NEWS
No place for hate
Campus community responds to racist actions PAGE 3
COMMENT
ARTS AND CULTURE
Violence as a political tool
Taking centre stage
Extremism and the right PAGE 10
A night of women's comedy PAGE 17 NEWS
Art attack Combating cruelty with creativity PAGE 4
VO L 1 0 5 · N O 1 4 · N OV E M B E R 7, 2 0 1 8 · W W W.T H E M A N I TO B A N .CO M
Index
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VOL. 105 NO. 14 November 7, 2018
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Garett Williams
editor@themanitoban.com / 474.8293
BUSINESS MANAGER Sohni Tappia
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EDITORIAL
MANAGING EDITOR Malak Abas
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NEWS EDITOR Malak Abas
news@themanitoban.com / 474.6770
COMMENT EDITOR Jacob Singleton
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ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Braiden Pergis
ARTS AND CULTURE
arts@themanitoban.com
SPORTS EDITOR Jason Pchajek
Sniper turned sex educator
sports@themanitoban.com
COPY EDITOR Matthew Doering
Becoming Dr. Ruth showing in Winnipeg
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PAGE 18
sarah@themanitoban.com
ASSOCIATE COPY EDITOR Sarah Doran
DESIGN
DESIGN EDITOR Kellie Huynh
design@themanitoban.com
COMMENT
Be like Scrooge Charities are inefficient
GRAPHICS EDITOR Evan Tremblay
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PHOTO EDITOR Asha Nelson
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PHOTO ASSOCIATE Quincy Houdayer PHOTO ASSOCIATE Alex Decebal-Cruz DESIGN ASSOCIATE Ernest Zarzuela GRAPHICS ASSOCIATE Scott A. Ford
PAGE 12
REPORTERS NEWS Tyler Brass
NEWS Shauna Matthews SCIENCE David Zirangey COLUMNIST Kenny Ingram COLUMNIST Rebecca Balakrishnan ARTS Amin Montazeri SPORTS Kellen Taniguchi
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UMSU takes stand on reproductive rights PAGE 5
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News
News Editor: Malak Abas Contact: news@themanitoban.com / 474.6770
U of M reacts to white supremacist campaigning
University president, UMSU condemn acts of hate MALAK ABAS, STAFF
U
of M president David Barnard released a statement Friday condemning acts of racism after posters with the phrase “It’s okay to be white” were discovered on the Fort Garry campus last week. The posters were displayed on white paper and placed throughout campus sometime overnight Oct. 31. The posters were mainly concentrated in the faculty of arts, including the Isbister, Fletcher Argue and Tier buildings. Barnard’s email to students and staff came more than 24 hours after the posters were first discovered Thursday morning. The women’s and gender studies department received the same message via fax, signed by “A Wyatt. Mann.” An UMSU release initially reported the fax was sent to the Native studies department. Barnard denounced the action as part of a “co-ordinated international effort by neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups.” “The university has removed those posters that have been identified and security services is already investigating this incident,” he said. “Anyone identifying additional locations is asked to bring them to the attention of security services as well.” Campus security has footage of at least one person in a costume hanging the posters, but is unable to identify the individual. The president also called upon faculty, staff and students to “fight back against ignorance with knowledge.” Some students have said the signage is indicative of a dark facet of campus culture, including Indigenous student co-ordinator for the nursing student’s association River Steele Guillas. “Currently, I do not feel safe,” he said. “I do not feel welcomed.” Guillas said the perpetrators behind the incident intended to send a message to the student body. “That poster was put there by neoNazis and white supremacists simply for the purpose of eliciting a response from people of colour or minorities,” he said. “And going after people who are vulnerable like that — they’re race-baiting.”
Campus community speaks out
UMSU released a statement Thursday calling on students to act against racialized violence and president Jakob Sanderson called the event “extremely troubling.” Noting the university is located on traditional Treaty 1 territory and is home to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, he said the U of M needs to take a leading role in advocating for racialized students. “It is incumbent upon us to take a leadership position, I think, within this country, as a campus that is committed to equity, to diversity and to inclusion,” he said. “And to being a trailblazer, if you
PHOTO BY CARY MILLER
will, for that message. So I think that it is a broader issue, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t have a responsibility to take a lead on that on our own campus.” Sanderson said UMSU receives complaints from racialized students feeling unsafe on campus “often,” and incidents like these exacerbate those concerns.
“So to go around defending this by saying ‘Well, it is OK to be white’ is frankly a redundant, unnecessary and hurtful statement” — Jakob Sanderson, UMSU president “It’s been clear since the establishment of this country that it is OK to be white, but what has been perpetuated is that it’s not OK — and not preferable, certainly — to be Indigenous, to be black, to be racialized in any way.” “So to go around defending this by saying ‘Well, it is OK to be white’ is frankly a redundant, unnecessary and hurtful statement.” Head of the department of Native studies Cary Miller called the incident “disappointing” and said she believes the Indigenous campus
community was not the sole target. an identical, simplistic font and style. “Certainly with it coming to womThe idea has caught on outside en’s [and gender] studies, there’s also a of the U.S., with Canadian alt-right gendered piece of it [...] which I found online communities posting the particularly concerning,” she said. guidelines and encouraging followMiller called the posters a “defen- ers to take part in the campaigning. sive statement” and said focusing the Stickers with the phrase were message in faculty of arts buildings is found near the University of indicative of a broad message. Winnipeg campus in 2017. “We have all the different ethnic Similar posters were found this studies in [the faculty of] arts, so in targeting all of the arts buildings in the extent that they did, that’s where “Currently, I do not I’m suggesting it’s a wider statement,” feel safe. I do not she said. Miller added that a direct feel welcomed” — response to the incident could be putRiver Steele Guillas, ting up additional security cameras within the Native studies department, Indigenous student especially considering the building’s co-ordinator, nursing proximity to public streets. “Given how unsettling this has students' association been for our students and our colleagues, I think it would be helpful to have those cameras in place,” she said. week in Halifax, New Westminister Alt-right groups reaching and Ottawa. Canadian campuses Another stated goal is to foster The poster campaign has roots distrust in journalists and the media. in the U.S., where it originated on a Some 4chan posters predicted the message board on anonymous online response to the signs by news sources forum 4chan. would result in white people feeling After similar posters with the alienated or angry. phrase “Don’t apologize for being Since Halloween, alt-right white” were taken down from a Canadian subreddits have been Boston campus in 2017, members of posting the media responses to the the message board developed a phrase signage with titles insinuating the that would be, as one commenter put media, as once poster commented, it, “linguistically harder to subvert.” “took the bait” by reporting the events. Plans included putting up the The phrase “It’s OK to be white” posters on Halloween — as to guar- has been co-opted by the alt-right antee anonymity with costumes — in other formats. In November 2017, avoiding further vandalism and using alt-right blogger Lucian Wintrich
was arrested after a lecture at the University of Connecticut, titled “It’s OK to be white,” ended in a physical altercation.
Moving past hate
Student response to the posters has been swift. Conversation series 13 Fires Winnipeg, a group focused on “building a more racially-inclusive Winnipeg,” held a discussion period Sunday to work toward a “creative response.” An email was sent out to the Manitoban — as well as UMSU, the Graduate Students' Association and others — from an encrypted email address Friday with the subject “I put up the ‘It’s okay to be white’ flyers at U of M.” The author, who claims to be a student of several years, provides no proof of this claim. They dismiss accusations of being connected to white supremacist and neo-Nazi organizations as “patently false.” They also deny sending any faxes. Guillas said the university administration has a responsibility to act directly in response to this incident. “I feel it is the responsibility of those in power here, on these lands, to do something about it — and they can, and they should,” he said. Guilles said he believes it is time for activist groups to counter hate groups by engaging in direct action. “These people have the mindset, they truly believe that it is their right [...] to harm others,” he said. “And that needs to end. And it will end. The end is near for that.”
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News
News Editor: Malak Abas Contact: news@themanitoban.com / 474.6770
Artists, community mobilize against hate
Poster making session featured dialogue on being ‘actively anti-racist’ SHAUNA MATTHEWS, STAFF
conversations on race. Sunday’s event addressed anxieties that people felt with the appearance of the posters. “I became really concerned about the posters’ power to influence people that are not sure where they stand when it comes to white supremacy,” Chen said.
Conversation group 13 Fires hosted a discussion and poster-making session Sunday in response to the spread of ‘It’s okay to be white’ posters on campus last week. PHOTO BY ASHA NELS
ON
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innipeg conversation series 13 “how to be actively anti-racist” as well Fires hosted a drop-in event as a poster making session. at the U of M Sunday afternoon in Anny Chen, a 13 Fires organizer, response to “It’s okay to be white” said the event was meant to provide posters that were posted around the an open space for dialogue. Fort Garry campus overnight Oct. 31. “My expectation [of today] was The event, “Art Action: just a come and go spot for people Mobilizing a response to ‘It’s okay to to be able to talk through some of be white,’” featured discussion about what’s happening and to make some
art around it and that there’ll be further responses that can happen from this,” she said. The group formed in 2015 after speakers at the Our Summit: Local Racial Inclusion Summit, which took place in September of that year, recommended community members within the city continue productive
“To be actively anti-racist in the university system or in a classroom might be countering people’s ideas,” Chen said, “or calling out microaggressions, or if people share something, a way of viewing something or a policy you think is discriminatory, that you would say something about it.” The School of Fine Art Students Association (SOFA) is also planning a response to the posters. “We want to make Annie Beach, SOFA co-president, sure that white said, “SOFA have decided to counteract the violent ‘It’s okay to be white’ supremacist ideas posters with posters that have positive aren’t taking further messages.” SOFA plans to produce a series hold” — Anny Chen, of screen-printed posters featuring 13 Fires organizer messages created in consultation with the Muslim Student Association and Indigenous students. “We hope that these posters can be Chen noted the posters were both available to students free of charge threatening to racialized groups on where they can hang them where they campus and also a possible recruit- need them,” Beach said. ment tool. Organizers are aiming to meet “It’s dangerous because it becomes regularly again in 2019 and create this recruitment tool and this identi- spaces for conversations that fosfier and this locus of belonging for ter understanding and “anti-racist people who may be currently in a neu- action.” tral or slightly oppositional space to “We want to make sure that white anti-racism,” Chen said. supremacist ideas aren’t taking furMuch of the discussion focused ther hold and we want to make sure on what it means to be a non-racist that we’re working in anti-racist and versus an anti-racist. anti-aggressive ways,” Chen said. “To me the difference between a non-racist and an anti-racist is action,” Chen said. Chen provided examples of how to be anti-racist within the university.
