6 April 2016

MANITOBAN the

THE OFFICIAL UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA STUDENTS’ NEWSPAPER

NEWS

UMSU cancels forensic audit Council apologizes to students Page 3

ARTS & CULTURE

Borealis to debut in Winnipeg U of M alum writes, produces, and stars in new film Page 20

NEWS

Pallister promises scholarship and bursary funding PC leader pledges to attract more private donations to fund student aid Page 5

VO L 1 0 2 · N O 2 9 · A P R I L 6 , 2 0 1 6 · W W W.T H E M A N I TO B A N .CO M

2

Index

VOL. 102 NO. 29 April 6, 2016

COMMENT

Referendum rule wrongheaded

Pallister PCs’ PST proposal preposterous page 10 SCIENCE

Women in science

A celebration of women leading the way in STEM fields page 12-14

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REPORTERS

NEWS Osho Samuel Adetunji NEWS Shawn Garbutt NEWS Shreya Ghimire NEWS Diana-Abasi Ubokudom COLUMNIST Jill Patterson SCIENCE Malak Abas SCIENCE Jeremiah Yarmie ARTS & CULTURE Olivia Michalczuk ARTS & CULTURE Tobi Nifesi SPORTS Andy Che SPORTS Ryan Stelter

ARTS & CULTURE

Common THREAD

VOLUNTEER CONTRIBUTORS

Jess Kostuik Jeff Miller Chris Zuk Tara Miller

Multidisciplinary event weaves together Winnipeg's diverse art scene

Will Gibson Filber Oldie Robter Pasternak Nicolette Nuytten

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News

3

News Editor: Ethan Cabel Contact: news@themanitoban.com News Editor:Garett Williams Contact: garett@themanitoban.com

UMSU council puts brakes on audit Student union rescinds call for forensic audit, apologizes to student body CRAIG ADOLPHE, STAFF

PHOTO BY CAROLYNE KROEKER

A

t its March 24 meeting, the University of Manitoba Students’ Union (UMSU) council called off a forensic audit of its finances and apologized to the student body for what it called a hasty decision concerning allegations of misuse of funds

by UMSU president Jeremiah Kopp.

Earlier this month, the council passed a series of three emergency motions after former vice-president student services Jessica Morrison levelled allegations that Kopp misused union funds through an executive credit card.

The first emergency motion made public a package of financial documents, including credit card statements that showed $29,000 of expenses incurred on the president’s card, $14,000 of which Morrison alleged were unapproved; the second called for the forensic audit; and the third cut off Kopp and vice-president internal Zachary LeClerc from use of executive credit cards for the remainder of the term.

Morrison resigned later in the same meeting.

At the start of the March 24 meeting, council passed a motion preventing UMSU executives from firing any staff for the remainder of the term. The motion also temporarily made general manager Thomas Blumer and accounting manager Ron Davey report to council rather than the executive.

Later in the meeting, Blumer and Davey presented to council in an hour-long closed session. At the end of the closed session, law student representative Karas Elbardisy put forward a motion – citing the advice of Davey – to cancel the audit and apologize.

Council’s apology and retraction

Elbardisy’s motion was later split into two separate proposals: one calling off the audit and one issuing an apology.

The motion to cancel the forensic

audit included a stipulation that the next annual audit of UMSU finances expand its scope based on the input of the general manager and accounting manager, with the aim of developing recommendations for operational and bylaw changes.

The apology motion passed in an amended form. Instead of apologizing to Kopp specifically, UMSU council issued an apology to the entire membership “for the rash reaction of the original motion as the actions of the time took no consideration for the effects on various council members’ reputations and the more serious effects on the student body.”

“The forensic audit wouldn’t give us ‘was this right, was this wrong?’ And what the councillors know now is that the policies don’t prohibit what happened, they tend not to speak on it one way or the other” – Karas Elbardisy, MLSA rep, UMSU council

age that. But I just felt that this blew up fairly quickly, and it affected his reputation in a very negative way prior to having all the facts.”

Speaking in general terms about the information provided by Davey and Blumer in the closed session, Elbardisy said council was advised the audit would be costly and wouldn’t provide the answers they were looking for.

“It wouldn’t give us ‘was this right, was this wrong,’” he said. “And what the councillors know now is that the policies don’t prohibit what happened, they tend not to speak on it one way or the other, and that’s an issue.”

“That’s something that council has tried to fix tonight,” Elbardisy added, referring to the expanded mandate of the annual audit. Another motion passed at the end of the meeting calls for an administration committee – comprising key staff members, including Davey and Blumer – to develop a report to council on recommendations for expenditure processes.

“UMSU chamber isn’t a chamber that can pass judgment,” Elbardisy said.

“And so when we were told that the forensic audit wouldn’t help, we’re free to make moral judgments: we can say Jeremiah shouldn’t have spent money on X or Y, he shouldn’t have gone out to Joey that night, but we can’t pass judgment where the policy and bylaws don’t give us the power to pass judgment.

“As a council we can’t make a moral judgment and say ‘you’re wrong,’ or ‘you’re right,’ but we can say we don’t want this to happen again and we’re going to implement policies to stop it from happening.”

Speaking to the Manitoban following the meeting, Elbardisy Kopp’s reaction explained his reasoning behind proKopp said he was encouraged by posing the motion to halt the audit the council’s decisions.

“I think it reflects sobriety,” he said. and apologize to Kopp.

“The apology was for the rashness “It reflects a good understanding of of the decision,” Elbardisy said. “It the issues and I’m just glad to see the wasn’t for asking questions or ques- allegations were in fact confirmed to tioning Jeremiah or questioning the be baseless.” executive. Council has absolutely Kopp also confirmed the decision every right to do that, and I encour- was informed by advice from Davey

and Blumer, who had consulted with audit firms.

“I think UMSU council felt that the previous meeting’s decisions were unwarranted and that it did significant undue harm to my reputation,” Kopp said. “But what I’m very happy about is that they chose to apologize to all UMSU students who were provided incomplete information and were subject to rumour-mongering, and hopefully this will set the record straight.”

“The genesis of these rumours, the genesis of these allegations, were found to be severely lacking in terms of evidence,” he said.

“This is students’ money that was spent in a way that concerns students – I think rightfully so.

And to say that we’re going to apologize to Jeremiah, I think that’s ludicrous” – Reanna Blair, ASBC rep, UMSU council “They were passing value judgements, and really, what everyone can agree on is there’s a need for a bylaw and operational review, and it’s important some policies are considered to make sure nothing like this happens again. But I think what tonight says is that UMSU council certainly recognizes that the decision made last week was not made on facts, but rather based on emotion.”

In addition to UMSU council’s apology to the student body, Kopp also used his presidential report – provided earlier in the meeting – to make his own apology for “the state

of the union.”

Student opposition

UMSU arts representative Reanna Blair opposed the motion to rescind the audit and told the Manitoban she wanted to hear from neutral third parties about the audit.

“We should be speaking to unbiased people who were not within UMSU, who would have no connection to these charges that were incurred,” she said.

“That’s who should be presenting it to council. Because, even now, I don’t think council has a clear idea of what an audit can and cannot do.

And to get rid of the audit in such a hasty fashion when it was voted on by more students than what were [here] now, I think was a huge issue.”

Blair added that she had concerns about the length of the meeting, which ran for nearly five and a half hours. Attendance, which started with roughly 70 people at 6 p.m. had dwindled to 30 by the time the motions were voted on, around 10 p.m.

“I think that when you get to these meetings that are incredibly long in length, people start leaving whose voices need to be heard on council,” Blair said.

Blair also took issue with the idea of an apology to Kopp.

“It’s actually hilarious,” she said.

“This is students’ money that was spent in a way that concerns students – I think rightfully so.”

“And to say that we’re going to apologize to Jeremiah for something that happened that I think students responded in a way that was natural and normal in this instance, I think that’s ludicrous.”

Blair said that while she disagreed with the original wording which apologized to Kopp directly, she also disagrees with the amended apology to students because she doesn’t feel the audit should have been called off.

News

4

News Editor: Ethan Cabel Contact: news@themanitoban.com News Editor:Garett Williams Contact: garett@themanitoban.com

UMSU set to run roughly $300,000 deficit, says vice-president internal

Credit card, CFS-MB discussed at UMSU AGM

ETHAN CABEL, STAFF

Easter Monday meeting sees high turnout, fails to meet quorum

T

he University of Manitoba Students’ Union (UMSU) revealed at last week’s annual general meeting that the union has accumulated a deficit, based on financial data from May 1, 2015, to the end of February 2016.

The union’s vice-president internal, Zachary LeClerc, confirmed in an interview that UMSU will be running a deficit of roughly $300,000 this year.

“I don’t think anyone expects to run a deficit or wants to run a deficit,” LeClerc told the Manitoban, reflecting on his time in office.

“But decisions were made as a team and I’ll stand with that moving forward until the end of the year [...] If I was to give recommendations to people next year it would be, for social programming in particular, to better plan in advance to make sure that you get people out to these events.”

LeClerc said that more specific details would be presented to UMSU council at its April 14 meeting. However, he added one of the primary contributing factors to the deficit was a $76,000 loss on the union’s annual Frosh Fest.

“We use an external company to run this instead of using our events coordinator, which we hire in-house full-time, which I think is absurd,” LeClerc said.

“I really hope next year’s executive doesn’t hire externally because we know how the money was spent now, we have the records, we just need to use the information and move forward.”

For the last two years local firm Prairie Promotions has been commissioned by the union to organize the event and book acts.

In 2014, Tiësto was the festival’s headline act. This past year, the festival featured American DJ Dillon Francis. It was held in the university’s Max Bell Centre, which holds a capacity of just under 4,000 students.

LeClerc also provided an update on the union’s various businesses.

While GPA’s convenience store, IQ’s café, and the copy centre are all profitable for the union, the Hub and UMSUshi are both losing money. Degrees restaurant turned a profit of about $10,000, LeClerc said.

While the union instituted several cost-cutting measures to help prod the Hub towards turning a profit, LeClerc said the bar lost roughly $40,000 between May 2015 and February of this year.

“Considering where it was at last year, that is a turnaround for a restaurant,” he said.

SHREYA GHIMIRE, STAFF

Roughly 85 students showed up to the University of Manitoba Student’s Union’s (UMSU) annual general meeting (AGM) March 28 to raise concerns about the state of the union.

The union took flak over the time and date of the AGM, which some allege was calculated to avoid tough questions surrounding president Jeremiah Kopp’s allegedly inappropriate union credit card spending.

The reports and questions for Kopp took up a majority of the meeting, extending for over an hour.

Kopp has been under fire ever since an UMSU council meeting several weeks ago where former vice-president student services Jessica Morrison alleged that he had inappropriately spent $14,000 on an UMSU credit card. Kopp expressed disappointment at the AGM that most questions directed towards him were regarding the release of his UMSU credit card statements, noting that the projects and campaigns successfully conducted by UMSU throughout the year were being overshadowed.

“I do wish people looked at the fee levies we implemented that will help indigenous students from vulnerable circumstances, undergraduate research, funding for child care spots, and renovations to the heart of our campus.

But at the same time I am always happy to answer any and all questions about the union,” Kopp told the Manitoban.

UMSU council has since formally apologized to the student body, in part for denigrating council members’ reputations after the credit card issue surfaced.

The council also voted to cancel a planned forensic audit into the union’s expenses.

CFS-MB censure

Another concern raised was UMSU’s recent condemnation of the Canadian Federation of Students-Manitoba (CFS-MB) for partisan activity.

At the last UMSU council meeting, councillors voted to denounce CFS-MB for publicly endorsing the policies of the Manitoba NDP during the ongoing provincial election.

“Even students who are engaged did not know when or where the event was because UMSU, beyond sending an email with the information and using their Facebook page to make an announcement, provided really no promotion for the event” – Kieran Labossière, senior stick, Faculty of Music Students’ Association At the AGM, Faculty of Music Students’ Association (FMSA) jazz studies representative Anatol Rennie called on the UMSU executives to refrain from publicly endorsing or campaigning for any political party in order to avoid hypocrisy given their stance on CFS-MB. Rennie said if UMSU executives cannot promise to do this or view it to be unacceptable, then they should rescind the motion condemning CFS-MB and apologize.

Because the AGM failed to meet quorum of 200 members, Rennie’s motion will be forwarded to UMSU council for consider-

ation at their next meeting.

Rennie told the Manitoban that UMSU’s denunciation of CFS-MB misrepresented the issue because CFS-MB did not formally endorse any political party. He added that there was a lack of debate on the motion before it passed in council.

“This is the CFS’s job: to evaluate policy and advocate on behalf of students,” Rennie told the Manitoban.

