23 January 2013

THE UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA STUDENTS’ NEWSPAPER

The video game feature!

n e ws

New West

U of M speaker series holds talk on Western Canada page 3

co m m e n t

Account-ability Chief Spence continues to draw criticism for finances page 9

pages 13-18

s c i e n c e & t e c h n o lo g y

a rts & c u lt u r e

Giant squid

Indigenous icon NHL returns

Rare footage captured of deep-ocean dweller page 11

Buffy Sainte-Marie talks Idle No More, Celebration Week page 19

Vo l 9 9 ½ · N o 1 9 · J a n ua ry 2 3 , 2 0 1 3 · w w w.t h e m a n i to b a n .co m

s p o rts

But what about the fans? Seemingly, yes. page 24

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Index

VOL. 99 ½ NO. 19 January 23, 2013

News

Science & Tech

| pa g e s 2 – 5

4

City releases proposed budget

5

National news briefs

Editorial

| pa g e 7

12

| pgs 10–12

Lessons from Mother Nature

Arts & Culture

| pgs 19–21

cover image

“Digital Trinity” by Bradly Wohlgemuth

Comment

| pa g e s 8 – 9

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For other volunteer inquiries, please come to our office in University Centre (across from Tim Horton’s, behind GOSA) or email the editor of the section for which you are interested in writing.

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003_READ

21

Big Fun Festival 2013 preview

Diversions

On the hunt

Features

19

| pa g e s 1 3 – 1 8

Sports

artist information: website—www.bradlyjohn.wordpress.com/ email—bradlyjohnw@gmail.com

| pa g e 2 2

| pa g e s 2 3 – 2 4

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Hey! Look! Listen!

23

Following the herd

18

Violent video games

24

The NHL is back . . .

Toban Talkback

Q:

Karan Gill

Brett Hampton

Brittany Ozunko

“Yes I have heard of it and yes I think it has made an impact. I have never heard of a protest about these issues before on this large of a scale.”

“Never heard of it. I have no idea what you're talking about.”

“I have heard of it and I don't think it is making an impact at all. Nobody cares about it. They were talking about blocking off the MTS centre during Jets games and everybody is just going to get pissed off.”

Have you heard of the "Idle No More" protest, and if so, do you think it has made an impact?

Jill Patterson, staff

engine ering

environment al s tudies

u1

Shamus Dack engine ering

“No, I have never heard of it before.”

Senior News Editor: Rachel Wood News Editor: Jill Patterson Contact: news@themanitoban.com / 474.6770

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News

Idle No More lecture held at The Hub Key speakers stressed need for Canadians to unite Alycia Rodrigues, staff

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dle No More speakers and supporters gathered Thursday, Jan. 17 at The Hub on campus to discuss the movement and what it really means. The event was sponsored by the Liberal Party.

Activist and speaker for the rights of First Nations peoples Tina Keeper was the host of the evening. A former member of the Canadian House of Commons, Keeper opened the evening by highlighting the importance of this movement for Canadians.

Keeper stressed the importance of intellectual conversations for Canadians in coming together to ask, “How do we live together?” and “How do we work together?” She says criticism of the Idle No More movement is welcomed because it leads to improvements, which have already occurred and are already underway.

Chadwick Cowie, co-chair of the Aboriginal Peoples’ Commission, introduced a brief summary about the various proposed government bills, including those that have recently passed and which will affect First Nations peoples.

The movement began last November after controversy arose surrounding the passing of the omnibus Bill C-45. Critics claimed the bill makes it easier for First Nations lands

to be surrendered, with no protection, through leases which are legally binding. They also claim it doesn’t just affect First Nations peoples, but Canadians as a whole since it removes environmental protection, meaning that the government is able to approve resource projects without consultation of its citizens.

Cowie stated that the passing of this bill was the final straw for First Nations peoples but that there have been others: such as Bill C-27 involving financial transparency; Bill S-6, which involved First Nations elections; Bill S-8, which focused on drinking water; and Bill 46, involving the First Nations education act, which have all had a part in violating long-standing treaties with the First Nations peoples.

“Canadians trust government to operate within a spectrum of behaviour, which our government is not doing,” said Cowie.

He stressed that every Canadian is entitled to equity, safe communities, education, and safe drinking water, but that this is not the case for First Nations peoples.

stand together, the more that can be movement: federal legislation and achieved. He also stressed the need agreements, history of Europeans for all Canadians to get involved since and Indigenous peoples, Indigenous united people create greater change. governance, effective advocacy, quick “We need Canadians to say, you’re organization, and roots. right and we’re going to stand with “We need to support our women. you,” said Cowie.

We need them to know they are valuAnother important able, beautiful, and can help change speaker at the event was things. They are not an inconvenience,” Michael Champagne, a Champagne asserted.

North End activist, who Rachel Green, a First Nations sinhas been involved with gle mother of three, gave a heartbreakIdle No More since the ing story of resilience. In October, she beginning of December. was in her fourth year of Indigenous Throughout his upbringing, studies when one of her sons was diagChampagne witnessed a nosed with cancer. Green said that significant amount of apathy because she did not quit her education in social situations involv- to take care of her three children, espeing First Nations peoples, cially her terminally ill child, she was which, he stated, led to his threatened her by Child and Family involvement.

Services (CFS). She refused and it In Ma rch, 2010, led her to push for policy change with of First Nations issues is important, as Champagne began Aboriginal CFS. Green stressed the importance most Canadians have no clue about the Youth Opportunities (AYO!), an of education and positive role models reality and severity of the situation. anti-gang support group that provides to resist negative aspects of life.

“Idle No More, while not unique— resources to youth to make their ideas She reiterated a question from one there have been other historic examples a reality. Champagne spoke at the of her deceased professors who asked, of it—is nonetheless a very different TEDxManitoba conference in 2012, “What are you going to do for your approach. It’s not violent. This is a a prestigious convention of inspiring children?” huge grassroots movement in which leaders and researchers.

“If you’re willing to educate yourself, a lot of non-aboriginals are participatChampagne stressed the impor- then you’re willing to change,” said ing,” said Martin. tance of education, listening, and Green.

Cowie argued that treaties allow communicating with one another. for friendship. The more Canadians He laid out six central themes of the Photo by Matthew Giesbrecht

In an interview with CNN on the morning of Thursday, Jan. 17, former Prime Minister Paul Martin declared his support for the Idle No More approach. Martin said that awareness

Lecture examines past, present, and future of the Canadian West Discussion one of many in Barnard’s Visionary Conversation series Quinn Richert, staff

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avid Barnard, vice-chancellor within both national and global and president of the University political contexts. of Manitoba, hosted a talk on Perry opened the discussion Wednesday, Jan. 16 entitled “The New by challenging the notion that West: The Political and Economic there is anything particularly “new” Rise of Western Canada.” about Western Canada’s political The talk was the first 2013 event for character.

Barnard’s speaker series, Visionary “The present-day Western Canada Conversations. Each talk in the series that most of us in this room live in brings together experts to discuss and some of us study only looks litissues “relating to an area of strength erally ‘new’ if we have a very static outlined in the university’s Strategic and very truncated view of the past,” Planning Framework, reflecting the said Perry. role the university can and should play She explained that residents and in fostering dialogue around emerg- scholars of this region tend to think ing issues.” of the west as it may have looked in The conversation featured a panel the 1880s to 1940s, as a region charincluding Adele Perry, Canada acterized heavily by agriculture and research chair in Western Canadian European immigration, when in fact social history at the U of M; Paul Vogt, fragments of the urban, multicultural clerk of the Executive Council for the Canadian West that many recognize Province of Manitoba (as well as U of in the present only began to arise folM alumnus and Rhodes Scholar); and lowing the Second World War. Ian Hudson, a professor of economics “Newcomers to the early 19th-cenat the university. tury fur trade were often struck by its The talk, held at the Robert B. cosmopolitan character,” Perry told Schultz lecture theatre, commenced the audience. “In 1816, a visitor to the following a short reception and North West Company post at Fort focused on how the character and William wrote that he found people role of “Western” Canada—defined from England, Ireland, Scotland, as stretching from Manitoba to B.C. France, Germany, Italy, Denmark, and including the territories—has Sweden, Holland, Switzerland, the changed and is about to change, United States, the Gold Coast of

Africa, the Sandwich Islands, Bengal, makers to “turn northward” and focus of economic performance, such as various tribes of Indians, and a mixed on developing resources such as mines. individual after-tax income for all of progeny of creoles.”

Thirdly, Vogt announced to the audi- the provinces comprising Western Following Perry’s remarks, Paul ence, “It is time to make a proactive Canada.

Vogt gave a presentation entitled presentation to Aboriginal citizens “What becomes clear here,” said “Policies for the New West,” which, of the west on the issue of economic Hudson upon sharing and explainas Vogt put it, outlined “five policy partnerships.” ing the data, “is that the rise of the prescriptions to fill out a new west His last two points focused on west is really the dramatic rise of agenda.” balancing Saskatchewan and the continued According the tension rise of Alberta.” Hudson went on to to Vogt, the between explain that the prosperity in these f ive policy resource two provinces is founded upon their ideas taken extraction reliance on energy resources as “staple together a nd env i- products.” “articulate ronmental The last half of the Visionary a western protection Conversation consisted of a back-andvision that and water forth dialogue between the panel and unites the management. members of the audience. A reoccurdifferent “The num- ring theme during the question and regions and ber one issue answer session was a dilemma raised also makes a contribution to nation for citizens living on the prairies is earlier by Vogt – balancing environbuilding in Canada.” water management and water quality mental protection against economic Vogt emphasized that first, “skills protection,” stated Vogt. stability attained by exploiting finite and people strategy are more imporProfessor Ian Hudson concluded energy resources, particularly in the tant than resource strategy for the the first half of the evening with a Alberta tar sands region. economic future of the west.” detailed analysis of the recent ecoThe next Visionary Conversations He elaborated that living up to this nomic growth in the west. His pre- event is entitled “Crouching Tiger, policy must include further develop- sentation argued that the “rise of the Hidden Dragon: Does the Rise of ing post-secondary education, work- new west,” in economic terms, is China Mean the Decline of the ing to improve Aboriginal education driven mainly by the recent success West?” and will be held at the Robert outcomes, and increasing immigra- of Saskatchewan and Alberta.

B. Schultz lecture theatre on Feb. 6. tion to provinces in the west.

Hudson presented data to the Second, Vogt encouraged policy audience tracking various indicators Photo by Mike Latschislaw

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News

VOL. 99 ½ NO. 19 January 23, 2013

City releases proposed budget Includes funding cuts for nonprofits Quinn Richert, staff

T

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he City of Winnipeg released its 2013 capital and operating budget plans during the week of Jan. 7 and, in doing so, unveiled an abrupt series of cuts to charities and nonprofits that have taken many by surprise.

Included in the cuts is a 10 per cent decrease in funding provided to Winnipeg museums. The Manitoba Children’s Museum, one of many affected, now expects to miss out on $21,000 worth of grant money.

Officials involved with several city museums recently expressed feelings of being blindsided by the city’s decision to the Winnipeg Free Press.

“We didn’t get so much as [the] courtesy of a heads-up this was coming,” said Jean-Paul Gobeil, board chairman of the St. Boniface Museum.

Diane Doth, executive director of the Children’s Museum, expressed a similar sentiment.

“I couldn’t believe it. I honestly thought it was not real.”

Also affected by the decrease in funding to nonprofits were organizations such as Winnipeg Harvest and the United Way. These organizations were subjected to a 10 per cent decline in funding. The city is reportedly set to save a total of $358,000 on nonprofits.

Dr. Karine Levasseur, an assistant professor in the University of Manitoba’s political studies department, recently spoke with the Manitoban about city hall’s 10 per cent cut to several nonprofit and charitable organizations.

“The concern here is that these funding cuts lack coherence. The City of Winnipeg indicated that it spared services offered by nonprofits and charities in the inner city, but this was followed by a cut to Winnipeg Harvest and the Poverty Reduction Strategy. How do we reconcile a cut to Winnipeg Harvest with the City’s desire to protect inner city services?” asked Levasseur.

Levasseur also remarked that

Multiple city councillors, including Jenny Gerbasi (Fort Rouge), Justin Swandel (St. Norbert), and John Orlikow (River Heights), have publicly opposed this move, insisting that the money can be put to better use elsewhere.

Since the tabling of the budget at City Hall two weeks ago, Mayor Sam Katz and the Executive Policy Committee (EPC) have also faced some opposition from Winnipeg residents who would like to see the budget amended.

A petition is up on the Children’s Museum website to encourage city council to reject the proposed cuts to museum funding. Furthermore, the Free Press reports that on Jan. 17, approximately 30 different groups “It is important of citizens met with the EPC to to recognize that criticize the proposed budget.

Levasseur explained that this Winnipeg has had kind of lobbying has the potential a long love affair to change the proposed budget which city councillors will with nonprofits and plan, soon vote on.

“I certainly think that it can be charities [ . . . ] The effective – if enough people reach City of Winnipeg out to their city councillor and express their concerns, I think it needs to stop such could be enough to turn the tide.” an ad hoc approach “Furthermore,” elaborated Levasseur, “it is important to recto funding.” – ognize that Winnipeg has had a Karine Levasseur long love affair with nonprofits and charities [ . . . ] The City of Winnipeg needs to stop such the budget might prove detrimen- an ad hoc approach to funding. tal to Winnipeg’s ability to attract Instead, it should restore funding tourists. in the interim until it can build a “The City has been working to meaningful partnership with the make Winnipeg a tourist destina- nonprofit and charitable sector in tion especially with the emphasis Winnipeg to define policy.” on a new airport, the Museum Levasseur acknowledges that, of Human Rights, and other while the budget certainly contains developments. Cuts to museums some disappointments, there is one seem at odds with this desire to very positive and important aspect make Winnipeg a top tourist that the City has introduced this destination.” year – a sum of money set aside to Although the city is set to save hire policy analysts.

This is a worthwhile investmoney on funding nonprofits and charities, the 2013 budget also calls ment for Winnipeg, according to for a 3.87 per cent rise in property Levasseur, because the city lost taxes. One per cent of the revenue many of its policy analyst staff durbrought in by the tax hike will be ing recent reorganizations, which allocated towards improving the resulted in a diminished ability to optimally allocate resources in infrastructure of the city.

