3 February 2016

MANITOBAN the

THE OFFICIAL UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA STUDENTS’ NEWSPAPER

EDITORIAL

The future looks grim TPP makes stopping climate change nearly impossible Page 8

NEWS

First-year council out of money U1 council and UMSU at odds over $40,000 contract Page 5

ARTS & CULTURE

Curtain up First play, Middletown, graces new campus theatre Page 18

VO L 1 0 2 · N O 2 1 · F E B R UA RY 3 , 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. 21 February 3, 2016

NEWS

Connecting colonial dots

Indigenous artist uses past pain to create beautiful art page 7 FEATURE

Combating rape culture

UMSU womyn's rep sparks consent culture conversations page 10

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Craig Adolphe

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EDITORIAL

MANAGING EDITOR Lauren Siddall

me@themanitoban.com

NEWS EDITOR Ethan Cabel

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NEWS EDITOR Garett Williams

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COMMENT EDITOR Evan Tremblay

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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDITOR Chantelle Dubois

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ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Seamus Hamilton-Pattison

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SPORTS EDITOR Mike Still

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COPY EDITOR Tom Ingram

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ASSISTANT COPY EDITOR Sarah Doran

DESIGN

DESIGN EDITOR Bradly Wohlgemuth

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GRAPHICS EDITOR Bram Keast

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

REPORTERS

SCIENCE

Falling flat

Rapper B.o.B shut down

by Neil deGrasse Tyson

page 13 SPORTS

Slam dunk

Bisons sweep Regina Cougars

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

Varshana Lockman Ashley Evans Aldo Rios Wlil Gibson

Anthony Labonte Sari Habiluk

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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.

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News

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

Arts Student Body Council condemns behaviour of UMSU president President Jeremiah Kopp levelled allegations of racism against UMSU councillor ETHAN CABEL, STAFF

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he University of Manitoba Arts Student Body Council (ASBC) came out swinging last week against the behaviour of University of Manitoba Students’ Union (UMSU) president Jeremiah Kopp.

During councillor reports at the Jan. 28 UMSU council meeting, Isaac Weldon, vice-president of the ASBC and proxy for an absent councillor, outlined two motions recently approved by the arts council.

The first stated that the process used to approve a $64 UMSU fee increase did not include proper consultation or debate among councillors and students. The second condemned Kopp for comments made about ASBC councillor Reanna Blair at the Dec. 3 UMSU council meeting, and requested that he apologize. Blair, along with one other UMSU councillor, had voted against the motion to increase fees.

Kopp did not apologize for the content of his comments – which alleged racism on Blair’s part – but rather stated that it was poor form for him to bring up a personal meeting with an UMSU councillor.

“This issue is in regards to a conversation that took place between myself and an UMSU councillor that I felt was fair game in the context of an UMSU council meeting,” Kopp told the Manitoban. “However, the manner in which I approached it was not considerate, and for that I am sorry.”

“That is not to say that I retract the content.”

Kopp added that he will be reaching out to the U of M human rights office and to Blair in order to seek mediation, arguing that he believes there is a significant difference between poor form and a hostile work environment.

He also told the Manitoban that he will be consulting with the chair of UMSU council about the possibility of having a representative of the human rights office present at future council meetings.

UMSU council approved a $64 increase in its yearly fee on Nov. 19 without going to a referendum. In addition to meeting with councillors, the UMSU executive consulted with about 2,500 students through an online survey in advance of tabling the motion.

At the Dec. 3 UMSU council meeting, Blair reported discussions

PHOTO BY LAUREN SIDDALL

at the ASBC about the hasty timeline and lack of consultations associated with the motion. These concerns were echoed by several other councillors in their reports.

“I was publicly humiliated in front of so many other UMSU councillors” – Reanna Blair, UMSU councillor “We didn’t hear any overwhelming concern regarding the ideology behind the motion. Our council members seemed to support the nature of the initiative. However, the consensus was that [...] the timeline wasn’t adequate in order for us to discuss it with our council,” Blair said during the meeting.

“Our fellow council members were unaware that the motion was even

on the table, and one council mem- ASBC motions fully they can see there were people ber actually asked to bring forth the Blair told the Manitoban that trying to stand up for them, there message, and this I quote, that he Kopp’s characterization of their were people who had issues with it,” felt ‘disrespected by the process’ just consultation meeting is fabricated, Weldon told the Manitoban. given how little time was given for us adding that the UMSU president has “We didn’t go to that meeting to to discuss it.” facilitated a hostile work environment debate how he made us feel or how Kopp responded to these com- where councillors are afraid to oppose he made Reanna feel, we asked him ments by criticizing Blair directly executive decisions and motions. to apologize because he made us feel later in the meeting.

“I was publicly humiliated in front like we weren’t important and our “I’m not putting a huge amount of of so many other UMSU council- views weren’t respected.”

For her part, Blair said she is stock in [Blair’s report] because you lors,” she said, adding that the ASBC were very opposed to the motion and motions sought to repair the damage confident that she made the right I know for a fact that the arts council of that humiliation. decision by voting against the $64 was very split in terms of their discus“We wanted to bring it forward fee increase. sions around this,” he said, addressing and really repair some of the harm “I believe that UMSU’s role should Blair. that was done by Jeremiah’s [...] be as a lobby group on campus [...] as “I know in our personal consulta- remarks, so that’s really why we opposed to doing the jobs that the tion on it, you had indicated some brought it forward in that context.” administration should, in my opinion, Weldon repeated these concerns, be doing,” she said, adding that there issues with the indigenous category specifically, so for that one I’m not stating that the motions were meant was also simply not enough time to putting a whole lot of stock behind to reiterate and make official what give the motion proper consideration. that.”

Blair had reported to council on Dec. “Instead of charging more I think After an exchange where Blair 3. we should be trying to get adminisexpressed concerns about the fact “In the fall, students are going to be tration to do more.” that Kopp was not taking her report charged an insane amount compared into consideration, he responded with to last year, and looking back they are an allegation of racism against the going to try and find some justificacouncillor, which she strongly denied. tion for it, and looking back hope-

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News

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

UMFA, university administration at odds over performance assessment Electronic performance indicators would circumvent collective bargaining, claims faculty union SHAWN GARBUTT, STAFF

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he University of Manitoba Faculty Association (UMFA) is urging its members not to engage in discussions surrounding departmentlevel performance measures, claiming the assessments proposed will impact working conditions and should be addressed through the collective bargaining process.

In a letter to members dated Nov. 19, 2015, UMFA president Mark Hudson called for all association members to decline to engage in any activities relating to the development of performance indicators until the U of M’s policy on the subject can be properly scrutinized through formal contract negotiation, scheduled for later this year.

“The imposition of performance indicators and rote electronic performance assessment at any level has the potential to negatively impact not only the working conditions of UMFA members but also their academic freedom to pursue research that may not fit in with the university’s priorities,” Hudson wrote in the letter.

A separate letter was forwarded to U of M president David Barnard call-

ing on the university to cease efforts to impose the policy and negotiate in good faith when faculty and administration return to the bargaining table this year.

“There is definitely a feeling among those who I’ve talked to that they are being cut out of the loop” – Mark Hudson, president, University of Manitoba Faculty Association The university’s 2015-2020 strategic plan calls for department-level means to assess research, scholarly work and creative activities. In his letter to members, Hudson noted memos from department heads, deans, and directors calling for discussions surrounding the assessments were being circulated.

Hudson told the Manitoban the relationship between the union and administration is generally professional. However, he said it deteriorates when the administration fails to communicate with the faculty association.

“There is definitely a feeling among those [UMFA members] who I’ve talked to that they are being cut out of the loop,” he said. “There’s a sense that they no longer have an active and effective say in the governance of the university, which is an institution to which they’ve committed their work lives and their careers.”

Hudson also criticized the administration’s vague approach to announcing their new plans for the implementation of the performance indicators. He claimed administrative bodies failed to provide sufficient information on the nature and purpose of the instruments.

A further concern of Hudson’s is that the proposed performance indicators are largely grounded in software called SciVal, which requires faculty members to maintain and update academic profiles. These profiles serve to detail the research they

conduct. Hudson said he believes a shift to more number-based evaluations would remove the benefits of the qualitative assessments currently in place.

and departmental level is a matter for collective bargaining, arguing only individual performances are covered through the collective agreement.

In an emailed response to the Manitoban, Danakas said performance assessments would be con“The conversation ducted in a variety of ways beyond the use of SciVal software. However, he needs to take place did not specify what other evaluation rubrics would be used. at the bargaining Danakas said the U of M ought table before it can to look to other U15 universities for take place in faculties inspiration, citing the University of Toronto and Queen’s University as or departments” – examples.

“The university is committed to Mark Hudson increased accountability and transparency, responding to the general He said a member’s academic free- public, future students, and governdom may be compromised under the ments who want more specific and much more competitive, numerically robust evidence of the benefits of a driven performance indicators. university education and research,” “The conversation needs to take he said. place at the bargaining table before it UMFA and the university admincan take place in faculties or depart- istration are scheduled to begin ments,” he said. collective bargaining in the spring, John Danakas, executive direc- following the termination of the curtor of public affairs at the university, rent contract at the end of March. disagreed that the implementation of performance indicators at the faculty

International academic organizations condemn harsh treatment of Turkish academics Canadian Association of University Teachers joins 19 academic organizations calling for academic freedom OSHO SAMUEL ADETUNJI, STAFF

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he Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) joined 19 other international aca-

freedom of expression after the aca- Covenant on Civil and Political demics were detained for distributing Rights, to which Turkey is a signatory. “terror propaganda.”

“Academic freedom is basically The detained academics were the right of faculties or professors to among more than 1,000 academ- teach, to research, and to carry out ics both in Turkey and abroad that discussions without fear of recrimisigned an online petition calling on nation or reprisal,” said Robinson. the government to bring ongoing “[It] is to protect academics’ rights to “massacres” of Kurdish populations investigate matters [and] to comment to an abrupt end. on public affairs without any fear.”

David Robinson, executive direcAccording to reports, there have tor of CAUT, told the Manitoban been numerous clashes between the that the letter calls on the Turkish Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) authorities to respect the academic and the Turkish army. The PKK is freedom of the lecturers. a separatist party considered a ter“The investigation and detention of rorist organization by Turkey and some academics in Turkey for signing its Western allies, including Canada. on to an open letter calling for peace The arrest and detention of the in the Kurdish region is a serious vio- academics has heightened human lation of both academic freedom and rights concerns in Turkey. Several basic civil liberties,” he said. international human rights organizaThe letter is supported by academic tions have come out against Turkish organizations from around the globe authorities for the inhumane treatand urges Turkish authorities not to ment meted out to the Turkish acafollow through with any recrimina- demics. The European Union has PHOTO PROVIDED BY ANGELA REGNIER tion or reprisal against the academ- called for an immediate ceasefire in ics who signed on to the original southeast Turkey. demic organizations in issuing a letThe letter, dated Jan. 21, calls on petition. It calls for the government ter condemning the arrest of more Turkish authorities to reaffirm a com- to respect its international committhan 30 Turkish academics in January. mitment to academic freedom and ments, including the International

VOL. 102 NO. 21 February 3, 2016

News

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UMSU withholds $40,000 in fees under bogus contract, says University 1 Student Council First-year council out of money, owes UMSU $17,300 ETHAN CABEL, STAFF

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he University of Manitoba Students’ Union (UMSU) entered into an illegitimate contract to use $40,000 worth of University 1 Student Council (U1SC) fees to help pay for last year’s Frosh Fest, the firstyear council said.

U1SC tabled an emergency motion at last week’s UMSU council meeting calling on the union to acknowledge the invalid nature of the contract, apologize to the U1 student body, and remit U1SC student organization fees for the 2015-16 year. The motion also calls on the contract to be entirely annulled and for UMSU to release all reports related to U1SC since the beginning of the fiscal year.

Kyle Mirecki, chair of UMSU council, decided to refer the U1SC motion to the UMSU finance committee for review. The approval of that decision was put to a contentious vote among councillors, who ultimately split 19-18 in favour of Mirecki’s decision. There was one abstention on the vote.

