Manitoban is a member of the Canadian University Press, and our journalistic standards can be found on the Manitoban’s website.
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University denies Penn-co Construction’s claim for
completion of the phase 1 work on account for laws, regulations, rules and standard and/or codes enacted by competent government authorities in response of the COVID-19 pandemic were not delays caused by the action of the university of consultant, or anyone engaged by them directly or indirectly.”
The university also disavowed the construction company’s claim for compensation on account of the process control panel, which they said was needed but was allegedly unavailable in the phase 1 contract documents.
The university’s response was that “the supply, installation, and operation of the process control panel was part of phase 1 contract work and that the supply, installation and operation of the process control panel were included in, or in the alternative, properly inferable form, the phase 1 contract document was marked therein in accordance with industry standards.”
“The university and the consultants [Prairie Architects Inc.] worked with Penn-co to modify the scope of Phase 1 work related to the process control panel so as to better conform with the shop drawings prepared by Penn-co,” read the response.
The university also claimed
in their statement of defence that the geotechnical report prepared by KGS Group, an engineering consulting firm, entailed an accurate representation of the construction site. This was in response to Penn-co’s claim that the sand pockets encountered during drilling in phase 2 work was not specified in the geotechnical report.
According to the statement of defense, “the university denies that the report by KGS Group contained errors as alleged or at all, and further denies that the phase 2 contract documents contained any inaccurate representation as alleged or at all.”
The university stated that “pursuant to the phase 2 contract, Penn-co was required to, and did, select the methodology by which it would complete the drilling that formed part of the phase 2 work, and that Penn-co and/or its subcontractor elected to employ a dry-drilling methodology.”
The final statement of defence was in response to the plaintiff’s lawsuit claim that the department of fisheries and ocean (DFO) delayed the assessment of the project.
According to the university, “KGS Group, a firm of engineers, acting at the behest of the university, undertook and completed said self-assessment and determined
that a review by the DFO was not necessary in the circumstances as the project would not cause serious harm, satisfying the applicable regulatory requirements.”
The university clarified that Penn-co did not reach out to their consultant or KGS Group to find out whether a self-assessment of the job site had been completed or if a review by the DFO was necessary.
“The university says that, on account of the timing of the tender and the dates upon which KGS carried out the self-assessment, a review by the DFO was unnecessary,” read the defence statement.
U of M counterclaim against Penn-co
In their counterclaim, the university stated that “Penn-co breached its obligation under the phase 1 contract and/or phase 2 contract, including any deficiency repair work and the common law duties it owed to the university.”
The counterclaim alleges that the university discovered several issues within the CMO facility, including pumphouse issues, fabric roof issues, heat trace issues and other deficiencies.
And even though the university and its consultant reached out to Penn-co and
Campus-wide efforts toward environmental goals
lounge.
Kevin Danner, chief executive officer of Carbon Lock Tech, will also give a talk about his business model. A climate action and sustainability innovation design competition will take place for student groups or students who want to get involved in campus sustainability throughout the year.
As part of the Climate Action Plan, the university has committed to reducing carbon emissions by 50 per cent by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2050. The office of sus-
“It used to be just our office, and now it’s a bunch of different pockets all over campus focusing on sustainability. So, it’s nice to have the community come together with kind of a collective action and forward thinking in sustainability”
month, the sustainability office encourages community members to avoid using single-occupancy vehicles. They are urged to share rides with the “GoManitoba” carpool matching service. “That’s just one of the measures that we’re taking to get people out of their own vehicles,” Nairn explained.
— Christie Nairn, director, U of M’s office of sustainability
Nairn added that in the last part of the month, the office of sustainability will launch the second year of the green investment fund. This fund focuses on having people apply to different sustainability projects that can be done on campus if they have some type of return on investment and show that they are meeting the university’s goals of the Climate Action Plan.
tainability, including the university community, is working to achieve these goals. Nairn said, “it used to be just our office, and now it’s a bunch of different pockets all over campus focusing on sustainability. So, it’s nice to have the community come together with kind of a collective action and forward thinking in sustainability.”
During sustainability
requested a remedy for the deficient work, Penn-co neglected their request, according to the counterclaim.
The university claims to have suffered several damages in an amount that will be proven at a trial due to Pennco’s breaches and incompetency.
“Penn-co knew, or ought to have known, that the university was relying upon Penn-co
to complete its work under the phase 1 contract and the phase 2 contract, including all required warranty and remedial work, in a good and workmanlike manner, in accordance with the phase 1 contract documents and phase 2 contract documents, and in accordance with its duties, contractual or otherwise,” read the counterclaim.
“In addition, the U-pass has tremendously helped with students accessing Winnipeg transit.”
Nairn asked university members to attend all events during sustainability month and urged everyone to follow the office of sustainability on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube for updates. She added that their doors are always open to anyone interested in contributing to sustainability issues.
photo courtesy of / University of Manitoba photo / Nischal Karki / staff
< Cont’d from front page
< Cont’d from front page
Calls for GPA’s Campus Convenience at Bannatyne campus
UMSU campaigns for convenience store at former health science bookstore
Milan Lukes, staff
he University of Mani-
Ttoba Students’ Union (UMSU) is calling for a GPA’s Campus Convenience at the Bannatyne campus. GPA’s Campus Convenience, located only on the Fort Garry campus in University Centre, is a convenience store that is run and operated by students seven days a week.
“Bringing UMSU’s GPA’s Convenience Store to the Bannatyne campus will improve access to basic necessities, creating a brighter, more convenient campus life for all community members,” reads an online petition started by UMSU.
The former health science bookstore (140 Brodie Centre), which has remained vacant since the onset of the pandemic, has been proposed as the location of the convenience store.
The idea of a GPA’s Campus Convenience at the downtown campus was advertised on UMSU’s social media in late September and mentioned during the UMSU Board of Directors meeting on Oct. 3.
“We’re trying to get an actual space where students can eat good food that’s fast,” said Divya Sharma, UMSU president. “It’s also important to note that we’ve heard from students at the other restaurants that are on that campus […] that it does not satisfy their needs.”
Sharma explained that GPA’s Campus Convenience offers culturally sensitive food options and selections that are local. Through collaboration with the university, Sharma hopes to offer other services in the location beyond selling food, citing that it is critical that students have the best experience possible.
“All the money that’s invested into that GPA’s-like store on the Bannatyne campus will go right back into students, so not only are we enhancing their lives, we’re also enhancing the union has a whole,” said Sharma.
