7 December 2016

features

Manitoban Literature Competition 2016 winners for poetry and prose Page 13-15

Science

A controversial decision Your guide to the Kinder Morgan pipeline Page 17

Comment

Victory at last? Not so fast Two profs reflect on the UMFA strike Page 8

Vo l 1 0 3 · N o 1 6 · D e c e m b e r 6 , 2 0 1 6 · w w w.t h e m a n i to b a n .co m

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Index

VOL. 103 NO. 16 December 6, 2016

Editor-in-Chief Craig Adolphe

editor@themanitoban.com / 474.8293

Business manager Kiefer Sheldon

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Advertising Coordinator Daniel Parys

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Editorial

Managing Editor Lauren Siddall

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News Editor Garett Williams

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News Editor Levi Garber

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Comment Editor Shawn Garbutt

comment@themanitoban.com

science & technology Editor Malak Abas

science@themanitoban.com

arts & Culture Editor Tobi Nifesi

arts@themanitoban.com

Sports Editor Ryan Stelter

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Copy Editor Sarah Doran

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Design

Design Editor Bram Keast

comment

sports

design@themanitoban.com

International student input

Heated Rivalry

graphics@themanitoban.com

UMSU proposal contrary to CFS goals page 10

Graphics Editor Kelly Campbell Photo Editor Miguel Yetman

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Manitoba wins men’s basketball portion of Duckworth Challenge

Design associate Kellie Huynh graphics associate Aldo Rios pHOTO associate Chantal Zdan pHOTO associate Star Roxas

page 23

pHOTO associate Megan Colwell

Reporters arts

It takes a village

Local music promoted over Facebook Live page 20

News Osho Samuel Adetunji News Hannah Froese News Diana Ubokudom Columnist Jeremiah Kopp Columnist Shaden Abusaleh arts & culture Olivia Michalczuk arts & culture Emelia Fournier Sports Kellen Taniguchi Sports Jason Pchajek Copy Joseph Gonzalez

Volunteer Contributors

Will gibson Sari Habiluk Scott Lercher

MANITOBAN

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News

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News Editors: Garett Williams & Levi Garber Contact: news@themanitoban.com / 474.6770

UMSU creates anonymous executive oversight committee Governance reforms also include creation of union judicial board, rebranding VPI position, removal of boycott list Hannah Froese, staff with files from Levi Garber

photo by Chantal zdan

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he creation of an anonymous executive oversight committee was included in changes to the University of Manitoba Students’ Union (UMSU) governing documents adopted at UMSU’s regularly scheduled council meeting Nov. 24.

The oversight committee will be made up of three randomly selected UMSU councillors as well as three students-at-large, randomly selected from all those who apply.

According to the 22-page document detailing the reforms, the committee will ensure executives are investigating union members’ complaints, meeting workload commitments, and sending reports to UMSU council, among other day-to-day operations.

Members of the executive oversight committee will remain anonymous and their operations will be confidential: meetings will be held in closed session, reports and other communication outside the committee will be via email, and meeting minutes will only be distributed to committee members.

The committee will submit written term reports to be presented to UMSU council four set times a year, at the end of what are described as “assessment terms.”

UMSU president Tanjit Nagra explained why she supported the creation of the anonymous committee but noted that she did not take an active role in advocating for it, as she felt it was a “conflict of interest.”

“What we’ve seen in the past couple of years is some executive mem-

bers that have been phenomenal and changes and is to be introduced to some that have not been the best with council by the governance committee their work ethic in terms of their out- separately, according to Kubay. puts and what they’re actually doing The oversight committee will also for the students,” Nagra said. handle complaints against executive “So the biggest part of this com- members. mittee is to have people who aren’t The committee may deliver citainternal in the office, but a group of tions to any executive member in people that are able to oversee what response to a complaint. Approved exactly the executives are doing, their citations may be appealed, and these actual progress,” she said. appeals are to be handled by the judiUMSU governance committee cial board. chairperson Cole Kubay said he proExamples of what citations may posed the formation of the oversight be given for include inadequate committee in consultation with past time in the office and/or conducting UMSU governance committee chairs UMSU-related business, improper and the current union governance “office decorum,” actions determined assistant, Mark Stewart. to be detrimental to the union, and Kubay also explained why the violation of governing documents or governance committee felt it was procedures. important for the executive oversight However, the judicial oversight committee to remain anonymous. committee can review the minutes “We didn’t want the people on the and other relevant documentation committee to be persuaded or bribed in the case of appeals. or anything by other members [of council],” he said. “We were just wor- Performance incentives ried that people would be influenced.”

The executive oversight comKubay also said that based on mittee will also have the power to how well the committee works next award “performance incentives” to year, the governance committee will union executives based on “various recommend that UMSU council re- performance assessment criteria” that evaluate the merits of keeping the are not specified in the documents. panel and its members secret.

The committee can award up to “Basically, every aspect of the com- $500 to each executive at the end of mittee will be up for review after the each assessment term and up to $1500 end of the year to see if it’s function- at the end of the year. ing as it should,” Kubay said. “We’re Kubay said that money is not addikeeping it so that there’s anonym- tional; it will come out of each execuity unless council deems that there tive’s pre-determined salary, created shouldn’t be.” by the finance committee each year.

That recommendation is not “There’s parts of it that are vague included in the actual governance and they have to be vague because

there’s so little that we’ve done with this,” he said. “We don’t know how it’s going to run and sometimes you really can’t plan for circumstances.”

“There’s parts of it that are vague and they have to be vague because there’s so little that we’ve done with this” – Cole Kubay, UMSU governance committee chairperson Other changes

The reforms passed at the Nov. 24 council meeting also include the creation of a judicial board.

The judicial board, will oversee and deal with matters related to elections and examine appeals that must be reviewed by a third party.

If a motion passed by UMSU has violated a clause in the UMSU bylaws or the union’s election and referendum manual, it can be appealed within 30 days. If determined valid, appeals will be considered in a closed meeting of the judicial board.

The judicial board is to be comprised of three members of UMSU

council and five students-at-large to be selected by the UMSU selections committee. Union executives may not sit on the judicial board and the chairperson must be a student-at-large.

The judicial board will only meet when an appeal is brought forward.

To make quorum there must be six voting members in total present.

UMSU council may not overturn any decisions made by the judicial board.

Both the judicial board and the executive oversight committee will be allowed access to the confidential executive committee meeting minutes.

Another notable change included in the reform package is the removal of the UMSU boycott list. The list allowed UMSU to boycott companies as well as goods originating from a country on the list. According to the report, the list was lost years ago and has not been seen since. The contents of the list are unknown.

The executive position of vicepresident internal, currently held

by Adam Pawlak, will also change to vice-president finances and operations.

The governance reforms were passed unanimously by council.

Changes to the UMSU governing documents will take effect May 1, 2017.

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News

News Editors: Garett Williams & Levi Garber Contact: news@themanitoban.com / 474.6770

Researcher challenges belief that academic dishonesty is common among international students Findings show international students no less prepared to act with academic integrity Osho Samuel Adetunji, staff

conceptions with respect to academic dishonesty and international students, there is a need for further research before the results can be generalized to a larger international student population.

photo provided by Federico Feroldi

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ecent research from a U of M tries and nine departments or areas master’s student challenges a of study. stereotype portraying international The survey examined the extent students as regular violators of aca- to which culture was reflected in the demic integrity. perspectives of international underMiriam Christoph, a student graduate students on issues related to advisor in English language studies academic integrity. and international programs, looked The results were analyzed, and to challenge reports that incidents Chritoph found that “regardless of of cheating are more common with cultural background, the participants international students than domestic in this study understood the imporstudents. tance of academic integrity.”

“They may have come from differShe designed a qualitative study and interviewed 11 international ent educational backgrounds – note undergraduate students at the U of that some participants were from M representing eight different coun- ‘western’ educational backgrounds –

but they were no less prepared to act to cheating than domestic students with integrity than any other student,” has taken hold, including in articles she said. in the Globe and Mail and the Wall “To say that international stu- Street Journal. dents are more inclined to cheat or Christoph said there are no conplagiarize is inaccurate and places clusive numbers of how many more an unfair stereotype on this student international students are accused group. Trying to exhibit desirable of cheating than their domestic colbehaviour or doing the right thing leagues, saying “it’s mostly anecdotal in an educational context is universal.” evidence that suggests international The University of Manitoba has students are accused more often than over 5,000 international students domestic students. Normally, counenrolled representing more than 100 try of origin is not recorded when an countries. accusation is made.”

In recent years, a perception that Christoph stated that though her international students are more prone findings will demystify existing mis-

“To say that international students are more inclined to cheat or plagiarize is inaccurate and places an unfair stereotype on this student group” – Miriam Christoph, U of M researcher “It highlights potential misconceptions that are held in regards to international students and academic dishonesty,” she said. “I’d like to see further research conducted that would allow for generalization to the larger international student population.”

UMSU Holiday Hamper and Toy Drive kicks off ahead of the holiday season Programs support struggling students and families with food hampers Osho Samuel Adetunji, staff

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photo by miguel yetman

he University of Manitoba Students’ Union’s (UMSU) annual Holiday Hampers and Toy Drive program kicked off last week to assist students who have food security challenges throughout the holiday season.

The program, running for its 18th season, helps students and student families in need over the holiday season with a hamper that includes all the fixings for a traditional holiday meal.

However, Dara Hallock, UMSU vice-president advocacy, said the goal is not as much to furnish a holiday meal as it is to simply ensure students have food security over the break.

“I think it's more about helping students have food on the table,” she said. “Yes, some items are traditional ‘holiday foods’ but the program helps

students who have difficulty providing food for themselves and their families year round.”

“The toys are a special addition for families with children. Of course this aligns with Christmas, but not all families celebrate this holiday, so it's more about spreading some joy.”

The hamper program supports more than 250 students and their families annually.

UMSU has issued calls for donations and sponsorships, encouraging students and faculty members to get involved in three basic ways: adopting a hamper, sponsoring a hamper, or donating toward a hamper.

Adopting a hamper includes purchasing the specific items from a provided list, packaging it, and delivering it to a student. To sponsor a hamper, donations of $200 for a

small hamper or $500 for a large hamper can be made at UMSU’s office in University Centre. Collection bins have also been set up in University Centre.

All donations in cash and kind are welcomed by UMSU to get as many hampers together as possible.

Hallock said there is no specific criteria screening students requesting hampers. She said UMSU has sent out notices to students registered with the food bank and faculty advisors who may know students that are in need.

The toy drive, which is merged with the UMSU hampers program, oversees the donation of new and gently-used toys to families with children in the holiday season.

Hallock said the university community has been very supportive of

the program and noted that more student groups than average have donated to this year’s drive.

“We set aside money in the annual budget to help cover the cost of additional hampers we may need to purchase,” she said.

“We have been trying to get as many staff and students involved in the donation process as possible, but there are quite a few requests and they aren't normally all met by donations.”

Donation bins will remain in University Centre through December 12.

VOL. 103 NO. 16 December 6, 2016

News

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Cambrian College signs partnership agreement with National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation Diana Ubokudom, staff

photo by star roxas

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n Nov. 23, Cambrian College officially became the first college in Ontario to sign a partnership agreement with the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) located at the University of Manitoba.

Director of the NCTR Ry Moran said the large body of Indigenous students at Cambrian College motivated the partnership.

“They have a good, strong number of Indigenous students, and some really fantastic elders there,” Moran said.