The University of Manitoba collects organization fees from students in various faculties. These fees are then remitted to UMSU for distribution to faculty or college councils.

In September 2015, UMSU president Jeremiah Kopp signed a contract with then-president of U1SC Luigi Imbrogno and U1SC director of finance Jaron Moen Gun Hart stating that the council would “provide a conditional $40,000 sponsorship towards Frosh Music Festival [...] from their 2015-2016 student fees.”

This means UMSU would effectively withhold $40,000 of fees generally distributed to U1SC in exchange for a grab-bag of gift certificates, VIP tickets, and other items to be provided to U1SC as outlined in the agreement.

However, the contract contained the signature of only one signing authority of the union and was never passed by UMSU council – a breach of the UMSU bylaws, according to the U1SC motion.

The UMSU bylaws state that contracts in excess of $15,000 must be approved by UMSU council.

Moreover, “contracts, documents, or instruments in writing requiring the signature of UMSU must be signed by two signing authorities.”

Kopp was the only UMSU signing authority listed on the contract.

The union’s other possible signing authorities include the vice-president internal, general manager, or one management staff person appointed

by UMSU’s executive committee.

While the past U1SC executive and council approved the agreement with UMSU, a new executive was elected in December to discover that they had no money to operate. “$40,000 is all the fees we would have received for the year of 2015 and 2016, but due to the agreement made between the president of UMSU and the previous U1SC, those fees

PHOTO BY ETHAN CABEL.

would go to the sponsorship of 2015 Frosh Fest,” said Arthur Reis, U1SC treasurer.

Reis told the Manitoban that U1SC also owes UMSU $17,300, which is comprised of an $8,000 cosponsorship with UMSU to bring in speaker Vandana Shiva in October as well as orientation fees and renovation costs that U1SC was unable to pay.

According to UMSU president Jeremiah Kopp, the union approached U1SC for sponsorship because they had done so every year since 2013, in one instance receiving up to $70,000 from the U1SC for Frosh Fest.

But while he said he believes that there is nothing untoward about the sponsorship, Kopp told the Manitoban that there are serious concerns about the way in which the contract was created last year.

“The council at the time made the decision to become title sponsors of the event, as was their prerogative to do so,” Kopp said.

“Since this has occurred, it has come to my attention that there are concerns with the manner in which this contract was created. Due to these concerns, we have relayed the contract to our legal counsel, where it is now under review.”

Kopp added that, while he awaits a legal opinion on the validity of the contract, he believes that “U1SC should have as much of that $40,000 remitted to them as possible.”

According to Kopp, the agreement was made with U1SC based on the understanding that UMSU would

cover costs for events and projects based on applications from the council necessitated by their lack of funds.

“They use the word ‘bankruptcy’ a lot when they’re talking about this, but that’s not actually the case,” he said.

“They use the word ‘bankruptcy’ a lot when they’re talking about this, but that’s not actually the case” – Jeremiah Kopp, president, UMSU

“But I believe we could work that out with UMSU to try and split the debt proportionately so we could pay in three instances.”

Kopp suggested that he is amenable to such an arrangement.

“I personally will be working as hard as I can to ensure that they have financing going forward and I hope that UMSU council joins me in that process,” he said.

Council motion

The U1SC executive also objects to the way in which their motion was handled at UMSU council last week.

Darnell Walker, U1SC president, wrote in a statement that referring the motion to finance committee was inappropriate given the contract provisions of UMSU’s bylaws.

“The chair of UMSU referred the “It’s not like U1SC is in arrears motion to a committee that in accordand is paying high interest on this. ance with the UMSU bylaws canUMSU will work with them to not approve of contracts exceeding a resolve this financial situation.” maximum value of $15,000,” Walker Kopp told the Manitoban UMSU said in the statement. paid $5,500 in renovation costs for “Because the motion deals with an the U1 lounge, and that this amount amount three times that, the motion is included in U1SC’s outstanding should have remained in the inter$17,300 debt to UMSU. est of UMSU council as the UMSU According to U1SC, the debt is bylaws state contracts of any value slated to be deducted from the coun- may be approved by resolution of cil’s organization fees in March, when UMSU council, and therefore would the first instalment of fees will to be have been within the proper jurisdicdistributed to the U1SC. tion to be consulted on.”

“The way councils get their fees is UMSU council quickly became 50 per cent in September, 25 per cent raucous and confused after Walker in January and 25 per cent in March, presented the U1SC emergency and basically 50 per cent of our fees motion at the council meeting Jan. would go towards the debt that we 28. Walker said this prevented him currently have,” Reis said. from properly explaining the motion

to councillors. A motion to vote by secret ballot dominated the discussion for a large portion of the evening.

“U1SC did not receive the time to clarify the tenets of the motion when an unavailing debate arose to appeal the decision of the chair and vote by way of secret ballot,” Walker said in a statement.

“As elected officials for the University 1 student body, it is our job to advocate in the best interests of our students and to let them be aware of the misappropriation of their finances that have been allocated through an agreement that, to some, would be a gross misrepresentation of their interests.”

Mirecki said that his decision to refer the motion to finance committee was in accordance with UMSU’s governance and operations manual.

“As chair of council, I am granted discretion to allow council to consider an emergency motion that is both time-sensitive and could not have been brought forward at an earlier time. In my opinion, while the motion is time-sensitive, the issue itself has existed for several months,” he said in an email.

“It is a complex issue with serious financial implications for the union that deserves proper consideration and deliberation at finance committee. The majority of council agreed with my decision.”

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News

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

Debating the democratic process Experts weigh in on modern electoral politics during 32nd annual Political Studies Students’ Conference SHAWN GARBUTT, STAFF

Conservative party to frame the fall election in their favour, specifically around the economy.

Coletto said polls showed Canadians deemed the Tories most capable of managing the economy and 46 per cent of voters indicated that was the primary concern of the election. However, more than half saw the election as about something more and the incumbent government was unable to hold sway with those voters.

When asked about his stance on the effects of polls in a democracy, PHOTO BY ASHLEY EVANS Coletto defended their viability.

“They indirectly affect voters lectoral politics went under the opened the conference Jan. 27 because if a party falls in the polls, microscope at the University with a keynote address looking at they may not get as much coverage of Manitoba late last week when “Canadian Public Opinion: what we in the media – so that’s where they political studies students hosted know, where it’s going, and why it have the biggest effect,” he told the the 32nd annual John Wesley Dafoe matters.”

Manitoban.

Conference.

“I am a defender and an advocate From the perspective of public Branded “Elections: Democratic opinion and polling, he said, two for good polling,” he added, “because Tools or Democracy Denied?,” the campaigns were underway during I think that good information makes conference ran from Jan. 27 to 29 the 2015 federal election. He said it is for better decisions.” and examined electoral politics in typical for campaigns to come down Coletto also commented on the modern era through a handful to the question of whether the incum- the state of provincial politics in of panels ranging from international bent government deserves re-election Manitoba, saying he sees the current elections to campaigns in the 21st or a credible alternative is prepared struggles of the incumbent NDP govcentury. to step in. ernment, along with Justin Trudeau’s David Coletto, CEO of Canadian Coletto presented data he said sweeping win at the federal level, as polling company Abacus Data, demonstrated the failure of the an opportunity for the Manitoba

E

Liberals. However, he said it’s not clear if that will translate into votes come election day.

The conference continued Jan. 28 on the Fort Garry campus with three panels looking at elections in the 21st century, public opinion polling, and participation and representation in elections. A roundtable discussing 100 years of women’s suffrage in Manitoba was also convened.

manager with charitable research and educational organization Samara, said young voters, while active in between election cycles, become disengaged with formal politics during the campaign process.

“This is an election where we didn’t see political parties tap into the online, digital revolution,” said Anthony, adding that connections between parties and individuals have a direct impact on election turnout.

Royce Koop, associate profes“I am a defender and sor and head of the department of political studies at the University of an advocate for good Manitoba, talked about the role of local campaigns during elections. polling, because He acknowledged the importance I think that good of national campaigns but argued for a decentralized approach to campaign information makes management in a country as diverse for better decisions.” as Canada that would allow local campaigns a fair degree of autonomy.

– David Coletto, Koop said he has walked the camCEO, Abacus Data paign trail with a number of politicians and stressed door-knocking as the “gold standard” for campaign The final day’s panels looked at tactics. conducting elections on an interna“There’s no such thing as a national tional stage and future challenges campaign in Canada – there are 338 for elections. local ones – and these are the settings Examining campaigns in the 21st in which elections are won or lost,” he century, Laura Anthony, research told the Manitoban.

U of M architecture students tapped for warming hut installations Two teams’ designs selected for construction, placement on Red River SHAWN GARBUTT, STAFF

PHOTO BY CAROLYNE KROEKER

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wo groups of University of Manitoba architecture students will have their warming hut designs adorn the Red River skating trail alongside contributions from around the globe.

The faculty of architecture hosted a new instalment in its Food for Thought series on Jan. 28 and unveiled two designs selected to be part of Winnipeg’s “Warming Huts:

An Art + Architecture Competition.”

The initiative, sponsored by the Canadian Council for the Arts, is a global competition that brings together architects to submit innovative designs and compete for spots along the Red River’s skating trail.

The two teams from the U of M survived the selection process and are in the early stages of transitioning their designs from blueprints to

the ice.

The other U of M selection is titled Wiese and Jason Hare – has plans to The teams are made up of students “Fabrigami” and is meant to capture coat “Fabrigami” in ice and subsebut are headed by professors in the the essence of architecture and art quently release the cables to see if the faculty of architecture. with its ground-breaking structure. structure can hold on its own without One of the homegrown teams external supports. included U of M architecture stuAn international addition to the dents Brennan Fedak and Alyssa “It’s really exciting for warming huts roster is the “Temple,” Magas, who presented their warmfrom Russia. The creators call the students, especially ing hut project titled “Basket.” design a homage to ancient Greece, The designers claim this is the first where they say all modern architecfor those who do hut on the river trail that guarantees ture is derived from. a lot of work in warmth to its visitors.

The construct is largely made up “It weaves together concepts of of fuel barrels, which constitute the classrooms, to see warmth and community [...] a colbuilding’s columns. This creative lective of the good, bad, and the ugly,” something like decision was made to reflect the said Fedak, presenting the design. principle of recyclability. this” – Alyssa Magas, “It’s a one-to-one scale,” Fedak told “Temple” is the first ever submisthe Manitoban. “A lot of our proj- architecture student sion to be accepted by the warming ects are on a huge scale and you don’t huts judging panel with no accomactually understand how big they are panying worded description. The until you put the pieces together. So The “Fabrigami” structure is designers simply sent in preliminary it’s a great experience.” essentially an extended piece of fabric designs and pictorial representations Magas said the project is an that lies suspended above the skating of the structure. opportunity to get out of the class- trail, held in place by cable net. The room and develop some practical net creates folds that mimic tradi- Students interested in applying for experience. tional origami forms, while the fabric the competition in the future can do “It’s really exciting for students, adjusts itself to the environment and so through faculty of architecture’s especially for those who do a lot of carves deep valleys accordingly. partners program accessible through work in classrooms, to see something The design team – headed by U the University of Manitoba’s website. like this,” she said. of M faculty Lancelot Coar, Kim

VOL. 102 NO. 21 February 3, 2016

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Science Students’ Association president steps down Facing UMSU sanctions and mediation, president Anthony Cao tenders resignation GARETT WILLIAMS, STAFF, WITH FILES FROM ESTEFANIA WUJKIW

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acing the threat of sanctions from the University of Manitoba Students’ Union (UMSU) concerning an alleged dysfunctional working environment, Science Students’ Association (SSA) president Anthony Cao tendered his resignation last week.

In December, the union passed an emergency motion seeking a governance audit of the SSA and moved to withhold fund disbursements to the association if Cao refused to participate in mediation to resolve in-house conflicts. An independent chair was also appointed to oversee SSA meetings.

On Jan. 28, Cao emailed his resignation, citing health and academic concerns.

“The personal problems, infighting, and other issues within the SSA were something that I couldn’t witness anymore,” he told the Manitoban in an email.

