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Forum unites voices against global hate and bigotry
Two-day forum featured research and dialogue on pressing social issues
Roy Albright Obah, staff
The Global Forum on Bigotry and Hate convened Sept. 12 and 13 at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, bringing together international leaders, academics and students to address pressing issues of discrimination and intolerance worldwide.
Organized collaboratively by faculties from the U of M and the University of Winnipeg, the two-day event featured a series of panels, presentations and discussions covering global matters of hate, propaganda and social justice. Andrew Woolford, the lead organizer and professor of sociology and criminology at the U of M, explained the conference’s purpose. “It was really an exchange of information. We bring in international experts [to share] what is happening in their countries and regions,” he said. He added that the conference also offered learning opportunities where students could contribute their own insights.
education as a key venue for transmitting to young people not hateful ideas, but ways of tolerance, dialogue, peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding,” he said.
[…] Just actually engage with the subject a lot more than most people are doing nowadays.”
‘Toban news briefs
Jesse Brogan, staff Nuit Blanche
inte R national ne W s b R iefs
Hurricane Sandy HitS BaHamaS and eaSt coaSt of u.S.
Hurricane Sandy swept through the Bahamas recently and killed two people during its travel through Cuba, Jamaica, and Haiti.
Graduate students played a central role in the conference, presenting research and sparking dialogue. Zac Code, a student presenter, offered a historical lens on Canada’s engagement with propaganda and the manipulation of communication during times of crisis. “We can draw a lot of comparisons [from history] to the present time about the manipulation of communication and language,” he explained.
By Jill Patterson, staff
Peace Ifeanyi, another student presenter, focused on Canada’s structured intervention units, illustrating how these confinement practices disproportionately affect Black and Indigenous inmates. She reflected on how the silence of policy and gaps in oversight practices can perpetuate social inequities.
Nuit Blanche Winnipeg returns on Saturday, Sept. 27 to celebrate contemporary art across four areas of the city: the Exchange District, Downtown, The Forks, and St. Boniface. Nuit Blanche is a free event that invites thousands of art lovers to explore installations and performances throughout the night. There will be free City of Winnipeg shuttle buses that can take passengers to and from each area from dark till late.
Corn Maze and Haunted Forest
traditional storytelling with striking costume and design work. Drawing inspiration from classic films like Nosferatu, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and Georges Méliès’ A Trip to the Moon, the ballet delves into themes of mystery and childhood innocence.
U of M scientist leads landmark Arctic mission
Some schools, airports, and bridges have been closed in the Bahamas as a safety precaution.
The storm caused massive flooding on Cuba’s southeast coastline and has moved over 50,000 people from their homes as a precautionary measure.
Warnings have also been issued to southern U.S. as it is expected that Sandy will affect areas of the east coast. Heavy winds and rain have already been lashing out in some southern areas of Florida.
Woolford pointed out the significance of education in fostering peaceful coexistence, even as Canada continues to reckon with the historical misuse of schooling to propagate harm. “We still see
Evacuations in New York City began on Oct. 28, which included the evacuation of 375,000 residents from areas such as Coney Island and Battery Park City. New York mayor Michael Bloomberg ordered mandatory closures of schools for the next day.
cease-fire with the intention of lasting four days in conjunction with the Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha.
He also emphasized the role of education in preventing the exploitation of ignorance, saying “education is important” to make sure that ignorance is not something people can manipulate. For students interested in tackling sensitive social topics, Code encouraged active participation. “Don’t be scared of the idea of putting yourself out there and wanting to do that research,” he said. “There’s a lot of faux pas about, especially really problematic topics, that you have to be very knowledgeable on the subject to work on it. That’s not particularly true
The Nov. 6 presidential election is at risk of low voter turnout due to the hurricane.
failed Syrian ceaSe-fire originally intended for muSlim Holiday
The Syrian army agreed to a
The holiday lasted from Oct. 26 to 29. The cease-fire was originally proposed by UN and Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi in order to promote a peaceful process thereafter. In a statement previous to the cease-fire, the Syrian armed forces said that the cease-fire would not, however, be applied to any threats made from outside the country.
“Syrian armed forces will, however, reserve the right to reply to terrorists attacks, attempts of armed groups to reinforce or resupply, or attempts to infiltrate from neighbouring countries.”
The cease-fire failed to remain intact when violence erupted on Oct. 28. An estimated 110 individuals were killed during missile and barrel bomb attacks and an air strike in northern Syria.
oBama caStS early vote
between 50 to 47 per cent support among estimated voters.
It has been estimated that approximately 7.2 million people have already cast and early ballot.
It is also predicted that about 35 per cent of the voters will have already voted by polling day.
Ifeanyi urged future presenters to prepare thoroughly. “Be prepared […] as it helps you face the challenges that lie ahead.” She expressed optimism about ongoing change and societal reflection. “I now see that change is happening […] There is active thinking about the well-being and future of those who will come after us.”
dr congo reBelS kill tHree
Campus news briefs
Rachel Wood, staff
umSu HoldS referendum for u-PaSS
University of Manitoba Student Union (UMSU) is holding a referendum vote for all U of M undergraduate students in regards to a potential U-Pass.
equity services. He has also partaken in global projects in Malaysia, London, and Dubai.
David Babb, a sea ice scientist from the U of M, is spearheading a landmark four-week Arctic research expedition aboard the Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker Amundsen. The mission aims to study sea ice, glaciers and marine species in one of Canada’s most remote and unexplored regions. This region, often referred to as the “last ice,” contains some of the Arctic’s thickest sea ice, which has persisted despite global warming trends.
U.S. President Barack Obama has cast the first vote for the upcoming election in his hometown of Chicago.
Obama is the first president to vote early as he hopes to increase early ballots for this year’s election.
As it stands, a national poll suggests that contender Mitt Romney has
Rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo have killed two rangers and a solider in Congo’s Virunga National Park.
According to park director Emmanuel de Merode, the rangers were being escorted by an armed united when members of the Mai Mai militia ambushed them.
