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UMSU CARE dodgeball tournament promotes accessibility and inclusion
Students unite for a fun event championing accessibility on campus
Roy Albright Obah, staff
In an effort to revitalize campus representation, UMSU’s Center for Accessibility Resources and Empowerment (CARE) hosted an inclusive dodgeball tournament at the Frank Kennedy Center on Oct. 4, uniting students for a cause centred on fun and accessibility.
The event was a fulfillment of a campaign promise by Gurminder Singh, UMSU accessibility representative and president of UMSU CARE, who sought to address a perceived representation deficit. “My election agenda was to bring the [accessibility] community back into limelight, and the best way to bring this up is through fun events,” Singh said.
The tournament was designed as a collaborative effort with the Racialized Equity and Inclusion Association, the Chemistry Club, the Arts Student Body Council (ASBC) and the Parks Club. This partnership was crucial in drawing a diverse crowd and amplifying the event’s reach.
Singh mentioned the goal was to foster connections through friendly competition,
noting, “We had participants from different backgrounds, and in these events people do make friends while also competing for prizes.”
To ensure the event was truly inclusive, the organizers made a key decision to adapt the game itself. “We changed some rules from traditional dodgeball to accommodate everyone regardless of their background or interests,” Singh explained. Prizes, including UMSU gift cards and coupons, were offered to attract a wide range of participants.
Other student leaders praised the initiative. Prabhnoor Singh, president of UMSU, highlighted the broader impact, stating, “Having such events on campus builds a sense of belonging for the community at large.”
Gwendelyn Freeheart, ASBC accessibility representative, echoed the sentiment, calling the event “a really great opportunity for people to come out.”
Patricia Martinez, UMSU racialized students’ community representative, defined the event’s core principle simply as “making sure everyone feels welcome.”
‘Toban news briefs
Jesse Brogan, staff
U of M plans to build a new library
U of M plans to replace Elizabeth Dafoe Library as structural issues start to stack up. The administration’s associate vice-president, Raman Dhaliwal, said frequent renovations trigger costly fixes, with about $2 million spent in the past decade. University president Michael Benarroch said building new may be cheaper. The plan is to construct a new library behind the current one, then demolish the old one. A 30-year plan for a full university renovation due in January will seek provincial and donor funding, with “shovels in the ground” for the library project expected within five years.
Hamilton House may see some changes
cultural programming celebrating the festival of lights. Anita Roy, president of the Hindu Society of Manitoba, expressed the festival’s openness to all backgrounds, and Mayor Scott Gillingham called its message of “light over darkness” timely. For newcomers, organizer Charu Gupta said the event helps them feel at home in Canada and connected to the community.
Winnipeg’s first library is getting big renovation
This focus on a welcoming atmosphere is what CARE’s Singh hopes students will remember. “The only message I want students to take away from this event is [to] have fun while being respectful and inclusive of everyone,” he said. He views such gatherings as vital for students’ well-being. “These fun events are just some stress relievers for students to have an opportunity to have fun.”
Organizing the event was not without its hurdles. Singh acknowledged challenges with “getting funding from UMSU and just getting the word around the campus.”
Buoyed by positive student feedback, Singh is optimistic about the event’s future. “Hopefully […] we will make this dodgeball tournament an annual thing and expand this event by next year,” he said.
According to Singh, UMSU CARE intends to host at least one event per month. For more updates about the different types of events, students are encouraged to follow their Instagram page at @umsu_cares.
Hamilton House, the famously haunted 1910-era home at 185 Henderson Highway, has been conditionally sold, raising preservation concerns. The house was named for its resident, Dr. T.G. Hamilton, whose séance research drew figures like Arthur Conan Doyle to the home. The site lacks heritage protection and could be altered or demolished by new owners. “There’s nothing that could stop that,” said Heritage Winnipeg’s Jim Smith. Kate Solar, filmmaker and descendant of Hamilton, hopes the city commemorates the house’s history.
RBC Convention Centre hosts Diwali
Thousands attended the RBC Convention Centre on Saturday for Diwali Mela 2025, hosted by the Hindu Society of Manitoba. Organizers expected 7,000 to 8,000 attendees for food, dance and
Winnipeg’s original Carnegie Library on 380 William Ave will undergo a $22.8 million renovation to become a state-of-the-art city archive, with a climate-controlled vault and public programming space. Closed since 2013 after flood damage, the 120-year-old building is slated for construction starting this fall and reopening in 2027. Cindy Tugwell, executive director of Heritage Winnipeg, called this a “new beginning,” while senior archivist Sarah Ramsden said returning to Carnegie restores access and room to grow.
Mail delivery steadily returns
Mail delivery is set to resume this week as Canada Post workers shift to rotating strikes starting last Saturday. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) mentioned the tactic keeps pressure on talks while acquiring public support against Ottawa’s plan to end home delivery and close some rural locations. The union warns the public to expect regional delays. Canada Post, which lost $1.3 billion last year, said it is ready to enter bargaining discussions. Its Oct. 3 offer includes a 13.59 per cent raise over four years.
