24 February 2016

MANITOBAN the

THE OFFICIAL UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA STUDENTS’ NEWSPAPER

NEWS

Education and the election A Q&A with Manitoba education minister James Allum Page 4-5

SCIENCE

Making waves New physics discovery shakes the scientific community Page 14

EDITORIAL

An exercise in branding Front and Centre donations are not what they seem Page 8

VO L 1 0 2 · N O 2 3 · F E B R UA RY 2 4 , 2 0 1 6 · W W W.T H E M A N I TO B A N .CO M

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Index

VOL. 102 NO. 23 February 24, 2016

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Craig Adolphe

editor@themanitoban.com / 474.8293

BUSINESS MANAGER Adam Owczar

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ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Michelle Arentsen

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ONLINE COORDINATOR Anu Lotay

online@themanitoban.com

EDITORIAL

MANAGING EDITOR Lauren Siddall

me@themanitoban.com

NEWS EDITOR Ethan Cabel

news@themanitoban.com

NEWS EDITOR Garett Williams

garett@themanitoban.com

COMMENT EDITOR Evan Tremblay

comment@themanitoban.com

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDITOR Chantelle Dubois

science@themanitoban.com

ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Seamus Hamilton-Pattison

arts@themanitoban.com

SPORTS EDITOR Mike Still

sports@themanitoban.com

COPY EDITOR Tom Ingram

COMMENT

Bad reputation

Academic dishonesty, admission requirements lowers the value of degrees

copy@themanitoban.com

JUNIOR COPY EDITOR Sarah Doran

DESIGN

DESIGN EDITOR Bradly Wohlgemuth

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GRAPHICS EDITOR Bram Keast

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PHOTO EDITOR Carolyne Kroeker

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page 10 FEATURE

Open for business

Assistive Technology Lab officially launches page 12

GRAPHICS ASSOCIATE Kelly Campbell GRAPHICS ASSOCIATE Jondell Coombs PHOTO ASSOCIATE Chantal Zdan PHOTO ASSOCIATE Megan Colwell

REPORTERS

NEWS Osho Samuel Adetunji NEWS Estefania Wujkiw NEWS Shawn Garbutt NEWS Shreya Ghimire COLUMNIST Aedan Ladd COLUMNIST Jill Patterson SCIENCE Malak Abas SCIENCE Jeremiah Yarmie ARTS & CULTURE Olivia Michalczuk ARTS & CULTURE Tobi Nifesi SPORTS Andy Che SPORTS Ryan Stelter

VOLUNTEER CONTRIBUTORS

Jordyn Lerner Kyle Mirecki Laurel Johanson Kieron Berndt

Anthony Labonte Will Gibson

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The Manitoban is the official student newspaper of the University of Manitoba. It is published monthly during the summer and each week of regular classes during the academic year by the Manitoban Newspaper Publications Corporation.

The Manitoban is an independent and democratic student organization, open to participation from all students. It exists to serve its readers as students and citizens.

The newspaper’s primary mandate is to report fairly and objectively on issues and events of importance and interest to the students of the University of Manitoba, to provide an open forum for the free expression and exchange of opinions and ideas, and to stimulate meaningful debate on issues that affect or would otherwise be of interest to the student body and/or society in general. The Manitoban serves as a training ground for students interested in any aspect of journalism.

Students and other interested parties are invited to contribute to any section of the newspaper. Please contact the appropriate editor for submission guidelines. The Manitoban reserves the right to edit all submissions and will not publish any material deemed by its editorial board to be discriminatory, racist, sexist, homophobic or libellous. Opinions expressed in letters and articles are solely those of the authors. Editorials in the Manitoban are signed and represent the opinions of the writer(s), not necessarily those of the Manitoban staff, Editorial Board, or the publisher.

All contents are ©2015 and may not be reprinted without the express written permission of the Editor-in-Chief.

News

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

UMSU makes consent culture workshops mandatory Student union, Justice for Women group and bystander intervention program sessions compulsory beginning this year SHREYA GHIMIRE, STAFF

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t its Feb. 11 meeting, the extending the reach of our campaigns University of Manitoba Students’ and programming, in a truly proacUnion (UMSU) council passed a tive step to combat sexual violence motion requiring all student asso- and rape culture at the University of ciations to participate in a consent Manitoba,” Robert said. culture training program for their According to Robert, Justice for elected officials.

Women has had overwhelmingly The motion was drafted by Alana positive feedback for its consent Robert, UMSU womyn’s represen- culture workshops, which focus on tative and chair of the Justice for educating students on definitions of Women student group, and Rebecca sexual assault and violence, gender Kunzman, vice-president advocacy stereotypes, and the meaning of confor UMSU. sent in contexts of power imbalance.

The Manitoban reported on Feb. “This is an unprecedented step 10 that Robert and Kunzman were amongst universities across Canada disappointed by what they per- – where a student initiative, being ceived as a lack of participation on Justice for Women, has partnered the part of several student councils with a students’ union to extend – namely the U of M Engineering comprehensive training, dialogue, Society (UMES) and the Commerce and action to reach across an entire Students’ Association (CSA). university,” Robert said.

The motion requires all facultyAccording to Kunzman, the specific councils and student asso- motion was the first step in a twociations recognized by UMSU to step process. It ensured that council participate in consent culture work- members agreed to the idea that these shops put on by UMSU, the Justice workshops should be mandated. This for Women group, or the bystander motion is active now until April 30 intervention training program put on of next year as a standing resolution. by the U of M. Kunzman told the Manitoban that Robert expressed enthusiasm the next step will be to pass a policy about the motion passing unani- to go into UMSU’s governance and mously at UMSU council, emphasiz- operations manual. This will ensure ing that sexual violence is an ongoing that the sexual assault training proissue on Canadian campuses. gram can remain mandated through “I am so excited that UMSU has the years by being embedded in the joined Justice for Women’s initiatives, institutional structure of UMSU, she

said.

A draft of this policy was given in a report to councillors during the meeting before they voted on the motion.

“With making it mandatory for general council members to attend, I’m worried that might cause more harm than good” – Noah Yagi, president, Commerce Students’ Association

principle that this should be required,” Kunzman said.

But not all students are enthusiastic about making the workshops mandatory for student councils.

Noah Yagi, president of the CSA, one of the student associations that was called out by Robert for not adequately participating in the workshops, expressed support for the motion, calling it a “great initiative.”

However, he also expressed concern about what a mandatory policy would look like, and reservations on the consequences of mandating the program.

“If they want to make this something that is received from all the student groups, I’m not sure if this approach is going to work for all the student organizing groups, in the sense that some are a lot larger than others,” Yagi said.

“With making it mandatory for general council members to attend, I’m worried that might cause more harm than good.”

The report, titled “UMSU’s Safe Space and Socials Program,” describes the background of the program, UMSU’s role, the workshops, the experiences, and the dif- The policy ficulties that have come up this year.

In the report given to councillors, It also includes the policy proposal, the draft policy outlines the timethe motion to council, and a draft line that student councils must folof the policy. low when implementing the consent “Now we can move forward with culture workshops. the knowledge in hand that everyAccording to Kunzman, the tarone is on board with the idea and the get date for student groups to receive

this training will be by the end of the summer, so they will be equipped going into the year, where they will be participating in Frosh events that take place during the first weeks of school.

Moreover, the policy stipulates that students organizing events where food and alcohol are served must complete consent culture training in order to receive the relevant permits to hold the event on campus.

The draft policy also outlines the steps available to UMSU if student councils do not comply or miss the deadlines to obtain the training.

The student association would receive reminders up until a certain date, followed by meetings and follow-ups. After that, the UMSU vice-president advocacy will give a final notice and write a report to the UMSU council articulating the executive’s position on the matter.

From there, it would go to UMSU council as the final authoritative body to decide if they will sanction the student association by withholding fees.

“It strikes a balance between trying to be flexible with the councils, but then also ensuring that we actually have some mechanisms in place to make sure that it does get done.

Unless you make it a priority, the ball will get dropped,” Kunzman said.

Mayor Brian Bowman set to speak at Asper school of business Association of Aboriginal Commerce Students holds final instalment of its speaker series OSHO SAMUEL ADETUNJI, STAFF

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he Association of Aboriginal Commerce Students (AACS) has tapped Winnipeg mayor Brian Bowman to address the fourth and final instalment of its speaker series on Feb. 29.

In Sept. 2015, AACS launched its first-ever indigenous speaker series in the Asper school of business branded “Wahkotowin,” Cree for “being related.”

Over several years, the student group has carved out a niche on campus by organizing events that seek to encourage Aboriginal participation in business education with focus on increasing awareness about Aboriginal issues and causes.

Previous editions in the speaker series have featured Gregg Hanson, former president and CEO of Wawanesa Mutual; Niigaanwewidam James Sinclair, acting head of the Winnipeg mayor Brian Bowman University of Manitoba native studies department; and James Wilson, and the importance of indigenous treaty commissioner for Manitoba. inclusion and partnership. SadieBowman is expected to address Phoenix Lavoie, University of the future of commerce in Winnipeg Winnipeg Aboriginal Student

Council co-president and driving force behind that school’s adoption of a mandatory indigenous credit requirement, will be the youth

speaker of the day. city to combat our racism issue,” she According to Ashley Richard, said. “As young indigenous business AACS president and fourth-year leaders, we invited Mayor Bowman commerce student at the U of M, the to speak with us on how strong indigspeaker series is meant to stimulate enous and non-indigenous relationstronger relationships between indig- ships are key to the future of our city’s enous and non-indigenous students. economic success.”

“Through this series, we wished “We want him to highlight how to highlight the key role indigenous he thinks that indigenous business peoples have to play in the future students should be supported.” of Winnipeg’s economic success,” She emphasized the link between Richard said. the previous speakers featured in the “We also wanted to build stron- series and Bowman. ger relations between indigenous “All of these speakers are diverse in and non-indigenous students in their ranges of work,” she said, “but Asper as well as the greater U of M they all have one fundamental thing community. Each part of the series in common: their dedication to the features a prominent community betterment of the futures of indigleader who understands the impor- enous peoples in Manitoba.” tance of enhancing the modern treaty relationships.”

The final speech in the Association Richard cited Bowman’s efforts of Aboriginal Commerce Students’ facing racism in Winnipeg in the Wahkotowin speaker series, presented wake of a January 2015 article in by Brian Bowman, will take place in Macleans magazine calling the city the Drake Centre on Feb. 29, at 7:30 p.m. the most racist in Canada.

“Since this article, Mayor Bowman has made significant efforts in our

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News

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

James Allum draws election fault lines Minister of education and advanced learning says a Tory government will threaten quality post-secondary education in Manitoba GARETT WILLIAMS, STAFF

James Allum speaking alongside Manitoba premier Greg Selinger

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ith a provincial election around the corner and the University of Manitoba facing a second round of cuts to its operating budget, postsecondary education funding is likely to be a contentious issue on the campaign trail.

The incumbent NDP government recently committed $150 million to the U of M Front and Centre fundraising campaign over a seven-year period and has signalled it will continue to hold tuition increases to the rate of inflation.

However, the U of M administration has called for an increase in tuition, cut its operating budget by four per cent for the current 2015-16 school year, and said a further four per cent cut is on the table for 2016-17.

The election is expected to be hard-fought, with the NDP seeking a fifth consecutive mandate in the face of public opinion polls that have shown the party in second or third place behind the leading Progressive Conservatives under leader Brian Pallister. The election takes place on April 19.

The Manitoban sat down with Fort Garry-Riverview MLA and minister of education and advanced learning James Allum to discuss the election and his party’s priorities for post-secondary education, including

funding, tuition fees, and goals for indigenous education.

“If you think that the university is going through some difficulty with their own budgeting now, just wait if a Tory government should ever occur in Manitoba” – James Allum, minister of education and advanced learning MANITOBAN: Universit y of Manitoba administration regularly points to low tuition fees to explain four per cent cuts to its operating budget for 2015-16. There is another cut scheduled for this coming year, so what is your response to U of M president David Barnard’s claim that tuition fees in Manitoba have not kept up with the demand and need

PHOTO PROVIDED BY DANIEL GWOZDZ

A: We’re committed to making sure that university – entrance to univerALLUM: I think what we have tried to sity, life in university – is affordable. do in our government is to ensure that We’re committed to maintaining students have a quality, affordable, the freeze at the rate of inflation on inclusive education. That’s why we tuition and I don’t anticipate that have among the lowest tuition rates changing any time soon. What we’ve in the country and that’s why we have successfully done in Manitoba is to among the highest funding for col- change the equation from “if I go to leges and universities in Manitoba, so university” to “when I go to univerthat we keep it affordable for students. sity” and that equation has changed And, by the way, we also took interest because we have kept it affordable for off student loans, as well. students and that’s what we’re going So it’s understandable that there to continue to do. are financial pressures at the university, and there are financial pres- M: Is there a trade-off between low sures at the province as well, but we tuition and quality of education? certainly have done our part, and our share, to ensure students have A: Not in my world because we, by a quality, affordable, and inclusive virtue of providing among the higheducation. est level of funding to universities in Manitoba, want to ensure that M: The government maintained a resources go into classrooms, not tuition freeze for about decade until into boardrooms. I’ve said that pub2009 and has kept increases to a mini- licly many times and I’ll say it again mum since. The last was 1.9 per cent, for you. There doesn’t have to be a and as you said, tuition in Manitoba is tradeoff at all because we insist that among the lowest nationally. Barnard resources go into classrooms to serve has said he wants to see tuition come students, not into boardrooms. up more toward the national average. There was a report in 2009 that M: The university is still having to called for moderate tuition increases make cuts, though. So how do you but said it should remain below the think they can make up that addinational average. Where do you stand tional funding? on that? for quality programming?

A: The university, like all organizations and all institutions, has financial pressures and they do their very best to address those. That’s a conversation that needs to go on inside the university, on campus, and there has to be collaboration and discussion among all the partners on the university committee.

What I can tell you is that we not only talk the talk, we walk the walk by virtue of keeping tuition low, by expanding pathways for students, and by ensuring that everyone is included on the university campus.

M: Is there any concern when the universities fall short that they might reach out more for corporate funding and get into the kind of controversy that the University of Calgary finds itself in, in terms of facing questions about academic independence?

A: I think that we always need to respect the arms-length relationship between the corporate world and campus life, between the government world and campus life, but we do know that in campaigns like Front and Centre that a $150-million investment from the government leverages a $350-million investment from private donors and the corporate community.

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That all adds up to a better quality of life for students on campus, as well as opening up doors that didn’t previously exist [...] So while we’re always concerned and always alert to corporate penetration on campus, we also have to recognize that there’s a partnership there that can be leveraged in order to improve the life for every student on campus of the University of Manitoba.