“They came under attack from a quite substantial Mai Mai unit [ . . . ] It was very heavy fire received.”
The conference concluded with a series of performances and presentations that combined artistic expression and critical discussion. Drag artists Miss Pocket and Pretty Boy performed, while Elder Albert MacLeod spoke on “2S Identities and Patterns of Hate and Bigotry Impacting the 2S Community.”
Five rebels were also killed during the attack in Virunga. More than 130 park rangers have been killed in the park since 1996. The M23 rebel group, one of the groups that has bases in the park, recently allowed tourist visits to resume, as the park is a national tourist attraction.
This year’s rebellion by the M23 group has forced approximately 500,000 people to flee their homes.
Manitoba’s beloved autumn attraction, A Maze in Corn, will operate this year until Oct. 31. Owner Clint Masse said, “Pumpkins will start selling big time next week.” Adding to the fall festivities, the Haunted Forest returns this weekend to run from Sept. 27 to Nov. 1. Originally known as “Booberry Haunt,” this eerie trail winds separately from the maze, featuring 23 spooky season scenes, including a witch’s hut, a mad lumberjack, a junkyard, a graveyard and more. A separate ticket is required for the Haunted Forest, which typically sees long lineups for the 20-minute walk through the creature-filled forest.
A U-Pass, costing students $85 per semester, adjusting with inflation rates, would allow for admission onto Winnipeg Transit through September to April. This pass would be available to undergraduate students registered in at least six credit hours a semester.
Similar programs are instated throughout universities in Canada, including Carleton University, the University of Ottawa, Mount Royal University, and Thompson Rivers University.
Hansel & Gretel
Voting is open to all undergraduate students and will be open from Nov. 14 to 16.
Stu clark centre for entrePreneurSHiP aPPointS new director
The Royal Winnipeg Ballet will present Hansel & Gretel, an adaptation by the Royal New Zealand Ballet, from Oct. 9 to 12. This production is a take on the classic Brothers Grimm tale and blends
Stuart Henrickson, U of M alumni, has recently been named the I.H. Asper director of entrepreneurship at the Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship. This position enables Henrickson to guide and mentor students whose goals include creating their own business.
Henrickson’s resume includes founding Red Leaf Capital, an organization that provides different services to companies including advisory, raising debt, and raising
The Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship, previously known as the Asper Centre for Entrepreneurship, began in 2008 and encourages students and Canadian individuals to pursue entrepreneurship as a career, while training them in the skills necessary to do so.
U of M potato research
u of m releaSeS online tool tHat allowS StudentS to cHeck tHeir drinking HaBitS
A new anonymous survey enables students to have a more comprehensive knowledge of his or her drinking habits.
The questionnaire asks participants to reveal their habits in relation to alcohol consumption and includes questions that ask if anyone in their life has had concerns about their alcohol intake or if they often regret drinking the morning after.
A final report is compiled after the survey is completed. This report can be printed or sent to your health care professional.
Linda Schott has been named the U of M’s first research chair in sustainable potato production. Starting July 1, Schott, a biological engineering expert from the University of Idaho, will focus on soil productivity, irrigation, disease management and potato varieties. This research is funded by industry leaders like McCain Foods and the J.R. Simplot Company Foundation. This role aims to advance potato research and student training opportunities.
Check Your Drinking University (CYD-U) surveys have been released at several universities including the University of Western Ontario and University of Alberta.
The U of M version of the survey is available at umanitoba.checkyourdrinkingu.net
Restrictions to protests may be coming
City council puts through motion to restrict where people can protest
Jesse Brogan, staff
Anew motion at City Hall proposes to change how the people of Winnipeg can protest. If this motion passes, there will be about a 300-foot restriction to protest at schools, hospitals, places of worship and cultural community centres.
Councillor Evan Duncan proposed restrictions on protests at City Hall last week.
Leata Goulet, a U of M student and volunteer at the university’s Women’s Centre, shared her thoughts on the possible restrictions. “I think there is both the good and bad to it […] The idea of protest is to grab attention and to also get certain community members’ opinions on what you’re protesting about.” Goulet pointed to efforts to curb antichoice activists on campus as an example. The Women’s Centre has pushed the university to ban graphic displays by pro-life groups.
“They display extremely graphic and just incorrect images […] They’re false images, they’re just anatomically incorrect,” said Goulet. While Goulet personally does not want the groups on campus at all, she said she would accept a compromise.
“If there would need to be a middle ground, my middle ground would be [to let them be] here without the photos,” she said.
Goulet acknowledged the strain that protests put on an already busy police service. But she questioned whether limiting protests is the right solution.
“Why are we not finding ways to better our police service instead? […] We already see a decrease in officers in general because of burnout and all of those things because they are overworked,” said Goulet.
Ameen (Amin) Alnaser, president of the U of M Syrian Student Club, said the motion to restrict protests is against the cultural right to political expression.
“Protest is a form of [expressing] your opinion […] It’s a right,” he said. Alnaser supports restricting protests at hospitals, but he doesn’t support the restriction at cultural centres or campus.
“As long as the protest is done in a very civilized way, without being interrupted […] then I think this should not be restricted whatsoever,” said Alnaser.
culture is being able to express your opinion.
“Protest is a form of [expressing] your opinion […] It’s a right”
— Ameen Alnaser, president of the Syrian Student Club
Alnaser said that part of
“I’m personally against isolating culture from politics,” he said.
Christopher Adams, an adjunct professor of political studies at the U of M, placed the motion in a broader context. He said Canada already has a history of limiting demonstrations in sensitive areas, particularly around abortion clinics and hospitals.
“There have been pushes over the past many years for legislation to prevent people from protesting in front of these clinics or in front of hospitals,” said Adams. Adams also pointed to recent parental-rights protests in the province, which he said tap into anti-gay rights, as an example of why certain spaces are seen as sensitive areas. But while he understands the motivation, Adams
warned that restrictions could clash with Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
“It goes against the full expression of free speech. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms provides the freedom of expression here in our Canadian society, and there will be people who will be challenging this type of control based on the charter rights,” said Adams.