PHOTO BY ZULKIFL RAFAH / STAFF
Nepali students’ association hosts first Tihar celebration
Tihar celebration illuminates campus life with tradition, gratitude and community
Roy Albright Obah, staff
T
he Nepali Students’ Association (NSA) is organizing its first-ever Tihar celebration at the U of M on Oct. 18 at 5 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room at University Centre. The event aims to create a sense of community for Nepali students while sharing the festival’s cultural significance with the wider university population.
Neha Saru Magar, founding president of the NSA, explained the inspiration behind the celebration. “We were inspired by a desire to create a ‘Home away from home’ for Nepali students,” she said. “We saw an opportunity to share our culture with the wider university community.”
The celebration is designed to promote cultural diversity and inclusion on campus. “Instead of diversity being just acknowledged, we want it to be experienced,” Magar said. “We’re welcoming students, staff and faculty from all backgrounds to participate — not just observe. Whether it’s trying Selroti for the first time or joining us in Rangoli-making, it’s about connection through shared joy.”
Tihar, also known as the Festival of Lights, is celebrated over five days, each with unique rituals and meanings. These include Kaag Tihar (Crow Day), honouring crows; Kukur Tihar (Dog Day), celebrating dogs’ loyalty; Gai Tihar and Laxmi Puja, worshipping cows and the Goddess Laxmi; Govardhan Puja/ Mha Puja, reflecting gratitude toward nature and self; and
Bhai Tika, when sisters pray for their brothers’ long life.
“What makes Tihar truly special is that it goes beyond religion — it celebrates relationships, gratitude, harmony and coexistence,” Magar said.
The event has been a collaborative effort involving weeks of planning. The NSA executive team worked closely with UMSU, the Nepali Cultural Society of Manitoba and a Pandit Ji who will conduct the Puja. Magar stated, “It has truly been a community-driven initiative.”
The celebration will feature traditional Puja, Selroti and other authentic Nepali cuisine, Prasad distribution,
traditional song and dance. Magar hopes both Nepali and non-Nepali attendees gain meaningful experiences from
“When we celebrate together, it reminds us that distance doesn’t dilute identity”
— Neha Saru Magar, founding president, Nepali Students’ Association
Rangoli art displays, a photo booth and music and dance performances. The event will conclude with Deusi-Bhailo, a
the celebration. “For Nepali attendees, I hope it feels like home. For non-Nepali attendees, I hope they walk away
with new friendships, full stomachs and a warm appreciation of our traditions. More than just learning — we want them to feel included in our celebration,” she said.
NSA plans to make Tihar an annual tradition and eventually collaborate with more cultural groups. “This is just the beginning,” Magar said. “When we celebrate together, it reminds us that distance doesn’t dilute identity. It strengthens our cultural roots [...] while embracing where we are.”
PHOTO BY MIKE THIESSEN / STAFF
NEHA SARU MAGAR, PRESIDENT OF THE NEPALI STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION. THE ASSOCIATION IS HOSTING A TIHAR EVENT ON OCTOBER 18.
Cineplex case prompts exclusivity conversation
Students and film fans alike share their thoughts on how it shapes moviegoing
Jesse Brogan, staff
Cineplex Inc.’s $38.9 million drip-pricing penalty, which is currently under appeal, has ignited local conversation over whether theatres are making moviegoing feel increasingly exclusive.
The case, centred on an online booking fee of up to $1.50 that was not immediately transparent, has become a proxy for a larger question in Winnipeg — are cinemas adding perks with fees that push people away, or providing value that keeps the bigscreen ritual alive?
For film student Theo Hatch, the answer started with what public spaces should feel like.
“I’m really partial to an inconvenient movie-going experience,” said Hatch. “I don’t want to be feeling like I’m at home […] if I wanted to watch a movie in the comfort of my own home, I would stay home.”
Hatch connected that feeling to design and cost. Hatch
remembered budget Tuesdays and unassigned seating at older venues.
“Before […] it’s like five bucks on Tuesdays […] now it’s like twenty,” said Hatch. “Why is there an arcade in my movie theatre?”
“Public spaces should feel like public spaces […] a little inconvenient […] a little uncomfortable,” said Hatch. These are conditions that Hatch thinks keep audiences present and engaged.
Hatch pointed to the city’s growing micro-cinema as a countermodel to Cineplex, with lowfrills rooms, folding chairs and a film-club vibe. That, Hatch said, is “such a human experience […] I prefer human experiences.”
the cheapest cinema in town. Who wants to spend that much money on a cinema?” said Korolyk.
With the addition of recliners and alcohol, the overall theatrical trip has shifted into “a specialized event. It’s not something you want to do every week,” said Hatch.
Korolyk worried that the “event-izing” of the moviegoing experience can corrupt
admitted he didn’t mind the reclined seating and alcohol service. Still, rising costs have changed his own habits.
“Going to the movies now is super expensive,” Roach said.
“I don’t go to the theatre as much as I used to because of the prices of everything.”
Roach now gravitates to the city’s popular indie venue.
