23 September 2015

MANITOBAN the

THE OFFICIAL UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA STUDENTS’ NEWSPAPER

COMMENT

Rapidly deteriorating transit Promises of improved public transit go off the rails Page 9

ARTS & CULTURE

A picture is worth 1000 words Connecting the creative community through photography Page 16

NEWS

Accessibility not active in new facilities Recreation fee restrictive for physically impaired students Page 6

VO L 1 0 2 · N O 7 · S E P T E M B E R 2 3 , 2 0 1 5 · W W W.T H E M A N I TO B A N .CO M

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Index

VOL. 102 NO. 7 September 23, 2015

NEWS

Risky residency Off-campus housing demand sparks illegal rooming

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Craig Adolphe

editor@themanitoban.com / 474.8293

BUSINESS MANAGER Adam Owczar

accounts@themanitoban.com / 474.6535

ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Michelle Arentsen

ads@themanitoban.com / 474.6535

EDITORIAL

NEWS EDITOR Ethan Cabel

page 5

news@themanitoban.com / 474.6770

FEATURES EDITOR Dana Hatherly

features@themanitoban.com/ 474.6770

EDITORIAL

When to pull the trigger Understanding trigger warnings

COMMENT EDITOR Evan Tremblay

comment@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

MANAGING EDITOR Lauren Siddall

me@themanitoban.com / 474.6520

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDITOR Chantelle Dubois

science@themanitoban.com/ 474.6529

ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Seamus Hamilton-Pattison

arts@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

SPORTS EDITOR Mike Still

sports@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

page 8

COPY EDITOR Tom Ingram

copy@themanitoban.com/ 474.6520

DESIGN

DESIGN EDITOR Bradly Wohlgemuth

design@themanitoban.com / 474.6775

GRAPHICS EDITOR Bram Keast

graphics@themanitoban.com / 474.6775

PHOTO EDITOR Carolyne Kroeker

photo@themanitoban.com / 474.6775

DESIGN ASSOCIATE vacant GRAPHICS ASSOCIATE vacant PHOTO ASSOCIATE Chantal Zdan

REPORTERS

NEWS Garett Williams NEWS Aleah Isaak SCIENCE Malak Abas ARTS & CULTURE vacant ARTS & CULTURE vacant SPORTS Andy Che ASSISTANT COPY EDITOR Sarah Doran

VOLUNTEER CONTRIBUTORS

Jordyn Lerner Ryan Stelter Ian T.D. Thomson

ARTS & CULTURE

Up all night

Nuit Blanche promises dancing, drinking, and art

page 19 SPORTS

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Good things come in threes Bisons running back trio quickly rising in the ranks page 24

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News

News Editor: Ethan Cabel Contact: news@themanitoban.com / 474.6770

U of M takes steps toward affirmative consent #NoMoreBlurredLines campaign pushes for consent culture on campus DANA HATHERLY, STAFF

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ince the beginning of this school 2013 song released by Robin Thicke, year, students at the University of “Blurred Lines.” Critics of the song Manitoba have been bombarded by a argued that the lyrics promote victimrising number of messages promot- blaming messages and implied that ing consensual sexual relations and consent can be ambiguous. critiquing rape culture.

Recently, Hounslow partnered With controversies surrounding with UMSU to promote consent orientation week celebrations on cam- culture at their Frosh Music Festival puses over the past few years, univer- as part of the “Nothing implies consities across Canada have intensified sent. Only yes means yes!” initiative. their fight against sexual assault from In contrast to the popularly coined a framework that they claim bolsters “No Means No” campaign advomutual consent and empowers both cated by the Canadian Federation of partners in sexual encounters.

Students and picked up by various nation-wide student organizations to combat rape culture, many universi“We are trying to ties have been shifting toward more sex-positive messages implied by “Yes end the blurred lines Means Yes” initiatives to drive what about consent and they call a culture of consent.

“Unless you hear a yes, nothing else sexual activity” – is consensual when it comes to consent. We are trying to end the blurred Rebecca Kunzman, lines about consent and sexual activvice-president ity,” Kunzman said.

The university has been devising advocacy, UMSU its own resources, workshops, and other initiatives about consent culture, Rebecca Kunzman, vice-presi- driven by a small group on campus. dent advocacy at the University of Frosh Festival “codes of conduct” Manitoba Students’ Union (UMSU), have been plastered across campus said that her student organization to draw widespread attention to the has teamed up with students, faculty, problem. and administration to raise awareness Citing the Winnipeg-based Klinic about the issue on the U of M campus. Community Health Centre, the U of “We know that most sexual M has defined sexual assault as any of assaults that occur on campus occur the following acts – whether verbal, in the first six weeks of class,” said emotional, or physical – without conKunzman. sent: sexual contact, violent or aggresGiven the number of social events sive sexual attacks, unsolicited sexual integral to orientation celebrations, comments, harassment or threats such as student-run socials and that make one feel uncomfortable, informal parties where alcohol and violated, or under attack, touching other intoxicating substances may be without permission, forced kissing consumed, Kunzman said that these or fondling, and oral, anal, or vaginal events are the driving factor behind penetration (rape).

Klinic describes consent as an sexual assault statistics on campuses.

Last fall, U of M student ongoing, voluntary agreement to Wanda Hounslow, in conjunction engage in sexual activities. with sociology instructor MaryThe legal definition outlined in Anne Kandrack – both mem- the Canadian Criminal Code states bers of the U of M Sexual Assault that a person may be convicted of Working Group – spearheaded the assault, including sexual assault, for #NoMoreBlurredLines campaign intentionally applying force against to promote consent culture and tar- another without consent.

Consent is not obtained where get the issue of sexual assault at the the complainant submits or does not University of Manitoba.

Hounslow said that the resist by reason of the actual applica#NoMoreBlurredLines concept tion of force, threats or fear of the originated from the controversial application of force, fraud, or the

Campaign poster in University Centre

exercise of authority.

If the accused alleges that they believe that the sexual act was consensual, then sufficient evidence must be provided and reviewed in court to consider the presence or absence of reasonable grounds for that belief.

there are indications of no and lessthan-enthusiastic, or any kind of hint that there isn’t a yes, then that means there’s a no,” Busby said.

“If there is ambiguity about whether or not there was a yes, there isn’t a yes.”

Busby admitted that allegations of sexual assault can be difficult to “If there is ambiguity convict, as typically there are only two witnesses: the complainant and about whether or the defendant. not there was a yes, In court, cases must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, which, there isn’t a yes” – Busby said, is usually in favour of Karen Busby, law defendants.

“In cases of incapacity or inability professor, U of M to consent, then we cannot assume consent. In some situations, conUniversity of Manitoba law sent is not possible,” Busby told the professor Karen Busby said con- Manitoban. sent should be “continuous and “Criminal charges are one thing, contemporaneous.” but what you want is for people to be “Most of the time you don’t actu- in healthy balanced relationships. In ally get the spoken word ‘yes,’ but if the past, and sometimes today, some

PHOTO BY CRAIG ADOLPHE

men perceived that once they are aroused, they have the right to release, and we need to challenge that.”

Some laws surrounding consent have evolved, although advocates argue that attitudes toward consent have not.

“There have been a lot of interesting cases in the news in recent years where lawyers or judges will give these horrible messages that aren’t in line with consent culture, in speaking about the victims’ clothing or how they were carrying themselves [...] So we do see the need for these kinds of campaigns,” said Alana Robert, UMSU women's representative, who also founded the Justice for Women Student Group at the U of M. “It’s an issue on our campus, whether systems or witnesses are reporting it, as a lot of the time sexual assault goes underreported, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t happening.”

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News

News Editor: Ethan Cabel Contact: news@themanitoban.com / 474.6770

Embracing the F word St. Paul’s College event explores concepts of forgiveness as part of international exhibit ALEAH ISAAK, STAFF

of her mother, who was raped and murdered by her father. Her father was given a life sentence without parole after pleading guilty to firstdegree murder, leaving her without both parents.

Tony McAleer

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xploring the word “forgiveness” brings up strong emotions, and this was no more obvious than during an event hosted by the Arthur V. Mauro Brown Bag Lunch Series at St. Paul’s College last Friday, Sept.

18, titled “The F word: stories of forgiveness.”

The event featured Samantha Lawler, a woman who forgave her father over a decade after he raped and murdered her mother, and Tony McAleer, a former white supremacist who has struggled to move away from his past.

The event was presented as a part of a series of exhibitions from the Forgiveness Project, a secular

PHOTO BY CRAIG ADOLPHE

organization which first held “F word” exhibits in London in 2004.

The exhibit has been held in over 550 venues worldwide and combines vivid images and personal narratives. Using storytelling as a form of education, the exhibits seek to start discussions about forgiveness and compassion.

For Lawler and McAleer, embracing “the F word” has also led to an opportunity – the opportunity to let go of bitterness and feel at peace.

“I am acknowledging the shared humanity that we all have, and that is what is understandable and acceptable,” Lawler said.

At 18, Lawler experienced the loss

It was not until choosing to visit her father in jail, just as he was about to die, that this cloud was lifted. She was given ten minutes to speak with her father, although he was so ill that he could not speak himself.

Here she forgave him and told him that she loved him For the next 13 years the grief and anger were overwhelming. She continued to live her life but there remained a part of her that had lost faith in the world.

It was not until choosing to visit

her father in jail, just as he was about the birth of his daughter. For the to die, that this cloud was lifted. first time, he felt truly connected to She was given 10 minutes to speak another human being.

This new child showed him how with her father, although he was so ill that he could not speak himself. disconnected he had been. It was then Here she forgave him and told him that he slowly began to change his life.