Rennie also noted that the original motion was harmful for the already strained relationship between UMSU and CFS-MB. “There’s been a lot of bad blood between UMSU and the CFS,” Rennie said.

Rennie also expressed concern that the original motion to denounce was brought forward by Darius Hunter, a council member who worked as a staffer for the provincial Progressive Conservatives, noting that the decision to bring forward the motion could have also been politically motivated.

Lack of promotion

Some students expressed concern over the fact that many of them would never have known about the AGM if an unofficial Facebook event had not been shared during the weekend ahead of the meeting.

The meeting was held on the Fort Garry campus at 9 a.m. on Easter Monday, at a time that spans at least two class periods.

The AGM drew a crowd of about 85 people, which was noted to be a much higher turnout than previous years.

Kieran Labossière, senior stick of the FMSA, created the event in order to encourage students to attend.

“Even students who are engaged did not know when or where the event was because UMSU, beyond sending an email with the information and using their Facebook page to make an announcement, provided really no promotion for the event,” Labossière said.

“All their other events are much better promoted. This one was mysteriously lacking. It was also rescheduled on very short notice.

So I felt like I should take the initiative to try and get students out because they have a chance to have their voice heard and should be able to take advantage of that.”

Kopp claims the UMSU executive promoted the AGM adequately, pointing out that students were invited via their email, it was put up on the UMSU Facebook page, and discussed at the union’s governance meeting.

“The AGM was a really great opportunity for students to vocalize any concerns that they had and a good opportunity to clear a lot of misinformation that had been out there over the past couple weeks” – Jeremiah Kopp, president, UMSU “Some people are skeptical of everything. The reality is that it was a logistical consideration.

There’s only so many places on campus that fit 200 people, and whether you have it at 9 a.m. or 5 p.m. or 10 p.m., people are going to have things on the go,” he said.

“We did the best we could to notify students and get them out for a robust democratic conversation.”

VOL. 102 NO. 29 April 6, 2016

News

5

Progressive Conservatives pledge to bolster Manitoba Scholarship and Bursary Initiative PC leader Brian Pallister pledges to double funding to $20 million through increased private investment GARETT WILLIAMS, STAFF

I

f elected into office April 19, a comment on whether a PC adminProgressive Conservative gov- istration would maintain Manitoba’s ernment will double the Manitoba student loan program – which struck Scholarships and Bursary Initiative interest from loans beginning in 2015 to $20 million through increased pri- – saying his goal is breaking down the vate sector investment, leader Brian barriers keeping students out of postPallister announced at the University secondary in the first place. of Manitoba March 27.

“I think it’s putting the cart after At a media event on the Fort the horse, in a sense, to address Garry campus March 28, Pallister the follow-up situation before you said a PC government would increase address the actual barrier,” he said. public support for the program to “We want to reduce the barriers for $6.75 million from the current $4.5 entry. That’s where we’re focused.”

Pallister said the bolstered initiamillion and leverage the remaining two-thirds from private contributions. tive would aid 3,500 additional high “I want the barriers to post-sec- school graduates with more than ondary education and training to be $2,500 in support each. lower, not higher,” he said, accusing “My concern is also that for many the incumbent NDP government of people that come from, in particular, decreasing support for the program, not-advantageous financial circumwhich currently gives students access stances, it’s important that they be to about $9 million in scholarships able to consider this [post-secondary] and bursaries that are administered as a viable option,” he said, noting through the province’s public univer- the program is largely based on need.

“Scholarships and bursaries will sities and colleges.

Pallister said he has held discus- help - they can make the difference sions with Manitoba chambers of for young people.” commerce and said there is a backThe announcement came a week log of would-be donors looking to after the incumbent NDP announced participate in the program. He didn’t its intention to convert Manitoba stu-

dent loans into non-repayable grants, a plan supported by the Manitoba chapter of the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS-MB).

“I understand that they are fully in support of the status quo here in Manitoba and, of course, I’m disappointed to hear that,” Pallister said of the student organization, closing his press conference.

Michael Barkman, chairperson of CFS-MB, wouldn’t respond directly to Pallister’s remarks but said the students’ federation has been lobbying for debt-free university and college education for years.

“We think public education must remain a public good – and publicly funded – and government needs to invest in post-secondary education,” he said.

Barkman said the Progressive Conservative proposal raises questions and said he wonders where the private investment will come from and whether a PC government will reach the entire target of nearly $13 million.

Claiming students in Manitoba face a crisis-level $20,000 debt upon

PHOTO BY GARETT WILLIAMS

graduation, Barkman said the proposal falls short of the kind of government investment the CFS would like to see.

“We really need to see some strong leadership in addressing this,” he said, “and I don’t think this amount of money is going to quite adequately address the student debt crisis.”

In November, the Manitoba

Liberals announced their own plan to invest $10 million currently set aside for loans into developing a nonrepayable grant program.

UMSU condemns CFS-MB over alleged partisan position Motion passed criticizing Canadian Federation of Students-Manitoba of NDP bias DIANA-ABASI UBOKUDOM, STAFF

T

he University of Manitoba and told the Manitoban at the time, is support policies – and not parties representative and went on to say, Students’ Union (UMSU) con- “It’s something that students have – and inform our members of those “We’re very excited to see what a demned the Manitoba chapter of the been asking for for a long time from policies,” he said.

Progressive Conservative governCanadian Federation of Students all political parties.”

Leading into the April 19 pro- ment will bring to Manitoba and we (CFS-MB) at its March 24 meetHunter also took umbrage with vincial election, each party’s post- do know, we are confident, that it’s ing, passing a motion criticizing the the CFS speaking to media and mak- secondary platform is posted on the a better plan for a better future in advocacy group for expressing politi- ing statements in favour of NDP poli- CFS-MB webpage and the federa- Manitoba.” cal favouritism toward the provincial cies on behalf of students, arguing tion actively encourages students to Incoming UMSU vice-president New Democrats. such opinions are subjective. cast ballots in both provincial and internal Adam Pawlak also stood in Arts Student Body Council repHunter further questioned the federal elections. a crowd of students assembled behind resentative Darius Hunter, who rationale behind the CFS’s deciBarkman said that although the the candidate. proposed the motion, said recent sion to back the policies of the NDP NDP and Liberal parties have each UMSU president Jeremiah Kopp comments from CFS-MB in sup- and not the Liberals, who similarly committed to expanding grants avail- said the decision to issue an official port of NDP campaign proposals do proposed converting student loans able to students, the New Democrats’ endorsement during an election not reflect the views of all UMSU into grants through a $10 million program goes further toward sup- campaign is an ongoing conversation members. investment. porting returning and low-income within student unions but he added Hunter, who also works for the “Will the CFS still support the students, which he argued opens it would be acceptable provided the Progressive Conservative Party of policies of the NDP if another party post-secondary education to a wider move carried the support of union Manitoba, told the Manitoban that makes similar promises?” Hunter said population. membership. criticizing the policies of one party in an interview.

At a press event on the U of M “Each member can express perwhile accepting those of another “is Barkman told the Manitoban he campus March 28, the Progressive sonal support for a particular party, equivalent to endorsement.” was cautiously optimistic and sup- Conservatives promised to increase but when it comes to making that CFS-MB chairperson Michael portive of the Liberal plan when it post-secondary scholarships and decision as an organization, there Barkman appeared at an NDP cam- was announced in November. bursaries to $20 million by bumping should be that agreement,” he said. paign event March 20 where Premier Responding to the accusations the provincial investment into the Although UMSU is keeping neuGreg Selinger announced a campaign of partisanship, Barkman said the program to $6.75 million and raising tral through the current campaign, pledge to replace student loans with student federation endorses and the remaining two-thirds through many of its executives have direct non-repayable grants and provide free promotes policies and proposals but private investment. personal affiliations with the parties tuition for students in foster care up doesn’t back individual candidates PC leader Brian Pallister was seeking to form government. to age 25. or parties. introduced at the event by Hunter, Barkman supported the proposal “What we do as a student union who acknowledged he was an UMSU

Union endorsement?

David Camfield, associate professor of labour studies and sociology at the U of M, said if a student union finds that the policies of a party resonate with their own priorities, it can offer its support, but he urged that endorsement should be developed through a democratic process.

“If student unions democratically decide that because of the policies that they support they should endorse a political party, then that’s legitimate,” he said, adding “If CFS-MB or UMSU chooses to take a position on calling for a vote for a political party, there’s nothing inappropriate about it, [it’s] just a question of the process.”

“If they believe that one party’s policies were much better for students than the other party’s, then they could say something about that,” he said.

“I think that there is no reason or principle why student unions should not take a position when it comes to elections.”

6

News

News Editor: Ethan Cabel Contact: news@themanitoban.com News Editor:Garett Williams Contact: garett@themanitoban.com

UMSU reforms move forward Second phase of governance and operational restructuring proposals received by council SHAWN GARBUTT, STAFF

T

he University of Manitoba Students’ Union (UMSU) is moving into the second phase of reforming its governing documents and overall structure.

At its general council meeting March 24, the union’s policy and bylaws committee presented a second set of proposals for a restructur-

open to amendment prior to being voted on at the April 28 council meeting – aim to further reduce redundancies, structural errors, and inconsistencies and implement a first set of substantive changes to the governing documents.

The second stage of the overhaul aims to “address some of the more pressing concerns regarding UMSU’s governance and operations” but the proposals are “far from exhaustive,” according to the report presented to council.

“There are holes in the governing documents of UMSU that must be addressed, plain and simple,” Ian Thomson, chair of the policy and PHOTO BY MEGAN COLWELL bylaw committee, told the Manitoban.

“I would be very concerned for the ing project that began in the 2014-15 state of the union if these amendacademic year. ments were not passed,” he said.

The first round of retooling introThomson acknowledged a need for duced a new set of governing docu- continued, critical examination and ments and brought forward a number restructuring of UMSU’s functional of changes to update and clarify mechanisms in the future. union operations and procedures.

“The content changes now are part Recommendations presented for of a second phase,” he said, “but I can the second phase – which are still truthfully say that there are many

more policy changes that need to be ing his 2016 run for president as an addressed for the union to act in its independent candidate and told the most efficient manner.”

Manitoban that the union is fundaThe committee identified 11 areas mentally flawed in its structure. for change, including amendments “The future of UMSU? I don’t to elections and referenda, human know. It’s in disarray, it’s scary,” he resources management and organiza- said. tional structure, and finances, which However, he praised the recomincludes a recommendation to tighten mendations brought forward by the the protocols surrounding discretion- committee as necessary steps forward. ary spending and restrict credit card LeClerc said he sees great potential use to union staff. in the union but what is lacking is The financial reforms were being student engagement through meandiscussed by the bylaw commit- ingful consultations. tee long before UMSU president Other areas identified by the comJeremiah Kopp was accused of misuse mittee for reform include policies surof an executive credit card at a union rounding position statements, rules council meeting March 10, Thomson of order, funding recipient groups, said. governing documents, legal matThomson, who is also chair of the ters, contractual matters, business Manitoban Newspaper Publications management, and indemnification Corporation, said none of the pro- procedures. posals were developed in response to The proposed changes will be concerns raised from the early March voted on during the current UMSU meeting and were first presented to executive’s final council meeting the committee in February.

April 28. Should the motion pass, the Outgoing UMSU vice-president reforms to UMSU’s governing docuinternal Zachary LeClerc raised ments will be codified for May 18. union organizational issues dur-

University 1 Student Council holding referendum on executive term extension Controversial Frosh Fest contract sparks call for restructuring OSHO SAMUEL ADETUNJI, STAFF

PHOTO BY CHANTAL ZDAN

T

he University 1 Student Council (U1SC) is holding a byelection and referendum on whether to extend the U1SC executive terms until the end of April in a bid to match its fiscal year with the terms of its executive members.

Several weeks ago, UMSU finance committee resolved a dispute between the University of Manitoba

Students’ Union (UMSU) and U1SC fund its operations and helped ensure amicably. that U1SC remained in debt with The dispute emerged after UMSU to the tune of $17,300. new U1SC executives elected last Since the organization’s inception, November found out that their pre- the terms for executives and the fiscal decessors had signed off on a contro- year for U1SC have not been aligned. versial contract involving a $40,000 The U1SC fiscal year begins at the end sponsorship of the Frosh Fest music of April and funds to run the organifestival. The sponsorship left the zation are released in September. A organization without any money to new set of executives is ushered in via

nominations in October and elections positions on council,” Walker said. in December.