Indigenous education

M: In the context of indigenous education priorities, do you think that’s something that should be left to the individual institutions? For example, the University of Winnipeg has their mandatory credit requirement and the U of M is currently discussing the possibility of a mandatory indigenous course. What is your stance on whether it should be integrated into existing programming, or a mandatory requirement?

A: I think what I like about the U of W model is that it was studentgenerated. There was a demand from the student community that this is something that the university needed to do and the university responded.

If that same demand happens at the University of Manitoba, one would expect it would probably play out in the same manner but it could go in different ways, as well.

You know, it’s not a matter of either-or, it should be this or should be that. What we know for sure is that we’re in an era of reconciliation and post-secondary education institutions need to step forward, step up, and be partners in that reconciliation process, and that’s exactly what we see happening today.

M: And you see the government in a support role in that, where the institutions lead their own programming priorities?

A: Universities, as you know, operate at arm’s length from the government.

Of course, we’re a funding partner, we have outcomes that we want to see, we have conversations [about] how we think those outcomes can be achieved, and we work together with each of the institutions to try to do that, either as a collective or individually as the circumstances suggest themselves. So for me, it’s making sure that we’re being responsive for the need for reconciliation and then having the institutions, college or university, develop the kind of programming that they need to do in order to meet the goal of reconciliation which is a central issue of our time.

M: There’s an argument that indigenous education needs to be emphasized more at the primary and secondary levels. Wayne Ewasko, the Progressive Conservative education critic, told the Manitoban that the government has fallen short in that area. What’s your response to that?

A: Honestly, it’s the height of hypocrisy for the Pallister Conservatives to be suggesting that this government has not gone far enough on indigenous education or on reconciliation.

In Manitoba, we have been teaching about the treaty relationship and residential schools far earlier than any other government in Canada. We’ve wrapped that into new legislation that

PHOTO BY JD.101 VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

I tabled in the fall [...] We have a First Nation, Metis, Inuit education policy that has three main goals to it.

One is, of course, an appreciation for the history and culture of indigenous people among all students in Manitoba and that will happen all throughout the curriculum. Second, a concerted effort to deal with that focus on fundamentals, on literacy, on numeracy, for every child but particularly for indigenous learners because we know, the science tells us, that when you have that strong foundation you’re going to be a successful student going forward; and then, thirdly, training and entry into the labour force.

For Mr. Ewasko, of all people, to suggest that this government hasn’t gone far enough when we’ve been leaders in Canada, and they have offered up absolutely nothing and voted against every budget, it kind of tells you where they’re coming from as well. No plan. No desire, it seems to me, for reconciliation, and it’s really kind of consistent with everything that the Pallister Conservatives talk about. No plan, other than cut budgets and if you think that the university is going through some difficulty with their own budgeting now, just wait if a Tory government should ever occur in Manitoba.

Provincial election

M: To go back to the election, you

touched on it, but how does the NDP differ from the Progressive Conservatives on post-secondary education policy?

“They prefer a more authoritarian model that tells universities what to do and that’s it, and that’s all it’s going to be. Certainly that’s what happened in the 1990s and that’s likely to happen again” – James Allum A: I think it’s on a whole range of issues. It starts with funding, that’s for sure [...] [Year-over-year base funding] increased by $9 million this year to the University of Manitoba and a $27-million package to all of our institutions [...] Everyone got a sizeable increase, over the rate of inflation, I might add. So it begins with funding and it certainly includes tuition [...] In similar economic circumstances in the 1990s, [the Progressive Conservatives] chose

a different direction and allowed tuition to skyrocket plus consecutive years of either zero increases [in funding] to universities or cuts of two per cent [...] So we diverge on funding models and our support for universities and on keeping tuition affordable for students.

They were not supportive of the direction we were going, to have a more direct relationship with our institutions so that we could partner and collaborate together. They prefer a more authoritarian model that tells universities what to do and that’s it, and that’s all it’s going to be. Certainly that’s what happened in the 1990s and that’s likely to happen again because, let’s face it, Mr. Pallister is very authoritarian in the way he operates. He’s not collaborative. He doesn’t engage in partnerships, he’s very authoritarian. The austerity that the Tories are going to practice across the board, [some of Pallister’s planned] $500 million in cuts is going to find its way into classrooms.

Faculty members are going to find it more difficult to get jobs. You’re going to find that you’re taught by a different array of people in the classroom. You’re going to find programs being cut; you’re going to find services to students being cut. You’ll certainly find that our record on grants and bursaries has far exceeded what [the Tories] did in the 1990s when

students were basically left on their own.

M: To go back to the Front and Centre campaign, your government committed $150 million and that is slated to be delivered over seven years. At the same time, there was a previous five per cent operating grant increase that was supposed to be carried on for three years but after two it was cut in half, in 2013, to 2.5 per cent. Can we count on the $150 million coming through?

A: Yes, on the condition that we’re reelected because Mr. Ewasko has made it quite clear that he doesn’t support the Front and Centre campaign and they would not have invested in it the way that we did.

Let’s remember that over the three years, the University of Manitoba got a 12.5 per cent increase – five, five, 2.5.

It’s true it was a commitment to five, five, five. We couldn’t quite get there in the third year, but 12.5 per cent over three years was a significant investment into the University of Manitoba and every other institution in Manitoba. I defy you to find another government that’s been that consistent in ensuring that universities have the funding support they need from their provincial government.

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News

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

2016 UMSU General Election underway Three full slates, one partial slate, and an independent candidate running for executive positions CRAIG ADOLPHE, STAFF

The University of Manitoba Students’ Union’s (UMSU) 2016 general election began its campaigning period on Monday, with voting running from March 2 to 4.

Three full slates, one partial slate, and an independent candidate are running for the executive positions, marking the largest field of candidates since UMSU moved to a five-person executive in 2006.

UMSU presidential hopefuls weigh in on campus divestment campaign Mapping the potential way forward for divestment at the University of Manitoba OSHO SAMUEL ADETUNJI, STAFF

but our name Take Back is not for flash but for real substance. At our roots, we work for students. That means they decide what we do.”

“It will take a strong leader who can plan lobbying campaigns around this topic,” he said. “It will also take a strong group that are able to lobby for change.”

Strong UMSU • President: Astitwa Thapa (currently vice-president external, UMSU) • Vice-president advocacy: Dara Hallock (currently president, Science Students’ Association) • Vice-president external: Bénédicte LeMaître (currently UMSU representative, St. Paul’s College Students’ Association) • Vice-president internal: Adam Pawlak (currently president, Polish Students’ Association) • Vice-president student services: Jessica Smith (currently social programmer, Arts Student Body Council) UMSU For You • President: Tanjit Nagra (currently president, Arts Student Body Council) • Vice-president advocacy: Allison Kilgour (currently senator, Arts Student Body Council) • Vice-president external: Wilfred Sam-King (currently UMSU representative, U of M Athletics Council, and Bisons track and field captain) • Vice-president internal: Harrison Katz (currently UMSU representative, St. Paul’s College Students’ Association) • Vice-president student services: Ashley Richard (currently president, Association of Aboriginal Commerce Students) UMSU Forward • President: Niall Harney (currently treasurer, Canadian Federation of Students-Manitoba) • Vice-president advocacy: Ashley Penner (science student and grassroots organizer) • Vice-president external: Hannah James (currently treasurer, Global Political Economy Students’ Association) • Vice-president internal: Anatol Rennie (currently jazz studies representative, Faculty of Music Students’ Association) • Vice-president student services: Michaela Bohunicky (currently co-coordinator, Campus Food Strategy Group) Take Back • President: Andrew Fenwick (currently students living with disabilities representative, UMSU) • Vice-president internal: Nick Kuznetsov (currently president, St. Andrew’s College Students’ Association) • Vice-president student services: Shahab Valipourkolti (currently president, Big Horns) Single candidates • President: Zach LeClerc (currently vice-president internal, UMSU) Community representative nominees Uncontested positions: • Students living with disabilities representative: Alan Bridgeman • LGBTT* representative: Theodore De Silva • Women’s representative: Smiriti Kunwar Contested positions: • International students’ representative: Steffan Aganbi • International students’ representative: Masroor Khan No candidates have been nominated for Aboriginal students’ representative.

UMSU Forward

GRAPHIC BY CHANTAL ZDAN

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ith the 2016 University of rent president of the Arts Student Manitoba Students’ Union Body Council and the presidential (UMSU) general election in full candidate of the UMSU for You swing, the Manitoban caught up slate, divestment is a priority that with each of the presidential candi- her slate is committed to promote. dates to hear their plans surround“Students across Canada have ing the ongoing campus divestment been clear that divestment from campaign. fossil fuels is a priority,” she said.

The campaign to pressure the U “We are fully committed to promotof M to divest more than $64 mil- ing, supporting and realizing tanlion out of fossil fuel industries was gible achievements on divestment authorized by the UMSU coun- that students can actually measure cil in the spring of 2015. It moved and be proud of.”

She added that she will get the into full gear under the Divest board of governors involved in the Manitoba banner in the fall.

The campaign kicked off campaign and suggest other viable with a $2,000 boost from the sectors for investment.

“I passionately believe that our Manitoba arm of the Canadian Federation of Students and joins university should not be investing more than 20 similar initiatives in oil and gas companies,” she said. that have sprouted up at Canadian “Instead we should be looking into investing in clean technology and universities. energies of the future. I would work with [the University of Manitoba Strong UMSU The divestment campaign is Faculty Association], student being headed by outgoing vice- groups, the community, and all president external and Strong stakeholders to guarantee public UMSU presidential candidate support for this important sustainAstitwa Thapa, who expressed opti- ability issue.” mism about the progress recorded Take Back so far.

Andrew Fenwick, current “It is an absolute privilege to lead the fossil fuel divestment UMSU students living with discampaign,” said Thapa, who serves abilities representative and presias president of Divest Manitoba. dential hopeful on the “Take Back” “Over 1,000 students, staff and com- slate, told the Manitoban his slate munity members have pledged their believes strongly in the divestment support through petitions, letters campaign. He said his executive will collaborate with the UMSU and social media.”

“The fossil fuel divestment cam- green team to find an alternative, paign at the University of Manitoba sustainable investment area for the has gained more momentum in one university that would produce posiyear than what most universities tive returns.

“Our institution of higher throughout Canada have been able to achieve in over half a decade,” learning should not be working he added. towards increasing global warming’s impact,” he said.

UMSU for You “I believe heavily in divestment, According to Tanjit Nagra, cur- so I would like to work towards it,

Niall Harney, treasurer of the Canadian Federation of StudentsManitoba and the presidential candidate for the “UMSU Forward” slate, told the Manitoban that he is a strong supporter of divestment but added that Divest Manitoba needs to rethink its approach to issues concerning climate change.

“So far, climate change has been identified as a problem because it compromises access to the outdoors for recreation but climate change is so much more urgent than a recreation problem,” he said. “Climate change will compromise our food systems, our access to water, and make locations across the globe suddenly unlivable because of flooding and changing weather patterns.

“If we’re going to raise awareness about the urgency of action on climate change, we need to talk about these changes.”

Zachary LeClerc (independent candidate)

Zachary LeClerc, UMSU vicepresident internal and independent presidential candidate, said while divestment is a step in the right direction, consideration should be given to how the school’s endowment might be affected.

“There is more to it when it comes to sustainability,” he said. “And the other aspect of divestment we are forgetting is that there are cuts happening on campus – and blame can be placed on the administration, blame can be placed on the province – but forcing a divestment from fossil fuels will significantly drop the amount of resources in our endowment.”

“There needs to be a broader conversation,” he said. “We need to consider all factors. Are we going to outrightly divest, which will affect our endowment adversely, or are we going to work towards selective kind of divestment system?”

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Future relations between UMSU and CFS at stake in student election Potential student union executives sound off on relationship with national student federation SHAWN GARBUTT, STAFF

GRAPHIC BY BRAM KEAST

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he future of the Canadian UMSU and the federation, but respect student wishes to defeder- UMSU For You of model for about three years now.”

Federation of Students’s (CFS) advocated for a stronger partnership ate from the organization if it came Presidential candidate and current Harney continued to say he would presence on the University of between the organizations. to that.

Arts Student Body Council president like to see more CFS activity on camThapa was critical of what he Tanjit Nagra spoke positively of CFS, pus, advocating for allowing the orgaManitoba campus may lie in the “We need to be united as students hands of the next University of across this province,” he said. “We called a lack of communication saying UMSU ought to reconcile nization to table for free on university Manitoba Student Union (UMSU) need to speak with a collective voice, between the organizations and with the organization so students can grounds, a privilege most student executive. or else what happens is governments called for a renewed dialogue mov- enjoy unbridled access to the various groups enjoy that the federation curOver the last several years, the or the universities will divide us and ing forward. services CFS has to offer. rently does not. Harvey also said he UMSU-CFS relationship has been that’s when things like tuition fee “I’d like to solve whatever issue believes in reigniting provincial lobplagued by the decision of a previ- increases or massive fee increases for Zachary LeClerc CFS has with UMSU and hope- bying efforts. But he added he is not (independent candidate) ous UMSU executive to withhold international students take place.” fully move on and prosper together,” interested in pushing an agenda as an student fees owed to the provincial Zachary LeClerc, current vice- she said.

UMSU executive. Rather, he prioriRepresentatives from each of the and national branches of CFS. four executive slates, as well as a solo president internal for UMSU, is Nagra condemned the fashion in tizes being an active representative and In the 2013-14 academic year, the candidate contesting the upcoming seeking an independent presidency which past UMSU executives have respondent to students at the U of M. UMSU representatives at the time UMSU election, spoke with the and spoke out against the past style dealt with CFS, as did her running refused to transfer fees to the stu- Manitoban to outline their positions of communication between UMSU mate seeking the position of vice- Take Back dent federation following a dispute on the state of UMSU-CFS relations. and CFS. Presidential candidate and curpresident internal, Harrison Katz. contesting ownership of the umsu.

Largely, every slate expressed He called for more open dialogue Katz went on to blame personal rent UMSU students living with ca domain name. willingness to move forward with between the organizations. However, politics for the poor relationship and disabilities representative Andrew The Manitoban reported in CFS in the future to establish a more he also said CFS needs to re-evaluate said there is no place for that in the Fenwick strongly pushed for mending December the dispute had been positive relationship. Additionally, its role on campus. student union. relations between UMSU and CFS. resolved, however the amount of out- the slates unanimously disapproved In November, LeClerc ran for Fenwick called for the two orgastanding fees was still being contested. of the lack of transparency surround- national treasurer of CFS, losing out UMSU Forward nizations to act more in sync, sayEarlier this month, UMSU agreed ing the withholding of fees from CFS, to University of Winnipeg Students’ Presidential candidate and cur- ing cooperation is more conducive to pay $980,555.54 to put the dispute agreeing there is a need for increased Association president Peyton Veitch. rent CFS-MB treasurer Niall Harney to positive outcomes. He argued the to rest. The sum includes provincial student involvement and awareness.

