Pre-loved clothing and campus initiatives meet in Arts Lounge
Arifah Gheesah, staff
The Arts Lounge became a centre for activity from Nov. 3-5 as the Racial Equity and Inclusion Alliance (REIA) and the Arts Student Body Council (ASBC) hosted a thrift market for students. The event featured a wide range of pre-loved items from clothing to jewelry ranging $5 to $25, as well as refreshments such as pizza, coffee and bubble tea.
Students were encouraged to donate items with the opportunity to earn money back. Some proceeds from the event’s sales went toward student initiatives and programs organized by ASBC and REIA, including scholarships, health and wellness initiatives and other campus-focused projects.
Safron Blais, ASBC women’s representative, spoke on the event. “People seem like they enjoy the break from school to look at clothing pieces.” Blais also mentioned she purchased a cardigan from the market and highlighted the ways this event is helpful for students. “It’s nice to provide opportunities for myself and other students to have access to affordable clothing, especially with
the increase of fast fashion and the prices of clothing — and everything in general — going up,” she said.
The thrift market is not a new initiative. REIA and ASBC first hosted a similar event in spring 2025 and are already looking forward to hosting another market in the winter term.
Ysabelle Tankeko, a student attendee, said she really enjoyed the event and shared her thoughts. “I think thrifting is really important, especially [in a time of] a lot of fast fashion. Sometimes clothes are super expensive these days, as well.” Tankeko added that events like these make shopping both accessible and enjoyable. Beyond affordability, students appreciated knowing that their purchases were contributing to meaningful campus initiatives.
Student volunteers from both REIA and ASBC played a crucial role in organizing the event, sorting donations, arranging displays and making the market a welcoming space for all attendees, all while juggling shifts between their classes.
Sport activism on ice
Olympians discuss queer inclusion and gender in figure skating on U of M campus
Roy Albright Obah, staff
Olympians Gabriella Papadakis and Kaitlyn Weaver spoke on sport activism and social justice in figure skating at the U of M on Nov. 4 in Room 220 of the Active Living Centre.
The discussion, hosted by Tina Chen, vice-provost equity, and Douglas Brown, dean of the faculty of kinesiology and recreation management, explored how gender, queer identities and inclusive leadership are reshaping the world of figure skating.
Opening the event, Chen reflected on how the history of skating can be examined through the concept of “immanent critique,” which holds a discipline accountable to its ideals. She emphasized that sports cannot be separated from the bodies and identities that bring them to life, and that these conversations are essential to understanding how gender and history shape skating today.
Weaver shared her journey
of coming out as a queer athlete, discussing the challenges she faced with homophobia in the sport and the fear of losing her career. She described how joining Skate Canada’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee helped her recognize the power of using her voice to advocate for change. Through mentorship from Chen, she learned how empathy and open dialogue can foster understanding within communities. This experience inspired her to become a leading advocate for social justice in figure skating.
Papadakis spoke about navigating partnership dynamics and gendered expectations throughout her career and how these experiences motivated her to envision a skating culture that prioritizes safety, inclusion and learning. She also shared her ongoing efforts to make figure skating a space where young athletes can thrive without fear of judgment or exclusion.
The conversation focused
on recent policy changes regarding gender definitions in pairs and dance teams. At Skate Canada, a proposal to allow any gender combination in pairs and dance teams was approved unanimously by the board, expanding opportunities for skaters of all gender identities. This change builds on the work of Weaver, who also serves on the International Skating Union (ISU) Ice Dance Technical Committee. The speakers noted that while Canada has embraced
more inclusive practices, the ISU has been slower to adopt such changes.
The conversation concluded with Chen mentioning Papadakis’ upcoming book project and a discussion on how storytelling in figure skating can move beyond traditional romantic narratives to embrace more diverse expressions of artistry and connection.
The event is part of an ongoing collaboration between Chen, Papadakis,
Weaver, Noam Gonick and David Churchill. They are developing a research project that examines how figure skating can reimagine traditional gender roles and artistic boundaries within the sport.
As part of the event, Papadakis and Weaver joined the Queer Community Skate on Nov. 6 at the Wayne Fleming Arena, which brought together students, staff and faculty for an inclusive community skating session.
PHOTO BY ARIFAH GHEESAH / STAFF
PHOTO BY EBUNOLUWA AKINBO / STAFF
21 years of advancing learning, service and dialogue for a better world
< Cont’d from front page
awards program, it provides bursaries and fellowships that directly support students in the peace and conflict studies graduate programs, investing in the next generation of peacebuilders.
