7 February 2018

feature

On the road again

Trudeau in Town

Pages 12-13

Comment

Can't stop, won't stop

Independence crucial to functioning newspaper Page 10

arts & Culture

Experimental art fest Forthwith brings variety of creative pieces Page 14 Sports

Stampede!

Bisons bowl over the Pronghorns Page 16

Vo l 1 0 4 · N o 2 2 · F e b r ua ry 7, 2 0 1 8 · w w w.t h e m a n i to b a n .co m

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Index

VOL. 104 NO. 22 February 7, 2018

Editor-in-Chief Garett Williams

editor@themanitoban.com / 474.8293

Business manager Sohni Tappia

accounts@themanitoban.com / 474.6535

Advertising Coordinator Ryan Catte

ads@themanitoban.com / 474.6535

Editorial

Managing Editor Malak Abas

me@themanitoban.com

News Editor Imreet Kaur

news@themanitoban.com / 474.6770

News Editor Shaden Abusaleh

shaden@themanitoban.com/ 474.6770

Comment Editor Shawn Huberdeau

comment@themanitoban.com

arts & Culture Editor Olivia Michalczuk

arts@themanitoban.com

Sports Editor Ryan Stelter

sports@themanitoban.com

Copy Editor Evan Tremblay

copy@themanitoban.com

Design

Design Editor Bram Keast

News

news

Spreading love amidst hate

Winnipeg holds vigil page 5

“My body my choice”

Anti-abortion group kicked off campus page 6

design@themanitoban.com

Graphics Editor Kelly Campbell

graphics@themanitoban.com

Photo Editor Asha Nelson

photo@themanitoban.com

Social Editor Carolyne Kroeker

social@themanitoban.com

Design associate Kellie Huynh graphics associate Ernest Zarzuela pHOTO associate Chantal Zdan pHOTO associate Quincy Houdayer

Reporters

General Assignment Qudus Abusaleh

General Assignment Diana-Abasi Ubokudom Columnist Levi Garber Columnist Kenny Ingram arts & culture Jen Doerksen Sports Jason Pchajek Copy Associate Matthew Doering

Volunteer Contributors

Harman Sandhu Will Gibson Anthony Labonté

comment

Trials of Hercules

MANITOBAN

Winning Labour Board ruling bittersweet for UMFA page 9

109 HELEN GLASS U N I V E R S I T Y O F M A N I TO B A WINNIPEG, MB R3T 2N2

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Check the Manitoban’s website and Facebook page for:

• A video recap of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Winnipeg town hall meeting.

Design Design Editor: Bram Keast Contact: design@themanitoban.com Graphics Editor: Kelly Campbell Contact: graphics@themanitoban.com Photo Editor: Asha Nelson Contact: photo@themanitoban.com

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All contents are ©2016 and may not be reprinted without the express written permission of the Editor-in-Chief.

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News

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News Editors: Imreet Kaur & Shaden Abuselah Contact: news@themanitoban.com / 474.6770

Motion to hold referendum on Manitoban’s funding presented, withdrawn prior to council meeting Evan Tremblay, staff

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motion to hold a referendum they “believe UMSU should remain a on defunding the Manitoban member of the Canadian Federation briefly appeared in the package sent of Students, at a cost of $14.98 per to UMSU councillors in preparation student per year?” In the plebiscite, 64 for council’s Feb. 1 meeting, before per cent of ballots cast indicated supbeing withdrawn little more than a port to remain affiliated with CFS. The Jan. 31 UMSU press release day after it provoked an outpouring of support for the student-run weekly. announcing that the motion to The motion was moved by defund the 104-year-old news orgaCommerce Students’ Association nization had been withdrawn stated representative Cole Parsons and that Parsons' “original intention was called for a referendum, to be held to start a dialogue.” at the same time as the upcoming “I thought perhaps students 2018 UMSU general election, asking wanted an opportunity to re-evaluate students if they “want to continue this service that they pay for, but since funding the Manitoban, at a cost of putting it forward it’s clear that the Manitoban is an important service to $12.19 per student?”

The motion further asked that many students,” Parsons is quoted the referendum question be included as saying.

The Jan. 24 editorial that was cited in a motion to hold a referendum on defunding the Manitoban. “notwithstanding the UMSU Parsons did not respond to a Photo by asha Nelson Governing Documents requirement request for comment. for such motions to be presented by Garett Williams, editor-in-chief ern Canada - pays for itself through sort of transfer it over to, you know, UMSU president Tanjit Nagra, the Executive Committee.” The of the Manitoban, said “To threaten advertising revenues. actual support - direct support for the speaking to Global News on her motion did not cite a reason for the Manitoban’s funding through Manitoban instead.” experience with editorials in the bypassing the regular process for council is to threaten the paper’s “Outpouring of support” The short space of time between student paper, observed that “they’re holding a referendum. independence. By explicitly citing The same day the motion became the motion to defund becoming opinion pieces and I think sometimes Parson’s motion mentioned a an editorial critical of student union public knowledge, the University known to the public and being with- it’s tough for some folks to be able to recent editorial published in the activities, the motion cannot be of Manitoba Board of Governors drawn saw what Malak Abas, manag- understand that.”

Manitoban, the migration of news understood as anything other than approved the closing of the Gradzette, ing editor of the Manitoban, described Williams echoed Nagra’s sentifrom print to digital platforms, and an attack on the paper’s fundamen- with the graduate student levy used as an “outpouring of support.” ment: “If someone disagrees with an what it called a failure of the paper tal freedom to report and comment to support it being re-directed to the This outpouring included an edi- editorial or comment piece published to act as an “impartial campus media on UMSU - a body that represents Manitoban. torial in the University of Winnipeg’s by the Manitoban they are welcome outlet” as reasons for the referendum. 25,000 undergraduates.”

Carl Neumann, president of the student paper, the Uniter, a flurry of to submit an op-ed challenging The editorial in question, “UMSU The levy currently paid by students University of Manitoba Graduate supportive tweets from current and the position. A healthy newspaper plebiscite is politics made petty,” to support the Manitoban largely goes Students’ Association, speaking to former students of the U of M, and fosters debate within its pages and appeared in the Jan. 24 issue of the to equipment and salaries, since the the importance of what he called coverage by the Winnipeg Free Press, the Mantioban strives to meet that paper and questioned the motivations print edition of the paper - one of “independent media,” said “we wanted the Winnipeg Sun, CTV News, and standard.” behind a plebiscite asking students if the largest student papers in west- to not just eliminate that fee, but just Global News.

Grad student paper to disband Motion to transfer funds to the Manitoban passed unanimously Malak Abas, staff

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he University of Manitoba Board of Governors held a meeting Jan. 30 where, among other motions, the University of Manitoba Graduate Students’ Association (UMGSA) carried a motion to disband the Gradzette and alter the student levy that supported it. Former Gradzette funds will now go directly to the Manitoban.

The Gradzette was originally the graduate students’ official student magazine, and had been published monthly by The Manitoban Newspaper Publications Corporation.

However, due to decreased readership, it was unable to publish a print edition early last year. They ceased publishing online in May 2017.

While the operating funds have always gone through the Manitoban, rather than transferring said funds to the Gradzette, they will now remain within the Manitoban. The change will have no effect on the student fees paid by graduate students.

U MGSA president Carl Neumann said the changes were a natural progression of events.

“The Gradzette wasn’t serving our purposes, in our case, because the readership was very low, it wasn’t really reaching out,” Neumann said.

“Personally speaking, I’m always really supportive of independent media, and I think that’s really important to have out there” Carl Neumann, UMGSA president “It wasn’t so much news as it was trying to report on grad student research, which is all fine and good, but our intention, as you may know, is to feature some grad student research on our own website instead.”

Neumann explained that part

photo by asha nelson

of why the levy made sense to the UMGSA was because of the Manitoban’s prior work and its role in campus media.

“Personally speaking, I’m always really supportive of independent media, and I think that’s really important to have out there,” he said.

“So that’s part of why I sort of initiated discussions of this and then got other people to agree, obviously.”

The motion was passed unanimously by UMGSA council, which Neumann called “definitely a good thing,” while also noting that

UMGSA research could be better as well.” promoted through the association's “That’s definitely an important part own website. of why we wanted to not just elimiNeumann said the additional nate that fee, but just sort of transfer funding going towards the Manitoban, it over to, you know, actual support rather than being eliminated entirely, - direct support for the Manitoban was important to the UMGSA board. instead.”

“It’s important to have that sort of UMGSA is now looking at ways independent voice to hold all of us to to work with the Manitoban to account,” he said. increase visibility of graduate student “And just to sort of make sure affairs, including advertising both on people are informed about what’s the Manitoban website and within going on - whether it’s, you know, the print issue. in the UMGSA, with UMSU, with the university, and obviously beyond

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News

News Editors: Imreet Kaur & Shaden Abuselah Contact: news@themanitoban.com / 474.6770

Students vote to continue CFS membership More than 64 per cent of ballots cast voted against defederation in Jan. 31-Feb. 2 plebiscite Qudus Abusaleh, staff

UMSU Governance and Operations amendments At its regular council meeting, Feb. 1, UMSU approved a series of changes to its Governance and Operations Manual.

UMSU’s governance committee presented a list of amendments at a previous meeting in January, which included changing the titles of the aboriginal student representative and the re-addition of the student senate caucus.

The caucus provides an open forum for student senators to discuss the affairs of the U of M senate and to further complement advocacy and student representation efforts on campus.