Of the 4,000 students at Cambrian College, nearly 900 are Indigenous, according to Moran.

Moran also added that the partnership with Cambrian, like other post-secondary institutions that the NCTR has partnered with, such as

the University of British Columbia, really understanding what this his- approaching their relationship, but, Dalhousie University, and the tory means at an institutional level,” at the same time, there’s a lot that we University of Winnipeg, was part of he said. can offer as well,” he said. the centre’s ongoing efforts to achieve Moran said the partnership with Moran said the NCTR would a regional hub model.

Cambrian is one that will be benefi- provide Cambrian College access to Moran some of their noted that materials “There’s a lot that we can learn from them in Cambrian and archives Col lege is with the hope terms of the way that they are approaching their committhat it would relationship, but, at the same time, there’s a lot ted to prefoster a posiserving and tive relationthat we can offer as well” – Ry Moran, National honouring ship between Indigenous the t wo Centre for Truth and Reconciliation director history. institutions.

“Cambrian “On the College recognizes a critical need to cial to both partners, as they both education side of things, it can mean really provide support to their stu- bring positive contributions to the working to deliver training to both dents and to their institution. They table. employees and to students. There’s want to make sure that they are “Like most partnerships, there’s also good potential on the research providing good services and good a lot that we can learn from them side of things: to link and make coninformation to their students and in terms of the way that they are nections between researchers and

collection of the materials across the country,” Moran said.

Moran also said that through engagement between survivors and communities , the NCTR hopes to increase its presence in Ontario and empower Cambrian College to provide better access to its surrounding communities.

“I was really pleased to see their desire and passion to jump into this important conversation of truth and reconciliation,” Moran said. “I think that they’re really grounded, in a good way, in terms of respecting and honouring Indigenous people’s histories, by making sure that’s fairly and authentically represented, so I think it’s really good.”

Editorial Editor-In-Chief: Craig Adolphe Contact: Editor@themanitoban.com / 474.6770

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Justin Trudeau must deliver on proportional representation The Liberal Party’s consultation process is being used to delay and derail change Craig Adolphe, staff

Manitoba riding of Portage—Lisgar, where the Conservatives regularly get upwards of 60 per cent of the vote, Liberal, NDP, and Green voters are disincentivized from going to the polls at all. If their local candidate loses, their vote has no effect on the composition of Parliament. In fact, even for those who were motivated enough to vote in 2015, more than nine million votes cast in the federal election – over half – didn’t go towards electing anyone.

It’s looking increasingly like the Liberal Party would like to get out of their commitment to reform

graphic by aldo rios

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uring the campaign period of the popularity meant “the motivation to – where a party has a majority of 2015 federal election, the Liberal want to change the electoral system seats, without a majority of ballots party promised that, if elected, 2015 is less urgent,” since people were hap- cast in favour of them – which leads would be “the last federal election pier with their government. Minister to winner-take-all governance and conducted under the first-past-the- of Democratic Institutions Maryam fewer people having a voice in the post voting system.”

Monsef has also refused to comment political process.

The campaign promise, listed on on the merits of specific proposals In the 2015 election, the Liberal their website, went on to say that an and has criticized the all-party com- party won 39.5 per cent of ballots all-party parliamentary committee mittee’s report, which she later had cast, taking 54 per cent of seats in would review a variety of reforms to apologize for.

Parliament, and as a result now hold including ranked ballots, proporalmost absolute power in the House tional representation (PR), mandaof Commons. tory voting, and online voting, and The Conservatives, who won 31.9 This absorption of that the government would introduce per cent of ballots cast, secured 29.3 reform legislation within 18 months per cent of seats; the NDP, who won reluctant voters of taking office.

19.7 per cent of ballots cast, secured 13 (particularly from Unlike the NDP or Green Party per cent of seats; the Bloq Québécois, – who both favour forms of PR – the who won 4.7 per cent of the vote, won the left) and Liberals’ shotgun approach to reform 2.4 per cent of seats; and the Greens, disproportionate ideas gave very little indication as who won 3.5 per cent of ballots cast, to what their eventual plan would won only 0.3 per cent of seats. distribution of seats be (even the Conservative Party was The system favours the powerful clear about their support for the sta- have kept the Liberals as well as the political centre, both at tus quo). the expense of a diversity of opinion. as the country’s In the past week, the all-party Rather than voting for the party they committee has reported back, call- governing party for believe in, many voters are stuck voting on the government to adopt a ing for whichever party – of those most of our history PR system and implement a national they feel they can live with – has the referendum to gauge support across best chance of winning. This may the country. be why the Liberals are so hesitant Unfortunately, it’s looking to actually move towards PR. This increasingly like the Liberal Party The benefits of proportional absorption of reluctant voters (parwould like to get out of their com- representation ticularly from the left) and dispropormitment to reform. In a dissenting In discussing the possibility of tionate distribution of seats have kept report, Liberal members of the com- electoral reform, it’s important to the Liberals as the country’s governmittee effectively called for Trudeau recognize just how undemocratic ing party for most of our history. to abandon plans to implement elec- Canada’s current method of electing Beyond the skewed distribution toral reform before the next election, representatives is. First-past-the-post of seats and political power, FPTP saying it would be “irresponsible for (FPTP), the system we currently is also likely to reduce voter turnout. the government to act in haste just to operate by, crowns whoever has the Under FPTP, a voter who lives in a most votes in any specific riding as riding where their preferred party is meet the 2019 deadline.”

Roughly a month prior to that, winner. Because Canada has multiple unlikely to win has less incentive to Trudeau hinted at a hedge when he, political parties, ridings are often go to the polls. For example, if we now firmly in a position of power, won with less than half of the vote. know that the Conservative canditold Le Devoir that the Liberal’s FPTP creates false majorities date is almost certain to win the rural

Liberal party is preparing a massive series of consultations with the Canadian public, including online surveys and 15 million post cards – one to every household in the country.

But there’s very little in the way of new information to collect. The Liberals are trying to use the search for consensus and the idea of consultations to hide their agenda.

The CBC has reported that the survey will include questions of whether participants agree or disagree with statements including: “there should be more parties in Parliament that represent the views of all Canadians, even if some are radical or extreme” and “it is better for several parties to have to govern together than for one party to make all the decisions in government, even if it takes longer for government to get things done.” But even with all these leading questions the Liberals had space to incorporate, it's reported the final survey won't present people with any specific examples of systems we could use.

They took a similar approach on the issue of climate change, by implementing a series of consultations, including one in Winnipeg with Terry Duguid and Minister of Environment and Climate Change Catherine McKenna. No concrete options were presented and no concrete outcomes were expected from the event.

PR addresses these problems by making sure the final composition of parliament reflects the overall vote count. If the Liberal party wins 39.5 per cent of the vote, they’ll receive 39.5 per cent of seats in parliament; if the Conservative Party wins 31.9 per cent of the vote, they’ll receive 31.9 per cent of seats; and so on. So even if you’re a political outlier in your community, your vote will count.

In a Parliament that regularly produces minority governments, as is the case in any country that utilizes PR, politicians are much more incen- The Liberals are tivized to work collaboratively and trying to use develop non-partisan legislation. This runs counter to popular wisdom in consensus and the Canada about the efficacy and stabilidea of consultations ity of minority governments, but once majority governments become almost to hide their agenda impossible to achieve, the political culture changes, and politicians adapt.

Proportional representation has After this and numerous other also been shown to lead to more consultations that showed the same women holding elected office. concerns from Canadians, on Nov. European countries that use propor- 29, Trudeau – with McKenna and tional representation to elect their a handful of other cabinet minisrepresentatives have consistently ters behind him – announced the higher rates of female representation approval of Kinder Morgan’s Trans (anywhere from 37 per cent to 45 per Mountain pipeline and Enbridge’s cent among northern European and Line 3.

Scandinavian countries). Meanwhile, This consultation first approach similarly developed countries that lets the government say they’ve done use a first past the post model like something, find that there isn’t absoCanada, the United States, and the lute agreement among Canadians, United Kingdom hold 25, 18, and 23 and then scrap the idea as something per cent respectively. that didn’t have broad enough supDr. Joanna Everitt, professor of port to move forward with or otherpolitical science and dean of arts at wise do what they want to. the University of New Brunswick, It looks as though the Liberals has said that if Canada were to adopt are preparing for a similar action proportional representation, we could with electoral reform in the coming expect to see at least a 10 per cent months, looking to protect their own jump in the percentage of female interests above the interests of the MPs at the next election. country as a whole. That’s not something we can abide.

Hiding behind consultations

Now, with a deadline to prepare a new electoral system in time for the next election approaching, the

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Comment Comment Editor: Shawn Garbutt Contact: comment@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

Liberals on the wrong side of history with pipeline approvals Decisions of the Trudeau government ignore the pressing need for immediate action on oil divestment Jeremiah Kopp, staff

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rime Minister Justin Trudeau has broken the hearts of progressives across the country by approving Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain and Enbridge’s Line 3 pipelines. Over the course of the last few months, there has been increasing speculation that the Liberal government would green-light these projects – so while the result is not altogether unexpected, it is no less disappointing.

Ten years ago, I became a member of the Liberal Party of Canada at the earliest available opportunity.

I still remember how thrilled I was for my fourteenth birthday, the time at which I could receive my membership card in the mail. My motivation to join the Liberals was due in large part to the Conservative government's environmental policy. Even at that young age, I was incredulous that Stephen Harper refused to take any serious measures to fight climate change. I wanted to do everything I could to try and stop him.

With Trudeau’s decision, I feel the same anger that I had regularly experienced with our last federal government. It is the familiar sting of having elected representatives that blatantly disregard our environment and the future generations that will be forced to deal with the ramifications of climate change. While the Liberal government has ratified the Paris Agreement, promised to implement a carbon tax, and invested in sustainable infrastructure, these pipe- off of a carbon economy. Now, the what we choose to actually measure economy currently runs on natural line approval announcements serve pipeline announcement threatens the on our financial statements. There resources – this has been the case as a slap in the face to everyone who entire environmental agenda of the are real, tangible financial costs to since the English and French first supported the party in the hopes Trudeau government. Good luck sell- harvesting our resources and pump- arrived on the continent – but it that our country would become an ing the message to Canadian families ing fossil fuels into the atmosphere doesn’t necessarily have to be this way. environmental leader at home and that they need to be taxed on carbon – just because it isn’t recorded on the We have a disproportionately large consumption when oil and gas com- balance sheet, doesn’t mean that it resource economy because it is easy, around the world. panies are allowed to increase their doesn’t exist. not because it is smart. We harvest capacity and distribution. This is an resources, sell them to other countries as raw material, and then buy back If you are not actively incongruous message which tells us that there are a different set of rules the final processed goods from them The prime minister fighting both the for the oil giants. because they were made with cheap helped create The public is now being told is that labour. Globalization has allowed us consumption and we will grow our economy through to remain wealthy not through what thousands of production of fossil expanding the oil and gas sector we have created, but by selling what new jobs, billions while simultaneously transitioning was here long before us. fuels, you are part off of fossil fuels. This sounds awfully Since the industrial revolution of dollars in similar to ‘we want to have our cake and the development of modern-day of the problem and eat it too.’ I am sorry, building North America, western economies new revenue pipelines and responsible environhave been built in large part due to for our country, In 2008, the non-governmental mental stewardship are mutually fossil fuels. Now, while facing an existential threat in the form of cliorganization Environmental Defence exclusive. If you are not actively and strengthen mate change, the world must adapt published a report that called the tar fighting both the consumption and international trading or we will pay an ecological and ecosands of Alberta one of the most production of fossil fuels, you are part nomic price. This argument might damaging environmental industries of the problem. relationships. But If environmental responsibility seem naïve considering our current in the world. While Canada is not a at what cost? reliance on the oil and gas industry, large emitter of fossil fuels in abso- is not enough of a reason to oppose but the pitfalls of ignoring the science lute numbers in comparison to much this decision, I would like to tackle and economics of our situation will larger countries, it is still our moral the notion that these pipelines are In this world, not all money is cost more in the long run. imperative to take responsibility beneficial for our economy head on.