“My experience is that the impacts are soft and yet hard enough to [feel them move people] to purposeful action,”
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all will feel the need to act on behalf of peace and justice.”
Final 2025 Brown Bag Lecture
The 2025 Brown Bag Lecture Series will conclude with Somia Sadiq, peacebuilder, storyteller and founder of Narratives Inc. Her lecture will explore how metaphors,
“To ignore our stories is in fact to disavow our collective responsibility to listening and to enable conditions for feeling heard”
— Stanley Amaladas, director of the Arthur V. Mauro institute for peace and justice
he included.
He emphasized that the lectures reflect the institute’s mission. “We take our work in reaching out and partnering with our community stakeholders and speakers seriously […] This is how we serve our communities.”
Looking ahead, Amaladas expressed optimism for the future of the lecture series, hoping they “continue the grounds for understanding and […] conditions where
ancestral memory and sensory detail can bridge divides and open new pathways for dialogue.
The lecture will take place on Nov. 27. Faculty, students, staff and the public can register to attend in person at Room 255, St. Paul’s College, or via Zoom at umanitoba.ca/ st-pauls-college/mauro-institute-peace-justice/brownbag-lecture-series.
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A celebration of Filipino culture at the CMHR
Filipino vendors, students and volunteers gather for the Kwento’t Kulay celebration
Nafisa Al Lilo, staff
T
he Canadian Museum for Human Rights hosted Kwento’t Kulay: Stories and Colors, a one-day event on Nov. 9 organized by the Philippine Historical Society of Canada, Inc. (PHSCI). The event focused on Filipino culture, stories and artistic expression.
Nico Bryle Alfafara, PHSCI co-founder, provided insight about the event. “It’s an art session while at the same time a vendor market session, wherein we come together to gather the Filipino community.”
wanted it to be more personal in terms of identity,” he said.
Part of the event was a Filipino-Style market (tiangge.)
This served as a space for patronage and support of small Filipino businesses.
Axel Alegre participated in the event for the first time as a vendor. “I want to showcase my products […] I also want to highlight my arts and crafts, which I sell,” she said. “Being a Filipino in this Filipino event,
and, at the same time, be with my people.”
Santos also encouraged non-Filipino students to participate in Filipino events. “If you want to learn about Filipino culture […] you’re always welcome,” she said. “We’re a very welcoming community.”
Members of the U of M Filipino Students’ Association (FSA) were also involved with the event. Nathaniel Casiano, FSA co-president, shared his thoughts on the gathering.
“It’s important to be in spaces that make me intertwine with my culture and, at the same time, be with my people”
— Adaleia Santos, volunteer at Kwento’t Kulay
The event included three sessions in which attendees were taught something about the Philippines. The first session was about Baybayin, which is an ancestral written language in the Philippines. The second session was about volunteerism and stone art. The third, Alfafara said was “about cultivation and Filipino history and heritage.”
Alfafara explained the event happens annually, with each year focusing on a different theme. “This year, we
it’s something I want to [bring] in as a creative artist.”
The event was also an opportunity for people to engage with their cultural backgrounds. Adaleia Santos, a volunteer from the youth activist group Anakbayan, said she joined the event to learn more about her heritage.
“I wanted to get in touch with my Filipino culture and history,” Santos said. “It’s important to be in spaces that make me intertwine with my culture
“Part of this experience is really exploring Filipino identity, [and] aspects that may not be as prominent,” he said. “Filipino culture is not just jeepneys or Jollibee, it’s so much deeper than that.”
Danritch Balute, FSA co-president, added that the event highlights the diversity within the Filipino community in Canada. “You will find Filipinos that immigrated here and also Filipinos that were born here in Canada. That makes us interesting [because we] will have a different perspective,” Balute said.
Casiano and Balute noted the event also raised awareness about natural disasters in the Philippines. “[The Philippines is] in a place where there’s a lot of typhoons, a lot of natural disasters, including earthquakes,” Casiano said. “There was an earthquake that happened just last month, but currently there is
Campus leadership conference brings women together at U of M
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[you] do not normally get the chance to connect with.”
The conference included sessions focused on topics such as communication, mental health, allyship and the history of women’s oppression. These sessions were led by collaborating clubs and organizations, including Manitoba Laadliyan, the Indigenous Student Centre, the Council of Women Winnipeg, the Provin-
cial Council of Women Manitoba and the National Council of Women of Canada.
A panel discussion was held where speakers shared their
struggles. The panel featured Carolyn Wang, Ute Kothe and Johise Namwira.
