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UMFA members authorize strike after three-day vote Faculty association to enter two-week bargaining period with the university
Milan Lukes, staff
Members of the University of Manitoba Faculty Association (UMFA) have voted in favour of authorizing a strike as negotiations with the university continue over a new collective agreement.
“The primary hope is that taking the strike vote and authorizing a strike puts some pressure on administration so that they maybe will move at the table,” said UMFA president Erik Thomson in an interview on Friday, Feb. 7.
Members of the faculty association have now given the UMFA executives the power to call a strike if desired. Thomson explained that UMFA is not yet in the legal position to strike as an Essential Services Agreement under the Labour Relations Act needs to be signed, though he expects that to happen in the next week or so.
Thomson stated that UMFA and the university administration will now be entering a two-week bargaining period, though the strike authorization does not imply that a strike will be imminent — or that a strike will happen at all.
Thomson also stated that following the two-week bargaining period, if a collective agreement is not reached, that does not imply that a strike will occur. “We’ll see if there’s movement at the table […] there are bits of this that are remarkably complicated,” he said. “But at a certain point it gets to be the end of the term, so there are some time limits.”
The strike authorization vote occurred from Feb. 5-7 with voting at UMSU University Centre at the Fort Garry campus and at the Brodie Centre atrium at the Bannatyne campus.
Thomson indicated that voting also took place online for those that needed accommodations.
Disagreements remain following January proposal
Thomson stated that as part of the resolution of the 2021 strike, the university administration indicated the desire to get the U of M to the 25th percentile in salary amongst Canada’s 15 most research-intensive universities (U15) — something that he would like to see take effect.
Thomson also expressed that UMFA is looking for an offer that would account for inflation.
In January, the university’s salary proposal to
below-average tuition fees,” according to the university.
“The offer that they give, which they’re saying it aims to hit the 25th percentile, realistically keeps us at the bottom,” said Thomson. “I don’t think we would have had a strike vote if there weren’t still disagreements.”
Childcare is another issue that Thomson would like resolved — something that has been in the collective agreement since 1991, he stated. The last collective agreement stated that “the university is committed to the goal of ensuring that there is quality childcare for the children of members.”
“The primary hope is that taking the strike vote and authorizing a strike puts some pressure on administration so that they maybe will move at the table”
— Erik Thomson, UMFA president
“Anytime we take a strike vote, we’re ready and prepared to go and do what needs to be done to settle a contract,” said UMFA vice-president Jenna Tichon while tabling in UMSU University Centre. “Of course, we hope it doesn’t come to that, we very much care about the students here at the university, and we would like to be able to continue, but we need to […] be able to recruit and retain faculty. And without that, there is no real university for the students to be attending.”
UMFA included general salary increases of 11.25 per cent over four years, in addition stipends and structural adjustments. These include a year one salary cap increase of $8,000 for professors, $2,000 for associate professors and $1,000 for assistant professors.
“The 25th percentile benchmark was set to help ensure that the university remains competitive in attracting and retaining high-caliber faculty while balancing financial sustainability and maintaining
Thomson stated that UMFA will be presenting a proposal to the administration during the week starting on Monday, Feb. 10.
Board of governors should prioritize UMFA salaries, says Thomson
Thomson stated that he would like to see the U of M board of governors, who has the authority to make monetary offers, place a “slightly higher priority” on UMFA salaries.
“Of course, we would understand if the university was in a deficit or in financial difficulties, but that’s not the case,
the university has money, it’s that they choose to use it for different things,” he said in an interview in January.
According to handouts from an UMFA rally in front of the Administration Building on Jan. 23, the university has accumulated over $400 million in operating surpluses and has run annual surpluses between $40 million and $90 million for at least the past five years.
Mike Emslie with UM Financial Services confirmed that these numbers are accurate, but stated that they are not a complete picture of the university’s financial situation.
“The university does not receive adequate funding to maintain and renew its extensive buildings, roads and other capital needs,” said Emslie.
“Most of the accumulated surplus has been allocated to address critical deficiencies in this infrastructure. It is also important to note that the past five years of financial results have included unprecedented disruption due to a global pandemic and significant growth in international student enrolments which contributed to unanticipated growth in revenues and deferred some expenses.
“As we face a significant decline in international student enrolments, and associated revenues, we need to consider the medium and long-term financial constraints facing the university,”
he stated.
“The board of governors has made the decision, that they, I think, are happy having their faculty be at the bottom of the U15. Which may be a sense that Manitobans don’t really deserve anything but the worst paid faculty in research universities in Canada,” said Thomson. “Maybe that’s what the board of governors want to do.”
“The university continues to bargain in good faith with UMFA, with the intention of concluding a collective agreement without a labour disruption,” said the university in a statement.
The last collective agreement between UMFA and the university was in effect from April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2024. The two parties officially entered the bargaining period in January 2024 according to the university’s website, with active negotiations occurring since October 2024, according to Thomson.
“Students should keep up with their schoolwork, think that things are going on as normal and hopefully they will, because I still think that’s the most likely option,” said Thomson. “Because I hope the administration will do what’s necessary to move us along a little bit.”
— with files from Iyanda Ajuwon
Members of UMFA tabled in UMSU University Centre from Feb. 5-7 to collect ballots amid a vote on strike action.
photo / Zulkifl Rafah / staff
MCIEB hosts Attausikuuluta gathering
Gathering addressed Indigenous identity fraud and education reform
Iyanda Ajuwon, staff
The Manitoba Collab-
orative Indigenous Education Blueprint (MCIEB) hosted the Attausikuuluta gathering from Feb. 6 to 7 at the Victoria Inn Hotel and Convention Centre.
This event brought together Elders, educators, students, policy-makers and community leaders to address Indigenous identity fraud and discuss ways to Indigenize curriculum, according to a press release.
The term Attausikuuluta means “working all together” in Inuktitut, and the name for the gathering was gifted by Elder Martha Peet to highlight the collective effort and shared commitment required to address challenges in Indigenous fraud and education.
MCIEB is a collaborative initiative between Manitoba’s six universities, three colleges and the Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre. Other stakeholders include the Province of Manitoba Advanced Education and Training and Education and Early Childhood Learning, as well as the Manitoba School Boards Association. The primary objective of this organization is to increase Indigenous learners’ access to education and ensure Indigenous knowledge is incorporated across all levels of learning in Manitoba to promote reconciliation.
Denise Tardiff, manager of MCIEB, highlighted the growing concerns of Indigenous identity fraud and the responsibility of educational institutions in addressing it.
“Over the past several years, Indigenous identity fraud has made headlines across Turtle Island, including right here in our province,” stated Tardiff in a press release.
“Schools, colleges and universities have the responsibility to work with Indigenous communities and governments to develop ways to protect scholarships, academic positions, research dollars and other opportunities that are meant for Indigenous peoples.”
Presentations at the Attausikuuluta gathering explored various topics like Indigenous identity verification, strategies for the concern of preserving identity and approaches to Indigenizing curriculum.
The keynote speakers were Métis multidisciplinary art-
ist Moe Clark, assistant professor Réal Carrière, director of Indigenous education Kris Desjarlais and Métis lawyer Jessica Barlow.
Clark is a 2Spirit singing thunderbird whose music has been featured in films, theatre and dance performances, according to the MCIEB program. She works in vocal improvisation, performance creation, land-based oskapêwis support and more with a focus in embodied knowledge.
Her video poem “nitahkôtân” won best Indigenous language music video at the ImagiNative film festival.
Carrière is Nehinuw (Swampy Cree) and a Métis scholar from Cumberland House, Sask. who grew up without road access, running water or electricity.
He is currently an assistant professor in political science at the U of M and his research focuses on Indigenous governance and methodology.
Desjarlais is a member of the Métis and Cree Nations, and he oversees services that foster a respectful and inclusive learning environment for First Nation, Métis and Inuit students.
He also leads training initiatives to enhance cultural competency and safety among college staff.
Barlow is a Red River Métis woman with Manitoba roots. She holds a bachelor of arts and a law degree both from the U of M. She serves in the office of legal counsel at the U of M supporting the office of the vice-president (Indigenous).
Wasda Punjab Arts dance academy to perform on Feb. 22
Performance in the Exchange District to focus on female empowerment
Taycie Adeoti, staff
Wasda Punjab Arts, an allgirls dance academy in Manitoba that focuses on Punjabi folk dances, will perform in the Exchange District on Feb. 22. The performance will take place at the Rachel Browne Theatre, 211 Bannatyne Avenue, and will focus on female empowerment.