An online petition in support of this initiative was started by UMSU on Sept. 23. As of publication, the petition has garnered 262 signatures. “Action is being taken regardless of the petition,” mentioned Sharma, adding that the petition will assist with this initiative.
Sharma noted that UMSU has already had discussions with Michael Benarroch, the university’s president and vice-chancellor, about this possibility.
Students interested in signing the petition in favour of a GPA’s Campus Convenience at the Bannatyne campus can do so at change.org/p/bannatyne-campus-gpas. photos / Nischal Karki / staff
Senate committee update on awards and research funding
New offers, revised awards and research funding disclosed at Senate committee
Ngozi Okose, staff
The U of M Senate has revised offers of student awards in agreement with the student awards policy.
At the meeting on Aug. 20, the Senate committee on awards approved 10 new offers, 27 revised offers and eight award withdrawals as outlined in the report of the Senate committee on awards. Todd Duhamel, chair of the Senate committee, submitted the policy.
Among the new offers are the Aftab and Zehra Mufti
scholarship for research in civil structural health monitoring which will award $5,000 annually to a graduate student in the Price faculty of engineering. Additionally, the Borden Ladner Gervais professional excellence bursary for law students will see a $500 increase in value to $2,000.
Some of the new awards include financial support and recognition across various faculties, such as the Dr. Elizabeth Boustcha bursary for female medical students
and the Dr. Kerry Galenzoski scholarship for contributions to the queer community in psychiatry or outreach.
There have been several amendments to some awards like the Tracy and Brian Bowman Bison swimming scholarship and the International Graduate Student scholarship. Meanwhile, eight awards, including the Barbara Jean Payne memorial award in social gerontology, department of mathematics entrance scholarships, NSERC Julie Payette graduate scholar-
ship, Wilhelm Guenter fellowship and the Roland Grandpre Asper MBA entrance scholarship are being withdrawn at the request of donors.
New research funding agreements that were processed between Jan. 1 and Jun. 30, totalling over $20,000 individually, amounted to more than $37 million as disclosed during the Oct. 2 Senate meeting.
The largest of these agreements, being $16,980,074, was received by James Blanchard of the college of medi-
cine from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Significant funding allocations were made to the college of medicine, the faculty of agricultural and food sciences and other faculties. Amendments to existing research agreements were made, resulting in additional funding for the college of medicine, college of nursing and the faculty of science.
Students eligible for $50k community change fellowship
Pathy Foundation fellowship now available to U of M students
Iyanda Ajuwon, staff
The Pathy Family Foundation and Coady Institute announced that the next Pathy Foundation fellowship will be accessible to students in every university within Canada.
For the first time, U of M students will be eligible for the $50,000 community change fellowship.
The Pathy Foundation fellowship is a twelve-month program that provides students with a fully funded opportunity to support their growth in their desired field.
This program is designed for students to be effective changemakers, develop meaningful connections with a community anywhere in the world and have an innovative idea of how the community should be strengthened.
It teaches students how to professionally develop a socially innovative project, enhance their capacity as an individual or leader and find solutions that can help the communities they have connections with.
Michelle LeDonne, the executive director of the Pathy
Family Foundation, stated that “the Pathy Foundation fellowship was established as a program for Canadian students to develop as leaders by investing themselves in a community and initiative that they are passionate about.”
LeDonne continued, “we feel that this program has a lot to offer, and we are proud to extend eligibility to youth across the country so that, true to its values, this program is inclusive and accessible to students who have the curiosity and desire to embark on this journey.”
In the last nine years, the Pathy Foundation fellowship has helped 84 recent graduates from Bishop’s University, Carleton University, McGill University, Queen’s University, St. Francis Xavier University and University of Ottawa achieve a transformative change in the communities they are passionate about.
Julia Weder, a fellowship alumnx from 2019-20, said in her testimonial, “[The Pathy Foundation fellowship] gave me the tools and confidence to build a supportive community where I work, and validated
courtesy of / Coady Institute
my determination to fight for a more beautiful world. I feel whole-heartedly that I’m in the right place, doing the right thing — that’s an incredible feeling.”
Each year, the program gives up to 12 students extensive support and up to $50,000 in funding to support their start-up and operational costs for ideas that will impact their community.
Also, the selected students
will be participating in different phases that will be completed within 13 months. This includes the foundations for community change, transition phase, community phase and a debriefing phase.
To be eligible for the Pathy Foundation fellowship, applicants must be a Canadian citizen and permanent resident, below the age of thirty years old and a full-time student in their final year of any pro -
gram. However, PhD, medical and dental students (past or present) are not eligible to apply.
The application for the Pathy Foundation Fellowship program starts on Sept. 1 and ends on Dec. 15, 2024.
For more information about the Pathy Foundation fellowship and to apply, visit pathyfellowship.com.
photo
2023-24 Pathy alumnx presents on her Pathy Foundation fellowship initiative to program personnel and community members
Bisons football player AK Gassama opens up on career
Gassama shares expectations and targets for the season
Abdul-Jalilu Ahmed, staff
The U of M Bisons football receiver AK Gassama is making strides this season.
Gassama talked about expectations and targets for the football team and student-athlete life to the Manitoban
The Manitoban: There are a lot of expectations from you. So then my concern would be, what is the target for this season? At the end of the season what should we be expecting or what have you guys targeted?
AK: I think for us, […] it’s funny because we start off the season and this is where the ‘win the day’ comes in because everybody’s goal is they want to win a championship, but I don’t think people understand how difficult it is to do that. You have to make sure first and foremost, you’re healthy, certain things that you can’t control. […] And I think, for us, our biggest target is to first get out of the Can West […], because then we go on to national semis and hopefully the Vanier Cup, which is our national championship.
So, that is the big goal at the end of the day is to win a championship. That’s what our sights are focused on, but you can’t look too far ahead and it’s so hard, but you need to be able to control every day, because when you look back, we have about 47 days until the Vanier Cup. We talk about that every day. Yesterday, coach Dobie said 48 days. Today’s 47 days. What are you doing on this 47th day to make sure you’re preparing to where we want to see ourselves at the end of the season.
M: I want to find out, you look at mid-term plans and then long-term plans, where do you want to find yourself?
AK: I had the opportunity to be blessed to be selected by the Blue Bombers in this past year’s draft. That was huge. I ended up getting sent back here to school for my last year. But, the plan is to go back into camp next year and go secure my spot, go and play professional football because, again, this is what I love to do. I’ve put a lot into this sport, into this craft and, I see myself continuing to play football for however long that allows me to, my body allows me to, my skill set.