“The UMSU sanctions didn’t really play a factor other than to take up a bit more time, which was already something I was pressed for,” he said.

“That’s probably all I’ll say about my resignation.”

SSA vice-president Dara Hallock said she proposed the December motion through UMSU as a nearlast ditch effort to resolve conflicts she said began as far back as the summer.

She said that, while the SSA

council had the authority and the votes to pass its own motion removing Cao from his leadership role, members wanted to pursue every avenue available before taking such a severe measure.

“The personal problems, infighting, and other issues within the SSA were something that I couldn’t witness anymore” – Anthony Cao, former SSA president “We want to be able to say we did everything we could have before taking the most extreme measure, which would have been voting him out – and we did have council support for that,” Hallock said.

She conceded that some members of council weren’t hopeful the mediation would ultimately lead to a resolution. However, with Cao stepping down voluntarily, Hallock said that the association can now move forward through the winter and try to make up the ground lost during

the first term.

“We wanted to do what was best for council and [Cao] was, honestly, inhibiting us from doing anything for the students or for the faculty,” she said.

“The general vibe I get from people is that people are hopeful that the rest of the year will be good and we can finish out with a good year.”

UMSU vice-president advocacy Rebecca Kunzman said the potential sanctions against the SSA are considered resolved. However, the governance audit, which UMSU offers to all student associations, is ongoing. Results will be reported Dara Hallock, SSA vice-president back to the SSA. “The requirements from the motions, as far as the sanctions go, without council oversight, and the were met when all parties agreed to meetings themselves grew so combatengage in mediation,” she said. ive that members became discouraged “As far as the sanctions are con- from presenting ideas, she said. cerned, that piece of it was met.”

At least one member resigned from the council citing stress, Hallock said, Falling out admitting she considered stepping Cao and Hallock ran for the SSA down herself.

“The environment in the council executive together in March 2015 as a slate branded “Unite.” meeting was quite disheartening,” However, Hallock said it wasn’t she said. “No one wanted to speak long before divisions started to build or discuss motions and even when and by September, she had already there was discussion, there was lots held one-on-one meetings with Cao of tension.” concerning the council’s dysfunction.

As the fall term wore on, Hallock There were administrative issues said the SSA grew more disjointed to surrounding committee appoint- the point where the proposal to comments, a member was disciplined pel mediation was brought to UMSU.

PHOTO BY LAUREN SIDDALL

Cao told the Manitoban in January that the student union’s sanctions were “extreme” and said he hadn’t been approached by anyone from the SSA with concerns.

“I can say that the stuff in SSA council was, I think, being blown a little bit out of proportion and it’s a little bit excessive for UMSU to threaten us by withholding our funding,” he said at the time.

The SSA scheduled an emergency meeting this week in order to move forward. Hallock said she expects the UMSU appointed independent chair to lead meetings through the end of the term.

Inuk artist Tanya Tagaq connects art with personal experience Lecture covered impact of forced relocation, residential school, racism, and sexism on creative process SHREYA GHIMIRE, STAFF

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rtist, activist, and traditional Inuk throat singer Tanya Tagaq addressed a full house at St. John’s College’s annual Marjorie Ward Lecture on Jan. 25, drawing a connection between her work and her heritage.

A prolific artist, Tagaq is a songwriter, filmmaker, and painter. Her most recent album, Animism, garnered numerous awards, including a 2015 Juno award and the 2014 Polaris Prize.

The lecture, titled “Arctic Origins: Perspective through Art,” discussed Tagaq’s personal experiences, her creative process, and how her art is shaped by her Canadian Arctic background.

She began by playing a sevenminute short film called Tungijuq and talked about growing up in Nunavut.

Tagaq spoke about the forced relocation of her mother to Resolute Bay, Nunavut, and its negative effects on her family. Forced relocations were common to many Inuit families and

communities as the Canadian government sought to establish sovereignty in the high Arctic.

dential school. She said it brought her and sexually harassed by a man back to a life before colonialism and while walking to lunch in downtown talked about throat singing as a way Winnipeg. of expressing the pains of racism, sexDuring the lecture, she displayed ism, sexual abuse, and the horrors of a list of missing and murdered indigresidential schools. enous women to highlight how life “She speaks out Christopher Trott, an associate in Canada continues to be unsafe for of her own life professor of native studies and war- women like herself and reminded the den and vice-chancellor of St. John’s audience of their collective responsiexperience and College, said missionaries sought to bility to change the statistics. she connects the suppress Inuit throat singing and She finished her presentation with drum dancing. a song. colonial dots for “This is colonialism at its most vio“She speaks out of her own life lent,” he said. “Only in recent years experience and she connects the us” – Christopher has there been a revival, especially colonial dots for us,” Trott said. “The Trott, associate of throat singing and to some extent talk did both of those things for us, drum dancing.” but when she sang at the end – and professor, native Tagaq, an Inuk woman, is known sang from somewhere deep down in studies department for her activism against the racism her soul – it all connected at a level and sexism that indigenous women beyond the intellect and in the gut, continue to face in Canada. at least for me.”

Tagaq also related her experiences Last year’s locally infamous The lecture was held as part of U leaving Resolute Bay for residential Maclean’s magazine article – of M’s Indigenous Awareness Week, school in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut. “Welcome to Winnipeg: Where which featured panels on integrating She spoke of discovering throat Canada’s racism problem is at its treaty perspectives into school cursinging in college as part of her heal- worst” – cited a Twitter comment riculum and discussions surrounding ing process after years spent in a resi- Tagaq posted after being followed indigenous credit requirements at the

Tanya Tagaq

PHOTO BY IVAN OTIS

post-secondary level.

“I really enjoyed how genuine, how honest, how truthful she actually was,” said Leanne Deanne, an undergraduate student.

Carl Stone, an advisor at the Indigenous Student Centre, expresses a similar sentiment.

“To be able to speak as frankly as she did, I loved that.”

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

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Signing the proverbial deal with the devil TPP will extinguish national sovereignty, ability to combat climate change EVAN TREMBLAY, STAFF

profitable to extract oil and sell it, for corporations that do not pay for the ecological damage they do. Limiting how dirtily they can extract oil would cut into their profits; corporations such as Petronas could sue municipalities, provinces, states, and nations that ban it. The same holds true for any method of extracting resources.

The TPP was negotiated at a level of secrecy not employed by people with good intentions

GRAPHIC BY KELLY CAMPBELL

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uch was made of Prime The ugly details Minister Trudeau’s support, The ISDS provisions contained during the COP21 Paris accords, in the deal allow multinational corof setting a goal of limiting global porations to sue governments over warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius not only lost profits, but lost expected rather than two degrees. At the time, profits. The panels to hear these there was no indication of how this suits will consist of corporate lawextremely ambitious goal was to be yers, not judges. Their verdicts canmet – since meeting it would require not be appealed. The lawyers who sit the immediate cessation of almost all on these panels will be drawn from new greenhouse gas production and the same stock that negotiated the fossil fuel extraction, with a com- deal, and who are employed by the plete phase-out occurring by 2030. corporations which will be the sole It would require the abandonment entities to profit by it. of economic business as usual, and Any health or environmental regthe full resources of our society to ulation or socially motivated law that accomplish. cuts into expected profits could be The announcement that this same affected. Compelled to pay compenprime minister will sign the Trans- sation for laws meant to protect social Pacific Partnership (TPP), a free and ecological health, the wealth of trade agreement between 12 Pacific the governments will be siphoned Rim countries, lays bare the emp- off by the same corporations seeking tiness of that hope. Far more than to profit from the destruction of the merely the free trade accord it is being well-being of their people. These regpresented as, the TPP’s investor-state ulations apply only to multinational dispute settlement (ISDS) provisions corporations, however: Canadianwill with one stroke extinguish this based outfits will bear the doublenation’s (and all other signatory burden of increased compliance and nations’) sovereignty, thus render- increased competition. Essentially ing impossible the actions necessary they will be punished for complying to stopping runaway climate change. with just laws.

Think about that for a moment:

if that does not apply to all laws, it certainly applies to all laws that seek to create a just, sustainable society.

It certainly applies to any laws that could limit, or end, the production of greenhouse gases. Any conceivable action to combat climate change undertaken by governments will negatively affect corporate profits.

The wealth of the governments will be siphoned off by the same corporations seeking to profit from the destruction of the well-being of their people

Corporations will become increasingly wealthy and powerful, at the expense of increasingly weak and nolonger-sovereign states. The notion that in this situation any serious action aimed at curtailing climate change can succeed is naive.

The climate will become increasingly less hospitable and predictable.

Extreme weather will become more common and deadly. Desertification will follow droughts. The temperature will continue to rise – because any action that might make it do anything else would cut into the profits of multinational corporations.

Eventually, the ecology that sustains us will simply collapse, unable any longer to absorb the raw results of human greed.

If by some miracle (only divine intervention or dumb luck seems like a way out at this point), we manage to avoid a complete social collapse and possible extinction, all that remains will be the science-fiction dystopia created by the TPP: one where power and wealth belong to those most willing to destroy life to achieve it.

The ugly truth

If you are unaware of the content of the TPP, it’s not really your fault.

The document was negotiated at a The barriers to large-scale adop- level of secrecy not employed by peotion of fracking – an extremely pol- ple with good intentions. Its authors luting method of extracting oil and consisted of corporate lawyers and natural gas which can cause water representatives of large multinationto become flammable and undrink- als – the kind of people, in short, who able and has been linked to causing have no interest in the common good, earthquakes – will be removed. It is and every interest in increasing cor-

porate profits at the expense everyone else. Think of people with the morality of Martin Shkreli (the man who hiked the price of a life-saving drug 5,000 per cent), but smart enough to work their evil in the shadows.

In the United States, the members of congress who will vote on the agreement can only consult a copy kept under lock and key, and on the condition that they make no notes. Not ominous at all. The public at large in other countries have only had access to the text since Nov. 5 of last year. In New Zealand, where the deal is to be signed, police are undergoing riot training in anticipation of attendant protests. The contents of the text make clear why such secrecy was employed: the nations that sign this document will literally surrender their national sovereignty – they will no longer have final say on the validity of the laws they pass.

International Trade Minister Cynthia Freeland said in an “Open Letter to Canadians” that “signing does not equal ratifying. Only a majority vote in our Parliament can allow the agreement to take force.

Signing is simply a technical step in the process.” Which is technically true, in the same way that it is technically true that your heart ceasing to beat is only one step in the process of dying.

There is a two-year limit on ratification, and the Liberals hold a majority in the House of Commons. Even if they allow MPs to vote freely on ratification (which they have no reason to do), it seems unlikely that enough would vote against the deal to stop it – and if they did, the Conservatives have always been strongly in support of it. The NDP are against the deal, but that will not save us. The TPP will be signed, and then it will be ratified.

It is an ugly future. One that might well make anyone who loves life more than profit cry out with Job: “If only I had never come into being, or had been carried straight from the womb to the grave!”

Letters to the editor RE: The grass can be greener on both sides

As Colorado has proven, re-legalizing cannabis makes money for government (“The grass can be greener on both sides,” Jan. 20, 2016), however, at the expense of law enforcement agencies and their unions, which have been cannibalizing citizens, especially minorities, long enough.

It’s easier to understand conservatives’ staunch support for cannabis prohibition when realizing how much

they have invested in it and all the things they have invested in, which compete against the plant cannabis.

But don’t just re-legalize the relatively safe, extremely popular Godgiven plant because it’s a moneymaker; do it because it’s the right thing to do. Forcing government to regulate cannabis is better than forcing the black market to do it. The money changes hands either way.