McAleer is now a motivational that she loved him.

In those 10 minutes she also knew speaker and the executive director that she wanted to share her story of Life After Hate, a non-profit with a broader audience, which is organization that offers support and what brought her to St. Paul’s College services for those wanting to leave last week. extremist groups and make a new life “In that moment I was set free from for themselves. this weight that had been on me for Choosing forgiveness and com13 years. That was the moment that I passion has been an integral part of felt that there was something to this his journey up to this point. human connection, love thing,” she “What I have learned is that the said. more that I have compassion and forFor Lawler, forgiving her father giveness for myself, the more I can did not mean accepting what he did diminish my capacity to do harm in as morally correct. Instead it meant the world,” he said. recognizing the human emotions that Bonface Beti, a master’s student led him to such a terrible crime. at the Arthur V. Mauro Centre for “We are all people figuring out life Peace and Justice at St. Paul’s College, as we go along, capable of making attended the presentation. mistakes,” Lawler said.

“I come from a background of Tony McAleer’s story also involves using stories and theatre for healing. forgiveness. But his greatest chal- Presentations like this are powerful lenge was not forgiving others, it was tools for healing. It affords people forgiving himself. the opportunity to journey and McAleer was once involved with break cycles of violence,” Beti told far-right extremist groups such as the the Manitoban.

White Aryan Resistance. He was a propagandist for several racist causes, This event was part of Peace Days spreading messages of hate and par- in Winnipeg, a week-long festival ticipating in violence against others. leading up to the Sept. 21 United The turning point for him was Nations International Day of Peace.

Gender is king in food marketing, study finds U of M study reveals gender cues impact enjoyment, perception of flavour GARETT WILLIAMS, STAFF

Luke Zhu

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f it’s a healthy snack you’re looking for, chances are it will taste better coming out of a package depicting women dancing ballet rather than men playing football – or at least you will perceive it that way.

A three-part study led by University of Manitoba professor Luke Zhu and recently published in the journal Social Psychology, entitled “Macho Nachos: The Implicit Effects of Gendered Food Packaging on Preferences of Healthy and Unhealthy Foods,” has shed some

PHOTO BY CRAIG ADOLPHE

new light onto the role gender stereotypes play in food selection and how easily people’s preferences are swayed.

Drawing on the generally held cliche that women seek a more balanced diet than men, the study found healthier food presented in a feminine fashion is more appealing, commands a higher price, and is deemed to be more flavourful than the same product packaged with a masculine bent.

“These very subtle cues of masculinity or femininity actually had

a profound impact on how people evaluate those foods and how people judge their preference for different types of foods,” said Zhu, an assistant professor of organizational behaviour in the Asper school of business, who holds a PhD in organizational behaviour.

On a broader scale, Zhu said the study outlines how gender influences have a tangible impact on daily life.

“In our life there’s so many cues,” he said.

“You can walk down the street and there’s so many advertisements, different colours and different fonts – some being feminine, the other ones being masculine, bold – and all these things can have a subtle effect on our decision making.”

“A lot of decisions we make without deliberation,” he explained. “And if we’re aware of these little subtle cues, we may make better decisions.”

In one test, Zhu and his three research partners – Victoria Brescoll and George Newman, both professors in the Yale School of Management, and Eric Uhlmann, an associate professor of organizational behaviour at the INSEAD Business

School in Singapore – presented 140 participants with blueberry muffins described either as low-fat or full-fat and displayed them in a masculine, feminine or neutral context, yielding six different offerings.

The study found participants preferred the low-fat muffins packaged in a box featuring ballerinas rather than a box sporting a football background. In the same vein, full-fat muffins were more desirable packaged in the sports box.

While Zhu said seeing people divide health and junk food into feminine and masculine camps is consistent with previous studies, it was interesting to learn how a subtle suggestion either way proved to shape the participants’ opinions, right down to the flavour of the food.

“It’s definitely surprising because if it’s exactly the same muffin, that shows that our evaluation, like a tasting evaluation, isn’t as objective as we think and isn’t always about the food itself,” he said.

“It’s also about how the food is presented.”

In another sample, the researchers found priming participants with

masculine or feminine cues led them to prefer either junk or healthy food.

According to Zhu, that goes to explain why a high-energy, masculine-charged event like a soccer match or hockey game is better paired with a basket of greasy nachos than a light salad.

“Sometimes, what we choose to eat really is just an impulsive, rather than a logical decision,” he said.

The third stage of the study revealed how blatant appeals toward either gender, such as the slogan “The muffin for Real Men,” have a reverse effect and actually turn-off would-be buyers.

The implication from a marketing perspective, said Zhu, is to be aware of packaging and presentation.

“If one of your features is to promote healthy eating habits and your food is actually healthy, then your packaging needs to be consistent with [femininity],” he said.

“On the other hand, if your food is high in energy, you know, gives people instant energy with a few health implications, then in that case the packaging better be bold and cue people’s masculinity.”

VOL. 102 NO. 7 September 23, 2015

News

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U of M not alone in housing dispute Other universities experience problems as enrolment growth spurs off-campus housing demand ETHAN CABEL, STAFF

PHOTOS BY CHANTAL ZDAN

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s South Winnipeg-St. Norbert Ottawa, and Stony Brook University of Ottawa students. but each unit would contain six bed- by the City of Hamilton to examine councillor Janice Lukes pre- in Stony Brook, N.Y. The spate of housing conver- rooms and they function as illegal rental housing regulations, as well as pares to form a residents’ association “Communities, no matter what sions in Sandy Hill has led to bylaw rooming houses because they aren’t influencing the mandate of a Student to combat illegal housing around jurisdiction they were in, all faced changes by the city of Ottawa to licensed,” Forbes said.

Community Support Network estabthe University of Manitoba, she is kind of the same breakdown in a crack down on housing conversions “And for a long time, really, the city lished by the McMaster Students increasingly modelling her efforts relationship between the long-term as well as the formation of a “town has just turned a blind eye to that and Union (MSU). around what other university com- residents and the student renters,” and gown committee,” made up of the community has been trying to “There has been a lot of rhetomunities have done.

Rebizant said. local police, city officials, university put a lot of pressure on the city and ric around the ’studentification’ of “This problem is not unique at all, “What we gathered from what administrators, and local residents. our councillor to enforce some of the Ainslie Wood and Westdale and this it’s all over but many communities everyone was doing to address the Bob Forbes, vice-president of existing rules on rooming houses.” grouping of students contributing to have said [...] ‘everyone needs to pull issue is that it needed to be kind Action Sandy Hill, a residents’ assoAllowing conversions was widely the deterioration of the properties up their socks and work together,’” of a multi-pronged approach that ciation dedicated to preserving the seen as a loophole in the zoning bylaw in the neighbourhoods surrounding Lukes told Manitoban earlier this included the input from the long- character of the neighbourhood, that allowed for the creation of room- McMaster,” said Daymon Oliveros, month, adding that the residents’ term and permanent residents in argues that the University of Ottawa ing houses without meeting stringent director of the Student Community association should look closely at the area, from the universities, and did not adequately prepare for its regulations for such housing, accord- Support Network. what other communities have accom- the students, and from the cities massive enrolment growth. ing to a pamphlet sent to residents “Around any neighbourhood plished when it comes to off-campus themselves.”

“The University of Ottawa nearly from Mathieu Fleury, city councillor around a university you’re going to housing for students. doubled its population in the last 15 for the area that includes Sandy Hill. have parties and noise complaints “I would like to see a professional years and it didn’t really plan for it, “Originally, the converted dwell- and stuff like that, but when it comes scan done and start implementing “The University so it didn’t build student residences,” ings use in the zoning bylaw was to actual student housing issues itself, these best practices.”

Forbes, who sits as a representative on created to protect large homes from we firmly believe that the attention of Ottawa nearly Last week, the Manitoban the town and gown committee, told demolition, by allowing owners to should be paid to absentee landlords the Manitoban. reported that Lukes was beginning convert the homes into apartments,” and bad landlords who don’t necesdoubled its the process of forming a residents’ “What that ended up doing is put- the pamphlet states. sarily care about the well-being and association starting with a commu- population in the ting a huge amount of pressure on the “Recently, developers used the con- safety of their student [tenants].” nity meeting on Sept. 30. community around [the University verted dwellings use as a loophole to The Student Community Support last 15 years and it The association will work to of Ottawa] and we see lots of fairly evade the proper approval require- Network has been primarily involved didn’t really plan for combat the growing problem of unscrupulous developers that kind of ments, resulting in conversions that in educating students about their illegal rooming houses around the exploited the situation.” left little of the building’s original rights when it comes to landlords it, so it didn’t build University of Manitoba, where Unlike the St. Norbert and Fort character.” and renting in the neighbourhoods restrictive zoning bylaws and high Richmond neighbourhoods that surThe result was a virtual morato- around McMaster. student residences” demand for cheap housing is leading round the University of Manitoba, rium on conversions while the City For Coun. Lukes, Stony Brook – Bob Forbes, vicemany to convert single family homes where zoning bylaws prohibit room- of Ottawa completed infill bylaws Concerned Homeowners Ltd, a resiinto multi-unit dwellings that violate ing houses entirely, the Sandy Hill that would eventually bring in stricter dents’ association formed to combat president, Action the Manitoba Building Code. neighbourhood has more permissive regulations on housing conversions. the proliferation of illegal housing Over the summer, Lukes com- Sandy Hill zoning requirements.