PHOTO BY ZULKIFL RAFAH / STAFF
A PRO-CHOICE COUNTER-PROTEST ORGANIZED AT THE UNIVERSITY
PHOTO BY EBUNOLUWA AKINBO / STAFF
SPELBEC-Science 2025 grows in reach and impact
Students spell success through science, mentorship and hands-on experiments
Roy Albright Obah, staff
The third edition of the Scientific Spelling Bee Competition (SPELBEC-Science) took place on Sept. 6 at the U of M auditorium. The competition, which began in 2010, has grown steadily in participation and momentum, bringing students, teachers and community members together to celebrate science and learning.
The event is the initiative of Titus Olukitibi, a postdoctoral fellow in medical microbiology and infectious diseases at the U of M. Olukitibi explained that the idea started in Nigeria in 2010, when he was still an undergraduate. “I wanted to give back to my alma mater, Ogedengbe School of Science,” he said. “I created SPELBEC-Science to help students become familiar with scientific terms and their meanings.” After moving to Canada, he co-founded Raising the Foundations of Generations Inc. (RFGimpacts), a faith-based non-profit that has anchored the competition in Manitoba since 2023.
Unlike a typical spelling bee, participants prepare with a guide containing more than 300 scientific words and definitions. Parents, according to Olukitibi, appreciate the way it keeps their children engaged and curious during the summer. The event also integrates mentorship, with professionals from CancerCare Manitoba, the National Microbiology Laboratory and the U of M giving talks.
Feedback from teachers and families has been positive. “Participation has grown rapidly, from 20 registered students in 2023 to 64 in 2024 and 102 in 2025,” Olukitibi said. Teachers, he explained, often comment that the competition complements classroom learning, while parents notice their children growing in confidence. “For many families, the competition is less about winning and more about the exposure and opportunities it provides,” he said.
Funding the initiative has been a challenge, but community support has made it possible. “Our team is entirely volunteer-based. We are driven by passion, faith and the belief that these efforts will inspire the next generation,” Olukitibi said.
The competition has also led to broader opportunities. In 2024, for example, the schools of the winners received scientific equipment donated by professor Keith Fowke, head of medical microbiology at the U of M. Olukitibi connects his out-
reach directly to his research.
Awarded the Dr. Dick Smith Postdoctoral Fellowship in 2024, he focuses on immune responses in HIV and HPV co-infections. As part of the fellowship, he organized an essay competition and workshop on sexually transmitted and blood borne infections (STBBI) prevention, where high school students prepared
posters and presented them to middle school students and spelling bee participants. “For
“For me, science is not only about discovery in the lab — it’s about bridging knowledge to the next generation”
— Titus Olukitibi, postdoctoral fellow at U of M and founder of RFGimpacts
me, science is not only about discovery in the lab — it’s about bridging knowledge to the next generation,” he said.
This year’s winners were Jemimah Kenneth-Egbadon of Springs Christian Academy in first place, Fiyinfoluwa Olukeye of General Byng School in second place and Chimamanda Ezenwata, also of General Byng School, in third place. Olukitibi said what set them apart was their calmness under pressure and their depth of prep-
aration. He recalled a moment that touched him as Jemimah’s family celebrated her win. “Her mother shared how Jemimah trusted the Holy Spirit to guide her during the competition [which] perfectly reflects our vision at RFGimpacts — to inspire youth academically, spiritually and personally.”
To learn more about past events and stay updated on future editions of SPELBEC-Science, visit www.rfgimpacts.org.
DR. TITUS OLUKITIBI (LEFT) WITH JEMIMAH KENNETH-EGBADON, THE WINNER OF THIS YEAR’S SCIENTIFIC SPELLING BEE COMPETITION.
Research & Technology
From code to crop
Training algorithms to solve agricultural problems
Mansura Akter Meghla, staff
M achine learning is helping Manitoba farmers combat one of the most serious threats to wheat production.
Christopher Henry, an associate professor in the department of computer science at the U of M, is leading projects that apply artificial intelligence (AI) to agriculture. His team is developing automated tools to detect and measure fusarium head blight, a fungal disease that damages crops across the prairies.
“We are working on developing automated methods to quantify the degree of fusarium head blight in the field,” Henry said. “So that it can help with breeding programs to breed fusarium head blight-resistant cultivars and […] produce seeds […] that are resistant to this particular disease.”
One key part of the research project is a six feet square “data rover.” The remote-controlled cart moves through fields, collecting images and sensor data that can be used to train machine learning models. Two prototypes are already being tested, Henry added.
Beyond field robotics, his lab also works on the theory of machine learning. One focus is the use of generative methods — the same type of models behind large language models such as ChatGPT and Gemini. The task is to create labelled image datasets. Such datasets are scarce in agriculture, where photos of invasive weeds or crop diseases are not as readily available as everyday images found online.
“One of the things that we’re looking at is how [we can] use some of these generative methods that are really good at creating photorealistic images […] for scientific applications such as what you find in agriculture,” Henry noted. Using these datasets, the goal is to “train another machine learning algorithm” to solve important problems or build useful digital tools in
the agriculture industry.
Henry’s interest in digital agriculture began in 2015, when he worked with a local robotics firm on autonomous farming equipment. The project revealed that, while algorithms existed, the necessary labelled data did not. That gap led him to develop new approaches to data creation and machine learning for agriculture.
toba Hydro on projects that range from machine learning and generative methods to hydrology engineering. He sees his work contributing on two fronts — advancing the
asets are really exciting because there’s lots of scientific domains, not just agriculture, that need labelled datasets for highly specialized scientific problems,” Henry emphasized.
“It takes people that have knowledge in different specific areas to come together to get a real-world solution that helps people”
— Christopher James Henry, associate professor in the department of computer science
Today, Henry collaborates with industry partners including MacDon and Mani-
theory of machine learning and applying those methods to solve real-world problems.
“These generative methods for creating labelled dat-
“But creating the dataset is the costly and time-intensive part of that whole process, so I’m excited to develop these methods to help alleviate that bottleneck.”