“The Executive Policy Committee response to an ever-changing set tabled a budget that strikes a bal- of political challenges. ance between our commitment to “In short, the City of Winnipeg is spend taxpayer dollars wisely and sorely lacking in policy capacity. As the need to make solid investments an assistant professor who teaches in our local infrastructure. For the in the master of public administrafirst time ever, we are dedicating a tion program and trains the next fund for the renewal of local streets, generation of policy analysts, I am back lanes and sidewalks,” reads pleased to see the City is committed a statement of the city’s official to taking the first step to rebuild website. some of its policy capacity.”

City Council will vote on the This marks the second year in a row that the city has called for a proposed budget on Tuesday, Jan. rise in property taxes.

29.

Also called for in the budget is an increase in city councillors’ discretionary ward budget by $40,000.

Photo by BEIBEI LU

Senior News Editor: Rachel Wood News Editor: Jill Patterson Contact: news@themanitoban.com / 474.6770

News

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Brandon University a key player in immigration study Seven-year research study assesses motivations and impacts of immigrants Alycia Rodrigues, staff

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randon University (BU) recently announced its role in a $2.5 million dollar immigration research study.

The study collaborates with other universities and institutions over a span of seven years to assess what brings immigrants to Canada and what kind of an impact they provide, with an emphasis on mid-size cities and small towns. The intention is to provide policy makers and service providers with information to assess current and future immigration factors.

Other universities and institu-

tions involved include Simon Fraser needs immigrants. Small towns, such University, the University of Victoria, as Steinbach and Winkler, are losing a the University of Waterloo, the lot of their young citizens to opportuUniversity of New Brunswick, Carleton nities in bigger cities such as Toronto, University, and York University. The Montreal, and Vancouver, argued Joe cities of Calgary, Saskatoon, London, Friesen, demographics reporter for Moncton, and Ottawa are also G&M. involved in the study, as well as the Friesen also argued that Canadians Federation of Canadian Municipalities, are not having enough babies and, given Government of Canada Citizenship the potential to become a leading-edge and Immigration, and Government of super power, reliance on immigrants Manitoba Labour and Immigration. has been and is becoming increasingly The Globe and Mail recently pub- important. The future of Canada is at a lished an article discussing why Canada tipping point and questions of change

are hanging in the air, waiting for a response on how to sustain equality for all Canadians.

Dr. Bill Ashton, the director of BU’s Rural Development Institute (RDI), is the chairman for the prairie research project titled Pathways to Prosperity: New policy directions and innovative local practices for newcomer integration and attraction.

“This study will allow us to drill down into the challenges of rural immigration, including language training, housing, and a host of other factors

which may not be present in big cities,” said Ashton.

Dr. Dean Care, the acting vicepresident of BU, gave his support of the research study.

“I am extremely pleased that Brandon University is joining other Canadian universities as a partner on this important research project.

Being a rural-based university, BU is well positioned to make a significant contribution to this project; especially one with such relevance to our local community.”

National news briefs Carlyn Schellenberg, staff Temporary breaths of air for killer whales in Hudson Bay

to swim into open water. tour bus, headed to Vancouver, car- exchange students from Tacoma, to various institutions until finally The cause of the entrapment has ried 48 passengers and was driving Washington, have also filed a law- arriving at Grand Valley Institution Approximately 12 killer whales been attributed to climate change, in northeastern Oregon when it suit. The bus company’s lawyer, for Women.

Two days before her death, were enclosed by ice in the Canadian as whale researcher Christian Ramp crashed through a guardrail and however, says black ice is to blame.

Arctic, 30 kilometres away from stated that the animals are heading fell 85 feet. The accident resulted The U.S. Department of Smith was placed on suicide watch.

Inukjuak, Quebec on Jan. 7. The further north each year and are not in nine deaths.

Transportation and the B.C. On Oct. 19, 2007, guards noticed a orcas continually took turns com- leaving soon enough, “miss[ing] the June Won and Hee Eun Kim of Transportation Ministry are each ligature around Smith’s neck but did not immediately enter her cell. ing up for air in a CBC video posted chance to get to open water.”

Burnaby, B.C. have sustained inju- carrying out their own inquiries.

She was pronounced dead hours Jan. 9. One resident remarked that Although a local airplane search ries that collectively include brain Formal hearings for inquest later. the small breathing hole had already observed many areas of open water and lung damage and other back of Ashley Smith’s death begin The wardens at the institution gotten smaller in a short period of for the whales to seek refuge, Pete and neck injuries. time.

Ewins of World Wildlife Fund In each of their Supreme Court An investigation has been called were fired and the guards were On Jan. 9, Inukjuak Mayor Peter Canada told the Globe and Mail suits, the Kims claim that the driver, into the death of 19-year-old Ashley charged with criminal negligence Inukpuk asked the Department of the whales were “still 1,000 kilo- Haeng-Kyu Hwang, did not get Smith, who committed suicide on causing death, but all charges were Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) to metres from where they should be enough rest, was speeding, was not Oct. 19, 2007, at Ontario’s Grand dropped on Dec. 9, 2008.

The investigation that began on transport an icebreaker in order to at this time of year,” predicting that attentive to road signs, and acted Valley Institution for Women. save the whales. Experts from the the currents and shifting ice could against the restrictions outlined on Smith’s first major incarcera- Sept. 20, 2012 is the second into DFO planned to arrive on Jan. 10 entrap them again. his driver’s licence. They also claim tion term was penalty for waving Ashley Smith’s death; a 2011 inquest to evaluate the situation. that Mi Joo Tour and Travel was a knife on the street and refusing resulted in a mistrial. The formal Victims of Oregon bus crash sue The whales were able to free negligent in not supplying the tour to relinquish it to authorities. Due hearings began on Jan. 13, 2013, and themselves from the enclosure on Four survivors of the fatal Dec. bus with appropriate headlights or to her apparent defiant behaviour, the inquiry, which will examine the Jan. 10. The ice is believed to have 30 bus crash in Oregon have taken windshield wipers. her sentence time accumulated into treatment of Smith within these moved closer towards the sea due to legal action against the driver and Crash survivors Jong-Hyun four years and included solitary facilities, is expected to last six overnight winds, allowing the orcas company of the Coquitlam bus. The Chae and Seong-June An, Korean confinement. Smith was transferred months to a year.

Disability research discussed New lecture series focuses on inclusion and access Rebecca Kremer

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n Jan. 16, the University of literature. sightless man’s disappointment at due to the high cost and low availManitoba began its new speaker Warne commented to the exhibits that were shielded behind ability of such volumes. She causeries (re)Visioning Inclusion and Manitoban that what first drew glass and encouraged visitors to look tioned the audience of the dangers Access: Blazing Innovative Disability her attention to disability research but not touch. He found, however, of relying on recordings because it Research Trails. The series is co- was her volunteer work with the that both the exhibitionists and fel- does not actively engage the listener sponsored by the faculty of education Canadian National Institute for low visitors were very enthusiastic as much as touch reading. and the faculty of disability studies. the Blind. in helping him by offering expla“Two visually impaired students The series will feature seven lectures, “Here I am recording books. But nations and allowing him to touch may work just as hard, but if one with the last scheduled for May 15, what kind of books and who’s read- the various presentations. The man reads Braille and one listens to a each promising to examine the issue ing them and why? And what hap- argued that learning through touch- recording, the difference is between of innovations in disability research pened 150 years ago that led to that? ing and experiencing something was an A and a C grade,” remarked a from a different perspective.

All my research was there [ . . . ] So I far superior. professor in attendance.

The series began with a lecture by started with history and then I went Warne applied this notion to Warne opened up the floor for Vanessa Warne, entitled “The Right to disability studies [ . . . ] It was a contemporary education, propos- further discussion after her lecto Read: Literacy, Visual Disability, natural flow,” Warne explained. ing that real-life experience is more ture. One topic raised was the and the History of Accessibility,” The focus of the lecture was valuable than learning simple facts. importance of considering their which focused on historical advances an essay written for an 1863 issue Warne also noted that, recently, frame of reference when educatin accessibility. Warne hails from the of Temple Bar magazine, “How a many visually impaired students are ing students with visual disabilities. faculty of arts at the U of M and pri- Blind Man Saw the International turning to recordings of books rather “I never knew what the bell button marily teaches courses on Victorian Exhibition.” The essay expressed a than reading Braille for themselves, in the elevator meant – to me it was

that button with a bunch of lines. I was eventually told it was a bell, and was surprised,” said one member of the audience.

When asked what it would take to get more people thinking about accessibility, Warne replied, “It takes a degree of courage. People would like to pretend that the door is just going to open if somebody presses the button, but sometimes it doesn’t open. We should be involved as a community in providing accessibility.”

The next lecture will take place on Feb. 14 at 3:00 p.m. in 217 University Centre and will feature Harvey Max Chochinov lecturing on the dangers of the marginalization of disabled persons.

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Editor-In-Chief: Ryan Harby Contact: Editor@themanitoban.com / 474.6770

Editorial

Editor-in-Chief Ryan Harby

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Editorial

Senior News Editor Rachel Wood

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News Editor Jill Patterson

I know what I like Why it’s important to apply critical thinking to popular media Kara Passey, staff

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races, cultures, genders, sexualities, and abilities.

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Critical thinking can inspire civic engagement

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arts & Culture Editor Kara Passey

Recognizing problematic content can help a viewer to realize its relationship to systematic oppression. It is important to consider why tropes and stereotypes are repeated and who benefits from portraying them.

Who has power when stereotypes about people of colour are enforced? Why are housekeeping ads only targeted towards women? Is there money to be made by alienating fat people?

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You will seek out more fulfilling forms of entertainment

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illustration by kara passey

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on’t you think you’re being a little contributing factor in accomplishing that. It hypersensitive?” is just as important to find out what you do These words often come at me when I’m like as it is to determine what you don’t. happily babbling away about why I don’t There is a difference between saying, “I like some new movie, television show, song, don’t like this television show because it or book. I love critiquing makes me feel bad about shit! For me, half the fun being fat” and “I don’t Recognizing of consuming something like this television show is to pick it apart. Is it because it alienates fat the problems in accurate? Does it contain people, polices people’s the media you harmful stereotypes? Is it bodies, and contributes appropriative? to a misogynistic beauty enjoy is the first, So, when those words standard.” One puts the stop me short, it irks me. blame on you as the and very crucial, It irks me real bad. viewer, and the other on step toward not For one thing, it’s the media – which do super dismissive in a you think is fairer? letting it affect f lat-out rude way; by your own beliefs using “You’re so sensiMedia can tive” as a debate tactic, shape how you and morals. you are targeting your view others opponent directly, and not the content you are Having a critical debating. If you silence someone for simply mind also helps you view media and decide talking about their own personal experience whether you let its messages influence your with something, heads up, you’re a shithead. perception of yourself or others.

If you disagree with someone’s opinion or I grew up in a small town until I was old critique, why don’t you try, I don’t know, enough to drive, so my interactions with having a dialogue? people who weren’t Christian, white, and But I digress, this isn’t about debate tac- upper middle class were extremely limited. tics and how to not be a jerk. I want to talk Unfortunately, this means that my early about why being critical—specifically about exposure to other cultures came mostly via popular media—is important. television, and no one ever warned me to take it with a grain of salt.

It helps to shape you as a person Learning to examine issues of representation in books, film, and television can teach Everyone has a common goal to be an a person to be critical when encountering individual and free thought is a pretty large stereotypical representations of different

When you find something of value that you enjoy, it is going to seem that much sweeter. You will learn to appreciate good writing and production, you’ll start to follow artists you like to find more of their work – having a relationship with your media where you’re an enthusiast as opposed to just a viewer is a lot more fun, I promise.

I can tell what you’re thinking now: I’m a stuck-up snob, or maybe a hipster—I probably am a hipster by popular definition, to be honest—but that last point is actually my segue into telling you that, yes, it is okay to consume problematic media and, yes, it’s even okay to like it.

But how?

Acknowledge that it is problematic Recognizing the problems in the media you enjoy is the first, and very crucial, step toward not letting it affect your own beliefs and morals. There are problems with a lot of things out there; if you were to write off everything with problematic content, you would have very little left to enjoy. Media is also capable of conveying positive messages while still having problematic aspects – for instance, a movie can have a strong cast of leading females while having no representation of people of colour.

Sometimes people get really into their media (fandoms is a word that comes to mind) and they take it really personally if you point out that something is wrong with it. Unfortunately, it doesn’t matter how often you volunteer at your local soup kitchen: if your favourite movie portrays racist stereotypes of black people, your good person points don’t validate it.

This kind of ties in to how you shouldn’t silence people by calling them sensitive; don’t take their criticisms personally. Books and movies don’t have feelings. Dismissing these criticisms means that you think that the feelings and oppression of others is less important than your enjoyment.

Listen respectfully, ask questions, absorb information, and decide for yourself how to apply it to your own life.

Comment Editor: Spencer Fernando Contact: comment@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

Comment

8

On the hunt

Tips for students seeking summer employment Bryce Hoye, staff

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t’s getting ever nearer the time to One position was based out of in accordance with their current start that summer job hunt. Yes, it’s Winnipeg working with waterfowl academic interests and background, only January, and you’re right: maybe and wetland birds, the other in the previous employment experience, it is on the early side to be considering remote boreal forests of the Northwest and so on. summer jobs.

Territories Depending Of course, those of you currently studying how on the student Personally, I have attending the U of M may have a particular and prof i le, recently taken in the job fair on cam- migratory various sectors always found late pus and are probably now all the more songbird of the federal cognizant of the fast-approaching species was government may January and early summer employment period. Many responding express interest February to be employers are already headhunting to industrial in interviewing ripe young minds from our university resource someone with crucial times to start corridors. exploration. your skill set and looking for those Personally, I have always found The way I interests, which late January and early February to managed to may lead to a highly sought-after be crucial times to start looking for get such eccensummer posisummer student those highly sought-after summer tric, exciting, tion somewhere student government jobs. and, for the in Canada. government jobs.