All amendments were grouped together in a single motion and approved unanimously by council members.

photo by asha nelson

U

niversity of Manitoba students years and we thank the students for have indicated they wish to con- the confidence.” tinue membership with the Canadian Established in 1981, CFS is the Federation of Students. largest student advocacy associaStudents voted in a non-binding tion in Canada. With over 650,000 plebiscite last week asking if they post-secondary students represented, “believe UMSU should remain a the association spearheads student member of the Canadian Federation advocacy at the federal and provincial of Students, at a cost of $14.98 per levels. student per year?”

CFS has been lobbying countryAfter voting closed Feb. 2, 3,877 wide to challenge tuition increases votes has been cast, with 64.6 per cent - including Manitoba’s Advanced in favour of continuing membership. Education Administration Act, 35.4 per cent were against and 8.8 per which lifted the cap on tuition hikes cent abstained. and removed restrictions on courseOnline votes were tallied on umsu. related fees. The bill passed its final simplyvoting.com and a polling sta- reading in November. tion was set up in front of the student Universities in Manitoba are now union office in the UMSU University free to increase tuition by five per cent Centre. plus inflation annually, beginning in UMSU president Tanjit Nagra September. said she is glad to have seen active involvement from students in this Rocky relationship “democratic way of expressing their The plebiscite was first introfeelings.” duced as part of a council motion CFS - Manitoba (CFS-MB) drafted by St. Paul’s College Student interim-chairperson Dele Ojewole Association representative Arthur said the federation is looking forward Coelho Reis on Nov. 9. to a “collaborative and productive Coelho Reis said the plebiscite relationship with UMSU.” “allowed us representatives to demo“I’m very happy about the outcome,” cratically survey our membership on he said. their opinion on the matter,” add“This result is a great testament to ing that he is “content with the voter our work as a federation. It is a great turnout.” testament of what we have been able “I will be following the will of my to achieve over the past couple of constituents and keep advocating on

their best interest,” he said.

The plebiscite has come in the wake of tensions between the federation and the students' union.

During the 2013-14 academic year, the then-UMSU executive refused to transfer fees to CFS following a dispute regarding ownership of the UMSU domain name. This was settled on July 2016 after UMSU agreed to pay $993,562.18, a sum which included provincial and national fees.

“This result is a great testament to our work as a federation” - Dele Ojewole, CFS-MB interim-chairperson

increase as domestic students.

CFS Aboriginal Students’ commissioner Annie Beach called the move to hold the plebiscite surprising.

“It was interesting that UMSU was considering holding a plebiscite knowing that all of the hard work that the CFS does for students,” she said.

“I guess they just wanted to make sure that CFS is held accountable.”

Moving forward

Nagra said she is ready to leave her “personal concerns” with the federation in the past.

“I’m here to serve students and if that's what students want then this is what we have to do,” she said.

Noah Wilson, Indigenous students’ representative and co-president of the University of Manitoba Aboriginal Students’ Association, said he was happy to see the result Most recently, in December 2016, “of the largely unnecessary CFS UMSU demanded an apology from plebiscite.”

CFS, claiming that its executive “I also believe the result shows that members verbally harassed Nagra at University of Manitoba students are a national meeting. tired and have no interest in the The harassment allegedly took recent plague of counter-productive, place after UMSU brought forward self-serving, and quite frankly petty a motion that would amend CFS’s motions presented by some UMSU policy on international students, call- councillors that have done nothing ing for the national union to advocate but delay any sort of unified student for international student fee increases movement in the province and across to be locked at the same percentage the country,” Wilson added.

“Aboriginal is not inclusive of the Métis, Inuit, and just [the] general sense of Indigenous cultures and the strong sense of diversity we have in Canada” - Noah Wilson, UMSU Indigenous students’ representative Nagra said she is happy to see UMSU take a “step towards being more inclusive.”

Wilson noted the importance of the union being situated “at the leading edge of terminology” in terms of its respect for all cultures after the aboriginal represntative position was re-named Indigenous students’ representative.

“Aboriginal is not inclusive of the Métis, Inuit, and just [the] general sense of Indigenous cultures and the strong sense of diversity we have in Canada,” he said.

Another motion approved the introduction of a mature students representative position on UMSU council.

Nagra said the motion “came from a student wanting to create another community representative to have the voice of mature students.”

VOL. 104 NO. 22 February 7, 2018

News

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Winnipeg remembers victims of Quebec City Mosque shooting Islamic Social Services president discusses impacts of Islamophobia Diana Ubokudom, staff

A commemoration was held to honour the victims of the Quebec City mosque massacre at the Manitoba Legislative Building Jan. 29.

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embers of the Muslim community and the general public gathered Jan. 29 at the Manitoba legislature to commemorate the Quebec City Mosque shootings which took place one year prior.

The mass shooting left six people dead and eight injured following an attack at Centre Culturel Islamique de Quebec. Alexandre Bissonnette a Université Laval student - faces six counts of first degree murder. His trial is set to begin in March.

The Winnipeg vigil was organized by the Islamic Social Services Association (ISSA), Social Planning Council, and community members.

It was attended by St. Vital councillor Brian Mayes, who represented Mayor Brian Bowman, Rochelle Squires, minister responsible for francophone affairs and status of women, and Wab Kinew, leader of the Manitoba NDP. A flower-laying ceremony, held to honour the lives lost in the attack, was followed by attendees observing

photo by asha nelson

a moment of silence. lar fashion to speaking out against This was “one of the worst mas- tion. Siddiqui said such reluctance is Squires took to the podium and other forms of discrimination such sacres in recent history and Canada absent when the perpetrators have a reminded the audience about the as “sexism, racism, transphobia, or - that fear and hate and racism against “Muslim-sounding name,” and their importance of standing in solidarity homophobia.”

Muslims - this was the ultimate actions are quickly termed “terrorist in the face of acts expression of it.” acts.” of violence.

Siddiqui said the Speaking on the government’s “I believe that response in the wake of the shoot“I think everyone from top to bottom has to commemoration if we can come was an opportu- ings, Siddiqui said that although be educated about Islam and Muslims so toget her a nd nity to take collec- politicians have shown strong conshow our soli- that they can address it in an informed way tive action against cern, government officials must darit y against Islamophobia. take authoritative action to combat Islamophobia, we when they hear falsehood and demonization “It should not be Islamophobia, and specifically called are ensuring that responsibility of for the designation of Islamophobia of Islam” - Shahina Siddiqui, ISSA President the their lives were the Muslim com- “as an official form of racism.” not taken in vain,” munity alone to She said for that to happen, it she said.

The event was brought to a close address it, but it should be and must will take proactive action from the “And in order for us to ensure that with group singing and drumming be the sole responsibility of every community. acts like this do not prevail, we have and a candle lighting ceremony in Canadian [. . .] because as I have “Democracy is only as good as its to stand in solidarity together.” honour of the victims. often said, hate and violence against citizens are active, and if we become Squires said that being a one Canadian is [hate] against all complacent, we’re not going to bring Manitoban is synonymous with Combatting Islamophobia Canadians.” a change.” being multicultural, and part of this Shahina Siddiqui, president of She also criticized the biased repinvolved citizens freely exercising ISSA, said acts of Islamophobia are resentation of the issue by what she their right to freedom of worship. nothing new. called the mainstream media, espeWab Kinew spoke after and “It’s been going on as we’ve seen cially the reluctance to describe the stressed the importance of speaking the worst of it since 9/11, and it’s get- attack as an act of “terrorism” even out against Islamophobia in a simi- ting worse,” Siddiqui said. though the crime fits that descrip-

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News

News Editors: Imreet Kaur & Shaden Abuselah Contact: news@themanitoban.com / 474.6770

Anti-abortion group asked to leave Fort Gary campus UMSAN-RSM holds workshop on combating “anti-choice” groups Shaden Abusaleh, staff

UMSAN-RSM member Elizabeth McMechan helps lead a discussion on “proletarian feminism” in response to the increasing anti-abortion presence on campus. photo by quincy houdayer

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embers of the Manitoban chapter of the Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform (CCBR) - an anti-abortion advocacy group - were asked to leave the Fort Garry campus by U of M security services Jan. 29 after pamphleting in the tunnel connecting UMSU University Centre and the Engineering and Information Technology Complex.

UMSU VP advocacy Allison Kilgour, who was among the students that confronted the group from CCBR, said that after student concerns regarding the group’s distribution of graphic imagery featuring aborted fetuses were brought to the attention of UMSU, campus security was contacted.

“My issue wasn't with the content being shared - everyone has a right to their opinion,” Kilgour said. “It’s just the graphic imagery, I believe, can be very triggering for students.”

Kilgour added that her choice to confront the group was one taken

independently of her position as an coordinator, Kyle Coffey, said that images because of abortion?” he asked.

UMSU executive. members of the group were on cam“If there’s any place where this dis“Myself personally, I just wanted pus in a “peaceful display, reaching cussion should be happening it is on to be there because as Allison, the out to people, and exposing the a university campus.” student, I just felt that was necessary,” injustice of abortion.”

Coffey said that while CCBR she said.

- Manitoba has The Manitoban not determined “A lot it is inherently misogynistic and chapter of CCBR whether it plans to is not a registered return to campus, wrong and I don’t think that University U of M student club “We do want to and had not sought make sure everyof Manitoba students should be subject permission to advoone who, maybe to that when they’re trying to be in cate on university faced with a hard grounds. The group pregnancy, knows a safe space to get their education” has previously pamwhat abortion will Elizabeth McMechan, UMSAN-RSM phleted on campus, do to their prewith Jan. 29 markborn children.” ing their fourth “Exposing time doing so in the past year.