Apologies after student wears Indigenous garb to Hub UMSU, Hub respond after student wore headdress as part of Village People costume MALAK ABAS, STAFF
U
MSU issued an apology Oct. “I was liking through them because policy prohibits “discriminatory or portraying Angel Morales of the Whyte, who is Métis, said he 31 after a student was allowed they were posted at the Hub, and I harassing behaviours and actions” band the Village People. reached out to Subedar personally. into the Hub Halloween Haunt Oct. wanted to be supportive.” in UMSU-operated spaces, and Being that I am of Indigenous “We certainly don’t condone rac26 wearing a costume that has been “I wasn’t by any marks trying to be Sanderson said cultural appropria- background, the intent of the out- ism in any way, shape or form or culcriticized as culturally appropriative. malicious or be culturally insensitive,” tion “certainly” falls under that policy. fit was not to mock nor ridicule tural appropriation, but in this case The individual wearing the cos- Indigenous culture.” it’s clearly, by definition, his own The statement said UMSU has “a he said. “I should’ve been more aware safe environment policy that prohib- with my actions.” tume, U of M student Shoka Subedar, Subedar also apologized to “any- culture, so [it’s] not being appropriits racism in any form and in any of UMSU one who was hurt ated,” he said. our spaces, including the Hub, and president Jakob by these actions, “I just feel bad for him that he we recognize that cultural appropria- Sanderson said however my intent thought he was celebrating his “I hope that we can use this as a learning tion is a form of racism.” no UMSU execuwas never to inflict culture, but he was ignorant to experience for UMSU, I hope the individual The costume in question, a head- tives attended the pain.” the fact that it was obviously quite dress — feathered headgear typi- event but hoped it According to disrespectful.” can use this as a learning experience” — cally given to Indigenous leaders could be used as a Sanderson, “mulAfter checking security cameras, as gifts and used for ceremonial chance to learn. tiple” employ- Whyte said it was revealed Subedar Jakob Sanderson, UMSU president occasions by Indigenous groups “I hope that we ees at the Hub entered the Hub while there was not — sparked debate on social media can use this as a had approached a doorman present, which he called after an Indigenous student posted learning experience for UMSU, I said he is Indigenous and the costume Subedar but allowed him to stay “very rare.” a screenshot of an Instagram photo hope the individual can use this as a was meant to refer to the Village when he explained he himself was Whyte said an email was sent of the Halloween Haunt, tagging it learning experience,” he said. People, a disco group best known Indigenous. out to all Hub staff concerning the #mycultureisnotacostume. “And I think that going forward for its use of costumes. Hub manager Brandon Whyte situation. The photo was liked by UMSU certainly all of our executives and all “I won’t defend the actions of called the response a “gigantic “Any form of disrespect to any vice-president finance and opera- of our staff, full-time and part-time wearing the outfit that is in question, assumption.” culture has to be reported to me,” tions Mbuli Matshe, who has publicly and within our businesses, I think however I will explain the situation “It was a young man who was he said, “and people have to be fully apologized. really everyone at this university accurately,” he said. ignorant of his own teachings and aware of it.” “I was going through a couple of could benefit from more training in “As the photo was taken from the learnings and thought that he was Hub Halloween social posts, and I terms of cultural sensitivity.” back it is impossible to tell that I was celebrating his culture, because he was liking through them,” he said. UMSU’s safe environment wearing sunglasses and in fact was was Indigenous himself,” he said.
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UMSU motions support reproductive rights
Board passes amendments to position statement, safe environment policy MALAK ABAS, STAFF
U
MSU’s chambers were full (CCBR) that have been demonMonday as two motions amend- strating outside UMSU University ing the union’s official position on Centre this fall will be unaffected by reproductive rights were debated and the union's new position. passed. The board voted to split the The first motion amends UMSU's motion in two because the govern“equitable campus” position statement ance and operations manual — which to declare that the union supports “a holds the safe environment policy — woman's right to freedom of repro- requires a two-third vote to amend, ductive choice; and a woman's right and the position statement book to be free from coercion or attempted needs a simple majority. coercion with respect to making reproductive choices” and opposes “any act of coercion or attempted coercion with respect to making repro- “We’ve heard from ductive choices.” many concerned The second motion amends UMSU’s safe environment policy students that UMSU to include “any act of coercion or should be doing attempted coercion with respect to making reproductive choices” as a its part to ensure a version of “discriminatory or harasssafer environment ing behaviours and actions.” It was amended within the meeton our campus” — ing to include a further sub-clause that added “the dissemination of Jakob Sanderson, graphic materials or information that UMSU president is misleading or false as part of any event/activity or within the group/ club or association.” The motions were initially a singuAn amendment was carried in lar document moved by UMSU presi- which the two uses of the word dent Jakob Sanderson and seconded “woman’s” in the initial motion be by social work students’ association changed to “one’s.” representative Deborah-Lyn Bennet. The session was closed for over an The motions are only applicable to hour while board members debated UMSU student groups. the motions. Campaigners from the Canadian Both passed with overwhelming Centre for Bio-ethical Reform support.
“We’ve heard from many concerned students that UMSU should be doing its part to ensure a safer environment on our campus and to take an organizational stance on reproductive rights,” Sanderson said. “So while we have existing policies and procedures in regards to the matter, we felt it was necessary to bring a motion to the board and to address this issue.” Sanderson also clarified that the motions prohibits UMSU-affiliate student groups from “harassing students who don’t want to be talked to, this would include uses of graphic materials or imagery, often pictures or models of aborted fetuses, which create an unsafe environment for students. “And the intent was also for this to include the dissemination of false or misleading information.” Sanderson also stressed the motions are not intended to “police anyone’s thoughts.” UMSU received a number of let- sion on your campus.” ters addressed to individual members It also referred to the motion as of the board of directors from the “invalid.” Justice Centre for Constitutional Elizabeth McMechan, chief Freedoms — a group based in Calgary propaganda officer for the U of M which, according to its website, works revolutionary student movement to “defend the constitutional free- (RSM), was present at the meeting doms of Canadians through litigation and called the passing of the motions and education” — which suggested a “huge first step.” the board vote against the original “To have a body that represents motion on the grounds it “denigrates 30,000 students take a stance for certain students’ peaceful expression reproductive autonomy, it goes and undermines freedom of expres- beyond the words that I have. This
PHOTO BY ALEXANDER DECEBAL-CUZA
is huge. “This isn’t being done everywhere. This is the steps that progressive universities are making. And I’m really proud to be a part of the union right now. “This is a moment where I’m very proud to be a part of the University of Manitoba Students’ Union.”
Fragility through the lens of a microscope
Exhibition explores unity of art and science DAVID ZIRANGEY, STAFF
T
he beauty of botany was on full display Friday when the U of M herbarium debuted its fourth Dry Media Art Exhibit at the Forth café gallery. The U of M’s herbarium — a col-
“My inspiration was sort of the fragility of the pieces that we dealt with at the lab” — Charlene Brown, artist lection of pressed plants often used for scientific research — is a crucial part of the university’s history of scientific research. The vascular plant herbarium at the department of biological sciences includes over 80,000 specimens and was founded in 1907. The artwork presented was the result of a two-day workshop held in September at the herbarium. Tricia Wasney was one of the art-
ists whose work was at the exhibit. “What was great about [the research workshops] was that we were able to use the microscopes and really have access to things that we wouldn’t have access to,” said Wasney. The dry media workshops and exhibits were co-created in 2015 by assistant herbarium curator Diana Sawatzky and bio-artist Helga Jakobson. “We […] were both interested in the intersections of art and science,” said Jakobson. “So, Diana […] and I dreamed up this idea of bringing people into that space and utilizing the equipment to be able to allow people an opportunity to create trans-disciplinary work.” Themes including fragility both in plant life and death appeared in much of the exhibit’s artwork. Charlene Brown’s work explored this theme by molding a bouquet of different plant species using clay which will eventually fall apart as it air dries. “My inspiration was sort of the fragility of the pieces that we dealt with at the lab,” said Brown. “When we were handed them they
were dried flowers and they were so fragile, and that was the thing that kept coming back to me was how incredibly fragile it was. Clay is the opposite, you fire it and it lasts an eternity. So I wanted to take the same medium that I’d worked with forever and explore the whole concept of [temporariness].” Heidi Eigenkind, another artist featured, generally works with fabric. “I loved using the microscope [...] and it was astonishing because what looks like dry material, [under the microscope] becomes this amazing world of textures and folds,” said Eingenkind. “It’s like textiles to me when it becomes magnified […] you can actually see the [cells] of the petals and of the sepals.” Artist Willow Rector’s photograph pieces revolved around a book of botanical art she found that intrigued her. “It’s a very old [book], it is dated to the middle of the 18th century and they don’t know anything about it,” said Rector. “It has no title page, no author, no publication, no date […] it’s profes-
PHOTO BY QUINCY HOUDAYER
sionally printed, the binding was leather.” The book contained drawings and vividly green-colored plant paintings
on some of its pages, while a few pages had dried plant specimens. Dry Media IV: A Herbarium Art Exhibit will be at Forth until Nov. 10.
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News Editor: Malak Abas Contact: news@themanitoban.com / 474.6770
UMFM releases reconciliation podcast series Twelve episode run to be released by year's end SHAUNA MATTHEWS, STAFF
U
PHOTO BY ALEXANDER DECEBAL-CRUZ
MFM launched the first four office of Indigenous engagement, that fact. episodes of a new podcast series the National Centre for Truth and “Having different perspectives out about “reconciliation across boundar- Reconciliation and UMSU. there and just showing that not every ies” Oct. 29. The episodes released so far fea- Indigenous person thinks in the same Minogondaagan: The Good Voice ture interviews with both locally- way and has the same ideas, same will feature Indigenous and non- and nationally-known Indigenous solutions, same problems,” Kixen said. Indigenous guests sharing, accord- figures including David Robertson, Mark hopes to bring awareness to ing to the UMFM website, “personal Lee Maracle, David McLeod, Indigenous issues that many people stories, ideas, research and expertise.” Adeline Bird, Niigaan Sinclair, are still unaware of. The first four episodes tackle the Tantoo Cardinal and Brielle “I think right now some people, topics of reconciliation in literature, Beardy-Linklater. when they look at reconciliation, they the media, the entertainment indusA s soc iate producer for don’t have any kind of familiar clue of Minogondaagan Sasha Mark said what that is or what that looks like,” try and identity. Elissa Kixen, Mark said. the podcast ’s “I would want it “Some people, when they look at executive proto be like a digestducer, said the ible approach reconciliation, they don’t have any kind of series will include to understanda diverse range of familiar clue of what that is or what that looks ing what reconvoices. ciliation is and like” — Sasha Mark, associate producer “The premise understanding of the podcast is Indigenous issues exploring recthat Indigenous onciliation through an Indigenous putting together the podcast meant people face that people aren’t really perspective and just sort of getting searching for and presenting different aware of.” all different voices across the board perspectives. Eight more episodes are set to heard and having all their truths out “I think that one thing that we launch over the next two months. there,” she said. wanted to show is that [...] people Four are expected to be released on The series is hosted by Tim have different perspectives of what Nov. 26 and the final four on Dec. 24. Fontaine, a documentary producer reconciliation means to them and to for APTN and founder of satirical their own community,” he said. The f irst four episodes of “And right now, I’m learning that Minogondaagan are available now website Walking Eagle News. According to UMFM station it’s not very black and white.” on UMFM’s website, iTunes and manager Jared McKetiak, the proKixen stressed that not all Spotify. Minogondaagan will be aired ject was funded primarily by the Indigenous people view or experience on UMFM starting in January, once a Community Radio Fund of Canada reconciliation in the same way and week for 12 weeks. and received support from the the series would work to illuminate
U of M alumnae discuss global citizenship Visionary Conversations series convenes all-female panel TY BRASS, STAFF
Accomplished U of M alumni Laura Michalchyshyn, Brenda Gunn and Nahlah Ayed share their experiences and ideas about global citizenship at the Visionary Conversations panel Thursday. PHOTO BY ASHA NELSON
U
of M alumnae from different walks of life came together to discuss what it means to be a global citizen at a panel discussion hosted on campus Thursday. The panel featured three U of M alumnae: CBC journalist Nahlah Ayed, law professor and Indigenous advocate Brenda Gunn and media executive and producer Laura
Michalchyshyn. The event, called “The power of one: what’s my responsibility as a global citizen?” was part of the university’s Visionary Conversations series, which seeks to “explore tough questions and foster conversations that drive discovery and insight.” University president David Barnard said the discussions are
meant to encourage listeners to con- are able to take all the information cussions that occur within universider themselves as global citizens, that exists out there, and sometimes sity settings have wide-scale global and to think about how they can it’s an overwhelming amount, and ramifications. make a difference both locally and be able to start working their way “Those kinds of conversations, I internationally. through and critically engage with think, need to happen in instituA wide range of topics were dis- that information so that then they tions like the University of Manitoba cussed, including the effect of social can decide for themselves how they’re where, again, they're important, media on global activism, the impor- going to be involved.” they’re global in scope, but there’s tance of supporting women who Ayed — for whom the U of M’s nowhere really to have those conaspire to advocacy versations for ordion a worldwide nary people,” she scale and ways “Every campus that I have been on, or had the said. for students to Michalchyshyn privilege of going to school at, feels like a safe added engage in social that the movements. epicenter for thought” — Laura Michalchyshyn, value of universiDuring the ties is dependent media executive and U of M alumna panel, the three on their ability to also discussed the function as spaces place of universithat encourage ties in creating global change. Nahlah Ayed Prize for Student free expression. Gunn, who developed an influ- Leadership and Global Citizenship “Every campus that I have been ential handbook for implementing is named — talked about universities on, or had the privilege of going to the UN Declaration on the Rights as a place of discussion and debate. school at, feels like a safe epicenter of Indigenous Peoples, said academia “I feel that there are a number of for thought,” she said. provided an opportunity to learn debates that are going on right now “For ideas, for exchange of new culcritical thinking skills. that don’t really have a home, that are tures. It has to be a very open envi“Universities can help create criti- outside the traditional sort of govern- ronment, and diversity and support cal thinkers,” said Gunn. ment-voter conversation,” Ayed said. of students who have not necessarily “Right, that we don’t need to give a “And they need a home. Those had the privilege that I feel I’ve had lot of answers, but I do hope that the debates need a home.” is also essential.” people coming out of our institution Ayed explained many of the dis-
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U of M honours Pittsburgh victims
Service included speeches, candle lighting MALAK ABAS, STAFF
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vigil was held at the U of M Investors Group Athletic Centre Thursday in remembrance of the lives lost in a shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue last week. The service was in response to a terrorist shooting last weekend at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh where 11 people were murdered. The vigil was open to the entire U of M community and included 11 candles lit in memory of the victims and a moment of silence. U of M president David Barnard, along with students and faculty, spoke at the vigil. “On behalf of the University of Manitoba community, I offer my deepest condolences to our Jewish
PHOTO BY ASHA NELSON
students, faculty, staff, alumni and together — in community — is the tions manager Qudus Abusaleh and extended community,” Barnard said. best way to achieve this outcome. U of M Judaic Studies program co“I assure you that we are here to What happened in Pittsburgh is a ordinator Haskel Greenfield. help share the burden of your grief, violation of all that we value.” Greenfield spoke on injustices pain and fear. We stand with you.” Barnard also read “The birthday faced by Jewish people both in Barnard added the U.S. and in the U of M is Canada, including devoted to pro- “I assure you that we are here to help share the within Winnipeg. moting values “In spite of all burden of your grief, pain and fear. We stand this, of tolerance and the Jewish solidarity. with you” — David Barnard, U of M president community will “As a place of survive, and will higher learning, continue to thrive, we are focused on and will continue scholarship, on the generation and of the world,” a poem by Jewish- to live proudly as Jews,” he said. passing on of knowledge and, I hope, American author Marge Piercy. Greenfield spoke on how both a search for wisdom,” he said. Speakers came from a variety of the U of M community and broader “Underpinning this broad idea is backgrounds, including Muslim groups must come together to speak a shared perspective that working Students' Association external rela- out against racism and hatred.