LeClerc acknowledged the merit spoke out against the way past recent disputes between UMSU and and national fees to the organization of the student federation and the UMSU executives handled dealings CFS have only resulted in dramatic for the current year, and outstanding Strong UMSU benefits it offers through its national with the federation. Harney criti- losses for the student body, claiming fees going back to 2013-14.

As both an executive member of reach but noted university institu- cized the lack of transparency and the student union lost access to serIn December, outgoing UMSU UMSU and a CFS representative, tions are highly diverse and that CFS condemned the fact that students vices offered by the federation. president Jeremiah Kopp estimated Strong UMSU presidential nominee needs to do more to recognize the ultimately paid for services but failed Fenwick advocated for striking a the amount owed at $450,000, Astitwa Thapa took no official stance individual autonomy and capacity of to receive them in their full scope due more harmonious balance between while the CFS pegged it at roughly on whether the student union should some of its members. to UMSU’s decision to withhold fees. UMSU and CFS, acknowledging LeClerc condemned the use of $650,000, not including the current maintain a partnership with CFS. “CFS has had to scale back the the U of M as an individual univeryear’s fees.

“It has to come from the students. I executive actions by UMSU in the breadth of services they can provide, sity while stressing the importance Michael Barkman, chair for the am respecting the mandate that stu- past, stressing greater emphasis as well as the number of campaigns of being a part of the larger student Manitoba branch of CFS, wouldn’t dents gave when they joined CFS,” should be placed on council involve- it can engage in,” he claimed. “It’s movement. elaborate on relations between he said, adding that he would also ment in decision making. been working on a bare-bones sort

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

8

Front and Centre: an elaborate fiction Taxpayers and students are not donors TOM INGRAM, STAFF

and experiential learning, including undergraduate research. Meanwhile, UMSU intends to raise $5 million for undergraduate research, which is technically counted as a Front and Centre contribution.

This means that the bulk of the funding for undergraduate research will be coming from undergraduate students themselves. At that rate, why bother even having a university?

Paying it forward

PHOTO BY MEGAN COLWELL

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he controversial fee hike motion time anyone publicly mentioned that An elaborate fiction ments? But the smoke and mirrors recently passed by the University the $15.9 million to be raised by the A university capital campaign behind Front and Centre call into of Manitoba Students’ Union fee hike over a period of 10 years is is supposed to bolster a university’s question pretty much everything (UMSU) council omitted three key to be considered a contribution to the endowment and capital assets by the U of M says publicly – about words that might have killed the pro- Front and Centre campaign. soliciting donations – usually large this subject or any other one. It is posal outright, had they been spoken “It is important that [UMSU] ones contributed by wealthy alumni, tremendously difficult to scrape the back in November. participates in this culture of phi- community members, foundations, branding glitz off the messages put Front and Centre. lanthropy,” the summary said. and private companies. For example, out by the marketing and communiThe U of M launched its capital Harvard University is currently run- cations office and get to the real point. campaign (with an unprecedented ning a campaign with a goal of $6.5 This is why you haven’t seen much billion, and it has secured several critical coverage of Front and Centre $500-million goal) under that name Students are in October, after a “quiet phase” eight and nine-figure gifts from pri- in the Manitoban or in any of the socontributing around lasting a few years in which they vate donors. called professional media outlets that made plans and approached poten- three times as The U of M is certainly no might be expected to know better.

Harvard, but one would think a capitial donors. This is fairly normal for much per year to tal campaign here would be more or similar campaigns. less the same idea, just with smaller What is less normal is including a Front and Centre’s Front and Centre as dollar figures. One would be wrong. large government contribution in the total has been taxpayers generally Front and Centre’s total has been total. Shortly after Front and Centre inflated by rebranding things that no launched, the province announced its inflated by reasonable person would describe as commitment to provide $150 million to the campaign. Although this conThe money can’t in any reasonable donations. A huge chunk ($165 mil- rebranding things tribution is branded as a lump sum, it sense be considered a “donation” to lion, roughly one-third) of the money that no reasonable actually represents a promise to give the university. But it will still count counted toward Front and Centre comes from either the public purse the university grants for certain stra- toward the campaign’s total. person would tegic and capital projects over a period A few back-of-the-envelope cal- or the university’s own students describe as donations of seven years. culations will show how outrageous (many of whom are also Manitoba These grants will have to be this is. UMSU is contributing over taxpayers). approved in each year’s budget – and, $600 per member to the campaign, or The Winnipeg Free Press reported of course, that period covers two pro- $64 per member, a year. Meanwhile, that the U of M raises an average of It also allows the university to take vincial elections (it’s already unclear Manitoba taxpayers are contribut- $20 million in donations in an aver- credit for money it hasn’t done the whether the $150 million promise ing $150 per member of the popula- age year. For the five-year period legwork to raise. This means students will survive the first of those, sched- tion (excluding those who are 14 and of the Front and Centre campaign, are subjected to the double indignity uled for April 19). That means there under), or $21 a year. the university would expect to raise of being made to pay their own way are plenty of opportunities for the This means students are contrib- around $100 million by doing no extra and expected to be grateful for the vagaries of the economy and provin- uting around three times as much work. opportunity. cial politics to cause this deal to be per year to the campaign as taxpayThis means more than half the For example, the U of M currestructured. ers generally. In total, UMSU is campaign’s goal is already accounted rently provides undergraduate Even more unusual is Front and promising to pay around four times for without the university approach- research grants, but conventional Centre’s student contribution. When as much per head as the provincial ing any more private donors than wisdom is that there’s not enough business as usual.

UMSU’s fee hike motion was pre- government. money to support all the students sented to the board of governors for The UMSU contribution is also It may seem harmless, and to some who should be getting grants. The approval Jan. 26, it included a brief larger than any single private dona- extent it is. Who among us doesn’t Front and Centre campaign includes summary. This summary was the first tion that has been announced so far. regularly exaggerate their achieve- a goal of $10 million to fund service

A few years ago, the philanthropist Marcel Desautels gave the U of M a record $20 million donation toward its faculty of music. Desautels is an interesting figure who struck it rich in the business world and is now doing what he can to pay it forward, endowing university departments across the country. The Desautels faculty of music is special, though, because it represents a labour of love.

Desautels’s donation to the U of M was a game-changer on many levels. It utterly transformed the small and little-known faculty into a growing powerhouse that makes major improvements each year. On a personal level, I’m tremendously grateful for it because it paid much of my tuition and made the difference between following my heart and studying law or some other miserable vocation.

This is an excellent thing: successful people doing what they can to give young people a leg up. Seeking out languishing cultural institutions, seeing their potential, and giving them a shot in the arm. Part of the university’s role is to seek out such people and plead its case to them. This brings in external money that allows tuition or the costs of new facilities to be offset without charging students and taxpayers extra.

But I fear the university is moving away from that direction. I fear it is moving more to a model of service delivery to consumers where the twisted logic of charging students more so you can offer them more financial aid is entrenched. Counting public funds and student fees toward a fundraising drive sets a dangerous precedent on this front.

All at once, with the support of the province, the university administration, and the UMSU executive – and with the enthusiastic approval of the gullible lemmings on UMSU council – a backdoor route to raising tuition has been established. This is also a dangerous precedent.

Provincial grants and increased student fees are not donations, no matter how cleverly you brand them.

If the U of M is truly going to transform itself into a world-class institution, it will need to conduct its public business in a credible, forthright manner. The first step is to wash out the snake oil and get serious.

9

Say ‘yes’ to UMFM

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

Five students share what the campus radio station means to them IAN T.D. THOMSON, VOLUNTEER STAFF

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uring this year’s UMSU election, campus radio station 101.5 UMFM will be asking the student body to raise its levy by $1.50 per student, per term. If successful, this will be the first fee increase for the station since 1998, the year the station hit the airwaves.

UMFM has the lowest student levy of any campus station in Manitoba and with approval of our increase we would catch up with what our fee would be had it been fixed to the rate of inflation back in 1998.

A $1.50 increase per term may not be a huge difference for each student, but it gives UMFM a major opportunity to improve the quality of our services and our programming. To showcase the services that the station provides for U of M students, below are five testimonials from students from different fields answering what the station means to them and why this funding increase is needed.

Amy Unger

Amy is a new volunteer at the station. She started sorting CDs, voicing commercials and working on event promotion and is now host of the music show, Made You a Mixtape.

Amy is in her fourth year of agriculture, heading towards a degree in agronomy. Outside of the station, Amy has been involved with several student groups on campus, including Segue, Red Frogs, and Engineers Without Borders. Amy is also a server at the campus restaurant Degrees.

Why is UMFM important to you?

UMFM is unique. It’s powered by volunteers, which means that show hosts and people who spend their time and creativity at the station are here because they enjoy it. The station is full of mentors – people who are extremely good at what they do who are willing to share their skills and knowledge. Because of this atmosphere, it’s been super easy to Zachary Dark get involved in different areas and Zachary is co-host of DFoM projects with the station.

Radio, the Faculty of Music Students’ On a musical level, UMFM has Association’s radio show. He is third- complemented my time at university Why is UMFM important to you? year music student, the vice-stick by expanding my horizons of artists UMFM is important to me of the Faculty of Music Students’ and genres, and connecting me in because it has given me a chance to Association and plays horn in a num- with the local music scene. pursue broadcasting without dediber of musical ensembles on campus. cating myself to a journalism degree.

Why should students vote “yes” UMFM has given me incredible Why is UMFM important to you? for this funding increase? opportunities, including doing playMy time at UMFM has been Students, you should vote “yes” to by-plays for Bisons hockey games, incredibly valuable. First and fore- the funding increase because UMFM reading and recording advertisemost, I have had the opportunity to is your station. On either end of the ment spots, and producing my own explore broadcasting and recording in airwaves, as a volunteer or a listener, podcasts. a welcoming and supportive environ- UMFM is here sharing the heartment under the guidance of knowl- beat of your campus and community. Why should students vote “yes” edgeable and friendly staff.

UMFM is playing good music across for this funding increase?

The DFoM Radio show allows the a spread of genres, featuring littleVoting “yes” for this fundtalent of students and professors in known and local artists, taking new ing increase is important because the Desautels faculty of music to be perspectives on sports and current there are very limited media course showcased, and I, along with many issues, and keeping you up to date options available at the University other music students, have used the with events and shows around the of Manitoba, and broadcasting is recording studio at UMFM to put city. a difficult industry to succeed in. together professional-quality recordUMFM offers students a wealth ings. The airtime that students and of opportunities to explore DJing “Independent media instructors receive helps to promote or radio broadcasting while obtainthe faculty of music, and the univering a solid educational foundation with a local focus, sity overall, and students often send in the area of their choice. UMFM like UMFM, helps the also gives a voice to stories important their recordings to summer programs to secure placements, or to music fescareers of local artists, to University of Manitoba students tivals to land gigs. that would not be heard elsewhere, no matter their genre” including student government and Why should students vote “yes” for this – Zachary Dark, third- Bisons athletics. funding increase? year music student Students should vote “yes” because “UMFM is important campus radio is important and valuable. UMFM provides a wide varito me because it ety of shows, through which one can has given me a hear all of the opinions, topics, and Eric MacLise music that are often ignored by large For the past three years, Eric has chance to pursue commercial outlets. At DFoM Radio, hosted Covering the Spread, a weekly broadcasting without my co-host and I pride ourselves on sports talk show, and currently sits presenting student and faculty per- as the UMSU representative for dedicating myself to formances and perspectives from the UMFM’s board of directors. Outside a journalism degree” – Desautels faculty of music here at the the station, Eric is a fourth-year University of Manitoba. Independent Asper School of Business student, Eric MacLise, fourthmedia with a local focus, like UMFM, majoring in marketing. Eric is also helps the careers of local artists, no the incoming vice-president of operayear business student matter their genre. UMFM offers a tions for the Commerce Students’ platform through which the voices of Association, and competed in JDC students can be heard and amplified, West, the largest business competimaking sure that our views are not tion in Western Canada.

Emerald Fonseca forgotten.

Emerald is one of the co-hosts of the feminist talk radio show, The F

PHOTO BY CAROLYNE KROEKER

Word on UMFM. She is currently works at the Joyce Fromson Pool as getting her second degree at the U a lifeguard and swimming instructor. of M from the faculty of engineering. She has been involved with the Why is UMFM important to you?

Womyn’s Centre since her first degree UMFM is a fun and extremely and is currently involved with the welcoming environment. They saw University of Manitoba Engineering my blog, contacted me about getting Society and Engineers Without involved and then gave me an opporBorders. tunity for a show on the station, and since then I have met some incredible Why is UMFM important to you? people. It’s helped me establish conUMFM is important to me nections, meet people I never would because it’s provided me with a space have met, and learn things that have to grow, learn, and educate myself changed not only my perception on and others when it comes to impor- how I listen to music but how I write tant social issues. It’s provided an and create my own music. avenue for activism and support in developing my voice and the voices Why should students vote “yes” of other students. Being a part of for this funding increase?

UMFM has been great in helping me The amount the station is asking develop skills and interests outside of for from each individual student is my degree in a fun and creative way. completely reasonable and 100 per cent justifiable in my opinion. For less than a cup of coffee you might buy Why should students vote “yes” for this funding increase? each morning, you’re supporting such UMFM is a space where stu- an amazing community. So many dents are encouraged and welcome positive and wonderful things come to express themselves using radio. from UMFM and because of that They provide opportunities to learn we’re asking for a little money to help about the medium and technology keep the station properly supported. and work behind the scenes. It not only supports students but also the Voting for the proposed UMFM local music scene and local businesses funding increase will take place from aiding in the building of commu- March 2 to 4 across the University nity within the city. It features music of Manitoba in conjunction with not played on other stations and the the UMSU general election. For programming is diverse providing more information about the prosomething for everyone. Funding posed funding increase, please visit would aid in maintaining a station www.umfm.com/info/referendum that is intertwined with student life and the local community.

Ian T.D. Thomson is a student, volunteer and board memAshley Bieniarz ber at UMFM, and chair of the Ashley is host of the Winnipeg Manitoban Newspaper Publications Music Project, a UMFM radio Corporation’s board of directors. show and blog where she interviews Winnipeg musicians about their music, as well upcoming performances and projects. She is currently studying music education at the Desautels faculty of music and also

10 Comment

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

The declining value of our degrees Admission requirements and academic dishonesty hurting U of M’s reputation JORDYN LERNER, VOLUNTEER STAFF

GRAPHIC BY KELLY CAMPBELL

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he reputation of the University of Manitoba has been damaged by recent news stories about the rise in academic dishonesty and admission changes in the faculty of education.

This affects us as future graduates because, when it comes to getting jobs, our degrees are only as good as prospective employers think they are.