Sehgeet Tind is a third-year student at the U of M and creative director and founder of Wasda Punjab Arts, having started the dance academy when she was in Grade 9.
Tind explained that almost all of the dancers are from the U of M and that the campus used to serve as a frequent practice ground for the group. “It kind of became a part of our everyday routine,” she said.
Tind stated that the group now rents a dance studio, though she admitted that the group still takes advantage of hallway space on campus sometimes to fine-tune performance skills.
“We don’t have group classes going on, but at the moment we’ll do workshops once in a while just to keep people active,” she said.
Tind said that after meeting Krupa Mashru, the University of Manitoba Students’ Union international students’ representative and Indian classical dance enthusiast, the two came about the idea of the Feb. 22 performance.
“What’s really cool is that all the dancers are girls. All
the people that are doing tech [crew] are girls,” she said when speaking on the upcoming performance. “We think it’s really cool because all of these girls go to university and they have jobs, but at the same time, they’re taking out their time to put on a show.”
The event will feature dances ranging from classical to Bollywood fusion to other dance styles.
Tind explained that the
dance academy is the first allgirls dance academy for Punjabi folk dance in the province, but added that she faced “a lot of […] backlash from the public” during the early stages.
“My main thing with the academy was to open a competitive team,” she said. “We never had a completive team here in Manitoba and the first one being a girl’s one was a big deal because obviously people thought ‘okay, well why aren’t
the guys doing it?’”
Tind stated that the group has competed in Toronto and has been doing at least two competitions a year. She added that she holds tryouts, and provided that the individual has potential and is willing enough, she will train them one-on-one.
“Our city is small, it’s really hard to find dancers,” she said.
Tind also stated that a problem in communities in that
when kids reach the 12-to-13year age mark, their parents tend to take them out of dance — a critical moment where they are improving.
“So many people have found [our workshops] fun and entertaining and they come and ask me, ‘how can we join, we want to get to that point where we can teach too,’” said Tind. “It’s that type of empowerment that we give each other.”
UMMSA addresses members’ needs
Association hosts religious initiatives that require significant capacity and funding
Taycie Adeoti, staff
The University of Manitoba Muslim Students’ Association (UMMSA) was established in 1971 and is one of the largest clubs at the U of M, according to Adil Hayat, UMMSA external relations manager. The UMMSA mosque is located in E3-160 EITC and the association aims to promote Islamic values, represent Muslims on campus and address member needs through event programs and services.
UMMSA organizes and hosts many religious initiatives such as Friday congregation for students to perform their five daily prayers, Ramadan and 30 days of Iftar. According to Hayat, the association is the only Muslim students’ association in the country that provides Iftar for all 30 days. Hayat stated that it costs over $50,000 to provide free Iftar to all participants — the evening meal with which Muslims end their daily Ramadan fast at sunset. “That expands over 9,000 people,” said Hayat.
UMMSA started a GoFundMe page at the end of January to be able to continue to support the Muslim community at the university — including serving 30 days of free Iftar. Over $2,500 has been raised of the $50,000 goal so far.
UMMSA also hosts events such as Islamic awareness week. Beginning on Monday, Feb. 10 for five days, it will focus on giving non-Muslims a chance to learn about Islam and Islamic traditions.
Another event that UMMSA hosts for members is Halaqa — a discussion session that may be on any topic such as personal life, personal growth or academia, according to UMMSA facility manager Mohammad Mahfuzul Haque.
“UMMSA is working on not only academia or spirituality, but also leadership building or solving different kinds of issues, like mental health,” said Haque.
Financial support is also provided to students through the MSA hardship fund.
Study sessions are hosted by UMMSA, provided with snacks and quiet study rooms with tables and televisions.
UMMSA media manager Mahedi Hasan wants people to know that their amenities are not limited to Muslim students. All students and staff can participate in events.
“They can show up. They can grab snacks. We have a kitchen space where they can heat food, they can drink water,” said Hasan.
UMMSA’s biggest challenge is facility space. “This is a really big issue,” said Hayat.
The campus mosque has a maximum capacity of 250 people due to security concerns and fire hazards. Because of this, many students must wait a very long time to pray and some students may end up not getting the chance to pray, stated Hayat.
“There’s a cut off, because once we fill up, we cannot do anything. There is not even standing room, let alone a chance to sit down and listen
to the sermon,” said Hayat. “We’ve always looked at going to the MPR and doing a sermon there, but there is university red tape and university issues in that sense.
Education Building evacuated
We’ve talked to the university administration about that as well.”
“[The association] is family to me,” said Hasan. “A family that makes me secure, a family
that makes me feel welcome, a family that gets me closer to my Lord, a family that is connected to my life and is getting a second nature to my life as well.”
The Education Building was evacuated on Feb. 7 after reports of a propane smell. According to university Security Services, the source of the smell was not determined and the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service later cleared the space for regular activities after rushing to the scene.
photos / Ebunoluwa Akinbo / staff
photos / Milan Lukes / staff
UMSU election forums set for Feb. 25 to 27
Forums to provide opportunity for candidates to share visions and goals
Milan Lukes, staff
The University of Manitoba Students’ Union (UMSU) will be hosting election forums with candidates running in the 2025-26 UMSU general election from Feb. 25 to 27.
The forums will provide the chance for candidates to voice their visions and goals as a prospective elected representative of the union. UMSU members in the audience will also have the chance to ask questions to all the candidates.
Presidential candidates will have a forum on Tuesday, Feb. 25, followed by the vice-presidential forum on Wednesday, Feb. 26 and the community representative forum on Thursday, Feb. 27. All forums will occur at the Fireside Lounge on the first floor of UMSU University Centre and will start at 12 p.m.
According to the UMSU Election Manual, there is to be at least one election forum on the Fort Garry campus during the campaign, as well as a forum at the Bannatyne campus if deemed practicable by
the UMSU chief returning officer (CRO). Each candidate will have the same fixed period of time to speak.
Coffee and cookies will be served at the forums while supplies last and attendees
can enter for a chance to win a pair of AirPods, according to a social media post by the students’ union.
Nominations for the UMSU general election close on Thursday, Feb. 13 at 5 p.m.
UMSU election regulations state that the list of candidates is to be posted by the CRO no later than 36 hours after the nominations close.
Canada’s next prime minister to be chosen on March 9
Five candidates remain in the Liberal leadership race to replace Justin Trudeau
Milan Lukes, staff
The next leader of the Liberal Party of Canada — and the next prime minister of Canada — will be announced on Sunday, March 9.
Earlier this year on Jan. 6, Justin Trudeau announced that he would resign as prime minister and as leader of the federal Liberal party following a nation-wide leadership race to choose his successor.
“This country deserves a real choice in the next election, and it has become clear to me that if I’m having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option in that election,” said Trudeau during his resignation announcement outside Rideau Cottage in Ottawa.
Prior to the announcement, a growing number of Liberal MPs called for Trudeau to resign — including Manitoba Liberal MP Ben Carr (Winnipeg South Centre). Another blow from within Trudeau’s own caucus came on Dec. 16 when Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland resigned from cabinet hours before she was set to table the government’s fall economic statement. Freeland’s public resignation letter indicated that the two had been “at odds about the best path forward for Canada” for the past number of weeks.
Five candidates vying to serve as Liberal leader
Six candidates were approved by the party to run in the race following the Jan. 23 deadline to declare candidacy. After the exit of Nova Scotia MP Jaime Battiste from the leadership race on Jan. 30, the remaining candidates are Frank Baylis, Mark Carney, Ruby Dhalla, Chrystia Freeland and Karina Gould.
Requirements to run for
leader included submitting a nomination package with signatures of 300 registered Liberals — with at least 100 from three different provinces or territories and a $50,000 refundable deposit. Candidates are required to pay a $350,000 entry fee made over four instalments from Jan. 23 to Feb. 17.
“It’s a huge entrance fee,” said Christopher Adams, adjunct professor of political studies at the U of M. “It’s the highest I’ve ever seen. It’s quite shocking. Part of it is to prevent the takeover of the party by special groups, because leadership races are known for attracting a whole lot of different individuals, some of whom have no real interest in the party’s wellbeing.”
Adams stated that the high entrance fee also prevents “oddball candidates” and individuals who want to raise their own personal profile who would crowd the stage. “Those types of candidates can be embarrassments to the party,” said Adams, but he noted that the entrance fee is “really far higher” than what would be needed to prevent those types of candidates.