For students interested in this field, Henry emphasized the importance of collaboration across disciplines. In
digital agriculture, computer scientists are now working with people in plant science, soil science and biology, he explained.
Henry said, “It takes people that have knowledge in different specific areas to come together to get a real-world solution that helps people.” Ultimately, his goal is “to create or […] help drive the sustainable intensification of prairie crop productions.” That means automating tasks with AI to reduce reliance on fertilizer, pesticides and fuel, while still maintaining — or even increasing — crop production.
GRAPHIC BY TEEGAN GILLICH / VOLUNTEER
The theory of minerals
U of M professor emeritus reflects on a lifetime in mineralogy
Mansura Akter Meghla, staff
F
rank Hawthorne, distinguished professor emeritus in the department of earth sciences at the U of M, has spent his career studying how atoms arrange themselves in minerals and synthetic compounds to build a theoretical foundation in the field.
“If mineralogy is to move beyond descriptive science, it needs a theoretical basis whereby we may understand and predict the structures, chemical compositions and behaviour of minerals in earth processes at the scale of atoms and chemical bonds,” Hawthorne said. “The development of such a basis is the central theme of my work.”
Although officially retired, Hawthorne said he still spends several hours a day working on science and publishing. The aim of developing a theoretical foundation is
to better manage the materials we live with, from minerals to industrial byproducts, he explained.
“If we can understand how the atoms are arranged in detail at the atomic level, we know how to deal with those materials,” he said. “We can process them […] maybe change their character so, for example, they’re less toxic.”
His career also included high-profile research on uranium minerals. He and one of his postdoctoral fellows studied schoepite, a uranium mineral that formed from altered fuel rods. Their work revealed errors in earlier studies and
the schoepite with nail polish after dipping it in liquid nitrogen worked, he explained.
Hawthorne’s recent work has turned toward resolving long-standing questions about atomic sizes.
“If we can understand how the atoms are arranged in detail at the atomic level, we know how to deal with those materials”
— Frank C. Hawthorne, distinguished professor emeritus in the U of M’s Clayton H. Riddell faculty of environment, earth and resources
One early project linked his work to environmental concerns. As a graduate student, Hawthorne analyzed asbestos minerals contaminating the water supply of a U.S. city on Lake Superior. His findings contributed to a court case that forced a mining company to redesign its waste disposal practices.
reshaped how nuclear waste reactions were understood.
“The first crystal I put on my instrument […] exploded,” Hawthorne recalled. “We spent a lot of time trying to find a way to get them to hold together so we could do experiments.” Finally, sealing
Hawthorne found that data derived from crystal structures, widely used since the 1920s, do not represent actual atom sizes but rather distances between atoms. The discovery helped resolve a long-standing debate between quantum mechanical calculations and experimental results.
“This resolved controversy between quantum mechanical calculations and the results of all of these hundreds of thousands of experiments on how
far apart atoms were in solids,” he said. According to Hawthorne, it also challenged decades of accepted theory and forces new ways of interpreting crystal structures.
Recognition of his work spans the globe. Hawthorne became a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences in 2005 after presenting research on nuclear waste storage. He later received its gold medal in 2024. He is also a companion of the Order of Canada and a Killam Prize winner in natural sciences.
For students considering graduate research, Hawthorne advised finding a supervisor who has time to mentor them and encourages independent work in a topic that is not easy. “It should be difficult, but not too difficult,” he said. “I’ve always thought of the students’ work as their work, not my work.”
Should we trust generative AI companies?
When companies choose greed, innocent people suffer the consequences
Eden Quiring, staff
Generative AI (GenAI) does not generate new content, it generates a mirror. We are looking into our past, reflected over and over, and told that it is innovation, a forward step, while our social and political climates backslide across the globe. Our new technological advancements are impressive, but are they really being developed for the benefit of society?
There are pressing concerns regarding the safety of popular GenAI programs. At least two teen suicides have been attributed to AI chatbots in the U.S. since 2024.
One of these teens was 14-year-old Sewell Setzer III, who took his own life in February of 2024. His mother, Megan Garcia, said Character.AI is liable for this tragedy. Garcia said her son became “noticeably withdrawn” after beginning to use Character.AI chatbots “and began suffering from low self-esteem.” Setzer began confiding in these chatbots about suicidal ideation, and in one exchange said he “wouldn’t want to die a painful death,” to which the chatbot responded, “don’t talk that way. That’s not a good reason not to go through with it.” Setzer told a chatbot he was going to “come home” to it moments before committing suicide. Garcia said the software lacked safety protocols that could have protected her son, and instead, the chatbots were “designed to keep our kids addicted and to manipulate them.” Garcia is currently suing Character Technologies (Character.AI’s developer company) and its founders, Noam Shazeer and Daniel De Freitas, as well as Google, which has ties to the company, for wrongful death, negligence, and deceptive and unfair trade practices. As of May 21 of this year, a judge has allowed the lawsuit to proceed after rejecting the company’s claim that the free speech of AI chatbots should be protected under the First Amendment.
The second teen was 16-year-old Adam Raine, whose parents are suing ChatGPT’s developer company OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman with a very similar case to Garcia’s.
preventable had Character Technologies and OpenAI prioritized their users over their profit and ensured proper testing and security programming had been done before offering their chatbots to the public.
Despite this, America’s AI Action Plan, released by the U.S. government in July, appears to be single-mindedly focused on the efficiency of developing GenAI technology. The action plan says that the U.S. needs to “reject [...] bureaucratic red tape” and “dismantle unnecessary regulatory barriers that hinder the private sector” in “the development and distribution of new AI technology.” Ensuring the safety of GenAI technology is clearly not a priority to the U.S. government. Instead, their goal is to “reap broad economic and military benefits.” The desire for profit and power is what drives current innovations in AI technology, not a desire to benefit society.
