10 January 2018

comment

End of an empire The straight white man’s reign is over

news

Summer U-Pass

It could happen Page 4

Page 8

sports

Clean sweep Bison basketball teams off to hot start in 2018 Page 16

news

The Sockeye Mother Gitxsan stories of interconnection Page 5 Vo l 1 0 4 · N o 1 8 · J a n ua ry 1 0, 2 0 1 8 · w w w.t h e m a n i to b a n .co m

Index

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VOL. 104 NO. 18 January 10, 2018

Editor-in-Chief Garett Williams

editor@themanitoban.com / 474.8293

Business manager Sohni Tappia

accounts@themanitoban.com / 474.6535

Advertising Coordinator Ryan Catte

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Editorial

Managing Editor Malak Abas

me@themanitoban.com

News Editor Imreet Kaur

news@themanitoban.com / 474.6770

News Editor Shaden Abusaleh

shaden@themanitoban.com/ 474.6770

Comment Editor Shawn Huberdeau

comment@themanitoban.com

arts & Culture Editor Olivia Michalczuk

arts@themanitoban.com

Sports Editor Ryan Stelter

sports@themanitoban.com

Copy Editor Evan Tremblay

copy@themanitoban.com

Design

Design Editor Bram Keast

design@themanitoban.com

arts

Graphics Editor Kelly Campbell

Actually Milk

graphics@themanitoban.com

Photo Editor Asha Nelson

photo@themanitoban.com

Art collective celebrates first gallery show

Social Editor Carolyne Kroeker

social@themanitoban.com

page 12

Design associate Kellie Huynh graphics associate Ernest Zarzuela pHOTO associate Chantal Zdan pHOTO associate Quincy Houdayer editorial

Reporters

General Assignment Qudus Abusaleh

Moneypuck

Hockey has become a sport for the one per cent page 6

comment

Fixing a flawed deal NAFTA must help the working class page 9

General Assignment Diana-Abasi Ubokudom Columnist Levi Garber Columnist Kenny Ingram arts & culture Jen Doerksen Sports Jason Pchajek Copy Associate Matthew Doering

Volunteer Contributors

Will Gibson Stephane Doucet Anthony Labonté

Erin Meagan Schwartz

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• An interview with University of Michigan professor Juan Cole on the role of youth in the Arab Spring uprisings of 2011.

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News

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News Editors: Imreet Kaur & Shaden Abuselah Contact: news@themanitoban.com / 474.6770

U of M senate approves master of human rights program Program expected to begin in 2019/2020 academic year Shaden Abusaleh, staff

The program will be housed in Robson hall faculty of law.

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he University of Manitoba senate approved a proposal for a master’s degree in human rights at its regular senate meeting Jan. 3.

The proposed program now awaits a final approval by the university’s board of governors at its upcoming meeting, Jan. 30.

In June, the law faculty council voted unanimously to locate the master of human rights (MHR) program, including its staff and students, at the U of M’s Robson hall faculty of law.

Robson hall faculty of law dean Jonathan Black-Branch said the program will be the only degree of its kind in Canada. He explained that unlike similar graduate programs offered throughout the country, human rights will be the main focus of the MHR program as opposed to only a component of a broader degree.

“It will be unique in that it is focused on human rights issues completely,” he said, adding that the proposed master’s degree program is “the first one to be called a ‘master of human rights’ not, for example, a ‘master of arts in human rights.’”

While the program will be housed at the university’s faculty of law, it will run as an interdisciplinary and inter-faculty program under the faculties of graduate studies, law, arts, education, and social work. The program’s director will report to the dean of law.

Further, the MHR program will work in collaboration with Robson hall’s Centre for Human Rights Research, St. Paul’s Arthur V. Mauro Centre for Peace and Justice, and the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.

Black-Branch said that for the University of Manitoba, offering a human rights master’s degree program “shows that there’s academic leadership in the area to having a master’s degree that focuses on professional development and with a view to promoting human rights and understanding human rights issues and dialogue and discourse and promoting the importance of protecting human rights.”

The proposal for the human rights master’s degree has gone through a four-year-long process of consultation and revision.

Joking, Black-Branch said, “A member of the university told me that he’s been here 13 years and it was on the agenda when he started."

“But in all fairness, the last three to five years has been much more of the nuts and bolts of getting the curriculum together, the courses together, and going through the curriculum course change committee, the various senate committees, the various faculties,” Black-Branch added.

Once approved by the U of M board of governors, the MHR pro-

photo by quincy houdayer

gram will begin accepting applica- work they want to do in human rights. tions during the 2019 fall term and is And their dissertation or their placeexpected to begin in the fall of 2020. ment - their internship - will allow The human rights master’s degree them to develop that expertise or has received a gift of $3 million dol- those skill sets even further.” lars that will be transferred following On student recruitment, Blackthe board of governors’ approval. The Branch said that potential students MHR program has also received two have already expressed a desire to donations of $500,000 for master’s apply for the program. student fellowships and bursaries to “We have so much interest once offset costs of travel for international the program had been on the books,” research and practicums. he said. “It’s been a program that has The initial program fee for people following it in terms of waitCanadian students will be $6,000 ing for it to happen. So we already annually and will be subject to tui- have a wide range of interest in the tion increases. program as it stands now.”

The program will require students The program aims to redirect the to complete 18 course credits and flow of Canadian students who would either a practicum and major research have otherwise elected to pursue project or a thesis. international human rights graduBlack-Branch explained that stu- ate programs abroad, and to attract dents will be allowed to select from new international students to the a wide range of electives, so that University of Manitoba. through the courses they choose “It will raise our profile, but also the program can be tailored to their provide opportunity to the student[s],” liking.

Black-Branch said.

The MHR program “will offer Black-Branch also emphasized [students] the opportunity to do the importance of offering such a a specialist-focused program to program, explaining that the MHR develop their expertise, to develop degree will place Manitoba and their knowledge-base, to develop Winnipeg at the forefront of human their skill set within a professional rights education and scholarship in context,” Black-Branch said.

Canada.

“The impact for the student will “Manitoba has progressed quite far be an opportunity to gain hands-on in terms of human rights recognitions experience and knowledge that will and in terms of human rights agenda be directly applicable to the type of within both the city of Winnipeg,

but also the province,” he said. “We now have the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, as you know, that’s a very unique museum. It’s the only Canadian museum outside of the capital.”

Black-Branch added that the MHR program “will put Manitoba firmly on the map within Canada and abroad as being an area of human rights.”

Over the past years, the program has received numerous letters of support - including letters from Juan Carlos Mendoza, permanent representative and ambassador of Costa Rica to the United Nations, and Kimberly Prost, Canada’s judgeelect for the International Criminal Court.

“I think we are at a place in the world where human rights is not an afterthought,” Black-Branch said. “It is a mainstream discipline, and therefore needs a unique approach.”

Calling it “monumental” for the university, Black-Branch said, “In terms of having this on the books, you can never underestimate or understate how important this is for raising the University of Manitoba’s profile globally, internationally. It is a very important masters.”

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News

News Editors: Imreet Kaur & Shaden Abuselah Contact: news@themanitoban.com / 474.6770

UMSU council to lobby for optional summer U-Pass Motion calls for UMSU to press for more accessible summer transportation service Qudus Abusaleh, staff

UMSU passed a motion Jan. 4 to advocate for an optional universal transit pass for the May to August period. photo by quincy houdayer

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MSU council unanimously September to April, they're using Winnipeg's preliminary budget propassed a motion encouraging them all year,” she said. “That's why posed reductions to bus service in the the union’s executive to lobby the City we want to explore the idea of a sum- form of cuts to 23 routes, as well as a 25-cent fare increase - the largest fee of Winnipeg to introduce an optional mer U-Pass.” universal transit pass (U-Pass) for the Currently, the U-Pass, offered hike since 2008. summer term at its regular meeting during the fall and winter terms, The proposed fare increase follows Jan. 4. represents a $132.50 per term charge the provincial government’s moves UMSU president Tanjit Nagra automatically assessed as a student to end a 50/50 transit funding agreesaid many students have shown inter- fee. Only students who live outside ment with municipalities and freeze est in this new initiative in the semes- the city or those registered with provincial transit funding to the city ters following the introduction of the Handi-Transit can opt-out. at 2016 levels. This has resulted in regular U-Pass during the 2016 fall a $10 million shortfall in Winnipeg term. The summer pass would cover Transit changes Transit’s operating budget. 50/50 the period spanning May to August.

The last months of 2017 proved transit legislation guaranteed pro“We know that students are not turbulent for Winnipeg Transit and vincial funding for municipal transit just using transit options and sus- the students who depend on it. agencies in Manitoba, requiring the tainable transportation options from In November, the City of province to match municipal contri-

butions to transit agencies.