Frank Baylis
Frank Baylis, 62, was born in Montreal, Que. and served as the MP for Pierrefonds-Dollard from 2015-19. During his time in the House of Commons, Baylis served on the industry committee, the foreign affairs committee and the ethics and privacy committee. He was a founding member of the Parliamentary Black Caucus and served as chair of the Canada-U.K. Inter-Parliamentary Association.
According to his website, Baylis earned an electrical engineering degree
from the University of Waterloo and joined Baylis Medical — a medical device company founded by his mother which he and his business partner grew and sold to Boston Scientific in 2021 for USD$1.75 billion.
Mark Carney
Mark Carney, 59, was born in Fort Smith, N.W.T. and raised in Edmonton by teachers. Carney holds degrees in economics from Harvard University and the University of Oxford and has served as governor of the Bank of Canada (2008-13) and Bank of England (2013-20). Prior to those roles, he worked at Goldman Sachs and with the Department of Finance Canada.
Carney is the only candidate to have never been elected to the House of Commons and currently serves as the United Nations special envoy on climate action and finance.
He has the endorsements of over 50 current MPs — the most of any candidate in the race.
Ruby Dhalla
Born and raised in Winnipeg, Ruby Dhalla, 50, served as the MP for Brampton-Springdale in Ont. from 2004-11 as the first Sikh woman in the House of Commons alongside MP Nina Grewal. She chaired the Canada-U.S. Parliamentary Caucus committee and was the founder of the Canada-India Parliamentary Caucus.
Dhalla holds a biochemistry degree from the University of Winnipeg and a doctor of chiropractic medicine from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College. Along with her brother, Dhalla opened chiropractic clinics
in the GTA. She now serves as CEO and president of the Dhalla Group of Companies, which operates in healthcare, real estate and hospitality sectors, according to her website.
Chrystia Freeland
Chrystia Freeland, 56, was born and raised in Peace River, Alta. and served as a journalist prior to entering politics in 2013. Since then, she has served as a MP for Toronto Centre and presently for University—Rosedale in Ont. Freeland has served as minister of international trade, minister of foreign affairs, deputy prime minister, minister of intergovernmental affairs and finance minister. She studied Russian history and literature at Harvard University and earned a master’s degree in Slavonic studies from the University of Oxford.
Karina Gould
Karina Gould, 37, was born and raised in Burlington, Ont. and is the youngest candidate in the race. Gould studied political science and Latin American studies at McGill University and international relations at the University of Oxford. Prior to entering politics, she worked for the Mexican Trade Commission in Toronto and as a consultant.
Gould has served as the MP for Burlington since 2015 and has served as parliamentary secretary to the minister of international development, minister of democratic institutions, minister of international development and as leader of the government in the House of Commons.
Voting in the leadership race is restricted to members of the Liberal party who registered by Jan. 27. Individuals must be at least 14 years of age
to cast a leadership ballot and hold Canadian citizenship, be a permanent resident or have status under the Indian Act.
“What has struck me about this leadership campaign is the number of members, the people who have joined the party,” said Adams, who stated that around 400,000 people have signed up to vote in the race. “It’s proving to be a fairly successful leadership campaign for the party […] the polling data is starting to show that there might be narrowing of the gap between the Liberal party and Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives.”
At the end of 2024, Nanos Research polling indicated that support for the Conservative Party of Canada hit a new long-term high with a 26-point advantage over the Liberals. Adams explained that there are multiple factors of why the Liberals are now narrowing the Conservative’s lead in the polls. “One, Justin Trudeau has now said he’s not running, so he’s no longer the toxic thing that people saw in the party. I think there’s a general sense from many people that Mark Carney might be the next leader, so I think there’s a little enthusiasm about that, and all the Liberal leadership candidates are saying they’re axing the [carbon] tax.”
Trudeau’s resignation will mark an end to his nine years as Canada’s 23rd prime minister, having secured a majority government from 2015-19 followed by two minority governments. Trudeau has previously indicated that he will not be seeking re-election in Papineau — the federal electoral district in Quebec that he has represented since 2008 — in the next federal election.
Left to right: Frank Baylis, Mark Carney, Ruby Dhalla, Chrystia Freeland and Karina Gould.
photos courtesy of/ 2025 Liberal Party of Canada
Research & Technology
Wheat breeding revolutionized by drone technology
U of M researcher uses drone technology to enhance crop genetics and yield
Divyata Gosai, staff
Technological advancements have transformed how researchers monitor wheat growth, allowing them to use drones equipped with thermal imaging and advanced sensors to accurately track plant health and development.
Curt McCartney is an associate professor of plant science in the U of M’s faculty of agricultural and food sciences.
“I was always interested in genetics,” he said. “I took introductory courses in high school and got interested in genetics. I also grew up on a farm in southern Manitoba.”
McCartney explored various scientific fields during university, weighing options between plant genetics and other areas of study. Ultimately, he decided to focus on crop breeding after taking a third-year undergraduate class.
“I really enjoyed the intersection of my interest in genetics and my farming background,” he said. “I’m interested from the standpoint of trying to make the crops more adapted to Manitoba and more productive for farmers.”
McCartney joined the U of M in 2020 after working as a geneticist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. There, his research focused on understanding the inheritance of key traits in wheat and oats to improve plant breeding programs.
Today, McCartney’s research plots are located on the U of M’s campus, as well as at the Glenlea Research Station and the U of M’s Carman, Manitoba site.
McCartney explained that by studying the genetic variation in different wheat and oat lines from around the world, researchers can identify beneficial traits and introduce them into Canadian crops to improve resilience and productivity.
tion in Canada.”
McCartney’s research focuses on identifying genetic markers associated with key traits in plant and wheat breeding, particularly resistance to diseases that impact farmers in the province.
These genetic markers help identify which plants carry desirable genes early in the breeding process, ensuring they are retained and not lost during selection.
tember, and then it has to germinate and emerge out of the soil, and then it has to survive the winter.
“It’s pretty straightforward to then fly a drone over the field in the spring and evaluate in each of the plots how many green wheat plants are left.”
“I’m interested from the standpoint of trying to make the crops more adapted to Manitoba and more productive for farmers”
— Curt McCartney, associate professor in the U of M’s faculty of agricultural and food sciences
“We’re working on utilizing drones to help us select for some of these traits that we’re interested in,” he said.
“I’ve always been interested in plant breeding,” he said. “Plant breeding is taking that genetic information and applying it to develop new oat lines or wheat lines that have combined new traits that currently don’t exist for produc-
McCartney explained that winter survival is the easiest trait to identify using drones, making it a key factor in crop selection and research.
“I’m working on winter wheat breeding,” he said. “The winter wheat crop is seeded in the fall, typically in early Sep -
Assessing plant survival based on labour is challenging, as it requires the slow, meticulous process of examining each plot in the field and estimating the number of surviving plants. Drones streamline the process, allowing it to be done quickly and consistently.
McCartney explained that drones are being used in agricultural research worldwide to assess various crop traits, such as plant height and chlorophyll levels, which indicate overall crop health.
He is exploring the potential of drones for selecting disease resistance. He acknowledged that this application may be more challenging, but
he expects advancements in drone technology to progress in that direction over time.
“[Eventually], there will be ways of flying the drones over the field and getting images, and being able to assess the individual plots resistant [to disease],” he said.
Usually, reading thousands of crop plots for individual diseases is a highly time-consuming process. However, McCartney explained, drones can complete this work quickly.
“[Without drones], it’s very difficult,” he said. “But if we add a mechanism that can quickly fly over a field and maybe take 20 to 30 minutes, then the work after would be using some software to pull out the data.”
This approach could be a highly effective method for enhancing the crop’s genetics to achieve the desired improvements.
McCartney noted that plant breeding is a collaborative process involving experts across various fields.
“I want to emphasize that agriculture is a major contributor to the economy of Manitoba,” he said.
graphic / Fumnaya Ifeadi / staff
IMAGINING THE FUTURE OF UMSU UNIVERSITY CENTRE
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2025 UMSU Community Rep. Candidates THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 12-1PM
HIV discovery offers hope as cases hit historic highs
A quiet immune system could hold the key to preventing HIV
Rhea Bhalla, staff
In 2023, the province of Manitoba saw more new cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) than it did at any point during the HIV epidemic of the 1980s, one of the greatest public health challenges in history. After a sharp increase in HIV rates in recent years, Manitoba now has the second-highest rate of HIV diagnosis in the country.