Coupled with some new legal stu- for Stony Brook University students, missioned Jessica Rebizant, a recent Sandy Hill is mostly zoned as R3 dent residences in the area, including offers an excellent model for the University of Manitoba graduate and R4 Residential, which is meant the conversion of a 400-bed hotel on association she hopes to form in the with a master’s in political studies, The University of Ottawa is a to facilitate mixed-use development Rideau Street into student housing, coming weeks and months. to conduct a jurisdictional scan of modestly sized downtown campus in central urban areas. Rooming there has been some significant prog“It is really important to form a other universities across the country. situated in the Sandy Hill neighbour- houses are permitted as part of these ress made due to the pressure exerted residents’ association and take ownerWhat she found were distinct hood and bordered by the Rideau zoning bylaw categories, including by the town and gown committee. ship of the problem,” Lukes told the parallels between the University of Canal. Over the last decade, enrol- the conversion of residential homes At McMaster University, tensions Manitoban, adding that she would Manitoba, where increased enrol- ment at the university has increased into multi-unit rooming houses. have arisen between students living like to commission a more formal ment coupled with a shortage of by over 10,000 students, with about The bylaw allows for the conver- in multi-unit housing and long-time jurisdictional scan of other univeron-campus housing is driving the 35,300 students enrolled last year. sion of single-family units into up to residents in the Westdale and Ainslie sity communities in addition to the creation of illegal rooming houses, This enrolment growth has led to four units, but frequently these four Wood neighbourhoods surrounding one conducted by Rebizant over the and university communities in other massive housing conversions in the units would each contain up to six the campus. summer. jurisdictions.

Sandy Hill neighbourhood, where bedrooms.

These tensions have sparked “Stony Brook was amazing because Rebizant examined neighbour- otherwise single-family residential “These things are called bunk the formation of a Neighbourhood [...] they had exactly the same hoods around McMaster University houses have been converted into houses [...] they would be very ugly Residential Rental Housing problems.” in Hamilton, Ont., the University of rooming houses for rent to University boxes, sometimes of four units each, Community Liaison Committee

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News

News Editor: Ethan Cabel Contact: news@themanitoban.com / 474.6770

Active Living Centre not accessible, say critics UMSU representative pushes for opt-out provision for gym fee, improvements to facility GARETT WILLIAMS, STAFF

Andrew Fenwick in the new Active Living Centre

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he University of Manitoba’s crutches, said he can take advantage Active Living Centre, which of much of what the Active Living opened last winter to much fanfare, is Centre offers, he doesn’t think stuleaving a few of the university’s physi- dents should be made to pay for cally disabled students upset over something they can’t possibly take their lack of access to the facilities. advantage of.

Dating back to nearly a month “They don’t offer opt-outs for stubefore the centre’s February 2015 dents who are quadriplegic – that’s opening, Andrew Fenwick, the stu- paralyzed from the neck down. That’s dents living with disabilities represen- insane because those students can’t tative for the University of Manitoba use the gym at all,” he said.

Students’ Union (UMSU), said he “So they’re pretty much paying $150 has been lobbying the university’s a year for a service that they cannot administration to make the centre use.” more accessible to all students with The Active Living Centre, a disabilities who can take advantage, 100,000-square foot, $45-million while offering an opt-out program facility, first opened last winter, for quadriplegic students who are replacing the former “Gritty Grotto” completely unable to use the facilities. gym in the basement of the Frank A sport and recreation fee tacked Kennedy Centre. In addition to onto tuition beginning last winter higher ceilings and improved lightsees full-time students pay $76.43 per ing, it features several additions to term in exchange for access to all the campus facilities, including a 200school’s recreation facilities, includ- metre elevated running track and a ing the Active Living Centre, in addi- 40-foot climbing wall. tion to entrance into all University Former UMSU vice-president of Manitoba Bisons home games. external Christian Pierce, who Part-time and summer-term students assisted Fenwick’s efforts last year pay $57.32 a term. The fee is charged before moving into the organization’s whether students use the facilities events coordinator position, agreed or not. there should be an opportunity for While Fenwick, who uses a students who physically can’t make wheelchair when not using braces or use of the centre to opt out of the

PHOTOS BY CRAIG ADOLPHE

associated fees.

“Realistically, the numbers wouldn’t be huge,” he said. “It’s not like we would be burdening the U of M by adding 10,000 opt-outs or something.”

noting once his calendar clears he’d mitted to on-going discussions to like to re-join Fenwick’s push. “ensure everyone is treated as fairly John Danakas, the university’s as possible.” executive director of public affairs, “[Kinesiology and recreation said the fee was made mandatory management dean Douglas Brown] because it covers more than access remains committed to working to the school’s recreation facilities. with students of all abilities to pro“The decision was made based on vide access and programming that “They don’t offer opt- the fact that the fees are intended for match their interests,” said Danakas more than just a gym membership,” in an email to the Manitoban. “Many outs for students he said. It’s “also for access to Bison enhancements and improvements who are quadriplegic sports games, also for the mainte- have already taken place and more nance of sport and recreation spaces will follow as resources allow.”

– that’s paralyzed and facilities [...] and intended for The building itself is fairly accessifrom the neck down. the betterment of the university as a ble, said Fenwick – though he pointed which should benefit individu- to some non-mechanical doors which That’s insane because whole, als as well.” have yet to be addressed – but he will those students The school’s website notes the continue to lobby for more accessifees will be assessed to all students ble equipment, including outfitting can’t use the gym “excluding those with existing agree- machines with braille and large print ments precluding the payment of ser- for visually impaired students. at all” – Andrew vice fees to the U of M.” Danakas “It’s a low number of individuals,” Fenwick, students was unable to provide a comment by he said, “but that low number is from living with disabilities press time explaining who would be a minority group that needs that and included in this group. can only use that equipment.” representative, He noted the facility “meets or “They made it accessible to get to,” exceeds the standards for accessible he added, “but what I had to explain UMSU design,” including accessible lockers was that you don’t buy a gym pass to and the addition of a lift to open-up get to the gym, you buy it to use the access to the Joyce Fromson Pool and equipment at the gym.”

“I don’t think they should have to said the school’s faculty of kinesipay and I don’t think it would be a ology and recreation management, large group of people,” Pierce added, which manages the centre, is com-

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

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Comment Comment Editor: Evan Tremblay Contact: comment@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

The trouble with transit Empty promises do more than ‘expectations’ to derail transit experience EVAN TREMBLAY, STAFF

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ike any regular rider of buses thing I have no control over, and so Bowman promised to complete in this city, I’ve come to hold a must accept. I expect buses to be late. all legs of the bus rapid transit system constant low level of loathing for the Sometimes, especially in winter, I by 2030. That’s all legs of a city-wide form of transit that I’m dependent on. expect them to just not show up at all. system, not just the single one to the The perennial lateness, overcrowding, I expect buses to be overcrowded U of M that was half done when he and poor service to many areas of the – sometimes to the point that they was elected. I have no doubt that the city is just a fact of life that I’ve made just blow by my stop. I expect that, otherwise conservative Bowman did my peace with. if I have to do something that takes this to win the votes of people who When I heard that service was only an hour but is physically distant genuinely believe in the need for rapid going to be reduced on several routes enough to require using the buses, transit. due to maintenance issues with the that it will actually take closer to two If he was personally committed to bus fleet my reaction was a study in or three hours. this promise, there might have been indifference. It’s still nice out (warmI expect to hear people who never some evidence of plans on how to est year on record, folks!), and I can take the bus – Brian Bowman, I’m realize this massive project. There still avoid buses by biking or walking. sure, is in this category – complain wasn’t during the election, and Come winter all bets for anything about the quality of the roads and they have not materialized since. resembling regular service are off in snow-clearing schedule with abso- Politicians are as politicians do. a normal year, so I figured this year lutely no recognition of the fact that His plan to accomplish his eleccouldn’t possibly be worse. having a publicly funded system of tion promise? Ask the federal and But then I read that our mayor had roads for the use of a private vehicle provincial governments for money. said of the reduction in service that is not a birthright.

That’s it: to say please, presumably “The service level expectation needs to I expect them to howl when while flashing his selfie-ready smile. be more realistic than they were,” and money is announced for public tran- Not very realistic, either as a plan my reaction was considerably more sit, for people too poor to afford cars: for building infrastructure or as an colourful than indifference. “how dare the city, when there are expectation of the other levels of govMy expectations of Winnipeg unfixed potholes on my front street?” ernment. And yet, that’s all he has: Transit are the most realistic and I expect the mayor and councillors rapid transit would be nice, and it least idealistic part of my life – not to bend over backwards to see those would be nice if someone other than out of choice, but because it’s some- potholes filled. him figured out how to pay for it.

GRAPHIC BY BRAM KEAST

Meanwhile, the people who actually use transit are left to explain to their bosses why they’re late for work, left to freeze in the winter and sweat in the summer waiting for buses that never show up. Left to feel every day of their lives like second class citizens.

So, Mr. Bowman: my expectations of Winnipeg transit aren’t unrealistic.

The only unrealistic thing about my expectations was that I didn’t expect the indignity of being chided by an empty smile that told a cynical lie to get elected, and then dropped that lie like a hot potato once he was.

If you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a bus to catch.

Blood politics Changes in screening methods must be data-based JORDYN LERNER

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n June, Canadian Blood Services released a report on donor selection criteria relating to men who have sex with men (MSM). In that report, Canadian Blood Services recommended shortening the MSM deferral period from five years to one.

Health Canada, the regulator of blood donations, will likely approve the change, and the deferral period will be shortened.

When this is announced, student leaders will make statements in the Manitoban applauding the decision, but lamenting that it does not go far enough. UMSU will then continue its campaign to replace MSM screening with high-risk behavior screening.