As an economy changes, there for our enormous per capita emis- While it is true that the short-term equal and we should not pretend that sions and the fuel we supply to other profits generated by large oil and it is. A dollar earned in the oil patch are those who are inevitably left out gas companies will pay sharehold- comes at a more significant cost than and one need not look farther than countries.

I was impressed when our federal ers, employees, and the government we are led to believe. It is a cost to the the rust belt of the United States. government announced a national through the sale of Canada’s natural environment but ultimately to our Donald Trump has curried favour carbon tax - this was a bold policy resources, this practice is a shell economy as well. with despondent and unemployed It is true that our country’s coal workers who have had their liveproposal designed to transition us game. It is only profitable because of

photo provided by franz mahr

lihoods stripped away by a changing world economy. There is no question that many Canadians are suffering similar fates and I empathize with their position. This is a systemic issue that no individual can change on their own.

Meanwhile, the government says that this will create 23,000 new jobs in western Canada. I would like to see metrics that assess what the longterm impacts of climate change will be on the entire Canadian economy within the next 50 years. The impending effects of climate change in the form of extreme weather, flooding, wildfires, and rising sea levels will come at a heavy price. Jobs on the oil patch will start to look awfully expensive when compared to the very real costs of climate change.

This week, the prime minister helped create thousands of new jobs, billions of dollars in new revenue for our country, and strengthened international trade relationships. But at what cost? In the process he has also undermined Canada’s commitment to the environment, proliferated fossil fuel emissions on a global scale, and pushed the burden of these decisions on to a future generation.

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Comment

Comment Editor: Shawn Garbutt Contact: comment@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

A historic opportunity squandered: reflections on the UMFA strike settlement With widespread support, and mounting union solidarity, UMFA had more to gain than lose by standing strong Radhika Desai and Henry Heller

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s one of us wrote in these pages a few weeks ago, the recent University of Manitoba Faculty Association (UMFA) strike stood to win historically significant gains in the ongoing battle against the commodification and corporatization of education. Sensing this, faculty unions across the country and around the world were watching us, sending us funds and messages of support. However, the strike settlement we ratified on Nov. 21 shows that we have squandered that opportunity. Understanding this in a clear-eyed fashion – and discussing the implications – is critical since we must struggle for these goals in the structures of university governance in coming rounds of bargaining and in the overall battle for public legitimacy.

The following reflections seek to contribute to these processes. They are based on the information about the settlement made available to UMFA members on the night of Nov. 21, when the union membership voted to accept a new collective agreement.

The key goals of the strike – job security for instructors and academic librarians, protection against arbitrary use of performance indicators, and top-down increases in workload – were not attained. The settlement, we believe, leaves us in a situation where, in the place of clear rules and regulations that are written into the contract, administration and faculty will be locked in exhausting rounds of individual battles on everything from workload to performance metrics to collegiality. For this, of course, the administration and the corporate model it has been trying to impose bear primary responsibility. But UMFA could have brought matters to a more decisive end by standing firm in this “battle for the soul of the university,” as our colleague Arthur Schafer dubbed the strike, by better using the opportunity its strength provided.

We had cast the strongest vote ever in UMFA history to strike. That was, in turn, the result of a groundswell of revulsion among faculty at fast-deteriorating conditions on many fronts.

Workloads were increasing in a multitude of ways. Collegial governance was being more and more openly violated, such as when the workload of arts faculty instructors was unilaterally raised; spending priorities were diverging ever more from the university’s goal of public higher education; the threat of the use of performance metrics without the consent of faculty members concerned was looming; numerous library assistants had been summarily sacked, leaving academic librarians without much-needed support; and the number of instructors with heavy workloads and without job security was increasing.

UMFA members made their views on these and other issues known in a survey conducted before the bargaining process began and they formed the basis of bargaining. With this firm bedrock of spontaneous opposition to the administration’s actions, strike compliance was, unsurprisingly, impressive.

Moreover, we had student support of a

nature and scale that was historically unprec- could divide and isolate us. The only secure edented. The wider public too, already wary of defence against such tactics is the solidarity of a neoliberal discourse and concerned about the united workforce, which has been undermined quality of higher education for their children, by the settlement. was more sympathetic than during previous What UMFA “won” was a commitment strikes. Our strike’s legitimacy only grew when from the administration that “there will be no we shelved the matter of money for this round of layoffs of academic librarians or instructors” bargaining, not because we were not concerned until the end of 2018. As if to add insult to injury, about our pay but because we felt it was more one instructor, who spoke at the ratification important to halt the commercialization and meeting of the 700-plus students he would be corporatization of higher education which was facing later that week, was told from the plateroding the quality of education that we provide form that he need not fear a layoff: since he to our graduate and undergraduate students and, taught so many students, he was a “gold mine” to the university. if possible, reverse the trend.

The weekend before we settled, though we had been on strike for nearly three weeks, Solidarity is the most spirits on the picket lines were as high as ever.

We had known from the start that it would fundamental value of the take time for the administration to register the union movement – but strength of feeling on the picket lines and we were prepared to wait. On Nov. 17, the Thursday what solidarity can we before we settled, an UMFA members’ meetboast of if we fail to protect ing – called because so many of our members wanted to speak to each other and their leaderour weakest members? ship – packed Knox United Church. One after another, members expressed continuing support for our principles and their determination to This response highlights the larger failure. make solid gains. No one mentioned ending the The administration’s drive toward commodifystrike; it was almost an hour and a half before ing and corporatizing higher education relies on anyone mentioned money, and then only to the progressive elimination of faculty members seek certain clarifications. The following day with the standard 40-40-20 contract (40 per witnessed the most massive show of student cent teaching, 40 per cent research and 20 per support for faculty the U of M has ever known. cent service) which expects, and pays, faculty After those two events, we knew that devel- members to devote equal time to teaching and opments that weekend could be decisive: surely research, ensuring that the latter keeps the these shows of strength would finally knock former on the cutting edge of their field. Such some sense into the administration and budge positions are to be replaced by faculty members it from the unreasonable, and frankly, from who are paid as little as possible in jobs with as what we could tell, incoherent positions it was little security as possible, to teach as much as taking. We were hardly unaware that strikes possible. They are not to be paid to do research never win everything and that we would have at all. This is why instructors’ job security was to steel ourselves for some disappointments. such a bone of contention.

The administration would like to turn the What we did not expect, however, was the settlement we got, particularly with so much overwhelming majority of faculty positions into wind still in our sails. something like this. We, while understanding The UMFA leadership is, unsurprisingly, that some instructor positions are necessary, are caught in a deep ambivalence, calling the settle- determined to ensure that the norm remains the ment a “fair deal” and inviting us to celebrate 40-40-20 contract and that those instructors “success” while saying the same goals we were who wish to pursue research have positions fighting for remain to be fought for. from which to do this.

Let us make a more systematic inventory of One of our gains in this strike settlement is the settlement, taking the three major issues the renewal of a letter of understanding between first. Certainly, everyone agrees that the set- UMFA and the administration that guarantees tlement’s biggest failure was not winning job that the number of UMFA members at the security for instructors and academic librar- university will not fall below a certain minimum. ians. However, the seriousness of this failure is However, this is no protection against the trend worth pausing over. Instructors and librarians, toward eliminating research faculty: it does not who constitute between 10 and 15 per cent of specify how many of them will be instructors, our membership, wanted this above all else. paid only to teach and do service, and does not Solidarity is the most fundamental value of prevent such faculty from becoming a majority. the union movement – but what solidarity can UMFA needed the victory on instructors’ job we boast of if we fail to protect our weakest security as a first step toward ensuring against members? Few would blame them from asking this. This would have to be followed by action whether UMFA membership is worth it any- to better the terms on which sessionals – who more. Moreover, this failure weakens UMFA have an even worse deal than instructors and by creating a space in which future management are more numerous – are hired as part of a push

VOL. 103 NO. 16 December 6, 2016

Comment

photo by levi garber

to reverse the trend toward corporatization and these deliberations “for the purpose of advice.” commodification of higher education. It should No doubt, their already too-great power over be noted that the threats to academic librarians’ the rest of us will ensure that their role is corjob security is part of the general withdrawal of respondingly greater than these words suggest. support for research in the corporate university. The result of these deliberations will be a dean’s We have won a general and rather vague report on how teaching guidelines are to be commitment against performance metrics changed. Faculty councils will then vote on becoming a “substitute for comprehensive this but, if it rejects the report, a revised report assessment of quality and quantity” and a more only needs one third of the members present concrete agreement to set up a joint committee and voting to become effective.

Quite apart from permitting a minority to consisting equally of UMFA and university administration to “examine issues relating to decide, this ignores the many conditions that metrics.” Details of how this committee will be already make it quite easy for deans to muster constituted are not clear. Information released the small numbers required to meet this muchby UMFA highlighted a provision that its rec- reduced vote threshold. In the present environommendations, provided there are “no more ment of cuts, small departments are already than two dissenting,” will be incorporated into agreeing to higher workloads, even demanding the collective agreement. them for instructors. What is going to prevent them from constituting the required third?

Moreover, in some smaller faculties, these colIf the terms of the legial processes are so frayed and weak with decision-making so centralized that the settlesettlement are anything to ment leaves faculty members with little protecgo by, the weakest could tion against workload increases.

This last point was made by a member in once again be left behind: such a faculty during at the ratification meeting on Nov. 21. The circumstances in which it was after all, this is how the made provide a clue to how the settlement got university administration ratified. The allotted hour before voting began was taken up by a delay and then presentations divides and rules on the settlement from the bargaining team. By the time members could rise for questions or However, if the failure to win anything more discussion, other members were already lining than this is any indication, there is no reason to up to vote and talking amongst themselves. So believe this joint committee will be anything following the bargaining team’s presentation, more than another arena of endless dispute. If there was effectively no debate on the settlethe terms of the settlement are anything to go ment. This is democracy emptied of substance by, the weakest could once again be left behind: and reduced to ritual. after all, this is how the university administraThere is one other critical point which must tion divides and rules. The principle of “an injury be made. During the prior Nov. 17 meeting, we to one is an injury to all” indeed tells us that this were also told that the bargainers were going to is exactly what the union needs to avoid. try to get back to work protocol which included The administration’s insistence on perfor- restoration of pay lost during the strike. This mance metrics is a central part of the erosion only made sense, as there were plans to make of collegial self-governance: with such metrics, up teaching lost during the strike to ensure no there will be no need for peer assessment. People one lost a term and that the university would unable to judge academic work can then evaluate not face a mass of rightly outraged students academic performance. If this is the prize the demanding their fees back. At the ratification university is after, there is no reason to believe meeting, however, we were informed that there that it will not fight tooth and nail for it in the would be no restoration of pay in the settlement joint committee. and that it was rather unusual for faculty on Finally, on workload, we have won a commit- strike to get back-pay. We were not told how ment that every faculty will set teaching guide- usual it was for lost teaching to be made up. lines as a body – “meeting in committee,” usually So now, while the administration is not makknown as the faculty council. This seems like ing up for lost pay, we as professors are back at textbook collegial governance until one reads work, making up lost teaching time for nothing on. Administrators, normally excluded from while losing precious non-teaching time needed collegial governance processes, are included in for research and writing. Many of us are missing

deadlines that were set based on expectations that we’d have this time to research and write.