The positions include a spate of As such, the new executive is community representatives—from bound for much of their term by a women’s representative to an interthe financial decisions of their national students representative – as predecessors. well as other volunteer and member The referendum, which will be positions. held from April 7 to April 8, will ask Tanjit Nagra, UMSU presidentstudents to vote on the following elect and current Arts Student Body question: “Do you agree to allow the Council president, once served as the current University 1 Student Council vice-president of U1SC and has high(U1SC) to extend their term in office lighted some of the issues that can until April 31, 2017?” possibly crop up in the future if the If students vote in favour of the referendum question gets affirmed question, the current U1SC execu- at the polls. tive will have its term extended in Nagra said that extending the part so that it can make changes to executive terms might take its toll the organization’s bylaws to hold all on the executives and reduce their subsequent U1SC general elections momentum, adding that with the in March. This would be consistent elections moved from November to with the practice of UMSU and other April, catching attention of new stustudent councils that hold elections dents may be difficult. to coincide with their respective fis“When a term is very long, you cal years generally tend to lose momentum.

Meanwhile, Darnell Walker, I see the merit in having the elecU1SC president, told the Manitoban tions around the same time as the arts that the byelection is coming up due one, as the science elections, because to the vacant positions that they have they all happened around March and at the moment.

April as well,” she told the Manitoban.

“When our general elections “But I think the one downside is happened back in November with that these University 1 students, a nominations in October, there were lot of them are [in their] first year actually not many people interested and you are not really catching the in coming out or seeking out nomi- new students that are coming in nation and so with that we ended up September that want to get involved. unfortunately having a lot of vacant I think that is one downside of it.”

VOL. 102 NO. 29 April 6, 2016

News

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Residents take the reins in fight against illegal housing Fort Richmond residents set to create website, begin inventory of illegal rooming houses OSHO SAMUEL ADETUNJI, STAFF

PHOTO BY MEGAN COLWELL

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outh Winnipeg-St. Nobert Coun. resentatives in attendance. It was an Janice Lukes has stepped up her eye-opener for the residents, accordefforts to combat the proliferation of ing to Lukes, with residents showing illegal and unsafe rooming houses renewed commitment to the cause around the University of Manitoba. of routing out illegal rental housing.

As a result of their proximity to Two resolutions were passed at the University of Manitoba, many the Feb. 20 meeting. First, residents houses are illegally subdivided into agreed to develop a website dedicated multiple rooms for rent to between to information on bylaw enforcement. three and 10 tenants or more. These Second, they agreed to engage resiresidences are rented out to students dents in the creation of an inventory who may be unaware that such hous- of rental houses in the neighborhood. ing is illegal in the area under the The website should be up in three Winnipeg Zoning Bylaw. weeks, according to Lukes.

Moreover, given that such properThe inventory is expected to be a ties operate without official oversight, list of assumed rental properties on they are likely to be in violation of the each street in the University Heights Manitoba Building Code. Such viola- and Fort Richmond communities tions may cause unsafe and hazardous with the goal of improving enforceliving conditions for tenants. ment of bylaws.

Plans to address this long-stand“The website will hold good inforing issue started last summer with mation for the residents and good deliberate study of what other univer- information for the residents because sity communities in Canada had done students don’t necessary realize that with respect to the accommodation they are living in a residence that and housing of their students. is unsafe and that is built illegally On Feb. 20, 2016, a meeting was and that they could get kicked out,” held with about 30 members of the Lukes told the Manitoban.

Fort Richmond and University “The other thing that we are going Heights residents’ sub-committees to be doing is street by street invenand four City of Winnipeg bylaw rep- tory of properties that people are

using for rental properties, so most people living on the street, they have a pretty good idea of what [is happening] on their street.”

“The residents are coming together, we are working with the bylaw enforcement officers, and we are cracking down on these landlords that are illegally renting properties or rooms to students” – Janice Lukes, city councillor, South Winnipeg-St. Norbert Lukes said that the cooperation of City of Winnipeg bylaw officers has helped bolster her resolve to

fight against illegal rooming houses around the University of Manitoba.

“The City of Winnipeg bylaw enforcement people are working now with the residents, forming associations, and we are working with them in every part of the city,” she said.

“The residents are coming together, we are working with the bylaw enforcement officers, and we are cracking down on these landlords that are illegally renting properties or rooms to students.”

With the University of Manitoba’s board of governors’ decision to hike rental rates and other ancillary fees for students living in its four oncampus residences, there could be higher demand for off-campus housing options for students this fall.

Lukes told the Manitoban that the university’s administration has so far been uncooperative on the housing issue.

“They clearly told me time and time again that they have nothing to do with rental properties, it is not their problem. They do not see this as their problem,” she said.

John Danakas, the executive director of public affairs at the U

of M, said that the university will continue to work with the community to find solutions to the issue of illegal housing – but he added that bylaw enforcement remains a city responsibility.

“The University of Manitoba is committed to working with various partners to deal with the issues related to housing for students in the neighbourhood adjacent to the Fort Garry campus,” Danakas said.

“The university made it very clear in a public forum in the fall that we’re committed to working with our neighbours in finding solutions.

Enforcement of the city bylaws, however, is very much a city responsibility.”

Barbara Barnett, one of the residents helping out with the street-bystreet inventory of rental properties, said that she thinks the university should be doing more to accommodate students when it comes to lowcost housing.

“I think it will be really important for the university to offer students looking into renting houses information about what is safe and what is legal,” she told the Manitoban.

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

8

UMSU no longer functions the way a union should U of M student union shirking responsibilites ETHAN CABEL, STAFF

PHOTO BY LAUREN SIDDALL

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ate last year and early this year, fees. the University of Manitoba Members of the executive have Students' Union (UMSU) vice-pres- also shown poor judgment, with ident advocacy Rebecca Kunzman recent revelations of $14,000 in allegwas frantically seeking to quash a edly unapproved expenses racked up proposed change to the university’s on a union credit card being only the voluntary withdrawal policy. latest example.

The policy would have granted An inventory of the controversies students who had previously dropped and missteps of the last couple years a course a chance to register only after demonstrates that UMSU no longer all new registrants had enrolled – functions the way a union should. meaning courses that filled up early The union has lost sight of its role as could become perpetually unavailable. an advocacy organization.

This was meant to curb the growing number of course drops, which Relations with totalled nearly 20,000 annually over administration the last five years.

In November 2014, the Manitoban Understandably, the policy was first reported that the U of M was seen as overly punitive for those who planning across the board cuts to its had previously dropped a course for operating budget of four per cent in legitimate reasons and sought to each of the next two years. retake it.

The university maintained that As such, Kunzman sprang into cuts were necessary due to restricaction. In collaboration with then tive tuition policy, whereby fees are Arts Student Body Council senator capped at the rate of inflation, couAllison Kilgour, she put together a pled with modest operating grants survey to gauge student opinion and from the provincial government. In compiled a thorough document out- conjunction with increases to faculty lining alternative policy options. salaries and deferred maintenance Together, the two corralled faculty costs, the U of M crafted a narrative members on the U of M senate to of dire fiscal calamity. delay the motion. In February, their The unions on campus – from efforts resulted in the changes being the University of Manitoba Faculty delayed for another year – and effec- Association to the University of tively quashing the original scheme. Manitoba Graduate Students' This was a big win for UMSU, Association and CUPE 3909 – built on the kind of bread-and-butter weren't buying it. They argued that advocacy typically associated with the university was manufacturing unions of all stripes. a budget crisis in order to further But the quiet dignity and impor- expand its administrative reach. tance of this work stands out in a year I have argued previously that otherwise plagued by carelessness campus unions spend too much time and unaccountability on the part of inventing convoluted ideological reathe union’s executive. sons to fight tooth and nail for the Time and again, students have interests of their already incredibly seen the union shrug its shoulders privileged members. This conflation in the face of cuts and fee hikes on the of ideology and boundless rational part of the university’s administration. self-interest has ensured that many Indeed, the union itself has added unions are out of touch with realconsiderably to the cost of university ity. But at least they still advocate on through increases to select UMSU behalf of their members.

In contrast, UMSU argued that it was better to remain effectively neutral on the budget cuts issue, like virtually everything else regarding the administration.

“My view of UMSU’s role is one of a mediating and clear voice to cut through various political interests,” said Jeremiah Kopp, then vice-president internal, in December 2014.

When the budget eventually came down, it featured $14.4 million worth of cuts out of a $701 million operating budget. On top of that, $7.6 million in new revenue was generated through increases to international student tuition.

Once again, the union's response was distinctly muted, with now-president Kopp saying only that UMSU would pressure the university into remaining firm in its commitment to “take at least a portion of the increase and make sure it gets dedicated to international student support services.”

This is part of a pattern when it comes to UMSU's relationship with the administration.

The union supported the $56.25 per term sports and recreation fee without a referendum even while students at the University of Winnipeg voted in a referendum in 2011 to pay a fraction of the cost for a similar service.

More recently, Kopp supported U of M parking services in its push to increase tickets in line with those charged by the City of Winnipeg.

Similarly, there has been little to no advocacy regarding increases in rent and meal plan rates for campus residences.

And instead of saving students money, the union has consistently added to their financial burden.

Fee hikes

In the summer of 2014, UMSU signed a five-year contract with StudentCare, a for-profit insurance

broker that specializes in securing forever, with the tactical advantage of group health and dental insurance thinning out the crowd before debate plans at post-secondary institutions. begins on controversial motions.

StudentCare replaced the Indeed, playing fast and loose Canadian Federation of Students' with the rules seems to have become (CFS) broker, which had typically UMSU’s modus operandi. secured Green Shield as the insurWhen the union needed cash for ance provider for students at the U Frosh Fest in September, it simply hit of M. up the University 1 Student Council Kopp portrayed the switch to for $40,000 – its entire annual remitStudentCare as a means of provid- tance – in exchange for some tank ing a fixed health and dental fee rate tops and gift cards. for the duration of the contract.

If that weren’t enough, the agreeWhat transpired was the exact ment was clearly invalid based on the opposite, legitimizing criticism union’s bylaws. Only one signing that the union chose StudentCare authority from the union consented primarily to thumb its nose at CFS to the contract and UMSU counwhile collecting $10,000 per year cil did not approve the agreement. in sponsorships to fund events like While the issue has since been rectiFrosh Fest. fied, Kopp has said that these conIn August of last year, the union tracts were commonplace in previous unceremoniously announced that years. In one of those years, U1SC rates would increase by $45.25 per sponsored Frosh Fest to the tune of student due to an unexpectedly $70,000, thus dipping into remithigh number of insurance claims. tances for later years to be counted StudentCare, which failed to keep as debt owed to the union. rates stable for 2015-16, will now be Even with sponsorships from sturenegotiating rates in each of the next dent councils, Frosh Fest contributed three years. $76,000 to a roughly $300,000 budget The University of Winnipeg deficit this year.

Students’ Association, which conFinally, there’s the $14,000 worth tinues to use the CFS broker, pro- of allegedly unapproved expenses vides a significantly cheaper plan for that Kopp racked up on his union students. A full-time single student credit card. His total credit card entering university in the fall pays expenses amount to $29,000 – more $204.60 annually compared to the than I imagine most students make in a year, and far more that I’ve been UMSU rate of $292.

But perhaps the most egregious paid as an editor for the Manitoban. development over the past year was These expenses – which include the concerted effort to push UMSU thousands of dollars for upscale council into supporting a $64 hike in dinners, hotel movies, and booze (as union fees without a referendum and well as a $900 cash withdrawal) – are without any significant consultation. indicative of a culture of entitlement The $64 increase is going toward at UMSU that extends far beyond some arguably worthy projects. These Kopp. include more child care, indigenous Though he is often the public face scholarships, undergraduate research, of these issues, Kopp is one member and renovations to University Centre. of a five-person executive team. And But it is completely unacceptable the obligation to hold this executive for the union to approve such a sub- to account falls on the shoulders of stantial fee hike without a referendum. UMSU council.

Moreover, Kopp presented the fees to Indeed, it is instructive how the university’s board of governors UMSU council dealt with the as a “donation” to the U of M Front expense issue at its meeting on March and Centre fundraising campaign 24. After a closed session in which the without running it by UMSU council. union’s general and accounting manHe has since said that the donation agers made a presentation, council issue will come back to council, but voted to cancel a previously agreedit remains to be seen when that will upon forensic audit – and apologize to happen or what it will look like given the student body saying the original that the university’s board of gover- motion “took no consideration for the nors has already approved it. effects on various council members’ Amazingly, only two UMSU reputations.” councillors voted against the motion In short, this poor oversight and to increase fees by $64. Kopp later opportunism is clearly out of step publicly insinuated that one of those with how an actual union should councillors was a racist. operate. Kopp is an affable guy, but in the time he has left, he should admit Unaccountability that mistakes have been made and Anyone who has regularly launch a concerted effort to reverse attended UMSU council meetings UMSU’s deepening institutional rot. this year can attest to the union's increasingly toxic atmosphere.