The fare increase is expected to generate approximately $5 million for the city next year - half of the $10 million deficit.

In December, mayor Brian Bowman and the city council’s executive policy committee - in response to concerns raised by transit users and to acquire funds to offset the loss of provincial funding - approved a budgetary amendment to increase on-street parking fees by an extra 50 cents an hour on top of the planned $1-per hour increase.

The 25-cent fare hike remained and went into effect Jan. 1.

Nagra said that these developments have motivated UMSU’s continued meetings with city council representatives - including the chairperson for infrastructure renewal and public works committee, Marty Morantz - to address concerns regarding opt out eligibility, the summer U-Pass, and a $5 fee for the U-Pass card that will be implemented in the fall 2018 term.

“We did put the idea out there of a summer U-Pass, and [Morantz] had said it’s the first he had heard of it and he wanted something from UMSU saying that this is something we want to explore.”

Nagra said that with the regular fall and winter term U-Pass - which came into effect almost two years ago after a student referendum in October 2014 - already in place, students can

rest assured that a potential summer U-Pass will have a “much shorter process” of implementation if approved.

She also noted that any potential summer U-Pass would be introduced as an optional, additional fee.

“We would hope it's more of an optional fee students could pay to get the pass," she said. “And we would hope it’s available for not just those enroled in summer but also those that are returning in the fall.

“A lot of students decide to work, and so on and so forth, during the summer who would still like a cheaper option for their transit pass.”

Students welcome potential summer U-Pass

The University of Manitoba Muslim Student's Association president Yazan Hammad said the association, which includes a large cohort of international students each year, is happy to see that UMSU will advocate for a summer U-Pass.

Hammad said that a summer U-Pass would “ease [international students’] transition” and increase their access to “adequate means of transportation.”

“Allowing students to have a U-Pass in the summer will help them also explore the city and learn and acquire whatever they need when they arrive during that period,” he said.

UMSU toy drive and holiday hamper program records success Hundreds of students, families received food items and gifts during the holiday season Diana Ubokudom, STAFF

UMSU VP advocacy Allison Kilgour poses with food items and toys during the student union's annual Holiday Hampers and Toy drive program. photo provided by allison kilgour

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MSU organized its annual Holiday Hampers and Toy Drive program during the month of December to deliver hampers over the winter break.

The project, which wrapped up its 19th season, provides food items and toys annually for university students and their respective families who face financial difficulty and food insecurity, especially during the festive season.

Allison Kilgour, UMSU VP

advocacy, said the program’s “value to students has meant its continuation year after year.”

Kilgour added that the program’s aim is to help mitigate the difficulty of being a university student along with supporting struggling students’ families.

"As students, most of us face some sort of financial stress with tuition and living expenses, but it’s easy to forget how difficult it is to be a student without family support or one

responsible for a family themselves,” and councils, faculties and univershe said. sity offices, and individuals on and Similar to the toy drive organized off campus,” Kilgour said. last year, UMSU was able to supShe added that the program was port the program through adoptions, publicized through social media sponsorships, and donations. platforms, posters, and outreach Adopting a hamper includes col- initiatives targeting faculties and lecting items, compiling the hamper, departments, with positive responses and dropping it off at the UMSU from both within and outside the office. Sponsoring a hamper involves university. donating items and either $200 for “Students and staff alike were eager a small hamper or $500 for a large. to get involved, many of which [were] Donating to a hamper allowed vol- reaching out to us months in advance unteers to set up their own collec- to participate,” said Kilgour. “We also tion points, and eventually drop off saw media outlets, businesses, and donated items at the UMSU office members of the larger community for delivery. express their interest in both donatAlthough donations vary each year, ing to and promoting the program.”

Kilgour said the recent program was Kilgour said she believed the sup“extremely successful.” port really came from the fact that “This year we were able to provide “everyone at the U of M recognizes Hampers to nearly 110 students,” she what a worthwhile cause this initiasaid. tive is.”

“We also received an overwhelm“We received a lot of positive feeding amount of donations, both back regarding the hampers, as well financial and through food and toy as the toy drive,” she said. “Sponsors donations, from students’ groups and adoptees are often able to com-

municate with and customize hampers for the families, and UMSU tries to ensure that we build every hamper with the families’ composition and preferences in mind.”

Kilgour noted that all beneficiaries of the program have either experienced some form of “financial hardship,” or accessed a campus food bank.

Kilgour said that the program was a reminder not to take one’s privileges for granted, especially during festive seasons.

She said pursuing a post-secondary education is a daunting task on its own, and even more stressful when it has to be balanced with family responsibilities.

“Being a student is tough enough,” she said, “and I admire those who are able to pursue post-secondary education while still providing and caring for their families, working full time, and taking on other time-consuming responsibilities.”

VOL. 104 NO. 18 January 10, 2018

News

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The crucial link between the life cycle of the sockeye and the environment Story first of three-part series planned by author Imreet Kaur, staff

natural gas (LNG) terminal on Lelu Island at the mouth of the Skeena river, contending that the company Pacific NorthWest LNG infringed on their right to be able to fish salmon on the Skeena river.

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rtist Brett D. Huson (Hetxw’ms Gyetxw) - who has worked in the film and television industry for the past decade - launched his book The Sockeye Mother Jan. 4 at McNally Robinson Booksellers.

Huson is a member of the Gitxsan Nation, whose unceded territory is in the north western interior of British Columbia. He has actively volunteered for organizations such as Ka Ni Kanichihk and Indigenous Music Manitoba.

The book specifically targets a young audience between the ages of eight and 11 with illustrations by Natasha Donovan tracing the journey of the sockeye salmon throughout its life cycle. Donavan is a freelance artist whose work has been published in the The Other Side: Anthology of Queer Paranormal Romance.

Huson said that his life experiences, the political economy of the region, and his culture motivated him to write and share stories specifically related to Indigenous peoples. These stories, he said, highlight the significance of cultural knowledge rooted in finding a balance between humans and the environment.

“Our life cycle evolved around the salmon’s life cycle because they were our main diet, our main source of food,” Huson said.

Brett D. Huson signs copies of The Sockeye Mother at the book's launch at Noting that the sockeye are a key- McNally Robinson Booksellers Jan. 4. photo by imreet kaur stone species, one of the linchpins of their ecosystem, Huson said the through this book the importance public is wanting to read those stosockeye have played a crucial role in of this species because it is depleting, ries from Indigenous writers to learn developing the land and replenish- and the evidence of the impacts of these stories from our own perspecing the environment around it with that is really coming through now,” tives,” Robertson said introducing “nutrients that the earth needs.”

Huson said.

Huson.

Hosted by Governor General’s Huson said learning during the “Our understanding was that without them our world could not evolve Literary Award winner David formative years shape how youngsters the way it is,” Huson said. “We were Alexander Robertson, this launch make sense of the world around them, shaped by the land, we were shaped was the first of the year hosted by and that he wanted to present an alternate perspective to young people by the trees and our language devel- the celebrated local bookseller.

Robertson commended Huson’s “to show them the things that they're oped because of the land we lived in and this could not exist without the efforts and described the work as a missing because predominantly pop“beautiful informative book” in his ulations are in urban centres and in salmon.” larger parts of Canada."

Huson further added that the introductory remarks.

“I've seen this amazing thing “People are very disconnected from population of the sockeye is so severely depleted that it is hard for his happen in the last year in particu- the land, they don't understand that people to fish, despite this being their lar where more and more people everything is tied to things like the primary food source and livelihood. are writing, Indigenous writers are salmon and there are so many dif“I wanted to portray to all ages writing their stories and more of the ferent keystone species that exist in

“We were shaped by the land, we were shaped by the trees and our language developed because of the land we lived in and this could not exist without the salmon” - Brett D. Huson, author The Gitxsan have fished on the Skeena river for generations.

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency in its evaluation of the LNG project concluded that the Gitxsan would not be impacted by the LNG terminal, as it is located on Lelu Island.

A particular concern among Indigenous peoples in the area was the damage that would have been caused to the beds of eelgrass which the salmon population depends on.

A study led by Jonathan Moore, a professor at Simon Fraser University, revealed that salmon in the Skeena originate from 40 different populations that pass through the territories of many First Nations communities, all of which were not consulted by the government.

Huson said that there needs to be a balance between the economy and the environment, and suggested that governments must put stricter regulations on oil and gas companies in order to protect and preserve the environment.

The Pacific NorthWest LNG terminal project has been cancelled.

However, major energy projects such as the Site-C Dam and the Trans this country but this is being severely Mountain pipeline project are still going forward in British Columbia, impacted now,” he added.