“Let us use the time here together to create an environment that promotes tolerance and understanding,” he said. “To express the horror that we feel about what transpired at the [Tree of Life] synagogue this past weekend, to unequivocally denounce the people who carry out a worldview that promotes hatred, intolerance and violence against the Jewish and all other peoples. “We must work together in order to create a more positive, safe and equal future for all.”
From the University of Manitoba to the world Seeds of Nahlah Ayed’s journalism career planted in Winnipeg MALAK ABAS, STAFF
C
BC foreign correspondent age — a first-generation Canadian, surroundings.” a supervisor in her science studies to Nahlah Ayed has spent her life of Palestinian parents, born in Ayed was pursuing science at the make a choice between pursuing the travelling across the globe but, at one Winnipeg, her family chose to move U of M when she walked into the study of genetics further or going into time, she called Winnipeg — and the to a refugee camp in Jordan for a short Manitoban and got a job as a news journalism. U of M — home. time. reporter. “I was wearing my white lab coat,” Ayed visited the U of M this While Ayed she said. week and took part in the univer- said the experi“And she said “It was difficult, and it was jarring, and sity’s Visionary Conversations series, ence was not easy, ‘Nahlah, you can’t which seeks to “explore tough ques- she also noted it do both of these it was scary, and it was all those things” tions and foster conversations that gave her a firm things. You’ve got drive discovery and insight.” grasp on both the to choose.’” — Nahlah Ayed, U of M alumna As a journalist, Ayed has covered Arabic language T h is push international events, particularly and, as she called helped her apply within the Middle East. it, the “language of adaptability.” “I saw an ad in the paper and they to journalism schools, and her choice Before CBC, she was a parliamen“It was difficult, and it was jarring, wanted a news reporter and somehow, was made. Ayed received a master tary reporter for the Canadian Press. and it was scary, and it was all those again, I just walked over and said, ‘I’d of journalism degree from Carleton She has been nominated for mul- things,” she said. like to be that news reporter,’” she University in 1997. tiple awards for excellence in journal“But children are amazing, right, said. “To be honest with you, when I ism, including a Gemini award for they adapt and I think for me [...] it During her time at the paper, she started journalism, I wasn’t necesher work reporting in Iraq. reinforced that ability to move around “fell in love,” began freelance jour- sarily thinking that I’d like to be a Her travelling began at a young and to kind of make the best of your nalistic work and was convinced by foreign correspondent — I mean, I
was interested, because I watched the old guys, like Don Murray and Patrick Brown,” she said. Ayed went on to achieve success in reporting both within the country and worldwide. In 2008, she received an honorary degree from the U of M for her outstanding achievement. The U of M’s Nahlah Ayed prize is awarded yearly to students who demonstrate “exceptional vision, passion, commitment, great leadership skills, and whose actions are helping to bridge the local and the global.” The deadline to submit for the 2019 award is Dec. 14.
Editorial Editor-In-Chief: Garett Williams Contact: Editor@themanitoban.com / 474.6770
8
Parking services failing students Changes needed for parking to become innovative, professionally-managed system MATTHEW DOERING, STAFF
GRAPHIC BY EVAN TREMBLAY
T
he opening of a discussion around creating a flex parking pass is a chance to reflect on the state of parking at the U of M. UMSU and Parking Services will be surveying students and working to create more flexible parking pass options that work around students’ schedules. Early indications are that a Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and a Tuesday and Thursday pass will be available for a desired September 2019 roll-out. This initiative must retain a focus on the students who pay tuition on top of parking. Parking Services at the U of M is an ancillary service — a designation that includes the bookstores, student residences and UMSU University Centre pharmacy — and is expected to be financially self-supporting through managing parking lots at the Fort Garry and Bannatyne campuses. Being self-sustaining while trying to keep up with increasing operating costs — for electricity and snow-clearing, for example — is problematic when Parking Services also has a mission of meeting “our community’s transportation needs” and promising “innovative and professionally-managed parking and transportation” options.
To work toward that critically important mission, fees must be maximized. There is no other way. How, then, does this critically important service function? Every year students pay more as parking pass costs continue to rise. On event days, students are inconvenienced by vacating their paid parking spaces earlier than their schedules
This initiative must retain a focus on the students who pay tuition on top of parking may permit. Today’s reality is one of tickets written less than one minute before an automated machine is capable of processing payment or within a minute of parking expiring. These are not the hallmarks of a professionally-managed system. Nor is an app or automated machine that is unable to process a payment on the first attempt to result in processing delays as a parking ticket is written. But the parking regulations are
enforced. No parking without paying. but who continue to pay the same No stopping within a public park- rate for the summer while students ing area without paying. That is why get a “discounted” $244 summer pass, Parking Services ticketed your car tax included. while you were trying to pay. Staff passes, parking citations and With the requirement of the ser- the cost of casual and hourly lots is vice being self-maintaining through the remaining way to increase funds charging fees and issuing tickets, for the self-funded parking system. innovation and professionalism has become neglected. Would a refund ever be given for These are not the purchasing parking before entering a hallmarks of a lot and discovering no spots remain? Or to see a spot, rush to pay and then professionallydiscover someone has parked in that managed system lone spot and is then proceeding to the meter? Who would ever believe that fantastic story? Parking Services? Never. As a result, students will continue to park first, then pay. Parking citation rates increased May Now discussions of a flex pass 2016, with the rationale of being a to meet student needs appear to be deterrent to parking without paying. starting to revolve around a two-day The “Toonie” Lot underwent two or three-day pass, based on “system years of poorly advertised dollar-alimitations.” day increases in 2013 and 2014. This fails students. This fails eduNow the SD — Six Dollar? — Lot cation students and their practicum demands $744 for the student unable schedules. This fails students only on to acquire a parking pass for a space campus one semester, for instance in a lot closer to their classes. before graduating. Students have enough on their For example. plates. Additional and outrageous We shall not forget the staff, who fees and fines on top of exorbitant pay the same rate as students since and unregulated increases is a hassle fall 2015 from September to April, and continual financial strain.
And these are most aggressively levied against those students who have been unable to obtain a parking pass or for whom a parking pass is an unrealistic option. A flex pass, constrained by system limitations and dictated by software-centred whims, will do nothing to overcome this situation. The student unable to get a parking pass and whose class schedule requires them to be on campus for full days all week used to be able to take solace in paying fewer — or at least not many more — dollars over the more highly priced regular session parking pass. No longer. A punishment for the unfortunate. Maybe some day Parking Services will be a professionally-managed, innovative service. One that will make parking the least of a student's worries while pursuing an education at U of M and one that won't prey on students or lurk in wait for students to park to make an extra buck before payments are processed. They shall not double charge, though cars patrol in parking lots.
WHAT WOULD
YOU
DO WITH
$20,000? Tell us how you would spend $20,000 to benefit students on campus! UMSU’s Participatory Budget Committee needs your input!
You can participate by: Visiting www.surveymonkey.com/r/NZNTHFH Emailing VPFO@umsu.ca Stopping by the UMSU table November 7th & 8th in UMSU University Centre (1st Floor)!