“Two tickets [cost] $30 for the cheapest cinema in town. Who wants to spend that much money on a cinema?”
— Lee Korolyk, U1 student
etiquette, with more chatter, sing-alongs at non-sing-along screenings and even roughhousing.
U1 student Lee Korolyk talked about frustrations with the pricing.
“Two tickets [cost] $30 for
However, not everyone opposes the premium addons.
Luke Roach, rentals and technical coordinator at the Winnipeg Film Group,
“I like going to the Cinematheque. I do like the smaller, more intimate theatres,” said Roach. “The best part of the Cinematheque is that we play random movies, we play foreign films […] we play movies that don’t necessarily play in Landmark.”
With independent theatres screening foreign films and harder-to-find works, it is one of the strengths of the Cinematheque. But the bigscreen experience still holds an allure.
“There’s something kind of romantic about going out and watching movies in the cinema,” said Roach.
As Cineplex argues that its online fee was disclosed and avoidable by purchasing at the box office, the case’s outcome could be an example for other businesses. For students like Hatch and Korolyk, the verdict may matter less than the larger trajectory if theatres end having fewer midpriced showings, more bells and whistles and the growing sense that the mainstream moviegoing experience is selling an exclusive night out rather than a weekly habit.
The decision from the appeal is yet to be announced, but on campus the conversation is already about creating choices. Keeping premium experiences for those who want it while rebuilding the affordable, intimate spaces that make moviegoing fun and accessible seems to be the dream of modern moviegoers.
PHOTO BY JESSE BROGAN/ STAFF
Research & Technology
Teaming up with AI in the real world
U of M professor studies how people and robots work together in high-stakes settings
Mansura Akter Meghla, staff
Artificial intelligence (AI) research is no longer limited to theory. Now, it’s about how systems function in real-world settings and collaborate with people. At the U of M, computer science professor John Anderson has dedicated his career to studying interactions between humans and intelligent systems.
“We’re mostly about making computer systems do things decently [...] that would normally be required as having intelligence, as if people were doing them. It’s not a direct comparison to people, it’s things that are normally associated with people or becoming more peoplelike,” Anderson said.
Anderson’s early work explored expert systems in health care. Today, he runs a robot co-operation lab. His lab focuses on how robot teams can support disaster response in environments too dangerous for humans. In scenarios like collapsed buildings, where sending people could be fatal, the lab’s work explores how co-operative robots can navigate unstable structures, maintain communication and preserve overall mission effectiveness, even as individual members are lost or replaced.
“We work with situations where you’re dealing with teams, and where some of the team might be lost or destroyed at any moment,” he included.
According to Anderson,
teamwork raises practical challenges, such as ensuring members share common reference points so warnings are understood, maintaining backup for rare skills to prevent disruption if one unit fails and developing strategies for responding when a member declines a risky task.
Anderson’s lab studies
these issues and builds methods to keep work going when conditions change.
He also shared his observations on how AI quietly operates in everyday life. For instance, credit card fraud-detection systems run in the background each time
people tap to pay or shop online. “Ideally, AI should work as transparently as regular intelligence does,” he said. The goal is to ensure useful help that does not get in the way and still flags trouble when needed.
Some risks are growing as AI technology develops. Offthe-shelf tools can imitate a person’s voice or face if enough public media exist.
That raises
concerns about scams and trust online. Anderson’s view on AI is straightforward — be aware, because “other people can use it too, and not all people are good.”
Anderson also pointed to equity. New tools are not evenly spread. “The future is already here. It’s just not very evenly distributed,” he said, quoting American-Canadian writer William Gibson. For Anderson, a better spread of the benefits, like remote medical expertise, is part of the promise.
When asked about his hopes for what his work will achieve, he kept it simple.
“I hope that I’ve managed to advance some principles, make things a little bit better and leave stepping stones that other people can use to climb higher,” he said. Science moves when people add small pieces others can build on. For students, he offered steady advice. “Trust that what you’re interested in is there for a reason and that you can help move that forward,” he said. Progress is personal and incremental. “The only thing you have to improve upon is your own previous work […] Recognize that no matter what other people do, what matters is that you’re a little bit better than you were yesterday and you will be a little bit better tomorrow than you were the day before. Whether other people are ahead of you or behind you doesn’t matter as much.”
GRAPHIC BY EMMA GILLICH / STAFF
Crop or weed?
U of M student applies computer vision to help agriculture and beyond
Mansura Akter Meghla, staff
Alex Senden, a secondyear master’s student in the U of M’s department of computer science, is developing artificial intelligence (AI) tools that could help researchers distinguish crops from weeds in agricultural images.
“My research is in the domain of AI machine learning,” Senden said. “It’s basically computer vision, which is this idea that you’re trying to get computers to understand and make intelligent decisions about images or videos or visual data.”
Senden works on image generation, training models that learn to create realistic new images from random noise. “You basically start with a bunch of random noise, complete TV static, and the model […] learns to go from this noise to something that looks like a real image,” he explained. By feeding the model a bunch of real images during training, it learns to reconstruct order from randomness, turning static into a believable picture.