This document was published a month before it came out that OpenAI is offering the U.S. government a business version of ChatGPT for US$1, and the U.S. Department of Defense awarded a US$200 million contract to OpenAI to develop GenAI technology for military use. The U.S. government and GenAI companies both have an incentive to work with each other in the quest for profit and power, which amplifies the potential for the corruption of GenAI technology.
In a section titled, “Ensure that Frontier AI Protects Free Speech and American Values,” the action plan added that it is “essential” that AI systems “be built from the ground up with freedom of speech and expression in mind.” This passage is somewhat vague, but the possible implication of AI chatbots being included in the First Amendment right to the freedom of speech is concerning. This would reduce the accountability of GenAI
“[GenAI chatbots were] designed to keep our kids addicted and to manipulate them”
— Megan Garcia, mother of Sewell Setzer III and plaintiff against Character Technologies
GenAI can be extremely dangerous without proper regulations. The deaths of Setzer and Raine were most likely
companies and help them avoid consequences for negligence in cases such as Garcia vs. Character Technologies. A recommended policy action in this section is to “eliminate references to misinformation,
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and climate change” in the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s AI Risk Management Framework. This recommendation seems counterintuitive to the action plan’s simultaneous promise that their “Al systems must be free from ideological bias [and] trustworthy.” If the U.S. government wants its AI to be trustworthy, why would they not want misinformation to be recognized as a risk? It seems that they just want it to be trusted, no matter the actual quality or safety of the content. These safety concerns are
only the tip of the iceberg of GenAI’s dangers. Among many other issues, negative environmental implications have been brought up by many experts. A paper published by MIT in March of 2024 said that our current approach to GenAI’s development is environmentally “unsustainable,” and the rapid growth of this technology is “actively counterproductive” to achieving “net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.” However, the U.S. government has made it known that they have written off the concerns of scientists around the globe, as their action plan outlines their aim to “reject radical climate dogma” in their heedless race for global technological dominance. Concerns of climate change are not radical
or extreme, but they do jeopardize the unfettered growth of wealth for the ruling class, and so governments and corporations are incentivized to paint them as such.
AI does have potential positive applications, but the companies currently dominating the field of GenAI are not developing this technology to benefit their users or society at large. They are exploiting the novelty of this technology to suck as much money out of people as they can, no matter the social or environmental costs. The next time you find yourself wanting to use ChatGPT or a similar chatbot, I encourage you to ask yourself, “Is convenience really what’s most important to me?”
PHOTO PROVIDED BY MEGAN GARCIA VIA ASSOCIATED PRESS
SEWELL SETZER III AND HIS MOTHER MEGAN GARCIA
Society vs. Black hair
How the Western world interacts with Black women’s hair
Thandeka Katsika, volunteer
One of the consequences of spending extended periods of time on social media is finding yourself on a completely different side of TikTok than you’re used to. A few weeks ago, I fell into this trap and found myself on British social media, where I saw a Black man make rude comments about Black women’s hair.
This specific TikTok reminded me of a conversation I had with a friend of mine who braids hair. Over the weekend, she had agreed to braid the hair of a girl who had been attending her church because she was being bullied in school for wearing her natural hair.
I wish I could say these incidents were isolated and few and far between, but in many Western societies, Black women have been ridiculed and judged for their natural hair. Some people believe Black women wearing natural hair is unprofessional and untidy, while simultaneously holding the belief that wearing extensions or wigs is a sign of a desire to be a white woman. For Black women, there seems to be no winning when it comes to their hair.
I think to understand the misconceptions held by society concerning Black hair, it’s important to look at its history. In pre-colonial Africa, hair had a variety of meanings: there were certain styles to indicate your family and tribe, styles to show you were royalty, styles for a mother about to give birth and even styles for women waiting for men to come back from war.
Ultimately, hair for Black women was a source of cultural expression and a form of communication.
During the Transatlantic Slave Trade, hair became one of the tools used to dehumanize Africans. Calling it unruly and animalistic, Europeans were able to push the narrative that Black people were savages. This allowed them to treat Black people with inhumanity while avoiding the moral and spirit-
ual repercussions that would accompany these actions.
Even after the prohibition of slavery, these racist ideas lingered. Laws like the “Tignon Law” in Louisiana forced Black women to cover their hair in public. Laws like these furthered discrimination against Black women’s hair, as though it did not belong in the public sphere.
Now, these kinds of discriminatory laws for Black women no longer exist, but I
believe the impact they had on people’s thinking remains. For women of different ethnicities, it is acceptable to wear their hair as it grows from their scalps, yet for Black women, their natural hair is seen as unprofessional. I would like to dispel this lie. Black hair is beautiful! For centuries, society has tried to convince Black women that their hair is less than because it doesn’t fit a Eurocentric beauty standard, but it is unique and gorgeous.
Black women should wear their natural hair proudly, like the crown it is.
If a Black woman chooses to wear braids or extensions, it should be because they feel confident and beautiful and not because they feel ashamed of their natural hair.
Society should not dictate how Black women feel about their own hair. These ideas around Black women’s hair have been around for centuries, and being passive will not make them go away. It is important to confront derogatory ideas in both thought and conversation. Any time you have an insulting thought about your own hair, or anyone else, ask yourself why. Where do these ideas come from, and how can you combat them? Any time you hear someone say something unkind about another person’s hair, don’t just think it’s wrong, say something. I know at times it might seem extreme to draw so much attention to something as simple as hair, but it’s not just about hair. It’s about how people view themselves, how for years lies have been used to convince Black people that they are worth less than their white counterparts. These lies have been fed to Black people who don’t have Eurocentric features, who are made to believe that they are ugly. It’s important that we challenge these lies. People deserve to know that we are all created equally. Every race and every hue is beautiful. Our diversity should be celebrated, not used to bring each other down.
GRAPHIC BY EMMA GILLICH / STAFF
Customer service is an uphill roller coaster
The plight of retail for workers just trying to make ends meet
Quinn Mayhew, staff
Customer service is a battleground of sorrow.
If you’ve ever worked in customer service, you probably know that not every customer is kind or understanding of the plight of having to do soul-draining work for minimum wage.