Debate is shut down. Closed sessions are commonplace. Routine updates by executives seem to go on

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Comment Comment Editor: vacant Contact: comment@themanitoban.com

Calling it ‘Islamic terrorism’ paints all Muslims as terrorists Other forms of terrorism described as individual acts of violence JILL PATTERSON, STAFF

GRAPHIC BY BRAM KEAST

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ver the last decade and a half, there has been increasing violence at the hands of terrorist organizations, one of the most recent being the bombing of an airport and metro station in Brussels. As the frequency of these attacks have increased, so too has the formal organization of these terrorist groups.

The increasing momentum of ISIS has sparked debates over the role of religion in the attacks, with some saying that religion, specifically Islam, is the root cause of the violence, while others say the attacks have been carried out by only a small subset of the religion’s adherents.

As these attacks have become more frequent, media coverage of these events has increasingly linked these attacks to “Islamic terrorism.”

While I won’t claim to know the intricacies of the Islamic religion or even of Middle Eastern culture more broadly, I do know that by using the term “Islamic terrorism” to describe these violent events there is an implication that these actions are caused by, or are the result of, Islam.

While the extent to which religion plays a role in recent terrorist attacks is still open for debate and likely always will be, by using the term “Islamic terrorism” to describe these events, the media and citizens inadvertently generalize all Muslims as terrorists or potential terrorists.

By using the term “Islamic terrorism” to describe these violent events there is an implication that these actions are caused by, or are the result of, Islam We have to remember that ISIS does not represent the whole of Islam or all Muslims in Iraq and Syria, which is to say, not all Muslims are terrorists.

The case of terrorism at the hands the actions of a few Muslims to be of Muslim individuals is unique in representative of the whole religion that other similar instances of terror- or of all Muslims? ism have not been reduced to being simply a result of a particular religion or value system. History is full One of the reasons of examples of both individuals and for why many people groups carrying out violent actions in the name of various beliefs and values generalize these they hold dear. recent terrorist For instance, members of the Klu Klux Klan, who carried out lynchings attacks as being and terrorized black people, did so as members of the Christian religion. a symptom of However, the way in which we talk Islamic religion is about this time in history is not about heightened “Christian terrorism” and the way in which how the negative implications that they are reported the Christian religion spouted lead to the creation of this violent orgain the media nization. Instead, we talk about the KKK as more of a small group of white supremacists.

One of the reasons many people If there were a large band of athe- generalize these recent terrorist terrorists making headlines in the ist attacks as being a symptom of news, it isn’t likely that the actions Islamic religion is the way in which taken by a few people would be gener- they are reported in the media. When alized to all people who identified as “Islamic terrorism” is reported on it is being atheist. Why, then, do we take usually done so in a way that normal-

izes the attacks as something that is promoted by Islam and are viewed as being part of a broader belief system held by Muslims. On the other hand, when terrorist attacks are perpetrated by individuals who are not Muslim, these events are often reported in the media as isolated incidents, and the perpetrator is often described as being a “lone wolf ” terrorist who had a predilection towards violent behaviour.

It may be the case that a literal reading of the Qu’ran may promote violent actions, but so too does the Bible. We cannot generalize the actions taken by a few to be representative of the beliefs held by many, unless we are willing to do the same for our own beliefs.

10 Comment

Comment Editor: vacant Contact: comment@themanitoban.com

PCs have it wrong on PST referendums Raising taxes only through referendums is a dangerous, poorly conceived idea CRAIG ADOLPHE, STAFF

PHOTO BY GARETT WILLIAMS

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ith a provincial election looming, the opposition Progressive Conservatives are riding high.

If polls are to believed the PCs are the clear frontrunners to form government after April 19. Meanwhile, the governing NDP has been trying to keep their heads above water.

While recent polls have shown early signs of a moderate bounce back in Winnipeg, the party has been struggling to convince voters to grant them a fifth mandate.

The media has repeatedly pointed to the one per cent PST hike implemented under the NDP in 2013 as the reason for the party’s poor polling numbers.

We’ve heard from commentators, political operatives, and some of the most clamorous indigniphiles on social media that the one per cent increase was unjust – the last straw from a stale incumbent government.

News anchors and journalists have generally avoided saying it directly, but have questioned it and validated those who do ad nauseam, keeping it at the forefront of the public’s consciousness.

In response, the PCs – who’ve largely led the charge on the PST complaints – have said that if they form government they’ll reduce the PST back to seven per cent in their first term and mandate that any proposed increase to the PST or other major income or retail taxes will go

through a referendum. deficits the province has faced since behind coded language about “havThe problems with the PCs’ popu- 2009-10. ing conversations,” “value-for-money list proposal come on two fronts: the Think about that for a moment. reviews,” and “eliminating waste” – practical realities of the Manitoba After forming government, the party it’s the kind of tactic used to reassure government’s current situation and wants to reduce revenues, avoid cuts, one’s base while allowing for plausible the more abstract problems tied to and end up with more money than deniability before election day. this approach to taxation. the previous government has in any of the last seven years. The PCs haven’t explained how this would be at all Dropping the PST feasible, other than to say they’d Whether it’s elected back to seven per go after inefficiencies that exist as a officials representing result of the NDP’s careless approach cent when we’re to governance. And with that they’ve constituents already running managed to moralize their way or the broader around a simple question of math. deficits means Every so often in a democcommunity through racy, people get suckered in by the some services the argument that the government of consultations, a government provides the day is spending wastefully and functional system that a change in government would for citizens are going allow a new group to trim out the requires that fat, allowing for a reduced tax bur- to suffer. We just whoever’s driving den with no loss to services. While haven’t been told there are always legitimate disputes has two hands over spending priorities and govern- what they’ll be yet on the wheel ments should be held accountable for misspending when it happens, the argument over “efficiencies” is a con.

But dropping the PST back to No government goes in and finds seven per cent when we’re already Practical realities a deficit’s worth of “efficiencies” in running deficits means some services The PCs are promising to reduce government spending. If you’re not the government provides for citizens the PST to seven per cent and reduce willing to pay for it, it’ll always be are going to suffer. We just haven’t taxes, while also vowing to “protect services that get cut. been told what they’ll be yet. front line services.” All the while The PCs know this. And they ending – one would assume based on also know, after four consecutive Abstract problems their criticisms of the NDP deficits election-day hammerings, that the A system in which the government and their own support of balanced public doesn’t want what they’re actu- can decrease taxes and change spendbudget legislation – the string of ally offering: cuts. The hints are there, ing as needed but requires a referen-

dum to increase taxes – however small the increase may be – will inevitably lead to a very unbalanced balance sheet, and then cuts to services.

This sort of system would provide a disjointed view where taxes are disconnected from government spending and thus outcomes. If a tax increase isn’t directly connected to an increase in spending, then why would anyone ever support one? Whether it’s elected officials representing constituents or the broader community through consultations, a functional system requires that whoever’s driving has two hands on the wheel.

The federal Conservative party didn’t require a referendum to drop the GST from seven per cent to six per cent in 2006. And they didn’t require a referendum when they bumped it further down to five per cent in 2008, even though both changes inevitably meant a reduction in the amount and quality of services the government could provide. It’s worth remembering that with the one per cent increase in PST, Manitobans were still paying a lower rate of sales tax than before 2006.

The complete lack of vision from critics, fueled by a complete lack of context from media, has kept the NDP on the defensive on this issue, even now, three years later.

Maybe it’s time to put things in perspective.

Science & technology 12 Science & Technology Editor: Chantelle Dubois Contact: science@themanitoban.com

Women in STEM Highlighting females in the sciences CHANTELLE DUBOIS, STAFF

For the last issue of the 2015-2016 academic year, the science and technology team at the Manitoban want to celebrate women on campus and women through history who have left their mark in science.

For this mini feature, the team has highlighted two researchers at the University of Manitoba who are contributing their talents in STEM fields, as well as a quick look at the history of the invention of everyday objects we take for granted.

We should always strive to recognize and celebrate ingenuity, regardless of its origin.

How humans and machines interact Researcher profile: Andrea Bunt JEREMIAH YARMIE, STAFF

PHOTO PROVIDED BY ANDREA BUNT

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he Human-Computer Interaction Lab is stationed here at the University of Manitoba in the department of computer science.

As its name suggests, the lab carries out research in a variety of fields, including human-robot interaction and the development of new input devices for mobile devices and other electronics.

Among their ranks is Andrea Bunt, an associate professor in the department of computer science.

“Human-computer interaction looks at the intersection between people and technology,” Bunt told the Manitoban.

People use technology in various social contexts and with varying abilities. By understanding these factors, Bunt hopes to create better technologies.

“It’s a really neat mix between technical, more core computer science skills, and social sciences like psychology and sociology,” said Bunt.

Bunt’s research includes projects looking into software learnability – how well a piece of software teaches a user how to operate it.

“It’s a really neat mix between technical, more core computer science skills, and social sciences like psychology and sociology” – computer science associate professor Andrea Bunt “I’m interested in how we can design software tools to allow people to get the most out of those tools,”

said Bunt. “I do a lot of work with what we would call feature-rich applications – software that is really powerful if you know how to use it, but is really complex.”

“Without support, people get stuck in using the same subsets of commands, and they don’t really get exposed to all of the neat things you can do.”

Bunt’s lab looks at how both interfaces and technologies can be improved to increase a user’s literacy with software to optimize use.

One project Bunt’s lab is working on is ways to improve and organize online resources, for example tutorials, for programs like Photoshop.

Bunt’s research also focuses on people living in remote and rural communities. These people often have poor Internet connectivity, and require different interface design compared to those living in urban areas with better infrastructure.

While most of her research

has been carried out in southern Manitoban communities, some data was collected far up north in Gillam. Bunt hopes to expand on this research with the right student to lead the study.

“Looking particularly at technologies in these really remote northern communities, where there is a large indigenous population, is something that we have always said is part of our future work,” said Bunt.

Her research may also be applied to improve software used by children, particularly in regards to content access and censorship of digital material.

“The problem with automatic filters is that there is no real opportunity for the child to have a dialogue with the parent,” said Bunt.

Bunt has studied scenarios where the children and the parent collaborate in setting up the rules and restrictions for content access.

“Kids learn things from having

freedom,” said Bunt. “And they learn things from participating in discussions.”

Bunt bounced all around Canada before settling here at the U of M. Her B.Sc. is from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont. She received her PhD from the University of British Columbia, and completed a postdoctoral position at the University of Waterloo.

The H u m a n- C o m p u t e r Interaction Lab also includes the labs of assistant professor Jim Young, who studies human-robot interactions, and professor Pourang Irani, who carries out research in data visualization.

Bunt has found that working in an umbrella lab has collaborative benefits that aid in the research process.

“You get a really diverse set of opinions from people,” said Bunt. “Collectively, we kind of run the gamut of Human-Computer Interaction work that is done.”

VOL. 102 NO. 29 April 6, 2016

Science & Technology 13

Science briefs: women inventors Reading this over a paper bag lunch? Thank a woman inventor MALAK ABAS, STAFF

GRAPHIC BY KELLY CAMPBELL

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omen have historically faced adversity in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields, and because of this, often lack visibility. Women today, on average, are underpaid and underrepresented in STEM careers.

A 2013 study by researchers at Yale University found that scientists presented with a male and female scientist with equal qualifications will act more favourably towards the male scientist. Despite this, women have been behind many of the inventions that we use every day.

This list takes a look at three everyday inventions we can credit to women. Note that in this list, all three women had no scientific education and yet were able to overcome gender-based bias in order to share their ingenuity.

Correction fluid

Correction fluid, known more commonly by the brands Liquid Paper or Wite-Out, was the result of one woman’s resourcefulness.

Bette Nesmith Graham was born in 1924 and lived in Texas as a single mother to a son who would grow up to be Michael Nesmith of the Monkees.

Her interests lay more in art than in science, but after the Second World War, she needed employment.

This led her to a job at the Texas Bank

and Trust as a secretary for the chair- Nesmith was able to move into a man of the board in 1951. While she separate headquarters. She used her was eager and willing, her difficulties success to create opportunities for with the new electronic typewriters other women, including two difof the 1950s created messy mistakes ferent foundations to help women that were tough to fix. find employment. Sadly, she passed Her interest in art is what brought away in 1980, only six months after her initial inspiration for correction selling her company to the Gillette fluid. After watching a painter out- Corporation for US$47.5 million. side her office window correct his mistakes with extra layers of paint, she decided it could be done with A 2013 study by paper as well.