“We’re having more new infections in Manitoba than ever before,” said Keith Fowke, professor in the Max Rady college of medicine. “It used to be a gay man’s disease, but now in Manitoba, there’s more Indigenous women that are newly infected with HIV than any others.”
Fowke explained that the rise in HIV cases stems from a combination of factors affecting highly vulnerable populations. These include individuals experiencing homelessness, the intersecting epidemics of HIV and methamphetamine use and the prevalence of other sexually transmitted infections such as syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea. Together, these challenges have contributed to an increase in HIV infections that disproportionately impact Indigenous women.
Through collaborations with communities in Nairobi, Kenya where HIV rates surpass those in Manitoba, Fowke and his team are able to study large numbers of people exposed to or living with HIV. Their findings can then be applied to not only Manitoba, but the whole world.
Fowke’s research focuses largely on why some individuals exposed to HIV do not become infected or experience milder symptoms than others.
“An analogy is you may have a situation in your family or in your household where someone always becomes sick with the cold that comes around, and there’s someone else who is working and living in the same environment, and they never seem to get sick,” Fowke said. “The same is true for almost all infectious diseases we have.
The longer these women have been engaged in sex work, the more likely they are to stay protected against HIV, suggesting sex work may have altered certain aspects of their immune systems, playing a role in their resistance to
virus.
If HIV enters the genital tract of a woman with many calm immune cells and very few activated ones, the virus will struggle to infect suitable target cells, leading to the low rates of HIV, Fowke observed.
“We’re having more new infections in Manitoba than ever before”
— Keith Fowke, professor in the Max Rady college of medicine
infection. This phenomenon has been a focal point of their research for many years.
“People vary in their susceptibility to getting the infection, and then once infected, they vary in how sick they get.”
Fowke’s research team discovered that some women, despite being heavily exposed to HIV, remain uninfected.
Fowke found that in the genital tract where the HIV virus enters, the immune systems of some women are calm and resting rather than highly activated. Compared to a calm immune cell, a highly active immune cell is 1,000 times more susceptible to HIV and produces 1,000 times more
“They had an immune system that was still functional, but it was calm, cool, quiet, and therefore didn’t have a lot of the highly activated cells that HIV likes to infect,” Fowke said. “That was a major finding for us in the field, the development of this immune quiescence hypothesis, that you could resist HIV infection by having a quiet immune system at the general tract with few HIV target cells.”
More recently, Fowke and his team have been working to duplicate that quiet immune
system in women who lacked it and remained at risk of getting HIV. To do this, the highly activated immune cells HIV favours need to be stopped from migrating into the genital tract.
This process of immune cells migrating into tissues, is called inflammation. Inflammation happens when immune cells rush to an area of the body to fight infection. If a woman has bacterial vaginosis, for example, immune cells (including highly active ones) enter the genital tract to fight the infection. In these situations, HIV is easily transmitted.
Fowke’s goal was to use an anti-inflammatory drug to block the process of inflammation, thereby keeping highly active immune cells out of the genital tract and stopping the HIV virus in its tracks.
“We talked to the community members and said, ‘what are some of the anti-inflam-
matory drugs that you would like to use?’” Fowke explained. “They said ‘we want to use something that is known in the community, that’s safe, it’s affordable, it’s available and it doesn’t have any stigma, that it’s accessible to our community.’ And so, the one that they selected was aspirin.”
In a study giving Kenyan women low-dose aspirin for six weeks, Fowke’s team saw a 35 per cent reduction in the number of HIV target cells in women’s genital tracts. The long-term goal of his research is to prevent HIV infection using anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin, in addition to condoms, fewer sexual partners and antiretroviral therapies that stop the HIV virus from replicating.
“HIV infection is still an issue,” Fowke said. “There’s good treatment, but we’re not doing enough to prevent new infections, including at home.”
photo courtesy of / Keith Fowke
Prioritize heart health this Valentine’s Day
A healthy heart tells the best kind of love story — one that lasts a lifetime
Rhea Bhalla, staff
V
alentine’s Day often brings to mind images of long-stemmed red roses, winged infants armed with golden bows and heartshaped boxes of chocolate. But in the midst of celebrating love, there’s an equally important relationship that deserves attention — the one you have with your heart.
This Valentine’s Day, while we reflect on the value of love and romance, let’s also take a moment to consider the health of a vital organ. Heart disease remains one of the leading causes of death in Canada, yet an estimated 80 per cent of it is preventable.
So, how can we show our hearts some love? By making choices that protect our cardiovascular health.
Dark chocolate, often hailed as a heart-healthy treat, is an excellent choice for Valentine’s Day indulgence. Dark chocolate’s antioxidants have been shown to lower blood pressure, reduce clotting risks and enhance blood flow to the heart, which in turn lowers the likelihood of stroke and coronary heart disease.
Strawberries have also been linked to improved heart health. Like other fruits, strawberries are rich in anthocyanins, chemical compounds that lower blood pressure and make blood vessels more elastic. According to researchers, consuming even one cup of strawberries a day may have significant health benefits.
Consider adding some dark chocolate and strawberries (or, even better, dark chocolate-covered strawberries) to the menu. Both your tastebuds and your heart will thank you for it.
healthy heart. Rather than a classic candlelit dinner (or an evening spent in your pajamas watching rom-coms with your shih tzu), you might want to take a more active approach to your Valentine’s Day.
The British Heart Foundation recommends engaging in at least two-and-a-half hours of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise a week, which involves moving the body’s largest muscles (such as those in the arms and legs) in ways that elevate the heart rate. This can include walking, cycling, swimming, doing housework or playing a sport. Aerobic exercise mitigates your risk of heart disease by reducing blood pressure, lowering resting heart rate and improving cholesterol levels.
Resistance training and balance exercises are also recommended for a healthy heart. That said, paying attention to your body’s warning signs helps prevent injury. You know your limits best — not the gym instructor or a YouTube video yelling at you to work harder. Push yourself, but not off a cliff.
You might also consider taking a walk with your significant other or friend. Or a dance session in your living room. Not only will you get those heart-healthy benefits, but you’ll also burn off some of those dark chocolate-covered strawberries. Win-win.
graphic / Emma Gillich / volunteer
guess what? Your heart feels that stress too.
can also impact your heart.
check-ups.
This Valentine’s Day, consider prioritizing your heart health. That way, the only heartbreak you’ll face will be the metaphorical kind
Exercise is also key to a
While many consider Valentine’s Day a celebration of love and connection, others may view it as a source of stress. Romantic worries, relationship pressure and social expectations can all take a toll on your mental health. And
Although stress is a normal aspect of being human, chronic stress — consistent, long-lasting feelings of being pressured and overwhelmed — has been identified as a leading risk factor for heart disease. Chronic stress may increase inflammation in the body, increasing plaque buildup in arteries and causing issues like coronary artery disease, which may lead to heart failure.
Short-term or sudden stress
In those who already have plaque in their arteries, a sudden surge of adrenaline can lead to a plaque rupturing and a blood clot growing large enough to block blood flow. The result is a heart attack.
On Feb. 14, try engaging in stress-relieving activities. Whether you opt for a cozy evening with a paperback romance novel or a quiet dinner with someone special, taking time to relax is a simple but effective way to take care of your heart — so it can keep taking care of you.
Finally, if you haven’t already, make sure you’re keeping up with regular heart
Valentine’s Day is the perfect reminder to schedule your annual physical exam or have a cardiac screening done, especially if you have a family history of heart disease. Knowing your cholesterol levels, blood pressure and overall heart health can help you make better lifestyle choices to keep your ticker running smoothly for years to come.
So, this Valentine’s Day, consider prioritizing your heart health. That way, the only heartbreak you’ll face will be the metaphorical kind.
Love on the big screen A guide to romance movies
Thandeka Katsika, staff
Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, which means it’s time to pop the popcorn, get the snacks and bring all your friends together to binge-watch some romance movies.
Romance is a staple in the movie industry. Almost every genre features some elements of romance even if it is never fleshed out or expanded on throughout the movie. No matter how unpredictable and complex a plot is, I always find myself looking for hints of romantic connections between characters and speculating about which ones might end up together.
One of the first movies centered on romance was The Kiss, a short film released in 1896. It was a simple depiction of everyday romance and featured, as you may have guessed, a kiss.