UMSU is correct in its assertion that specific high-risk behaviors, and not MSM, are a root cause of HIV transmission. A man in a long-term committed monogamous relationship with another man in which neither partner has HIV has a much smaller chance of contracting the virus than a man who has been with multiple male sexual partners without using protection. Despite this clear difference in risk, both men would be screened out at the same point in the blood donation process. ​However, this difference in risk is not yet supported by epidemiological data.

The Public Health Agency of Canada publishes an annual surveillance report on HIV infections based on data collected from its provincial

counterparts. This report includes a breakdown of newly diagnosed infections by exposure category. Current exposure categories include MSM, intravenous drug use, and being born in an HIV-endemic area, among others.

MSM is frequently the exposure category with the highest incidence and prevalence of HIV infections.

In 2013, in people with a known exposure category, 49.3 per cent of newly diagnosed adult infections were attributed to MSM. When only newly diagnosed adult males were considered, 62.7 per cent were attributed to MSM. By highlighting MSM as an exposure category, current data collection and reporting methods support Canadian Blood Services’ screening practices. If UMSU wants screening practices to focus on specific highrisk behaviours, it needs data collection to also focus on specific high-risk behaviours. behaviours in place of MSM. If the Public Health Agency of One would think that the UMSU Canada collected and published Campaigns Guide would advocate data on unsafe sexual practices as for improvements in epidemiologian exposure category, rather than cal data collection and reporting. In MSM, Canadian Blood Services’ fact, just the opposite occurs. The screening practices would no longer background information on the End be substantiated by epidemiological The Ban campaign implies that while data. The newly documented high the limited epidemiological data of prevalence and incidence of HIV the 1980s supported MSM screeninfection in people with unsafe sex- ing, today’s data no longer supports ual practices would cause Canadian MSM screening. This is nonsense.

Blood Services to screen for high-risk Today’s epidemiological data contin-

PHOTO BY CAROLYNE KROEKER

ues to unequivocally support MSM Health Canada’s first responsibilscreening. Implying the opposite is ity is to protect Canada’s blood recipjust wrong. ients. Fairness to potential donors Rather than discussing the MSM must be an afterthought. Trying deferral in terms of flawed data col- to re-frame the debate in terms of lection, UMSU’s End The Ban cam- human rights has failed and will conpaign continues to frame it largely tinue to fail. Until UMSU starts disas a human rights issue. The UMSU cussing data and other concepts that Policy Manual describes the MSM Health Canada recognizes, MSM deferral as homophobic, gender screening will remain as is. exclusive, and discriminatory. This is an idealistic argument which the Jordyn Lerner is a medicourts have already rejected. cal student at the U of M

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Science & technology Science & Technology Editor: Chantelle Dubois Contact: science@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

Who stands with Ahmed?

Prejudice discourages minority students from pursuing science MALAK ABAS, STAFF

GRAPHIC BY EVAN TREMBLAY

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t seemed like a normal Monday.

Ahmed Mohamed, a 14-yearold freshman at MacArthur High School in Irving, Texas, began the school week just like any other. It was Sept. 14, and the new school year had recently started. What he could not have possibly predicted was that he would end the day in handcuffs, and the week as a trend on Twitter.

Mohamed, a young engineering enthusiast, was arrested after bringing a clock he had built to school to show one of his teachers.

His English teacher believed that it was in fact a bomb, and the school proceeded to call the police. In the hours that followed, he was fingerprinted, interrogated, and was not allowed to call his father.

There was one piece of the incident that transformed it from a potentially traumatizing experience for one person into a call to protest for many: a photo of Mohamed, handcuffed, looking frightened in a well-worn NASA t-shirt.

The photo exploded on Twitter and Facebook. Soon news outlets worldwide were pursuing the story, and by Wednesday, Ahmed Mohamed was a household name.

W hile the teachers at MacArthur High School and Irving police were accused of racism and Islamophobia, Mohamed was receiving support online from the likes of Hillary Clinton, Mark Zuckerberg, and Chris Hadfield.

Barack Obama has invited him to the White House. By Wednesday, #IStandWithAhmed was trending on Twitter with an average of 2,000 tweets per minute.

By the end of the school week, he was no longer the top trending hashtag on Twitter. Many news articles began to focus more on the restitutions Mohamed had received and his newfound fame, rather than the injustice itself. What remains now is the roof of the problem: stereotypes and prejudices are turning minority youth away from the sciences.

This is not the first time a high school student has been arrested over a science experiment. In 2013,

then-16-year-old Kiera Wilmot, a student at Bartow High School in Florida, was arrested after an advanced model volcano she had created had released a small amount of smoke.

It has been shown that black people are much more likely to leave STEM careers after earning their PhD than their fellow white graduates While charges were dropped, she still feels followed by her past, and her felony arrest record will be erased at the slow pace of five years per felony. Wilmot, like Mohamed, is a person of colour.The United States is currently facing a shortage of STEM graduates in the workforce. In 2012, 22,259 doctorates in the studies of science and engineering were awarded to U.S. citizens and permanent residents.

Out of these, 1,140 doctorates were awarded to black graduates, while 15,255 of the graduates were white.

Neil deGrasse Tyson, who is one of the most popular scientists in North America today, has said that his childhood dream of becoming an astrophysicist was “hands down, the path of most resistance through the forces of nature, the forces of society.”

“Any time I expressed this interest, teachers would say, ‘don’t you want to be an athlete?’ I wanted to become something that was outside of the paradigms of expectation of the people in power.”

Yasmine El-Salakawy, a first year student in the U of M’s faculty of science and a practising Muslim, believes that Mohamed’s quick rise to fame is unlikely to inspire a discourse on lack of diversity in the field of science, especially among people who already have a biased

opinion.

“People who hate Muslims will hate Muslims regardless. I feel that way. It’s really hard to change someone’s mind,” El-Salakawy told the Manitoban.

Muslim youth in the United States are faced with hostility and suspicion on a regular basis. The Pew Research Center’s American Trends panel reported that after surveying a randomly selected group of U.S. adults, the most negatively viewed religion was Islam.

And there is perhaps nowhere in the U.S. where this bigotry reveals itself so clearly than in Mohamed’s own home, the state of Texas.

Last January, a Muslim conference in Dallas titled “Stand With the Prophet Against Terror and Hate” was met with protests. The conference was being held to raise funds to build a Muslim cultural center. The following May, Pamela Geller organized the Muhammad Art Exhibit and Contest, which encouraged people to draw cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad, which is considered extremely offensive in Islam. The contest offered a US$10,000 cash prize.

Now, mere months later, a teenage boy in that same state has been arrested – most likely for being simultaneously creative, ambitious, and a non-white Muslim. It has been shown that black people are much more likely to leave STEM careers after earning their PhD than their fellow white graduates.

There have been no widespread studies concerning whether or not there is a connection between the rising severity of Islamophobia within the United States and the emotional state of Muslim youth, which makes it difficult to predict whether or not Islamophobia is affecting their academic choices.

That being said, it’s not difficult to assume that when a police officer that Mohamed had never met looked him up and down after arresting him and said “Yup. That’s who I thought it was,” it probably didn’t feel too encouraging.

Features Features Editor: Dana Hatherly Contact: features@themanitoban.com / 474.6520

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VOL. 102 NO. 7 September 23, 2015

Features

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All parties competent contenders for power – but also deeply flawed Liberals, NDP, and Conservatives all remain stalled after second leaders’ debate ETHAN CABEL, STAFF

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he narrative perpetuated by growth in June and Department of political observers throughout Finance predictions of a budgetary this long election campaign has been surplus, Trudeau’s adamant porthat Canadian voters are looking for trayal of widespread economic misa change – that the winner on Oct. ery appears overblown and his policy 19 will be the party that best embod- response seems reckless.

As such, NDP leader Thomas ies a shift away from the current Mulcair landed a damaging blow Conservative government.

Under this narrative, Canadian in the debate when he claimed the voters are casting about looking for Trudeau camp was simply “pressing an agent of change to hang their the panic button” in the face of a hopes on and eventually the “change minor technical recession. Stephen vote” will coalesce around either the Harper’s consistent refrain that the Liberals or the NDP, catapulting that $10 billion per year in Liberal “stimparty to victory. ulus” will morph into a long-term But after the second and last spending binge is equally valid given English-only federal leaders’ debate, the terrible fiscal track record of the it is clear that the current dead heat in Ontario Liberals. It doesn’t help public opinion polls can be ascribed that Kathleen Wynne is stumping to the fact that all three parties – the for Trudeau every chance she gets.

Conservatives, Liberals and NDP Finally, the Liberal rhetoric, – are professional political organiza- which criticizes Harper’s deficit tions that could reasonably form a spending while simultaneously competent government. pledging to run more deficits, is They are also each afflicted with incoherent and bolsters criticisms flaws severe enough to keep them that Trudeau is a policy lightweight.

The NDP has also emerged as a perpetually hovering around 30 per cent support. major contender in this election.

Mulcair is reasonable, relatively In the case of the Liberals, there is little doubt that Justin Trudeau moderate, and abundantly qualified has almost single-handedly rescued to be the leader of a G7 country. He his party from the brink of collapse. has led the New Democrats, in some Gone are the days of the hapless instances kicking and screaming, into campaigning of Stéphane Dion or the political centre by promising to Michael Ignatieff – in Trudeau, the run a balanced budget in the first year Liberals have found a leader that, while pledging to cut small business regardless of his limited command taxes and retain the Conservatives’ of the issues, can inspire Canadians Universal Child Care Benefit. with his sunny charisma and Captain Canada persona.