When the reputation of the university suffers, so does the value of our

degrees.

The Manitoban ran a story about the rise in academic dishonesty in the Feb. 10 issue. The numbers were ridiculous. In the 2014-15 school year, there were 785 incidents of academic dishonesty. Of those, 20 were people caught writing an exam for someone else. 20! Naturally, this leads people to wonder just how many cases of exam personation weren’t caught.

785 incidents of academic dishonesty is a lot. It makes us all look bad.

People can rationalize these numbers and put them into context. 785 incidents of academic dishonesty is very small relative to the hundreds of thousands of assignments, essays, and exams that are submitted within the entire university every year. As well, the numbers reflect the root causes of academic dishonesty, such as societal pressure to achieve high marks.

But employers aren’t interested in blaming society for academic dishonesty. They’re concerned about hiring cheaters into their workplace.

More damaging to the university’s reputation are the changes to admissions in the faculty of education, which is increasing its special consideration spots from 10 per cent to 45 per cent.

Stories about different admission standards for different people hurt the academic credibility of the university. When up to 45 per cent of the class is admitted because of diversity, there’s a nearly 1 in 2 chance that a student is there because they self-identify as a member of a certain group.

Education graduates will face the suspicion of being diversity admissions, and the accompanying questions about whether they actually deserved to be admitted. That’s a stigma that graduates shouldn’t have to deal with.

As bad as these news stories are, they don’t matter much to students wanting to stay local after graduation. The U of M is the Harvard of Manitoba. The other universities are either too artsy, too rural, or too religious. It will take more than a few negative stories to bring down the U of M’s local reputation to the level of the other universities. A degree from the U of M is still accepted by the large provincial employers, like the provincial government, crown corporations, and the U of M itself, as the gold standard.

The U of M’s reputation becomes an issue for students seeking jobs outside of Manitoba. Despite five years of “trailblazer” campaigns, the U of M is known nationally as the perennial loser in the Maclean’s university rankings. Stories about academic dishonesty and flexible admission standards serve to confirm U of M’s

low standing in people’s minds.

It would be great if the U of M got serious about protecting its local, and improving its national, reputation. It could get tough on cheaters, straighten out admissions policies, and work on the areas that Maclean’s takes into consideration. But that’s not going to happen, because the university has little incentive to do so.

The U of M is a regional university. It exists to serve the Manitoba market. The vast majority of students admitted to the U of M graduated from Manitoba high schools. As long as the university has a better local reputation than its artsy, rural, and religious counterparts, degrees from the U of M will still get grads jobs.

Improving the university’s national reputation only makes it easier for graduates to leave and get jobs elsewhere. Losing young people to other provinces is already an issue for Manitoba. Making U of M grads more attractive to the rest of Canada is not high on the provincial priority list. Instead, the university moves weakly against cheaters, praises diversity, and ignores the Maclean’s rankings.

An open letter to prospective deans A case for tuition increase in the faculty of law KYLE MIRECKI

as other universities with its current operating budget? What comes first, the tuition increase or the comparable services?

I see a tuition increase not as an insurmountable issue so much as a valuable opportunity. As incoming dean, you could restructure the way in which our school equips students for practical careers in law, to better serve our legal community in a continuously evolving market.

PHOTO BY CAROLYNE KROEKER

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I am asking you for a realistic business plan that incorporates the priorities of students and the legal community, before you give in exclusively to the concerns of faculty members

s the three short-listed candi- annually. It has not increased subdates, all from outside Manitoba, stantially since 2003. The faculty and I would like to first welcome you to most reasonable people would agree our province. I hope that you enjoy that it is too low, if not unsustainable. your visit.

The fact that costs increase over time Students do not have much mean- is a practical reality in any business ingful input into your appointment or non-profit. But, last year’s survey (a process that is opaque at best) but to students intimated that the faculty I hope that you will hear me out is looking at an increase of over 50 nonetheless. per cent in a relatively short period It is clear so far that the issue of time to bring us in line with other of a tuition increase is not on your law schools across Canada. radar. I don’t blame you. The faculty This is, undoubtedly, a case of the may have forgotten to mention it. In chicken and the egg. Does our law case you are interested, here is my school provide the same experience perspective. and services to justify a cost similar to We need consultation, yes, but Tuition for the faculty of law at the others? And, can our law school pro- we also need a realistic business plan.

U of M is low – approximately $10,600 vide the same experience and services What is the added value for students

and firms, beyond easing what is surely considerable labour pressure from members of the faculty? How much of the tuition increase would go towards salary increases? How will you mitigate the impact on current and future students? Could the law school achieve its goals with less than a 50 per cent increase?

When deciding how to spend new revenue, you should consider (with apologies to JFK) not only what the legal community can do for our law school, but also what we can do as a law school for the legal community. How can we accommodate their needs, demands and interests? Maybe then our alumni would feel inclined to give more back to the faculty.

What do firms need? They need students with more practical, handson learning experience to prepare them for actual practice. I challenge you to find a firm that disagrees.

The truth of the matter is that not all forms of practical learning can be or are best taught by those steeped in academe, but by legal professionals with years of practical experience.

Is there a clear disconnect between the priorities of some of the faculty and the students? Yes, but this is not an argument to abandon research and academic distinction. We should continue to find ways to distinguish our law school as a leader in human rights

and indigenous law.

At the same time, we must ensure we maintain legal excellence in areas that fit within the business model of our legal community, with an emphasis on corporate and commercial, tax, litigation, labour and employment, and family law. The best alternative is to find new and pragmatic ways to combine these two objectives. For instance, I see substantial opportunity for profitable growth in the natural resource sector with corporate and Aboriginal law.

Not all lawyers work for private firms. Some will pursue careers in academia, the public service and in non-profit sectors. I am not asking you to ignore the interests and agendas of your future faculty members and throw the baby out with the bathwater. I am asking you for a realistic business plan that incorporates the priorities of students and the legal community, before you give in exclusively to the concerns of faculty members.

Thanks for your consideration, and I wish you the best in the hiring process.

Kyle Mirecki is a student in the faculty of law and chair of UMSU council.

VOL. 102 NO. 23 February 24, 2016

Comment 11

Urban beekeeping: legal at last Winnipeg takes a baby step in the right direction EVAN TREMBLAY, STAFF

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ocal food production in the form agricultural land. This is a good thing and pointless delay. For context, New of urban agriculture is one of – the kind of good thing that most York City has allowed beekeeping those things that is very hard to for- other cities did some time ago. everywhere since 2010. Urban beemulate a coherent argument against.

Unfortunately, the beekeeping keeping will even produce money Producing your own food benefits will be limited to downtown, which for the city – they can charge for the you in money saved and costs avoided, is frustrating and vexing. One has to permits. For a city both perennially and benefits the city as a whole in wonder if our not-too-bright legisla- cash-strapped, and with a penchant energy saved on transportation costs tors took the moniker “urban bee- for building unnecessary and expenand increased local food security. keeping” a tad too literally. There will sive new underpasses (a cool $155 milIt’s also just plain healthier, for the never be a large number of people lion for the one recently approved body and the soul, to grow what you willing to put in the effort to keep at Waverley), you would think any consume. bees, but it is certainly true that most potential new revenue would be Beekeeping is actually even more of those willing to put in said effort eagerly sought-after. beneficial than plain old food pro- do not live downtown.

Currently, the only plans for urban duction. Not only does it provide beekeeping downtown come from Manitoba Hydro and the Hotel Fort honey for the people keeping the Urban agriculture bees (and usually enough extra for Garry. Both are large corporations, them to share or sell), but the bees and are essentially doing it for shits should be allowed provide an important ecological serand giggles; their beekeeping will vice – the pollination of flowers – for not provide any increase in the city’s agriculture and local food production not because a the entire neighbourhood. The entire food security. That tells you some- – if it is unwilling to spend the money prominent business city is made a little bit more robust thing about Winnipeg – we won’t itself to foster urban food production, and sustainable as a living system, at allow beekeeping everywhere despite it should at least be willing to remove wants a new no cost whatsoever to anyone other it being a good idea contributing to the barriers that are currently in place income stream, but than the beekeepers. sustainability (it being a good idea, it that prevent conscientious citizens It’s the kind of improvement should be city-wide), but we’ll allow it from doing it themselves. because it’s the involving minimal cost and effort (a downtown because a business wanted As things stand, you cannot keep right thing to do matter of changing the wording in to try their hand at it – and since said bees or chickens, and you cannot zoning bylaws, nothing more) that a business is downtown, why bother grow food on the boulevards you are required by law to maintain – basiccity should be eager to implement not with the rest of the city? for ideological reasons, but merely as Although the city will probably The city should allow beekeeping ally, you can’t do anything more a matter of best practices. Winnipeg move in a few years to allow beekeep- everywhere. The city should also look adventuresome than have the same will soon allow beekeeping on non- ing city-wide, this is an unnecessary at what it can do to encourage urban kind of vegetable garden your grand-

GRAPHIC BY KELLY CAMPBELL

parents have. It’s time for the city to follow in the steps of bigger, better, more forward-looking metropolises, and legislate its way into the 21st century – urban agriculture and beekeeping should be allowed not because a prominent business wants a new income stream, but because it’s the right thing to do.

Aboriginal History Month both essential, unknown We have our own, unique history of racism to confront JILL PATTERSON, STAFF

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ebruary is Black History Month. attention to the current struggles they Month, there is more emphasis During February we reflect on face. While black people have made placed on black history than there is the historical treatment of black great strides in gaining basic rights on Aboriginal history. people, who were taken from their and liberties we should not forget the In elementary and high schools, homeland and carted across the long road ahead for full and complete youth in Canada read about Harriet Tubman, watch the Roots series, and Atlantic and, for those who survived equality. the voyage, sold into slavery. That was In Canada, we celebrate Black learn about Rosa Parks and Martin just the beginning of the ill treatment History Month with, if perhaps not Luther King. When I was in high of black people in North America, the same vigour as in the U.S., the school (admittedly, some years ago) which continued well past the aboli- same tenacity. Given the historical we did not read about or discuss resition of slavery and is still very much differences in how the U.S. treated dential schools, attacks on indigenous present today. black people compared with Canada’s tribes, or the cultural genocide of During Black History Month, we role in the slave trade, the U.S. Aboriginal people in general. are encouraged to read books and should indeed be more inclined to I left high school with a very vague watch movies that teach about the acknowledge Black History Month notion of who Louis Riel was, the struggles that black people faced, than Canada. However, Canada extent of which was that he was a and to reflect on and celebrate the has its own history that needs to historical figure in Manitoba. Who accomplishments they have fought be accounted for. Many Canadians he was or what he did, I could not say. hard to achieve, such as the right to would be surprised to know that, The furthest we ever got to discussvote, access to education, and the in Canada, we observe National ing indigenous and settler relations desegregation of public spaces.

Aboriginal History Month in June, in school was the fur trade, which Black History Month is not just a as well as Asian Heritage Month in had a decidedly optimistic slant to U.S. observance; Canada also marks May and Women’s History Month it – something along the lines of “the it with events, TV series, and radio in October. settlers and Aboriginal people helped broadcasts. Black History Month has Since Canada has a long history of each other survive by trading furs and also become the focus of marketing ill treatment of Aboriginal people, it moccasins for spices and muskets.” strategies for some businesses. One is only fitting that we acknowledge Perhaps things have changed since only needs to turn on the TV or walk the historical struggles of Aboriginal I was in school, and I hope that they by a bookstore to be greeted with a people in Canada in addition to their have because that might signal a shift black history-themed advertisement. current struggles. However, the pro- in the way Canadians understand our Although there is a whole month motion and awareness of Aboriginal historical relations with Aboriginal dedicated to celebrating the achieve- History Month in Canada is severely people and how that shapes the many ments of black people and bringing lacking, paling in comparison to that issues they face today. However, it awareness to their struggles through- of Black History Month. Even when still seems as though Canadians are out history, there is a definite lack of we are not celebrating Black History more willing to accept the fact that

GRAPHIC BY JONDELL COOMBS

black people have been ill-treated in the U.S. than acknowledge our own treatment of Aboriginal people. A good start would be to promote and truly celebrate Aboriginal History

Month, the way that the both the US and Canada have embraced Black History Month.

Features Features Editor: Lauren Siddall Contact: Me@themanitoban.com

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Assistive Technology Lab opens its doors New lab to provide resources for students living with disabilities LAUREN SIDDALL, STAFF

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PHOTOS BY LAUREN SIDDALL

fter 10 years in the making, to address barriers for Manitobans the University of Manitoba’s living with disabilities in key areas Assistive Technology Lab officially of daily life. opened on Feb. 4. The lab’s devel“In the last five or six years, this opment was funded by the Students field has really changed a lot and First Project, the university IT advi- I think that in the next five or six sory committee, student affairs, the years, it’s going to change just as campus planning office, and the office much. With the Accessibility for of the vice-president administration. Manitobans Act, which came into Outfitted with height-adjustable legislation in December of 2013, tables, wide workstations, a tuto- there’s a big push for accessibility as a rial room, and several computers whole. Within the Act, there are sort equipped with digital accessibility of five main sections that are being programs, the Assistive Technology rolled out. The third one, which isn’t (AT) Lab will help serve the 2,000 ‘out’ yet, is information and communistudents at the U of M who have cation, and that is what really affects identified accessibility requirements. what I do the most,” said Buhse.

The AT Lab also accommodates “And the university, I can tell, is alternative formatting needs, such as already starting to put a big emphasis e-text or braille, and provides resources on digital accessibility, and that’s sort for sign language interpreters. of my area of expertise. Just in terms “The idea of an AT Lab is not a new of making sure all documents that are one. It’s been talked about for prob- being posted on the website are accesably about 10 years. It was a matter of sible, and educating the university finding funding, because a lot of the community on how to do that. That’s programs are not cheap. Once we had where I see the most growth.” nailed down some of the funding, it When Buhse first started workwas a matter of finding space,” said ing at Student Accessibility Services, Jeff Buhse, assistive technologist with he says that assistive technology and Student Accessibility Services. alternate format textbooks comprised “Once we knew the funding was approximately 10 per cent of his job, there, we started drawing up plans but he was still considered the assistive and talking about what exactly it was technologist. Now, thanks to increased going to look like, coming up with funding and resources, he is able to quotes, and working with physical focus on digital accessibility full-time.

“With my job, I’m hoping to see it plant to make sure that we could get it how we wanted. And I’m working grow further, to have additional staff with students pretty much everyday to help me out with the work I do to know what they’re actually going so that we can better serve students, but also I would like to see us work to benefit from.”