Working in customer service means going into work and having to deal with people who have no social skills and demand that you do something for them in
the span of a second, or, in my experience, expecting that you should’ve known a customer wanted something before they even entered the store.
I want to start by saying that I love my job.
Working at a bookstore has always been my dream, but dealing with unruly
customers was most definitely not.
In the past few years, I have witnessed a magnitude of customer meltdowns, ranging from mild snooty comments to full-fledged swearing and throwing themselves against the counter.
One may ask why someone is getting so upset about not being able to purchase a book, and I would ask the same question. Why would someone get so upset about not having a book in stock?
Customers expect a certain level of speed in transactions that is not always feasible. At least once a shift, I find myself going to the breakroom, trying to let a
comment from a rude customer roll off my back, but why should I be expected to let verbally abusive comments go?
In recent years, I have found that customer service workers have reached a tipping point of verbal abuse that we can no
longer tolerate from customers.
For those who have never worked in retail, going to work to deal with customers is the equivalent of going on a roller coaster, and you know you’re going to throw up, yet you’re not able to get off the ride.
Throughout my time as a retail worker, I have enjoyed getting to know some of my coworkers while being surrounded by shelves of books. Despite there being an upside to my role as a bookseller, I am always anticipating the next time a customer is going to yell at me.
In my opinion, there are almost no circumstances under which someone should be yelling at a customer service worker. In all honesty, nothing is that serious in customer service, and if it is, why would anyone think yelling would make someone want to do something quicker?
GRAPHIC BY EMMA GILLICH / STAFF
no single number can repeat in any row or column. But... rows and columns are divided by black squares into compartments. These need
To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 such that each row, column, and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely. In Straights, like Sudoku, no single number 1 to 9 can repeat in any row or column. But rows and columns are divided by black squares into compartments. Each compartment must form a “straight.” A straight is a set of numbers with no gaps but it can be in any order, eg [7,6,9,8]. Clues in black cells remove that number as an option in that row and column, and are not part of any straight. Glance at the solution to see how “straights” are formed.
Suburbia is Whoville
What lurks beneath the surface of suburban communities
Quinn Mayhew, staff
he suburbs are a place
TI have always found devoid of life, always seeming unnatural with its cookie-cutter houses and massive strip malls just a moment’s walk from your front door.
Suburbia is, for me, the epitome of wealth. These homes aim to bridge the gap between rural living, which allows for privacy, and the luxuries that the city provides.
If you’ve ever heard the term “suburban sprawl,” please know that these two words are on my list of pet peeves. The idea of suburban sprawl is to allow people to have privacy with luxury, but it costs almost quadruple what it does for a city to maintain and build due to the sprawling infrastructure.
The suburbs, I have always found, make absolutely no sense. Why would you want to live an arm’s length away from your neighbours, while also being far away from all the city’s amenities? Suburbia, due to the sprawl, is not conducive to the play of children. Alex Balashov, in their article on the topic, described suburbia, saying “Life in a subdivision cul-de-sac keeps children from exploring and becoming conversant with the wider world around them, because it tethers their social lives and activities to their busy parents’ willingness to drive them somewhere. There’s literally nowhere for them to go. The spontaneity of childhood in the courtyard, on the street, or in the square gives way to the managed, curated, prearranged ‘play-date.’”
If you’ve ever driven through a suburban region, and I am sure most of you have, the community’s houses are usually squished together, almost resembling to me the
town of Whoville from the movie How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Everyone always seems to be happy to be living in suburbia, but it almost seems unnatural to me.
I am sure most people have seen a few movies that take place in the suburbs.
For me, the suburban movie that stands out the most is The Virgin Suicides, which is adapted from the book by Jeffrey Eugenides. The movie takes place in the suburbs of mid-70s Detroit, featuring the five Lisbon sisters, who are beloved by the boys across the
street and who happen to narrate the movie. As the film progresses, we are shown darker themes of isolation, and by the end of the film, all five sisters have taken their lives.
Throughout the film, you see the Lisbon family wrestling with their own isolation in this community and the grief of losing their daughters and sisters, especially as the community continues to silently judge them and they become increasingly isolated. The narration of the boys and the community are very important throughout the
film. At one point, one neighbour says, “That girl didn’t want to die. She just wanted out of that house.” Another neighbour responds, “She wanted out of that decorating scheme.”
This movie, for me, represents something darker lurking beneath the shadows of communities like the suburbs. Although the suburbs are presented as some sort of “American dream,” I have always found suburbia to be a darker entity that stifles children’s creativity due to suburban sprawl, while mas-
querading as a picturesque, friendly neighbourhood that condemns neighbours behind each other’s backs, like in The Virgin Suicides. Now, most likely, not every suburban area is an emblem of evil or a soul-crushing entity, and in actuality, some suburbs are just as mundane as some city areas. Despite my knowing that, I can never help but feel like something is lurking beneath the surface of every suburb I see.
GRAPHIC BY EMMA GILLICH / STAFF
The future of AI in the creative industry
Local generative AI platform founder shares insights
Boris Tsun Hang Leung, staff
Recently, Winnipegger
Adam Fainman launched Moonlite Labs, a generative artificial intelligence (AI) platform for content creators to produce images, videos and animations with minimal technical expertise.
In addition, users can edit the generated clips on the platform and export them in different aspect ratios. Fainman also revealed that the team will soon add a scheduling function where users can post generated content across multiple platforms.
Fainman has a background in computer science, psychology and digital media design, culminating in a master’s degree in music technology at the University of Toronto. He also works as a musician under the name Beatox.
“I love the intersection of tech and creativity, and that’s [why] I founded and created Moonlite Labs, which was a solution and tool for, ideally, artists and creatives to create visuals for digital storytelling [by] leveraging generative AI tech,” Fainman explained.
Moonlite Labs has gained considerable traction. This
year, Fainman travelled to Europe to showcase his platform in VivaTech, a large technology conference that takes place in Paris. According to Moonlite Labs’ website, it has also received funding from the provincial government and National Research Council of Canada.