He is especially interested in models that not only create images but also know exactly what each pixel represents. “I want to be able to generate images where we know where things are in the images,” Senden said. “When
I say that, I mean literally pixel by pixel, I can tell you what object this pixel is representing.”
This research approach is being applied in collaboration with the department of agriculture to develop crop field imagery. “They have this big problem right now where they want […] a machine learning model that can go through real images in real time and tell you, ‘Here’s where the weeds are, here’s where the crops are,’” Senden said. Beyond this, such an approach also holds broader potential for agricultural research as U of M collaborates closely with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
The challenge, he added, is that such models need huge volumes of annotated data — images that researchers need to label manually, marking each pixel to show which areas represent crops and which represent weeds. This process is often slow and extremely expensive to carry out. “To do that for every single pixel in an image, it takes way too
scale of a crop field [is] pretty infeasible.”
“Computer vision […] is this idea that you’re trying to get computers to understand and make intelligent decisions about […] visual data.”
— Alex Senden, master’s student in the U of M’s department of computer science
much time,” he said. “You can do it for small amounts of images, but to do it […] on the
Senden’s long-term goal is to address this challenge by generating artificial images with built-in labels. With data-labeling automation, his system could provide the data needed to train models without relying on years of manual work. The same
method could support other fields that depend on detailed imagery, such as medical diagnostics, where identifying tumors or lesions also requires large, labelled datasets.
“I would like […] to make this type of machine learning model or computer vision model […] easier to train so that it’s really easy to implement across industries or research,” he said. Beyond his own project, Senden follows emerging work in federated learning — a framework that
lets multiple users train AI models collaboratively without sharing private data. “This has really big implications for data privacy,” he said. “Now we don’t actually have to share data in order to make this one model that has basically […] learned from all of our data.” According to Senden, data privacy will become an increasingly important issue in the future, and federated learning might be able to offer a solution to one of AI’s biggest current challenges.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY ALEX SENDEN
The merits of a beater car
A driving force, if it drives at all
Mike Thiessen, staff
Earlier this summer, I took my 2008 Honda Fit to a shop for a quote on replacing my exhaust system. It would cost $1,000, the mechanic told me, but I would get back the $53 that I spent to have them look at it. I said thank you and drove my loud car home.
My exhaust problems started about this time last year, directly following two months during which my car would not start at all. Once that problem was resolved, I had about a week of normal driving before my muffler fell off on the Trans-Canada.
Most of the plastic clips holding my front and rear bumpers to the body have broken off and are now held together with tape. There is rust on every fender.
My Honda Fit is a certifiable beater.
I have known beater cars for a little while. The car I drove
in high school, a 2003 Nissan Altima, once lost its rearview mirror on the highway and had similar muffler problems. The driver’s side door handle broke off in my hand one winter day, and it died a sudden death when the coolant line inexplicably detached itself and antifreeze mixed with every other fluid in the engine.
My most recent car, a 2008 Honda Accord, burned so much oil that I kept a jug of 5W-20 in the trunk and topped it up nearly every time I filled up with gas. That one nearly died in the parking lot of the Portage la Prairie Canadian Tire — again, it simply would not start. Once revived, a week and a half later, I sold it as quickly as I could for a little over half of what I paid for it before any other problems
could arise.
I have never been one to name my cars, unlike many people I know, perhaps akin to the phenomenon of parents from days of old postponing naming their children until it was clear they would survive beyond infancy. Owning a car like this can be a headache like no other, but there is also a beauty in it. These cars keep you on your
circumstances available to you. What sort of configuration of zip ties will keep my front bumper from flapping around in the wind until I get home? How many pieces of scrap metal and hose clamps will hold an exhaust system together?
“Owning a car [beater] like this can be a headache like no other, but there is also a beauty in it”
toes. I’ve found that the threat of a piece of your vehicle falling off keeps me quite in tune with the driving experience. Increased attentiveness to the car means increased attentiveness to the road, hopefully.
A beater teaches you how to adapt and work with the
Mostly, though, my beater cars have fostered bonding experiences. There are the brief, circumstantial moments, where people roll down their windows to ask if I’m ok while I’m taping my car back together. Then there are the more intimate moments, like loading my Accord onto the trailer with my dad and getting a box of Timbits after.
Some of my fondest and final memories of my late grandpa involve us working (or, often, rather, him working
and me watching intently) on all the various problems of all my various cars, standing in the shop on our phones looking for answers on 12-yearold internet forums, and the quiet and mutual satisfaction of solving a problem in an unorthodox way.
My hometown shop recently echoed the city shop, quoting me $1,000, but adding a caveat — that would only be if they were willing to work on it, which they’re not, really. My 2008 Honda Fit is too far gone to be worked on in any way that matters without it being a complete waste of money. All I can do, then, is have some combination of semi-mechanically inclined family members and myself weld the pieces back together, cross my fingers, and drive that car until it rattles itself into a pile of dust. I will do it with a smile on my face.