Allow me to share a few most pa r t, According experiences. well-paying to the FSWEP I like nature. I’ve worked all over summer jobs home pa ge , Canada, gaining valuable work expe- was firstly through the Federal annual FSWEP campaigns span rience in the area of ecological field Student Work Experience Program from, for instance, October 2012 to research with multiple government (FSWEP).

October 2013. Years where I’ve made and not-for-profit organizations. The FSWEP is a federal registry (or reactivated) my profile in January first two positions I attained were whereby students attending post- or early February have yielded the with the Canadian Wildlife Service secondary institutions full-time are most queries from various federal and Environment Canada. able to create a profile, tailoring it departments across Canada. Years

where I’ve waited until late March have yielded far less queries.

Departments that hire summer students include, but are not limited to: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada; Fisheries and Oceans Canada; Parks Canada; the Canadian Transportation Agency; Environment Canada; library clerk positions and guide-interpreter positions at the Supreme Court of Canada and Rideau Hall, as well as various other parks and heritage sites across Canada.

If you’re a general sciences or liberal arts student in your first year or two of university and have yet to decide on what path suits you best, be sure to construct a profile that demonstrates your general interests in the sciences or arts and you may luck out and find yourself working somewhere in government that clarifies a few things for you.

And to those even less sure of themselves: I too was once like you.

I drifted in and out of the arts and sciences; I am currently completing

a degree in the biological sciences after spending four years completing a degree in communications at the University of Winnipeg. I feel your pain.

But FSWEP really did open a lot of doors for me, and it provided me with a licence to travel across Canada, where I was able to work eccentric backwoods jobs with unique folks in wild, remote places.

The province of Manitoba has a similar student employment placement service known as STEP, while the City of Winnipeg also employs rafts of undergrads in the summers.

FSWEP:

http://jobs-emplois.gc.ca/

STEP:

http://www.gov.mb.ca/ cyo/studentjobs/

City of Winnipeg:

http://www.winnipeg.ca/resumeol/ peoplesoft/job_category.asp

Live in the now Labels based on the past need to go Chris Hearn, volunteer staff

Advertising – Media Management Alternative Dispute Resolution Event Management Fashion Management & Promotions Financial Planning Global Business Management Human Resources Management International Development Marketing Management Public Administration

10 WAYS TO LAUNCH YOUR CAREER FIND YOUR NICHE WITH A POSTGRAD IN BUSINESS

business.humber.ca/postgrad

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s I have mentioned in previous all just born where we were, when we negative stereotypes aimed toward articles, I recently moved back were, the colour we are. We played no them in our society, and rightfully to Canada from the Middle East. I role in the world before the moment so. The LGBT community is fighting seem to have moved back from one we were born. We didn’t choose to be for its rights and trying to defy damregion in turmoil to another region part of any system, social, political, or aging stereotypes, and rightfully so. in turmoil now that Idle No More what have you. We are just born and Muslims are trying to shake stereohas kicked into high gear. grow up, living life the best we can. types, and rightfully so. Now, when Being in both places has chalSometimes it does feel darn lenged some of my understanding depressing to look around the world Should any of us be of my place in the world. In the and see that so many people are Middle East, I felt like I was seen by focused on each other for the wrong judged because of some as part of a colonizing entity reasons. Like almost everyone, I that forced its way into the lives of mean no one any harm. I believe what our ancestors Middle Easterners, created borders in social justice. I believe in human have done? that weren’t wanted, and just gener- rights. I believe in equality. I am not ally made a mess of things. against people based on their social Now that I am back in Canada, I standing, their skin colour, or their feel like some people in this country nationality. And I don’t think it’s fair it comes to my identity, do I have the see me the same way. for me to feel guilty because of what ability to stand up against stereotypIt takes the wind out of one’s sails happened in the past. ing and labels? to be seen as someone who has a negAll day on Jan. 11, the day of the To sum things up, I do not wish ative impact on the world because big meeting between Prime Minister to be defined by my skin colour, my of events they didn’t cause and had Harper and the First Nations chiefs sexuality, my background, my ethnicnothing to do with. Should any of us brave enough to meet with him while ity, or my economic or social status. I be judged because of what our ances- Idle No More protests continued, I wish to be defined as a human being. tors have done? Should anyone be felt that some people were express- As a human, I am—just like everyone treated differently because of their ing overwhelming hostility towards else—a complex person with many skin colour, regardless of what that many parts of what I am, and who I layers. I wish this to be recognized colour is? am in their eyes. I saw a sign that said, and understood. I do not want to be When we refuse to see someone “Treaty Rights, Not Greedy Whites.” lumped in with any particular group for who they are, and instead attach Am I a greedy white? Does my skin without my consent. I wish to be seen a label to them, we hurt ourselves colour place me in a category I really as a person. I wish to define myself. and others. And, I do have to admit, don’t wish to be defined by?

I wish to be seen as whom I am, not although it may sound rather silly, it We live in a time when people are what others wish I be seen as for their does hurt whenever I see anyone— trying to define themselves and rise own purposes. Deep down, I believe including myself—treated differently above stereotypes. Aboriginal peo- that is really what we all want. Why because of their skin colour. We were ples are working to defy some of the should any of us be different?

VOL. 99 ½ NO. 19 January 23, 2013

Comment

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Show me the money Attawapiskat’s finances Al Klassen, volunteer staff

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hen a nonprofit organization if it were a faith-based organiza- Attawapiskat has similar difficulties. vidual receives money, the money is receives money from taxpayers, tion, a political party, or charity, and But once money is received, the band deducted from the account. Therefore, it has to report on where the money the board of directors kept track of must still organize and plan strategi- at some level, the money comes into went, why it was spent, and what ben- funding like the Attawapiskat band cally how the money is going to be the account from the federal govefits it facilitated. council did in 2011, would you donate spent, and display the records to its ernment, goes to the Attawapiskat Publicly financed organizations money to that organization? own people. If there aren’t records, account, and then goes to individual that receive donations and governWould you have confidence that how can we know it’s being spent on “x” in Attawapiskat. ment support operate on the basis of your money would be used to provide those who need it?

What has been made clear is that trust. For example, Siloam Mission food, water, and housing? I may not Many of the people in Attawapiskat there is a discrepancy between the is popular because it makes a tan- be great with numbers, but after what live on a limited income. And the money that left the account and the gible difference for the homeless and I’ve seen reported in the media, and amount that was dispensed to the people with a low income. after taking a look at the financial persons. In other words, in order So, why do I bring this up? Well, reports myself, I don’t know if Chief to balance the records you need to Would you have the hunger strike/liquid diet of Spence can be trusted with one cent have proof that when money left the confidence that your Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence of the money she is responsible for account an equal amount was received ing conditions and more money too, has drawn attention to the poverty administering. by qualifying individuals. So either and I think many Canadians want to money would be in that community. However, a Who is holding Chief Spence the money isn’t being recorded prop- see living conditions improve for the report on Attawapiskat’s finances by responsible for her budget? Most used to provide food, erly or something worse is going on. residents of Attawapiskat.

Deloitte showed no documentation importantly, who is holding her If all the information I have is But what people want is to know water, and housing? for 81 per cent of funds; this has also responsible for the people of the wrong, then I’m sorry. But if the that the money is actually helpdrawn attention to the issue of fiscal Attawapiskat reserve that she is tasked stories I’ve read are true, I think ing – you know, actually making a accountability, and is something I with leading? Don’t they deserve to it’s tough to take Theresa Spence difference, not being spent without think should be talked about. know where the money is going? purpose of effective administration seriously; money came into her records and seemingly—in the case of Now, the law is clear: Attawapiskat I know it’s an imperfect process. of the reserve’s finances is to keep band’s account and seemingly just Attawapiskat—without results. is entitled to funding from the gov- When a person is working with track of the money until such time disappeared. ernment no matter what, as a special a bureaucracy, there is a waiting as people who qualify need them.

I wish that the reserve Theresa entity with its own autonomy. But, period. Naturally we can assume Now theoretically, when an indi- Spence leads could have better liv- illustration by caroline norman

Science & Technology Editor: Bryce Hoye Contact: science@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

Science & technology

10

Clean Energy in Manitoba Are we really leading the way?

Holly Ervick-Knote

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n Nov. 20, 2012 the province expects the expansion of Manitoba released the Manitoba Clean Hydro’s transmission network to Energy Strategy (MCES). The strat- improve reliability of the system while egy outlines how the province plans increasing export capacity. to develop renewable energy and was The other four sections follow in created in accordance with the prin- the same format. Some other highciples presented in Manitoba’s Green lights of the strategy include a Pay-AsPlan, TomorrowNow. You-Save (PAYS) financing system The MCES envisions Manitoba as (the first of its kind in Canada and a leader in renewable energy produc- worth checking out), placing Bill tion and a future without fossil fuels, 18—the Affordable Utility Rate but will actions presented in the strat- Accountability Act—into law, launchegy live up to this vision? Some would ing a Fossil Fuel Freedom campaign say it doesn’t go far enough. that promotes a path for individuals The MCES lists five key compo- and households to move away from nents: building new hydro, leading the use of fossil fuels, and preparing Canada in energy efficiency, keeping for and accelerating the adoption of rates low, growing renewable energy electric vehicles in Manitoba. alternatives, and freedom from fossil fuels. Each section includes priority MCES Shortcomings actions.

Although the MCES plan proThe first section is dedicated to vides a positive outlook for moving Manitoba’s past achievements and the province toward a more sustainfuture goals in expanding hydroelec- able and resilient energy system, some tricity generation. According to the would say the strategy misses a few strategy, the expansion of hydroelec- key elements. tricity generation will serve to supply Weaknesses in Manitoba’s energy growing demand domestically as well system include the sources of transas to supply export markets in other portation fuel, primarily gasoline and provinces and the U.S. diesel imports, and the lack of diverPriority actions outlined in sity in energy projects and providers in this section include multiple new the province. Improving Manitoba’s Manitoba Hydro projects that will energy system in these areas would be developed as export contracts are help to achieve goals outlined in signed. In addition, the province MCES while building local energy

resilience. fuel is imported, this money is there- centralized system. In his new book, Energy use in Manitoba is divided fore lost from Manitoba’s economy. Power from the People, Greg Pahl disroughly into thirds between electric- Money saved on fuel by switching to cusses issues associated with centrality (making up 29 per cent of total electric vehicles could then stay in the ized energy systems and pushes for energy use), transportation fuels (con- province, increasing GDP. local renewable energy production tributing 35 per cent of all energy use), as a means of building local resilience. and residential space heating (which A shift to electric Pahl argues that local energy producmakes up 36 per cent of all energy transportation tion should become a key component use).

The most crucial task in encour- of energy planning given the changWhereas electricity in Manitoba aging a shift to electric vehicles is to ing realities of increasingly common currently comes from 98 per cent start building fast-charging stations. extreme weather events and concerns renewable resources, 94 per cent of Existing outlets are an important about peak oil. transportation fuel is supplied by piece of infrastructure that gives cold In addition, Chris Martenson non-renewable fossil fuels. This high climate regions such as Manitoba an argues in his chapter of The Post number presents a significant bar- advantage over milder regions not Carbon Reader, that the more, prefrier to Manitoba’s goal of achieving already equipped with these outlets, erably local, sources and systems we freedom from fossil fuels – one of the which are worth an estimated one have to supply our basic needs, the cornerstones of the MCES. billion dollars. more resilient we will be. In Manitoba Because the province has access Using these outlets to charge vehi- this means encouraging small-scale to cheap, local energy in its hydro- cles, however, takes up to eight hours. independent or community-level electricity and is currently striving Fast-charging stations known as level energy projects. to increase capacity of the system, three charging stations, on the other Although the Clean Energy the City of Winnipeg would be an hand, can charge an electric vehicle Strategy acknowledges that energy ideal candidate to become a leader in 15 to 30 minutes. security is a global challenge, stating in electric transportation. Because A shift toward electric transporta- that, “Energy security has frayed as Manitoba’s electricity comes from tion is a key component in achieving grid black-outs, oil blow-outs, wars, primarily renewable sources, a switch the province’s goal to move toward hurricanes and tsunamis have threatto electric transportation would lead fossil fuel freedom in Manitoba; as ened energy supplies and repeatedly not only to a significant decrease in stated earlier, most fuel currently used triggered price spikes,” and recoggreenhouse gases but would also have for transportation is imported fossil nizes the importance of generating huge economic benefits. fuel. However, until a concrete com- our energy domestically, the plan In total, Manitobans currently mitment has been made to develop does little to go further in increasing spend two to three billion dollars adequate infrastructure to support energy resilience in Manitoba. annually on imported fuel for trans- electric vehicles, including level three “Communities and large commerportation. As the vast majority of this charging stations, electric vehicle use cial users of power should be encourwill likely not catch on in Manitoba. aged to pursue independent or ‘micro’ Another issue worth addressing is power installations such as wind that of Manitoba’s energy resilience; or solar,” states Matthew Havens, that is, how stable and adaptive an research associate at the Institute of energy system is to interruptions in Urban Studies. the energy supply. Various meth“An important incentive for the ods can be used to build resilience, success of these installations is feed-in including increasing renewable tariffs. Put simply, this is the ability energy resources, increasing energy for independent energy producers to efficiency, and decentralizing the sell surplus power back into the grid at energy system. reasonable rates. This would provide Although the first two elements diversity and a measure of resilience have been addressed to varying to our energy infrastructure, one that extents in the strategy, the concept currently relies on a single source and of decentralization is largely absent. single provider.”

As new global realities such as unstable global oil prices and increasing Micro-scale energy incidence of extreme weather events production continue to emerge, the issue of local Manitoba’s Clean Energy Strategy, energy resilience is becoming increas- therefore, could be improved by ingly relevant. doing more to create opportunities Large-scale production of hydro- for micro-scale energy production. electricity poses many significant Creating an environment that is Technical Vocational, Business Technology, or Industrial Arts? social and environmental costs in inclusive to these types of projects (How about multimedia & ICT, drafting & robotics, or carpentry & machining?)

Manitoba. To name a few, dams benefits all Manitobans by creating a cause flooding and destroy land- level of energy resilience that cannot scapes, which can have serious effects be achieved with a centralized sysInformation Session: Teacher Education, B.Ed. on northern communities by threat- tem, such as the one that dominates Date: Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013 ening their ability to hunt and fish in Manitoba.