Comment Comment Editor: Jacob Singleton Contact: comment@themanitoban.com / 474.6529
10
The false equivalency of political violence Lumping both sides together ignores reality of the violent rhetoric of the right KENNY INGRAM, STAFF
GRAPHIC BY EVAN TREMBLAY
P
olitical violence seems to be far explained away by mental illness. encing the right wing and each of group are shown after terrorism is more rampant now than it has The disparity and overrepresenta- them has played a part in the foster- committed in their name. been for decades. tion of right-wing extremism clearly ing of white supremacy, xenophobia When a left-wing terrorist shot a This violence has emerged recently stems from the violent rhetoric of and anti-Semitism as well as political baseball diamond full of Republican in the form of bombs sent to promi- political leaders of the right. violence. members of Congress and it was nent Americans who have been critiTrump exemplifies this rhetoric This is particularly shown in the found out he had volunteered for cal of U.S. President Donald Trump, to a tee. last several years when the number of Bernie Sanders’s campaign for presithe 2017 murder of an activist proWhile referring to protestors at hate crimes skyrocketed in the U.S. dent in 2016, Sanders wasted no time testing white supremacy and a mass one of his rallies, Trump said, “I’d There was a five per cent increase in in condemning what he called a “desshooting at a synagogue in Pittsburgh. like to punch [them] in the face” and hate crimes in 2016 compared to 2015 picable act,” saying “violence of any When examining who exactly “Knock the crap out of them.” He and a 10 per cent increase when com- kind is unacceptable.” is behind this violence, the obvious went on to remiSanders never answer seems to indicate the violence nisce about the called for violence The disparity and overrepresentation of right- of any kind to is perpetrated by radicals from both days protestors the left and right wing. would be “carried begin with and wing extremism clearly stems from the However, empirical data shows out on a stretcher” condemned the rhetoric of the political leaders of the right the level of violence carried out by after offering to lone wolf abhoreach side is far from equal. pay the legal bills rent enough to According to the Anti- of those who carcommit such a Defamation League, between 2008 ried out the violence. pared to 2014. heinous act. and 2017, 71 per cent of extremistEven more horrifying, after talkIt was in mid-2015 that now-PresiIn clear contrast — and perhaps related killings within the U.S. were ing at a rally about the prospect of dent Trump announced his presiden- even more disgusting than the origiperpetrated by far-right extremists. Hillary Clinton being able to appoint tial bid by demagoguing over illegal nal incitement of violence — not only This includes white supremacists, Supreme Court justices, he claimed immigrants who were “rapists” and do prominent right-wing leaders neo-Nazis and anti-government there was nothing his supporters “murderers.” like Trump take no accountability militias and groups. Meanwhile, dur- could do — with the exception of the There is no equivalency to this on for actions carried out by their allies, ing the same time period, left-wing “Second Amendment people,” imply- the left. but they show no remorse for their extremism accounted for only three ing they gun Clinton down. There is no prominent left-wing rhetoric which influenced the vioper cent. But Trump only scratches the sur- politician calling for supporters to lence in the first place. A common deflection argues those face of all the violent rhetoric going actively commit assault, violence or After the recent synagogue mass who perpetrate political violence have around the right-wing. terrorism of any kind. Any attempt to shooting in Pittsburgh where 11 died, mental illness or are inherently evil. Alt-right personalities like Alex correlate the rhetoric of the left with Trump could not wait but four days But the disparity in violence between Jones, Gavin McInnes and Mike the right is a flagrant lie. before pushing the anti-Semitic conthe left and right cannot simply be Cernovich are all strong voices influHowever, the true colours of each spiracy theory that George Soros, a
prominent Jewish-American investor, was secretly funding a migrant caravan headed towards the U.S. Trump pretends to care when he robotically reads the carefullyworded speeches written by political strategists each time an act of political violence is committed in his name. However, his supporters understand actions speak louder than words and his disingenuous words post-attack mean nothing to them. When Trump and the right-wing shed their dog whistles for more overtly racist and violent rhetoric, they instigate committed racists to use violence. Not only does this political violence work to foment deeper divisions, as supporters of Trump work to absolve him of any wrongdoing, it emboldens the right-wing to continue and expand its violence. Meanwhile, Trump and the Republicans govern with less media scrutiny as the nation is focusing in on the violence. Empirically, there is no comparison between the violence committed by the right and left. It is the right-wing that is attempting to weaponize terrorism — in threats and action — to suppress its enemies.
VOL. 105 NO. 14 November 7, 2018
Comment 11
Decolonization, white supremacy and “It’s okay to be white” The call for white pride is a response to decolonization CHLOE TOUZIN
B
y now, many students and staff are aware of the posters circulated around departments and on campus last week. The posters simply read, “It’s okay to be white.” It can be assumed the purpose they served was to provoke a response and it is apparent the group responsible for it has done a pretty decent job. It appears they are trying to promote white pride or a celebration of white culture. To understand why it is a backward concept and is interpreted as inflammatory, first the intricacies of colonization and oppression must be analyzed. When a culture actively experiences oppression, it is done with the express expectation of keeping the colonized people down — often characterized by perpetuating the belief that the colonized are subhuman — so the colonizers can stay on top and continue exploiting the land and colonized people as they see fit. When those in the colonized minority are believed to be animals, it becomes easier for the colonizing majority to treat them as such. Internalized oppression is a phenomenon observed alongside societal or systemic oppression and is developed as a result of societal or systemic oppression. Internalized oppression is the act of the oppressed individual internal-
izing the various myths and stereotypes they see about their culture and place in society, to the point where the oppressed believe them and think of themselves through the prism of the oppressor’s narrative. This creates a negative self-image, leading to the oppressed associating their culture and themselves with shame in place of pride. Generally, oppression — systemic or societal — can be combatted with responses in the form of revolutions or rebellions. Internalized oppression requires a different approach, as it can be used to tear down an individual’s self-worth or on a more significant level to divide the marginalized group. One effective way to heal from internalized oppression is learning how to celebrate your culture and replacing the shame you have been taught to feel with a sense of pride. For some, when minorities take pride in their culture it is perceived to be anti-white. Black history month, Indigenous history month, women’s history month and LGBTTQ* pride month are often criticized by the majority who question why they cannot have months celebrating their history. This response neglects the reasons why these initiatives started in the first place. These were intended to infuse the contributions and perspectives
of minority groups into the dominant view of history, which focuses on the achievements and perspectives of the white majority. When the oppressed take pride in their cultural identity, it is done as an act of decolonization. It is intended to reject the racist narratives and internalized oppression constructed by the dominant culture. To point out the existence of racist narratives and work to rebuild the cultural pride suppressed by the dominant culture is not anti-white, it is decolonization. It can only viewed as anti-white if you believe working toward decolonization fundamentally attacks white identity. The posters imply awareness and pride of marginalized cultures are anti-white. It is OK to reject decolonization efforts. “It’s okay to be white.” This is not to say white people should be ashamed of being white, but they should be self-aware. The reason why many minorities have a natural aversion to the concept of white pride is the only purpose it serves is to repress the actions minorities take when celebrating their pride. The dominant culture is celebrated everyday as we live our lives within the conditions and systems it constructed. A common defence of these posters is freedom of speech. Yet these posters are used by white supremacists as propaganda. If we can’t draw
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DECOLONIZATION GRAPHIC BY EVAN TREMBLAY
the line at racially motivated propaganda for limiting speech, it would seem we have lost the plot. It was not long ago mass genocide was committed and one of the many factors contributing to the atrocities was the use of propaganda. So, before jumping to freedom of speech,
it could be useful to consider similar patterns that present themselves in history. It is OK to be white. It is imperative to continue decolonizing our system, narratives and selves. It is not OK to use white supremacist propaganda on our campus.
12 Comment
Comment Editor: Jacob Singleton Contact: comment@themanitoban.com / 474.6529
Scrooge was right about charities
Comment Corner
A collection of some of your social media responses to Manitoban stories published this past week.
Public social programs are more efficient than charities
White supremacist signage appears on U of M campus
JACOB SINGLETON, STAFF
Oh the white fragility. "Someone is standing up for people of colour! Oh no I'm being attacked!" -Jenna Rae Patterson
GRAPHIC BY EVAN TREMBLAY
W
hen Ebenezer Scrooge was asked to give some money to charity, his retort was, “Are there no prisons? And the Union workhouses? Are they still in operation?” Scrooge was right to reject charities as an effective tool for addressing the social needs of people.
Charity depends on moral pity, public social programs depend on solidarity Charity Intelligence Canada (CIS) updated a report on Canadian sports teams’ charities on Oct. 22. The $49.7 million Canadians gave to sports teams’ charities — primarily through donations and special events — makes them among the largest charities in Canada. CIS’s investigation found a significant amount of the money raised by Canadian sport teams’ charities do not go toward the identified cause. For example, the Calgary Flames Foundation only gave 30 per cent of the money it collected toward its cause. True North Youth Foundation fared better by managing to get 65 per cent of the money collected toward its cause. This is not a phenomenon unique to sports teams’ charities either. To be considered an effective and top charity by CIS, a charity must spend more than 65 per cent of their budget on its cause. The most efficient charity is Food Banks Canada, which spends about 95 per cent of its money on its cause. Most charities do not even come close to Food Banks Canada’s level of efficiency. But government programs far exceed the efficiency of even the most efficient charities.
For example, the administrative cost of Canada Pension Plan (CPP) between 2015 and 2016 was just under 3.5 per cent of the total amount paid out. Meanwhile, CPP helped 5.5 million people stay out of poverty. In fact, CPP is one of the most successful initiatives designed to reduce poverty among the elderly in Canada. When it comes to social need (health care, poverty reduction, education, housing, etc.), universally accessible, public programs work the best. In 2016, the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority only spent 4.17 per cent of its annual budget on administrative costs. It can keep administrative costs low while employing 28,000 people, offering health care to all of Winnipeg and operating “over 200 health service facilities and programs.” No charity even comes close. Charities are a philosophical nightmare. First a charity must make the decision of who exactly deserves its attention and resources. Once the charity chooses its deserving poor, it must go around and beg for money from donors by appealing to their empathy and morality. This creates an asymmetrical relationship between the people choosing to help and those lucky enough to be selected. Charity depends on moral pity. Public social programs depend on solidarity. While the moral def icit embodied by charities will never be addressed, charity supporters have worked to quell the criticism of charity efficiency. Numerous organizations have cropped up in recent year to help and sift through charities to elevate the efficient. A major focal point of these groups is to find charities providing the most bang for your buck. One of these organizations, Giving What We Can, argues
spending US$50,000 to train a guide dog for a blind person is far less efficient than spending US$1,000 to remove cataracts blinding one of the 20 million people in developing countries affected. There is an indescribable level of actuarial callousness exhibited here which transforms social needs of two groups into a competition. Is this really how people should decide who receives help and who remains in despair? Meanwhile, 10 per cent of global GDP is sitting idle in tax havens around the world. If governments acted to seize this money, every person who needs cataract surgery or a guide dog would have their social need fulfilled. Yet the supporters of charities would have you believe the only real decision is between fixing the eyes of the global poor or providing a dog for one person with blindness in the developed world. Be a Scrooge and a reject that premise. Workhouses and prisons are no solution to human need. Workhouses forced the poor to do labour to sleep in its compounds and eat paltry amounts of food. In 1845, two years after A Christmas Carol was published, people at the Andover workhouse began to fight over the rotting meat and bone marrow they were using to create fertilizer in desperation. Since then, the poor have organized and produced better social programs, which have made great strides toward satisfying human need. But the answer to remaining human need is not charity, it is expanding public social programs and building international solidarity. Scrooge, like our modern-day elites, is loathe to part with his money. We cannot rely on those in Scrooge’s class to feel pity to satisfy human need. Ghosts cannot be humanity’s saviour.
Those saying this isn’t racist, you’re right. Sort of. The statement itself is not necessarily racist. However, the slogan is used by white supremacist groups. Thus, these posters/this slogan have no been linked to that. The swastika on it’s own is not racist. What it represents now/what it is linked to however, certainly makes it unacceptable. At least to decent human beings that is. -David Schultz The stupidity of lib-left loons opens the door for extremist groups. Lib-left loons have been trying to say that it is NOT ok to be white for years. This is what makes it possible for a true and sensible slogan like this one to be used. So who are truly the "extremists"?