“We are just glad that a lot of people found [...] interest and support in this event”
— Janna Samson, Women’s Centre vice president of finance and operations
experiences as women leaders, the challenges they have faced, issues related to intersectionality and their advice on how to overcome these
The event closed with a craft-making session where attendees were able to network. The organizers expressed they look forward to hosting more events like this where women can come together and connect, while also continuing to expand the services they offer to students.
another typhoon.” Balute added, “Approximately, we get 20 typhoons yearly on average, and recently, with climate change, it’s been much worse. The storms are getting stronger,” Balute stated. “One of the many reasons they are organizing this event is to send help back home.”
PHOTO BY NAFISA AL LILO / STAFF
PHOTO BY ARIFAH GHEESAH / STAFF
Renewing human rights in a divided world
Shayna Plaut weighs in on Alex Neve’s visit and the future of human rights
Nafisa Al Lilo, staff
T
he Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR) hosted an event where Alex Neve, a renowned human rights advocate, spoke about broken promises and the challenges facing universal human rights in a divided world. The event was named after Neve’s book, Universal: Renewing Human Rights in a Fractured World
The event began with Neve presenting a lecture that covered the five chapters of his novel. Throughout, Neve shared stories from his decades of human rights advocacy. One was centred on Maher Arar and his wife Monia Mazigh, a Syrian-Canadian couple whom Neve advocated for in one of his cases. Arar was detained in the U.S. and deported to Syria, where he was tortured and imprisoned. Mazigh, alongside Amnesty International, played a key role in his release.
Neve used this case to discuss various issues with universal human rights, emphasizing how essential it is to humanize rights by recognizing the real individuals and families behind the violations.
In one of his presentations, Neve called people to “put human rights first, embrace universality and commit to equality, protect human rights defenders and the right to protest, ensure justice, be expansive and believe in and champion human rights,” emphasizing his vision for renewing human rights in a divided world.
The event held a question-and-answer session that allowed the audience to connect with Neve. The event concluded with a book signing, giving the audience a chance for one-on-one conversation with Neve.
Shayna Plaut, the CMHR’s director of research and exhibition development, mentioned the museum wanted to host the event because Neve is internationally recognized as a human rights advocate and an upholder of its principles here in Canada.
He was a strong fit for the event because they “thought that it would be a great convening [of] literary and thought-provoking approaches to international human rights, and to a large variety of audiences here at the museum.”
She said the event aimed to remind audiences of “the importance of holding onto international human rights principles and ideals, particularly in times right now where things are so divisive.” Plaut added, “Being able to hold on to the importance of all people needing to live a life of safety, security and dignity is even more important.”
Plaut encouraged universities to create “more spaces [for] conversation and thinking [about] human rights.”
She added, “It’s okay if we don’t all agree. We can learn from […] each other’s experiences […] and we can still walk away stronger in our understanding of human rights.”
“We need to make sure
classrooms are a place for learning and conversations. Classrooms need to be able to hold divergent opinions,” said Plaut. According to her, it is also the responsibility of students to learn and hold “respectful space for each
other’s divergent opinions, and to really help lift up rather than tear [each other] down.”
Plaut added, “What’s really important is to remember that we can focus so much on human rights violations, but what’s important
is to also think about human rights possibilities, and I feel that students often have the space and the creativity to think about what’s possible as opposed to accepting what is.”
PHOTO BY NAFISA AL LILO/ STAFF
Research & Technology
U of M scientist reveals dangers of a warming Arctic
Climate scientist is using satellites and field data to track the melting edge
Mansura Akter Meghla, staff
Julienne Stroeve has spent much of her career studying one of the planet’s most rapidly changing regions — the Arctic. As a Canada 150 Research Excellence Chairholder at the U of M, she leads research that combines satellite observations and fieldwork to better understand how snow and sea ice are transforming in a warming climate.
“I study Arctic climate change, mostly focused on using satellite data to document changes in the snow and ice cover,” Stroeve explained. “I’m interested in what the cascading impacts of losing the summer sea ice will have both within and beyond the Arctic region, with a focus on climate, marine ecosystems and human systems.”
Her work is part of a growing global effort to monitor the Arctic’s shifting conditions. These changes influence not only northern communities and ecosystems but also global weather and ocean patterns. As the Arctic continues to warm nearly four times faster than the rest of the planet, scientists like Stroeve are racing to understand what an ice-free summer ocean could mean for the climate system.
Stroeve’s path to Arctic research began with a single university class. “I took a class from a professor who did research there and I was blown away by the beauty of the area seen in his photographs,” she said. “At the time, it seemed quite exotic to study this remote region of the world.”