So, again, that all comes back to continuing to work. But our whole motto with ‘win the day,’ you can’t look too far ahead, but I know what I do in these moments is going to prepare me and allow me to be ready for when my opportun-
ities come. So, always having the bigger picture in the back of the mind, but not making it engulf everything. And so, I think, again, if I’m working during the season, doing extra work, doing all that stuff, it’s only going to allow me to be better for the future.
M: I’m a student like yourself. So, let’s talk about student life. And most people want to know as a student and an athlete, you attended classes, you are playing week in, week out over the weekend. […] How are you able to combine classes, training and playing actively in order to make sure you maintain your position in the team and also maintain your position in class? How do you go about that?
AK: I think first and foremost, when you come to university, you’re committing yourself to this lifestyle. When you come from high school, you have the chance in high school, there’s a little bit more leniency, maybe in the way that you carry yourself. But here, once you know, we always talk about this, once you sign that letter of intent, that letter of commitment with this program, you’ve bought into everything that this comes with. And I think the biggest words I talk about is sacrifice, process, routine and balance, because you need to be able to sacrifice and understand that, okay, what it is I’m trying to create with these years as a student-athlete, well, first and foremost, is to get an education, right, which is the most important thing. It’s student-athlete, not athlete-student.
So, being able to balance that, what I want to see myself come out of these five years is I need to get an education, and by the grace of God, I’ve been able to be blessed with the opportunity to do so by playing the sport I love. […] So balance is another word that I’ll throw out, which is super important.
M: What would be a general perspective in regards to how an athlete could maintain discipline in as much as he or she is involved in any activity?
AK: I think I’ll kind of go piggyback, you know, what I was speaking on before. One thing […] we hear about, it sounds a bit cliché, but if you feel like you need motivation to do something every day, it’s just not going to work. Because motivation is a feeling which has a lot of highs and lows, right. But discipline, which is super important, I think that discipline is one of the highest forms of self-love. And I think
when you discipline yourself, you’re committing to seeing the highest version of yourself. And I think, and how to do that, is first and foremost, having a routine, right. When I talked about routine, it’s so important, but every routine is different for everybody. […] Also, with the routine, I think to stay disciplined is also allowing yourself to, again, know that there’s certain times where you need to adjust your routine, because again, there might be times where you might burn yourself out. Like if you can’t work for 18 hours straight, you know, so having times and
okay, in this routine, I might need time where I just, I just maybe scroll on social media, doing things like that. But the disciplined self too is also knowing that there’s going to be days where you don’t want to do things, but you show up for yourself anyways. And that’s why I talk about discipline being one of the highest forms of self-love because it’s about showing up for yourself day in and day out and knowing that, okay, I have this moment right now. And even though in this moment, I might not want to do this, I know that if I take advantage of this moment, then in
the future, I’ll look back and be like, wow, I’m so glad that I did so. And it’s almost working backwards, having a goal set in mind, and then you work backwards from breaking it down and you break it down from a macro-level to a micro-level. And I think that’s how you instill discipline. So instead of trying to take on a whole bunch of things at once, and there’s no organization, it’s organizing yourself, having these major things you see yourself and then okay, what is the actionable, like the action, the verb to these goals that you set yourself and then you break those down.
photo / Ebunoluwa Akinbo / staff
Research & Technology
The hidden world of bees and wasps
U of M researcher discovers, describes and documents insect species
Rhea Bhalla, staff are essentially vegetarian
Epeolus gibbsi of small, parasitic bee in a group commonly referred to as “cuckoo bees.” The infam ous cuckoo birds lay their eggs in the nests of other bird species, duping them into parenthood and ejecting “legitimate” eggs and chicks from the nest to their deaths on the ground. adopts a similar strategy, tar geting cellophane bees found in Manitoba.
Jason Gibbs, an associ ate professor in the U of M’s department of entomol ogy, discovered the bee now named after him.
Gibbs grew up around honeybees. As his father was a beekeeper, he developed an interest in natural history and biology at an early age.
Primarily a taxono mist, a biologist who categor izes organ isms, Gibbs’s role explores the foundational aspects of biology. He aims to document, describe and discover insect species.
all of those individuals,” he
“Resources get scarce, as the summer sort of extends more and more, and they’re sort of going to garbage cans, going to picnics, and they’re looking for any sort of protein or sugar that they can find.
That’s where they sort of interact with us.”
Additionally, the
ing them to wasps.
Gibbs highlighted the diversity of bees and wasps.
“We’re familiar with honeybees, bumblebees and
“It was only during my PhD work that I realized how just remarkably diverse bees actually were,” he said. “I’ve been working on [that] diversity ever since.”
Gibbs’s PhD work was a taxonomic study of sweat bees, whose name comes from their unique tendency to land on human arms and legs to consume the salt in our sweat. More than 500 species of sweat bees are native to the North American continent.
“They basically occur in almost every terrestrial habitat, you know, from the Arctic all the way to tropical areas, deserts, plain and Pacific islands,” Gibbs said. “They’re everywhere and they’re incredibly interesting from a social behavioural standpoint.”
While some sweat bees are solitary with only a single female or mix of nests, others belong to complex societies with a queen and workers of varying sizes. Some, similar to Epeolus gibbsi, are even parasitic.
Gibbs explained that bees
insects, such as flies and stink bugs.
Some exclusively prey on bees and are known as beewolves.
Wasps form annual colonies initiated every spring by a female who lays a brood of worker wasps. Once hatched, the workers grow the colony’s size over the season. Wasp colonies usually reach their maximum size in late August and September.
Though the number of wasp colonies remains about the same every year, Gibbs explained that Manitoba has experienced a relatively warm late summer, allowing colonies to thrive for longer.
“As a result, the wasps are, and their colonies are really big, so they have to forge more and more to provide food for
warm summer allows more people to remain sitting on outdoor picnic tables and patios more than they might otherwise be doing in chillier weather, expos-
sort of general category yellow jackets, but it’s really the tip of the iceberg. Those
are just the really big social groups of bees and wasps that we interact with a lot. But there’s approximately 400 spe - cies of bees in Manitoba.” He added that, though bees are relatively well-studied, there are an “overwhelming” number of undescribed insect species. Dozens of undescribed species of bees alone sit in drawers at the U of M’s department of entomology. Eventually, they too will have names.
“It’s not some special talent that is required to [discover insects]. You just have to sort of go out and look for them,” Gibbs said. “Just about anybody who’s really […] engaged, and if they get interested, can discover all kinds of weird and wacky new things about insects.”