“The images that we’re showing are abortion for the injustice that it is is U of M executive director of disturbing, because abortion - which our principle means, in conjunction public affairs John Danakas said tears apart tiny human beings - is a with compassionate and honest conthat in accordance with the univer- disturbing and violent death,” Coffey versation with the people we meet,” sity’s policies, “there is the expec- said. he said. tation that groups, before using “So the question is: should we be university space, will seek permis- concerned about the images, or the Combating the “antision to do so.” fact that everyday 300 or more pre- choice” movement CCBR Manitoba’s outreach born children are becoming these On Feb. 1, the UManitoba Student

Action Network - Revolutionary Student Movement (UMSANRSM) hosted a presentation followed by an open discussion on “proletarian feminism,” and how to combat the anti-abortion movement.

“The anti-choice movement has become a lot of separate things,” said Elizabeth McMechan, a women’s and gender studies student and UMSAN-RSM member. “A lot of people associate it strictly with religious organizations, but other organizations have popped up that actually try to use pseudo-science in order to push forward their opinion of abortions.

“In its essence and across the board, the anti-choice movement is opposed itself to any sort of sex education as well as contraception and casual sex.”

In an interview following the event, McMechan highlighted her concern with the anti-choice rhetoric being “inherently fascistic.”

“They don’t believe that people who are looking for reproductive justice should be allowed to have complete bodily autonomy, which to me seems extremely dangerous, and a very fine line,” she said.

“A lot of it is inherently misogynistic and wrong, and I don’t think that University of Manitoba students should be subject to that when they’re trying to be in a safe space to get their education,” McMechan added.

McMechan cautioned students against engaging with anti-abortion groups, saying that doing so can be counterproductive and serve to legitimize such perspectives.

“We’re trying to organize ways that we can get them off of campus, so that we can combat them in ways where they can’t spread their information anymore,” McMechan said.

McMechan also cited the presence of the University of Manitoba Students for a Culture of Life, a student group whose purpose is to educate and advocate for an end to abortion in Canada, as one such group.

UMSU president Tanjit Nagra said that students uncomfortable with any student club should contact UMSU services and the union would “be happy to take any complaint very seriously.”

“Obviously we know content like that is triggering to many folks, and we take that seriously,” Nagra said.

“I have approached UMSU student services about having these groups removed as UMSU groups, and I haven’t really received a lot of helpful information,” said McMechan.

“I really hope that if UMSU cares about the safety of women on their campus and marginalized genders […] that they would maybe consider taking efforts to have them removed and be more concerned about the well-being of women on this campus.”

Editorial Editor-In-Chief: Garett Williams Contact: Editor@themanitoban.com / 474.8293

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If smokers are singled out, why not greenhouse gas emitters?

Climate change a greater threat to public health than secondhand smoke Evan Tremblay, staff

portion of the population - autoaddicted suburbanites - who contribute the most to it. As a constituency with more votes than smokers, the former are pandered to.

There is a distinct disconnect between the magnitude of the threat to public health posed by secondhand smoke and climate change: secondhand smoke increases your risk of cancer, whereas climate change may cause the extinction of our species.

The disconnect in magnitude of Winnipeg’s response to these two real threats is laughable - provided you have a dark, macabre sense of humour.

City council should begin to pass bylaws aimed at protecting public health by curtailing activities that contribute to climate change through the emission of carbon dioxide

graphic by evan tremblay

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innipeg is poised to ban smoking on patios, the last major city in Canada to do so. The ban, set to go into effect April 1, and the logic behind it, represents the kind of public policy-making that we have a right to expect from city council.

This ban affects a specific subset of the population - smokers - negatively.

It limits a previously enjoyed freedom in the name of public health. It is not necessarily popular with business owners, who would like to decide for themselves what their patrons are allowed to do while spending money in their establishments.

Unpopularity with the people directly affected by it, and especially with business owners, is usually the death-knell of a bylaw or other action by council. Consider the proposal

to build a seven-kilometer multimodal corridor along St. Anne’s Road, scrapped in 2016 by councillor Brian Mayes due to “local business opposition to building a cycling corridor.”

The smoking ban will come into effect not because it is inherently good public policy - though it is inarguably good public policy to limit exposure to carcinogens, such as diesel exhaust, in public places.

The smoking ban will come into effect because smokers are widely maligned in our society that values so much the semblance of good health and vitality. A society that valued actual health, rather than the idea of it, would not make such a fetish out of gym-muscles and yoga pants.

If councillors were serious about the health of Winnipeggers, there

are policies that would be much more neighbourhoods is much better for effective in improving it than driv- people’s health than having a seding people who self-medicate with entary population living in isolated tobacco out of the last places that suburbs. Again and again, however, they can enjoy their vice while sit- we see the approval of new suburbs by ting down in public. city council, draining limited municiHaving an adequately funded, pal resources away from established affordable, efficient public transit neighbourhoods. system is much better for people’s Having city-wide sustainability health than having a population reli- initiatives that allow for resilient ant on automobiles. Less cars on the neighbourhoods would be a boon to roads means less exhaust and better public health, and yet basic measures air quality for everyone, and people towards this - such as a city-wide taking public transit actually have to composting program, where some walk short distances to get to transit have existed in other Canadian cities stops. What is city council doing to for decades - are repeatedly put off. even discourage the use of automoClimate change represents an biles, as the cost of public transit goes existential threat to the health of all up and the quality of service goes Winnipeggers, whether they smoke down? or not. And yet, the city takes no Having dense, walkable, vibrant action to curtail the excesses of that

Speaking on the possibility of a smoking ban last year, councillor John Orlikow said "I think it's time to look at it, at least, and bring it forward for consideration. We do know the effects of smoking on a patio."

The effects of climate change are no less well known, and deserve to be addressed by city council in exactly the same manner as smoking has been. Though it be unpopular with those affected, and though it be unpopular with business owners, city council should begin to pass bylaws aimed at protecting public health by curtailing activities that contribute to climate change through the emission of carbon dioxide.

Like the smoking ban, this would affect some people much more than others. It would affect people whose lifestyles cause a decline in the health of the environment, and of future generations, more than those whose lifestyles do not.

What city council has done is show that they are perfectly willing to identify an activity (and by extension, the group of people who engage in that activity) and legislate against it. As much as this may rile up the group of people legislated against, public health is a pretty good justification - if, indeed, that is the reason a specific subset of citizens has been legislated against.

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Comment Comment Editor: Shawn Huberdeau Contact: comment@themanitoban.com

Labour Board should enforce fine on the U of M administration Admin learns nothing from a delicate slap on the wrist Kenny Ingram, staff

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he University of Manitoba Faculty Association (UMFA) has won a recent battle with the U of M administration. The war, however, remains undecided.

On Jan. 29, the Manitoba Labour Board ruled in favour of UMFA in a dispute over unfair labour practices occuring during the 2016 faculty strike. Specifically, the administration failed to notify UMFA that the provincial government ordered a pay freeze during the strike, which in turn jeopardized negotiations.

The administration put out a statement saying they “respectfully disagree” with this ruling, claiming they had bargained in good faith.

Many students would genuinely like to believe the administration when its issues statements like this: in other words, hold out hope that the administration would not tell a malicious lie. However, after three rulings against U of M labour practices in the past 11 years - two of which occurred in the past year - it is obvious the administration refuses to change. If anything, it is only getting worse.

This is only the tip of the iceberg for the administration in following a regressive approach, one that has taken us to a place where education is no longer the primary focus of the academic institution. The past

few years have seen the attention of the administration clearly directed toward the corporatization of a public university.

What with unfairly and poorly prioritized performance metrics for professors, cuts for three consecutive fiscal years running from 2014 to 2016, and the broad assortment of fundraising drives directed towards large capital projects - flashy new buildings and superfluous upgrades - students should now know where the priorities of the university administration lie: in polishing the exterior of the ivory tower, as its interior crumbles.

The unsettling truth is the administration will once again learn absolutely nothing from this ruling, especially as they have publicized in their statement that they are considering challenging the Labour Board.

The administration’s behaviour makes the ruling itself even more frustrating. Instead of having to deal with real repercussions, the administration has effectively been given a slap on the wrist for their actions.

The Manitoba Labour Board, instead of fining the administration a set amount, decided to let the administration and UMFA work out an amount on their own - which can be up to $2.4 million, or $2,000 per member. This is almost comical in

its irony. The party that was ruled to have compromised negotiations is now going to be negotiating the amount of their own fine with the party they used those unfair tactics against. Why should UMFA have to, yet again, negotiate with a party which has no interest in a fair negotiating process?

It should be made abundantly clear who will be paying the millions owed to UMFA by the administration: the university as a whole, not merely the guilty parties.

When the administration and UMFA negotiate and the members of UMFA lose, UMFA loses out on compensation and becomes governed by externally-imposed workplace rules. There is no such stake at play for the administration in negotiations.

Further, when the university administration is fined for unfair practices, they are most certainly not paying that fine out of their own individual executive salaries. When one party is bargaining for their livelihood and the other has virtually nothing to lose, it should be no wonder that the administration is willing to go to great lengths to compromise negotiations in its favour. It is yet another example of the imbalance of power at play.