Under these circumstances, not only does the university have little to fear or lose from strikes; strikes have become occasions where it may save on payroll to divert more funds away from the university’s teaching and research functions.

Following the bargaining team’s presentation, there was effectively no debate on the settlement.

This is democracy emptied of substance and reduced to ritual This is what we have lost. What did we gain?

There were some worthwhile gains, such as on privacy protection, parental leave, and slight increases to travel and professional development funds and health benefits. But perhaps the biggest gains of the strike were the ones not in the settlement. The strike showed the university administration, the provincial government, and the public the depth and extent of opposition to the direction of the current university administration. And while walking the picket lines, we built new bonds of understanding and solidarity amongst ourselves and with students, a process that we hope will continue in the coming months and even years of struggle that we face because, although we put the problems on the agenda, the strike did not resolve them.

It is certainly possible that the UMFA bargaining team judged that we could not be relied on to strike much longer. We don’t know about that. What we do know is that they did not ask us.

Radhika Desai is a professor in the department of political studies at the U of M. Henry Heller is a professor in the department of history and author of the recently published book The Capitalist University.

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10 Comment

Comment Editor: Shawn Garbutt Contact: comment@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

Don’t tell international students to accept tuition fee increases Mary Asekome and Sofia Descalzi

photo provided by Sofia Descalzi

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ar past the closing of the 35th annual general meeting of the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS), tweets rang out early into the night with various 140-character accounts of what went down.

We have seen these claims repeated since the meeting ended, where delegates who were at the meeting have claimed that the CFS does not support the voices of international students.

These claims reference the fact that delegates attending the AGM voted to table a motion brought forward by local 103, the University of Manitoba Students’ Union (UMSU), that proposed a policy tying international students’ tuition increases – our tuition increases – to those of domestic students.

As international students, we disagreed with any move to support increases in tuition fees, especially after we just started a national fight to eliminate fees for all. As co-chairs of the CFS’s international students’ constituency group, it is our responsibility to clear the air.

We are unapologetic in our

demand for fairness. While we can Any delegate attending the AGM differential fees, and better yet, no should accept tuition fee increases. If discuss reforms to the structure of the who identifies as an international fees at all. The CFS’s current policies the intent of UMSU’s motion was to organization, the CFS cannot com- student can be a part of this group. already oppose all differential fees for show solidarity towards international promise on our foundational principle This constituency group is the only international students and supports students, then it failed dramatically. of opposing tuition fee increases. national democratic forum for inter- the establishment of institutions to We ask for support from domesnational students in Canada. It is an enshrine that. tic students in Canada because the important and supportive space that Following cross-country mobi- system here disrespects us at every has given many of us the courage to lization for free education for all turn. We are not allowed to vote for If the intent of bring international students’ issues students, including international a government that will support us, UMSU’s motion was to the forefront of our student move- students, it would be a massive step and often cannot access healthcare, ment both nationally and locally. backwards to amend our policies to good jobs, or predictability around to show solidarity The motion from UMSU ended advocate for tuition fee increases. It immigration. International students towards international up being one of the most contentious is on these grounds that the interna- need the support of a national stumotions at the meeting, but it did not tional students’ constituency group dent movement, which is not what students, then it have to be. In our constituency dis- voted unanimously to reject UMSU’s we were provided by the few but vocal cussions, international students from motion. supporters of UMSU’s motion. We failed dramatically across Canada unanimously opposed Confident in our position, we need a strong student movement to having our national body support reached final debate on the motion, fight against tuition fees and xenoAt CFS general meetings, motions tuition increases. International stu- asking delegates to support us. phobia now more than ever. get debated vigorously – arguably dents today pay on average 3.7 times What we did not expect was to see more than any comparable organi- more than domestic students for post- some domestic students, includMary Asekome and Sofia Descalzi zation in size or scope (650,000 mem- secondary education because of the ing delegates from the University are co-chairs of the international bers, 80 locals, 9 provinces). Not only nationally-condoned, xenophobic of Manitoba, line-up at the micro- students’ constituency group at the do all of the motions make it to the practice of charging international phones to condemn the unanimous Canadian Federation of Students. plenary floor, but also over the course students differential fees. voice of international students. of the AGM, member locals discuss, The policies of the CFS matter Instead of listening to our voices, debate, and amend the motions in because they define what we fight those of us who are the object of the multiple contexts. for in the streets and what we lobby motion, they echoed what we have One of these spaces is the inter- for from government. The future heard from government and adminnational students’ constituency group. that we strive for is one without any istration for many years – that we

12 Comment Letter from UMSU

Comment Editor: Shawn Garbutt Contact: comment@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

UMSU disappointed by CFS choice of ideology over progressive policy International students to receive no tuition fee support from the organization

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t the November 2016 national general meeting of the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS), the University of Manitoba Students’ Union (UMSU) executive presented a motion to protect international students from unpredicted tuition fee increases, in response to concerns of our own international students.

The motion was an attempt to translate efforts made by UMSU to the national level, as it reflects the efforts that have been undertaken by UMSU council and the executive team. A similar motion has already been passed though UMSU council, and initial discussions have been started with the board of governors and the Manitoba minister of education.

Incremental changes are a pragmatic method of moving forward public policy, and it is the belief of UMSU that these changes would produce a more equitable environment for international students. The

motion called for international dif- were forced to cover the financial ferential tuition fees to be capped to shortfalls of our institution. only increase by the same percentage The motion immediately received as domestic tuition rates. Currently, intense criticism because it went domestic tuition fee increases in against the current policy of the CFS Manitoba are capped at the rate of – that suggests differential fees for inflation while international tuition international students are bad, and fees are at the discretion of the that tuition itself needs to be free. The administration. intent of UMSU’s motion was not to The motion called for the CFS to go against current CFS policy, but to add to the existing policies on inter- begin moving in the right direction. national tuition fees to include for The intent was to make a progressive parity between the way that inter- step to meet the needs of our international student fees and domestic national students now, and to protect tuition fees are increased, as well our students from bearing the brunt as examine legislation that would of future budget shortfalls. In the end, ensure that both tuition rates can it was decided that rather than allow only increase by the same percent- the motion to be defeated outright, age. Protections such as this were it was better to table it until the June made necessary when international meeting, to allow a second chance students’ tuition fee differentials to advocate for this position to the increased by as much as 18 per cent national membership. in the summer of 2015. This increase It was extremely discouraging to caused our international students to hear the pointed personal attacks, feel like “cash cows,” as these students especially considering that the

majority came from the University of Winnipeg – both from their delegates in attendance and other leaders via social media. This disappointment is compounded by the fact that the Manitoba provincial component endorsed this motion as a whole. Despite this, the U of W showed their true commitment to solidarity. Anyone following #fcee16 on Twitter got front row seats to what true “solidarity” looks like in the modern student movement. UMSU has heard from our students that they need supports now, and we are prepared to accept pragmatic steps now as opposed to holding for ideological landslides.

Student representation has come to a crossroads, as evidenced by this meeting. UMSU proposed solutions that would help current students, and it was rejected. In its 35 years, the Canadian Federation of Students has unsuccessfully lobbied for free

post-secondary education. It is not on the immediate horizon. This motion represented a progressive step, progress towards a system where students are not forced to return home midway through their studies for lack of funds. Progress towards a system where all students feel valued.

Progress towards a system where no individual is blindsided with an 18 per cent tuition differential fee hike overnight. UMSU will work to advocate for international students as the council and executive team have committed to furthering this campaign for the duration of their term, and shall continue to explore this option with University of Manitoba administrators and the provincial government, regardless of the negligence of the CFS.

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Features Features Editor: Shawn Garbutt Contact: features@themanitoban.com / 474.6520

2016 Manitoban Literature Competition Winners

Backyard Memory Joelle Kidd Fiona watches the sun rise.

She hasn’t been sleeping lately. She floats for eight hours a night in a dreamless blur. She wakes up for good around 5:30 am and she stares at the ceiling in the low light. The sun rises, and a golden sliver jimmies its way up through the window, and then slowly widens, slowly slowly. The light touches the end of her bed and then her toes and then her knees and she can feel the warmth moving slowly up her body until she is lying under a blanket of sun.

In the kitchen, Father sits at the Formica-topped kitchen island, reflected in its blue-grey speckled sheen. Around him is a wall of books, which he constructs every morning, fat old books, bulging with knowledge: a concordance, three commentaries, and the Bible in several translations.

Fiona sits down across the island and he peers over the stack of books and slides a box of cereal across the counter towards her.

She fills her bowl with cereal and with milk, which is skim milk, which she hates, but which is the only thing Mom buys. Mom runs through the kitchen and tosses a box of granola on the table, saying, there’s this too, even though everyone is already eating.

While they crunch cereal between their molars, Mom slurps coffee, standing up, at the kitchen sink – too noisily. Each slurp makes a muscle appear and shiver in Father’s jaw.

A new noise is added to the mix. Father looks around, perplexed, and then finds the source. The cat is visible through the doorway into the living room, where he is sitting on the ground with his front paws in the air, calmly dragging his claws in neat rows down the length of the caramel coloured sofa. Father begins to bellow, no no what is it doing, and Mom begins flitting around like a bird, chirping and waving her hands. Father tries to pick up the cat and throw it outside. Fiona says he can’t do that and when he screams, why not, Mom squeaks that cats have to be kept inside now, it’s the law.

Fiona leaves the scene, retreating to her room to slowly put on her school clothes. Father is banging heavy books downstairs. The cat comes up to join her, pooling its slinky body in the sunlit folds of her blanket.

Mom picks up Fiona after school and takes her along to pick up dinner at the Chinese take out place.

While she pays, Fiona taps out a rhythm with a pair of wooden chopsticks and sings the words from a nearby placemat in her head. Year of the tiger, year of the dog. Year of the dragon …

graphic by kelly campbell

Back at home, their chopsticks tap on the surfaces of the Everyday Plates (not as nice as the Company Plates).

Mom scrapes sweet and sour chicken from the bottom of a styrofoam container. Father looks at her and she raises her eyebrows high so that her forehead becomes an accordion of wrinkles. Oh did you want more of this? she asks.

How was school? asks Father and Fiona tells him the truth: I don’t remember.

The cat is throwing up a hairball in the corner. Father throws his napkin down and begins yelling again. He grabs the cat around its little waist and heads towards the glass doors in the back of the dining room, to throw it outside.

Mom runs after him. Fiona eats the last of the fried rice.

When Mom comes back she says Father put the cat on a leash so it can’t wander around the house and get away.

Father isn’t coming back to the table.

Father has a headache. He had a long day. The cat was bothering him all day.

Mom cleans up the hairball. She says, the sermon is giving him some trouble this week. Fiona asks if it’s something to do with cats and Mom’s face goes funny and then she says no, what she meant was, he’s finding it hard to write.