Stan White

RE: Strengthening student media

Kudos to Craig Adolphe for so frankly and compellingly making the case for the value of a sustainable and independent student media outlet (“Strengthening student media,” Jan. 27, 2016). As a former volunteer for the Manitoban, someone who has worked with and for numerous Manitoban alumni, and someone who now interacts weekly with the current Manitoban staff

(answering tough but neces- invaluable asset to our university sary questions), I couldn’t agree community. more. The Manitoban helps bring intelligent thought, discussion John Danakas and engagement to our campus Executive director, public affairs community. This year’s iteration University of Manitoba is a particularly strong one, with relevant, timely and fair news articles. Times and technologies may change, but a dedicated student media outlet like the Manitoban – poking, prodding, reflecting, on behalf of students – remains an

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

The poor will be the first to bear the brunt of climate change Lack of social supports will plunge millions into extreme poverty JILL PATTERSON, STAFF

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limate change is this generation’s most pressing social concern that will, at some point or another, affect everyone if we continue down our current path. Although climate change does not discriminate its victims, it is the most impoverished individuals of society that will be the first to suffer the consequences and bear the brunt of the effects of climate change.

According to a recent report by the World Bank, the effects of climate change will force 100 million people into extreme poverty by the year 2030.

The 2014 report released by the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change states that those who have the smallest impact in causing climate change will be the first to feel its effects. That is, those who do not have the luxury of driving expensive cars and all the other indulgences that require the burning of fossil fuels, especially in poorer countries. Essentially, as stated in the report, “people who are socially, economically, culturally, politically, institutionally, or otherwise marginalized are especially vulnerable to climate change.”

There are two overarching ways in which climate change will make life harder for the poor far sooner than

it will for wealthier their insurance payout or individuals. These savings accounts to find two main threats are another place to live. physical displacement The second way in and rising food prices, which the poor suffer two issues that severely the most from climate lack public awareness change – and we are and thus action aimed already seeing this hapat solutions. pen – is through rising We are aware now food prices. As a result of the intense weather of flooding and drought, patterns that accomthe yields of crops are reduced, which results pany climate change, in lower profits for farmranging from proers in poorer countries as longed droughts to well as higher prices at extreme storms and the supermarket. Those flash floods. When a that already struggle to region is subjected to these extreme weather put food on the table will patterns, many people find it even more difficult are displaced as a result. to provide healthy meals For those that are wellfor their families with little support to rely on. off, having to pay for temporary accommoWe are already seeing GRAPHIC BY JONDELL COOMBS the negative effects of dations is not as much of a hardship as it is for climate change on poorer those living in poverty. The wealthy systems in place for those that are left communities in Canada. This past can afford to pay for insurance for homeless and penniless as a result of winter was the warmest ever recorded, their property and possessions, climate-related displacement. There and rising temperatures mean that while the poor are left devastated have been multiple stories on the winter roads that many northern when their home and possessions horrendous state of refugee camps communities rely on open later, and are destroyed.

– climate refugees will likely face for shorter periods. These roads are The problem here lies in the fact these same living conditions, while the only access points to these comthat there are not enough support those who can afford it will rely on munities by which food and resources

can be brought in.

According to Isadore Day, Ontario regional chief for the Assembly of First Nations, the winter roads were implemented to offset the cost of bringing in food and resources by airplane, which is significantly more expensive than by ground transit. If these roads become unusable, the food prices for people living in northern communities will be even higher than they are today.

To put this into perspective, in Nunavut a four-litre jug of milk is currently more than $10, a package of water bottles is nearly $85, and a jug of orange juice is $26. The food prices are already outrageous enough, but how much higher will they be when transportation costs go up? Further, what will happen to the members of these communities when these prices do in fact increase?

A short-term solution for these imminent problems is to develop strategies and programs to alleviate the burden that the poor will ultimately face. We have to also think about the long term and not only reduce our emissions, but develop better supports for those that already struggle to meet the cost of living to ensure that we are not left with a global climate refugee crisis.

‘One man’s vulgarity is another man’s lyric’ Decision on Twitter harassment case a victory for freedom of speech AEDAN LADD, STAFF

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f I told you there was a Twitter It started when Guthrie and oth- on a question of criminal harassment. feud in November 2012, I doubt ers criticized a video game designer The judgment is important you would be surprised; Twitter has on Twitter for the creation of a vid- because it will allow opponents of enough feuds to go around. However, eogame that allowed an individual to feminist activists to speak freely and the one I’m going to tell you about repeatedly punch an image of Anita without fear of legal action – so long resulted in something unusual. This Sarkeesian – a feminist activist who as their speech is not criminal harassfeud did not simply end with frus- has experienced her share of online ment. In my mind, this is the crux tration, angry words, or hashtags. It harassment in the past. It was at this of what freedom of speech is meant ended in a courtroom. time that Guthrie began tweeting to accomplish. This judgment is a The Twitter exchange between prospective employers in the game victory that doesn’t allow room for Toronto artist Gregory Alan Elliott maker’s hometown about the con- the activists (or anyone else) to use and a group of feminist activists led tent of the game. Elliott tweeted to their fear as a means to censor others

by Stephanie Guthrie resulted in the Guthrie that her actions were “every from criticizing their viewpoints. It arrest and charge of Elliott on two bit as vicious as the face-punch game.” is a result that will facilitate honest counts of criminal harassment. It The Twitter arguments that would discussion online. wasn’t until three years later on Jan. follow between the two imitated With this trial at an end I am 22, 2016 that a Toronto judge found forms that frequently arise in Internet both overjoyed and frustrated. I Elliott not guilty. The judge’s decision debates: snarky comments and insult- am overjoyed because this case will is a resounding defense of freedom ing hashtags were involved. Elliott give a precedent that may prevent of speech. and Guthrie went back and forth on something like it from ever happenBefore I talk about the events in Twitter for months in 2012 before he ing again. I am frustrated because it question it’s important to define what was arrested in November of that year. should never have proceeded this far. “criminal harassment” is: according to A Toronto detective testified At the very least, it appears that for the Criminal Code, it can be consid- that he did not find any tweets from now the old adage about “sticks and ered criminal harassment when the Elliott that contained violent threats stones” still holds true. complainant begins to fear for their against the women. own safety or the safety of someone The judge on the case, Brent known to them. This charge required Knazan, quoted from the book The the Crown, and their witnesses, to Charter of Rights and Freedoms in his show that Elliott was aware that ruling, saying “One man’s vulgarity Guthrie and the other women were is another man’s lyric.” This statement made reasonably fearful by his actions. goes above and beyond a mere ruling

GRAPHIC BY JONDELL COOMBS

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

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Creating consent culture UMSU womyn’s representative looks to combat rape culture LAUREN SIDDALL, STAFF

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PHOTOS BY LAUREN SIDDALL

hree years ago, U of M student programming and their events to Alana Robert founded Justice for further mitigate the sexual violence Women, a project designed to advocate on campus.”

Robert and her team trained stuand fundraise for critical human rights dent facilitators to deliver the presenissues specifically affecting women.

“Having this group and being quite tations. Typically, both a male and a active on campus allowed many stu- female student will lead the presentadents to identify me as someone they tion together, going through various could go to for resources or support. topics of discussion regarding gender And so I received, over the past few and power, and the implications of years, many, many disclosures of the relationship between the two. sexual violence and I wanted to do The workshops also aim to focus on something about it,” said Robert. specific situations affecting university “I hear of people who have to sit students directly.

“We do a lot of discussion – it’s not next to someone who has assaulted them in class or it’s happened at stu- us lecturing at the students, but us dent residency or at an athletic event facilitating a dialogue about why we or a social event put on by faculty think the way we think and why we councils. I wanted to get this pro- do some of the things we do,” she said.

“Really getting them to think active programming that addresses the issue before it happens, to try about these everyday actions so that and minimize the incidents that are we can ensure we ask first, ask always, which is the sentiment of what we’re occurring.” trying to get across through this programming.”

“I wanted to get In addition to the consent culture workshops, Robert has also this proactive organized several other initiatives, programming that including an upcoming event in support of the missing and murdered addresses the issue indigenous women in Canada and a before it happens, to recent bake sale to support the Sera , which helps support victims try and minimize the Project of sexual exploitation. incidents that are Further, Robert along with the women’s representatives from the occurring” – Alana University of Winnipeg, Brandon University, Université de SaintRoberts, womyn’s Boniface, and the Canadian representative, Federation of Students-Manitoba has organized a forum to take place at the UMSU University of Winnipeg Feb. 6 and 7.

“This is going to draw students Robert eventually decided that from all across the province to join the best way to try and combat the movement, learn how to crethese issues was to run for womyn’s ate action plans, learn how specific representative for the University of demographics of women – so women Manitoba Students’ Union (UMSU), with disabilities, indigenous women, allowing her voice to be heard louder. and racialized women – are at a sig“I just felt that being on UMSU nificantly higher risk of experiencing council would allow the message that sexual violence, learning how to creour team is trying to promote would ate safe spaces, self-care, the impacts be able to have an even stronger voice of colonialism, and really just eduand presence here on campus. We cate students and equip them with really wanted to take this work to the the tools they need to make positive next level and have stronger represen- changes on their campus.”

Robert still has her work cut out tation on UMSU council.”

Robert is focusing her efforts as for her for the remainder of the school womyn’s representative on mitigat- year. Before the school year comes to ing instances of sexual violence and a close, she wants to implement a new assault, with consent being the under- policy on campus.

“I want to propose a policy at lying theme of her projects this year.

The primary initiative for Roberts UMSU council where it is manand her team has been implementing dated that all student councils get consent culture workshops to present consent culture training – and to get to various student groups and student the training before the school year associations this year as an effort to starts because the highest instances of sexual assault happens within the first combat sexual violence on campus.

“The big initiative we focused on month of school – so that they can be this year was addressing a shortcom- equipped with these tools to mitigate ing in programming on both the part the risks in their councils, but also to of the administration and of our stu- connect their student constituents with resources that they might need dents’ union,” she said.

“We designed these workshops, for support,” she said.

“I really just want to ignite this which are 90 minutes long and cover topics like power and violence, gender movement on campus – talks about stereotypes, sexual assault, and con- consent culture, talks about what sexsent. They also equip student associa- ual assault is, where to get resources, tions with action plans and tools that and really, ultimately, beginning the they need to integrate this into their movement to combat rape culture.”

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

Zika virus re-emerges The disease is a public health emergency, says World Health Organization VARSHANA LOCKMAN

GRAPHIC BY ALDO RIOS

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nly two years after the Ebola years until the disease can be prop- to prevent children born with birth crisis in West Africa caused erly controlled. defects, particularly microcephaly. thousands of deaths and worldwide Unlike Ebola, Zika virus is not This is partially due to the effects of fears of its rapid spread, a new epi- spread through bodily f luids or the virus, which affects neurons and demic looms threateningly over the human carcasses, but through mos- essentially the developing brain of world. The Zika virus, which has quito bites. the child,” he said. now been declared a public health Zika is transmitted by mosquiemergency by the World Health toes of the genus Aedes, which are not “The problem arises Organization (WHO), has flared up native to Canada. in Latin America. So far the virus has Zika has been around for quite if someone travels been detected in nearly all countries some time, surfacing in the 1940s in to Brazil, gets bitten between Mexico and Paraguay.

Uganda before billowing down below Zika virus is an infection that is the radar. and infected, then particularly detrimental to pregnant Peter Pelka, assistant professor in comes back to woman and has severe symptoms the University of Manitoba’s departincluding mild fever, conjunctivi- ment of microbiology, spoke to the Canada and [the tis, and headache, according to the Manitoban about the virus.

WHO. There is no vaccine or treat“Zika virus is indeed a micro virus] survives in a ment available for the virus. borne disease but seems to be stadifferent mosquito.” – For pregnant women, it is sus- tioned within tropical locations at pected that the virus can cause micro- the moment,” Pelka said.

Peter Pelka, assistant cephaly in fetuses, meaning the baby “The problem arises if someone professor, U of M will be born with an unusually small travels to Brazil, gets bitten and head and underdeveloped brain. infected, then comes back to Canada department of Women who are already pregnant and [the virus] survives in a different and living in places where the virus is mosquito.” microbiology widespread have been advised to go Another question to ponder is for regular checkups and ultrasounds. whether the disease is present in other The disease originated in Africa, mosquitoes besides Aedes, Pelka said.

“I think the approach to preventing but spread to Brazil in 2015 and is Pelka believes that governments pregnancy altogether is a temporary now rampant in the Caribbean and asking women to avoid getting preg- approach at the moment. Long term, parts of North and South America. nant is a short-term strategy until a you simply cannot stop people from The governments of Colombia more sustainable solution can be getting pregnant.” and El Salvador are urging women developed.