The need for an AT Lab springs, with the university community as a ironically, from the inaccessibility whole to really champion for digital of the digital accessibility programs accessibility – in terms of training on the market. Kurzweil 3000 – the faculty and staff on universal design most common text-to-speech pro- principles and not just showing or gram – is sold for approximately explaining how to make an accessible US$1,400. If students require mul- document, but explaining why that’s tiple programs and do not qualify important and the effects that it has for funding, these programs quickly on people,” Buhse said. become out of reach. While this is “The whole environment surroundthe primary reasoning behind the lab, ing what the technology is used with Buhse hopes that students with their is where there is going to be a lot of change. And the university is showown devices will also use the space.

“I just want to see it used lots. I ing that they are going to be a leader want to see lots of students in here in accessibility, and I’m happy to be utilizing the desks and the comput- a part of it.” ers, and really getting to know the President of Beyond Abilities, programs better, and just succeeding. Alan Bridgeman, is happy to see the The programs aren’t there to be an project completed, adding that it is advantage over other students who great to have an assistive technolodon’t get the programs, but rather gist available on campus. While he they are to remove the barriers that believes the lab is a welcome advanceare preventing students from suc- ment, allowing students with disabiliceeding in school,” said Buhse. ties to access expensive equipment, he “I’d like to see students use these also knows there is more to be done programs to their full advantage so to improve accessibility on campus. that they can succeed as best as pos“Improving accessibility on campus sible in school, but then also have is something that is always ongoing then knowledge of the programs to and is something that will never truly carry it over into the working world be done – the goal is simply to miniso that they can be successful past mize effort for students living with university too.” disabilities to make it an even field.

Buhse says there has been a major This means there is always ways to push for improving accessibility as improve accessibility and there is a result of the Accessibility for always challenges associated with Manitobans Act, which passed on each of them,” Bridgeman said.

Dec. 5, 2013. Under this legislation, “I think this is a large step in the the Manitoba government created right direction for accessibility on mandatory accessibility standards campus, but isn't the only step that that apply to both private and public can be taken.” sectors. Each standard is designed

Science & technology 14 Science & Technology Editor: Chantelle Dubois Contact: science@themanitoban.com

Finding the ripples in space-time U of M connected to physics discovery that is making gravitational waves JEREMIAH YARMIE, STAFF

GRAPHIC BY BRAM KEAST

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n Feb. 11, researchers from as he pieced together his 1916 theory tional waves from binary black holes milliseconds of each other. aLIGO Taylor. They found that when two the Laser Interferometer of general relativity. They are ripples is a thrilling result for us, one many is sensitive to frequencies of gravi- neutron stars orbit around each other, Gravitational Wave Observatory in space-time that move at the speed decades in the making,” Landry told tational waves within the range of they lose the same amount of energy (LIGO) announced in a press con- of light. the Manitoban. human hearing. from their motion as the amount ference that they have observed graviWhile gravitational waves are a “However the real story here is that The waves observed by aLIGO found in emitted gravitational waves, tational waves. fundamental part of general relativ- in the near future, we will be making are called inspiral gravitational waves, as predicted by general relativity.

A corresponding peer-reviewed ity, they have never been directly regular detections of these objects, which are formed when two massive By characterizing gravitational journal article was published in the observed until now. that there is a population of binary objects combine into one. As the two waves and observing them more American Physical Society journal black holes within our reach. Rich objects get closer to each other, they consistently, researchers will be able Physical Review Letters that same day. physics and astrophysics will come begin to move faster, which causes to use them to probe into the early The detected gravitational waves “This event was so out of these observations.” the frequency of the gravitational events of our universe, looking furwaves that are being produced to ther back than is possible using light. were formed by two black holes that titanic that for a brief collided 1.3 billion years ago. The Detection increase until the two objects meet.

“Of course this focus on known moment the power observation occurred on Sept. 14, 2015.

Researchers from MIT and This produces a sound called a theoretical models of events assoOne black hole had the mass of Caltech designed the twin detectors, “chirp.” ciated with gravitational waves in the gravitational about 29 suns, while the other had the operation of which includes more Rumours began circulating in the improved the chances of successful a mass of about 36 suns. Once com- wave signal than 1,000 scientists. beginning of January that LIGO had detection and hence helped acquire bined, the single massive black hole The initial LIGO (iLIGO) was finally observed the elusive gravita- funding,” physics and astronomy exceeded fifty times temporarily shut down in 2010 for tional waves. professor Jayanne English told the was as heavy as 62 suns.

“The three solar masses unac- the power of all the some much-needed upgrades. The Some individuals worried that Manitoban. counted for were deposited as energy advanced LIGO (aLIGO) reopened these rumours would turn out to be “However now the really exciting stars in the Universe directly into the fabric of the universe, in September 2015 with expanded another false alarm. discoveries start – we’ll observe phegenerating the gravitational wave sigabilities worthy of its new name.

Every so often, a few covert LIGO nomena for which theoretical models combined” – Adam nal LIGO observed in September of aLIGO outcompetes its predecessor scientists will plant fake measure- do not yet exist.”

2015,” said Adam Rogers, a post-doc- Rogers, post-doctoral in a number of areas. ments that look like real gravitatoral fellow in physics and astronomy While the iLIGO was able to tional waves. Like a fire drill, these LISA Pathfinder fellow in physics and observe phenomena happening 15 so-called ‘blind injections’ ensure that at the University of Manitoba.

In December of last year, the “This event was so titanic that for million parsecs away (despite what the LIGO researchers are ready to go European Space Agency launched astronomy, U of M a brief moment the power in the Han Solo might say, a parsec is a unit when real observations are measured. the LISA Pathfinder, a proof-of-pringravitational wave signal exceeded of measurement, not time, equivalent In 2010, researchers thought they ciple experiment to see the potential 50 times the power of all the stars in As a gravitational wave moves to about 31 trillion km) aLIGO can had finally observed gravitational use of LIGO-like detection methods the universe combined,” said Rogers. in a particular direction it deforms reach as far as 300 million parsecs. waves before it was revealed that it in space with interferometers. Space Rogers’s research spans a breadth the space around it. Space is comThis increased range allows was just a blind injection. The LIGO is a lot less noisy than the Earth is, of phenomena related to gravity, pressed in one axis perpendicular to aLIGO to detect up to 3,000 times team went as far as writing a scientific which may result in easier detections. including the nature of neutron stars the direction of motion, and is elon- more events than the iLIGO. The paper to be sent in for publication If the results of LISA Pathfinder and the behavior of light as it passes gated in the other perpendicular axis. gravitational waves were so quiet that before it was revealed to be a test run. experiments look promising, then through the gravitational fields of This dilation in space is called gravi- iLIGO would not have been sensitive the European Space Agency will massive objects. tational wave strain. enough to detect them.

What gravitational waves begin the process of preparing the This is huge. Some people believe LIGO is comprised of a pair of Light isn’t affected by the com- mean for the field of physics eLISA project for a projected 2034 that this discovery will garner this observatories, in Hanford, Wash. and pression and expansion caused by In the press conference, LIGO launch. The eLISA project would use year’s Nobel Prize in Physics – most Livingston, La. The detection lead gravitational waves, so laser beams researchers presented the actual chirp an interferometer with arms around Nobel-winning discoveries have a scientist of the Hanford observatory are the perfect yardstick for this sort of the observed gravitational waves. one million kilometres long. turnaround of at least a couple of is University of Manitoba alumnus of experiment.

The existence of gravitational years.

Michael Landry, who completed his The observed gravitational waves has been inferred by studies Gravitational waves were first con- PhD here in 2000. waves reached the Louisiana and done in the 1970s by Nobel Prize jured in the mind of Albert Einstein “LIGO’s detection of gravita- Washington LIGO sites within 10 laureates Russell Hulse and Joseph

VOL. 102 NO. 23 February 24, 2016

Science & Technology 15

New research links wheezing to asthma development later in life A study 15 years in the making has roots in Winnipeg MALAK ABAS, STAFF

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esearchers at the University of ence at least one wheezing episode.

While this in itself may not be surManitoba and the University of The categories ranged from chil- prising, the study also found that even British Columbia have found a con- dren who did not wheeze at all, chil- children who wheezed only occasionnection between wheezing in infants dren who wheezed occasionally but ally appeared to have lung troubles. and young children and the possibil- grew out of it, children who wheezed “I think it is surprising, because ity of developing asthma later in life. but not until they were past infancy, often parents or physicians think that The study, published by JAMA and children who wheezed consis- a little bit of wheezing early on, as Pediatrics, observed 320 infants liv- tently until the age of seven. long as it’s resolved, is no big deal,” ing in Winnipeg Azad said. and Vancouver “But what we over a period of found was that “It’s important to develop new drugs for four years. even kids who “I would say asthma and study how to manage symptoms, only wheeze tranone of the really siently, so those but the reality is there’s no cure for asthma” that unique things wheeze once or a couple of about this study – Meghan Azad, University of Manitoba times in infancy, is that we had 15 assistant professor in pediatrics and child and then not years of follow-up on these kids, and again through health and community health sciences we started studytheir early childing them before hood years, still they were born [...] so having that new When the children turned seven, had an increased risk of asthma and data is pretty unique,” said Meghan the initial observation period ended, decreased lung function later on.”

The study also showed some envi- a larger scale. It will observe over Azad, lead author of the study and and the children were not tested University of Manitoba assistant pro- again until they were 15. ronmental factors. The infants born in 3,500 Canadian mothers, and will fessor in pediatrics and child health What they found was a link Winnipeg were more likely to wheeze take home and environmental factors and community health sciences. between the number the children than those born in Vancouver. into account. The study will also take The children were categorized who wheezed as babies and the likeMeghan Azad will also be an genetic information such as umbilical based on their wheezing patterns. lihood of the child having asthma as associate investigator on an upcoming cord blood and viral swabs from both Wheezing – characterized by harsh, teenagers. The children who wheezed project called the CHILD (Canadian the mother and child. whistling breaths – is relatively com- were much more likely than the chil- Healthy Infant Longitudinal According to Azad, learning how mon in babies. Around 25 to 30 per dren who did not wheeze to have Development) study, which will look we can prevent reduced lung function cent of all young children will experi- asthma later in life. into asthma prevention strategies on in infants is key.

GRAPHIC BY JONDELL COOMBS

“It’s important to develop new drugs for asthma and study how to manage symptoms, but the reality is there’s no cure for asthma,” Azad said.

“Prevention is really the best approach.”

New study raises connection between Neanderthal DNA and health problems Modern humans with Neanderthal DNA more susceptible to addiction, depression MALAK ABAS, STAFF

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an’t seem to quit smoking? Your Neanderthal ancestry might be the culprit.

A recent study published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science claims that there is a link between people’s inherited Neanderthal DNA and their possible tendency towards health problems such as depression and addiction.

Neanderthals were, to put it plainly, a relative of modern humans, or humans that would eventually evolve into Homo sapiens. You might remember seeing dioramas of them in museums: heavy-browed, dressed in animal hides, and carrying a makeshift weapon. This was hundreds of thousands of years ago, but around 50,000 years ago, modern humans and Neanderthals crossed paths and interbred. Thus the traceable Neanderthal DNA in people living today.

Neanderthal DNA isn’t something that everyone has. In fact, scientists didn’t prove that modern humans possessed any Neanderthal DNA at all until just six years ago.

Experts now believe that one to five per cent of the DNA of people of European, Asian, Native American, or Australian descent can be traced back to Homo neanderthalensis, or the Neanderthal subsection of prehistoric people.

To find the genetic connection, scientists looked at the health records of 28,000 people of European descent, including their DNA sequences. They then used a pre-published map that showed where Neanderthal variants had been found in the human genome. The scientists then used both sets of data to figure out which people had the Neanderthal DNA, and used the health records to see if there were any consistent health issues amongst those people.

They found that people with the Neanderthal DNA were more susceptible to a set of health problems.

“Our main f inding is that Neanderthal DNA does influence clinical traits in modern humans,” explained John Capra in an interview with New Historian, co-author of the study and professor at Vanderbilt University.

“We discovered associations between Neanderthal DNA and a wide range of traits, including immunological, dermatological, neurological, psychiatric, and reproductive diseases.”

Some of these issues could be traced back to traits that would have been helpful for your average Neanderthal, but are dangerous for a modern human. People with Neanderthal DNA have a higher risk of developing keratosis, a skin disease that creates scaly skin growths after repeated sun exposure. These growths may have actually helped Neanderthals get more vitamin D, as they did not experience a lot of sun exposure in the northern hemisphere.

Other traits were a little more confusing. Neanderthal DNA seemed to greatly increase the risk of developing a nicotine addiction. Depression was also a very common disorder amongst people with the DNA. Does this mean that our Neanderthal ancestors predestined us to poor health? Probably not.

Neanderthals were obviously not addicted to smoking, and scientists

GRAPPHIC BY BRAM KEAST

don’t have enough information on them to tell us whether clinical depression was something that they dealt with.

Neanderthal variants contributed only one per cent of a person’s overall risk of developing depression . If any-

thing, these findings are an interesting look into the genetic makeup of Neanderthals, modern-day people who share their DNA, and a stepping-stone to further understand how the two connect.

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Science & Technology

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

Entering the deep freeze Maintaining your vehicle’s health and your safety for the winter months KIERON BERNDT

PHOTO BY CAROLYNE KROEKER

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etting from point A to point B has never been easier. With a push of a button and a turn of a key, you’re barrelling down the motorway in a comfortable sardine tin with a few pillows that eject in the case of a crash.

This all comes to a screeching halt at the first snowfall, when our streets are full of motorists who struggle to grasp the concept of winter driving, with cars that are ill-prepared for the weather.

We can make our roads safer by spending a bit of time winterizing our vehicles to make them more reliable and easier to drive. I spoke to a local automotive technician, Benjamin May of Automotive Connection, to ask what we can do to help our cars to stand up to the test of winter.

Oil

His first recommendation is to change the regular engine oil for full synthetic oil. It not only flows better, but also lubricates in a superior fashion. Choosing the right type of motor oil for your vehicle plays a vital factor in the health, durability, and strength of your engine. The lower the viscosity, the better.

In oil terms, a viscosity rating has two parts: shear and flow. Shear is how an oil’s viscosity changes under stress, or how an oil thins while under

pressure or mechanical stress. The flow is how fast an oil flows. The better the oil shears, the lower the viscosity and the higher the flow, and, in turn, the better the lubrication.

Coolant

have come a long way since the days or deflation of the pressure of the tire.