The education system, he said, is despite concerns raised by Indigenous teaching the young generation “con- peoples. These concerns echo the sumer-based education.” book’s theme highlighting the Speaking of the commercial fish- interconnection of various species ing industry on the West Coast as and their role in creating a balance a “multi-million dollar industry,” within the environment.

Huson said that the various levels of governments have “removed a lot of the protection on the waterways and the watersheds in Canada and that severely impacts the protection of any species” to undertake various energy projects.

In March 2017, two Gitxsan Nation chiefs filed a judicial review against the federal government for approving a $36 billion liquified

Editorial Editor-In-Chief: Garett Williams Contact: Editor@themanitoban.com / 474.8293

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Hockey is becoming an elitist activity To be good, you need to be wealthy, which is detrimental to the game Ryan Stelter, staff

graphic by ernest zarzuela

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he idealized version of hockey we ingly elitist activity. For a family to see emblazoned on the $5 bill no send their kid to an academy like longer exists. the Canadian International Hockey Hockey has changed a lot over Academy - the type of program the years. Yes, this is a fairly obvi- attended by Connor McDavid and ous statement, but it seems like the 11 other members of the 2015 world Canadian populace hasn’t noticed. I junior team - it would run them about should preface this with the state- $53,000 for a year's tuition. Kids are ment that I have an extreme love and being groomed all across the country passion for the game, and would like to become hockey players in hockey nothing more than the best for my academies and power camps. favourite sport.

Gone are the days of spending Watching the World Junior hours on the outdoor rink skating Hockey Championship over the to the tune of your own beat. This holiday break always brings out the has been replaced by the regimented nostalgia in Canadians as they huddle schlepping hockey bags into the around their televisions, placing their backs of minivans going to the sixth national pride on the shoulders of practice that week. If you want your 19-year-olds. This was especially true kid to make it to the NHL, you have when Canada played the U.S. out- to give them the best chance to do so. doors at New Era Field in Buffalo, the I often jokingly say to people that championship's most recent iteration. my parents are the reason I am not Except the idealized version of in the NHL today, unless anyone’s hockey being played outdoors that so general manager wants to take a many Canadians have in their heads chance on a late-blooming 21-yearisn’t as prevalent as days gone by. old. Although it is meant to be taken Watching the game, I wondered how as a joke, there is a kernel of truth to it. many of these Canadian kids grew Had my parents slapped hockey up playing hockey on outdoor rinks. skates on me the second I emerged Hockey has become an increas- from the womb, and thrown me in

every power camp and skating lesson with every personal trainer available to me - maybe, just maybe - I could have developed into a half-decent hockey player.

A fat wallet is the path to success Instead, I learned how to skate on an outdoor rink, at the neighbourhood park. Some of my fondest memories of the game come from that rink.

I don’t want to make a sweeping generalization, but I bet a lot of the goldmedal-winning Canadians don’t have too many memories of outdoor rinks.

When I would go to the outdoor rink while I was growing up and playing competitive hockey, a majority of the guys there did not play any kind of organized hockey, whether it was due to their parents not having the money, or only a fleeting interest in the game.

The great Bobby Orr, who grew up in Parry Sound, Ont., played hockey on a frozen river and said it helped

shape his iconic style of play. His freewheeling style of carrying the puck as a defenceman revolutionized the game of hockey.

Kids do not get that freedom anymore, not now that the game is increasingly a competition of whose family can spend the most money on training. Instead, kids are locked into corporate arenas with Tim Horton’s to warm the gullets of their watching parents.

Canadians love to fetishize the outdoor game as if it still has relevance in developing the next McDavid or Sidney Crosby. It doesn’t.

A fat wallet is the path to success.

It’s gotten to the point where hockey kids are not playing any other sports. The Ottawa Citizen released a fascinating three-part series last year about the benefits associated with being a multi-sport athlete. The results were shocking. The kids who played hockey year-round could not manage a somersault, or even run backwards. Playing multiple sports helps prevent injury, teaches new skills, and helps kids get a break from being confined to one activity.

And there’s the rub. With this current system, we are developing hockey players. Not athletes. At the end of the day, we shouldn’t streamline kids into just one sport. The greatest hockey player of all time, Wayne Gretzky, shoved his hockey bag in a closet during the summer and played baseball and lacrosse. Steven Stamkos and John Tavares also both played other sports in the summer months.

Playing hockey for fun seems to be dying a slow, miserable death. As minor hockey registration declines, partly due to the fact that the sport has become hypercompetitive, parents are choosing not to enrol their kids in hockey because there is too much emphasis on producing elite athletes rather than having fun and developing life skills.

The next Great One could be right under our noses, but they could be off becoming a mediocre basketball player because their parents thought hockey was too competitive or just didn’t have the money.

Comment Comment Editor: Shawn Huberdeau Contact: comment@themanitoban.com

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An end to the straight white man’s cultural monopoly on popular media Resentful male entitlement is the dying sigh of a once all-powerful consumer demographic Shawn Huberdeau, staff

graphic by keegan steele

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ale entitlement is curdling in as deemed by detractors of diversity, the last vestiges of its media film and television remain barren to empire - and it’s about time. all but the leading straight white man.

As popular culture has begun to diversify its character portfolio with A movement nods to racial, sexual, and gender minorities, economically empow- consisting of straight ered straight white men have begun white men reacted to air their grievances. One of the dominant themes of contemporary with violence and popular culture has been the resentful intimidation to the reaction of this elite cultural bloc to their dwindling control over popular prospect of losing media. their territory in For once upon a time, in a galaxy far, far away, the straight white man an industry that reigned supreme. There, he saw his visual form represented across all frequently sees mediums. Any story was bound to minorities harassed be his story, with narrative arcs and thematic devices playing faithfully out of participation in tune with masculine hero tropes.

Luke Skywalker was a solitary saviour who need only hone his innate The USC reported that women powers in order to save the day and comprised only 33.5 per cent of speakhis ultimately dependent friends. ing roles. Meanwhile, 71.7 per cent Han Solo was but a selfish hustler of all speaking roles were white. using masculine charm to get the Marginalized ethnic groups fought things and people he wanted, with- for a small 28.3 per cent sized slice out regard for their agency. Rambo of the representation pie, where 12.2 was the paragon of magnitudinous per cent of characters were black, 5.8 male physical power. Special Agent per cent were Hispanic, 5.1 per cent Rick Deckard from the original Blade were Asian, 2.3 per cent were Middle Runner was a portrait of masculine Eastern, and 3.1 per cent were classiindependence and aggressive sexual- fied as “other.” The numbers shrink ity. The list is seemingly inexhaustible. even more: only two per cent of all Historically and to this day, soci- speaking characters were identified ety’s media machine has been curated on the screen as gay, lesbian, or bisexby a certain masculine vision. In a ual, whereas less than one per cent study spanning mainstream media - in other words, seven characters in between Sept. 2014 and Aug. 2015, total - were transgender. the University of Southern California We may reasonably assume pre(USC) found that even in the so- ceding decades were no less - but called era of "political correctness," rather more - abstinent in their

embrace of diverse representation on assed out of participation. the screen, silver or otherwise. We Then there was the 2016 may also posit that things have not so Ghostbusters remake. News of a radically changed in the past two to celebrity studded female cast for the three years. In 2018, media is no uto- franchise’s reboot saw vocal fans react pian host to harmonious celebration with critical scrutiny unlike anything between minorities and majorities. seen before. The film was disparaged Indeed, there are numerous instances from every possible angle, with the that show the opposite holds: as seen trailer receiving a record-breaking through a few seminal case studies, amount of dislikes and the movie the straight white male majority has itself being subject to intense outcry, been agitating against the modicum varying from impassioned denunof positive change occurring for ciations to boycotts verging on the minorities in media. political. It was as though revamping First, there was Gamergate in the franchise amounted to spitting 2014. The morally depraved move- on the grave of the original. This is ment began as an online harassment despite the 1984 film relying entirely campaign directed against Zoë on nostalgia for its charm, alongside a Quinn, she who committed the car- harebrained blend of clumsily written dinal sin of - well, being a woman in dialogue and clunky comedy. Not so ostensibly male territory. curiously, it seems that seeing oneself Quinn released a text-based game represented on the screen is enough to that was meant to simulate the expe- make a film enjoyable for its audience. rience of depression for its players.