“I think it’s just perhaps underappreciated how fun and cool insects are. Sometimes people think of them as kind of creepy crawly things, but they’re really beautiful.”
PET THERAPY
October 10 11:00AM to 12:00PM
Fireside Lounge UMSU University Centre
Digital twins are shaping the future of education
Professor develops cognitive digital twins for problem-solving
Divyata Gosai, staff
The exponential growth of knowledge in the present world poses a significant challenge for human adaptation and learning.
Witold Kinsner is a professor of electronics and computer engineering at the U of M. His journey into technology began early in life.
“From my childhood, I’ve been building something that would be able to help us understand the answers better than just speculative answers,” Kinsner said. “I built computers, memories, all sorts of things that were at that time analog, then moved to digital.”
His current research focuses on developing cognitive digital twins, which are personalized, symbiotic systems designed to collaborate with humans in learning and problem-solving by analyzing massive amounts of knowledge beyond human abilities.
“The interest now has moved into cognitive systems,” Kinsner said. “Humans are cognitive. We have to recognize, then make
sense of it, and then develop an action to modify whatever requires modification. Computers now can do that, and with AI, artificial intelligence […] that is now possible.
“The idea that we would have computers only to help us understand what has happened is prob- ably
not sufficient […] I’ve been working now on cognitive digital twins that could be symbiotic with us […] It is [a] personalized type of tutors that could be developed.”
The Cog Digital-Twin Companion System demonstrates how cognitive digital twins provide customized, personalized learning instruction, concluding in a symbiotic interaction between students, practitioners and educational institutions.
These systems connect disciplines across faculties, providing knowledge as a service and implementing learning analytics to constantly improve the educational experience, enabling lifelong learning as well as co-operation among humans and technology.
tive digital twins. These twins are also valuable when considering the rapid increase in knowledge available to individuals today.
“The knowledge expansion — it’s called the knowledge tsunami — is so huge that humans cannot learn double the knowledge each 12 hours,” Kinsner explained. “We are not capable of doing it. We have difficulties learning within one lifetime, but that is in the past. So we need some help, some augmented activity.”
Kinsner touched on his
and tele-operations by connecting terrestrial and spacebased systems more effectively, as well as worldwide communication networks.
“Everybody on the campus should be involved in building cognitive digital twins that would be symbiotic, and would understand also the history of humanity, and would be able to help in developing not only sustainability of our planet, but sustainability of humanity,” Kinsner said.
“Humans are cognitive. We have to recognize, then make sense of it, and then develop an action to modify whatever requires modification”
— Witold Kinsner, professor in the U of M’s department of electrical and computer engineering
various significant contributions to improving educational technology globally.
Kinsner’s research on cognitive digital twins paves the way for a future in which advanced technology systems assist human learning and problem-solving. These systems have the potential to revolutionize education, healthcare and a variety of other areas.
Kinsner percieves education as growing through interdisciplinary approaches enhanced by cogni-
He pushed to put creative ideas into practice on a global level while serving as president and former vice-president of educational activities for the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Canada. Currently, he leads an IEEE project on Low Earth Orbit satellites, which aims to improve education
“We all have to now join hands so that we could really create, use the technology, use all of the knowledge, use all of the capabilities to change us,” Kinsner said. “We could really learn how to live in peace and how to bring us together with the best of the technologies that exist.”
photo
courtesy of / Witold Kensner
Five key aspects in the next Bisons football coach
The next coach must come on board with immense experience
Abdul-Jalilu Ahmed, staff
After spending 29 seasons as head coach of the U of M Bisons football team, Brian Dobie is set to retire at the end of the 2024-25 season. Dobie is leaving behind a legacy worthy of emulation and celebration.
It is vital to acknowledge that in the world of sports, coaches – regardless of years spent and accolades achieved – would one day exit the scene, say goodbye, for another person to take charge. Instances could be drawn from how reputable and legendary coaches like Sir Alex Ferguson of Manchester United and Arsene Wenger of Arsenal all retired from their teams after spending memorable years filled with nostalgic and indelible moments.
Even though the retirement of legendary coaches will obviously not come easily for the fans, players, technical team and officials, one crucial approach that would be a deciding factor is how the team transitions from one coach to the other. That is,
who takes over as head coach following the retirement of the current coach.
In this piece, I explore five key aspects in hiring a successor to coach Brian Dobie.
One major aspect to look out for in the next coach is knowledge of the entire football program. The next coach has an enormous task of ensuring that the U of M Bisons football program runs smoothly after Dobie leaves. This would require that the next coach has a deep understanding of the program’s nitty-gritty.
The person must possess an appreciable idea of where the program is now and how it will be in years to come. Even if the person has a different idea, having knowledge of the football program would supplement whatever that person wants to bring on board. Also, his technical understanding of the game must be topgrade to meet the rudiments of the football program. Any loopholes in a coach’s technical capabilities could lead to a dire impact on the team and the program.
The next key aspect is experience. Coach Dobie took over the Bisons football program after garnering football coaching experience by having served as head coach of the Churchill High School football program for 21 years.
Gathering experience makes a person suitable for positions across many fields. Presently, Bisons football is at a level where hiring an experienced coach to assume the head coach role is non-negotiable. An experienced coach would be in a good position to handle all that matters, which may not create a gap in the team’s transition. Once an experienced person is hired, there would be that assurance that the direction and focus of the football program will be on track and delivered as projected.
Another key component is ambition. Going in for a coach whose ambitions synchronize with those of the team or club is vital. The two, that is, the team and the coach, must be at the same level of thinking in terms of where to reach
in the foreseeable future.
The Bisons football program has its ambitions, and it would be in the team’s best interest to go in for a coach who would come on board and move that ambition along with what they have to offer. It would be completely out of place to appoint a new coach whose ambition veers off from that of Bisons football.
Again, hiring a coach who can play a supportive role for the athletes must be another key aspect to look out for.
The football players have the daunting task of representing the school on the field and excelling in class concurrently. The demands and expectations of playing football and attending class must be supplemented by a coach who renders immense support for these student-athletes.
The new coach must master the skills of a supportive role to get the best out of the players because anything bereft of that would breed a great misunderstanding and miscommunication between the
coach and the players.
The last key aspect to consider when hiring a new coach is commitment. A coach could be knowledgeable, experienced and ambitious, but the absence of commitment in the line of his duty could sink all efforts made over the years. Hiring a committed coach plays a major role in the direction of the Bisons football program. Athletes’ commitment moves along the commitment level of their head coach.