Moreover, Trudeau has re-built The Conservatives, the party’s once moribund grassroots Liberals and NDP are organization while recruiting some of the best candidates in key swing professional political ridings across the country – even if organizations that assembling “Team Trudeau” required flagrantly breaking his promise to could reasonably hold open nominations.

The Liberal campaign strategy form a competent is also an advantage, depending on how you look at it. By promis- government. ing to run modest deficits in order They are also to spur economic growth, Trudeau each afflicted has decided to take a page directly from the campaign playbook of the with flaws severe Ontario Liberals, who managed to enough to keep squeeze out the NDP by presenting themselves as the only truly progresthem perpetually sive option.

When Trudeau’s Liberal cam- hovering around 30 paign volunteers go knocking on per cent support doors in Winnipeg, Montreal, Vancouver, or suburban Toronto, they can address questions about potholes and transit delays with real cash on But his modest fiscal framethe table – even if the level of spend- work simply doesn’t add up to the ing promised by the Liberals will ambitious agenda he has promised barely make a dent in the country’s Canadian voters.

A small corporate tax increase and massive infrastructure deficit.

But given recent news of economic the closing of a few tax loopholes sim-

GRAPHIC BY BRAM KEAST

ply will not pay for a national pharmacare plan, massively increased health transfers to the provinces, a national childcare program, a $15 federal minimum wage, door-to-door mail delivery, the reversal of reforms to Old Age Security and Employment Insurance, a cap and trade system, and a democratic reform agenda that will require divisive and costly constitutional negotiations with the provinces.

In short, an NDP government will either have to run a deficit or it will have to scrap large portions of its policy platform in the name of fiscal discipline.

Finally, Harper still has a message that resonates. Regardless of the myriad ethical criticisms levelled by the Conservatives’ opponents, they are the only party who will not raise taxes on anyone and still maintain a balanced budget while keeping transfers to the provinces relatively stable.

They are the only major federal party that talks about personal responsibility as a key tenet of social policy. In direct contrast with the state-run day care bureaucracy or mandatory increases in Canada Pension Plan contributions offered as solutions by their opponents, the Conservatives would rather encourage families to voluntarily use a tax benefit to pay for private child care provision and a tax-free savings account to put money aside for retirement.

The Conservatives keep the nuclear family central to their economic message. Whether by allowing

parents to split their income for tax purposes (with a maximum allowable benefit of $2,000) or through the home renovation tax credit, the Conservatives are offering direct investment in families as a key driver for growth.

For Canadians, especially millennials, who feel insecure about their job prospects, their ability to afford their first home, and to eventually retire with dignity, the Harper Conservatives have given them little to hang their hopes on The Conservative Party is the only federal political party talking explicitly about crime or terrorism in this election – two issues that are top of mind for many voters who are horrified by the stories of crime victims or the images of Islamic State barbarism flashing on their television screens.

They are also the only major party that talks about the limits of accommodation for religious minorities, as exemplified by the fight over wearing the niqab at citizenship cer-

emonies – all the while celebrating recent economy class immigrants who aspire to live their own version of the Canadian dream.

But despite these advantages, the Conservatives have consistently come across as insensitive to the concerns of everyday people and oblivious to global circumstances.

In particular, Harper has actively avoided talking about the inflated housing market and the imminent risk of an implosion in that sector – his home renovation tax credit could very well make that problem worse.

Furthermore, by increasing the eligibility age for Old Age Security while refusing to increase mandatory contributions to the Canada Pension Plan, he looks insincere on retirement security. And his response to the Syrian refugee crisis has been completely tone deaf and even jingoistic, such as his absurd claim that the Liberals and NDP would open the border to hundreds of thousands of refugees without security clearance or documentation.

For Canadians, especially millennials, who feel insecure about their job prospects, their ability to afford their first home, and to eventually retire with dignity, the Harper Conservatives have given them little to hang their hopes on.

In short, all three parties are competent, professional contenders for power – and they are all terribly flawed. It is going to take a lot more than last week’s debate to jump-start any of these stalled campaigns.

Diversions Graphics Editor: Bram Keast Contact: graphics@themanitoban.com / 474.6775

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ILLUSTRATION BY BRAM KEAST

ILLUSTRATION BY BRAM KEAST

VOL. 102 NO. 7 September 23, 2015

Diversions

IVORY BUFFALO THE

Friends theme song takes on added significance for 26-year-old U of M student calls tune ‘almost prophetic’ MURV BERKLEY, STAFF

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he Rembrandts’ “I’ll Be There for You,” which was used as the theme song for the hit 90s sitcom Friends, is being hailed as “totally the song of my life” by U of M student Rorie Spelman.

Spelman, who recently began rewatching the series after it became available on Netflix, told the the Ivory Buffalo that the song had taken on increased significance since he last watched the show as a teenager.

Spelman said since he’s turned 26 he

relates to the lyrics on a much deeper level.

“It was almost prophetic in its description of the young adult experience. No one did tell me life was going to be this way,” said Spelman before suddenly clapping four times.

“Your job’s a joke, you’re broke, your love life’s DOA,” he added, quoting the song. “It’s not just a catchy tune anymore. It’s now my life’s story.”

Tammy Blandt, assistant profes-

sor of sociology at the University of Manitoba, has been researching people’s connection to nostalgic sitcoms’ theme songs for the past eight years. Blandt said that Spelman’s experience isn’t uncommon among people in his age cohort.

“Friends came on the air in an era where the family as an institution was in decline. Like in that one episode where Rachel’s parents got divorced and the gang had to throw her two birthday parties. In many ways it

ILLUSTRATION BY BRAM KEAST

captured a seismic shift in societal dynamics,” Blandt said.

“The cohort of friends now represents the main locus of social interaction for a generation, stepping away from the more conservative, family-oriented values of the generation before it. What we hear in this song is a call out for support from our peers in coping with work and family problems – a complete role-reversal relative to earlier 90s sitcoms such as Family Matters.”

15

Arts & Culture

Arts & Culture Editor: Seamus Hamilton-Pattison Contact: arts@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

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From Here & Away Connecting the creative community LAUREN SIDDALL, STAFF

PHOTO BY ALLY PEREIRA EDWARDS

PHOTO BY JOESPHY VISSER

PHOTO BY JOESPHY VISSER

“Here” means something different people financially right away, I hope to every person. The way in which we that I can support them by giving interact and engage with our envi- them a platform to show their work,” ronment varies widely – sometimes said Visser. so much so that our connectedness “There are 15,000 images from is forgotten or lost. Joseph Visser, every continent in the world now the founder of From Here & Away, shared under the [From Here & looks to repair the severed and aban- Away] tag. I know that not every doned connections through artistic single person gets it, but it’s neat that expression. there are so many people involved. It’s “From Here & Away has been a kind of taken a life of its own. It’s a long time in the making. I remember little overwhelming, but it’s great.”

I wrote down ‘From Here & Away,’ The programming aspect includes those words, four years ago. I didn’t workshops, meet-ups, and group really know what it was at that point, travel, all with the goal of inspiring but I wanted to create a dialogue of people to create. The latest programinterconnectedness between different ming endeavor, a two-week workshop people in different places [...] I wanted at Fort Whyte in August, was a masto start this conversation about how sive success. we interact with our environment,” “The idea was to come together and said Visser. encourage the idea that good photog“I believe that we’re all connected, raphy is more of a mindset than it is a and photography can connect us.” skillset. It’s about how you view the And with that, he’s off and world and how you interact with the running. world. It was getting in tune with What started merely as words what is interesting to us, personally, scribbled on a piece of paper trans- and figuring out what we respond to,” formed into a photography book, said Visser. which grew into a community on The third pillar, artist support, is Instagram, and eventually into something Visser is beginning to an organization to support artists explore as the organization gains around the world, primarily through traction. He is looking to make beauphotography. tiful, practical products that he can “The reason I started From Here sell to subsidize artist costs and create & Away is because I wanted to create a higher level of accessibility. something that I thought was lacking Visser has also undertaken a new in the arts community. There are a lot component – a gallery. of initiatives that do look to support The gallery, located at 255 Vaughan artists or emerging artists but they’re St., will feature 10 different artists, kind of difficult to break into, and the with a new group of artists on the art scene is sometimes hard to access wall each month. for people,” Visser explained.

“The whole idea is that it’s inclusive The idea behind From Here & to any style, any age, any skill level.

Away, in contrast, is that it is incred- I feel like it’s all good in its own way, ibly accessible to anyone looking as long as it’s created with honesty. to share how they see the world – When a photograph is created from empowering individuals to explore, a place of true inspiration, that’s when create, and understand different it’s good – when someone is inspired cultures. to take a photo. I think it’s always “Hopefully, over time, we can form apparent when someone is present a dialogue if we’re all on this com- in their work.” mon ground of this non-threatening Visser hopes that displaying physicommunity of creative people that cal copies of the artists’ work will help will encourage other people to create.” them gain exposure and draw more For Visser, artistic expression has apparent connections between each been an integral part of his being artist’s worldview. As the organizasince childhood and he hopes to tion expands, he also hopes to include foster the same passion for creativity other mediums of art too. in others.

“The thing that I’m excited about “I think it is important that people’s is that it can take on so many forms. creativity is encouraged. That’s what Basically, I want it to be a platform makes me excited everyday. What for people to either start creating or drives me to be a human being, basi- continue to create, including beyond cally, is to create everyday. So I feel the realm of photography.” the more people that are doing that, He also plans on curating more the more interesting and beautiful group shows and working with communities lacking adequate access to our world becomes,” said Visser.