Pelka said that preventing the to delay getting pregnant for two “The reason for that approach is spread of the Zika virus is difficult

because it’s hard to stop mosquitoes from biting.

“The problem with mosquitoes is that they bite all the time so we’d have to wear protection all the time.

Furthermore, fogging and pesticides are not a solution. Thus it’s really difficult to eradicate an issue like this,” he said.

“You cannot eliminate it obviously, but it depends on the virus as there may be ways of treating the viral infection. But generally viruses are notoriously difficult. However, I think if you stop people from getting pregnant for a couple years, you can certainly reduce the number of birth defects that way, and in that time develop a vaccine.”

As to why the Zika virus has re-emerged after decades of stagnation, Pelka said there are several possibilities.

The most obvious one was that the virus had mutated since the 1940s, causing a new and much more aggressive strain than before. He hypothesized that the mutation may have allowed the virus to spread more rapidly.

Another theory Pelka believes may explain this re-emergence is encroachment into new territory. The fast pace of Brazil’s expansion is causing people to venture into new areas.

Pelka said these people may be at risk since they do not have immunity to pathogens they have never encountered before.

Pelka said that this was the case with the Ebola crisis last year.

However, Pelka said that the Zika virus “does not kill the host, but instead wants to coexist with the host and survive.”

However, while the host may survive with the virus, it has detrimental impacts on unborn children, as has been seen with the increase in microcephaly.

Pelka said that Zika virus is a part of the genus Flavivirus, which includes West Nile and Dengue. The virus consists of “single-stranded RNA genomes which means these viruses are often more prone to mutations and alteration of genomes.”

“Vaccinations may be more difficult to find as a result and would have to be updated periodically,” he said.

The WHO has scheduled an emergency committee meeting for Feb. 1 to determine how the organization will respond to the Zika virus outbreak.

VOL. 102 NO. 21 February 3, 2016

Science & Technology 13

Neil deGrasse Tyson and B.o.B square up over round earth A rundown of the wildest Twitter beef of 2016 MALAK ABAS, STAFF

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onspiracy theories are nothing new. Conspiracy theories that escalate into Twitter beef and rap battles, however, are a sign of new and changing times.

Rapper B.o.B, who you may remember from the breakout 2010 single “Airplanes,” recently threw himself back into relevance when he sent out a flurry of tweets on Jan. 25 claiming that he believed that the Earth is actually flat.

His explanations included that the Earth’s curve wasn’t visible to him from over 16 miles, and that GoPro cameras sent above the earth were using “curved lenses” to falsify the appearance of a round planet.

Neil deGrasse Tyson, a wellknown science communicator and director of the Hayden Planetarium in New York, intervened in a few short tweets.

A few were educational – Tyson mentioned that while the Earth’s curve does block visibility, most buildings are tall enough that they pass the curve, and we can see them from miles away – and a few reminded readers that conspiracy theories can be harmful when influential people hold them.

“Flat Earth is a problem only when people in charge think that way. No law stops you from regressively basking in it,” Tyson tweeted to B.o.B at the end of their short online exchange.

B.oB was not convinced. After the Twitter conversation died down, he took to the recording studio and released a diss track titled “Flatline (feat. Neil Tyson).” Yes, you read that right.

The track, which has since been deleted from music sharing website Soundcloud, included lyrics such as “why is NASA part of the Department of Defense?,” and “feeding kids masonry, bruh, be careful what you read.”

Tyson would not be silenced.

Soon after “Flatline” was released, Tyson responded with his own track, with the help of his rapper nephew Stephen J. Tyson. Titled “Flat to Fact,” the track uses the beat from Drake’s song “Back to Back” and drops some hard truths.

Stephen J. Tyson mixed facts (“What about the change of seasons?/ The planet spins around the sun, do you need more reasons?”) and typical rap-beef status boasting (“I’m in the Hayden Planetarium getting shoulder rubs”), and many of us believed this beef was over. Neil deGrasse Tyson, with the help of his nephew, had won by a landslide.

The short feud ended on Jan. 27, when Tyson made a surprise cameo on The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore, where he walked onstage eating a sandwich. He put down the sandwich, picked up a mic, and fin-

GRAPHIC BY BRAM KEAST

ished the discussion once and for all.

“Small sections of large, curved surfaces will always look flat to little creatures who crawl upon it,” Tyson said, before adding, “and by the way, this is called gravity” and dropping the mic.

Tyson has over four million As the dust settles, it’s up to us to decide what to take away from it. Is Twitter followers. If even one of them it a sign of our ignorance that “flat- gained some knowledge on our planet earthers” continue to gain traction as a result of this, then this might in our society, or was this feud an have been the most positive Internet opportunity for Twitter users to learn beef of all time. something new?

LiFi, a light-based wireless technology Connect to the Internet at the speed of light JEREMIAH YARMIE, STAFF

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iFi is a new high-speed wireless be detected by the human eye, but fer rates as high as one gigabyte per technology that conveys data special photodetector sensors on elec- second. While these results are slower in the same way WiFi does – but tronic devices can detect these Morse than the top speeds achieved in the with light. Created by University of code-like signals, which are then con- lab, they are still 100 times faster than Edinburgh professor Harald Haas in verted into a language computers can current average WiFi rates. In real 2011, LiFi is expected to work with understand: binary. life, I would be able to complete my existing WiFi technologies to create Lord of the Rings transfer in about 12 a faster and more secure connection seconds – that’s still pretty damn fast.

“LiFi would allow experience.

Unlike Wifi, LiFi is unable to pass through walls, resulting in The electromagnetic spectrum is me to transfer the composed of radiation of all sizes and smaller connection ranges. This extended edition of intensities. Some forms of radiation may be slightly inconvenient, but this like gamma rays and X-rays are made characteristic also makes LiFi more the Lord of the Rings up of very small waves that store a lot secure than WiFi. Stealing Internet trilogy in 2.3 seconds” from your neighbor using LiFi would of energy. Gamma rays possess so much energy that acute exposures require you to break and enter, or at can cause serious damage to humans the very least, hold your laptop out– they also created the Hulk.

Early in 2015, research studies side of an open window.

On the other end of the spectrum showed that LiFi could achieve data LiFi’s inability to transfer across are the very long and low-energy transfer rates as high as 28 gigabytes rooms also decreases the likelihood radio waves. Many forms of commu- per second in the most optimal con- of interference between electronic already set its eye on LiFi. A post on nication utilize radio waves, includ- ditions and settings. To put it in devices. This is attractive for use in Twitter shows a piece of code from ing WiFi. LiFi, however, is a form of perspective, LiFi would allow me to places with sensitive equipment like the iOS 9.1 firmware that is labeled visible light communication that uses transfer the extended edition of the hospitals, planes, and nuclear power ‘LiFi Capability.’ Because of this, it is the same range of radiation our eyes Lord of the Rings trilogy in 2.3 seconds. plants. Organizations that deal with speculated that the iPhone 7 will be are fine-tuned to detect.

An Estonian startup company sensitive information may also be bet- LiFi-compatible.

Being on Apple’s radar is never LiFi signals are produced by took LiFi out of the lab for some real ter off using LiFi within the confines a bad thing – the company is doing f lickering light emitting diodes world tests around the same time. In of their offices.

(LED). This flickering is too fast to their tests, LiFi achieved data transIt seems as though Apple has well. They recently reported a first

GRAPHIC BY BRAM KEAST

quarter profit US$18.4 billion.

Ultimately, any LED light source that can be outfitted with a controller microchip could be turned into a LiFi hotspot. As Haas described in a 2011 TED Talk, in the future every single light bulb in the world could be not only a source of illumination, but information as well.

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Science & Technology

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

Your brain on anxiety It makes you slip up and walk to the left JEREMIAH YARMIE, STAFF

side of the body.

If an individual was feeling confident and goal-oriented, they walked with a rightward bias.

If an individual was feeling confident and goal-oriented, they walked with a rightward bias

GRAPHIC BY JONDELL COOMBS

A

nxiety can produce some unusual behaviours. Two recently published studies looked into why our brains make us do particular things when we are anxious. One group found that the anxious brain tends to make us veer to the left as we walk, while the other group characterized the underpinning of performance anxiety.

Why anxiety makes us walk to the left

Research out of the University of Kent led by Mario Weick investi-

gated whether an anxious brain has spatial bias – that is, a preference for a direction in three-dimension space.

The study, published in Cognition, involved blindfolding research subjects and having them walk six metres across a room in a straight line.

Individuals that self-reported as feeling anxious and vulnerable walked with a leftward bias. These anxiety-associated feelings are associated with increased activity in the right prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for controlling the left

This rightward bias is caused by asymmetrical dopaminergic signaling activity in the left prefrontal cortex – dopamine is a brain reward chemical, which makes you feel good for doing something “beneficial.”

Individuals feeling confident, but also anxious – yes, you can feel both – did not have the rightward bias.

It seems as though anxiety acts as a sort of circuit breaker for spatial bias.

The findings of this study may be implicated in individuals who have right unilateral neglect – they favour their left side, or, in extreme cases, lack awareness of their right side altogether.

Anxiety reduction would not only help balance these people out mentally, but spatially as well.

How our brains cause performance anxiety

Scientists associated with the Brighton and Sussex Medical School investigated why it is harder to play clarinet at an audition or a recital compared to practising at home.

It’s all about being watched.

Published in Scientific Reports, the study used Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to observe changes in brain activity caused by being observed during performance.

The participants were tasked with gripping an object using a particular strength.

While laying inside of the MRI machines, the subjects were presented with a video of two researchers either evaluating their performance, which was communicated by staring directly forward, seemingly towards the subject, or another participant on a different monitor off to the side.

The individuals who were being observed reported being more anxious than the control individuals.

The anxiety-induced subjects had higher force outputs, holding more tightly in the gripping test.

Increased force output in response to being observed is beneficial in performances of simple tasks like sprinting or powerlifting, but causes us to fumble while doing finer tasks, like playing musical instruments.

The inferior parietal cortex is a

region of the brain involved in fine functions like grasping and manipulating objects. It is what allows us to rehearse a piano piece or play a video game.

The inferior parietal cortex forms a connection with the posterior superior temporal sulcus, a region of the brain that allows us to gauge the thoughts and feelings of others by analyzing their facial emotions and the direction of their gaze.

This brain connection is called the action-observation network, which connects our fine muscle performances to our evaluation of any observers.

If the posterior superior temporal sulcus picks up positive signals from their observers, it lets the inferior parietal cortex know the good news, ultimately benefiting a performance.

Negative cues, however, cause the action-observation network to shut down. This derails a performance, as it causes the inferior parietal cortex to turn off.

It’s almost as if the brain is hotwired to burn it all down at the first sign of bad vibes from the audience.

Next time you find yourself anxious, you can consider the science behind it and perhaps understand your body’s response.

Materials that self-heal and shapeshift New innovations in physics and chemistry CHANTELLE DUBOIS, STAFF

improvements that can completely change and displace old ones suddenly. Here’s a look at a few interesting developments in the world of materials science.

Self-healing and selfstiffening material

GRAPHIC BY BRAM KEAST

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aterials science is the study of new materials through the lens of interdisciplinary science and engineering. The discipline requires knowledge of chemistry, physics, and engineering to create innovative

materials that can make cars lighter, tools stronger, or solar panels more efficient.

Newly-developed material technology can be disruptive in nature, meaning it can lead to creating

The material’s stiffening and absorption properties can be adjusted by adding more liquid or solid. The researchers believe the material will prove useful in biomedical and structural engineering applications.

Newly developed

Researchers at Rice University in Houston, Texas have developed what material technology they call a self-adaptive composite can be disruptive (SAC) by combining polymers and solvent and heating them. After the in nature, creating excess liquid is evaporated away, a improvements that porous, viscous material is left behind with interesting properties. When can completely the material is compressed or put change and under stress, it is able to return to its original shape. displace old ones The material is made using polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), a liquid, which is encapsulated by polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) to The study was published in the form tiny spheres. Creating a spon- American Chemical Society Journal and gey structure, the material is able to received support from the Air Force absorb stress and return to its ori- Office of Scientific Research and the ginal shape by allowing the spheres Department of Defense. to move around each other, but still remain attached. It’s similar to how Shape-shifting material water molecules are able to easily A team from Zhejiang University, move between each other.