Her original recipe for correction researchers at Yale fluid was made in her kitchen blender and was based on water-based tem- University found that pera paint that she color-matched to scientists presented the paper she was using at work. In December of 1951, Mistake Out was with a male and born. female scientist with After giving bottles of Mistake Out away to friends, Nesmith saw equal qualifications business potential, and launched will act more the Mistake Out company in 1956.

It moved slowly. favourably towards Nesmith’s son and his friends would help her fill bottles, and she the male scientist continued to work as a secretary. In a stroke of irony, she was fired after making a mistake while typing – she The paper bag machine was typing her own company’s name Margaret E. Knight was one on bank documents by accident. This of the United States’s most prolific turned out to be a blessing in disguise, inventors. Her many patents included as she could now focus on Mistake a numbering machine, the compound Out full-time. She renamed it Liquid rotary engine, and the paper bag Paper, and began to hire employees. machine.

After 17 years of hard work, Knight was born in Maine in

1838 and was a prodigy, showing the Knight died in 1914, but not before inclination to improve machinery receiving over 20 more patents, and from a young age. She spent her creating over 100 different inventions. childhood building simple kites and sleds for her brothers, but at the age The windshield wiper of 12, she witnessed an accident at the Mary Anderson was born in textile mill where she worked.

Alabama in 1866, and was the owner The event inspired her, and by of a cattle ranch and a vineyard in the time she was in her teens, the Fresno, California until 1898. resulting invention – a device that The idea for windshield wipers could stop a machine if something came to her while in New York on was caught in it – was being used a wet and rainy day. Anderson was widely in factories. She did not in a streetcar and noticed that drivreceive a patent for the device, and ers did not have a way to clean their did not profit from its use. windshields, forcing them to open After the Civil War, Knight went up the panes and expose themselves on to work at a paper bag plant in to the elements. While still in the Massachusetts. At the time, paper streetcar, she sketched out her very bags were closed in a way similar to first prototype. envelopes, and were not efficiently Her first prototype was a wiper created. Knight got to work on creat- made of wood and rubber and had ing a machine that would automatic- a lever near the steering wheel. They ally fold and glue the bottom of paper were also removable, and could be bags, creating the paper bag style we stored away in dryer weather. use today.

Anderson’s invention was unforIn 1870, Knight received a patent tunately not as profitable as the other for the machine in Boston, and took inventors on this list, as her windher invention to a wider audience shield wipers were called dangerous by creating the Eastern Paper Bag and distracting. Anderson’s patent Company with her business part- expired before she could sell it, and ner. While she faced disdain from she died in 1953. male employees, the company was In 1917, however, a woman named a success.

Charlotte Bridgewood actually Charles Annan attempted to take received a patent for a similar windcredit for the machine, but Knight shield wiper, but also never profited took him to court and won her pat- from the invention. ent in 1871.

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Science & Technology

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

Soil science researcher and champion of women in science and engineering Researcher profile: Annemieke Farenhorst JEREMIAH YARMIE, STAFF

PHOTO PROVIDED BY ANNEMIEKE FARENHORST

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nnemieke Farenhorst has a very large portfolio. Just looking at her curriculum vitae one might ask, “how does she do it all?”

A professor in the department of soil science, Farenhorst is the National Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Chair for Women in Science and Engineering for the Prairie region and is also the principal investigator for the NSERC CREATE H2O program.

“One thing that helps is that I have a lot of helpful people around me,” Farenhorst told the Manitoban. “I tend to work with people that like to help others.”

Farenhorst’s research investigates how pesticides and antibiotics end up in community soil and waters.

Farenhorst’s lab has a diverse range of research interests, partially because she encourages her graduate students to direct their projects towards topics that interest them.

“My graduate students work on a

wide range of projects, but almost all projects are related to soil and water.

Some of the projects involve quantifying the retention and mobility of pesticides in soil and what factors influence that,” said Farenhorst.

Some questions addressed include how different pesticide combinations may persist in soil differently than the same individual compounds.

“Similarly, we look at degradation of pesticides and other chemicals in soil,” said Farenhorst. “We are particularly interested in chemical mixtures.

For example, if there are antibiotics in soil that impact the activities and functions of soil microorganism, how would that in turn effect the breakdown of pesticides by those microorganisms?”

Understanding these basic questions better would result in practical applications like better government regulations and models.

Farenhorst’s lab is also involved in environmental pesticide monitoring through different collaborations. This

includes monitoring for pesticides in ground water in Alberta, and studies in Manitoba to look at pesticide residue in rainfall.

Farenhorst is also interested in community engagement when it comes to water resource management.

NSERC CREATE H2O was established to address water and sanitation issues in First Nations communities. The program uniquely combines science and engineering training in water and waste management with indigenous studies.

“We compare the drinking water quality in homes that have piped water with that of the drinking water quality in homes that have cisterns,” said Farenhorst. “We look at chlorinated byproducts [...], bacteria, chlorine concentrations, and those sorts of things.”

“I have other graduate students who are collaborating with First Nations on how to advance water source protection plans – figuring out how we can develop plans that would

work well for First Nations commu- program. nities. One student is a Cree man As the Prairie NSERC Chair for working with his own community.” Women in Science and Engineering, “Ninety-six per cent of the First Farenhorst is responsible for encourNations communities in Manitoba aging and empowering women to don’t have a water source protection enter the science, technology, engiplan, so this work is very important,” neering and math (STEM) fields, said Farenhorst. with a particular focus on indigenous The CREATE H2O project aims women. to integrate traditional knowledge There are five chairs throughout with scientific knowledge when it the country, one in Ontario, one comes to water management. in Quebec, one for the Atlantic “When we collaborate with First provinces, one representing Nations, one of the things that we British Columbia and the Yukon, always do is listen to the community and Farenhorst, who represents about what their concerns are, then the Prairie region of Manitoba, we think about and discuss how we Saskatchewan, and Alberta. could work with the community to The chairs work as a network address some of these concerns,” said to help increase gender parity in Farenhorst. “We refine the focus of NSERC’s various processes, for the project together.” example, the decision making pro“First Nations are very generous cesses for grant distribution.

In her role as chair, Farenhorst is with their time [...] We have had elders that would spend time with also very involved in scientific outstudents to talk about their life expe- reach programs for girls to foster a riences and philosophies.” love for STEM at a young age and Farenhorst has observed that for women currently in STEM to working with First Nations com- become acquainted with female promunities really changes the way her fessor mentors in their field of study. students think about the scientific Farenhorst also runs various workquestions and social problems they shops on topics like hidden gender are faced with. biases in the STEM fields, the pro“There is still a great deal of motion process through the academic unawareness among the Canadian system for females, and leadership. public about the drinking water crises “If you are a male in a leadership that impacts numerous First Nations role and are directive or assertive, communities across Canada, more you may be seen as a strong leader. than 100 First Nations communities However, if you are a woman and at any given time,” she said. display these same qualities, some may see you as unpleasant and pushy,” said Farenhorst.

For Farenhorst, representation is “There is still a great key. On the door to her office is a deal of unawareness sign that reads “Celebrate Diversity” against a backdrop of the rainbow among the Canadian flag. On the walls of her office are a public about the variety of posters, one reading “We are all treaty people,” another of the drinking water classic “Women on the rise” image.

Through this position, Farenhorst crises that impacts is also conducting research into why numerous First there is such a gender disparity in Nations communities some STEM fields, for example engineering, agriculture, and computer across Canada” science.

Farenhorst shared some advice – Annemieke for women who are interested, but Farenhorst, are unsure about science with the Manitoban. professor of soil “If you are thinking about pursing a career in science but are not sure yet, science, University I think one of the things to do is try of Manitoba and connect with people who are in the field,” said Farenhorst. “The great thing of this day and age is that we “I think that part of the solution – have the Internet.” besides much-needed investments for “Send emails,” said Farenhorst. the maintenance of the water distri- “And if you don’t hear back from them, bution infrastructure, including suffi- it may be just because the person is cient funding for cistern cleaning – is busy. Follow up with a phone call or creating an awareness about the issue. knock on the person’s door. Many Only when there is awareness and the people like to talk about their own political will to change things, can passion and would be more than willthe change be made,” said Farenhorst. ing to talk to you about opportunities Over 30 professors from the U in science fields.” of M, Trent University, and the “If you are thinking about someUniversity College of the North are thing, go see if it’s possible.” associated with the CREATE H2O

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

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VOL. 102 NO. 29 April 6, 2016

Diversions

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Arts & Culture

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

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Musical mashup of old and new Local band Towodo blend genres, modern and traditional instrumentation OLIVIA MICHALCZUK, STAFF

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owodo, the self-professed “electro-infused psychedelic trip-hop” act from Winnipeg, formed in jam room 2-0-2 above the Goodwill Social Club in 2009.

The band formed with the intent of creating a rhythmic, hypnotic sound that would make people move – incorporating Xavier Rudd influences, a didgeridoo and dobro, and crafting songs heavy on percussion and bass.

Their evolving sound and changing music has been due to a changing line-up over the past two years, but Towodo is now comprised of six close-knit members: Mike de Groot (didgeridoo/turntable/electronic percussion), Stephen Barkman (bass), Chloe Shindruk (keyboards/ vocals), Liam Karp (lyricist/rapper), Nick Turnbull (drums/vocals), Robert Turnbull (guitar), with Scott Campbell assisting with live projections at shows.

The collective sound of all six members’ musical expression can be heard live and on their debut album, The Depths. Writing on a spectrum from funk to hip-hop to electronica to jazz to psychedelic rock, Towodo’s inclusive sound has given all members the opportunity to bring their ideas to the table, and jam them out to see what comes of them.

The recording process for Towodo’s first album took place in three different Winnipeg locations.

After whittling down their recording list to 11 songs, the members began to create the pieces they would soon puzzle together to create The Depths.

Band members and life partners Stephen and Chloe refer to their album as a “sonic journal.” Liam’s experience in Shilo, Man. on the Afghanistan-modelled set for locally filmed movie Hyena Road contributed to some of the lyrics for songs

like “Ghoul Room Waltz” and “Fire Burns,” carrying themes of war.

and knowledge to his turntable, drum ing album. machine, synthesizer, and didgeridoo.

“Recording The Depths really The influence of the electronic realm helped us hone our writing, arrangaided in the evolution of Towodo’s ear- ing, and ability to craft songs,” “Lying in wait, lier organic djembe-and-didge sound explained Barkman. to what can be heard on The Depths.

“Lying in wait, we have a full we have a full “His contraption or set-up – which wheelhouse of grooves, progressions, wheelhouse we affectionately refer to as ‘The and melodic ideas that are just waitCoffin’ due to its large, ominous ing to be spun into something. Our of grooves, carrying case – has evolved due to long-range plan is to start recording his influences and the accessibility next fall or winter for our sophomore progressions, and of new gear and programs which he album, which we anticipate will conmelodic ideas that explores,” Barkman said of de Groot. tinue to exhibit the traits of Towodo: With the members of the band a fusion of multiple genres and influare just waiting to be starting young families, touring is ences to create a unified sound that spun into something” not in their near future. However, explores the depths of common they still plan to play summer festi- human experiences including love, – Stephen Barkman vals across Manitoba in addition to life, and death.” booking shows in the Winnipeg area Mike de Groot brings a lot to to share their music.

Check out The Depths on Towodo’s the table in Towodo, with bassist Despite busy life schedules, they Soundcloud or YouTube channel.

Stephen Barkman referring to him have allowed time for rehearsal once Physical copies can be purchased at shows as their “secret weapon.” A percus- or twice a week and have been com- or by contacting Towodo at towodo. sionist by training, he applies his skills posing new music for another upcom- music@gmail.com

’Toban turntable Summer-ready folk and BC-bred space-rock SEAMUS HAMILTON-PATTISON, STAFF

SEAMUS HAMILTON-PATTISON, STAFF

Black Mountain IV 4.5/5

The Strumbellas Hope 4/5

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lack Mountain’s IV – the band’s first release in six years – sounds for all the world like a union of Black Sabbath and a less-flashy Yes, with an organ and synth-heavy aesthetic reminiscent of pioneering 60s space-rockers Hawkwind.

IV opens with the slow-burning, ominous “Mothers of the Sun.” The song feels like a constant crescendo, with duelling male and female vocals over swelling organ chords interspersed with a bluesy, distorted guitar riff, and a spastic, winding lead break that could make Tony Iommi crack a smile. Not only is “Mothers of the Sun” one of the album’s strongest tracks, but it’s a bold choice for an opening track to boot – one doesn’t usually expect an album to kick off with an eightminute dirge, but Black Mountain deserves hearty praise for pulling it off this well.