PHOTO BY MIKE THIESSEN / STAFF
We’ll love you forever
Robert Munsch will continue to live on within his stories
Quinn Mayhew, staff
Robert Munsch, the famed Canadian children’s novelist, has always been one of my favourite authors. His whimsical stories enchant me, with both his drawings and pictures eliciting a form of childhood nostalgia whenever I read his books.
If you were to ask a person who grew up in Canada if they had read a Robert Munsch book as a child, they would most likely say yes. His stories also transcend age. Despite his books being written for children, I sometimes yearn for the familiarity they always bring me.
In a world where everything is online and AI is beckoning, I find comfort in the pages of his books, The Paper Bag Princess, Stephanie’s Ponytail and Something Good. These are just a few of the books that have really resonated with me during my childhood.
Munsch is not only an author, but also a person who lived a prolific life, often going to classrooms at random and speaking to children or serv-
ing as a prize in contests and staying with families of those contest winners.
Despite all these, Munsch lived a life of struggle. He was diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and manic depression, which led to addiction problems and mental health struggles.
As a person who lives with OCD, Munsch’s diagnosis surprised me a lot. I know OCD affects people differently, and I know there is no distinguishing factor for someone who has this mental health disorder. But Munsch, being such an influential author and person, made me proud as a person who also suffers from OCD. I find myself thinking of Munsch more in recent days, a lot more than I usually would. This is due to Mun-
sch being approved for physician-assisted suicide after previ -
ously being diagnosed with dementia and Parkinson’s disease.
Munsch first said it years ago, “The stories will be the last to go.” Even though Munsch, as a person, is succumbing to the disease of Parkinson’s and dementia, his story and the impact of his novels will stand the test of time and will live on within the children he influenced
with his work.
Munsch, despite being approved for physician-assisted suicide, continues to stay optimistic, even going as far as cracking jokes about his dying. “Hello, Doc — come kill me!” Munsch joked to the New York Times. “How much time do I have? Fifteen seconds!”
Even though Munsch, as a person, will no longer be physically with “us,” he lives in his ultimate creation, which is his books. As a person who has thoroughly enjoyed Munsch’s books all my life, I can say that I am grateful for the memories he always brought me through his storytelling. I also speak for the majority of people who also loved Munsch when I say that “We’ll love him forever.”
Winning the transportation game
Why public and active transportation are key players in the playbook
Adam Johnston, volunteer
Game night in Winnipeg is electric — Jets in overtime, Sea Bears in target time, Bombers crushing the Riders in the Banjo Bowl. But getting there? Downtown is gridlocked and on Pembina, driving appears to be slower than usual. Parking, depending on the event, can cost $10–$20, and postgame idling spews emissions while fans wait 10–15 minutes to exit. Analysts warn we lose economic time to congestion. So, Winnipeg — can we cheer without choking our streets and our air?
Winnipeg’s car-centric event-planning is a losing game. Traffic jams before and after games frustrate fans, lengthen commutes and clog roads. Analysts warn that parking space is diverted from housing. Worse, transportation accounts for nearly half of Winnipeg’s carbon emissions. All this to see a goal or touchdown? Low-income residents, students and those without cars are priced out entirely. As cars crawl, emissions rise and access falls. It is time to rethink how we cheer, without
choking our streets or sidelining our most vulnerable fans.
Public transit is the unsung MVP of Winnipeg sports nights. While Winnipeg Transit faces challenges, such as underinvestment, safety concerns and fare costs, it remains vital to fans citywide. Whether it is a Blue Bombers game at Princess Auto Stadium or Jets action at the Canada Life Centre, buses connect communities like Elmwood and St. Vital to the games. Transit boosts accessibility, especially for low-income residents and students, and reduces emissions.
As planners improve frequency and affordability, fans get a cleaner, fairer alternative to gridlock and pricey parking.
Past events, such as the 1999 Pan Am Games and Bombers playoffs, saw expanded service, and free fares were proposed last month by Winnipeg City Council for Grey Cup volunteers during the event and for fans attending the Grey Cup game. Let us cheer for a system that gets us to the game without the car chaos.
Walking and cycling to
Winnipeg sporting events are innovative, affordable and healthy options — especially for residents in the downtown area. With the Canada Life Centre and Blue Cross Park centrally located, fans can skip traffic and pedal or stroll to Jets, Sea Bears and Goldeyes games. However, the Canada Life Centre does not offer a permanent bike valet service. Bike lanes recently added over the past two decades, plus the Southwest active transportation corridor, make cycling to Blue Bombers and Valour FC games from across the city easy and safe. The Bombers’ bike valet service at Princess Auto Stadium sets the bar, offering secure parking for cyclists at all games and major events. It’s time for other teams to follow suit and embrace active commuting as a win for fans, health and the environment.
Want to support Winnipeg sports and fight climate change? Consider taking the bus, walking or biking to the game. Fans, teams and the city must invest in better transit accessibility, through bike
valets, free to low-cost bus fares and a completed active transportation network. Climate experts warn we’re nearing the 1.5°C threshold, so every car trip avoided helps. Plus, ditching the car saves money that can instead be spent on season tickets and merchandise, boosting the local economy. Let’s rally behind our teams — the Jets, Moose, Sea Bears, Goldeyes, Bombers and Valour FC — not just in the stands, but on the streets. We only get one kick at the can. Let’s make it count.