China have created a material

which can shift into multiple forms by applying or removing heat. The material is programmed to take on various shapes through covalent bond exchange.

The material uses two properties to achieve this: elastic deformation and plastic deformation. Elastic deformation is a temporary deformation of a material, while plastic deformation is more permanent.

The material reacts and shape shifts when different temperatures are applied. This causes the covalent bonds to change their behaviours.

In a video demonstration online, the researchers show a piece of material that starts as an origami swan. When exposed to infrared heating, it flattens out in a square piece of material. Further exposure to the infrared heating then causes the material to shape itself into an origami flower. All of this is done through heat exposure alone, using the properties of the material.

Shape shifting materials can be useful in medicine by creating temperature-sensitive medical devices.

VOL. 102 NO. 21 February 3, 2016

Science & Technology 15

Study suggests no link between taking prenatal antidepressant use and autism in offspring Depression may be the culprit MALAK ABAS, STAFF

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recent study suggests there is no ADHD born of women who took evident link between pregnant antidepressants prior to pregnancy, women taking antidepressants and there was no increase in either condithe risk of their child subsequently tion where women took antidepresdeveloping autism spectrum disorder sants while pregnant. or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), contrary to previous concerns.

Maternal The study, performed by a research team in the Massachusetts General psychotherapy, Hospital, also found that the appearhowever, was ance of an increased risk is most likely indicative of the severity of associated with a the woman’s depression, which is already considered a risk factor for heightened risk of many neurological conditions, rather the child developing than a side effect of antidepressants.

This research, published in the Jan. either disorder, which 5 issue of Translational Psychiatry, is caused a conflict connected to a study published in Molecular Psychiatry in 2014 that analyzed the electronic health records of Maternal psychotherapy, therapy thousands of children. Researchers that is considered a treatment often found a connection between prenatal used by people who have severe exposure to antidepressants and chil- depression, was associated with a dren developing ADHD, although heightened risk of the child developthe study did not find a link to autism. ing either disorder. While antidepresNow, however, the link seems less sants themselves revealed inconsistent consistent. The 2016 study, which results, the chance of a mother receivrefers to the 2014 results as being ing therapy and their child having “without clear mechanistic explana- autism or ADHD coincided. tion,” also reviewed electronic health This led the research team to records. The study used a 1:3 ratio of believe that the link’s inconsistenchildren with autism or ADHD to cies stemmed from the fact that the children without any neurological connecting factor was not antidepresdisorder to compare data. sants, but depression itself. Pregnant The study also took socio-demo- women who may need psychotherapy graphic factors into account, noting while pregnant are more likely to factors such as the age of the parents have children with either disorder. and children, ethnicities, and socioBoth studies were authored by economic status.

Roy Perlis, the medical director of the While there seemed to be an Bipolar Clinic and Research Program increase of children with autism or in the department of psychiatry at

GRAPHIC BY KELLY CAMPBELL

the Massachusetts General Hospital.

Perlis says that both studies lend to the possibility that the severity of the parent’s depression is a risk factor.

“The fact that we now have found, in two large case-control studies, no increase in the risk for autism with antidepressant use itself should be very reassuring,” Perlis said in an

interview with MD Magazine.

“Some of the studies that have suggested an association did not account for key differences between mothers who take antidepressants and those who don’t, in particular that those taking antidepressants are more likely to have more severe illness.”

Perlis hopes the results of this

study will reassure women about seeking treatment for anxiety or depression during their pregnancies.

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

GRAPHIC BY BRAM KEAST

COMIC BY KELLY CAMPBELL

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VOL. 102 NO. 21 February 3, 2016

GRAPHIC BY JONDELL COOMBS

GRAPHIC BY BRAM KEAST

Diversions

17

Arts & Culture

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

18

New theatre christened with complex comedy Black Hole Theatre Company makes debut performance in new venue TOBI NIFESI, STAFF

dilemma is as human beings, but production at the Conklin Theatre, doing so in a way that is not just rec- the new performance space in the ognizable, but also funny and sharp, newly redesigned Taché Hall. The and sometimes painful. Anyone that theatre opened for business with the watches this can say ‘that is some- debut performance of the play, and thing I know about or something I Toles says the new space is everything think about.’” he hoped it would be.

“The theatre is exceptionally beautiful, and any student who feels “By the time you there is not much to look at or do on campus should give that theatre a are finished, you look – not just as a spectator, but to consider getting involved in theatre,” will feel like you’ve said Toles. had a seven-course Prior to Taché Hall, the BHTC performed out of a small theatre life meal” – George space on the 100 level of University Toles, film studies College for years.

“I have been [at the old theatre] professor, U of M since 1976 [...] I will always have an attachment to it but I am very ready As the play’s director, Toles had to to move to another place,” said Toles.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE BLACK HOLE THEATRE COMPANY push himself as well as his cast and “Expect to be surprised, delighted, crew to connect with the plot, charac- and moved. First you think the comhe U of M’s Black Hole Theatre much so that he sought the rights to for me is the ideal combination.” ters, and setting while fostering faith edy would carry the day, but then it Like Our Town, Middletown is a in the abilities of one another.

Company (BHTC) is currently have one of Eno’s plays performed at will go into deeper places. By the time performing Middletown, a drama the university and directed it himself. fictional satire set in a small town “It is so important with casting you are finished, you will feel like written by Pulitzer Prize finalist “I am always on the lookout for whose inhabitants have become too to get students or anyone playing a you’ve had a seven-course life meal.”

Will Eno. The production – which a great contemporary play [...] or a familiar with its stagnant and pedes- role to feel trust. Trust with fellow premiered on Jan. 26 and ran until Jan. new playwright whose work is chal- trian nature. actors, with the director, and with Middletown is currently playing at the 30, and will run again from Feb. 2 to lenging in a manner that I have not Toles believes Middletown is themselves. They have to feel their Conklin Theatre, located on the 300 level 6 – is the inaugural performance of already encountered,” Toles told the a humorous and contemporary collaboration is vital to their success,” of Taché Hall (162 Dafoe Road). The BHTC at the new Conklin Theatre Manitoban. reworking of Wilder’s classic, and said Toles. show starts at 7 p.m. on Feb. 2 and at 8 in the redesigned Taché Hall.

“I read a summary online of that Winnipeggers can easily relate Existentialism is a common p.m. on Feb. 3-6.

Eno is a renowned American play- Middletown and it immediately to its characters and setting. theme in Eno’s plays. Middletown wright whose works include Thom intrigued me, because it seems to “Our opening night confirmed is no exception, as Toles confirms. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for stuPain, The Open House, and Title and have so much conscious allusion to that this play has very wide doors. Toles says the play attempts to bal- dents/seniors, and can be purchased at Deed. Charles Isherwood described Thornton Wilder’s American play Audiences of almost any kind can ance and answer several questions the door or in advance. For reservahim in the New York Times as “the Our Town [...] so I got hold of the play find – rather quickly and readily – an about life, birth, and existences while tions and group discounts, contact the Samuel Beckett for the Jon Stewart and thought it was beautifully written, orientation and identification point,” simultaneously affirming the beauty theatre’s box office at 204-474-6880. generation.” of being alive. demanding [...] and if done properly said Toles.

Eno’s works impressed U of M [the performance] could be both “All of the characters are trying Toles is excited to have a work film studies professor George Toles so hilarious and heartbreaking, which to say as best as they can what their with such complex themes be the first

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Devil’s doubled debut Local roots/rock and roll singer Romi Mayes talks new tour, vinyl re-release OLIVIA MICHALCZUK, STAFF

PHOTO BY ANTHONY FERNANDO

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n Friday, Feb. 5th, local rock and roll musician Romi Mayes will be releasing her sixth album Devil on Both Shoulders on vinyl at the Park Theatre.

Mayes is a lyrical treasure of the Prairies and has the hardware to prove it. Throughout her music career

Mayes has racked up a list of awards, including three Western Canadian Music Awards for Songwriter of the Year, two Western Canadian Music Awards for Album of The Year, and a Juno nomination for Album of the Year.

The vinyl release of Devil on Both

Shoulders is taking place about eight months after the album’s initial release on CD. “I had always planned to put it out on vinyl, but it just took a while to put the time and money and focus into making that a reality,” said Mayes.

“Grant Siemens’s production on the album will transfer perfectly to vinyl. I think the album was made to be heard that way.”

Music critics across the country have praised Devil on Both Shoulders as being a bluesy take on Mayes’s typical roots style.

Mayes makes a living as a fulltime musician, touring often and treating her hometown audience in Winnipeg to frequent shows.

“The only way to be a full-time musician is to play full time. You definitely need to find the balance of home life and touring life, but I think you need both to sustain a living.”

With fingers crossed on a Juno

nomination, Mayes will be touring throughout Canada and the United States, strumming through Saskatchewan and Alberta to join in the Juno celebrations followed by a trip south of the border to the central and southern states.

“Grant Siemens’s production on the album will transfer perfectly to vinyl.

I think the album was made to be heard that way” – Romi Mayes While on the road, Mayes tries to maintain her creativity in support of

creating music in the future.

“I’m always doing a little writing here and there, but it’s usually after a couple years and about 10 to 15 solid songs that I feel ready to think about another album,” Mayes explained.

Mayes stays so busy with touring, press, and creating music, that thinking about a new album is a goal that’s not at the front of her mind.

“It’s good to let an album play out until you’re antsy and ready with enough energy to give another one its fair commitment,” said Mayes.

“Until then, if you are lucky enough, you just ride the coattails of your most recent recording as long as it allows you to.”

Doors for Romi Mayes’ vinyl release open at 8 p.m., with music at 9 p.m.

Tickets are $12 in advance and can be purchased online via www.ticketfly. com or in person at the Park Theatre or Music Trader.

VOL. 102 NO. 21 February 3, 2016

Arts & Culture

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Interstellar imaginations come to life Multimedia exhibition on Saturn’s orbit opens at local gallery TOBI NIFESI, STAFF

From now until March 12, Winnipeggers will be thrilled by a new multimedia exhibition at PLATFORM centre for photographic + digital arts, located at 121-100 Arthur St. in the Exchange District. The exhibition, Imaging Saturn, is a new longterm project of Regina-based media and visual artist Risa Horowitz.

Horowitz’s vast experience in media and visual arts has seen her live and work in seven provinces as an artist, writer, educator, and gallery programmer. Several of her works have been exhibited in Canada and abroad, including at the Canada House in London. Her recent works have seen the incorporation of astronomy and astrophotography. Imaging Saturn is a product of these explorations.

Imaging Saturn is a full-fledged artistic experience. This new multimedia installation focuses on Saturn, its 29.42-year orbit (2011-2040), and the apparent path of the sun, surrounding stars, and the planet itself through space in that time frame.

“In 2010, on the night of my PhD comprehensive exam, a friend mentioned that the observatory on campus [at York University] was open for public visitation. I had never looked through a telescope before [...] When

we looked at Saturn, it made me cry,” Horowitz told the Manitoban.

“It really had an effect on me that light from the sun had travelled all that way, bounced off Saturn, and came through the lens and had gone to my brain through my eyes. It made it very real for me to see it that way.”

“Saturn’s gorgeous, and it turns out that for so many amateur astronomers, it’s Saturn that turns them on” – Risa Horowitz The stellar installation includes yearly photographs of Saturn, an accurate mapping of the ecliptic (the sun’s path with respect to Saturn), a mechanized orbiter of Saturn, kinetic sculptures that represent each year of Saturn’s orbit, and a 10-minute video representation of Saturn’s orbit.

“Saturn’s gorgeous, and it turns out that for so many amateur astronomers, it’s Saturn that turns them on. For me,

because I am an artist, [when I saw Saturn] I very quickly started imagining how I might make something very interesting as a body of art,” said Horowitz.