In the dark it’s hard to sleep because sounds seem louder. Mom almost forgets about the cat, but the leash can reach almost right up to the sliding patio door, so the cat sits by the glass and mews until he’s brought back inside.

When Fiona has brushed her teeth and said her prayers, she lies in bed, blinking slowly, until the cat joins her. His padded feet announce his presence before the warm wiry body slides in beside her.

He curls onto her stomach and vibrates softly until she blinks and the cat is gone and the sun is pushing its sliver of light over the edge of the neighbour’s rooftop.

In the kitchen, Father has constructed his wall of books again. He

drains three cups of coffee while Fiona eats her rice crisps. His eyes are surrounded by creases, making his skin look like crumpled paper. He stares at Fiona while she chews her cereal and he says, you eat like your mother.

Father puts the cat out on the leash before Fiona leaves for school. He says he needs the cat out of the house so that he can concentrate. Fiona goes to school and Mom goes to work and Father goes inside to Struggle with his sermon.

A squirrel taunts the cat from the top of the backyard fence.

The leash is attached to a tree in the centre of the yard. The leash is just long enough to let the cat circle around the yard to where the garbage cans are kept. The leash is just long enough for the cat to jump up from the top of the cans to the narrow top of the wooden fence that surrounds the yard. The leash is just long enough for the cat to scurry nimbly after the squirrel.

When the squirrel dashes down the outside of the fence and the cat slips off after it, the leash is not long enough.

When Fiona comes home from school, she goes out into the backyard and sees the leash, stretched taut from the tree in the middle of the yard, slicing up diagonally across the sky, up to the top of the fence, where it disappears from view.

That night the house is gently rumbling with the sounds of shouting in the other room, alternating with biting clips of poisonous words. Fiona lies awake between her chilly sheets and watches the moonlight trace a path across her bedspread through the window. If she shifts her head and looks into her tilted vanity mirror, she can see the backyard, the gray lawn and the small lump of freshly turned earth, with a little cross poking out of the ground, two spindly sticks tied together.

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Features

Features Editor: Shawn Garbutt Contact: features@themanitoban.com / 474.6520

The Redwood Melissa Bulloch I turn the silver knob and push, stepping out the back door of my home. My senses instantly become realized as I take in the smell of fresh air, the sound of crickets, and the sight of my source of wealth. Stretched out before me is a thousand acres of flat gold in each direction; gold that I harvest to make a living. Not ten feet from my home is an astounding sight, a wonder that never ceases to amaze. A redwood tree towers over the land, as if to protect it from the bright blaze of the sun. I sit on my porch, shaded, and observe how the leaves dance in the soft, warm breeze.

They sway gently to nature’s song. The wind picks up, causing the leaves of the tree to rustle as it passes by them.

A dozen or so leaves take off, carried away from their home. Their dancing becomes less rhythmic and more panicked as they scatter from each other, individually deposited within the field of gold.

The tree does not move. It stands as still and as confident as it did before, though it knows more of its offspring will fly away, as they always do this time of year. The time of year when the sun’s glow is slightly duller and the sky looks as if it were an artist’s portrait before falling into darkness.

The wind whispers ‘change’ and the earth obeys. The leaves change colour, looking livelier than ever, before they are ripped from their life source and fall, forgotten. As autumn gives way to winter the world turns white, and the earth all but freezes

to death. At that time the tree will be bare, exposed for all to see. It will be truly alone and I will look upon with a sense of pity. Yet, time will pass, and the wind will whisper again, rekindling the earth with new life. The tree glows as the green leaves are restored to its branches, and my pity turns to awe.

It is this cycle that engulfs us all, and yet humans live out their lives without ever truly comprehending that there will be an end. We believe we are like trees, masters of our own fate, towering over the land, forever standing still. We believe we are the ones that bring about new life, when the truth is we are the ones that bury the dead. We believe we are connected to the earth when we are only walking across its surface. So what are we to become then, but leaves on a tree that fall, only to never return?

I stand up and walk out into the field where the leaves are scattered.

I part the golden rods to make a path for myself, strolling forward until finding what I seek. Lying on the earth is a radiant red leaf. I put one knee down to the earth, gently picking up the fallen leaf. I look up, shielding my eyes from the

sun so that I may look up at the redwood tree. The leaves continue to dance slowly, as if they were unaware that they would ever fall. As if there were no season that they would not live through. How wonderful it must be, to never know fear or doubt. How wonderful it must be to live life always feeling connected and safe, right up until the moment you die. I look away from the strong tree, back to the leaf in my palm. Perhaps it is because I know that I too will die, that I cannot feel sorry for the leaf. Or maybe it is jealousy, because I know that when I die, I will not return.

I curl my and into a fist, driving it into the moist soil. I envy the leaf.

I want to feel safe and secure. I want to dance for eternity. I feel the roots of the golden crop in my hand as I realize that I am not a part of the earth like the redwood tree. I have no roots with which I can connect myself to nature. I have only hands with which I can desperately grasp at roots. I place the leaf in the hole my fist created, and cover it with the loose soil. I will eventually leave this world, but perhaps that is what makes my life valuable. I will live many seasons, witness many changes, lives and deaths, and in the end I will lie down peacefully. I will have dignity, and I will be proud of the impact I have made on the world. There can be no life without death, and there can be no death without life. Therefore, it is my tragedy and my gift that I will only live and die once.

graphic by Aldo rios

VOL. 103 NO. 16 December 6, 2016

Features

Sessions Kelsey Krempasky what did you do last night? i was on my knees. i was on my knees trying to pray but all that came out was his name. who is he? he is the Sun. who does that make you? icarus. icarus who flew too close but if i die I want it to be with Him on my lips.

graphic by Aldo rios

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Science & technology Science & Technology Editor: Malak Abas Contact: science@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

Kinder Morgan pipeline could be disastrous for Canada’s environment Approval of the pipeline expansion comes with many wildlife and climate consequences Malak Abas, staff

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n Nov. 29, Prime Minister pipeline. One of the most common Justin Trudeau and his cabi- arguments against the expansion net made history by approving two is the environmental impact it may pipeline projects: Enbridge’s Line have on British Columbia’s idyllic 3 pipeline and Kinder Morgan’s landscape.

Trans Mountain pipeline. This recent While Justin Trudeau has consistapproval would put billions of dollars ently said that a balance between a into the repair, expansion, or replace- prosperous economy and fair treatment of both pipelines. Another pipe- ment of the environment is possiline request, Enbridge’s Northern ble, the Kinder Morgan pipeline’s Gateway, was rejected. The approved effect on the environment is anything projects will cost $6.8 billion dollars. but fair. As of now, as in before this The approved construction on expansion has even begun, 40,000 Line 3 involves replacing a 50-year- barrels have leaked due to corrosion old pipeline that runs from Alberta and eventual rupture from the existto Wisconsin. When completed, the ing Kinder Morgan pipeline. These pipeline should be able to ship up to barrels, filled with crude oil and 760,000 barrels of oil per day from petroleum, can kill underwater flora, Canada to the United States – about sea life, and even migratory birds. The twice the current pipeline’s potential. Trans Mountain Pipeline’s record for The expansion of the Kinder longest amount of time spent withMorgan pipeline would lay just out an oil spill since the 1960s is four under 1,000 kilometers of new years. pipe to its existing pipeline, which would increase its shipping capacity to 890,000 barrels of crude oil and These barrels, filled petroleum daily, tripling its curwith crude oil and rent ability. This pipeline runs only in Canada, from Alberta to British petroleum, can kill Columbia. underwater flora, Both pipelines were mired in controversy leading up to this decisea life, and even sion, and the response to this project approval has been strong on both migratory birds sides. Its supporters believe that the pipeline expansion will help bring Canadian oil to an international Several large environmental market. Its detractors cite the envi- preservation groups, including ronmental impact and the pipeline’s Greenpeace, have expressed their disinfringement on traditional First dain for the project. Environmental activists fear the increase of tanker Nations territory.

If plans proceed as scheduled, noise due to the expansion may also construction is slated to begin in cause a negative impact on the endanSeptember of 2017, and the pipe- gered killer whales on the south coast lines are expected to be in use by of B.C. The expansion of the pipeline also December 2019. comes with a climate change cost.

With the expanded pipeline comes “Everyone will benefit” While vocal supporters of the increased production of tar sand Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion extraction, the processing of which are few and far between, Kinder releases greenhouse gases into the Morgan itself believes the expansion air. The expansion of this pipeline will bring positive changes to British would create the same climate impact Columbia and Canada in general. as 2,700,000 million cars. deeply humans have an impact on “The Trans Mountain Expansion Even the increased production of climate change, but climate scientists Project will help make sure Canada diluted bitumen will have widespread overwhelming agree that humans are gets full value for its oil. Everyone effects on Canada’s air. Bitumen, a the main cause of global warming.

With the expansion of pipelines will benefit,” the company wrote in type of petroleum, is different from a public statement. “Workers will typical oil in its consistency. It’s comes the increased rate of greenbenefit during a $6.8 billion con- thicker, more viscous, and it requires house gas emissions from oil sands. struction project. Oil producers will a rigorous dilution process to be used Kinder Morgan and any other pipeearn more revenue for their product. as oil. While oil companies are not line expansion flies directly against Government will collect more tax required to explain just how they Trudeau’s original climate change revenue from oil that will go towards dilute bitumen, the process includes plan, which was to actually reduce services that benefit all Canadians.” dangerous carcinogens such as ben- Canada’s total emissions to 30 per Kinder Morgan also cites the zene, which are in turn released into cent below 2005 levels by 2030. addition of 15,000 jobs per year dur- the air. Kinder Morgan’s company ing construction, and the addition of stance on transporting bitumen is to Preparing for protest 37,000 direct or indirect jobs added treat it the same as its lighter counterThe Tsleil-Waututh First Nation, during operations. parts, despite the fact that if bitumen whose traditional territory is crossed It is perhaps worth noting here was being transported during one by the Kinder Morgan pipeline’s that as of July 2016, Kinder Morgan of Kinder Morgan’s many oil spills, route, believes that they were not Inc. is just over US $40 billion dol- typical oil spill response procedures properly consulted on the prolars in debt. may not be as effective. posal – Tsleil-Waututh leaders have Earlier this month, Kinder announced plans to oppose it by any Morgan Canada president Ian legal means possible.

The environmental impact Others are not so optimistic about Anderson commented that he was Rueben George, a spokesperson the future of the Kinder Morgan “not smart enough” to know how for the Tsleil-Waututh community,

photo provided by mark klotz

cited the dangerous environmental effects on their land and the low level of jobs being created for First Nations people as reasoning behind their stance.

Both pipelines were mired in controversy leading up to this decision, and the response to this project approval has been strong on both sides Green Party Leader Elizabeth May has recently stated that she is willing to face jail time for protesting the expansion of the Kinder Morgan

pipeline.

“The National Energy Board process was a sham. There was no testing of the evidence, there was no cross-examination, there is no factual evidentiary case that you can clean up bitumen mixed with diluent (a thinning agent) spilling in a marine environment,” May told the Huffington Post after the approval of the pipeline expansion.

The approval of these projects – along with the claim that the process behind its approval was misdirected – comes at the heels of recent claims that Canada’s scientific review process of research and environmental assessment of projects is woefully lacking. Just earlier this month, an open letter signed by over 1700 earlycareer scientific researchers that was addressed to Trudeau and several of his cabinet ministers called out what it called a lack of “scientific integrity.”