A few faster, more concise tracks – “Florian Saucer Attack” and “Defector” – follow this up with equally strong execution. Female vocalist Amber Webber takes lead on the former and with her belted, punk-influenced vocals soaring overtop driving guitar chords, it almost sounds like The Pack A.D. or Sleater-Kinney – but with far more elaborate dynamics and instrumentation.

While there’s a good mix of short and long tunes throughout the entire album, it’s safe to say that

Black Mountain excels at more epic through both dynamics and pronumbers. “You Can Dream” sports duction, but weren’t.

That all said, those in search of a half-chanted, half-harmonized vocal shared by the group’s two a modern psychedelic rock band lead vocalists, and accompanied that hasn’t been lightened by overt by monstrous, wall-of-sound style indie-pop influence can stop lookguitar chords and synth washes. ing now. “(Over and Over) the Chain” – This is a hazy, menacing release IV ’s other eight-minute odyssey – that’s truly deserving of the term unquestionably sports the album’s “headphone album” – there’s a lot greatest guitar work with a chilling to take in here, so pair this one extended outro solo that features with your favourite lava-lamp or excellent use of feedback, and beanbag chair, kick back, and screeching vibrato. get dazed and confused by Black An underused rhythm section Mountain’s IV. is all that keeps IV from a perfect score. Perhaps Black Mountain’s Black Mountain is coming to bassist and drummer are sim- Winnipeg’s Pyramid Cabaret on ply doing what the songs require Sunday, May 15. Tickets are $20 in of them but still, there are small advance and available via www. intricacies to the drum and bass ticketfly.com throughout the album that could have been emphasized more www.blackmountainarmy.com

IMAGE PROVIDED BY JAGJAGUWAR

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f you’ve tuned into mainstream indie/alternative radio in Canada at all lately, there’s a pretty good chance you’ve been bombarded by The Strumbellas’ latest single “Spirits.”

Stations like Winnipeg’s own 99.1 Fresh Radio have been bumping this tune like no one’s business – and with good reason. It’s a great song that encapsulates the best things about the genre, with a real earworm of a chorus. Even if it was your first time hearing that song, you were probably singing “I’ve got guns in my head and they won’t go, spirits in my head and they won’t go” by the end of it.

The Strumbellas seem to know how much they excel at this brand of commercial, folksy indie – and they play it up to great effect all over Hope.

Sounding like a more rootsy Vance Joy or a less melancholy Head and the Heart, Hope is full of anthemic shoutalong choruses, tasteful guitar/violin leads, subtly nuanced drumming, and songwriter Simon Ward’s pitch-perfect, impeccable vocals.

Ward’s vocals are at their best on “Shovels & Dirt” and “Wars,” with “Wars” specifically featuring an unexpected break before the penultimate chorus that features a harmonized chant of “There’s a soldier, soldier in my mind” against nothing but muted acoustic guitar, drums, and a snare roll that rhythmically apes a military snare march – it’s a sudden, drastic break that makes the drop into the song’s last refrain sound absolutely immense.

Other highlights from Hope include

“We Don’t Know” and “Young & Wild” – both of which give the more driving, indie-rock-inf luenced folk of bands like Shred Kelly and Boy & Bear a run for their money with jangling electric guitar riffs set against swelling synthesizer washes (unlike most contemporary indie groups, these are kept in the background, and thankfully don’t overtake the entire mix).

It seems there’s a significant impetus on indie bands today to do something ever so subtly different with their sound – to do something sufficiently weird enough within the constraints of their genre so as to stand out amongst the pack.

It’s refreshing to hear that The Strumbellas have done anything but that on Hope – this is a band very comfortable with their identity as an ultra-sleek, radio-ready indie-folk band, and it’s an identity they’ve leaned into hard, and executed incredibly well on this release. Make sure this one’s in your CD-changer for the long drive out to Folk Fest this year.

www.thestrumbellas.ca

IMAGE PROVIDED BY INDOOR RECESS INC

VOL. 102 NO. 29 April 6, 2016

Arts & Culture

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The THREADS that bind us Multidisciplinary arts show hopes to encourage collaboration amongst local artists TOBI NIFESI, STAFF

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multidisciplinary arts showcase, THREADS, will take place at the Graffiti Gallery (109 Higgins Ave.) on April 8. The event promises to celebrate Winnipeg’s art scene by bringing together some of the city’s finest artists and creators.

“There will be a hairstyling showcase by Lovely Kitty of Berns & Black Salon, a fashion show by Lennard Taylor, a clothing showcase from Greg Blagoev of Szoldier, a live organic improv band featuring special guest artists, a visual arts exhibition on the walls of the Graffiti Gallery space – with works for sale from eight emerging visual artists – and a funky dance party to end off the night with DJ Maverick,” said multidisciplinary artist and event co-organizer Nereo Jr. Eugenio (a.k.a. Nereo II).

The showcase is a collaborative effort between VA Productions’s Arturo Orellana and Love Life Productions’s Niki Trosky, with the help of Nereo II. “This event is a way to shine a spotlight on people who are working hard on their creative paths. We are not alone in this. We have over 43 volunteers working with us,” Trosky told the Manitoban.

“The plan was proposed by Arturo, who contacted Niki and myself after attending two events that we each hosted,” said Nereo II. “Arturo was very impressed with the quality and content of both of our events, but the only critique he had was in regards to the lack of media attention our shows were receiving.

He expressed a lot of interest in wanting to work together, so we organized a meeting to visualize what we potentially could create with the combined efforts of our individual specialties.”

Nereo II has made a name for himself in the Winnipeg arts community over the last 16 years. He specializes in a number of art forms – spoken word, visual arts, dance, and painting amongst others – and has performed at events across North America, Europe, and Asia.

With the THREADS show, Nereo II hopes to share his passion with local artists and push them to appreciate various art disciplines and the local arts community.

“It feels right to say that all these disciplines balance me. Each of them serve as both creative inlets and outlets, and the relationship between each one is so close that they naturally complement each other,” said

Nereo II. “Me and the Winnipeg art scene have a very loving relationship with each other. I love it, and it loves me [...] I’m all for any event that pushes towards expanding community circles and intermingling all kinds of cultures together. Constantly pushing creative boundaries and maintaining a wholesome, classy, fun, feel-good vibe is the goal.”

Both Orellana and Trosky share Nereo II’s vision.

“Collaborations are fun. There is more power in co-creation. The benefits include expansion of self and understanding,” said Trosky.

“Not only do the artists get to riff off each other, but also the audience gets to watch the process of creativity.

That’s where the gold happens. It’s in the making of something great.”

Together, these three artists and entrepreneurs are creating a basis from which they can build on and play their parts in creating the Winnipeg they would like to see.

“Constantly pushing creative boundaries and maintaining a wholesome, classy, fun, feel-good vibe is the goal” – Nereo II “Winnipeg is small, but our talent is huge. Our climate breeds extreme people. We have six months out of the year to stay indoors and get really good at whatever our craft is,” explained Trosky.

“The talent in this city won’t change, but perhaps our ability to support them will. As a community we need to support each other.

Without art the world grows dull.”

Nereo II would like to see downtown Winnipeg in particular become more artsy.

“I would love to see more support and better recognition for the importance of the arts, and an increased drive towards the revitalization of Winnipeg spaces,” he said.

“Why not have more young, hip graphic designers and artists and architects design interesting installations in back-alley spaces? Why not spend less money priming walls, and provide more opportunities for young,

GRAPHIC BY VAP RODUCTIONS

talented emerging artists to prove that they can transform Winnipeg into a beautiful, attractive city? Let’s give people a reason to want to come downtown with cameras, and take photos.”

Trosky warned that guests of Friday’s showcase should by no means come expecting the quiet, reserved

atmosphere typical of an art gallery. To purchase tickets for the THREADS, “[Artists and audience can expect] v i sit w w w . e v e ntb r ite . c a /e / to have some fun. This isn’t a typ- threads-tickets-23071611812 ical art show where you come and sip wine and chat quietly with your To find out more about the event and the friends. This is a party. It is a chance production companies behind it, visit to let loose, check out something new, www.vaproductions.ca and www. and hit the dance floor.” lovelifeproductions.ca

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Arts & Culture

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

U of M alum brings Borealis to Winnipeg’s big screen U of M grad and award-winning actor Jonas Chernick has racked up an impressive resume OLIVIA MICHALCZUK, STAFF

went on to win the People’s film critically in the film program and Choice Award at the 2012 Calgary through his analysis, he was able to International Film Festival, the identify and create his own aesthetic.

Audience Award at the 2012 Chernick was also cast in the lead Whistler Film Festival, and picked role of the first play he auditioned for up a few Canadian Comedy Awards. at the U of M’s Black Hole Theatre Chernick was nominated for an Company.

ACTRA Award for Outstanding “This was, to say the least, transMale Performance for his work in formative,” said Chernick. the film.

“It was an unparalleled confidence Chernick also won a 2015 booster, a springboard that encourCanadian Screen Award for Best aged me to take risks and trust my Lead Actor in a Mini-Series for his instincts. I met so many people over portrayal of Daniel Addison in the those four years who inspired me, CBC’s critically acclaimed The Best who influenced me, and with whom I collaborated on a multitude of projLaid Plans.

His recent appearances include ects with – many of whom remain my the 2012 feature Blood Pressure, an collaborators today.”

Jonas Chernick – Bachelor episode of season two of FX’s Fargo, Chernick lives by the Winston of arts (theatre & and a guest star role in the upcom- Churchill quote “success is walking film studies), 1995 ing second season of the SyFy series from failure to failure without loss of Since graduation, Chernick has Dark Matter. enthusiasm.”

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY JONAS CHERNICK racked up quite the resume – includIn May, Chernick can be seen “I love this quote. Life as an actor aware of the seriousness of her con- ing acting roles in films and television, in the comedy film How To Plan is filled with rejection. That’s the dition but her father is untruthful as well as writing and producing an Orgy in A Small Town, which nature of the beast. You have to love about how long she will still be able award-winning pieces. recently screened at the Slamdance it unconditionally, and not allow Chernick wrote, produced, and Film Festival. your happiness in life to be tied into to see. In a last attempt to give his Chernick says that the department whether you got the part or not. And daughter something she will appreci- starred in My Awkward Sexual ate, he decides to take a road trip to Adventure, which had its world of English, film, and theatre at the you have to give yourself the freedom Churchill, MB, shadowed along the premiere at the 2012 Toronto U of M has helped him to continue to take risks, joyously, regardless of way by his lies, addiction, and debt.

International Film Festival and was his art by creating an encouraging the outcome.”

The film is unique, emotional, and subsequently named one of TIFF’s community where he could find his voice, explore the media, and take To learn more about Borealis, visit humorous. It is well led by Chernick Top Ten Films of 2012.

My Awkward Sexual Adventure chances. He learned to think about www.borealisthemovie.com and young actress Joey King and you feel very attached to the characters and storyline. The themes of the movie are very heavy, so the humour tends to be dark, but it is so honest and relatable (even if many of those in attendance haven’t experienced either characters’ struggle personally).

Your sympathy is traded off between characters because they’re not only struggling with their own issues, but the issues of their family as well – another relatable theme. It’s beautiful, unpredictable to the last minute, and well-made. I do not compare this to other small-scale films but all films when I say that this is a great movie.

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of M alumnus Jonas Chernick has written, produced, and starred in his latest upcoming film, Borealis – set to debut in Winnipeg on April 15 at Grant Park Cinema.

Borealis is a film about a pathologically lying, gambling-addicted, and debt-ridden father who is determined to ensure his daughter sees the northern lights before she loses her sight. 15-year-old rebel Aurora is

Batman v Superman starts strong at box office, ultimately falls short of expectations Divisive new superhero flick succeeds with simple action amidst problematic plot JESS KOSTUIK, VOLUNTEER STAFF

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lockbuster season has kicked off early this spring with the first instalment of a potential DC Comics cinematic universe: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. With a reported mega-budget of US$250 million, the movie initially dominated the box office, having taken home over US$170 million domestically in its opening weekend – though reports

humongous spectacle, it would be the final events of Man of Steel, in this: manage your expectations. which Superman and General Zod Just as the title suggests, Batman v battle, wreaking incredible havoc and Superman’s main appeal comes from destruction on the city of Metropolis pitting two of the world’s biggest and while doing so. This time, we see the most beloved superheroes against events from the perspective of Bruce each other.