An essential part of winter main- of all-season tires, rendering them Information pertaining to the prestenance and preparation should be inferior to a proper approved winter sure can be found in your vehicle’s coolant. Coolant, similar to oil, has tire for driving in low temperatures. owner manual, or in the driver’s different ratings for different temAll-season tires are not safe for doorjamb. peratures. The recommended coolant the winter months, and not only do for vehicles in the winter months is they endanger you and your vehicle, Inspection : We can make 60/40: 60 per cent coolant and 40 per but other motorists too. The rubber Finally, it is always a good idea cent water. tire compound that is used in making to get a winter inspection for your our roads safer by The coolant and water mix does all-season and summer tires becomes vehicle. This covers a wide range of spending a bit of the job of not just cooling, but pre- harder and stiffer at temperatures components, ranging from an exterior venting rust and corrosion in the vital below 9 degrees Celsius. This leads light check, battery crank strength time winterizing our organs of the cooling system of your to longer stopping distances, loss of test, and ignition system check, right car. The water in the coolant is what traction, and a great deterioration of down to testing your vehicle’s block vehicles to make removes heat from the system and the handling of your vehicle. Winter heater. them more reliable runs it through the heater core, where tires should be installed once the After you equip your vehicle with the cabin heat is generated. temperature is consistently below 9 the essential tools and perform the and easier to drive If your heater isn’t blowing warm degrees Celsius. necessary maintenance for winter When looking for the right winter driving, you and other motorists air, your coolant and motor are still For example, Mobil 1 10W-30 cold. A way to avoid this is to let tire for your vehicle, be sure to look will be safer. Your car will thank motor oil at 4 C has a viscosity of your vehicle warm up for a set span for the snowflake on the sidewall, you by starting and running strongly 63.2 centistokes (cSt). It maintains of time. Letting your engine warm up which means that the tire is approved throughout the barren months of the characteristic viscosity of molas- to an efficient operating temperature by Transport Canada. A tire that is winter. ses, and flows much the same. Most reduces the wear inflicted on your approved by Transport Canada is new vehicles call for Mobil 1 5W-20, engine. Warming up in excess of 10 eligible for the Manitoba Public Thanks to Benjamin May and Auto and a Mobile 1 5W-20 Advanced Full minutes is not advised because not Insurance Tire Program, which Connection for providing their time Synthetic motor oil contains a viscos- only does it wastes fuel, but your allows consumers to pay monthly pre- and information for this article. ity of 49.8 cSt at 4 C. The 5W-20 has engine is not operating at peak per- authorized payments for their tires. a viscosity rating of 13.4 less than the formance levels, which in turn may This program not only saves consum10W-30, meaning that it lubricates harm your vehicle. ers from having to front a large bill in better, flows faster, and the viscosity one payment, but it makes our roads is reduced under stress.

Tires and vehicles safer.

When in doubt of what oil to use, A big part of winter driving is In addition to changing your check your owner’s manual, or in tires. Advances in tire technology vehicle’s tires, be sure to check the some vehicles, it will be written on have made strides, a quarter mile at tire pressure regularly. Fluctuation the oil cap. a time. The compounds used in tires in temperature can cause inflation

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

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GRAPHIC BY BRAM KEAST

COMIC BY KELLY CAMPBELL

GRAPHIC BY JONDELL COOMBS

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Leafing creatively

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

Local floral photographer, DIY cooks to be featured at art/science presentation TOBI NIFESI, STAFF

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innipeg artist and photographer Joel Penner has created a unique art and science project that creatively showcases the concepts of life and death via artistic video representations of floral life. The project, called Momentary Vitality, visually maps the lifespan of plants through time-lapse photography and renderings. “[Momentary Vitality is] footage of decaying plants and fungi that show us the beautifully fleeting nature of life itself,” Penner told the Manitoban.

On Thursday, Feb. 25 Penner will be hosting a Momentary Vitality presentation titled “Conifers & Company” at the Carol Shields Auditorium of the Millennium Library, scheduled to start at 7 p.m.

This exhibit will feature the artistic aspects of pine cones, falling spruce needles, and mushrooms depositing their spores, as well as the premiere of exclusive footage from Penner’s new film, which will include time-lapse renderings of growing plant roots.

“My plan is to use them to illustrate scenes for an animated short based around a creation myth,” said Penner.

A life-long love for plants coupled with a budding interest in photogra- native to Canada. More recently, he Catering Conifers phy led Penner into his present artis- has come to appreciate the diverse & Company tic project. Soon after he ventured nature of native Manitoban species, Clandess Diner – a local pop up into time-lapse and scanning pho- and has narrowed his focus to these restaurant that specializes in rare and wild seasonal dishes – will be tography, he began shooting flow- local plants.

“I’ve focused on plants native to providing catering services at the ers and detailing floral life. Today, these shots are presented as short, Canada in the past, but I find it event. The diner’s menu for this contextual films that aim to provoke fascinating how studying the plant event is a glimpse of what they have thought from both artistic and scien- world reveals the incredible amount to offer during one of their full popof international f lair present in up experiences that occur once every tific perspectives. six weeks at secret locations.

“I have always been interested in Manitoba,” said Penner.

Nevertheless, there are a few art and science, but this project came out of my passion for photography,” challenges associated with this artistic medium. A major challenge “I find it fascinating Penner explained.

“I’d consider my short films with- for Penner is the potential for some how studying the out narration to be more on the art mechanical or technological failure to side of things. I’d consider the focus occur that could hamper the captur- plant world reveals of my presentations to be scientific art, ing or rendering process of his images. the incredible as my main goal is to find beautiful That being said, he appreciates the moments in my time-lapse imagery of space for broader and diverse explo- amount of different specimens and convey those, ration that this medium affords him. international flair “The process of scaling up my but also with a bit of contextualization and explanation from biology.” computer set-up to match my artistic present in Manitoba” Penner chooses his specimens by ambitions has been a fantastic oppor– Joel Penner considering their water retention abil- tunity to learn about computing in a ities, as this determines how dramatic more in-depth manner,” Penner told and lively their colour changes will be. the Manitoban.

It also determines the chances of a “But it doesn’t feel fantastic starting Clandess Diner’s menu for the fungus growing colonies. The gradual the scanners again at 2 a.m. after a Momentary Vitality presentation – and systemic nature of these types of computer crash to keep a two-month which includes tea made from white spruce and pine – will be thematichanges is what he hopes to capture. time-lapse going.” cally geared towards Penner’s floral In the past, Penner has focused heavily on plant and fungus species exhibits.

PHOTO STILL BY JOEL PENNER

Anna Sigrithur and Nathan Enns operate the restaurant together. These two cooks are self-described gastronauts (boldly going where no chef has gone before). Together, Sigrithur and Enns craft brand-new, unique recipes for each one of their pop-up experiences. They pride themselves in their ability to masterfully incorporate underused Manitoban ingredients to make delectable dishes. “[Pop-ups] allow for a lot more creativity,” said Enns.

“We have to come up with a new menu every time. People are coming for an amazing experience so you don’t cook anything that is so-so, it all has to be a cut above.”

Sigrithur noted that in addition to striving for excellent dishes, she and Enns also source their ingredients from many local farmers and their own foraging.

Clandess Diner hopes to contribute, in their own way, to a bigger cause of appreciating and preserving indigenous ingredients, recipes, and menus.

“It is a place from which things can grow. That is what it is meant to be,” said Sigrithur.

“Something that I would like to see is a Manitoba-specific boreal forest to

Aspen parkland biome-based food research center that aims to document food knowledge and bring that into scientific and artistic practice in terms of keeping food recipes alive and [preserving] the [indigenous] lands [...] I would love to support something like that. We live on this land as settlers and have to honour the history of the food that is here.”

One of the many thrills of the diner is its exclusive nature. The restaurant operates at secret locations, mostly in central Winnipeg. Anyone interested in attending must subscribe to the diner’s mailing list, and will be notified of available tickets right before the pop-up date. Only those that purchase tickets get to know the location and have a chance to experience the warm atmosphere and mouthwatering dishes.

“Conifers & Company” is a free event, but donations are accepted.

To learn more about Penner’s work, visit www.momentaryvitality. ca. To learn more about Clandess Diner and sign up to their mailing list, visit www.clandessdiner.org

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Arts & Culture

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

Library Voices showcase new tricks on Lovish Indie collective to hit Winnipeg Feb. 25 with gritty new record SEAMUS HAMILTON-PATTISON, STAFF

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egina-based music collective Library Voices is bringing their bombastic, fuzzed-out brand of hook-laden indie/pop-rock back to Winnipeg’s West End Cultural Centre (WECC) on Feb. 25, kicking off the band’s tour of Eastern Canada in support of their third full-length album, Lovish.

According to vocalist/guitarist Carl Johnson, Library Voices are no strangers to Winnipeg, as the city is a frequent starting or ending point of their Canadian tours.

“Whenever we go east, we usually start or end with Winnipeg. It just kind of makes sense, y’know? It’s five hours away,” said Johnson.

driving guitar rhythms, impeccable vocal harmonies, and a vast, dense sound made possible by their lineup of seven.

That’s not to say Lovish is an homage, far from it. In fact, what makes Library Voices stand out amongst the slew of indie-rock bands across Canada is the fact that each song on Lovish is probably going to remind you of a different band or genre – but it’ll all sound uniquely Library Voices.

Album opener “Oh Donna” sounds like lazy, mid-90’s alternative rock (or early indie-rock, depending who you ask) at its finest with its muscular, overdriven chords, walkingPHOTO BY CHRIS GRAHAM pace tempo, and ethereal vocals.

For something completely differ“Stop in Brandon, get Subway on ent, the song “Zzyzx” takes a sharp the way – it’s kind of tradition at this left turn into classic rock and sticks point.” the landing, from a pompous horn Citing Library Voices’ last stop section Bob Seger would be pumped in Winnipeg, Johnson praised the about, right down to an unintentional, relatively new Good Will Social Club yet awesomely spot-on vocal tribute to Tom Petty. as a “fantastic” live venue.

“We have kind of a similar style “There are some by-products of the venue here in Regina called The approach that we’ve taken that you Artful Dodger, but I think the Good can’t really anticipate,” said Johnson Will Social Club may be a little more of the song, after chuckling heartily fleshed out on the rock and the pizza at the Manitoban’s assessment, and front.” noting that there was an intent to On Lovish, Library Voices emphasize saxophone parts more on have a lot in common with fel- Lovish than they had been in the past. low Canadian indie-rockers The Due to the prevalence of sax in New Pornographers. Like the the music of Bruce Springsteen and Pornographers, Library Voices favour Seger, it’s easy to see how Library

Voices’ emphasis on the instrument begat such strong classic rock vibes in “Zzyzx,” even if the band wasn’t aware of it at the time.

Lovish and the band’s preceding 2014 EP For John mark a significant stylistic shift for Library Voices. Up until these releases, the band played a far cleaner, more pop-oriented and radio-ready version of their current sound. This style culminated on the band’s 2011 offering Summer of Lust, which Johnson described as the band’s attempt at a “complete pop record.”

According to Johnson, the band’s experimentation on Lovish can be attributed in part to the adult responsibilities of marriage and children, which in turn affected the manner in which the record was made.

“A lot of time had gone by. Three years had gone by before we made For John, and another year before Lovish, so I think we’re all getting a little older,” said Johnson.

“A large majority of the band is married, having kids. Three band members have kids, and two more have buns in the oven.”

In getting older and having relatively changed priorities, Johnson remarked that the band was simply unwilling to “chase radio.”

“By the time For John came out, we were kind of consciously wanting to experiment more and make music,

first of all, for ourselves. Music that we thought was going to be interesting and more exploratory,” said Johnson.

“Hopefully people dig it as well. It’s a hard thing to do when you’re not sure what the rules are, and you’re not sure what people who followed you before are going to think. It is a little scary, but I think just being older, we’re like ‘oh, we just wanna shift gears a little.’”

Fans of Library Voices already anxious for more will be happy to know that Johnson is continually looking forward, and eager to toss out ideas for future releases from the band.

“We actually recorded a bunch of covers,” said Johnson.

“So we might release a covers EP. We’re gonna [record] a couple more really soon [...] We’ve talked about doing seven-inches, we’ve talked about doing albums. I have no idea where we’re going from here, but that’s kind of exciting itself.”

Library Voices will be joined at the WECC Feb. 25 by local folk singersongwriter Slow Leaves. Tickets are $12 in advance and are available at Music Trader, the WECC, and online at www. ticketfly.com

Going beyond Bechdel on the big screen Winnipeg event seeks to tackle issue of sexism in film industry LAUREL JOHANSON

The event’s title references the Bechdel Test – a test for determining whether a film contains meaningful female character interaction, which was explained in a comic strip by American cartoonist Alison Bechdel in 1985.

In order for a film to pass the Bechdel Test, it must feature at least two named female characters who talk to each other about something other than a man. A surprising number of world-famous films fail to pass GRAPHIC PROVIDED BY CWM the Bechdel Test, from Citizen Kane to the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy. n Feb. 23, the Provincial Council makers, and academics, and people For Shkandrij, however, a film of Women of Manitoba who want to speak to some of the passing the Bechdel Test itself doesn’t (PCWM) will host a panel discus- issues surrounding the film industry necessarily mean women are wellsion at the Park Theatre starting at 7 generally,” said Shkandrij. represented within every aspect of it. p.m. titled “Beyond Bechdel: Where The panel consists of filmmak- To Shkandrij, the issue of represenare the Women in Film?” that will ers Sonya Ballantyne and Cecilia tation extends not only to the lack of attempt to break new ground on the Araneda, director/producer Elise women we see onscreen, but also to topic of the underrepresentation of Swerhone, and filmmaker/U of M the lack of women occupying techniwomen in the film industry. professor Shereen Jerrett. cal roles in filmmaking.

It’s no easy feat, but event orgaMerit Jensen Carr, an award-win“It’s about how women don’t nizer and PCWM president-elect ning producer and president of Merit get funded to be directors, they’re Alexandra Shkandrij feels her four Motion Pictures, will moderate the underrepresented as writers, they’re talented panelists and moderator panel. For Shkandrij, having a diverse underrepresented in terms of the roles Merit Jensen Carr are more than up panel was a crucial aspect of the event they’re given – especially women who to the task. and necessary to explore the multiple are older or younger,” Shkandrij “What we have in terms of our facets of the film industry affected by explained. event is a group of Manitoban film- the underrepresentation of women.

Shkandrij pointed out that last

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year in Hollywood’s studios, a very “We’re looking at the Oscars this large majority of high-profile movie year, where there’s actually a backreleases (upwards of 90 per cent, lash for not nominating any people according to the Centre for the Study of colour. I think that’s a sign that of Women in Television and Film) people are more aware, and the same were directed by men. Not only that, thing is true of women’s roles.” but as Shkandrij also states, “a lot of Overall, it seems that inspiring those men are first-time directors.” and empowering the female voice is “This has gotten to the point where something that the PCWM hope it’s an actual systemic problem.” to accomplish with events like this The Canadian film industry is because, as Shkandrij puts it, “even if not immune to systemic bias against a woman writes a film, the same way female directors either, according to that even if a woman is in legislature, Shkandrij. it doesn’t mean that she will make “When you look at the Canadian laws or films that are pro-women, but version of this, the public sector – so it will mean that a woman’s voice was these are films that you and I fund heard. And that’s important.” with our tax dollars – six per cent of these films are directed by women. Tickets to “Beyond Bechdel” are available So for a government industry to be for $10 in advance by contacting pcwm@ systemically only funding male direc- mymts.net, visiting the Park Theatre tors, I think that is a problem.” in person, or by purchasing online at Still, Shkandrij is hopeful that www.ticketfly.com. Following the panel events like “Beyond Bechdel” will discussion, there will be a screening of jumpstart more conversations in the 2015 film Grandma, starring Lily film studios and in the homes of the Tomlin and Julia Garner. public that will bring about positive change. She looks to the controversy Visit the PCWM website at www.pcwsurrounding this year’s acting nomi- manitoba.ca for a list of upcoming panels nations at the Academy Awards as a and events. sign of society’s growing awareness regarding representation in film.