Following this classic portrayal of love on the big screen, the concept of romantic comedies, also known as romcoms, was born. These movies made love lighthearted. Filled with big laughs and a less intense plotline, films like It Happened One Night released in 1934, took over the
scene. Romance movies then evolved to feature more risqué subject matters like sex and affairs.
More progressions were made to improve the genre. To this day certain romance movies continue to impress in the way they take these classic elements and produce truly original plots for us to enjoy on the big screen, while others fail to captivate an audience despite seemingly ticking all the boxes. So, what makes a good romance movie?
In my opinion, well-written characters are the most important part of the movie. Not the plot or the setting but the characters. Characters are the pillars on which a good plot stands and without them, even the most incredibly well-written plot will fall flat. The people we see on our screens need to be believable. They need clear motivations and intentions and they need to feel real. I think some romance movies give the audience half-baked characters. Where some parts of their personalities seem genuine and other parts don’t. There is no consistency in how the characters act and some decisions they make are not aligned
with the persona that has been exposed to the audience.
Believable characters are essential, but a good plot is also very important. Viewers need the emotional rollercoaster. Watching a small miscommunication derail a good relationship or having to sit helplessly through the main character making horrible mistakes can be just as stressful as watching a high-speed chase or death-defying stunt.
In my opinion, a good romance plot usually involves a slow burn. I find that watching love develop slowly on the screen rather than an immediate attraction between the characters gives romance movies a more authentic feel. Another element that I feel increases the drama is having more than one romantic interest. In my experience, western movies tend to feature the good guy and the bad guy. We hate one and really don’t want the protagonist to end up with them, and we love the other. He is the main guy, and we all feel huge satisfaction when the good guy is chosen in the end. On the other hand, K-dramas usually have two men with relatively equal likability. There is no bad guy
and it is less clear who we want the protagonist to end up with.
While both can be effective in amplifying the intensity of the plot, I tend to gravitate toward the K-drama style of second leads. Being conflicted on who the protagonist should end up with or hopelessly rooting for the second lead even though you know he will not get the girl in the end adds extra inclines and sharp turns to the rollercoaster and altogether makes for an even more thrilling ride.
And finally, a laugh. I believe no romance movie is complete without a good dose
of comedy to tie everything together. If you are looking for a good romance movie to enjoy on Valentine’s Day, I would recommend Me Before You. I think it is the best romance movie ever made and I have never met anyone who watched it and did not enjoy it. If period dramas are more your style Pride and Prejudice should definitely be on your watch list. The Proposal is also a great watch. And if you lived under a rock and didn’t watch it already, or if you are a movie repeater, like myself, be sure to watch To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before
Why don’t men wear engagement rings
How marketing and cultural norms shape the one-sided
Peace Ifeanyi, staff
Ever since I first heard this intriguing question, I have pondered over it. Why do men not wear engagement rings? After all, both partners are engaged, not just the woman. Your first guess is probably correct — historical gender roles. Traditionally, it has been the man’s role to initiate a relationship and declare his intentions.
Let us consider the practice of spooning, first used by lovesick men in Wales to describe an enamored suitor who would
carve a wooden spoon as a token of his affection. If the woman accepted and wore it on a ribbon around her neck, it signified her reciprocation, and they became engaged. Even when love was not the primary factor, engagement practices still reflected gender roles. Take one of the earli - est recorded engagement rings in history.
In 1518, Mary, daughter of Henry VIII, was given an engagement ring by the infant Dauphin of France, son of King Francis I. At the time, Princess Mary was two years old. Yes, take a moment to process that. Although the Ancient Egyptians are credited with the first wedding rings —
braided from reeds or leather — documented history traces engagement rings back to the Roman Empire. Roman wives wore rings attached to small keys, symbolizing their husbands’ ownership. From this brief history lesson, we see that it has always been the man’s role to give the woman a ring, which logically means he does not receive one himself. His act of proposing is considered sufficient proof of his commitment.
Beyond history, cultural norms have reinforced this practice. The idea that engagement rings are primarily for women has been passed down through generations, creating a strong association between women and engagement rings. Another key player in this tradition is the diamond company De Beers, which launched its iconic “a diamond is forever” campaign in 1947. By marketing diamond engagement rings exclusively to women and encouraging famous persons to wear them, De Beers solidified the expect-
tradition
ation that men should be the buyers and women the wearers — especially at a time when men were more financially capable. Then there’s societal expectation. Proposals are widely seen as a symbolic act, with the man proposing to the woman to signal his intention to marry. If he were to wear an engagement ring, it might seem redundant — akin to submitting an application to a school and then approving it yourself (that analogy might not be perfect, but you get the point).
However, times are changing. Are evolving attitudes toward relationships and gender equality leading to a shift in this tradition? My observation, here in 2025, is yes — gently but steadily. We are beginning to see more men wearing engagement rings, not out of obligation but as a personal choice. It is no longer viewed as unmanly or unnecessary. In fact, many men now wear engagement rings as a symbol of inten-
tionality, a desire to be just as “claimed” as their fiancées. Some men, of course, still see no need for an engagement ring. Cultural norms remain deeply ingrained, and practical questions arise — should he buy himself a ring? Or should his fiancée buy one for him? If she does, does that not simply duplicate the same intention? In a society where engagement traditionally signifies ownership, who, then, “owns” the groom? If a man claims his bride, how does she claim him?
But in the end, it has never really been about the ring — it should not be. Engagement is about commitment, continued intentionality and loyalty.
So, in the spirit of Valentine’s Day, if you’re planning to propose this Friday, go ahead and get down on one knee — but don’t forget to have your own ring ready too.
Happy Valentine’s 2025, lovebirds!
graphic / Teegan Gillich / staff
graphic / Fumnaya Ifeadi / staff
Safe streets or bust
Why 30 km/h makes cycling more accessible and improves road safety
Adam Johnston, volunteer
W innipeg can become a more cycling-friendly city by rapidly accelerating the implementation of 30 km/h zones in residential areas.
Safe streets are streets with a maximum 30 km/h speed limit. Analysts point to 30 km/h as the most optimal for safer speeds. A study on school zones in Edmonton found that nearly half of all serious collisions are reduced when the speed is reduced from 50 km/h to 30 km/h. In comparison, almost 9 out of 10 people hit by a car going 30 km/h will survive, versus 2 out of 10 people will survive a car driving 50 km/h.
The safe streets movement has grown locally and globally. Here in Winnipeg, citizens concerned about road safety and healthier cities while addressing social inequities and climate action have joined campaigns to advocate for more 30 km/h zones. So far, we have seen modest success, including helping push for neighborhood greenways, including Eugenie Street, in eastern Winnipeg and Harbi-
son Avenue in Elmwood. This coalition of cyclists, urbanists, environmentalists and activists has been instrumental.
Globally, the United Nations Global Road Safety Week in 2021 called on lawmakers to implement 30 km/h streets to ensure safer neighborhoods.
Zoleka Mandela, Nelson Mandela’s granddaughter, lost her daughter in 2010 to a road collision in South Africa. She said, “so many of us around the world are taking to the streets and demanding change.” Mandela also said, “we want low speeds, we want livable streets, and communities where we can walk safely, and our children can get to school unharmed. We call for 30 km/h speed limits. Above 30 is a death sentence.”
Why should 30 km/h in residential streets be the law of the land in Winnipeg?
First, it makes us safer.
Winnipeg released its Road Safety Strategic Action Plan in 2022 to reduce serious and fatal collisions by 2026. Despite this ambitious target, last year was a dangerous year for pedestrians and cyclists,
Good luck, babe! Revenge is best served hot
Quinn Mayhew, staff
Revenge is best served hot. I’ve always been for revenge, especially if a group or an individual has wronged one of my friends or loved ones.
I have especially always been one to jump on the hate bandwagon. When someone has been evil to my friends or family, I will do my absolute best to annihilate, in the sense I will enact revenge where revenge is deserved.
One may say in another sense that I am indeed a “hater,” and you know what? I’m not. I’m a vigilante, keeping my circle safe from people who just generally suck.
Now that Valentine’s Day has rolled around, I feel as though I am the Scrooge of Valentine’s Day. As I walk through the hallways, I see couples holding hands, cuddling or, in general, just being lovey-dovey. I feel the need to run through these people’s interlocked hands at top speed to see their smiles crumble.
I have never claimed to be a morally righteous person. I often do the wrong thing. Much like how every article I write is about things that bother me instead of being an inspiring piece about “how
you can do it.” Instead of writing those types of articles, I write articles about revenge, like this one.