The consideration is that decision-makers should hire a new coach who will continue the good work of retiring head coach Brian Dobie. The new football coach would assume an enviable role that would demand that they live up to expectations. The critical components mentioned above should be examined at all hiring process levels. It is with great hope that more laurels will be won by whoever takes over as the new head coach of Bisons football.
Being average is acceptable
Mediocracy is perfection
Quinn Mayhew, staff
Ihave always been an exceptionally average person. My grades were always mediocre at best, always obtaining either Bs or Cs so much, so my motto became “Cs get degrees.”
I was never picked first for dodgeball or stood out in a crowded room. I often blended in with the shadows in the back, being happy to be hidden but envious of those who could garner attention either with academics or a bubbly personality.
I struggled mentally with the inability to achieve the social status I wanted or those As I could not reach no matter the effort I put into an assignment. Assignments became a point of avoidance for me because if I could not match up to the standard I wanted, why even try?
I became reclusive, making up excuses to friends as to why I could not go out with them. I started procrastinating every assignment till the last moment as a form of
self-sabotage to the point that there was no way I could even get an average grade with the amount of time I put into my schoolwork.
The immense pressure that students feel to find a clique in university is crippling. University was not like the movies. I was not going out every night, and I struggled to find friends. I found myself thinking that everyone had it figured out except for me.
The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry evaluated the mental health among post-secondary students in Canada, finding that there is a mental health crisis among students enrolled in Canadian universities. The journal asserted that there is a rise in mood and anxiety disorders among the general student population, and although there are more mental health diagnoses among students, the resources and treatment for treating mental health-related issues are limited.
Throughout my university experience, I can say my
mental health was most definitely linked to the grades I was receiving. When I received an average grade, I felt worthless and less than. I hid my defeat and crumbling mental health issues behind a humorous façade. I associated with friends whose GPAs were much higher than my own, creating a form of imposter syndrome. Although I was doing averagely well in university, I could not shake the feeling that I did not deserve to be here.
Universities often foster unhealthy competition between students, pitting students against each other to maintain a sense of prestige within faculties. I concur that this unhealthy competition between students is one of the major reasons why there is a mental health crisis.
The U of M creates an environment based on competition as a way for students to academically challenge one another. Although the U of M promotes an atmosphere based on challenging one
another, it is a form of snakes and ladders where you hope your competitors fall so you can reach the top.
The University of Southern California researchers found that the pressure from having students engage in competitions increases the odds of college students developing anxiety by 70 percent and depression by 40 percent.
According to the American Psychology Association, the desire to succeed is initially a positive reinforcement to get into a good school or attain good grades, but it is ultimately detrimental to mental health as one tries to shape oneself into a concept of moulded perfection.
The obsession with perfectionism is an unhealthy trait pushed on students by post-secondary institutions and a social culture where appearance, grades and social status are everything. This idea of perfectionism is an idea that has students striving for this idea of “perfect” that simply does not exist. Per-
fectionism has an unhealthy connection to fear of failure and an unhealthy relation to self-criticism.
Through my years with the U of M, I found myself striving for the concept of perfection less and less. This came about through extensive counselling sessions and the assurance that although I was not perfect, I did not have to be.
The correlation between grades and one’s real-life potential is not computable. The concept of standardized testing does not equate to selfworth. Being average is not death but actual self-liberation. We should value progress over perfectionism, which is not attainable or healthy. Being average allows one to progress in things they are passionate about rather than forcing perfection on something that is not attainable. Perhaps the pressure to conform to social standards and the crippling fear of failure will be alleviated by embracing mediocracy.
graphic / Teegan Gillich / staff
One month down, three to go
Recognize your minor accomplishments to reach bigger goals
Thandeka Katsika, staff
At the beginning of October, I read an article on the Harvard Summer School blog about celebrating small wins. It details the importance of acknowledging success in its minor steps. It also highlights how every inch forward produces purpose and hope to help pilot us through the struggles of life.
With assignments and quizzes piling up and midterms looming over us like a dark cloud, now more than ever, it is essential to remember these small triumphs. I feel that the fact that we have made it this far into the semester is an example of one of these triumphs. It might seem like nothing, but it truly is an accomplishment. It is one that should be recognized and not overlooked.
I know that noticing these little successes can be very difficult when there is still so much left to do. Naturally,
our brains have a bias toward unfinished work. If something is only partially done, the brain repeats it to keep the information active and prevent us from forgetting the task before it is complete. This mental mechanism is great for getting things done, but I think it sometimes keeps us from being fully aware of the tasks that have been completed successfully.
We barely have time to focus on our victories because they go straight to the finished pile of our brains, where we probably will not ever look at them again. This leaves ample space in our minds for the negative thoughts about errands we have not finalized yet.
the urge we sometimes feel to diminish them. Instead of being proud of minimal accomplishments, we label them insignificant or trivial. We do not see minor victories as worthy of celebration. Most times, we do this not because of a mechanism in our brains but because of our society.
We have been taught to applaud monumental
Nobel Peace Prizes for getting up in the morning, but it is important to recognize that you cannot have a scientific breakthrough of any kind without first getting out of bed.
“We need to use small wins to spur us forward toward the larger objectives we have set for ourselves this semester”
Another thing that keeps us from being mindful of our smaller achievements is
moments only. There are no Nobel Peace Prizes for getting out of bed every morning. People tend to get recognition and praise for actions that change the world — extraordinary actions like scientific breakthroughs and international peace lobbying. I am not suggesting we hand out
Similarly, it is impossible to make it to December without first going through September. The massive gains we applaud do not stand on their own. Instead, they are the sum of all our smaller wins. That is why it is important to commend ourselves on these successes. If we do, then we encourage ourselves to keep making the small achievements which aid us in accomplishing our much larger goals.
While honouring our small wins is essential, we must be mindful of the complacency trap.
If we focus solely on the small wins, we may neglect the larger goals we have set for ourselves. We might start to see the minor accomplishments as the main prize. It is important to remember that the small steps are incredibly important pieces to the puzzle of our success, but they are not the big picture. We need to use them to spur us forward toward the larger objectives set for this semester. It is important to balance giving weight to the small things we have been able to do while still acknowledging the bigger goals we are working toward.
We are one month into the semester, which is a small and successful feat, but we still have three months left of this race.
So, slow down and take time to celebrate the small wins but do not stop pushing toward the bigger goals.
graphic / Teegan Gillich / staff
Diversions
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.
How to beat Str8ts –Like Sudoku, no single number can repeat in any row or column. But... rows and columns are divided by black squares into compartments. These need to be filled in with numbers that complete a ‘straight’. A straight is a set of numbers with no gaps but can be in any order, eg [4,2,3,5]. 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.