So The Manitoban thinks it's NOT ok to be white. should report this page. -Henning Tacoma It's not ok to be white. -Tom Ingram
In defence of the pro-life position People without uteruses shouldn’t write about abortion, it’s none of their business and their opinion isn’t important because it will never affect them -Jules Perez There is no logical or reasonable defense of the anti-choice position. -Kasey Rae Morgan There are more respectable ways in showing appreciation for a person's culture this particular instance is not one of them. -Amy Brown
-Doug Mayer
Come to Degrees any Tuesday and redeem this coupon for a
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VOL. 105 NO. 14 November 7, 2018
Comment 13
RE: Oct. 26 “From Lenin with love” PAUL REIMER
R
ecently, I read one of the most The article also looks to Lenin’s these people, I guess. appalling and shameful articles vanguard, the Bolsheviks, as a model As a descendant of Russian I have ever seen published in the for modern leftists in pursuit of estab- Mennonites, my ancestors immiManitoban. The article was titled lishing “an organized revolutionary grated to Canada from Russia in “From Lenin with love.” vanguard.” the 1870s, before Lenin’s revolution. As the title suggests, the author These are the same Bolsheviks However, many of their families encourages readers who seek to install who, according to lowest estimates, were not so fortunate. Today, I have a “dictatorship of the proletariat” to carried out 28,000 executions per friends and family whose grandparlook to the example of Vladimir year from 1918 to 1922 on Lenin’s ents and great-grandparents were Lenin and his revolutionary vanguard, instructions to “prepare the terror” among the untold number of people as well as history’s other famous against dissenters. These are also the brutally tortured and murdered by Marxist ideologue, Mao Zedong, same Bolsheviks who committed the the Bolsheviks under Lenin in the for inspiration. second largest ethnic genocide in 1920s because of their ethnicity and The article exhorts leftists to “take modern history against Ukrainians, religion. It baffles me to think anya page out of Mao Zedong’s playbook killing between three and five mil- one would seek to imitate this man’s and exist to ‘serve bloody revolution the people.’” in Canada. Has I find it utterly appalling that anyone could I wonder, is history not taught this the same its lesson? find inspiration from men who “page” where Mao I find it utterly also instructed appalling that committed such unspeakably horrific the systematic anyone could atrocities against humanity mass murder of find inspiration between 500,000 from men who and t wo milcommitted such lion political dissenters and ethnic lion during the Holodomor. These unspeakably horrific atrocities and religious minorities during the are the same Bolsheviks that mur- against humanity. I cannot imagine Cultural Revolution? dered 690,000 in two years during how painful it must be for students of eastern European or Asian ethnic Is this also the same “page” where the Great Purge. Mao prescribed his 1959-1962 “Great These are the same Bolsheviks origin who have ancestors who have Leap Forward” program that contrib- who decimated ethnic minorities suffered at the hand of Leninist and uted to 30 million deaths by starva- through wholesale forced deporta- Maoist massacres and ethnic cleanstion and directly led to the summary tion of groups including Cossacks, ings to see an article admiring the execution of 2.5 million for resisting Kazakhs, Balts, Kurds, Chechens perpetrators of these crimes in their or simply “not working hard enough?” and Tartars. And these are the same student newspaper. Is this the same “page” where Bolsheviks who shipped 18 million The Soviet regime created under we can find another famous Maoist people to prison camps called gulags Lenin and administered by his sucslogan, “Those who are against to be tortured, worked to death and cessor, Joseph Stalin, was, without Chairman Mao will have their dog starved. question, one of the most prolific Not much “love” from Lenin for human-rights-violating genocidal skulls smashed into pieces”?
GRAPHIC BY EVAN TREMBLAY
regimes in the modern era. Historians estimate that approximately 20 million people were killed by the Leninist state in the Soviet Union through summary executions, manmade hunger and famines, deportations, genocide, civil war, massacres and forced labour, while 65 million were killed by the Maoist regime in China. Homages to some of history’s vilest dictators are not necessary to
propagate the author’s ideological prescriptions for Canadian society. I strongly suggest that the author of this article find less genocidal inspirations for his “socialist revolution.” And out of respect for the tens of millions who were killed at the hands of these evil dictators, please do not whitewash their legacy or idolize their regimes in our student newspaper.
RE: Oct. 31 “In defence of the pro-life position” HEATHER MILAN
T
o argue the “pro-life,” antiabortion position is not inherently anti-woman is a fundamentally flawed assertion based on a worldview of obvious privilege. The pro-life position is antiwoman because it attempts to restrict the bodily freedoms of people capable of becoming pregnant. The anti-abortion movement is an attempt to strip away fundamental rights protecting women’s access to abortion. Justin Cheng’s statement “23 per cent of Canadians are not in favour of abortions” is wildly misleading. The poll he references by Ipsos clearly states that 77 per cent of Canadians feel it should be permitted, with 11 per cent being unsure. It’s only a small fraction — 12 per cent of the population — who are opposed, of which only five per cent share Cheng’s authoritarian view that abortions under any circumstance
should be strictly prohibited. mental health. happens to her body. Cheng states that Justin Trudeau’s Cheng also references Feminists Cheng attempts to push his clearly allocation of a portion of $650 mil- for Life, an American organization misogynistic views by hiding behind lion toward sexual and reproductive that holds the demonstrably igno- an American organization with an health and rights could be better rant view that there is no right way oxymoron for a name. spent if it was partially diverted to choose between the woman and Cheng simply echoes the mission statement towards improving our adoption of Feminists for systems. Life, which asserts The only person capable of making This implies abortion’s necesthe decisions surrounding a woman’s putting children sity can be simply overcome by putup for adoption reproductive health is the woman herself is the solution ting money into to preventing social programs. abortions. This group has While adoption is the right path the unborn child in a pregnancy. been fronted by Republican politifor some, it can be incredibly debili- Canadian courts have determined cian Sarah Palin for well over a dectating mentally for others. Research that fetuses are not legal persons ade, and despite being the face of a has shown after giving a child up for with rights, so it makes zero sense group with the mission of creating adoption, mothers can face serious to suggest there is even an illusion of social supports for women, Palin is psychological repercussions. Cheng equivalence between the rights of a responsible for the cutting of funding ignores the fact that putting more woman and a fetus. for transitional homes for teenage money into adoption programs will A woman has the unequivocal mothers. not prevent this damage to women’s right to make the decision of what It should be exceedingly clear
these anti-abortion groups have disdain for women with unwanted pregnancies, and their ideas of support systems are purely hypothetical. The world Cheng describes is an unrealistic delusion, which is irrelevant to the reproductive issues facing women today. However, even if his perfect world did exist, women should still have every right and means to access abortions. The only person capable of making the decisions surrounding a woman’s reproductive health is the woman herself. Ultimately, any suggestion to reverse a woman’s right to body autonomy is a clear attempt to dehumanize her by converting her body into a vessel outside her control. Reproductive rights are human rights and to regress is indisputably anti-woman.
14 Comment
Comment Editor: Jacob Singleton Contact: comment@themanitoban.com / 474.6529
Find career engagement and find happiness
Get lost in your work by challenging yourself and employing your strengths REBECCA BALAKRISHNAN, THE WORK LIFE
at work, finding ways to induce this tive in finding ways to continuously Once you identify opportunities ing your job to incorporate some of intense engagement on the job sets challenge yourself at work. for engagement in your life, experi- your passions. us up for a rewarding career. Flow is also more likely to occur ment with different ways to reach Understanding the activities that People who experience flow at when we are fully using our gifts and this state. induce flow for you can also help you work are typically more efficient, hap- talents. Identify your strengths and Use flow as a clue to determine to alter the way you do the activities pier and have increased performance. ensure you are utilizing them at work. what jobs are the most engaging for you like less. Consider whether there It is also associated with higher self- There is a bonus here: utilizing your you. Track the activities you find is a new, more enjoyable approach to esteem and lower stress. strength at work is an aspect of your Ultimately, these workers have linked to perceivjob you hate. Flow not only makes you a happier increased job satisfaction. ing your work as If much of your Flow not only makes you a hap- more meaningful. work is painfully professional, but also makes pier professional, but also makes you It can also be boring, though, it you better at your job better at your job. helpful to have might be time to ngagement is a critical ingredient With this in mind, identifying clearly defined seek new job that ways to achieve engagement on the goals and an in a rewarding career. is a better fit. You know the feeling when you are job can be a great strategy for success. understanding of the process fully immersive. From there, begin Use these same principles to evaluone with the task at hand, completely Consider trying tactics that required to achieve your goals. Try to consider which occupations use ate your coursework as well. If you immersed in what you are doing and can increase the likelihood of flow setting small goals so the totality of these skills. hate your program, this might be a working at your fullest potential? attainment. You can also use this self-under- clue it is time to consider a new path. your work feels more achievable and First, flow only happens during rewarding. You become so fully engaged in what standing to alter your current job to Your enjoyment (or disdain) for what you’re doing, you do not feel hun- activities difficult enough to utilize all This will allow you to be chal- be more engaging for you. How can you study in school can be a hint as to gry, tired or distracted. You look up our mental energy, but not so difficult lenged without stepping into feeling you minimize the activities men- the suitability of related professions. after hours have passed and it feels that we give up. If your work is boring, stressed or overwhelmed. tally draining you while maximizing If you hate chemistry, your dream as though it has only been minutes. find ways to challenge yourself. To summarize, seek out activities engaging activities? job as a pharmacist might not be as This is something you should that are challenging and utilize your This state is called flow. Sometimes it is possible to rede- dreamy as you imagine. This powerful psychological expe- evaluate regularly because the more skills. Break tasks down into man- sign your current position. To do this, With the amount of time you rience is correlated with many amaz- skilled you become at your job, the ageable goals and keep the impact of volunteer for projects at work that are spend at work and school throughing outcomes — and since we spend less challenging it will be for you. your work in mind to increase your interesting to you. You might even out your life, you deserve to be doing such a huge proportion of our lives This means you will need to be crea- perception of its meaning. meet with your manager about adapt- something engaging you love.
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Diversions Graphics Editor: Evan tremblay Contact: graphics@themanitoban.com / 474.6775
Local man driven to selfreflection by YouTube’s recommended videos tab
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INNIPEG—A young man has entered a period of deep self-reflection after seeing what videos YouTube recommended to him based on his previous viewing history. Neil Parker, 23, first noticed a trend in his recommended tab Sunday evening after a full weekend of binge-watching videos on his phone from his dorm room. “It’s all just shit. Absolute shit. Does that mean I’m shit?” Parker asked out loud, seemingly to himself. A review of Parker’s recommended videos tab showed a variety of anime cosplay ASMR, a John Cena highlight video, and something called "kissing pranks." The tab also included a single political video titled "Peterson and Rubin DEMOLISH collectivism" by a user named LibDestroyer0100. However, Parker rejected responsibility
PALLISTER-BABY is not ADVERSARIAL ...YOU INFIDEL ATHEIST.
for that particular video. “Look, that one’s not me. I fell asleep watching Joe Rogan talking about DMT last month and woke up to Alex Jones yelling about Democrats being devil-worshipping pedophiles,” Parker said. “I’ve been trying to get rid of that stuff, just bury it in the algorithm, but it’s like it won’t forget.” When asked if he’d consider deleting his prior viewing history and starting fresh, Parker rejected the idea. “There’s no deleting your past in life. I just need to make peace with who I am: a terrible person with awful taste,” Parker said. “Plus, I like occasionally being reminded to watch clips of House diagnosing people. I miss that show.”
Arts & Culture Arts & Culture Editor: Braiden Pergis Contact: arts@themanitoban.com / 474.6529
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“Thunderbird Woman” adorns U of W
Wall-to-Wall mural festival wraps SHAUNA MATTHEWS, STAFF
The mural of Thunderbird Women can be viewed outside the Duckworth Centre at the University of Winnipeg.
A
PHOTO BY ASHA NELSON
new mural featuring Daphne ful pieces of work and collaborations,” guardianship and protection, with a “She opened it up because she was Indigenous women in Canada. Odjig artwork now covers the Isaac said. “fierce feminism,” Isaac said. excluded from the sort of mainstream Isaac was excited about the close Duckworth Centre at the University The "Thunderbird Woman," “It’s got, as I said, a feminist fierce- idea of what contemporary art was,” proximity between the two murals of Winnipeg. which is part of the WAG’s collection, ness so that it’s really appreciated Isaac said, “and so she saw that chal- and their relationship. The mural recreates Odjig’s was chosen by Isaac to showcase one now even with all genders in terms lenge and barrier as an opportunity “There’s this acknowledgment of "Thunderbird Woman," a print from of the WAG’s works that is shown of respect for women and folks from to really open up and hold space for colonial violence against women and 1973, and was guest curated by Jaimie infrequently. contemporary and then there’s also this symbol of proIsaac, curator of Indigenous and con“I am really Indigenous artists tection, and guidance and resilience “I think a crucial part of decolonizing temporary art at the Winnipeg Art interested and at the time.” from a kind of woman embodiment of another world being,” Isaac said. Gallery. passionate about The is recognizing ways in which we were The 32-by-25 foot mural, which thinking about "Thunderbird Isaac said she sees the Thunderbird colonized” — Jaimie Isaac, a curator took more than 50 hours to complete, the Winnipeg Woman" is located Woman as a tool of decolonization. was painted by Winnipeg-based art- Art Gallery’s colacross the street “I think a crucial part of decolonizat the Winnipeg Art Gallery ists Mike Valcourt and Peatr Thomas. lection and new from Kenneth ing is recognizing ways in which we The mural concluded Synonym ways of engaging Lavallee’s "Star were colonized,” Isaac said. “And so Art Consultation’s Wall-to-Wall and interpreting Blanket Project," I think it both does that, but it also, Mural and Culture Festival. the collection,” another Wall-to- more importantly, asserts presence The festival takes place annually Isaac said. the non-binary community and the Wall mural. both historically and in contemporary from Sept. 1 to 30. “Most galleries and museums, only missing and murdered Indigenous Lavallee’s Star Blanket Project narratives and aesthetics.” This year was the festival’s longest one to three per cent of the vault or women movement and advocacy for aims to paint traditional star blanket “I think it’s a decolonizing gesture,” run with a total of 56 days and saw the collection is actually shown during women’s lives,” Isaac said. quilts over the façades of Winnipeg she said, “but it’s also a gesture of selfcreation of 19 murals across the city. exhibitions.” Odjig opened the New Warehouse buildings to serve as a reminder and determining and asserting presence “Certain neighbourhoods are The "Thunderbird Woman" com- Gallery in Winnipeg in 1974, the first to honour missing and murdered in a really positive way.” completely lit up with these beauti- bines the thunderbird, a symbol of Indigenous-run gallery in Canada.