Finally, late 2017’s Star Wars: The Reaction to Quinn’s game promul- Last Jedi. Fan reaction to the latest gated Gamergate when an ex-boy- installment of this decades old, garfriend accused her of corruption and gantuan franchise spawned intersleeping with five other men during galactic comment-thread warfare. their relationship. Gamergate culmi- Fans accused the film of obliterating nated when hordes of geeky misogy- the saga which preceded it, of failnists used these false accusations as ing to treat its past with reverence, ammunition for launching threats and of capitulating to an ideologiand slander against women in the cal agenda of political correctness. industry. They crowned “social jus- Indeed, fans itching to pen manifestice warriors” as the principal enemy tos have crowed accusations that the responsible for ruining the sanctity new trilogy is merely an instrument of gaming. We may easily translate for helping the public digest progresthese words spoken by "harmless" sive politics. geek guys into the language of male The Star Wars reboot has been misogyny: a movement consisting of called outright propaganda, with straight white men reacted with vio- allegations that the casting of Finn lence and intimidation to the prospect the first major black character of the of losing their territory in an industry series - constitutes an assault on merithat frequently sees minorities har- tocracy. According to this logic, every

auditioning black actor was second in kind to auditioning white actors.

That's not meritocracy - it's white supremacy. Similarly, the purplehaired Admiral Holdo is known as Admiral Gender Studies among fans who believe the character’s inclusion is a tool for emasculation and matriarchy. Of course, the portrayal of women in power violates supposedly natural patriarchal norms, and so any challenge levied against masculine authority is automatically deemed a strategy for sinister subversion.

Rank and file positions among this enlightened vanguard include the belief that the character Rey is a “Mary Sue” - slang for an unbearably perfect female individual - given she simply performs tasks too well and with too much ease. Never mind that in A New Hope, Luke Skywalker singlehandedly obliterated the most deadly, heavily armed space station known to the Star Wars universe all while successfully evading the pursuit of Darth Vader, one of the most formidable individuals in the series’ lore. But Skywalker isn’t a Mary Sue, because Skywalker is a man, and, if it is not clear, men can’t be Mary Sues.

The point here is that the practice of naming and shaming Mary Sues is ubiquitous to female characters. This never applies to a history of masculine characters whose heroics defy logic and circumstances.

What recurs in each of these cases is a wave of backlash from entitled male fans against new media projects that seek to expand cast diversity.

Having once commanded total power over the media, straight white men are now feeling the effects of having their power checked, such is the source of their righteous rage against popular media that fails, in their eyes, to give them the cultural space they deserve. This is telling when one recalls that male characters and white characters respectively make up a little over 70 per cent of speaking roles onscreen. Men are obscenely demanding supermajoritarian status in media with the further assumption that they are entitled to it.

Alas, the mythology of masculinity so revered by the hardcore upper echelon of male fandom is under deconstruction. The empire is falling, and champions of its cause are furious. But so too are those who seek its destruction. Where the old cultural landscape hosted space exclusively for certain characters, the new terrain has a blueprint for broadcasting inclusive representation on the screens of popular media’s virtual reality.

Long live this radical vision and may entitled straight white men everywhere accept that the curtain is coming down on their time in the limelight.

VOL. 104 NO. 18 January 10, 2018

Comment

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A trade deal that works for everyone: time to modernize NAFTA Leaders of the trilateral agreement must represent their countries’ working classes Kenny Ingram, staff

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he North American Free Trade of workers in Mexico. And with Agreement (NAFTA) has long many pre-existing trade barriers been failing to help the working removed, it is no wonder Canadian classes of its three participating and American companies moved countries. their factories to Mexico.

The agreement was negotiated in the early 1990s by Republican It’s obvious that U.S. President George H.W. Bush, Conservative Canadian Prime these trade policies Minister Brian Mulroney, and Mexican President Carlos Salinas were tailored almost de Gortari - passing into law in 1994 exclusively to line under Democratic President Bill Clinton - and received bipartisan the pocket of these support in the U.S. and Canada. large companies Since Canada and the U.S. had already worked out a bilateral and their investors agreement several years earlier, this agreement was most important for the addition of Mexico. Some of A corporation has no morals: its the goals of NAFTA were elimi- entire existence is based on the ability nating barriers to trade goods and to turn a profit. When it is made easier services across national borders, and for a corporation to relocate to another negotiated in 1992, 40 per cent of corincreasing investment opportunities area in order to increase its bottom porate executives admitted they were between the countries. line, its directors will choose to do likely to move some production to Unfortunately, there were severe so - regardless of how many former Mexico once the deal went through. consequences that came along after workers it puts on the street.

And it played out exactly the way critthe implementation of this agreement.

Canada has lost many manufactur- ics at the time had expected it would.

At the time of the signing, the ing jobs to Mexico’s inadequate wages.

It is obvious these trade policies Canadian federal minimum wage As recently as 2017, General Motors were tailored almost exclusively to was $4.00 an hour and American fed- cut 625 auto assembly jobs at its factory line the pocket of large companies eral minimum wage was US $4.25 an in Ingersoll, Ont., and moved them to and their investors. As Justin Trudeau hour. Wages for standard, general Mexico. The lack of tariffs and possi- has hinted at, NAFTA must be modlabour in Mexico was approximated bility of cheaper, outsourced labour are ernized and made progressive. This at US $5 per day. an invitation to corporations to aban- includes drafting specific provisions NAFTA’s effect was to force don the regional economies they’ve regarding equal gender pay, parental workers in Canada and the U.S. to been a part of for decades. leave, labour protections, and envicompete with the starvation wages While NAFTA was still being ronmental regulations.

graphic by kelly campbell

These progressive policies would likely have the biggest impact on Mexico’s working class. Just like in Canada and the U.S., there is a significant disparity in gender pay - with female industrial supervisors making only 66.9 per cent what male supervisors make. Along with this, Mexico has horrific air pollution issues, with poor measures to ensure corporate accountability. The country also has a history of repressing union activity.

These are important dimensions of a trade deal if it is going to work for all sectors of a country. After having been left behind for the better part

of the last two decades, the working classes of these nations must be addressed in a fair manner when discussing trade. For example, specific guidelines for compensation of employees must be collaboratively set and abided by. Environmental goals must also be agreed upon and set with the goal of reducing collective carbon footprints. No longer can we allow to for each nation to be free to do as it sees fit, eventually siding with big business on each issue.

Leaving the cult of meat Vegetarianism opened my eyes to our cultural fixation on meat Haley Finch

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or a month, I left society’s cult of meat and adopted a vegetarian diet.

While I was eating vegetarian, there would be times when I craved certain meats but what I was craving focused more on comfort foods involving meat rather than wanting the meat itself. This revelation of wanting meat-related comfort foods caused me to reflect on why I choose to eat meat every day and led me to discover the following: I was socialized by a culture obsessed with meat into thinking that eating meat is biologically and socially necessary to sustain my health.

Meat is used as a means of status differentiation. The meat you consume - be it expensive cuts of steak versus ground beef, or your choice or lack thereof for expensive meatbased meals at restaurants - signals your economic standing. Culturally, North American society values meat as an indication of health and success.

Shopping at Costco while on a vegetarian diet brought home the

realization of how few vegetarian options there are in some stores, especially when compared to meat options.

For instance, Costco had only one type of black bean burger for sale, yet had aisles upon aisles of frozen and fresh meat and meat products. When shopping at Walmart, I noticed an entire wall of the store consisted of coolers full of meat with freezers along other aisles replete with premade meat dinners. I never perceived the abundance of meat in our society until I had to critically evaluate what foods I was and was not able to purchase from a grocery store.

Upon becoming aware of the taken-for-granted nature of meat by forcefully removing it from my diet, the countless visual displays and celebration of meat around stores becomes astonishing. In meat marketing, there is no consideration for the animal, its respective history and future, or environmental impact: none of these major factors are apparent when buying cleanly cut, prettily packaged meats.

Meat is simply a commodity whose marketing entails no consumer consideration of the implications of widespread meat production and consumption. Society’s mass marketing structure encourages a culture of ignorant consumption: the only information presented to consumers when buying meat are abstract nutritional details, not the wider impact that meat products has on the environment.

Society’s mass marketing structure constructs a culture of ignorant consumption Ultimately, the dominance of packaged meat products in grocery stores and the scarcity of contextual knowledge on meat packaging illustrates our capitalist economy’s goal of

photo by quincy houdayer

growth with no concern for the environment. The focus of those in power who control societal institutions and dictate what products consumers may choose from are focused on what product has the highest demand and thus greatest profit. The consumption norms of our culture reflect the institutions which push meat products,

and in turn societal values project onto institutions a greater want for meat.

Consumer, producer, and institution - all fundamental elements of our economic culture - need to shift priorities in order to end our reliance on meat production.