Diversions Graphics Editor: Kelly Campbell Contact: graphics@themanitoban.com / 474.6775

comic by scott lercher

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Arts & Culture Arts & Culture Editor: Tobi Nifesi Contact: arts@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

Community profile: Rebecca Haverluck Honours student combines craftsmanship with natural skin care products Emelia Fournier, staff

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ebecca Haverluck is currently working towards her honours degree from the school of fine arts at the University of Manitoba. Her preferred art mediums are oil paint, collage, and ink drawing. These mediums involve working with her hands. This translates well to her business, Art.Soap.Life, a handmade soap and skincare company that features her artwork on its labels and signage.

“The idea is to use art and handmade craft to connect with those around me,” said Haverluck. “As an artist, I have a serious appreciation for handmade items of all kinds, for the creative time and care that goes into them.”

Her father encouraged her to work with her hands and figure out the way things are assembled, and her mother taught her to appreciate and identify natural healing sources. Combining these two skills, Haverluck experimented with different combinations of natural ingredients to create her own line of skincare products over the first year of Art.Soap.Life.

After developing products that gave her the results she wanted for her own skin, she was excited to share her success with others through her business.

Haverluck started out by designing labels for her products, but when she decided to incorporate her own artwork into the labels, she noticed people were more responsive to her

products. Their unique designs caught the eyes of potential customers.

“Designing my own packaging also means I have the flexibility to approach local businesses to incorporate something unique of theirs into a collaborative product,” she said.

“I approach soapmaking as a creative medium and as an aspect of self-care” – Rebecca Haverluck, founder of Art.Soap.Life

her passion for her art and craft helps keeps her going, as well as support from her family, friends, and partner.

“I approach soap making as a creative medium and as an aspect of selfcare. I want to make things that are elegant and indulgent, but are also really good for your skin and affordable to use every day,” said Haverluck.

Haverluck hopes to eventually have a retail space for Art.Soap.Life as well as a co-operative gallery that would hold art exhibitions and arts and crafts workshops.

One of her goals with Art.Soap.

Life is to foster further connection and growth within the local arts and crafts community. With her products, she hopes to reach out to, connect, and collaborate with more local artists.

“The social aspect of teaching a craft that continues to benefit a community is important,” said Haverluck.

One of Haverluck’s goals with Art. Soap.Life is to foster further connection and growth within the local arts and crafts community.

Like most small business owners, To learn more, visit Art.Soap.Life on especially ones who are just starting Facebook or at http://www.artsoaplife. out, Haverluck takes on all the roles com/ involved in running a business, from manufacturing to advertising – and in her case also trying to balance it with school.

“Being around other artists and students at the University of Manitoba keeps my brain active and excited about new ideas and gives me confidence to approach others for collaboration,” said Haverluck.

While university is demanding,

photo provided by rebecca haverluck

Community profile: Adewale Owulade Fine arts student builds on his passion for photography, videography, and graphic design.

Emelia Fournier, staff

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niversity of Manitoba undergraduate Adewale Owulade initially moved from Nigeria to Canada to study engineering. He later decided to follow his true passion and love for photography by applying for the university’s fine arts program. That decision has paved the way for some major changes in Owulade’s life.

Through photography, Owulade has been able to creatively showcase his unique gift. “My father is an engineer, my mother is a lawyer, I AM DIFFERENT,” is the title of his recently released photobook. In the book, he highlights what makes him stand out as an artist.

Earlier this year, Owulade opened a photography, videography, and graphic design company, Primotive Studios. His Bronzed series, which was recently featured in the university’s Gallery of Student Art, is one of many photographic series that has been curated by his company.

The company began as Owulade’s online portfolio, but he decided to

develop it into a business. He is cur- and I try to create something out of people’s creativity or be under somerently focusing on developing his them,” said Owulade. one else – you can go out on your portfolio and completing his degree. own,” said Owulade. “[Primotive Studios] is still about Owulade hopes to eventually my work, it’s still my platform for have his own studio space and has “You don’t have people to see my work, and at the his sights set on starting his own to feed off other same time get familiar with the magazine running on the same ideas name,” said Owulade. “I’m developas Primotive Studios. He hopes his people’s creativity or ing a brand.” efforts will inspire and motivate be under someone “I try to combine my own definiothers to pursue their passions tion of what I’m trying to commuand take control of their work and else – you can nicate with people with my skills of self-expression. fashion photography,” said Owulade.

“I want the studio to be about phogo out on your Initially, he drew his inspiration tography, videography, and graphic own” – Adewale for photography from shoots in highdesign, but at the same time, I want fashion magazines. Attending art it to be like a forum for people to talk Owulade, founder of school has encouraged him to think and express themselves in terms of Primotive Studios about photography more conceptuphotography or art in general,” said ally. He now blends conceptual ideas Owulade. with themes of high fashion to create For now, Owulade continues to his own unique brand of photography.

The name, Primotive Studios, balance school and running his own His ideas for his photographs comes from combining the phrase company, and hopes he inspires othcome to him intuitively, and then he “prime motivation” together to form ers to create their own path to success. tries to find a subject that serves as a one word. Owulade believes in being good representation of his message. motivated by one’s own artistic sense To learn more about Adewale He tries to highlight his subject’s of creativity rather than trying to fol- Owulade’s and his company’s portindividuality in his photos. low trends or norms. folio and commissions, visit www.

“I find someone with a unique face, “You don’t have to feed off other primotivestudios.com. His book, My

photo provided by primotive studtios

Father Is An Engineer, My Mother Is A Lawyer, I AM DIFFERENT, is available on www.blurb. com/b/7487272-adewale-owulade.

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Arts & Culture

Arts & Culture Editor: Tobi Nifesi Contact: arts@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

Live at the Roslyn promotes local artists and bands Four friends come together to showcase local music via Facebook Live Olivia Michalczuk, staff

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t some point in their career, your ing about cover for the show or even nearly as full as they should be. So, about it and just do it,” said Saunders. favorite local band or musician needing to get out of their pyjamas. they began their current project and “One thing we noticed is that lots may have had to deal with the heartThe show resembles a Wayne’s quickly found it was gaining traction, of artists aren’t going to each other’s break of low turnout at a show. Local World-esque variety show, with sketch with nearly 150 people sharing and shows because they have never heard music fanatics Rylie Saunders and humour, joking of them before.”

Kevin Repay employed the help of references to the The show has “Now all my friends are going to be exposed gathered a fanlocal artists Scott Miller and Joey show’s sponsors, Senft to tackle this problem in their and interaction base which brings to music they would have never heard own way: by creating the Village with audiences’ together artists before and they don’t even have to pay Idiots, a local group dedicated to live comments, and fans of rock, promoting and sharing local music. featuring shoutfolk, and country cover or leave their living room” – Rylie The Village Idiots have brought outs to friends, music. With a and music by local musicians into the f a m i l y, goal of promoting Saunders, co-founder, The Village Idiots comfort of people’s living rooms. strangers from artists and their upcoming shows, Since Nov. 2, every Wednesday across Winnipeg at 8 p.m., the Village Idiots post a and beyond. over 8,000 viewing Micah Erenberg’s Live at the Roslyn exposes music lovers Facebook livestream called Live at Before hosting their first live performance in their fourth week. to artists and bands of diverse music the Roslyn from their apartment. The show, one thing the Village Idiots “It started out as an idea and Scott backgrounds. stream is public. Anyone can tune in noticed was that shows fronted by finally gave me the kick in the ass I “We had someone drop out and enjoy the music without worry- fantastic local musicians were not needed and told me to stop thinking recently and I had just happened to

go to Micah [Erenberg]’s CD release show. I had never spoken to him until last week and he agreed to be on the show. Now all my friends are going to be exposed to music they would have never heard before and they don’t even have to pay cover or leave their living room,” said Saunders.

Check out the Village Idiots’ shows on their Facebook page every Wednesday at 8 p.m.

VOL. 103 NO. 16 December 6, 2016

Arts & Culture

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Sports Sports Editor: Ryan Stelter Contact: sports@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

Bison men’s basketball sweeps crosstown rivals Winnipeg Kellen Taniguchi, staff

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his weekend, the University of Winnipeg able to outscore Manitoba Manitoba men’s basketball team 22-21. The visitors were never able to took on the University of Winnipeg reclaim the lead in the half, with the Wesmen in a two-game series. The Bisons taking a slim 35-31 lead into Bisons swept the series with a 91-60 halftime. win on Thursday and won the men’s basketball portion of the Duckworth Challenge on Saturday with a thrill- “More people from ing 79-78 win. the basketball

Thursday

community are

On Thursday, the Bisons ended here to watch, more their five-game losing streak, defeating the Wesmen by a score of 91-60. people pay attention Due to the inner city rivalry, when to the results" – playing Winnipeg there always seems to be more on the line for both squads.

Bisons head coach “There’s no question it means more,” Kirby Schepp Bisons head coach Kirby Schepp said.

“More people from the basketball community are here to watch, more Manitoba began to run away with people pay attention to the results."

Keith Omoerah led the home side their lead in the second half, opening with a double-double of 21 points the third quarter on a 16-4 run and Wesmen fell to 6-4 in Canada West and 12 rebounds, while Narcisse never looking back. The herd pro- division play.

Ambanza led the visitors with 17 tected the ball in the half, turning Omoerah led the Bisons with points. Wesmen forward Ryan it over just three times compared to a double-double of 21 points and Oirbans also had a double-double, Winnipeg’s 11. Omoerah led the sec- 11 rebounds. AJ Basi also netted 19 with 11 points and 10 rebounds. ond half charge with 11 of his game- points and Bonhomme added 16 The first half was dominated high 21 points, helping the Bisons to more to contribute to the huge win. by defense, although Bisons guard a 91-60 win over the Wesmen.

The Wesmen were led by Sean Tarver Ilarion Bonhomme was able to net 12 with 14 points. points. Both teams struggled to make Saturday: Duckworth Both teams shot the ball well shots in the first quarter, with the Challenge in the first quarter, with Manitoba herd taking a 14-9 lead into the secOn Saturday, the Bisons defeated shooting 61.5 per cent, and Winnipeg ond frame. Shots began to fall a little the Wesmen 79-78. With the win, shooting 50 per cent from the field. bit more in the second quarter, with the herd improved to 4-6, and the Omoerah led the herd with eight

photo by Star roxas

points in the first quarter. The Wesmen led 23-21 after the first frame, led by Ambanza’s seven points. The Wesmen widened their lead in the second quarter, as they tightened up defensively, and took a 37-46 lead into halftime.

After an even third, the Bisons came out firing in the fourth, as they opened on an 11-2 run, capped off by an Omoerah slam dunk, to give the Bisons a 68-66 lead. Tarver hit a three-pointer to tie the game for the Wesmen with just under 24 seconds to

go. On the final possession, Omoerah missed a three, but Joey Nitychoruk grabbed the rebound, and drew a foul with just a half-second to play. He made the first free throw and missed the second, but the Bisons took the win 79-78.

The Bisons have now completed the first half of their season, and resume play on Jan. 13-14 when they travel to Regina to face the Cougars.