VOL. 105 NO. 14 November 7, 2018
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Fighting oppression with laughter Female comedians showcased at yearly event AMIN MONTAZERI POUR AGHA, STAFF
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eturning for a third consecutive year to Winnipeg’s comedy scene is Saràsvati Productions’ Women’s Comedy Night Fundraiser on Nov. 14. Produced by Elissa Kixen and hosted by Dana Smith, the event will feature an experienced cast aiming to create a welcoming space that reflects the minority within the comedic industry. “In an industry dominated by straight, cis, white male comedians, we needed change,” said Kixen. Women’s Comedy Night is the showcasing of women and people of different ethnicities, brought together for their love of comedy. “As comedy has a habit of not having equal ratios of womxn to men on shows, we thought it was important to feature all womxn,” Kixen said in an email. Womxn is a broad term that includes a range of gender identies. Kixen, a non-binary and twospirit comedian involved in the scene for the past two decades, explained how women of colour are making up more and more of the local comedy community as a whole. “Comedy is booming in Winnipeg and with shows like Woke Comedy Hour and women’s open mic, we have expanded the amount of womxn and people of colour in the scene,” said Kixen.
Cofounder of Woke Comedy Hour, comedian and poet Dione C. Haynes noted her experience in comedy as rough and critical. “What I notice a lot is that as a black woman and a black queer woman in particular, we are the butt
“In an industry dominated by straight, cis, white male comedians, we needed change” — Elissa Kixen
going on, these are the things that are sucking[...] How can we find ways to heal through this? How can we find ways to talk about this?” She talked about her humour being a bridge between oppressed people, forging a togetherness in their struggle. “I’d like to find a way to bond with people from my community, so queer folks, black folks, Indigenous, people of colour, because we do experience similar oppressions,” said Haynes. Haynes also spoke of the role both poetry and comedy have played in developing her resolve. She said her comedic passion derived from bringing her audience together through laughter. “Oppression works very well in that way, in having us either attack ourselves or attach other people, instead of actually attacking the oppression,” she said.
of the jokes, the people that basically experience the most oppression, people often say minority, but I prefer the term marginalized majority,” she said. Haynes spoke of how this year’s cast for the Women’s Comedy Night The Women’s Comedy Night will take is comprised of women of different place at Club 200) Nov. 14. The early backgrounds and orientations, all show starts at 7 p.m. and the late show staunch fighters in using their craft starts at 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 and can to battle the oppression prevalent in be purchased in advance by contacting today’s society. Saràsvati Productions at 204-586-2236. “Sometimes it is easier for people to go ahead with the laughs,” she said. “But I just feel like there has to be another way to have entertainment and actually say these are the things
PHOTO BY SARASAVATI PRODUCTION
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Arts & Culture
Arts & Culture Editor: Braiden Pergis Contact: arts@themanitoban.com / 474.6529
Winnipeg Jewish Theater stages “Becoming Dr. Ruth”
The play revolves around the sniper-turned-sex-educator during Second World War AMIN MONTAZERI POUR AGHA, STAFF
up her apartment that she’s lived in for over 30 years, in order to move to a new apartment,” said Patterson. “You can tell she doesn’t really want to move, but she’s packing everything up — we’re not sure why she’s moving.” The audience is given an account
“You can tell she doesn’t really want to move, but she’s packing everything up” — Debbie Patterson, director, Becoming Dr. Ruth PHOTO SUPPLIED
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he Winnipeg Jewish Theatre as Dr. Karola Ruth Siegel in this sin- an American icon of sex education. (WJT) began its season at gle-performer play did away with the She may often be remembered as a the end of October with Mark St. sombre ambience. petite grandmotherly figure who had The WJT’s artistic director Ari radio show and television appearGermain’s didactic play Becoming Dr. Ruth. Weinberg saw Bernstein as the per- ances about sex education. The timing of the play coinciden- fect candidate for the role as the play However, Germain’s play tally aligned with the tragic shoot- aims to celebrate the pleasures that Becoming Dr. Ruth depicts a characing at the Tree of Life synagogue in life has to offer. ter whose monologue reveals a very Pittsburgh, yet Winnipeg theatreHer wittiness and focus captured different reality. goers showed their support for the the contrasting dynamics of both joy Debbie Patterson, director of the WJT by filling the seats of the Berney and poignancy present in the play. WJT’s rendition of the play, gave Dr. Ruth, as a young Jewish girl, more insight into Ruth’s life. Theatre. Mariam Bernstein’s performance fled Nazi Germany, later becoming “The play is about Ruth packing
of her rescue as a Kindertransport passenger as she left Nazi Germany. The play proceeds to recount her major life events, putting a rifle in her hands as the audience is briefed on her years as a sniper for the Haganah, the Jewish military force during Israel’s War of Independence. Ksenia Broda-Milian, the set designer of the play, creates a visual representation of Ruth’s emotional unburdening by scattering her packed belongings across the stage, a literal expression of relief.
“It is clear as you watch it that she’s not dealing with the grief,” she said. “She’s just running away and that she has to run away because to deal with this grief of this husband that she’s lost, she’s finding that she’s unearthing the grief of losing both her parents and her grandmother […] in the Holocaust.” Early on in the play, the audience is incorporated into the performance. While busy packing, Ruth notices the audience and welcomes them as her guests. “Her audience becomes her best friend, a guest in her home,” Patterson said. Furthermore, a significant aspect of the play is the use of objects, in particular her dollhouses and music box, as symbols connecting her to her lost family and childhood. For instance, it is through Ruth’s keeping of the dollhouses that the audience is held privy to her deep attachment to her loved ones. “The dollhouses that she has now are her way of keeping the family safe,” said Patterson. Bernstein’s uplifting performance, in spite of the day’s dismal atmosphere on account of the Pittsburgh shooting, was a heartening reminder to rise above trauma.
Carmanah comes to Winnipeg
“West Coast soul” band presents new album, “Speak in Rhythms” BRAIDEN PERGIS, STAFF
wrote over a couple of years leading up to the recording of it,” she said. “Most of it is just based on my own observations and concerns with the
“Most of [Speak in Rhythms] is just based on my own observations and concerns with the world around me” — Laura Mina Mitic, lead singer of Carmanah PHOTO SUPPLIED
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ancouver groove group Carmanah will hit Winnipeg at the Good Will Social Club Nov. 18. The band is performing with Hey Ocean throughout the tour. Carmanah will be sharing its new album, Speak in Rhythms, featuring the song “Nightmare,” for which a music video was recently released.
The band paints a picture of environmental destruction in the video, while lyrically asking the listener to make a choice between addressing the waste of resources on Earth and protecting their “home” or ignore the problem altogether, allowing Earth to continue to deteriorate. Within this context, the song
suggests that there is greater value in protecting the environment than destroying it. Laura Mina Mitic, lead singer, guitarist and violinist, said the songs were written over a few years, each one featuring different social commentary. “Speak in Rhythms is music that I
means do I want somebody to be listening to the song and feel ‘Oh I should change my life’ or ‘I feel guilty about this or that,’” said Mitic. “At the end of the day, I just want to write good music that makes people feel good.” The band identifies with a genre called “West Coast soul,” a term coined by Carmanah’s producer Gus Van Go while working on Speak in Rhythms. Mitic said that Van Go branded this genre while listening to the recording of the album, helping the band define the kind of genre it fits in rather than hopping across different genres. “We kind of wanted to find a […] genre name that is free spirited in itself so that we could kind of move around and touch on a handful of different inspirations,” Mitic said.
world around me.” She said she enjoys creating conversations about different social issues During its stop in Winnipeg on Nov. or concepts, adding every individual 18, Carmanah will be playing alongside has the capacity to affect the world Hey Ocean and Finn. Tickets for the in both positive and negative ways. show can purchased through carman“If these songs invite people into ahband.ca. kind of a new dialogue, that makes me really happy for sure, but by no
VOL. 105 NO. 14 November 7, 2018
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Writing mentorship comes to Winnipeg
Diaspora Dialogues offers short form mentorship to diverse writers BRAIDEN PERGIS, STAFF
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iaspora Dialogues (DD), a writing organization in Toronto, is launching a new short form mentorship program for diverse, emerging writers in Winnipeg. DD had its first deadline Oct. 15 and will be accepting new applicants in January. Zalika Reid-Benta, the program manager of DD, talked about the organization and why it decided to open a chapter in the city. “We started with Winnipeg because the president [of DD], Helen Walsh, had ties there and we wanted to sort of build a community in Winnipeg, so like not just having a mentorship but doing the things for the mentorship that we do in Toronto such as having professional development workshops, which is why we’re doing the symposium as well,” she said. “We just think there’s an untapped writing community there.” Reid-Benta said DD supports diverse Canadian writers in making their writing craft a career by guiding them through the publication process. “We have four mentorship programs [in Toronto] currently — two long form and two short form,” she said.
She added that the long form mentorships are for those who have a completed or nearly finished manuscript. The short form mentorships, one of which is coming to Winnipeg, are for those who do not have a completely finished manuscript but rather a collection of poetry or short stories. “ We st rongly encou rage Indigenous writers and writers of
“If you do write, then you have something that you just want the world to read” — Zalika Reid-Benta, program manager of Diaspora Dialogues colour to apply, but we’ve also had writers who have identified as, you know, having some mental health issues and wanting to write about that, so we also speak of diversity as that as well as culturally and racially diverse.” On Nov. 9 and 10, DD’s digital magazine TOK will be holding
a symposium in the city to bring together writers, both those in the program and those interested in writing in general, to network and to attend workshops, enabling them to gather more information about the writing industry. “The first day, we’re going to have two development workshops for emerging writers, and so one is going to be pitching publishers to agents […] and we’ll also have a networking reception, so that will include different authors,” Reid-Benta said. “Our second day will be […] our panel, Blowing Up CanLit, which is really a discussion on what the current landscape in Canada is for publishing books.” Reid-Benta said the symposium is for anyone interested in writing and getting published. For participants in the short form writing mentorship, they will be able to talk freely with those who have gained experience, while also building their own personal profile as a writer. She also talked about the motivation needed to become a writer and how she got involved with writing herself. “I believe that you should become a
PHOTO BY DISASPORA DIALOGUES
writer because you want [to],” she said. “Right? Because there’s something that you want to say, because there’s something that you have to say. I didn’t really realize that I could make a living out of [writing] or a career out of it until high school when I realized that there were programs — you know, undergrad programs, master’s programs.” This interest is what led ReidBenta to Diaspora Dialogues. “When I was in undergrad I took
some creative writing courses,” she said. “And in one of the courses, my instructor actually told me about Diaspora Dialogues and said that I should apply to be a mentee there and that’s how I got involved with the program.” Tickets for the symposium can be found on eventbrite.com and on tokmagazine.ca. Admission is free but registering is recommended.