Now, decades later, her work spans both poles. Recently, Stroeve has been developing systems to improve how satellites measure snow depth and sea ice thickness — two critical indicators of Arctic health. “We developed an in situ–based system that we’ve taken to the Arctic and Ant-
arctic,” she said, referring to equipment designed to collect and analyze data directly on site rather than relying solely on satellite measurements. “It’s been revealing that traditional assumptions do not hold, and that we need to rethink how we use satellite data for the most accurate representations of ice and snow thickness.”
These findings could reshape how climate scientists interpret satellite information. Radar altimeters are used to measure the height of sea ice and snow cover and depend on assumptions about how radar waves interact with
different layers of snow. Stroeve’s research showed these assumptions often oversimplify complex natural processes, potentially leading to errors in large-scale ice thickness estimates. Her work also plays a role in improving climate models that scientists use to project future environmental change. Part of her work has been “seeing how well climate models can resolve the observed changes,” she said. “[It’s] led both to an increased understanding of the links between sea ice loss and greenhouse gases, but also [to estimates] of when we may expect to see
the first ice-free summers in the Arctic Ocean.”
Looking ahead, Stroeve and her team “are working on securing funding to [develop] novel buoy systems in the Arctic that [can] directly deploy from aircraft,” she said. Such systems would make it possible to collect real-time information, even in areas that are difficult to reach by ship.
Beyond the scientific implications, Stroeve hopes her work helps raise awareness of the Arctic’s importance. “Ideally, we want to understand the implications of continued sea ice loss, but mostly I would like the world to care
about the Arctic and realize how important it is to keep the ice there,” she said.
Stroeve’s research has already influenced international modeling centers. Her 2007 paper, “Arctic sea ice decline: Faster than forecast,” revealed that observed sea ice loss in the Arctic was occurring much more rapidly than projected by existing climate models. The study prompted many modeling groups to revisit and refine their methods to better capture the pace and complexity of observed changes in sea ice, according to Stroeve.
GRAPHIC BY TEEGAN GILLICH / STAFF
The importance of the local music scene in big cities
Go see your favourite local artist before they might just leave
Max Reid, staff
Music is an integral part of culture, in many cases even helping people define who they are, who they interact with and how they see themselves. Finding someone who has similar tastes in music, artists and bands always opens conversations about favourite songs and albums, if they have seen them live before or how long they have been listening to them. It’s a fast way to make friends and widen the growing cultural scene surrounding genres and bands. For many, the goal would be to see their favourite artists and bands live on a big stage just once. The songs sound louder than life — bright lights set a stage for the performance of a lifetime.
In some cases, however, it seems like those favourite bands and artists skip cities on tours. It’s happened plenty of times to me, making me resort to travelling or just hoping I can catch them next time and having to miss out on part of a tour. Some people’s favourite bands have even broken up or stated they aren’t going to tour anymore, leaving a desire to see a much-anticipated concert sadly unfulfilled.
That doesn’t mean it is the end of that adventure to hear your favourite songs being played live. Every big city will have the people’s favourite strip of bars and venues, setting up a vibrant night-
life almost always accompanied by live bands playing from these hot spots. Local bands and artists flock to local venues to play songs, whether they are cover bands of popular music or artists trying to carve their own original music into the scene,
providing a backing soundtrack for the night. These gigs bring people to experience a lively time, some -
times bringing fans of these local bands with them or fans of the genre looking for their next favourite song. These smaller venues allow for likeminded people to mingle and meet, and if it’s a cover band, talk about why they like the songs being covered so much.
Some places will even hold small festivals like the Real Love Summer Fest or Manitoba Metalfest, giving people a chance to see artists that they might never have seen or even heard of before. I have been to both festivals, and the greatest part about them for me is the artists you may never see again — those from out of town or even out of the country on their own tour, stopping by in Winnipeg to perform for people they may never meet again. A literal blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment. Some of the artists I have seen I still listen to but haven’t seen live since. Some bands may even break up before you even get a chance to see them a second time, making that one moment that you did entirely unique — an important moment for your own music culture, an impact on the genre itself or a moment that changes the culture of the festival itself. Many times, these bands that play are made up of people who have full-time jobs and are using music and the music scene to show who they truly are and showcase their creativity to people who appreciate the genre of music. It’s a break from day-to-day life and a time to let loose and use creativity that’s been bottled up. These bands even inspire others to take that leap and join the local scene, to make their own mark and expand on an everchanging culture. The importance of local bands and music scenes isn’t just about getting people in seats and buying drinks — it’s about leaving a mark and bringing that feeling of a big stage concert to a more personal level, leaving you wanting more.