The experienced freshman in the paint Bison rookie James Wagner brings wealth of talent to the men’s basketball team Kellen Taniguchi, staff

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ison forward James Wagner has this year’s team as well, which will be been playing basketball since he held in Egypt. was eight years old. Despite interest “We lost to team USA in the finals in a number of other sports as a child, by a couple points, so it was a close the six-foot-seven freshman is follow- one,” Wagner said. “The team qualiing in his father’s footsteps, and still fied for the championships next year playing basketball today. in Cairo, Egypt, but you’d have to “I played a bunch of sports when make the team again, it would be a I was younger,” Wagner said. “My really neat experience.” dad played basketball. So I kind of Coming from a team of guys wanted to try it out, and that’s where he has played with since grade five, it all started, back at the community Wagner is now a new face to the club.” veteran-heavy Bisons locker room.

Wagner already has champion- They have a few fourth and fifth year ship experience from his time at John players, like captains AJ Basi and Taylor Collegiate. He was a part of Justus Alleyn. the 2014 junior varsity, and 2016 var“We have a lot of older guys,” sity championship teams for the high Wagner said. “They made the transischool. tion really easy, they’re always helping “There we had a real special group us out, and making sure were always of guys,” Wagner said. “We all played learning and getting better. They’ve together since we were in grade five. made the transition to U Sports a We all held each other to a high lot easier than if we had to do it on standard there, and all worked hard, our own.” so that kind of carried over to the Wagner had some recruitment U of M.” across the country, but decided to stay Another impressive part of home and play for his local university.

Wagner’s resume, is that he played “I had a fair amount of schools for the U18 Canada team at the FIBA across the country, but U of M was America’s Championships in Chile just a good fit. I wanted to stay at this past summer. He hopes to make home, and they have a really good

group of guys, it was just a good fit for me,” he said.

When Wagner is off the court, he is hitting the books, and looking to get into business at the University of Manitoba.

“My dad played basketball. So I kind of wanted to try it out, and that’s where it all started, back at the community club” – James Wagner “I’m in the faculty of science, but will be switching over to business,” he said. “Right now I’m interested in the area of finance and accounting, that could change, but that’s kind of where I want to lean towards now.”

Wagner hasn’t watched as much NBA as of late, but is more interested in the college game. Although he has never filled out a bracket, he enjoys

photo by Star roxas

watching the big March Madness Wagner knows he isn’t going to put tournament unfold and usually cheers up massive numbers, but hopes that for Duke, or the individual players he can just do what’s asked of him, that he follows. If there is any player and contribute to the team. that Wagner bases his game off of, it “I’m a first year guy, I’m not going is Doug McDermott of the Chicago to be a huge scorer, but I can contribBulls. He is not a big name in the ute in a variety of ways,” he said. “I NBA, but was a very good player at can rebound a bit, make open shots Creighton University. when I need to, defend, and just blend “I really like the way he plays,” in and compliment some of the older Wagner said. “He’s not a great ath- guys.” lete, neither am I, he just thinks the With the Bisons team having a game and still manages to be a very lot of veterans, Wagner could be that good player, so I kind of try to work scoring guy and leader for the team out like that.” for years to come when the opportuIn just his first year of eligibility, nity arises.

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Sports

Sports Editor: Ryan Stelter Contact: sports@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

Bisons dominate on Friday, fall on Saturday against Cougars Jason Pchajek, staff

Saturday

Following their 4-0 win over the Cougars Friday night, the Bisons took the ice to try and head into the break with a series sweep. The game was a back-and-forth affair, but ultimately Mount Royal came out on top 5-3

“We’ve been going hard since August.

We could use the rest mentally” – Sean Fisher, women’s hockey assistant coach photo by Star roxas

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his weekend the seventh-ranked University of Manitoba women’s hockey team played their final series of the 2016 calendar year against the Mount Royal Cougars at home.

The Bisons dominated on Friday night, claiming a 4-0 win, but fell on Saturday with a score of 5-3. The Bisons now head into the winter break 11-4-0-1, good for second in Canada West.

Friday

The Bisons were back home at Wayne Fleming arena Friday night against the Cougars. The pace of the game was fast from the drop of the puck, but penalty troubles sank the visitors as the Bisons took the game 4-0.

The Bisons were the first to get

on the board, with Jordyn Zacharias recording her third of the season at the 14-minute mark. The puck was cycled down low to Nicole McGlenen, who put a pass down the goal line to Zacharias who was waiting in front.

She put the puck past Cougars goaltender Emma Pincott to give the Bisons the 1-0 lead.

Four minutes into the second, Kate Hufnagel of Mount Royal took a holding penalty to give the Bisons the opportunity to extend their lead to two. Venla Hovi sent the puck cross-ice to Erica Rieder, who was waiting just above the right faceoff dot. Rieder hammered a one-timer, putting the puck top corner over Pincott’s glove.

The Bisons lead grew larger in the third, once again on the power play.

Jayden Skoleski sent a pass to Karissa Kirkup in the high slot. Kirkup got past a Cougars defender, and ripped a wrist shot from the slot. The puck went top shelf on Pincott, giving the Bisons a 3-0 lead. Kirkup struck again minutes later, another goal on the power play to put the Bisons up 4-0.

The 4-0 margin held as the Bisons cruised to a dominant shutout victory over the Cougars. A wide shot margin told the story of this game, with Manitoba out-chancing Mount Royal by 25-12.

“There’s some consistency there, there’s some confidence,” Bisons head coach Jon Rempel said regarding the team’s power play. “Teams clearly respect our power play.”

Bison men’s hockey team gets swept in Calgary to end first half Ryan Stelter, staff

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weekend to forget for the Bison men’s hockey team, as they dropped both games against the Mount Royal Cougars. They lost a close one on Friday by a score of 4-3, and were dominated 5-1 on Saturday.

The Bisons head into the break with a 6-9-1 record and sit in sixth place in the Canada West, six points back of fifth-place Lethbridge.

Friday

The game on Friday saw the Cougars explode in the first period, as they scored four goals with two on the power play. The Bisons fought back admirably; they scored a goal in the second, and two in the third to draw within one.

It wouldn’t be enough, as the herd dropped a hard-fought contest. Brad Bowles got his second goal of the season in the contest, his first goal since Oct.22 against Regina.

Byron Spriggs took the loss, but

made 29 saves. Nick Zajac continued his hot streak, scoring in his third straight game, Remi Laurencelle earned two assists on the night.

The Bisons head into the break with a 6-9-1 record and sit in sixth place in the Canada West, six points back of fifth place Lethbridge Saturday

The second game of the weekend was a tough one for the herd, as once again special teams was the difference. Mount Royal scored two on the power play and even managed a

short-handed goal in the first.

It was a penalty-filled affair, as the Bisons and the Cougars both took 17 minors. The Bisons got their only goal of the day on the power play via the stick of Jordan DePape.

DePape is now 13th in the Canada West scoring with 14 points in 11 games (8G, 6A). Despite missing five games so far this season the Bisons captain is stringing together a great year so far, averaging over a point per game.

The Bisons head into the winter break on a two game losing streak and will open conference play again on Jan. 6-7 at home against the Regina Cougars.

The Bisons controlled the game through most of the first period, but it was Mount Royal who opened the scoring in odd fashion. A shot by Rachel Piitz bounced off Devonie Deschamps, then the skate of a Bison defender to send it in the air. The puck flew over the head of Amanda Schubert who spun around to try and grab it, but was unsuccessful.

After heavy pressure saw a platoon of Cougars skaters stuck on the ice for nearly four minutes, Manitoba finally evened the score. A Mount Royal clearing attempt was blocked

by Zacharias, who settled the puck and beat two defenders to get in all alone on Zoe DeBeauville. Zacharias deked right, putting the puck on her backhand and slid it under the Mount Royal goaltender’s pad.

Mount Royal snagged the lead again with three minutes left to play in the second off a point shot by Mairi Sorensen. The shot went past a couple defenders and over Schubert’s right shoulder.

The Cougars only needed 57 seconds to extend their lead in the third on the power play. Shawni Rodeback sent a pass down low to Sorensen who threw the puck in front of the Bisons goal. Sarah Weninger was waiting in front and tipped the puck underneath Schubert to give Mount Royal a twogoal lead.

Hovi responded for the Bisons two minutes later. She fought off a defender, putting a backhand shot under the arm of DeBeauville to cut the Mount Royal lead down to 3-2.

Alexandra Anderson evened things up for the Bisons on the power play. She stepped forward, putting a wrist shot low right on the Cougars’ goal, and tied the game 3-3.

The Mount Royal lead was restored by Gabrielle Seper on a penalty shot. Seper used a shimmy move to get Schubert to bite and tucked home the goal. Mount Royal added an empty net goal, and took game two of the weekend series 5-3.

“We needed to play a full 60 minutes today and I don’t think we did that,” assistant coach Sean Fisher said of his team’s effort. “We’ve been going hard since August. We could use the rest mentally.”

The Bisons will be back Jan. 6-7 to take on the University of Regina Cougars on the road.

VOL. 103 NO. 16 December 6, 2016

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Bisons first half wrap up This men’s hockey team is still searching for an identity Rob Mahon, staff

photo by Megan colwell

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o say the University of Manitoba Bison men’s hockey team had an up-and-down first half is to sell the team’s rocky road to Christmas short.

The first half was filled with the highest of highs (beating the Saskatchewan Huskies, the second-ranked team in the country at the time, by a 5-2 count at Wayne Fleming Arena) and the lowest of lows (losing all four games to the Mount Royal Cougars for the second straight year).

Often unpredictable, at times vexing, but never boring, the Bisons are a team hunting an identity. They’ve had to sift through the dark waters of injuries, illnesses, losing streaks, and

lineup changes in search of it.

So what is the identity of the 2016-17 Bison men’s hockey team?

The team will tell you they are a fast, aggressive, up-tempo team with depth and physicality. They’ll tell you their record, a pedestrian 6-9-1 through 16 games, doesn’t show the kind of team they are. Our last look at them on home ice, a weekend in which they took three of a possible four points from conference powerhouse Saskatchewan, would seem to vindicate that statement.

One of the major obstacles for the Bisons, however, was inconsistency.

You never quite knew which Bison team was going to show up on any

given night, and at times that could be taken literally. They have one of the biggest rosters in Canada West, and the lineup changes for them came on a nightly basis.

Of course not all of their lineup changes have been voluntary. The injury bug didn’t just bite the Bisons, it sank its teeth in to the bone and hung on like a tick. Taking everyone from captain and leading scorer Jordan DePape to rookie scoring leader Remi Laurencelle out of the lineup at various points in the first half.

While the team says they won’t let injuries be an excuse, it will no doubt be nice to have the break to

get healthy, and await reinforcements in the form of defenseman Blake Heinrich.

Often unpredictable, at times vexing, never boring, the Bisons are a team hunting an identity The Bisons will need all the reinforcements they can get, because back-to-back losses to Mount Royal have them sitting in sixth place, six

points back of Lethbridge. Eight points back of Mount Royal for the final home playoff spot, and ­– most worrying of all – just two points up on UBC for the final playoff spot in the Canada West Conference.

When the second half begins, this Bisons team will need to be healthy and ready to grind. The last 12 games of the season will be the hardest fought yet as the playoffs near. If the Bisons want to get into any playoff action this year, they’ve got their work cut out for them.

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Sports

Sports Editor: Ryan Stelter Contact: sports@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

Doing it for the team Lauryn Keen doesn’t let career year overshadow team success Jason Pchajek, staff

ing that a trip to Australia would be something to consider.

Keen does see hockey playing a role in her life moving forward. She has aspirations to continue coaching young players back in Manitou, and also has been mulling over coaching her old AAA club out in Morden.