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

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comic by stephane doucet

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Arts & Culture Arts & Culture Editor: Olivia Michalczuk Contact: arts@themanitoban.com

Top 5 local shows of 2017 Local blogger TicketMOMster lists Winnipeg’s best Anne Martin

photo provided by joanna majoko

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innipeg has no shortage of musical talent. Shows serve as a display for musical creativity as well as a public classroom for artists to hone their skills and perfect their art. The best shows leave the audience inspired, and the very best instil a sense of hometown pride. Hometown pride was highest this year during these shows.

2: Winnipeg Folk Fest at Birds Hill Provincial Park, Jul. 6-9

Fresh from a western Canadian tour, they expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to tour and then proWhich show? All of them. This ceeded to flood the audience with year's fest, like every year intertwines love, proving their hearts truly belong a handful of local artists in the line- to Winnipeg. up and even hosted a Manitoba Music Lead vocalist and guitarist workshop featuring local talent.

Stefanie Blondal Johnson is a fanHow lucky are we to have a mas- tastic frontwoman. Her stage persona sive green space minutes from the city, was fun and engaging, and her direct, which is transformed into the most purposeful stare aimed at the back of 1: Joanna Majoko at magical outdoor festival every sum- the club as she sang was captivating.

Centre Culturel Francomer? Very lucky. Add to that some Mise en Scene was surprisingly Manitobain, Jan. 10 of the best local musicians in the city, tight for a young band with songs full U of M graduate Joanna Majoko from John K. Samson to Begonia, of fun, catchy riffs and great lyrics. put on a fantastic farewell show at and you have a winning combination. With this much talent and experience, CCFM for a measly $5. Before leavIn theory, it shouldn’t work here. they’re already way ahead of the game, ing for Toronto, Joanna presented Weather doesn’t always cooperate, and they’ll only get better. the result of years of hard work and and our numerous mosquito breednatural talent to the crowd. ing grounds should ensure Folk Fest 4: William Prince at West “Sophisticated Lady” showcased is just a pipe dream, but organizers End Cultural Centre, Nov. 10 Joanna’s power as well as former U pull it off every year. Without fail, William Prince has a voice norof M professor/drummer Quincy people lug all their gear and make the mally reserved for musicians much Davis’ speed. trek to this folk-lover’s utopia. Every older than he is. It’s a voice for those Dopamine-inducing year, they wander through the forest who’ve lived the life and done the “Embraceable You” twisted and on shaded trails, following the sounds time. It’s for those whose throats are turned in unexpected ways and carried through the warm air as the glazed over with experience and who revealed the softness and tenderness dragonflies dip and dart through the understand the importance of soothof her voice. U of M professor/trum- trees. At night, the moon rises over ing sounds in this chaotic world. It’s peter Derrick Gardner also shone the main stage as audience member a voice of gold. during “I Should Care,” effortlessly fill their lungs with fresh forest air.

This sold-out show included some cementing his status as one of the best It’s completely enchanting and proof new songs and plenty of classics about trumpet players in the city. positive that music and the environ- life and love. His banter was either It’s still early in Joanna’s career, but ment harmonize perfectly. humorous or gratitude-filled, and it’s astonishing a voice so smooth and always personable. exquisite can come out of something 3: Mise en Scene at The “Breathless” was soothing and as elementary as a throat. Without a Good Will Social Club, Dec. 1 beautiful as always, and “Shades of doubt, Winnipeg’s loss is Toronto’s Mise en Scene is definitely a band Black,” which he wrote as a rock song, gain. to watch any time they’re in town. picked up the pace and showcased

Prince’s more energetic side.

A William Prince show is the ultimate in comfort. That tranceinducing tone makes eyes glaze over and bodies melt into chairs, and while a blizzard raged outside the venue, that was all the warmth the audience needed.

Shows serve as a display for musical creativity as well as a public classroom for artists to hone their skills and perfect their art 5: Multiple artists at the Hudson’s Bay building, Feb. 2

On a frosty February night, the Hudson’s Bay building basement was full of music no fur trader in their right mind would have listened to in 1670.

The Winnipeg New Music Festival (WNMF) has been known to showcase music in unique venues. In 2016, it was the Pan Am Pool, this past year it was the expansive empty space in the basement of the Hudson’s Bay building downtown. Spaces, however, are malleable and can be brought back to life. That night, the basement

on Portage Avenue was full of life and it carried with it the most interesting vibe. Performances were scattered all over the basement and the audience was instructed to move around, as at a festival, from one performance to the next.

The Winnipeg Chamber Music Society performed Alexina Louie’s “Falling Through Time,” and it fused with the sweeping blue light that filled the room like a quilt covering a vast ocean, each square a different emotion. The ocean immersed the audience and they rose and fell with the waves.

Other performances were spooky or eerie, but always interesting and entertaining.

The last performance was painful, with one note repeated ad nauseum by students from the Miles Macdonell Collegiate Symphony Singers, standing in a large circle around the audience but that’s the variety of WNMF. Some of it is mind-blowingly awesome, while some of it is like dental surgery.

Despite the last performance, the venue and the quality of musicianship, elevated this show above many others.

It was truly, a unique and memorable Winnipeg experience.

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Arts & Culture

Arts & Culture Editor: Olivia Michalczuk Contact: arts@themanitoban.com

Fine arts firsts Actually Milk, a collective of six fine arts students, hosts inaugural show Jen Doerksen, staff

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Members: Tamiko Kavanagh, Hanna Reimer, Mary Vallarta, Avril Suss, Lauren Auger, Lauren Hower

ewly founded art collective Actually Milk, comprised of six second-year fine arts students, hosted its first group gallery at Forth on Dec. 22.

The show featured works executed in a range of mediums, including photography, acrylic painting, and ceramic. Collective member Hanna Reimer said that finding each other and creating the exhibition has been an exciting experience.

“Friends from high school didn’t really last, and we found this community almost instantly and it kind of felt almost too good to be true.

And we’re still sort of hyped on the adrenaline of meeting each other, and that’s sort of why we’re diving head first into this show,” Reimer said.

“None of us have had solo shows so we thought it might be a powerful punch into the art community to do a show and start our careers off.”

Reimer said she met the other collective members on a class trip to Minneapolis in their first year. The collective also includes Lauren Auger, Tamiko Kavanagh, Mary Vallarta, Lauren Hower, and Avril Süss.

Reimer described being part of a collective as a good way to begin a career and explore what it might be like to do solo exhibitions.

“We each have our own thing, we’re all very interested in learning about what each other can do. Like Mary is very into photo, Lauren likes

to paint, Tamiko does digital, so we all use our skills to learn from each other together, and putting that into an exhibition will result in a lot of different mediums are [being] represented,” she said.

“I think part of it is having a group of people we can trust to help each other grow, and a side passion project to create stuff we want other than our school projects,” Vallarta said.

“Hopefully we can turn it into something and do more with it,” she added.

Annie Beach, a member of “None of us have the School of Fine Arts Student had solo shows Association, attended the gallery and expressed her admiration of both the so we thought it works and their presentation. might be a powerful “The show didn't seem to have a set theme that it followed, likely due to punch into the art each artist having a unique and particular style, but the placement of all community to do a the work seemed to flow nicely in the show and start our space together, joining similar works together in the exhibition,” she said. careers off” - Hanna Beach said this is the first collecReimer, member tive she is aware of at the school of fine arts. of Actually Milk The majority of the works, besides installation pieces, were for sale.

Vallarta’s contribution to the galThe collective is planning to prolery was her photographs, and she duce a zine of visual work in the comsaid that the collective’s collabora- ing months. tion for the show was similar to other forms of art. “It's like we're a band, but make art instead of music because even though we make separate stuff it all still goes together,” she said.

Vallarta said the group came up with the name Actually Milk in 2017 at the Winnipeg Folk Festival while discussing the possibility of creating a zine.

Not your grandma’s basement The REC Room will feature some of Winnipeg’s up and coming artists Olivia Michalczuk, staff

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he REC Room is a video series proper audio and video equipment, “It’s the perfect way to discover of live music sessions that will adorned the walls with posters, and new music, and it’s so raw - you’re premiere Jan. 10 and feature up-and- began recruiting performers for the not pitch-correcting the vocals, overcoming Winnipeg indie bands. show. He recorded five shows last dubbing drum tracks, or polishing it Red River College (RRC) year, but the official premiere of his off with heavy editing - what you see creative communications student collaboration with Baranyk comes is what you get.”

Sean Guezen has paired up with out this week.