Time: 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. for food, and the process can lead to To return to the original quesPlace: A-137, Notre Dame Campus, Red River College (2055 Notre Dame Ave.) pollution of water sources. In addi- tion: do the actions presented in the tion, although large-scale hydro- Manitoba’s Clean Energy Strategy Red River College’s Teacher Education/Bachelor of Education programs will electricity comes from a renewable support its vision of fossil fuel freeprepare you to teach the latest business technology, industrial arts, and technical resource, many components of hydro dom and leadership in renewable vocational programs, helping you and your students succeed in such areas as generation, such as production of energy? Although the strategy makes animation and multimedia, drafting and robotics, and carpentry and machining. hydro infrastructure, use fossil fuels. strides in improving the sustainability In this regard, hydroelectricity still and reliability of the province’s energy For more info, contact RRC’s Teacher Education office at 204.632.2300, uses greenhouse gases and is not an system, its approach to promoting or visit our blog at blogs.rrc.ca/teachered entirely clean resource. the adoption of electric vehicles is underwhelming.

A joint B.Ed. program between Red River College and the University of Winnipeg.

Decentralization of In spite of the fact that it recogenergy systems nizes resilience and independence Manitoba’s energy generation from foreign unpredictable fossil is controlled almost entirely by fuels as important, the strategy does Manitoba Hydro, leaving the prov- little to increase resilience within the ince largely dependent on a single, province.

Are you interested in teaching:

VOL. 99 ½ NO. 19 January 23, 2013

Science & Technology

11

Release the kraken!

Giant squid captured on video in deep sea Tom Ingram, staff

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or the first time ever, ocean explorers have captured footage of a giant squid in its natural environment deep in the ocean. The expedition took place off of Japan’s Ogasawara archipelago, and was funded by the Discovery Channel and the Japanese broadcaster NHK. The footage was taken in July 2012, but has not been discussed publicly until now to coincide with the release of the two channels’ documentaries.

ible at a depth of 640 metres. or even how many species of giant Clyde Roper, a giant squid expert They took low-light footage to squid there might be,” says Randy at the Smithsonian Institution, said avoid scaring it off (giant squids have Mooi, the zoology curator for the that the footage shows that the giant the largest eyes of any animal, and Manitoba Museum and an adjunct in squid, previously thought to be pasthey are very sensitive to light) but the University of Manitoba’s depart- sive, is actually a strong swimmer and when the crew turned on the sub’s ment of biological sciences. a ruthless predator. main lights, the squid did not swim Since the squid is so difficult to The Manitoba Museum is curaway. Instead it stayed for 18 minutes find, and many specimens have been rently showing an exhibit, Marvellous and fed on bait that had been tied to found incomplete or mangled, eight Molluscs: The World is Their Oyster, the sub’s side while Kubodera and genera and many species of giant that includes information on squid Harris watched. squid have biology.

“It was so beautiful that I have no been iden“Manitoba “It was so beautiful words to explain it,” Kubodera said. tified and has a connecThough the giant squid is a mas- named, tion to giant that I have no words to sive animal often measuring several with varysquids that is metres in length, it is elusive. Living ing levels much closer explain it.” –­­­ Tsunemi at depths between 300 and 1,000 of validity. than you might Kubodera, National metres beneath the sea’s surface, the This new expect,” said Tsunemi Kubodera, a zoologist at giant squid is hard to find and much discovery Mooi, who Museum of Nature Japan’s National Museum of Nature of what we know about the species is exciting co-curated the and Science, Japan and Science and one of the crew comes from dead specimens that have for squid exhibit. members in the submersible that cap- been found on beaches or accidentally researchers, Ninety tured the footage, has been involved caught in fishing gear. These speci- who now million years in two previous expeditions of this mens, many of which are housed in have a video recording of a giant ago, tropical seas covered much of sort. Those expeditions took still pho- museums, provide enough evidence squid in action.

Manitoba, and giant squid actually tos of a squid in the deep and video for scientists to draw conclusions “This kind of footage, although used to live here. A fossil of the “pen,” of one at the surface. On this most about their life history. brief, can provide information on or chitinous internal skeleton, of a recent expedition, Kubodera and pilot “There are certainly some basic how giant squids move and how giant squid is on display.

Jim Harris encountered a giant squid questions that squid experts have yet they capture prey,” Mooi told the face-to-face in their Triton submers- to answer, such as how old they live, Manitoban.

Photo by Fir0002 Flagstaffotos

Prominent hacktivist commits suicide Family blames harsh prosecution Tom Ingram, staff

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rominent web programmer and domain, and is now in wide use. The open data activist Aaron Swartz public domain licence, very unusual was found dead in his apartment on even for a free software project, was Friday, Jan. 11 in an apparent suicide. part of Swartz’s general open data He was 26. Swartz’s family released a ethos. He advocated vigorously for statement criticizing the way he was less restrictive licensing and greater treated by MIT and the U.S. justice availability of data – among system in the last few months of his other things, he founded life.

DemandProgress.org in Swartz was accomplished at a 2010 to campaign against the young age. At 14, he already had SOPA (Stop Online Piracy the creation of an important web Act) and PIPA (Protect IP standard under his belt. RSS (Rich Act) bills in the U.S. Site Summary) is a simple markup Swartz was plagued by language that allows websites to chronic illness and depressend out notifications of updates in sion. He had experienced suia format that is easy for computers cidal thoughts at low points to interpret and manipulate. Usually in the past. represented by white radio waves on “Everything you think an orange square, it is a widely used about seems bleak,” he format, especially on blogs and news wrote in 2007, “the things sites that update frequently. Swartz you’ve done, the things was a member of the working group you hope to do, the people that drew up the RSS 1.0 specifica- around you. You want to lie tion in 2000. in bed and keep the lights off.

Swartz also founded several orga- Depressed mood is like that, nizations and companies during his only it doesn’t come for any short life. One of these, known as reason and it doesn’t go for Infogami, merged with the popular any either.” news site Reddit in late 2005, and Swartz’s family and friends blamed Swartz became a co-owner of the his persecution on the Massachusetts parent company, Not A Bug. U.S. Attorney’s office and the lack of While working at Reddit, he support from MIT for contributing developed a new web framework in to his suicide. the Python programming language Swartz’s open data activism had called web.py. This was later pub- landed him in hot water in the past. lished and released into the public In 2009 the FBI investigated him

after he downloaded almost 20 mil- Malamud urged people to retrieve as but whether it is a crime has been lion pages of text from PACER, the many documents as possible and send considered a much thornier question.

Public Access to Court Electronic them to him to be republished online. The CEO of DemandProgress.org Records system. PACER’s docu- Aaron Swartz read Malamud’s appeal likened it to “trying to put someone in ments were all a matter of public and wrote a program to download an jail for allegedly checking too many record and free from copyright, but estimated 20 per cent of the PACER books out of the library.” database.

JSTOR was satisfied when The Government Swartz returned all the documents Printing Office shut down and declined to pursue civil charges the free trial, claiming against him, but Carmen Ortiz, their security had been U.S. Attorney for the district of breached, and had the Massachusetts, took up the case.

FBI investigate Swartz. Swartz was indicted in July 2011 on He was investigated, but 13 felony charges, with potential penthe incident petered out alties of up to 35 years in prison and without charges being US $1 million in fines. He pleaded not filed because he and guilty on Sept. 24, 2012, and the trial Malamud had not done was set for next month. anything illegal.

After his death, Swartz’s family Most recently, though, released a statement criticizing his Swartz got into trouble treatment by the justice system. for allegedly download“Decisions made by officials in the ing 4.8 million academic Massachusetts U.S. Attorney’s office articles from the database and at MIT contributed to his death.

JSTOR. For a subscrip- The U.S. Attorney’s office pursued an tion fee, JSTOR offers exceptionally harsh array of charges, practically unlimited carrying potentially over 30 years in access to its large database prison, to punish an alleged crime the electronic system was decades out of academic articles to large institu- that had no victims. Meanwhile, of date and the only way to access the tions. Allegedly, Swartz broke into unlike JSTOR, MIT refused to stand data was to pay eight cents a page for a basement network closet at MIT up for Aaron and its own commua printed copy. (which had given him JSTOR access nity’s most cherished principles.”

With some court records running via a guest account) and hid a laptop They asked that donations be to thousands of pages, this could get there running a program to down- made in his memory to the charity very expensive. When a free trial load JSTOR articles. This involved organization GiveWell. of PACER was run in 17 libraries circumventing MIT security and throughout the States, activist Carl breaking the JSTOR terms of service, illustration by vanessa marginet

12

Science & Technology

Science & Technology Editor: Bryce Hoye Contact: science@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

Get on the cloud!

A crash course in cloud-based software emily mcrae

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f you aren’t using cloud-based software yet, of whether or not they have an account with this article will bring you up to speed on the website you’ve chosen to use. exactly what you’ve been missing.

Google Drive What is “cloud-based software,” you ask? Synchronization For those who already have an account with Google, there’s Google Drive that Cloud space is a term used to describe digital Synchronization comes into play if you’re allows you to do all the same things as any other piece of cloud-based software with space that’s not on your computer but, rather, working on two computers, say, one at home the added bonus of being fully integrated with your Gmail account. Any files sent to stored online – essentially any piece of software and one at work. Installing Dropbox on both you can be easily added to your Google Drive, placing a copy of it in your Google Drive computers with the same Dropbox account that allows you to store data on the Internet. folder on all the devices on which you’ve installed the software. Google Drive can Cloud-based software does four major will allow you to simply place a file in your also be installed on tablets and smartphones for further accessibility. Google Drive things for you that make it incomparable to “Dropbox” folder on one computer, making it comes with five gigabytes of cloud storage space. its hardware alternatives (such as flash drives instantly available for use on both machines.

Installing Google Drive is easy. Simply visit drive.google.com and follow the instrucor DVDs). Cloud-based software gives you The time a file takes to upload depends, of tions. The software will place a folder inside of your home folder called “Google course, on the size of the file. the ability to: Drive.” Anything placed into this folder will be stored on the cloud and accessible Synchronization is something that can also • Make backups of important files that from anywhere. won’t be lost if something happens to be accomplished with use of a flash drive, external hard drive, or even email; but all of those your PC • Share any amount of data with anyone, methods require much more effort in order to keep things organized and updated to the most anywhere • Synchronize data between multiple recent version. machines For example, if you have started editing your • Collaboratively work on one file with file on one computer and then, forgetting that, begin editing on a different computer, you’ll end any number of contributors up with two files which can only be combined by manually going through and figuring out Backups There are many different kinds of cloud- what changes were made to each file. Cloudbased software, but as with all things involving based software prevents this from being an the vast, unrestrained global network that is the issue because no matter where you edit that Internet, you have to be careful which one you file from, all versions of it are being instantly use. Uploading all of your important files to a updated for you. website you’re not familiar with can be risky so it’s best to stick with ones which are reputable Collaboration One of the most useful features of cloudand widely known.

Dropbox There are two pieces of cloud-based software based software is the ability to share files within If you prefer to keeps things separate from your Google account or don’t have recommended in this article—Dropbox and a group so that every member is able to view, one at all, Dropbox is a lovely clean and simple alternative. It starts you off with two Google Drive—which are both safe to use and edit, and download those files while keeping gigabytes of storage space with plenty of options for increasing that amount, such them constantly updated to the most recent highly regarded. as inviting friends to join or connecting Dropbox with your Facebook and Twitter Many cloud-based websites also give you the version. accounts. You can even gain an additional 125 megabytes by simply telling Dropbox Sharing a folder like this will allow muloption of paying by the month for additional why you love them! (See www.dropbox.com/getspace). space, though for small files such as word docu- tiple people to make edits to the files contained Dropbox also comes with built-in picture sharing abilities, eliminating the need ments and photos you likely won’t need any within it, making this feature perfect for group for websites like Photobucket or ImageShack to share images. projects or even sharing photos from trips and more than the free accounts provide.

Installing Dropbox is also as simple as visiting the site dropbox.com/install and The one thing we all know about computers events. When everyone has finished making following the directions. This will place a folder called “Dropbox” in your home folder is that they tend to be terrifyingly unreliable at their changes to a file, it can even be accessed into which you can place files for access from anywhere. the times when you most need them to cooper- from anywhere by logging into any contribuate. That essay you just spent two solid weeks tor’s account.

There are a ton of advantages to being “on the working on could disappear at the drop of a hat if your PC was to suffer any sort of virus cloud.” Cloud-based software provides an effecor physical damage, or if the file was somehow tive, foolproof way to backup your important accidentally deleted, as many of us have unfor- files and synchronize folders between multiple computers. It enables you to share files more tunately learned the hard way.

Through use of cloud-based software you easily and allows for easy collaboration on files can now make sure that all of your important for group projects.

It only takes a few short minutes to install files (say, assignments or resumes) will be protected and accessible no matter what. Whatever the software and get yourself set up for easier software you choose to use, you’ll be able to file transferring and sharing with a service prolog in using any web browser on any computer vider that’s tried and true. Visit either www. and access those files. You no longer have to dropbox.com or drive.google.com today and worry about keeping copies on your flash drive try it out for yourself! and updating them every time you save. Most cloud-based programs will put a folder inside your home folder. Saving your files here will Definitions automatically re-upload them every time you make a change.

Cloud-Based Software – software that allows you to store files online for remote access.

Sharing

With cloud-based software you have the ability to share files with other people (and with yourself) without having to deal with the file size restrictions of email or the need to lend someone your flash drive.

If the software is not installed on the computer you’d like to access your files from (e.g., a school computer), you can still access the files via the software’s website. It’s important to know that while you will have access to your files from anywhere, other people will not unless you choose to make them public. You will be required to log in to the website in order to access all of your files. Making a file public allows you to share it with anyone – regardless

Backup – a copy of a file stored to preserve it in case something should happen to the original file.

Synchronize Data – the ability to keep the same file in multiple locations, updating all copies every time the file is saved.

Collaboration – to work with multiple people on one project or file.

Web Browser – the program you use to access web pages (e.g., Internet Explorer, Firefox, Google Chrome).

Home Folder – the home folder (usually your name) contains your documents, pictures, music, etc., folders on Windows and Mac (called “My Documents” on Windows XP).