Moreover, this ruling demon-

PHOTO by Megan Colwell

strates the detrimental effect of If not made abundantly clear last government interference in labour year through the strike, an attack on negotiations. It was never the job of professors is an attack on students.

Premier Brian Pallister to unilater- Working conditions for professors ally interrupt negotiations simply to directly affect their teaching, and cuts advance a policy that contributed to have long-term, disastrous effects derailing negotiations. This takes on both directly affect the education of a disturbing political tone when the students. leader of the government has been on While this Manitoba Labour a warpath against organized labour Board ruling is another win for precisely in the way Pallister has.

UMFA, professors, and students, it Students must realize the implica- ultimately fails to address the undertions of these actions. The takeaway is lying issue. Ruling after ruling shows that the administration could not care the administration has not acted in less about the working conditions of good faith. its employees, and will do anything to Why should they suddenly be nickel-and-dime the faculty it relies trusted now? on to operate.

Canada can improve immigration by focusing on international students Retaining international students should be key priority in immigration policy Harman Sandhu

I

f Justin Trudeau wants to improve immigration policy, then Canada's framework needs to focus on retaining international talent for the Canadian economy. The government can easily do this by increasing permanent resident admissions for international students.

Such a strategy is, simply, the best policy route to fit together the interests of Canadians and newcomers alike.

International students contribute to society at an early age through investment in their studies, gaining work experience, and applying their knowledge to their chosen fields. By improving their own lives, they are also giving back to Canadians by contributing to the economy and enriching Canadian culture. They are ideal candidates for permanent residency because they are proving themselves every day through study and work.

Canada relies on immigration to maintain population growth and fill the economic need for workers.

Immigrants also bring in a substantial inflow of cash as they move to Canada to study, work, or travel.

Canada is an attractive destination for international students who, as a

group, contributed $32.2 billion to our economy in 2016.

Of course, Canada’s immigration policy should not be reduced to economic policy. Trudeau has managed to avoid this outcome successfully in a host of areas.

For instance, Trudeau’s Liberals have made strides in improving family reunification by decreasing processing times and reducing application backlogs. The cap of sponsorship applications has been doubled, to 10,000 in 2016. In a decline begenning before the Liberals came to power, from 2012 on the pileup of applications for parents and grandparents has shrunk by 72 per cent. The Liberal government also settled more than 40,000 Syrian refugees from November 2015 onward.

Moving forward, the federal government should place a greater focus on settling international students, all of whom are considered temporary migrants. Gaining permanent residency through other areas such as skilled workers, family sponsorships, and humanitarian obligations is less ideal for the state since it puts a greater strain on the immigration process, requiring more resources to

settle immigrants who are often older in age and late into careers.

For those who are granted residency, getting to Canada is the easy part. The difficult part is settling in. Once immigrants arrive, there is a need for extensive resources: job training, language development, and other community services to help with the integration process.

These resources can be expensive for taxpayers, though demand varies by case. Overall, however, newcomers require support unique to their prior experiences which can be difficult for large-scale government programs to provide. Community programs are better suited for this task, meaning local levels of government should be entrusted with these program, at a drain of their own coffers.

Measuring the effectiveness of support provided to newcomers can be difficult not because of a lack of resources, but a shortage of time on the newcomer’s part. Immigrants are forced to focus on gaining employment and adjusting to their new lives in the short-term, such that improving language skills and education for the long-term can often become an afterthought. Gaining recognition

of previous credentials is a timeconsuming task as it often requires newcomers repeat their studies in Canadian institutions, a luxury many cannot afford because of a lack of time and money.

International students, however, are willingly investing their time and resources in post-secondary education. Many gain employment for the first time while still in school, giving them ample time to adjust to Canadian culture by expanding their social and professional networks while improving their English literacy.

While this is a longer road that requires years of post-secondary studies, followed by work permits before ultimately receiving permanent residency, it is ultimately the road best taken. International students are better able to contribute fully to society and achieve personal success due to their improved language skills, Canadian certification, and training in the Canadian labour force.

In 2016, of more than 266,000 international students, only 8,246 individuals were granted permanent residency. This ratio needs to be increased.

The addition of international students to our labour force makes it more diverse without being less educated, making us a stronger economic competitor in the global market. It also addresses the old stereotype that immigrants take away jobs from Canadian citizens, since immigrants who gain residency through work permits and post-secondary education have undeniably made their fair share of sacrifices and contributions to our economy.

By denying international students the opportunity to participate in our society, we hurt our economy and lose the chance to develop our national culture. Canada needs a plan addressing how to settle international students at a measured pace. Ultimately, we should be focusing on retaining new talent developed at home, rather than importing skilled labour.

10 Comment

Comment Editor: Shawn Huberdeau Contact: comment@themanitoban.com

A paper needs independence to function as check-and-balance Garett Williams, staff

graphic by Ernest Zarzuela

L

ast week, the Manitoban sus- eral executive regimes - and there is board exercises an undue hold over tained a direct attack on its free- reason to at least question whether the U of M student body; a curious dom and independence. the plebiscite had the interests of U square to try and circle.

A motion was included in the of M students at heart. When voting Among a surge of support for the UMSU council package for its Feb. closed Feb. 2, more than 64 per cent of paper, the motion was withdrawn 1 meeting that meant to trigger a ref- the over 3,800 ballots cast indicated some 24 hours after it appeared when erendum on the Manitoban’s funding. a desire to remain affiliated. a seconder failed to come forward.

It charged that the paper is impartial By explicitly referencing a pub- But it did raise points that are worth and cites an editorial published the lished opinion, the motion was a addressing. previous week that “sought to influ- direct threat to the Manitoban’s indeAside from advertising revenues ence the results of a vote of all UMSU pendence. It suggests that publishing that largely cover the cost of keeping members” as grounds to pull the floor a critical word on UMSU council the print edition on newsstands, the out from under a more than century- - an organization in command of a Manitoban is funded through a stuold institution at the U of M. multi-million dollar budget - should dent levy amounting to a little more The editorial in question took issue be met not with a sound rebuttal but than $6 per term for undergraduate with the possible motivations behind an underhanded attack on the paper’s students. Just last week, a process was council’s unanimous decision to hold resources. begun that will establish a similar a non-binding plebiscite asking stuThe motion also noted that print relationship with graduate students dents whether they wish UMSU to media is largely turning digital to at the U of M. remain affiliated with the Canadian implicate the paper is dwindling in The editorial board takes this Federation of Students. influence. It can be inferred, then, responsibility seriously. The chief The two organizations have tended that the Manitoban should be function of the paper is to report on toward an absurd and confrontational defunded both because its audience the campus community and issues relationship for years - spanning sev- has abandoned it and the editorial important to students while at the

same time offering a platform for Labour Board against the U of M in students interested in journalism to 11 years, editors and staff were made hone their skills. to argue for the right just to continue The paper strives for objectivity in on with their work. its news pages, welcomes submissions But the motion was far from from all students, and is renewing enough to shutdown the presses. And its ongoing efforts to reach out and the outpouring of support - from stubroaden the scope of the voices it dents current and former, faculty, and prints. The Manitoban is also expand- the community-at-large - has given ing its online presence to reach those the newsroom a renewed focus and students less likely to pick up a physi- energy to build on the tradition that began in 1914. cal copy.

For the Manitoban to succeed in Here’s to another century. its mission - to develop young jourLong live the press. Long live the nalists, to report stories of interest to Manitoban. the campus community, and to hold to account university institutions - its independence is paramount.

If dissenting comments or editorials are met with an effort to outright silence the paper, that mandate cannot be fulfilled.

Last week, rather than report on the third ruling of the Manitoba

11

Diversions Graphics Editor: Kelly Campbell Contact: graphics@themanitoban.com

Features Contact: features@themanitoban.com

12

Trudeau pressed on environment, immigration at Winnipeg town hall Prime minister defends position on Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline, summer jobs funding framework Imreet Kaur, Staff, Photos by Asha Nelson And Quincy Houdayer

P

rime Minister Justin Trudeau fielded a range of questions for over two hours during a town hall event at the University of Manitoba’s Max Bell Centre Feb. 1.

Trudeau addressed questions on a variety of issues, including the Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) program, pipeline construction, immigration, Child and Family Services, missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples of Canada.

tion by mentioning he supports the recent decision made by the British Columbia government to limit the transportation of bitumen through the province.

Under Premier John Horgan, the B.C. government proposed a new set of regulations on Jan. 30 to place limits on the transport of the oil sands product “until the behaviour of spilled bitumen can be better understood.” While Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain expansion was not mentioned in the announcement, the legislation might have a direct impact on Summer job grant policy the project, which is expected to double the shipments of oil from In December, the federal govAlberta to B.C. ernment announced that organizations seeking federal funding to Thomas-Muller said First employ students through the CSJ Nations communities and municiprogram will be required to sign palities in B.C. have made it clear an affirmation on abortion and that they do not consent to the LGBTTQ* rights.

Trans Mountain Pipeline and The move sparked a backlash called on Trudeau to support the from religious organizations that provincial government. called the requirement to check “Will you support the actions a box affirming respect for the of First Nations, the B.C. governvalues set out in the Canadian ment, and their citizens, or will Charter of Rights and Freedoms you stand behind big oil [compadiscriminatory and fascist. nies] and tear our country apart Trudeau said faith-based by going against the B.C. govgroups have had “an extraorernment on the Kinder Morgan pipeline?” dinarily beneficial impact” on communities, and assured the Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hosted a townhall at University of The question was met with audience that they will not be Manitoba’s Max Bell Centre on Feb. 1. cheers from the crowd. stripped of federal funding due Trudeau responded by to their religious beliefs.