VOL. 102 NO. 23 February 24, 2016

Arts & Culture

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Alumni profiles U of M grads ply their creative trades in the community OLIVIA MICHALCZUK, STAFF

Alex Ateah – Bachelor of fine arts (honours), 2015 Kylie Friesen – Bachelor of arts (honours), English literature, 2014

Dating Service, was directly rooted in comedy and performance, and from there I was able to gain the confidence to continue down the path that I’m on.”

Friesen has been primarily fter graduating from the U working as a makeup artist since of M, Alex Ateah and Kylie graduating and has also been workFriesen began their comic web ing on various film and art projects, series YOLO Fashion Divas, which including music videos, as well as promoting and DJing local events. can be found on YouTube.

The series, currently consist“The biggest skill I have taken ing of six episodes, is filled with from my English degree is the the mock educational ventures of importance of maintaining a strict beauty and lifestyle guru Kylie and eye for detail and how to look critiarts and culture connoisseur Alex. cally at your own work and the With their clever, insulting brand work of others,” Friesen told the of humour, Ateah and Friesen take Manitoban. the viewer through subjects such “The creative process for me is as fashion trends, vegan tapas, and not only the expression of your working out. ideas, but the careful configuring Ateah began to pursue comedy and reconfiguring of those ideas to after graduation, and with the help make something wonderful.” of her education she saw how the line between comedy and art is very Check out the YOLO Fashion Divas’ blurred. Her education gave her the YouTube channel, and subscribe to confidence and tools to explore her make sure you don’t miss their next performing side. video.

“My thesis project, Other Half

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PHOTO PROVIDED BY YOLO FASHION DIVAS

Erik Klassen Bachelor of arts, labour studies, 2015

of socio-economic organizing, and the role of unions in the modern world were some of the most rik Klassen is a local solo prevalent topics to pique his intersinger-songwriter, guitarist, est, but Klassen said the treatment and frontman of local roots-folk of vulnerable people in the workband These Old Fangs. place and the use of environmental Klassen was born and raised in resources and sustainability were the small Manitoba francophone also addressed throughout the community of Saint-Jean Baptiste. program.

After graduating high school, he Klassen graduated with his moved to Winnipeg to pursue a BA in October 2015, and is happost-secondary education at the U pily employed as an occupational of M. Klassen struggled with uni- health and safety presenter for versity and sticking to a specific SAFE Workers of Tomorrow. He program, changing his direction puts his degree to use by teaching several times before finding a home youth, new immigrants, and other in the labour studies program. vulnerable workers about their funThere were many areas covered damental worker’s rights, as well as in the labour studies program that workplace health and safety. prompted Klassen to switch from Klassen’s degree and field of pursuing an education in business. study greatly influence his songThe evolution of the organized writing. His lyrics feature themes labour movement, the evolution such as romanticized social and

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political upheavals in the 18th and 19th century, resisting powerful corporate entities, as well as exasperated commentary on a rapidly developing neoliberal, hyper-capitalist society.

Though Klassen says his rants cause friends and family members to roll their eyes, he has found a way to format his art so that he can spread his message in an appealing way.

“My art gives me the opportunity to vent, preach, or simply voice ideas aloud while simultaneously providing melody and harmony that brings those listening enjoyment and stimulation.”

Erik Klassen’s band, These Old Fangs, can be found at theseoldfangs.bandcamp.com

PHOTO PROVIDED BY ERIK KLASSEN

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Arts & Culture

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

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

Making a statement Bison men’s basketball team snaps 12-year playoff hosting drought, sets sights on CIS Final Eight MIKE STILL, STAFF

PHOTO BY JEFF MILLER

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ntering the 2015-16 CIS men’s basketball season, it had been 12 long years since the University of Manitoba Bisons had seen home playoff basketball. All of that changed this year when head coach Kirby Schepp and company assembled a team that not only snapped the herd’s playoff hosting drought, but also set a new regular season wins record since joining the Canada West conference, going 15-5.

Manitoba’s 15-win campaign was good enough for third place in the conference, and the Bisons will now host the Fraser Valley Cascades next weekend in a quarterfinal matchup at Investors Group Athletic Centre.

For Schepp, Manitoba’s performance this season means much more than just the record and ability to host. It’s a statement that the quality of CIS competition in the province deserves to be respected – something that wasn’t necessarily the case when

he inherited the head coaching position for the 2009-10 season. At that time, the Bisons hadn’t seen the postseason since 2004.

“Winnipeg’s certainly done well in Wesmen, ending up missing two free son – including winning their last the last few years and they’ve brought throws to win it,” said Ali. seven straight games. Every player things around. Obviously I’m really – starter or reserve – has had a role proud of what we’ve done here and in the Bisons’ success, something gradually each year we’re getting bet- Since 2009-10, the that Schepp was quick to point out, ter and better and better and being especially when critical playmakers “Even though we more competitive and more consist- Bisons have now in Anders and Ilarion Bonhomme ently a playoff team.”

II went down at times. made the playoffs had a great team Since 2009-10, the Bisons have “It’s always rewarding as a coach to in four of Schepp’s now made the playoffs in four of see when you go through that adverthat year it just goes Schepp’s seven years with the squad, sity and when things happen, other seven years with to show how much including 2012-13, where they were people step up and perform in big just one win away from ending the situations and that’s certainly hapthe squad that home support playoff-hosting slump three years pened,” Schepp said. can do for you” – early. Unfortunately, they fell just With a strong mixture of playshort in the final game of the season “That put us on the road and we makers on their roster and the playoff Amir Ali, guard, – something that current members were playing at Victoria in a best of drought now over, the next step for Manitoba Bisons Wyatt Anders, AJ Basi, Brett Jewell, three series in a packed, loud gym and Manitoba is proving they’re good and Amir Ali have not forgotten, as we couldn’t pull it off. Even though enough to make it to the CIS Final they were all on the 2012-13 roster. we had a great team that year it just Eight. Based on their performance in “People saw both programs “I think with that team [2012-13] goes to show how much that home the regular season, there’s no reason [Manitoba and Winnipeg] in the we were the number-one team or support can do for you.” that can’t happen in 2015-16. city as not winners and not some- tied for first going into the last game That result wasn’t duplicated thing they wanted to be a part of,” of the season and we dropped it in this past season as Manitoba went Schepp said. a heartbreaker to the [Winnipeg] 8-2 in the second half of the sea-

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Sports

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

Bisons playoff run comes to a screeching halt Dinos come back to win quarterfinal series 2-1 in men’s hockey RYAN STELTER, STAFF

Saturday

PHOTO BY CHANTAL ZDAN

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his weekend, the University of Manitoba Bisons men’s hockey team played a full three-game quarterfinal series against the Calgary Dinos. After winning game one on Friday, the Bisons dropped two straight and lost the series 2-1.

Friday

The Dinos dominated the majority of the first period, outshooting the herd 12-2. Manitoba led at the break, however, after Joel Schreyer grinded

along the boards and was able to feed a pass to Warren Callis, who finished the hard work off.

In the second period, the Bisons jumped out to a 2-0 lead after Shaq Merasty stuffed the puck past Steven Stanford after taking a couple whacks at it. A minute later, Brett Brooks gave the home side a 3-0 lead after using his speed to tuck home a nice wraparound effort. Calgary cut into the Bisons’ lead after Elgin Pearce cruised into the offensive zone off

a faceoff and dragged Justin Paulic across his crease and put it over his shoulder.

A scoreless third period saw the Bisons fend off some furious pressure in the dying minutes of the game from Calgary to take the win 3-1.

“That was an intense game,” Bisons head coach Mike Sirant said postgame. “A lot of these guys have never played a CIS playoff game, and we now have that one game experience under our belt.”

On Saturday, the Bisons were hoping to close out the series early against the Dinos with a win, but Calgary forced a decisive third game with a 2-1 victory.

The Bisons were in control for most of the first period, generating a few grade-A chances from dangerous areas. They were unable to bypass Stanford, however, who made some excellent saves.

A hard-hitting and fast-paced second period saw the game’s first goal with two minutes remaining in the frame as Pearce tapped the puck home after a great feed from Chris Collins at the point.

Both teams had strong chances throughout the second, with a couple of mad scrambles that had the fans at the Wayne Fleming arena on the edge of their seats.

The Dinos jumped to a 2-0 lead 16 seconds into the third period with Pearce’s second of the night and third of the playoffs. Manitoba answered back when Brett Stovin finished off a nice passing play between Jordan DePape and Adam Henry on the powerplay.

The herd poured some serious pressure onto the Dinos, but Calgary did an excellent job of blocking the shooting lanes to preserve the win.

“We ran out of time,” Sirant said.

“It was a great playoff game – both teams played well.”

Sunday

Sunday saw the Bisons and the Dinos face off in the decisive third game of their Canada West quarterfinal series. Calgary cruised to a 6-1 win, eliminating the herd from the playoffs.

The first period didn’t bode so well for the Bisons, as they found themselves 2-0 down after Calgary struck twice on the powerplay through Spencer Edwards.

Manitoba got their breakthrough four minutes into the second period off the rush when Jordyn Boyd fed a nice pass to Justin Augert, who tapped home his first of the playoffs.

The Bisons continued to press for the equalizer but to no avail.

The Dinos gained a 3-1 lead early in the third when they scored another powerplay goal. A couple minutes later, Collins picked up his own rebound and scored on Paulic from a sharp angle. The visitors added two more goals to make it a resounding victory for their squad.

“We’re feeling a lot of pain right now, but the pain we suffer now will only make us stronger for next season,” Sirant said after the Bisons’ crushing defeat.

Bison women’s hockey clinches series in fifth overtime Venla Hovi scores historic goal in longest ever CanWest game ANDY CHE, STAFF

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he University of Manitoba Bisons women’s hockey team came back from a game down to defeat the Saskatchewan Huskies 2-1 in their quarterfinal series, including a wild fifth-overtime win in the decisive third game.

Despite having a fair number of chances to score, the Bisons could not beat the Huskies’ goalie Cassidy Hendricks. She made 23 saves to earn the shutout. Dyck performed valiantly in the loss, with 28 saves to her credit on 30 shots.

Friday

Saturday

The Bisons dropped a 3-0 decision After falling 3-0 in the post-seain game one with forward Kaitlin son opener, the Bisons evened the Willoughby scoring a natural hat series with a convincing 5-1 win in trick. game two.

Just a minute after pulling back to The herd knocked out four unaneven strength in the first period, the swered goals after Julia Flinton Bisons dropped down a point, mak- opened the scoring for the Huskies. ing it 1-0 for the Huskies. Willoughby The away side also opted to swap goalconverted a pass along the boards tenders for the occasion and Amanda from Lauren Zary up over Rachel Schubert made her post-season debut.

Dyck’s shoulder for the lead.

Down 1-0 to a Flinton pointThe Huskies continued to apply shot and nearing the end of the first pressure in the second period, yet the period, Venla Hovi converted Alanna score remained 1-0.

Sharman’s pass on a two-on-one for Offensive defenceman Julia a buzzer-beating equalizer.

Flinton made her mark in the third As soon as the second period period, setting up Willoughby in the started, the Bisons began to take slot for a 2-0 lead. She then recorded advantage of their momentum. her second assist of the evening, play- Shorthanded, Sharman broke in on ing the puck up to Willoughby for an a breakaway and was just put off by a empty netter with 1:36 left to go.

Cassidy Hendricks pokecheck.

Midway through the second, Hovi took an opportunity in the slot to beat Hendricks for a 2-1 Bisons lead.

Schubert, who finished the game with 66 saves on 67 shots, has now cemented her place as the Bisons’ starter when they visit the Alberta Pandas next week Late in the frame, game two appeared to have slipped away from the Huskies. Lauryn Keen linked with Sharman on the rush, with Sharman outmaneuvering Hendricks to make it a 3-1 game. Keen’s assist gave her three points on the night.

The second-year forward continued to leave her impression on game two as it entered the third period. The

Sharman-Keen combination struck again for the Bisons, and it was Keen this time around who beat Hendricks for a 4-1 stranglehold.

Kayleigh Wiens rounded out the scoring, ensuring that the Bisons’ commanding 5-1 victory would keep their season alive and gift them opportunity at advancing in the playoffs on Sunday night.

Sunday

Although it took a record-breakingly long time to get there, the sensational winning goal was well worth it. Finnish star Venla Hovi became the overtime hero as the Manitoba Bisons completed the series comeback in game three with a 2-1 win that required five overtime periods to clinch a second-round berth.

The goal at 9:02 of the fifth overtime period ended the longest hockey game in Canada West history, surpassing a record set by the Huskies and Regina Cougars two years ago, which took four overtimes.

Manitoba opened the scoring just 11 seconds into the contest. With the goal, Keen notched her sixth point in

the last two games assisted by Hovi and Sharman.

With the lead hanging in the balance, the Bisons called Amanda Schubert into action. The third-year goaltender kept the away team in front with a stupendous display in the second period. She stopped all 13 shots she faced in the frame, as the Bisons were outshot 17-12 through two periods.

Saskatchewan responded midway through the third period. Lauren Zary scored the equalizer with an assist going to Kaitlin Willoughby – her fourth point of the playoffs.

Hovi ended the game finishing off Sharman’s pass on a two-on-one rush.

Sharman and Keen had the assists on the game-winner, both their second points in the game.

Both goaltenders stood out in a battle of individual supremacy.

Schubert, who finished the game with 66 saves on 67 shots, has now cemented her place as the Bisons’ starter when they visit the Alberta Pandas next week. Cassidy Hendricks finished with 40 saves on 42 shots.

VOL. 102 NO. 23 February 24, 2016

Sports

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Brothers act Alberta football products Luc and Des Catellier reunited in Manitoba MIKE STILL, STAFF

The family dynamic

Neither brother fully immersed themselves in the sport of football until slightly later on in their youth, making their progression as players that much more impressive.