Hyperlink – (AKA link) the collection of words (or address) used to access documents and resources on the web (e.g., www.dropbox. com).

Public – something that is accessible to everyone.

Managing Editor: Chuthan Ponnampalam Contact: me@themanitoban.com / 474.6520

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Features

Where's Super MArio?

illustration by allan Lorde

the

illustration by silvana moran

Video gaming

feature

illustration by Justin LAdia

What it means to be a "gamer" these days Stephanie George, volunteer staff

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like playing Monopoly. Does that make me a gamer? your cell phone, it doesn’t mean you are a gamer. Thor negative connotation, indicating an uber-competitive Maybe. According to the very broad definition Buur clarified, “What a ‘gamer’ is would depend on the individual who has not seen sunlight in years, the term Wikipedia supplies—“those who spend much of their gamer’s level (pun intended).” is perhaps associated with a different image nowadays leisure time playing or learning about games”—I can be Anyone can be considered a gamer, but the group and carries a broader definition. Gamers can just be considered a gamer. There is also an alternate definition you belong to, based on both video game consumption people that enjoy playing video games. The pastime is that deals with North American sports culture, which and skill, will change. Casual, moderate, intermediate, not only for the recluse – it has become a social activity. defines a gamer as “a person known for consistently hardcore, professional – there is a plethora of adjectives In fact, the Entertainment Software Association claims making a strong effort.” However, these days the term that could describe the gamer. that 62 per cent of gamers play with other people, either is not closely associated with board games or sports I was interested to learn that gamers not only group online or in-person. games, but rather, video games. themselves by their devotion and skill to the activity It’s clear that the meaning of this term is hard to David Annandale, who teaches a course on the topic but also by characteristics like… sexual preference? Yes, pin down. Personally, I’m not sure I would identify as of video games here at the U of M, shared his sense of the “gaymer” is a subculture of the subculture where a gamer. There were those two months in grade four the word “gamer,” stating that, “the people to whom individuals identify as both gamer and member of the when I suffered from ‘Game Boy thumb’ (a condition it applies are largely self-identified as such [ . . . ] they LGBT community. I was first shocked to discover that that causes the development of a circular imprint on declare themselves to be gamers. These same people one’s sexual preference is in any way relevant to one’s one’s thumb from engaging in continuous and vigorous would probably (fairly or unfairly) distinguish them- enthusiasm for video games. The shock turned to sad- Game Boy play) but other than that, I don’t recreationselves from those who play only casual games (Bejeweled ness when I read that this group of people experience ally or competitively participate in the pastime. and the like).” the same sort of prejudice from the gaming community What about you? Would you classify yourself as a Besides talking to an academic about the topic, I as they do more generally from society as a whole. “gamer?” Are you one of the many? threw the question out into the abyss that is Facebook: But, the term “gamer” has evolved to be seen in a What makes someone a gamer? more positive light as of late so maybe soon “gaymer” My pal Mike Kontzamanis wrote, “there is a massive will as well! Two other Facebook commenters, Bart difference between playing video games and being a Vandenhoven and Lisa Semchuk referenced this shift gamer. One is just an action, and activity, that anyone in the “gamer” definition. Where the word once held a can do. Being a gamer is so much more than that. It’s a way of being. It’s [an] attitude.”

Jeremy Strong pointed out that a gamer is “someone who feels a certain level of comfort with video games across platforms and even game genres.” super mario icons by allan lorde Just because you’re alright at playing Angry Birds on

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Features

VOL. 99 ½ NO. 19 January 23, 2013

illustration by silvana Moran

Devil May Cry 3 changed my life An influential game from my youth Bradly Wohlgemuth, staff

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started playing video games on an old PC with on your couch. The atmosphere was dark and gloomy, Windows 95. The games had to be run in DOS every heightened by the grungy metal background music. time I wanted to play. For a while I didn’t play any games Where the game really showed its true nature was at all, then as a teenager I started again. I got more combat. It was fast-paced and outrageous. You were involved with gaming after purchasing a used PS2 just constantly jumping and slamming baddies into the as Sony announced the upcoming PS3. Around this time ground, and then throwing them back into the air again there were a lot of well-made games being released. My to juggle them around with pistols or some other overfavourite at the time, and still one of my most played zealous weaponry. Boss fights involved a wild mess of dodging attacks and trying to slash some demon’s face games, is Devil May Cry 3.

For anybody unfamiliar with the title, it’s a third-per- (or faces) off.

It’s kind of odd but this game changed my life. I’ll son hack and slash game. I played it excessively, beating the game in every difficulty and completing a secondary explain. I have always been an artist. Even as a youth, challenge series. I maxed out the gameplay clock, which I was drawing in my spare time or during class. My stops at 99 hours 99 minutes and 99 seconds, and then sketches started to include monsters and characters still kept playing. When they re-released the original from the game. I fell in love with the morbid and creepy three games last year on Xbox 360, I purchased the set aesthetic and became the “weird creepy art kid” during high school. This preference of style hasn’t really and beat all three games one more time.

The game has a lot to like. It has a solid storyline changed since then. My taste in music was similarly – nothing spectacular, but it didn’t leave you snoring affected. I really liked the game’s soundtrack, a mixture

of gritty hardcore metal that combined rough, metal style vocals with smooth and clear vocals. After looking for music with a similar sound I stumbled upon gothic metal. Soon all my old music was moved off my MP3 player and replaced with new bands.

When I moved to Winnipeg, I got even more involved with the gothic and metal subculture by attending concerts and related events. The game’s introduction to these new ideas and themes, combined with my own curious nature, caused a chain reaction that dramatically changed what kind of interests I have today.

Now, the game franchise has been rebooted. Created by a different studio than the previous games, DmC (Devil May Cry) was released last week. I preordered it like the addict I am and beat it the next day – in hard mode. This game has everything I would have wanted as a teenager, with all the extra stuff I want as an adult.

Gameplay is more dynamic, largely due to a new combat mechanic that provides more variety to the battles. The new game references the original plot and revamps it with some Orwellian concepts that make the story more interesting. There’s a good chance this game will become to me what Devil May Cry 3 was to me as a teenager. Will it change the kind of person I am like the early game did? I doubt it. I think the damage is already done. illustration by bradly wohlgemuth

NOLAG and Games on Campus Gaming groups you should check out at the university Chuthan Ponnampalam, staff

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f you’re a self-identified hardcore gamer, someone with a casual interest in video games, or a student hoping to make new friends and learn about gaming, check out Network of Local Area Gamers or Games on Campus:

Games on Campus

Games on Campus has been holding regular meetings for five years, and currently meets every Friday evening after seven in the Science Students’ Association lounge, which is located in the Armes building.

“Everyone is allowed to attend and everyone is allowed to play. There are no costs involved for our regular meetings, but our tournaments will have an entrance fee so we can pay for venue bookings and award cash prizes to the winners,” explained Karel Kahula, who is in charge of managing the group’s website and email.

Annually, the group holds about six tournaments and events, including a charity tournament, with the next tournament scheduled for March 23. Games on Campus also has a presence at the Central Canadian

Comic Convention, where it regularly hosts a kiosk. played during meetings are: King of Fighters XIII, The club’s events and tournaments use the Sony Ultimate Marvel VS Capcom 3, Tekken Tag Tournament PlayStation 3, because “it’s the generally accepted tour- 2, SoulCalibur V, and Street Fighter IV Arcade Edition. nament standard among players around the world,” “The first video game I remember playing at all explained Kahula. “Although at [ . . . ] regular meetings, is Street Fighter II: The World Warrior. I think what attendees are encouraged to bring whatever platform attracted me to it is that it looked like a really cool they choose: PS3, Xbox 360, or even a laptop.” cartoon. Once I got older, I started to appreciate the At the weekly meetings, students can expect a casual competitive aspect of fighters and I’ve made a lot of good atmosphere where they watch and play video games, or friends through meeting people at Games on Campus,” just chat with other members. According to Kahula, if shared Kahula. enough people show up, a “simple for-fun tournament Kahula invites everyone that loves fighters or has in a specific game for that week” is held. interest in learning about them to drop by for a Friday “Individual members enjoy video games of all kinds meeting and, “have a taste of what Winnipeg’s fighting but our group focuses mostly on fighting games. With game community is like.” that being said, we love fighting games of all ages and all kinds: 2D fighters, 3D fighters, brawlers, and really . . . continued on top of next page whatever else anyone decides to bring to a meeting,” stated Kahula.

Kahula specified the five most popular games

super mario icons by allan lorde

Managing Editor: Chuthan Ponnampalam Contact: me@themanitoban.com / 474.6520

Network of Local Area Gamers (NOLAG)

Network of Local Area Gamers—more commonly known by its clever acronym NOLAG—hosts Local Area Network (LAN) parties or Retro Game Nights once a month on campus.

According to Trevor Lehmann, co-president and one of the founding members of NOLAG, the group meets once a month in the UMSU Council Chambers for an event.

The LAN parties are held every two to three months and can be attended for $5, which helps to cover costs such as routers, switches, and cables. Lehmann explained that participants bring their PC to the UMSU Council Chambers and game for 31 hours while enjoying complimentary coffee and discounted pizza.

NOLAG’s latest LAN Party started on Jan. 18 at 7 p.m. and ended on Jan. 20 at 2 a.m.

During the months that don’t feature LAN parties, NOLAG hosts the Retro Game Nights, which are free to attend. During the Retro Game Nights, classic video games are played, which Lehmann defines as “anything before PlayStation 2.”

NOLAG events feature a variety of video games, and lots of conversations that include stories about past events, as well as discussions of old memories playing video games.

“We like to have a diversity of games so that no one comes in and straight up dominates the event. We play as a social activity and rarely host tournaments of any sort aside from the occasional charity event. For our LAN parties, we focus on first-person shooters, real-time strategy, turn-based strategy, and role-playing games, but we always try to expose members to a new game that they haven’t tried before,” explained Lehmann.

“For Retro Game Nights, the event is centered [on] the celebration of games and the memories associated with video games. Attendees play together, reminisce,

and just generally have a great time.”

Lehmann shared the game that got him interested in video games was Super Mario Bros. 3; “the moment I saw the game, I was entranced and have loved gaming ever since.”

Lehmann would like everyone to know that “as a group, NOLAG is supportive of all gamers, regardless of experience or preference of games. Gamer, as a term, applies to pretty much everyone. My dad, who enjoys FreeCell and Dune 2000, is a gamer. A grandmother that plays Dutch Blitz like a blood sport is a gamer.

Gaming is now and has been for quite some time a pastime shared by a far larger section of people than we sometimes like to think.”

“With this in mind, I think that exposing people to new and exciting forms of gameplay is important so I encourage people to get in touch with our group or myself – if they feel like being introduced or exposed to something new in gaming, please feel free to contact us.”

Regardless of what level of gamer you are, Lehmann advises that you “plan time for other things and then delegate time for games; not the other way around.”

Lehmann shared that since he was in Grade 11, he abided by a personal rule of only gaming on Fridays and Saturdays (excluding summers), because he knew that once he started playing he liked to play for at least an hour or two to get his fix.

“I love gaming as much as anyone else, but I feel that knowing yourself and knowing what works for you in terms of staying motivated and avoiding procrastination is important to avoid spending ‘too much’ time playing games.”

To get in touch with NOLAG, send an e-mail to nolaguofm@gmail.com. Games on Campus can be reached at goc@chipdamage.com.

Features

illustration by silvana moran

Grab your controller: it’s time to do your homework assignment U of M course offers academic study of video games Marc Lagace, staff

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rowing up, your parents might have told you to stop playing video games and study for school.

How could they have possibly known that one day, your encyclopedic knowledge of video games might actually be worth credit at the university level?

For the past couple years, David Annandale from the department of English, film, and theatre, has offered Special Topics in Film 1: Video Games and Theory.

“What I want to be able to do with the course is to look at video games as an art form, and consider how we have to look at this art form,” explains Annandale, “because we can’t look at it the same way we look at literature or film or theatre.”

“It’s another new medium, another way of telling stories, and that demands new theories for looking at this. We can derive some aspects from other forms, but, ultimately, we need a new way of looking at a new art.”

The creation of a new artistic medium necessitates discussion amongst theorists to devise a language with which we can interpret new meanings. Two major

schools of thought emerged, situated at opposite sides quick to point to the similar development of the video of the spectrum. game industry in relation to the rise of the movie indusThere were those who looked to study video games try at the turn of the 20th century. as interactive films, with focus placed on the narra“We are still in the early decades of the [video game] tive elements of the game (narratology). In stark con- form. I’d like to think that we are approximately, with trast, a growing number of theorists argued that video games, where movies were in the late 20s. The medium games ought to be studied first and foremost as games has been around for around 30 or 40 years, and the (ludology). maturation process is still underway, both in the art In the first issue of Computer Games Studies, an inter- and in the way of looking at it.” national journal of computer game research first pubThe course itself explores the competing theories lished in 2001, editor-in-chief Espen Aarseth eloquently related to studying video games, and requires students states that video game study requires a different set of to spend class time both playing games and critically guiding principles because video games are “radically discussing the different topics and issues facing the different to narratives as a cognitive and communica- industry. tive structure.”

“I think we’re at an interesting point in the developAs Annandale states, “the ludology movement is ment of games, as far as that goes, and it will be really where [video game theory] really begins.” interesting to see what happens next,” says Annandale.

“Before that, we really do have a lot of attempts to “‘How much more realistic can they get?’ is the question import theories from other narrative forms, and games that we are now asking ourselves. How much more are looked at primarily from a narrative perspective. It’s realistic do we want them to get?” with [theorists like] Gonzalo Frasca, when the term “It sometimes feels to me—and it’s always hard to tell ludology comes into being. There’s a concerted attempt when you’re living through the moment—but one has to say, ‘No, we can’t look at these things using the same the sense that the industry is trying to figure out what theories. These are new things.’” to do next. What are we going to do other than better As unique as video games are, Annandale is also graphics? We’re in that exploratory process now.”