“Maybe be an assistant coach out there, if that’s something I want to do,” Keen said laughing. “I’m not sure I’ll be able to give it up completely, it’s a lifestyle thing.”

photo by chantal zdan

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he 2016-17 season for the University of Manitoba women’s hockey team has been one of promise.

The Bisons started the season on a tear, dominating games until hitting a brick wall against the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds.

Despite that early setback they regrouped and kept trucking, heading into the break 8-4-3-1.

“I think the trip to Europe really helped us,” Manitou native Lauryn Keen said of the hot start. “I think it helped us bond as a team and really got the rookies in there.”

Keen is in the midst of a whirlwind season of her own, as she is currently sitting in third place in

Canada West scoring with 17 points spike in scoring Keen said no, menin 16 games. But Keen tries not to let tioning that old-fashioned hard work that become a focus for her. is the key to her success. She’s pre“I try not to think about it too pared the same way her whole career much, because personally when I and it’s worked out so she hasn’t think about it, it messes with my changed. head,” she said. “It’s important for “I’ve just been working hard in the me not to think about it too much.” gym and worked hard in the summer Through the first 16 games of the and it’s just paying off,” Keen said. season, Keen has recorded 17 points, “I’m doing it for the team and trying putting home a team-leading six to win for the team. I’m not trying to goals while adding 11 helpers. She’s go out there and get as many points already eclipsed her 11 points from as I can.” last season and all odds point to her Keen doesn’t find the workload of surpassing the 18 points she put up in being a top-flight hockey player to her rookie campaign. be an issue. The agriculture student When asked if a difference in is taking six courses, noting that all preparation could be linked to this it takes is a little advanced planning

“I’ve just been working hard in the gym and worked hard in the summer and it’s just paying off” – Lauryn Keen, women’s hockey forward

to make sure everything works out.

“It’s definitely a balancing act,” she With the rise in popularity of said with a chuckle. “It’s something women’s hockey in North America, you have to learn over time, the big- the chance for women to earn a gest thing is just staying on top of paycheque playing the game they things, planning two, three weeks love is now a reality. When asked if ahead.” she would ever play in the National Being a third year player means Women’s Hockey League or the that Keen has to begin confront- Canadian Women’s Hockey League, ing the end of her collegiate hockey Keen said she would consider it. career, but she doesn’t let that get her “If the offer was there I would defidown. She’s looking forward to life nitely consider it, but there’s a lot to after hockey, taking time off before consider,” she said with a laugh. eventually using her agriculture For now though, Keen and the degree and country background to Bisons head into the winter break in settle into the workforce. a comfortable position, sitting second “I think about it, but I don’t try to in the Canada West. think about it much,” she said, add-

Bison volleyball slaughters Saskatchewan Both men and women earn weekend sweeps against the Huskies Ryan Stelter, staff

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photo by Star roxas

fter a conference bye, the The Bisons completely domi- weekend for the herd, racking up 18 University of Manitoba volley- nated the entire weekend to continue kills on Friday and 13 on Saturday. ball teams were on the road against their eight-game winning streak. She leads Manitoba with 116 kills, the Saskatchewan Huskies. Both the Manitoba has the third-best hitting and averages almost three kills a set. men and women The Bisons are earned sweeps on tied for eighth in the weekend. the Canada West Kearley Abbott had a monster weekend with a 4-6 record, for the herd, racking up 18 kills on Men two points back T he t h i rdof the final playFriday, and 13 on Saturday ranked men’s off spot. team was in tough against the eighth-ranked Huskies. percentage in the Canada West and The Bisons take on crosstown rivals They made quick work of their pro- is currently second in the conference Winnipeg next weekend, with the vincial rivals this weekend however, with a 9-1 record.

Duckworth Challenge portion takdropping only one set on the weekend. ing place on Dec.8 at Investors Group Devren Dear had a combined 28 Women Athletic Centre and then again on kills on the weekend; he leads the The women snapped a four-game Saturday at the U of W. Bisons with 107 on the year. Third losing streak when they defeated the year libero Dustin Spring had a good Huskies on Friday. The Bisons went weekend, emerging on Saturday and the distance in both games on the led the herd with six digs and three weekend, needing five sets each game. blocks.

Kearley Abbott had a monster

VOL. 103 NO. 16 December 6, 2016

Sports

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What happens in Vegas hopefully stays in Vegas Looking at how other expansion teams have fared in the NHL Joe Gonzales, staff

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n Nov. 22, 2016, it was made official by majority owner Bill Foley that the new Las Vegas NHL franchise would be called the Vegas Golden Knights. Months after it was announced that expansion was in the works and that Las Vegas had been awarded an expansion franchise, it seemed fitting that, responding to a crowd of boos, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman replied, “Keep booing, it proves you’re now an NHL city.”

Of course, it will take more than booing the commissioner to really know if Las Vegas will be able to sustain a professional hockey team.

In the end, pro sports teams are really just businesses with a product looking to maximize profit. A popular tourist spot, Las Vegas at first glance seems like a great location for pro sports to expand in. Mark Davis, owner of the NFL’s Oakland Raiders, has expressed determination to move the team there.

It can’t be denied that some of the ticket sales made by the Knights will come from tourists passing by looking for something to do or the fans of opponent teams looking to see their team play, among other things. But the team has already sold 14,000 season tickets in a 17,500 capacity arena, so it seems enthusiasm for the team is high. Compared to former expansion teams, optimism for success may be high as well.

That’s not to say that there was less optimism for success for all former expansion teams. Some have gone to establish themselves as a franchise and have their city’s embrace.

Others however, didn’t fare as well.

The Manitoban takes a look at those teams to explain what happened, and what Vegas could learn from their stories.

left to join teams in the WHA for better salaries.

Eventually, the Golden Seals moved to Cleveland in 1976, but that team folded and merged with the Minnesota North Stars in 1978.

This was during a time that hockey might not have been as popular in the U.S., as the Seals had an average attendance of 5,607 over their nine seasons in California.

It can’t be denied that some of the sales made by the Knights will come from tourists passing by looking for something to do

were gone. That’s about all you would need to write on the Scouts’ history, as they lasted only two seasons before being sold. In the 160 games they played from their two 80-game seasons, they managed 27 wins and 23 ties, to go along with their 110 losses.

A season ticket drive that had only 2,000 sales out of their goal for 8,000 indicated that pro hockey just wasn’t going to work in Kansas City.

The team moved to Colorado, and then that team moved to New Jersey, which still exists today as the Devils.

Hartford Whalers (1979-1997)

Graphic provided by vegas golden knights

the team to Carolina. Today, they history to see what Vegas can do to The NHL and WHA went are the Hurricanes. make sure what happens there stays through a merger in 1979, and the there. How the team performs at the Whalers were one of four teams to What Vegas can Learn start will be key, but it’s clear from move on over. At first glance, seeing from history projected rosters that they won’t be a that they lasted for 18 years in the Three other teams were omitted playoff or even a wild card contender league might lead one to believe that from the list: the Quebec Nordiques from the start. They’ll need to draft they were relatively stable. Indeed, it (1979-1995), Winnipeg Jets 1.0 (1972- high and start building from the seems they would have been able to 1996), and the Atlanta Thrashers ground up. stay in Hartford, had it not been for (1999-2011). A weak Canadian dolAttendance, as mentioned, seems poor management. lar was a big factor in Quebec and to be in good hands: 14,000 season Atlanta Flames (1972-1980) Another thing is that they were Winnipeg moving, as rising salaries tickets sold, with fans vacationing in A slow start for the team in at the epicenter of three NHL teams were being paid in USD; exchange Vegas to be filling the rest of the seats.

Atlanta was compensated by consist- surrounding them geographically. rates reached 73 cents to the dollar T-Mobile Arena, where the Golden ently decent hockey for the rest of its On one side, there were the neigh- from 1994-1996.

Knights will be playing, is owned time there, emphasis on decent. In bouring state rivals and more popular 50-50 by MGM Resorts International the team’s eight-year history, they Boston Bruins. On the other were and Anschutz Entertainment Group. made the playoffs six times, but had the established New York teams, the “Believe me, we So it looks like Foley won’t be having merely two wins to show for it. There Rangers and the Islanders. With a to dig into his pockets should arena won’t screw up troubles come by. were a couple bright spots for the situation like that, it would be hard the first game like Flames, such as Eric Vail and Willi to try and market yourself to fans next Vegas will just need to weather Plett winning the Calder trophy in to those three powerhouses. the storm, and hope they can maybe we screwed up 1974-75 and 1976-77 respectively. Jim come by a miracle for their assumed The Whalers had big names in Craig, the goalie who backstopped their inaugural season – Gordie impending lackluster start once the the video” – Bill the U.S. Olympic Hockey Team Howe and Bobby Hull, to name a franchise begins play for the 2017Foley, Vegas Golden to a gold medal and was part of the couple. But they soon retired after 18 season. Hopefully their fans will “Miracle on Ice” during the 1980 getting swept in the first round of stay and they can get new ones on Knights owner Winter Olympics, made his debut the playoffs. Ron Francis was the board, or else run the risk of being shortly after that historic run to face of the franchise and loved by the another former expansion team in Atlanta’s first sellout crowd of 15,156. Whalers’ fans, but after being sent to Regardless, it seems like almost the history books. However, given The magic fell flat soon after, though, the Pittsburgh Penguins in a lopsided every expansion team that had to Bettman’s previously adamant stance as Craig only played four games for trade in 1991, that left a bad taste in make a move went through such on keeping the Coyotes where they California Seals/Oakland the season. the mouths of the Hartford faithful. similar stories that it can be reduced were despite factors that would’ve Seals/California Golden Attendance started to dip, which The performance of the team during to a formula: poor performance = led the team to move, maybe Vegas Seals (1967-1976) resulted in more financial losses for the 18-year tenure earned them the poor attendance = poor profits = poor will be alright.

Three name changes, along with owner Tom Cousins. Low viewer- nickname “Forever .500s.” Though morale = potential for moving.

“Believe me, we won’t screw up three different owners for the team’s ship meant no TV deal for the team they were able to make the playoffs I say almost every team because the first game like we screwed up the first four years of existence. That fact to try and save it, and soon enough eight times, they made it past the first Hartford, Quebec, and Winnipeg video,” Foley said, after a botched seemed to spell doom for the Seals the Flames were sold to Calgary in round once and had opening round had rabid and loyal fan bases that introduction to the team’s name. The from the start. They never finished 1980. The team still exists today, of exits in the other seven appearances. would have done almost anything to sports world will be watching to see above a .500 average in record stand- course, and the “A” patch they use With rumours of movement, fans keep their team close. But money is if he can hold true to that statement. ing, but were able to make the playoffs on their jerseys for assistant captains banded together to get involved in the motive, and in the end, that was twice. They were ousted in the first resembles the old logo of the Atlanta the season ticket drive for 1996-97 the one problem that fans couldn’t round for both of those appearances. Flames. campaign. It turned out much bet- collectively solve. Winnipeg, luckily, The World Hockey Association ter than what the Scouts had tried, has brought a team back.

(WHA) was also created during the Kansas City Scouts but crumbling talks in the form of Now, the impromptu formula Seals’ time, which only amounted to (1974-1976) a deal for a new arena resulted in listed is probably obvious to a lot of more woes as several of their players They were there and then they owner Peter Karmanos Jr. moving people. But it’s worth looking back at