GRAPHIC BY EMMA GILLICH / STAFF
Leave your gargoyle boyfriend at home
Some men are better left on the couch than brought to the party
Quinn Mayhew, staff
As I go through life, it becomes more apparent to me how many men think they’re entitled to not only exerting power over female agency but also commenting on women’s looks and appearances.
Microaggressions from men are a big thing that I think a lot of women experience on a day-to-day basis, so much so that we often tune them out at the expense of our own feelings and emotions.
Throughout high school and some of university, I was afraid to confront these microaggressions, especially coming from men, commenting on my writing, my appearance, my outfit choice and demeanour, with men often calling me “off-putting” or “too loud.”
Most men, by nature, seem entitled to not only assert power over women but also to control them because society will allow this under the pretext “boys will be boys.”
This need for men to control not only the female body but also female agency can be seen in romantic relationships, birth control, abor-
tion, the workplace and academia. This need to control women comes from a deep-seated form of misogyny where men think they are entitled to take what they want, and I do not mean all men when I say this. I have met some lovely, kind, self-aware men who are nothing but rays of sunshine, but for every kind man I meet, there are another 10,000 whose egotistical entitlement bleeds through.
Misogyny does not only live in the shadows — it exists as a living breathing thing that openly parades in the light of day. It is comments from your male co-worker, your friend’s boyfriend who decides you’re the problem for calling out his disrespectful behaviour, it’s the pattern of group projects where suddenly you’re doing all the work in your male dominated group because “you just know how to do things best.”
Take a stroll around campus
Immerse yourself in the
Sethulakshmi
Kumbalathuparambil
Sajeev, volunteer
As a neurodivergent, the bustle of one of the largest universities in the country can be overwhelming. The chatter, footsteps and doors opening and closing as students enter and exit all blend into a noisy blur that my brain doesn’t always know how to filter. Headphones became a necessity to keep the grubby hands of anxiety at bay. On a fateful day when my headphones gave up, I muttered a quiet “darn it,” stuffed them into my bag and braced myself for what I thought would be a long, anxious walk.
As I walked out of Robson Hall, I spotted a bunny, delicate and tiny, grazing in the grass. I stood there and watched this tiny furry friend enjoying an afternoon snack. A few feet away, an American red squirrel sat munching on an acorn, its tail fluffier and larger than its entire body. Before I could even look away, I saw movements — the dried leaves seemed to have come alive, my eyes strug-
Recently, I have adopted a no-nonsense approach to men, as if I woke up one day and decided enough was enough. I was no longer willing to play my part in the cycle of boosting men’s egos while compromising my own values.
Have you ever heard of the term “gargoyle boyfriend?”
Well, let me ask you, have you ever had a friend bring their evil boyfriend to every function and then he sits in the corner like a gargoyle and makes absolutely no effort to get to know you while making rude comments? Well, I have. These forms of men, for me, are not only extremely annoying but also feed the cycle of misogyny. Why on earth would you come to a gath-
nature that Fort Garry campus has to offer
gled to make sense of what was happening until I caught a glimpse of yellow and white, then an eye, then a beak — a white-throated sparrow. He foraged on the ground, his tiny buddies not far away, shuffling and chirping softly among the leaves.
Not to be dramatic, but in that moment, I felt so alive. My jaw loosened, my shoulders dropped, and my face felt lighter. I took a deep breath without even realizing it, as if my body had been waiting for permission to just exist. For once I wasn’t going anywhere. I was simply there.
The Fort Garry campus is full of life — a shared ecosystem, buzzing and breathing all around us. The Canada geese come in early spring and take full ownership of the campus grounds. You often hear them before you see them, their honks loud, distinct and occasionally a warning sign if you even dare to breathe near their nests. They’re a demographic of Canadians who don’t particularly care about the nation’s friendly and polite reputation.
By early summer, if you’re lucky and observant, you might spot a baby deer lying alone in the grass perfectly camouflaged, its white spots mimicking dappled sunlight hitting forest floor. Now, if you ever come across a fawn, the best thing to do is leave it be. It’s almost never abandoned. Mother deer often leave their babies hidden in tall grass or shrubs while they forage, trusting the camouflage to keep them safe. In time, those white spots will fade as the fawn grows stronger. By early fall, you’ll see them walking alongside their moms, taller, braver and fast enough to sprint away from danger.