Wayne. He rushes through the streets, British actor Henry Cavill just in time to see the destruction of reprises his role from Man of Steel Wayne Tower and the death of many as Superman. Cavill’s depiction fea- of his employees. tures Superman as a righteous and It is the events in Metropolis that noble figure. Once again, Cavill put Bruce Wayne/Batman on a misdoes a fine job at portraying the Son sion to stop Superman at any costs of Krypton, however, not everyone before any more damage can be done. believes Superman’s outward impres- It’s an appealing concept, showing sion to be true; primarily, Batman. the previously seen battle from a difBen Affleck is the latest actor ferent perspective, and one that the to step into the role of Batman/ film gets right. Unfortunately, the Bruce Wayne. Affleck takes over for same cannot be said for many other Christian Bale, who played the caped portions of the movie.

GRAPHIC BY JONDELL COOMBS crusader in Christopher Nolan’s To be fair, it is quite the task fantastic trilogy. It’s tough shoes to laid out for director Zack Snyder now state the movie took a colossal fill, and although Affleck doesn’t fit (300, Watchmen) and screenwriters dive of 70 per cent over the follow- the role as well as Bale, he does an Chris Terrio and David S. Goyer. ing week. adequate job. Affleck’s Batman is Introducing a new Batman into the Despite an initially impressive a grizzled veteran vigilante, having existing world of Superman while opening, the movie has left critics kept the streets of Gotham safe for 20 also setting up the upcoming Justice and audiences split over the quality years. Those familiar with Batman’s League film (set to hit theatres in 2017) of the movie. This amount of division “one rule” (he doesn’t kill) may be sur- is a lot to handle. The film attempts has been so far unseen in the comic prised when he doesn’t hesitate to gun to juggle a lot, so naturally not every book movie world. If I could give down bad guys. aspect succeeds – sadly, the plot is one advice to anyone before watching this The film kicks off by revisiting of these aspects.

The script is scrappy, with Terrio and Goyer jumping from unexplained plot pieces and storylines, attempting to mimic the complex and dark films created by Nolan. Don’t kid yourselves, guys. Although the film often takes itself too seriously, eventually it meets the demands of the fans by succumbing to mind-numbing action and special effects.

Snyder, who doesn’t possess a single ounce of self-restraint in his being, lays it on thick with over-thetop battle sequences and violence.

I found the titular fight between Batman and Superman to be a disappointment, but for the most part Snyder knows how to handle the action, often composing beautiful and well-choreographed shots.

Unfortunately, these moments do not make up for the many parts of the film that fail. Beyond the action and visual effects, Batman v Superman does not offer a lot, leaving fans and critics alike disgruntled. Although it’s unlikely Snyder will be pulled from the project this late in the game, he has a lot work to do if he hopes to win back audiences after this disappointing venture.

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Arts & Culture

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

Crease commitments

Bisons goalie Amanda Schubert’s mental game has taken her to new heights in the CIS ANDY CHE, STAFF

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t’s a cold Sunday night in Saskatoon.

All is quiet, but there is action aplenty at Rutherford Arena with the University of Manitoba Bisons visiting the Saskatchewan Huskies in a do-or-die playoff matchup. The Bisons and Huskies are entering a record-breaking fifth overtime and deadlocked at 1-1 in game three of the Canada West quarterfinals.

The Bisons eventually won the longest game in Canada West history through Venla Hovi. But during that historic game, another story unfolded.

Goaltender Amanda Schubert made an astounding 66 saves for the Bisons, capping off one of the most memorable nights of her career. Even more significantly, the game was a testament to her commitment to stopping pucks.

“That game in itself felt like an entire three-game series. It’s something I’ll definitely never forget,” said Schubert. “I have a lot of faith and trust in my teammates and I never did have a doubt in my mind that we would win that game.”

She was the difference-maker on that occasion and assembled the type of performance a young goalie could only dream about.

Hockey history

Ever since she hit the ice for the years that she is a very good big game “There was never any animosity, only support. I think that’s the beauty first time at the age of seven, Schubert player.” of our partnership.” said Schubert. has embraced rising to the occasion “Of course we are competing against as the “X-factor” during a game. For Goaltending tandem the entirety of her hockey career, she This past season, Schubert shared each other for the number one spot, never had to question herself regard- net assignments in a goaltend- but no matter who is in that position, ing her passion for her position. ing partnership with Rachel Dyck. we always have each other’s backs.”

Their tandem hit a high point “I always wanted to be a goalie Adjustment to a starting role on a ever since I started playing hockey,” more consistent basis is never easy, during the 2015-16 regular season said Schubert. “My mom asks me but Schubert’s mental approach to as both goalies combined for three every year if I am sure I still want to the position had given her an edge in consecutive shutouts in a streak lastbe a goalie. Of course my answer is tackling the heavier workload. ing 247 minutes. It was the first time always yes.” in seven seasons that the Bisons had accomplished a shutout streak of that Save after save, committing longevity. numerous counts of larceny on her “For me there is opponents and playing off their reacEven though it’s been no secret not one player in tions eventually confirmed her comthat Schubert has lived up to the billmitment for goaltending. ings of a big-game goalie, Rempel that room I don’t praised her elevated level of per“What cemented my decision to be trust, and that’s formance toward the end of the a goalie was the love of being such a difference-maker in a game, or seeing campaign. a huge weight “In the second half of this year, she the look on their face when they realoff when talking ize you made that save,” Schubert said. took her game to another level and was incredibly solid,” said Rempel.

Her monumental performance about pressure” – “She was one of the biggest reasons marked one of the highest stages at Amanda Schubert which a goaltender can play at the why we were able to go on the run we did this spring. It was nice to see CIS level. Four years earlier, her chances of playing in such a high-calsomeone who has put a lot of time “As a goalie, your goal is to get into the program rewarded with the iber matchup looked slim. Schubert first joined the Bisons ineligible for that starting position so I think you outcomes that happened this year.” competition as a redshirt – a decision always have to prepare like you are which allowed her to progress up the going to be playing the next game, Role models team’s depth chart in the following and to stay mentally ready. I think Off the ice, Schubert had looked years. that made the transition [from up to different figures growing up.

Manitoba native Ed Belfour was “I definitely think that year of backup to starter] a lot easier.” redshirting was the best thing I ever Starter or not, Schubert takes a among her hockey heroes. Perhaps did in regards to development of my team-oriented approach to her posi- her choice was fitting. Like Schubert, game,” said Schubert. tion, rather than the individual route. Belfour was a relatively unknown Even head coach Jon Rempel was Having a positive relationship with prospect who worked his way up a unsure of Schubert’s ceiling when the fellow goalie Dyck made goaltend- team’s depth chart to become one now-third-year native of Winnipeg ing easier for whoever was starting of most iconic goalies among his began her time with the Bisons. or finishing a game. colleagues. As for her current role “When I recruited Amanda, I Both Dyck and Schubert have models, she did not have to look that didn’t exactly know what I was get- combined forces in the Bisons’ goal far away.

“As I started to grow up I think my ting,” said Rempel. “Originally I since 2013-14, collectively recording recruited her as a depth goaltender 41 wins in 73 games along with 10 idols started changing. The biggest people I model myself after now are but I realized in the last couple of shutouts.

PHOTOS BY JEFF MILLER

my parents,” said Schubert. “What ing your teammates,” said Schubert. they have given me is something big- “For me there is not one player in ger than any celebrity or professional that room I don’t trust, and that’s a huge weight off when talking about athlete could ever teach me.” pressure.”

What’s next?

Of course, goaltending comes With two years of eligibility left with the unwanted component of in her CIS career, Schubert will be responding when things don’t go looking forward to improving even the right way, which adds even more more next season. She finished the pressure on both the player and their year with just nine goals conceded in team. But pressure can be taken as a nine games, a 0.943 save percentage positive for a goaltender as well. In and three shutouts – all CIS career that case, having the right mentality highs. plays an integral role. It appears as The pressure will be on the five- though Schubert has had the right foot-two goaltender to maintain that mentality for her entire hockey career. form heading to next season, espe“Having a right mentality is part of cially with her dominant display as the position, and that can be the reaone of the top netminders in last son some goalies have a bad game or a year’s playoffs. bad year,” said Schubert. “Of course, When asked how she handled the being a goalie, everyone sees your pressure during the playoffs, Schubert every mistake and there is a lot of suggested it wasn’t an individual solu- pressure but pressure is a privilege tion, but a team effort. and I definitely see being a goalie as “I hear that question a lot and it’s a privilege.” always a hard one for me to answer.

Handling pressure is about taking things one puck at a time and trust-

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Sports

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

The next wave of talent Analyzing the 2016 Bisons football recruiting class MIKE STILL, STAFF

ity to use his body to his advantage Defensive back to get inside positioning on defenders Marcel Arruda-Welch and Keenan and, if groomed properly, he could Onyebuchi are the future for the herd be a very effective wideout in a few in the secondary. Again, both will seasons. likely redshirt in 2016, but with Cam Grace was unquestionably the best Teschuk’s time coming to a close and receiver in the province this season, Tyler Fong’s CFL draft year quickly and does everything right. He runs approaching, it won’t be long until both every route effectively. He’s sneaky, are slotted into the starting lineup. athletic, and fights for every ball.

He’ll likely redshirt in 2016 but has a strong future ahead of him.

“Marcel was “Arguably the best receiver in the easily the most WHSFL, Liam brings his experience to our program looking to fill a void,” entertaining player said Bisons assistant recruitment to watch when he co-ordinator Francesco Principe. “I had the privilege to watch Liam play had the ball in his countless times and it was not hard to tell that he was a leader and an out- hands and we are standing athlete. He runs great routes ecstatic to have and is a very smart football player.”

Defensive line

For the most part, Manitoba is sitting pretty in the front four – specifically at defensive end. It’s borderline of Nevada-Las Vegas grad and older impossible to replace a game-changer brother of fellow lineman Matt – and like David Onyemata, but Coach Manitoba will have an interesting Dobie did an effective job of finding a battle on their hands to see who few prospects who could develop into Arruda-Welch has been the can slot into the starting five. Matt stars on the interior side of the line.

Kaneski – the best offensive lineman Local product Bojan Stevanovic is best athlete in the province for two in the WHSFL this past season – will a player who stands out because of his straight years and was unquestionably probably redshirt but provides even versatility. He played on both sides the top DB this season. more reliability for the future. of the ball and could slot in at either “Marcel was easily the most enterGranted, Reid McMorris, Matt tackle or end. He’s a fierce worker taining player to watch when he had Clarkson, and Zack Williams will all with a relentless attitude and high the ball in his hands and we are ecstatic to have him as a Bison. It have something to say as to who steps motor.

“Bojan is a big addition to our pro- will be fun to watch him develop,” in and starts due to their experience as current members of the squad. gram. At six-foot-three, 290 pounds, Principe said. “Out of the entire he brings his versatility as he played group of recruits Marcel can make an Receiver on the offensive and defensive line impact in our program immediately.”

With three open positions at at Miles Macdonell,” Principe said.

Onyebuchi is a proven winner and wide receiver, the incoming recruit- “In the past Miles Mac has produced his positivity and drive are impossible ing class will have a chance to mimic great players and I can’t wait to see to ignore.

“I’m very happy to have Keenan what Jesse Walker did last year and what Bojan can transition into.” start immediately.

Out of all the players signed as a Bison. He brings his athleticism Kyle Patchell, a veteran of the for 2016, B.C. native Demarius and leadership to our program and Okanagan Sun, headlines the crop Henderson is probably the one I’m will certainly develop into an outof talent entering the mix. He has most excited to see perform. He may standing athlete and adult,” Principe previous experience playing with not see action in 2016 due to the clus- said.

Theo Deezar during their time with ter of talented players already slot“Keenan was the best safety in the Okanagan and will provide valuable ted in at defensive end, but the sky is WHSFL and has proven he’s a winleadership for a young group. the limit for the future. Henderson’s ner with two straight championships Aside from Patchell, Manitoba speed-power combination is nothing in the WHSFL and MMFL. After went out and got arguably the two short of impressive and much like getting to know Keenan personally, best local products from 2015 in Stevanovic, he’s a tireless worker. you can tell he is a confident young Conor Nedelec and Liam Grace. man whose ceiling is limitless.”

Nedelec’s greatest strength is his abilPHOTO BY CHRIS ZUK

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ith Bisons football spring camp quickly approaching, the Manitoban decided to take a positional look at some of the new recruits entering the fold and what they’ll be bringing to the table for the herd both this season and in the years to come.

Quarterback

going to be exciting to see how these two elite prospects develop in their time at the U of M.

With three open positions at wide receiver, the incoming recruiting class will have a chance to mimic what Jesse Walker did last year and start immediately

To say that the Bisons are loaded at the pivot position would be an extreme understatement. With Theo Deezar, Foster Martens, Julian Wytinck, and Billy Hart already in the fold (granted, one of the latter three may be headed to the Rifles), Manitoba went out and added even more talent by nabbing two of the top quarterback prospects in the country in local product Colby Kyliuk and Alberta native Des Catellier.