Prospective students looking to enroll will have to keep a keen eye out each year when registering for class, as the course is not yet a regular film studies offering just yet, but rather a special topics class that is offered periodically. image by silvana Moran

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Features

VOL. 99 ½ NO. 19 January 23, 2013

illustration by Silvana Moran

Music in video games From Tony Hawk to Grand Theft Auto Derek Gagnon, Staff

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would never say I have an eclectic taste in music. I am basically one of those people that get mainstream music shoved down their throat while listening to the radio, oblivious to all the great music out there to be heard. Luckily for me, the radio is not my only source of audio input.

Throughout my gaming life, I have been lucky enough to come across some great music while playing, and I’ve been introduced to some artists I likely would never have given the time of day to had they not been the background sound to my video game adventures.

Some of the songs I encountered had been hits before my time, such as the song “(I Just) Died in Your Arms”

by Cutting Crew, which is featured in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. Others were just on the brink of making it big, as the Black Keys were when I heard the track “Tighten

Up” in FIFA 11. Some other songs never achieved great fame, but are still very pleasant musically and exposure to them can only broaden tastes as a listener; it is through gaming that I have encountered them.

Whether it’s cruising around in Grand Theft Auto listening to the in-game radio, or jamming out with your friends on Rock Band or Guitar Hero, there are numerous sources through which you can encounter new sounds.

I developed a liking for ska music through Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater (the first one). In the opening tutorial level, the song ”Superman” by Goldfinger greeted my ears. Goldfinger was also featured in Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec with “99 Red Balloons,” as well as Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4 with “Spokesman.”

Similarly, Tony Hawk also opened me up to Celtic music, as Flogging Molly and the song “Drunken Lullabies” may not have made me want to don a kilt, but sure did make me want to jig, which is remarkably hard to do on a skateboard…

The remade song “Mad World” by Gary Jules achieved newfound fame thanks to its inclusion in the commercial for the game Gears of War. It is not in the game itself, but since the commercial has well over 10 million YouTube views, one must assume that many associate the two together.

Yes, while most of these songs are on the borderline of being mainstream, their popularity and exposure is in part due to their being featured in video games. Games such as Vice City, set in 1986, are capable of providing resurgences for songs that might otherwise have gone forgotten or unappreciated by other generations, so it’s nice that there is this other medium through which our ears can be opened.

Playlist Cutting Crew – (I Just) Died in your arms Grand Theft Auto Vice City Garbage – Cherry Lips Amplitude Journey – Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)Journey Goldfinger – Superman Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater Gary Jules – Mad World Gears of War Fatboy Slim- The Rockafeller Skank (Remix) FIFA 99 The Outlaws – Green Grass and High Tides Rock Band The Black Keys – Tighten Up FIFA 11 Flogging Molly – Drunken Lullabies Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4 The Offspring – All I Want Crazy Taxi Powerman 5000 – When Worlds Collide Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 Artist – Song Game Scan to listen to playlist

Mario by allan lorde

illustration Justin LAdia

Silvana Moran

Features

Managing Editor: Chuthan Ponnampalam Contact: me@themanitoban.com / 474.6520

We need to talk Sexism in video games and gamer culture illustration by silvana moran

Kara Passey, staff

attention from female gamers because it had two play- dominated. There isn’t a failure in the platform when it able female characters, one of which really drove the comes to appealing to women, but there is when it comes storyline. But alas, my critical adult mind looks back at to the content put forth. Voicing these criticisms isn’t this bit of nostalgia with a disappointed sigh. easy, however, and they are often met with backlash.

On one hand we have Tifa Lockhart—childhood Anita Sarkeesian, a video blogger who runs a YouTube friend to our main protagonist, Cloud Strife—who can channel called Feminist Frequency, is essentially a spebest be described as the sexy sidekick. She is strong, cialist in feminist criticism of popular media. Sarkeesian assertive, has a back-story, but it’s hard to appreciate uploaded a video back in June of 2012 requesting support all of that when she is mostly tits and legs. for her Kickstarter project. Sarkeesian requested US The other character—who thankfully isn’t sexu- $6,000 to make a five-part series dedicated to invesalized—is Aeris (or to the hardcore fans, Aerith) tigating different tropes and stereotypes of women in Gainsborough, the love interest to the main protago- video games. illustration by nist. The main criticism I see for this character is that In response to her request, Sarkeesian faced a coorbradly wohlgemuth she is a canon “Mary Sue.” While not the traditional dinated online harassment attack meant to shut her trope is a common or recognizable device that definition of a “Mary Sue,” she is mostly there to shower down. The effort involved misogyny and hate speech conveys information to an audience, often about our troubled hero with unconditional support. She also (including death, assault, and rape threats), flagging an element or role within a story. There are many prob- shows similarities to the tropes of the manic pixie dream of her videos as terrorism, attempted hacking of all of lematic tropes for female characters in popular media, girl and the damsel in distress, and—spoiler alert—her her social media outlets, and someone even going so such as: the manic pixie dream girl, the Smurfette (the death is a plot device. far as to make a game featuring Sarkeesian, where you only girl in the group of male companions), the damsel On top of these disappointing traits, the female char- beat her up. in distress, and the sexy sidekick – to name a few from acters don’t level up as quickly as their male counterparts, If this type of reaction isn’t enough proof to show that the list. These tropes portray harmful stereotypes and so unless you just really like them like I did, you prob- there needs to be a discussion of sexism in video games are not only limited to books and film; they are also ably wouldn’t actually give them that much game time. and a better inclusion of women in gaming culture, I present in video game culture.

This also resulted in male fans treating the characters as don’t know what is. Luckily the negative attention had Once upon a time, I was a basement dweller in my useless; it’s not hard to find them being shit talked on the reverse effect on Sarkeesian’s project. She ended up parents’ house, well-addicted to my Sony PlayStation forums – not to mention the super rape-y fan art. being funded US $158, 922 and extended her project to and RPGs. My favourite, of course, was the Final Making these criticisms about video games is impor- 13 videos, which included a classroom curriculum that Fantasy series – FF VII specifically. FF VII got a lot of tant; there is a reason why video game culture is male- educators can now use for free.

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Grassroots gaming Developers turn to Kickstarter for innovative approach to success Ryan Harby, staff

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he times are changing in the video game industry independent projects the opportunity to grow by way of and it appears they are changing fast. something called crowd funding. To put it simply, interIf consumers were witness only to the seismic shift ested parties will browse Kickstarter projects (thousands from physical to digital products, that would be one upon thousands have been launched since the site went thing. Companies like Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony live) and if they find something they like they can choose have been altering their service platforms for years now to pledge an amount of funding toward it. to address the increasing demand for downloadable What makes Kickstarter such an appealing option content to either replace or at least reach parity with for project runners and funders alike, however, is that the up-till-now unquestioned store-bought, hard copy the barrier to entry is typically quite low. The average business model. In the past year or so, however, gam- low-end Kickstarter pledge tier sits somewhere in the ers have begun to see changes not only in how they $10 to $20 range, and most often includes at least one get their video games but also how those games are copy of whichever product is being produced.

By the time Double Fine’s project had reached actually made.

In February, 2012, video game developer Double Fine its final pledge date, the cult favourite developer had Productions announced their upcoming title Double Fine exceeded its minimum funding goal by over 700 per Adventure by way of a Kickstarter project, opened for cent, drawing an astonishing US $3,336,371 for the inthe purpose of producing an entirely consumer-funded development point and click adventure game.

Within the ever-changing landscape of the video video game. The developer offered an unprecedented behind-the-scenes documentation of the production game industry, Double Fine’s recent grassroots success process, along with a myriad of tempting bonuses story is matched perhaps only by fellow Kickstarter (including, at the highest tier level of donation, lunch project, the Ouya.

Now, it’s one thing to generate the bloated budget of with the Double Fine bigwigs) for those who pledged a video game through crowd funding, but it’s another to support the project.

“You know how they say you don’t want to see how thing entirely to use this same model to produce a modthe sausage gets made?” asks Double Fine founder ern game device. This is exactly what Julie Uhrman and Tim Schafer in his initial Kickstarter video. “We’re her team at Boxer8 have set out to do with the Ouya; a going to show you how the sausage gets made. We soon-to-be-released console that runs on a version of are going to take our sausage and shove it in your face, the Android operating system, designed with openness and customization in mind as key pillars of the warts and all.”

For those unfamiliar, Kickstarter is an online plat- user experience.

The team behind the Ouya has made a lot of promises form in which people can post profiles for creative projects in need of financing. Whether it be a book, about their system (each game will be free on some level, a film, an album, or even a game, Kickstarter affords applications can be designed from your living room,

illustration by silvana moran

etc.) and so far fans of the project have been more than willing to go along for the ride, pledging a near-record US $8,596,474 to guarantee each funder a certain level of inclusion in the whole process.

Currently, the 8.5 million (generated by over 63 thousand backers) stands as the second highest amount ever funded to a Kickstarter project.

Kickstarter now hosts a bevy of as-yet incomplete video game projects; some of them are absolute triumphs that deserve to be lauded for their ingenuity, while others are complete garbage that should have never seen the light of day. Somewhere in the middle, between genius and garbage, sits the possible future of the game industry. It is a future in which the consumers have a real impact and sense of involvement with the products they love so dearly.

Never before has “voting with your dollar” had such a tangible meaning.

illustration by allan lorde

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18

Features

VOL. 99 ½ NO. 19 January 23, 2013

illustration Silvana Moran

Some games are best left unreleased Playing the infamous game, Thrill Kill Marc Lagace, staff

DISCLAIMER: The following article discusses violent and offensive content in a game deemed too violent and offensive to be released in 1998.

Consider yourself warned.

I

’ve played a lot of video games in my lifetime, but there will always be one game that stands out in my mind. It stands apart from all other games because it was literally a forbidden gaming experience that very few people will have ever experienced – for better or worse.

Back in 1999, a small group of friends and I were privy to a video game that was so vulgar, so graphic, and so controversial that it was never officially released.

In an age where only the most tech-savvy individuals had the know-how to maneuver around the Internet in the same way that we do today, a friend (who, keep in mind, would have only been around 12 or 13 at the time) was able to track down a beta version of a game in development for the PlayStation. Armed with a modded console, I’m not sure any of us were fully prepared to

experience the “mature” world of Thrill Kill.

Thrill Kill is a fighting game that allowed up to four players to fight to the gory death in bleak and disturbing 3D environments. What set the game apart—and led to its developmental death—was the sheer obscenity and senseless violent nature of the content. There’s been a proud tradition of violent games that have pushed the boundaries of tastefulness and mature content. Think Mortal Kombat, Duke Nukem 3D, Carmageddon, or the Grand Theft Auto series.

Thrill Kill dove to new depths of depravity, and was one of the first games to garner a restriction rating of “Adults Only” from the Entertainment Software Ratings Board.

What set it so far apart from other games? Well, for starters, there were the characters. Completely uncensored and uninhibited, they were disturbing creations inspired by the darkest corners of humanity’s collective imagination.

First there was Belladonna, a dominatrix armed with an electrified cattle prod. This character’s depiction was particularly sexual and graphic – she would moan

illustration by bradly wohlgemuth

with pleasure while taking damage. Incredibly, that probably wasn’t the most controversial aspect of the character, as she easily qualified as the most offensive— and oddly memorable—character amongst an already bad bunch.

Then there was Cleetus – wielding a severed leg as a weapon, he was apparently some sort of deranged, cannibal redneck stereotype who literally took a bite out of the competition.

Next was Oddball. Apparently his backstory involved him being a former FBI criminal profiler, but he was essentially an insane guy who was, depending on the “outfit” you had chosen, wearing a straightjacket or simply armless due to violent amputation.

There were others and, as you could probably imagine, they were equally as fucked up.

Apparently, there was a plot. I honestly don’t think we bothered to pay attention to any attempt at telling a narrative; the disturbingly violent and gory graphic and sound design was so intense and perverse that, of course, a group of immature pre-teen boys were going to enjoy the grotesque kill sequences, reveling in the supposed forbidden nature of the experience.

The entire purpose for playing the game seemed to stem from the fact that we weren’t supposed to.

Looking back over 10 years later with 20/20 hindsight, the game was a complete disaster, both aesthetically and gameplay-wise. Even if it had been officially released, I can’t imagine it reaching any sustainable levels of popularity once the shock factor had worn off.

And yet, like everything that’s ever been posted on the Internet, Thrill Kill is still floating around out there.

It shall live in infamy as perhaps the most controversial game that never was.

Violent Video Games The favoured scapegoat David Krause, volunteer staff

V

ideo games are the cultural product of our modern coming out of the woodwork from every direction. computer-driven society. Unfortunately, like comic Everyone had an opinion and everyone wanted to point books of the past, it has vestiges of nerdom, virginity, their finger at something. Society, rock music, movies, and awkward teenage adolescence the medium can’t and the Second Amendment were all topics people muttered about, and invariably someone would bring seem to shake.

It doesn’t matter that the industry is a billion dollar up video games. entertainment powerhouse; many people assume that It came at a national, attention-grabbing level from video games are evil at worst and counter-productive the U.S. gun advocacy group, the NRA. Executive vice at best. From parents who assume video games will rot president, Wayne LaPierre, discussed modern forms their child’s brain to the mainstream media that throws of entertainment, and paid special attention to video snarky potshots at the medium whenever a school shoot- games. Using biblical terms and analogies, LaPierre ing occurs, video games can’t catch a break. argued for armed guards in schools and accused the Of course, I’m preaching to the choir here. Chances entertainment industry of corrupting society. are if you’re reading this article you already play video “There exists in this country a callous, corrupt and games. Whether it’s on your iPhone, in a web browser, corrupting shadow industry that sells, and sows, violence on an Xbox, or a Nintendo DS – you consume interac- against its own people,” said LaPierre. tive video entertainment in some form or another.

This “shadow industry” he refers to is more comLate last year, tragedy struck in Newtown, monly known as the video game industry. LaPierre Connecticut. A young adult went on a shooting ram- made special notice in his address of a ten-year-old page at Sandy Hook Elementary school. His motives flash game originally posted on Newgrounds.com called may never be known.

Kindergarten Killers. While it was stirring in junior high Following this terrible incident, “experts” began (in a doing-something-you’re-not-supposed-to way),

the game isn’t anything more than lurid amusement. A child could see the game isn’t serious; a bizarre creative outlet for… something. Once again video games had been made to look like a weird pastime.