Silence Kit will be featured in the Mid-Ocean School of Media Arts When the opportunity arose for premiere episode. Future performaudio engineering graduate Ashton Guezen to choose a major project for ers will include local artists such Baranyk to round up bands of all his program at RRC, he decided to as Urban Vacation, Rust Owl, and genres, from folk Taylor Janzen. to punk rock, to Though recordrecord raw and ing is complete “It’s the perfect way to discover new unedited live for this season, music, and it’s so raw – you’re not pitchshows in a baseGuezen expects they w ill be ment-like studio correcting the vocals, overdubbing drum at Mid-Ocean recording more tracks, or polishing it off with heavy School of Media shows in the sumArts. mer and will either editing; what you see is what you get” “ T he R EC reach out to bands Room features or put out a call Sean Guezen, creator of The REC Room music that’s a little for applications. bit louder, a little What he knows bit weirder, or has a bit of attitude,” up the production to make his show for sure is that he wants to keep this said Guezen. bigger and better. project going. “Ultimately, I want to The idea originally came together “The REC Room is a labour of be able to turn some heads and get in 2016 when Guezen decided to cre- love for me that sprouted from my more people listening to Winnipeg ate a show from his basement that obsession with watching live music indie rock. As soon as Ashton and I featured local artists. He scraped sessions like Audiotree and KEXP had finished the last session a couple together enough money to get the on YouTube,” he said. weeks ago I think we both looked

photo provided by the rec room

at each other and realized that we this city’s music out there. “Winnipeg needed to make more,” he said. needs as many shows like this as it can “We’re already discussing shoot- get,” said Guezen. ing more videos likely in early sum“The REC Room just highlights a mer, and we’re really just excited by niche of independent musicians that the possibilities of where we can take perhaps aren’t represented enough, so this.” that’s where we fit into this.”

Guezen said that Winnipeg musicians need outlets to get the recog- The first episode of The REC nition they deserve and The REC Room premieres on Jan. 10 on Room is another way to get more of www.therecroomwpg.com

VOL. 104 NO. 18 January 10, 2018

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’Toban turntable Want us to review your band? Email arts@themanitoban.com today!

Jen Doerksen, staff

Vulfpeck Mr. Finish Line 3.5/5

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alifornia-based funk musicians Vulfpeck released Mr. Finish Line in early November. The group has steadily released a full LP each year since 2011, and, in that time, their sound has developed from bass-driven minimal funk to a whole-hearted, melodic R&B and soul sound.

Their sound has developed from bass-driven minimal funk to a wholehearted, melodic R&B and soul sound Mr. Finish Line is their first album dominated by tracks with vocal lines front and centre, moving their melodies to new places alongside the classic Vulfpeck bass engine.

The album starts off with “Birds of a Feather, We Rock Together,” which initially was released as a music video

in September. The song is light and the title track, picks up the pace. airy, softer and slower than most of Gentle guitar playing keeps things the rest of the album. Regular con- soft while a steady hi-hat beat adds tributor Antwaun Stanley sings about an underlying groove to the otherthe journey to find his flock through wise relaxed song. Christine Hucal treetop struggles of heavy rains and sings on this one, quite suitably, as winds, while the band maintains a her softer, higher-pitched tone shares delicate sounding, yet consistently in the gentleness of the song. soothing instrumental arrangement.

We get a glimpse of what might be A small order of pancakes liter- called classic Vulfpeck on “Tee Time.” ally serves as the percussion instru- The tempo picks up, the bass forges ment on this song, as it is listed as ahead full-steam, and the keys bop drummer Jack Straton’s instrument along to the quick tempo. The song in the Bandcamp release and is seen feels closer to being a fragment than in the music video. About mid-song, a fully composed idea, and it harkens the group breaks for a rather timely back to the likes of 2014 LP, Fugue whistle break-down, giving Stanley State, and earlier albums. a break from singing the chorus. The The rest of the album returns to bass also takes some freedom during the tempo and feel originally set this time, keeping the rhythm active by the first track. “Running Away” through the whistling. Gentle notes builds gently to near climax, but on keys and subtle wah-wah effect holds back and keeps the sounds genfrom a pianet add the classic Vulfpeck tle and tactful. “Hero Town” features nuance to an otherwise uncommonly some sounds that Vulfpeck fans will slow-grooving tune. be quick to recognize, like the Farfisa The next track, “Baby I Don’t keys with a wah-wah pedal twist Know Oh Oh,” featuring vocalist and a saxophone melody, instead of Charles Jones, brings in the usual a vocal line. “Business Casual” blends outgoing, playful Vulfpeck feel, with- the classic Vulfpeck upbeat feeling out picking up the pace too much. with their seemingly newer style of Jones shares the melodic spotlight writing, wherein vocalists carry the with Joey Dosik on alto saxophone, melody, and the notes from every who keeps on with the soul sound instrument feel very deliberate.

The album closes out with a short through a short solo. Track three,

ditty called “Captain Hook,” which sounds more like a narrative piece at first than a real song, but also features a lively bass solo.

Like always, Vulfpeck has written another album marked by lightweight

funky fun, created through mindful and tactful instrumental parts being in the right place at the right time, with an especially soulful twist this time around.

3.5/5

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Arts & Culture

Arts & Culture Editor: Olivia Michalczuk Contact: arts@themanitoban.com

Sports

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

Bison basketball teams trample Pronghorns Nicole Konieczny makes history in win Saturday Ryan Stelter, staff

Bison Rashawn Browne forces past Pronghorn Cameron Fischer Manitoba's 91-69 win over the Pronghorns Saturday, Jan. 5 at the Investors Group Athletic Centre. photo by joe oczerklewicz

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f the University of Manitoba basketball teams’ New Year’s resolution was to not lose, they are off to a good start.

Both the Bison men and women pulled off sweeps of the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns this weekend.

The women have now won eight of their last nine games and sit above .500 for the first time in a long time.

The men have now won five straight.

Women

The story of the weekend for the Bisons was Nicole Konieczny. The third-year guard put up a ridiculous 41 points in the 82-59 victory over the Pronghorns on Saturday. Her 41 points are the sixth-most in a Canada West women’s basketball game, just eight off the record.

“My team made me look unreal,” Konieczny said after Saturday’s win.

“Couldn’t be happier, I look to the stands and see my two parents, I have a huge support team and feels great to win.”

For head coach Michele Sung, her performance does not come as much of a surprise.

"The nature of our league is we can enjoy it for about two, three hours then we got to get on to the next one” Michele Sung, Bison women’s basketball head coach “She’s always capable of that,” she said. “She puts her head down she looks to score multiple ways she’s always capable of that so I think it’s awesome.”

The win on Saturday was the sec-

ond win of the weekend, after the Bisons dispatched the Pronghorns 87-73. Friday’s game was all about Taylor Randall. She scored 28 points, including 15 from beyond the arc, which made the difference.

“I was definitely in a groove,” she said. “I got help from my teammates especially when I put it inside they did a great job of kicking it out.”

Heading into the weekend, the Pronghorns were tops of the Canada West, but the Bisons managed to make quick work of them this weekend with their aggressive defence and clinical offence. Earning the sweep is nice for Sung, but the Bisons can’t get too wrapped up in it.

“The nature of our league is we can enjoy it for about two, three hours then we got to get on to the next one,” she said.

Men

Over the holiday break, the Bisons went to Toronto and played a few

scrimmage games against Ryerson manding 39-17 lead. Justus Alleyn and York Universities, which helped had another good night offensively, prepare the herd for the second half. scoring 23 points which puts him in “Ryerson is perennially one of the top 45 in Canada West career the top teams in the nation,” Bison conference points with 1,346. head coach Kirby Schepp said after Saturday was a bit of different Friday’s win. “It’s just great to join story, as Manitoba held Lethbridge them and partner with them, get at bay for most of the game, winning some reps in at a different pace. It 91-69. Offensively the Bisons were was certainly a productive time for us.” able to spread the love around with The trip came at a bit of a cost as four players scoring 14 or more points. the Bisons were without a few play- Alleyn again scored 23 points, but ers, including sophomore forward Joey Nitychoruk, more commonly James Wagner, who is a key cog for known as “Joey Nitro,” had a great Manitoba offensively. The injury-rid- game, scoring 18 points, one assist, dled Bison team managed to come and eight rebounds. away 94-84 winners on Friday, put“I think Joey played one of his best ting up their highest point total of games in probably a couple months, the season. It was Rashawn Browne which is great,” Schepp said. leading the way for the Bisons with 19 points, seven rebounds, and eight Bison basketball teams stay at home assists. next weekend to face the University Browne even pulled a Rondo out of Victoria Vikes on Jan. 12-13. in the second quarter, then faked a behind-the-back pass and sunk the easy layup giving the Bisons a com-

VOL. 104 NO. 18 January 10, 2018

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Bisons beat Bears in statement sweep Spriggs comes up huge as Bisons take weekend series against top ranked Golden Bears Jason Pchajek, staff

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he second half the 2017-18 University of Manitoba men’s hockey season kicked off with a bang, as the Bisons played host to the topranked University of Alberta Golden Bears. The Bisons played hard to frustrate the Bears and walk away with a weekend sweep at home.