Horowitz teamed up with local kinetic artist Ray Peterson to build the orbiter, and enlisted a handful of others to provide studio and technical assistance. Video Pool Media Arts Centre will present the exhibition in collaboration with PLATFORM. Imaging Saturn is more than a representation of scientific or engineering concepts. The essence of the PHOTO BY BRAM KEAST project is rooted in themes of participatory science and data visualization and Horowitz hopes it blurs the “As a conceptual artist, a good deal “[PLATFORM] started in 1981 boundaries between the training that of my works has to do with ideas – not [...] and we have always exhibited defines experts and the enthusiasm so much objects that are decorated photography. As times change, so or beautiful. I am very motivated did photography, and so did we. Now that defines amateurs.

“There is such a distinction that we by ideas. I threw away a lot of ideas we show any sort of lens-based works make between disciplines of knowl- before I came to this piece,” said – anything that challenges the idea of lens-based practices,” Zipp told the edge as if scientists are not deeply Horowitz. creative, or artists are not deeply After Imaging Saturn’s premiere in Manitoban.

“This is a show that explores the intellectual or inquisitive people [...] Winnipeg has passed, the exhibition This is a nice way to bridge those dis- will find its way to galleries across different aspects of lens-based art ciplinary gaps,” said Horowitz. the country. making and technology, so it really PLATFORM’s director Collin helps to fulfill our mandate.”

In curating the exhibit, Horowitz came up with several abstract ideas, Zipp believes that Horowitz’s exhimany of which had to be discarded bition fulfills the set mandate of the For more information about the exhibefore the final display was decided centre, which made the collaborative bition, visit www.platformgallery.org on. process seamless.

A more intimate musical interview New UMFM program gets to know local artists beyond their art OLIVIA MICHALCZUK, STAFF

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ocal musician and blogger Ashley Bieniarz is challenging the conventional music interview form with her new show on 101.5 UMFM, Winnipeg Music Project.

On this podcast turned radio show, Bieniarz gives listeners an opportunity to hear more in-depth conversations with successful local musicians about their lives, their art, and their accomplishments.

Winnipeg Music Project airs on UMFM every Wednesday between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m., and is posted in podcast form to Bieniarz’s personal website.

It began as a personal project to conquer stage fright and performance anxiety, but Bieniarz’s show is a valuable tool for fans of local music, as well as musicians both emerging and established. The show explores the artist on a more personal level than simply their next album, show, or tour, and uses their music as a vehicle to navigate through the artist’s experiences.

Essentially, other music interviewers might ask for the CliffsNotes where Bieniarz wants to read the book.

“I asked questions I wanted answered instead of focusing on what people might want to read about. I want to know what kind of train-

ing they have, how they got involved with the music community, and if they had any advice to share with other musicians who either look up to them or want to follow the same path,” explained Bieniarz.

Winnipeg Music Project. She creates a very welcoming atmosphere for artists to share their story – sitting down with her was a real pleasure,” McKillop told the Manitoban.

Bieniarz initially focused on booking solo guests, but recently got the chance to sit down with local rockers “I asked questions I Summer Dwellers to face her fears, a common theme in the creation of the wanted answered Winnipeg Music Project. instead of focusing “When I was still doing written interviews on my blog, the idea of on what people a full band talking all at once terrimight want to fied me because it would be insane to transcribe everything effectively,” read about” – said Bieniarz.

Ashley Bieniarz “Now that I don’t have to worry about that barrier, I’m all for meeting with the whole band. I could focus on “Being a songwriter myself, I really hearing everyone’s different point of like to ask what kind of music they view of being in the band and expelisten to, and what inspires them to riences they’ve gained since they’ve GRAPHIC BY BRAM KEAST write. I’m always willing to learn joined the band.” new songwriting styles, and tips to Winnipeg Music Project is still only any genre no matter how big or small the episodes naturally move and improve my own songwriting.” a few months along, and Bieniarz is their project is, so I can say that you’ll building off of that. I want the interLocal folk/country guitarist hoping to change up the program always be in for a surprise as to how views to be as fluid and as natural as Logan McKillop was featured in little by little so that she can ride the amazing and diverse the Winnipeg possible, without it feeling like I’m a recent interview where he talked wave of her successful format. music scene really is.” pulling questions out of thin air.” about his touring experiences, song“I don’t really know where the show Most recently, Winnipeg Music writing, and performance opportun- is going. I’ve been taken by surprise Project has expanded to an hour- To learn more about Winnipeg ities among many other things. so many times that I can’t make any long timeslot, giving listeners twice Music Project and download the “Ashley is invested in showcas- promises,” she said. as much material from Bieniarz and latest episodes, visit www.umfm. ing the heart and soul of Winnipeg “I know that I’m always willing her guests. com or www.ashleybieniarz.com/ musicians through her work with the to have new bands and artists from “Right now, I’m just seeing where about-winnipeg-music-project

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Arts & Culture

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

21

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

Omoerah and Alexander shine as Bisons sweep Regina at home Men’s basketball improve to 11-5 on the season MIKE STILL, STAFF

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he University of Manitoba Bisons made a huge statement this past weekend, defeating the Regina Cougars in both matchups at Investors Group Athletic Centre.

Keith Omoerah and Jonathan Alexander led the charge – performing admirably on the glass with Wyatt Anders fighting through an injury – and also played aggressively on both sides of the court. Omoerah was particularly impressive, finishing with a double-double in both contests.

Friday

said postgame.

“We feel like we have some of the best guard play in the conference and especially when Flash [Ilarion Bonhomme II] is healthy, but at the same time so does Regina with the two Tull Brothers and Igual and [Aaron] McGowan off the bench they’re right there with us, so we just really wanted to attack them and fortunately we were able to get them into foul trouble and get rolling in the first half.”

Trailing by as much as 15 points, the Cougars were able to trim the Bisons’ lead down to as little as two in the fourth quarter. However, that’s when Alexander came alive, scoring nine of his 14 points in the final six minutes of play, including an emphatic dunk to close things off as the home side pulled out an 89-82 win.

Heading into the weekend, Manitoba knew they’d need to shut down the Tull brothers – Brandon and Jonathan – and they did just that. Jonathan had just eight points all night while Brandon finished with 15 – however seven of those points occurred in the final 10 minutes.

Omoerah, AJ Basi, and Justus Saturday Alleyn did a tremendous job defenThe rematch saw Manitoba’s sively. Along with the Tull brothers, starting five put on a show as each shifty Cougars guard Alex Igual was starter scored a minimum of 12 points. also shut down, scoring just nine Alleyn led the way with 13 overall in a points and shooting 3-of-14 from game where the herd never took their the field. foot off the gas pedal, dominating Basi was the catalyst on offence for from start to finish in a 77-63 victory.

Manitoba with a game-high 27 points The Bisons were able to shut off of 5-of-10 shooting from three- down Regina’s three playmaking point range. He was also a perfect guards once more and also won the 8-for-8 from the free throw line in a rebounding battle a night after being game where the Bisons never trailed dominated on the glass. Omoerah after the first quarter. and Alexander were spectacular, both “What we were really looking for recording a double-double. The forwas to exploit our guard play,” Basi mer had a game-high 18 boards along

PHOTO BY CHANTAL ZDAN

with 12 points a night after amassing output and he did just that, scoring 16 points and 14 rebounds, while the Manitoba’s first eight points on the latter tallied 12 points and 10 boards. night and finishing with 12 overall.

Cumulatively, the home side had As a team, Manitoba shot a strong 53 rebounds compared to 42 for the 44.6 per cent while the Cougars were visitors. an abysmal 28.4 per cent. Their leadWith Anders sitting out the sec- ing scorer was Jonathan Tull with 12 ond game, Brett Jewell was looked points, however he shot just 5-of-15 upon to provide some offensive from the field.

With the sweep, Manitoba now sits in third place in the standings with just two weekend series left.

Next up is a tilt with cross-town rivals Winnipeg in the Duckworth Challenge this coming weekend.

Men’s volleyball split in Kamloops

Bisons’ losing streak continues

The herd drops a game against the WolfPack, Dear continues to dominate

Manitoba swept by Thompson Rivers

LAUREN SIDDALL AND RYAN STELTER, STAFF

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he weekend brought a tough matchup against the Thompson Rivers WolfPack for the Bisons men’s volleyball team. The fourthranked Bisons were able to put away one of two games, after dropping a four-set decision on Saturday.

four digs of his own.

While the Bisons got another win under their belt, it was not a freebie. According to coach Garth Pischke, the Wolf Pack always brings the heat, especially with fifth-year right side Brad Gunter in their corner – a CIS and Canada Friday West all-star for the 2014-15 season, The Bisons men’s volleyball team despite missing half the year with won a tough four-set match against an injury. He proved why Pischke Thompson Rivers on Friday night, flagged him as “the one to watch,” winning the game (23-25, 25-18, putting up 22 points for Thompson 25-21, 34-32). The intense back-and- Rivers with 19 kills, six digs, and a forth action gave both teams a taste service ace. of playoff volleyball.

Devren Dear, a fourth-year Saturday right side hitter, led the herd with Jan. 30 saw the Bisons men’s vol23 kills and 42 swings on the night, leyball team round out the weekend along with four digs. Left side hit- series. After a good performance ter Adam DeJonckheere put up on Friday, the herd was unable to nine kills in 25 attempts, as well as come up with a second win, losing

RYAN STELTER, STAFF

in four sets (25-10, 21-25, 25-27, 23-25).

After a dominant display in the first set, which saw the Bisons win by an astonishing 15 points, they were edged out in the next three by very close margins. The WolfPack only outscored the Bisons by a meagre five points.

Devren Dear scored 25 kills on the evening, his best output of the season so far. Dear also led Manitoba with 11 digs and five blocks – a stellar performance from the six-foot-six player.

Next up for the Bisons is the much-anticipated Duckworth challenge, a home-and-home against crosstown rivals Winnipeg.

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he Bisons women’s volleyball team’s losing streak continues, as the Thompson Rivers WolfPack took six of seven sets this weekend.

With the losses, the herd drops to a 2-16 record and have now lost their last seven games.

Saturday

On Saturday, the herd attempted to salvage something of the weekend, but the WolfPack dispatched the herd in three straight sets to sweep the weekend.

Manitoba was completely out of sorts in this one, coming up Friday just short in every set (22-25, 13-25, On Friday night, the University 17-25). Tori Studler led the line for of Manitoba Bisons women’s vol- the herd with seven kills, and now leyball team played out a 3-1 loss averages 2.02 kills per set on the (17-25, 20-25, 26-24, 19-25) to the season. Kalena Schulz and Haille Thompson Rivers Wolf Pack. Bujan each had 10 digs, enough for Haille Bujan of Anola, Man., team best on the evening. led the Bisons with eight kills on The women will be tasked the night and once again, libero with facing off against local Caleigh Dobie led the herd with 12 Canada West rivals the Winnipeg digs. Manitoba was outscored 81-53 Wesmen as they play the 25th and was dominated in just about annual Duckworth Challenge next every statistical category. weekend.

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Sports

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

Bisons and Huskies split weekend series in women’s hockey The herd’s 3-0 win on Saturday snaps four-game losing skid ANDY CHE, STAFF

second period. Brooklyn Haubrich weaved possession toward the Bisons’ goal and beat Dyck for a commanding 3-0 lead after 40 minutes.

Meanwhile, the Bisons managed to outshoot the Huskies 13-8 after two frames, but had yet to be rewarded.

Saskatchewan goaltender Cassidy Hendricks was square to the Bisons on every attempt on goal heading into the second intermission.

“Heading into Calgary next weekend, we are going to take this energy and use it against them” – Alana Serhan

PHOTO BY CHANTAL ZDAN

his weekend the Bisons wom- Friday en’s hockey team were looking The Bisons could not manage to to snag a win after three successive break free of a three-game losing losses – one on the road to the Mount skid heading into Friday’s matchup Royal Cougars and two in successive against the Saskatchewan Huskies. home games against the Lethbridge After 60 minutes, the Bisons had Pronghorns. Friday’s contest only extended that unwanted losing streak served to extend the losing streak, to four games. which was finally snapped Saturday.