“We are not rolling back the clock on wom- acknowledging that while provinces have their “However, there are certain groups that are en's rights.” own environmental policies and programs, his specifically dedicated to fighting abortion rights “job at the federal level is to always stand up for for women and inclusion of LGBTTQ* com- Pipelines and the environment the interest of all Canadians.”

Clayton Thomas-Muller, an advocate for munities,” he said. “And that is wrong, that is “That’s why we put in place a process undercertainly not something that the federal govern- Indigenous rights and an organizer in the standing that you can not make a choice ment should be funding summer students to do.” fight against climate change, began a ques- between what is good for the environment and

VOL. 104 NO. 22 February 7, 2018

Features

Among the questions addressed included the state of Child and Family Services, immigration, and reconciliation

“Will you support the actions of First Nations, the B.C. government, and their citizens or will you stand behind Big Oil and tear our country apart by going against the B.C. government on the Kinder Morgan pipeline?”

- Clayton Thomas-Muller, audience member what is good for the economy,” he said.

“You have to take care of both of them fully at the same time.”

Stressing on the importance of balancing both, Trudeau said a thorough consultation process was undertaken by the federal government before the pipeline was approved.

He said approval of the pipeline is “in the national interest of all Canadians” and added that the Liberal government made necessary steps to invest in the “historic” Oceans Protection Plan in 2016 in addition to launching a Pan-Canadian framework to reduce emissions by setting a minimum price on carbon.

Only two provinces - Manitoba and

The Prime Minister was treated to a full house of eager Winnipegers.

Saskatchewan - have not signed on to the national climate change framework.

“We need to both create a better future for Canadians and protect the environment,” said Trudeau.

During his town hall in Edmonton following the Winnipeg stop, Trudeau assured the residents of Alberta that the Kinder Morgan pipeline “is going to be built.”

understand what you are saying about specific cases - but would you be willing to intervene and advocate [to] the immigration minister to please stop the deportation to Nigeria of our lesbian friend?” asked the audience member, adding that their “friend was given an unfair refugee hearing by a homophobic adjudicator.”

“If she is deported this month, she will face imprisonment or death. There is a warrant out for arrest for being a lesbian.”

Immigration Issues Trudeau said the system in place follows a Several attendees asked questions focusing certain set of rules and process while “at the on immigration. same time leaving place for compassion.”

One commended Trudeau for his efforts He assured that the minister of immigration, in helping create a safe passage to Canada, in refugees and citizenship would take a look at collaboration with Rainbow Railroad, for many “that specific case.”

LGBTTQ* Chechens who were being tortured “We have an obligation to hear them, underand killed in Chechnya. stand them and perhaps look where mistakes "Would the Prime Minister be willing - I have been made in the past,” Trudeau said.

Arts & Culture

Arts & Culture Editor: Olivia Michalczuk Contact: arts@themanitoban.com

14

Student group swing dancing into the new year UMSwing offers four types of swing dance lessons to keep fit and make friends Jen Doerksen, staff

Ashley Tsang and Raymond Blostein participate in a choreographed demonstration as part of the UMSwing open house Jan. 31. photo by Jen Doerksen

T

he University of Manitoba Swing Dance Club (UMSwing) is currently offering eight-week swing dance lessons starting Feb. 6.

The student group programs lessons for four different types of swing dance, Charleston, jive, blues, and Lindy Hop. The lessons run during the fall semester and start back up again in the winter semester and are

open to all.

Swing dance is a form of partner dancing made popular throughout the 1920s and 1930s. According to UMSwing president Alexandra Harland, Lindy Hop is the classic, most recognizable form of swing dance, while jive is the easiest step to learn, blues is often danced to slower tempo songs, and Charleston is the

only class where dancers are taught solo moves.

Faculty of music student Rose Sanders attended the open house on Feb. 1 and said taking the classes are not just about learning how to dance.

“It’s a good form of exercise. It’s also a good stress relief,” Sanders said. The 19-year-old student who first joined UMSwing last year after finding out about the club through the UMSwing open house.

“I’d always been desiring to learn swing dance, and I’ve always done old time dancing,” Sanders said.

“And then I was introduced to the movie Swing Kids, and all the fun it looked like they had while dancing, and then I found this table and found out about all the courses they had and […] the fact it was on campus so close and so cheap, it was just an opportunity I had to take.”

Sanders signed up for classes on Lindy Hop this semester at the UMSwing open house, which featured demonstrations from teachers and lessons for attendees. According to Harland, most students register for classes at the open house.

“The open houses are UMSwing’s

biggest events of the year,” Harland said.

“We pull out all the stops. Free lessons, choreographed and freestyle, games, prizes, discounts on classes, and it’s the biggest dance party that we host all year.”

“The fact it was on campus so close and so cheap, it was just an opportunity I had to take” - Rose Sanders, faculty of music student and UMSwing member After the event, Harland said that overall interest in UMSwing was rising.

“Attendance and registration were great," she said. "Our numbers for this open house were much higher than [the] last open house, which is always a great thing to see."

Harland is teaching a blues

class this semester while taking a Charleston class. She said there are a couple new teachers working this term.

“I’m really excited to take the Charleston class with our new teachers Jill [White] and Joshua [Peters].

I’ve never completed a full one before even though I’ve been dancing for two years,” Harland said.

“I’m excited to take that class as a student.”

For Sanders, swing dancing came with making new friends and finding a new community.

“It’s a good group to get involved with,” Sanders said.

“It’s a new community. Coming from the music faculty, it’s small and everyone knows each other and has to work with each other. And then this swing club really imitates that, and really the whole city's swing community seems to be that accepting and just really friendly, a good group to hang out with and to have fun.”

Lessons are on Tuesday and Wednesday every week, starting Feb. 6, and are open to everyone. Registration for students is $40 for the term. Classes take place in 202 St. John’s College.

Experimental art made accessible Forthwith Fest brought experimental musicians and artists to Winnipeg from around the world Jen Doerksen

Nêhiyawak performs the score for the film 'ôtênaw' at Forth at Forthwith Festival Feb. 2.

Matthew Cardinal impresses the crowd with his masterfully coordinated performance on Feb. 2. photos by Jen Doerksen

A

pproachable experimental art was the goal of last weekend’s second annual Forthwith Festival.

From Feb. 2 to Feb. 4, local coffee shop Forth will host experimental music performances, visual art installations, and artist workshops brought international artists such

as Leslie Deere and Lisa Busby to create and perform alongside local artists including Colby Richardson and Joanne Pollock.

As visual coordinator for this year’s festival, Colby Richardson was responsible for coordinating the visual art installations at Forthwith.

“Really my job this year has been musical performances, and Festival the radio waves. much more how I can accommodate du Voyageur offers programming “The idea is to utilize the analog the other artists at the festival and for the whole family around voya- TV and analog TV broadcasting to populate the space with some really geur Métis, and Indigenous history, try and connect the living observer interesting work from artists around Forthwith is focused on new casual with the dead radio waves around the country,” Richardson said. atmosphere to experience experimen- them,” Richardson said.

Edmonton-based band nêhiyawak tal sounds and visual art.

“There’s all these radio waves performed a score they released for “A cliché of sound art shows is that were the hallmark of advanced a film called ôtênaw, which docu- a lot of people really quiet sitting civilization, like TV, and now it’s all ments the oral storytelling of teacher on the floor listening really closely. dead space. The radio waves are now Dwayne Donald from Edmonton. And Forthwith does expect that, completely empty, so I used those Band member channels by sendMatthew Cardinal ing out a local “It’s just trying to bring experimental audio transmission to said he thinks nêhiyawak was the three channels and art installations into more of a casual invited to perform and as the body kind of experience” - Colby Richardson, at Forthwith based walks around on that score them, it acts as visual coordinator of Forthwith another antenna because it is much more experimental in the room and than what they typically create. but combines the social element of transforms the image on the screen.”

“The normal stuff is more song- music with […] listening to sound As the second annual festival, based and there’s a lot more vocals art,” Richardson said. artistic leader Wouter Jaspers said and a lot more melody, where this “It’s just trying to bring experimen- they have learned a lot since last year. score work is a lot more sparse, some tal audio and art installations into “This year we put more time into slightly different instrumentation, more of a casual kind of experience building the learning part of the I do electric piano, we play brass in the sense that some audio art can programming with expanded artist instruments that we don’t normally be so academic it may dissuade folks workshops, the nighttime parties had do, and it’s a lot longer, one song from experiencing it.” bigger lineups, and we had more of a is like 20 mins. A lot more of it is Richardson had an installation at focus on the visual artists and instalimprovised,” he said. the festival called “Channelers.” The lations,” Jaspers said.

Forthwith is one of Winnipeg’s piece is a series of video sculptures in The festival wrapped up on four major winter music festivals the shape of old television sets com- Sunday evening with a performance including the classically-focused municating with radio waves locally from Berlin-based experimental Winnipeg New Music Festival, transmitted by Richardson. While musician Uchi.

Big Fun Festival, and Festival du people walk around and observe the Voyageur. While Big Fun Festival sculptures, the visuals on each will focuses on offering a wide range of change as the bodies interact with

VOL. 104 NO. 22 February 7, 2018

Arts & Culture

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nirvanna the band the show, the interview Canadian television show pushes boundaries while trying to get a show at Toronto venue Olivia Michalczuk, staff

n

irvanna the band the show began as an independent Canadian web series, and has since been picked up

by Vice Canada. Its first episode aired on Feb. 2, 2017.