Friday

Snagging the puck in the Manitoba end, Laurencelle turned on the jets and ripped down the left side, he went glove-side on Burke to give him his first loss of the season.

“He’s been very good for us all year and this weekend was no different. He definitely made the difference for us in goal tonight” - Mike Sirant, Bison men’s hockey head coach

In the first game of the weekend, the Bears came out swinging and the Bisons answered in kind riding a strong penalty-kill to a 5-4 overtime win.

Alberta opened scoring with goals from Steven Owre and Jamie Crooks in the opening period. Sean Christensen scored one for the home side to give the Bisons life and Quintin Lisoway evened the score midway through the first.

In the second, Brad Bowles gave Manitoba the lead. An outlet pass Manitoba’s penalty kill helped out, from behind the Golden Bears net going six for seven. With a bangedwas picked off by Bowles in the up blue-line, Bisons captain Brett high slot, catching Bears netminder Stovin was called on to play defence Brendan Burke off guard and Bowles and gained praise from his coach. rifled a shot top-corner.

“He did an outstanding job for us,” Bison forward #26 Quintin Lisoway keeping possession against a tough Golden Bear defence. photo by chantal zdan After Michael St. Croix scored said Bison head coach Mike Sirant. to give the Bisons the 4-2 lead early “He’s been playing good defence all Henry snapped a quick outlet pass to A minute later, Lisoway banged He definitely made the difference for in the third period, penalty trouble year, and to step into that situation St. Croix sending the puck cross-ice to home his fifth goal of the year to us in goal tonight.” swung the momentum of play back to be playing the number one team Franko. He ripped a shot low-blocker restore the two-goal lead and the to the Bears. Cole Sanford scored in the country, he did outstanding.” on Canada West’s best goaltender Bisons held on to win.

Spriggs made 63 saves during the The Bisons will be back in action Zach Sawchenko. to bring the Golden Bears within one, and Brandon Magee got the Saturday The Bisons briefly held a 2-0 lead weekend series, helping the Bisons on Jan. 12-13 in Saskatoon, taklone powerplay marker to tie the In the second game of the week- off a goal from Brett Brooks in the sec- improve to 11-5-2, five points back ing on the third-ranked University game with three minutes left to force end, the Bisons were further able to ond, but the Bears finally responded. of the second-placed Saskatchewan of Saskatchewan Huskies. overtime. stymie the Bears and won a 3-1 deci- A Ryan Rehill shot was stopped by Huskies.

One minute into the extra frame, sion to sweep the series.

Bison goalie Byron Spriggs, and Riley “Byron is outstanding,” Sirant said.

Remi Laurencelle put on a oneBison forward Zach Franko got Kieser was there to tuck in the loose “He’s been very good for us all year and this weekend was no different. man show to win it for the Bisons. his team on the board first. Adam puck to make it 2-1.

Bison Briefs Men’s volleyball and women’s hockey earn split, women’s volleyball swept Ryan Stelter, staff

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his weekend the University of Manitoba volleyball and women’s hockey teams started off the second half of the season on the road.

The women’s hockey team was in Edmonton and earned a split against the University of Alberta in a clash of the two top teams in women’s hockey.

The Bison volleyball teams were in Vancouver for a series against the University of British Columbia. The men managed a split, but the women were swept.

Women’s hockey split reigning national champions on the road

The two top-ranked teams in the country clashed in Edmonton this weekend, with the Bisons coming out as victors on Friday, but falling in overtime on Saturday.

Erica Rieder’s marker halfway through the third period was the eventual winner as the Bisons came back to win 2-1. Alberta opened the

scoring early in the first through ping at their heels, sitting only one had nine kills, with Kevin Negus The Bisons have now lost four in a Autumn MacDougall, but Manitoba point back. Manitoba heads home finishing with six digs and six kills. row and sit third last in the Canada answered a few minutes later with to play the third place University of Manitoba now holds a 6-8 record West with a 5-9 record.

Sheridan Oswald’s third goal of the Saskatchewan Huskies on Jan. 12-13. and sits at seventh in the Canada Both Bison volleyball teams host year.

West, with the top eight making the Trinity Western University Bison fifth-year goalie Rachel Men’s volleyball earns playoffs.

Spartans at Investors Group Athletic a surprising split, The women also had a tough slog Centre on Jan.12-13.

Dyck made 14 saves in the win.

On Saturday, things started out women get swept before them with UBC ranked secwell for the Bisons, with Lauren The 10th-ranked Bison men’s vol- ond in the country. Manitoba lost Warkentin scoring on the first shot leyball team had a tough ask ahead of three extremely close sets on Friday of the game. Bison captain Caitlin them this weekend in taking on the with two of the three needing extra Fyten doubled the lead with a pow- second-ranked UBC Thunderbirds. points. Allison Alcock and Jocelyn erplay marker minutes later.

They managed a gritty 3-2 win Friday Koswin both finished with a teamAlexandra Poznikoff cut into the night, but fell in three straight sets best eight kills. Cassie Bujan came up Bison lead with the lone goal in the Saturday. with a court best 18 kills on the night. second and the Pandas left it until Adam DeJonckheere had a teamManitoba fell in five sets on late in this one, with Cayle Dillion best 12 kills on Friday and rookie Saturday. After the Bisons claimed scoring with 15 seconds remaining in Dylan Sutherland led the way with the first set, the Thunderbirds won the game to level the score. Regan eight digs and two service aces. The two straight and with their backs Wright then scored in the second Bisons actually jumped out to a 2-0 against the wall, Manitoba won the overtime period to give the Pandas lead, but the T-Birds would not go fourth 25-23. The Bisons ultimately a 3-2 win. away, forcing a fifth and decisive set lost in the fifth 15-13.

Manitoba maintains its grip on in which Manitoba won 15-13.

Kearley Abbott was all over the first place in the Canada West with It was a different story on Saturday, court, finishing with 15 kills and 14 an 11-4-2-1 record, but the UBC as the Thunderbirds took control and digs, while Bujan came up clutch in Thunderbirds (11-4-1-2) are nip- won all three sets. Scott Vercaigne the dig department, with 17.

18

Sports

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

Former Bison hockey coach climbs in NHL all-time win standings Capitals’ Trotz moved into fifth in NHL coaching wins Jason Pchajek, staff

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ormer University of Manitoba Bison hockey player and head coach Barry Trotz is making history as an NHL bench boss.

On Dec. 30, John Carlson notched his fourth goal of the season against the New Jersey Devils. This goal proved to be the game-winner, as the Washington Capitals went on to smash their Metropolitan Division rivals 5-2. With the win, Trotz had his total wins as a coach move to 737 putting him in sole possession of fifth all time in wins as a coach.

Hailing from Winnipeg, Trotz downplayed the more newsworthy event of the night with some humour.

“I’ve lost my hair. I’ve turned grey.

I’ve gotten old,” he said in a postgame scrum.

With the win, Trotz moved into sole possession of fifth all-time in NHL coaching wins. Ahead of him sit a quartet of future and current Hall of Fame bench bosses in Al Arbour (782), Ken Hitchcock (804), Joel Quenneville (870), and Scotty Bowman (1244).

“My first year, I just wanted to get through the whole season and not get let go,” Trotz said to reporters.

Sirant. “It comes down to his character and his values. Barry is the same man as he was with the Bisons in the mid-eighties, just a real humble down-to-earth man.”

photo from the washingtonian

“I’m blessed to be standing here, a lot older.”

Trotz’s coaching career began in 1984 as an assistant with the University of Manitoba Bisons, under the tutelage of Bisons legend Wayne Fleming. In that first year, the herd took home the Great Plains Athletic Conference Championship.

Trotz left the following year for a stint with the Dauphin Kings of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, before returning to the Bisons and succeeding Fleming as head coach

for the 1987-88 season.

Trotz helmed the Bisons for two seasons and then during the 199091 season began his professional coaching career with the Baltimore Skipjacks of the American Hockey League. He later became the head coach in 1992 and after the team relocated to Portland, Maine he won the Calder Cup Championship in 1993-94.

“It’s not surprising to see Barry Trotz have the success that he’s had,” said current Bison head coach Mike

years behind the Nashville bench and moved to Washington in 2014.