“I started pretty late. We both played high-level hockey and soccer PHOTO BY LOUIS CHRIST from a young age and football was sort of an afterthought,” Luc said. t’s not often that you get the oppor- “I started playing tackle football in tunity to play football on the same Grade 9 after several summers of team as your older sibling – especially playing flag football. Des definitely when the latter is four years older. For benefited from being the second child Des Catellier, however, that rare – he started playing the following seaoccasion will occur in 2016 as he joins son when he was in Grade 6.” his older brother Luc on the Bisons football team.

“Luc is always Luc – an Alberta Golden Bears and Edmonton Wildcats alumnus showing me my at cornerback – joined the Bisons for the 2015 season as a redshirt. At six- tendencies that may foot-two and 190 pounds, he’s got the give away who I size to be an elite-level defensive back, want to throw to, or playing the game with physicality and aggression. if the play is a run or Des, on the other hand, is a recent a pass” – Des Catellier high school graduate from the St. Francis Browns in Calgary who led his squad to the Alberta Tier One Provincial Championship this past Being the younger sibling, Des season. He’s also an elite-level punter certainly benefited from the tutelage and earned the honour of being Luc gave him over the years, which named a Canada Football Chat Top has helped him develop into the 100 prospect (41st overall) during the player he is today.

2015 season.

“We’re always going back and forth

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PHOTO BY LUC CATELLIER

trying to improve our games,” Des said. “Luc is always showing me my tendencies that may give away who I want to throw to, or if the play is a run or a pass. Luc will also help me with game prep by watching film and helping me see what the defence is trying to do.”

Luc has also coached his brother in the past and provided assistance wherever needed.

“Being four years older, I’ve always felt like somewhat of a role model to Des. I was his coach for his three years of junior high flag football as well as helping out at practices with St. Francis whenever I was in town during a season of his,” Luc said.

“I have always pushed myself to set a good example for him. He surpassed my quarterback knowledge years ago, but I watched film of his games weekly and gave him whatever tips I could about what tendencies I

saw in opposing defenses.”

Because Des has established himself as a reliable pivot, most of Luc’s tips for him are based around presnap reads.

“I’ll tell him if he has any tendencies to eliminate such as looking at your primary receiver pre-snap or licking your fingers before passes but not running plays, as well as what keys to look for in the defence to know if it’s man or zone,” Luc said.

Despite being the younger sibling, Des has also been able to aid in Luc’s game. It’s a very interesting dynamic, as the two play positions that require them to study the actions of the other, in the common “quarterback versus defensive back chess match.”

“This is a big deal for this team because Des has a chance to be the face of this team down the road” – Luc Catellier “I try to point out things that Luc does that could tell a quarterback if it’s zone or man on any play,” Des said.

Des’s pointers don’t go unnoticed or unappreciated by his brother.

PHOTO BY LOUIS CHRIST

“Des has pointed out ways for me to be less predictable with disguising my coverages as well as explain how offences use certain concepts to exploit weaknesses in certain coverages,” Luc said.

Big dreams

Being able to play together means the world to both brothers, and Luc’s evaluation came with tremendous humility, touching on how impressed he’s been with Des’s skill set.

“From a football standpoint, we have recruited arguably one of the best quarterbacks in the nation from a city with a team that has dominated for the past decade and that he grew up watching,” Luc said.

“This is a big deal for this team because Des has a chance to be the face of this team down the road.

Hopefully we can get some matching Vanier Cup rings before this is all over.”

Bison volleyball teams split in Calgary Men move onto playoffs while women end on high note RYAN STELTER, STAFF

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his weekend saw the University of Manitoba Bisons volleyball teams close out their regular season in Calgary. Both the men and women earned a split to end off the year. The fourth-ranked men’s team will look forward to the playoffs, with the aim of reaching the Canada West Final Four in Edmonton, while the women’s team will start to look forward to next year’s campaign.

Men

The men opened up their weekend in Calgary with a 3-1 win. Usual suspect Devren Dear led the Bisons with 18 kills. Dear finished the regular season with 349 kills and averaged 4.47

kills per set, securing him as thirdbest in the country.

Despite the Bisons’ 3-1 win, the match was a very tight affair with the herd only outscoring Calgary 93-83.

18, 25-23, 25-23). Manitoba was right single set and outscoring them 107-91. on a positive note with a good win. there with Calgary but was unable Studler had 22 kills on the night to find the killer instinct to grab a Women – her best output of the season. She set victory. Scott Vercaigne led the The women’s volleyball team finished the year with 179 total kills, Bisons on the night with 14 kills. came into Friday’s matchup riding averaging 2.29 kills per set. Bujan also Manitoba finished the year with the an 11-game losing streak, which was put on a marvelous performance with second-best hitting percentage in the extended to 12 on Friday when the a season-high 23 digs. She finished Canada West, sitting at an impres- Dinos beat the Bisons 3-1 (25-18, 25-22, the year with 192 digs, averaging 2.31 The Bisons were sive .316.

22-25, 25-19). per set. able to snap their The herd had a very impressive Tori Studler led the line for the The Bison women have a very 2015-16 campaign, finishing second in herd with 13 kills.

Cassie Bujan had young squad and a lot to look forlosing streak on the Canada West with a 19-5 record. an impressive 17 digs, while Studler ward to for next year. Finishing on a Saturday with a hard- They play host to the Mount Royal contributed 10 of her own. positive note shows that the team has Cougars next weekend, with the first The Bisons were able to snap their the resolve to rebound from a woeful fought 3-2 victory game at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 25 losing streak on Saturday with a hard- 2015-16 season in which they finished at Investors Group Athletic Centre. fought 3-2 victory (29-27, 25-27, 25-21, second-last in the Canada West with On Saturday, the Dinos dropped Manitoba swept the season series 20-25, 15-12). After a disappointing a 3-21 record. The only way is up for the Bisons in three straight sets (25- against the Cougars, not dropping a season, Manitoba was able to finish this team.

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Sports

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

Harris signing brings life to Bombers Winnipeg native’s return home will be critical to Blue Bombers’ success both statistically and financially MIKE STILL, STAFF

PHOTO PROVIDED BY RHEANNE MARCOUX

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he Winnipeg Blue Bombers foot- running back Andrew Harris – a ball team went on a free agent Winnipeg native who grew up playfrenzy in 2016, signing impact start- ing high school football at both Grant ers such as defensive tackle Keith Park and Oak Park.

Shologan, receiver Ryan Smith, and In his six-year CFL career – all placekicker Justin Medlock. A month with the BC Lions – Harris has prior to the above signings, they also become one of the most versatile inked Smith’s former Saskatchewan players at his position, amassing 4,259 teammate and fellow receiver Weston rushing yards to go with 2,639 receivDressler. ing yards. His three-year deal with Arguably the biggest addition the Winnipeg gives the Bombers their Bombers have made this offseason, first “franchise” running back since however, was bringing in national the days of Charles Roberts.

It’s no secret that Winnipeg has been trying to corral Harris for a number of years, and chances are they’re still a bit bitter about the fact that they couldn’t draft him due to being a territorial exemption coming out of the Vancouver Island Raiders junior football program in 2008.

Regardless of prior circumstances, he’s here now and couldn’t be any happier. For Harris, the decision felt right both for his career as well as in his own personal life, as his eight-year old daughter resides in the ‘Peg. “Being closer to her was a big factor in deciding this and I just think the organization is going in the right direction and it was the right timing for a number of reasons,” Harris said via conference call.

At 28 years old, Harris is in the prime of his career. His maturity and leadership as well as his ability to be an every-down back is invaluable – specifically in the passing game where the Bombers have struggled to keep their pivots upright.

“To be a good running back in this league you have to have three

amazing factors – running, catching, and being able to block – so for me I definitely feel like I can utilize all of those skills and I just want to be able to get on the field and make impact plays for this team,” Harris said.

gold will generate increased ticket sales and also likely encourage season ticket holders to come back for the 2016-17 campaign.

Expectations are at an all-time high for a community that hasn’t seemed close to enough winning sporting-wise over the past two “For me I definitely decades. With the amount of firepower general manager Kyle Walters feel like I can utilize has brought in thus far, it’s clear that the goal is to end that slump sooner all of those skills and rather than later and bringing in I just want to be able Harris is just the icing on top of the cake for the Blue Bombers. to get on the field Anyone can predict a Grey Cup and make impact season during free agency, but it’s a heck of a lot harder to actually follow plays for this team” through with that once the season – Andrew Harris begins. Regardless as to what happens in 2016-17, one thing is for sure: on paper, Winnipeg has improved The signing of Harris goes far this offseason. Now they must walk beyond an organizational perspec- the walk in the regular season. tive. It also gives life to a fan base that hasn’t had much to look forward to over the past four seasons. This city knows the name Andrew Harris: simply putting on the “33” in blue and

Hot takes with Steltsy and Still A new weekly segment from your friendly faces in the world of sports at the U of M MIKE STILL AND RYAN STELTER, STAFF

GRAPHIC BY BRAM KEAST

E

very Tuesday morning from to mind from the NHL, MLB, NBA, 10 to 11 a.m. on 101.5 UMFM, NFL, or CFL. clad in tropical t-shirts, Manitoban For a more detailed breakdown sports editor Mike Still mans the (including a lot of talk about the soundboard while chatting with his Edmonton Oilers from Ryan), tune co-worker and reporter Ryan Stelter into the show. about everything going on in the world of sports.

Puck over the glass (Ryan) Starting this week, Steltsy and This is a stupid rule in my opinion, Still are proud to give you their hot- as most of the time a player accidently test takes from the week that was, as clears the puck out and over the glass. well as general grievances about rules, Why penalize a team for something protocol or anything else that comes like that? It seems so innocuous. I

believe that if a player does clear the puck out and over the glass without it hitting another player’s stick that his team should not be able to change, similar to an icing call. Get rid of that delay of game penalty, NHL.

Maurice’s ejection (Ryan)

On Thursday night, when the Winnipeg Jets were taking on the Tampa Bay Lightning in Tampa, Fla., Jets head coach Paul Maurice found himself ejected at the beginning

of the third period. He was clearly upset over a hit to the head that Bryan Little sustained earlier in the game, which left him unable to return.

It was the second time during the game Little was hit while in a vulnerable position and the player who laid the hit (Anton Strålman) was neither ejected nor sent to the penalty box.

If you watched the game or saw the highlights, you would have noticed that the referee never explained his decision about the hit on Little and he never even went over to the Jets’ bench.

As a coach, all you can ask for is a simple explanation in a situation like that. The coach may not like the result that referee Francois St. Laurent made, but at least he should be able to get a reason as to what happened. I am fully on the side of Maurice, as his actions were completely warranted because he was never given that explanation and he was clearly furious over that.

The way that whole situation was handled was very poor and I would hope that the NHL’s head of refereeing will have a chat with St. Laurent.

Cam Newton is human, too (Mike)

Immediately after Super Bowl 50, media flocked to the podium where Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton was sitting in order to ask

him about his team’s loss. The pivot was naturally quiet and upset, due to the game still being fresh in his mind.

Despite his giving short two- to three-second answers, reporters continued to hammer him with questions, for some reason fully expecting that he would eventually “snap out of it” and talk candidly to them. This was likely due to the fact that Newton has traditionally been known for his colourful interviews.

This situation is far different, though. It was the biggest game of Newton’s career and he came up short.

Of course he’s going to be upset and was likely still processing everything that had occurred.

As a journalist I understand that after a game, you have a job to do and you need comments – in this case from Newton. But it was pretty clear that after the first few questions he didn’t have much to say. Just get what you have, be respectful, and leave. If he didn’t say more than two-to-three words, that’s what you should be putting into the story, and not trying to fish some sort of monologue out of the guy just because you’re used to getting quality content from him.

I challenge any member of the media to try sitting in Newton’s shoes in that situation and not respond in the exact same way.

VOL. 102 NO. 23 February 24, 2016

Sports

27

2015-16 Canada West conference standings TEAM

GP

Alberta-x

Men’s (x=clinchedplayoff playoffbirth) berth) Men’svolleyball volleyball (x=clinched W

L

PTS

STRK

24

23

1

46

Lost 1

Manitoba-x

24

19

5

38

Lost 1

Calgary-x

24

18

6

36

Won 1

Winnipeg-x

24

15

9

30

Won 1

Saskatchewan-x

24

15

9

30

Won 6

Tri nity-x

24

14

10

28

Won 1

Mount Royal-x

24

13

11

26

Won 3

UBC

24

13

11

26

Lost 1

Thompson Rivers

24

10

14

20

Lost 2

Brandon

24

7

17

14

Won 2

UBC Okanagan

24

4

20

8

Lost 2

MacEwan

24

3

21

6

Lost 3

Regina

24

2

22

4

Lost 2

PTS

STRK

Women’svolleyball volleyball(x=clinched (x=clinched playoff Women’s playoffberth) birth) W L

TEAM

GP

UBC Okanagan-x

24

22

2

44

Won 5

Alberta-x

24

20

4

40

Won 6

Trinity-x

24

20

4

40

Lost 1

UBC-x

24

17

7

34

Won 1

Brandon-x

24

15

9

30

Won 12

Thompson Rivers-x

24

12

12

24

Lost 1

Mount Royal-x

24

11

13

22

Lost 2

Calgary

24

10

14

20

Lost 1

Saskatchewan

24

10

14

20

Won 2

Winnipeg

24

8

16

16

Lost 4

MacEwan

24

7

17

14

Lost 4

Manitoba

24

3

21

6

Won 1

Regina

24

1

23

2

Lost 12

TEAM

GP

PTS

STRK

Calgary-x

20

17

3

34

Won 13

UBC-x

20

16

4

32

Won 6

Manitoba-x

20

15

5

30

Won 2

Lethbridge-x

20

12

8

24

Won 2

Regina-x

20

11

9

22

Won 1

Winnipeg-x

20

10

10

20

Lost 2

Alberta-x

20

10

10

20

Lost 1

Victoria

20

9

11

18

Won 2

Saskatchewan

20

8

12

16

Lost 1

Brandon

20

1

19

2

Lost 7

Trinity

20

1

19

2

Lost 6

TEAM

Women’sbasketball basketball(Pioneer (PioneerDivision) Division) (x=clinched Women’s (x=clinchedplayoff playoffberth) birth) GP W L PTS

STRK

Saskatchewan-x

20

18

2

36

Won 1

Regina-x

20

17

3

34

Lost 1

Alberta-x

20

17

3

34

Lost 2

Calgary-x

20

15

5

30

Won 1

UBC-x

20

9

11

18

Won 3

Victoria-x

20

9

11

18

Won 2

Winnipeg

20

8

12

16

Lost 2

Trinity-x

20

8

12

16

Won 4

Brandon

20

7

13

14

Lost 3

Manitoba

20

1

19

2

Lost 6

Lethbridge

20

1

19

2

Lost 9

Men’s basketball(Pioneer (PioneerDivision) Division) (x=clinched (x=clinched playoff Men’s basketball playoffberth) birth) W L