GRAPHIC BY EMMA GILLICH / STAFF
GRAPHIC BY EMMA GILLICH / STAFF
To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 such that each row, column, and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely. In Straights, like Sudoku, no single number 1 to 9 can repeat in any row or column. But rows and columns are divided by black squares into compartments. Each compartment must form a “straight.” A straight is a set of numbers with no gaps but it can be in any order, eg [7,6,9,8]. Clues in black cells remove that number as an option in that row and column, and are not part of any straight. Glance at the solution to see how “straights” are formed.
Sudoku, no single number can repeat in any row or column. But... rows and columns are divided by black squares into compartments. These need to be filled in with numbers that complete a ‘straight’. A straight is a set of numbers with no gaps but can be in any order,
‘Toban Turntable
Fleece — TORNADO
Mikaela Warkentin, staff
4/5 stars
Montreal-based indie rock quartet, Fleece, has once again proven themselves to be a cornerstone of Canadian indie in their most recent release, TORNADO Four years since their 2021 album Stunning & Atrocious, Fleece approaches TORNADO with a softer touch, turning their more raucous groove into something much more atmospheric.
Kicking off with “How Far Would You Go,” one of the album’s singles and by far one of its most versatile tracks, Matthew Rogers and Megan Ennenberg’s somber-yet-upbeat approach to lyricism takes root. A mantra in this song, “Nothing last forever, baby let’s try,” drives away any melancholy felt in the prechorus, shifting into a chorus that is hazily reminiscent of a disco groove.
This melancholic yet softly optimistic atmosphere carries itself into “This Can’t Be
Goodbye,” a eulogy for lost friends — “Jesse relapsed and I cried / Hope he’s having fun tonight / Izzy took her life, my god / Wish I told you that you’re loved” — driven by a simpler drum machine-style beat. It is here that the softer reflections of this album are felt and are brought across the tracks “Indecisive Little Mess,” “Where’s My Beach Hat” and “Come Waste Your Time.”
At this point in the album, Fleece takes a pause and fully leans into its musical skills with “206A Interlude” — something that leans into a jazzier improvisation while maintaining the ambient indie feel Fleece has been known for since inception (even in jest, with the band’s viral 2015 YouTube video “how to write an Alt-J song”). This interlude bridges into the more classic pop sounds of “It’s The Life” and gets harder with lead single “Take Off All Your Honey” before settling into “Chequebook, a punchy deviation from the generally
soft atmosphere thus far. Ennenberg’s vocals on “Chequebook” lend the track a feeling distinct from TORNADO’s general pensiveness created by Rogers. Held alongside the direct confrontation of the lyrics, the song challenges generational wealth —“Do you even know / what your daddy does? He’s got money made / Everyone could eat / but he keeps it all / for himself, oh no.” Ennenberg drives the point home simply in the chorus’ refrain, “Gimme all your money, honey! / Never call me honey, honey!” While “Chequebook” is a deviation from Fleece’s regular musical stylings, it is a deviation they do well.
TORNADO winds itself down through “Take It From Me.” While it is an energetic track, it still returns to the atmospheric pop Fleece is best known for. The album cycles itself back into retrospection through “Ghost On My Tongue” and “So Much Better Now,” the latter of which gently rolls the album back
overpower standout tracks in a thorough listen of the whole album. A cohesive listen, TORNADO is a journey through Fleece’s sonic ability — it’s just a journey that takes a little longer to get there. around into the first track.
Despite its positive qualities, TORNADO is not Fleece’s strongest album. It showcases exactly what the band can do, but the sadness-dappledwith-dance atmosphere laid out by most of the album can
Netflix reveals Jane Goodall’s last message to the world
A posthumous interview with the world-renowned primatologist
Boris Tsun Hang Leung, staff
The globally renowned primatologist, ethologist and conservationist Jane Goodall died of natural causes at age 91 on Oct. 1. Soon after, Netflix revealed an interview with the British scientist filmed in March 2025 to be released after her death, kicking off a new series called Famous Last Words
In the episode, Goodall shared aspects of her life with Brad Falchuk, the series’ host, and reflected on her journey from an inquisitive child living in England to a scientist who redefined humanity. The footage had never been viewed by anyone until after her death — even the cameras were operated remotely to ensure strict confidentiality.
Goodall spoke on her troublesome marriages in the interview and humorously suggested that some world leaders be placed on one of Elon Musk’s spaceships and sent to outer space. Despite her old age, Goodall was anything but senile and recalled her story in detail, from the months she spent in the jungle with chimpanzees to her career advocating for a more
sustainable world.
Goodall’s life was nothing short of extraordinary. In 1960, the then-26-yearold Goodall was recruited by archaeologist Louis Leakey to study chimpanzees in Tanzania in hopes of learning more about human origins and evolution.