A look through the horror genre
U of M prof David Annandale on all things spooky BRAIDEN PERGIS, STAFF
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orror dominates Halloween, yet not many people know about the beginnings of the genre. David Annandale, an English and film professor at the U of M, said he has loved horror his entire life and decided to explore the topic through his studies. “In terms of fiction anyway, we can probably trace the official start [of the horror genre] to 1764 with Horace Walpole’s Castle of Otranto, which was the first gothic novel and [...] the gothic novel is the first form of the horror novel,” he said. “Of course, we’ve been telling each other scary stories since time immemorial.” He noted horror writing and other works often reflect the changing tides within modern society. “It can certainly be a kind of protest
worst-case scenarios in society. “Any form can have that kind of potential to shape society for better or for worse, and it’s a question of
PHOTO BY ALEXANDER DECEBAL-CUZA
against certain things,” he said. “So if we look at, for instance, Jordan Peele’s Get Out, it’s a very pointed work that is addressing par-
ticular ills in society and, you know, calling them out.” Annandale also explained how horror often examines the extreme
“We’ve been telling each other scary stories since time immemorial” — David Annandale, English and film professor what particular tactics a particular creator will use.” Annandale said movie ratings
have also shifted what kind of horror films are made and who they are seen by. “My stepson was certainly watching The Thing at a very young age and he turned out just fine,” he said. “So I think kids are pretty good at getting a sense of what they can take or not.” If you are looking for movies to satiate your horror fix, Annandale has a few recent recommendations. “Just in the last year, I would say if you want something that is absolutely merciless, then I’d say Hereditary is a good candidate,” he said. “And it’s going to be released just after Halloween, but I’ve heard a lot of very interesting things about the remake of Suspiria. I’ll be first in line to check that out.”
Volunteer for Arts
The Manitoban Newspaper Publications Corporation (MNPC), the organization responsible for publishing the Manitoban, is looking for three students to sit as studen representatives on its Board of Directors.
These positions help to ensure students are represented in the organization’s longterm planning and financial oversight processes. If you’re interested in serving as a student representative, strengthening student media on our campus, and helping to bring a student perspective to our board please let us know! Qualifications: Prior board experience is not necessary, however, an interest in notfor-profit media and governance and policies is a good prerequisite. Applicants should be familiar with the Manitoban and other campus media. Employees of the Manitoban Newspaper Publications Corporation are not eligible to sit as student representatives. Responsibilities: This is a volunteer position and requires regular involvement in decision-making and attendance at monthly board meetings. To apply: Please email a copy of your résumé and a letter of intent to the board’s
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Sports Sports Editor: Jason Pchajek Contact: sports@themanitoban.com / 474.6529
Bisons fall to powerhouse Dinos in football playoffs Solid opening half gives way to disappointing finish JASON PCHAJEK, STAFF
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he U of M football season wrapped up Saturday in Calgary, when the Bisons suffered a 37-13 loss to the still-undefeated University of Calgary Dinos in the Hardy Cup semifinals. Manitoba jumped ahead early but never led again as Calgary took over heading into the second half en route to the decisive win. Bisons quarterback Des Catellier was pulled from the game late in the first half after aggravating an injury suffered on Oct. 20, but returned in the third quarter to try and hold together a game rapidly spiraling out of control. Brad Mikoluff got the game going for Manitoba with a 24-yard field goal in the first quarter to give his side a 3-0 lead. Calgary kicker Niko DiFonte responded early in the second quarter with a 44-yarder to tie things up, 3-3. Calgary got its first lead of the contest with 5:29 remaining in the second quarter. Dinos receiver Alex Basilis recovered a blocked Bisons punt in the endzone to make it 10-3 for Calgary. Manitoba’s backup quarterback
Jamie Ybarra came into the game on the herd’s next possession and made an immediate impact. He found Dylan Schrot with a 38-yard pass for the touchdown and 10-10 score. The Dinos added a Jalen Philpot touchdown with 36 seconds left to end the half up 17-10. From there, it all went downhill for the Bisons. Calgary forced a safety, DiFonte had another 40-plus yard field-goal and Adam Sinagra found Hunter Karl with a 36-yard bomb for a 29-10 Dinos lead in the third quarter. Mikoluff nabbed his second fieldgoal of the game on a 30-yard kick to make it 29-13 in the third quarter, but by then it was almost all over. Tyson Philpot pulled down a monster 73-yard Sinagra pass for the score, while DiFonte picked up the single to make it 37-13 and ice the Dinos win. down season for the herd to a close. Catellier went 16-for-30 on the The team looked destined for good day, passing for 153 yards, while his things after a narrow 48-46 loss to the backup went 3-for-4 and threw for a University of Saskatchewan Huskies touchdown. Schrot led the team in on Sep. 7 and back-to-back wins over receiving yards with 58, picking up a the University of Alberta Golden touchdown on six receptions. Bears on Sep. 15 and 21. The loss brought an up-andBut shoddy team defence and the
PHOTO BY TREVOR HAGAN
increased physical toll it placed on the club’s quarterback spelled the end for the herd. The club was outscored 99-54 following the conference bye and limped into the playoffs — quite literally for Catellier — with a 3-5 record. The herd will be missing multiple
key contributors next season, with veterans Schrot, Mikoluff, Shai Ross, Houston Rennie and Jayden McKoy all graduating out of the program. However, the team’s quarterback will return alongside standout secondyear Victor St. Pierre-Laviolette.
Bisons football post-mortem with Brian Dobie
Head coach confident in future, focusing on improvements JASON PCHAJEK, STAFF
PHOTO BY TREVOR HAGAN
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f you ask Bisons football coach heading into the bye, but were outBrian Dobie why his club fell short scored 99-54 in the final three games against the University of Calgary of the season. Dinos in the opening round of the This stretch also included a loss Hardy Cup playoffs, he will give you to the University of Saskatchewan a very simple answer. Huskies where the game was tied “They have very good football play- heading into halftime, only for ers too,” he said. Manitoba to lose by 23. There was also “Sometimes you forget about that.” the season finale, when the Bisons led Dobie sat down Monday after- by 18 at the half but wound up losing noon to offer a post-mortem on 38-34 in overtime. the Bisons football season, offering “It’s a little bit of everything,” insight on the future of the program Dobie said. as it grapples with some significant “When we had a lead, were we off-season departures. aggressive enough? That’s a quesFocus was given to the post-bye- tion I need to ask myself. Or [...] the week schedule, where the Bisons ran self-scouting part, were we too pre0-3 and saw a drop-off in offence. The dictable? I don’t know the answers. herd outscored opponents 171-158 That’s a whole lot of off-season work,
for sure.” He’s powerful. He can jolt people on On his team’s defence, Dobie said a tackle. He can make people miss. that while his linemen played well He’s got speed. He’s a really good despite mounting injuries, there was receiver coming out of the back field. still room for improvement. He’s got great hands.” “Obviously they’re really imporDobie compared Lyles to tant, but we do need to up our ante at Winnipeg Blue Bomber Nic Demski, linebacker,” he said. “Our guys that who was recruited as a tailback but are here need to get better and take moved to running back, saying Lyles another step, and that is certainly a could be drafted as a running back recruiting focus as well.” and moved to receiver. “So do we need to bring in a whole “I’m making that point because he bunch of defensive backs? Or a whole bunch of [defensive linemen]?” he said. “I think there [are] “You know, we’re kind of trying a lot of pieces we to target a couple of really high-end guys that if we get them — woah — need to add on to and if we don’t get them, we’re good it for sure” — Brian to go. Here and here, that’s the area we need to most — we need to get Dobie, Bisons better everywhere — but most get better [on defence].” football head coach Dobie said he does, however, believe the nucleus already exists on the roster, and could take the next step with some solid off-season work. can do so much for you,” he said. On offence, the potential loss of “He’d be a really hard guy to star running back Jamel Lyles was replace.” brought up. Lyles is eligible for the A potential stand-in comes in the CFL draft and Dobie said he knows form of Victor St. Pierre-Laviolette, he could go, but hopes he will stay. who had a coming-out year in 2018 Lyles finished first in the confer- and finished second in Canada West ence in rushing yards per game, with in rushing touchdowns with three. 85.1, as well as rushes with 102. “Victor is also really good, but he Lyles “has a lot to offer,” Dobie gives you some different things,” said said. Dobie. “He’s a powerful guy. He’s strong. “He’s not going to run over people,
he too is a really good athlete, he’s probably quicker than Jamel [but] he’s a smaller guy. “I think if we lost Jamel to the CFL and we’ve got [Victor], then I think we need someone to complement him.” Bisons quarterback Des Catellier said he is confident in the future of St. Pierre-Laviolette. “He came in and just made plays every time he touched the ball. Whenever we needed it, for whatever reason he had to go in, he was just doing his job, making plays,” Catellier said Monday. “I feel very comfortable with him coming in.” All things considered, Dobie said he has high — but honest — hopes for his club moving forward. “I think there’s a lot of pieces we need to add on board to it for sure,” Dobie said. “Yeah I think it has that potential, it does. I could better answer that question probably in January or February, after we’ve done some more recruiting and knowing where our veterans are. “If we’ve got everyone back that’s eligible to come back, plus a reasonably successful recruiting year, absolutely,” he said. “We would be chasing a Hardy Cup and chasing a Vanier Cup.”
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Sports
Sports Editor: Jason Pchajek Contact: sports@themanitoban.com / 474.6529
Arruda reigns supreme in Bisons weekend split
Herd loses opener, rebounds in follow-up against Cougars JASON PCHAJEK, STAFF
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t was home opening weekend for the U of M Bisons men’s basketball team, as the club played host to the Mount Royal University Cougars. In a pair of physical games, the herd battled to earn a split series, losing the first 96-82 and winning the second 81-69.
Friday
The Bisons were two-for-six from beyond the arc and shot 40 per cent at field-goal range in the opening half. The game opened up in the second half, as the Bisons continued to drive down low and the Cougars used speed in transition to open space for perimeter shots. Andre Arruda was a standout for the herd, drawing multiple defenders every time he touched
The herd fell flat to start the weekend, falling behind the Cougars early “They really hurt us and trailing all the way to a six-point loss. in transition, getting “I think the difference in the game up and down the was transition,” said Bisons head coach Kirby Schepp. floor” — Kirby “They really hurt us in transition, Schepp, Bisons getting up and down the floor. You know, we knew that could potentially men’s basketball be a problem and they really pushed head coach the tempo — both off makes and misses — and were able to get those open looks.” The Bisons tripped out of the gate, with the Cougars jumping to a 14-9 the ball. lead just over six minutes in. Malik Mount Royal built its lead to 75-60 Irwin made a layup to get the herd in the third quarter and cruised to a within three but Mount Royal went 96-82 win. on a run to end the opening quarter “I thought we got some decent 27-14. looks offensively,” Schepp said. Heading into the second quarter “We didn’t make a lot of them. We down by 13, Manitoba responded by got a lot of shots at the rim we didn’t playing with speed and driving to make — it just kind of didn’t go down the rim. for us.” On the other side of the ball, however, the herd gave up multiple Saturday chances down low. The men were able to put the loss Mount Royal punished Manitoba behind them quickly to get a weekend with 50 per cent shooting from the split with an 81-69 victory Saturday. field and 47 per cent from range, Arruda and Rashawn Browne led heading into half-time up 53-38. the herd with 17 points each, while
PHOTO BY QUINCY HOUDAYER
Glen Yang scored a game-high 20 another strong start for Manitoba. point shot early, just one of the Bisons’ points for the visitors. The Bisons opened with a 12-0 run 13 threes in the game. Irwin was a beast in the defensive that was fuelled by a block made by “We had seven different guys make zone, blocking three shots and mak- Arruda that eventually resulted in a a three-point shot,” said Schepp. ing two steals in the game. Keiran Zziwa trey. “Anytime you can do that, that “That was his best defensive game Leading 27-14 early in the quar- helps spread the offence around a ter, Manitoba did not look back little bit.” of the year,” said Schepp. “His energy level, his activity level and maintained a 13-point lead at Manitoba’s last basket of the game in the defensive end, he was physical, halftime. was made on a beautiful inside pass he was into guys and that’s definitely The second half featured some from Arruda, with DJ Jordan Jr. finwhat we need from him.” back-and-forth action. Cougars for- ishing it off to give the Bisons the The Bisons came out fast, opening ward LJ Hegwood was unstoppable 81-69 win. with a 10-3 run, with James Wagner — putting up 10 points in the third and Arruda each putting up five quarter alone — and did enough to Manitoba will host the UBC points. Both teams struggled to score cut the Bisons’ lead to eight points Thunderbirds during the Nov. 9-10 in the opening frame as a whole, with entering the final quarter. weekend. Tip-off for game one is at 8 the Bisons taking a 15-14 lead into the There was good ball movement p.m. CST and 7 p.m. CST the next second quarter. throughout and the fourth quarter night. The second period featured was no different. Browne hit a three-
Bisons sweep Cougars off the court in home opener
Randall leads the way as herd remains undefeated in women’s basketball JASON PCHAJEK AND KELLEN TANIGUCHI, STAFF
I
t was the Taylor Randall show this weekend as the U of M Bisons women’s basketball team played host to the Mount Royal University Cougars. Her 44-point weekend paved the way for a weekend sweep by the Bisons in the club’s home opening series.