The gun control media frenzy came to the point where President Obama called for research on the link between video games and gun violence. “Media images” were also mentioned, but that is an incredibly vague term. Video games, however, are specifically singled out.

In a few months, everyone will likely have forgotten about the role video games have had in the continental conversation on guns and everyone will have moved on with their lives.

While probably true, it still bothers me. It’s not fair that a medium is unfairly judged while others aren’t.

Even comic books are left alone now. Only video games get the lashings. If we as a society created a few targeted Facebook groups, an email or Twitter campaign, we could have our voices heard by the media at large. We all play games and we all should be peeved when one of our favourite pastimes is condemned so unfairly.

19

Arts & Culture Editor: Kara Passey Contact: artsculture@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

Arts & Culture

The original Indigenous pop star UMSU brings Buffy Sainte-Marie to campus for Celebration Week Jenna Diubaldo, staff

T

he University of Manitoba Students’ Union will be kicking off their 2013 Celebration Week on Jan. 28, spanning until Feb. 1.

Celebration Week is basically the adult equivalent of the “spirit week” that everyone remembers from their respective high school, filled with food eating contests, talent shows, and sporting events, except that this 18+ version also includes lectures, booze tasting events, and academic speakers such as George Stroumboulopoulos and Fred Penner.

Perhaps most notable and relevant of the speakers scheduled to appear this year, however, is singer/ songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie. If you don’t know who that is then I suggest you mark this event in your calendar and take a lesson from one of the greatest musicians, activists, and role models of this century.

Sainte-Marie is the original Indigenous pop star. She has been making music since before you were born and at the seasoned age of 71

still manages to remain relevant in and Elvis Presley. our fast-paced, technologically-driven Sainte-Marie spent the bulk of her world.

20s touring hard to bring her politi“For a while, record companies cally-driven music across the counand radio try, and now stations 50-something At one point in time controlled years later the f low, she is back during the 1960s, Saintebut not at it, touring anymore,” worldwide to Marie’s music was says Saintepromote her blacklisted by the White Marie. “For newest album me, outside Running for House and banned from influences the Drum. being played on the like trends “We’ve and charts been on the radio due to its in-yourdon’t mean road for two face political content. anything, and a half so they years, hard don’t shape [at] work all anything. It’s all about the music, not over Europe,” says Sainte-Marie. the marketing.”

“Back and forth, North America, down Sainte-Marie has been writing and under – all airports and hotels, lights, recording since the 1960s, building camera, action, but a lot of fun.” up a vast catalogue of 19 albums with Sainte-Marie will visit the U of her songs covered by the likes of Joe M at the same time that the Idle Cocker, Neil Diamond, Janis Joplin, No More protests against Bill C-45

continue to ripple across Canada to raise awareness of Indigenous rights and this seems to only make her speaking engagement all the more appropriate.

As an Indigenous woman of Cree descent, Sainte-Marie is certainly no stranger to racial discrimination and has experienced her share of oppression. At one point in time during the 1960s, her music was blacklisted by the White House and banned from being played on the radio due to its in-your-face political content.

As one of North America’s first photo by Annie Leibotvitz female Indigenous activists, SainteMarie certainly feels proud of the movement and the people behind it. tells you something about the Idle No “Idle No More is a dream come More team, their expertise in social true for a lot of us across Canada media, and the many people worldwho have been involved with decades wide who agree with Idle No More. of Aboriginal community efforts to Bill C-45 must not stand.” make things better,” states SainteBuffy Sainte-Marie will be speakMarie. ing as a part of the 2013 University of “Last week I did a quick iPhone Manitoba Celebration Week events on video [of the protests] and it’s got- Jan. 29 at 12 p.m. in the University ten tens of thousands of views so that Centre Multi-Purpose Room.

003_READ Warehouse publishes their 21st edition and puts it on display Jodie Layne, staff

W

arehouse Journal publishes the works that best represent the University of Manitoba’s faculty of architecture over the course of the previous year. This year’s journal will be the 21st edition and is on display at MAKE / Coffee + Stuff in an exhibition setting entitled 003_READ. This edition’s editors, Brandon Bergem and Nicole Hunt, are the first graduates of the program to curate the journal – usually it is curated by current students. The two editors say they spent many late nights at MAKE / Coffee + Stuff, where recent editions are on sale and all of the issues are being displayed, often grabbing a cozy patch of concrete floor to sleep on.

include, they agreed that they are relationship to the exhibit, which is first and foremost appreciative and the goal of MAKE, a coffee shop excited about the student content. actually functioning as a front for Being able to feature work and win- the design firm S.T.U.F.F. or Stuff ning projects from the 2012 Venice for Transformative Urban Forms and Bienalle—often referred to as the Fields.

Architecture Olympics—was a high“It’s not like a gallery where it’s like light of putting the 21st edition of ‘Don’t touch the $10,000 painting!’

Warehouse Journal together. Team You can reach out and pick up a copy Canada was Winnipeg-based and and the current editions are actually featured the work of many students displayed as coffee table books, so and alumni, bringing attention to you can flip through one while havWinnipeg and the faculty. The proj- ing a coffee,” Bergem states. ect titled Migrating Landscapes used a The firm was founded by Jae-Sung wooden landscape filled with model Chon, whose goal was to encourdwellings by participants to explore age discussion amongst people who the themes of migration, immigra- would never otherwise set foot in an tion, and moving from one culture to architecture practice.

“I couldn’t imagine being a student lection that represents the achieve- another and the effect it has on the “Everyone has an opinion about and doing this – we worked from ments of the faculty. sense of one’s space, place, and way architecture and design – look at eight in the morning to four a.m.

“The book is 480 pages – giving and mode of living. things like the Cube or the Human during the last week of production,” each of those submitted projects a “It felt like such a local thing, but Rights Museum. You don’t have to says Bergem. single page wouldn’t give you a good it was national and international, be an architect to have an opinion,” It wasn’t a chore for the two to be idea of what that project was. Doing which was so exciting for the stu- states Bergem. spending upwards of 20 hours a day 500 pages of student content doesn’t dents involved,” says Hunt.

Hunt adds that being able to contogether; the two former Albertans make it a journal, it makes it a cataThe exhibit brings all of the jour- stantly interact with people about the met in their first semester of uni- logue or yearbook,” says Bergem. nals together in a cohesive way for book who often have no idea she is versity and have been inseparable Aside from student work, the the first time and brings them out one of the editors is one of the best ever since. journal features additional content of their usual archive, making them parts.

“We edited together, we work from guest lecturers and professors’ accessible to students and the public “It’s great to hear people’s honest together, and we’re even friends research and practice. alike. The chronologically-displayed opinions. It’s those opinions and disoutside of work – if you can believe “We really wanted to represent books allow for not only nostalgia, cussions we are learning so much it,” laughs Hunt. the culture of architecture and the but for an opportunity to see the from and that are helping us underThe pair had over 500 submis- diversity in the faculty and in the evolution of Warehouse, the faculty, stand our own book.” sions from students and whittling practice.” and students who are now practicMAKE / Coffee + Stuff is located that down was a difficult task, but Although they didn’t always agree ing design. The venue choice allows at 751 Corydon Ave. and will have necessary to best put together a col- on which projects they wanted to for a more interactive and accessible 003_READ on display until Jan. 27.

20

Arts & Culture

VOL. 99 ½ NO. 19 January 23, 2013

The Toms & Bitches of Turtle Island Aceartinc. displays the artist as part of the art Kara Passey, staff

T

he walls of aceartinc.’s main gal- his BFA from the Pratt lery space are usually a platform Institute in Brooklyn, for exhibiting artists to hang their New York and his MFA already-made art, but currently they from the Glasgow School are part of it. The space is set up as an of Art in Scotland. He artist’s studio; there is a workbench, feels that his art-making books are strewn about, there is a is less about the product makeshift loom mid-project, a pro- than it is about the lifejector shining images to be painted style and practice lived up on the walls, and empty beer cans and experienced by being and bottles are standing nearby. The an artist. work-in-progress style exhibition “I am less interested in is called Escutcheon Athletics and the the final object of these Toms & Bitches of Turtle Island, and processes and more viewer interaction with the artist is interested in watching part of the experience. the finesse and familiar“It’s a bit like the alchemist’s lab for ity that the craftspeople the modern age,” says the artist, who have with their materials has asked to not be named. He feels – for me, this is the art enough of his identity is in his art moment. The finished already, and prefers to use the name object is but the docuEscutcheon Athletics to identify his ment of its making. For art practice. this reason, I’ve decided “Escutcheon is the word in her- to do the making live, to aldry for shield. I equated that with bring the audience closer the body, and since the body was to the moment of truth, so important to what I was doing, I so to speak. chose the name to represent the facet The making isn’t the of my practice.” only part of the process; The artist is American, born in the experiences and traEngland, and currently resides in ditions of the artist are contributing Winnipeg – although he plans to factors as well – or, rather, they are move to Yellowknife just two days the same as the physical process of after the exhibition ends. He received making. The artist looks at his life

with a sense of awareness—of which he says he takes inspiration from Zen Buddhism—and analysis. He has objects (such as his sweatpants or a flask full of ink) that he refers

to as “Relics” and medi- what is considered aesthetically pleastative traditions that he ing to the eye – and thus the artist carries out while working became interested in blind drawing. (such as push-ups, pull“By blindfolding myself I broke ups, blind drawing, and the recursive loop of: make a mark, sweeping) that he refers step back, respond, repeat. Halfway to as “Disciplines.” through the first [blind drawing], I “I was really moved by realized that as soon as I looked at the D.T. Suzuki’s Introduction finished product, I’d open up the loop to Zen Buddhism, particu- again. So I made a decision to never larly the description that look at them, and ten years later, I still many monks experience haven’t seen any of these.” their first moment of By taking on the brand name enlightenment by sweep- Escutcheon Athletics, the artist is ing the floor of the mon- embracing the fact that he as the artastery,” says the artist. “I maker is a character within his own started wondering if it work. The artist is embracing the idea was possible to repurpose that back-story is as important as the my art-making moments conceptual process—or context—and into opportunities for this that is what his exhibition is, for lack kind of awareness. At the of a better word, exhibiting. same time, descriptions Escutcheon Athletics will conof this kind of awareness tinue to work within aceartinc. until were eerily similar to their closing party on Feb. 15. Visitors those I would have dur- are welcome during gallery hours and ing long runs and other the artist claims he will play catch forms of exercise.” with anyone on demand—any time, While working on a any place—he even has the baseseries of drawings where ball gloves and balls on hand in the the artist filled pages of gallery. typing paper with graphite, he found To learn more about Escutcheon that he became too attached to mak- Athletics you can visit their blog at ing them a certain way. Even in mark AMoralHouseofCards.tumblr.com. making, one can still get hung up on

Sunday Mass > 11am, Christ the King Chapel Weekday Mass > Tue-Fri 11:45am, Side Chapel Volunteer musicians and singers are welcome for choir practice > 5:30pm Fridays & 10am Sundays Winnipeg Harvest Volunteering > Feb 2 12:15pm departure C a m p u s

M i n i s t r y

Filipino Mass > Feb 3 11am with potluck to follow in Hanley Hall

Ash Wednesday Mass > Feb 13 11:45am with distribution of Blessed Ashes

Coffee House > Mar 2

8:00pm | Volunteer entertainers are welcome

St. Paul’s College University of Manitoba 70 Dysart Road Winnipeg, MB R3T 2M6 umanitoba.ca/colleges/st_pauls

For more information, contact: Sr. Elaine Baete 204 474 9784 | ELAINE.BAETE@ad.umanitoba.ca Fr. Michael Koryluk 204 474 8460 | korylukm@cc.umanitoba.ca Eliude Cavalcante 204 474 8645 | cavalcan@cc.umanitoba.ca

BASS INVADERS upcoming shows: January 26th: Jams (Mtl) [DnB/Breaks] February 8th: Balanced Records Code Fusion Release Party w/ Joe Nice (Baltimore) and Process Rebel (Amsterdam) [Dubstep] February 23rd: Venetian Snares (Breakcore/Jungle) March 2nd: Goth-Trad (Japan) (Dubstep) March 30th: Vilify (Mtl) [Trap/Dubstep/Jungle] Venue: The Zoo (Advance tickets available at The Zoo front desk and select venders) Follow Bass Invaders on Facebook: http://goo.gl/BRE3H

Arts & Culture Editor: Kara Passey Contact: artsculture@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

Arts & Culture

21

What are you scared of?

Work by U of M graduate, Bonnie Marin, on display in ARTlab Katy MacKinnon

B

onnie Marin’s exhibition, What eties displayed in my work are felt by Marin’s experience at the U of M many other artists necessitates a secare you scared of?, begins Friday, almost everybody trying to function was a very positive one. She feels for- ond job.

Jan. 18 at the school of art gallery (255 in today’s society.” tunate to be able to display her work at Marin’s work has been displayed ARTlab) on campus at the University Mary Reid, curator for the school the university, where she took direc- in numerous cities throughout North of Manitoba. This will be the collage of art gallery, chose to work with tion from teachers she valued.

America, as well as in collections in artist’s second exhibition on campus Marin since—although participat“Gordon [Reeve] was the type of London , France, and Hong Kong. since 2003. ing in group shows in the past—she teacher that always pushed you to Although she has made her mark Hailing from Manitoba with a hasn’t had a solo try [and] outdo internationally, Marin’s Manitoban BFA from the U of M, Marin dem- show since 1999. yourself. To learn roots remain important to her.

“I think that many onstrates her artistic passion through Marin has been from each work “The best part about being a worksculpture, collage, paintings, and art- the recipient of you did so that the ing artist living in Winnipeg is that of the fears ist books. Winnipeg art lovers have grants for her next work would this city gives you the freedom to be previously been able to enjoy her work work from the be better,” says yourself and make the kind of art that and anxieties at the Winnipeg Art Gallery and the Manitoba Arts Marin, recalling you want to make,” says Marin. displayed in my Glenbow Museum.

Council and the her past instrucAlthough she is proud to have her Most recently, Marin participated Winnipeg Arts tors. “ Dav id work displayed internationally, Marin work are felt by in the My Winnipeg exhibition, Winter Council.