Even though Goodall lacked formal training, she made a groundbreaking discovery while conducting fieldwork — she observed a chimp “fishing” termites out of a nest with a twig. Until that point, it was believed only humans could make and use tools, prompting Leakey to announce, “Now we must redefine tool, redefine man, or accept chimpanzees as human.”
Her research continued to humanize mankind’s closest living relative despite the pushback from contemporary academics. For example, Goodall once saw a young chimp die of depression shortly after the death of his mother, dispelling the myth that grief is a uniquely human experience.
Goodall’s research also challenged fundamental ideas about science. By assigning names and even empathiz-
ing with the chimps she studied, she showed that research does not have to be cold and impersonal in order to produce enlightening insights.
Goodall entered the jungle a scientist and left an activist. She later founded the Jane Goodall Institute, an organization dedicated to protecting great apes and their habitats, as well as Roots & Shoots, a global program that encourages youths to work on local issues.
Over decades, Goodall has spoken about conservation in UNESCO headquarters, universities and even on Stephen Colbert’s show, but her posthumous interview is the most stirring of them all. Toward the end of the episode, Falchuk exited the studio and Goodall directly addressed the viewers as she delivered her last message to the world.
“I want to make sure that you all understand that each and every one of you has a role to play. You may not know it. You may not find it. But your life matters, and you are here for a reason, and I just hope that that reason will become apparent as you live through your life,” she said.
“You have it in your power to make a difference. Don’t give up. There is a future for you. Do your best while you’re still on this beautiful planet Earth that I look down upon from where I am now. God
bless you all.”
The full episode of Famous Last Words: Dr. Jane Goodall is currently streaming on Netflix.
Untangling the value of theory and literature
A chat with an English professor from the University of Regina
Boris Tsun Hang Leung, staff
he U of M welcomed
TGarry Sherbert on campus to present a lecture on Oct. 8 as part of a conference sponsored by Mosaic, an interdisciplinary journal on literature and theory founded at U of M.
In his lecture, Sherbert presented his research on the connections between works by 17th century English writer John Donne and 20th century French Algerian philosopher Jacques Derrida, particularly on the shared theme of self-sacrifice as a moral decision.
periods, it’s transferable to other subject areas,” he said.
“[It] provides a way to create and generate ideas […] Theory has been so valuable to me, and I’ve had my students report that the [undergraduate] theory course that they took was transferable even up to the graduate level.”
For example, Sherbert used Derrida’s theory of autoimmunity, referring to an entity’s ability to turn against
ter of Game of Thrones with its use of dragons, which effectively transports viewers into another world.
Sherbert also mentioned that over the centuries, older narratives will often resurface in later works.
“I highly recommend students to do as much theory as possible because it’s not only transferable between periods, it’s transferable to other subject areas”
Sherbert is an English professor at the University of Regina who focuses on literary theory. Although Sherbert’s research interest may seem esoteric and abstract to many, he pointed out that it may be more versatile than one might think.
“The older the text, the more archetypal it is […] I can go back to the ancient Greeks and the ancient Romans, and [their texts will] still entertain me and surprise me, as Shakespeare does […] That’s what the Renaissance means. It’s a rebirth of [the] classical,” said Sherbert.
— Garry Sherbert, English professor at the University of Regina
itself like an autoimmune disease, in his lecture to link the different writers’ works together.
“Theory gives you the flexibility to go from one thing to another […] I highly recommend students to do as much theory as possible because it’s not only transferable between
Sherbert also teaches courses on historical literature at the U of R. When asked about the importance of past literary works, he commented that they continue to inform the works produced today. For example, Sherbert highlighted the medieval charac-
With this perspective in mind, works such as Homer’s The Odyssey and L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz may not be so distant after all — they both tell the story of a protagonist’s heroic voyage home from a faraway place and the strange characters they encounter along the way.
Lastly, as a professor, Sherbert concluded with a piece of advice he would like to give U of M students — talk to your classmates.
“You should use your university years as a time to meet other people and to use the educational experience to grow your brain and develop parts of yourself […] So maximize your social engagement with your peers, especially if you’re sharing a class with them. Don’t waste it,” he said
ardently.
“Everybody has a different path, but enjoy this path that you each have with each other. Especially when I see my students in my classroom, I say, ‘Please talk to each other,’ because they can teach you as much as I can.”
PHOTO BY BORIS TSUN HANG LEUNG / STAFF
Intramural sports and clubs at U of M
Coordinator Matthew Gerardy highlights the program’s opportunities
Abdul-Jalilu Ahmed, staff
U of M intramural sports and clubs coordinator, Matthew Gerardy, has stated that the intramural program provides students with opportunities to socialize and build a sense of community, while also promoting physical activity and stress relief.
“It’s just a great getaway from school — it’s a nice break. It’s [also] a great opportunity to socialize and make new friends,” said Gerardy. On top of this, he added, “it’s obviously great in terms of getting physical exercise and taking a lot of stress off, and it’s just a good way to build community here on campus.”