Both players are sure to redshirt this season, but represent the future Offensive line for the herd in two-to-three seasons.

As usual, head coach Brian Dobie Each individual is naturally athletic recruited hard on the offensive line, and can make plays both inside and continuing to prove why the Bisons outside of the pocket. Kyliuk has have the most depth in the conference the size, a slightly stronger arm, and when it comes to the trenches. an effective three-step drop. But In securing Anthony Daley and Catellier is the more well-rounded Aarmin Purewal, Dobie was able to pivot, displaying tremendous accu- get two junior football veterans who racy and rarely making mental errors can step in and play immediately. due to his diligent film study. It’s Tack on Tom Clarkson – a University

him as a Bison” – Francesco Principe, assistant recruitment co-ordinator, Bisons football

VOL. 102 NO. 29 April 6, 2016

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Hot Takes with Steltsy and Still Discussing proper discipline in the NHL and the lack of access media now have to athletes MIKE STILL AND RYAN STELTER, STAFF

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his week, Ryan broke down the state of bodychecking in the NHL while Mike was back at it again discussing the media and athletes.

Clean hits should not be punished

This past week, Winnipeg Jets fans were treated to a monster hit delivered by Dustin Byfuglien on Mark Stone. It was a clean hit on the blue line, a perfectly executed shoulder to chest contact. However, Big Buff was met with a fury of fists from angry Ottawa Senators players. There was no reason to be angry. Stone was rightfully caught with his head down.

There was another instance where Patrick Kane was cutting across the neutral zone with his head down and Minnesota Wild defenseman Matt Dumba made him pay by delivering a solid hit. Nothing dirty about it, but Dumba then had to answer to Artemi Panarin trying to fight him.

Later, Andrew Shaw would square off with the Wild blueliner.

I do not agree with this, as in both instances they were clean hits with no intent to injure and no blatant head shot. Why should guys who deliver big, clean body checks have to fend off half of the opposing team just because they sent a guy into next week?

It makes no sense in my eyes because there is a way to fix those types of hits: keep your head up. How many times are young hockey players told this? Almost constantly. This violent, fighting culture we have in the game of hockey is poisoning it.

It does not allow players to go for big, clean hits because they know they will have to answer the call.

I know most NHLers would not

GRAPHIC BY BRAM KEAST

agree with me but maybe tell your teammates to look up more often.

PR personnel are affecting the media’s ability to do their jobs

We are currently in the age of social media and therefore almost every sports team has a Twitter

account. Now, this can be a good thing in terms of keeping fans up to date with scores and results, but it’s a major hindrance when it comes to the media’s ability to get special interest stories out to the public.

Most teams have hired PR personnel, and one of their jobs is to show the athletes off to the fans. This is

done with pre- and post-game interviews as well as special interest video profiles and stories on the team’s Twitter account or website. These are all things that the media is typically responsible for and can no longer do to the same effect as the story they may have wanted to write is already available to the public on social media.

It’s also become increasingly hard to gain access to professional athletes in general, and therefore the media has to fight and claw just to get a general story out to its readers. Naturally, the media will have to adapt, but there should be a give-andtake relationship with team PR, and that’s not currently the case.

26

Sports

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

From British Columbia to the Boatmen Detailing the football journey of Bisons wide receiver Malcolm Williams MIKE STILL, STAFF

PHOTO BY TARA MILLER

PHOTO BY JEFF MILLER

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or Malcom Williams, timing has been everything. A two-sport athlete growing up, the Maple Ridge, B.C. native had to make the difficult decision after his grade 12 season at Pitt Meadows Secondary School as to whether or not he wanted to continue with football or basketball heading into university.

William’s original choice was basketball – where he played a year with UBC. “Coming out of high school, I only had one scholarship offer for football and that was UBC. They wanted me to do both [football and basketball],

which I wasn’t wanting to do, so I had to make a decision on which sport to play there,” Williams said.

After one season, though, he began to miss being on the gridiron and made the shift back to football just one year later – strapping the pads on for the Langley Rams of the Canadian Junior Football League. It turned out to be the right move at the right time for the six-foot-three wide receiver, who had three stellar seasons with the Rams and got his name on the radar of numerous CIS teams.

William’s accomplishments with the Rams included a British Columbia Football Conference championship in 2014, as well as being named a conference all-star in both 2012 and 2013. His personal recognition was all the more impressive considering the fact that he’d taken time off from the sport and also hadn’t had the highest level of competition when playing high school football.

“The intensity and the speed of the game [were the biggest adjustments], because I had previously only played AA high school football,” Williams said. “Going to the junior level and taking football more seriously and being in a more serious football environment really helped.”

After his third year with the Rams, Williams decided the time was right

to take the next step in his football journey and committed to the U of M for the 2015-16 season.

“When I was at UBC, the university-sport environment was so much fun for me and so great that after a couple years of junior I couldn’t wait to get back in that same environment,” Williams said. “After my three years, I wanted to go to the next level and that was the Manitoba Bisons.”

The eligibility issue

Williams headed to the ‘Peg for training camp in August of 2015. At that time, one of the wideout spots was vacant and he had a great chance to step in and start immediately.

Despite an impressive performance over the next two weeks of camp, Williams was forced to redshirt due to being academically ineligible from his time at UBC in 2011.

“When I was at UBC, I didn’t get the 18 credits I needed to be eligible to play the next year, so that was kind of the loophole that I was struggling with when I came [to Manitoba],” Williams said.

Much like William’s delay to the start of his junior career, the small roadblock on his path to the CIS ended up working out for the best.

CFL contract

This past January, Williams

noticed a missed call on his phone disguise.” from a Toronto area code. It turned out to be the Argonauts, who had The next step first scouted the B.C. native two years It’s not often that a player gets earlier and then stumbled upon him signed to a pro contract without again at 2015 training camp when playing a single regular season snap a few scouts dropped by to identify at the university level. Thankfully future talent. for Williams, his time in junior was “One day I just woke up from a enough to convince Toronto that he missed call from the GM of the had what it takes to go pro and now Toronto Argonauts, Jim Barker. He he’ll have a shot to prove himself in was just saying how he’d been scout- the CFL. ing me for a couple years in Langley “I’m in a situation where I’m and that he wanted to offer me a con- going in just like any other player on tract,” Williams said. the roster, just fighting for a spot,” Had Williams played even one Williams said.

Williams will stay at the U of M game for the Bisons this season, he wouldn’t have had the chance to until April and will then head to sign. Instead he would’ve had to Florida for mini-camp, before reportgo through the regular CFL draft ing to Toronto at the end of May for process like every other CIS eligible rookie camp where he will hope to player. crack the active roster for the 2016 “It was a situation where I didn’t season. know I was eligible to be signed.

Because I redshirted this year, I kept my junior status which made me eligible to get signed, because at the junior level, at 22, you’re done and you age out,” Williams said.

“The fact that I didn’t play this year was rough to find out at the beginning of the year, because I had no idea, but then at the end of all that, finding out that that [eligibility] was the only reason I was able to get signed with the Argos kind of was a blessing in

VOL. 102 NO. 29 April 6, 2016

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The best from the brown and gold A quick recap of some of the major award winners from the Bison Sports year-end banquet MIKE STILL AND RYAN STELTER, STAFF

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his past Saturday night, Bison Sports handed out some major hardware at the annual brown and gold awards banquet. Below are the individuals who received major awards.

Male athlete of the year: David Onyemata, football

the first female swimmer since 2006 to achieve such a feat.

Schepp was the odds-on favourite to win this award and it came as no shock when his name was called

This was a pretty obvious choice, as the six-foot-three native of Lagos, Nigeria had a stellar season for the Bisons football team – racking up 34 tackles and five sacks. He also represented Manitoba at the East-West Shrine game where he shone. The Male rookie of the year: big man was named the J.P. Metras Brett Stovin, hockey Award winner as well, for being the The first-year forward from Stony best down lineman in all of Canada. Mountain excelled this season for the Onyemata’s season was capped Bisons men’s hockey team. He scored off with an NFL pro day at the U at almost a one point per game pace of M, where 17 scouts came to see in his first year at the CIS, tallying him perform. He will very likely be 27 points in 28 games (13 G, 14 A). selected in the upcoming NFL draft Stovin also had the second-longest this summer. point streak in the Canada West this year, garnering points in 11 straight Female athlete of the year: games.

Kimberly Moors, swimming With his strong season, Stovin Sydney Booker, volleyball Moors capped off a phenomenal was named to the Canada West Booker had a fantastic first seafive-year career with the herd in 2015, All-Rookie team, along with team- son for the women’s volleyball team, earning a silver medal at the CIS mate Adam Henry. Stovin slotted in earning a spot on the Canada West National Championships in the 50 comfortably on the Bisons’ top line All-Rookie team. She played in 19 of metre butterfly, and was named team and was relied on heavily to provide 24 conference games and 61 out of 94 MVP for the third straight season. offence for the herd. sets. She finished 13th in the Canada She also captured a bronze medal at West conference with 6.44 assists per nationals the year prior and became Female rookie of the year: set and 12th in the conference in total

PHOTO BY JEFF MILLER

assists with 393.

She also tacked on 18 blocks and 11 service aces. Booker was a stud for the Bisons in the middle and has excellent hands to boot.

Coach of the year: Kirby Schepp, men’s basketball

Schepp was the odds-on favourite

to win this award and it came as no shock when his name was called. He led the herd to a 15-5 regular season record – the best finish in program history since the 1977-78 season. The squad also advanced to the Canada West Final Four for the first time in team history.

The powerplay quarterback Bisons blueliner Adam Henry and his exceptional rookie season RYAN STELTER, STAFF

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he term quarterback in hockey “I loved it. I think it made the expe- playoff run for the Winterhawks, has been graciously borrowed rience 10 times more enjoyable for me,” racking up 15 points in 17 games and from football to describe a defense- Henry said. “I got to play on four dif- even scoring a few against his former man who has an offensive mindset ferent teams and meet four different team, the Seattle Thunderbirds. He and is the driving force in a team’s groups of guys, I got to experience had to fight to earn his spot on the powerplay. Normally, this is a player it all.” top powerplay unit with Portland, who is adept in puck control and has something that he looks back on as great vision in order to make passes a positive. with surgical precision – perfectly “The goal is to “That was awesome for me, to go represents Bisons rookie defenseman play with guys like Nic Petan and win a national Adam Henry.

Chase De Leo,” Henry said. “I started out playing on the second The five-foot-eleven Winnipeg championship. It native is coming off a fantastic season unit, and it made me work harder to would be awesome with the herd, where he played in all get onto the top unit.”

28 regular season games, finishing The experience of playing on a to experience that, with two goals and 14 assists. Henry high-powered offence definitely and that is our earned himself a spot on the Canada helped Henry excel this year with West All-Rookie Team as well as the the Bisons, where he slotted into the number one goal” CIS All-Rookie Team for his efforts.

Bisons’ top defensive pairing and “The award was a complete shock anchored the top powerplay unit.

– Adam Henry to me – I did not expect that at all and I was super honoured,” Henry said.

Playing for Manitoba “Just to be recognized at the national In his final WHL season, After a successful and lengthy level it was a real honour and it feels Henry was traded to the Portland junior career, Henry decided to come good, definitely giving me confidence Winterhawks, who were stocking up home to Winnipeg and play for the going into next season.” on talented players in an attempt to Bisons.

Henry bounced around the WHL make a run for the Memorial Cup. “There was a lot of different interest for the better part of four seasons Unfortunately, the team was eventu- from a lot of different schools, but for prior to coming to the Bisons and ally defeated in the conference finals me it was a no-brainer,” Henry said. said that playing in “the dub” was by the Kelowna Rockets.

“I had my heart set on coming home, well worth it.

Henry played a big part in that plus I am interested in getting into

PHOTO BY JEFF MILLER

business and I know the Asper school of business is a renowned business school in Winnipeg so it made sense.”

There was an adjustment period when Henry first hit the ice for Manitoba, but he managed to overcome the challenges he faced early on in the season.

“It was a very big adjustment, the first half of the season – everything was so new to me,” Henry said. “A different league with a different style of play with a lot of bigger, stronger, and older guys.”

With this being his rookie season, there are many more years we get to see Henry patrol the blueline for the herd and he is determined to help bring a national championship to Manitoba.

“We performed above expectations this year and we are not going to lose a chunk of guys this year,” Henry said. “The goal is to win a national championship. It would be awesome to experience that, and that is our number one goal.”