The final episode of season 2 has been put on hold due to the decision from Rogers to cut ties with Vice Media Canada Inc. while the TV channel Viceland will no longer exist.

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, co-creator Matt Johnson said that the show will continue, as they have a contract for three seasons, but are unsure where it will air.

The show is hard to explain, a problem co-writers and co-stars Johnson and Jay McCarrol dealt with with their web series.

“Two musicians trying to get a show in Toronto, if you want to say thematically what it’s about, it’s about best friends,” is how Johnson describes the complex storyline of nirvanna the band the show.

“It’s impossible to pitch. I think the only reason that we got this deal to make it was that we already made the web series as kids and we could show it to people and be like ‘We can’t explain what the show is but this is what it’s going to be,’ and that makes it much easier to get everyone on the same page.”

Simply put, the show is about two best friends, Johnson and McCarrol, on a mission to play their dream

show as nirvanna the band at lowkey Toronto venue, the Rivoli, which the duo considers the highest honour.

The pair are constantly coming up with half-baked plans to get a show, mostly formulated by Johnson as McCarrol plays the soundtrack live on his piano, while employing theatrical tricks and preying on unsuspecting people in the streets.

“If you want to say thematically what it’s about, it’s about best friends”- Matt Johnson, co-creator of nirvana the band the show The show includes people on the streets of Toronto, and even fans of the show can not decipher what was planned or what was spontaneous.

Johnson said they like to maintain the mystery.

“In terms of when we want the audience know how much control we had over something, we try not to answer those questions,” said Johnson.

“I think there are people who take a huge amount of pleasure in trying

to watch the show and be like ‘I know this is fake and I know this is real’ but really not know for sure and so we don’t want to ruin that.”

Johnson has created a name for himself as a “master of meta,” having previously directed and acted in two award-winning films about making films. The Dirties is a mockumentary about a two high school victims of bullying who make a movie about a school shooting, while Operation Avalanche is a film about two film students helping NASA fake the moon landing. Both films are dark comedies that star Johnson as a version of himself.

Johnson said that all roles he plays, both in his films and in nirvanna the band the show, are a character that sees themselves as a director, which is also Johnson’s occupation. This leads to Johnson constantly saying and doing things that he deems “usable” in the editing process, even when it comes to discussing camera angles.

McCarrol added that because of the nature of their creative process, they pair have developed a very keen eye for too-good-to-be-true moments, and the film crew snaps into action to capture them for the show. “We love it when unexpected things happen [...] we make a meal out of anything that is unexpected.”

“If you’re kind of just operating as yourself and you’re just being funny in

Photo provided by Nirvanna

a sort of dynamic that you have with more minor, and I think because a real friend, and a real silliness, so it’s obvious that the characters we’re many unexpected moments happen playing are stuck in a very 90s pernaturally if you’re just auto-piloting spective of North American culture yourself to not be doing a character and so, I mean, obviously we’re trying or not be doing anything.” to comment on what happens when The two are always looking for you take media from the 90s seriously new material and trying to go out to and use that as your political ethos. find what their next episode is going You wind up believing all the things to be about, citing “The B-Day” epi- our characters believe or talk about sode, one that Johnson said they only or joke about.”

The show also spoofs popular culthought of the morning of shooting and hopped on a street car to go to the tural references from the 90s, from weed march in Downtown Toronto. Home Alone to Jurassic Park, with “We had no idea what we were going brilliant, subtle nods to the piece to do, but we just shot this stuff,” being spoofed that requires a careful Johnson said. and critical eye to identify.

“We’re always looking for some“Just about everything covered thing that is going to be the impetus in the show are things that Jay and to a new story.”

I mutually really, really love,” said Though the show is packaged Johnson. as a scripted series, Johnson and “The things that he and I would McCarrol said the show is primar- talk about when we were kids and, ily done on the fly, interactions from for whatever reason, we would both the public or too-good-to-be-true just know all the dialogue and know moments often changing the direc- everything from these things and tion of the intended episode. Johnson certainly whether we like it or not, said that in some cases, they do not inform our behaviour as adults.” know how the episode will play out Of all of the complexities in the show, one of the most important until they are in the editing room.

“Every phase of this is extremely elements is the on-screen friendship collaborative, but editing especially,” between Johnson and McCarrol; Johnson said. their undeniable chemistry is what “Because the way we shoot is we’ll makes the show work. Johnson said just shoot a ton of stuff, then the edi- that, surprisingly, women are the tors will try to make sense of it and viewers who most identify with their then we all as a team watch what they characters.

“It’s always best friend girl groups, put together and often we completely rewrite episodes.” like, duos that tell us, ‘Oh that’s The season 2 finale is being edited exactly like me and my friend,” at the time of this interview, and, Johnson said. according to Johnson, was “rewrit“It’s very inspiring to hear that.” ten from the ground up three times,” which all happened in editing.

The show pushes boundaries in very interesting ways, which McCarrol and Johnson said has not resulted in any backlash other than some negative press reviews.

Throughout the show, the two likeable characters tread on the edge of what is moral and ethical, occasionally winding up on the offensive and politically incorrect when it comes to themes of racism, sexuality, and gender.

“When we first started making the show, we expected that to be the major thing that people said about our show, was that it was so unbelievably offensive,” said Johnson.

“The reaction has been so much

Sports Sports Editor: Ryan Stelter Contact: sports@themanitoban.com

16

Bisons stampede over Pronghorns at home Manitoba’s offence stays hot, putting up 12 goals in two games Ryan Stelter, staff

the third period Manitoba capitalized on Pronghorns goalies Hughson and through Justin Augert, as he shelved Ty Edmonds. it over Hughson to make it 5-3.

Remi Laurencelle got Manitoba Manitoba got into some penalty on the board first, but two mintrouble later in the period. Blake utes later Kalashnikov nabbed his Heinrich was called for a five-minute second goal of the year to level the major and game misconduct, giving game. Tyler Hansen scored to give Lethbridge extended time with the the Pronghorns a 2-1 lead three minman advantage. With Warren Callis utes later. off for tripping, Lethbridge pounced In the second period, Manitoba on the 5-on-3. Pronghorn defence- scored three early unanswered goals man Dallas Valentine had plenty of to take a 4-2 lead. St. Croix got things time and fired a hard shot over Byron started with his first, taking a feed Spriggs. from linemate Zach Franko. Liam Manitoba only allowed one goal Bilton added his seventh over a minon the extended Pronghorn power- ute later and Lisoway scored exactly a play and Sirant pointed to their strong minute later on the power play. penalty kill post-game.

The three-goal explosion Bison forward Michael St. Croix was named first star of the game after scoring a hat trick and assist Feb. 3.

“Our special teams made the dif- prompted the end of the day for photo by chantal zdan ference [in the third],” Sirant said. Hughson, who allowed four goals “Penalty killing was real good, we on 22 shots. St. Croix scored his he University of Manitoba Bisons University of Calgary Dinos, a poten- after he slotted home a pass from just let up that one goal on the 5-on- second goal of the day two minutes men’s hockey team extended its tial first round playoff matchup.

Russell Maxwell.

3. Too many penalties tonight, we into the third to make it 5-2 for the winning streak to five games with a The Pronghorns doubled their lead can’t be taking too many penalties home team. Valentine got his second two-game sweep of the University Friday early in the second through Artsiom and counting on our PK to play that of the weekend a couple minutes later, of Lethbridge Pronghorns this past Manitoba got off to a hot start, Kalashnikov, his first goal of the sea- big of a role.” but Brad Bowles restored the three weekend. with a flurry of chances to set the tone son. Towards the end of the period, it Moser was robbed of nabbing a goal lead a mere three minutes after Manitoba won 5-4 on Friday night early. The home team was rewarded was as if the Bison goal song, Chelsea second goal after Spriggs slid cross- Valentine’s marker. and followed up with a 7-3 win in for their efforts at 3:46 when Quintin Dagger, was on repeat. Manitoba crease to get the pad down halfway St. Croix got his third and team the Saturday rematch. The Bisons Lisoway roofed a shot over ‘Horns scored three unanswered goals in just through the third stanza. Spriggs leading 12th goal with one second have scored 27 goals in their last four goalie Garret Hughson .

1:18 at the end of the period to carry a came up huge again late, making two remaining, in the crease, Spriggs games.

Lethbridge battled back to tie 4-3 lead after 40 minutes. kick saves to retain the Bison lead. made 28 saves in the win.

With one weekend remaining in the game a couple minutes later “We showed some resiliency in the season, the Bisons sit in third on the rush, with Brooks Maxwell sticking with it,” said Bison head Saturday place in the Canada West with a going cross-ice to find Ryon Moser. coach Mike Sirant. “We had a strong Manitoba’s offence kept rolling 16-8-2 record. Manitoba heads to Lethbridge took the lead through second period to get the lead.”

Saturday afternoon - led by a Michael Calgary on Feb. 9-10 to play the Maxwell a short few minutes later Given a powerplay chance early in St. Croix hat trick - and put up seven

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Manitoba runs the table at Bison Classic Herd outpace competition to capture fourth straight title Jason Pchajek, staff

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rack stars from across the country descended on James Daly Fieldhouse this past weekend for the ninth annual Bisons Classic. The home side had multiple podium finishes, outpacing the competition to win the event with 310.5 points. This is Manitoba’s fourth straight win at the Bison Classic.