However, the use of AI in the arts is mired in endless controversy. For example, some argue that AI lacks the personal touch that only a human with lived experience can have, resulting in art devoid of soul and emotion.
AI in social media can be equally as problematic — most internet users have probably encountered “AI slop” or low-quality AI-generated content at some point. Photos of “Shrimp Jesus” or a car made of plastic bottles might be cringeworthy, but danger looms when people mistake generated photos as genuine.
Other critics are concerned with the ethics of AI art. AI uses existing images and videos on the internet to generate content, but this can happen without the original artists’ consent. Fainman stated that in the future, he hopes to
see artists getting paid to use their work to train AI models.
“I think just being able to leverage their creativity and original work with these tools, and training these tools, and getting paid […] would be really neat.”
Fainman also pointed out the technology can be an option for small creators who cannot hire large, expensive teams of artists and producers.
“The goal of [Moonlight Labs] was to give the artists and independent creators a chance to help democratize content creation and even the playing field,” said Fainman.
“A lot of artists, small businesses, independent creators […] don’t maybe have tens of thousands of dollars of budget to [hire] big studios and big teams, but their stories, I believe, should still be told, and they should still have access to multimedia creation.”
However, constraints in ability and technology drive human ingenuity, especially in the music industry. The music video for Lana Del Rey’s “Video Games” is one such example, with shaky handheld
video clips and grainy footage highlighting the human effort behind the art. Dada artist Marcel Duchamp revolutionized art by submitting a urinal as a sculpture to a gallery, raising important questions about the nature of art.
Perhaps an original and daring idea is what truly drives impactful content, as opposed
to the reconstitution of existing works.
With both fervent advocates and opposers, the future of AI in the creative industry is uncertain. Only time will tell if future generations of creatives will look back and see generative AI as a trailblazing tool or a blight on human creativity.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY JOSH KIRSCHNER
MOONLITE LABS FOUNDER AND CEO ADAM FAINMAN
Performing Schubert with a modern twist
U of M faculty to collaborate with local poet and rock band for concert
Boris Tsun Hang Leung, staff
T his Sunday, U of M faculty members Mel Braun and Laura Loewen will be joining forces with local poet Hannah Green and rock band VVonder to perform Stumble On (Schubert’s Winter Journey Re-Imagined) on campus.
The concert is based on Winterreise, a set of songs composed by Franz Schubert for voice and piano. Braun, a baritone and the head of the vocal program at the Desautels faculty of music, described the plot of the song cycle, whose lyrics were taken from poems written by Wilhelm Müller.
“In Winterreise, or winter journey, we see a young fellow who, as a traveler, has moved into a village, fallen in love with somebody and they’re talking about getting married. A richer neighbour comes along, and suddenly the marriage is off, and he’s tossed out of the village in the middle of winter,” Braun explained. “So he sets out on a journey, and during this journey, which is 24 songs long, he processes all the emotions and things that he’s dealing with having been turned away.”
He noted the story might have resonated with Schubert’s own life and that the 19th century German composer often viewed himself as an outsider. Also, he added that much of his compositions have themes of travellers and wanderers.
Loewen, a collaborative pianist and the faculty’s associate dean, will be performing 12 of the songs with Braun. However, there will be a contemporary twist to these com-
positions. In the concert, Green will also read from her award-winning poetry book Xanax Cowboy
“This book is very much about addiction, homelessness, trying to figure stuff out, obsession [and the] dream world. Many of these themes show up in the poetry that Schubert set in Winterreise,” commented Braun.
In addition, VVonder, formed by band members Micah Braun, Steve Martens, Joey Penner and Nate Sheridan, will be performing songs off their newly released album Stumble On. Like Xanax Cowboy, their songs touch upon themes similar to the story of Winterreise.
“Our performance is going to be myself and Laura, Hannah Green and VVonder going back and forth, processing the journey of this poor wanderer and [reflecting on] the loneliness, the obsession […] and just pushing on, stumbling on, regardless of what is happening.”
Although Schubert may seem obscure to non-classical fans, a closer look shows his work might not be so different from modern-day breakup songs. After all, the complexities of love and emotion are a timeless and integral part of the shared human experience.
Stumble On (Schubert’s Winter Journey Re-Imagined) will take place at the Desautels Concert Hall on Sept. 28 at 2 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by visiting showpass.com/desautels-concert-series-stumble-on-schuberts-winter-journey-re-imagined/.
PHOTOS BY BORIS TSUN HANG LEUNG / STAFF
A whopping 34-7 victory for Bisons football team
Bisons beat Alberta Golden Bears during homecoming game for back-to-back wins
Abdul-Jalilu Ahmed, staff
The Bisons football team achieved their second consecutive victory of the season with a 34-7 win over the Alberta Golden Bears during their homecoming game on Saturday, Sept. 20 at the Princess Auto Stadium.
Maya Turner opened the scoring early in the first quarter with a 17-yard field goal at the 12:01 mark, giving the Bisons a 3-0 lead. Alberta responded with a single point from Eric Schwarz at 8:31, narrowing the gap to 3-1.
The Bisons pulled ahead in the second quarter, beginning with a nine-yard run by Noah Anderson at 10:43 to make it 10-1. At 9:06, Mula Yitna caught a five-yard pass from quarterback Jackson Tachinski, extending the lead to 17-1. Breydon Stubbs capped off a dominant first half with an 11-yard run at the 2:35 mark, sending the Bisons into halftime up 24-1.
The Golden Bears came back into the game in the third quarter, as Eric Torhjelm connected to a ten-yard pass from Eli Hetlinger at the 11:28 mark, cutting the lead to 24-7. At 4:32, Payton Yakimishyn received a seven-yard pass from Cole Anseeuw, increasing the Bisons advantage to 31-7. Turner added her second field goal of the game for the Bisons, 34 yards out, with 12 seconds left in the quarter.
Neither team scored in the fourth quarter, sealing the Bisons’ 34-7 victory.