“I believe that anyone is capable the materials or training needed to of impacting our world in a positive pursue creative endeavors. way through creativity if encouraged “At first, I didn’t really know what or supported in the right way. I want it was. It’s taken this long for me to From Here & Away to be an organi- fully realize what I want to do with it, and what it can do,” said Visser. zation that can help people.”

He aims to do this with three “Right now, it’s just starting. pillars – community, programming, Everything I’ve done before this is and artist support – all of which work just to reach this starting point. For together to foster a community of art- me, it’s the very beginning.” ists, both emerging and established.

“The community aspect is really important to me. If I can’t support

VOL. 102 NO. 7 September 23, 2015

Arts & Culture

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Portrait of a (solitary) man

U of M drama’s event horizon

DIY singer-songwriter plays the WECC Sept. 25

New theatre a ‘glorious luxury’ for drama program

IAN T.D. THOMSON

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PHOTO BY MARC RIMMER

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algary singer-songwriter Chad VanGaalen, who will play the West End Cultural Centre on Sept.

25, brings his unique blend of folk and experimental music to centre stage.

VanGaalen takes the definition of a solo artist to a whole new level.

Not only does he write, play, and produce his albums, he crafts many of his own instruments (including experimental percussion instruments) and develops his own music videos and artwork.

VanGaalen released his fifth full-length album, Shrink Dust, in April 2014. Much like previous releases, the album is an experimental mesh of various sounds and genres. The track “Evil” sounds like a psychedelic Everly Brothers song accompanied by a strong presence of slide guitar. The song “Where Are You” has the artist calling out its title in a distant, panic-like state on top of a commanding, strict drumbeat.

In keeping with his previous releases, VanGaalen produced the album in its entirety by himself in his home studio in Calgary.

When asked if he would consider bringing in an outside producer to assist, VanGaalen said he believes his current process is easier.

“It’s also really economical,” said VanGaalen in an interview.

“I can take a week to work on a song and at the end of that week I can say ‘that song’s garbage’ [...] and not worry about it.”

For his artwork and music videos, VanGaalen has created a look and aesthetic to align with his music. Featuring weird and highly detailed (sometimes obscenely graphic) imagery, the videos oddly fit with VanGaalen’s upper registers and echoing vocal melodies. The videos often directly depict the

lyrics of the song. His latest single “Monster” depicts several disturbing creatures, including a nude man with a head injury and claws coming out of his shoulders.

Although VanGaalen is known for his music, he admits that he initially used his songs as a platform for the videos.

“I was a visual artist before I was ever a musician” – Chad VanGaalen “I was a visual artist before I was ever a musician,” said VanGaalen in an interview.

“I love making cartoons. I feel like it is what I was meant to do.”

VanGaalen has also used his talents as a music video producer for other bands including Toronto noise-rock band METZ and psychedelic folk band Timber Timbre.

When asked what it is like collaborating with these artists, VanGaalen alluded to their having both an open mind to the creative process and a focused determination for the project.

“I don’t really know what’s going to happen with the type of animation that I am doing,” said VanGaalen.

“They just kind of have to put their faith in the fact that I am not going to put out a piece of shit and that I really am really going to sit down and work on it for real.”

TOM INGRAM, STAFF

estled in an alcove of an Chris Johnson, a professor in the obscure hallway behind the department of English, film, and stairs in the basement of University theatre and the director of the proCollege, you can find one of the duction of Lysistrata, had plenty University of Manitoba’s flagship of negative things to say about the performing arts venues. What is current space. now the Black Hole Theatre used When asked what is exciting to be a floor hockey room, and this about moving to the new Conklin fact is the key to making sense of Hall Theatre, Johnson laughed and its design. said, “air.”

Though at 120 seats it is larger than it looks, the theatre gets cramped when it’s even partially “The intimacy of the full. The stage is a thrust, an unconold space is pretty ventional layout with seats on three sides of a rectangular floor space special” – Chris and a backstage area on the fourth Johnson, U of M side.

“You can learn skills here that theatre professor you may never use again,” said Tim Gray, an alumnus of the U of M theatre program and a member of “This place [the Black Hole the comedy troupe H.U.N.K.S. Theatre] is not well ventilated. With The room is wider than it is 120 people and all those lighting long. The ceiling is low. The front instruments it gets pretty warm in entrance is not particularly inviting here. The new theatre’s comfortable. to members of the public.

It’ll be a better audience experience.”

In short, the Black Hole Theatre A better public-facing entrance is a quirky little performance hall is also an attraction for Johnson. with decades of history and perhaps “We’ve got a real lobby instead of a too much personality. Watching a hallway with pipes running down play in the theatre is like being let the middle,” he said. in on a secret. But soon you won’t Another limitation of the curbe seeing many shows there at all. rent space is the low ceiling height, Possibly as early as this coming which limits the construction of January, the Black Hole Theatre sets and makes lighting difficult.

Company will be moving to a new “This is only 12 feet,” said Johnson. performance space in the Taché “You can’t light properly at 12 feet, or Hall arts complex. The company you can do so with great difficulty. is saying goodbye to its current It drives directors crazy because we venue in style, bringing together can’t get off the deck. When you’re students and alumni for a produc- working with actors, you can’t get tion of Aristophanes’s Lysistrata, any height in the sets.” which was profiled in the Sept. 16 But Johnson also admitted to issue of the Manitoban. some nostalgia. “Certainly I’ll With tickets at $50 a pop, the miss the old place,” he said. “It’s so production is intended to raise difficult to block and compose for money to fund the ongoing con- three audiences at once that the old struction of the new Conklin Hall space is an excellent tool for teachTheatre. The current Black Hole ing student directors to block and Theatre will become a rehearsal hall compose – if you can do it there, for the theatre program. you can do it anywhere.”

For people involved in the pro“The intimacy of the old space gram, it’s a bittersweet goodbye. is also pretty special. There aren’t

many theatres where the audience is so close to the performers, where every little movement of the face registers, or where you get splashed by the blood in Titus Andronicus.”

The new theatre will have a height of 40 feet, according to Johnson. The seating will also be retractable, meaning that capacity could vary from 130 to 150.

Aside from the theatre itself, there are some other new developments for the theatre program in the works at Taché Hall.

“We’re replacing the scene shop we’ve got here, which is not very good,” said Johnson. “It’s under a lecture hall, which means we can’t use it when there are lectures on.

And there’s a prop shop and a costume shop. Again, proper shops with lots of headroom, big enough to build a set to go into the new theatre. All of this is glorious luxury for us.”

The Conklin Hall Theatre is being funded in part by a donation from the family of John James Conklin, a U of M alumnus who worked as a journalist and theatre critic for the Manitoba Free Press (later Winnipeg Free Press) for over 50 years. His son Elmer D. Conklin made the $1 million donation in 1989, and since then it has grown to $1.5 million. The total cost for the Conklin Hall Theatre will be $7 million.

The Black Hole Theatre’s production of Lysistrata will take place from Sept. 28 to Oct. 3 at 8 p.m. (8:30 on Oct. 3) in the Black Hole Theatre in the lower level of Unviersity College. Tickets are $50 and a charitable tax receipt will be issued for a portion of the ticket price.

Chad VanGaalen plays the West End Cultural Centre on Sept. 25 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $24 and are available online at Ticketmaster.

PHOTO BY CAROLYNE KROEKER

VOL. 102 NO. 7 September 23, 2015

Arts & Culture

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The nuances of Nuit Blanche Annual contemporary art event celebrates continued growth and innovation SEAMUS HAMILTON-PATTISON, STAFF

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uit Blanche, a multi-venue cele- Middle. Both organizations have had bration of modern art that takes their hands in artistic light installaover downtown Winnipeg for one tion in Winnipeg’s urban centre prior night each year, is set to take place to Nuit Blanche. on Saturday, Sept. 26. Nuit Blanche The transformation of Graham features a plethora of artistic exhib- Ave. won’t end with just the light disits and events in various locations play. According to Karp, ARTery will throughout downtown, the exchange also feature DJ performances down district, and St. Boniface. The artistic the illuminated strip along with happenings are both organized and several dance groups, including the contributed independently by mem- Royal Winnipeg Ballet. bers of the local community and, as “We got this funding from the Biz is the tradition of Nuit Blanche, all and we just really wanted to put it events are free and open to the public. back into the arts community in a way Molly Karp, the communica- that also showcased our downtown. tions and events coordinator for Graham Ave. is a strip of downtown Culture Days Manitoba, promised that people don’t necessarily associate the Manitoban that the evening will with being a hub of contemporary be “bigger and brighter” than Nuits art, so we wanted to shift perspecBlanche’s past. tives about our city and allow people One particular addition high- the opportunity to see new sights in lighted by Karp was an exhibit titled different ways,” Karp said of the new ARTery. With funding acquired from addition.

Downtown Winnipeg BIZ, the As always, the Winnipeg Art exhibit will illuminate Graham Ave Gallery will be a significant focal (you know, that place you catch your point of Nuit Blanche. Every year, downtown buses) from its beginning in collaboration with the event, the on Vaughan St. to its near-end on WAG stays open until 3 a.m., is Fort St. licensed to serve alcohol, and invites ARTery is set to be constructed all patrons to check out the gallery’s by local design organization Lights current exhibitions to a pulsing, allUnlimited and a group primarily night soundtrack. In the past, the composed of students from the U of WAG has hosted live bands to perM’s own architecture faculty, In the form over the course of the evening.