If you’re a birder like me, strap on a pair of binoculars and take a slow stroll. You’ll be tattled on by chatty yellow warblers before you’ve even settled into your pace. Sooner or later, you will hear the cheerful song of an indigo bunting from a high perch. Look up and you will see the most brilliant shade of blue you have ever seen in your life.
If you didn’t already know, the U of M has its own birding
ering where you’re just going to sit in the corner pouting?
The recent Vogue article by Chanté Joseph titled “Is Having a Boyfriend Embarrassing Now?” has been heavily weighing on my mind. Is having a boyfriend embarrassing? I’d like to counter that and say not always.
Being in a relationship with a man isn’t always intrinsically embarrassing — it’s the self-abandonment that is embarrassing. In this era of self-love, authenticity and feminism, what is embarrassing is the knowledge that men are still disrespecting women publicly and privately, and women are still choosing to not only sign on to this but also defend these terrible men.
I’d like to end this article by saying, do not bring your gargoyle boyfriend to our hangouts — leave him at home. I’m sure he can manage. I do not want to see a Joseph at the function sulking in the corner, making disrespectful comments and then thinking they’re funny — they’re not, they’re misogynistic.
club called the UM Indigenous Birding Club, open to all students, staff and faculty who want to connect with nature through birding. The club hosts guided birdwatching walks during the summer months, offering a way to explore campus and learn about the many feathered residents that share our space. As the seasons shift, so do the cast of characters that make this place feel alive. The geese start heading south by late autumn. Now that they’ve
eaten enough to be ready for hibernation, the groundhogs are rounder. If you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of the fox that occasionally stops by as fall gradually gives way to winter. So, if you ever find yourself needing a break from the buzz of academic life, step outside without your headphones. You might find a little calm in the company of a bunny, a squirrel or even a bunting calling from the trees.
GRAPHIC BY TEEGAN GILLICH / STAFF
GRAPHIC BY TEEGAN GILLICH / STAFF
Master
Ms. Rachel teaches that empathy is power
As compassion retreats, Ms. Rachel centres those whose stories most need hearing
Kyra Campbell, staff
U
nfortunately, in this current societal moment, it feels like showing empathy and caring for others simply on the basis of humanity is often perceived as “woke” or “radical.” The online backlash to public figures who express concern, especially on what are viewed as political issues, shows how much attitudes toward such actions have hardened. In this era, Ms. Rachel (Rachel Accurso), a YouTube personality and teacher adored by parents and children alike, demonstrates what it looks like when someone with privilege uses their platform for more than personal gain, even when they are harshly demonized for doing so.
For those unfamiliar, Ms. Rachel has built a massive following through her songs and educational videos for children. Her gentle encouragement and commitment to kindness have made her a household name. She has long championed inclusivity and early childhood development, helping families navigate the often overwhelming world of parenting and learning. Over the past year, she has expanded her advocacy efforts, which has brought her both support and criticism.
As the genocide in Gaza continues, attacks remain
ongoing. Schools, homes, hospitals and businesses have been flattened, and hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced. While many public figures have not spoken about the immense human toll, Ms. Rachel has used her online presence to call for empathy and highlight the suffering, especially among children in Gaza.
Her activism goes beyond reposting on Instagram or making the advocacy about herself. Instead, she elevates the voices of those most affected. She shares stories, experiences and resources from Palestinian families and children’s advocates, including the story of Rahaf, a young girl who had both legs amputated due to an Israeli airstrike. Ms. Rachel not only highlights Rahaf’s story but also does what she is best at, allowing Rahaf to simply be a child through singing and dancing.
It is telling that her advocacy, centred on compassion and care for children, has been met with accusations of being too political or too “woke.”
But in the face of criticism, Ms. Rachel has stayed true to her values. As she explained in an interview with Glamour, “My love and care for children doesn’t stop at my own children. It doesn’t stop at the children in our country. It
embraces every child of the world.”
I remember being asked on more than one occasion by people aware that I do pro-Palestinian advocacy if I was Palestinian. While it was never explicitly stated why they were asking, it was clear that if I was not, they wondered why I cared about the issue so much. The idea that people might go out of their way to help others on the basis of shared humanity, rather than something like nationality, seemed difficult for some to understand. I mention this not to centre myself, but to illustrate that, despite our increased technological connectivity, it can feel like people are more disconnected than ever when it comes to empathy and care for one another.
In her Instagram posts, Ms. Rachel has made clear that human rights are being treated like a joke by many, and she will not be silent or allow that to continue unchallenged. She stated plainly that “wanting kids to not be killed” should not be met with unfounded claims that she is being paid by Hamas to speak out about the atrocities unfolding for children in Gaza.