Bisons football head coach Stan Pierre emphasized the importance of homecoming games for both the team and the fans. “It’s just kind of the tradition on university campuses,” said Pierre. “Our [regular] fans are great, but it’s always a little special to have that type of crowd watching them play. It’s really exciting.”
Pierre shared insights on the team’s victory, highlighting the game’s momentum and the effectiveness of their offence. “Football’s a really simple game to analyze. You have to keep the ball and you have to limit explosive plays and you have to get explosive plays. And then the psychology, especially with kids 18 to 22, starts taking over. So those are huge plays that we are now making and hopefully we can keep it going. The kids did a great job. They saved our season, now let’s see what we can do.”
He discussed the win’s impact on the players’ mindsets. “It was important. We lost a couple tough ones in the first
couple weeks of the season […] I’m telling them to keep plugging away. Well, eventually they need to see some fruits of their labour. So, we have that now. Hopefully there’s a little belief in that room that they can achieve whatever they want to achieve.”
Pierre touched on the upcoming game and its relevance for their season. He said, “Next week we go to Regina against a really good
football team […] The Canada West is a grind, but we have given ourselves a chance.”
Bisons linebacker Matthew Gillespie touched on the physicality of the players and how it impacted the game’s outcome. “Bringing the heat every single play, making those big hits, it just epitomizes our whole team, how we’re ready to gear up for the whole season. We’re bringing everything we got. We’re
The Bisons football team will face the Regina Rams on Saturday, Sept. 27 in Regina, Saskatchewan. bringing the bang for this year. We’re coming out hot.” Gillespie is prepared to contribute to the team’s efforts. “I feed off my team. When the energy’s hot, the team’s hot, everyone’s going. I just bring that passion [against] special teams, keep it going, keep the drive going. If we need, I’ll make those turnarounds in times of need to keep us going.”
In the league standings, the
Bisons football team has four points, with two wins and two losses from four games.
PHOTOS BY MIKE THIESSEN / STAFF
THE BISONS FOOTBALL TEAM REVEALS THE NEW BISONS LOGO AT THE START OF THEIR GAME AGAINST THE U OF A GOLDEN BEARS
JACKSON TACHINSKI (4) MAKES A PLAY DURING THE BISONS FOOTBALL GAME AGAINST THE U OF A GOLDEN BEARS
Tough weekend for Bisons women’s socccer
Bisons lost to Saskatchewan Huskies
Abdul-Jalilu Ahmed, staff
The Bisons women’s soccer team lost 1-3 to the Saskatchewan Huskies on Friday, Sept. 19 at the Princess Auto Stadium.
Four minutes into the game [4:36] Bisons’ Bianca Cavalcanti had an early shot on goal, but Huskies goalie Kalin Roberts made the save.
The Huskies scored their first goal in the 13th minute [13:19], with Danielle Lehmann finding the net, assisted by Nammi Nguyen.
In the 19th minute [19:36] Breyanna Johnston-Krulicki fired a shot for the Bisons, but her effort was denied by goalie Roberts.
Taryn Cabak attempted a header shot for the Bisons, but it went wide in the 24th minute [24:27].
Daraida Sutherland.
The Bisons got on the scoreboard in the 81st minute [81:27] with a goal by Alexandria Paul, but it was not enough to spark a comeback.
The Huskies maintained control in the closing minutes to seal a 3-1 victory.
The Bisons women’s soccer team were defeated 1-2 by the Saskatchewan Huskies in the second game on Saturday, Sept. 20 at the Princess Auto Stadium.
Both teams had promising chances in the first half, but neither was able to capitalize, and the half ended goalless.
In the 64th minute [64:41],
“The passion from the fans [and] the determination from this group is unwavering”
— Mark Colvin, Bisons women’s soccer head coach
The Bisons pushed for an equalizer late in the first half, earning a corner kick in the 44th minute [44:55] by Johnston-Krulicki. However, the Huskies held their ground and went into halftime with a 1-0 lead.
The Huskies extended their lead in the 51st minute [51:16] when Isabelle Lachance scored, assisted by Cassidy Vieira. The lead was extended to 3-0 in the 72nd minute [72:31] with a goal from
the Huskies went up 1-0 through Alyssa D’Agnone, assisted by Jenna Steacy.
The Huskies doubled their lead in the 84th minute [84:37] as Marie Kilcher scored, with an assist from Nguyen.
The Bisons responded late, as Isabella Lone scored in the 87th minute [87:13], cutting the deficit to 2-1.
The Huskies held on for a 2-1 win.
Bisons women’s soccer head coach Mark Colvin pro -
vided his thoughts on the game. “I think Saskatchewan is a really good team,” said Colvin. “What they do so well is […] controlling space. They turn one attack into two or three just by controlling the territory. Honestly, between the two games, I thought our defending low was really good. It was just tough for us at times to get some territory and establish our attack. But again, from a defending standpoint, I thought we did a great job defending low on set pieces. [We] conceded three corner kick goals over the course of the weekend and our corner kicks and set pieces have been a strength for us all year. It’s something that we work on and we’re confident in execution.”
Colvin outlined some strengths of his team. “Our team consistently […] show such great fight and determination in the chase, creating one or two good goal scoring opportunities at the end of the game.” He added one strategy is establishing an “attack earlier.”
“We’re really chasing to score the first goal in the game and forcing our opponent to chase and for us to focus on our closing strategy,” Colvin
added.
He expressed appreciation for the warm reception and support the team received at the Princess Auto Stadium.
“This past weekend [at Princess Auto], I think we had an awesome supporting group and so many people at Winnipeg and at our school behind us. It was awesome to see […] the amount of passion that
our supporters showed for the team.”
In Prairie league standings, the Bisons have one point, with one draw and seven losses.
The Bisons women’s soccer team will play the Calgary Dinos on Friday, Sept. 26 and Saturday, Sept. 27 in Calgary, Alberta.
BIANCA CAVALCANTI (32) FIGHTS FOR THE BALL DURING THE BISONS' MATCH AGAINST THE U OF S HUSKIES
Piece of Cake
You drink it. You bin it.
Do your homework and recycle empty beverage containers even while cramming.