However, this year’s musical entertainment will be a host of DJs performing various genres of electronic music, courtesy of local electronic festival organizers MEMETIC. Despite the new initiatives and artistic endeavors to be put on display this year, Karp assured the Manitoban that Nuit Blanche veterans will still find plenty of familiarity with the return of exhibits from years past.

“There’s a really good mix of events that we’ve showcased in the past as well as new events. It’s nice to be able to work with new artists, but it’s also really good to have some consistency to the night and to develop the events that we’ve been working with in past years.”

The Boulevard of Books is one such event that will return to Nuit Blanche after a successful debut last year. This art installation, put on by Les Éditions du Blé in collaboration with the Maison des artistes visuels francophones will feature four outdoor “reading rooms” along Provencher Blvd.

“People really like those outdoor things where it’s kind of unexpected to see art or activities. I think it allows people to glean a new perspective of their city, and the way they experience night life in our city,” said Karp.

PHOTO BY JEN KOSTESKY

It seems city planning and urban design have become notably more frequent topics of discussion in the minds of Winnipeggers lately, with new initiatives in downtown ranging from the Interstellar Rodeo to Table for 1200 gaining varying degrees of prominence in the public eye. When asked by the Manitoban, Karp credited this to a younger generation’s desire to become more involved in their city, underscored by a sense of local pride.

“Young people in this city are starting to take an interest in their surroundings, and take initiative to be part of cool art collaboratives, and really work towards making

Winnipeg a place that people want to stay. I think, largely, there’s been a trend towards moving out of Winnipeg to get that bigger-city life.

But there are so many creative minds in this city that see Winnipeg as a place where cool stuff is happening and can happen.”

“It’s really showcasing the artistic talent we have here. The more we grow those events, the more people in Winnipeg are going to come out and see what a great place this is to live.”

Find out more information about everything this year’s Nuit Blanche has to offer at www. nuitblanchewinnipeg.ca

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Arts & Culture

Arts & Culture Editor: Seamus Hamilton-Pattison Contact: arts@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

Sports

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A league of her own

Sports Editor: Mike Still Contact: sports@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

Profiling the Manitoba Bisons’ midfield sensation Amanda Wong ANDY CHE, STAFF

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niversity of Manitoba mid- ity to coach several summer camps as fielder Amanda Wong is only well as high-level and recreationalin her second year, yet her astound- level teams, and I hope that through ing ability to control soccer matches this I can share my knowledge of has spectators and the Bisons taking soccer with youth players and have notice. a positive impact on them and their With only a year of CIS expe- development,” Wong said. rience under her belt, Wong was named co-captain of the Bisons ahead of the 2015-16 campaign. The The sky is the limit bestowing of the captain’s armband for this young skipper on such a young player comes with pressure and lofty expectations – a and the teams she part of the game that the product will take charge of FC Northwest does not view as negative, but rather embraces. of down the line “It’s been a complete honour to have been named captain in my second year. In a way I do believe I Her development as a captain has have something to prove, I don’t see also been aided by the injury return this as being a negative thing at all,” of goalkeeper and skipper Chloe Wong said.

Werle. Suffering a back fracture “I believe that everyone on the last campaign, Werle has recovered team should feel as though they have remarkably well for this season. As something to prove – prove that they the first-choice shot-stopper enters belong and whatever decisions were her final year of eligibility, the Bisons made along the way were the right grasped the ideal opportunity to preones.” pare a potential leader like Wong to a pillar in the starting 11 is already – Christine Sinclair. Much like Wong, Wong has also embraced the take the reins. speaking volumes for the Bisons. the Canadian soccer icon is a comlearning curve that comes with being “One player that is going to be A dominant two-footed player, posed difference-maker and natural a university-level athlete and a team my biggest inspiration for the rest Wong is blessed with a wide range of leader. leader. With a lone season of experi- of the year is Chloe Werle,” Wong distribution. Fulfilling a box-to-box “Ever since Canada’s Olympic ence, she is already looking to enrich said. “Working together with her as midfielder role, her combined skill set Bronze in London 2012, I’ve really the future with the examples she has co-captains is fantastic, and she’s had resembles that of Manchester United idolized her. She is always very calm gained. Being a former youth coach the most amazing comeback from her legend Paul Scholes and Italian mae- and composed on the field, as well even further enhances her quality as injury last year.” stro Andrea Pirlo. as very technically and tactically talAs she continues to emerge as a a leader.

As far as idols go, her overall style ented and also a great leader for her “I’ve already gotten the opportun- team cornerstone, her presence as of play is fitting for her hero of choice team,“ Wong said.

PHOTO BY CHANTAL ZDAN

It’s evident that Wong has the qualities to be a captain. With her in the role, much of the future leadership of the Manitoba Bisons is beginning to take shape. The sky is the limit for this young skipper and the teams she will take charge of down the line.

Down but far from out Bisons soccer produces a double comeback in dramatic weekend ANDY CHE, STAFF

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hen the Manitoba Bisons women’s soccer team is hit, they hit back even harder. That has been the theme for Vanessa Martinez-Lagunas’s team so far this season, highlighted by a comeback draw 1-1 in their premiere weekend and coming back twice in a 3-2 loss to Saskatchewan last week. In their western trip this weekend, the Bisons exploited their ability to respond to deficits, rescuing a point for a draw at MacEwan while stealing victory against Mount Royal.

Marlea Moroz delivery and the Griffins were up 1-0.

With halftime approaching, Manitoba had yet to respond to their early setback while their opponents were looking to widen the gap. Their problems escalated when MacEwan freshman Suekiana Choucair struck at 39 minutes, taking the Griffins’ lead to 2-0.

As soon as the second half started, Manitoba was in search of a spark that could turn the match around.

The occasion called for a differencemaker in Alanna Shaw. The striker MacEwan equalized three weeks ago at home The Bisons visited winless to UBC-Okanagan when the Bisons MacEwan on Saturday afternoon, were down 1-0. fresh off a 2-1 win at Regina in their Five minutes after the restart, last performance. Having scored just Shaw pulled a goal back to get two goals in two matches, while con- Manitoba on the score-sheet. More ceding five, the Griffins were keen importantly, at 2-1, the Bisons had the to invigorate their uninspired start remaining 40 minutes to complete to the season. the comeback.

The home side was quick to start Both goalkeepers stood firm as the match on a positive note and the match progressed. Bisons stopper found a breakthrough after just 13 Madison Wilford produced five saves minutes. Striker Sheena Tracey after replacing captain Chloe Werle picked out the top corner from a at halftime. MacEwan number-one

Rebecca Reif kept Manitoba at bay as the time approached 90 minutes.

At this stage of the CIS season, the Manitoba Bisons are undoubtedly making a name for themselves with their sublime comebacks as the rest of their opponents have to settle playing catch-up Hoping to avoid their second defeat of the season, the Bisons pressed late into the match. At 87 minutes, relief finally came for Manitoba when midfielder Megan Graca lobbed Reif for a dramatic

equalizer. The final ball was played heightened as the Bisons and in by Shaw, who is quickly develop- Cougars combined for 11 fouls during ing a knack for delivering at crucial the second half. Manitoba left back times of games.

Elyce Molyneaux collected the lone Bruna Mavignier and Graca booking – a yellow card at 52 minutes. created chances during injury time, Having missed a late opportunity which would have seen Manitoba to score an injury time winner in the spectacularly clinch all three points. 2-2 draw the previous day, Mavignier Wilford preserved the points for the was looking to make amends. At 74 Bisons with a pair of 90th-minute minutes, she struck again and the saves in the 2-2 draw.

Bisons snatched the lead 2-1.

Manitoba held on for a win, seeing Mount Royal out their third victory of the season.

The Cougars were coming off a Perhaps more importantly, this spir1-0 loss to the Winnipeg Wesmen on ited Bisons team is using momentum Saturday and searched to avoid two gained from previous fixtures to proconsecutive home defeats. Midfielder duce the right results.

Amanda Schafer struck midway At this stage of the CIS season, through the first half, giving the the Manitoba Bisons are undoubtedly Cougars a 1-0 lead. making a name for themselves with For the second match in a row, the their sublime comebacks.

Bisons had conceded the first goal.

However, they were not in deficit The Bisons host the Calgary Dinos mode very long, as Mavignier scored and Lethbridge Pronghorns on her fifth goal of the season three min- Sept. 26 and Sept. 27, respectively. utes later to even the score. The two sides entered the halftime break with the score all square at 1-1.

The physical nature was then

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Sports

Sports Editor: Mike Still Contact: sports@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

Thunderbirds edge out Bisons in a thriller Manitoba remains winless at home after falling in offensive showdown RYAN STELTER, VOLUNTEER STAFF

This past Saturday, the Manitoba Bisons football team fell three points short in a 51-48 loss to the high-flying University of British Columbia (UBC) Thunderbirds, in a game where the herd was primarily playing catch-up.

Manitoba got on the board first after a 45-yard touchdown reception from Jesse Walker. The Thunderbirds answered back, scoring 13 points in a spell where the Bison offence struggled.

Aerial attack

UBC’s starting quarterback, Penn State recruit Michael O’Connor, showcased his poise and ability at many times during this game. He strung together a number of long drives that wore down the Bison defence. O’Connor finished the night with 398 yards passing and four touchdowns.

Despite the loss, Bison quarterback Theo Deezar had an absolutely stellar performance.

The St. Paul’s High School grad went 28 for 39, with a whopping 519 yards and four touchdowns. His 519 yards sets the Bisons’ single game passing record and is also the seventh most in conference history.

“I think going forward our biggest challenge is going to be staying focused and motivated,” Deezar said post-game. “I think losing to UBC and Calgary will be the big-

gest thing to happen to our team this year.”