To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 such that each row, column and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely.
For many strategies, hints and tips, www.sudokuwiki.org
If you like Str8ts, Sudoku and other puzzles, check out our books, iPhone/iPad Apps and much more on www.str8ts.com
Local Indigenous artist releases new album
JUNO-nominated Desiree
Carrington Dong, staff
Desiree Dorion grew up in Dauphin, Manitoba, home to the famed Dauphin Country Fest, Canada’s longest-running country music festival. It was there that she first dreamed of becoming a singer.
“When I was a kid, I would often ride my bike to the festival site,” she recalled. “I would make my way to the mainstage, […] I would walk backstage, […] I would imagine myself putting my makeup on, fluffing my hair […] and then I would walk out. I would imagine the crowd […] cheering my name and cheering for me, and I would walk out, and I would pretend to play for 10,000 to 15,000 people […] and there would be no one there but me.”
This dream became a reality, as Dorion said it gave her the confidence to turn her passion into a career. Since launching her career, much of her music has charted on the Canadian country music top 100 charts. She has had several #1 songs on the Indigenous Music Countdown and received airplay and recognition from some of Canada’s best-known radio stations and media outlets.
She is also a three-time winner and nine-time nominee at the Manitoba Country Music Awards and, in 2014, received a JUNO Award nomination for Aboriginal Album of the Year.
Despite this, Dorion remarked that she has never felt like she has “made it” in the industry.
“If there’s ever a moment in my career where I think that I’ve made it, then I really haven’t made it anywhere,” she chuckled. “I feel like every success is just moving the needle a little bit further.”
Dorion released her seventh album, Remember Your Name, in September. The photoshoot for the album cover, in which Dorion is fully nude with a guitar in front of her, preceded its recording. The album, she said, mimics the cover, as she wished for the album to be “completely naked,” raw and vulnerable.
The album centres around personal themes. “Greta,” featuring Métis roots artist Amanda Rhéaume, addresses domestic violence, while “Ghost” explores the end of a relationship and moving on from it.
The deep and authentic lyrics are complemented by Dorion’s transition from a mainstream country sound to the roots/Americana genre. On this genre shift, she said, “I knew that it was time for a
Dorion explores roots/Americana with 7th studio album
shift, and it’s been really liberating […] I feel like you have more liberties as a writer in the Americana world.”
A member of Opaskwayak Cree Nation, Dorion is also an advocate for the Indigenous community. Many of her collaborators on Remember Your Name are Indigenous, which she said was “very intentional,” as she sought to involve Indigenous musicians
in a well-rounded, respectful way. Outside of music, she serves as an ambassador for the Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack Fund, and hosted the Canadian Country Music Association’s Achimotak series, which focused on Indigenous musical artistes.
On her advocacy and her position as an Indigenous musician, Dorion said, “I
think I’m most proud of the space I have taken up. […]
It’s a really cool thing to just pause and reflect sometimes, because you just never know who you’re impacting. When I was growing up there wasn’t really anybody I could look to as someone who I thought represented me.”
She hopes that there are young people who see themselves as worthy of occupy-
ing that same space, advising them to hone their craft, develop a thick skin and have a good work ethic in general.
Dorion’s Remember Your Name is available now. She plans to release another single on Oct. 11 and is taking bookings for the holiday season and 2025 festivals.
photo courtesy of / Chantelle Dionne Photography
Singer Desiree Dorion
U of M alumnus and Pulitzer Prize finalist release satire
Ben Clarkson and Matt Bors achieve success with Justice Warriors
Carrington Dong, staff
B
en Clarkson, who now lives in Montreal but was born and raised in Winnipeg, fondly recalls nights spent at the Manitoban office working on layouts for weekly issues where he served as graphics editor.
Matt Bors, originally from the United States, now living in Ontario, spent many years as a political cartoonist but he found himself “chomping at the bit” to do long-term storytelling.
After Clarkson reached out to Bors online, the two began collaborating on Justice Warriors. Intended to explore how society and politics work in a comedic way without scaring off or shutting down readers, the first volume was released in 2023 with great success.
Clarkson and Bors released a sequel, Justice Warriors: Vote Harder, in September 2024. In Bors’ words, the novel is “a political thriller for a deranged online era.”
Centered on mutant police officers Swamp Cop and Schitt, who return from the previous instalment, Vote Harder sees the seemingly utopic setting of Bubble City experiencing their first mayoral election. While dealing with the election and its conflicts, Swamp Cop and Schitt must also protect Bubble City from corrupt mutants living in a wasteland outside the city, where much
of the story takes place.
Vote Harder is heavily inspired by recent internet discourse, with the media and internet addiction playing a major role throughout the election. Bors and Clarkson drew inspiration from current events. A large portion of Vote Harder is based on reallife scandals involving law enforcement officers in the United States and the United Kingdom. Clarkson stated that he and Bors ensure that Swamp Cop and Schitt never do anything that a police officer has not been reported doing in the line of duty.
Less than a month after its release, Vote Harder has already received commercial and critical success. The Jacobin’s Ryan Zickgraf described it as “genuinely subversive satire,” while IGN’s Jesse Schedeen dubbed it “the perfect superhero satire for 2024.” It has ranked #1 on Amazon U.S. in both humour/mystery graphic novels and in new releases.
Clarkson is both thrilled and humbled by the positive response to their work in the United States. But while it would be easy to see Vote Harder as primarily a satire of American politics, he said that it is a satire of the global political system and problems affecting the world in general, rather than any specific country. Bors agreed that “noth-
ing is explicitly about the U.S. […] we’re trying to do a higher-level satire that’s applicable to Canada and anywhere else in the world.”
When it comes to the future of the series, Clarkson and Bors have expressed that they plan to continue writing Justice Warriors for as long as they possibly can, and already
have ideas for future instalments, focusing on different aspects of society in each one.
Clarkson remarked, “there’s other forces taking place during an election […] that affect the outcome of the transition of power besides just the population voting. That, for me, is one of the main themes of Vote Harder.”
Bors added, “Justice Warriors has a bit of the lowbrow and a bit of the highbrow. Great jokes, great action and [it] leaves you with something to think about.”
Justice Warriors: Vote Harder is available through AHOY Comics and Simon & Schuster.
The art, science and magic of pinhole photography
Experience the joys of traditional photographic techniques with Dianne Bos
Boris Tsun Hang Leung, staff
Many of us grew up in the era of digital photography, and taking a photo usually means pulling out a camera or smartphone and pressing a button. However, have you ever thought about how people captured images before the advent of digital cameras?