Manitoba had a seven-point lead, coach Michele Sung said. strong enough,” said Randall. “The reality is this group’s dealt holding that margin to a 26-19 score “We’ve got to find a way to stop, “In the second half it was nothing with [injuries] a lot, but it’s never fun after the first quarter. like, play some defence, clean that tactical that we changed,” she said. to lose a key player,” said Sung. Mount Royal responded with up, find [...] a better way to match, “It was just work hard, get those loose “I think that Emma is going to be a strong second quarter and came defend some of their actions and I’d balls, and get those rebounds.” really diligent with trying to get back, within three points of tying the be even more happy.” With the Bisons already out to but we’ll make some adjustments.” game on three separate occasions. an early 6-5 lead in the opening The teams exchanged looks quarter, Bartlett throughout the third quarter, until The Bisons were neutralized under connected on the Bisons strung together an 8-0 run “Our offence was rolling so I’m not really Friday the bucket but two free-throws to cut the lead to one point at 51-50. The women opened the weekend went on a nineto start a 9-0 Manitoba opened the fourth quarworried about it” — Michele Sung, Bisons with a dominant 103-80 win Friday point run and had run by the herd. ter with another eight-point run to women’s basketball head coach night off the back of a solid 25-point a 50-38 lead at Manitoba forced take a 58-51 lead. The Cougars cut the performance from Randall. halftime. eight turnovers in lead down to three late in the game, “It felt really good just to play at Despite being the quarter, help- but Brooke Evason was able to conhome,” Randall said. outscored 28-26 in the third quarter, Saturday ing them to an 18-10 lead. nect on one of her two free throws “I know these rims so it’s comfort- the Bisons squashed all Mount Royal In game two of the weekend the The visitors came out strong in the and ice the game at the free-throw able and I think as a team we played momentum in the fourth frame to women rallied from a 10-point deficit second frame with an 8-0 run, led by line. really good so my shots were easy.” capture a 103-80 win. at halftime to complete the weekend a pair of buckets from Sydney Tabin. “It was like ‘Keep sticking to the The herd started the game strong Manitoba shot 47 per cent from sweep, with a four-point win over Manitoba could not get anything to game plan and once we execute it, and Deidre Bartlett got her club the field, hitting eight three-point- the Cougars. fall in the second quarter — shooting we’ll have success with it’ — and ahead 2-0 on the first chance of the ers on 21 attempts. The club’s coach, Randall led the Bisons with 19 one-for-20 from field-goal range — that’s what happened,” said Sung. game. Manitoba moved the ball well however, was more concerned with points, while Nicole Konieczny and while the Cougars took advantage to the outside, but shot better from what happened in her team’s half of Claire Harvey each put up a double- and led 33-23 at halftime. Manitoba will host the UBC the field, shooting 50 per cent in the the court. double stat line for the home team. Bisons forward Emma Thompson Thunderbirds during the Nov. 9-10 opening 10 minutes. “Our offence was rolling so I’m not “First half we didn’t come out left the game in the second quarter weekend. Tip-off for game one is at 6 By the f ive-minute mark, really worried about it,” Bisons head with an injury and did not return. p.m. CST and 5 p.m. CST the next night.
VOL. 105 NO. 14 November 7, 2018
Sports
23
Expectations abound for experienced Bisons
Only deep playoff run will satisfy women’s basketball team KELLEN TANIGUCHI, STAFF
PHOTO BY QUINCY HOUDAYER
W
ith last season’s playoff run in the rearview, the U of M Bisons women’s basketball team is entering a new campaign with ever loftier expectations. The team saw playoff action for the first time since 2009 last year, but was bounced in the first round following an 81-72 loss to the University of Alberta Pandas. Last season was the first time fifth-year head coach Michele Sung was able to coach her team into a playoff spot and she said it was well worth the wait. “I think the last three years we’ve seen gradual growth,” said Sung. “It’s nice to finally see the payoff and it’s also nice to know that you’ve got to be patient with stuff sometimes — it doesn’t happen instantaneously.” Throughout the last three seasons the same faces have been a force on the court for the Bisons. Fifthyears Claire Harvey and Tiara Licsi, fourth-years Nicole Konieczny and Emma Thompson and third-year Taylor Randall are just some of the familiar names blossoming within Sung’s system.
“We were super young when I first defence-first mentality has led to and Sung gives all the credit to her started here, and we’re still that same numerous fast-break opportunities players. group now,” said Randall. and this has already paid dividends “They’ve been working tirelessly, “Now we know how each other in the new season. and they’ve been responding to when play, and we’re more used to each With two wins against the Mount we ask them to work harder and work other’s actions. So I think it feels Royal University Cougars last week- a little bit smarter. So it’s been great.” good, especially Sung said the for our fifth-years, Canada West con“I think the last three years we’ve seen to let them have ference is often led these wins too. It’s by teams with vetgradual growth” — Michele Sung, Bison really nice.” eran groups, and women’s basketball head coach Rookie Brooke she realizes that’s Evason is one where her team is of the new faces now. looking to make “We’re finally at an immediate impact. end, the Bisons are off to a 4-0 start that point where we are competing The players in the locker room are to the season. In those four games, with those groups,” said Sung. hungry for more than a first-round Manitoba put up 89.8 points per game “I think we’re heading into a real exit from the Canada West playoffs while giving up 73.5 points per game good test of games here to see where as some of them enter the twilight of — good for second and 10th in the that holds up versus some of the top their collegiate careers. conference respectively. teams in our conference and in the “Our expectations are high,” said “It gives you such energy when you country. We’re looking forward to it Randall. get a defensive stop and then you can and it’s a challenge that we’re finally “We want to get into the playoffs relay that and it’s easy,” said Randall. like 100 per cent authentically excited and get far into playoffs. Last year “It’s get a stop and easy breakaway for.” wasn’t enough for us just to get to the layups, so if we can keep that up and Looking back on previous seasons, first round — we want to push it and really put our effort into defence, we Randall and the rest of the Bisons just not let teams take us for granted.” can roll.” team sees how much they have grown Sung has been consistent in her The Bisons have opened the 2018- over the years. The team is now on the approach to the game. Manitoba’s 19 season with four consecutive wins winning end much more often and
it has been great in building team morale. “It’s huge for us as a team and as a culture,” said Randall. “In past years we haven’t been good, but we’ve stuck to our game plans, and we’ve stuck to what we knew and what we need to do on practice. I think it’s now paying off, like all the work and progress we’ve put into it. It feels really good to now see the results.” The team has a lot of potential this season but Sung said she broke down the schedule at the beginning of the year and set goals. She said the coaching staff sits down at the start of the season to “map out our schedule” and make note of stretches where the club will need wins, where they expect to get wins and where there may be potential roadblocks. Manitoba will be back on the court during the Nov. 9-10 weekend when the UBC Thunderbirds invade the Investors Group Athletic Centre for a two-game series. Tip-off will be 6 p.m. CST on Nov. 9 and 5 p.m. CST on Nov. 10.
24
Sports
VOL. 105 NO. 14 November 7, 2018
Young Bisons squad embracing underdog status
Men’s volleyball club aims to shock opponents this season KELLEN TANIGUCHI, STAFF
M
embers of the U of M Bisons “Since we’re a young team it takes a are not bothered. “It kind of just shows that when An interesting off-season acquimen’s volleyball team joined while to mesh together,” said Warren. Warren said it takes only a few you’re the underdog there’s nothing sition for the Bisons is Australian This Week in Bison Sports Oct. 26 to “As the season progresses it’ll just bounces to put a team in a deficit and to lose.” recruit Ben Carleton. He last played set up the year to come. be getting better and better.” if you are expected to win, the presWhile Manitoba is not considered for the Australian national team, Libero Kyle Martens and midThe Bisons predicted the UBC sure rises. Underdogs do not face that a top-tier team this season, this has providing the Bisons with a strong dles Dylan Sutherland and Brendan Thunderbirds, the University of same pressure. not stopped the players from thinking volleyball background despite his Warren sat down to talk about the Alberta Golden Bears and Trinity “When you don’t have pressure of a championship run. freshman status. young team and their expectations Western University Spartans will be on you, you can just play free and “Seeing all the old banners in the “He’s got some serious potential,” for the season. at the top of the standings as usual, play your game. It’s a lot better,” said gym, they still have space up there,” Bisons head coach Garth Pischke Manitoba will have a young squad, but the players said Warren. “So told Bison Sports. with a number of second- and third- have their eyes I’m thinking we “He’s got some things to learn “We got a lot of young guys who want to go can fill some space about year players in the starting rotation. on the Brandon the game, but he’s got the talDustin Spiring is the lone fifth-year University sometime soon.” ent to be one of the best players in this out there and prove themselves” — Dylan player and will be leaned on as a major Bobcats as a Martens saw league for sure.” Sutherland, Bisons men’s volleyball middle source of leadership. potential dark the team transiBut just because the Bisons are horse team. tion from the vetThe Bisons will be on the road this young does not mean they will not “In the past erans that hosted weekend in Vancouver to take on the compete with the top teams in the they’ve done well, a Canada West UBC Thunderbirds. Game one is Nov. Canada West conference. but the last few years kind of gone a Warren. Final Four in 2017, and went to 9 at 9:30 p.m. CST with game two the “We’ve got a lot of young guys who little bit unnoticed,” said Sutherland. Martens provided the team’s nationals that same year, to a team next night at 7:30 p.m. CST. want to go out there and prove them“They’re looking good this year, upset win over UBC last season as filled with a majority of younger selves,” said Sutherland. should be a contender.” an example of what can happen when players. You can catch This Week in Bison “They’re going to work really hard Manitoba, meanwhile was ranked an underdog plays free of the pressure “That’s really exciting to kind of see Sports with Jason Pchajek every Friday and give everything they’ve got.” 10th in the 2018 Canada West pre- of expectations. the transition of a veteran team who at 11:00 on 101.5 UMFM. The players said they are confident season coaches’ poll. This makes the “We just put our hearts on the had a lot of success to a younger team they will fit well together, but it will herd the underdog heading into many court and we came up with the upset that is underdogs in most games,” take time to iron out the kinks. matches this season, but the players and beat them,” said Martens. said Martens.
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