Revenge is one of my favourite parts of life and if it’s done right, that’s the cherry on top. Now in terms of psychological warfare, one may say move on, “it’s no use getting angry over spilled milk.” Nay I say, take that hatred inside of you and level up.
Like when you see your ex, don’t just ignore them, do the ultimate power move and go up to them and talk to them to make them as uncomfortable as possible for hurting you in the past relationship.
Or when someone cuts you in line at the local thrift store, go back and just annihilate them in thrift finds. Really show them who’s boss.
When you read this article, you must be thinking that this girl hates couples, Valentine’s Day and likes revenge because she’s probably single. And you know what? You would be right. I do hate Valentine’s Day for two reasons — it is over-commercialized and I have no one to celebrate it with, except my trusty bottle of wine that never seems to fail me.
Rejection though in terms
with more cycling and pedestrian deaths than in 2023 (14 pedestrians and two cyclists, including Rob Jenner on Wellington Crescent). Slowspeed streets in our city would reduce the risk of pedestrian and cyclist fatalities, making the city much safer.
Second, safe streets are the best low-hanging fruit when it comes to building out our city’s active transportation network.
As Winnipeg is expected to grow to 1 million within a decade, we cannot afford to make poor land use decisions through urban sprawl to favour the automobile as our main mode of transportation. Poor land use creates inefficient economic, environmental and health decisions for a city that simply cannot afford to.
Third, safe streets will help our city achieve its climate goals.
Currently, nearly half of the city’s carbon emissions come from transportation, with nearly 80 per cent coming from private automobile use. With the city targeting 50 per cent mode share by pub -
lic transit, active transportation or ridesharing by 2050, developing 30 km/h streets would help to reach our climate goals.
Lastly, developing safe streets helps create a more equitable transportation system.
Many people in Winnipeg’s core area cycle as a mode of transportation. Ensuring more 30 km/h streets in our mature neighbourhoods would ensure the most equitable and accessible ways to get around to work, school and other trips within their daily lives.
Ian Walker of Safe Streets Winnipeg said on a recent episode of Not Necessarily the Automobile that one of the stumbling blocks in getting
more 30 km/h zones in our city is that Winnipeg is a heavily car-dependent city, where people who drive frequently do not feel the same discomfort as cyclists, or pedestrians. Walker said people need to get out of their comfort zone to be more empathetic toward cyclists and pedestrians while educating people on the importance of safe streets. Safe streets are too good on many levels for a city that needs a desperate transportation overhaul. Safe streets or bust.
Adam Johnston hosts Not Necessarily The Automobile on Thursdays at 11:30 a.m. on UMFM 101.5. He can be reached at notnecessarilytheautomobile@gmail.com
of relationships and Valentine’s Day is personal. Why would you put yourself out there when there are no guarantees it’s going to work out? People more often than not are evil and breakups can be pretty devastating and messy. Despite there being a sense and an inevitability of doom when it comes to relationships in my opinion, people still get in them searching for love within a society that is generally composed of some of the evillest individuals I have ever met.
Now being in a relationship doesn’t always equal doomsday. I just want to give the people reading this article possible revenge tactics if everything goes wrong.
Rule number one, for a revenge plan to work, never let them see you coming, let them think you are lying low then spring out of the woodwork and get revenge.
If they have you blocked on all forms of social media, show up on their barber’s or hairdresser’s Instagram, or if they say they never want to see you again, borrow their Ring doorbell, so they must see you.
According to Psychology Today, “seeking revenge is often an initial human
response to wounds incurred at the hands of others. When focusing on revenge, we may be driven by a sense of rectifying whatever has caused pain. However, focusing on revenge is a distraction from fully experiencing the pain resulting from the offence. Ruminating about or acting on revenge involves a temporary orientation of our attention outward that competes with and overshadows our turning inward.”
Revenge is a toxic, repetitive cycle that doesn’t solve anything but creates a cycle of ignoring the problem and hoping it’ll lead to an emotional release instead of facing the problem head-on and cop-
ing in a healthy way.
Even though I recognize that revenge is a terrible way to go about things I also believe there are some situations where revenge is needed and that sometimes there is no use being the bigger person. Instead of letting the universe enact karma, sometimes you must do it yourself.
Please always go about revenge in a healthy way, never take it too far. I have a moral code when it comes to revenge: keep it safe for everyone, keep it friendly, never take it too far and always know when to let things go. I hope you enjoyed my article on revenge and use it wisely.
graphic / Fumnaya
Ifeadi / staff
graphic / Teegan
Gillich / staff
If
Teegan Gillich
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.
that each row, column and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely.
For many strategies, hints and tips, visit www.sudokuwiki.org for Sudoku and www.str8ts.com for Str8ts.
If you like Str8ts and other puzzles, check out our books,
Puzzles Sudoku
Arts & Culture
Celebrating different kinds of love on Valentine’s Day
Surviving the most romantic day of the year without a significant other
Boris Tsun Hang Leung, staff
F or those in relationships, Valentine’s Day might mean sappy cards, heart-shaped chocolates and candlelit dinners. Unfortunately, for those who are not, it is a day of watching others celebrate something they do not have — romantic love.
At this time of the year, I always see melodramatic social media posts from people lamenting their singlehood and dreading the romantic holiday.
This phenomenon appears to be part of a growing trend. According to Statistics Canada, marriage rates in Canada have been declining and the number of single-person households are on the rise, suggesting that singlehood is becoming more common. Similarly, in the U.S., the number of unpartnered adults aged 25 to 54 increased from 29 per cent in 1990 to 38 per cent in 2019.
However, Valentine’s Day does not have to be as dreadful for singles as some people make it out to be. It can be an opportunity to practice other forms of love. This week, staff and volunteers at the Student Wellness Centre are hosting a number of events, from craft-
ing workshops to a UMFM radio podcast with Active Minds on self-love.
Ashley Anderson, the student wellness program assistant at U of M, said the crafting event is centered around students making Valentine’s Day cards for themselves.
stressful),” she wrote in an email.
Anderson added that selfcare can make Valentine’s Day easier and that there are many ways to practice it.
“Some [practices] include
ordering
tionally, Valentine’s Day falls on the Friday before a long weekend and reading week this year, so taking an entire night off of school/studying is more feasible,” she said.
“This is a great way to practice self-compassion and care, especially during a time of year that can feel lonely (and
in or making your favourite food, doing a ‘spa’ night (e.g., face masks, bubble bath), watching your favourite movie or show or simply relaxing/taking a nap. Addi-
“Another great option is to get together with other friends who are single and/or do not celebrate to take your mind off the time of year and have
not unusual. In some Latin American cultures, Feb. 14 is also known as el día del amor y la amistad — the day of love and friendship — and is celebrated by spending time with friends and family. In El Salvador, people exchange secret gifts with each other, similar to secret Santa during Christmas. Interestingly, there are days dedicated to single people. The National Day Calendar marks Feb. 15 as Singles Awareness Day, a celebration of singlehood and its benefits. In South Korea, singles wear black and eat jjajangmyeon (noodles in black bean sauce) together on Apr. 14, perhaps as a way to find community in a world filled with rom-coms and love songs.
Regardless of your relationship status, this Friday is an excellent opportunity to express our love toward the people we cherish — and, perhaps more importantly, toward ourselves.
much needed support.”
Reframing Valentine’s Day around platonic love is
Find more details about the referenced Valentine’s Day themed events by following @ healthyuofm on Instagram or by visiting healthyuofm.com/ swc/
Uncovering the lives of undocumented migrants
Anthropologist examines the lives of those who attempted to cross U.S-Mexico border
Boris Tsun Hang Leung, staff
Blistering heat, Martian terrains and merciless thieves — these are just some of the dangers undocumented migrants from Latin America face when crossing the border to the U.S. in search of a better life.
In his 2015 non-fiction The Land of Open Graves, anthropologist Jason De León examines the lives of those who attempt to cross the U.S.-Mexico border. He tells the stories of those who successfully made the journey, as well as the many who did not survive.
One such person was Maricela, a 31-year-old woman who lived in a plywood shack with her husband and three children in an Ecuadorian shantytown. She left for the U.S. in hopes of finding a job, but she died while crossing the Arizona desert, where De León later found her body.
José, another migrant, was a 15-year-old Ecuadorian boy, and his parents migrated to New York years earlier to support him and his siblings. José crossed in hopes of reuniting
with his parents, but he vanished into the desert. His body was never found, leaving his family without closure.