[Mcmillan] was feels that her artistic development almost everybody Kept Us Warm. The exhibit was pre“This is a chance always showing “comes from within.” She strives to sented in Winnipeg as well as in Paris, to h igh l ight us other artists’ make art that she herself would like trying to function France. her work with a work so we were to look at. in today’s society.”

What are you scared of? features greater scope and a lways being What’s next for Marin? A graphic Marin’s technique of creating art out breadth. [Viewers exposed to new novel is in the works, one that, unlike of contradicting ideas. Her wry sense can] really see a ideas. They both her previous artist’s books, will have of humour is evident in her art while whole body of her tried to bring out a complete storyline. she attempts to evoke emotion from work in its own entirety,” says Reid. the best in each student” “The book will focus on a character the awareness of our inner fears and Marin’s exhibition is part of a For aspiring artists at the U of M, called Babs Sugarloaf as she underanxieties. series of exhibitions at the school of Marin advises to keep making art. takes a surreal journey trying to dis“My inspiration for creating this art, which aim to feature the excep“It will be a hard, long journey, but cover the meaning of life and death.” body of work was society in general,” tional artists associated with the uni- if it is something you love, then don’t The ARTlab will feature an exhibisays Marin. “I wanted to explore the versity. These exhibitions have been stop.” tion tour and talk with Marin on Jan. 30 human psyche. To try and understand chosen in light of 2013 being the 100th Although Marin has been able to from noon to 1 p.m., and the work will why people do the things they do. I anniversary of the founding of the show her work throughout her career, remain on display until March 1. think that many of the fears and anxi- school of art. she understands that she as well as

Big Fun Festival 2013 preview Five acts you don’t want to miss Jenna Diubaldo, staff

after other Canadian festivals such as NXNE and POP Montreal in a smaller capacity, but certainly with room to grow. The festival delivers interesting music at non-traditional venues that makes for a Big Fun time.

Below is a little sampler of some of the artists scheduled to perform at this year’s festival.

Cadence Weapon Jan. 25 Gio’s Club and Bar

B

orn from the idea that winter does not have to be a season of hibernation for the Winnipeg music scene, the Big Fun Festival is now in

its second year and shows no signs of slowing down.

For those of you not familiar with Big Fun, it’s a music festival modeled

backed up by distorted guitar, heavy bass, and sloshy drums. Stewart’s songwriting has been compared to the likes of Sonic Youth and the Velvet Underground, and the band has opened for names such as Buffy Sainte-Marie and Shotgun Jimmie.

This is a free show so you really have no excuse not to attend.

The Liptonians Jan. 24 Young United Church

The Mystics Jan. 25 A.N.A.F. “Club 60”

Sloppy, loud garage rock and roll out of Winnipeg, MB – this trio will have your hips shaking and your ears bleeding in no time. Paired up with female garage rock quartet the Angry Dragons and weirdo electronic punk outfit Phlegm Fatale, you’re certainly in for a treat.

Local indie pop rockers the Jenny Berkel Edmonton, AB born and raised Liptonians deliver feel-good music Jan. 25 electronic rapper Cadence Weapon with an experimental edge. Drawing The Ballroom is a force to be reckoned with. Not definite influence from the Beatles, Berkel’s music is organic, only have all three of his full-length this group of gentlemen has been untouched, and laden with her own releases to date been nominated for releasing beautiful tunes since 2008. personal stories of anguish and loss. the coveted Polaris Music Prize, but They’ll be kicking off the Big Fun Her signature songwriting style he was also named the Poet Laureate Festival alongside Doug Hoyer and dubbed as “haunt folk” is effectively for two years by his hometown.

Cannon Bros. captured through raw recordings that Local rapper Pip Skid and DJs are often laid down near a busy street, Co-op and Hunnicutt will be round- The Bokononists or in the middle of a rail park, drawing out this evening of heavy beats and Jan. 26 ing influence from the cityscape and sick rhymes. Besides, who doesn’t want The Windsor Hotel surrounding world. to go see a rap show at a gay bar?

The Bokononists are no bullshit, Berkel will be performing at an in-your-face rock and roll. If you’re impromptu venue called the Ballroom Jeans Boots looking for a party, this is the show to – a mansion and former ballet studio Jan. 26 be at. The night will be opened up by turned Big Fun for the night.

Aceartinc. local acts Warsaw and Salinas, with For more information on the Big Fun Jeans Boots is singer/songwriter rock and roll, cheap booze, and good Festival visit www.bigfunfestival.com.

Jeanette Stewart from Saskatoon, SK times.

Graphics Editor: Silvana Moran Contact: graphics@themanitoban.com / 474.6775

Diversions

22

Emilie st. hilaire

Lauren boulet

PHOTO —of the—

WEEK Bus stop across Millenium

By Jin-Lee

Do you have a super awesome photo that you want the world to see? No matter if you took it using your camera or your smart phone, send your “PHOTO OF THE WEEK” to PHOTO@ THEMANITOBAN. COM.

curton.bummings.tumblr.com

VOLUNTE E R graphics@themanitoban.com

Sports Editor: Marc Lagace Contact: sports@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

23

Sports

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IAN DUVAL LEADS CANADA WEST IN ASSISTS (23) AND POINTS (30)

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PACIFIC UBC VICTORIA UFV TRU UNBC TWU MOUNT ROYAL UBC OKANAGAN

12-2 9-5 7-7 6-9 5-9 5-9 3-11 2-13

JAN. 25 8:00 PM VS LETHBRIDGE INVESTORS GROUP AC JAN. 26 8:00 PM VS LETHBRIDGE INVESTORS GROUP AC

PRAIRIE CALGARY REGINA ALBERTA SASKATCHEWAN LETHBRIDGE WINNIPEG MANITOBA BRANDON

12-2 12-2 8-6 8-6 8-6 5-10 2-13 0-14

PACIFIC UFV TRU UBC VICTORIA UNBC MOUNT ROYAL UBC OKANAGAN TWU

11-3 11-4 10-4 10-4 6-8 5-9 5-10 3-11

JAN. 25 6:00 PM 6:00 PM VS UBC OKANAGAN INVESTORS GROUP AC JAN. 26 6:00 PM VS LETHBRIDGE INVESTORS GROUP AC

The 2013 Manitoban Hockey Pool Season preview Marc Lagace, staff

T

hank you all the participants who entered the Manitoban 2013 NHL Hockey Pool! All the entries have been uploaded to the site, and you should have received an email with details on how to access the pool standings and stats.

Since it’s too early to give a formal standings update, we crunched some numbers and figured out what players were the most popular picks. The runaway top picks were Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin and New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, who were both selected by 62.2 per cent of all pool teams.

Beyond those two, selections for each category varied.

Milan Lucic and Scott Hartnell were the top two selections in the Grinders category, with Lucic just barely edging Hartnell out for the top pick. Three players dominated the Extra Man category: Boston’s Patrice Bergeron and Dallas’ Jamie Benn and Jaromir Jagr. The Stars’ superstars had the most picks combined, but the Bruin forward still

picked up the most individual votes.

Here is the full breakdown of the top picks per box: First Line: Evgeni Malkin (62.2%) Second Line: James Neal (19.7%) Third Line: Jordan Eberle (22.9%) Fourth Line: Evander Kane (21.3%) Grinders: Milan Lucic (34.4%) Enforcers: Chris Neil (24.5%) Defence 1: Erik Karlsson (39.3%) Defence 2: Ryan Suter (16.4%) Defence 3: Mike Green (26.2%) Extra Man: Patrice Bergeron (29.5%) Starting Goalie: Henrik Lundqvist (62.2%) Backup Goalie: Tuukka Rask (34.4%)

Among the 60+ entries, there were some pretty choice team names. Here are the top ten, as determined by the Manitoban staff: 1. I Like Big Buffs and I Cannot Lie 2. Teemu’s Salami 3. Don’t Cry, I Was Olli Jokinen 4. Malkin in the Middle 5. Hedja’s Gonna Hate 6. HoneyNutChelios 7. Your Drunk Uncles 8. Beautiful Bettman 9. Maximum Discharge 10. Easton Fections

24

Sports

VOL. 99 ½ NO. 19 January 23, 2013

The NHL is back…

But how much damage has been done?

Marc Lagace, staff

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or the second time in as many years, the NHL returned to Winnipeg after a depressingly long absence.

This year’s return was affected by a work stoppage that delayed the start of the season by exactly 100 days.

As fans patiently waited for the end of the third lockout in two decades, there were many calling for different types of fan protests or boycotts.

There were calls for fans to remain silent throughout the entire first period, or to “boo and hiss” at both teams when they came onto the ice. A contingent of fans created a Facebook campaign called “Just Drop It,” with the goal being for hockey fans to boycott the equivalent number of NHL game days as were lost between Dec. 21 and the end of the lockout. The results: over 22,000 hockey fans that liked the page have, in theory, agreed to boycott the NHL for the first 10 games of their team’s 2013 schedule.

Before Saturday’s game, a small Mark Chipman, a local businessgroup of protesters braved the cold man who was a part of the effort to outside the main atrium of the MTS save the original Jets team and who Centre with signs that read “STOP put the pieces in place for the NHL’s BETTMAN” and “NHL GO TO triumphant return in 2011.

HELL” attached to hockey sticks.

Still, the protest outside the If they were trying to persuade MTS Centre does go to show that fans to turn around and join the boy- the relationship between the league cott, their protest failed; the down- and its fans has been damaged – even town arena was, predictably, full to in places where hockey thrives like capacity as the Jets fell to the Ottawa Winnipeg.

Michael Elves, program direcSenators 4-1 to open the season.

Around the MTS Centre before tor for 101.5 UMFM, is one of the puck drop, there were very few—if those hockey fans fed up with Gary any—signs of protest or boycott, and Bettman and the NHL. Elves is that makes sense for the Winnipeg a knowledgeable hockey fan who market. It’s hard for local fans to hate would participate in multiple fantasy this Jets team, with the city still in hockey pools in previous years. This the waning hours of the honeymoon year, however, he’s taking a stand since the franchise acquired its new “[The lockout] has crystallized my home last season. perspective on how much I dislike It’s equally hard to hate the team’s Gary Bettman,” said Elves, who ownership, a group that includes intends to ignore the NHL entirely David Thomson, the most humble this year. billionaire you’ll ever meet, and Part of the reason why he’s

Photos by matthew giesbrecht

through with the NHL is the way that the end of the lockout has been touted as the “return of hockey.”

“The NHL is returning; hockey never left, and that’s the thing,” said Elves. “There was the World Juniors, there’s the WHL, there’s the AHL,

there’s the MMJHL. There’s lots of hockey, and hockey’s not gone or ever at risk of going in this country.”

“Hockey never went away, just the NHL. I’m not out on hockey, I’m out on the NHL.”

The good, the bad, and the hockey Bisons vs Dinos offers plenty to see in both cities Derek Gagnon, Staff

Photo by Shan Jiewen

Men’s hockey – Calgary Dinos @ Manitoba Bisons As the number of games remaining in the Canada West season begin to dwindle, every point earned becomes that much more important. Many teams are still jostling for a position in the standings, trying to secure a home playoff spot or, better yet, a bye into the second round.

Manitoba went into this past

weekend sitting third in Canada West with 27 points. Saskatchewan was just ahead with 28, while Calgary nipped at their heels with 26 points.

Victory was of utmost importance as the Bisons and Dinos battled at Max Bell Arena.

In the first of two games the Bisons took it to the Dinos early, scoring three first period goals off the sticks of James Henry, Travis Bobbee, and Paul Ciarelli. Manitoba led 3-0 after

twenty minutes. The second period was more of the same as the Bisons put three more goals on the board and chased Calgary starting goalie Dustin Butler from the game after the fifth. The goals went to Matthew Lowry, Blair Macaulay, and Dylan Kelly, as Manitoba enjoyed a balanced offensive attack.

The third period got nasty, resulting in 64 penalty minutes handed out, with a fight between Rylan Wiest of the Dinos and Luke Cain of the Bisons earning almost half of those.

I’ll give the decision to Cain on the fight, which is a rare event to see in CIS Hockey, given that the penalties are extensive. Jesse Deckert finished the night stopping all 20 shots he faced for the shutout as the Bisons prevailed 6-0.

Saturday night saw a battle of superb goaltending from Jesse Deckert and Jacob DeSerres. Every goal was well earned, as the teams battled end-to-end. The Dinos took the lead twice but the Bisons responded each time as Ian Duval and James Henry put pucks behind DeSerres. The game had to be decided

by extra time, and when 4-on-4 solved nothing it was 3-on-3 overtime that provided the decisive goal. It was Dinos forward Walker Wintoneak who knocked in a rebound to give the visitors the 3-2 overtime victory.

Manitoba earned three points in the weekend series, moving them into a tie with Saskatchewan for second in Canada West at 30 points.

for the Bisons to cut the lead to one heading into the second period, but Calgary would eventually pull away.

Erika Mitschke scored on a penalty shot and another from Wickenheiser would make it 4-1 for Calgary after two, resulting in Manitoba goaltender Dée-Ana Marion getting the hook. A third Calgary power play goal made it 5-1 before Kyleigh Palmer scored for a final score of 5-2.

Women’s hockey – Manitoba Saturday saw Dée-Ana Marion Bisons @ Calgary Dinos return to the Bisons goal and put on a show, as the Dinos peppered her The women’s hockey team entered with shots. Marion held her ground weekend play on a five-game winning and kept Manitoba in the game as the streak, but it was hard to see them score remained deadlocked at zeroes coming away from games against a through two periods of play. It wasn’t top-ranked Calgary team with much until 15:12 into the third period that to show.

Calgary’s Iya Gavrilova scored on Hayley Wickenheiser and com- Marion, who was otherwise perfect, pany would put up a strong show- stopping 34 of 35 shots on net. The ing on Friday night, especially with marker proved to be sufficient as the the extra skater; Calgary’s power Bisons managed just 15 shots on net play generated three goals on seven and lost 1-0. opportunities. The first PP goal came Manitoba remains in fifth place from Wickenheiser early in the first, in Canada West and will return to and another a short time later made Winnipeg and the Max Bell Arena it 2-0 Calgary. Manitoba would keep this weekend to take on the eighth it close, as Nicole McGlenen scored place Lethbridge Pronghorns.