Canadian artist Dianne Bos has spent decades using traditional photographic techniques like pinhole photography, chlorophyll printing and cyanotype to create works of art and installations. By making cameras out of unusual objects such as books, leaves and entire rooms, Bos’s work transcends the limitations of digital photography and explores the themes of light, time, space and beyond.
“I guess what I never bought into was the rigors of buying a camera that already has all, you know, so at that
point, you maybe bought a Pentax 35-millimetre camera, and you would have shutter speeds and f-stops,” Bos said as she explained why she was drawn to traditional photography.
“And the format would be already decided, right? You’re using 35-millimetre film. You know, why?” she questioned.
“So when I realized I could make my own [pinhole] camera, and I could have multiple apertures, […] I started experimenting with different cameras. The camera was a sculpture, she stated.
Pinhole photography works by having light from an object or scene pass through a small opening onto photographic film inside a light-proof box. Theoretically, any object can be turned into a light-proof box. Here, the camera, or even the process of making the camera can be a work of art in itself.
Bos showed photos of buildings, trees and candles created using hollowed out books and sheets of metal with apertures as pinhole cameras. She also printed images of dried leaves by shielding parts of the leaf with a stencil and exposing it to sunlight, which then bleaches the unshaded parts of the leaf.
Unsurprisingly, traditional photography takes more time and effort than using digital cameras, but that is part of the appeal for artists like Bos. She explained the virtue of being mindful and purposeful when using traditional technologies because they encourage us to pay close attention to our world.
“So I had a book [pinhole camera] on Rome in Italy, and I went around, I could only take one photo a day, which I like. I mean, that’s a chal-
lenge I give everybody out there with your phone now. You know, everybody knows you take unlimited pictures because you’re probably trying to get rid of them all the time. How many do you look at again? You know, like very, very few,” she said.
“If I go out with a camera like this, and I’ve spent a lot of time cutting photo paper to go in here, going out with this book [pinhole camera], I’m not just going to take the first thing I see. I’m going to go around, look at what’s happening around it, everything that’s going to affect [it], that really look at the situation at light and hopefully get a good image.”
On Oct. 9, Bos and Sarah Fuller, a sessional instructor at U of M’s school of art, will be hosting a workshop on campus where students can learn how to make their own pin-
hole cameras by using objects they bring to the workshop. This will be followed by a talk the next day on the history, art and science of photography. One tip Bos gave to those who want to try pinhole photography for the first time is to “remember that you aren’t faster than the speed of light,” as she humorously puts it, or in other words, make sure no light can enter the lightproof box at any point during the photographic process.
Learn more about the upcoming workshop and talk by visiting umanitoba.ca/art/ event-artist-talk-and-workshop-dianne-bos.
photo courtesy of / thebenclarkson.com
A page from the comic Justice Warriors
What is your Roman Empire?
Megalopolis and reflections on Roman history and modern culture
Boris Tsun Hang Leung, staff
L
ast year, a social media trend emerged where TikTok users asked their boyfriends and husbands how often they thought about the Roman Empire. To their partners’ bewilderment, many men responded by saying every week, or even every day, despite not being known as history buffs.
Subsequently, on the internet, the “Roman Empire” became a metaphor for a topic that people think about incessantly for no apparent reason. After all, why would anyone — except historians, classicists, and archaeologists — have stories from ancient history living “rent-free” in their heads?
This puzzled many internet users, but it can be said the Romans have influenced us to a greater extent than we might think. As someone interested in the forces that have shaped Western culture, ancient Rome is certainly a subject worthy of frequent contemplation and discussion.
Think about Latin and how it quietly reveals itself in Romance languages and English, or the neoclassical city halls, banks and cathedrals found in seemingly every corner of the world. The largest Christian denomination is also often called Roman Catholicism.
Roman history continues to inform modern entertainment as well. This past week, I watched Megalopolis in theatres. The science fiction film is loosely based on the Catilinarian conspiracy, which took place during the Roman Republic when the failed politician Catiline tried to usurp the consul Cicero. Except, the film is set in a fictional, modern-day “American Republic,” featuring culturally relevant themes such as corruption, moral decay and the struggle for political power.
Unfortunately, Megalopolis was poorly received due to its cliché scenes and incoherent plot, reportedly earning only US$4 million, while production costs were said to be around US$136 million. Some have even dubbed the film “Megaflopolis.”
Despite this, I still enjoyed finding traces of Roman art and hearing Latin in the film. At times, I imagined Julia (Nathalie Emmanuel) as a Fayum mummy portrait and Catiline (Adam Driver) as a Roman bust.
Naturally, after watching the movie, I wondered what classics professors at the U of M thought about modern adaptations and interpretations of historical events in
ancient Rome. James Chlup, an associate professor at U of M’s department of classics and department head who specializes in the middle and late Roman Republic, shared some of his favourite films and shows inspired by the Romans.
specialist courses,” he said.
“I suppose my favourites
“In trying to understand who we are (even in Canada in 2024) and how we want to develop, it is important to clarify from where part of our culture found its influences”
— James Chlup,
Chlup explained that what makes a historical film “good” is not large production costs, but convincing acting and fidelity to historical sources.
associate professor and department head of the department of classics at U of M
“I do teach about representations of ancient Rome in film and television in my Introduction to Ancient Roman Culture course and in my Roman history survey and
are the BBC/HBO series Rome, since it is set during the late Republic (my special historical period) and the BBC series I, Claudius, which, I must confess, drew me away from majoring in history towards classics.”
“[I, Claudius] was made on a very tight budget, but the acting and its close relationship to the original sources (though the series is based upon two novels, which themselves follow the sources closely) are excellent (Patrick Stewart is in a few episodes).”
When asked about the Roman influence in shap-
ing modern Western culture, Chlup emphasized the importance of being reflexive about our cultural roots to better understand our identities.
“Rome did play an important role in shaping ‘Western’ culture, and so it is important to figure out what that legacy is and how it is beneficial and sometimes (or oftentimes) quite problematic (as I humorously put it, ‘what exactly have the Roman done for us?’),” he said.
“In trying to understand who we are (even in Canada in 2024) and how we want to develop, it is important to clarify from where part of our culture found its influences.”