De León argues that these cases are neither uncommon nor accidental. Instead, they are the result of “Prevention Through Deterrence,” an anti-migration strategy implemented by the U.S. government. Under this policy, the U.S. government blocks popular crossing routes and funnels migrants through the most dangerous parts of the southwestern deserts to discourage border-crossing. In the past 25 years, at least 10,000 migrants have died attempting the journey.
By spending time with migrants in their home countries, in the U.S. and along the border, De León paints a complete picture of the lives they lead. He reminds readers that these individuals knew the risks of crossing but acted out of desperation.
De León’s descriptive and sometimes explicit writing style made the book an immersive read. My stom-
ach sank when he wrote about José’s grandmother who still wanders the streets at night hoping to find him. The graphic descriptions and photographs of Maricela’s body, abandoned in the desert, were difficult to stomach. The reader has no choice but to confront these brutal realities.
By telling the stories of those silenced by immigration status or death, The Land of Open Graves humanizes migrants and calls for empathy toward those often scapegoated by society.
Today, tensions between migrants and American citizens have only escalated. Donald Trump recently started the mass deportations of migrants to countries including Mexico, Colombia and India. Despite allegations of torture and indefinite detention, Guantanamo Bay is expected to receive up to 30,000 deportees.
Though Trump’s plan to end birthright citizenship in the U.S. was suspended by a federal judge, his immigration
policies have sparked protests in cities such as Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. I am neither American nor in a position to propose immi-
gration policies, but in this era of radicalism and uncertainty, the need for compassion and understanding has never been more apparent.
photo courtesy of / jasonpatrickdeleon.com
A true story with timeless themes
Based on a real-life story, Indecent touches on love, censorship and controversy
Carrington Dong, staff
F
rom Feb. 13 to March 8, Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre (RMTC) will present its production of the Tony-nominated play Indecent. The play, directed by RMTC’s artistic director, Kelly Thornton, features a local cast and crew.
Written by Pulitzer Prize winner Paula Vogel, Indecent is a play-within-a-play, set in a small Yiddish theatre.
It tells the true story of the controversial play God of Vengeance, written by Sholem Asch. The 1920s Broadway production of God of Vengeance sparked controversy that put its producers and cast at risk, threatening their careers and livelihoods.
“Everyone on stage is playing a theatre troupe,” said Josh Bellan, a Winnipeg artist and one of the actors in the production. “This theatre troupe is telling the story of the reallife events that happened during the making and after the making of the God of Vengeance.”
According to Bellan, some of the controversy surrounding the show stemmed from
its depiction of Jews throwing a Torah onto the ground and featuring the first lesbian kiss on stage.
Bellan first discovered acting through his love for music.
“I came into acting just sort of from a music place first. I really dug music and then kind of fell into love with musical theatre, and then from that, things just kind of kept rolling on and then I just kept doing theatre,” he said.
“Now I’m an adult and doing it still.”
Bellan has appeared in productions of The Little Mermaid, American Idiot and Merrily We Roll Along, among others. He is an alumnus of U of M’s faculty of music, something that greatly influenced him and changed the way he viewed art.
“[I learned] how to think of doing art more in a professional way, as opposed to doing it before, and not thinking about it as much in that sense,” he reflected. “When I first went into university, I was very much like, ‘I’m doing music, it’s going to be very easy,’ but I quickly learned it
was a lot more challenging, and I think I grew a lot from that experience.”
In Indecent, Bellan plays Avram the Ingenue, a character who takes on four different roles in the play-within-a-play. He said the characters Avram portrays are those who want to see change in the world. Bellan’s primary role is that of playwright Sholem Asch.
“I think my favourite part of playing Sholem is just the wide journey that he has,” Bellan reflected. “He starts off trying to make a change with his play, and as he gets older, and things start to impact his life more […] he ends up becoming a little bit of a recluse and doesn’t really involve himself as much as he once did. He still does things from his writing, but never, not to that point that he was when he was at that younger age.”
Bellan says his preparation usually involves understanding the journey of each character he plays and making sure their arcs makes sense to him. Playing four different roles in a single production has been
a new challenge for him, and he said that the characters he plays are similar in some ways and very different in others.
“The prep, just in terms of that, has been a little bit more involved than [other productions] have been in the past,” he said.
Bellan noted that while Indecent includes music, it is a play rather than a musical. Coming from a musical theatre background, he found the experience different from what he was used to.
“With musicals, I find that coming from that background of music, it’s very quick for me to get into that,” he said. “For Indecent, there is music in it, but [...] it’s more of a transition-type thing when the music is involved, or a spotlight on a certain thing.”
During rehearsals, Bellan said he has learned a lot. He said that he learns new things about the show every day and praised the show’s writing. “My favourite part has been the discoveries made along the way,” said Bellan. “Just in terms of working on certain things and going into them
with a certain expectation and then having that flipped on its head.”
When asked what he thought audiences would love about the show, Bellan said the show’s themes are quite timely, given current world events.
“I love the show because of how timely it feels,” he said. “The show deals with a lot of censorship […] a lot of anti-immigrant sentiment, which we see a lot right now down south […] having that LGBT content in there, and also dealing with antisemitism.”
Bellan said he hopes audiences see themselves reflected in the play.
“Finding themselves in [the play], that’s always what I really hope an audience gets out of when they watch it, just seeing themselves in the show,” he said.
Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre’s production of Indecent runs from Feb. 13 through March 8 at the John Hirsch Mainstage. For tickets and further information, visit royalmtc.ca.
The Bisons defeat the Griffins 86-79 in game one and 88-77 in game two
Abdul-Jalilu Ahmed, staff
The Bisons men’s basketball team secured an 86-79 victory over the MacEwan Griffins on Friday, Feb. 7. The Bisons followed up with another strong performance, defeating the Griffins 88-77 in the rematch on Saturday, Feb. 8.
In the first quarter of game one, the Bisons took an early 2-0 lead at 8:20 with a layup made by Manyang Tong, assisted by Daren Watts. The Griffins responded at the 6:45 mark, when Job Janda made a three-point jump shot, giving them a 7-4 advantage.
The Bisons took a 15-13 lead at 2:19 after Barac Thon made a three-pointer, assisted by Tito Obasoto. Two free throws from Obasoto tied the game at 18-18 at the 0:23 mark, but Hugo Alonso’s jump shot at 0:10 pushed the Griffins to 20-18, closing out the quarter with the lead.
In the second quarter, Cieran O’Hara made two free throws at the 9:21 mark, tying the game at 20-20. The Bisons took a 28-22 lead at 6:48 with a dunk made by O’Hara. At 1:58, Thon extended the Bisons’ advantage with a three-point jump shot, making it 39-27. Thon capped off the quarter with another three-pointer at the 0:16 mark, securing a 44-31 lead for the Bisons heading into halftime.
The Bisons extended their lead in the third quarter, reaching 59-36 at the 6:09 mark, after Taven Vigilance made a layup, assisted by Mason Kraus. Kraus then added a free throw at 1:56, pushing the Bisons advantage to 68-43. At the 0:31 mark, Kraus made a threepoint jump shot, assisted by Obasoto, which extended the Bisons lead to 71-47. Joel Seke made two free throws for the
Griffins at 0:22, but the Bisons maintained a 71-49 lead heading into the final quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Kraus made a three-point jump shot at the 6:06 mark, giving the Bisons a 78-60 lead. At 4:18, Obasoto made a layup, extending the Bisons advantage to 80-67. The Bisons stretched their lead to 86-74 with a layup made by Obasoto, assisted by Thon, at 2:21. Although the Griffins put up a late fight with few baskets, it was not enough to close the gap, as the Bisons secured an 86-79 victory.
In game two, the Griffins came out strong, building a
10-0 lead by the 6:23 mark of the first quarter. Vigilance responded for the Bisons with a jump shot at 6:04, making it 10-2. Thon added two free throws at 0:48, narrowing the gap to 18-16. The Bisons then completed their comeback, tying the game at 18-18 after a layup by Brandt Lenz, assisted by Watts, at the 0:25 mark.
In the second quarter, the Griffins extended their lead to 38-28 at the 1:11 mark with a dunk from Seke. At 0:58, Vigilance made a three-point jump shot, assisted by Lenz, cutting the deficit to 38-31. Samuel Jensen followed up with another three-pointer at 0:23,
bringing the score to 38-34, which remained unchanged at the end of the quarter.