Day one was full of great performances, Yussuf Abduselam captured first place in the men’s 3000 metre with a time of 8:53.12, edging out Derek Patterson of Lakehead University by a fraction of a second.

The herd also placed first in both the men’s and women’s 4x800 relay - clocking in at 7:43.44 and 9:13.79, respectively.

The Friday events also saw Sasanie Wanigasekara and Jaime Wong come in at first and fourth in the women’s triple jump. Manitoba placed second in the women’s and men’s 4x200 relay, and Shayna Giesbrecht placed fifth in the women’s 3000 metre.

Manitoba cleaned up during the men’s triple jump event, with Oyinko Akinola taking second with a 14.61 metre jump. Manitoba also had athletes place third, fourth, sixth, eighth, 10th, and 11th.

Bisons Track & Field claim the 9th annual Bison Classic T&F meet trophy with a total of 303 points on Saturday. photo by chantal zdan

Akinola also had a good second day, placing fourth in the men’s long jump with a 6.85 metre finish.

“I thought it was an OK weekend,” he said.

“A season best in the triple jump which was OK. We’re trending in the right direction, while long jump wasn’t as good as I wanted it to be, but still working on stuff and should be good for Canada West.”

The Bisons continued to shine

on day two. Tayo Babalola took the gold in women’s 300 metre, and Luc Deleau was just 14 milliseconds short of first for the men. Simon Berube and Nicola Odaisky both placed second in the 1000 metre for their respective genders. Brooke-Lynn Boyd walked away with first in the women’s shot put, and Clement Sackey placed second among the men.

Things continued to trend up for the herd during the second session

of the day. Rebekah Sass won the women’s 600 metre, while Matthew Van Schepdael placed second for the men. Brianna Tynes placed second in the women’s 60 metre, while Marcel Dufault and Syed Aoun went second and third for the men.

Mix in the Bisons going second and third in the men’s 4x400 relay, and Deric Kornelson taking second in the men’s 1500 metre race, and the Bisons cruised to a team win. Their

310.5 points was far ahead of the 255 posted by the University of Alberta in second place.

The host program left the weekend with seven first-place finishes, 13 second-place finishes, and eight third-place finishes.

We’re “pretty happy with the results today,” Bisons head coach Claude Berube said.

“It’s always an exciting meet. To be honest, I’ll have a better look at the results when I get home, but overall we’re progressing in the right direction. A positive meet was exactly what we were looking for, and gave us a good chance to see our Canada West conference.”

Next up for Manitoba will be the Canada West Championship. The program will be playing host on Feb 23-24.

“I think just right now you can’t really do too much,” Akinola said about the upcoming meet.

“It’s about making sure we’re not getting injured, so just try to be healthy for as long as we can. Just work until championship weekend, get good workouts, get intensive, and that’s all it is.”

VOL. 104 NO. 22 February 7, 2018

Sports

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Cougar volleyball teams claw the Bisons Bison women manage split, men get swept Ryan Stelter, staff

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his weekend the University of Manitoba Bison volleyball programs played the Mount Royal University Cougars at home.

The women earned a split in a series filled with playoff implications, winning 3-1 on Friday, but lost in straight sets on Saturday. The men dropped both of their matches, losing 3-2 on both Friday and Saturday.

The Bison men’s record sits at 7-13 and the team sits ninth in the Canada West. The Bison women also sit in ninth in the Canada West, with a 9-11 record.

Women

On Friday night, the Bisons won the opening two sets and slipped up in the third, losing 25-20. Manitoba regrouped and finished off the Cougars in the fourth set by a score of 25-20.

Bison left side hitter Josie Abbott finished with 10 kills, her sister Kearley right behind her with nine.

Cassie Bujan had 23 digs and Emily Erickson finished with 10 blocks.

On Saturday, the final point of the first set, Cougar outsider hitter Alex Donaghy placed a cheeky tip in the back corner after a long rally to end it.

Manitoba appeared to turn it around in the second set starting off with a 5-1 lead, but that lead was soon erased. Mount Royal clawed their way back after a prolonged rally with some great digging and blocks, but Donaghy sliced through a Bison block to eat into Manitoba’s lead.

Mount Royal eventually won the set 25-21 off a Bison attack error.

In the third set, the first few points were closely contested, but the Cougars grabbed a 13-10 lead and never looked back. The Bisons did get some clutch digs from Brittany Habing throughout the set but fell 25-18.

“Our response to tonight’s match was disappointing,” said Bison head coach Ken Bentley.

“At this point in the season it’s dis-

Bison captain #8 Adam DeJonckheere is now ranked 4th in Canada West for most career kills and conference points after Saturday’s game. photo by chantal zdan

appointing when we’re, like, neck-inneck for a playoff spot. Give [Mount Royal] credit, they knew they had to fight for their life and they did it.”

Men

The Bison men had a tough weekend, losing both games in similar fashion.

On Friday the Bisons lost the first two sets, but fought their way back to force a fifth set. The Bisons found themselves down 7-1 in that fifth set before they started to rally, but it was much too late, as Manitoba eventually fell 15-10.

Scott Vercaigne finished with 15 kills, 10 digs, and three service aces.

Brendan Warren had seven blocks in the loss.

On Saturday the match followed

a similar storyline to the night prior, as the Bisons could not find a way to bury the Cougars in the fifth set after winning the previous two.

The first set started off as a seesaw affair, with neither team able to grab a solid lead. The Cougars eventually pulled away to win 25-20.

The second set was all Cougars, who pounced to a 9-3 lead early, forcing Bison head coach Garth Pischke to call a timeout. That did not seem to help, as the carnage continued for the home side, who were down 16-6 at the technical timeout. Manitoba attempted a comeback, but it was not nearly enough as Mount Royal won 25-18.

With their backs against the wall in the third set, the Bisons jumped out to a 7-3 lead. The Cougars clawed

their way back into the set to make it close, but Manitoba stuck with the program and a Dustin Spiring block won the set for the home side 25-18.

“It could be six mannequins, if you hit the ball out, you can’t score” - Garth Pischke, Bison men’s volleyball head coach

the score tied at 11, the Cougars got a good run of serving from Nick Lightfoot and took the match after winning 15-11.

Manitoba made a host of errors, which in the end, cost them the match and gave the Cougars their fourth straight win.

“It really doesn’t matter who’s on the other side of the court,” Pischke said. “It could be six mannequins, if you hit the ball out, you can’t score.”

The Bison volleyball teams will head out to Regina to play the University of Regina Cougars on Feb. 9-10 .

Manitoba won the fourth set 25-13 to force a fifth and decisive set. The fifth set was back-and-forth, with both teams exchanging points. With

Bison briefs Bison basketball clinches playoffs, women’s hockey holds first place Ryan Stelter, staff

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his weekend the University of Manitoba women’s hockey and basketball programs were on the road.

The second-ranked Bison women’s hockey team was in Lethbridge, Alta., for a series against the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns. They won 3-0 on Friday night and completed the sweep with a 3-2 win in double overtime on Saturday.

Emilie Masse scored her first ever goal as a Bison in Friday night’s shutout win. She also earned her first assist in the Saturday rematch.

Rachel Dyck earned her fourth shutout on Friday, levelling her with

rookie teammate Lauren Taraschuk. the University of the Fraser Valley Saturday’s double overtime win was Cascades. also Dyck’s 50th career win.

The Bison women clinched the Manitoba sits in first in the playoffs for the first time since 2009 Canada West with a 20-5-2-1-1 record, with a 79-74 win in overtime on five points up on the University of Friday. The women fell on Saturday British Columbia. night 80-56 to conclude their regular With the University of Calgary season.

Dinos coming to the Wayne Fleming Claire Harvey entered the top Arena on Feb. 9-10, the Bisons just 15 in Canada West record books for need two points to clinch first seed best block average in a single season, throughout the Canada West playoffs. averaging 1.95 a game. Taylor Randall Over in Abbotsford, B.C., the finished the year averaging 16.8 points Bison men’s and women’s basket- per game, 12th best in the Canada ball teams were wrapping up their West. The Bison women will play a regular season with a series against play-in game against the University

of Alberta Pandas in Edmonton on Feb. 10.

On the men’s side, the Bisons clinched a home playoff game with their wins over the Cascades, 67-46 on Friday and 82-66 on Saturday.

Bison fifth year guard Justus Alleyn captured the Canada West scoring title, averaging 24.1 points per game. Alleyn is the first Bison to claim the award since Manitoba joined the Canada West in 2000-01.

Alleyn is also just the 26th player in Canada West history to hit 1,500 career points.

Rashawn Browne also made some

history this year in his first season in brown and gold, making the top 15 in Canada West for best assist average in a single season with 6.83. He is also fifth in for the best assist to turnover ratio in a single season, with 3.08.

The Bisons finished the year with a 12-8 record, and will host a play-in game against provincial rivals the University of Brandon Bobcats on Feb. 9 at the Investors Group Athletic Centre.

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Sports

Sports Editor: Ryan Stelter Contact: sports@themanitoban.com

Former Bison Geoff Gray putting school first Looking forward to the 2018 NFL season, Gray has returned to U of M to finish his degree Ryan Stelter, staff

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s the age-old saying goes, Geoff Gray is indeed staying in school, for now.