It is not new that any issue more often than not will be met with opposition. However, the growing and vocal
Girl’s girls vs. pick mes
opposition to human rights is particularly dangerous. Whether it is Palestine, growing income inequality, climate change or any other current issue, complacency will solve nothing. The loudest voices in the world, like those trying to silence Ms. Rachel, only continue to win when we remain uneducated and disconnected from one another’s struggles.
While this can be heavy and disheartening to discuss, advocates like Ms. Rachel still have many supporters. She was recently recognized by Glamour as one of their 2025 Women of the Year at an event where she wore a dress
depicting the artwork of children from Gaza. About the drawings, Ms. Rachel said, “I’m carrying their stories in my heart. They all know about the dress, and they’re so excited.” Along with this recognition, she has the support of many everyday people, with 4.3 million followers on Instagram and an outpouring of encouragement online. Ms. Rachel is an example we should all strive to follow. While most of us may not have the same level of influence, her unwavering compassion should be replicated by people everywhere.
How labels that were meant to be feminist actually pit women against each other
Thandeka Katsika, staff
In recent years, social media has given rise to the terms “girl’s girl” and “pick me.”
The first describes a woman who is completely down for the girls — loyal, kind and always supportive of her fellow women. The latter describes a male-centered girl, one who brings other women down for the validation of men. At first glance, these terms seem harmless, beneficial even. They seem to simply describe two different personality types, but beneath the surface is a more troubling reality — these terms that were once meant to empower women are increasingly being weaponized against them.
Even though each term has a traditional meaning, now these terms seem to be tools to sow division among women. Today it seems like, in the social media space, women are criticized not by
their actions but by how other people interpret their actions.
For example, a “pick me” is no longer just someone who openly belittles other women for men’s sake. Based on my social media experience, she can be any woman who dresses differently, speaks differently or makes choices that others find inconvenient or unfamiliar. A woman who prefers hanging out with men might be dismissed as a “pick me,” even if she genuinely feels more comfortable in that environment.
Another woman might be called a “pick me” for expressing a personal preference that happens to align with traditional femininity like cooking, baking or wanting a stable heterosexual relationship. Suddenly, the label has little to do with calling out harmful behaviour and everything to do with dismissing women’s choices as illegitimate or male-influenced sim-
ply because they differ from people’s expectation.
The same distortion happens with the term “girl’s girl.” Instead of meaning a supportive, empathetic woman, it has become a label women are expected to wear. A girl’s girl must like the “correct” things, have the “correct” opinions and show unwavering solidarity with other women, even if those women are wrong, harmful or unkind. It seems like if a woman steps out of line she is stripped of her “girl’s girl” status and looked down upon.
This shift reveals something deeper — society has found yet another way to make women compete. The labels create an invisible checklist of what “good” womanhood looks like. It makes the already complex world of interactions between women even harder. These labels encourage judgment and criticism among women. Instead of asking why
a woman acts a certain way, social media encourages us to immediately assign her a label that defines her worth.
Ultimately, women deserve the space to be complicated, imperfect and evolv-
ing without being categorized or condemned. Empowerment should bring women closer together, not give society another way to pull them apart.
GRAPHIC BY EMMA GILLICH / STAFF
GRAPHIC BY EMMA GILLICH / STAFF
To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 such that each row, column, and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely. In Straights, like Sudoku, no single number 1 to 9 can repeat in any row or column. But rows and columns are divided by black squares into compartments. Each compartment must form a “straight.” A straight is a set of numbers with no gaps but it can be in any order, eg [7,6,9,8]. Clues in black cells remove that number as an option in that row and column, and are not part of any straight. Glance at the solution to see how “straights” are formed.
Living Hour to return to Winnipeg
Local indie rock band promotes new album with concert
Jordan Anglin, staff
Local indie rock band
Living Hour has been spending this November playing shows across the continent to promote their fourth and latest album Internal Drone Infinity. The 2025 tour will conclude at The Park Theatre on Nov. 21.
The final show will mark their return home to Winnipeg before their West Coast tour in February with New York City band The Pains of Being Pure at Heart. Living Hour guitarist Gilad Carroll is excited to play surrounded by “friends and community and family that have been supportive of the band for a long time,” and feels proud of the local music scene.
“We’ve really been [finding fans] more than ever, and it’s just fun to look up when you’re playing and see people bobbing their head or dancing or rocking out. We felt a really positive response,” he said.