In the third quarter, the Bisons levelled the score at 42-42 with a layup by Tong, assisted by Kraus, at the 6:08 mark. The Bisons then took a 54-52 lead at 2:09 after Watts delivered a three-pointer, assisted by Vigilance. At 0:05, Watts came up with a steal and capped it off with a dunk at 0:01, extending the Bisons lead to 58-52.
The Bisons extended their lead to 70-57 at the 6:56 mark of the fourth quarter with a three-point jump shot from Kraus. At 3:05, Kraus made
another three-pointer to push the Bisons ahead 80-65. The Bisons closed out the game with an 88-77 victory. With 14 wins and four losses, the Bisons men’s basketball team share the top spot with the Calgary Dinos and the Winnipeg Wesmen on the Canada West Prairie league standings with a winning percentage of 0.778.
The Bisons men’s basketball team will play the Mount Royal Cougars on Friday, Feb. 14 at 8 p.m. CT and on Saturday, Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. CT at the Investors Group Athletic Centre.
photo courtesy of / James Maclennan
The Bisons secure 3-1 win over the MacEwan Griffins
The Bisons’ strong finish seals their 13th straight win in the season
Faiyaz Chowdhury, staff
The Bisons women’s volleyball team triumphed over the MacEwan Griffins with a set score of 3-1 at the Investors Group Athletic Centre on Friday, Feb. 7. This game marked the herd’s 13th straight win of the season, contributing to their overall 16-4 win to lose ratio.
The Bisons started strong in the first set, recording 14 kills with just three errors on 39 total attempts for a 0.282 hitting percentage. Their wellrounded team effort saw key offensive and defensive contributions, helping them secure a 25-20 win. Defensive consistency and an ability to capitalize on the Griffins’ mistakes set the tone for the match.
In the second set, the Griffins bounced back, taking advantage of the Bisons’ inconsistency. The Bisons’ hitting percentage dropped to 0.167, with 13 kills but seven errors on 36 attempts. Despite some offensive highlights, service and attack errors ultimately allowed the Griffins to edge out the set 25-22.
The Bisons came back in the third set, putting up a 0.300 hitting percentage with 13 kills and only four errors on 30 attempts. Their cohesive play and strategic adjustments disrupted the Griffins’ rhythm, leading to multiple errors on the opposing side. A strong defensive performance bolstered the Bisons’ dominant 25-12 victory.
The Bisons sealed the win in the fourth set with their best offensive performance of the night, hitting 0.314 with 16 kills and five errors on 35 attempts. The Bisons maintained a steady offensive rhythm, keeping the Griffins on the back foot and closing out the match 25-16. As the match progressed, the Bisons refined their strategies, capitalizing on their opponents’ weaknesses while enhancing their own strengths. The fluidity in their rotations and sharp serving were key factors that made the difference in the third and fourth sets.
Among the standout players, Raya Surinx scored a total of 20 points, proving to be a critical offensive asset with a 0.204 hitting percentage. Andi Almonte’s ability to find and exploit gaps in the Griffins’ defence was key throughout the game. Almonte’s impressive powerful attacks earned 22 points at a 0.500 hitting efficiency, showcasing her ability to perform under pressure and consistently deliver points. Brenna Bedosky’s talent was on full display with a 0.357 kill percentage. On
defence, she was instrumental with six block assists, crucial in thwarting the Griffins’ offensive efforts and maintaining the Bisons’ lead.
Julia Arnold’s contributions as libero have also been pivotal for the Bisons throughout the 2024-25 season. Leading the Canada West rankings with 288 digs and an impressive 3.89 digs per set, Arnold has proven to be a defensive anchor for her team. Her ability to read plays and position herself effectively has also earned her third place in receptions with 445, solidifying her reputation as one of
the top liberos in the league. Arnold’s performance in this match was no exception, as she consistently thwarted the Griffins’ offensive attempts and provided critical first passes to set up her team’s attack.
In a post-match interview, the Bisons women’s volleyball head coach Ken Bentley was asked about the strategy used during the game. “It wasn’t any one thing. It was just being better with the ball on our side. In the third and fourth sets, our first contact passing, our serve receive got a lot better and our serv-
ing was really good,” he said. “We hit the zones we wanted and made it hard for them I thought, which made a big difference in how we were able to defend. So, that was kind of the biggest difference.”
When asked if the effective serving allowed them to focus less on defence and more on offence, the coach explained, “serving is our first offence really, so that we can create a bit more stress on the other team so that we can have some predictability about who they are going to set, where they are going to hit it. But before we can go on offence, we still
have to dig the ball first. That’s kind of the deal. So, I thought we did a good job of creating offensive opportunities out of our defence because we served the ball well.”
The Bisons faced the MacEwan Griffins the following day on Saturday, Feb. 8 and won 3-1.
The Bisons women’s volleyball team will go on to the U-Sports women’s volleyball nationals from March 14-16 hosted at the Investors Group Athletic Centre.
photos / Ebunoluwa Akinbo / staff
Tight matches end in split against the Golden Bears
The Bisons men’s hockey team win 3-2 on Friday and lose 7-4 on Saturday
Israel Adeogo Abejoye, staff
The Bisons men’s hockey team had a showdown against the Alberta Golden Bears in a weekend series at the Wayne Fleming Arena.
The Bisons took the first game 3-2 on Friday, Feb. 7, but the Golden Bears bounced back with a 7-4 win on Saturday, Feb. 8.
Friday’s game was a tightly contested affair, with neither team able to gain a significant advantage. The first period ended goalless, with both teams creating scoring chances but unable to capitalize.
The Golden Bears took the lead in the second period, with forward Eric Florchuk scoring the first goal of the game at 6:23. The Bisons’ forward Eric Alarie equalized just over a minute later, but the Golden Bears took the
lead again courtesy of forward Adam Hall at 9:12.
The Bisons tied the game in the third period, with forward Skyler Bruce scoring on a power play at 7:36. The game went into overtime where the Bisons’ forward Dawson Pasternak scored the winning goal at 2:57.
“It was a good pass by [Evan] Toth, and then I just figured shooting through his screen, [the goaltender] might not be able to see it, so it’s good it went in,” said Pasternak.
There were seven penalties in the game, six of which were due to the Golden Bears. Joel Sexsmith was sent off in the first period at 5:59 for delaying the game while Alarie and Aidan de la Gorgendiere were sent off in the second period at 14:22 for roughing. Sean Tschigerl was sent to the penalty
box at 19:17 for tripping in the same period, while Konrad Belcourt, Brett Hyland and Marc Lajoie were sent off for interference, unsportsmanlike conduct and kneeing in the third period, respectively.
The Golden Bears outshot the Bisons 44 to 23, but the Bisons made the most of their scoring chances.
“We had a good week of practice […] I thought we executed well and pushed the pace up a little bit. I thought it translated into today’s game,” said Bisons men’s hockey head coach Gordon Burnett.
Saturday’s rematch was a different showdown as the Golden Bears came out strong and took an early lead. The Golden Bears’ forward Tschigerl scored the first goal of the game at 4:17, and forward Noah Boyko added another
at 10:36. The Bisons’ forward Jonny Hooker scored their first goal of the game in a short-handed play at 15:06, but the Golden Bears also scored short-handed at 18:50 and took a 3-1 lead into the second period.
The second period saw the Bisons tie the game, with forward Riley Stotts scoring at 2:51 and Bruce adding another at 7:04. However, the Golden Bears took control of the game, scoring two more goals courtesy of forward Ty Nash at 9:47 and defence Elias Carmichael at 15:23. The Golden Bears took a 5-3 lead into the third period.
The third period saw the Golden Bears add two more goals, courtesy of forward Hyland at 1:45 and forward Tschigerl at 5:18. Pasternak scored a late goal at 19:08, but
it was too little, too late. The Golden Bears took the game 7-4.
The Bisons amassed three of the five penalties in the game. Alarie and Caden Zaplitny were sent off for tripping at 7:48 and 14:14, respectively, while Hyland was sent off for high sticking at 18:29 in the first period. Lajoie and Hooker were sent off for interference and slashing at 12:13 and 12:36, respectively, in the third period.
The Golden Bears outshot the Bisons 43-14 and made the most of their scoring chances.
The Bisons men’s hockey team will face the Saskatchewan Huskies on Friday, Feb. 14 at 8 p.m. CT and Saturday, Feb. 15 at 6 p.m. CT in Saskatoon.