Looking to take advantage of an increasingly goal-desperate Bisons team, the Huskies drew first blood

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just before the midway point of the first period. Shyan Elias managed her first goal of the season, finishing off of a scramble in front of Rachel Dyck’s net.

A minute-and-a-half later, the Huskies doubled their lead when Lauren Zary scored her seventh of the season.

The Huskies were able to make good on their few chances of the

Manitoba began to inflict heavy pressure on Saskatchewan in the third period, outshooting the opposition 10-1. Yet, like so many times already this season, the Bisons found their energy too late in the game.

Alanna Sharman destroyed Hendrick’s bid for a shutout, however Manitoba ultimately dropped the game 3-1. The herd can take a positive note from an otherwise unsatisfactory performance, having held their opponents to under 10 shots.

Hendricks made 22 saves for the victory, while Dyck made just six saves on nine shots in the defeat.

Saturday

The Bisons snapped a four-game losing streak in an emphatic way Saturday afternoon. Hosting the Saskatchewan Huskies in the second game of the weekend series,

Manitoba clinched a 3-0 win – their fifth shutout victory of the season.

Coach Jon Rempel opted to swap netminders for the matchup, replacing orthodox starter Rachel Dyck – who gave up three goals on nine shots the previous game – with Amanda Schubert. The Bisons’ backup has posted stellar numbers this season, including a 0.91 goals against average and .959 save percentage in six appearances.

Midway through the first period, the Bisons took the lead on the powerplay when Saskatchewan’s Rachel Johnson took an interference penalty. Caitlyn Fyten tallied her second of the season with Karissa Kirkup drawing the lone assist.

The Bisons then effectively killed off a trio of penalties in the second period to keep their lead intact heading into the third frame.

The home team did not let up and doubled their lead shortly after the restart. Charity Price scored her fourth goal of the season just under two minutes into the third period.

Midway through the period, Lauren Keen scored an unassisted goal to kill any hopes the Huskies had at materializing a late comeback.

Schubert starred when Manitoba needed her the most, making 21 saves for the shutout. Cassidy Hendricks stopped 16 of 19 in the Saskatchewan net.

Bisons forward Alana Serhan expressed the momentum the herd had gained for the rest of the season during the postgame.

“Winning was huge and the shutout was a bonus that really showed how hard we worked,” said Serhan.

“Heading into Calgary next weekend, we are going to take this energy and use it against them.”

Bisons get steamrolled by Huskies in men’s hockey 10th-ranked Saskatchewan beats Manitoba in weekend series RYAN STELTER, STAFF

I

n a weekend matchup in Saskatchewan, the Bisons men’s hockey team was unable to break the Huskies’ winning streak, securing a playoff position for Saskatchewan.

With the losses, the Bisons’ record drops to 10-12-2.

Friday

On Jan. 29, the Bisons played the first of a two-game series against the 10th-ranked team in Canada, the Saskatchewan Huskies. The Bisons lost the opening game 8-3.

The game started out well for the herd, when 31 seconds in, Warren Callis scored his fifth goal of the year.

Callis has now registered a point in his last three games. The Huskies

would then explode for four unan- goal of the year by adding a shortswered goals, with two of them com- handed goal midway through the ing off the stick of Andrew Johnson final frame. Cameron Blair rubbed 17 seconds apart. more salt into the wound by scoring Saskatchewan scored their fifth an eighth goal with four minutes left goal at the halfway mark of the sec- in the game. The Huskies ran out 8-3 ond, through a powerplay goal from winners. third-year forward Josh Roach. The A rough start for the Bisons never Bisons would get a powerplay goal allowed them to get into the game, as of their own a minute later from the well as a dominant display from the leading scorer in the Canada West, Huskies on the powerplay didn’t do Jordan DePape. Another powerplay the away side any good. The Huskies goal from the Huskies put them up went three for nine on the evening.

6-2 going into the third period.

The third and final frame saw Saturday more scoring from the Huskies, with The University of Manitoba men’s an unassisted power player marker hockey team lost their second game from Michael Sofillas a minute into against the best team in the Canada the third. Brett Stovin scored his 11th West 5-2 on Saturday. Saskatchewan

extended their winning streak to nine Cable got a goal of his own seven games and has now clinched a playoff minutes into the third to bury the position.

Bisons. Manitoba’s top line put the The Huskies opened up the scor- herd on the board a minute late r ing with six minutes remaining in the when DePape registered his 15th first period through Andrew Johnson, goal of the year. Saskatchewan got who is third in rookie scoring in the their fifth goal at the midway mark Canada West. Kohl Bauml and Levi of the third through second-year forCable would draw the assists on the ward Parker Thomas. Jonah Wasylak goal; the trio of rookies are the one, scored a meaningless goal with a mintwo, and three in rookie scoring this ute remaining in the game to make season. Saskatchewan would only it 5-2. get to add to their lead in the second With the pair of losses, the Bisons period, when Kendell McFaull scored drop below .500 with a 10-12-2 record his fourth goal of the season three . The Bisons welcome the Calgary minutes in. Bauml made it 3-0 for Dinos next weekend in a key matchup the Huskies nine minutes later. He in the standings for both teams. leads all rookies in the Canada West with 32 points.

Sports

VOL. 102 NO. 21 February 3, 2016

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2015-16 Canada West conference standings TEAM Saskatchewan Mount Royal Alberta Calgary Manitoba UBC Lethbridge Regina

TEAM UBC Alberta Regina Saskatchewan Manitoba Lethbridge Mount Royal Calgary

GP 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24

Men’s hockey Men’s Hockey

W 21 15 15 11 10 9 10 5

GP 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24

L 3 6 7 9 12 11 13 19

Women’s Hockey Women’s hockey

W 11 13 11 9 11 9 7 6

L 7 8 8 9 11 11 12 11

TEAM Alberta Calgary Manitoba Winnipeg UBC Saskatchewan Trinity Mount Royal Thompson Rivers Brandon UBC Okanagan MacEwan Regina

GP 20 20 18 18 18 20 18 18 20 18 18 18 20

W 20 17 14 13 12 11 9 8 8 5 3 1 1

TEAM Trinity UBC Okanagan Alberta UBC Thompson Rivers Calgary Mount Royal Brandon Saskatchewan Winnipeg MacEwan Manitoba Regina

GP 18 18 20 18 20 20 18 18 20 18 18 18 20

W 17 17 16 12 11 9 9 9 8 6 5 2 1

TEAM Calgary UBC Manitoba Lethbridge Winnipeg Regina Victoria Alberta Saskatchewan Brandon Trinity

GP 15 16 16 14 14 14 16 15 14 14 14

TEAM Saskatchewan Alberta Regina Calgary Victoria UBC Brandon Winnipeg Trinity Manitoba Lethbridge

GP 14 15 14 15 16 16 14 14 14 16 14

OTL 0 3 2 4 2 4 1 0

OTW 4 0 4 3 0 2 3 3

Men’s Men’s Volleyball volleyball

L 0 3 4 5 6 9 9 10 12 13 15 17 19

Women’s Volleyball Women’s volleyball

L 1 1 4 6 9 11 9 9 12 12 13 16 19

Men’s Basketball (Pioneer Division) Men’s basketball (Pioneer Division) W 12 12 11 9 9 8 7 7 4 1 1

L 3 4 5 5 5 6 9 8 10 13 13

Women’s Basketball (Pioneer Division) Women’s basketball (Pioneer Division) W 14 14 13 11 7 6 6 4 4 1 1

L 0 1 1 4 9 10 6 10 10 15 13

PTS 42 33 32 26 22 22 21 10

OTL 2 3 1 3 2 2 2 4

STRK Won 9 Won 2 Lost 2 Won 4 Lost 2 Lost 4 Won 2 Lost 4

PTS 43 42 42 36 35 33 29 28

STRK Lost 1 Won 1 Won 3 Lost 1 Won 1 Won 1 Lost 4 Lost 1

PTS 40 34 28 26 24 22 18 16 16 10 6 2 2

STRK Won 20 Won 8 Lost 1 Won 6 Won 2 Won 2 Lost 1 Lost 2 Won 1 Lost 4 Lost 7 Lost 14 Lost 19

PTS 34 34 32 24 22 18 18 18 16 12 10 4 2

STRK Won 4 Won 12 Won 2 Lost 2 Won 4 Won 1 Lost 1 Won 6 Won 1 Lost 2 Lost 1 Lost 7 Lost 8

PTS 24 24 22 18 18 16 14 14 8 2 2

STRK Won 8 Won 2 Won 3 Won 2 Won 6 Lost 2 Lost 4 Lost 2 Lost 2 Lost 1 Won 1

PTS 28 28 26 22 14 12 12 8 8 2 2

STRK Won 14 Won 8 Won 8 Won 4 Won 2 Lost 4 Won 1 Lost 2 Lost 1 Lost 2 Lost 3

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Sports

VOL. 102 NO. 21 February 3, 2016

Serhan feeling right at home with the Bisons Crafty forward emerging as a key player after arriving from Saskatchewan in 2013 ANDY CHE, STAFF

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s the University of Manitoba the trip to Winnipeg, and shortly Bisons women’s hockey team afterward I committed,” she said. geared up for their series against the “I had originally wanted to go uniSaskatchewan Huskies on the road versity in Saskatchewan or Regina, last weekend, one player felt right at but looking back now I wouldn’t home. For third-year forward Alana trade my Manitoba experience for Serhan, it was a contest against her anything,” Serhan said. hometown team – the team she Serhan made quite the first would’ve been suiting up for if she impression in her first month of CIS hadn’t met Bisons head coach Jon hockey. Her first point was tallied in Rempel. her fifth game against Mount Royal A native of Porcupine Plain, – a 4-1 victory. The next night, she Saskatchewan, Serhan made the trip scored twice in a 3-0 win. The folto Manitoba for a tournament as a lowing weekend, Serhan was on the grade 11 AAA midget player. It was board again at Calgary. during that tournament that she was However, despite her hot start, introduced to Rempel. The Bisons’ Serhan admitted that there were interest in Serhan continued after obstacles as a CIS rookie in that that, and Serhan ultimately com- 2013-14 season. mitted to the herd before graduating “CIS is fast-paced, intense hockey,” high school.

Serhan said. “In my first year I had “I made my way to the University a hard time adjusting to the levels of of Manitoba thanks to coach Jon training and the speed of the game.

Rempel. Jon approached me after one Now, in my third year, I have transiof the tournament games and asked tioned very well.” me if I have thought about playing Serhan’s progression from a freshuniversity hockey and I said yes. In man to sophomore appeared flawless.

January of my grade 12 year I made Her rookie season of four goals and

11 points included a cold spell of 17 consecutive games without scoring a goal. She had 20 goals and 31 points the following season, though.

“My goal is to have our team be successful and win a championship,” said Serhan. “I think that is everyone’s goal.”

“Aside from winning, I just want to be able to have a team that has fun and gels well together. Although we are all here to play hockey, I still think building friendships between each other is very important and it helps build team chemistry.”

With only five players on the roster having four years of experience or more, there is a greater emphasis on younger players assuming veteran roles. At the midpoint stage of her CIS career, Serhan believes that leadership is a role that can be assumed by any third-year player.

“The reality of being a third-year on our team is that we are all leaders,” Serhan said. “We have a younger team than most and with only two fifth year players, all of our third and

PHOTO BY CHANTAL ZDAN

fourth-year players have to step up and lead.”

Serhan is certainly living up to her standards on the ice, leading the team this season with 11 assists. Her 14 points after 22 games is second on the Bisons behind linemate Alanna Sharman.

The success that the Saskatchewan native has had throughout the past three seasons has been a testament of her attitude on a game-by-game basis.

Serhan takes a positive approach, and the results have shown that she’s

taken the proper mentality to CIS hockey.

“What I think about is what I can do so that I can put my team in a position to win,” Serhan said. “I like to be able to pump the team up and keep the energy positive both on the bench and in the dressing room between periods.”

In retrospect, the decision to join the herd ended up being an invaluable moment in her career – one that is still yet to fully unfold.