“Intramural sports is a program for students, staff and faculty. It’s mostly played by students,” Gerardy said. “It’s not competitive in the sense like Bison sports, but it’s basically students making their own teams and we set up a league for them. We hire students as referees and officials and timekeepers and they essentially just play out a season every term, with playoffs and a champion rewarded at the end of it.”
He listed the various games included in the program’s lineup. “This term specifically, we have intramural soccer, [basketball, volleyball and hockey]. In the past, we’ve had different sports, but it depends on interest [and] our facility time. For instance, we used to run a sport called intramural inner tube water polo in the pool, but unfortunately our pool is closed down so we couldn’t run that this year. We’ve tried to run different sports like touch football, [and] we used to have intramural archery tag […] but this term we’re down to four sports.”
Gerardy outlined the duration of the intramural programs, saying there is a fall term season from the first week of October until the first week of December and a winter term season from the end up January until the first week of April.
Gerardy explained that there are two ways students can register for intramural sports. “You either register as a team captain where you make your own team [...] You recruit your own players and
you enter a team that way. Or, if you don’t maybe know anyone or you don’t have enough people to make a team, you could register as a free agent and basically we take all the free agents that register and we put them on a team together.”
Gerardy said intramurals take place “Mondays through Thursdays, generally in the evening, but for intramural soccer specifically, it plays in the afternoons because we
play out at the soccer complex, which isn’t owned by the U of M and that’s just the only available time that we have.”
He highlighted the motivation behind the program.
“It’s to offer more opportunity for students to continue to play sports. A lot of students play sports in high school and they want to stay competitive [but] maybe they’re not good enough to play at a level like Bison sports […] Intramurals is just a great solution
for that, where they could still be competitive, they can still get active and play the sports that they love and that they loved playing growing up. And again, it’s just a great opportunity to make friends.”
More information can be found at umanitoba.ca/community/sport-recreation/ recreation-services/rec-clubsintramurals.
PHOTO BY MIKE THIESSEN / STAFF
Bisons soccer head coach reacts to win and draw
Mark Colvin attributes the results to team’s depth and overall strength
Abdul-Jalilu Ahmed, staff
isons soccer head
B
coach Mark Colvin said he was not surprised by his team’s results, a 1-0 win and 1-1 draw against the University of Alberta Pandas, crediting the performance to the strength and depth of his squad.
“To me, it’s not a surprise that we went in and got points in both games against Alberta, because when we’re playing at our best, and when we’re playing as a team, then I think we’ve got a really formidable squad,” said Colvin. “We had certainly good performances on the weekend, but we’ve come out of many weekends being happy with a good performance.”
Colvin reflected on the buildup to the decisive goal that secured the victory, stressing on its relevance for the team. “But if you look at that game that we won, Lulu [ordeaux] scored […] That is
a really special goal to score. That helps drive our momentum to get the victory,” he said. “Certainly we’re very happy coming out of the weekend. It gives us lots of positive energy and confidence heading to the end of the season. But certainly it’s not a surprise result. I’ve seen our team in training, I’ve seen us perform really well in matches, and so it’s great that we could put everything together for the three points.”
He noted the sense of confidence and excitement that swept through the players following the win. “Even if you have a poor performance[…] but you win, just by getting the points on the board, you get confidence from it,” Colvin noted. “We came into training this week [and] there is certainly confidence within the
team, and then also lots of energy and excitement looking forward to our next set of games. We’re in an off week this week, but training has been sharp and we have our attention already until next weekend. We’re back at home and want to build off of the results against Alberta.”
Colvin explained how the results can drive the team’s momentum in subsequent
“To me, it’s not a surprise that we went in and got points in both games against Alberta”
one’s taking care of their role within the team. And I think for the last couple of weekends, when we played against Calgary and when we got the results against Alberta, the team’s been playing together and really executing our match strategy effectively […] Whether we win, lose or draw, if everyone’s giving 100 per cent of their energy and focus to the team, everyone’s applying our match strategy, then what more can I really ask of our group?”
— Mark Colvin, Bisons soccer head coach
games. “Results help drive confidence, but I think the most important thing to me as a coach is that we’re having good performances, that the team effectively implements our match strategy and that we do everything together — everyone’s connected, every-
He shared his thoughts on potential strategies and approaches the team can adopt in the upcoming games. “We’re hosting Lethbridge next week […] They’re a team [that is] going to come to Winnipeg with lots of confidence and highly motivated. And so certainly I think the most important
thing for us is to not take the opponent lightly, [to know] that every single team in our division has the quality to get a result on the day. And so for us, it’s about first and foremost focusing on ourselves. We are not going to adapt too much to the opponents — we’re going to focus on our way of playing […] In training this week, we’ve been focusing on our passing game and our ability to progress the ball up the field,” Colvin said. “Looking ahead to the game, we want to be more dominant with possession and with our passing game.”
The Bisons soccer team will host the Lethbridge Pronghorns on Saturday, Oct. 18, 11 a.m. CT, at the East Turf Field and Sunday, Oct. 19, 12 p.m. CT, at the Princess Auto Stadium.