Trotz is coming off his team’s second, of back-to-back, President’s Trophy winning seasons. The award is given to the NHL franchise owning the best regular season record the Capitals finished with 120 points “It’s not surprising in 2015-16 and 118 in 2016-17. The 120to see Barry Trotz point season also earned Trotz a Jack Adams Award, given to the NHL’s have the success best coach in a given season. that he’s had” - Mike With the current Capitals lineup, Trotz will likely have an opportuSirant, Bison men’s nity to eclipse Arbour for fourth allhockey head coach time next season. But for Sirant, he’s already made his alma mater proud.

“We’re very proud of him, the Sirant and Trotz spent time play- Bisons hockey program with him ing together with the Bisons, and being an alumnus with all the sucSirent spoke proudly of his former cess he’s had,” Sirant said. teammate.

“Barry was an outstanding player,” he said. “Might have been one of the best defensemen that I played with, and because he’s so humble, he downplays his abilities as a player.”

Trotz’s NHL coaching career began with the Nashville Predators in 1998, where he had the distinction of being the first coach in the team’s history. He was let go after 15

U SPORTS all-stars victorious over Canada’s eventual golden boys It’s time to give U SPORTS athletes due credit, and a seat at Canada’s hockey table Austin Frame

photo from vivid eye photography

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f you wanted to find out just how competitive U SPORTS men’s hockey really is, then you might want to start by asking the 2017 gold medal-winning Canadian world junior hockey team.

On Dec. 13-14 at the Meridian Centre in St. Catharines, Ont., during Hockey Canada’s world junior

selection camp, the young Team Canada hopefuls took on a squad made up of U SPORTS all-stars from across the country in an exhibition series designed to evaluate the national junior team.

To the surprise of many, the U SPORTS all-star squad was able to come away with a decisive series

sweep of Team Canada. In the first game, U SPORTS was backstopped to a win by eventual team Canada goalies Carter Hart and Colten Point with goals coming from Luke Philp (University of Alberta), Michael Clarke (St. Francis Xavier University) and Logan McVeigh (University of Saskatchewan) for a 3-0 victory.

“We had Point and Hart for the first game and we definitely needed them for the first half of the game,” Saskatchewan Huskies defenceman and U SPORTS all-star captain Kendall McFaull said.

“We were on our heels a little bit just trying to get used to the world juniors' speed. Hart kind of stood on his head and we came together in the last half of the second and third period.”

In the second half of the back-toback, the U SPORTS crew won a thrilling 4-3 tilt after the Alberta’s Jason Fram scored a game-winning powerplay goal with six seconds remaining.

“In the second game we were all

over them, we even out-shot them the second game. It was nice to have Fram score that goal with six seconds left because our bench went nuts,” McFaull said.

“It was like winning a championship for us. Even though it was an exhibition game, we felt that we had something to prove playing against the [Canadian] world juniors [team].”

Although it was an exhibition series, the U SPORTS all-stars knew this trip would not be a vacation, and was a chance to do something special by bringing university hockey out of the shadows and in to the forefront of the hockey landscape in this country.

“I think a lot of the guys felt that U SPORTS gets overlooked as a whole. For lots of guys this is still a stepping stone to professional hockey and I don’t think people realize that,” McFaull said.

“So for us to showcase the talent against the [Canadian] world juniors and prove that this is how good U SPORTS hockey is was something really important to us and we treated

it like they were big games and not just your typical all-star games.”

The U SPORTS team was happy to come home with the results that they were looking for in this exhibition series, and at the same time serve as a test for the national junior team. But the narrative coming out of the event was frustrating for the university players as the conversation surrounding the series revolved around the struggles of team Canada, rather than the high level of play from the U SPORTS team.

“I know we weren’t there for us, we were there to help make team Canada better but all the guys wanted was some recognition of ‘Hey, the U SPORTS team played awesome, maybe this hockey is better than we expected,’” McFaull said.

“All we wanted was a tip of the hat just to help everybody else realize how good it is.”

VOL. 104 NO. 18 January 10, 2018

Sports

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The case for Joey Votto The Cincinnati Reds first basemen is severely underrated in the Canadian sports world Joe Gonzales, volunteer staff

photo from Wikimedia Commons

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he news of Joey Votto winning sis in order to help gain an edge over MLB regular is +1.0, while an excel- forced to chase outside the zone more. most underrated baseball players, but the Lou Marsh Award made opponents in picking the best players, lent WPA is +3.0. Going back to that More strikes, and more outs. maybe the most underrated Canadian barely a sound in the Canadian sports one of the most important things a 10-season span, Votto contributed a Votto is one of the few guys that athlete of the last while. This isn’t his world. player can bring to the table is get- WPA below +3.50 in only two seasons. pitchers have trouble performing this fault, of course. If there were a staOn Dec. 12, it was announced ting on base. After all, that’s how you Those two seasons were, once again, against. In fact, it can be argued he tistic out there to measure the value Votto had won the annual award get runs. The more runs a team gets in 2008 and 2014. has better command of the strike of awards controlling for Canadian zone than many pitchers. It’s the culture, a Stanley Cup would weigh given to Canada’s top athlete, pro- with its 27 outs, the better chance of fessional or amateur. The winner is winning. reason he draws so many walks, and much more than a World Series, if he There’s no doubt in selected by a panel of sports journalVotto has certainly been trying to why he’s slowly started to reduce his were to ever get the chance to win one. ists from across Canada. This is the do his part because the Cincinnati strikeout rate. This goes back to the Literally and figuratively, of course. my mind Votto will second time Votto has won the award, Reds haven’t been winning. An averpoint made earlier: getting on base But maybe that’s just how Votto go down not only with this year’s finalists including, age MLB on-base percentage (OBP) can help you get more runs. You also wants it. It would certainly seem to among others, Sidney Crosby and is .320. Since Votto started playing for only have 27 outs to get those runs. fit his character. As Sports Illustrated as one of the most curler Rachel Homan. the Reds full-time in 2008, they’ve As an estimate, the average league wrote in one article with quotes from Votto winning the award is hardly posted a 785-835 win-loss record - a strikeout rate (K%) is 20%, while Votto, “Baseball’s most evolved hitter underrated baseball surprising. It doesn’t help Votto has .484 win percentage. In that 10-season the average walk rate (BB%) is 8%. toils in relative anonymity, underbeen playing on a Cincinnati Reds time frame, Votto has posted an aver- players, but maybe In 2017, Votto had an 11.7K% and a appreciated by his own fans and team that hasn’t had a winning record age OBP of .427. That’s actually par the broader baseball world. And he the most underrated 19.0BB%. since 2013, the last time the club saw for the course. In only two of those So, how does Votto stack up doesn’t mind it.

Canadian athlete the postseason. It also doesn’t help 10 seasons did he post an OBP below against some of the greats? The ear‘I think if I let the team’s perforthat Canada is still a hockey-dom- .400. The two seasons? His first full liest we’ll go is back to 1969, when the mance dictate how I behave,’ says inanated country, despite the recent season in 2008, and in 2014 when he mound was lowered to “increase the Votto, ‘Or how I perceive my perforhype and success surrounding the only played 62 games due to an injury.

A batter at the MLB level has batting. ” Votto’s career OBP of .428 mance, or whether or not there’s value, Toronto Blue Jays. On one Instagram Maybe his stellar OBP doesn’t about a quarter-second to identify the ranks second behind Barry Bonds. or whether or not anyone even cares, post by TSN in regards to Votto win- have you convinced. That’s fine. How pitch that’s being thrown at him, and His career walk rate of 16.2 per cent it’s a dangerous and slippery slope.’” ning the award, most of the com- about another statistic? Baseball decide whether or not to swing. It’s places him in 16th, where the next 15 ments had a common theme, “Why loves its statistics, after all. Win the reason why a lot of analysts will players ahead of him are no longer didn’t Crosby win?”

Probability Added (WPA) gives talk about whether the pitcher has active in the league. Weighted Runs That’s a fair question. But, I have credit to whether a player helps - or command of the strike zone or not. Created Plus (wRC+) measures a a better one. Why hasn’t Votto won doesn’t help - a team’s win probabil- If the batter has trouble recognizing player’s total production and takes more? He does have an MVP award ity based on his plate appearances. It what pitch is coming, and the pitcher into account different ballparks. from 2010 under his belt, but it feels takes context into account as well, can consistently place his pitches in Votto’s career wRC+ so far is 158, placlike he should have much more than giving more value to a walk-off home and around the corners, then the ing him in third behind Mike Trout that. run than a grand slam in a blowout pitcher can “expand” the zone. What and Bonds once again.

As baseball has started to trend game in the fifth inning. An average results is the pitcher getting more There’s no doubt in my mind Votto towards using more statistical analy- WPA at the end of the season for an favourable calls, and the batter being will go down not only as one of the