A film still from Megalopolis
photo courtesy of / Lionsgate
A preview of the men’s volleyball pre-season
What to expect as the Bisons men’s volleyball charge forward
Faiyaz Chowdhury, staff
The Bisons men’s volleyball team opened their season on Sept. 26 against the Waterloo Warriors, where they posted a dominating 3-0 victory to start the season with great teamwork and strategic play. The set scores in the match were 25-18, 25-22 and 25-17.
The next challenge came the following day against the Queen’s Gaels, whom they also dispatched in a 3-0 win, while producing effective offensive plays and being very resilient defensively to finish with set scores of 25-22, 25-19 and 25-15.
Later that day, the Bisons faced the Saskatchewan Huskies, and won 3-0 with set scores of 25-23, 28-26 and 25-22.
On Sept. 28, the Bisons faced the Brandon Bobcats and made their intentions clear, leading to a 3-1 win with the set scores of 25-17, 21-25, 25-22 and 25-20. And the winning streak continued. This run of wins proved that the Bisons can play well consistently.
However, the Bisons suffered their first loss in the fifth match against Winnipeg Wesmen on Sept. 29. The final score was 1-3, with set scores of 23-25, 16-25, 25-23 and 20-25. The Bisons were able to win one set, but it was not enough to turn the game around. The team was not as invincible as we thought. With the lads trying their best, we can say there is still a lot of room for improvement.
On Oct. 4, the Bisons faced the Providence Pilots and the Assiniboine Cougars winning
both games. They were able to settle both games with set scores of 3-0.
Coach Arnd (Lupo) Ludwig enters his fifth season as the men’s volleyball head coach in 2024-25. During the game, Ludwig was actively walking across the court to engage with the players, offering words of encouragement. Additionally, the athletes’ therapy team was present, supporting the players even before the match began and throughout.
Ludwig reflected on the team’s pre-season performance, noting that they have played eight games so far, winning seven and losing one against the University of Winnipeg. When asked about the game strategy throughout the pre-season, he stated, “pre-season is to get everybody a chance to play. Everybody works hard to get ready to get in shape.”
He elaborated that the pre-season is about assessing which players can perform well and how the new guys are fitting in, adding, “there is no game with a really starting lineup. So, everybody we switched a lot around here.”
Ludwig mentioned some standout players, “I think today Travis Schroeder did a pretty good game. He was our setter. He couldn’t play much last week because of an injury.” He also highlighted Owen Weekes, saying, “I think Owen Weekes had a really good game today, too. That’s the two for today.”
When discussing adjustments made after the loss, he explained, “we lost against the University of Winnipeg last Sunday, but yesterday we
lost a set to Dalhousie. This is usually in a pre-season unless someone is struggling really hard or gets injured, I let the players who are on the court play, and they have to find a way to push through the game.”
Regarding injuries, Ludwig confirmed, “no, we have no injuries right now. Everybody is healthy.” Ludwig was asked if he had an analysis of the opposition for the next match. The coach replied, “no, I don’t do that for pre-season.”
Concerning the next steps, he shared, “we play tomorrow against Jamestown. Then we have two more games on Sunday, and then we get ready for our first opener.” He added, “there’s still a few small things that we have to work on next week during practice, but in general, I think everything looks in the right direction.”
Ludwig was asked if he had figured out any specific reason why they lost the game last Sunday. “Well, [the University of Winnipeg] is a very good team, and they played with their starting lineup, and we played everybody. We did a lot of subs in that game and everybody got a chance to play, and we didn’t really find a rhythm.”
On Oct. 5, the Bisons played against the Jamestown Jimmies, and won the game with set score of 3-0. Overall, the Bisons have tallied an impressive record of many wins and just one loss. Their ability to capitalize on opportunities and maintain composure in tight situations, especially against formidable opponents like Saskatchewan, bodes well for their prospects as they transition into the regular season.
Although the gyms have been mostly empty, one can expect more seats to fill up as the Bisons charge forward. Hopefully, if the Bisons keep up this level of performance for the rest of the pre-season, it will be a sign of a very promising upcoming season that is not just good, but also one that fosters growth and success. One can certainly hope to see the Bisons lift some trophies in the near future. Overall, this pre-season paints a picture of a dedicated team under a supportive coach, poised for growth and success in the upcoming season.
Bisons fans can catch the team in action at home at the Investors Group Athletic Centre. The Bisons men’s volleyball schedule can be seen at gobisons.ca.
A weekend with a weak end for the Bisons men’s football Bisons football team loses to Saskatchewan Huskies
Israel Adeogo Abejoye, staff
The Saskatchewan Huskies ended the U of M Bisons football team’s 5-0 winning streak following the Oct. 4 game.
The Bisons team did not seem to get it together in the first two quarters of the game as the Saskatchewan Huskies stood tall by leading with 28 points and only three points by the Bisons. This margin was too much to level-up with despite the Bisons having the opportunity of two more quarters to the end of the game.
The Saskatchewan Huskies dominated the first two quarters of the game as they won
the first quarter by 4-0 and the second quarter by 24-3.
The Bisons came back strong in the third and fourth quarters of the game as they won the third quarter by 7-6 and were even better in the fourth quarter which was won by 14-8 points. The match ended 42-24 in favour of the Huskies.
The Saskatchewan Huskies earned their first four points from the first quarter of the game from safety.
The first two points were from a 6-yard safety and the second two points were from a 16-yard safety, while the Bisons earned their first three points in the second quarter
when Maya Turner converted a 48-yard kick to a field goal. After that showdown, the rest of the second quarter was dominated by the Saskatchewan Huskies. The opponents added 10 more points to make it 28 points following the five and seven points they had before the Bisons earned their first three points.
In the third quarter, Lukas Scott converted a 25-yard field goal that earned them three points and confidently put the Saskatchewan Huskies ahead. For the rest of the game, while the Bisons tried to level up the points against the Saskatchewan Huskies, they kept put-
ting themselves ahead with every attempt made by the Bisons.
The hopes were almost restored at the fourth quarter of the game when the Bisons had 24 points up against 34 points of the Saskatchewan Huskies. The hope lasted until Ryker Frank of the Saskatchewan Huskies made a 55-yard run and Lukas Scott took the kick to make it 41 points. Ultimately, Lukas Scott was also awarded a rouge which made the final score 42-24.
The Bisons left Saskatoon with a strong determination to come out stronger in their next match against the
Alberta Golden Bears in their home territory on Oct. 19 at 2 p.m. In the last four games against the Golden Bears, the Bisons have won three and lost just one with the last encounter being a win by 24-23 points. Historically, the Bisons have only played the Golden Bears once on away soil and lost the game by 11-34 points. This huge margin might be something to be worried about as the next game on the away soil approaches.