The former Bison offensive lineman and current Cleveland Brown has returned to the University of Manitoba to finish his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.

“I’ve spent five years on [my degree] beforehand, and with engineering there is a clock on it,” he said.

“It’s not like I can come back five years from now, finish two classes and be good to go, so I had two years left to finish it so I really want to get it done.”

Gray said the U of M has been accommodating of his schedule, and since there is technically a time limit on when he can finish his degree, he’s better off completing it now rather than later.

In April of 2017, Gray was signed to a contract by the Green Bay Packers, kicking off a whirlwind rookie season. Gray did not make the cut with the Packers, but signed on to the New York Jets practice roster in September. Just before Christmas, he signed with the Cleveland Browns.

Even though he did not play in the final three games of the season, he said he is in a good spot for next year.

“I’m happy where I ended up in

photo by ryan stelter

Cleveland and I think I have a good position with them going into next year to make the active roster,” Gray said.

“It was a lot more than I expected necessarily, you don’t go into it expecting to be with three teams in three months, and that’s not something you’re accustomed to with university

sports where you don’t change durGray is fan of Mexican dishes, and ing the season, so it comes with the said he is better at making fajitas than territory.” many places in Winnipeg.

Gray said he had a positive experi“I think the best fajita I’ve had in ence with each team, but the best food Winnipeg is from myself,” he said. was in Green Bay. “JC’s Tacos, I haven’t had a fajita “They just had massive kitchens, the from there but they have some excelbest quesadillas I’ve ever had. They lent tacos,” he said. “Mexican hot had a good smoothie bar,” he said. sauce stuff like that, big fan of that.

They have a giant burrito, actually.”

Offensive linemen spend a lot of time eating, and, by extension, cooking. Standing at six-foot-five and weighing in at 315 pounds, Gray is no exception.

“I kind of like things where I’m improvising with leftover stuff like that,” he said. “If I try to actually think of something right from the start I get a little carried away and do too much but simple things - meat, vegetables, roasted vegetables - are always a good way to go.”

In addition to his on-field accomplishments, Gray was named a U SPORTS Top 8 Academic All Canadian for being, as he likes to call it, “best in books and sports.” Gray, named an Academic All Canadian every year he was with Manitoba, is proud of the distinction, observing the academic side of university sports can often be overlooked “This past year I did even better in school and in football, so I was recognized for excelling at both,” he said.

“It’s definitely nice where the award is focused towards both because that’s not necessarily a side that’s included through the pro day and stuff like that.”

Former Crusaders set sights on IGF Bisons add two more St. Paul’s commits with winning history Jason Pchajek, staff

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ith a dismal season for the University of Manitoba Bison football team in the rear-view, the herd is looking to reload with some prospects with winning pedigrees.

Stephen Adamopolous and Collin Kornelson will take to the field together next season on a revamped Bisons defence.

“I am very excited. It’s going to be a new experience that I am looking forward to,” Kornelson said.

His fellow commit didn’t mince words when asked his feelings on joining Manitoba.

“I’m very excited to join the Bisons of course,” Adamopolous said.

“The team provides lots of great things like an excellent coaching staff, high-class facilities, and a program that pushes you to be better at all times.”

The former Crusaders will look to make an immediate impact on a Bisons squad that had a strong defence, despite what their 2-6 record might suggest. Manitoba ranked third in tackles among Canada West clubs (442), fourth in sacks (11), and

ple can’t say they have done that, so hard-working DB that will be conI’m grateful for the last two seasons I sistent in doing his job and will have have played with the Crusaders. lots of fun doing it.”

“I don’t like losing so I will do The transition to the U SPORTS everything I can to help the Bisons level can be daunting for some, but win.” the two St. Paul’s products are happy Kornelson, standing at six-foot- to be making the jump with a familiar three - had eight tackles, a sack, face. and forced a fumble during the 2017 “I’m excited to move to the next Winnipeg High school Football level with a previous teammate,” League season.

Adamopolous said.

“I feel my transition will be a bit “St. Paul’s obviously develops lots smoother into the defensive system,” of good football players so I wouldn’t he said. “Bison fans can expect me be surprised if we see more St. Paul’s to make plays when I’m supposed to recruits in the Bisons locker room make plays. I am someone who will next year.” photo provided by colin kornelson always do my job because football “It’s always good to know someone is a team sport and if I do my job going in,” Kornelson added. “But it fifth in defensive interceptions (seven). and I couldn’t imagine a better finish,” and everyone else does their job, the doesn’t take long to get to know a lot Adamopolous and Kornelson - a Adamopolous said. defence can’t be stopped.” of the other guys, especially when defensive back and defensive lineman, “I feel that winning helped me Adamopolous is also confident in you’re spending many hours of the respectively - are coming off back-to- understand what it takes to succeed, his abilities. The six-foot-three defen- day together.” back John Potter AAA champion- so I will definitely bring the winning sive back had six tackles in 2017 for ships with the St. Paul’s Crusaders mentality to the U of M.” the Crusaders. and hope to bring the lessons they Kornelson does not like to lose, “I believe that Bisons fans should learned in those campaigns to help and will bring that spirit with him expect to see a young player out of their new club. to the Bisons. high school that will develop very “Being a champion was a great way “It was awesome to win back-to- well throughout his career,” he said. to end my high-school football career back,” Kornelson said. “A lot of peo“They should expect to see a very

VOL. 104 NO. 22 February 7, 2018

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Three Toronto Blue Jays in the top 100 prospects Breaking down Toronto’s three future stars Joe Gonzales, volunteer staff

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or the Toronto Blue Jays, the win- His father, Vladimir Guerrero, will dow of opportunity to capture be heading to Cooperstown as part a World Series has closed for a few of the Class of 2018. He had a storied years. career with the Montreal Expos and The result has largely been a Los Angeles Angels, and was known combination of multiple factors: the as one of the premier hitters during inability to find an equal replace- his time in the majors. It seems as if ment after the departure of Edwin those skills have directly been transEncarnación, a sudden drop in pro- ferred to his son. Vlad Jr. was given duction from former star and now the first ever 80-grade hit tool for his free agent José Bautista, and the prospect report. (For baseball scouts, constant trip to the disabled list for there are five tools for batters, one Devon Travis and Aaron Sanchez being hitting. They are graded on a - two players who fans had hoped scale with 50 being the average, and would be integral pieces to the puzzle every 10-point deviation representing the next step in skill, or lack of.) the Jays were hoping to solve.

With the New York Yankees While only 18 years old, he seems seemingly set to run the AL East for to be the heir apparent for the third at least the next three years, it seems base position once that role is vacated that all is lost for now. That is a key by Josh Donaldson and any further phrase: for now. replacements. Donaldson, at 32, On Jan. 27, the top 100 prospects signed a one-year deal for the 2018 in the MLB by MLB Pipeline were season. It is likely he will be moved announced, with the Jays landing as he starts to age and leave his prime three in the top 100. Two of the three years. Whether it is a change in posiwere in the top 15. While prospects tion or a change in scenery is still up are always a risky call no matter the in the air. Having a replacement like sport, it seems there is something Vlad Jr. developing in the minors special about these players that and already being a highly-touted should give the Toronto faithful prospect provides some relief for the something to be optimistic about and, potential uncertainty surrounding hopefully in the future, something to the position. cheer about.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr., third base – #3 on Top 100 2017 minor league stats: 119 games played, 437 at-bats, .323/.425/.485

Signed as an international prospect at the age of 16, you ought to take a chance on the son of a Hall of Famer.

Bo Bichette, shortstop/ second base – #14 on top 100 2017 minor league stats: 110 games played, 448 at-bats, .362/.423/.565

Bo is another prospect with baseball ties - his father Dante Bichette was a four-time All-Star with the

Travis were hit with the injury bug in 2017 and missed more than the half-season. An aging Tulo and an injury-ridden Travis mean the Jays have to choose where to permanently place Bo once he is ready.

Anthony Alford, outfielder – #47 on top 100 2017 minor league stats: 77 games played, 278 at-bats, .299/.390/.406

Blue Jays prospect Vladimir Guerrero Jr. with the Lansing Lugnuts in May 2017. photo provided by joel dinda

Colorado Rockies. Although Dante doesn’t have as storied a career as Guerrero Sr., the offensive potential of his son is on par with Vlad Jr.’s.

Bo received a 70-grade hit tool from scouts, and his showing in 2017 in the minor leagues suggests he would be a nice complement alongside Vlad Jr. should the two make it to the show.

Bo would provide additional

relief surrounding uncertainties at the other positions the Jays may have problems with in the next couple of years. Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki can still show he’s got it when it comes to a defensive showing in the infield, but at the plate, things are dimming.

The aforementioned Travis has shown flashes of greatness, but only when he was healthy. Both Tulowitzki and

Alford was drafted by the Jays in 2012, knowing full well he was committed to playing college football with Southern Mississippi. He subsequently transferred to Ole Miss.

Luckily, and perhaps the smarter choice, he made the switch to pursue baseball. What might be unsettling are the trips to the disabled list he has made while in the minors, but all seems well besides that.

At 23 years old, Alford is the one readiest to make the jump to the major leagues. With scouts giving him a 70-grade tool in running, he could potentially be the speedy leadoff hitter the Jays have not seen since they traded for Ben Revere for the latter half of their 2015 campaign.

With the departure of Bautista, Alford would also provide a much needed patch-up for an outfield that has mainly showcased Kevin Pillar alongside a rotation of players in left and right field.