Receivers come up big

He plays absolutely without fear, he’s got a tremendous heart and he’s got great hands.”

In a game where almost a thou- Thunderbirds dominate sand yards passing were accumu- special teams lated, the receivers on both sides Special teams also played a big played a big role. part in this game, with UBC’s kicker, Quinn van Gylswyk, punting for an astonishing 333 yards and In a game where pinning the Bisons deep on many occasions. The Thunderbird kicker almost a thousand executed a perfect onside kick to start the second half, recording preyards passing cision and accuracy all game. were accumulated, Dobie admitted to being outplayed in the special teams aspect the receivers of the game. on both sides “We absolutely got out-coached, out-called and our guys got outplayed a big role played,” he said. “I thought the call at the beginning of the half was For the Bisons, Walker and vet- aggressive, confident, and gutsy.” eran Alex Vitt led the line for the Dobie also commented on the herd. Walker had six grabs for 109 big takeaway the herd can take yards and one touchdown, while from a game like this.

Vitt had five grabs for 161 yards and “We are not there yet. We have made some key catches to extend a lot of fight, but we are not there drives, including a 49-yard recep- yet,” he said. “Every quarter in tion made in the third quarter in every game is so important and double coverage. every game has importance.”

Head coach Brian Dobie had The Bisons travel to Alberta next some high praise for Vitt, com- week to take on the Golden Bears. mending him for his ability to play The Bears are coming off a crushing with heart and passion.

80-18 loss to Calgary.

“That kid is a warrior,” Dobie said. “Alex Vitt will make catches in any league, in any kind of traffic.

PHOTO BY JEFF MILLER

VOL. 102 NO. 7 September 23, 2015

New Bisons take the ice A look at some of the herd’s hockey recruits for 2015 RYAN STELTER, VOLUNTEER STAFF

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he air is getting colder and the role,” Stovin said. days are getting shorter, signal“I can bring whatever role is need ling the beginning of hockey season. from the coach this year. I know I The Bisons men’s hockey team have am expected to produce offensively.” already started training camp, and Bilton played three seasons there is plenty to look forward to with the Winnipeg Blues and his this year. Manitoba announced coming off his best campaign last eight new recruits for the 2015-16 year, when he scored 52 points in Canada West season.

55 games. The six-foot-four winger Forwards Liam Bilton, Jordyn from Winnipeg is ready for this Boyd, Brett Brooks, Brett Stovin, season and said he did a lot of and Jonah Wasylak, goaltenders intense training in the off-season Justin Paulic and Dasan Sydora, to prepare. and defenceman Adam Henry will all be joining the herd this year.

Head coach Mike Sirant talked “We had some to the Manitoban about this year’s outstanding recruiting class and the quality of the players coming into the Bison players, so we program. couldn’t be more “We’re thrilled, we’re excited to have these players commit to us,” excited with Sirant said. “We had some outstanding players. Not only on the the group we ice, but we also look for character have joining our players with value that fit into our Bison culture, so we couldn’t be program” – Mike more excited with the group we Sirant, head have joining our program.”

Last Tuesday, Sirant introduced coach, Bisons two of the eight rookies for 2015-16, men’s hockey Liam Bilton and Brett Stovin at a press conference.

Stovin is a 20-year-old local player from Stony Mountain. He “We had a pretty strict training spent five seasons in the WHL regimen through the summer, we with the Saskatoon Blades and were working out together as a even had an eight-game stint with team,” Bilton said. “Lots of off-ice the Missouri Mavericks of the East stuff and lots of on-ice [training] Coast Hockey League, where he which is a bit different for me.” scored five goals and added one Manitoba’s six other recruits, assist. who weren’t in attendance, also “I’ve spent the last two seasons have their fair share of on-ice being a leader on a team that was experience to lend to the Bisons. rebuilding, getting a lot of ice time Boyd, hailing from Winnipeg, and getting an opportunity to play has played for the Everett Silvertips a lot more offensively whereas in and Kootenay Ice in the WHL the past with the Blades I’ve been a and the Portage Terriers in the defensive player, playing in a tough Manitoba Junior Hockey Leage

(MJHL). He’s fresh off an RBC Championship this past season with the Terriers and has proven to be a playoff performer, notching 17 points in 12 playoff games in 2015.

Brooks spent last season playing for the Winnipeg Blues in the MJHL, contributing 62 points in 58 games in the regular season. The six-foot, 190-pound forward has spent time with the Moose Jaw Warriors in the WHL as well.

Wasyluk is a big six-foot-three forward with an eye for the net. The Calgary native recorded career high totals last season with the MJHL’s Steinbach Pistons, adding 48 points in 60 regular season games.

Paulic is one of two goalie recruits for the Bisons. Hailing from Thompson, he split three seasons in the WHL with the Moose Jaw Warriors and the Victoria Royals. His best season came in 2012-13 when he posted a 3.15 goalsagainst average (GAA), and a 0.899 save percentage.

Sydora rounds out the goalie recruits. The five-foot-nine, 165pound native of Red Deer, Alta., played last season with the Winkler Flyers of the MJHL. He put up solid numbers, with a 0.921 save percentage and a 2.60 GAA. Henry has spent four seasons in the WHL, suiting up for the Lethbridge Hurricanes, Seattle Thunderbirds, Saskatoon Blades and most recently the Portland Winterhawks. The journeyman finished off his WHL career with 115 points in 238 games.

The herd heads to Saskatchewan on the weekend of Sept. 18-20, where they will play against Regina at Ochapowace First Nation on Friday and then travel to Regina to play Calgary on Saturday.

Sports

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Sports

VOL. 102 NO. 7 September 23, 2015

The three-headed monster Manitoba’s running back trio quickly making a name for themselves MIKE STILL, STAFF

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t the start of the 2015 CIS football season, it appeared that the Saskatchewan Huskies boasted the most diverse backfield, with Tyler Chow, Jarvis James, and Shane Buchanan. Three games into the current campaign, however, it’s become evident that the Manitoba Bisons have earned that distinction.

Veteran running back Alex Christie and newcomers Jamel Lyles and Cameron Fox have quickly become a dangerous force for the opposition, racking up a combined 1,090 all-purpose yards after week three.

It’s a group with varying running styles, effectively keeping other defences on their toes with every play. Christie, at five-foot-nine and 195 pounds, is the agile, elusive one of the group, while Lyles, at 205, and Fox, at 220, are both power backs who can move in space.

While the trio bring different elements to the Bison backfield, it’s their varying backstories that are even more intriguing.

Alex Christie

Background

Cameron Fox

Jamel Lyles

PHOTOS BY JEFF MILLER

Christie, a Winnipeg native entering his third year of eligibility with the herd, played the majority of his high school football in Ontario, moving there at age 14 due to his father’s job in the RCMP. He had offers from a number of Ontario universities after high school, but chose to come back to his hometown.

Part of his decision was due to the talented core of running backs Manitoba already had at the time, in current CFLers Anthony Coombs, Nic Demski, and Kienan LaFrance.

“My thought process behind it was, why not learn from some of the great players in the program?” Christie said.

Christie, at five-footnine, 195 pounds, is the agile, elusive one of the group, while Lyles, at 205, and Fox, at 220, are both power backs who can move in space

Lyles, a British Columbia native, was one of the most highly touted recruits coming out of high school two years ago, after accumulating over 3,000 combined rushing yards Leadership role in his grade 11 and 12 seasons at Lord Interestingly, it’s now Christie Tweedsmuir Secondary School in who’s assumed the leadership role Surrey. that Coombs, Demski, and LaFrance Lyles decided to take the follow- once had. That’s something that Lyles ing fall off in order to pursue a few and Fox both appreciate.

NCAA Division 1 offers from schools “When I came to spring camp, such as Montana, Wyoming, and Christie pretty much was like, ‘any Nevada-Las Vegas. That route ulti- questions, just ask,’” Fox said. “A lot mately didn’t work out, but Lyles was of things he’d simplify it for us too. just as happy to commit to Manitoba That’s definitely the impression I got for the 2015 season. from Christie coming in, he’s defi“[Division 1] was definitely the nitely a team guy.” goal. I’m not going to say that was the Lyles agreed wholeheartedly, main road I wanted to go to, because using the “three-headed monster” the opportunity I had here was also analogy to represent Christie’s role.

“There’s a brain to the three headed great,” Lyles said. “When I came on a recruiting visit [to Manitoba], the monster, and [Christie’s] it,” Lyles players were awesome, it felt great said. right when I got here, and it was just While all three players have had like family right off the bat.” success in the past, at no point did Fox, a talented prospect out of any of the running backs feel the need Calgary, took a bit of a different to one-up any of their teammates route in his football journey. He was in order to gain more reps – noted originally recruited by Regina to play particularly by Christie, the senior linebacker after an impressive high member of the group. school career at Father Lacombe “If they’re better than me, they High School, but ultimately didn’t go. deserve to be on the field,” Christie Fox then spent two years working said. “I don’t care, because they’re before returning to the sport in 2012 going to make us win and that’s really with the CJFL’s Calgary Colts. He what football’s all about, is winning.” played there for three seasons, and As the stats show, each player has was given the honour of practising made an impact so far this season, with the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders and as the campaign continues all for the entire 2014 season. three players will surely continue to Fox impressed with the Stamps, make their names known, both indiand actually had the chance to sign vidually and as a unit. with them, but instead chose to pursue his CIS dreams, coming to Manitoba in order to gain valuable knowledge and hone his game.

“Just talking with other guys that kind of went that same route, they said they wished they would’ve played CIS football too, to try and get that experience,” Fox said.