Carroll also commented on playing live. “We like when it sounds loud but not piercing,
and I think that our experience playing together as a band has allowed us to dial that in,” he said.
Internal Drone Infinity was released on Oct. 17, nearly two years after its initial recording at Collector Studio and No Fun Club. The album is a departure from the dreamy and ethereal characteristics they first become known for, and Carroll called it their “rockiest album yet.”
“It feels good to put out a record that’s louder and heavier and more upbeat for us,” added guitarist Adam Soloway. “The genre of shoegaze has been intertwined with other genres [recently and] that’s connecting with a younger audience.”
“The songwriting, I think, is the best we’ve done, just in terms of [...] a pop sensibility,” Carroll said. “I’m super proud of a lot of the lyrics that Sam [Sarty] put together for this album. [They] are really cool and interesting.”
Living Hour began experimenting with new ideas in
2022 after touring for their previous album. Both guitarists noted their communication feels natural after growing up and playing their instruments together for two decades. They recruited their friend Melina Duterte (also known as Jay Som) to help record and produce the album. Soloway remembered Duterte was good at encouraging the band to experiment, giving them lots of time and freedom. Their intuitive dynamic resulted in lots of “cool, unique moments” and “different tones that [they] wouldn’t have had otherwise.”
“We built the songs in the studio setting with [Duterte]. She was really great to work with, and it turned out better than we could have hoped,” Carroll complimented.
The guitarists are also co-founders of Real Love Winnipeg, an organization that promotes local indie music. “We’re extremely intertwined with the local [music] scene, and so we’re happy to be doing what we’re doing and thank-
ful for all the support,” Carroll expressed.
“Getting to connect with musicians daily and see so much incredible music is amazing [...] It’s constantly energizing,” Soloway added. Together, they encourage bands Living Hour tours with
to come and play for Real Love. “We’re always singing Winnipeg’s praises,” he said.
For tickets and more information, visit livinghourband. com.
Stephen Adamopoulos releases single “There Is A Place”
Winnipeg singer-songwriter’s debut single focuses on themes of life and mindset
Carrington Dong, staff
Stephen Adamopoulos has loved music for most of his life, having grown up in a house where music was always playing. He decided to take up the guitar during the COVID-19 pandemic and honed his craft through jam sessions with friends.
“I started playing with some of my close friends. We started learning together […] and it just progressed from there,” he recalled.
—
“It’s
Adamopoulos starts his compositions with chord progressions, which he then finetunes and re-plays.
The topic of the song was not planned — it came about naturally as he worked on the melody. According to Adamopoulos, the lyrics focus on finding a better place in life.
ning on doing some recording and they had it all set up,” he recalled. “So, I just came over, and we just cranked it out […] It turned out so much better than I could have imagined in the beginning.”
a comparison [of] where your state of living is now to where it can be”
Stephen Adamopoulos, local singer-songwriter
Adamopoulos has begun to make his own music now, drawing inspiration from the 1990s rock scene in Seattle, which featured “heavier, grungier” sounds.
“Some of my favourite artists that my music takes inspiration from are Neil Young, John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Kurt Cobain of Nirvana,” he said.
Adamopoulos has taken the next step in his career by releasing his debut single “There Is A Place” on Nov. 14.
“It’s a comparison [of] where your state of living is now to where it can be,” he explained. “[It is about] having an optimistic view about how you can live life. It’s almost like you’re dreaming of somewhere that’s better.”
The choice of “There Is A Place” as Adamopoulos’ debut single was simple — it was the first song he recorded during a jam session with Winnipeg rock band The Love Letters.
“They had rented some mics and had [them] in their house, and they were plan-
Through their connection, Adamopoulos had the opportunity to open for The Love Letters at a concert in June at Sidestage in South Osborne. The concert was his first time playing original songs with a backing band, which consisted of two close friends. He said the experience was very exciting. “[The Love Letters] had someone that was supposed to open [for them], and then they fell through. And then they were like [to me], ‘Would you want to do an acoustic set?’ And I said sure. And then I was like, ‘I’m not doing an acoustic set, I want to play with a band,’” he said.
Adamopoulos has more songs in the works, which he plans to record and release over the next several months. He hopes to do more live per-
formances in the coming months as well.
“I want to get to the point where I can keep writing and making new songs,” he stated.
“And I really want to see what I can do with music and the songs that I can create and see how far I can take it.”
Stephen Adamopoulos’ debut single “There Is A Place” is available on all streaming platforms. For more information, follow Adamopoulos on Instagram @stephen_adamopoulos.
